|
EXECUTION VERSION
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
among
NEXUS GAS PARTNERS, LLC,
NEXUS GAS HOLDINGS, LLC,
REGENCY ENERGY PARTNERS LP
and
REGENCY NX, LLC
February 22, 2008
_________________________________
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
Article
I DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS
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2
|
|
1.1
|
Definitions
|
2
|
|
1.2
|
Interpretations
|
2
|
|
Article
II THE MERGER; CLOSING
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2
|
|
2.1
|
The
Merger
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2
|
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2.2
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Effective
Time; Closing
|
2
|
|
2.3
|
Effect
of the Merger
|
3
|
|
2.4
|
Governing
Instruments; Directors and Officers of the Surviving
Company
|
3
|
|
2.5
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Conversion
of Securities
|
3
|
|
2.6
|
Withholding
Taxes
|
4
|
|
2.7
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Regency
Payments
|
4
|
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2.8
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Merger
Consideration Adjustments
|
5
|
|
Article
III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF MEMBER
|
8
|
|
3.1
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Member’s
Representations and Warranties
|
8
|
|
Article
IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES REGARDING THE NEXUS
COMPANIES
|
10
|
|
4.1
|
Representations
and Warranties Regarding the Nexus Companies
|
10
|
|
Article
V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES REGARDING REGENCY AND MERGER
SUB
|
23
|
|
5.1
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Representations
and Warranties Regarding Regency and Merger Sub
|
23
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Article
VI COVENANTS
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24
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6.1
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Satisfaction
of Conditions Precedent; Cooperation
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24
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6.2
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Notices
and Consents
|
25
|
|
6.3
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Conduct
of Business.
|
25
|
|
6.4
|
Access
and Information
|
28
|
|
6.5
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Evaluation
and Inspection
|
29
|
|
6.6
|
HSR
Act
|
30
|
|
6.7
|
Employees
|
31
|
|
6.8
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Financial
and Internal Controls Information
|
32
|
|
6.9
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Payoff
Letters; Releases
|
32
|
|
6.10
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Tax
Matters
|
32
|
|
6.11
|
Support
of Sonat Abandonment Application
|
35
|
|
6.12
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Notice
of Breaches of Representations and Warranties
|
35
|
|
6.13
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Auditor
Matters
|
35
|
|
6.14
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Termination
of Agreements
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35
|
|
6.15
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Transfer
of Certain Assets of Member
|
36
|
|
Article
VII CONDITIONS PRECEDENT; CASUALTY LOSS; CLOSING
DELIVERIES
|
36
|
|
7.1
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Conditions
to Obligation of Regency and Merger Sub
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36
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7.2
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Conditions
to Obligation of Member and Nexus
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37
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7.3
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Casualty
Loss
|
38
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|
7.4
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Deliveries
at the Closing
|
39
|
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7.5
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Frustration
of Closing Conditions
|
40
|
|
Article
VIII POST-CLOSING COVENANTS
|
40
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|
8.1
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Further
Assurances; Access to Records and Excluded
Records
|
40
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8.2
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Permits,
Licenses and Approvals
|
41
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8.3
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Removal
of Logos and Signs
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41
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8.4
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Recording
and Regulatory Filings
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41
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|
8.5
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Post-Closing
Consents
|
42
|
|
8.6
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Sonat
Purchase Agreement
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42
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8.7
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Non-Solicitation
|
43
|
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Article
IX INDEMNIFICATION
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44
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|
9.1
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Survival
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44
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|
9.2
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Indemnification
Provisions for Benefit of Regency
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45
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|
9.3
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Indemnification
Provisions for Benefit of Member
|
48
|
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9.4
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Certain
Limitations
|
49
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9.5
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Sonat
Cash Payment Offset
|
51
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|
9.6
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Deduction
of Insurance or Third Party Proceeds, Etc
|
51
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9.7
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Subrogation
|
52
|
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9.8
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Inter-Party
Claims
|
53
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|
9.9
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Matters
Involving Third Parties
|
53
|
|
9.10
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Recourse
under Prior Acquisition Agreements
|
55
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9.11
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Damages
|
55
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9.12
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Tax
Treatment of Indemnity Payments
|
55
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9.13
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Right
to Indemnification
|
56
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9.14
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Control
of Environmental Matters
|
56
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Article
X TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT
|
57
|
|
10.1
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Termination
of Agreement
|
57
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10.2
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Procedure
for and Effect of Termination
|
58
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Article
XI ESCROW |
59 |
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11.1
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Escrow
Fund
|
59
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11.2
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Release
from Escrow
|
59
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11.3
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Escrow
Distribution Date
|
60
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11.4
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Subsequent
Distribution(s)
|
60
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Article
XII MISCELLANEOUS
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60
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12.1
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Press
Releases and Public Announcements
|
60
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12.2
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No
Third Party Beneficiaries
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61
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12.3
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Succession
and Assignment
|
61
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12.4
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Counterparts
|
61
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|
12.5
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Notices
|
61
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|
12.6
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Governing
Law
|
62
|
|
12.7
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Entire
Agreement; Amendment
|
63
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|
12.8
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Severability
|
63
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12.9
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Transaction
Expenses
|
63
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12.10
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Confidentiality
|
63
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12.11
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Disclosure
Schedules
|
64
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12.12
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Incorporation
of Exhibits and Schedules
|
64
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12.13
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Non-Waiver
|
64
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12.14
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Captions
|
65
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12.15
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No
Affiliate Liability
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65
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12.16
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Time
of the Essence
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65
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12.17
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Specific
Performance
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65
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12.18
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Limitations
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65
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12.19
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Waiver
of Jury Trial
|
66
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12.20
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Certain
Understandings
|
66
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12.21
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Disclaimer
|
67
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Schedules
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Schedule
A
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Permitted
Contacts
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Schedule C
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Sample
Balance Sheet
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|
Schedule
C
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Prohibited
Actions
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|
Schedule
E
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Permitted
Encumbrances
|
|
Schedule
F
|
Identified
Member Assets
|
Exhibits
|
Exhibit
A
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Definitions
and Interpretations
|
|
Exhibit
B
|
Certificate
of Merger
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|
Exhibit
C
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Escrow
Agreement
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|
Exhibit
G
|
Application
Parameters
|
Disclosure
Schedules
|
3.1(b)
|
Member
– Authorization of Transaction; Governmental
Authorizations
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3.1(d)
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Member
– Brokers’ Fees
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4.1(c)
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Authorization
of Transaction; Governmental Authorizations
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4.1(g)
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Compliance
with Laws; Permits
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4.1(l)
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Material
Contracts
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4.1(m)
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Financial
Statements; Undisclosed Liabilities
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|
4.1(o)
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Affiliate
Transactions
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|
4.1(r)
|
List
of Employee Benefit Plans and Certain Contracts
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|
4.1(s)
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Environmental
Matters
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|
4.1(t)
|
List
of Insurance Policies
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4.1(v)
|
List
of Guarantees
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|
6.3(a)
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Conduct
of Business – Exceptions
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|
6.3(b)
|
Conduct
of Business – Exceptions (Negative
Covenants)
|
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
THIS
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this “ Agreement
”) dated as of February 22, 2008, is made and entered
into by and among Nexus Gas Partners, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company (“ Member
”), Nexus Gas Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company (“ Nexus
”), Regency Energy Partners LP, a Delaware limited
partnership (“ Regency
”), and Regency NX, LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company (“ Merger
Sub ”). Member, Nexus, Regency and
Merger Sub are sometimes referred to collectively herein as
the “Parties” and individually as a
“Party.”
RECITALS
A. The
board of directors of Regency GP, LLC, on behalf of
Regency GP, LLC, in its capacity as the general partner
of Regency GP LP, the general partner of Regency, has approved
this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby
whereby Merger Sub will merge with and into Nexus (the “
Merger
”) upon the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth in this Agreement.
B. Regency
Gas Services LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Regency and the
sole member of Merger Sub, and Member, as the sole member of
Nexus, have approved this Agreement and the
Merger.
C. As
a result of the Merger, and in accordance with the Delaware
Limited Liability Company Act (the “ DLLCA
”), the issued and outstanding membership interests in
Nexus shall be converted into the right to receive the Merger
Consideration as set forth herein.
D. Each
of Fritz Brinkman and Mike Davis has executed and delivered to
Regency a Non-Competition Agreement (collectively, the “
Non-Competition
Agreements ”) simultaneously with the execution
of this Agreement.
E. Each
of Fritz Brinkman, Paul Coscia and Mike Davis and Member has
executed and delivered to Regency, and each of Regency and
Merger Sub has executed and delivered to Member, a Release
simultaneously with the execution of this
Agreement.
F. Each
of Fritz Brinkman, Paul Coscia and Mike Davis has executed and
delivered to Regency a resignation effective as of Closing
from each and every position of employment and as an officer
and each other capacity in which such individual serves each
Nexus Company (collectively, the “ Resignations
”) simultaneously with the execution of this
Agreement.
G. Each
of Fritz Brinkman, Paul Coscia and Mike Davis has executed and
delivered to Nexus Gas Gathering, LP and Member an Employment
Separation and General Release Agreement (collectively, the
“ Separation
Agreements ”) simultaneously with the execution
of this Agreement.
H. The
Parties acknowledge that Regency and Merger Sub have
determined the value of the Nexus Companies and the amount of
the Merger Consideration based, in part, on the Audited
Financial Statements and the representations and warranties of
Member and the Nexus Companies contained in Section
4.1(m)(i) , (ii) ,
and (iii) of
this Agreement.
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS
1.1
Definitions . Capitalized
terms in this Agreement that are not defined in the text of the
body of this Agreement shall have the meanings given such terms as
set forth in
Exhibit A attached to this Agreement, which
Exhibit A is incorporated herein by reference with the same
force and effect as is set forth herein in full.
1.2
Interpretations . Unless
expressly provided to the contrary in this Agreement, this
Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with the provisions
set forth in Section
1.2 of
Exhibit A .
ARTICLE II
THE
MERGER; CLOSING
2.1
The Merger . Upon
the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Article VII ,
and in accordance with applicable Laws, at the Effective Time,
Merger Sub shall be merged with and into Nexus. The
Merger shall have the effects specified herein and in the
DLLCA. As a result of the Merger, the separate existence
of Merger Sub shall cease and Nexus shall continue
as the surviving entity of the Merger (the “ Surviving
Company ”), and as an indirect wholly owned subsidiary
of Regency.
2.2
Effective Time; Closing . The
closing of the Merger (the “ Closing
”) shall take place at the offices of Vinson & Elkins LLP
in Dallas, Texas, at 9:00 a.m., Dallas, Texas time, or such other
place and time as Member and Regency shall agree:
(a)
on
the second Business Day after the conditions set forth in
Article
VII have been satisfied or waived (other than those
conditions that are to be satisfied at Closing, but subject to
their satisfaction or waiver) (such second Business Day, the
“ Alternative
Satisfaction Date ”) if the Alternative Satisfaction
Date shall have occurred on or before April 14, 2008; provided that if HSR
Approval is obtained on any date on or between March 26, 2008, and
April 14, 2008, and all other conditions set forth in Article VII
have been satisfied or waived (other than those conditions that are
to be satisfied at Closing, but subject to their satisfaction or
waiver), then, at the election of Regency, the Closing shall occur
on any date from and after the date HSR Approval is obtained prior
to the Alternative Satisfaction Date; or
(b)
if
the Alternative Satisfaction Date shall not have occurred on or
before April 14, 2008, then, upon the written election of Member
requesting an extension of the Termination Date pursuant to
Section
10.1(b) , (i)
if the Alternative Satisfaction Date occurs on or after April 15,
2008, and on or before April 28, 2008, the Closing shall occur on
the Alternative Satisfaction Date, (ii) if the Alternative
Satisfaction Date occurs on or after April 29, 2008, and on or
before May 1, 2008, the Closing shall occur on
May 1, 2008, or (iii) if the Alternative Satisfaction
Date occurs after May 1, 2008, the Closing shall occur on the
Alternative Satisfaction Date, subject to Section
10.1(b)
.
The
date of the Closing is herein called the “ Closing
Date .” Immediately following the
Closing, and on the Closing Date, the Parties shall cause the
Merger to be consummated by duly filing a certificate of
merger (the “ Certificate of
Merger ”) with the Secretary of State of the
State of
Delaware
in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit B (the date and time of such filing being the
“ Effective Time
”).
2.3
Effect of the Merger . At
the Effective Time, the effect of the Merger shall be as provided
in the applicable Laws of the State of Delaware. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at
the Effective Time, all the real estate, property, rights,
privileges, powers, franchises and other assets of Nexus and Merger
Sub shall vest in the Surviving Company, and all debts,
liabilities, obligations and duties of Nexus and Merger Sub shall
become the debts, liabilities, obligations and duties of the
Surviving Company.
2.4
Governing Instruments; Directors and Officers of the Surviving
Company .
(a)
The
certificate of formation of the Surviving Company shall be amended
as set forth in the Certificate of Merger, and as so amended, shall
be the certificate of formation of the Surviving Company until duly
amended in accordance with its terms and applicable
Laws.
(b)
The
limited liability company agreement of Merger Sub, as in effect
immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be the limited
liability company agreement of the Surviving Company until duly
amended in accordance with its terms and applicable
Laws.
(c)
The
directors and officers of Merger Sub at the Effective Time shall be
the initial directors and officers, respectively, of the Surviving
Company from the Effective Time until their respective successors
have been duly elected or appointed in accordance with the
certificate of formation and limited liability company agreement of
the Surviving Company and applicable Laws.
2.5
Conversion of Securities .
(a)
At
the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action
on the part of any holder thereof, each limited liability company
interest of Merger Sub that is issued and outstanding immediately
prior to the Effective Time shall remain issued and outstanding and
continue as a limited liability company interest of the Surviving
Company.
(b)
At
the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action
on the part of Merger Sub or Nexus, all of the issued and
outstanding Membership Interests held by a Person immediately prior
to the Effective Time shall be canceled and shall be converted
automatically into the right to receive, subject to the other terms
and conditions of this Agreement, (i) a Pro Rata Portion of the
Closing Payment Amount, (ii) a Pro Rata Portion of the amount, if
any, of the Merger Consideration Surplus in accordance with
Section
2.8(d)(ii) ,
(iii) a Pro Rata Portion of the Sonat Cash Payment, if applicable,
and (iv) a Pro Rata Portion of all amounts, if any, distributable
to Member from the Escrow Fund pursuant to Article XI and
the Escrow Agreement (collectively, the “ Merger
Consideration ”). From and after the
Effective Time, the holders of Membership Interests outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time shall cease to have any
rights with respect to such Membership Interests except for the
right to receive the Merger Consideration in respect of such
Membership Interests and except as otherwise provided herein or by
applicable Laws. At the Effective Time, the transfer
books of Nexus shall be closed and, thereafter, there shall be no
further registration of transfers of membership interests of Nexus
on the records of Member.
2.6
Withholding Taxes . Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Regency, Merger Sub and
the Surviving Company shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from
the consideration otherwise payable to any former holder of
Membership Interests pursuant to this Agreement any amount required
to be deducted and withheld with respect to the making of such
payment under applicable Tax laws. To the extent that
amounts are so withheld by Regency, Merger Sub or the Surviving
Company, as the case may be, and are paid over to the appropriate
Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Laws, such
withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this
Agreement as having been paid to the holder of the Membership
Interests in respect of which such deduction and withholding was
made.
2.7
Regency Payments
.
(a)
At
the Closing:
(i)
Regency
shall pay to Member, by wire transfer of immediately available
funds to the account designated in writing by Member to Regency at
least two Business Days prior to Closing, an amount in cash equal
to the Closing Payment Amount;
(ii)
Regency
shall pay to the Escrow Agent, by wire transfer of immediately
available funds, an amount in cash equal to the Escrow
Amount;
(iii)
Regency
shall pay to each holder of any Third-Party Debt, by wire transfer
of immediately available funds to the account(s) designated by such
Persons in the applicable Debt Payoff Letters, the amounts
specified in the Debt Payoff Letters; and
(iv)
to
the extent unpaid, Regency shall pay to the payees of any Expenses
by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account(s)
designated by such Persons in the applicable Payoff Letters, the
amounts specified in the Payoff Letters less, to the extent
applicable, any Medicaid, Social Security, income tax, unemployment
tax and other amounts required to be withheld.
(b)
Subject
to Section
9.5 and the
terms of this Section 2.7(b)
, if Regency, the Surviving Company (or any other Affiliate of
Regency or any assignee of the Surviving Company’s rights
under the Sonat Purchase Agreement) consummates the Sonat
Acquisition on or prior to the second anniversary of the Closing
Date, then Regency shall pay to Member, within five (5) Business
Days following the date of consummation, the amount of Twenty-Five
Million dollars ($25,000,000) in cash (the “ Sonat Cash
Payment ”). Notwithstanding the foregoing,
if (x) the Surviving Company consummates the Sonat Acquisition on
the basis of the receipt by Sonat of an order or orders from FERC
that, collectively, do not constitute a Final FERC Approval Order
and (y) such order or orders from FERC differ from the Selected
Application Parameter and those differences together constitute a
material deviation from the Application Parameters as described on
Exhibit G that is adverse to the Surviving Company and the
other Nexus Companies (taken as a whole), then neither Regency nor
the Surviving Company (nor any other Regency Affiliate) shall be
required to pay Member the Sonat Cash Payment. From and
after the Closing, Regency and the Surviving Company shall use all
commercially reasonable efforts (i) to comply with the terms of,
and to perform the Surviving Company’s obligations under, the
Sonat Purchase Agreement and the Sonat CIOM Agreement
and
(ii) to satisfy on a timely basis all conditions to the obligations
of the Surviving Company contained in the Sonat Purchase Agreement
that are within its control; provided ,
however ,
that the Surviving Company shall not be required by the provisions
of this Agreement to consummate the transactions contemplated by
the Sonat Purchase Agreement unless the parties to the Sonat
Purchase Agreement have received a Final FERC Approval
Order. The foregoing provisions of this subsection (b)
shall not require Regency or the Surviving Company (x) to waive or
forego any rights or benefits available to either of them under any
law, regulation or the Sonat Purchase Agreement, including the
right to seek clarification or rehearing consistent with the
Selected Application Parameter of any FERC order or orders bearing
on the Sonat Acquisition, (y) to reject or to seek modification of
any proposed settlement of the Sonat Acquisition consistent with
the Selected Application Parameter, or (z) to expend funds (other
than reasonable expenses in prosecuting the Sonat Abandonment
Application) or to sustain financial detriment in order to obtain
the consent, concurrence or agreement of any producer or shipper on
the Sonat Facilities to the Sonat Abandonment Application
consistent with the Selected Application
Parameter. Notwithstanding anything herein to the
contrary, Regency shall and, from and after the Closing, shall
cause the Surviving Company and the other Nexus Companies to, act
in good faith (including without limitation without the primary
intent to hinder Member’s ability to receive the Sonat Cash
Payment) with respect to consummating the Sonat Acquisition
pursuant to the Sonat Purchase Agreement, the transactions
contemplated thereby and the other provisions hereof relating to
the ability of Member to receive the Sonat Cash
Payment.
(c)
Regency
shall be entitled to deliver to Member all amounts to which any
Person who holds any Membership Interests immediately prior to the
Effective Time shall be entitled under this Agreement, and, to the
extent any such Person shall be entitled to any amounts so
delivered to Member in accordance herewith, Member shall hold such
amounts in trust for such Person and shall be responsible for
delivering such amounts to such Person, and Regency shall have no
further obligation to any such Person for any such
amounts.
2.8
Merger Consideration Adjustments .
(a)
Preparation of Estimated Closing Statement
. Nexus shall prepare in good faith and deliver to
Regency, at least four (4) Business Days prior to the Closing Date
and at the sole expense of Nexus, a statement (the “
Estimated
Closing Statement ”), setting forth (i) Expenses, the
Debt Payoff Amount and a reasonably detailed determination of
Nexus’ estimate of Net Working Capital, (ii) based on such
Estimated Net Working Capital, the Estimated Working Capital
Adjustment Amount, if any, and (iii) Nexus’ calculation of
the Closing Payment Amount. The Expenses and the Debt
Payoff Amount to be set forth on the Estimated Closing Statement
shall be based on amounts set forth in the Payoff Letters, or, to
the extent a Payoff Letter has not been provided for any Expense or
Third Party Debt, Nexus’ good faith estimate of such amount,
and in each case, shall be subject to final determination in the
preparation of the Final Closing Statement. If Regency
has any questions or disagreements regarding the Estimated Closing
Statement, Regency shall contact Member at least two (2) Business
Days prior to the Closing Date, and in such case Member and Regency
shall in good faith attempt to resolve any
disagreements. If Regency and Member agree on changes to
Nexus’ proposed Estimated Closing Statement (including the
Expenses, the Debt Payoff Amount, the calculation of the Estimated
Net Working Capital, Estimated Working Capital
Adjustment
Amount
or Closing Payment Amount set forth therein) based on such
discussions, then the Closing Payment Amount to be paid at Closing
shall be determined giving effect to such changes (and the
Estimated Closing Statement, as so adjusted, shall be deemed to be
the Estimated Closing Statement for all purposes
herein). If Regency and Member do not agree on
changes to such amounts, then the Closing Payment Amount to be paid
at Closing shall be determined based on the amounts set forth in
the Estimated Closing Statement initially delivered by
Nexus. In either such case, appropriate adjustments to
the Merger Consideration shall be made after the Closing pursuant
to Sections
2.8(a) ,
2.8(b) , and
2.8(c)
.
(b)
Preparation of Closing Statement . As soon as
reasonably practicable after the Closing Date (and, in any event,
within 90 days after the Closing Date), Regency shall prepare and
deliver to Member, at the sole expense of Regency, a closing
statement as of 11:59 p.m. on the Measurement Date (the “
Proposed
Closing Statement ”), setting forth (i) Expenses, the
Debt Payoff Amount and a reasonably detailed proposed final
calculation of Net Working Capital and the Working Capital
Adjustment Amount, if any, and (iii) based on such amounts, the
Merger Consideration Surplus or Merger Consideration
Deficit. From the Closing and until the determination of
the Final Closing Statement, Regency shall provide Member and its
accountants and other Representatives access, during normal
business hours and upon reasonable prior notice, to the Records
(including the work papers and other accounting documents of the
Nexus Companies related to periods on or prior to the Closing Date)
and personnel of the Nexus Companies in order to review (or, if
applicable, prepare as provided in the last sentence of this
Section
2.8(b) ) the
Proposed Closing Statement and assist Member in its review of the
Final Closing Statement. If Regency does not deliver the
Proposed Closing Statement when required, Member may, but shall not
be required to, prepare and deliver the Proposed Closing Statement
to Regency within 180 days after Closing, and, in such case,
Regency shall have Members’ objection rights under
Section
2.8
(c) and, if
neither Member nor Regency prepares and delivers a Proposed Closing
Statement as provided herein, then the Estimated Closing Statement
shall be deemed also to be the Final Closing
Statement.
(c)
Examination of Proposed Closing Statement
. Member shall review the Proposed Closing Statement to
confirm the accuracy of the Proposed Closing Statement and
Regency’s calculations. If Member fails to give
Regency written notice of any disputed amounts within 45 days after
Member receives the Proposed Closing Statement (the “
Review
Period ”), then the Proposed Closing Statement shall
become the Final Closing Statement for purposes
hereof. If Member gives Regency written notice of any
disputed items within the Review Period, Regency and Member shall
attempt in good faith to agree on any adjustments that should be
made to the Proposed Closing Statement. If Regency and
Member fail to resolve any disputed amounts within 30 days after
Member gives Regency notice of any disputed amounts in the Proposed
Closing Statement, Regency and Member will engage the Audit Firm to
resolve any such disputed matters in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement, and, in connection with such engagement Regency,
the Surviving Company and Member shall execute any engagement,
indemnity and other agreements as the Audit Firm may require as a
condition to such engagement. The Audit Firm’s
engagement shall be limited to the resolution of disputed amounts
set forth in the Proposed Closing Statement that have been
identified by Member, which resolution shall be in accordance with
this Agreement including the Sample Balance Sheet, and no other
matter relating to the Proposed Closing Statement shall be subject
to determination by the Audit Firm except to the extent affected by
resolution of the disputed amounts. In
resolving
any
disputed item, the Audit Firm shall not assign a value to any item
greater than the greatest value for such item claimed by either
Party or less than the smallest value for such item claimed by
either Party. The Parties agree that the adjustments
contemplated by this Section
2.8 are
intended to show the change between the Estimated Net Working
Capital and the actual Net Working Capital and actual Expenses and
Debt Payoff Amount as compared to Expenses and Debt Payoff Amount
set forth on the Estimated Closing Statement and that such change
can only be measured if each calculation is done in a manner
consistent with this Agreement. The Parties shall
cooperate diligently with any reasonable request of the Audit Firm
in an effort to resolve any disputed matter as soon as reasonably
possible after the Audit Firm is engaged. If possible,
the decision of the Audit Firm shall be made within 30 days after
being engaged. The decision of the Audit Firm shall be
set forth in a written statement delivered to Member and Regency
and shall be final and binding on the Parties, absent fraud or
manifest error. Judgment may be entered on the decision
of the Audit Firm in any court of competent
jurisdiction. The Proposed Closing Statement, in the
form agreed to by the Parties as final, in the form deemed in
accordance with the second sentence of this Section
2.8(c) as
final or as revised, if necessary, to reflect the final
determination by the Audit Firm, as applicable, is referred to
herein as the “ Final Closing
Statement ”).
(d)
Adjustments .
(i)
If
the Final Adjustment Amount is less than the Estimated Adjustment
Amount (the amount of such shortfall, if any, being hereinafter
referred to as the “ Merger Consideration
Deficit ”), Member and Regency shall execute and
deliver to the Escrow Agent Joint Instructions instructing the
Escrow Agent to disburse to Regency from the Escrow Fund an amount
in cash equal to the Merger Consideration Deficit within five
Business Days after the final determination of the Final Closing
Statement. By way of example, if the Estimated
Adjustment Amount is negative five and the Final Adjustment Amount
is negative nine, the Final Adjustment Amount shall be less than
the Estimated Adjustment Amount by, and the Merger Consideration
Deficit shall be, four.
(ii)
If
the Final Adjustment Amount is greater than the Estimated Working
Amount (the amount of such excess being hereinafter referred to as
the “ Merger Consideration
Surplus ”), Regency shall deliver to Member an amount
in cash equal to the Merger Consideration Surplus within five
Business Days after the final determination of the Final Closing
Statement. By way of example if the Estimated Adjustment
Amount is negative five and the Final Adjustment Amount is negative
one, the Final Adjustment Amount shall be greater than the
Estimated Adjustment Amount by, and the Merger Consideration
Surplus shall be, four.
(e)
No Duplicative Effect . The provisions of this
Section
2.8 and of any
other Transaction Document shall apply in such a manner so as not
to give the components and calculations duplicative effect to any
item of adjustment and, the Parties covenant and agree that no
amount shall be (or is intended to be) included, in whole or in
part (either as an increase or reduction) more than once in the
calculation of (including any component of) Net Working Capital or
any other calculated amount pursuant to this Agreement if the
effect of such additional inclusion (either as an increase or
reduction) would be to cause such amount to be overstated or
understated for purposes of such calculation. The
Parties acknowledge and agree that, if there is
a
conflict between a determination, calculation or methodology set
forth in the Sample Balance Sheet or the definitions contained in
this Agreement, as applicable, on the one hand, and those provided
by GAAP, on the other hand, (i) the determination, calculation or
methodology set forth in the Sample Balance Sheet or the
definitions contained in this Agreement, as applicable, shall
control to the extent that the matter is included in the Sample
Balance Sheet or the definitions contained in this Agreement, as
applicable, as a line item or specific adjustment and (ii) the
determination, calculation or methodology prescribed by GAAP shall
control to the extent the matter is not so addressed in the Sample
Balance Sheet or the definitions contained in this Agreement, as
applicable, or requires reclassification as an asset or liability
to be included in a line item or specific adjustment.
(f)
Fees and Expenses of the Audit Firm . If the
Parties submit any disputed amounts to the Audit Firm for
resolution as provided in Section
2.8
(c) above, the
fees and expenses of the Audit Firm (the “ Audit Fees
”) will be paid by and apportioned between Regency and Member
based on the aggregate dollar amount of the amount in dispute and
inversely related to the relative recovery as determined by the
Audit Firm of Member and Regency, respectively. For
example, if the aggregate dollar amount of the amount in dispute is
$1,000,000 and the relative recovery of Member and Regency as
determined by the Audit Firm is $900,000 and $100,000,
respectively, then Regency will be apportioned 90% of the Audit
Fees and Member will be apportioned 10% of the Audit
Fees. Member and Regency shall promptly, and in any
event within five (5) Business Days after the final determination
of the Final Closing Statement, pay to the Audit Firm the amount of
Audit Fees payable by Member and Regency pursuant to this
Section
2.8(f)
.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES OF MEMBER
3.1
Member’s Representations and Warranties
. Member
represents and warrants to Regency and Merger Sub as
follows:
(a)
Organization of Member . Member is a limited
liability company, which is duly organized, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of the State of
Delaware. Member has full legal power and right to both
carry on its business as such is now being conducted, to own the
Membership Interests held by it and, subject to making or obtaining
the notices, filings, authorizations, consents or approvals set
forth in Section
3.1(b)
of the
Disclosure Schedule and obtaining the consents set forth in
Section
3.1(f)
of the
Disclosure Schedule , to perform its obligations under this
Agreement.
(b)
Authorization of Transaction; Governmental Authorizations
. Member has full power and authority to execute and
deliver this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which
it is or shall be a party and, subject to making or obtaining the
notices, filings, authorizations, consents or approvals set forth
in Section
3.1(b)
of the
Disclosure Schedule and obtaining the consents set forth in
Section
3.1(f)
of the
Disclosure Schedule , to perform its obligations hereunder
and thereunder, and the execution, delivery and performance by
Member of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to
which it is or shall be a party have been duly and validly
authorized and approved by all necessary limited liability company
action of Member. This Agreement and the other
Transaction Documents to which it is
or
shall be a party constitute (or upon execution will constitute) the
valid and legally binding obligation of Member enforceable in
accordance with their respective terms and conditions, subject,
however, to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium or similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights
generally, and to general principles of equity (regardless of
whether such enforceability is considered in a Proceeding in equity
or at law). Except for filings under the HSR Act and as
set forth in Section
3.1(b)
of the
Disclosure Schedule , Member is not required to give any
notice to, make any filing with, or obtain any authorization,
consent, or approval of any Governmental Authority in order to
execute this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents to which
it is or shall be a party, consummate the transactions contemplated
by, or otherwise perform its obligations under, this Agreement or
the other Transaction Documents to which it is or shall be a
party.
(c)
Noncontravention . Neither the execution and
delivery nor performance by Member of this Agreement or the other
Transaction Documents to which Member is or shall be a party, nor
the consummation by Member of the transactions contemplated hereby
or thereby, will (i) subject to obtaining HSR Approval and making
or obtaining the notices, filings, authorizations, consents or
approvals set forth in Section
3.1(b)
of the
Disclosure Schedule , violate any Law to which Member is
subject, (ii) violate any provision of Member’s
Organizational Documents, (iii) result in the creation or
imposition of any Lien on any of the Assets, or (iv) subject to
obtaining the consents set forth in Section
3.1(f)
of the
Disclosure Schedule , conflict with, result in a breach of,
constitute a default under, result in the acceleration of, create
in any party the right to accelerate, terminate, modify, or cancel,
or require any notice under any Contract, lease, license,
instrument, or other arrangement to which Member is a party or by
which it is bound, except in the case of this clause (iv), for such
violations, defaults, breaches or other occurrences that,
individually or in the aggregate, do not constitute a Material
Adverse Effect.
(d)
Brokers’ Fees . Except as set forth in
Section
3.1(d)
of the
Disclosure Schedule , Member does not have any liability or
obligation to pay any fees or commissions to any broker, finder, or
agent with respect to the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
(e)
Title to Interests . Member has good and valid
record and beneficial title to all outstanding Membership
Interests, free and clear of any and all Liens (other than any
Liens that may arise under this Agreement, be imposed by applicable
state or federal securities Laws or be created by Regency), and
such Membership Interests constitute all of the outstanding Equity
Interests of Nexus. Neither Member nor Nexus is a party
to (a) any option, warrant, purchase right or other Contract (other
than this Agreement) that could require Member, or after the
Closing, Regency or any of its Affiliates, to sell, transfer or
otherwise dispose of any Equity Interest of the Surviving Company,
(b) any voting trust, proxy or other Contract with respect to the
voting of any Equity Interest of Nexus.
(f)
Consents . Except as set forth in Section
3.1(f)
of the
Disclosure Schedule , no consent, authorization or approval
of any third party is required, under any Contract to which Member
is a party or otherwise, for the execution and delivery by Member
of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document to which Member
is or shall be a party, the consummation of the Merger or the
performance by any Member of its obligations hereunder or
thereunder.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES REGARDING THE NEXUS
COMPANIES
4.1
Representations and Warranties Regarding the Nexus
Companies . Nexus
and Member, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to Regency
and Merger Sub as follows:
(a)
Organization of Nexus . Nexus is a limited
liability company, which is duly organized, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of the State of
Delaware. Nexus has full legal power and right to carry
on its business as such is now being conducted. Nexus is
duly qualified to do business in all the jurisdictions set forth
opposite its name on Section
4.1(a)
of the
Disclosure Schedule , and such jurisdictions constitute all
jurisdictions in which the business Nexus is conducting, or the
operation, ownership or leasing of its properties, makes such
qualification necessary, except jurisdictions in which the failure
to be so qualified does not constitute a Material Adverse
Effect.
(b)
Capitalization .
(i)
The
Membership Interests held by Member constitute all of the
outstanding Equity Interests of Nexus. All of the
outstanding Membership Interests have been duly authorized and
validly issued, are, except as provided in Section 18-607(b) of the
DLLCA, fully paid and non-assessable and were not issued in
violation of any preemptive rights or other preferential rights of
subscription or purchase of any Person. Nexus is not
obligated, under any Contract or otherwise, to issue any Equity
Interests or Equity Interest Equivalents.
(ii)
Member
has heretofore provided to Regency true and complete copies of the
Organizational Documents of each Nexus Company.
Section
4.1(b)
of the
Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true and complete list of
the Nexus Companies together with, for each such entity, (A) a
specification of the nature of its legal organization and (B) the
jurisdiction of its organization.
(iii)
Except
as set forth in Section
4.1(b)
of the
Disclosure Schedule , Nexus, directly or indirectly through
another Nexus Company, owns, of record and beneficially, all of the
outstanding Equity Interests of each other Nexus Company free and
clear of all Liens (other than any Liens that may arise under this
Agreement, be imposed by applicable state or federal securities
Laws or be created by Regency). The Nexus Companies are
the only corporations, limited partnerships, limited liability
companies and other Persons in which Nexus owns, directly or
indirectly, an Equity Interest. Section
4.1(b)
of the
Disclosure Schedule sets forth all of the authorized, issued
and outstanding Equity Interests of each Nexus Company and the
record and beneficial owners thereof. None of the Nexus
Companies has any outstanding Equity Interests Equivalents or is
obligated, under any Contract or otherwise, to issue any Equity
Interests or Equity Interest Equivalents.
(iv)
Each
Nexus Company is duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the Laws of its respective jurisdiction of
organization, is duly qualified to do business as a foreign limited
liability company or limited partnership in good standing to
conduct business in each jurisdiction set forth opposite such Nexus
Company’s name in Section
4.1(b)
of the
Disclosure Schedule , which are all the jurisdictions in
which the business it
is
conducting, or the operation, ownership or leasing of its
properties, makes such qualification necessary, except
jurisdictions in which the failure to be so qualified would not
constitute a Material Adverse Effect. Each Nexus
Company has the requisite power and authority (as a limited
partnership or limited liability company) to carry on its
respective business as it is now being conducted and to own,
operate and lease the assets it now owns, operates or holds under
lease.
(v)
All
the outstanding partnership interests, membership interests and
other Equity Interests of each Nexus Company (other than Nexus) (A)
have been duly authorized and validly issued and, except as
provided in Section 18-607(b) of the DLLCA or Section 607(b) of the
Texas Revised Limited Partnership Act, are fully paid and non
assessable and (B) were not issued in violation of any preemptive
rights or other preferential rights of subscription or purchase of
any Person.
(c)
Authorization of Transaction; Governmental Authorizations
. Each Nexus Company has full power and authority to
execute and deliver this Agreement and the other Transaction
Documents to which it is or shall be a party and to perform such
Nexus Company’s obligations hereunder and thereunder, and the
execution, delivery and performance by such Nexus Company of this
Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which it is or
shall be a party have been duly and validly authorized and approved
by all necessary limited partnership or limited liability company
action of such Nexus Company. This Agreement and the
other Transaction Documents to which it is or shall be a party
constitute (or upon execution will constitute) the valid and
legally binding obligation of each Nexus Company enforceable in
accordance with their respective terms and conditions, subject,
however, to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium or similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights
generally, and to general principles of equity (regardless of
whether such enforceability is considered in a Proceeding in equity
or at law). Except for filings under the HSR Act and as
set forth in Section
4.1(c)
of the
Disclosure Schedule or Section
4.1(f)
of the
Disclosure Schedule , no Nexus Company is required to give
any notice to, to make any filing with, to or obtain any
authorization, consent, or approval of any Governmental Authority
in order to execute this Agreement or the other Transaction
Documents to which it is or shall be a party, to consummate the
transactions contemplated by, or to otherwise perform such Nexus
Company’s obligations under, this Agreement or the other
Transaction Documents to which it is or shall be a
party.
(d)
Noncontravention . Neither the execution and
delivery nor performance by any Nexus Company of this Agreement or
the other Transaction Documents to which any Nexus Company is or
shall be a party, nor the consummation by any Nexus Company of the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, will (i) subject to
obtaining HSR Approval and making or obtaining the notices,
filings, authorizations, consents or approvals set forth in
Section
4.1(c)
of the
Disclosure Schedule or Section
4.1(f)
of the
Disclosure Schedule , violate any Law to which any Nexus
Company is subject, (ii) violate any provision of any Nexus
Company’s Organizational Documents, (iii) result in the
creation or imposition of any Lien on any of the assets of the
Nexus Companies (other than Liens created by Regency or its
Affiliates) or (iv) except as set forth in Section
4.1(d)
of the
Disclosure Schedule and subject to obtaining the consents
set forth in Section
4.1(f)
of the
Disclosure Schedule , conflict with, result in a breach of,
constitute a default under, result in the acceleration of, create
in any party the right to accelerate, terminate, modify, or cancel,
or require any notice under any Contract, lease,
license,
instrument,
or other arrangement to which any Nexus Company is a party or by
which it is bound, except, in the case of this clause (iv), the
occurrence of which or the failure of which to obtain would not
constitute a Material Adverse Effect.
(e)
Brokers’ Fees . Except as set forth in
Section
4.1(e)
of the
Disclosure Schedule , no Nexus Company has any liability or
obligation to pay any fees or commissions to any broker, finder, or
agent with respect to the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
(f)
Consents . Except as set forth in Section
4.1(f)
of the
Disclosure Schedule , no material consent, authorization or
approval of any third party is required, under any Contract to
which any Nexus Company is a party or to which any of the Assets
are bound or otherwise, for the execution and delivery by Nexus of
this Agreement or any other Transaction Document to which Nexus is
or shall be a Party, the consummation of the Merger or the
performance by Nexus of its obligations hereunder or
thereunder.
(g)
Compliance with Laws; Permits . The
representations and warranties in this Section
4.1(g) do not
cover environmental matters. Representations and
warranties of Nexus and Member regarding environmental matters are
contained solely in Section
4.1
(s)
. Except as set forth in Section
4.1(g)
of the
Disclosure Schedule :
(i)
Each
Nexus Company has owned and operated, and currently owns and
operates, the assets held by it in compliance in all material
respects with all applicable Laws.
(ii)
Each
Nexus Company is in compliance in all material respects with all
Laws applicable to it.
(iii)
The
Nexus Companies, individually and in the aggregate, possess all
material licenses, franchises, permits, certificates, consents,
approvals and certificates and other governmental or
quasi-governmental authorizations pertaining to the Assets
necessary for the ownership, use and operation of the Assets or
otherwise necessary for the operation of the business of the Nexus
Companies in the Ordinary Course of Business (collectively, but
excluding any such item the primary purpose of which is to create a
Real Property Interest, the “ Permits
”). Each Nexus Company is in compliance in all
material respects with all terms, provisions and conditions of the
Permits, and no outstanding violations, assessments, orders or
notices of noncompliance issued by any Governmental Authority
exists which affects or relates to the Permits.
Section
4.1(g)
of the
Disclosure Schedule sets forth a list of all material
Permits possessed by the Nexus Companies.
(h)
Properties .
(i)
The
Nexus Companies, individually or together, own or hold by valid
leaseholds, easements, agreements providing for rights of use or
access or similar agreements all of the assets reflected in the
Consolidated Balance Sheet (other than any assets reflected in the
Consolidated Balance Sheet that have been sold or otherwise
disposed of since the date of the Consolidated Balance Sheet
without breaching Section
4.1(q)(i)
or
Section
6.3 ) and all
other assets (including Real Property Interests) (collectively,
including the Pipeline Assets, but, for the avoidance of doubt,
excluding any assets that are the subject matter of the Sonat
Purchase Agreement, the “ Assets
”) other than the Pipeline Assets, free and clear of
all
Title
Defects. The Nexus Companies, individually or together,
have such title or interest to or in the Pipeline Assets, as is
sufficient to enable them to conduct their business as conducted
with the Pipeline Assets in the Ordinary Course of Business without
material interference. Except as set forth in
Section
4.1(h)
of the
Disclosure Schedule , neither Member nor any Nexus Company
has received any written notice of any claim or, to Member’s
Knowledge, oral notice of any claim, in each case asserting the
existence of a Title Defect in connection with any material
Assets. To Member’s Knowledge, there are no
assessments against the Assets for public
improvements. There has been no actual or, to
Member’s Knowledge, threatened taking (whether permanent,
temporary, whole or partial) of any part of the Assets by reason of
condemnation.
(ii)
The
Assets constitute all of the material assets, rights and
properties, tangible or intangible, real or personal, that are used
in connection with the operation of the business of the Nexus
Companies in the Ordinary Course of Business. The
personal property owned or leased by the Nexus Companies is
sufficient to enable them to conduct their business as currently
conducted. There are no preferential rights, rights to
purchase, rights of first refusal, rights of first offer or similar
rights to purchase any material Asset or material portion of the
Assets.
(iii)
Neither
Member nor any Nexus Company has received any written notice of
default or termination or, to Member’s Knowledge, oral notice
of default or termination or is in default under the terms of any
Real Property Interests that has resulted in or might result in a
material impairment or loss of title to the Real Property Interests
or that has or would hinder or impede in any material respect the
operations of the Pipeline Assets or adversely affect in any
material respect the ability of the Nexus Companies to own and
operate the Pipeline Assets in the Ordinary Course of
Business.
(iv)
The
Assets of the Nexus Companies, other than the Pipeline Assets, that
are tangible assets are, in all material respects, in good
operating and working order, subject to normal wear and
maintenance; and, to Member’s Knowledge, the Pipeline Assets
are in all material respects in good operating and working order,
subject to normal wear and maintenance.
(i)
Litigation . The
representations and warranties in this Section
4.1(i) do not
cover environmental matters. Representations and
warranties of Nexus and Member regarding environmental matters are
contained solely in Section
4.1
(s)
.
(i)
There
is no (A) Proceeding by any Person or Governmental Authority
pending or, to Member’s Knowledge, overtly threatened against
Member or any Nexus Company or to which Member or any Nexus Company
is a party, or (B) injunction, judgment, order or decree to which
Member or any Nexus Company is a party, which, in the case of (A)
or (B), (x) if determined adversely to any Nexus Company,
reasonably would be expected to give rise to a material liability
of the Nexus Companies, taken as a whole, or (y) constitutes or, if
determined adversely to any Nexus Company, would constitute a
Material Adverse Effect.
(ii)
There
are no bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, or arrangement
Proceedings pending, being contemplated by, or, to Member’s
Knowledge, threatened against Member or any Nexus
Company.
(j)
FCC Licenses . Neither
Member nor any Nexus Company holds any FCC Licenses, and no FCC
Licenses are required for the operations of the Nexus Companies in
the Ordinary Course of Business.
(k)
Taxes . Except
as disclosed on Section
4.1(k)
of the
Disclosure Schedule :
(i)
All
Tax Returns required to be filed by or with respect to each Nexus
Company have been duly and timely filed. Each such Tax
Return is true, correct and complete in all material
respects. All material Taxes owed by each Nexus Company,
or for which it may be liable, that are or have become due have
been paid in full. All material Tax withholding and
deposit requirements imposed on or with respect to each Nexus
Company have been satisfied in full in all
respects. There are no Liens (other than Permitted
Encumbrances) on any of the assets of any Nexus Company that arose
in connection with any failure (or alleged failure) to pay any
material Tax.
(ii)
There
is no claim against any Nexus Company for any Taxes, and no
assessment, deficiency, or adjustment has been asserted, proposed,
or threatened with respect to any Taxes or Tax Returns of or with
respect to any Nexus Company. No Tax audits or
administrative or judicial Proceedings are being conducted, pending
or threatened with respect to any Nexus Company. No
claim has ever been made by an authority in a jurisdiction where
any Nexus Company does not file Tax Returns that such Nexus Company
is or may be subject to taxation in that jurisdiction.
(iii)
There
is not in force any extension of time with respect to the due date
for the filing of any Tax Return of or with respect to any Nexus
Company or any waiver or agreement for any extension of time for
the assessment or payment of any Tax of or with respect to any
Nexus Company.
(iv)
Member
or Nexus has provided or made available to Regency true and
complete copies of all Income Tax and other material Tax Returns
filed by each Nexus Company for the last three years and all
correspondence to each Nexus Company from, or from each Nexus
Company to, a Taxing Authority relating thereto.
(v)
No
Nexus Company is a party to or bound by any Tax allocation, sharing
or like indemnity agreement dealing principally with
Taxes. No Nexus Company has any liability for the Taxes
of any Person under Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-6 (or
any corresponding provisions of state, local or foreign Tax law),
or as a transferee or successor, or by contract or otherwise (other
than for another Nexus Company).
(vi)
No
Nexus Company has entered into any agreement or arrangement with
any Taxing Authority that requires it to take any action or to
refrain from taking any action. No Nexus Company is a
party to any agreement with any Taxing Authority that would be
terminated or adversely affected as a result of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
(vii)
No
power of attorney that is currently in force has been granted with
respect to any matter relating to Taxes that could affect any Nexus
Company.
(viii)
All
of the property of each Nexus Company that is subject to property
Tax has been properly listed and described on the property tax
rolls of the appropriate taxing jurisdiction for all periods prior
to Closing, and no portion of the property of any Nexus Company
constitutes omitted property for property tax
purposes.
(ix)
Immediately
prior to Closing, each Nexus Company will be disregarded as
separate from Member for federal income tax purposes under Treasury
Regulation Sections 301.7701-2 and 301.7701-3, and each Nexus
Company has at all times since inception been a partnership or
disregarded as separate from Member for federal income tax purposes
under Treasury Regulation Sections 301.7701-2 and
301.7701-3. No Nexus Company has ever owned any interest
in any Person other than another Nexus Company.
(x)
Except
for Sections
4.1
(k)
(v) ,
4.1
(k)
(vi) and
4.1
(k)
(ix) , the
representations of the Nexus Companies made by this Section 4.1(k)
refer only the Pre-Closing Periods of the Nexus Companies and may
only be relied upon for these periods, and are not intended to
serve as a representation to, or a guarantee of, nor can they be
relied upon for, any Tax position taken after the Closing
Date.
(l)
Contracts .
(i)
Section 4.1(l)
of the
Disclosure Schedule contains a true and complete list of all
Material Contracts. A true, correct and complete copy of
each Material Contract has been made available to
Regency. No Nexus Company has received from any other
party to a Material Contract any written notice of any breach or
violation, or, to Member’s Knowledge, oral notice of any
material breach or violation, by any Nexus Company of such Material
Contract or termination or intention to terminate such Material
Contract. Each Nexus Company has performed all of its
obligations under the Material Contracts in accordance with the
terms of the Material Contracts in all material respects, and, to
Member’s Knowledge, no event has occurred which (with or
without notice or lapse of time, or both) would constitute a
default or an event of default by a Nexus Company under the terms
of any Material Contract such that any other party to such Material
Contract would have the right (with or without notice or lapse of
time or both) to terminate, amend or modify such Material Contract
or be entitled to any material payment under such Material
Contract. To Member’s Knowledge, each of the
Material Contracts is enforceable and in full force and effect and
constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of each Nexus
Company which is a party thereto and, to Member’s Knowledge,
each other party thereto and, to Member’s Knowledge, no other
party to any Material Contract is in material breach of the terms,
provisions or conditions of such Material Contract.
(ii)
Except
as set forth in Section 4.1(l) of the
Disclosure Schedule , there are no pending or threatened
claims by any Nexus Company, and there are no pending or, to
Member’s Knowledge, threatened claims against any Nexus
Company, for indemnity or otherwise, under, related to or arising
out of the Sonat Purchase Agreement, the Sonat CIOM
Agreement
or either of the Prior Acquisition Agreements or the transactions
contemplated thereby.
(m)
Financial Statements; Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities; Controls
and Procedures . Except
as set forth in Section
4.1
(m)
of the
Disclosure Schedule :
(i)
Nexus
has delivered to Regency true and correct copies of the audited
consolidated balance sheet (the “ Consolidated Balance
Sheet ”) and related audited consolidated statements
of operations, statements of cash flows and statements of changes
in members’ capital of Member and the Nexus Companies for the
year ended December 31, 2007, together with the notes thereto and
the related audit report of Hein & Associates LLP thereon
(collectively, the “ Audited Financial
Statements ”).
(ii)
The
Audited Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with
the books and records of the Member and Nexus
Companies. The balance sheet included in the Audited
Financial Statements (including any related notes and schedules)
fairly presents in all material respects the consolidated financial
position of the Nexus Companies, as of the date thereof, and each
of the consolidated statements of operations, statements of cash
flows and statements of changes in members’ capital included
in the Audited Financial Statements (including any related notes
and schedules) fairly presents in all material respects the
consolidated results of operations, cash flows and members’
capital, as the case may be, of Member and the Nexus Companies for
the periods set forth therein, in each case in accordance with
GAAP.
(iii)
There
are no obligations or liabilities (contingent or otherwise) of any
Nexus Company that would be required by GAAP to be reflected or
reserved against in a consolidated balance sheet of the Nexus
Companies prepared and audited in accordance with GAAP other than
obligations or liabilities that are (a) so reflected or reserved on
the Consolidated Balance Sheet or obligations or liabilities
incurred since December 31, 2007, in the Ordinary Course of
Business, (b) liabilities or obligations arising out of any
Contracts to which any Nexus Company is a party thereto (except to
the extent such liability or obligation is in respect of a breach
or violation of such Contract prior to the Closing Date), (c)
obligations or liabilities under, or expenses incurred in
connection with the transactions contemplated by, this Agreement or
the Sonat Purchase Agreement and Sonat CIOM Agreement, (d) the
matters disclosed in or arising out of matters disclosed in
Section
4.1(m) of the Disclosure Schedule or (e) other liabilities
and obligations which do not, individually or in the aggregate,
exceed $25,000.
(iv)
All
Records of the Nexus Companies have been prepared, assembled and
maintained in the Ordinary Course of Business. The Nexus
Companies maintain books and records reflecting in all material
respects their assets and liabilities that in reasonable detail
accurately and fairly reflect their transactions and dispositions
of their assets, and maintain or cause to be maintained a system of
internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable
assurance that: (A) transactions are accurately recorded in all
material respects and as necessary to permit preparation of the
consolidated financial statements of the Nexus Companies and to
maintain accountability for the consolidated assets; (B)
transactions are executed in accordance with management’s
authorization; (C) access to the records of the Nexus
Companies
is
permitted only in accordance with management’s authorization;
(D) the reporting of the Nexus Companies’ assets is compared
with existing assets at regular intervals; and (E) accounts, notes
and other receivables and inventory are recorded accurately, and
proper and adequate procedures are implemented to effect the
collection thereof on a current and timely basis.
(v)
The
Nexus Companies’ accountants have not advised any Nexus
Company of any material deficiencies in the Nexus Companies’
disclosure controls and procedures.
(vi)
Nexus
has made available to Regency a summary of (A) any significant
deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls that
would, to Member’s Knowledge, reasonably be expected to
adversely affect the Nexus Companies’ ability to record,
process, summarize and report financial data in any material
respect, (B) any material weaknesses in the Nexus Companies’
internal controls, (C) any fraud, whether or not material, that
involves management or other employees who have a significant role
in the Nexus Companies’ internal controls and (D) any
material change in the internal controls or disclosure controls and
procedures of any Nexus Company effected since January 1,
2007.
(vii)
Member
has no assets except as set forth in Section
4.1(m)
of the
Disclosure Schedule .
(n)
Pipeline Matters .
Section
4.1(n)
of the
Disclosure Schedule sets forth summary throughput and other
operating data reflected therein with respect to the Pipeline
Assets for the periods indicated therein (the “ Pipeline Data
”), which Pipeline Data is true and correct in all material
respects. Subsequent to the periods covered by the
Pipeline Data and through the date of this Agreement, there have
been no material adverse changes in the volumes of Hydrocarbons
transported through the Systems and no Person has provided written
or, to Member’s Knowledge, oral notice to Member or any Nexus
Company of its intent to reduce materially the volume of
Hydrocarbons transported through the Systems. To
Member’s Knowledge, as of the date hereof, no fact or
circumstance exists that would result in a material decrease in
such volumes excluding, however, changes that may result from (a)
market conditions, (b) matters that affect the energy industry in
general or in the area in which the Systems are located, or (c)
non-performance by a party under the Hydrocarbon Contracts other
than a Nexus Company.
(o)
Affiliate Transactions .
Section
4.1(o)
of the
Disclosure Schedule describes all material services provided
to any Nexus Company by an Affiliate of any Nexus Company (other
than another Nexus Company or any director, officer or employee of
any Nexus Company in such capacity). Except as disclosed
in Section
4.1(o)
of the
Disclosure Schedule , there are (i) no services provided by
any Affiliate of any Nexus Company (other than another Nexus
Company or any director, officer or employee of any Nexus Company
in such capacity) at an actual cost to any Nexus Company below the
approximate cost at which such services could be obtained from a
third party unaffiliated service provider and all charges charged
or allocated to any Nexus Company by any Affiliate of any Nexus
Company as of the date of the applicable Pipeline Data are
reflected in such Pipeline Data and (ii) to Member’s
Knowledge, no Contracts involving a Nexus Company in which any
Manager, Officer, Director or Affiliate of any Nexus
Company
has a financial interest (other than compensation arrangements
disclosed in Section
4.1(r)
of
the Disclosure Schedule ).
(p)
Regulatory Status . The
representations and warranties in this Section
4.1(p) do not
cover environmental matters. Representations and
warranties of Nexus and Member regarding environmental matters are
contained solely in Section
4.1
(s)
.
(i)
No
portion of the Assets is subject to the jurisdiction of the FERC
under the Natural Gas Act of 1938, as amended (the “
NGA ”),
the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 (the “ NGPA ”)
or the Interstate Commerce Act. No Nexus Company is
subject to regulation as a public utility company or public service
company.
(ii)
To
Member’s Knowledge, (i) the representations made by Nexus
concerning the jurisdictional status of the Nexus Companies’
facilities and operations to natural gas purchasers and interstate
or intrastate pipelines in order to effect sales or to facilitate
transportation transactions (whether for the Nexus Companies or any
other Person) are, and were when made, true and correct in all
material respects, and (ii) each Nexus Company has complied in all
material respects with the terms and conditions of such sales,
transportation or interconnect or similar arrangements (including
“on behalf of” certificates).
(iii)
The
gathering rates charged by any Nexus Company for services related
to the Assets and the terms and conditions applied by such Nexus
Company to such services, are non-discriminatory and otherwise in
compliance with all applicable Laws.
(iv)
No
rate refunds, rebates, offsets or like obligations are accrued or
owed by any Nexus Company with respect to services related to the
Assets.
(v)
There
is no regulatory Proceeding pending or, to Member’s
Knowledge, any material regulatory proceeding overtly threatened
against or involving any Nexus Company or to which its units would
be subject or its Assets.
(q)
No Adverse Change or Event . Since
December 31, 2007, the Assets have been operated in the Ordinary
Course of Business and there has not been (i) any sale or transfer
by any Nexus Company of any Real Property Interest or any material
piece of equipment, personal property or other asset used in
connection with the operation or maintenance of the Pipeline
Assets, (ii) as of the date of this Agreement, any fact,
circumstance, event, change, effect or occurrence that,
individually or in the aggregate with all other facts,
circumstances, events, changes, effects or occurrences since
December 31, 2007, that has had, has or reasonably would be
expected to have any material adverse changes in the throughput
capacity or operational capability of the System(s) or the
Facilities, or (iii) as of the date of this Agreement, any event or
occurrence that constitutes a Material Adverse Effect.
(r)
Employee Benefit Liabilities and Employees
.
(i)
Except
as set forth in Section
4.1
(r)
of the
Disclosure Schedule , (A) no Nexus Company has sponsored or
contributed to any Employee Benefit Plan (including any
multiemployer plan within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA),
(B) except for benefits to be provided to Employees pursuant to the
terms of the Nexus Related Employee Benefit Plans,
no
Nexus Company has any liability (including any contingent
liability) to any employee, independent contractor, leased employee
or consultant with respect to any Employee Benefit Plan, and (C) no
obligation exists, other than the obligations to pay base salaries
and bonuses in the normal course and other compensation or to
provide benefits pursuant to the terms of such Nexus Related
Employee Benefit Plan, under any Employee Benefit
Plan maintained, sponsored or contributed to by any
ERISA Affiliate for which any Nexus Company would be jointly,
severally or otherwise liable. Each Employee Benefit
Plan set forth in Section
4.1
(r)
of the
Disclosure Schedule (each such plan referred to as a “
Nexus
Related Employee Benefit Plan ”) has been maintained
in all material respects in compliance with its terms and with the
applicable requirements of ERISA, the Code and all other applicable
Laws. No fact or circumstance exists that would
reasonably be expected to materially affect the qualification or
tax-exempt status of such Nexus Related Employee Benefit Plan and
no prohibited transaction within the meaning of Section 406 of
ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code has occurred.
(ii)
Section 4.1
(r)
of the
Disclosure Schedule lists all employees of any Nexus Company
and all employees of Member, the primary duties or activities of
which are to perform services for the Nexus Companies
(collectively, the “ Employees
”), identifies the employer of each such Employee and sets
forth, (A) each Employee’s position of employment, current
annual salary or hourly rate, as applicable, classification as
exempt or non-exempt, date of employment, and facility or other
location where such Employee works, (B) whether such Employee is on
inactive status for any reason, such as a leave of absence or
disability and (C) the number of days of accrued but unused
vacation and sick time with respect to each Employee (the “
Current
Salary/Benefits ”).
(iii)
All
obligations of the Nexus Companies for salaries, vacation and
holiday pay, sick pay, bonuses and other forms of compensation
payable by the Nexus Companies to the Officers, Directors or
Employees in respect of the services rendered by any of them have
been paid or adequate accruals therefor have been made in the
Audited Financial Statements for obligations accrued through the
date thereof.
(iv)
Except
as set forth in Section
4.1
(r)
of the
Disclosure Schedule , there is no pending or, to Member's
Knowledge, overtly threatened claim in respect of any of the Nexus
Related Employee Benefit Plans other than claims for benefits in
the Ordinary Course of Business. The Nexus Companies
have complied in all material respects with the health care
continuation requirements of Part 6 of Title I of
ERISA. The Nexus Companies have no obligation under any
Nexus Related Employee Benefit Plans or otherwise to provide health
or other welfare benefits to any prior employees or any other
person, except as required by applicable Laws.
(v)
Except
as set forth in Section
4.1
(r)
of the
Disclosure Schedule , there exists no Severance Obligations
or Change of Control Amounts.
(s)
Environmental Matters .
Except as set out in Section
4.1(s)
of the
Disclosure Schedule ,
(i) no
Nexus Company has caused or allowed the generation, use,
treatment, storage, or disposal of Hazardous Substances at or
on the Assets in material violation of applicable Health,
Safety and Environmental Laws;
(ii)
there
has been no release of any Hazardous Substances at, on, or
underlying any of the Assets by any Nexus Company for which any
Nexus Company could reasonably be expected to be held responsible
in material violation of or in a manner that could give rise to a
Nexus Company material liability under applicable Health, Safety
and Environmental Laws;
(iii)
the
Nexus Companies have secured all Permits required under Health,
Safety and Environmental Laws for the ownership or operation of the
Assets and the Nexus Companies are in compliance in all material
respects with such Permits;
(iv)
no
Nexus Company has received any written request for information or
written notice, nor does any Nexus Company have any reason to
suspect or believe such Nexus Company will receive any such request
for information or notice, of any actual or, to Member’s
Knowledge, overtly threatened Proceedings, or Third Party Claims
(in each case other than as have been finally resolved (formally or
informally) or satisfied with no further obligation of any Nexus
Company) related to or arising under any Health, Safety and
Environmental Laws;
(v)
no
Nexus Company has transported or arranged for the transportation or
disposal of any Hazardous Substances except in compliance in all
material respects with all applicable Health, Safety and
Environmental Laws;
(vi)
without
limiting the specificity of the foregoing clauses (i) through (v),
the
Nexus Companies have conducted the operation of the Assets in
compliance in all material respects with Health, Safety and
Environmental Laws;
(vii)
no
Nexus Company is currently operating or required to be operating
under any compliance order, decree or agreement, any consent,
decree, order or agreement, or corrective action decree, order or
agreement issued by or entered into with any Governmental Authority
under any Health, Safety and Environmental Laws; and
(viii)
other
than as may be contained in the documents listed in Section 4.1(s)
of the Disclosure Schedule , no Nexus Company has any
Contractual obligations to indemnify, or assume from, any third
party any Environmental Costs or Liabilities.
(t)
Insurance . As of the date of this Agreement, the
Nexus Companies carry policies of insurance as set forth in
Section
4.1(t)
of the
Disclosure Schedule , which insurance (i) covers such risks,
is in such amounts, has such deductibles and retentions and is
underwritten by such companies as described in Section
4.1(t)
of the
Disclosure Schedule and (ii) is in accordance with all
statutory and regulatory criteria required. As of the
date of this Agreement, all such policies are in full force and
effect, all premiums due and payable thereon have been paid (other
than retroactive or retrospective premium adjustment that are not
yet, but may be, required to be paid with respect to any period
ending prior to the Closing Date), and no written notice of
cancellation or termination has been received by Member or any
Nexus Company with
respect
to any such policy which has not been replaced on substantially
similar terms prior to the date of such
cancellation. There are no outstanding claims under any
such insurance policies and, to Member’s Knowledge, no event
has occurred, and no circumstance or condition exists, that has
given rise to or serves as the basis for or (with or without notice
or lapse of time) reasonably would be expected to give rise to or
serve as the basis for any such claim under any such
policy. No Nexus Company has received any written or, to
Member’s Knowledge, oral notice from any insurer or reinsurer
of any reservation of rights with respect to pending or paid
claims. No Nexus Company is a party to any Contract, and
the insurance policies listed on Section
4.1(t)
of the
Disclosure Schedules do not contain any provision, that
would affect the rights of any Nexus Company under such insurance
policies upon or as a result of the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(u)
Hydrocarbon Imbalances; Future Delivery of Hydrocarbons
. No Nexus Company has imbalances of Hydrocarbons
pertaining to the operation of the System(s) or the
Facilities. No Nexus Company is obligated by virtue of
any hydrocarbon imbalance, prepayment arrangement under any
Contract for the sale of hydrocarbons, forward sale of production
or any other obligation to deliver hydrocarbons at some future time
without receiving full payment therefor, other than in a manner
consistent with the normal cycle of billing.
(v)
Guarantees . Except as set forth in Section
4.1(v)
of the
Disclosure Schedule , there are no surety bonds, performance
bonds guarantees or financial assurances of which any Nexus Company
is a principal or guarantor (the “ Guarantees
”).
(w)
Labor Matters .
(i)
Each
Nexus Company has furnished Regency copies of all material claims,
complaints, charges, reports or other documents in their files made
by or against any of them since January 9, 2007 and, to
Member’s Knowledge, in the past six (6) years with respect to
any current or former Employee pursuant to workers’
compensation laws, Title VII of The Civil Rights Act of 1964, The
Civil Rights Act of 1865, The Occupational Safety and Health Act,
The National Labor Relations Act, The Employee Retirement Income
Security Act, The Equal Pay Act, The Americans With Disabilities
Act, The Family and Medical Leave Act, The Older Workers Benefit
Protection Act, The Fair Labor Standards Act, The Civil Rights Act
of 1991, The False Claims Act, and any other applicable Laws
relating to employment and labor.
(ii)
The
Nexus Companies have complied in all material respects with all
applicable Laws relating to the employment of labor.
(iii)
Neither
Member nor any of the Nexus Companies has agreed to recognize any
labor union or other collective bargaining representative and, to
Member’s Knowledge, no labor union or other collective
bargaining representative claims to or is seeking to represent any
Employees. To Member’s Knowledge, no union
organizational campaign or representation petition is currently
pending with respect to any employee of any Nexus
Company.
(iv)
Except
as set forth in Section
4.1(w)
of the
Disclosure Schedule , neither Member nor any Nexus Company
is a party to or bound by any collective bargaining
agreement,
other labor contract or individual agreement applicable to any of
its respective employees. No collective bargaining
agreements, other labor contract or individual agreements relating
to any employees of any Nexus Company are being negotiated by any
Nexus Company.
(v)
There
is no labor strike or labor dispute, slow down, lockout or stoppage
actually pending or, to Member’s Knowledge, threatened
against or affecting any Nexus Company, and no Nexus Company has
experienced any labor strikes or material labor disputes,
slowdowns, lockouts or stoppages. No Nexus Company is
engaged, nor has engaged, in any unfair labor practices, and no
Nexus Company has had any unfair labor practice charges or
complaints before any Governmental Authority pending or, to
Member’s Knowledge, threatened against such Nexus
Company. No Nexus Company has had any material
grievances, arbitrations, or other Proceedings, or, since
December 31, 2006, any grievances, arbitrations or other
Proceedings, arising or asserted to arise out of or under any
employment or similar Contract or individual Contract, pending or,
to Member’s Knowledge, threatened, against such Nexus
Company.
(vi)
To
Member’s Knowledge, all Employees are lawfully authorized to
work in the United States according to applicable immigration
Laws. Member and all Nexus Companies are in compliance
in all material respects with all applicable Laws relating to
documentation and recordkeeping of their employees’ work
authorization status.
(vii)
As
of the date hereof, and in the past four years, there have not been
any plant closing, mass layoffs or other terminations of employees
of Member or any Nexus Company that would create any obligations
upon or liabilities for Member or any Nexus Company under the
Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act or similar
Laws.
(x)
Intellectual Property . To
Member’s Knowledge there are no material trademarks, trade
names, patents, service marks, brand names, computer programs,
databases, industrial designs, copyrights or other intangible
property (“ Intellectual
Property ”) that are used in connection with the
operating of the business of the Nexus Companies in the Ordinary
Course of Business for which the Nexus Companies do not hold valid
title or a valid right to use in connection with the use
thereof. In the past two years, and, to Member’s
Knowledge, in the past four years no Nexus Company has received any
written notice of infringement, misappropriation or conflict or, to
Member’s Knowledge, oral notice of any infringement,
misappropriation or conflict, in each case with respect to
Intellectual Property from any Person with respect to the operation
of the Assets owned by any Nexus Company.
(y)
Sonat Matters .
Except as disclosed in Section 4.1(y) of the
Disclosure Schedule , there are no material consents of
third parties that are required in order for the Surviving Company
to transfer the 14-inch Line and the 16-inch Line (in the case of
Alternative B) or the 14-inch Line (in the case of Alternative C),
together in each case with any required Permits and environmental
permits, to Regency Intrastate Gas LLC (“ RIGS ”)
under any rights-of-way, Hydrocarbon Contracts or such Permits or
environmental permits.
ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES REGARDING
REGENCY AND MERGER SUB
5.1
Representations and Warranties Regarding Regency and Merger
Sub . Regency
and Merger Sub, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to
Nexus and Member as follows:
(a)
Organization . Merger
Sub is a limited liability company, duly organized and validly
existing under the Laws of the State of Delaware and, as of Closing
will be, qualified to do business and in good standing in the State
of Texas. Regency is a limited partnership, which is
duly organized and validly existing under the Laws of the State of
Delaware and is qualified to do business and is in good standing in
the State of Texas. Each of Merger Sub and Regency has
full legal power and right to carry on its business as such is now
being conducted.
(b)
Authorization of Transaction . Each
of Regency and Merger Sub has full power and authority to execute
and deliver this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to
which it is or shall be a party and to perform its obligations
hereunder and thereunder and the execution, delivery and
performance by each of Regency and Merger Sub of this Agreement and
the other Transaction Documents to which it is or shall be a party
have been duly and validly authorized and approved by all necessary
limited partnership or limited liability company actions of each of
Regency and Merger Sub. This Agreement and the other
Transaction Documents to which each of Regency and Merger Sub is or
shall be a party constitute (or upon execution will constitute) the
valid and legally binding obligation of Regency or Merger Sub, as
applicable, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms
and conditions, subject, however, to the effects of bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar Laws affecting
creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of
equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in
a Proceeding in equity or at law). Except as
contemplated by Section
6.6 , neither
Regency nor Merger Sub is required give any notice to, make any
filing with, or obtain any authorization, consent, or approval of
any Governmental Authority or any Third Party in order to execute
this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents to which Regency
or Merger Sub, as applicable, is or shall be a party, consummate
the transactions contemplated by, or otherwise perform the
obligations of Regency or Merger Sub, as applicable, under this
Agreement or the other Transaction Documents to which Regency or
Merger Sub, as applicable, is or shall be a party.
(c)
Noncontravention . Neither
the execution and delivery nor performance by Regency or Merger Sub
is or of this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents to which
Regency or Merger Sub shall be a party, nor the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, will (i) subject to
obtaining HSR Approval, violate any Law to which Regency or Merger
Sub is subject, (ii) violate any provision of the Organizational
Documents or Regency or Merger Sub or (iii) conflict with, result
in a breach of, constitute a default under, result in the
acceleration of, create in any party the right to accelerate,
terminate, modify, or cancel, or require any notice, approval or
consent under any Contract, lease, license or other instrument to
which Regency or Merger Sub is a party or by which it is bound or
to which any of its assets is subject, except, in this case of this
clause (iii), for such violations, defaults, breaches, or other
occurrences that would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the
ability of Regency or Merger Sub, as applicable, to
perform
its
obligations under this Agreement or the other Transaction
Documents to which it is or shall be a party or to consummate
the Merger or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
and the other Transaction Documents. The
performance by the Surviving Corporation of its obligations
under the Sonat Purchase Agreement will not (i) violate any
provision or Merger Subs’ Organizational Documents or
(ii) conflict with, result in a breach of, constitute a
default under, result in the acceleration of, create in any
party the right to accelerate, terminate, modify, or cancel,
or require any notice, approval or consent under any Contract,
lease, license or other instrument to which Merger Sub is a
party or by which it is bound or to which any of its assets is
subject, except, in the case of this clause (ii), for such
violations, defaults, breaches or other occurrences that would
not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected
to have a material adverse effect on the ability of the
Surviving Corporation to perform its obligations under the
Sonat Purchase Agreement.
(d)
Brokers’ Fees . Neither
Regency nor Merger Sub has any liability or obligation to pay any
fees or commissions to any broker, finder, or agent with respect to
the Merger.
(e)
Litigation .
(i)
There
is no Proceeding by any Person or Governmental Authority pending
or, to Regency’s Knowledge, overtly threatened against
Regency or Merger Sub or to which Regency or Merger Sub is a party,
and no injunction, judgment, order or decree to which Merger Sub,
Regency or their respective properties is subject, that reasonably
may be expected to have a material adverse effect upon the ability
of Regency or Merger Sub to consummate the transactions
contemplated in this Agreement the other Transaction Documents to
which it is or shall be a party or the consummation of the
transaction contemplated by the Sonat Purchase
Agreement.
(ii)
There
are no bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, or arrangement
Proceedings pending, being contemplated by, or, to Regency’s
Knowledge, threatened against Regency or Merger Sub or any
Affiliate that controls Regency.
(f)
Sufficient Funds . Regency
has cash available and existing committed borrowing facilities
which together are sufficient to enable it to pay the Merger
Consideration upon consummation of the Merger.
ARTICLE VI
COVENANTS
6.1
Satisfaction of Conditions Precedent ;
Cooperation .
(a)
From
the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Closing Date or
the termination of this Agreement, subject to the other terms of
this Agreement and without limiting the provisions set forth in
Section
6.6 , each
Party will use all commercially reasonable efforts to take all
action and to do all things necessary, proper, or advisable in
order to consummate and make effective the Merger as soon as
possible, including the satisfaction of the conditions precedent
set forth in Sections
7.1 and
7.2
.
(b)
Prior
to the Closing, Member and Nexus shall reasonably cooperate with
Regency and Regency’s financing sources. Nexus
shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to furnish to
Regency, as promptly as practicable upon Regency’s reasonable
request, any updated financial information and operating data
related to the Nexus Companies, including monthly financial and
Pipeline Data, with respect to periods subsequent to periods
covered by the financial information contained in the Audited
Financial Statements and Pipeline Data provided by Member (copies
of which may be provided to Regency’s lenders or financing
sources).
6.2
Notices and Consents .
(a)
Member
will, and will cause each Nexus Company to, use all commercially
reasonable efforts to obtain prior to Closing each consent set
forth in Sections
4.1(c)
and
4.1(f)
of the
Disclosure Schedule and all other consents required to be
obtained prior to Closing with respect to the Merger and Regency
shall use all commercially reasonable efforts in cooperating with
Member in obtaining such consents. The costs of
obtaining such consents shall be borne by Member.
(b)
Subject
to the other terms of this Agreement and without limiting the
provisions set forth in Section
6.6 , each of
the Parties will give any notices to, make any filings with, and
use all commercially reasonable efforts to obtain or assist the
other party in obtaining any authorizations, consents, and
approvals of Governmental Authorities necessary for the
consummation of the Merger.
6.3
Conduct of Business .
(a)
Member
and Nexus covenant and agree that until the earlier of the Closing
or the termination of this Agreement, except as otherwise set forth
in Section
6.3(a)
of the
Disclosure Schedule or unless Regency otherwise consents in
writing (which consent shall not unreasonably withheld, conditioned
or delayed), Member and Nexus shall cause the Nexus Companies
to:
(i)
operate
in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(ii)
preserve
substantially intact their business organizations, and use all
commercially reasonable efforts to (A) maintain their rights,
privileges and immunities and to maintain their relationships with
their customers and suppliers and (B) retain the services of the
Employees it would otherwise retain in the Ordinary Course of
Business, except for such Employees for whom Regency has requested
a Release in connection with this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby or those Employees designated in writing by
Regency to be terminated by the applicable Nexus Company prior to
Closing;
(iii)
use
all commercially reasonable efforts consistent with past practice
to maintain and to keep their properties and assets in good working
order, repair and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted; if
there is any casualty loss or material damage to any properties or
assets of any Nexus Company prior to Closing, Member shall, to the
extent practicable, consult with Regency regarding the replacement
or repair of such property or asset;
(iv)
use
all commercially reasonable efforts to keep in full force and
effect insurance applicable to their assets and operations
comparable in amount and scope of coverage to that currently
maintained;
(v)
(A)
keep and maintain accurate (in all material respects) books,
Records and accounts; (B) pay or accrue all Taxes, assessments and
other governmental charges imposed upon any of their Assets or with
respect to their franchises, business, or income when due and
before any penalty or interest accrues thereon, except for any
Taxes the validity of which is being contested in good faith by
appropriate legal Proceedings and for which adequate reserves have
been set aside; (C) accrue and pay when due and payable all wages
and other compensation incurred with respect to all Employees and
independent contractors of and consultants to the Nexus Companies
and (D) comply in all material respects with the requirements of
all applicable Laws and all actions and requirements of any
Governmental Authority necessary in the operation of its business,
and comply and enforce (in all material respects) the provisions of
all Material Contracts;
(vi)
subject
to Section 8.6 ,
comply with its obligations under the Sonat Purchase Agreement and
the Sonat CIOM Agreement; and
(vii)
use
all commercially reasonable efforts to obtain authorization to the
extent required by Health, Safety and Environmental Laws from the
Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality for the equipment at
the Nexus Companies’ Logansport, Louisiana facility that have
the potential to emit condensate “flash gas,”
including, but not limited to, the installation of a flare or any
controls required to reduce the emissions of such “flash
gas.”
(b)
Except
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, as otherwise set forth in
Section
6.3(b)
of the
Disclosure Schedule or unless Regency otherwise agrees in
writing from and after the execution of this Agreement and until
the earlier of the Closing or the termination of this Agreement,
Member shall not sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of, or grant
any Lien with respect to, any Membership Interests or any other
Equity Interests of any Nexus Company and Member and Nexus shall
not, and shall not permit any Nexus Company to, take any of the
following actions (and shall take all action necessary (including
exercising their respective rights with respect to the Membership
Interests) to prevent any Nexus Company from taking any action
prohibited by this Section
6.3(b)
):
(i)
(A)
redeem, purchase or acquire, or offer to purchase or acquire, any
of the outstanding Equity Interests of any Nexus Company, (B)
effect any reorganization or recapitalization, (C) split, combine
or reclassify any of the Equity Interests of any Nexus Company, or
(D) declare, set aside or pay any dividend or other distribution in
respect of its Equity Interests, other than wholly in cash to the
extent such dividend or other distribution would not cause Net
Working Capital immediately following such dividend or other
distribution to be less than the Base Working Capital;
(ii)
(A)
offer, sell, transfer, issue, dispose of or grant, or authorize the
offering, sale, transfer, issuance, grant or disposition of, any
Membership Interests or any of its Equity Interests or (B) grant,
or authorize the grant of, any Lien with respect to any Membership
Interests or any of its Equity Interests;
(iii)
acquire,
directly or indirectly, (A) whether by merger or consolidation, by
purchasing an Equity Interest or otherwise, any business or
division of any Person or (B) any material assets or properties
other than the acquisition of assets from suppliers or vendors in
the Ordinary Course of Business;
(iv)
sell,
lease, exchange or otherwise dispose of any of its assets, except
for dispositions of Hydrocarbon inventories or leases of its
properties, in each case in the Ordinary Course of
Business;
(v)
grant,
create, or assume, or (except for Permitted Encumbrances) incur,
any Lien with respect to any of its respective assets;
(vi)
adopt
any amendments to its Organizational Documents;
(vii)
(A)
make any material change in its methods of accounting in effect on
the date hereof, except as may be required to comply with changes
in GAAP, (B) make or revoke any Tax election or materially change
(or make a request to change) its Tax accounting methods, policies,
or procedures, (C) settle or compromise any Proceeding relating to
material Taxes, except, in each case, as may be required by Law;
(D) revalue any asset except as required by GAAP consistently
applied on a basis consistent with past practice and the
preparation of the Audited Financial Statements, or (E) consent to
any extension or waiver of the limitation period applicable to any
material Tax claim or assessment;
(viii)
incur
or guarantee any additional Indebtedness, except for (A)
intercompany loans among the Nexus Companies, or issue or sell any
debt securities or warrants or rights to acquire any debt
securities or guaranty any debt securities of others or (B)
Indebtedness incurred under the Credit Facility in the Ordinary
Course of Business;
(ix)
incur,
or commit to incur, any liability or obligation to make capital
expenditures in excess of $25,000 individually or
$100,000 in the aggregate, except (A) in the case of emergency or
as required by a Governmental Authority, in which case such Nexus
Company may make all reasonable and necessary capital expenditures
without the prior written consent of Regency but shall provide
prompt written notice to Regency of such capital expenditures and
(B) liability or obligations for capital expenditures incurred in
the Ordinary Course of Business which have been fully paid and
discharged on or before the Measurement Date;
(x)
adopt
a plan of complete or partial liquidation or resolutions providing
for or authorizing a liquidation, dissolution, merger,
consolidation or other restructuring;
(xi)
(A)
amend, modify, waive or assign any rights or obligations under or
otherwise change in any material respect any Contract, (B)
terminate any Contract before the expiration of the term thereof,
other than to the extent any such Contract terminates pursuant to
its terms in the Ordinary Course of Business, or (C) enter into any
Contract with any Affiliate of Member; provided, however ,
that with respect to actions under the foregoing clause (B) that
would require Regency’s prior consent pursuant to this
Section
6.3 but for
such action being in
the
Ordinary Course of Business, Member shall promptly notify Regency
in writing of any such action;
(xii)
enter
into or assume (A) any Contract that would constitute a Material
Contract or (B) any other Contract with any Person (including an
Affiliate of any Nexus Company), other than Contracts entered into
in the Ordinary Course of Business with a Person (other than an
Affiliate of any Nexus Company);
(xiii)
(A)
employ any common law employees, of the Nexus Companies, other than
the Employees employed as of the date of this Agreement and
replacements for, and on substantially similar terms as, any such
Employees whose employment is terminated after the date of this
Agreement, (B) engage any independent contractors, consultants or
agents pursuant to any Contract which shall either constitute a
Material Contract or for which any Nexus Company shall have any
continuing obligation after the Closing, (C) enter into or become
obligated to make payments under or with respect to, (1) any Nexus
Related Employee Benefit Plan, (2) any other equity based,
incentive or deferred compensation plan or arrangement or other
fringe benefit plan, (3) any consulting, employment, severance,
bonus, termination or similar Contract with any Person or (4) any
amendment or extension of any such plan or Contract, except as
required by Law or as is immaterial in amount and authorized
pursuant existing terms of such plans, arrangements or Contracts,
(D) grant, pay, or otherwise become liable for or obligated to pay,
any Severance Obligation, Change of Control Amounts, bonus or
increase in compensation or benefits to, or forgive any
Indebtedness of, any Director, Officer, Manager or Employee or any
former independent contractor, consultant or agent of any Nexus
Company; or (E) make any loan to, or enter into any other
transaction with, any of its Directors, Officers, Managers or
Employees;
(xiv)
waive
any claims or rights pertaining to the business of the Nexus
Companies other than claims which are immaterial in amount and
consequence to the business of the Nexus Companies; or
(xv)
agree
in writing or otherwise to do any of the foregoing.
(c)
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary herein, Member and the Nexus Companies
shall be permitted to take any action they reasonably deem
necessary or advisable in order to comply with applicable Law or
the terms of any Material Contract in effect on the date hereof or,
subject to Section
8.6 and except
for actions described on Schedule D ,
to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Sonat Purchase
Agreement (including with respect to the Sonat Abandonment
Application and obtaining Final FERC Approval Order).
(d)
The
parties agree that if Regency agrees in writing to any of the
preceding Sections
6.3(a) and
6.3(b) , each
applicable section of Disclosure Schedules shall be automatically
updated for all purposes under this Agreement to include such
action to which Regency agreed.
6.4
Access and Information . During
the period from the date of this Agreement until the time of
Closing, during Nexus’ normal business hours and in a manner
so as not to interfere with the normal business operations of the
Nexus Companies, Member and Nexus will permit
representatives
of Regency to have reasonable access to the Employees and to
all the Records. Any information obtained by
Regency or its Representatives under this Section
6.4 shall
be deemed to be Confidential Information under the
Confidentiality Agreement, except that if the Closing occurs,
the obligation of confidentiality shall
terminate. During the period from the date of this
Agreement until the time of Closing, Member and Nexus shall
also make available to Regency, upon reasonable notice during
normal business hours, personnel of the Nexus Companies as
Regency may reasonably request. No investigations
by Regency will reduce or otherwise affect the obligation or
liability of Member or Nexus with respect to any express
representations, warranties, covenants or agreements made
herein or in any instrument, agreement or document executed
and delivered in connection with this Agreement.
6.5
Evaluation and Inspection .
(a)
During
the period from the date of this Agreement until the time of
Closing, Regency shall, at reasonable time upon reasonable prior
notice to Member have the right to enter upon the property subject
to the Real Property Interests to conduct non-invasive,
non-destructive inspections of the Real Property Interests, the
System(s) and the Facilities. Regency agrees
that it will not perform any other types of inspections of the
property subject to the Real Property Interests (such as, by way of
example but not limitation, sampling or testing of soil,
groundwater or surface water) prior to Closing, unless agreed to in
advance by Member.
(b)
Member
and Nexus agree to cooperate reasonably with Regency in conducting
the inspections referred to in Section
6.5
(a) , but any
and all such inspections of the Assets shall be conducted solely by
Regency and shall be performed at Regency’s sole risk and
expense. All “due diligence” activities of
Regency shall be conducted in accordance with applicable
Laws. Regency shall, if the Closing does not occur,
restore the property subject to the Real Property Interests, to the
extent reasonably possible, to the same condition as it was in
prior to the conducting by Regency or its representatives of the
inspections.
(c)
During
the period from the date of this Agreement until the time of
Closing, to the extent that any Nexus Company has any alignment
sheets relating to the System(s) and the Facilities and documents
containing data on the size and type of the various portions of the
pipelines included in the Assets in such Nexus Company’s
possession or otherwise reasonably available to such Nexus Company,
Member and Nexus will provide copies thereof or make copies thereof
available to Regency and Regency may review such documents during
its inspections hereunder.
(d)
REGENCY
SHALL PROTECT, DEFEND, INDEMNIFY AND HOLD MEMBER AND THE OTHER
MEMBER INDEMNITEES (INCLUDING THE NEXUS COMPANIES PRIOR TO CLOSING)
HARMLESS FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF OR
RELATING TO THE DUE DILIGENCE CONDUCTED BY REGENCY, REGENCY’S
AFFILIATES OR ANY PERSON ACTING ON REGENCY’S OR ITS
AFFILIATE’S BEHALF, IN CONNECTION WITH ANY DUE DILIGENCE
CONDUCTED PURSUANT TO OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR THE
TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER SUCH
DAMAGES ARE CAUSED BY (IN WHOLE OR IN PART) THE SOLE, JOINT OR
CONCURRENT NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHER LEGAL FAULT
OF
MEMBER
OR ANY OTHER MEMBER INDEMNITEES, EXCEPTING ONLY THOSE DAMAGES
ACTUALLY CAUSED BY THE GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OF
MEMBER OR ANY MEMBER INDEMNITEES (INCLUDING THE NEXUS COMPANIES
PRIOR TO CLOSING). All due diligence conducted by
Regency, Regency’s Affiliates or any Person acting on
Regency’s or its Affiliate’s behalf pursuant to or in
connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby shall be conducted so as not to unreasonably disrupt the
normal operations of Member or any of its Affiliates and shall be
subject to the terms of the Confidentiality
Agreement. Neither Member nor any of the Nexus Companies
shall be obligated to comply with any of the terms of Sections
6.4 or
6.5 if
compliance with such terms reasonably would be expected to violate
any attorney-client privilege or the terms of any confidentiality
agreement or Contract to which Member or any Nexus Company is a
party or by which it is bound or applicable
Law. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary,
Regency acknowledges and agrees that the terms of Sections
6.4 and
6.5 do not
give Regency or any of its Affiliates or Representatives the right
to contact, directly or indirectly, any customer, supplier or other
third Person with whom any of the Nexus Companies has any business
relationship in connection with this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby without the express prior written consent of
Member (and then only on terms as reasonably specified in writing
by Member); provided that Member hereby gives its consent for
Regency and its Representatives to contact and engage in such
discussions with the Persons listed on Schedule A
.
6.6
HSR Act .
(a)
Member
and Nexus shall cause the ultimate parent entity of Nexus to (i)
file as soon as practicable and in any event within one (1)
Business Day following the date of this Agreement, exclusive
thereof, with the DOJ and the FTC the notification report form
required by the HSR Act for the transactions contemplated
hereunder, requesting early termination of the waiting period
thereunder, (ii) respond promptly to inquiries from the FTC or the
DOJ in connection with such filing and (iii) comply in all material
respects with the requirements of the HSR Act.
(b)
Regency
and Merger Sub shall cause the ultimate parent entity of Regency to
(i) file as soon as practicable and in any event within one (1)
Business Day following the date of this Agreement, exclusive
thereof, with the DOJ and the FTC the notification report form
required by the HSR Act for the transactions contemplated
hereunder, requesting early termination of the waiting period
thereunder, (ii) respond promptly to inquiries from the FTC or the
DOJ and (iii) comply in all material respects with the requirements
of the HSR Act.
(c)
Subject
to regulatory constraints, each Party shall cooperate with each
other and promptly furnish all information to the other Party that
is necessary in connection with the Parties’ compliance with
the HSR Act and to obtain HSR Approval.
(d)
The
Nexus Companies and Regency shall coordinate their initial filing
of the notification and report form so that such filings are made
on the same day. The Parties shall each keep the other
Parties fully advised with respect to any requests from or
communications with the DOJ or the FTC and shall consult with the
other Parties with respect to all filings and responses
thereto.
(e)
The
filing fees with respect to any filing under the HSR Act shall be
paid at the time of filing by Regency.
(f)
Subject
to Section
6.6(g) , the
Parties shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause the
expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under
the HSR Act as soon as practicable.
(g)
Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, nothing in this Agreement shall
require Regency or any of its Affiliates to dispose of any of its
assets or to limit its freedom of action with respect to any of its
businesses, or to consent to any disposition of its assets or
limits on its freedom of action with respect to any of its
businesses, whether prior to or after the Effective Time, or to
commit or agree to any of the foregoing, to obtain any consents,
approvals, permits or authorizations or to remove any impediments
to the Merger relating to Antitrust Laws or to avoid the entry of,
or to effect the dissolution of, any injunction, temporary
restraining order or other order in any Proceeding relating to the
HSR Act or other antitrust, competition, premerger, notification or
trade-regulation law, regulation or order (“ Antitrust Laws
”). In addition, notwithstanding anything to the
contrary herein, nothing in this Section
6.6 shall
require any of the Parties to disclose to the other Parties
confidential information about third parties in connection with
seeking approvals from Governmental Authorities to the extent that
such disclosures would constitute violations of Contractual
obligations or legal duties, provided that this sentence shall not
permit any Party to fail to disclose any information required to be
filed with a Governmental Authority by this Agreement.
(h)
Subject
to Section
6.6
(g) , if any
action or Proceeding is instituted (or threatened), challenging the
transaction contemplated by this Agreement as violative of any
Antitrust Laws, or if any decree, judgment, injunction or other
order is entered, enforced or attempted to be entered or enforced,
by a court or other Governmental Authority, which decree, judgment,
injunction or other order would make the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement illegal or would otherwise prohibit, prevent,
restrict, impair or delay consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby, each of Regency, Member and the Nexus
Companies shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to contest
and resist any such action or proceeding and to have vacated,
lifted, reversed, or overturned any such decree, judgment,
injunction or other order, whether temporary, preliminary, or
permanent, that is in effect and that prohibits, prevents or
restricts consummation of the transaction contemplated by this
Agreement and to have such decree, judgment, injunction or other
order repealed, rescinded or made inapplicable so as to permit
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
provided that no Party shall have any obligation under this
Section
6.6(h) at any time that Member shall have the right to
terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section
10.1(g)
unless, and then only during the period for which, Member shall
have waived such right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to
Section
10.1(g)
.
6.7
Employees .
(a)
Except
for those Employees designated in writing by Regency to be
terminated by the applicable Nexus Company prior to Closing, each
Nexus Company will not terminate any, and will use all commercially
reasonable efforts to continue to employ each Employee until the
Closing.
(b)
Member
and each Nexus Company shall reasonably cooperate with Regency in
arranging interviews with the Employees prior to Closing for
potential continued employment with the Nexus Companies or an
Affiliate of Regency after the Closing.
(c)
Nothing
in this Agreement, whether express or implied, shall constitute an
obligation of Regency, the Nexus Companies or any of Affiliates of
Regency to maintain the employment of any particular Employee after
the Closing. No Employee is intended to be a beneficiary
of the provisions of this Section
6.7
.
(d)
Prior
to Closing, the Nexus Companies will (i) adopt appropriate
corporate resolutions and use all commercially reasonable efforts
to terminate the Fidelity Advisor SIMPLE IRA Plan of Nexus Gas
Midstream Services, LLC and the Humana Group Medical, Dental and
Voluntary Life Insurance Plan, with each such termination being
effective at or as soon as possible after Closing, and (ii)
otherwise take all action as necessary such that no contributions,
premiums or other liabilities will accrue to the Surviving Company
or any of the other Nexus Companies with respect to the plans
identified in Section
6.7(d)(i) from and after Closing.
6.8
Financial and Internal Controls Information
. From
the date of this Agreement until the Closing, Nexus shall promptly
disclose to Regency in summary form the existence, to
Member’s Knowledge, of any of the following (i) any
significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal
controls of the Nexus Companies that would reasonably be expected
to adversely affect the Nexus Companies’ ability to record,
process, summarize and report financial data, (ii) any material
weaknesses in the Nexus Companies’ internal controls, (iii)
any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or
other employees who have a significant role in the Nexus
Companies’ internal controls and (iv) any change in the
internal controls or disclosure controls and procedures of the
Nexus Companies effected since January 1, 2007.
6.9
Payoff Letters; Releases .
(a)
At
least two (2), but no more than five (5) Business Days prior to the
Closing Date, Nexus shall cause the Nexus Companies to use all
commercially reasonable efforts to cause each payee of Expenses and
Third-Party Debt, as the case may be, to deliver a Payoff Letter to
the Nexus Companies, copies of which shall be promptly delivered to
Regency.
(b)
Member
and Nexus shall, and shall cause the other Nexus Companies to, use
all commercially reasonable efforts to (i) obtain and deliver to
Regency at the Closing an executed Release from each Officer,
Director and Manager who has not delivered a Release prior to the
Closing and (ii) cause each of Fritz Brinkman, Paul Coscia and Mike
Davis and any other Officer, Director or Manager who has delivered
a Release prior to the Closing to reaffirm such Release as of the
Closing in accordance with the terms of such Release.
6.10
Tax Matters .
(a)
Filing of Tax Returns; Payment of Taxes . Regency
shall prepare or cause to be prepared all Tax Returns of each Nexus
Company required to be filed after the Closing Date for all
Pre-Closing Periods and all Straddle Periods. Such Tax
Returns shall be prepared on a basis consistent with past practice
except to the extent otherwise required by applicable
Law.
Not
later than thirty (30) days prior to the due date for filing any
such Tax Return Regency shall deliver a copy of such Tax Return,
together with all supporting documentation and workpapers, to
Member for its review and reasonable comment. Regency
will cause such Tax Return (as revised to incorporate the
Member’s reasonable comments) to be timely filed and will
provide a copy to Member. Not later than five (5) days
prior to the due date for payment of Taxes with respect to any Tax
Return for a Pre-Closing Period or Straddle Period, Member shall
pay to Regency the amount of any Regency Indemnified Taxes with
respect to such Tax Return.
(b)
Proration of Straddle Period Taxes . In the case
of Taxes that are payable with respect to any Straddle Period, the
portion of any such Taxes that is attributable to the portion of
the period ending on the Measurement Date shall be:
(i)
in
the case of Taxes that are either (A) based upon or related to
income or receipts, or (B) imposed in connection with any sale or
other transfer or assignment of property (real or personal,
tangible or intangible), deemed equal to the amount that would be
payable if the Tax period of each Nexus Company ended with (and
included) the Measurement Date; provided that exemptions,
allowances or deductions that are calculated on an annual basis
(including depreciation and amortization deductions) shall be
allocated between the period ending on and including the
Measurement Date and the period beginning after the Measurement
Date in proportion to the number of days in each period;
and
(ii)
in
the case of Taxes that are imposed on a periodic basis with respect
to the assets or capital of a Nexus Company, deemed to be the
amount of such Taxes for the entire Straddle Period (or, in the
case of such Taxes determined on an arrears basis, the amount of
such Taxes for the immediately preceding period), multiplied by a
fraction the numerator of which is the number of calendar days in
the portion of the period ending on and including the Measurement
Date and the denominator of which is the number of calendar days in
the entire period.
(c)
Cooperation on Tax Returns and Tax Proceedings
. Regency, each Nexus Company, and Member shall
cooperate fully as and to the extent reasonably requested by the
other party in connection with the filing of Tax Returns and any
audit, litigation or other Proceeding (each a “ Tax Proceeding
”) with respect to Taxes (other than a Proceeding described
in Section
9.9 , which
shall be governed by Section
9.9 ) imposed
on or with respect to the assets, operations or activities of any
Nexus Company. Such cooperation shall include the
retention and (upon the other party’s request) the provision
of records and information that are reasonably relevant to any such
Tax Return or Tax Proceeding and making employees reasonably
available on a mutually convenient basis to provide additional
information and explanation of any material provided
hereunder. Member and Regency further agree, upon
request, to use all commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any
certificate or other document from any Governmental Authority or
any other Person as may be necessary to mitigate, reduce or
eliminate any Tax that could be imposed on Regency, Member (or any
direct or indirect owners of Member) or on any Nexus Company
(including, but not limited to, any Tax with respect to the
transactions contemplated hereby).
(d)
Transfer Taxes . Member and Regency will equally
share all sales, real property, use, excise, stock, stamp,
documentary, filing, recording, permit, license, authorization and
similar Taxes, filing fees and similar charges (“
Transfer
Taxes ”) resulting from the Merger. Regency
and/or the relevant Nexus Company shall prepare and timely file all
Tax Returns or other documentation relating to such Transfer Taxes;
provided ,
however ,
that to the extent required by applicable Laws, Member will join in
the execution of any such Tax Returns or other documents relating
to such Taxes. Regency and/or the relevant Nexus Company
shall provide Member with copies of each such Tax Return or other
document at least five (5) days prior to the date on which such Tax
Return or other document is required to be filed for review and
approval by Member, such approval not to be unreasonably
withheld. Regency and Member shall reasonably cooperate
in procuring any available exemptions from any Transfer Taxes and
shall reasonably cooperate in procuring any documentation that may
be necessary to establish any such exemption.
(e)
Purchase Consideration Allocation for Tax Purposes
.
(i)
Member
and Regency agree to use all commercially reasonable efforts to
agree within ninety (90) days following the Closing Date (the
“ Allocation
Period ”) to an allocation of the Merger Consideration
and any other consideration paid by Regency (including any
liabilities of the Nexus Companies assumed or paid by Regency) in
connection with the transactions contemplated herein (the “
Tax
Consideration ”) among the Assets. Except
as provided in Section
6.10(e)(ii) , below, (A) if at the end of the Allocation
Period, there is a dispute between Member and Regency with respect
to the allocation of the Tax Consideration among the Assets, such
dispute shall be resolved pursuant to the principles of
Section
2.8(c) , and (B) Member and Regency agree to report the
federal, state and local income and other tax consequences of the
transactions contemplated herein, and in particular to report the
information required by Section 1060(b) of the Code, in a manner
consistent with such agreed or resolved allocation, as the case may
be, and will not take any position inconsistent therewith upon
examination of any Tax Return, in any refund claim, in any
litigation, investigation or otherwise unless required to do so by
applicable Law after notice to and discussions with the other
Party, or with such other Party’s prior written
consent. Member and Regency agree that each will furnish
the other a copy of Form 8594 (Asset Acquisition Statement under
Section 1060) as filed with the Internal Revenue Service by such
party or any affiliate thereof within ninety (90) days of the
filing of such form with the Internal Revenue
Service. Member and Regency further agree to use all
commercially reasonable efforts to revise such allocation to
reflect any adjustments to the Merger Consideration, by reason of
Section
2.8 or any
Sonat Cash Payment or otherwise, in a manner consistent with, and
to comply with the tax reporting and other requirements provided
in, the Proceeding sentences of this Section
6.10(e)
.
(ii)
Notwithstanding
anything provided herein to the contrary, Regency shall not be
bound by any agreement or resolution described in Section
6.10(e)(i) , above, nor shall Regency be required to report
on any Tax Return, any allocation of Tax Consideration among the
Assets in a manner that would be inconsistent with any allocation
or valuation required by Regency’s auditors for GAAP
purposes.
(f)
Escrow Agreement .
(i)
The
Parties agree to report on all applicable Tax Returns any
payment made to Member pursuant to Section
2.7(c) or pursuant to Article XI and the Escrow
Agreement as an installment payment pursuant to Section 453
of the Code.
(ii)
The
Parties agree to report on all applicable Tax Returns any
distributions of earnings from the Escrow Fund to Member
pursuant to the Escrow Agreement as a payment of interest in
respect of the installment obligation by Regency to Member
pursuant to Section 453 of the Code.
6.11
Support of Sonat Abandonment Application . If
the application for abandonment to be filed by Sonat pursuant to
the terms of the Sonat Purchase Agreement (the “ Sonat Abandonment
Application ”) is filed by Sonat prior to Closing,
from the time of such filing until the Closing, subject to
Section
8.6 , Member
shall provide, and shall cause each Nexus Company to provide,
diligent and timely support of the Sonat Abandonment Application,
which support shall include (a) motion in support of the Sonat
Abandonment Application, (b) good faith cooperation in the
prosecution of the Sonat Abandonment Application and (c) assistance
to Regency, as Regency may reasonably request from time to time, in
obtaining the Final FERC Approval Order consistent with the
parties’ intentions under the Sonat Purchase
Agreement.
6.12
Notice of Breaches of Representations and Warranties
. Following
the execution of this Agreement and prior to Closing, Regency and
Merger Sub shall promptly (and in any event prior to the earlier of
five (5) Business Days following discovery or the Closing Date)
notify Member of any matter of which any Officers of the Managing
General Partner has actual knowledge that, to the actual knowledge
of such officer, constitutes a breach of any representation or
warranty of Member or any Nexus Company contained in Article III or
Article
IV ; provided, however, any such notification will not
affect the rights or obligations of Member, any Nexus Company,
Regency, or Merger Sub, under this Agreement and the failure to
provide such notification will not affect any rights of any Regency
Indemnitee or any obligations of Member or any Nexus Company under
this Agreement or any other Transaction Document except as
contemplated by Section 9.1(b)
.
6.13
Auditor Matters . Prior
to Closing, Member shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to
obtain from Hein & Associates LLP a written acknowledgement
that they are engaged jointly by Member and Nexus for purposes of
their audit of the Audited Financial Statements and deliver to such
auditors written instructions directing and authorizing such
auditors to, from and after Closing, cooperate with the Surviving
Company at the Surviving Company’s sole cost in producing
such financial information relating to the Nexus Companies as may
be requested by the Surviving Company.
6.14
Termination of Agreement s
.
(a)
Member
shall terminate the Management Agreement, including without
limitation the provisions of Section 4 thereof, with respect to
each Nexus Company, effective at or prior to the Closing, without
any further liability or obligation of any Nexus Company
thereunder, including without limitation under Section 4 of the
Management Agreement.
(b)
Member
shall cause Nexus Gas Gathering, LP to terminate the Swap
Agreement, effective at or prior to the Closing, without any
further liability or obligation of any Nexus Company
thereunder.
6.15
Transfer of Certain Assets of Member . Prior
to Closing, Member shall transfer, convey and assign to the Nexus
Companies, pursuant to conveyance documents in form reasonably
acceptable to Regency, all of Member’s rights, title and
interest in, to and under all assets which constitute a part of the
Systems, the Facilities or are otherwise used in, or are necessary
for use in connection with, the Pipeline Assets in the Ordinary
Course of Business, including without limitation the assets
identified in Schedule F
(collectively, the “ Identified Member
Assets ”).
ARTICLE VII
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT;
CASUALTY LOSS; CLOSING DELIVERIES
7.1
Conditions to Obligation of Regency and Merger
Sub . The
obligation of Regency and Merger Sub to consummate the transactions
to be performed by it in connection with the Closing is subject to
satisfaction of the following conditions:
(a)
Title
Representations shall be true and correct as of the Closing Date as
if made as of the Closing Date;
(b)
the
representations and warranties contained in Article III
and in Article IV, other than the Title Representations, shall
be true and correct in all respects ( provided ,
however ,
that for purposes of determining whether such representations and
warranties are true and correct, all qualifications in such
representations and warranties as to materiality, Material Adverse
Effect, in all material respects and similar materiality
qualifications contained in such representations and warranties
(other than in Section
4.1(q)(iii) or
in any defined term such as “Material Contract”) shall
be disregarded when made and as of the Closing Date as if made on
and as of the Closing Date, except (i) that such representations
and warranties may be untrue or incorrect as a result of actions or
transactions expressly permitted or required by this Agreement or
actions or transactions of Member or Nexus made with the prior
written consent of Regency, (ii) for such representations and
warranties made as of a specified date, which shall be required to
be true and correct only on and as of such specified date, and
(iii) for those failures to be true and correct that, individually
or in the aggregate, do not constitute a Material Adverse
Effect;
(c)
each
of Member and Nexus shall have performed in all material respects
each and every material covenant, agreement and obligation required
by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by Member or
Nexus, as applicable, prior to or at the
Closing;
(d)
there
shall not be any injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, or
charge of any Governmental Authority in effect
preventing consummation of the Merger;
(e)
all
consents, authorizations and approvals set forth on Schedule B
shall have been obtained and delivered to Regency;
(f)
HSR
Approval shall have been obtained;
(g)
all
documents, instruments, certificates or other items required to be
delivered to the Escrow Agent pursuant to Section
7.4(a)(vi) and
to Regency pursuant to Section
7.4(a)
(i)
through (vii) shall have been delivered;
(h)
from
the date of this Agreement to the Closing Date no Material Adverse
Effect shall have occurred;
(i)
none
of the Non-Competition Agreements, the Releases or the Separation
Agreements shall have been terminated and there shall not be
pending in a court of competent jurisdiction or threatened by any
party to a Non-Competition Agreement, Release or Separation
Agreement any Proceeding challenging the effectiveness or
enforceability of any Non-Competition Agreement, any Release or any
Separation Agreement;
(j)
the
Sonat Purchase Agreement shall be in full force and effect and
shall not have been terminated and neither Nexus nor Sonat shall be
in breach of the Sonat Purchase Agreement to the extent which gives
the other any right to terminate the Sonat Purchase
Agreement;
(k)
the
Management Agreement shall have been terminated with respect to the
Nexus Companies in accordance with Section
6.14(a)
;
(l)
the
Swap Agreement shall have been terminated in accordance with
Section
6.14(b)
;
(m)
the
Identified Member Assets shall have been transferred to a Nexus
Company in accordance with Section
6.15 ;
and
(n)
none
of the Resignations or the Separation Agreements shall have been
revoked.
Regency,
on behalf of Merger Sub, may waive any condition specified in
Section
7.1
(other than Section
7.1
(d) or
Section
7.1(f) or
any other conditions that may not be waived under applicable
Law) if it executes a writing so stating at or before the
Closing.
7.2
Conditions to Obligation of Member and
Nexus . The
obligation of Member and Nexus to consummate the transactions to be
performed by them in connection with the Closing is subject to
satisfaction of the following conditions:
(a)
the
representations and warranties of Regency and Merger Sub contained
in Article V shall be true and correct when made and as of the
Closing Date as if made on and as of the Closing Date, except (i)
that such representations and warranties may be untrue or incorrect
as a result of actions or transactions expressly permitted or
required by this Agreement or actions or transactions of Regency
and Merger Sub made with the prior written consent of Member, (ii)
for such representations and warranties made as of a specified
date, which shall be required to be true and correct only on and as
of such specified date, and (iii) for those failures to be true and
correct that, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and
would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect
on the ability of Regency or Merger Sub to perform
their
respective obligations under this Agreement and the other
Transaction Documents to which it is or shall be a party or
consummate the Merger;
(b)
each
of Regency and Merger Sub shall have performed in all material
respects all of its covenants, agreements and obligations hereunder
through the Closing;
(c)
there
shall not be any injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, or
charge of any Governmental Authority in effect preventing
consummation of the Merger;
(d)
the
HSR Approval shall have been obtained;
(e)
Sonat
shall not be in breach of the Sonat Purchase Agreement to the
extent which gives Nexus any right to terminate the
Sonat Purchase Agreement (unless Regency shall have consented to
Nexus waiving such right to terminate, in which case this condition
shall not apply); and
(f)
all
documents, instruments, certificates or other items required to be
delivered to the Escrow Agent pursuant to Section
7.4(b)(i) and
to Member pursuant to Section
7.4(b)(ii)(A)
through
(E) shall have
been delivered.
Member,
on behalf of Nexus, may waive any condition specified in
Section
7.2
(other than Section
7.2(c) or
Section
7.2(d) or
any other conditions that may not be waived under applicable
Law) if it executes a writing so stating at or before the
Closing.
7.3
Casualty Loss . If,
prior to Closing, any of the Assets are damaged or destroyed by
fire or other casualty or are taken or threatened to be taken in
condemnation or under the right of eminent domain (“
Casualty
Loss ”) and the estimated cost to repair or replace,
as applicable, such Asset(s) (with equipment of similar utility) as
reasonably agreed to by Regency and Nexus in good faith exceeds the
aggregate proceeds actually received by the Nexus Companies as of
Closing under any indemnity, bond, insurance policy or similar
recovery right with respect to such Casualty Loss (the amount of
such estimated cost in excess of proceeds received, the “
Excess
Casualty Loss ”), then the Closing Payment Amount
shall be reduced by the amount of such Excess Casualty
Loss; provided ,
however ,
(A) if the estimated cost to repair or replace, as applicable, such
Asset(s) (with equipment of similar utility) as reasonably agreed
to by Regency and Nexus in good faith, in the aggregate with
respect to all Assets, exceeds $15,000,000 and/or any material
portions of the System(s) or the Facilities will be reasonably
unlikely to operate within twenty (20) days after the
occurrence of such Casualty Loss at a rate equal to or greater than
eighty percent (80%) of its average volume for the three (3) month
period immediately prior to the occurrence of the Casualty Loss,
then in either or both such events, at Regency’s option,
Regency may elect to terminate this Agreement and (B) if the
Closing Payment Amount is reduced by the Excess Casualty Loss with
respect to a Casualty Loss and Regency, the Surviving Company or
any of the Nexus Companies shall receive after the Closing any
additional proceeds with respect to such Casualty Loss under any
indemnity, bond, insurance policy or similar recovery right with
respect to such Casualty Loss, such proceeds, up to the amount by
which the Closing Payment Amount was reduced, shall be delivered by
Regency to Member within two (2) Business Days of receipt
thereof. If the Excess Casualty Loss exceeds $1,000,000,
Member may elect to terminate this Agreement without any liability
unless Regency agrees to reduce the
Closing
Payment Amount with respect to such Casualty Loss by only
$1,000,000 rather than the full amount of the Excess Casualty
Loss and waive any right to receive or recover from Member any
additional amount in respect thereof.
7.4
Deliveries at the Closing .
(a)
Deliveries of Member and Nexus . At Closing,
Member and Nexus shall deliver or cause to be delivered to Regency
each of the following, together with any additional items which
Regency may reasonably request upon written notice to effect the
transactions contemplated herein (the receipt of all of which items
described in Section
7.4(a)(i)
through
(vi)
are
conditions to the obligation of Regency and Merger Sub to close the
transactions contemplated hereby):
(i)
a
certificate of Member, dated as of the Closing Date certifying as
to the matters set forth in Sections
7.1(a) ,
7.1(b) and
7.1(c)
;
(ii)
certified
copies of the resolutions of the appropriate governing body of
Member and Nexus, authorizing and approving the execution, delivery
and performance of this Agreement, and all other Transaction
Documents to which such Person shall be a party, by such
Person;
(iii)
a
certificate of existence and, if applicable, good standing in
respect of each Nexus Company, issued by the Secretary of State for
the state where such Nexus Company was organized;
(iv)
all
consents, authorizations and approvals obtained by Member or any
Nexus Company as of the Closing Date in satisfaction of the
conditions in Section 7.1(e)
of this Agreement;
(v)
a
certificate of non-foreign status from Member that meets the
requirements of Treasury Regulation Section
1.1445-2(b)(2). Failure to provide such certificate
shall result in a withholding pursuant to Section 1445 of the
Code;
(vi)
a
counterpart of the Escrow Agreement duly executed by Member, with
an original counterpart also delivered to the Escrow
Agent;
(vii)
the
written resignation of each Director, Officer and Manager in his or
her capacity as such, effective concurrently with the Closing on
the Closing Date; and
(viii)
any
other documents or agreements contemplated hereby and/or necessary
to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
(b)
Regency’s Deliveries . At Closing, Regency
shall deliver each of the following, together with any additional
items which Member may reasonably request upon written notice to
effect the transactions contemplated herein (the receipt of all of
which items described in Section
7.4(b)(i)
and
Section 7.4(b)(ii)(A)
through
(E) , are
conditions to the obligation of Member and Nexus to close the
transactions contemplated hereby):
(i) to
the Escrow Agent,
(A)
an
amount equal to the Escrow Amount by wire transfer of immediately
available funds in accordance with Section
2.7(a)(ii) ;
and
(B)
a
counterpart of the Escrow Agreement duly executed by
Regency;
(ii)
to
Member:
(A)
an
amount equal to the Closing Payment Amount by wire transfer of
immediately available funds in accordance with Section
2.7(a)(i)
;
(B)
a
certificate of Regency, dated as of the Closing Date certifying as
to the matters set forth in Sections
7.2(a) and
7.2(b)
;
(C)
a
certified copy of the resolutions of the governing body of Regency
and Merger Sub authorizing and approving the execution, delivery
and performance of this Agreement, and all other Transaction
Documents to which any such Person shall be a party, by such
Person;
(D)
a
certificate of existence and, if applicable, good standing in
respect of each of Regency and Merger Sub, issued by the Secretary
of State for the State of Delaware;
(E)
an
executed counterpart of the Escrow Agreement duly executed by
Regency; and
(F)
any
other documents or agreements contemplated hereby and/or necessary
or appropriate to consummate the transactions contemplated
hereby.
7.5
Frustration of Closing Conditions . Neither
Regency or Merger Sub, on the one hand, nor Member, on the other
hand, may rely on the failure of any condition set forth in
Section
7.1 or
7.2 ,
respectively, to be satisfied if such failure was caused by such
Party’s or Parties’ failure to use all commercially
reasonable efforts to cause the Closing to occur, to the extent
required by Section
6.1
.
ARTICLE VIII
POST-CLOSING
COVENANTS
8.1
Further Assurances; Access to Records and Excluded
Records .
(a)
In
case at any time after the Closing any further action is necessary
to carry out the purposes of this Agreement, each of the Parties
will take such further action (including the execution,
acknowledgement and delivery of such further instruments and
documents) as the other Party reasonably may request, all at the
sole cost and expense of the requesting Party.
(b)
From
and after the Closing until the fifth anniversary of the Closing,
Member shall provide to Regency and its Representatives, during
normal business hours and upon reasonable request, reasonable
access to and, upon request by Regency, copies of all Records of
Member to the extent related to the Nexus Companies or the business
or operations conducted with respect to the Pipeline Assets, in
each case prior to Closing, in connection with any purpose
contemplated by this Agreement or any other proper business
purpose. If Member desires to destroy or dispose of such
Records, Member will offer first in writing at least sixty (60)
days prior to such destruction or disposition to surrender such
Records to Regency and Member may, at any time after Closing,
deliver all such Records to Regency upon which delivery
Member’s obligations under this Section
8.1
(b) shall
terminate.
(c)
From
and after the Closing, Regency shall provide to Member and its
Representatives, during normal business hours and upon reasonable
request, reasonable access to and, upon request by Member, copies
of all Records of the Surviving Company and the other Nexus
Companies existing on the Closing Date in connection with any
purpose contemplated by this Agreement or any other proper business
purpose. Regency will cause all such Records to be
maintained and not disposed of for a period of five (5) years from
the Closing Date or such longer time as may be required by Law, and
thereafter, if it desires to destroy or dispose of such Records,
will offer first in writing at least sixty (60) days prior to such
destruction or disposition to surrender them to
Member.
8.2
Permits, Licenses and Approvals . For
a period of 120 days from and after the Closing, Member shall
cooperate reasonably with and provide reasonable assistance to
Regency, as reasonably requested by Regency and provided Regency
shall reimburse Member for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by
Member in connection with such cooperation and assistance, in
completing and submitting all documents, applications, or filings
necessary to transfer (or, if transfer is prohibited, newly obtain)
all permits, licenses or other approvals of any Governmental
Authority that are necessary for Regency (or any Affiliate of
Regency) to own and/or operate the Assets in compliance with all
applicable Laws, including Health, Safety and Environmental
Laws.
8.3
Removal of Logos and Signs . Within
ninety (90) days after the Closing Date, Regency shall remove from
any publicly visible portion of the physical Assets any logo or
sign indicating that such assets are owned or operated by Member or
any Affiliates of Member (including signs displaying Member’s
or its Affiliate’s emergency contact telephone number or
otherwise using or displaying the name “Nexus,” in
whole or in part) and execute such documentation as Member shall
reasonably request in order to transfer to Member all of the Nexus
Companies’ rights, title and interest in the name
“Nexus” and all derivatives
thereof. As promptly as practical after the
Closing Date, Regency shall post Regency’s emergency contact
telephone numbers in place of any emergency contact telephone
numbers of any Member or any Affiliate.
8.4
Recording and Regulatory Filings .
(a)
Regency
shall be responsible for all filings with state and federal
agencies for change of owner or operator, and shall promptly
provide Member with copies of all such filings when made and
confirmation thereof when received. All recording and
filing fees shall
be
paid by Regency and where paid by Member, reimbursed by Regency to
Member promptly after receipt of an invoice.
(b)
Member
hereby agrees for a period of 120 days from and after the Closing,
to reasonably cooperate with, and provide and furnish to, Regency
any and all information reasonably requested by Regency with
respect to the applications and other filings which may be required
in connection with the Merger, including without limitation any
information required in connection with filings with any
Governmental Authority, provided Regency shall reimburse Member for
any out of pocket cash or expenses incurred by Member related to
the services provided by Member under this Section
8.4
(b)
.
8.5
Post-Closing Consents . Member
agrees that, for a period of 120 days from and after the Closing,
Member will cooperate with Regency and will use all commercially
reasonable efforts to obtain each consent required with respect to
the Merger which shall not have been obtained prior to Closing,
provided ,
however ,
the cost of obtaining such consents, including any amounts the
party providing such consent shall reasonably require as a
condition to providing such consent, shall be borne by Member, and
shall be paid promptly by Member upon such party providing such
consent being prepared to tender such consent.
8.6
Sonat Purchase
Agreement .
(a)
Member
and Nexus will use all commercially reasonable efforts to ensure
that Sonat does not file the Sonat Abandonment Application with
FERC until after Regency shall have advised Member and Nexus of
Regency’s election regarding the Application
Parameters. Within the period commencing on the day
following the date of this Agreement and ending on March 26, 2008
(the “ Election
Period ”), Regency will advise Member and Nexus in
writing (the “ Election
Notice ”) as to its election among the three
alternative Application Parameters set forth in
Exhibit G (the alternative so selected being the “
Selected
Application Parameter ”).
(b)
Member
and Nexus hereby authorize Regency to act on behalf of the
“Purchaser” (as such term is defined in the Sonat
Purchase Agreement), during the Election Period, to negotiate with
the “Upstream Pipeline” (as such term is defined in the
Sonat Purchase Agreement) to obtain a resolution of the
“Upstream Intrastate Pipeline Issue” (as such term is
defined in the Sonat Purchase Agreement) that both complies with
Section 5.02(g) of the Sonat Purchase Agreement and is reasonably
satisfactory to Regency in accordance with
Exhibit G .
(c)
Member
and Nexus hereby authorize Regency to act on behalf of the
“Purchaser” (as such term is defined in the Sonat
Purchase Agreement), during the Election Period, to negotiate with
Sonat to obtain the agreement of Sonat to file and prosecute
diligently the Sonat Abandonment Application incorporating the
Selected Application Parameter.
(d)
Prior
to the Effective Time, Member and Nexus will use all commercially
reasonable efforts:
(i)
to
cause Sonat to provide to Member and Nexus and to Regency, at least
five (5) Business Days prior to filing the Sonat Abandonment
Application, the draft Sonat Abandonment Application reflecting the
Selected Application Parameter for Regency’s and
Member’s review; and
(ii)
to
cause Sonat to give effect in the Sonat Abandonment Application to
any comments and requests offered by Regency or Member after their
review of thereof that are reasonably necessary to explain, justify
or better support Regency’s Selected Application
Parameter.
(e)
Following
the giving and receipt of such Election Notice, Member and Nexus
will, until the Effective Time, use all commercially reasonable
efforts, and Regency and the Surviving Company will, following the
Effective Time, use all commercially reasonable efforts, in each
case, (i) to cause Sonat to file the Sonat Abandonment Application
in accordance with the Selected Application Parameter and (ii) to
file a motion in support of the Sonat Abandonment Application as so
filed. From the date of filing of the Sonat Abandonment
Application until the consummation or termination of the Sonat
Purchase Agreement, Member and Nexus will, until the Effective
Time, and Regency and the Surviving Company will, following the
Effective Time, use all commercially reasonable efforts to provide
diligent and timely support and prosecution of the Sonat
Abandonment Application. Each of Member, Nexus, Regency
and the Surviving Company shall cooperate diligently with the
others in the prosecution of the Sonat Abandonment Application and
shall provide, as reasonably requested from time to time,
assistance to the others in obtaining the Final FERC Approval Order
of the Sonat Abandonment Application as so filed.
(f)
Regency
shall keep Member fully informed on a reasonably current basis and
in reasonable detail of the status of its efforts to obtain a Final
FERC Approval Order, its negotiations with the Upstream Pipeline
and Sonat pursuant to subsections (b) and (c) of this Section 8.6
and its efforts to consummate the transactions contemplated by the
Sonat Purchase Agreement. Neither Regency nor any
Affiliate of Regency shall be authorized to enter into, and shall
not enter into, without Member’s prior written consent, any
Contract that would be binding on Member or Nexus (other than a
Contract that would be binding on Nexus only upon the
Closing).
(g)
The
Parties acknowledge that: the future course of the Sonat
Abandonment Application is difficult to predict; FERC, the staff of
FERC and third parties may take substantive or procedural positions
that are contr
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