Exhibit 10.1
CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
by
and among
SPECTRA ENERGY TRANSMISSION, LLC,
SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS (DE) GP, LP,
and
SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP,
dated as of
December 13, 2007
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE I
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DEFINITIONS AND RULES
OF CONSTRUCTION
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Section 1.1
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Definitions |
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Section 1.2
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Rules of Construction |
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ARTICLE II
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CONTRIBUTION;
CLOSING
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Section 2.1
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Contribution of Contributed
Interests |
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Section 2.2
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Consideration |
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Section 2.3
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The Closing |
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Section 2.4
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Post-Closing Working Capital
Adjustment |
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ARTICLE III
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REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES RELATING TO
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SE TRANSMISSION
AND MLP GP
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Section 3.1
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Organization |
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Section 3.2
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Authorization; Enforceability |
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Section 3.3
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No Conflict |
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Section 3.4
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Litigation |
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Section 3.5
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Brokers’ Fees |
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Section 3.6
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Ownership of Contributed
Interests |
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Section 3.7
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Investment Representation |
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ARTICLE IV
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REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES RELATING TO
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THE SALTVILLE
COMPANIES
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Section 4.1
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Organization of the Saltville
Companies |
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Section 4.2
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Enforceability of Merger
Agreement |
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Section 4.3
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No Conflict |
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Section 4.4
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Subsidiaries |
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Section 4.5
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Financial Statements; Records;
Undisclosed Liabilities |
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Section 4.6
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Absence of Certain Changes |
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Section 4.7
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Contracts |
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Section 4.8
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Intellectual Property |
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Section 4.9
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Litigation |
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Section 4.10
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Taxes |
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Section 4.11
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Environmental Matters |
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Section 4.12
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Legal Compliance |
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Section 4.13
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Permits |
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Section 4.14
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Insurance |
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Section 4.15
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Labor Relations; Employees |
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Section 4.16
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Title to Properties and Related
Matters |
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Section 4.17
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Brokers’ Fees |
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Section 4.18
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Regulatory Matters |
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ARTICLE V
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REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES RELATING TO SPECTRA MLP
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Section 5.1
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Organization of Spectra MLP |
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Section 5.2
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Authorization; Enforceability |
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Section 5.3
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No Conflict |
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Section 5.4
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Litigation |
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Section 5.5
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Brokers’ Fees |
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Section 5.6
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Investment Representation |
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Section 5.7
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Spectra MLP SEC Documents |
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ARTICLE VI
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COVENANTS
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Section 6.1
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Conduct of Business |
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Section 6.2
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Access |
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Section 6.3
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Third Party Approvals |
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Section 6.4
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Saltville Restructuring |
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Section 6.5
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Company Guarantees |
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Section 6.6
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Indebtedness for Borrowed Money |
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Section 6.7
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Update Information |
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Section 6.8
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Books and Records |
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Section 6.9
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Permits |
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Section 6.10
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Excluded Assets |
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Section 6.11
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Noncompetition Agreement |
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ARTICLE VII
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TAX MATTERS
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Section 7.1
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Tax Returns |
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Section 7.2
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Transfer Taxes |
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Section 7.3
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Tax Indemnity |
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Section 7.4
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Scope |
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Section 7.5
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Tax Refunds |
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ARTICLE VIII
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CONDITIONS TO
OBLIGATIONS
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Section 8.1
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Conditions to Obligations of Spectra
MLP |
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Section 8.2
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Conditions to the Obligations of SE
Transmission and MLP GP |
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ARTICLE IX
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INDEMNIFICATION
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Section 9.1
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Survival |
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Section 9.2
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Indemnification |
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Section 9.3
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Indemnification Procedures |
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Section 9.4
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Additional Agreements Regarding
Indemnification |
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Section 9.5
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Waiver of Other Representations |
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Section 9.6
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Total Consideration Adjustment |
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Section 9.7
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Exclusive Remedy |
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ARTICLE X
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TERMINATION
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Section 10.1
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Termination |
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Section 10.2
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Effect of Termination |
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ARTICLE XI
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MISCELLANEOUS
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Section 11.1
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Notices |
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Section 11.2
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Assignment |
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Section 11.3
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Rights of Third Parties |
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Section 11.4
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Expense |
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Section 11.5
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Counterparts |
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Section 11.6
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Entire Agreement |
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Section 11.7
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Disclosure Schedule |
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Section 11.8
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Amendments |
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Section 11.9
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Publicity |
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Section 11.10
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Severability |
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Section 11.11
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Governing Law; Jurisdiction |
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Section 11.12
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Action by Spectra MLP |
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iv
Disclosure Schedule
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Schedule A
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P-25 Assets |
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Schedule 1.1(i)
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Spectra MLP Knowledge |
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Schedule 1.1(ii)
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SE Transmission and MLP GP
Knowledge |
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Schedule 1.1(iii)
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Permitted Liens |
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Schedule 3.3
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Transmission Approvals |
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Schedule 3.5
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SE Transmission and MLP GP
Brokers’ Fees |
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Schedule 3.6(b)
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Voting Agreements |
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Schedule 4.5
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Financial Statements |
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Schedule 4.6
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Absence of Certain Changes |
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Schedule 4.7(a)
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Material Contracts |
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Schedule 4.7(c)
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Enforceability of Material Contracts;
No Defaults |
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Schedule 4.7(d)
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Purchase and Sale Agreements |
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Schedule 4.8(b)
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Intellectual Property |
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Schedule 4.9
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Litigation |
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Schedule 4.10
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Taxes |
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Schedule 4.11
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Environmental Matters |
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Schedule 4.13
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Permits |
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Schedule 4.14
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Insurance |
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Schedule 4.16(a)
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Material Real Estate Leases |
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Schedule 5.3
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Spectra MLP Approvals |
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Schedule 5.5
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Spectra MLP Brokers’ Fees |
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Schedule 6.1
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Conduct of Business |
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Schedule 6.1(v)
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Capital Expenditures |
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Schedule 6.5
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Guarantees |
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Schedule 6.10
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Excluded Assets |
Exhibits
Exhibit A –
Omnibus Amendment
v
CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
THIS CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT, dated as
of December 13, 2007 (this “ Agreement
”), is entered into by and among Spectra Energy Transmission,
LLC, a limited liability company organized under the Laws of the
State of Delaware (“ SE Transmission ”),
Spectra Energy Partners (DE) GP, LP, a limited partnership
organized under the Laws of the State of Delaware (“
MLP GP ”), and Spectra Energy Partners, LP, a
limited partnership organized under the Laws of the State of
Delaware (“ Spectra MLP ”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, as of the date of this
Agreement, SE Transmission owns (i) 100% of the limited
liability company interests in Saltville Gas Storage Company
L.L.C., a limited liability company organized under the Laws of the
Commonwealth of Virginia (“ Saltville LLC
”), (ii) 100% of the capital stock of Spectra Energy
Early Grove Company, a corporation organized under the Laws of the
Commonwealth of Virginia (“ SE Early Grove
”), and (iii) 100% of the capital stock of Spectra
Energy Virginia Pipeline Company, a corporation organized under the
Laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia (“ SE Virginia
Pipeline ”);
WHEREAS, prior to the Closing (as
defined below):
(i) Certification of the storage
facilities of SE Early Grove and SE Virginia Pipeline by the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and relinquishment of
jurisdiction over such storage facilities by the Virginia State
Corporation Commission shall have been granted or shall have been
deemed granted;
(ii) Saltville LLC intends to
negotiate replacement Contracts with customers of SE Early Grove
and SE Virginia Pipeline related to their storage assets;
(iii) SE Early Grove and SE
Virginia Pipeline intend to convert from corporations into limited
liability companies;
(iv) SE Virginia Pipeline, after
such conversion, intends to transfer to East Tennessee Natural Gas,
LLC, a limited liability company organized under the Laws of the
State of Tennessee, pursuant to that certain asset purchase
agreement between such parties and dated the date hereof (the
“ Asset Purchase Agreement ”), all of its
right, title and interest in approximately 72 miles of 8”
natural gas transmission pipeline commencing at SE Virginia
Pipeline’s meter station located at Chilhowie, VA, and
continuing eastward to SE Virginia Pipeline’s meter station
located at Radford, VA, together with 0.5 miles of the 4”
Marion lateral, and certain other assets, liabilities and
obligations associated with such pipeline facilities and described
on Schedule A attached hereto (collectively, the “
P-25 Assets ”), in exchange for Common Units
(as defined below) and a cash reimbursement of prior capital
expenditures, which Common Units and cash reimbursement would then
be transferred to SE Transmission or one of its Affiliates (as
defined below), other than the Saltville Companies, prior to the
Closing;
(v) SE Early Grove and SE
Virginia Pipeline, after conversion into limited liability
companies, would then merge with and into Saltville LLC, pursuant
to a merger agreement (the “ Merger Agreement
”), with Saltville LLC being the surviving entity;
(vi) SE Transmission would then
contribute to Spectra MLP, and Spectra MLP would then accept from
SE Transmission, 97.6% of the limited liability company interests
in Saltville LLC (the “ SET Contributed
Interests ”), and, in exchange, Spectra MLP would
distribute, as contemplated in this Agreement, to SE Transmission
(a) a certain number of Common Units and (b) a certain
amount in cash as a reimbursement for capital expenditures incurred
by SE Transmission with respect to certain assets of Saltville
LLC;
(vii) SE Transmission would then
contribute 2.376% of the limited liability company interests in
Saltville LLC to Spectra Energy Southeast Pipeline Corporation, a
corporation organized under the Laws of the State of Delaware
(“ SE Southeast Pipeline ”) and 0.024% of
its limited liability company interests in Saltville LLC to Spectra
Energy Partners GP, LLC, a limited liability company organized
under the Laws of the State of Delaware (“ MLP GP
LLC ”), and SE Southeast Pipeline and MLP GP LLC
would contribute all their respective limited liability company
interests in Saltville LLC received from SE Transmission to MLP GP
(the actions to be taken in sections (i) through (v) and
section (vii) hereof, collectively, the “
Saltville Restructuring ”);
WHEREAS, MLP GP would then contribute
to Spectra MLP, and Spectra MLP would then accept from MLP GP, all
of MLP GP’s limited liability company interests in Saltville
LLC (the “ MLP GP Contributed Interests
”), and, in exchange, Spectra MLP would distribute to MLP GP
a certain number of General Partner Units;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of
the premises and mutual covenants contained herein and other good
and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which
are hereby acknowledged, the Parties (as defined below) agree as
follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND RULES OF CONSTRUCTION
Section 1.1
Definitions . As used herein, the following
capitalized terms shall have the following meanings:
“ Accounting
Referee ” has the meaning provided such term in
Section 2.4(c).
“ Adjustment
Amount ” has the meaning provided such term in
Section 2.4(e).
“ Affiliate
” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that,
directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by or is under
common control with, such specified Person through one or more
intermediaries or otherwise. For the purposes of this definition,
“control” means, where used with respect to any Person,
the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or
cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by Contract or
otherwise.
2
“ AGL Agreement
” means that Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of
April 27, 2005, among NUI Saltville Storage, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, Virginia Gas Company, a Delaware corporation, Duke
Energy Gas Transmission, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company,
Duke Energy Saltville Gas Storage, L.L.C., a Delaware limited
liability company, and NUI Corporation, a New Jersey
corporation.
“ Agreement
” has the meaning provided such term in the preamble to this
Agreement.
“ Asset Purchase
Agreement ” has the meaning provided such term in the
recitals of this Agreement.
“ Balance Sheet
Date ” means October 31, 2007.
“ Billed Party
” has the meaning provided such term in
Section 7.1(d).
“ Business
” means the operations and business conducted by the
Saltville Companies.
“ Business Day
” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or legal
holiday in the State of Texas or a federal holiday in the United
States.
“ Claim Notice
” has the meaning provided such term in
Section 9.3(a).
“ Closing ”
has the meaning provided such term in Section 2.3(a).
“ Closing Date
” has the meaning provided such term in
Section 2.3(a).
“ Code ”
means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
“ Commission
” means the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission.
“ Common Units
” has the meaning provided such term in the Spectra MLP
Partnership Agreement.
“ Company
Guarantees ” means all guaranties, letters of credit,
bonds, sureties, cash collateral accounts, and other credit support
or assurances provided by SE Transmission or any of its Affiliates
(other than the Saltville Companies) in support of any obligations
of any of the Saltville Companies or the Business, including those
obligations listed on Schedule 6.5 .
“ Conflicts
Committee ” has the meaning provided such term in the
Spectra MLP Partnership Agreement.
“ Contract
” means any legally binding agreement, commitment, lease,
license or contract.
“ Contributed
Interests ” means the SET Contributed Interests
and/or the MLP GP Contributed Interests, as applicable.
“ Cross Receipt
” means a cross receipt acknowledging the receipt of the
items in Section 2.3(b)(i) and (v) by Spectra MLP and the
items in Section 2.3(c)(i), (ii) and (v) by SE
Transmission and MLP GP.
3
“ Disclosure
Schedule ” means the schedules attached hereto.
“ Dollars ”
and “ $ ” mean the lawful currency of the
United States.
“ Effective Time
” has the meaning provided such term in
Section 2.3(a).
“ Environment
” means (a) the navigable waters, the waters of the
contiguous zone, and the ocean waters of which the natural
resources are under the exclusive management authority of the
United States under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq ., and
(b) any other surface water, ground water, drinking water
supply, land surface or subsurface strata, or ambient air within
the United States or under the jurisdiction of the United
States.
“ Environmental
Law ” means any Law relating to the environment,
natural resources, or the protection thereof, including any
applicable provisions of the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. § 9601 et
seq. , the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, 49 U.S.C.
§ 5101 et seq. , the Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. § 6901 et seq. , the
Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq. , the
Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. § 7401 et seq. , the
Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. § 2601 et
seq. , the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide
Act, 7 U.S.C. § 136 et seq. , the Oil Pollution
Act of 1990, 33 U.S.C. § 2701 et seq. , the Safe
Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. § 300f et seq. ,
and any Law relating to health, safety, the Environment, natural
resources or the protection thereof, and all analogous state or
local statutes, and the regulations promulgated pursuant
thereto.
“ ERISA ”
means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
“ Exchange Act
” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and
regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
“ Excluded Assets
” has the meaning provided such term in
Section 6.10.
“ Final Net Working
Capital ” means the difference of (x) total
current assets less (y) total current liabilities, each as
shown on the balance sheet of Saltville LLC as of the Closing Date
(which sheet shall be prepared in the same manner, under the same
basis, with the same methodology and principles, and utilizing the
same line items as the Financial Statements) except that the amount
of total current liabilities shall be reduced to exclude any ad
valorem Taxes and federal and state income Taxes.
“ Financial
Statements ” has the meaning provided such term in
Section 4.5(a).
“ Fundamental
Representations and Warranties ” means the
representations and warranties contained in Sections 3.1, 3.2,
3.6, 4.1 and 4.4.
“ GAAP ”
means generally accepted accounting principles of the United
States, consistently applied.
“ General Partner
Units ” has the meaning provided such term in the
Spectra MLP Partnership Agreement.
4
“ Governmental
Authority ” means any federal, state, municipal,
local or similar governmental authority, regulatory or
administrative agency, court or arbitral body.
“Hazardous
Substance(s)” means each substance defined,
designated or classified as a hazardous waste, hazardous substance,
hazardous material, pollutant, containment or toxic substance under
any Environmental Law and any petroleum or petroleum products that
have been Released into the environment.
“ Indebtedness for
Borrowed Money ” means with respect to any Person, at
any date, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such
Person for borrowed money (including intercompany obligations),
including all principal, interest, premiums, fees, expenses,
overdrafts and penalties with respect thereto, (b) all
obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or
other similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person
to pay the deferred purchase price of property, except trade
payables incurred in the ordinary course of business, (d) all
obligations of such Person to reimburse any bank or other Person in
respect of amounts paid under a letter of credit or similar
instrument, (e) all capitalized lease obligations of such
Person, and (f) all indebtedness of any other Person of the
type referred to in clauses (a) to (e) above directly or
indirectly guaranteed by such Person or secured by any assets of
such Person, whether or not such indebtedness has been assumed by
such Person.
“ Indemnified
Party ” has the meaning provided such term in
Section 9.3(a).
“ Indemnifying
Party ” has the meaning provided such term in
Section 9.3(a).
“ Indemnified Tax
Claim ” has the meaning provided such term in
Section 7.3(b).
“ Intellectual
Property ” means intellectual property rights,
statutory or common law, worldwide, including (a) trademarks,
service marks, trade dress, slogans, logos and all goodwill
associated therewith, and any applications or registrations for any
of the foregoing, (b) copyrights and any applications or
registrations for any of the foregoing, and (c) patents, all
confidential know-how, trade secrets and similar proprietary rights
in confidential inventions, discoveries, improvements, processes,
techniques, devices, methods, patterns, formulae and
specifications.
“ Knowledge
” as to Spectra MLP means the actual knowledge of those
Persons listed on Schedule 1.1(i) , and; as to SE
Transmission and MLP GP means the actual knowledge of those Persons
listed on Schedule 1.1(ii) ; provided, however ,
that those Persons noted in such Schedule 1.1(ii) as
not having knowledge as to the Saltville Companies shall be
disregarded with respect to any representation relating to the
Saltville Companies qualified by “Knowledge”.
“ Law ”
means any applicable law, rule, regulation, ordinance, order,
judgment or decree of a Governmental Authority.
“ Lien(s) ”
means, with respect to any property or asset, any mortgage, pledge,
charge, security interest or other encumbrance of any kind in
respect of such property or asset.
“ Losses ”
means all actual liabilities, losses, damages, fines, penalties,
judgments, settlements, awards, costs and expenses (including
reasonable fees and expenses of counsel);
5
provided, however , that Losses shall not include any
special, punitive, exemplary, incidental, consequential or indirect
damages nor shall Losses include lost profits, lost opportunities
or other speculative damages; provided, further, however ,
that the preceding proviso shall not apply to the extent a Party is
required to pay such damages to a third party in connection with a
matter for which such Party is entitled to indemnification under
Article IX.
“ Material Adverse
Effect ” means, with respect to any Person, any
circumstance, change or effect that (a) is or would reasonably
be expected to be materially adverse to the business, operations or
financial condition of such Person (and in the case of any
Saltville Company, of the Saltville Companies and the Business
taken as a whole), or (b) materially impedes or would
reasonably be expected to impede the ability of such Person to
complete the transactions contemplated herein, but shall exclude
any circumstance, change or effect resulting or arising from:
(i) any
change in general economic conditions in the industries or markets
in which any of the Saltville Companies operates;
(ii) seasonal
reductions in revenues or earnings of the Saltville Companies
substantially consistent with the historical results of such
businesses;
(iii) national
or international political conditions, including any engagement in
hostilities, whether or not pursuant to the declaration of a
national emergency or war, or the occurrence of any military or
terrorist attack;
(iv) changes
in Law or GAAP; or
(v) the
entry into or announcement of this Agreement, actions contemplated
by this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby.
Notwithstanding the foregoing,
clauses (i), (iii) and (iv) shall not apply in the event
of a disproportionate effect on the Saltville Companies as compared
to other entities in the industry or markets in which the Saltville
Companies operate.
“ Material
Contracts ” has the meaning provided such term in
Section 4.7(a).
“Material Real Estate
Leases” has the meaning provided such term in
Section 4.16(a).
“ Merger
Agreement ” has the meaning provided such term in the
recitals of this Agreement.
“ MLP GP ”
has the meaning provided such term in the preamble to this
Agreement.
“ MLP GP
Consideration ” means an amount equal to the product
of the Per Unit Value times the MLP GP General Partner Units.
“ MLP GP Contributed
Interests ” has the meaning provided such term in the
recitals of this Agreement.
6
“ MLP GP General Partner
Units ” means the number of General Partner Units
that is computed by (i) adding the Saltville Total Value and
the P-25 Total Value (as defined in the Asset Purchase Agreement),
(ii) subtracting both the Saltville CapEx Reimbursement and
the P-25 CapEx Reimbursement (as defined in the Asset Purchase
Agreement) from that sum, (iii) dividing that difference by
the Per Unit Value, and (iv) multiplying that quotient by
2%.
“ MLP GP Indemnified
Parties ” has the meaning provided such term in
Section 9.2(b).
“ MLP GP LLC
” has the meaning provided such term in the recitals of this
Agreement.
“ Omnibus
Agreement ” means the Omnibus Agreement effective as
of July 2, 2007, among Spectra MLP, MLP GP, Spectra Energy
Partners, GP, LLC, a limited liability company organized under the
Laws of the State of Delaware, and Spectra Energy Corp, a
corporation organized under the Laws of the State of
Delaware.
“ Omnibus
Amendment ” means the Amendment to Omnibus Agreement
attached as Exhibit A .
“ Organizational
Documents ” means any charter, certificate of
incorporation, certificate of formation, articles of association,
bylaws, partnership agreement, operating agreement or similar
formation or governing documents and instruments.
“ P-25 Assets
” has the meaning provided such term in the recitals of this
Agreement.
“ P-25 Indemnity
Obligations ” has the meaning provided such term in
Section 9.2(a).
“ P-25 Pipeline
” means approximately 72 miles of 8” transmission
pipeline operated by Seller.
“ Parties ”
means SE Transmission, MLP GP and Spectra MLP.
“ Per Unit Valuation
Date ” means the date that is three days prior to the
Closing Date.
“ Per Unit Value
” means the volume-weighted average price of the Common Units
on the New York Stock Exchange during the 20 trading days
immediately preceding the Per Unit Valuation Date, calculated using
the Bloomberg SEP Equity AQR function.
“ Permits ”
means authorizations, licenses, permits or certificates issued by
Governmental Authorities; provided, however , right-of-way
agreements and similar rights and approvals are not included in the
definition of Permits.
“Permitted
Liens” means (a) Liens for Taxes not yet
delinquent or being contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings, (b) statutory Liens (including
materialmen’s, warehousemen’s, mechanic’s,
repairmen’s, landlord’s, and other similar Liens)
arising in the ordinary course of business securing payments not
yet delinquent or being contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings, (c) the rights of lessors and lessees under
leases, and the rights of third parties under any agreement, in
each case executed in the ordinary course of business and that do
not materially and adversely affect the ability of the Saltville
Companies to conduct
7
their
Business as currently conducted, (d) the rights of licensors
and licensees under licenses executed in the ordinary course of
business and that do not materially and adversely affect the
ability of the Saltville Companies to conduct their Business as
currently conducted, (e) restrictive covenants, easements and
defects, imperfections or irregularities of title or Liens, if any,
of a nature that do not materially and adversely affect the assets
or properties subject thereto, (f) preferential purchase
rights and other similar arrangements with respect to which
consents or waivers are obtained for this transaction or as to
which the time for asserting such rights has expired at the Closing
Date without an exercise of such rights, (g) restrictions on
transfer with respect to which consents or waivers are obtained for
this transaction, (h) Liens granted in the ordinary course of
business which do not secure the payment of Indebtedness for
Borrowed Money and which do not materially and adversely affect the
ability of the Saltville Companies to conduct their Business as
currently conducted, (i) Liens listed in
Schedule 1.1(iii) , and (j) Liens created by
Spectra MLP or its successors and assigns.
“ Person ”
means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, incorporated or unincorporated association,
joint venture, joint stock company, Governmental Authority or other
entity of any kind.
“ Pre-Closing Tax
” has the meaning provided such term in
Section 7.1(c).
“ Pre-Closing Taxable
Period ” means any taxable period ending on or before
the Effective Time and that portion of any taxable period beginning
before and ending after the Effective Time that ends on the
Effective Time.
“ Reasonable
Efforts ” means efforts in accordance with reasonable
commercial practice and without the incurrence of unreasonable
expense.
“ Reference Net Working
Capital ” means $1,122,527.
“ Refund Amount
” has the meaning provided such term in
Section 2.4(e).
“ Release ”
means any depositing, spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, placing,
emitting, discarding, abandoning, emptying, discharging, migrating,
injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, or disposing of, without
limitation, Hazardous Substances, into the Environment.
“ Representatives
” means, as to any Person, its officers, directors,
employees, counsel, accountants, financial advisers and
consultants.
“ Saltville CapEx
Reimbursement ” means 97.6% of the sum of the capital
expenditures incurred by the Saltville Companies with respect to
their assets other than the P-25 Assets during the 24 month
period prior to the Closing Date; provided, however , that
such amount shall not exceed $10,000,000.
“ Saltville
Companies ” means, prior to Saltville Restructuring,
Saltville LLC, SE Early Grove and SE Virginia Pipeline, and “
Saltville Company ” means any one of the
foregoing. After the Saltville Restructuring, “
Saltville Company ” shall mean Saltville
LLC.
“ Saltville LLC
” has the meaning provided such term in the recitals of this
Agreement.
8
“ Saltville
Restructuring ” has the meaning provided such term in
the recitals of this Agreement.
“ Saltville Total
Value ” means $81,700,000.
“ SE Early Grove
” has the meaning provided such term in the recitals of this
Agreement.
“ SE Southeast
Pipeline ” has the meaning provided such term in the
recitals of this Agreement.
“ SE Transmission
” has the meaning provided such term in the preamble to this
Agreement.
“ SE Transmission
Indemnified Parties ” has the meaning provided such
term in Section 9.2(b).
“ SE Virginia
Pipeline ” has the meaning provided such term in the
recitals of this Agreement.
“ Securities Act
” means the Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and
regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
“ SET Common
Units ” means the number of Common Units that is
computed by (i) subtracting the Saltville CapEx Reimbursement
from the Saltville Total Value, (ii) dividing that difference
by the Per Unit Value, and (iii) subtracting the number of MLP
GP General Partner Units from that quotient.
“ SET
Consideration ” means an amount equal to the product
of the Per Unit Value times the SET Common Units.
“ SET Contributed
Interests ” has the meaning provided such term in the
recitals of this Agreement.
“ Spectra Energy
Corp ” means Spectra Energy Corp, a Delaware
corporation.
“ Spectra MLP
” has the meaning provided such term in the preamble to this
Agreement.
“ Spectra MLP
Approvals ” has the meaning provided such term in
Section 5.3.
“ Spectra MLP Financial
Statements ” has the meaning provided such term in
Section 5.8.
“ Spectra MLP Indemnified
Parties ” has the meaning provided such term in
Section 9.2(a).
“ Spectra MLP Partnership
Agreement ” means the First Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership of Spectra Energy Partners, LP
dated as of July 2, 2007.
“ Spectra MLP SEC
Documents ” has the meaning provided such term in
Section 5.8.
9
“ Tax ”
means (a) all taxes, assessments, duties, levies, imposts or
other similar charges imposed by a Governmental Authority,
including all income, franchise, profits, capital gains, capital
stock, transfer, gross receipts, sales, use, transfer, service,
occupation, ad valorem, property, excise, severance, windfall
profits, premium, stamp, license, payroll, employment, social
security, unemployment, disability, environmental (including taxes
under Code Section 59A), alternative minimum, add-on,
value-added, withholding (including backup withholding) and other
taxes, assessments, duties, levies, imposts or other similar
charges of any kind whatsoever (whether payable directly or by
withholding and whether or not requiring the filing of a Tax
Return), and all estimated taxes, deficiency assessments, additions
to tax, additional amounts imposed by any Governmental Authority,
penalties and interest, (b) any liability of any Saltville
Company for the payment of any amounts of any of the foregoing
types as a result of being a member of an affiliated, consolidated,
combined or unitary group, or being a party to any agreement or
arrangement whereby liability of such Saltville Company for payment
of such amounts was determined or taken into account with reference
to the liability of any other Person and (c) any liability of
any Saltville Company for the payment of any amounts as a result of
being a party to any Tax-Sharing Agreement or with respect to the
payment of any amounts of any of the foregoing types as a result of
any express or implied obligation to indemnify any other
Person.
“ Tax Authority
” means any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over
the assessment, determination, collection or imposition of any
Tax.
“ Tax Benefit
” means, with respect to a Loss, an amount by which the Tax
liability of a Person (or group of corporations filing a Tax Return
that includes the Person), with respect to a taxable period, is
reduced as a result of such Loss or the amount of any Tax refund or
Tax credit that is generated (including, by deduction, loss, credit
or otherwise) as a result of such Loss, and any related interest
received from any relevant Tax Authority; provided, however
, in each case, only the reasonable present value of any Tax
Benefit shall be considered with respect to a Loss.
“ Tax Indemnified
Party ” has the meaning provided such term in
Section 7.3(b).
“ Tax Indemnifying
Party ” has the meaning provided such term in
Section 7.3(b).
“ Tax Proceeding
” has the meaning provided such term in
Section 7.1(f).
“ Tax Returns
” means any report, return, election, document, estimated Tax
filing, declaration or other filing provided to any Tax Authority,
including any amendments thereto.
“ Tax-Sharing
Agreement ” means any existing agreement or
arrangement (whether or not written) that is binding on any
Saltville Company and regarding the sharing, allocation or payment
of Taxes or amounts in lieu of Taxes.
“ Third Party
Claim ” has the meaning provided such term in
Section 9.3(a).
“ Transmission
Approvals ” has the meaning provided such term in
Section 3.3.
“ United States
” or “ U.S. ” means United States
of America.
10
Section 1.2 Rules
of Construction.
(a) All
article, section, schedule and exhibit references used in this
Agreement are to articles, sections, schedules and exhibits to this
Agreement unless otherwise specified. The schedules and exhibits
attached to this Agreement constitute a part of this Agreement and
are incorporated herein for all purposes.
(b) If
a term is defined as one part of speech (such as a noun), it shall
have a corresponding meaning when used as another part of speech
(such as a verb). Terms defined in the singular have the
corresponding meanings in the plural, and vice versa. Unless the
context of this Agreement clearly requires otherwise, words
importing the masculine gender shall include the feminine and
neutral genders and vice versa. The term “includes” or
“including” shall mean “including without
limitation.” The words “hereof,”
“hereto,” “hereby,” “herein,”
“hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in
this Agreement, shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to
any particular section or article in which such words appear.
(c) The
Parties acknowledge that each Party and its attorney have reviewed
this Agreement and that any rule of construction to the effect that
any ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting Party, or
any similar rule operating against the drafter of an agreement,
shall not be applicable to the construction or interpretation of
this Agreement.
(d) The
captions in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not
be considered a part of or affect the construction or
interpretation of any provision of this Agreement.
(e) All
references to currency herein shall be to, and all payments
required hereunder shall be paid in, Dollars.
(f) All
accounting terms used herein and not expressly defined herein shall
have the meanings given to them under GAAP.
(g) Any
event hereunder requiring the payment of cash or cash equivalents
on a day that is not a Business Day shall be deferred until the
next Business Day.
(h) References
to any Law are references to such Law as it may be amended from
time to time, and references to particular provisions of a Law
include a reference to the corresponding provisions of any
succeeding Law.
ARTICLE II
CONTRIBUTION; CLOSING
Section 2.1
Contribution of Contributed Interests.
(a) At
the Closing, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
in this Agreement, SE Transmission shall contribute to Spectra MLP,
and Spectra MLP shall accept from SE Transmission, the SET
Contributed Interests, free and clear of any Liens other than
transfer restrictions imposed thereon by securities Laws.
11
(b) At
the Closing, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
in this Agreement, MLP GP shall contribute to Spectra MLP, and
Spectra MLP shall accept from MLP GP, the MLP GP Contributed
Interests, free and clear of any Liens other than transfer
restrictions imposed thereon by securities Laws.
Section 2.2
Consideration.
(a) At
the Closing, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
in this Agreement, in exchange for the SET Contributed Interests,
Spectra MLP shall (i) distribute to SE Transmission the SET
Common Units and (ii) pay to SE Transmission the Saltville
CapEx Reimbursement, which amount shall be payable in cash. For
purposes of determining the Saltville CapEx Reimbursement, SE
Transmission shall provide a binding good faith estimate of such
amount at least ten days prior to the Closing Date.
(b) At
the Closing, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
in this Agreement, in exchange for the MLP GP Contributed
Interests, Spectra MLP shall distribute to MLP GP the MLP GP
General Partner Units.
(c) The
Parties acknowledge that the transactions described in this
Article II are properly characterized as transactions
described in Section 721(a) of the Code.
Section 2.3 The
Closing.
(a) The
closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the
“ Closing ”) shall take place at the
offices of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., 1001 Fannin, Houston, Texas
77002, commencing at 10:00 a.m. local time on the later of
April 1, 2008 and the first day of the month following the
date on which all conditions to the obligations of the Parties to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby have been satisfied
or waived (other than conditions with respect to actions the
Parties shall take at the Closing itself) or such other date as the
Parties may mutually determine (the “ Closing
Date ”); provided, however , the Closing shall
be deemed to have been consummated at 12:30 a.m. Houston,
Texas time on the Closing Date (the “ Effective
Time ”).
(b) At
the Closing, each of SE Transmission and MLP GP will deliver the
following documents and deliverables to Spectra MLP:
(i) an
assignment or assignments effecting the transfer to Spectra MLP of
ownership of all of the Contributed Interests together with
certificates, if any, representing the Contributed Interests and
such other documentation as is required to admit Spectra MLP as a
member of Saltville LLC;
(ii) a
certification in the form prescribed by Treasury
Regulation Section 1.1445-2(b)(2) to the effect that
neither MLP GP’s owner nor SE Transmission is a foreign
person;
(iii) the
Omnibus Amendment executed by MLP GP LLC and MLP GP;
12
(iv) the
Cross Receipt executed by each of SE Transmission and MLP GP;
and
(v) such
other certificates, instruments of conveyance and documents as may
be reasonably requested by Spectra MLP and agreed to by SE
Transmission or MLP GP prior to the Closing Date to carry out the
intent and purposes of this Agreement.
(c) At
the Closing, Spectra MLP will deliver the following documents and
deliverables to SE Transmission or MLP GP, as applicable, or take
the following actions:
(i) the
Saltville CapEx Reimbursement to SE Transmission by wire transfer
of immediately available U.S. federal funds to an account or
accounts specified by SE Transmission;
(ii) issue,
in certificated or book entry form, to SE Transmission the SET
Common Units, and to MLP the MLP GP General Partner Units;
(iii) the
Omnibus Amendment executed by Spectra MLP;
(iv) the
Cross Receipt executed by Spectra MLP; and
(v) such
other certificates, instruments of conveyance and documents as may
be reasonably requested by SE Transmission or MLP GP and agreed to
by Spectra MLP prior to the Closing Date to carry out the intent
and purposes of this Agreement.
Section 2.4
Post-Closing Working Capital Adjustment.
(a) Within
45 days following the Closing Date, SE Transmission shall
deliver to Spectra MLP its estimate of Final Net Working
Capital.
(b) If
Spectra MLP objects to SE Transmission’s estimate, then it
must provide a written objection notice, together with its estimate
of Final Net Working Capital, to SE Transmission within
30 days after receipt of SE Transmission’s estimate. If
no objection is delivered within such 30 days, then SE
Transmission’s estimate shall be final and binding.
(c) If
Spectra MLP objects in a timely manner and Spectra MLP and SE
Transmission are unable to agree upon Final Net Working Capital
within 30 days after SE Transmission’s receipt of
Spectra MLP’s objection, then such dispute shall be resolved
by referring the disputed items relating to such calculation to an
independent accounting firm of recognized national standing (the
“ Accounting Referee ”) to be selected in
the following manner: (i) the Parties shall have seven
additional days following the aforementioned 30 day dispute
resolution period to mutually agree on the identity of the
Accounting Referee or, (ii) if the Parties are unable to agree
on an Accounting Referee pursuant to the preceding clause (i), SE
Transmission will select three candidates and deliver a written
notice containing the names of such candidates to Spectra MLP (in
care of the Conflicts Committee) within five days of the expiration
of the seven day period referred to in the preceding clause
(i) and within five days of receiving such notice, Spectra MLP
will select one of such three candidates to serve as the Accounting
Referee. The Accounting Referee may not be otherwise engaged by any
of SE
13
Transmission or Spectra MLP, or their respective Affiliates, in
connection with the transactions contemplated under this Agreement
and may not have performed any material services on behalf of any
of MLP GP, SE Transmission or Spectra MLP, or their respective
Affiliates, during the two years immediately preceding the date of
this Agreement.
(d) The
Accounting Referee shall be instructed upon appointment to
determine the disputed amounts in the manner provided in this
Section 2.4 within 30 days; provided, however ,
the amount of the Adjustment Amount or Refund Amount, as
applicable, determined by the Accounting Referee shall be no
greater than the higher amount submitted and no lower than the
lower amount submitted. The authority of the Accounting Referee
shall be limited to determining the items disputed by Spectra MLP
in its original objection that have not since been resolved by the
Parties. The Accounting Referee shall have no right or authority to
award interest or penalties or to grant or award damages of any
kind (including indirect, consequential, punitive or exemplary
damages). The determination of the Adjustment Amount or the Refund
Amount, as applicable, by the Accounting Referee shall be final and
binding on the Parties. The fees and expenses of the Accounting
Referee shall be borne equally by Spectra MLP, on one hand, and SE
Transmission, on the other hand.
(e) Spectra
MLP shall pay to SE Transmission and MLP GP, in proportion to such
Party’s ownership of the Saltville Companies prior to this
Agreement, an amount in cash equal to the excess, if any, of Final
Net Working Capital minus Reference Net Working Capital (the
“ Refund Amount ”), or SE Transmission
and MLP GP shall pay, in proportion to such Party’s ownership
of the Saltville Companies prior to this Agreement, to Spectra MLP
an amount in cash equal to the excess, if any, of Reference Net
Working Capital minus Final Net Working Capital (the “
Adjustment Amount ”). The Refund Amount or
Adjustment Amount, as the case may be, shall be paid by wire or
interbank transfer of immediately available funds within
10 days following the agreement by the Parties or the
determination by the Accounting Referee of the Final Net Working
Capital. To the extent that Spectra MLP makes payment to SE
Transmission and MLP GP under this Section 2.4, the Parties
agree to characterize such payments for all purposes as a reduction
or refund of the net working capital contributed and not as
consideration for the transfer of the Contributed Interests.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
RELATING TO SE TRANSMISSION AND MLP GP
Except as disclosed in the Disclosure
Schedule, each of SE Transmission and MLP GP, as applicable, hereby
jointly and severally represents and warrants to Spectra MLP as
follows:
Section 3.1
Organization . It is a limited liability company or
limited partnership, as applicable, duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of
Delaware.
Section 3.2
Authorization; Enforceability . It has all requisite
limited liability company or limited partnership power and
authority, as applicable, to execute and deliver this Agreement and
to perform all obligations to be performed by it hereunder. The
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby have
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been
duly and validly authorized and approved by all requisite limited
liability company or limited partnership action, as applicable, on
its part, and no other limited liability company or limited
partnership proceeding, as applicable, on its part is necessary to
authorize this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly and validly
executed and delivered by it, and this Agreement constitutes a
valid and binding obligation of it, enforceable against it in
accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and
similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and
subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of
equity.
Section 3.3 No
Conflict . The execution and delivery of this Agreement by
it and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby by
it (assuming all required filings, consents, approvals,
authorizations and notices set forth in Schedule 3.3
(collectively, the “ Transmission Approvals
”) have been made, given or obtained) do not and shall
not:
(a) violate
in any material respect any Law applicable to it or Spectra Energy
Corp or require of it or Spectra Energy Corp any filing with,
consent, approval or authorization of, or notice to, any
Governmental Authority;
(b) violate
any of its or Spectra Energy Corp’s Organizational Documents;
or
(c)
(i) breach any material Contract to which it or Spectra Energy
Corp is a party or by which it or Spectra Energy Corp may be bound,
(ii) result in the termination of any such material Contract,
(iii) result in the creation of any Lien upon any of its
Contributed Interests or (iv) constitute an event which, after
notice or lapse of time or both, would result in any such breach,
termination or creation of a Lien upon any of its Contributed
Interests.
Section 3.4
Litigation . There are no legal actions before any
Governmental Authority or lawsuits pending or, to the Knowledge of
Spectra Transmission and MLP GP, as applicable, threatened against
it that would adversely affect its ability to perform its
obligations under this Agreement, and there are no orders or
unsatisfied judgments from any Governmental Authority binding upon
it that would adversely affect its ability to perform its
obligations under this Agreement.
Section 3.5
Brokers’ Fees . Except as set forth on
Schedule 3.5 , no broker, finder, investment banker or
other Person is entitled to any brokerage fee, finders’ fee
or other commission in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements made by it
or any of its Affiliates.
Section 3.6
Ownership of Contributed Interests.
(a) It
has good and valid title to, holds of record and owns its
Contributed Interests free and clear of any Liens other than
transfer restrictions imposed thereon by securities Laws.
(b) SE
Transmission, as of the date of this Agreement, owns 100% of the
equity interests of the Saltville Companies. The Contributed
Interests represent 100% of the limited liability company interests
in Saltville LLC. With respect to each Saltville Company, there are
no outstanding options, warrants, rights or other securities
convertible into or
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exchangeable or exercisable for equity securities, any other
commitments or agreements providing for the issuance of additional
equity interests or the repurchase or redemption of equity
interests, and there are no agreements of any kind which may
obligate any of the Saltville Companies to issue, purchase, redeem
or otherwise acquire any of their respective equity interests.
Except as set forth in Schedule 3.6(b) , there are no
voting agreements, proxies or other similar agreements or
understandings with respect to the equity interests of any
Saltville Company. All of its Contributed Interests are duly
authorized, validly issued and outstanding and fully paid, and were
issued free of preemptive rights in compliance with Laws. Upon
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
Spectra MLP will acquire good and valid title to all of its
Contributed Interests, free and clear of any Liens other than
transfer restrictions imposed thereon by securities Laws or Liens
created by Spectra MLP.
Section 3.7
Investment Representation . It is purchasing the
Common Units or General Partner Units, as applicable, for its own
account with the present intention of holding such units for
investment purposes and not with a view to or for sale in
connection with any public distribution of such units in violation
of any federal or state securities Laws. It acknowledges that such
Common Units or General Partner Units, as applicable, have not been
registered under federal and state securities Laws and that such
Common Units or General Partner Units, as applicable, may not be
sold, transferred, offered for sale, pledged, hypothecated or
otherwise disposed of unless such transfer, sale, assignment,
pledge, hypothecation or other disposition is registered under
federal and state securities Laws or pursuant to an exemption from
registration under any federal or state securities Laws.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
RELATING TO THE SALTVILLE COMPANIES
Except as disclosed in the Disclosure
Schedule, each of SE Transmission and MLP GP hereby jointly and
severally represents and warrants to Spectra MLP as follows:
Section 4.1
Organization of the Saltville Companies . Each of the
Saltville Companies is a limited liability company or corporation,
as applicable, duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the Laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and has
all requisite limited liability company or corporate power and
authority, as applicable, to own, operate or lease its properties
assets and to conduct the Business as it is now being conducted.
Each of the Saltville Companies is duly licensed or qualified in
each jurisdiction in which the ownership or operation of its assets
or the character of its activities is such as to require it to be
so licensed or qualified, except where the failure to be so
licensed or qualified would not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on the Saltville Companies. SE Transmission
and MLP GP has made available to Spectra MLP true copies of all
existing Organizational Documents of the Saltville Companies.
Section 4.2
Enforceability of Merger Agreement . When executed,
the Merger Agreement will be duly and validly executed and
delivered by the Saltville Companies, and the Merger Agreement
will, upon execution, constitute a valid and binding obligation of
the Saltville Companies, enforceable against them in accordance
with its terms, subject to bankruptcy,
16
insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and
similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and
subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of
equity.
Section 4.3 No
Conflict . The execution and delivery of this Agreement by
each of SE Transmission and MLP GP and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby by SE Transmission and MLP GP
(assuming all of the Transmission Approvals have been made, given
or obtained) do not and shall not:
(a) violate,
in any material respect, any Law applicable to the Saltville
Companies or require of the Saltville Companies any filing with,
consent, approval or authorization of, or notice to, any
Governmental Authority;
(b) violate
any Organizational Document of the Saltville Companies; or
(c)
(i) breach any Material Contract, (ii) result in the
termination of any such Material Contract, (iii) result in the
creation of any Lien under any Material Contract or
(iv) constitute an event which, after notice or lapse of time
or both, would result in any such breach, termination or creation
of a Lien.
Section 4.4
Subsidiaries . The Saltville Companies do not own any
equity interests in any Person.
Section 4.5
Financial Statements; Records; Undisclosed
Liabilities.
(a)
Schedule 4.5 sets forth true and complete copies of the
standalone unaudited pro forma balance sheets of each Saltville
Company and the consolidated unaudited pro forma balance sheet of
the Saltville Companies with the adjustments set forth on
Schedule 4.5 , in each case as of the Balance Sheet
Date (such sheets being the “ Financial
Statements ”). The Financial Statements have been
prepared in accordance with GAAP, in each case except as otherwise
stated in the footnotes and except for normal year-end adjustments
and the absence of footnote disclosure, and present fairly in
accordance with GAAP, in all material respects, the financial
position of the Saltville Companies as of such date.
(b) All
liabilities of the Saltville Companies that are required by GAAP to
be reflected or reserved against in the Financial Statements have
been so reflected or reserved against in the Financial
Statements.
Section 4.6
Absence of Certain Changes . Except as disclosed on
Schedule 4.6 , from the Balance Sheet Date,
(a) there has not been any Material Adverse Effect on the
Saltville Companies, (b) the Business of the Saltville
Companies has been conducted, in all material respects, only in the
ordinary course consistent with past practices, and (c) there
has been no damage, destruction or loss to the assets or properties
of the Saltville Companies which could reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect on the Saltville Companies.
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Section 4.7
Contracts .
(a)
Schedule 4.7(a) contains a true and complete listing of
the following Contracts to which any of the Saltville Companies is
a party (such Contracts that are required to be listed on
Schedule 4.7(a) being “ Material
Contracts ”):
(i) each
Contract for the transportation or storage of gas;
(ii) each
Contract for Indebtedness for Borrowed Money except for any that
will be cancelled prior to Closing;
(iii) each
Contract involving a remaining commitment by a Saltville Company to
pay capital expenditures in excess of $50,000;
(iv) each
Contract for lease of personal property involving payments in
excess of $50,000 in any calendar year;
(v) each
Contract between SE Transmission, MLP GP or an Affiliate of either
(other than any of the Saltville Companies) on the one hand, and
any of the Saltville Companies, on the other hand, which will
survive the Closing;
(vi) each
Contract that provides for a limit on the ability of a Saltville
Company to compete in any line of business or with any Person or in
any geographic area during any period of time after the
Closing;
(vii) except
for Contracts of the nature described in clauses (ii) through
(vi) above, any Contract for the purchase of materials,
supplies, goods, services, equipment or other assets that provides
for aggregate payments by a Saltville Company of $50,000 or more in
any 12 month period;
(viii) any
partnership or joint venture agreement (other than the
Organizational Documents of the Saltville Companies);
(ix) any
Contract pursuant to which any third party has rights to own or use
any material asset of a Saltville Company, including any
Intellectual Property right of a Saltville Company, other than
pursuant to Contracts entered into by the Saltville Companies with
such third parties in the ordinary course of business; and
(x) any
Contract relating to the
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