GULF COAST/ROCKIES/SAN JUAN PACKAGE PURCHASE AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT 2.1
GULF COAST/ROCKIES/SAN JUAN PACKAGE
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
DOMINION EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION, INC.
DOMINION ENERGY, INC.
DOMINION OKLAHOMA TEXAS EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION, INC.
DOMINION RESERVES, INC.
LDNG TEXAS HOLDINGS, LLC
DEPI TEXAS HOLDINGS, LLC
AS SELLERS,
AND
XTO ENERGY INC.
AS PURCHASER,
Dated as of June 1, 2007
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE 1. PURCHASE AND SALE | 1 | |||
Section 1.1 | Purchase and Sale | 1 | ||
Section 1.2 | Certain Definitions | 1 | ||
Section 1.3 | Excluded Assets | 12 | ||
Section 1.4 | Transfer of Certain Assets Not Held by Sellers | 14 | ||
ARTICLE 2. PURCHASE PRICE | 14 | |||
Section 2.1 | Purchase Price | 14 | ||
Section 2.2 | Allocation of Purchase Price | 14 | ||
Section 2.3 | Adjustments to Purchase Price | 17 | ||
Section 2.4 | Ordinary Course Pre-Effective Date Costs Paid and Revenues Received Post-Closing | 21 | ||
Section 2.5 | Procedures | 22 | ||
ARTICLE 3. TITLE MATTERS | 23 | |||
Section 3.1 | Companys Title | 23 | ||
Section 3.2 | Definition of Defensible Title | 24 | ||
Section 3.3 | Definition of Permitted Encumbrances | 25 | ||
Section 3.4 | Allocated Values | 27 | ||
Section 3.5 | Notice of Title Defects; Defect Adjustments | 27 | ||
Section 3.6 | Consents to Assignment and Preferential Rights to Purchase | 32 | ||
Section 3.7 | Limitations on Applicability | 34 | ||
ARTICLE 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLERS | 34 | |||
Section 4.1 | Sellers | 34 | ||
Section 4.2 | The Wholly-Owned Companies | 35 | ||
Section 4.3 | The Subsidiary | 38 | ||
Section 4.4 | Litigation | 39 | ||
Section 4.5 | Taxes and Assessments | 39 | ||
Section 4.6 | Environmental Laws | 40 | ||
Section 4.7 | Compliance with Laws | 41 | ||
Section 4.8 | Contracts | 41 | ||
Section 4.9 | Payments for Production | 42 | ||
Section 4.10 | Production Imbalances | 42 | ||
Section 4.11 | Consents and Preferential Purchase Rights | 42 | ||
Section 4.12 | Liability for Brokers Fees | 42 | ||
Section 4.13 | Equipment and Personal Property | 42 | ||
Section 4.14 | Non-Consent Operations | 43 | ||
Section 4.15 | Wells | 43 | ||
Section 4.16 | Outstanding Capital Commitments | 43 | ||
Section 4.17 | Insurance | 43 | ||
Section 4.18 | Absence of Certain Changes | 43 | ||
Section 4.19 | Assets of the E&P Business | 43 | ||
Section 4.20 | Reserve Report; Bonds and Guarantees | 44 |
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Section 4.21 | Limitations | 44 | ||
ARTICLE 5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER | 45 | |||
Section 5.1 | Existence and Qualification | 46 | ||
Section 5.2 | Power | 46 | ||
Section 5.3 | Authorization and Enforceability | 46 | ||
Section 5.4 | No Conflicts | 46 | ||
Section 5.5 | Consents, Approvals or Waivers | 46 | ||
Section 5.6 | Litigation | 46 | ||
Section 5.7 | Financing | 46 | ||
Section 5.8 | Investment Intent | 47 | ||
Section 5.9 | Independent Investigation | 47 | ||
Section 5.10 | Liability for Brokers Fees | 47 | ||
Section 5.11 | Qualification | 47 | ||
ARTICLE 6. COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES | 47 | |||
Section 6.1 | Access | 47 | ||
Section 6.2 | Notification of Breaches | 48 | ||
Section 6.3 | Press Releases | 48 | ||
Section 6.4 | Operation of Business | 48 | ||
Section 6.5 | Conduct of Wholly-Owned Companies and the Subsidiary | 50 | ||
Section 6.6 | Indemnity Regarding Access | 52 | ||
Section 6.7 | Governmental Reviews | 52 | ||
Section 6.8 | Intercompany Indebtedness | 53 | ||
Section 6.9 | Third Person Indebtedness | 53 | ||
Section 6.10 | Operatorship | 53 | ||
Section 6.11 | Volumetric Production Payments | 53 | ||
Section 6.12 | Hedges | 53 | ||
Section 6.13 | Vehicles and Equipment | 54 | ||
Section 6.14 | Certain Beneficial Interests | 54 | ||
Section 6.15 | Further Assurances | 55 | ||
Section 6.16 | Transition Services Agreement | 55 | ||
Section 6.17 | [Intentionally Omitted] | 55 | ||
Section 6.18 | Financial Information | 55 | ||
Section 6.19 | Carlsbad Royalties | 56 | ||
ARTICLE 7. CONDITIONS TO CLOSING | 56 | |||
Section 7.1 | Conditions of Sellers to Closing | 56 | ||
Section 7.2 | Conditions of Purchaser to Closing | 57 | ||
ARTICLE 8. CLOSING | 58 | |||
Section 8.1 | Time and Place of Closing | 58 | ||
Section 8.2 | Obligations of Sellers at Closing | 58 | ||
Section 8.3 | Obligations of Purchaser at Closing | 59 | ||
Section 8.4 | Closing Payment and Post-Closing Purchase Price Adjustments | 60 |
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ARTICLE 9. TAX MATTERS | 62 | |||
Section 9.1 | Liability for Taxes | 62 | ||
Section 9.2 | Preparation and Filing of Company Tax Returns | 64 | ||
Section 9.3 | Allocation Arrangements | 65 | ||
Section 9.4 | Access to Information | 65 | ||
Section 9.5 | Contest Provisions | 66 | ||
Section 9.6 | Post-Closing Actions Which Affect Sellers Tax Liability | 67 | ||
Section 9.7 | Refunds | 67 | ||
Section 9.8 | Conflict | 68 | ||
Section 9.9 | Election Under Section 338(h)(10) | 68 | ||
ARTICLE 10. U.S. EMPLOYMENT MATTERS | 68 | |||
Section 10.1 | Employees | 68 | ||
Section 10.2 | Employment | 69 | ||
Section 10.3 | Plan Participation | 71 | ||
Section 10.4 | Participation in Purchaser Plans | 71 | ||
Section 10.5 | Service Credit | 72 | ||
Section 10.6 | Defined Contribution Plan | 72 | ||
Section 10.7 | Vesting | 72 | ||
Section 10.8 | Welfare Benefit Plans; Workers Compensation; Other Benefits | 72 | ||
Section 10.9 | WARN Act | 73 | ||
Section 10.10 | Post-retirement Benefits | 73 | ||
Section 10.11 | Annual Incentive Plan | 73 | ||
Section 10.12 | Immigration Matters | 73 | ||
Section 10.13 | No Implied Rights | 74 | ||
ARTICLE 11. TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT | 74 | |||
Section 11.1 | Termination | 74 | ||
Section 11.2 | Effect of Termination | 74 | ||
ARTICLE 12. INDEMNIFICATION; LIMITATIONS | 75 | |||
Section 12.1 | Assumption | 75 | ||
Section 12.2 | Indemnification | 76 | ||
Section 12.3 | Indemnification Actions | 81 | ||
Section 12.4 | Casualty and Condemnation | 83 | ||
Section 12.5 | Limitation on Actions | 83 | ||
ARTICLE 13. MISCELLANEOUS | 85 | |||
Section 13.1 | Counterparts | 85 | ||
Section 13.2 | Notices | 85 | ||
Section 13.3 | Sales or Use Tax, Recording Fees and Similar Taxes and Fees | 86 | ||
Section 13.4 | Expenses | 86 | ||
Section 13.5 | Replacement of Bonds, Letters of Credit and Guarantees | 86 | ||
Section 13.6 | Records | 87 | ||
Section 13.7 | Name Change | 87 | ||
Section 13.8 | Governing Law and Venue | 88 | ||
Section 13.9 | Jurisdiction and Service of Process | 88 |
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Section 13.10 | Captions | 88 | ||
Section 13.11 | Waivers | 88 | ||
Section 13.12 | Assignment | 89 | ||
Section 13.13 | Entire Agreement | 89 | ||
Section 13.14 | Amendment | 89 | ||
Section 13.15 | No Third-Person Beneficiaries | 89 | ||
Section 13.16 | Guarantees | 89 | ||
Section 13.17 | References | 89 | ||
Section 13.18 | Construction | 90 | ||
Section 13.19 | Limitation on Damages | 90 |
EXHIBITS:
Exhibit A | Companies | |
Exhibit B-1 | Company Leases | |
Exhibit B-2 | Company Wells | |
Exhibit B-3 | Company Midstream Assets | |
Exhibit B-4 | Company Office Leases | |
Exhibit C | Subsidiary | |
Exhibit D-1 | Additional Leases | |
Exhibit D-2 | Additional Wells | |
Exhibit D-3 | Additional Midstream Assets | |
Exhibit D-4 | Additional Office Leases | |
Exhibit D-5 | Additional Inventory | |
Exhibit D-6 | Additional Radio Licenses | |
Exhibit E | Form of Conveyance | |
Exhibit F | Form of DEPI/Purchaser Transition Services Agreement | |
Exhibit G | [Intentionally Omitted] | |
Exhibit H | Form of DRI Guarantee | |
Exhibit I | Form of Purchaser Guarantee |
SCHEDULES
Schedule 1.2 | Executives, Managing Directors and Key Employees | |
Schedule 1.2(hh) | Non-Excluded Texas Counties | |
Schedule 1.3 | Certain Excluded Assets | |
Schedule 1.4 | Assets Not Owned By Sellers | |
Schedule 2.3(e) | Imbalance Values | |
Schedule 3.3(j) | Certain Calls on Production | |
Schedule 4.2(g) | Balance Sheets and Income Statements | |
Schedule 4.2(i) | Employment Agreements | |
Schedule 4.2(j)(i) | Employee Benefits and Compensation Programs List | |
Schedule 4.4 | Litigation | |
Schedule 4.5 | Tax Disclosures |
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Schedule 4.6 | Environmental Disclosures | |
Schedule 4.7 | Violations of Laws | |
Schedule 4.8 | Contracts | |
Schedule 4.9 | Production Payments | |
Schedule 4.10 | Production Imbalances | |
Schedule 4.11 | Consents and Preferential Rights | |
Schedule 4.13 | Equipment Disclosures | |
Schedule 4.15 | Wells | |
Schedule 4.16 | Outstanding Capital Commitments | |
Schedule 4.17 | Insurance | |
Schedule 4.18 | Absence of Certain Changes | |
Schedule 4.21(c) | Persons with Knowledge | |
Schedule 5.5 | Consents, Approvals or Waivers | |
Schedule 6.4 | 2007 Plan | |
Schedule 6.9 | Third Party Indebtedness | |
Schedule 6.11 | Terms of Volumetric Production Payment Contracts | |
Schedule 8.4(d) | Bank Account Information | |
Schedule 10.2(c)(i) | Summary of the Dominion E&P Special Severance Program | |
Schedule 10.2(c)(ii) | Special Package - Managing Directors | |
Schedule 10.2(c)(iii) | Special Package - Key Employees | |
Schedule 10.2(d) | Executive Agreements - Terms and Conditions | |
Schedule 13.5 | Guarantees to be Replaced |
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Index of Defined Terms
Defined Term | ||
2007 Plan | Section 6.4 | |
Accounting Arbitrator | Section 8.4(b) | |
Accounting Principles | Section 2.3 | |
Additional Assets | Section 1.2(a) | |
Additional Contracts | Section 1.2(a)(iv) | |
Additional Equipment | Section 1.2(a)(vi) | |
Additional Excluded Records | Section 1.2(a)(xi) | |
Additional Leases | Section 1.2(a)(i) | |
Additional Midstream Assets | Section 1.2(a)(iii) | |
Additional Properties | Section 1.2(a)(iii) | |
Additional Records | Section 1.2(a)(xi) | |
Additional Units | Section 1.2(a)(ii) | |
Additional Wells | Section 1.2(a)(i) | |
Adjustment Period | Section 2.3(h)(i)(A) | |
Affiliate | Section 1.2(c) | |
Agreed Rate | Section 2.3(h)(iii) | |
Agreement | Preamble | |
Allocated Values | Section 3.4 | |
Allocated Values Schedule | Section 2.2(c) | |
Annual Incentive Plan | Section 1.2(d) | |
Appalachian Business | Section 1.2(a)(xi)(A) | |
Assets | Section 1.2(e) | |
Assumed Seller Obligations | Section 12.1 | |
Audited Statements of Revenue and Expenses | Section 6.18(b) | |
Balance Sheets | Section 4.2(g) | |
Business Day | Section 1.2(f) | |
ClaimSection 12.3(b) | ||
Claim Notice | Section 12.3(b) | |
Closing | Section 8.1 | |
Closing Date | Section 8.1 | |
Closing Payment | Section 8.4(a) | |
COBRA | Section 10.8 | |
Code | Section 1.2(h) | |
Company; Companies | Recitals | |
Company Assets | Section 1.2(i) | |
Company Contracts | Section 1.2(i)(iv) | |
Company Equipment | Section 1.2(i)(vi) | |
Company Excluded Records | Section 1.2(i)(xi) | |
Company Leases | Section 1.2(i)(i) | |
Company Midstream Assets | Section 1.2(i)(iii) | |
Company Onshore Employees | Section 10.1(a) | |
Company Properties | Section 1.2(i)(iii) | |
Company Records | Section 1.2(i)(xi) |
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Companys U.S. Benefit Plans | Section 10.3 | |
Company Units | Section 1.2(i)(ii) | |
Company Wells | Section 1.2(i)(i) | |
Computer/Vehicle Buy-Out Costs | Section 6.13 | |
Confidentiality Agreement | Section 6.1 | |
Consolidated Onshore E&P Business | Section 1.2(l) | |
Contracts | Section 1.2(m) | |
Conveyances | Section 8.2(d) | |
Cut-Off Date | Section 2.3 | |
Damages | Section 12.2(d) | |
Defensible Title | Section 3.2(a) | |
DEI | Preamble | |
DEPI | Preamble | |
DEPI I, LP | Section 1.2(n) | |
DEPI Survivor LP | Section 6.14(c) | |
DEPI Texas | Preamble | |
DEPI Texas Beneficial Interests | Section 1.2(o) | |
Deloitte | Section 6.18(b) | |
DNG I, LP | Section 1.2(q) | |
DOTEPI Survivor LP | Section 6.14(c) | |
DOTEPI Texas Beneficial Interests | Section 1.2(s) | |
DRI | Section 1.2(t) | |
Due Date | Section 9.2(d) | |
E&P Business | Section 1.2(v) | |
Employee Plans | Section 1.2(w) | |
Environmental Laws | Section 4.6 | |
Equipment | Section 1.2(y) | |
Equity Interests | Section 4.3(e) | |
ERISA | Section 1.2(z) | |
ERISA Affiliate | Section 1.2(aa) | |
Excluded Assets | Section 1.3 | |
Excluded Employees | Section 1.2(cc) | |
Excluded New Mexico Counties | Section 1.2(dd) | |
Excluded Onshore Areas | Section 1.2(ee) | |
Excluded Records | Section 1.2(ff) | |
Excluded Texas Counties | Section 1.2(gg) | |
Executives | Section 1.2(hh) | |
Governmental Authority | Section 1.2(ii) | |
Hart-Scott-Rodino Act | Section 1.2(jj) | |
Income Statements | Section 4.2(g) | |
Indemnified Person | Section 12.3(a) | |
Indemnifying Person | Section 12.3(a) | |
Independent Appraiser | Section 2.2 | |
Interest Purchase Price | Section 2.2(a) | |
Interest Unadjusted Purchase Price | Section 2.2(a) | |
Interests | Section 1.1 |
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Interests Schedule | Section 2.2(c) | |
Key Employees | Section 1.2(ll) | |
Laws | Section 1.2(mm) | |
LDNG | Preamble | |
Leases | Section 1.2(nn) | |
Loan | Section 6.5(c) | |
Managing Directors | Section 1.2(oo) | |
Material Adverse Effect | Section 4.21(d) | |
Material Contract | Section 1.2(pp) | |
Midstream Assets | Section 1.2(qq) | |
Multiemployer Plan | Section 1.2(rr) | |
NORM | Section 4.6 | |
Offshore Package Areas | Section 1.2(ss) | |
PBGC | Section 1.2(tt) | |
Party; Parties | Preamble | |
Permitted Encumbrances | Section 3.3 | |
Person | Section 1.2(uu) | |
Post-Closing Period | Section 9.1(c) | |
Pre-Closing Period | Section 9.1(b) | |
Properties | Section 1.2(vv) | |
Property Costs | Section 1.2(ww) | |
PUD Lease Exhibit Delivery Date | Section 3.1(b) | |
Purchase Price | Section 2.1 | |
Purchaser | Preamble | |
Purchaser U.S. Employee Plans | Section 1.2(xx) | |
Records | Section 1.2(yy) | |
Reserves | Preamble | |
SEC | Section 6.18(a) | |
Sellers | Preamble | |
Shares | Recitals | |
Statements of Revenues and Expenses | Section 6.18(a) | |
Straddle Period | Section 9.1(d) | |
Subsidiary | Section 1.2(zz) | |
Target Closing Date | Section 8.1 | |
Tax | Section 1.2(aaa) | |
Tax Audit | Section 9.5(a) | |
Tax Indemnified Person | Section 9.5(a) | |
Tax Indemnifying Person | Section 9.5(a) | |
Tax Items | Section 9.2(a) | |
Tax Payor | Section 9.2(d) | |
Tax Return | Section 9.2(a) | |
Tax Return Preparer | Section 9.2(d) | |
Tax Sharing Agreement | Section 9.3 | |
Title Arbitrator | Section 3.5(i) | |
Title Benefit | Section 3.2(b) | |
Title Benefit Amount | Section 3.5(e) |
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Title Claim Date | Section 3.5(a) | |
Title Defect | Section 3.2(b) | |
Title Defect Amount | Section 3.5(d) | |
Transferred Derivatives | Section 1.2(ccc) | |
Transition Services Agreement | Section 8.2(m) | |
Unadjusted Purchase Price | Section 2.1 | |
U.S. Temporary Employees | Section 1.2(ddd) | |
Units | Section 1.2(eee) | |
WARN Act | Section 10.9 | |
Wells | Section 1.2(ggg) | |
Wholly-Owned Company | Section 1.2(hhh) |
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GULF COAST/ROCKIES/SAN JUAN PACKAGE PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This Gulf Coast/Rockies/San Juan Package Purchase Agreement (this Agreement), is dated as of June 1, 2007, by and between Dominion Exploration & Production, Inc., a corporation organized under the Laws of Delaware (DEPI), Dominion Energy, Inc., a corporation organized under the Laws of Virginia (DEI), Dominion Oklahoma Texas Exploration & Production, Inc., a corporation organized under the Laws of Delaware (DOTEPI), and Dominion Reserves, Inc., a corporation organized under Laws of Virginia (Reserves), LDNG Texas Holdings, LLC, a limited liability company organized under the Laws of Oklahoma (LDNG) and DEPI Texas Holdings, LLC, a limited liability company organized under the Laws of Delaware (DEPI Texas) (collectively Sellers), and XTO Energy Inc., a company organized under the Laws of Delaware (Purchaser). Sellers and Purchaser are sometimes referred to collectively as the Parties and individually as a Party.
RECITALS:
Each Seller desires to sell and Purchaser desires to purchase all of the issued and outstanding shares or limited liability company interests, as applicable, owned of record by each Seller (the Shares) of the corporations and limited liability companies described opposite each Sellers name in Exhibit A (each, a Company and collectively, the Companies) and, in the case of LDNG, listed opposite such Sellers name in Exhibit C, and DEPI, DOTEPI and Reserves desire to sell and Purchaser desires to purchase those certain interests in oil and gas properties, rights and related assets that are defined and described as Additional Assets herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual promises, representations, warranties, covenants, conditions and agreements contained herein, and for other valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1.
PURCHASE AND SALE
Section 1.1 Purchase and Sale. On the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement, each Seller agrees to sell to Purchaser and Purchaser agrees to purchase, accept and pay for (i) the Shares set forth opposite such Sellers name in Exhibit A and Exhibit C and (ii) in the case of DEPI, DOTEPI and Reserves as Sellers, the Additional Assets owned by such Seller (collectively, the Interests).
Section 1.2 Certain Definitions. As used herein:
(a) Additional Assets means all of DEPIs, DOTEPIs, and Reserves right, title, and interest in and to the following:
(i) The oil and gas leases, oil, gas and mineral leases and subleases, royalties, overriding royalties, net profits interests, mineral fee interests, carried interests, and other rights to oil and gas in place, and mineral servitudes, that are described on
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Exhibit D-1 (collectively, the Additional Leases), and any and all oil, gas, water, CO2 or injection wells thereon or on pooled, communitized or unitized acreage that includes all or any part of the Additional Leases, including the interests in the wells shown on Exhibit D-2 attached hereto (the Additional Wells);
(ii) All pooled, communitized or unitized acreage which includes all or part of any Additional Leases (the Additional Units), and all tenements, hereditaments and appurtenances belonging to the Additional Leases and Additional Units;
(iii) The gas processing plants, gas gathering systems, pipelines, and other mid-stream equipment described on Exhibit D-3 (the Additional Midstream Assets and, together with the Additional Leases, Additional Wells and Additional Units, the Additional Properties);
(iv) The Material Contracts listed on Schedule 4.8, Part I and all other currently existing contracts, agreements and instruments with respect to the Additional Properties, to the extent applicable to the Additional Properties, including operating agreements, unitization, pooling, and communitization agreements, declarations and orders, area of mutual interest agreements, joint venture agreements, farmin and farmout agreements, exchange agreements, transportation agreements, agreements for the sale and purchase of oil and gas and processing agreements, but excluding any contracts, agreements and instruments included within the definition of Excluded Assets, and provided that the defined term Additional Contracts shall not include the Additional Leases and other instruments constituting such Sellers chain of title to the Additional Leases (subject to such exclusion and proviso, the Additional Contracts);
(v) All surface fee interests, easements, permits, licenses, servitudes, rights-of-way, surface leases and other surface rights appurtenant to, and used or held for use primarily in connection with, the Additional Properties, but excluding any permits and other appurtenances included within the definition of Excluded Assets;
(vi) All equipment, machinery, facilities, fixtures and other tangible personal property and improvements, including pipelines and well equipment (both surface and subsurface) located on the Additional Properties or used or held for use primarily in connection with the operation of the Additional Properties or the production, transportation or processing of oil and gas from the Additional Properties, but excluding (A) office furniture, fixtures and equipment except as described in Section 1.2(a)(vii), (B) materials and equipment inventory except as described in Section 1.2(a)(viii), (C) vehicles except as described in Section 1.2(a)(ix) and (D) any such items included within the definition of Excluded Assets (subject to such exclusions, the Additional Equipment);
(vii) The offices leases, office subleases or buildings, if any, described on Exhibit D-4, Part I and Part II, and the furniture, fixtures and equipment located in those offices and buildings described in Part I of Exhibit D-4 and the additional furniture, fixtures and equipment described in Part III of Exhibit D-4 , but excluding any such items included within the definition of Excluded Assets;
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(viii) The materials and equipment inventory, if any, described on Exhibit D-5;
(ix) The vehicles acquired pursuant to Section 6.13;
(x) All oil and gas produced from or attributable to the Additional Leases, Additional Units or Additional Wells after the Closing Date, all oil, condensate and scrubber liquids inventories and ethane, propane, iso-butane, nor-butane and gasoline inventories of Sellers from the Additional Properties in storage as of the end of the Closing Date, and all production, plant and transportation imbalances of Sellers with respect to the Additional Properties as of the end of the Closing Date; and
(xi) The data and records of each Seller and its Affiliates, to the extent relating primarily to the Additional Properties or other Additional Assets, excluding, however, in each case:
(A) all corporate, financial, Tax and legal data and records of such Seller that relate primarily to: (1) such Sellers business generally (whether or not relating to the Additional Assets); (2) such Sellers business and operations in Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Kentucky, and Maryland (the Appalachian Business); (3) such Sellers business and operations in the Excluded Onshore Areas; (4) such Sellers business and operations in the Offshore Package Areas; or (5) the businesses of such Seller and its Affiliates (other than the Companies and Subsidiary) other than the exploration and production of oil and gas, each of which is being retained by such Seller;
(B) any data and records to the extent disclosure or transfer is prohibited or subjected to payment of a fee or other consideration by any license agreement or other agreement with a Person other than Affiliates of Seller, or by applicable Law, and for which no consent to transfer has been received or for which Purchaser has not agreed in writing to pay the fee or other consideration, as applicable;
(C) all legal records and legal files of Sellers including all work product of and attorney-client communications with any Sellers legal counsel (other than Additional Leases, title opinions, Additional Contracts and Sellers working files for litigation of DEPI, DOTEPI and Reserves listed on Schedule 4.4 which is assumed by Purchaser pursuant to Section 12.1);
(D) all software;
(E) data and records relating to the sale of the Additional Assets, including bids received from and records of negotiations with third Persons;
(F) any data and records relating primarily to the other Excluded Assets;
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(G) those original data and records retained by any Seller pursuant to Section 13.6; and
(H) originals of well files and division order files with respect to Additional Wells and Additional Units for which DEPI, DOTEPI or Reserves is operator but for which Purchaser does not become operator (provided that copies of such files will be included in the Additional Records).
(Clauses (A) through (H) shall hereinafter be referred to as the Additional Excluded Records and subject to such exclusions, the data and records described in this Section 1.2(a)(xi) shall hereinafter be referred to as the Additional Records.)
(xii) The radio licenses described on Exhibit D-6 except those for which a transfer is prohibited or subject to payment of a fee or other consideration and for which no consent to transfer has been received or for which Purchaser has not agreed in writing to pay the fee or other consideration, as applicable; and
(xiii) All (A) accounts, instruments and general intangibles (as such terms are defined in the Uniform Commercial Code of Texas) attributable to the Additional Assets at the Closing Date (other than the Excluded Assets and the amounts to which Seller is entitled pursuant to Section 2.3 and Section 2.4); and (B) liens and security interests and collateral in favor of Sellers that exist as of the Closing Date, whether choate or inchoate, under any law, rule or regulation or under any of the Additional Contracts (i) arising from the ownership, operation or sale or other disposition of any of the other Additional Assets or (ii) arising in favor of any Seller as the operator of any of the Additional Assets, but only to the extent that Purchaser becomes successor operator.
(b) Adverse Environmental Condition shall mean, with respect to the Assets, any violation of Environmental Laws; any condition that is required to be remediated or cured under applicable Environmental Laws; the failure to remediate or cure any condition that is required to be remediated or cured under applicable Environmental Laws; or any actual or threatened action or proceeding before any Governmental Authority alleging potential liability arising out of or resulting from any actual or alleged violation of, or any remedial obligation under, any Environmental Laws.
(c) Affiliate means, with respect to any Person, a Person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such Person, with control in such context meaning the ability to direct the management or policies of a Person through ownership of voting shares or other securities, pursuant to a written agreement, or otherwise.
(d) Annual Incentive Plan means the annual incentive bonus plan sponsored by Dominion Resources, Inc. for its eligible employees.
(e) Assets means the Company Assets and the Additional Assets.
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(f) Business Day means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, or a day on which banks are closed for business in New York, New York or Richmond, Virginia, United States of America.
(g) COBRA has the meaning set forth in Section 10.9.
(h) Code means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(i) Company Assets means all of each Wholly-Owned Companys and the Subsidiarys right, title, and interest in and to the following:
(i) The oil and gas leases, oil, gas and mineral leases and subleases, royalties, overriding royalties, net profits interests, mineral fee interests, carried interests, and other rights to oil and gas in place, and mineral servitudes, that are described on Exhibit B-1(collectively, the Company Leases), and any and all oil, gas, water, CO2 or injection wells thereon or on the pooled, communitized or unitized acreage that includes all or any part of the Company Leases, including the interests in the wells shown on Exhibit B-2 attached hereto (the Company Wells);
(ii) All pooled, communitized or unitized acreage which includes all or a part of any Company Lease (the Company Units), and all tenements, hereditaments and appurtenances belonging to the Company Leases and Company Units;
(iii) The gas processing plants, gas gathering systems, pipelines and other mid-stream equipment described on Exhibit B-3 (the Company Midstream Assets and, together with the Company Leases, Company Wells and Company Units, the Company Properties);
(iv) The Material Contracts listed on Schedule 4.8, Part II and all other currently existing contracts, agreements and instruments with respect to the Company Properties, to the extent applicable to the Company Properties, including but not limited to, operating agreements, unitization, pooling and communitization agreements, declarations and orders, area of mutual interest agreements, joint venture agreements, farmin and farmout agreements, exchange agreements, transportation agreements, agreements for the sale and purchase of oil and gas and processing agreements, but excluding any contracts, agreements and instruments included within the definition of Excluded Assets, and provided that the defined term Company Contracts shall not include the Company Leases and other instruments constituting any Wholly-Owned Companys or the Subsidiarys chain of title to the Company Leases (subject to such exclusion and proviso, the Company Contracts);
(v) All surface fee interests, easements, permits, licenses, servitudes, rights-of-way, surface leases and other surface rights appurtenant to, and used or held for use in connection with, the Company Properties, but excluding any permits and other appurtenances included within the definition of Excluded Assets;
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(vi) All equipment, machinery, facilities, fixtures and other tangible personal property and improvements, including pipelines and well equipment (both surface and subsurface) located on the Company Properties or used or held for use in connection with the operation of the Company Properties or the production, transportation or processing of oil or gas from the Company Properties, but excluding (A) office furniture, fixtures and equipment except as described in Section 1.2(i)(vii), and (B) any such items included within the definition of Excluded Assets (subject to such exclusions, the Company Equipment);
(vii) The office leases or buildings, if any, described on Exhibit B-4 and the furniture, fixtures and equipment located therein, but excluding any such items included within the definition of Excluded Assets;
(viii) The materials and equipment inventory, if any, used or held for use in connection with the Company Properties, but excluding any such items included within the definition of Excluded Assets;
(ix) All vehicles used in connection with the Company Properties, but excluding any such items included within the definition of Excluded Assets;
(x) All oil and gas produced from or attributable to the Company Leases, Company Units, or Company Wells after the Closing Date, all oil, condensate and scrubber liquids inventories and ethane, propane, iso-butane, nor-butane and gasoline inventories of the Wholly-Owned Companies and the Subsidiary from the Company Properties in storage as of the end of the Closing Date and all production, plant and transportation imbalances of the Wholly-Owned Companies and the Subsidiary with respect to the Company Properties as of the end of the Closing Date;
(xi) The data and records of the Wholly-Owned Companies and the Subsidiary and their Affiliates, excluding however
(A) any data and records to the extent disclosure or change in ownership in connection with a sale of shares is prohibited or subjected to payment of a fee or other consideration by any license agreement or other agreement with a Person other than Affiliates of Seller, or by applicable Law, and for which no consent to transfer has been received or for which Purchaser has not agreed in writing to pay the fee or other consideration, as applicable;
(B) all legal records and legal files of Sellers including all work product of and attorney-client communications with any Sellers legal counsel (other than Sellers working files for litigation of the Companies and the Subsidiary listed on Schedule 4.4 which is assumed by Purchaser pursuant to Section 12.1);
(C) data and records relating to the sale of the Shares or any Company Assets, including bids received from and records of negotiations with third Persons;
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(D) all software;
(E) any data and records primarily relating to the other Excluded Assets; and
(F) those original data, software and records retained by any Seller pursuant to Section 13.6.
(Clauses (A) through (F) shall hereinafter be referred to as the Company Excluded Records and subject to such exclusions, the data, software and records described in this Section 1.2(i)(xi) shall hereinafter be referred to as the Company Records);
(xii) Radio licenses except those for which change in ownership in connection with a sale of equity ownership is prohibited or subject to payment of a fee or other consideration and for which no consent to transfer has been received or for which Purchaser has not agreed in writing to pay the fee or other consideration as applicable; and
(xiii) All (A) accounts, instruments and general intangibles (as such terms are defined in the Uniform Commercial Code of Texas) attributable to the Company Assets at the Closing Date (other than the Excluded Assets and the amounts to which Seller is entitled pursuant to Section 2.3 and Section 2.4); and (B) liens and security interests and collateral in favor of the Wholly-Owned Companies and the Subsidiary that exist as of the Closing Date, whether choate or inchoate, under any law, rule or regulation or under any of the Company Contracts (i) arising from the ownership, operation or sale or other disposition of any of the other Company Assets or (ii) arising in favor of any Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary as the operator of any of the Company Assets, but only to the extent that Purchaser becomes successor operator.
(j) Company Onshore Employees has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1.
(k) Companys U.S. Benefit Plans has the meaning set forth in Section 10.3.
(l) Consolidated Onshore E&P Business means, together, (i) the E&P Business and (ii) the business and operations conducted by DEPI, DOTEPI, Reserves, and all Persons that are wholly-owned by DEPI, DOTEPI and Reserves, directly or indirectly, that pertain to the Excluded Onshore Areas.
(m) Contracts means Company Contracts and Additional Contracts.
(n) DEPI I, LP means Dominion Exploration & Production I, L.P., a limited partnership organized under the Laws of Texas.
(o) DEPI Texas Beneficial Interests means all of the interests of DEPI I, LP in the Additional Properties located in Texas that are not in an Excluded Texas County, and in any other Assets that are associated therewith.
(p) [Intentionally Omitted].
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(q) DNG I, LP means Dominion Natural Gas I, LP, a limited partnership organized under the Laws of Texas.
(r) [Intentionally Omitted].
(s) DOTEPI Texas Beneficial Interests means all of the interests of DNG I, LP in the Additional Properties located in Texas that are not in an Excluded Texas County, and in any other Assets that are associated therewith.
(t) DRI means Dominion Resources, Inc., a corporation organized under the Laws of Virginia.
(u) Effective Date means 11:59 p.m. Central Time on June 30, 2007.
(v) E&P Business means the business and operations conducted with the Assets by the Wholly-Owned Companies, the Subsidiary, DEPI, DOTEPI and Reserves.
(w) Employee Plans means employee benefit plans, programs, or arrangements including, without limitation, (i) all retirement, profit-sharing, savings and other pension plans; (ii) all health, severance, insurance, disability, death benefit, group insurance, hospitalization or other medical, dental, health, disability or other insurance, Code 125 cafeteria plans and other employee welfare plans; and (iii) all employment, incentive, perquisites, vacation and other similar plans, bonus, deferred compensation, incentive compensation, stock purchase, stock option or other equity-based compensation programs or practices whether or not subject to ERISA and whether covering one person or more than one person, that are maintained by Seller or any Affiliate, including an ERISA Affiliate, with respect to Company Onshore Employees or to which any Seller or any Affiliate, including an ERISA Affiliate, contributes, is required to contribute, or is otherwise bound with respect to or on behalf of Company Onshore Employees; or with respect to which Sellers or any ERISA Affiliate may have, as of the Closing Date, any direct or indirect liability.
(x) Environmental Liabilities shall mean any and all environmental response costs, costs to cure, restoration costs, costs of remediation or removal, settlements, penalties, fines, attorneys fees and other Damages, including any such matters incurred or imposed pursuant to any claim or cause of action by a Governmental Authority or other Person, attributable to an Adverse Environmental Condition occurring with respect to the Assets.
(y) Equipment means Company Equipment and Additional Equipment.
(z) ERISA means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
(aa) ERISA Affiliate means any other Person that is required to be treated as a single employer with Sellers under Section 414 of the Code or Section 4001(a)(14) of ERISA.
(bb) Excluded Colorado Counties means Kiowa and Prowers Counties, Colorado, and Excluded Colorado County means either of them.
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(cc) Excluded Employees means the Executives and Managing Directors listed on Schedule 1.2.
(dd) Excluded New Mexico Counties means all counties in the state of New Mexico other than San Juan and Rio Arriba counties, and Excluded New Mexico County means any of them.
(ee) Excluded Onshore Areas means Alabama, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, the Excluded Colorado Counties, the Excluded Montana Counties, the Excluded New Mexico Counties and the Excluded Texas Counties.
(ff) Excluded Records means the Company Excluded Records and the Additional Excluded Records.
(gg) Excluded Texas Counties means all counties in the state of Texas other than those counties identified on Schedule 1.2(hh), and Excluded Texas County means any of them.
(hh) Executives means the individuals listed on Schedule 1.2, Part I.
(ii) Governmental Authority means any national government and/or government of any political subdivision, and departments, courts, commissions, boards, bureaus, ministries, agencies or other instrumentalities of any of them.
(jj) Hart-Scott-Rodino Act means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.
(kk) Hazardous Substances shall mean any substance defined or regulated as a pollutant, hazardous substances or hazardous waste under any Environmental Laws.
(ll) Key Employees means the individuals listed on Schedule 1.2, Part III.
(mm) Laws means all laws, statutes, rules, regulations, ordinances, orders, decrees, requirements, judgments and codes of Governmental Authorities.
(nn) Leases means Company Leases and Additional Leases.
(oo) Managing Directors means the individuals listed on Schedule 1.2, Part II.
(pp) Material Contract means any Contract (i) which can reasonably be expected in the case of (A) below to generate gross revenue per year for the owner of the Assets in excess of Ten Million dollars ($10,000,000) or (ii) which in the case of (D), (E), (F) or (G) below can reasonably be expected to require expenditures per year chargeable to the owner of the Assets in excess of Five Million dollars ($5,000,000) or (iii) which in the case of (B) and (C) below can reasonably be expected to require expenditures per year chargeable to the owner of the Assets in excess of Five Million dollars ($5,000,000) or (iv) which satisfies the description in (H) below, and is of one or more of the following types:
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(i) contracts for the purchase, sale or exchange of oil, gas or other hydrocarbons;
(ii) contracts for the gathering, treatment, processing, handling, storage or transportation of oil, gas or other hydrocarbons;
(iii) contracts for the use or sharing of drilling rigs;
(iv) purchase agreements, farmin and farmout agreements, exploration agreements, participation agreements and similar agreements providing for the earning of an equity interest;
(v) partnership agreements, joint venture agreements and similar agreements;
(vi) operating agreements, unit agreements and unit operating agreements.
(vii) seismic licenses and contracts; and
(viii) contracts for the construction and installation of Equipment with guaranteed production throughput requirements where amounts owed if the guaranteed throughput is not delivered exceed Two Million Five Hundred Thousand dollars ($2,500,000).
(qq) Midstream Assets means the Company Midstream Assets and the Additional Midstream Assets.
(rr) Multiemployer Plan means a multiemployer plan, as defined in Sections 3(37) and 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.
(ss) Offshore Package Areas means the Outer Continental Shelf and the state waters of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi or Alabama in the Gulf of Mexico.
(tt) PBGC means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
(uu) Person means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust, estate, Governmental Authority or any other entity.
(vv) Properties means Company Properties and Additional Properties.
(ww) Property Costs means all operating expenses (including without limitation costs of insurance, rentals, shut-in payments, title examination and curative actions, and production and similar Taxes measured by units of production, and severance Taxes, attributable to production of oil and gas from the Assets, but excluding any Sellers, Companys or Subsidiarys other Taxes) and capital expenditures (including without limitation bonuses, broker fees, and other lease acquisition costs, costs of drilling and completing wells and costs of acquiring equipment) incurred in the ownership and operation of the Assets in the ordinary
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course of business, general and administrative costs of the E&P Business (or allocated to the E&P Business on an equitable basis consistent with allocations used with respect to Sellers business involving the Excluded Onshore Areas and the Offshore Package Areas), and overhead costs charged to the Assets under the applicable operating agreement or if none, charged to the Assets on the same basis as charged on the date of this Agreement, but excluding without limitation liabilities, losses, costs, and expenses attributable to:
(i) claims, investigations, administrative proceedings, arbitration or litigation directly or indirectly arising out of or resulting from actual or claimed personal injury, illness or death; property damage; environmental damage or contamination; other torts; private rights of action given under any Law; or violation of any Law,
(ii) obligations to plug wells, dismantle facilities, close pits and clear the site and/or restore the surface or seabed around such wells, facilities and pits,
(iii) obligations to remediate actual or claimed contamination of groundwater, surface water, soil or Equipment,
(iv) title claims (including claims that Leases have terminated),
(v) claims of improper calculation or payment of royalties (including overriding royalties and other burdens on production) related to deduction of post-production costs or use of posted or index prices or prices paid by affiliates,
(vi) gas balancing and other production balancing obligations,
(vii) casualty and condemnation, and
(viii) any claims for indemnification, contribution or reimbursement from any third Person with respect to liabilities, losses, costs and expenses of the type described in preceding clauses (i) through (vii), whether such claims are made pursuant to contract or otherwise.
(xx) Purchaser U.S. Employee Plans has the meaning set forth in Section 10.4.
(yy) Records means Company Records and Additional Records.
(zz) Subsidiary means any of the entities described on Exhibit C, which are direct or indirect wholly or partially-owned subsidiaries of one or more of the Companies.
(aaa) Tax means all taxes, including any foreign, federal, state or local income tax, surtax, remittance tax, presumptive tax, net worth tax, special contribution, production tax, pipeline transportation tax, freehold mineral tax, value added tax, withholding tax, gross receipts tax, windfall profits tax, profits tax, severance tax, personal property tax, real property tax, sales tax, goods and services tax, service tax, transfer tax, use tax, excise tax, premium tax, stamp tax, motor vehicle tax, entertainment tax, insurance tax, capital stock tax, franchise tax, occupation tax, payroll tax, employment tax, unemployment tax, disability tax, alternative or add-on
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minimum tax and estimated tax, imposed by a Governmental Authority together with any interest, fine or penalty thereon, and with such term to include transferee liability for any of the preceding.
(bbb) Title IV Plan has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(j)(iv).
(ccc) Transferred Derivatives means the physical derivatives contracts listed on Schedule 4.8
(ddd) U.S. Temporary Employees means those individuals providing services with respect to the Assets as either co ops, interns or contract workers through CoreStaff.
(eee) Units means Company Units and Additional Units.
(fff) WARN Act has the meaning set forth in Section 10.9.
(ggg) Wells means Company Wells and Additional Wells.
(hhh) Wholly-Owned Company means any Company in which all issued and outstanding Equity Interests are owned, directly or indirectly, by one or more Sellers.
Section 1.3 Excluded Assets. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 1.2 or elsewhere in this Agreement, the Additional Assets, Company Assets, Shares and Interests shall not include any rights with respect to the Excluded Assets, which, if owned by any Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary, Sellers shall be entitled to cause such Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary to transfer or distribute to Sellers, or their Affiliates, or one or more third parties, via one or more steps, prior to Closing. Excluded Assets shall mean the following:
(i) the Excluded Records;
(ii) copies of other Records retained by Sellers pursuant to Section 13.6;
(iii) contracts, agreements and instruments, whose change in ownership in connection with a sale of equity ownership (if owned by the Companies or the Subsidiary) or transfer (if owned by DEPI, DOTEPI or Reserves) is prohibited or subjected to payment of a fee or other consideration by an agreement with a Person other than an Affiliate of Sellers, or by applicable Law, and for which no consent to transfer has been received or for which Purchaser has not agreed in writing to pay the fee or other consideration, as applicable;
(iv) Permits and other appurtenances for which change in ownership in connection with a sale of equity ownership (if owned by the Companies or the Subsidiary) or transfer (if owned by DEPI, DOTEPI or Reserves) is prohibited or subjected to payment of a fee or other consideration by an agreement with a Person other than an Affiliate of Seller, or by applicable Law, and for which no consent to transfer has
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been received or for which Purchaser has not agreed in writing to pay the fee or other consideration, as applicable;
(v) all claims against insurers and other third parties pending on or prior to the Effective Date (except to the extent that any such claims are indemnity claims against third parties associated with litigation or claims set forth in Schedule 4.4 and assumed by Purchaser);
(vi) assets of or which relate to Sellers and their Affiliates Employee Plans or workers compensation insurance and programs;
(vii) all trademarks and trade names containing Dominion or any variant thereof;
(viii) all futures, options, swaps and other derivatives except the Transferred Derivatives, and all software used for trading, hedging and credit analysis;
(ix) the Clearinghouse and Castlewood Road records storage facilities located in Richmond, Virginia;
(x) the approximately 65,000 sq. ft. office lease of space located at 16800 Greenspoint Park Drive, Houston, Texas, all of the office space located at 14000 Quail Springs Parkway Plaza in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and the DEPI office lease for space located at 1250 Poydras Street, New Orleans, Louisiana;
(xi) any leased equipment and other leased personal property which is not purchased prior to Closing pursuant to Section 6.13 (except to the extent the lease is transferable without payment of a fee or other consideration which Purchaser has not agreed in writing to pay);
(xii) all office equipment, computers, cell phones, pagers and other hardware, personal property and equipment that: (A) relate primarily to any Sellers business generally, or to the Appalachian Business, or to Sellers business with respect to the Excluded Onshore Areas, or the Offshore Package Areas, or in Canada, or other business of any Seller and its Affiliates (except the E&P Business), or (B) are set forth on Schedule 1.3;
(xiii) the contracts used for both the Assets and other assets of DEPI, DOTEPI, Reserves and their Affiliates described on Schedule 1.3;
(xiv) any Tax refund (whether by payment, credit, offset or otherwise, and together with any interest thereon) in respect of any Taxes for which DEPI is liable for payment or required to indemnify Purchaser under Section 9.1;
(xv) refunds relating from severance Tax abatements with respect to all taxable periods or portions thereof ending on or prior to the Effective Date;
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(xvi) all indemnities and other claims against Persons (other than the Sellers and/or their Affiliates) for Taxes for which DEPI is liable for payment or required to indemnify Purchaser under Section 9.1;
(xvii) claims against insurers under policies held by Sellers or their Affiliates (other than the Companies and the Subsidiary);
(xviii) amounts to which Sellers are entitled pursuant to Section 2.4(a), and Property Costs and revenues associated with all joint interest audits and other audits of Property Costs to the extent covering periods on or prior to the Effective Date, which amounts are paid or received prior to the Cut-Off Date;
(xix) the CO2 membrane unit, associated equipment and lease and rights-of-way for locating and accessing such unit and associated equipment as further described on Schedule 1.3; and
(xx) any other assets, contracts or rights described on Schedule 1.3.
Section 1.4 Transfer of Certain Assets Not Held by Sellers. Sellers shall, at Closing, cause Dominion Resources Services, Inc. to assign to Purchaser certain personal property described on Schedule 1.4. EACH ASSIGNMENT OF SUCH PERSONAL PROPERTY SHALL BE AS IS, WHERE IS WITH ALL FAULTS, AND ALL REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF CONDITION, QUALITY, AIRWORTHINESS, SUITABILITY, DESIGN, MARKETABILITY, TITLE, INFRINGEMENT, MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR CONFORMITY TO MODELS OR SAMPLES OF MATERIALS ARE HEREBY DISCLAIMED. Such personal property shall be considered Additional Assets for purposes of this Agreement with the benefit of the representations, warranties, and other provisions of this Agreement related to the Assets. Without limiting any obligations of their other Affiliates under Section 6.4 of this Agreement, Sellers shall also cause Dominion Resources Services, Inc. to comply with the various covenants contained in Sections 6.1 and 6.4, to the extent applicable to the property described on Schedule 1.4, prior to Closing.
ARTICLE 2.
PURCHASE PRICE
Section 2.1 Purchase Price. The purchase price for the Interests (the Purchase Price) shall be Two Billion Five Hundred Million dollars ($2,500,000,000) (the Unadjusted Purchase Price), adjusted as provided in Section 2.3.
Section 2.2 Allocation of Purchase Price.
(a) The Unadjusted Purchase Price shall be allocated to the Shares of each Company and to the DEPI Additional Assets, the DOTEPI Additional Assets and the Reserves Additional Assets as set forth in the Interests Schedule (each an Interest Unadjusted Purchase Price). The adjustments to the Unadjusted Purchase Price under Section 2.3 shall be applied to
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the Interest Unadjusted Purchase Price for the Shares of each Company, the DEPI Additional Assets, the DOTEPI Additional Assets and the Reserves Additional Assets based upon the owner of the specific Lease, Well or other asset to which the adjustment relates, if determinable. Any adjustments to the Unadjusted Purchase Price under Section 2.3 that are not specific to any Company or Additional Asset group (for example, general and administrative expense of the E&P Business under Section 2.3(h)(ii)) shall be applied pro rata to the Interest Unadjusted Purchase Price for the Shares of each Company, the DEPI Additional Assets, the DOTEPI Additional Assets, and the Reserves Additional Assets, as previously adjusted, in proportion to the amount of each. Each Interest Unadjusted Purchase Price, as so adjusted, shall be referred to herein as the Interest Purchase Price.
(b) Each Seller shall be entitled to the portion of the Purchase Price equal to the Interest Purchase Price for the various Interests it is selling.
(c) Within seventeen (17) Business Days after the date of this Agreement, Purchaser shall prepare in good faith and deliver to DEPI (i) a draft schedule of the Interest Unadjusted Purchase Prices (the final agreed or determined version being referred to herein as the Interests Schedule) and (ii) a draft schedule setting forth a proposed detailed allocation of each Interest Unadjusted Purchase Price among the Assets associated with the Shares for each Company, with the DEPI Additional Assets, with the DOTEPI Additional Assets and with the Reserves Additional Assets, respectively (the final agreed or determined version being referred to herein as the Allocated Values Schedule). Each such allocation shall be reasonably acceptable to Sellers. Purchaser and DEPI on behalf of Sellers shall attempt to reach agreement in writing upon such allocations within five (5) Business Days after DEPIs receipt of the schedules. If the Parties are unable to reach agreement within such five (5) Business Day period, Sellers may use their allocations (which shall, to the extent there is no dispute, conform to Purchasers) instead of Purchasers for sending notices to holders of preferential rights to purchase or similar rights pursuant to Section 3.6(a), and the disputed allocations shall be submitted to the Title Arbitrator pursuant to Section 3.5(i) for resolution and determination of the final schedules. For any Well, Unit or PUD Lease with a disputed allocation for which a preferential right to purchase or similar right is validly exercised, Purchaser shall be credited pursuant to Section 3.6(e)(iii) with the Allocated Value for the Well, Unit or PUD Lease based on the allocation determined by the Title Arbitrator, rather than the allocated value amount included by Sellers in their notice.
(d) At least thirty (30) days prior to the Target Closing Date, Sellers shall prepare and deliver to Purchaser, using and based upon the best information available to Sellers, a schedule setting forth the following items:
(i) the portion of the Unadjusted Purchase Price as set forth in Section 2.1 allocated to Interests other than the Additional Assets;
(ii) the liabilities of the Companies and the Subsidiary as of the Closing (as required for the allocations under clause (iii));
(iii) an allocation of the sum of the Unadjusted Purchase Price under clause (i) and the aggregate amount of such liabilities under clause (ii) that are part of the
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adjusted grossed-up basis within the meaning of Treasury Regulation § 1.338-5 among the classes of assets of the Companies and any Subsidiary (other than any Company or Subsidiary that is not a member of a selling consolidated group within the meaning of Treasury Regulations § 1.338(h)(10)-1(b)(2)) as of the Closing, which allocations shall be made in accordance with Section 338(b)(5) and (h)(10) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder and shall be consistent with the allocations in the Interests Schedules and the Allocated Values Schedule;
(iv) the portion of the Unadjusted Purchase Price as set forth in Section 2.1 allocated to the Additional Assets;
(v) the liabilities associated with the Additional Assets as of the Closing (as required for the allocations under clause (vi)); and
(vi) an allocation of the sum of the Unadjusted Purchase Price under clause (iv) and the aggregate amount of such liabilities under clause (v) that are includable in the Purchasers tax basis in the Additional Assets among the classes of the Additional Assets as of the Closing, which allocations shall be made in accordance with Section 1060 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder and shall be consistent with the Interests Schedule and the Allocated Values Schedule.
Sellers shall at Purchasers request make reasonable documentation available to support the proposed allocation. As soon as reasonably practicable, but not later than fifteen (15) days following receipt of Sellers proposed allocation schedule, Purchaser shall deliver to DEPI a written report containing any changes that Purchaser proposes to be made in such schedule (and specifying the reasons therefor in reasonable detail). The Parties shall undertake to agree on a final schedule no later than six (6) Business Days prior to the Closing Date. In the event the Parties cannot reach agreement by that date, the Sellers allocation shall be used pending adjustment under the following paragraph.
Within thirty (30) days after the determination of the Purchase Price under Section 8.4(b), the schedule described above in this Section 2.2(d) shall be amended by Sellers and delivered to Purchaser to reflect the Purchase Price following final adjustments. Purchaser shall cooperate with Sellers in the preparation of the amended schedule as described in Section 9.4. If the Sellers amendments to the schedule are not objected to by Purchaser (by written notice to DEPI specifying the reasons therefor in reasonable detail) within thirty (30) days after delivery of Sellers adjustments to the schedule, it shall be deemed agreed upon by the Parties. In the event that the Parties cannot reach an agreement within twenty (20) days after Seller receives notice of any objection by Purchaser, then, any Party may refer the matters in dispute to Ernst & Young LLP or another mutually acceptable independent appraiser (the Independent Appraiser) to assist in determining the fair value of each separate class of Company Assets or Additional Assets, as the case may be, solely for the purposes of the allocation described in this Section 2.2(d). Should Ernst & Young LLP fail or refuse to agree to serve as Independent Appraiser within twenty (20) days after written request from any Party to serve, and the Parties fail to agree in writing on a replacement Independent Appraiser within ten (10) days after the end of that twenty (20) day period, or should no replacement Independent Appraiser agree to serve within forty-five (45) days after the original written request pursuant to this sentence, the
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Independent Appraiser shall be appointed by the Houston office of the American Arbitration Association. The Independent Appraiser shall be instructed to deliver to Purchaser and Sellers a written determination of the valuation and any revisions to the schedule within thirty (30) days after the date of referral thereof to the Independent Appraiser. Purchaser and Sellers agree to accept the Independent Appraisers determinations as to the appropriate adjustments to the schedule. The Independent Appraiser may determine the issues in dispute following such procedures, consistent with the provisions of this Agreement, as it reasonably deems appropriate in the circumstances and with reference to the amounts in issue. The Parties do not intend to impose any particular procedures upon the Independent Appraiser, it being the desire and direction of the Parties that any such disagreement shall be resolved as expeditiously and inexpensively as reasonably practicable. The Independent Appraiser shall act as an expert for the limited purpose of determining the specific disputed aspects of the allocation schedule submitted by any Party and may not award damages, interest, or penalties to any Party with respect to any matter. Each Seller and Purchaser shall bear its own legal fees and costs of presenting its case. DEPI shall bear one half and Purchaser shall bear one half of the costs and expenses of the Independent Appraiser.
The allocations set forth in the schedule described in this Section 2.2(d) shall be used by Sellers, Purchaser, the Companies and the Subsidiary as the basis for reporting asset values and other items, including the determination of the deemed sale price and the adjusted grossed-up basis of the assets of the applicable Companies and the Subsidiary in accordance with Treasury Regulation § 1.338 5 or similar applicable law, for purposes of all Tax Returns (including Internal Revenue Service Form 8023 (or any successor form)). The allocations set forth in the schedule described in this Section 2.2(d) shall also be used by Sellers and Purchaser in preparing Internal Revenue Service Form 8594, Asset Acquisition Statement (which Form 8594 shall be completed, executed and delivered by such parties as soon as practicable after the Closing but in no event later than 15 days prior to the date such form is required to be filed). Sellers and Purchaser agree not to assert, and will cause their Affiliates not to assert, in connection with any audit or other proceeding with respect to Taxes, any asset values or other items inconsistent with the amounts set forth in the schedule described in this Section 2.2(d).
Section 2.3 Adjustments to Purchase Price. The Interest Unadjusted Purchase Price shall be adjusted with respect to the Shares of each Company, the DEPI Additional Assets, the DOTEPI Additional Assets and the Reserves Additional Assets as follows, but only with respect to matters (i) in the case of Section 2.3(a), for which notice is given on or before the Title Claim Date, (ii) in the case of Sections 2.3(b), (c), (d), (e), (f) or (g), identified on or before the 180th day following Closing (the Cut-Off Date) and (iii) in the case of, Section 2.3(h) received or paid on or before the Cut-Off Date:
(a) Increased or decreased, as appropriate, in accordance with Section 3.5;
(b) Decreased as a consequence of Assets excluded from this transaction as a consequence of the exercise of preferential rights to purchase, as described in Section 3.6;
(c) Decreased by the amount of royalty, overriding royalty and other burdens payable out of production of oil or gas from the Leases and Units or the proceeds thereof to third Persons but held in suspense by any Seller, Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary at the
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Closing, and any interest accrued in escrow accounts for such suspended funds, to the extent such funds are not transferred to Purchasers control at the Closing;
(d) Increased by the amount of the Computer/Vehicle Buy-Out Costs in accordance with Section 6.13, such increase not to exceed One Million Sixty Thousand dollars ($1,060,000);
(e) Adjusted for production, plant, pipeline and transportation gas imbalances and inventory on the Effective Date as follows:
(i) Decreased by the sum of the amount of each production, plant, pipeline and transportation gas imbalance (net of royalties and production taxes) owed by DEPI, DOTEPI, Reserves, the Wholly-Owned Companies and the Subsidiary (and their equity interest share of imbalances owed by Companies other than Wholly-Owned Companies) to third Persons at the Effective Date with respect to production from the Properties (or, in the case of Properties not operated by DEPI, DOTEPI, Reserves, a Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary, as reported on the most recent imbalance statement as of a date closest to the Effective Date), in Mmbtu, multiplied by (A) the FOM Index Price for the point designated with respect to such source of the imbalance on Schedule 2.3(e) on the first day of the month after the month of the Effective Date less (B) the adjustments to such FOM Index Price shown on Schedule 2.3(e).
(ii) Increased by the sum of the amount of each production, plant, pipeline and transportation gas imbalance (net of royalties and production taxes) owed by third Persons to DEPI, DOTEPI, Reserves, the Wholly-Owned Companies and the Subsidiary (and their equity interest share of imbalances owed to Companies other than Wholly-Owned Companies) at the Effective Date with respect to production from the Properties (or, in the case of Properties not operated by DEPI, DOTEPI, Reserves, a Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary, as reported on the most recent imbalance statement as of a date closest to the Effective Date), in Mmbtu, multiplied by (A) the FOM Index Price for the point designated with respect to such source of the imbalance on Schedule 2.3(e) on the first day of the month after the month of the Effective Date less (B) the adjustments to such FOM Index Price shown on Schedule 2.3(e).
(iii) Decreased by the sum of the amount of each marketable scrubber liquid overlift (net of royalties and production taxes) owed by DEPI, DOTEPI, Reserves, the Wholly-Owned Companies and the Subsidiary (and their equity interest share of overlifts owed by Companies other than Wholly-Owned Companies) at the Effective Date with respect to production from the Properties (or, in the case of Properties not operated by DEPI, DOTEPI, Reserves, a Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary, as reported on the most recent statement received as of a date closest to the Effective Date), in Barrels, multiplied by (A) the index price for the point designated with respect to such source of the imbalance on Schedule 2.3(e) on the first day of the month after the month of the Effective Date less (B) the adjustments to such index price shown on Schedule 2.3(e).
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(iv) Decreased by the sum of the amount of each ethane, propane, iso-butane, nor-butane and gasoline overlift (net of royalties and production taxes) owed by DEPI, DOTEPI, Reserves, the Wholly-Owned Companies and the Subsidiary (and their equity interest share of overlifts owed by Companies other than Wholly-Owned Companies) at the Effective Date with respect to production from the Properties (or, in the case of Properties not operated by DEPI, DOTEPI, Reserves, a Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary, as reported on the most recent statement received as of a date closest to the Effective Date), in gallons, multiplied by (A) the index price for the point designated with respect to such source of the imbalance on Schedule 2.3(e) on the first day of the month after the month of the Effective Date less (B) the adjustments to such index price shown on Schedule 2.3(e).
(v) Increased by the sum of the amount of each marketable oil, condensate and scrubber liquid inventory from the Properties in storage at the end of the Effective Date and produced for the account of DEPI, DOTEPI, Reserves, the Wholly-Owned Companies and the Subsidiary (and their equity interest share of such amounts produced for the account of Companies other than Wholly-Owned Companies) on or prior to the Effective Date, in Barrels, multiplied by (A) the index price for the point designated with respect to the location of the inventory on Schedule 2.3(e) on the first day of the month after the month of the Effective Date less (B) the adjustments to such index price shown on Schedule 2.3(e).
(vi) Increased by the sum of the amount of each ethane, propane, iso-butane, nor-butane and gasoline inventory from the Properties in storage at the end of the Effective Date and produced for the account of DEPI, DOTEPI, Reserves, the Wholly-Owned Companies and the Subsidiary (and their equity interest share of such amounts produced for the account of Companies other than Wholly-Owned Companies) on or prior to the Effective Date, in gallons, multiplied by (A) the index price for the point designated with respect to the location of the inventory on Schedule 2.3(e) on the first day of the month after the month of the Effective Date less (B) the adjustments to such index price shown on Schedule 2.3(e).
(vii) Decreased by the sum of the amount of each oil transportation and production imbalance (net of royalties and production taxes) owed by DEPI, DOTEPI, Reserves, the Wholly-Owned Companies and the Subsidiary to third Persons (and their equity interest share of overlifts owed by Companies other than Wholly-Owned Companies to third Persons) at the Effective Date with respect to production from the Properties (or, in the case of Properties not operated by DEPI, DOTEPI, Reserves, a Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary, as reported on the most recent statement received as of a date closest to the Effective Date), in Barrels, multiplied by (A) the index price for the point designated with respect to such source of the imbalance on Schedule 2.3(e) on the first day of the month after the month of the Effective Date less (B) the adjustments to such index price shown on Schedule 2.3(e).
(viii) Increased by the sum of the amount of each oil transportation imbalance (net of royalties and production taxes) owed by third Persons to DEPI, DOTEPI, Reserves, the Wholly-Owned Companies and the Subsidiary (and their equity
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interest share of such imbalances owed by third Persons to Companies other than Wholly-Owned Companies) at the Effective Date with respect to production from the Properties (or, in the case of Properties not operated by DEPI, DOTEPI, Reserves, a Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary, as reported on the most recent statement received as of a date closest to the Effective Date), in Barrels, multiplied by (A) the index price for the point designated with respect to such source of the imbalance on Schedule 2.3(e) on the first day of the month after the month of the Effective Date less (B) the adjustments to such index price shown on Schedule 2.3(e).
(f) Increased by the net amount of (i) all prepaid expenses (including prepaid Taxes, bonuses, rentals, cash calls to third Person operators) to the extent applying to the ownership and operation of the Assets or applying to the Wholly-Owned Companies or the Subsidiary (and their equity interest share of such amounts prepaid for the account of Companies other than Wholly-Owned Companies) after the Closing Date less (ii) all third Person cash call payments received by DEPI, DOTEPI, Reserves, the Wholly-Owned Companies or the Subsidiary as operators to the extent applying to the operation of the Assets after the Closing Date;
(g) Increased by the amount of cash and cash equivalents in lock boxes or otherwise in the possession of any Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary (and their equity interest share of cash and cash equivalents in the possession of Companies other than Wholly-Owned Companies) at the end of the Closing Date; and
(h) Without prejudice to either Partys rights under Article 12, adjusted for proceeds and other income attributable to the Assets, Property Costs and certain other costs attributable to the Assets, and interest as follows:
(i) Decreased by an amount equal to the aggregate amount of the following proceeds received by any Seller, Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary, or any of their Affiliates, on or prior to the Closing Date, or by any Seller or any remaining Affiliate of Sellers after the Closing Date:
(A) amounts earned from the sale, during the period from but excluding the Effective Date through and including the Closing Date (such period being referred to as the Adjustment Period), of oil, gas and other hydrocarbons produced from or attributable to the Properties (net of any (x) royalties, overriding royalties and other burdens payable out of production of oil, gas or other hydrocarbons or the proceeds thereof that are not included in Property Costs, (y) gathering, processing and transportation costs paid in connection with sales of oil, gas or other hydrocarbons that are not included as Property Costs under Section 2.3(h)(ii) and (z) production Taxes, other Taxes measured by units of production, severance Taxes and any other Property Costs, that in any such case are deducted by the purchaser of production, and excluding the effects of any futures, options, swaps or other derivatives other than the Transferred Derivatives), and
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(B) other income earned with respect to the Assets during the Adjustment Period (provided that for purposes of this Section, no adjustment shall be made for funds received by any Seller, Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary for the account of third Persons and to which Seller does not become entitled prior to the Cut-Off Date, and excluding any income earned from futures, options, swaps or other derivatives other than the Transferred Derivatives);
(ii) Increased by an amount equal to the amount of all Property Costs, and other amounts expressly excluded from the definition of Property Costs, which are incurred in the ownership and operation of the Assets during the Adjustment Period but (A) paid by or on behalf of any Seller, Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary, or any of their Affiliates, through and including the Closing Date, or by any Seller or any remaining Affiliate of Sellers after the Closing Date but prior to the Cut-Off Date, or (B) without duplication, payable by any Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary to DEPI, DOTEPI, Reserves or any other Affiliate (except another Company or Subsidiary) with respect to the provision of goods, services, employment-related costs, and other ordinary course of business expenses with respect to the E&P Business and remaining unpaid at the end of the Closing Date, except in each case (x) any costs already deducted in the determination of proceeds in Section 2.3(h)(i), (y) Taxes (other than production Taxes and other Taxes measured by units of production and severance Taxes), which are addressed in Section 9.1, and (z) costs attributable to futures, options, swaps or other derivatives, or the elimination of the same pursuant to Section 6.12, other than costs attributable to the Transferred Derivatives, and provided that overhead costs charged with respect to development and production operations shall not exceed the amounts chargeable to the Properties under the applicable operating agreement or, if for any Property there is none, the amounts charged for that Property on the same basis as charged on the date of this Agreement; and
(iii) Increased by the amount that would be calculated on the Interest Unadjusted Purchase Price, at the Agreed Rate, for the period from but excluding the Target Closing Date through and including the Closing Date; as used herein, the term Agreed Rate shall mean the lesser of (y) the one month London Inter-Bank Offered Rate, as published on Telerate Page 3750 on the last Business Day prior to the Effective Date, plus two percentage points (LIBOR +2%) and (z) the maximum rate allowed by applicable Laws.
The amount of each adjustment to the Interest Unadjusted Purchase Price described in this Section 2.3 shall be determined in accordance with the United States generally accepted accounting principles (the Accounting Principles).
Section 2.4 Ordinary Course Pre-Effective Date Costs Paid and Revenues Received Post-Closing.
(a) With respect to any revenues earned or Property Costs incurred with respect to the Assets on or prior to the Effective Date but received or paid after the Effective Date:
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(i) Sellers shall be entitled to all amounts earned from the sale, during the period up to and including the Effective Date, of oil, gas and other hydrocarbons produced from or attributable to the Properties, which amounts are received on or before the Cut-Off Date (net of any (A) royalties, overriding royalties and other burdens payable out of production of oil, gas or other hydrocarbons or the proceeds thereof that are not included in Property Costs, (B) gathering, processing and transportation costs paid in connection with sales of oil, gas and other hydrocarbons that are not included as Property Costs under Section 2.4(a)(ii) and (C) production Taxes, other Taxes measured by units of production, severance Taxes, and other Property Costs that in any such case are deducted by the purchaser of production), and to all other income earned with respect to the Assets through and including the Effective Date and received on or before the Cut-Off Date; and
(ii) Sellers shall be responsible for (and entitled to any refunds and indemnities with respect to) all Property Costs incurred through and including the Effective Date that are paid after the Closing but on or before the Cut-Off Date.
Earned and incurred, as used in this Section and Section 2.3, shall be interpreted in accordance with accounting recognition guidance under the Accounting Principles and shall be consistent with Sellers current accounting recognition practices.
(b) Should Purchaser, the Wholly-Owned Companies, the Subsidiary or their Affiliates receive after Closing any proceeds or other income to which Sellers are entitled under Section 2.4(a), Purchaser (on behalf of the Wholly-Owned Companies, the Subsidiary or their Affiliates, as applicable) shall fully disclose, account for and, within two (2) months of receipt, remit the same to DEPI on behalf of Sellers.
(c) Should Purchaser, the Wholly-Owned Companies, the Subsidiary or their Affiliates pay after Closing any Property Costs for which Sellers are responsible under Section 2.4(a), DEPI shall reimburse Purchaser (on behalf of the Wholly-Owned Companies, the Subsidiary or their Affiliates, as applicable) promptly after receipt of such Persons invoice, accompanied by copies of the relevant vendor or other invoice and proof of payment. Within forty-five (45) days following Closing, Sellers shall provide notice to their vendors related to the E&P Business to send promptly any pre-Effective Date invoices.
(d) Sellers shall have no further entitlement to amounts earned from the sale of oil, gas and other hydrocarbons produced from or attributable to the Properties and other income earned with respect to the Assets (except any applicable Excluded Assets), and no further responsibility for Property Costs incurred with respect to the Assets, to the extent such amounts have not been received or paid, respectively, on or before the Cut-Off Date.
Section 2.5 Procedures.
(a) For purposes of allocating production (and accounts receivable with respect thereto), under Section 2.3 and Section 2.4, (i) liquid hydrocarbons shall be deemed to be from or attributable to the Properties when they pass through the pipeline flange connecting into the storage facilities located on the lands subject to the applicable Lease or Unit or, if there
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are no such storage facilities, when they pass through the LACT meters or similar meters at the point of entry into the pipelines through which they are transported from those lands, and (ii) gaseous hydrocarbons shall be deemed to be from or attributable to the Properties when they pass through the delivery point sales meters or similar meters at the point of entry into the pipelines through which they are transported from the lands subject to the applicable Lease or Unit. Sellers shall utilize reasonable interpolative procedures to arrive at an allocation of production when exact meter readings are not available.
Surface use fees, insurance premiums and other Property Costs that are paid periodically shall be prorated based on the number of days in the applicable period falling on or before, or after, the Effective Date, or the Closing Date, as applicable. Production Taxes and similar Taxes measured by units of production, and severance Taxes, shall be prorated based on the amount of hydrocarbons actually produced, purchased or sold, as applicable, on or before, and after, the Effective Date, or the Closing Date, as applicable.
(b) After Closing, Purchaser shall handle (and Sellers shall cooperate with the handling of) all joint interest audits and other audits of Property Costs with respect to the Assets, including those covering periods on or prior to the Effective Date, provided that Purchaser shall not agree to any adjustments to previously assessed costs for which Sellers are liable, or any compromise of any audit claims to which Sellers would be entitled, without the prior written consent of DEPI, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld. Purchaser shall provide DEPI with a copy of all applicable audit reports and written audit agreements received by Purchaser or any Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary and relating in whole or in part to periods on or prior to the Effective Date.
ARTICLE 3.
TITLE MATTERS
Section 3.1 Companys Title.
(a) DEPI represents and warrants to Purchaser that the Sellers, Wholly-Owned Companies, and the Subsidiarys (as applicable) title to the Units and Wells shown on Exhibit B-2 and Exhibit D-2 as of the date hereof is, and as of the Closing Date shall be, Defensible Title as defined in Section 3.2.
(b) DEPI represents and warrants to Purchaser that the Sellers, Wholly-Owned Companies, and the Subsidiarys (as applicable) title to the ownership interests in the Leases containing proved undeveloped locations (the PUD Leases), shown on Exhibit B-2 and D-2 (as supplemented pursuant to Section 3.1(d)), as of the date that is seven (7) Business Days after the date hereof (the PUD Lease Exhibit Delivery Date) and as of the Closing Date shall be, Defensible Title as defined in Section 3.2.
(c) For the purposes of this Section 3.1:
(i) as of the date hereof, (1) DEPI shall be deemed to hold all DEPI Texas Beneficial Interests then held by DEPI I, LP relating to the Units and Wells shown on Exhibit B-2 and Exhibit D-2, and (2) DOTEPI shall be deemed to hold all DOTEPI
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Texas Beneficial Interests then held by DNG I, LP relating to the Units and Wells shown on Exhibit B-2 and Exhibit D-2;
(ii) as of the PUD Lease Exhibit Delivery Date, (1) DEPI shall be deemed to hold all DEPI Texas Beneficial Interests then held by DEPI I, LP relating to the PUD Leases shown on Exhibit B-2 and Exhibit D-2 (as supplemented pursuant to Section 3.1(d)), and (2) DOTEPI shall be deemed to hold all DOTEPI Texas Beneficial Interests then held by DNG I, LP relating to the PUD Leases shown on Exhibit B-2 and Exhibit D-2 (as supplemented pursuant to Section 3.1(d)); and
(iii) as of the Closing Date, DEPI shall be deemed to hold all DEPI Texas Beneficial Interests then held by DEPI Survivor LP relating to the Units, Wells and PUD Leases shown on Exhibit B-2 and Exhibit D-2 (as supplemented pursuant to Section 3.1(d)), and DOTEPI shall be deemed to hold all DOTEPI Texas Beneficial Interests then held by DOTEPI Survivor LP relating to Units, Wells and PUD Leases shown on Exhibit B-2 and Exhibit D-2.
(d) As of the date of this Agreement, Working Interests and Net Revenue Interests for the PUD Leases are not provided on Exhibit B-2 or Exhibit D-2. On or before the PUD Lease Exhibit Delivery Date, Sellers shall prepare in good faith and deliver to Purchaser a supplement to Exhibit B-2 and Exhibit D-2 identifying the Working Interests and Net Revenue Interests of Sellers, the Wholly-Owned Companies and the Subsidiary associated with each such PUD Lease (the PUD Lease Exhibit Supplement). Such supplement shall be prepared in consultation with Purchaser, and shall be based on the best information available to Sellers at the time. From and after the PUD Lease Exhibit Delivery Date, this Agreement and the PUD Lease Exhibit Supplement shall be read and construed as one document.
Section 3.2 Definition of Defensible Title.
(a) As used in this Agreement, the term Defensible Title means that title of each Seller, Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary, as applicable, which, subject to Permitted Encumbrances:
(i) Entitles the Seller, Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary, as applicable, to receive, throughout the duration of the productive life of any Unit, Well or PUD Lease (after satisfaction of all royalties, overriding royalties, nonparticipating royalties, net profits interests or other similar burdens on or measured by production of oil and gas), not less than the net revenue interest share shown in Exhibits B-2 and D-2 of all oil, gas and other minerals produced, saved and marketed from such Unit, Well or PUD Lease, except (1) decreases in connection with those operations in which the Seller or the Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary, subject to Section 6.4, may elect after the date hereof to be a nonconsenting co-owner, (2) decreases resulting from reversion of interest to co-owners with respect to operations in which such co-owners elect, after the date hereof, not to consent, (3) decreases resulting from the establishment or amendment, after the date hereof, of pools or units, (4) decreases required to allow other working interest owners to make up past underproduction or pipelines to make up past under deliveries and (5) as otherwise expressly stated in Exhibit B-2 or D-2;
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(ii) Obligates the Seller, Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary, as applicable, to bear a percentage of the costs and expenses for the maintenance and development of, and operations relating to, any Unit or Well not greater than the working interest shown in Exhibits B-2 and D-2 without increase throughout the productive life of such Unit or Well, except as stated in Exhibits B-2 and D-2 and except increases resulting from contribution requirements with respect to defaulting co-owners under applicable operating agreements or applicable Law and increases that are accompanied by at least a proportionate increase in the Sellers, Wholly-Owned Companys or the Subsidiarys (as applicable) net revenue interest; and
(iii) Is free and clear of liens, encumbrances, obligations or defects, other than Permitted Encumbrances.
(b) As used in this Agreement, the term Title Defect means any lien, charge, encumbrance, obligation or defect including without limitation a discrepancy in net revenue interest or working interest that causes a breach of DEPIs representation and warranty in Section 3.1. As used in this Agreement, the term Title Benefit shall mean any right, circumstance or condition that operates to increase the net revenue interest of a Seller or Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary in any Unit, Well or PUD Lease above that shown on Exhibits B-2 and D-2, without causing a greater than proportionate increase in such Sellers, Wholly-Owned Companys or the Subsidiarys working interest above that shown in Exhibits B-2 and D-2.
Section 3.3 Definition of Permitted Encumbrances. As used herein, the term Permitted Encumbrances means any or all of the following:
(a) Lessors royalties and any overriding royalties, reversionary interests and other burdens to the extent that they do not, individually or in the aggregate, reduce a Sellers, Wholly-Owned Companys or the Subsidiarys net revenue interests below that shown in Exhibits B-2 and D-2 or increase a Sellers, Wholly-Owned Companys or the Subsidiarys working interests above that shown in Exhibits B-2 and D-2 without a corresponding increase in the net revenue interest;
(b) All leases, unit agreements, pooling agreements, operating agreements, production sales contracts, division orders and other contracts, agreements and instruments applicable to the Assets, including provisions for penalties, suspensions or forfeitures contained therein, to the extent that they do not, individually or in the aggregate, reduce a Sellers, Wholly-Owned Companys or the Subsidiarys net revenue interests below that shown in Exhibits B-2 and D-2 or increase a Sellers, Wholly-Owned Companys or the Subsidiarys working interests above that shown in Exhibits B-2 and D-2 without a corresponding increase in the net revenue interest;
(c) Rights of first refusal, preferential purchase rights and similar rights with respect to the Assets;
(d) Third-party consent requirements and similar restrictions which are not applicable to the sale of the Interests contemplated by this Agreement or with respect to which
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waivers or consents are obtained from the appropriate Persons prior to the Closing Date or the appropriate time period for asserting the right has expired or which need not be satisfied prior to a transfer;
(e) Liens for Taxes or assessments not yet delinquent or, if delinquent, being contested in good faith by appropriate actions;
(f) Materialmans, mechanics, repairmans, employees, contractors, operators and other similar liens or charges arising in the ordinary course of business for amounts not yet delinquent (including any amounts being withheld as provided by Law), or if delinquent, being contested in good faith by appropriate actions;
(g) All rights to consent, by required notices to, filings with, or other actions by Governmental Authorities in connection with the sale or conveyance of oil and gas leases or rights or interests therein if they are customarily obtained subsequent to the sale or conveyance;
(h) Rights of reassignment arising upon final intention to abandon or release the Assets, or any of them;
(i) Easements, rights-of-way, covenants, servitudes, permits, surface leases and other rights in respect of surface operations to the extent they do not, individually or in the aggregate, reduce a Sellers, Wholly-Owned Companys or the Subsidiarys net revenue interest below that shown on Exhibit A-2 or increase a Sellers, Wholly-Owned Companys or the Subsidiarys working interest beyond that shown on Exhibit A-2 without a corresponding increase in net revenue interest or which do not prevent or unreasonably and adversely affect operations as currently conducted on the lands covered by the Assets;
(j) Calls on production under: (i) existing Contracts that provide that the holder of such call on production must pay an index-based price for any production purchased by virtue of such call on production; and (ii) those Contracts identified on Schedule 3.3(j);
(k) Any termination of any Sellers, Wholly-Owned Companys or the Subsidiarys title to any mineral servitude or any Property held by production as a consequence of the failure to conduct operations, cessation of production or insufficient production over any period except to the extent DEPI has knowledge thereof as of the date hereof;
(l) All rights reserved to or vested in any Governmental Authorities to control or regulate any of the Assets in any manner or to assess Tax with respect to the Assets, the ownership, use or operation thereof, or revenue, income or capital gains with respect thereto, and all obligations and duties under all applicable Laws of any such Governmental Authority or under any franchise, grant, license or permit issued by any Governmental Authority which do not prevent or unreasonably and adversely affect operations as currently conducted on the lands covered by the Assets;
(m) Any lien, charge or other encumbrance on or affecting the Assets which is expressly waived, assumed, bonded or paid by Purchaser at or prior to Closing or which is discharged by Sellers, any Wholly-Owned Company or any Subsidiary at or prior to Closing;
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(n) any lien or trust arising in connection with workers compensation, unemployment insurance, pension or employment laws or regulations;
(o) The matters described in Schedule 4.4;
(p) Any matters shown on Exhibits B-2 and D-2; and
(q) Any other liens, charges, encumbrances, defects or irregularities which do not, individually or in the aggregate, materially detract from the value of or materially interfere with the use or ownership of the Assets subject thereto or affected thereby (as currently used or owned) and which would be accepted by a reasonably prudent purchaser engaged in the business of owning and operating oil and gas properties, including, without limitation (in each case to the extent the same would be accepted by a reasonably prudent purchaser engaged in the business of owning and operating oil and gas properties), the absence of any lease amendment or consent by any royalty interest or mineral interest holder authorizing the pooling of any leasehold interest, royalty interest or mineral interest and the failure of Exhibits B-1, B-2, D-1 and D-2 to reflect any lease or any unleased mineral interest where the owner thereof was treated as a non-participating co-tenant during the drilling of any well.
Section 3.4 Allocated Values. The Allocated Value for any Well, Unit or PUD Lease equals the portion of the Interest Unadjusted Purchase Price for the Company Shares or Additional Asset group to which such Well, Unit or PUD Lease is related that is allocated to such Well, Unit or PUD Lease on the Allocated Values Schedule, increased or decreased by a share of each adjustment to the Interest Unadjusted Purchase Price under Sections 2.3(c), (d), (e), (f), (g) and (h). The share of each adjustment allocated to a particular Well, Unit or PUD Lease shall be obtained by taking the portion of that adjustment allocated on the Interests Schedule to the Shares or Additional Asset group to which the Well, Unit or PUD Lease is related and further allocating that portion among the various Assets related to such Shares or Additional Asset group on a pro rata basis in proportion to the Interest Unadjusted Purchase Price allocated to each such Asset. Sellers have accepted such Allocated Values for purposes of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, but otherwise make no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of such values.
Section 3.5 Notice of Title Defects; Defect Adjustments.
(a) To assert a claim arising out of a breach of Section 3.1, Purchaser must deliver a claim notice or notices to DEPI on or before September 3, 2008 (the Title Claim Date). Each such notice shall be in writing and shall include:
(i) a description of the alleged Title Defect(s);
(ii) the Units, Wells or PUD Leases affected;
(iii) the Allocated Values of the Units, Wells or PUD Leases subject to the alleged Title Defect(s);
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(iv) supporting documents reasonably necessary for Sellers (as well as any title attorney or examiner hired by Sellers) to verify the existence of the alleged Title Defect(s); and
(v) the amount by which Purchaser reasonably believes the Allocated Values of those Units, Wells or PUD Leases are reduced by the alleged Title Defect(s) and the computations and information upon which Purchasers belief is based.
Purchaser shall be deemed to have waived all breaches of Section 3.1 of which Sellers have not been given notice on or before the Title Claim Date.
(b) Should Purchaser discover any Title Benefit on or before the Title Claim Date, Purchaser shall as soon as practicable, but in any case by the Title Claim Date, deliver to DEPI a notice including:
(i) a description of the Title Benefit;
(ii) the Units, Wells or PUD Leases affected;
(iii) the Allocated Values of the Units, Wells or PUD Leases subject to such Title Benefit; and
(iv) the amount by which the Purchaser reasonably believes the Allocated Value of those Units, Wells or PUD Leases is increased by the Title Benefit, and the computations and information upon which Purchasers belief is based.
Sellers shall have the right, but not the obligation, to deliver to Purchaser a similar notice on or before the Title Claim Date with respect to each Title Benefit discovered by Sellers. Sellers shall be deemed to have waived all Title Benefits of which no Party has given notice on or before the Title Claim Date, except to the extent Purchaser has failed to give a notice which it was obligated to give under this Section 3.5(b).
(c) Sellers shall have the right, but not the obligation, to attempt, at Sellers sole cost, to cure or remove on or before seventy-five (75) days after the Title Claim Date any Title Defects of which Sellers have been advised by Purchaser. No reduction shall be made in the Unadjusted Purchase Price with respect to a Title Defect for purposes of Closing. If the Title Defect is not cured as agreed by Sellers and Purchaser at the end of the seventy-five (75) day post-Title Claim Date period, or if Sellers and Purchaser cannot agree, and it is determined by the Title Arbitrator that such Title Defect is not cured at the end of the seventy-five (75) day post-Title Claim Date period, the adjustment required under this Article 3 shall be made pursuant to Section 8.4(b). Sellers election to attempt to cure a Title Defect shall not constitute a waiver of Sellers right to dispute the existence, nature or value of, or cost to cure, the Title Defect.
(d) With respect to each Unit, Well or PUD Lease affected by Title Defects reported under Section 3.5(a), the Unit, Well or PUD Lease shall, if an Additional Asset, be assigned at Closing or, if held by a Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary, remain in the Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary, subject in each case to all uncured Title Defects, and (subject to Section 3.5(c) and the remainder of this Section 3.5(d)) the Unadjusted Purchase Price
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shall be reduced by an amount (the Title Defect Amount) equal to the reduction in the Allocated Value for such Unit, Well or PUD Lease caused by such Title Defects, as determined pursuant to Section 3.5(g). Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.5(d), no reduction shall be made in the Unadjusted Purchase Price with respect to any Title Defect that is:
(i) older than ten (10) years old and, except for unreleased production payments or similar interests or unreleased encumbrances, a Title Defect Amount of less than Twenty-Five Million Dollars ($25,000,000) (if such Title Defect has not resulted in the suspense of the payment of proceeds of production);
(ii) involves a counterparty no longer in existence or in bankruptcy or receivership; or
(iii) consists of an alleged defect in the authorization, execution, delivery, acknowledgement, or approval of any instrument in a Sellers, Wholly-Owned Companys or the Subsidiarys chain of title; and
in the case of each of subsections (i), (ii) and (iii) above, for which DEPI at its election executes and delivers to Purchaser a separate written indemnity agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Purchaser, under which DEPI agrees to fully, unconditionally and irrevocably indemnify and hold harmless Purchaser and its successors and assigns from any and all Damages arising out of or resulting from such Title Defect.
(e) With respect to each Unit, Well or PUD Lease affected by Title Benefits reported under Section 3.5(b) (or which Purchaser should have reported under Section 3.5(b)), the Unadjusted Purchase Price shall be increased by an amount (the Title Benefit Amount) equal to the increase in the Allocated Value for such Unit, Well or PUD Lease caused by such Title Benefits, as determined pursuant to Section 3.5(h), but in no event will the aggregate adjustments to the Unadjusted Purchase Price as a result of Title Benefits exceed the aggregate adjustments to the Unadjusted Purchase Price due to Title Defects.
(f) This Article 3 shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, be the exclusive right and remedy of Purchaser with respect to DEPIs breach of its warranty and representation in Section 3.1. Except as provided in this Article 3 and the Conveyances, Purchaser releases, remises and forever discharges Sellers and their Affiliates and all such parties stockholders, officers, directors, employees, agents, advisors and representatives from any and all suits, legal or administrative proceedings, claims, demands, damages, losses, costs, liabilities, interest or causes of action whatsoever, in law or in equity, known or unknown, which Purchaser might now or subsequently may have, based on, relating to or arising out of, any Title Defect or other deficiency in title to any Asset.
(g) The Title Defect Amount resulting from a Title Defect shall be determined as follows:
(i) if Purchaser and Sellers agree on the Title Defect Amount, that amount shall be the Title Defect Amount;
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(ii) if the Title Defect is a lien, encumbrance or other charge which is undisputed and liquidated in amount, then the Title Defect Amount shall be the amount necessary to be paid to remove the Title Defect from the appropriate Sellers, Wholly-Owned Companys or the Subsidiarys interest in the affected Unit, Well or PUD Lease;
(iii) if the Title Defect represents a discrepancy between (A) the net revenue interest for any Unit, Well or PUD Lease and (B) the net revenue interest or percentage stated on Exhibit B-2 or D-2 (as appropriate), then the Title Defect Amount shall be the product of the Allocated Value of such Unit, Well or PUD Lease multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the net revenue interest or percentage ownership decrease and the denominator of which is the net revenue interest or percentage ownership stated on Exhibit B-2 or D-2, provided that if the Title Defect does not affect the Unit, Well or PUD Lease throughout its entire productive life, the Title Defect Amount determined under this Section 3.5(g)(iii) shall be reduced to take into account the applicable time period only;
(iv) if the Title Defect represents an obligation, encumbrance, burden or charge upon or other defect in title to the affected Unit, Well or PUD Lease of a type not described in subsections (i), (ii) or (iii) above, the Title Defect Amount shall be determined by taking into account the Allocated Value of the Unit, Well or PUD Lease so affected, the portion of the respective Sellers, Wholly-Owned Companys or the Subsidiarys interest in the Unit, Well or PUD Lease affected by the Title Defect, the legal effect of the Title Defect, the potential economic effect of the Title Defect over the life of the affected Unit, Well or PUD Lease, the values placed upon the Title Defect by Purchaser and Sellers and such other factors as are necessary to make a proper evaluation;
(v) notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article 3, (A) an individual claim for a Title Defect for which a claim notice is given prior to the Title Claim Date shall only generate an adjustment to the Unadjusted Purchase Price under this Article 3 if the Title Defect Amount with respect thereto exceeds Two Million Five Hundred Thousand dollars ($2,500,000), (B) the aggregate Title Defect Amounts attributable to the effects of all Title Defects upon any given Unit, Well or PUD Lease shall not exceed the Allocated Value of such Unit, Well or PUD Lease and (C) there shall be no adjustment to the Unadjusted Purchase Price for Title Defects unless and until the aggregate Title Defect Amounts that are entitled to an adjustment under Section 3.5(g)(v)(A) and for which Claim Notices were timely delivered exceed Twenty-Five Million dollars ($25,000,000), and then only to the extent that such aggregate Title Defect Amounts exceed Twenty-Five Million dollars ($25,000,000);
(vi) if a Title Defect is reasonably susceptible of being cured, the Title Defect Amount determined under subsections (iii) or (iv) above shall not be greater than the amount that can reasonably be shown to be the reasonable cost and expense of curing such Title Defect; and
(vii) the Title Defect Amount with respect to a Title Defect shall be determined without duplication of any costs or losses included in another Title Defect
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Amount hereunder, or for which Purchaser otherwise receives credit in the calculation of the Purchase Price.
(h) The Title Benefit Amount for any Title Benefit shall be the product of the Allocated Value of the affected Unit, Well or PUD Lease multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the net revenue interest increase and the denominator of which is the net revenue interest stated on Exhibit B-2 or D-2, provided that if the Title Benefit does not affect a Unit, Well or PUD Lease throughout the entire life of such Unit, Well or PUD Lease, the Title Benefit Amount determined under this Section 3.5(h) shall be reduced to take into account the applicable time period only. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article 3, (A) an individual claim for a Title Benefit which is reported under Section 3.5(b) (or which Purchaser should have reported under Section 3.5(b)) prior to the Title Claim Date shall only generate an adjustment to the Unadjusted Purchase Price under this Article 3 if the Title Benefit Amount with respect thereto exceeds Two Million Five Hundred Thousand dollars ($2,500,000).
(i) Sellers and Purchaser shall attempt to agree on all Title Defect Amounts and Title Benefit Amounts by ten (10) Business Days after the Title Claim Date. If Sellers and Purchaser are unable to agree by that date, the Title Defect Amounts and Title Benefit Amounts in dispute shall be exclusively and finally resolved by arbitration pursuant to this Section 3.5(i). Within twenty (20) Business Days following the Title Claim Date, Title Defect Amounts and Title Benefit Amounts in dispute shall be submitted to a title attorney with at least 10 years experience in oil and gas titles in the state in which the Units, Wells or PUD Leases (or majority of Units, Wells or PUD Leases) in question are located as selected by mutual agreement of Purchaser and DEPI on behalf of Sellers or absent such agreement during the 10 Business Day period, by the Houston office of the American Arbitration Association (the Title Arbitrator). Likewise, if by the end of the seventy-five (75) day post-Title Claim Date cure period under Section 3.5(c), Sellers and Purchaser have been unable to agree upon whether any Title Defects have been cured, or Sellers have failed to cure any Title Defects which they provided notice that they would attempt to cure, and Sellers and Purchaser have been unable to agree on the Title Defect Amounts for such Title Defects, the cure and/or Title Defect Amounts in dispute shall be submitted to the Title Arbitrator. The Title Arbitrator shall not have worked as an employee or outside counsel for either Party or its Affiliates during the five (5) year period preceding the arbitration or have any financial interest in the dispute. The arbitration proceeding shall be held in Houston, Texas and shall be conducted in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association, to the extent such rules do not conflict with the terms of this Section. The Title Arbitrators determination shall be made within 45 days after submission of the matters in dispute and shall be final and binding upon the Parties, without right of appeal. In making his determination, the Title Arbitrator shall be bound by the rules set forth in Section 3.5(g) and 3.5(h) and may consider such other matters as in the opinion of the Title Arbitrator are necessary or helpful to make a proper determination. Additionally, the Title Arbitrator may consult with and engage disinterested third Persons to advise the arbitrator, including title attorneys from other states and petroleum engineers. The Title Arbitrator shall act as an expert for the limited purpose of determining the specific disputed Title Defect cures and Title Defect Amounts and Title Benefit Amounts submitted by any Party and may not award damages, interest or penalties to any Party with respect to any matter. Each Seller and Purchaser shall bear its own legal fees and other costs of presenting its case. Purchaser shall bear one-half
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of the costs and expenses of the Title Arbitrator, and DEPI shall be responsible for the remaining one-half of the costs and expenses.
Section 3.6 Consents to Assignment and Preferential Rights to Purchase.
(a) Promptly after the date hereof, Sellers shall prepare and send (i) notices to the holders of any required consents to assignment that are set forth on Schedule 4.11 requesting consents to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and (ii) notices to the holders of any applicable preferential rights to purchase or similar rights that are set forth on Schedule 4.11 in compliance with the terms of such rights and requesting waivers of such rights. Any preferential purchase right must be exercised subject to all terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, including the successful Closing of this Agreement pursuant to Article 8. The consideration payable under this Agreement for any particular Asset for purposes of preferential purchase right notices shall be the Allocated Value for such Asset. Sellers shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such consents to assignment and waivers of preferential rights to purchase or similar rights (or the exercise thereof) to be obtained and delivered prior to Closing, provided that Sellers shall not be required to make payments or undertake obligations to or for the benefit of the holders of such rights in order to obtain the required consents and waivers. Purchaser shall cooperate, and after Closing shall cause the Wholly-Owned Companies and the Subsidiary to cooperate, with Sellers in seeking to obtain such consents to assignment and waivers of preferential rights.
(b) In no event shall there be transferred at Closing any Asset for which a consent requirement has not been satisfied and for which transfer is prohibited or a fee is payable (unless the same has been paid by Purchaser) without the consent. In cases in which the Asset subject to such a requirement is a Contract and Purchaser is assigned the Lease(s) to which the Contract relates, but the Contract is not transferred to Purchaser due to the unwaived consent requirement, Purchaser shall continue after Closing to use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the consent so that such Contract can be transferred to Purchaser upon receipt of the consent, the Contract shall be held by Sellers for the benefit of Purchaser, Purchaser shall pay all amounts due thereunder, and Purchaser shall be responsible for the performance of any obligations under such Contract to the extent that Purchaser has been transferred the Assets necessary to perform under such Contract until such consent is obtained. In cases in which the Asset subject to such a requirement is a Lease and the third Person consent to the transfer of the Lease is not obtained by Closing, Purchaser may elect to treat the unsatisfied consent requirements as a Title Defect and receive the appropriate adjustment to the Unadjusted Purchase Price under Section 2.3 by giving DEPI written notice thereof in accordance with Section 3.5(a), except that such notice may be given up to six (6) Business Days prior to the Closing Date. If an unsatisfied consent requirement with respect to which an adjustment to the Unadjusted Purchase Price is made under Section 3.5 is subsequently satisfied prior to the date of the final adjustment to the Unadjusted Purchase Price under Section 8.4(b), Sellers shall be reimbursed in that final adjustment for the amount of any previous deduction from the Unadjusted Purchase Price, the Lease, if not previously transferred to Purchaser under the first sentence of this Section 3.6(b), shall be transferred, and the provisions of this Section 3.6 shall no longer apply to such consent requirement.
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(c) If any preferential right to purchase any Assets is exercised prior to Closing, the Purchase Price shall be decreased by the Allocated Value for such Assets, the affected Assets shall not be transferred at Closing if owned by DEPI, DOTEPI or Reserves, and the affected Assets shall be deemed to be deleted from Exhibits B and/or D to this Agreement, as applicable, for all purposes.
(d) Should a third Person fail to exercise or waive its preferential right to purchase as to any portion of the Assets prior to Closing and the time for exercise or waiver has not yet expired, then subject to the remaining provisions of this Section 3.6, such Assets shall be included in the transaction at Closing, there shall be no adjustment to the Purchase Price at Closing with respect to such preferential right to purchase, and Sellers shall, at their sole expense, continue to use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the waiver of the preferential purchase rights and shall continue to be responsible for the compliance therewith.
(e) Should the holder of the preferential purchase right validly exercise the same (whether before or after Closing), then:
(i) If the affected Assets are owned by DEPI, DOTEPI or Reserves, DEPI, DOTEPI or Reserves shall convey them to the holder on the terms and provisions set out in the applicable preferential right provision. If the affected Assets were previously transferred to Purchaser at Closing, Purchaser agrees to transfer the affected Assets back to the applicable Seller on the terms and provisions set out herein to permit such Seller to comply with this obligation (or, if the applicable Seller so requests, shall transfer the affected Assets directly to the holder on the terms and provisions set out in the applicable preferential purchase right provision);
(ii) If the affected Assets are owned by a Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary, the Company or Subsidiary shall transfer them to the holder on the terms and provisions set out in the applicable preferential purchase right provision. If Closing has already occurred, Purchaser shall cause the Company or Subsidiary to perform this obligation;
(iii) Pursuant to Section 2.3(b), the applicable Seller(s) shall credit Purchaser with the Allocated Value of any Asset transferred pursuant to Section 3.6(e)(i) or (e)(ii);
(iv) Such Seller(s) shall be entitled to the consideration paid by such holder (which shall, if received by a Company or Subsidiary after Closing, be paid to such Seller(s) by such Company or Subsidiary or by Purchaser as agent for and on behalf of such Company or Subsidiary);
(v) If the affected Assets were owned by DEPI, DOTEPI or Reserves and were previously transferred to Purchaser at Closing, Purchase Price adjustments calculated in the same manner as the adjustments in Section 2.3(h) shall be calculated for the period from the Closing Date to the date of the reconveyance and the net amount of such adjustment, if positive, shall be paid by Purchaser to such Seller and, if negative, by such Seller to Purchaser;
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(vi) If the affected Assets were owned by DEPI, DOTEPI or Reserves and were previously transferred to Purchaser at Closing, DEPI, DOTEPI or Reserves, as applicable, shall assume all obligations assumed by Purchaser with respect to such Assets under Section 12.1, and shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Purchaser from all Damages incurred by Purchaser caused by or arising out of or resulting from the ownership, use or operation of such Asset from the Closing Date to the date of the reconveyance, excluding, however, any such Damages resulting from any violation of any Law caused by the actions of, or implementation of policies or procedures of, Purchaser or any Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary after Closing, breach of any contract by Purchaser or any Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary after Closing, or gross negligence or willful misconduct of any Purchaser or any Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary after Closing; and
(vii) In the event that the value of any Property operated by any Seller, Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary is materially impaired by the exercise of a preferential purchase right with respect to a Property also operated by such Seller, Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary on which infrastructure is used by the first Property without the benefit of an agreement for such use which would survive the transfer of title to the third party preferential purchase right holder, Purchaser may claim such material impairment as a Title Defect.
Section 3.7 Limitations on Applicability. The representation and warranty in Section 3.1 shall terminate as of the Title Claim Date and shall have no further force and effect thereafter, provided there shall be no termination of Purchasers or Sellers rights under Section 3.5 with respect to any bona fide Title Defect or Title Benefit claim properly reported on or before the Title Claim Date.
ARTICLE 4.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLERS
Subject to the provisions of this Article 4, and the other terms and conditions of this Agreement, DEPI represents and warrants to Purchaser the matters set out in Section 4.1 through 4.20.
Section 4.1 Sellers.
(a) Existence and Qualification. Each Seller is a corporation or limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the state where it is incorporated or organized (as set forth in the preamble).
(b) Power. Each Seller has the corporate (or limited liability company) power to enter into and perform this Agreement (and all documents required to be executed and delivered by that Seller at Closing) and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (and such documents).
(c) Authorization and Enforceability. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement (and all documents required to be executed and delivered by each
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Seller at Closing), and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of such Seller. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each Seller (and all documents required to be executed and delivered by each Seller at Closing shall be duly executed and delivered by such Seller) and this Agreement constitutes, and at the Closing such documents shall constitute, the valid and binding obligations of each Seller, enforceable in accordance with their terms except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy or other similar Laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors generally as well as to general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
(d) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by each Seller, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall not (i) violate any provision of the certificate of incorporation or bylaws (or equivalent governing instruments) of such Seller, (ii) result in default (with due notice or lapse of time or both) or the creation of any lien or encumbrance or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration under any material note, bond, mortgage, indenture, or other financing instrument to which such Seller is a party or by which it is bound, (iii) violate any judgment, order, ruling, or decree applicable to such Seller as a party in interest or (iv) violate any Laws applicable to such Seller, except any matters described in clauses (ii), (iii), or (iv) above which would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.2 The Wholly-Owned Companies.
(a) Existence and Qualification. Each Wholly-Owned Company is a corporation, duly organized and validly existing under the Laws of its respective jurisdiction of incorporation or formation as described in Exhibit A attached hereto and each is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and in good standing, as applicable, in each jurisdiction where its Company Assets are located, except where the failure to so qualify would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Power. Each Wholly-Owned Company has the corporate power and authority to own, lease or otherwise hold its Assets and conduct its business in the manner consistent with recent practice.
(c) No Conflicts. The consummation of transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall not (i) violate any provision of the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of any Wholly-Owned Company, (ii) result in default (with due notice or lapse of time or both) or the creation of any lien or encumbrance or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration under any material note, bond, mortgage, indenture, or other financing instrument to which any Wholly-Owned Company is a party or by which it is bound, (iii) violate any judgment, order, ruling, or decree applicable to any Wholly-Owned Company as a party in interest, or (iv) violate any Laws applicable to any Wholly-Owned Company, or any of its Company Assets, except any matters described in clauses (ii), (iii), or (iv) above which would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
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(d) Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws. Sellers have delivered to Purchaser true and complete copies of the certificate of incorporation and by-laws, each as amended to date, of the Wholly-Owned Companies and have made available to Purchaser for inspection the stock certificates and transfer books, and the minute books, of the Wholly-Owned Companies.
(e) Title to Shares. Sellers have good and valid title to the Shares, free and clear of any liens, claims, encumbrances, security interests, options, charges and restrictions of any kind other than restrictions on transfer that may be imposed by applicable federal or state securities laws or in the applicable Companys governing instruments. Other than this Agreement, the Shares are not subject to any voting agreement or other contract, agreement, arrangement, commitment or understanding, including any such agreement, arrangement, commitment or understanding restricting or otherwise relating to the voting, dividend rights or disposition of the Shares.
(f) The Shares. The entire issued and outstanding capital stock of the Companies that are corporations are their Shares, consisting of the numbers set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto. In each case, all the Shares are duly authorized and validly issued and outstanding, fully paid, non-assessable and have not been issued in violation of any preemptive rights. Except for the Shares, there are no outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests in any Company, or any contractual arrangements giving any Person a right to receive any benefits or rights similar to the rights enjoyed by or accruing to the holders of any Shares of any Company. Other than pursuant to this Agreement, there are no outstanding warrants, options, rights, convertible or exchangeable securities or other commitments pursuant to which any Seller or a Company is or may become equity interests in such Company.
(g) Balance Sheets and Income Statements. The combined, unaudited balance sheets of the Consolidated Onshore E&P Business as of December 31, 2005, and December 31, 2006 (the Balance Sheets), and the income statements of the Consolidated Onshore E&P Business for the year ended December 31, 2005, and for the year ended December 31, 2006 (the Income Statements) attached hereto as Schedule 4.2(g) have been prepared from the books and records of the Sellers, Companies and Subsidiary, in conformity with the Accounting Principles and fairly present the financial position of the Consolidated Onshore E&P Business as of the dates thereof and the results of operations of the Consolidated Onshore E&P Business for the periods then ended, including the allocations of general and administrative expense, shared assets and other items that have been made as indicated in Schedule 4.2(g), except for the following
(i) normal period end adjustments, including but not limited to subsequent events;
(ii) the absence of notes required by the Accounting Principles; and
(iii) the exclusion of cash and short-term investments, Affiliate accounts receivable and payable, margin assets and liabilities, goodwill, debt and interest to be eliminated pursuant to Section 6.9, Affiliate debt and interest to be eliminated pursuant to Section 6.8, retirement and other employee benefits, financing fees, the
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effects of hedging and other derivatives to be eliminated pursuant to Section 6.12, income taxes, and stock compensation.
Parents net investment (equity) is included in the Balance Sheets, however no representation is made regarding these balances.
(h) Subsidiaries. No Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary directly or indirectly owns any capital stock or other equity interest in any Person except in the Subsidiary as set forth in Exhibit C and excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any tax partnerships entered into with respect to the Assets.
(i) Labor Matters. Other than those employment agreements identified on Schedule 4.2(i) and employment agreements for temporary employees or consultants, there are no employment agreements with any individuals who are (x) employed by DEPI, DOTEPI, Reserves, the Wholly-Owned Companies or the Subsidiary who are rendering services primarily with respect to the Assets or (y) employed by Dominion Resources Services, Inc. but who are rendering services primarily with respect to the Assets. DEPI, DOTEPI, Reserves, the Wholly-Owned Companies and the Subsidiary have no collective bargaining agreements.
(j) Employee Benefits.
(i) Schedule 4.2(j)(i) lists all of the Employee Plans.
(ii) All Employee Plans, both in form and operation, are in compliance with applicable laws in all material respects, including ERISA, the Code, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, as amended, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
(iii) All Employee Plans contributed to by the Sellers, the Wholly-Owned Companies, the Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate intended to be qualified under Section 401 of the Code have filed for or received favorable determination letters with respect to such qualified status from the Internal Revenue Service. The determination letter for each such Employee Plan remains in effect, and, any amendment made, or event relating to such an Employee Plan subsequent to the date of such determination letter, has not materially and adversely affected the qualified status of the Employee Plan.
(iv) No Employee Plan that is subject to Title IV of ERISA (a Title IV Plan) or Section 412 of the Code has incurred an accumulated funding deficiency, whether or not waived, within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, and no condition exists which would be expected to result in an accumulated funding deficiency as of the last day of the current plan year of any Title IV Plan or other Employee Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code. The PBGC has not instituted proceedings to terminate any Title IV Plan, and no other event or condition has occurred which might constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any such Title IV Plan.
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(v) None of the Employee Plans listed in Schedule 4.2(j)(i) is a multiemployer plan within the meaning of Section 3(37) or 400-1(a)(3) of ERISA. None of Sellers, the Wholly-Owned Companies, the Subsidiary, any other Affiliate of Sellers or any ERISA Affiliate has incurred or reasonably expects to incur any liability for withdrawal from a Multiemployer Plan.
Section 4.3 The Subsidiary.
(a) Existence and Qualification. The Subsidiary is a limited liability company, duly organized and validly existing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or formation as described in Exhibit C and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign limited liability company in each jurisdiction where its Assets are located, except where the failure to so qualify would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Power. Subsidiary has the limited liability company power and authority to own, lease or otherwise hold its Assets and conduct its business in the manner consistent with recent practice.
(c) No Conflicts. The consummation of transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall not (i) violate any provision of the certificate of formation or governing instruments of the Subsidiary, (ii) result in default (with due notice or lapse of time or both) or the creation of any lien or encumbrance or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration under any material note, bond, mortgage, indenture, or other financing instrument to which Subsidiary is a party or by which it is bound, (iii) violate any judgment, order, ruling, or decree applicable to any Subsidiary as a party in interest, or (iv) violate any Laws applicable to the Subsidiary, or any of its Assets, except any matters described in clauses (ii), (iii), or (iv) above which would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(d) Certificate of Formation and Governing Instruments. Sellers have delivered to Purchaser true and complete copies of the certificate of formation and the governing instruments, each as amended to date, of the Subsidiary and have made available to Purchaser for inspection the ownership interest certificates and transfer books, and the minute books, of the Subsidiary.
(e) Title to Equity Interests of the Subsidiary. The issued and outstanding membership interests in the Subsidiary are owned of record as described in Exhibit C. In the case of such issued and outstanding membership interests owned of record by a Company as shown on Exhibit C (the Equity Interests), such interest is also owned beneficially and free and clear of any liens, claims, encumbrances, security interests, options, charges and restrictions of any kind other than restrictions on transfers that may be imposed by applicable federal or state securities laws, or in the applicable Companys governing instruments. Other than this Agreement and the ownership agreement of the Subsidiary, the Equity Interests are not subject to any voting agreement or other contract, agreement, arrangement, commitment or understanding, including any such agreement, arrangement, commitment or understanding restricting or otherwise relating to the voting, dividend rights or disposition of the Equity Interests.
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(f) The Equity Interests. The entire equity ownership of the Subsidiary consists of the membership interests as set forth in Exhibit C attached hereto. All the Equity Interests are duly authorized and validly issued and outstanding, fully paid, non-assessable (except as expressly authorized by the terms of the Subsidiarys operating agreement, except for any obligation to return distributions under the Texas Limited Liability Company Act) and have not been issued in violation of any preemptive rights. Except for the membership interests shown on Exhibit C, there are no outstanding shares, units or other equity interests in the Subsidiary, or any contractual arrangements giving any Person a right to receive any benefits or rights similar to the rights enjoyed by or accruing to the holders of any Equity Interests of the Subsidiary. Other than pursuant to this Agreement, there are no outstanding warrants, options, rights, convertible or exchangeable securities or other commitments pursuant to which any Company or the Subsidiary is or may become obligated to issue or sell any capital stock or other equity interests in the Subsidiary.
Section 4.4 Litigation. Except as disclosed on Schedule 4.4, there are no actions, suits or proceedings pending, or to DEPIs knowledge threatened in writing, before any Governmental Authority or arbitrator with respect to the E&P Business. There are no actions, suits or proceedings pending, or to DEPIs knowledge, threatened in writing, before any Governmental Authority or arbitrator against any Seller, Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary, or any Affiliate of any of them, which are reasonably likely to impair or delay materially Sellers ability to perform their obligations under this Agreement.
Section 4.5 Taxes and Assessments. Except as disclosed on Schedule 4.5,
(a) To DEPIs knowledge, each Wholly-Owned Company and the Subsidiary has properly filed on a timely basis all material Tax Returns (as defined in Section 9.2(a)) required to be filed by it, all such Tax Returns are true, complete and accurate in all material respects, and each Company and Subsidiary has timely paid all material Taxes that are due and payable by it, except those for which adequate reserves have been provided;
(b) No Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary has received written notice of any pending claim against them (which remains outstanding) from any applicable taxing authority for assessment of material Taxes;
(c) There is no pending audit or examination by any governmental authority relating to a material amount of Taxes of any Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary;
(d) To DEPIs knowledge, no Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary has (i) waived any statute of limitations affecting any Tax liability or agreed to any extension of time during which a Tax assessment or deficiency assessment may be made, which waiver or extension is still outstanding, or (ii) requested an extension of time within which to file any material Tax Return in respect of any taxable year which has not since been filed;
(e) To DEPIs knowledge, each Wholly-Owned Company and the Subsidiary has complied with all Laws relating to the withholding of all material Taxes;
(f) No Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary will be a party to any Tax Sharing Agreement as of the Closing Date;
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(g) There are no encumbrances in respect of material Taxes (other than for Taxes not yet due and payable) on any of the assets of any Wholly-Owned Company or any of the assets of the Subsidiary or any of the Additional Assets;
(h) To DEPIs knowledge, no Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary (i) has been a member of an affiliated group filing a consolidated federal income Tax Return (other than a group the common parent of which is Dominion Resources, Inc.) or (ii) has any liability for the Taxes of any Person under Treas. Reg. § 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of any other Law), or as a transferee or successor, by contract or otherwise;
(i) No Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary is required to include in income any material adjustment under Code Section 481(a) by reason of a change in accounting method initiated by any Company or Subsidiary, and, to DEPIs knowledge, no governmental entity has proposed any such adjustment or change in accounting method;
(j) No Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary is a party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or plan that has resulted or could result, separately or in the aggregate, in the payment of (i) any material excess parachute payment within the meaning of Code Section 280G (or any corresponding provision of other Laws) or (ii) any material amount that will not be fully deductible as a result of Code Section 162(m) (or any corresponding provision of other Laws);
(k) To DEPIs knowledge, each Seller has properly filed on a timely basis all material Tax Returns (as defined in Section 9.2(a)) required to be filed by it with respect to the Additional Assets, all such Tax Returns with respect to the Additional Assets are true, complete and accurate in all material respects, and each Seller has paid all material Taxes (except those for which adequate reserves have been provided) with respect to the Additional Assets;
(l) No Seller has received written notice of any pending claim against it (which remains outstanding) from any applicable taxing authority for assessment of material Taxes with respect to the Additional Assets;
(m) There is no pending audit or examination by any governmental authority relating to material Taxes with respect to the Additional Assets; and
(n) None of the Assets are deemed by agreement or applicable law to be held by a partnership for federal tax purposes, and, to the extent any of the Assets are deemed by agreement or applicable law to be held by a partnership for federal tax purposes, any such partnerships shall have in effect an election under Section 754 of the Code that will apply with respect to such portion of the Assets that are deemed owned by such partnerships.
Section 4.6 Environmental Laws. Except as disclosed on Schedule 4.6, to DEPIs knowledge, each Wholly-Owned Companys and the Subsidiarys, and DEPIs, DOTEPIs and Reserves, ownership and operation of its respective Assets is in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws, except such failures to comply as, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as disclosed on Schedule 4.6, and except for contamination that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, to DEPIs knowledge there has been no contamination of groundwater, surface water, soil or
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seabed on the Properties resulting from hydrocarbon activities on such Properties which was required to be remediated under applicable Environmental Laws on or before the date of this Agreement for which any Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary or the owner of the Additional Assets would be liable but which has not been remediated. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section or elsewhere in this Agreement, DEPI makes no, and disclaims any, representation or warranty, express or implied, with respect to the presence or absence of naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM), asbestos, mercury, drilling fluids and chemicals, and produced waters and hydrocarbons in or on the Properties or Equipment in quantities typical for oilfield operations in the areas in which the Properties and Equipment are located. For purposes of this Agreement, Environmental Laws means, as the same have been amended to the date hereof, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. § 9601 et seq.; the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. § 6901 et seq.; the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq.; the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. § 7401 et seq.; the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, 49 U.S.C. § 1471 et seq.; the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 2601 through 2629; the Oil Pollution Act, 33 U.S.C. § 2701 et seq.; the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act, 42 U.S.C. § 11001 et seq.; and the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300f through 300j, in each case as amended to the date hereof, and all similar Laws as of the date hereof of any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the property in question addressing pollution or protection of the environment or biological or cultural resources and all regulations implementing the foregoing.
Section 4.7 Compliance with Laws. Except with respect to Environmental Laws, which are addressed in Section 4.6 and except as disclosed on Schedule 4.7, to DEPIs knowledge, the Wholly-Owned Companies and the Subsidiary are in compliance with, and DEPIs, DOTEPIs and Reserves ownership and operation of the Additional Assets are in compliance with, all applicable Laws, except such failures to comply as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.8 Contracts. Schedule 4.8 lists all Material Contracts. To DEPIs knowledge, none of the Sellers, the Wholly-Owned Companies or the Subsidiary, nor to the knowledge of DEPI, any other Person, is in default under any Material Contract except as disclosed on Schedule 4.8 and except such defaults as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. To DEPIs knowledge, all Material Contracts are in full force and effect. Except as disclosed on Schedule 4.8, there are no Contracts with Affiliates of Sellers (other than the Companies and Subsidiary) that will be binding on any Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary or the Assets after Closing. Except as disclosed on Schedule 4.8, there are no futures, options, swaps or other derivatives with respect to the sale of production that will be binding on any Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary or the Assets after Closing. Except as disclosed on Schedule 4.8, as of the date identified on such Schedule, there were no contracts for the purchase, sale or exchange of oil, gas or other hydrocarbons produced from or attributable to the Properties that will be binding on Purchaser, the Wholly-Owned Companies, the Subsidiary or the Assets after Closing that Purchaser (or the applicable Company or Subsidiary) will not be entitled to terminate at will (without penalty) on 90 days notice or less. No notice of default or breach has been received or delivered by any Seller, Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary under any Material Contract, the resolution of which is currently outstanding, and no currently effective notices have been received by any Seller, Company or
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Subsidiary of the exercise of any premature termination, price redetermination, market-out or curtailment of any Material Contract.
Section 4.9 Payments for Production. Except as disclosed on Schedule 4.9 and subject to the covenant in Section 6.11, none of the Sellers, the Wholly-Owned Companies or the Subsidiary are obligated by virtue of a take or pay payment, advance payment or other similar payment (other than royalties, overriding royalties and similar arrangements established in the Leases or reflected on Exhibit B-1, Exhibit B-2, Exhibit D-1 or Exhibit D-2), to deliver oil or gas, or proceeds from the sale thereof, attributable to the Sellers, Wholly-Owned Companys or the Subsidiarys interest in the Properties at some future time without receiving payment therefor at or after the time of delivery. The volumetric production payments contracts set forth in Schedule 4.9 were fully taken into consideration in determining the reserves and the value thereof of any Asset affected thereby as set forth in the reserve report prepared by Ryder Scott & Co. dated December 31, 2006 (the Reserve Report).
Section 4.10 Production Imbalances. Except with respect to Properties set forth on Schedule 4.10, as of the dates set forth on such Schedule, there were no imbalances with respect to the Properties arising from overproduction or underproduction or overdeliveries arising at the wellhead, pipeline, gathering system, transportation system, processing plant or other location, including, without limitation, any imbalances under gas balancing or similar agreements, or imbalances under processing agreements and imbalances under gathering or transportation agreements.
Section 4.11 Consents and Preferential Purchase Rights. As of the date hereof, there are no preferential rights to purchase or required third Person consents to assignment, which may be applicable to the sale of Shares and Additional Assets by Sellers as contemplated by this Agreement, except for consents and approvals of Governmental Authorities that are customarily obtained after Closing, those approvals described in Section 6.7, and as set forth on Schedule 4.11.
Section 4.12 Liability for Brokers Fees. Purchaser, the Companies and the Subsidiary shall not directly or indirectly have any responsibility, liability or expense, as a result of undertakings or agreements of Sellers, the Companies or any Subsidiary prior to Closing, for brokerage fees, finders fees, agents commissions or other similar forms of compensation to an intermediary in connection with the negotiation, execution or delivery of this Agreement or any agreement or transaction contemplated hereby.
Section 4.13 Equipment and Personal Property.
(a) Except as set forth on Schedule 4.13(a), all currently producing Wells and Equipment are in an operable state of repair adequate to maintain normal operations in accordance with past practices, ordinary wear and tear excepted. DEPI, DOTEPI, Reserves, each Wholly-Owned Company and the Subsidiary have all material easements, rights of way, licenses and authorizations, from Governmental Authorities necessary to access, construct, operate, maintain and repair the Equipment in the ordinary course of business as currently conducted by such Persons and in material compliance with all Laws, except such failures as would not individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect.
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(b) With respect to Equipment, hydrocarbon production and inventory, DEPIs, DOTEPIs, Reserves, and each Wholly-Owned Companys and the Subsidiarys title as of the date hereof is, and as of the Closing Date, shall be transferred to Purchaser, free and clear of liens and encumbrances other than Permitted Encumbrances.
Section 4.14 Non-Consent Operations. No Seller, Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary has elected not to participate in any operation or activity proposed with respect to the Assets which could result in any of such Persons interest in any Assets becoming subject to a penalty or forfeiture as a result of such election not to participate in such operation or activity, except to the extent reflected in the Net Revenue Interest and Working Interest set forth in Exhibit B-2 or Exhibit D-2.
Section 4.15 Wells. To DEPIs knowledge, all Wells have been drilled and completed within the limits permitted by all applicable Leases, contracts, and pooling or unit agreements. Except as set forth in Schedule 4.15, to DEPIs knowledge, no Well is subject to penalties on allowables after the Effective Date because of any overproduction or any other violation of Laws.
Section 4.16 Outstanding Capital Commitments. As of the date of this Agreement, there are no outstanding AFEs which are binding on any Wholly-Owned Company, the Subsidiary or the Assets and which DEPI reasonably anticipates will individually require expenditures by the owner of the Assets after the Effective Date in excess of Two Million dollars ($2,000,000), other than those shown on Schedule 4.16.
Section 4.17 Insurance. Schedule 4.17 lists all the insurance policies maintained by Sellers, the Wholly-Owned Companies and the Subsidiary with respect to the Assets.
Section 4.18 Absence of Certain Changes. Since December 31, 2006, and except as set forth on Schedule 4.18, (a) there has not been any reduction in the rate of production of oil, gas or condensate from the Properties which would constitute a Material Adverse Effect, (b) there has not been any reduction or write-down in the reserves estimated for the Properties (which reduction or write-down is not reflected in the Reserve Report) that would constitute a Material Adverse Effect, (c) there has not been any damage, destruction or loss with respect to the Assets that would constitute a Material Adverse Effect that is not addressed by the terms of Section 12.4, or (d) the Assets have not become subject to any obligation or liability that would be required to be reflected as an extraordinary item separately listed on an income statement for the E&P Business prepared in accordance with the Accounting Principles no material Asset is subject to a prior sale except in the ordinary course of business.
Section 4.19 Assets of the E&P Business. Except as described in Section 1.3 and except for those vehicles, computers and software leased for use in the operation of the E&P Business that are not purchased by Seller or Affiliates of Seller pursuant to Section 6.13, (a) the Assets include all material equipment, materials, contracts, data, records, software and other property owned or leased by Sellers, the Wholly-Owned Companies, the Subsidiary and their Affiliates necessary for the conduct of the E&P Business in a manner consistent with recent practices; (b) since December 31, 2006, the Assets have been operated only in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices of DEPI, DOTEPI, Reserves, the Wholly-
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Owned Companies and the Subsidiary; and (c) no property material to the conduct of the E&P Business is being retained by any Seller or Affiliate of Sellers (other that the Companies and Subsidiary).
Section 4.20 Reserve Report; Bonds and Guarantees.
(a) The historical factual information, excluding title information, supplied by Sellers to Ryder Scott & Co. in the preparation of the Reserve Report of the Assets is accurate and complete in all material respects.
(b) Except for bonds, letters of credit and guarantees related primarily to the Excluded Assets which either Seller is retaining, Schedule 13.5 sets forth all bonds, letters of credit and guarantees posted as of the date of this Agreement by either Seller or any Affiliate of either Seller with any Governmental Authority or third person relating to the Assets.
Section 4.21 Limitations.
(a) Except as and to the extent expressly set forth in Article 3, this Article 4 or in the certificate of Sellers to be delivered pursuant to Section 8.2(j), or DEPIs, DOTEPIs or Reserves special warranty of title in the Conveyances, (i) Sellers make no representations or warranties, express or implied, and (ii) Sellers expressly disclaim all liability and responsibility for any representation, warranty, statement or information made or communicated (orally or in writing) to Purchaser or any of its Affiliates, employees, agents, consultants or representatives (including, without limitation, any opinion, information, projection or advice that may have been provided to Purchaser by any officer, director, employee, agent, consultant, representative or advisor of Sellers or any of their Affiliates).
(b) EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY REPRESENTED OTHERWISE IN ARTICLE 3, THIS ARTICLE 4, IN THE CERTIFICATE OF SELLERS TO BE DELIVERED AT CLOSING PURSUANT TO SECTION 8.2(J), OR DEPIS, DOTEPIS OR RESERVES SPECIAL WARRANTY OF TITLE IN THE CONVEYANCES, WITHOUT LIMITING THE GENERALITY OF THE FOREGOING, SELLERS (1) MAKE NO AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO (I) TITLE TO ANY OF THE ASSETS, (II) THE CONTENTS, CHARACTER OR NATURE OF ANY DESCRIPTIVE MEMORANDUM, OR ANY REPORT OF ANY PETROLEUM ENGINEERING CONSULTANT, OR ANY GEOLOGICAL OR SEISMIC DATA OR INTERPRETATION, RELATING TO THE ASSETS, (III) THE QUANTITY, QUALITY OR RECOVERABILITY OF PETROLEUM SUBSTANCES IN OR FROM THE ASSETS, (IV) THE EXISTENCE OF ANY PROSPECT, RECOMPLETION, INFILL OR STEP-OUT DRILLING OPPORTUNITIES, (V) ANY ESTIMATES OF THE VALUE OF THE ASSETS OR FUTURE REVENUES GENERATED BY THE ASSETS, (VI) THE PRODUCTION OF PETROLEUM SUBSTANCES FROM THE ASSETS, OR WHETHER PRODUCTION HAS BEEN CONTINUOUS, OR IN PAYING QUANTITIES, OR ANY PRODUCTION OR DECLINE RATES, (VII) THE MAINTENANCE, REPAIR, CONDITION, QUALITY, SUITABILITY, DESIGN OR MARKETABILITY OF THE ASSETS, (VIII) INFRINGEMENT OF ANY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHT, OR (IX) ANY OTHER MATERIALS OR INFORMATION THAT MAY HAVE BEEN MADE AVAILABLE OR COMMUNICATED
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TO PURCHASER OR ITS AFFILIATES, OR ITS OR THEIR EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, CONSULTANTS, REPRESENTATIVES OR ADVISORS IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY DISCUSSION OR PRESENTATION RELATING THERETO, AND (2) FURTHER DISCLAIM ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR CONFORMITY TO MODELS OR SAMPLES OF MATERIALS OF ANY EQUIPMENT, IT BEING EXPRESSLY UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED BY THE PARTIES HERETO THE ASSETS ARE BEING TRANSFERRED AS IS, WHERE IS, WITH ALL FAULTS AND DEFECTS, AND THAT PURCHASER HAS MADE OR CAUSED TO BE MADE SUCH INSPECTIONS AS PURCHASER DEEMS APPROPRIATE.
(c) Any representation to the knowledge of DEPI or to DEPIs knowledge is limited to matters within the actual knowledge of the individuals identified on Schedule 4.21(c). Actual knowledge only includes information actually personally known by such individual.
(d) Inclusion of a matter on a schedule attached hereto with respect to a representation or warranty that addresses matters having a Material Adverse Effect shall not be deemed an indication that such matter does, or may, have a Material Adverse Effect. Schedules may include matters not required by the terms of the Agreement to be listed on the Schedule, which additional matters are disclosed for purposes of information only, and inclusion of any such matter does not mean that all such matters are included. As used herein, Material Adverse Effect means a material adverse effect on the ownership, operation or financial condition of the E&P Business, taken as a whole; provided, however, that Material Adverse Effect shall not include material adverse effects resulting from general changes in oil and gas prices; general changes in industry, economic or political conditions, or markets; changes in condition or developments generally applicable to the oil and gas industry in any area or areas where the Assets are located; acts of God, including hurricanes and storms; acts or failures to act of Governmental Authorities (where not caused by the willful or negligent acts of Sellers, the Wholly-Owned Companies or Subsidiary); civil unrest or similar disorder; terrorist acts; changes in Laws; effects or changes that are cured or no longer exist by the earlier of the Closing and the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article 11; and changes resulting from the announcement of the transactions contemplated hereby or the performance of the covenants set forth in Article 6 hereof.
(e) A matter scheduled as an exception for any representation shall be deemed to be an exception to all representations for which it is relevant, except that the Contracts listed on Schedule 4.11 do not modify the Material Contracts List in Schedule 4.8.
ARTICLE 5.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER
Purchaser represents and warrants to Sellers the following:
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Section 5.1 Existence and Qualification. Purchaser is a corporation organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of Delaware.
Section 5.2 Power. Purchaser has the corporate power to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement (and all documents required to be executed and delivered by Purchaser at Closing) and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (and such documents).
Section 5.3 Authorization and Enforceability. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement (and all documents required to be executed and delivered by Purchaser at Closing), and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of Purchaser. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Purchaser (and all documents required to be executed and delivered by Purchaser at Closing will be duly executed and delivered by Purchaser) and this Agreement constitutes, and at the Closing such documents will constitute, the valid and binding obligations of Purchaser, enforceable in accordance with their terms except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy or other similar Laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors generally as well as to general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
Section 5.4 No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Purchaser, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, will not (i) violate any provision of the certificate of incorporation or bylaws (or other governing instruments) of Purchaser, (ii) result in a material default (with due notice or lapse of time or both) or the creation of any lien or encumbrance or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration under any material note, bond, mortgage, indenture, or other financing instrument to which Purchaser is a party or by which it is bound, (iii) violate any judgment, order, ruling, or regulation applicable to Purchaser as a party in interest or (iv) violate any Law applicable to Purchaser, except any matters described in clauses (ii), (iii) or (iv) above which would not have a material adverse effect on Purchaser or its properties.
Section 5.5 Consents, Approvals or Waivers. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Purchaser will not be subject to any consent, approval or waiver from any Governmental Authority or other third Person except, as set forth on Schedule 5.5.
Section 5.6 Litigation. There are no actions, suits or proceedings pending, or to Purchasers knowledge, threatened in writing before any Governmental Authority or arbitrator against Purchaser or any Affiliate of Purchaser which are reasonably likely to impair or delay materially Purchasers ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement.
Section 5.7 Financing. Purchaser has sufficient cash, available lines of credit or other sources of immediately available funds (in United States dollars) to enable it to pay the Closing Payment to Sellers at the Closing.
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Section 5.8 Investment Intent. Purchaser is acquiring the Interests for its own account and not with a view to their sale or distribution in violation of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the rules and regulations thereunder, any applicable state blue sky Laws, or any other applicable securities Laws.
Section 5.9 Independent Investigation. Purchaser is (or its advisors are) experienced and knowledgeable in the oil and gas business and aware of the risks of that business. Purchaser acknowledges and affirms that (i) it has completed its independent investigation, verification, analysis and evaluation of the Companies, the Subsidiary and the Assets, and (ii) it has made all such reviews and inspections of the Assets and the business, books and records, results of operations, conditions (financial or otherwise) and prospects of the Companies and the Subsidiary as it has deemed necessary or appropriate. Except for the representations and warranties expressly made by DEPI in Articles 3 and 4 of this Agreement, or in the certificate to be delivered to Purchaser pursuant to Section 8.2(j) of this Agreement, Purchaser acknowledges that there are no representations or warranties, express or implied, as to the financial condition, Assets, liabilities, equity, operations, business or prospects of the Companies, the Subsidiary or the Additional Assets and that in making its decision to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, Purchaser has relied solely upon its own independent investigation, verification, analysis and evaluation.
Section 5.10 Liability for Brokers Fees. Sellers, and, prior to Closing, the Companies and the Subsidiary, shall not directly or indirectly have any responsibility, liability or expense, as a result of undertakings or agreements of Purchaser, for brokerage fees, finders fees, agents commissions or other similar forms of compensation to an intermediary in connection with the negotiation, execution or delivery of this Agreement or any agreement or transaction contemplated hereby.
Section 5.11 Qualification. Purchaser is or as of the Closing will be qualified under applicable Laws to hold Leases, rights of way and other rights issued by the U.S. government, and by other Governmental Authorities, which are included in the Assets.
ARTICLE 6.
COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES
Section 6.1 Access. Upon execution of this Agreement, Sellers will give Purchaser and its representatives access to the Assets and access to and the right to copy, at Purchasers expense, the Records in Sellers possession, for the purpose of conducting a confirmatory review of the E&P Business, but only to the extent that Sellers may do so without (i) violating applicable Laws, including the HSR Act, or (ii) violating any obligations to any third Person and to the extent that Sellers have authority to grant such access without breaching any restriction binding on Sellers. Sellers shall use reasonable efforts to obtain permission for Purchaser to gain access to third party operated Properties to inspect the condition of same. Such access by Purchaser shall be limited to Sellers normal business hours, and Purchasers investigation shall be conducted in a manner that minimizes interference with the operation of the E&P Business or the business of Sellers. Purchaser shall be entitled to conduct a Phase I environmental assessment and may conduct visual inspections, record reviews, and interviews relating to the
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Properties, including their condition and their compliance with Environmental Laws (collectively, the Phase I Investigation), subject to the receipt of the necessary permission as described above. Purchasers right of access shall not entitle Purchaser to operate Equipment or conduct intrusive testing or sampling. All information obtained by Purchaser and its representatives under this Section 6.1 shall be subject to the terms of that certain confidentiality agreement between Dominion Resources, Inc. and Purchaser dated March 8, 2007 (the Confidentiality Agreement) and any applicable privacy laws regarding personal information.
Section 6.2 Notification of Breaches. Until the Closing,
(a) Purchaser shall notify Sellers promptly after Purchaser obtains actual knowledge that any representation or warranty of DEPI contained in this Agreement is untrue in any material respect or will be untrue in any material respect as of the Closing Date or that any covenant or agreement to be performed or observed by Sellers prior to or on the Closing Date has not been so performed or observed in any material respect; and
(b) Sellers shall notify Purchaser promptly after any Seller obtains actual knowledge that any representation or warranty of Purchaser contained in this Agreement is untrue in any material respect or will be untrue in any material respect as of the Closing Date or that any covenant or agreement to be performed or observed by Purchaser prior to or on the Closing Date has not been so performed or observed in a material respect.
If any of Purchasers or DEPIs representations or warranties is untrue or shall become untrue in any material respect between the date of execution of this Agreement and the Closing Date, or if any of Purchasers or Sellers covenants or agreements to be performed or observed prior to or on the Closing Date shall not have been so performed or observed in any material respect, but if such breach of representation, warranty, covenant or agreement shall (if curable) be cured by the Closing (or, if the Closing does not occur, by the date set forth in Section 11.1), then such breach shall be considered not to have occurred for all purposes of this Agreement.
Section 6.3 Press Releases. Until the Closing, neither Sellers nor Purchaser, nor any Affiliate of any of them, shall make any press release regarding the existence of this Agreement, the contents hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby without the prior written consent of the Purchaser (in the case of announcements by Sellers or their Affiliates) or DEPI (in the case of announcements by Purchaser or its Affiliates); provided, however, the foregoing shall not restrict disclosures by Purchaser or Sellers or any of their Affiliates (i) to the extent that such disclosures are required by applicable securities or other Laws or the applicable rules of any stock exchange having jurisdiction over the disclosing Party or its Affiliates or (ii) to Governmental Authorities and third Persons holding preferential rights to purchase, rights of consent or other rights that may be applicable to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, as reasonably necessary to provide notices, seek waivers, amendments or terminations of such rights, or seek such consents. Sellers and Purchaser shall each be liable for the compliance of their or its respective Affiliates with the terms of this Section.
Section 6.4 Operation of Business. Except as provided in the 2007 business and budget plan document attached hereto as Schedule 6.4 (the 2007 Plan), or as may be required in connection with Sections 6.8, 6.9, 6.11, 6.12, 6.13, and 6.14, until the Closing DEPI, DOTEPI
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and Reserves each shall, and the applicable Sellers shall cause the Wholly-Owned Companies and the Subsidiary to each, operate its business with respect to the Assets in the ordinary course, and, without limiting the generality of the preceding, shall
(a) not transfer, sell, farmout, hypothecate, encumber or otherwise dispose of any of the Assets, except for (A) sales and dispositions of oil and gas in the ordinary course of business; (B) sales and dispositions of equipment and materials that are surplus, obsolete or replaced; and (C) other sales and dispositions individually not exceeding Two Million Five Hundred Thousand dollars ($2,500,000); and
(b) where it operates Leases or Units, produce oil, gas and/or other hydrocarbons from those Leases or Units consistent in the aggregate with the 2007 Plan, utilizing prudent oilfield practices as if Sellers were going to continue to own the E&P Business after the Closing Date and without regard to the existence of this Agreement, subject to the terms of the applicable Leases and Contracts, applicable Laws and requirements of Governmental Authorities and interruptions resulting from force majeure, mechanical breakdown and planned maintenance;
(c) not terminate, materially amend, execute or extend any contracts reasonably expected to generate gross revenues per year for the owner of the Assets or to require expenditures per year chargeable to the owner of the Assets in excess of Five Million dollars ($5,000,000), other than the execution or extension of a contract for the sale or exchange of oil, gas and/or other hydrocarbons terminable on ninety (90) days or shorter notice;
(d) maintain insurance coverage on the Assets in the amounts and of the types currently in force;
(e) use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain in full force and effect all Leases, that are capable of producing in paying quantities; and
(f) maintain all material governmental permits and approvals affecting the Assets.
Requests for approval of any action restricted by this Section 6.4 shall be delivered to either of the following individuals, each of whom shall have full authority to grant or deny such requests for approval on behalf of Purchaser:
For Rocky Mountain & San Juan Properties: | For Gulf Coast Properties: | |
Delbert L. Craddock Vice President Operations San Juan Basin Cell: 505 ###-###-#### E-Mail: ***@*** Phone: 505 ###-###-#### Fax: 505 ###-###-#### | Kyle M. Hammond Vice President Operations Permian Division Cell: 432 ###-###-#### E-Mail: ***@*** Phone: 432 ###-###-#### Fax: 432 ###-###-#### | |
with copies to: | with copies to: | |
Keith A. Hutton | Keith A. Hutton |
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President Cell: 817 ###-###-#### E-Mail: ***@*** Phone: 817 ###-###-#### Fax: 817 ###-###-#### | President Cell: 817 ###-###-#### E-Mail: ***@*** Phone: 817 ###-###-#### Fax: 817 ###-###-#### | |
Terry F. Perkins Senior Vice President Reservoir Engineering Cell: 817 ###-###-#### E-Mail: ***@*** Phone: 817 ###-###-#### Fax: 817 ###-###-#### | Terry F. Perkins Senior Vice President Reservoir Engineering Cell: 817 ###-###-#### E-Mail: ***@*** Phone: 817 ###-###-#### Fax: 817 ###-###-#### |
Purchasers approval of any action restricted by this Section 6.4 shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed and shall be considered granted within fifteen (15) days (unless a shorter time is reasonably required by the circumstances and such shorter time is specified in Sellers notice) of Sellers notice to Purchaser requesting such consent unless Purchaser notifies Sellers to the contrary during that period. Sellers will make a reasonable good faith effort to contact Purchaser before relying on passage of time only. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 6.4, in the event of an emergency, Sellers may take such action as reasonably necessary and shall notify Purchaser of such action promptly thereafter.
Section 6.5 Conduct of Wholly-Owned Companies and the Subsidiary. Except as provided in the Balance Sheets attached hereto as Schedule 4.2(g), or in the 2007 Plan, or on Schedule 6.5, or as may be required in connection with Sections 6.8, 6.9, 6.11, 6.12, 6.13, and 6.14, until the Closing, the applicable Sellers shall not permit any Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary to do any of the following without the prior written consent of Purchaser:
(a) amend its charter, by-laws or equivalent governing instruments;
(b) issue, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of its capital stock or issue any option, warrant or right relating to its capital stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for any shares of capital stock, declare or pay any stock-split, or declare or pay any dividend or make any other payment or distribution to any Seller or other Affiliate except cash and Excluded Assets; provided, however, that capital stock may be issued in conjunction with the capitalization of Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary debt pursuant to Section 6.8, in which event such additional stock shall become part of the Shares delivered at Closing;
(c) incur or assume any indebtedness for borrowed money (a Loan) or guarantee any such indebtedness (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, contractual or statutory joint and several liability obligations for joint operations, accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business and indebtedness to or guarantees for another Company or Subsidiary), which Loan or guaranty will remain in effect after Closing;
(d) make an equity investment in any other Person (except investments in another Company or Subsidiary);
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(e) make any change in any method of accounting or accounting principles other than those required by the Accounting Principles;
(f) acquire by merger or consolidation or purchase of equity interests any corporation, partnership, association or other business organization or division thereof;
(g) enter into any settlement of any material issue with respect to any assessment or audit or other administrative or judicial proceeding with respect to Taxes for which Purchaser may have liability under Article 9;
(h) make any Loan (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, (i) accounts receivable in the ordinary course of business, (ii) advances or cash call payments to the operator as required under applicable operating agreements, (iii) advances as operator on behalf of co-owners for costs under applicable operating agreements, (iv) Loans to another Company or Subsidiary or (v) other loans in the ordinary course of business, such as Loans to employees for the purchase of computers and natural gas appliances) to any Person;
(i) terminate or voluntarily relinquish any permit, license or other authorization from any Governmental Authority necessary for the conduct of the E&P Business except in the ordinary course of business;
(j) grant any bonus or increase in salary to any employee of any Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary, except (i) as required by existing employment contracts, plans or arrangements, and (ii) normal annual adjustments and bonuses in the normal course of business consistent with recent practice, and (iii) any extraordinary adjustments required for retention purposes consistent with industry practice that will be sole obligation of Seller and shall not be taken into account for purposes of determining comparability under Section 10.2(a));
(k) establish, materially amend or terminate any Employee Plan for employees of such Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary, except changes generally affecting plans covering both employees of such Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary and employees of its Affiliates, consistent with then-current industry practice (provided that such new Employee Plan or amendments after the date hereof shall not be taken into account for purposes of determining comparability under Section 10.2(a)); or
(l) agree to do any of the foregoing.
Requests for approval of any action restricted by this Section 6.5 shall be delivered to either of the following individuals, each of whom shall have full authority to grant or deny such requests for approval on behalf of Purchaser:
Vaughn O. Vennerberg II Senior Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff Cell: 817 ###-###-#### E-Mail: ***@*** Phone: 817 ###-###-#### | Frank G. McDonald Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Assistant Secretary Cell: 817 ###-###-#### E-mail: ***@*** Phone: 817 ###-###-#### |
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Fax: 817 ###-###-#### | Fax: 817 ###-###-#### |
Purchasers approval of any action restricted by this Section 6.5 shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed and shall be considered granted within fifteen (15) days (unless a shorter time is reasonably required by the circumstances and such shorter time is specified in Sellers notice) of Sellers notice to Purchaser requesting such consent unless Purchaser notifies Sellers to the contrary during that period. Sellers will make a reasonable good faith effort to contact Purchaser before relying on the passage of time only.
Section 6.6 Indemnity Regarding Access. Purchaser agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Sellers, its Affiliates (including until Closing the Companies and Subsidiary), the other owners of interests in the Properties, and all such Persons directors, officers, employees, agents and representatives from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, costs and expenses (including court costs and reasonable attorneys fees), including claims, liabilities, losses, costs and expenses attributable to personal injury, death, or property damage, arising out of or relating to access to the Assets prior to the Closing by Purchaser, its Affiliates, or its or their directors, officers, employees, agents or representatives, even if caused in whole or in part by the negligence (whether sole, joint or concurrent), strict liability or other legal fault of any indemnified Person (but not such Persons willful misconduct).
Section 6.7 Governmental Reviews. Sellers and Purchaser shall each in a timely manner make (or cause its applicable Affiliate to make) (i) all required filings, including filings required under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, and prepare applications to and conduct negotiations with, each Governmental Authority as to which such filings, applications or negotiations are necessary or appropriate in the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and (ii) provide such information as the other may reasonably request in order to make such filings, prepare such applications and conduct such negotiations. Each Party shall cooperate with and use all reasonable efforts to assist the other with respect to such filings, applications and negotiations. Purchaser shall bear the cost of all filing or application fees payable to any Governmental Authority with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, regardless of whether Purchaser, any Seller, any Company, any Subsidiary, or any Affiliate of any of them is required to make the payment.
Without limiting the generality of the preceding, prior to Closing, Purchaser shall take all such actions as are required to qualify to hold government Leases, rights-of-way and other rights included in the Assets and to meet any other requirements to receive and hold such Assets. Promptly after Closing, Purchaser and Sellers shall make all required filings with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs, and other Governmental Authorities to properly assign and transfer government leases, operating rights and right of ways and any other related Additional Assets. Purchaser shall make all other required filings with any Governmental Authorities after Closing with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including filing all required operator registration and change in operator, designation of operator and designation of applicant forms, and shall send all statutorily required notices with respect to Properties presently operated by DEPI, DOTEPI or Reserves. Purchaser shall also arrange for all bonds, letters of credit and guarantees required with respect to the ownership or operation of the Assets to be posted on or before Closing, as described in Section 13.5.
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Section 6.8 Intercompany Indebtedness. At or prior to Closing, Sellers and their Affiliates (other than the Companies and Subsidiary) shall (i) either capitalize or cause each Wholly-Owned Company and the Subsidiary to settle by cash payment any net indebtedness of such Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary to Sellers or to any other Affiliates (other than the Companies or Subsidiary) and (ii) repay any net indebtedness of Sellers or any such Affiliate to each Wholly-Owned Company and the Subsidiary, excluding, however, accounts payable for the purchase of goods or services, or employment-related costs, or other ordinary course of business expenses owing to any Affiliate with respect to any period after the Effective Date which are subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 2.3(h).
Section 6.9 Third Person Indebtedness. At or prior to Closing, Sellers shall have satisfied or caused the Wholly-Owned Companies and the Subsidiary to satisfy all outstanding indebtedness owing by the Wholly-Owned Companies and the Subsidiary pursuant to third Person Loans, including Loans described on Schedule 6.9, excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, accounts payable in the ordinary course of business and Loans from another Company or Subsidiary.
Section 6.10 Operatorship.
(a) Within forty-five (45) days after execution of this Agreement, DEPI, DOTEPI and Reserves shall each send notices to all co-owners of each of the Additional Properties (i) that it currently operates and (ii) in which Sellers and their Affiliates collectively hold more than a fifty percent (50%) working interest, which notice shall indicate that it is transferring operatorship of those Additional Properties to Purchaser contingent upon and effective at Closing. DEPI, DOTEPI and Reserves make no representation or warranty as to Purchasers ability to succeed to operatorship of these Additional Properties.
(b) Within forty-five (45) days after execution of this Agreement, DEPI, DOTEPI and Reserves shall each send notices to all co-owners of the Additional Properties (i) that it currently operates and (ii) in which Sellers and their Affiliates collectively hold less than or equal to a fifty percent (50%) working interest, which notice shall indicate that it is resigning as operator contingent upon and effective at Closing, and nominating and recommending Purchaser as successor operator following the Closing. DEPI, DOTEPI and Reserves make no representation or warranty as to Purchasers ability to succeed to operatorship of these Additional Properties.
Section 6.11 Volumetric Production Payments. Prior to Closing, the volumetric production payment contracts identified on Schedule 4.9 shall be purchased by Sellers or their Affiliates and, effective upon the Effective Date, replaced with new volumetric production payments on the terms set forth on Schedule 6.11, which volumetric production payments shall burden the Assets at Closing.
Section 6.12 Hedges. At or prior to Closing, Sellers and their Affiliates shall eliminate or cause the Wholly-Owned Companies and the Subsidiary to eliminate all futures, options, swaps and other derivatives, except the Transferred Derivatives, with respect to the sale of production from the Assets that are currently binding on any Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary or the Assets.
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Section 6.13 Vehicles and Equipment. At or prior to the Closing, Sellers or Affiliates of Sellers will exercise available options under applicable lease agreements to terminate such agreements and to purchase certain vehicles, computers, and software leased thereunder by or on behalf of the Wholly-Owned Companies or the Subsidiary or otherwise for use in the operation of the E&P Business, expending up to the amount specified in Section 2.3(d), which vehicles, computers and software shall then be included in the Assets at Closing. At Closing, Purchaser shall reimburse Sellers for such purchase costs and any other costs or expenses related thereto (the Computer/Vehicle Buy-Out Costs), as an adjustment to the Interest Unadjusted Purchase Price in accordance with Section 2.3(d).
Section 6.14 Certain Beneficial Interests.
(a) Except as provided in Section 6.14(c) below, until the Closing, DEPI shall not permit DEPI I, LP to assign, transfer, encumber or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the DEPI Texas Beneficial Interests in the possession of DEPI I, LP as of the date hereof, except to the extent that such assignment, transfer, encumbrance or other disposition is made in conjunction with an assignment, transfer, encumbrance or other disposition by DEPI of a corresponding interest in the Additional Asset associated with such DEPI Texas Beneficial Interests that is allowed by the terms and conditions of Sections 6.4 and 6.5.
(b) Except as provided in Section 6.14(c) below, until the Closing, DOTEPI shall not permit DNG I, LP to assign, transfer, encumber or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the DOTEPI Texas Beneficial Interests in the possession of DNG I, LP as of the date hereof, except to the extent that such assignment, transfer, encumbrance or other disposition is made in conjunction with an assignment, transfer, encumbrance or other disposition by DOTEPI of a corresponding interest in the Additional Asset associated with such DOTEPI Texas Beneficial Interests that is allowed by the terms and conditions of Sections 6.4 and 6.5.
(c) Prior to the Closing, DEPI shall cause DEPI I, LP to undergo a multi-survivor merger under which DEPI I, LP is survived by two or more limited partnerships, each with the same ownership as DEPI I, LP, and one of which holds the DEPI Texas Beneficial Interests (DEPI Survivor LP). The issued and outstanding partnership interests of DEPI Survivor LP shall then become Shares for all purposes of this Agreement and shall be transferred to two Delaware limited liability companies each of which is wholly-owned by Purchaser as part of the Interests at Closing. Prior to Closing, DOTEPI shall cause DNG I, LP to undergo a multi-survivor merger under which DNG I, LP is survived by two or more limited partnerships, each with the same ownership as DNG I, LP, and one of which holds the DOTEPI Texas Beneficial Interests (DOTEPI Survivor LP, together with DEPI Survivor LP, the Survivor LPs). The issued and outstanding partnership interests of DOTEPI Survivor LP shall then become Shares for all purposes of this Agreement and shall be transferred to two Delaware limited liability companies each of which is wholly-owned by Purchaser as part of the Interests at Closing. DEPI shall bear and shall indemnify and hold harmless Purchaser and the Companies and the Subsidiary from and against all costs incurred in connection with the multi-survivor mergers described in this Section.
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(d) Notwithstanding Section 6.14(c), the Sellers may in their sole discretion cause the Survivor LPs to sell their respective assets directly to Purchaser in lieu of consummating the transactions described in Section 6.14(c).
Section 6.15 Further Assurances. After Closing, Sellers and Purchaser each agrees to take such further actions and to execute, acknowledge and deliver all such further documents as are reasonably requested by the other for carrying out the purposes of this Agreement or of any document delivered pursuant to this Agreement.
Section 6.16 Transition Services Agreement. Prior to Closing, Sellers and Purchaser agree to cooperate in good faith to design and implement a mutually agreeable transition plan with respect to the services listed on the schedules to the DEPI/Purchaser Transition Services Agreement.
Section 6.17 [Intentionally Omitted].
Section 6.18 Financial Information.
(a) Sellers shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to prepare, as soon as practicable after the date of this Agreement and at the sole cost and expense of Purchaser, statements of revenues and direct operating expenses for the E&P Business for the most recent three (3) fiscal years ending prior to the Closing Date and all notes, production volume and development costs (or such lesser period as determined by Purchaser) related thereto that will be required of Purchaser or any of its Affiliates in connection with their Form 8-K filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) pursuant to the Exchange Act related to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, together with any quarterly or interim period statement of revenues and direct operating expenses required in connection with such Form 8-K filing (collectively, the Statements of Revenues and Expenses). Seller will provide suitable electronic detail in the form of lease operating statements by property adequately supporting all statements provided.
(b) Promptly after the date of this Agreement, Sellers shall request Deloitte & Touche LLP, Sellers external auditor (Deloitte), after discussing specifications with Purchaser, to (i) perform an audit of the Statements of Revenues and Expenses on Purchasers behalf and to issue its opinion with respect to the Statements of Revenues and Expenses for the period(s) specified by Purchaser (the Statements of Revenues and Expenses and related audit opinions being hereinafter referred to as the Audited Statements of Revenue and Expenses) and (ii) provide its written consent for the use of its audit reports with respect to Statements of Revenues and Expenses in reports filed by Purchaser or any of its Affiliates under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, as required by such Laws. Both DEPI, DRI or one of their Affiliates and Purchaser shall sign the engagement letter for Deloitte and provide such information as may be reasonably requested from time to time by Deloitte. Purchaser shall bear all fees charged by Deloitte pursuant to such engagement. Sellers shall use reasonable efforts to cause Deloitte to: (i) provide Purchaser a fee estimate before commencing the audit and (ii) provide timely budget versus actual comparisons to Purchaser. Sellers shall reasonably cooperate in the completion of such audit and delivery of the Audited Statements of Revenue and Expenses to Purchaser or any of its Affiliates as soon as reasonably practicable, but no later than fifteen (15) days prior to the
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last due date that such Audited Statements of Revenue and Expenses would be required to be filed by Purchaser or any of its Affiliates with a report on Form 8-K or an amendment thereto under the Exchange Act. Sellers shall keep Purchaser reasonably informed regarding the progress of such audit and provide a reasonably complete draft of the statements of revenues and expenses within 45 days after Closing.
(c) Sellers and their Affiliates shall reasonably cooperate with Purchaser and provide Purchaser and KPMG LLP with reasonable access during normal business hours to their records (to the extent such information is then available) and personnel as Purchaser may reasonably require to enable Purchaser to review and confirm the statements of revenue and direct operating expenses contemplated by Section 6.18(a) or any other required reports, at Purchasers sole expense. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall Sellers and their Affiliates be required to create new records relating to the Assets pursuant to this Section 6.18(c) and the access to be provided to Purchaser and KPMG LLP pursuant to this Section 6.18(c) shall not interfere with Sellers and such Affiliates ability to prepare its own financial statements or its regular conduct of business.
(d) Purchaser shall promptly reimburse DEPI on behalf of Sellers and their Affiliates for all internal and external expenses incurred by Sellers and their Affiliates pursuant to this Section 6.18.
Section 6.19 Carlsbad Royalties. The Parties agree that it is their intent that all of DEPIs, DOTEPIs and Reserves right, title and interest in overriding royalties located in San Juan and Rio Arriba Counties, New Mexico (the Carlsbad Royalties) are to be excluded at Closing as part of the Excluded Assets. Sellers were not able to complete the exclusion of the Carlsbad Royalties from Exhibit D-1 prior to the date hereof. Sellers agree to deliver to Purchaser, within fifteen (15) Business Days after the date hereof, a supplement to Exhibit D-1 excluding all Carlsbad Royalties not already excluded from Exhibit D-1. Such supplement shall be deemed to be a part of Exhibit D-1 for all purposes of this Agreement and the Carlsbad Royalties shall be Excluded Assets for all purposes of this Agreement.
ARTICLE 7.
CONDITIONS TO CLOSING
Section 7.1 Conditions of Sellers to Closing. The obligations of Sellers to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are subject, at the option of Sellers, to the satisfaction on or prior to Closing of each of the following conditions:
(a) Representations. The representations and warranties of Purchaser set forth in Article 5 shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date;
(b) Performance. Purchaser shall have performed and observed, in all material respects, all covenants and agreements to be performed or observed by it under this Agreement prior to or on the Closing Date;
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(c) No Action. On the Closing Date, no injunction, order or award restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or granting substantial damages in connection therewith, shall have been issued and remain in force, and no suit, action, or other proceeding (excluding any such matter initiated by Sellers or any of its Affiliates) shall be pending before any Governmental Authority or body of competent jurisdiction seeking to enjoin or restrain or otherwise prohibit the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or recover substantial damages from Sellers or any Affiliate of Sellers resulting therefrom; and
(d) Governmental Consents. All material consents and approvals of any Governmental Authority required for the transfer of the Interests from Sellers to Purchaser as contemplated under this Agreement, except consents and approvals of assignments by Governmental Authorities that are customarily obtained after closing, shall have been granted, or the necessary waiting period shall have expired, or early termination of the waiting period shall have been granted.
Section 7.2 Conditions of Purchaser to Closing. The obligations of Purchaser to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are subject, at the option of Purchaser, to the satisfaction on or prior to Closing of each of the following conditions:
(a) Representations. The representations and warranties of DEPI set forth in Article 4 shall be true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date (other than representations and warranties that refer to a specified date, which need only be true and correct on and as of such specified date), except for such breaches, if any, as would not have a Material Adverse Effect (except to the extent such representation or warranty is qualified by its terms by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, such qualification in its terms shall be inapplicable for purposes of this Section);
(b) Performance. Sellers shall have performed and observed, in all material respects, all covenants and agreements to be performed or observed by them under this Agreement prior to or on the Closing Date except, in the case of breaches of Sections 6.4 and 6.5 and 6.10, for such breaches, if any, as would not have a Material Adverse Effect (except to the extent such covenant or agreement is qualified by its terms by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, such qualification in its terms shall be inapplicable for purposes of this Section);
(c) No Action. On the Closing Date, no injunction, order or award restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or granting substantial damages in connection therewith, shall have been issued and remain in force, and no suit, action, or other proceeding (excluding any such matter initiated by Purchaser or any of its Affiliates) shall be pending before any Governmental Authority or body of competent jurisdiction seeking to enjoin or restrain or otherwise prohibit the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or recover substantial damages from Purchaser or any Affiliate of Purchaser resulting therefrom; and
(d) Governmental Consents. All material consents and approvals of any Governmental Authority required for the transfer of the Interests from Sellers to Purchaser as
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contemplated under this Agreement, except consents and approvals of assignments by Governmental Authorities that are customarily obtained after closing, shall have been granted or the necessary waiting period shall have expired, or early termination of the waiting period shall have been granted.
ARTICLE 8.
CLOSING
Section 8.1 Time and Place of Closing. The consummation of the purchase and sale of the Interests contemplated by this Agreement (the Closing) shall, unless otherwise agreed to in writing by Purchaser and Sellers, take place at the offices of Baker Botts L.L.P. located at 910 Louisiana St., Suite 3200, Houston, Texas, at 10:00 a.m., local time, on August 2, 2007 (the Target Closing Date), or if all conditions in Article 7 to be satisfied prior to Closing have not yet been satisfied or waived, as soon thereafter as such conditions have been satisfied or waived, subject to the provisions of Article 11. The date on which the Closing occurs is referred to herein as the Closing Date.
Section 8.2 Obligations of Sellers at Closing. At the Closing, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, and subject to the simultaneous performance by Purchaser of its obligations pursuant to Section 8.3, Sellers shall deliver or cause to be delivered to Purchaser(or its wholly-owned Affiliate(s) that (i) have been designated in writing to Seller at least fifteen (15) days prior to Closing and (ii) that satisfy the requirements of Section 5.11), among other things, the following:
(a) Certificate(s) (or lost certificate affidavit(s)) representing the Shares, duly endorsed (or accompanied by duly endorsed stock powers) for transfer to Purchaser;
(b) Resignations of the directors and officers of the Wholly-Owned Companies and the Subsidiary, effective on or before the Closing;
(c) Terminations of powers of attorney granted by the Wholly-Owned Companies or the Subsidiary as may be requested in a written notice to Sellers by Purchaser delivered at least ten (10) days prior to the Closing Date.
(d) Conveyances of the Additional Assets (other than the DEPI Texas Beneficial Interests and DOTEPI Texas Beneficial Interests, which are transferred pursuant to Section 8.2(a)) in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E (the Conveyances), duly executed by DEPI, DOTEPI or Reserves, as applicable, in sufficient duplicate originals to allow recording in all appropriate jurisdictions and offices;
(e) Assignments in form required by federal, state or tribal agencies for the assignment of any federal, state or tribal Additional Properties, duly executed by DEPI, DOTEPI or Reserves, as applicable, in sufficient duplicate originals to allow recording in all appropriate offices;
(f) Executed certificates described in Treasury Regulation § 1.1445-2(b)(2) certifying that each Seller is not a foreign person within the meaning of the Code;
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(g) Letters-in-lieu of transfer orders with respect to the Additional Properties duly executed by DEPI, DOTEPI or Reserves, as applicable;
(h) Titles to the vehicles acquired pursuant to Section 6.13;
(i) Assignments of the personal property described on Schedule 1.4;
(j) A certificate duly executed by an authorized corporate officer of DEPI, dated as of the Closing, certifying on behalf of each Seller that the conditions set forth in Sections 7.2(a) and 7.2(b) have been fulfilled;
(k) A certificate duly executed by the secretary or any assistant secretary of each Seller, dated as of the Closing, (i) attaching and certifying on behalf of Seller complete and correct copies of (A) the certificate of incorporation and the bylaws of Seller, each as in effect as of the Closing, (B) the resolutions of the Board of Directors of Seller authorizing the execution, delivery, and performance by such Seller of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, and (C) any required approval by the stockholders of Seller of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and (ii) certifying on behalf of Seller the incumbency of each officer of such Seller executing this Agreement or any document delivered in connection with the Closing;
(l) Where notices of approval are received by Sellers pursuant to a filing or application under Section 6.7, copies of those notices of approval;
(m) Counterparts of a transition services agreement between DEPI and Purchaser in the form attached hereto as Exhibit F (the DEPI/Purchaser Transition Services Agreement), duly executed by DEPI;
(n) Duly executed counterparts of all documents necessary to transfer operatorship from Sellers to Purchaser of all Additional Properties contemplated by Section 6.10(a) hereof;
(o) The IRS Form 8023 and similar state or local forms referenced in Section 9.9, executed by Sellers in accordance with Section 9.9; and
(p) All other documents and instruments reasonably required from Sellers to transfer the Interests to Purchaser.
Section 8.3 Obligations of Purchaser at Closing. At the Closing, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, and subject to the simultaneous performance by Sellers of its obligations pursuant to Section 8.2, Purchaser shall deliver or cause to be delivered to Sellers, among other things, the following:
(a) A wire transfer of the Closing Payment in same-day funds;
(b) Conveyances, duly executed by Purchaser, in sufficient duplicate originals to allow recording on all appropriate jurisdictions and offices;
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(c) Assignments in form required by federal, state or tribal agencies for the assignment of any federal, state or tribal Additional Properties, duly executed by Purchaser, in sufficient duplicate originals to allow recording in all appropriate offices;
(d) A certificate by an authorized corporate officer of Purchaser, dated as of the Closing, certifying on behalf of Purchaser that the conditions set forth in Sections 7.1(a) and 7.1(b) have been fulfilled;
(e) A certificate duly executed by the secretary or any assistant secretary of Purchaser, dated as of the Closing, (i) attaching and certifying on behalf of Purchaser complete and correct copies of (A) the certificate of incorporation and the bylaws of Purchaser, each as in effect as of the Closing, (B) the resolutions of the Board of Directors of Purchaser authorizing the execution, delivery, and performance by Purchaser of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, and (C) any required approval by the stockholders of Purchaser of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and (ii) certifying on behalf of Purchaser the incumbency of each officer of Purchaser executing this Agreement or any document delivered in connection with the Closing;
(f) Where notices of approval are received by Purchaser pursuant to a filing or application under Section 6.7, copies of those notices of approval;
(g) Evidence of replacement bonds, guarantees, and letters of credit, pursuant to Section 13.5;
(h) Counterparts of the DEPI/Purchaser Transition Services Agreement, duly executed by Purchaser;
(i) Duly executed counterparts of all documents necessary to transfer operatorship from Sellers to Purchaser of all Additional Properties contemplated by Section 6.10(a) hereof;
(j) Duly executed counterparts of the Guarantee contemplated by Section 13.16 hereof and Exhibit I hereto, in the event Purchaser elects to close all or part of the Assets into an Affiliate or Affiliate pursuant to Section 13.12 hereof; and
(k) All other documents and instruments reasonably required from Purchaser to transfer the Interests to Purchaser.
Section 8.4 Closing Payment and Post-Closing Purchase Price Adjustments.
(a) Not later than fifteen (15) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, Sellers shall prepare and deliver to Purchaser, using and based upon the best information available to Sellers, a preliminary settlement statement (and related support documentation) estimating the Interest Purchase Price for the Interests and showing the portions thereof to which each Seller is entitled after giving effect to all adjustments set forth in Section 2.3. The estimates delivered in accordance with this Section 8.4(a) shall constitute the collective dollar amount to be payable by Purchaser to Sellers at the Closing (the Closing Payment).
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(b) As soon as reasonably practicable after the Closing but not later than the later of (i) the one hundred and twentieth (120th) day following the Closing Date and (ii) the date on which the parties or the Title Arbitrator, as applicable, finally determines all Title Defect Amounts and Title Benefit Amounts under Section 3.5(i), Sellers shall prepare and deliver to Purchaser a draft statement setting forth the final calculation of the Interest Purchase Prices and showing the calculation of each adjustment under Section 2.3, based on the most recent actual figures for each adjustment and supply Purchaser with related support documentation. Sellers shall at Purchasers request make reasonable documentation available to support the final figures. As soon as reasonably practicable but not later than the ninetieth (90th) day following receipt of Sellers statement hereunder, Purchaser shall deliver to DEPI a written report containing any changes that Purchaser proposes be made in such statement. Sellers may deliver a written report to Purchaser during this same period reflecting any changes that Sellers propose to be made in such statement as a result of additional information received after the statement was prepared. The Parties shall undertake to agree on the final statement of the Purchase Price no later than one hundred twenty (120) days after delivery of Sellers statement. In the event that the Parties cannot reach agreement within such period of time, any Party may refer the items of adjustment which are in dispute to Ernst & Young LLP or another nationally-recognized independent accounting firm or consulting firm mutually acceptable to Purchaser and Sellers (the Accounting Arbitrator), for review and final determination by arbitration. Should Ernst & Young LLP fail or refuse to agree to serve as Accounting Arbitrator within twenty (20) days after written request from any Party to serve, and the Parties fail to agree in writing on a replacement Accounting Arbitrator within ten (10) days after the end of that twenty (20) day period, or should no replacement Accounting Arbitrator agree to serve within forty-five (45) days after the original written request pursuant to this sentence, the Accounting Arbitrator shall be appointed by the Houston office of the American Arbitration Association. The Accounting Arbitrator shall conduct the arbitration proceedings in Houston, Texas in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association, to the extent such rules do not conflict with the terms of this Section. The Accounting Arbitrators determination shall be made within forty-five (45) days after submission of the matters in dispute and shall be final and binding on all Parties, without right of appeal. In determining the proper amount of any adjustment to the Purchase Price, the Accounting Arbitrator shall be bound by the terms of Section 2.3 and may not increase the Purchase Price more than the increase proposed by Sellers nor decrease the Purchase Price more than the decrease proposed by Purchaser, as applicable. The Accounting Arbitrator shall act as an expert for the limited purpose of determining the specific disputed aspects of Purchase Price adjustments submitted by any Party and may not award damages, interest (except as expressly provided for in this Section) or penalties to any Party with respect to any matter. Each Seller and Purchaser shall bear its own legal fees and other costs of presenting its case. DEPI shall bear one-half and Purchaser shall bear one-half of the costs and expenses of the Accounting Arbitrator. Within ten (10) days after the earlier of (i) the expiration of Purchasers sixty (60) day review period without delivery of any written report or (ii) the date on which the Parties or the Accounting Arbitrator finally determine the Interest Purchase Prices, (x) Purchaser shall pay to each Seller the amount by which the portion of any Interest Purchase Price(s) to which that Seller is entitled exceeds the portion of the Closing Payment received by that Seller or (y) each Seller shall pay to Purchaser the amount by which the portion of the Closing Payment received by that Seller exceeds portion of the any Interest Purchase Price(s) to which that Seller is entitled, as applicable. Any post-Closing
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payment pursuant to this Section 8.4 shall bear interest from the Closing Date to the date of payment at the Agreed Rate.
(c) Purchaser shall assist Sellers, to the extent reasonably necessary, in preparation of the final statement of the Interest Purchase Prices under Section 8.4(b) by furnishing invoices, receipts, reasonable access to personnel and such other assistance as may be requested by Seller to facilitate such process post-Closing.
(d) All payments made or to be made under this Agreement to Sellers shall be made by electronic transfer of immediately available funds to Dominion Resources, Inc., acting as representative of Sellers, at the account set forth on Schedule 8.4(d), for the credit of the applicable Sellers, or to such other bank and account as may be specified by Sellers in writing. All payments made or to be made hereunder to Purchaser shall be by electronic transfer or immediately available funds to a bank and account specified by Purchaser in writing to Sellers, for the credit of Purchaser.
ARTICLE 9.
TAX MATTERS
Section 9.1 Liability for Taxes.
(a) Taxes with Respect to Additional Assets. Subject to Sections 9.1(e) and 9.1(f), from and after Closing, DEPI shall be liable for, and shall indemnify and hold harmless Purchaser and each of the Wholly-Owned Companies and the Subsidiary from and against, all Taxes with respect to the Additional Assets attributable to any Pre-Closing Period including income Taxes arising as a result of any Sellers gain on the sale of the Additional Assets as contemplated by this Agreement. From and after Closing, Purchaser shall be liable for, and shall indemnify and hold harmless each Seller and its Affiliates from and against, all such Taxes attributable to any Post-Closing Period. Purchaser shall reimburse Sellers or their Affiliates for any Taxes with respect to the Additional Assets attributable to any Post-Closing Period that are paid by Sellers or their Affiliates no later than twenty (20) calendar days after the Purchasers receipt of notice from DEPI of Purchasers liability therefor. DEPI shall reimburse Purchaser for any Taxes with respect to the Additional Assets attributable to any Pre-Closing Period that are paid by Purchaser or its Affiliates no later than twenty (20) calendar days after DEPIs receipt of notice from Purchaser of DEPIs liability therefor.
(b) Pre-Closing Taxes of Wholly-Owned Companies and the Subsidiary. Subject to Sections 9.1(e), from and after Closing, DEPI shall be liable for, and shall indemnify and hold harmless Purchaser and each of the Wholly-Owned Companies and the Subsidiary from and against, any Taxes imposed on or incurred by any Company or Subsidiary and attributable to any taxable period ending on or prior to the Closing Date, or to the portion, determined as described in Section 9.1(d), of any taxable period beginning on or prior to the Closing Date and ending after the Closing Date which is allocable to the portion of such period occurring on or prior to the Closing Date (the Pre-Closing Period).
(c) Post-Closing Taxes of Wholly-Owned Companies and the Subsidiary. From and after Closing, Purchaser shall be liable for, and shall indemnify and hold harmless
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each Seller and its Affiliates from and against, any Taxes imposed on or incurred by a Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary and attributable to any taxable period beginning after the Closing Date, or to the portion, determined as described in Section 9.1(d), of any taxable period beginning on or prior to the Closing Date and ending after the Closing Date which is allocable to the portion of such period occurring after the Closing Date (the Post-Closing Period).
(d) Straddle Period Taxes. Whenever it is necessary for purposes of this Agreement to determine the portion of any Taxes or earnings and profits of or with respect to any Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary for a taxable period beginning on or prior to and ending after the Closing Date (each such period, a Straddle Period) which is attributable or allocable to the Pre-Closing Period or the Post-Closing Period, the determination shall be made as if each of the Wholly-Owned Companies and the Subsidiary was not a member of its respective Sellers consolidated, affiliated, combined or unitary group for Tax purposes and, any Taxes allocable to the Pre-Closing Period that are based on or related to income, gains or receipts will be computed (by an interim closing of the books) as if such taxable period ended as of the Closing Date and any other Pre-Closing Period Taxes (except production Taxes and other Taxes measured by units of production, and severance Taxes) will be prorated based upon the number of days in the applicable period falling on or before, or after, the Closing Date. To the extent necessary, a Seller shall estimate Taxes based on the Sellers liability for Taxes with respect to the same or similar Tax Item (as defined in Section 9.2(a)) in the immediately preceding year. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, (i) any franchise Tax paid or payable with respect to each Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary shall be allocated to the taxable period during which the income, operations, assets or capital comprising the base of such Tax is measured, regardless of whether the right to do business for another taxable period is obtained by the payment of such franchise Tax and (ii) any ad valorem or property Taxes paid or payable with respect to the Assets shall be allocated to the taxable period applicable to the ownership of the Assets regardless of when such Taxes are assessed. Sellers shall, within 60 days after the determination of the Purchase Price under Section 8.4(b), prepare for Purchaser a pro forma Tax Return for any taxable period beginning on or before, but ending after, the Closing Date, that shall include, pursuant to the method described in this Section 9.1(d), the income Tax liability associated with the Companies for the period beginning on the first day of such taxable period and ending on the Closing Date. Such pro forma Tax Return shall be used by Purchaser for purposes of preparing a Tax Return for such Straddle Period.
(e) Period After Effective Date. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, in the event Closing occurs after the Effective Date, from and after Closing, Purchaser shall be liable for, and shall indemnify and hold harmless each Seller and its Affiliates from and against, any Taxes (including Taxes attributable to the Pre-Closing Period, but excluding federal income Taxes and state and local Taxes determined using federal income tax principles, production Taxes and other Taxes measured by units of production, and severance Taxes) that are allocable to the period from but excluding the Effective Date to and including the Closing Date, and shall reimburse any such Seller or Affiliate for any such amount paid by it (or paid prior to Closing by any Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary) no later than 20 calendar days after the Purchasers receipt of notice from DEPI of Purchasers liability therefor; provided, however, that Purchaser shall not be obligated under this Section 9.1(e) for any Taxes attributable to a Sellers gain on the sale of Interests as contemplated by this Agreement. The amount of Taxes allocable to the time period described in the previous sentence will be
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determined in a manner similar to and consistent with the determination of Pre-Closing Period Taxes under Section 9.1(d).
(f) Production Taxes. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, production Taxes and other Taxes measured by units of production, and severance Taxes, shall not be subject to Section 9.1 and responsibility therefor and payment thereof shall be exclusively addressed by Sections 1.3(xv), 2.3, 2.4 and 8.4.
(g) Indemnity Period. The indemnities for Taxes provided for in this Article 9 shall not be subject to any limitation set forth in Article 12, and shall continue until the applicable statute of limitations closes the taxable year to which the subject Taxes relate.
Section 9.2 Preparation and Filing of Company Tax Returns.
(a) With respect to each Tax return, declaration, report, claim for refund or information return or statement relating to Taxes, including any schedule or attachment thereto, and including any amendment thereof (a Tax Return) that is required to be filed for, by or with respect to a Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary with respect to a taxable period ending on or before the Closing Date, the Sellers shall cause such Tax Return to be prepared, shall cause to be included in such Tax Return all items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit or other items (collectively Tax Items) required to be included therein and shall cause the Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary to timely file (assuming it has authority to do so) such Tax Return with the appropriate taxing authority and shall timely pay the amount of Taxes shown to be due on such Tax Return.
(b) With respect to each Tax Return that is required to be filed for, by or with respect to a Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary with respect to a taxable period ending after the Closing Date, Purchaser shall cause such Tax Return to be prepared, shall cause to be included in such Tax Return all Tax Items required to be included therein, and shall cause each Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary to file timely such Tax Return with the appropriate taxing authority and shall pay timely the amount of Taxes shown to be due on such Tax Return.
(c) Any Tax Return to be prepared pursuant to the provisions of this Article shall be prepared in a manner consistent with practices followed in prior years with respect to similar Tax Returns, except for changes required by changes in Law.
(d) If either (i) DEPI or Purchaser may be liable for any material portion of the Tax payable in connection with any Tax Return to be filed or caused to be filed by the other (or, in the case of Purchaser, by any Seller) (or any Tax Item reported on such Tax Return is likely to materially affect the Tax liability of such Party) or (ii) in any case with respect to any taxable period beginning on or before but ending after the Closing Date, the Party responsible under this Agreement for filing such return or causing such return to be filed (the Tax Return Preparer) shall prepare and deliver to the other Party (the Tax Payor) a copy of such return and any schedules, work papers and other documentation then available that are relevant to the preparation of the portion of such return for which the Tax Payor is or may be liable under this Agreement not later than forty-five (45) days before the date on which the Tax Return is due to be filed (taking into account any valid extensions) (the Due Date). The Tax Return Preparer
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shall not file such return or cause such return to be filed until the earlier of either the receipt of written notice from the Tax Payor indicating the Tax Payors consent thereto, or the Due Date. The Tax Payor shall have the option of providing to the Tax Return Preparer, at any time at least fifteen (15) days prior to the Due Date, written instructions as to how the Tax Payor wants any, or all, of the items for which it may be liable (or any item that is likely to affect the Tax liability of such party) reflected on such Tax Return. The Tax Return Preparer shall, in preparing such return, but subject to Section 9.2(c), cause the items for which the Tax Payor is liable under this Agreement to be reflected in accordance with the Tax Payors instructions unless, in the opinion of a partner of a nationally recognized law firm retained by the Tax Return Preparer, complying with the Tax Payors instructions would more likely than not subject the Tax Return Preparer to any criminal penalty or to civil penalties under sections 6662 through 6664 of the Code or similar provisions of applicable state, local or foreign Law, or unless complying with the Tax Payors instructions would have a Material Adverse Effect on the Tax Return Preparer or its Affiliates or would be inconsistent with past practice.
Section 9.3 Allocation Arrangements. Effective as of the Closing, any tax indemnity, sharing, allocation or similar agreement or arrangement (a Tax Sharing Agreement) that may be in effect prior to the Closing Date between or among, a Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary, on the one hand, and its Seller or any of its Affiliates (other than the Companies and Subsidiary), on the other hand, shall be extinguished in full as the Tax Sharing Agreement relates to such Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary, and any liabilities or rights existing under any such agreement or arrangement by or with respect to a Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary shall cease to exist and shall no longer be enforceable.
Section 9.4 Access to Information.
(a) From and after Closing, each Seller shall grant, and shall cause its Affiliates to grant, to Purchaser (or its designees) access at all reasonable times to all of the information, books and records relating to a Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary or the Assets within the possession of the Seller or its Affiliates (including without limitation work papers and correspondence with taxing authorities, but excluding work product of and attorney-client communications with any of Sellers legal counsel and personnel files), and shall afford Purchaser (or its designees) the right (at Purchasers expense) to take extracts therefrom and to make copies thereof, to the extent reasonably necessary to permit Purchaser (or its designees) to prepare Tax Returns, to conduct negotiations with Tax authorities, and to implement the provisions of, or to investigate or defend any claims between the Parties arising under, this Agreement.
(b) From and after Closing, Purchaser shall grant to Sellers (or Sellers designees) access at all reasonable times to all of the information, books and records relating to the Wholly-Owned Companies or the Subsidiary within the possession of Purchaser or the Wholly-Owned Companies or the Subsidiary (including without limitation work papers and correspondence with taxing authorities, but excluding work product of and attorney-client communications with any of Purchasers legal counsel and personnel files), and shall afford Sellers (or Sellers designees) the right (at Sellers expense) to take extracts therefrom and to make copies thereof, to the extent reasonably necessary to permit Sellers (or Sellers designees) to prepare Tax Returns, to conduct negotiations with Tax authorities, and to implement the
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provisions of, or to investigate or defend any claims between the Parties arising under, this Agreement.
(c) Each of the Parties hereto will preserve and retain all schedules, work papers and other documents relating to any Tax Returns of or with respect to Taxes of the Wholly-Owned Companies or the Subsidiary or to any claims, audits or other proceedings affecting the Wholly-Owned Companies or the Subsidiary until the expiration of the statute of limitations (including extensions) applicable to the taxable period to which such documents relate or until the final determination of any controversy with respect to such taxable period, and until the final determination of any payments that may be required with respect to such taxable period under this Agreement.
(d) At any Partys request, the other Parties shall provide reasonable access to such Partys and its Affiliates (including the Wholly-Owned Companies and the Subsidiarys) personnel who have knowledge of the information described in this Section 9.4.
Section 9.5 Contest Provisions.
(a) Each of Purchaser, on the one hand, and Sellers, on the other hand (the Tax Indemnified Person), shall notify the chief tax officer (or other appropriate person) of DEPI or Purchaser, as the case may be (the Tax Indemnifying Person), in writing within fifteen (15) days of receipt by the Tax Indemnified Person of written notice of any pending or threatened audits, adjustments, claims, examinations, assessments or other proceedings (a Tax Audit) which are likely to affect the liability for Taxes of such other party. If the Tax Indemnified Person fails to give such timely notice to the other party, it shall not be entitled to indemnification for any Taxes arising in connection with such Tax Audit if such failure to give notice materially adversely affects the other partys right to participate in the Tax Audit.
(b) If such Tax Audit relates to any taxable period, or portion thereof, ending on or before the Closing Date or for any Taxes for which only DEPI would be liable to indemnify Purchaser under this Agreement, DEPI shall have the option, at its expense, to control the defense and settlement of such Tax Audit. If such Tax Audit relates to any taxable period, or portion thereof, beginning after the Closing Date or for any Taxes for which only Purchaser would be liable under this Agreement, Purchaser shall, at its expense, control the defense and settlement of such Tax Audit to the extent that such Tax Audit relates to Tax Items for which Purchaser is liable to indemnify DEPI under Section 9.1.
(c) If such Tax Audit relates to Taxes for which both DEPI and Purchaser could be liable under this Agreement, to the extent practicable, such Tax Items will be distinguished and each Party will have the option to control the defense and settlement of those Taxes for which it is so liable. If such Tax Audit relates to a taxable period, or portion thereof, beginning on or before and ending after the Closing Date and any Tax Item cannot be identified as being a liability of only one party or cannot be separated from a Tax Item for which the other party is liable, DEPI, at its expense, shall have the option to control the defense and settlement of the Tax Audit, provided that such party defends the items as reported on the relevant Tax Return and provided further that no such matter shall be settled without the written consent of both parties, not to be unreasonably withheld.
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(d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any party whose liability for Taxes for any period may be affected by a Tax Audit shall be entitled to participate at its expense in such defense and to employ counsel of its choice at its expense and shall have the right to consent to any settlement of such Tax Audit (not to be unreasonably withheld) to the extent that such settlement would have an adverse effect with respect to a period for which that party is liable for Taxes, under this Agreement or otherwise.
Section 9.6 Post-Closing Actions Which Affect Sellers Tax Liability.
(a) Except to the extent required by applicable Laws, Purchaser shall not and shall not permit its Affiliates, including the Wholly-Owned Companies and the Subsidiary, to take any action on or after the Closing Date which could increase any Sellers liability for Taxes (including any liability of DEPI to indemnify Purchaser for Taxes under this Agreement).
(b) Except to the extent required by applicable Laws, DEPI and Sellers shall not, and shall not permit their Affiliates, to take any action on or after the Closing Date which could materially increase any Purchasers or its Affiliates, including any Wholly-Owned Companys or the Subsidiarys, liability for Taxes (including any liability of to indemnify for Taxes under this Agreement).
(c) Except to the extent required by applicable Laws, Purchaser shall not and shall not permit its Affiliates, including the Wholly-Owned Companies and the Subsidiary, to amend any Tax Return with respect to a taxable period for which DEPI may be liable to indemnify Purchaser for Taxes under Section 9.1.
Section 9.7 Refunds.
(a) Purchaser agrees to pay to DEPI any refund received (whether by payment, credit, offset or otherwise, and together with any interest thereon) after the Closing by Purchaser or its Affiliates, including the Wholly-Owned Companies and the Subsidiary, in respect of any Taxes for which DEPI is liable or required to indemnify Purchaser under Section 9.1. Purchaser shall cooperate with DEPI and DEPIs Affiliates in order to take all necessary steps to claim any such refund. Any such refund received by Purchaser or its Affiliates or the Wholly-Owned Companies or the Subsidiary shall be paid to DEPI within thirty (30) days after such refund is received. Purchaser agrees to notify DEPI within ten (10) days following the discovery of a right to claim any such refund and upon receipt of any such refund. Purchaser agrees to claim any such refund as soon as possible after the discovery of a right to claim a refund and to furnish to DEPI all information, records and assistance necessary to verify the amount of the refund or overpayment.
(b) Purchaser shall make, and shall cause the Wholly-Owned Companies and the Subsidiary to make, elections under Section 172(b)(3) and any other applicable provision of the Code and Treasury Regulations § 1.1502-21(b)(3)(ii)(B) and § 1.1502-21T(b)(3)(ii)(B) and any other applicable Treasury Regulations, and under any comparable provision of any state, local or foreign tax law in any state, locality or foreign jurisdiction in which any Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary files a combined, consolidated or unitary return with any Seller, to relinquish the entire carryback period with respect to any Tax Item of any Wholly-Owned
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Company or the Subsidiary arising in any taxable period beginning after the Closing Date that could be carried back to a taxable year of such Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary ending before the Closing Date.
Section 9.8 Conflict. In the event of a conflict between the provisions of this Article 9 and any other provision of this Agreement, except Section 13.3 hereof, this Article 9 shall control.
Section 9.9 Election Under Section 338(h)(10). Sellers and Purchaser agree that they shall make a joint election under Section 338(h)(10) of the Code and under any comparable provisions of state or local law with respect to the purchase of the Interests (other than Interests in any Company or Subsidiary that is not a member of a selling consolidated group within the meaning of Treasury Regulations § 1.338(h)(10)-1(b)(2)). Purchaser shall prepare copies of IRS Form 8023 and any similar state or local forms, partially completed with the identity of the parties, and shall deliver them to Sellers at least five days prior to Closing. Sellers shall execute such forms at Closing and shall deliver them to Purchaser. Purchaser shall execute and complete copies of IRS Form 8023 and similar state or local forms, with the advice and consent of Sellers (not to be unreasonably withheld) not later than sixty (60) days prior to the due date (including extensions) for filing such forms or the Tax Returns to which such forms must be attached. If any changes are required in these forms as a result of information that is first available after such forms are completed, the parties will promptly agree on such changes. Except to the extent required by applicable Law, neither Sellers nor Purchaser shall take any action inconsistent with, or fail to take any action necessary for, the validity of the election described in this Section 9.9.
ARTICLE 10.
U.S. EMPLOYMENT MATTERS
Section 10.1 Employees.
(a) Company Onshore Employees shall mean all those individuals other than Excluded Employees (i) who are either Designated Employees or Selected Employees and (ii) who accept an offer of employment with whichever of Purchaser or its Affiliates is designated by Purchaser in its sole discretion to make the offer of employment pursuant to Section 10.2 and who are credited with at least one (1) hour of service for Purchaser or its Affiliates.
(b) Designated Employees are those individuals (i) who, as of the Closing Date are (x) employed by DEPI, DOTEPI, Reserves, the Wholly-Owned Companies or Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries and are rendering services primarily with respect to the Assets or (y) employed by Dominion Resources Services, Inc. and are rendering services primarily with respect to the Assets or (z) employed pursuant to the college recruiting program of the Companies or their Affiliates with respect to the Assets and (ii) who are not U.S. Temporary Employees. Seller shall provide Purchaser and its Affiliates not later than thirty (30) days after the execution of this Agreement the individuals to whom Purchaser or its Affiliates must offer employment in accordance with Section 10.2(a). Seller will make good faith effort to provide
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the list in less than thirty (30) days. In no event shall the number of Designated Employees exceed 207 unless Purchaser approves a higher number.
(c) Selected Employees are those individuals (i) who, as of the Closing Date are (x) employed by DEPI, DOTEPI, Reserves, the Wholly-Owned Companies or Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries and are rendering services with respect to the Assets or (y) employed by Dominion Resources Services, Inc. and are rendering services with respect to the Assets, (ii) who are not U.S. Temporary Employees and (iii) who are selected by Purchaser and its Affiliates from a list provided to Purchaser and its Affiliates not later than forty (40) days after the execution of this Agreement the individuals to whom Purchaser or its Affiliates must offer employment in accordance with Section 10.2(a).
(d) From the date hereof through a date eighteen (18) months from the Closing Date, none of Purchaser, its Affiliates, its wholly-owned Affiliates designated to receive conveyances pursuant to Section 8.2, or any of its other Affiliates which have assisted Purchaser with or otherwise participated in the transactions that are the subject of this Agreement will, directly or indirectly, solicit (provided that in no event will general advertising be deemed solicitation for purposes of this Section 10.1(d)), or offer employment to any other employee of any of Sellers or their Affiliates without the prior written consent of DEPI.
Section 10.2 Employment.
(a) Subject to the above, Purchaser and its Affiliates agree to employ Designated Employees or to pay to Sellers a dollar amount representing the value of the severance those individuals to whom Purchaser does not make an offer of employment would have received under Section 10.2(c) had they been employed by Purchaser and later involuntarily terminated without cause, and which Sellers terminate their employment without cause within twelve (12) months after the Closing Date. Purchaser and its Affiliates agree to employ Company Onshore Employees effective as of the date as of which such employee is credited with one (1) hour of service for Purchaser or its Affiliates. Purchaser and its Affiliates shall cause the Purchaser or its Affiliate who is the employer of such employees to employ such employees for a period of at least twelve (12) months following the Closing Date (i) at levels of total compensation (base pay and payroll practices) and benefits, including the amounts provided in this Section 10.2, that are comparable, in the aggregate, to the levels total cash compensation (base pay and payroll practices) and benefits that are comparable, in the aggregate, to the levels of total cash compensation (base pay and payroll practices) and benefits as noted under the Plans and Programs on Schedule 4.2(j)(i) in effect as of the Closing Date and (ii) at a work location no more than 50 miles from the individuals work location as of the Closing Date. In determining comparability for the twelve (12) month period following the Closing, in no event will the base pay and annual incentive bonus opportunity for each such employee be less than his or her base pay and annual incentive bonus opportunity with Seller as of the Closing Date. In determining comparability, any long term incentive opportunity, retention plans or retention programs, gross-up payments due to tax penalties resulting from Code Section 280G and 4999, Six Sigma and Spot Cash Programs listed on Part II of Schedule 4.2(j)(i), Equity-Based Programs listed on Part III of Schedule 4.2(j)(i) and amounts paid or payable from the Success Pool listed on Part V of Schedule 4.2(j)(i) shall be excluded. Benefits shall be comparable to the Company Onshore Employees workforce as a whole, and may or may not be equal to the benefits individual
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Company Onshore Employees would receive under the Plan and Programs on Schedule 4.2(j)(i) in effect as of the Closing Date. Purchaser will have fulfilled its comparability obligations under Section 10.2(a) with respect to Company Onshore Employees if Purchaser complies with the requirements of (i) Section 10.2(a) with respect to base pay and annual incentive bonus opportunity, (ii) Section 10.5, (iii) payments of the Special Bonus as outlined below, and (iv) offering participation in Purchaser U.S. Employee Plans (as defined in Section 10.4.) that will provide substantially similar or greater value as is provided currently. Purchaser and its Affiliates will pay, or will cause its Affiliates to pay, to each Company Onshore Employee as of the Closing Date a special one time cash bonus that equals the sum of A plus B, where: A is the product of 5.0% multiplied by the respective Company Onshore Employees annual base salary as of their first hour of service with Purchaser, and B is the amount necessary to pay the federal, state, and local income and withholding taxes on the amount determined in A and B (at the time payable and based on reasonable assumptions regarding the Company Onshore Employees tax rates), with the intent that the after-tax amount received by each Company Onshore Employee from Purchaser or its Affiliates when paid shall be the amount calculated in A (the Special Bonus). One-half of the Special Bonus will be paid within 30 days of the Closing Date and the remainder paid on the earlier of the first anniversary of the Closing Date or the termination of such Company Onshore Employee without cause. If the Company Onshore Employee is terminated for cause or the Company Onshore Employee terminates his/her employment prior to the first anniversary of the Closing Date, then he/she shall forfeit all rights to any remainder of the Special Bonus. Purchaser shall not be required to create any new employee benefit plans over and above its existing Purchaser U.S. Employee Plans (as defined below), to effectuate the provision of comparable benefits contemplated herein.
(b) Purchaser and its Affiliates may offer to employ or continue the employment of any Excluded Employee; provided, however, that any offer to a Excluded Employee must include the terms and conditions specified on Schedule 10.2(c)(ii) for Managing Directors or Schedule 10.2(d) for Executives.
(c) Purchaser and its Affiliates may offer to employ or continue the employment of any Selected Employee; provided, however, that any offer to an Selected Employee must include the terms and conditions applicable to Designated Employees in accordance with Section 10.2.
(d) If (i) the employment of any Company Onshore Employee with Purchaser is involuntarily terminated, other than for cause under the severance plan on Schedule 10.2(c)(i) or (ii) a Company Onshore Employee resigns his or her employment with Purchaser by reason of the relocation, without his or her consent, of his or her work location more than 50 miles from the individuals work location as of the Closing Date within twelve (12) months of the Closing Date, then, upon execution of a release of liability agreement by each affected Company Onshore Employee, Purchaser and its Affiliates shall provide, or cause to be provided, the terminated Company Onshore Employee with whichever of the following results in the greater value to such Company Onshore Employee: (i) salary continuation and health benefits until the end of the twelve (12) month period following the Closing Date, (ii) severance benefits which are comparable, in the aggregate, to the severance benefits set out on Schedule 10.2(c)(i) and which, with respect to salary continuation, health benefits, outplacement services and annual incentive plan payment are no less than the benefits set out on Schedule 10.2(c)(i), or (iii) for Key
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Employees, the severance benefits provided by the special award letters as set out in Schedule 10.2(c)(iii).
(e) If a Designated Employee or a Selected Employee receives cash severance or other severance related compensation or benefits from DEPI or its Affiliates but is subsequently employed by Purchaser or its Affiliates within twelve (12) months of the Closing Date, then Purchaser or its Affiliates shall pay promptly to Sellers an amount equal to the aggregate of the cash severance and other severance related compensation and benefits provided by Sellers and their Affiliates to such employee in connection with the termination of such employees employment with Sellers and their Affiliates. If an Executive or Managing Director is employed by Purchaser or its Affiliates within twenty four (24) months of the Closing Date, then Purchaser or its Affiliates shall pay promptly to Sellers an amount equal to the aggregate of the cash severance and other severance related compensation and benefits provided to such Executive or Managing Director by Sellers and their Affiliates, if any, in connection with the termination of such Executives or Managing Directors employment with Sellers.
Section 10.3 Plan Participation. Effective as of the day after the Closing Date, the Companies and Subsidiary shall cease to be participating employers in all Employee Plans sponsored by Sellers or any of their ERISA Affiliates for Company Onshore Employees (Companys U.S. Benefit Plans), all Company Onshore Employees shall cease to accrue additional benefits for any periods after the Closing Date, Company Onshore Employees shall be entitled to such benefits, if any, from Companys U.S. Benefit Plans provided to similarly situated employees employed by an entity ceasing to be an ERISA Affiliate of Sellers (including continued benefits under flexible spending arrangements if applicable continuation coverage is elected) and Sellers shall, if applicable, provide all Company Onshore Employees with appropriate notice of such cessation of participation and accruals in accordance with Section 204(h) of ERISA and Code Section 4980F (and the related regulations), at least forty five (45) days in advance of the Closing Date. Except as is set forth in this Section 10.3, Section 10.2(b), Section 10.2(c), Section 10.2(d), Section 10.4, Section 10.6 and Section 10.9, after the Closing Date, neither Purchaser and its Affiliates nor the Companies or Subsidiary shall have any liability with respect to any Company U.S. Benefit Plan.
Section 10.4 Participation in Purchaser Plans. As of the day after the Closing Date, all Company Onshore Employees shall, if applicable, be eligible to participate in and, if elected, shall commence participation in the employee benefit plans (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA), programs, policies, contracts, fringe benefits, or arrangements (whether written or unwritten) of Purchaser or its Affiliates covering similarly situated employees primarily engaged with respect to operations in the U.S. (collectively, Purchaser U.S. Employee Plans). Purchaser and its Affiliates shall, to the extent permissible under any Purchaser U.S. Employee Plan (provided that Purchaser and its Affiliates shall use reasonable efforts to remove any restrictions including restrictions in any insurance policy), waive all limitations as to pre-existing condition exclusions and waiting periods with respect to such Company Onshore Employees and their spouses and dependents, if applicable, under the Purchaser U.S. Employee Plans other than, but only to the extent of, limitations or waiting periods that were in effect with respect to such employees under the Companys U.S. Benefit Plans that have not been satisfied as of the Closing Date. Purchaser and its Affiliates shall, to the extent permissible under any Purchaser U.S. Employee Plan (provided that Purchaser and its Affiliates shall use reasonable efforts to remove
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any restrictions under any Purchaser U.S. Employee Plan or related insurance policy), provide each such Company Onshore Employee with credit for any year-to-date co-payments and deductibles paid as of the Closing Date in satisfying any deductible or out-of-pocket requirements under the Purchaser U.S. Employee Plans.
Section 10.5 Service Credit. Purchaser and its Affiliates shall cause to be provided to each Company Onshore Employee credit for prior service with Sellers or their Affiliates for all purposes (including vesting, eligibility, benefit accrual and/or level of benefits) in all Purchaser U.S. Employee Plans, including fringe benefit plans, vacation and sick leave policies, severance plans or policies, and matching contributions under defined contribution plans, other than for benefit accruals under defined benefit pension plans subject to Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code and retiree medical plans maintained or provided by Purchaser or its wholly-owned subsidiaries or Affiliates in which such Company Onshore Employees are eligible to participate after the Closing Date. Under Purchasers vacation plan, each Company Onshore Employee shall be entitled in 2007 to the Company Onshore Employees earned but unused vacation as of the Closing Date. Each Company Onshore Employee will not be allowed to carry forward any unused vacation time beyond 2007 unless allowed under Purchasers vacation policy. Each Onshore Employee shall receive industry service credit as provided under Purchasers vacation policy.
Section 10.6 Defined Contribution Plan. To the extent allowable by law, Purchaser and its Affiliates shall take any and all necessary action to cause the trustee of a tax qualified defined contribution plan of Purchaser or one of its Affiliates, if requested to do so by a Company Onshore Employee, to accept a direct rollover of all or a portion of such employees distribution from Sellers tax qualified defined contribution plan (excluding securities, but including plan loans from pre-tax contributions).
Section 10.7 Vesting. As of the Closing Date, Sellers shall take all necessary action to cause the tax qualified defined contribution and defined benefit pension plans maintained by the Sellers to fully vest the Company Onshore Employees in their account balances and/or accrued benefits under such plans.
Section 10.8 Welfare Benefit Plans; Workers Compensation; Other Benefits. With respect to each Company Onshore Employee (including any beneficiary or the dependent thereof), the Sellers shall retain all liabilities and obligations arising under any Seller welfare benefit plans and workers compensation benefits to the extent that such liability or obligation relates to claims incurred (whether or not reported or paid) on or prior to the Closing Date. For purposes of this Section 10.9, a claim shall be deemed to be incurred when (i) with respect to medical, dental, health related benefits, accident and disability (but not including workers compensation benefits and wage continuation/replacement type benefits), the medical, dental, health related, accident or disability services with respect to such claim are performed, (ii) with respect to life insurance, when the death occurs and (iii) with respect to workers compensation benefits when the injury or condition giving rise to the claim occurs on or prior to the Closing Date. Subject to Section 10.1, with respect to each Company Onshore Employee receiving workers compensation benefits, for purposes of this Section 10.9, the Seller or Affiliate employing such Company Onshore Employee shall be responsible for claims incurred on or prior to the Closing Date, including payments made after the Closing Date for such claims. Subject to
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Section 10.1, with respect to each Company Onshore Employee receiving wage continuation/replacement benefits for sickness/disability, for purposes of this Section 10.9, the Seller or Affiliate employing such Company Onshore Employee shall be responsible for any payments due on or prior to the employment date of such Company Onshore Employee by Purchaser or its Affiliate and Purchaser and its Affiliates shall be responsible for any payments due after the employment date of such Company Onshore Employee by Purchaser or its Affiliate. Effective as of the Closing Date, the Seller or Affiliate employing such Company Onshore Employee shall be responsible for providing coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) to any Company Onshore Employee, his or her spouse or dependent person as to whom a qualifying event as defined in Section 4890B of the Code has occurred on or prior to the Closing Date. Purchaser and its Affiliates shall be responsible for providing COBRA coverage to any Company Onshore Employee, his or her spouse or dependent person as to whom a qualifying event occurs after the Closing Date. Purchaser and its Affiliates agree to assume responsibility for payments and benefits provided by or committed to by Sellers or their Affiliates to Company Onshore Employees with respect to (i) relocation costs and reimbursements, (ii) appliance loans, (iii) educational assistance, (iv) computer loans and (v) adoption assistance programs, except that Purchaser and its Affiliates undertake no obligation to continue any of these programs.
Section 10.9 WARN Act. Purchaser and its Affiliates shall be solely responsible for providing all notices required under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, 29 U.S.C. §2109 et seq. or the regulations promulgated thereunder (the WARN Act) and for taking all remedial measures, including, without limitation, the payment of all amounts, penalties, liabilities, costs and expenses if such notices are not provided, for a plant closing or mass layoffs with respect to terminating the employment of those Company Onshore Employees who work at least one hour for Purchaser or its Affiliate after the Closing Date.
Section 10.10 Post-retirement Benefits. Sellers shall retain any and all liabilities, assets and obligations which relate to service of any Company Onshore Employee up to and including the Closing Date and arise under any Employee Plans that provide for postretirement benefits for periods of service up to and including the Closing Date with respect to any Company Onshore Employee employed by any Seller or its Affiliates that are (i) defined benefit pension plans subject to Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code, (ii) defined contribution plans as defined in Section 3(34) of ERISA, or (iii) which relate to other post-employment benefits for all current retirees of DEPI, DOTEPI, Reserves, the Companies, the Subsidiary and Dominion Resource Services, Inc. as of the Closing Date.
Section 10.11 Annual Incentive Plan. Sellers shall pay, or shall cause the Companies or Subsidiary, as applicable, to pay to each Company Onshore Employee as part of such individuals final pay from Sellers and their Affiliates a prorated incentive amount in accordance with the Sellers Annual Incentive Plan.
Section 10.12 Immigration Matters. Purchaser and its Affiliates shall employ individuals with H 1B immigration status under terms and conditions such that both (i) Purchaser and its Affiliates qualify as a successor employer under applicable United States immigration laws and (ii) green card portability applies to such employees in respect of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Seller shall retain all immigration related liabilities and
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responsibilities with respect to such individuals arising from acts or omissions which occur on or prior to the Closing Date.
Section 10.13 No Implied Rights. The provisions of this Article 10 are not intended to confer on any person, other than the Parties, any rights or remedies hereunder, and nothing herein shall be deemed to create or amend any Purchaser U.S. Employee Plans, whether to reflect the terms of this Article 10 or otherwise. Nothing herein shall preclude the ability of Purchaser and its Affiliates from amending or terminating any Purchaser U.S. Employee Plan at anytime on or after the Closing Date without resulting in any liability hereunder.
ARTICLE 11.
TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT
Section 11.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to Closing: (i) by the mutual prior written consent of Sellers and Purchaser; or (ii) by either Sellers or Purchaser, if Closing has not occurred on or before October 1, 2007 provided, however, that no Party shall be entitled to terminate this Agreement under this Section 11.1 if the Closing has failed to occur because such Party negligently or willfully failed to perform or observe in any material respect its covenants and agreements hereunder.
Section 11.2 Effect of Termination. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 11.1, this Agreement shall become void and of no further force or effect (except for the provisions of Sections 1.2, 1.3, 4.12, 5.10, 6.3, 6.6, 11.1, 11.2, 13.1, 13.2, 13.4, 13.8, 13.9, 13.17, 13.18 and 13.19 and of the Confidentiality Agreement, all of which shall continue in full force and effect). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the termination of this Agreement under Section 11.1 shall not relieve any Party from liability for any willful or negligent failure to perform or observe in any material respect any of its agreements or covenants contained herein that were to be performed or observed at or prior to Closing. In the event this Agreement terminates under Section 11.1 and any Party has willfully or negligently failed to perform or observe in any material respect any of its agreements or covenants contained herein which are to be performed or observed at or prior to Closing, then the other Party, subject to Section 13.19, shall be entitled to all remedies available at law or in equity and shall be entitled to recover court costs and attorneys fees in addition to any other relief to which the other Party may be entitled (and, for the avoidance of doubt, damages recoverable by the other Party for a termination under this Article 11 shall include, without limiting similar damages of Purchaser or Sellers to the extent not described below, all applicable damages (it being agreed that the following damages do not constitute consequential, special, or punitive damages for the purpose of Section 13.19) constituting: (i) all out of pocket costs paid by it and its Affiliates in connection with the terminated transaction, including brokers, agents, advisors and attorneys fees; (ii) with respect to Sellers as the other Party, all costs of additional employee retention payments and/or costs of temporary or contract workers to replace workers departing after the termination of this transaction for a period of one year to the extent those costs of Seller exceed the baseline costs that would have been incurred by Seller in maintaining the employees of Seller as if the terminated transaction had never been agreed upon; (iii) with respect to Sellers as the other Party, the amount, if any, by which the Unadjusted Purchase Price exceeds the aggregate unadjusted sales price for the subsequent sale or sales comprising in aggregate the sale of the
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Interests to a third Person or third Persons to the extent such sale or sales are completed within a period of one year following the termination of the transaction; and (iv) interest at the Agreed Rate on the outstanding amount of the excess described in clause (iii) from the Target Closing Date until the last of any such subsequent sale or sales of the Interests are consummated not to exceed one year following the termination of the transaction).
ARTICLE 12.
INDEMNIFICATION; LIMITATIONS
Section 12.1 Assumption. Without limiting Purchasers rights to indemnity under this Article 12, as of the Closing Date Purchaser shall assume and hereby agrees to fulfill, perform, pay and discharge (or cause to be fulfilled, performed, paid or discharged) all of the obligations and liabilities of Sellers and their Affiliates, known or unknown, with respect to the Interests, regardless of whether such obligations or liabilities arose prior to or after the Closing Date, including but not limited to, obligations to furnish makeup gas according to the terms of applicable gas sales, gathering or transportation Contracts, production balancing obligations, obligations to pay working interests, royalties, overriding royalties, net profits interests and other interests held in suspense, obligations to plug wells and dismantle structures, and to restore and/or remediate the Assets, ground water, surface water, soil or seabed in accordance with applicable agreements and Laws, including any obligations to assess, remediate, remove and dispose of NORM, asbestos, mercury, drilling fluids and chemicals, and produced waters and hydrocarbons, other environmental liabilities with respect to the E&P Business, obligations with respect to the actions, suits and proceedings identified as items 3 through 5, 9, 12, 20, 21, 23, 24, 34 through 37, 40 through 42, 44 through 49 and 53 (inclusive of numbers listed) on Schedule 4.4 (and any other actions, suits or proceedings arising out of the same facts or circumstances), regardless of the properties or assets to which such actions, suits or proceedings relate (unless such properties and assets are included in clauses (a) or (b) below), any claims regarding the general method, manner or practice of calculating or making royalty payments with respect to the Properties, and continuing obligations under any agreements pursuant to which the Sellers or their Affiliates (including without limitation the Companies and Subsidiary) purchased Assets prior to the Closing (all of said obligations and liabilities, subject to the exclusions of the proviso below, herein being referred to as the Assumed Seller Obligations); provided, however, that Purchaser does not assume any obligations or liabilities to the extent that they are (collectively, the Retained Seller Obligations):
(a) attributable to or arise out of the Excluded Assets;
(b) directly attributable to interests held or formerly held by DEPI, DOTEPI Reserves or any of the Companies or the Subsidiary located in the Offshore Package Areas, the Excluded Onshore Areas or the states in which the Appalachian Business is located;
(c) required to be borne by Sellers under Section 2.3 or Section 2.4(c), including as provided in Section 8.4;
(d) attributable to or arise out of any futures, options, swaps or other derivatives in place prior to Closing, except the Transferred Derivatives;
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(e) Tax obligations retained by Sellers pursuant to Article 9;
(f) employee obligations retained by Sellers under Article 10;
(g) obligations owed by any Seller, Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary or its Affiliates to a third Person claimant in the actions, suits and proceedings identified as items 1, 2, 6 through 8, 10, 11, 13 through 19, 22, 25 through 33, 38, 39, 43, and 50 through 52 (inclusive of numbers listed) of Schedule 4.4, regardless of the Assets to which such actions, suits or proceedings relate;
(h) amounts owed by any Seller, Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary to any Affiliate (other than a Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary) at the end of the Closing Date that are not incurred for the provision of goods or services, for employment related costs, or otherwise in the ordinary course of business, with respect to the ownership or operation of the Assets; or
(i) any Current Liabilities that are composed of Property Costs that arise between December 31, 2006 and the Effective Date that are outstanding at the Effective Date (provided that Sellers retention of the same, and their classification as Retained Seller Obligations, shall terminate on the Cut-off Date).
Section 12.2 Indemnification.
(a) From and after Closing, Purchaser shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Sellers and their current and former Affiliates (other than the Companies and the Subsidiary) and their respective officers, directors, employees and agents (Seller Group) from and against all Damages incurred or suffered by Seller Group:
(i) caused by or arising out of or resulting from the Assumed Seller Obligations;
(ii) caused by or arising out of or resulting from the ownership, use or operation of the Assets, whether before or after the Closing Date;
(iii) caused by or arising out of or resulting from Purchasers breach of any of Purchasers covenants or agreements contained in Article 6;
(iv) caused by or arising out of or resulting from any breach of any representation or warranty made by Purchaser contained in Article 5 of this Agreement or in the certificate delivered at Closing pursuant to Section 8.3(d);
(v) consisting of Environmental Liabilities (except to the extent DEPI is required to indemnify Purchaser pursuant to Section 12.2(b)(ii) or Section 12.2(g)); or
(vi) caused by or arising out of or resulting from any transfer of operatorship pursuant to Section 6.10.
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even if such Damages are caused in whole or in part by the negligence (whether sole, joint or concurrent), strict liability or other legal fault of any Indemnified Person (but not such Indemnified Persons gross negligence or willful misconduct), or a pre-existing condition, but excepting in each case Damages against which DEPI would be required to indemnify Purchaser under Section 12.2(b) at the time the claim notice is presented by Purchaser.
(b) From and after Closing, DEPI shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Purchaser, its current and former Affiliates and its and their respective officers, directors, employees and agents (Purchaser Group) against and from all Damages incurred or suffered by Purchaser Group:
(i) caused by or arising out of or resulting from Sellers breach of any of Sellers covenants or agreements contained in Article 6 (provided, however, for purposes of interpretation of the preceding indemnity, Sellers covenants and agreements qualified by Material Adverse Effect but not material or materiality generally shall be deemed to have been made without the Material Adverse Effect qualification);
(ii) caused by or arising out of or resulting from any breach of any representation or warranty made by DEPI contained in Article 4 of this Agreement, or in the certificates delivered at Closing pursuant to Section 8.2(j) (provided, however, for purposes of interpretation of the preceding indemnity, Sellers representations and warranties qualified by Material Adverse Effect but not material or materiality generally shall be deemed to have been made without the Material Adverse Effect qualification.);
(iii) caused by, arising out of or resulting from the Retained Seller Obligations;
(iv) caused by, arising out of or resulting from claims for injury or death to any natural person attributable to or arising out of DEPIs, DOTEPIs, Reserves or any Wholly-Owned Companys or the Subsidiarys ownership or operation of the Assets or any part thereof prior to the Effective Date;
(v) caused by, arising out of or resulting from claims (whether brought by a Governmental Authority, an individual pursuant to a qui tam or false claims act proceeding, or otherwise) that DEPI, DOTEPI, Reserves or any Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary failed to pay, missed a payment of, or made an error in the payment of, royalties (including minimum royalties, rentals, shut-in payments and overriding royalties) during such Persons period of ownership or operation of the Assets or any part thereof prior to the Effective Date, to the extent attributable to such Persons failure to pay, consistent with then current industry practices, royalties owing with respect to such Persons share of production from specific Properties;
(vi) consisting of Environmental Liabilities for which Seller is required to indemnify Purchaser pursuant to Section 12.2(b)(ii) or Section 12.2(g));
(vii) related to off-site disposal of Hazardous Substances from the Assets prior to the Effective Date for which the owner of the Assets may be liable; or
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(viii) constituting fines, or civil, criminal or regulatory penalties that may be levied by a Governmental Authority for a violation of Environmental Laws with respect to the Assets which occurred prior to the Effective Date.
even if such Damages are caused in whole or in part by the negligence (whether sole, joint or concurrent), strict liability or other legal fault of any Indemnified Person (but not such Indemnified Persons gross negligence or willful misconduct), or a pre-existing condition.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, from and after Closing, Sellers and Purchasers exclusive remedy against each other with respect to breaches of the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the Parties contained in Articles 4, 5 and 6 (excluding Section 6.6, which shall be separately enforceable by Sellers pursuant to whatever rights and remedies are available to it outside of this Article 12) and the affirmations of such representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in the certificates delivered by each Party at Closing pursuant to Sections 8.2(j) or 8.3(d), as applicable, is set forth in this Section 12.2. Except for the remedies contained in this Section 12.2 and Section 11.2, and any other remedies available to the Parties at law or in equity for breaches of provisions of this Agreement other than Articles 4, 5 and 6 (excluding Section 6.6), upon Closing, Sellers and Purchaser each release, remise and forever discharge the other and their or its Affiliates and all such Persons stockholders, officers, directors, employees, agents, advisors and representatives from any and all suits, legal or administrative proceedings, claims, demands, damages, losses, costs, liabilities, interest, or causes of action whatsoever, in law or in equity, known or unknown, which such Parties might now or subsequently may have, based on, relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any Sellers, Companys or Subsidiarys ownership, use or operation of the Assets, or the condition, quality, status or nature of the Assets, including rights to contribution under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, breaches of statutory and implied warranties, nuisance or other tort actions, rights to punitive damages, common law rights of contribution, any rights under insurance policies issued or underwritten by the other Party or Parties or any of its or their Affiliates and any rights under agreements between the Companies or the Subsidiary and the Sellers or any other Affiliate of the Companies, even if caused in whole or in part by the negligence (whether sole, joint or concurrent), strict liability or other legal fault of any released Person, or a pre-existing condition, but excluding, however, any remaining balance owed by DEPI, DOTEPI, Reserves, any Company or any Subsidiary to any other Affiliate at the end of the Closing Date for provision of goods or services, or employment-related costs, or other ordinary course of business expenses, with respect to the ownership or operation of the Assets, the Companies or the Subsidiary. Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, Purchaser agrees that from and after Closing its only remedy with respect to any Sellers breach of its covenants and agreements in Article 6 shall be the indemnity of DEPI in Section 12.2(b), as limited by the terms of this Article 12.
(d) Damages, for purposes of this Article 12, shall mean the amount of any actual liability, loss, cost, expense, claim, award or judgment incurred or suffered by any Indemnified Person arising out of or resulting from the indemnified matter, whether attributable to personal injury or death, property damage, contract claims, torts or otherwise, including reasonable fees and expenses of attorneys, consultants, accountants or other agents and experts reasonably incident to matters indemnified against, and the costs of investigation and/or
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monitoring of such matters, and the costs of enforcement of the indemnity; provided, however, that Damages shall not include any adjustment for Taxes that may be assessed on payments under this Article 12 or for Tax benefits received by the Indemnified Person as a consequence of any Damages. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Purchaser and Sellers shall not be entitled to indemnification under this Section 12.2 for, and Damages shall not include, (i) loss of profits, whether actual or consequential, or other consequential damages suffered by the Party claiming indemnification, or any punitive damages (other than loss of profits, consequential damages or punitive damages suffered by third persons for which responsibility is allocated between the Parties), (ii) any increase in liability, loss, cost, expense, claim, award or judgment to the extent such increase is caused by the actions or omissions of any Indemnified Person after the Closing Date or (iii) except with respect to claims for any Retained Seller Obligations or breach of Sections 6.8, 6.9, 6.12 and 6.13, any liability, loss, cost, expense, claim, award or judgment that does not individually exceed Two Million Five Hundred Thousand dollars ($2,500,000).
(e) Any claim for indemnity under this Section 12.2 by any current or former Affiliate, director, officer, employee or agent must be brought and administered by the applicable Party to this Agreement. No Indemnified Person other than Sellers and Purchaser shall have any rights against either Sellers or Purchaser under the terms of this Section 12.2 except as may be exercised on its behalf by Purchaser or Sellers, as applicable, pursuant to this Section 12.2(e). Each of Sellers and Purchaser may elect to exercise or not exercise indemnification rights under this Section on behalf of the other Indemnified Persons affiliated with it in its sole discretion and shall have no liability to any such other Indemnified Person for any action or inaction under this Section.
(f) Without prejudice to those Sections, this Section 12.2 shall not apply in respect of title matters, which are exclusively covered by Article 3, Tax matters other than Section 4.5, which are exclusively covered by Article 2 and Article 9, or claims for Property Costs, which are covered exclusively by Sections 2.3, 2.4 and 8.4.
(g) (i) Purchaser may at its option notify DEPI in writing on or before ten (10) Business Days prior to the Closing Date of any matter disclosed by a Phase I Investigation conducted by Purchaser pursuant to Section 6.1 which Purchaser in good faith believes may constitute an Adverse Environmental Condition (an Environmental Concern). If the existence of such Adverse Environmental Condition is suspected to exist in connection with the Phase I Investigation but can only be determined through further investigation or testing of soil, groundwater, or other materials or information (a Potential Adverse Environmental Condition), Purchaser shall conduct a Phase II environmental assessment with respect thereto within the timeframe provided below and notify DEPI in writing in accordance with the procedure described below of any item or information resulting from that Phase II environmental assessment that the Purchaser believes in good faith constitutes an Adverse Environmental Condition. Purchaser agrees that it is not permitted to conduct a Phase II environmental assessment prior to Closing.
(ii) If Purchaser delivers timely notice of an Environmental Concern as described above or of an alleged Adverse Environmental Condition confirmed through a Phase II environmental assessment as described below and DEPI confirms to its reasonable satisfaction that such Environmental Concern or alleged Adverse
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Environmental Condition may constitute an Adverse Environmental Condition or it is determined by the Environmental Arbitrator (defined below) that such Environmental Concern or alleged Adverse Environmental Condition may constitute an Adverse Environmental Condition (an Agreed Environmental Concern), Seller shall provide indemnification pursuant to, and subject to the limitations applicable to, Section 12.2(b)(vi) to the extent, and only to the extent, of the Environmental Liabilities that arise from or relate thereto.
(iii) Except for such disclosure to DEPI, Purchaser and DEPI shall maintain the results of any environmental assessment and all findings in connection therewith strictly confidential, subject to the terms of (including the authorized disclosures pursuant to) the Confidentiality Agreement, as if each Party were the Recipient and the other DRI thereunder. Each notice by Purchaser under Section 12.2(g)(i) or Section 12.2(g)(iv) shall include a reasonably detailed description of the Environmental Concern, including the relevant excerpt from the Phase I Investigation or Phase II environmental assessment, as appropriate.
(iv) With respect to any Potential Adverse Environmental Condition, Purchaser, within ninety (90) days after the Closing Date may conduct a Phase II environmental assessment with respect thereto. Purchaser must notify Seller on or before one hundred eighty (180) days after the Closing Date of the existence of any alleged Adverse Environmental Conditions, including a copy of the relevant Phase II environmental assessment reports.
(v) If Purchaser and Seller do not agree on the existence of an Environmental Concern or an Adverse Environmental Condition, the matter shall be submitted to a nationally recognized independent environmental consulting firm mutually acceptable to both the Purchaser and Seller (the Environmental Arbitrator) for review and final determination. The Environmental Arbitrator shall conduct the arbitration proceedings in Houston, Texas in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association, to the extent such rules do not conflict with the terms of this Section. The Environmental Arbitrators determination shall be made within thirty (30) days after submission of the matters in dispute and shall be final and binding on all Parties, without right of appeal. In determining whether an Environmental Concern or Adverse Environmental Condition exists, the Environmental Arbitrator shall be bound by the terms of Section 12.2(g) and the defined terms contained in this Agreement. The Environmental Arbitrator shall act as an expert for the limited purpose of determining whether an Environmental Concern or Adverse Environmental Condition exists and may not award damages, interest or penalties to any Party with respect to any matter. Seller and Purchaser shall each bear its own legal fees and other costs of presenting its case. DEPI shall bear one half and Purchaser shall bear one half of the costs and expenses of the Environmental Arbitrator.
(vi) Purchaser shall not conduct (or have conducted on its behalf) any material remediation operations with respect to any claimed Damages relating to a breach of DEPIs representation or warranty pursuant to Section 4.6 or any Claim relating to the subject matter of such representation or warranty or any claim related to this Section
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12.2(g) without first giving Sellers notice of the remediation with reasonable detail at least thirty (30) days prior thereto (or such shorter period of time as shall be required by any Governmental Authority or required to respond to any emergency situation). Sellers shall have the option (in their sole discretion) to conduct (or have conducted on their behalf) such remediation operations. If Sellers shall not have notified Purchaser of their agreement to conduct such remediation operations within such specified period, then Purchaser may conduct (or have conducted on its behalf) such operations. Purchaser and Sellers agree that any remediation activities undertaken with respect to the Assets, whether conducted by Purchaser or Sellers, for which DEPI may have responsibility shall be reasonable in extent and cost effective and shall be designed or implemented in such a manner as to achieve the least stringent risk-based closure or remediation standard applicable to the property in question under Environmental Laws, subject to the approval of any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over such remediation activities, and as necessary to permit the continued use of the affected property in the same manner and for the same purposes for which it was being used at the Closing Date. All remediation activities conducted by Sellers under this Agreement shall be conducted to the extent reasonably possible so as not to substantially interfere with Purchasers operation of the Assets.
(vii) The Parties shall treat, for Tax purposes, any amounts paid under this Article 12 as an adjustment to the applicable Interest Purchase Price(s) in the same manner as provided in Section 2.2(a).
Section 12.3 Indemnification Actions. All claims for indemnification under Section 12.2 shall be asserted and resolved as follows:
(a) For purposes of this Article 12, the term Indemnifying Person when used in connection with particular Damages shall mean the Person having an obligation to indemnify another Person or Persons with respect to such Damages pursuant to this Article 12, and the term Indemnified Person when used in connection with particular Damages shall mean a Person having the right to be indemnified with respect to such Damages pursuant to this Article 12 (including, for the avoidance of doubt, those Persons identified in Section 12.2(e)).
(b) To make claim for indemnification under Section 12.2, an Indemnified Person shall notify the Indemnifying Person of its claim, including the specific details of and specific basis under this Agreement for its claim (the Claim Notice). In the event that the claim for indemnification is based upon a claim by a third Person against the Indemnified Person (a Claim), the Indemnified Person shall provide its Claim Notice promptly after the Indemnified Person has actual knowledge of the Claim and shall enclose a copy of all papers (if any) served with respect to the Claim; provided that the failure of any Indemnified Person to give notice of a Claim as provided in this Section 12.3 shall not relieve the Indemnifying Person of its obligations under Section 12.2 except to the extent such failure results in insufficient time being available to permit the Indemnifying Person to effectively defend against the Claim or otherwise prejudices the Indemnifying Persons ability to defend against the Claim. In the event that the claim for indemnification is based upon an inaccuracy or breach of a representation, warranty, covenant or agreement, the Claim Notice shall specify the representation, warranty, covenant or agreement that was inaccurate or breached.
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(c) In the case of a claim for indemnification based upon a Claim, the Indemnifying Person shall have thirty (30) days from its receipt of the Claim Notice to notify the Indemnified Person whether it admits or denies its obligation to defend the Indemnified Person against such Claim under this Article 12. If the Indemnifying Person does not notify the Indemnified Person within such thirty (30) day period regarding whether the Indemnifying Person admits or denies its obligation to defend the Indemnified Person, it shall be conclusively deemed obligated to provide such indemnification hereunder. The Indemnified Person is authorized, prior to and during such thirty (30) day period, to file any motion, answer or other pleading that it shall deem necessary or appropriate to protect its interests or those of the Indemnifying Person and that is not prejudicial to the Indemnifying Person.
(d) If the Indemnifying Person admits its obligation, it shall have the right and obligation to diligently defend, at its sole cost and expense, the Claim. The Indemnifying Person shall have full control of such defense and proceedings, including any compromise or settlement thereof. If requested by the Indemnifying Person, the Indemnified Person agrees to cooperate in contesting any Claim which the Indemnifying Person elects to contest (provided, however, that the Indemnified Person shall not be required to bring any counterclaim or cross-complaint against any Person). The Indemnified Person may participate in, but not control, any defense or settlement of any Claim controlled by the Indemnifying Person pursuant to this Section 12.3(d), provided that the Indemnified Person may file initial pleadings as described in the last sentence of paragraph (c) above if required by court or procedural rules to do so within the thirty (30) day period in paragraph (c) above. An Indemnifying Person shall not, without the written consent of the Indemnified Person, settle any Claim or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect thereto that (i) does not result in a final resolution of the Indemnified Persons liability with respect to the Claim (including, in the case of a settlement, an unconditional written release of the Indemnified Person from all further liability in respect of such Claim) or (ii) may materially and adversely affect the Indemnified Person (other than as a result of money damages covered by the indemnity).
(e) If the Indemnifying Person does not admit its obligation or admits its obligation but fails to diligently defend or settle the Claim, then the Indemnified Person shall have the right to defend against the Claim (at the sole cost and expense of the Indemnifying Person, if the Indemnified Person is entitled to indemnification hereunder), with counsel of the Indemnified Persons choosing, subject to the right of the Indemnifying Person to admit its obligation to indemnify the Indemnified Person and assume the defense of the Claim at any time prior to settlement or final determination thereof. If the Indemnifying Person has not yet admitted its obligation to indemnify the Indemnified Person, the Indemnified Person shall send written notice to the Indemnifying Person of any proposed settlement and the Indemnifying Person shall have the option for ten (10) days following receipt of such notice to (i) admit in writing its obligation for indemnification with respect to such Claim and (ii) if its obligation is so admitted, assume the defense of the Claim, including the power to reject the proposed settlement. If the Indemnified Person settles any Claim over the objection of the Indemnifying Person after the Indemnifying Person has timely admitted its obligation for indemnification in writing and assumed the defense of the Claim, the Indemnified Person shall be deemed to have waived any right to indemnity with respect to the Claim.
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(f) In the case of a claim for indemnification not based upon a Claim, the Indemnifying Person shall have thirty (30) days from its receipt of the Claim Notice to (i) cure the Damages complained of, (ii) admit its obligation to provide indemnification with respect to such Damages or (iii) dispute the claim for such Damages. If the Indemnifying Person does not notify the Indemnified Person within such thirty (30) day period that it has cured the Damages or that it disputes the claim for such Damages, the Indemnifying Person shall be conclusively deemed obligated to provide indemnification hereunder.
Section 12.4 Casualty and Condemnation.
(a) If, after the date of this Agreement but prior to Closing Date, any portion of the Assets is destroyed by fire or other casualty, Purchaser shall nevertheless be required to close. In the event that the amount of the costs and expenses associated with repairing or restoring the Assets affected by such casualty and the Allocated Value, determined in the same manner as a Title Defect in accordance with Section 3.5(g), for any Unit or Well taken exceeds Twenty-five Million dollars ($25,000,000), Sellers must elect by written notice to Purchaser prior to Closing either (i) to cause the Assets affected by any casualty to be repaired or restored, at Sellers sole cost, as promptly as reasonably practicable (which work may extend after the Closing Date), (ii) to indemnify Purchaser through a document to be delivered at Closing reasonably acceptable to Sellers and Purchaser against any costs or expenses that Purchaser reasonably incurs to repair or restore the Assets subject to any casualty or (iii) to treat the costs and expenses associated with repairing or restoring the Assets affected by such casualty or the Allocated Value for any Unit or Well taken as a breach of DEPIs representation under Section 3.1, but without regard to the limitations in Section 3.5(g) (other than Section 3.5(g)(v)(B)). In each case, Sellers shall retain (or, if applicable, receive an assignment from the Wholly-Owned Company or the Subsidiary owning the affected properties of) all rights to insurance and other claims against third Persons with respect to the casualty or taking except to the extent the Parties otherwise agree in writing.
(b) If, after the date of this Agreement but prior to Closing Date, any portion of the Assets is expropriated or taken in condemnation or under right of eminent domain, Purchaser shall nevertheless be required to close; provided, however, as its sole remedy for any expropriation, condemnation or taking under right of eminent domain, Purchaser shall be entitled to any awards payable to Sellers, the Wholly-Owned Companies, or the Subsidiary resulting from any such action up to the Allocated Value of the Asset; it being understood and agreed that none of Sellers, the Companies or the Subsidiary shall have any liability whatsoever to Purchaser with respect to any such expropriation, condemnation or taking under right of eminent domain, other than payment of such award (up to the Allocated Value of the Asset).
Section 12.5 Limitation on Actions.
(a) The representations and warranties of the DEPI and Purchaser in Articles 4 and 5 and the covenants and agreements of the Parties in Article 6, (excluding Section 6.6) and the corresponding representations and warranties given in the certificates delivered at Closing pursuant to Sections 8.2(i) and 8.3(d), as applicable, shall survive the Closing for a period ending on May 31, 2008, except that the representations and warranties of DEPI in Sections 4.2(e) (Title to Shares), 4.2(f) (The Shares), 4.3(e) (Title to Equity Interests of
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the Subsidiary), 4.3(f) (The Equity Interests) shall survive the Closing without time limit, the representations and warranties of the Sellers in Section 4.5 (Taxes and Assessments) shall survive the Closing until the applicable statute of limitations closes the taxable year to which the subject Taxes relate, and the representations and warranties of DEPI in Section 4.18 shall terminate at Closing.
The remainder of this Agreement shall survive the Closing without time limit except as may otherwise be expressly provided herein. Representations, warranties, covenants and agreements shall be of no further force and effect after the date of their expiration, provided that there shall be no termination of any bona fide claim asserted pursuant to this Agreement with respect to such a representation, warranty, covenant or agreement prior to its expiration date.
(b) The indemnities in Sections 12.2(a)(iii), 12.2(a)(iv), 12.2(b)(i) and 12.2(b)(ii) shall terminate as of the termination date of each respective representation, warranty, covenant or agreement that is subject to indemnification, except in each case as to matters for which a specific written claim for indemnity has been delivered to the Indemnifying Person on or before such termination date. The indemnities in Sections 12.2(a)(i), 12.2(a)(ii), 12.2(a)(v), 12.2(b)(iii) (to the extent related to Sections 12.1(a), 12.1(b) or 12.1(d)), and 12.4 shall continue without time limit. The indemnities in Sections 12.2(b)(iii) (to the extent related to Sections 12.1(c), 12.1(e), 12.1(f), 12.1(g), 12.1(h) and 12.1(i)), 12.2(b)(iv), 12.2(b)(v), 12.2(b)(vi), and 12.2(b)(viii) shall terminate one (1) year after Closing and the indemnities in Section 12.2(b)(vii) shall terminate three (3) years after Closing, except in each case as to matters for which a specific written claim for indemnity has been delivered to the Indemnifying Person on or before such termination date.
(c) DEPI shall not have any liability for any indemnification under Section 12.2 until and unless the aggregate amount of the liability for all Damages for which Claim Notices are delivered by Purchaser exceeds Twenty Five Million dollars ($25,000,000), and then only to the extent such Damages exceed Twenty Five Million dollars ($25,000,000). This Section shall not limit (i) indemnification for breach of those representations and warranties that survive without time limit under the first sentence of Section 12.5(a), (ii) indemnification for breach of those covenants contained in Sections 6.8, 6.9, 6.12, and 6.13 and (iii) indemnification for the Retained Seller Obligations nor shall Damages for those matters count toward the Twenty Five Million dollars ($25,000,000).
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained elsewhere in this Agreement, DEPI shall not be required to indemnify Purchaser under this Article 12 for aggregate Damages in excess of Two Hundred Fifty Million dollars ($250,000,000); provided, however, that this Section 12.5(c) shall not limit DEPIs liability with respect to breaches of (i) those representations and warranties that survive without time limit under the first sentence of Section 12.5(a), (ii) those covenants contained in Sections 6.8, 6.9, 6.12 and 6.13 and (iii) the Retained Seller Obligations.
(e) The amount of any Damages for which an Indemnified Person is entitled to indemnity under this Article 12 shall be reduced by the amount of insurance proceeds realized by the Indemnified Person or its Affiliates with respect to such Damages (net of any collection
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costs, and excluding the proceeds of any insurance policy issued or underwritten by the Indemnified Person or its Affiliates).
ARTICLE 13.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 13.1 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original instrument, but all such counterparts together shall constitute but one agreement.
Section 13.2 Notices. All notices that are required or may be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be sufficient in all respects if given in writing, in English and delivered personally, by telecopy or by recognized courier service, as follows:
If to Sellers: | Dominion Resources, Inc. 120 Tredegar Street Richmond, Virginia 23219 Attention: Christine M. Schwab Telephone: (804) 819-2142 Facsimile: (804) 819-2214 | |||
With a copy to: | Dominion Resources, Inc. 120 Tredegar Street Richmond, Virginia 23219 | |||
Attention: Telephone: Telecopy: | Mark O. Webb (804) 819-2140 (804) 819-2202 | |||
and with a copy to: | Baker Botts L.L.P. 910 Louisiana Street Houston, Texas 77002 | |||
Attention: Telephone: Telecopy: | David F. Asmus (713) 229-1539 (713) 229-2839 | |||
If to Purchaser: | XTO Energy Inc. 810 Houston Street Fort Worth, Texas 76102-6298 | |||
Attention: E-Mail: Telephone: Telecopy: | Vaughn O. Vennerberg II ***@*** (817) 885-2341 (817) 870-0379 |
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With a copy to: | XTO Energy Inc. 810 Houston Street Fort Worth, Texas 76102-6298 | |||
Attention: E-Mail: Telephone: Telecopy: | Warren J. Ludlow ***@*** (817) 885-3401 (817) 885-1821 |
Either Party may change its address for notice by notice to the other in the manner set forth above. All notices shall be deemed to have been duly given at the time of receipt by the Party to which such notice is addressed.
Section 13.3 Sales or Use Tax, Recording Fees and Similar Taxes and Fees. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Article 9, Purchaser shall bear any sales, use, excise, real property transfer or gain, gross receipts, goods and services, registration, capital, documentary, stamp or transfer Taxes, recording fees and similar Taxes and fees incurred and imposed upon, or with respect to, the property transfers or other transactions contemplated hereby. Should any Seller, Company or Subsidiary or Affiliate of any of them pay prior to Closing, or should Seller or any continuing Affiliate of Seller pay after Closing, any amount for which Purchaser is liable under this Section 13.3, Purchaser shall, promptly following receipt of Sellers invoice, reimburse the amount paid. If such transfers or transactions are exempt from any such taxes or fees upon the filing of an appropriate certificate or other evidence of exemption, Purchaser shall timely furnish to Sellers such certificate or evidence.
Section 13.4 Expenses. Except as provided in Section 6.7 and in Section 13.3, all expenses incurred by Sellers in connection with or related to the authorization, preparation or execution of this Agreement, and the Exhibits and Schedules hereto and thereto, and all other matters related to the Closing, including without limitation, all fees and expenses of counsel, accountants and financial advisers employed by Sellers, shall be borne solely and entirely by Sellers, and all such expenses incurred by Purchaser shall be borne solely and entirely by Purchaser.
Section 13.5 Replacement of Bonds, Letters of Credit and Guarantees. The Parties understand that none of the bonds, letters of credit and guarantees, if any, posted by Sellers or any other Affiliate of the Companies or Subsidiary (except the Companies and Subsidiary) with any Governmental Authority or third Person and relating to the Companies, the Subsidiary, or the Assets are to be transferred to Purchaser. On or before Closing, Purchaser shall obtain, or cause to be obtained in the name of Purchaser, replacements for such bonds, letters of credit and guarantees, and shall cause, effective as of the Closing, the cancellation or return to Sellers of the bonds, letters of credit and guarantees posted by Sellers and such Affiliates. Purchaser may also provide evidence that such replacements are not necessary as a result of existing bonds, letters of credit or guarantees that Purchaser has previously posted as long as such existing bonds, letters of credit or guarantees are adequate to secure the release of those posted by Sellers.
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Section 13.6 Records.
(a) Within ten (10) days after the Closing Date, Sellers shall deliver or cause to be delivered to Purchaser any Records that are in the possession of Sellers or its Affiliates, subject to Section 13.6(b).
(b) Sellers may retain the originals of those Records relating to Tax and accounting matters and provide Purchaser, at its request, with copies of such Records that pertain to (i) non-income Tax matters solely related to the Wholly-Owned Companies, the Subsidiary or the Additional Assets; or (ii) if such Records are necessary for Purchaser to adequately prepare Tax Returns or to contest a Tax Audit pursuant to Article 9 with respect to any taxable period falling partly in the Pre-Closing Period and partly in the Post-Closing Period, with copies of such Records that are required by Purchaser for such Tax Records or Tax Audit. Sellers may retain copies of any other Records.
(c) Purchaser, for a period of seven (7) years following the Closing, (and subject to Purchasers additional obligations under Section 9.4) shall:
(i) retain the Records,
(ii) provide Sellers, their Affiliates, and their respective officers, employees and representatives with access to the Records during normal business hours for review and copying at Sellers expense and
(iii) provide Sellers, their Affiliates, and their respective officers, employees and representatives with access, during normal business hours, to materials received or produced after Closing relating to
(A) Sellers obligations under Article 9 (including to prepare Tax Returns and to conduct negotiations with Tax Authorities), or
(B) any claim for indemnification made under Section 12.2 of this Agreement (excluding, however, attorney work product and attorney-client communications with respect to any such claim being brought by Purchaser under this Agreement)
for review and copying at Sellers expense and to the Wholly-Owned Companies, the Subsidiary and their Affiliates personnel for the purpose of discussing any such matter or claim.
Section 13.7 Name Change. On the Closing Date, Purchaser shall make the filings required in each Companys and Subsidiarys jurisdiction of organization to eliminate the name Dominion and any variants thereof from the name of each Company and Subsidiary. As promptly as practicable, but in any case within one hundred twenty (120) days after the Closing Date, Purchaser shall (i) make all other filings (including assumed name filings) required to reflect the change of name in all applicable records of Governmental Authorities and (ii) eliminate the use of the name Dominion and variants thereof from the Assets and the E&P Business, and, except with respect to such grace period for eliminating existing usage, shall have
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no right to use any logos, trademarks or trade names belonging to any Seller or any of its Affiliates. Purchaser shall be solely responsible for any direct or indirect costs or expenses resulting from the change in use of name, and any resulting notification or approval requirements.
Section 13.8 Governing Law and Venue. This Agreement and the legal relations between the Parties shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to principles of conflicts of laws that would direct the application of the laws of another jurisdiction.
Section 13.9 Jurisdiction and Service of Process. Each Party consents to personal jurisdiction in any action brought in any state or Federal court located in the State of Delaware with respect to any dispute, claim or controversy arising out of or in relation to or in connection with this Agreement, whether in tort or contract or at law or in equity, and each of the Parties hereto agrees that any action instituted by it against the other with respect to any such dispute, claim or controversy (except to the extent a dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or in relation to or in connection with the allocation of the Purchase Price or the Allocated Value Schedule pursuant to Section 2.2, the determination of a Title Defect Amount or Title Benefit Amount pursuant to Section 3.5(i), the determination of Purchase Price adjustments pursuant to Section 8.4(b) or the determination of an Adverse Environmental Condition pursuant to Section 12.2(g)(vi) is referred to an expert pursuant to those Sections) will be instituted exclusively in any Federal or state court in the State of Delaware and (solely in connection with any dispute, claim or controversy arising out of or in relation to or in connection with this Agreement) hereby: (a) irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts; (b) waives any objection to laying venue in any such action or proceeding in such courts; (c) waives any objection that such courts are an inconvenient forum or do not have jurisdiction over it; and (d) agrees that service of process upon it may be effected by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to it at its address specified in Section 13.2. The foregoing consents to jurisdiction and service of process shall not constitute general consents to service of process in the State of Delaware for any purpose except as provided herein and shall not be deemed to confer rights on any Person other than the parties to this Agreement. Each of the Parties to this Agreement hereby knowingly and intentionally, irrevocably and unconditionally waives trial by jury in any legal action or proceeding relating to this Agreement and for any counterclaim therein.
Section 13.10 Captions. The captions in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be considered a part of or affect the construction or interpretation of any provision of this Agreement.
Section 13.11 Waivers. Any failure by any Party to comply with any of its obligations, agreements or conditions herein contained may be waived by the Party to whom such compliance is owed by an instrument signed by the Party to whom compliance is owed and expressly identified as a waiver, but not in any other manner. No waiver of, or consent to a change in, any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of, or consent to a change in, other provisions hereof (whether or not similar), nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver unless otherwise expressly provided.
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Section 13.12 Assignment. No Party shall assign or otherwise transfer all or any part of this Agreement, nor shall any Party delegate any of its rights or duties hereunder, without the prior written consent of the other Party and any transfer or delegation made without such consent shall be void; provided that Purchaser may, without the consent of Sellers, (a) assign its rights and duties under this Agreement, in whole or in part, to any directly or indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of Purchaser that satisfies the requirements of Section 5.11 and is designated in accordance with Section 8.2; but in no event shall such an assignment relieve Purchaser of its obligations hereunder. Subject to the foregoing, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. In the event of any such assignment, Purchaser shall execute and deliver the Guarantee provided for in Section 13.16.
Section 13.13 Entire Agreement. The Confidentiality Agreement, this Agreement and the documents to be executed hereunder and the Exhibits and Schedules attached hereto constitute the entire agreement among the Parties pertaining to the subject matter hereof, and supersede all prior agreements, understandings, negotiations and discussions, whether oral or written, of the Parties pertaining to the subject matter hereof.
Section 13.14 Amendment. This Agreement may be amended or modified only by an agreement in writing signed by Sellers and Purchaser and expressly identified as an amendment or modification.
Section 13.15 No Third-Person Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement shall entitle any Person other than Purchaser and Sellers to any claim, cause of action, remedy or right of any kind, except the rights expressly provided to the Persons described in Section 6.6 and Section 12.2(e).
Section 13.16 Guarantees. Simultaneously with execution of this Agreement, Sellers have caused DRI to deliver to Purchaser a guarantee for the performance of Sellers obligations under this Agreement and any other agreements executed pursuant to this Agreement in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit H. If Purchaser elects to close all or part of the Assets into its Affiliate or Affiliates pursuant to Section 13.12, Purchaser will execute and deliver to Seller a guarantee for the performance of Purchasers obligations under this Agreement and any other agreements executed pursuant to this Agreement in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit I.
Section 13.17 References.
In this Agreement:
(a) References to any gender includes a reference to all other genders;
(b) References to the singular includes the plural, and vice versa;
(c) Reference to any Article or Section means an Article or Section of this Agreement;
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(d) Reference to any Exhibit or Schedule means an Exhibit or Schedule to this Agreement, all of which are incorporated into and made a part of this Agreement;
(e) Unless expressly provided to the contrary, hereunder, hereof, herein and words of similar import are references to this Agreement as a whole and not any particular Section or other provision of this Agreement;
(f) References to $ or dollars means United States dollars; and
(g) Include and including shall mean include or including without limiting the generality of the description preceding such term.
Section 13.18 Construction. Purchaser is capable of making such investigation, inspection, review and evaluation of the Assets as a prudent purchaser would deem appropriate under the circumstances, including with respect to all matters relating to the Assets, their value, operation and suitability. Each of Sellers and Purchaser has had the opportunity to exercise business discretion in relation to the negotiation of the details of the transaction contemplated hereby. This Agreement is the result of arms-length negotiations from equal bargaining positions. It is expressly agreed that this Agreement shall not be construed against any Party, and no consideration shall be given or presumption made, on the basis of who drafted this Agreement or any particular provision thereof.
Section 13.19 Limitation on Damages. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, none of Purchaser, Sellers or any of their respective Affiliates shall be entitled to consequential, special or punitive damages in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (other than consequential, special or punitive damages suffered by third Persons for which responsibility is allocated between the Parties) and each of Purchaser and Sellers, for itself and on behalf of its Affiliates, hereby expressly waives any right to consequential, special or punitive damages in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (other than consequential, special or punitive damages suffered by third Persons for which responsibility is allocated between the Parties).
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been signed by each of the Parties as of the date first above written.
SELLER: | DOMINION EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION, INC. | |||
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SELLER: | DOMINION ENERGY, INC. | |||
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SELLER: | DOMINION OKLAHOMA TEXAS EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION, INC. | |||
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SELLER: | DOMINION RESERVES, INC. | |||
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SELLER: | LDNG TEXAS HOLDINGS, LLC | |||
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SELLER: | DEPI TEXAS HOLDINGS, LLC | |||
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PURCHASER: | XTO ENERGY INC. | |||
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