Exhibit 10.2
Execution Version
CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
AMONG
EQUITABLE PRODUCTION
COMPANY
EQUITABLE GATHERING EQUITY,
LLC
PINE MOUNTAIN OIL AND GAS,
INC.
AND
NORA GATHERING, LLC
Dated as of April 13,
2007
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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ARTICLE 1 ASSETS CONTRIBUTION
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1
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Section 1.1
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Contribution of Assets
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1
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Section 1.2
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Assets
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2
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Section 1.3
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Excluded Assets
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2
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Section 1.4
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Certain Definitions
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3
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Section 1.5
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Effective Time; Proration of Costs and
Revenues
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6
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Section 1.6
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Intentions of the Parties
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6
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ARTICLE 2 CASH CONTRIBUTION, DISTRIBUTIONS AND
LOANS
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7
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Section 2.1
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Cash Contribution
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7
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Section 2.2
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Effective Time Adjustment
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7
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Section 2.3
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Cash Distributions and Loans
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9
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Section 2.4
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Capital Account Balances
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9
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ARTICLE 3 TITLE MATTERS
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9
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Section 3.1
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Title
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9
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Section 3.2
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Definitions of Defensible Title and Permitted
Encumbrances
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10
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Section 3.3
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Notice of Asserted Title Defects; Defect
Adjustments
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11
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Section 3.4
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Consents to Assignment and Preferential Rights
to Purchase
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14
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Section 3.5
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Casualty or Condemnation Loss
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15
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ARTICLE 4 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF
EQUITABLE
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16
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Section 4.1
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Disclaimers
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16
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Section 4.2
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EPC
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17
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Section 4.3
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EGEL
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18
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Section 4.4
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Liability for Brokers’ Fees
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19
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Section 4.5
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Consents, Approvals or Waivers
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19
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Section 4.6
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Litigation
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20
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Section 4.7
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Taxes
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20
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Section 4.8
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Environmental Laws
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20
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Section 4.9
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Compliance with Laws
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20
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Section 4.10
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Contracts
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20
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Section 4.11
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Permits, etc.
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21
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Section 4.12
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Outstanding Capital Commitments
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21
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Section 4.13
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Abandonment
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21
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Section 4.14
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Condition of Equipment, etc.
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21
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Section 4.15
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Payments of Property Costs
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21
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Section 4.16
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Absence of Certain Events
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21
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Section 4.17
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Regulatory Matters
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21
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Section 4.18
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Information
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22
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Section 4.19
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Sole Member
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22
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i
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ARTICLE 5 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF
PMOG
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22
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Section 5.1
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Existence and Qualification
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22
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Section 5.2
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Power
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22
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Section 5.3
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Authorization and Enforceability
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22
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Section 5.4
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No Conflicts
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22
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Section 5.5
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Liability for Brokers’ Fees
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23
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Section 5.6
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Consents, Approvals or Waivers
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23
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Section 5.7
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Litigation
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23
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Section 5.8
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Financing
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23
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Section 5.9
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Independent Investigation
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23
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Section 5.10
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Equitable Information
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23
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ARTICLE 6 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE
COMPANY
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24
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Section 6.1
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Existence and Qualification
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24
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Section 6.2
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Valid Issuance
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24
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Section 6.3
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Power
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24
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Section 6.4
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Authorization and Enforceability
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24
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Section 6.5
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No Conflicts
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24
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Section 6.6
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Consents, Approvals or Waivers
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25
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Section 6.7
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Litigation
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25
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ARTICLE 7 COVENANTS OF THE
PARTIES
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25
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Section 7.1
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Access
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25
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Section 7.2
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Indemnity Regarding Access
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25
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Section 7.3
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Pre-Closing Notifications
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26
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Section 7.4
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Confidentiality, Public
Announcements
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26
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Section 7.5
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Governmental Reviews
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27
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Section 7.6
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Tax Matters
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27
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Section 7.7
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Further Assurances
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29
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Section 7.8
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Assumption of Obligations
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29
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Section 7.9
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Pipeline Agreement
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29
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Section 7.10
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Operation of Assets
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30
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Section 7.11
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Financial Information
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30
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Section 7.12
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Termination of Gas Gathering
Agreement
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30
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ARTICLE 8 CONDITIONS TO CLOSING
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31
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Section 8.1
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Conditions of Equitable to
Closing
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31
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Section 8.2
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Conditions of PMOG to Closing
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32
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ARTICLE 9 CLOSING
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33
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Section 9.1
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Time and Place of Closing
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33
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Section 9.2
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Closing Deliveries of Equitable
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33
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Section 9.3
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Closing Deliveries of PMOG
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34
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Section 9.4
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Closing Deliveries of the Company
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35
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ARTICLE 10 TERMINATION AND
AMENDMENT
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35
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Section 10.1
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Termination
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35
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ii
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Section 10.2
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Effect of Termination
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36
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ARTICLE 11 INDEMNIFICATIONS;
LIMITATIONS
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36
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Section 11.1
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Indemnification
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36
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Section 11.2
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Indemnification Actions
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39
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Section 11.3
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Limitation on Actions
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40
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ARTICLE 12 MISCELLANEOUS
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41
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Section 12.1
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Receipts
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41
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Section 12.2
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Property Costs
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42
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Section 12.3
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Counterparts
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42
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Section 12.4
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Notices
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42
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Section 12.5
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[Intentionally Omitted]
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43
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Section 12.6
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Expenses
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43
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Section 12.7
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Replacement of Bonds, Letters of Credit and
Guarantees
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43
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Section 12.8
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Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Court
Proceedings
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43
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Section 12.9
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Records
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44
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Section 12.10
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Captions
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44
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Section 12.11
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Waivers
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44
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Section 12.12
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Assignment
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44
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Section 12.13
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Entire Agreement
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44
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Section 12.14
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Amendment
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45
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Section 12.15
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No Third Person Beneficiaries
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45
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Section 12.16
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References
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45
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Section 12.17
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Construction
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45
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Section 12.18
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Limitation on Damages
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45
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Section 12.19
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Attorneys’ Fees
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46
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iii
EXHIBITS:
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Exhibit A-1
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Gathering Assets
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Exhibit A-2
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Water Disposal Wells; Other Excluded
Assets
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Exhibit A-3
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Equipment, Machinery, Fixtures and Other
Tangible Personal Property and Improvements
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Exhibit A-4
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Other Excluded Assets
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Exhibit A-5
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Delinquent Liens for Current Taxes or
Assessments
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Exhibit A-6
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Delinquent Liens Arising in the Ordinary Course
of Business
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Exhibit B
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Form of Conveyance
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Exhibit C
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Form of Amended and Restated Limited Liability
Company Agreement of Nora Gathering, LLC
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Exhibit D
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Form of Assignment of Easement
Agreement
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Exhibit E
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Form of Note
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Exhibit F
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Permitted Encumbrances
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Exhibit G
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Form of Gathering Agreement
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Exhibit H
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Form of Gas Purchase Agreement
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Exhibit I
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[Intentionally Omitted]
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Exhibit J
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[Intentionally Omitted]
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Exhibit K
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Nora-T Line
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Exhibit L
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Form of Change of Control Agreement
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Exhibit M
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Form of Equitable Guaranty
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Exhibit N
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Form of Range Guaranty
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Exhibit O
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Form of Interconnect Agreement
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SCHEDULES:
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Schedule 4.2(d)
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Conflicts (EPC)
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Schedule 4.3(d)
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Conflicts (EGEL)
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Schedule 4.5
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Consents, Approvals or Waivers (EPC and
EGEL)
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Schedule 4.6A
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Litigation
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Schedule 4.6B
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Litigation
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Schedule 4.7
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Taxes and Assessments
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Schedule 4.9
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Compliance with Laws
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Schedule 4.10
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Contracts
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Schedule 4.11
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Permits
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Schedule 4.12
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Outstanding Capital Commitments
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Schedule 4.13
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Abandonment
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Schedule 4.14
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Condition of Equipment, etc.
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Schedule 4.16
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Certain Events
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Schedule 7.10
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Operation of Assets
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iv
Index of Defined
Terms
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Defined Term
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Section
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Affiliate
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Section 1.4(a)
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Agreement
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Preamble
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Assets
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Section 1.2
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Asserted Title Defect
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Section 3.2(a)
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Asserted Title Defect Amount
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Section 3.3(c)
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Business Day
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Section 1.4(c)
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Cash Contribution
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Section 2.1
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Change of Control Agreement
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Section 9.2(g)
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Chosen Court
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Section 12.8
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Claim
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Section 11.2(b)
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Claim Notice
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Section 11.2(b)
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Closing
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Section 9.1
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Closing Date
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Section 9.1
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Closing Payment
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Section 2.2(a)
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Company
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Preamble
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Company Indemnified Persons
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Section 11.1(b)
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Consents
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Section 4.5
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Contracts
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Section 1.2(b)
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Conveyance
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Section 9.2(a)
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Damages
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Section 11.1(e)
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Defensible Title
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Section 3.2(a)
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Easements
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Section 1.2(c)
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Equitable
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Preamble
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Equitable Indemnified Persons
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Section 11.1(c)
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Effective Time
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Section 1.4(d)
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Effective Time Adjustment
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Section 2.2(a)
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EGEL
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Preamble
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Encumbrances
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Section 3.2(a)
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Environmental Laws
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Section 4.8
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EPC
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Preamble
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Equitable
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Preamble
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Exchange Act
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Section 1.4(e)
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Excluded Assets
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Section 1.3
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Execution Date
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Preamble
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Exploration Agreement
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Section 1.4(f)
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Exploration Agreement PMOG Area
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Section 1.4(g)
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Gathering Agreement
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Section 9.2(e)
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Gathering Assets
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Section 1.2(a)
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Governmental Authority
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Section 1.4(h)
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Governmental Permits
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Section 4.11
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HSR Act
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Section 7.5
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Hydrocarbons
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Section 1.4(i)
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v
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Indemnified Person
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Section 11.2(a)
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Indemnifying Person
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Section 11.2(a)
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Laws
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Section 1.4(j)
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Letter of Intent
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Section 12.13
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LLC Agreement
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Section 9.2(d)
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Material Adverse Effect
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Section 4.1(d)
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New Easement Agreement
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Section 9.3(d)
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New Lease
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Section 1.4(k)
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Nora Field
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Section 1.4(l)
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Nora-T Line
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Section 1.4(m)
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Original Lease
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Section 1.4(n)
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Party; Parties
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Preamble
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Party Lawsuit
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Section 1.4(o)
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Permitted Encumbrances
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Section 3.2(b)
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Person
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Section 1.4(p)
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Pipeline Agreement
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Recitals
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PMOG
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Preamble
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PMOG Indemnified Persons
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Section 11.1(b)
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Pre-Closing Taxable Period
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Section 7.6(c)
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Preferential Rights
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Section 4.5
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Property Costs
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Section 1.5(c)
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Purchase Agreement
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Section 1.4(q)
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Records
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Section 1.4(r)
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Scheduled Transfer Requirements
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Section 4.5(a)
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SEC
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Section 1.4(s)
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Securities Act
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Section 1.4(t)
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Statements of Revenues and Expenses
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Section 7.11
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Straddle Taxable Period
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Section 7.6(c)
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Tax
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Section 1.4(u)
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Tax Return
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Section 1.4(v)
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Termination Date
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Section 10.1
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Title Arbitrator
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Section 3.3(f)
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Title Claim Date
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Section 3.3(a)
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Title Defects
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Section 3.2(a)
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Transaction Documents
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Section 12.13
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Transfer Taxes
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Section 1.4(w)
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vi
CONTRIBUTION
AGREEMENT
This Contribution Agreement (this
“Agreement”), dated as of April 13, 2007, (the
“Execution Date”) is by and among Equitable Production
Company, a Pennsylvania corporation (“EPC”), Equitable
Gathering Equity, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
(“EGEL”, and, collectively with EPC,
“Equitable”), Pine Mountain Oil and Gas, Inc., a
Virginia corporation (“PMOG”), and Nora Gathering, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company (the
“Company”). EPC, EGEL, PMOG and the Company are
sometimes referred to herein, collectively, as the
“Parties” and, individually, as a
“Party.”
RECITALS:
WHEREAS, EPC and EGEL are the owners
of various natural gas pipeline gathering facilities and pipelines,
commonly known as the Nora Gas Gathering System (including the
Nora-T pipeline), located in Dickenson, Buchanan, Wise and Russell
Counties, Virginia, and used in the gathering of natural gas from
the Nora Field, as further described herein;
WHEREAS, such gathering facilities
and pipelines are situated upon, through and/or under various
properties, which are owned or held by EPC, PMOG, and/or EGEL by
virtue of various agreements or conveyances;
WHEREAS, EPC and EGEL have entered
into that certain Pipeline Agreement dated as of January 1, 2005
(the “Pipeline Agreement”), for the lease and/or
sublease of facilities and pipelines relating to such gathering
system;
WHEREAS, Equitable desires to
contribute such gathering facilities and pipelines, together with
all of Equitable’s other rights, titles and interests in and
to such gathering facilities and pipelines and the Pipeline
Agreement , to the Company on the terms and conditions
hereinafter set forth; and
WHEREAS, PMOG desires to contribute
a specified amount of cash and certain assets to the Company on the
terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of
the premises and of the mutual promises, representations,
warranties, covenants, conditions and agreements contained herein,
and for other valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency
of which is hereby acknowledged, the Parties agree as
follows:
ARTICLE 1
ASSETS CONTRIBUTION
Section
1.1
Contribution of Assets . On the terms and conditions contained in this
Agreement, Equitable agrees to contribute to the Company and the
Company agrees to accept
1
from Equitable the Assets. As
consideration for the contribution of the Assets, the Company shall
issue to EGEL a fifty percent (50%) membership interest in the
Company.
Section
1.2
Assets . “Assets” means all of the right,
title and interest of Equitable in and to the following:
(a)
the gas gathering system, facilities, compressors, pipelines, pig
and other stations and Easements described on Exhibit A-1 (the
“Gathering Assets”);
(b)
all presently existing contracts, agreements and instruments by
which the Assets are bound or subject, including operating
agreements, pipeline agreements, declarations and orders, exchange
agreements, and transportation agreements, but excluding any
contract, agreement or instrument to the extent that (1) transfer
is restricted by third-party agreement or applicable Law, (2)
Equitable is unable to obtain, using
commercially reasonable efforts, a waiver of, or otherwise satisfy,
such transfer restriction (provided
that
Equitable
shall
not
be
required to
provide consideration or undertake obligations to or for the
benefit of the holders of such rights in
order to obtain any necessary consent or waiver), and (3) the
failure to obtain such waiver or satisfy such transfer restriction
would cause a termination of such contract, agreement or instrument
or a material impairment of the rights thereunder (subject to such
exclusions, the “Contracts”);
(c)
all easements, permits, licenses, servitudes, rights-of-way,
surface leases and other surface rights appurtenant to, and used or
held for use primarily in connection with, the Gathering Assets or
other Assets (the “Easements”), including those
Easements described on Exhibit A-1, but excluding any of the
foregoing to the extent that (1) transfer is restricted by
third-party agreement or applicable Law, (2) Equitable is unable to
obtain, using commercially reasonable efforts, a waiver of, or
otherwise satisfy, such transfer restriction (provided that
Equitable shall not be required to provide consideration or
undertake obligations to or for the benefit of the holders of such
rights in order to obtain any necessary consent or waiver), and (3)
the failure to obtain such waiver or satisfy such transfer
restriction would cause a termination of such permit or other
instrument or a material impairment of the rights
thereunder;
(d)
all gathering lines, pipelines, compressors, equipment, machinery,
fixtures and other tangible personal property and improvements used
or held for use primarily in connection with the ownership or
operation of the Gathering Assets or other Assets, but excluding
any such items included in the Excluded Assets; and
(e)
the Records.
Section
1.3
Excluded Assets . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained herein, the Assets shall not include, and the following
are excepted, reserved and excluded from the transactions
contemplated hereby (collectively, the “Excluded
Assets”):
2
(a)
all water disposal wells, and any transfer facility, loadout
facility or other facility associated with such water disposal
wells, primarily used in connection with the disposal of produced
water derived from or otherwise attributable to any of the wells
that produce gas transported through the Gathering Assets,
including those water disposal wells and associated facilities
described on Exhibit A-2;
(b)
all corporate, financial, income and franchise tax and legal
records of Equitable that relate to Equitable’s business
generally (other than those relating primarily to the Assets), and
all books, records and files that relate to the Excluded Assets and
copies of any Records retained by Equitable;
(c)
(i) equipment, machinery, fixtures and other tangible property and
improvements described on Exhibit A-3 attached hereto; (ii)
computers and peripheral equipment related to such equipment; (iii)
communication and telecommunication equipment including but not
limited to radios, towers, and networking equipment; (iv) custom
applications and databases; (v) measurement and data collection
devices; and (vi) software and associated licenses, including but
not limited to any software relating to the SCADA System, Enertia,
Altra, Flow-Cal, Talon, Aries, Production Access, Pre-drill
Manager, Geographix, Synergy, and CygNet;
(d)
all rights and all obligations of Equitable with respect to any
refund or payment of Taxes or other costs or expenses borne by
Equitable or Equitable’s predecessors in interest and title
attributable to the Assets and the period prior to the Effective
Time;
(e)
all rights and all obligations of Equitable with respect to the
claims and causes of action relating to the Assets that accrued or
arose prior to the Effective Time (other than claims or causes of
action for proceeds to which the Company is entitled under Section
1.5(b));
(f)
Equitable’s area-wide bonds, permits and licenses (including
all Federal Communications Commission licenses) or other permits,
licenses or authorizations used in the conduct of Equitable’s
business generally and not exclusively related to the Gathering
Assets; and
(g)
those other assets and interests identified on Exhibit
A-4.
Section
1.4
Certain Definitions . As used herein:
(a)
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, a Person
that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under
common control with such Person, with control in such context
meaning (i) the power to direct the vote of more than fifty percent
(50%) of the voting shares or other securities of such Person
through ownership, pursuant to a written agreement, or otherwise or
(ii) the power to direct the management and policies of a Person
through ownership of voting shares or other securities, pursuant to
a
3
written
agreement, or otherwise. For the purposes of this Agreement,
the Company shall not be considered an Affiliate of any Party or
such Party’s Affiliates.
(b)
[Intentionally omitted].
(c)
“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a
Sunday, or a day on which banks are closed for business in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania or Fort Worth, Texas.
(d)
“Effective Time” means 12:01 a.m. local time where
the Assets are located on June 1, 2006.
(e)
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended.
(f)
“Exploration Agreement” has the meaning given to such
term in the Purchase Agreement.
(g)
“Exploration Agreement PMOG Area” has the meaning given
to such term in the Purchase Agreement.
(h)
“Governmental Authority” means any government and/or
any political subdivision thereof, including departments, courts,
commissions, boards, bureaus, ministries, agencies or other
instrumentalities.
(i)
“Hydrocarbons” means all oil, gas, coalbed methane gas
and other associated hydrocarbons.
(j)
“Laws” means all laws, statutes, rules, regulations,
ordinances, orders, requirements and codes of Governmental
Authorities.
(k)
“New Lease” has the meaning given to such term in the
Purchase Agreement.
(l)
“Nora Field” has the same meaning as the term
“AMI” in the Operating Agreement (as defined in the
Purchase Agreement).
(m)
“Nora-T Line” means the pipeline depicted on Exhibit
K.
(n)
“Original Lease” has the meaning given to such term in
the Purchase Agreement.
(o)
“Party Lawsuit” means the ongoing litigation and claims
in the action styled as Pine Mountain Oil & Gas, Inc. v.
Equitable Production Company , USDC WD Va, Abingdon Division,
CA No. 1:05CV095 (including the related September 22, 2005
arbitration proceeding).
(p)
“Person” means any individual, corporation,
partnership, limited liability company, trust, estate, Governmental
Authority or any other entity.
4
(q)
“Purchase Agreement” means that certain Purchase and
Sale Agreement of even date herewith between EPC and
PMOG.
(r)
“Records” means all gathering and
transportation files, compression files, land files and
surveys, Contract files and all other books, records, data,
files, maps and accounting records to the extent relating primarily
to the Assets, excluding however, (A) any record to the extent
that: (1) disclosure or transfer of such record is restricted by
any third-party agreement or applicable Law, (2) Equitable is
unable to obtain, using commercially reasonable efforts, a waiver
of, or otherwise satisfy, such disclosure restriction (provided
that Equitable shall not be required to provide consideration or
undertake obligations to or for the benefit of the holders of such
rights in order to obtain any necessary consent or waiver) and (3)
the failure to obtain such waiver or satisfy such disclosure
restriction would cause a termination of such instrument or a
material impairment of the rights thereunder; (B) computer
software; (C) all legal records and legal files of Equitable (other
than (x) title opinions and (y) Contracts) and all other work
product of and attorney-client communications with any of
Equitable’s legal counsel; (D) records relating to the sale
of the Assets, including bids received from and records of
negotiations with third Persons; (E) any other records to the
extent constituting Excluded Assets; and (F) contracts and
agreements of no further force and effect as of the Effective
Time.
(s)
“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission.
(t)
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and any successor statute thereto and the rules and
regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
(u)
“Tax” means all taxes, including income tax, surtax,
remittance tax, presumptive tax, net worth tax, production tax,
pipeline transportation tax, value added tax, withholding tax,
gross receipts tax, windfall profits tax, profits tax, severance
tax, personal property tax, real property tax, sales tax, service
tax, transfer tax, use tax, excise tax, premium tax, customs
duties, stamp tax, motor vehicle tax, entertainment tax, insurance
tax, capital stock tax, franchise tax, occupation tax, payroll tax,
employment tax, social security, unemployment tax, disability tax,
alternative or add-on minimum tax, estimated tax, and any other
assessments, duties, fees, or levies imposed by a Governmental
Authority, together with any interest, fine or penalty thereon, or
addition thereto.
(v)
“Tax Return” means any return, declaration, report,
claim for refund, or information return or statement relating to
Taxes, including any schedule or attachment thereto, and including
any amendment thereof, required to be filed with any Governmental
Authority.
(w)
“Transfer Taxes” means all transfer, sales, use,
documentary, stamp duty, conveyance and other similar Taxes,
duties, fees or charges.
5
Section
1.5
Effective Time; Proration of Costs and Revenues
.
(a)
Title and interest in and to the Assets shall be transferred from
Equitable to the Company at the Closing, but certain financial
benefits and burdens in respect of the Assets shall be transferred
effective as of the Effective Time, as described below.
(b)
The Company shall be entitled to all income, proceeds, receipts and
credits earned with respect to the Assets on and after the
Effective Time, and shall be responsible for (and entitled to any
refunds with respect to) all Property Costs incurred on and
after the Effective Time (provided that the Company’s
entitlement to income, proceeds, receipts and credits earned with
respect to, and responsibility for and entitlement to refunds with
respect to Property Costs relating to, certain of the Assets shall
be adjusted as of Closing in the manner described in Section
2.2). For the purpose of determining the amount of gathering
fees to be included as income under this Section 1.5(b) with
respect to volumes of gas produced by any member of the Company or
any of its Affiliates, it shall be assumed that the Gathering
Agreement was effective as of the Effective Time. Equitable
shall be entitled to all income, proceeds, receipts and credits
earned with respect to the Assets prior to the Effective Time, and
shall be responsible for (and entitled to any refunds with respect
to) all Property Costs incurred prior to the Effective Time
(provided that Equitable’s entitlement to income, proceeds,
receipts and credits earned with respect to, and responsibility for
and entitlement to refunds with respect to Property Costs relating
to, certain of the Assets shall be adjusted as of Closing in the
manner described in Section 2.2). “Earned” and
“incurred”, as used in this Agreement, shall be
interpreted in accordance with United States generally accepted
accounting principles (as published by the Financial Accounting
Standards Board). Surface use fees, insurance premiums and
other Property Costs that are paid periodically shall be prorated
based on the number of days in the applicable period falling before
and at or after the Effective Time, except that production,
severance and similar Taxes based upon revenues generated by the
Assets shall be prorated based on the amount of revenues generated
by the Assets before, or at and after the Effective Time. In
each case, the Company shall be responsible for the portion
allocated to the period on and after the Effective Time and
Equitable shall be responsible for the portion allocated to the
period before the Effective Time.
(c)
“Property Costs” means all operating expenses
(including costs of insurance and ad valorem, property and similar
Taxes based upon or measured by the ownership or operation of the
Assets, but excluding any other Taxes), capital expenditures
incurred in the ownership and operation of the Assets in the
ordinary course of business, and overhead costs in each case as
would have been charged to the Assets under the limited liability
company agreement of the Company assuming it was in effect at all
times during the period between the Effective Time and
Closing.
Section
1.6
Intentions of the Parties . The Parties acknowledge that the description of
the Gathering Assets comprising the Nora Gas Gathering System
(including the Nora-T Line) as provided on Exhibit A-1 may be
incomplete, including with respect to easements,
servitudes,
6
rights-of-way, surface leases and
other surface rights and the plat of such system, and the Parties
may amend Exhibit A-1 prior to the Closing Date in order to more
fully describe the Gathering Assets (it being acknowledged by the
Parties that the Gathering Assets are intended to cover all of
Equitable’s and its Affiliates’ interests in and to
their currently existing natural gas gathering system and related
assets, other than the Excluded Assets and as set forth in the
following sentence, located within the Nora Field including any
currently existing sections of the Nora Gas Gathering System
extending beyond the Nora Field that service wells in the Nora
Field). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Parties further
acknowledge that the Gathering Assets do not include any gas
gathering system, facilities, compressors, pipelines, pig and other
stations, Easements, or other assets and interests of EPC or EGEL
in the separate gathering system commonly known as the Roaring Fork
Gas Gathering System located within and outside of the Nora Field,
which system is used as of the date hereof in connection with the
transportation of Hydrocarbons produced from the wells listed on
Exhibit A-4, among other wells.
ARTICLE 2 CASH
CONTRIBUTION, DISTRIBUTIONS AND LOANS
Section
2.1
Cash Contribution . On the terms contained in this Agreement, PMOG
agrees to contribute to the Company at the Closing an amount of
cash equal to Fifty-Three Million Sixty Five Thousand One Hundred
Seventy Six Dollars and Thirteen Cents (US$53,065,176.13) (as
adjusted pursuant to Section 3.4 and Section 3.5, the “Cash
Contribution”), to be applied as set forth in Section
2.3. Additionally, on the terms and conditions contained in
this Agreement, PMOG agrees to contribute to the Company and the
Company agrees to accept from PMOG, PMOG’s right, title and
interest (if any) in and to the gas gathering system, facilities,
compressors and pipelines described on Exhibit A-1, excluding any
interest that PMOG owns in its capacity as the lessor under the
Original Lease or the New Lease or as Grantor under the New
Easement Agreement. As consideration for the contribution of
such assets and the Cash Contribution, the Company shall issue to
PMOG a fifty percent (50%) membership interest in the
Company.
Section
2.2
Effective Time Adjustment .
(a)
Not later than five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing Date,
Equitable shall prepare in good faith, using the best information
available to Equitable, and deliver to PMOG a preliminary
settlement statement setting forth an estimated calculation of the
net amount received (or paid) by Equitable for the account of the
Company pursuant to Section 1.5(b) (such net amount being called
herein the “Effective Time Adjustment. Such statement
shall show the calculation of each adjustment, based, to the extent
possible, on actual credits, charges, receipts and other items
attributable to the period of time from and after the Effective
Time and PMOG shall review such preliminary settlement statement
and discuss with Equitable any changes necessary thereto. The
Parties shall use their reasonable efforts exercised in good faith
to agree upon such preliminary settlement statement as of
Closing. An amount equal to eighty percent (80%) of the
estimated Effective Time Adjustment, set forth in the preliminary
settlement statement mutually agreed to by the Parties in
accordance with this Section 2.2(a), shall
7
constitute the
dollar amount to be contributed by PMOG to the Company at the
Closing (the “Closing Payment”), together with the Cash
Contribution to be contributed by PMOG at Closing.
(b)
As soon as reasonably practicable after the Closing, but not later
than the one hundred and twentieth (120 th ) day following the Closing
Date, Equitable shall prepare in good faith, using the best
information available to Equitable, and deliver to PMOG a statement
setting forth the final calculation of the Effective Time
Adjustment and showing the calculation of each adjustment, based,
to the extent possible, on actual credits, charges, receipts and
other items attributable to the period of time from and after the
Effective Time and shall supply reasonable documentation available
to support any such credits, charges, receipts or other
items. As soon as reasonably practicable but not later than
the thirtieth (30 th ) day following receipt of
Equitable’s statement hereunder, PMOG shall deliver to
Equitable a written report containing any changes that PMOG
proposes be made to such statement. Equitable and PMOG shall
undertake to agree on the amount of the actual Effective Time
Adjustment no later than one hundred and eighty (180) days after
the Closing Date. In the event that such Parties cannot reach
agreement within such period of time, either Equitable or PMOG may
refer the remaining matters in dispute to Ernst & Young LLP, or
if Ernst & Young LLP is unable or unwilling to perform its
obligations under this Section 2.2(b), such other
nationally-recognized independent accounting firm as may be
accepted by Equitable and PMOG, for review and final
determination. The accounting firm shall conduct the
arbitration proceedings in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in accordance
with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration
Association in effect as of the date hereof, to the extent such
rules do not conflict with the terms of this Section 2.2(b).
The accounting firm’s determination shall be made within
thirty (30) days after submission of the matters in dispute
and shall be final and binding on all Parties, without right of
appeal. In determining the proper amount of the Effective
Time Adjustment, the accounting firm shall not increase the
Effective Time Adjustment more than the increase proposed by
Equitable nor decrease the Effective Time Adjustment more than the
decrease proposed by PMOG, as applicable. The accounting firm
shall act as an expert for the limited purpose of determining the
specific disputed matters submitted by either Equitable or PMOG and
may not award damages or penalties. Equitable and PMOG shall
each bear its own legal fees and other costs of presenting its
case. Equitable and PMOG shall bear one-half of the costs and
expenses of the accounting firm. Within ten (10) days
after the earlier of (i) the expiration of PMOG’s thirty
(30) day review period without delivery of any written report
or (ii) the date on which the Equitable and PMOG, or the
accounting firm, as applicable, finally determine the actual
Effective Time Adjustment, (A) Equitable shall contribute to
the Company an amount of cash equal to the amount by which the
estimated Effective Time Adjustment exceeds the actual Effective
Time Adjustment; or (B) PMOG shall contribute to the Company
an amount of cash equal to eighty percent (80%) of the amount by
which the actual Effective Time Adjustment exceeds the estimated
Effective Time Adjustment.
8
(c)
The adjustment described in Section 2.2(a) shall serve to satisfy
up to the amount of the adjustment (i) the Company’s
entitlement under Section 1.5 to income, proceeds, receipts and
credits earned with respect to the Assets between the Effective
Time and the Closing (and the Company shall not have any separate
rights to receive any income, proceeds, receipts and credits with
respect to which an adjustment has been made) and (ii) the
Company’s obligation under Section 1.5 to pay Property Costs
attributable to the ownership and operation of the Assets which are
incurred between the Effective Time and the Closing (and the
Company shall not be separately obligated to pay for any Property
Costs with respect to which an adjustment has been
made).
Section
2.3
Cash Distributions and Loans . At the Closing, the Company shall:
(a)
Distribute an amount equal to twenty percent (20%) of the sum of
Sixty-Six Million Three Hundred Thirty One Thousand Four Hundred
Seventy Dollars and Sixteen Cents (US$66,331,470.16) and the
Effective Time Adjustment to EGEL; and
(b)
Loan the remaining amount of cash contributed to the Company
hereunder to ET Blue Grass Company,
with such loan to be entered by a separate note in substantially
the form attached hereto as Exhibit E, which loan shall be
repaid prior to the Company requiring any capital contribution by
PMOG or Equitable under the LLC Agreement.
Section
2.4
Capital Account Balances . Following the completion of the contributions by
Equitable and PMOG, the distribution to EGEL pursuant to Section
2.3(a) and the other actions taken pursuant to Section 2.3, the
respective capital account balances of EGEL and PMOG shall be
equal.
ARTICLE 3
TITLE MATTERS
Section
3.1
Title .
(a)
The Conveyance shall contain a special warranty of title against
every Person lawfully claiming or to claim the interest to be
conveyed by Equitable to the Company or any part thereof by,
through and under Equitable and its Affiliates, but not otherwise,
subject to Permitted Encumbrances, but shall otherwise be without
warranty of title, express, implied or statutory, except that the
Conveyance shall transfer to the Company all rights or actions on
title warranties given or made by Equitable’s predecessors
(other than Affiliates of Equitable), to the extent Equitable may
legally transfer such rights.
(b)
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 3.1(a) and the
Conveyance, Section 3.3 shall provide PMOG’s and the
Company’s exclusive remedy in respect of Asserted Title
Defects reported in accordance with this Article 3. Neither
PMOG nor the Company shall be entitled to make any claims against
Equitable or any of its Affiliates under Equitable’s special
warranty of title in the Conveyance against any such Asserted Title
Defect.
9
Section
3.2
Definitions of Defensible Title and Permitted Encumbrances
.
(a)
As used in this Agreement with respect to the Assets, the term
“Defensible Title” means marketable title in
southwestern Virginia, free and clear of all liens, charges,
encumbrances, irregularities or other defects
(“Encumbrances”) other than Permitted
Encumbrances. The term “Title Defect” means, as
applicable, (i) any Encumbrance that would cause Equitable not to
have Defensible Title or (ii) other than with respect to the lands
covered by the Original Lease or any Exploration Agreement PMOG
Area, the lack of easements or other agreements covering the
continuous length of each pipeline included in the Assets allowing
for the transportation of the Hydrocarbons as currently transported
through such pipeline. The term “Asserted Title
Defect” means a Title Defect reported by PMOG or the Company
pursuant to Section 3.3 hereof.
(b)
As used in this Agreement, the term “Permitted
Encumbrances” means any or all of the following:
(i)
all Contracts;
(ii)
Preferential Rights;
(iii)
third-party consent requirements and similar restrictions with
respect to which waivers or consents are obtained by Equitable from
the appropriate parties prior to the Closing Date or the
appropriate time period for asserting the right has expired or
which are expressly not required to be satisfied prior to a
transfer;
(iv)
liens for current Taxes or assessments not yet delinquent or, if
delinquent, being contested in good faith by appropriate actions
and listed on Exhibit A-5;
(v)
materialman’s, mechanic’s, repairman’s,
employee’s, contractor’s, operator’s and other
similar liens or charges arising in the ordinary course of business
for amounts not yet delinquent (including any amounts being
withheld as provided by Law), or, if delinquent, being contested in
good faith by appropriate actions and listed on Exhibit
A-6;
(vi)
all rights to consent, by required notices to, filings with, or
other actions by Governmental Authorities in connection with the
sale or conveyance of easements, rights of way, licenses, gathering
facilities or interests therein if they are customarily obtained
subsequent to the sale or conveyance;
(vii)
rights of reassignment arising upon final intention to abandon or
release any easement or right of way;
(viii)
with regard to lands covered by the Original Lease or included in
the Exploration Agreement PMOG Area and to the extent not created
by, through
10
or under
Equitable: easements, rights-of-way, servitudes, permits and other
rights in respect of surface and subsurface operations and any
rights related to coal, coal seams or coal mining, whether
statutory or otherwise, other than rights to explore for, develop
and produce coalbed methane;
(ix)
with regard to lands not covered by the Original Lease or included
in the Exploration Agreement PMOG Area: easements, rights-of-way,
servitudes, permits and other rights in respect of surface and
subsurface operations which would be accepted by a reasonably
prudent purchaser engaged in the business of owning and operating
assets similar to the Assets in the Appalachian Basin;
(x)
all rights reserved to or vested in any Governmental Authority to
control or regulate any of the Assets in any manner and all
obligations and duties under all applicable Laws or under any
franchise, grant, license or permit issued by any such Governmental
Authority;
(xi)
any Encumbrance which is discharged by Equitable at or prior to
Closing;
(xii)
with respect to the easements, rights of way and other rights over,
under or through any lands and properties owned by PMOG or its
Affiliates, any Encumbrance or imperfection in title other than
those Encumbrances or imperfections in title arising by, through or
under Equitable or its Affiliates;
(xiii)
any matters shown on Exhibit F; and
(xiv)
any other Encumbrances which do not, individually or in the
aggregate, materially detract from the value of or materially
interfere with the use, ownership or operation of the Assets
subject thereto or affected thereby (as currently used, owned or
operated) and which would be accepted by a reasonably prudent
purchaser engaged in the business of owning and operating gathering
system or pipeline assets in the Appalachian Basin.
Section
3.3 Notice
of Asserted Title Defects; Defect Adjustments .
(a)
To assert a claim of a Title Defect prior to Closing, PMOG must
deliver a claim notice to Equitable on or before 5:00 p.m. EDT on
April 25, 2007 (the “Title Claim Date”), except as
otherwise provided under Section 3.4 or Section 3.5; provided that
PMOG agrees to furnish Equitable at the end of every week period
following the execution of this Agreement and prior to the Title
Claim Date with a claim notice if any officer of PMOG or its
Affiliates discovers or learns of any Title Defect during
such period. Each such notice shall be in writing and
shall include (i) a description of the Asserted Title Defect(s),
(ii) the Assets affected, (iii) supporting documents reasonably
necessary for Equitable (as well as any title attorney or examiner
hired by Equitable) to verify the existence of such Asserted Title
Defect(s) and (iv) the amount by which PMOG reasonably believes the
value of those Assets is reduced by such Asserted Title
11
Defect(s) and the
computations and information upon which PMOG’s belief is
based. Subject to the Company’s rights under the
special warranty of title described in Section 3.1(a) and its and
PMOG’s rights with respect to any breach of Equitable’s
covenant under Section 7.10(f), PMOG and the Company shall be
deemed to have waived all Title Defects of which Equitable has not
been given notice on or before the Title Claim
Date.
(b)
In the event that PMOG notifies Equitable of a Title Defect before
the Title Claim Date, Equitable shall have the right, but not the
obligation, to attempt, at its sole cost, to cure or remove any
Asserted Title Defects of which it has been notified by PMOG.
If Equitable so elects to cure or remove any Asserted Title Defect,
PMOG shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with
Equitable’s efforts to cure or remove such Asserted Title
Defect. If prior to Closing, Equitable has been unable to
cure or remove any Asserted Title Defect, then Equitable and PMOG
mutually shall elect to have one of the following options
apply:
(i)
Remove the Assets subject to such Asserted Title Defect from the
transaction contemplated by this Agreement, if the operation of
Gathering Assets (taken as a whole) would not be materially
impaired thereby. Such removed Assets shall not be assigned
at the Closing, shall become “Excluded Assets” for all
purposes hereunder and the Cash Contribution shall be reduced by an
amount equal to the value for such Assets.
(ii)
Assign the Assets subject to the Asserted Title Defect to the
Company at Closing, and defend, indemnify and hold the Company, the
successors, assigns and Affiliates of the Company, PMOG and
PMOG’s Affiliates harmless from and against all Damages that
arise out of or that any such Person may suffer as a result of such
Asserted Title Defect pursuant to a form of indemnity agreement
mutually agreeable to the Parties.
(iii)
Assign the Assets subject to the Asserted Title Defect to the
Company at Closing, and reduce the Cash Contribution in accordance
with Section 3.3(c).
(c)
The Cash Contribution shall be reduced by an amount (the
“Asserted Title Defect Amount”) equal to the reduction
in the value for the Assets subject to an uncured Asserted Title
Defect, which reduction is caused by such uncured Asserted Title
Defect as determined pursuant to Section 3.3(e); provided that no
reduction shall be made in the Cash Contribution with respect to
any Asserted Title Defect for which an election has been made
pursuant to Section 3.3(b)(ii).
(d)
Except for the Company’s rights under the special warranty of
title described in Section 3.1(a) and its and PMOG’s rights
with respect to any breach of Equitable’s covenant under
Section 7.10(f), Section 3.3(c) shall, to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable Laws, be the exclusive right and remedy of
PMOG and the Company against Equitable or its Affiliates with
respect to any Title Defect attributable to the Assets.
12
(e)
The Asserted Title Defect Amount resulting from an Asserted Title
Defect shall be determined as follows:
(i)
If PMOG and Equitable agree on the Asserted Title Defect Amount,
that amount shall be the Asserted Title Defect Amount;
(ii)
If the Asserted Title Defect is an Encumbrance which is undisputed
and liquidated in amount, then the Asserted Title Defect Amount
shall be the amount necessary to be paid to remove the Asserted
Title Defect from the affected Assets;
(iii)
If the Asserted Title Defect represents an Encumbrance of a type
not described in subsections (i) or (ii) above, the Asserted
Title Defect Amount shall be determined by taking into account the
value of the Assets so affected, the portion of the Assets affected
by the Asserted Title Defect, the legal effect of the Asserted
Title Defect, the potential economic effect of the Asserted Title
Defect over the life of the affected Assets, the values placed upon
the Asserted Title Defect by PMOG and Equitable and such other
factors as are necessary to make a proper evaluation;
(iv)
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article 3, except
for adjustments required by Section 3.4 or Section 3.5, there shall
be no Cash Contribution adjustment for Asserted Title Defects
unless and until the aggregate Asserted Title Defect Amounts for
all Assets for which claim notices were timely delivered pursuant
to Section 3.3(a) exceed Three Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars
(US$350,000.00), and then only to the extent that the aggregate
Asserted Title Defect Amounts exceed Three Hundred Fifty Thousand
Dollars (US$350,000.00);
(v)
If an Asserted Title Defect of the type not described in
subsections (i) or (ii) above is reasonably susceptible of being
cured, the Asserted Title Defect Amount determined under
subsections (iii) above shall not be greater than the lesser of
(1) the reasonable cost and expense of curing such Asserted
Title Defect or (2) the share of such curative work cost and
expense which is allocated to such Assets pursuant to subsection
(vi) below; and
(vi)
The Asserted Title Defect Amount with respect to an Asset shall be
determined without duplication of any costs or losses
(A) included in another Asserted Title Defect Amount hereunder
or (B) included in a casualty loss under Section 3.5. To
the extent that the cost to cure any Asserted Title Defect will
result in the curing of all or a part of one or more other Asserted
Title Defects, such cost of cure shall be allocated for purposes of
Section 3.3(e)(v) among the Assets so affected on a fair and
reasonable basis.
13
(f)
Equitable and PMOG shall attempt to agree on all Asserted Title
Defects and Asserted Title Defect Amounts by two (2) Business Days
prior to the Closing Date. If Equitable and PMOG are unable
to agree by that date, the average of Equitable’s and
PMOG’s estimates with respect to the Asserted Title Defect
Amounts for the Asserted Title Defects shall be used to determine
the Effective Time Adjustment pursuant to Section 2.2, and all
Asserted Title Defects and Asserted Title Defect Amounts in dispute
shall be exclusively and finally resolved by arbitration pursuant
to this Section 3.3(f). During the ten (10) Business Day
period following the Closing Date, Asserted Title Defects and
Asserted Title Defect Amounts in dispute shall be submitted to an
attorney with at least ten (10) years of experience in oil and gas
and pipeline titles in the southwestern Virginia as selected by
mutual agreement of PMOG and Equitable (the “Title
Arbitrator”). The arbitration proceeding shall be held
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and shall be conducted in accordance
with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration
Association in effect as of the date hereof, to the extent such
rules do not conflict with the terms of this Section 3.3(f).
The Title Arbitrator’s determination shall be made within
twenty (20) days after submission of the matters in dispute and
shall be final and binding upon the Parties, without right of
appeal. In making his determination, the Title Arbitrator
shall be bound by the rules set forth in Section 3.3(e) and may
consider such other matters as in the opinion of the Title
Arbitrator are necessary or helpful to make a proper
determination. Additionally, with the prior written consent
of PMOG and Equitable, the Title Arbitrator may consult with and
engage disinterested third parties to advise the Title Arbitrator,
including title attorneys from other states and petroleum
engineers. In no event shall any Asserted Title Defect Amount
exceed the estimate given by PMOG in its claim notice delivered in
accordance with Section 3.3(a). The Title Arbitrator shall
act as an expert for the limited purpose of determining the
specific disputed Asserted Title Defects and Asserted Title Defect
Amounts submitted by either PMOG or Equitable and may not award
damages, interest or penalties to either PMOG or Equitable with
respect to any matter. Equitable and PMOG shall each bear its
own legal fees and other costs of presenting its case. Each
of Equitable and PMOG shall bear one-half of the costs and expenses
of the Title Arbitrator.
Section
3.4
Consents to Assignment and Preferential Rights to Purchase
.
(a)
Equitable will use reasonable efforts, consistent with industry
practices in transactions of this type, to identify, with respect
to all Assets, the names and addresses of all parties holding
Preferential Rights and Consents applicable to the transactions
contemplated hereby. In attempting to identify the names and
addresses of such parties holding such Preferential Rights and
Consents, Equitable shall in no event be obligated to go beyond its
own records. Equitable will request, from the parties so
identified (and from any parties identified by PMOG prior to
Closing who have Preferential Rights or from whom a Consent may be
required), in accordance with the documents creating such rights,
execution of waivers of Preferential Rights or Consents so
identified. Equitable shall have no obligation other than to
identify such Preferential Rights and Consents and to so request
such execution of waivers of Preferential Rights and Consents
(including,
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without
limitation, Equitable shall have no obligation to assure that such
waivers of Preferential Rights and Consents are
obtained).
(b)
With respect to Preferential Rights but not Consents, if a Person
from whom a waiver of a Preferential Right is requested refuses to
give such waiver prior to Closing, the interest in the Asset
subject to such Preferential Right will be excluded from the
transaction contemplated hereby, such interest in such Asset will
become an “Excluded Asset” for all purposes hereunder
(except in the case of any subsequent transfer of such interest in
such Asset to PMOG pursuant to the following sentence) and the Cash
Contribution will be adjusted downward by the value
(proportionately reduced to the excluded interest) for such
interest in such Asset. If within ninety (90) days following
Closing, such holder does waive its Preferential Right, then PMOG
agrees that, within five (5) days following Equitable’s
notice thereof, the Parties hereto will conduct a subsequent
Closing (in accordance with same terms hereof) for the purchase and
sale of such Excluded Asset.
(c)
If (i) an Asset is subject to a Consent that prohibits the transfer
of such Asset without compliance with the provisions of such
Consent, (ii) the failure to comply with or obtain such Consent
will result in a termination or other material impairment of any
rights in relation to such Asset, (iii) such Consent is not
obtained or complied with prior to the Closing and (iv) the absence
of such Asset would not materially impair the operations of the
Gathering Assets (taken as a whole), then unless otherwise agreed
to by PMOG and Equitable, the Asset or portion thereof affected by
such Consent will be excluded from the transactions contemplated
hereby, such Asset will become an “Excluded Asset” for
all purposes hereunder (except in the case of any subsequent
transfer of such Asset to PMOG pursuant to the following sentence),
and the Cash Contribution will be adjusted downward by the agreed
upon value for such Asset. If within ninety (90) days
following Closing
such Consent is obtained or otherwise complied with, then PMOG
agrees that, within five (5) days following Equitable’s
notice thereof, the Parties hereto will conduct a subsequent
Closing (in accordance with the same terms hereof) for the purchase
and sale of such excluded Asset.
(d)
To the extent that the consent of PMOG with respect to the
assignment of the Assets contemplated hereby is required under any
agreement or arrangement, as of the Closing, PMOG hereby
irrevocably grants such consent.
Section
3.5
Casualty or Condemnation Loss .
Subject to the provisions of Section
8.1(e) and Section 8.2(f) hereof, if, after the date of this
Agreement but prior to the Closing Date, any portion of the Assets
is destroyed by fire or other casualty or is taken in condemnation
or under right of eminent domain, PMOG and the Company shall
nevertheless be required to close and the Parties mutually shall
elect prior to Closing one of the following options: (i) to
have Equitable cause the Assets affected by any casualty to be
repaired or restored, at Equitable’s sole cost, as promptly
as reasonably practicable (which work may extend after the Closing
Date), (ii) to have Equitable indemnify the Company, PMOG, and
their respective Affiliates through a document reasonably
acceptable to Equitable and PMOG against any costs or expenses that
such
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Person reasonably incurs to repair
the Assets subject to any casualty or (iii) to treat such
casualty or taking as an Asserted Title Defect with respect to the
affected Assets under Section 3.3; provided that in no event shall
such Asserted Title Defect be subject to the provisions of Section
3.3(e)(iv) hereof. In each case, Equitable shall retain all
rights to insurance and other claims against third parties with
respect to the casualty or taking except to the extent Equitable
and PMOG otherwise agree in writing.
ARTICLE 4
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF EQUITABLE
Section
4.1
Disclaimers .
(a)
Except as expressly set forth in Article 3, Article 4, Article 6,
in the certificates delivered by Equitable at Closing pursuant to
Section 9.2(b) and Section 9.2(c) or in the Conveyance, (i)
Equitable makes no representations or warranties, express or
implied, with respect to the Assets or the transactions
contemplated hereby and (ii) Equitable expressly disclaims all
liability and responsibility for any representation, warranty,
statement or information with respect to the Assets or the
transactions contemplated hereby made or communicated (orally or in
writing) to PMOG or any of its Affiliates, employees, agents,
consultants or representatives (including any opinion, information,
projection or advice that may have been provided to PMOG by any
officer, director, employee, agent, consultant, representative or
advisor of Equitable or any of its Affiliates).
(b)
EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY REPRESENTED OTHERWISE IN ARTICLE 3,
ARTICLE 4, ARTICLE 6, IN THE CERTIFICATES DELIVERED BY
EQUITABLE AT CLOSING PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 9.2(b) AND 9.2(c) OR IN
THE CONVEYANCE, WITHOUT LIMITING THE GENERALITY OF THE FOREGOING,
EQUITABLE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY,
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO (I) TITLE TO ANY OF THE ASSETS,
(II) ANY ESTIMATES OF THE VALUE OF THE ASSETS OR FUTURE
REVENUES GENERATED BY THE ASSETS, (III) THE MAINTENANCE,
REPAIR, CONDITION, QUALITY, SUITABILITY, DESIGN OR MARKETABILITY OF
THE ASSETS, OR (IV) ANY OTHER MATERIALS OR INFORMATION THAT
MAY HAVE BEEN MADE AVAILABLE OR COMMUNICATED TO PMOG OR THE COMPANY
OR THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES, OR THEIR RESPECTIVE EMPLOYEES,
AGENTS, CONSULTANTS, REPRESENTATIVES OR ADVISORS IN CONNECTION WITH
THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY DISCUSSION
OR PRESENTATION RELATING THERETO, AND FURTHER DISCLAIMS ANY
REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, OF MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR CONFORMITY TO MODELS OR SAMPLES
OF MATERIALS OF ANY EQUIPMENT, IT BEING EXPRESSLY UNDERSTOOD AND
AGREED BY THE PARTIES HERETO THAT, SUBJECT TO THE REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES SET FORTH IN ARTICLE 3, ARTICLE 4,
16
ARTICLE 6, IN THE
CERTIFICATES DELIVERED BY EQUITABLE AT CLOSING PURSUANT TO SECTIONS
9.2(b) AND 9.2(c) AND IN THE CONVEYANCE, PMOG AND THE COMPANY HAVE
MADE OR CAUSED TO BE MADE SUCH INSPECTIONS AS PMOG AND THE COMPANY
DEEM APPROPRIATE, THE COMPANY IS RECEIVING THE ASSETS, EQUIPMENT
AND ALL OTHER TANGIBLE PROPERTY IN ITS PRESENT STATUS, CONDITION
AND STATE OF REPAIR, “AS IS” AND “WHERE IS”
WITH ALL FAULTS.
(c)
Any representation “to the knowledge of Equitable” or
“to Equitable’s knowledge” is limited to matters
within the actual conscious awareness of Ted O’Brien, Lester
Zitkus, Andy Murphy, Shawn Posey, John Centofanti, Chris Akers,
Matt Ankrum and Phil Elliott.
(d)
Inclusion of a matter on a schedule attached hereto with respect to
a representation or warranty that addresses matters having a
Material Adverse Effect shall not be deemed an indication that such
matter does, or may, have a Material Adverse Effect. Matters
may be disclosed on a schedule for purposes of information
only. As used herein, “Material Adverse Effect”
means any change, inaccuracy, circumstance, event, result,
occurrence, condition or an act (each, an “Event”) that
has had or could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse
effect on the ownership, operation or value of the Assets, taken as
a whole or the ability of Equitable or PMOG, as applicable, to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby or meet its
obligations under this Agreement and the documents to be executed
hereunder; provided, however, that “Material Adverse
Effect” shall not include Events resulting from general
changes in Hydrocarbon prices; general changes in the Hydrocarbon
exploration and production industry or general economic or
political conditions; civil unrest, insurrection or similar
disorders; or changes in Laws.
(e)
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.1 and the
other terms and conditions of this Agreement, Equitable represents
and warrants to PMOG and the Company the matters set out in the
remainder of this Article 4.
Section
4.2
EPC .
(a)
Existence and
Qualification .
EPC is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and is duly
qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in the
Commonwealth of Virginia.
(b)
Power . EPC has the corporate
power to enter into and perform this Agreement (and all documents
required to be executed and delivered by EPC at Closing) and
to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (and
such documents).
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(c)
Authorization and
Enforceability .
The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by EPC (and
all documents required to be executed and delivered by EPC at
Closing) and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby, have been duly and validly authorized by all
necessary corporate action on the part of EPC. This Agreement
has been duly executed and delivered by EPC (and all documents
required to be executed and delivered by EPC at Closing shall be
duly executed and delivered by EPC) and this Agreement
constitutes (and at th
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