Exhibit 10.2
Execution Version
MASTER RELEASE
AGREEMENT
AND AMENDMENT TO
UNDERTAKINGS
This MASTER RELEASE AGREEMENT AND
AMENDMENT TO UNDERTAKINGS (the “ Agreement
”) is entered into as of January 24, 2005, by and among (i)
TECO-PANDA GENERATING COMPANY, L.P., (“ TPGC ”)
by its General Partner, TPS GP, Inc.; (ii) TECO ENERGY SOURCE, INC.
(“ TES ”); (iii) TECO ENERGY, INC., (“
TECO ”) for itself and its affiliates; (iv) UNION
POWER I, LLC; (v) UNION POWER II, LLC; (vi) PANDA GILA RIVER I,
LLC; (vii) PANDA GILA RIVER II, LLC; (viii) TRANS-UNION INTERSTATE
I, LLC; (ix) TRANS-UNION INTERSTATE II, LLC; (x) UNION POWER
PARTNERS, L.P., (“ UPP ”) by its General
Partner, Union Power I, LLC; (xi) PANDA GILA RIVER, L.P., (“
PGR ”) by its General Partner, Panda Gila River I,
LLC; (xii) TRANS-UNION INTERSTATE PIPELINE, L.P., (“
Trans-Union ”) by its General Partner, Trans-Union
Interstate I, LLC; (xiii) UPP FINANCE CO., LLC, (“ Finance
Co. ”) by its managing member, UPP; (xiv) CITIBANK, N.A.,
as administrative agent for the Banks (the “
Administrative Agent ”); and (xv) the financial
institutions party hereto.
RECITALS
WHEREAS , UPP, as borrower, Citibank, N.A., as
Administrative Agent (the “ UPP Administrative Agent
”), Societe Generale, as LC Bank, and each of the financial
institutions party thereto (the “ UPP Banks ”)
are parties to that certain Union Power Project Credit Agreement
dated May 31, 2001 (as amended, restated, supplemented and
otherwise modified from time to time prior to the date hereof, the
“ Union Power Credit Agreement ”), pursuant to
which the UPP Banks made loans to UPP from time to time, which
loans and other Obligations are secured by first priority liens on,
among other things, all or substantially all of the assets of
UPP;
WHEREAS , (i) PGR, as borrower, Citibank, N.A., as
Administrative Agent (the “ PGR Administrative Agent
” and together with the UPP Administrative Agent, the “
Administrative Agent ”), Societe Generale, as LC Bank,
and each of the financial institutions party thereto (the “
PGR Banks ” and together with the UPP Banks, the
“ Banks ”) 1 are parties to that certain Gila
River Project Credit Agreement dated May 31, 2001 (as amended,
restated, supplemented and otherwise modified from time to time
prior to the date hereof, the “ Gila River Credit
Agreement ”, and together with the Union Power Credit
Agreement, the “ Original Credit Agreements ”);
and (ii) PGR, as borrower, Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent,
Societe Generale, as LC Bank, and each of the financial
institutions party thereto are parties to that certain Gila River
Project Senior Project Letter of Credit Agreement, dated as of May
27, 2004 (as amended, restated, supplemented and otherwise modified
from time to time prior to the date hereof, the “ Gila
River Project Senior L/C Credit Agreement ”, and together
with the Original
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Whenever reference is made herein to
the “Banks,” such reference shall include, without
limitation, the Banks signatory hereto.
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Credit Agreements, the “ Credit
Agreements ”), pursuant to which the PGR Banks made loans
to PGR from time to time, which loans and other Obligations are
secured by first priority liens on, among other things, all or
substantially all of the assets of PGR;
WHEREAS , TECO, UPP, and Citibank, N.A., as
Administrative Agent under the Union Power Credit Agreement, are
parties to that certain Amended and Restated Construction Contract
Undertaking, dated as of May 14, 2002 (as amended, restated,
supplemented and otherwise modified from time to time prior to the
date hereof, the “ Union Power Undertaking
”);
WHEREAS , TECO, PGR, and Citibank, N.A., as
Administrative Agent under the Gila River Credit Agreement, are
parties to that certain Amended and Restated Construction Contract
Undertaking, dated as of May 14, 2002 (as amended, restated,
supplemented and otherwise modified from time to time prior to the
date hereof, the “ Gila River Undertaking ”, and
together with the Union Power Undertaking, the “
Undertakings ”);
WHEREAS , (i) UPP is the lessee of the Union Power
Station; (ii) Trans-Union is the owner of a certain pipeline
transporting natural gas to the Union Power Station (the “
Pipeline ” and together with the Union Power Station,
the “ Union Project ”); (iii) Finance Co. is the
entity formed by UPP to facilitate the Act 9 Bond financing at the
Union Project; and (iv) PGR is the owner of the Gila River Power
Project (the “ Gila River Project ” and together
with the Union Project and Pipeline, the “ Projects
”);
WHEREAS , UPP, PGR, Trans-Union and Finance Co. (each a
“ Project Company ,” and collectively, the
“ Project Companies ”) are all indirect
subsidiaries of TPGC, which in turn is an indirect subsidiary of
TECO;
WHEREAS , the partnership interests, or, as applicable,
the membership interests, in the Project Companies (collectively,
the “ Partnership Interests ”) are also pledged
as Collateral for the Obligations;
WHEREAS , certain Events of Default exist and are
continuing under each of the Credit Agreements which, in turn,
gives the Administrative Agent the right to foreclose on the
Collateral as provided under the Credit Agreements;
WHEREAS , TECO is willing to cause the transfer of any
and all title to and ownership of the Partnership Interests in the
Project Companies to the Banks (or one or more entities designated
by the Administrative Agent acting at the direction of the Required
Banks);
WHEREAS , the Banks (or one or more entities designated
by the Administrative Agent acting at the direction of the Required
Banks) are willing to accept title to and ownership of the
Partnership Interests in the Project Companies;
WHEREAS , a transaction (the “ Transaction
”) will be consummated pursuant to which title to and
ownership of the Partnership Interests in the Project Companies
will be transferred to the Banks (or to one or more entities
designated by the Administrative Agent acting at the direction of
the Required Banks);
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WHEREAS , in preparation for and as conditions precedent
to the consummation of the Transaction and the Banks’
willingness to accept title to and ownership of the Partnership
Interests in the Project Companies, TECO, the Project Companies,
Administrative Agent and Banks, as applicable, have negotiated the
Project Companies Release of Banks Agreement, TECO Release of
Project Companies Agreement, Master Settlement Agreement, Equity
Transfer Agreement, if applicable, Operating Asset Contribution
Agreement, and Energy Management Contribution and Option Agreement,
each as defined below; and
WHEREAS , by their signature below, at least the
Required Banks have entered into this Agreement and approved the
execution and delivery hereof by the Administrative Agent acting on
behalf of the Banks.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE
, for good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Definitions . Unless
otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used in this Agreement
shall have the meanings set forth in, as may be applicable, (i)
Exhibit A of the Union Power Credit Agreement; (ii) Exhibit A of
the Gila River Credit Agreement; (iii) Article I of the Union Power
Undertaking; and (iv) Article I of the Gila River Undertaking. As
used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have
the following meanings:
1.1. “ Administrative Agent
Undertakings Claims ” shall mean any and all Claims that
the Administrative Agent has against TECO in its representative
capacity as beneficiary under the Undertakings.
1.2. “ Administrative Agent
Releasors ” shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2.4 hereof.
1.3. “ Affiliate
” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any other Person
that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries,
controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the
Person specified, or who holds or beneficially owns 10% or more of
the equity interest in the Person specified or 10% or more of any
class of voting securities of the Person specified. When used with
respect to any Project Company, “Affiliate” shall
include each partner and any affiliate of any partner (other than
such Project Company).
1.4. “ Bank Releasors
” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3
hereof.
1.5. “ Bank Releasee(s)
” shall mean, individually or collectively, as applicable,
(i) the Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, LC Bank, Depositary
Agent and each of the Banks signatory hereto, (ii) the respective
Affiliates of each of the Persons released pursuant to clause (i)
above, (iii) all present and former officers, directors,
stockholders, partners, employees, attorneys, agents, trustees,
consultants and other representatives of each of the Persons
released pursuant to any of clauses (i) and (ii) above, and (iv)
the respective predecessors, successors, successors-in-interest,
assigns, heirs and representatives of each of the Persons released
pursuant to any of clauses (i) through (iii) above.
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1.6. “ Claim(s) ”
shall mean, individually or collectively, as applicable, any and
all actions, causes of action, counterclaims, suits, debts, dues,
sums of money, accounts, reckonings, bonds, bills, specialties,
covenants, contracts, controversies, agreements, promises,
variances, trespasses, damages, judgments, extents, executions,
rights, claims, demands, setoffs, recoupments, liabilities, losses
and rights to any of the following: reimbursement, subrogation,
contribution, indemnification or other payment, costs or expenses,
or reasonable attorneys’ fees; in each case, whether arising
under contract, in law or in equity or by operation of law, of any
nature whatsoever, known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected,
fixed or contingent, and whether representing a past, present or
future obligation.
1.7. “ Closing Date
” shall mean the second business day after which all the
conditions to the Release Effective Date have occurred and been
satisfied except the payment of the Release Fee required by clause
(iv) of Section 6.2 .
1.8. “ Contingent Equity
Contribution Guaranty ” shall mean that certain
Contingent Equity Contribution Guaranty dated as of May 31, 2001 by
and among TECO and Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent under
the Gila River Credit Agreement, with respect to the Gila River
Project (as amended, restated, supplemented and otherwise modified
from time to time prior to the date hereof).
1.9. “ Depositary
Agreement ” shall mean that certain Depositary Agreement
dated as of May 31, 2001 by and among PGR, UPP, Finance Co. and
Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent under the Credit Agreements
(as amended, restated, supplemented and otherwise modified from
time to time prior to the date hereof).
1.10. “ Effective Date
” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1
hereof.
1.11. “ Energy Management
Contribution and Option Agreement ” shall mean that
certain Energy Management Contribution and Option Agreement dated
as of October 13, 2004 by and among Citibank, N.A., as
Administrative Agent under the Credit Agreements, TECO, TES, TWG
Merchant, Inc., PGR, UPP, Trans-Union, and Gila River Energy
Management Transition AssetCo., LLC.
1.12. “ Equity Contribution
Guaranties ” shall mean (i) that certain Equity
Contribution Guaranty dated as of May 31, 2001 by and between TECO
and Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent under the Union Power
Credit Agreement, with respect to the Union Project (as amended,
restated, supplemented and otherwise modified from time to time
prior to the date hereof), and (ii) that certain Equity
Contribution Guaranty dated as of May 31, 2001 by and between TECO
and Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent under the Gila River
Credit Agreement, with respect to the Gila River Project (as
amended, restated, supplemented and otherwise modified from time to
time prior to the date hereof).
1.13. “ Equity Transfer
Agreement ” shall mean that certain Equity Transfer
Agreement dated as of [
] , 2005 by and among Entegra Power Group LLC, Union Power LLC,
Gila River Power LLC, Trans-Union Pipeline LLC, UPP, PGR,
Trans-Union, Union Power I, LLC, Union Power II, LLC, Panda Gila
River I, LLC, Panda Gila River II, LLC, Trans-Union Interstate I,
LLC, Trans Union Interstate II, LLC, and TECO.
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1.14. “ Excluded Claims
” shall mean the Excluded Operating Claims and Excluded
Undertaking Claims.
1.15. “ Excluded Operating
Claims ” shall mean those Claims against any TECO Entity
arising or existing prior to the Closing Date and related to or
arising in connection with (x) those certain notices of violation
dated as of August 18, 2004 issued by Maricopa County, Arizona
attached hereto as Exhibit A (or any amendment, supplement,
replacement, alteration or other modification of such notices), or
(y) any other violation of environmental laws at the Projects that
breaches the O&M Agreements.
1.16. “ Excluded
Undertakings Claims ” shall mean those Claims against
TECO under the Undertakings that are not being released hereunder,
which shall consist of and are expressly limited to Claims arising
with respect to or in connection with (i) warranty items arising
under either NEPCO Construction Contract, (ii) unpaid construction
taxes owed to Gila Bend, Arizona, (iii) any privileges tax or
so-called speculative builder tax owed in connection with the
Transaction; (iv) any fines and/or penalties owed to government
entities and related defense costs and expenses, including
attorneys fees, related to or arising in connection with (x) those
certain notices of violation dated as of August 18, 2004 issued by
Maricopa County, Arizona attached hereto as Exhibit A (or
any amendment, supplement, replacement, alteration or other
modification of such notices), or (y) any other violations of
environmental laws at Gila River that are covered by or included
within the Undertakings and occur prior to the Closing Date; and
(v) any indemnity or Damages (as defined in the NEPCO Construction
Contracts) provided, included or described in section 16.01 of
either NEPCO Construction Contract.
1.17. “ February LOI
” shall mean that certain Non-Binding Letter Of Intent and
Binding Litigation Settlement dated as of February 5, 2004 by and
among TECO, TPGC, UPP, PGR, Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent
under the Credit Agreements, and the financial institutions party
thereto, which includes the Non-Binding Letter of Intent in Part A
and the Binding Litigation Settlement in Part B.
1.18. “ Governmental
Body ” shall mean any foreign, federal, state, municipal
or other government, or other department, commission, board,
bureau, agency, public authority or instrumentality thereof or any
other court or arbitrator.
1.19. “ Indemnitees
” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.8
hereof.
1.20. [Intentionally
omitted]
1.21. “ Master Settlement
Agreement ” shall mean that certain Master Settlement
Agreement and Restructuring Support Agreement dated as of January
24, 2005, by and among TPGC, TES, TECO, Union Power I, LLC, Union
Power II, LLC, Panda Gila River I, LLC, Panda Gila River II, LLC,
Trans-Union Interstate I, LLC, Trans-Union Interstate II, LLC, UPP,
PGR, Trans-Union, Finance Co., Citibank, N.A., as Administrative
Agent under the Credit Agreements, and the financial institutions
party thereto.
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1.22. “ NEPCO Construction
Contracts ” shall mean (i) that certain Amended and
Restated Turnkey Engineering, Procurement and Construction
Agreement for Combined-Cycle Generation Facility dated as of March
27, 2001 by and between UPP and National Energy Production
Corporation (as amended, restated, supplemented and otherwise
modified from time to time prior to the date hereof); and (ii) that
certain Amended and Restated Turnkey Engineering, Procurement and
Construction Agreement for Combined-Cycle Generation Facility dated
as of April 30, 2001 by and between PGR and National Energy
Production Corporation (as amended, restated, supplemented and
otherwise modified from time to time prior to the date
hereof).
1.23. “ O&M
Agreements ” shall mean (i) that certain Amended and
Restated Operation and Maintenance Agreement between PGR and TPS
Arizona Operations Company dated as of May 25, 2001 (as amended,
restated, supplemented and otherwise modified from time to time
prior to the date hereof), and (ii) that certain Amended and
Restated Operation and Maintenance Agreement between UPP and TPS
Arkansas Operations Company dated as of February 8, 2001 (as
amended, restated, supplemented and otherwise modified from time to
time prior to the date hereof).
1.24. “ Operating Asset
Contribution Agreement ” shall mean that certain
Operating Asset Contribution Agreement dated as of October 13, 2004
by and among Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent under the
Credit Agreements, UPP, Trans-Union, PGR, Gila River Transition
AssetCo, LLC, TWG Merchant, Inc., and TECO.
1.25. “ Outer Date
” shall mean January 24, 2005, as such date may be extended
from time to time by TECO.
1.26. “ Owners ”
shall mean the direct owners of the Partnership Interests and
refers to, individually or collectively, as applicable, Union Power
I, LLC, Union Power II, LLC, Panda Gila River I, LLC, Panda Gila
River II, LLC, Trans-Union Interstate I, LLC, and Trans-Union
Interstate II, LLC.
1.27. “ Partnership
Interests ” shall mean the partnership or other ownership
interests in any or all of the Project Companies.
1.28. “ Person ”
shall mean any individual, firm, corporation, business enterprise,
trust, association, joint venture, partnership, limited
partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability
company, any Governmental Body or any other entity, whether acting
in an individual, fiduciary or other capacity.
1.29. “ Pledge
Agreements ” shall mean (i) that certain Partnership
Interest Pledge and Security Agreement dated as of May 31, 2001 (as
amended, restated, supplemented and otherwise modified from time to
time prior to the date hereof) by and among Union Power I, LLC, UPP
and Citibank, N.A., as Collateral Agent; (ii) that certain
Partnership Interest Pledge and Security Agreement dated as of May
31, 2001 (as amended, restated, supplemented and otherwise modified
from time to time prior to the date hereof) by and among Union
Power II, LLC, UPP and Citibank, N.A., as Collateral Agent; (iii)
that certain Partnership Interest Pledge and Security Agreement
dated as of May 31, 2001 (as amended, restated, supplemented and
otherwise modified from time to time prior to the date hereof) by
and among Panda Gila River I, LLC, PGR and Citibank, N.A., as
Collateral Agent; (iv) that certain Partnership Interest Pledge and
Security Agreement dated as of May 31, 2001 (as amended,
restated,
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supplemented and otherwise modified from time to
time prior to the date hereof) by and among Panda Gila River II,
LLC, PGR and Citibank, N.A., as Collateral Agent; (v) that certain
Partnership Interest Pledge and Security Agreement dated as of May
31, 2001 (as amended, restated, supplemented and otherwise modified
from time to time prior to the date hereof) by and among
Trans-Union Interstate I, LLC, Trans-Union and Citibank, N.A., as
Collateral Agent; (vi) that certain Partnership Interest Pledge and
Security Agreement dated as of May 31, 2001 (as amended, restated,
supplemented and otherwise modified from time to time prior to the
date hereof) by and among Trans-Union Interstate II, LLC,
Trans-Union and Citibank, N.A., as Collateral Agent; and (vii) that
certain LLC Membership Interest Pledge and Security Agreement dated
as of May 31, 2001 (as amended, restated, supplemented and
otherwise modified from time to time prior to the date hereof) by
and among UPP, Finance Co. and Citibank, N.A., as Collateral
Agent.
1.30. “ Project Company
Entities ” shall mean, individually or collectively, as
applicable, (i) each of the Project Companies, (ii) any Subsidiary
of either a Project Company or an Owner.
1.31. “ Project Companies
Release of Banks Agreement ” shall mean that certain
release of the Administrative Agent and Banks dated as of [
] , 2005 by and among UPP, PGR, Trans-Union, and Finance
Co.
1.32. “ Project Company
Releasors ” shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2.2 hereof.
1.33. “ Qualified Bank
Releasor ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section
6.3 hereof.
1.34. “ Reimbursement and
Assignment Agreements ” shall mean (i) that certain
Reimbursement and Assignment Agreement dated as of January 16, 2002
by and between UPP and TECO (as amended, restated, supplemented and
otherwise modified from time to time prior to the date hereof), and
(ii) that certain Reimbursement and Assignment Agreement dated as
of January 16, 2002 by and between PGR and TECO (as amended,
restated, supplemented and otherwise modified from time to time
prior to the date hereof).
1.35. “ Release Effective
Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section
6.2 hereof.
1.36. “ Release Fee
” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.2
hereof.
1.37. “ Released Claims
” shall mean, with respect to any Releasor, any Claim which
is released by such Releasor pursuant to any of the provisions of
Section 2 hereof.
1.38. “ Released
Documents ” shall mean, individually or collectively, as
applicable, (i) the Credit Agreements, (ii) the Undertakings, (iii)
the Reimbursement and
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Assignment Agreements, (iv) the Pledge
Agreements, (v) the Subordination Agreement, (vi) the Equity
Contribution Guaranties, (vii) the Contingent Equity Contribution
Guaranty, (viii) the Depositary Agreement, and (ix) any other
Operative Documents.
1.39. “ Releasees
” shall mean the TECO Releasees and Bank
Releasees.
1.40. “ Releasors
” shall mean the Project Company Releasors, TECO Releasors,
Administrative Agent Releasors and Bank Releasors.
1.41. “ Subsidiary
” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any corporation,
business enterprise, trust, association, joint venture,
partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership,
limited liability company or other business entity of which more
than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of shares of
stock (or equivalent ownership or controlling interest) entitled
(without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in
the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the
time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or
one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a
combination thereof.
1.42. “ Subordination
Agreement ” shall mean (i) that certain Subordination
Agreement dated as of January 16, 2002 by and between TECO and
Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent under the Union Power
Credit Agreement, with respect to the Union Power Project (as
amended, restated, supplemented and otherwise modified from time to
time prior to the date hereof), and (ii) that certain Subordination
Agreement dated as of January 16, 2002 by and between TECO and
Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent under the Gila River Credit
Agreement, with respect to the Gila River Project (as amended,
restated, supplemented and otherwise modified from time to time
prior to the date hereof).
1.43. “ TECO Claims
” shall mean any and all Claims that are connected with,
arise out of, relate to or are otherwise based in whole or in part
on any acts, omissions, facts, matters, transactions or occurrences
arising or existing prior to the Effective Date and directly or
indirectly relating to any or all of (i) the ownership, operation,
management, financing, assets, properties, affairs or any other
aspect of any of the Projects or Project Companies, (ii) the
Released Documents, or any of the transactions contemplated
therein; and (iii) any aspect of any of the dealings or
relationships between or among any or all of the Project Company
Entities, on the one hand, and the TECO Entities, on the other
hand. Without limiting the foregoing and for the avoidance of
doubt, the TECO Claims include, and there are released pursuant to
Section 2 of this Agreement, any and all such Claims arising
by reason of subrogation, whether by law or in equity, to the right
of any other Person, including, without limitation, subrogation to
the rights of the Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and/or
Banks under the Operative Documents.
1.44. “ TECO Entities
” shall mean, individually or collectively, as applicable,
TECO and its Affiliates; provided however that the term
“ TECO Entities ” shall not include any Project
Company Entity.
1.45. “ TECO Release of
Project Companies Agreement ” shall mean that certain
release and indemnity agreement dated as of [
] , 2005 by and among TPGC, TES,
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TECO, Union Power I, LLC, Union Power II, LLC,
Panda Gila River I, LLC, Panda Gila River II, LLC, Trans-Union
Interstate I, LLC, Trans-Union Interstate II, LLC, UPP, PGR,
Trans-Union, and Finance Co.
1.46. “ TECO Releasors
” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1
hereof.
1.47. “ TECO
Releasee(s) ” shall mean, individually or collectively,
as applicable, (i) the TECO Entities, (ii) all present and former
officers, directors, managers, stockholders, partners, employees,
attorneys, agents, trustees, consultants and other representatives
of the TECO Entities or Project Companies, and (iii) the respective
predecessors, successors, successors-in-interest, assigns, heirs
and representatives of each of the Persons release