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Exhibit 2.1
EXECUTION COPY
SEPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
by and between
DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION
and
SPECTRA ENERGY CORP
Dated as of December 13, 2006
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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i
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ARTICLE VI CONTINGENT GAINS AND LIABILITIES AND
UNALLOCATED ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
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ii
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Miscellaneous
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Schedule 1.1(14)
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Campeche Companies
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Schedule 1.1(48)
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Schedule 1.1(57)
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Schedule 1.1(58)
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Schedule 1.1(59)
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Schedule 1.1(60)
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Schedule 1.1(66)(v)
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Schedule 1.1(66)(viii)(A)
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Schedule 1.1(68)(vi)
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Schedule 1.1(69)(i)
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Schedule 1.1(69)(v)
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Schedule 1.1(69)(vii)
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Schedule 1.1(69)(viii)
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iii
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Schedule 1.1(69)(ii)(A)
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Liabilities Not Considered Gas
Liabilities
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Schedule 1.1(104)(a)
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Schedule 1.1(104)(b)
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Schedule 1.1(109)(vii)
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Schedule 1.1(109)(xi)(A)
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Schedule 1.1(111)(vi)
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Schedule 1.1(112)(i)
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Schedule 1.1(112)(v)
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Schedule 1.1(112)(vi)
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Schedule 1.1(112)(ix)
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Schedule 1.1(112)(x)(A)
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Schedule 1.1(129)
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Schedule 1.1(146)(iii)
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Schedule 2.4(b)
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Schedule 2.5(a)
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Schedule 2.5(b)
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Schedule 2.6(b)
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Schedule 2.11(a)
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Schedule 2.11(b)
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Schedule 4.5(e)
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Schedule 5.2(d)
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Schedule 11.5(b)
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Form of Employee Matters Agreement
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iv
SEPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION
AGREEMENT
THIS SEPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT (this "
Agreement "), is entered into as of December 13, 2006,
by and between Duke Energy Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("
Duke Energy "), and Spectra Energy Corp (f/k/a Gas SpinCo,
Inc.), a Delaware corporation (" Spectra Energy "), each a "
Party " and together, the " Parties ".
R E C I T
A L S :
WHEREAS, Duke Energy, acting through its direct and indirect
Subsidiaries, currently conducts a number of businesses, including
(i) the Gas Business, and (ii) the Power Business;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Duke Energy has determined
that it is appropriate, desirable and in the best interests of Duke
Energy and its stockholders to separate Duke Energy into two
separate, independent and publicly traded companies: (i) one
comprising the Gas Business, which shall be owned and conducted,
directly or indirectly, by Spectra Energy, and (ii) one
comprising the Power Business which shall continue to be owned and
conducted, directly or indirectly, by Duke Energy;
WHEREAS, in order to effect such separation, the Board of
Directors of Duke Energy has determined that it is appropriate,
desirable and in the best interests of Duke Energy and its
stockholders: (i) to enter into a series of transactions
whereby certain assets of Duke Energy and its Affiliates will be
reorganized such that (A) Duke Energy and/or one or more other
members of the Duke Energy Group will, collectively, own all of the
Power Assets and assume (or retain) all of the Power Liabilities,
and (B) Spectra Energy and/or one or more other members of the
Spectra Energy Group will, collectively, own all of the Gas Assets
and assume (or retain) all of the Gas Liabilities; and thereafter
(ii) for Duke Energy to distribute to the holders of Duke
Energy Common Stock on such record date as may be established by
the Board of Directors of Duke Energy on a pro rata basis (in each
case without consideration being paid by such stockholders) all of
the issued and outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.001
per share, of Spectra Energy (the " Spectra Energy Common
Stock ") (such transactions, as may be amended or modified in
accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions of this
Agreement from time to time, the " Separation ");
WHEREAS, Duke Energy and Spectra Energy have determined that it
is necessary and desirable, on or prior to the Effective Time, to
allocate, transfer, retain or assign to the Spectra Energy Group
the Gas Assets and Gas Liabilities, and to allocate, transfer,
retain or assign to the Duke Energy Group the Power Assets and
Power Liabilities;
WHEREAS, the Parties intend that Drop Down 1, Drop Down 2, Drop
Down 3, and Drop Down 4 will each qualify under Section 351(a)
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the " Code
");
WHEREAS, the Parties intend that the Internal Contributions, the
Internal Distributions, the Contribution and the Distribution will
qualify under Sections 355 and
368(a)(1)(D) of the Code, and that this Agreement
is intended to be, and is hereby adopted as, a plan of
reorganization under Section 368 of the Code; and
WHEREAS, this Agreement sets forth the plans of reorganization
and the process by which the Power Business and Gas Business will
be reorganized and separated and, thereafter, all of the issued and
outstanding shares of Spectra Energy Common Stock will be
distributed to the holders of Duke Energy Common Stock;
WHEREAS, each of Duke Energy and Spectra Energy has determined
that it is necessary and desirable to set forth the principal
corporate transactions required to affect the reorganization, the
Separation and the Distribution and to provide for other agreements
that will govern certain other matters following the Effective
Time.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual
agreements, provisions and covenants contained in this Agreement,
the Parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
Section 1.1. General . As used in this Agreement, the
following capitalized terms shall have the following meanings:
(1) " Action " shall mean any demand, action, claim,
charge, suit, countersuit, arbitration, inquiry, subpoena,
proceeding or investigation by or before any Governmental Entity or
any arbitration or mediation tribunal.
(2) " Affiliate " shall mean, when used with respect to a
specified Person, a Person that directly or indirectly, through one
or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under
common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this
definition and Section 1.1(134) , "control", when used
with respect to any specified Person, shall mean 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 or other interests, by
Contract or otherwise.
(3) " Agent " shall mean the Bank of New York, N.A.
(4) " Agreement " shall have the meaning set forth in the
preamble hereof.
(5) " Agreement Disputes " shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 9.1 .
(6) " Allocated Percentage " means the Duke Energy
Percentage or the Spectra Energy Percentage, as the case may
be.
(7) " Amended Financial Reports " shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 5.3(b) .
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(8) " Ancillary Agreements " shall mean
all of the written Contracts, instruments, assignments or other
arrangements (other than this Agreement) entered into in connection
with the transactions contemplated hereby, including the
Conveyancing and Assumption Instruments, the Tax Matters Agreement,
the Transition Services Agreement, the Employee Matters Agreement,
and the 100% Quota Share Reinsurance Agreements.
(9) " Assets " shall mean assets, properties, claims and
rights (including goodwill), wherever located (including in the
possession of vendors or other third parties or elsewhere), of
every kind, character and description, whether real, personal or
mixed, tangible, intangible or contingent, in each case whether or
not recorded or reflected or required to be recorded or reflected
on the Records or financial statements of any Person, including
(but not limited to) the following:
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(i) all accounting and other legal and business books, records,
ledgers and files whether printed, electronic or written;
(ii) all apparatuses, computers and other electronic data
processing and communications equipment, fixtures, machinery,
rolling stock, equipment, furniture, office equipment, automobiles,
trucks, aircraft and other transportation equipment, special and
general tools, test devices, prototypes and models and other
tangible personal property;
(iii) all inventories of products, goods, materials, parts, raw
materials and supplies;
(iv) all interests in real property of whatever nature,
including easements, whether as owner, mortgagee or holder of a
Security Interest in real property, lessor, sublessor, lessee,
sublessee or otherwise;
(v) all interests in any capital stock or other equity interests
of any Subsidiary or any other Person, all bonds, notes, debentures
or other securities issued by any Subsidiary or any other Person,
all loans, advances or other extensions of credit or capital
contributions to any Subsidiary or any other Person and all other
investments in securities of any Person;
(vi) all licenses, Contracts, leases of personal property, open
purchase orders for raw materials, supplies, parts or services,
unfilled orders for the manufacture and sale of products and other
Contracts or commitments;
(vii) all deposits, letters of credit and performance and surety
bonds;
(viii) all written (including in electronic form) technical
information, data, specifications, research and development
information, engineering drawings and specifications, operating and
maintenance manuals, and materials and analyses prepared by
consultants and other third parties;
(ix) all Intellectual Property;
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(x) all Software;
(xi) all cost information, sales and pricing data, customer
prospect lists, supplier records, customer and supplier lists,
customer and vendor data, correspondence and lists, product data
and literature, artwork, design, development and business process
files and data, vendor and customer drawings, specifications,
quality records and reports and other books, records, studies,
surveys, reports, plans and documents;
(xii) all prepaid expenses, trade accounts and other accounts
and notes receivables;
(xiii) all rights under Contracts, all claims or rights against
any Person, chooses in action or similar rights whether sounding in
tort, contract or otherwise, whether accrued or contingent;
(xiv) all rights under insurance policies and all rights in the
nature of insurance, indemnification or contribution;
(xv) all licenses, permits, approvals and authorizations which
have been issued by any Governmental Entity;
(xvi) all cash or cash equivalents, bank accounts, brokerage
accounts, lock boxes and other deposit arrangements; and
(xvii) all interest rate, currency, commodity or other swap,
collar, cap or other hedging or similar Contracts or
arrangements.
(10) " Audited Party " shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 5.3(b) .
(11) " Business " shall mean the Gas Business or the
Power Business, as applicable.
(12) " Business Day " means any day that is not a
Saturday, a Sunday or any other day on which banks are required or
authorized by Law to be closed in New York, New York.
(13) " Business Entity " shall mean any corporation,
partnership, limited liability company or other entity which may
legally hold title to Assets.
(14) "Campeche Companies" shall mean the business, assets
and liabilities of Compania de Servicios de Compression de
Campeche, S.A. de C.V. and the related entities set forth on
Schedule 1.1(14) .
(15) " Captive Gas Policies " shall mean all Policies,
whether or not in force at the Effective Time, issued by the
Captive Insurers, which cover risks pertaining solely to Spectra
Energy and/or any other member of the Spectra Energy Group.
(16) " Captive Insurers " shall mean any or all of the
following insurance companies: Bison Insurance Company Limited,
NorthSouth Insurance Company Limited, Cinergy Risk Solutions Ltd.,
and Westcoast Indemnity Company Limited.
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(17) " Captive Power Policies " shall mean
all Policies, whether or not in force at the Effective Time, issued
by the Captive Insurers, which cover risks pertaining solely to
Duke Energy and/or any other member of the Duke Energy
Group.
(18) " Claims Administration " shall mean the
administration of claims made under the Third Party Shared
Policies, including the reporting of claims to the unaffiliated,
third-party insurance carriers that issued the Third Party Shared
Policies, management and defense of such claims, negotiating the
resolution of such claims, and providing for appropriate releases
upon settlement of such claims.
(19) " Code " shall have the meaning set forth in the
recitals hereto.
(20) " Commission " shall mean the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency
thereto.
(21) " Confidential Business Information " shall mean all
information, data or material other than Confidential Operational
Information, including (i) earnings reports and forecasts,
(ii) macro-economic reports and forecasts, (iii) business
and strategic plans, (iv) general market evaluations and
surveys, (v) litigation presentations and risk assessments,
(vi) budgets, and (vii) financing and credit-related
information.
(22) " Confidential Information " shall mean Confidential
Business Information and Confidential Operational Information
concerning a Party and/or its Subsidiaries which, prior to or
following the Effective Time, has been disclosed by a Party or its
Subsidiaries to the other Party or its Subsidiaries, in written,
oral (including by recording), electronic, or visual form to, or
otherwise has come into the possession of, the other, including
pursuant to the access provisions of Section 8.1 or
Section 8.2 or any other provision of this Agreement or
any Ancillary Agreement (except to the extent that such information
can be shown to have been (i) in the public domain through no
action of such Party or its Subsidiaries or (ii) lawfully
acquired from other sources by such Party or its Subsidiaries to
which it was furnished; provided , however , in the
case of clause (ii) that, to the furnished Party’s
knowledge, such sources did not provide such information in breach
of any confidentiality obligations).
(23) " Confidential Operational Information " shall mean
all operational information, data or material including
(i) specifications, ideas and concepts for products and
services, (ii) quality assurance policies, procedures and
specifications, (iii) customer information,
(iv) Software, (v) training materials and information,
and (vi) all other know-how, methodology, procedures,
techniques and trade secrets related to design, development and
operational processes.
(24) " Consents " shall mean any consents, waivers or
approvals from, or notification requirements to, any Person other
than a Governmental Entity.
(25) " Contingent Claim Committee " means a committee
that shall be established in accordance with
Section 6.4 .
(26) " Contingent Gain " means any claim or other right,
other than claims or rights related to Taxes (which are governed by
the Tax Matters Agreement), of Duke Energy, Spectra
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Energy or any of their respective Affiliates,
whenever arising, against any Person other than Duke Energy or
Spectra Energy, or any of their respective Affiliates, if and to
the extent that:
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(i) such claim or other right has accrued as of the Effective
Time (based on then existing Law); and
(ii) the existence or scope of the obligation of such other
Person as of the Effective Time with respect to such claim or other
right was not acknowledged, fixed or determined due to a dispute or
other uncertainty as of the Effective Time or as a result of the
failure of such claim or other right to have been discovered or
asserted as of the Effective Time (it being understood that the
existence of any pending, threatened or contemplated Action (or any
contingent asset reflected in the consolidated financial statements
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as
applied in the U.S.) as of the Effective Time with respect to any
claim or other right shall not be sufficient for such claim or
other right to be considered acknowledged, fixed or
determined).
For purposes of this definition and Section 1.1(27)
, "accrued" shall mean that all of the elements necessary for the
assertion of a claim with respect to such matter shall have
occurred on or prior to the Effective Time, such that the claim,
had it been asserted in an Action on or prior to the Effective
Time, would not be dismissed by a court for lack of ripeness or
similar grounds.
The Parties agree that no claim or other right relating to,
arising out of or resulting from any obligation of any Person to
perform the executory portion of any Contract existing as of the
Effective Time shall be deemed to be a Contingent Gain.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of
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(A) any Insurance Proceeds, or
(B) any reversal of any litigation or other reserve for
accounting purposes
shall be deemed to be a Contingent Gain.
(27) " Contingent Liability " means any Liability, other
than Liabilities for Taxes (which are governed by the Tax Matters
Agreement), of Duke Energy, Spectra Energy or any of their
respective Affiliates, whenever arising, to any Person other than
Duke Energy, Spectra Energy, or any of their respective Affiliates,
if and to the extent that:
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(i) such Liability has accrued as of the Effective Time (based
on then existing Law); and
(ii) the existence or scope of the obligation of Duke Energy,
Spectra Energy, or any of their respective Affiliates as of the
Effective Time with respect to such Liability was not acknowledged,
fixed or determined due to a dispute or other uncertainty as of the
Effective Time or as a result of the failure of such Liability to
have been
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discovered or asserted as of the Effective Time
(it being understood that the existence of any Action pending,
threatened or contemplated or other reserve for accounting purposes
as of the Effective Time with respect to any Liability shall not be
sufficient for such Liability to be considered acknowledged, fixed
or determined).
The Parties agree that no Liability relating to, arising out of
or resulting from any obligation of any Person:
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(A) to perform the executory portion of any Contract existing as
of the Effective Time, or
(B) to satisfy any obligation under any Plan as of the Effective
Time,
shall be deemed to be a Contingent Liability.
(28) " Contract " shall mean any agreement, contract,
obligation, indenture, instrument, lease, license, promise,
arrangement, commitment or undertaking (whether written or oral and
whether express or implied).
(29) " Contribution " shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3.1 .
(30) " Conversion " shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3.1 .
(31) " Conveyancing and Assumption Instruments " shall
mean, collectively, the various Contracts and other documents
entered into and to be entered into to effect the transfer of
Assets and the assumption of Liabilities in the manner contemplated
by this Agreement or otherwise relating to, arising out of or
resulting from the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
(other than the Tax Matters Agreement, the Transition Services
Agreement, the Employee Matters Agreement, and the 100% Quota Share
Reinsurance Agreements), each of which shall be in such form and
dated as of such date as the Parties shall reasonably agree.
(32) " CPR " shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 9.3 .
(33) " D&O Tail Policies " shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 10.2(a).
(34) " Disclosure Documents " shall mean any registration
statement (including any registration statement on Form 10) filed
with the Commission prior to the Effective Time by or on behalf of
any Party or any of its Affiliates, and also includes any
information statement, prospectus, offering memorandum, offering
circular or similar disclosure document, whether or not filed with
the Commission or any other Governmental Entity, which offers for
sale or registers the transfer or distribution of any security of
such Party or any of its Affiliates in connection with the
Separation.
(35) " Dispute Notice " shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 9.1 .
(36) " Distribution " shall mean the distribution by Duke
Energy of all of the issued and outstanding shares of Spectra
Energy Common Stock to holders of record of shares of Duke Energy
Common Stock as of the Record Date on the basis of one-half (0.5)
share of Spectra Energy Common Stock for each issued and
outstanding share of Duke Energy Common Stock.
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(37) " Distribution Date " shall mean
January 2, 2007, or such later date as shall be determined by
the Board of Directors of Duke Energy to be the date on which the
Distribution shall occur.
(38) " Drop Down 1 " shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3.1 .
(39) " Drop Down 2 " shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3.1 .
(40) " Drop Down 3 " shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3.1 .
(41) " Drop Down 4 " shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3.1 .
(42) " Duke Capital Distribution " shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 3.1 .
(43) " Duke Energy " shall have the meaning set forth in
the preamble hereof.
(44) " Duke Energy Accounts " shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 2.5(a) .
(45) " Duke Energy Common Stock " shall mean the issued
and outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share,
of Duke Energy.
(46) "Duke Energy Disclosure " shall mean any form,
statement, schedule or other material (other than the Disclosure
Documents) filed with or furnished to
-
-
-
(A) the Commission,
(B) any other Governmental Entity, or
(C) holders of any securities of any member of the Duke Energy
Group,
on or after the Effective Time by or on behalf of any member of
the Duke Energy Group in connection with the registration, sale, or
distribution of securities or disclosure related thereto (including
periodic disclosure obligations).
(47) " Duke Energy Employee " shall have the meaning set
forth in the Employee Matters Agreement.
(48) " Duke Energy Group " shall mean Duke Energy and
each Person identified on Schedule 1.1(48) , and each Person
that is or becomes a Subsidiary of Duke Energy at or after the
Effective Time.
(49) " Duke Energy Indemnitees " shall mean each member
of the Duke Energy Group, and each of their respective directors,
officers, employees and agents and each of the heirs, executors,
successors and assigns of any of the foregoing.
8
(50) " Duke Energy Percentage " means
66-2/3% or, with respect to those matters listed or described on
Schedule 1.1(146)(iii) , the percentage allocated to Duke
Energy therein with respect to each specific item (if so
allocated).
(51) " Effective Time " shall mean 12:30 a.m., New York
City, New York time, on January 1, 2007.
(52) " Employee Matters Agreement " shall mean the
Employee Matters Agreement by and between Duke Energy and Spectra
Energy, dated as of the date hereof and substantially in the form
attached as Exhibit A hereto.
(53) " Exchangeable Share Reorganization " shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 2.12 .
(54) " Exchangeable Shares " shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 2.12 .
(55) " Exchangeco " shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2.12 .
(56) " Exchange Act " shall mean the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the
time that reference is made thereto.
(57) " Exclusive Duke Energy Contingent Gain " means any
Contingent Gain if such Contingent Gain primarily relates to the
Power Business, including the matters listed or described on
Schedule 1.1(57) , or if such Contingent Gain is expressly
assigned to Duke Energy pursuant to this Agreement or any Ancillary
Agreement.
(58) " Exclusive Duke Energy Contingent Liability " means
any Contingent Liability if such Contingent Liability primarily
relates to the Power Business, including the matters listed or
described on Schedule 1.1(58) , or if such Contingent
Liability is expressly assigned to Duke Energy pursuant to this
Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.
(59) " Exclusive Spectra Energy Contingent Gain " means
any Contingent Gain if such Contingent Gain primarily relates to
the Gas Business, including the matters listed or described on
Schedule 1.1(59) , or if such Contingent Gain is expressly
assigned to Spectra Energy pursuant to this Agreement or any
Ancillary Agreement.
(60) " Exclusive Spectra Energy Contingent Liability "
means any Contingent Liability if such Contingent Liability
primarily relates to the Gas Business, including the matters listed
or described on Schedule 1.1(60) , or if such Contingent
Liability is expressly assigned to Spectra Energy pursuant to this
Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.
(61) " Fiduciary Tail Policies " shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 10.2(b) .
(62) " Force Majeure " shall mean, with respect to a
Party, an event beyond the reasonable control of such Party (or any
Person acting on its behalf), which by its nature could not have
been foreseen by such Party (or such Person), or, if it could have
been foreseen, was unavoidable, and includes acts of God, storms,
floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, riots, pandemics,
9
fires, sabotage, strikes, lockouts, civil
commotion or civil unrest, interference by civil or military
authorities, acts of war (declared or undeclared) or armed
hostilities or other national or international calamity or one or
more acts of terrorism.
(63) " Form 10 " shall mean the registration statement on
Form 10 filed by Spectra Energy with the Commission in connection
with the Distribution and all amendments thereto.
(64) " Former Duke Energy Employee " shall have the
meaning set forth in the Employee Matters Agreement.
(65) " Former Spectra Energy Employee " shall have the
meaning set forth in the Employee Matters Agreement.
(66) " Gas Assets " shall mean:
-
(i) the ownership interests (to the extent held by Duke Energy,
Spectra Energy or any of their respective Affiliates immediately
prior to the Effective Time) in each member of the Spectra Energy
Group;
(ii) all Gas Contracts, any rights or claims of Duke Energy,
Spectra Energy, or any of their respective Affiliates, arising
thereunder, and any other rights or claims or contingent rights or
claims of Duke Energy, Spectra Energy, or any of their respective
Affiliates, primarily relating to or arising from any other Gas
Asset or the Gas Business;
(iii) all Assets owned, leased or held by Duke Energy, Spectra
Energy, or any of their respective Affiliates immediately prior to
the Effective Time that are used primarily in the Gas Business,
including inventory, accounts receivable, goodwill, and natural gas
collection, transmission, storage and field services plants,
pipelines, facilities and equipment;
(iv) subject to ARTICLE X , any rights of any member of
the Spectra Energy Group under any Captive Gas Policies, any Third
Party Gas Policies, and any Third Party Shared Policies to the
extent related to the Gas Business;
(v) the Assets listed or described on Schedule 1.1(66)(v)
and any and all Assets that are expressly contemplated by this
Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement as Assets to be retained by,
or assigned or transferred to, any member of the Spectra Energy
Group;
(vi) any Exclusive Spectra Energy Contingent Gain;
(vii) all Spectra Energy Accounts, and, subject to the
provisions of Section 2.5 , all cash, cash equivalents,
and securities on deposit in such accounts immediately prior to the
Effective Time; and
(viii) any collateral securing any Spectra Energy Liability
immediately prior to the Effective Time.
10
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-
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Gas Assets
shall not in any event include:
(A) the Assets listed or described on Schedule
1.1(66)(viii)(A) ; or
(B) any Assets that are expressly contemplated by this Agreement
or any Ancillary Agreement as Assets to be retained by, transferred
or assigned to, any member of the Duke Energy Group, including any
Exclusive Duke Energy Contingent Gain.
(67) " Gas Business " shall mean:
-
(i) the Natural Gas Transmission business unit of Duke Energy,
which does business primarily through Duke Energy Gas Transmission,
LLC, and includes businesses that provide transportation and
storage of natural gas for customers in the Eastern and Southeast
United States and in Canada that provide natural gas sales and
distribution service to retail customers in Ontario, Canada through
Union Gas Limited, and that provide natural gas gathering and
processing services to customers in Western Canada;
(ii) the Field Services business unit of Duke Energy, which does
business primarily through Duke Energy Field Services, LLC, a joint
venture with ConocoPhillips Inc. (in which Duke Energy indirectly
owns a 50% ownership interest), and includes businesses that
gather, compress, treat, process, transport, trade and market, and
store natural gas, and fractionate, transport, trade and market and
store natural gas liquids;
(iii) any other business, operations, or assets where such
business was conducted primarily through the use of the Gas Assets
or the PanEnergy Companies prior to the Effective Time, and
(iv) the businesses and operations of Business Entities acquired
or established by or for any member of the Spectra Energy Group
after the Effective Time;
provided , however , the Gas Business shall not
include (a) the retail distribution gas services business
conducted by Duke Energy Ohio, Inc. (f/k/a The Cincinnati
Gas & Electric Company) in southwestern Ohio and Duke
Energy Kentucky, Inc. (f/k/a The Union Light, Heat and Power
Company) in adjacent areas in Kentucky, (b) any operation,
business or asset expressly included in the Power Business pursuant
to this Agreement, or (c) the Campeche Companies.
(68) " Gas Contracts " shall mean the following Contracts
to which Duke Energy or any of its Affiliates is a party or by
which it or any of its Affiliates or any of their respective Assets
is bound, except for any such Contract or part thereof
(i) that is expressly contemplated not to be transferred or
assigned by any member of the Duke Energy Group to Spectra Energy,
or (ii) that is expressly contemplated to be transferred or
assigned to (or remain with) any member of the Duke Energy Group,
in each case, pursuant to any provision of this Agreement or any
Ancillary Agreement:
11
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-
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(i) any Contract entered into in the name of, or
expressly on behalf of, any division, business unit or member of
the Spectra Energy Group;
(ii) any Contract that relates primarily to the Gas
Business;
(iii) any Contract representing capital or operating equipment
lease obligations of facilities or equipment primarily used by any
member of the Spectra Energy Group;
(iv) any Contract or part thereof that is otherwise expressly
contemplated pursuant to this Agreement or any of the Ancillary
Agreements to be retained by, transferred or assigned to, any
member of the Spectra Energy Group;
(v) any guarantee, indemnity, representation or warranty of any
member of the Spectra Energy Group; and
(vi) the Contracts listed or described on Schedule
1.1(68)(vi) .
(69) " Gas Liabilities " shall mean:
-
(i) the Liabilities listed or described on Schedule
1.1(69)(i) and any and all Liabilities that are expressly
contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement as
Liabilities to be retained, assumed or retired by any member of the
Spectra Energy Group;
(ii) any and all Liabilities of Duke Energy, Spectra Energy, or
any of their respective Affiliates, primarily relating to, arising
out of or resulting from:
-
-
(A) the operation or conduct of the Gas Business, as conducted
at any time prior to, on or after the Effective Time (including any
Liability relating to, arising out of or resulting from any act or
failure to act by any director, officer, employee, agent or
representative of Duke Energy, Spectra Energy, or any of their
respective Affiliates (whether or not such act or failure to act is
or was within such Person’s authority));
(B) the operation or conduct of any business conducted by any
member of the Spectra Energy Group at any time after the Effective
Time (including any Liability relating to, arising out of or
resulting from any act or failure to act by any director, officer,
employee, agent or representative of Spectra Energy, or any of its
Affiliates after the Effective Time (whether or not such act or
failure to act is or was within such Person’s authority));
or
(C) the Gas Business or any Gas Assets, whether arising before,
on or after the Effective Time;
(iii) any and all Liabilities to the extent relating to, arising
out of or resulting from any terminated, discontinued or divested
Business Entity, business, real property, Asset or operation
formerly and primarily owned or managed by, or associated
12
-
with, any of the PanEnergy Companies, any other
member of the Spectra Energy Group or any of the Gas
Businesses;
(iv) any and all Liabilities (including under applicable federal
and state securities Laws) relating to, arising out of or resulting
from:
-
-
(A) the Disclosure Documents (including the Form 10 and the
Information Statement), except to the extent specifically
enumerated as a Power Liability in
Section 1.1(112)(iv)(A) ;
(B) any Pre-Separation Disclosure, but only to the extent such
Liabilities arise out of or result from matters related to
businesses, operations, assets or liabilities allocated to Spectra
Energy in the Separation pursuant to this Agreement; and
(C) any Spectra Energy Disclosure;
(v) any and all Liabilities, including those Liabilities listed
on Schedule 1.1(69)(v) , relating to, arising out of or
resulting from any Indebtedness (including debt securities and
asset-backed debt) of any member of the Spectra Energy Group
(whether incurred prior to, on or after the Effective Time);
(vi) any Exclusive Spectra Energy Contingent Liability;
(vii) any and all Liabilities of the guarantor under the
guarantees listed or described on Schedule 1.1(69)(vii)
;
(viii) any and all Liabilities relating to, resulting from, or
arising out of any Action listed or described on Schedule
1.1(69)(viii) ; and
(ix) any and all obligations of an insured Person under each
Third Party Gas Policy, each Third Party Shared Policy to the
extent related to or arising out of the Gas Business, and each
Captive Gas Policy.
-
-
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Gas Liabilities shall in any
event not include:
(A) any Liabilities that are expressly contemplated by this
Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement as Liabilities to be retained
or assumed by any member of the Duke Energy Group, including any
Liabilities set forth on Schedule 1.1(69)(ii)(A) ; and
(B) any Liabilities related or attributable to, or arising in
connection with, the employment, service, termination of employment
or termination of service of Spectra Energy Employees, which shall
be exclusively governed by the Employee Matters Agreement;
13
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-
-
(C) any Liabilities related or attributable to,
or arising in connection with, Taxes or Tax Returns, which shall be
exclusively governed by the Tax Matters Agreement; and
(D) any Liabilities of the guarantor under the guarantees listed
or described on Schedule 1.1(112)(ix) .
FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, NO LIABILITY SHALL BE A GAS
LIABILITY SOLELY AS A RESULT OF SPECTRA ENERGY OR ANY OTHER MEMBER
OF THE SPECTRA ENERGY GROUP BEING NAMED AS PARTY TO, OR IN, ANY
ACTION.
(70) " Governmental Approvals " shall mean any notices or
reports to be submitted to, or other filings to be made with, or
any consents, registrations, approvals, permits or authorizations
to be obtained from, any Governmental Entity.
(71) " Governmental Entity " shall mean any nation or
government, any state, municipality or other political subdivision
thereof and any entity, body, agency, commission, department,
board, bureau or court, whether domestic, foreign or multinational,
exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or
administrative functions of or pertaining to government and any
official thereof.
(72) " Group " shall mean either the Spectra Energy Group
or the Duke Energy Group.
(73) " Guaranty Release " shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 2.11(b) .
(74) " Indebtedness " shall mean (i) any
indebtedness for borrowed money or the deferred purchase price of
property as evidenced by a note, bonds or other instruments,
(ii) obligations as lessee under capital leases,
(iii) obligations secured by any mortgage, pledge, security
interest, encumbrance, lien or charge of any kind existing on any
asset owned or held by any Person, whether or not such Person has
assumed or become liable for the obligations secured thereby,
(iv) any obligation under any interest rate swap agreement,
(v) accounts payable, (vi) reimbursement obligations with
respect to surety and performance bonds or letters of credit, and
(vii) obligations under direct or indirect guarantees of
(including obligations, contingent or otherwise, to assure a
creditor against loss in respect of) indebtedness or obligations of
the kinds referred to in clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv),
(v) and (vi) above.
(75) " Indemnifiable Loss " and " Indemnifiable
Losses " shall mean any and all damages, losses, deficiencies,
Liabilities, obligations, penalties, judgments, settlements,
claims, payments, fines, interest, costs and expenses (including
internal costs provided for in Section 11.5(c) and the
costs and expenses of any and all Actions and demands, assessments,
judgments, settlements and compromises relating thereto and the
reasonable costs and expenses of attorneys’,
accountants’, consultants’ and other
professionals’ fees and expenses incurred in the
investigation or defense thereof or the enforcement of rights
hereunder), excluding special, consequential, indirect, punitive
damages (other than special, consequential, indirect and/or
punitive damages awarded to any third party against an indemnified
party).
(76) " Indemnifying Party " shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 7.4(b) .
14
(77) " Indemnitee " shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 7.4(b) .
(78) " Indemnity Payment " shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 7.6(a) .
(79) " Information " shall mean information, whether or
not patentable or copyrightable, in written, oral, electronic or
other tangible or intangible forms, stored in any medium, including
studies, reports, records, books, contracts, instruments, surveys,
discoveries, ideas, concepts, know-how, techniques, designs,
specifications, drawings, blueprints, diagrams, models, prototypes,
samples, flow charts, data, computer data, disks, diskettes, tapes,
computer programs or other software, marketing plans, customer
names, communications by or to attorneys (including attorney-client
privileged communications), memos and other materials prepared by
attorneys or under their direction (including attorney work
product), communications and materials otherwise related to or made
or prepared in connection with or in preparation for any legal
proceeding, and other technical, financial, employee or business
information or data.
(80) " Information Statement " shall mean the Information
Statement attached as an exhibit to the Form 10 sent to the holders
of shares of Duke Energy Common Stock in connection with the
Distribution, including any amendment or supplement thereto.
(81) "Insurance Administration" shall mean, with respect to each
Third Party Shared Policy: (i) the accounting for premiums,
retrospectively-rated premiums, defense costs, indemnity payments,
deductibles and retentions, as appropriate, under the terms and
conditions of such Third Party Shared Policy; (ii) the
reporting to the relevant unaffiliated, third-party insurer that
issues such Third Party Shared Policy of any losses or claims which
may be covered by such Third Party Shared Policy; and
(iii) the distribution of Insurance Proceeds related to such
Third Party Shared Policy, subject to the terms of ARTICLE X
.
(82) "Insurance Proceeds" shall mean those monies
(i) received by an insured from an unaffiliated third-party
insurer under any Third Party Shared Policy, or (ii) paid by
such third-party insurer on behalf of an insured under any Third
Party Shared Policy, in either case net of any applicable premium
adjustment, retrospectively-rated premium, deductible, retention,
or cost of reserve paid or held by or for the benefit of such
insured.
(83) "Insured Claims" shall mean those Liabilities that,
individually or in the aggregate, are covered within the terms and
conditions of any of the Third Party Shared Policies, whether or
not subject to deductibles, co-insurance, uncollectibility or
retrospectively-rated premium adjustments.
(84) " Intellectual Property " shall mean all
intellectual property and industrial property rights of any kind or
nature, including all United States and foreign (i) patents,
patent applications, patent disclosures, and all related
continuations, continuations-in-part, divisionals, reissues,
re-examinations, substitutions and extensions thereof,
(ii) Trademarks, (iii) copyrights, whether statutory or
common law, registered or unregistered and published or
unpublished, (iv) rights of publicity, (v) moral rights
and rights of attribution and integrity, (vi) rights in
Software, (vii) trade secrets and all other confidential
information, know-how, inventions, improvements, proprietary
processes, formulae, models and methodologies, (viii) rights
to personal information, (ix) telephone numbers and internet
protocol addresses, (x) rights, priorities and privileges
15
arising under applicable law in the foregoing and
in other similar intangible assets, (xi) applications and
registrations for the foregoing, and (xii) rights and remedies
against past, present, and future infringement, misappropriation,
or other violation of the foregoing.
(85) " Intercompany Accounts " shall mean any receivable,
payable or loan between any member of the Duke Energy Group, on the
one hand, and any member of the Spectra Energy Group, on the other
hand that exists prior to the Effective Time and is reflected in
the Records of the relevant members of the Duke Energy Group and
the Spectra Energy Group, except for any such receivable, payable
or loan that arise pursuant to this Agreement or any other
Ancillary Agreement.
(86) " Internal Contribution 1 " shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 3.1 .
(87) " Internal Contribution 2 " shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 3.1 .
(88) " Internal Contribution 3 " shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 3.1 .
(89) " Internal Contributions " shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 3.1 .
(90) " Internal Distribution 1 " shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 3.1 .
(91) " Internal Distribution 2 " shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 3.1 .
(92) " Internal Distribution 3 " shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 3.1 .
(93) " Internal Distributions " shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 3.1 .
(94) " Law " shall mean any United States or non-United
States federal, national, supranational, state, provincial, local
or similar statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule, code, order,
requirement or rule of law (including common law).
(95) " Liabilities " shall mean any and all debts,
liabilities, and obligations, whether accrued or fixed, absolute or
contingent, matured or unmatured, reserved or unreserved, or
determined or determinable of any kind or nature whatsoever,
including those arising under any Law or Action, whether asserted
or unasserted, or order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree,
stipulation, determination or award entered by or with any
Governmental Entity, and those arising under any Contract or any
fines, damages or equitable relief which may be imposed in
connection with any of the foregoing and including all costs and
expenses related thereto.
(96) " Liable Party " shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2.10(b) .
(97) " Licensed Marks " shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 5.2(d) .
(98) " New York Courts " shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 11.20 .
(99) " NYSE " shall mean the New York Stock Exchange.
(100) " Other Parties’ Auditors " shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 5.3(a)(2) .
16
(101) " Other Party " shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 2.10(a) .
(102) " Other Party Marks " shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 5.2(a) .
(103) " Party " shall have the meaning set forth in the
preamble hereof.
(104) " PanEnergy Companies " shall mean the Person which
were part of the business, operations or assets of PanEnergy Corp
(f/k/a Panhandle Eastern Corporation) as conducted at any time
prior to the merger of PanEnergy Corp and Duke Power Company on
June 17, 1997, including those set forth on Schedule
1.1(104)(a) ; provided , however , that the term
PanEnergy Companies shall not include Duke Energy Services, Inc.,
Bison Insurance Company Limited and its Subsidiaries to the extent
claims relate to occurrences after June 17, 1997, or the
Business Entities (or any of their predecessors) engaged in
(i) international operations; (ii) merchant generation;
or (iii) trading and marketing businesses, including the
companies listed on Schedule 1.1(104)(b) .
(105) " Person " shall mean any natural person, firm,
individual, corporation, business trust, joint venture,
association, company, limited liability company, partnership or
other organization or entity, whether incorporated or
unincorporated, or any Governmental Entity.
(106) " Plan " shall have the meaning set forth in the
Employee Matters Agreement.
(107) " Plan of Arrangement " shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 2.12 .
(108) " Policies " shall mean insurance policies and
insurance Contracts of any kind (other than life and benefits
policies or Contracts), including primary, excess and umbrella
policies, comprehensive general liability policies, director and
officer liability, fiduciary liability, automobile, aircraft,
property and casualty, business interruption, workers’
compensation and employee dishonesty insurance policies, bonds and
self-insurance and captive insurance company arrangements, together
with the rights, benefits and privileges thereunder.
(109) " Power Assets " shall mean:
-
(i) the ownership interests (to the extent held by Duke Energy,
Spectra Energy or any of their respective Affiliates immediately
prior to the Effective Time) in each member of the Duke Energy
Group;
(ii) all Power Contracts, any rights or claims of Duke Energy,
Spectra Energy, or any of their respective Affiliates, arising
thereunder, and any other rights or claims or contingent rights or
claims of Duke Energy, Spectra Energy, or any of their respective
Affiliates, primarily relating to or arising from any other Power
Asset or the Power Business;
(iii) all Assets owned, leased or held by Duke Energy, Spectra
Energy, or any of their respective Affiliates immediately prior to
the Effective Time that are used primarily in the Power Business,
including inventory, accounts receivable, goodwill, and electrical
generation, transmission and distribution plants, facilities,
transmission lines and equipment;
17
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(iv) the Assets associated with the retail
distribution gas services business conducted by Duke Energy Ohio,
LLC (f/k/a The Cincinnati Gas & Electric Company) in
southwestern Ohio and Duke Energy Kentucky, LLC (f/k/a The Union
Light, Heat and Power Company) in adjacent areas in
Kentucky;
(v) subject to ARTICLE X , any rights of any member of
the Duke Energy Group under any Captive Power Policies, any Third
Party Power Policies, and any Third Party Shared Policies, to the
extent related to the Power Business;
(vi) any Exclusive Duke Energy Contingent Gain;
(vii) the Assets listed or described on Schedule
1.1(109)(vii) and any and all Assets that are expressly
contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement as Assets
to be retained by, or assigned or transferred to, any member of the
Duke Energy Group;
(viii) all Duke Energy Accounts, and, subject to the provisions
of Section 2.5 , all cash, cash equivalents, and
securities on deposit in such accounts immediately prior to the
Effective Time;
(ix) the ownership interest held by Duke Energy or any of its
Affiliates, immediately prior to the Effective Time, in Duke
Project Services, Inc., Duke/Fluor Daniel, Duke/Fluor Daniel
International, Duke/Fluor Daniel International Services, and all
other Subsidiaries of Duke Project Services, Inc. (including those
listed on Annex B to Schedule 1.1(48) , and all Assets of
such entities;
(x) any collateral securing any Power Liability immediately
prior to the Effective Time; and
(xi) the Campeche Companies.
-
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Power Assets shall not in any
event include:
(A) the Assets listed or described on Schedule
1.1(109)(xi)(A) ; or
(B) any Assets that are expressly contemplated by this Agreement
or any Ancillary Agreement as Assets to be retained by, or assigned
or transferred to, any member of the Spectra Energy Group,
including any Exclusive Spectra Energy Contingent Gain.
(110) " Power Business " shall mean:
-
(i) the United States Franchised Electric & Gas
business unit of Duke Energy (which includes Duke Energy Carolinas,
LLC (f/k/a Duke Power Company LLC), Duke Energy Ohio, Inc. (f/k/a
The Cincinnati Gas & Electric Company), Duke Energy
Indiana, Inc. (f/k/a PSI Energy, Inc.), and Duke Energy Kentucky,
Inc. (f/k/a The Union Light, Heat and Power Company));
18
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(ii) the Commercial Power business unit of Duke
Energy (which includes the non-regulated power generation business
of The Cincinnati Gas & Electric Company and the
Midwestern merchant power generating plants previously operated by
Duke Energy North America, LLC, and the business of Duke Energy
Generation Services (f/k/a Cinergy Solutions);
(iii) the International business unit of Duke Energy, which does
business primarily through Duke Energy International, LLC, and
includes businesses that operate and manage power generation
facilities, and engage in sales and marketing of electric power and
natural gas outside the United States and Canada (its activities
target power generation in Latin America), and an equity investment
in National Methanol Company, a leading regional producer of
methanol and methyl tertiary butyl ether, located in Saudi
Arabia;
(iv) the Crescent business unit of Duke Energy, which does
business primarily through Crescent Resources, LLC, which is owned
by a joint venture among Duke Ventures, LLC (holding a 49%
ownership interest), Morgan Stanley Real Estate Fund V U.S., L.P.
and other affiliated funds controlled by Morgan Stanley
(collectively holding a 49% ownership interest), and the President
and Chief Executive Officer of Crescent Resources, LLC (holding a
2% ownership interest), and includes businesses that develop and
manage commercial, residential and multi-family real estate
projects and manage "legacy" land holdings in North and South
Carolina;
(v) the fiber optic communications network and
telecommunications businesses, including DukeNet Communications,
LLC, serving wireless, local and long-distance communications
companies, internet service providers and other businesses and
organizations;
(vi) any other business, operations, or assets where such
business was conducted primarily through the use of the Power
Assets prior to the Effective Time; and
(vii) the businesses and operations of Business Entities
acquired or established by or for any member of the Duke Energy
Group after the Effective Time;
provided , however , the Power Business shall not
include (a) any business conducted by any of the PanEnergy
Companies at any time prior to the Effective Time, or (b) any
operation, business or asset expressly included in the Gas Business
pursuant to this Agreement.
(111) " Power Contracts " shall mean the following
Contracts to which Duke Energy or any of its Affiliates is a party
or by which it or any of its Affiliates or any of their respective
Assets is bound, except for any such Contract or part thereof that
is expressly contemplated to be transferred or assigned to (or
remain with) any member of the Spectra Energy Group pursuant to any
provision of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement:
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(i) any Contract entered into in the name of, or expressly on
behalf of, any division, business unit or member of the Duke Energy
Group;
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(ii) any Contract that relates primarily to the
Power Business;
(iii) any Contract representing capital or operating equipment
lease obligations of facilities or equipment primarily used by any
member of the Duke Energy Group;
(iv) any Contract or part thereof that is otherwise expressly
contemplated pursuant to this Agreement or any of the Ancillary
Agreements to be retained by, or assigned or transferred to, any
member of the Duke Energy Group;
(v) any guarantee, indemnity, representation or warranty of any
member of the Duke Energy Group; and
(vi) the Contracts listed or described on Schedule
1.1(111)(vi) .
(112) " Power Liabilities " shall mean:
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(i) the Liabilities listed or described on Schedule
1.1(112)(i) and any and all Liabilities that are expressly
contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement as
Liabilities to be retained, assumed or retired by any member of the
Duke Energy Group;
(ii) any and all Liabilities of Duke Energy, Spectra Energy, or
any of their respective Affiliates, primarily relating to, arising
out of or resulting from:
-
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(A) the operation or conduct of the Power Business, as conducted
at any time prior to, on or after the Effective Time (including any
Liability relating to, arising out of or resulting from any act or
failure to act by any director, officer, employee, agent or
representative of Duke Energy, Spectra Energy, or any of their
respective Affiliates (whether or not such act or failure to act is
or was within such Person’s authority));
(B) the operation or conduct of any business conducted by any
member of the Duke Energy Group at any time after the Effective
Time (including any Liability relating to, arising out of or
resulting from any act or failure to act by any director, officer,
employee, agent or representative of Duke Energy or any of its
Affiliates after the Effective Time (whether or not such act or
failure to act is or was within such Person’s authority));
or
(C) the Power Business or any Power Assets, whether arising
before, on or after the Effective Time;
(iii) any and all Liabilities to the extent relating to, arising
out of or resulting from any terminated, discontinued or divested
Business Entity, business, real property, Asset or operation
formerly and primarily owned or managed by, or associated with, any
member of the Duke Energy Group or any Power Business;
20
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(iv) any and all Liabilities (including under
applicable federal and state securities Laws) relating to, arising
out of or resulting from:
-
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(A) the Disclosure Documents (including the Form 10 and the
Information Statement), but only to the extent such Liability
derives from a misstatement or omission contained in the sections
of the Form 10 entitled "Letter to Duke Energy Shareholders", "The
Separation" and "Certain Relationships and Related Party
Transactions – Agreements with Duke Energy" and the section
entitled "Summary," to the extent such section summarizes the other
sections set forth in this paragraph;
(B) any Pre-Separation Disclosure, but only to the extent such
Liabilities arise out of, or result from, matters related to
businesses, operations, assets or liabilities allocated to Duke
Energy in the Separation pursuant to this Agreement; and
(C) any Duke Energy Disclosure;
(v) any and all Liabilities, including those Liabilities listed
on Schedule 1.1(112)(v) , relating to, arising out of or
resulting from any Indebtedness (including debt securities and
asset-backed debt) of any member of the Duke Energy Group (whether
incurred prior to, on or after the Effective Time);
(vi) any and all Liabilities relating to, arising out of or
resulting from any Action listed or described on Schedule
1.1(112)(vi) ;
(vii) any Exclusive Duke Energy Contingent Liability;
(viii) any and all Liabilities relating to, arising out of or
resulting from Duke Project Services, Inc., Duke/Fluor Daniel,
Duke/Fluor Daniel International, Duke/Fluor Daniel International
Services, or any other Subsidiary of Duke Project Services, Inc.
(including those listed on Annex B to Schedule 1.1(48) , or
any Assets of such entities;
(ix) any and all Liabilities of the guarantor under the
guarantees listed or described on Schedule 1.1(112)(ix) ;
and
(x) any and all obligations of an insured Person under each
Third Party Power Policy, each Third Party Shared Policy to the
extent related to or arising out of the Power Business, and each
Captive Power Policy
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Power Liabilities shall not
in any event include:
(A) any Liabilities that are expressly contemplated by this
Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement as Liabilities to be retained
or assumed by any member of the Spectra Energy Group, including any
Liabilities set forth on Schedule 1.1(112)(x)(A) ;
21
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-
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(B) any Liabilities related or attributable to,
or arising in connection with, the employment, service, termination
of employment or termination of service Duke Energy Employees,
which shall be exclusively governed by the Employee Matters
Agreement;
(C) any Liabilities related or attributable to, or arising in
connection with, Taxes or Tax Returns, which shall be exclusively
governed by the Tax Matters Agreement;
(D) any Liabilities of the guarantor under the guarantees listed
or described on Schedule 1.1(69)(vii) ; and
(E) any Liabilities related or attributable to, or arising in
connection with, any PanEnergy Company.
FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, NO LIABILITY SHALL BE A POWER
LIABILITY SOLELY AS A RESULT OF DUKE ENERGY OR ANY OTHER MEMBER OF
THE DUKE ENERGY GROUP BEING NAMED AS PARTY TO, OR IN, ANY
ACTION.
(113) " PowerCo Exchangeable Shares " shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 2.12 .
(114) " Pre-Separation Disclosure " shall mean any form,
statement, schedule or other material (other than the Disclosure
Documents) filed with or furnished to
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(A) the Commission,
(B) any other Governmental Entity, or
(C) holders of any securities of Duke Energy or any of its
Affiliates,
prior to the Effective Time by Duke Energy, Spectra Energy, or
any of their respective Affiliates, in connection with the
registration, sale, or distribution of securities or disclosure
related thereto (including periodic disclosure obligations).
(115) " Prime Rate " shall mean the prime rate of
interest (the base rate on corporate loans) as published under
"Money Rates" in The Wall Street Journal .
(116) " Record Date " shall mean the date to be
determined by the Board of Directors of Duke Energy as the record
date for the Distribution.
(117) " Records " shall mean any Contracts, documents,
books, records or files.
(118) " Rules " shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 9.2 .
(119) " Securities Act " shall mean the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time that
reference is made thereto.
22
(120) " Security Interest " shall mean any
mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien, charge, claim, option,
right to acquire, voting or other restriction, right-of-way,
condition, easement, encroachment, restriction on transfer, or
other encumbrance of any nature whatsoever, excluding restrictions
on transfer under securities Laws.
(121) " Separation " shall have the meaning set forth in
the recitals hereto.
(122) " Spectra Energy " shall have the meaning set forth
in the preamble hereto.
(123) " Spectra Energy Accounts " shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 2.5(a) .
(124) " Spectra Energy Captive " shall mean Alpha
Insurance Company Limited, the captive insurance company formed by
Spectra Energy in contemplation of the Separation.
(125) " Spectra Energy Common Stock " shall have the
meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.
(126) " Spectra Energy Disclosure " shall mean any form,
statement, schedule or other material (other than the Disclosure
Documents) filed with or furnished to
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-
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(A) the Commission,
(B) any other Governmental Entity, or
(C) holders of any securities of any member of the Spectra
Energy Group,
on or after the Effective Time by or on behalf of any member of
the Spectra Energy Group in connection with the registration, sale,
or distribution of securities or disclosure related thereto
(including periodic disclosure obligations).
(127) " Spectra Energy Employee " shall have the meaning
set forth in the Employee Matters Agreement.
(128) " Spectra Energy Exchangeable Shares " shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 2.12 .
(129) " Spectra Energy Group " shall mean Spectra Energy
and each Person identified on Schedule 1.1(129) , and each
Person that is or becomes a Subsidiary of Spectra Energy at or
after the Effective Time.
(130) " Spectra Energy Indemnitees " shall mean each
member of the Spectra Energy Group, their respective
Affiliates’ respective directors, officers, employees and
agents and each of the heirs, executors, successors and assigns of
any of the foregoing.
(131) " Spectra Energy Percentage " shall mean 33-1/3%
or, with respect to those matters listed or described on
Schedule 1.1(146)(iii) , the percentage allocated to Spectra
Energy therein with respect to each specific item (if so
allocated).
23
(132) " Spectra Energy Target Cash Amount
" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(e)
.
(133) " Software " shall mean all computer programs
(whether in source code, object code, or other form), algorithms,
databases, compilations and data, and technology supporting the
foregoing, and all documentation, including flowcharts and other
logic and design diagrams, technical, functional and other
specifications, and user and training materials related to any of
the foregoing.
(134) " Subsidiary " shall mean with respect to any
Person (i) a corporation, fifty percent (50%) or more of
the voting capital stock of which is, as of the time in question,
directly or indirectly owned by such Person and (ii) any other
limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, association,
joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or other
entity in which such Person, directly or indirectly, owns fifty
percent (50%) or more of the equity economic interest thereof
or has the power to elect or direct the election of fifty percent
(50%) or more of the members of the governing body of such
entity or otherwise has control over such entity (e.g., as the
managing partner of a partnership).
(135) " Tax " shall have the meaning set forth in the Tax
Matters Agreement.
(136) " Tax Matters Agreement " shall mean the Tax
Matters Agreement by and between Duke Energy, Spectra Energy, and
certain members of the Spectra Energy Group, dated as of the date
hereof, and substantially in the form attached as Exhibit B
hereto.
(137) " Tax Return " shall have the meaning set forth in
the Tax Matters Agreement.
(138) " Third Party Claim " shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 7.4(b) .
(139) " Third Party Gas Policies " shall mean all
Policies, whether or not in force on the Effective Time, issued by
unaffiliated third-party insurers to Duke Energy, Spectra Energy,
or any of their respective Affiliates, including the Captive
Insurers, which cover risks that relate exclusively to the Gas
Business.
(140) " Third Party Power Policies " shall mean all
Policies, whether or not in force on the Effective Time, issued by
unaffiliated third-party insurers to Duke Energy, Spectra Energy,
or any of their respective Affiliates, including the Captive
Insurers, which cover risks that relate exclusively to the Power
Business.
(141) " Third Party Proceeds " shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 7.6(a) .
(142) " Third Party Shared Policies " shall mean all
Policies, whether or not in force on the Effective Time, issued by
unaffiliated third-party insurers to Duke Energy, Spectra Energy,
or any of their respective Affiliates, including the Captive
Insurers, which cover risks that relate to both the Power Business
and the Gas Business. For the avoidance of doubt, Third Party
Shared Policies shall not include any Third Party Gas Policies or
Third Party Power Policies.
(143) " Trademarks " shall mean all United States and
foreign trademarks, service marks, corporate names, trade names,
domain names, logos, slogans, designs, trade dress and other
24
similar identifiers of source or origin, whether
registered or unregistered, together with the goodwill connected
with the use of and symbolized by any of the foregoing.
(144) " Transition Services Agreement " shall mean the
Transition Services Agreement by and between Duke Energy and
Spectra Energy, dated as of even date hereof, and substantially in
the form attached as Exhibit C hereto.
(145) " Unallocated Asset " shall mean, without
duplication:
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(i) any Asset that accrues prior to the Distribution that is not
a Gas Asset or a Power Asset; or
(ii) with respect to Contingent Gains, any Contingent Gain that
is not an Exclusive Duke Energy Contingent Gain or an Exclusive
Spectra Energy Contingent Gain.
(146) " Unallocated Liability " shall mean, without
duplication:
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(i) any and all Liabilities of Duke Energy, Spectra Energy, or
any of their respective Affiliates, that accrue prior to the
Effective Time that are neither a Gas Liability nor a Power
Liability;
(ii) any and all Contingent Liabilities that are neither an
Exclusive Duke Energy Contingent Liability nor an Exclusive Spectra
Energy Contingent Liability; or
(ii) any and all Liabilities of Duke Energy, Spectra Energy, or
any of their respective Affiliates, relating to, arising out of, or
resulting from, the matters listed or described on Schedule
1.1(146)(iii) .
(147) " 100% Quota Share Reinsurance Agreements " shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 10.9(b) .
Section 1.2 References; Interpretation. References in
this Agreement to any gender include references to all genders, and
references to the singular include references to the plural and
vice versa. Any action to be taken by the Board of Directors of a
Party may be taken by a committee of the Board of Directors of such
Party if properly delegated by the Board of Directors of a Party to
such committee. Unless the context otherwise requires:
-
(i) the words "include", "includes" and "including" when used in
this Agreement shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase
"without limitation";
(ii) references in this Agreement to Articles, Sections,
Annexes, Exhibits and Schedules shall be deemed references to
Articles and Sections of, and Annexes, Exhibits and Schedules to,
this Agreement;
25
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(iii) the words "hereof", "hereby" and "herein"
and words of similar meaning when used in this Agreement refer to
this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular Article,
Section or provision of this Agreement; and
(iv) references in this Agreement to any time shall be to New
York City, New York time unless otherwise expressly provided
herein.
Section 1.3. Effective Time. This Agreement shall be
effective as of the Effective Time.
Section 1.4. Tax Matters . The Tax Matters Agreement will
govern Duke Energy’s and Spectra Energy’s respective
rights, responsibilities and obligations after the distribution
with respect to Taxes, including ordinary course of business Taxes
and Taxes, if any, incurred as a result of any failure of the
distribution to qualify as a tax-free distribution for U.S. federal
income tax purposes. The Tax Matters Agreement sets forth the
respective obligations of Duke Energy and Spectra Energy with
respect to the filing of Tax returns, the administration of Tax
contests, cooperation and other matters, and imposes certain
restrictions on Duke Energy’s and Spectra Energy’s
ability to engage in certain actions following the distribution.
Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement or any Ancillary
Agreement, all matters relating to Taxes in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be governed
exclusively by the Tax Matters Agreement.
Section 1.5. Employee Matters . The Employee Matters
Agreement will govern Duke Energy’s and Spectra
Energy’s respective rights, responsibilities and obligations
after the distribution relating to, arising out of, or resulting
from the employment, service, termination of employment or
termination of service of Spectra Energy Employees and Duke Energy
Employees. Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement or any
Ancillary Agreement, all matters relating to the above in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
shall be governed exclusively by the Employee Matters
Agreement.
ARTICLE II
THE SEPARATION
Section 2.1. General. Subject to the terms and conditions
of this Agreement, including Section 4.4 , the Parties
shall use, and shall cause their respective Affiliates to use,
their respective commercially reasonable efforts to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby, a portion of which have already
been implemented prior to the date hereof. It is the intent of the
Parties that prior to consummation of the Distribution, Duke
Energy, Spectra Energy and their respective Affiliates shall be
reorganized, to the extent necessary, such that immediately
following the consummation of such reorganization, subject to
Section 2.7 , (i) all of Duke Energy’s and
its Subsidiaries’ right, title and interest in and to the Gas
Assets will be owned or held by a member of the Spectra Energy
26
Group, the Gas Business will be conducted by the
members of the Spectra Energy Group and the Gas Liabilities will be
assumed directly or indirectly by (or retained by) a member of the
Spectra Energy Group; and (ii) all of Duke Energy’s and
its Subsidiaries’ right, title and interest in and to the
Power Assets will be owned or held by a member of the Duke Energy
Group, the Power Business will be conducted by the members of the
Duke Energy Group and the Power Liabilities will be assumed
directly or indirectly by (or retained by) a member of the Duke
Energy Group.
Section 2.2. Transfer of Assets .
(a) On or prior to the Effective Time and to the extent not
already completed:
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(i) Duke Energy shall, on behalf of itself and the other members
of the Duke Energy Group, as applicable, transfer, contribute,
assign, distribute, and convey, or cause to be transferred,
contributed, assigned, distributed and conveyed, to Spectra Energy
or another member of the Spectra Energy Group all of Duke
Energy’s and the other members’ of the Duke Energy
Group’s right, title and interest in and to the Gas
Assets;
(ii) Spectra Energy shall, on behalf of itself and the other
members of the Spectra Energy Group, as applicable, transfer,
contribute, assign, distribute, and convey, or cause to be
transferred, contributed, assigned, distributed and conveyed, to
Duke Energy or another member of the Duke Energy Group all of
Spectra Energy’s and the other members’ of the Spectra
Energy Group’s right, title and interest in and to the Power
Assets; and
(b) Unless otherwise agreed to by the Parties, each of Duke
Energy and Spectra Energy, as applicable, shall be entitled to
designate the Business Entity within such Party’s respective
Group to which any Assets are to be transferred pursuant to this
Section 2.2 or Section 2.7 .
Section 2.3. Assumption and Satisfaction of Liabilities .
EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE SPECIFICALLY SET FORTH IN ANY ANCILLARY
AGREEMENT, FROM AND AFTER THE EFFECTIVE TIME, (A) DUKE ENERGY
SHALL, OR SHALL CAUSE ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE DUKE ENERGY GROUP TO,
ACCEPT, ASSUME (OR, AS APPLICABLE, RETAIN) AND PERFORM, DISCHARGE
AND FULFILL, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE TERMS, ALL OF THE
POWER LIABILITIES AND THE DUKE ENERGY PERCENTAGE OF ANY UNALLOCATED
LIABILITY AND (B) SPECTRA ENERGY SHALL, OR SHALL CAUSE ANOTHER
MEMBER OF THE SPECTRA ENERGY GROUP TO, ACCEPT, ASSUME (OR, AS
APPLICABLE, RETAIN) AND PERFORM, DISCHARGE AND FULFILL, IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE TERMS, ALL THE GAS LIABILITIES AND
THE SPECTRA ENERGY PERCENTAGE OF ANY UNALLOCATED LIABILITY, IN EACH
CASE REGARDLESS OF (I) WHEN OR WHERE SUCH LIABILITIES AROSE OR
ARISE, (II) WHERE OR AGAINST WHOM SUCH LIABILITIES ARE ASSERTED OR
DETERMINED AND (III) REGARDLESS OF WHETHER ARISING FROM OR ALLEGED
TO ARISE FROM NEGLIGENCE, GROSS NEGLIGENCE, RECKLESSNESS,
VIOLATION
27
OF LAW, WILLFUL MISCONDUCT, BAD FAITH, FRAUD OR
MISREPRESENTATION BY ANY MEMBER OF THE DUKE ENERGY GROUP OR THE
SPECTRA ENERGY GROUP, AS THE CASE MAY BE, OR ANY OF THEIR PAST OR
PRESENT RESPECTIVE DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, OR AGENTS, AND
(IV) REGARDLESS OF WHICH ENTITY IS NAMED IN ANY ACTION ASSOCIATED
WITH ANY LIABILITY.
Section 2.4. Intercompany Accounts.
(a) Each Intercompany Account outstanding immediately prior to
the Effective Time, in any general ledger account of Duke Energy,
Spectra Energy or any of their respective Affiliates, other than
those set forth on Schedule 2.4(b), shall be satisfied
and/or settled by the relevant members of the Duke Energy Group and
the Spectra Energy Group no later than the Effective Time by
(i) forgiveness by the relevant obligor, (ii) one or a
related series of distributions of and/or contributions to capital,
or (iii) cash payment by the relevant obligor to the relevant
obligee, in each case as agreed to by the Parties.
(b) Each Intercompany Account outstanding immediately prior to
the Effective Time under any of the general ledger accounts of Duke
Energy, Spectra Energy or any of their respective Affiliates set
forth on Schedule 2.4(b) shall continue to be outstanding
after the Effective Time (unless previously satisfied in accordance
with its terms) and thereafter (i) shall be an obligation of
the relevant Party (or the relevant member of such Party’s
Group), each responsible for fulfilling its (or a member of such
Party’s Group’s) obligations in accordance with the
terms and conditions applicable to such obligation, and
(ii) shall be for each relevant Party (or the relevant member
of such Party’s Group) an obligation to a third-party and
shall no longer be an Intercompany Account.
Section 2.5. Bank Accounts; Cash Balances .
(a) The Parties agree to take, or cause the respective members
of their respective Groups to take, at the Effective Time (or such
earlier time as the Parties may agree), all actions necessary to
amend all Contracts governing each bank and brokerage account owned
by Spectra Energy or any other member of the Spectra Energy Group
(the " Spectra Energy Accounts "), including all Spectra
Energy Accounts listed or described on Schedule 2.5(a) , so
that such Spectra Energy Accounts, if currently linked (whether by
automatic withdrawal, automatic deposit, or any other authorization
to transfer funds from or to, hereinafter " linked ") to any
bank or brokerage account owned by Duke Energy or any other member
of the Duke Energy Group (the " Duke Energy Accounts "),
including all Duke Energy Accounts owned by any member of the Duke
Energy Group that is as of the date hereof a direct or an indirect
Subsidiary of Duke Capital LLC, which subset of Duke Energy
Accounts are listed or described on Schedule 2.5(b) , are
de-linked from the Duke Energy Accounts. From and after the
Effective Time, no Duke Energy Employee or Former Duke Energy
Employee shall have any authority to access or control any Spectra
Energy Account, except as provided for through the Transition
Services Agreement.
(b) The Parties agree to take, or cause the respective members
of their respective Groups to take, at the Effective Time (or such
earlier time as the Parties may agree), all actions necessary to
amend all Contracts governing the Duke Energy Accounts so that
such
28
Duke Energy Accounts, if currently linked to a
Spectra Energy Account, are de-linked from the Spectra Energy
Accounts. From and after the Effective Time, no Spectra Energy
Employee or Former Spectra Energy Employee shall have any authority
to access or control any Duke Energy Account.
(c) It is intended that, following consummation of the actions
contemplated by sections (a) and (b) above, there will
continue to be in place a centralized cash management system
pursuant to which the Spectra Energy Accounts will be managed
centrally and funds collected will be transferred into one or more
centralized accounts maintained by Spectra Energy.
(d) It is intended that, following consummation of the actions
contemplated by sections (a) and (c) above, there will
continue to be in place a centralized cash management system
pursuant to which the Duke Energy Accounts will be managed
centrally and funds collected will be transferred into one or more
centralized accounts maintained by Duke Energy.
(e) The Parties shall, and shall cause the respective members of
their Groups to, cooperate and use commercially reasonable efforts
to have the Spectra Energy Accounts contain an aggregate amount in
cash and cash equivalents at the Effective Time equal to $200
million (the " Spectra Energy Target Cash Amount "),
provided that for purposes of achieving that result no cash
or cash equivalents in any Spectra Energy Account owned by
(i) Duke Energy Field Services, LLC, Gulfstream Natural Gas
System, L.L.C., Gulfstream Management & Operating
Services, L.L.C., Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C.,
Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline Limited Partnership,
Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline Management Ltd., or
Islander East Pipeline Company, L.L.C., or any of their respective
Subsidiaries, or (ii) Spectra Energy Captive, but with respect
to this item (ii) only to the extent of cash or cash
equivalents transferred pursuant to Section 10.9(b) ,
and provided , further , that (x) subject to and
in accordance with Section 4.07 of the Tax Matters Agreement
(including the repayment obligation), the Spectra Energy Target
Cash Amount shall be increased by $44 million if the conditions
specified in such section of the Tax Matters Agreement are met, and
(y) in the event Duke Energy, Spectra Energy, or any of their
respective Affiliates settles any material matter set forth on
Schedule 1.1(69)(viii) after the date of this Agreement and
prior to the Effective Time and such settlement results in the
receipt or payment of cash prior to the Effective Time, Duke Energy
may increase or decrease, respectively, the Spectra Energy Target
Cash Amount by the amount of such receipt or payment.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this
Section 2.5(e) , neither Party nor any member of their
respective Group shall have any recourse, including any right to
assert any claim or course of action, if, after the Effective Time,
it is determined that the aggregate amount of cash and cash
equivalents in the Spectra Energy Accounts at the Effective Time
(subject to the exclusions referenced in the foregoing sentence)
was more or less than the Spectra Energy Target Cash Amount.
(f) With respect to any outstanding checks issued by Duke
Energy, Spectra Energy, or any of their respective Subsidiaries
prior to the Effective Time, such outstanding checks shall be
honored following the Effective Time by the entity or Group owning
the account on which the check is drawn.
(g) As between the two Parties (and the members of their
respective Groups) all payments and reimbursements received after
the Effective Time by any Party (or member of
29
its Group) that relate to a Business, Asset or
Liability of another Party (or member of its Group), shall be held
by such Party in trust for the use and benefit of the Party
entitled thereto (at the expense of the Party entitled thereto)
and, promptly upon receipt by such Party of any such payment or
reimbursement, such Party shall pay over, or shall cause the
applicable member of its Group to pay over to the other Party the
amount of such payment or reimbursement without right of
set-off.
Section 2.6. Limitation of Liability .
(a) Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, no
Party or any member of such Party’s Group shall have any
Liability to any other Party or any member of each other
Party’s Group in the event that any Information exchanged or
provided pursuant to this Agreement (but excluding any such
information included in a Disclosure Document) which is an estimate
or forecast, or which is based on an estimate or forecast, is found
to be inaccurate.
(b) Except as provided in Section 2.4 ,
Section 2.11 or as set forth in subsection
(c) below, no Party or any member of such Party’s Group
shall have any Liability to any other Party or any member of such
other Party’s Group based upon, arising out of or resulting
from any Contract, arrangement, course of dealing or understanding
existing on or prior to the Effective Time (other than this
Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement or any Contract entered into
in connection herewith or in order to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby), and each Party hereby terminates,
and shall cause all members in its Group to terminate, any and all
Contracts, arrangements, course of dealings or understandings
between it or any members in its Group and the other Party, or any
members of its Group, effective as of the Effective Time (other
than this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement or any Contract
entered into in connection herewith or in order to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby), unless such Contract,
arrangement, course of dealing or understanding is set forth in any
Ancillary Agreement or on Schedule 2.6(b) , and any such
Liability, whether or not in writing, which is not reflected in any
Ancillary Agreement or on such Schedule, is hereby irrevocably
cancelled, released and waived effective as of the Effective Time.
No such terminated Contract, arrangement, course of dealing or
understanding (including any provision thereof which purports to
survive termination) shall be of any further force or effect after
the Effective Time.
(c) The provisions of Section 2.6(b) shall not apply
to any of the following Contracts, arrangements, course of dealings
or understandings (or to any of the provisions thereof):
-
(i) any Contracts to which any Person other than the Parties and
their respective Affiliates is a Party (it being understood that to
the extent that the rights and obligations of the Parties and the
members of their respective Groups under any such Contracts
constitute Power Assets or Gas Assets, Power Liabilities, or Gas
Liabilities, such Contracts shall be assigned or retained pursuant
to ARTICLE II ); and
(ii) any Contract, agreements, arrangements, commitments or
understandings to which any non-wholly-owned Subsidiary or
non-wholly-owned Affiliate of Duke Energy or Spectra Energy is a
Party.
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Section 2.7. Transfers Not Effected On or
Prior to the Effective Time; Transfers Deemed Effective as of the
Effective Time .
(a) To the extent that any transfers contemplated by this
ARTICLE II shall not have been consummated on or prior to
the Effective Time, the Parties shall cooperate to affect such
transfers as promptly following the Effective Time as shall be
practicable. Nothing herein shall be deemed to require the transfer
of any Assets or the assumption of any Liabilities which by their
terms or operation of Law cannot be transferred; provided ,
however , that the Parties shall, and shall cause the
respective members of their Groups to, cooperate and use
commercially reasonable efforts to seek to obtain any necessary
Consents or Governmental Approvals for the transfer of all Assets
and Liabilities contemplated to be transferred or assumed pursuant
to this ARTICLE II . In the event that any such transfer or
assumption of Assets or Liabilities has not been consummated from
and after the Effective Time (i) the Party (or relevant member
in its Group) retaining such Asset shall thereafter hold (or shall
cause such member in its Group to hold) such Asset for the use and
benefit of the Party (or relevant member in its Group) entitled
thereto (at the expense of the Person entitled thereto) and
(ii) the Party intended to assume such Liability shall, or
shall cause the applicable member of its Group to, pay or reimburse
the Party (or the relevant member of its Group) retaining such
Liability for all amounts paid or incurred in connection with the
retention of such Liability. In addition, the Party retaining such
Asset or Liability (or relevant member of its Group) shall (or
shall cause such member in its Group to) treat, insofar as
reasonably possible and to the extent permitted by applicable Law,
such Asset or Liability in the ordinary course of business in
accordance with past practice and take such other actions as may be
reasonably requested by the Party to which such Asset or Liability
is to be transferred or assumed in order to place such Party,
insofar as reasonably possible, in the same position as if such
Asset or Liability had been transferred or assumed as contemplated
hereby and so that all the benefits and burdens relating to such
Asset or Liability, including possession, use, risk of loss,
potential for gain, and dominion, control and command over such
Asset or Liability, are to inure from and after the Effective Time
to the relevant member of the Duke Energy Group or the Spectra
Energy Group, as the case may be, entitled to the receipt of such
Asset or Liability.
(b) If and when the Consents, Governmental Approvals and/or
conditions, the absence or non-satisfaction of which caused the
deferral of transfer of any Asset or assumption of any Liability
pursuant to Section 2.7(a) , are obtained or satisfied,
the transfer, assignment or novation of the applicable Asset or
Liability shall be effected in accordance with and subject to the
terms of this Agreement and/or the applicable Ancillary Agreement
as promptly as practical after the receipt of such Consents,
Governmental Approvals and/or absence or satisfaction of
conditions.
(c) The Party (or relevant member of its Group) retaining any
Asset or Liability due to the deferral of the transfer or
assignment of such Asset or the deferral of the assumption of such
Liability pursuant to Section 2.7(a) shall not be
obligated, in connection with the foregoing, to expend any money
unless the necessary funds are advanced, or agreed in advance to be
reimbursed by the Party (or relevant member of its Group) entitled
to such Asset, other than reasonable attorneys’ fees and
recording or similar fees, all of which shall be promptly
reimbursed by the Party entitled to such Asset (or relevant member
of its Group).
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(d) On and prior to the twenty-four
(24) month anniversary of the Effective Time, as applicable,
if any Party determines that it owns (or any member of its Group)
any Asset that was allocated by the terms of this Agreement to the
other Party or that is agreed by such Party and the other Party in
their good faith judgment to be an Asset that more properly belongs
to the other Party (other than (for the avoidance of doubt), as
between any two Parties, for any Asset acquired from an
unaffiliated third party by a Party or member of such Party’s
Group following the Effective Time), then the Party owning such
Asset shall transfer, contribute, assign, distribute, and convey,
or shall cause any such Asset to be transferred, contributed,
assigned, distributed and conveyed, to the Party (or relevant
member of its Group) identified as the appropriate transferee and
following such transfer, contribution, assignment, distribution or
conveyance, such Asset shall be a Gas Asset or Power Asset, as the
case may be. In connection with such transfer, contribution,
assignment, distribution or conveyance, the receiving party shall
assume all Liabilities related to such asset. Following the
twenty-four (24) month anniversary of the Effective Time, no
Party (or relevant member of its Group) shall be obligated to
transfer any newly recognized Asset that would, had such Asset been
recognized at the Effective Time, have been transferred to the
other Party (or relevant member of its Group).
(e) After the Effective Time, each Party (or any member of its
Group) may receive mail, telegrams, packages and other
communications properly belonging to the other Party (or any member
of its Group). Accordingly, at all times after the Effective Time,
each Party authorizes the other Party (or any member of its Group)
to receive and open all mail, telegrams, packages and other
communications received by such Party (or any member of its Group)
and not unambiguously intended for such first Party, any member of
such first Party’s Group or any of their respective officers,
directors, employees or other agents, and to the extent that they
do not relate to the business of the receiving Party, the receiving
party shall promptly deliver such mail, telegrams, packages or
other communications (or, in case the same relate to both
businesses, copies thereof) to the other Party as provided for in
Section 11.6 . The provisions of this
Section 2.7(e) are not intended to, and shall not, be
deemed to constitute an authorization by any Party (or any member
of its Group) to permit the other to accept service of process on
its (or its members’) behalf and no Party (or any member of
its Group) is or shall be deemed to be the agent of the other Party
(or any member of its Group) for service of process purposes.
Section 2.8. Conveyancing and Assumption Instruments . In
connection with, and in furtherance of, the assignments,
distributions, transfers and conveyances of Assets and the
acceptance and assumptions of Liabilities contemplated by this
Agreement, the Parties shall execute or cause to be executed, on or
prior to the Effective Time, by the appropriate entities, the
Conveyancing and Assumption Instruments necessary to evidence the
valid and effective assumption by the applicable Party (or any
member of its Group) of its assumed Liabilities, and the valid
transfer, contribution, assignment, distribution and conveyance to
the applicable Party (or member of such Party’s Group) of all
right, title and interest in and to its accepted Assets, including
the transfer of real property with quit claim deeds, as may be
appropriate.
Section 2.9. Further Assurances.
(a) In addition to and without limiting the actions specifically
provided for elsewhere in this Agreement, including
Section 2.7 , each of the Parties shall cooperate with
each
32
other and use (and will cause the relevant member
of its Group to use) commercially reasonable efforts, prior to, on
and after the Effective Time, to take, or to cause to be taken, all
actions, and to do, or to cause to be done, all things reasonably
necessary on its part under applicable Law or contractual
obligations to consummate and make effective the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary
Agreements.
(b) Without limiting the foregoing, each Party shall cooperate
with the other Party, from and after the Effective Time, to execute
and deliver, or use commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be
executed and delivered, all instruments, including instruments of
conveyance, assignment and transfer, and to make all filings with,
and to obtain all Consents and/or Governmental Approvals, any
permit, license, Contract, indenture or other instrument (including
any Consents or Governmental Approvals), and to take all such other
actions as such Party may reasonably be requested to take by any
other Party from time to time, consistent with the terms of this
Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, in order to effectuate the
provisions and purposes of this Agreement and the Ancillary
Agreements and the conveyances, assignments and transfers of the
applicable Assets and the assignment and assumption of the
applicable Liabilities and the other transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby. Without limiting the foregoing, each Party
will, at the reasonable request, of the other Party, take such
other actions as may be reasonably necessary to vest in such other
Party good and marketable title to the Assets allocated to such
Party under this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements, free
and clear of any Security Interest, if and to the extent it is
practicable to do so.
Section 2.10. Novation of Liabilities; Consents .
(a) Each Party, at the request of the other Party, shall use
commercially reasonable efforts to obtain, or to cause to be
obtained, any Consent, release, substitution or amendment required
to novate or assign all obligations under Contracts, licenses and
other obligations or Liabilities for which a member of such
Party’s Group and a member of the Party’s Group are
jointly or severally liable and that do not constitute Liabilities
of such other Party as provided in this Agreement (such other
Party, the " Other Party "), or to obtain in writing the
unconditional release of all parties to such arrangements (other
than any member of the Group who assumed or retained such Liability
as set forth in this Agreement), so that, in any such case, the
members of the applicable Group will be solely responsible for such
Liabilities; provided , however , that no Party shall
be obligated to pay any consideration therefor to any third party
from whom any such Consent, substitution or amendment is requested
(unless such Party is fully reimbursed by the requesting
Party).
(b) If the Parties are unable to obtain, or to cause to be
obtained, any such required Consent, release, substitution or
amendment, the Other Party or a member of such Other Party’s
Group shall continue to be bound by such Contract, license or other
obligation that does not constitute a Liability of such Other Party
and, unless not permitted by Law or the terms thereof, as agent or
subcontractor for such Party, the Party or member of such
Party’s Group who assumed or retained such Liability as set
forth in this Agreement (the " Liable Party ") shall, or
shall cause a member of its Group to, pay, perform and discharge
fully all the obligations or other Liabilities of such Other Party
or member of such Other Party’s Group thereunder from and
after the Effective Time; provided , however , that
the Other Party shall not be obligated to extend, renew or
otherwise cause such Contract, license or other obligation to
remain in effect beyond
33
the term in effect as of the Effective Time. The
Liable Party shall indemnify each Other Party and the members of
such Other Party’s Group and hold each of them harmless
against any and all Liabilities arising in connection therewith;
provided , that the Liable Party shall have no obligation to
indemnify the Other Party or any member of such Other Party’s
Group with respect to any matter to the extent that such Other
Party has engaged in any knowing violation of Law, fraud or
misrepresentation in connection therewith. The Other Party shall,
without further consideration, promptly pay and remit, or cause to
be promptly paid or remitted, to the Liable Party or to another
member of the Liable Party’s Group, all money, rights and
other consideration received by it or any member of its Group in
respect of such performance by the Liable Party (unless any such
consideration is an Asset of such Other Party pursuant to this
Agreement). If and when any such Consent, release, substitution or
amendment shall be obtained or such agreement, lease, license or
other rights or obligations shall otherwise become assignable or
able to be novated, the Other Party shall promptly assign, or cause
to be assigned, all rights, obligations and other Liabilities
thereunder of any member of such Other Party’s Group to the
Liable Party or to another member of the Liable Party’s Group
without payment of any further consideration and the Liable Party,
or another member of such Liable Party’s Group, without the
payment of any further consideration, shall assume such rights and
Liabilities.
Section 2.11. Guarantees .
(a) Duke Energy shall (with the commercially reasonable
cooperation of Spectra Energy and the other members of the Spectra
Energy Group) use its commercially reasonable efforts, if so
requested by Spectra Energy, to have any member of the Spectra
Energy Group removed as guarantor of, or obligor for, any Power
Liability, with respect to those guarantees listed or described on
Schedule 2.11(a).
(b) Spectra Energy shall (with the commercially reasonable
cooperation of Duke Energy and the other members of the Duke Energy
Group) use its commercially reasonable efforts, if so requested by
Duke Energy, to have any member of the Duke Energy Group removed as
guarantor of, or obligor for, any Gas Liability, with respect to
those guarantees listed or described on Schedule 2.11(b)
(each of the releases referred to in paragraphs (a) and
(b) of this subsection, a " Guaranty Release ").
(c) Until Duke Energy or Spectra Energy is able to obtain, or to
cause to be obtained, any such required removal as set forth in
clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 2.11 ,
each of Duke Energy and Spectra Energy agree to use their
commercially reasonable efforts to not renew or extend the term of,
increase its obligations under, or transfer to a third party, any
loan, guarantee, lease, contract or other obligation for which
another Party is or may be liable unless (i) all obligations
of such other Party and the other members of such Party’s
Group with respect thereto are thereupon terminated by
documentation reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to such
other Party or (ii) in the event a Guaranty Release is not
obtained and such first Party wishes to extend the term of such
guaranteed loan, guarantee, lease, contract or other obligation
then such first Party shall have the option of extending the term
if it provides such security as is reasonably satisfactory to the
guarantor under such guarantee.
34
(d) For the avoidance of doubt, each of the items
listed or described on Schedule 2.11(a) are Power
Liabilities and, notwithstanding whether the guarantees are removed
pursuant to Section 2.11(a) , such guarantees shall
continue to be Power Liabilities and Duke Energy shall indemnify
and hold harmless all Spectra Energy Indemnitees against any
Indemnifiable Loss arising from or relating thereto in accordance
with the provisions of ARTICLE VII .
(e) For the avoidance of doubt, each of the items listed or
described on Schedule 2.11(b) are Gas Liabilities and,
notwithstanding whether the guarantees are removed pursuant to
Section 2.11(b) , such guarantees shall continue to be
Gas Liabilities and Spectra Energy shall indemnify and hold
harmless all Duke Energy Indemnitees against any Indemnifiable Loss
arising from or relating thereto in accordance with the provisions
of ARTICLE VII .
(f) Each of the Parties shall, and shall cause the other members
of their respective Groups to, use their commercially reasonable
efforts evaluate or to assist the other Party in evaluating any
guarantee required to be so evaluated by FIN 45.
Section 2.12. Canadian Exchangeco . Duke Energy Canada
Call Co. and Duke Energy Canada Exchangeco Inc. ("
Exchangeco ") shall be members of the Spectra Energy Group.
On December 11, 2006, the holders of the requisite number of
shares of Exchangeco (the " Exchangeable Shares ") voted to
approve a Plan of Arrangement (the " Plan of Arrangement ")
pursuant to which the terms governing the Exchangeable Shares were
amended (the " Exchangeable Share Reorganization ") to
reorganize the existing class of Exchangeable Shares into two new
classes of exchangeable shares, one exchangeable fo
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