EXHIBIT 10.8
SERVICES AND
RISK MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
THIS SERVICES AND RISK MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated
as of March 30, 2001 and effective as of January 1, 2001 (the "Effective Date"),
is by and among MIRANT AMERICAS ENERGY MARKETING L.P. (formerly known as
Southern Company Energy Marketing L.P.), a Delaware limited partnership
("MAEM"), MIRANT DELTA, LLC (formerly known as Southern Energy Delta, L.L.C.), a
Delaware limited liability company ("Delta"), and MIRANT POTRERO, LLC (formerly
known as Southern Energy Potrero, L.L.C.), a Delaware limited liability company
("Potrero" and, collectively with Delta, the "Project Companies").
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Project Companies own certain electric generation
facilities and associated facilities located at Pittsburg, California, Antioch,
California and San Francisco, California (the "Facilities"); and
WHEREAS, the Parties have entered into that certain Fuel Supply
Agreement (as amended from time to time, the "Fuel Supply Agreement") dated
April 15, 1999, pursuant to which MAEM supplies the Project Companies with all
fuel necessary for the operation of the Facilities; and
WHEREAS, the Parties have further entered into that certain Energy
Services Agreement (as amended from time to time, the "Energy Services
Agreement") dated April 15, 1999, pursuant to which MAEM provides certain
services to the Project Companies in connection with the operation of the
Facilities; and
WHEREAS, the Parties have further entered into that certain Master
Energy Purchase and Sale Agreement (as amended from time to time, the "MEPSA")
dated April 15, 1999, and certain power sales confirmations (the
"Confirmations") related thereto, pursuant to which the Project Companies have
agreed to sell, and MAEM has agreed to purchase, certain Products (hereinafter
defined) produced by the Facilities; and
WHEREAS, due to delay or nonpayment by certain counterparties, the
Project Companies have not paid MAEM for fuel invoices under the Fuel Services
Agreement; MAEM has elected to not declare a default under the Fuel Services
Agreement, but MAEM and the Project Companies have instead agreed to amend the
Fuel Services Agreement and the Energy Services Agreement as set forth herein;
and
WHEREAS, the Project Companies desire to contract herein with MAEM to
provide the Project Companies certain additional services and MAEM desires to
provide such services to the Project Companies on the terms and conditions set
forth herein; and
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual
covenants contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by the Parties, the
Parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1.
DEFINITIONS
The following capitalized terms, whether used in the singular or
plural, shall be defined as provided in this ARTICLE 1.
"AGENCY PERIOD" has the meaning set forth in SECTION 4.1.
"BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDING" means, with respect to a Party, that Party (a)
is dissolved (other than pursuant to a consolidation, amalgamation or merger),
(b) makes an assignment or any general arrangement for the benefit of creditors,
(c) institutes or has instituted against it a proceeding seeking a judgment of
insolvency or bankruptcy or any other relief under any bankruptcy or insolvency
or other law affecting creditors' rights and, in the case of any such proceeding
or petition instituted or presented against it, such proceeding or petition (i)
results in a judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy or the entry of an order for
its winding-up or liquidation or (ii) is not withdrawn, dismissed or discharged
within sixty (60) days after the institution or presentation thereof, (d)
otherwise becomes bankrupt or insolvent (however evidenced), (e) has a secured
party take possession of all or substantially all of its assets or has an action
or proceeding taken or levied against all or substantially all of its assets and
such secured party maintains possession, or any such action or proceeding is not
dismissed, in either case for thirty (30) days thereafter, or (f) is unable to
pay its debts or admits in writing its inability generally to pay its debts as
they become due.
"BIDDING" means the nomination or bidding of the output of the
Facilities in the CAISO.
"CAISO" means the California Independent System Operator Corporation.
"CALIFORNIA ASSET BOOK" has the meaning set forth in SECTION 5.1.
"CONFIRMATIONS" shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to
this Agreement.
"DISPATCH" means the scheduling of the delivery of Products.
"ENERGY" means electric energy as defined by CAISO.
"ENERGY SERVICES AGREEMENT" shall have the meaning set forth in the
recitals to this Agreement.
"FACILITIES" shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this
Agreement.
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"FORCE MAJEURE" means an event which is not within the reasonable
control of a Party which causes such Party to be delayed in or prevented from
performing or carrying out any of its obligations under this Agreement and which
by the exercise of due diligence in accordance with Good Utility Practices, such
Party is unable to overcome or avoid or cause to be avoided, including, without
limitation, acts of God; fire; ice; earthquake; lightning; tornado; hurricane,
or other severe weather condition; civil disturbance; labor dispute; labor or
material shortage; sabotage; acts of terrorism; acts of a public enemy;
uprising; insurrection; civil unrest; war or rebellion; explosions; breakage or
accident to machinery or equipment, action or restraint by court order or public
or governmental authority or lawfully established civilian authorities, provided
that a Force Majeure shall not include lack of finances or change in market
conditions, and provided further that any failure of any supplier or
subcontractor of a Party to perform any obligation to such Party will not
constitute a Force Majeure unless such subcontractor or supplier is unable to
perform such obligations for reasons that would constitute a "Force Majeure"
hereunder.
"FUEL" means natural gas or distillate fuel, as dictated by context.
"FUEL SUPPLY AGREEMENT" shall have the meaning set forth in the
recitals to this Agreement.
"GOOD UTILITY PRACTICES" mean any of the practices, methods or acts
engaged in or approved by a significant portion of the electric energy industry
with respect to similar facilities during the relevant time period which in each
case, in the exercise of reasonable judgment in light of the facts known or that
should have been known at the time a decision was made, could have been expected
to accomplish the desired result at reasonable cost consistent with good
business practices, reliability, safety, law, regulation, environmental
protection and expedition. Good Utility Practices are not intended to be limited
to the optimum practices, methods or acts to the exclusion of all others, but
rather to delineate the acceptable practices, methods or acts generally accepted
in such industry.
"INTEREST RATE" means, for any date, two percent (2%) over the per
annum rate of interest equal to the prime lending rate as may from time to time
be published in the Wall Street Journal under "Money Rates"; provided that the
Interest Rate shall never exceed the maximum interest rate permitted by
applicable law.
"MEPSA" shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this
Agreement.
"PARTY" means any of MAEM, Delta or Potrero. In the context where MAEM
is referenced as a "Party," a reference to the "other Party" shall mean the
Project Companies. In the context where the Project Companies are referenced as
a "Party," a reference to the "other Party" shall mean MAEM. References to
"either Party" or the "Parties" shall have comparable meanings.
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"PRODUCTS" means Energy and/or other products and ancillary services
either identified in the Confirmations and having the qualities, properties and
other characteristics therein or which become commercially recognized in the
CAISO market during the term of this Agreement.
"RMR CONTRACTS" means those certain Reliability Must-Run Service
Contracts between each Project Company and the CAISO, as in effect from time to
time.
ARTICLE 2.
TERM
The term of this Agreement shall commence as of the Effective Date and
shall continue, unless earlier terminated pursuant to its terms, until December
31, 2001. The Parties hereby agree that, beginning three (3) months prior to the
expiration of such term, the Parties shall, if any Party deems it necessary or
advisable, enter into good faith negotiations of an extension or replacement to
the Agreement.
ARTICLE 3.
SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED BY MAEM
3.1 BIDDING, DISPATCH BILLING AND SETTLEMENT. MAEM shall provide
Bidding, Dispatch, billing and settlement services to the Project Companies
pursuant to the terms of the Energy Services Agreement.
3.2 FUEL SERVICES. MAEM shall provide the Project Companies with fuel
procurement and related services pursuant to the terms of the Fuel Supply
Agreement, except that during any Agency Period, MAEM shall procure fuel as
agent to the Project Companies pursuant to the terms of ARTICLE 4 hereof.
3.3 EMISSIONS PLANNING AND RELATED RESPONSIBILITIES. MAEM shall provide
the Project Companies emissions planning, in consultation with the Project
Companies, pursuant to Section 3.6 of the Energy Services Agreement.
3.4 INSURANCE. MAEM will procure or assist the Project Companies in
procuring business interruption insurance and forced outage insurance covering
the Facilities. The costs of such insurance will be charged to the Project
Companies.
3.5 FINANCIAL PRODUCTS. MAEM will enter into financial products
(including but not limited to, swaps, contracts for differences, options and
weather derivatives) purchased for the Project Companies. The gains and losses
arising from such financial products will be borne by the Project Companies, and
therefore the costs, including without limitation third party broker costs and
transaction fees, and revenues related to such financial products will be
charged to or paid to the Project Companies.
3.6 POWER MARKET TRANSACTIONS. MAEM will enter into third party
bilateral contracts, forward sales, xxxxxx and other transactions in connection
with the sale of the Products. The
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gains or losses for such transactions will be borne by the Project Companies and
therefore the costs of such transactions, including without limitation,
purchased power costs, transmission costs, third party broker costs, transaction
fees and incremental credit costs, and revenues related to such activities will
be charged to or paid to the Project Companies.
3.7 SALES TO CAISO. The Parties hereby confirm that MAEM, as scheduling
coordinator for the Project Companies, acts as agent for the Project Companies
under the Energy Services Agreement in providing energy to the CAISO in market
transactions pursuant to the Project Companies' RMR Contracts with the CAISO.
Accordingly, the Project Companies are entitled to all payments from the CAISO
with respect to such market transactions, and MAEM has no liability to the
Project Companies for the failure of the CAISO to pay for such market
transactions.
3.8 COLLECTIONS. The Parties hereby confirm that the purchase price for
all Products produced by the Project Companies, including without limitation for
products delivered prior to the date hereof, shall be the amounts actually
collected by MAEM from third party purchasers (including without limitation the
PX and the California ISO) in respect of such products, and MAEM shall have no
liability to the Project Companies for any failure of such third parties to pay
the full purchase price for such products. MAEM shall use commercially
reasonable efforts to collect all amounts due from such third parties and shall
take such actions as may be reasonably requested by the Project Companies to
collect such amounts.
3.9 ADJUSTMENT TO SERVICE FEE. Effective as of January 1, 2001, the
service fee to be paid by the Project Companies to MAEM, pursuant to Section 5.1
of the Energy Services Agreement, shall be $633,333.34 per month.
ARTICLE 4.
PROCUREMENT OF FUEL AS AGENT
4.1 DETERMINATION OF AGENCY PERIOD. If, at any time, MAEM determines
that the creditworthiness of the Project Companies is impaired, MAEM may, at its
sole discretion and upon written notice to the Project Companies, elect to
suspend fuel procurement under the Fuel Supply Agreement for a period until such
creditworthiness is restored (each such period, an "Agency Period"). During any
such Agency Period, MAEM shall act solely as agent to the Project Companies
under this Agreement in taking the actions set forth in SECTION 4.2 below.
4.2 OBLIGATIONS DURING AGENCY PERIOD. During any Agency Period, MAEM's
sole obligation shall be to use commercially reasonable efforts to procure fuel
as agent of and for the account of the Project Companies, and MAEM shall have no
obligation to provide credit enhancement to any supplier of the Project
Companies. MAEM shall have no liability to either of the Project Companies if
fuel suppliers do not agree to supply fuel to the Project Companies due to a
lack of creditworthiness of the Project Companies. As agent, MAEM shall neither
directly purchase or contract for the purchase of, nor take title to or
possession and control of, any fuel procured for the account of the Project
Companies, and MAEM shall have no liability to any fuel supplier or the Project
Companies for nonpayment for or nondelivery of procured fuels,
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as appropriate. During any Agency Period, as between MAEM and the Project
Companies, the Project Companies shall be deemed to have title, exclusive
possession and control of all procured fuel at all times, and any risk of loss
associated with any such procured fuel shall be born by the Project Companies.
4.3 TERMINATION OF AGENCY PERIOD. Each Agency Period shall continue
until the Project Companies can demonstrate to MAEM that the Project Companies'
creditworthiness has been restored, as reasonably determined by MAEM. After a
positive determination as to such creditworthiness, the applicable Agency Period
shall be terminated by MAEM by written notice to Project Companies, and MAEM
shall resume procuring fuel for the Project Companies under the Fuel Supply
Agreement.
ARTICLE 5.
BONUS, BILLING AND PAYMENT
5.1 CALIFORNIA ASSET BOOK. MAEM will establish and maintain an asset
management book (the "California Asset Book") to track and measure the financial
performance of the Project Companies assets. The California Asset Book will be
separate from any MAEM trading book or any other asset book maintained by MAEM
for power resources owned or managed by MAEM.
5.2 BONUS.
(a) MAEM will be entitled to a bonus from the Project Companies equal
to the Bonus Percentage of the amount by which the Net Market Revenues in any
year exceeds the Threshold Amount for such year, determined as follows:
"Net Market Revenues" means all revenues for a given year attributed to
the Project Companies' asset books and actually received by MAEM,
including, without limitation, payments for sales of capacity, energy
and ancillary services, fuel and fuel transportation rights, and xxxxxx
and other risk management instruments entered into by MAEM on behalf of
the Project Companies, and including any revenues from fixed option
payments under Reliability Must-Run Agreements with the CAISO MINUS all
costs attributed to the asset books for such year, including costs
reimbursed to MAEM for fuel and services. Net Market Revenues shall be
calculated in accordance with GAAP.
"Threshold Amount" means $512 Million for 2001.
"Bonus Percentage" means 50% for 2001.
(b) If this Agreement is extended pursuant to ARTICLE 2 hereof, the
Threshold Amount and Bonus Percentage for subsequent years shall be determined
by mutual agreement between MAEM and the Project Companies as a reasonable
amount based on upon assumptions consistent in all material respects with
relevant contracts and agreements, historical operations, and the parties' good
faith projections of future revenues and projections of operating expenses
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for the Project Companies in light of the then existing or reasonably expected
regulatory and market environments in the markets in which the facilities or
other assets owned by the Project Companies will be operated.
(c) The bonus shall not be payable until the Threshold Amount is
reached. Upon reaching the Threshold Amount, such bonus will be paid on a
monthly basis in accordance with SECTION 5.3 hereof.
5.3 BILLING AND PAYMENT. MAEM shall pay the Project Companies any Net
Market Revenues due for the prior month by wire transfer to the payment address
provided by the Project Companies on or before the twentieth (20th) day of each
month, or if such day is not a business day, the immediately following business
day. At the time of each monthly payment, MAEM shall render to the Project
Companies a statement detailing the Net Market Revenues for the prior month, and
shall provide the Project Companies with reasonable supporting documentation for
each such monthly statement, identifying with reasonable specificity
calculations underlying such Net Market Revenues. All payments between MAEM and
the Project Companies will be netted so that MAEM pays the Project Companies the
Net Market Revenues minus any bonus payable pursuant to SECTION 5.2. MAEM will
pay the Project Companies the Net Market Revenues (net of any bonus), and the
Project Companies will then distribute such revenues in accordance with the
provision of the Agency Agreement dated of even date herewith between the
members of the Project Companies.
5.4 REPORTS. The Project Companies and MAEM will cooperate to provide
monthly reports in reasonable detail showing the calculation of the Net Market
Revenues, with appropriate breakdown by generating unit and station, to enable
the Project Companies to allocate Net Market Revenues and bonus payments to
MAEM, if any, between the Project Companies. Each of the Project Companies will
have the right, upon reasonable notice, to examine and/or audit the California
Asset Book from time to time.
5.5 INTEREST AND DISPUTED AMOUNTS. If any Party fails to make any
payment on or before the applicable payment due date, such overdue amounts shall
accrue interest at the Interest Rate from, and including, the applicable payment
due date to, but excluding, the date of payment. Any disputed invoiced amounts,
except amounts which are manifestly inaccurate, shall be paid in full on the
applicable payment due date, subject to later return together with interest
accrued at the Interest Rate. Overpayments or underpayments identified by the
Parties shall be returned or credited, together with interest accrued at the
Interest Rate, to their rightful owners in the first following month.
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ARTICLE 6.
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
6.1 EVENTS OF DEFAULT. Any one or more of the following shall
constitute an "Event of Default" hereunder with respect to a Party:
(a) default shall occur in the payment of any amounts due from such
Party hereunder which shall continue for more than ten (10) days after written
notice from the other Party;
(b) other than as provided in SECTION 6.1(a) above, default shall occur
in the performance of any covenant or condition to be performed by such Party
under this Agreement and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of
thirty (30) days after written notice from the other Party specifying the nature
of such default;
(c) a Bankruptcy Proceeding has occurred with respect to such Party; or
(d) a representation or warranty made by such Party herein shall have
been false or misleading in any material respect when made; provided, however,
if such representation or warranty is capable of being corrected, no Event of
Default shall have occurred if such Party is diligently pursuing such correction
and such representation or warranty is corrected within thirty (30) days of such
Party obtaining knowledge of the false and misleading nature of the statement.
6.2 REMEDIES. The Parties shall have the following remedies available
to them hereunder:
(a) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default by either Party
hereunder, the non-defaulting Party shall have the right (i) to collect all
amounts then or thereafter due to it from the defaulting Party hereunder, and
(ii) upon written notice to the other Party, to terminate this Agreement at any
time during the continuation of such Event of Default. The terminating Party
shall have all rights and remedies available to it under applicable law, subject
to the limitations set forth in SECTION 8.7.
(b) Without limiting the foregoing, any unexcused breach of this
Agreement or failure of either Party to perform its obligations hereunder shall
subject such Party to the payment of actual damages to the other Party,
regardless of any cure period.
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ARTICLE 7.
FORCE MAJEURE
If either Party is rendered wholly or partly unable to perform its
obligations under this Agreement because of a Force Majeure event, that Party
will be excused from whatever performance is affected by the Force Majeure event
to the extent so affected, provided that (a) the non-performing Party, as soon
as practical after knowing of the occurrence of the Force Majeure event, gives
the other Party written notice describing the particulars of the occurrence; (b)
the suspension of performance is of no greater scope and of no longer duration
than is reasonably required by the Force Majeure event; (c) the non-performing
Party uses commercially reasonable efforts to overcome or mitigate the effects
of such occurrence; and (d) when the non-performing Party is able to resume
performance of its obligations hereunder, that Party shall give the other Party
written notice to that effect and shall promptly resume such performance.
ARTICLE 8.
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
8.1 ASSIGNMENT; SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. No assignment or delegation by
either Party (or any successor or assignee thereof) of this Agreement, in whole
or in part, shall be made or become effective without the prior written consent
of the other Party in each case obtained, which consent may not be unreasonably
withheld. Any assignments or delegations by either Party shall be in such form
as to assure that such Party's obligations under this Agreement will be honored
fully and timely by any succeeding party.
8.2 NOTICES. All notices, requests and other communications hereunder
(herein collectively a "notice" or "notices") shall be deemed to have been duly
delivered, given or made to or upon any Party hereto if in writing and delivered
by hand against receipt, or by certified or registered mail, postage pre-paid,
return receipt requested, or to a courier who guarantees next business day
delivery or sent by telecopy (with confirmation) to such Party at its address
set forth below or to such other address as such Party may at any time, or from
time to time, direct by notice given in accordance with this SECTION 8.2.
IF TO DELTA: Mirant Delta, LLC
0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: President and Chief Executive Officer
IF TO POTRERO: Mirant Potrero, LLC
0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: President and Chief Executive Officer
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IF TO MAEM: Mirant Americas Energy Marketing L.P.
0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Vice President, West Region
The date of delivery of any such notice, request or other communication shall be
the earlier of (i) the date of actual receipt or (ii) three (3) business days
after such notice, request or other communication is sent by certified or
registered mail, (iii) if sent by courier who guarantees next business day
delivery, the business day next following the day of such notice, request or
other communication is actually delivered to the courier or (iv) the day
actually telecopied.
8.3 GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED
UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO PRINCIPLES OF
CONFLICTS OF LAW THAT WOULD OTHERWISE CAUSE THE LAW OF ANY STATE OTHER THAN
CALIFORNIA TO APPLY.
8.4 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. At all times during the term of this
Agreement, the Parties shall comply with all laws, rules, regulations, and codes
of all governmental authorities having jurisdiction over each of their
respective businesses which are now applicable, or may be applicable hereafter,
including without limitation, all special laws, policies, ordinances, or
regulations now in force, as amended or hereafter enacted. The Parties hereto
shall maintain all licenses, permits and other consents from all governmental
authorities having jurisdiction for the necessary use and operation of their
respective business. Nothing herein shall be deemed a waiver of the Parties'
right to challenge the validity of any such law, rule or regulation.
8.5 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of
the Parties with respect to the subject matter herein and takes precedence over
all prior understandings. This Agreement may not be amended except by a writing
signed by the Parties. The Parties agree to take such further actions and
execute such documents and instruments as they may deem necessary or desirable
in connection with the terms of this Agreement.
8.6 SEVERABILITY. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions
of this Agreement shall not affect the other provisions hereof. If any provision
of this Agreement is held to be invalid, such provisions shall not be severed
from this Agreement; instead, the scope of the rights and duties created thereby
shall be reduced by the smallest extent necessary to conform such provision to
the applicable law, preserving to the greatest extent the intent of the Parties
to create such rights and duties as set out herein. If necessary to preserve the
intent of the Parties hereto, the Parties shall negotiate in good faith to amend
this Agreement, adopting a substitute provision for the one deemed invalid or
unenforceable that is legally binding and enforceable and which restores to the
two Parties to the greatest extent possible the benefit of their respective
bargains on the Effective Date.
8.7 LIMITATION ON DAMAGES. NEITHER PARTY SHALL BE ENTITLED TO RECOVER
SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES HEREUNDER.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the
Parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as an instrument
under seal by their respective duly authorized officers as of the date and year
first above written.
MIRANT POTRERO, LLC MIRANT DELTA, LLC
By: By:
---------------------------------- --------------------------------
Name: Name:
-------------------------------- ------------------------------
Title: Title:
------------------------------- -----------------------------
MIRANT AMERICAS ENERGY
MARKETING L.P.
By MIRANT AMERICAS
DEVELOPMENT, INC.,
its General Partner
By:
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Name:
--------------------------------
Title:
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