LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT OF STECKMAN RIDGE GP, LLC A Delaware Limited Liability Company March 2, 2007
OF
XXXXXXXX
RIDGE GP, LLC
A
Delaware Limited Liability Company
March
2, 2007
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page
|
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ARTICLE
1
|
DEFINITIONS
|
1
|
|
1.01
|
Definitions
|
1
|
|
1.02
|
Interpretation
|
7
|
|
ARTICLE
2
|
ORGANIZATION
|
7
|
|
2.01
|
Formation
|
7
|
|
2.02
|
Name
|
7
|
|
2.03
|
Registered
Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office in the United States;
Other
Offices
|
8
|
|
2.04
|
Purposes
|
8
|
|
2.05
|
Foreign
Qualification
|
8
|
|
2.06
|
Formation
of Partnership
|
8
|
|
2.07
|
Term
|
8
|
|
ARTICLE
3
|
MEMBERSHIP;
DISPOSITIONS OF INTERESTS
|
8
|
|
3.01
|
Current
Members
|
8
|
|
3.02
|
Representations,
Warranties and Covenants
|
8
|
|
3.03
|
Dispositions
and Encumbrances of Membership Interests and LP Interests
|
9
|
|
3.04
|
Creation
of Additional Membership Interests
|
12
|
|
3.05
|
Access
to Information
|
12
|
|
3.06
|
Confidential
Information
|
13
|
|
3.07
|
Liability
to Third Parties
|
14
|
|
3.08
|
Use
of Members’ Names and Trademarks
|
14
|
|
ARTICLE
4
|
CAPITAL
CONTRIBUTIONS
|
14
|
|
4.01
|
Capital
Contributions
|
14
|
|
4.02
|
Loans
|
14
|
|
4.03
|
No
Other Contribution Obligations
|
14
|
|
4.04
|
Return
of Contributions
|
14
|
|
4.05
|
Capital
Accounts
|
14
|
|
4.06
|
Failure
to Make a Capital Contribution
|
16
|
|
ARTICLE
5
|
DISTRIBUTIONS
AND ALLOCATIONS
|
18
|
|
5.01
|
Distributions
|
18
|
|
5.02
|
Distributions
on Dissolution and Winding Up
|
18
|
|
5.03
|
Withholding
|
18
|
|
5.04
|
Allocations
|
18
|
|
5.05
|
Special
Allocations
|
18
|
|
5.06
|
Curative
Allocations
|
20
|
|
5.07
|
Varying
Interests
|
20
|
|
ARTICLE
6
|
MANAGEMENT
|
20
|
|
6.01
|
Generally
|
20
|
|
6.02
|
Management
Committee
|
20
|
|
6.03
|
Operations
and Management Agreement
|
23
|
|
6.04
|
Conflicts
of Interest
|
24
|
|
6.05
|
Indemnification
for Breach of Agreement
|
24
|
|
6.06
|
General
Regulatory Matters
|
24
|
|
6.07
|
Initial
Facilities
|
25
|
i
ARTICLE
7
|
TAXES
|
25
|
|
7.01
|
Tax
Returns
|
25
|
|
7.02
|
Tax
Elections
|
25
|
|
7.03
|
Tax
Matters Member
|
25
|
|
ARTICLE
8
|
BOOKS,
RECORDS, REPORTS, AND BANK ACCOUNTS
|
26
|
|
8.01
|
Maintenance
of Books; Reports
|
26
|
|
8.02
|
Bank
Accounts
|
26
|
|
ARTICLE
9
|
WITHDRAWAL
|
26
|
|
9.01
|
No
Right of Withdrawal
|
26
|
|
9.02
|
Deemed
Withdrawal
|
27
|
|
9.03
|
Effect
of Withdrawal
|
27
|
|
ARTICLE
10
|
DISPUTE
RESOLUTION
|
28
|
|
10.01
|
Disputes
|
28
|
|
10.02
|
Negotiation
to Resolve Disputes
|
28
|
|
10.03
|
Selection
of Arbitrator
|
28
|
|
10.04
|
Conduct
of Arbitration
|
29
|
|
10.05
|
Consolidation
|
29
|
|
ARTICLE
11
|
DISSOLUTION,
WINDING UP AND TERMINATION
|
29
|
|
11.01
|
Dissolution
|
29
|
|
11.02
|
Winding
Up and Termination
|
30
|
|
11.03
|
Deficit
Capital Accounts
|
31
|
|
11.04
|
Certificate
of Cancellation
|
31
|
|
ARTICLE
12
|
GENERAL
PROVISIONS
|
31
|
|
12.01
|
Offset
|
31
|
|
12.02
|
Notices
|
31
|
|
12.03
|
Entire
Agreement; Superseding Effect
|
31
|
|
12.04
|
Effect
of Waiver or Consent
|
31
|
|
12.05
|
Amendment
or Restatement
|
31
|
|
12.06
|
Binding
Effect
|
31
|
|
12.07
|
Governing
Law; Severability
|
32
|
|
12.08
|
Further
Assurances
|
32
|
|
12.09
|
Waiver
of Certain Rights
|
32
|
|
12.10
|
Counterparts
|
32
|
EXHIBITS:
A
-
Members
B
- Form
of Partnership Agreement
C
-
Non-Competition Area
D
-
Initial Facilities Plan
ii
OF
XXXXXXXX
RIDGE GP, LLC
A
Delaware Limited Liability Company
This
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT OF XXXXXXXX RIDGE GP, LLC (this
“Agreement”), dated as of March 2, 2007 (the “Effective Date”), is adopted,
executed and agreed to, for good and valuable consideration, by SPECTRA ENERGY
TRANSMISSION SERVICES, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Spectra”),
and NJR XXXXXXXX RIDGE STORAGE COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (“NJR”).
Capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not defined elsewhere have the
meanings given to them in Article 1 below.
RECITALS
The
Persons executing this Agreement as of the date of this Agreement are becoming
members of the Company and desire to enter into a written agreement pursuant
to
the Act governing the affairs of the Company and the conduct of its business.
This Agreement is intended to bind all Members from time to time and the
Company.
NOW
THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency
of
which are hereby acknowledged, the Members agree as follows:
ARTICLE
1
DEFINITIONS
1.01 Definitions.
(a) Certain
Definitions.
As used
in this Agreement, the following terms have the respective meanings set forth
below or set forth in the Sections referred to below:
AAA
-
Section
10.02(c).
Act
-
the
Delaware Limited Liability Company Act.
Additional
Contribution
-
Section 4.06(a)(ii).
Additional
Contribution Member
-
Section 4.06(a)(ii).
Adjusted
Capital Account Deficit
- with
respect to any Member, the deficit balance, if any, in such Member’s Capital
Account as of the end of the relevant Fiscal Year after giving effect to
the
following adjustments: (a) credit to such Capital Account any amounts that
such
Member is obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate sentences of Treasury
Regulation Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5) and (b) debit to such
Capital Account such Member’s share of the items described in Treasury
Regulation Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) and (6). This definition
of
Adjusted Capital Account Deficit is intended to comply with the provisions
of
Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted
consistently therewith.
Affiliate
- with
respect to any Person, (a) each entity that such Person Controls; (b) each
Person that Controls such Person, including, in the case of a Member, the
Member’s Parent; and (c) each entity that is under common Control with the
Person, including, in the case of a Member, each entity that is Controlled
by
the Member’s Parent; provided, with respect to any Member, an Affiliate shall
include (y) a limited partnership or a Person Controlled by a limited
partnership if a general partner of the limited partnership is Controlled
by the
Member’s Parent, or (z) a limited liability company or a Person controlled by a
limited liability company if the managing member of the limited liability
company is Controlled by the Member’s Parent; provided further, for purposes of
this Agreement the Company, the Partnership and their subsidiaries (if any)
shall not be an Affiliate of any Member.
1
Affiliate’s
Outside Activities
-
Section 6.04(b).
Agreement
-
introductory paragraph.
Alternate
Representative
-
Section 6.02(a)(i).
Arbitration
Notice
-
Section 10.02(c).
Arbitrator
-
Section
10.03(b).
Assignee
- any
Person that acquires a Membership Interest or any portion of a Membership
Interest through a Disposition; provided, however, that an Assignee shall
have
no right to be admitted to the Company as a Member except in accordance with
Section 3.03(b)(ii). The Assignee of a liquidated or wound up Member is the
shareholder, partner, member or other equity owner or owners of the liquidated
or wound up Member to which that Member’s Membership Interest is assigned by the
Person conducting the liquidation or winding up of such Member. The Assignee
of
a Bankrupt Member is (a) the Person or Persons (if any) to whom such Bankrupt
Member’s Membership Interest is assigned by order of the bankruptcy court or
other Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over such Bankruptcy, or
(b) in
the event of a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, the creditor
to
which such Membership Interest is assigned.
Authorizations
-
licenses, certificates, permits, orders, approvals, determinations and
authorizations from Governmental Authorities having valid
jurisdiction.
Available
Cash
- with
respect to any Quarter ending prior to the liquidation and winding up of
the
Company, the excess, if any and without duplication, of:
(a) the
sum
of all cash and cash equivalents of the Company on hand at the end of that
Quarter, over
(b) the
amount of any cash reserves that are necessary or appropriate in the Sole
Discretion of the Management Committee to (i) provide for the proper conduct
of
the business of the Company (including reserves for future maintenance capital
expenditures and for anticipated future credit needs of the Company) subsequent
to that Quarter or (ii) comply with applicable Law or any loan agreement,
security agreement, mortgage, debt instrument or other agreement or obligation
to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound or its assets are
subject; provided, however, that distributions made by the Company or cash
reserves established, increased or reduced after the end of that Quarter
but on
or before the date of determination of Available Cash with respect to that
Quarter shall be deemed to have been made, established, increased or reduced,
for purposes of determining Available Cash, within that Quarter if the
Management Committee so determines.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, “Available Cash” with respect to the Quarter in which a
liquidation or winding up of the Company occurs and any subsequent Quarter
shall
be deemed to equal zero.
Bankruptcy
or Bankrupt -
as
defined in the Partnership Agreement.
Breaching
Member
- a
Member (a) that (i) has committed a failure or breach of the type described
in
the definition of “Default,” (ii) has received a notice of the type described in
the definition of “Default,” and (iii) has not cured the failure or breach, but
as to which the applicable cure period set forth in the definition of “Default”
has not yet expired or (b) that is, or any Affiliate of which is, a “Breaching
Partner” as defined in the Partnership Agreement.
Business
Day
- as
defined in the Partnership Agreement.
Buy-out
Right
-
Section 3.03(b)(iv)(A).
Capital
Account
- the
account maintained by the Company for each Member in accordance with this
Agreement and to be maintained by the Company for each Member from and after
the
Effective Date in accordance with Section 4.05.
2
Capital
Budget
- the
annual capital budget for the Partnership that is approved (or deemed approved)
pursuant to Section 6.02(h)(ii)(C).
Capital
Call
-
Section 4.01(a).
Capital
Contribution
- with
respect to any Member, the amount of money and the net agreed value of any
property (other than money) contributed to the Company by the Member. Any
reference in this Agreement to the Capital Contribution of a Member shall
include a Capital Contribution of its predecessors in interest.
Certificate
-
Section 2.01.
Change
Exercise Notice -
Section
3.03(b)(iv)(A).
Change
of Member Control -
with
respect to any Member, an event (such as a Disposition of voting securities
or
other equity interests) that causes such Member to cease to be Controlled
by
such Member’s then Parent or an event that causes an Affiliate of a Member that
holds an LP Interest to be Controlled by another Person that is not an Affiliate
of that Member; provided, however, that the term “Change of Member Control”
shall not include any of the following events:
(a) an
event
that causes that Member’s that Parent to be Controlled by another
Person;
(b) an
event
that involves the Disposition of voting securities or other equity interests
of
that Member but also involves the Disposition of other assets having a greater
value than the larger of (i) the fair market value of such Member’s Membership
Interest and (ii) the product of the Sharing Ratio of that Member times $1
billion;
(c) an
event
that involves the Disposition of voting securities or other equity interests
of
a Person that Controls that Member if that Person also owns assets (other
than
the voting securities or other equity interests of such Member) that have
a
greater value than the larger of (i) the fair market value of that Member’s
Membership Interest and (ii) the product of the Sharing Ratio of that Member
times $1 billion; or
(d) in
the
case of a Member that is a publicly traded partnership or is Controlled by
a
publicly traded partnership, any Disposition of or issuance of new units
representing limited partner interests by such publicly traded partnership,
whether to an Affiliate or an unrelated party and whether or not such units
or
interests are listed on a national securities exchange or quotation
service.
Change
Purchasing Member
-
Section 3.03(b)(iv)(A).
Change
Unexercised Portion
-
Section 3.03(b)(iv)(A).
Changing
Member
-
Section 3.03(b)(iv)(A).
Claim
- any
and all judgments, claims, causes of action, demands, lawsuits, suits,
proceedings, Governmental investigations or audits, losses, assessments,
fines,
penalties, administrative orders, obligations, costs, expenses, liabilities
and
damages (whether actual, consequential or punitive), including interest,
penalties, reasonable attorney’s fees, disbursements and costs of
investigations, deficiencies, levies, duties, imposts, remediation and cleanup
costs, and natural resources damages.
Code
-
as
defined in the Partnership Agreement.
Company
-
Xxxxxxxx Ridge GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
Company
Minimum Gain
-
“partnership minimum gain” set forth in Treasury Regulation Sections
1.704-2(b)(2) and 1.704-2(d).
3
Confidential
Information
-
information and data (including all copies) that is furnished or submitted
by
any of the Members, their Affiliates, or the Operator, whether oral, written,
or
electronic, to the other Members, their Affiliates, or the Operator in
connection with the Facilities and the resulting information and data obtained
from those studies, including market evaluations, market proposals, service
designs and pricing, pipeline system design and routing, cost estimating,
rate
studies, identification of permits, strategic plans, legal documents,
environmental studies and requirements, public and governmental relations
planning, identification of regulatory issues and development of related
strategies, legal analysis and documentation, financial planning, gas reserves
and deliverability data, studies of the natural gas supplies for the Facilities,
and other studies and activities to determine the potential viability of
the
Facilities and their design characteristics, and identification of key issues.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Confidential Information” shall not
include any information that:
(a) is
in the
public domain at the time of its disclosure or thereafter, other than as
a
result of a disclosure directly or indirectly by a Member or its Affiliates
or
the Operator in contravention of this Agreement;
(b) as
to any
Member or its Affiliates or the Operator, was in the possession of such Member
or its Affiliates or the Operator prior to the execution of any confidentiality
agreements related to the Facilities or this Agreement; or
(c) has
been
independently acquired or developed by a Member or its Affiliates or the
Operator without violating any of the obligations of that Member or its
Affiliates or the Operator under any applicable agreement.
Contributing
Member
-
Section 4.06(a).
Control
-
as
defined in the Partnership Agreement.
Control
Notice
-
Section 3.03(b)(iv)(A).
Customer
-
the
Person (other than the Company) that has entered into a Storage
Agreement.
Day
-
a
calendar day; provided, however, that, if any period of Days referred to
in this
Agreement shall end on a Day that is not a Business Day, then the expiration
of
that period shall be automatically extended until the end of the first
succeeding Business Day.
Default
- with
respect to any Member,
(a) the
failure of that Member to contribute, on or before the 10th Day after the
date
required, all or any portion of a Capital Contribution that Member is required
to make as provided in this Agreement, or
(b) the
failure of a Member to comply in any material respect with any of its other
agreements, covenants or obligations under this Agreement, or the failure
of any
representation or warranty made by a Member in this Agreement to have been
true
and correct in all material respects at the time it was made, in each case
if
the breach is not cured by the applicable Member on or before the 30th Day
after
its receiving notice of such breach from any other Member (or, if such breach
is
not capable of being cured within such 30-Day period, if such Member fails
to
promptly commence substantial efforts to cure such breach or to prosecute
such
curative efforts to completion with continuity and diligence). The Management
Committee may, but shall have no obligation to, extend the foregoing 10-Day
and
30-Day periods.
Default
Rate
- a rate
per annum equal to the lesser of (a) a varying rate per annum equal to the
sum
of (i) the prime rate as published in The Wall Street Journal, with adjustments
in that varying rate to be made on the same date as any change in that rate
is
so published, plus (ii) 2% per annum, and (b) the maximum rate permitted
by
Law.
4
Dispose,
Disposing or Disposition
- with
respect to any asset (including a Membership Interest, an LP Interest or
any
portion of a Membership Interest or LP Interest), a sale, assignment, transfer,
conveyance, gift, exchange or other disposition of such asset, whether such
disposition be voluntary, involuntary or by operation of Law, including the
following: (a) in the case of an asset owned by a natural person, a transfer
of
such asset upon the death of its owner, whether by will, intestate succession
or
otherwise; (b) in the case of an asset owned by an entity, (i) a merger or
consolidation of such entity (other than where such entity is the survivor
thereof), (ii) a conversion of such entity into another type of entity, or
(iii)
a distribution of such asset, including in connection with the dissolution,
liquidation, winding up or termination of such entity (unless, in the case
of
dissolution, such entity’s business is continued without the commencement of
liquidation or winding up); and (c) a disposition in connection with, or
in lieu
of, a foreclosure of an Encumbrance; but such terms shall not include the
creation of an Encumbrance.
Disposing
Member
-
Section 3.03(a).
Dispute
- Section
10.01.
Dispute
Notice -
Section
10.02.
Disputing
Member -
Section
10.01.
Dissolution
Event
-
Section 11.01.
Effective
Date -
introductory paragraph.
Encumber,
Encumbering, or Encumbrance
- the
creation of a security interest, lien, pledge, mortgage or other encumbrance,
whether such encumbrance be voluntary, involuntary or by operation of
Law.
Facilities
- as
defined in the Partnership Agreement.
FERC
-
as
defined in the Partnership Agreement.
Governmental
Authority
(or
Governmental)
- as
defined in the Partnership Agreement.
including
-
including, without limitation.
Initial
Facilities
- as
defined in the Partnership Agreement.
Initial
Facilities Plan
-
Section 6.07(a).
Law
-
as
defined in the Partnership Agreement.
Limited
Partner
- as
defined in the Partnership Agreement.
LP
Interest
- as
defined in the Partnership Agreement.
Majority
Interest
-
Section 6.02(e)(i).
Management
Committee
-
Section 6.01.
Member
- any
Person executing this Agreement as of the date of this Agreement as a member
or
subsequently admitted to the Company as a member as provided in this Agreement,
but such term does not include any Person that has ceased to be a member
in the
Company.
5
Membership
Interest
- with
respect to any Member, (a) that Member’s status as a Member; (b) that Member’s
share of the income, gain, loss, deduction and credits of, and the right
to
receive distributions from, the Company; (c) any Priority Interest to which
that
Member is entitled pursuant to Section 4.06(b); (d) all other rights, benefits
and privileges enjoyed by that Member (under the Act, this Agreement or
otherwise) in its capacity as a Member, including that Member’s rights to vote,
consent and approve and otherwise to participate in the management of the
Company, including through the Management Committee; and (e) all obligations,
duties and liabilities imposed on that Member (under the Act, this Agreement
or
otherwise) in its capacity as a Member, including any obligations to make
Capital Contributions.
Member
Minimum Gain
-
“partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain” as determined under Treasury Regulation
Section 1.704-2(i)(2).
Member
Nonrecourse Debt
-
“partner nonrecourse debt” as set forth in Treasury Regulation Section
1.704-2(b)(4).
Member
Nonrecourse Deductions
-
“partner nonrecourse deductions,” and the amount thereof shall be, as set forth
in Treasury Regulation Xxxxxxx 0.000-0(x).
XXX
-
introductory paragraph.
Non-Contributing
Member
-
Section 4.06(a).
Nonrecourse
Debt
- the
meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b)(3).
Nonrecourse
Deductions
- the
meaning, and the amount thereof shall be, as set forth in Treasury Regulation
Sections 1.704-2(b) and 1.704-2(c).
O&M
Agreement
- as
defined in the Partnership Agreement.
Officer
-
any
Person designated as an officer of the Company as provided in Section 6.02(j),
but that term does not include any Person who has ceased to be an officer
of the
Company.
Operating
Budget
- the
annual operating budget for the Partnership that is approved (or deemed
approved) pursuant to Section 6.02(h)(ii)(C).
Operator
- as
defined in the Partnership Agreement.
Parent
- any
Person that Controls a Member and that is not itself Controlled by any other
Person.
Partnership
- as
defined in the Partnership Agreement.
Partnership
Agreement
-
Section 2.06.
Person
- the
meaning assigned that term in Section 18-101(11) of the Act and also includes
a
Governmental Authority and any other entity.
Priority
Interest
- the
special distribution rights under Section 4.06(b) received by each Additional
Contribution Member, which rights include the right to receive the return
described in Section 4.06(b)(i) and which form part of the Additional
Contribution Member’s Membership Interest.
Priority
Interest Sharing Ratio
-
Section 4.06(b)(i).
PSA
- as
defined in the Partnership Agreement.
6
Quarter
- unless
the context requires otherwise, a fiscal quarter of the Company.
Regulatory
Allocations -
Section
5.06.
Representative
-
Section
6.02(a)(i).
Securities
Act
- the
Securities Act of 1933.
Sharing
Ratio
-
subject in each case to adjustments in accordance with this Agreement or
in
connection with Dispositions of Membership Interests, (a) in the case of
a
Member executing this Agreement as of the date of this Agreement or a Person
acquiring that Member’s Membership Interest, the percentage specified for that
Member as its Sharing Ratio on Exhibit A, and (b) in the case of Membership
Interests issued under Section 3.04, the Sharing Ratio established in Section
3.04; provided, however, that the total of all Sharing Ratios shall always
equal
100%.
Sole
Discretion
- (a) in
the applicable Person’s sole and absolute discretion, (b) with or without cause,
(c) subject to such conditions as it may deem appropriate, and (d) without
taking into account the interests of, and without incurring liability to,
the
Company, the Partnership, any Limited Partner, any other Member or
Representative, or any Officer or employee of the Company, the Partnership
or
any Limited Partner.
Spectra
-
introductory paragraph.
Storage
Agreement
- as
defined in the Partnership Agreement.
Tax
Matters Member
-
Section 7.03(a).
Term
-
Section 2.07.
Treasury
Regulations
- as
defined in the Partnership Agreement.
Withdraw,
Withdrawing or Withdrawal
- the
withdrawal, resignation or retirement of a Member from the Company as a member.
Such terms shall not include any Dispositions of Membership Interests (which
are
governed by Sections 3.03(a) and (b)), even though the Member making a
Disposition may cease to be a Member as a result of the
Disposition.
Withdrawn
Member -
Section
9.03.
(b) Other
Terms.
Terms
defined elsewhere in this Agreement have the meanings so given
them.
1.02 Interpretation.
Unless
the context requires otherwise: (a) the gender (or lack of gender) of all
words
used in this Agreement includes the masculine, feminine and neuter; (b)
references to Articles and Sections refer to Articles and Sections of this
Agreement; (c) references to Exhibits refer to the Exhibits attached to this
Agreement, each of which is made a part hereof for all purposes; (d) references
to Laws refer to such Laws as they may be amended from time to time, and
references to particular provisions of a Law include any corresponding
provisions of any succeeding Law; and (e) references to money refer to legal
currency of the United States of America.
ARTICLE
2
ORGANIZATION
2.01 Formation.
The
Company has been formed as a Delaware limited liability company by the filing
of
a Certificate of Formation (the “Certificate”) on February 7, 2007.
2.02 Name.
The
name
of the Company is “Xxxxxxxx Ridge GP, LLC” and all Company business must be
conducted in that name or such other names that comply with Law as the
Management Committee may select.
7
2.03 Registered
Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office in the United States; Other Offices.
The
registered office of the Company required by the Act to be maintained in
the
State of Delaware shall be the office of the initial registered agent named
in
the Certificate or such other office (which need not be a place of business
of
the Company) as the Management Committee may designate in the manner provided
by
Law. The registered agent of the Company in the State of Delaware shall be
the
initial registered agent named in the Certificate or such other Person or
Persons as the Management Committee may designate in the manner provided
by Law.
The principal office of the Company in the United States shall be at such
place
as the Management Committee may designate, which need not be in the State
of
Delaware, and the Company shall maintain records there or such other place
as
the Management Committee shall designate and shall keep the street address
of
such principal office at the registered office of the Company in the State
of
Delaware. The Company may have such other offices as the Management Committee
may designate.
2.04 Purposes.
The
purpose of the Company is to act as the general partner of the Partnership,
to
hold the general partner interests in the Partnership and to engage in any
activities directly or indirectly relating to the foregoing.
2.05 Foreign
Qualification.
Prior to
the Company’s conducting business in any jurisdiction other than Delaware, the
Management Committee shall cause the Company to comply, to the extent procedures
are available and those matters are reasonably within the control of the
Management Committee, with all requirements necessary to qualify the Company
as
a foreign limited liability company in that jurisdiction. At the request
of the
Management Committee, each Member shall execute, acknowledge, swear to and
deliver all certificates and other instruments conforming with this Agreement
that are necessary or appropriate to qualify, continue and terminate the
Company
as a foreign limited liability company in all such jurisdictions in which
the
Company may conduct business.
2.06 Formation
of Partnership.
Promptly
after the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company as general
partner and each Member signing this Agreement (or its Affiliate) shall enter
into the Limited Partnership Agreement of Xxxxxxxx Ridge, LP, in the form
of
Exhibit B to this Agreement (the “Partnership Agreement,” as amended from time
to time).
2.07 Term.
The
period of existence of the Company (the “Term”) commenced with the acceptance
for filing of the Certificate by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware
and shall end at such time as a certificate of cancellation is filed with
the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with Section
11.04.
ARTICLE
3
MEMBERSHIP;
DISPOSITIONS OF INTERESTS
3.01 Current
Members.
As of
the Effective Date, Spectra and NJR are the only Members of the Company,
each of
which is admitted to the Company as a member.
3.02 Representations,
Warranties and Covenants.
Each
Member hereby represents, warrants and covenants to the Company and each
other
Member that the following statements are true and correct as of the Effective
Date and shall be true and correct at all times that such Member is a
Member:
(a) that
Member is duly incorporated, organized or formed (as applicable), validly
existing, and (if applicable) in good standing under the Law of the jurisdiction
of its incorporation, organization or formation; if required by applicable
Law,
that Member is duly qualified and in good standing in the jurisdiction of
its
principal place of business, if different from its jurisdiction of
incorporation, organization or formation; and that Member has full power
and
authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations
hereunder, and all necessary actions by the board of directors, shareholders,
managers, members, partners, trustees, beneficiaries, or other applicable
Persons necessary for the due authorization, execution, delivery and performance
of this Agreement by that Member have been duly taken;
(b) that
Member has duly executed and delivered this Agreement and the other documents
contemplated herein, and they constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation
of that Member enforceable against it in accordance with their terms (except
as
may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar Laws of general application
and by the effect of general principles of equity, regardless of whether
considered at law or in equity);
8
(c) that
Member’s authorization, execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement
does not and will not (i) conflict with, or result in a breach, default or
violation of, (A) the organizational documents of that Member, (B) any contract
or agreement to which that Member is a party or is otherwise subject, or
(C) any
Law, order, judgment, decree, writ, injunction or arbitral award to which
that
Member is subject; or (ii) require any consent, approval or authorization
from,
filing or registration with, or notice to, any Governmental Authority or
other
Person, unless such requirement has already been satisfied;
(d) that
Member’s Parent is the Person identified as such on Exhibit A;
(e) that
Member is acquiring its Membership Interest solely for investment for its
own
account and not for distribution or sale to others in connection with any
distribution or public offering;
(f) that
Member understands that there will not be any public market for the Membership
Interests and that it must bear the economic risk of an investment in the
Company for an indefinite period of time because (i) its Membership Interest
has
not been registered under the Securities Act or any applicable state securities
laws and (ii) it may Dispose or Encumber, in whole or in part, its Membership
Interest only in accordance with this Agreement and then only if its Membership
Interest is subsequently registered in accordance with the provisions of
the
Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, unless registration
is not
required;
(g) that
Member understands that the Company is not obligated to register the Membership
Interests for resale under the Securities Act or any applicable state securities
laws;
(h) that
Member is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of rule 144A of
the Securities and Exchange Commission or an “accredited investor” within the
meaning of Regulation D of the Securities and Exchange Commission and is
able to
bear the economic risk of such an investment in the Company for an indefinite
period of time, and it has no need for liquidity of this investment and it
could
bear a complete loss of this investment; if it is either a “qualified purchaser”
within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940 or is an entity
formed
and is being utilized primarily for the purpose of making an investment in
the
Company, each of the shareholders, partners, members or other holders of
equity
or beneficial interests in that Member is such a qualified purchaser;
and
(i) that
Member has the knowledge and sophistication to evaluate the risks of investing
in the Company; it has conducted its own investigation and due diligence
into
the Company and is satisfied that its investment in the Company is appropriate;
it understands and agrees that none of the other Members or their Affiliates,
or
the Company, has made nor will make any representation or warranty with respect
to the worthiness, terms, value, or any other aspect of the Company or the
Membership Interests, and it explicitly disclaims any warranty, express or
implied, with respect to such matters; and it specifically acknowledges,
represents, and warrants that it is not relying on any other Member or its
Affiliates (i) for its investigation or due diligence concerning, or evaluation
of, the Company or any related transaction or (ii) with respect to tax and
other
economic considerations involved in an investment in the Company.
3.03 Dispositions
and Encumbrances of Membership Interests and LP
Interests.
(a) General
Restriction.
A Member
(the “Disposing Member”) may not Dispose of or Encumber all or any portion of
its Membership Interest or LP Interest (or permit any of its Affiliates to
Dispose of or Encumber all or any portion of its LP Interest) except in strict
accordance with this Section 3.03. References in this Section 3.03 to
Dispositions or Encumbrances of a “Membership Interest” or of an “LP Interest”
shall also refer to Dispositions or Encumbrances of a portion of a Membership
Interest or of an LP Interest, respectively. Any attempted Disposition or
Encumbrance of a Membership Interest or an LP Interest, other than in strict
accordance with this Section 3.03, shall be, and is hereby declared, null
and
void ab initio. The rights and obligations constituting a Membership Interest
or
an LP Interest may not be separated, divided or split from the other attributes
of a Membership Interest or an LP Interest except as contemplated by the
express
provisions of this Agreement. The Members agree that a breach of the provisions
of this Section 3.03 may cause irreparable injury to the Company and to the
other Members for which monetary damages (or other remedy at law) are inadequate
in view of (i) the complexities and
9
uncertainties
in measuring the actual damages that would be sustained by reason of the
failure
of a Member to comply with such provision and (ii) the uniqueness of the
Company
and Partnership business and the relationship among the Members. Accordingly,
the Members agree that the provisions of this Section 3.03 may be enforced
by
specific performance in accordance with Section 10.04(b).
(b) Dispositions
of Membership Interests and LP Interests.
(i) General
Restriction.
A Member
may Dispose of its Membership Interest or LP Interest (and will permit any
of
its Affiliates to Dispose of its LP Interest) only (A) to an Affiliate of
the
Member making, or whose Affiliate is making, the Disposition or (B) with
the
written consent of all other Members, which consent may be granted or withheld
in the Sole Discretion of each Member. Any such Disposition must comply with
the
requirements of Section 3.03(b)(iii) and, if the Assignee is to be admitted
as a
Member, Section 3.03(b)(ii) and with the applicable provisions of the
Partnership Agreement. If the Member is Disposing of all or any portion of
its
Membership Interest, it must also transfer a pro rata portion of its and
its
Affiliates’ LP Interest and vice versa.
(ii) Admission
of Assignee as a Member.
If, but
only if, a Disposition is effected in strict compliance with Sections 3.03(a)
and (b), the Assignee of a Membership Interest shall be admitted to the Company
as a Member, with the Membership Interest (and attendant Sharing Ratio) so
transferred to such Assignee and the Company shall consent to the Disposition
of
an LP Interest and the admission of the Assignee as a Limited Partner of
the
Partnership.
(iii) Requirements
Applicable to All Dispositions and Admissions.
In
addition to the requirements set forth in Sections 3.03(b)(i), any Disposition
of a Membership Interest and LP Interest and any admission of an Assignee
as a
Member shall also be subject to the following requirements, and such Disposition
(and admission, if applicable) shall not be effective unless such requirements
are complied with; provided, however, that the Management Committee, in its
Sole
Discretion, may waive any of the following requirements:
(A) Disposition
Documents.
The
following documents must be delivered to the Management Committee and must
be
satisfactory, in form and substance, to the Management Committee:
(I)
Disposition
Instrument.
A copy
of the instrument pursuant to which the Disposition is effected.
(II) Ratification
of this Agreement.
An
instrument, executed by the Disposing Member and its Assignee, containing
the
following information and agreements, to the extent they are not contained
in
the instrument described in Section 3.03(b)(iii)(A)(I): (aa) the notice address
of the Assignee; (bb) the Parent of the Assignee or a statement that it has
no
Parent; (cc) the Sharing Ratios after the Disposition of the Disposing Member
and its Assignee (which together must total the Sharing Ratio of the Disposing
Member before the Disposition); (dd) the Assignee’s ratification of this
Agreement and agreement to be bound by it, and its confirmation that the
representations and warranties in Section 3.02 are true and correct with
respect
to it; and (ee) representations and warranties by the Disposing Member and
its
Assignee (AA) that the Disposition and admission is being made in accordance
with all applicable Laws, (BB) that the matters set forth in Section
3.03(b)(iii)(A)(III) are true and correct, and (CC) that the Disposition
and
admission do not violate any agreement to which the Company or the Partnership
is a party; together with a similar instrument executed by the Disposing
Member
and/or its Affiliate owning the LP Interest and the Assignee (as defined
in the
Partnership Agreement) of the LP Interest.
(III) Securities
Law Opinion.
Unless
the Membership Interest subject to the Disposition is registered under the
Securities Act and any applicable state securities Law, a favorable opinion
of
the Company’s legal counsel, or of other legal counsel acceptable to the
Management Committee, to the effect that the Disposition and admission is
being
made pursuant to a valid exemption from registration under those Laws and
in
accordance with those Laws; provided, however, that no such opinion shall
be
required in the case of a Disposition by a Member to an
Affiliate.
10
(B) Payment
of Expenses.
The
Disposing Member and its Assignee shall pay, or reimburse the Company for,
all
reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Company in connection with
the
Disposition and admission, including the legal fees incurred in connection
with
the legal opinion referred to in Section 3.03(b)(iii)(A)(III), on or before
the
10th Day after the receipt by that Person of the Company’s invoice for the
amount due. The Company will provide an invoice as soon as practicable after
the
amount due is determined but in no event later than the 90th Day thereafter.
If
payment is not made by the date due, the Person owing that amount shall pay
interest on the unpaid amount from the date due until paid at a rate per
annum
equal to the Default Rate.
(C) No
Release. No
Disposition of a Membership Interest shall effect a release of the Disposing
Member from any liabilities to the Company or the other Members arising from
events occurring prior to the Disposition.
(D) Indebtedness
of Company. Any
Disposition of a Membership Interest or LP Interest shall also include all
of
the indebtedness owed by the Company or the Partnership to the Disposing
Member
or its Affiliates (or, if only a portion of a Membership Interest or LP Interest
is being Disposed, a proportionate share of that indebtedness). As long as
this
Agreement shall remain in effect, all evidence of indebtedness of the Company
or
the Partnership owed to any of the Members or its Affiliates shall bear an
appropriate legend to indicate that it is held subject to, and may be Disposed
of only in accordance with, the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and
that
such Disposition may be made only in conjunction with the Disposition of
a
proportionate part of such Member’s Membership Interest.
(iv) Change
of Member Control.
(A) Procedure.
In the
event of a Change of Member Control, then the Member with respect to which
the
Change of Member Control has occurred (the “Changing Member”) shall promptly
(and in all events within five Business Days after the Change in Member Control)
notify (the “Control Notice”) the Company and the other Members. If the Control
Notice is not given by the Changing Member as provided above and any other
Member becomes aware of that Change of Member Control, the other Member shall
have the right to give the Control Notice to the Changing Member, the Company
and the other Members. The other Members shall have the right (the “Buy-out
Right”) to acquire the Membership Interest of the Changing Member and its and
its Affiliates’ LP Interest for the sum of (x) the positive balance of the
Changing Member’s Capital Account and (y) the positive balance(s) of the
Changing Member and/or its Affiliates’ capital accounts under the Partnership
Agreement. Each Member (excluding the Changing Member) shall have the right
(but
not the obligation) to acquire a portion of the applicable Membership Interest
and its and its Affiliates’ LP Interest that is equal to (I) the Sharing Ratio
represented by the Membership Interest times (II) a fraction, the numerator
of
which is the Member’s Sharing Ratio and the denominator of which is the total
Sharing Ratios of all Members other than the Changing Member. Each Member
(other
than the Changing Member) shall have through the 30th Day following the
determination of the value of such Membership Interest and its and its
Affiliates’ LP Interest in which to notify the other Members (including the
Changing Member) whether the Member desires to exercise its Buy-out Right.
A
notice in which a Member exercises the Buy-out Right is referred to as a
“Change
Exercise Notice,” and a Member that delivers a Change Exercise Notice is
referred to as a “Change Purchasing Member.” If the Change Purchasing Members
constitute fewer than all of the Members (other than the Changing Member)
and,
consequently, there is a portion of the Membership Interest and LP Interest
for
which the Buy-out Right has not been exercised (a “Change Unexercised Portion”),
then each Change Purchasing Member shall have through the 20th Day following
the
end of that period in which to notify the other Change Purchasing Members
and
the Changing Member whether it desires to acquire the portion of the Change
Unexercised Portion that is equal to (aa) the Sharing Ratio represented by
the
Change Unexercised Portion times (bb) a fraction, the numerator of which
is the
Change Purchasing Member’s Sharing Ratio and the denominator of which is the
total Sharing Ratios of all Change Purchasing Members. If, at the end of
this
20-Day period, there remains a Change Unexercised Portion, then the Change
Purchasing Members shall have an additional 10-Day period in which to negotiate
among themselves for a mutually agreeable method of sharing the acquisition
of
the remaining Change Unexercised Portion. If the Change Purchasing Members
reach
such
agreement during this 10-Day period, then the Buy-out Right shall be deemed
exercised, and the Changing Member and, if applicable, its Affiliates and
the
Change Purchasing Members shall close the acquisition of the Membership Interest
and LP Interest in accordance with Section 3.03(b)(iv)(B). If, however, the
Change Purchasing Members do not reach such agreement during this 10-Day
period,
then the Buy-out Right shall be deemed to have been waived. A Member that
fails
to exercise a right during any applicable period set forth in this Section
3.03(b)(iv)(A) shall be deemed to have waived such right for the subject
Change
of Member Control, but not any right for future Changes of Member
Control.
11
(B) Closing.
If the
Buy-out Right is deemed exercised in accordance with Section 3.03(b)(iv)(A),
the
closing of the purchase of the Membership Interest and LP Interest shall
occur
at the principal place of business of the Company no later than the 60th
Day
after the expiration of the last applicable period referred to in such Section
3.03(b)(iv)(A) (or, if later, the fifth Business Day after the receipt of
all
applicable Authorizations to the purchase), unless the Changing Member and,
if
applicable, its Affiliate and the Change Purchasing Members agree upon a
different place or date. A Change Purchasing Member may assign its right
to
receive any Membership Interest or LP Interest to one or more Affiliates.
At the
closing, (I) the Changing Member shall execute and deliver to the Change
Purchasing Members and/or their Affiliates, as applicable, (aa) an assignment
of
the Membership Interest and LP Interest, in form and substance reasonably
acceptable to the Change Purchasing Members, containing a general warranty
of
title as to the Membership Interest and the LP Interest (including that the
Membership Interest and the LP Interest are free and clear of all Encumbrances,
other than those permitted under Section 3.03(c)(ii)) and (bb) any other
instruments reasonably requested by the Change Purchasing Members to give
effect
to the purchase; and (II) the Change Purchasing Members shall deliver to
the
Changing Member and, if applicable, its Affiliate(s) in immediately available
funds the purchase price provided for in Section 3.03(b)(iv)(A). The Sharing
Ratios and Capital Accounts of the Members shall be deemed adjusted to reflect
the effect of the purchase and Exhibit A shall be amended accordingly and
to
reflect any new Parent.
(v) Tax
Termination.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, a direct or indirect
Disposition of a Membership Interest shall be made only with the consent
of all
Members if the Disposition would (a) cause a termination of the Company under
Section 708 of the Code or (b) adversely affect the tax consequences of the
Company or any Member.
(c) Encumbrances
of Membership Interest or LP Interest.
A Member
may Encumber its Membership Interest or any LP Interest, or permit any of
its
Affiliates to Encumber any LP Interest, only if (i) the Member receives the
consent of a Majority Interest of the non-Encumbering Members (calculated
without reference to the Sharing Ratio of the Encumbering Member), which
consent
(as contemplated by Section 6.02(e)(ii)) may be granted or withheld in the
Sole
Discretion of each such other Member; and (ii) the instrument creating the
Encumbrance must provide that any foreclosure of such Encumbrance (or
Disposition in lieu of such foreclosure) must comply with the requirements
of
Section 3.03(a) and (b).
3.04 Creation
of Additional Membership Interests.
Additional Membership Interests may be created and issued to existing Members
or
to other Persons, and such other Persons may be admitted to the Company as
Members, with the consent of a Majority Interest, on such terms and conditions
as a Majority Interest may determine at the time of admission. The terms
of
admission or issuance must specify the applicable Sharing Ratios and may
provide
for the creation of different classes or groups of Members having different
rights, powers and duties. Any such admission is effective only after the
new
Member has executed and delivered to the Members an instrument containing
the
notice address of the new Member, the Assignee’s ratification of this Agreement
and agreement to be bound by it, and its confirmation that the representations
and warranties in Section 3.02 are true and correct with respect to it. The
provisions of this Section 3.04 shall not apply to Dispositions of Membership
Interests and LP Interests or admissions of Assignees in connection therewith,
such matters being governed by Section 3.03(a) and (b).
3.05 Access
to Information.
Each
Member shall be entitled to receive any information that it may request
concerning the Company and the Partnership; provided, however, that this
Section
3.05 shall not obligate the Company, the Management Committee, or the Operator
to create any information that does not already exist at the time of such
request (other than to convert existing information from one medium to another,
such as providing a printout of information that is stored in a computer
database). Each Member shall also have the right, upon reasonable notice,
and at
all reasonable times during usual business hours to inspect the properties
of
the Company and the Partnership and to audit, examine and make copies of
the
books of account and other records of the Company and the Partnership. This
right may be exercised through any agent or employee of a Member designated
in
writing by it or by an independent public accountant, engineer, attorney
or
other consultant so designated. The Member making the request shall bear
all
costs and expenses incurred in any inspection, examination or audit made
on
that
Member’s behalf. The Members agree to cooperate reasonably, and to cause their
respective independent public accountants, engineers, attorneys or other
consultants to cooperate reasonably, in connection with any such request.
Confidential Information obtained under this Section 3.05 shall be subject
to
the provisions of Section 3.06.
12
3.06 Confidential
Information.
(a) Except
as
permitted by Section 3.06(b), (i) each Member shall, and shall cause its
Affiliates to, keep confidential all Confidential Information and shall not
disclose any Confidential Information to any Person, including any of its
Affiliates, and (ii) each Member shall use the Confidential Information only
in
connection with the Facilities, the Company and the Partnership.
(b) Notwithstanding
Section 3.06(a), but subject to the other provisions of this Section 3.06,
a
Member or, where applicable, its Affiliates, may make the following disclosures
and uses of Confidential Information:
(i) disclosures
to another Member, the Operator or any other Person retained by the Company
or
the Partnership in connection with the Company or the Partnership;
(ii) disclosures
and uses that are approved by the Management Committee;
(iii) disclosures
that may be required from time to time to obtain requisite Authorizations
or
financing for the Facilities, if the disclosures are approved by the Management
Committee;
(iv) disclosures
to an Affiliate of that Member, including the directors, officers, employees,
agents and advisors of that Affiliate, provided the Member shall cause that
Affiliate to abide by the terms of this Section 3.06, and special care shall
be
taken to restrict such disclosures in any case where that Affiliate is or
may
become a customer under a Storage Agreement or an “Marketing Affiliate” (as
defined in the FERC’s Standards of Conduct for Transmission Providers, 18 C.F.R.
Part 358, Section 358.3(k));
(v) disclosures
to the Parent of that Member, including the directors, officers, employees,
agents and advisors of that Parent, but that Parent shall be subject to the
terms of this Section 3.06;
(vi) disclosures
to a Person that is not a Member or an Affiliate of a Member, if that Person
has
been retained by a Member or an Affiliate of a Member to provide services
in
connection with the Company or the Partnership and has agreed to abide by
the
terms of this Section 3.06;
(vii) disclosures
to a bona-fide potential direct or indirect purchaser of that Member’s
Membership Interest, if that potential purchaser has agreed to abide by the
terms of this Section 3.06;
(viii) disclosures
required, with respect to a Member or an Affiliate of a Member, pursuant
to (A)
the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder,
(B) the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder, (C) any state securities Laws or (D) any national
securities exchange or automated quotation system; and
(ix) disclosures
that a Member is legally compelled to make by deposition, interrogatory,
request
for documents, subpoena, civil investigative demand, order of a court of
competent jurisdiction or similar process or otherwise by Law; provided,
however, that, prior to any such disclosure, such Member shall, to the extent
legally permissible:
(A) provide
the Management Committee with prompt notice of such requirements so that
one or
more of the Members may seek a protective order or other appropriate remedy
or
waive compliance with the terms of this Section 3.06(b)(ix);
(B) consult
with the Management Committee on the advisability of taking steps to resist
or
narrow such disclosure; and
13
(C) cooperate
with the Management Committee and with the other Members in any attempt one
or
more of them may make to obtain a protective order or other appropriate remedy
or assurance that confidential treatment will be afforded the Confidential
Information; and in the event such protective order or other remedy is not
obtained, or the other Members waive compliance with the provisions of this
Agreement, that Member agrees (I) to furnish only that portion of the
Confidential Information that, in the opinion of the Member’s counsel, the
Member is legally required to disclose, and (II) to exercise all reasonable
efforts to obtain assurance that confidential treatment will be accorded
the
Confidential Information.
(c) Each
Member shall take, and shall cause its Affiliates to take, such precautionary
measures as may be required to ensure (and such Member shall be responsible
for)
compliance with this Section 3.06 by any of its Affiliates, and its and their
directors, officers, employees and agents, and other Persons to which it
may
disclose Confidential Information in accordance with this Section
3.06.
(d) Promptly
after its Withdrawal, a Withdrawn Member shall destroy (and provide a
certificate of destruction to the Company with respect to), or return to
the
Company, all Confidential Information in its possession. Notwithstanding
the
immediately preceding sentence, but subject to the other provisions of this
Section 3.06, a Withdrawn Member may retain for a stated period, but not
disclose to any other Person, Confidential Information for the limited purposes
of (i) explaining that Member’s corporate decisions with respect to the
Facilities or (ii) preparing such Member’s tax returns and defending audits,
investigations and proceedings relating thereto; provided, however, that
the
Withdrawn Member must notify the Management Committee in advance of such
retention and specify in such notice the stated period of such
retention.
(e) The
Members agree that no adequate remedy at law exists for a breach or threatened
breach of any of the provisions of this Section 3.06, the continuation of
which
unremedied will cause the Company, the Partnership and the other Members
to
suffer irreparable harm. Accordingly, the Members agree that the Company
and the
other Members shall be entitled, in addition to other remedies that may be
available to them, to immediate injunctive relief from any breach of any
of the
provisions of this Section 3.06 and to specific performance of their rights
hereunder, as well as to any other remedies available at law or in equity,
pursuant to Section 10.04.
(f) The
obligations of the Members under this Section 3.06 (including the obligations
of
any Withdrawn Member) shall continue to bind any Person that has ceased to
be a
Member and shall terminate on the second anniversary of the end of the
Term.
3.07 Liability
to Third Parties.
No
Member or its Affiliates shall be liable for the debts, obligations or
liabilities of the Company.
3.08 Use
of Members’ Names and Trademarks.
The
Company, the Members, their Affiliates and the Partnership shall not use
the
name or trademark of any Member or its Affiliates in connection with public
announcements regarding the Company and the Partnership, or marketing or
financing activities of the Company and the Partnership, without the prior
consent of such Member or Affiliate, which shall not be unreasonably
withheld.
ARTICLE
4
CAPITAL
CONTRIBUTIONS
4.01 Capital
Contributions.
(a) On
the
Effective Date, each of Spectra and NJR will make a Capital Contribution
(i) in
cash equal to its Sharing Ratio times $1,040,000 and (ii) of its Sharing
Ratio
of a 1% interest in all of the rights and obligations set forth for Spectra
Energy Transmission, LLC under the PSA, which shall be used to meet the
Company’s obligations to contribute to the Partnership’s capital under the first
sentence of Section 4.01(a) of the Partnership Agreement. After that time,
the
Management Committee whenever it determines appropriate, or the Operator
whenever it determines funds are required in accordance with the Initial
Facilities Plan or the Capital Budget or the Operating Budget (if any) then
in
effect, shall cause the Company, as general partner of the Partnership, to
issue
a “Capital Call” under Section 4.01(a) of the Partnership Agreement or require
loans under Section 4.02(a) of the
14
Partnership
Agreement; provided, however, that after the time the Company, as general
partner of the Partnership, becomes obligated to seek third-party debt under
Section 6.07(b), the Company may not issue a “Capital Call” under Section
4.01(a) of the Partnership Agreement or require loans under Section 4.02(a)
of
the Partnership Agreement to the extent that would cause the aggregate of
the
“Capital Contributions” under Section 4.01(a)(i) of the Partnership Agreement
plus all such “Capital Calls” and loans under the Partnership Agreement to
exceed $140,000,000. Whenever a “Capital Call” is issued under Section 4.01(a)
of the Partnership Agreement, the Management Committee or the Operator shall
issue a notice to each Member for the making of Capital Contributions (a
“Capital Call”) in an aggregate amount equal to the Company’s obligation for the
“Capital Call” under Section 4.01(a) of the Partnership Agreement. The
Management Committee also may issue a Capital Call whenever it determines
the
Company needs additional funds. The aggregate of the Capital Contributions
under
Section 4.01(a)(i) plus all Capital Calls may not exceed $2,500,000. All
amounts
timely received by the Company under this Section 4.01 shall be credited
to the
respective Member’s Capital Account as of the specified date. Each of Spectra
and NJR is entitled to a credit to its Capital Account equal to its Sharing
Ratio times $50,000 on account of its contribution under Section
4.01(a)(ii).
(b) Each
Capital Call shall contain the following information:
(i) The
total
amount of Capital Contributions required from all Members;
(ii) The
amount of Capital Contribution required from the Member to which the notice
is
addressed, which amount must equal that Member’s Sharing Ratio of the total
Capital Call;
(iii) The
purpose for which the funds are to be applied in such reasonable detail as
the
Management Committee (or if applicable, the Operator) shall direct;
and
(iv) The
date
on which payments of the Capital Contribution shall be made (which date shall
not be sooner than the 30th Day following the date the Capital Call is given,
unless a sooner date is approved by the Management Committee) (or if applicable,
the Operator) and the method of payment, provided that the date and the method
shall be the same for each of the Members.
(c) Each
Member agrees that it shall make payments of its respective Capital
Contributions in accordance with Capital Calls issued as provided in Section
4.01(a).
4.02 Loans.
Rather
than causing the Company, as general partner of the Partnership, to make
“Capital Calls” under Section 4.01(a) of the Partnership Agreement, the
Management Committee may cause the Company, as the general partner of the
Partnership, to require loans from the Limited Partners as provided in Section
4.02(a) of the Partnership Agreement.
4.03 No
Other Contribution Obligations.
No
Member shall be required or permitted to make any Capital Contributions to
the
Company except as provided in this Article 4.
4.04 Return
of Contributions.
Except
as
expressly provided in this Agreement, a Member is not entitled to the return
of
any part of its Capital Contributions or to be paid interest in respect of
either its Capital Account or its Capital Contributions. An unrepaid Capital
Contribution is not a liability of the Company or of any Member. A Member
is not
required to contribute or to lend any cash or property to the Company to
enable
the Company to return any Member’s Capital Contributions.
4.05 Capital
Accounts.
(a) Each
Member’s Capital Account shall be increased by (i) the amount of money
contributed by that Member to the Company, (ii) the fair market value of
property contributed by that Member to the Company (net of liabilities secured
by such contributed property that the Company is considered to assume or
take
subject to under Section 752 of the Code), and (iii) allocations to that
Member
of Company income and gain (or items thereof), including income and gain
exempt
from tax and income and gain described in Treasury Regulation §
1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g), but excluding income and gain described in Treasury
Regulation § 1.704-1(b)(4)(i), and shall be decreased by (iv) the amount of
money distributed to that Member by the Company, (v) the fair market value
of
15
property
distributed to that Member by the Company (net of liabilities secured by
such
distributed property that such Member is considered to assume or take subject
to
under Section 752 of the Code), (vi) allocations to that Member of expenditures
of the Company described (or treated as described) in Section 705(a)(2)(B)
of
the Code, and (vii) allocations of Company loss and deduction (or items
thereof), including loss and deduction described in Treasury Regulation §
1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g), but excluding items described in (vi) above and loss
or
deduction described in Treasury Regulation § 1.704-1(b)(4)(i) or
1.704-1(b)(4)(iii). The Members’ Capital Accounts shall also be maintained and
adjusted as permitted by the provisions of Treasury Regulation §
1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f) and as required by the other provisions of Treasury
Regulation §§ 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv) and 1.704-1(b)(4), including adjustments to
reflect the allocations to the Members of depreciation, depletion, amortization,
and gain or loss as computed for book purposes rather than the allocation
of the
corresponding items as computed for tax purposes, as required by Treasury
Regulation § 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g). Thus, the Members’ Capital Accounts shall be
increased or decreased to reflect a revaluation of the Company’s property on its
books based on the fair market value of the Company’s property on the date of
adjustment (as determined pursuant to Section 4.05(b)), immediately prior
to (A)
the contribution of money or other property to the Company by a new or existing
Member as consideration for a Membership Interest or an increased Sharing
Ratio
(including any contribution under Section 4.06(c)), (B) the distribution
of
money or other property by the Company to a Member as consideration for a
Membership Interest, or (C) the liquidation of the Company. A Member who
has
more than one Membership Interest shall have a single Capital Account that
reflects all such Membership Interests, regardless of the class of Membership
Interests owned by such Member and regardless of the time or manner in which
such Membership Interests were acquired. Upon the Disposition of all or a
portion of a Membership Interest, the Capital Account of the Disposing Member
that is attributable to that Membership Interest shall carry over to the
Assignee in accordance with the provisions of Treasury Regulation §
1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(l). The Capital Accounts shall not be deemed to be, nor
have
the same meaning as, the capital account of the Company under the Natural
Gas
Act.
(b) Whenever
the fair market value of the Company’s property is required to be determined
pursuant to the third and fourth sentences of Section 4.05(a), the Operator
shall propose such a fair market value in a notice to the Members. If any
Member
wishes to disagree with the determination, that Member shall notify the Members
of such disagreement on or before the 10th Business Day after receiving such
notice. If that Dispute is not resolved on or before the fifth Business Day
after that notice, any Member may submit that Dispute to binding arbitration
by
delivering an Arbitration Notice. All of the provisions of Article 11 shall
apply to such arbitration, with the following exceptions: (i) the Arbitrator
shall be an appraiser or investment banking firm having expertise in the
valuation of natural gas storage facilities; (ii) the 20-Day period in Section
11.03(b) shall be a five-Business Day period; and (iii) the 90-Day period
in
Section 11.04 shall be a 20-Day period.
4.06 Failure
to Make a Capital Contribution.
(a) General.
If any
Member fails to make a Capital Contribution when required in a Capital Call
under Section 4.01 of this Agreement (each such Member being a “Non-Contributing
Member”), then, provided the failure has not been cured, the Members that have
contributed their Capital Contributions and that are not, and none of whose
Affiliates are, Non-Contributing Partners under the Partnership Agreement
(each,
a “Contributing Member”) may (without limitation as to other remedies that may
be available) at any time after the 10th Day after the date the Capital
Contribution was due elect to:
(i) treat
the
Non-Contributing Member’s failure to contribute as a Default by giving notice to
the Non-Contributing Member, in which event the provisions of this Agreement
regarding the commission of a Default by a Member shall apply; or
(ii) pay
the
portion of the Capital Contribution owed and unpaid by the Non-Contributing
Member (the “Additional Contribution”), in which event the Contributing Members
that elect to fund the Non-Contributing Members’ share (the “Additional
Contribution Members”) may treat the contribution as one of: (A) a Capital
Contribution resulting in the Additional Contribution Members receiving a
Priority Interest under Section 4.06(b), or (B) a permanent capital contribution
that results in an adjustment of Membership Interests under Section 4.06(c),
as
determined by the Additional Contribution Members as set forth
below.
16
No
Contributing Member shall be obligated to elect either (i) or (ii) above.
The
decision of the Contributing Members to elect (i) or (ii) above shall be
made by
the determination of the Contributing Members holding the majority of the
Sharing Ratios of all Contributing Members. The decision of the Additional
Contribution Members to elect (ii)(A) or (ii)(B) above shall be made by the
determination of the Additional Contribution Members holding the majority
of the
Sharing Ratios of all Additional Contribution Members. If the election has
not
been made on or before the 30th Day after the date the funds were paid by
the
Non-Contributing Member(s), payment of the Additional Contribution shall
be
treated as a Priority Interest under Section 4.06(a)(ii)(A).
(b) Priority
Interest.
If the
Additional Contribution Members elect to treat the payment of Additional
Contribution as a contribution for which the Additional Contribution Members
receive a Priority Interest, then the following shall apply:
(i) Each
Additional Contribution Member shall receive a Priority Interest in the
distributions from the Company that would otherwise be due and payable to
the
Non-Contributing Member(s). The Priority Interest received by each Additional
Contribution Member shall be in the proportion that the amount of the Additional
Contribution paid by that Additional Contribution Member bears to the amount
of
the Additional Contributions made by all Additional Contribution Members
(each
Additional Contribution Member’s percentage share of the Priority Interests
shall be its “Priority Interest Sharing Ratio”). All distributions from the
Company that would otherwise be due and payable to the Non-Contributing
Member(s) instead shall be paid to the Additional Contribution Members in
accordance with their respective Priority Interest Sharing Ratio and no
distribution shall be made from the Company to any Non-Contributing Member
until
all Priority Interests have terminated. The Priority Interest shall terminate
with respect to an Additional Contribution Member when that Additional
Contribution Member has received either through the distributions it receives
under its Priority Interest or through payment(s) to it by the Non-Contributing
Member(s) (which payment(s) may be made by the Non-Contributing Member(s)
at any
time) of an amount equal to the Additional Contribution made by such Member,
plus a return thereon of fourteen percent (14%) per annum (compounded monthly
on
the outstanding balance). For the purpose of making this calculation, all
amounts received by an Additional Contribution Member shall be deemed to
be
applied first against a return on, and then to the amount of, the Additional
Contribution. For purposes of maintaining Capital Accounts, any amount paid
by a
Non-Contributing Member to a Contributing Member to reduce and/or terminate
a
Priority Interest shall be treated as though such amount were contributed
by the
Non-Contributing Member to the Company and thereafter distributed by the
Company
to the Contributing Member with respect to its Priority Interest.
(ii) The
Priority Interests shall not alter the Sharing Ratios, nor shall the Priority
Interests alter any distributions to the Contributing Members (in their capacity
as Contributing Members, as opposed to their capacity as Additional Contribution
Members) in accordance with their respective Sharing Ratios. Notwithstanding
any
provision in this Agreement to the contrary, a Member may not dispose of
all or
a portion of its Priority Interest except to a Person to which it Disposes
all
or the applicable pro rata portion of its Membership Interest and its or
its
Affiliates’ LP Interest after compliance with the requirements of this Agreement
for the Disposition.
(iii) For
so
long as any Additional Contribution Member holds a Priority Interest (or
it or
any of its Affiliates that is an “Additional Contribution Partner” holds a
“Priority Interest,” as those terms are defined in the Partnership Agreement),
neither any Non-Contributing Member nor its Representative (except for a
Non-Contributing Member that has paid to the Additional Contribution Member(s)
all of the amount of the Additional Contribution attributable to such
Non-Contributing Member in accordance with Section 4.06(b)(i)) shall have
the
right to vote its Membership Interest (or Sharing Ratio) under the Agreement
with respect to any decision regarding distributions from the Company, and
any
distribution to which such Non-Contributing Member is entitled shall be paid
to
the Additional Contribution Members in respect of the Priority
Interest.
(iv) No
Member
that is a Non-Contributing Member may Dispose of its Membership Interest
unless,
at the closing of the Disposition, either the Non-Contributing Member or
the
proposed Assignee pays the amount necessary to terminate the Priority Interest
arising from such Non-Contributing Member’s failure to contribute. No Assignee
shall be admitted to the Company as a Member until compliance with this Section
4.06(b)(iv) has occurred.
17
(c) Permanent
Contribution.
Subject
to Section 4.06(a), if the Additional Contribution Members elect under Section
4.06(a) to have the Additional Contribution treated as a permanent capital
contribution, then each Additional Contribution Member that funds a portion
of
the Additional Contribution shall have its capital account increased accordingly
and the Members’ Membership Interests and Sharing Ratios will be automatically
adjusted to equal each Member’s total Capital Contributions when expressed as a
percentage of all Members’ Capital Contributions.
(d) Further
Assurance.
In
connection with this Section 4.06, each Member shall execute and deliver
any
additional documents and instruments and perform any additional acts that
may be
necessary or appropriate to effectuate and perform the provisions of this
Section 4.06.
ARTICLE
5
DISTRIBUTIONS
AND ALLOCATIONS
5.01 Distributions.
On or
before the 30th Day following the end of each Quarter, the Management Committee
shall review and determine the amount of Available Cash with respect to that
Quarter and shall direct that the Company distribute an amount equal to 100%
of
Available Cash with respect to that Quarter. That amount shall, subject to
Section 18-607 of the Act, be distributed in accordance with this Article
5 to
the Members (other than a Breaching Member) in proportion to their respective
Sharing Ratios (at the time the distributions are made).
5.02 Distributions
on Dissolution and Winding Up.
Upon the
winding up of the Company, after adjusting the Capital Accounts for all
distributions made under Section 5.01 and all allocations under Article 5,
all
available proceeds distributable to the Members as determined under Section
11.02 shall be distributed to all of the Members (other than a Breaching
Member)
pro rata in accordance with the Members’ positive Capital Account
balances.
5.03 Withholding.
The
Company is authorized to withhold from distributions to a Member and to pay
over
to a federal, state, local or non-United States government, any amounts required
to be withheld pursuant to the Code, or any provisions of any other federal,
state, local or non-United States law. Any amounts so withheld shall be treated
as having been distributed to the applicable Member for all purposes of this
Agreement and shall be offset against the current or next amounts otherwise
distributable to the applicable Member.
5.04 Allocations.
(a) After
giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Sections 5.05 and 5.06,
for purposes of maintaining the Capital Accounts pursuant to Section 4.05
and
for income tax purposes, except as provided in Section 5.03(b) and (c), each
item of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit of the Company shall be
allocated to the Members in accordance with their respective Sharing
Ratios.
(b) With
respect to each period during which a Priority Interest is outstanding, each
Additional Contribution Member shall be allocated items of income and gain
in an
amount equal to the return that accrues with respect to that Additional
Contribution Member’s Additional Contribution pursuant to Section 4.06(b)(i),
and items of income and gain that would otherwise be allocable to the
Non-Contributing Member(s) shall be correspondingly reduced.
(c) For
income tax purposes, income, gain, loss, and deduction with respect to property
contributed to the Company by a Member or revalued pursuant to Treasury
Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f) shall be allocated among the Members
in
a manner that takes into account the variation between the adjusted tax basis
of
such property and its book value, as required by Section 704(c) of the Code
and
Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(i). These allocations shall be
made in
such manner and utilizing such permissible tax election as are determined
by the
Tax Matters Member.
5.05 Special
Allocations.
The
following special allocations shall be made in the following
order:
18
(a) Company
Minimum Gain Chargeback.
Except
as otherwise provided in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(f), notwithstanding
any other provision of this Article 5, if there is a net decrease in Company
Minimum Gain during any fiscal year, each Member shall be specially allocated
items of Company income and gain for such fiscal year (and, if necessary,
subsequent fiscal years) in an amount equal to such Member’s share of the net
decrease in Company Minimum Gain, determined in accordance with Treasury
Regulation Section 1.704-2(g). Allocations pursuant to the previous sentence
shall be made in proportion to the respective amounts required to be allocated
to each Member pursuant thereto. The items to be so allocated shall be
determined in accordance with Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(f)(6)
and
1.704-2(j)(2). This Section 5.05(a) is intended to comply with the partnership
minimum gain chargeback requirement in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(f)
and shall be interpreted and applied consistently therewith.
(b) Member
Minimum Gain Chargeback.
Except
as otherwise provided in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4),
notwithstanding any other provision of this Article 5, if there is a net
decrease in Member Minimum Gain attributable to a Member Nonrecourse Debt
during
any fiscal year, any Member with a share of that Member Minimum Gain
attributable to such a Member Nonrecourse Debt (as determined under Treasury
Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(5)) as of the beginning of the year shall be
allocated items of Company income and gain for such fiscal year (and, if
necessary, subsequent fiscal years) in an amount equal to such Member’s share of
the net decrease in Member Minimum Gain, determined in accordance with Treasury
Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4). Allocations pursuant to the previous sentence
shall be made in proportion to the respective amounts required to be allocated
to each Member pursuant thereto. The items to be so allocated shall be
determined in accordance with Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(f)(6)
and
1.704-2(j)(2). This Section 5.05(b) is intended to comply with the partner
minimum gain chargeback requirements in the Treasury Regulations and shall
be
interpreted and applied consistently therewith.
(c) Qualified
Income Offset.
In the
event any Member unexpectedly receives any adjustments, allocations, or
distributions described in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4),
(5), or (6), items of Company income and gain shall be specially allocated
to
such Member in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate, to the extent
required by the Treasury Regulations, the Adjusted Capital Account Deficit
as
quickly as possible; provided, however, that an allocation pursuant to this
Section 5.05(c) shall be made only if and to the extent that such Member
would
have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit after all other allocations provided
in
this Article 5 have been tentatively made as if this Section 5.05(c) were
not in
this Agreement. This Section 5.05(c) is intended to comply with the qualified
income offset provision in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)
and
shall be interpreted and applied consistently therewith.
(d) Gross
Income Allocation.
In the
event any Member has a deficit Capital Account at the end of any fiscal year
that is in excess of the amount that such Member is deemed to be obligated
to
restore pursuant to the penultimate sentences of Treasury Regulation Sections
1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5), each such Member shall be specially allocated
items of Company income and gain in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate
such deficit as quickly as possible; provided, however, that an allocation
pursuant to this Section 5.05(d) shall be made only if and to the extent
that
such Member would have a deficit Capital Account in excess of such sum after
all
other allocations provided in this Article 5 have been tentatively made as
if
Section 5.05(c) and this Section 5.05(d) were not in this
Agreement.
(e) Nonrecourse
Deductions.
Nonrecourse Deductions for any fiscal year shall be specially allocated to
the
Members in the manner determined by the Tax Matters Partner and each Member’s
share of excess Nonrecourse Debt shall be in the same manner.
(f) Member
Nonrecourse Deductions.
Member
Nonrecourse Deductions for any fiscal year shall be specially allocated to
the
Member who bears the economic risk of loss with respect to the Member
Nonrecourse Debt to which such Member Nonrecourse Deductions are attributable
in
accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-2. If more than one Member
bears the economic risk of loss for a Member Nonrecourse Debt, any Member
Nonrecourse Deductions attributable to that Member Nonrecourse Debt shall
be
allocated among the Members according to the ratio in which they bear the
economic risk of loss.
19
5.06 Curative
Allocations.
The
allocations set forth in Section 5.05 (the “Regulatory Allocations”) are
intended to comply with certain requirements of the Treasury Regulations.
It is
the intent of the Members that, to the extent possible, all Regulatory
Allocations shall be offset either with other Regulatory Allocations or with
special allocations of other items of Company income, gain, loss or deduction
pursuant to this Section 5.06. Therefore, notwithstanding any other provision
of
this Agreement, the Regulatory Allocations shall be taken into account in
allocating items of Company income, gain, loss and deduction among the Members
so that, to the extent possible, the net amount of such allocations of other
items and the Regulatory Allocations to each Member shall be equal to the
net
amount that would have been allocated to each such Member pursuant to Section
5.01 if the Regulatory Allocations had not occurred.
5.07 Varying
Interests.
All
items of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit shall be allocated, and
all
distributions shall be made, to the Persons shown on the records of the Company
to have been Members as of the last calendar day of the period for which
the
allocation or distribution is to be made. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
if
during any taxable year there is a change in any Member’s Sharing Ratio, the
Members agree that their allocable shares of items for the taxable year shall
be
determined on any method determined by the Management Committee to be
permissible under Code Section 706 and the related Treasury Regulations to
take
account of the Members’ varying Sharing Ratios.
ARTICLE
6
MANAGEMENT
6.01 Generally.
The
management of the Company is fully vested in the Members. To facilitate the
orderly and efficient management of the Company, the Members shall act (a)
collectively as a the “Management Committee” as provided in Section 6.02, and
(b) through the delegation of certain duties and authority to the Operator
and
the Officers. Subject to the express provisions of this Agreement, each Member
agrees that it will not exercise its authority under the Act to bind or commit
the Company or the Partnership to agreements, transactions or other
arrangements, or to hold itself out as an agent of the Company or the
Partnership.
6.02 Management
Committee.
Decisions
or actions taken by the Management Committee in accordance with the provisions
of this Agreement shall constitute decisions or actions by the Company and
shall
be binding on each Member, Representative, Officer and employee of the Company.
The Management Committee shall conduct its affairs in accordance with the
following provisions and the other provisions of this Agreement:
(a) Representatives.
(i) Designation.
To
facilitate the orderly and efficient conduct of Management Committee meetings,
each Member shall notify the other Members, from time to time, of the identity
of (A) one of its officers, employees or agents who will represent it at
meetings (a “Representative”), and (B) one of its officers, employees or agents
who will represent it at any meeting that the Member’s Representative is unable
to attend (“Alternate Representative”). (The term “Representative” shall also
refer to any Alternate Representative that is actually performing the duties
of
the applicable Representative.). The initial Representative and Alternate
Representative of each Member are set forth in Exhibit A. A Member may designate
a different Representative or Alternate Representative for any meeting of
the
Management Committee by notifying each of the other Members on or before
the
third Business Day prior to the scheduled date for that meeting; provided,
however, that if giving that advance notice is not feasible, then the new
Representative or Alternate Representative shall present written evidence
of his
or her authority at the commencement of such meeting.
(ii) Authority.
Each
Representative shall have the full authority to act on behalf of the Member
that
designated that Representative; the action of a Representative at a meeting
(or
through a written consent) of the Management Committee shall bind the Member
that designated that Representative; and the other Members shall be entitled
to
rely upon such action without further inquiry or investigation as to the
actual
authority (or lack thereof) of that Representative. In addition, the act
of an
Alternate Representative shall be deemed the act of the Representative for
which
that Alternate Representative is acting, without the need to produce evidence
of
the absence or unavailability of such Representative.
20
(iii) DISCLAIMER
OF DUTIES; INDEMNIFICATION.
EACH
REPRESENTATIVE SHALL REPRESENT, AND OWE DUTIES TO, ONLY THE MEMBER THAT
DESIGNATED THE REPRESENTATIVE (THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF SUCH DUTIES BEING
AN
INTERNAL AFFAIR OF THE MEMBER), AND NOT TO THE COMPANY, THE PARTNERSHIP,
ANY
OTHER MEMBER OR REPRESENTATIVE OR ANY OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE OF THE COMPANY
OR THE
PARTNERSHIP. THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 6.02(e)(iii) SHALL ALSO INURE TO THE
BENEFIT OF EACH MEMBER’S REPRESENTATIVE. THE COMPANY SHALL INDEMNIFY, PROTECT,
DEFEND, RELEASE AND HOLD HARMLESS EACH REPRESENTATIVE FROM AND AGAINST ANY
CLAIMS ASSERTED BY OR ON BEHALF OF ANY PERSON (INCLUDING ANOTHER MEMBER),
OTHER
THAN THE MEMBER THAT DESIGNATED THE REPRESENTATIVE, THAT ARISE OUT OF, RELATE
TO
OR ARE OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTABLE TO, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, THE REPRESENTATIVE’S
SERVICE ON THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.
(iv) Attendance.
Each
Member shall use all reasonable efforts to cause its Representative or Alternate
Representative to attend each meeting of the Management Committee, unless
its
Representative is unable to do so because of a “force majeure” event or other
event beyond his reasonable control, in which event that Member shall use
all
reasonable efforts to cause its Representative or Alternate Representative
to
participate in the meeting by telephone pursuant to Section
6.02(g).
(b) Procedures.
The
Management Committee shall maintain written minutes of each of its meetings,
which shall be submitted for approval within 10 Days after each meeting.
The
Management Committee may adopt whatever rules and procedures relating to
its
activities as it may deem appropriate, provided that such rules and procedures
shall not be inconsistent with or violate the provisions of this
Agreement.
(c) Time
and Place of Meetings.
The
Management Committee shall meet quarterly, subject to more or less frequent
meetings upon approval of the Management Committee, at such times and places
as
the Representatives may agree. Special meetings of the Management Committee
may
be called at such times, and in such manner, as any Member deems necessary.
Any
Member calling for any such special meeting shall notify all other Members
of
the date and agenda for such meeting on or before the fifth Day prior to
the
date of such meeting. This five-Day period may be shortened by unanimous
vote of
the Management Committee. All meetings of the Management Committee shall
be held
at Spectra’s address as provided on Exhibit A or such other location as the
Members may agree. Attendance of a Member’s Representative at a meeting of the
Management Committee shall constitute a waiver of notice of that meeting,
except
where the Representative attends the meeting for the express purpose of
objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting
is
not lawfully called or convened.
(d) Quorum.
The
presence of a Majority Interest shall constitute a quorum for the transaction
of
business at any meeting of the Management Committee.
(e) Voting.
(i) Voting
by Sharing Ratios; Voting Thresholds. Except
as
provided otherwise in this Agreement, voting shall be according to the Members’
respective Sharing Ratios. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement,
the
vote of one or more Members holding among them at least a majority of the
Sharing Ratios (a “Majority Interest”) shall constitute the action of the
Management Committee.
(ii) DISCLAIMER
OF DUTIES.
WITH
RESPECT TO ANY VOTE, CONSENT OR APPROVAL AT ANY MEETING OF THE MANAGEMENT
COMMITTEE OR OTHERWISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, EACH MEMBER OR ITS REPRESENTATIVE
MAY GRANT OR WITHHOLD ITS VOTE, CONSENT OR APPROVAL IN ITS SOLE DISCRETION.
THE
PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION 6.02(e)(ii) SHALL APPLY NOTWITHSTANDING THE
NEGLIGENCE, GROSS NEGLIGENCE, WILLFUL MISCONDUCT, STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHER
FAULT OR RESPONSIBILITY OF A MEMBER OR ITS REPRESENTATIVE.
21
(iii) Exclusion
of Certain Members and Their Sharing Ratios.
With
respect to any vote, consent or approval, any Breaching Member or Withdrawn
Member shall be excluded from such decision (as contemplated by Section
9.03(c)), and the Sharing Ratio of such Breaching Member or Withdrawn Member
shall be disregarded in calculating the voting thresholds in Section 6.02(e)(i).
In addition, if any other provision of this Agreement provides that a Majority
Interest is to be calculated without reference to the Sharing Ratio of a
particular Member, then the applicable voting threshold, including the number
of
Members required, in Section 6.02(e)(i) shall be deemed adjusted
accordingly.
(f) Action
by Written Consent.
Any
action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the Management
Committee may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice, and without
a
vote if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken,
is
signed by all Members.
(g) Meetings
by Telephone.
Members
may participate in and hold any meeting by means of conference telephone,
videoconference or similar communications equipment by means of which all
persons participating in the meeting can hear each other. Participation in
a
meeting shall constitute presence in person at the meeting, except where
a
Member participates in the meeting for the express purpose of objecting to
the
transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting is not lawfully
called or convened.
(h) Matters
Requiring Management Committee Approval.
Except
as expressly provided elsewhere in this Agreement, none of the following
actions
may be taken by, or on behalf of, the Company, for itself or on behalf of
the
Partnership, without first obtaining the vote of the Management Committee
described below:
(i) 90%
Interest.
The
following actions shall require the approval of Members whose sharing Ratios
total at least 90%:
(A) causing
or permitting the Company or the Partnership to become Bankrupt (but this
provision shall not be construed to require any Member to ensure the
profitability or solvency of the Company or the Partnership);
(B) conducting,
or authorizing the Partnership to conduct, any activity or business that
may
generate income for federal income tax purposes that may not be “qualifying
income” (as such term is defined pursuant to Section 7704 of the Code);
(C) any
other
action that, pursuant to an express provision of this Agreement, requires
the
approval of a 90% Interest;
(D) authorizing
the Partnership to enter into any contracts with an Affiliate of any Member
if
the contract (other than a Storage Agreement conforming with any applicable
tariff) is for a nominal value in excess of $250,000, or otherwise on terms
that
are not arm’s length;
(E) the
Disposition or abandonment of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company or the Partnership; or
(F) causing
or permitting the Company or the Partnership to merge with, or consolidate
or
convert into, any other entity.
(ii) Majority
Interest.
A
Majority Interest shall be required to approve:
(A) causing
the Company to take any action as general partner of the Partnership, including
any right or power of the Company under the Partnership Agreement;
(B) the
amount of Available Cash with respect to each Quarter;
22
(C) approving
or amending the annual Capital Budget and Operating Budget for the Partnership
(with it being understood that the latest approved Capital Budget or Operating
Budget shall be used, and deemed approved, for any subsequent period until
the
new Capital Budget or Operating Budget (as applicable) for that period is
so
approved), including the parameters under which the Operator and the Officers
are authorized to expend Partnership funds without further Management Committee
approval; provided, however, that the Initial Facilities Plan shall serve
as the
Capital Budget until a Capital Budget is adopted;
(D) any
Capital Call under Section 4.01 or loan under Section 4.02;
(E) any
additions to or expansion of the Facilities;
(F) engaging
any engineer, auditor, attorney or other consultant or adviser; or
(G) modifying
the Initial Facilities Plan.
(i) Subcommittees.
The
Management Committee may create such subcommittees, and delegate to such
subcommittees such authority and responsibility, and rescind any such
delegations, as it may deem appropriate.
(j) Officers.
The
Management Committee may designate one or more Persons to be officers of
the
Company or cause the Company, as general partner of the Partnership, to
designate one or more Persons as officers of the Partnership (each an
“Officer”). Any Officers so designated shall have such titles and, subject to
the other provisions of this Agreement, have such authority and perform such
duties as the Management Committee may delegate to them and shall serve at
the
pleasure of the Management Committee and report to the Management Committee.
(k) Initial
Actions.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Members authorize Spectra, on behalf of
the
Company (for itself or as general partner of the Partnership), to take the
following actions, including the execution and delivery of all appropriate
documents and instruments to effect the following actions:
(i) file
or
cause to be filed the certificate of limited partnership of the
Partnership;
(ii) qualify
the Company as a foreign limited liability company and the Partnership as a
foreign limited partnership in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and any other
jurisdiction where that qualification is necessary or appropriate;
(iii) obtain
a
taxpayer identification number of each of the Company and the
Partnership;
(iv) open
the
initial bank accounts of the Company and the Partnership;
(v) take
all
actions and execute and deliver all documents necessary or appropriate to
effect
the contributions described in Section 4.01(a)(ii) of this Agreement and
Section
4.01(a)(ii) of the Partnership Agreement; and
(vi) take
all
actions and execute and deliver all documents, certificates and other
instruments necessary or appropriate in connection with the Closing under
the
PSA.
6.03 Operations
and Management Agreement.
The
Management Committee shall cause the Company to enter into the O&M Agreement
with the Operator and the Partnership at the same time as the Partnership
enters
into it. From the Effective Date until the O&M Agreement is executed and
delivered as provided in this Section 6.03, the Members authorize the Operator
to take all actions this Agreement contemplates the Operator will
perform.
23
6.04 Conflicts
of Interest.
(a) Until
the
end of the Term, the Members shall not, and shall cause their Affiliates
not to,
develop, construct, own, acquire or operate natural gas storage facilities
or
oil or gas exploration or production within the area identified on Exhibit
C to
this Agreement. The provisions of this Section 6.04(a) shall continue to
bind a
Withdrawn Member and its Affiliates until the third anniversary of such
Withdrawal, but not thereafter. The Members agree that the provisions of
this
Section 6.04(a) are necessary (A) to further the purposes, business and
activities of the Partnership, and (B) to protect confidential and proprietary
information regarding the Partnership, to which the Members will have access
pursuant to this Agreement. The Members agree that no adequate remedy at
law
exists for a breach or threatened breach of any of the provisions of this
Section 6.04(a), the continuation of which unremedied will cause the Partnership
and the other Members to suffer irreparable harm. Accordingly, the Members
agree
that the Partnership and the other Members shall be entitled, in addition
to
other remedies that may be available to them, to immediate injunctive relief
from any breach of any of the provisions of this Section 6.04(a) and to specific
performance of their rights hereunder, as well as to any other remedies
available at law or in equity, pursuant to Section 10.04.
(b) Subject
to Section 6.04(a), a Member or an Affiliate of a Member may engage in and
possess interests in other business ventures of any and every type and
description, independently or with others, including ones in competition
with
the Partnership or the Company and specifically including natural gas storage
and oil and gas exploration and production, with no obligation to offer to
the
Partnership, the Company, any other Member or any Affiliate of another Member
the right to participate therein. Subject to Sections 6.04(a), the Partnership
or the Company may transact business with any Member or Affiliate of a Member,
provided the terms of those transactions are approved by the Management
Committee or expressly contemplated by this Agreement or the O&M Agreement.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Members recognize and
agree that their respective Affiliates currently, or in the future may, engage
in various activities involving natural gas and electricity marketing and
trading (including futures, options, swaps, exchanges of future positions
for
physical deliveries and commodity trading), gathering, processing, storage,
transportation and distribution, electric generation, development and ownership,
as well as other commercial activities related to natural gas and that these
and
other activities by Members’ Affiliates may be based on natural gas that is
stored in the Facilities or otherwise made possible or more profitable by
reason
of the Partnership’s activities (herein referred to as “Affiliate’s Outside
Activities”). Subject to Sections 6.04(a), (i) no Affiliate of a Member shall be
restricted in its right to conduct, individually or jointly with others,
for its
own account any Affiliate’s Outside Activities, and (ii) no Member or its
Affiliates shall have any duty or obligation, express or implied, fiduciary
or
otherwise, to account to, or to share the results or profits of such Affiliate’s
Outside Activities with, the Partnership, the Company, any other Member or
any
Affiliate of any other Member, by reason of such Affiliate’s Outside Activities.
The provisions of this Section 6.04(b) constitute an agreement to modify
or
eliminate fiduciary duties pursuant to the provisions of Section 18-1101
of the
Act.
6.05 Indemnification
for Breach of Agreement.
Each
Member shall indemnify, protect, defend, release and hold harmless each other
Member, its Representative, its Affiliates, and its and their respective
directors, officers, trustees, employees and agents from and against any
Claims
asserted by or on behalf of any Person (including another Member) that result
from a breach by the indemnifying Member of this Agreement or the Partnership
Agreement; provided, however, that this Section 6.05 shall not (a) apply
to any
Claim or other matter for which a Member (or its Representative) has no
liability or duty, or is indemnified or released, pursuant to Section
6.02(a)(iii), 6.02(e)(ii) or 6.04 or pursuant to the terms of any Storage
Agreements or (b) hold the indemnified Person harmless from special,
consequential or exemplary damages, except in the case where the indemnified
Person is legally obligated to pay such damages to another Person.
6.06 General
Regulatory Matters.
Each
Member shall:
(a) cooperate
fully with the Company, the Partnership, the Management Committee and the
Operator in securing appropriate Authorizations for the development,
construction and operation of the Facilities, including supporting all
applications to the Governmental Authorities, and in connection with any
reports
prescribed by any other Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the
Company or the Partnership;
(b) join
in
any eminent domain takings by the Partnership, to the extent, if any, required
by Law;
24
(c) devote
such efforts as shall be reasonable and necessary to develop and promote
the
Facilities for the benefit of the Partnership, taking into account the Member’s
Sharing Ratio, resources and expertise; and
(d) cooperate
fully with the Company, the Partnership, the Management Committee and the
Operator to ensure compliance with FERC Standards of Conduct, if
applicable.
6.07 Initial
Facilities.
(a) The
Company, as general partner of the Partnership, shall cause the Partnership
to
develop and construct the Initial Facilities in accordance with the plan
on
Exhibit D, subject to such changes as the Management Committee may adopt
from
time to time (the “Initial Facilities Plan”).
(b) The
Company, as general partner of the Partnership, shall seek third-party
debt for the Partnership to complete the Initial Facilities after
receipt of appropriate FERC or state Authorizations and the execution and
delivery of Storage Agreements for firm storage of at least 70% of the storage
capacity of the Initial Facilities for an average period of at least 10 years
or
other appropriate financing. The Company, as general partner of the Partnership,
shall cause the Partnership to enter into any such financing on such terms
as
the Management Committee may approve.
ARTICLE
7
TAXES
7.01 Tax
Returns.
In
accordance with the O&M Agreement, the Operator is to prepare and timely
file (on behalf of the Company) all federal, state and local tax returns
required to be filed by the Company. Each Member shall furnish to the Operator
all pertinent information in its possession relating to the Company and the
Partnership’s operations that is necessary to enable the Company’s tax returns
to be timely prepared and filed. The Company shall bear the costs of the
preparation and filing of its returns.
7.02 Tax
Elections.
The
Company shall make the following elections on the appropriate tax
returns:
(a) to
adopt
as the Company’s fiscal year the calendar year;
(b) to
adopt
the accrual method of accounting;
(c) if
a
distribution of the Company’s property as described in Code Section 734 occurs
or upon a transfer of a Membership Interest as described in Code Section
743
occurs, on request by notice from any Member, to elect, pursuant to Code
Section
754, to adjust the basis of the Company’s properties;
(d) to
elect
to amortize the organizational expenses of the Company ratably over a period
of
60 months as permitted by Section 709(b) of the Code;
(e) to
elect
to depreciate or amortize the assets of the Company using the most rapid
means
available; and
(f) any
other
election the Management Committee may deem appropriate.
Neither
the Company nor any Member shall make an election for the Company to be excluded
from the application of the provisions of subchapter K of chapter 1 of subtitle
A of the Code or any similar provisions of applicable state law and no provision
of this Agreement shall be construed to sanction or approve such an
election.
7.03 Tax
Matters Member.
25
(a) Spectra
or such other Member as the Management Committee may designate shall serve
as
the “tax matters partner” of the Company pursuant to Section 6231(a)(7) of the
Code (the “Tax Matters Member”). The Tax Matters Member shall take such action
as may be necessary to cause to the extent possible each other Member to
become
a “notice partner” within the meaning of Section 6223 of the Code. The Tax
Matters Member shall inform
each other Member of all significant matters that may come to its attention
in
its capacity as Tax Matters Member by giving notice thereof on or before
the
fifth Business Day after becoming aware thereof and, within that time,
shall
forward to each other Member copies of all significant written communications
it
may receive in that capacity.
(b) The
Tax
Matters Member shall provide any Member, upon request, access to accounting
and
tax information and schedules as shall be necessary for the preparation by
such
Member of its income tax returns and such Member’s tax information reporting
requirements.
(c) The
Tax
Matters Member shall take no action without the authorization of the Management
Committee, other than such action as may be required by Law. Any cost or
expense
incurred by the Tax Matters Member in connection with its duties, including
the
preparation for or pursuance of administrative or judicial proceedings, shall
be
paid by the Company.
(d) The
Tax
Matters Member shall not enter into any extension of the period of limitations
for making assessments on behalf of the Members without first obtaining the
consent of the Management Committee. The Tax Matters Member shall not bind
any
Member to a settlement agreement without obtaining the consent of such Member.
Any Member that enters into a settlement agreement with respect to any Company
item (as described in Code Section 6231(a)(3)) shall notify the other Members
of
the settlement agreement and its terms on or before the 90th Day after the
date
of the settlement.
(e) No
Member
shall file a request pursuant to Code Section 6227 for an administrative
adjustment of Company items for any taxable year without first notifying
the
other Members. If the Management Committee consents to the requested adjustment,
the Tax Matters Member shall file the request for the administrative adjustment
on behalf of the Members. If this consent is not obtained on or before the
30th
Day after the notice, or within the period required to timely file the request
for administrative adjustment, if shorter, any Member, including the Tax
Matters
Member, may file a request for administrative adjustment on its own behalf.
Any
Member intending to file a petition under Code Sections 6226, 6228 or other
Code
Section with respect to any item involving the Company shall notify the other
Members of that intention and the nature of the contemplated proceeding.
In the
case where the Tax Matters Member is the Member intending to file such petition
on behalf of the Company, such notice shall be given within a reasonable
period
of time to allow the other Members to participate in the choosing of the
forum
in which such petition will be filed.
(f) If
any
Member intends to file a notice of inconsistent treatment under Code Section
6222(b), that Member shall give reasonable notice under the circumstances
to the
other Members of that intent and the manner in which the Member’s intended
treatment of an item is (or may be) inconsistent with the treatment of that
item
by the other Members.
ARTICLE
8
BOOKS,
RECORDS, REPORTS, AND BANK ACCOUNTS
8.01 Maintenance
of Books; Reports.
The
Members acknowledge that the O&M Agreement will include provisions for the
maintenance of the Company’s books and records and the preparation of various
reports.
8.02 Bank
Accounts.
Funds of
the Company shall be deposited in such banks or other depositories as shall
be
designated from time to time by the Management Committee. All withdrawals
from
any such depository shall be made only as authorized by the Management Committee
and shall be made only by check, wire transfer, debit memorandum or other
written instruction.
ARTICLE
9
WITHDRAWAL
9.01 No
Right of Withdrawal.
A
Member has no power or right voluntarily to Withdraw from the
Company.
26
9.02 Deemed
Withdrawal.
A Member
is deemed to have Withdrawn from the Company upon the occurrence of any of
the
following events:
(a) there
occurs an event that makes it unlawful for the Member to continue to be a
Member;
(b) the
Member becomes Bankrupt;
(c) the
Member commences liquidation or winding up;
(d) notice
from a Majority Interest (determined excluding the Member) if the Member
commits
a Default and the Default has not been cured; or
(e) the
Member and/or any of its Affiliates has withdrawn as a Limited Partner under
the
Partnership Agreement.
9.03 Effect
of Withdrawal.
A Member
that is deemed to have Withdrawn under Section 9.02 (a “Withdrawn Member”), must
comply with the following requirements in connection with its
Withdrawal:
(a) The
Withdrawn Member ceases to be a Member immediately upon the occurrence of
the
applicable Withdrawal event.
(b) The
Withdrawn Member shall not be entitled to receive any distributions from
the
Company except as set forth in Section 9.03(e), and neither it nor its
Representative shall be entitled to exercise any voting or consent rights,
or to
appoint any Representative or Alternative Representative to the Management
Committee (and the Representative (and the Alternative Representative) appointed
by such Member shall be deemed to have resigned) or to receive any further
information (or access to information) from the Company. The Sharing Ratio
of
that Member shall not be taken into account in calculating the Sharing Ratios
of
the Members for any purposes. This Section 9.03(b) shall also apply to a
Breaching Member; but if a Breaching Member cures its breach during the
applicable cure period, then any distributions that were withheld from that
Member shall be paid to it, without interest.
(c) The
Withdrawn Member must pay to the Company all amounts it owes to the
Company.
(d) The
Withdrawn Member shall remain obligated for all liabilities it may have under
this Agreement or otherwise with respect to the Company that accrue prior
to the
Withdrawal.
(e) From
the
date of the Withdrawal to the date of the payment, the former Capital Account
balance of the Withdrawn Member shall be recorded as a contingent obligation
of
the Company, and not as a Capital Account, until payment is made. The rights
of
a Withdrawn Member under this Section 9.03(e) shall (i) be subordinate to
the
rights of any other creditor of the Company, (ii) not include any right on
the
part of the Withdrawn Member to receive any interest (except as may otherwise
be
provided in the evidence of any indebtedness of the Company owed to such
Withdrawn Member) or other amounts with respect thereto; (iii) not require
the
Company to make any distribution (the Withdrawing Member’s rights under this
Section 9.03(e) being limited to receiving such portion of distributions
as the
Management Committee may, in its Sole Discretion, decide to cause the Company
to
make); (iv) not require any Member to make a Capital Contribution or a loan
to
permit the Company to make a distribution or otherwise to pay the Withdrawing
Member; and (v) be treated as a liability of the Company for purposes of
Section
11.02. Subject to the foregoing, payment to the Withdrawn Member of its Capital
Account balance shall be made upon the earliest of: (A) such time as the
Management Committee determines in its Sole Discretion to make such payment,
(B)
the later of (I) two years from the date of Withdrawal, and (II) ten years
from
the date that the Initial Facilities are placed into commercial operation,
and
(C) the dissolution of the Company. Except as set forth in this Section 9.03(e),
a Withdrawn Member shall not be entitled to receive any return of its Capital
Contributions or other payment from the Company in respect of its Membership
Interest.
27
(f) The
Sharing Ratio of the Withdrawn Member shall be allocated among the remaining
Members in the proportion that each Member’s Sharing Ratio bears to the total
Sharing Ratio of all remaining Members, or in such other proportion as the
Members may unanimously agree.
ARTICLE
10
DISPUTE
RESOLUTION
10.01 Disputes.
This
Article 10 shall apply to any dispute arising under or related to this Agreement
(whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, and whether arising at law
or
in equity), including (a) any dispute regarding the construction,
interpretation, performance, validity or enforceability of any provision
of this
Agreement or whether any Person is in compliance with, or breach of, any
provisions of this Agreement, and (b) the applicability of this Article 10
to a
particular dispute. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Article 10 shall
not
apply to any matters that, pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement,
are to
be resolved by a vote of the Members (including through the Management
Committee); provided, however, that (i) any matter that is expressly stated
herein to be determinable by arbitration may be so determined pursuant to
this
Article 10 and (ii) if a vote, approval, consent, determination or other
decision must, under the terms of this Agreement, be made (or withheld) in
accordance with a standard other than Sole Discretion (such as a reasonableness
standard), then the issue of whether such standard has been satisfied may
be a
dispute to which this Article 10 applies. Any dispute to which this Article
10
applies is referred to herein as a “Dispute.” With respect to a particular
Dispute, each Member that is a party to such Dispute is referred to herein
as a
“Disputing Member.” The provisions of this Article 10 shall be the exclusive
method of resolving Disputes.
10.02 Negotiation
to Resolve Disputes.
If
a
Dispute arises, any Disputing Member may initiate the dispute resolution
procedure under this Article 10 by notifying the other Disputing Members
(a
“Dispute Notice”), after which the Disputing Members shall attempt to resolve
such Dispute through the following procedure:
(a) first,
within 7 Days after receipt of the Dispute Notice, the Representatives of
the
Disputing Members shall meet (whether by phone or in person) in a good faith
attempt to resolve the Dispute;
(b) second,
if the Dispute is still unresolved, then after the 20th Day following the
commencement of the negotiations described in Section 10.02(a) but in no
event
later than the 30th Day after receipt of the Dispute Notice, the chief executive
officer (or his designee) of the Parent of each Disputing Member shall meet
(whether by phone or in person) in a good faith attempt to resolve the Dispute;
and
(c) third,
if
the Dispute is still unresolved, then after the 10th Day following the
commencement of the negotiations described in Section 10.02(b), any Disputing
Party may submit the Dispute for resolution under the Federal Arbitration
Act by
binding arbitration following the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American
Arbitration Association (or, if that Association has ceased to exist, its
principal successor) (the “AAA”) then in effect, including its evidentiary and
procedural rules (excluding rules governing the payment of arbitration,
administrative or other fees or expenses to the Arbitrator(s) or the AAA),
to
the extent that such rules do not conflict with the terms of this Agreement,
by
notifying the other Disputing Members (an “Arbitration Notice”) within the
applicable limitation period provided by law.
10.03 Selection
of Arbitrator.
(a) For
any
case in which any claim, or combination of claims, is less than or equal
to
$2,000,000, the arbitration shall be heard by a sole Arbitrator. Any case
in
which any claim, or combination of claims, exceeds $2,000,000 will be subject
to
the AAA’s Large, Complex Case Procedures and decided by the majority of a panel
of three neutral Arbitrators. The Arbitrator(s) shall be selected in accordance
with this Section 10.03.
(b) For
arbitrations conducted by a single Arbitrator, the Disputing Member that
submits
a Dispute to arbitration shall designate a proposed neutral sole Arbitrator
in
its Arbitration Notice. If any other Disputing Member objects to a proposed
sole
Arbitrator, it may, on or before the tenth Day following delivery of the
Arbitration Notice, notify all of the other Disputing Members of its objection.
All of the Disputing Members shall
28
attempt
to agree upon a mutually acceptable sole Arbitrator. If they have not done
so,
then after the 20th Day following delivery of the notice described in the
immediately preceding sentence, any Disputing Member may request the AAA
to
designate the sole Arbitrator. For arbitrations conducted by a panel of three
Arbitrators, the Disputing Member initiating arbitration shall nominate one
Arbitrator at the time it initiates arbitration. The other Disputing Member(s)
shall collectively nominate one Arbitrator on or before the 10th Day after
receiving the Arbitration Notice. The two Arbitrators shall appoint a third,
neutral Arbitrator. All arbitrators shall be competent and experienced in
matters involving the gas storage business in the United States, with at
least
ten years of legal, engineering, or business experience in the gas industry,
and
shall be impartial and independent of the Members (and the other arbitrators,
in
the case of arbitrations conducted by a panel of three arbitrators, except
for
prior arbitrations) (each an “Arbitrator”). Each Disputing Member shall pay for
the expenses incurred by the Arbitrator it appoints, if applicable, and the
costs of the sole Arbitrator or the third Arbitrator shall be divided equally
among the Disputing Members. If any Arbitrator so chosen shall die, resign
or
otherwise fail or becomes unable to serve as Arbitrator, a replacement
Arbitrator shall be chosen in accordance with this Section 10.03.
10.04 Conduct
of Arbitration.
The
Arbitrator(s) shall expeditiously (and, if possible, on or before the 90th
Day
after the Arbitrator(s)’s selection) hear and decide all matters concerning the
Dispute. Any arbitration hearing shall be held in Wilmington, Delaware. Except
as expressly provided to the contrary in this Agreement, the Arbitrator(s)
shall
have the power (a) to gather such materials, information, testimony and evidence
as it deems relevant to the dispute before it (and each Member will provide
such
materials, information, testimony and evidence requested by the Arbitrator(s),
except to the extent any information so requested is proprietary, subject
to a
third-party confidentiality restriction or to an attorney-client or other
privilege) and (b) to grant injunctive relief and enforce specific performance.
If they deem necessary, the Arbitrator(s) may propose to the Disputing Members
that one or more other experts be retained to assist it in resolving the
Dispute. The retention of such other experts shall require the unanimous
consent
of the Disputing Members, which shall not be unreasonably withheld. Each
Disputing Member, the Arbitrator(s) and any proposed expert shall disclose
to
the other Disputing Members any business, personal or other relationship
or
affiliation that may exist or may have existed between the Disputing Member
(or
the Arbitrator(s)) and the proposed expert; and any Disputing Member may
disapprove of the proposed expert on the basis of that relationship or
affiliation. The decision of the Arbitrator(s) (which shall be rendered in
writing) shall be final, nonappealable and binding upon the Disputing Members
and may be enforced in any court of competent jurisdiction; provided, however,
that the Members agree that the Arbitrator(s) and any court enforcing the
award
of the Arbitrator(s) shall not have the right or authority to award punitive,
special, consequential, indirect, exemplary or similar damages to any Disputing
Member. The responsibility for paying the costs and expenses of the arbitration,
including compensation to any experts retained by the Arbitrator(s), shall
be
divided equally among the Disputing Members. Each Disputing Member shall
be
responsible for the fees and expenses of its respective counsel, consultants
and
witnesses, unless the Arbitrator(s) determines that compelling reasons exist
for
allocating all or a portion of those costs and expenses to one or more other
Disputing Members.
10.05 Consolidation.
While
any matter is before the Arbitrator under this Article 10, if any of the
Disputing Members party to the arbitration, or, if applicable, their Affiliates
desire to bring a matter before an arbitrator under the Partnership Agreement,
the matter shall be consolidated with the matter under this Agreement if,
but
only if, the Disputing Members under this Agreement and the Persons bringing
the
matter before an arbitrator under the Partnership Agreement are the same
Persons
or Affiliates of those Persons.
ARTICLE
11
DISSOLUTION,
WINDING UP AND TERMINATION
11.01 Dissolution.
The
Company shall dissolve and its affairs shall be wound up on the first to
occur
of the following events (each a “Dissolution Event”):
(a) the
unanimous consent of the Management Committee to dissolve the Company and/or
the
Partnership;
(b) entry
of
a decree of judicial dissolution of the Company under Section 18-802 of the
Act;
(c) the
Disposition or abandonment of all or substantially all of the Company’s and/or
the Partnership’s business and assets; or
29
(d) an
event
that makes it unlawful for the business of the Company or the Partnership
to be
carried on.
11.02 Winding
Up and Termination.
(a) On
the
occurrence of a Dissolution Event, the Operator shall serve as liquidator
under
the supervision of the Management Committee. The liquidator shall proceed
diligently to wind up the affairs of the Company and make final distributions
as
provided herein and in the Act. The costs of winding up shall be borne as
a
Company expense. Until final distribution, the liquidator shall continue
to
operate the Company properties with all of the power and authority of the
Members. The steps to be accomplished by the liquidator are as
follows:
(i) as
promptly as possible after dissolution and again after final winding up,
the
liquidator shall cause a proper accounting to be made by a recognized firm
of
certified public accountants of the Company’s assets, liabilities and operations
through the last calendar day of the month in which the dissolution occurs
or
the final winding up is completed, as applicable;
(ii) the
liquidator shall discharge from Company funds all of the indebtedness of
the
Company and other debts, liabilities and obligations of the Company (including
all expenses incurred in winding up and any loans described in Section 4.02)
or
otherwise make adequate provision for payment and discharge thereof (including
the establishment of a cash escrow fund for contingent liabilities in such
amount and for such term as the liquidator may reasonably determine);
and
(iii) all
remaining assets of the Company shall be distributed to the Members as
follows:
(A) the
liquidator may sell any or all Company property, including to Members, and
any
resulting gain or loss from each sale shall be computed and allocated to
the
Capital Accounts of the Members in accordance with the provisions of Article
5;
(B) with
respect to all Company property that has not been sold, the fair market value
of
that property shall be determined and the Capital Accounts of the Members
shall
be adjusted to reflect the manner in which the unrealized income, gain, loss,
and deduction inherent in property that has not been reflected in the Capital
Accounts previously would be allocated among the Members if there were a
taxable
disposition of that property for the fair market value of that property on
the
date of distribution; and
(C) Company
property (including cash) shall be distributed among the Members in accordance
with Section 5.02; and those distributions shall be made by the end of the
taxable year of the Company during which the liquidation of the Company occurs
(or, if later, the 90th Day after the date of the liquidation).
(b) The
distribution of cash or property to a Member in accordance with the provisions
of this Section 11.02 constitutes a complete return to the Member of its
Capital
Contributions and a complete distribution to the Member of its Membership
Interest and all the Company’s property and constitutes a compromise to which
all Members have consented pursuant to Section 18-502(b) of the Act. To the
extent that a Member returns funds to the Company, it has no claim against
any
other Member for those funds.
(c) No
dissolution or termination of the Company shall relieve a Member from any
obligation to the extent such obligation has accrued as of the date of such
dissolution or termination. Upon such termination, any books and records
of the
Company that there is a reasonable basis for believing will ever be needed again
shall be furnished to the liquidator, which shall keep such books and records
(subject to review by any Person that was a Member at the time of dissolution)
for a period at least three years. At such time as the liquidator no longer
agrees to keep such books and records, it shall offer the Persons who were
Members at the time of dissolution the opportunity to take over such custody,
shall deliver such books and records to such Persons if they elect to take
over
such custody and may destroy such books and records if they do not so elect.
Any
such custody by such Persons shall be on such terms as they may agree upon
among
themselves.
30
11.03 Deficit
Capital Accounts.
No
Member will be required to pay to the Company, to any other Member or to
any
third party any deficit balance that may exist from time to time in another
Member’s Capital Account.
11.04 Certificate
of Cancellation.
On
completion of the distribution of Company assets as provided herein, the
Members
(or such other Person or Persons as the Act may require or permit) shall
file a
certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware, cancel any other filings made pursuant to Section 2.05, and take
such
other actions as may be necessary to terminate the existence of the Company.
Upon the filing of such certificate of cancellation, the existence of the
Company shall terminate (and the Term shall end), except as may be otherwise
provided by the Act or other applicable Law.
ARTICLE
12
GENERAL
PROVISIONS
12.01 Offset.
Whenever
the Company is to pay any sum to any Member, any amounts that Member owes
the
Company may be deducted from that sum before payment.
12.02 Notices.
Except
as expressly set forth to the contrary in this Agreement, all notices, requests
or consents provided for or permitted to be given under this Agreement must
be
in writing and must be delivered to the recipient in person, by courier or
mail
or by facsimile or other electronic transmission. A notice, request or consent
given under this Agreement is effective on receipt by the Member to receive
it;
provided, however, that a facsimile or other electronic transmission that
is
transmitted after the normal business hours of the recipient shall be deemed
effective on the next Business Day. All notices, requests and consents to
be
sent to a Member must be sent to or made at the addresses given for that
Member
on Exhibit A or in the instrument described in Section 3.03(b)(iii)(A)(II)
or
3.04, or such other address as that Member may specify by notice to the other
Members. Any notice, request or consent to the Company must be given to all
of
the Members. Whenever any notice is required to be given by Law, the Certificate
or this Agreement, a written waiver thereof, signed by the Person entitled
to
notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed
equivalent to the giving of such notice.
12.03 Entire
Agreement; Superseding Effect.
This
Agreement, the Partnership Agreement, and the O&M Agreement constitute the
entire agreement of the Members and their Affiliates relating to the Company
and
the transactions contemplated hereby and supersede all provisions and concepts
contained in all prior agreements.
12.04 Effect
of Waiver or Consent.
Except
as otherwise provided in this Agreement, a waiver or consent, express or
implied, to or of any breach or default by any Member in the performance
by that
Member of its obligations with respect to the Company is not a consent or
waiver
to or of any other breach or default in the performance by that Member of
the
same or any other obligations of that Member with respect to the Company.
Except
as otherwise provided in this Agreement, failure on the part of a Member
to
complain of any act of any Member or to declare any Member in default with
respect to the Company, irrespective of how long that failure continues,
does
not constitute a waiver by that Member of its rights with respect to that
default until the applicable statute-of-limitations period has run.
12.05 Amendment
or Restatement.
This
Agreement or the Certificate may be amended or restated only by a written
instrument executed (or, in the case of the Certificate, approved) by all
Members.
12.06 Binding
Effect.
Subject
to the restrictions on Dispositions set forth in this Agreement, this Agreement
is binding on and shall inure to the benefit of the Members and their respective
successors and permitted assigns.
31
12.07 Governing
Law; Severability. THIS
AGREEMENT IS GOVERNED BY AND SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW
OF
THE STATE OF DELAWARE, EXCLUDING ANY CONFLICT-OF-LAWS RULE OR PRINCIPLE THAT
MIGHT REFER THE GOVERNANCE OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS AGREEMENT TO THE LAW
OF
ANOTHER JURISDICTION. WITHOUT LIMITING THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 10, A MEMBER
MAY BRING AN ACTION ARISING UNDER OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, IF AT ALL,
ONLY
IN COURTS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE OR (IF IT HAS JURISDICTION) THE UNITED
STATES
DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE. In
the
event of a direct conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and any
mandatory, non-waivable provision of the Act, such provision of the Act shall
control. If any provision of the Act provides that it may be varied or
superseded in a limited liability company agreement (or otherwise by agreement
of the members or managers of a limited liability company), that provision
shall
be deemed superseded and waived in its entirety if this Agreement contains
a
provision addressing the same issue or subject matter. If any provision of
this
Agreement or the application thereof to any Member or circumstance is held
invalid or unenforceable to any extent, (a) the remainder of this Agreement
and
the application of that provision to other Members or circumstances is not
affected thereby, and (b) the Members shall negotiate in good faith to replace
that provision with a new provision that is valid and enforceable and that
puts
the Members in substantially the same economic, business and legal position
as
they would have been in if the original provision had been valid and
enforceable.
12.08 Further
Assurances.
In
connection with this Agreement and the transactions it contemplates, each
Member
shall execute and deliver any additional documents and instruments and perform
any additional acts that may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate and
perform the provisions of this Agreement and those transactions; provided,
however, that this Section 12.08 shall not obligate a Member to furnish
guarantees or other credit supports by such Member’s Parent or other
Affiliates.
12.09 Waiver
of Certain Rights.
Each
Member irrevocably waives any right it may have to maintain any action for
dissolution of the Company or for partition of the property of the
Company.
12.10 Counterparts.
This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts with the same effect
as
if all signing parties had signed the same document. All counterparts shall
be
construed together and constitute the same instrument.
[Remainder
of page intentionally left blank. Signature page follows.]
32
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Members have executed this Agreement as of the date
first
set forth above.
MEMBERS:
SPECTRA
ENERGY TRANSMISSION SERVICES, LLC
By: /s/
Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
Title: Vice President
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
Title: Vice President
NJR
XXXXXXXX RIDGE STORAGE COMPANY
By:
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Name:
Xxxxx X. xxxxxxxx
Title:
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
33
EXHIBIT
A
MEMBERS
Name
and Address
|
Sharing
Ratio
|
Parent
|
Representative
and Alternate Representatives
|
Spectra
Energy Transmission Services, LLC
0000
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxx 00000-0000
Attn:
Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Fax:
(000) 000-0000
|
50%
|
Spectra
Energy Corp
|
R.
Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
Alternate:
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxx
|
NJR
Xxxxxxxx Ridge Storage Company
0000
Xxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxxxx 00000
Attn:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxxxx
Fax:
(000) 000-0000
|
50%
|
New
Jersey Resources Corporation
|
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx
Alternate:
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxx
|
34
EXHIBIT
B
PARTNERSHIP
AGREEMENT
[Attached]
35
EXHIBIT
C
NON-COMPETITION
AREA
The
following areas, from the surface to all depths:
· |
The
area inside the xxxxx line on Exhibit F to the
PSA
|
· |
Any
shaded tracts on Exhibit F to the PSA
|
· |
Any
other leases conveyed to the Partnership at the Closing under the
PSA
|
36
EXHIBIT
D
INITIAL
FACILITIES PLAN
Acquisition
|
$105,000,000
|
Development:
|
||
Xxxxx
|
-
15 new xxxxx
-
5
existing well conversions
|
$54,382,198
|
Gathering
System
|
-
6.625 in. pipe
-
8.625 in. pipe
-
16 in. pipe
|
$31,679,713
|
Station
|
-
Compressor
-
Cooler
-
Heater
-
Dehydration
-
Slug Catcher
-
Measurement & Regulation
|
$36,239,008
|
Pad
Gas
|
-
Gas required to maintain minimum reservoir pressure
|
$19,390,352
|
Development
Total
|
$141,691,271
|
Total
|
$246,691,271
|