THE POTOMAC EDISON
COMPANY,
SHENANDOAH VALLEY ELECTRIC
COOPERATIVE
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2
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1.1 Definitions; Principles of
Construction
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2
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ARTICLE II PURCHASE AND SALE
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2.5 Assignment of Equipment Leases
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2.6 VA Distribution Business;
Inventory
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ARTICLE III PURCHASE PRICE
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3.3 Allocation of Final Purchase
Price
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4.1 Time and Place of Closing
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4.2 Payment of Closing Payment
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ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE
SELLER
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5.1 Organization; Power and Authority
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5.3 Consents and Approvals; No
Violation
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5.6 Undisclosed Liabilities
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5.7 Absence of Certain Changes or
Events
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5.8 Title and Related Matters
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5.10 Environmental, Health and Safety
Matters
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5.11 Regulation as a Utility
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5.12 Labor and Employment Matters
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5.13 Employee Benefit Plans
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5.15 Legal Proceedings, Etc
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5.16 Compliance with Permits and Laws
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5.18 Related Party Matters
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5.19 Intellectual Property
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5.20 Fees and Commissions
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ARTICLE VI REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF
BUYER
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6.3 Consents and Approvals; No
Violation
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6.4 Availability of Funds
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6.5 Litigation; Regulatory Approvals
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ARTICLE VII COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES
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7.1 Conduct of Business Prior to the
Closing
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7.2 Access to Information
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7.3 Consents and Approvals
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7.9 Name of the Transferred Business After the
Effective Time
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7.11 Certain Notices; Information
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7.12 Shared Locations and Equipment
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7.14 Communication Facilities
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7.15 Transmission Agreements
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7.16 Easements; Underbuild; Transmission
Lines
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7.17 Surveys and Title Insurance
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7.18 Communication with Customers
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7.20 Sister Purchase Agreement
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7.22 Interchange Agreement
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7.23 Power Purchase Agreements
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7.24 Borderline Operational Matters
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7.25 West Virginia Assets
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8.1 Conditions to Each Party’s Obligations
to Effect the Transactions
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8.2 Conditions to Obligations of
Buyer
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8.3 Conditions to Obligations of
Seller
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ARTICLE IX SURVIVAL; INDEMNIFICATION
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9.1 Survival of Representations and
Warranties
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ARTICLE X TERMINATION AND ABANDONMENT
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10.2 Procedure and Effect of
Termination
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ARTICLE XI MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
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11.1 Amendment and Modification
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11.2 Waiver of Compliance; Consents
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11.5 Rights Under This Agreement; No Third Party
Beneficiaries
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11.8 Interpretation; Construction
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11.9 Schedules and Exhibits
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11.11 Waiver of Jury Trial
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11.12 Submission to Jurisdiction
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Transferred
Territory
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Definitions
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Form of
Assignment and Assumption Agreement
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Form of FIRPTA
Affidavit
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This ASSET
PURCHASE AGREEMENT, dated as of May 4, 2009 (this “
Agreement ”), is made by and among The Potomac Edison
Company, a Virginia and Maryland corporation (“ Seller
”), and Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative (
“ SVEC ” ), a Virginia utility consumer
services cooperative (“ Buyer ”).
A. Seller is
engaged in the business of distributing electric power for retail
and wholesale customers, providing electric generation service to
retail customers, providing related services and products and
engaging in related activities in the Commonwealth of Virginia (the
“ VA Distribution Business ”).
B. Seller
desires to sell and assign, and Buyer desires to purchase and
assume, certain assets and liabilities associated with the portion
of Seller’s VA Distribution Business in the exclusive service
territory described in Annex A hereto, as further set forth
and subject to the terms and conditions herein. The Acquired Assets
(as defined herein) and the Assumed Obligations (as defined herein)
are collectively referred to herein as the “ Transferred
Business .” The service territory described in Annex
A allocated to Buyer is referred to herein as the “
Transferred Territory .”
C. Concurrently
herewith, Seller is entering into an asset purchase agreement with
Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (“ REC ”)
pursuant to which Seller is agreeing to sell and assign, and REC is
agreeing to purchase and assume, certain assets and liabilities
associated with the portion of Seller’s VA Distribution
Business in the exclusive service territory described in Annex
A hereto allocated to REC. Such agreement between Seller and
REC is referred to herein as the “ Sister Purchase
Agreement ” and the assets to be sold and liabilities to
be assumed pursuant to such agreement are referred to herein as the
“ Sister Business .” The service territories
described in Annex A are intended to include all of
Seller’s distribution service territory and distribution
customers in the Commonwealth of Virginia (with certain exceptions
expressly noted in Section 2.2 ).
D. In
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and
the Sister Purchase Agreement, Seller wishes to assign all of its
right and obligations under the Power Purchase Agreements (as
defined herein) from and after the Effective Time (as defined
herein); it is contemplated that the Power Purchase Agreements will
be assigned to and assumed by Old Dominion Electric Cooperative, a
Virginia utility aggregation cooperative (“ ODEC
”), with whom Buyer has a full requirements power supply
agreement; should ODEC not accept such assignment and assumption
then Buyer, together with REC, as buyer under the Sister Purchase
Agreement, wish to assume such Power Purchase Agreements from and
after the Effective Time.
E. Buyer
acknowledges that it is Seller’s intention to exit the VA
Distribution Business in its entirety pursuant to the consummation
of the transactions contemplated hereby and in the Sister Purchase
Agreement and the assignment of the Power Purchase Agreements, and
that except as otherwise expressly contemplated herein or in the
Sister Purchase Agreement, such transactions are intended to be
consummated simultaneously.
NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants,
representations, warranties and agreements hereinafter set forth,
the parties hereto agree as follows:
1.1
Definitions; Principles of Construction. Defined terms used
in this Agreement have the meanings specified in this Agreement or
in Exhibit A . In construing this Agreement, together
with the Schedules, Exhibits and Annexes, the principles of
construction set forth in Exhibit A shall
apply.
ARTICLE II
PURCHASE AND SALE
2.1 Acquired
Assets . On the terms and subject to the conditions of this
Agreement, at the Closing, Seller will sell, assign, convey,
transfer and deliver to Buyer, and Buyer will purchase, assume and
acquire from Seller, free and clear of all Encumbrances except for
Permitted Encumbrances, all of Seller’s right, title and
interest in and to the assets used by Seller to carry out its VA
Distribution Business in the Transferred Territory as of the
Effective Time, except for the assets expressly excluded below or
excluded in Section 2.2 , including the assets more
specifically described below and added after the date hereof
pursuant to Section 2.6 (collectively, the “
Acquired Assets ”):
(a) the
real property described on Schedule 2.1(a) (including
the control buildings and the other buildings and related
improvements located thereon) (collectively, the “ Owned
Real Property ”);
(b) all
of Seller’s Easements in the Transferred Territory that are
primarily related to the VA Distribution Business, including the
easements listed on Schedule 2.1(b) (including the
control buildings and the other buildings and related improvements
located thereon) (collectively, the “ Transferred
Easements ”);
(c) all
of the substations, control buildings, service centers and other
buildings, fixtures and improvements located on the Owned Real
Property or a Transferred Easement, unless such substation,
building, fixture or improvement is (i) used in both
Seller’s VA Distribution Business and Seller’s
transmission business (a “ Shared Location ”)
and (ii) included on Schedule 2.2(a) ;
Schedule 2.1(c)(1) lists all of the service centers and
substations in the Transferred Territory, whether located on Owned
Real Property or a Transferred Easement, that are used only in the
VA Distribution Business; Schedule 2.1(c)(2) lists all
of the Shared Locations in the Transferred Territory;
(d) the
Distribution Facilities;
(e) Buyer’s
Shared Equipment;
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(f) all
Inventories, but excluding those Inventories not located at a
facility listed on Schedule 2.1(c)(1) or
2.1(c)(2) or deemed to be included as an Acquired Asset
pursuant to Section 2.6(c) hereof;
(g) except
for the Excluded Tangible Personal Property, all other machinery
(mobile or otherwise), equipment (including computer and office
equipment), tools, furniture and furnishings and other personal
property that, in each case, are not classified as inventory under
GAAP and that are owned by Seller and used or held for use by
Seller primarily in the VA Distribution Business in the Transferred
Territory (the “ Tangible Personal Property ”),
provided , that with respect to
vehicles and trailers owned by Seller, the Acquired Assets will
only include those vehicles and trailers set forth on
Schedule 2.1(g) ;
(h) subject
to Section 2.5 , all rights of Seller as lessee under
the leases set forth on Schedule 2.1(h) (the “
Equipment Leases ”) to the extent relating to
equipment or vehicles primarily related to the VA Distribution
Business in the Transferred Territory; provided ,
that with respect to vehicles and trailers subject to
an Equipment Lease, only those vehicles and trailers set forth on
Schedule 2.1(h) ;
(i) all
Contracts in effect as of the date of this Agreement that relate
primarily to the VA Distribution Business in the Transferred
Territory, including operating agreements, franchise agreements,
customer contracts, electrical service agreements, interconnect
agreements, interchange agreements, borderline agreements,
encroachment agreements, pole-attachment agreements, joint-use
agreements, and including any Contracts that relate primarily to
the VA Distribution Business in the Transferred Territory that are
entered into by Seller after the date of this Agreement in
accordance with the terms of Section 7.1 , but not
including the Power Purchase Agreements except as otherwise
provided in Section 7.23 (collectively, the “
Transferred Contracts ”);
(j) all
customer lists and customer information databases (including
customer load data); vendor lists; operational and performance data
for the Acquired Assets, GIS information, books and records; meter
reading and service data; operating, safety and maintenance
records; warranty information; engineering designs, plans,
blueprints and as-built plans and specifications and procedures;
system drawings; ledgers, files, documents, studies, reports,
creative materials, advertising and promotional materials, and
other written, printed or electronic materials, in each case, to
the extent primarily related to the VA Distribution Business in the
Transferred Territory and in Seller’s possession or in the
possession of any third parties within Seller’s reasonable
control or influence;
(k) all
Permits of Seller, including Transferable Permits, that relate
primarily to the VA Distribution Business in the Transferred
Territory;
(l) all
unexpired warranties relating to the Acquired Assets;
(m) all
Accounts Receivable and Unbilled Revenue, together with all rights
to enforce, execute on or collect the same, and all rights relating
to the Customer Deposits (but not the cash related to such
deposits);
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(n) all
claims, causes of action, rights of recovery, rights of set off and
rights of recoupment of Seller against third parties to the extent
relating to the Assumed Obligations;
(o) all
Intellectual Property described in Schedule 2.1(o) (the
“ Acquired Intellectual Property ”);
(p) rights
to CRRs to which Seller is entitled as an LSE for the Transferred
Territory pursuant to the PJM Agreements, including (i) all
Auction Revenue Rights to which Seller is entitled that are
allocable to the Transferred Territory and (ii) all Financial
Transmission Rights to which Seller is entitled that are allocable
to the Transferred Territory based on the Transferred
Territory’s load ratio share of the peak load of
Allegheny’s PJM Load Zone pursuant to the PJM Agreements,
except to the extent such rights have been assigned by Seller
pursuant to the Power Purchase Agreements;
(q) rights
to serve the existing certified service territory of Seller in the
portion of the Commonwealth of Virginia described in Annex A
hereto;
(r) the
Transferring Employee Records, to the extent permitted by
Law;
(s) the
assets deemed to be Acquired Assets pursuant to
Sections 2.5 or 2.6 ;
(t) all
carbon credits and renewable energy attributes, including renewable
energy credits, green tags, carbon emissions reductions and similar
attributes, if any, to the extent primarily related to the VA
Distribution Business in the Transferred Territory; and
(u) the
rights and obligations related to Regulatory Assets.
2.2 Excluded
Assets. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this
Agreement, nothing in this Agreement will constitute a transfer to
Buyer, or will be construed as conferring on Buyer, and Buyer will
not acquire, any right, title or interest in or to any of the
following (collectively, the “ Excluded Assets
”):
(a) the
real property described on Schedule 2.2(a)
(collectively, the “ Excluded Real Property
”);
(b)
(i) all of Seller’s easements in the Transferred
Territory that are not primarily related to the VA Distribution
Business, and (ii) all of Seller’s easements that are
described on Schedule 2.2(b) (collectively, the “
Excluded Easements ”);
(c) the
Transmission Facilities;
(d) items
of Inventory excluded from the definition of Acquired Assets
pursuant to Section 2.1(f) ;
(e) all
other machinery (mobile or otherwise), equipment (including
computer and office equipment), tools, furniture and furnishings
and other personal property that, in each case, are not classified
as inventory under GAAP and are not owned by Seller or used or held
for use by Seller primarily in the VA Distribution Business in the
Transferred Territory and any vehicles or trailers owned by Seller
that are not set forth on Schedule 2.1(g) ;
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(f) the
Equipment Leases and all other Contracts that would be Transferred
Contracts but for the fact that they relate primarily to assets or
operations located outside the Transferred Territory or to assets
or operations other than the VA Distribution Business (the “
Shared Contracts ”) and all other Contracts that are
not Transferred Contracts;
(g) Permits
of Seller that are not primarily related to the VA Distributions
Business in the Transferred Territory;
(h) any
other asset of Seller that is not primarily used by Seller in the
VA Distribution Business in the Transferred Territory;
(i) cash
and cash equivalents, including cash held pursuant to money pool
arrangements, and all other Current Assets of Seller except as
provided in Section 2.1(f) , (g) , (m) or
(s) , ;
(j) all
Intellectual Property other than the Intellectual Property
described on Schedule 2.1(o) (the “ Retained
Intellectual Property ”); subject to Buyer’s rights
as provided in Section 7.9 ;
(k) the
property and equipment described on Schedule 2.2(k)
plus any vehicles and trailers owned by Seller that are not listed
on Schedule 2.1(g) (collectively, the “
Excluded Tangible Personal Property ”);
(l) Seller’s
Shared Equipment;
(m) subject
to Section 2.5 , any rights under an Equipment Lease or
related equipment or vehicles that Seller is not permitted to
assign at Closing;
(n) all
assets disposed of by Seller after the date of this Agreement, to
the extent this Agreement does not prohibit the
disposition;
(o) all
personnel records of Seller and its Affiliates relating to their
employees other than Transferring Employee Records and other
records that are required to be disclosed by applicable Laws,
subpoena or legal or regulatory process;
(p) except
for the assignment and assumption of any Power Purchase Agreement
otherwise contemplated hereby, all intercompany agreements between
Seller and an Affiliate of Seller, and all accounts owing by and
among Seller and any of its Affiliates, whether or not any such
intercompany agreement or account relates to the provision of goods
and services, payment arrangements, intercompany charges or
balances, or the like;
(q) subject
to Section 7.7 , all rights to refunds of Taxes with
respect to the VA Distribution Business or the Acquired Assets
attributable to taxable periods, or portions thereof, ending prior
to or as of the Effective Time, and any rights to refunds of Taxes
with respect to any other assets, properties or operations of
Seller or any of its Affiliates;
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(r) subject
to Section 2.1(n) , all claims, causes of action,
rights of recovery, rights of set off and rights of recoupment of
Seller against third parties relating to the VA Distribution
Business in the Transferred Territory prior to the Effective
Time;
(s) subject
to Section 2.1(n) , all insurance policies, bonds,
letters of credit or similar items, and any cash surrender value in
regard thereto, including deposits made by Seller with regard to
workers’ compensation coverage, and any and all claims
related to any of the foregoing;
(t) all
assets attributable to or related to Benefit Plans;
(u) the
Collective Bargaining Agreement;
(v) subject
to Section 7.23 , all power purchase or supply
agreements, transmission service agreements, power, fuel or
commodity hedging or derivative or forward purchase agreements, and
any other agreements not primarily related to the construction,
ownership, operation or maintenance of the Acquired Assets;
and
(w) the
real and personal property subject to the sale to the Town of Front
Royal, Virginia pursuant to that certain ordinance of the town
council of the Town of Front Royal, Virginia, dated
January 12, 2009.
2.3 Assumed
Obligations . On the terms and subject to the conditions of
this Agreement, at the Closing, Buyer will assume and agree to
discharge, without recourse to Seller, all of the following
Liabilities of Seller arising on or after the Effective Time
(except as provided in clause (e) below) (the “
Assumed Obligations ”):
(a) all
Liabilities arising on or after the Effective Time (other than
Taxes payable by Seller as a result of the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby) arising out of or related to the
ownership or operation of the Acquired Assets, and all Liabilities
arising on or after the Effective Time relating to or arising under
any tariffs to which the Transferred Business is subject, including
tariffs being reviewed or processed by the applicable Governmental
Entity, subject to the terms and conditions of each;
(b) all
Liabilities to the extent arising out of or related to the
Transferred Business or the ownership or operation of the Acquired
Assets in respect of Taxes attributable to taxable periods, or
portions thereof, on or after the Effective Time;
(c) all
Liabilities relating to the Regulatory Liabilities;
(d) except
as provided in Section 7.8 , all Liabilities
(i) arising on or after the applicable Hire Date with respect
to Transferring Employees, or (ii) arising on or after the
Effective Time with respect to workers’ compensation claims
of the Transferring Employees;
(e) all
Liabilities relating to the Remediation of Hazardous Substances at,
on or from any Site associated with the ownership, construction,
operation, maintenance or retirement of the Acquired Assets at any
time before or after the Effective Time, and all
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Liabilities
relating to compliance with all Environmental Laws and other Laws,
on and after the Effective Time, except in each case Retained
Obligations and subject to Section 2.4(j) ;
(f) all
Liabilities relating to unperformed service obligations, Easement
relocation obligations, and engineering and construction required
to complete scheduled construction, construction work in progress,
and all other capital expenditure projects and obligations, in each
case specifically related to the Acquired Assets and outstanding at
the Effective Time;
(g) all
Liabilities related to Customer Deposits and unearned pole
attachment rental revenue for the Transferred Territory;
(h) all
Liabilities classified as a cost of removal obligations or similar
obligations related to the removal, abandonment, or retirement of
assets associated with the VA Distribution Business in the
Transferred Territory; and
(i) all
of Seller’s obligations to provide electric service in the
Transferred Territory.
2.4 Retained
Obligations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this
Agreement, Buyer will not assume or be obligated to pay, perform or
otherwise discharge liabilities or obligations of Seller or any of
its Affiliates not expressly referenced in Section 2.3
(collectively, the “ Retained Obligations ”),
including:
(a) all
Liabilities of Seller to the extent arising out of or related to
the Excluded Assets;
(b) all
Tax Liabilities to the extent arising out of or related to the
ownership or operation of Acquired Assets or the operations of the
Transferred Business attributable to taxable periods, or portions
thereof, ending prior to the Effective Time;
(c) all
Liabilities with respect to current and former employees of Seller
other than the liabilities and obligations assumed by Buyer and its
Affiliates as provided in Section 2.3(d) and in
Section 7.8 with respect to the Transferring
Employees;
(d) any
obligations to provide continuation coverage under COBRA (and
notice of the right to elect such coverage) to Transferring
Employees, Employees associated with the Acquired Assets or the
Transferred Business who do not become Transferring Employees (and
their dependents or former dependents), and former dependents of
Transferring Employees who became eligible for continuation
coverage under COBRA on account of a “qualifying event”
(as defined under COBRA) occurring prior to the Effective
Time;
(e) all
Liabilities of Seller, any Seller Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate
of Seller relating to any Benefit Plan or Benefit Arrangements
other than the liabilities and obligations assumed by Buyer and its
Affiliates as provided in Section 7.8 with respect to
the Transferring Employees;
7
(f) all
Liabilities (including Encumbrances) of Seller with respect to the
mortgage bonds and any other existing indebtedness for money
borrowed by Seller (including items due to Seller’s
Affiliates), including indebtedness described on
Schedule 2.4(f) and including any indebtedness for
money borrowed by Seller on or after the date hereof;
(g) Current
Liabilities as of the Effective Time except as provided in
Section 2.3(c) , (e) , (f) , (g)
or (h) ;
(h) any
fines or penalties imposed by any Governmental Entity resulting
from any violation of Permits or Law by Seller that occurred prior
to the Effective Time;
(i) all
Liabilities that relate to Seller’s breach of a
representation or warranty or other provision of, or a failure to
perform any obligation under, any Transferred Contract or Shared
Contract, or any such event which with the passing of time or the
giving of notice, would constitute such breach or failure, in each
case that occurred prior to the Effective Time; and
(j) any
Liabilities to the extent attributable to or resulting from the
disposal or other Release of or exposure to Hazardous Substances
associated with the Acquired Assets or any Site at any Off-Site
Location prior to the Effective Time, but excluding any migration
or other Release of Hazardous Substances from any Site onto
adjacent or nearby properties.
2.5 Assignment
of Equipment Leases . To the extent requested by Buyer, Seller
will use its commercially reasonable efforts to assign to Buyer at
the Closing Seller’s rights under the Equipment Leases,
including seeking to obtain any required consents to such
assignments from the lessor(s) to such Equipment Leases with
respect to the equipment covered by such leases and used or held by
used in the Transferred Territory. In the event Seller is unable to
assign any such rights under the Equipment Leases (or the portion
thereof relating to the Transferred Business) as of the Closing as
a result of the failure to obtain any consent of any lessor under
such Equipment Lease, it will notify Buyer promptly that it will
not be able to assign such Equipment Lease (or such portion
thereof) to Buyer at the Closing. From and after receipt of such
notice, Buyer may renegotiate the Equipment Leases as leases of
Buyer on terms and conditions (including with respect to costs and
expenses with respect to such Equipment Leases) substantially
similar to the terms and conditions contained in the Equipment
Leases (or the portion thereof relating to the Transferred
Business). In the event that both (A) Seller is unable to
assign any Equipment Lease (or the portion thereof relating to the
Transferred Business) to Buyer at the Closing and (B) Buyer is
unable to renegotiate any Equipment Lease as a lease of Buyer on
terms and conditions satisfactory to it, then Seller will, if
requested by Buyer, exercise any “buy-out” rights
contained in such Equipment Leases, such that Seller will acquire
the personal property, equipment or vehicles underlying such
Equipment Lease to the extent relating to the Transferred Business
(a “ Seller Lease Buy-Out ”). Any Seller Lease
Buy-Out consummated by Seller pursuant to this Section 2.5
will be at the sole cost and expense of Buyer, and any personal
property, equipment or vehicles acquired by Seller upon the
exercise of a Seller Lease Buy-Out will be transferred to Buyer at
the Closing for no additional consideration. Any personal property,
equipment or vehicles transferred to Buyer pursuant to this
Section 2.5 will be deemed an “ Acquired
Asset ” for all purposes under this Agreement.
8
2.6 VA
Distribution Business; Inventory .
(a) Prior
to Closing, Buyer and Seller agree to work together in good faith
to separate the buildings, improvements, fixtures and other
equipment at the Shared Locations based on the intention of the
parties expressed in this Agreement and Good Utility Practices. The
Assignment and Assumption Agreement to be entered into at Closing
may further define the separation of assets at the Shared
Locations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this
Agreement, assets identified as Distribution Facilities on such
Assignment and Assumption Agreement shall be deemed to be
Distribution Facilities for all purposes of this Agreement, and
assets identified as Transmission Facilities on such Assignment and
Assumption Agreement shall be deemed to be Transmission Facilities
for purposes of this Agreement.
(b) Buyer
and Seller acknowledge that this Agreement reflects a division of
Seller’s VA Distribution Business between Buyer and REC
pursuant to the Sister Purchase Agreement. The division of
Seller’s VA Distribution Business has been agreed between
Buyer and REC and generally is based on the division of circuits
reflected on Annex A hereto. Seller has undertaken in good
faith to reflect such division in the terms of, and schedules and
exhibits to, this Agreement and the Sister Purchase Agreement.
Buyer and Seller acknowledge and agree that prior to Closing Buyer
may request certain revisions to or clarifications of such
divisions (which revisions or clarifications also will require the
agreement of the buyer to the Sister Purchase Agreement) and Seller
agrees to cooperate with Buyer and REC in regards thereto and to
enter into amendments hereto to further reflect such division as
may be reasonably requested by Buyer and REC.
(c) Buyer
may request, no later than sixty (60) days prior to the
expected Closing Date, that Seller add certain materials or
supplies to Inventory at a service center or substation so that
such materials or supplies shall be included as Acquired Assets,
and Seller will use its commercially reasonable efforts to the
extent it has available such materials in supplies to meet
Buyer’s reasonable requests relating thereto, including
Buyer’s specifications for such materials and supplies.
Inventory moved prior to the Effective Time to a service center or
substation at Buyer’s request pursuant to this
Section 2.6(c) shall be deemed an Acquired
Asset.
ARTICLE III
PURCHASE PRICE
(a) In
consideration of the sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer and
delivery to Buyer of the right, title and interest as of the
Effective Time of Seller in the Acquired Assets, Buyer will
(i) pay to Seller at Closing an aggregate amount equal to the
Closing Payment and (ii) assume, as of the Effective Time, the
Assumed Obligations.
(b) Not
less than five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing Date,
Seller will prepare and deliver to Buyer a certificate (the “
Purchase Price Certificate ”) of an authorized officer
of Seller setting forth (i) Seller’s best good faith
estimate of the Net Book Value of the Acquired Assets (the “
Estimated NBV ”), Customer Deposits and the Designated
Assets Value, all as of the Effective Time, and (ii) the
amount of the Closing Payment. The Purchase Price
9
Certificate
shall be prepared on the same basis and in the same format as the
2008 Statement will be presented on Schedule 5.5 . As
used herein, the term “ Closing Payment ” means
the sum of (i) the Estimated NBV multiplied by 1.65,
plus (ii) the estimated Designated Assets Value,
less (iii) the estimated Customer Deposits, all as of
the Effective Time.
(c) From
and after the delivery of the Purchase Price Certificate until the
Closing, Buyer will be permitted to review Seller’s working
papers relating to the preparation of the Purchase Price
Certificate, and Seller will provide Buyer with reasonable access
to the persons involved in preparing or reviewing the Purchase
Price Certificate. The purpose of such review will be to allow
Buyer to review changes to the Net Book Value of the Acquired
Assets, the Designated Assets Value and Customer Deposits from
December 31, 2008 to the Effective Time.
3.2
Post-Closing True-Up .
(a) Seller
will deliver, no later than sixty (60) days after the
Effective Time, Seller’s determination of the Net Book Value
of the Acquired Assets, Customer Deposits and Designated Assets
Value, all as of the Effective Time and taking into account any
Correction Adjustments (the “ Closing Statement
”). The Closing Statement shall be prepared on the same basis
as the 2008 Statement to be presented on Schedule 5.5
and at the level of detail as set forth on and consistent with
Schedule 3.2(a) . Buyer will reasonably cooperate with
Seller in connection with the preparation of the Closing Statement
and related information, and will provide to Seller reasonable
access to such books, records, personnel and other information as
may be reasonably requested from time to time.
(b) Buyer
may dispute the Closing Statement or any item set forth thereon;
provided , however , that Buyer will
notify Seller in writing of any disputed item, and the basis of
such dispute, within thirty (30) days of Buyer’s receipt
of the Closing Statement (the “ Closing Statement Review
Period ”); and provided ,
further , that Buyer’s dispute of any item set
forth on the Closing Statement shall be limited to (i) changes
in the Net Book Value of the Acquired Assets, Customer Deposits or
the Designated Assets Value between December 31, 2008 as set
forth in the 2008 Statement and the Effective Time and
(ii) the Correction Adjustments. During the Closing Statement
Review Period, Buyer may review Seller’s working papers and
other information reasonably requested relating to the Closing
Statement, and Seller will provide Buyer with reasonable access to
persons involved in preparing or reviewing the Closing Statement.
In the event of a dispute with respect to any part of the Closing
Statement, Buyer and Seller will use reasonable efforts to
reconcile their differences. If Buyer and Seller are unable to
reach a resolution of such differences within thirty (30) days
of receipt of Buyer’s written notice of dispute to Seller,
Buyer and Seller will submit the amounts remaining in dispute for
determination and resolution to the Independent Accounting Firm,
which will be instructed to issue a report, to be delivered to
Buyer and Seller within thirty (30) days of submission of the
amounts remaining in dispute to the Independent Accounting Firm,
stating its determinations and resolutions regarding the amounts
disputed, with such report being final, binding and conclusive on
the parties hereto with respect to the amounts disputed (such
determination, an “ Independent Accounting Firm Closing
Statement Determination ”). Seller and Buyer will each
make available to the Independent Accounting Firm all work papers,
books and records relating to the
10
Transferred
Business to the extent relevant to the determination of amounts set
forth on the Closing Statement.
The
Independent Accounting Firm shall, within five (5) Business
Days of its agreement to resolve the disputed items submitted to
it, provide to Buyer and Seller the names and resumes of at least
three partners of the Independent Accounting Firm (which resumes
shall include a description of each such individual’s
substantial experience in the preparation and audit of financial
statements of corporations engaged in businesses similar to the
Transferred Business and a disclosure of each such
individual’s existing or prior business and/or personal
relationships (if any) with Buyer, Seller or any employees or
counsel of any such Person) who are willing to serve as the
individual responsible for determining and resolving the matters
submitted by Buyer and Seller to the Independent Accounting Firm
(such person, the “ Independent Accounting Firm
Partner ”). If, on or before the third Business Day after
their receipt of the information called for by the preceding
sentence, Buyer and Seller have been unable after good faith
negotiation to agree upon and select one of the individuals so
identified to act as the Independent Accounting Firm Partner, then
Buyer and Seller shall each have the right on or before the fifth
Business Day after their receipt of such information to deliver to
the Independent Accounting Firm a confidential communication
striking any or all of the individuals previously identified as a
potential Independent Accounting Firm Partner as to whom an
existing business and/or personal relationship was disclosed
pursuant to the preceding sentence, and/or striking no more than
one of the other individuals previously identified as a potential
Independent Accounting Firm Partner. The Independent Accounting
Firm shall then proceed to select the Independent Accounting Firm
Partner from among the previously identified individuals who have
not been stricken from consideration; if all such previously
identified individuals are so stricken, the Independent Accounting
Firm shall designate at least three additional partners who are
eligible to serve as the Independent Accounting Firm Partner and
the forgoing selection procedure shall be repeated until an
Independent Accounting Firm Partner is selected.
(c) The
Closing Statement and the Net Book Value of the Acquired Assets or
amount of Customer Deposits or the Designated Assets Value set
forth thereon will be adjusted (including with respect to
Correction Adjustments) (i) in accordance with any amount
mutually agreed to in writing by Seller and Buyer with respect to
any item set forth on the Closing Statement, and (ii) in
accordance with any Independent Accounting Firm Closing Statement
Determination. As used herein, the term “ Final NBV
” means, as applicable, (x) the Net Book Value of the
Acquired Assets set forth on the Closing Statement, as so adjusted
pursuant to either clause (i) and/or (ii) of the
immediately preceding sentence, as applicable, or (y) if Buyer
fails to dispute in writing the Net Book Value of the Acquired
Assets, the Designated Assets Value, or the Customer Deposits
(including the Correction Adjustments related thereto) set forth on
the Closing Statement within the Closing Statement Review Period,
the computation of such Net Book Value of the Acquired Assets set
forth on the Closing Statement. The fees and disbursements of the
Independent Accounting Firm with respect to this
Section 3.2 will be allocated between Buyer and Seller
so that Buyer’s share of such fees and disbursements will be
in the same proportion that the aggregate amount of such disputed
amounts so submitted by Buyer to the Independent Accounting Firm
that is unsuccessfully disputed by Buyer (as finally determined by
the Independent Accounting Firm or mutually agreed by the parties)
bears to the total amount of all disputed amounts so submitted by
Buyer to the Independent Accounting Firm.
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(d) Upon
final determination of the Final NBV, the Designated Assets Value,
and Customer Deposits (including the Correction Adjustments related
thereto), all as of the Effective Time in accordance with
Section 3.2(c) , Buyer or Seller, as applicable, shall
pay to the other no later than five (5) days following the
final determination thereof by wire transfer of immediately
available funds to an account designated by the party to receive
funds, as applicable, the amount that (i)(A) the sum of the
Estimated NBV multiplied by 1.65, plus (B) the
estimated Designated Assets Value, less (C) the
estimated Customer Deposits, is greater or less than (ii)(A) the
Final NBV multiplied by 1.65, plus (B) the
Designated Assets Value as of the Effective Time, less
(C) the Customer Deposits as of the Effective Time.
(e) Except
as otherwise provided in this Agreement, items relating to the
ownership, lease, maintenance or operation of the Transferred
Business attributable to a period commencing prior to the Effective
Time and terminating on or after the Effective Time, including
personal property or real estate taxes, utilities, rents (including
poll attachment rental revenue but excluding Income Taxes), shall
be prorated based on the same units used to compute the item in
question, and otherwise measured by calendar days.
(f) Any
amount paid under Section 3.2(d) will be paid with
interest for the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on
the day preceding the date of payment, calculated at the U.S. prime
rate as in effect on the Closing Date as published in the Wall
Street Journal, Eastern Edition (the “ Applicable Rate
”) and will, to the maximum extent allowed by applicable
Laws, constitute an adjustment to the Final Purchase
Price.
3.3 Allocation
of Final Purchase Price . Buyer and Seller agree that the Final
Purchase Price shall be allocated among the Acquired Assets, in
accordance with Section 1060 of the Code and the Treasury
Regulations thereunder, as set forth on Schedule 3.3
(the “ Allocation ”). Seller shall prepare a
post-Closing allocation (“ Post-Closing Allocation
”) taking into account any post-Closing adjustment to the
Final Purchase Price pursuant to Section 3.2 and
consistent with the methods and allocations used in the Allocation
within thirty (30) days following any adjustment to the Final
Purchase Price pursuant to Section 3.2 and shall
deliver such proposed Post-Closing Allocation to Buyer for
Buyer’s review and comment. If Buyer does not object in
writing to the proposed Post-Closing Allocation, it shall be deemed
to be accepted by Buyer as proposed by Seller. If Buyer objects to
the Post-Closing Allocation, Buyer shall provide Seller written
reasons for Buyer’s objection(s) with thirty (30) days
following delivery of the proposed Post-Closing Allocation. Buyer
and Seller shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to agree
upon such Post-Closing Allocation. If agreement cannot be reached
within twenty (20) days of the Buyer’s receipt of
Seller’s written objections, the parties shall submit the
disagreement to an Independent Accounting Firm Partner selected
pursuant to the procedures outlined in Section 3.2(b)
who shall determine and resolve the matter by issuing a report, to
be delivered to Buyer and Seller within thirty (30) days of
submission of the disagreement to the Independent Accounting Firm,
stating its determinations and resolutions regarding the
disagreement, with such report being final, binding and conclusive
on the parties hereto with respect to the amounts disputed. Buyer
and Seller shall (i) file Internal Revenue Service
Form 8594 and all federal, state and local Tax Returns, in
accordance with such agreed allocation, and (ii) report the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement for Tax purposes in a
manner consistent with the final allocation of the Final Purchase
Price (as the same may be adjusted) pursuant to this
Section 3.3 . Buyer and Seller shall provide the other
promptly with
12
any other
information reasonably required to complete Form 8594.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.7 , Buyer and
Seller will notify the other in the event of an examination, audit
or other proceeding regarding the agreed upon allocation of the
Final Purchase Price (as the same may be adjusted).
4.1 Time and
Place of Closing . Upon the terms and subject to the
satisfaction or waiver of the conditions contained in
Article VIII of this Agreement, the closing of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “
Closing ”) will take place at the offices of Vinson
& Elkins L.L.P., 1455 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington,
D.C. 20004 on the last Business Day of the full calendar month in
which all of the conditions contained in Article VIII
have been satisfied or waived (other than those conditions that by
their nature are to be satisfied or waived at the Closing, but
subject to the satisfaction or waiver at the Closing of such
conditions), or at such other place or time as the parties may
agree in writing. The date on which the Closing actually occurs is
hereinafter referred to as the “ Closing Date .”
The transactions contemplated hereby shall be effective at
12:00:00 a.m., Eastern Prevailing Time, on the first calendar
day of the month following the date on which the Closing Date
occurs (the “ Effective Time ”). Risk of loss
with respect to the Acquired Assets shall transfer to Buyer at the
Effective Time.
4.2 Payment of
Closing Payment . Upon the terms and subject to the
satisfaction of the conditions contained in this Agreement, Buyer
will pay to Seller at the Closing an aggregate amount in United
States dollars equal to the Closing Payment as set forth in the
Purchase Price Certificate by wire transfer of immediately
available funds to an account designated by Seller to Buyer at
least two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing
Date.
4.3 Deliveries
by Seller . At the Closing, Seller will deliver, or cause to be
delivered, the following to Buyer:
(a) The
Related Agreements, duly executed by Seller and any Affiliates of
Seller that are party thereto;
(b) All
consents, waivers or approvals obtained by Seller with respect to
the Seller Third-Party Consents and those consents and approvals
described in Schedule 5.3(b) ;
(c) Transferring
Employee Records;
(d) Copies
of the documents and information described in
Section 2.1(j) , 2.1(k) , and 2.1(l)
;
(e) Such
other agreements, documents, instruments and writings as are
required to be executed and delivered by Seller at or prior to the
Closing pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or that may be
reasonably requested by Buyer in connection with the transfer to
Buyer of the Acquired Assets, the absence of any Encumbrances
thereon (other than Permitted Encumbrances), and the retention by
Seller of the Retained Obligations; and
(f) A
certificate required by Section 8.2(e) .
13
4.4 Deliveries
by Buyer . At the Closing, Buyer will deliver, or cause to be
delivered, the following to Seller or its designees:
(a) The
Closing Payment as set forth in the Purchase Price Certificate, by
wire transfer or transfers of immediately available funds to the
account or accounts designated pursuant to Section 4.2
;
(b) The
Related Agreements, duly executed by Buyer and any Affiliates of
Buyer that are party thereto;
(c) All
consents, waivers or approvals obtained by Buyer as described in
Schedule 6.3(b) ;
(d) All
Tax certificates and Tax forms applicable to the transfers
contemplated by this Agreement, including direct pay permits and
Tax exemption certificates;
(e) Such
other agreements, documents, instruments and writings as are
required to be executed and delivered by Buyer at or prior to the
Closing pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or that may be
reasonably requested by Seller in connection with the assumption by
Buyer of the Assumed Obligations; and
(f) A
certificate required by Section 8.3(d) .
ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLER
Except as set
forth in the disclosure schedules attached to this Agreement,
Seller hereby represents and warrants to Buyer as
follows:
5.1
Organization; Power and Authority .
(a) Seller
is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the Laws of Maryland and Virginia.
(b) Seller
has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease, and
operate the assets used in the Transferred Business except where
the failure to have such power and authority, individually or in
the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.
5.2
Authority . Seller has full corporate power and authority to
execute and deliver this Agreement and the Related Agreements and
to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Related Agreements
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby have been duly and validly authorized by the board of
directors of Seller and no other corporate proceedings on the part
of Seller are necessary to authorize this Agreement or the Related
Agreements or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby
and thereby. This Agreement and the Related Agreements have been
duly and validly executed and delivered by Seller, and, assuming
that this Agreement and the Related Agreements constitute valid
and
14
binding
agreements of Buyer, constitute valid and binding agreements of
Seller, enforceable against Seller in accordance with their
respective terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws of general
applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and
to general equity principles (the “ Bankruptcy and Equity
Exception ”).
5.3 Consents
and Approvals; No Violation .
(a) Other
than obtaining the consents of third parties set forth on
Schedule 5.3(a) (the “ Seller Third-Party
Consents ”), the Seller Required Regulatory Approvals and
the Buyer Required Regulatory Approvals, neither the execution and
delivery of this Agreement and the Related Agreements by Seller,
the sale by Seller of the Acquired Assets pursuant to this
Agreement, the assignment by Seller of the Assumed Obligations
pursuant to this Agreement, nor Seller’s performance under
this Agreement or the Related Agreements will: (i) conflict
with or result in any breach of any provision of the Certificate of
Incorporation or Bylaws of Seller; (ii) require Seller or any
of its Affiliates to obtain any consent, approval, authorization or
permit of, or require Seller or any of its Affiliates to make any
filing with or provide any notice to, any Governmental Entity,
except (x) where Seller’s failure to obtain such
consent, approval, authorization or Permit, or to make such filing
or notification, would not reasonably be expected, individually or
in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect or (y) for
those requirements that become applicable to Seller as a result of
the specific regulatory status of Buyer (or any of its Affiliates)
or as a result of any other facts that specifically relate to the
business or activities in which Buyer (or any of its Affiliates) is
or proposes to be engaged; (iii) result in a default (or give
rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration or
result in any Encumbrance (other than a Permitted Encumbrance) on
the Acquired Assets) under any Contract to which Seller is a party
or by which Seller or any of the Acquired Assets, may be bound,
except for such defaults (or rights of termination, cancellation or
acceleration or resulting Encumbrance (other than a Permitted
Encumbrance)) as to which requisite waivers or consents have been
obtained or will have been obtained prior to Closing or that would
not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; or (iv) violate any Law
or Order applicable to Seller or any of the Acquired Assets, which
violation, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Except
for the consents and approvals listed in
Schedule 5.3(b) (the “ Seller Required
Regulatory Approvals ”), no declaration, filing or
registration with, or notice to, or authorization, consent or
approval of, any Governmental Entity is necessary for the
consummation by Seller (or its Affiliates) of the transactions
contemplated hereby or by the Related Agreements, other than such
declarations, filings, registrations or notices that, if not
obtained or made, would not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and as
noted in Section 7.3(i) .
(a) Seller
has made available to Buyer complete copies of the following
financial statements, which are attached hereto as
Schedule 5.4(a) (collectively, the “ Financial
Statements ”): the audited consolidated balance sheet of
Seller as of December 31, 2008 and the related audited
consolidated statements of income and cash flows and the notes
thereto for the
15
fiscal year
then ended. The Financial Statements (i) have been prepared in
accordance with GAAP, consistently applied throughout the periods
covered thereby, except as otherwise noted therein, and
(ii) fairly present in all material respects the financial
condition and results of operations of Seller on a consolidated
basis, as of the respective dates thereof and for the respective
periods covered thereby; provided , however ,
that this representation and warranty shall be deemed true and
correct to the extent that any failure of this representation and
warranty to be true and correct related to matters other than, and
does not affect, the Transferred Business.
(b) For
periods beginning on or after January 1, 2006, Seller has
filed or caused to be filed with the Virginia Commission all forms,
statements, reports and documents (including all exhibits,
amendments and supplements thereto) required to be filed by Seller
with respect to the Transferred Business, all of which complied in
all material respects with all applicable requirements of the rules
and regulations of the Virginia Commission as in effect on the date
each such report was filed.
(c) The
books and records of Seller have been maintained in accordance with
GAAP and the FERC’s Uniform System of Accounts applied on a
consistent basis in accordance with Seller’s past practice as
reflected on Schedule 5.5 .
(a) Attached
hereto as Schedule 5.5 is a statement of the Net Book
Value of the Acquired Assets, Customer Deposits and the Designated
Assets Value as of December 31, 2008 for Seller’s VA
Distribution Business (including the Sister Business) (the “
Initial 2008 Statement ”). The defined terms used in
the preceding sentence shall be understood for purposes of this
Section 5.5(a) only to include the portion of the VA
Distribution Business in the Sister Territory as well as the
Transferred Territory. The Initial 2008 Statement (a) is
unaudited and derived on a consistent basis from the books and
records and consolidated financial statements of Seller,
(b) has been prepared based upon amounts derived from the
records of Seller that have been maintained in accordance with GAAP
and the FERC’s Uniform System of Accounts,
(c) accurately and completely reflects the Acquired Assets and
Assumed Liabilities taken together with the Acquired Assets and
Assumed Liabilities in the Sister Purchase Agreement (as such terms
are defined therein), in each case as of December 31, 2008 and
except as otherwise expressly noted herein, and (d) has been
prepared on the basis of internal direct or indirect allocations of
certain assets and liabilities between the states in which Seller
operates in a manner consistent with Seller’s historical
practice.
(b) On
or before June 8, 2009, Seller will provide Buyer with an
amended Schedule 5.5 which will be a statement of the
Net Book Value of the Acquired Assets, Customer Deposits and the
Designated Assets Value as of December 31, 2008 for only the
Transferred Business (the “ 2008 Statement ”).
The 2008 Statement when delivered (a) will be unaudited and
derived on a consistent basis from the books and records and
consolidated financial statements of Seller, (b) prepared based
upon amounts derived from the records of Seller that have been
maintained in accordance with GAAP and the FERC’s Uniform
System of Accounts, (c) will accurately and completely reflect
the Acquired Assets and Assumed Liabilities as of December 31,
2008 and except as otherwise expressly noted herein, and
(d) will have been prepared on the
16
basis of
internal direct or indirect allocations of certain assets and
liabilities between the states in which Seller operates in a manner
consistent with Seller’s historical practice.
(c) Buyer
acknowledges that the Initial 2008 Statement and 2008 Statement
include entries for the Tangible Personal Property included as an
Acquired Asset pursuant to Section 2.1(g) ,
notwithstanding that such property has been expensed under
GAAP.
5.6 Undisclosed
Liabilities . Except for (a) the Liabilities set forth in
Schedule 5.6 , (b) Liabilities reflected or reserved
against in the 2008 Statement and (c) Liabilities incurred
after December 31, 2008 that, individually or in the
aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect, Seller has not incurred any Liabilities that will
be Assumed Obligations as of the Closing.
5.7 Absence of
Certain Changes or Events . Since December 31, 2008,
Seller has operated the Transferred Business in the ordinary course
consistent with past practices and except as set forth in
Schedule 5.7 , there has not occurred any event,
occurrence or conditions that, individually or in the aggregate,
would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
5.8 Title and
Related Matters .
(a) Seller
has good, valid and marketable title to the Acquired Assets free
and clear of all Encumbrances other than the Permitted Encumbrances
and those Encumbrances that are to be released at or prior to
Closing. Except as set forth in Schedule 5.8(a) ,
Seller has not leased or otherwise granted to any Person the right
to use or occupy the Owned Real Property, and there are no
outstanding options, rights of first offer or rights of first
refusal to purchase such Owned Real Property.
(b) Except
for any Excluded Assets and for any assets being transferred by
Seller pursuant to the Sister Purchase Agreement (for which Buyer
may elect or need to acquire joint use arrangements with the buyer
thereunder), (i) the Owned Real Property and the Transferred
Easements represent all of the material real property interests
used or held for use by Seller in connection with the Transferred
Business and necessary to conduct the Transferred Business in all
material respects as conducted on the date of this Agreement and,
except to the extent permitted by Section 7.1 , as of
the Effective Time, and (ii) the Acquired Assets include the
material property, plant and equipment used by Seller in the VA
Distribution Business in the Transferred Territory (other than as
expressly contemplated hereby).
(c) Except
as set forth on Schedule 5.8(c) , Seller has not
received written notice from any Person within three years prior to
the date of this Agreement asserting that Seller does not have the
right, as a result of title defects or title failures, to use or
occupy any portion of the Owned Real Property or lands covered by
the Transferred Easements, other than those notices that would not
individually, or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.
(d) The
buildings on the Owned Real Property are in good operating
condition relative to their age and use and have been maintained in
accordance with Good Utility Practices. The Tangible Personal
Property, Inventories and Distribution Facilities are in good
operating
17
condition
relative to their age and use and have been maintained in
accordance with Good Utility Practices.
(e) No
condemnation or eminent domain proceeding against any part of the
Owned Real Property or the Transferred Easements is pending or, to
the Knowledge of Seller, threatened, other than such proceedings
that would not individually, or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(f) To
the Knowledge of Seller, (i) there are no public improvements
that have been ordered to be made or that have not been previously
assessed, and (ii) there are no special, general or other
assessments pending, threatened against, or affecting any parts of
the Owned Real Property or any of the Transferred
Easements.
(g) All
of the Inventories included as Acquired Assets consist of a
quality, and are not more than the quantity, reasonably expected to
be usable in the ordinary course of business.
5.9
Insurance . Schedule 5.9 lists and provides a
summary of the material policies of fire, liability, worker’s
compensation and other forms of insurance owned or held by
Allegheny Energy, Inc. (“ Allegheny ”), of which
Seller is a wholly-owned subsidiary, or Allegheny’s or
Seller’s Affiliates insuring the Acquired Assets or the
operations and personnel of the Transferred Business. All such
insurance policies are in full force and effect, subject to the
terms of each policy, all premiums with respect thereto covering
all periods up to and including the date as of which this
representation is being made have been paid (other than retroactive
premiums that may be payable with respect to comprehensive general
liability and worker’s compensation insurance policies), and
no notice of cancellation or termination has been received with
respect to any such policy that was not replaced on substantially
similar terms prior to the date of such cancellation. As of the
date of this Agreement, none of Allegheny, Seller or any of their
Affiliates have been refused any insurance with respect to the
Acquired Assets or the operations and personnel of the Transferred
Business, nor has such coverage been limited by any insurance
carrier to which any of Allegheny, Seller or any of their
Affiliates have applied for any such insurance or with which it has
carried insurance during the last twelve months.
5.10
Environmental, Health and Safety Matters . Except as set
forth in Schedule 5.10 and for such matters that,
individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect:
(a) Seller
is and, during the relevant time periods specified in applicable
statutes of limitations, has been in compliance with applicable
Environmental Laws with respect to its operation of the Transferred
Business;
(b) Seller
holds and is in compliance with all Permits required under
applicable Environmental Laws to construct and operate the Acquired
Assets and to own and operate the Transferred Business as currently
operated, and has timely filed any renewal applications required to
be filed by a specific date in order to maintain the effectiveness
of such Permits;
18
(c) There
are no claims, actions, suits, or proceedings pending or, to
Seller’s Knowledge, threatened against Seller under
applicable Environmental Laws with respect to the operation of the
Transferred Business or the Acquired Assets;
(d) There
have been no Releases of Hazardous Substances on, under or from the
Acquired Assets in violation of, or that require reporting or
Remediation under, any applicable Environmental Laws, and Seller
has not received any written notification or request for
information indicating that it is a potentially responsible party
under CERCLA or any similar state law with respect to the Acquired
Assets or its operation of the Transferred Business;
(e) Seller
has delivered to Buyer all environmental reports (including all
Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessment reports,
investigations and studies) relating to any of the Acquired Assets
or the Transferred Business that are in the possession of the
Seller or any of its Representatives; and
(f) Seller
is not subject to any Order under any Environmental Law relating to
the Acquired Assets or the Transferred Business.
(g) There
currently are not and never have been any power generation
facilities (other than back-up generation equipment) on any of the
Owned Real Property or Transferred Easements.
Notwithstanding
any other provision in this Agreement to the contrary, the
representations and warranties made in this
Section 5.10 are Seller’s exclusive
representations and warranties relating to compliance with, and
possession of Permits required under, Environmental Laws, and with
respect to any Releases of Hazardous Substances.
5.11 Regulation
as a Utility . Seller is subject to regulation as a
“public utility” by the Virginia Commission pursuant to
the Laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia and is subject to
regulation as a “public utility” by the FERC pursuant
to Part II of the Federal Power Act. Seller also is subject to
regulation as a public utility (or similar designation) by the
States of Maryland and West Virginia, but no other states in the
United States or by any foreign country. Seller is a subsidiary of
Allegheny, which is a “registered holding company”
under the Holding Company Act. Schedule 5.11 lists all
of the currently operative tariffs authorized and approved prior to
the date of this Agreement by the Virginia Commission applicable to
the Transferred Business and all of the currently pending rate,
certificate or other filings made prior to the date of this
Agreement by Seller before the Virginia Commission. All currently
effective filings with the Virginia Commission were made in
compliance in all material respects with all Laws then applicable
thereto. Except as reported on Schedule 5.11 , Seller,
with respect to the Transferred Business, does not have rates that
have been or are being collected subject to refund, pending final
resolution of any proceeding pending before a Governmental Entity
or on appeal to the courts, where the potential refund, resolution
or outcome of appeal, individually or in the aggregate, has had or
would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
5.12 Labor and
Employment Matters . Seller has previously made available to
Buyer copies of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, which is the
only collective bargaining agreement that relates to the
Transferred Business. With respect to the Transferred Business and
except for such matters as would not reasonably be expected to
have, individually or in the
19
aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect: (a) except as set forth in
Schedule 5.12(a) , Seller is in compliance with all
applicable Laws respecting employment and employment practices,
terms and conditions of employment and wages and hours with respect
to the Employees; (b) within the last three years, Seller has
not received written notice of any unfair labor practice complaint
against it before the National Labor Relations Board with respect
to the Employees and no such claim is pending; (c) there is no
labor strike, slowdown or stoppage actually pending or, to the
Knowledge of Seller, threatened against or affecting the
Transferred Business; (d) there is no charge pending or, to
Seller’s Knowledge, threatened against Seller alleging
violation of any Laws related to employment and employment
practices, terms and conditions of employment and wages and hours
with respect to employees, including, but not limited to unlawful
discrimination in employment practices; (e) within the last three
years, no one has filed a petition seeking representation with
respect to the Employees of Seller with the National Labor
Relations Board and no petition is pending; (f) except as
reported on Schedule 5.12(f) , no arbitration
proceeding arising out of or under any Collective Bargaining
Agreement is pending against Seller; and (g) Seller has not
experienced any primary work stoppage with respect to the Employees
in the past five years.
5.13 Employee
Benefit Plans .
(a) All
“employee benefit plans,” within the meaning of
Section 3(3) of ERISA, covering any of the Employees
(collectively, the “ Benefit Plans ”) are listed
in Schedule 5.13(a) . True and complete copies of all
Benefit Plans or a written summary thereof have been made available
to Buyer.
(b)
Schedule 5.13(b) lists or describes all material
employee benefit arrangements, including any other material
deferred compensation, profit-sharing, retirement and pension plans
and all material bonus, fringe benefit and other employee benefit
plans, maintained, or with respect to which contributions are made,
by Seller for the Employees, other than those arrangements that are
Benefit Plans or are base or regular cash compensation
(collectively, the “ Benefit Arrangements
”).
(c) There
has been no amendment to, announcement by Seller or any of its
subsidiaries relating to, or change in employee participation or
coverage under, any Benefit Plan or Benefit Arrangement that would
increase materially the benefits provided to the Employees under
such plan or arrangement above the level of the benefits provided
thereunder for the most recent fiscal year.
(d)
Schedule 5.13(d) contains a true and correct list of
the names of each Employee for the Transferred Business and each
“Employee” as defined in the Sister Purchase
Agreement.
(a)
Schedule 5.14(a) contains a true and complete list of
the following Transferred Contracts and the “Transferred
Contracts” as defined in the Sister Purchase Agreement, as of
the date hereof:
20
(i) franchise
agreements authorizing the provision of electric service in a city
or municipality;
(ii) electric
service agreements or similar customer agreements that generated
more than $1,000,000 in net revenues for the twelve month period
ended December 31, 2008;
(iii) facilities
agreements;
(iv) transmission
service agreements;
(v) interchange,
borderline or joint use agreements;
(vi) pole
attachment agreements;
(vii) any
other Contract related to the Transferred Business that require
known expenditures by Seller of $100,000 or more per annum or
$250,000 or more in the aggregate over the term of such
Contract;
(viii) Contracts
containing covenants restricting in any material respect the
freedom of Seller to engage in the Transferred Business or to
compete with any Person that would affect, or be reasonably
expected to affect, the Transferred Business or the operation or
use of the Acquired Assets;
(ix) joint
venture agreements, joint development agreements, joint use
agreements, common or shared facilities agreements, partnership
agreements, limited liability company agreements, limited liability
company operating agreements or similar agreements;
(x) Contracts
for the purchase or sale of any business, corporation, partnership
or other business entity;
(xi) encroachment
agreements;
(xii) electric
supply agreements;
(xiii) Equipment
Leases; and
(xiv) Contracts
that are otherwise material to the Transferred Business.
(b)
Schedule 5.14(b) contains a true and complete list of
all Shared Contracts that would be included in clauses (i)
through (xiv) of Section 5.14(a) if such
Contracts related primarily to the VA Distribution
Business.
(c) Except
as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, each of the Transferred
Contracts and Shared Contracts (i) constitutes a valid and
binding obligation of Seller and, to Seller’s Knowledge,
constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the other parties
thereto, subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity
21
Exception, and
(ii) is in full force and effect except to the extent such contract
expires by its own terms after the date of this
Agreement.
(d) There
is not, under any of the Transferred Contracts or Shared Contracts,
any default or event that, with notice or lapse of time or both,
would constitute a default on the part of Seller or, to
Seller’s Knowledge, would constitute a default on the part of
any of the other parties thereto, except such events of default and
other events as to which requisite waivers or consents have been
obtained, the receipt of the Seller Third Party Consents or that
would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
5.15 Legal
Proceedings, Etc . Except as set forth in
Schedule 5.15 , there are no claims, actions,
proceedings or investigations pending or, to the Knowledge of
Seller, threatened against Seller or any of its Affiliates relating
to the Acquired Assets or the Transferred Business before any
Governmental Entity or alternative dispute resolution proceedings
that would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. Seller is not subject to any
outstanding judgment, rule, Order, writ, injunction or decree of
any court or Governmental Entity or alternate dispute resolutions
that would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. As of the date of this
Agreement, Seller is not aware of any reason relating to it or its
Affiliates that all Seller Required Regulatory Approvals will not
be obtained.
5.16 Compliance
with Permits and Laws . Seller holds and is in compliance with
all Permits (other than with respect to Environmental Laws, which
are addressed in Section 5.10 ) necessary to own,
operate and maintain the Transferred Business as presently
conducted, except where the failure to have such Permits would not
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect. Seller is in compliance with all Permits
and Laws of all Governmental Entities applicable to it with respect
to the Transferred Business or the Acquired Assets, except for
violations that would not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect.
5.17 Tax
Matters . All Tax Returns required to be filed before
the Effective Time by Seller with respect to the Transferred
Business or with respect to the ownership or operation of the
Acquired Assets, have been or will be timely filed, and all Taxes
that are, or as of the Effective Time will be, due have been or
will be timely paid in full. Except as set forth in Schedule
5.17 , Seller has not received any notice of deficiency or
assessment from any taxing authority with respect to liabilities
for Taxes in respect of the Transferred Business or Acquired Assets
that could adversely affect the Transferred Business or
Buyer’s ownership of such Acquired Assets, which have not
been fully paid or finally settled, and any such deficiency shown
in such Schedule 5.17 is being contested in good faith
through appropriate proceedings. No claim has ever been made by any
authority in a jurisdiction where Seller does not file a Tax Return
with respect to the Transferred Business that it is or may be
subject to taxation in that jurisdiction with respect to the
Transferred Business. Except as set forth in
Schedule 5.17 , (i) there are no audits, claims,
assessments, levies, administrative proceedings, or lawsuits
pending, or to Seller’s Knowledge, threatened against Seller
in respect of the Transferred Business or any of the Acquired
Assets that could adversely affect the Transferred Business or
Buyer’s ownership of such Acquired Assets, and
(ii) there are no outstanding agreements or waivers extending
the applicable statutory periods of limitation for the assessment
or collection of any
22
Taxes
associated with the ownership or operation of the Transferred
Business or the Acquired Assets that could adversely affect the
Transferred Business or Buyer’s ownership of such Acquired
Assets for any period. There are no Encumbrances for Taxes, other
than Permitted Encumbrances, on any of the Acquired
Assets.
5.18 Related
Party Matters . Except as set forth in
Schedule 5.18 , with respect to Transferred Business,
Seller is not party to any Contract with any of its Affiliates,
except for Contracts not assigned or conveyed to Buyer pursuant to
this Agreement and the Power Purchase Agreement with a subsidiary
of Allegheny.
5.19
Intellectual Property . Seller owns, or possesses licenses
or other valid rights to use, all patents, patent rights,
trademarks, trademark rights, trade names, trade name rights,
copyrights, service marks, service mark rights, trade secrets,
applications to register, and registrations for the foregoing
trademarks, service marks and patents, know-how and other
proprietary rights and information necessary in connection with the
Transferred Business as currently conducted, except where the
failure to possess such rights or licenses or valid rights to use
would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect,
and to the Knowledge of Seller (i) the conduct by Seller of
the Transferred Business does not infringe upon any Intellectual
Property of any third party, except where such infringement would
not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, nor has Seller received any
written claim, alleging any such infringement, and (ii) no
Person is infringing upon any Intellectual Property of Seller as it
relates to the Transferred Business except where such infringement
would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. Schedule 5.19
contains the material information technology applications currently
used in the VA Distribution Business.
5.20 Fees and
Commissions . There is no investment banker, broker, finder or
other intermediary that has been retained by or is authorized to
act on behalf of Seller or any Affiliate or Subsidiary of Seller,
who might be entitled to any fee or commission from Buyer in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.
5.21
Disclaimers . EXCEPT FOR THE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
SET FORTH IN THIS ARTICLE V , THE ACQUIRED ASSETS ARE SOLD
“AS IS, WHERE IS” AND SELLER EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY
REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND OR NATURE, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, AS TO SELLER, THE LIABILITIES, OPERATIONS OF THE ACQUIRED
ASSETS OR THE TRANSFERRED BUSINESS. WITHOUT LIMITING THE GENERALITY
OF THE FOREGOING, EXCEPT FOR THE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES SET
FORTH IN THIS ARTICLE V : SELLER EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL
OTHER REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES REGARDING LIABILITIES,
OWNERSHIP, LEASE, MAINTENANCE, OR OPERATION OF THE ACQUIRED ASSETS
AND THE TRANSFERRED BUSINESS, THE TITLE, CONDITION, VALUE OR
QUALITY OF THE ACQUIRED ASSETS OR THE PROSPECTS (FINANCIAL AND
OTHERWISE), RISKS AND OTHER INCIDENTS OF THE ACQUIRED ASSETS AND
THE TRANSFERRED BUSINESS; AND SELLER SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ANY
REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, USAGE, SUITABILITY
OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE WITH RESPECT TO THE ACQUIRED
ASSETS OR THE
23
TRANSFERRED
BUSINESS, OR ANY PART THEREOF, OR AS TO THE WORKMANSHIP THEREOF, OR
THE ABSENCE OF ANY DEFECTS THEREIN, WHETHER LATENT OR PATENT OR AS
TO THE PHYSICAL CONDITION THEREOF, OR WHETHER SELLER POSSESSES
SUFFICIENT REAL PROPERTY OR PERSONAL PROPERTY TO OPERATE THE
ACQUIRED ASSETS OR THE TRANSFERRED BUSINESS. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE
EXPRESSLY PROVIDED HEREIN, SELLER FURTHER SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS
ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY REGARDING THE ABSENCE OF HAZARDOUS
SUBSTANCES OR LIABILITY OR POTENTIAL LIABILITY ARISING UNDER
ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS WITH RESPECT TO THE ACQUIRED ASSETS OR THE
TRANSFERRED BUSINESS. WITHOUT LIMITING THE GENERALITY OF THE
FOREGOING, EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY PROVIDED HEREIN, SELLER
EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND
REGARDING THE CONDITION OF THE ACQUIRED ASSETS OR THE TRANSFERRED
BUSINESS OR THE SUITABILITY OF THE ACQUIRED ASSETS AS A
DISTRIBUTION FACILITY, AS APPLICABLE, AND NO SCHEDULE TO THIS
AGREEMENT, NOR ANY OTHER MATERIAL OR INFORMATION PROVIDED, OR
COMMUNICATION MADE, BY SELLER OR ITS REPRESENTATIVES SHALL
CONSTITUTE OR CREATE SUCH REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, AS TO THE TITLE, CONDITION, VALUE OR QUALITY OF THE
ACQUIRED ASSETS OR THE TRANSFERRED BUSINESS.
5.22
Acknowledgement . Seller acknowledges and agrees that the
representations and warranties set forth in Article VI of
this Agreement constitute the sole and exclusive representations
and warranties of Buyer to Seller in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby and by the Related Agreements.
Except for the representations and warranties expressly set forth
in Article VI of this Agreement, Seller disclaims
reliance on any representations or warranties, either express or
implied, by or on behalf of Buyer or its Affiliates or
Buyer’s Representatives.
ARTICLE VI
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER
Buyer hereby
represents and warrants to Seller as follows:
6.1 Power and
Authority . Buyer is a utility consumer services cooperative
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
Laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia and has all requisite
corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its
properties and to carry on its business as it is now being
conducted, except where the failure to have such power and
authority, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably
be expected to have a Buyer Material Adverse Effect.
6.2
Authority . Buyer has full power and authority to execute
and deliver this Agreement and the Related Agreements and to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Related Agreements
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby have been duly and validly authorized by the Board of
Directors of Buyer and, except as set forth on
Schedule 6.2 , no other corporate proceedings on the
part of Buyer are necessary to authorize this Agreement and the
Related Agreements or to consummate the transaction contemplated
hereby or thereby.
24
This Agreement
and the Related Agreements have been duly and validly executed and
delivered by Buyer, and, assuming that this Agreement and the
Related Agreements constitute valid and binding obligations of
Seller, constitute valid and binding agreements of Buyer,
enforceable against Buyer in accordance with their terms, subject
to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception.
6.3 Consents
and Approvals; No Violation .
(a) Other
than obtaining the consent set forth on Schedule 6.2 ,
the Buyer Required Regulatory Approvals and the Seller Required
Regulatory Approvals, neither the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the Related Agreements by Buyer, the purchase by
Buyer of the Acquired Assets or the assumption by Buyer of the
Assumed Obligations pursuant to this Agreement nor the performance
by Buyer under this Agreement or the Related Agreements will,
except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or
in the aggregate, a Buyer Material Adverse Effect:
(i) conflict with or result in any breach of any provision of
the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws (or other similar
governing documents) of Buyer, (ii) require Buyer or its
Affiliates to obtain any consent, approval, authorization or permit
of, or require Buyer or its Affiliates to make any filing with or
provide any notice to, any Governmental Entity except (x) where
Buyer’s failure to obtain such consent, approval,
authorization or permit, or to make such filing or notification,
would not individually or in the aggregate, have a Buyer Material
Adverse Effect, or (y) for those requirements that become
applicable to Buyer as a result of the specific regulatory status
of Seller (or any of its Affiliates) or as a result of any other
facts that specifically relate to the business or activities in
which Seller (or any of its Affiliates) is or propose to be
engaged; (iii) result in a default (or give rise to any right
of termination, cancellation or acceleration) under any Contract to
which Buyer or any of Buyer’s Subsidiaries is a party or by
which any of their respective assets may be bound, except for such
defaults (or rights of termination, cancellation or acceleration)
as to which requisite waivers or consents have been obtained or
will have been obtained prior to Closing or that would not
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Buyer Material Adverse Effect; or (iv) violate any Law or
Order applicable to Buyer, or any of its assets, which violation,
individually or in the aggregate would reasonably be expected to
have a Buyer Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Except
for the consents and approvals listed in
Schedule 6.3(b) (the “ Buyer Required
Regulatory Approvals ”), no declaration, filing or
registration with, or notice to, or authorization, consent or
approval of any Governmental Entity is necessary for the
consummation by Buyer (or any of its Affiliates) of the
transactions contemplated hereby or by the Related Agreements,
other than such declarations, filings, registrations, notices,
authorizations, consents or approvals that, if not obtained or
made, would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in
the aggregate a Buyer Material Adverse Effect.
6.4
Availability of Funds . Buyer has available or has received
a binding written commitment from a creditworthy financial
institution, a true and correct copy of which has been provided to
Seller, as of the date hereof, and Buyer will have available on the
Closing Date sufficient funds to enable Buyer to pay the Purchase
Price on the terms and conditions of this Agreement, any amounts
due after the Closing Date pursuant to Section 3.2(c) ,
and the purchase price under the Sister Purchase Agreement if Buyer
elects or is obligated to consummate the transactions contemplated
in the Sister Purchase Agreement pursuant to
Section
25
7.20 hereof. Buyer acknowledges that its obligations
hereunder (including Section 7.20 ) are not subject to
any conditions regarding Buyer’s ability to obtain financing
for the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby.
6.5 Litigation;
Regulatory Approvals . There are no claims, actions,
proceedings or investigations pending or, to the Knowledge of
Buyer, threatened against Buyer or any of its Affiliates before any
Governmental Entity, which question, challenge the validity of, or
could be reasonably expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Buyer Material Adverse Effect. As of the date of this
Agreement, Buyer is not aware of any reason relating to it or its
Affiliates that all Buyer Required Regulatory Approvals will not be
obtained.
6.6 Qualified
Buyer . Buyer is qualified to obtain any Permits necessary for
Buyer to own and operate the Acquired Assets and the Transferred
Business as of the Closing.
6.7 WARN
Act . Buyer does not intend to engage in a “Plant
Closing” or “Mass Layoff” as such terms are
defined in the WARN Act within ninety days of the Closing
Date.
6.8 Fees and
Commissions . There is no investment banker, broker, finder or
other intermediary that has been retained by or is authorized to
act on behalf of Buyer or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of Buyer, who
might be entitled to any fee or commission from Seller in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.
6.9
Inspections . Buyer is knowledgeable about the usual and
customary practices of companies engaged in businesses similar to
the Transferred Business. Buyer acknowledges and agrees that the
representations and warranties set forth in Article V
of this Agreement constitute the sole and exclusive representations
and warranties of Seller to Buyer in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby and by the Related Agreements.
Except for the representations and warranties expressly set forth
in Article V of this Agreement, Buyer disclaims
reliance on any representations or warranties, either express or
implied, by or on behalf of Seller or its Affiliates or
Seller’s Representatives.
ARTICLE VII
COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES
7.1 Conduct of
Business Prior to the Closing . Except as described in
Schedule 7.1 , as required by applicable Laws or by a
Governmental Entity or to the extent Buyer otherwise consents in
writing (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned
or delayed), during the period from the date of this Agreement to
the Effective Time, Seller will operate the Transferred Business in
the usual, regular and ordinary course consistent with Good Utility
Practices and past practice and shall use all commercially
reasonable efforts to preserve intact the Transferred Business,
keep available the services of its Employees and agents and
endeavor to preserve the goodwill and relationships with customers,
suppliers and others having business dealings with the Transferred
Business. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and,
except as contemplated in this Agreement or as described on
Schedule 7.1 or as required under applicable Laws or by
any Governmental Entity, until the Effective Time,
without
26
the prior
written consent of Buyer (such consent not to be unreasonably
withheld, conditioned or delayed), Seller will not:
(a) except
for Permitted Encumbrances and other Encumbrances that will be
discharged at or prior to Closing, create, incur, assume or suffer
to exist any Encumbrance on an Acquired Asset;
(b) sell,
lease (as lessor), transfer or otherwise dispose of any of the
Acquired Assets, other than immaterial assets and assets (including
Inventories) used, consumed or replaced in the ordinary course of
business consistent with Good Utility Practices;
(c) modify,
amend or voluntarily terminate or permit to lapse, prior to the
respective expiration date of any of the Transferred Contracts,
Shared Contracts, Transferred Easements or any of the Permits with
respect to such Acquired Assets in any material respect, other than
(i) in the ordinary course of business, to the extent
consistent with the past practices of Seller or Good Utility
Practices, (ii) with cause, to the extent consistent with past
practices of Seller or Good Utility Practices, or (iii) as may
be required in connection with transferring Seller’s rights
or obligations thereunder to Buyer pursuant to this Agreement;
provided that Seller may take any action otherwise prohibited by
this subsection (c) with respect to Shared Contracts as long
as such action does not discriminate against the Transferred
Business or Transferred Territory as compared to Sellers other
businesses or service territories of Seller or its
Affiliates.
(d) except
as otherwise required by the terms of the Collective Bargaining
Agreement, (i) solicit, hire or transfer any Employees;
provided , however , that Seller and its Affiliates
may hire or transfer any Employees who apply for positions offered
by Seller and its Affiliates in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practices, (ii) increase salaries or
wages of Employees prior to the Closing, other than (A) with
respect to non-union Employees, wage adjustments up to the
unadjusted Consumer Price Index for the Washington –
Baltimore metro area “Summary Data from the Consumer Price
Index” published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.
Department of Labor, For All Urban Consumer for All items,
(B) with respect to any union Employee, any wage adjustment
contemplated in the Collective Bargaining Agreement, or (C) wage
increases for workers temporarily assigned but whose wages return
to prior levels on or prior to the Effective Time, (iii) take
any action prior to the Closing to affect a material change in the
Collective Bargaining Agreement, provided , however ,
that Seller may engage in good faith bargaining concerning the
effects of this Agreement on Employees covered by the Collective
Bargaining Agreement, or (iv) take any action prior to the
Closing to materially increase the aggregate benefits payable to
the Employees (considered as a group);
(e)
(i) fail to make capital expenditures previously budgeted for
2009 or 2010 in accordance with Schedule 7.1(e) ,
except for modification and revisions to such expenditures made in
the ordinary course of business consistent with Good Utility
Practices and for immaterial variances in the periods in which such
expenditures are made, or (ii) make other capital expenditures
except (A) as required by applicable Laws or Good Utility
Practices and (B) for capital expenditures to repair or
replace facilities destroyed or damaged due to casualty or accident
(whether or not covered by insurance);
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(f) Except
as otherwise permitted or contemplated by this
Section 7.1 , enter into any Contract primarily
relating to the Transferred Business that provides for future
expenditures by Seller of $250,000 or more per annum or $500,000 or
more in the aggregate over the term of such Contract, unless
terminable without penalty or premium upon no more than 60-day
notice;
(g) make
material changes to management personnel relating to the
Transferred Business without prior consultation with
Buyer;
(h) make
any material change in the level of Inventories customarily
maintained by Seller with respect to the Transferred Business,
other than in the ordinary course of business and consistent with
Good Utility Practices;
(i) fail
to maintain the VA Distribution Business in a state of repairs and
conditions consistent with the requirements and normal conduct of
Seller’s business and Good Utility Practices;
(j) consent
to any material modifications of Transferred Contracts or material
changes in courses of dealing with the Virginia Commission in
respect of the operations of the Transferred Business or the
Acquired Assets, except as required by applicable Law to obtain or
renew Transferable Permits or agreements in the ordinary course of
business consistent with Seller’s past practices and Good
Utility Practices;
(k) fail
to maintain the insurance policies set forth on
Schedule 5.9 , or policies comparable thereto, with
respect to the Acquired Assets with financially responsible
insurance companies (or if applicable, self insure), insurance in
such amounts and against such risks and losses as are consistent
with past practices and customary for companies of the size and
financial condition of Seller that are engaged in businesses
similar to the Seller’s VA Distribution Business;
(l) other
than in the ordinary course of business, amend in any material
respect, breach in any material respect, terminate or allow to
lapse or become subject to default in any material respect or
subject to termination, any Transferable Permit material to the
Transferred Business other than as required by applicable
Law;
(m) except
as required by Law and except for non-material filings in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or those
filings listed on Schedule 7.1(m) , (A) implement any
changes in Seller’s rates or charges (other than automatic
cost pass-through rate adjustment clauses), standards of service or
accounting, in any such case, as relates to the Transferred
Business or execute any Contract with respect thereto (other than
as otherwise permitted under this Agreement), without consulting
with Buyer prior to implementing any such changes or executing any
such Contract, or (B) settle any rate proceeding reducing
revenues or establishing a rate moratorium or phasing-in rate
increases (other than automatic cost pass-through rate adjustment
clauses) with respect to the Transferred Business after the Closing
Date;
(n) with
respect to the Transferred Business, change, in any material
respect, its accounting methods or practices (except in accordance
with changes in GAAP), credit
28
practices,
collection policies, or investment, financial reporting, or
Inventory practices or policies or the manner in which the books
and records of the Transferred Business are maintained;
(o) accept
a letter of credit, surety bond or similar instrument as security
for the performance of any obligation which may be completed by
Buyer unless such letter of credit, surety bond or similar
instrument permits Buyer to draw thereunder following the Effective
Time; or
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