STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT by and between PPL Corporation and UGI Utilities, Inc. Dated as of March 5, 2008
Exhibit 99.2
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by
and between
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PPL
Corporation
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and
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UGI
Utilities, Inc.
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Dated
as of March 5, 2008
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Page
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ARTICLE
I
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DEFINITIONS
AND RULES OF CONSTRUCTION
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SECTION
1.1. Definitions
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1
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ARTICLE
II
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PURCHASE
AND SALE
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SECTION
2.1. Purchase and Sale of the PPL Gas Utilities Shares and Purchase
Price
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1
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SECTION
2.2. Aggregate Net Working Capital
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1
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SECTION
2.3. Closing
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3
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SECTION
2.4. Transactions to be Effected at the Closing
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3
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SECTION
2.5. Settlement of Intercompany Accounts
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3
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ARTICLE
III
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REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES RELATING TO SELLER
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SECTION
3.1. Organization and Existence
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4
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SECTION
3.2. Authorization
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4
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SECTION
3.3. Consents
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4
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SECTION
3.4. Legal Proceedings
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4
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SECTION
3.5. Noncontravention
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4
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SECTION
3.6. Title
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5
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SECTION
3.7. Brokers.
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5
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ARTICLE
IV
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REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES RELATING TO THE COMPANIES
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SECTION
4.1. Organization and Existence
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5
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SECTION
4.2. Subsidiaries
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5
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SECTION
4.3. Financial Statements.
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6
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SECTION
4.4. Absence of Certain Changes or Events.
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6
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SECTION
4.5. Legal Proceedings.
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7
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SECTION
4.6. Compliance with Laws; Sufficiency of Permits and
Assets.
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7
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SECTION
4.7. Material Contracts.
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7
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SECTION
4.8. Properties; No Liens.
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8
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SECTION
4.9. Employee Matters.
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8
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SECTION
4.10. Environmental Matters
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9
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SECTION
4.11. Insurance
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9
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SECTION
4.12. Taxes
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9
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SECTION
4.13. Regulatory Filings.
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10
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SECTION
4.14. Intellectual Property
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10
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SECTION
4.15. Personal Property
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10
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SECTION
4.16. Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities
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11
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SECTION
4.17. Exclusive Representations and Warranties
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11
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ARTICLE
V
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REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER
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SECTION
5.1. Organization and Existence
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11
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SECTION
5.2. Authorization
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11
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SECTION
5.3. Consents and Filings
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12
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SECTION
5.4. Noncontravention
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12
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SECTION
5.5. Legal Proceedings
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12
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SECTION
5.6. Compliance with Laws
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12
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SECTION
5.7. Brokers
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12
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SECTION
5.8. Investment Intent
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12
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SECTION
5.9. Available Funds
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13
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SECTION
5.10. Investigation
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13
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SECTION
5.11. Disclaimer Regarding Projections
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13
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SECTION
5.12. No Other Representations or Warranties
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13
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ARTICLE
VI
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COVENANTS
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SECTION
6.1. Access to Information
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13
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SECTION
6.2. Conduct of Business Pending the Closing
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14
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SECTION
6.3. Support Obligations
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16
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SECTION
6.4. Confidentiality; Publicity
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18
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SECTION
6.5. Expenses
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18
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SECTION
6.6. Governmental Filings
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18
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SECTION
6.7. Meter Reading
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20
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SECTION
6.8. Seller Marks
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20
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SECTION
6.9. Risk of Loss
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20
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SECTION
6.10. Insurance
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21
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SECTION
6.11. Termination of Certain Services and Contracts; Transition
Services
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21
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SECTION
6.12. Distributions
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22
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SECTION
6.13. Transfer Taxes
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22
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SECTION
6.14. Employee, Labor and Benefits Matters
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22
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SECTION
6.15. Tax Matters
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27
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SECTION
6.16. Further Actions
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30
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SECTION
6.17. Preparation of Audited Financial Statements
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31
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ARTICLE
VII
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SPECIFIED
CONDITIONS
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SECTION
7.1. Buyer’s Condition Precedents
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32
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SECTION
7.2. Seller’s Condition Precedents
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33
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ARTICLE
VIII
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SURVIVAL;
INDEMNIFICATION AND RELEASE
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SECTION
8.1. Survival
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34
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SECTION
8.2. Indemnification by Seller
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34
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SECTION
8.3. Indemnification by Buyer
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35
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SECTION
8.4. Indemnification Procedures
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36
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SECTION
8.5. General
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37
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SECTION
8.6. “As Is” Sale; Release
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37
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SECTION
8.7. Right to Specific Performance; Certain Limitations
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38
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ARTICLE
IX
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TERMINATION,
AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
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SECTION
9.1. Grounds for Termination
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39
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SECTION
9.2. Effect of Termination
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40
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ARTICLE
X
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MISCELLANEOUS
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SECTION
10.1. Notices
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40
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SECTION
10.2. Severability
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41
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SECTION
10.3. Counterparts
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41
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SECTION
10.4. Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries
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41
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SECTION
10.5. Governing Law
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41
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SECTION
10.6. Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial
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41
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SECTION
10.7. Assignment
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42
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SECTION
10.8. Headings
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42
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SECTION
10.9. Construction
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42
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SECTION
10.10. Amendments and Waivers
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43
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SECTION
10.11. Schedules and Exhibits
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43
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Appendices
Appendix
A
Exhibits
Exhibit
A
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Stock
Transfer Form
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Schedules
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Schedule
1.1
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Aggregate
Net Working Capital
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Schedule
2(a)
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Seller’s
Knowledge
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Schedule
2(b)
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Buyer’s
Knowledge
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Schedule
3.3
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Seller’s
Consents
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Schedule
3.4
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Seller’s
Legal Proceedings
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Schedule
3.6
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Seller’s
Title
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Schedule
4.2(a)
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Companies’
Subsidiaries
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Schedule
4.2(b)
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Companies’
Liens on Subsidiaries Ownership
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Schedule
4.4
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Companies’
Absence of Certain Changes or Events
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Schedule
4.5
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Companies’
Legal Proceedings
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Schedule
4.7(c)
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Companies’
Material Contracts
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Schedule
4.8
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Companies’
Properties; No Liens
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Schedule
4.9(a)
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Companies’
Employee Benefit Plans
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Schedule
4.9(e)
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Companies’
Collective Bargaining Agreements, Strikes, Lockouts and Employment
Investigations
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Schedule
4.10
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Companies’
Environmental Matters
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Schedule
4.11
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Companies’
Insurance
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Schedule
4.12
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Companies’
Taxes
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Schedule
4.14
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Companies’
Intellectual Property
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Schedule
4.16
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Companies’
Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities
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Schedule
5.3
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Buyer’s
Consents and Filings
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Schedule
6.2(a)
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Conduct
of Business Pending the Closing
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Schedule
6.2(a)(xii)
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Cumulative
Capital Expenditures
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Schedule
6.3(a)
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Support
Obligations
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Schedule
6.11(a)
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Termination
of Certain Services and Contracts
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Schedule
6.11(b)
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Transition
Services
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Schedule
6.14(b)(i)
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Continuity
of Employment at Closing
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Schedule
6.14(d)(i)
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Buyer’s
Plans
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Schedule
6.14(d)(ii)
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Post-Closing
Compensation and Benefits
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Schedule
6.14(e)
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Severance
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Schedule
6.14(e)(i)
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Certain
Changes
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Schedule
6.15(a)
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Tax
Returns
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This
STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
(this “Agreement”) is dated
as of March 5, 2008 and is by and between PPL Corporation, a Pennsylvania
corporation (“Seller”), and UGI
Utilities, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation (“Buyer”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, Seller owns 100% of
the issued and outstanding equity of PPL Gas Utilities Corporation, a
Pennsylvania corporation (“PPL Gas
Utilities”);
WHEREAS, in accordance with
this Agreement, Buyer desires to purchase, and Seller desires to sell to Buyer,
100% of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of PPL Gas Utilities
(the “PPL Gas
Utilities Shares”).
NOW THEREFORE, the Parties
hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
AND RULES OF CONSTRUCTION
SECTION
1.1. Definitions
. Capitalized
terms used in this Agreement have the meanings ascribed to them by definition in
this Agreement or in Appendix A
hereto.
ARTICLE
II
PURCHASE
AND SALE
SECTION
2.1.
Purchase and Sale of the PPL
Gas Utilities Shares and Purchase
Price. (a) In
accordance with the terms and subject to this Agreement, Buyer agrees to
purchase the PPL Gas Utilities Shares and Seller agrees to sell to Buyer the PPL
Gas Utilities Shares free and clear of any Liens other than any arising out of
this Agreement.
(b)
The
aggregate purchase price (the “Purchase Price”) for
the PPL Gas Utilities Shares shall be an amount equal to Two Hundred Sixty Seven
Million Six Hundred Thousand U.S. Dollars ($267,600,000.00) (the “Base Purchase
Price”), plus the Aggregate Net Working Capital (whether a positive or a
negative amount). At the Closing, Buyer
shall pay to Seller the Base Purchase Price plus the Estimated Aggregate Net
Working Capital in accordance with Section 2.2(a), without deduction or
withholding of any kind, by wire transfer of immediately available funds in U.S.
Dollars to such account or accounts specified by Seller to Buyer in writing at
least one Business Day prior to the Closing.
SECTION
2.2.
Aggregate Net Working
Capital. (a) At
least three Business Days prior to the Closing Date, Seller will deliver to
Buyer a worksheet setting forth Seller’s good faith reasonable estimate of the
Aggregate Net Working Capital as of the Closing Date (the “Estimated Aggregate Net
Working Capital”), as well as a computation thereof. If the
Estimated Aggregate Net Working Capital is a positive number, the Base Purchase
Price payable at Closing will be increased by an amount equal to such Estimated
Aggregate Net Working Capital. If the Estimated Aggregate Net Working
Capital is a negative number, the Base Purchase Price payable at the Closing
will be decreased by an amount equal to the absolute value of such Estimated
Aggregate Net Working Capital.
(b)
Within 90
days after the Closing, Seller will prepare and deliver to Buyer a computation
of the actual Aggregate Net Working Capital as of the Closing Date (the “Actual Aggregate Net Working
Capital”) and of the Closing Capital Expenditure Amount (if
any). If within 45 days following delivery of such computation Buyer
does not object in writing thereto to Seller, then the Actual Aggregate Net
Working Capital and the Closing Capital Expenditure Amount shall be as reflected
on the computation provided by Seller pursuant to the immediately preceding
sentence. If within such 45 days Buyer objects to Seller in writing
to such computation, then Buyer and Seller shall negotiate in good faith and
attempt to resolve their disagreement. Should such negotiations not
result in an agreement within 20 days after receipt by Seller of such written
objection from Buyer, then the matter shall be submitted to the Independent
Accounting Firm. The Independent Accounting Firm will deliver to
Buyer and Seller a written determination of the Actual Aggregate Net Working
Capital and/or Closing Capital Expenditure Amount (such determination to include
a worksheet setting forth all material calculations used in arriving at such
determination and to be based solely on information provided to the Independent
Accounting Firm by Buyer and Seller) within 30 days of the submission of the
dispute to the Independent Accounting Firm, which determination will be final,
binding and conclusive on the Parties. In resolving any disagreement,
the Independent Accounting Firm may not assign any value to a disputed item
greater than the greatest value claimed for such disputed item by any Party or
lesser than the lowest value claimed for such disputed item by any Party. All
fees and expenses relating to the work, if any, to be performed by the
Independent Accounting Firm pursuant to this Section 2.2(b) will be allocated
between Seller and Buyer in inverse proportion as each shall prevail in respect
of the dollar amount of disputed items so submitted (as finally determined by
the Independent Accounting Firm). If, following the determination of
the Actual Aggregate Net Working Capital and the Closing Capital Expenditure
Amount (as agreed between the Parties or as determined by the Independent
Accounting Firm), the amount of the Estimated Aggregate Net Working Capital,
minus the sum of (i) the Actual Aggregate Net Working Capital, less (ii) the
Closing Capital Expenditure Amount (if any), is a positive number, then Seller
shall be obligated to pay Buyer a cash payment equal to such positive
number. If the amount of the Estimated Aggregate Net Working Capital,
minus the sum of (x) the Actual Aggregate Net Working Capital, less (ii) the
Closing Capital Expenditure Amount (if any), is a negative number, then Buyer
shall be obligated to pay Seller a cash payment equal to the absolute value of
such negative number. Any such payment, together with interest
thereon at the rate of five percent (5%) per annum from the Closing Date through
the date of payment, will be due and payable within three Business Days after
the Actual Aggregate Net Working Capital is finally determined as provided in
this Section
2.2(b) and will be payable by wire transfer of immediately available
funds to such account or accounts as shall be specified by Buyer or Seller, as
applicable. For the avoidance of doubt, after taking into account the
payment of the Estimated Aggregate Net Working Capital and the mechanics of this
Section 2.2, the aggregate payment made by Buyer to Seller with respect to
Aggregate Net Working Capital and the Closing Capital Expenditure Amount shall
be an amount equal to the Actual Aggregate Net Working Capital less the Closing
Capital Expenditure Amount (if any).
(c)
Following
the Closing, Seller and Buyer shall cooperate and provide each other and, if
applicable, the Independent Accounting Firm, with reasonable access to such
books, records and employees as are reasonably requested in connection with the
matters addressed in Section 2.2(b).
SECTION
2.3.
Closing. The
closing of the purchase and sale of the PPL Gas Utilities Shares (the “Closing”) shall take
place at 10:00 a.m., local time, at the offices of Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx &
Xxxxxxxx LLP, 000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx on the fourth Business
Day following the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article
VII (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the
Closing), or at such other time, date and place as may be mutually agreed upon
in writing by the Parties (the date on which the Closing actually occurs being
referred to as the “Closing
Date”). The Closing shall be deemed effective as of 12:01 a.m.
(Eastern Time) on the Closing Date.
SECTION
2.4.
Transactions to be Effected
at the Closing. At
the Closing, the following events shall occur, each event being deemed to have
occurred simultaneously with the other events:
(a) Except as
otherwise required in accordance with applicable Law, Seller shall deliver (or
cause to be delivered) to Buyer an instrument of transfer in respect of the PPL
Gas Utilities Shares substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A, attaching
thereto the stock certificates representing the PPL Gas Utilities
Shares.
(b) Seller
shall deliver to Buyer a letter of resignation as a director for each of board
members of each of the Companies;
(c) Seller
shall deliver to Buyer a certification of its non-foreign status as set forth in
Section 1445 of the Code and the Treasury regulations promulgated
thereunder;
(d) Buyer and
Seller shall deliver any other documents required for such Closing under
applicable Law or that may be reasonably requested by the other Party, including
the delivery by Seller to the Companies of the minute books and other corporate
records of each of the Companies; and
(e) Buyer
shall pay the Base Purchase Price plus the Estimated Aggregate Net Working
Capital (whether a positive or a negative amount) in accordance with Section
2.2(a).
SECTION
2.5.
Settlement of Intercompany
Accounts and
Indebtedness. Immediately
prior to the Closing Date, Seller shall cause all intercompany payables,
receivables and loans between any of the Companies, on the one hand, and Seller
and its Affiliates (other than the Companies), on the other hand (“Intercompany
Accounts”), to be settled or cancelled. On or before the
Closing Date, Seller shall cause the payment in full of all Indebtedness of the
Companies, including the payment of any premiums, prepayment penalties and/or
make-whole payments required to be made to satisfy such
Indebtedness.
ARTICLE
III
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES RELATING TO SELLER
Except as
disclosed in the Schedules (with any disclosure in a Schedule delivered by
Seller being deemed and understood to be a disclosure in each other Schedule
delivered by Seller to which the applicability of the disclosure is apparent on
its face, notwithstanding reference to a specific section or paragraph), Seller
hereby represents and warrants to Buyer as of the date hereof as
follows:
SECTION
3.1.
Organization and
Existence. Seller
is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under
the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, with all requisite power and
authority required to enter into this Agreement and consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby. Seller is duly qualified or licensed to do
business in each other jurisdiction where the actions required to be performed
by it hereunder makes such qualification or licensing necessary, except in those
jurisdictions where the failure to be so qualified or licensed would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Effect.
SECTION
3.2.
Authorization. The
execution, delivery and performance by Seller of this Agreement and the
consummation by Seller of the transactions contemplated hereby are within
Seller’s powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the
part of Seller. This Agreement constitutes (assuming the due
execution and delivery by the other Party hereto) a valid and legally binding
obligation of Seller enforceable against Seller in accordance with its terms,
subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance,
reorganization, moratorium and other laws relating to or affecting creditors’
rights generally and general equitable principles (whether considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law).
SECTION
3.3.
Consents. Except
as set forth on Schedule 3.3, no consent, approval, license, permit, order or
authorization (each, a “Consent”) of, or registration,
declaration or filing (each, a “Filing”) with, any Governmental
Entity or third party which has not been obtained or made by Seller or the
Companies is required for or in connection with the execution and delivery of
this Agreement by Seller, and the consummation by Seller of the transactions
contemplated hereby, other than such Consents and Filings the failure of which
to obtain or make would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
SECTION
3.4.
Legal
Proceedings. Except
as set forth on Schedule 3.4, there are no Claims pending or, to Seller’s
Knowledge, threatened, against or otherwise relating to Seller before any
Governmental Entity or any arbitrator, that would, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect. Seller is not subject to any judgment, decree, injunction,
rule or order of any Governmental Entity or any arbitrator that prohibits the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or would,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.
SECTION
3.5.
Noncontravention. The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Seller does not, and
the consummation by Seller of the transactions contemplated hereby will not (i)
contravene or violate any provision of the organizational documents of Seller or
the Companies, or (ii) subject to obtaining the Consents or making the Filings
listed in Schedule 3.3, contravene or violate any provision of, or result in the
termination or acceleration of, or entitle any party to accelerate any
obligation or indebtedness under, any mortgage, lease, franchise, license,
permit, agreement, instrument, law, order, arbitration award, judgment or decree
to which Seller or the Companies are a party or by which Seller or any of the
Companies are bound, except, with respect to the foregoing clause (ii) only, for
any such violations or defaults (or rights of termination, cancellation or
acceleration) which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION
3.6.
Title. Except
as set forth on Schedule 3.6, Seller
is directly the legal and beneficial owner of, and has good and marketable title
to, the PPL Gas Utilities Shares, free and clear of all Liens other than those
arising pursuant to this Agreement, and the PPL Gas Utilities Shares are fully
paid and non-assessable. There are no outstanding options, warrants
or other rights of any kind including any restrictions on transfers, relating to
the sale, or voting of such PPL Gas Utilities Shares, the subscription of
additional shares in the capital of the Companies or any securities convertible
into or evidencing the right to purchase additional shares in the capital of the
Companies. Upon Closing, Buyer shall have good and marketable title to such PPL
Gas Utilities Shares, free and clear of any Liens, restrictions on transfer and
voting or preemptive rights, other than those arising pursuant to this
Agreement.
SECTION
3.7.
Brokers. Neither
Seller nor any of its Affiliates (including, for these purposes, the Companies)
have any liability or obligation to pay fees or commissions to any broker,
finder or agent with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
for which Buyer or its Affiliates (including, for these purposes, the Companies)
could become liable or obliged.
ARTICLE
IV
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES RELATING TO THE COMPANIES
Except as
disclosed in the Schedules (with any disclosure in a Schedule delivered by
Seller being deemed and understood to be a disclosure in each other Schedule
delivered by Seller to which the applicability of the disclosure is apparent on
its face, notwithstanding reference to a specific section or paragraph), Seller
hereby represents and warrants to Buyer as of the date hereof as
follows:
SECTION
4.1.
Organization and
Existence. The
Companies are each duly incorporated or organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of their place of organization. The Companies
are duly qualified or licensed to transact business in each jurisdiction in
which the properties owned, leased or operated by the Companies or the nature of
the business conducted by the Companies makes such qualification necessary,
except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION
4.2.
Subsidiaries. (a)
The legal name, place of organization and respective ownership interest of each
of the Companies is set forth on Schedule 4.2
hereto. Except for PPL Gas Utilities’ ownership of Penn Fuel and
Gas-Oil Products, the Companies do not own any direct or indirect equity
ownership, participation or voting right or interest in any other Person
(including any Contract in the nature of a voting trust or similar agreement or
understanding or indebtedness having general voting rights) or any options,
warrants, convertible securities, exchangeable securities, subscription rights,
conversion rights, exchange rights, stock appreciation rights, phantom stock,
profit participation or other similar rights or Contracts in or issued by any
other Person.
(b) PPL Gas Utilities is
directly the legal and beneficial owner of, and has good and marketable title
to, 100% of the membership interests of Penn Fuel (the “Penn Fuel Interests”)
and 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of Gas-Oil
Products (the “Gas-Oil
Shares”), free and clear of all Liens other than arising pursuant to this
Agreement or as set forth on Schedule 4.2(b), and
the Penn Fuel Interests and the Gas-Oil Shares are fully paid and
non-assessable. There are no outstanding options, warrants or other
rights of any kind, including any restrictions on transfers, in favor of any
Person other than PPL Gas Utilities relating to such Penn Fuel Interests or
Gas-Oil Shares.
SECTION
4.3.
Financial
Statements. (a) Seller
has previously furnished or made available to Buyer copies of the unaudited
financial statements of PPL Gas Utilities and Penn Fuel as of and for the years
ended December 31, 2005, December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2007 (the “Financial
Statements”); and the Financial Statements fairly present, in all
material respects, in conformity with GAAP, the financial position, the results
of operations and cash flows of PPL Gas Utilities and Penn Fuel as of the dates
and for the periods indicated, subject in the case of any unaudited Financial
Statements to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of
footnotes.
(b)
Seller
and the Companies maintain a system of internal accounting controls with respect
to the business conducted by the Companies sufficient to provide reasonable
assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s
general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary
to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to
maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in
accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the
recorded accountability for inventory is compared with existing inventory at
reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any
differences.
(c)
Seller
and the Companies have established, maintain and evaluate controls and
procedures with respect to the business conducted by the Companies that are
reasonably designed to ensure that material information relating to such
business is made known to Seller’s Chief Executive Officer and its Chief
Financial Officer by others at the Companies, and such controls and procedures
are reasonably effective to perform the functions for which they were
established.
SECTION
4.4. Absence of Certain Changes
or Events. Except
(a) as set forth on Schedule 4.4, and (b)
for any action taken by the Companies that would be permitted without Buyer’s
consent under Section 6.2(a), since September 30, 2007, (i) the Companies’
business has been conducted in accordance with the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practices, except in connection with any process relating
to a sale of the Companies, including entering into this
Agreement. Since September 30, 2007, there has not been any change,
event or effect that, individually or in the aggregate with other changes,
events or effects, has resulted in, or, to the Seller’s Knowledge, is reasonably
expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION
4.5.
Legal
Proceedings. Except
as set forth on Schedule 4.5, there
are no Claims pending or, to Seller’s Knowledge, threatened, against or
otherwise relating to the Companies before any Governmental Entity or any
arbitrator which involve a claim of $500,000 or more. None of such
Claims, would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect. Except as disclosed on Schedule 4.5, the
Companies are not subject to any judgment, decree, injunction, rule or order of
any Governmental Entity or any arbitrator that would, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect.
SECTION
4.6.
Compliance with
Laws;
Sufficiency of Permits and Assets. Except
for such noncompliance that would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, each of the
Companies is in compliance in all respects with any Law applicable to it or its
business or properties. All permits, certificates, licenses and other
authorizations of all Governmental Entities, and all equipment, inventory,
intellectual property, real property and other assets, that the Companies
require in order to own, lease, maintain, operate and conduct its business as
currently conducted, are held by the Companies, except such permits,
certificates, licenses, authorizations, equipment, inventory and other property
and assets, the failure to have would not, individually or in the aggregate, be
reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Companies
are in compliance with the terms of all permits, licenses, franchises, orders
and other authorizations, consents and approvals from Governmental Entities,
except for such noncompliance that would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. To
Seller's Knowledge, neither Seller nor any of the Companies has received written
notice of any material violation of Law which remains outstanding with respect
to the Companies or their business or properties during the last five (5)
years. This
Section 4.6 does not relate to (i) Employee Matters, which matters are the
subject of Section 4.9, (ii) environmental matters, which matters are the
subject of Section 4.10, or (iii) matters related to Taxes, which matters are
the subject of Section 4.12.
SECTION
4.7.
Material
Contracts. (a) The
Companies have provided Buyer with, or access to, true and complete copies of
all Material Contracts as of the date hereof.
(b)
Each Material Contract constitutes the valid and binding obligation, in full
force and effect, of the Companies and, to the Seller’s Knowledge, the other
parties thereto.
(c)
Except as
set forth on Schedule
4.7(c), the Companies are not in default, and, to the Seller’s Knowledge,
no other party is in default in the performance or observance of any term or
provision of, and no event has occurred which, with lapse of time or action by a
third party, would result in such a default under any Material Contract to which
the Companies are a party or by which any of them is bound or to which any of
its assets and property are subject, other than such defaults or events as would
not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Effect.
(d)
Except
for the Note Purchase Agreement referenced on Schedule 4.8, the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Seller does not, and
the consummation by Seller of the transactions contemplated hereby will not,
contravene or violate any provision of, or result in the termination or
acceleration of, or entitle any party to accelerate any obligation or
indebtedness under, any Material Contract.
SECTION
4.8.
Properties; No
Liens.
Except
as set forth in Schedule 4.8, the
Companies have sufficient title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all real
property owned or leased by them to permit the operation of their business as a
whole substantially as such business has been operated heretofore without a
Material Adverse Effect. None of such properties or any other assets
of the Companies (whether real or personal) is subject to any Lien, except for
(i) Liens set forth on Schedule 4.8 and (ii)
Permitted Liens.
SECTION
4.9.
Employee
Matters.
(a) Schedule 4.9(a) sets
forth a list of each material "employee benefit plan" (within the meaning of
Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended
(“ERISA”)), and
each material severance, change in control, vacation, bonus, and equity
incentive plan, program, policy, arrangement or agreement and any other plan,
program, policy or arrangement, in each case that is sponsored, contributed to
or maintained by the Seller or the Companies and in which present or former
employees of any of the Companies participate or in which the Companies have any
outstanding present or future obligations to contribute or make payments
(collectively, the “Benefit
Plans”). Copies of all such Benefits Plans have been delivered
or made available to Buyer.
(b)
Except as
would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably likely to have a
Material Adverse Effect: (x) the Benefit Plans are in compliance with all
applicable requirements of ERISA, the Code, and other applicable laws and have
been administered in accordance with their terms and such laws; and (y) each
Benefit Plan that is intended to be qualified within the meaning of Section 401
of the Code has received a favorable determination letter as to its
qualification, and nothing has occurred that could reasonably be expected to
result in the revocation of such letter.
(c)
There are
no pending or, to Seller’s Knowledge, threatened claims and no pending or, to
the Seller’s Knowledge, threatened litigation with respect to any of the Benefit
Plans, other than ordinary and usual claims for benefits by participants and
beneficiaries, in either case which, if determined or resolved adversely, would,
not individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably likely to have a Material
Adverse Effect.
(d)
Except as
set forth on Schedule
4.9(d), or as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably
likely to have a Material Adverse Effect:
(i) no
current employees of any of the Companies are represented by a union or other
collective bargaining representative;
(ii) there are
no pending, nor, to Seller’s Knowledge, threatened, labor strikes, requests for
representation, work stoppages or lockouts involving employees of any of the
Companies;
(iii) Seller
has not received written notice of any pending charges before any governmental
authority responsible for the prevention of unlawful employment practices;
and
(iv)
Seller
has not received written notice of any pending investigation by a governmental
authority relating to employees or employment practices.
SECTION
4.10.
Environmental
Matters. Except as
disclosed on Schedule 4.10: (a) the
Companies are in material compliance with all, and except for violations which
have been resolved, have not violated in any material respect any, applicable
Environmental Laws; (b) there are no suits, demands, claims, hearings,
investigations or proceedings (in each case, in writing) pending or, to Seller’s
Knowledge, threatened against the Companies or with respect to their material
assets relating to any material violation, or alleged material violation, of, or
material liability or alleged material liability under or relating to, any
Environmental Law; (c) the Companies have not disposed of or released or
transported, or arranged for the disposal or release or transportation, of any
Hazardous Substance in material violation of any applicable Environmental Law,
or in a manner or to a location that would reasonably be expected to give rise
to any material liability to the Companies under or relating to any
Environmental Law; (d) to the Seller’s Knowledge, no Hazardous Substance is
otherwise present at or about any real property or facility currently or
formerly owned or operated by the Companies, in amount or condition that would
reasonably be expected to result in material liability to the Companies under or
relating to any Environmental Law, and (e) other than in the ordinary course of
business, including the leasing of any Real Property, to the Seller’s Knowledge,
the Companies have not agreed in writing to provide indemnity against any
material liability under or relating to any Environmental Law. This
Section 4.10 contains the sole and exclusive representations and warranties of
Seller relating to Environmental Laws, Hazardous Substances or other
environmental matters.
SECTION
4.11.
Insurance. The Companies and
their businesses and/or properties are insured to the extent specified under the
insurance policies listed on Schedule 4.11 (the
“Policies”).
All premiums payable under such Policies have been paid in a timely manner and
Seller and the Companies have complied in all material respects with the terms
and conditions of all such Policies. All material Policies are in full force and
effect. Neither Seller nor any of the Companies is in material
default under any provisions of the Policies, and there is no claim by Seller or
any of the Companies or any other Person pending under any of the Policies as to
which coverage has been questioned, denied or disputed by the underwriters or
issuers of such Policies. No written notice of cancellation or
termination has been received by Seller or any of the Companies with respect to
any such policies that have not been replaced on substantially similar terms
prior to the date of such cancellation or termination.
SECTION
4.12.
Taxes. Except as set
forth on Schedule
4.12: (i) all U.S. federal income and other material Tax Returns required
to be filed by the Companies or by Seller with respect to the Companies have
been or will be filed when due in accordance with all applicable Laws and the
Companies or Seller have paid in full all material Taxes when due in accordance
with all applicable Laws; (ii) there are no Tax Liens on any of the stock or
assets of the Companies (including the PPL Gas Utilities Shares), other than
with respect to Taxes not yet due and payable; (iii) there is no action, suit,
proceeding, investigation, audit or Claim pending, or, to Seller’s Knowledge,
threatened in writing, relating to any Tax matters of or related to the
Companies; (iv) neither Seller (with respect to the Companies) nor the Companies
has granted any waiver or extension of the statutory period of limitation
applicable to any claim for, or the period for the collection or assessment of,
any material Taxes; (v) the Companies have timely and properly collected,
withheld and remitted to the Taxing Authority to whom such payment is due all
amounts required to be collected or withheld by the Companies for the payment of
material Taxes; (vi) none of the Companies is a party to any tax sharing
agreement or similar contract or arrangement or any agreement that obligates it
to make any payment computed by reference to the Taxes, taxable income or
taxable losses of any other Person; (vii) none of the Companies has any
liability for Taxes of any person arising from the application of Treasury
Regulation Section 1.1502-6 or any analogous provision of state, local or
foreign law, or as a transferee or successor, by contract, or otherwise; and
(viii) neither Seller, with respect to the Companies, nor any of the Companies
has engaged in any activity or accounting practice that is a “listed
transaction” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section
1.6011−4(b)(2).
SECTION
4.13.
Regulatory Filings. (a) The
Companies have filed all forms, reports and documents required to be filed by it
under applicable law, including all filings with the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission and applicable state public utility commissions, since January 1,
1999 through the date of this Agreement (collectively, the “Company Reports”),
except where such failure would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect. The Company Reports (i) were prepared in accordance
with applicable Law, and (ii) did not at the time they were filed contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading,
except for matters which would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.
(b)
To
Seller's Knowledge, PPL Gas Utilities has authorization under certificates of
public convenience from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission and the
Maryland Public Service Commission or is otherwise legally entitled in all
material respects to provide service in all areas (i) where it currently
provides service to its customers or (ii) as identified on its tariffs, except
with respect to any potential overlap or other conflict between the areas
currently served by, or identified on tariffs of, PPL Gas Utilities (on the one
hand) and Buyer (on the other hand).
SECTION
4.14.
Intellectual
Property. Except
as set forth on Schedule 4.14, the
Companies possess or have adequate rights to use all trademarks, trade names,
patents, service marks, brand marks, brand names, computer programs, databases,
industrial designs and copyrights necessary for the operation of the Companies’
business in the manner in which it is currently being conducted by the
Companies, except for the failure to possess or have adequate rights to use such
properties that would not have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as set forth on
Schedule 4.14,
Seller has no Knowledge of (a) any infringement or claimed infringement by the
Companies of any patent, trademark, service xxxx or copyright of others or (b)
any infringement of any patent, trademark, service xxxx or copyright owned by or
under license to the Companies except for any such infringements of the type
described in clause (a) or (b) that are not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION
4.15.
Personal
Property. Except for such
exceptions as are not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably likely to
have a Material Adverse Effect, the machinery and equipment included among the
Assets are in normal operating condition and in a state of reasonable
maintenance and repair and are suitable in all material respects for the
purposes for which they are now being used in the conduct of the business of the
Companies
SECTION
4.16.
Absence of
Undisclosed Liabilities. Except
as disclosed on Schedule 4.16, the
Companies do not have any indebtedness or liability, absolute or contingent, of
a nature required by GAAP to be reflected in a consolidated corporate balance
sheet relating to the Companies, except liabilities, obligations or
contingencies that (a) are accrued or reserved against in the Financial
Statements, (b) were incurred or accrued in the ordinary course of business
(including liens of current taxes and assessments not in default) since
September 30, 2007, or (c) to Seller’s Knowledge, would not reasonably be
expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have an adverse financial effect
on the Companies of more than $500,000.
SECTION
4.17.
Exclusive
Representations and Warranties. It
is the explicit intent of each Party hereto that Seller is not making any
representation or warranty whatsoever, express or implied, except those
representations and warranties expressly set forth in Article III and this
Article IV.
ARTICLE
V
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER
Except as
disclosed in the Schedules (with any disclosure in a Schedule delivered by Buyer
being deemed and understood to be a disclosure in each other Schedule delivered
by Buyer to which the applicability of the disclosure is apparent on its face,
notwithstanding reference to a specific section or paragraph), Buyer hereby
represents and warrants to Seller as of the date hereof as follows:
SECTION
5.1.
Organization
and Existence. Buyer
is a corporation duly incorporated, validly subsisting and in good standing
under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, with all requisite power and
authority required to enter into this Agreement and consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby. Buyer is, or will be prior to Closing, duly
qualified or licensed to do business in each other jurisdiction where the
actions required to be performed by it hereunder makes such qualification or
licensing necessary, except in those jurisdictions where the failure to be so
qualified or licensed would not reasonably be expected to result in a material
adverse effect on Buyer’s ability to perform its obligations
hereunder.
SECTION
5.2.
Authorization. The
execution, delivery and performance by Buyer of this Agreement and the
consummation by Buyer of the transactions contemplated hereby are within Buyer’s
powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of
Buyer. This Agreement constitutes (assuming the due execution and delivery by
the other Party hereto) a valid and legally binding obligation of Buyer,
enforceable against Buyer in accordance with its terms, subject to the effects
of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and
other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and
general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law).
SECTION
5.3.
Consents and
Filings. Except
for those Consents and Filings listed in Schedule 5.3, no
Consent of, or Filing with, any Governmental Entity which has not been obtained
or made by Buyer is required for or in connection with the execution and
delivery of this Agreement by Buyer, and the consummation by Buyer of the
transactions contemplated hereby, other than such Consents and Filings the
failure of which to obtain or make would not materially impair or delay the
ability of Buyer to effect the Closing. Other than matters within the
discretion of regulatory authorities, Buyer has no Knowledge of any facts or
circumstances relating to Buyer or its Affiliates that reasonably would be
likely to preclude or materially impair or delay either (i) the receipt of such
required consents or (ii) consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement in accordance with its terms.
SECTION
5.4.
Noncontravention. The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Buyer does not, and the
consummation by Buyer of the transactions contemplated hereby will not (i)
contravene or violate any provision of the organizational or constitutional
documents of Buyer, or (ii) subject to obtaining the Consents or making the
Filings listed in Schedule 5.3,
contravene or violate any provision of, or result in the termination or
acceleration of, or entitle any party to accelerate any obligation or
indebtedness under, any mortgage, lease, franchise, license, permit, agreement,
instrument, law, order, arbitration award, judgment or decree to which Buyer is
a party or by which Buyer is bound, except to the extent that any such events
would not materially impair or delay the ability of Buyer to effect the
Closing.
SECTION
5.5.
Legal
Proceedings. There
are no Claims pending or, to Buyer’s Knowledge, threatened, against or otherwise
relating to Buyer before any Governmental Entity or any arbitrator that would,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material
adverse effect on Buyer’s ability to perform its obligations
hereunder. Buyer is not subject to any judgment, decree, injunction,
rule or order of any Governmental Entity or any arbitrator that prohibits the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or would,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material
adverse effect on Buyer’s ability to perform its obligations
hereunder.
SECTION
5.6.
Compliance
with Laws. Buyer
is not in violation of any Law, except for violations that would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a material
adverse effect on Buyer’s ability to perform its obligations
hereunder.
SECTION
5.7.
Brokers. Neither
Buyer nor any of its Affiliates has any liability or obligation to pay fees or
commissions to any broker, finder or agent with respect to the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement for which Seller or its Affiliates could become
liable or obliged.
SECTION
5.8.
Investment
Intent. Buyer
is acquiring the PPL Gas Utilities Shares for its own account for investment and
not with a view to, or for sale or other disposition in connection with, any
distribution of all or any part thereof in violation of federal or state
securities law. In acquiring the PPL Gas Utilities Shares, Buyer is not offering
or selling, and will not offer or sell, for Seller in connection with any
distribution of the PPL Gas Utilities Shares, and Buyer will not participate in
any such undertaking or in any underwriting of such an undertaking except in
compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws. Buyer acknowledges
that it is able to fend for itself, can bear the economic risk of its investment
in the PPL Gas Utilities Shares, and has such knowledge and experience in
financial and business matters that it is capable of evaluating the merits and
risks of an investment in the PPL Gas Utilities Shares. Buyer is an “accredited
investor” as such term is defined in Regulation D under the U.S. Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (together with the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder, the “Securities Act”).
Buyer understands that the PPL Gas Utilities Shares have not been registered
pursuant to the Securities Act or any applicable state securities laws, that the
PPL Gas Utilities Shares will be characterized as “restricted securities” under
federal securities laws and that under such laws and applicable regulations the
PPL Gas Utilities Shares cannot be sold or otherwise disposed of without
registration under the Securities Act or an exemption therefrom.
SECTION
5.9.
Available
Funds. Buyer
at the Closing will have all funds necessary for its payment of the Base
Purchase Price plus the Estimated Aggregate Net Working Capital in accordance
with Section 2.2(a) and for all other actions necessary for Buyer to consummate
the transactions contemplated in this Agreement.
SECTION
5.10.
Investigation. Buyer
is a sophisticated entity, is knowledgeable about the industry in which the
Companies operate, experienced in investments in such businesses and able to
bear the economic risk associated with the purchase of the PPL Gas Utilities
Shares. Buyer has such knowledge and experience as to be aware of the
risks and uncertainties inherent in the purchase of shares of the type
contemplated in this Agreement, as well as the knowledge of the industries in
which the Companies operate, and has independently, based on such information
made its own analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement.
SECTION
5.11.
Disclaimer
Regarding Projections. Buyer
may be in possession of certain projections and other forecasts regarding the
Companies, including but not limited to projected financial statements, cash
flow items and other data of the Companies and certain business plan information
of the Companies. Buyer acknowledges that there are substantial
uncertainties inherent in attempting to make such projections and other
forecasts and plans and accordingly is not relying on them, that Buyer is
familiar with such uncertainties, that Buyer is taking full responsibility for
making its own evaluation of the adequacy and accuracy of all projections and
other forecasts and plans so furnished to it, and that Buyer shall have no claim
against anyone with respect thereto. Accordingly, Buyer acknowledges
that, without limiting the generality of Section 5.11, neither Seller nor any of
its Affiliates has made any representation or warranty with respect to such
projections and other forecasts and plans.
SECTION
5.12.
No Other Representations or
Warranties.
It is the
explicit intent of each Party hereto that Buyer is not making any representation
or warranty whatsoever, express or implied, except those representations and
warranties expressly set forth in this Article V.
ARTICLE
VI
COVENANTS
SECTION
6.1.
Access to
Information. (a) During
the Interim Period, Seller shall cause the Companies to provide Buyer and its
Representatives with information as to the Companies and their material
operations, as reasonably requested by Buyer and to the extent such information
is readily available or could be obtained without any material interference with
the business or operations of the Companies. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, Seller shall not be required to provide any information which Seller
reasonably believes it or the Companies are prohibited from providing to Buyer
by reason of applicable Law, which constitutes or allows access to information
protected by attorney/client privilege. Buyer shall not be permitted
during the Interim Period to contact any of the Companies’ vendors, customers or
suppliers, or any Governmental Entities (except in connection with applications
for governmental approvals in connection with this Agreement and obtaining
publicly available information) regarding the operations or legal status of the
Companies without receiving prior written authorization from
Seller.
(b)
After the
Closing, Buyer will, and will cause its Representatives to, afford to Seller,
including its Representatives, reasonable access, upon reasonable prior notice
and during normal business hours, to all books, records, files and documents to
the extent they are related to the Companies in order to permit Seller to
prepare and file its Tax Returns and to prepare for and participate in any
investigation with respect thereto, to prepare for and participate in any other
investigation and defend any Proceedings relating to or involving Seller, to
discharge its obligations under this Agreement, to comply with financial
reporting requirements, and for other reasonable purposes, and will afford
Seller reasonable assistance in connection therewith. Except as
otherwise provided in Section 6.15(f), Buyer will cause such records to be
maintained for not less than seven years from the Closing Date and will not
dispose of such records without first offering in writing to deliver them to
Seller; provided, however, that in the event that
Buyer transfers all or a portion of the business of the Companies to any third
party during such period, Buyer may transfer to such third party all or a
portion of the books, records, files and documents related thereof, provided
such third party transferee expressly assumes in writing the obligations of
Buyer under this Section 6.1(b). In addition, on and after the Closing Date, at
Seller’s request, Buyer shall make available to Seller and its Affiliates,
employees, representatives and agents, those employees of Buyer requested by
Seller in connection with any Proceeding, including to provide testimony, to be
deposed, to act as witnesses and to assist counsel; provided, however, that such access to such
employees shall not unreasonably interfere with the normal conduct of the
operations of Buyer. Seller shall reimburse Buyer 125% of the costs
incurred by Buyer in complying with the provisions of this Section 6.1(b).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Buyer and the Companies shall not be required to
provide any information which Buyer reasonably believes it or the Companies are
prohibited from providing to Seller by reason of applicable Law, which
constitutes or allows access to information protected by the attorney/client
privilege.
SECTION
6.2.
Conduct
of Business Pending the Closing. (a) During
the Interim Period, Seller shall cause the Companies to maintain their business
in the ordinary course of business consistent with Good Practices, and to use
commercially reasonable efforts to preserve, maintain and protect their assets
in material compliance with applicable Laws. Without limiting the foregoing,
during the Interim Period, except as otherwise expressly contemplated by this
Agreement or set forth in Schedule 6.2(a) or as
consented to by Buyer, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld,
conditioned or delayed, Seller shall cause the Companies not to:
(i)
sell or
dispose of any of its assets or properties, other than sales and dispositions in
the ordinary course of business, sales or dispositions of obsolete or surplus
assets, sales and dispositions in connection with the normal repair and/or
replacement of assets or properties, or sales or dispositions in accordance with
any Material Contract; provided, that the
Companies shall be permitted to declare and distribute any cash dividends or
other cash distributions or to repay any intercompany debt;
(ii)
merge or
consolidate with any other Person (including with any of the other Companies) or
acquire all or substantially all of the assets of any other Person or enter into
any joint venture, partnership or similar venture with any other
Person;
(iii)
grant,
issue, sell, or otherwise dispose of any of their equity interests, including
granting options, warrants or other rights to acquire such equity
interests;
(iv)
liquidate,
dissolve, reorganize or otherwise wind up their business or
operations;
(v)
purchase
any equity securities of any Person (including securities or shares issued by
any of the Companies), except for short-term investments or cash equivalents
made in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practices;
(vi)
amend or
modify their organizational documents;
(vii) effect
any recapitalization, reclassification or like change in their
capitalization;
(viii) engage in
any new line of business;
(ix)
(A)
change any material Tax or accounting methods, policies or practices
inconsistent with past practice, except as required by a change in GAAP or
applicable Law, (B) make, revoke or amend any material Tax election, (C) consent
to extend the period of limitations for the payment or assessment of any
material Tax, (D) enter into any closing agreement affecting any material Tax
liability or refund, or (E) settle or compromise any material Tax liability or
refund;
(x)
except in
accordance with the terms of any existing Contract, Benefit Plan or CBA, grant
any material increase or change in total compensation or benefits (taken as a
whole) to any employee of the Companies or enter into any material employment,
severance or similar Contract with any Person or amend any such existing
Contracts to materially increase any amounts payable or benefits provided
thereunder;
(xi)
enter
into, assign, amend, terminate or waive any material term under any Material
Contract other than in the ordinary course of business, provided that such
ordinary course exception shall not be applicable to any release or assignment
of any natural gas supply, pipeline transportation or storage Contract for a
term of more than one month unless there is a Legal Requirement to the
contrary;
(xii)
purchase
or lease (as lessee), or make any Contract for the purchase or lease (as lessee)
of, any material assets, other than (x) the purchase of assets, including
inventory, in the ordinary course of business, (y) pursuant to capital
expenditures per calendar year of up to 110% of all capital expenditures for the
Companies for the calendar year ended December 31, 2007; provided, that Seller
shall cause the Companies to make capital expenditures (excluding capital
expenditures for new business) in accordance with Schedule 6.2(a)(xii), or (z)
the purchase or lease (as lessee) of Assets amounting to less than $1,000,000 in
the aggregate;
(xiii) make any
base rate filings or, other than in the ordinary course of business (including
fuel recovery filings), any other rate filing or tariff change; or
(xiv) agree or
commit to do any of the foregoing.
(b)
Notwithstanding
Section 6.2(a) or any other provision herein, the Companies may take
commercially reasonable actions with respect to gas or propane business
emergency situations and/or to comply with applicable Laws; provided, however,
that Seller shall provide Buyer with notice of such action as soon as reasonably
practicable.
(c)
During
the Interim Period, the Seller shall cause Gas-Oil Products to continue to
diligently complete the remediation work at the Georgetown, Delaware property
using commercially reasonable efforts, and the Seller shall ensure that on the
Closing Date, Gas-Oil Products will have funds in the amount of $864,954 (less
any amounts used to remediate the site during the Interim Period), which amounts
shall not be included in the Net Working Capital.
SECTION
6.3.
Support
Obligations. (a) Buyer
recognizes that Seller and/or certain of the Non-Company Affiliates have
provided guarantees or other credit support to the Companies, all of which that
are outstanding as of the date hereof are set forth on Schedule 6.3(a) (such
support obligations contained in Schedule 6.3(a), as
modified or replaced from time to time in the ordinary course of business, are
hereinafter referred to as the “Support
Obligations”).
(b)
Prior to
the Closing, Buyer and Seller shall cooperate, and each shall use its
commercially reasonable efforts, to effect the full and unconditional release,
effective as of the Closing Date, of Seller and the Non-Company Affiliates from
all Support Obligations (except for those marked with an asterisk on Schedule 6.3(a)), in
the case of Buyer, by (among other things):
(i) furnishing
a letter of credit to replace each existing letter of credit that is a Support
Obligation containing terms and conditions that are substantially similar to the
terms and conditions of such existing letter of credit and from lending
institutions that have a Credit Rating commensurate with or better than that of
lending institutions for such existing letter of credit;
(ii) instituting
an escrow arrangement to replace each existing escrow arrangement that is a
Support Obligation with terms reasonably acceptable to the counterparty of such
existing escrow arrangement;
(iii) furnishing
a guaranty to replace each existing guaranty that is a Support Obligation, which
replacement guaranty is issued by a Person having a Credit Rating at least equal
to “investment grade” and containing terms and conditions that are substantially
similar to the terms and conditions of such existing guaranty;
(iv) posting a
surety or performance bond to replace each existing surety or performance bond
that is a Support Obligation, which replacement surety or performance bond is
issued by a Person having a net worth and Credit Rating at least equal to those
of the issuer of such existing surety or performance bond, and containing terms
and conditions that are substantially similar to the terms and conditions of
such existing surety or performance bond; or
(v) replacing
any other security agreement or arrangement on substantially similar terms and
conditions to the existing security agreement or arrangement that is a Support
Obligation.
(c)
Buyer and
Seller shall cooperate, and each shall use its commercially reasonable efforts,
to cause the beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Support Obligations (except
for those marked with an asterisk on Schedule 6.3(a)) to
(i) remit any cash to Seller or one of its Affiliates, as applicable, held under
any escrow arrangement that is a Support Obligation promptly following the
replacement of such escrow arrangement pursuant to Section 6.3(b)(ii)
and (ii) terminate, surrender and redeliver to Seller, one of its Affiliates or
Seller’s other designee each original copy of each original guaranty, letter of
credit or other instrument constituting or evidencing such Support
Obligations.
(d)
If Buyer
and Seller are not successful, following the use of commercially reasonable
efforts, in obtaining the complete and unconditional release of Seller and the
Non-Company Affiliates from any Support Obligations (except for those marked
with an asterisk on Schedule 6.3(a)) by
the Closing Date (each such unreleased Support Obligation, until such time as
such Support Obligation is released in accordance with Section 6.3(d)(i), a
“Continuing Support
Obligation”), then:
(i) from and
after the Closing Date, Buyer and Seller shall continue to cooperate, and each
shall continue to use its commercially reasonable efforts, to obtain promptly
the full and unconditional release of Seller and the Non-Company Affiliates from
each Continuing Support Obligation;
(ii) Buyer
shall indemnify Seller and the Non-Company Affiliates from and against any
liabilities, losses and reasonable costs or expenses incurred by Seller and the
Non-Company Affiliates from and after the Closing Date in connection with each
Continuing Support Obligation (including any demand or draw upon, or withdrawal
from, any Continuing Support Obligation);
(iii) Buyer
shall not, and shall cause its Affiliates, including in all events the Companies
and their Affiliates, not to, effect any amendments or modifications or any
other changes to the contracts or obligations to which any of the Continuing
Support Obligations relate, or to otherwise take any action that could increase,
extend or accelerate the liability of Seller or any Non-Company Affiliate under
any Continuing Support Obligation, without Seller’s prior written consent,
which, subject to the application of the provisions of this Section 6.3(d) to
any such increase, extension or acceleration, shall not be unreasonably withheld
or delayed; and
(iv) if
requested by Seller, at any time after three months after the Closing Date,
Buyer shall provide a letter of credit to Seller from a lending institution that
has a Credit Rating of “investment grade” or better for the full amount of such
Continuing Support Obligation.
SECTION
6.4.
Confidentiality;
Publicity. (a) Prior
to Closing, neither Party will make any public announcement or issue any public
communication regarding this Agreement or the proposed transaction, or any
matter related to the foregoing, without the prior written consent of the other
Party (not to be unreasonably withheld), except if such announcement or other
communication is required by applicable Law or Legal Requirement, in which case
the disclosing party shall, as permitted by applicable Law or Legal Requirement,
first allow the other Party at least one Business Day to review such
announcement or communication and the opportunity to comment
thereon. The confidentiality provisions set forth in paragraphs 1, 2,
3, 4 and 5 of the Confidentiality Agreement shall be incorporated herein, with
effect from the date hereof until the earlier to occur of (i) the Closing, or
(ii) two years from the date hereof.
(b)
Seller
will, for a period of three (3) years from the Closing Date, refrain from,
either alone or in conjunction with any other Person, or directly or indirectly
through its Affiliates, disclosing to any third party (other than any of
Seller’s Affiliates, agents, or advisors (including financial advisors, counsel
and accountants)) any confidential, proprietary or secret information relating
to the Companies or the business conducted by the Companies; provided that the
foregoing shall not apply to any disclosure required by applicable Law or Legal
Requirement (including as required by legal, judicial or administrative
process). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the restrictions contained
in this Section 6.4(b) shall in no event apply to any information (i) that is or
becomes generally available to the public or the industry in which a Company
competes (other than as a result of a breach of this Section 6.4(b)), (ii) that
becomes available to Seller or any of its Affiliates from a third party after
the Closing not bound by confidentiality agreement or any legal, fiduciary or
other obligation restricting disclosure that is known to Seller, or (iii) that
is independently developed by Seller or one of its Affiliates after the Closing
without the use of any confidential, proprietary or secret information relating
to the Companies in the possession of Seller prior to the Closing.
SECTION
6.5.
Expenses. Except as otherwise expressly
provided in this Agreement, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby
are consummated, each Party will pay its own costs and expenses, and Seller
shall pay all of the third-party costs and expenses of the Companies, incurred
in anticipation of, relating to and in connection with the negotiation and
execution of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby. Notwithstanding this immediately preceding sentence, each
Party shall pay one-half of all filing fees required by Governmental Entities
with respect to Filings or Consents, including filing fees in connection with
filings under the HSR Act.
SECTION
6.6.
Governmental
Filings. (a) HSR Act Filing. Buyer
and Seller shall cooperate with each other and use their reasonable best efforts
to make appropriate filings of Notification and Report Forms pursuant to the HSR
Act with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby within 30 days
following the execution of this Agreement. Buyer and Seller shall
cooperate with each other and supply as promptly as practicable any additional
information or documentary material that may be requested pursuant to the HSR
Act and shall take all other actions reasonably necessary to cause the
expiration or termination of the applicable waiting periods under the HSR Act as
soon as practicable. Buyer and Seller shall comply substantially with any
additional requests for information, including requests for production of
documents and production of witnesses for interviews or depositions, made by the
Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice, the United States
Federal Trade Commission or the antitrust or competition law authorities of any
other jurisdiction (the “Antitrust
Authorities”) and take all other commercially reasonable actions to
obtain clearance from the Antitrust Authorities. Subject to Section
6.6(d), Buyer and Seller shall cooperate with each other and exercise their
commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the entry in any Proceeding brought
by an Antitrust Authority or any Governmental Entity of an Order that would
prohibit, make unlawful or materially delay the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) Other Regulatory
Filings. Buyer and Seller will, as soon as reasonably practicable and in
no event more than 60 days following the execution of this Agreement, cooperate
with each other to prepare and file with each applicable Governmental Entity
requests for such Consents as may be necessary for the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
Buyer and Seller will diligently pursue and use their commercially reasonable
efforts to obtain such Consents and will cooperate with each other in seeking
such Consents. To such end, the Parties agree to take commercially reasonably
efforts to make available the personnel and other resources of their respective
organizations in order to obtain all such Consents.
(c) With
respect to the obligations of the Parties set forth in this Section 6.6, each
Party will promptly inform the other Party of any material communication
received by such Party from, or given by such party to, any Governmental Entity
and of any material communication (either written or oral) received or given in
connection with any Proceeding by a private party, in each case regarding any of
the transactions contemplated hereby, and will permit the other party to review
any communication given by it to, and, to the extent reasonably practical,
consult with each other in advance of any meeting or conference with, any such
Governmental Entity or, in connection with any Proceeding by a private party,
with such other Person, and to the extent permitted by such Governmental Entity
or other Person, give the other Party the opportunity to attend and to
participate in such meetings and conferences; provided, however, that no Party
shall be required to provide to the other Party any information related to such
Party’s valuation of the proposed transactions.
(d) Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Parties agree that (i) the
obtaining of required consents and approvals of parties to contracts with the
Companies are the joint responsibility of Buyer and Seller and that Buyer and
Seller shall take, or cause to be taken, all commercially reasonable actions to
obtain such third-party consents and approvals of parties to contracts with the
Companies as are required in connection with the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and (ii) any Filings or Consents with or from
any Governmental Entity are the joint responsibility of Buyer and Seller, and
that Buyer and Seller shall take, or cause to be taken, all commercially
reasonable actions to obtain such Filings or Consents with or from any
Governmental Entity as are required in connection with the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby.
SECTION
6.7.
Meter
Reading. On and
prior to the Closing Date, Seller shall cause the Companies to read the customer
meters in their normal cycle and in due course render the related bills to its
customers served by the Companies. Seller shall also cause the Companies to read
each daily read transportation customer meter (collectively, “Large Volume Meters”)
on the day immediately preceding the Closing Date. Seller shall provide Buyer
with the Companies’ last meter reading from each of the Large Volume Meters made
on the day immediately preceding the Closing Date as soon as practicable after
the Closing Date. After the Closing Date, Buyer shall read the customer meters
for their first time, in the normal cycle, and in due course render bills for
service during the period between the Companies’ last reading in the normal
cycle and Buyer’s first reading in the normal cycle to the customers. Buyer
shall determine the volume of gas sold by the Companies prior to the Closing
Date through Large Volume Meters by the Companies’ meter readings on the day
immediately preceding the Closing Date. Buyer shall determine by allocation the
volumes of gas sold by the Companies’ through all meters other than Large Volume
Meters, prior to the Closing Date, and the gas sold by Buyer, on and after the
Closing Date and prior to its first meter reading through meters without charts.
Such allocation shall be consistent with the Companies’ past practices for
unbilled revenues. Once such determinations have been made by Buyer, the
estimated amounts of accounts receivable and earned but unbilled revenue and any
other related payables or liabilities shall be adjusted based upon such
determinations for purposes of the determination of the Actual Aggregate Net
Working Capital pursuant to Section 2.2(b).
SECTION
6.8.
Seller
Marks. Buyer shall (i) within 90 days after
the Closing Date, cease using any names, marks, trade names, trademarks and
corporate symbols and logos incorporating “PPL” and any word or expression
similar thereto or constituting an abbreviation or extension thereof
(collectively and together with all other names, marks, trade names, trademarks
and corporate symbols and logos owned by Seller or any of its Affiliates, the
“Seller Marks”)
(other than Seller Marks applicable to the Seller’s propane business, which
Seller Marks the Buyer shall cease using within 120 days after the Closing
Date); (ii) within 90 days after the Closing Date, use commercially reasonable
efforts to remove or conceal from the Assets any and all Seller Marks (other
than any Seller Marks applicable to the Seller’s propane business, which shall
be removed or concealed within 120 days after the Closing, provided that any
Seller Marks on any propane tanks at distributor or customer locations shall be
removed or concealed within 12 months after the Closing Date) and (iii) within
30 days after the Closing Date, amend the relevant organizational documents of
the Companies to change the names of the Companies to names that do not include
any Seller Xxxx or any name or term confusingly similar to any Seller Xxxx;
provided, however, that Buyer shall not be required to remove or conceal Seller
Marks from meter seals, property tags, valves, manhole covers, tank or cylinder
rings or from assets that are not generally in public view or likely to
adversely affect the Seller Marks. Thereafter, Buyer shall not use any Seller
Xxxx or any name or term confusingly similar to any Seller Xxxx in connection
with the sale of any products or services, in the corporate or doing business
name of any of its Affiliates or otherwise in the conduct of its or any of its
Affiliates’ businesses or operations. In the event that Buyer breaches this
Section 6.8, Seller shall be entitled to specific performance of this Section
6.8 and to injunctive relief against further violations, as well as any other
remedies at law or in equity available to Seller.
SECTION
6.9.
Risk of
Loss. The
risk of any loss, damage, impairment, confiscation or condemnation of any of the
Assets from any cause whatsoever shall be borne by Seller at all times prior to
the Closing, and by Buyer at all times thereafter. If any such loss, damage,
impairment, confiscation or condemnation occurs, Seller shall apply the proceeds
of any insurance policy, judgment or award with respect thereto to repair,
replace or restore the Assets as soon as possible to their prior condition;
provided, however, anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding (except as required by Section 6.2(a)(xii)), Seller shall not be
obligated to expend sums in excess of the proceeds of any insurance policy plus
the amount of any applicable deductible thereunder, judgment or award with
respect to any loss, damage, impairment, confiscation or condemnation of any of
the Assets in order to repair, replace or restore such Assets to their prior
condition. The provisions of this Section 6.9 shall apply in the event (“Casualty Event”) of
any damage or destruction to the Assets which would result in the nonoccurrence
of a condition precedent to Buyer's obligation to consummate this Agreement. If
a Casualty Event shall occur, Buyer at its option, may proceed to close this
Agreement on the Closing Date, in which event Seller shall pay or assign to
Buyer the proceeds from any insurance policies covering Assets subject to the
Casualty Event to the extent such proceeds are received by or payable to Seller
and have not been used in or committed to the restoration or replacement of
Assets subject to the Casualty Event as of the Closing Date.
SECTION
6.10.
Insurance. Seller shall maintain or cause to be
maintained in full force and effect the Policies throughout the Interim Period
and shall thereafter refrain from electing to terminate any Policy prior to the
expiration of its stated term. At Buyer’s request and expense
(including payment of any applicable deductible or other expense), Seller agrees
to cooperate in good faith and use commercially reasonable efforts to assert and
diligently pursue all rights to insurance coverage under the Policies and any
other past insurance policies of Seller or any of its Affiliates relating to the
Companies or their respective assets and properties with respect to claims
arising from the operations of the businesses of the Companies or their
respective assets and properties prior to the Closing to the extent such claims
are asserted prior to the Closing Date. Seller shall control the
defense or settlement of any such claim prior to the Closing Date, but Seller
shall keep Buyer advised of material developments in respect of such claims and
Seller shall not settle any such claim for other than monetary consideration
without having first obtained Buyer’s written consent, which shall not be
unreasonably withheld. After the Closing Date, Buyer shall control
the defense or settlement of any such claim, but Buyer shall keep Seller advised
of any material developments in respect of such claims. Buyer shall
be solely responsible for providing insurance to the Companies for any claims
made after the Closing regardless of when the event or occurrence relating to
any claim arose.
SECTION
6.11.
Termination
of Certain Services and Contracts; Transition Services. (a) Except as
contemplated by this Agreement or as set forth on Schedule 6.11(a),
prior to the Closing, Seller shall, and shall cause the Non-Company Affiliates
to, take such actions as may be necessary to terminate, sever, or assign to
Seller or a Non-Company Affiliate (in each case with appropriate mutual
releases) effective upon or before the Closing all Contracts and services
between any of the Companies, on the one hand, and Seller or any Non-Company
Affiliate, on the other hand, including the termination or severance of Tax
services, legal services and banking services (to include the severance of any
centralized clearance accounts) (collectively such Contracts, the “Terminated
Contracts”). On and after the Closing, none of Buyer, the Companies or any of
their Affiliates shall have any further obligations or liabilities pursuant to
the Terminated Contracts.
(b) Concurrently
with the Closing, in addition to the services to be provided pursuant to Section
6.16(b), Seller shall, and shall cause certain of the Non-Company Affiliates to,
enter into one or more agreements with certain of the Companies to provide those
services set forth on Schedule 6.11(b) at a
price equal to 125% of cost (as allocated in accordance with the same
methodologies used for such allocations by the Companies and their Affiliates in
accordance with past practice) and in accordance with the other terms and
conditions set forth thereon (such agreements, the “Transition Services
Agreements”). The Parties will agree upon any remaining terms and
conditions of the Transition Services Agreements in a commercially reasonable
manner as soon as practicable after the date hereof and in any event within 90
days of the date hereof. The Parties shall cooperate in good faith
during the period between the date hereof and the Closing Date in order to
minimize, to the extent possible, the period of time following the Closing Date
that Buyer and the Companies will require services to be provided under the
Transition Services Agreements.
SECTION
6.12.
Distributions. Notwithstanding anything in this
Agreement to the contrary, but except as required in Section 6.2(c), Seller
shall have the right to cause the Companies to pay cash dividends and make cash
distributions to Seller or its Affiliates at any time prior to the
Closing. From and after the Closing, Seller shall pay to Buyer as
promptly as reasonably practicable any amounts received by the Seller or any
Non-Company Affiliate in connection with payments received by them in respect of
accounts receivable of the Companies.
SECTION
6.13.
Transfer
Taxes. Notwithstanding any provision of
this Agreement to the contrary, all Transfer Taxes incurred in connection with
this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by Buyer;
provided, however, that Seller shall be responsible for and pay all Transfer
Taxes associated with the transfer of all real estate interests and oil and
mineral rights necessary to operate and maintain the businesses and storage
assets of the Companies. Seller and Buyer shall cooperate in timely
making all filings, Tax Returns, reports and forms as may be required to comply
with the provisions of such Tax laws.
SECTION
6.14.
Employee,
Labor and Benefits Matters. (a) Parent Plans. As of
the Closing Date, the Companies shall cease to be participating employers under
the incentive, compensation and benefits arrangements that are sponsored,
entered into or maintained by Seller (the “Parent Plans”);
provided, that Seller shall take such actions as may be reasonably necessary
(including amending the Parent Plans) to fully vest each employee of the
Companies in the benefits accrued by such employees in the Parent Plans listed
on Schedule
6.14(a) for the period ending on or prior to the Closing
Date. From and after the Closing Date, no current or former employee
of any of the Companies shall have any right to accrue any further benefits, nor
any right to continue as active participants under the Parent Plans (except to
the extent required by COBRA, and except to the extent that any group medical,
dental, prescription drug or vision care benefits under any Parent Plans
continue to be available, by their express terms, through the end of the
calendar month in which the Closing Date occurs). As of the Closing
Date, except as set forth in the immediately succeeding sentence, the Companies
shall be solely responsible for all obligations and liabilities, whether
incurred before, on or after the Closing Date, under the incentive, compensation
and benefits arrangements that are sponsored, entered into or maintained solely
by the Companies (and not by the Parent, the “Company Plans”), and
no obligations or liabilities under the Company Plans shall be retained by
Seller or any of its Affiliates. Seller shall assume and shall be
solely responsible for (i) a prorata portion of cash incentive bonus in respect
of the year the Closing occurs payable at the normal time such bonuses are paid
based on actual performance for the full period, and (ii) outstanding restricted
stock unit awards for Company employees, which amounts shall not be included in
Net Working Capital. As of the Closing, the Companies shall have
fully accrued in accordance with GAAP for all amounts with respect to all
benefits provided or made available to employees of the Companies in respect of
the Company Plans, except those amounts for which Seller has assumed
responsibility to pay pursuant to this Agreement.
(b) Continuity of Employment at
Closing.
(i) Except
for the executives and certain employees of the Companies who are receiving
long-term disability benefits under a Parent Plan, in each case as listed in
Schedule
6.14(b)(i), Buyer and Seller intend that there shall be continuity of
employment with respect to all employees of each of the Companies immediately
before and immediately after the Closing. Except as otherwise
provided in this Section 6.14, Buyer shall ensure that all persons who were
employed by any of the Companies on the day immediately preceding the Closing
Date (whether actively at work or absent from work due to holiday, vacation,
injury, sick leave, disability, jury duty, military leave or other leave of
absence) shall continue to be employed by the Buyer or the Companies on and
immediately after the Closing Date on such terms as comply with applicable Law,
and on the same terms (including salary, titles, job responsibilities, schedule
and location) as apply to such employees on the day immediately preceding the
Closing Date. In the event any disabled individual who is listed on
Schedule
6.14(b)(i) returns to active employment at the conclusion of such leave,
Buyer and the Companies shall employ such individual on the same terms as
applied to such employee immediately prior to the commencement of such
leave.
(ii) Buyer
shall indemnify, defend, and hold Seller harmless from and against any and all
liabilities, claims and obligations (including attorney’s fees and other costs
of defense) arising out of or otherwise in respect of (A) Buyer’s failure to
comply with the foregoing Section 6.14(b)(i), (B) a termination of the
employment of any employees of any of the Companies that occurs on or after the
Closing Date, or (C) any suit or claim of violation brought against Seller or
any of its Affiliates under WARN for any actions taken by Buyer or any of the
Companies or any of their Affiliates on or after the Closing Date with regard to
any site of employment, facility, operating unit or employee affected by this
Agreement.
(c)
Assumption of Collective
Bargaining Agreements.
(i) As of the
Closing Date, Buyer shall cause the Companies to continue to perform the
requirements, obligations and liabilities of that Company under the Collective
Bargaining Agreement listed in Schedule 4.9(d)
(individually, a “CBA,” collectively,
the “CBAs”).
For employees of any of the Companies covered by a CBA, the obligations of the
Buyer and the Companies set forth in this Section 6.14 shall be subject to the
terms of the applicable CBA and all applicable labor and employment law
requirements. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section 6.14
to the contrary, the covenants contained in Sections 6.14(d)(i) and (e)(i) shall
not be applicable to any employees of the Companies covered by a
CBA.
(ii) Buyer
agrees that Buyer shall be responsible for, and Buyer covenants to pay or
otherwise discharge, and shall indemnify and hold harmless, Seller and its
Affiliates against any liability, claim or obligation (including attorney’s fees
and other costs of defense) resulting from Buyer’s or any Company’s failure to
provide compensation or benefits from and after the Closing Date that are
required to be provided under the CBAs.
(d)
Post-Closing Compensation
and Benefits; General.
(i) Without
limiting any additional rights under any Company Plan, (x) starting on the
Closing Date and continuing for a period of not less than 12 months following
the Closing Date, Buyer shall provide (or shall cause the Companies to provide)
each employee of any of the Companies with (x) base salary that is no less
favorable than that provided to such employee immediately prior to the Closing
Date, and (y) employee benefits (including without limitation incentive
opportunity, pension, savings, health, vision, dental, disability and life
insurance benefits, as well as vacation, time off, sick and holiday pay
programs) that are comparable in the aggregate to those provided to similarly
situated employees of Buyer; provided that (x) all
such Buyer benefit plans (and those of its Affiliate, Amerigas Propane, Inc.)
are listed on Schedule
6.14(d), and (y) true and complete copies of all such Buyer benefit plans
are provided to Seller (in each case of (x) and (y), as of the date hereof, and
as updated no later than 10 days prior to the Closing Date).
(ii) Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing provisions of Section 6.14(d)(i), from
and after the Closing Date, Buyer shall (or shall cause the Companies to) honor
those arrangements set forth on Schedule
6.14(d)(ii).
(e)
Severance.
(i) Without limiting the generality of the
provisions of Section 6.14(d)(i), and notwithstanding anything therein to the
contrary, from and after the Closing Date, Buyer shall provide (or cause the
Companies to provide) severance pay and benefits to each employee of any of the
Companies whose employment terminates or is terminated on or during the 12 month
period following the Closing Date which are no less favorable than those set
forth in the severance program listed on Schedule 6.14(e) (taking into account
subsequent increases in compensation and service). As a condition of
any such severance benefits, Buyer and the Companies shall require that eligible
employees shall be required to execute (and not revoke) a general release of all
claims against Seller, Buyer, the Companies and their respective
Affiliates. Prior to the Closing, Seller shall cause the changes
described on Schedule 6.14(e)(i) to be effective.
(ii) In addition, from and after the
Closing Date, Buyer shall assume full responsibility to provide any severance or
termination pay benefits that may be required to be provided under
CBAs.
(f)
Service Credit. With
respect to any incentive, compensation or employee benefit arrangements as may
be maintained for employees of any of the Companies from time to time following
the Closing Date by Buyer, the Companies or any of their respective Affiliates
(including without limitation plans or policies providing severance benefits,
vacation entitlement, and sick pay), service by such employees performed for any
of Seller, the Companies or any of their Affiliates (or a predecessor to either
such entity’s business or assets) shall be treated as service with Buyer and the
Companies and their respective Affiliates, for purposes of determining
eligibility to participate, vesting and benefit accruals; provided, however,
that such service need not be recognized to the extent that such recognition
would result in a duplication of benefits.
(g) Medical and Welfare Plan
Obligations.
(i) Buyer
agrees to waive any waiting periods or limitations for preexisting conditions
for each employee of any of the Companies under the welfare benefit programs of
Buyer made available to such Company employees on or following the Closing Date,
to the same extent such periods or limitations would have been or were waived by
Seller and its Affiliates for the same purpose under the comparable type of
welfare benefit program in which such Company employee was participating or
eligible to participate immediately prior to the Closing Date. Buyer
further agrees to credit each employee of any of the Companies for amounts paid
by such Company employee under the welfare benefit program in which such Company
employee was participating immediately prior to the Closing Date towards
satisfaction of the applicable deductibles and out-of-pocket limits recorded by
Seller’s or the Companies’ medical plan administrator as of the Closing Date
under the comparable type of welfare benefit program of Buyer or its Affiliates
in which such Company employee first participates on or after the Closing Date,
to the same extent such credit was given under the applicable welfare benefit
program, and in each case in respect of the plan year in which occurs the
Closing Date.
(ii) Buyer
also shall honor (or cause the Companies to honor) all vacation, personal and
sick days accrued by such Company employees under the plans, policies, programs
and arrangements of Seller, the Companies or any or their Affiliates (or a
predecessor to either such entity’s business or assets) immediately prior to the
Closing Date.
(iii) Buyer
shall provide (or shall cause the Companies to provide) continuation health care
coverage to employees of any of the Companies and their qualified beneficiaries
who incur a qualifying event, in accordance with the continuation health care
coverage requirements of Section 4980B of the Code and Title I, Subtitle B, Part
6 of ERISA and any similar state local law (“COBRA”) on or after the Closing
Date.
(h) Flexible Spending
Accounts. Seller, in accordance with the principles and
methods set forth in Revenue Ruling 2002-32, shall cause a transfer of assets
from a Code Section 125 cafeteria plan maintained by Seller in which any
employees of any of the Companies participate prior to the Closing Date to be
accepted into any Code Section 125 cafeteria plan that may be maintained on and
after the Closing Date by Buyer, any of its Affiliates, any of the Companies,
which transfer shall consist of cash equal to the account balances under the
first-mentioned Seller Code Section 125 cafeteria plan of such Company employees
who are employed on and after the Closing Date. Absent an available
Code Section 125 cafeteria plan of Buyer, no such transfer shall be made
hereunder. Buyer and Seller shall cooperate in good faith to
effectuate the provisions of this Section 6.14(h).
(i) Post-Retirement
Benefits. The Companies currently sponsor retiree health programs (the
“Company Retiree
Plans”) for current and former employees of the Companies (and
beneficiaries thereof) who meet (or met) the plans’ applicable eligibility
requirements, as well as related voluntary employees’ beneficiary association
trusts (the “Company
VEBAs”). From and after the Closing, Buyer and the Companies shall have
all responsibility and liabilities for, and the Seller and its Affiliates shall
cease to have any responsibility or liability for, the Company Retiree Plans and
the Company VEBAs, whether arising before, on or after the Closing
Date.
(j)
Pension
Plan.
(i) The
Companies currently sponsor a defined benefit pension plan (the “Company Pension
Plan”), assets in respect of which are held in a master trust sponsored
by the Seller (the “Seller’s Master
Trust”). From and after the Closing, Buyer and the Companies shall have
all responsibility and liabilities for, and the Seller and its Affiliates shall
cease to have any responsibility or liability for, the Company Pension Plan,
whether arising before, on or after the Closing Date
(ii) Prior
to the Closing Date, Seller shall (x) cause the Companies to establish a
separate trust which is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the
Code and exempt from taxation under Section 501(a)(1) of the Code (the “Company Trust”) to
hold assets of the Company Pension Plan, and (y) cause a transfer of assets from
the Seller’s Master Trust to the Company Trust in respect of Company Pension
Plan liabilities, in a total amount determined in accordance with this Section
6.14(j). Such transfer of assets shall be in cash or in kind, as
determined by Seller in its discretion.
(iii) Within
a reasonable time after the execution of this Agreement, Seller shall cause the
trustee of the Seller’s Master Trust to determine the value of the assets
allocated to the Company Pension Plan as of the date of the execution of this
Agreement. As soon as practicable after such valuation is completed,
Seller shall cause the transfer of such amount of assets to the Company Trust
referred to above.
(iv) In
addition to the amounts transferred to the Company Trust as described in
Sections 6.14(j)(i) through 6.14(j)(iii), immediately prior to the Closing Date,
Seller shall (A) cause all in kind assets transferred to the Company Trust in
accordance with Sections 6.14(j)(i) through 6.14(j)(iii) to be liquidated into
cash (such that only cash shall be held in the Company Trust as of the Closing
Date), and (B) provide satisfactory evidence of such transfer to Buyer at
Closing.
(v) Without
limiting the generality of Section 6.14(f), Buyer shall continue to provide the
Company Pension Plan participants with credit for their service with the Seller,
the Companies and their Affiliates, as applicable, prior to the Closing Date for
all purposes for which such service was recognized under the Company Pension
Plan including, without limitation, vesting, benefit accrual, eligibility to
participate and eligibility for early retirement benefits (including subsidies
relating to such benefits).
(vi) Seller
shall make the minimum contribution (if any) to the Company Trust on or prior to
the Closing Date as required under the Pension Protection Act during the plan
year beginning on January 1, 2008.
(k)
401(k)
Plan.
(i) From
and after the Closing Date, Buyer agrees to cause a defined contribution plan
that is maintained or contributed to by Buyer or one of its Affiliates that is
intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code and tax-exempt under
Section 501(a) of the Code (“Buyer’s 401(k) Plan”)
to provide each Company employee an opportunity to make a direct rollover to
Buyer’s 401(k) Plan of an eligible distribution from the PPL Subsidiary Savings
Plan (“Seller’s 401(k)
Plan”) that includes promissory notes reflecting such Company employee’s
then outstanding participant loans under Seller’s 401(k) Plan.
(ii) Seller
and the Seller 401(k) Plan shall not place any Company employee’s loan into
default on account of the actions contemplated by this Agreement, or on account
of the Companies ceasing to be Affiliates of the Seller as of the Closing Date,
so long as such employee transfers such employee’s account balance under the
Seller’s 401(k) Plan, together with the loan, to the Buyer’s 401(k) Plan through
a direct rollover.
(l) Facility Closings; Employee
Layoffs. For a period of ninety (90) days after the Closing Date, neither
Buyer nor any of the Companies shall terminate the employment of any employees
of any of the Companies in such numbers as would trigger any liability under the
Worker Adjustment, Retraining and Notification Act, 29 U.S.C. § 2101, et seq.
(“WARN”) or any
state plant closing or severance law. Buyer shall cause the Companies to comply
with any notice or filing requirements under WARN and any state plant closing or
severance law.
(m) No Amendments; No Third
Party Beneficiaries. All provisions contained in this Section 6.14 are
included for the sole benefit of the Parties to this Agreement, and nothing
herein, whether express or implied, shall create any third party beneficiary or
other rights (i) in any other Person, including, without limitation, any current
or former employee, any participant in any Benefit Plan, or any dependent,
alternative payee or beneficiary thereof, or (ii) to continued employment with
Seller, Buyer, any of the Companies, or any of their respective Affiliates or
continued participation in any Benefit Plan.
SECTION
6.15. Tax Matters. Except
as provided in Section 6.13 relating to Transfer Taxes:
(a)
With
respect to any Tax Return (except those listed in Schedule 6.15(a))
covering a taxable period ending on or before the Closing Date (a “Pre-Closing Taxable
Period”) that is required to be filed after the Closing Date with respect
to any Company, (i) Seller shall cause such Tax Return to be prepared and shall
deliver a draft of such Tax Return to Buyer for Buyer’s review and comments at
least 30 days prior to the due date for filing such Tax Return, and (ii) Buyer
shall cause such Tax Return to be executed and duly and timely filed with the
appropriate Taxing Authority and shall pay all Taxes due with respect to the
period covered by such Tax Return (subject to the rights of indemnification and
reimbursement from Seller for such Taxes set forth in Section
6.15(b)). With respect to any Tax Return covering a taxable period
beginning on or before the Closing Date and ending after the Closing Date (a
“Straddle Taxable
Period”) that is required to be filed after the Closing Date with respect
to a Company, (i) Buyer shall cause such Tax Return to be prepared (in a manner
consistent with practices followed in prior taxable periods) and shall deliver a
draft of such Tax Return to Seller for Seller’s review and approval (which
approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) at least 30
days prior to the due date for filing such Tax Return, (ii) Seller and Buyer
shall cooperate and consult with each other in order to finalize such Tax
Return, and (iii) thereafter Buyer shall cause such Tax Return to be executed
and duly and timely filed with the appropriate Taxing Authority and shall pay
all Taxes due with respect to the period covered by such Tax Return (subject to
the rights of indemnification and reimbursement from Seller for such Taxes set
forth in Section 6.15(b)). Those Tax Returns listed in Schedule 6.15(a) will
be prepared and filed by Seller and supplied to Buyer within 10 days after the
filing. The tax liability shown on such Tax Returns shall be
determined to be the liability of the Buyer, the Seller or both in a method
consistent with Section 6.15(b).
(b)
As
between Seller and Buyer, Seller shall be responsible for and indemnify Buyer
against, and Seller shall be entitled to all refunds or credits of, any Tax with
respect to a Company that is attributable to a Pre-Closing Taxable Period or to
that portion of a Straddle Taxable Period that ends on the Closing Date (other
than Taxes attributable to Buyer having not timely filed any Tax Return in
accordance with Section 6.15(a)), in each case to the extent that such Tax
exceeds the amount (if any) reflected as a liability for such Tax in the
Aggregate Net Working Capital. Within five days prior to the due date
for the payment of any such Tax, if (i) the amount of such Tax for which Seller
is responsible exceeds (ii) the amount reflected as a current liability for such
Tax in the Aggregate Net Working Capital, Seller shall pay to Buyer an amount
equal to such excess; if the amount described in clause (ii) exceeds the amount
described in clause (i), Buyer shall pay to Seller the amount of such
excess. With respect to a Straddle Taxable Period, Seller shall
determine the Taxes attributable to the portion of the Straddle Taxable Period
that ends on the Closing Date: (x) by an interim closing of the books
of the relevant Company as of the Closing Date as to all Taxes based on or
measured by income or receipts of a Company (and for such purpose, the taxable
period of any partnership or other pass-through entity in which a Company holds
a beneficial interest shall be deemed to terminate as of the Closing Date); and
(y) as to all Taxes other than those based on or measured by income or receipts
of a Company (including ad valorem or property Taxes (“Property Taxes”) and
franchise Taxes based solely on capital), by daily proration of such Taxes
within the Straddle Tax Period. In determining whether a Property Tax is
attributable to a Pre-Closing Taxable Period or a Straddle Taxable Period, any
Property Tax that is based on the assessed value of any assets, property or
other rights as of any lien date or other specified valuation date shall be
deemed a Property Tax attributable to the taxable period (whether a fiscal year
or other tax year) specified on the relevant Property Tax xxxx that is issued
with respect to that lien date or other valuation date. For the avoidance of
doubt, any Taxes attributable to the Section 338(h)(10) Elections shall be
allocable to the Pre-Closing Taxable Period.
(c)
Buyer
shall be responsible for and indemnify Seller against, and Buyer shall be
entitled to all refunds (including, but not limited to, property tax refunds)
and credits of, all Taxes of the Companies that are not the responsibility of
Seller pursuant to Section 6.15(b).
(d)
With
respect to any Tax for which Seller is responsible pursuant to Section 6.15(b),
Seller shall have the right, at its sole cost and expense, to initiate any claim
for refund or credit and to control the prosecution, settlement or compromise of
any proceeding involving such Tax, including the determination of the value of
property for purposes of real and personal property ad valorem
Taxes. Buyer shall (and shall cause the relevant Companies to) take
such action in connection with any such proceeding as Seller shall reasonably
request from time to time to implement the preceding sentence, including the
selection of counsel and experts and the execution of powers of attorney. Buyer
shall (and shall cause the relevant Companies to) give written notice to Seller
of its receipt of any notice of any audit, examination, claim or assessment for
any Tax for which Seller may be responsible within 15 days after its receipt of
such notice; failure to give any such written notice within such 15-day period
shall cause Buyer to forfeit any rights it may have by reason of Section 4.12 or
this Section 6.15 to the extent Seller is actually prejudiced by such
failure.
(e)
With
respect to any contest relating to Taxes (a “Tax Claim”) relating
to a Pre-Closing Taxable Period, Seller shall, solely at its own cost and
expense, control all proceedings and may make all decisions taken in connection
with such Tax Claim and, without limiting the foregoing, may in its sole
discretion pursue or forego any and all administrative appeals, proceedings,
hearings and conferences with any taxing authority with respect
thereto. Buyer shall cooperate with Seller, including agreeing to
extension of the statute of limitations, relating to Tax Claims by Seller for
Pre-Closing Taxable Periods. Seller and Buyer shall jointly control
and participate in all proceedings taken in connection with any Tax Claim
relating to Taxes of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for a Straddle
Period, and shall bear their own respective costs and expenses. Neither Seller
nor Buyer shall settle any such Tax Claim relating to a Straddle Period without
the prior written consent of the other, such consent not to be unreasonably
delayed, conditioned or withheld.
(f)
Seller
shall grant to Buyer (or its designees) access at all reasonable times to all of
the information, books and records relating to the Companies within the
possession of Seller (including workpapers and correspondence with Taxing
Authorities), and shall afford Buyer (or its designees) the right (at Buyer’s
expense) to take extracts therefrom and to make copies thereof, to the extent
reasonably necessary to permit Buyer (or its designees) to prepare Tax Returns,
respond to Tax audits and investigations, prosecute Tax protests, appeals and
refund claims and to conduct negotiations with Taxing Authorities. Buyer shall
grant or cause the Companies to grant to Seller (or its designees) access at all
reasonable times to all of the information, books and records relating to the
Companies within the possession of Buyer (including workpapers and
correspondence with Taxing Authorities) and to the employees of such Companies,
and shall afford Seller (or its designees) the right (at Seller’s expense) to
take extracts therefrom and to make copies thereof, to the extent reasonably
necessary to permit Seller (or its designees) to prepare Tax Returns, respond to
Tax audits and investigations, prosecute Tax protests, appeals and refund claims
and to conduct negotiations with Taxing Authorities. After the
Closing Date, Seller and Buyer will preserve all information, records or
documents in their respective possessions relating to liabilities for Taxes of
the Companies until six months after the expiration of any applicable statute of
limitations (including extensions thereof) with respect to the assessment of
such Taxes; provided, that
neither Party shall dispose of any of the foregoing items without first offering
such items to the other Party.
(g)
If, after
the Closing, Buyer or any Company in Buyer’s possession receives a refund or
utilizes a credit of any Tax of any such Company attributable to a Pre-Closing
Taxable Period or that portion of a Straddle Taxable Period ending on the
Closing Date, Buyer shall pay to Seller within 10 Business Days after such
receipt or utilization an amount equal to such refund received or credit
utilized.
(h)
Buyer, on
the one hand, and Seller, on the other hand, shall join in timely making
elections under Section 338(h)(10) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “Code”) (and any
corresponding elections under state, local, or foreign tax law) (collectively
the “Section
338(h)(10) Elections”) with respect to the purchase and sale of the PPL
Gas Utilities Shares and the Companies, and Buyer and Seller shall cooperate in
the completion and timely filing of such elections in accordance with the
provisions of Treasury Regulation Section 1.338(h)(10)-1 (or any comparable
provisions of state, local or foreign Tax Law) or any successor
provision. Pursuant to Section 338(h)(10) of the Code and the
Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, the Purchase Price (together with
applicable liabilities and other relevant items), as adjusted in accordance with
the terms hereof, shall be allocated among the assets of the Companies as set
forth in the allocation schedule (the “Allocation Schedule”)
to be mutually agreed by Seller and Buyer within 60 days after the date hereof.
Neither Seller nor Buyer shall take any position (whether in financial
statements, Tax Returns, tax audits, or otherwise) that is inconsistent with
such Allocation Schedule determined in accordance with this Section
6.15(h). Seller will pay any Taxes attributable to the making of the
Section 338(h)(10) Elections.
(i) Seller
hereby covenants and agrees to reasonably cooperate, at Buyer’s sole cost and
expense, with all Buyer requests for assistance in obtaining successor employer
treatment for federal, state, and local payroll Tax purposes of the Companies,
including the execution of any forms necessary for such treatment (such as
PA-100).
SECTION
6.16.
Further Actions. (a) Subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each of Buyer and Seller agrees
to use its reasonable best efforts (except where a different efforts standard is
specifically contemplated by this Agreement, in which case such different
standard shall apply) to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or
cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and
make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) Without
limiting the foregoing, as soon as reasonably practicable following the date
hereof, Seller shall provide Buyer (at Seller’s sole cost and expense) with (i)
historical 2008 financial general ledger information applicable to the
pre-Closing period for the purposes of preparing historic rate case test year
information and (ii) business unit budget information prepared in accordance
with Seller’s budgetary process for preparing future rate case test year
information. In addition, during the period between October 1, 2008
and the Closing Date, Seller shall provide Buyer (at Seller’s sole cost and
expense) with consultation regarding rate case information and Buyer’s
preparation of rate case filing schedules and responses to subsequent
interrogatories.
(c) Subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at any time and from time to time
after the Closing, at either Party’s request and without further consideration,
the other Party shall execute and deliver to such requesting Party such other
instruments of sale, transfer, conveyance, assignment and confirmation, provide
such materials and information and take such other actions as such Party may
reasonably request in order to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
SECTION
6.17.
Preparation of Audited
Financial Statements Seller
shall use commercially reasonable efforts to prepare and deliver to Buyer an
audited consolidated balance sheet of PPL Gas Utilities as of December 31, 2007,
and as of December 31, 2008, if the Closing occurs after February 28, 2009, and
audited consolidated statements of income and cash flows of PPL Gas Utilities
for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2007, and December 31, 2008, if
the Closing occurs after February 28, 2009 (such audited balance sheet,
statements of income and cash flows and related notes to the financial
statements, the “Audited Financials”).
In addition, Seller shall use commercially reasonable efforts to prepare and
deliver to Buyer an unaudited consolidated balance sheet of PPL Gas Utilities as
of the end of the interim period preceding the Closing for which Buyer must
provide interim financial statements of PPL Gas Utilities in a report on Form
8-K and unaudited consolidated statements of income and cash flows of PPL Gas
Utilities for the interim period ending as of the date of such balance sheet and
for the prior year comparative period (such unaudited balance sheets, statements
of income and cash flows and related notes to the financial statements, the
“Interim
Financials”). The Audited Financials and Interim Financials
shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP, except to the extent permitted by
Regulation S-X, adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the
Audited Financials shall be accompanied by the unqualified opinion of the
auditors of PPL Gas Utilities. Seller shall promptly advise Buyer of
any material issues relating to the preparation of the Audited Financials, and
Buyer shall reimburse Seller for the reasonable fees and expenses of Seller’s
external auditor relating to the preparation of the Audited
Financials. Seller shall use commercially reasonable efforts to
deliver the Audited Financials and Interim Financials to Buyer by the Closing
Date, but Seller’s requirement to deliver such Audited Financials and Interim
Financials shall not be a condition to Closing. In addition, upon
Buyer’s request, Seller shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide
such supplemental schedules and other unaudited financial information as Buyer
may reasonably request related to Audited Financials and Interim
Financials.
SECTION
6.18.
Transition
Plan.
Within
15 days after the execution date of this Agreement, Seller shall deliver to
Buyer a list of its proposed representatives to a joint transition team, which
shall include individuals with expertise from various functional specialties
associated or involved in providing billing, payroll and other support services
provided to PPL Gas Utilities by any automated or manual process using
facilities or employees that are not transferred to Buyer pursuant to this
Agreement. Buyer will add its representatives to such team within 15
days after receipt of Seller’s list. Such team will be responsible
for preparing as soon as reasonably practicable after the execution date of this
Agreement, and timely implementing, a transition plan that will identify and
describe substantially all of the various transition activities that the parties
will cause to occur before the Closing. Buyer and Seller shall use
their commercially reasonable efforts to cause their Representatives on such
transition team to cooperate in good faith and take all reasonable steps
necessary to develop a mutually acceptable transition plan by no later than 60
days after the date of this Agreement.
ARTICLE
VII
SPECIFIED
CONDITIONS
SECTION
7.1.
Buyer’s Condition
Precedents. The
obligation of Buyer to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement shall be subject to fulfillment at or prior to the Closing of the
following conditions, any one or more of which may be waived in writing by
Buyer:
(a) Representations and
Warranties. The representations and warranties of Seller set forth in
Article III and Article IV hereof shall be true and correct in all material
respects (except for representations and warranties that are qualified by
materiality, including by reference to Material Adverse Effect, which shall be
true and correct in all respects) on and as of the Closing Date as though made
on and as of such date or, in the case of representations and warranties made as
of a specified date earlier than the Closing Date, on and as of such earlier
date.
(b) Compliance with
Agreements. The covenants, agreements and obligations required by this
Agreement to be performed and complied with by Seller shall have been performed
and complied with in all material respects prior to or at the Closing
Date.
(c)
Certificate. Seller
shall execute and deliver to Buyer a certificate of an authorized officer of
Seller, dated as of the Closing Date, stating that the conditions specified in
Sections 7.1(a) and 7.1(b) of this Agreement have been satisfied.
(d) Consents. The
Consents or Filings marked with an asterisk on Schedule 3.3 or Schedule 5.3 shall
have been duly obtained by Final Order, made or given and shall be in full force
and effect, all terminations or expirations of applicable waiting periods
imposed by any Governmental Entity with respect to the transactions contemplated
thereby (including under the HSR Act) shall have occurred, and none of such
Consents or Filings shall impose terms or conditions that would reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or a material adverse effect on
the Buyer.
(e) No Injunctions. On
the Closing Date, there shall be no Laws or Orders that operate to restrain,
enjoin or otherwise prevent or make illegal the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. No action or proceeding initiated by
any Governmental Entity seeking an Order prohibiting the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be pending.
(f) Material Adverse
Change. There shall not have occurred from December 31, 2007 to the
Closing Date any event or development that has had or is reasonably expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect.
(g)
Documents. Seller
shall have delivered or shall stand ready to deliver all of the certificates,
instruments, Contracts and other documents specified to be delivered by it
hereunder, including pursuant to Sections 2.4 and 6.11(b).
SECTION
7.2.
Seller’s Condition
Precedents. The
obligation of Seller to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement shall be subject to fulfillment at or prior to the Closing of the
following conditions, any one or more of which may be waived in writing by
Seller:
(a) Representations and
Warranties. The representations and warranties of Buyer set
forth in Article V hereof shall be true and correct in all material respects
(except for representations and warranties that are qualified by materiality,
including by reference to Material Adverse Effect, which shall be true and
correct in all respects) on and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as
of such date or, in the case of representations and warranties made as of a
specified date earlier than the Closing Date, on and as of such earlier
date.
(b) Compliance with
Agreements. The covenants, agreements and obligations required
by this Agreement to be performed and complied with by Buyer shall have been
performed and complied with in all material respects prior to or at the Closing
Date.
(c) Certificate. Buyer
shall execute and deliver to Seller a certificate of an authorized officer of
Buyer, dated as of the Closing Date, stating that the conditions specified in
Sections 7.2(a) and 7.2(b) of this Agreement have been satisfied.
(d) Consents. The
Consents or Filings marked with an asterisk on Schedule 3.3 or Schedule 5.3 shall
have been duly obtained by Final Order, made or given and shall be in full force
and effect, all terminations or expirations of applicable waiting periods
imposed by any Governmental Entity with respect to the transactions contemplated
thereby (including under the HSR Act) shall have occurred, and none of such
Consents or Filings shall impose terms or conditions that would reasonably be
expected to result in a material adverse effect on Seller and its Affiliates
(taken as a whole).
(e) No Injunctions. On
the Closing Date, there shall be no Laws or Orders that operate to restrain,
enjoin or otherwise prevent or make illegal the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. No action or proceeding initiated by
any Governmental Entity seeking an Order prohibiting the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be pending.
(f) Documents. Buyer
shall have delivered or shall stand ready to deliver all of the certificates,
instruments, Contracts and other documents specified to be delivered by it
hereunder, including pursuant to Section 2.4.
ARTICLE
VIII
SURVIVAL;
INDEMNIFICATION AND RELEASE
SECTION
8.1.
Survival. Other
than Section 3.2 (Authorization), Section 3.6 (Title), Section 3.7 (Brokers) and
Section 4.2(b) (Subsidiaries) which shall survive indefinitely; Section 4.10
(Environmental Matters), which shall survive until the third anniversary of the
Closing Date; and Section 4.12 (Taxes), which shall survive for a period equal
to the applicable statute of limitations for the taxable year for each Tax, the
representations and warranties of Seller set forth in this Agreement shall
survive the Closing until the first anniversary of the Closing
Date. The covenants and agreements of the Parties contained in this
Agreement shall not terminate on the Closing Date and shall survive indefinitely
until performed in accordance with this Agreement.
SECTION
8.2.
Indemnification by
Seller. (a) From
and after the Closing Date, subject to the other provisions of this Article
VIII, Seller agrees to indemnify Buyer and its officers, directors, employees
and Affiliates (collectively, the “Indemnified Buyer
Entities”) and to hold each of them harmless from and against, any and
all Damages suffered, paid or incurred by such Indemnified Buyer Entity and
arising out of or resulting from (i) any breach of any of the representations
and warranties made by Seller to Buyer, (ii) any breach by Seller of any of its
covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement, (iii) any Indebtedness of
the Companies not paid or otherwise satisfied in full on or prior to the Closing
Date, (iv) any Intercompany Accounts not settled or cancelled prior to the
Closing Date, (v) the matters referred to on Schedule 3.4, and
(vi) except for matters identified with an asterisk on Schedule 4.10,
liabilities pursuant to Environmental Laws or Orders relating to the Companies’
(or their predecessors’) former manufactured gas plant properties or off-site
disposal sites (if any), in each case outside of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, relating to any period prior to the Closing Date to the extent the
applicable property or site is identified by Buyer to Seller in writing on or
before the third anniversary of the Closing Date (regardless of whether such
Damages are suffered, paid or incurred prior to or following such third
anniversary).
(b) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in this Section 8.2, the Indemnified Buyer
Entities shall be entitled to indemnification with respect to any claim for
indemnification pursuant to Section 8.2(a)(i):
(i) only if
the amount of Damages with respect to such claim exceeds the amount of $50,000
(any claim involving Damages equal to or less than such amount being referred to
as a “De Minimis
Claim”);
(ii) only if,
and then only to the extent that, the aggregate Damages to all Indemnified Buyer
Entities, with respect to all claims for indemnification pursuant to Section
8.2(a)(i) (other than De Minimis Claims), exceed the amount of one and one-half
percent (1.5%) of the Purchase Price (the “Deductible”),
whereupon (subject to the provisions of clause (iii) below) Seller shall be
obligated to pay in full all such amounts but only to the extent such aggregate
Damages are in excess of the amount of the Deductible; and
(iii) only with
respect to claims for indemnification under Section 8.2(a)(i) made on or before
the expiration of the survival period pursuant to Section 8.1 for the applicable
representation or warranty.
(c) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in this Section 8.2, in no event shall the
Indemnified Buyer Entities be entitled to aggregate Damages in excess of the
amount of fifteen percent (15%) of the Purchase Price (the “Cap”).
Notwithstanding anything in this Section 8.2 to the contrary, (i) a De Minimis
Claim, the Deductible and the Cap shall not apply to any indemnification
obligation of Seller related to Section 3.2 (Authorization), Section 3.6
(Title), Section 3.7 (Brokers) and Section 4.2(b) (Subsidiaries); provided,
however, that Seller shall not be required to indemnify the Indemnified Buyer
Entities for any breach of Sections 3.2, 3.6, 3.7 and 4.2(b) for Damages in
excess of the Purchase Price and (ii) the Cap shall not apply to any
indemnification obligation of Seller pursuant to Sections 8.2(a)(ii)
through 8.2(a)(v), inclusive; provided, however, that Seller shall
not be required to indemnify the Indemnified Buyer Entities pursuant to Section
8.2(a)(v) for Damages in excess of the Purchase Price.
(d) For the
avoidance of doubt, there shall be no entitlement to an indemnity under this
Article VIII for a breach of the representations in Section 4.12 (Taxes) or the
covenants in Section 6.2(a)(ix) if the Buyer is entitled to an indemnity under
Section 6.15.
SECTION
8.3.
Indemnification
by Buyer. (a) From
and after the Closing, Buyer hereby agrees to indemnify, defend and hold Seller
and its officers, directors, employees and Affiliates (collectively, the “Indemnified Seller
Entities”) harmless from and against any and all Damages suffered, paid
or incurred by such Indemnified Seller Entities and arising out of or resulting
from (i) any breach of any of the representations and warranties made by Buyer
to Seller, (ii) any breach by Buyer of any of its covenants or agreements
contained in this Agreement, or (iii) the ownership and/or operation of the
Companies and their assets, whether related to any period of time before or
after the Closing and whether arising out of contract, tort, strict liability,
other Law or otherwise, except for (A) criminal actions or fraud and (B) any
matters for which any Buyer Indemnified Entity is entitled to seek
indemnification from Seller pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement.
(b) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in this Section 8.3, in no event shall the
Indemnified Seller Entities be entitled to aggregate Damages in excess of the
Cap for claims under Section 8.3(a)(i).
SECTION
8.4.
Indemnification
Procedures. (a) If
an Indemnified Buyer Entity or an Indemnified Seller Entity (each, an “Indemnified Entity”)
believes that a claim, demand or other circumstances exists that has given or
may reasonably be expected to give rise to a right of indemnification under this
Article VIII (whether or not the amount of Damages relating thereto is then
quantifiable), such Indemnified Entity shall assert its claim for
indemnification by giving written notice thereof (a “Claim Notice”) to the
party from which indemnification is sought (the “Indemnifying Party”)
(i) if the event or occurrence giving rise to such claim for indemnification is,
or relates to, a claim, suit, action or proceeding brought by a Person not a
party to this Agreement or affiliated with any such party (a “Third Party”), within
ten Business Days following receipt of notice of such claim, suit, action or
proceeding by such Indemnified Entity, or (ii) if the event or occurrence giving
rise to such action or claim for indemnification is not, or does not relate to,
a claim brought by a Third Party, within 30 days after the discovery by the
Indemnified Entity of the circumstances giving rise to such Claim for
indemnity. Each Claim Notice shall describe the claim in reasonable
detail.
(b) If any
claim or demand by an Indemnified Entity under this Article VIII relates to a
Claim filed or made against an Indemnified Entity by a Third Party, the
Indemnifying Party may elect at any time to negotiate a settlement or a
compromise of such action or claim or to defend such action or claim, in each
case at its sole cost and expense (subject to the last sentence of this Section
8.4(b)) and with its own counsel. If, within thirty days of receipt
from an Indemnified Entity of any Claim Notice with respect to a Third Party
action or claim, the Indemnifying Party (i) advises such Indemnified Entity in
writing that the Indemnifying Party shall not elect to defend, settle or
compromise such action or claim or (ii) fails to make such an election in
writing, such Indemnified Entity may (subject to the Indemnifying Party’s
continuing right of election in the preceding sentence), at its option, defend,
settle or otherwise compromise or pay such action or claim; provided, that any
such settlement or compromise shall be permitted hereunder only with the written
consent of the Indemnifying Party, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld. Unless and until the Indemnifying Party makes an election
in accordance with this Section 8.4(b) to defend, settle or compromise such
action, all of the Indemnified Entity’s reasonable costs and expenses arising
out of the defense, settlement or compromise of any such action or claim shall
be Damages subject to indemnification hereunder to the extent provided
herein. Each Indemnified Entity shall make available to the
Indemnifying Party all information reasonably available to such Indemnified
Entity relating to such action or claim. In addition, the parties
shall render to each other such assistance as may reasonably be requested in
order to ensure the proper and adequate defense of any such action or claim. The
Party in charge of the defense shall keep the other Parties fully apprised at
all times as to the status of the defense or any settlement negotiations with
respect thereto. If the Indemnifying Party elects to defend any such
action or claim, then the Indemnified Entity shall be entitled to participate in
such defense with counsel reasonably acceptable to the Indemnifying Party, at
such Indemnified Entity’s sole cost and expense. In the event the
Indemnifying Party assumes the defense of (or otherwise elects to negotiate or
settle or compromise) any action or claim as described above, the Indemnified
Entity shall reimburse the Indemnifying Party for all costs and expenses
incurred by the Indemnifying Party in connection with such defense (or
negotiation, settlement or compromise) to the extent, if applicable, that such
costs and expenses do not exceed the amount of the remaining
Deductible.
(c) This
Section 8.4 shall not apply to claims relating to Taxes made under Section 6.15,
with respect to which the procedures set forth in Section 6.15 shall
govern.
SECTION
8.5.
General. (a) Each
Indemnified Entity shall be obligated in connection with any claim for
indemnification under this Article VIII or Section 6.15 to use all commercially
reasonable efforts to obtain any insurance proceeds available to such
Indemnified Entity with regard to the applicable claims and to recover any
amounts to which it may be entitled in respect of the applicable claims pursuant
to contractual or other indemnification rights that any of the Companies may
have against Third Parties. The amount which the Indemnifying Party
is or may be required to pay to any Indemnified Entity pursuant to this Article
VIII or Section 6.15 shall be reduced (retroactively, if necessary) by any net
insurance proceeds actually recovered by or on behalf of such Indemnified Entity
in reduction of the related Damages. If an Indemnified Entity shall
have received the payment required by this Agreement from the Indemnifying Party
in respect of Damages and shall subsequently receive insurance proceeds in
respect of such Damages, then such Indemnified Entity shall promptly repay to
the Indemnifying Party a sum equal to the amount of such insurance proceeds
actually received.
(b) In
addition to the requirements of Section 8.5(a), each Indemnified Entity shall be
obligated in connection with any claim for indemnification under this Article
VIII to use all commercially reasonable efforts to mitigate Damages upon and
after becoming aware of any event which could reasonably be expected to give
rise to such Damages.
(c) Subject
to the rights of any insurance carriers contemplated in Section 8.5(a) above,
the Indemnifying Party shall be subrogated to any right of action that the
Indemnified Entity may have against any other Person with respect to any matter
giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder.
(d) The
indemnification provided in this Article VIII shall be the exclusive
post-Closing remedy available to any Party hereto with respect to any breach of
any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement in this Agreement, or
otherwise in respect of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except
as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement.
SECTION
8.6. “As Is”
Sale; Release. (a) EXCEPT
FOR THOSE EXPRESS REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES CONTAINED IN ARTICLE III AND
ARTICLE IV, (i) THE COMPANIES AND SELLER’S INTEREST IN THE PPL GAS UTILITIES
SHARES ARE BEING TRANSFERRED “AS IS, WHERE IS, WITH ALL FAULTS,” AND (ii) SELLER
EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND OR NATURE,
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO THE CONDITION, VALUE OR QUALITY OF THE COMPANIES OR
THE PPL GAS UTILITIES SHARES OR THE PROSPECTS (FINANCIAL OR OTHERWISE), RISKS
AND OTHER INCIDENTS OF THE COMPANIES AND THEIR ASSETS.
(b) Except
for the obligations of Seller under this Agreement and the Transition Services
Agreements, for and in consideration of the transfer of the PPL Gas Utilities
Shares, effective as of the Closing Date, Buyer hereby absolutely and
unconditionally releases, acquits and forever discharges, and shall cause each
of its Affiliates (including the Companies) to absolutely and unconditionally
release, acquit and forever discharge, Seller and its Affiliates (including PPL
Services Corporation), each of their present and former officers, directors,
managers, employees and agents and each of their respective heirs, executors,
administrators, successors and assigns, from any and all costs, expenses,
damages, debts, or any other obligations, liabilities and claims whatsoever,
whether known or unknown, both in law and in equity, including any claims under
Environmental Laws, in each case to the extent arising out of or resulting from
the ownership and/or operation of the Companies, or the assets, business,
operations, conduct, services, products and/or employees (including former
employees) of any of the Companies (and any predecessors), whether related to
any period of time before or after the Closing Date, except for criminal actions
or fraud; provided, however, that in the event Buyer’s Affiliates are sued by
Seller or its Affiliates for any matter subject to this release, Buyer’s
Affiliates shall have the right to raise any defenses or counterclaims in
connection with such lawsuits.
SECTION
8.7.
Right to Specific
Performance; Certain Limitations. Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary:
(a) Without
limiting or waiving in any respect any rights or remedies of a Party under this
Agreement now or hereafter existing at law, in equity or by statute, each of the
Parties hereto shall be entitled to specific performance of the obligations to
be performed by the other Parties in accordance with the provisions of this
Agreement;
(b) No
Representative, Affiliate of, or direct or indirect equity owner in, Seller
shall have any personal liability to Buyer or any other Person as a result of
the breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, agreement or obligation of
Seller in this Agreement and no Representative, Affiliate of, or indirect equity
owner in, Buyer shall have any personal liability to Seller or any other Person
as a result of the breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, agreement
or obligation of Buyer in this Agreement; and
(c) No Party
shall be liable for special, punitive, exemplary, incidental, consequential or
indirect damages, or lost profits, or losses calculated by reference to any
multiple of earnings or earnings before interest, tax, depreciation or
amortization (or any other valuation methodology) whether based on contract,
tort, strict liability, other Law or otherwise and whether or not arising from
the other Party’s sole, joint or concurrent negligence, strict liability or
other fault for any matter relating to this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby; provided, however, that if a Party is held
liable to a third party for any of such damages and the other Party is obligated
to indemnify such Party for the matter that gave rise to such damages, then such
indemnifying Party shall be liable for, and obligated to reimburse the other
Party for, the total amount of such damages howsoever
characterized.
ARTICLE
IX
TERMINATION,
AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
SECTION
9.1.
Grounds
for Termination. This
Agreement may be terminated:
(a)
by either Buyer or Seller (provided that the
terminating Party is not then in material breach of any representation,
warranty, covenant or other agreement contained herein) if the Closing shall not
have occurred or is not reasonably likely to occur within 12 months after the
date of this Agreement (the “Outside Date”) (provided, that if on
the Outside Date all the Consents required in order to satisfy the conditions
set forth in Section 7.1(d) and Section 7.2(d) have not been obtained and such
conditions are being diligently pursued by the appropriate Party, and all of the
other conditions to Closing contained in Article VII have been fulfilled or are
capable of being fulfilled, then, at the option of either Buyer or Seller,
(which shall be exercised by written notice on or before the Outside Date), the
Outside Date shall be extended to 15 months after the date of this
Agreement);
(b) by Buyer
if (i) Seller shall have breached any of the covenants or agreements contained
in this Agreement to be complied with by Seller such that the closing condition
set forth in Section 7.1(b) would not be satisfied or (ii) there exists a breach
of any representation or warranty of Seller contained in this Agreement such
that the closing condition set forth in Section 7.1(a) would not be satisfied;
provided, in
the case of (i) or (ii), that such breach is not cured by Seller within 30
Business Days after Seller receives written notice of such breach from
Buyer;
(c) by Seller
if (i) Buyer shall have breached any of the covenants or agreements contained in
this Agreement to be complied with by Buyer such that the closing condition set
forth in Section 7.2(b) would not be satisfied or (ii) there exists a breach of
any representation or warranty of Buyer contained in this Agreement such that
the closing condition set forth in Section 7.2(a) would not be satisfied; provided, in the case
of (i) or (ii), that such breach is not cured by Buyer within 30 Business Days
after Buyer receives written notice of such breach from Seller;
(d) by Buyer,
on the one hand, or Seller, on the other hand, in writing if there shall be in
effect a nonappealable Order prohibiting, enjoining, restricting or making
illegal the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(e) by
Seller, if at the Closing Buyer fails to make the payments required to be made
by Buyer; or
(f) at any
time prior to the Closing Date by mutual written agreement of Buyer and
Seller.
SECTION
9.2.
Effect of
Termination. If
this Agreement is terminated as permitted by Section 9.1, such termination shall
be without liability of either Party (or either Party’s Affiliates or
Representatives), except liability for any breach of any covenants or other
agreements under this Agreement prior to such termination, or under the
following provisions, which shall also survive termination: Section 6.4, Section
6.5, Article IX and Article X.
ARTICLE
X
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION
10.1.
Notices. All
notices, requests and other communications hereunder shall be in writing
(including wire, telefax or similar writing) and shall be sent, delivered or
mailed, addressed, or telefaxed:
(a) if to
Buyer, to:
UGI
Utilities, Inc.
000 Xxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxx
Xxxx xx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn:
General Counsel
Facsimile: (000)
000-0000
with a
copy to:
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP
0000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attn:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Facsimile: (000)
000-0000
(b) if to
Seller, to:
PPL
Corporation
Xxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attn:
General Counsel
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
with a
copy to:
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP
000
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
Fax:
(000) 000-0000
Each such
notice, request or other communication shall be given (i) by mail (postage
prepaid, registered or certified mail, return receipt requested), (ii) by hand
delivery, (iii) by nationally recognized courier service or (iv) by telefax,
receipt confirmed (with a confirmation copy to be sent by first class mail;
provided that
the failure to send such confirmation copy shall not prevent such telefax notice
from being effective). Each such notice, request or communication
shall be effective (x) if mailed, three calendar days after mailing at the
address specified in this Section 10.1 (or in accordance with the latest
unrevoked written direction from such Party), (y) if delivered by hand or by
internationally recognized courier service, when delivered at the address
specified in this Section 10.1 (or in accordance with the latest unrevoked
written direction from the receiving Party) and (z) if given by telefax, when
such telefax is transmitted to the telefax number specified in this Section 10.1
(or in accordance with the latest unrevoked written direction from the receiving
Party), and the appropriate confirmation is received; provided that notices
received on a day that is not a Business Day or after 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on
a Business Day will be deemed to be effective on the next Business
Day.
SECTION
10.2.
Severability. The
provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed severable and the invalidity or
unenforceability of any provision shall not affect the validity or
enforceability of the other provisions hereof. If any provision of
this Agreement, or the application thereof to any Person or any circumstance, is
found to be invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, (a) a suitable and
equitable provision shall be substituted therefor in order to carry out, so far
as may be valid or enforceable, such provision and (b) the remainder of this
Agreement and the application of such provision to other Persons or
circumstances shall not be affected by such invalidity or unenforceability, nor
shall such invalidity or unenforceability affect the validity or enforceability
of such provision, or the application thereof, in any other
jurisdiction.
SECTION
10.3.
Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be
deemed an original and all of which shall, taken together, be considered one and
the same agreement. Any facsimile or electronically transmitted
copies hereof or signature hereon shall, for all purposes, be deemed
originals.
SECTION
10.4.
Entire
Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries. This
Agreement (together with the agreements, appendices, exhibits, schedules and
certificates referred to herein or delivered pursuant hereto) constitutes the
entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both
written and oral, among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof
(including the Confidentiality Agreement, between PPL Corporation and Buyer,
dated October 11, 2007 (the “Confidentiality
Agreement”)). The terms and provisions of this Agreement are intended
solely for the benefit of the Parties and their respective successors or
permitted assigns, and it is not the intention of the Parties to confer
third-party beneficiary rights upon any other Person.
SECTION
10.5.
Governing
Law. This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the
State of New York without giving effect to any conflict or choice of law
provision that would result in the application of another state’s
law.
SECTION
10.6.
Consent
to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial. Each of
the Parties hereto irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York located in
the borough of Manhattan in the City of New York, or if such court does not have
jurisdiction, the Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York County, for
the purposes of any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of this
Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby. Each of the Parties hereto
further agrees that service of any process, summons, notice or document by U.S.
certified mail to such Party’s respective address set forth in Section 10.1
shall be effective service of process for any action, suit or proceeding in New
York with respect to any matters to which it has submitted to jurisdiction as
set forth above in the immediately preceding sentence. Each of the
Parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the
laying of venue of any action, suit or proceeding arising out of this Agreement
or the transactions contemplated hereby in (a) the United States District Court
for the Southern District of New York or (b) the Supreme Court of the State of
New York, New York County, and hereby further irrevocably and unconditionally
waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such action,
suit or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient
forum. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO
TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS
AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
SECTION
10.7.
Assignment. Neither
this Agreement nor any of the rights or obligations hereunder shall be assigned
by any of the Parties hereto without the prior written consent of the other
Party; provided
that Buyer may transfer any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement
to an affiliated partnership or corporation, including for purposes of having
such partnership or corporation take ownership of the PPL Gas Utilities Shares,
so long as Buyer remains jointly and severally obligated to satisfy all of
Buyer’s obligations under the terms of this Agreement. Subject to the
preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of
and be enforceable by the Parties and their respective successors and permitted
assigns. Any attempted assignment in violation of the terms of this Section 10.7
shall be null and void, ab initio.
SECTION
10.8.
Headings. The headings
contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect
in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
SECTION
10.9.
Construction. References
in this Agreement to any gender include references to all genders, and
references to the singular include references to the plural and vice versa. The
words “include”, “includes” and “including” when used in this Agreement shall be
deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. Unless the
context otherwise requires, references in this Agreement to Articles, Sections,
Exhibits, Schedules, Appendices and Attachments shall be deemed references to
Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits, Schedules, Appendices and Attachments
to, such Agreement. Unless the context otherwise requires, the words
“hereof”, “hereby” and “herein” and words of similar meaning when used in this
Agreement refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular
Article, Section or provision of this Agreement. Each Party
acknowledges that this Agreement was negotiated by it with the benefit of
representation by legal counsel, and any rule of construction or interpretation
otherwise requiring this Agreement to be construed or interpreted against any
Party shall not apply to any construction or interpretation hereof.
SECTION
10.10.
Amendments and
Waivers. This
Agreement may not be amended, supplemented or modified except by an instrument
in writing signed on behalf of Buyer and Seller. Any term or condition of this
Agreement may be waived at any time by the Party that is entitled to the benefit
thereof, but no such waiver shall be effective, unless set forth in a written
instrument duly executed by or on behalf of the Party waiving such term or
condition. No waiver by any Party of any term or condition of this
Agreement, in any one or more instances, shall be deemed to be or construed as a
waiver of the same or any other term or condition of this Agreement on any
future occasion.
SECTION
10.11.
Schedules and
Exhibits. Except
as otherwise provided in this Agreement, all Exhibits and Schedules referred to
herein are intended to be and hereby are made a part of this Agreement. Any
disclosure in any Party’s Schedule under this Agreement corresponding to and
qualifying a specific numbered paragraph shall be deemed to correspond to and
qualify any other numbered paragraph relating to such Party to which the
applicability of the disclosure is readily apparent. Certain information set
forth in the Schedules is included solely for informational purposes, is not an
admission of liability with respect to the matters covered by the information,
and may not be required to be disclosed pursuant to this
Agreement. The specification of any dollar amount in the
representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or the inclusion of
any specific item in the Schedules is not intended to imply that such amounts
(or higher or lower amounts) are or are not material, and no Party shall use the
fact of the setting of such amounts or the fact of the inclusion of any such
item in the Schedules in any dispute or controversy between the parties as to
whether any obligation, item, or matter not described herein or included in a
Schedule is or is not material for purposes of this Agreement.
[Remainder
of page intentionally left blank]
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as
of the day and year first above written.
PPL
Corporation
By:
__________________________
Name:
Title:
UGI
Utilities, Inc.
By:
__________________________
Name:
Title:
Appendix
A
As used
in the Agreement, the following terms have the following meanings:
“Actual Aggregate Net Working
Capital” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(b).
An “Affiliate” of any Person means any
other Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries,
controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such first Person.
For purposes of this definition, control of a Person means the power, direct or
indirect, to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of
such Person whether through ownership of voting securities or ownership
interests, by contract or otherwise, and specifically with respect to a
corporation, partnership or limited liability company, means direct or indirect
ownership of more than 50% of the voting securities in such corporation or of
the voting interest in a partnership or limited liability company.
“Aggregate Net Working
Capital” means (without duplication), except as otherwise provided in
this Agreement, the sum of the Net Working Capital of the Companies, as
determined in accordance with the methodology used in the preparation of the
sample calculation of Aggregate Net Working Capital set forth on Schedule 1.1 (which
sets forth a sample calculation as of December 31, 2007) and in accordance with
GAAP as of 12:01 A.M. (Eastern time) on the Closing Date.
“Agreement” has the
meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“Allocation Schedule”
has the meaning set forth in Section 6.15(h).
“Antitrust
Authorities” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.6(a).
“Asset” means all of
the assets, properties, rights, claims, contracts and interests of every type
and description, real, personal or mixed, tangible and intangible, owned by the
Companies.
“Audited Financials”
has the meaning set forth in Section 6.17.
“Base Purchase Price”
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b).
“Benefit Plans” has
the meaning set forth in Section 4.9(a).
“Business Day” means any day, other than
Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which banks located in the State of New
York are authorized or required to close.
“Buyer” has the meaning set forth in
the Preamble.
“Buyer’s 401(k) Plan”
has the meaning set forth in Section 6.14(k)(i).
“Cap” has the meaning
set forth in Section 8.2(c).
“Casualty Event” has
the meaning set forth in Section 6.9.
“CBA” has the meaning
set forth in Section 6.14(c)(i).
“Claim” means any
demand, claim, action, legal proceeding (whether at law or in equity),
investigation or arbitration.
“Claim Notice” has the
meaning set forth in Section 8.4(a).
“Closing” has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.3.
“Closing Capital Expenditure
Amount” means the positive difference, if any, between (i) the scheduled
capital expenditures (excluding capital expenditures for new business) for the
Companies on a cumulative basis from January 1, 2008 through the Closing Date as
set forth on Schedule 6.2(a)(xii), with such cumulative amount equal to the
scheduled cumulative expenditure balance for the month of Closing Date,
multiplied by the cumulative number of days from January 1, 2008 through the
Closing Date divided by the cumulative number of days from January 1, 2008
through the last day of the month of that the Closing Date occurs; minus (ii)
the actual capital expenditures (excluding capital expenditures for new
business) made by the Companies on a cumulative basis from January 1, 2008
through the Closing Date. For the avoidance of doubt, if the
calculation in the immediately preceding sentence results in a negative value,
then the Closing Capital Expenditure Amount shall be zero.
“Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.3.
“COBRA” has the
meaning set forth in Section 6.14(g)(iii).
“Code” has the meaning
set forth in Section 6.15(h).
“Companies” means each of PPL Gas
Utilities, Penn Fuel and Gas-Oil Products.
“Company Pension Plan”
has the meaning set forth in Section 6.14(j)(i).
“Company Plans” has the meaning set forth in
Section 6.14(a).
“Company Reports” has
the meaning set forth in Section 4.13.
“Company Retiree
Plans” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.14(i).
“Company Trust” has
the meaning set forth in Section 6.14(j)(ii).
“Company VEBAs” has
the meaning set forth in Section 6.14(i).
“Confidentiality
Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.4.
“Consent” has the
meaning set forth in Section 3.3.
“Continuing Support
Obligation” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.3(d).
“Contract” means any written contract,
lease, license, evidence of indebtedness, mortgage, indenture, purchase order,
binding bid, letter of credit, security agreement, undertaking or other
agreement that is legally binding.
“Credit Rating” means,
with respect to any Person, the rating then assigned to such Person’s unsecured,
senior long-term debt obligations not supported by third party credit
enhancements, or if such Person does not have such a rating, then the rating
then assigned to such Person as an issuer, by Xxxxx’x or Fitch, as
applicable.
“Damages” means any
and all claims, injuries, lawsuits, liabilities, losses, damages, judgments,
fines, penalties, deficiencies, costs and expenses, including the reasonable
fees and disbursements of counsel and experts (including reasonable fees of
attorneys and paralegals, whether at the pre-trial, trial, or appellate level,
or in arbitration) and all amounts reasonably paid in investigation, defense, or
settlement of any of the foregoing.
“De Minimis Claim” has
the meaning set forth in Section 8.2(b)(i).
“Deductible” has the
meaning set forth in Section 8.2(b)(ii).
“Easements” means all
easements, rights of way, permits, prescriptive rights and other ways of
necessity, whether or not of record, relating to real property.
“Environmental Law”
means any applicable statute, ordinance, Order or regulation of any Governmental
Entity relating to (a) the protection, preservation or restoration of the
environment (including air, surface water, groundwater, drinking water supply,
surface land, subsurface land, plant and animal life or any other natural
resource), or (b) the treatment, storage or disposal of Hazardous
Substances.
“ERISA” has the
meaning set forth in Section 4.9(a).
“Estimated Aggregate Net
Working Capital” has the meaning set forth in Section
2.2(a).
“Filing” has the
meaning set forth in Section 3.3.
“Final Order” means an
action by a Governmental Entity as to which (i) no request for stay of the
action is pending, no such stay is in effect and if any time period is permitted
by statute or regulation for filing any request for such stay, such time period
has passed, (ii) no petition for rehearing of the action is pending and the time
for filing any such petition or application has passed, (iii) such Governmental
Entity does not have the action under reconsideration on its own motion and (iv)
no appeal to a court or a request for stay by a court of the Governmental
Entity’s action is pending or in effect and the deadline for filing any such
appeal or request has passed.
“Financial Statements”
has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3.
“GAAP” means generally
accepted accounting principles in the United States, as consistently applied by
PPL Gas Utilities and Penn Fuel in accordance with their past
practices.
“Gas-Oil Products”
means Gas-Oil Products, Inc. of Delaware, a Delaware corporation.
“Gas-Oil Shares” has
the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(b).
“Good Practices” means
any of the practices, methods and activities approved by a significant portion
of the gas or propane distribution industry, as applicable, as good practices
applicable to operations of similar design, size and capacity or any of the
practices, methods or activities which, in the exercise of reasonable judgment
by an operator of a distribution business in light of the facts known at the
time the decision was made, could have been expected to accomplish the desired
result at a reasonable cost consistent with good business practices,
reliability, safety, expedition and applicable law. Good Practices are not
intended to be limited to the optimal practices, methods or acts to the
exclusion of all others, but rather to be practices, methods or acts generally
accepted in the gas or propane distribution industry, as
applicable.
“Governmental Entity”
means any court, tribunal, arbitrator, authority, agency, commission,
legislative body, official or other instrumentality of the United States or any
foreign, state, county, city or other political subdivision or similar governing
entity, and including any governmental, quasi-governmental or non-governmental
body administering, regulating or having general oversight over electric
reliability or gas, electricity, power or other markets.
“Hazardous
Substance” means
any substance or material listed, defined or classified as a pollutant,
contaminant, hazardous substance, toxic substance, or hazardous waste under any
Environmental Law, including, petroleum, polychlorinated biphenyls, and friable
asbestos, but excluding propane.
“HSR Act” means the
Xxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, or any
successor law, and regulations and rules issued by the U.S. Department of
Justice or the Federal Trade Commission pursuant to that act or any successor
law.
“Indebtedness” means
any of the following classified under GAAP as long-term: (a) any indebtedness
for borrowed money, (b) any obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or
other similar instruments, (c) any obligations to pay the deferred purchase
price of property, services or any other deferred cost (except trade accounts
payable as a current liability in the ordinary course of business), (d) any
obligations as lessee under capitalized leases, (e) any indebtedness created or
arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement with
respect to acquired property, (f) any obligations, contingent or otherwise,
under acceptance credit, letters of credit or similar facilities, and (g) any
guaranty of any of the foregoing.
“Indemnified Buyer
Entity” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.2(a).
“Indemnified Entity”
has the meaning set forth in Section 8.4(a).
“Indemnified Seller
Entity” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.3(a).
“Indemnifying Party”
has the meaning set forth in Section 8.4(a).
“Independent Accounting
Firm” means Deloitte & Touche LLP or, if such firm is unable to take
such engagement, an independent accounting firm of national reputation that is
selected by mutual agreement of Seller and Buyer or, if Seller and Buyer do not
reach mutual agreement on the independent accounting firm to be selected within
five (5) days after either Party first receives written notice from the other
Party requesting such mutual agreement in connection with a requirement for such
Independent Accounting Firm under this Agreement, then by mutual agreement by
Seller’s and Buyer’s respective accounting firms; provided, that if Seller’s and
Buyer’s respective accounting firms do not reach mutual agreement on an
independent accounting firm within five (5) days after such decision is referred
to them for determination, then the independent accounting firm shall be
selected by the American Arbitration Association pursuant to the then effective
and applicable rules of the American Arbitration Association (with Seller and
Buyer sharing equally the cost of such selection process).
“Intercompany
Accounts” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5.
“Interim Financials”
has the meaning set forth in Section 6.17.
“Interim Period” means
the period beginning on the date hereof and ending at the Closing.
“Knowledge” means, (i)
in the case of Seller, the actual knowledge (as opposed to any constructive or
imputed knowledge) of the individuals listed on Schedule 2(a), and (ii) in the
case of Buyer, the actual knowledge (as opposed to any constructive or imputed
knowledge) of the individuals listed on Schedule 2(b).
“Large Volume Meters”
has the meaning set forth in Section 6.7.
“Law” means, with
respect to any Person, any statute, law, standards, code, common law, treaty,
ordinance, rule, administrative interpretation, regulation, order, writ,
injunction, directive, judgment, decree or other requirement of any Governmental
Entity applicable to such Person or any of its respective properties or assets,
as amended from time to time.
“Legal Requirements”
means any federal, state, county, local, municipal, foreign, international,
multinational or other administrative order, constitution, law, ordinance,
adopted code, principle of common law, regulation, rule, directive, approval,
notice, tariff, franchise agreement, statute or treaty, or stock exchange
rule.
“Lien” means, with
respect to any property or asset, any charge, adverse claim, lien, option,
mortgage, pledge, security interest, right of first refusal or other
encumbrance.
“Material Adverse
Effect” means any change or event that is materially adverse to (i) the
assets, liabilities, operations or condition of the Companies, taken as a whole,
in each case, except for any such change, event or effect resulting from or
arising out of (a) changes in economic conditions generally or in the industries
in which the Companies operate, whether international, national, regional or
local, (b) changes in international, national, regional, state or local
wholesale or retail markets for electric power or gas, propane or other fuel
supply or transportation or related products, including those due to actions by
competitors, (c) changes in general regulatory or political conditions,
including any acts of war or terrorist activities, (d) changes in national,
regional, state or local fuel transportation or distribution systems or
channels, (e) strikes, work stoppages or other labor disturbances, (f) increases
in the costs of commodities or supplies, including fuel, (g) effects of weather
or meteorological events, (h) any change of Law, accounting standards or
regulatory policy after the date of this Agreement, (i) changes or adverse
conditions in the securities markets, including those relating to debt
financing, (j) the announcement, execution or delivery of this Agreement or the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, and (k) any actions
specifically required to be taken or consented to pursuant to or in accordance
with this Agreement, in the case of each of clauses (e), (f) and (h) which do
not have a materially disproportionate effect on any of the Companies, or (ii)
the Seller’s ability to perform its obligations hereunder.
“Material Contracts”
means all Contracts requiring or guaranteeing (including by collateral
signature, surety, or joint and several debt) payments in excess of $500,000 per
annum or $2,000,000 in the aggregate, or which contain any covenant restricting
the ability of the Companies to compete or to engage in any activity or
business, except for Contracts with respect to which the Companies will not be
bound or have liability after the Closing or which are terminable on less than
ninety (90) days’ notice without penalty.
“Net Working Capital”
means, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the net working capital
of a Company, as determined in accordance with the methodology used in the
preparation of the sample calculation of Aggregate Net Working Capital set forth
on Schedule
1.1, and in accordance with GAAP as of 12:01 A.M. (Eastern time) on the
Closing Date.
“Non-Company
Affiliates” means any Affiliate of Seller, except for the
Companies.
“Order” means any
award, decision, injunction, judgment, order, writ, decree, ruling, subpoena, or
verdict entered, issued, made, or rendered by any court, administrative agency,
other Governmental Entity, or by any arbitrator, each of which possesses
competent jurisdiction.
“Outside Date” has the
meaning set forth in Section 9.1(a).
“Parent Plans” has the
meaning set forth in Section 6.14(a).
“Party” or “Parties” means Seller
and Buyer, individually, a “Party”, and collectively as the
“Parties”.
“Penn Fuel” means Penn
Fuel Propane, LLC, a Pennsylvania limited liability company.
“Penn Fuel Interests”
has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(b).
“Permitted Lien” means
(a) any Lien for Taxes not yet due or delinquent or being contested in good
faith by appropriate proceedings, (b) any mechanics’, workmen’s, repairmen’s,
warehousemen’s, carriers’ or other like Lien arising in the ordinary course of
business with respect to a liability that is not yet due or delinquent or which
is being contested in good faith by Seller or its Affiliates, including the
Companies, (c) imperfections or irregularities of title and other Liens that
would not, individually or in the aggregate, materially detract from the value
of the assets to which they attach, (d) zoning, planning, and other similar
limitations and restrictions, all rights of any Governmental Entity to regulate
a property, (e) any Lien set forth in any franchise or governing ordinance under
which any portion of the Companies’ businesses is conducted, (f) all rights of
condemnation, eminent domain or other similar rights of any Person, (g) any Lien
to be released on or prior to Closing, and (h) any other Lien which does not
materially interfere with the Companies’ use of the assets used in their
businesses.
“Person” means any
natural person, corporation, general partnership, limited partnership, limited
liability company, proprietorship, other business organization, trust, union,
association or Governmental Entity.
“Policies” has the
meaning set forth in Section 4.11.
“PPL Gas Utilities”
has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“PPL Gas Utilities
Shares” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Pre-Closing Taxable
Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.15(a).
“Proceeding” means any
claim, action, arbitration, hearing, audit, litigation or suit commenced,
brought, conducted, or heard by or before, or otherwise involving, any
Governmental Entity or arbitrator.
“Property Taxes” has
the meaning set forth in Section 6.15(b).
“Purchase Price” has
the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b).
“Real Property” means
all real property owned or leased by the Companies, together with all interests
in real property (including Easements) used or held for use by the
Companies.
“Representatives”
means the officers, directors, managers, employees, counsel, accountants,
financial advisers or consultants of a Person.
“Section 338(h)(10)
Elections” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.15(h).
“Securities Act” has
the meaning set forth in Section 5.8.
“Seller” has the
meaning set forth in Preamble.
“Seller Xxxx” or
“Seller Marks”
has the meaning set forth in Section 6.8.
“Seller’s 401(k) Plan”
has the meaning set forth in Section 6.14(k)(i).
“Seller’s Master
Trust” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.14(j)(i).
“Straddle Taxable
Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.15(a).
“Support Obligations”
has the meaning set forth in Section 6.3(a).
“Tax” or “Taxes” means any
United States local, state or federal or foreign income, profits, franchise,
withholding, ad valorem, personal property (tangible and intangible),
employment, payroll, sales and use, social security, disability, occupation,
real property, severance, excise and other taxes, charges, levies or other
assessments imposed by a Taxing Authority, including any interest, penalty or
addition thereto and shall include any liability for the payment of the
foregoing obligations of another Person as a result of (a) being or having been
a member of an affiliated, consolidated, combined, unitary or aggregate group of
corporations; (b) being or having been a party to any tax sharing agreement or
any express or implied obligation to indemnify any Person; and (c) being or
having been a transferee, successor, or otherwise assuming the obligations of
another Person to pay the foregoing amounts.
“Tax Claim” has the
meaning set forth in Section 6.15(e).
“Tax Returns” means
any return, report or similar statement required to be filed with respect to any
Taxes (including any attached schedules), including any information return,
claim for refund, amended return and declaration of estimated Tax.
“Taxing Authority”
means, with respect to any Tax, the Governmental Entity that imposes such Tax,
and the agency (if any) charged with the collection of such Tax for such entity
or subdivision.
“Terminated Contracts”
has the meaning set forth in Section 6.11(a).
“Third Party” has the
meaning set forth in Section 8.4(a).
“Transfer Taxes” means
all transfer, sales, use, goods and services, value added, documentary, stamp
duty, gross receipts, excise, transfer and conveyance Taxes and other similar
Taxes, duties, fees or charges.
“Transition Services
Agreements” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.11(b).
“WARN” has the meaning
set forth in Section 6.14(l).