EX-10.4 3 d715499dex104.htm EX-10.4
Exhibit 10.4
SPECIFIC TERMS IN THIS EXHIBIT HAVE BEEN REDACTED BECAUSE CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT OF THOSE TERMS HAS BEEN REQUESTED. THE REDACTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN SEPARATELY SUBMITTED TO THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, AND THE TERMS HAVE BEEN MARKED AT THE APPROPRIATE PLACE WITH THREE ASTERISKS (***).
FORM OF
between
WESTLAKE CHEMICAL OPCO LP
as Seller
and
WPT LLC
WESTLAKE VINYLS, INC.
WESTLAKE PETROCHEMICALS LLC
as Buyer
Dated , 2014
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS | ||||||
1.1 | Certain Defined Terms | 1 | ||||
1.2 | Interpretation | 7 | ||||
ARTICLE II TERM | ||||||
ARTICLE III ANNUAL PLANNED PRODUCTION | ||||||
3.1 | Forecast of Annual Planned Production | 7 | ||||
3.2 | Monthly Output | 8 | ||||
ARTICLE IV PURCHASE AND DELIVERY OBLIGATIONS | ||||||
4.1 | Minimum Purchase and Take Commitments | 8 | ||||
4.2 | Buyer Deficiency | 9 | ||||
4.3 | Uniformity | 10 | ||||
4.4 | Pro Rata Reduction | 11 | ||||
4.5 | Title, Transfer and Possession of Ethylene | 11 | ||||
ARTICLE V | ||||||
5.1 | Price | 11 | ||||
5.2 | All Other Cash Production Costs | 12 | ||||
5.3 | Prior Year Adjustment | 14 | ||||
5.4 | Change in Law | 15 | ||||
ARTICLE VI STATEMENTS AND PAYMENT | ||||||
6.1 | Monthly Statements | 16 | ||||
6.2 | Payment | 16 | ||||
6.3 | Payment Method | 17 | ||||
6.4 | Access to Books and Records | 17 | ||||
6.5 | Adequate Assurance of Performance | 17 | ||||
ARTICLE VII QUALITY | ||||||
7.1 | Specifications | 18 | ||||
7.2 | Off-Spec Ethylene | 18 |
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ARTICLE VIII MEASUREMENT AND TESTING | ||||
ARTICLE IX FORCE MAJEURE | ||||
9.1 | Performance Excused | 19 | ||
9.2 | Force Majeure Defined | 19 | ||
9.3 | Force Majeure Notice | 20 | ||
9.4 | Settlement of Industrial Disturbances | 20 | ||
9.5 | Extended Force Majeure | 20 | ||
ARTICLE X TERMINATION | ||||
10.1 | General | 20 | ||
10.2 | Seller Suspension | 20 | ||
10.3 | Events of Default | 21 | ||
10.4 | Remedies for Events of Default | 21 | ||
10.5 | Termination for Extended Force Majeure | 22 | ||
10.6 | Effect of Termination | 22 | ||
ARTICLE XI | ||||
11.1 | Title to Ethylene | 22 | ||
11.2 | Warranty to Specification | 22 | ||
11.3 | Financial Obligations | 22 | ||
11.4 | Disclaimer of any Other Warranties | 22 | ||
ARTICLE XII LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITIES | ||||
12.1 | Consequential Loss or Damage | 22 | ||
12.2 | Liquidated Damages Not Penalty | 23 | ||
12.3 | Exclusive Remedies | 23 | ||
ARTICLE XIII INSURANCE | ||||
ARTICLE XIV CONFIDENTIALITY | ||||
14.1 | Information | 23 | ||
14.2 | Definition | 24 | ||
14.3 | Legal Requirement | 24 | ||
14.4 | Survival | 24 |
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ARTICLE XV | ||||
15.1 | Assignment Generally | 25 | ||
15.2 | Assignment to Affiliates | 25 | ||
ARTICLE XVI TAXES | ||||
ARTICLE XVII | ||||
17.1 | Several Liability of Buyer Parties | 26 | ||
17.2 | Choice of Law; Submission to Jurisdiction | 26 | ||
17.3 | Dispute Resolution | 26 | ||
17.4 | Survival | 28 | ||
17.5 | Buyer’s Representative | 28 | ||
17.6 | Notices | 29 | ||
17.7 | Entire Agreement | 29 | ||
17.8 | Amendment or Modification | 29 | ||
17.9 | Counterparts | 29 | ||
17.10 | Severability | 29 | ||
17.11 | Further Assurances | 30 | ||
17.12 | No Waiver | 30 | ||
17.13 | Set Off | 30 | ||
17.14 | Rights of Third Parties | 30 | ||
17.15 | Legal Relationship | 30 | ||
SCHEDULES | ||||
Schedule 5.1 | Price | |||
Schedule 5.2 | First Contract Year – All Other Cash Production Costs | |||
Schedule 7.1 | Specifications |
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This ETHYLENE SALES AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of , 2014 the (the “Effective Date”), by and among WESTLAKE CHEMICAL OpCo LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“Seller”), and WPT LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, WESTLAKE VINYLS, INC., a Delaware corporation, and WESTLAKE PETROCHEMICALS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (each, a “Buyer Party,” and collectively, “Buyer”). Seller and Buyer hereinafter are referred to each individually as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties.”
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
1.1 | Certain Defined Terms. For the purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings: |
“AAA” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 17.3(b)(iv).
“Adequate Assurance of Performance” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.5(d).
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“Actual Energy” shall have the meaning set forth in Schedule 5.1.
“Actual Yield” shall have the meaning set forth in Schedule 5.1.
“Affiliate” means (a) with respect to Westlake, any other Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls or is controlled by Westlake, excluding Westlake Chemical Partners GP LLC and any other Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries is controlled by Westlake Chemical Partners GP LLC; (b) with respect to the Partnership Entities (as defined in the Omnibus Agreement), any Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries is controlled by Westlake Chemical Partners GP LLC; and (c) with respect to any other Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such first Person; provided that, for purposes of this Agreement, Seller and Buyer shall not be considered Affiliates of each other. As used herein, the term “control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
“Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“All Other Cash Production Costs” or “AOCPC” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.2(a).
“Annual Minimum Quantity” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(a)(i).
“Annual Output” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(a)(ii).
“Annual Planned Production” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.
“Associated Co-Product” shall mean the co-products (including propylene, butadiene and hydrogen) derived from the production of Ethylene.
“Base Rate” shall mean, interest compounded on a Monthly basis, at the rate per annum equal to the one-month term, London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR rate) for U.S. dollar deposits, as published by The Wall Street Journal or if not published, then by the Financial Times of London.
“Btu” or “British Thermal Unit” shall mean the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of pure water from fifty-nine degrees Fahrenheit (59°F) to sixty degrees Fahrenheit (60°F) at a constant pressure of fourteen and six hundred and ninety-six thousandths (14.696) pounds per square inch absolute.
“Business Day” shall mean every Day other than Saturdays, Sundays, and United States public holidays.
“Buyer” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“Buyer Deficiency Quantity” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(a).
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“Buyer Event of Default” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.3(b).
“Buyer Party” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“Buyer’s Representative” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 17.5.
“Xxxxxxx City Plant” shall have the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Co-Product Credit” shall have the meaning set forth in Schedule 5.1.
“Change in Law” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.4.
“Confidential Information” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 14.2.
“Contract Year” shall mean a calendar year that commences on January 1 and ends on December 31 of such calendar year, except that (a) the first Contract Year shall commence on the Effective Date and end on December 31, 2014, and (b) the final Contract Year shall commence on January 1 of the calendar year in which the Term expires or is terminated in accordance herewith, and end on the last Day that this Agreement is in effect.
“Cost Category” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.2(a).
“Cost of Energy” shall have the meaning set forth in Schedule 5.1.
“Cost of Feedstock” shall have the meaning set forth in Schedule 5.1.
“Cost Overrun” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.3(a)(i).
“Day” shall mean a 24-hour period commencing immediately upon midnight.
“Default Rate” shall mean the Base Rate plus two percentage points per annum, applicable on the first Business Day prior to the due date of payment and thereafter on the first Business Day of each succeeding Month; provided, however, that the Default Rate shall never exceed the maximum rate permitted by applicable Law.
“Delivery Point” shall mean, in respect of each applicable Plant, the exit flange at the battery line, as more fully described and depicted in the applicable Site Lease Agreement, or such other points that may be designated by the Parties from time to time in writing.
“dispute” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 17.3(a).
“Downstream Facilities” shall have the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Effective Date” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“Energy Efficiency Adjuster” shall have the meaning set forth in Schedule 5.1.
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“Ethane” shall mean ethane conforming to the applicable specifications set forth in the Feedstock Supply Agreement.
“Ethylene” shall mean the ethylene product conforming to the applicable Specifications.
“Ethylene Shortfall Fee” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(c).
“Excess Quantity” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(d).
“Expansion Capital Expenditures” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.2(d)(iii).
“Feedstock Efficiency Adjuster” shall have the meaning set forth in Schedule 5.1.
“Feedstock Shortfall Fee” shall have the meaning given to such term in the Feedstock Supply Agreement.
“Feedstock Supply Agreement” shall mean that certain feedstock supply agreement entered into by and between WLK-Petrochemicals and Seller on or about the date hereof.
“Fixed Cash Conversion Costs” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.2(a).
“Force Majeure” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.2.
“Gallon” means a U.S. gallon of 231 cubic inches of liquid at sixty degrees Fahrenheit (60°F) and equilibrium vapor pressure of the liquid.
“Governmental Authority” shall mean any foreign, federal, state, regional, local, municipal, tribal or other government; any governmental, regulatory or administrative agency, commission, body or other authority exercising or entitled to exercise any administrative, executive, judicial, legislative, regulatory or taxing authority or power; and any court or governmental tribunal.
“Initial Term” shall have the meaning set forth in Article II.
“Lake Xxxxxxx Plants” shall have the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Law” shall mean any law, statute, code, ordinance, order, rule, rule of common law, regulation, judgment, decree, injunction, franchise, permit, certificate, license, authorization, or other directional requirement of any Governmental Authority.
“Maintenance Cost Reserves (Capital)” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.2(a).
“Maintenance Cost Reserves (Expense)” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.2(a).
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“Metering Point” shall mean a point, which shall be downstream of the applicable Delivery Point, at which Ethylene deliveries under this Agreement are measured pursuant to the requirements of Article VIII, and that is,
(a) | with respect to the Xxxxxxx City Plant, located at FI-804 and FI-2; |
(b) | with respect to Ethylene delivered at the Lake Xxxxxxx Plants to any of the Downstream Facilities located in Lake Charles, Louisiana, located at XX-000, XX-000, XX-000 and FI-913; and |
(c) | with respect to Ethylene delivered at the Lake Xxxxxxx Plants to any of the Downstream Facilities not located in Lake Charles, Louisiana, or otherwise, located at X0X-000, Xxx #00, XXX0000x and TL1133HMCLB1; |
or such other points that may be designated by the Parties from time to time in writing.
“MMBtu” shall mean one million Btu on a gross real heating value basis.
“Month” shall mean a calendar month (according to the Gregorian calendar), (and “Monthly” shall refer to a frequency of one Month) and also refers to the partial calendar months created by the beginning and end of the Term, as applicable, except that (a) the Month during which the Effective Date occurs shall be deemed the first Month that this Agreement is in effect, and (b) the Month during which the Term expires or is terminated in accordance herewith shall be deemed the final Month that this Agreement is in effect.
“Monthly Statement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1.
“Natural Gas” shall mean natural gas conforming to the applicable specifications set forth in the Services Agreement.
“Off-Spec Ethylene” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.2(a).
“Omnibus Agreement” means the Omnibus Agreement among Seller and certain Affiliates of Westlake dated on or about the date hereof.
“Other Feedstock” shall mean Plant feedstock other than Ethane conforming to the specifications set forth in the Feedstock Supply Agreement.
“Party/Parties” shall have the meaning specified in the Preamble.
“Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Schedule 5.1.
“Person” shall mean any individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, unlimited liability company, association, firm, foundation, joint stock company, trust, joint venture, unincorporated organization, Governmental Authority (or any department, agency, or political subdivision thereof) or any other entity (in each case whether or not incorporated and whether or not having a separate legal identity).
“Plant/Plants” shall have the meaning specified in the Recitals.
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“Poly Purge” shall mean the ethylene product recycle stream from certain Plants.
“pound” or “lb” shall mean one pound avoirdupois.
“Price” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.1.
“Prior Year Adjustment” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.3(a).
“Production Shortfall” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.3(a)(i).
“Propane” shall mean propane conforming to the applicable specifications set forth in the Feedstock Supply Agreement.
“Reasonable and Prudent Operator” shall mean a Person seeking in good faith to perform its contractual obligations, and in so doing, and in the general conduct of its undertaking, acting in a proper and workmanlike manner in accordance with practices customarily used in the operation of ethylene production or similar facilities, and exercising that degree of skill, diligence, prudence, and foresight that would reasonably and ordinarily be expected from a skilled and experienced operator engaged in the same type of undertaking under the same or similar circumstances and conditions.
“Related Agreements” means this Agreement, the Feedstock Supply Agreement, the Services Agreement, the Site Lease Agreement, and the Omnibus Agreement.
“Renewal Term” shall have the meaning set forth in Article II.
“Seller” shall have the meaning specified in the Preamble.
“Seller Event of Default” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.3(a).
“Services Agreement” means the Services Agreement among Seller and certain Affiliates of Westlake dated on or about the date hereof.
“SG&A Expenses” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.2(a).
“Shortfall Amount” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.3(a)(ii).
“Site Lease Agreement” means, with respect to each Plant, the Site Lease Agreement between Seller and an Affiliate of Westlake dated on or about the date hereof.
“Specifications” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.
“Term” shall have the meaning set forth in Article II.
“Third Party” shall mean any Person that is not a Party or an Affiliate of a Party.
“Turnaround Cost Reserves” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.2(a).
“Variable Cash Conversion Costs” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.2(a).
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“Westlake” shall mean Westlake Chemical Corporation, a Delaware corporation.
“WLK-Petrochemicals” shall have the meaning specified in the Recitals.
1.2 | Interpretation. Within this Agreement, including the Recitals and attachments, except where expressly provided to the contrary, (a) in the event of a conflict, the provisions of the main body of this Agreement shall prevail over the provisions contained in any attachment; (b) words denoting the singular include the plural and vice versa, unless the context requires otherwise; (c) words denoting individuals or persons include all types of Persons, unless the context requires otherwise; (d) words denoting any gender include male, female, and neuter genders, unless the context requires otherwise; (e) references to Sections, paragraphs, recitals, Articles, Schedules, and Exhibits shall mean Sections in, paragraphs of, recitals to, Articles of, Schedules to, and Exhibits to this Agreement; (f) references to any document (including this Agreement) or to any Law shall mean the same as amended, modified or restated from time to time; (g) references to any amount of money shall mean a reference to the amount in United States dollars; (h) references to a time and date in connection with the performance of an obligation by a Party shall mean a reference to the time and the date in the location where the relevant Plant(s) is located or the location where the relevant activities are to be performed if such activities will not be performed at the applicable Plant(s); (i) references to a Party or any Person shall include its successors and permitted assigns; (j) the words “include” and “including” shall be deemed to be qualified by a reference to “without limitation”; (k) “or” when used as a conjunction shall connote “any or all of”; (l) words, phrases or expressions that are not defined in this Agreement but that have a generally accepted meaning in the practice of measurement and metering in the international businesses of production, transportation, distribution, tolling, purchase, and sale of Ethylene shall have that meaning in this Agreement; and (m) no consideration shall be given to the fact or presumption that one Party had a greater or lesser hand in drafting this Agreement. |
ARTICLE II
TERM
This Agreement shall become effective on the Effective Date and, unless earlier terminated in accordance with Article X, shall continue in effect until December 31, 2026 (such period, the “Initial Term”). This Agreement will continue in effect thereafter on an annual basis (each period after the end of the Initial Term during which this Agreement remains in effect, a “Renewal Term”) unless and until terminated at the end of either the Initial Term or any Renewal Term upon no less than 12 Months’ prior written notice; provided that the Term of this Agreement shall not be renewed unless and until the Feedstock Supply Agreement is simultaneously renewed. The Initial Term and any Renewal Term are referred to herein collectively as the “Term.”
ARTICLE III
ANNUAL PLANNED PRODUCTION
3.1 | Forecast of Annual Planned Production. Not later than 30 Days prior to the first Day of each Contract Year, |
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Seller shall furnish to Buyer in writing a non-binding forecast that sets out a reasonable good faith projection of the total quantity of Ethylene (in pounds) that it will produce during such Contract Year, which projection shall be based on Seller’s then-current budget for each Plant and take into account Seller’s reasonable estimate of planned outages at each Plant during such Contract Year (such amount, the “Annual Planned Production”); provided that the Annual Planned Production for the first Contract Year shall equal Seller’s forecasted aggregate production of Ethylene (in pounds) for such Contract Year beginning on the Effective Date and ending December 31, 2014. Seller shall use commercially reasonable efforts to produce its actual annual output during each Contract Year on a ratable Monthly basis. |
3.2 | Monthly Output. Subject to Section 4.1(a)(ii), prior to the first Day of each Month, Seller shall provide to Buyer in writing a forecast of the quantity of Ethylene (in pounds) that Seller expects to make available at each Delivery Point during the following Month. |
ARTICLE IV
PURCHASE AND DELIVERY OBLIGATIONS
4.1 | Minimum Purchase and Take Commitments. |
(a) | Commencing with the Effective Date, and continuing throughout the Term, subject in each case to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Seller shall produce, make available, and sell, and Buyer shall purchase, take delivery of and accept at the applicable Delivery Points, during each Contract Year: |
(i) | the quantity of the Annual Planned Production notified to Buyer under Section 3.1 in respect of the relevant Contract Year (as adjusted pursuant to this Section 4.1, the “Annual Minimum Quantity”), subject to the exercise of Buyer’s option pursuant to Section 4.1(d); and |
(ii) | subject to purchases by Third Parties of Ethylene under clause (b) below, the offtake of which at the Delivery Points shall be governed by an exchange agreement, the aggregate quantities of Ethylene actually produced at the Plants during such Contract Year (such Ethylene actually produced, regardless of whether purchased by Buyer, the “Annual Output”), not to exceed 3.8 billion pounds in a given Contract Year. |
(b) | Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, |
(i) | Seller shall be entitled from time to time during the Term, by prior notice, to adjust the Annual Minimum Quantity upward or downward if it determines, in its reasonable discretion, that any such adjustment is (A) appropriate in order to account for operating conditions or marketing conditions or (B) appropriate in order that the aggregate quantities of Ethylene sold to Third Parties equal approximately 5% of such Annual Output; and |
(ii) | Seller will use reasonable efforts to sell such quantities to Third Parties uniformly over the course of each Contract Year. |
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(c) | The Annual Minimum Quantity for the Contract Year in which the Term commences and ends, respectively, shall be proportionately reduced based on the number of Days during such Contract Year that occur during the Term, if applicable. |
(d) | During any Contract Year, Seller shall be entitled (but not obligated) to produce Ethylene in excess of the Annual Planned Production (“Excess Quantity”). If Seller expects to produce Excess Quantity, it shall notify Buyer of such production as soon as reasonably practicable. Buyer will have an option to purchase up to 95% of the notified Excess Quantity for such Contract Year at a price equal to the sum of (i) the Variable Cash Conversion Costs divided by the Annual Planned Production for such Contract Year, plus (ii) $0.10/lb. Buyer shall exercise such option by notice to Seller within 15 Days of receipt of Seller’s notice; provided that if Buyer fails to deliver such notification within such period, Buyer shall be deemed to have waived its option with respect to such Excess Quantity. |
4.2 | Buyer Deficiency. |
(a) | If the total quantity of Ethylene purchased and taken by Buyer under this Agreement during any Contract Year (in pounds) is less than |
(i) | the applicable Annual Minimum Quantity, minus |
(ii) | quantities (in pounds) not made available by Seller during such Contract Year due to either |
(A) | Seller’s breach of its obligations hereunder (including its failure to act as a Reasonable and Prudent Operator) or |
(B) | Force Majeure affecting the Plants to the extent that any such occurrence exceeds 45 consecutive Days, |
then such deficiency (in pounds) shall be the “Buyer Deficiency Quantity.”
(b) | For the avoidance of doubt, the Buyer Deficiency Quantity shall not be reduced by any quantity of Ethylene not made available by Seller due to |
(i) | Buyer’s breach of any of its obligations hereunder, or |
(ii) | Force Majeure affecting the Plants to the extent that any such occurrence does not exceed 45 consecutive Days; or |
(iii) | Force Majeure affecting Buyer. |
(c) | If, in respect of any Contract Year, there is a Buyer Deficiency Quantity, Buyer shall pay Seller a deficiency fee (the “Ethylene Shortfall Fee”) equal to: |
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(i) | the Buyer Deficiency Quantity (expressed in pounds), multiplied by |
(ii) | the sum of (A) $0.10 per pound of Ethylene, plus (B) the then-current All Other Cash Production Costs ($/lb), plus (C) the then-current Prior Year Adjustment, if any, divided by the Annual Planned Production for such Contract Year. |
(d) | If Buyer fails to take delivery for purchase under this Agreement of all quantities of Ethylene actually produced at the Plants excluding Ethylene sold by Seller to Third Parties, then, in addition to Buyer’s obligations under Section 4.2(c), Buyer shall pay Seller, and indemnify and hold Seller harmless from and against, all direct, actual damages incurred by Seller in connection with such failure and all costs and expenses (if any) incurred by Seller in proving the same, but without double recovery for amounts compensated to Seller pursuant to Section 4.2(c). |
(e) | If Buyer does not purchase and take delivery of the Annual Minimum Quantity in a Contract Year, Seller shall rebate to Buyer the Variable Cash Conversion Costs that are actually avoided by Seller for such Contract Year, if any, as a result of such deficiency, such rebate to be by way of credit in the invoice for the last Month of the Contract Year. |
(f) | Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, Buyer shall not be obligated to pay the Ethylene Shortfall Fee if the shortfall giving rise to such payment obligation arises out of the failure by WLK-Petrochemicals to make available, or by Seller to purchase and take delivery of, Ethane or Other Feedstock (if applicable) under the Feedstock Supply Agreement in accordance with the terms and conditions thereof. |
(g) | Subject to Section 4.2(f), if at any time the Ethylene Shortfall Fee and the Feedstock Shortfall Fee may be applied to the same volume of Ethylene not produced or purchased, then with respect to only such volume of Ethylene contemplated by this Section 4.2(g): |
(i) | Buyer shall pay the applicable Ethylene Shortfall Fee in accordance with Section 4.2(c) and |
(ii) | WLK-Petrochemicals shall have no obligation to pay the applicable Feedstock Shortfall Fee under the Feedstock Supply Agreement; |
it being understood and agreed that the Ethylene Shortfall Fee and the Feedstock Shortfall Fee shall not be applied in respect of the same volume of Ethylene not produced or delivered.
4.3 | Uniformity. Seller shall make available and Buyer shall receive and take quantities of Ethylene hereunder at each Delivery Point, as nearly as practicable, at uniform hourly and daily rates of flow for the quantities of Ethylene purchased hereunder. |
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4.4 | Pro Rata Reduction. If, during a Month, Seller is unable to deliver all or a portion of the total quantity of Ethylene that Seller is obligated to deliver to all of Seller’s term contracts (including this Agreement) during such Month, Seller shall be entitled to allocate to Buyer a quantity of Ethylene no less than Buyer’s pro rata share of such total quantity during such Month. |
4.5 | Title, Transfer and Possession of Ethylene. Notwithstanding that the Metering Points are located downstream of the Delivery Points: |
(a) | title to the Ethylene purchased and delivered hereunder shall pass from Seller to Buyer at the applicable Delivery Point free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances; |
(b) | title to the Ethylene delivered at the Delivery Points but sold by Seller to Third Parties for delivery in accordance with the terms and conditions of an exchange agreement, shall remain with Seller or transfer to the Third Party purchaser; |
(c) | risk of loss of the Ethylene delivered hereunder, regardless of whether purchased by Buyer, shall pass from Seller to Buyer at the applicable Delivery Point free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances; |
(d) | Seller shall be deemed to be in exclusive control and possession of the Ethylene deliverable to Buyer hereunder prior to the time such Ethylene shall have been delivered to Buyer at the applicable Delivery Point, and Buyer shall be deemed to be in exclusive control and possession thereof after such delivery; and |
(e) | Seller shall bear all costs of any nature concerning the Ethylene sold by Seller to Third Parties for delivery in accordance with the terms and conditions of an exchange agreement, including all applicable taxes payable by Seller in accordance with Article XVI. Buyer shall bear all costs of any nature concerning the Ethylene for which it has title, including all applicable taxes payable by Buyer in accordance with Article XVI. |
ARTICLE V
5.1 | Price. Commencing with the Effective Date and continuing for each Month of the Term, Buyer shall pay Seller, for Ethylene received by Buyer hereunder, an amount, in $/lb (“Price”) determined in accordance with the formula set forth below, as more fully described in Schedule 5.1. |
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Price ($/lb) = | + Cost of Energy | |
+ Cost of Feedstock | ||
+ Purge Gas Recovery | ||
+ All Other Cash Production Costs | ||
+ $0.10/lb | ||
+ Prior Year Adjustment | ||
– Co-Product Credit | ||
– Energy Efficiency Adjuster | ||
– Feedstock Efficiency Adjuster |
5.2 | All Other Cash Production Costs. |
AOCPC ($/lb) = | + Fixed Cash Conversion Costs | |
+ Variable Cash Conversion Costs | ||
+ Maintenance Cost Reserves (Capital) | ||
+ Maintenance Cost Reserves (Expense) | ||
+ Turnaround Cost Reserves | ||
+ SG&A Expenses |
where:
“Fixed Cash Conversion Costs” shall mean an amount (in $) equal to direct, indirect and contract labor; employee benefits; safety and environmental expenses; insurance; ad valorem taxes and fees (excluding all other taxes); shared service allocations; and other fixed costs;
“Variable Cash Conversion Costs” shall mean an amount (in $) equal to the cost of additive, non-recipe chemicals and other variable materials and supplies; electricity; steam and other utilities, excluding fuel;
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SPECIFIC TERMS IN THIS EXHIBIT HAVE BEEN REDACTED BECAUSE CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT OF THOSE TERMS HAS BEEN REQUESTED. THE REDACTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN SEPARATELY SUBMITTED TO THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, AND THE TERMS HAVE BEEN MARKED AT THE APPROPRIATE PLACE WITH THREE ASTERISKS (***).
“Maintenance Cost Reserves (Capital)” shall mean an amount (in $) equal to all capital expenditures categorized as “maintenance” or “Safety and Environmental.” These capital items are also categorized as “non-discretionary.” Maintenance capital is defined as expenditures that replace or extend the life of an existing asset;
“Maintenance Cost Reserves (Expense)” shall mean an amount (in $) equal to the expenditures incurred to keep assets operating at their present condition or to bring an asset back to an earlier condition. These expenses include direct and indirect costs including labor and parts;
“Turnaround Cost Reserves” shall mean an amount (in $) reserved for major maintenance overhauls of any Plant performed approximately every five years; and
“SG&A Expenses” shall mean an amount (in $) equal to all selling, general and administrative expenditures charged to Seller including direct and indirect (overhead allocations) expenses.
(b) | AOCPC for First Contract Year. The AOCPC for the first Contract Year shall be $***/lb, which is calculated from: |
(i) | with respect to each of Fixed Cash Conversion Costs, Variable Cash Conversion Costs, and SG&A Expenses: |
(A) | Seller’s forecasted amounts (in $) for each such Cost Category covering the period of time beginning July 1, 2014 and ending December 31, 2014, as set forth in Schedule 5.2; divided by |
(B) | Seller’s forecasted volume of Ethylene production (in pounds) beginning July 1, 2014 and ending December 31, 2014, and |
(ii) | with respect to each of Maintenance Cost Reserves (Capital), Maintenance Cost Reserves (Expense), and Turnaround Cost Reserves: |
(A) | the sum (in $) of: |
(1) | Seller’s forecasted amounts (in $) for each such Cost Category covering the period of time beginning July 1, 2014 and ending December 31, 2014, as set forth in Schedule 5.2, and |
(2) | the sum (in $) of Seller’s forecasted amounts for each such Cost Category as estimated for each Contract Year beginning January 1, 2015 and ending December 31, 2018, with the figure obtained from the sum of clause (1) above and this clause (2), as set forth in Schedule 5.2, divided by |
(B) | the sum (in pounds) of: |
(1) | Seller’s forecasted volume of Ethylene production (in pounds) beginning July 1, 2014 and ending December 31, 2014, and |
(2) | the sum (in pounds) of amounts equaling Seller’s reasonable good faith projection of the total quantity of Ethylene (in pounds) that it will produce for each Contract Year beginning January 1, 2015 and ending December 31, 2018. |
(c) | AOCPC for Subsequent Contract Years. The AOCPC for each Contract Year after the first Contract Year shall be calculated as follows: |
(i) | with respect to Fixed Cash Conversion Costs, Variable Cash Conversion Costs, and SG&A Expenses: |
(A) | Seller’s forecasted amounts (in $) for each such Cost Category for such Contract Year, as adjusted for any Contract Year during the Term in accordance with Section 5.2(d)(iv), divided by |
(B) | the Annual Planned Production (in pounds) for such Contract Year, and |
(ii) | with respect to Maintenance Cost Reserves (Capital), Maintenance Cost Reserves (Expense), and Turnaround Cost Reserves: |
(A) | Seller’s forecasted amounts (in $) for each such Cost Category, which shall be based on Seller’s reasonable good faith estimate, for each of the five Contract Years beginning January 1 of such Contract Year, divided by |
(B) | the sum (in pounds) of amounts equaling the Annual Planned Production for each such Cost Category for each of such five Contract Years. |
(d) | Rules Applying to Calculation of AOCPC. |
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(i) | Increases in Costs. For each Contract Year after the first Contract Year, AOCPC shall not be |
(A) | adjusted for increased expenses that result from the failure of Seller to act as a Reasonable and Prudent Operator, |
(B) | adjusted for extraordinary or catastrophic repair and replacement costs, or |
(C) | adjusted downward in the first three Contract Years or more frequently than three years from any prior downward adjustment. |
(ii) | Cost Floor. All Other Cash Production Costs ($/lb) may not be reduced for any Contract Year below AOCPC determined for the first Contract Year. |
(iii) | Expansion Capital Expenditures Are Outside of AOCPC. Except as may be agreed by the Parties in connection with an expansion of the Plants, Seller shall not be entitled to recover from Buyer any capital expenses related to expansion or operational efficiency incurred after the Effective Date (“Expansion Capital Expenditures”), whether or not such Expansion Capital Expenditures increase the operating efficiency of a Plant. Seller shall be entitled to any benefit that may result from incurring Expansion Capital Expenditures, including the benefits of a reduction in operating costs or an increase in operating efficiency. |
(iv) | Adjustments to Certain Cost Categories. Cost Categories for each Contract Year shall be based on Seller’s then-current budget (which budget shall be based on Seller’s reasonable, good faith projections) for each Plant for (A) in the case of each of Fixed Cash Conversion Costs, Variable Cash Conversion Costs, and SG&A Expenses, such Contract Year, and (B) in the case of each of Maintenance Cost Reserves (Capital), Maintenance Cost Reserves (Expense), and Turnaround Cost Reserves, the five Contract Years beginning January 1 of such Contract Year. Prior to the beginning of each Contract Year, Seller shall notify Buyer of the All Other Cash Production Costs, each Cost Category, and such other information as Buyer may reasonably request, for such Contract Year and, upon request, provide documentation setting forth the basis on which the AOCPC was determined. |
(v) | Actuals. Subject to the Parties’ rights and obligations under Section 6.4, Seller shall submit to Buyer a Monthly statement setting out actual amounts incurred for each Cost Category, the total quantities of Ethane and Other Feedstock utilized, and the total quantities of Ethylene produced and delivered, for such Contract Year. |
5.3 | Prior Year Adjustment. |
(a) | If, in any Contract Year: |
(i) | due to reasons other than Seller’s failure to act as a Reasonable and Prudent Operator (A) Seller’s actual Ethylene production during the prior Contract Year is less than the Annual Planned Production for such |
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Contract Year (a “Production Shortfall”) or (B) the actual costs of operation of the Plants exceed the sum of the amounts (in $) for each Cost Category for (1) in respect of the Contract Year beginning January 1, 2015, the period of time beginning on the Effective Date and ending December 31, 2014, and (2) in respect of each subsequent Contract Year, the prior Contract Year (a “Cost Overrun”), or a combination of the scenarios described in clauses (A) and (B) of this Section 5.3(a)(i), and, as a result thereof, |
(ii) | the aggregate amount (in $) recovered by Seller as All Other Cash Production Costs from Buyer is less than 95% of the actual costs incurred by Seller in respect of each Cost Category for the prior Contract Year, net of any costs of Seller that have been satisfied pursuant to insurance proceeds actually received by Seller under Section 9.5 or otherwise (such positive difference (in $), the “Shortfall Amount”), |
then Seller will be entitled to include in the Price for the succeeding Contract Year an adjustment in an amount, in dollars, not to exceed the Shortfall Amount (the “Prior Year Adjustment”).
(b) | If the aggregate Shortfall Amount for any Contract Year is not recovered as a Prior Year Adjustment in the next Contract Year, including as a result of a Production Shortfall or a Cost Overrun, the unrecovered portion shall be carried forward and factored into the Prior Year Adjustment applied in respect of the following Contract Year. |
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ARTICLE VI
6.2 | Payment. |
(a) | Each Buyer Party shall pay the amount of each Monthly Statement (including any Ethylene Shortfall Fee), other than any amount thereof that is disputed in accordance with clause (d) below, no later than the 5th Day following receipt by Buyer of such Monthly Statement. If the due date for payment is not a Business Day, then the due date for payment shall be the immediately succeeding Business Day. Any adjustments necessary to reconcile the resolution of a disputed amount with the amount actually paid shall be paid within five Days following resolution of the disputed amount. Any adjustments, whether for overpayment or underpayment, for disputed amounts shall bear interest at the Base Rate from the date of overpayment or underpayment, as the case may be, until the actual date of payment. |
(b) | In the event that any amount reflected in any statement or invoice is not paid when due, other than any amount thereof that is disputed in accordance with clause (d) below, such unpaid amount shall bear interest from and including the Day following the due date therefor up to and including the date when payment is made, at the Default Rate. |
(c) | If any Buyer Party fails to make payment of any amount of any Monthly Statement, other than any amount thereof that is disputed in accordance with clause (d) below, on or before the later of (i) the 60th Day after such payment is due and (ii) the 30th Day after notice by Seller of such non-payment, Seller shall have the right to suspend deliveries of Ethylene hereunder to such Buyer Party until such payment is made. |
(d) | Seller and Buyer, as the case may be, may withhold payment of all or any portion of any amount reflected as owing by such Party in any statement or invoice received from the other Party to the extent that the receiving Party disputes |
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payment of such amount or such portion thereof in good faith. For the avoidance of doubt, as to any Monthly Statement, Buyer may withhold payment as to any disputed amount, including to account for any credit Buyer believes it is owed with respect to the purchase, sale or delivery of Ethylene, or the failure thereof. In the event of such a dispute, the disputing Party shall promptly notify the other Party, stating its reason for disputing such amount and, to the extent available, providing reasonable supporting documentation therefor. |
(e) | Buyer may dispute a Monthly Statement or any portion thereof, by notice to Seller, up to one calendar year following receipt of such Monthly Statement; provided that if Buyer fails to deliver such notification within such period, Buyer shall be deemed to have waived the right to dispute the applicable Monthly Statement. |
6.5 | Adequate Assurance of Performance. |
(a) | If Seller, in its sole judgment, has reasonable grounds for insecurity regarding the ability of Buyer to perform its financial obligations hereunder, or any other material obligation under this Agreement, the Parties shall work together in good faith to resolve Seller’s concerns. If the Parties cannot resolve such concerns, Seller may request that Buyer provide Adequate Assurance of Performance (as defined below) and if Buyer fails to provide such Adequate Assurance of Performance within five Business Days of receipt of request therefor, Seller may, without waiving any other rights or remedies available to it under this Agreement or now or hereafter existing at Law or in equity, withhold further deliveries until the demanded Adequate Assurance of Performance is received. |
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(b) | Buyer’s duty to provide such Adequate Assurance of Performance, if demanded in accordance herewith, shall be a condition precedent to Seller’s obligation to perform under this Agreement. |
(c) | As of the Effective Date, Seller acknowledges that it is satisfied with Buyer’s ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement and therefore, as of the Effective Date, no Adequate Assurance of Performance is required from Buyer. |
(d) | “Adequate Assurance of Performance” shall mean sufficient security or proof of Buyer’s capability to perform its obligations under this Agreement in the form of any one of or a combination of one or more of the following: (i) a guarantee from a creditworthy entity, (ii) a standby irrevocable letter of credit (in a form and amount and for a term reasonably acceptable to Seller and issued by a financial institution reasonably acceptable to Seller), (iii) a prepayment, or (iv) a cash payment security deposit (to be held by Seller without obligation for payment of interest thereon). |
ARTICLE VII
7.1 | Specifications. All Ethylene sold and delivered to Buyer at each applicable Delivery Point pursuant to this Agreement shall conform to the applicable specifications set forth in Schedule 7.1 (with respect to the applicable Plant, the “Specifications”). |
7.2 | Off-Spec Ethylene. |
(a) | The Parties will work together to minimize (i) any deliveries or receipts of Ethylene that does not or will not conform to the applicable Specifications (“Off-Spec Ethylene”), and (ii) the negative consequences that may result if and when Off-Spec Ethylene is delivered at a Delivery Point. Buyer shall use reasonable efforts to purchase Off-Spec Ethylene. |
(b) | Seller shall be liable for any damages incurred by Buyer to the extent arising out of or resulting from Off-Spec Ethylene in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement if (but only if) Seller delivers Off-Spec Ethylene to Buyer at a Delivery Point and Seller fails to act as a Reasonable and Prudent Operator in producing, testing, or handling such Off-Spec Ethylene. |
(c) | Notwithstanding clauses (a) and (b) above, Seller’s liability in connection with the delivery by Seller to a Delivery Point of any Off-Spec Ethylene, on a per pound basis, shall not exceed the Price as determined in accordance herewith. |
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ARTICLE VIII
Buyer shall own, operate and maintain at each Metering Point the metering equipment necessary to measure the quantity of Ethylene delivered under this Agreement. All measurements and/or tests shall be made in accordance with the latest standards or guidelines published by the ASTM or other applicable industry standard methods. Seller’s weight and/or other measurements of Ethylene shall be used for billing purposes, unless proved to be in error. Seller’s laboratory analysis and methods shall determine whether Ethylene specifications have been met, unless Buyer proves to Seller’s reasonable satisfaction that Seller’s analysis report is erroneous. No Ethylene quantity claims will be made, including pursuant to Article VII, unless the difference is more than one percent (1%) of the invoiced quantity.
ARTICLE IX
9.1 | Performance Excused. Seller shall not be liable for any delay or failure in performance hereunder if and to the extent such delay or failure is a result of Force Majeure, except for the performance of any payment obligation that has accrued prior to the Force Majeure event. Other than in the event of an extended period of Force Majeure pursuant to Section 9.5, nothing contained herein, express or implied, shall be construed to permit Buyer to withhold, delay, or condition payment of any portion of the Ethylene Shortfall Fee in the event that a Buyer Deficiency Quantity accrues as a result of the occurrence or continuance of a Force Majeure; provided, however, that Seller shall not be entitled to that portion of the Ethylene Shortfall Fee that equals the portion of the then-current All Other Cash Production Costs that Seller did not actually incur during the continuance of such Force Majeure. |
9.2 | Force Majeure Defined. The term “Force Majeure” shall mean any cause, whether of the kind enumerated herein or otherwise, which is not within the reasonable control of Seller, and which by the exercise of reasonable diligence Seller is unable to prevent or overcome, and which wholly or partially prevents or delays Seller’s performance of any of its obligations under this Agreement (other than any payment obligations hereunder), including any of the following which satisfy the foregoing criteria: acts of God; strikes, lockouts or other industrial disputes or disturbances; acts of the public enemy, sabotage, wars, blockades, insurrections, riots and other civil disturbances; epidemics; landslides, floods, lightning, earthquakes, fires, tornadoes, hurricanes, named storms or other weather events that necessitate extraordinary measures and expenses to maintain operations of any of the Plants, and warnings for any of the foregoing which may necessitate the precautionary shut-down of any Plant, any portion thereof, or other related facilities; arrests and restraints of governments (either federal, state, civil or military), including any orders of courts or of a Governmental Authority; explosions, breakage or accidents to equipment, machinery, any Plant or any portion thereof, or lines of pipe, or the making of repairs or alterations to any of the foregoing necessitated as a result of a Force Majeure event; inability to secure, or unavoidable delays in securing, labor or materials that are required for Seller’s performance hereunder; electric power shortages or outages; or the necessity for compliance with any applicable Law. |
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9.3 | Force Majeure Notice. As soon as reasonably possible after the occurrence of a Force Majeure event, Seller shall provide written notice to Buyer, and in such notice shall give reasonably full particulars concerning the nature, scope and anticipated duration of the Force Majeure. |
9.4 | Settlement of Industrial Disturbances. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the settlement of strikes, lockouts or other industrial disturbances shall be entirely within the discretion of the Party experiencing such situations, and nothing herein shall require such Party to settle industrial disputes by yielding to demands made on it when it considers such action inadvisable. |
ARTICLE X
10.1 | General. In addition to the further provisions of this Article X, this Agreement shall terminate upon the expiration of the Initial Term or any Renewal Term, as the case may be, and shall be terminable (a) upon the written agreement of the Parties, (b) by any Party following an uncured breach of this Agreement by the other Party, for a period of 60 Days after receipt by the breaching Party of written notice thereof, (c) by any Party pursuant to Force Majeure in accordance with Section 10.5, (d) upon the effective date of termination of the Feedstock Supply Agreement, (i) by Buyer only, if such termination results from uncured breach by Seller thereunder, and (ii) by Seller only, if such termination does not result from uncured breach by Seller thereunder, or (e) by Seller only, upon the effective date of expiration (if any) of the Feedstock Supply Agreement. |
10.2 | Seller Suspension. Without prejudice to any other rights and remedies available under this Agreement, Seller may suspend delivery of Ethylene upon three Days’ advance written notice in any of the following circumstances: (a) Buyer has failed to make payments in full when due; (b) Buyer has failed to comply with its obligations under Section 6.5; or (c) at Seller’s reasonable discretion, instead of or prior to terminating this |
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Agreement, upon the occurrence of any Buyer Event of Default under Section 10.3(b) below. Upon and for the duration of such suspension, Seller shall be relieved of obligations to supply Ethylene under this Agreement, but Buyer shall not be discharged of any of its obligations under this Agreement, including Buyer’s obligations under Article IV to take or pay for Ethylene. Seller shall resume delivering Ethylene as soon as reasonably practicable following the cure of the events listed above and in any case within two Business Days of such cure. |
10.3 | Events of Default. |
(a) | Seller Event of Default. A “Seller Event of Default” shall be deemed to exist upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any one or more of the following events: (i) Seller breaches a material term of this Agreement, and such breach is not cured within 60 Days following written notice from Buyer; or (ii) Seller fails to pay any amount due under this Agreement in full within 60 Days of the due date of such payment, subject to Section 17.13. |
(b) | Buyer Event of Default. A “Buyer Event of Default” shall be deemed to exist upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any one or more of the following events: (i) Buyer breaches a material term of this Agreement, and such breach is not cured within 60 Days following written notice from Seller; or (ii) Buyer fails to pay any amount due under this Agreement in full within 60 Days of the due date of such payment, subject to Section 17.13. |
10.4 | Remedies for Events of Default. |
(a) | Upon the occurrence of any Seller Event of Default or Buyer Event of Default that is not cured within the period of time provided by this Agreement, if any, Buyer (in the case of a Seller Event of Default) or Seller (in the case of a Buyer Event of Default), as applicable, shall have the right to terminate this Agreement with 60 Days’ advance written notice to the defaulting Party and to pursue any other remedy provided under this Agreement or now or hereafter existing at Law or in equity. Except in such circumstance or as elsewhere expressly provided in this Agreement, each Party waives any right to terminate this Agreement. If a fact giving rise to a right of termination is wholly or partly overcome during such 60-Day notice period, then any notice of termination furnished under this Article X shall be deemed cancelled and of no effect and this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. |
(b) | Other than as expressly provided in this Agreement, Seller will not be entitled to suspend or terminate the delivery of Ethylene to Buyer under this Agreement in any circumstance, including in connection with the exercise of a right of offset or other equitable remedy, and any purported suspension or termination of any delivery of Ethylene to Buyer shall be deemed to be a material breach of this Agreement by Seller under this Article X and permit Buyer to exercise the remedies contemplated in this Section 10.4. |
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10.5 | Termination for Extended Force Majeure. If a Force Majeure continues, or its consequence remains, such that Seller is unable to substantially comply with its obligations under this Agreement with respect to all Plants continuously for a period in excess of 12 Months, then, provided such Force Majeure is still in effect at the time of notice, Buyer may terminate this Agreement upon 30 Days’ advance notice without any liability upon either of the Parties to the other Party except to the extent that any amount shall have accrued prior to the occurrence of the event of Force Majeure. |
ARTICLE XI
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
11.2 | Warranty to Specification. Seller warrants to Buyer that Ethylene delivered hereunder meets the applicable Specifications. |
ARTICLE XII
12.1 |
00
xxxxxxxxxx), xxxxxx liability, contract (including breach of or failure to perform this Agreement or the breach of any representation or warranty hereunder, whether express or implied) or otherwise, except as provided in Section 12.2. |
ARTICLE XIII
During the Term, (a) Seller shall acquire and carry property insurance to cover the loss of Ethylene prior to the delivery thereof to Buyer or any Third Party and Associated Co-Product while in Seller’s possession at any Plant, and (b) each Party shall, for all risks and circumstances that should and may be covered by insurance in accordance with prudent industry practices, purchase and maintain sufficient casualty, environmental, and property insurance in order to satisfy the legal liabilities for bodily injuries and damages to properties (including the properties of such Party) as a result of or in association with the performance of this Agreement and sufficient third party liability insurance and other insurance(s) required by applicable Law and any Governmental Authority.
ARTICLE XIV
14.1 |
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hereunder and the exercise by the recipient Party of its rights and remedies hereunder and under applicable Law, and all such Confidential Information will be subject to and bound by the provisions set forth in this Article XIV. Upon termination of this Agreement, the recipient Party shall return or destroy all such Confidential Information (and cease all further use and disclosure of such Confidential Information) that has been provided to it, together with all reproductions thereof in the recipient Party’s possession; provided that the recipient Party shall have the right to retain copies of any such information and records that (a) were created by automatic computer generated backup systems or (b) relate to its performance of any services and the exercise of its rights and remedies hereunder or under the Related Agreements and under applicable Law, and all such copies and the information reflected thereon shall be subject to the first sentence of this Section 14.1 and to Section 14.2. |
14.4 | Survival. The provisions of this Article XIV shall survive the termination of this Agreement for a period of three years following such termination. |
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ARTICLE XV
ARTICLE XVI
During the Term, Seller shall be responsible for the payment of any sales, use, and excise taxes or any other tax, fee or charge due and levied by any federal, state, local or other Governmental Authority on the Ethylene prior to each Delivery Point and for any taxes, fees or charges due as a result of Seller making Ethylene available to Buyer hereunder, except to the extent any such taxes are, by applicable Law, required to be paid directly by Buyer, in which event such taxes shall be paid by Buyer and reimbursed by Seller, and Seller shall indemnify, defend and hold Buyer harmless from any liability against such taxes, fees or charges. During the Term, Buyer shall be responsible for the payment of any taxes, fees or charges applicable to the Ethylene at or downstream of each Delivery Point and for taxes, fees and charges applicable to any products produced or manufactured from the use of such Ethylene, except to the extent any such taxes are, by applicable Law, required to be paid directly by Seller, in which event such taxes shall be paid by Seller and reimbursed by Buyer, and Buyer shall indemnify, defend and hold Seller harmless from any liability against such taxes, fees or charges. The above notwithstanding, Seller shall
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remain liable for and Buyer shall have no obligation to reimburse Seller for (a) any taxes imposed on or calculated based upon net profits, gross or net income, profit margin or gross receipts of Seller, (b) any taxes measured by capital value or net worth of Seller; or (c) any ad valorem or personal property taxes on any Plant or the property of Seller. Any penalties or interest imposed by a taxing authority on either Party due to failure to pass information by the other Party will be paid by the Party failing to pass along necessary tax notices.
ARTICLE XVII
17.1 | Several Liability of Buyer Parties. |
(a) | The liability of each Buyer Party as among all Buyer Parties shall be several and not joint, and equal to one-third on the part of each Buyer Party (or such other fractions totaling 100% as may be notified in writing from time to time by Buyer’s Representative); and |
(b) | Any amounts that a Buyer Party fails to pay pursuant to Article IV shall remain the liability solely of such Buyer Party. Unless notified otherwise in writing by Buyer’s Representative, payments owing hereunder by Buyer shall be made to Seller by each individual Buyer Party in accordance with such Buyer Party’s respective share of Buyer’s liability hereunder. |
17.3 | Dispute Resolution. |
(a) | The dispute resolution provisions set forth in this Section 17.3 shall be the final, binding and exclusive means to resolve all disputes, controversies or claims (each, a “dispute”) arising under the Agreement, and EACH PARTY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO ANY TRIAL BY JURY WITH RESPECT TO ANY DISPUTE ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT. |
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(b) | If a dispute arises, the following procedures shall be implemented: |
(i) | Any Party may at any time invoke the dispute resolution procedures set forth in this Section 17.3 as to any dispute by providing written notice of such action to the other Parties. |
(ii) | Notwithstanding the existence of any dispute or the pendency of any procedures pursuant to this Section 17.3, the Parties agree and undertake that all payments not in dispute shall continue to be made and that all obligations not in dispute shall continue to be performed. |
(iii) | Within 30 days after receipt of notice of a dispute under Section 17.3(b)(i), representatives of the Parties shall engage in non-binding mediation, and a specific timetable and completion date for its implementation shall also be agreed upon. If the completion date therefor shall occur without the Parties having resolved the dispute, then the Parties shall proceed under Section 17.3(b)(iv). |
(iv) | If, after satisfying the requirement above, the dispute is not resolved, the Parties shall resolve the dispute by a binding arbitration, to be held in the State of Texas pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act and in accordance with the then-prevailing Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association (the “AAA”). The AAA shall select one arbitrator. Each Party shall bear its own expenses incurred in connection with arbitration and the fees and expenses of the arbitrator shall be shared equally by the Parties involved in the dispute and advanced by them from time to time as required. It is the mutual intention and desire of the Parties that the arbitrator be selected as expeditiously as possible following the submission of the dispute to arbitration. Once the arbitrator is selected and except as may otherwise be agreed in writing by the Parties involved in such dispute or as ordered by the arbitrator upon substantial justification shown, the hearing for the dispute will be held within 60 days of submission of the dispute to arbitration. The arbitrator shall render his final award within 60 days, subject to extension by the arbitrator upon substantial justification shown of extraordinary circumstances, following conclusion of the hearing and any required post hearing briefing or other proceedings ordered by the arbitrator. Any discovery in connection with arbitration hereunder shall be limited to information directly relevant to the controversy or claim in arbitration. The decision of the arbitrator in any such proceeding will be reasoned, final and binding and final judgment may be entered upon such an award in any court of competent jurisdiction, but entry of such judgment will not be required to make such award effective. Any action against any Party ancillary to arbitration (as determined by the arbitrator), including any action for provisional or conservatory measures or action to enforce an arbitration award or any judgment entered by any court in respect of any thereof may be brought in any federal or state court of competent jurisdiction located within the State |
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of Texas, and the Parties hereby irrevocably submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any federal or state court located within the State of Texas over any such action. The Parties hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, any objection which they may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such action brought in such court or any defense of inconvenient forum for the maintenance of such action. Each of the Parties agrees that a judgment in any such action may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. |
(c) | The Parties agree that to the extent that there are two or more related disputes arising under (i) this Agreement, (ii) any guarantee issued pursuant to Section 6.5 or (iii) any letter of credit issued pursuant to Section 6.5 (as between these Parties or the parties to such guarantee or letter of credit), then they consent to the consolidation of those disputes in circumstances where: |
(i) | no arbitration is currently pending under (A) this Agreement, (B) any guarantee issued pursuant to Section 6.5 or (C) any letter of credit issued pursuant to Section 6.5; or |
(ii) | the tribunal in the first commenced arbitration (or the AAA where no tribunal has yet been constituted in either case) finds (having invited and allowed opportunity for submissions from all the parties to both arbitrations) that it would be convenient and efficient to do so, having regard to the time and cost impact of consolidating the disputes into one proceeding. Such an application for consolidation must be brought prior to the constitution of a tribunal in the second commenced arbitration in time, and should be resolved within one Month of the application being received by the relevant tribunal/the AAA. |
17.5 |
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Buyer’s Representative. Any notice, election, or other action required or permitted of Buyer under this Agreement shall be binding upon Buyer when provided, made or taken by Buyer’s Representative. No change in the identity of Buyer’s Representative shall be effective until Seller receives written notice from Buyer’s Representative of the change and the effective date thereof, which must be prospective. |
If to Seller:
If to Buyer:
(in its capacity as Buyer’s Representative)
With copies provided to each Buyer Party at the following address(es):
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[Remainder of page intentionally left blank. Signature page follows.]
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SELLER: | ||
WESTLAKE CHEMICAL OPCO LP | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
BUYER: | ||
WPT LLC | ||
By: | Westlake Chemical Investments, Inc., its Manager | |
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
WESTLAKE VINYLS, INC. | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
WESTLAKE PETROCHEMICALS LLC | ||
By: | Westlake Chemical Investments, Inc., its Manager | |
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
Signature Page to Ethylene Sales Agreement
SCHEDULE 5.1
Cost of Energy ($/lb) | = | (i) the total cost ($) incurred by Seller during such Month (or such other period of time as the Parties may agree) (the “Period”) under the Services Agreement in connection with, as applicable, the purchase, receipt, handling, storage, transportation, and delivery of Natural Gas, and similar costs (such costs as a function of the quantity (MMBtu) of Natural Gas used at the Plants during such Period ($/MMBtu)), divided by (ii) total actual Ethylene produced at the Plants (lb) during such Period; | ||
Cost of Feedstock ($/lb) | = | (i) the total cost ($) incurred by Seller during such Period under the Feedstock Supply Agreement in connection with, as applicable, the purchase, receipt, handling, storage, transportation, and delivery of Ethane and Other Feedstock (if any), and similar costs (such costs as a function of the quantity (lb) of Ethane and Other Feedstock (if any) used at the Plants during such Period ($/lb)), divided by (ii) total actual Ethylene produced at the Plants (lb) during such Period; | ||
Purge Gas Recovery ($/lb) | (i) the quantity (lb) of Poly Purge during such Period, multiplied by (ii) the Price ($/lb) for the immediately preceding Month, divided by (iii) the total actual Ethylene (lb) produced at the Plants during such Period; | |||
All Other Cash Production Costs ($/lb) | = | an amount determined in accordance with Section 5.2 of the Agreement; | ||
Prior Year Adjustment ($/lb) | = | an amount determined in accordance with Section 5.3 of the Agreement; | ||
Co-Product Credit ($/lb) | = | (i) the net proceeds realized by Seller from the sale of Associated Co-Product (after deducting transportation and related sales costs) during such Period, multiplied by (ii) the percentage of Seller’s total output of Ethylene at the Plants actually purchased by Buyer during such Period calculated, in each case, on a weighted average basis for each Plant, divided by (iii) the quantity of Ethylene (in pounds) actually delivered to Buyer during such Period; |
Schedule 5.1
SPECIFIC TERMS IN THIS EXHIBIT HAVE BEEN REDACTED BECAUSE CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT OF THOSE TERMS HAS BEEN REQUESTED. THE REDACTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN SEPARATELY SUBMITTED TO THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, AND THE TERMS HAVE BEEN MARKED AT THE APPROPRIATE PLACE WITH THREE ASTERISKS (***).
Energy Efficiency Adjuster (“EEA”) ($/lb) (see notes below) | = | an amount determined in accordance with the following formulas:
| ||
If Actual Energy is 90% or more of Benchmark Energy but less than 110% of Benchmark Energy, then EEA ($/lb) equals zero (i.e., no adjustment); | ||||
If Actual Energy is 110% or more of Benchmark Energy, then EEA ($/lb) equals:
| ||||
If Actual Energy is less than 90% of Benchmark Energy, then EEA ($/lb) equals:
|
Schedule 5.1
SPECIFIC TERMS IN THIS EXHIBIT HAVE BEEN REDACTED BECAUSE CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT OF THOSE TERMS HAS BEEN REQUESTED. THE REDACTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN SEPARATELY SUBMITTED TO THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, AND THE TERMS HAVE BEEN MARKED AT THE APPROPRIATE PLACE WITH THREE ASTERISKS (***).
Feedstock Efficiency Adjuster (“FEA”) ($/lb) (see notes below) | : | FEA is determined in accordance with the following formulas:
| ||
If Actual Yield is equal to or greater than 95% of Benchmark Yield and less than 105% of Benchmark Yield, then FEA equals zero (i.e., no adjustment); | ||||
If Actual Yield is equal to or greater than 105% of Benchmark Yield, then FEA equals:
| ||||
If Actual Yield is less than 95% of Benchmark Yield, then FEA equals:
| ||||
Natural Gas (MMBtu) | = | the total quantity (MMBtu) of Natural Gas consumed at the Plants in the production of Ethylene during such Period; | ||
Ethane (lb) | = | the total quantity (lb) of Ethane consumed at the Plants in the production of Ethylene during such Period; | ||
Propane (lb) | = | the total quantity (lb) of Propane consumed at the Plants in the production of Ethylene during such Period; | ||
Poly Purge (lb) | = | the total quantity (lb) of Poly Purge consumed at the Plants in the production of Ethylene during such Period; | ||
Ethylene Produced (lb) | = | the total quantity (lb) of Ethylene produced at the Plants during such Period as measured at the Metering Points; |
Schedule 5.1
Energy Consumed (MMBtu) | = | the total quantity (MMBtu) of Natural Gas delivered to the Plants during such Period, plus the total quantity (MMBtu) of internally generated fuel consumed at the Plants during such Period; and | ||
Feedstock Consumed (lb) | = | the total quantity (lb) of Ethane, Propane, Poly Purge and any Other Feedstock delivered to the Plants during such Period. |
Notes
• | If a Plant is undergoing shut-down or start-up activities in connection with a scheduled turnaround or expansion, EEA and FEA shall be zero with respect to such Plant for each Day such Plant is affected by such activities. |
• | Seller shall keep reasonably detailed records setting forth the Cost of Feedstock and the Cost in Energy for each Day during startup or shutdown at any Plant. |
• | The Feedstock Efficiency Adjuster and the methodology used to determine the Feedstock Efficiency Adjuster shall be subject to change upon the agreement of the Parties. |
• | The types of feedstock shall be subject to change at any time or from time to time upon the agreement of the Parties. In the event that a change in the type(s) of feedstock occurs, the Parties shall work together in good faith to establish a mutually acceptable ratio for each such type of feedstock in a manner that is consistent with the Feedstock Efficiency Adjuster set forth herein. |
• | Subject to Section 5.2(d)(iii), if there is a capital project that merits changing the Feedstock Efficiency Adjuster, then each Party shall consider in good faith any such changes as may be requested by the other Party. |
Schedule 5.1
SPECIFIC TERMS IN THIS EXHIBIT HAVE BEEN REDACTED BECAUSE CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT OF THOSE TERMS HAS BEEN REQUESTED. THE REDACTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN SEPARATELY SUBMITTED TO THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, AND THE TERMS HAVE BEEN MARKED AT THE APPROPRIATE PLACE WITH THREE ASTERISKS (***).
SCHEDULE 5.2
FIRST CONTRACT YEAR
ALL OTHER CASH PRODUCTION COSTS
Cost Category | Cost ($)* | Cost ($/lb)* | ||||||||
Fixed Cash Conversion Costs | *** | *** | ||||||||
Variable Cash Conversion Costs | *** | *** | ||||||||
SG&A Expenses | *** | *** | ||||||||
Cost Category | Cost ($)** | Cost ($/lb)** | ||||||||
Maintenance Cost Reserves (Capital) | *** | *** | ||||||||
Maintenance Cost Reserves (Expense) | *** | *** | ||||||||
Turnaround Cost Reserves | *** | *** |
* | Period covering July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014. |
** | Period covering July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014 and the Contract Years beginning January 1, 2015 and ending December 31, 2018. |
Schedule 5.2
SCHEDULE 7.1
SPECIFICATIONS
Ethylene Specifications – Lake Xxxxxxx Plants
Attribute | ||||||||||||
Ethylene | min. | 99.90 | % | vol % | ||||||||
Methane / Ethane | max. | 962 | ppm | |||||||||
Acetylene | max. | 2.0 | ppm | |||||||||
C3 and Heavier | max. | 10 | ppm | |||||||||
Oxygen | (1 | ) | max. | 2.0 | ppm | |||||||
Carbon Monoxide (CO) | max. | 1.0 | ppm | |||||||||
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) | max. | 3.0 | ppm | |||||||||
Hydrogen | (1 | ) | max. | 5 | ppm | |||||||
Sulfur (as H2S) | (2 | ) | max. | 1 | ppm wt | |||||||
Water | (1 | ) | max. | 1 | ppm wt | |||||||
Methanol | max. | 1 | ppm | |||||||||
Total Carbonyls | (3 | ) | max. | 1 | (4)(a) ppm | |||||||
Ammonia | (3 | ) | max. | 0.5 | ppm xx | |||||||
Xxxxxx | (2 | ) | max. | 5 | ppm | |||||||
Total Alcohols | max. | 1 | (4)(b) ppm | |||||||||
C3 through C6’s | (3 | ) | max. | 6.7 | ppm | |||||||
C7’s and Heavier | (3 | ) | max. | 15.2 | ppm |
* | All specification on mol/vol% basis unless noted (mol% and vol% are identical for these purposes (gas analyses)) |
All analyses taken daily as a minimum except as noted below:
(1) | Online Analyzer (continuous) |
(2) | Verified minimum of annually |
(3) | Upon request |
(4) | To be analyzed quarterly or upon request by customer |
(a) | includes, as a minimum, acetone |
(b) | includes, as a minimum, methanol and propanol |
Schedule 7.1
Ethylene Specifications – Xxxxxxx City Plant
Attribute | ||||||||
Ethylene | min. | 98.6 | % | mol % | ||||
Methane | max. | 300 | ppmw | |||||
Ethane | max. | 10,000 | ppmw | |||||
Acetylene | max. | 100 | ppmw |
* | All analyses taken continually by online analyzer |
Schedule 7.1