PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS PURCHASE AND CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG LASER MIDSTREAM ENERGY II, LP, LASER GAS COMPANY I, LLC, LASER MIDSTREAM COMPANY, LLC LASER MIDSTREAM ENERGY, LP AND EAGLE ROCK ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P. DATED AS OF MARCH 30, 2007
Exhibit 2.1
BY AND AMONG
LASER MIDSTREAM ENERGY II, LP,
LASER GAS COMPANY I, LLC,
LASER MIDSTREAM COMPANY, LLC
LASER MIDSTREAM ENERGY, LP
AND
EAGLE ROCK ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.
DATED AS OF MARCH 30, 2007
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND RULES OF CONSTRUCTION |
2 | |||
1.1 Definitions |
2 | |||
1.2 Rules of Construction |
14 | |||
ARTICLE II PURCHASE, SALE & CONTRIBUTION; CLOSING |
16 | |||
2.1 Purchase, Sale and Contribution of Interests |
16 | |||
2.2 Consideration at Closing |
16 | |||
2.3 Post-Closing Adjustment for Final Net Working Capital and Qualified Indebtedness |
19 | |||
2.4 The Closing |
21 | |||
ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES RELATING TO THE SELLERS |
22 | |||
3.1 Organization of Certain Sellers |
22 | |||
3.2 Authorization; Enforceability |
22 | |||
3.3 No Conflict; Consents |
22 | |||
3.4 Ownership of Interests |
23 | |||
3.5 Litigation |
23 | |||
3.6 Disclosure |
23 | |||
3.7 Solvency |
24 | |||
3.8 Securities Representations |
24 | |||
ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES RELATED TO THE COMPANIES |
26 | |||
4.1 Organization |
26 | |||
4.2 No Conflict; Consents |
26 | |||
4.3 Capitalization |
27 | |||
4.4 Litigation |
27 | |||
4.5 Financial Statements; Internal Controls; Undisclosed Liabilities |
28 | |||
4.6 Taxes |
29 | |||
4.7 No Undisclosed Liabilities |
30 | |||
4.8 Absence of Certain Changes |
30 | |||
4.9 Contracts |
30 | |||
4.10 Intellectual Property |
31 | |||
4 .11 Employee Benefit Plans |
32 | |||
4.12 Environmental Matters |
37 | |||
4.13 Compliance with Laws; Permits |
37 |
ii
4.14 Insurance |
38 | |||
4.15 Labor Relations; Employment Matters |
38 | |||
4.16 Books and Records |
40 | |||
4.17 Title to Properties and Related Matters |
40 | |||
4.18 Brokers’ Fees |
41 | |||
4.19 Company Guaranties |
41 | |||
4.20 No “Take or Pay” |
41 | |||
4.21 Pipeline Easements |
42 | |||
4.22 Pipeline Matters |
42 | |||
4.23 Insider Interests |
42 | |||
4.24 FCC Licenses |
43 | |||
4.25 Receivables |
43 | |||
4.26 Bank Accounts and Powers of Attorney |
43 | |||
4.27 Investments |
44 | |||
4.28 Illegal Payments |
44 | |||
4.29 Offerings of Securities |
44 | |||
ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES RELATING TO BUYER |
45 | |||
5.1 Organization |
45 | |||
5.2 Authorization; Enforceability |
45 | |||
5.3 Capitalization |
45 | |||
5.4 No Conflict; Consents |
45 | |||
5.5 Litigation |
46 | |||
5.6 Brokers’ Fees |
46 | |||
5.7 Financial Ability |
46 | |||
5.8 Independent Investigation |
46 | |||
5.9 SEC Filings |
47 | |||
5.10 Tax Status |
47 | |||
ARTICLE VI COVENANTS |
48 | |||
6.1 Conduct of Business |
48 | |||
6.2 Access |
49 | |||
6.3 Third Party Approvals |
50 | |||
6.4 Regulatory Filings |
50 | |||
6.5 Employee and Benefit Matters |
51 | |||
6.6 Books and Records |
53 |
6.7 Permits |
54 | |||
6.8 Acquisition Proposals |
54 | |||
6.9 Noncompetition and Nonsolicitation |
54 | |||
6.10 Owner Marks |
57 | |||
6.11 Financial Statements |
58 | |||
6.12 Representation Letters |
58 | |||
6.13 NASDAQ Listing Agreement |
58 | |||
ARTICLE VII TAX MATTERS |
59 | |||
7.1 Character and Treatment of Transaction |
59 | |||
7.2 Pre-Closing Restructuring |
61 | |||
7.3 Post-Closing Tax Covenants |
62 | |||
7.4 Responsibility for Filing Tax Returns and Paying Taxes |
62 | |||
7.5 Responsibility for Tax Audits and Contests |
63 | |||
7.6 Tax Refunds |
63 | |||
7.7 Transfer Taxes |
63 | |||
7.8 Disputes over Tax Provisions |
63 | |||
7.9 No Limit on Indemnity |
64 | |||
ARTICLE VIII CONDITIONS TO closing |
65 | |||
8.1 Conditions to Obligations of Buyer |
65 | |||
8.2 Conditions to the Obligations of the Sellers |
67 | |||
ARTICLE IX INDEMNIFICATION |
70 | |||
9.1 Survival |
70 | |||
9.2 Indemnification |
70 | |||
9.3 Limitations on Liability |
71 | |||
9.4 Procedures |
72 | |||
9.5 Arbitration |
75 | |||
9.6 Escrow Account |
75 | |||
9.7 Waiver of Consequential Damages |
76 | |||
9.8 Waiver of Other Representations |
77 | |||
9.9 Exclusive Remedy and Release |
77 | |||
ARTICLE X TERMINATION |
78 | |||
10.1 Termination |
78 | |||
10.2 Effect of Termination |
79 |
ARTICLE XI MISCELLANEOUS |
80 | |||
11.1 Notices |
80 | |||
11.2 Assignment |
81 | |||
11.3 Rights of Third Parties |
81 | |||
11.4 Expenses |
81 | |||
11.5 Counterparts |
81 | |||
11.6 Entire Agreement |
81 | |||
11.7 Disclosure Schedules |
82 | |||
11.8 Amendments |
82 | |||
11.9 Publicity |
82 | |||
11.10 Severability |
82 | |||
11.11 Governing Law; Jurisdiction |
83 |
LIST OF EXHIBITS
Exhibit A
|
Related Assets | |
Exhibit B
|
Escrow Agreement | |
Exhibit C
|
Cap Ex Budget | |
Exhibit D
|
Legal Opinion of Seller’s Counsel | |
Exhibit E
|
Transition Agreement | |
Exhibit F
|
Legal Opinion of Buyer’s Counsel |
PARTNERSHIP INTEREST PURCHASE AND CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
THIS PARTNERSHIP INTEREST PURCHASE AND CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of
March 30, 2007, is entered into by and among (i) Laser Midstream Energy, II, LP, a Delaware
limited partnership (“Laser Midstream II”); (ii) Laser Gas Company I, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company (“Laser Gas”); (iii) Laser Midstream Company, LLC, a Texas limited liability
company (“Laser GP,” who along with Laser Midstream II and Laser Gas are each a “Seller” and
collectively, the “Sellers”); (iv) Laser Midstream Energy, LP, a Delaware limited partnership
(“Laser Midstream”); and (v) Eagle Rock Energy Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership
(“Buyer”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Sellers own all of the issued and outstanding limited and general partnership
interests of Laser Quitman Gathering Company, LP, a Texas limited partnership (“Laser Quitman”),
Laser Gathering Company, LP, a Texas limited partnership (“Laser Gathering”), Laser Midstream and
the Hesco Companies (as defined below);
WHEREAS, Laser Quitman, Laser Gathering, Laser Midstream and the Hesco Companies (each, a
“Company,” and together, the “Companies”), are engaged in the gathering and processing of natural
gas;
WHEREAS, the Companies own, directly and indirectly, the gathering lines, processing
equipment and related assets described on Exhibit A attached hereto;
WHEREAS, the Companies currently own certain Retained Interests and related end user supply
lines currently owned by the Companies which will, prior to Closing, be distributed by Laser
Midstream to, and retained, by the Sellers (and not sold or transferred to Buyer) pursuant to the
Restructuring described in Section 7.2 to this Agreement and the Disclosure Schedules;
WHEREAS, Buyer desires to acquire from Sellers all of the partnership interests of Laser
Midstream, Laser Quitman, and Laser Gathering, exclusive of the Retained Interests (collectively,
all of such general and limited partnership interests to be acquired by Buyer are referred to as
the “Interests”) in exchange for the consideration and pursuant to the terms set forth herein;
WHEREAS, the Sellers desire to (i) sell a portion of the Interests to Buyer in
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consideration for cash and (ii) contribute a portion of the Interests to Buyer in exchange for
Buyer Units (as defined below) and the assumption of the Qualified Indebtedness (as defined below),
on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein; and
WHEREAS, the transfer of the Interests shall be treated as a part sale and part contribution
under Regulations Section 1.707-3(a) as more specifically provided herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants contained herein and
other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the Parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND RULES OF CONSTRUCTION
1.1 Definitions. As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
“AAA” has the meaning provided such term in Section 9.5.
“Accountants” has the meaning provided such term in Section 2.3(a)(iii).
“Acquisition Proposal” has the meaning provided such term in Section 6.8.
“Action” means any action, appeal, petition, plea, charge, complaint, claim, suit, demand,
litigation, arbitration, mediation, hearing, inquiry, investigation or similar event, occurrence or
proceeding.
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly,
controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, such specified Person through one or
more intermediaries or otherwise, provided, however, that with respect to the Sellers and the
Companies, Energy Spectrum shall not be deemed an Affiliate. For the purposes of this definition,
“control” means, where used with respect to any Person, the possession, directly or indirectly, of
the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether
through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and the terms “controlling”
and “controlled” have correlative meanings.
“Aggregate Basket Amount” has the meaning provided such term in Section 9.3(b).
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“Agreement” has the meaning provided such term in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Arbitrator” has the meaning provided such term in Section 9.5.
“Arbitrator’s Decision” has the meaning provided such term in Section 9.5.
“Balance Sheet Date” means January 31, 2007.
“Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday in the States of
Texas and New York and that is not otherwise a federal holiday in the United States.
“Buyer” has the meaning provided such term in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Buyer Financial Statements” has the meaning provided such term in Section 5.9.
“Buyer Indemnified Parties” has the meaning provided such term in Section 9.2(a).
“Buyer Units” means the Common Units issued pursuant to Section 2.2(a)(ii) hereof.
“Cash Payment” has the meaning provided to such term in Section 2.2(a).
“Cause” means that Buyer, acting in good faith upon information then known, determines that
the applicable Retained Employee has engaged in acts or omissions constituting: (a) gross
negligence, willful misconduct, or insubordination in performing or failing to perform his or her
material duties and responsibilities; (b) a breach of duty in the course of employment involving
fraud, acts of dishonesty (other than inadvertent acts or omissions), disloyalty,
misrepresentation, embezzlement, conversion or intentional damage to or dissipation of property or
assets of Buyer or its Affiliates; (c) conduct that is materially detrimental to the Buyer,
monetarily or otherwise, or reflects unfavorably on the Buyer, its Affiliates, or the applicable
Retained Employee to such an extent that Buyer’s or its Affiliates’ best interests reasonably
require the termination of the Retained Employee’s employment; (d) material violation of any of the
applicable Retained Employee’s obligations under any written agreement between the Retained
Employee and Buyer or its Affiliates or at law; (e) a violation of or subversion of the Buyer’s or
its Affiliates’ policies concerning equal employment opportunity, including engaging in sexually or
otherwise harassing conduct; (f) the failure to comply with or enforce personnel and other policies
of the Buyer or its Affiliates; (g) the failure to cooperate with any investigation or inquiry
authorized by Buyer or its Affiliates or conducted by a Governmental Authority
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related to the business or the Retained Employee’s conduct; (h) the conviction of, or entry of
a plea agreement or consent decree or similar arrangement with respect to, a felony, other serious
criminal offense, or any violation of federal or state securities Laws; provided that if Buyer
intends to terminate the employment any Retained Employee for Cause under clauses (a),(c) (d), (e)
or (f), Buyer will provide Employee with written notice of any event constituting Cause under those
clauses and will allow such Retained Employee 20 days to cure or rectify any situation, condition
or circumstance giving rise to such Cause asserted by Buyer if, in Buyer’s good faith judgment,
such event is capable of being cured.
“CERCLA” means the Federal Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability
Act, 42 U.S.C. § 9601 et seq.
“Claim Notice” has the meaning provided such term in Section 9.4(a).
“Claim Settlement Agreement” has the meaning provided such term in Section 9.4(d).
“Closing” has the meaning provided such term in Section 2.4.
“Closing Consideration” has the meaning provided such term in Section 2.2.
“Closing Date” has the meaning provided such term in Section 2.4.
“COBRA” has the meaning provided such term in Section 4.11(d).
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Comerica Facility” means the credit facility governed by that certain Credit Agreement dated
as of August 4, 2006 by and among Laser Midstream, Comerica Bank, N.A., individually and as agent,
and the lenders named therein.
“Common Units” means a common unit of limited partnership of Buyer, which are listed on the
NASDAQ Global Market.
“Company” or “Companies” has the meaning provided such term in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Company Guaranties” means those guaranties, letters of credit, bonds, sureties and other
forms of credit support or assurances provided by the Sellers in support of obligations of
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the Companies.
“Company Securities” has the meaning provided such term in Section 4.3(b).
“Confidentiality Agreement” means that certain confidentiality agreement, dated as of January
27, 2007, between Buyer and Laser GP.
“Consideration” has the meaning provided such term in Section 2.2.
“Constituents of Concern” any substance defined as a hazardous substance, hazardous waste,
hazardous material, pollutant or contaminant by any Environmental Law, any petroleum hydrocarbon or
fraction thereof, friable asbestos, or polychlorinated biphenyls, the handling, storage, treatment
or exposure of or to which is regulated under any Environmental Law.
“Contract” means any legally binding agreement, commitment, lease, license or contract, but
excluding Employee Benefit Plans.
“Direct Claim” has the meaning provided such term in Section 9.4(d).
“Disclosure Schedules” means the schedules attached hereto.
“Dollars” and “$” mean the lawful currency of the United States.
“Employee” means any individual treated by any of the Companies as an employee or employed at
common law by any of the Companies.
“Employee Benefit Plan” has the meaning provided such term in Section 4.11(a).
“Employee Pension Benefit Plan” has the meaning provided such term in Section 4.11(a).
“Employee Welfare Benefit Plan” has the meaning provided such term in Section 4.11(a).
“Encumbrance” means any title defect, mortgage, assignment, pledge, hypothecation, security
interest, title or retention agreement, levy, execution, seizure, attachment, garnishment, deemed
trust, lien, easement, option, right or claim of others, or charge or encumbrance of any kind
whatsoever, but excluding Permitted Liens.
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“Energy Spectrum ” means any of Laser Midstream Energy GP, LLC, Energy Spectrum Partners IV
LP, Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Xx. and Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx or any of their Affiliates other than the
Companies and their respective directors, officers and employees.
“Environmental Law” means all applicable Laws of any Governmental Authority relating to the
protection of human health or the environment, including: (a) all requirements pertaining to
liability for reporting, management, licensing, permitting, investigation, and remediation of
emissions, discharges, releases, or threatened releases of a Constituent of Concern; and (b) all
limitations, restrictions, conditions, standards, prohibitions, obligations, and timetables
contained therein or in any notice or demand letter to the Sellers or any Company issued, entered,
promulgated or approved thereunder. The term “Environmental Law” includes, without limitation,
CERCLA, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (which includes the Federal Clean Water Act), the
Federal Clean Air Act, the Federal Solid Waste Disposal Act (which includes the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act), the Federal Toxic Substances Control Act, and the Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, each as amended as of the date hereof, any regulations
promulgated pursuant thereto, and any state or local counterparts.
“Environmental Permits” means all permits, licenses, authorizations, certificates and
approvals of Governmental Authorities relating to or required by Environmental Laws and necessary
for or held in connection with the conduct of the business.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
“ERISA Affiliate” has the meaning provided such term in Section 4.11(a).
“Escrow Account” means the account maintained by the Escrow Agent and initially funded with
the Escrow Deposit.
“Escrow Agent” means Xxxxx Fargo Bank (Texas), N.A..
“Escrow Deposit” means, in the discretion of the Sellers, either (i) $12,000,000 in cash or
(ii) 631,579 Buyer Units having a deemed value of $12,000,000 in either case to be delivered to the
Escrow Account in accordance with Section 2.2(e).
“Escrow Income” has the meaning provided such term in Section 9.6.
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“Estimated Closing Date Balance Sheet” means an estimated unaudited, consolidated balance
sheet of the Companies as of the Closing Date which shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP,
consistently applied, subject to normal year-end adjustments and lack of footnotes otherwise
required by GAAP.
“Estimated Closing Date Working Capital” means the estimated Net Working Capital of the
Companies as of the Closing Date as set forth on the Estimated Closing Date Balance Sheet.
“Estimated Working Capital Adjustment” has the meaning provided such term in Section
2.2(c).
“Exchange Act” means the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“FERC” means the United States Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
“Final Calculations” has the meaning provided such term in Section 2.3(a)(i).
“Final Closing Date Balance Sheet” means an unaudited, consolidated balance sheet of the
Companies as of the Closing Date which shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP, consistently
applied, subject to normal year-end adjustments and lack footnotes otherwise required by GAAP.
“Final Closing Date Working Capital” means the Net Working Capital of the Companies as of the
Closing Date as set forth on the Final Closing Date Balance Sheet.
“Financial Statements” has the meaning provided such term in Section 4.5.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles of the United States, consistently
applied.
“Good Reason” means the occurrence of any of the following events with respect to a Retained
Employee without such Retained Employee’s consent, provided that such Retained Employee has first
provided Buyer with written notice of any event creating Good Reason, has allowed Buyer 20 days to
cure or rectify any situation, condition or circumstance giving rise to such Good Reason asserted
by such Retained Employee, and Buyer has not cured or rectified such situation, condition or
circumstance:
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(i) a Material Diminution in the duties of the Retained Employee with Buyer as
agreed to by such Retained Employee and Buyer on or before the Closing Date, or in
the absence of such an agreement, in the duties of the Retained Employee from his
duties on the Closing Date; provided that a change in job title or reporting
structure shall not alone constitute a Material Diminution;
(ii) a reduction in the base salary of the Retained Employee; or
(iii) the relocation of the Retained Employee’s principal place of employment
to a location more than sixty (60) miles from his principal place of employment on
the Closing Date.
“Governmental Authority” means any federal, state, municipal, local or similar governmental
authority, regulatory or administrative agency, court or arbitral body.
“HESCO Companies” means HESCO Gathering Company, LLC, a Texas limited liability company, and
HESCO Pipeline Company, LLC, a Texas limited liability company.
“HIPAA” has the meaning provided such term in Section 4.11(m).
“HSR Act” means the Xxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.
“Inability to Work” means a Retained Employee’s (i) inability to work legally in the United
States or (ii) inability to perform the essential functions of such Retained Employee’s job by
reason of illness or injury for a period of at least twelve (12) weeks in any twelve (12) month
period.
“Indebtedness for Borrowed Money” means all obligations to any Person for borrowed money,
including (a) any obligation to reimburse any bank or other Person in respect of amounts paid or
payable under a standby letter of credit or (b) any guaranty with respect to indebtedness for
borrowed money of another Person.
“Indemnified Party” has the meaning provided such term in Section 9.4(a).
“Indemnifying Party” has the meaning provided such term in Section 9.4(a).
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“Individual Basket Amount” has the meaning provided such term in Section 9.3(b).
“Intellectual Property” means intellectual property rights, statutory or common law,
worldwide, including (a) trademarks, service marks, trade dress, slogans, logos and all goodwill
associated therewith, and any applications or registrations for any of the foregoing; (b)
copyrights and any applications or registrations for any of the foregoing; and (c) patents, all
confidential know-how, trade secrets and similar proprietary rights in confidential inventions,
discoveries, improvements, processes, techniques, devices, methods, patterns, formulae,
specifications, and lists of suppliers, vendors, customers, and distributors.
“Interests” has the meaning provided such term in the recitals of this Agreement.
“IRS” means Internal Revenue Service of the United States.
“Knowledge” (a) as to the Sellers means the actual knowledge of those Persons listed in
Section 1.1(a) of the Disclosure Schedules, and (b) as to any Company means the actual
knowledge of those Persons listed in Section 1.1(b) of the Disclosure Schedules. A Person
has “actual knowledge” of those matters which the individual involved could reasonably be expected
to have without undertaking any investigation. The Knowledge of any Company includes Knowledge of
any of the Sellers.
“Laser Gas” has the meaning provided such term in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Laser Gathering” has the meaning provided such term in the recitals of this Agreement.
“Laser GP” has the meaning provided such term in the preamble of this Agreement.
“Laser Midstream” has the meaning provided such term in the recitals of this Agreement.
“Laser Quitman” has the meaning provided such term in the recitals of this Agreement.
“Law” means any applicable statute, writ, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, order, judgment,
injunction, award, determination or decree of a Governmental Authority, in each case as in effect
on and as interpreted on the date of this Agreement or on and as of the Closing Date, as
applicable, unless the context otherwise clearly requires a different date, in which case on and as
of such date.
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“Lien(s)” means any charges, pledges, options, mortgages, deeds of trust, hypothecations, or
security interests.
“Losses” has the meaning provided such term in Section 9.2(a).
“Material Adverse Effect” means, with respect to any Person, any circumstance, change or
effect that (a) is adverse to the business, operations (including results of operation), assets,
prospects, liabilities or financial condition of such Person in an amount individually or in the
aggregate, of $250,000 or more, or (b) that materially impedes the ability of such Person to
complete the transactions contemplated herein, but shall exclude any circumstance, change or effect
resulting or arising from: (i) any change in general economic conditions in the industries or
markets in which the Companies operates; (ii) seasonal reductions in revenues and/or earnings of
the Companies in the ordinary course of its business; (iii) any adverse change, event or effect on
the global energy industry as a whole, including those impacting energy prices or the value of oil
and gas assets; (iv) national or international political conditions, including any engagement in
hostilities, whether or not pursuant to the declaration of a national emergency or war, or the
occurrence of any military or terrorist attack; (v) changes in Law, GAAP or the interpretation
thereof; (vi) the entry into or announcement of this Agreement, actions contemplated by this
Agreement, or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby; or (vii) matters only to
the extent such matters are reflected in the Net Working Capital as of the Closing Date.
“Material Contracts” has the meaning provided such term in Section 4.9(a).
“Material Diminution” means a change in an Employee’s responsibilities which represents a
material demotion or material diminution from his responsibilities.
“NASDAQ” means The NASDAQ National Stock Market, Inc.
“Net Working Capital” means, as of any given date, an amount (which may be positive or
negative) equal to the total consolidated current assets of the Companies as of such date minus the
total consolidated current liabilities of the Companies as of such date, in each case determined in
accordance with GAAP and without giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby; provided,
however, that (a) current assets shall not include accounts receivable over 60 days old, and (b)
current liabilities shall not include current portion of any long-term indebtedness.
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“Non-Retained Employee” has the meaning provided such term in Section 6.5.
“Nontaxable Qualified Liability” has the meaning provided such term in Section
7.2(b)(iii).
“Notice of Claim Dispute” has the meaning provided such term in Section 9.4(d).
“Objection Notice” has the meaning provided such term in Section 2.3(a)(ii).
“Order” means any order, judgment, injunction, edict, decree, ruling, pronouncement,
determination, decision, opinion, sentence, subpoena, writ or award issued, made, entered or
rendered by any court, administrative agency or other Governmental Authority or by any arbitrator.
“Organizational Documents” means any charter, certificate of incorporation, articles of
association, partnership agreements, limited liability company agreements, bylaws, operating
agreement or similar formation or governing documents and instruments.
“Parties” means the Sellers, Laser Midstream and Buyer.
“Permits” means authorizations, licenses, permits or certificates issued by Governmental
Authorities; provided, right-of-way agreements and similar approvals are not included in the
definition of Permits.
“Permitted Liens” means (a) Liens for Taxes being contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings or not yet delinquent, (b) statutory Liens (including materialmen’s, warehousemen’s,
mechanic’s, repairmen’s, landlord’s, and other similar Liens) arising in the ordinary course of
business securing payments being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or not yet
delinquent, (c) restrictive covenants, easements and defects, imperfections or irregularities of
title or Liens, if any, as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect
on any Company, (d) Liens related to the Qualified Indebtedness and (e) Liens referenced in the
Disclosure Schedules and which shall be released at Closing.
“Person” means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, limited liability company,
incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, joint stock company, Governmental
Authority or other entity of any kind.
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“Post-Closing Tax Period” means any Tax period (or a portion thereof) that is not a
Pre-Closing Tax Period.
“Pre-Closing Tax Period” means any Tax period (or a portion thereof) ending on or before the
Closing Date.
“Proceeding” means any action, suit, litigation, arbitration, lawsuit, claim, proceeding
(including any civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or appellate proceeding and any
informal proceeding), prosecution, contests, hearing, inquiry, inquest, audit, examination,
investigation, challenge, controversy or dispute commenced, brought, conducted or heard by or
before, or otherwise involving, any Governmental Authority or any arbitrator.
“Qualified Indebtedness” means the funded bank debt owed by the Companies under the Comerica
Facility in the expected amount of $37,000,000.
“Regulations” means the Treasury Regulations, including Temporary Regulations, promulgated by
the United States Treasury Department under the Code.
“Representatives” means a Person’s directors, officers, employees, agents or advisors
(including, without limitation, attorneys, accountants, consultants, bankers, financial advisors
and any representatives of those advisors).
“Restructuring” has the meaning provided such term in Section 7.2.
“Restricted Territory” has the meaning provided such term in Section 6.9(a).
“Retained Employees” has the meaning provided such term in Section 6.5.
“Retained Interests” means all membership and partnership interests of the Retained
Subsidiaries.
“Retained Subsidiaries” means Laser Gas; Laser Gas Company II, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company; Laser Marketing Company, LP, a Texas limited partnership; and Laser Pipeline
Company, LP, a Texas limited partnership, and Laser Gathering Company II, LLC, Delaware limited
liability company.
“SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
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“SEC Reports” has the meaning provided such term in Section 5.8.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Seller” or “Sellers” has the meaning provided such term in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Seller Indemnified Parties” has the meaning provided such term in Section 9.2(b).
“Sellers’ Representative” means Laser Midstream II.
“Severance Payment” has the meaning provided such term in Section 6.5(a).
“Straddle Period” has the meaning provided such term in Section 7.4.
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, (a) any corporation, of which a majority of
the total voting power of shares of stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any
contingency) to vote generally in the election of directors thereof is at the time owned or
controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that
Person or a combination thereof or (b) any limited liability company, partnership, association or
other business entity, of which a majority of the partnership or other similar ownership interests
thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more
Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof. For purposes of this definition, a Person or
Persons will be deemed to have a majority ownership interest in a limited liability company,
partnership, association or other business entity if such Person or Persons will be allocated a
majority of limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity gains or
losses, or is or controls the managing member or general partner of such limited liability company,
partnership, association or other business entity.
“Systems” means the pipelines, gathering system, processing plants and related assets of the
Companies, including, but not limited to, those commonly known as Panola Gathering System, Rosewood
Gathering System, Xxxxx Xxxxx Gathering System, Quitman Gathering System, Simsboro Gathering
System, Vixen Gathering System, Sligo Gathering System, Greggton Gathering System, Willow Springs
Gathering System, McAllen Gathering System, Raymondville Gathering System, Phase 1 20” Gathering
System, San Xxxxxxx Gathering System, USDA Gathering System, Starr Feedlot Gathering System,
Harlingen Gathering System, Platinum Gathering System, Xxxxxx Gathering System, Xxxxxxxxx Gathering
System, Xxxxxxxxx
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Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx Gathering System, Loma Alta Gathering System, Jamax Gathering
System, Brownsville Gathering System, Merit JT Gathering System, WB Mission Gathering System, and
Kiewit Gathering System, along with the office operation located in Shreveport, Louisiana, Corpus
Christi, Texas and McAllen Texas.
“Tax” or “Taxes” means all taxes, assessments, charges, duties, fees, levies, imposts or other
similar charges imposed by a Governmental Authority, including all income, franchise, profits,
margins, capital gains, capital stock, transfer, gross receipts, sales, use, transfer, service,
occupation, ad valorem, real or personal property, excise, severance, windfall profits, customs,
premium, stamp, license, payroll, employment, social security, unemployment, disability,
environmental, alternative minimum, add-on, value-added, withholding and other taxes, assessments,
charges, duties, fees, levies, imposts or other similar charges of any kind, and all estimated
taxes, deficiency assessments, additions to tax, penalties and interest, whether disputed or
otherwise.
“Tax Returns” means any report, return, election, document, estimated tax filing, declaration,
claim for refund, information returns, or other filing with respect to any Taxes provided to any
Governmental Authority including any schedules or attachments thereto and any amendment thereof.
“Taxable Qualified Liability” has the meaning provided such term in Section
7.2(b)(iii).
“Third Party Claim” has the meaning provided such term in Section 9.4(a).
“United States” means United States of America.
1.2 Rules of Construction
(a) All article, section, schedule and exhibit references used in this Agreement are to
articles and sections of, and schedules and exhibits to, this Agreement unless otherwise
specified. The schedules and exhibits attached to this Agreement constitute a part of this
Agreement and are incorporated herein for all purposes.
(b) If a term is defined as one part of speech (such as a noun), it shall have a
corresponding meaning when used as another part of speech (such as a verb). Terms defined
in the singular have the corresponding meanings in the plural, and vice versa.
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Unless the context of this Agreement clearly requires otherwise, words importing the
masculine gender shall include the feminine and neutral genders and vice versa. The term
“includes” or “including” shall mean “including without limitation.” The words “hereof,”
“hereto,” “hereby,” “herein,” “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in this
Agreement, shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular section or
article in which such words appear.
(c) With respect to the Companies the term “ordinary course of business” will be deemed
to refer to the ordinary conduct of the business in a manner consistent with the past
practices and customs of the Companies.
(d) The Parties acknowledge that each Party and its attorney have reviewed this
Agreement and that any rule of construction to the effect that any ambiguities are to be
resolved against the drafting Party, or any similar rule operating against the drafter of an
agreement, shall not be applicable to the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.
(e) The captions in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be considered
a part of or affect the construction or interpretation of any provision of this Agreement.
(f) All references to currency herein shall be to, and all payments required hereunder
shall be paid in, Dollars.
(g) All accounting terms used herein and not expressly defined herein shall have the
meanings given to them under GAAP.
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ARTICLE II
PURCHASE, SALE & CONTRIBUTION; CLOSING
2.1 Purchase, Sale and Contribution of Interests At the Closing, upon the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Sellers shall sell, assign, transfer and
convey to Buyer, and Buyer shall purchase and acquire from the Sellers, the Interests, free and
clear of any Liens other than Permitted Liens and Liens related to the Qualified Indebtedness and
transfer restrictions imposed thereon by applicable securities Laws.
2.2 Consideration at Closing. At the Closing, Buyer shall pay and/or deliver to the
Sellers in the manner set forth below, the following consideration (such consideration, the
“Closing Consideration”). The total Closing Consideration for the Interests shall be equal to
$136,725,000 (the “Consideration”) to be paid as follows:
(a) Cash Payment. Subject to the adjustments described in Sections 2.2(c)
and (g), below, at Closing, Buyer shall pay to the Sellers, by wire transfer of
immediately available funds to the accounts designated by the Sellers, an amount in cash
equal to the sum of $72,975,000 (the “Cash Payment”), as partial consideration for the
Interests.
(b) Other Consideration. At Closing, Buyer shall provide the following
consideration to the Sellers as partial consideration for the Interests:
(i) Buyer Units. Buyer shall deliver to the Sellers 1,407,895 Common
Units (the “Buyer Units”) having an agreed value of $26,750,000. Notwithstanding
the forgoing, if the average of the per unit closing prices of the Common Units on
the NASDAQ Global Market, as reported in the Wall Street Journal, for the five (5)
consecutive trading days ending on the trading day prior to the Closing Date is
below $18.00, the Sellers may, by written notice to Buyer, notify Buyer that the
Sellers elect to terminate this Agreement in accordance with Section 10.1
hereof on the date which is five (5) Business Days after the date of such notice.
If the Sellers make such election and provide the notice to Buyer as required above,
Buyer may elect on or before the expiration of such five (5) Business Day period to
pay the balance of the Consideration in cash and, if such
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election is made by Buyer, the Sellers will rescind their election to terminate
this Agreement. Notwithstanding the date of delivery of the Buyer Units, Sellers
hereby waive any and all rights to receive any distribution by Buyer relating to the
three month period ending March 31, 2007, whenever such distribution is declared and
regardless of whether Sellers acquire the Buyer Units prior to the setting of any
record date with respect to such distribution. The parties hereto agree that such
waiver is based on the fact that Sellers will not own any Buyer Units during the
three month period ending March 31, 2007 and not the result of any failure of Buyer
to fund such distribution to Sellers.
(ii) Assumption of Qualified Indebtedness. Buyer shall assume in full
all of the Qualified Indebtedness.
(iii) Retained Interests. The Sellers shall retain all, and not sell
or otherwise assign to Buyer any, of the Retained Interests.
(c) Estimated Working Capital Adjustment. At least five (5) Business Days
prior to the Closing Date, but not including the Closing Date, the Sellers shall prepare
and deliver to Buyer (i) an Estimated Closing Date Balance Sheet, which shall reflect the
best estimate of the Sellers of the consolidated assets and liabilities of the Companies
as of the Closing Date, and (ii) the written calculations of Estimated Working Capital
Adjustment (as defined below) of the Sellers, including the Estimated Closing Date
Working Capital. At least one (1) Business Day prior to the Closing Date, but not
including the Closing Date, Buyer shall deliver a response to the Sellers which includes
Buyer’s changes to the Estimated Closing Date Balance, prepared in good faith. If the
Parties cannot agree on the Estimated Working Capital Adjustment, the adjustment as
calculated by the Sellers shall control. If the Estimated Closing Date Working Capital
is less than zero, then the Consideration and the Cash Payment will be reduced
dollar-for-dollar by such difference. If the Estimated Closing Date Working Capital is
greater than zero, then the Consideration and the Cash Payment will be increased
dollar-for-dollar by an amount equal to such excess. Such decrease or increase, if any,
in the Consideration and the Cash Payment is hereinafter referred to as the “Estimated
Working Capital Adjustment.”
(d) Resale Registration Statement. Within ninety (90) days after the
Closing
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date, Buyer shall file a resale registration statement on Form S-1 or shall amend by
post-effective amendment any existing registration statement on Form S-1 to register the
resale of the Buyer Units under the Securities Act. Thereafter, Buyer shall use
commercially reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement or post-effective
amendment to be declared effective as soon as reasonably practical after the filing
thereof and to keep the registration statement continuously effective under the
Securities Act until all Buyer Units have been sold pursuant to such registration
statement or until Buyer Units are eligible to have restrictive legends removed under
Rule 144(k) as promulgated under the Securities Act; provided however, Buyer may suspend
or delay effectiveness of such registration statement or post-effective amendment if
allowed to and for such time as set forth in any registration rights agreement filed as
an exhibit to any report filed by Buyer with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Buyer further agrees to file a post-effective amendment to convert the registration
statement to a registration statement on Form S-3 under Rule 415 as promulgated under the
Securities Act within thirty (30) days of Buyer’s eligibility to use such Form S-3 for a
primary offering of securities. Additionally, the Sellers hereby agree that, without the
prior written consent of Buyer, neither Seller will, during the period commencing on the
Closing Date and ending 180 days thereafter (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell,
sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant
any option, right or warrant for the sale of, lend or otherwise dispose of or transfer,
directly or indirectly, any equity securities of Buyer, or any securities convertible
into or exercisable or exchangeable for equity securities of Buyer, or (ii) enter into
any swap or other arrangement that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or
indirectly, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any equity securities of
Buyer, whether any such transaction described in clause(i) or (ii) above is to be settled
by delivery of Common Units of Buyer or such other securities, in cash or otherwise;
provided, however, that the restrictions described in clauses (i) and (ii) shall not
apply to Common Units (a) transferred as a gift or gifts or as intra-family transfers or
transfers to trusts or family limited partnerships for estate planning purposes; provided
that any donee thereof agrees in writing to be bound by the terms of this Section
2.2(d) or (b) subject to bona fide pledges of securities or transfers to Affiliates,
provided the pledgee of such securities or the Affiliate agrees in writing to be bound by
the terms of this Section 2.2(d).
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(e) Escrow Deposit. The Cash Payment to be delivered at Closing shall be
reduced by the Escrow Deposit, which shall be delivered to the Escrow Agent at the
Closing and will be available to satisfy any amounts owed by the Sellers to Buyer, if
any, under this Agreement in accordance with the Escrow Agreement attached as Exhibit
B; provided, however, that the Sellers shall retain the right to vote any Buyer Units
and receive cash distributions on any Buyer Units which are held in the Escrow Account.
(f) Reimbursement for Capital Expenditures. The Parties recognize that the
determination of the Consideration to be paid by Buyer hereunder contemplated that the
capital expenditures of the Companies as set forth in the capital expenditure budget of
the Companies attached hereto as Exhibit C (the “Cap Ex Budget”) be made. To the
extent that such capital expenditures have not been spent prior to Closing, the
Consideration and the Cash Payment will be reduced by such amount. From and after the
Balance Sheet Date, the Companies will not undertake any capital expenditures other than
those set forth in the Cap Ex Budget. Any additional capital expenditures not previously
identified must be approved by Buyer in advance. The Consideration and the Cash Payment
paid at Closing shall be increased by the amount of the capital expenditures approved by
Buyer, excluding emergency or force majeure related capital expenditures.
(g) Qualified Indebtedness Adjustment. The amount of Qualified Indebtedness
(expected to be $37,000,000) assumed by Buyer shall be equal to the actual amount of
funded debt owed under the Comerica Facility on the Closing Date. The Consideration and
the Cash Payment paid at Closing shall be increased or decreased, as applicable, by the
amount of any differences between $37,000,000 and the actual amount of Qualified
Indebtedness on the Closing Date.
2.3 Post-Closing Adjustment for Final Net Working Capital and Qualified Indebtedness.
(a) Calculation of Final Working Capital.
(i) As soon as reasonably practicable following the Closing Date, and in any
event within ninety (90) days thereafter, Buyer shall prepare and deliver to
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the Sellers a Final Closing Date Balance Sheet and a calculation of the Final
Closing Date Working Capital (the “Final Calculations”).
(ii) The Sellers shall have the right to review and verify the Final Closing
Date Balance Sheet and the Final Calculations. Buyer shall provide the Sellers and
their Representatives reasonable access to the records and employees of the
Companies and shall cause the employees of the Companies to cooperate in all
reasonable respects with the Sellers in connection with their review of such work
papers and other documents and information relating to the Final Calculations as the
Sellers shall reasonably request and that are available to the Buyer and the Sellers
or their independent public accountants. If, within forty-five (45) days after the
Sellers’ receipt of the Final Calculations, the Sellers shall not have given written
notice to Buyer of objection thereto, then the Sellers shall be deemed to have
accepted the Final Calculations, which shall then be final, binding and conclusive
for all purposes hereunder. In the event that the Sellers give written notice of
any objection to the Final Closing Date Balance Sheet or the Final Calculations (an
“Objection Notice”) within such forty-five (45) day period, then the Sellers and
Buyer will use all commercially reasonable efforts to resolve the disputed matter(s)
within the thirty (30) day period following the delivery of such Objection Notice.
(iii) If, at the end of the thirty (30) day resolution period, the Parties are
unable to resolve any disagreement between them with respect to the preparation of
the Final Calculations, then each Party shall deliver simultaneously to BDO Xxxxxxx,
LLP (or if such firm is unwilling or unable to serve, another nationally recognized
accounting firm mutually agreed on by the Parties; the accounting firm ultimately
chosen, the “Accountants”) the Objection Notice and such work papers and other
reports and information relating to the disputed matter(s) as the Accountants may
request and shall be afforded the opportunity to discuss the disputed matter(s) with
the Accountants. The Accountants shall have thirty (30) days to carry out a review
and prepare a written statement of its determination regarding the disputed
matter(s) (including a statement regarding the Accountants’ determination of the
prevailing Party in any such disputed matter) which determination shall be final and
binding upon the Parties. Any fees and
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expenses of the Accountants incurred in resolving the disputed matter(s) shall
be borne equally by the Parties.
(b) Final Net Working Capital Adjustment. If the Final Closing Date Working
Capital is less than the Estimated Closing Date Working Capital, then the Sellers shall
promptly, but in any event within five (5) Business Days, pay such difference to Buyer in
cash by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account designated by Buyer.
If the Final Closing Date Working Capital is greater than the Estimated Closing Date
Working Capital, Buyer shall promptly, but in any event within five (5) Business Days,
pay such excess to the Sellers in cash by wire transfer of immediately available funds to
the accounts designated by the Sellers.
2.4 The Closing. The closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the
“Closing”) shall take place at the offices of Xxxxxxxx & Knight LLP, 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000,
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000, commencing on the earlier to occur of (i) April 30, 2007; (ii) the third
(3rd) Business Day following the satisfaction or waiver of all conditions to the obligations of the
Parties set forth in Article VIII; or (iii) such other date as permitted in this Agreement or as
Buyer and the Sellers may mutually determine (the date on which the Closing occurs is referred to
herein as the “Closing Date”).
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ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES RELATING TO THE SELLERS
Except as set forth on the Disclosure Schedules delivered by the Sellers to Buyer at or prior
to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, each section of which qualifies the
correspondingly numbered representation, warranty or covenant contained herein to the extent
specified therein, the Sellers jointly and severally represent and warrant to Buyer as follows:
3.1 Organization of Certain Sellers. Laser Midstream II is a limited partnership duly
organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation (or other formation). Laser GP is a limited liability company duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Texas. Laser Gas is a limited
liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State
of Delaware.
3.2 Authorization; Enforceability. Each Seller has full capacity, power and authority
(including full corporate or other entity power and authority) to execute and deliver this
Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder. This Agreement has been duly and validly
executed and delivered by the Sellers, and this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding
obligation of each Seller, enforceable against such Seller in accordance with its terms, subject to
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar
Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles
of equity.
3.3 No Conflict; Consents. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by each Seller and
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby by such Seller do not and shall not:
(a) violate any Law applicable to the Sellers or require any filing with, consent,
approval or authorization of, or notice to, any Governmental Authority;
(b) violate any Organizational Document of such Seller;
(c) require any filing with or permit, consent or approval of, or the giving of
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any notice to, any Person; or
(d) breach or trigger any right to purchase by or payment to any Person under any
Material Contract or other agreement to which Seller is a party or is bound; (i) result
in the termination of any Material Contract, or (ii) result in the creation of any Lien
upon any of the Interests, either upon the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby or after notice or lapse in time.
3.4 Ownership of Interests. Such Seller is the lawful owner, beneficially and of record of
the Interests in the respective Companies set forth in the Disclosure Schedule, free and clear of
any Liens or Encumbrances of any kind or nature, other than Liens related to the Qualified
Indebtedness. The Interests of the Companies set forth in the Disclosure Schedule constitute one
hundred percent (100%) of the limited and general partnership interests of the Companies. Upon
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, Buyer will acquire good, valid and
indefeasible title to all the Interests of such Seller, free and clear of any Liens or
Encumbrances.
3.5 Litigation. As of the date of this Agreement (a) there are no lawsuits or actions
before any Governmental Authority pending or, to the Knowledge of any Seller, threatened in writing
against any Seller that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the
ability of such Seller to perform its obligations under this Agreement, (b) there are no orders or
unsatisfied judgments from any Governmental Authority binding upon any Seller that would reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the ability of such Seller to perform its
obligations under this Agreement.
3.6 Disclosure. No representation or warranty made by the Sellers or any Company in this
Agreement, and no statement of Seller or any Company contained in any document, certificate, or
other writing furnished or to be furnished by the Sellers or any Company pursuant hereto or in
connection herewith, contains or will contain, at the time of delivery, any untrue statement of a
material fact or omits or will omit, at the time of delivery, to state any material fact necessary
in order to make the statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances under which they
are made, not misleading. The Sellers know of no matter which has not been disclosed to Buyer
pursuant to this Agreement which has or, so far as the Sellers can now reasonably foresee, will
have a Material Adverse Effect. The Sellers have delivered or made available to Buyer accurate and
complete copies of all agreements, documents, and other writings referred to or listed in this
Agreement or in the Disclosure Schedules.
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3.7 Solvency. Each Seller is now, and will be at Closing, solvent and will not be rendered
insolvent by any of transactions described hereunder.
3.8 Securities Representations.
(a) Each Seller is acquiring the Buyer Units for its own account and not with a view
to, or for offer of resale in connection with, a distribution thereof, within the meaning
of the Securities Act. In acquiring the Buyer Units, such Seller is not offering or
selling, and will not offer or sell, for himself or itself in connection with any
distribution of the Buyer Units, and such Seller does not have a participation in and
will not participate in any such undertaking or in any underwriting of such an
undertaking except in compliance with applicable federal and state securities Laws.
(b) Each Seller is an “accredited investor” as such term is defined under Regulation
D promulgated under the Securities Act. Additionally, each Seller acknowledges that he
or it is able to fend for itself, can bear the economic risk of its investment in the
Buyer Units, and has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters
similar to the transaction described herein such that it is capable of evaluating the
merits and risks of an investment in the Buyer Units.
(c) Further, each Seller understands that such Buyer Units will not have been
registered pursuant to the Securities Act or any applicable state securities Laws, that
the Buyer Units, when issued, will be characterized as “restricted securities” under
federal securities Laws, and that under such Laws and applicable regulations the Buyer
Units cannot be sold or otherwise disposed of without registration under the Securities
Act or an exemption therefrom. Each such Seller represents that he or it is familiar
with Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, as currently in effect, and
understands the resale limitations imposed thereby and by the Securities Act. Stop
transfer instructions may be issued to the transfer agent for securities of the Buyer (or
a notation may be made in the appropriate records of the Buyer) in connection with the
Buyer Units issued hereunder. It is agreed and understood by such Seller that, should
any certificate be issued representing any of the Buyer Units, each such certificate
shall conspicuously set forth on the face or back thereof, in addition to any legends
required
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by applicable Law or other agreement, a legend in substantially the following form:
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED
PURSUANT TO THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
LAWS. SUCH SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED UNLESS THEY
ARE FIRST REGISTERED PURSUANT TO THAT ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS
OR UNLESS EAGLE ROCK ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P. RECEIVES A WRITTEN OPINION OF
COUNSEL, WHICH OPINION AND COUNSEL ARE SATISFACTORY TO THE CORPORATION, TO THE
EFFECT THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.
Each Seller represents and acknowledges that Buyer is issuing the Buyer Units pursuant
to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act based on the
representations provided by the Sellers hereunder.
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ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES RELATED TO THE COMPANIES
Except as set forth on the Disclosure Schedules delivered by the Sellers to Buyer at or prior
to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, each section of which qualifies the
correspondingly numbered representation, warranty or covenant contained herein to the extent
specified therein, each Seller and Laser Midstream, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to
Buyer as follows:
4.1 Organization. Each of the Companies is duly organized, validly existing, and in good
standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation (or other formation) and has the
requisite organizational power and authority (including full corporate or other entity power and
authority) to own or lease its assets and to conduct its business as it is now being conducted.
Each of the Companies is duly licensed or qualified in each jurisdiction in which the ownership or
operation of its assets or the character of its activities are such as to require it to be so
licensed or qualified, except where the failure to be so licensed or qualified would not reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Companies taken as a whole. The Sellers have
made available to Buyer true copies of all existing Organizational Documents of the Companies.
4.2 No Conflict; Consents. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Laser Midstream
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby by Laser Midstream do not and shall
not:
(a) violate any Law applicable to the Companies or require any filing with, consent,
approval or authorization of, or notice to, any Governmental Authority;
(b) violate any Organizational Document of the Companies;
(c) require any filing with or permit, consent or approval of, or the giving of any
notice to, any Person, except as required by the HSR Act; or
(d) (i) breach any Material Contract to which any Company is a party or by which any
Company may be bound, (ii) result in the termination of any such Material
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Contract, (iii) result in the creation of any Lien under any Material Contract or
(iv) constitute an event that, after notice or lapse of time or both, would result in any
such breach, termination or creation of a Lien.
4.3 Capitalization.
(a) The Interests constitute all of the issued and outstanding equity interests of
the Companies. The Interests are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid,
nonassessable and are free and clear of any Lien or other limitation or restriction
(including any restriction on the right to vote, sell or otherwise dispose of such
Interests, subject only to applicable securities Laws), other than Liens related to the
Qualified Indebtedness and except as set forth in the Organizational Documents of the
Companies.
(b) There are no (i) outstanding membership interests, equity interests or other
securities of the Companies other than the Interests, (ii) outstanding securities of the
Companies convertible into, exchangeable or exercisable for membership interests, equity
interests or other securities of such entity, (iii) authorized or outstanding options,
warrants or other rights to purchase or acquire from the Companies, or obligations of the
Companies to issue, any equity interests or other securities, including securities
convertible into or exchangeable for membership interests or other securities of such
entity, or (iv) authorized or outstanding bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness
that entitles the holders to vote (or convertible or exercisable for or exchangeable into
securities that entitle the holders to vote) with holders of units or interests of the
Companies on any matter (the items in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) being referred to
collectively as the “Company Securities”). There are no outstanding obligations of the
Companies to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any Company Securities, except as
set forth in the Organizational Documents of the Companies.
(c) Except as described in the Disclosure Schedules, none of the Companies (i) owns,
directly or indirectly, any capital stock, equity interests or other securities of any
Person, or (ii) has any Subsidiaries.
4.4
Litigation. No Company is (a) subject to any outstanding
injunction,
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judgment, order, decree, ruling, or charge or, (b) a party to 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. To the Knowledge of the Sellers, no such
action, suit, proceeding, hearing or investigation has been threatened against any Company.
4.5 Financial Statements; Internal Controls; Undisclosed Liabilities.
(a) Section 4.5 of the Disclosure Schedules includes the following
consolidated financial statements (collectively, the “Financial Statements”): (i) audited
balance sheets together with the related statements of income (loss), changes in owners’
equity, and cash flows as of and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2005 for the
Companies and all of the Retained Subsidiaries (the “Audited Financial Statements”); and
(ii) (A) unaudited balance sheets together with the related statements of income (loss),
changes in owners’ equity, and cash flows as of and for the fiscal years ended December
31, 2006 for the Companies and all of the Retained Subsidiaries; and (B) consolidated
unaudited pro forma balance sheets, as of the Balance Sheet Date, and the statements of
earnings and statements of cash flow as of and for the one month period ended as of the
Balance Sheet Date, of the Companies other than the Retained Subsidiaries (collectively,
the “Unaudited Financial Statements”). The Financial Statements (including the notes
thereto) have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis
throughout the periods covered thereby and fairly present in all material respects the
financial condition of the Companies (and the Retained Subsidiaries as applicable) as of
such dates and the results of operations of the Companies (and the Retained Subsidiaries
as applicable) for such periods; provided, however, that the Unaudited Financial
Statements are subject to normal year-end adjustments and lack footnotes otherwise
required by GAAP. No Company is a party to any off-balance sheet arrangements that have
or are reasonably likely to have a current or future Material Adverse Effect on the
Companies taken as a whole.
(b) None of the Companies has received written notice from any Governmental
Authority concerning noncompliance with, or deficiencies in, such Company’s financial
reporting practices. All material transactions have been properly recorded in the
accounting records underlying the Financial Statements. There are no significant
deficiencies, including material weaknesses, in the design or operation of
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internal control over the financial reporting of the Companies. To the Knowledge of
the Sellers, no member of the management of the Companies or any other employee with a
significant role in the internal control of the Companies over financial reporting has
committed any act of fraud having a material effect on the Financial Statements.
(c) None of the Companies has received or otherwise had or obtained Knowledge of any
complaint, allegation, assertion or claim, whether written or oral, alleging fraud or
suspected fraud affecting such Company.
4.6 Taxes. Except as set forth in the Disclosure Schedules, (a) all Tax Returns required
to be filed by the Companies have (and as of the Closing Date will have) been timely filed (taking
into account any extension of time to file granted or obtained) for all Taxable periods and such
returns are correct in all respects, except where any such failure to file would not have a
Material Adverse Effect on the Companies taken as a whole, (b) all Taxes due on such Tax Returns
have been paid, will be timely paid prior to the Closing Date, or are adequately reserved against
in the Financial Statements, (c) there are no Liens on any of the assets of the Companies that
arose in connection with any failure to pay any Tax (other than Liens for Taxes not yet due and
payable), (d) there is no claim or adjustment pending by any Governmental Authority in connection
with any Tax, (e) no Tax Returns are under audit or examination by any Governmental Authority, (f)
there are no agreements or waivers currently in effect that provide for an extension of time with
respect to the filing of any Tax Return or the assessment or collection of any Tax, (g) no claim
has been made by any Governmental Authority in a jurisdiction where the Companies do not file a Tax
Return that it is or may be subject to taxation in that jurisdiction, (h) the Companies are not
parties to any Tax allocation or sharing arrangement, (i) the Companies have always been treated as
either partnerships or disregarded entities for federal income tax purposes and have not made an
election (nor will such election be made prior to the Closing Date) to be treated as an association
taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, (j) no Company is a “foreign person”
within the meaning of Section 1445 of the Code and the Regulations promulgated thereunder, (k) each
Company has complied in all material respects with all applicable Laws relating to the payment and
withholding of Taxes, and has duly and timely withheld and paid over to the appropriate
Governmental Authority all amounts required to be so withheld and paid under all applicable Laws,
and (l) at least 90% of the income of the Companies for the 12-month period preceding the Closing
Date has been, or is expected to be, “qualifying income” within the meaning of Code Section
7704(d).
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4.7 No Undisclosed Liabilities. None of the Companies has Indebtedness for Borrowed Money,
obligation or liability of any kind (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise, and
whether due or to become due) that would have been required to be reflected in, reserved against or
otherwise described on the Financial Statements or in the notes thereto in accordance with GAAP
(although the Unaudited Financial Statements are subject to normal year-end adjustments and lack
footnotes otherwise required by GAAP), that (a) is not shown on the Financial Statements or the
notes thereto or (b) was not incurred in the ordinary course of business since the Balance Sheet
Date.
4.8 Absence of Certain Changes. From the Balance Sheet Date until the date of this
Agreement, (a) there has not been any Material Adverse Effect on the Companies taken as a whole and
(b) the business of the Companies taken as a whole has been conducted, only in the ordinary course.
4.9 Contracts.
(a) Schedule 4.9 contains a true and complete listing of the following
Contracts in effect on the date of this Agreement and to which any Company is a party
(each such Contract being a “Material Contract” and together the “Material Contracts”):
(i) except for any intercompany indebtedness that will be cancelled prior to
Closing, each Contract for Indebtedness for Borrowed Money;
(ii) each natural gas purchase, sale, transportation, gathering and processing
services Contract;
(iii) each Contract involving a remaining commitment by any Company to
undertake capital expenditures in excess of $50,000;
(iv) each Contract for lease of personal property or real property (but
excluding easements and rights of way which are described in Section 4.17 of
the Disclosure Schedules) that involves aggregate annual payments in excess of
$50,000 ;
(v) each employment Contract;
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(vi) except for Contracts of the nature described in clause (ii) above, each
Material Contract between any Company or an Affiliate of such Company on the one
hand, and another Company, on the other hand, that will survive the Closing and that
cannot be cancelled by either Company upon thirty (30) days or less notice without
payment penalty;
(vii) each Contract pursuant to which any Company acquired assets or a business
as a going concern;
(viii) each Contract regarding the construction or operation of the assets and
business owned by any Company;
(ix) each Contract that provides for a limit on the ability of any Company to
compete in any line of business or with any person or in any geographic area during
any period of time after Closing; and
(x) except for Contracts of the nature described in clauses (i) through (vii)
above, each contract involving aggregate payments by or to any Company in excess of
$50,000 in any future calendar year that cannot be terminated by any Company upon 60
days or less notice without payment penalty.
(b) True and complete copies of all Material Contracts have been made available to
Buyer.
(c) Each Material Contract (other than such Material Contracts with respect to which
all performance and payment obligations have been fully performed or otherwise discharged
by the Companies thereto prior to the Closing) (i) is in full force and effect and (ii)
represents the legal, valid and binding obligation of the applicable Company party
thereto and, to the Knowledge of the Sellers and Laser Midstream, represents the legal,
valid and binding obligation of the other parties thereto, in each case enforceable in
accordance with its terms. No Company is in material breach of any Material Contract,
and no Company has received any written or, to the Knowledge of the Sellers and Laser
Midstream, oral notice of termination or breach of any Material Contract.
4.10 Intellectual Property.
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(a) The Companies own or have the right to use pursuant to license, sublicense,
agreement or otherwise all items of Intellectual Property required in the operation of
their business as presently conducted;
(b) no party has asserted in writing against any Company a claim that such Company
is infringing on the Intellectual Property of such third party; and
(c) to the Knowledge of the Sellers and Laser Midstream, no third party is
infringing on the Intellectual Property owned by any Company. Section 4.10 of
the Disclosure Schedules sets forth a list of all software licenses to which such Company
is a party and all Intellectual Property used by such Company.
4.11 Employee Benefit Plans.
(a) The Employee Benefit Plans established, maintained, contributed to, or required
to be contributed to by any Company or any entity with which such Company is considered a
single employer under Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code (an “ERISA Affiliate”)
or with respect to which any Company or any ERISA Affiliate has any liability (contingent
or otherwise) are set forth on Schedule 4.11(a). As used in this Agreement,
“Employee Benefit Plan” means any plan, program, policy, practice, agreement or other
arrangement providing compensation or benefits in any form to any current or former
employee, co-employee, independent contractor, officer or director of any Company or any
ERISA Affiliate or any beneficiary or dependent thereof, whether written or unwritten,
formal or informal, including any “employee welfare benefit plan” within the meaning of
Section 3(1) of ERISA (“Employee Welfare Benefit Plan”), any “employee pension benefit
plan” within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA (whether or not such plan is subject to
ERISA) (“Employee Pension Benefit Plan”) and any other pension, profit sharing, bonus,
incentive compensation, deferred compensation, vacation, sick pay, stock purchase, stock
option, phantom equity, equity compensation, severance, employment, consulting,
unemployment, hospitalization or other medical, life or other insurance, long or
short-term disability, change of control, fringe benefit or any other similar plan,
program or policy.
(b) With respect to each Employee Benefit Plan, the Companies have provided Buyer
with a true, correct and complete copy of: (i) each writing constituting
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a part of such Employee Benefit Plan (including, but not limited to, the plan
document(s), adoption agreement, prototype or volume submitter documents, trust
agreement, annuity contract, third party administrative contracts and insurance
contracts) and all amendments thereto; (ii) the three most recent Annual Reports (Form
5500 Series) including all applicable schedules, if required; (iii) the current summary
plan description and any material modifications thereto, if required to be furnished
under ERISA, or any written summary provided to participants with respect to any plan for
which no summary plan description exists; (iv) all notices received by any Company or any
ERISA Affiliate by the IRS, Department of Labor, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or
other governmental agency relating to such Employee Benefit Plan; and (v) a written
description of each oral Employee Benefit Plan.
(c) No Employee Benefit Plan is intended to be “qualified” within the meaning of
Section 401(a) of the Code, and the only Employee Pension Benefit Plan maintained by the
Companies and their ERISA Affiliates is a simple retirement account program that is
intended to meet the requirements of Section 408(p) of the Code. The Companies do not
maintain, contribute to or have any liability under a nonqualified deferred compensation
plan subject to Section 409A of the Code.
(d) No Employee Welfare Benefit Plan is subject to Sections 419A(b) and 419A(c) of
the Code. All Employee Welfare Benefit Plans required to comply with the health care
continuation coverage (“COBRA”) provisions of ERISA and the Code or similar state Laws
have complied with such requirements.
(e) Each Employee Benefit Plan has been operated and administered in accordance with
its provisions and applicable Laws. All contributions required to be made to any
Employee Benefit Plan (or to any person pursuant to the terms thereof) have been timely
made or the amount of such payment or contribution obligation has been reflected in the
Financial Statements. All such contributions to an Employee Benefit Plan representing
participant contributions have been made within the time required by applicable Law.
(f) The Companies and their Affiliates have complied, and are now in compliance with
all provisions of ERISA, the Code and all Laws and Regulations applicable to the
Employee Benefit Plans. Neither the Companies nor any of their
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Affiliates has engaged in any prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section
4975 of the Code or Section 406 of ERISA, as a fiduciary or party in interest with
respect to any Employee Benefit Plan which could reasonably be expected to result in any
liability, and, to the knowledge of Sellers and Laser Midstream, (i) no prohibited
transaction has occurred with respect to any Employee Benefit Plan and (ii) no fiduciary
has any liability for breach of fiduciary duty or any other failure to act or comply in
connection with the administration or investment of assets of any Employee Benefit Plan.
(g) Neither the Companies nor any entity that is or has been an ERISA Affiliate of
the Companies within the six years preceding the date of this Agreement has, within the
six year period preceding the date of this Agreement sponsored, maintained, or
contributed to any employee benefit plan subject to Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of
the Code. No current or former Employee Welfare Benefit Plan is a multiple employer
welfare arrangement as defined in Section 3(40) of ERISA. No current or former Employee
Pension Benefit Plan is a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 3(37)(A) of ERISA.
(h) The Companies and their Affiliates have not offered to provide life, health or
medical benefits or insurance coverage to any individual, or to the family members of any
individual, for any period extending beyond the termination of the individual’s
employment, except to the extent required by the COBRA provisions in ERISA and the Code
or similar provisions of state law, or death benefits for which premiums are paid solely
by the employee or death benefits that are part of a simple retirement account..
(i) The consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not,
either alone or in connection with termination of employment or any other event, (i)
entitle any current or former employee, co-employee, independent contractor, director or
officer of the Companies or their Affiliates to severance pay, any change in control
payment or any other payment, except as expressly provided in this Agreement, (ii)
accelerate the time of payment or vesting, change the form or method of payment or
increase the amount of compensation due, any such employee, co-employee, independent
contractor, director or officer, or (iii) result in the disallowance of a deduction under
Section 280G of the Code or an excise tax under Section 4999 of the
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Code with respect to any such payment. Neither the Companies nor any Affiliate of
the Companies has taken any action that would result in its incurring any obligation for
any payments or benefits described in subsections (i) or (ii) of this Section
4.11(i) (without regard to whether the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
are consummated) except to the extent required in a written contract or agreement in
existence as of the date of this Agreement or as provided in Section 6.5 of this
Agreement.
(j) As of the date of this Agreement, there are no suits, actions, proceedings,
investigations, claims or orders pending or, to the knowledge of Sellers or Laser
Midstream, threatened against any Company, any Affiliate of a Company or any Employee
Benefit Plan, related to any Employee Benefit Plan (other than claims in the ordinary
course of business). As of the date of this Agreement, no Employee Benefit Plan is
subject to any ongoing audit, investigation or other administrative proceeding of any
governmental entity, and no Employee Benefit Plan is the subject of any pending
application for administrative relief under any voluntary compliance program or closing
agreement program of the IRS or the Department of Labor.
(k) Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, each Company has the right to
amend or terminate each Employee Benefit Plan with respect to such Company and its
Affiliates at any time without incurring any liability other than with respect to
benefits that have already accrued, become payable or been incurred under an Employee
Benefit Plan.
(l) Except as provided in Section 6.5, neither any Company nor any ERISA Affiliate
of a Company has a formal plan, commitment or proposal, whether legally binding or not,
nor has any of them made a commitment to employees, co-employees, officers, directors,
consultants or independent contractors to create any additional Employee Benefit Plan or
modify or change any existing Employee Benefit Plan to increase benefits, and no such
plan, commitment or proposal is under serious consideration. To the knowledge of Sellers
or Laser Midstream, no events have occurred or are expected to occur with respect to any
Employee Benefit Plan that would cause a material change in the cost of providing the
benefits under such plan or would cause a material change in the cost of providing for
other liabilities of such plan.
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(m) Each Employee Benefit Plan that is a “group health plan,” as defined in Section
607(1) of ERISA, Section 5000(b)(1) of the Code or 45 C.F.R. Section 160.103, has been
operated at all times in compliance with the provisions of HIPAA and any applicable,
similar state law. As used in this Agreement, “HIPAA” means the provisions of ERISA and
the Code enacted by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996,
including any Regulations promulgate thereunder, and the regulations promulgated by the
United States Department of Health and Human Services as set forth in 45 C.F.R. Parts
160, 162, and 164.
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4.12 Environmental Matters. Except as set forth in Section 4.12 of the Disclosure
Schedules:
(a) To the Knowledge of the Sellers and Laser Midstream, the operations of the
Companies are in compliance with all Environmental Laws, which compliance includes the
possession and maintenance of, and compliance with, all material Environmental Permits;
(b) The Companies are not subject to any outstanding order, judgment or arbitration
award from any Governmental Authority under any Environmental Laws requiring remediation
of any Constituents of Concern or the payment of any material fine or penalty; and
(c) The Companies are not subject to any action pending or threatened in writing,
whether judicial or administrative, alleging noncompliance with or potential liability
under any Environmental Law.
4.13 Compliance with Laws; Permits.
(a) To the Knowledge of the Sellers and Laser Midstream, the Companies are in
compliance with all applicable Laws. Notwithstanding any provision in this Section
4.13 (or any other provision of this Agreement) to the contrary, Section 4.11
and Section 4.12, shall be the exclusive representations and warranties with
respect to employee benefits and environmental issues, as well as related matters, and no
other representations or warranties are made with respect to such matters, including
without limitation pursuant to this Section 4.13.
(b) The Companies possess all Permits necessary to own their respective assets and
operate their respective business as currently conducted. All such Permits are in full
force and effect. There are no lawsuits or other proceedings pending or, to the
Knowledge of the Sellers, threatened in writing before any Governmental Authority that
seek the revocation, cancellation, suspension or adverse modification thereof. Each
Company has complied with all requirements and has taken all actions necessary to obtain
and maintain the applicable Permits in full force and effect.
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4.14 Insurance. Section 4.14 of the Disclosure Schedules contains a summary description of
all material policies of property, fire and casualty, product liability, workers’ compensation and
other insurance held by or for the benefit of any Company as of the date of this Agreement. All
policies are in effect, and no Company has received any rejected claim notice, any notice of
cancellation. To the Knowledge of the Sellers and Laser Midstream, all policies are capable of
being renewed in substantially the same coverages and coverage amounts upon payment of a reasonably
similar premium payment.
4.15 Labor Relations; Employment Matters.
(a) Section 4.15(a) of the Disclosure Schedules identifies all Employees by
name; employer; position or job title; initial date of hire; seniority or service credit
date if different from initial date of hire; status (whether active or on leave absence,
and if on leave, the type of leave); compensation by type (base salary, commission,
bonus, and the like); and accrued but unused vacation, sick or other paid leave and the
rate at which such paid leave is accrued.
(b) Except as set forth in the Disclosure Schedules, (i) no Company is a party to,
bound by, or negotiating any collective bargaining agreement or other labor union
contract; (ii) there are no current or to the Knowledge of the Sellers and Laser
Midstream, threatened organizational campaigns, petitions or other unionization
activities with respect to the Employees and there have not been any such activities
within the past three (3) years; (iii) there is no current, pending, or, to the Knowledge
of the Sellers and Laser Midstream, threatened strikes, disputes, slowdowns, work
stoppages or other labor controversy involving any Company or the Employees and there
have not been any such activities within the past three (3) years; (iv) there are no
unfair labor practice complaints or any union representation questions or certification
petitions involving any Company or any Employee pending before the National Labor
Relations Board and there have been no such complaints, questions or petitions within the
last three (3) years.
(c) Except as set forth in the Disclosure Schedules, (i) no Company is a party to
any Contract or agreement of employment or to provide consulting or personal services
that cannot be terminated at will without notice by and at no expense to such Company;
(ii) each Company has timely paid or made provision for payment of, and
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has properly accrued for in the Financial Statements, all accrued salaries, wages,
commissions, bonuses, severance pay, vacation, sick, and other paid leave with respect to
any current or former employee or on account of employment; (iii) no severance payment,
stay-on or incentive payment, change-in-control payment, vacation, sick or other paid
leave payment, or similar payment or obligation will be owed by any Company to any
director, officer, Employee or other persons upon consummation of, or as a result of, the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, nor will any such director, officer,
Employee or other person be entitled to any such payments a result of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement in the event of the subsequent termination of his or her
employment or relationship; (iv) no current or former employee or person claiming to be
or have been an employee has a right to be recalled, reinstated, or restored to
employment under any agreement, law, or policy or practice of any Company; (v) no Company
is a party to, or otherwise bound by, any Order or settlement with respect to any current
or former employee, the terms and conditions of employment, or the working conditions of
any employee; (vi) no Company has or is required by applicable Law to have an affirmative
action plan; (vii) each Company has complied with the Older Workers’ Benefit Protection
Act with respect to any waivers of liability under the Age Discrimination in Employment
Act obtained by it in the last 300 days; and (viii) no Company has had a “plant closing”
or “mass layoff” as those terms are defined in the Worker Adjustment and Retraining
Notification Act (“WARN”) within the last four year (4) years.
(d) Each Company has complied, and is in compliance, with all Laws (including the
common law) relating to employment and employment practices, terms and conditions of
employment, labor relations, wages, hours of work and overtime, worker classification,
employment-related immigration and authorization to work in the United States,
occupational safety and health, and privacy of health information. There are no pending
or, to the Knowledge of the Sellers and Laser Midstream, threatened Proceedings of any
kind and in any forum by or on behalf of any present or former employee, applicant,
person claiming to be an employee, or any classes of the foregoing, alleging or
concerning a violation of, or compliance with, any Law (including the common law)
relating to employment and employment practices, terms and conditions of employment,
labor relations, wages, hours of work and overtime, worker classification,
employment-related immigration and authorization to work in
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the United States, occupational safety and health, or privacy of health information,
and there have been no such Proceedings within the past three (3) years. There is no
current or, to the Knowledge of the Sellers and Laser Midstream, threatened Proceeding in
any forum in which any current or former director, officer, Employee or agent of any
Company is or may be entitled to indemnification. No Company has breached and is not in
breach of any Contract for the employment of any individual on a full-time, part-time,
consulting, or other basis.
4.16 Books and Records. The books of account, minute books, membership interest transfer
books and other records of the Companies, all of which have been made available to the Buyer, are
(i) complete and correct, (ii) accurately and fairly reflect in reasonable detail the transactions
and dispositions of the assets of the issuer; and (iii) maintained in accordance with a system of
internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (a) transactions are
executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (b) transactions are
recorded as necessary (I) to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles and (II) to maintain accountability for assets; (c) access
to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and
(d) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable
intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. The minute books of the
Companies contain accurate and complete records of all meetings held of and action taken by the
members and managers of the Companies and no meeting of such members or of any such managers has
been held for which minutes have not been prepared and are not contained in such minute books. At
the Closing, all of those books and records will be in the possession of the Sellers.
4.17 Title to Properties and Related Matters.
(a) Section 4.17(a) of the Disclosure Schedules describes the Systems along with all
real property, leaseholds or other interests in real property owned by the Companies.
The Sellers have delivered or made available to the Buyer copies of the deeds and other
instruments (as recorded) by which the applicable Company acquired the Systems and such
real property and interests, and copies of all title insurance policies, opinions,
abstracts and surveys in the possession of such Company and relating to such property or
interests.
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(b) Other than Permitted Liens, the interests of the Companies in and to the Systems
are now, and will be at Closing, free and clear of all Encumbrances.
(c) Subject to the completion of the Restructuring, the Companies own, with good and
indefeasible title in the case of real property, and good title with respect to all other
assets, including, but not limited to the Systems, subject only to the Permitted Liens,
all the properties and assets (real, personal and mixed, tangible and intangible)
reflected as owned in the books and records of the applicable Company, including, but not
limited to, all the properties and assets reflected in the balance sheet (except for
assets held under capitalized leases disclosed and personal property sold since the
Balance Sheet Date in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice),
and all the properties and assets purchased or otherwise acquired by the applicable
Company since the Balance Sheet Date (except for personal property acquired and sold
since the Balance Sheet Date in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past
practice). All tangible assets are in good working condition, except for normal wear and
tear and except for such assets not in good working condition and have been maintained in
accordance with standard industry practice and the assets sufficient to allow each
Company to conduct its business immediately after the Closing Date consistent with
historical operations of the Companies.
(d) All buildings, plants and structures owned by the Companies lie wholly within
the boundaries of the real property owned by the applicable Company and do not encroach
upon the property of, or otherwise conflict with the property rights of, any other
Person.
4.18 Brokers’ Fees. No broker, finder, investment banker or other Person is entitled to
any brokerage fee, finders’ fee or other commission in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements made by any Company.
4.19 Company Guaranties. Section 4.19 of the Disclosure Schedules contains a
complete and accurate list of all Company Guaranties necessary to operate the business and assets
of the Companies. No Company has Knowledge of any proposed increase to the amount of any Company
Guaranty upon the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
4.20 No “Take or Pay”. There are currently no arrangements under any of the
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Material Contracts by which any Company will be obligated by virtue of a prepayment arrangement, a
“take-or-pay“ arrangement, a production payment or any other arrangement, to sell, transport or
deliver hydrocarbons at some future time without then or thereafter being entitled to receive full
payment therefor, or to make payment at some future time for hydrocarbons or the transportation or
the delivery of hydrocarbons purchased or transported prior to the date of this Agreement.
4.21 Pipeline Easements. No Company has received written notice of default or termination
from any third Person and neither the Sellers nor any Company have Knowledge of any deficiency in
any easement or right of way with respect to the entire route of all pipelines owned and used or
held for use with respect to any asset which is a gathering line, processing plant or related
facility which might result in a material impairment or loss of title to the real property of the
value thereof or which could hinder or impede the operations of the Systems or materially affect
the ability of Buyer to own and operate the Systems from and after Closing in the ordinary course
of business as conducted by the applicable Company prior to Closing. Other than sales or
assignments to customers, any Company has not sold or assigned any easement, in whole or in part,
or any undivided interest therein to any party whatsoever.
4.22 Pipeline Matters. Section 4.22 of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth summary
historical throughput data (but only to the extent any Company possess such throughput data) for
the period of January 1, 2006 through February 28, 2007, including volume information.
4.23 Insider Interests. No member, manager, partner, director, shareholder, officer,
employee, or Affiliate of any Company or any associate thereof is presently, directly or
indirectly, a party to any transaction with any Company, including, without limitation, any
agreement, arrangement, or understanding, written or oral, providing for the employment of,
furnishing of services by, rental of real or personal property from, or otherwise requiring
payments to any such member, manager, partner, director, shareholder, officer, employee, Affiliate,
or associate thereof. No member, manager, partner, director, shareholder, officer, employee, or
Affiliate of any Company (other than Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Xx. and Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx) or any
associate thereof owns, directly or indirectly, any interest in, or serves as a director, officer,
or employee of, any customer, supplier, or competitor of any Company. For purposes of this Section
only, an “associate” of any member, manager, partner, director, shareholder, officer, or employee
means (i) a spouse, parent, sibling, child, mother- or father-in-
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law, son- or daughter-in-law, or brother- or sister-in-law of such member, manager, partner,
director, shareholder, officer, or employee or (ii) any corporation, partnership, trust, or other
entity in which such member, manager, partner, director, shareholder, officer, or employee or
associate thereof has a substantial ownership or beneficial interest (other than an interest in a
public corporation which does not exceed three percent of its outstanding securities) or is a
director, officer, partner, or trustee or person holding a similar position.
4.24 FCC Licenses. None of the Companies are required to carry, hold, or maintain any
license, permit, certificate, approval, franchise, consent, waiver, registration, or other
authorization issued by the Federal Communications Commission.
4.25 Receivables. All receivables (including accounts and notes receivable, employee
advances, and accrued interest receivables) of the Companies as reflected on the Unaudited
Financial Statements or arising since the date thereof are valid obligations of the respective
makers thereof and have arisen in the ordinary course of business for goods or services delivered
or rendered, and, to the Knowledge of the Sellers and Laser Midstream, are not subject to any valid
defenses, counterclaims, or set offs, and have been collected or are collectible in full at their
recorded amounts in the ordinary course of business without resort to litigation or other
extraordinary collection efforts, net of all cash discounts and doubtful accounts as reflected on
the Unaudited Financial Statements (in the case of receivables so reflected) or on the books of the
Companies (in the case of receivables arising since the date thereof). The allowances for doubtful
accounts reflected on the Unaudited Financial Statements and on the books of the Companies were
determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and were and are reasonable
in light of historical data and other relevant information.
4.26 Bank Accounts and Powers of Attorney. Section 4.26 of the Disclosure
Schedules includes (i) the name and address of each bank or other financial institution with which
the Companies have an account or safe deposit box or vault, the account and safe deposit box and
vault numbers thereof, the purpose of each thereof, and the names of all persons authorized to draw
thereon or to have access thereto, (ii) the names of all persons authorized to borrow funds on
behalf of the Companies and the names and addresses of all entities from which they are authorized
to borrow funds, and (iii) the names of all persons, if any, holding proxies, powers of attorney,
or other like instruments from any Company. No such proxies, powers of attorney, or other like
instruments are irrevocable.
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4.27 Investments. The temporary cash investments reflected on the balance sheets included
in the Unaudited Financial Statements have maturities not more than 12 months from the date of
acquisition by a Company and consist of: (i) securities issued or guaranteed or insured by the
United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof; (ii) time deposit certificates
of deposit and banker’s acceptances of commercial banks organized under the Laws of the United
States of America or any state thereof with total assets of more than $50,000,000; (iii) commercial
paper issued by any person incorporated in the United States rated at least A-2 or the equivalent
thereof by Standard & Poor’s Corporation or at least P-2 or the equivalent thereof by Xxxxx’x
Investors Service, Inc.; or (iv) shares of money market funds substantially all of whose assets are
comprised of securities or assets of the type described in clauses (i) through (iii) above.
4.28 Illegal Payments. None of the Companies or any director, officer, employee, or agent
of the Companies has, directly or indirectly, paid or delivered any fee, commission, or other sum
of money or item of property however characterized to any broker, finder, agent, government
official, or other person, in the United States or any other country, in any manner related to the
business or operations of the Companies, which the Companies or any such director, officer,
employee, or agent knows or has reason to believe to have been illegal under any applicable Law.
4.29 Offerings of Securities. All securities which have been offered or sold by the
Companies have been registered pursuant to the Securities Act and applicable state securities Laws
or were offered and sold pursuant to valid exemptions therefrom. No registration statement,
prospectus, private offering memorandum, or other information furnished (whether in writing or
orally) to any offeree or purchaser of such securities, at the time such registration statement
became effective (in the case of a registered offering) or at the time of delivery of such
registration statement, prospectus, private offering memorandum, or other information, contained
any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary in order to make the statements contained therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Companies have no obligation to
register any of their securities under the Securities Act.
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ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES RELATING TO BUYER
Buyer hereby represents and warrants to the Sellers as follows:
5.1 Organization. Buyer is a limited partnership duly organized, validly existing and in
good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware and has the requisite organizational power
and authority to own or lease its assets and to conduct its business as it is now being conducted.
5.2 Authorization; Enforceability. Buyer has all requisite limited partnership power and
authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform all obligations to be performed by
it hereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized and approved by Buyer, and
no other limited partnership proceeding on the part of Buyer is necessary to authorize this
Agreement. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Buyer, and this
Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of Buyer, enforceable against Buyer in
accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance,
reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject, as
to enforceability, to general principles of equity.
5.3 Capitalization. The Buyer Units, and the limited partner interests represented
thereby, are duly authorized in accordance with the Organizational Documents of Buyer and are
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and are free and clear of any Lien, other than
Permitted Liens, or other limitation or restriction (including any restriction on the right to
vote, sell or otherwise dispose of the Buyer Units, subject only to applicable securities Laws),
except as set forth in the Organizational Documents of Buyer. Except as set forth in the SEC
Reports, Buyer is not currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from making distributions with
respect of the Buyer Units or from repaying any loans or advances or from transferring any property
or assets to any of its Subsidiaries. The Common Units of the Buyer that make up the Buyer Units
conform to the description thereof in the SEC Reports.
5.4 No Conflict; Consents. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Buyer and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby by Buyer do not and shall
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not:
(a) violate any Law applicable to Buyer or require any filing with, consent,
approval or authorization of, or, notice to, any Governmental Authority;
(b) violate any Organizational Document of Buyer; or
(c) require any filing with or permit, consent or approval of, or the giving of any
notice to, any Person, except as required by the HSR Act.
5.5 Litigation. As of the date of this Agreement (a) there are no lawsuits or actions
before any Governmental Authority pending or threatened in writing against Buyer that would
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the ability of Buyer to perform its
obligations under this Agreement and (b) there are no orders or unsatisfied judgments from any
Governmental Authority binding upon Buyer that would reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect on the ability of Buyer to perform its obligations under this Agreement.
5.6 Brokers’ Fees. No broker, finder, investment banker or other Person is entitled to any
brokerage fee, finders’ fee or other commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement based upon arrangements made by any Company.
5.7 Financial Ability. Buyer has, through a combination of cash on hand and funds readily
and unconditionally available under existing lines of credit, funds sufficient to fund the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and satisfy all other costs and
expenses arising in connection therewith.
5.8 Independent Investigation. Buyer and its Representatives have undertaken an
independent investigation and verification of the business, operations and financial condition of
the Companies. Except for the representations and warranties made by the Sellers in this Agreement
or in any certificate or written statement furnished or to be furnished to Buyer pursuant to this
Agreement or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, the Buyer acknowledges that
there are no representations or warranties, whether oral or written, express or implied, as to the
condition (financial or otherwise), assets, liabilities, operations, business or prospects of each
Company, as to the accuracy or completeness of information obtained by Buyer during its
investigation of each Company, and in entering into and performing
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this Agreement, Buyer has relied and will rely solely upon its independent investigation of, and
judgment with respect to, each Company, its value and the Interests.
5.9 SEC Filings. Buyer has heretofore filed all forms, reports, registration
statements, definitive proxy statements, schedules and other materials with the SEC required to be
filed pursuant to the Exchange Act or other federal securities Laws since October of 2006. (the
“SEC Reports”). As of their respective dates, or, if applicable, the dates such SEC Reports were
amended prior to the date hereof, the SEC Reports (including, without limitation, all financial
statements included therein, exhibits and schedules thereto and documents incorporated by reference
therein) complied in all material respects with all applicable requirements (including but not
limited to the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act to the extent then in effect and applicable) of the Securities
Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and other federal securities Laws as of the date thereof.
The SEC Reports, when filed and as amended from time to time, did not contain any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in
order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading; provided, however, that no representation is made as to the accuracy of any
financial projections or forward looking statements, or the completeness of any information
furnished by Buyer to the SEC solely for purposes of complying with Regulation FD promulgated by
the SEC under the Exchange Act or other information that is treated by SEC regulations as not being
“filed” for the purposes of the Exchange Act. The financial statements of Buyer included in the
SEC Reports, including the related notes thereto including the related notes thereto (the “Buyer
Financial Statements”), when filed, fairly presented in all material respects the consolidated
financial position and the consolidated results of operations and cash flows of the Buyer as of the
dates thereof or for the periods presented therein.
5.10 Tax Status. Since its formation and through the date of this Agreement, Buyer
has been a partnership for federal income tax purposes and not taxed as a corporation under Code
Section 7704(a).
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ARTICLE VI
COVENANTS
6.1 Conduct of Business.
(a) From the date of this Agreement through the Closing, the Sellers shall cause the
Companies to operate their business in the ordinary course and, without limiting the
generality or effect of the foregoing, the Sellers will use their commercially reasonable
efforts to cause each Company to preserve intact its business and its relationships with
customers, suppliers and others having business relationships with such Company, in each
case in all material respects.
(b) Without limiting the generality or effect of Section 6.1(a) and except
for the Restructuring or as otherwise set forth on Section 6.1 of the Disclosure
Schedule, prior to the Closing, the Sellers shall cause each Company not to, and the
Sellers and each Company shall not take any action to permit any other Company to:
(i) amend its Organizational Documents;
(ii) liquidate, dissolve, recapitalize or otherwise wind up its business;
(iii) except as required by Law or in the ordinary course of business, (A)
grant or increase any bonus, salary, severance, termination or other compensation or
benefits or other enhancement to the terms or conditions of employment to any of its
employees (other than bonuses granted at or prior to the Closing in connection with
the transactions contemplated hereby and paid prior to the Closing or taken into
account in the determination of the Net Working Capital), (B) make any change in its
key management structure or (C) adopt, enter into or amend in any material respect
any Employee Benefit Plan;
(iv) change its accounting methods, policies or practices, except as required
by applicable Law;
(v) sell, assign, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of any material
non-current assets except pursuant to the terms of a Material Contract;
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(vi) make any capital expenditure other than as permitted in Section
2.2(f) hereof;
(vii) incur any indebtedness outside the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practices of any Company, other than in accordance with the Cap Ex Budget
attached hereto as Exhibit C;
(viii) merge or consolidate with, or purchase substantially all of the assets
or business of, or equity interests in, or make an investment in any Person (other
than extensions of credit to customers in the ordinary course of business);
(ix) issue or sell any equity interests, notes, bonds or other securities of
any Company (except for intercompany loans from or to the Sellers or their
Affiliates in the ordinary course of business), or any option, warrant or right to
acquire same;
(x) amend any Tax Return or settle or compromise any federal, state, local or
foreign Tax liability or enter into any agreement or preliminary settlement with any
Governmental Authority concerning Taxes; make any Tax election except elections
consistent with past practices and that are required to be made in connection with
Tax Returns filed for any Tax period ending on or prior to the Closing Date; file
with, or provide to, any Governmental Authority any waiver extending the statutory
period for assessment or reassessment of Taxes or any other waiver of restrictions
on assessment or collection of any Taxes; or
(xi) agree, whether in writing or otherwise, to do any of the foregoing.
6.2 Access. From the date hereof through the Closing, the Sellers shall afford Buyer and
its authorized Representatives reasonable access, during normal business hours and in such manner
as not to unreasonably interfere with normal operation of the business, to the properties, books,
contracts, records and appropriate officers and employees of the Companies and shall furnish such
authorized Representatives with all financial and operating data and other information concerning
the affairs of the Companies as Buyer and such Representatives may reasonably request. The Sellers
shall have the right to have a Representative present at all times during any such inspections,
interviews and examinations. Additionally, Buyer shall hold in confidence all such information on
the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the
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Confidentiality Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Buyer shall have no right of access to,
and the Sellers shall have no obligation to provide to Buyer, information relating to (i) bids
received from others in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (or similar
transactions) and information and analyses (including financial analyses) relating to such bids;
(ii) any information the disclosure of which would jeopardize any privilege available to the
Companies or the Sellers relating to such information or would cause the Companies or the Sellers
to breach a confidentiality obligation; or (iii) any information the disclosure of which would
result in a violation of Law. Buyer and the Sellers shall cooperate to ensure that the provision
of access hereunder to Buyer and its authorized Representatives shall comply in all respects with
the FERC’s Standards of Conduct for Transmission Providers set forth in 18 C.F.R. Part 37, et al.
6.3 Third Party Approvals. Buyer and the Sellers shall (and shall each cause their
respective Affiliates to) use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all material consents and
approvals of third parties that any of Buyer, the Companies, or their respective Affiliates are
required to obtain in order to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
6.4 Regulatory Filings.
(a) From the date of this Agreement until the Closing, the Parties shall, and shall
cause their respective Affiliates to:
(i) make or cause to be made the filings required by such Party or any of its
Affiliates under any Laws with respect to the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, including filings required under the HSR Act;
(ii) comply, as promptly as is reasonably practicable, with any requests
received by such Party or any of its Affiliates under the HSR Act and any other Laws
for additional information, documents or other materials;
(iii) cooperate with the other Party and furnish all information in such
Party’s possession that is necessary in connection with such other Party’s filings;
(iv) promptly inform the other Party of any communication from or to, and any
proposed understanding or agreement with, any Governmental Authority in respect of
such filings;
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(v) consult and cooperate with the other Party in connection with any analyses,
appearances, presentations, memoranda, briefs, arguments and opinions made or
submitted by or on behalf of any Party in connection with all meetings, actions and
proceedings with Governmental Authorities relating to such filings;
(vi) use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the expiration of the notice
or waiting periods under the HSR Act and, if applicable, any other Laws with respect
to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as promptly as is reasonably
practicable;
(vii) use commercially reasonable efforts to resolve any objections as may be
asserted by any Governmental Authority with respect to the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement; and
(viii) use commercially reasonable efforts to contest and resist any action or
proceeding instituted (or threatened in writing to be instituted) by any
Governmental Authority challenging the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
as in violation of any Law.
(b) If a Party intends to participate in any meeting with any Governmental Authority
with respect to such HSR Act filings, it shall give the other Party reasonable prior
notice of such meeting.
(c) In connection with any filing under the HSR Act, Buyer and Laser Midstream II
agree to split any filing fee equally. If this Agreement is terminated or the Closing
does not otherwise occur for any reason other than the fault of the Sellers, Buyer shall
be responsible for the entire filing fee.
6.5 Employee and Benefit Matters.
(a) From and after the date hereof, Buyer shall have the right to interview and
evaluate each of the Employees of the Companies for retention with Buyer. On or before
the date that is ten (10) Business Days after the date of this Agreement, Buyer shall
notify the Sellers in writing of the identities of any Employees that will not be
retained by Buyer after the Closing Date (“Non-Retained Employees”). On or before the
Closing Date the Sellers shall terminate the employment of all such Non-Retained
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Employees or transfer the employment of all such Non-Retained Employees to an entity
whose Interests are not being acquired by Buyer. Any severance payment or other
compensation due to any Non-Retained Employee as a result of such termination or transfer
of employment shall be the responsibility and liability of the Sellers and included as a
current payable in the Net Working Capital adjustment. Any obligation or liability with
respect to the Employees, or relating to employment or terms and conditions of
employment, arising on or before the Closing Date, and with respect to the Non-Retained
Employees, arising on or after the Closing Date, shall be the sole responsibility of the
Sellers, and the Sellers shall indemnify and hold harmless Buyer and its respective
Affiliates with respect to any such liability or losses. Any severance payment, other
compensation, or Loss resulting from the termination upon or after the Closing Date of
the employment of any Employee not designated by Buyer as a Non-Retained Employee in
accordance with the requirements of this Section 6.5(a) (each such Employee a
“Retained Employee”) shall be the responsibility and liability of Buyer. Except as
otherwise provided in this Section 6.5(a), the Sellers shall indemnify and hold
harmless Buyer and its respective Affiliates with respect to all Losses relating to or
arising out of Buyer’s designation of Non-Retained Employees and the employment, terms
and conditions of employment, termination, or transfer of the employment of Non-Retained
Employees (including any claim of discrimination or other illegality in such designation,
termination, or transfer). Except as expressly provided herein, Buyer shall be solely
responsible for all employee benefits, compensation and all other liabilities with
respect to the Retained Employees with respect to such Retained Employees’ service from
and after the Closing Date. On or before the first anniversary of the Closing Date, if
Buyer terminates the employment of any Retained Employee, other than for retirement,
voluntary resignation by the Retained Employee, death, Inability to Work, or Cause, or if
any Retained Employee terminates employment with Buyer for Good Reason, such Retained
Employee shall be entitled to receive upon termination a severance payment (the
“Severance Payment”)from Buyer in a lump sum amount equal to the Retained Employee’s
salary in effect on the Closing Date for six (6) months; provided, however, that the
payment of such Severance Payment shall be delayed for a period of six (6) months and two
(2) days after the Employee’s separation from service if such Retained Employee is a
“specified employee” as defined in, and such delay is required by, Section 409A of the
Code and guidance issued thereunder. Nothing in this Agreement obligates the Buyer
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or its Affiliates to retain the employment of any Retained Employee for any
specified period of time after the Closing Date or limits the right of Buyer or its
Affiliates to terminate the employment of any Retained Employee at any time, with or
without advance notice, and for any reason; provided, however, that Buyer shall provide
the Retained Employees with salary and benefits which are in the aggregate equal to the
salary and benefits provided to such Retained Employees by the applicable Company and
Buyer shall provide the Retained Employees with service credit for eligibility and
vesting purposes (but not for purposes of benefit accruals) under the employee benefit
plans, programs and policies of Buyer on the same basis as previously provided such
Retained Employees for service with the Companies and any predecessors under the Employee
Benefit Plans.
(b) The Companies shall cease making contributions to the simple individual
retirement accounts of the Retained Employees after the Closing Date, and the simple
individual retirement accounts for the Non-Retained Employees shall be assumed by Laser
Midstream II or one of its Affiliates as of the Closing Date. The Companies will have no
liability under or in connection with such individual simple retirement accounts.
(c) Prior to the Closing, Laser Midstream II will assume the Equity Participation
Plan maintained by Laser Midstream. The Companies will have no liability under or in
connection with such Equity Participation Plan.
6.6 Books and Records. From and after the Closing, Buyer shall preserve and keep a copy of
all books and records relating to the business or operations of the Companies on or before the
Closing Date in Buyer’s possession for a period of at least five (5) years after the Closing Date.
After such five (5) year period, before Buyer shall dispose of any such books and records, Buyer
shall give the Sellers at least ninety (90) days’ prior notice to such effect, and the Sellers
shall be given an opportunity, at their cost and expense, to remove and retain all or any part of
such books and records as the Sellers may select. Buyer shall provide to the Sellers, at no cost
or expense to the Sellers, full access to such books and records as remain in Buyer’s possession
and full access to the properties and employees of Buyer and the Companies in connection with
matters relating to the business or operations of the Companies on or before the Closing Date and
any disputes relating to this Agreement.
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6.7 Permits. The Companies shall provide all notices and otherwise take all actions
required to transfer or reissue any Permits, including those required under Environmental Laws, as
a result of or in furtherance of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Companies
shall cooperate with Buyer to provide information necessary to apply for such Permits.
6.8 Acquisition Proposals. From and after the date of this Agreement until the earlier of
the Closing or the termination of this Agreement, none of the Companies, or any Affiliate thereof
shall, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit, initiate, or knowingly encourage any Acquisition
Proposal (defined below) or (ii) engage in discussions or negotiations with, or disclose any
nonpublic information relating to the Companies to, any Person that is considering making or has
made an Acquisition Proposal. The Companies and their Affiliates shall immediately cease and cause
to be terminated any existing activities, discussions, or negotiations with any persons conducted
heretofore with respect to any Acquisition Proposal and shall promptly request each such Person who
has heretofore entered into a confidentiality agreement in connection with an Acquisition Proposal
to return to Seller and the Companies all confidential information heretofore furnished to such
person by or on behalf of any of the Sellers or any Company. If any of the Sellers, any of the
Companies or any of their respective Affiliates shall hereafter receive any Acquisition Proposal,
such Seller and such Company shall immediately communicate to Buyer that it has received an
Acquisition Proposal. The term “Acquisition Proposal”, as used herein, means any offer or proposal
for, or any indication of interest in, a merger, sale consolidation or other business combination
involving any Company or its assets or the acquisition of any equity interest in any Company, other
than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
6.9 Noncompetition and Nonsolicitation.
(a) The Sellers acknowledge that in consideration of the payment of the
Consideration, Buyer is purchasing the business, including complete ownership and control
of such business, which includes the inherent goodwill related thereto of the Companies.
Therefore, the Sellers agree that for a period commencing upon the Closing Date and
ending upon the six month anniversary thereof, the Sellers will not and will not permit
any Affiliate, directly or indirectly, either as an employee, employer, consultant,
agent, principal, partner, stockholder, corporate officer, director, or in any other
individual or representative capacity, engage or participate in any
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business or activity that is in competition in any manner whatsoever with the gas
transmission, gathering, producer services or processing business of the Companies or
Buyer at the date hereof within the geographical locations listed on Schedule 6.9
hereto (the “Restricted Territory”), provided, however that the Sellers may continue
through the ownership of the Retained Subsidiaries to operate any assets owned by, or
engage in the gas transmission, gathering, producer services or processing business of
the Companies or Buyer through, such Retained Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date.
(b) From the six month anniversary of the Closing Date through the third anniversary
of the Closing Date, the Sellers shall remain subject to the restrictions of Section
6.9(a), but in addition to the exemptions permitted by Section 6.9(a), the
Sellers and/or the Retained Subsidiaries may acquire, after the Closing Date, either
directly or indirectly, assets or contracts, or entities owning assets or contracts,
located within or relating to the Restricted Territory and related to the gas
transmission, gathering, producer services or processing business of the Companies or
Buyer; provided, however, that the Sellers and/or the Retained Subsidiaries shall be
prohibited from the use of such assets or contracts in competition with Buyer in the gas
transmission, gathering, producer services or processing business only within, but not
outside of, the Restricted Territory until the third anniversary of the Closing Date.
(c) The Sellers represent to Buyer that the enforcement of the restriction contained
in Section 6.9(a) and (b) would not be unduly burdensome to the Sellers
and that in order to induce Buyer to enter into this Agreement, the Sellers further
represent and acknowledge that each of them is willing and able to compete in areas other
than the Restricted Territory.
(d) The Sellers agree that a breach or violation of this covenant not to compete by
the Sellers shall entitle Buyer, as a matter of right, to an injunction issued by any
court of competent jurisdiction, restraining any further or continued breach or violation
of this covenant. Such right to an injunction shall be cumulative and in addition to,
and not in lieu of, any other remedies to which Buyer may show itself justly entitled.
Further, during any period in which either Seller is in breach of this covenant not to
compete, the time period of this covenant shall be extended for an amount of time that
such Seller is in breach hereof.
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(e) In the event that Sellers, during the period commencing on the Closing Date and
ending on the eighteen month anniversary of the Closing Date, desires to sell or exchange
(a “Disposition”) assets or contracts, or entities owning assets or contracts,
located within or relating to the counties or parishes which are or were part of the
Restricted Territory, Sellers shall have no right to make such Disposition without first
giving notice to Buyer of its desire to make such Disposition. If the Sellers either
have a bona fide offer from a third party for such Disposition or desire to solicit
offers from third parties for such Disposition, the notice shall contain a sufficient
description of the applicable assets, business plans, historical and future financial
data to allow Buyer to make a bona fide offer. Buyer may exercise its rights under this
Section 6.9(e) by delivering written notice within ten (10) Business Days of its
receipt of the notice of intent to make the Disposition sent by Sellers. The failure of
Buyer to exercise such right within such ten (10) Business Day period shall be regarded
as a waiver of its right to acquire the assets or contracts, or entities covered by the
Disposition Notice. If Sellers do not complete the Disposition within a period of six
(6) months after the initial notice from Sellers to Buyer, Sellers shall be required to
again comply with the provisions of this Section 6.9(e) before making a
Disposition.
(f) In addition to the restrictions set forth in Section 6.9(a) and
(b), each Seller shall not nor will it permit any Affiliate, for a period
commencing upon the Closing Date and ending upon the third anniversary thereof, either
directly or indirectly, (i) make known to any person the names and addresses of any of
the customers of the Companies or contacts of the Companies within the industry or any
other information pertaining to such customers or contacts or (ii) call on, solicit, or
take away, or attempt to call on, solicit, or take away, any of the customers of the
Companies provided, however, such Sellers shall be permitted to solicit or attempt to
solicit such customers for business outside the Restricted Territory. In addition, for a
period commencing upon the Closing Date and ending eighteen months thereafter, each
Seller shall not nor will it permit any Affiliate to recruit or hire or attempt to
recruit or hire, directly or by assisting others, any employee of any Company while they
are employed by such Company.
(g) The representations and covenants contained in this Section 6.9 on the
part of the Sellers will be construed as ancillary to and independent of any other
provision
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of this Agreement, and the existence of any claim or cause of action of the Sellers
against Buyer or any officer, director, or shareholder of Buyer, whether predicated on
this Agreement or otherwise, shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement by Buyer
of the covenants of the Sellers contained in this Section 6.9.
(h) If either Seller violates any covenant contained in this Section 6.9 and
Buyer brings legal action for injunctive or other relief, Buyer shall not, as a result of
the time involved in obtaining the relief, be deprived of the benefit of the full period
of any such covenant. Accordingly, the covenants of the Seller contained in this
Section 6.9 shall be deemed to have durations as specified above, which periods
shall commence upon the later of (i) the Closing Date and (ii) the date of entry by a
court of competent jurisdiction of a final judgment enforcing the covenants of the
Sellers in this Section 6.9.
(i) The parties to this Agreement agree that the limitations contained in this
Section 6.9 with respect to time, geographical area, and scope of activity are
reasonable. However, if any court shall determine that the time, geographical area, or
scope of activity of any restriction contained in this Section is unenforceable, it is
the intention of the parties that such restrictive covenant set forth herein shall not
thereby be terminated but shall be deemed amended to the extent required to render it
valid and enforceable.
(j) The covenants of the Sellers contained in this Section may be assigned by Buyer
to any person to whom the business of the Companies is transferred substantially as an
entirety, it being the intention of the parties hereto that such covenants shall inure to
the benefit of any successor to the business and assets of the Companies, with the same
force and effect as if such covenants had been made directly to such successor or
successors.
6.10 Owner Marks. From and after the Closing, Buyer shall have a limited right,
title, interest, and license to use the word “Laser” or any trademarks containing or comprising the
foregoing, or any trademark confusingly similar thereto or dilutive thereof (collectively, the
“Owner Marks”). From and after the Closing, Buyer agrees that it shall use commercially reasonable
efforts to (a) cause the Companies to cease using the Owner Marks in any manner, directly or
indirectly, except for such limited uses as cannot be promptly terminated
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(e.g., signage, e-mail addresses, and as a referral or pointer to the acquired website), and
to cease such limited usage of the Owner Marks as promptly as possible after the Closing and in any
event within 180 days following the Closing Date, (b) remove, strike over or otherwise obliterate
all Owner Marks from all assets and all other materials owned, possessed or used by the Companies
and (c) to cause any third parties using or licensing Owner Marks on behalf of or with the consent
of the Sellers, to remove, strike over or otherwise obliterate all Owner Marks from all materials
owned, possessed or used by such third parties.
6.11 Financial Statements. The Sellers shall use commercially reasonable efforts to assist
Buyer in preparing financial statements of the Companies in such form and covering such periods as
may be required by any applicable securities Laws to be filed with the SEC by Buyer as a result of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the acquisition of the Companies by Buyer. As
soon as available, the Sellers shall deliver to Buyer the audited financial statements for the year
ended December 31, 2006. The Sellers shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to assist
Buyer in obtaining the consent of the independent public accounting firm that prepared such audited
financial statements in order to include such audit financial statements in any registration
statement filed by Buyer.
6.12
Representation Letters. Each Seller shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to
cause the independent public accountants of the Companies to provide any consent necessary to the
filing of such financial statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission and to provide such
customary representation letters as are necessary in connection therewith.
6.13 NASDAQ Listing Agreement. Promptly after the Closing Date, Buyer shall file or
cause to be filed an additional listing application with the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC for approval
of listing the Buyer Units on the NASDAQ Global Market upon effective registration of the Buyer
Units with the SEC.
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ARTICLE VII
TAX MATTERS
7.1 Character and Treatment of Transaction.
(a) Sale Portion of Transaction. Buyer and the Sellers agree to treat the
sale of the Interests as set forth in Section 2.2(a) for U.S. federal income tax
purposes as a sale on the Closing Date of a portion of the Interests, all pursuant to
Regulations Section 1.707-3(a) and in accordance with Examples 1 and 6 of Regulations
Section 1.707-5(f).
(b) Contribution Portion of Transaction. Buyer and the Sellers agree to the
treat the contribution of the Interests not sold pursuant to Section 2.2(a) as a
contribution by the Sellers to the Buyer in exchange for Buyer Units pursuant to
Regulations Section 1.721-1 and the assumption of the Qualified Indebtedness pursuant to
Regulations Section 1.707-5(a)(1) subject to the following:
(i) Except as provided in Section 7.1(b)(ii) below, the Qualified
Indebtedness was incurred to acquire or make capital expenditures to property of the
Companies and is intended, and the parties expect it, to qualify as a “qualified
liability” under Regulations Section 1.707-5(a)(6).
(ii) Of the total $37,000,000 of Qualified Indebtedness, a portion of such
Qualified Indebtedness was incurred to acquire, and is allocable for Tax purposes
to, the Retained Interests and the Interests sold pursuant to Section
2.2(a), and will not qualify as a “qualified liability” under Regulations
Section 1.707-5(a)(6). The Sellers estimate such portion to be $2,506,000 and,
prior to Closing, shall advise Buyer in writing of the exact amount of such
Qualified Indebtedness that will not qualify as a “qualified liability” under
Regulations Section 1.707-5(a)(6).
(iii) Of the remaining $34,494,000 of the Qualified Indebtedness (all of which
is intended, and the Parties expect to qualify as a “qualified liability” under
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Regulations Section 1.707-5(a)(6)), approximately $25,559,000 thereof
(the “Taxable Qualified Liability”) will be treated, under Example 6 of
Regulations Section 1.707-5(f), as a taxable transfer of additional consideration to
Sellers pursuant to a sale of a portion of the Interests, with the remaining
approximately $8,935,000 thereof (the “Nontaxable Qualified Liability”) being
treated as a non-taxable assumption of that portion of the Qualified Indebtedness in
connection with the contribution of a portion of the Interests by Sellers to the
Buyer. Prior to the Closing, the Sellers shall advise the Buyer of the exact amount
of both the Taxable Qualified Liability and the Nontaxable Qualified Liability.
(c) Valuations & Allocations. All valuations and Consideration allocations
shall be as set forth in Section 7.1(c) of the Disclosure Schedules hereto,
particularly as follows (collectively, the “Allocation”):
(i) The Cash Payment shall be deemed to have acquired that portion of the
Interests set forth in Section 7.1(c) of the Disclosure Schedules.
(ii) The Consideration described in Section 2.2(b) shall be deemed to
have acquired that portion of the Interests set forth in Section 7.1(c) of
the Disclosure Schedules.
(iii) A portion of the Qualified Indebtedness shall be treated as currently
taxable consideration under Example 6 of Regulations Section 1.707-5(f) as set forth
on Section 7.1(c) of the Disclosure Schedule.
(d) Allocation Consistency. The Sellers and Buyer shall report the
transactions contemplated hereby on all Tax Returns, including, but not limited to Form
8594, for purposes of Code Sections 721 and 751, and for purposes of future allocations
under Code Section 704(c) in a manner consistent with Section 7.1(c) of this
Agreement and of the Disclosure Schedules hereto. If the Consideration is adjusted
pursuant Sections 2.2, 2.3, 2.4 or otherwise, then the Sellers shall
prepare such adjustment to Section 7.1(c) of this Agreement and of the Disclosure
Schedules which adjustment shall be submitted to Buyer, and the Sellers and Buyer shall
use their best efforts to agree on the final adjustment within 30 days after the
determination of the adjusted Consideration. Buyer and its Affiliates shall timely and
properly prepare,
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execute, file, and deliver all such documents, forms, and other information as the
Sellers may reasonably request in preparing any required adjustment to Section
7.1(c) of this Agreement and of the Disclosure Schedules. If, contrary to the intent
of the parties hereto as expressed in this Section 7.1(d), any Taxing authority
makes or proposes an allocation different from as set forth in Section 7.1(c) of
this Agreement and of the Disclosure Schedules hereto determined under this Section
7.1(d), the Sellers and Buyer shall cooperate with each other in good faith to
contest such Taxing authority’s allocation (or proposed allocation), provided, however,
that, after consultation with the party (or parties) adversely affected by such
allocation (or proposed allocation), the other party (or parties) hereto may file such
protective claims or Tax Returns as may be reasonably required to protect its (or their)
interests.
(e) Tax Treatment of Adjustments to Consideration. For Tax purposes, the
parties agree to treat all payments made under Sections 2.2(c), (f) and (g), and Section
2.3, or under any indemnity provision contained in this Agreement (including any Escrow
Deposit retained by Buyer), or for breaches of representations, warranties, covenants or
agreements, as adjustments to the Cash Payment.
7.2 Pre-Closing Restructuring. Prior to Closing, the Companies shall cause the
transfers outlined in Section 7.2 of the Disclosure Schedules to occur (the
“Restructuring”), including the following:
(a) Transfer of Retained Subsidiaries. Ownership of the Retained
Subsidiaries shall have been transferred from Laser Midstream to Laser Midstream II;
(b) Transfer of Panola Gathering System. Laser Midstream shall have
transferred and conveyed to a Subsidiary of Laser Midstream all the assets and operations
associated with the Panola Gathering System;
(c) Section 754 Election. The Sellers shall have make or have made a
protective election under Code Section 754 for each Interest sold; and
(d) Neutral Tax Impact. All the transfers outlined in Section 7.2 of
the Disclosure Schedules shall be effected in a manner which does not result in a
negative Tax impact on any Company or Buyer.
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7.3 Post-Closing Tax Covenants. The Sellers and Buyer agree to the following
post-Closing covenants:
(a) Buyer covenants that for until the earlier of (i) the first anniversary of the
Closing Date, or (ii) the date that all of the Buyer Units transferred pursuant to
Section 2.2(b) have been sold in a transaction resulting in a basis adjustment
under Code Section 743 for the benefit of the transferee, that Buyer and its affiliates
will not dispose of any material asset or assets contributed to Buyer pursuant to
Section 2.2(b) if any such disposition or series of dispositions would accelerate
or increase income or other positive adjustments with respect to the Buyer Units
transferred to the Sellers pursuant to Section 2.2(b) provided, however, nothing
in the Section 7.3(a) shall prevent or prohibit an acquisition of or merger with
Buyer or a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of Buyer and its subsidiaries;
and
(b) The Sellers and Buyer agree, for the avoidance of doubt, that any accumulated
depreciation attributable to the Interests contributed in exchange for Buyer Units
pursuant to Section 2.2(b) will not be duplicated in computing any amounts under
Code Section 751(c) and 751(d).
7.4 Responsibility for Filing Tax Returns and Paying Taxes. The Sellers shall file
all Tax Returns required to be filed by or with respect to each Company for a Pre-Closing Tax
Period. For the avoidance of doubt, the Sellers shall cause to be prepared and timely filed the
final federal income Tax Return for Laser Midstream and the other Companies on IRS Form 1065 for
the period that ends on the Closing Date. The Sellers shall pay all Taxes owed with respect to a
Pre-Closing Tax Period with respect to Laser Midstream and each of the other Companies to the
extent such Taxes are not taken into account in the calculation of Estimated Closing Date Working
Capital. Except as provided in the following sentence, Buyer shall file all other Tax Returns
required to be filed by or with respect to Laser Midstream and each of the other Companies and
shall pay all other Taxes owed with respect to Laser Midstream and each of the other Companies or
any of their assets. Liability for Taxes for any Tax period that includes but does not end on the
Closing Date (a “Straddle Period”) shall be apportioned between Buyer and the Sellers as follows:
(i) property and similar ad valorem Taxes or franchise Taxes based solely on capital shall be
apportioned on a ratable daily basis; and (ii) all other Taxes, including income Taxes, shall be
apportioned based on an interim closing of the books of Laser Midstream and each of the other
Companies as of the Closing Date. For this purpose, any franchise Tax
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paid or payable with respect to any Company shall be allocated to the taxable period during
which the income, operations, assets or capital comprising the base of such Tax is measured,
regardless of whether the right to do business for another taxable period is obtained by the
payment of such Tax. Buyer and the Sellers shall each provide the other with all information
reasonably necessary to prepare a Tax Return. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Sellers shall be
solely responsible for all Taxes and Tax Returns with respect to the Retained Subsidiaries.
7.5 Responsibility for Tax Audits and Contests. The Sellers shall control any audit
or contest with respect to a Pre-Closing Tax Period and Buyer shall control any other audit or
contest; provided, however, that the Party with the greater potential Tax liability shall control
any audit or contest with respect to a year during which a Straddle Period occurs; provided
further, that the Party so in control of an audit or contest with respect to a Straddle Period
shall allow the other Party to participate at such other Party’s cost and expense. The Party in
control of an audit or controversy shall keep the other Party informed of the status of the audit
or controversy (including providing copies of correspondence and pleadings). Neither Buyer nor the
Sellers shall settle any audit or contest in a way that would adversely affect the other Party
without the other Party’s written consent, which the other Party shall not unreasonably withhold.
Buyer and the Sellers shall each provide the other with all information reasonably necessary to
conduct an audit or contest with respect to Taxes.
7.6 Tax Refunds. The Sellers shall be entitled to any refund of Taxes paid with
respect to a Pre-Closing Tax Period. Buyer shall be entitled to any refund of Taxes paid with
respect to a Post-Closing Tax Period. Refunds for a Straddle Period shall be apportioned based on
the Taxes that were paid by or on behalf of Buyer and the Sellers. If a Party receives a refund to
which the other Party is entitled, the Party receiving the refund shall pay it to the Party
entitled to the refund within two (2) Business Days after receipt.
7.7 Transfer Taxes. The Sellers shall be jointly responsible for state or local
transfer, sales, use, stamp, registration or other similar Taxes resulting from the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement including, but not limited to, the Restructuring. .
7.8 Disputes over Tax Provisions. The Accountants shall resolve any dispute between
Buyer and the Sellers over the calculation of Taxes and under this Article VII substantially in the
manner described in Section 2.4(a)(iii).
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7.9 No Limit on Indemnity. This Article VII shall be expressly subject to the limits
on indemnity set forth in Article IX hereof.
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ARTICLE VIII
CONDITIONS TO CLOSING
8.1 Conditions to Obligations of Buyer. The obligation of Buyer to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement is subject to the satisfaction of the following
conditions, any one or more of which may be waived in writing by Buyer:
(a) Representations, Warranties and Covenants of Sellers. (i) Each of the
representations and warranties of the Sellers made in this Agreement will be true and
correct in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing
(as if made anew at and as of the Closing), except that, to the extent any such
representation or warranty is qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, such
representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects, (ii) the Sellers
shall have performed or complied in all material respects with all of the covenants and
agreements required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by the Sellers on
or before the Closing, and (iii) each Seller shall have delivered to Buyer a certificate,
dated the Closing Date, certifying that the conditions specified in this Section
8.1(a) have been fulfilled;
(b) Third Party Consents; Governmental Approvals. Except as otherwise
provided herein, all consents, approvals or waivers, if any, disclosed on any schedule to
this Agreement or otherwise required in connection with the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been received. All of the consents,
approvals, authorizations, exemptions and waivers from Governmental Authorities that will
be required to enable Buyer to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
have been obtained;
(c) HSR Approval. The waiting period under the HSR Act applicable to the
consummation of the sale and purchase of the Interests contemplated hereby shall have
expired or been terminated;
(d) No Injunction, Etc. No provision of any applicable Law and no order
will be in effect that will prohibit or restrict the consummation of the Closing;
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(e) No Proceedings. No proceeding challenging this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby or seeking to prohibit, alter, prevent or materially
delay the Closing or seeking Losses from any Company incident to this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby, will have been instituted by any Person before any
Governmental Authority and be pending;
(f) Resignations of Officers and Directors. Buyer shall have received the
resignations (or evidence of removal) of each officer or director of each Company
effective as of the Closing;
(g) No Material Adverse Change. Since the Balance Sheet Date, there shall
not have been a material adverse change in the business, assets, results of operations,
or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Companies taken as a whole;
(h) Legal Opinions. Buyer shall have received an opinion of counsel for the
Sellers substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D;
(i) Financial Statements. Buyer shall have received (i) audited financial
statements for the year ended December 31, 2006 for the Companies and the Retained
Subsidiaries, and (ii) unaudited pro forma balance sheets as of February 28, 2007, and
the statements of earnings and statements of cash flow as of and for the two months ended
February 28, 2007, of the Companies other than the Retained Subsidiaries;
(j) Working Capital. Buyer shall have received the Estimated Closing Date
Balance Sheet and the Sellers’ written calculation of the Estimated Working Capital
Adjustment and shall have agreed to such Estimated Working Capital Adjustment, subject to
the terms of Section 2.2(b);
(k) Books and Records. Buyer shall have received all original books and
records of the Companies and control of all of the assets of the Companies;
(l) Transition Agreement. Laser Midstream II shall have executed and
delivered a Transition Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit E hereto pursuant
to which Laser Midstream II shall provide for the services described therein for a period
of ninety (90) days after Closing;
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(m) Restructuring. The Restructuring pursuant to Section 7.2 shall
have been completed;
(n) Escrow Agreement. The Sellers shall have executed and delivered the
Escrow Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto;
(o) Not a Foreign Person. Each Seller shall deliver to Buyer on or before
the Closing Date, an affidavit to the effect that such Seller is not a “foreign person”
within the meaning of Section 1445 of the Code and the Regulations promulgated
thereunder. If, on or before the Closing Date, Buyer shall not have received such
affidavits, Buyer may withhold from the Consideration payable at Closing to such Seller
such sums as are required to be withheld therefrom under Section 1445 of the Code and the
Regulations promulgated thereunder;
(p) Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement. Buyer shall have
received a fully executed Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement between the
Buyer and I. J. “Chip” Xxxxxxxxx, II; the terms and conditions of which shall be mutually
acceptable to the parties thereto;
(q) Selling Unitholder Questionnaire. Each Seller receiving Buyer Units or
any immediate transferee of such Seller receiving Buyer Units shall execute and deliver
to Buyer a selling unitholder questionnaire in a form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to Buyer and its counsel; and
(r) Miscellaneous. The Sellers shall have delivered such other
certificates, instruments of conveyance, and documents as may be reasonably requested by
Buyer and agreed to by the Sellers prior to the Closing Date to carry out the intent and
purposes of this Agreement.
8.2 Conditions to the Obligations of the Sellers. The obligation of the Sellers to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is subject to the satisfaction of the
following conditions, any one or more of which may be waived in writing by the Sellers:
(a) Representations, Warranties and Covenants of Buyer. (i) Each of the
representations and warranties of Buyer made in this Agreement will be true and correct
in all material respects in all respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of
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the Closing (as if made anew at and as of the Closing), except that, to the extent
any such representation or warranty is qualified by materiality or Material Adverse
Effect, such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects, (ii)
Buyer shall have performed or complied in all material respects with all of the covenants
and agreements required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by Buyer on or
before the Closing, and (iii) Buyer shall have delivered to the Sellers a certificate,
dated the Closing Date, certifying that the conditions specified in this Section
8.2(a) have been fulfilled;
(b) Third Party Consents; Governmental Approvals. All consents, approvals
or waivers, if any, disclosed on any schedule to this Agreement or otherwise required in
connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have
been received. All of the consents, approvals, authorizations, exemptions and waivers
from Governmental Authorities that will be required to enable the Sellers to consummate
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been obtained;
(c) HSR Approval. The waiting period under the HSR Act applicable to the
consummation of the sale and purchase of the Interests contemplated hereby shall have
expired or been terminated;
(d) No Injunction, Etc. No provision of any applicable Law and no order
will be in effect that will prohibit or restrict the consummation of the Closing;
(e) No Proceedings. No proceeding challenging this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby or seeking to prohibit, alter, prevent or materially
delay the Closing or seeking Losses from Buyer incident to this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby, will have been instituted by any Person before any
Governmental Authority and be pending;
(f) Legal Opinions. The Sellers shall have received an opinion of counsel
for Buyer substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit F;
(g) Restructuring. The Restructuring pursuant to Section 7.2 shall
have been completed;
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(h) Assumed Indebtedness. The Sellers shall have received satisfactory
evidence from Comerica Bank, N.A. that the Qualified Indebtedness has been assumed by
Buyer;
(i) Escrow Agreement. The Buyer shall have executed and delivered the
Escrow Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto
(j) Other Deliveries. Buyer shall have delivered such other certificates,
instruments, and documents as may be reasonably requested by the Sellers and agreed to by
Buyer prior to the Closing Date to carry out the intent and purposes of this Agreement.
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ARTICLE IX
INDEMNIFICATION
9.1 Survival. The representations and warranties of the Parties in this Agreement
contained in this Agreement shall survive the Closing until (a) in the case of the representations
and warranties in Section 4.6 (Taxes) and Section 4.11 (Employee Benefit Plans) until the
expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, and (b) all other representations and
warranties for one (1) year after the Closing Date, except for the representations and warranties
contained in Section 3.4 (Ownership of Interests) and Section 4.3 (Capitalization),
which shall remain in full force and effect indefinitely.. All covenants and agreement contained
in this Agreement including, without limitation, Article VII (Tax Matters) shall survive until the
expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, and certain covenants with a specified
expiration date shall continue in effect as provided therein. Notwithstanding the preceding
sentence, any representation or warranty in respect of which indemnity may be sought under this
Agreement will survive the time at which it would otherwise terminate pursuant to the preceding
sentence if written notice of the inaccuracy or breach thereof giving rise to such right of
indemnity has been given to the Party against whom such indemnification may be sought prior to such
time; provided that such right of indemnity shall continue to survive and shall remain a basis for
indemnification hereunder only until the related claim for indemnification is resolved or disposed
of in accordance with the terms hereof.
9.2 Indemnification.
(a) From and after the Closing, the Sellers will jointly and severally indemnify,
defend and hold harmless Buyer and its officers, members, directors, employees and
Affiliates (the “Buyer Indemnified Parties”) against any and all liabilities, damages,
losses, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ and consultants’ fees and
expenses) (“Losses”) Buyer shall suffer (any Loss of the Companies after the Closing Date
shall be deemed a Loss suffered by Buyer) as a result of, relating to or arising out (i)
of any failure or breach of any representation or warranty made by the Sellers pursuant
to Article III or Article IV under this Agreement to be true and correct
as of the date hereof and as of the Closing (as if made anew at and as of the Closing);
(ii) the breach of any covenant or agreement made or to be performed by the Sellers
pursuant to this Agreement; or (iii) the ownership of the
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Retained Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except for any claim
pertaining to transfer Taxes under Section 7.7 or Taxes attributable to a
Straddle Period under Section 7.4, any claims arising under Section
9.2(a)(i) shall be recoverable exclusively against the Escrow Account, and shall be
subject to such other limitations as set forth in Section 9.3 below.
(b) From and after the Closing, Buyer will indemnify, defend and hold harmless the
Sellers and their officers, members, directors, employees and Affiliates (the “Seller
Indemnified Parties”) against any and all Losses incurred or suffered as a result of,
relating to or arising out of (i) any failure of any representation or warranty made by
Buyer in this Agreement to be true and correct as of the Closing (as if made anew at and
as of the Closing), (ii) the breach of any covenant or agreement made or to be performed
by Buyer pursuant to this Agreement, and (iii) the operation of the business of the
Companies after the Closing Date.
(c) THE INDEMNIFICATION PROVISIONS IN THIS ARTICLE IX SHALL BE ENFORCEABLE
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER ANY PERSON (INCLUDING THE PERSON FROM WHOM INDEMNIFICATION IS
SOUGHT) ALLEGES OR PROVES THE SOLE, CONCURRENT, CONTRIBUTORY OR COMPARATIVE NEGLIGENCE OF
THE PERSON SEEKING INDEMNIFICATION OR THE SOLE OR CONCURRENT STRICT LIABILITY IMPOSED
UPON THE PERSON SEEKING INDEMNIFICATION.
9.3 Limitations on Liability.
(a) Except as otherwise provided herein, neither a Buyer Indemnified Party nor a
Seller Indemnified Party will be entitled to indemnity under Section 9.2(a) or
Section 9.2(b) of this Agreement which respect to claims for Losses until the
amount for any individual claim for Losses exceeds $25,000 (the “Individual Basket
Amount”) and the aggregate amount for all such claims exceeds five hundred thousand
dollars ($500,000) (the “Aggregate Basket Amount”), and thereafter, the Buyer Indemnified
Parties shall only be entitled to indemnity for the amount in excess of the Aggregate
Basket Amount.
(b) Except as otherwise provided herein, in the event a Buyer Indemnified Party is
entitled to indemnity under Section 9.2(a) of this Agreement, any such claim
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may be satisfied solely and exclusively against the Escrow Deposit. Therefore,
except as otherwise provided herein, the maximum aggregate liability of the Sellers under
Section 9.2(a) of this Agreement shall not exceed the Escrow Deposit, and Buyer
Indemnified Parties shall have no further right to indemnity thereunder at such time as
all cash or Buyer Units have been disbursed from the Escrow Account. Under no
circumstance shall a Buyer Indemnified Party be entitled to recover an indemnity claim
arising under Section 9.2(a) of this Agreement directly against a Seller;
provided, however, that with regards to a claim relating to the representations and
warranties contained in Section 3.4, Section 4.3, Section 4.6 or
Section 4.11, Buyer’s sole remedy shall be against the Escrow Deposit in
accordance with the provisions of Section 9.6, until such time as the term of the Escrow
Agreement expires, in which case, Buyer shall be entitled to pursue all of its rights and
remedies against the Sellers with respect thereto.
(c) The amount of any Losses subject to indemnification under this Article
IX shall be reduced or reimbursed, as the case may be, by any third party insurance
proceeds, third party recoveries less the costs expended for such recoveries. Each Party
shall, and shall cause their respective Indemnified Parties to, use commercially
reasonable efforts to collect any amounts available under such insurance coverage and
from such other third party alleged to have responsibility. If a Buyer Indemnified Party
receives an amount under insurance coverage or from such third party with respect to
Losses that were the subject of indemnification under Section 9.2 at any time
subsequent to indemnification provided thereunder, then such Buyer Indemnified Party
shall promptly reimburse the Sellers.
9.4 Procedures. Claims for indemnification under this Agreement shall be asserted and
resolved as follows:
(a) If any Person who or which is entitled to seek indemnification under Section
9.2 (an “Indemnified Party”) receives notice of the assertion or commencement of any
claim asserted against an Indemnified Party by a third party (“Third Party Claim”) in
respect of any matter that is subject to indemnification under Section 9.2, the
Indemnified Party shall promptly (i) notify the Party obligated to the Indemnified Party
pursuant to Section 9.2 above, (the “Indemnifying Party”) of the Third Party
Claim and (ii) transmit to the Indemnifying Party a written notice (“Claim Notice”)
describing in reasonable detail the nature of the Third Party Claim, a copy of
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all papers served with respect to such claim (if any), the Indemnified Party’s best
estimate of the amount of Losses attributable to the Third Party Claim and the basis of
the Indemnified Party’s request for indemnification under this Agreement. Failure to
timely provide such Claim Notice shall not affect the right of the Indemnified Party’s
indemnification hereunder, except to the extent the Indemnifying Party is prejudiced by
such delay or omission.
(b) The Indemnifying Party shall have the right to defend the Indemnified Party
against such Third Party Claim. If the Indemnifying Party notifies the Indemnified Party
that the Indemnifying Party elects to assume the defense of the Third Party Claim (such
election to be without prejudice to the right of the Indemnified Party to dispute whether
such claim is an identifiable Loss under this Article IX), then the Indemnifying
Party shall have the right to defend such Third Party Claim with counsel selected by the
Indemnifying Party (who shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party), by
all appropriate proceedings, to a final conclusion or settlement at the discretion of the
Indemnifying Party in accordance with this Section 9.4(b). The Indemnifying
Party shall have full control of such defense and proceedings, including any compromise
or settlement thereof; provided that the Indemnifying Party shall not enter into any
settlement agreement without the written consent of the Indemnified Party (which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed); provided further, that such
consent shall not be required if (i) the settlement agreement contains a complete and
unconditional general release by the third party asserting the claim to all Indemnified
Parties affected by the claim and (ii) the settlement agreement does not contain any
sanction or restriction upon the conduct of any business by the Indemnified Party or its
Affiliates. If requested by the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnified Party agrees, at the
sole cost and expense of the Indemnifying Party, to cooperate with the Indemnifying Party
and its counsel in contesting any Third Party Claim which the Indemnifying Party elects
to contest, including the making of any related counterclaim against the Person asserting
the Third Party Claim or any cross complaint against any Person. The Indemnified Party
may participate in, but not control, any defense or settlement of any Third Party Claim
controlled by the Indemnifying Party pursuant to this Section 9.4(b), and the
Indemnified Party shall bear its own costs and expenses with respect to such
participation.
(c) If the Indemnifying Party does not notify the Indemnified Party that the
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Indemnifying Party elects to defend the Indemnified Party pursuant to Section
9.4(b), then the Indemnified Party shall have the right to defend, and be reimbursed
for its reasonable cost and expense (but only if the Indemnified Party is actually
ultimately determined to be entitled to indemnification hereunder) in regard to the Third
Party Claim with counsel selected by the Indemnified Party (who shall be reasonably
satisfactory to the Indemnifying Party), by all appropriate proceedings, which
proceedings shall be prosecuted diligently by the Indemnified Party. In such
circumstances, the Indemnified Party shall defend any such Third Party Claim in good
faith and have full control of such defense and proceedings; provided, however, that the
Indemnified Party may not enter into any compromise or settlement of such Third Party
Claim if indemnification is to be sought hereunder, without the Indemnifying Party’s
consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). The
Indemnifying Party may participate in, but not control, any defense or settlement
controlled by the Indemnified Party pursuant to this Section 9.4(c), and the
Indemnifying Party shall bear its own costs and expenses with respect to such
participation.
(d) Any claim by an Indemnified Party on account of Losses that does not result from
a Third Party Claim (a “Direct Claim”) will be asserted by giving the Indemnifying Party
reasonably prompt written notice thereof, but in any event not later than thirty (30)
days after the Indemnified Party becomes aware of such Direct Claim. Such notice by the
Indemnified Party will describe the Direct Claim in reasonable detail, will include
copies of all available material written evidence thereof and will indicate the estimated
amount, if reasonably practicable, of damages that has been or may be sustained by the
Indemnified Party. The Indemnifying Party will have a period of twenty (20) days within
which to object or accept in writing such Direct Claim. Any such objection is called a
“Notice of Claim Dispute.” If the Indemnifying Party does not so respond within such
twenty (20) day period, the Indemnifying Party will be deemed to have rejected such
claim, in which event the Indemnified Party shall submit the Direct Claim to arbitration
pursuant to the terms of Section 9.5. Copies of each Notice of Claim Dispute
shall be sent to Buyer and the Escrow Agent. If Buyer and the Sellers fail to resolve
any objection contained in such Notice of Claim Dispute within twenty (20) days after the
date the Notice of Claim Dispute is delivered to Buyer, then, at the request of either
Party, they shall meet in an attempt to resolve an objection described in such Notice of
Claim Dispute and reach a written agreement
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with respect to such objection (a “Claim Settlement Agreement”). If the Sellers and
Buyer enter into a Claim Settlement Agreement, the objections contained in such Notice of
Claim Dispute shall be deemed to be as resolved therein. If they are unable to resolve
the objection described in such Notice of Claim Dispute within twenty (20) days after
delivery to the recipient of such Notice of Claim Dispute, then the Sellers and Buyer
shall submit the objections contained in such Notice of Claim Dispute to arbitration as
described in Section 9.5.
9.5 Arbitration. Any objection contained in a Notice of Claim Dispute not resolved in a
Claim Settlement Agreement shall be resolved by submission to arbitration as follows: the Sellers
and Buyer shall select a single arbitrator from the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) in
Houston, Texas (an “Arbitrator”) (or, if they cannot agree upon a selection, the Sellers’
Representative and Buyer shall each select an Arbitrator, and the two Arbitrators so selected shall
choose a third Arbitrator who has knowledge of the industry and business of the Companies and who
shall act as the Arbitrator to resolve the dispute). The Arbitrator shall resolve the objection
contained in the Notice of Claim Dispute pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the AAA as
promptly as possible and a decision by the Arbitrator as to the resolution of such objection (the
“Arbitrator’s Decision”) shall be (absent an agreement of the parties regarding an error that is
manifest) conclusive and binding upon the parties for purposes of this Agreement. The Arbitrator’s
Decision shall be (i) in writing and (ii) non-appealable and incontestable by Buyer and the Sellers
and each of their respective Affiliates and successors and not subject to collateral attack for any
reason. The fees and costs payable to the AAA shall be paid one-half by Buyer and one-half from
the Escrow Deposit. Buyer shall pay its own counsel fees and other costs incurred in connection
with any such dispute, and counsel fees and other costs incurred by the Sellers’ Representative in
connection with any such dispute shall be paid from the Escrow Deposit.
9.6 Escrow Account. At the Closing, the Parties shall enter into the Escrow Agreement in
substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto setting out the rights and obligations of the Parties
and the Escrow Agent with respect to the Escrow Account. Whether included in such agreement, the
Parties agree that the following provisions of this Section 9.6 shall control with respect
to the Escrow Account:
(a) The interest, proceeds and distributions earned each year on the Escrow Deposit
is herein called the “Escrow Income.” The Parties agree to treat the Escrow Income as
income of Laser Midstream II for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
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Subject to (c) below, Escrow Income shall be distributed to Laser Midstream II on a
quarterly basis, within five (5) days of receipt by the Escrow Agent.
(b) The Escrow Deposit shall be paid by the Escrow Agent as follows:
(i) to Buyer, pursuant to Claim Settlement Agreement delivered to the Escrow
Agent;
(ii) to Buyer, pursuant to joint written instructions from the Sellers and
Buyer to the Escrow Agent relating to the resolution of a Third Party Claim
pursuant to Section 9.4;
(iii) to Buyer, pursuant to any other joint written instruction from the
Sellers and Buyer to the Escrow Agent;
(iv) to Buyer, pursuant to a decision by the Arbitrator regarding a Direct
Claim sent to the Escrow Agent pursuant to Section 9.5;
(v) to the Sellers, on the first anniversary of the Closing Date, in an amount
equal to the remainder of the Escrow Deposit less any amounts related to an asserted
but pending or unpaid Direct Claim or Third Party Claim.
(c) Fees of the Escrow Agent shall be paid one-half (1/2) by the Sellers and
one-half (1/2) by Buyer.
(d) Sellers shall retain the right to vote any Buyer Units which are held in the
Escrow Account.
(e) If the Escrow Deposit consists of Buyer Units, payments by the Escrow Agent out
of the Escrow Deposit shall be the number of Buyer Units based upon the dollar amount of
the claim to be paid pursuant to Section 9.6(b) divided by the average of the per unit
closing prices of the Common Units on the NASDAQ Global Market, as reported in the Wall
Street Journal, for the five (5) consecutive trading days ending on the trading day
immediately prior to the day that the Escrow Agent pays such claim.
9.7 Waiver of Consequential Damages. With respect to any and all Losses for which
indemnification may be available hereunder, each party hereby expressly waives any consequential,
indirect and special damages with respect to a claim against the other party
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hereto; provided, however, that this waiver shall not apply to the extent such consequential,
indirect or special damages are awarded in a Proceeding brought or asserted by a third party
against an Indemnified Party.
9.8 Waiver of Other Representations.
(a) EXCEPT THOSE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES CONTAINED IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN
ANY CERTIFICATE OR WRITTEN STATEMENT FURNISHED, OR TO BE FURNISHED TO BUYER PURSUANT TO
THIS AGREEMENT OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, NONE OF THE
SELLERS NOR ANY OF THEIR AFFILIATES OR REPRESENTATIVES HAS MADE OR IS MAKING ANY
REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY WHATSOEVER, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AT LAW OR IN EQUITY, IN
RESPECT OF EACH COMPANY ITS BUSINESS OR ANY OF ITS ASSETS, LIABILITIES OR OPERATIONS,
INCLUDING WITH RESPECT TO MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR WITH
RESPECT TO ANY FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS OR FORECASTS RELATING TO EACH COMPANY, AND ANY SUCH
OTHER REPRESENTATION AND WARRANTIES ARE HEREBY DISCLAIMED.
(b) EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY PROVIDED HEREIN, THE ASSETS OF EACH COMPANY ARE
BEING TRANSFERRED THROUGH THE SALE OF THE INTERESTS “AS IS, WHERE IS, WITH ALL FAULTS,”
AND THE SELLERS EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ANY REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND OR
NATURE, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO THE CONDITION, VALUE OR QUALITY OF EACH COMPANY AND ITS
ASSETS OR THE PROSPECTS (FINANCIAL OR OTHERWISE), RISKS AND OTHER INCIDENTS OF EACH
COMPANY AND ITS ASSETS.
9.9 Exclusive Remedy and Release. The indemnification and remedies set forth in this
Article IX shall, from and after the Closing, constitute the sole and exclusive remedies of
the Parties with respect to any breach of representation or warranty or non-performance, partial or
total, of any covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement; provided that nothing in this
Section 9.9 shall prevent either Party from seeking injunctive or equitable relief in
pursuit of its indemnification claims under this Article IX.
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ARTICLE X
TERMINATION
10.1 Termination. At any time prior to the Closing, this Agreement may be terminated and
the transactions contemplated hereby abandoned:
(a) by the mutual consent of Buyer and the Sellers as evidenced in writing signed by
each of Buyer and the Sellers;
(b) by Buyer, if there has been a material breach by the Sellers of any
representation, warranty or covenant contained in this Agreement that has prevented the
satisfaction of any condition to the obligations of Buyer at the Closing and, if such
breach is of a character that it is capable of being cured, such breach has not been
cured by the Sellers within thirty (30) days after written notice thereof from Buyer;
(c) by the Sellers, if there has been a material breach by Buyer of any
representation, warranty or covenant contained in this Agreement that has prevented the
satisfaction of any condition to the obligations of the Sellers at the Closing and, if
such breach is of a character that it is capable of being cured, such breach has not been
cured by Buyer within thirty (30) days after written notice thereof from the Sellers;
(d) by the Sellers if the average of the per unit closing prices of the Common Units
on the NASDAQ Global Market, as reported in the Wall Street Journal, for the five (5)
consecutive trading days ending on the trading day prior to the Closing Date is below
$18.00, in which case the Sellers may, by written notice to Buyer, notify Buyer that the
Sellers elect to terminate this Agreement on the date which is five (5) Business Days
after the date of such notice. If the Sellers make such election and provide the notice
to Buyer as required above, Buyer may elect on or before the expiration of such five (5)
Business Day period to pay the balance of the Consideration in cash and , if such
election is made by Buyer, the Sellers will rescind their election to terminate this
Agreement. and Closing shall then occur on or before May 15, 2007.
(e) by either Buyer or the Sellers if any Governmental Authority having competent
jurisdiction has issued a final, non-appealable order, decree, ruling or injunction
(other than a temporary restraining order) or taken any other action
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permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement; or
(f) by either Buyer or the Sellers, if the transactions contemplated hereby have not
been consummated by April 30, 2007, provided that neither Buyer nor the Sellers will be
entitled to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10.1(f) if such
Person’s breach of this Agreement has prevented the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
10.2 Effect of Termination. If this Agreement is terminated under Section 10.1,
all further obligations of the Parties under this Agreement will terminate without further
liability or obligation of either Party to the other Parties hereunder; provided, however, that no
Party will be released from liability hereunder if this Agreement is terminated and the
transactions abandoned by reason of (a) failure of such Party to have performed its material
obligations under this Agreement or (b) any material misrepresentation made by such Party of any
matter set forth in this Agreement. Nothing in this Section 10.2 will relieve any Party to
this Agreement of liability for breach of this Agreement occurring prior to any termination, or for
breach of any provision of this Agreement that specifically survives termination hereunder. The
Confidentiality Agreement shall not be affected by a termination of this Agreement.
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ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS
11.1 Notices. All notices and other communications between the Parties shall be in writing
and shall be deemed to have been duly given when (i) delivered in person, (ii) five (5) days after
posting in the United States mail having been sent registered or certified mail return receipt
requested or (iii) delivered by telecopy and promptly confirmed by delivery in person or post as
aforesaid in each case, with postage prepaid, addressed as follows:
If to Buyer, to:
Eagle Rock Energy Partners, L.P.
00000 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
Fax: (000) 000-0000
00000 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
Fax: (000) 000-0000
with a copy to:
Xxxxxxxx & Knight, LLP
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxx, Esq.
Fax: (000) 000-0000
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxx, Esq.
Fax: (000) 000-0000
If to the Sellers, to:
Laser Midstream II, LLC
000 Xxxxxx Xx., Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: I.J. “Chip” Xxxxxxxxx, II
Fax: (000) 000-0000
000 Xxxxxx Xx., Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: I.J. “Chip” Xxxxxxxxx, II
Fax: (000) 000-0000
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with a copy to:
Xxxxxx & Xxxxxx, L.L.P.
0000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Fax: (000) 000-0000
0000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Fax: (000) 000-0000
or to such other address or addresses as the Parties may from time to time designate in writing.
11.2 Assignment. Except as provided below, no Party shall assign this Agreement or any
part hereof without the prior written consent of the other Party. Subject to the foregoing, this
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective
permitted successors and assigns. The foregoing notwithstanding, Buyer shall be permitted to
assign this Agreement to one or more Affiliates if it deems appropriate for tax purposes; provided,
however, that such assignment shall not release Buyer from its obligations under this Agreement.
11.3 Rights of Third Parties. Except for the provisions of Article IX and except
with respect to the Severance Payment described in Section 6.5 which are intended to be enforceable
by the Persons respectively referred to therein, nothing expressed or implied in this Agreement is
intended or shall be construed to confer upon or give any Person, other than the Parties, any right
or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement.
11.4 Expenses. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein (including, without
limitation, Section 6.4), each Party shall bear its own expenses incurred in connection
with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby whether or not such transactions shall
be consummated, including all fees of its legal counsel, financial advisers and accountants.
11.5 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same
instrument. Any facsimile copies hereof or signature hereon shall, for all purposes, be deemed
originals.
11.6 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (together with the Disclosure Schedules and exhibits
to this Agreement) and the Confidentiality Agreement constitute the
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entire agreement among the Parties and supersede any other agreements, whether written or oral,
that may have been made or entered into by or among any of the Parties or any of their respective
Affiliates relating to the transactions contemplated hereby.
11.7 Disclosure Schedules. Unless the context otherwise requires, all capitalized terms
used in the Disclosure Schedules shall have the respective meanings assigned in this Agreement. No
reference to or disclosure of any item or other matter in the Disclosure Schedules shall be
construed as an admission or indication that such item or other matter is material or that such
item or other matter is required to be referred to or disclosed in the Disclosure Schedules. No
disclosure in the Disclosure Schedules relating to any possible breach or violation of any
agreement or Law shall be construed as an admission or indication that any such breach or violation
exists or has actually occurred. The inclusion of any information in the Disclosure Schedules
shall not be deemed to be an admission or acknowledgment by the Sellers, in and of itself, that
such information is material to or outside the ordinary course of the business of the Companies or
required to be disclosed on the Disclosure Schedules.
11.8 Amendments. This Agreement may be amended or modified in whole or in part, and terms
and conditions may be waived, only by a duly authorized agreement in writing which makes reference
to this Agreement executed by each Party.
11.9 Publicity. All press releases or other public communications of any nature whatsoever
relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and the method of the release for
publication thereof, shall be subject to the prior written consent of Buyer and the Sellers, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed by such Party; provided,
however, that nothing herein shall prevent a Party from publishing such press releases or other
public communications as is necessary to satisfy such Party’s obligations at Law or under the rules
of any stock or commodities exchange after consultation with the other Party.
11.10 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable by
any court of competent jurisdiction, the other provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full
force and effect. The Parties further agree that if any provision contained herein is, to any
extent, held invalid or unenforceable in any respect under the Laws governing this Agreement, they
shall take any actions necessary to render the remaining provisions of this Agreement valid and
enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by Law and, to the extent necessary, shall amend or
otherwise modify this Agreement to replace any provision contained herein that is held invalid or
unenforceable with a valid and enforceable provision giving effect
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to the intent of the Parties to the greatest extent legally permissible.
11.11 Governing Law; Jurisdiction.
(a) This Agreement shall be governed and construed in accordance with the Laws of
the State of Texas, without regard to the Laws that might be applicable under conflicts
of laws principles.
(b) The Parties agree that the appropriate, exclusive and convenient forum for any
disputes between any of the Parties hereto arising out of this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby shall be in any state or federal court in Houston,
Texas, and each of the Parties hereto irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of such
courts solely in respect of any legal proceeding arising out of or related to this
Agreement. The Parties further agree that the Parties shall not bring suit with respect
to any disputes arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in
any court or jurisdiction other than the above specified courts. The Parties further
agree, to the extent permitted by Law, that a final and nonappealable judgment against a
Party in any action or proceeding contemplated above shall be conclusive and may be
enforced in any other jurisdiction within or outside the United States by suit on the
judgment, a certified or exemplified copy of which shall be conclusive evidence of the
fact and amount of such judgment. Except to the extent that a different determination or
finding is mandated due to the applicable law being that of a different jurisdiction, the
Parties agree that all judicial determinations or findings by a state or federal court in
Houston, Texas with respect to any matter under this Agreement shall be binding.
(c) To the extent that any Party hereto has or hereafter may acquire any immunity
from jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service or
notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution, execution or
otherwise) with respect to itself or its property, each such party hereby irrevocably (i)
waives such immunity in respect of its obligations with respect to this Agreement and
(ii) submits to the personal jurisdiction of any court described in Section
11.11(b).
THE PARTIES HERETO AGREE THAT THEY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVE THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY
IN ANY ACTION TO ENFORCE OR INTERPRET THE PROVISIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each of the Parties
as of the date first above written.
SELLERS: LASER MIDSTREAM ENERGY II, LP |
||||
By: | LASER MIDSTREAM COMPANY, LLC, | |||
its managing general partner |
By: | ||||
I. J. “Chip” Xxxxxxxxx, II, President |
LASER MIDSTREAM COMPANY, LLC: |
By: | ||||
I. J. “Chip” Xxxxxxxxx, II, President |
LASER GAS COMPANY I, LLC |
||||
By: | LASER MIDSTREAM ENERGY, LP, | |||
its sole member | ||||
By: | LASER MIDSTREAM COMPANY, LLC, | |||
its managing general partner |
By: | ||||
I. J. “Chip” Xxxxxxxxx, II, President | ||||
LASER MIDSTREAM ENERGY, LP (for purposes of the representations and warranties contained in Article IV) |
||||
By: | LASER MIDSTREAM COMPANY, LLC, | |||
its managing general partner |
By: | ||||
I. J. “Chip” Xxxxxxxxx, II, President | ||||
BUYER: EAGLE ROCK ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P. |
||||
By: | EAGLE ROCK ENERGY GP, L.P., | |||
its general partner | ||||
By: | EAGLE ROCK ENERGY G&P, LLC, | |||
its general partner |
By: | ||||
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Senior Vice President, | ||||
Corporate Development | ||||