EXHIBIT 2.1
relating to the sale by
Aquila Networks Canada
Ltd.
of its investment
in
Aquila Networks Canada (Alberta)
Ltd.
to
Fortis Inc.
Dated as of
September 15th, 2003
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
Page |
Article 1 |
|
INTERPRETATION......................................................................................... |
1 |
1 |
.1 |
Rules of Interpretation; Definitions................................................................... | 1 |
1 |
.2 |
Annexes, Exhibits and Schedules........................................................................ | 1 |
1 |
.3 |
Meaning Not Affected By Division, Headings or Table of Contents........................................ | 1 |
1 |
.4 |
Severability........................................................................................... | 1 |
1 |
.5 |
Vendor's Knowledge..................................................................................... | 2 |
Article 2 |
|
PURCHASE AND SALE; CLOSING............................................................................. | 2 |
2 |
.1 |
Sale of Sold Shares.................................................................................... | 2 |
2 |
.2 |
Purchase Price and Payment............................................................................. | 2 |
2 |
.3 |
Repayment of Certain Debt.............................................................................. | 3 |
2 |
.4 |
Estimate of Purchase Price and Debt.................................................................... | 3 |
2 |
.5 |
Final Calculations of Purchase Price and Debt.......................................................... | 3 |
2 |
.6 |
Time and Place of Closing.............................................................................. | 5 |
2 |
.7 |
Deliveries by the Vendor............................................................................... | 6 |
2 |
.8 |
Deliveries by the Purchaser............................................................................ | 7 |
2 |
.9 |
Conditions to the Obligations of the Purchaser to Close................................................ | 8 |
2 |
.10 |
Conditions to the Obligations of the Vendor to Close.................................................. | 11 |
2 |
.11 |
Mutual Conditions..................................................................................... | 13 |
2 |
.12 |
Pre-Closing Transactions.............................................................................. | 13 |
Article 3 |
|
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE VENDOR.......................................................... | 14 |
3 |
.1 |
Corporate Organization................................................................................ | 14 |
3 |
.2 |
Certain Matters Regarding Shares; Capitalization; the Sold Shares; Corporate Reorganization........... | 14 |
3 |
.3 |
Authorization; Binding Effect......................................................................... | 15 |
3 |
.4 |
Consents and Approvals; No Violation.................................................................. | 15 |
3 |
.5 |
Exclusivity of EPCOR Arrangements..................................................................... | 16 |
3 |
.6 |
Financial Matters - Non-Tax........................................................................... | 16 |
3 |
.7 |
Tax Matters........................................................................................... | 17 |
3 |
.8 |
Conduct of Business - Compliance...................................................................... | 18 |
3 |
.9 |
No Default............................................................................................ | 19 |
3 |
.10 |
Bank Accounts......................................................................................... | 19 |
3 |
.11 |
Books and Records..................................................................................... | 19 |
3 |
.12 |
Transactions with Affiliates.......................................................................... | 19 |
3 |
.13 |
Powers of Attorney.................................................................................... | 19 |
3 |
.14 |
Assets......................................................................... | 19 |
3 |
.15 |
Sales Into and Offices in USA......................................................................... | 20 |
3 |
.16 |
Completeness of Information........................................................................... | 20 |
3 |
.17 |
Finder's Fees......................................................................................... | 21 |
3 |
.18 |
Opinion of Financial Advisor.......................................................................... | 21 |
3 |
.19 |
Solvency Matters...................................................................................... | 21 |
3 |
.20 |
Environmental Matters................................................................................. | 21 |
Article 4 |
|
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASER....................................................... | 22 |
4 |
.1 |
Organization.......................................................................................... | 22 |
4 |
.2 |
Authorization; Binding Effect......................................................................... | 22 |
4 |
.3 |
Consents and Approvals; No Violation................................................................. | 22 |
4 |
.4 |
Litigation............................................................................................ | 23 |
4 |
.5 |
Acquisition of Sold Shares for Investment............................................................. | 23 |
4 |
.6 |
No Default............................................................................................ | 23 |
4 |
.7 |
Investment Canada Status.............................................................................. | 23 |
4 |
.8 |
Adequacy of Financing................................................................................. | 23 |
4 |
.9 |
Finder's Fees......................................................................................... | 23 |
Article 5 |
|
INTERIM PERIOD AGREEMENTS - VENDOR.................................................................... | 24 |
5 |
.1 |
General Covenants of the Vendor....................................................................... | 24 |
5 |
.2 |
Certain Changes....................................................................................... | 24 |
5 |
.3 |
Consent Procedure..................................................................................... | 26 |
5 |
.4 |
Investigation of Business and Examination of Documents................................................ | 26 |
5 |
.5 |
Risk of Loss.......................................................................................... | 27 |
5 |
.6 |
Notice of Certain Events.............................................................................. | 28 |
5 |
.7 |
No Solicitation....................................................................................... | 29 |
Article 6 |
|
INTERIM PERIOD MUTUAL COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES........................................................ | 29 |
6 |
.1 |
Carriage of Legal Matters............................................................................. | 29 |
6 |
.2 |
Acceptance............................................................................................ | 30 |
6 |
.3 |
Third Party Consents, Releases and Approvals - Procedure.............................................. | 31 |
6 |
.4 |
Further Assurance Obligations......................................................................... | 32 |
6 |
.5 |
Purchaser's Application............................................................................... | 32 |
6 |
.6 |
Vendor's Corporate Reorganization Application......................................................... | 33 |
6 |
.7 |
Public Announcements.................................................................................. | 33 |
Article 7 |
|
GENERAL COVENANTS CONCERNING THE SOLD COMPANY AND THE ELECTRICITY BUSINESS............................ | 33 |
7 |
.1 |
Insurance............................................................................................. | 33 |
7 |
.2 |
General Covenants of the Purchaser.................................................................... | 33 |
7 |
.3 |
Tax Returns and Financial Statements.................................................................. | 34 |
7 |
.4 |
Post Closing Access................................................................................... | 35 |
7 |
.5 |
Use of Name........................................................................................... | 35 |
7 |
.6 |
Compliance with Law................................................................................... | 35 |
7 |
.7 |
Handling of Certain Agreements........................................................................ | 35 |
7 |
.8 |
CSFB Debt Withholding Tax Recovery.................................................................... | 36 |
7 |
.9 |
Regulatory Cooperation................................................................................ | 36 |
Article 8 |
|
REPRESENTATION AND WARRANTY MATTERS PRIOR TO CLOSING.................................................. | 36 |
8 |
.1 |
Defects to be Identified.............................................................................. | 36 |
8 |
.2 |
Curing Defects; Valuation and Adjustment.............................................................. | 37 |
8 |
.3 |
Covenants and Agreements.............................................................................. | 39 |
Article 9 |
|
DISCLAIMER............................................................................................ | 39 |
9 |
.1 |
Scope of Representations of the Vendor................................................................ | 39 |
Article 10 |
|
TERMINATION.......................................................................................... | 40 |
10 |
.1 |
Termination........................................................................................... | 40 |
10 |
.2 |
Automatic Termination................................................................................. | 40 |
10 |
.3 |
Effect of Termination judgment....................................................................... | 40 |
10 |
.4 |
Failure or Refusal to Close.......................................................................... | 41 |
Article 11 |
|
INDEMNITIES AND SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES, COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS................... | 41 |
11 |
.1 |
Survival.............................................................................................. | 41 |
11 |
.2 |
General Indemnities.................................................................................. | 42 |
11 |
.3 |
Procedure - General Indemnities....................................................................... | 43 |
11 |
.4 |
Indemnities Regarding EPCOR Claim..................................................................... | 44 |
11 |
.5 |
Tax Indemnity......................................................................................... | 45 |
11 |
.6 |
Limitations on Indemnity and Liability............................................................... | 47 |
Article 12 |
|
NOTICES.............................................................................................. | 48 |
12 |
.1 |
Notices.............................................................................................. | 48 |
Article 13 |
|
MISCELLANEOUS........................................................................................ | 49 |
13 |
.1 |
Costs................................................................................................. | 49 |
13 |
.2 |
Assignment............................................................................................ | 49 |
13 |
.3 |
No Third Party Beneficiaries.......................................................................... | 50 |
13 |
.4 |
Entire Agreement...................................................................................... | 50 |
13 |
.5 |
Successors and Assigns................................................................................ | 50 |
13 |
.6 |
No Waiver............................................................................................. | 50 |
13 |
.7 |
Amendment............................................................................................. | 50 |
13 |
.8 |
No Restrictions on Business........................................................................... | 51 |
13 |
.9 |
Continuing Liability.................................................................................. | 51 |
13 |
.10 |
Time of the Essence................................................................................... | 51 |
13 |
.11 |
Governing Law; Attornment; Waiver of Jury Trial....................................................... | 51 |
13 |
.12 |
Execution....................................................... | 52 |
This Share Purchase Agreement is made
as of September 15th, 2003 between (i) Aquila Networks Canada Ltd., a New
Brunswick corporation with its head office in Calgary, Alberta (the
“Vendor”); and (ii) Fortis Inc., a Newfoundland and Labrador corporation
with its head office in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador (the
“Purchaser”).
Recital:
The
Vendor has agreed to sell and the Purchaser has agreed to purchase all of the Sold Shares,
for the consideration and in accordance with the terms and conditions hereinafter set
forth.
The
Parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
INTERPRETATION
1.1 Rules of
Interpretation; Definitions
The
rules of interpretation set forth in Section 1 of Annex 1.1 apply to this Agreement. Terms
and expressions ascribed a meaning in Section 2 of Annex 1.1 or adopted by reference to an
enactment, regulation or provision of an agreement therein shall have those meanings when
used in this Agreement.
1.2 Annexes, Exhibits
and Schedules
The
Annexes, Exhibits and Schedules to this Agreement are briefly described on Annex 1.2
hereto. All Annexes, Exhibits and Schedules hereto are by this reference
incorporated into and are part of this Agreement as fully as though contained in the body
of this Agreement; provided that wherever any provision of any Annex, Exhibit or Schedule
to this Agreement conflicts with any provision in the body of this Agreement, the
provisions of the body of this Agreement will prevail. References in any Annex, Exhibit or
Schedule to “the Agreement” shall mean a reference to this Agreement inclusive
of all of its Annexes, Exhibits and Schedules. References in any Annex, Exhibit or
Schedule to another Annex, Exhibit or Schedule shall mean a reference to an Annex, Exhibit
or Schedule to this Agreement.
1.3 Meaning Not Affected
By Division, Headings or Table of Contents
The
division of this Agreement and the provision of headings or a table of contents for all or
any thereof are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the meaning of this
Agreement.
1.4 Severability
Any
provision of this Agreement that is invalid, prohibited or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction will not invalidate or render unenforceable the remaining provisions hereof
and any such invalidity, prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction will not
invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. In respect of
any provision so determined to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable, the Parties agree
to negotiate in good faith in order to replace the invalid, prohibited or unenforceable
provision with a new provision that is valid, not prohibited and enforceable in order to
give effect to the business intent of the original provision to the extent permitted by
law and in accordance with the intent of this Agreement.
1.5 Vendor’s
Knowledge
Where
in this Agreement, or in any certificate or document delivered in connection herewith or
in implementation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby, any statement,
representation or warranty is made as to, or as being based on, the knowledge of the
Vendor, or words to like effect, such statement, representation or warranty will be
construed as including only matters within the actual knowledge of the Responsible Persons
after having made reasonable inquiry of those Persons who directly report to them and who
would reasonably be expected to possess or to have access to information as to the
applicable subject matter, and otherwise without independent investigation, and does not
include constructive or imputed knowledge of the Responsible Persons or any of them or the
knowledge, information or belief of any other Person.
ARTICLE 2
PURCHASE AND SALE;
CLOSING
2.1 Sale of Sold Shares
Upon
the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, at the Closing the Purchaser
will purchase the Sold Shares from the Vendor for the Purchase Price and pay the Purchase
Price to the Vendor (or one or more Persons designated by the Vendor) and the Vendor will
sell, assign and deliver the Sold Shares to the Purchaser against receipt of payment
of the Purchase Price.
2.2 Purchase Price and
Payment
|
(a) |
The Purchaser will pay to the Vendor or as the Vendor designates, in the manner
required by Section 2.2(b), the amount (as calculated and adjusted in accordance
with this Agreement, the “Purchase Price”) that is the sum of: |
|
(i) |
Six Hundred and Eighty-Six Million ($686,000,000) Dollars (the
“Unadjusted Consideration”) less the aggregate of (A) the
amount of the Intercorporate Debt at the time of Closing, (B) the Canadian
Equivalent of the CSFB Debt at the time of Closing, and (C) all Indebtedness for
Borrowed Money at the time of Closing (such difference, the “Share
Purchase Price”); plus, |
|
(ii) |
the Working Capital and Other Amount and, for clarity, if the Working Capital
and Other Amount is a negative amount, then the addition of such amount will
have the effect of decreasing the Purchase Price; plus, |
|
(iii) |
the Closing Adjustment and, for clarity, if the Closing Adjustment is a negative
amount, then the addition of such amount will have the effect of decreasing the
Purchase Price. |
|
The
components of the Purchase Price will be determined for the purpose of Closing according
to the Closing Estimate under Section 2.4. |
|
(b) |
The Purchase Price will be paid by the Purchaser at the Closing by: |
|
(i) |
confirmed wire transfer in immediately available funds to such bank accounts as
are designated for such purpose by the Vendor and advised by the Vendor to the
Purchaser, such designation to be delivered no later than five (5) Business Days
before the Closing Date; or |
|
(ii) |
such other means as are agreed upon by the Vendor and the Purchaser. |
2.3 Repayment of Certain
Debt
Immediately
following the Closing:
(a) |
the Purchaser will capitalize the Sold Company with sufficient funds (either
debt or equity or a combination of debt and equity as the Purchaser chooses) to
enable the Sold Company to repay, and ensure that the Sold Company repays, at
par and at that time, the Intercorporate Debt at the time of Closing and the
Canadian Equivalent of the CSFB Debt at the time of Closing in the amount
determined initially according to the Closing Estimate under Section 2.4,
by: |
(i) |
confirmed wire transfer in immediately available funds to such bank accounts as
are designated for such purpose by the Vendor and advised by the Vendor to the
Purchaser such designation to be delivered no later than five (5) Business Days
before the Closing Date; or |
(ii) |
such other means as are agreed upon by the Vendor and the Purchaser; and |
(b) |
the Vendor will cause valid receipts for the amounts so repaid to be delivered
to the Sold Company, together with, in respect of all of the Sold Company’s
liability to each applicable creditor under or in relation to the credit and
other arrangements respecting the Intercorporate Debt and the CSFB Debt,
discharges of liability, cancelled promissory notes, where applicable, and
terminations of the applicable credit documentation and discharges of Security
Interests, if any, in each case duly signed by the applicable creditors, against
receipt of the payments under Section 2.3(a). |
2.4 Estimate of Purchase
Price and Debt
Not
later than five (5) Business Days prior to the proposed Closing Date, the Vendor will
provide the Purchaser an estimate, prepared in good faith in substantially the form of
Annex 2.4 and attaching, and (where applicable) based upon, the draft financial statements
of the Sold Company (on an estimated basis) at the time of Closing (the “Closing
Estimate”), of
(a) |
the amounts of the Intercorporate Debt at the time of Closing, the Canadian
Equivalent of the CSFB Debt at the time of Closing and the Indebtedness for
Borrowed Money at the time of Closing, together with payout statements from the
creditors in respect of the Intercorporate Debt, the CSFB Debt and the
Indebtedness for Borrowed Money as to the amounts owing thereunder at the time
of Closing; |
(b) |
the Working Capital and Other Amount; and |
(c) |
the Closing Adjustment; |
setting forth each item in reasonable
detail and with appropriate back-up, and the resulting Purchase Price.
2.5 Final Calculations
of Purchase Price and Debt
(a) |
At the time that it delivers the draft Tax returns and financial statements as
at and for the period ended on the Closing Date under Sections 7.3(c) and
7.3(e), the Vendor will deliver to the Purchaser a further good faith
calculation of (i) the Working Capital and Other Amount, (ii) the
amount of the Intercorporate Debt at the time of Closing, the Canadian
Equivalent of the CSFB Debt at the time of Closing and all Indebtedness for
Borrowed Money at the time of Closing and (iii) the Closing Adjustment, in
substantially the form of the Closing Estimate, except attaching, and (where
applicable) based upon, the draft financial statements delivered by the Vendor
under Section 7.3(e), and with appropriate back-up information (the
“Calculation”). The Calculation must accurately reflect all
relevant information then in the possession of or available to the Vendor that
may affect the amounts therein. |
(b) |
The Purchaser will notify the Vendor in writing if it has any objections to the
Calculation (including inadequacy of information or inability to verify the
Calculation). The Purchaser will be deemed to have accepted the Calculation, and
the Calculation will be deemed to be finalized, if the Purchaser does not give
the Vendor notice of its objections (which must be made in good faith) within
sixty (60) days from the date of receipt of the Calculation. A notice of
objection must contain a statement of the basis of the Purchaser’s
objections (which may be inadequacy of information or inability to verify) and
each amount in dispute. An objection based on inadequacy of information or
inability to verify must identify the additional information the Purchaser feels
it needs with reasonable particularity. The Vendor will, upon reasonable
request, provide access to the Purchaser and its advisors, to all relevant books
and records, with the right to take copies of the relevant information, and to
the appropriate personnel, for the sole purpose of verifying the Calculation. |
(c) |
If the Purchaser makes a good faith objection based on inadequacy of information
or inability to verify and requests additional information pursuant to paragraph
(b) above, the Purchaser will be deemed to have accepted the Calculation, and
the Calculation will be deemed to be finalized, if the Purchaser does not give
the Vendor notice of its objections (which must be made in good faith) within
fifteen (15) Business Days from the date of receipt of the additional
information. |
(d) |
If the Purchaser timely makes good faith objections to the Calculation, the
Purchaser and the Vendor will work expeditiously and in good faith to resolve
the matters in dispute within a period of ten (10) Business Days after the date
of notification by the Purchaser to the Vendor of its objections. If the
Purchaser and the Vendor cannot resolve their dispute within such period, the
dispute will be submitted for determination to PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP. The
determination of PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP of the matters in dispute will be
final and binding upon the Parties and will not be subject to appeal, absent
manifest error. PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP will be deemed to be acting as
experts and not as arbitrators. The procedure to be followed by the Parties with
respect to the determination will be determined by PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP,
in its sole discretion. Each Party will provide PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP
access to all relevant books and records and to the appropriate personnel to
assist it in the determination of the final Calculation. |
(e) |
The Vendor and the Purchaser will each bear the fees and expenses of their
respective personnel or advisors in preparing or reviewing the Calculation and,
if applicable, their respective costs in presenting their cases to
PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP. In the case of the retention of
PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP to determine a dispute, the costs and expenses of
PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP will be borne equally by the Vendor and the
Purchaser. |
(f) |
If the Indebtedness for Borrowed Money at the time of Closing according to the
Calculation as finalized in accordance with this Section 2.5, minus the
Indebtedness for Borrowed Money according to the Closing Estimate, is: |
(i) |
a positive amount, then the Vendor will pay the difference to the Purchaser; or |
(ii) |
a negative amount, then the Purchaser will pay the difference to the Vendor,
plus, |
|
(in
either case) interest on the amount payable from the Closing Date to the date of payment
at the Prime Rate from time to time in effect. Such amount must be paid within two (2)
Business Days after finalization of the Calculation. |
(g) |
If the aggregate of the Working Capital and Other Amount and the Closing
Adjustment at the time of Closing according to the Calculation as finalized in
accordance with this Section 2.5, minus the aggregate of the Working
Capital and Other Amount and the Closing Adjustment according to the Closing
Estimate is: |
(i) |
a positive amount, then the Purchaser will pay the difference to the Vendor; or |
(ii) |
a negative amount, then the Vendor will pay the difference to the Purchaser,
plus, |
|
(in
either case) interest on the amount payable from the Closing Date to the date of payment
at the Prime Rate from time to time in effect. Such amount must be paid within two (2)
Business Days after finalization of the Calculation. |
|
(h) |
If the aggregate of the Intercorporate Debt at the time of Closing and the
Canadian Equivalent of the CSFB Debt at the time of Closing, according to the
Calculation as finalized in accordance with this Section 2.5, minus the
aggregate of those items according to the Closing Estimate, is: |
|
(i) |
a positive amount, then the Purchaser will cause the Sold Company to pay the
difference to the applicable creditor or, in the case of the Intercorporate
Debt, as otherwise designated by the Vendor and the Vendor will pay an equal
amount to the Purchaser as a reduction of the Share Purchase Price; or |
|
(ii) |
a negative amount, then the Vendor will ensure that the applicable creditor will
pay the difference to the Sold Company and the Purchaser will pay an equal
amount to the Vendor as an increase of the Share Purchase Price, plus, |
|
(in
either case) interest on the amount payable from the Closing Date to the date of payment
at the higher of (A) the contractual rate of interest on the applicable Intercorporate
Debt or the CSFB Debt, as applicable, or (B) the Prime Rate from time to time in effect.
Such amount must be paid within two (2) Business Days after finalization of the
Calculation. |
2.6 Time and Place of
Closing
(a) |
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, the Closing will
take place at the Place of Closing at 10:00 a.m. (Mountain Time) on the Closing
Date. |
(b) |
The Purchaser is responsible for satisfying the conditions to Closing in Section
2.10; the Vendor is responsible for satisfying the conditions to Closing in
Section 2.9; and both Parties will use commercially reasonable efforts to
satisfy the conditions to Closing in Section 2.11; provided that a Party will
not be responsible for satisfying any requirement that the other Party must be
satisfied with, or must have approved, any document, instrument or agreement or
the terms of a Required Legal and Regulatory Outcome or a Third Party Consent,
Release and Approval; and further provided that nothing herein requires a Party
to waive a condition herein for its benefit. |
(c) |
If the conditions to Closing contained in this Agreement have not been satisfied
or waived on or before the Closing Date from time to time established under this
Agreement, the Parties will extend the Closing Date to such date thereafter as
the Parties anticipate such conditions to Closing will be satisfied and each
Party will use commercially reasonable efforts to satisfy any outstanding
conditions to Closing it is responsible to satisfy, but the Closing Date will
not be extended later than the Outside Date. |
2.7 Deliveries by the
Vendor
At
the Closing or, in the case of Section 2.7(a), by the date therein stipulated, the Vendor
will deliver or cause to be delivered to the Purchaser the following:
|
(a) |
no later than five (5) Business Days before the Closing Date |
|
(i) |
the Closing Estimate as contemplated by Section 2.4, and |
|
(ii) |
the payment instructions contemplated by Sections 2.2(b) and 2.3(a); |
|
(b) |
certificates representing the Sold Shares, duly cancelled, accompanied by stock
transfer powers duly executed in blank or duly executed instruments of transfer,
and any other documents necessary to transfer to the Purchaser good title to the
Sold Shares; |
|
(c) |
new certificates representing the Sold Shares in the name of the Purchaser or as
it directs by notice to the Vendor under Section 2.8(a), duly signed, and a
certified copy of the resolution of the board of directors of the Sold Company
approving the transfer of the Sold Shares to the Purchaser; |
|
(i) |
all members of the board of directors of the Sold Company, other than those
members who accept offers of Sold Company director positions made by the
Purchaser; and |
|
(ii) |
those officers of the Sold Company, other than those officers who are
Transferred Senior Management and who accept the offers of employment
contemplated by Section 2.12(a), who are not employees of the Sold Company, |
|
together
with, from each such Person, a release by such Person of any Claims against the Sold
Company except their entitlement to indemnification for or in respect of acts or omissions
occurring up to the time of Closing; |
(e) |
original share books, share ledgers and minute books and corporate seals of the
Sold Company; |
(f) |
documentation in form customary for transactions of the type contemplated hereby
establishing the due authorization by the Vendor of the sale of the Sold Shares,
the execution, delivery and performance by it of this Agreement and the
documents, agreements or instruments respecting the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and the taking by it of all corporate
proceedings in connection herewith and therewith; |
(g) |
the certificates referred to in Section 2.9(a) and Section 2.9(b) dated the
Closing Date duly signed on the Vendor’s behalf; |
(h) |
evidence of termination by the Sold Company of all powers of attorney, if any,
granted in favour of, and all trust agreements, if any, entered into with, the
Vendor or any of its Affiliates; |
(i) |
the Sold Company Release, duly executed by the Vendor and the Vendor Release,
duly executed by the Sold Company; |
(j) |
the Aquila Guarantee, duly executed by Aquila; |
(k) |
although they are to be delivered immediately after the Closing, the documents
and instruments contemplated by Section 2.3(b); |
(l) |
an assignment by Aquila of the benefit of those confidentiality agreements with
bidders other than the Purchaser in connection with the sale of the Sold Company
and the “Sold Company” under the Other Share Purchase Agreement and
Aquila’s agreement to enforce such agreements, at the request, risk and
expense of the Purchaser; provided that Aquila will not be required to take any
action in relation to enforcement unless Aquila is indemnified to its
satisfaction in respect of any liabilities that may be incurred by it in so
doing; |
(m) |
a certificate of a senior officer of Aquila in a form satisfactory to the
Purchaser, acting reasonably, certifying that (i) none of Aquila, the Vendor or
the Sold Company is insolvent nor has an Insolvency Event occurred with respect
to any of them (and in the case of Aquila, references in the definition of
Insolvency Event to the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada) and
Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada) will be considered to
be references to applicable United States federal and state bankruptcy and
insolvency laws) and (ii) all United States Government Authorities having
jurisdiction have been made aware of the transactions contemplated hereby, and,
except as set out in Annex 1.1, no Authorizations are required from any United
States Government Authority for the entry into and performance by the Vendor of
this Agreement and the completion of the transactions contemplated hereby
including the execution and delivery of the Aquila Guarantee; |
(n) |
a certified copy of the resolution of the shareholders and directors of the
Vendor authorizing and approving the execution of this Agreement and all
Transaction Documents to be entered into by the Vendor; |
(o) |
a certified copy of a resolution of the board of directors of Aquila authorizing
and approving the execution and delivery of the Aquila Guarantee; and |
(p) |
all other documents, instruments and writings required to be delivered by the
Vendor on the Closing Date pursuant to this Agreement or reasonably requested by
the Purchaser and customarily delivered in connection with transactions of the
type contemplated hereby. |
2.8 Deliveries by the
Purchaser
At
the Closing or, in the case of Section 2.8(a), by the date therein stipulated, the
Purchaser will deliver or cause to be delivered to the Vendor the following:
(a) |
no later than five (5) Business Days before Closing, notice of the Person in
whose name it wishes the Sold Shares to be registered and the certificates
therefor issued, if not the Purchaser’s name; |
(b) |
the Purchase Price, determined for the purposes of Closing according to the
Closing Estimate, in the manner required by Section 2.2(b); |
(c) |
evidence satisfactory to the Vendor, acting reasonably, that the Purchaser is
financially able to, and will, cause the repayment of the Intercorporate Debt at
the time of Closing and the Canadian Equivalent of the CSFB Debt at the time of
Closing as required by Section 2.3(a); |
(d) |
documentation in form customary for transactions of the type contemplated hereby
establishing the due authorization by the Purchaser of the purchase of the Sold
Shares, the execution, delivery and performance by it of this Agreement and the
agreements, documents or instruments respecting the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and the taking by it of all corporate
proceedings in connection herewith and therewith; |
(e) |
the certificates referred to in Section 2.10(a) and Section 2.10(b) dated the
Closing Date duly signed on the Purchaser’s behalf; and |
(f) |
all other documents, instruments and writings required to be delivered by the
Purchaser on the Closing Date pursuant to this Agreement or reasonably requested
by the Vendor and customarily delivered in connection with transactions of the
type contemplated hereby. |
2.9 Conditions to the
Obligations of the Purchaser to Close
The
obligation of the Purchaser to complete the transactions contemplated hereby is subject to
the fulfilment or, as applicable, the non-occurrence, on or prior to the Closing Date, of
the following conditions, any one or more of which may be waived, in whole or in part, by
the Purchaser:
|
(a) |
except as set out in Section 2.9(h), the representations and warranties of the
Vendor contained in Article 3 must have been true on and as of the date
made and on and as of the Closing Date as if made then except (i) those stated
to be as at specific dates, which must have been true at those dates, (ii) any
inaccuracy that is directly attributable to the terms and conditions applicable
to the Required Legal and Regulatory Outcomes for the benefit of the Purchaser
or the mutual benefit of the Parties that have been found satisfactory by the
Purchaser, (iii) inaccuracies that individually or in the aggregate have not had
and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (iv)
as permitted by Section 8.1(c), and a certificate to that effect from the Vendor
dated the Closing Date must have been delivered to the Purchaser at Closing;
provided that for the purposes of this Section 2.9(a), any of the
representations and warranties that are qualified by reference to materiality
standards, including “material respects” or “would reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect” or words to like effect, will
be considered not to be so qualified; |
|
(b) |
the Vendor must have complied with or performed all of its agreements and
covenants in this Agreement to be complied with or performed by it at or prior
to Closing (except to the extent the failure to comply with or to perform such
agreements or covenants has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect), and a certificate to that effect from the Vendor
dated the Closing Date must have been delivered to the Purchaser at Closing;
provided that for the purposes of this Section 2.9(b), any of the covenants and
agreements that are qualified by reference to materiality standards, including
“material respects” or “would reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect” or words to like effect, will be considered not to
be so qualified; |
|
(c) |
the Purchaser must have received from the Vendor all agreements, documents and
instruments as set forth in Section 2.7; |
|
(d) |
either (i) the Third Party Consents, Releases and Approvals that are denoted
with an asterisk (*) under the heading “Required for Closing” on Annex
1.1 must have been obtained and are in full force and effect and the Purchaser
must be satisfied in its discretion that the terms and conditions applicable to
them have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect or (ii) the Vendor or the Sold Company must have made
arrangements satisfactory to the Purchaser, acting reasonably, to ensure the
supply to the Sold Company of the services or software covered by the agreements
referred to in such Third Party Consents, Releases and Approvals; provided,
however, that the Purchaser will have no obligation to complete the transactions
contemplated hereby if, for any reason, the Purchaser, acting reasonably, is of
the view that the Sold Company at Closing does not own or have the right to use,
the information systems, software and data that are necessary for the Sold
Company to carry out and perform in the ordinary course the load settlement
functions in relation to the distribution and retail sale of electricity in
Alberta which the Sold Company is required by Applicable Law and the Epcor
Documentation to carry out and perform; |
|
(e) |
the Purchaser must be satisfied in its discretion (i) that the Required Legal
and Regulatory Outcomes for its benefit and those for the mutual benefit of the
Parties have been obtained and are in full force and effect and (ii) that the
terms and conditions applicable to such Required Legal and Regulatory Outcomes
have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect; |
|
(f) |
the Operating Services Agreement and any other agreement between the Sold
Company and the Vendor or any of its other Affiliates, other than the “Sold
Company” (as therein defined) under the Other Share Purchase Agreement,
must have been terminated without liability or obligation to the Sold Company; |
|
(g) |
no Material Adverse Change shall have occurred during the Interim Period; |
|
(h) |
there shall not be, or have been, any misrepresentation or breach of warranty by
the Vendor with respect to the matters set out in Sections 3.1(a), 3.2(a) to (e)
inclusive, 3.3(a) and (b) or 3.4(a); |
|
(i) |
all swaps, xxxxxx, derivatives and like arrangements to which the Sold Company
is a party must have been closed out and terminated and the amounts paid or
payable or received or receivable thereunder reflected in the calculation of the
Working Capital and Other Amount; |
|
(j) |
the Purchaser must have received an opinion based upon such assumptions,
certifications of fact and qualifications as are reasonable and customary in
Canada for legal opinions in connection with commercial transactions of the type
contemplated herein, dated the Closing Date, of counsel to the Vendor (who may
be internal counsel to Aquila in the case of opinions under (i), (iii) and,
except as to enforceability, (iv) with respect to Aquila) to the effect
that: |
|
(i) |
the Vendor, Aquila and the Sold Company are corporations validly existing under
the laws of their respective jurisdictions of incorporation, are in good
standing with respect to filing of annual corporate returns under such laws of
such jurisdictions, and have all requisite corporate power and authority to (A)
in the case of the Vendor, own and sell the Sold Shares and to execute, deliver
and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Sold Company Release
(B) in the case of Aquila, execute, deliver and perform its obligations under
the Aquila Guarantee, and (C) in the case of the Sold Company, own, lease and
operate the Assets and to carry on the Business; |
|
(ii) |
the Sold Shares have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid
and non-assessable; |
|
(iii) |
none of the execution, delivery or performance of its obligations under this
Agreement or the Sold Company Release by the Vendor or the Aquila Guarantee by
Aquila: |
|
(A) |
conflicts with or requires the consent or waiver of rights of any Person under
its constating documents or bylaws; or |
|
(B) |
violates any provision of, or requires any Authorization or approval or
declaration or filing with or notice to any Government Authority by the Vendor
or, as applicable, Aquila under, any Applicable Law, except the Required Legal
and Regulatory Outcomes or those that have been given; |
|
(iv) |
the execution, delivery and performance by the Vendor of this Agreement and the
Sold Company Release and by Aquila of the Aquila Guarantee have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Vendor or Aquila, as
applicable, and this Agreement, the Sold Company Release and the Aquila
Guarantee have been duly executed and delivered by the Vendor or Aquila, as
applicable, and constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of the
Vendor, or Aquila, as applicable, enforceable against the Vendor or Aquila, as
applicable, in accordance with their respective terms, subject to the
qualifications that: |
|
(A) |
such enforceability may be subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium,
arrangement or other laws affecting creditors’ rights and to general
principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in
a proceeding at equity or law); and |
|
(B) |
equitable remedies are discretionary and may not be available in any particular
instance; |
|
(k) |
there must not be any judgment, decree, injunction, writ or order in effect that
has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and |
|
(l) |
the Purchaser must be satisfied in its discretion that the terms and conditions
applicable to all Required Legal and Regulatory Outcomes for its benefit and
those for the mutual benefit of the Parties which have been obtained, have not
and will not require the Purchaser (for clarity, whether before or after
assignment of this Agreement by the Purchaser pursuant to Section 13.2) to (i)
provide any guarantees or other financial assurances, or require the Purchaser
to commit capital amounts to, or for the benefit of, the Sold Company, the
Assets or the Business, or (ii) otherwise act or refrain from acting in any
manner whatsoever except only, if required, to provide its undertaking to the
applicable Government Authority: |
|
(i) |
not to take any action (and to cause the immediate parent company of the Sold
Company not to take any action) to cause the equity capitalization of the Sold
Company to be reduced below the minimum stipulated, from time to time, by any
applicable Government Authority; |
|
(ii) |
to cause any direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Purchaser at any
time holding the shares of the Sold Company to: |
|
(B) |
own all of the common shares of the Sold Company; |
|
(C) |
use all commercially reasonable efforts to maintain investment grade credit
ratings for the Sold Company; and |
|
(D) |
not restructure the Sold Company, or the ownership thereof, in a manner that
would result in a material portion of the Assets of the Sold Company no longer
being held by the Sold Company; and |
|
(iii) |
to cause the Sold Company and, if applicable, its immediate parent company to
abide by all conditions (which are acceptable to the Purchaser pursuant to
Section 2.9(e) and are not inconsistent with this Section 2.9(l)) which may
be imposed on the Sold Company and, if applicable, its immediate parent company
by any applicable Governmental Authority. |
2.10 Conditions to the
Obligations of the Vendor to Close
The
obligation of the Vendor to complete the transactions contemplated hereby is subject to
the fulfilment or, as applicable, the non-occurrence, on or prior to the Closing Date, of
the following conditions, any one or more of which may be waived, in whole or in part, by
the Vendor:
(a) |
the representations and warranties of the Purchaser contained in Article 4
must have been true on and as of the date made and on and as of the Closing Date
as if made then except (i) those stated to be as at specific dates, which must
have been true at those dates, (ii) any inaccuracy that is directly attributable
to the terms and conditions applicable to the Required Legal and Regulatory
Outcomes for the benefit of the Vendor or the mutual benefit of the Parties that
have been found satisfactory by the Vendor, and (iii) inaccuracies that
individually or in the aggregate have not had and would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and a certificate to that effect
from the Purchaser dated the Closing Date must have been delivered to the Vendor
at Closing; provided that for the purposes of this Section 2.10(a), any of the
representations and warranties that are qualified by reference to materiality
standards, including “material respects” or “would reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect” or words to like effect, will
be considered not to be so qualified; |
(b) |
the Purchaser must have complied with or performed all of its agreements and
covenants in this Agreement to be complied with or performed by it at or prior
to Closing (except to the extent the failure to comply with or to perform such
agreements or covenants has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect), and a certificate to that effect from the Purchaser
dated the Closing Date must have been delivered to the Vendor at Closing;
provided that for the purposes of this Section 2.10(b), any of the covenants and
agreements that are qualified by reference to materiality standards, including
“material respects” or “would reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect” or words to like effect, will be considered not to
be so qualified; |
(c) |
the Vendor or the Persons designated by it must have received from the Purchaser
the Purchase Price and all agreements, documents and instruments as set forth in
Section 2.8; |
(d) |
the Vendor must be satisfied in its discretion (i) that the Third Party
Consents, Releases and Approvals that are denoted with a check xxxx (v) on Annex
1.1 under the heading “Required for Closing” have been obtained and
are in full force and effect and (ii) that the terms and conditions applicable
to such Third Party Consents, Releases and Approvals have not had and would not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; |
(e) |
the Vendor must be satisfied in its discretion (i) that the Required Legal and
Regulatory Outcomes for its benefit and those for the mutual benefit of the
Parties have been obtained and are in full force and effect and (ii) that the
terms and conditions applicable to such Required Legal and Regulatory Outcomes
have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect; |
(f) |
the Vendor must be satisfied that the repayment of Intercorporate Debt at the
time of Closing and the Canadian Equivalent of the CSFB Debt at the time of
Closing will occur as contemplated by Section 2.3; |
(g) |
there shall not be, or have been, any misrepresentation or breach of warranty by
the Purchaser with respect to the matters set out in Sections 4.1, 4.2 or
4.3(a); |
(h) |
the Vendor must have received an opinion based upon such assumptions,
certifications of fact and qualifications as are reasonable and customary in
Canada for legal opinions in connection with commercial transactions of the type
contemplated herein, dated the Closing Date, of counsel to the Purchaser (who
may be internal counsel to Fortis Inc. in the case of opinions, except as to
enforceability, with respect to Fortis Inc.) to the effect that: |
(i) |
the Purchaser and, if Fortis Inc. has assigned this Agreement as permitted by
Section 13.2, Fortis Inc. are corporations validly existing under the laws of
their respective jurisdictions of incorporation, are in good standing with
respect to filing of annual corporate returns under such laws of such
jurisdictions and have all requisite corporate power and authority to acquire
the Sold Shares and to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this
Agreement; |
(ii) |
none of the execution, delivery or performance of its obligations under this
Agreement by the Purchaser and if Fortis Inc. has assigned this Agreement as
permitted by Section 13.2, by Fortis Inc.: |
(A) |
conflicts with or requires the consent or waiver of rights of any Person under
its constating documents or bylaws; or |
(B) |
violates any provision of, or requires any Authorization or approval or
declaration or filing with or notice to any Government Authority by the
Purchaser or, as applicable, Fortis Inc. under, any Applicable Law, except those
that have been given; |
(iii) |
the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Purchaser and,
if Fortis Inc. has assigned this Agreement as permitted by Section 13.2, by
Fortis Inc. have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the
Purchaser or Fortis Inc., as applicable, and this Agreement has been duly
executed and delivered by the Purchaser and, if Fortis Inc. has assigned this
Agreement as permitted by Section 13.2, by Fortis Inc., and constitutes the
legal, valid and binding obligation of the Purchaser, or Fortis Inc., as
applicable, enforceable against the Purchaser and, if applicable, Fortis Inc.,
in accordance with their respective terms, subject to the qualifications that: |
(A) |
such enforceability may be subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium,
arrangement or other laws affecting creditors’ rights and to general
principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in
a proceeding at equity or law); and |
(B) |
equitable remedies are discretionary and may not be available in any particular
instance; and |
(i) |
there must not be any judgment, decree, injunction, writ or order in effect that
has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
2.11 Mutual Conditions
The
obligations of the Parties to complete the transactions contemplated hereby are subject to
the fulfilment, on or prior to the Closing Date, of the following conditions, which may
only be waived by the Vendor and the Purchaser:
(a) |
the Closing must occur on or before the Outside Date; |
(b) |
the “Closing” under the Other Share Purchase Agreement must occur
concurrently with the Closing unless the Parties otherwise agree; and |
(c) |
the Closing must not violate any final order, decree or judgment of any
Government Authority having competent jurisdiction from which the time for
taking any appeal has expired and in respect of which no appeal is pending. |
2.12 Pre-Closing
Transactions
(a) |
Prior to or following Closing, as the Purchaser determines, the Purchaser will
offer employment contracts to those Transferred Senior Management and others
listed on Schedule 2.12(a) having “change in control” or
“retention” agreements that the Purchaser wishes to retain on terms
consistent with the Purchaser’s compensation schemes. The employment
relationship of those Persons who are not offered or do not accept such offers
of employment contracts are to be terminated before Closing, if they are
employees of the Sold Company and may be terminated before Closing by the Vendor
or another Affiliate if they are not employees of the Sold Company. In all cases
of such terminations, the cash compensation to be paid as determined in
accordance with the relevant “change in control” or
“retention” agreement shall be paid by the Purchaser. |
(b) |
Prior to the Closing, and subject to the receipt of applicable regulatory
approvals, the Vendor intends to complete a corporate reorganization involving
steps and transactions that will not adversely affect the Sold Company, the
Intercorporate Debt, the CSFB Debt or the Indebtedness for Borrowed Money (the
“Corporate Reorganization”). The Vendor has provided to the
Purchaser the currently proposed steps and transactions but may change them
provided the changes would not reasonably be expected to impair the
Vendor’s ability to complete the transactions contemplated hereby, reduce
the likelihood that any Required Legal and Regulatory Outcome will be obtained,
have any material and adverse financial effect on the Sold Company, the
Intercorporate Debt, the CSFB Debt or any Indebtedness for Borrowed Money or
have any other adverse effect on the Sold Company, the Intercorporate Debt, the
CSFB Debt or any Indebtedness for Borrowed Money. The Vendor will provide to the
Purchaser notice and particulars of any proposed changes to such steps and
transactions and a reasonable opportunity to comment thereon. The Vendor will
indemnify the Purchaser from and against (i) any financial effects on the Sold
Company, the Intercorporate Debt or the Indebtedness for Borrowed Money that in
the aggregate exceed $10,000 or (ii) any other adverse effects on the Sold
Company, the Intercorporate Debt, the CSFB Debt or the Indebtedness for Borrowed
Money, in each case arising from the implementation of the Corporate
Reorganization as so changed, if applicable. |
(c) |
Prior to the Closing, the Vendor will ensure that (i) the pension plan in
the name of the Vendor for the benefit of the employees of the Sold Company and
Transferred Senior Management will be amended so that it is registered in the
name of the Sold Company with Government Authorities having jurisdiction over
pensions, (ii) the assets, including any surplus, in such pension plan are
held by the trustee or funding agent thereof for the benefit of such
employees’ entitlements, (iii) the Sold Company assumes all
indebtedness, liability and obligations of the Vendor under or in respect of,
and the Vendor will assign to the Sold Company the benefits of, such pension
plan and the agreements related thereto and under any related agreements under
the TransAlta Sale Documentation and all responsibility for benefit
calculations, communications and reporting thereunder. Except as provided in the
preceding sentence, the pension plan referred to therein will not be amended
prior to the Closing. |
ARTICLE 3
REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES OF THE VENDOR
The
Vendor represents and warrants to the Purchaser as set forth in this Article 3.
3.1 Corporate
Organization
(a) |
The Vendor and the Sold Company are corporations duly organized and validly
existing under the laws of New Brunswick and Alberta, respectively, are in good
standing with respect to filing of annual corporate returns under the laws of
such jurisdictions, and have all requisite corporate power and authority to, in
the case of the Vendor, own and sell the Sold Shares and execute, deliver and
perform its obligations hereunder and, in the case of the Sold Company to own,
lease and operate the Assets and to carry on the Business as now being
conducted. |
(b) |
The Sold Company carries on business only in Alberta and is not required to be
registered as a foreign or extra-provincial corporation in any other
jurisdiction. |
(c) |
The Data Room contains true and complete copies of the constating documents and
by-laws, together with all amendments thereto, of the Sold Company. No
resolutions have been proposed or passed to further amend the same. |
(d) |
Under relevant securities legislation, the Sold Company is a “private
company” and not a “reporting issuer” or otherwise subject to
filing and reporting requirements applicable to “public” entities. |
3.2 Certain Matters
Regarding Shares; Capitalization; the Sold Shares; Corporate Reorganization
(a) |
At the date of this Agreement, the authorized Share capital of the Sold Company
is an unlimited number of Common Shares none of which are outstanding; (ii) an
unlimited number of Class A Common Shares, of which 63 are issued and
outstanding and owned beneficially by and registered in the name of the Vendor;
and (iii) an unlimited number of First Preferred Shares issuable in series of
which First Preferred Shares, Series A have been designated, none of which are
outstanding. At the time of Closing, the only changes to such issued Shares will
be issuances to the Vendor. |
(b) |
No Shares of the Sold Company are held in its treasury. |
(c) |
At the time of Closing, the Sold Shares will (i) be validly issued, fully paid
and non-assessable and (ii) comprise all of the issued and outstanding Shares of
the Sold Company. |
(d) |
At the time of Closing, there will be no outstanding Share Rights in respect of
Shares of the Sold Company. |
(e) |
At the time of Closing, the Vendor will be the owner beneficially and of record
of the Sold Shares, and will then have good title to the Sold Shares free and
clear of all Security Interests, equities, claims, options, rights of
pre-emption or first refusal or other encumbrances except the Purchaser’s
rights as provided in this Agreement or those arising through or under the
Purchaser. |
(f) |
At the date hereof, the amount of the Intercorporate Debt does not exceed
$250,000,000. The amount of the CSFB Debt is $100,000,000 (United States
dollars) plus accrued and unpaid interest. All Intercorporate Debt and the CSFB
Debt were incurred in good faith for value. |
(g) |
Immediately before the time of Closing, the aggregate of the Intercorporate
Debt, the Canadian Equivalent of the CSFB Debt and the Indebtedness for Borrowed
Money will be at least $1 less than the Unadjusted Consideration. |
(h) |
The Sold Company does not directly or indirectly own any Shares or other
ownership interests or Share Rights or securities convertible into Shares or
other ownership interests of any other Person. |
3.3 Authorization;
Binding Effect
|
(a) |
The execution and delivery of this Agreement and all other Transaction Documents
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly
authorized by the Vendor’s, and as applicable, its Affiliates’, board
of directors and its or their shareholders. |
|
(b) |
This Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Vendor
and is enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to the
qualifications that: |
|
(i) |
such enforceability may be subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium,
arrangement or other laws affecting creditors’ rights and to general
principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in
a proceeding at equity or law); and |
|
(ii) |
equitable remedies are discretionary and may not be available in any particular
instance. |
3.4 Consents and
Approvals; No Violation
None
of the execution or delivery hereof or performance of its obligations hereunder by the
Vendor or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby by the Vendor will, and
the fulfilment and compliance with the terms and conditions by it and the consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby will not:
(a) |
conflict with or require the consent or waiver of rights of any Person under the
terms, conditions or provisions of the respective constating documents, by-laws
or resolutions of directors or shareholders of the Vendor or the Sold Company,
except those that have been obtained or, in the case of the approval of the
transfer of the Sold Shares by the directors of the Sold Company, will be
obtained by the time of Closing; |
(b) |
violate any provision of, or require any Authorization or approval or
declaration or filing with or notice to any Government Authority by Aquila, the
Vendor or the Sold Company under, any Applicable Law, except the Required Legal
and Regulatory Outcomes or those that have been given; |
(c) |
conflict with, result in a breach of, constitute a default under (whether with
notice or the lapse of time or both), or accelerate or permit the acceleration
of the performance required by, or terminate or make terminable at the option of
any other party to, or require any consent, authorization or approval that has
not been obtained under, any indenture, mortgage, lien, lease, agreement or
instrument to which the Vendor or the Sold Company is a party or by which either
of them is bound or to which either of their respective assets or properties is
subject except (i) the Third Party Consents, Releases and Approvals and (ii) the
acceleration of the Intercorporate Debt, CSFB Debt or the Indebtedness for
Borrowed Money that will be repaid concurrently with the completion of the
transactions contemplated hereby; or |
(d) |
result in the creation of or make enforceable any Security Interest upon any of
the Sold Shares or any of the Assets under any such indenture, mortgage, lien,
lease, agreement or instrument, |
which violation, conflict, breach or
default with respect to the matters specified in clause (b) or (c) of this Section
would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
3.5 Exclusivity of EPCOR
Arrangements
(a) |
The Sold Company has not appointed any Person other than the Vendor to be a
“wire services provider” within the Sold Company’s service area. |
(b) |
Neither the Sold Company nor any Affiliate is carrying out billing to any
customers in the Sold Company’s service area on behalf of any retailer. |
3.6 Financial Matters
– Non-Tax
(a) |
The Financial Statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP and the
principles set out in the notes included therein and presented fairly in all
material respects the financial position of the Sold Company as at the
respective dates thereof. |
(b) |
From June 30, 2003 to the date of this Agreement, the Sold Company has not
incurred any indebtedness or liability that, in accordance with GAAP, would have
to be disclosed in a balance sheet or in a note thereto at the date
hereof except: |
(i) |
in the ordinary course of business; or |
(ii) |
as reflected in the Data Room or Information Responses. |
(c) |
The Sold Company has not given or agreed to give, nor is it party as a guarantor
or an indemnitor to or bound by, any agreement of guarantee or indemnity or any
like commitment for indebtedness, liabilities or obligations of any other Person
except (i) endorsements on cheques presented in the ordinary course for deposit
or collection, (ii) such letters of credit, guarantees and indemnities in the
ordinary course of business as are usual in the electricity distribution
industry in Alberta and (iii) pursuant to the TransAlta Purchase Documentation
or the EPCOR Sale Documentation. With respect to any such letters of credit,
guarantees, indemnities or obligations that have been given, except pursuant to
obligations in the TransAlta Purchase Documentation or the EPCOR Sale
Documentation (including the EPCOR Claim), neither the Vendor nor the Sold
Company has received notice from any Person claiming or threatening a claim to
enforce its obligations thereunder or for recovery of any amount pursuant
thereto and none of such letters of credit, guarantees and indemnities have been
provided to, for, in favour of or for the benefit of any Affiliates of the Sold
Company. |
(d) |
As at the date hereof, to the knowledge of the Vendor: |
(i) |
the Sold Company has no material contingent liabilities (including off-balance
sheet financings or unfunded pension liabilities) except (A) as disclosed in the
Financial Statements or (B) obligations under Applicable Laws or under
agreements, documents and instruments disclosed in the Data Room or the
Information Responses; and |
(ii) |
except as disclosed in the Data Room or the Information Responses, neither the
Sold Company nor, in relation to the Business or the transactions contemplated
hereby, the Vendor has received or been threatened, in writing, with any
litigation or Claim that is material in relation to the Sold Company, the
Business or the Assets or that if successful, would reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect. |
(e) |
Except as disclosed in the Data Room, there is no contract, option or other
right that is or may become binding upon the Sold Company to Dispose of any part
of the Business or the Assets other than (i) in the ordinary course of business,
(ii) pursuant to Applicable Laws, or (iii) pursuant to contracts to be entered
into hereunder by the Sold Company during the Interim Period. |
(f) |
As at December 31, 2002, the rate base for regulatory purposes of the Assets was
as set out on Schedule 3.6(f). |
(g) |
At the date hereof, the Sold Company has no Indebtedness for Borrowed Money. |
3.7 Tax Matters
(a) |
The Sold Company is a “private corporation” for the purposes of the
ITA. |
(b) |
The Sold Company has not provided any waivers to CCRA or any other Tax authority
for any reason. |
(c) |
The Sold Company is a registrant for the purposes of Part IX of the Excise
Tax Act (Canada) and there are no amounts owing by the Sold Company in
respect of the goods and services tax levied thereunder other than accruals in
the ordinary course that are not overdue in any material amount. |
(d) |
As at December 31, 2002, the undepreciated capital cost of the depreciable
capital Assets (for the purposes of the ITA) was not less than the following
amounts for the respective Classes of Assets: (i) not less than $461,900,000 for
Class 1; (ii) not less than $164,500,000 for Class 2; (iii) not less than
$4,200,000 for Class 8; (iv) not less than $19,000,000 for Class 10; and (v) not
less than $1,800,000 for Class 12. |
(e) |
The Sold Company has duly filed on a timely basis all returns for Taxes required
to be filed by it and has paid all Taxes that are due and payable, and all
assessments, reassessments, governmental charges, penalties, interest and fines
due and payable by it. All Tax returns filed by the Sold Company are, to the
knowledge of the Vendor, complete and accurate in all material respects. There
are no investigations or legal proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the
Vendor, threatened against the Sold Company in respect of Taxes, governmental
charges or assessments, nor are there any material matters under discussion with
any Government Authority relating to Taxes, governmental charges or assessments
asserted by any such authority. There are no matters which are the subject of an
agreement with any Government Authority relating to Taxes. The Sold Company has
withheld from each payment made to, and taxable benefit conferred upon, any of
its employees and to any non-resident of Canada, the amount of all Taxes or
other deductions required to be withheld therefrom and has paid the same to the
proper Tax or other receiving authorities within the time required under
applicable legislation. With such exceptions as are not material in the context
of the GST liability, the Sold Company has duly collected all amounts required
to be collected by it on account of GST, sales Taxes and any other goods and
services Taxes and has remitted to the appropriate Tax authority, when required
by law to do so, all amounts collected by it on account of GST, sales Taxes and
any other goods and services Taxes. |
(f) |
The Sold Company has not been audited by CCRA for any Tax years. |
(g) |
The Vendor is not a non-resident of Canada for the purposes of the ITA. |
3.8 Conduct of Business
– Compliance
(a) |
Except as reflected in the Data Room or the Information Responses or where
failure would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect,
since the consummation of the transaction contemplated by the TransAlta Purchase
Documentation, the Sold Company has conducted the Business in the ordinary
course and in compliance with Good Industry Practice, Applicable Laws and
Authorizations. |
(b) |
With such exceptions as are not material: |
(i) |
the Sold Company is not in breach of any Applicable Laws or Authorizations; |
(ii) |
the Sold Company possesses all Authorizations required to enable the Business to
be carried on as now conducted and the Assets to be owned, leased and operated;
and |
(iii) |
the Sold Company has filed all statements and reports in respect of the Business
that it is required to have filed with any Government Authority having
jurisdiction. |
(c) |
No dissolution, winding-up, bankruptcy, liquidation or similar proceedings have
been commenced or, to the knowledge of the Vendor, are pending or proposed in
respect of the Sold Company. |
(d) |
Schedule 3.8(d) lists all Authorizations that have been issued to the Sold
Company and that are material to and required for the operation of the Business. |
3.9 No Default
The
Sold Company is not in default under and, to the knowledge of the Vendor and, as
applicable, no counterparty is in default under and no condition exists that with notice
or lapse of time or both would constitute a default by the Sold Company or, as applicable,
a counterparty under:
(a) |
any contract, agreement, deed, instrument or document to which the Sold Company
is a party or by which the Sold Company or any of its properties is bound; |
(b) |
any Applicable Law; or |
that would reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect.
3.10 Bank Accounts
Schedule 3.10
hereto contains a complete and correct list of all bank accounts maintained by the Sold
Company.
3.11 Books and Records
(a) |
Since the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the TransAlta
Purchase Documentation, the books and records of the Sold Company have been
maintained in accordance with prudent business practice, Applicable Laws and the
permissive policies of Government Authorities having jurisdiction with respect
to the Business. |
(b) |
The corporate records and minute books of the Sold Company contain complete and
accurate minutes of all meetings and all resolutions and other actions in lieu
of meetings of the directors and shareholders of the Sold Company held since the
incorporation of the Sold Company. |
(c) |
The share certificates, registers of shareholders, registers of transfers and
registers of directors of the Sold Company are complete and accurate. |
3.12 Transactions with
Affiliates
The
Sold Company is not a party to a contract or agreement under which it is obligated to
purchase goods or services from, or provide goods or services to, any Affiliate at more,
or less, than the fair market value for such goods or services.
3.13 Powers of Attorney
At
the time of Closing, no Person that is not an employee of the Sold Company or one of the
Transferred Senior Management will hold a power of attorney from the Sold Company.
3.14 Assets
Except
as reflected in the Data Room or the Information Responses:
(a) |
the Assets, together with (i) the transfer of pension plan rights and
responsibility contemplated by Section 2.12(c), (ii) any assets to be
transferred to or held for the Sold Company as contemplated by Section 7.7
and (iii) the “Assets” under the Other Share Purchase Agreement, are
sufficient, and the Sold Company has adequate title or entitlement to the
Assets, to enable the Sold Company to conduct the Business on substantially the
same basis after the Closing as at the date hereof, subject to any changes to
the Business arising from (A) obtaining or implementing the Required Legal and
Regulatory Outcomes and (B) events, transactions or occurrences after the date
hereof that are not prohibited hereby; |
(b) |
no Affiliate of the Sold Company, other than the “Sold Company” under
the Other Share Purchase Agreement, owns or is licensor or licensee or lessee or
lessor of Assets that are used by the Sold Company to conduct the Business; |
(c) |
the Assets have been maintained by the Sold Company or, if applicable, the
“Sold Company” under the Other Share Purchase Agreement, and, to the
knowledge of the Vendor, its predecessors, in accordance with Good Industry
Practice and are, subject to ordinary wear and tear, in good operating
condition; and |
(d) |
the Assets will at the time of Closing be free and clear of all Security
Interests, all adverse claims, all third party interests and all registrations
in respect of the foregoing, except for only the Permitted Encumbrances or, in
the case of the Assets not owned by the Sold Company, “Permitted
Encumbrances” under the Other Share Purchase Agreement. |
3.15 Sales Into and
Offices in USA
(a) |
No sales in or into the United States of America are attributable to the Assets. |
(b) |
The Sold Company does not have, and at the time of Closing will not have, its
principal or any office in the United States of America, its territories or
possessions. |
3.16 Completeness of
Information
(a) |
At the date of this Agreement, the information contained in the Data Room (in
the case of information corrected or supplemented by other information therein
or the Information Responses, as so corrected or supplemented) with respect to
the Business and the Sold Company (excluding for these purposes any (i) general:
(A) industry, (B) legal or (C) regulatory, descriptions, (ii) forward-looking
information, including financial projections, and (iii) publicly available
Authorizations or judgments, decrees or orders relating to the Sold Company or
the Business) is as regards the Sold Company, the Business and the Assets taken
as a whole true and complete in all material respects and does not omit to state
any fact necessary to make any information therein not misleading in a material
respect in light of the circumstances in which it was made (an
“Omission”). All forward-looking information, including
financial projections, contained in the Data Room with respect to the Sold
Company, the Business and the Assets were prepared in good faith by the
employees, representatives or advisors of the Vendor or its Affiliates, acting
reasonably, based upon assumptions considered by them to be reasonable. |
(b) |
At the date of this Agreement, the information contained in the Information
Responses (in the case of information corrected or supplemented by other
information therein, as so corrected or supplemented) with respect to the
Business and Assets and the Sold Company (excluding for these purposes any (i)
general (A) industry, (B) legal or (C) regulatory, descriptions, (ii)
forward-looking information, including financial projections, and (iii) publicly
available Authorizations or judgments, decrees or orders relating to the Sold
Company or the Business) is as regards the Sold Company, the Business and the
Assets taken as a whole true and complete in all material respects and does not
contain an Omission. All forward-looking information, including financial
projections, contained in the Information Response with respect to the Sold
Company, the Business and the Assets taken as a whole were prepared in good
faith by the employees, representatives or advisors of the Vendor or its
Affiliates, acting reasonably, based upon assumptions considered by them to be
reasonable. |
(c) |
For the purposes of this Section 3.16, “material” means material
in relation to the specific item contained in the Data Room or Information
Response. |
3.17 Finder’s Fees
Neither
the Vendor nor the Sold Company has incurred any liability, contingent or otherwise, for
broker’s or finder’s fees or other fees in respect of the transactions
contemplated hereby for which the Purchaser or the Sold Company will have any obligation
or liability.
3.18 Opinion of
Financial Advisor
Aquila
has received an opinion from Credit Suisse First Boston LLC, dated the date hereof, to the
effect that, as of the date of the opinion and based upon and subject to the matters set
forth in the opinion, the aggregate of (a) the Share Purchase Price, subject to the
adjustments set forth herein, and (b) the “Share Purchase Price” under the Other
Share Purchase Agreement, subject to the adjustments set forth therein to be received in
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Other Share Purchase Agreement, is
fair, from a financial point of view, to Aquila.
3.19 Solvency Matters
(a) |
None of Aquila, the Vendor or the Sold Company is insolvent, nor has any
Insolvency Event occurred with respect to any of them. |
(b) |
Neither the Vendor nor the Sold Company is primarily, jointly or jointly and
severally liable for, or provided a guarantee or indemnity in respect of,
Indebtedness for Borrowed Money of any of its respective Affiliates. |
3.20 Environmental
Matters
As
at the date hereof, to the knowledge of the Vendor:
(a) |
except as disclosed in the Data Room or the Information Responses: (i) there has
not been any material event (including a release, spill or emission) on, under,
around or above any of the Sold Company’s properties that is reportable by
the Sold Company under Applicable Laws regarding the environment and that has
not been reported; (ii) there has not been any material violation by the Sold
Company of any Applicable Law regarding the environment; and (iii) the Sold
Company has not received any written communication to the effect that it is not
in compliance with any Applicable Law regarding the environment; and |
(b) |
the records of the Sold Company relating to environmental compliance are
complete and accurate in all material respects. |
ARTICLE 4
REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASER
The
Purchaser represents and warrants to the Vendor as set forth in this Article 4.
4.1 Organization
The Purchaser
is a corporation validly existing under the laws of Newfoundland and Labrador and has all
requisite power and authority to acquire the Sold Shares and execute, deliver and perform
its obligations hereunder and to own, lease and operate its properties and carry on its
business as now conducted.
4.2 Authorization;
Binding Effect
|
(a) |
The execution and delivery of this Agreement and all other Transaction Documents
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly
authorized by the Purchaser’s and, as applicable, its Affiliates’
board of directors and no consent thereto of any of its shareholders or holders
of any class of its securities is required. |
|
(b) |
This Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the
Purchaser and is enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to
the qualifications that: |
|
(i) |
such enforcement may be subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium,
arrangement or other laws affecting creditors’ rights and to general
principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in
a proceeding at equity or law); and |
|
(ii) |
equitable remedies are discretionary and may not be available in any particular
instance. |
4.3 Consents and
Approvals; No Violation
None
of the execution or delivery hereof or performance of its obligations hereunder by the
Purchaser will, and the fulfilment and compliance with the terms and conditions by it and
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not:
(a) |
conflict with or require any consent or waiver of rights of any Person under the
terms, conditions or provisions of the constating documents or bylaws or
resolutions of directors or shareholders of the Purchaser, except those that
have been obtained; |
(b) |
violate any provision of, or require any Authorization or approval or
declaration or filing with or notice to any Government Authority by the
Purchaser under, any Applicable Law, except the Required Legal and Regulatory
Outcomes or those that have been given; or |
(c) |
conflict with, result in a breach of, or constitute a default under (whether
with notice or lapse of time or both), or accelerate or permit the acceleration
of the performance required by, or terminate or make terminable at the option of
any other party to, or require any consent, authorization or approval that has
not been obtained under, any indenture, mortgage, lien, lease, agreement or
instrument to which the Purchaser or any of its Affiliates is a party or by
which the Purchaser or any of its Affiliates or any of its respective assets or
properties is bound, |
which violation, conflict, breach or
default with respect to the matters specified in clause (b) or (c) of this Section would
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
4.4 Litigation
There
are no judgments, orders, decrees or injunctions and no actions, suits, proceedings or
governmental investigations or inquiries pending or, to the knowledge of the Purchaser,
threatened against the Purchaser or any of its Affiliates or their respective properties,
assets, operations or business that would reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.
4.5 Acquisition of Sold
Shares for Investment
The
Purchaser is acquiring the Sold Shares as principal for investment and not with a view
toward, or for sale in connection with, any distribution thereof, nor with any present
intention of distributing or selling any Sold Shares.
4.6 No Default
The
Purchaser is not in default under and, to the knowledge of the Purchaser, as applicable,
no counterparty is in default under and no condition exists that with notice or lapse of
time or both would constitute a default by the Purchaser or, as applicable, a counterparty
under:
(a) |
any contract to which the Purchaser or any Affiliate thereof is a party or by
which any of them or any of their respective properties are bound; or |
that would reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect.
4.7 Investment Canada
Status
The
Purchaser is not a non-Canadian for the purposes of the Investment Canada Act
(Canada).
4.8 Adequacy of Financing
The
Purchaser will have immediately prior to the Closing sufficient immediately available
funds to complete the purchase of the Sold Shares and to capitalize the Sold Company to
enable it to repay the Intercorporate Debt at the time of Closing and the Canadian
Equivalent of the CSFB Debt at the time of Closing as contemplated hereby, without causing
the Purchaser to become insolvent or commit an act of bankruptcy.
4.9 Finder’s Fees
The
Purchaser has not incurred any liability, contingent or otherwise, for broker’s or
finder’s fees in respect of the transactions contemplated hereby for which the Vendor
will have any obligation or liability.
ARTICLE 5
INTERIM PERIOD
AGREEMENTS — VENDOR
The
Vendor covenants and agrees with the Purchaser as follows:
5.1 General Covenants of
the Vendor
|
(a) |
The Vendor covenants and agrees with the Purchaser that, during the Interim
Period, and except as may be permitted hereby, it will ensure that the Sold
Company will: |
|
(i) |
conduct the Business in the ordinary course and in accordance with Good Industry
Practice, Applicable Laws and all Authorizations that are applicable thereto
and, where applicable, in accordance with and within the limits set by Section
5.2(a)(xiii); |
|
(ii) |
obtain and at all times maintain in force the Authorizations necessary for the
conduct of the Business; and |
|
(iii) |
observe and perform its obligations under the TransAlta Purchase Documentation
and the EPCOR Sale Documentation, |
except
where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
(b) |
If the Closing has not occurred, the Vendor covenants and agrees with the
Purchaser that the Sold Company will provide to the Purchaser copies of audited
financial statements of the Sold Company for its fiscal year ending December 31,
2003 promptly upon them becoming available and in any event by 45 days
after such year end. |
5.2 Certain Changes
(a) |
Except as may be permitted hereby, during the Interim Period, the Vendor will
ensure that the Sold Company will not, without first obtaining the written
consent of the Purchaser (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld); |
(i) |
make any change in the conduct or operation of the Business or enter into,
amend, replace or terminate (other than by expiration pursuant to its terms) any
contract, agreement or commitment or make any change to any tariff or file an
application to change any tariff if, in any case, to do so would reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, unless required to do so by
Applicable Laws or the terms of any Authorization applicable to the Sold Company
or the Business or both; and with respect to any change to a tariff or
application therefor and all other regulatory proceedings respecting the Sold
Company during the Interim Period, the provisions of Sections 6.1(d), 6.1(e) and
6.1(f) hereof will apply thereto, mutatis mutandis (and the Vendor will
cause the Sold Company to comply therewith) with the Sold Company being regarded
as the Party with primary carriage of each such proceeding; |
(ii) |
except as contemplated by the materials in the Data Room or Information
Responses (A) enter into any contract, agreement or commitment with a term
greater than twelve (12) months or resulting in costs or other liabilities, in
aggregate, exceeding $2,000,000 or (B) amend or replace any such contract,
agreement or commitment resulting in an extension of the term by greater than
twelve (12) months or costs or other liabilities, in aggregate, exceeding
$2,000,000, excluding in each case any such contract, agreement or commitment
that is a renewal or replacement of an existing contract, agreement or
commitment where it is reasonable to expect the amounts payable thereunder will
be recoverable in rates approved or expected to be approved by the Board; |
(iii) |
merge into or with or consolidate with any other corporation or acquire all or
substantially all of the business or assets of any Person; |
(iv) |
make any change in its constating documents or bylaws; |
(v) |
purchase any securities of any Person other than, in accordance with its cash
management policies in effect at the date hereof, purchases of or other
transactions in respect of debt securities with a remaining term to maturity
less than one year; |
(vi) |
Dispose of or encumber any of its assets or properties other than (A) in the
discharge of statutory obligations if EPCOR does not discharge its obligations
under the EPCOR Sale Documentation or Applicable Law, sales of electricity and
(B) the consumption or other Disposition of its assets and properties in the
ordinary course of business; |
(vii) |
incur any indebtedness, including Indebtedness for Borrowed Money, except
indebtedness that is a Current and Other Specified Liability and incurred in
good faith for value; |
(viii) |
incur any Indebtedness for Borrowed Money in respect of which there is a
prepayment penalty, make whole premium or similar obligation or restriction on
the ability of the Sold Company to repay other than requirements of notice and
restrictions for repayments on dates other than “rollover” dates of
fixed interest rate periods; |
(ix) |
commit to do any of the foregoing; |
(x) |
do or omit to do anything that is in its control if, as a result, any of the
representations or warranties in Article 3 would be untrue at Closing; |
(xi) |
effect or commit to make any Corporate Distribution except if the amount thereof
reduces Current and Other Specified Assets; |
(xii) |
hold any meetings or pass or cause to be passed any resolutions of shareholders
or directors to effect any of the foregoing; or |
(xiii) |
other than as approved or required by the Board expend or commit to
expend more than $2,000,000 individually or $5,000,000 in the aggregate with
respect to any capital expense. |
(b) |
Notwithstanding Section 5.2(a), (i) no consent of the Purchaser will be required
for any action reasonably taken in response to an emergency involving danger to
life, property, safety or the environment and (ii) without the need to obtain
the consent of the Purchaser, at or before Closing the matters contemplated by
Section 2.12 will be completed at or before Closing; the Sold Company and the
“Sold Company” under the Other Share Purchase Agreement will (and the
Vendor covenants that they will) internalize their information technology
functions including ensuring the transfer to the Sold Company of the required
personnel as contemplated by the materials contained in the Data Room or
Information Responses at the cost of the Sold Company and the “Sold
Company” under the Other Share Purchase Agreement; the Sold Company may
lend money to or borrow money from the “Sold Company” under the Other
Share Purchase Agreement and receive or make payment of such loans or borrowings
consistent with Authorizations; the Sold Company will execute and deliver a
Vendor Release; the agreements, documents and instruments contemplated by
Section 2.7 will be executed and delivered; the Sold Company may enter into
one or more derivative contracts under which the Sold Company purchases a swap,
forward, option, future, straddle, or other derivative for the purpose of
hedging the Sold Company’s foreign currency risk with respect to the CSFB
Debt (and, provided the Sold Company is indemnified, for the purpose of hedging
the foreign currency risk of Aquila Networks Canada Corp. with respect to its
borrowing under the credit agreement under which the CSFB Debt was incurred by
the Sold Company); and the Sold Company may extend the maturity of the CSFB
Debt. |
5.3 Consent Procedure
If
the Vendor proposes that the Sold Company do or omit to do anything the doing or omission
of which requires the consent of the Purchaser under Section 5.2:
(a) |
the Vendor must notify the Purchaser of any such action or omission including
reasonable information for the Purchaser to assess the merits of the proposal; |
(b) |
the Vendor will consult with the Purchaser in respect of such action or
omission; and |
(c) |
the Vendor may take such action or make such omission without the
Purchaser’s consent if the Purchaser does not advise the Vendor in writing
within five (5) Business Days that it objects and the basis of the objection
(which may be insufficiency of information). |
5.4 Investigation of
Business and Examination of Documents
During
the Interim Period, the Vendor will, during normal business hours and in a manner that is
not disruptive to the conduct of the business and affairs of the Sold Company:
(a) |
ensure the Sold Company will provide reasonable access to, and permit the
Purchaser, through its representatives, to make such investigation of, the
Business and the Sold Company and its assets, liabilities, condition (financial
or otherwise), prospects, Claims, obligations, operations, results of operations
or legal or regulatory status or affairs as the Purchaser reasonably deems
necessary or advisable, provided that the Purchaser will not be entitled to
conduct any “Phase 2" environmental studies or assessments or take any
samples of water or other materials or conduct any tests that involve removing
soil or penetrating the subsurface of any lands; |
(b) |
ensure the Sold Company will produce for inspection and provide copies to the
Purchaser of (i) the documents or instruments referred to in the body of or in
any of the attachments to this Agreement, including the contents of the Data
Room and any materials provided in relation to the Information Responses, (ii)
the documents, instruments, databases, books and records relating to the matters
described in Section 5.4(a), and (iii) other information that, in the reasonable
opinion of Purchaser or its representatives, is required in order to make an
examination of such matters; and |
(c) |
ensure that the Purchaser and its representatives will have reasonable access to
the management and other employees and consultants of the Sold Company for the
purposes described in Sections 5.4(a) and (b). |
5.5 Risk of Loss
(a) |
Until 12:01 a.m. on the Closing Date, the Vendor will cause the Assets and the
Sold Company to be insured at the expense of the Sold Company or its Affiliates
under policies of insurance in respect of loss or damage or any other casualty
in respect thereof, and public liability, in accordance with Good Industry
Practice. |
(b) |
If, before Closing, the Vendor becomes aware of any destruction, loss or damage
of or to the Assets or third party Claims against the Sold Company for which any
insurance policy in the name of the Vendor or any Affiliate provides coverage to
the Sold Company, the Vendor will promptly advise the Purchaser and, at the
expense of the Sold Company, but subject to Sections 5.5(d) and (e), (i) if it
is able to do so in a commercially practicable manner before Closing, make and,
until Closing, diligently pursue or, if applicable, cause the Sold Company or
the applicable Affiliate to make and, until Closing, diligently pursue, a claim
under the policy in respect of the destruction, loss, damage or claim and, if
applicable, defend or cause the Sold Company or the applicable Affiliate to
defend the third party Claim and (ii) hold or cause the applicable Affiliate to
hold any insurance proceeds received before or after Closing in respect of the
destruction, loss, damage or claim for the benefit of the Sold Company and pay
or cause the applicable Affiliate to pay such proceeds promptly on receipt to
the Sold Company after deducting any amounts owed to it under Section 5.5(d) or
(e). After Closing, the Vendor will and will ensure the applicable Affiliate
will, at the expense of the Sold Company, cooperate with the Sold Company in the
pursuit of the Claim. |
(c) |
If, before Closing, any destruction, loss or damage of or to the Assets occurs
or third party Claim is made against the Sold Company for which any insurance
policy in the name of the Vendor or any Affiliate provides coverage for the Sold
Company, and for which no claim is filed before Closing as contemplated by
Section 5.5(b), the Vendor will and will ensure the applicable Affiliate will,
at the expense of the Sold Company, but subject to Sections 5.5(d) and (e), (i)
cooperate with the Sold Company in filing a claim under the policy in respect of
the destruction, loss, damage or claim, and in the pursuit of the claim, and, if
applicable, in defending the third party Claim, and (ii) hold or cause the
applicable Affiliate to hold any insurance proceeds received in respect of the
destruction, loss, damage or claim for the benefit of the Sold Company and pay
or cause the applicable Affiliate to pay such proceeds promptly on receipt to
the Sold Company after deducting any amounts owed to it under Section 5.5(d) or
(e). After Closing, the Vendor will and will ensure the applicable Affiliate
will, at the expense of the Sold Company, cooperate with the Sold Company in the
pursuit of the Claim. |
(d) |
If any third party Claim is made under policies of insurance as contemplated by
Section 5.5(b) or (c) and both the Sold Company and the Vendor or any Affiliate
other than the Sold Company is a party to the third party Claim, then any
insurance proceeds recovered in respect of the claim will be applied, firstly,
to reimburse the Vendor or such Affiliate for the costs of pursuing the Claim or
defending any third party action, secondly, to any Claims against or suffered by
the Vendor or such Affiliate and, thirdly, any excess to the Sold Company. |
(e) |
In respect of any claim contemplated by Section 5.5(b) or (c), (i) the Purchaser
will ensure that the Sold Company indemnifies and saves harmless the Vendor or
applicable Affiliate from and against any and all Claims suffered, incurred or
sustained in making or pursuing the claim, (ii) neither the Vendor nor any such
Affiliate will be required to take any step or action involving the expenditure
of funds or exposure to liability unless it is indemnified to its satisfaction
(both as to the identity and creditworthiness of the indemnifying party and the
scope and terms of the indemnity), and (iii) neither the Vendor nor any
Affiliate will be required to take any step or action that is reasonably
expected to involve significant commitments of time by its employees unless it
is compensated for the loss of time of such employees and the time expenditure
is convenient to it in relation to the employee’s duties. |
(f) |
If, before Closing (i) any destruction, loss or damage occurs of or to the
Assets that, after giving effect to the receipt of insurance proceeds reasonably
expected to be obtained by the Sold Company as a result of the event, would
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (for clarity, including
any destruction, loss or damage described in Section 5.5(b) that has such
effect) and the applicable Assets cannot be repaired, replaced or restored by
the Closing Date by assets of equal value and utility or (ii) any part of the
Assets is seized by a Government Authority and, after giving effect to the
receipt of proceeds of taking reasonably expected to be obtained by the Sold
Company as a result of the event, such seizure would reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect and the applicable Asset cannot be replaced by
the Closing Date by assets of equal value and utility, then, in either case, the
Vendor will forthwith give to the Purchaser written notice including reasonable
particulars thereof and of any insurance proceeds or proceeds of taking expected
to be obtained by the Sold Company. |
(g) |
The Purchaser will have the option, exercisable by notice given within five (5)
Business Days of the Purchaser receiving notice of such destruction, loss,
damage or seizure under Section 5.5(f) to: |
(i) |
complete the transactions contemplated hereby without reduction of the Purchase
Price, in which event all proceeds of insurance or compensation for destruction,
loss, damage or seizure of the Sold Company’s assets will be paid directly
to the Sold Company or, if received by the Vendor or an Affiliate other than the
Sold Company, paid to the Sold Company promptly on receipt and, for clarity, the
amount of the PP&E will be adjusted to reflect the uninsured or
uncompensated portion of such destruction, loss, damage or seizure; or |
(ii) |
terminate this Agreement and not complete the transactions contemplated hereby
and in such event the Vendor and the Purchaser will be released from all
obligations hereunder. |
(h) |
If the Vendor gives notice pursuant to Section 5.5(f) later than five (5)
Business Days prior to the Closing Date, the Closing Date will be postponed
until five (5) Business Days after the giving of such notice by the Vendor but
not later than the Outside Date. |
5.6 Notice of Certain
Events
During
the Interim Period the Vendor will advise the Purchaser promptly if it acquires knowledge
that:
(a) |
the Sold Company has any material contingent liabilities (including off-balance
sheet financings or unfunded pension liabilities) except (A) as disclosed in the
Financial Statements or (B) obligations under Applicable Laws or under
agreements, documents and instruments disclosed in the Data Room or the
Information Responses; |
(b) |
except as disclosed in the Data Room or the Information Responses, since the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by the TransAlta Purchase
Documentation (A) there has occurred any material event (including a release,
spill or emission) on, under, around or above any of the Sold Company’s
properties that is reportable by the Sold Company under Applicable Laws
regarding the environment, including any that had occurred prior to the date
hereof and that has not been reported; (B) there has occurred any material
violation by the Sold Company of any Applicable Law regarding the environment,
including any that had occurred prior to the date hereof; or (C) the Sold
Company has received any written communication to the effect that it is not in
compliance with any Applicable Law regarding the environment, including any that
was received prior to the date hereof; |
(c) |
the Sold Company’s records relating to environmental compliance were not,
at the date hereof, complete and accurate in all material respects; or |
(d) |
except as disclosed in the Data Room or the Information Responses, the Sold
Company has received or been threatened, in writing, with any litigation or
Claim that is material in relation to the Sold Company, the Business or the
Assets or that if successful, would reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect, including any that was received prior to the date hereof. |
5.7 No Solicitation
Until
the earlier of the Outside Date and the termination of this Agreement, neither the Vendor
nor any Affiliate of the Vendor nor any other Person on any of their behalf will, and they
will ensure that the Sold Company does not, participate in any discussions or negotiations
with any third party with a view to the possible Disposition to any Person other than the
Purchaser hereunder of any material Assets or any interest therein or the Shares or other
ownership interests issued by the Sold Company or any Persons that control it.
ARTICLE 6
INTERIM PERIOD MUTUAL
COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES
6.1 Carriage of Legal
Matters
(a) |
Each Party will have primary carriage of those applications for or negotiations
with Government Authorities in respect of obtaining, or the terms and conditions
of, or agreements, concessions or undertakings requested by Government
Authorities related to, any Required Legal and Regulatory Outcome for its
benefit. The Vendor will have primary carriage of the matters described in
Sections 3(a) and (b) of Annex 1.1. The Purchaser will have primary
carriage of the matters described in Section 3(c) of Annex 1.1. |
(b) |
The Party with primary carriage of a matter will, as promptly as practicable
after signing this Agreement, or otherwise as the Parties agree, make the
required application, filing or notification for the Required Legal and
Regulatory Outcome in the manner prescribed by Applicable Laws and thereafter
diligently pursue obtaining the Required Legal and Regulatory Outcome and
satisfy proper information requests of Government Authorities or third parties
having standing with respect thereof. Except as otherwise provided herein, the
application, filing or notification must seek only Authorizations that are
required for the completion of the transactions contemplated hereby or essential
to permit the Business to be conducted on substantially the same basis after
Closing as at the date hereof. |
(c) |
With respect to the Competition Act (Canada), (i) while only one of the
outcomes described in Section 3(c)(ii) of Annex 1.1 is required, it
is the preference of the Parties that an advance ruling certificate be obtained
in respect of the transactions contemplated hereby and, accordingly, the first
approach to the Commission of Competition will be to obtain an advance ruling
certificate; and (ii) the Purchaser and the Vendor will each pay one-half of
filing or other fees or costs in respect of such application, filing or
notification. |
(d) |
The Parties will cooperate with each other with respect to all Required Legal
and Regulatory Outcomes. Accordingly: |
(i) |
each Party will, where it has primary carriage of the matter, prior to applying
for, making a filing or notification or making a substantive submission or
taking a substantive step or having any conferences with any Government
Authority in relation to a Required Legal and Regulatory Outcome, or making any
amendment to any such application, filing, notification, submission or step,
allow the other Party the opportunity, subject to restrictions imposed by
Applicable Law, to review and comment on the merits of such application, filing,
notification, submission, step or amendment or to participate in such
conference; and |
(ii) |
neither Party nor any of its Affiliates will take any position or make or give
any application, filing, notification, submission, evidence or argument or take
any step or have any substantive discussion with any Government Authority in
regard to any applications or negotiations related to any Required Legal and
Regulatory Outcomes that it knows is inconsistent with obtaining any of the
Required Legal and Regulatory Outcomes or the strategies, applications, filings,
notifications, submissions, evidence, argument or amendments or supplements to
any of them (whether made or proposed) of the other Party in respect of those
matters over which that other Party has primary carriage. |
(e) |
Subject to Section 6.1(d)(ii), primary carriage of a matter includes final
decisions on strategies, applications, filings, notifications, submissions (oral
or written), evidence and argument and amendments or supplements to any of them. |
(f) |
A Party that does not have primary carriage of a matter will (i) on reasonable
request by the Party with primary carriage, promptly provide all information in
its possession or control related to the matter and, if so available, in
requested format, (ii) not take any steps or have any substantive discussions
with any Government Authority in relation to the matter except on the request of
the Party that has primary carriage or with its consent, (iii) on reasonable
request by the Party with primary carriage, support the applications,
submissions and arguments (and amendments thereto) of the other Party, and (iv)
instruct its counsel to observe and perform the terms of this Section 6.1. |
(g) |
Each Party will advise the other promptly upon becoming aware of the existence
of any actual or threatened action, suit, proceeding or governmental
investigation (regardless of the merits of the position) that seeks relief that
is inconsistent with any Required Legal and Regulatory Outcome. |
6.2 Acceptance
(a) |
Upon receipt by a Party (the “Transmitting Party”) of any
notification of an Authorization from Governmental Authorities in relation to a
Required Legal and Regulatory Outcome (a “Regulatory Item”),
such Party will promptly transmit to the other Party (the “Receiving
Party”) a copy of such Regulatory Item. |
(b) |
If the Regulatory Item relates to a Required Legal and Regulatory Outcome for
the benefit of the Transmitting Party or the mutual benefit of the Parties and
the Regulatory Item does not, in the view of the Transmitting Party, permit full
performance of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or, where
the fulfilment of the applicable condition precedent herein requires the
Transmitting Party to be satisfied with the terms and conditions applicable to
the Required Legal and Regulatory Outcome, and the terms and conditions are not
satisfactory to the Transmitting Party in its discretion, then the Transmitting
Party must promptly and in any event within ten (10) Business Days of receipt of
the Regulatory Item notify the Receiving Party and specify the reason(s) such
Regulatory Item or the terms and conditions applicable to it, as applicable, is
not satisfactory to the Transmitting Party, failing which the Transmitting Party
will be deemed to have found such Regulatory Item and its terms and conditions
to be satisfactory. |
(c) |
If the Regulatory Item relates to a Required Legal and Regulatory Outcome for
the benefit of the Receiving Party or the mutual benefit of the Parties and the
Regulatory Item does not, in the view of the Receiving Party, permit full
performance of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or, where
the fulfilment of the applicable condition precedent herein requires the
Receiving Party to be satisfied with the terms and conditions applicable to the
Required Legal and Regulatory Outcome, and the terms and conditions are not
satisfactory to the Receiving Party in its discretion, then the Receiving Party
must promptly and in any event within ten (10) Business Days of receipt of the
Regulatory Item notify the Transmitting Party and specify the reason(s) such
Regulatory Item or the terms and conditions applicable to it, as applicable, is
not satisfactory to the Receiving Party, failing which the Receiving Party will
be deemed to have found such Regulatory Item and its terms and conditions to be
satisfactory. |
(d) |
If the fulfilment of a condition precedent herein requires a Party to be
satisfied with a Required Legal and Regulatory Outcome or the terms and
conditions applicable to it, and the Party is not satisfied with it in its
discretion, then the Party with primary carriage of the matter must use its
commercially reasonable efforts, in a timely manner, to obtain such amendment(s)
to any such matter or the terms and conditions applicable to it, as applicable,
so that the matter is satisfactory to the applicable Party. |
(e) |
If an application or appeal made by either Party for a Regulatory Item is denied
or not obtained, that Party must promptly so notify the other Party. |
6.3 Third Party
Consents, Releases and Approvals – Procedure
(a) |
The Vendor will have carriage of obtaining the Third Party Consents, Releases
and Approvals and the Purchaser will cooperate with the Vendor in obtaining
them. |
(b) |
Upon receipt of a Third Party Consent, Release and Approval, the Vendor will
promptly transmit to the Purchaser a copy thereof. |
(c) |
If the Third Party Consent, Release and Approval is denoted with a check xxxx
(v) on Annex 1.1 under the heading “Required for Closing”, and
the Third Party Consent, Release and Approval does not, in the view of the
Vendor, permit full performance of this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby or the terms and conditions applicable to it are not
satisfactory to the Vendor in its discretion, then the Vendor must promptly, and
in any event within ten (10) Business Days of receipt thereof, notify the
Purchaser and specify the reason(s) such Third Party Consent, Release and
Approval or the terms and conditions applicable to it, as applicable, is not
satisfactory to the Vendor, failing which the Vendor will be deemed to have
found such Third Party Consent, Release and Approval and its terms and
conditions to be satisfactory. |
(d) |
If the Third Party Consent, Release and Approval is denoted with an asterisk (*)
on Annex 1.1(iiii) under the heading “Required for Closing”, and
the Third Party Consent, Release and Approval does not, in the view of the
Purchaser, permit full performance of this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby or the terms and conditions applicable to it are not
satisfactory to the Purchaser in its discretion, then the Purchaser must
promptly, and in any event within ten (10) Business Days of receipt thereof,
notify the Vendor and specify the reason(s) such Third Party Consent, Release
and Approval or the terms and conditions applicable to it, as applicable is not
satisfactory to the Purchaser, failing which the Purchaser will be deemed to
have found such Third Party Consent, Release and Approval and its terms and
conditions to be satisfactory. |
(e) |
If the Purchaser is of the view that the terms and conditions applicable to a
Third Party Consent, Release and Approval that has been obtained would
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, then the Purchaser
must promptly, and in any event within ten (10) Business Days of receipt
thereof, notify the Vendor and specify the reason(s) such terms and conditions
would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, failing which
the Purchaser will be deemed to have found such terms and conditions to be
satisfactory. |
(f) |
If the fulfilment of a condition precedent herein requires a Party to be
satisfied with a Third Party Consent, Release and Approval or the terms and
conditions applicable to it, and the Party is not satisfied with it in its
discretion, then the Vendor must use its commercially reasonable efforts, in a
timely manner, to obtain such amendment(s) to any such matter or the terms and
conditions applicable to it, as applicable, so that the matter is satisfactory
to the applicable Party. |
(g) |
If a Person from whom a Third Party Consent, Release and Approval is sought
refuses to give it, then a Party with knowledge of such refusal must promptly so
notify the other Party. |
6.4 Further Assurance
Obligations
During
the Interim Period, each of the Parties will:
(a) |
act with due diligence in complying with, and use commercially reasonable
efforts to satisfy in a timely fashion, the conditions precedent that it is
responsible for satisfying and inform the other Party with respect to the
progress in the satisfaction of such conditions in a timely manner; |
(b) |
at no cost to the other Party, cooperate with and assist the other Party in
satisfying the conditions precedent that it is responsible for satisfying; and |
(c) |
use commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all action,
and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under
Applicable Laws to obtain all Required Legal and Regulatory Outcomes and Third
Party Consents, Releases and Approvals necessary for the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, |
provided
that nothing in this Section 6.4 affects what is set out in Sections 2.6, 6.2 or 6.3.
6.5 Purchaser’s
Application
Notwithstanding
anything else in this Agreement, the Parties agree that the Purchaser, during the Interim
Period, may make all applications, filings or notifications to the Board that it
determines for an Authorization respecting the financing that it desires to complete with
respect to the acquisition contemplated hereby (and any related granting of assurance or
security by the Purchaser, any assignee of the Purchaser of this Agreement, the Sold
Company and the immediate parent company of the Sold Company). All such applications,
filings and notifications and the prosecution of the same and, if applicable, withdrawal
of such applications, filings and notifications shall be undertaken and determined by the
Purchaser in its sole discretion.
6.6 Vendor’s
Corporate Reorganization Application
Notwithstanding
anything else in this Agreement, the Parties agree that the Vendor, during the Interim
Period, may make all applications, filings or notifications to the Board that it
determines for an Authorization respecting the Corporate Reorganization. All such
applications, filings and notifications shall be undertaken and determined by the Vendor
in its sole discretion.
6.7 Public Announcements
Except
(i) as required by Applicable Laws or (ii) in accordance with this Article 6 in
connection with any disclosure to a Government Authority having jurisdiction in connection
with any Required Legal and Regulatory Outcome or to any other interested party to any
relevant proceedings by or before such Government Authority that is entitled pursuant to
Applicable Laws to receive the same, neither Party or any of their respective Affiliates
may issue any press release or otherwise make any public statements with respect to this
Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby without first consulting with and
considering in good faith the comments and concerns, if any, of the other Party, if
practicable under the circumstances. The Vendor acknowledges that the Purchaser or its
Affiliate will, following execution of this Agreement, be undertaking a public financing
not involving costs in respect of capital to the Sold Company and agree to cooperate with
the Purchaser in that regard and to the reasonable disclosure by the Purchaser of
information relating to the Sold Company and Aquila and its Affiliates required in
connection therewith.
ARTICLE 7
GENERAL COVENANTS
CONCERNING THE SOLD COMPANY
AND THE ELECTRICITY
BUSINESS
7.1 Insurance
The
Purchaser acknowledges Section 5.5. After 12:01 a.m. on the Closing Date, the Purchaser
will ensure that the Sold Company will procure and maintain such policies of insurance and
surety bonds related to the Assets as the Purchaser, at its sole cost and expense, deems
advisable. After the Closing Date, the Vendor will not have any responsibility or duty to
administer, in any fashion, claims under any insurance policies with respect to the Sold
Company’s assets, except in accordance with Section 5.5.
7.2 General Covenants of
the Purchaser
After
Closing, the Purchaser will cause the Sold Company to, among other things:
(a) |
conduct the Business in accordance with Good Industry Practice, Applicable Laws
and all Authorizations that are applicable thereto; |
(b) |
obtain and at all times maintain in force the Authorizations necessary to permit
the Sold Company to conduct the Business; and |
(c) |
observe and perform its obligations under the TransAlta Purchase Documentation
and the EPCOR Sale Documentation, |
where and to the extent failure to do
so would reasonably be expected to result in a Claim against the Vendor or any Affiliate.
7.3 Tax Returns and
Financial Statements
(a) |
The Vendor will, at the expense of the Sold Company, prepare all federal and
provincial returns of Taxes and applicable schedules for the Sold Company for
its taxation years that end prior to the Closing Date, in accordance with the
ITA or applicable provincial Tax legislation and regulations, within the time
prescribed thereby, and, if the time for filing such returns or paying such
Taxes is before the Closing, cause the Sold Company to file such returns or pay
any Taxes indicated on them as owing, as applicable. If the time for filing such
returns or paying such Taxes is after the Closing, the Purchaser will cause the
Sold Company to file such returns and pay the Taxes indicated on them as owing,
as applicable. |
(b) |
The Vendor will provide to the Purchaser copies of returns of Taxes and related
schedules and accompanying financial statements promptly after they are
available under Section 7.3(a). |
(c) |
The Vendor will, at its expense, prepare and deliver to the Purchaser, not later
than sixty (60) days after Closing, draft federal and provincial income Tax
returns and applicable schedules for the Sold Company for its taxation year that
begins on the January 1 preceding the Closing Date and ends on the Closing Date,
in accordance with the ITA or applicable provincial Tax legislation and
regulations. |
(d) |
The Purchaser will cause the returns prepared and delivered pursuant to Section
7.3(c) to be duly filed within the time prescribed by the ITA or provincial Tax
legislation and regulations, as applicable, and cause the Sold Company to pay
any Taxes indicated on such returns as owing except that if the Purchaser,
acting reasonably, disagrees with any entry or calculation made in such returns
or believes they are not most advantageous to the Sold Company, then it must
advise the Vendor no later than thirty (30) days prior to the time that such
returns must be filed and the Vendor and the Purchaser will meet to resolve any
dispute and cooperate to resolve the differences as soon as practicable. If as a
result of changes proposed by the Purchaser to the Tax returns prepared by the
Vendor, the Working Capital and Other Amount is lower (including a larger
negative amount) than it would be using the returns prepared by the Vendor and
such difference is not a result of manifest errors made by the Vendor, the
Working Capital and Other Amount will be calculated using the amount of Taxes
according to the returns prepared by the Vendor and the Vendor’s
responsibility for Excess Taxes under Section 11.5 will be determined using
such amount of Taxes. |
(e) |
At the time it delivers the draft Tax returns under Section 7.3(c), the Vendor
will prepare and deliver to the Purchaser drafts of the financial statements,
including a statement of income, statement of changes in financial position,
statement of retained earning and balance sheet, of the Sold Company as at or
for the period that begins on the January 1 preceding the Closing Date and ends
on the Closing Date prepared in accordance with GAAP. The Vendor will further
provide to the Purchaser, on request from time to time, such explanations and
data with respect to such financial statements as the Purchaser may reasonably
request. |
7.4 Post Closing Access
The
Vendor may retain copies of the Sold Company’s books and records for the purpose of
dealing with matters occurring up to the time of Closing. Notwithstanding the preceding
sentence, the Purchaser will for a period of seven (7) years following Closing, to the
extent necessary in connection with any Tax or other appropriate matter relating to the
Sold Company or the Business for any period prior to the time of Closing and specifically
to permit the Vendor to discharge its obligations under Sections 2.5, 7.3 and 11.5 at the
sole cost and expense of the Vendor:
(a) |
permit the Vendor or its agents, representatives or advisors to inspect and take
copies of all books or records, including financial information, of the Sold
Company with regard to any period prior to the Closing; and |
(b) |
assist in arranging discussions with (and calling as witnesses) officers,
directors, employees and agents of the Sold Company, the Purchaser or its other
Affiliates. |
7.5 Use of Name
The
Purchaser will:
(a) |
within 15 days of the Closing Date, cause the name of the Sold Company to be
changed to a name that does not include the name “Aquila”; and |
(b) |
cause the Sold Company and the Purchaser’s other Affiliates to cease using
the name “Aquila” or any derivation of it or any name that includes it
and the Aquila trade marks and logos as promptly as reasonably practicable after
Closing, provided that with respect to correspondence related to the Business,
the Sold Company may indicate that it is the successor by change of name to
Aquila Networks Canada (Alberta) Ltd. for a period of up to 2 years after
Closing, but not thereafter. |
7.6 Compliance with Law
Both
before and after Closing, the Vendor may (i) take such actions, at its own cost and
expense, as shall be reasonably necessary to comply with its obligations pursuant to
Applicable Laws and Authorizations, or (ii) make any application, give notice, or take any
action under or in relation to any legal or regulatory proceedings, provided that prior to
Closing the Vendor will comply with Article 6.
7.7 Handling of Certain
Agreements
The
Purchaser acknowledges the existence of agreements, instruments and employee benefit plans
or programs (including the lease agreements relating to the Sold Company’s corporate
headquarters and data warehouse located in Calgary) relating principally to the business
and affairs of the Sold Company, the “Sold Company” under the Other Share
Purchase Agreement, or both, that have been entered into or created under the “Aquila
Networks Canada” trade name or a trade name using the name “UtiliCorp” or
entered into by the Vendor, or that otherwise may not clearly reflect that the Sold
Company is a party thereto or an obligor thereunder, or under which the Vendor or one or
more of its other Affiliates may have liability as an obligor or co-obligor. With respect
to such agreements, instruments and employee benefit plans and programs and in addition to
the obligations under Section 2.12(c):
(a) |
prior to the Closing, the Vendor will cause the benefit thereof to be assigned
to the Sold Company; and |
(b) |
until the Sold Company has been recognized by applicable third parties to such
agreements, instruments, plans and programs the Vendor or applicable Affiliate
will agree to enforce them at the request, risk and expense of the Sold Company;
provided that the Vendor or such Affiliate will not be required to take any step
in relation to enforcement unless it is indemnified to its satisfaction in
respect of any liabilities that may be incurred by it in so doing; |
(c) |
the Purchaser from and after Closing will indemnify and save harmless the Vendor
and its other Affiliates from and against any and all Claims relating thereto or
arising therefrom, but (i) only to the extent such Claims relate to the Business
and affairs of the Sold Company and (ii) with respect to any such agreement,
instrument, or employee benefit plan or program that is material, only if it is
included in the Data Room; and |
(d) |
the Purchaser agrees to cooperate with the Vendor in any effort by the Vendor to
obtain appropriate releases of the Vendor and its other Affiliates under such
agreements, instruments, or employee benefit plans or programs or otherwise to
clarify or confirm the appropriate allocation of liabilities thereunder among
the Vendor, the Sold Company and the Vendor’s other Affiliates. |
7.8 CSFB Debt
Withholding Tax Recovery
If
the Sold Company recovers any money on account of the CSFB Debt or withholding Taxes in
respect thereof, the Purchaser will cause that money to be paid to the Vendor promptly
after receipt thereof, and with respect to withholding Taxes, only to the extent such
amounts exceed the amount accrued on the balance sheet relating to such withholding Taxes.
7.9 Regulatory
Cooperation
For
a period of three (3) years after Closing, the Vendor will, at the Sold Company’s
cost and on its reasonable request, provide information that is in the possession of the
Vendor in relation to regulatory applications or matters pertaining to the Sold Company.
ARTICLE 8
REPRESENTATION AND
WARRANTY MATTERS PRIOR TO CLOSING
8.1 Defects to be
Identified
|
(a) |
If at any time and from time to time, before the scheduled Closing Date or, if
not scheduled, the Outside Date, the Purchaser considers that one or more
representations or warranties made by the Vendor and not the subject of a prior
Representation Notice was, in one or more respects, not true when made or will
not be true at Closing (a “R&W Defect”) and that the Defect
Amount attributable to the R&W Defect exceeds $100,000 and the Purchaser is
not prepared to waive such R&W Defect, then the Purchaser must promptly give
notice of the R&W Defect to the Vendor (a “Representation
Notice”); provided that a misrepresentation or breach of warranty in
Section 3.1(a), 3.2(a) to (e) inclusive, 3.3(a) or 3.4(a) will only be dealt
with under this Article 8 if the Purchaser so chooses in its sole
discretion. The Representation Notice must (i) unless the Purchaser has
previously given notice of the R&W Defect to the Vendor, identify in
reasonable detail the nature and description of the R&W Defect; (ii)
estimate the Defect Amount attributable to the R&W Defect, and (iii)
indicate how such Defect Amount was determined. For clarity, no Representation
Notice may be given in respect of any single alleged misrepresentation or breach
of warranty unless in the one or more respects it is alleged there is such a
misrepresentation or breach of warranty, it would reasonably be expected to have
or result in a Defect Amount of at least $100,000. |
|
(b) |
Promptly on, and in any event within five (5) Business Days of, receipt of a
Representation Notice, the Vendor must advise the Purchaser whether it agrees
that the matters described therein constitute R&W Defects and with the
Purchaser’s calculation of the Defect Amounts and, if not, of the reasons
for its disagreement. If the Vendor disagrees with the Purchaser’s
calculation of the Defect Amounts, the Vendor’s advice must set out a
determination of the Defect Amounts and an indication of how such Defect Amounts
were determined. |
|
(c) |
If with respect to any R&W Defect for which a Representation Notice has been
properly given: |
|
(i) |
the subject-matter of the applicable representation or warranty is true or
otherwise cured on or before the Outside Date, or |
|
(ii) |
the Purchaser waives the condition to Closing requiring such representation or
warranty to be true, or |
|
(iii) |
the R&W Defect has been reflected in a reduction of the Defect Threshold
Amount and the Indemnity Threshold Amount, the Defect Allowance or the Share
Purchase Price under Section 8.2(c), |
then
(iv) |
if (i) above applies, the Vendor will confirm on Closing that the applicable
representation or warranty is accurate in all material respects on the Closing
Date but need not certify that it was accurate at the date hereof; |
(v) |
if (ii) or (iii) applies, the Vendor need not confirm its accuracy at all; and |
(vi) |
if (i), (ii) or (iii) applies, then subject to the other terms and conditions
hereof, the Parties will complete the Closing and in any such case, neither the
R&W Defect nor the misrepresentation or breach of warranty forming the basis
thereof may form the subject-matter of any Claim hereunder nor may any action or
proceeding (whether by way of statement of claim, originating notice, motion,
defence, counterclaim, third party notice or otherwise) be brought or enforced
nor may any remedy or relief be sought by the Purchaser for or in respect
thereof. |
(d) |
If with respect to any R&W Defect the Defect Amount is determined to have
been less than $100,000, neither the R&W Defect nor the misrepresentation or
breach of warranty forming the basis thereof may form the subject-matter of any
Claim hereunder nor may any action or proceeding (whether by way of statement of
claim, originating notice, motion, defence, counterclaim, third party notice or
otherwise) be brought or enforced nor may any remedy or relief be sought by the
Purchaser for or in respect thereof. |
8.2 Curing Defects;
Valuation and Adjustment
|
(a) |
If a Representation Notice is timely given, the Vendor will use commercially
reasonable efforts to remedy the matters that it agrees constitute R&W
Defects and that are remediable as soon as possible after being notified
thereof. If the Vendor does not remedy and the Purchaser does not waive all
alleged R&W Defects (those that remain unremedied and unwaived, the
“Uncured Defects”) or the Parties have not agreed on whether
the matters constitute R&W Defects or the Defect Amount thereof by the
Outside Date the dispute will be submitted for determination to the business
valuation services of PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP (the
“Evaluator”). |
|
(b) |
Within three (3) days of appointment of the Evaluator, each Party must provide
to the other Party and, at the same time, to the Evaluator a written statement
separately setting forth its determination of the matters in dispute with
respect to alleged R&W Defects in the Representation Notice and Defect
Amounts thereof, together with written instructions that: |
|
(i) |
the Evaluator, to the extent that it may be necessary, may engage legal counsel
or other experts qualified by education and experience to advise the Evaluator
on the matters in dispute with respect to alleged R&W Defects, including
existence, extent or valuation thereof; |
|
(ii) |
for all R&W Defects related to a particular Section, the Evaluator, in
accordance with good valuation practices, must select, on the basis of
reasonableness, either the determination of all matters in dispute with respect
to such alleged R&W Defects submitted by one Party or the determination of
all matters in dispute with respect to such alleged R&W Defects submitted by
the other Party, based only upon the written statements submitted by them and
the Evaluator’s training, experience or expert advice. For clarity, the
Evaluator must select either the Purchaser’s determination of all matters
in dispute with respect to alleged R&W Defects related to a particular
Section or the Vendor’s determination of all matters in dispute with
respect to such alleged R&W Defects and is not entitled to propose a
compromise settlement or to pick one Party’s determination of some of the
matters in dispute with respect to alleged R&W Defects under a particular
Section and the other Party’s determination of the balance of them; |
|
(iii) |
the preceding paragraph (ii) must be followed for each Section in respect of
which there are R&W Defects; and |
|
(iv) |
such evaluation must be completed within twenty (20) Business Days from the date
of submission. |
|
The
fees and other costs to be paid to the Evaluator in respect to the services performed by
it are to be paid in equal shares by the Vendor and the Purchaser. If a Party fails to
provide a written statement to an Evaluator together with its written instructions as set
out herein, then the Evaluator must select the other Party’s determination and,
subject to Section 8.2(c) and to satisfaction or waiver of the conditions precedent
herein, the Closing will occur. |
(c) |
Upon the determination or agreement as to the matters in dispute with respect to
alleged R&W Defects in a Representation Notice: |
(i) |
if the aggregate of the Defect Amounts in respect of such Representation Notice
is less than the Defect Threshold Amount (as previously reduced, if applicable,
in respect of all other Representation Notices), the Defect Threshold Amount (as
so reduced) and the Indemnity Threshold Amount (as previously reduced, if
applicable, in respect of all other Representation Notices) as it applies to the
indemnity by the Vendor under Section 11.2(a) will be reduced by the aggregate
of such Defect Amounts and the Purchaser will complete the purchase of the Sold
Shares without allocation to the Defect Allowance or reduction of the Share
Purchase Price; |
(ii) |
if the aggregate of the Defect Amounts in respect of such Representation Notice
is equal to or greater than the Defect Threshold Amount (as previously reduced,
if applicable, in respect of all other Representation Notices), but less than
four (4) times the Indemnity Threshold Amount (prior to any reduction thereof),
then the Defect Threshold Amount will be reduced to nil and: |
(A) |
the remainder of such Defect Amounts will be allocated to the Defect Allowance,
without reduction of the Share Purchase Price and, subject to Section
8.2(c)(iii) and to satisfaction or waiver of the conditions precedent herein,
the Closing will occur; but |
(B) |
once the aggregate of the Defect Amounts in respect of all Representation
Notices (including the Representation Notice in question) from time to time
allocated to the Defect Allowance pursuant to Section 8.2(c)(ii)(A) equals
the amount of the Defect Allowance, all remaining Defect Amounts in respect of
the Representation Notice in question and all further Defect Amounts in respect
of all Representation Notices which have not been the subject of this Section
8.2(c) will reduce the Share Purchase Price and, subject to Section 8.2(c)(iii)
and to satisfaction or waiver of the conditions precedent herein, the Closing
will occur; or |
(iii) |
if the aggregate of the Defect Amounts in respect of all Representation Notices
equals or exceeds four (4) times the Indemnity Threshold Amount (prior to any
reduction thereof) then the Vendor or the Purchaser may elect to terminate this
Agreement in its entirety. |
(d) |
The Outside Date will be extended, if necessary, to the date that is five (5)
Business Days after the determination of all matters in dispute in relation to
R&W Defects or Defect Amounts and the Closing will be rescheduled to that
date and, subject to satisfaction or waiver of the conditions precedent herein,
completed on that date. |
(e) |
Any scheduled Closing Date shall be extended if and as necessary to give effect
to this Article 8; provided Closing shall not occur later than the Outside
Date. |
8.3 Covenants and
Agreements
The
provisions of this Article 8 shall for certainty apply only in respect of
misrepresentations or breaches of warranties and not in respect of breaches of, or failure
to comply with, covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement. For certainty the
parties acknowledge there are no limitations on the enforcement of covenants and
agreements herein in accordance with their respective terms and no limitations on Claims
relating to breaches for failures to comply with covenants or agreements contained in this
Agreement except, after Closing, those limitations contained in Article 11 hereof;
provided that this Section 8.3 does not affect or limit Section 2.9(b) or 2.10(b).
ARTICLE 9
DISCLAIMER
9.1 Scope of
Representations of the Vendor
(a) |
Except as and to the extent set forth in Article 3 hereof, the Vendor makes
no representations or warranties whatsoever, whether in connection with or in
relation to the Assets, the Business or the Sold Company or the transactions
contemplated hereby or otherwise, and the Vendor hereby disclaims all, and the
Purchaser may not assert or claim that the Vendor has any, liability or
responsibility for or in respect of any other representation, warranty,
statement or information made or communicated (orally or in writing) to the
Purchaser or any agent, consultant, representative or advisor of the Purchaser
or any representation, warranty or condition implied by law. |
(b) |
The Purchaser acknowledges that it has made its own independent investigations,
analyses, evaluations and verifications of the Assets, the Business and the Sold
Company, provided that the foregoing will not limit or diminish the obligations
and liabilities of the Vendor, nor the rights and remedies of the Purchaser
under this Agreement. |
ARTICLE 10
TERMINATION
10.1 Termination
This
Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing Date:
|
(a) |
by the mutual written agreement of the Parties; |
|
(b) |
by the Vendor or by the Purchaser if: |
|
(i) |
a Government Authority from which a Required Legal and Regulatory Outcome for
its benefit or for the mutual benefit of the parties is to be obtained advises
in writing of its refusal to give or grant the Authorizations in the required
form or in satisfactory form, as applicable, provided, where applicable, the
Parties first comply with the process set forth in Section 6.2; |
|
(ii) |
an Insolvency Event occurs with respect to the other Party; or |
|
(iii) |
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby would violate any
order, decree or judgment of any Government Authority that has not been stayed
and the appeal periods in respect thereof have expired, |
|
provided
that a Party will not be allowed to exercise any right of termination pursuant to this
Section 10.1(b) if the event giving rise to such right is due to the failure of such Party
to perform or observe in any material respect any of the covenants or agreements set forth
herein to be performed by such Party; |
(c)
by the Purchaser as contemplated by Section 5.5(g)(ii); or
(d)
by the Vendor or the Purchaser as contemplated by Section 8.2(c).
10.2 Automatic
Termination
This
Agreement will automatically terminate without action of the Parties if the Closing has
not occurred by the Outside Date.
10.3 Effect of
Termination
(a) |
If this Agreement is terminated by the Vendor or by the Purchaser as permitted
under Section 10.1 or is automatically terminated under Section 10.2, such
termination will result in neither Party having any liability to the other
Party, or to any of its shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents,
consultants, representatives or advisors except if the event giving rise to the
right to terminate under Section 10.1 or giving rise to the non-occurrence
of Closing in the case of automatic termination under Section 10.2 is due
to the failure of a Party to perform or observe in any material respect any of
its covenants or agreements set forth herein, in which case such Party will be
fully liable for any and all damages, costs and expenses (including loss of
bargain and loss of opportunity and reasonable counsel fees) in respect of such
damages, costs and expenses, sustained or incurred by the other Party as a
result of such failure or breach, subject to a maximum aggregate liability
amount of $100,000,000, less any amount paid by such Party under Section 10.4. |
(b) |
The Confidentiality Agreement will survive any termination of this Agreement and
the term thereof will be and, if necessary, is hereby extended to, the later of
(i) expiry date according to its terms or (ii) the date that is one year after
termination of this Agreement. |
10.4 Failure or Refusal
to Close
Notwithstanding
anything else in this Agreement, if the Closing does not occur as a result of the failure
or refusal by a Party to Close when all conditions precedent to the Closing have been
satisfied or waived and this Agreement has not been terminated pursuant to
Article 10, then such Party will be fully liable for any and all damages, costs and
expenses (including loss of bargain and loss of opportunity and reasonable counsel fees)
in respect of such damages, costs and expenses sustained or incurred by the other Party as
a result of such failure or refusal to Close subject to a maximum aggregate liability
amount of $100,000,000, less any amount paid by such Party under Section 10.3.
ARTICLE 11
INDEMNITIES
AND SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES, COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS
11.1 Survival
(a) |
Each Party’s rights and remedies with respect to the representations,
warranties, covenants, agreements and indemnities of the other Party set forth
in this Agreement or in any certificate or instrument delivered in connection
herewith, other than the Sold Company Release, the Vendor Release or the Aquila
Guarantee, will merge in the Closing excepting only (i) Claims referred to in
the definition of Survival Period in respect of which a notice of Claim has been
received by the Vendor or the Purchaser within the applicable Survival Period
specifying the subject matter of the Claim, the provision hereof alleged to
contain the misrepresentation or to have been breached and giving reasonable
particulars thereof and (ii) Claims by the Vendor or the Purchaser under Section
2.12, 5.5 or 7.7 or by the Vendor under Section 7.4 or by the Purchaser under
Section 7.9. |
(b) |
To the maximum extent legally permitted, the Parties hereby waive and agree that
they will not have, and they each hereby disclaim, any Claims, rights or
remedies, and may not bring any action or proceeding (whether by way of
statement of claim, originating notice, motion, defence, counterclaim, third
party notice or otherwise) to enforce or obtain any remedy or relief in respect
of or arising from any Claim after the last date that such Claim may be brought
as permitted hereby. |
(c) |
No action or proceeding (whether by way of statement of claim, originating
notice, motion, defence, counterclaim, third party notice or otherwise) may be
brought or enforced nor may any remedy or relief in respect thereof be sought by
the Purchaser after Closing for or in respect of an alleged inaccuracy in
Section 3.16 or an alleged misrepresentation or breach of warranty of Section
3.16. |
11.2 General Indemnities
|
(a) |
If the Closing occurs, the Vendor will, with respect to Claims made within the
Survival Period, but subject to Sections 11.1(c) and 11.6, indemnify the
Purchaser and its Affiliates and any successors or permitted assignees of the
Purchaser (collectively, “Purchaser Indemnified Parties”) from
and against and save and hold each Purchaser Indemnified Party harmless from all
Claims sustained or incurred by the Purchaser Indemnified Party resulting from: |
|
(i) |
any misrepresentation or breach of warranty made by the Vendor herein that is
actionable in accordance herewith or a false certification by the Vendor at
Closing under Section 2.9(a) as to its representations and warranties
herein, other than (in each case) in Section 3.7(e), for which the
Purchaser’s sole and exclusive remedy after Closing is under
Section 11.5; or |
|
(ii) |
the failure of the Vendor to comply with, or the breach by the Vendor of, any of
the covenants or agreements in this Agreement to be performed by the Vendor, |
(collectively,
the “Purchaser Indemnified Loss”); provided that:
|
(A) |
except with respect to those matters enumerated in Section 11.2(a)(ii)(B), none
of the Purchaser Indemnified Parties will be entitled to assert rights of
indemnification under this Article 11 in respect of any misrepresentation
or breach of warranty unless the Defect Amount attributable thereto is at least
$100,000 or for any Purchaser Indemnified Loss unless the aggregate of all such
Purchaser Indemnified Loss exceeds the Indemnity Threshold Amount, reduced, if
applicable, under Section 8.2(c), it being agreed that Purchaser
Indemnified Loss will accumulate without any Claim being available in respect
thereof until the aggregate of all Purchaser Indemnified Loss exceeds such
Indemnity Threshold Amount, whereupon the Purchaser Indemnified Parties will be
entitled to indemnification hereunder for all Purchaser Indemnified Loss; |
|
(B) |
the limitations in Sections 11.2(a)(ii)(A) and (C) will not apply to any
misrepresentation by the Vendor in Section 3.1, 3.2(a) to (e), 3.3(a) or (b) or
3.4(a); |
|
(C) |
the maximum aggregate of all Purchaser Indemnified Loss for which Purchaser
Indemnified Parties will be entitled to indemnification hereunder may not exceed
$100,000,000; and |
|
(D) |
the Purchaser Indemnified Parties will determine among themselves how any
recovery from the Vendor on account of Purchaser Indemnified Loss will be
allocated between or among them and no issue related to such allocation will
affect their entitlement to recovery. |
|
(b) |
If the Closing occurs, the Purchaser will, with respect to Claims made within
the Survival Period, but subject to Section 11.6, indemnify the Vendor and its
Affiliates and any successors or permitted assignees of the Vendor
(collectively, the “Vendor Indemnified Parties”) from and
against and hold each Vendor Indemnified Party harmless from all Claims
sustained or incurred by the Vendor Indemnified Party resulting from: |
|
(i) |
any misrepresentation or breach of warranty made by Purchaser herein that is
actionable in accordance herewith or a false certification by the Purchaser at
Closing under Section 2.10(a) as to its representations and warranties
herein; or |
|
(ii) |
the failure of the Purchaser to comply with, or the breach by the Purchaser of,
any of the covenants or agreements in this Agreement to be performed by the
Purchaser, |
(collectively,
the “Vendor Indemnified Loss”); provided that:
|
(A) |
except with respect to those matters enumerated in Section 11.2(b)(ii)(B),
none of the Vendor Indemnified Parties will be entitled to assert rights of
indemnification under this Article 11 in respect of any misrepresentation
or breach of warranty unless the Vendor’s loss attributable thereto is at
least $100,000 or for any Vendor Indemnified Loss unless the aggregate of all
Vendor Indemnified Loss exceeds the Indemnity Threshold Amount, it being agreed
that Vendor Indemnified Loss will accumulate without any Claim being available
in respect thereof until the aggregate of all Vendor Indemnified Loss exceeds
the Indemnity Threshold Amount, whereupon the Vendor Indemnified Parties will be
entitled to indemnification hereunder for all Vendor Indemnified Loss; |
|
(B) |
the limitations in Sections 11.2(b)(ii)(A) and (C) will not apply to
(I) the obligation of the Purchaser to ensure the Sold Company pays the
Intercorporate Debt and CSFB Debt, or (II) any misrepresentation by the
Purchaser in Section 4.1, 4.2 or 4.3(a); |
|
(C) |
the maximum aggregate of all Vendor Indemnified Loss for which the Vendor
Indemnified Parties will be entitled to indemnification hereunder may not exceed
$100,000,000; and |
|
(D) |
the Vendor Indemnified Parties will determine among themselves how any recovery
from the Purchaser on account of Vendor Indemnified Loss will be allocated
between or among them and no issue related to such allocation will affect their
entitlement to recovery. |
11.3 Procedure –
General Indemnities
If
a Party (the “Claiming Party”) wishes to claim indemnification from the
other Party (the “Indemnifying Party”) pursuant to Section 11.2:
(a) |
it must provide prompt notice upon acquiring knowledge of the subject matter of
the Claim (the “Indemnified Claim”); provided that failure to
give such notice will not limit or lessen the right of the Claiming Party to
indemnity hereunder except to the extent that the Indemnifying Party is
prejudiced in its contestation of the Indemnified Claim as a result of such
failure; |
(b) |
where the Indemnified Claim is a claim by a third party, if reasonably requested
by the Indemnifying Party within thirty (30) days from receipt of the notice
referred to in (a) or such shorter period as the Claiming Party has notified the
Indemnifying Party is required by Applicable Law to commence such contest, and
provided that the Indemnifying Party has acknowledged to the Claiming Party that
the Indemnified Claim is covered by the indemnity herein, the Claiming Party
must at the expense of the Indemnifying Party in good faith contest the
validity, applicability or the amount of such Indemnified Claim by all
reasonable proceedings or, at the option of the Indemnifying Party, the
Indemnifying Party will be entitled to conduct such contestation or, if the
contestation thereof is not in the control of the Claiming Party, exercise any
rights to vote (by ballot or otherwise) in respect of the Indemnified Claim as
instructed by the Indemnifying Party from time to time; |
(c) |
where the Indemnified Claim is a claim by a third party, in the event of any
contest of any Indemnified Claim, whether by the Indemnifying Party or the
Claiming Party, the other Party must provide all such assistance, including
access to documents and officers and employees, as may be requested by the Party
conducting the contestation of the Indemnified Claim and the other Party shall
be entitled (at its own expense) to be represented by separate counsel in the
contestation; |
(d) |
where the Indemnified Claim is a claim by a third party, neither Party may
settle or agree to pay or, if the settlement contestation of such Indemnified
Claim is not in the control of the Party, exercise any rights to vote (by ballot
or otherwise) in favour of a settlement or agreement to pay, the Indemnified
Claim without the consent of the other, such consent not to be unreasonably
withheld; and |
(e) |
where the Indemnified Claim is a claim by a third party, if the Indemnifying
Party has paid an amount in respect of an Indemnified Claim pursuant hereto,
then (i) the Indemnifying Party will be subrogated to all and any Claims which
the Claiming Party may have relating thereto without any further action; (ii)
the Claiming Party, without limiting its rights to the indemnity herein, must
give such further assurances and agreements and cooperate with the Indemnifying
Party to permit the Indemnifying Party to pursue such Claims as and when
requested by the Indemnifying Party; and (iii) if the Claiming Party is
subsequently reimbursed from any source in respect of the Indemnified Claim from
any other Person, the Claiming Party must promptly pay to the Indemnifying Party
such amounts received, including interest actually received attributable
thereto. |
11.4 Indemnities
Regarding EPCOR Claim
(a) |
The Parties acknowledge that EPCOR filed a statement of claim in the Court of
Queen’s Bench of Alberta, Judicial District of Edmonton (Action
No. 0303-14921) in respect of certain alleged breaches by the Sold Company,
the Vendor and Aquila, inter alia, in respect of obligations
related to the arrangements contemplated by the EPCOR Sale Documentation and
Applicable Law (the “EPCOR Claim”). |
(b) |
The Vendor, with respect to Claims made in writing during the Survival Period,
will indemnify and save harmless each Purchaser Indemnified Party from and
against, all EPCOR Liabilities and the Sold Company from and against the EPCOR
Claim. |
(c) |
With respect to Claims made in writing during the Survival Period, the direct of
indirect subsidiary or subsidiaries, as applicable, of the Purchaser that owns
the shares of the immediate parent company of the Sold Company or the “Sold
Company” under the Other Share Purchase Agreement, will indemnify and save
harmless each Vendor Indemnified Party from and against all EPCOR Liabilities
from and after Closing, except Claims provided for in Section 11.4(d); provided
that no claim to indemnity under this Section 11.4(c) will be hindered, delayed
or affected by any need to determine, or any determination as to, the Sold
Company’s ability to give and comply with such indemnity. |
(d) |
The indemnity in Section 11.4(c) will not apply to, and the Vendor, with respect
to Claims made during the Survival Period, will indemnify and save harmless the
Sold Company and each Purchaser Indemnified Party from and against Claims any of
them suffers or incurs to the extent attributable to the failure to obtain the
consent of EPCOR to (i) the revocation, prior to Closing, of the Vendor’s
appointment as “wire services provider” or (ii) the assignment or
termination prior to Closing of any EPCOR Sale Documentation to which the Vendor
or Aquila is a party. |
(e) |
Prior to the Closing the Vendor, and from and after the Closing the Sold Company
or the owner of the shares of the Sold Company from time to time, will have the
right, at its sole cost and expense, and subject to Sections 11.4(f) and
(g), to (i) have full carriage and control of the EPCOR Claim and any appeals
related thereto, (ii) represent the interests of the Sold Company in any such
proceedings or with respect to any matter that may give rise to a claim for
indemnity or other payment under this Section 11.4, and (iii) control the
conduct of such proceedings, including discussions, negotiations, settlement,
compromise or other disposition thereof. |
(f) |
The Vendor will, prior to the Closing (i) consult with the Purchaser as to all
matters of significance related to the conduct of the defence of the EPCOR Claim
or any counterclaim, third party claim or other Claim related thereto, (ii)
provide copies in draft with a reasonable opportunity to comment on any
pleadings, motions, briefs or other written materials proposed to be filed with
the court in relation to the EPCOR Claim or any counterclaim, third party claim
or other Claim related thereto, and (iii) without the Purchaser’s consent,
not to be unreasonably withheld, not make any concession as to a significant
aspect of liability or quantum of damages or make or agree to accept any offer
of settlement or compromise in relation to the EPCOR Claim or any counterclaim,
third party claim or other Claim related thereto, except that the
Purchaser’s consent will not be required if the Sold Company is required by
any Government Authority (including the “Independent System Operator”
under the Electric Utilities Act (Alberta)) to effect payment prior to
Closing of any amount that EPCOR has claimed is owing in the EPCOR Claim (a
“Forced Payment”). |
(g) |
Prior to Closing the Purchaser, and from and after the Closing the Vendor, will
cooperate with any reasonable request made by, and at the expense of, the other
(or the Sold Company) for information or assistance, or appearance at
examinations for discovery, trial, appeal or preparation for any of the
foregoing, in relation to the EPCOR Claim. |
(h) |
Following the Closing, the Purchaser will cause the Sold Company to perform the
obligations of the Vendor under the EPCOR Sale Documentation and, to the extent
applicable, its appointment as “wire services provider”. |
11.5 Tax Indemnity
(a) |
The Vendor, with respect to Claims made in writing by the Purchaser during the
Survival Period, will indemnify the Purchaser from and against all loss suffered
or sustained by the Purchaser attributable to liabilities of the Sold Company
for Taxes pursuant to the ITA or the Alberta Corporate Income Tax Act
(“ACITA”) in respect of any taxation year ending on or
prior to the Closing Date, but only to the extent the amount of such Taxes for
which the Sold Company is liable exceeds the greater of (i) the amounts, if any,
set out or provided for in their returns of Taxes as filed and assessed by CCRA
or Alberta Revenue, Tax and Revenue Administration (each, a “Tax
Authority”) prior to the Closing or, in the case of the Tax year ending
on Closing, the amount reflected in the final determination of the Working
Capital and Other Amount and (ii) the amount accrued in respect of such Taxes in
the Financial Statements, excluding any amount of such excess that may
reasonably be expected to be recoverable from customers, retailers or Persons
appointed to perform retail functions or that is attributable to events that
occur after the Closing Date (“Excess Taxes”). Any amount owing
by the Vendor under this Section 11.5 will be paid within ten (10) Business Days
of the determination that Excess Taxes are owing by the Sold Company. For these
purposes, the Purchaser’s loss will be considered to be and to be limited
to one dollar for each dollar of Excess Taxes. |
(b) |
The Purchaser will give prompt written notice to the Vendor of any written or
oral notice of inquiry, assessment, reassessment, notice of assessment, or
notice of re-assessment received from a Tax Authority and relating to a matter
that may give rise to a Claim for indemnity or a payment under Section 11.5(a)
(each, a “Tax Issue”) and will not enter into discussions or
negotiations with any Tax Authority with respect to, or settle or compromise,
any Tax Issue without the Vendor’s consent. |
(c) |
The Vendor shall, within 30 days of the receipt of notice from the Purchaser
under Section 11.5(b) of a Tax Issue or, if later, prior to the time that any
Excess Taxes are due, pay to the Purchaser all Excess Taxes owing, or alleged by
the Tax Authority to be owing, as a result of the Tax Issue. The Purchaser will,
or will cause the Sold Company to, forward amounts so received from the Vendor
to the Tax Authority on account of the Tax Issue and preserve for the Vendor any
rights of appeal or contestation related to the Tax Issue. |
(d) |
The Vendor will have the right, at its expense, to appeal any Tax Issue and to
represent the interests of the Sold Company in any tax audit or administrative
or court proceeding (each, a “Proceeding”) relating to the
taxation years of the Sold Company ending on or prior to the Closing Date or
with respect to any matter that may give rise to a Claim for indemnity or other
payment under this Section 11.5 and to control the conduct of such Proceeding,
including discussions, negotiations, settlement, compromise or other disposition
thereof. The Vendor will pay any penalties or interest in respect of any Tax
Issue that affect the amount of such Taxes and that are attributable to its
carriage of the matter pursuant to this Section 11.5(d). |
(e) |
The amount of any refund received by the Purchaser or the Sold Company on
account of Taxes as a result of an appeal of a Tax Issue by the Vendor or a
Proceeding will be credited to the Vendor and the Purchaser will pay such amount
to the Vendor within ten (10) Business Days of receipt thereof. |
(f) |
The Purchaser will not, and the Purchaser will ensure that the Sold Company does
not, without the consent of the Vendor, given or withheld in its sole discretion
(i) file any amended return of Taxes, or (ii) sign any waiver or other document
or instrument extending the period within which a Tax Authority may issue a
notice of assessment or reassessment, in either case for any taxation year of
the Sold Company ending on or prior to the Closing Date. |
(g) |
The Purchaser will and will cause the Sold Company to cooperate with any
reasonable requests of the Vendor for information and assistance in relation to
any Tax Issue or Proceeding and permit the Vendor during normal business hours
to inspect and make copies, at its expense, of relevant books and records, and
provide cooperation, including attendance at the offices of the relevant Tax
Authority or at any appeal or other Proceeding related to any Tax Issue, and
make any objection, appeal or other action relating to a Tax Issue that the
Vendor requests, acting reasonably. The Purchaser agrees to cause the Sold
Company to execute or cause to be executed any document necessary, reasonable
and appropriate to enable the Vendor to so defend, object, oppose or contest. |
(h) |
For clarity, the Vendor will, in the carriage of any Tax Issue or Proceeding,
have discretion to agree to a compromise or settlement that reduces or increases
Taxes otherwise payable and to which the indemnity in this Section 11.5 applies
by increasing or decreasing claims made by the Sold Company against balances of
undepreciated capital cost (“UCC”) of the Sold Company in respect of
the relevant taxation year provided that if it does so, then the Vendor must
compensate the Purchaser or the Purchaser must compensate the Vendor, as
applicable, for the value of the reduction or increase in the applicable Classes
of UCC of the Sold Company that results. Value of the reduction or increase of
Classes of UCC will be the product of the amount of the reduction or increase,
as applicable, and the following percentages: |
(iv) |
for Class 10: 27%; and |
(i) |
The Vendor is not responsible for any payments that would otherwise be payable
hereunder to the extent the liability for Taxes is attributable to the refusal,
delay or neglect of the Purchaser to observe and perform its obligations
hereunder. |
(j) |
The obligations of the Vendor and the rights of the Purchaser under this
Section 11.5 shall be the sole and exclusive remedy of the Purchaser after
Closing in respect of the representation and warranty of the Vendor in
Section 3.7(e) or any other matter herein in respect of Taxes for taxation
years of the Sold Company ending on or prior to the Closing Date. |
(k) |
Should the Vendor or the Purchaser fail to pay any amounts owing to the other
under this Section 11.5 within the time stipulated for payment thereof, interest
at the Prime Rate from time to time in effect shall be paid by the Party owing
such amount on the unpaid amount from the date due until paid in full. |
(l) |
Any payment made hereunder by the Vendor or by the Purchaser will be an
adjustment to the Share Purchase Price. Accordingly, any such payment by (i) the
Vendor is a decrease, or (ii) by the Purchaser is an increase, of the Share
Purchase Price. |
11.6 Limitations on
Indemnity and Liability
(a) |
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, neither
Party will be liable hereunder for any damages, costs, expenses, injuries,
losses or other liabilities of an indirect, special or consequential nature
suffered by the Claiming Party or claimed by any third party against the
Claiming Party or any exemplary or punitive damages, costs or expenses suffered
by the Claiming Party. |
(b) |
The indemnity obligations of the Parties under Section 11.2 do not apply to, and
no Claim may be brought thereunder in respect of, any matters related to the
finalization of the Working Capital and Other Amount, the Closing Adjustment, or
the amount of Intercorporate Debt, Canadian Equivalent of the CSFB Debt or
Indebtedness for Borrowed Money, all of which will be governed exclusively by
Section 2.5 or to Claims under Section 2.12, 5.5, 7.7, 7.8, 10.3, 11.4 or 11.5
or all of which will be governed exclusively by those Sections. |
ARTICLE 12
NOTICES
12.1 Notices
Every
notice, statement, advice, request, demand, consent or other communication (each, a
“Communication”) under this Agreement must be in writing in the English
language and must be sent by courier or telefax, as to each Party, to it at its address
set forth herein or at such other address as is designated by it in a written notice to
the other Party. Except as provided in this Section 12.1, all Communications will be
deemed to have been given when delivered or sent, as the case may be. Any Communication
delivered or sent on a day other than a Business Day, or after 3:00 p.m. at the intended
point of receipt on a Business Day, will be deemed to have been given on the next Business
Day. Until such notice of change of address has been given in the manner provided in this
Section, Communications shall be addressed as follows:
(a)
to the Vendor, as follows:
Aquila
Networks Canada Ltd.
Attn:
President700,
000 – 0xx Xxxxxx XXXxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx X0X 0X0
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
with
a copy to:
Aquila,
Inc.
Attn:
General Counsel20
X. Xxxxx XxxxxxXxxxxx
Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx of
America
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
and
W.H.
(Xxxx) Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx, XXX0000,
000 – 0xx Xxxxxx XXXxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx
X0X 0X0
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
(b)
to the Purchaser, as follows:
Fortis
Inc.
Attention:
President and Chief Executive XxxxxxxXxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000000
Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
P.O.
Box 8837
St.
John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador A1B 3T2
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
with
a copy to:
Fortis
Inc.Attention:
General CounselThe
Fortis Building, Suite 1201139
Water Street
P.O.
Box 8837
St.
John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador A1B 3P6
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
and
to:
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx LLP
Attention:
Xxxx Carleton3700,
000 – 0xx Xxxxxx XXXxxxxxx,
XX X0X 0X0
Facsimile: (000)
000-0000
ARTICLE 13
MISCELLANEOUS
13.1 Costs
Except
as specifically provided herein, all legal and other costs and expenses in connection with
this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby will be paid by the Party that
incurred the same.
13.2 Assignment
This
Agreement may not be assigned by either Party nor may either Party delegate any
obligations hereunder without prior written consent of the other party, which consent may
not be unreasonably withheld; provided that this Agreement may be assigned by the
Purchaser (i) to a direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary, or (ii) to any bank or
financial institution in respect of any loans or indebtedness incurred to finance the
Purchase Price. No assignment of this Agreement or any obligations hereunder will operate
to release the assigning Party from its obligations hereunder, unless otherwise consented
by the other Party.
13.3 No Third Party
Beneficiaries
Nothing
in this Agreement entitles any Person other than the Parties and their respective
successors and permitted assigns to any Claim, cause of action, remedy or right of any
kind in respect of the subject matter hereof.
13.4 Entire Agreement
This
Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and the agreements, documents and
instruments contemplated hereby constitute the entire agreement between the Parties
relating to, and, except for the Confidentiality Agreement, there are no collateral or
other statements, understandings, covenants, agreements, representations or warranties,
written or oral, relating to, the subject matter of the Transaction Documents. This
Agreement supersedes all prior agreements, understandings, negotiations and discussions,
whether oral or written, between the Parties or their predecessors relating to the subject
matter of this Agreement except the Confidentiality Agreement. This Section 13.4 does not
derogate from or otherwise affect the obligations of the Parties under any agreement,
document or instrument executed and delivered pursuant hereto or in implementation of the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.
13.5 Successors and
Assigns
This
Agreement will enure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Parties and their
respective successors and permitted assigns.
13.6 No Waiver
(a) |
Except as provided herein, no failure on the part of any Party in making any
complaint or exercising any right or remedy under this Agreement (regardless how
long such failure continues, but subject to the limitations herein related to
the time within which Claims may be brought) operates as a waiver thereof, nor
will any single or partial exercise of any such right or remedy preclude any
other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or remedy
in law, or by statute, equity or otherwise conferred. |
(b) |
Except as provided herein, no waiver of any provision of this Agreement,
including this Section, will be effective otherwise than by an instrument in
writing dated subsequent to the date hereof, executed by duly authorized
representatives of the Party purported to have given such waiver. |
(c) |
No consent or waiver by a Party, express or implied, to or of any breach or
default by another Party in the performance by such other Party of its
obligations hereunder will be deemed or construed to be a consent or waiver to
or of any other breach or default in the performance by such other Party of the
same or any other obligations of such other Party hereunder. |
13.7 Amendment
This
Agreement may not be varied or amended in its terms otherwise than by an instrument in
writing dated subsequent to the date hereof, executed by duly authorized representatives
of the Parties.
13.8 No Restrictions on
Business
For
the avoidance of doubt, nothing contained in this Agreement grants any rights not
expressly mentioned or restricts any Party from engaging in any business or activity not
expressly prohibited by this Agreement.
13.9 Continuing Liability
Except
as provided herein, any provision of this Agreement under which an obligation of a Party
has accrued but has not been discharged will not be affected by termination of this
Agreement, nor will the Party liable to perform be discharged as a result of any such
termination, nor will termination prejudice any right of a Party against the other in
respect of anything done or omitted hereunder prior to such termination or in respect of
any right to damages or other remedies.
13.10 Time of the Essence
In
this Agreement, time is of the essence.
13.11 Governing Law;
Attornment; Waiver of Jury Trial
|
(a) |
This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the
Applicable Laws prevailing in the Province of Alberta. There will be no
application of any conflict of laws rules inconsistent with this Section
13.11(a). |
|
(b) |
The Parties do hereby: |
|
(i) |
submit and attorn to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of the
Province of Alberta for all matters arising out of or relating to this
Agreement, or any of the transactions contemplated hereby; |
|
(ii) |
waive all right to object to jurisdiction or execution in any legal action or
proceeding relative to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby
which they may now or hereafter have by reason of domicile or otherwise; |
|
(iii) |
waive any objection to the laying of venue in such Courts of the Province of
Alberta of any of the aforesaid actions, suits or proceedings arising out of or
in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby; |
|
(iv) |
waive and agree not to plead or claim that any action, suit or proceeding in
such Courts has been brought in an inconvenient forum; and |
|
(v) |
waive any right they may have to, or to apply for, trial by jury in connection
with any matter, action, proceeding, claim or counterclaim arising out of or
relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby. |
[THE REMAINDER OF THIS
PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
13.12
Execution
This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts (which may be evidenced by
facsimile copies of counterpart execution pages), no one of which needs to be executed by
both Parties, and when both Parties have executed a counterpart hereof, all such
counterparts together comprise one and the same agreement and this Agreement is binding
upon the Parties, with the same force and effect as if both Parties had signed the same
document, and each such signed counterpart shall constitute an original of this Agreement.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written
above.
|
|
Vendor: |
|
AQUILA NETWORKS CANADA LTD. |
|
By: | |
/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxx | |
| |
Title: President | |
Purchaser: | |
FORTIS INC. | |
By: | |
| |
Title: | |
By: | |
| |
Title: | |
This is the execution page to the
Share Purchase Agreement dated September 15th, 2003.
13.12 Execution
This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts (which may be evidenced by
facsimile copies of counterpart execution pages), no one of which needs to be executed by
both Parties, and when both Parties have executed a counterpart hereof, all such
counterparts together comprise one and the same agreement and this Agreement is binding
upon the Parties, with the same force and effect as if both Parties had signed the same
document, and each such signed counterpart shall constitute an original of this Agreement.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written
above.
|
|
Vendor: |
|
AQUILA NETWORKS CANADA LTD. |
|
By: | |
| |
| |
Title: | |
Purchaser: | |
FORTIS INC. | |
By: | |
/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx | |
| |
Title: President and CEO | |
By: | |
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxx | |
| |
Title: CFO | |
This is the execution page to the
Share Purchase Agreement dated September 15th, 2003.