EXHIBIT 10.N
Execution Version
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PURCHASE, SALE AND MERGER AGREEMENT
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By and Between
EL PASO TENNESSEE PIPELINE CO.
(Seller)
and
EL PASO ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.
(Buyer)
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Covering the Acquisition of
ALL OF THE EQUITY INTERESTS IN
(Acquired Company Equity Interests)
EL PASO TEXAS FIELD SERVICES, L.L.C.
EL PASO ENERGY INTRASTATE, L.P.
EL PASO OFFSHORE GATHERING & TRANSMISSION, L.L.C.
EPGT TEXAS PIPELINE, L.P.
EL PASO HUB SERVICES L.L.C.
EL PASO ENERGY WARWINK I COMPANY, L.L.C.
EL PASO ENERGY WARWINK II COMPANY, L.L.C. and
WARWINK GATHERING AND TREATING COMPANY
(Acquired Companies)
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April 1, 2002
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
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1. Definitions..............................................................................................2
2. The Transactions........................................................................................12
(a) Sale of Assigned Equity Interests.................................................................12
(b) The Merger........................................................................................12
(c) Consideration.....................................................................................12
(d) The Closing.......................................................................................13
(e) Deliveries at the Closing.........................................................................13
(f) Proposed Closing Statement and Post-Closing Adjustment............................................13
3. Representations and Warranties Concerning the Transaction...............................................15
(a) Representations and Warranties of the Seller......................................................15
(b) Representations and Warranties of the Buyer.......................................................16
4. Representations and Warranties Concerning the Acquired Company Equity Interests, Acquired
Companies and Relevant Assets...........................................................................18
(a) Organization, Qualification, and Company Power....................................................18
(b) Noncontravention..................................................................................18
(c) Title to and Condition of Assets..................................................................18
(d) Material Change...................................................................................21
(e) Legal Compliance..................................................................................22
(f) Tax Matters.......................................................................................22
(g) Contracts and Commitments.........................................................................22
(h) Litigation........................................................................................22
(i) Environmental Matters.............................................................................23
(j) Preferential Purchase Rights......................................................................24
(k) Financial Statements..............................................................................25
(l) Employee Matters..................................................................................25
(m) Prohibited Events.................................................................................25
(n) Regulatory Matters................................................................................25
(o) Intercompany Transactions.........................................................................25
(p) Disclaimer of Representations and Warranties Concerning Personal Property, Equipment, and
Fixtures..........................................................................................26
5. Pre-Closing Covenants...................................................................................26
(a) General...........................................................................................26
(b) Notices and Consents..............................................................................26
(c) Operation of Business.............................................................................26
(d) Intercompany Transactions.........................................................................28
(e) Full Access.......................................................................................28
(f) Liens and Encumbrances............................................................................28
i
(g) Prince Pre-Closing Matters........................................................................28
6. Post-Closing Covenants..................................................................................28
(a) General...........................................................................................28
(b) Litigation Support................................................................................29
(c) Surety Bonds; Guarantees..........................................................................29
(d) Delivery and Retention of Records.................................................................29
(e) Pipeline Integrity Program........................................................................29
(f) Channel Insurance Proceeds........................................................................30
(g) Operatorship of Cotenancy Assets..................................................................30
(h) Assignment of Rights..............................................................................30
7. Conditions to Obligation to Close.......................................................................30
(a) Conditions to Obligation of the Buyer.............................................................30
(b) Conditions to Obligation of the Seller............................................................31
8. Remedies for Breaches of this Agreement.................................................................32
(a) Survival of Representations and Warranties........................................................32
(b) Indemnification Provisions for Benefit of the Buyer...............................................33
(c) Indemnification Provisions for Benefit of the Seller..............................................35
(d) Matters Involving Third Parties...................................................................36
(e) Determination of Amount of Adverse Consequences...................................................37
(f) Tax Treatment of Indemnity Payments...............................................................37
9. Tax Matters.............................................................................................37
(a) Post-Closing Tax Returns..........................................................................37
(b) Pre-Closing Tax Returns...........................................................................37
(c) Straddle Periods..................................................................................37
(d) Straddle Returns..................................................................................38
(e) Claims for Refund.................................................................................38
(f) Indemnification...................................................................................38
(g) Cooperation on Tax Matters........................................................................39
(h) Certain Taxes.....................................................................................39
(i) Confidentiality...................................................................................39
(j) Audits............................................................................................39
(k) Control of Proceedings............................................................................40
(l) Powers of Attorney................................................................................40
(m) Remittance of Refunds.............................................................................40
(n) Purchase Price Allocation.........................................................................40
(o) Closing Tax Certificate...........................................................................40
(p) Like Kind Exchanges...............................................................................41
10. Termination.............................................................................................41
(a) Termination of Agreement..........................................................................41
(b) Effect of Termination.............................................................................42
11. Miscellaneous...........................................................................................42
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(a) Public Announcements..............................................................................42
(b) Insurance.........................................................................................42
(c) No Third Party Beneficiaries......................................................................42
(d) Succession and Assignment.........................................................................42
(e) Counterparts......................................................................................43
(f) Headings..........................................................................................43
(g) Notices...........................................................................................43
(h) Governing Law.....................................................................................44
(i) Amendments and Waivers............................................................................44
(j) Severability......................................................................................44
(k) Transaction Expenses..............................................................................44
(l) Construction......................................................................................44
(m) Incorporation of Exhibits and Schedules...........................................................45
(n) Entire Agreement..................................................................................45
EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES
Exhibit A: Principal Cotenancy Assets
Exhibit B: Principal Acquired Company Assets
Exhibit C: Disposed Assets
Exhibit D: Form of Assigned Equity Interests Assignment
Exhibit E: Form of Merger Agreement
Exhibit F: Form of Parent Guaranty
Exhibit G: Form of Exchange Agreement
Exhibit H: Form of Prince PSA
Exhibit I: [Intentionally omitted]
Exhibit J: Form of Prince Side Letter
Exhibit K: Form of Certification of Non-Foreign Status
Schedule 1(a): Subject Insurance Policies
Schedule 1(b): Permitted Encumbrances
Schedule 1(c): Reorganization Transactions
Schedule 3(a)(ii): Consents (Seller)
Schedule 3(a)(iii): Noncontravention (Seller)
Schedule 3(b)(ii): Consents (Buyer)
Schedule 3(b)(iii): Noncontravention (Buyer)
Schedule 4(b): Noncontravention (Acquired Companies)
Schedule 4(c)(i): Encumbrances
Schedule 4(c)(ii): Condition of Acquired Company Assets
Schedule 4(c)(v): Encumbrances for Borrowed Money
Schedule 4(c)(vi): Ownership and Operation of the Cotenancy Assets
Schedule 4(d): Material Changes
Schedule 4(f): Tax Matters
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Schedule 4(g)(i): Acquired Company Contracts
Schedule 4(g)(ii): Rights of Way
Schedule 4(h): Litigation
Schedule 4(i): Environmental Matters
Schedule 4(i)(ii): Environmental Permits
Schedule 4(j): Preferential Purchase Rights
Schedule 4(k): Financial Statements
Schedule 4(k)(ii): Obligations of the Acquired Companies
Schedule 4(n): Regulatory Matters
Schedule 4(o): Intercompany Transactions
Schedule 5(c): Operation of Business
Schedule 5(c)(v): Capital Expenditures Budget
Schedule 6(c): Surety Bonds
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PURCHASE, SALE AND MERGER AGREEMENT
THIS
PURCHASE, SALE AND MERGER AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") dated as of
April 1, 2002 is by and between El Paso Tennessee Pipeline Co., a Delaware
corporation (the "Seller"), and El Paso Energy Partners, L.P., a Delaware
limited partnership (the "Buyer"). The Seller and the Buyer are sometimes
referred to collectively herein as the "Parties" and individually as a "Party."
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Seller owns all of the issued and outstanding membership
interest (the El Paso
Texas Interest") in El Paso
Texas Field Services L.L.C., a
Delaware limited liability company ("El Paso
Texas"), which owns, among other
things, (i) the natural gas gathering and treating system generally known as the
Waha Gathering and Treating System and (ii) the natural gas gathering system
generally known as the Carlsbad Gathering System;
WHEREAS, El Paso
Texas owns all of the issued and outstanding limited
partnership interest (the "El Paso Intrastate LP Interest") in El Paso Energy
Intrastate, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("El Paso Intrastate"), which
owns, among other assets, a 50% undivided interest in the natural gas gathering
system and related facilities and assets generally known as the Channel Pipeline
System;
WHEREAS, El Paso
Texas owns all of the issued and outstanding
membership interest (the "El Paso Offshore Interest") in El Paso Offshore
Gathering & Transmission, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company ("El Paso
Offshore"), which owns, among other assets, (i) the natural gas gathering system
generally known as the TPC Offshore System and (ii) the facilities generally
known as the Oyster Lake and MILSP Condensate Separation and Stabilization
facilities;
WHEREAS, El Paso
Texas owns a 1.93% limited partnership interest (the
"EPGT 2% LP Interest") in EPGT
Texas Pipeline, L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership ("EPGT"), which owns, among other assets, (i) the natural gas
lateral pipelines generally known as the TGP Laterals, (ii) the natural gas
gathering and transmission system generally known as the GTT Transmission
System, (iii) the leased natural gas storage facility generally known as the
Xxxxxx Storage facility, (iv) a 80% undivided interest in the East
Texas 36"
pipeline, (v) a 50% undivided interest in the West Texas 30" Pipeline, (vi) a
50% undivided interest in the North Texas 36" Pipeline, (vii) the natural gas
gathering system generally known as the XxXxxxxx County gathering system, (viii)
the natural gas gathering system generally known as the Xxxxxxx County Gathering
System, (ix) a 22% undivided interest in the Xxxxxx-Xxxxxx pipeline; and (x) a
75% undivided interest in the Longhorn pipeline;
WHEREAS, El Paso Texas owns all of the issued and outstanding
membership interest (collectively, the "Warwink Interests") in each of El Paso
Energy Warwink I Company, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company ("Warwink
I"), and El Paso Energy Warwink Company II, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability
company ("Warwink II"), which collectively own 100% of the outstanding joint
venture interest (collectively, the "Warwink Gathering Interest") in
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Warwink Gathering and Treating Company, a Texas joint venture ("Warwink
Gathering and Treating"), which owns, among other assets, the natural gas
gathering system generally known as the Warwink Gathering System;
WHEREAS, the Seller owns, directly or indirectly, all of the issued and
outstanding equity interests in (i) El Paso Field Services Management, Inc., a
Delaware corporation ("EPFS Management"), which owns (a) a 1% general partner
interest (the "El Paso Intrastate GP Interest") in El Paso Intrastate and (b) a
1% general partner interest (the "EPGT GP Interest") in EPGT, and (ii) El Paso
Transmission, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company ("El Paso
Transmission"), which owns (a) a 97.07% limited partner interest (the "EPGT 97%
LP Interest" and, collectively with the EPGT 2% LP Interest, the "EPGT LP
Interest") in EPGT and (b) all of the issued and outstanding membership interest
(the "El Paso Hub Services Interest") in El Paso Hub Services, L.L.C., a
Delaware limited liability company ("El Paso Hub Services"), which owns certain
contract rights and certain parcels of real property;
WHEREAS, the Buyer, directly or indirectly, owns all of the issued and
outstanding membership interest in Argo, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability
company ("Argo"), which owns or shall own at Closing (i) the offshore platform
generally known as the Prince TLP and related rights and facilities associated
therewith and (ii) a 9.2% overriding royalty interest in the Prince Field
located offshore Texas in the Gulf of Mexico; and
WHEREAS, this Agreement contemplates a series of transactions in which
(i) (a) the Seller shall sell, or cause to be sold, through the sale of equity
interests to the Buyer, the Assigned Equity Interests (defined herein), (b) the
Seller shall cause El Paso Texas to be merged into and with a subsidiary of the
Buyer, and (c) as a result of (a) and (b), the Buyer shall acquire indirect
ownership of the Acquired Company Assets (defined herein), and (ii) the Buyer
shall pay consideration of $625 million for such sales, consisting of $435
million in cash and $190 million represented by the assignment of Argo's assets
to an affiliate of the Seller.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
promises herein made, and in consideration of the representations, warranties,
and covenants herein contained, the Parties agree as follows:
1. Definitions.
"Acquired Companies" means El Paso Texas, El Paso Intrastate, El Paso
Offshore, EPGT, El Paso Hub Services, Warwink I, Warwink II, Warwink Gathering
and Treating and MIAGS.
"Acquired Company Assets" means, excluding the Disposed Assets, the El
Paso Texas Assets, the El Paso Intrastate Assets, the El Paso Offshore Assets,
the EPGT Assets, the El Paso Hub Services Assets, the Warwink Assets and the
MIAGS Assets.
"Acquired Company Contracts" has the meaning set forth in Section 4(g).
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"Acquired Company Equity Interests" means the El Paso Texas Interest,
the El Paso Intrastate LP Interest, the El Paso Intrastate GP Interest, the El
Paso Offshore Interest, the EPGT LP Interest, the EPGT GP Interest, the Warwink
Interests, the Warwink Gathering Interest, the El Paso Hub Services Interest and
the MIAGS Interest, all of which are being acquired by the Buyer pursuant to
this Agreement through either (i) the Assigned Equity Interests Assignment or
(ii) the Merger.
"Administrative Agent" means JPMorgan Chase Bank, in its capacity as
administrative agent under the credit agreement to be entered into among a
subsidiary of the Buyer, the Administrative Agent and the lenders party thereto.
"Adverse Consequences" means all actions, suits, proceedings, hearings,
investigations, charges, complaints, claims, demands, injunctions, judgments,
orders, decrees, rulings, damages, dues, penalties, fines, costs, amounts paid
in settlement, liabilities, obligations, Taxes, liens, losses, expenses, and
fees, including court costs and attorneys' fees and expenses, but excluding
punitive (except as provided in Section 8), exemplary, special or consequential
damages.
"Adverse Contribution Agreement Event" has the meaning given such term
in the Contribution Agreement.
"Adverse Event" means any Adverse PSA Event and any Adverse
Contribution Agreement Event.
"Adverse PSA Event" means any breach of any representation or warranty
(without giving effect to any supplement to the Schedules, any qualification as
to materiality, Material Adverse Effect, knowledge, awareness or concepts of
similar import, or any qualification or limitation as to monetary amount or
value) of the Seller contained in this Agreement (other than a representation or
warranty contained in Section 4(c)(iii) or 4(f)).
"Affiliate" has the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 of the regulations
promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act; provided, however, that (i) with
respect to the Buyer, the term "Affiliate" shall exclude each member of the El
Paso Group, (ii) with respect to the Seller, the term "Affiliate" shall exclude
each member of the Buyer Group and (iii) the Acquired Companies shall be deemed
to be Affiliates (x) prior to the Closing, of the Seller and (y) on and after
the Closing, of the Buyer.
"Agreement" has the meaning set forth in the preface.
"Argo" has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
"Assigned Equity Interests" means the El Paso Intrastate GP Interest,
the EPGT GP Interest, the El Paso Hub Services Interest and the EPGT 97%LP
Interest.
"Assigned Equity Interests Assignment" means the assignment in the form
of Exhibit D.
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"Basis" means any past or current fact, situation, circumstance,
status, condition, activity, practice, plan, occurrence, event, incident,
action, failure to act, or transaction about which the relevant Person has
Knowledge that forms or could form the basis for any specified consequence.
"Best Efforts" means the efforts, time, and costs that a prudent Person
desirous of achieving a result would use, expend, or incur in similar
circumstances to ensure that such result is achieved as expeditiously as
possible; provided, however, that no such use, expenditure, or incurrence shall
be required if it could reasonably be expected to have an adverse effect on such
Person and would require an expense of such Person in excess of $1,000,000.
"Buyer" has the meaning set forth in the preface.
"Buyer Group" means (i) the General Partner, (ii) the Buyer, (iii) each
Affiliate of the Buyer in which the Buyer owns (directly or indirectly) an
Equity Interest and (iv) each natural person that is an Affiliate of any Person
described in (i) - (iii) above solely because of such natural person's position
as an officer (or natural person performing similar functions), director (or
natural person performing similar functions) or other representative of any
Person described in (i) - (iii) above, but only to the extent that such natural
person is acting in such capacity.
"Buyer Indemnitees" means, collectively, the Buyer and its Affiliates
and each of their respective officers (or natural persons performing similar
functions), directors (or natural persons performing similar functions),
employees, agents and representatives to the extent acting in such capacity.
"Buyer Party" means each of (i) the Buyer, (ii) Argo I, (iii) each
Affiliate of the Buyer in which the Buyer owns (directly or indirectly) an
Equity Interest and which is a party to any Transaction Agreement and (iv)
immediately after the Closing, each of the Acquired Companies.
"CERCLA" has the meaning set forth in Section 4(i).
"Certificate of Merger" means a certificate of merger in the form
attached to the Merger Agreement.
"Channel" means the cotenancy created and evidenced by A/S Pipeline
Ownership Agreement between Channel Industries Gas Company and Houston Pipe Line
Company dated January 1, 1997 (as amended, restated, supplemented and otherwise
modified from time to time).
"Channel Rupture" means the rupture of the Channel pipeline on December
4, 2000.
"Closing" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d).
"Closing Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d).
"Closing Statement" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(f)(i).
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any
successor Law.
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"Combined Value" means the sum of (i) the Purchase Price plus (ii) the
Issue Price, as such term is defined in the Contribution Agreement plus (iii)
$119 million.
"Commitment" means (a) options, warrants, convertible securities,
exchangeable securities, subscription rights, conversion rights, exchange rights
or other contracts that could require a Person to issue any of its Equity
Interests or to sell any Equity Interest it owns in another Person; (b) any
other securities convertible into, exchangeable or exercisable for, or
representing the right to subscribe for any Equity Interest of a Person or owned
by a Person; (c) statutory pre-emptive rights or pre-emptive rights granted
under a Person's Organizational Documents; and (d) stock appreciation rights,
phantom stock, profit participation, or other similar rights with respect to a
Person.
"Contribution Agreement" means the Contribution Agreement dated the
date of this Agreement between EPFS Holding and the Buyer.
"Cotenancy Assets" means 100% of all of the assets listed on Exhibit A,
and any organizational, ownership or operational documents related thereto.
"Cotenancy Interests" means the Acquired Companies' interests in the
Cotenancy Assets.
"Delaware LLC Act" means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act as
in effect on the date of this Agreement and as amended, restated or replaced
from time to time thereafter.
"Delaware LP Act" means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited
Partnership Act as in effect on the date of this Agreement and as amended,
restated or replaced from time to time thereafter.
"Disposed Assets" means all of the assets listed on Exhibit C.
"Disposed Obligations" means all Obligations, regardless of when such
Obligations actually arise or arose, (i) associated with, arising out of, or
related to the ownership or operation of the Disposed Assets or (ii) other than
those Obligations explicitly set forth on Schedule 4(k)(ii), existing on the
Closing Date and not directly related to the Acquired Company Assets.
"El Paso Corporation" means El Paso Corporation, a Delaware
corporation.
"El Paso Group" means, other than members of the Buyer Group, (i) each
Affiliate of El Paso Corporation in which El Paso Corporation owns (directly or
indirectly) an Equity Interest and (ii) each natural person that is an Affiliate
of any Person described in (i) above solely because of such natural person's
position as an officer (or natural person performing similar functions),
director (or natural person performing similar functions) or other
representative of any Person described in (i) above, but only to the extent that
such natural person is acting in such capacity.
"El Paso Hub Services" has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
5
"El Paso Hub Services Assets" means all assets of El Paso Hub Services,
including any applicable Cotenancy Interests.
"El Paso Hub Services Interest" has the meaning set forth in the
Recitals.
"El Paso Intrastate" has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
"El Paso Intrastate Assets" means all assets of El Paso Intrastate,
including any applicable Cotenancy Interests.
"El Paso Intrastate GP Interest" has the meaning set forth in the
Recitals.
"El Paso Intrastate LP Interest" has the meaning set forth in the
Recitals.
"El Paso Offshore" has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
"El Paso Offshore Assets" means all assets of El Paso Offshore,
including any applicable Cotenancy Interests.
"El Paso Offshore Interest" has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
"El Paso Production" means El Paso Production GOM, Inc., a Delaware
corporation.
"El Paso Texas" has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
"El Paso Texas Assets" means all assets of El Paso Texas, including any
applicable Cotenancy Interests.
"El Paso Texas Interest" has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
"El Paso Transmission" has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
"Encumbrance" means any mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, charge,
security interest, purchase or preferential right, right of first refusal,
option or other defect in title.
"Environmental Law" and "Environmental Laws" have the meanings set
forth in Section 4(i).
"EPFS Holding" means El Paso Field Services Holding Company, a Delaware
corporation.
"EPFS Management" has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
"EPGT" has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
"EPGT 2% LP Interest" has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
"EPGT 97% LP Interest" has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
6
"EPGT Assets" means all assets of EPGT, including any applicable
Cotenancy Interests.
"EPGT GP Interest" has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
"EPGT LP Interest" has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
"Equity Interest" means (a) with respect to a corporation, any and all
shares of capital stock and any Commitments with respect thereto, (b) with
respect to a partnership, limited liability company, trust or similar Person,
any and all units, interests or other partnership, limited liability company,
trust or similar interests, and any Commitments with respect thereto, and (c)
any other direct equity ownership or participation in a Person.
"Exchange Agreement" has the meaning set forth in Section 9(p).
"Financial Statement Assets" means the Acquired Company Assets and the
Indian Basin Cotenancy Interest (as such term is defined in the Contribution
Agreement).
"Financial Statement Entities" means the Acquired Companies, El Paso
Indian Basin L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and El Paso Indian Basin GP
Holding L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company.
"Financial Statements" has the meaning set forth in Section 4(k).
"FTC" has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a)(ii).
"GAAP" means accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States consistently applied.
"General Partner" means El Paso Energy Partners Company, a Delaware
corporation and the general partner of the Buyer.
"Governmental Authority" means the United States or any agency thereof
and any state, county, city or other political subdivision, agency, court or
instrumentality.
"Hazardous Substances" means all materials, substances, chemicals, gas
and wastes which are regulated under any Environmental Law or which may form the
basis for liability under any Environmental Law.
"Indebtedness" means, with respect to any Person, to the extent not
classified as a current liability, on a consolidated basis, all Obligations of
the Person to other Persons for (a) borrowed money, (b) any capital lease
Obligation, (c) any Obligation (whether fixed or contingent) to reimburse any
bank or other Person in respect of amounts paid or payable under a standby
letter of credit, (d) any guarantee with respect to indebtedness (of the kind
otherwise described in this definition) of any Person and (e) any liability,
indebtedness or other Obligation of the Person.
"Indemnified Party" has the meaning set forth in Section 8(d).
"Indemnifying Party" has the meaning set forth in Section 8(d).
7
"Knowledge": an individual shall be deemed to have "Knowledge" of a
particular fact or other matter if such individual is consciously aware of such
fact or other matter at the time of determination. A Person other than a natural
person shall be deemed to have "Knowledge" of a particular fact or other matter
if (i) any natural person who is serving as a director, executive officer,
partner, member, executor, or trustee of such Person (or in any similar
capacity) or (ii) any employee (or any natural person serving in a similar
capacity) who is charged with the ultimate responsibility for a particular area
of such Person's operations (e.g., the manager of the environmental section with
respect to knowledge of environmental matters), at the time of determination
had, Knowledge of such fact or other matter.
"Law" means any statute, code, regulation, rule, injunction, judgment,
order, decree, ruling, charge, or other restriction of any applicable
Governmental Authority.
"Legal Right" means the legal authority and right (without risk of
liability, criminal, civil or otherwise), such that the contemplated conduct
would not, to the extent arising from, related to or in any way connected with
any Acquired Company or Cotenancy Asset (including under any Organizational
Documents thereof or any contract, agreement or arrangement related thereto)
constitute a violation, termination or breach of, or require any payment under,
or cause or permit any termination under, any contract or agreement;
arrangement; applicable Law; fiduciary, quasi-fiduciary or similar duty; or any
other obligation of or by any Acquired Company or Cotenancy Asset.
"Material Adverse Effect" means any change or effect relating to the
Acquired Company Equity Interests, the Acquired Company Assets or the
businesses, operations (financial or otherwise) and properties of the Acquired
Companies or the Acquired Company Assets taken as a whole, that, individually or
in the aggregate with other changes or effects, materially and adversely effects
the value of the Acquired Company Equity Interests, provided that in determining
whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred, changes or effects relating to
(i) the natural gas pipeline, treating and processing industry generally
(including the price of natural gas and the costs associated with the drilling
and/or production of natural gas), (ii) United States or global economic
conditions or financial markets in general, or (iii) the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, shall not be considered.
"Merger" means the merger of El Paso Texas with and into a subsidiary
of the Buyer as contemplated hereby.
"Merger Agreement" means a merger agreement in the form of Exhibit E.
"MIAGS" means Matagorda Island Area Gathering System, a Texas joint
venture.
"MIAGS Assets" means all of the assets of MIAGS.
"MIAGS Interest" means a 84% joint venture interest in MIAGS.
"Non-Operated Cotenancies" means those Cotenancy Assets for which
Schedule 4(c)(vi) indicates that the Seller or its Affiliate is not the
operator.
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"Obligations" means duties, liabilities and obligations, whether
vested, absolute or contingent, known or unknown, asserted or unasserted,
accrued or unaccrued, liquidated or unliquidated, due or to become due, and
whether contractual, statutory or otherwise.
"Operated Cotenancies" means those Cotenancy Assets other than the
Non-Operated Cotenancies.
"Ordinary Course of Business" means the ordinary course of business
consistent with the applicable Person's past custom and practice (including with
respect to quantity and frequency).
"Organizational Documents" means the articles of incorporation,
certificate of incorporation, charter, bylaws, articles or certificate of
formation, regulations, operating agreement, certificate of limited partnership,
partnership agreement, and all other similar documents, instruments or
certificates executed, adopted, or filed in connection with the creation,
formation, or organization of a Person, including any amendments thereto.
"Parent Guaranty" means the performance guaranty in the form of Exhibit
F.
"Party" and "Parties" have the meanings set forth in the preface.
"Permitted Encumbrances" means any of the following: (i) any liens for
Taxes and assessments not yet delinquent or, if delinquent, that are being
contested in good faith in the Ordinary Course of Business, provided that
adequate reserve accounts have been established in accordance with GAAP; (ii)
inchoate, mechanic's, materialmen's, and similar liens; (iii) any inchoate liens
or other Encumbrances created pursuant to (1) any operating, farmout,
construction, operation and maintenance, co-owners, cotenancy, lease or similar
agreements listed on Schedule 1(b) for which amounts are not due or (2) the
Organizational Documents of any of the Acquired Companies or Cotenancy Assets
for which amounts are not due; and (iv) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions
and other similar encumbrances incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business
which, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount and which do not in any
case materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto as it is
currently being used or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the
business.
"Person" means an individual or entity, including any partnership,
corporation, association, joint stock company, trust, joint venture, limited
liability company, unincorporated organization, or Governmental Authority (or
any department, agency or political subdivision thereof).
"Pipeline Integrity Costs" means all expenses, fees, liabilities and
other costs arising from, connected with or otherwise relating to implementing
and completing the Pipeline Integrity Program to the extent relating to any
pipelines constituting part of the Acquired Company Assets (other than the
leased Old Ocean Pipeline) or the Operated Cotenancies, including costs
associated with direct assessment of pipelines, in-line inspections, pressure
tests, increased inspections and remediation of defects, as well as the
allocable portion of salaries, overhead and any charged management fee (but does
not include routine operating and maintenance costs).
9
"Pipeline Integrity Program" means the pipeline integrity management
plan filed by El Paso Corporation with the Texas Railroad Commission, as in
effect and on record as of the date hereof, and as revised from time to time to
the extent that the Buyer and El Paso Corporation mutually consent to the
revisions (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
"Post-Closing Tax Period" means any Tax period beginning after the
Closing Date.
"Post-Closing Tax Return" means any Tax Return that is required to be
filed for any of the Acquired Companies with respect to a Post-Closing Tax
Period.
"Pre-Closing Tax Period" means any Tax periods or portions thereof
ending on or before the Closing Date.
"Pre-Closing Tax Return" means any Tax Return that is required to be
filed for any Acquired Company with respect to a Pre-Closing Tax Period.
"Preferential Rights" has the meaning set forth in Section 4(j).
"Prime Rate" means the prime rate reported in the Wall Street Journal
at the time such rate must be determined under the terms of this Agreement.
"Prince PSA" means the purchase and sale agreement in the form of
Exhibit H.
"Prince Side Letter" means an agreement in the form of Exhibit J.
"Proposed Closing Statement" has the meaning set forth in Section
2(f)(i).
"Purchase Price" means $625 million plus (i) the amount, if any, by
which the total of the Purchase Price Increases exceeds the total of the
Purchase Price Decreases, or minus (ii) the amount, if any, by which the total
of the Purchase Price Decreases exceeds the total of the Purchase Price
Increases.
"Purchase Price Adjustment Date" means immediately after the close of
business on March 31, 2002.
"Purchase Price Decreases" means, without duplication, the following:
(i) 100% of the amount, if any, of negative Working Capital of the Acquired
Companies as of the Purchase Price Adjustment Date, as determined and calculated
in accordance with GAAP, and (ii) 100% of the amount, if any, of all of the
consolidated Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness otherwise included in Working
Capital and the $24 million Indebtedness associated with the mercury meter
reserve) of the Acquired Companies as of the Purchase Price Adjustment Date.
"Purchase Price Increases" means, without duplication, 100% of the
amount, if any, of positive Working Capital of the Acquired Companies as of the
Purchase Price Adjustment Date, as determined and calculated in accordance with
GAAP.
"Records" has the meaning set forth in Section 6(d).
10
"Relevant Assets" means the Acquired Company Assets, the Disposed
Assets and the Cotenancy Assets.
"Reorganization Transactions" means the transactions described on
Schedule 1(c).
"Rights of Way" has the meaning set forth in Section 4(g).
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time
to time.
"Securities Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended from time to time.
"Seller" has the meaning set forth in the preface.
"Seller Indemnitees" means, collectively, the Seller and its Affiliates
and each of their respective officers (or Persons performing similar functions),
directors (or Persons performing similar functions), employees, agents, and
representatives.
"Seller Party" means each of (i) the Seller, (ii) El Paso Corporation,
EPFS Management, EPFS Holding, El Paso Transmission, (iii) each Affiliate of the
Seller in which the Seller owns (directly or indirectly) an Equity Interest and
which is a party to any Transaction Agreement and (iv) up to and through the
Closing, each of the Acquired Companies.
"Straddle Period" means a Tax period or year commencing before and
ending after the Closing Date.
"Straddle Return" means a Tax Return for a Straddle Period.
"Subject Insurance Policies" means those material policies of
insurance, the current policies of which are listed on Schedule 1(a), which the
Seller or any of its Affiliates maintain covering any Acquired Company Assets,
any Acquired Company or any Cotenancy Asset with respect to its assets and
operations.
"Tax" or "Taxes" means any federal, state, local, or foreign income,
gross receipts, license, payroll, employment, excise, severance, stamp,
occupation, premium, windfall profits, environmental (including taxes under Code
Section 59A), custom duties, capital stock, franchise, profits, withholding,
social security (or similar excises), unemployment, disability, ad valorem, real
property, personal property, sales, use, transfer, registration, value added,
alternative or add-on minimum, estimated, or other tax of any kind whatsoever,
including any interest, penalty or addition thereto, whether disputed or not.
"Tax Records" means all Tax Returns and Tax-related work papers
relating to any Acquired Company.
"Tax Return" means any return, declaration, report, claim for refund,
or information return or statement relating to Taxes, including any schedule or
attachment thereto, and including any amendment thereof.
11
"Third Party Claim" has the meaning set forth in Section 8(d).
"Transaction Agreements" means this Agreement, the Merger Agreement,
the Assigned Equity Interests Assignment, the Prince PSA, the Parent Guaranty,
the Contribution Agreement, the Exchange Agreement (if applicable) and all other
agreements, documents, certificates or instruments executed and delivered in
connection with the transactions contemplated herein.
"Warwink Gathering and Treating" has the meaning set forth in the
Recitals.
"Warwink Gathering Interest" has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
"Warwink I" has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
"Warwink II" has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
"Warwink Interests" has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
"Warwink Assets" means all assets of Warwink I, Warwink II and Warwink
Gathering and Treating, including any applicable Cotenancy Interests.
"Working Capital" means current assets less current liabilities.
2. The Transactions.
(a) Sale of Assigned Equity Interests. Subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, the Seller agrees to cause EPFS Management and El
Paso Transmission to sell to the Buyer (or its designee), and the Buyer agrees
to purchase (or cause its designee to purchase) from the Seller, the Assigned
Equity Interests, free and clear of any Encumbrances.
(b) The Merger. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement,
the Parties agree to cause El Paso Texas to merge with and into a subsidiary of
the Buyer in accordance with the Delaware LLC Act. Following the Merger, the
separate limited liability company existence of El Paso Texas shall cease and
the applicable subsidiary of the Buyer shall continue as the surviving company
and shall succeed to and assume all the rights and obligations of El Paso Texas
in accordance with the Delaware LLC Act. The Merger shall have the effects set
forth in Section 28-109 of the Delaware LLC Act and, if applicable, the Delaware
LP Act.
(c) Consideration. In consideration for the assignment of the Assigned
Company Equity Interests and the Merger (which together shall vest in the Buyer
record or beneficial ownership of 100% of the Acquired Company Equity Interests
and the Acquired Company Assets (other than the MIAGS Assets, in which the Buyer
would acquire beneficial ownership of 83%), including the Cotenancy Interests),
the Buyer agrees to pay the Purchase Price to the Seller as follows:
(i) Payment of $190 million of the Purchase Price in the form
of property by causing the execution and delivery by Argo of the Prince
PSA and the assignment of all of Argo's assets contemplated thereby;
and
12
(ii) Payment of the remainder of the Purchase Price in cash by
wire transfer of immediately available funds. All payments with respect
to the cash portion of the Purchase Price shall be made to the Seller,
and the Seller shall be responsible for allocating and distributing
such payments among any applicable Seller Parties.
(d) The Closing. The closing of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement (the "Closing") shall take place at the offices of the Seller,
commencing at 10:00 a.m., local time, on the last business day of the month in
which the satisfaction or waiver of all conditions to the obligations of the
Parties to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby has occurred (other
than conditions with respect to actions each Party shall take at the Closing
itself) or such other date as the Parties may mutually determine (the "Closing
Date").
(e) Deliveries at the Closing. At the Closing, (i) the Seller shall
deliver to the Buyer the various certificates, instruments, and documents
referred to in Sections 7(a) and 9(o); (ii) the Buyer shall deliver to the
Seller the various certificates, instruments, and documents referred to in
Section 7(b); (iii) the Seller shall cause EPFS Management and El Paso
Transmission to execute and deliver the Assigned Equity Interests Assignment;
(iv) the Seller shall cause El Paso Corporation to execute and deliver to the
Buyer the Parent Guaranty; (v) the Buyer shall execute and deliver to the
Seller, and the Seller shall cause El Paso Production to execute and deliver to
the Buyer, the Prince PSA; (vi) the Buyer shall, and the Seller shall cause El
Paso Production to, execute and deliver the Prince Side Letter; (vii) the Buyer
shall deliver to the Seller the estimated Purchase Price as set forth on the
Proposed Closing Statement; (viii) the Seller shall cause El Paso Texas, and the
Buyer shall cause one of its subsidiaries, to execute and deliver the Merger
Agreement; (ix) the Parties shall execute and cause the Certificate of Merger to
be filed with the Delaware Secretary of State; and (x) the Parties shall execute
and/or deliver, or cause to be executed and/or delivered, each other Transaction
Agreement (including the Exchange Agreement, if applicable).
(f) Proposed Closing Statement and Post-Closing Adjustment.
(i) On or prior to the Closing Date, the Seller shall cause to
be prepared and delivered to the Buyer a statement (the "Proposed
Closing Statement"), as prepared and determined in accordance with GAAP
to the extent applicable, setting forth the Seller's good faith
estimate, including reasonable detail, of the Purchase Price. As soon
as practicable, but in any event no later than 60 days following the
Closing Date, the Seller shall cause to be prepared and delivered to
the Buyer a statement, including reasonable detail, of the actual
Purchase Price (such statement, as it may be adjusted pursuant to
Section 2(f)(ii), the "Closing Statement").
(ii) Upon receipt of the Closing Statement, the Buyer and the
Buyer's independent accountants shall be permitted during the
succeeding 30-day period to examine the work papers used or generated
in connection with the preparation of the Closing Statement and such
other documents as the Buyer may reasonably request in connection with
its review of the Closing Statement. Within 30 days of
13
receipt of the Closing Statement, the Buyer shall deliver to the Seller
a written statement describing in reasonable detail its objections (if
any) to any amounts or items set forth on the Closing Statement. If the
Buyer does not raise objections within such period, then, the Closing
Statement shall become final and binding upon all Parties at the end of
such period. If the Buyer raises objections, the Parties shall
negotiate in good faith to resolve any such objections. If the Parties
are unable to resolve any disputed item within 60 days after the
Buyer's receipt of the Closing Statement, any such disputed item shall
be submitted to a nationally recognized independent accounting firm
mutually agreeable to the Parties who shall be instructed to resolve
such disputed item within 30 days. The resolution of disputes by the
accounting firm so selected shall be set forth in writing and shall be
conclusive, binding and non-appealable upon the Parties and the Closing
Statement shall become final and binding upon the date of such
resolution. The fees and expenses of such accounting firm shall be paid
one-half by the Buyer and one-half by the Seller.
(iii) If the Purchase Price as set forth on the Closing
Statement exceeds the estimated Purchase Price as set forth on the
Proposed Closing Statement, the Buyer shall pay the Seller the amount
of such excess. If the estimated Purchase Price as set forth on the
Proposed Closing Statement exceeds the Purchase Price as set forth on
the Closing Statement, the Seller shall pay to the Buyer (or its
designee) the amount of such excess. After giving effect to the
foregoing adjustments, any amount to be paid by the Buyer to the
Seller, or to be paid by the Seller to the Buyer, as the case may be,
shall be paid in the manner and with interest as provided in Section
2(f)(iv) at a mutually convenient time and place within five business
days after the later of acceptance of the Closing Statement or the
resolution of the Buyer's objections thereto pursuant to Section
2(f)(ii).
(iv) Any payments pursuant to this Section 2(f) shall be made
by causing such payments to be credited in immediately available funds
to such account or accounts of the Buyer or the Seller, as the case may
be, as may be designated by the Buyer or the Seller, as the case may
be. If payment is being made after the fifth business day referred to
in Section 2(f)(iii), the amount of the payment to be made pursuant to
this Section 2(f) shall bear interest from and including such fifth
business day to, but excluding, the date of payment at a rate per annum
equal to the Prime Rate plus two percent. Such interest shall be
payable at the same time as the payment to which it relates and shall
be calculated on the basis of a year of 365 days and the actual number
of days for which due.
(v) The Buyer shall cooperate in the preparation of the
Closing Statement, including providing customary certifications to the
Seller, and, if requested, to the Seller's independent accountants or
the accounting firm selected by mutual agreement of the Parties
pursuant to Section 2(f)(ii).
14
(vi) Except as set forth in Section 2(f)(ii), each Party shall
bear its own expenses incurred in connection with the preparation and
review of the Closing Statement.
3. Representations and Warranties Concerning the Transaction.
(a) Representations and Warranties of the Seller. The Seller hereby
represents and warrants to the Buyer as follows (provided, however, that any
representation or warranty given in this Section 3(a) with respect to the
Non-Operated Cotenancies shall be deemed to be made to the Seller's Knowledge):
(i) Organization and Good Standing. The Seller is an entity
duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the Laws
of the state of Delaware. The Seller is in good standing under the Laws
of the state of Texas and each other jurisdiction which requires such
qualification, except where the lack of such qualification would not
have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ii) Authorization of Transaction. Each Seller Party has full
power and authority (including full entity power and authority) to
execute and deliver each Transaction Agreement to which such Seller
Party is a party and to perform its obligations thereunder. Each
Transaction Agreement to which any Seller Party is a party constitutes
the valid and legally binding obligation of such Seller Party,
enforceable against such Seller Party in accordance with its terms and
conditions, subject, however, to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or similar Laws affecting creditors' rights
generally, and to general principles of equity (regardless of whether
such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
Except as set forth on Schedule 3(a)(ii), no Seller Party need give any
notice to, make any filing with, or obtain any authorization, consent,
or approval of any Governmental Authority or any other Person in order
to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any
other Transaction Agreement to which such Seller Party is a party,
except for the prior approval of the Federal Trade Commission ("FTC"),
if applicable.
(iii) Noncontravention. Except for prior approval of the FTC
(if applicable) and filings specified in Schedule 3(a)(ii) or as set
forth in Schedule 3(a)(iii), neither the execution and delivery of any
Transaction Agreement, nor the consummation of any of the transactions
contemplated thereby, shall (A) violate any statute, regulation, rule,
injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, charge, or other
restriction of any Governmental Authority to which any Seller Party is
subject or any provision of its Organizational Documents or (B)
conflict with, result in a breach of, constitute a default under,
result in the acceleration of, create in any Person the right to
accelerate, terminate, modify, or cancel, or require any notice under
any agreement, contract, lease, license, instrument, or other
arrangement to which any Seller Party is a party or by which it is
bound or to which any of its assets or any of the Relevant Assets are
subject, except for such violations, defaults, breaches, or other
occurrences that do not, individually or in
15
the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the ability of the
Seller or any other Seller Party to consummate the transactions
contemplated by such Transaction Agreement.
(iv) Brokers' Fees. No Seller Party has any liability or
obligation to pay any fees or commissions to any broker, finder, or
agent with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
for which the Buyer could become liable or obligated.
(b) Representations and Warranties of the Buyer. The Buyer hereby
represents and warrants to the Seller as follows:
(i) Organization of the Buyer. Each Buyer Party is a limited
liability company, limited partnership or corporation duly organized,
validly existing, and in good standing under the Laws of the state of
Delaware. Each Buyer Party is in good standing under the Laws of the
state of Texas and each other jurisdiction which requires such
qualification, except where the lack of such qualification would not
have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ii) Authorization of Transaction. Each Buyer Party has full
power and authority (including full entity power and authority) to
execute and deliver each Transaction Agreement to which it is a party
and to perform its obligations thereunder. Each Transaction Agreement
to which such Buyer Party is a party constitutes the valid and legally
binding obligation of such Buyer Party, enforceable against such Buyer
Party in accordance with its terms and conditions, subject, however, to
the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or
similar Laws affecting creditors' rights generally, and to general
principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law). Except as set forth on
Schedule 3(b)(ii), no Buyer Party needs to give any notice to, make any
filing with, or obtain any authorization, consent, or approval of any
Governmental Authority or any other Person in order to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Transaction
Agreement, except for the prior approval of the FTC, if applicable.
(iii) Noncontravention. Except for the prior approval of the
FTC (if applicable) and filings specified in Schedule 3(b)(ii) or as
set forth in Schedule 3(b)(iii), neither the execution and delivery of
any Transaction Agreement to which any Buyer Party is a party, nor the
consummation of any of the transactions contemplated thereby, shall (A)
violate any statute, regulation, rule, injunction, judgment, order,
decree, ruling, charge, or other restriction of any Governmental
Authority to which such Buyer Party is subject or any provision of its
Organizational Documents or (B) conflict with, result in a breach of,
constitute a default under, result in the acceleration of, create in
any Person the right to accelerate, terminate, modify, or cancel, or
require any notice, approval or consent under any agreement, contract,
lease, license, instrument, or other arrangement to
16
which any Buyer Party is a party or by which it is bound or to which
any of its assets is subject, except for such violations, defaults,
breaches, or other occurrences that do not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the ability of any Buyer
Party to consummate the transactions contemplated by such Transaction
Agreement.
(iv) Brokers' Fees. No Buyer Party has any liability or
obligation to pay any fees or commissions to any broker, finder, or
agent with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
for which the Seller could become liable or obligated.
(v) Investment. The Buyer is not acquiring the Acquired
Company Equity Interests or the Acquired Company Assets with a view to
or for sale in connection with any distribution thereof or any other
security related thereto within the meaning of the Securities Act. The
Buyer is familiar with investments of the nature of the Acquired
Company Equity Interests and the Acquired Company Assets, understands
that this investment involves substantial risks, has adequately
investigated the Acquired Company Equity Interests and the Acquired
Company Assets, and has substantial knowledge and experience in
financial and business matters such that it is capable of evaluating,
and has evaluated, the merits and risks inherent in purchasing the
Acquired Company Equity Interests and the Acquired Company Assets, and
is able to bear the economic risks of such investment. The Buyer has
had the opportunity to visit with the Seller and its applicable
Affiliates and meet with their representative officers and other
representatives to discuss the business, assets, liabilities, financial
condition, and operations of the Acquired Companies and the Acquired
Company Assets, has received all materials, documents and other
information that the Buyer deems necessary or advisable to evaluate the
Acquired Company Equity Interests and the Acquired Company Assets, and
has made its own independent examination, investigation, analysis and
evaluation of the Acquired Companies and the Acquired Company Assets,
including its own estimate of the value of the Acquired Company Equity
Interests and the Acquired Company Assets. The Buyer has undertaken
such due diligence (including a review of the assets, properties,
liabilities, books, records and contracts of the Acquired Companies and
the Acquired Company Assets) as the Buyer deems adequate.
(vi) Taxes. To the knowledge of each Buyer Party, the Buyer
has (i) duly filed all material Tax Returns required to be filed by or
with respect to the Buyer or its assets or operations with the Internal
Revenue Service or other applicable taxing authority, (ii) paid, or
adequately reserved against, all Taxes due or claimed due by a taxing
authority from or with respect to the Buyer or its assets or operations
and (iii) made all material deposits required with respect to Taxes. To
the knowledge of each Buyer Party, there has been no material issue
raised or material adjustment proposed (and none is pending) by the
Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing authority in connection
with any Tax Returns relating to the assets or operations of the Buyer,
and no waiver or extension of any statute
17
of limitations as to any federal, state, local or foreign tax matter
relating to the assets or operations of the Buyer has been given by or
requested from Buyer with respect to any Tax year.
4. Representations and Warranties Concerning the Acquired Company
Equity Interests, Acquired Companies and Relevant Assets. The Seller hereby
represents and warrants to the Buyer as follows (provided, however, that any
representation or warranty given in this Section 4 with respect to the
Non-Operated Cotenancies shall be deemed to be made to the Seller's Knowledge):
(a) Organization, Qualification, and Company Power. Each of the
Acquired Companies and the Seller Parties (x) is a limited liability company,
partnership (limited or general), joint venture or corporation duly organized,
validly existing, and (except with respect to Warwink Gathering and Treating and
MIAGS) in good standing under the Laws of the state of Delaware; (y) is (except
with respect to Warwink Gathering and Treating and MIAGS) in good standing under
the Laws of the state of Texas and each other jurisdiction which requires
qualification, except where the lack of such qualification would not have a
Material Adverse Effect; and (z) has full power and authority to carry on the
businesses in which it is engaged and to own and use the properties owned and
used by it.
(b) Noncontravention. Except for the need to obtain prior approval of
the FTC or as set forth in Schedule 4(b), neither the execution and delivery of
any Transaction Agreement to which any Seller Party is a party, nor the
consummation of any of the transactions contemplated thereby, shall (i) violate
any statute, regulation, rule, injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling,
charge, or other restriction of any Governmental Authority to which any Acquired
Company or any of the Acquired Company Assets is subject or any provision of the
Organizational Documents of any Seller Party or any Acquired Company or (ii)
conflict with, result in a breach of, constitute a default under, result in the
acceleration of, create in any party the right to accelerate, terminate, modify,
or cancel, require any notice or trigger any rights to payment or other
compensation, or result in the imposition of any Encumbrance on any of the
Acquired Company Equity Interests or the Acquired Company Assets under, any
agreement, contract, lease, license, instrument, or other arrangement to which
any Acquired Company or any of the Acquired Company Assets is subject, except
where the violation, conflict, breach, default, acceleration, termination,
modification, cancellation, failure to give notice, right to payment or other
compensation, or Encumbrance would not have a Material Adverse Effect, or would
not materially adversely affect the ability of any Seller Party to consummate
the transactions contemplated by such Transaction Agreement.
(c) Title to and Condition of Assets.
(i) The Acquired Companies have good, marketable and
indefeasible title to all of the Acquired Company Assets in each case
free and clear of all Encumbrances, except for (a) Permitted
Encumbrances and (b) Encumbrances disclosed in Schedule 4(c)(i). The
principal assets in which any Acquired Company owns less than 100%
(other than assets in which Warwink I and Warwink II each own 50% due
to their ownership of the Warwink Gathering
18
Interest) are described on Exhibit A. The principal assets constituting
the Acquired Company Assets are described on Exhibit B. The operations
of the Acquired Company Assets are the only operations reflected in the
Financial Statements.
(ii) To the Seller's Knowledge, except as disclosed in
Schedule 4(c)(ii), the Relevant Assets are in good operating condition
and repair (normal wear and tear excepted), are free from defects
(patent and latent), are suitable for the purposes for which they are
currently used and are not in need of maintenance or repairs except for
ordinary routine maintenance and repairs; provided, however, that a
defect in a pipeline constituting part of the Acquired Company Assets
or the Operated Cotenancies discovered after Closing through, and
remediated under, the Pipeline Integrity Program shall not be a breach
of this Section 4(c)(ii).
(iii) Capitalization of the Acquired Companies.
(A) The capitalization of the Acquired Companies is
as follows:
(1) The El Paso Texas Interest constitutes
all of the Equity Interests of El Paso Texas. The
Seller owns (beneficially and of record) 100% of the
El Paso Texas Interest.
(2) The El Paso Intrastate GP Interest and
the El Paso Intrastate LP Interest constitute all of
the Equity Interests of El Paso Intrastate. El Paso
Texas owns (beneficially and of record) 100% of the
El Paso Intrastate LP Interest. EPFS Management owns
(beneficially and of record) 100% of the El Paso
Intrastate GP Interest.
(3) The El Paso Offshore Interest
constitutes all of the Equity Interests of El Paso
Offshore. El Paso Texas owns (beneficially and of
record) the El Paso Offshore Interest.
(4) The EPGT GP Interest and the EPGT LP
Interest constitute all of the Equity Interests of
EPGT. El Paso Texas owns (beneficially and of record)
the EPGT 2%LP Interest, and El Paso Transmission owns
(beneficially and of record) the EPGT 97%LP Interest,
which collectively constitute the entire EPGT LP
interest. EPFS Management owns (beneficially and of
record) 100% of the EPGT GP Interest.
(5) The Warwink Interests constitute all of
the Equity Interests of Warwink I and Warwink II. El
Paso Texas owns (beneficially and of record) 100% of
the Warwink Interests. Warwink I owns (beneficially
and of record) a 1% joint venture
19
interest in Warwink Gathering and Treating and
Warwink II owns (beneficially and of record) a 99%
joint venture interest in Warwink Gathering and
Treating, which collectively are all of the Equity
Interests in Warwink Gathering and Treating.
(6) The El Paso Hub Services Interest
constitutes all of the Equity Interests of El Paso
Hub Services. El Paso Transmission owns (beneficially
and of record) 100% of the El Paso Hub Services
Interest.
(7) EPGT owns the MIAGS Interest, which
constitutes 83% of the Equity Interests in MIAGS.
(B) The Seller beneficially owns directly or
indirectly 100% of the Seller Parties other than El Paso
Corporation and El Paso Production. The Seller beneficially
owns directly or indirectly 100% of the Acquired Company
Equity Interests, which includes 100% of the Equity Interests
in the Acquired Companies other than MIAGS. All of the
Acquired Company Equity Interests are uncertificated. The
Acquired Company Equity Interests constitute 100% of the
issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Acquired
Companies other than MIAGS and have been duly authorized, and
are validly issued and fully paid and (except (i) with respect
to general partnership and joint venture interests and (ii) as
set forth in Sections 17-303(a) and 17-607 of the Delaware LP
Act with respect to limited partnership interests)
non-assessable. Except to the extent created under the
Securities Act, state securities Laws, limited liability
company Laws, limited partnership Laws, partnership and joint
venture Laws and general corporation Laws of the Acquired
Companies' jurisdiction of formation, and as created by the
Acquired Companies' Organizational Documents, (x) the Acquired
Company Equity Interests are held as set forth above, free and
clear of any Encumbrances and (y) there are no Commitments
with respect to any Equity Interest of any Acquired Company.
No Seller Party is party to any voting trusts, proxies, or
other agreements or understandings with respect to voting any
Equity Interest of any Acquired Company other than the
Organizational Documents of MIAGS.
(C) After the consummation of the transactions
contemplated in this Agreement, the Buyer shall own, directly
or indirectly, 100% of the Acquired Company Equity Interests,
which includes 100% of the Equity Interests in the Acquired
Companies and 100% of the Acquired Company Assets (other than
the MIAGS Assets, in which the Buyer will acquire beneficial
ownership of 83%).
(iv) Acquired Company Ownership. No Acquired Company owns an
Equity Interest in any Person, except as set forth in Section
4(c)(iii). There are no
20
Commitments with respect to an Equity Interest in any Acquired Company.
The Acquired Companies own no other assets other than the Acquired
Company Assets, and have no operations or Obligations other than those
directly related to the Acquired Company Assets or explicitly set forth
on Schedule 4(k)(ii).
(v) Encumbrances for Borrowed Money. Except as set forth on
Schedule 4(c)(v), there are no borrowings, loan agreements, promissory
notes, pledges, mortgages, guaranties, liens and similar liabilities
(direct and indirect), or Encumbrances which are secured by or
constitute an Encumbrance on the Relevant Assets.
(vi) Ownership and Operation of the Cotenancy Assets.
(A) The Acquired Companies' ownership interests in
the Cotenancy Assets are set forth on Schedule 4(c)(vi).
(B) The Seller or one of its Affiliates is the
operator with respect to all of the Cotenancy Assets indicated
on Schedule 4(c)(vi). The transactions contemplated by this
Agreement shall result in the Buyer (or its designee) becoming
the operator of all of the Cotenancy Assets, other than the
Non-Operated Cotenancies, as of the Closing Date.
(C) Except to the extent created under the Securities
Act, state securities Laws, limited liability company Laws and
general corporation Laws of the Acquired Companies'
jurisdiction of formation, and as created by the Acquired
Companies' Organizational Documents, (x) the Cotenancy
Interests are held as set forth above, free and clear of any
Encumbrances and (y) there are no Commitments with respect to
any Cotenancy Interests. No Seller Party is party to any
voting trusts, proxies, or other agreements or understandings
with respect to voting any Cotenancy Interest
(d) Material Change. Except for the Reorganization Transactions
and as set forth in Schedule 4(d), since December 31, 2001:
(i) there has not been any Material Adverse Effect;
(ii) the Relevant Assets have been operated and maintained in
the Ordinary Course of Business;
(iii) to the Seller's Knowledge, there has not been any
material damage, destruction or loss to any material portion of the
Relevant Assets, whether or not covered by insurance;
(iv) there has been no purchase, sale or lease of any material
asset included in the Relevant Assets;
21
(v) there has been no actual, pending, or to the Seller's
Knowledge, threatened change affecting any of the Relevant Assets with
any customers, licensors, suppliers, distributors or sales
representatives of any Seller Party, except for changes that do not
have a Material Adverse Effect;
(vi) there has been no (x) amendment or modification in any
material respect to any Acquired Company Contract or any other contract
or agreement material to the Relevant Assets, or (y) termination of any
Acquired Company Contract or any other contract or agreement material
to the Relevant Assets before the expiration of the term thereof other
than to the extent any such material contract or agreement terminated
pursuant to its terms in the Ordinary Course of Business; and
(vii) there is no contract, commitment or agreement to do any
of the foregoing, except as expressly permitted hereby.
(e) Legal Compliance. Each Seller Party, with respect to the Relevant
Assets and the Acquired Companies, has complied with all applicable Laws of all
Governmental Authorities, except where the failure to comply would not have a
Material Adverse Effect. The Seller makes no representations or warranties in
this Section 4(e) with respect to Taxes or Environmental Laws, for which the
sole representations and warranties of the Seller are set forth in Sections 4(f)
and 4(i), respectively.
(f) Tax Matters. Except as set forth in Schedule 4(f) or as would not
have a Material Adverse Effect, the Seller, its Affiliates and the Acquired
Companies have filed all Tax Returns with respect to the Relevant Assets that
they were required to file and such Tax Returns are accurate in all material
respects. All Taxes shown as due by any Acquired Company or with respect to the
Relevant Assets on any such Tax Returns have been paid.
(g) Contracts and Commitments. Schedule 4(g)(i) contains a list of all
the material contracts, agreements, licenses, permits and other documents and
instruments to which any Acquired Company is a party or otherwise constituting
part of the Acquired Company Assets (the "Acquired Company Contracts"), and each
such Acquired Company Contract is in full force and effect, except where the
failure to be in full force and effect would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
Schedule 4(g)(ii) contains a list of all rights-of-way constituting part of the
Acquired Company Assets (the "Rights of Way"). The Acquired Company Contracts,
together with the Rights of Way, constitute all of the contracts, agreements,
rights of way, licenses, permits, and other documents and instruments necessary
for the operation and business of the Relevant Assets consistent with applicable
Laws and prior operation. The Seller Parties have performed all material
obligations required to be performed by them to date under the Acquired Company
Contracts and the Rights of Way, and are not in default under any material
obligation of any such contract or right-of-way, except when such default would
not have a Material Adverse Effect. To the Seller's Knowledge, no other party to
any Acquired Company Contract is in default thereunder.
(h) Litigation.
22
(i) Schedule 4(h) sets forth each instance in which any
Acquired Company or any of the Relevant Assets (A) is subject to any
outstanding injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, or charge or
(B) is the subject of any action, suit, proceeding, hearing, or
investigation of, in, or before any court or quasi-judicial or
administrative agency of any federal, state, local, or foreign
jurisdiction, or is the subject of any pending or, to the Seller's
Knowledge, threatened claim, demand, or notice of violation or
liability from any Person, except where any of the foregoing would not
have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ii) No Seller Party has Knowledge of any Basis for any
present or future injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, or
charge or action, suit, proceeding, hearing, or investigation of, in,
or before any court or quasi-judicial or administrative agency of any
federal, state, local, or foreign jurisdiction, against any of them
giving rise to any Obligation to which any Acquired Company would be
subject.
(i) Environmental Matters. Except as set forth in Schedule 4(i):
(i) The Seller, with respect to the Relevant Assets, has been
in compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws,
rules, regulations, and orders regulating or otherwise pertaining to
(a) the use, generation, migration, storage, removal, treatment,
remedy, discharge, release, transportation, disposal, or cleanup of
pollutants, contamination, hazardous wastes, hazardous substances,
hazardous materials, toxic substances or toxic pollutants, (b) surface
waters, ground waters, ambient air and any other environmental medium
on or off any Lease or (c) the environment or health and safety-related
matters; including the following as from time to time amended and all
others whether similar or dissimilar: the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended by the
Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 ("CERCLA"), the
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended by the Used
Oil Recycling Act of 1980, the Solid Waste Disposal Act Amendments of
1980, and the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984, the
Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, as amended, the Toxic Substance
Control Act, as amended, the Clean Air Act, as amended, the Clean Water
Act, as amended, and all regulations promulgated pursuant thereto
(collectively, the "Environmental Laws" and individually an
"Environmental Law"), except for such instances of noncompliance that
individually or in the aggregate do not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ii) The Seller has obtained all permits, licenses,
franchises, authorities, consents, registrations, orders, certificates,
waivers, exceptions, variances and approvals, and have made all
filings, paid all fees, and maintained all material information,
documentation, and records, as necessary under applicable Environmental
Laws for operating the Relevant Assets and the Disposed Assets as they
are presently operated, and all such permits, licenses, franchises,
authorities, consents, approvals, and filings remain in full force and
23
effect, except for such matters that individually or in the aggregate
do not have a Material Adverse Effect. Schedule 4(i)(ii) sets forth a
complete list of all permits, licenses, franchises, authorities,
consents, and approvals, as necessary under applicable Environmental
Laws for operating the Relevant Assets and the Acquired Companies'
businesses as they are presently operated (except with respect to the
Disposed Assets), each of which is held in the name of the appropriate
Seller Party as indicated on such schedule.
(iii) Except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, (x)
there are no pending or threatened claims, demands, actions,
administrative proceedings or lawsuits against the Seller with respect
to the Relevant Assets and the Seller has not received notice of any of
the foregoing and (y) no Acquired Company, and none of the Relevant
Assets, is subject to any outstanding injunction, judgment, order,
decree or ruling under any Environmental Laws.
(iv) The Seller has not received any written notice that the
Seller, with respect to the Relevant Assets, is or may be a potentially
responsible party under CERCLA or any analogous state law in connection
with any site actually or allegedly containing or used for the
treatment, storage or disposal of Hazardous Substances.
(v) All Hazardous Substances or solid wastes generated,
transported, handled, stored, treated or disposed by, in connection
with or as a result of the operation or possession of the Seller or the
conduct of the Seller, have been transported only by carriers
maintaining valid authorizations under applicable Environmental Laws
and treated, stored, disposed of or otherwise handled only at
facilities maintaining valid authorizations under applicable
Environmental Laws and such carriers and facilities have been and are
operating in compliance with such authorizations and are not the
subject of any existing, pending or threatened action, investigation or
inquiry by any Governmental Authority or other Person in connection
with any of the Environmental Laws.
The Seller makes no representation or warranty regarding any compliance or
failure to comply with, or any actual or contingent liability under, any
Environmental Law, except as expressly set forth in this Section 4(i). For
purposes of this Section 4(i), each reference to the Seller or Seller Parties
shall be deemed to include the Seller Parties and their Affiliates.
(j) Preferential Purchase Rights. Except as set forth on Schedule 4(j),
there are no preferential purchase rights, options or other rights held by any
Person not a party to this Agreement to purchase or acquire any or all of the
Equity Interest in any Acquired Company, or any of the Relevant Assets (other
than the Disposed Assets), in whole or in part, that would be triggered or
otherwise affected as a result of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement ("Preferential Rights").
24
(k) Financial Statements.
(i) Schedule 4(k) sets forth (A) an unaudited combined and
consolidated balance sheet covering the ownership of the Financial
Statement Entities and the Financial Statement Assets as of December
31, 2001 and (B) unaudited combined and consolidated income statements
covering the ownership and operations of the Financial Statement
Entities and the Financial Statement Assets for the twelve month
periods ended December 31, 2000 and December 31, 2001, including, for
both (A) and (B), as pro forma adjustments the disposition of the
Disposed Assets on December 31, 1999 (collectively, the "Financial
Statements").
(ii) (A) The Financial Statements were prepared in accordance
with GAAP (except as expressly set forth therein, except for the
absence of footnotes (other than to the extent footnotes are included
in Schedule 4(k)), and fairly present, in all material respects, the
financial position and income associated with the ownership and
operation of the Financial Statement Entities and Financial Statement
Assets as of the dates and for the periods indicated; (B) the Financial
Statements do not omit to state any liability required to be stated
therein in accordance with GAAP (except as expressly set forth therein,
except for the absence of footnotes (other than to the extent footnotes
are included in Schedule 4(k)), and except for normal year-end
adjustments); and (C) except as set forth on Schedule 4(k)(ii), none of
the Financial Statement Entities has any Obligations other than those
reflected in the Financial Statements.
(l) Employee Matters. No Acquired Company has any employees.
(m) Prohibited Events. Except for the Reorganization Transactions and
settlement of litigation proceedings, none of the matters described in Section
5(c) have occurred since June 30, 2001.
(n) Regulatory Matters. No Seller Party or Acquired Company is (i) a
"holding company," a "subsidiary company" of a "holding company," an "affiliate"
of a "holding company," or a "public utility," as each such term is defined in
the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended, or (ii) an
"investment company" or a company "controlled" by an "investment company,"
within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Except as set forth on Schedule
4(n), none of the Relevant Assets are subject to regulation by the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission or rate regulation or comprehensive
nondiscriminatory access regulation under any federal laws or the laws of any
state or other local jurisdiction.
(o) Intercompany Transactions. Each outstanding receivable, payable and
other intercompany transaction and arrangement between the Seller or any of its
Affiliates, on the one hand, and any Acquired Company, on the other hand,
(including hydrocarbon imbalances existing on the date of this Agreement)
existing on the Closing Date is listed on Schedule 4(o).
25
(p) Disclaimer of Representations and Warranties Concerning Personal
Property, Equipment, and Fixtures. The Buyer acknowledges that (i) it has had
and pursuant to this Agreement shall have before Closing access to the Acquired
Companies and the Relevant Assets and the officers and employees of the Seller
and (ii) in making the decision to enter into this Agreement and consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby, the Buyer has relied solely on the basis of
its own independent investigation and upon the express representations,
warranties, covenants, and agreements set forth in this Agreement and the other
Transaction Agreements. Accordingly, the Buyer acknowledges that, except as
expressly set forth in this Agreement, the Seller has not made, and THE SELLER
MAKES NO AND DISCLAIMS ANY, REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, AND WHETHER BY COMMON LAW, STATUTE, OR OTHERWISE, REGARDING (i) THE
QUALITY, CONDITION, OR OPERABILITY OF ANY PERSONAL PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT, OR
FIXTURES, (ii) THEIR MERCHANTABILITY, (iii) THEIR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR
PURPOSE, (iv) THEIR CONFORMITY TO MODELS, SAMPLES OF MATERIALS OR MANUFACTURER
DESIGN, OR (v) AS TO WHETHER ANY RELEVANT ASSETS ARE YEAR 2000 COMPLIANT, AND
ALL PERSONAL PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT IS DELIVERED "AS IS, WHERE IS" IN THE
CONDITION IN WHICH THE SAME EXISTS.
5. Pre-Closing Covenants. The Parties agree as follows with respect to
the period between the date of this Agreement and the Closing:
(a) General. The Buyer shall use its Best Efforts to take all action
and to do all things necessary, proper, or advisable in order to consummate and
make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the
Seller's conditions to closing in Section 7(b). The Seller shall use its Best
Efforts to take all action and to do all things necessary, proper, or advisable
in order to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, including the Buyer's conditions to closing in Section 7(a).
(b) Notices and Consents. Each of the Parties shall give any notices
to, make any filings with, and use its Best Efforts to obtain any
authorizations, consents, and approvals of Governmental Authorities and third
parties it is required to obtain in connection with the matters referred to in
Sections 3(a)(ii), 3(a)(iii), 3(b)(ii), and 3(b)(iii) including the
corresponding Schedules, so as to permit the Closing to occur not later than
9:00 a.m. (Houston time) on April 1, 2002. Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, the Parties agree to work in good faith with the FTC in order to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby as soon as reasonably
practicable, but in no event later than 9:00 a.m. (Houston time) on April 1,
2002; provided, that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein,
this sentence shall not obligate the Buyer to divest or hold separate any assets
or enter into any agreement not contemplated by this Agreement or modify this
Agreement.
(c) Operation of Business. The Seller shall not, without the consent of
the Buyer (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), except
as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or as contemplated by Schedule 5(c),
cause or (to the extent any Seller Party or its Affiliate has the Legal Right)
permit any Acquired Company or Cotenancy Asset to engage in any practice, take
any action, or enter into any transaction outside the Ordinary
26
Course of Business or, with respect to the Relevant Assets, engage in any
practice, take any action, or enter into any transaction outside the Ordinary
Course of Business. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, without
the consent of the Buyer (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed), except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or Schedule 5(c),
the Seller shall not, and shall not cause or (to the extent any Seller Party has
the Legal Right) permit any Acquired Company or Cotenancy Asset to, do any of
the following:
(i) issue, sell, pledge, dispose of, grant, encumber, or
authorize the issuance, sale, pledge, disposition, or grant of any
Equity Interest of any Acquired Company or any Commitments with respect
to any Equity Interest of any Acquired Company;
(ii) cause or allow any part of the Acquired Company Equity
Interests or the Relevant Assets to become subject to an Encumbrance,
except for Permitted Encumbrances and other Encumbrances identified in
Section 4(c);
(iii) amend in any material respect any Acquired Company
Contract material to the Relevant Assets or any Acquired Company or
Cotenancy Asset (including any Acquired Company's or Cotenancy Asset's
Organizational Documents) or terminate any such material contract or
agreement before the expiration of the term thereof other than to the
extent any such material contract or agreement expires in accordance
with its terms in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(iv) except as required by Law, make, change or revoke any Tax
election relevant to any Acquired Company or Relevant Asset;
(v) (A) acquire (including by merger, consolidation or
acquisition of Equity Interest or assets) any corporation, partnership,
limited liability company or other business organization or any
division thereof or any material amount of assets; (B) incur any
Indebtedness for borrowed money or issue any debt securities or assume,
guarantee, endorse, or otherwise as an accommodation become responsible
for, the obligations of any Person, or make any loans or advances
except for intercompany borrowing among the Acquired Companies in the
Ordinary Course of Business; (C) except for the Disposed Assets, sell,
lease or otherwise dispose of any property or assets, other than sales
of goods or services in the Ordinary Course of Business; or (D) enter
into or amend a contract, agreement, commitment, or arrangement with
respect to any matter set forth in this Section 5(c)(v) or (except for
contracts with aggregate Obligations of the applicable Acquired Company
not in excess of $10,000) otherwise not in the Ordinary Course of
Business; provided that notwithstanding any provision of this
Agreement, if the Buyer expressly consents in writing (x) each Acquired
Company shall be entitled to dividend and/or distribute to its Equity
Interest holders, at any time, and from time to time, such cash
generated by such company's business to which such Equity Interest
holder would otherwise be entitled (other than cash arising from
borrowings by such company or sales of
27
assets by such company outside of the Ordinary Course of Business) so
long as such dividends and/or distributions are reflected as a Purchase
Price Decrease, where appropriate, and (y) each Acquired Company may
make or incur capital expenditures in accordance with the terms of its
Organizational Documents and the capital expenditures budget set forth
on Schedule 5(c)(v); and provided further that, to the extent Channel
or El Paso Intrastate receives any insurance proceeds from the Channel
Rupture, El Paso Intrastate may distribute its share of such proceeds
to the owners of the El Paso Intrastate LP Interest and the El Paso
Intrastate GP Interest in accordance with its Organizational Documents;
(vi) change any Acquired Company's accounting practices in any
material respect with the exception of any changes in accounting
methodologies that have already been agreed upon by its Equity Interest
holders, consistent with its Organizational Documents; or
(vii) initiate or settle any litigation, complaint, rate
filing or administrative proceeding.
(d) Intercompany Transactions. All outstanding receivables, payables
and other intercompany transactions and arrangements between the Seller or any
of its Affiliates, on the one hand, and any Acquired Company, on the other hand,
shall remain in full force and effect through and after the Closing.
(e) Full Access. To the extent it has the Legal Right, the Seller shall
permit, and shall cause its Affiliates to permit, representatives of the Buyer
to have full access at all reasonable times, and in a manner so as not to
interfere with the normal business operations of the Seller and its Affiliates,
to all premises, properties, personnel, books, records (including Tax records),
contracts, and documents of or pertaining to any Acquired Company or any of the
Relevant Assets.
(f) Liens and Encumbrances. Prior to the Closing, the Seller shall
obtain releases of all liens and other Encumbrances disclosed in Schedule
4(c)(i), without any post-Closing liability or expense to any Acquired Company
or Acquired Company Asset or any Buyer Party, and shall provide proof of such
releases to the Buyer at the Closing.
(g) Prince Pre-Closing Matters. The Buyer shall ensure that, until the
closing of the transactions contemplated by the Prince PSA, El Paso Production
and its Affiliates shall have the access and other rights to the books, records
and assets of Argo provided in Section 5 of the Prince PSA.
6. Post-Closing Covenants. The Parties agree as follows:
(a) General. In case at any time after the Closing any further action
is necessary to carry out the purposes of this Agreement, each of the Parties
shall take such further action (including the execution and delivery of such
further instruments and documents) as the
28
other Party reasonably may request, all at the sole cost and expense of the
requesting Party (unless the requesting Party is entitled to indemnification
therefor under Section 8).
(b) Litigation Support. In the event and for so long as any Party
actively is contesting or defending against any action, suit, proceeding,
hearing, investigation, charge, complaint, claim, or demand in connection with
(i) any transaction contemplated under this Agreement or (ii) any fact,
situation, circumstance, status, condition, activity, practice, plan,
occurrence, event, incident, action, failure to act, or transaction on or before
the Closing Date involving any Acquired Company or the Relevant Assets, the
other Party shall cooperate with the contesting or defending Party and its
counsel in the defense or contest, make available its personnel, and provide
such testimony and access to its books and records (other than books and records
which are subject to privilege or to confidentiality restrictions) as shall be
necessary in connection with the defense or contest, all at the sole cost and
expense of the contesting or defending Party (unless the contesting or defending
Party is entitled to indemnification therefor under Section 8).
(c) Surety Bonds; Guarantees. The Buyer agrees to be substituted as the
surety or guarantor of any surety bonds or guarantees issued by the Seller or
any of its Affiliates in connection with the Acquired Companies or the Relevant
Assets, including the surety bonds and guarantees listed on Schedule 6(c). The
Buyer and the Seller shall cooperate to effect all such substitutions and the
Buyer shall indemnify and hold the Seller harmless from and against any Adverse
Consequences arising from the failure of the Buyer to be so substituted. The
Buyer shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain a release of the
Seller from any surety or guaranty obligations with respect to the Acquired
Companies or the Relevant Assets.
(d) Delivery and Retention of Records. On or promptly after the Closing
Date, the Seller shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Buyer, copies of
Tax Records which are relevant to Post-Closing Tax Periods and all other files,
books, records, information and data relating to the Acquired Companies or the
Relevant Assets (other than Tax Records) that are in the possession or control
of the Seller (the "Records"). The Buyer agrees to (i) hold the Records and not
to destroy or dispose of any thereof for a period of ten years from the Closing
Date or such longer time as may be required by Law, provided that, if it desires
to destroy or dispose of such Records during such period, it shall first offer
in writing at least 60 days before such destruction or disposition to surrender
them to the Seller and if the Seller does not accept such offer within 20 days
after receipt of such offer, the Buyer may take such action and (ii) following
the Closing Date to afford the Seller, its accountants, and counsel, during
normal business hours, upon reasonable request, at any time, full access to the
Records and to the Buyer's employees to the extent that such access may be
requested for any legitimate purpose at no cost to the Seller (other than for
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses); provided that such access shall not be
construed to require the disclosure of Records that would cause the waiver of
any attorney-client, work product, or like privilege; provided, further that in
the event of any litigation nothing herein shall limit any Party's rights of
discovery under applicable Law.
(e) Pipeline Integrity Program. Through December 31, 2006, the Seller
shall cause its applicable Affiliates to continue to diligently and in good
faith implement and complete as soon as reasonably practicable the Pipeline
Integrity Program to the extent relating to any
29
pipelines constituting part of the Acquired Company Assets (other than the
leased Old Ocean Pipeline) and the Operated Cotenancies in accordance with such
program, all applicable Laws, El Paso Corporation's policies and procedures and
prudent industry practices.
(f) Channel Insurance Proceeds. To the extent Channel or El Paso
Intrastate receives any insurance proceeds from the Channel Rupture, the Buyer
shall cause El Paso Intrastate to pay to El Paso Field Services, L.P., an
Affiliate of the Seller, El Paso Intrastate's share of such insurance proceeds.
(g) Operatorship of Operated Cotenancies. The Seller Parties shall take
any further action that may be required for the Buyer (or its designee) to
become the operator of the Operated Cotenancies.
(h) Assignment of Rights. The Seller will assign and will cause its
Affiliates to assign, upon the Buyer's request, any and all rights (including
claims) of the Seller or its Affiliates relating to any of the Acquired Company
Assets or the Cotenancy Assets under any agreement (including that certain Stock
Purchase Agreement dated as of January 27, 2000 between PG&E National Energy
Group, Inc. and El Paso Field Services Company) pursuant to which the Seller or
any of its Affiliates purchased or otherwise acquired any of the Acquired
Company Assets or the Cotenancy Assets.
7. Conditions to Obligation to Close.
(a) Conditions to Obligation of the Buyer. The obligation of the Buyer
to consummate the transactions to be performed by it in connection with the
Closing is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions:
(i) the representations and warranties of the Seller contained
in Sections 3(a) and 4 must be true and correct in all material
respects (without giving effect to any supplement to the Schedules, any
qualification as to materiality, Material Adverse Effect, Knowledge,
awareness or concepts of similar import, or any qualification or
limitation as to monetary amount or value, except with respect to (A)
the Non-Operated Cotenancies, (B) the representations and warranties in
Section 4(c)(ii) and (C) the representations and warranties in Section
4(d)(iii) with respect to latent defects, for which in each such case
qualifications as to Knowledge shall be given effect) as of the date of
this Agreement and at Closing (except for those which refer to a
specific date, which must be true and correct as of such date);
(ii) the Seller must have performed and complied in all
material respects with its covenants hereunder through the Closing
(without giving effect to any supplement to the Schedules, any
qualification as to materiality, Material Adverse Effect, Knowledge,
awareness or concepts of similar import, or any qualification or
limitation as to monetary amount or value);
30
(iii) there must not be any injunction, judgment, order,
decree, ruling, or charge in effect preventing consummation of any of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any suit or action
pending by a Governmental Authority to enjoin the consummation of any
of the transactions, contemplated by this Agreement;
(iv) the Seller must have obtained all material Governmental
Authority and third party consents, including any material consents
specified in Sections 3(a)(ii), 3(a)(iii), and 4(b) and including the
corresponding Schedules;
(v) the Seller must have delivered to the Buyer a certificate
to the effect that each of the conditions specified in Sections
7(a)(i)-(iv) is satisfied in all respects;
(vi) the FTC must have approved the transactions contemplated
hereunder;
(vii) the Closing Date shall be no earlier than March 28,
2002;
(viii) The Buyer shall have received financing for the
transactions contemplated herein satisfactory to the Buyer;
(ix) the Board of Directors of the General Partner shall have
received a fairness opinion acceptable to such Board (in its sole
discretion) from UBS Warburg LLC or any other financial advisor
acceptable to such Board (in its sole discretion) with respect to the
transactions contemplated herein;
(x) the transactions contemplated herein shall have been
approved by at least a majority of the members of each of (1) of the
Board of Directors of the General Partner, (2) the independent members
of the Board of Directors of the General Partner and (3) the Special
Committee of the Board of Directors of the General Partner responsible
for reviewing such transactions;
(xi) EPFS Holding and the Buyer must have executed and
delivered the Contribution Agreement and the closing of the
transactions contemplated therein must have occurred; and
(xii) The Buyer and El Paso Production must have executed and
delivered the Prince PSA and the closing of the transactions
contemplated therein must have occurred.
The Buyer may waive any condition specified in this Section 7(a) if it
executes a writing so stating at or before the Closing.
(b) Conditions to Obligation of the Seller. The obligation of the
Seller to consummate the transactions to be performed by it in connection with
the Closing is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions:
31
(i) the representations and warranties of the Buyer contained
in Section 3(b) must be true and correct in all material respects
(without giving effect to any supplement to the Schedules, any
qualification as to materiality, Material Adverse Effect, Knowledge,
awareness or concepts of similar import, or any qualification or
limitation as to monetary amount or value) as of the date of this
Agreement and at Closing (except for those which refer to a specific
date, which must be true and correct as of such date);
(ii) the Buyer must have performed and complied in all
material respects with each of its covenants hereunder through the
Closing (without giving effect to any supplement to the Schedules, any
qualification as to materiality, Material Adverse Effect, Knowledge,
awareness or concepts of similar import, or any qualification or
limitation as to monetary amount or value);
(iii) there must not be any injunction, judgment, order,
decree, ruling, or charge in effect preventing consummation of any of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any suit or action
pending by a Governmental Authority to enjoin the consummation of any
of the transactions, contemplated by this Agreement;
(iv) the Seller must have obtained all material Governmental
Authority and third party consents, including material consents
specified in Sections 3(a)(ii), 3(a)(iii), and 4(b) and including the
corresponding Schedules;
(v) the Buyer must have delivered to the Seller a certificate
to the effect that each of the conditions specified in Sections
7(b)(i)-(iv) is satisfied in all respects;
(vi) the FTC must have approved the transactions contemplated
hereunder;
(vii) EPFS Holding and the Buyer must have executed and
delivered the Contribution Agreement and the closing of the
transactions contemplated therein must have occurred; and
(viii) The Buyer and El Paso Production must have executed and
delivered the Prince PSA and the closing of the transactions
contemplated therein must have occurred.
The Seller may waive any condition specified in this Section 7(b) if it
executes a writing so stating at or before the Closing.
8. Remedies for Breaches of this Agreement.
(a) Survival of Representations and Warranties. (i) All of the
representations and warranties of the Seller contained in Sections 3(a) and 4
(other than Sections 4(c)(iii), 4(f) and 4(h)(ii)) shall survive the Closing
hereunder for a period of three years after the Closing
32
Date; (ii) the representations and warranties of the Seller contained in Section
4(c)(iii) shall survive the Closing forever; (iii) the representations and
warranties of the Seller contained in Section 4(f) shall survive the Closing
with respect to any given claim that would constitute a breach of such
representation or warranty until 90 days after the expiration of the statute of
limitations applicable to the underlying Tax matter giving rise to that claim,
and (iv) the representations and warranties of the Seller contained in Section
4(h)(ii) shall survive the Closing for a period of one year after the Closing
Date. The representations and warranties of the Buyer contained in Section 3(b)
shall survive the Closing for a period of three years after the Closing Date.
The covenants and obligations contained in Sections 2 and 6 and all other
covenants and obligations contained in this Agreement (other than Section
8(b)(iv)) shall survive the Closing forever. The covenants and obligations
contained in Section 8(b)(iv) shall survive the Closing for a period of three
years after the Closing Date.
(b) Indemnification Provisions for Benefit of the Buyer.
(i) In the event: (x) the Seller breaches any of its
representations or warranties (without giving effect to any supplement
to the Schedules, any qualification as to materiality, Material Adverse
Effect, Knowledge, awareness or concepts of similar import, or any
qualification or limitation as to monetary amount or value, except with
respect to (A) the Non-Operated Cotenancies, (B) the representations
and warranties in Section 4(c)(ii) and (C) the representations and
warranties in Section 4(d)(iii) with respect to latent defects, for
which in each such case qualifications as to Knowledge shall be given
effect) contained herein (other than a representation or warranty
contained in Section 4(c)(iii) or 4(f)); (y) there is an applicable
survival period pursuant to Section 8(a); and (z) the Buyer makes a
written claim for indemnification against the Seller pursuant to
Section 11(g) within such survival period, then the Seller agrees to
release and indemnify the Buyer Indemnitees from and against any
Adverse Consequences by reason of all Adverse Events suffered by the
Buyer Indemnitees; provided, that the Seller shall not have any
obligation to indemnify the Buyer Indemnitees from and against any such
Adverse Consequences by reason of all Adverse Events (A) until the
Buyer Indemnitees, in the aggregate, have suffered Adverse Consequences
by reason of all Adverse Events in excess of an aggregate deductible
amount equal to 1% of the Combined Value (after which point the Seller
shall be obligated only to indemnify the Buyer Indemnitees from and
against further such Adverse Consequences) or thereafter (B) to the
extent the Adverse Consequences the Buyer Indemnitees, in the
aggregate, have suffered by reason of all Adverse Events exceeds an
aggregate ceiling amount equal to 50% of the Combined Value (after
which point the Seller shall have no obligation to indemnify the Buyer
Indemnitees from and against further such Adverse Consequences);
provided, however, that the deductible amount with respect to breaches
of Section 4(c)(i) shall be $750,000.
(ii) In the event: (x) the Seller breaches any of its
covenants or obligations in Sections 2 or 6 or any
other covenants or obligations in this Agreement or any representation
or warranty contained in Section 4(c)(iii) or 4(f)
33
(in each case above without giving effect to any supplement to the
Schedules, any qualification as to materiality, Material Adverse
Effect, Knowledge, awareness or concepts of similar import, or any
qualification or limitation as to monetary amount or value); (y) there
is an applicable survival period pursuant to Section 8(a); and (z) the
Buyer makes a written claim for indemnification against the Seller
pursuant to Section 11(g) within such survival period, then the Seller
agrees to release and indemnify the Buyer Indemnitees from and against
the entirety of any Adverse Consequences suffered by the Buyer
Indemnitees.
(iii) The Seller shall release, indemnify and hold harmless
the Buyer Indemnitees against any and all Adverse Consequences
resulting by reason of (a) joint and several liability with the Seller
arising by reason of having been required to be aggregated with the
Seller under Section 414(o) of the Code, or having been under "common
control" with the Seller, within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(14) of
ERISA.
(iv) In the event: (x) there is an applicable survival period
pursuant to Section 8(a) and (y) the Buyer makes a written claim for
indemnification against the Seller pursuant to Section 11(g) within
such survival period, except to the extent the Buyer is obligated to
release and indemnify the Seller under Section 8(c)(ii)(1), then the
Seller agrees to release and indemnify the Buyer Indemnitees from and
against the entirety of any Adverse Consequences suffered by the Buyer
Indemnitees with respect to, any environmental condition, claim or loss
with respect to any Acquired Company or any of the Relevant Assets
arising as a result of events occurring on or prior to the Purchase
Price Adjustment Date, including the matters disclosed in Schedule
4(i).
(v) [Intentionally omitted.]
(vi) With respect to each calendar year through December 31,
2006, the Seller shall release, indemnify and hold harmless the Buyer
Indemnitees against any and all Pipeline Integrity Costs incurred
(whether paid or payable) with respect to the Acquired Company Assets
and the Operated Cotenancies to the extent such Pipeline Integrity
Costs in such year exceed $5,000,000 (which amount shall be prorated to
$3,750,000 for the period from April 1, 2002 to December 31, 2002).
(vii) The Seller shall release, indemnify and hold harmless
the Buyer Indemnitees against any and all Adverse Consequences with
respect to the Disposed Obligations and the ownership or operation of
any Disposed Assets or Disposed Obligations (whether prior to or after
Closing), including any Tax attributable thereto.
(viii) The Seller shall release, indemnify and hold harmless
the Buyer Indemnitees against any and all Adverse Consequences suffered
by the Buyer Indemnitees with respect to, any outstanding injunction,
judgment, order, decree,
34
ruling, or charge, or any pending or threatened action, suit,
proceeding, hearing, or investigation of, in, or before any court or
quasi-judicial or administrative agency of any federal, state, local,
or foreign jurisdiction, relating to any Acquired Company or any of the
Relevant Assets on the Closing Date, including the matters listed on
Schedule 4(h).
(ix) The Seller shall release, indemnify and hold harmless the
Buyer Indemnitees against any and all Adverse Consequences arising as a
result of any of the Reorganization Transactions.
(x) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in
Sections 8(b)(i), (iii), (iv) and (v), the Seller shall not have any
obligation to indemnify any Buyer Indemnified Party to the extent that
the payment thereof would cause the Seller's aggregate indemnity
payments under all of Sections 8(b)(i), (iii), (iv) and (v) (but
excluding Sections 8(b)(ii), (vi), (vii), (viii) and (ix)) to exceed
100% of the Combined Value.
(xi) To the extent any Buyer Indemnitee becomes liable to, and
is ordered to and does pay to any third party, punitive, exemplary,
special or consequential damages caused by a breach by the Seller of
any representation, warranty or covenant contained in this Agreement,
then such punitive, exemplary, special or consequential damages shall
be deemed actual damages to such Buyer Indemnitee and included within
the definition of Adverse Consequences for purposes of this Section 8.
(xii) Except for the rights of indemnification provided in
this Section 8, the Buyer hereby waives any claim or cause of action
pursuant to common or statutory law or otherwise against the Seller
arising from any breach by the Seller of any of its representations,
warranties or covenants under this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby.
(c) Indemnification Provisions for Benefit of the Seller.
(i) In the event: (x) the Buyer breaches any of its
representations, warranties or covenants contained herein (without
giving effect to any supplement to the Schedules, any qualification as
to materiality, Material Adverse Effect, Knowledge, awareness or
concepts of similar import, or any qualification or limitation as to
monetary amount or value); (y) there is an applicable survival period
pursuant to Section 8(a); and (z) the Seller makes a written claim for
indemnification against the Buyer pursuant to Section 11(g) within such
survival period, then the Buyer agrees to release and indemnify the
Seller Indemnitees from and against the entirety of any Adverse
Consequences suffered by such Seller Indemnitees.
(ii) The Buyer agrees to release and indemnify the Seller
Indemnitees from and against the entirety of any Adverse Consequences
relating to any of (1)
35
any environmental condition, claim or loss with respect to any Acquired
Company or any of the Relevant Assets arising from or related to
mercury contamination emanating from mercury meters used in connection
therewith or (2) the ownership and operation of each Acquired Company
and each Relevant Asset (including those arising during, related to or
otherwise attributable to the period commencing with the Purchase Price
Adjustment Date).
(iii) To the extent any Seller Indemnitee becomes liable to,
and is ordered to and does pay to any third party, punitive, exemplary,
special or consequential damages caused by a breach by the Buyer of any
representation, warranty or covenant contained in this Agreement, then
such punitive, exemplary, special or consequential damages shall be
deemed actual damages to such Seller Indemnitee and included within the
definition of Adverse Consequences for purposes of this Section 8.
(iv) Except for the rights of indemnification provided in this
Section 8, the Seller hereby waives any claim or cause of action
pursuant to common or statutory law or otherwise against the Buyer
arising from any breach by the Buyer of any of its representations,
warranties or covenants under this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby.
(d) Matters Involving Third Parties.
(i) If any third party shall notify any Party (the
"Indemnified Party") with respect to any matter (a "Third Party Claim")
that may give rise to a claim for indemnification against any other
Party (the "Indemnifying Party") under this Section 8, then the
Indemnified Party shall promptly (and in any event within five business
days after receiving notice of the Third Party Claim) notify the
Indemnifying Party thereof in writing.
(ii) The Indemnifying Party shall have the right to assume and
thereafter conduct the defense of the Third Party Claim with counsel of
its choice reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party; provided,
however, that the Indemnifying Party shall not consent to the entry of
any judgment or enter into any settlement with respect to the Third
Party Claim without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party
(not to be withheld unreasonably) unless the judgment or proposed
settlement involves only the payment of money damages and does not
impose an injunction or other equitable relief upon the Indemnified
Party.
(iii) Unless and until the Indemnifying Party assumes the
defense of the Third Party Claim as provided in Section 8(d)(ii), the
Indemnified Party may defend against the Third Party Claim in any
manner it reasonably may deem appropriate.
(iv) In no event shall the Indemnified Party consent to the
entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement with respect to the
Third Party Claim
36
without the prior written consent of the Indemnifying Party which
consent shall not be withheld unreasonably.
(e) Determination of Amount of Adverse Consequences. The Adverse
Consequences giving rise to any indemnification obligation hereunder shall be
limited to the actual loss suffered by the Indemnified Party (i.e. reduced by
any insurance proceeds or other payment or recoupment received, realized or
retained by the Indemnified Party as a result of the events giving rise to the
claim for indemnification net of any expenses related to the receipt of such
proceeds, payment or recoupment, including retrospective premium adjustments, if
any), but not any reduction in Taxes of the Indemnified Party (or the affiliated
group of which it is a member) occasioned by such loss or damage. The amount of
the actual loss and the amount of the indemnity payment shall be computed by
taking into account the timing of the loss or payment, as applicable, using a
Prime Rate plus 2% interest or discount rate, as appropriate. Upon the request
of the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnified Party shall provide the Indemnifying
Party with information sufficient to allow the Indemnifying Party to calculate
the amount of the indemnity payment in accordance with this Section 8(e). An
Indemnified Party shall take all reasonable steps to mitigate damages in respect
of any claim for which it is seeking indemnification and shall use reasonable
efforts to avoid any costs or expenses associated with such claim and, if such
costs and expenses cannot be avoided, to minimize the amount thereof.
(f) Tax Treatment of Indemnity Payments. All indemnification payments
made under this Agreement, including any payment made under Section 9, shall be
treated as purchase price adjustments for Tax purposes.
9. Tax Matters.
(a) Post-Closing Tax Returns. The Buyer shall prepare or cause to be
prepared and file or cause to be filed any Post-Closing Tax Returns with respect
to the Relevant Assets or the Acquired Companies. The Buyer shall pay (or cause
to be paid) any Taxes due with respect to such Tax Returns.
(b) Pre-Closing Tax Returns. The Seller shall prepare or cause to be
prepared and file or cause to be filed all Pre-Closing Tax Returns with respect
to the Relevant Assets or Acquired Companies. The Seller shall pay or cause to
be paid any Taxes due with respect to such Tax Returns.
(c) Straddle Periods. The Buyer shall be responsible for Taxes of the
Relevant Assets (other than the Disposed Assets) and the Acquired Companies
related to the portion of any Straddle Period occurring after the Closing Date.
The Seller shall be responsible for Taxes of the Relevant Assets and the
Acquired Companies relating to the portion of any Straddle Period occurring
before and on the Closing Date. With respect to any Straddle Period, to the
extent permitted by applicable Law, the Seller or the Buyer shall elect to treat
the Closing Date as the last day of the Tax period. If applicable Law shall not
permit the Closing Date to be the last day of a period, then (i) real or
personal property Taxes with respect to the Relevant Assets and the Acquired
Companies shall be allocated based on the number of days in the partial period
before and after the Closing Date, (ii) in the case of all other Taxes based on
or in respect
37
of income, the Tax computed on the basis of the taxable income or
loss attributable to the Relevant Assets and the Acquired Companies for each
partial period as determined from their books and records, and (iii) in the case
of all other Taxes, on the basis of the actual activities or attributes of the
Relevant Assets and the Acquired Companies for each partial period as determined
from their books and records.
(d) Straddle Returns. The Buyer shall prepare any Straddle Returns. The
Buyer shall deliver, at least 45 days prior to the due date for filing such
Straddle Return (including any extension) to the Seller a statement setting
forth the amount of Tax that the Seller owes, including the allocation of
taxable income and Taxes under Section 9(c), and copies of such Straddle Return.
The Seller shall have the right to review such Straddle Returns and the
allocation of taxable income and liability for Taxes and to suggest to the Buyer
any reasonable changes to such Straddle Returns no later than 15 days prior to
the date for the filing of such Straddle Returns. The Seller and the Buyer agree
to consult and to attempt to resolve in good faith any issue arising as a result
of the review of such Straddle Returns and allocation of taxable income and
liability for Taxes and mutually to consent to the filing as promptly as
possible of such Straddle Returns. Not later than 5 days before the due date for
the payment of Taxes with respect to such Straddle Returns, the Seller shall pay
or cause to be paid to the Buyer an amount equal to the Taxes as agreed to by
the Buyer and the Seller as being owed by the Seller. If the Buyer and the
Seller cannot agree on the amount of Taxes owed by the Seller with respect to a
Straddle Return, the Seller shall pay or cause to be paid to the Buyer the
amount of Taxes reasonably determined by the Seller to be owed by the Seller.
Within 10 days after such payment, the Seller and the Buyer shall refer the
matter to an independent "Big-Five" accounting firm agreed to by the Buyer and
the Seller to arbitrate the dispute. The Seller and the Buyer shall equally
share the fees and expenses of such accounting firm and its determination as to
the amount owing by the Seller with respect to a Straddle Return shall be
binding on the Seller and the Buyer. Within five days after the determination by
such accounting firm, if necessary, the appropriate Party shall pay the other
Party any amount which is determined by such accounting firm to be owed. The
Seller shall be entitled to reduce its obligation to pay Taxes with respect to a
Straddle Return by the amount of any estimated Taxes paid with respect to such
Taxes on or before the Closing Date.
(e) Claims for Refund. The Buyer shall not, and shall cause the
Acquired Companies and any of their Affiliates not to, file any claim for refund
of Taxes with respect to the Relevant Assets and the Acquired Companies for
whole or partial taxable periods on or before the Closing Date.
(f) Indemnification. The Buyer agrees to indemnify the Seller against
all Taxes of or with respect to the Relevant Assets and the Acquired Companies
for any Post-Closing Tax Period and the portion of any Straddle Period occurring
after the Closing Date. The Seller agrees to indemnify the Buyer against all
Taxes of or with respect to the Relevant Assets and the Acquired Companies for
any Pre-Closing Tax Period and the portion of any Straddle Period occurring on
or before the Closing Date, and the Buyer Parties against all Taxes of or with
respect to the Disposed Assets, and all Taxes arising directly as a result of
the Reorganization Transactions.
38
(g) Cooperation on Tax Matters.
(i) The Buyer and the Seller shall cooperate fully, as and to
the extent reasonably requested by the other Party, in connection with
the filing of Tax Returns pursuant to this Section 9(g) and any audit,
litigation or other proceeding and making employees available on a
mutually convenient basis to provide additional information and
explanation of any material provided hereunder.
(ii) The Buyer and the Seller further agree, upon request, to
use their Best Efforts to obtain any certificate or other document from
any Governmental Authority or any other Person as may be necessary to
mitigate, reduce or eliminate any Tax that could be imposed (including
with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby).
(iii) The Buyer and the Seller agree, upon request, to provide
the other Parties with all information that such other Parties may be
required to report pursuant to Section 6043 of the Code and all
Treasury Department Regulations promulgated thereunder.
(h) Certain Taxes. The Seller shall file all necessary Tax Returns and
other documentation with respect to all transfer, documentary, sales, use,
stamp, registration and other Taxes and fees, and, if required by applicable
Law, the Buyer shall, and shall cause its Affiliates to, join in the execution
of any such Tax Returns and other documentation. Notwithstanding anything set
forth in this Agreement to the contrary, the Buyer shall pay to the Seller, on
or before the date such payments are due from the Seller, any transfer,
documentary, sales, use, stamp, registration and other Taxes and fees incurred
in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (but
not with respect to the Reorganization Transactions).
(i) Confidentiality. Any information shared in connection with Taxes
shall be kept confidential, except as may otherwise be necessary in connection
with the filing of Tax Returns or reports, refund claims, tax audits, tax claims
and tax litigation, or as required by Law.
(j) Audits. The Seller or the Buyer, as applicable, shall provide
prompt written notice to the other Parties of any pending or threatened tax
audit, assessment or proceeding that it becomes aware of related to the Relevant
Assets or the Acquired Companies for whole or partial periods for which it is
indemnified by any other Party hereunder. Such notice shall contain factual
information (to the extent known) describing the asserted tax liability in
reasonable detail and shall be accompanied by copies of any notice or other
document received from or with any tax authority in respect of any such matters.
If an indemnified party has knowledge of an asserted tax liability with respect
to a matter for which it is to be indemnified hereunder and such party fails to
give the indemnifying party prompt notice of such asserted tax liability, then
(I) if the indemnifying party is precluded by the failure to give prompt notice
from contesting the asserted tax liability in any forum, the indemnifying party
shall have no obligation to indemnify the indemnified party for any Taxes
arising out of such asserted tax liability, and (II) if the indemnifying party
is not so precluded from contesting, but such failure to give prompt notice
results in a detriment to the indemnifying party, then any amount which the
indemnifying
39
party is otherwise required to pay the indemnified party pursuant to this
Section 9(j) shall be reduced by the amount of such detriment, provided, the
indemnified party shall nevertheless be entitled to full indemnification
hereunder to the extent, and only to the extent, that such party can establish
that the indemnifying party was not prejudiced by such failure. This Section
9(j) shall control the procedure for Tax indemnification matters to the extent
it is inconsistent with any other provision of this Agreement.
(k) Control of Proceedings. The party responsible for the Tax under
this Agreement shall control audits and disputes related to such Taxes
(including action taken to pay, compromise or settle such Taxes). The Seller and
the Buyer shall jointly control, in good faith with each other, audits and
disputes relating to Straddle Periods. Reasonable out-of-pocket expenses with
respect to such contests shall be borne by the Seller and the Buyer in
proportion to their responsibility for such Taxes as set forth in this
Agreement. Except as otherwise provided by this Agreement, the noncontrolling
party shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity to participate in such
proceedings at its own expense.
(l) Powers of Attorney. The Buyer, the Acquired Companies and their
respective Affiliates shall provide the Seller and its Affiliates with such
powers of attorney or other authorizing documentation as are reasonably
necessary to empower them to execute and file returns they are responsible for
hereunder, file refund and equivalent claims for Taxes they are responsible for,
and contest, settle, and resolve any audits and disputes that they have control
over under Section 9(k) (including any refund claims which turn into audits or
disputes).
(m) Remittance of Refunds. If the Buyer or any Affiliate of the Buyer
receives a refund of any Taxes that the Seller is responsible for hereunder, or
if the Seller or any Affiliate of the Seller receives a refund of any Taxes that
the Buyer is responsible for hereunder, the party receiving such refund shall,
within 30 days after receipt of such refund, remit it to the party who has
responsibility for such Taxes hereunder. For the purpose of this Section 9(m),
the term "refund" shall include a reduction in Tax and the use of an overpayment
as a credit or other Tax offset, and receipt of a refund shall occur upon the
filing of a Tax Return or an adjustment thereto using such reduction,
overpayment or offset or upon the receipt of cash.
(n) Purchase Price Allocation. The Seller and the Buyer agree that the
actual Purchase Price allocable to the Assigned Equity Interests, El Paso Texas
Interest and Acquired Company Assets shall be allocated to the Acquired Company
Assets for all purposes (including Tax and financial accounting purposes) as
jointly agreed between the Buyer and the Seller within ninety (90) days after
the Closing Date. The Buyer, the Seller and their applicable Affiliates shall
file all Tax Returns (including amended Tax Returns and claims for refund) and
information reports in a manner consistent with such allocation.
(o) Closing Tax Certificate. At the Closing, the Seller shall deliver
to the Buyer a certificate, in the form of Exhibit K, signed under penalties of
perjury (i) stating it is not a foreign corporation, foreign partnership,
foreign trust or foreign estate, (ii) providing its U.S. Employer Identification
Number, and (iii) providing its address, all pursuant to Section 1445 of the
Code.
40
(p) Like Kind Exchanges. Each of the Buyer and Seller shall cooperate
fully, as and to the extent reasonably requested by the other Party, in
connection with enabling the transactions contemplated herein to qualify in
whole or in part as a "like-kind exchange" pursuant to Section 1031 of the Code.
Each of the Buyer and Seller agree to indemnify the other Party against any and
all costs and expenses incurred with respect to furnishing such cooperation.
Each Party may assign all or a portion of its rights under this Agreement to a
"qualified intermediary" to facilitate a like-kind exchange. The agreement
between the applicable Party and the qualified intermediary ("EXCHANGE
AGREEMENT") shall be set forth as Exhibit G.
10. Termination.
(a) Termination of Agreement. The Parties may terminate this Agreement,
as provided below:
(i) the Buyer and the Seller may terminate this Agreement by
mutual written consent at any time before the Closing;
(ii) the Buyer may terminate this Agreement by giving written
notice to the Seller at any time before Closing (A) in the event the
Seller has breached any representation, warranty or covenant contained
in this Agreement in any material respect, the Buyer has notified the
Seller of the breach, the breach has continued without cure for a
period of 10 days after the notice of breach and such breach would
result in a failure to satisfy a condition to the Buyer's obligation to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; (B) if the Closing
shall not have occurred on or before 9:00 a.m. (Houston time) on April
1, 2002 (unless the failure results primarily from the Buyer itself
breaching any representation, warranty or covenant contained in this
Agreement); or (C) if the transactions contemplated hereby do not
receive all required approvals of the FTC;
(iii) the Seller may terminate this Agreement by giving
written notice to the Buyer at any time before the Closing (A) in the
event the Buyer has breached any representation, warranty or covenant
contained in this Agreement in any material respect, the Seller has
notified the Buyer of the breach, the breach has continued without cure
for a period of 10 days after the notice of breach and such breach
would result in a failure to satisfy a condition to the Seller's
obligation to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; (B) if
the Closing shall not have occurred on or before 9:00 a.m. (Houston
time) on April 1, 2002 (unless the failure results primarily from the
Seller breaching any representation, warranty or covenant contained in
this Agreement); or (C) if the transactions contemplated hereby do not
receive all required approvals of the FTC;
(iv) the Buyer or the Seller may terminate this Agreement if
any court of competent jurisdiction or any governmental, administrative
or regulatory authority, agency or body shall have issued an order,
decree or ruling or shall have taken any other action permanently
enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting
41
the transactions contemplated hereby and such order, decree, ruling or
other action shall have become final and nonappealable; and
(v) the Buyer or the Seller may terminate this Agreement if
the Contribution Agreement is terminated for any reason.
(b) Effect of Termination. Except for the obligations under Sections 8,
10 and 11, if any Party terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 10(a), all
rights and obligations of the Parties hereunder shall terminate without any
liability of any Party to any other Party (except for any liability of any Party
then in breach).
11. Miscellaneous.
(a) Public Announcements. Any Party is permitted to issue a press
release or make a public announcement concerning this Agreement without the
other Parties' consents, in which case the disclosing Party shall provide an
advance copy of the proposed public disclosure to the non-disclosing Parties and
permit the non-disclosing Parties the opportunity to reasonably comment on such
proposed disclosure. The Parties agree to cooperate in good faith to issue
separate and simultaneous press releases within twenty-four (24) hours following
the execution of this Agreement by all Parties.
(b) Insurance. The Buyer acknowledges and agrees that, following the
Closing, any Subject Insurance Policies shall be terminated or modified to
exclude coverage of all or any portion of the Relevant Assets or Acquired
Companies by the Seller or any of its Affiliates, and, as a result, the Buyer
shall be obligated at or before Closing to obtain at its sole cost and expense
replacement insurance, including insurance required by any third party to be
maintained for or by the Relevant Assets or the Acquired Companies. The Buyer
further acknowledges and agrees that the Buyer may need to provide to certain
Governmental Authorities and third parties evidence of such replacement or
substitute insurance coverage for the continued operations or businesses of the
Relevant Assets or the Acquired Companies. If any claims are made or losses
occur prior to the Closing Date that relate solely to the Relevant Assets or the
business activities of the Acquired Companies and such claims, or the claims
associated with such losses, properly may be made against the policies retained
by the Seller or its Affiliates after the Closing, then the Seller shall use its
Best Efforts so that the Buyer can file, notice, and otherwise continue to
pursue these claims pursuant to the terms of such policies; provided, however,
nothing in this Agreement shall require the Seller to maintain or to refrain
from asserting claims against or exhausting any retained policies.
(c) No Third Party Beneficiaries. Except for the indemnification
provisions, this Agreement shall not confer any rights or remedies upon any
Person other than the Parties and their respective successors and permitted
assigns, except that the Administrative Agent is a third-party beneficiary of
Section 11(d), and such Section may not be amended or modified without the
Administrative Agent's written consent.
(d) Succession and Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the Parties named herein and their respective successors
and permitted
42
assigns. Prior to the Closing the Buyer may not assign this Agreement or any of
its rights, interests or obligations hereunder without the prior written
approval of the Seller; provided, however, without the prior written approval of
the Seller, the Buyer and its permitted successors and assigns may assign any or
all of its rights, interests or obligations under this Agreement (i) to an
Affiliate of the Buyer, including designating one or more Affiliates of the
Buyer to be the assignee of some or any portion of the Acquired Company Assets,
(ii) in connection with granting a lien, pledge, mortgage or other security
interest pursuant to a bona fide lending transaction, or (iii) pursuant to the
foreclosure or settlement of any assignment made pursuant to (ii) above;
provided the Buyer is not released from any of its obligations or liabilities
hereunder. Each Party may assign either this Agreement or any of its rights,
interests or obligations hereunder, without the prior written approval of the
other Party, to a qualified intermediary in connection with any transaction
described in Section 9(p); provided, however, that no such assignment shall
relieve any Party from any of its obligations or liabilities under this
Agreement. The Seller acknowledges that the Buyer has granted to the
Administrative Agent a lien on and security interest in all of its right, title
and interest in and to this Agreement.
(e) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each
of which shall be deemed an original but which together shall constitute one and
the same instrument.
(f) Headings. The section headings contained in this Agreement are
inserted for convenience only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.
(g) Notices. All notices, requests, demands, claims, and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing. Any notice, request, demand,
claim, or other communication hereunder shall be deemed duly given two business
days after it is sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested,
postage prepaid, and addressed to the intended recipient as set forth below:
If to the Seller: El Paso Tennessee Pipeline Co.
Attn: President
El Paso Building
0000 Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
If to the Buyer: El Paso Energy Partners, L.P.
Attn: President
0 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
(000) 000-0000
Any Party may send any notice, request, demand, claim, or other communication
hereunder to the intended recipient at the addresses set forth above using any
other means (including personal delivery, expedited courier, messenger service,
telecopy, ordinary mail, or electronic mail), but no such notice, request,
demand, claim, or other communication shall be deemed to have been
43
duly given unless and until it actually is received by the intended recipient.
Any Party may change the address to which notices, requests, demands, claims,
and other communications hereunder are to be delivered by giving the other Party
notice in the manner herein set forth.
(h) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the domestic Laws of the State of Texas without giving effect to
any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Texas
or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the Laws of any
jurisdiction other than the State of Texas. VENUE FOR ANY ACTION ARISING UNDER
THIS AGREEMENT SHALL LIE EXCLUSIVELY IN ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT IN XXXXXX
COUNTY, TEXAS.
(i) Amendments and Waivers. No amendment of any provision of this
Agreement shall be valid unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the
Buyer and the Seller. No waiver by any Party of any default, misrepresentation,
or breach of warranty or covenant hereunder, whether intentional or not, shall
be deemed to extend to any prior or subsequent default, misrepresentation, or
breach of warranty or covenant hereunder or affect in any way any rights arising
by virtue of any prior or subsequent such occurrence.
(j) Severability. Any term or provision of this Agreement that is
invalid or unenforceable in any situation in any jurisdiction shall not affect
the validity or enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions hereof or
the validity or enforceability of the offending term or provision in any other
situation or in any other jurisdiction.
(k) Transaction Expenses. Each of the Buyer and the Seller shall bear
its own costs and expenses (including legal fees and expenses) incurred in
connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.
(l) Construction. The Parties have participated jointly in the
negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. In the event an ambiguity or
question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed
as if drafted jointly by the Parties and no presumption or burden of proof shall
arise favoring or disfavoring any Party by virtue of the authorship of any of
the provisions of this Agreement. Any reference to any federal, state, local, or
foreign statute or Law shall be deemed also to refer to all rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder, unless the context requires otherwise. The
word "including" shall mean including without limitation. All personal pronouns
used in this Agreement, whether used in the masculine, feminine or neuter
gender, shall include all other genders; the singular shall include the plural,
and vice versa. All references herein to Exhibits, Schedules, Articles, Sections
or subdivisions thereof shall refer to the corresponding Exhibits, Schedules,
Article, Section or subdivision thereof of this Agreement unless specific
reference is made to such exhibits, articles, sections or subdivisions of
another document or instrument. The terms "herein," "hereby," "hereunder,"
"hereof," "hereinafter," and other equivalent words refer to this Agreement in
its entirety and not solely to the particular portion of the Agreement in which
such word is used. Each certificate delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall
be deemed a part hereof, and any representation, warranty or covenant herein
referenced or affirmed in such certificate shall be treated as a representation,
warranty or
44
covenant given in the correlated Section hereof on the date of such certificate.
Additionally, any representation, warranty or covenant made in any such
certificate shall be deemed to be made herein.
(m) Incorporation of Exhibits and Schedules. The Exhibits and Schedules
identified in this Agreement are incorporated herein by reference and made a
part hereof.
(n) Entire Agreement. THIS AGREEMENT (INCLUDING THE DOCUMENTS REFERRED
TO HEREIN) CONSTITUTES THE ENTIRE AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES AND SUPERSEDES ANY
PRIOR UNDERSTANDINGS, AGREEMENTS, OR REPRESENTATIONS BY OR AMONG THE PARTIES,
WRITTEN OR ORAL, TO THE EXTENT THEY HAVE RELATED IN ANY WAY TO THE SUBJECT
MATTER HEREOF.
*****
45
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as
of the date set forth in the preamble.
EL PASO ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
-------------------
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
EL PASO TENNESSEE PIPELINE CO.
By: /s/ H. Xxxxx Xxxxxx
-------------------
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer
