Exhibit 10.7
CONTRIBUTION, CONVEYANCE AND
ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT
This Contribution and Assumption
Agreement, dated as of December 18, 2006 (this “
Contribution Agreement ”), is by and among Atlas
America, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Atlas America
”), Atlas Energy Resources, LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company (“ Atlas Energy ”), and Atlas Energy
Operating Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
(“ Energy Operating ”). The above-named entities
are sometimes referred to in this Contribution Agreement each as a
“ Party ” and collectively as the “
Parties .”
W I T N E S S E T
H :
WHEREAS , Atlas America currently wholly owns the
subsidiaries listed on Schedule 1 hereto (collectively, the
“ Subsidiaries ”) and the assets described on
Schedule 2 hereto (collectively, the “ Assets
”) representing Atlas America’s natural gas and oil
exploration, development, operation, maintenance and production
business (the “ Business ”);
WHEREAS , Atlas America has formed Atlas Energy pursuant
to the Delaware LLC Act for the purpose of acquiring, owning and
operating the Business;
WHEREAS , in order to accomplish the objectives and
purposes in the preceding recital, the following actions have been
taken prior to the date hereof (the “ Pre-Closing
Actions ”):
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1.
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Atlas
Resources, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation, merged with and into
Atlas Resources, LLC, a Pennsylvania limited liability
company;
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2.
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Atlas Energy
Corporation, an Ohio corporation, merged with and into Atlas Energy
Ohio, LLC, an Ohio limited liability company;
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3.
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Viking
Resources Corporation, a Pennsylvania corporation, merged with and
into Viking Resources, LLC, a Pennsylvania limited liability
company;
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4.
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REI-NY, Inc., a
Delaware corporation, was converted into REI-NY, LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company;
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5.
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Resource Well
Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation, was converted into Resource
Well Services, LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company;
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6.
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AIC, Inc., a
Delaware corporation, was converted into AIC, LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company;
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7.
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Resource
Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation, was converted into and
Resource Energy, LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company;
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8.
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Atlas Noble
Corp., a Delaware corporation, was converted into Atlas Noble, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company;
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9.
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Atlas America,
Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation, merged with and into Atlas
America, LLC, a Pennsylvania limited liability company;
and
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10.
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Energy
Operating formed AER Pipeline Construction, Inc., a Delaware
corporation;
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WHEREAS , Atlas America and certain of the Subsidiaries
are parties to the Gathering Agreement (as defined in Article I)
and Atlas America has agreed to assume certain obligations of those
Subsidiaries thereunder;
WHEREAS , concurrently with the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby, each of the following shall
occur:
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1.
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Atlas America
will contribute the Assets and its 100% interest in each of the
Subsidiaries (the “ Equity Interests ”) to
Energy Operating in exchange for (a) 30,361,746 common units
(“ Common Units ”), (b) 748,456
Class A units (the “ Class A Units ”),
(c) the management incentive interests (the “
Management Incentive Interests ”), and (d) the
right to receive $121,730,000, in part as a reimbursement of
certain capital expenditures incurred with respect to the Assets
and Subsidiaries;
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2.
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Atlas America
will transfer to Atlas Energy Management, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (“ Atlas Management ”), all of the
Class A Units and the Management Incentive
Interests;
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3.
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In connection
with the Offering, the public, through the Underwriters, will
contribute $132,825,000 in cash to Atlas Energy less the
Underwriters’ discounts and commissions of $8,298,400 (the
“ Spread ”) and a structuring fee of $996,187 in
exchange for 6,325,000 Common Units;
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4.
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Atlas Energy
will pay transaction expenses pursuant to the transactions
contemplated by this Contribution Agreement in the amount of
approximately $1.8 million (exclusive of the Spread and the
structuring fee), and distribute $121,730,000 to Atlas America;
and
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5.
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In connection
with the Underwriters exercise of their over-allotment option, the
public, through the Underwriters, will contribute an additional
$19,923,750 in cash to Atlas Energy less the Spread of $1,244,760
and a structuring fee of $149,428 in exchange for 948,750 Common
Units and the Company will use the net proceeds to redeem Common
Units from Atlas America;
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NOW , THEREFORE , in consideration of the
mutual covenants, representations, warranties and agreements herein
contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1
Capitalized terms used herein and
not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed to them
below:
“ APL ” means
Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership.
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“ Atlas America
Entities ” means Atlas America and any Person controlled,
directly or indirectly, by Atlas America, other than Atlas Energy,
Energy Operating and any subsidiary of any such Person.
“ Atlas Energy Group
” means Atlas Energy, Energy Operating and any subsidiary of
any such Person, treated as a single consolidated entity, and each
Investment Program.
“ Atlas Energy Assets
” means the Transferred Assets and any assets and properties
owned or leased by any member of the Atlas Energy Group.
“ Authority ”
means (i) the United States of America, (ii) any state,
province, county, municipality or other governmental subdivision
within the United States of America, (iii) any court or any
governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency or other
instrumentality of the United States of America, or of any state,
province, county, municipality or other governmental subdivision
within the United States of America and (iv) the National
Association of Securities Dealers.
“ Business Day ”
means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or any other day when
banks are not open for business generally in the State of
Delaware.
“ Closing ” means
the closing of the transactions contemplated pursuant to this
Contribution Agreement.
“ Closing Date ”
means the date of Closing.
“ Delaware LLC Act
” means the Limited Liability Company Act of the State of
Delaware, as amended and any successor to such act.
“ Gathering Agreement
” means the Master Natural Gas Gathering Agreement dated as
of February 2, 2000 among Atlas America, Resource Energy, LLC
(formerly Resource Energy, Inc.), Viking Resources, LLC (formerly
Viking Resources Corporation) and APL, as amended from time to
time.
“ Investment Program
” means a Person principally engaged in the drilling of
natural gas and oil wells for which Atlas America or any of the
Subsidiaries or any of their subsidiaries acts as a general
partner, managing partner or manager and the securities of which
have been offered and sold to investors.
“ Offering ”
means the initial public offering of the Common Units contemplated
by the Registration Statement.
“ Operating Agreement
” means the Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Atlas
Energy dated of even date herewith by and among Atlas America, Inc.
and the members party thereto, as amended from time to
time.
“ Person ” means
an individual, corporation, partnership (limited or general),
limited liability company, trust, joint stock company,
unincorporated association or other legal entity.
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“ Registration
Statement ” means the registration statement on Form S-1
filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission by Atlas
Energy (File No. 333-136094).
“ Toxic Tort ”
means a claim or cause of action arising from personal injury or
property damage incurred by the plaintiff that is alleged to have
been caused by exposure to, or contamination by, Hazardous
Substances that have been released into the environment by or as a
result of the actions or omissions of the defendant.
“ Underwriters ”
means those of the underwriting syndicate as referenced in the
Underwriting Agreement between UBS Securities LLC, as
representative of the Underwriters, and Atlas Energy, dated as of
December 12, 2006.
ARTICLE II
CONTRIBUTION AND DISTRIBUTION
TRANSACTIONS
Section 2.1 Contribution
by Atlas America to Energy Operating .
(a) Contribution . Atlas
America hereby grants, contributes, conveys, bargains, assigns,
transfers, sets over and delivers to Energy Operating, its
successors and assigns, for its and their own use forever, all
right, title and interest of Atlas America in and to all of the
Assets and all of the Equity Interests (together with the Assets,
the “ Transferred Assets ”), subject to
encumbrances that do not materially adversely affect the value of
the Transferred Assets or the ability of the Atlas Energy Group to
own and operate the Transferred Assets in substantially the same
manner as they were operated immediately prior to the Closing Date,
in exchange for (i) 30,301,746 Common Units, (ii) 748,456
Class A Units, (iii) the Management Incentive Interests
and (iv) the right to receive $121,730,000, in part as a
reimbursement of certain capital expenditures made with respect to
the Transferred Assets.
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD all of such
right, title and interest in the Transferred Assets unto Energy
Operating, its successors and assigned, together with all and
singular rights and appurtenances thereto in anywise belonging,
subject, however, to the terms and conditions stated in this
Contribution Agreement, and in such instruments of conveyance
forever.
(b) Assumed Liabilities .
Subject to Section 2.1(c), Energy Operating hereby irrevocably
and absolutely assumes, agrees to perform, and when due, pay and
discharge, only the obligations and liabilities relating to the
Transferred Assets which accrue on or after the Closing Date and
only to the extent such obligations and liabilities are not overdue
or delinquent on the Closing Date without regard to any grace
period and without the occurrence of any increase in amounts due
(the “ Assumed Liabilities ”); provided ,
however , that said assumption and agreement to assume the
Assumed Liabilities shall not (i) increase the obligation of
Energy Operating with respect to the Assumed Liabilities beyond
that of Atlas America, (ii) waive any valid defense that was
available to Atlas America with respect to the Assumed Liabilities
or (iii) enlarge any rights or remedies of any third party
under any of the Assumed Liabilities.
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(c) Prorations . All
obligations and liabilities assumed by Energy Operating under this
Contribution Agreement that relate to both periods of time prior to
the Closing Date and periods of time from and after the Closing
Date shall be prorated as of the close of business on the Closing
Date, whether or not such adjustment would normally be made as of
such time. It is the intention of the Parties that Energy Operating
should operate the Business and the Transferred Assets for its own
account from and after the Closing Date.
Section 2.2 Contribution
by Atlas America to Atlas Management . Atlas America hereby grants, contributes,
conveys, bargains, assigns, transfers, sets over and delivers to
Atlas Management, its successors and assigns, for its and their own
use forever, all right, title and interest of Atlas America in and
to (i) 748,456 Class A Units and (ii) the Management
Incentive Interests.
Section 2.3 General
Provisions Relating to Assumption of Liabilities.
Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained in this Agreement including the terms and
provisions of this Article II, none of the Parties shall be deemed
to have assumed, and none of the Transferred Assets have been or
are being contributed subject to, (a) any liens or security
interests securing consensual indebtedness covering any of the
Transferred Assets, except for encumbrances permitted by this
Contribution Agreement, and all such liens and security interests
shall be deemed to be excluded from the assumptions of liabilities
made under this Article II or (b) any of the liabilities
covered by the indemnities set forth in this Contribution Agreement
to the extent such liabilities are covered by such indemnities, and
all such liabilities shall be deemed to be excluded from the
assumptions of liabilities made under this Article II to the extent
that such liabilities are covered by such indemnities.
Section 2.4 Public Cash
Contribution . The
Parties acknowledge a capital contribution by the public through
the Underwriters to Atlas Energy of $132,825,000 in cash
($123,530,413 after the Spread of $8,298,400 and the structuring
fee of $996,187) in exchange for 6,325,000 Common Units.
Section 2.5 Specific
Conveyances. To
further evidence the contributions and conveyances of the
Transferred Assets, each party making such contribution and
conveyances may have executed and delivered to the party receiving
such contribution certain conveyance, assignment and bill of sale
instruments (the “ Specific Conveyances ”). The
Specific Conveyances shall evidence and perfect such sale and
contribution made by this Contribution Agreement and shall not
constitute a second conveyance of any assets or interests therein
and shall be subject to the terms of this Contribution
Agreement.
Section 2.6 Payment of
Transaction Expenses by Atlas Energy . The Parties acknowledge (a) the payment
by Atlas Energy, in connection with the transactions contemplated
hereby, of estimated transaction expenses in the amount of $1.8
million (exclusive of the Spread and the structuring fee) and
(b) the distribution by Atlas Energy of $121,730,000 to Atlas
America, in part as a reimbursement of certain capital expenditures
incurred with respect to the Transferred Assets.
Section 2.7 Issuance of
New Certificates . At
the Closing, Atlas Energy shall issue to each of Atlas America and
Atlas Management a certificate or certificates, which may be held
in
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book entry form, representing the number of
Common Units and Class A Units to be issued to each of them
pursuant to this Article II. Each such certificate shall be
registered in the name of the Person or Persons specified by the
recipient thereof to Atlas Energy in writing at least two Business
Days prior to the Closing.
Section 2.8 Certificate
Legends . The
certificates evidencing the Common Units and Class A Units
shall bear a legend substantially in the form set forth below and
containing such other information as Atlas Energy may deem
necessary or appropriate:
T HE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED , OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS , AND NEITHER THE SECURITIES NOR ANY INTEREST THEREIN MAY BE OFFERED , SOLD , TRANSFERRED , PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER SUCH ACT AND SUCH LAWS OR PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION THEREFROM WHICH , IN THE OPINION OF COUNSEL FOR THE HOLDER , WHICH COUNSEL AND OPINION ARE REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO COUNSEL FOR THIS COMPANY , IS AVAILABLE .
ARTICLE III
GATHERING
AGREEMENT
Section 3.1 Assumption of
Obligations by Atlas America . Atlas America hereby expressly assumes, for
itself and its successors and assigns, the obligations of each of
the Atlas Energy, Energy Operating and the Subsidiaries, as they
may appear, to timely pay gathering fees to APL under Article 7 and
8 of the Gathering Agreement accruing from and after the Closing
Date and agrees to keep, perform and observe all of the covenants
and conditions contained therein on the part of any of them to be
kept, performed and observed from and after the Closing Date.
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Section 3.2 Assignment by
Atlas Energy . Each
of Atlas Energy and Energy Operating, on their own behalf and on
behalf of the Subsidiaries, hereby irrevocably assigns, sets over,
transfers and conveys to Atlas America all of the right, title and
interest of any of them in and to all of the gathering fees
(i) accruing to any of them from the Investment Programs or
(ii) attributable to the production interest of Atlas Energy,
Energy Operating or any of the Subsidiaries for gas gathered from
and after the Closing Date pursuant to the Gathering Agreement (the
“ Assigned Amounts ”). Each of Atlas Energy and
Energy Operating shall pay, and shall cause each of the
Subsidiaries to pay, the Assigned Amounts to Atlas America within
15 Business Days after the end of the month in which received by
them.
ARTICLE IV
ADDITIONAL
TRANSACTIONS
Section 4.1
Over-Allotment Option . The Parties acknowledge that the Underwriters
exercised their option to purchase additional Common Units (the
“ Option ”) in whole and that the public,
through the Underwriters, contributed additional cash of
$19,923,750 in cash
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($18,529,562 after the Spread of $1,244,760 and
the structuring fee of $149,428) to Atlas Energy in exchange for an
additional 948,750 Common Units.
Section 4.2 Redemption of
Common Units by Atlas Energy . The Parties acknowledge that Atlas Energy will
use the net proceeds from the issuance of the additional Common
Units pursuant to the exercise of the Option to redeem 948,750
Common Units from Atlas America at a redemption price equal to the
same net price received by Atlas Energy from the
Underwriters.
ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES
Section 5.1
Representations and Warranties of Atlas America
. Atlas America hereby represents
and warrants to Atlas Energy and Energy Operating as follows as of
the date of this Contribution Agreement:
(a) Status of Atlas America .
Atlas America has been duly incorporated and is validly existing
and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with
all corporate power and authority necessary to own or hold its
properties and conduct the businesses in which it is engaged and to
execute and deliver this Contribution Agreement and to consummate
the transactions contemplated hereby.
(b) Title to Subsidiaries .
Atlas America owns 100% of the issued and outstanding equity
interests in the Subsidiaries; the Subsidiaries own 100% of the
issued and outstanding equity interests in their subsidiaries as
set forth on Schedule 1 ; and all such equity interests have
been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the
charter documents of the relevant entity, and Atlas America and the
Subsidiaries own their respective equity interests free and clear
of all liens, claims, options, charges, encumbrances or
restrictions of any kind. There are no outstanding warrants,
options, agreements, convertible or exchangeable securities,
phantom stock or other commitments pursuant to which any Subsidiary
or any of their subsidiaries is or may become obligated to issue,
sell, purchase, return or redeem any shares of capital stock or
other securities and no equity securities of any Subsidiary or any
of their subsidiaries are reserved for issuance for any
purpose.
(c) Corporate
Action/Enforceability . All corporate action required to be
taken by Atlas America or any of its securityholders for the
authorization, execution and delivery of this Contribution
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by
this Contribution Agreement and the Pre-Closing Actions have been
validly taken. This Contribution Agreement constitutes the valid
and binding obligations of Atlas America, enforceable in accordance
with its terms except as such enforceability may be limited by
applicable bankruptcy or other similar laws affecting the rights
and remedies of creditors generally as well as by general
principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
(d) Conflicts . None of the
(i) the execution, delivery and performance of this
Contribution Agreement by Atlas America, or (ii) consummation
of the transactions
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contemplated hereby and the
Pre-Closing Actions by Atlas America (A) conflicts or will
conflict with or constitutes or will constitute a violation of
Atlas America’s or any member of the Atlas Energy
Group’s certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other
organizational documents, (B) conflicts or will conflict with
or constitutes or will constitute a breach or violation of, or a
default (or an event that, with notice or lapse of time or both,
would constitute such a default) under, any indenture, mortgage,
deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or
instrument to which Atlas America or any member of the Atlas Energy
Group is a party or by which Atlas America’s or any member of
the Atlas Energy Group’s properties may be bound,
(C) violates or will violate any statute, law or regulation or
any order, judgment, decree or injunction of any Authority having
jurisdiction over Atlas America or any member of the Atlas Energy
Group or any of their respective properties or assets, or
(D) results or will result in the creation or imposition of
any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of
Atlas America or any member of the Atlas Energy Group, which
conflicts, breaches, violations, defaults or liens, in the case of
clauses (B) or (D), would, individually or in the aggregate,
have a material adverse effect on (i) the transactions
contemplated hereby or (ii) the ownership and use by Atlas
Energy, Energy Operating and the Subsidiaries of the Atlas Energy
Assets at or after the Closing Date (a “ Material Adverse
Effect ”).
(e) Consents . No permit,
consent, approval, authorization, order, registration, filing or
qualification of or with any Authority having jurisdiction over
Atlas America, any member of the Atlas Energy Group or any of their
respective properties or by any other third party is required in
connection with (i) the execution, delivery and performance of
this Contribution Agreement by Atlas America, or (ii) the
consummation by Atlas America of the transactions contemplated by
this Contribution Agreement and the Pre-Closing Actions, except for
such consents that have been obtained or as to which the lack
thereof is not reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
(f) Title to Property . Upon
Closing, one or more members of Atlas Energy Group will
have:
(i)(A) good and defensible title to
the producing oil and gas property interests (including the wells
and the working and net revenue interests attributable thereto)
(the “ Wells ”) included in the Atlas America
reserve report, dated March 31, 2006, included in Registration
Statement (the “ Reserve Report ”), subject only
to encumbrances that do not materially adversely affect the value
of such oil and gas property interests or the ability of the Atlas
Energy Group to operate such oil and gas property interests in
substantially the same manner as they were operated immediately
prior to the Closing Date and (B) good and defensible title to
each oil and gas lease as to which proved undeveloped reserves were
included in the Reserve Report (the “ Leases ”),
subject only to encumbrances that do not materially adversely
affect the value of any such Lease or, in the event that the Atlas
Energy Group does not have good and defensible title to
such