CONTRIBUTION AND EXCHANGE AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG EL PASO CORPORATION EL PASO NORIC INVESTMENTS III, L.L.C. COLORADO INTERSTATE GAS COMPANY EL PASO SNG HOLDING COMPANY, L.L.C. SOUTHERN NATURAL GAS COMPANY EPPP SNG GP HOLDINGS, L.L.C. EPPP CIG GP...
Exhibit
2.1
BY
AND AMONG
EL PASO
CORPORATION
EL PASO
NORIC INVESTMENTS III, L.L.C.
COLORADO
INTERSTATE GAS COMPANY
EL
PASO SNG HOLDING COMPANY, L.L.C.
SOUTHERN
NATURAL GAS COMPANY
EPPP
SNG GP HOLDINGS, L.L.C.
EPPP
CIG GP HOLDINGS, L.L.C.
EL
PASO PIPELINE GP COMPANY, L.L.C.
EL
PASO PIPELINE LP HOLDINGS, L.L.C.
AND
EL
PASO PIPELINE PARTNERS OPERATING COMPANY, L.L.C.
September
17, 2008
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
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1.1
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Definitions
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1.2
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Construction
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ARTICLE 2
CONTRIBUTION AND CLOSING
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2.1
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Contribution
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2.2
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Consideration
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2.3
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Closing
and Closing Deliveries
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2.4
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Aggregate
Consideration Adjustment
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ARTICLE 3
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE CONTRIBUTING PARTIES
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3.1
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Organization
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3.2
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Authority
and Approval
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3.3
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No
Conflict; Consents
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3.4
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Capitalization;
Title to Subject Interest
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3.5
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Financial
Statements; Internal Controls; Undisclosed
Liabilities
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3.6
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Title
to Assets
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3.7
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Litigation;
Laws and Regulations
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3.8
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No
Adverse Changes
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3.9
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Taxes
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3.10
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Environmental
Matters
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3.11
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Licenses;
Permits
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3.12
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Contracts
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3.13
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Employees
and Employee Benefits
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3.14
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Transactions
with Affiliates
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3.15
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Regulation
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3.16
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Brokerage
Arrangements
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3.17
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Investment
Intent
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3.18
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Waivers
and Disclaimers
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3.19
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SEC
Reports
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ARTICLE 4
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PARTNERSHIP PARTIES
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4.1
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Organization
and Existence
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4.2
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Authority
and Approval
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4.3
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No
Conflict; Consents
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4.4
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Brokerage
Arrangements
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4.5
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Litigation
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4.6
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Valid
Issuance; Listing; Authorization; Private Placement
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4.7
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SEC
Reports
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4.8
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Waivers
and Disclaimers
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ARTICLE 5
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS, COVENANTS, RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS
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5.1
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Operation
of CIG and SNG
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5.2
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Supplemental
Disclosure
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5.3
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Access
to Books and Records
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5.4
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Cooperation;
Further Assurances
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5.5
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Admission
of Partnership as Partner
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5.6
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Cash
Pooling Transactions
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5.7
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Growth
Capital; Debt Balance
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ARTICLE 6
CONDITIONS TO CLOSING
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6.1
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Conditions
to the Obligation of the Partnership Parties
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6.2
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Conditions
to the Obligation of the Contributing Parties
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ARTICLE 7
TAX MATTERS
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7.1
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Liability
for Taxes
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7.2
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Tax
Returns.
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7.3
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Tax
Treatment of Indemnity Payments
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7.4
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Transfer
Taxes
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7.5
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Survival
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7.6
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Conflict
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ARTICLE 8
TERMINATION
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8.1
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Events
of Termination
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8.2
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Effect
of Termination
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ARTICLE 9
INDEMNIFICATION UPON CLOSING
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9.1
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Indemnification
of the Partnership Parties
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9.2
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Indemnification
of the Contributing Parties, SNG and CIG
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9.3
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Tax
Indemnification
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9.4
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Survival
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9.5
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Demands
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9.6
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Right
to Contest and Defend
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9.7
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Cooperation
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9.8
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Right
to Participate
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9.9
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Payment
of Damages
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9.10
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Limitations
on Indemnification
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9.11
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Sole
Remedy
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ARTICLE 10
MISCELLANEOUS
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10.1
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Expenses
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10.2
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Notices
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10.3
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Governing
Law
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10.4
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Public
Statements
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10.5
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Entire
Agreement; Amendments and Waivers
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10.6
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Conflicting
Provisions
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10.7
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Binding
Effect and Assignment
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10.8
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Severability
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10.9
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Interpretation
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10.10
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Headings
and Disclosure Schedules
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10.11
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Multiple
Counterparts
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10.12
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Action
by Partnership Parties
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10.13
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Limitation
on Recourse
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10.14
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Waiver
of Limited Call Right
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This
Contribution and Exchange Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and
entered into as of September 17, 2008, by and among El Paso Corporation,
a Delaware corporation (“El Paso”), El Paso
Noric Investments III, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company and
indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of El Paso (“EP Noric”), Colorado
Interstate Gas Company, a Delaware general partnership, (“CIG”), El Paso SNG Holding
Company, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company and direct wholly-owned
subsidiary of El Paso (“EP
SNG”), Southern Natural Gas Company, a Delaware general partnership,
(“SNG”), El Paso
Pipeline GP Company, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company and indirect
wholly-owned subsidiary of El Paso (“EPP GP”), El Paso Pipeline LP
Holdings, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company and indirect wholly-owned
subsidiary of El Paso (“EPP
LP”), El Paso Pipeline Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership (the “Partnership”), El Paso
Pipeline Partners Operating Company, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability
company and direct wholly-owned subsidiary of the Partnership (the “Operating Company”), EPPP CIG
GP Holdings, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company and an indirect
wholly-owned subsidiary of the Partnership (“EPPP CIG”) and EPPP SNG GP
Holdings, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company and an indirect
wholly-owned subsidiary of the Partnership (“EPPP
SNG”). El Paso and EP Noric are referred to herein
collectively as the “CIG
Contributing Parties,”
El Paso and EP SNG are referred to herein collectively as the “SNG Contributing Parties,” the
CIG Contributing Parties together with the SNG Contributing Parties, EPP GP and
EPP LP are referred to herein collectively as the “Contributing Parties,” the
Partnership, the Operating Company, EPPP CIG, and EPPP SNG are
referred to herein collectively as the “Partnership Parties” and the
Contributing Parties, Partnership Parties, CIG and SNG are referred to herein
collectively as the “Parties.”
R E C I T A L
S:
WHEREAS,
EP Noric owns a 90% general partner interest in CIG and EPPP CIG owns a 10%
general partner interest in CIG; and
WHEREAS,
EP SNG owns a 90% general partner interest in SNG and EPPP SNG owns a 10%
general partner interest in SNG; and
WHEREAS,
pursuant to the Contribution Agreement (defined below), the Contributing Parties
desire to contribute, transfer and convey to the Partnership a 30% general
partner interest in CIG (the “CIG Subject Interest”) and a
15% general partner interest in SNG (the “SNG Subject Interest” and
together with the CIG Subject Interest, the “Subject Interest”) in exchange
for total consideration of $736 million (as may be adjusted pursuant to this
Agreement, the “Aggregate
Consideration”), which shall be paid in the form of (i) the issuance
of a defined number of Common Units as specified in Section 2.2 having an
aggregate defined value of $477 million (as may be adjusted pursuant to this
Agreement, the “Unit
Consideration”) and (ii) the cash amount specified in Section 2.2 equal to $259
million, which may be paid in whole or part by delivery of one or more
Promissory Notes in an aggregate original principal amount not to exceed $259
(as may be adjusted pursuant to this Agreement, the “Cash Consideration”);
and
WHEREAS,
after giving effect to the completion of the contribution of the Subject
Interest referred to above pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and the
Contribution Agreement, EP Noric and EPPP CIG will own a 60% and 40%
general partner interest in CIG, respectively and EP SNG and EPPP SNG will own a
75% and 25% general partner interest in SNG, respectively;
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the respective representations,
warranties, covenants, agreements and conditions contained herein, the Parties
agree as follows:
1
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
1.1
|
Definitions
|
The terms defined in
this Section 1.1 shall, when
used in this Agreement, have the respective meanings specified herein, with each
such definition equally applicable to both singular and plural forms of the
terms so defined:
“Additional Distribution
Amount” means (a) 30% of any cash distributions made by CIG with respect
to its operations after the Effective Time and (b) 15% of any cash distributions
made by SNG with respect to its operations after the Effective Time, in each
such case without giving effect to distributions made pursuant to the Cash
Pooling Transactions. For avoidance of doubt the distributions made
by each of CIG and SNG on July 30, 2008 with respect to their respective
operations for the second quarter of 2008 are not to be given effect in the
calculation of any Additional Distribution Amount.
“Additional General Partner
Units” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.2.
“Affiliate,” when used with
respect to a Person, means any other Person that directly or indirectly
controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such first
Person.
“Aggregate Consideration” has
the meaning assigned to such term in the Recitals.
“Agreement” has the meaning
assigned to such term in the preamble.
“Ancillary Documents” means the
Contributing Parties Ancillary Documents and the Partnership Ancillary
Documents.
“Applicable Law” has the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.3.
“Associated Employees” has the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.13.
“Borrower” means the borrower
under any Promissory Note.
“Business Day” means any day
other than a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday on which banks in Houston, Texas
are authorized or obligated by law to close.
“Cash Consideration” has the
meaning assigned to such term in the Recitals.
2
“Cash Pooling Arrangements”
means the cash pooling arrangement with El Paso and its Affiliates, pursuant to
which El Paso and its Affiliates receive substantially all cash due to (and make
substantially all payments for) certain of its Affiliates, including CIG and
SNG, which amounts are reflected as intercompany receivables or payables or as
capital contributions and distributions in accordance with GAAP.
“Cash Pooling Transactions” has
the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.6.
“Ceiling Amount” has the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.10.
“CERCLA” means the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability
Act.
“CIG” has the meaning assigned
to such term in the preamble.
“CIG 10-K” has the meaning
assigned to such term in Section 3.5.
“CIG Capital Contribution Adjustment
Amount” means an amount equal to 30% of the sum of all Capital
Contributions (as such term is defined in the Existing CIG Partnership
Agreement) made pursuant to Capital Calls (as such term is defined in the
Existing CIG Partnership Agreement) on or after the Effective Time and prior to
the Closing Date.
“CIG Contributing Parties” has
the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble.
“CIG Entities” means (i) CIG,
(ii) any subsidiary of CIG and (iii) any Person in which CIG or any subsidiary
of CIG owns an equity interest constituting 50% or more of the outstanding
voting interests of such Person.
“CIG Subject Interest” has the
meaning assigned to such term in the Recitals.
“Closing” has the meaning
assigned to such term in Section 2.1.
“Closing Date” has the meaning
assigned to such term in Section 2.3.
“Code” means the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the rules and regulations issued
thereunder.
“Common Units” means the common
units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership.
“Conflicts Committee” has the
meaning assigned to such term in the Partnership Agreement.
“Contributing Indemnified
Parties” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.2.
“Contributing Parties” has the
meaning assigned to such term in the preamble.
3
“Contributing Parties Aggregated
Group” has
the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.13(e).
“Contributing Parties Ancillary
Documents” means each agreement, document or certificate to be delivered
by the Contributing Parties, SNG or CIG at Closing pursuant to Section 2.3(b), including
the Contribution Agreement.
“Contributing Parties Closing
Certificate” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1.
“Contributing Party Capital
Contribution Amount” means an amount equal to the sum of the CIG Capital
Contribution Adjustment Amount and the SNG Capital Contribution Adjustment
Amount.
“Contribution Agreement” has
the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.1.
“control,” and its derivatives,
mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management and policies of a Person.
“Damages” means liabilities and
obligations, including all losses, deficiencies, costs, expenses, fines,
interest, expenditures, claims, suits, proceedings, judgments, damages, and
reasonable attorneys’ fees and reasonable expenses of investigating, defending
and prosecuting litigation.
“Debt Amount” means, with
respect to the relevant Person, determined in accordance with GAAP, the sum of
such Person’s liabilities for indebtedness for borrowed money, capital leases
and other transactions reflected on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with
GAAP as financing transactions, in each case whether classified as a current or
a non-current liability.
“Deductible Amount” has the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.10.
“Delaware LP Act” means the
Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act.
“Disclosure Schedules” means
the disclosure schedules to this Agreement.
“Effective Time” means 12:01
a.m., Houston, Texas time, on July 1, 2008.
“El Paso” has the meaning
assigned to such term in the preamble.
“Environmental Laws” means any
federal, state or local statutes, laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, orders,
codes, decisions, injunctions or decrees that regulate or otherwise pertain to
the protection of the environment, including the management, control, discharge,
emission, treatment, containment, handling, removal, use, generation,
permitting, migration, storage, release, transportation, disposal, remediation,
manufacture, processing or distribution of Hazardous Materials that are or may
present a threat to the environment, including the following laws, as amended as
of the Effective Time and interpreted by the highest court of competent
jurisdiction through the Effective Time: (i) the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act; (ii) the Clean Air Act; (iii) CERCLA; (iv) the
Federal Water Pollution Control Act; (v) the Safe Drinking Water Act; (vi) the
Toxic Substances Control Act; (vii) the Emergency Planning and Community
Right-to Know Act; (viii) the National Environmental Policy Act; (ix) the
Pollution Prevention Act of 1990; (x) the Oil Pollution Act of 1990; (xi) the
Hazardous Materials Transportation Act and (xii) all rules, regulations, orders,
judgments, decrees promulgated or issued with respect to the foregoing
Environmental Laws by Governmental Authorities with jurisdiction in the
premises. The term “Environmental Laws” does not include operating
practices or standards that may be employed or adopted by other industry
participants or recommended by a Governmental Authority that are not required by
such federal, state or local statutes, laws, ordinances, rules, regulations,
orders, codes, decisions, injunctions or decrees.
4
“Environmental Permits” has the meaning assigned
to such term in Section 3.10.
“EP Noric” has the meaning
assigned to such term in the preamble.
“EP SNG” has the meaning
assigned to such term in the preamble.
“EPP GP” has the meaning
assigned to such term in the preamble.
“EPP LP” has the meaning
assigned to such term in the preamble.
“EPPP CIG” has the meaning
assigned to such term in the preamble.
“EPPP SNG” has the meaning
assigned to such term in the preamble.
“Equity Financing Transaction”
means a private placement of Common Units at the Price Per Unit by the
Partnership to Persons other than the Contributing Parties that closes before or
contemporaneously with the Closing, the net proceeds of which shall be used to
increase the Cash Consideration pursuant to Section 2.2(c).
“ERISA” has the meaning
ascribed to such term in Section 3.13(b).
“Exchange Act” means the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Existing CIG Partnership
Agreement” means the General Partnership Agreement, dated
November 1, 2007, of CIG.
“Existing SNG Partnership
Agreement” means the General Partnership Agreement, dated
November 1, 2007, of SNG.
“FERC” means the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission.
“Financial Statements” has the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.5.
“GAAP” means generally accepted
accounting principles in the United States of America.
5
“General Partner” means the
general partner of the Partnership, which as of the Effective Time and the date
of this Agreement is EPP GP.
“General Partner Unit” has the
meaning assigned to such term in the Partnership Agreement.
“Governmental Authority” means
any federal, state, municipal or other governmental court, department,
commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality.
“GP Cash Contribution” has the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.2.
“Growth Capital Requirements”
means cash expenditures for expansion and other capital improvements other than
maintenance expenditures and expenditures for facility repairs
associated with hurricane damage and maintenance recorded in the financial
statements of CIG or SNG as capital expenditures in accordance with
GAAP.
“Hazardous Materials” means any
substance, whether solid, liquid, or gaseous: (i) which is
listed, defined, or regulated as a “hazardous material,” “hazardous waste,”
“solid waste,” “hazardous substance,” “toxic substance,” “pollutant,” or
“contaminant,” or otherwise classified or regulated or subject to liability in
or pursuant to any Environmental Law; or (ii) which is or contains
asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon, urea formaldehyde foam insulation,
explosives, or radioactive materials; or (iii) which causes or threatens to
cause contamination, nuisance with respect to any properties, or a hazard to the
environment or to the health or safety of persons on or about any
properties.
“Indemnity Claim” has the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.5.
“Knowledge,” as used in this
Agreement with respect to a Party, means the actual knowledge of that Party’s
designated personnel. The designated personnel for the Contributing
Parties are Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxx, J.R. Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx, and Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx. The designated personnel for the
Partnership Parties are Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxx, J.R. Xxxx,
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, and Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx.
“Lien” means any mortgage, deed
of trust, lien, security interest, pledge, conditional sales contract, charge,
right of first refusal, drag-along or tag-along right or other
encumbrance.
“Material Adverse Effect” means
any change, effect, event, occurrence, condition or other circumstance that (a)
materially and adversely affects the business, assets, liabilities, properties,
financial condition or results of operations of CIG or SNG or the Subject
Interests, other than any such change, effect, event, occurrence, condition or
other circumstance affecting (i) the interstate natural gas transportation
industry generally (including any change in the prices of natural gas, natural
gas liquids or other hydrocarbon products, industry margins or any regulatory
changes or changes in Applicable Law), (ii) the United States or global general
market, economic, financial or political conditions or (iii) the transactions
contemplated in this Agreement, provided that in the case of clauses (i) and
(ii) the impact on CIG and SNG is not materially disproportionate to the impact
on other large interstate natural gas pipeline companies, or (b) hinders, delays
or impedes the ability of any Contributing Party or CIG or SNG to perform its
obligations under the Agreement or the Contributing Parties Ancillary Documents
or to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the
Contributing Parties Ancillary Documents.
6
“Material Contract” has the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.12(b).
“NGA” has the meaning assigned
to such term in Section 3.15(b).
“Notice” has the meaning
assigned to such term in Section 10.2.
“Operating Company” has the
meaning assigned to such term in the preamble.
“Ownership Percentage” means
with respect to (i) Partnership Parties, 10.0%, and (ii) Contributing
Parties, 90.0%.
“Parties” has the meaning
assigned to such term in the preamble.
“Partnership” has the meaning
assigned to such term in the preamble.
“Partnership Agreement” means
the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, as
amended to date.
“Partnership Ancillary
Documents” means each agreement, document or certificate to be delivered
by the Buyer Parties at Closing pursuant to Section 2.3(c), including
the Contribution Agreement.
“Partnership Debt Placement”
means a private placement by the Partnership Parties to Persons other than the
Contributing Parties of an aggregate original principal amount of debt
securities of not more than $250 million in original principal amount
that closes before or contemporaneously with the Closing, all as contemplated,
and in accordance with that certain commitment letter related thereto from the
proposed lenders thereunder to the Partnership.
“Partnership Financing
Transactions” means (i) the Partnership Debt Placement and
(ii) borrowings under the Partnership’s credit facility that, together with the
borrowings made as a result of the Partnership Debt Placement do not exceed $250
million in original principal amount.
“Partnership Indemnified
Parties” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.1.
“Partnership Material Adverse
Effect” means any change, effect, event, occurrence, condition or other
circumstance that (a) materially and adversely affects the business, assets,
liabilities, properties, financial condition or results of operations of any
Partnership Party, other than any such change, effect, event, occurrence,
condition or other circumstance affecting (i) the interstate natural gas
transportation industry generally (including any change in the prices of natural
gas, natural gas liquids or other hydrocarbon products, industry margins or any
regulatory changes or changes in Applicable Law), (ii) the United States or
global general market, economic, financial or political conditions or (iii) the
transactions contemplated in this Agreement, provided that in the case of
clauses (i) and (ii) the impact on the Partnership Parties is not materially
disproportionate to the impact on other large interstate natural gas pipeline
companies, or (b) hinders, delays or impedes the ability of any Partnership
Party to perform its obligations under this Agreement or the Partnership
Ancillary Documents or to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement or any Partnership Ancillary Document.
7
“Partnership Parties” has the
meaning assigned to such term in the preamble.
“Partnership Parties Closing
Certificate” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.2.
“Permits” has the meaning
assigned to such term in Section 3.11.
“Permitted Liens” means all:
(i) to the extent no amounts secured thereby are past due or are being contested
in good faith by appropriate proceedings and as to which adequate reserves, if
any, have been established, mechanics’, materialmen’s, carriers’, workmen’s,
repairmen’s, vendors’, operators’ or other like Liens entered into in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practices, if any, that do not
materially detract from the value of or materially interfere with the use of any
of CIG’s or SNG’s assets subject thereto; (ii) to the extent no amounts secured
thereby are past due or are being contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings, Liens arising under original purchase price conditional sales
contracts and equipment leases with third parties entered into in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practices; (iii) title defects, rights
of use, rights-of-way, permits, licenses, servitudes, sub-surface leases,
grazing rights, logging rights, and easements (including the right to operate
and maintain ponds, lakes, waterways, canals, ditches, reservoirs, equipment,
pipelines, utility lines, railways, streets, roads and structures on, over or
through any of CIG’s or SNG’s assets), if any, that, individually or in the
aggregate, do not or would not impair in any material respect the use or
occupancy of CIG’s assets, taken as a whole, or SNG’s, assets taken as a whole,
(iv) Liens for Taxes that are not due and payable, that may thereafter be paid
without penalty or are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings
and as to which adequate reserves, if any, have been established; and (v) liens
supporting surety bonds, performance bonds and similar obligations issued in
connection with CIG’s or SNG’s businesses.
“Person” means an individual or
entity, including any partnership, corporation, association, trust, limited
liability company, joint venture, unincorporated organization or Governmental
Authority.
“Plans” has the meaning
assigned to such term in Section 3.13.
8
“Price Per Unit” means the
average of the closing sales price of the Common Units as of each trading day
for the five (5) trading day period ending September 15, 2008 as reported on
The New York Stock Exchange
Composite Transactions.
“Promissory Note” means a
promissory note having terms and conditions in all material respects no less
favorable to the Partnership Parties than the terms and conditions negotiated by
the Partnership Parties with respect to the Partnership Debt
Placement.
“SEC” means the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
“SEC Contract” has the meaning
assigned to such term in Section 3.12(a).
“SEC Reports” has the meaning
assigned to such term in Section 3.19.
“Securities Act” means the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“SNG” has the meaning assigned
to such term in the preamble.
“SNG 10-K” has the meaning
assigned to such term in Section 3.5.
“SNG Capital Contribution Adjustment
Amount” means an amount equal to 15% of the sum of all Capital
Contributions (as such term is defined in the Existing SNG Partnership
Agreement) made pursuant to Capital Calls (as such term is defined in the
Existing SNG Partnership Agreement) on or after the Effective Time and prior to
the Closing Date.
“SNG Contributing Parties” has
the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble.
“SNG Entities” means (i) SNG,
(ii) any subsidiary of SNG and (iii) any Person in which SNG or any subsidiary
of SNG owns an equity interest constituting 50% or more of the outstanding
voting equity interests of such Person.
“SNG Subject Interest” has the
meaning assigned to such term in the Recitals.
“Subject Interest” has the
meaning assigned to such term in the Recitals.
“Tax” means all taxes, however
denominated, including any interest, penalties or other additions to tax that
may become payable in respect thereof, imposed by any federal, state, local or
foreign government or any agency or political subdivision of any such
government, which taxes shall include, without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, all income or profits taxes (including, but not limited to, federal
income taxes and state income taxes), gross receipts taxes, net proceeds taxes,
alternative or add-on minimum, sales taxes, use taxes, real property gains or
transfer taxes, ad valorem taxes, property taxes, value-added taxes, franchise
taxes, production taxes, severance taxes, windfall profit taxes, withholding
taxes, payroll taxes, employment taxes, excise taxes and other obligations of
the same or similar nature to any of the foregoing.
“Tax Items” has the meaning
assigned to such term in Section 7.1.
9
“Tax Losses” has the meaning
assigned to such term in Section 7.1.
“Tax Return” means all reports,
estimates, declarations of estimated Tax, information statements and returns
relating to, or required to be filed in connection with, any Taxes, including
information returns or reports with respect to backup withholding and other
payments to third parties.
“Taxing Authority” means, with
respect to any Tax, the governmental body, entity or political subdivision
thereof that imposes such Tax, and the agency (if any) charged with the
collection of such Tax for such entity or subdivision, including any
governmental or quasi-governmental entity or agency that imposes, or is charged
with collecting, social security or similar charges or premiums.
“Transfer Taxes” has the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.4.
“Unit Consideration” has the
meaning assigned to such term in the Recitals.
1.2
|
Construction
|
In
constructing and interpreting this Agreement: (a) the word “includes” and
its derivatives means “includes, without limitation” and corresponding
derivative expressions; (b) the currency amounts referred to herein, unless
otherwise specified, are in United States dollars; (c) whenever this
Agreement refers to a number of days, such number shall refer to calendar days
unless Business Days are specified; (d) unless otherwise specified, all
references in this Agreement to “Article,” “Section,” “Disclosure Schedule,”
“Exhibit,” “preamble” or “recitals” shall be references to an Article, Section,
Disclosure Schedule, Exhibit, preamble or recitals hereto; (e) whenever the
context requires, the words used in this Agreement shall include the masculine,
feminine and neuter, as well as the singular and the plural; (f) references to a
Party include its permitted successors and assigns; and (g) except as otherwise
expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall
be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to
time.
ARTICLE 2
CONTRIBUTION
AND CLOSING
2.1
|
Contribution
|
At the
closing of the transactions contemplated hereby (the “Closing”), the Contributing
Parties shall contribute the Subject Interest to the Partnership, as more
specifically set forth in that certain Contribution, Conveyance and Assumption
Agreement to be entered into by and among the Parties at the Closing (the “Contribution Agreement”) in
substantially the form attached as Exhibit B
hereto.
10
2.2
|
Consideration.
|
(a)
|
Subject
to Section 2.2(c), the
Aggregate Consideration shall consist of the
following:
|
(i)
|
the
Cash Consideration, comprised of $259 million in immediately available
funds or, if and to the extent the Partnership Financing Transactions are
not consummated before or contemporaneously with the Closing, by delivery
of one or more Promissory Notes in an aggregate original principal amount
not exceeding $259 million and immediately available funds equal to the
excess of $259 million over such aggregate original principal amount,
provided that the
$259 million shall be subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 2.3(c)
and Section
2.4;
and
|
(ii)
|
(b)
|
Concurrently
with the issuance of any Common Units in connection with the Unit
Consideration and the Equity Financing Transaction, if any, the General
Partner shall (i) contribute to the Partnership an amount in cash
equal to 2/98ths of the aggregate capital contribution to the Partnership
attributable to the Unit Consideration and the Equity Financing
Transaction (the “GP Cash
Contribution”) and the capital account of the General Partner that
is maintained by the Partnership shall be increased by an amount equal to
the GP Cash Contribution and (ii) the Partnership shall issue to the
General Partner a number of General Partner Units equal to 2/98ths of the
aggregate number of Common Units issued by the Partnership in connection
with the Unit Consideration and any such Equity Financing Transaction (the
“Additional General
Partner Units”).
|
(c)
|
If
the Equity Financing Transaction is consummated before or
contemporaneously with the Closing, the Partnership Parties will increase
the amount of Cash Consideration pursuant to Section 2.2(a)(i)
in an amount equal to the gross proceeds attributable to the Equity
Financing Transaction, not to exceed the Aggregate Consideration; provided
that if the Partnership Parties elect to increase the Cash Consideration
in accordance with this Section 2.2(c), the
value of the Unit Consideration to be paid pursuant to Section 2.2(a)(ii)
will be reduced by an amount equal to the increase in the value of the
Cash Consideration.
|
(d)
|
The
Cash Consideration shall be paid by the Partnership at the Closing
(i) by wire or interbank transfer of immediately available funds to
the account(s) specified by the Contributing Parties, (ii) if and to
the extent the Partnership Financing Transactions are not consummated
before or contemporaneously with the Closing, by delivery to the
Contributing Parties of Promissory Notes in an aggregate original
principal amount not to exceed the Cash Consideration or (iii) by a
combination of the preceding forms of payment.
|
(e)
|
The
Unit Consideration shall be issued by the Partnership to the Contributing
Parties or their designee(s), as provided in, or pursuant to, the
Contribution Agreement.
|
11
(f)
|
The
Additional General Partner Units shall be issued by the Partnership to the
General Partner as provided in, or pursuant to, the Contribution
Agreement.
|
2.3
|
Closing and Closing
Deliveries»
|
(a)
|
The
closing of the contribution of the Subject Interest pursuant to this
Agreement and the Contribution Agreement will be held at the offices of
El Paso Corporation, 0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000 on or before the second Business
Day following satisfaction or waiver of the conditions to Closing set
forth in Article
6, commencing at 9:00 a.m., Houston, Texas time, or such other
place, date and time as may be mutually agreed upon by the Parties;
provided, however, that the Closing shall not occur prior to the earlier
of October 3, 2008 or the date on which the Partnership closes the
Partnership Financing Transactions. The “Closing Date,” as
referred to herein, shall mean the date of the
Closing.
|
(b)
|
At
the Closing, the Contributing Parties shall deliver, or cause to be
delivered, to the Partnership Parties the
following:
|
(i)
|
A
counterpart of the Contribution Agreement, duly executed by each
Contributing Party that is a party
thereto;
|
(ii)
|
The
Contributing Parties Closing Certificate, duly executed by, or on behalf
of, each of the Contributing
Parties;
|
(iii)
|
A
certificate of good standing of recent date of each of CIG and
SNG;
|
(iv)
|
A
counterpart of the first amendment to the Existing CIG Partnership
Agreement and the first amendment to the Existing SNG Partnership
Agreement, duly executed by each Contributing Party that is a party
thereto; and
|
(v)
|
Such
other certificates, instruments of conveyance and documents as may be
reasonably requested by the Partnership Parties prior to the Closing Date
to carry out the intent and purposes of this
Agreement.
|
(c)
|
At
the Closing, the Partnership Parties shall deliver, or cause to be
delivered, to the Contributing Parties the
following:
|
(i)
|
A
counterpart of the Contribution Agreement, duly executed by each
Partnership Party;
|
(ii)
|
Each
Promissory Note, if any, duly executed by the Borrower
thereunder;
|
(iii)
|
The
Cash Consideration as provided in Section 2.2(c);
|
(iv)
|
The
Unit Consideration, consisting of one or more certificates representing
Common Units issued or evidence of electronic book-entry registration of
Common Units in the name(s) specified in writing by or on behalf of the
Contributing Parties, as provided in Section 2.2(e);
|
12
(v)
|
The
Partnership Parties Closing Certificate, duly executed by, or on behalf
of, each of the Partnership
Parties;
|
(vi)
|
A
counterpart of the first amendment to the Existing CIG Partnership
Agreement and the first amendment to the Existing SNG Partnership
Agreement, duly executed by each Partnership Party that is a party
thereto; and
|
(vii)
|
Such
other certificates, instruments of conveyance and documents as may be
reasonably requested by the Contributing Parties prior to the Closing Date
to carry out the intent and purposes of this
Agreement.
|
(d)
|
At
the Closing, the General Partner shall contribute to the Partnership the
GP Cash Contribution, the capital account of the General Partner shall be
increased by the amount of the GP Cash Contribution and the Additional
General Partner Units shall be issued by the Partnership to the General
Partner.
|
2.4 Aggregate Consideration
Adjustment. The Aggregate Consideration shall be
adjusted (a) upward by an amount equal to the Contributing Party Capital
Contribution Amount and (b) downward by the Additional Distribution
Amount, with such adjustments being made to the Unit Consideration, unless
otherwise mutually agreed to by the Contributing Parties and the
Partnership Parties.
|
ARTICLE 3
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
OF
THE CONTRIBUTING PARTIES
The
Contributing Parties hereby jointly represent and warrant to the Partnership
Parties as follows:
3.1
|
Organization
|
(a)
|
El Paso
is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of the State of Delaware and has all requisite corporate
power and authority to own, operate and lease its properties and assets
and to carry on its business as now conducted. Each of
EP Noric, EP SNG, EPP GP and EPP LP is a limited liability company
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of
the State of Delaware and has all requisite limited liability company
power and authority to own, operate and lease its properties and assets
and to carry on its business as now
conducted.
|
(b)
|
Each
CIG Entity and each SNG Entity is duly organized or formed, as applicable,
and validly existing under the laws of the state of its organization or
formation, as applicable, and has all requisite corporate, partnership or
limited liability power and authority, as applicable, to own, operate and
lease its properties and assets and to carry on its business as now
conducted. Each CIG Entity and each SNG Entity is duly licensed
or qualified to do business in the states in which the character of the
properties and assets owned or held by it or the nature of the business
conducted by it requires it to be so licensed or qualified, except where
the failure to be so licensed or qualified would not, individually or in
the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect.
|
13
3.2
|
Authority and
Approval
|
(a)
|
Each
of the Contributing Parties has full corporate or limited liability
company power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to perform all of the
terms and conditions hereof to be performed by it. The
execution and delivery of this Agreement, the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and the performance of all of the terms
and conditions hereof to be performed by the Contributing Parties have
been duly authorized and approved by all requisite corporate or limited
liability company action of each of the Contributing
Parties. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by
each of the Contributing Parties and constitutes the valid and legally
binding obligation of each of them, enforceable against each of the
Contributing Parties in accordance with its terms, except as such
enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws
affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights and remedies generally and
by general principles of equity (whether applied in a proceeding at law or
in equity).
|
(b)
|
Each
of the Contributing Parties has full corporate or limited liability
company power and authority to execute and deliver each Contributing Party
Ancillary Document to which it is a party, to consummate the transactions
contemplated thereby and to perform all of the terms and conditions
thereof to be performed by it. The execution and delivery of
each of the Contributing Party Ancillary Documents, the consummation of
the transactions contemplated thereby and the performance of all of the
terms and conditions thereof to be performed by each of the Contributing
Parties which is a party thereto have been duly authorized and approved by
all requisite corporate or limited liability company action of each such
party. When executed and delivered by each of the parties party
thereto, each Contributing Party Ancillary Document will constitute a
valid and legally binding obligation of each of the Contributing Parties
that is a party thereto enforceable against each such party in accordance
with its terms, except as such enforcement may be limited by applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance
or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights and
remedies generally and by general principles of equity (whether applied in
a proceeding at law or in equity).
|
3.3
|
No Conflict;
Consents
|
Except as
set forth on Disclosure
Schedule 3.3:
(a)
|
the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by any of the
Contributing Parties or the execution, delivery and performance by any of
the Contributing Parties of any of the Contributing Parties’ Ancillary
Documents will not, and the fulfillment and compliance with the terms and
conditions hereof and thereof and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby will not, (i) violate, conflict with
any of, result in any breach of, or require the consent of any Person
under, the terms, conditions or provisions of the certificate of
incorporation, certificate of formation, limited liability company
agreement, bylaws or equivalent governing instruments of any Contributing
Party, any CIG Entity or any SNG Entity, (ii) conflict with or
violate any provision of any law or administrative rule or regulation or
any judicial, administrative or arbitration order, award, judgment, writ,
injunction or decree (“Applicable Law”)
applicable to any of the Subject Interests, Contributing Parties, CIG
Entities, SNG Entities or the CIG Entities’ or SNG Entities’ assets or
business; (iii) conflict with, result in a breach of, constitute a
default under (whether with notice or the lapse of time or both), or
accelerate or permit the acceleration of the performance required by, or
require any consent, authorization or approval under, or result in the
suspension, termination or cancellation of, or in a right of suspension,
termination or cancellation of, any indenture, mortgage, agreement,
contract, commitment, license, concession, permit, lease, joint venture or
other agreement or instrument to which any of the Contributing Parties,
CIG Entities or SNG Entities is a party or by which it or any of its
assets are bound; or (iv) result in the creation of any Lien (other
than Permitted Liens) on any of the Subject Interests or any CIG Party’s
or SNG Party’s assets, except in the case of clauses (ii) or
(iii) for
those items which, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a
Material Adverse Effect; and
|
14
(b)
|
no
consent, approval, license, permit, order or authorization of any
Governmental Authority or other Person is required to be obtained or made
by any of the Contributing Parties, the CIG Entities or the SNG Entities
in connection with the execution, delivery, and performance of this
Agreement and the Contributing Parties’ Ancillary Documents or the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, except
(i) as have been waived or obtained or with respect to which the time
for asserting such right has expired or (ii) for those that
individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect
(including such consents, approvals, orders or Permits that are not
customarily obtained prior to the Closing) and are reasonably expected to
be obtained in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice following the Closing.
|
3.4
|
Capitalization; Title
to Subject Interest
|
(a)
|
EP Noric
owns beneficially and of record the CIG Subject Interest free and clear of
all Liens (other than those arising pursuant to the terms of the Existing
CIG Partnership Agreement and restrictions on transfer under applicable
federal and state securities laws) and EP SNG owns beneficially and of
record the SNG Subject Interest free and clear of all Liens (other than
those arising pursuant to the terms of the Existing SNG Partnership
Agreement and restrictions on transfer under applicable federal and state
securities laws). The Subject Interest is not subject to any agreements or
understandings with respect to the voting or transfer of the Subject
Interest (except the contribution of the Subject Interest contemplated by
this Agreement and the Contribution Agreement, as may be contained in the
Existing CIG Partnership Agreement or Existing SNG Partnership Agreement
and restrictions on transfer under applicable federal and state securities
laws). The Subject Interest has been duly authorized and is
validly issued and fully paid (to the extent required under the Existing
CIG Partnership Agreement or the Existing SNG Partnership Agreement, as
applicable).
|
(b)
|
There
are no outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, preemptive rights,
preferential purchase rights, rights of first refusal or any similar
rights issued or granted by, or binding upon, CIG, SNG or any of the
Contributing Parties to purchase or otherwise acquire or to sell or
otherwise dispose of any security of or equity interest in CIG or SNG,
except the contribution of the Subject Interest as contemplated by this
Agreement and the Contribution Agreement and as may be contained in the
Existing CIG Partnership Agreement or the Existing SNG Partnership
Agreement.
|
15
3.5
|
Financial Statements;
Internal Controls; Undisclosed Liabilities»
|
(a)
|
Each
of the Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2007 filed by CIG (the “CIG 10-K”) and SNG (the
“SNG 10-K”) with
the SEC sets forth true and complete copies of the audited balance sheets
as of December 31, 2006 and 2007 and audited statements of income,
comprehensive income and partners’ equity, and statements of cash flow for
the years ended December 31, 2005, 2006 and 2007 for CIG and SNG, as
applicable, and each of the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended June 30, 2008 filed by CIG and SNG with the SEC sets forth the true
and complete copies of the unaudited balance sheets as of June 30, 2008
and the unaudited statements of income, comprehensive income, and
statements of cash flow for the quarterly periods ended June 30, 2007 and
2008 (collectively referred to as the “Financial
Statements”). The Financial Statements (including the notes
thereto) have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a
consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby (except for
changes in accounting principles disclosed therein) and present fairly the
financial condition of CIG and SNG, as applicable, as of such dates and
the results of operations, as applicable, of CIG or its accounting
predecessor and SNG, as the case may be, for such
periods.
|
(b)
|
There
are no material liabilities or obligations of any CIG Entity or any SNG
Entity (whether known or unknown and whether accrued, absolute, contingent
or otherwise) and there are no facts or circumstances that would result in
any such material liabilities or obligations, other than
(i) liabilities or obligations reflected or reserved against in the
Financial Statements or described in the footnotes thereto,
(ii) liabilities or obligations incurred in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice since June 30, 2008, (iii)
liabilities or obligations arising under executory contracts entered into
in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (iv)
liabilities not required to be presented by GAAP in unaudited financial
statements, (v) liabilities or obligations under this Agreement, (vi)
liabilities or obligations disclosed in Disclosure Schedule 3.5(b) and
(vii) other liabilities which, in the aggregate, would not have a Material
Adverse Effect. This Section 3.5(b) does
not include any matters with respect to Taxes, Environmental Laws or
Permits, such matters are being addressed exclusively by Section 3.9, Section 3.10 and
Section
3.11,
respectively.
|
3.6
|
Title to
Assets»
|
Except as
set forth on Disclosure
Schedule 3.6 and as would
not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, each CIG
Entity and SNG Entity has good and valid title to its property interests and the
assets used or necessary to conduct their respective businesses as presently
conducted, free and clear of any Liens, except for Permitted Liens.
16
3.7
|
Litigation; Laws and
Regulations
|
Except as
set forth on Disclosure
Schedule 3.7 or in the
footnotes to the Financial Statements:
(a)
|
There
are no (i) civil, criminal or administrative actions, suits, claims,
hearings, arbitrations, investigations or proceedings pending or, to the
Contributing Parties’ Knowledge, threatened (a) against or affecting any
CIG Entity or any SNG Entity or their respective assets or businesses or
the Subject Interests or (b) that (I) alleges the invalidity or
unenforceability of any of the Contributing Parties’ obligations under
this Agreement or any of the Contributing Parties Ancillary Documents or
(II) seeks to prevent or delay the consummation by the Contributing
Parties of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any of the
Contributing Parties Ancillary Documents; or (ii) judgments, orders,
decrees or injunctions of any Governmental Authority, whether at law or in
equity, (a) against or affecting any CIG Entity or any SNG Entity or their
respective assets or businesses or the Subject Interests, or (b) that
(I) alleges the invalidity or unenforceability of any of the
Contributing Parties’ obligations under this Agreement or any of the
Contributing Parties Ancillary Documents or (II) seeks to prevent or
delay the consummation by the Contributing Parties of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or any of the Contributing Parties
Ancillary Documents, except in each case of (i) and (ii) of this Section 3.7(a), for
those items that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a
Material Adverse Effect.
|
(b)
|
Neither
any CIG Entity nor any SNG Entity is in violation of or in default under
any Applicable Law, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate,
have a Material Adverse Effect.
|
This
Section 3.7 does not
include any matters with respect to Taxes, Environmental Laws or Permits, such
matters are being addressed exclusively by Section 3.9, Section 3.10 and Section 3.11,
respectively.
3.8
|
No Adverse
Changes
|
Except as
set forth on Disclosure
Schedule 3.8 or as
described in the Financial Statements, since June 30, 2008:
(a)
|
there
has not been a Material Adverse
Effect;
|
(b)
|
the
assets of each CIG Entity and each SNG Entity have been operated and
maintained in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practices;
|
(c)
|
there
has not been any material damage or destruction to any material portion of
the assets of any CIG Entity or SNG Entity, other than such damage or
destruction that has been repaired and such assets are available for
service or operation in all material
respects;
|
(d)
|
there
has been no delay in, or postponement of, the payment of any liabilities
by any CIG Entity or SNG Entity in excess of $5,000,000;
and
|
17
(e)
|
there
is no contract, commitment or agreement to do any of the
foregoing.
|
3.9
|
Taxes
|
Except as
set forth in Disclosure Schedule
3.9 or as reflected on the Financial Statements or would not have a
Material Adverse Effect, (a) the CIG Entities and the SNG Entities have
filed or the Contributing Parties and their Affiliates (other than the
Partnership Parties) have caused to be filed all Tax Returns required to be
filed by each CIG Entity, SNG Entity or with respect to their respective assets
on a timely basis (taking into account all extensions of due dates); (b) all
such Tax Returns were complete and correct; (c) all Taxes owed by each CIG
Entity, SNG Entity or with respect to their respective assets which are or have
become due have been timely paid in full; (d) there are no Liens on the
Subject Interest or on any of CIG’s or SNG’s assets that arose in connection
with any failure (or alleged failure) to pay any Tax on any such assets or with
respect to the Subject Interest, other than Liens for Taxes not yet due and
payable; and (e) there is no pending action, proceeding or, to the
Knowledge of the Contributing Parties, investigation for assessment or
collection of Taxes and no Tax assessment, deficiency or adjustment has been
asserted or proposed with respect to any CIG Entity, SNG Entity or their
respective assets.
3.10
|
Environmental
Matters
|
Except as
set forth in Disclosure
Schedule 3.10, as
reflected on the Financial Statements, or as would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect: (i) each CIG Entity,
SNG Entity and their respective assets, operations and businesses are and have
been in compliance with applicable Environmental Laws; (ii) to the Knowledge of
the Contributing Parties, each CIG Entity and each SNG Entity has no obligation
to investigate, remediate, monitor or otherwise address (including paying for
such action) the presence, on-site or offsite, of Hazardous Materials under any
applicable Environmental Laws; (iii) no CIG Entity, SNG Entity nor their
respective assets, operations and businesses are subject to any pending or, to
the Knowledge of the Contributing Parties, threatened, claim, action, suit,
investigation, inquiry or proceeding under any Environmental Law (including
designation as a potentially responsible party under CERCLA or any similar local
or state law); (iv) all notices, permits, permit exemptions, licenses or similar
authorizations, if any, required to be obtained or filed by any CIG Entity, SNG
Entity or, with respect to their respective assets, operations and businesses,
by any Contributing Party under any Environmental Law (“Environmental Permits”) in
connection with any CIG Entities’ or SNG Entities’ respective businesses or
assets have been duly obtained or filed and are valid and currently in full
force and effect; (v) such Persons have complied in all material respects with
the terms and conditions of such Environmental Permits; (vi) such Environmental
Permits will not be subject to suspension, modification, revocation or
non-renewal as a result of the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
Contributing Parties’ Ancillary Documents or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (including such Environmental
Permits that are not customarily obtained prior to the Closing and are
reasonably expected to be obtained in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practice following the Closing); (vii) no proceeding is pending or, to
the Contributing Parties’ Knowledge, threatened with respect to any alleged
failure by the CIG Entities and SNG Entities to have any material Environmental
Permit necessary for the operation of any of such Person’s assets or the conduct
of their business or to be in compliance therewith; and (viii) to the Knowledge
of the Contributing Parties, there has been no release of any Hazardous Material
into the environment by any CIG Entity, SNG Entity or at or from their
respective assets, operations and businesses except in compliance with
applicable Environmental Law.
18
3.11
|
Licenses;
Permits
|
Except as
set forth in Disclosure
Schedule 3.11, (a) the CIG
Entities and SNG Entities have all licenses, permits and authorizations
(collectively, “Permits”) issued or granted by
Governmental Authorities that are necessary for the conduct of such Person’s
business as it is now being conducted, (b) all such Permits are validly
held by such Persons and are in all material respects in full force and effect,
(c) such Persons have complied in all material respects with the terms and
conditions of such Permits and (d) such Permits will not be subject to
suspension, modification, revocation or non-renewal as a result of the execution
and delivery of this Agreement and the Contributing Parties’ Ancillary Documents
or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, except
as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect
(including such Permits that are not customarily obtained prior to the Closing
and are reasonably expected to be obtained in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice following the Closing). No proceeding
is pending or, to the Contributing Parties’ Knowledge, threatened with respect
to any alleged failure by the CIG Entities and SNG Entities to have any material
Permit necessary for the operation of any of such Person’s assets or the conduct
of their business or to be in compliance therewith. This Section 3.11 does not
include any matters with respect to Environmental Laws, such matters are being
addressed exclusively by Section 3.10.
3.12
|
Contracts
|
(a)
|
The
CIG 10-K and SNG 10-K contain a true and complete listing of each contract
and other agreement to which each CIG Entity or SNG Entity is a party that
is required to be so listed by either CIG or SNG pursuant to Item
601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K (each such contract or agreement being
referred to herein as a “SEC
Contract”).
|
(b)
|
The
Contributing Parties have made available to the Partnership Parties a
correct and complete copy of each SEC Contract and each contract or
agreement, other than transportation contracts that are publicly available
through FERC, to which each CIG Entity or SNG Entity is a party that
provides for revenues to or commitments of any CIG Entity or SNG Entity in
an amount greater than $5 million during a calendar year (together with
the SEC Contracts, each such contract or agreement being referred to
herein as a “Material
Contract”).
|
(c)
|
With
respect to each CIG Entity and SNG Entity, (i) each Material Contract
to which any such entity is a party is legal, valid, binding, enforceable
(assuming the enforceability against the other party or parties thereto),
and in full force and effect; (ii) each Material Contract will
continue to be legal, valid, binding, enforceable, and in full force and
effect on identical terms following the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement; (iii) no CIG Entity or SNG Entity is
in breach or default of a Material Contract, and no event has occurred
which with notice or lapse of time would constitute a breach or default by
such Person, or permit termination, modification, or acceleration, under a
Material Contract; and (iv) to the Contributing Parties’ Knowledge,
no other party is in breach or default, and no event has occurred that
with notice, lapse of time or both would constitute a breach or default by
such other party, or permit termination, modification or acceleration
under a Material Contract nor has any other party repudiated any provision
of a Material Contract; except in the case of clauses (i) - (iv) above,
such breaches, defaults or unenforceability as would not, individually or
in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect.
|
19
3.13
|
Employees and Employee
Benefits
|
(a)
|
No
CIG Entity or SNG Entity has any employees. None of the
employees of the Contributing Parties or their Affiliates who provide
exclusive or shared services to any CIG Entity, SNG Entity or with respect
to their respective assets (collectively, the “Associated Employees”)
are covered by a collective bargaining agreement. Except as
would not result in any liability to any CIG Entity or any SNG Entity
there are no facts or circumstances that have resulted or would result in
a claim against any CIG Entity or any SNG Entity on behalf of an
individual or a class in excess of $250,000 for unlawful discrimination,
unpaid overtime or any other violation of state or federal laws relating
to employment of the Associated Employees or any claims relating to any
liability under ERISA.
|
(b)
|
None
of the CIG Entities or the SNG Entities sponsor, maintain or contribute
to, nor do they have any legal or equitable obligation to establish,
maintain or contribute to any compensation or benefit plan, agreement,
program or policy (whether written or oral, formal or informal) for the
benefit of any present or former directors, officers, employees, agents,
consultants or other similar representatives, including, but not limited
to, any “employee benefit plan” as defined in section 3(3) of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”) (the foregoing
are hereinafter collectively referred to as “Plans”). All
Plans in which Associated Employees participate are sponsored or
maintained by a Contributing Party or an
Affiliate.
|
(c)
|
Each
Plan in which Associated Employees participate and which is intended to be
qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has been determined by the
Internal Revenue Service to be so
qualified.
|
(d)
|
Except
as could not result in a Material Adverse Effect, each Plan in which
Associated Employees participate is and has been maintained in substantial
compliance with its terms and the provisions of all Applicable Laws,
including, without limitation, ERISA and the
Code.
|
(e)
|
Except
as could not result in a Material Adverse Effect, neither a Contributing
Party nor any entity treated as a single employer with a Contributing
Party for purposes of Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code (the
“Contributing Parties
Aggregated Group”) has incurred any material liability under Title
IV of ERISA (other than for the payment of benefits or Pension Benefit
Guaranty Corporation insurance premiums, in either case in the ordinary
course).
|
20
(f)
|
Other
than any liabilities for which each CIG Entity and each SNG Entity have no
responsibility or obligation, neither a Contributing Party nor any member
of the Contributing Party Aggregated Group is obligated to contribute to
any “multiemployer plan” (as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA) in
respect of which a Contributing Party or any member of the Contributing
Party Aggregated Group has or may reasonably be expected to incur any
withdrawal liability (as defined in Section 4201 of ERISA) that would
result in a Material Adverse
Effect.
|
(g)
|
Except
as would not result in any liability to any CIG Entity or any SNG Entity,
the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not (either alone or upon
the occurrence of any subsequent employment-related event) result in any
payment becoming due, result in the acceleration of the time of payment or
vesting of any such benefits, result in the incurrence or acceleration of
any other obligation related to the Plans or to any employee or former
employee of the Contributing Parties or any of their Affiliates or a
nonexempt “prohibited transaction” within the meaning of Section 406 of
ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.
|
(h)
|
No
member of the Contributing Parties Aggregated Group or any organization to
which such member is a successor or parent corporation, within the meaning
of Section 4069(b) of ERISA, has engaged in any transaction described in
Sections 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA.
|
3.14
|
Transactions with
Affiliates
|
Except as
disclosed in the CIG 10-K, the SNG 10-K, SEC Contracts, in Disclosure
Schedule 3.14 or in the
footnotes to the Financial Statements, no CIG Entity or SNG Entity is party to
any agreement, contract or arrangement between such CIG Entity or SNG Entity, on
the one hand, and the Contributing Parties or any of their Affiliates (other
than CIG, SNG or the Partnership), on the other hand, other than those entered
into in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice on
commercially reasonable terms.
3.15
|
Regulation
|
(a)
|
None
of the CIG Entities or the SNG Entities are subject to regulation under
the Investment Company Act of 1940;
and
|
(b)
|
Each
CIG Entity and SNG Entity is in compliance, in all material respects, with
(i) all applicable provisions of the Natural Gas Act (the “NGA”) and (ii) all
applicable orders and regulations of FERC that pertain to the business or
operations of that Acquired Company. No approval of FERC is
required in connection with execution of this Agreement by the
Contributing Parties or the consummation by the Contributing Parties of
the transactions contemplated
hereby.
|
21
3.16
|
Brokerage
Arrangements
|
None of
the Contributing Parties or their Affiliates (other than the Partnership
Parties) has entered (directly or indirectly) into any agreement with any
person, firm or corporation that would obligate the Partnership Parties, the CIG
Entities or the SNG Entities to pay any commission, brokerage or “finder’s fee”
or other fee in connection with this Agreement, the Contribution Agreement or
the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.
3.17
|
Investment
Intent
|
The
Contributing Parties have substantial experience in analyzing and investing in
entities like the Partnership and are capable of evaluating the merits and risks
of their investment in the Partnership. The Contributing Parties are
acquiring the Unit Consideration and each Promissory Note, if any, solely for
the purpose of investment and not with a view to, or for offer or sale in
connection with, any distribution thereof in violation of the Securities Act or
state securities laws. The Contributing Parties acknowledge that the
Unit Consideration and each Promissory Note, if any, will not be registered
under the Securities Act or any applicable state securities law, and that such
Unit Consideration and each such Promissory Note may not be transferred or sold
except pursuant to the registration provisions of the Securities Act or pursuant
to an applicable exemption therefrom and pursuant to state securities laws and
regulations as applicable. The Contributing Parties acknowledge that
the Common Units comprising the Unit Consideration and each Promissory Note
shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:
THESE
SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS
AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS (“ACTS”). THE UNITS HAVE BEEN
ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR OFFERED FOR SALE IN THE ABSENCE
OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE UNITS UNDER THE ACTS OR AN
OPINION OF COUNSEL SATISFACTORY TO THE PARTNERSHIP THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT
REQUIRED.
3.18
|
Waivers and
Disclaimers
|
NOTWITHSTANDING
ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY CONTAINED IN THIS AGREEMENT AND THE CONTRIBUTING
PARTIES ANCILLARY DOCUMENTS, EXCEPT FOR THE EXPRESS REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES AND OTHER COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS MADE BY THE CONTRIBUTING PARTIES
IN THIS AGREEMENT, THE CONTRIBUTING PARTIES HAVE NOT MADE, DO NOT MAKE, AND
SPECIFICALLY NEGATE AND DISCLAIM ANY REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES, PROMISES,
COVENANTS, AGREEMENTS OR GUARANTIES OF ANY KIND OR CHARACTER WHATSOEVER, WHETHER
EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, ORAL OR WRITTEN, PAST OR PRESENT REGARDING THE
TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY RELATING TO (A) CIG, SNG AND THE VALUE,
NATURE, QUALITY OR CONDITION OF THEIR ASSETS, INCLUDING THE WATER, SOIL, GEOLOGY
OR ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION OF SUCH ASSETS GENERALLY, INCLUDING THE PRESENCE OR
LACK OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES OR OTHER MATTERS IN OR ON SUCH ASSETS, (B) THE
INCOME OR CASH FLOW TO BE DERIVED BY CIG, SNG OR THEIR ASSETS, OPERATIONS OR
BUSINESSES, (C) THE SUITABILITY OF CIG’S OR SNG’S ASSETS FOR ANY AND ALL
ACTIVITIES AND USES THAT MAY BE CONDUCTED USING SUCH ASSETS, (D) THE
COMPLIANCE OF OR BY CIG, SNG OR THEIR OPERATIONS WITH ANY LAWS, INCLUDING ANY
ZONING, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, POLLUTION OR LAND USE LAWS, RULES,
REGULATIONS, ORDERS OR REQUIREMENTS, OR (E) THE HABITABILITY,
MERCHANTABILITY, MARKETABILITY, PROFITABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE OF THE ASSETS OR BUSINESSES OF CIG AND SNG. EXCEPT TO THE
EXTENT PROVIDED IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN THE CONTRIBUTING PARTIES ANCILLARY
DOCUMENTS, WITH RESPECT TO THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, NEITHER THE
CONTRIBUTING PARTIES NOR ANY OF THEIR AFFILIATES SHALL BE LIABLE OR BOUND IN ANY
MANNER BY ANY VERBAL OR WRITTEN STATEMENTS, REPRESENTATIONS OR INFORMATION
PERTAINING TO THE CONTRIBUTING PARTIES, CIG, SNG OR THEIR ASSETS FURNISHED BY
ANY AGENT, EMPLOYEE, SERVANT OR THIRD PARTY. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS
SECTION 3.18 HAVE BEEN
NEGOTIATED BY THE PARTIES AFTER DUE CONSIDERATION AND ARE INTENDED TO BE A
COMPLETE EXCLUSION AND NEGATION OF ANY REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, WHETHER
EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, WITH RESPECT TO THE CONTRIBUTING PARTIES, CIG,
SNG OR THEIR ASSETS THAT MAY ARISE PURSUANT TO ANY LAW NOW OR HEREAFTER IN
EFFECT, OR OTHERWISE, EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT.
22
3.19
|
SEC
Reports
|
Since
December 31, 2007, (i) CIG and SNG have timely made all filings that such
Persons would be required to make by the Securities Exchange Act (“SEC Reports”) if such Persons
were subject to such Laws, (ii) all filings by CIG and SNG with the SEC, at the
time filed complied as to form in all material respects with the applicable
requirements of the Securities Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the
SEC thereunder, and (iii) to the Knowledge of the Contributing Parties, no such
filing, at the time described above, contained any untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated
therein in order to make the statements contained therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
23
ARTICLE 4
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
OF
THE PARTNERSHIP PARTIES
Each of
the Partnership Parties hereby represents and warrants to the Contributing
Parties as follows:
4.1
|
Organization and
Existence
|
The
Partnership is a limited partnership duly formed, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has all requisite
partnership power and authority to own, operate and lease its properties and
assets and to carry on its business as now conducted. Each of the
Operating Company, EPPP CIG and EPPP SNG is a limited liability company duly
formed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Delaware and has all requisite limited liability company power and authority to
own, operate and lease its properties and assets and to carry on its business as
now conducted.
4.2
|
Authority and
Approval
|
(a)
|
Each
of the Partnership Parties has full limited partnership or limited
liability company power and authority, as applicable, to execute and
deliver this Agreement, to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby
and to perform all of the terms and conditions hereof to be performed by
it. The execution and delivery of this Agreement, the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and the performance
of all of the terms and conditions hereof to be performed by the
Partnership Parties have been duly authorized and approved, by all
requisite limited partnership action or limited liability company action,
as applicable, of each of the Partnership Parties. This
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by or on behalf of each of
the Partnership Parties and constitutes the valid and legally binding
obligation of each of them, enforceable against each of the Partnership
Parties in accordance with its terms, except as such enforcement may be
limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium,
fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of
creditors’ rights and remedies generally and by general principles of
equity (whether applied in a proceeding at law or in
equity).
|
(b)
|
Each
of the Partnership Parties has full limited partnership or limited
liability company power and authority, as applicable, to execute and
deliver each Partnership Ancillary Document to which it is a party, to
consummate the transactions contemplated thereby and to perform all of the
terms and conditions thereof to be performed by it. The
execution and delivery of each of the Partnership Ancillary Documents, the
consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby and the performance
of all of the terms and conditions thereof to be performed by each of the
Partnership Parties which is a party thereto have been duly authorized and
approved, by all requisite limited partnership action or limited liability
company action, as applicable, of each such party. When
executed and delivered by each of the Partnership Parties party thereto,
each Partnership Ancillary Document will constitute a valid and legally
binding obligation of each of the Partnership Parties that is a party
thereto, enforceable against each such Partnership Party in accordance
with its terms, except as such enforcement may be limited by applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance
or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights and
remedies generally and by general principles of equity (whether applied in
a proceeding at law or in equity).
|
24
4.3
|
No Conflict;
Consents
|
Except as
set forth on Disclosure Schedule
4.3:
(a)
|
the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Partnership
Parties or the execution, delivery and performance by the Partnership
Parties of any of the Partnership Ancillary Documents will not, and the
fulfillment and compliance with the terms and conditions hereof and
thereof and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby will not, (i) violate, conflict with any of, result in any
breach of, or require the consent of any Person under, the terms,
conditions or provisions of the certificate of limited partnership,
certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement, agreement
of limited partnership or other equivalent governing instruments of any
Partnership Party; (ii) conflict with or violate any provision of
any Applicable Law applicable to any Partnership Party;
(iii) conflict with, result in a breach of, constitute a default
under (whether with notice or the lapse of time or both), or accelerate or
permit the acceleration of the performance required by, or require any
consent, authorization or approval under, or result in the suspension,
termination or cancellation of, or in a right of suspension, termination
or cancellation of, any indenture, mortgage, agreement, contract,
commitment, license, concession, permit, lease, joint venture or other
agreement or instrument to which any of the Partnership Parties is a party
or by which either of them is bound or to which any of their property is
subject; or (iv) result in the creation of any Lien (other than Permitted
Liens) on any of the Partnership Parties’ assets, except in the case of
clauses
(ii) or (iii), for
those items which, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a
Partnership Material Adverse Effect;
and
|
(b)
|
no
consent, approval, license, permit, order or authorization of any
Governmental Authority or other Person is required to be obtained or made
by the Partnership Parties in connection with the execution, delivery, and
performance of this Agreement and the Partnership Ancillary Documents or
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby,
except (i) as have been waived or obtained or with respect to which
the time for asserting such right has expired or (ii) for those that
individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Partnership Material
Adverse Effect (including such consents, approvals, orders or Permits that
are not customarily obtained prior to the Closing) and are reasonably
expected to be obtained in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past practice following the
Closing.
|
25
4.4
|
Brokerage
Arrangements
|
None of
the Partnership Parties have entered (directly or indirectly) into any agreement
with any person, firm or corporation that would obligate any of the Contributing
Parties, any of their Affiliates (other than the Partnership Parties), any CIG
Entity or any SNG Entity to pay any commission, brokerage or “finder’s fee” or
other fee in connection with this Agreement, the Contribution Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.
4.5
|
Litigation
|
There are
no (i) civil, criminal or administrative actions, suits, claims, hearings,
arbitrations, investigations or proceedings pending or, to the Partnership
Parties’ Knowledge, threatened that (a) alleges the invalidity or
unenforceability of any of the Partnership Parties’ obligations under this
Agreement or any of the Partnership Ancillary Documents or (b) seeks to
prevent or delay the consummation by the Partnership Parties of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or any of the Partnership Ancillary Documents; or
(ii) judgments, orders, decrees or injunctions of any Governmental
Authority, whether at law or in equity, that (a) alleges the invalidity or
unenforceability of any of the Partnership Parties’ obligations under this
Agreement or any of the Partnership Ancillary Documents or (b) seeks to
prevent or delay the consummation by the Partnership Parties of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or any of the Partnership Ancillary Documents,
except in each case of (i) and (ii) of this Section 4.5, for those
items that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Partnership
Material Adverse Effect.
4.6
|
Valid Issuance;
Listing;
Authorization; Private
Placement
|
(a)
|
The
Common Units issued as Unit Consideration and the limited partner
interests represented thereby have been duly authorized by the Partnership
pursuant to the Partnership Agreement and, when issued and delivered to
the Contributing Parties or their designee(s) in accordance with the terms
of this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid (to the extent
required by the Partnership Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such
nonassessability may be affected by Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of
the Delaware LP Act) and will be free of any and all Liens and
restrictions on transfer, other than restrictions on transfer under the
Partnership Agreement and under applicable state and federal securities
laws.
|
(b)
|
The
Partnership’s currently outstanding Common Units are listed on the NYSE,
and the Partnership has not received any notice of
delisting.
|
(c)
|
Each
Promissory Note has been duly authorized by the Partnership on behalf of
the Borrower and when executed and delivered pursuant to this Agreement
each Promissory Note will constitute a valid and legally binding
obligation of the Borrower, enforceable against the Borrower, in
accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general
applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general
equitable principles regardless of whether enforcement is sought in law or
equity.
|
26
(d)
|
Assuming
the accuracy of the representations set forth in Section 3.17 and
the performance by the Contributing Parties of their obligations
hereunder, the offer and sale of the Unit Consideration and each
Promissory Note, if any, in the manner contemplated by this Agreement will
be exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act by
reason of Section 4(2) thereof.
|
4.7
|
SEC
Reports
|
Since
December 31, 2007, (i) the Partnership has timely filed all SEC Reports required
to be filed, (ii) all filings by the Partnership Parties with the SEC, at the
time filed (in the case of documents filed pursuant to the Securities Exchange
Act) or when declared effective by the SEC (in the case of registration
statements filed under the Securities Act) complied in all material respects
with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Securities
Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder, (iii) to the
Knowledge of the Partnership Parties no such filing, at the time described
above, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any
material fact required to be stated therein in order to make the statements
contained therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, and (iv) all financial statements contained or incorporated by
reference therein, complied as to form when filed in all material respects with
the rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, were prepared in
accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods
covered thereby (except for changes in accounting principles disclosed therein)
and present fairly in all material respects the financial condition of the
Partnership Parties and the Partnership Parties’ subsidiaries, as applicable, as
of such dates and the results of operations, as applicable, of the Partnership
Parties and the Partnership Parties’ subsidiaries, as the case may be, for such
periods.
4.8
|
Waivers and
Disclaimers
|
NOTWITHSTANDING
ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY CONTAINED IN THIS AGREEMENT AND THE PARTNERSHIP
ANCILLARY DOCUMENTS, EXCEPT FOR THE EXPRESS REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES AND
OTHER COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS MADE BY THE PARTNERSHIP PARTIES IN THIS
AGREEMENT, THE PARTNERSHIP PARTIES HAVE NOT MADE, DO NOT MAKE, AND SPECIFICALLY
NEGATE AND DISCLAIM ANY REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES, PROMISES, COVENANTS,
AGREEMENTS, OR GUARANTIES OF ANY KIND OR CHARACTER WHATSOEVER, WHETHER EXPRESS,
IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, ORAL OR WRITTEN, PAST OR PRESENT REGARDING THE
TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT PROVIDED IN THIS
AGREEMENT OR IN THE PARTNERSHIP ANCILLARY DOCUMENTS, WITH RESPECT TO THE
TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, NEITHER THE PARTNERSHIP PARTIES NOR ANY OF
THEIR AFFILIATES SHALL BE LIABLE OR BOUND IN ANY MANNER BY ANY VERBAL OR WRITTEN
STATEMENTS, REPRESENTATIONS OR INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE PARTNERSHIP PARTIES
FURNISHED BY ANY AGENT, EMPLOYEE, SERVANT OR THIRD PARTY. THE
PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION 4.8 HAVE BEEN
NEGOTIATED BY THE PARTIES AFTER DUE CONSIDERATION AND ARE INTENDED TO BE A
COMPLETE EXCLUSION AND NEGATION OF ANY REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, WHETHER
EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, WITH RESPECT TO THE PARTNERSHIP PARTIES THAT MAY
ARISE PURSUANT TO ANY LAW NOW OR HEREAFTER IN EFFECT, OR OTHERWISE, EXCEPT AS
SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT.
27
ARTICLE 5
ADDITIONAL
AGREEMENTS,
COVENANTS,
RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS
5.1
|
Operation of
CIG and
SNG
|
Except as
provided in this Agreement or the Contributing Parties Ancillary Documents or as
consented to by the Partnership Parties, during the period from the date of this
Agreement through the Closing Date, each Contributing Party shall cause each of
CIG and SNG to (a) conduct its businesses and operations in the usual and
ordinary course thereof, consistent with past practices thereof; and (b) use
commercially reasonable efforts to preserve, maintain and protect its assets,
businesses and operations; provided, however, the Contributing
Parties shall not, to the extent commercially unreasonable, be required to make
any payments or enter into any contractual arrangements or understandings to
satisfy the foregoing obligations in this Section 5.1.
5.2
|
Supplemental
Disclosure
|
As soon
as reasonably practical of any Contributing Party obtaining Knowledge of a
relevant disclosure, but in all cases no later than three Business Days prior to
Closing, by written notice to the Partnership, the Contributing Parties shall
supplement or amend the Disclosure Schedules to this Agreement for matters
which, if existing or known at the date of this Agreement, would have been
required to be set forth or described in the Disclosure
Schedules. For all purposes of this Agreement, including for purposes
of determining whether the conditions set forth in Article 6
have been fulfilled, the Disclosure Schedules shall be deemed to include only
that information contained therein on the date of this Agreement and shall be
deemed to exclude all information contained in any supplement or amendment to
the Disclosure Schedules, and if the Closing shall occur, then all matters
disclosed pursuant to any such supplement or amendment at or prior to the
Closing shall not be waived and Partnership Parties shall be entitled to make a
claim thereon pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
5.3
|
Access to Books and
Records
|
(a)
|
The
Contributing Parties shall afford the Partnership Parties and their
authorized representatives reasonable access during normal business hours
to the financial, title, Tax, corporate, partnership and legal materials
and operating data and information relating to each CIG Entity and SNG
Entity and their assets, operations and businesses and shall furnish to
the Partnership Parties such other information as they may reasonably
request, unless any such access and disclosure would violate the terms of
any agreement to which the Contributing Parties, any of their Affiliates,
any CIG Entity or SNG Entity is bound or any Applicable
Law.
|
28
(b)
|
The
Partnership shall afford the Contributing Parties and their authorized
representatives reasonable access during normal business hours to the
financial, title, Tax, corporate, partnership and legal materials and
operating data and information relating to the Partnership and shall
furnish to the Contributing Parties such other information as they may
reasonably request, unless any such access and disclosure would violate
the terms of any agreement to which the Partnership or any of its
Affiliates is bound or any Applicable
Law.
|
5.4
|
Cooperation; Further
Assurances
|
(a)
|
The
Contributing Parties shall cooperate with the Partnership Parties to
assist in identifying all Permits as may be necessary to own the Subject
Interest.
|
(b)
|
The
Contributing Parties and the Partnership Parties shall use their
respective commercially reasonable efforts (i) to obtain all
approvals and consents required by or necessary for the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents, and
(ii) to ensure that all of the conditions to its respective
obligations contained in Sections 6.1 and 6.2,
respectively, are satisfied as soon as reasonably
practical. Each of the Parties acknowledges that certain
actions may be necessary with respect to the matters and actions
contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents such as making
notifications and obtaining consents or approvals or other clearances that
are material to the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby,
and each agrees to take all appropriate action and to do all things
necessary, proper or advisable under Applicable Law to make effective the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents;
provided, however, that nothing
in this Agreement will require any Party to hold separate or make any
divestiture not expressly contemplated herein of any asset or otherwise
agree to any restriction on its operations or other burdensome condition
which would in any such case be material to its assets, liabilities or
business in order to obtain any consent or approval or other clearance
required by this Agreement or any Ancillary
Document.
|
(c)
|
Without
limiting Section
5.4(b), the
Partnership shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to consummate
the Partnership Financing Transactions on terms that are commercially
reasonable to the Partnership.
|
(d)
|
The
Partnership shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to refinance or
repay in full any and all debt and accrued interest thereon outstanding
under any Promissory Note within 24 months of the Closing and cooperate
with the Contributing Parties in their sale or assignment of the
Promissory Notes should the Contributing Parties desire to sell or assign
the Promissory Notes.
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29
5.5
|
Admission of
Partnership as Partner
|
In
accordance with Existing CIG Partnership Agreement and with respect of the CIG
Subject Interest, the Management Committee of CIG has consented to the admission
of the Partnership or its designee as the partner of CIG and, in accordance with
Existing SNG Partnership Agreement and with respect of the SNG Subject Interest,
the Management Committee of SNG has consented to the admission of the
Partnership or its designee as the partner of SNG, with such admissions to be
effective promptly after Closing.
5.6
|
Cash Pooling
Transactions
|
The
applicable Parties will (and will cause their controlled Affiliates to)
implement the “Cash Pooling Transactions”, which will consist of the
following:
(a)
|
El
Paso will promptly repay amounts owed to CIG under the Cash Pooling
Arrangements equal to the amount necessary to fund CIG’s Growth Capital
Requirements for the period from the Effective Time to September 30, 2008,
provided such repayments shall not exceed $100
million;
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(b)
|
CIG
will dividend a portion of the receivable amount owed by El Paso to CIG
under the Cash Pooling Arrangement in an amount equal to $300 million,
with such dividend being made to each of EP Noric and EPPP CIG on or
before the Closing in amount equal to their respective Ownership
Percentage, EPPP CIG will dividend its portion of the receivable amount to
the Operating Company, and El Paso will enter into a demand note agreement
with the Operating Company for payment of that receivable
amount;
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(c)
|
Contemporaneously
with the relevant repayments and repurchases, El Paso will repay $34
million to SNG under the Cash Pooling Arrangements and SNG will fully use
those amounts to repurchase its outstanding debt securities and to pay any
premiums associated with such repurchases, with such payments and
repurchases being scheduled to occur on or before September 30, 2008;
and
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(d)
|
In
addition to the repayment required by Section 5.6(c),
El Paso will promptly repay amounts owed to SNG under the Cash Pooling
Arrangements equal to the amount necessary to fund SNG’s Growth Capital
Requirements for the period from the Effective Time to September 30, 2008,
provided such repayments shall not exceed $10
million.
|
The
Parties will (and will cause their controlled Affiliates to) cooperate with El
Paso, CIG and SNG in the execution and implementation of the Cash Pooling
Transactions, as well as deliver such instruments and documents and take such
other actions as they may reasonably request to consummate more fully and
effectively the Cash Pooling Transactions. For avoidance of doubt, in
addition to the Cash Pooling Transactions specified above, the Parties can
continue to utilize the Cash Pooling Arrangements to fund CIG and SNG daily
operational requirements and distribute daily excess cash flows in the ordinary
course of business and consistent with past business practices.
30
5.7
|
Growth Capital; Debt
Balance
|
The
Contributing Parties agree to cause:
(a)
|
CIG’s
Growth Capital Requirements for the period from the Effective Time through
September 30, 2008 to not exceed $100
million;
|
(b)
|
SNG’s
Growth Capital Requirements for the period from the Effective Time
through September 30, 2008 to not exceed $10 million;
and
|
(c)
|
the
Debt Amount of each of CIG and SNG to not exceed $475 million and
$911 million,
respectively, as of September 30,
2008.
|
ARTICLE 6
CONDITIONS
TO CLOSING
6.1
|
Conditions to the
Obligation of the Partnership
Parties
|
The
obligations of the Partnership Parties to proceed with the Closing contemplated
hereby are subject to the satisfaction on or prior to the Closing Date of all of
the following conditions, any one or more of which may be waived, in whole or in
part, by the Partnership Parties:
(a)
|
The
representations and warranties of the Contributing Parties set forth in
this Agreement shall be true and correct in all respects (without giving
effect to any supplement or amendment to the Disclosure Schedules or any
qualification as to materiality, Material Adverse Effect, value or other
monetary amounts, or concepts of similar import) as of the date of this
Agreement and on the Closing Date as if made on such date except for any
inaccuracies, violations or breaches that would not, individually or in
the aggregate, constitute a Material Adverse Effect. The
Contributing Parties, SNG and CIG shall have performed or complied in all
material respects with all obligations and covenants required by this
Agreement to be performed or complied with by them by the time of the
Closing. The Contributing Parties, SNG and CIG shall have
delivered to the Partnership Parties a certificate, dated as of the
Closing Date and signed by an authorized officer on behalf of each of the
Contributing Parties, SNG and CIG confirming the foregoing matters set
forth in this Section 6.1(a) (the
“Contributing Parties
Closing Certificate”).
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(b)
|
All
material filings with, and material consents, approvals, orders and
Permits of, any Governmental Authority to be obtained by the Contributing
Parties, SNG or CIG for the consummation of the transactions contemplated
in this Agreement shall have been made and obtained, and all waiting
periods with respect to material filings made with Governmental
Authorities in contemplation of the consummation of the transactions
described herein shall have expired or been
terminated.
|
(c)
|
All
material consents of any third party, other than any Governmental
Authority and other than as provided in Section 5.5, to be
obtained by the Contributing Parties, SNG or CIG for the consummation of
the transactions contemplated in this Agreement shall have been made and
obtained, including any material consents set forth on Disclosure
Schedule 3.3.
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31
(d)
|
No
statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, temporary restraining
order, preliminary or permanent injunction, judgment or other order shall
have been enacted, entered, promulgated, enforced or issued by any
Governmental Authority, or other legal restraint or prohibition preventing
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby shall be in
effect, and no investigation, action or proceeding before a Governmental
Authority shall have been instituted or threatened challenging or seeking
to restrain or prohibit the transactions contemplated
hereby.
|
(e)
|
The
Conflicts Committee shall have received the opinion, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Conflicts Committee, of Tudor, Pickering, Xxxx &
Co. Securities, Inc., the financial advisor to the Conflicts Committee,
that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are fair to the
Partnership’s public unitholders from a financial point of
view.
|
(f)
|
Since
the date of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred a Material
Adverse Effect.
|
(g)
|
The
Contributing Parties shall have delivered to the Partnership Parties all
of the documents, certificates and other instruments required to be
delivered under, and otherwise complied with the provisions of Section 2.3(b).
|
6.2
|
Conditions to the
Obligation of the Contributing
Parties
|
The
obligations of the Contributing Parties to proceed with the Closing contemplated
hereby is subject to the satisfaction on or prior to the Closing Date of all of
the following conditions, any one or more of which may be waived in writing, in
whole or in part, by the Contributing Parties:
(a)
|
The
representations and warranties of the Partnership Parties set forth in
this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects (without
giving effect to any supplement or amendment to the Disclosure Schedules
or any qualification as to materiality, Partnership Material Adverse
Effect, value or other monetary amounts, or concepts of similar import) as
of the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date as if made on such
date, except for representations and warranties that are made as of a
specific date or time, which shall be true and correct only as of such
specific date or time, except for any inaccuracies, violations or breaches
that would not, individually or in the aggregate, constitute a Partnership
Material Adverse Effect. The Partnership Parties shall have
performed or complied in all material respects with all obligations and
covenants required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by
them by the time of the Closing. The Partnership Parties shall
have delivered to the Contributing Parties a certificate, dated as of the
Closing Date and signed by an authorized officer on behalf of the
Partnership Parties confirming the foregoing matters set forth in this
Section 6.2(a) (the
“Partnership Parties
Closing Certificate”).
|
(b)
|
All
material filings with, and material consents, approvals, orders and
Permits of, any Governmental Authority to be obtained by the Partnership
Parties for the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this
Agreement shall have been made and obtained, and all waiting periods with
respect to material filings made with Governmental Authorities in
contemplation of the consummation of the transactions described herein
shall have expired or been
terminated.
|
32
(c)
|
All
material consents of any Person not a party hereto, other than any
Governmental Authority and other than as provided in Section 5.5, to be
obtained by the Partnership Parties for the consummation of the
transactions contemplated in this Agreement shall have been made and
obtained.
|
(d)
|
No
statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, temporary restraining
order, preliminary or permanent injunction, judgment or other order shall
have been enacted, entered, promulgated, enforced or issued by any
Governmental Authority, or other legal restraint or prohibition preventing
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby shall be in
effect, and no investigation, action or proceeding before a court or any
other governmental agency or body shall have been instituted or threatened
challenging or seeking to restrain or prohibit the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
|
(e)
|
Since
the date of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred a Partnership
Material Adverse Effect.
|
(f)
|
The
Partnership Parties shall have delivered to the Contributing Parties all
of the documents, certificates and other instruments required to be
delivered under, and otherwise complied with the provisions of, Section 2.3(c).
|
ARTICLE 7
TAX
MATTERS
7.1
|
Liability for
Taxes
|
(a)
|
The
Contributing Parties shall be liable for, and shall indemnify and hold the
Partnership Parties, CIG, SNG and their respective subsidiaries harmless
from the Contributing Parties’ Ownership Percentage of any Taxes, together
with any costs, expenses, losses or damages, including reasonable expenses
of investigation and attorneys’ and accountants’ fees and expenses,
arising out of or incident to the determination, assessment or collection
of such Taxes (“Tax
Losses”), (i) imposed on or incurred by CIG, SNG or their
respective assets by reason of Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-6 or
any analogous state, local or foreign law or regulation which is
attributable to CIG or SNG or the Contributing Parties having been a
member of any consolidated, combined or unitary group for the period prior
to and including the Closing Date, (ii) any Tax Losses (other than Tax
Losses described in clause (i) above) imposed on or incurred by or with
respect to CIG, SNG or their respective assets with respect to the period
prior to and including the Closing Date or (iii) attributable to a
breach by the Contributing Parties of any representation, warranty or
covenant with respect to Taxes in this
Agreement.
|
33
(b)
|
The
Partnership Parties shall be liable for, and shall indemnify and hold the
Contributing Parties and their Affiliates harmless from any Tax Losses
attributable to a breach by the Partnership Parties of any covenant with
respect to Taxes in this Agreement.
|
(c)
|
Whenever
it is necessary for purposes of this Article 7
to determine the amount of any Taxes imposed on or incurred by CIG or SNG
for a taxable period beginning before and ending after the Closing Date
which is allocable to the period prior to and including the Closing Date,
the determination shall be made, in the case of property or ad valorem taxes or
franchise taxes (which are measured by, or based solely upon capital, debt
or a combination of capital and debt), on a per diem basis and, in
the case of other Taxes, by assuming that such pre-Closing Date period
constitutes a separate taxable period applicable to CIG or SNG and by
taking into account the actual taxable events occurring during such period
(except that exemptions, allowances and deductions for a taxable period
beginning before and ending after the Closing Date that are calculated on
an annual or periodic basis, such as the deduction for depreciation, shall
be apportioned to the period prior to and including the Closing Date
ratably on a per
diem basis). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
herein, any franchise Tax paid or payable with respect to CIG or SNG shall
be allocated to the taxable period during which the income, operations,
assets or capital comprising the base of such Tax is measured, regardless
of whether the right to do business for another taxable period is obtained
by the payment of such franchise
Tax.
|
(d)
|
If
any of the Partnership Parties or their Affiliates receives a refund of
any Taxes that any of the Contributing Parties is responsible for
hereunder, or if the Contributing Parties or their Affiliates receive a
refund of any Taxes that any of the Partnership Parties is responsible for
hereunder, the party receiving such refund shall, within ninety (90) days
after receipt of such refund, remit it to the party who has responsibility
for such Taxes hereunder. The Parties shall cooperate in order to take all
necessary steps to claim any such
refund.
|
(e)
|
The
Parties agree that any indemnification or payment obligation of the
Contributing Parties with respect to Taxes of CIG or SNG shall be limited
to the Contributing Parties’ Ownership Percentage of such indemnification
or payment obligation.
|
7.2
|
Tax
Returns.
|
(a)
|
With
respect to any Tax Return covering a taxable period ending on or before
the Closing Date that is required to be filed after the Closing Date with
respect to CIG or SNG, the Contributing Parties shall cause such Tax
Return to be prepared, shall cause to be included in such Tax Return all
items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit (“Tax Items”) required to
be included therein, shall cause such Tax Return to be filed timely with
the appropriate Taxing Authority, and shall be responsible for the timely
payment (and entitled to any refund) of their Ownership Percentage of
Taxes due with respect to the period covered by such Tax
Return.
|
(b)
|
With
respect to any Tax Return covering a taxable period beginning on or before
the Closing Date and ending after the Closing Date that is required to be
filed after the Closing Date with respect to CIG or SNG or their
respective assets, the Contributing Parties shall cause such Tax Return to
be prepared, shall cause to be included in such Tax Return all Tax Items
required to be included therein, shall furnish a copy of such Tax Return
to the Partnership Parties, shall file timely such Tax Return with the
appropriate Taxing Authority, and shall be responsible for the timely
payment of their Ownership Percentage of Taxes due with respect to the
period covered by such Tax Return allocable to the period prior to and
including the Closing Date.
|
34
(c)
|
Any
Tax Return not yet filed for any taxable period that begins before the
Closing Date with respect to the assets or operations of CIG or SNG shall
be prepared in accordance with past Tax accounting practices used with
respect to the Tax Returns in question (unless such past practices are no
longer permissible under the Applicable Law), and to the extent any items
are not covered by past practices (or in the event such past practices are
no longer permissible under the applicable tax law), in accordance with
reasonable tax accounting practices selected by the filing party with
respect to such Tax Return under this Agreement with the consent (not to
be unreasonably withheld or delayed) of the non-filing
party.
|
7.3
|
Tax Treatment of
Indemnity Payments
|
All
indemnification payments made under this Agreement, including any payment made
under this Article 7,
shall be treated as increases or decreases to the Cash Consideration for Tax
purposes.
7.4
|
Transfer
Taxes
|
The
Contributing Parties shall file all necessary Tax Returns and other
documentation with respect to all transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp,
registration and other similar Taxes and fees arising out of or in connection
with the transactions effected pursuant to this Agreement (the “Transfer Taxes”) and shall be
liable for and shall timely pay such Transfer Taxes. If required by
Applicable Law, the Partnership Parties shall, and shall cause their Affiliates
to, join in the execution of any such Tax Returns and other
documentation.
7.5
|
Survival
|
Anything
to the contrary in this Agreement notwithstanding, the representations,
warranties, covenants, agreements, rights and obligations of the Parties with
respect to any Tax matter covered by this Agreement shall survive the Closing
and shall not terminate until ninety (90) days after the expiration of the
applicable statutes of limitations (including all periods of extension and
tolling) applicable to such Tax matter.
7.6
|
Conflict
|
In the
event of a conflict between the provisions of this Article 7
and any other provisions of this Agreement, the provisions of this Article 7
shall control.
35
ARTICLE 8
TERMINATION
8.1
|
Events of
Termination
|
This
Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing Date:
(a)
|
by
mutual written consent of the
Parties;
|
(b)
|
by
either the Partnership Parties, on the one hand, or Contributing Parties,
on the other hand, in writing after November 1, 2008, if the Closing has
not occurred by such date, provided that as of
such date the terminating party is not in default under this
Agreement;
|
(c)
|
by
either the Partnership Parties, on the one hand, or the Contributing
Parties, on the other hand, in writing without prejudice to other rights
and remedies which the terminating party or its Affiliates may have
(provided the terminating party and its Affiliates are not otherwise in
material default or breach of this Agreement, or have not failed or
refused to close without justification hereunder), if (i) the other
party has materially failed to perform its covenants or agreements
contained herein required to be performed on or prior to the Closing Date,
or (ii) there is one or more inaccuracies, violations or breaches of
the representations or warranties of the other party contained herein and
such inaccuracies, violations and breaches would constitute, as
applicable, a Material Adverse Effect or a Partnership Material Adverse
Effect, as applicable; provided, however, that in the
case of clause
(i) or (ii), the
defaulting party shall have a period of ten (10) days following written
notice from the non-defaulting party to cure any breach of this Agreement,
if such breach is curable;
|
(d)
|
by
either the Partnership Parties, on the one hand, or the Contributing
Parties, on the other hand, in writing, without liability, if there shall
be any non-appealable order, writ, injunction or decree of any
Governmental Authority binding on any of the Parties, which prohibits or
restrains them from consummating the transactions contemplated hereby,
provided that the
Parties shall have used their commercially reasonable efforts to have any
such order, writ, injunction or decree lifted and the same shall not have
been lifted within thirty (30) days after entry by any such Governmental
Authority;
|
(e)
|
by
the Contributing Parties if any of the conditions set forth in Section 6.2 have
become incapable of fulfillment, and have not been waived in writing by
the Contributing Parties; or
|
(f)
|
by
the Partnership Parties if any of the conditions set forth in Section 6.1 have
become incapable of fulfillment, and have not been waived in writing by
the Partnership Parties;
|
8.2
|
Effect of
Termination
|
If a
party terminates this Agreement as provided in Section 8.1 above, such
termination shall be without liability and none of the provisions of this
Agreement shall remain effective or enforceable, except for those contained in
this Section 8.2 and Article 10. Notwithstanding
and in addition to the foregoing, in the event that this Agreement is terminated
pursuant to Section 8.1(c) or if any
party is otherwise in breach of this Agreement, such termination shall not
relieve any party of any liability for a willful inaccuracy, violation or breach
of any representation or warranty of such party or a breach of any covenant or
agreement of such party under this Agreement or be deemed a waiver of any
available remedy (including specific performance, if available) for any such
breach.
36
ARTICLE 9
INDEMNIFICATION
UPON CLOSING
9.1
|
Indemnification of the
Partnership Parties
|
Subject
to the limitations set forth in this Agreement, the Contributing Parties, from
and after the Closing Date, shall indemnify, defend and hold the Partnership
Parties, their subsidiaries and their respective securityholders, directors,
officers, and employees (and the officers, directors and employees of the
General Partner but otherwise excluding any of the Contributing Parties and
their Affiliates) (the “Partnership Indemnified
Parties”) harmless from and against any and all Damages suffered or
incurred by any Partnership Indemnified Party as a result of or arising out of
(i) any inaccuracy, violation or breach of a representation or warranty of
the Contributing Parties, SNG or CIG in this Agreement or any Contributing
Parties’ Ancillary Document, (ii) any breach of any agreement or covenant on the
part of the Contributing Parties, SNG or CIG made under Section 5.1 of this
Agreement or (iii) any breach of any agreement or covenant, other than an
agreement or covenant made under Section 5.1 of this Agreement, on the part of
the Contributing Parties, SNG or CIG made under this Agreement or any
Contributing Parties’ Ancillary Document or in connection with the transaction
contemplated hereby or thereby.
9.2
|
Indemnification of the
Contributing Parties, SNG and
CIG
|
Subject
to the limitations set forth in this Agreement, the Partnership Parties shall
indemnify, defend and hold the Contributing Parties, SNG, CIG, their Affiliates
(other than any of the Partnership Indemnified Parties) and their respective
securityholders, directors, officers, and employees (the “Contributing Indemnified
Parties”) harmless from and against any and all Damages suffered or
incurred by the Contributing Indemnified Parties as a result of or arising out
of (i) any inaccuracy, violation or breach of a representation or warranty
of the Partnership Parties in this Agreement or any Partnership Ancillary
Document, or (ii) any breach of any agreement or covenant on the part of the
Partnership Parties made under this Agreement or any Partnership Ancillary
Document or in connection with the transaction contemplated hereby or
thereby.
9.3
|
Tax
Indemnification
|
With the
exception of any inaccuracy, violation or breach of the representations and
warranties of the Contributing Parties contained in Section 3.9, nothing in
this Article 9
shall apply to liability with respect to Taxes, the liability with respect to
which shall be as set forth in Article 7.
37
9.4
|
Survival:
|
All the
provisions of this Agreement shall survive the Closing, notwithstanding any
investigation at any time made by or on behalf of any party hereto, provided that the
representations and warranties set forth in Article 3
and Article 4
and in any certificate delivered in connection herewith with respect to any of
those representations and warranties, and the covenants and agreements made
under Section
5.1, shall terminate and expire at 12:01 a.m., Houston, Texas time, on
April 1, 2010, except (a) the representations and warranties of the
Contributing Parties set forth in Section 3.9 shall survive
until 30 days after the expiration of the applicable statutes of limitations
(including all periods of extension and tolling), (b) the representations
and warranties of the Contributing Parties set forth in Section 3.10 shall
terminate and expire on the third anniversary of the Closing Date, (c) the
representations and warranties of the Contributing Parties set forth in Sections 3.1, 3.2, 3.4, 3.16 and 3.17 shall
survive forever and (d) the representations and warranties of the
Partnership Parties set forth in Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.4 and 4.6 shall survive
forever. After a representation and warranty has terminated and
expired, no indemnification shall or may be sought pursuant to Section
9.1(i)-(ii) or Section 9.2(i) by any Person who would have been entitled
pursuant to this Article 9 to
indemnification on the basis of that representation and warranty prior to its
termination and expiration, provided that in the case of
each representation and warranty that shall terminate and expire as provided in
this Section 9.4, no claim
presented in writing for indemnification pursuant to this Article 9 on
the basis of that representation and warranty prior to its termination and
expiration shall be affected in any way by that termination and
expiration. The indemnification obligations under this Article 9 or
elsewhere in this Agreement shall apply regardless of whether any suit or action
results solely or in part from the active, passive or concurrent negligence or
strict liability of the indemnified party. Except as otherwise
provided in this Section 9.4, the
covenants and agreements entered into pursuant to this Agreement shall survive
the Closing.
9.5
|
Demands
|
Each
indemnified party hereunder agrees that promptly upon its discovery of facts
giving rise to a claim for indemnity under the provisions of this Agreement,
including receipt by it of notice of any demand, assertion, claim, action or
proceeding, judicial or otherwise, by any third party (such claims for indemnity
involving third party claims being collectively referred to herein as the “Indemnity Claim”), with
respect to any matter as to which it claims to be entitled to indemnity under
the provisions of this Agreement, it will give prompt notice thereof in writing
to the indemnifying party, together with a detailed statement of such
information respecting any of the foregoing as it shall have and all supporting
evidence, including any Damages already incurred and its detailed estimate of
any Damages to be incurred in the future. Such notice shall include a
formal demand for indemnification under this Agreement.
If the
indemnified party knowingly failed to notify the indemnifying party thereof in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement in sufficient time to permit
the indemnifying party or its counsel to defend against an Indemnity Claim and
to make a timely response thereto, the indemnifying party’s indemnity obligation
relating to such Indemnity Claim shall be limited to the extent that such
failure has actually prejudiced or damaged the indemnifying party with respect
to that Indemnity Claim.
38
9.6
|
Right to Contest and
Defend»
|
The
indemnifying party shall be entitled, at its cost and expense, to contest and
defend by all appropriate legal proceedings any Indemnity Claim for which it is
called upon to indemnify the indemnified party under the provisions of this
Agreement; provided,
that notice of the intention to so contest shall be delivered by the
indemnifying party to the indemnified party within twenty (20) days from the
date of receipt by the indemnifying party of notice by the indemnified party of
the assertion of the Indemnity Claim. Any such contest may be
conducted in the name and on behalf of the indemnifying party or the indemnified
party as may be appropriate. Such contest shall be conducted by
reputable counsel employed by the indemnifying party and not reasonably objected
to by the indemnified party, but the indemnified party shall have the right but
not the obligation to participate in such proceedings and to be represented by
counsel of its own choosing at its sole cost and expense.
The
indemnifying party shall have full authority to determine all action to be taken
with respect thereto; provided, however, that the
indemnifying party will not have the authority to subject the indemnified party
to any obligation whatsoever, other than the performance of purely ministerial
tasks or obligations not involving material expense or injunctive
relief. If the indemnifying party does not elect to contest any such
Indemnity Claim, the indemnifying party shall be bound by the result obtained
with respect thereto by the indemnified party. If the indemnifying
party assumes the defense of an Indemnity Claim, the indemnified party shall
agree to any settlement, compromise or discharge of an Indemnity Claim that the
indemnifying party may recommend and that by its terms obligates the
indemnifying party to pay the full amount of the liability in connection with
such Indemnity Claim, which releases the indemnified party completely in
connection with such Indemnity Claim and which would not otherwise adversely
affect the indemnified party as reasonably determined by the indemnified
party.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the indemnifying party shall not be entitled to assume the
defense of any Indemnity Claim (and shall be liable for the reasonable fees and
expenses of counsel incurred by the indemnified party in defending such
Indemnity Claim) if the Indemnity Claim seeks an order, injunction or other
equitable relief or relief for other than money damages against the indemnified
party which the indemnified party reasonably determines, after conferring with
its outside counsel, cannot be separated from any related claim for money
damages. If such equitable relief or other relief portion of the
Indemnity Claim can be so separated from that for money damages, the
indemnifying party shall be entitled to assume the defense of the portion
relating to money damages.
9.7
|
Cooperation
|
If
requested by the indemnifying party, the indemnified party agrees to cooperate
with the indemnifying party and its counsel in contesting any Indemnity Claim
that the indemnifying party elects to contest or, if appropriate, in making any
counterclaim against the person asserting the Indemnity Claim, or any
cross-complaint against any person, and the indemnifying party will reimburse
the indemnified party for any expenses incurred by it in so
cooperating. At no cost or expense to the indemnified party, the
indemnifying party shall cooperate with the indemnified party and its counsel in
contesting any Indemnity Claim.
39
9.8
|
Right to
Participate
|
The
indemnified party agrees to afford the indemnifying party and its counsel the
opportunity to be present at, and to participate in, conferences with all
Persons, including Governmental Authorities, asserting any Indemnity Claim
against the indemnified party or conferences with representatives of or counsel
for such Persons.
9.9
|
Payment of
Damages
|
The
indemnification required hereunder shall be made by periodic payments of the
amount thereof during the course of the investigation or defense, within ten
(10) days as and when reasonably specific bills are received or loss, liability,
claim, damage or expense is incurred and reasonable evidence thereof is
delivered. In calculating any amount to be paid by an indemnifying
party by reason of the provisions of this Agreement, the amount shall be reduced
by (a) all insurance proceeds and any indemnification reimbursement proceeds
received from third parties credited to or received by the other party related
to the Damages and (b) any Tax benefit to be realized by the indemnified party
related to the Damages.
9.10
|
Limitations on
Indemnification
|
(a)
|
To
the extent that the Partnership Indemnified Parties are entitled to
indemnification for Damages pursuant to Section 9.1(i) and Section 9.1(ii), the
Contributing Parties shall be liable only for those Damages that in the
aggregate are in excess of 1.0% of the Aggregate Consideration (the “Deductible Amount”), and
then only to the extent of any such excess. In no event shall
the Contributing Parties’ aggregate liability to the Partnership
Indemnified Parties under Section 9.1(i) exceed 15%
of the Aggregate Consideration (the “Ceiling
Amount”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the
Deductible Amount shall not apply to inaccuracies, violations or breaches
of representations and warranties contained in Section 3.1, Section 3.2, Section 3.4, Section
3.14, Section
3.16 and
Section
3.17 and
(ii) the Ceiling Amount shall not apply to inaccuracies, violations
or breaches of representations and warranties contained in Section 3.2, Section 3.3, Section 3.4 and
Section
3.16
provided, the Contributing Parties’ aggregate liability for a breach of
Section 3.2, Section 3.3, Section 3.4 and
Section
3.16 shall
not exceed the amount of the Aggregate
Consideration.
|
(b)
|
To
the extent the Contributing Indemnified Parties are entitled to
indemnification for Damages pursuant to Section 9.2(i), the
Partnership Parties shall be liable only for those Damages which exceed,
in the aggregate, the Deductible Amount, and then only to the extent of
any such excess. In no event shall the Partnership Parties’
aggregate liability to the Contributing Indemnified Parties under Section 9.2(i) exceed the
Ceiling Amount. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the
Deductible Amount shall not apply to inaccuracies, violations or breaches
of representations and warranties contained in Section
4.1, Section 4.2 and
Section 4.4 and
(ii) the Ceiling Amount shall not apply to inaccuracies, violations or
breaches of representations and warranties contained in Section 4.2, Section 4.3 and
Section 4.4
provided, the Partnership Parties’ aggregate liability for a breach of
Section 4.2, Section 4.3 and
Section 4.4 shall
not exceed the amount of the Aggregate
Consideration.
|
40
(c)
|
Additionally,
neither the Partnership Parties, on the one hand, nor the Contributing
Parties, on the other hand, will be liable as an indemnitor under this
Agreement for any consequential, incidental, special, indirect or
exemplary damages suffered or incurred by the indemnified party or
parties.
|
(d)
|
The
Parties agree that any indemnification or payment obligation of the
Contributing Parties under Section 9.1(i) (to the
extent relating to an inaccuracy, violation or breach of a representation
or warranty in Section 3.1(b) or
in Sections 3.5 through
3.16)
relating to Damages suffered or incurred by the Partnership Indemnified
Parties, attributable to any CIG Entity or SNG Entity or its assets,
businesses or operations shall be limited to a proportionate share of such
Damages equal to 30% and 15%,
respectively.
|
(e)
|
The
Parties agree that the CIG Contributing Parties are solely responsible and
liable on a joint and several basis with respect to any indemnification or
payment obligation pursuant to this Article 9 relating to Damages suffered or
incurred by the Partnership Indemnified Parties associated with any of the
CIG Entities’ assets, businesses or operations and that the SNG
Contributing Parties are solely responsible and liable on a joint and
several basis with respect to any indemnification or payment obligation
pursuant to this Article 9 of the
Contributing Parties relating to Damages suffered or incurred by the
Partnership Indemnified Parties associated with any of the SNG Entities’
assets, businesses or operations. The Parties agree that the
Contributing Parties are jointly and severally liable for any
indemnification or payment obligation pursuant to this Article 9 of the Contributing Parties
relating to any remaining Damages suffered or incurred by the Partnership
Indemnified Parties that are not directly attributable to any CIG Entity,
SNG Entity or their respective assets, businesses or
operations.
|
9.11
|
Sole
Remedy
|
Should
the Closing occur, no party shall have liability under this Agreement, any of
the Ancillary Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby
except as is provided in Article 7 or
this Article 9
(other than claims or causes of action arising from fraud, and exclusive of
claims under applicable securities laws).
41
ARTICLE 10
MISCELLANEOUS
10.1
|
Expenses
|
Except as
otherwise provided herein and regardless of whether the transactions
contemplated hereby are consummated, each party hereto shall pay its own
expenses incident to this Agreement and all action taken in preparation for
carrying this Agreement into effect.
10.2
|
Notices
|
Any
notice, request, instruction, correspondence or other document to be given
hereunder by either party to the other (herein collectively called “Notice”) shall be in writing
and delivered in person or by courier service requiring acknowledgment of
receipt of delivery or by telecopier, as follows:
If to the
Contributing Parties, addressed to:
El Paso
Noric Investments III, LLC
c/o El Paso
Corporation
El Paso
Building
0000 Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxx 00000
Attention: General
Counsel
Telecopy: (000)
000-0000
El Paso SNG Holding
Company, L.L.C.
c/o El Paso
Corporation
El Paso
Building
0000 Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxx 00000
Attention:Chief Financial
Officer
Telecopy: (000)
000-0000
with a
copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx LLP
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx
0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx
00000
Attention: G. Xxxxxxx
X’Xxxxx
Telecopy: (000)
000-0000
42
If to the
Partnership Parties, addressed to:
El Paso
Pipeline Partners, LLC
c/o El Paso Pipeline
GP Company, L.L.C.
El Paso
Building
0000 Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxx 00000
Attention: General
Counsel
Telecopy: (000)
000-0000
with a
copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Akin Gump
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx & Xxxx LLP
0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx,
00xx
Xxxxx
Attention: J. Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx
Telecopy: (000)
000-0000
Notice
given by personal delivery or courier service shall be effective upon actual
receipt. Notice given by telecopier shall be confirmed by appropriate
answer back and shall be effective upon actual receipt if received during the
recipient’s normal business hours, or at the beginning of the recipient’s next
Business Day after receipt if not received during the recipient’s normal
business hours. Any party may change any address to which Notice is
to be given to it by giving Notice as provided above of such change of
address.
10.3
|
Governing
Law
|
This
Agreement shall be governed and construed in accordance with the substantive
laws of the State of Texas without reference to the Texas conflicts of law
principles.
10.4
|
Public
Statements
|
The
Parties shall consult with each other and no party shall issue any public
announcement or statement with respect to this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby without the consent of the other party, unless the party
desiring to make such announcement or statement, after seeking such consent from
the other parties, obtains advice from legal counsel that a public announcement
or statement is required by Applicable Law or stock exchange
regulations.
10.5
|
Entire Agreement;
Amendments and Waivers
|
(a)
|
This
Agreement and the Ancillary Documents constitute the entire agreement
among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede
all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the
Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. Each party
to this Agreement agrees that no other party to this Agreement (including
its agents and representatives) has made any representation, warranty,
covenant or agreement to or with such party relating to this Agreement or
the transactions contemplated hereby, other than those expressly set forth
herein and in the Ancillary
Documents.
|
43
(b)
|
No
supplement, modification or waiver of this Agreement shall be binding
unless executed in writing by each party to be bound
thereby. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement
shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provision hereof
(regardless of whether similar), nor shall any such waiver constitute a
continuing waiver unless otherwise expressly
provided.
|
10.6
|
Conflicting
Provisions
|
This
Agreement and the other Ancillary Documents, read as a whole, set forth the
Parties’ rights, responsibilities and liabilities with respect to the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. In the Agreement and the
Ancillary Documents, and as between them, specific provisions prevail over
general provisions. In the event of a conflict between this Agreement
and the Ancillary Documents, this Agreement shall control.
10.7
|
Binding Effect and
Assignment
|
This
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and
their respective permitted successors and assigns, but neither this Agreement
nor any of the rights, benefits or obligations hereunder shall be assigned or
transferred, by operation of law or otherwise, by any party hereto without the
prior written consent of each other party. Notwithstanding anything
in this Section
10.7, any Party
may (without seeking the consent of the other Parties) transfer or otherwise
alienate any of its rights, title, interest or obligations under this Agreement
in connection with (i) a transfer to an Affiliate which remains an Affiliate,
(ii) the granting of a pledge, mortgage, hypothecation, lien or other security
interest, (iii) the foreclosure (judicial or non-judicial) or other settlement
or rearrangement pursuant to or in connection with any transfer made pursuant to
(ii) above, (iv) a transfer in connection with the sale of all or substantially
all of the assets of such Party, if applicable, or (v) a merger, consolidation,
share exchange or other form of statutory reorganization with another Person if
such Party is the sole surviving Person. Nothing in this Agreement,
express or implied, is intended to confer upon any person or entity other than
the Parties and their respective permitted successors and assigns, any rights,
benefits or obligations hereunder.
10.8
|
Severability
|
If any
provision of the Agreement is rendered or declared illegal or unenforceable by
reason of any existing or subsequently enacted legislation or by decree of a
court of last resort, the Partnership Parties and the Contributing Parties shall
promptly meet and negotiate substitute provisions for those rendered or declared
illegal or unenforceable, but all of the remaining provisions of this Agreement
shall remain in full force and effect.
10.9
|
Interpretation
|
It is
expressly agreed by the Parties that neither this Agreement nor any of the
Ancillary Documents shall be construed against any party, and no consideration
shall be given or presumption made, on the basis of who drafted this Agreement,
any Ancillary Document or any provision hereof or thereof or who supplied the
form of this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Documents. Each party
agrees that this Agreement has been purposefully drawn and correctly reflects
its understanding of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and,
therefore, waives the application of any law, regulation, holding or rule of
construction providing that ambiguities in an agreement or other document will
be construed against the party drafting such agreement or document.
44
10.10
|
Headings and
Disclosure Schedules
|
The
headings of the several Articles and Sections herein are inserted for
convenience of reference only and are not intended to be a part of or to affect
the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. The Disclosure
Schedules and the Exhibits referred to herein are attached hereto and
incorporated herein by this reference, and unless the context expressly requires
otherwise, the Disclosure Schedules and such Exhibits are incorporated in the
definition of “Agreement.”
10.11
|
Multiple
Counterparts
|
This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be
deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
10.12
|
Action by Partnership
Parties
|
With respect
to any action, notice, consent, approval or waiver that is required to be taken
or given or that may be taken or given by the Partnership Parties prior to the
Closing Date, such action, notice, consent, approval or waiver shall be taken or
given by the Conflicts Committee on behalf of the Partnership
Parties.
10.13
|
Limitation on
Recourse
|
Except as
otherwise expressly provided to contrary in the immediately following sentence,
each of the Parties agree that the payment and performance of any obligations of
a party hereto shall be the obligations of party only and none of the other
Parties shall have any claim against or recourse to (whether by operation of law
or otherwise) any shareholder, member or partner of such Party in respect of the
obligations of such Party; provided that nothing in this
Section shall limit or impair the rights of the Parties to enforce their any
rights against such shareholder, member or partner set forth in this
Agreement.
10.14
|
Waiver of Limited Call
Right
|
EPP GP,
in its capacity as the sole general partner of the Partnership, hereby agrees
that, for a period of 24 months from the Closing Date, none of the General
Partner or any of its Affiliates (as such term is defined in the Partnership
Agreement) or any of their successors in interest will exercise any of its
rights under Article XV of the Partnership Agreement unless the 75% threshold
contemplated by such article is achieved without giving effect (in the numerator
or the denominator) to any of the Common Units constituting Unit Consideration
that then are beneficially owned (excluding the effect of any transactions for
which the primary purpose was to circumvent this provision) by the General
Partner or any of its affiliates, as contemplated by such article.
* * * * *
45
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first
written above.
EL
PASO CORPORATION
By:
Name:
Title:
EL
PASO NORIC INVESTMENTS III, L.L.C.
By:
Name:
Title:
COLORADO
INTERSTATE GAS COMPANY
By:
Name:
Title:
EL
PASO SNG HOLDING COMPANY, L.L.C.
By:
Name:
Title:
SOUTHERN
NATURAL GAS COMPANY
By:
Name:
Title:
47
EPPP
CIG GP HOLDINGS, L.L.C.
By:
Name:
Title:
EPPP
SNG GP HOLDINGS, L.L.C.
By:
Name:
Title:
EL
PASO PIPELINE GP COMPANY, L.L.C.
By:
Name:
Title:
EL
PASO PIPELINE LP HOLDINGS, L.L.C.
By:
Name:
Title:
|
By:El Paso
Pipeline GP Company, L.L.C.,
|
|
its
General Partner
|
By:
Name:
Title:
EL
PASO PIPELINE PARTNERS OPERATING COMPANY, L.L.C.
By:
Name:
Title:
48
CONTRIBUTION,
CONVEYANCE
AND
ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT
BY
AND AMONG
EL
PASO PIPELINE GP COMPANY, L.L.C.
EL
PASO PIPELINE LP HOLDINGS, L.L.C.
EL
PASO NORIC INVESTMENTS III, L.L.C.
EL
PASO CNG COMPANY, L.L.C.
El
PASO PIPELINE CORPORATION
EL
PASO SNG HOLDING COMPANY, L.L.C.
EPPP
SNG GP HOLDINGS, L.L.C.
EPPP
CIG GP HOLDINGS, L.L.C.
EL
PASO PIPELINE HOLDING COMPANY, L.L.C.
EL
PASO PIPELINE PARTNERS OPERATING COMPANY, L.L.C.
COLORADO
INTERSTATE GAS COMPANY
SOUTHERN
NATURAL GAS COMPANY
AND
EL
PASO CORPORATION
[____________],
2008
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
--
CONTRIBUTION,
CONVEYANCE
AND
ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT
This
CONTRIBUTION, CONVEYANCE AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of
[___________], 2008, is
entered into by and among El Paso Pipeline Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership (the “Partnership”),
El Paso Pipeline GP Company, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company
(“EPP
GP”), El Paso Pipeline LP Holdings, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability
company (“EPP
LP”), El Paso Noric Investments III, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability
company (“EP
Noric”), El Paso CNG Company, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability
company (“El Paso
CNG”), El Paso Pipeline Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“EP
Pipeline Corporation”), El Paso SNG Holding Company, L.L.C., a Delaware
limited liability company (“EP
SNG”), EPPP SNG GP Holdings, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company
(“EPPP
SNG”), EPPP CIG GP Holdings, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company
(“EPPP
CIG”), El Paso Pipeline Holding Company, L.L.C., a Delaware limited
liability company (“El Paso
LLC”), El Paso Pipeline Partners Operating Company, L.L.C., a Delaware
limited liability company (the “Operating
Company”), Colorado Interstate Gas Company, a Delaware general
partnership (“CIG”),
Southern Natural Gas Company, a Delaware general partnership (“SNG”)
and El Paso Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“El
Paso”). The parties to this Agreement are collectively
referred to herein as the “Parties.” El
Paso, EP Noric, EP SNG, EPP GP and EPP LP are referred to herein collectively as
the “Contributing
Parties.” Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned
to such terms in Section 1.1.
RECITALS
WHEREAS,
the Contributing Parties desire to transfer to the Partnership a 30% general
partner interest in CIG (the “CIG
Subject Interest”) and a 15% general partner interest in SNG (the “SNG
Subject Interest,” together with the CIG Subject Interest, the “Subject
Interests”) pursuant to the terms of the Contribution Agreement (as
defined below) and this Agreement; and
WHEREAS,
EP Noric owns a 90% general partner interest in CIG and EPPP CIG owns a 10%
general partner interest in CIG; and
WHEREAS,
EP SNG owns a 90% general partner interest in SNG and EPPP SNG owns a 10%
general partner interest in SNG; and
WHEREAS,
after giving effect to the completion of the contribution of the Subject
Interests referred to above pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and the
Contribution Agreement (as defined below), EP Noric and EPPP CIG will own a 60%
and 40% general partner interest in CIG, respectively, and EP SNG and EPPP SNG
will own a 75% and 25% general partner interest in SNG, respectively;
and
WHEREAS,
in order to accomplish the objectives and purposes in the preceding recitals,
and to effect the intent of the Parties in connection with the consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby, the following actions have been taken
prior to the date hereof:
1. The
Partnership, EPP GP, EPP LP, EP Noric, EP SNG, EPPP SNG, EPPP CIG, the Operating
Company, CIG, SNG and El Paso entered into that certain Contribution and
Exchange Agreement (the “Contribution
Agreement”), dated September 17, 2008 pursuant to which the Partnership
agreed to acquire the Subject Interests from the Contributing Parties for
aggregate consideration of $736 million (as may be
adjusted pursuant to the Contribution Agreement), which consideration will be
paid in the form specified in the Contribution Agreement.
WHEREAS,
concurrently with the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (the
“Closing”),
each of the following shall occur:
1. EP SNG
will distribute the SNG Subject Interest to El Paso.
2. EP Noric
will distribute the CIG Subject Interest to El Paso
CNG.
3. El Paso
CNG will distribute
the CIG Subject Interest to El Paso.
4. El Paso
will contribute a 1% separate undivided interest (the “1%
Interests) in the Subject Interests to EP Pipeline Corporation.
5. El Paso
will contribute its 99% separate undivided interest (the “99%
Interests )
in the Subject Interests to El Paso LLC.
6. EP
Pipeline Corporation will contribute the 1%
Interests to El Paso LLC.
7. El Paso
LLC will contribute the Subject Interests to EPP LP.
8. EPP LP
will contribute the Subject Interests to the Partnership as a contribution to
the capital of the Partnership.
9. As
consideration for the transfer of the Subject Interests by EPP LP to the
Partnership, the Partnership will (i) issue Common Units with a fair market
value of $477 million as determined in accordance with the Contribution
Agreement (the “Unit
Consideration”) to EPP LP (the “Equity
Private Placement”), and (ii) distribute $259 million in cash (the
“Cash
Consideration”) to EPP LP.
10. Concurrently
with the Equity Private Placement, EPP GP shall (i) contribute to the
Partnership an amount in cash equal to 2/98ths of the aggregate capital
contribution to the Partnership attributable to the Unit Consideration (the
“GP Cash
Contribution”) and (ii) the Partnership shall issue to EPP GP a number of
General Partner Units equal to 2/98ths of the aggregate number of Common Units
issued in connection with the Equity Private Placement.
11. The
Partnership will contribute the Subject Interests to the Operating
Company.
12. The
Operating Company will contribute the SNG Subject Interest to EPPP
SNG.
13. The
Operating Company will contribute the CIG Subject Interest to EPPP
CIG.
14. The
partnership agreements, limited partnership agreements and limited liability
company agreements of the aforementioned entities will be amended to the extent
necessary to reflect the matters and transactions mentioned in this
Agreement.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual undertakings and agreements
hereunder, the Parties undertake and agree as follows:
ARTICLE
1
DEFINITIONS
Section
1.1 The
following capitalized terms shall have the meanings given below.
(a) “1%
Interests” has the meaning assigned to such term in the
recitals.
(b) “99%
Interests” has the meaning assigned to such term in the
recitals.
(c) “Agreement”
has the meaning assigned to such term in the first paragraph of this
Agreement.
(d) “Cash
Consideration” has the meaning assigned to such term in the
recitals.
(e) “CIG”
has the meaning assigned to such term in the first paragraph of this
Agreement.
(f) “CIG
Subject Interest” has the meaning assigned to such term in the
recitals.
(g) “Closing”
has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals.
(h) “Closing
Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Contribution
Agreement.
(i) “Closing
Time” shall mean 9:00 a.m. Houston, Texas time on the Closing
Date.
(j) “Common
Unit” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Partnership
Agreement.
(k) “Contributing
Parties” has the meaning assigned to such term in the first paragraph of
this Agreement.
(l) “Contribution
Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in the
recitals.
(m) “El
Paso” has the meaning assigned to such term in the first paragraph of
this Agreement.
(n) “El Paso
CNG” has the meaning assigned to such term in the first paragraph of this
Agreement.
(o) “El Paso
LLC” has the meaning assigned to such term in the first paragraph of this
Agreement.
(p) “EP
Noric” has the meaning assigned to such term in the first paragraph of
this Agreement.
(q) “EP
Pipeline Corporation” has the meaning assigned to such term in the first
paragraph of this Agreement.
(r) “EP
SNG” has the meaning assigned to such term in the first paragraph of this
Agreement.
(s) “EPP
GP” has the meaning assigned to such term in the first paragraph of this
Agreement.
(t) “EPP
LP” has the meaning assigned to such term in the first paragraph of this
Agreement.
(u) “EPPP
CIG” has the meaning assigned to such term in the first paragraph of this
Agreement.
(v) “EPPP
SNG” has the meaning assigned to such term in the first paragraph of this
Agreement.
(w) “Equity
Private Placement” has the meaning assigned to such term in the
recitals.
(x) “General
Partner Units” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Partnership
Agreement.
(y) “Operating
Company” has the meaning assigned to such term in the first paragraph of
this Agreement.
(z) “Parties”
has the meaning assigned to such term in the first paragraph of this
Agreement.
(aa) “Partnership”
has the meaning assigned to such term in the first paragraph of this
Agreement.
(bb) “Partnership
Agreement” means the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited
Partnership of El Paso Pipeline Partners, L.P., dated as of November 21,
2007, as amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto, dated as of July 28,
2008.
(cc) “SNG”
has the meaning assigned to such term in the first paragraph of this
Agreement.
(dd) “SNG
Subject Interest” has the meaning assigned to such term in the
recitals.
(ee) “Subject
Interests” has the meaning assigned to such term in the
recitals.
(ff) “Unit
Consideration” has the meaning assigned to such term in the
recitals.
ARTICLE
2
CONTRIBUTIONS,
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
Section
2.1 Distribution by EP SNG of
SNG Subject Interest to El Paso»
. EP
SNG hereby grants, contributes, bargains, conveys, assigns, transfers, sets over
and delivers to El Paso, its successors and assigns, for its and their own use
forever, all right, title and interest in and to the SNG Subject Interest, and
El Paso hereby accepts the SNG Subject Interest from EP SNG.
Section
2.2 Distribution by EP Noric of
CIG Subject Interest to El Paso CNG»
. EP
Noric hereby grants, contributes, bargains, conveys, assigns, transfers, sets
over and delivers to El Paso CNG, its successors and assigns, for its and their
own use forever, all right, title and interest in and to the CIG Subject
Interest, and El Paso CNG hereby accepts the CIG Subject Interest from EP
Noric.
Section
2.3 Distribution by El Paso CNG
of the CIG Subject Interest to El Paso»
. El
Paso CNG hereby grants, contributes, bargains, conveys, assigns, transfers, sets
over and delivers to El Paso, its successors and assigns, for its and their own
use forever, all right, title and interest in and to the CIG Subject Interest,
and El Paso hereby accepts the CIG Subject Interest from El Paso
CNG.
Section
2.4 Contribution by El Paso of
the 1% Interests to EP Pipeline Corporation»
. El
Paso hereby grants, contributes, bargains, conveys, assigns, transfers, sets
over and delivers to EP Pipeline Corporation, its successors and assigns, for
its and their own use forever, all right, title and interest in and to the 1%
Interests, and EP Pipeline Corporation hereby accepts such 1% Interests from El
Paso.
Section
2.5 Contribution by El Paso of
the 99% Interests to El Paso LLC»
. El Paso
hereby grants, contributes, bargains, conveys, assigns, transfers, sets over and
delivers to El Paso LLC, its successors and assigns, for its and their own use
forever, all right, title and interest in and to the 99% Interests, and El Paso
LLC hereby accepts the 99% Interests from El Paso.
Section
2.6 Contribution by EP Pipeline
Corporation of the 1% Interests to El Paso LLC»
. EP
Pipeline Corporation hereby grants, contributes, bargains, conveys, assigns,
transfers, sets over and delivers to El Paso LLC, its successors and assigns,
for its and their own use forever, all right, title and interest in and to the
1% Interests, and El Paso LLC hereby accepts such 1% Interests from EP Pipeline
Corporation.
Section
2.7 Contribution
by El Paso LLC of the Subject Interests to EPP LP»
. El
Paso LLC hereby grants, contributes, bargains, conveys, assigns, transfers, sets
over and delivers to EPP LP, its successors and assigns, for its and their own
use forever, all right, title and interest in and to the Subject Interests, and
EPP LP hereby accepts such Subject Interests from El Paso LLC.
Section
2.8 Contribution by EPP LP of
the Subject Interests to the Partnership»
. EPP
LP hereby grants, contributes, bargains, conveys, assigns, transfers, sets over
and delivers to the Partnership, its successors and assigns, for its and their
own use forever, all right, title and interest in and to the Subject Interests,
and the Partnership hereby accepts the Subject Interests from EPP LP as a
contribution by EPP LP to the capital of the Partnership.
Section
2.9 Distribution of the Cash and
Equity Consideration»
. The
Parties acknowledge that the Partnership has distributed the Cash Consideration
and issued the Equity Consideration to EPP LP. EPP LP hereby
acknowledges receipt of the Cash Consideration and the Equity
Consideration.
Section
2.10 Capital Contribution of EPP
GP to the Partnership»
. The
Parties acknowledge that EPP GP has contributed $10 million in cash to the
Partnership (representing an amount equal to 2/98ths of the aggregate capital
contribution to the Partnership attributable to the Unit Consideration) in
exchange for a proportionate number of General Partner Units in the Partnership
and an increase in the capital account of EPP GP by the amount of such cash
contribution.
Section
2.11 Issuance of General Partner
Units»
. The
Parties acknowledge that the Partnership has issued [_________] General Partner
Units (which number of units is equal to 2/98ths of the aggregate number of
Common Units issued in the Equity Private Placement) to EPP GP. EPP
GP acknowledges receipt of such General Partner Units.
Section
2.12 Contribution by the
Partnership of the Subject Interests to the Operating Company»
. The
Partnership hereby grants, contributes, bargains, conveys, assigns, transfers,
sets over and delivers to the Operating Company, its successors and assigns, for
its and their own use forever, all right, title and interest in and to the
Subject Interests, and the Operating Company hereby accepts such contribution
from the Partnership.
Section
2.13 Contribution by the
Operating Company of the SNG Subject Interest to EPPP SNG»
. The
Operating Company hereby grants, contributes, bargains, conveys, assigns,
transfers, sets over and delivers to EPPP SNG, its successors and assigns, for
its and their own use forever, all right, title and interest in and to the SNG
Subject Interest, and EPPP SNG hereby accepts such contribution from the
Operating Company.
Section
2.14 Contribution by the
Operating Company of the CIG Subject Interest to EPPP CIG
The
Operating Company hereby grants, contributes, bargains, conveys, assigns,
transfers, sets over and delivers to EPPP CIG, its successors and assigns, for
its and their own use forever, all right, title and interest in and to the CIG
Subject Interest, and EPPP CIG hereby accepts such contribution from the
Operating Company.
ARTICLE
3
FURTHER
ASSURANCES
Section
3.1 Further
Assurances
From
time to time after the Closing Time, and without any further consideration, the
Parties agree to execute, acknowledge and deliver all such additional deeds,
assignments, bills of sale, conveyances, instruments, notices, releases,
acquittances and other documents, and will do all such other acts and things,
all in accordance with applicable law, as may be necessary or appropriate
(a) more fully to assure that the applicable Parties own all of the
properties, rights, titles, interests, estates, remedies, powers and privileges
granted by this Agreement, or which are intended to be so granted, or
(b) more fully and effectively to vest in the applicable Parties and their
respective successors and assigns beneficial and record title to the interests
contributed and assigned by this Agreement or intended so to be and to more
fully and effectively carry out the purposes and intent of this
Agreement.
Section
3.2 Other
Assurances
From
time to time after the Closing Time, and without any further consideration, each
of the Parties shall execute, acknowledge and deliver all such additional
instruments, notices and other documents, and will do all such other acts and
things, all in accordance with applicable law, as may be necessary or
appropriate to more fully and effectively carry out the purposes and intent of
this Agreement. It is the express intent of the Parties that the
Partnership or its subsidiaries own the Subject Interests that are identified in
this Agreement and in the Registration Statement.
ARTICLE
4
CLOSING
TIME
Notwithstanding
anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, none of the provisions of
Article 2 or Article 3 of this Agreement shall be operative or have any effect
until the Closing Time, at which time all the provisions of Article 2 and
Article 3 of this Agreement shall be effective and operative in accordance with
Article 5, without further action by any Party hereto.
ARTICLE
5
MISCELLANEOUS
Section
5.1 Order of Completion of
Transactions»
. The
transactions provided for in Article 2 and Article 3 of this Agreement shall be
completed immediately following the Closing Time in the following order: first,
the transactions provided for in Article 2 shall be completed in the order set
forth therein; and second, following the completion of the transactions as
provided in Article 2, the transactions, if they occur, provided for in Article
3 shall be completed.
Section
5.2 Headings; References;
Interpretation»
. All
Article and Section headings in this Agreement are for convenience only and
shall not be deemed to control or affect the meaning or construction of any of
the provisions hereof. The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder”
and words of similar import, when used in this Agreement, shall refer to this
Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this
Agreement. All references herein to Articles and Sections shall,
unless the context requires a different construction, be deemed to be references
to the Articles and Sections of this Agreement. All personal pronouns
used in this Agreement, whether used in the masculine, feminine or neuter
gender, shall include all other genders, and the singular shall include the
plural and vice versa. The use herein of the word “including”
following any general statement, term or matter shall not be construed to limit
such statement, term or matter to the specific items or matters set forth
immediately following such word or to similar items or matters, whether or not
non-limiting language (such as “without limitation”, “but not limited to”, or
words of similar import) is used with reference thereto, but rather shall be
deemed to refer to all other items or matters that could reasonably fall within
the broadest possible scope of such general statement, term or
matter.
Section
5.3 Successors and
Assigns»
. This
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and
their respective successors and assigns.
Section
5.4 No Third Party
Rights»
. The
provisions of this Agreement are intended to bind the Parties as to each other
and are not intended to and do not create rights in any other person or confer
upon any other person any benefits, rights or remedies and no person is or is
intended to be a third party beneficiary of any of the provisions of this
Agreement.
Section
5.5 Counterparts»
. This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which together
shall constitute one agreement binding on the Parties hereto.
Section
5.6 Governing Law»
. This
Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of
the State of Texas.
Section
5.7 Severability»
. If
any of the provisions of this Agreement are held by any court of competent
jurisdiction to contravene, or to be invalid under, the laws of any political
body having jurisdiction over the subject matter hereof, such contravention or
invalidity shall not invalidate the entire Agreement. Instead, this Agreement
shall be construed as if it did not contain the particular provision or
provisions held to be invalid and an equitable adjustment shall be made and
necessary provision added so as to give effect to the intention of the Parties
as expressed in this Agreement at the time of execution of this
Agreement.
Section
5.8 Amendment or
Modification»
. This
Agreement may be amended or modified from time to time only by the written
agreement of all the Parties. Each such instrument shall be reduced to writing
and shall be designated on its face as an Amendment to this
Agreement.
Section
5.9 Integration»
. This
Agreement and the instruments referenced herein supersede all previous
understandings or agreements among the Parties, whether oral or written, with
respect to their subject matter. This document and such instruments contain the
entire understanding of the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof
and thereof. No understanding, representation, promise or agreement, whether
oral or written, is intended to be or shall be included in or form part of this
Agreement unless it is contained in a written amendment hereto executed by the
Parties hereto after the date of this Agreement.
Section
5.10 Deed; Xxxx of Sale;
Assignment»
. To
the extent required and permitted by applicable law, this Agreement shall also
constitute a “deed,” “xxxx of sale” or “assignment” of the assets and interests
referenced herein.
[Signature
page follows]
HOU:2829075.5
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed by the Parties hereto as
of the date first above written.
By: EL
PASO PIPELINE GP COMPANY, L.L.C.,
its general partner
By:
Name:
Title:
EL
PASO PIPELINE GP COMPANY, L.L.C.
By:
Name:
Title:
EL
PASO PIPELINE LP HOLDINGS, L.L.C.
By:
Name:
Title:
EL
PASO NORIC INVESTMENTS III, L.L.C.
By:
Name:
Title:
EL PASO CNG COMPANY,
L.L.C.
By:
Name:
Title:
EL
PASO PIPELINE CORPORATION
By:
Name:
Title:
EL
PASO SNG HOLDING COMPANY, L.L.C.
By:
Name:
Title:
EPPP SNG GP HOLDINGS,
L.L.C.
By:
Name:
Title:
EPPP CIG GP HOLDINGS,
L.L.C.
By:
Name:
Title:
EL
PASO PIPELINE HOLDING COMPANY, L.L.C.
By:
Name:
Title:
EL
PASO PIPELINE PARTNERS OPERATING COMPANY,
L.L.C.
By:
Name:
Title:
COLORADO
INTERSTATE GAS COMPANY
By:
Name:
Title:
SOUTHERN
NATURAL GAS COMPANY
By:
Name:
Title:
EL
PASO CORPORATION
By:
Name:
Title: