EXHIBIT 10.2
OMNIBUS AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
PENN OCTANE CORPORATION,
RIO VISTA GP LLC,
RIO VISTA ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.
AND
RIO VISTA OPERATING PARTNERSHIP L.P.
OMNIBUS AGREEMENT
THIS OMNIBUS AGREEMENT is entered into as of [______________], 2003 by
and among Penn Octane Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("POCC"), Rio Vista GP
LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the "General Partner"), Rio Vista
Energy Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the "Partnership"), and
Rio Vista Operating Partnership L.P. (the "Operating Partnership"). The
above-named entities are sometimes referred to in this Agreement each as a
"Party" and collectively as the "Parties."
RECITALS:
WHEREAS, POCC and its Affiliates (as defined herein) formed the
Partnership, the General Partner and the Operating Partnership for the purpose
of conducting of the Business (as defined below);
WHEREAS, certain assets and services used by POCC or its Affiliates in
the conduct of the Business prior to the formation of the Partnership were not
transferred to the Partnership;
WHEREAS, the Parties desire to ensure the continued effective operation
of the Business, and the Parties recognize that the continued effective
operation of the Business requires that POCC provide certain management and
employee services to the Business as set forth in this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Parties desire to evidence other agreements and
relationships, as more fully set out in this Agreement, with respect to the
transfer of the Business to the Partnership and the Operating Partnership as
well as the operation of the Business by the Partnership and the Operating
Partnership.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants,
conditions, and agreements contained herein, and for other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the
Parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
DEFINITIONS. (a) As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall
have the respective meanings set forth below:
"Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that
directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is
controlled by or is under common control with, the Person in question. As used
herein, the term "control" means the possession, direct or indirect, of the
power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a
Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or
otherwise.
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"Agreement" means this Omnibus Agreement, as it may be amended,
modified, or supplemented from time to time in accordance with Section 4.7
hereof.
"Assets" means the "Contributed Assets" as such term is defined in the
Contribution Agreement.
"Business" means (i) providing transportation, terminalling and
distribution services for hydrocarbon products and by-products, and (ii)
marketing and selling hydrocarbon products and by-products.
"Closing Date" means the date of the Distribution.
"Conflicts Committee" is defined in the Partnership Agreement.
"control" means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to
direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person,
whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
"Contribution Agreement" means the Contribution, Conveyance and
Assumption Agreement, dated [______________], 2003, by and among various POCC
Entities, the Partnership, the Operating Partnership, the General Partner and
Rio Vista Operating GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
"Covered Environmental Losses" is defined in Section 2.1(a).
"Distribution" means the distribution by POCC of all the outstanding
common units of the Partnership representing limited partner interests to the
stockholders of POCC.
"Environmental Laws" means all federal, state, and local laws,
statutes, rules, regulations, orders, and ordinances, now or hereafter in
effect, relating to protection of human health and the environment including,
without limitation, the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act, the Superfund Amendments Reauthorization Act,
the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Clean Air Act, the Federal Water
Pollution Control Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, the Oil Pollution Act,
the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, and
other environmental conservation and protection laws, each as amended from time
to time.
"General Partner" is defined in the introduction to this Agreement.
"Hazardous Substance" means any substance that is designated, defined,
or classified as a hazardous waste, hazardous material, pollutant, contaminant,
or toxic or hazardous substance, or that is otherwise regulated under any
Environmental Law, including, without limitation, any hazardous substance as
defined under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act.
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"Indemnified Party" means the Partnership Entities or the POCC
Entities, as the case may be, in their capacity as the parties entitled to
indemnification in accordance with Article II.
"Indemnifying Party" means either the Partnership Entities or the POCC
Entities, as the case may be, in its capacity as the parties from whom
indemnification may be sought in accordance with Article II.
"Losses" means any losses, damages, liabilities, claims, demands,
causes of action, judgments, settlements, fines, penalties, costs, and expenses
(including, without limitation, court costs and reasonable attorney's and
expert's fees) of any and every kind or character.
"POCC" is defined in the introduction to this Agreement.
"POCC Entities" means POCC and each of its Subsidiaries (other than the
General Partner, the Partnership and any Subsidiary of the Partnership).
"Partnership" is defined in the introduction to this Agreement.
"Partnership Agreement" means the First Amended and Restated Agreement
of Limited Partnership of Rio Vista Energy Partners L.P., dated as of, and in
the form on, the Closing Date. No amendment or modification to the Partnership
Agreement subsequent to the Closing Date shall be given effect for the purposes
of this Agreement unless consented to by each of the Parties to this Agreement.
"Partnership Entities" means the Partnership, the General Partner and
each Subsidiary of the Partnership.
"Party" and "Parties" is defined in the introduction to this Agreement.
"Pass-Through Environmental Losses" is defined in Section 2.1(b).
"Person" means an individual or a corporation, limited liability
company, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization,
association, government agency or political subdivision thereof or other entity.
"Retained Assets" means, collectively, any assets and investments owned
by any of the POCC Group that were not conveyed, contributed or otherwise
transferred to any of the Partnership Entities prior to or on the Closing Date.
"Services" is defined in Section 3.1.
"Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, (a) a corporation of
which more than 50% of the voting power is owned, directly or indirectly, at the
date of determination, by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such
Person or a combination thereof, (b) a partnership (whether general or limited)
in which such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person is, at the date of
determination, a general or limited partner of such partnership, but only if
more than 50% of
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the partnership interests of such partnership (considering all of the
partnership interests of the partnership as a single class) is owned, directly
or indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more
Subsidiaries of such Person, or a combination thereof, or (c) any other Person
(other than a corporation or a partnership) in which such Person, one or more
Subsidiaries of such Person, or a combination thereof, directly or indirectly,
at the date of determination, has (i) at least a majority ownership interest or
(ii) the power to elect or direct the election of a majority of the directors or
other governing body of such Person.
ARTICLE II
INDEMNIFICATION
2.1 ENVIRONMENTAL INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) Subject to the limitations contained in this Section
2.1(a), POCC shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless each of the Partnership
Entities from and against environmental and toxic tort Losses suffered, incurred
or paid by any of the Partnership Entities by reason of or arising out of:
(i) any violation or correction of violation of
Environmental Laws associated with the Assets or the Retained Assets, or
(ii) any event or condition associated with the
ownership or operation of the Assets or the Retained Assets (including, without
limitation, the presence of Hazardous Substances on, under, about or migrating
to or from the Assets or the Retained Assets or the disposal or release of
Hazardous Substances generated by operation of the Assets or the Retained Assets
at non-Asset locations) including, without limitation, (A) the cost and expense
of any investigation, assessment, evaluation, monitoring, containment, cleanup,
repair, restoration, remediation, or other corrective action required or
necessary under Environmental Laws, (B) the cost or expense of the preparation
and implementation of any closure, remedial, corrective action, or other plans
required or necessary under Environmental Laws, and (C) the cost and expense for
any environmental or toxic tort pre-trial, trial, or appellate legal or
litigation support work,
but only to the extent that such violation complained of under Section 2.1(a)(i)
or such events or conditions included under Section 2.1(a)(ii) occurred before
the Closing Date (collectively, "Covered Environmental Losses").
(b) POCC shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless any of
the Partnership Entities from and against any Losses suffered or incurred by any
of the Partnership Entities to the extent that POCC is entitled to and receives
indemnification, is defended or held harmless against any such Losses from any
third-party pursuant to any agreement between any third-party and POCC
(collectively, "Pass-Through Environmental Losses"). In furtherance of such
agreement, POCC agrees to use its best commercially reasonable efforts to
pursue, for the benefit of the Partnership Entities, any such indemnification
with respect to which it might be entitled if
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requested by the Partnership; provided that, the Partnership shall reimburse
POCC for all costs and expenses incurred in connection with pursuing such
indemnity on behalf of the Partnership.
(c) The Partnership shall indemnify, defend and hold
harmless POCC from and against Losses suffered or incurred by any of the POCC
Entities by reason of or arising out of:
(i) any violation or correction of violation of
Environmental Laws associated with the Assets, or
(ii) any event or condition associated with
ownership or operation of the Assets (including, but not limited to, the
presence of Hazardous Substances on, under, about or migrating to or from the
Assets or the disposal or release of Hazardous Substances generated by operation
of the Assets at non-Asset locations) including, without limitation, (A) the
cost and expense of any investigation, assessment, evaluation, monitoring,
containment, cleanup, repair, restoration, remediation, or other corrective
action required or necessary under Environmental Laws, (B) the cost or expense
of the preparation and implementation of any closure, remedial, corrective
action, or other plans required or necessary under Environmental Laws, and (C)
the cost and expense for any environmental or toxic tort pre-trial, trial, or
appellate legal or litigation support work,
but only to the extent such violation complained of under Section 2.1(c)(i) or
such events or conditions included under Section 2.1(c)(ii) occurred after the
Closing Date.
2.2 ADDITIONAL INDEMNIFICATION
(a) In addition to and not in limitation of the
indemnification provided under Sections 2.1(a) and 2.1(b), POCC shall indemnify,
defend, and hold harmless the Partnership Entities from and against any Losses
suffered or incurred by the Partnership Entities by reason of or arising out of
(i) any events and conditions associated with
the ownership or operation of the Retained Assets, whether occurring before or
after the Closing Date,
(ii) the failure of the Partnership Entities to
be the owner of such valid leasehold interests or fee ownership interests in and
to the Assets as are necessary to enable the Partnership Entities to continue to
own and operate the Assets and the Business in the same manner that the Assets
and the Business were owned and operated by the POCC Entities during the
one-year period immediately prior to the Closing Date to the extent that POCC is
notified of any of the foregoing within three years after the Closing Date,
(iii) the failure of the Partnership Entities to
have any consent or permit necessary to allow the Partnership Entities to own or
operate the Assets and the Business in the same manner that the Assets and the
Business were owned and operated by the POCC Entities
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during the one-year period immediately prior to the Closing Date to the extent
that POCC is notified of any of the foregoing within three years after the
Closing Date,
(iv) all legal actions against POCC, including
without limitation, those set forth on Schedule 2.2 hereto, and
(v) all federal, state and local income tax
liabilities attributable to the operation of the Assets prior to the Closing
Date.
(b) In addition to and not in limitation of the
indemnification provided under Sections 2.1(c), or under the Partnership
Agreement, the Partnership shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the POCC
Entities from and against any Losses suffered or incurred by any of the POCC
Entities by reason of or arising out of events and conditions associated with:
(i) the operation of the Assets and the
Business,
(ii) the performance of the Services by
POCC and/or its employees pursuant to this Agreement (provided that POCC is not
in breach of this Agreement), in each case occurring on or after the Closing
Date (other than Covered Environmental Losses which are provided for under
Section 2.1), unless in any such case such indemnification would not be
permitted under Section 7.7 of the Partnership Agreement, and
(c) In addition to and not in limitation of the
indemnification provided under Sections 2.1(c) and 2.2(b), or under the
Partnership Agreement, the Partnership shall indemnify, for a period of three
years from the fiscal year end that includes the Closing Date, the POCC Entities
for federal income tax liabilities, including penalties and interest, resulting
from the Distribution and restructuring transactions connected with it to the
extent such federal income tax liabilities exceed $2.5 million in the aggregate.
2.3 INDEMNIFICATION PROCEDURES.
(a) The Indemnified Party agrees that within a reasonable
period of time after it becomes aware of facts giving rise to a claim for
indemnification under this Article II, it will provide notice thereof in writing
to the Indemnifying Party, specifying the nature of and specific basis for such
claim.
(b) The Indemnifying Party shall have the right to
control all aspects of the defense of (and any counterclaims with respect to)
any claims brought against the Indemnified Party that are covered by the
indemnification under this Article II, including, without limitation, the
selection of counsel, determination of whether to appeal any decision of any
court and the settling of any such matter or any issues relating thereto;
provided however, that no such settlement shall be entered into without the
consent of the Indemnified Party unless it includes a full release of the
Indemnified Party from such matter or issues, as the case may be.
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(c) The Indemnified Party agrees to cooperate fully with
the Indemnifying Party, with respect to all aspects of the defense of any claims
covered by the indemnification under this Article II, including, without
limitation, the prompt furnishing to the Indemnifying Party of any
correspondence or other notice relating thereto that the Indemnified Party may
receive, permitting the name of the Indemnified Party to be utilized in
connection with such defense, the making available to the Indemnifying Party of
any files, records or other information of the Indemnified Party that the
Indemnifying Party considers relevant to such defense and the making available
to the Indemnifying Party of any employees of the Indemnified Party; provided
however, that in connection therewith the Indemnifying Party agrees to use
reasonable efforts to minimize the impact thereof on the operations of the
Indemnified Party. In no event shall the obligation of the Indemnified Party to
cooperate with the Indemnifying Party as set forth in the immediately preceding
sentence be construed as imposing upon the Indemnified Party an obligation to
hire and pay for counsel in connection with the defense of any claims covered by
the indemnification set forth in this Article II; provided however, that the
Indemnified Party may, at its own option, cost and expense, hire and pay for
counsel in connection with any such defense. The Indemnifying Party agrees to
keep any such counsel hired by the Indemnified Party reasonably informed as to
the status of any such defense, but the Indemnifying Party shall have the right
to retain sole control over such defense.
(d) In determining the amount of any Losses for which the
Indemnified Party is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, the gross
amount of the indemnification will be reduced by (i) any insurance proceeds
realized or to be realized by the Indemnified Party, and such correlative
insurance benefit shall be net of any incremental insurance premium that becomes
due and payable by the Indemnified Party as a result of such claim and (ii) all
amounts recovered or recoverable by the Indemnified Party under contractual
indemnities from third parties.
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ARTICLE III
SERVICES AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
3.1 SERVICES. During the term of this Agreement, POCC agrees to provide
(either directly or through its Subsidiaries) on behalf of the General Partner
in accordance with Article VII of the Partnership Agreement, the employees or
independent contractors, corporate staff, support services and administrative
services necessary to operate the Business (the "Services"). POCC shall perform
the Services in a manner that is substantially identical in nature and quality
to the services performed by POCC for the Business during the one-year period
immediately prior to the Closing Date. The General Partner and the Partnership
agree that POCC shall be reimbursed for all costs and expenses incurred in
connection with the performance of the Services as if it were the General
Partner in accordance with Section 7.4(b) and 7.6(c) of the Partnership
Agreement.
3.2 DESIGNATION OF AGENTS. In connection with the provision of the
Services by the employees of POCC, the General Partner, on behalf of the
Partnership, hereby appoints and empowers POCC and each current and future
employee of POCC who is fulfilling a job function for the Partnership in
connection with the conduct by the Partnership of its business in the ordinary
course, as agent of the Partnership with full power and authority to execute and
deliver on behalf of the Partnership, any documents, contracts, governmental
filings or other instruments commensurate with, but limited to, such job
function. The power and authority granted pursuant to this Section 3.2 to a
person described in the preceding sentence will be valid only for so long as
such person is employed by POCC.
3.3 RIGHT TO OPERATE. POCC shall have the right, but not the
obligation, to act as operator of the Partnership's facilities to the same
extent it acted as operator of such facilities prior to the effective date of
this Agreement for so long as POCC has responsibilities associated with such
facilities.
3.4 RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS. Each of POCC, the General Partner, the
Partnership and the Operating Partnership agree that the execution or material
amendment of any "significant agreement" (as such term is defined below) must be
approved by the Conflicts Committee. The term "significant agreement" means any
agreement between the General Partner, the Partnership or the Operating
Partnership, on the one hand, and any POCC Entity, on the other hand, that
requires aggregate annual payments to or from any POCC Entity or POCC Entities
in excess of $100,000.
3.5 BREACH BY PENN OCTANE. In the event POCC fails to perform the
Services as provided in Section 3.1 and does not cure such failure within ten
(10) days of receiving written notice of same from the General Partner, the
Partnership, in addition to any other remedies at law or in equity, may
terminate this Agreement and engage a third party for the provision of the
Services. POCC shall cooperate in good faith with the Partnership and the
General Partner in transitioning the Services to any such third party.
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ARTICLE IV
MISCELLANEOUS
4.1 INSURANCE MATTERS. POCC hereby agrees to cause each of the
Partnership Entities to be named as additional insureds in POCC's current
insurance program, which is described on Schedule 4.1 attached hereto. Each of
the Partnership Entities shall pay for its allocated cost of that insurance
coverage in an amount equal to POCC's cost of insuring the assets and operations
of Partnership Entity and generally in accordance with the allocations and
methodology described in Schedule 4.1.
4.2 CHOICE OF LAW; SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION. This Agreement shall be
subject to and governed by the laws of the State of Texas, excluding any
conflicts-of-law rule or principle that might refer the construction or
interpretation of this Agreement to the laws of another state. Each Party hereby
submits to the jurisdiction of the state and federal courts in Xxxxxx County,
Texas.
4.3 NOTICE. All notices or requests or consents provided for by, or
permitted to be given pursuant to, this Agreement must be in writing and must be
given by depositing same in the United States mail, addressed to the Person to
be notified, postpaid, and registered or certified with return receipt requested
or by delivering such notice in person or by telecopier or telegram to such
Person. Notice given by personal delivery or mail shall be effective upon actual
receipt. Notice given by telegram or telecopier shall be effective upon actual
receipt if received during the recipient's normal business hours, or at the
beginning of the recipient's next business day after receipt if not received
during the recipient's normal business hours. All notices to be sent to a Party
pursuant to this Agreement shall be sent to or made at the address set forth
below such Party's signature to this Agreement, or at such other address as such
Party may stipulate to the other parties in the manner provided in this Section
4.3.
4.4 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement
of the Parties relating to the matters contained herein, superseding all prior
contracts or agreements, whether oral or written, relating to the matters
contained herein.
4.5 TERMINATION. Unless earlier terminated as provided in this Section
4.5, the term of this Agreement shall be five (5) years from the date hereof and
shall be automatically renewed for subsequent five (5) year terms, unless and
until either party provides written notice to the other party at least sixty
(60) days prior to the expiration of the initial five (5) year term or any
renewal term that such party does not wish to renew this Agreement on the
expiration of the then current term. This Agreement, other than the provisions
of Article II, shall terminate on the earlier to occur of (i) ninety (90) days
after either party notifies the other party in writing that the Partnership is
no longer an Affiliate of POCC and (ii) this Agreement is terminated by the
Partnership under Section 3.5. Termination of this Agreement shall not terminate
any Indemnifying Party's continuing obligation of indemnification pursuant to
Article II of this Agreement which obligations shall survive as provided in
Article II.
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4.6 EFFECT OF WAIVER OR CONSENT. No waiver or consent, express or
implied, by any Party to or of any breach or default by any Person in the
performance by such Person of its obligations hereunder shall be deemed or
construed to be a consent or waiver to or of any other breach or default in the
performance by such Person of the same or any other obligations of such Person
hereunder. Failure on the part of a Party to complain of any act of any Person
or to declare any Person in default, irrespective of how long such failure
continues, shall not constitute a waiver by such Party of its rights hereunder
until the applicable statute of limitations period has run.
4.7 AMENDMENT OR MODIFICATION. This Agreement may be amended or
modified from time to time only by the written agreement of all the Parties
hereto; provided however, that the Partnership may not, without the prior
approval of the Conflicts Committee, agree to any amendment or modification of
this Agreement. Each such instrument shall be reduced to writing and shall be
designated on its face an "Amendment" or an "Addendum" to this Agreement.
4.8 ASSIGNMENT. No Party shall have the right to assign its rights or
obligations under this Agreement without the consent of the other Parties
hereto.
4.9 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts with the same effect as if all signatory parties had signed the
same document. All counterparts shall be construed together and shall constitute
one and the same instrument.
4.10 SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Agreement or the
application thereof to any Person or circumstance shall be held invalid or
unenforceable to any extent, the remainder of this Agreement and the application
of such provision to other Persons or circumstances shall not be affected
thereby and shall be enforced to the greatest extent permitted by law.
4.11 FURTHER ASSURANCES. In connection with this Agreement and all
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, each signatory party hereto agrees
to execute and deliver such additional documents and instruments and to perform
such additional acts as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate, carry out
and perform all of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Agreement and
all such transactions.
4.12 LAWS AND REGULATIONS. Notwithstanding any provision of this
Agreement to the contrary, no Party to this Agreement shall be required to take
any act, or fail to take any act, under this Agreement if the effect thereof
would be to cause such Party to be in violation of any applicable law, statute,
rule or regulation.
4.13 NEGOTIATION OF RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS, ASSIGNEES, AND THIRD
PARTIES. The provisions of this Agreement are enforceable solely by the Parties
to this Agreement, and no limited partner, member, assignee or other Person of
the Partnership or General Partner shall have the right, separate and apart from
the Partnership or the General Partner, to enforce any provision of this
Agreement or to compel any Party to this Agreement to comply with the terms of
this Agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed this Omnibus
Agreement on, and effective as of, the date first written above.
RIO VISTA ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.
By: RIO VISTA GP LLC,
On behalf of itself and on behalf of
Partnership as its General Partner
By:________________________________
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Jr.
Title: President
RIO VISTA OPERATING PARTNERSHIP L.P.
By: RIO VISTA OPERATING GP LLC
By: RIO VISTA ENERGY PARTNERS
L.P., its sole member
By: RIO VISTA GP LLC
By:____________________________
Name:__________________________
Title:_________________________
PENN OCTANE CORPORATION
By:____________________________________
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: President
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SCHEDULE 2.2
PENDING LEGAL ACTIONS AGAINST PENN OCTANE CORPORATION
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SCHEDULE 4
INSURANCE
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