EQUITABLE PRODUCTION
COMPANY
EQUITABLE GATHERING EQUITY,
LLC
PINE MOUNTAIN OIL AND GAS,
INC.
Dated as of April 13,
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Page
|
|
ARTICLE 1 ASSETS CONTRIBUTION
|
|
|
1
|
|
Section 1.1 Contribution of
Assets
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
2
|
|
Section 1.3 Excluded Assets
|
|
|
2
|
|
Section 1.4 Certain
Definitions
|
|
|
3
|
|
Section 1.5 Effective Time; Proration of
Costs and Revenues
|
|
|
6
|
|
Section 1.6 Intentions of the
Parties
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 2 CASH CONTRIBUTION, DISTRIBUTIONS AND
LOANS
|
|
|
7
|
|
Section 2.1 Cash
Contribution
|
|
|
7
|
|
Section 2.2 Effective Time
Adjustment
|
|
|
7
|
|
Section 2.3 Cash Distributions and
Loans
|
|
|
9
|
|
Section 2.4 Capital Account
Balances
|
|
|
9
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9
|
|
|
|
|
|
9
|
|
Section 3.2 Definitions of Defensible
Title and Permitted Encumbrances
|
|
|
10
|
|
Section 3.3 Notice of Asserted Title
Defects; Defect Adjustments
|
|
|
11
|
|
Section 3.4 Consents to Assignment and
Preferential Rights to Purchase
|
|
|
14
|
|
Section 3.5 Casualty or Condemnation
Loss
|
|
|
15
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 4 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF
EQUITABLE
|
|
|
16
|
|
|
|
|
|
16
|
|
|
|
|
|
17
|
|
|
|
|
|
18
|
|
Section 4.4 Liability for Brokers’
Fees
|
|
|
19
|
|
Section 4.5 Consents, Approvals or
Waivers
|
|
|
19
|
|
|
|
|
|
20
|
|
|
|
|
|
20
|
|
Section 4.8 Environmental
Laws
|
|
|
20
|
|
Section 4.9 Compliance with
Laws
|
|
|
20
|
|
|
|
|
|
20
|
|
Section 4.11 Permits, etc.
|
|
|
21
|
|
Section 4.12 Outstanding Capital
Commitments
|
|
|
21
|
|
|
|
|
|
21
|
|
Section 4.14 Condition of Equipment,
etc.
|
|
|
21
|
|
Section 4.15 Payments of Property
Costs
|
|
|
21
|
|
Section 4.16 Absence of Certain
Events
|
|
|
21
|
|
Section 4.17 Regulatory
Matters
|
|
|
21
|
|
|
|
|
|
22
|
|
|
|
|
|
22
|
|
-i-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Page
|
|
ARTICLE 5 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF
PMOG
|
|
|
22
|
|
Section 5.1 Existence and
Qualification
|
|
|
22
|
|
|
|
|
|
22
|
|
Section 5.3 Authorization and
Enforceability
|
|
|
22
|
|
|
|
|
|
22
|
|
Section 5.5 Liability for Brokers’
Fees
|
|
|
23
|
|
Section 5.6 Consents, Approvals or
Waivers
|
|
|
23
|
|
|
|
|
|
23
|
|
|
|
|
|
23
|
|
Section 5.9 Independent
Investigation
|
|
|
23
|
|
Section 5.10 Equitable
Information
|
|
|
23
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 6 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE
COMPANY
|
|
|
24
|
|
Section 6.1 Existence and
Qualification
|
|
|
24
|
|
Section 6.2 Valid Issuance
|
|
|
24
|
|
|
|
|
|
24
|
|
Section 6.4 Authorization and
Enforceability
|
|
|
24
|
|
|
|
|
|
24
|
|
Section 6.6 Consents, Approvals or
Waivers
|
|
|
25
|
|
|
|
|
|
25
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 7 COVENANTS OF THE
PARTIES
|
|
|
25
|
|
|
|
|
|
25
|
|
Section 7.2 Indemnity Regarding
Access
|
|
|
25
|
|
Section 7.3 Pre-Closing
Notifications
|
|
|
26
|
|
Section 7.4 Confidentiality, Public
Announcements
|
|
|
26
|
|
Section 7.5 Governmental
Reviews
|
|
|
27
|
|
|
|
|
|
27
|
|
Section 7.7 Further
Assurances
|
|
|
29
|
|
Section 7.8 Assumption of
Obligations
|
|
|
29
|
|
Section 7.9 Pipeline
Agreement
|
|
|
29
|
|
Section 7.10 Operation of
Assets
|
|
|
30
|
|
Section 7.11 Financial
Information
|
|
|
30
|
|
Section 7.12 Termination of Gas Gathering
Agreement
|
|
|
30
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 8 CONDITIONS TO CLOSING
|
|
|
31
|
|
Section 8.1 Conditions of Equitable to
Closing
|
|
|
31
|
|
Section 8.2 Conditions of PMOG to
Closing
|
|
|
32
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
33
|
|
Section 9.1 Time and Place of
Closing
|
|
|
33
|
|
Section 9.2 Closing Deliveries of
Equitable
|
|
|
33
|
|
Section 9.3 Closing Deliveries of
PMOG
|
|
|
34
|
|
Section 9.4 Closing Deliveries of the
Company
|
|
|
35
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 10 TERMINATION AND
AMENDMENT
|
|
|
35
|
|
|
|
|
|
35
|
|
-ii-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Page
|
|
Section 10.2 Effect of
Termination
|
|
|
36
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 11 INDEMNIFICATIONS;
LIMITATIONS
|
|
|
36
|
|
Section 11.1
Indemnification
|
|
|
36
|
|
Section 11.2 Indemnification
Actions
|
|
|
39
|
|
Section 11.3 Limitation on
Actions
|
|
|
40
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
41
|
|
|
|
|
|
41
|
|
Section 12.2 Property Costs
|
|
|
42
|
|
Section 12.3 Counterparts
|
|
|
42
|
|
|
|
|
|
42
|
|
Section 12.5 [Intentionally
Omitted]
|
|
|
43
|
|
|
|
|
|
43
|
|
Section 12.7 Replacement of Bonds, Letters
of Credit and Guarantees
|
|
|
43
|
|
Section 12.8 Governing Law; Jurisdiction;
Court Proceedings
|
|
|
43
|
|
|
|
|
|
44
|
|
|
|
|
|
44
|
|
|
|
|
|
44
|
|
|
|
|
|
44
|
|
Section 12.13 Entire
Agreement
|
|
|
44
|
|
|
|
|
|
45
|
|
Section 12.15 No Third Person
Beneficiaries
|
|
|
45
|
|
|
|
|
|
45
|
|
Section 12.17 Construction
|
|
|
45
|
|
Section 12.18 Limitation on
Damages
|
|
|
45
|
|
Section 12.19 Attorneys’
Fees
|
|
|
46
|
|
-iii-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gathering
Assets
|
|
|
|
Water Disposal
Wells; Other Excluded Assets
|
|
|
|
Equipment,
Machinery, Fixtures and Other Tangible Personal Property and
Improvements
|
|
|
|
Other Excluded
Assets
|
|
|
|
Delinquent
Liens for Current Taxes or Assessments
|
|
|
|
Delinquent
Liens Arising in the Ordinary Course of Business
|
|
|
|
Form of
Conveyance
|
|
|
|
Form of Amended
and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Nora Gathering,
LLC
|
|
|
|
Form of
Assignment of Easement Agreement
|
|
|
|
Form of
Note
|
|
|
|
Permitted
Encumbrances
|
|
|
|
Form of
Gathering Agreement
|
|
|
|
Form of Gas
Purchase Agreement
|
|
|
|
[Intentionally
Omitted]
|
|
|
|
[Intentionally
Omitted]
|
|
|
|
Nora-T
Line
|
|
|
|
Form of Change
of Control Agreement
|
|
|
|
Form of
Equitable Guaranty
|
|
|
|
Form of Range
Guaranty
|
|
|
|
Form of
Interconnect Agreement
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conflicts
(EPC)
|
|
|
|
Conflicts
(EGEL)
|
|
|
|
Consents,
Approvals or Waivers (EPC and EGEL)
|
|
|
|
Litigation
|
|
|
|
Litigation
|
|
|
|
Taxes and
Assessments
|
|
|
|
Compliance with
Laws
|
|
|
|
Contracts
|
|
|
|
Permits
|
|
|
|
Outstanding
Capital Commitments
|
|
|
|
Abandonment
|
|
|
|
Condition of
Equipment, etc.
|
|
|
|
Certain
Events
|
|
|
|
Operation of
Assets
|
-iv-
|
|
|
|
|
Defined
Term
|
|
Section
|
|
|
|
Section 1.4(a)
|
|
|
|
Preamble
|
|
|
|
Section 1.2
|
|
|
|
Section 3.2(a)
|
Asserted Title
Defect Amount
|
|
Section 3.3(c)
|
|
|
|
Section 1.4(c)
|
|
|
|
Section 2.1
|
Change of
Control Agreement
|
|
Section 9.2(g)
|
|
|
|
Section 12.8
|
|
|
|
Section 11.2(b)
|
|
|
|
Section 11.2(b)
|
|
|
|
Section 9.1
|
|
|
|
Section 9.1
|
|
|
|
Section 2.2(a)
|
|
|
|
Preamble
|
Company
Indemnified Persons
|
|
Section 11.1(b)
|
|
|
|
Section 4.5
|
|
|
|
Section 1.2(b)
|
|
|
|
Section 9.2(a)
|
|
|
|
Section 11.1(e)
|
|
|
|
Section 3.2(a)
|
|
|
|
Section 1.2(c)
|
|
|
|
Preamble
|
Equitable
Indemnified Persons
|
|
Section 11.1(c)
|
|
|
|
Section 1.4(d)
|
Effective Time
Adjustment
|
|
Section 2.2(a)
|
|
|
|
Preamble
|
|
|
|
Section 3.2(a)
|
|
|
|
Section 4.8
|
|
|
|
Preamble
|
|
|
|
Preamble
|
|
|
|
Section 1.4(e)
|
|
|
|
Section 1.3
|
|
|
|
Preamble
|
|
|
|
Section 1.4(f)
|
Exploration
Agreement PMOG Area
|
|
Section 1.4(g)
|
|
|
|
Section 9.2(e)
|
|
|
|
Section 1.2(a)
|
|
|
|
Section 1.4(h)
|
|
|
|
Section 4.11
|
|
|
|
Section 7.5
|
|
|
|
Section 1.4(i)
|
-v-
|
|
|
|
|
Defined
Term
|
|
Section
|
|
|
|
Section 11.2(a)
|
|
|
|
Section 11.2(a)
|
|
|
|
Section 1.4(j)
|
|
|
|
Section 12.13
|
|
|
|
Section 9.2(d)
|
|
|
|
Section 4.1(d)
|
|
|
|
Section 9.3(d)
|
|
|
|
Section 1.4(k)
|
|
|
|
Section 1.4(l)
|
|
|
|
Section 1.4(m)
|
|
|
|
Section 1.4(n)
|
|
|
|
Preamble
|
|
|
|
Section 1.4(o)
|
|
|
|
Section 3.2(b)
|
|
|
|
Section 1.4(p)
|
|
|
|
Recitals
|
|
|
|
Preamble
|
|
|
|
Section 11.1(b)
|
Pre-Closing
Taxable Period
|
|
Section 7.6(c)
|
|
|
|
Section 4.5
|
|
|
|
Section 1.5(c)
|
|
|
|
Section 1.4(q)
|
|
|
|
Section 1.4(r)
|
Scheduled
Transfer Requirements
|
|
Section 4.5(a)
|
|
|
|
Section 1.4(s)
|
|
|
|
Section 1.4(t)
|
Statements of
Revenues and Expenses
|
|
Section 7.11
|
|
|
|
Section 7.6(c)
|
|
|
|
Section 1.4(u)
|
|
|
|
Section 1.4(v)
|
|
|
|
Section 10.1
|
|
|
|
Section 3.3(f)
|
|
|
|
Section 3.3(a)
|
|
|
|
Section 3.2(a)
|
|
|
|
Section 12.13
|
|
|
|
Section 1.4(w)
|
-vi-
This Contribution
Agreement (this “Agreement”), dated as of April ___,
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.”
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
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.
(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:
(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,
-14-
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
-15-
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
-16-
4, 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.
(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).
-17-
(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
|