Agreement of Sale and Purchase EnerVest Appalachia, L.P. as Seller and EnerVest Production Partners, Ltd. as Buyer Dated November 16, 2007
Exhibit
2.8
EnerVest
Appalachia, L.P.
as
Seller
and
EnerVest
Production Partners, Ltd.
as
Buyer
Dated
November 16, 2007
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE
I. Definitions and References
|
1
|
Section
1.1. Defined Terms
|
1
|
ARTICLE
II. Property to be Sold and Purchased
|
2
|
Section
2.1. Properties
|
2
|
Section
2.2. Excluded Properties
|
3
|
ARTICLE
III. Purchase Price
|
4
|
Section
3.1. Purchase Price
|
4
|
Section
3.2. Deposit
|
4
|
ARTICLE
IV. Representations of Seller
|
5
|
Section
4.1. Representations of Seller
|
5
|
(a)
Organization and Qualification
|
5
|
(b)
Due Authorization
|
5
|
(c)
Approvals
|
5
|
(d)
Valid, Binding and Enforceable
|
5
|
(e)
Litigation
|
6
|
Section
4.2. Disclaimers
|
6
|
Section
4.3. Disclosures
|
7
|
Section
4.4. Buyer’s Knowledge
|
7
|
ARTICLE
V. Representations of Buyer
|
7
|
Section
5.1. Representations of Buyer
|
7
|
(a)
Organization and Qualification
|
7
|
(b)
Due Authorization
|
7
|
(c)
Approvals
|
7
|
(d)
Valid, Binding and Enforceable
|
7
|
(e)
No Litigation
|
7
|
(f)
No Distribution
|
8
|
(g)
Knowledge and Experience
|
8
|
(h)
Opportunity to Verify Information
|
8
|
(i)
Merits and Risks of an Investment in the
Properties
|
8
|
ARTICLE
VI. Covenants of Seller Pending Closing
|
8
|
Section
6.1. Access by Buyer
|
8
|
Section
6.2. Interim Operation
|
10
|
Section
6.3. Preferential Rights and Consents
|
10
|
Section
6.4. Hedging Contracts
|
11
|
ARTICLE
VII. Due Diligence Reviews
|
11
|
Section
7.1. Review by Buyer
|
11
|
i
ARTICLE
VIII. Calculation of Defect Amount; Upward
Adjustments
|
13
|
Section
8.1. Procedures
|
13
|
Section
8.2. Amount of Certain Defects
|
13
|
Section
8.3. Possible Upward Adjustments
|
14
|
Section
8.4. Limitations
|
14
|
ARTICLE
IX. Conditions Precedent to Closing Obligations
|
14
|
Section
9.1. Conditions Precedent to the Obligations of
Buyer
|
14
|
(a)
Representations True and Correct
|
14
|
(b)
Compliance with Covenants and Agreements
|
15
|
(c)
Price Allocation Limitations
|
15
|
(d)
Litigation
|
15
|
Section
9.2. Conditions Precedent to the Obligations of
Seller
|
15
|
(a)
Representations True and Correct
|
15
|
(b)
Compliance With Covenants and Agreements
|
15
|
(c)
Price Allocation Limitations
|
16
|
(d)
Litigation
|
16
|
ARTICLE
X. Closing
|
16
|
Section
10.1. Closing
|
16
|
Section
10.2. Seller’s Closing Obligations
|
16
|
(a)
Delivery of Conveyance
|
16
|
(b)
Federal and State Conveyance Forms
|
17
|
(c)
Letters in Lieu
|
17
|
(d)
Turn Over Possession
|
17
|
Section
10.3. Buyer’s Closing Obligations
|
17
|
(a)
Payment to Seller
|
17
|
(b)
Succession by Buyer
|
17
|
ARTICLE
XI. Post Closing Actions
|
17
|
Section
11.1. Transfer of Files
|
17
|
Section
11.2. Notifications by Buyer
|
18
|
ARTICLE
XII. Accounting Adjustments
|
18
|
Section
12.1. Adjustments for Revenues and Expenses
|
18
|
Section
12.2. Initial Adjustment at Closing
|
19
|
Section
12.3. Adjustment Post Closing
|
19
|
Section
12.4. No Further Adjustments
|
20
|
ARTICLE
XIII. Assumption and Indemnification
|
20
|
Section
13.1. Assumption and Indemnification By Buyer
|
20
|
Section
13.2. Notice of Claim
|
21
|
Section
13.3. No Commissions Owed
|
21
|
ARTICLE
XIV. Casualty Losses
|
21
|
Section
14.1. Casualty Loss
|
21
|
ii
ARTICLE
XV. Notices
|
22
|
Section
15.1. Notices
|
22
|
ARTICLE
XVI. Miscellaneous Matters
|
23
|
Section
16.1. Survival of Provisions
|
23
|
Section
16.2. Further Assurances
|
23
|
Section
16.3. Gas Imbalances, Make-Up Obligations
|
23
|
Section
16.4. Waiver of Consumer Rights
|
23
|
Section
16.5. Parties Bear Own Expenses/No Special
Damages
|
24
|
Section
16.6. No Sales Taxes
|
24
|
Section
16.7. Entire Agreement
|
24
|
Section
16.8. Amendments, Waivers
|
24
|
Section
16.9. Choice of Law
|
24
|
Section
16.10. Time of Essence
|
24
|
Section
16.11. No Assignment
|
24
|
Section
16.12. Successors and Assigns
|
25
|
Section
16.13. No Press Releases
|
25
|
Section
16.14. Counterpart Execution, Fax Execution
|
25
|
Section
16.15. Exclusive Remedy
|
25
|
Section
16.16. Imputed Knowledge and Waiver
|
25
|
Section
16.17. Arbitration
|
26
|
Section
16.18. References, Titles and Construction
|
26
|
Section
16.19. Severability
|
27
|
iii
LIST
OF SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS
I
|
Xxxxx
and Units with WI & NRI and Allocated Amount
|
|
II
|
Conveyance
|
|
III
|
Environmental
Matters
|
|
A
|
Property
Descriptions
|
|
4.1(e)
|
Litigation
|
iv
This
Agreement of Sale and Purchase dated November 16, 2007, by and between
EnerVest
Appalachia, L.P., a
Texas
limited partnership (herein called “Seller”)
and
EnerVest
Production Partners, Ltd.,
a
Delaware limited partnership (herein called “Buyer”);
W
I T N E S S E T H:
ARTICLE
I.
Definitions
and References
Section
1.1. Defined
Terms.
When
used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the respective meanings
assigned to them in this Section 1.1
or in
the section, subsections or other subdivisions referred to below:
“Agreement”
shall
mean this Agreement, as hereafter changed, amended or modified in accordance
with the terms hereof.
“Allocated
Amount”
shall
have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.3.
“Applicable
Environmental Laws”
means
all federal, state or local laws, statutes, regulations, orders or directives,
including common law, related to the environment (including air, land, surface
and sub-surface strata, surface water and groundwater), human health and
safety.
“Asserted
Defects”
shall
have the meaning assigned to such term in Section
7.1.
“Base
Purchase Price” shall
have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.1.
“Closing”
and
“Closing
Date”
shall
have the meanings assigned to such terms in Section 10.1.
“Condition
of the Properties”
shall
have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 13.1
(c).
“Consents”
shall
have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.3
“Conveyance”
shall
have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.2(a).
“Defect”
shall
have the meaning assigned to such term in Section
7.1.
“Defect
Amount”
means,
with respect to each Property affected by an Asserted Defect, an amount
determined by Seller and Buyer to account for such Asserted Defect.
“Deposit”
shall
have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.2.
“Effective
Date”
shall
have the meaning assigned to such term in Section
10.2(a).
“Excluded
Properties”
shall
have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.2.
“Indemnitee”
shall
have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 13.2.
1
“Oil
and Gas Property”
and
“Oil
and Gas Properties”
shall
have the meanings assigned to such terms in Section 2.1.
“Preferential
Rights”
shall
have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.3.
“Properties”
shall
have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.1.
“Purchase
Price”
shall
have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.1.
“Routine
Governmental Approvals”
shall
have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.1(c).
“Seller’s
Indemnified Claim”
and
“Seller’s
Indemnified Claims”
shall
have the meanings assigned to such terms in Section 13.1.
“Seller’s
Knowledge”
shall
mean Knowledge upon reasonable inquiry of Seller’s personnel with a title of
field level supervisor and above.
“Seller’s
Warranties”
shall
have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.2.
ARTICLE
II.
Property
to be Sold and Purchased
Section
2.1. Properties.
Seller
agrees to sell and Buyer agrees to purchase, for the consideration hereinafter
set forth, and subject to the terms and provisions herein contained, the
following described properties, rights and interests:
(a) All
right, title and interest of Seller in and to the oil, gas and/or mineral
leases
which are described on Exhibit A
hereto
and any ratifications or amendments to such leases; and
(b) Without
limitation of the foregoing, all other right, title and interest (of whatever
kind or character, whether legal or equitable, and whether vested or contingent)
of Seller in and to the oil, gas and other minerals in and under or that
may be
produced from the lands and depths described on Exhibit A
hereto
or described in any of the leases described on Exhibit A
(including, without limitation, interests in oil, gas and/or mineral leases,
overriding royalties, production payments, net profits interests, fee mineral
interests, fee royalty interests and other interests insofar as they cover
such
lands), even though Seller’s interest therein may be incorrectly described in,
or omitted from, such Exhibit A;
and
(c) rights,
titles and interests of Seller in and to, or otherwise derived from, all
presently existing and valid oil, gas and/or mineral unitization, pooling,
and/or communitization agreements, declarations and/or orders (including,
without limitation, all units formed under orders, rules, regulations, or
other
official acts of any federal, state or other authority having jurisdiction,
and
voluntary unitization agreements, designations and/or declarations) to the
extent that they are assignable and relate to any of the properties described
in
subsections (a) and (b) above; and
2
(d) All
rights, titles and interests of Seller in and to all presently existing and
valid production sales contracts, operating agreements, and other agreements
and
contracts to the extent that they are assignable and relate to any of the
properties described in subsections (a), (b) and (c) above;
and
(e) All
rights, titles and interests of Seller in and to all materials, supplies,
machinery, equipment, improvements and other personal property and fixtures
(including, but not by way of limitation, all xxxxx, wellhead equipment,
pumping
units, flowlines, tanks, buildings, injection facilities, saltwater disposal
facilities, compression facilities, gathering systems, and other equipment)
located on the properties described in subsections (a), (b) and (c) above
and used in connection with the exploration, development, operation or
maintenance thereof.
The
properties, rights and interests specified in the foregoing
subsections (a), (b) and (c), except for the Excluded Properties as defined
below, are herein sometimes collectively called the “Oil
and Gas Properties,”
and
individually an “Oil
and Gas Property,”
and
the properties, rights and interests specified in the foregoing
subsections (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e), except for the Excluded Properties,
are herein sometimes collectively called the “Properties”
and
individually a “Property.”
Section
2.2. Excluded
Properties.
The
Properties do not include, and there is hereby expressly excepted and excluded
therefrom and reserved to Seller:
(a) All
rights and chooses in action, arising, occurring or existing in favor of
Seller
prior to the Effective Date or arising out of the operation of or production
from the Oil and Gas Properties prior to the Effective Date (including, but
not
limited to, any and all contract rights, claims, receivables, revenues,
recoupment rights, recovery rights, accounting adjustments, mispayments,
erroneous payments or other claims of any nature in favor of Seller and relating
and accruing to any time period prior to the Effective Date);
(b) Any
accounts payable accruing before the Effective Date;
(c) All
corporate, financial, tax and legal (other than title) records of
Seller;
(d) All
contracts of insurance or indemnity subject to Section
14.1;
(e) All
hydrocarbon production from or attributable to the Properties with respect
to
all periods prior to the Effective Date, as described in Section 12.1
and all
proceeds attributable thereto;
(f) Any
refund of costs, taxes or expenses borne by Seller attributable to the period
prior to the Effective Date;
3
(g) Properties
excluded from the purchase and sale contemplated by this Agreement under
Section 6.3;
(h) Any
other
right or interest in and to the Properties to the extent attributable to
the
period prior to the Effective Date;
(i) Copies
(but not the originals) of all files (described in Section 11.1);
(j) Except
to
the extent constituting suspended royalties, all deposits, cash, checks,
funds
and accounts receivable or received attributable to Seller’s interests in the
Properties with respect to any period of time prior to the Effective
Date;
(k) The
GEPX
Accounting System, tapes, data and program documentation and all tangible
manifestations and technical information relating thereto;
(l) Any
logo,
service xxxx, copyright, trade name or trademark of or associated with Seller
or
any affiliate of Seller or any business of Seller or of any affiliate of
Seller;
and
(m) Any
documents withheld or not transferred pursuant to Section
11.1.
These
excluded properties, rights and interests specified in the foregoing
subsections (a) through (m), inclusive, of this Section 2.2
are
collectively referred to as the “Excluded
Properties.”
Buyer
shall not be responsible for, and Seller expressly retains, all liabilities
related to the Excluded Properties, whether such liabilities arise before
or
after the Effective Date. It is understood that certain of the Excluded
Properties may not be embraced by the term Properties. The fact that certain
properties, rights and interests have been expressly excluded is not intended
to
suggest that had they not been excluded they would have constituted Properties
and shall not be used to interpret the meaning of any word or phrase used
in
describing the Properties.
ARTICLE
III.
Purchase
Price
Section
3.1. Purchase
Price.
The
purchase price for the Properties shall be Fifty Nine Million Five Hundred
Thousand Dollars ($59,500,000) (such amount, unadjusted by any adjustments
provided for in this Agreement or agreed to by the parties, being herein
called
the “Base
Purchase Price”).
Such
Base Purchase Price may be adjusted as provided in Section 6.3
hereof
(the Base Purchase Price, as so adjusted, and as the same may otherwise be
adjusted by mutual agreement of the parties, being herein called the
“Purchase
Price”).
The
Purchase Price shall be paid in cash at the Closing as hereinafter
provided.
Section
3.2. Deposit.
Contemporaneously with the execution of this Agreement, Buyer has paid, into
an
interest bearing joint control account (the “Deposit
Account”)
established by Buyer, Seller and TIFD III-X LLC at Amegy Bank in Houston,
Texas
(the “Bank”)
and
requiring the written authorization of a representative of each party and
TIFD
III-X LLC for the disbursal of funds therefrom, the amount of $5,950,000
(such
amount being herein called the “Deposit”).
The
Deposit shall bear interest at the rate established by Bank. In the event
the
transaction contemplated hereby is consummated in accordance with the terms
hereof, the Deposit, plus the earned interest, shall be applied to the Purchase
Price to be paid by Buyer at the Closing. In the event this Agreement is
terminated by Buyer or Seller in accordance with Section 9.1
or
9.2
below,
the Deposit shall be returned to Buyer or retained by Seller as provided
in such
Sections. If the Deposit is paid to Buyer, or if Buyer receives credit for
same
against the Purchase Price paid at Closing, such payment, or credit, shall
be in
the amount of the Deposit plus the amount of such earned interest. For federal
income tax purposes, Buyer shall report the interest earned on the Deposit,
unless such interest is paid to Seller under Section
9.2.
THE
PARTIES HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE EXTENT OF DAMAGES TO SELLER OCCASIONED
BY
THE FAILURE OF THIS TRANSACTION TO BE CONSUMMATED AS A RESULT OF BUYER’S BREACH
HEREOF WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE OR EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO ASCERTAIN AND THAT THE
AMOUNT OF THE DEPOSIT IS A FAIR AND REASONABLE ESTIMATE OF SUCH DAMAGES UNDER
THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A PENALTY.
4
ARTICLE
IV.
Representations
of Seller
Section
4.1. Representations
of Seller.
Seller
represents to Buyer that:
(a) Organization
and Qualification.
Seller
is duly organized and legally existing and in good standing under the laws
of
the state in which it was formed and is qualified to do business and in good
standing in each state in which the Oil and Gas Properties are located where
the
laws of such state require Seller to so qualify with respect to the interest
in
the Oil and Gas Properties to be conveyed by it hereunder.
(b) Due
Authorization.
Seller
has full power to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement
and has taken all proper action to authorize entering into this Agreement
and
performance of its obligations hereunder.
(c) Approvals.
To
Seller’s knowledge, neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement, nor
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, nor the compliance
with the terms hereof, will result in any default under any agreement or
instrument to which Seller is a party, or violate any order, writ, injunction,
decree, statute, rule or regulation applicable to Seller, except for (i)
requirements (if any) that there be obtained consents to assignment (or waivers
of preferential rights to purchase) from third parties, (ii) approvals
(“Routine
Governmental Approvals”)
required to be obtained from governmental entities which are customarily
obtained post-closing, and (iii) the requirements of any maintenance of uniform
interest provisions contained in any operating or other
agreements).
(d) Valid,
Binding and Enforceable.
This
Agreement constitutes (and the Conveyance provided for herein to be delivered
at
Closing will, when executed and delivered, constitute) the legal, valid and
binding obligation of Seller, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except
as limited by bankruptcy or other laws applicable generally to creditor’s rights
and as limited by general equitable principles.
5
(e) Litigation.
Except
as set forth on Exhibit
4.1(e),
there
are no (i) pending suits, actions, or administrative proceedings in which
Seller
is a party and has been served or affecting the Properties or (ii), to Seller’s
Knowledge, pending written demands or claims, which affect the execution
and
delivery of this Agreement, the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby or the Properties.
Section
4.2. Disclaimers.
THE
EXPRESS REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER CONTAINED IN SECTION 4.1
ABOVE AND THE SPECIAL WARRANTY OF TITLE IN THE CONVEYANCE TO BE DELIVERED
AT
CLOSING (COLLECTIVELY
“SELLER’S
WARRANTIES”)
ARE EXCLUSIVE AND ARE IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES,
EXPRESS, IMPLIED, STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE. SELLER EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY
AND ALL
SUCH OTHER REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. WITHOUT LIMITATION OF THE FOREGOING
AND EXCEPT FOR SELLER’S WARRANTIES, THE PROPERTIES SHALL BE CONVEYED PURSUANT
HERETO WITHOUT (a) ANY WARRANTY OR REPRESENTATION, WHETHER EXPRESS,
IMPLIED, STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE, RELATING TO (i) TITLE TO THE PROPERTIES,
THE
CONDITION, QUANTITY, QUALITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, CONFORMITY
TO
THE MODELS OR SAMPLES OF MATERIALS OR MERCHANTABILITY OF ANY EQUIPMENT OR
ITS
FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE, (ii) THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF ANY DATA, REPORTS,
RECORDS, PROJECTIONS, INFORMATION OR MATERIALS NOW, HERETOFORE OR HEREAFTER
FURNISHED OR MADE AVAILABLE TO BUYER IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, (iii)
PRICING ASSUMPTIONS, OR QUALITY OR QUANTITY OF HYDROCARBON RESERVES (IF ANY)
ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE PROPERTIES OR THE ABILITY OR POTENTIAL OF THE PROPERTIES
TO
PRODUCE HYDROCARBONS, (iv) THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION OF THE PROPERTIES,
BOTH
SURFACE AND SUBSURFACE, OR (v) ANY OTHER MATTERS CONTAINED IN ANY MATERIALS
FURNISHED OR MADE AVAILABLE TO BUYER BY SELLER OR BY SELLER’S AGENTS OR
REPRESENTATIVES, OR (b) ANY OTHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, STATUTORY OR OTHER
WARRANTY OR REPRESENTATION WHATSOEVER. BUYER SHALL HAVE INSPECTED, OR WAIVED
(AND UPON CLOSING SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE WAIVED) ITS RIGHT TO INSPECT, THE
PROPERTIES FOR ALL PURPOSES AND SATISFIED ITSELF AS TO THEIR PHYSICAL AND
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION, BOTH SURFACE AND SUBSURFACE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED
TO CONDITIONS SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO THE PRESENCE, RELEASE OR DISPOSAL OF
HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES, SOLID WASTES, ASBESTOS AND OTHER MAN MADE FIBERS, OR
NATURALLY OCCURRING RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS (“NORM”). BUYER IS RELYING SOLELY UPON
ITS OWN INSPECTION OF THE PROPERTIES, AND BUYER SHALL ACCEPT ALL OF THE SAME
IN
THEIR “AS IS, WHERE IS” CONDITION.
6
Section
4.3. Disclosures.
The
matters set forth on the exhibits referred to in Section 4.1
are not
necessarily matters that Seller is required to disclose or matters that would
constitute a breach of any representation or warranty had such matters not
been
disclosed.
Section
4.4. Buyer’s
Knowledge.
To the
extent Buyer has knowledge as of the date of this Agreement or obtains knowledge
at anytime between the date hereof and the Closing Date of any fact or facts
contrary to any of the representations made by Seller in Section 4.1,
no such
representation will be deemed to have been untrue or incorrect, and Buyer
shall
have no basis to assert a claim that any such representation made by Seller
is
untrue or incorrect.
ARTICLE
V.
Representations
of Buyer
Section
5.1. Representations
of Buyer.
Buyer
represents to Seller that:
(a) Organization
and Qualification.
Buyer
is duly organized and legally existing and in good standing under the laws
of
the state in which it was formed and is qualified to do business and in good
standing in each state in which the Oil and Gas Properties are located where
the
laws of such state will require Buyer to so qualify with respect to the interest
in the Oil and Gas Properties to be conveyed hereunder. Buyer is also qualified
to own and operate oil and gas properties with all applicable governmental
agencies having jurisdiction over the Properties, to the extent such
qualification is necessary or appropriate or will be necessary or appropriate
upon consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (including, without
limitation, Buyer has met all bonding requirements of such
agencies).
(b) Due
Authorization.
Buyer
has full power to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement
and has taken all proper action to authorize entering into this Agreement
and
performance of its obligations hereunder.
(c) Approvals.
Neither
the execution and delivery of this Agreement, nor the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby, nor the compliance with the terms hereof,
will
result in any default under any agreement or instrument to which Buyer is
a
party, or violate any order, writ, injunction, decree, statute, rule or
regulation applicable to Buyer, except for requirements (if any) that there
be
obtained consents to assignment (or waivers of preferential rights to purchase)
from third parties, and Routine Governmental Approvals.
(d) Valid,
Binding and Enforceable.
This
Agreement constitutes (and the Conveyance provided for herein to be delivered
at
Closing will, when executed and delivered, constitute) the legal, valid and
binding obligation of Buyer, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except
as
limited by bankruptcy or other laws applicable generally to creditor’s rights
and as limited by general equitable principles.
(e) No
Litigation.
There
are no pending suits, actions, or other proceedings in which Buyer is a party
(or, to Buyer’s knowledge, which have been threatened to be instituted against
Buyer) which affect the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
7
(f) No
Distribution.
Buyer
is acquiring the Properties for its own account and not with the intent to
make
a distribution in violation of the Securities Act of 1933 as amended (and
the
rules and regulations pertaining thereto) or in violation of any other
applicable securities laws, rules or regulations.
(g) Knowledge
and Experience.
Buyer
has (and had prior to negotiations regarding the Properties) such knowledge
and
experience in the ownership and operation of oil and gas properties and
financial and business matters as to be able to evaluate the merits and risks
of
an investment in the Properties. Buyer is able to bear the risks of an
investment in the Properties and understands risks of, and other considerations
relating to, a purchase of the Properties.
(h) Opportunity
to Verify Information.
Buyer
or
one of its affiliates, as general partner of Seller and operator of the Oil
and
Gas Properties, has knowledge of the operations conducted on the Oil and
Gas
Properties and of Seller’s title to the Properties. As
of the
Closing, Buyer has been furnished with materials relating to the Properties
requested by Buyer under this Agreement and has been afforded the opportunity
to
ask questions of the Seller (or a person or persons acting on its behalf)
concerning the Properties. Buyer has made its own independent investigation
of
the Properties to the extent necessary to evaluate the Properties. At Closing,
Buyer shall be deemed to have knowledge of all facts contained in all materials,
documents and other information which Buyer
or
one of its affiliates has obtained as general partner of the Seller and as
operator of the Oil and Gas Properties, or which have otherwise been furnished
to Buyer, or to which Buyer has otherwise been given access.
(i) Merits
and Risks of an Investment in the Properties.
Buyer
understands and acknowledges that: (i) an investment in the Properties involves
certain risks; (ii) neither the United States Securities and Exchange Commission
nor any federal, state or foreign agency has passed upon the Properties or
made
any finding or determination as to the fairness of an investment in the
Properties or the accuracy or adequacy of the disclosures made to Buyer;
and
(iii) except as set forth in Section 9.1
of this
Agreement, Buyer is not entitled to cancel, terminate or revoke this
Agreement.
ARTICLE
VI.
Covenants
of Seller Pending Closing
Between
the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date:
Section
6.1. Access
by Buyer
(a) Records.
Seller
will give Buyer, or Buyer's authorized representatives, at Seller's office
and
at all reasonable times before the Closing Date, access to Seller's records
pertaining to the ownership and/or operation of the Properties (including,
without limitation, title files, division order files, and production, severance
and ad valorem tax records), for the purpose of conducting due diligence
reviews
contemplated by Section
7.1
below.
Buyer may make copies of such records, at its expense, but shall, if Seller
so
requests, return all copies so made if the Closing does not occur; all costs
of
copying such items shall be borne by Buyer. Seller shall not be obligated
to
provide Buyer with access to any records or data which Seller considers to
be
proprietary or confidential to it or which Seller cannot provide to Buyer
without, in its opinion, breaching, or risking a breach of, agreements with
other parties, or waiving, or risking waiving, legal privilege. BUYER
RECOGNIZES AND AGREES THAT ALL MATERIALS MADE AVAILABLE TO IT IN CONNECTION
WITH
THE TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, WHETHER MADE AVAILABLE PURSUANT TO THIS
SECTION OR OTHERWISE, ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO IT AS AN ACCOMMODATION, AND WITHOUT
REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OF ANY KIND AS TO THE ACCURACY AND COMPLETENESS
OF
SUCH MATERIALS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND IS MADE BY SELLER AS TO THE INFORMATION
SUPPLIED TO BUYER OR WITH RESPECT TO PROPERTIES TO WHICH THE INFORMATION
RELATES, AND BUYER EXPRESSLY AGREES THAT ANY CONCLUSIONS DRAWN THEREFROM
SHALL
BE THE RESULT OF ITS OWN INDEPENDENT REVIEW AND JUDGMENT.
8
(b) Physical
Inspection.
Seller
shall make a good faith effort to give Buyer, or Buyer’s authorized
representatives, at all reasonable times before the Closing Date and upon
adequate notice to Seller, physical access to the Oil and Gas Properties
for the
purpose of inspecting same. Notwithstanding the above, Buyer’s inspection rights
shall be limited to conducting a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment.
Buyer recognizes that some or all of the Properties may be operated by parties
other than Seller and that Seller's ability to obtain access to such properties,
and the manner and extent of such access, is subject to such third parties.
Buyer agrees to comply fully with the rules, regulations and instructions
issued
by Seller (and, where Properties are operated by other parties, such other
parties) regarding the actions of Buyer while upon, entering or leaving the
Properties. Buyer shall furnish, free of costs, Seller with a copy of any
written report prepared by or for Buyer related to any environmental
investigation of the Properties as soon as reasonably possible after it is
prepared.
(c) Exculpation
and Indemnification.
If Buyer
exercises rights of access under this Section
6.1
or
otherwise, or conducts examinations or inspections under this Section or
otherwise, then (i) such access, examination and inspection shall be at Buyer's
sole risk, cost and expense and Buyer waives and releases all claims against
Seller (and its partners and its and their affiliates and the respective
directors, officers, employees, attorneys, contractors and agents of such
parties) arising in any way therefrom or in any way connected therewith or
arising in connection with the conduct of Seller’s directors, officers,
employees, attorneys, contractors and agents in connection therewith and
(ii)
Buyer shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Seller (and its partners
and its
and their affiliates and the respective officers, directors, employees,
attorneys, contractors and agents of such parties) from any and all claims,
actions, causes of action liabilities, damages, losses, costs or expenses
(including, without limitation, court costs and attorneys fees), or liens
or
encumbrances for labor or materials, arising out of or in any way connected
with
such matters. THE
FOREGOING RELEASE AND INDEMNIFICATION SHALL APPLY WHETHER OR NOT SUCH CLAIMS,
ACTIONS, CAUSES OF ACTION, LIABILITIES, DAMAGES, LOSSES, COSTS OR EXPENSES
ARISE
OUT OF (i)
NEGLIGENCE
(INCLUDING SOLE NEGLIGENCE, SIMPLE NEGLIGENCE, CONCURRENT NEGLIGENCE, ACTIVE
OR
PASSIVE NEGLIGENCE, BUT EXPRESSLY NOT INCLUDING GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL
MISCONDUCT) OF ANY INDEMNIFIED PARTY, OR
(ii) STRICT
LIABILITY.
9
Section
6.2. Interim
Operation.
Seller,
as non
operator, and Buyer (or an affiliate of Buyer) as operator, are parties to
certain operating agreements (“Applicable
Operating Agreements”)
that
provide for
the
operation of the Oil
and
Gas Properties. Seller shall perform and Buyer shall perform or cause its
affiliates to perform their respective obligations under the Applicable
Operating Agreements until the Closing Date. Seller
will not sell or otherwise dispose of any material portion of the Oil and
Gas
Properties, except for sales or other dispositions of (i) oil, gas and other
minerals in the ordinary course of business after production, or (ii) equipment
and other personal property or fixtures in the ordinary course of business
where
the same has become obsolete, is otherwise no longer necessary for the operation
of the Properties, or is replaced by an item or items of at least equal
suitability. Seller may allow any nonproducing leases that are part of the
Oil
and Gas Properties to expire by their own terms and Seller shall have no
obligation to renew or extend any such nonproducing leases or to take any
action
or make any payment to keep them in effect. Should Seller receive (or desire
to
make) any proposals to drill additional xxxxx on the Oil and Gas Properties,
or
to conduct other operations which require consent of non-operators under
the
applicable operating Agreements, it will notify Buyer of, and consult with
Buyer
concerning, such proposals, but any decisions with respect to proposals shall
be
made by Seller in its sole discretion, so long as the decisions are made
in the
ordinary course of business.
Section
6.3. Preferential
Rights and Consents.
Buyer
(or
one of its affiliates, as general partner of Seller) will be solely responsible
for identifying the names and addresses of parties whose consent is required
in
order to assign the Properties to Buyer (“Consent”),
or
who have preferential purchase rights
to
purchase an Oil and Gas Property (“Preferential
Rights”).
Buyer
(or one of its affiliates as general partner of Seller) will request from
the
parties so identified (and in accordance with the documents creating such
rights), execution of such Consents and/or waivers of Preferential Rights.
From
and after the Closing, Buyer shall indemnify and hold Seller (and its partners
and its and their affiliates and the respective officers, directors, employees,
attorneys, contractors and agents of such parties) harmless from and against
all
claims, actions, causes of action, liabilities, damages, losses, costs or
expenses (including, without limitation, court costs and attorney’s fees)
whatsoever that arise out of any failure to obtain Consents or waivers of
Preferential Rights with respect to any transfer by Seller to Buyer of any
part
of the Properties and with respect to any subsequent transfers WHETHER
OR NOT SUCH CLAIMS, ACTIONS, CAUSES OF ACTION, LIABILITIES, DAMAGES, LOSSES,
COSTS OR EXPENSES ARISE OUT OF NEGLIGENCE (INCLUDING SOLE NEGLIGENCE, SIMPLE
NEGLIGENCE, CONCURRENT NEGLIGENCE, ACTIVE OR PASSIVE NEGLIGENCE, BUT EXPRESSLY
NOT INCLUDING GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT) OF ANY INDEMNIFIED
PARTY.
Buyer
has allocated an amount of the Base Purchase Price to each Property as shown
on
Schedule
I.
If a
party from whom a waiver of a Preferential Right is requested refuses to
give
such waiver, Seller will tender to such party the required interest in the
Property (at a price equal to the “Allocated Amount” specified in Schedule
I hereto
for such Property, reduced appropriately, as determined by mutual agreement
of
Buyer and Seller, if less than the entire Property must be tendered), and
to the
extent that such Preferential Right is exercised by such party, and such
interest in such Property is actually sold to such party so exercising such
right, such interest in such Property will be excluded from the transaction
contemplated hereby and the Purchase Price will be adjusted downward by the
actual amount paid to Seller by the party exercising such right. Upon the
exercise of any Preferential Rights after the Closing with respect to any
Property conveyed to Buyer, Buyer will tender the required interest in such
Property affected by such unwaived Preferential Right in accordance with
such
Preferential Right and shall be entitled to collect and retain the purchase
price received from such purchaser.
10
Section
6.4. Hedging
Contracts.
Within
one
business day of the execution of this Agreement, Seller shall terminate all
hedging contracts committing or securing hydrocarbon production from any
of the
Properties. Any and all rights, benefits, duties, obligations and liabilities
arising from or attributable to all such hedging contracts shall be for the
account of Seller, and Buyer shall bear no liability attributable thereto
or
derive any benefit from such contracts.
ARTICLE
VII.
Due
Diligence Reviews
Section
7.1. Review
by Buyer. Buyer
may
conduct, at its sole cost, such title examination or investigation, and other
examinations and investigations, as it may in its sole discretion choose
to
conduct with respect to the Properties in order to determine whether Defects
(as
below defined) exist. Buyer’s investigation regarding any environmental matters,
shall be limited to conducting a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment on
the
Oil and Gas Properties. Should, as a result of such examinations and
investigations, or otherwise, one or more matters come to Buyer's attention
which would constitute a Defect, and should there be one or more of such
Defects
which Buyer is unwilling to waive and close the transaction contemplated
hereby
notwithstanding the fact that such Defects exist, Buyer shall notify Seller
in
writing of such Defects as soon as the same are identified by Buyer (such
Defects of which Buyer so provides notice are herein called "Asserted
Defects"),
but
in no event later
than December 15, 2007 (“Defect
Deadline”).
Such
notification shall include, for each Asserted Defect, (i) a description of
the
Asserted Defect and the xxxxx and/or units listed on Schedule
I
to which
it relates and all supporting documentation reasonably necessary to fully
describe the basis for the Defect, (ii) for each applicable well or unit,
the
size of any variance from "Net
Revenue Interest"
or
"Working
Interest"
which
does or could result from such Asserted Defect and (iii) the Defect Amount
that
Buyer proposes for such Asserted Defect. All Defects with respect to which
Buyer
fails to so give Seller notice will be deemed waived for all purposes. All
access to Seller’s records and the Properties in connection with such due
diligence shall be subject and pursuant to Section
6.1
(including, without limitation, the exculpation and indemnification provisions
contained in Section
6.1(c)).
11
(a) Nature
of Defects.
The
term “Defect”
as
used
in this Section shall mean the following:
(i) NRI
or WI Variances.
Seller’s ownership of the Properties is such that, with respect to a well or
unit listed on Schedule
I
hereto,
it (A) entitles Seller to receive a decimal share of the oil, gas and other
hydrocarbons produced from such unit, or from currently producing completions
in
such well which is less than the decimal share set forth on Schedule
I
in
connection with such well or unit in the column headed "Net Revenue Interest"
or
(B) causes Seller to be obligated to bear a decimal share of the cost of
operation of such well (as to such completions) or unit greater than the
decimal
share set forth on Schedule
I in
connection with such well or unit in
the
column headed "Working Interest" (without at least a proportionate increase
in
the share of production to which Seller is entitled to receive from such
well or
unit).
(ii) Liens.
Seller's ownership of an Oil and Gas Property is subject to a lien other
than (A)
a
lien for taxes which are not yet delinquent or (B) a mechanic's or materialmen's
lien (or other similar lien), or a lien under an operating agreement or similar
agreement, to the extent the same relates to expenses incurred which are
not yet
delinquent or (C) liens which will be released at or before
Closing.
(iii) Consents.
Any
Consent to assignment that would render any Lease, by its express terms,
void or
voidable, or terminable, in the event that such Consent is not obtained prior
to
assignment of such Lease, and such Consent is not obtained prior to Closing,
unless a waiver of such Consent has been obtained with respect to the
transaction contemplated hereby or either (A) the period of time required
for
such party to exercise such right has expired without such party exercising
such
right, or (B) such right has been exercised and the affected portion of the
Properties has been excluded from the transactions contemplated hereby (and
the
Purchase Price adjusted downward) as provided in Section
6.3.
(iv) Imperfections
in Title.
Seller's ownership of an Oil and Gas Property is subject to an imperfection
in
title which, if asserted, would cause a Defect, as defined in subparagraph
(i)
above, to exist, and such imperfection in title is not such as would normally
be
waived by persons engaged in the oil and gas business when purchasing producing
properties.
(v) Environmental
Matters.
Except
as disclosed on the Schedule
III,
an Oil
and Gas Property is in violation of Applicable Environmental Laws in any
material respect pursuant
to the Phase I Environmental Site Assessment conducted by Buyer.
12
Notwithstanding
any other provision in this Agreement to the contrary, the following matters
shall not constitute, and shall not be asserted as, a Defect: (i) defects
or irregularities arising out of lack of corporate authorization or a variation
in corporate name, unless Buyer provides affirmative evidence that such
corporate action was not authorized and results in another person’s superior
claim of title to the relevant Property; (ii) defects or irregularities that
have been cured or remedied by the passage of time, including, without
limitation, applicable statutes of limitation or statutes for prescription;
(iii) defects or irregularities in the chain of title consisting of the failure
to recite marital status in documents or omissions of heirship proceedings;
(iv)
defects or irregularities in title which for a period of 5 years or more
has not
delayed or prevented Seller (or Seller's predecessor, if owned by Seller
less
than 5 years) from receiving its Net Revenue Interest share of the proceeds
of
production or causes it to bear a share of expenses and costs greater than
its
Working Interest share from any unit or well; (v) defects or irregularities
resulting from or related to probate proceedings or the lack thereof which
defects or irregularities have been outstanding for 5 years or more; and
(vi) conventional rights of reassignment normally actuated by an intent to
abandon or release a lease and requiring notice to the holders of such rights
and any defect or irregularity as would normally be waived by persons engaged
in
the oil and gas business when purchasing producing properties.
(b) Seller's
Response.
In the
event that Buyer notifies Seller of Asserted Defects:
(i) Cure.
Seller
may (but shall have no obligation to) attempt to cure, prior to Closing,
one or
more Asserted Defects.
(ii) Postpone
Closing.
Whether
or not Seller has then begun to, or ever begins to, cure one or more Asserted
Defects (and whether or not Seller has elected option (iii) below with respect
to one or more Asserted Defects), Seller may postpone the Closing by designating
a new Closing Date not later than January 4, 2008. Notwithstanding any such
election to postpone Closing, Seller shall still have no obligation to cure
Asserted Defects.
(iii) Allocation.
Notwithstanding any other election made under this Section (without limitation,
it being expressly recognized that Seller may attempt to cure Asserted Defects
while acting under this election), Seller may elect to have one or more Asserted
Defects handled under Article
VIII
below.
ARTICLE
VIII.
Calculation
of Defect Amount; Upward Adjustments
Section
8.1. Procedures. In
the
event that, as a part of the due diligence reviews provided for in Section
7.1
above,
Asserted Defects are presented to Seller, and Seller is unable (or unwilling)
to
cure such Asserted Defects prior to Closing, then Buyer and Seller shall
attempt
to agree upon an appropriate Defect Amount for each such Asserted Defect.
Section
8.2. Amount
of Certain Defects.
In the
event that Buyer raises as an Asserted Defect one of the following types
of
Defects, Seller and Buyer shall agree upon a Defect Amount calculated as
set
forth below in connection with such Defect:
13
(i) NRI
Variance/Proportionate Price Reductions.
If the
Asserted Defect is (I) a Defect described in clause (A) of Section
7.1(a)(i)
or (II)
a Defect which otherwise affects a portion of Seller's interest in a well
or
unit listed on Schedule
I:
an
amount determined by multiplying the "Allocated Amount" set forth for such
well
or unit on
Schedule I by
a
fraction (A) the numerator of which is an amount equal to the difference
between
the "Net
Revenue Interest"
shown
on Schedule
I
for such
well or unit less the decimal share to which Seller would be entitled to
as a
result of its ownership interest in such well or unit which is unaffected
by
such Defect and (B) the denominator of which is the "Net Revenue Interest"
shown
for such well or unit on Schedule
I.
(ii) Liens/Payoff
Amount.
If the
Asserted Defect is a Defect described in Section
7.1(a)(ii),
an
amount of the debt secured by such lien.
If
Seller
proposes an allocation in accordance with Section
8.2,
the
Defect Amount will be deemed agreed to under Section
8.1
above.
Section
8.3. Possible
Upward Adjustments.
Should
Seller determine (or should Buyer, in the course of its due diligence reviews
contemplated by Section 7.1,
determine) that the ownership of the Properties by Seller entitles Seller
to a
decimal share of the production from a well or unit listed on Schedule
I
greater
than the decimal share shown for such well or unit under the column headed
"Net
Revenue Interest" on such Schedule
I,
then
Seller may propose an upward adjustment to the Base Purchase Price to account
for such fact. The party making such determination shall notify the other
party
no later than December 15, 2007. Any proposed upward adjustment to the Base
Purchase Price shall be reduced by the aggregate Defect Amount, if any, which,
for this purpose only, shall include Defect Amounts of less than
$50,000.
Section
8.4. Limitations.
If the
Defect Amount determined pursuant to the above described procedure for any
particular Asserted Defect does not exceed $50,000, such Defect Amount will
not
be included in the calculation of the aggregate Defect Amount for purposes
of
Sections
9.1(c)
and
9.2(c).
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the sole purpose
of
determining the Defect Amount for Asserted Defects is to determine whether
or
not the conditions precedent set forth in Sections
9.1(c)
and
9.2(c)
are
satisfied. If the Closing occurs, in no event shall there be any adjustment
to
the Base Purchase Price for any Defect Amount.
ARTICLE
IX.
Conditions
Precedent to Closing Obligations
Section
9.1. Conditions
Precedent to the Obligations of Buyer.
The
obligations of Buyer to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement are subject to each of the following conditions being
met:
(a) Representations
True and Correct.
Each
and every representation of Seller under this Agreement shall be true and
accurate in all material respects as of the date when made and, for the purposes
of serving as a condition to close, shall be true and accurate in all material
respects at and as of such time of Closing as if it had been made again at
and
as of the Closing.
14
(b) Compliance
with Covenants and Agreements.
Seller
shall have performed and complied in all material respects with (or compliance
therewith shall have been waived by Buyer) each and every covenant and agreement
required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by Seller prior
to
or at the Closing.
(c) Price
Allocation Limitations.
The
aggregate Defect Amount for Asserted Defects (if any) or upward adjustment
of
the Base Purchase Price (if any) resulting from the procedures set forth
in
Article
VIII
does not
exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the Base Purchase Price.
(d) Litigation.
No
suit, action or other proceedings shall, on the date of Closing, be pending
or
threatened before any court or governmental agency seeking to restrain,
prohibit, or obtain material damages or other material relief in connection
with
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
If
any
such condition on the obligations of Buyer under this Agreement is not met
as of
the Closing Date, or in the event the Closing does not occur on or before
the
Closing Date, and (in either case) Buyer is not in material breach of its
obligations hereunder, this Agreement may, at the option of Buyer, be
terminated. In the event such a termination by Buyer occurs the parties shall
have no further obligations to one another hereunder (other than the obligations
under Section
6.1(c)
and
Section
13.3 hereof
all of which will survive such termination). In the event of such a termination
by Buyer, the Deposit plus interest accrued thereon will be refunded to Buyer.
If Buyer proceeds to Closing with knowledge of any condition precedent above
not
being met by Seller, such condition precedent will be deemed waived by Buyer
as
a condition to close and Buyer hereby waives any claim for breach of a
representation and warranty or for indemnity related thereto.
Section
9.2. Conditions
Precedent to the Obligations of Seller.
The
obligations of Seller to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement are subject to the each of the following conditions being
met:
(a) Representations
True and Correct.
Each
and every representation of Buyer under this Agreement shall be true and
accurate in all material respects as of the date when made and for the purposes
of serving as a condition to close, and shall be true and accurate in all
material respects at and as of such time of Closing as if it had been made
again
at and as of the Closing.
(b) Compliance
With Covenants and Agreements.
Buyer
shall have performed and complied in all material respects with (or compliance
therewith shall have been waived by Seller) each and every covenant and
agreement required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by
Buyer
prior to or at the Closing.
15
(c) Price
Allocation Limitations.
The
aggregate Defect Amount for Asserted Defects (if any) resulting from the
procedures set forth in Article
VIII
does not
exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the Base Purchase Price.
(d) Litigation.
No
suit, action or other proceedings shall, on the date of Closing, be pending
or
threatened before any court or governmental agency seeking to restrain,
prohibit, or obtain material damages or other material relief in connection
with
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
If
any
such condition on the obligations of Seller under this Agreement is not met
as
of the Closing Date, or in the event the Closing does not occur on or before
the
Closing Date, and (in either case) Seller is not in material breach of its
obligations hereunder, this Agreement may, at the option of Seller, be
terminated, in which case the parties shall have no further obligations to
one
another hereunder (other than the obligations under Section
6.1(c)
and
Section
13.3
hereof,
all of which will survive such termination). If Seller proceeds to Closing
with
knowledge of any condition precedent above not being met by Buyer, such
condition precedent will be deemed waived by Seller as a condition to close
and
Seller hereby waives all claims for breach of a representation and warranty
or
for indemnity related thereto. In the event of such a termination by Seller,
the
Deposit plus interest accrued thereon shall be refunded to Buyer, unless
(i) the
conditions which are not met include condition (a) or (b) above or (ii) Buyer
shall otherwise have breached this Agreement, in which event the Deposit
plus
interest shall be retained by Seller. If both Seller and Buyer are in material
breach of their obligations hereunder and the Closing does not occur on or
before the Closing Date, the Deposit plus interest accrued thereon shall
be
refunded to Buyer.
ARTICLE
X.
Closing
Section
10.1. Closing.
The
closing (herein called the “Closing”)
of the
transaction contemplated hereby shall take place in the offices of Seller
in
Houston, Texas, at 10:00 a.m. Houston, Texas Time, on either December 21,
2007,
or January 4, 2008, as designated by Seller in a written notice delivered
to
Buyer at least three days prior to December 21, 2007, or at such other date
and
time (i) as the Buyer and Seller may mutually agree upon or (ii) to which
Seller
may postpone the Closing pursuant to Section
7.1(b)
hereof
(such date and time, being herein called the “Closing
Date”).
Section
10.2. Seller’s
Closing Obligations.
At the
Closing,
(a) Delivery
of Conveyance.
Upon
receipt of payment of the amount provided in Section
10.3(a),
Seller
shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to Buyer a conveyance of the Properties
(the “Conveyance”),
in
the form attached hereto as Schedule II
(and
with
Exhibits A
and A-1
hereto,
with such modifications as may be mutually agreed to by Buyer and Seller,
being
attached thereto), effective as to runs of oil and deliveries of gas and
for all
other purposes as of 7 o’clock a.m., local time at the locations of the
Properties, respectively, on October 1, 2007 (the “Effective
Date”).
16
(b) Federal
and State Conveyance Forms.
Seller
shall execute (and, where required, acknowledge) and deliver to Buyer forms
of
conveyance or assignment as required by the applicable authorities for transfers
of any interests in state, federal or Indian leases included in the Oil and
Gas
Properties.
(c) Letters
in Lieu.
Seller
shall, if requested by Buyer, execute and deliver to Buyer letters in lieu
of
transfer orders (or similar documentation), in form acceptable to both
parties.
(d) Turn
Over Possession.
Seller
shall, to the extent Seller can do so, turn over possession of the
Properties.
Section
10.3. Buyer’s
Closing Obligations.
At the
Closing,
(a) Payment
to Seller.
Buyer
shall deliver to the Seller, by wire transfer of immediately available funds
to
an account designated by Seller in a bank located in the United States, an
amount equal to (A) the Purchase Price, less or plus (as the case may be)
(B)
any adjustments under Section
12.2 which
are
to be made at Closing, less (C) the Deposit.
(b) Succession
by Buyer.
Buyer
shall (A) furnish to Seller such evidence (including, without limitation,
evidence of satisfaction of all applicable bonding requirements) as Seller
may
require that Buyer is qualified with the applicable authorities to succeed
Seller as the owner, and, where applicable, operator of the Properties, (B)
with
respect to properties operated by Seller where Buyer is to succeed Seller
as
operator, execute and deliver to Seller appropriate evidence reflecting change
of operator as required by applicable authorities, and (C) execute and deliver
to Seller such forms as Seller may reasonably request for filing with the
applicable authorities to reflect Buyer’s assumption of plugging and abandonment
liabilities with respect to the xxxxx located on the Properties or on units
in
which the Properties participate.
ARTICLE
XI.
Post
Closing Actions
Section
11.1. Transfer
of Files.
To
the
extent Buyer or one of its affiliates does not already have possession of
any of
the following described files and records, Seller
will use its best efforts to deliver to Buyer, at Buyer’s expense, and within 45
days after Closing, all of Seller’s lease files, abstracts and title opinions,
division order files, production records, well files, accounting records
(but
not including general financial accounting or tax accounting records), and
other
similar files and records which directly relate to the Properties, other
than
those which Seller considers to be proprietary or confidential to it or which
Seller cannot provide to Buyer without, in its reasonable opinion, breaching,
or
risking a breach of, agreements with other parties, or waiving, or risking
waiving, legal privilege. Seller may, at its election, make and retain copies
of
any or all such files. Buyer shall preserve all files so delivered by Seller
for
a period of four years following Closing and will allow Seller access
(including, without limitation, the right to make copies at Seller’s expense) to
such files at all reasonable times.
17
Section
11.2. Notifications
by Buyer.
Immediately after the Closing, Buyer shall notify all applicable operators,
non-operators, oil and gas purchasers, and government agencies that it has
purchased the Properties.
ARTICLE
XII.
Accounting
Adjustments
Section
12.1. Adjustments
for Revenues and Expenses.
Appropriate adjustments to the Base Purchase Price and the Purchase Price,
as
applicable, shall be made between Buyer and Seller so that:
(a) Buyer
will bear all expenses which are incurred in the operation of the Properties
after the Effective Date, including without limitation all overhead costs
under
the Applicable Operating Agreements, and Buyer will receive all proceeds
(net of
applicable production, severance, and similar taxes) from sales of oil, gas
and/or other minerals which are produced from (or attributable to) the
Properties and which are produced after the Effective Date, and
(b) except
as
provided in subsection (c) below, Section
12.3 below
and
Article
XIII,
Seller
will bear all expenses which are incurred in the operation of the Properties
before the Effective Date and Seller will receive all proceeds (net of
applicable production, severance, and similar taxes) from the sale of oil,
gas
and/or other minerals which were produced from (or attributable to) the
Properties and which were produced before the Effective Date, and
(c) Buyer
will bear all drilling costs, reworking costs, and all other capital
expenditures which are incurred in connection with the development, exploration
or operation of the Properties after the Effective Date.
It
is
agreed that, in making such adjustments:
(i) oil
which
was produced from the Oil and Gas Properties and which was, on the Effective
Date, stored in tanks located on the Oil and Gas Properties (or located
elsewhere but used by Seller to store oil produced from, or attributable
to, the
Oil and Gas Properties prior to delivery to oil purchasers) and above pipeline
connections shall be deemed to have been produced before the Effective
Date,
(ii) ad
valorem and similar taxes assessed for periods prior to the Effective Date,
including any prepaid taxes by Seller, shall be borne by Seller and ad valorem
taxes assessed for periods on or after the Effective Date shall be borne
by
Buyer (ad valorem and similar taxes shall be considered assessed for the
period
for which they are stated to be assessed, even if the same are based on
production or other activities occurring in prior periods),
18
(iii) ad
valorem and similar taxes assessed with respect to a period which the Effective
Date splits shall be prorated based on the number of days in such period
which
fall on each side of the Effective Date (with the day on which the Effective
Date falls being counted in the period after the Effective Date),
(iv) the
provisions of Section
16.3 shall
be
given effect as if the same had taken effect on the Effective Date,
(v) casualty
losses shall be handled in accordance with Section
14.1,
(vi) delay
rentals shall be attributable to the period for which they are paid (e.g.
annual
delay rentals due on January 1, 2007 shall be attributable to calendar year
2007) rather than to the time when paid, and shall be prorated with respect
to
such period in the same manner as ad valorem taxes and
(vii) no
consideration shall be given to the local, state or federal income tax
liabilities of any party.
With
respect to Section
12.1(b),
the
Parties acknowledge that the allocation of expenses incurred in the operation
of, and proceeds of production from, the Properties before the Effective
Date
among the partners of the Sellers shall be governed by the terms of the existing
limited partnership agreements of the Sellers.
Section
12.2. Initial
Adjustment at Closing.
At
least five (5) days before the Closing Date, Seller shall provide to Buyer
a
statement showing its computations of the amount of the adjustments provided
for
in Section
12.1
above
based on amounts which prior to such time have actually been paid or received
by
Seller. Buyer and Seller shall attempt to agree upon such adjustments prior
to
Closing, provided that if agreement is not reached, Seller’s computation shall
be used at Closing, subject to further adjustment under Section 12.3
below.
If the amount of adjustments so determined which would result in a credit
to
Buyer exceed the amount of adjustments so determined which would result in
a
credit to Seller, Buyer shall, as provided in Section
10.3
above,
receive a credit at Closing for the amount of such excess, and if the converse
is true, then, as provided in Section
10.3 above,
the amount to be paid by Buyer to Seller at Closing shall be increased by
the
amount of such excess.
Section
12.3. Adjustment
Post Closing.
On or
before March 30, 2008, Buyer and Seller shall review any additional information
which may then be available pertaining to the adjustments provided for in
Section
12.1 above,
shall determine if any additional adjustments should be made beyond those
made
at Closing (whether the same be made to account for expenses or revenues
not
considered in making the adjustments made at Closing, or to correct errors
made
in the adjustments made at Closing), and shall make any such adjustments
by
appropriate payments from Seller to Buyer or from Buyer to Seller. During
the
period between Closing and the point in time when such post closing adjustment
has been agreed to, Buyer shall, on a monthly basis, pay over to Seller any
revenue received by it with respect to the Properties which was, under
Section
12.1 above,
to
be reserved by Seller and such payments shall be considered in making such
post
closing adjustment. If Buyer and Seller are unable to agree on or before
February 28, 2008, on whether any additional adjustments should be made beyond
those made at Closing or the amount of such additional adjustments, then
such
matters shall be determined by arbitration in accordance with the terms of
Section
16.19
19
Section
12.4. No
Further Adjustments.
Following the adjustments under Section
12.3
above,
no further adjustments shall be made under this Article
XII.
Should
any expenses with regard to the Properties be charged to (or received by)
Seller
or Buyer after the earlier of (i) the conclusion of such adjustments under
Section
12.3
or (ii)
February 28, 2008, the same shall be borne by Buyer, regardless of the periods
to which the same relate, and any bills received by Seller will be forwarded
to
Buyer.
ARTICLE
XIII.
Assumption
and Indemnification
Section
13.1. Assumption
and Indemnification By Buyer.
From
and after the Closing, Buyer shall assume, indemnify and hold Seller (and
its
partners, members, and all their affiliates, and all their respective directors,
officers, employees, attorneys, contractors and agents) harmless from and
against any and all claims, actions, causes of action, liabilities, damages,
costs or expenses (including, without limitation, court costs and consultants’
and attorneys’ fees) of any kind or character (individually a “Seller’s
Indemnified Claim”
and
collectively “Seller’s
Indemnified Claims”)
arising out of
(a) any
misrepresentation or breach of any warranty, covenant or agreement of Buyer
contained in this Agreement,
(b) the
ownership and/or operation of the Properties regardless
of whether the same accrued or otherwise arose before or after
the
Effective Date (including, without limitation, those arising under the contracts
and agreements described in Section 2.1(d)
above),
(c) the
condition (“Condition
of the Properties”)
of
the
Properties (including, without limitation, within such matters all obligations
to properly plug and abandon, or replug and re-abandon, xxxxx located on
the
Properties, to restore the surface of the Properties and to comply with,
or to
bring
the
Properties into compliance with, Applicable Environmental Laws, rules,
regulations and orders, including conducting any remediation,
investigation, removal or cleanup
activities which may be required on or otherwise in connection with activities
on the Properties), regardless of whether such condition or the events giving
rise to such condition arose or occurred before or after the Effective Date,
or
(d) any
hazardous
substances, hazardous wastes, solid wastes, or special wastes (as defined
under
Applicable Environmental Laws) disposed of on the Properties or generated in
connection with operation of the Properties.
20
THE
FOREGOING ASSUMPTIONS AND INDEMNIFICATIONS SHALL APPLY WHETHER OR NOT SUCH
DUTIES, OBLIGATIONS OR LIABILITIES, OR SUCH CLAIMS, ACTIONS, CAUSES OF ACTION,
LIABILITIES, DAMAGES, LOSSES, COSTS OR EXPENSES ARISE OUT OF (i) NEGLIGENCE
(INCLUDING SOLE NEGLIGENCE, SIMPLE NEGLIGENCE, CONCURRENT NEGLIGENCE, ACTIVE
OR
PASSIVE NEGLIGENCE, BUT EXPRESSLY NOT INCLUDING GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL
MISCONDUCT) OF ANY INDEMNIFIED PARTY, OR (ii)
THE
SOLE OR CONCURRENT STRICT LIABILITY IMPOSED UPON ANY INDEMNIFIED
PARTY.
Section
13.2. Notice
of Claim.
If
indemnification pursuant to Section
13.1
is
sought, the party seeking indemnification (the “Indemnitee”)
shall
give written notice to the indemnifying party of an event giving rise to
the
obligation to indemnify, describing in reasonable detail the factual basis
for
such claim, and shall allow the indemnifying party to assume and conduct
the
defense of the claim or action with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
Indemnitee, and cooperate with the indemnifying party in the defense thereof;
provided, however, that the omission to give such notice to the indemnifying
party shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability which it
may
have to the Indemnitee, except to the extent that the indemnifying party
is
prejudiced by the failure to give such notice and as otherwise provided in
Section
15.1.
The
Indemnitee shall have the right to employ separate counsel to represent the
Indemnitee if the Indemnitee is advised by counsel that an actual conflict
of
interest makes it advisable for the Indemnitee to be represented by separate
counsel and the reasonable expenses and fees of such separate counsel shall
be
paid by the indemnifying party.
Section
13.3. No
Commissions Owed.
Seller
agrees to indemnify and hold Buyer (and its partners and its and their
affiliates, and the respective officers, directors, employees, attorneys,
contractors and agents of such parties) harmless from and against any and
all
claims, actions, causes of action, liabilities, damages, losses, costs or
expenses (including, without limitation, court costs and attorneys fees)
of any
kind or character arising out of or resulting from any agreement, arrangement
or
understanding alleged to have been made by, or on behalf of, Seller with
any
broker or finder in connection with this Agreement or the transaction
contemplated hereby. Buyer agrees to indemnify and hold Seller (and its partners
and its and their affiliates and the respective officers, directors, employees,
attorneys, contractors and agents of such parties) harmless from and against
any
and all claims, actions, causes of action, liabilities, damages, losses,
costs
or expenses (including, without limitation, court costs and attorneys fees)
of
any kind or character arising out of or resulting from any agreement,
arrangement or understanding alleged to have been made by, or on behalf of,
Buyer with any broker or finder in connection with this Agreement or the
transaction contemplated hereby.
ARTICLE
XIV.
Casualty
Losses
Section
14.1. Casualty
Loss.
Seller
shall maintain its existing insurance coverage. In the event of damage by
fire
or other casualty to the Properties prior to the Closing, this Agreement
shall
remain in full force and effect, and Buyer shall be obligated to Close with
respect to the Property affected by such damage without any reduction of
the
Purchase Price. In such event, Seller shall assign to Buyer any insurance
claims
related to such damage, and in the event of a loss which is not covered by
insurance, Seller shall have no obligation to Buyer with respect thereto;
provided that, if Buyer so requests, Seller will assign any rights it may
have
against third parties with respect to such damage
21
ARTICLE
XV.
Notices
Section
15.1. Notices.
All
notices and other communications required under this Agreement shall (unless
otherwise specifically provided herein) be in writing and be delivered
personally, by recognized commercial courier or delivery service which provides
a receipt, by telecopier (with receipt acknowledged), or by registered or
certified mail (postage prepaid), at the following addresses:
If
to Buyer:
|
EnerVest
Production Partners, Ltd.
c/o
EVPP GP, LLC, General Partner
0000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxx 00000
Attn:
Mr. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
Telecopy:
(000) 000-0000
|
If to Seller: | EnerVest Appalachia, L.P.
c/o
EnerVest, Ltd.
0000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxx 00000
Attn:
Xx. Xxxx Xxxxxx
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
Telecopy:
(000) 000-0000
|
With a copy to: | TIFD III-X LLC
c/o
GE Commercial Finance—EFS
000
Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxx - 0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attn :
Global Asset Management Operations
Telecopy:
(000) 000-0000
|
or
such
other post office address within the continental limits of the United States
as
a party may designate for itself by giving notice to the other party, in
the
manner provided in this Section, at least ten (10) days prior to the effective
date of such change of address. All notices given by personal delivery or
mail
shall be effective on the date of actual receipt at the appropriate address
as
provided above. Notices given by telecopier, if receipt is confirmed by the
transmitting device, shall be effective upon actual receipt of received during
recipient’s normal business hours or at the beginning of the next business day
after receipt if received after recipient’s normal business hours.
22
ARTICLE
XVI.
Miscellaneous
Matters
Section
16.1. Survival
of Provisions.
None of
the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement, or in any
certificate delivered at Closing shall survive the Closing and the delivery
of
the Conveyance. The obligations of the parties under Article
IX
(to the
extent the same are, by mutual agreement, not performed at Closing), and
Sections
13.1, 13.3,
15.1
and Article XVI
shall
(subject to any limitations set forth therein) survive the Closing and the
delivery of the Conveyance. The obligations of the parties under Article
XII,
and
Sections
6.2 and
6.3
shall
survive the Closing and the delivery of the Conveyance but only for a period
of
180 days from the Closing.
Section
16.2. Further
Assurances.
After
the Closing, Seller shall execute and deliver, and shall otherwise cause
to be
executed and delivered, from time to time, such further instruments, notices,
division orders, transfer orders and other documents, and do such other and
further acts and things, as may be reasonably necessary to more fully and
effectively grant, convey and assign the Properties to Buyer.
Section
16.3. Gas
Imbalances, Make-Up Obligations.
Without
limitation of any other provision of this Agreement, it is expressly understood
and agreed that, upon the occurrence of Closing, Buyer shall succeed to and
assume the position of Seller with respect to all gas imbalances and make-up
obligations related to the Properties (regardless of whether such imbalances
or
make-up obligations arise at the wellhead, pipeline, gathering system or
other
level, and regardless of whether the same arise under contract or otherwise).
As
a result of such succession, Buyer shall (i) be entitled to receive any and
all
benefits which Seller would have been entitled to receive by virtue of such
position (including, without limitation, rights to produce and receive volumes
of production in excess of volumes which it would otherwise be entitled to
produce and receive by virtue of ownership of the Properties and rights to
receive cash balancing payments), and (ii) be obligated to suffer any detriments
which Seller would have been obligated to suffer by virtue of such position
(including, without limitation, the obligation to deliver to others production
volumes which would have otherwise been attributable to its ownership of
the
Properties, to deliver production to purchasers hereof without receiving
full
payment therefor, or to make cash balancing payments or to repay take or
pay
payments) and (iii) shall be responsible for any and all royalty obligations
with respect to such imbalances (including, without limitation, any of the
same
arising out of royalties having been paid on an “entitlement” basis rather than
a “receipts” basis).
Section
16.4. Waiver
of Consumer Rights.
Buyer
hereby waives its rights under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices - Consumer
Protection Act, Section 17.41 et seq., Business and Commerce Code, a law
that gives consumers special rights and protections, and any similar law
in any
other state to the extent such Act or similar law would otherwise apply.
After
consultation with an attorney of Buyer’s own selection, Buyer voluntarily
consents to this waiver. To evidence Buyer’s ability to grant such waiver, Buyer
represents to Seller that it (a) is in the business of seeking or acquiring,
by
purchase or lease, goods or services for commercial or business use, (b)
has
knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that enable it
to
evaluate the merits and risks of the transactions contemplated hereby, (c)
is
not in a significantly disparate bargaining position, and (d) has consulted
with, and is represented by, an attorney of Buyer’s own selection in connection
with this transaction, and such attorney was not directly or indirectly
identified, suggested, or selected by Seller or an agent of Seller.
23
Section
16.5. Parties
Bear Own Expenses/No Special Damages.
Each
party shall bear and pay all expenses (including, without limitation, legal
fees) incurred by it in connection with the transaction contemplated by this
Agreement. NOTWITHSTANDING
ANYTHING HEREIN TO THE CONTRARY NEITHER PARTY SHALL HAVE ANY OBLIGATIONS
WITH
RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT, OR OTHERWISE IN CONNECTION HEREWITH, FOR ANY SPECIAL,
CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES.
Section
16.6. No
Sales Taxes.
Sales,
transfer or similar tax imposed in connection with this transaction shall
be the
responsibility of and shall be paid by Buyer. Buyer shall indemnify and hold
Seller (and its affiliates, and its and their directors, officers, employees,
attorneys, contractors and agents) harmless, for any and all sales, transfer
or
other similar taxes (including related penalty, interest or legal costs)
due by
virtue of this transaction on the Properties transferred pursuant hereto
and the
Buyer shall remit such taxes at that time. Seller and Buyer agree to cooperate
with each other in demonstrating that the requirements for exemptions from
such
taxes have been met.
Section
16.7. Entire
Agreement.
This
Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties hereto with respect
to subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements, understandings,
negotiations, and discussions among the parties with respect to such subject
matter; provided that any Confidentiality Agreement executed by Buyer and
Seller, or any representative of Seller, in connection with the transaction
contemplated hereby remains in full force and effect and is not superseded
or
modified by this Agreement.
Section
16.8. Amendments,
Waivers.
This
Agreement may be amended, modified, supplemented, restated or discharged
(and
provisions hereof may be waived) only by an instrument in writing signed
by the
party against whom enforcement of the amendment, modification, supplement,
restatement or discharge (or waiver) is sought.
Section
16.9. Choice
of Law.
Without
regard to principles of conflicts of law, this Agreement shall be construed
and
enforced in accordance with and governed by the laws of the state of Texas
applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within such state
and
the laws of the United States of America, except that, to the extent that
the
law of a state in which a portion of the Properties is located (or which
is
otherwise applicable to a portion of the Properties) necessary governs, the
law
of such state shall apply as to that portion of the property located in (or
otherwise subject to the laws of) such state.
Section
16.10. Time
of Essence.
Time is
of the essence in this Agreement.
Section
16.11. No
Assignment.
Neither
party shall have the right to assign this Agreement, including any
indemnification rights, without the prior written consent of the other party
first having been obtained.
24
Section
16.12. Successors
and Assigns.
Subject
to the limitation on assignment contained in Section
16.11 above,
the Agreement shall be binding on and inure to the benefit of the parties
hereto
and their respective successors and assigns.
Section
16.13. No
Press Releases.
Except
as may be required under applicable law, prior to Closing neither party shall
make any public announcement with respect to the transaction contemplated
hereby
without the consent of the other party, which consent is not to be unreasonably
withheld.
Section
16.14. Counterpart
Execution, Fax Execution.
This
instrument may be executed in a number of identical counterparts, each of
which
for all purposes is to be deemed an original, and all of which constitute
collectively, one instrument. It is not necessary that each party hereto
execute
the same counterpart so long as identical counterparts are executed by each
such
party hereto. This instrument may be validly executed and delivered by facsimile
or other electronic transmission.
Section
16.15. Exclusive
Remedy.
The
sole and exclusive remedy of Buyer with respect to the Properties shall be
pursuant to the express provisions of this Agreement. Without limitation
of the
foregoing, if the Closing occurs the sole and exclusive remedy of Buyer,
for any
and all (a) claims relating to any representations, warranties, covenants
and agreements that is contained in this Agreement or in any certificate
delivered at Closing, (b) other claims pursuant to or in connection with
this
Agreement and (c) other claims relating to the Properties and the purchase
and
sale thereof, shall be any right to indemnification from such claims that
is
expressly provided in this Agreement, and if no such right of indemnification
is
expressly provided, then such claims are hereby waived to the fullest extent
permitted by law. If the Closing occurs, Buyer shall also be deemed to have
waived, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law, any right to
contribution against Seller (including, without limitation, any contribution
claim arising under any Applicable Environmental Law) and any and all other
rights, claims and causes of action it may have against Seller arising under
or
based on any federal, state or local statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation
or common law or otherwise. If the Closing does not occur due to the breach
of
Seller, (i) to the extent permitted by applicable law, the sole and exclusive
remedy of Buyer shall be the right to return of the Deposit to the extent
provided in the other provisions of this Agreement and to specific performance
under applicable law, (ii) except with respect to return of the Deposit plus
interest accrued thereon, Buyer shall not be entitled to recover any monetary
damages, and (iii) Seller agrees that in such event Buyer’s legal remedies will
be inadequate and that the Properties are unique. If Buyer’s remedy for specific
performance should for any reason be legally unenforceable, then the sole
and
exclusive remedy of Buyer, in such event, shall instead be the right to return
of the Deposit, plus all accrued interest thereon and to recover actual
out-of-pocket costs and expenses (but excluding overhead and salaries of
Buyer’s
employees) incurred by Buyer in connection with this transaction.
Section
16.16. Imputed
Knowledge and Waiver.
Anything to the contrary notwithstanding, if Buyer or an affiliate of Buyer
is
the operator or the contract operator of any Oil and Gas Property, Buyer
shall
be deemed to have knowledge of any breach of any representation or warranty
by
Seller with respect to any Oil and Gas Property for which Buyer or any affiliate
of Buyer is acting as the operator or contract operator, and shall not be
entitled (and hereby waives any right) (i) to refuse to close because of
the
existence of any such breach or (ii) to indemnity or any other remedy with
respect to any such breach.
25
Section
16.17. Arbitration.
Any
matters that are to be determined by arbitration pursuant to the other
provisions of this Agreement, shall be resolved solely and exclusively by
arbitration in accordance with the Federal Arbitration Act and using the
rules
of the American Arbitration Association or any successor thereof when not
in
conflict with such act. Arbitration shall take place at an appointed time
and
place in Xxxxxx County, Texas. Each party shall select one impartial arbitrator,
and the two so designated shall select a third impartial arbitrator. If either
party shall fail to designate an arbitrator within ten (10) days after
arbitration is requested, or if the two arbitrators shall fail to select
a third
arbitrator within twenty (20) days after arbitration is requested, then such
arbitrator shall be selected by the Senior U.S. District Judge for the Southern
District of Texas. All arbitrators selected under this Agreement shall have
at
least eight (8) years of professional experience in the oil and gas industry
and
shall not have been previously employed by either party and shall not have
a
direct or indirect interest in either Party or the subject matter of the
arbitration. The arbitration hearing shall commence as soon as is practical,
but
in no event later than thirty (30) days after the selection of the third
arbitrator. Judgment upon an award of the majority of the arbitrators shall
be
binding and, if necessary, may be enforced in any court of competent
jurisdiction. The arbitrators shall not have any authority to award any special,
consequential, or punitive damages The arbitration process shall be kept
confidential and the statements, agreements, views, evidence and opinions
in
connection with such arbitration proceeding shall not be discoverable or
admissible in any legal proceeding for any purpose except to the extent
necessary to enforce the award of the arbitrators. The fees and expenses
of the
third arbitrator shall be shared one-half by Seller and one-half by Buyer
and
the fees and expenses of the arbitrator selected by a Party shall be borne
by
that Party.
Section
16.18. References,
Titles and Construction.
(a) All
references in this Agreement to articles, sections, subsections and other
subdivisions refer to corresponding articles, sections, subsections and other
subdivisions of this Agreement unless expressly provided otherwise.
(b) Titles
appearing at the beginning of any of such subdivisions are for convenience
only
and shall not constitute part of such subdivisions and shall be disregarded
in
construing the language contained in such subdivisions.
(c) The
words
“this
Agreement”, “this instrument”, “herein”, “hereof”, “hereby”,
“hereunder”
and
words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any
particular subdivision unless expressly so limited.
(d) Words
in
the singular form shall be construed to include the plural and vice versa,
unless the context otherwise requires. Pronouns in masculine, feminine and
neuter genders shall be construed to include any other gender.
(e) Examples
shall not be construed to limit, expressly or by implication, the matter
they
illustrate.
26
Section
16.19. Severability.
The
provisions of this Agreement will be deemed severable and the invalidity
or
unenforceability of any provision will not affect the validity or enforceability
of any other provision.
[signature
pages follow]
27
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement is executed by the parties hereto on the
date
set forth above.
Enervest
Appalachia, L.P.
|
|||
By:
|
EnerVest
Management Company, L.C.
|
||
Its:
|
General
Partner
|
||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
|
||
Name:
|
Xxxx
X. Xxxxxx
|
||
Title:
|
Exec.
VP & COO
|
||
Enervest
Production Partners,
Ltd.
|
|||
By:
|
EVPP
GP, LLC, its General Partner
|
||
|
|||
By:
|
EV
Properties, L.P., its Sole Member
|
||
By:
|
EV
Properties GP, LLC, its General Partner
|
||
By:
|
EV
Energy Partners, L.P., its Sole Member
|
||
By:
|
EV
Energy GP, L.P., its General Partner
|
||
By:
|
EnerVest
Management, LLC, its General Partner
|
||
By:
|
EnerVest,
Ltd., its Sole Member
|
||
By:
|
EnerVest
Management GP, L.C., its
|
||
General
Partner
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By:
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/s/
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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Name:
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Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx
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Title:
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SVP
and CFO
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