EXHIBIT 99.05
March 12, 2003
EXCHANGE AGENT AGREEMENT
The Bank of New York
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0 Xxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Equitable Resources, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation (the "COMPANY"),
proposes to make an offer (the "EXCHANGE OFFER") to exchange all of its
outstanding 5.15% Notes due 2012 (the "OLD SECURITIES") for its registered 5.15%
Notes due 2012 (the "NEW SECURITIES"). The terms and conditions of the Exchange
Offer as currently contemplated are set forth in a prospectus, dated March 14,
2003 (the "PROSPECTUS"), proposed to be distributed to all record holders of the
Old Securities. The Old Securities and the New Securities are collectively
referred to herein as the "SECURITIES".
The Company hereby appoints The Bank of New York to act as exchange agent
(the "EXCHANGE AGENT") in connection with the Exchange Offer. References
hereinafter to "you" shall refer to The Bank of New York.
The Exchange Offer is expected to be commenced by the Company on or about
March 17, 2003. The Letter of Transmittal accompanying the Prospectus (or in
the case of book-entry securities, the Automated Tender Offer Program ("ATOP")
of the Book-Entry Transfer Facility (as defined below)) is to be used by the
holders of the Old Securities to accept the Exchange Offer and contains
instructions with respect to the delivery of certificates for Old Securities
tendered in connection therewith.
The Exchange Offer shall expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on or
about April 16, 2003 or on such subsequent date or time to which the Company
may extend the Exchange Offer (the "EXPIRATION DATE"). Subject to the terms and
conditions set forth in the Prospectus, the Company expressly reserves the right
to extend the Exchange Offer from time to time and may extend the Exchange Offer
by giving oral (promptly confirmed in writing) or written notice to you before
9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the business day following the previously
scheduled Expiration Date.
The Company expressly reserves the right to amend or terminate the
Exchange Offer, and not to accept for exchange any Old Securities not
theretofore accepted for exchange, upon the occurrence of any of the conditions
of the Exchange Offer specified
in the Prospectus under the caption "The Exchange Offer -- Conditions to the
Exchange Offer."
In carrying out your duties as Exchange Agent, you are to act in
accordance with the following instructions:
1. You will perform such duties and only such duties as are
specifically set forth in the section of the Prospectus captioned "The Exchange
Offer" or as specifically set forth herein; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in no way
will your general duty to act in good faith be discharged by the foregoing.
2. You will establish a book-entry account with respect to the Old
Securities at The Depository Trust Company (the "BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER FACILITY")
for purposes of the Exchange Offer within two business days after the date of
the Prospectus, and any financial institution that is a participant in the
Book-Entry Transfer Facility's systems may make book-entry delivery of the Old
Securities by causing the Book-Entry Transfer Facility to transfer such Old
Securities into your account in accordance with the Book-Entry Transfer
Facility's procedure for such transfer.
3. You are to examine each of the Letters of Transmittal and
certificates for Old Securities (or confirmation of book-entry transfer into
your account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility) and any other documents
delivered or mailed to you by or for holders of the Old Securities to ascertain
whether: (i) the Letters of Transmittal and any such other documents are duly
executed and properly completed in accordance with instructions set forth
therein; and (ii) the Old Securities have otherwise been properly tendered. In
each case where the Letter of Transmittal or any other document has been
improperly completed or executed or any of the certificates for Old Securities
are not in proper form for transfer or some other irregularity in connection
with the acceptance of the Exchange Offer exists, you will endeavor to inform
the presenters of the need for fulfillment of all requirements and to take any
other action as may be reasonably necessary or advisable to cause such
irregularity to be corrected.
4. With the approval of the Chairman, President, and Chief
Executive Officer, the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer or
any other officers or assistant officers of the Company that any of them may
designate in writing from time to time (such approval, if given orally, to be
promptly confirmed in writing), you are authorized to waive any irregularities
in connection with any tender of Old Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
5. Tenders of Old Securities may be made only as set forth in the
Letter of Transmittal and in the section of the Prospectus captioned "The
Exchange Offer -- Procedures for Tendering Old Notes", and Old Securities shall
be considered properly tendered to you only when tendered in accordance with the
procedures set forth therein.
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Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5, Old Securities which
the Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer and the Executive Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer or any other officers or assistant
officers of the Company that any of them may designate in writing from time to
time shall approve as having been properly tendered shall be considered to be
properly tendered (such approval, if given orally, shall be promptly confirmed
in writing).
6. You shall advise the Company with respect to any Old Securities
received subsequent to the Expiration Date and accept its instructions with
respect to disposition of such Old Securities.
7. You shall accept tenders:
(a) in cases where the Old Securities are registered in two or
more names only if signed by all named holders;
(b) in cases where the signing person (as indicated on the Letter
of Transmittal) is acting in a fiduciary or a representative capacity only when
proper evidence of his or her authority so to act is submitted; and
(c) from persons other than the registered holder of Old
Securities, provided that customary transfer requirements, including payment of
any applicable transfer taxes, are fulfilled.
You shall accept partial tenders of Old Securities where so indicated and
as permitted in the Letter of Transmittal and deliver certificates for Old
Securities to the registrar for split-up and return any untendered Old
Securities to the holder (or such other person as may be designated in the
Letter of Transmittal) as promptly as practicable after expiration or
termination of the Exchange Offer.
8. Upon satisfaction or waiver of all of the conditions to the
Exchange Offer, the Company will notify you (such notice, if given orally, to be
promptly confirmed in writing) of its acceptance, promptly after the Expiration
Date, of all Old Securities properly tendered and you, on behalf of the Company,
will exchange such Old Securities for New Securities and cause such Old
Securities to be cancelled. Delivery of New Securities will be made on behalf of
the Company by you at the rate of $1,000 principal amount of New Securities for
each $1,000 principal amount of the corresponding series of Old Securities
tendered promptly after notice (such notice if given orally, to be promptly
confirmed in writing) of acceptance of said Old Securities by the Company;
provided, however, that in all cases, Old Securities tendered pursuant to the
Exchange Offer will be exchanged only after timely receipt by you of
certificates for such Old Securities (or confirmation of book-entry transfer
into your account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility), a properly completed and
duly executed Letter of Transmittal (or manually signed facsimile thereof) with
any required signature guarantees and any other
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required documents. You shall issue New Securities only in denominations of
$1,000 or any integral multiple thereof.
9. Tenders pursuant to the Exchange Offer are irrevocable, except
that, subject to the terms and upon the conditions set forth in the Prospectus
and the Letter of Transmittal, Old Securities tendered pursuant to the Exchange
Offer may be withdrawn at any time prior to the Expiration Date.
10. The Company shall not be required to exchange any Old
Securities tendered if any of the conditions set forth in the Exchange Offer are
not met. Notice of any decision by the Company not to exchange any Old
Securities tendered shall be given (if given orally, to be promptly confirmed in
writing) by the Company to you.
11. If, pursuant to the Exchange Offer, the Company does not accept
for exchange all or part of the Old Securities tendered because of an invalid
tender, the occurrence of certain other events set forth in the Prospectus under
the caption "The Exchange Offer -- Conditions to the Exchange Offer" or
otherwise, you shall as soon as practicable after the expiration or termination
of the Exchange Offer return those certificates for unaccepted Old Securities
(or effect appropriate book-entry transfer), together with any related required
documents and the Letters of Transmittal relating thereto that are in your
possession, to the persons who deposited them.
12. All certificates for reissued Old Securities, unaccepted Old
Securities or for New Securities shall be forwarded by first-class mail.
13. You are not authorized to pay or offer to pay any concessions,
commissions or solicitation fees to any broker, dealer, bank or other persons or
to engage or utilize any person to solicit tenders.
14. As Exchange Agent hereunder you:
(a) shall not be liable for any action or omission to act unless
the same constitutes your own gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith,
and in no event shall you be liable to a securityholder, the Company or any
third party for special, indirect or consequential damages, or lost profits,
arising in connection with this Agreement;
(b) shall have no duties or obligations other than those
specifically set forth herein or as may be subsequently agreed to in writing
between you and the Company;
(c) will be regarded as making no representations and having no
responsibilities as to the validity, sufficiency, value or genuineness of any of
the certificates or the Old Securities represented thereby deposited with you
pursuant to the
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Exchange Offer, and will not be required to and will make no representation as
to the validity, value or genuineness of the Exchange Offer;
(d) shall not be obligated to take any legal action hereunder
which might in your judgment involve any expense or liability, unless you shall
have been furnished with indemnity satisfactory to you;
(e) may conclusively rely on and shall be protected in acting in
reliance upon any certificate, instrument, opinion, notice, letter, telegram or
other document or security delivered to you and believed by you to be genuine
and to have been signed or presented by the proper person or persons;
(f) may act upon any tender, statement, request, document,
agreement, certificate or other instrument whatsoever not only as to its due
execution and validity and effectiveness of its provisions, but also as to the
truth and accuracy of any information contained therein, which you shall in good
faith believe to be genuine or to have been signed or presented by the proper
person or persons;
(g) may conclusively rely on and shall be protected in acting
upon written or oral instructions from any authorized officer of the Company
identified herein;
(h) may consult with counsel of your selection with respect to
any questions relating to your duties and responsibilities and the advice or
opinion of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection
in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by you hereunder
in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel; and
(i) shall not advise any person tendering Old Securities pursuant
to the Exchange Offer as to the wisdom of making such tender or as to the market
value or decline or appreciation in market value of any Old Securities.
15. You shall take such action as may from time to time be requested by
the Company (and such other action as you may deem appropriate) to furnish
copies of the Prospectus, Letter of Transmittal and the Notice of Guaranteed
Delivery (as described in the Prospectus) or such other forms as may be approved
from time to time by the Company, to all persons requesting such documents and
to accept and comply with telephone requests for information relating to the
Exchange Offer, provided that such information shall relate only to the
procedures for accepting (or withdrawing from) the Exchange Offer. The Company
will furnish you with copies of such documents on your request. All other
requests for information relating to the Exchange Offer shall be directed to the
Company, Attention: Xxxxxxx X. X'Xxxxxxxx, Esq., Senior Vice President, General
Counsel and Corporate Secretary.
16. You shall advise by facsimile transmission or by e-mail
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, the Assistant Treasurer of the Company (at the facsimile
number 000-000-0000 or at the
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e-mail address xxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx), and such other person or persons as the
Company may request, daily (and more frequently during the week immediately
preceding the Expiration Date if requested) up to and including the Expiration
Date, as to the number of Old Securities which have been tendered pursuant to
the Exchange Offer and the items received by you pursuant to this Agreement,
separately reporting and giving cumulative totals as to items properly received
and items improperly received. In addition, you will also inform, and cooperate
in making available to, the Company or any such other person or persons upon
oral request made from time to time prior to the Expiration Date of such other
information as they may reasonably request. Such cooperation shall include,
without limitation, the granting by you to the Company and such person as the
Company may request of access to those persons on your staff who are responsible
for receiving tenders, in order to ensure that immediately prior to the
Expiration Date the Company shall have received information in sufficient detail
to enable it to decide whether to extend the Exchange Offer. You shall prepare a
final list of all persons whose tenders were accepted, the aggregate principal
amount of Old Securities tendered, the aggregate principal amount of Old
Securities accepted and deliver said list to the Company.
17. Letters of Transmittal and Notices of Guaranteed Delivery shall be
stamped by you as to the date and, after the expiration of the Exchange Offer,
the time, of receipt thereof and shall be preserved by you for a period of time
at least equal to the period of time you preserve other records pertaining to
the transfer of securities. You shall dispose of unused Letters of Transmittal
and other surplus materials by returning them to the Company.
18. For services rendered as Exchange Agent hereunder, you shall be
entitled to such compensation as shall be agreed in writing between the Company
and you. The provisions of this section shall survive the termination of this
Agreement.
19. You hereby acknowledge receipt of the Prospectus and the Letter of
Transmittal. Any inconsistency between this Agreement, on the one hand, and the
Prospectus and the Letter of Transmittal (as they may be amended from time to
time), on the other hand, shall be resolved in favor of the latter two
documents, except with respect to your duties, liabilities and indemnification
as Exchange Agent.
20. The Company covenants and agrees to fully indemnify and hold you
harmless against any and all loss, liability, cost or expense, including
reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses, incurred without gross negligence,
bad faith or willful misconduct on your part, arising out of or in connection
with any act, omission, delay or refusal made by you in reliance upon any
signature, endorsement, assignment, certificate, order, request, notice,
instruction or other instrument or document believed by you to be valid,
genuine and sufficient and in accepting any tender or effecting any transfer
of Old Securities believed by you in good faith to be authorized, and in
delaying or refusing in good faith to accept any tenders or effect any
transfer of Old Securities. In each case, the Company shall be notified by
you, by letter or facsimile transmission, of the written assertion of a
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claim against you or of any other action commenced against you, promptly after
you shall have received any such written assertion or shall have been served
with a summons in connection therewith. The Company shall be entitled to
participate at its own expense in the defense of any such claim or other action
and, if the Company so elects, the Company shall assume the defense of any suit
brought to enforce any such claim. In the event that the Company shall assume
the defense of any such suit, the Company shall not be liable for the fees and
expenses of any additional counsel thereafter retained by you, so long as the
Company shall retain counsel in its sole discretion to defend such suit, and so
long as you have not determined, in your reasonable judgment, that a conflict of
interest exists between you and the Company. The provisions of this section
shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
21. You shall arrange to comply with all requirements under the tax
laws of the United States, including those relating to missing Tax
Identification Numbers, and shall file any appropriate reports with the Internal
Revenue Service.
22. You shall deliver or cause to be delivered, in a timely manner to
each governmental authority to which any transfer taxes are payable in respect
of the exchange of Old Securities, the Company's check in the amount of all
transfer taxes so payable; provided, however, that you shall reimburse the
Company for amounts refunded to you in respect of your payment of any such
transfer taxes, at such time as such refund is received by you.
23. This Agreement and your appointment as Exchange Agent hereunder
shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New
York applicable to agreements made and to be performed entirely within such
state, and without regard to conflicts of law principles, and shall inure to the
benefit of, and the obligations created hereby shall be binding upon, the
successors and assigns of each of the parties hereto.
24. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which together shall
constitute one and the same agreement.
25. In case any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal
or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining
provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
26. This Agreement shall not be deemed or construed to be modified,
amended, rescinded, cancelled or waived, in whole or in part, except by a
written instrument signed by a duly authorized representative of the party to be
charged. This Agreement may not be modified orally.
27. Unless otherwise provided herein, all notices, requests and other
communications to any party hereunder shall be in writing (including facsimile
or similar
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writing) and shall be given to such party, addressed to it, at its address or
telecopy number set forth below:
If to the Company:
Equitable Resources, Inc.
Xxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. X'Xxxxxxxx, Esq.,
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
If to the Exchange Agent:
The Bank of New York
Corporate Trust Operations
Reorganization Xxxx
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx - 0X
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xx. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxx
Phone: (000) 000-0000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
Address for Hand Delivery:
The Bank of New York
Corporate Trust Operations
Reorganization Xxxx
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx - Lobby Window
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xx. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxx
28. Unless terminated earlier by the parties hereto, this Agreement
shall terminate 90 days following the Expiration Date. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, Sections 18 and 20 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
Upon any termination of this Agreement, you shall promptly deliver to the
Company any certificates for Securities, funds or property then held by you as
Exchange Agent under this Agreement.
29. This Agreement shall be binding and effective as of the date
hereof.
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Please acknowledge receipt of this Exchange Agent Agreement and confirm
the arrangements herein provided by signing and returning the enclosed copy.
EQUITABLE RESOURCES, INC.
By:
---------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Executive Vice President
& Chief Financial Officer
Accepted as of the date
first above written:
THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Exchange Agent
By:
---------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
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[LOGO OF THE BANK OF NEW YORK]
Equitable Resources, Inc.
EXCHANGE AGENT
FEE SCHEDULE
JANUARY 15, 2003
ACCEPTANCE FEE............................................................waived
This one time charge is payable at the closing. It includes the following
services:
- review of the Depositary/Exchange Agent Agreement and all
supporting documents
- initial establishment of the account
ONE-TIME ADMINISTRATION FEE...............................................$7,500
Fee is payable in advance and includes the following services:
- review letters of transmittal
- payment of securities
- interface with the Depository Trust Company
- tabulate/record/report transactions
Additional activity fees will be charged, if applicable, as follows:
WIRE TRANSFERS......................................................$25 PER WIRE
PAYMENTS VIA CHECK (IF APPLICABLE)..................................$5 PER CHECK
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EXTENSION OF EXCHANGE OFFER.................................$1,000 PER EXTENSION
MIDNIGHT EXPIRATION.......................................................$2,500
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[LOGO OF THE BANK OF NEW YORK]
Equitable Resources, Inc.
EXCHANGE AGENT
FEE SCHEDULE
JANUARY 15, 2003
OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES
Fees quoted do not include out-of-pocket expenses such as, but not limited
to, facsimile, stationery, postage, telephone, overnight courier, and
messenger costs. These expenses will be billed, at your cost, when incurred.
In the event the transaction terminates before closing, all out-of-pocket
expenses incurred, including our reasonable counsel fees, if applicable, will
be billed to the account.
EXTERNAL COUNSEL FEES
Fees quoted do not include external counsel fees. A xxxx for our reasonable
counsel fees in an amount not to exceed $3,500 will be rendered on or before
the closing date, with payment due at that time.
MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES
The charges for performing services not contemplated at the time of the
execution of the documents or not specifically covered elsewhere in the schedule
will be determined by appraisal in amount commensurate with the services and
shall be agreed to in advance. These extraordinary services may partially be
classified as supplemental indentures and unusual releases, sinking fund; the
preparation of special or interim reports which the trustee or agent must submit
to security holders; unusual studies, considerations and actions taken with
respect to indenture provisions, custody of collateral which is diversified,
voluminous in bulk or which involves the trustee or agent in more than the usual
activity.
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TERMS OF PROPOSAL
The Bank of New York's final acceptance of this appointment is subject to the
full review and approval of all related documentation and our conflict
investigation. In the event the transaction terminates before closing, all
out-of-pocket expenses incurred, including our reasonable counsel fees, if
applicable, will be billed to the account. This offer shall be deemed
terminated if we do not enter into a written agreement within three months
from the date hereof.
Please acknowledge acceptance of this proposal by signing and returning a copy
of this proposal.
EQUITABLE RESOURCES, INC.
By:
-------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Executive Vice President
& Chief Financial Officer
Date:
-----------------------------------
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