Exhibit 2.1
Execution
Version
PURCHASE AND SALE
AGREEMENT
among
EL PASO GREAT LAKES COMPANY,
L.L.C.,
as Seller,
and
TC GL INTERMEDIATE LIMITED
PARTNERSHIP
and
TRANSCANADA PIPELINE USA
LTD.,
as Buyers,
dated as of December 22,
2006
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
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Page
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ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS
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1
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1.1
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Certain Defined Terms
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1
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1.2
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Construction
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9
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ARTICLE 2 TERMS OF THE TRANSACTION
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9
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2.1
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Agreement to Sell and to Purchase the Purchased
Interests
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9
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2.2
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Purchase Price and Payment
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10
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2.3
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[Intentionally omitted.]
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10
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2.4
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Calculation of Closing Consideration
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10
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2.5
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Calculation and Payment of Adjustment
Amounts.
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10
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2.6
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Acknowledgement of Obligations
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13
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2.7
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Purchase Price Allocation
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13
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ARTICLE 3 CLOSING
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14
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3.1
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Closing
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14
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3.2
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Deliveries by Seller
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14
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3.3
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Deliveries by Buyers
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15
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ARTICLE 4 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF
SELLER
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15
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4.1
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Corporate Organization
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16
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4.2
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Acquired Companies.
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16
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4.3
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Charter and Bylaws
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17
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4.4
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Authority Relative to this Agreement
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17
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4.5
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No Conflict
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17
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4.6
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Consents, Approvals, and Licenses
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18
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4.7
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Financial Statements and Reports
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18
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4.8
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Absence of Certain Changes
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18
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4.9
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Undisclosed Liabilities
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19
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4.10
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Tax Matters
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19
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4.11
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Compliance With Laws
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20
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4.12
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Legal Proceedings
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20
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4.13
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Acquired Company Agreements.
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21
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i
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4.14
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Employee Plans and Labor Matters
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22
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4.15
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Environmental Matters; Pipeline
Matters
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24
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4.16
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Insurance
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24
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4.17
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Title to Assets
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24
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4.18
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Intellectual Property Rights
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24
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4.19
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Permits
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25
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4.20
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Regulatory Matters
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25
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4.21
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[Intentionally Omitted]
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25
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4.22
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Brokerage Fees
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25
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4.23
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Transactions with Directors, Officers, Employees
and Affiliates
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25
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4.24
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Long-Term Debt
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26
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4.25
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Limitations
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26
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ARTICLE 5 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF
BUYERS
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26
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5.1
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Organization
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26
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5.2
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Authority Relative to This Agreement
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26
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5.3
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No Conflict
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27
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5.4
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Consents, Approvals, and Licenses
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27
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5.5
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Investment Intent; Investment Experience;
Restricted Securities
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27
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5.6
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Legal Proceedings
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28
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5.7
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Brokerage Fees
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28
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5.8
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Available Funds
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28
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5.9
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Ownership by Corp Buyer
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28
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5.10
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Independent Investigation
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28
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ARTICLE 6 CONDUCT OF ACQUIRED COMPANIES PENDING
CLOSING
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29
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6.1
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Conduct and Preservation of the Acquired
Companies
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29
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6.2
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Restrictions on Certain Actions
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29
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ARTICLE 7 ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
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31
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7.1
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Access to Information and
Confidentiality.
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31
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7.2
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Regulatory and Other Authorizations and
Consents
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32
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7.3
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Employees and Employee Plans
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35
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7.4
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Public Announcements
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36
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7.5
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Amendment of Schedules
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36
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ii
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7.6
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Fees and Expenses
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36
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7.7
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Transfer Taxes
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37
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7.8
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Excluded Assets
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37
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7.9
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[Intentionally Omitted]
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37
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7.10
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Use of El Paso Marks
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37
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7.11
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Insurance
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37
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7.12
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Guaranties
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38
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7.13
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Limitations
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38
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ARTICLE 8 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF
SELLER
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39
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8.1
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Representations and Warranties True
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39
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8.2
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Covenants and Agreements Performed
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39
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8.3
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Legal Proceedings
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39
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8.4
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ANR Pipeline Closing
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39
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ARTICLE 9 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF
BUYERS
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40
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9.1
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Representations and Warranties True
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40
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9.2
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Covenants and Agreements Performed
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40
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9.3
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Legal Proceedings
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40
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9.4
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ANR Pipeline Closing
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40
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ARTICLE 10 TERMINATION, AMENDMENT, AND
WAIVER
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40
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10.1
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Termination
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40
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10.2
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Effect of Termination
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41
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10.3
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Amendment
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41
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10.4
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Waiver
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41
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ARTICLE 11 TAX MATTERS
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42
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11.1
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Preparation of Tax Returns and Payment of
Taxes.
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42
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11.2
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Tax Sharing Agreement
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43
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11.3
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Seller Tax Indemnity
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43
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11.4
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Refunds
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44
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11.5
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Assistance
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44
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11.6
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Claims.
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45
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11.7
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Closing Tax Certificate
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45
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iii
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ARTICLE 12 SURVIVAL AND
INDEMNIFICATION
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46
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12.1
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Indemnification.
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46
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12.2
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Defense of Claims.
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48
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ARTICLE 13 OTHER PROVISIONS
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50
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13.1
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Notices
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50
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13.2
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Entire Agreement
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51
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13.3
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Binding Effect; Assignment; No Third Party
Benefit
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51
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13.4
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Severability
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51
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13.5
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Governing Law
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51
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13.6
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Further Assurances
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51
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13.7
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Counterparts
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52
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13.8
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Disclosure
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52
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13.9
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Consent to Jurisdiction
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52
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13.10
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Specific Performance
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52
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iv
PURCHASE AND SALE
AGREEMENT
THIS PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT
(this “ Agreement ”), dated as of
December 22, 2006, is among (i) El Paso Great Lakes Company,
L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (“ Seller
”), (ii) TC GL Intermediate Limited Partnership, a Delaware
limited partnership (“ LP Buyer ”), and (iii)
TransCanada PipeLine USA Ltd., a Nevada corporation (“
Corp Buyer ”; LP Buyer and Corp Buyer are each
referred to herein individually as a “ Buyer ”
and collectively as the “ Buyers ”).
Seller and Buyers are referred to herein sometimes individually as
a “ Party ” and collectively as the “
Parties .”
Recitals:
A.
Seller directly owns beneficially and of record (i) 50% of the
outstanding capital stock (the “ GLGTCO Shares
”) of Great Lakes Gas Transmission Company, a Delaware
corporation (“ GLGTCO ”), and (ii) a 46.45%
general partnership interest (the “ GLGTLP GP Interest
” and, together with the GLGTCO Shares, the “
Purchased Interests ”) in Great Lakes Gas Transmission
Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership (“
GLGTLP ”).
B.
Seller desires to sell to LP Buyer, and LP Buyer desires to
purchase from Seller, the GLGTLP GP Interest, upon the terms and
subject to the conditions in this Agreement.
C.
Seller desires to sell to Corp Buyer, and Corp Buyer desires to
purchase from Seller, the GLGTCO Shares, upon the terms and subject
to the conditions in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, Seller and Buyers
agree as follows:
Article 1
DEFINITIONS
1.1
Certain Defined Terms . As used in this Agreement,
each of the following terms has the meaning given to it
below:
“ Acquired Companies
” means GLGTCO, GLGTLP and the wholly owned subsidiaries of
GLGTCO and GLGTLP listed in Schedule 1.1(a)
.
“ Acquired Company
” means any of the Acquired Companies.
“ Acquired Company
Insurance Policies ” means those material policies of
insurance which the Acquired Companies maintain with respect to
their assets and operations, all of which are listed on Schedule
4.16(i) .
“ Acquired Company
Plans ” is defined in Section 4.14(a)
.
“ Adjustment Statement
” is defined in Section 2.5(b) .
“ Affiliate ”
means, 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, such Person.
For the purposes of this definition, “control” means,
when used with respect to any
1
Person, the possession, directly or
indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the
management and policies of such Person, whether through the
ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise, and the
terms “controlling” and “controlled” have
correlative meanings.
“Agreement” is defined in the Preamble.
“ Applicable Environmental
Laws ” means any and all Applicable Laws (in effect as of
the date of this Agreement) pertaining to protection of human
health and the environment in any and all jurisdictions in which
any Acquired Company conducts or has conducted
operations.
“Applicable
Law” means any
statute, law, rule, or regulation, or any judgment, order,
ordinance, or other documentary articulation of law, writ,
injunction, or decree of any Governmental Entity to which a
specified Person or its property is subject.
“ Assumed Obligations
” is defined in Section 2.6 .
“ Balance Sheet Date
” means September 30, 2006.
“Buyer”
is defined in the
Preamble.
“ Buyer Guarantors
” means TransCanada Corporation and TransCanada PipeLine USA
Ltd.
“ Buyer Indemnitees
” means, collectively, each Buyer and its Affiliates
(including each of the Acquired Companies) and its and their
officers, directors, employees, agents, and
representatives.
“ Buyer Protected
Information ” is defined in Section 7.2(c)(i)
.
“ Buyers Guaranty
” means a guaranty agreement in the form of
Exhibit 7.12(a) .
“ Cash Balance Plan
” is defined in Section 7.3(b).
“ Closing ” means
the closing of the transactions contemplated hereby.
“ Closing Date ”
means the date on which the Closing occurs.
“ Code ” means
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“ commercially reasonable
efforts ” means efforts (i) in accordance with
reasonable commercial practice and the terms, limitations, and
restrictions of all applicable contracts and other agreements and
(ii) without the incurrence of unreasonable
expense.
“ Confidentiality
Agreement ” means that certain confidentiality letter
agreement, dated September 25, 2006, between TransCanada PipeLines
Limited and El Paso .
“ Corp Adjustment
Amount ” is defined in Section 2.5(a)
.
2
“ Corp Base Purchase
Price ” is defined in Section 2.2(b) .
“ Corp Buyer ” is
defined in the Preamble.
“ Corp Estimated Adjustment
Amount ” means Seller’s good faith and reasonable
estimate of the Corp Adjustment Amount, as of the date on which
Seller delivers to Buyers the written statement contemplated by
Section 2.4 .
“ Corp Interest
Adjustment ” means interest (calculated based on the
actual number of days elapsed, assuming a 360-day year) on the Corp
Base Purchase Price as adjusted by the Corp Estimated Adjustment
Amount at the Prime Rate plus 1.0% from (and including) the
Effective Date to (but excluding) the Closing Date.
“ Data Site”
means the online presentation of materials prepared by Seller, as
the same exists as of the close of business, Houston, Texas time,
of the day immediately preceding the date of this Agreement, to
assist Buyers in their investigation of the Acquired
Companies.
“ Debt Documents
” means the following: (i) Note Agreement, dated as of
March 29, 2000, among GLGTLP and certain purchasers relating to
$100 million principal amount of 8.08% Senior Notes due January 29,
2030; (ii) Note Agreement, dated as of March 25, 1998, among GLGTLP
and certain purchasers relating to $90 million principal amount
6.73% Series A Senior Notes due March 25, 2018 and $110 million
principal amount of 6.95% Series B Senior Notes due March 25, 2028;
and (iii) Note Agreement, dated as of October 15, 1991, among
GLGTLP and certain purchasers relating to $100 million 8.74% Series
A Senior Notes due October 30, 2011 and $100 million 9.09% Series B
Senior Notes due October 30, 2021.
“ Deductible Amount
” means an amount equal to 1.0% of the Total Purchase
Price.
“ Direct Claim”
means any claim by an Indemnitee on account of a Loss which does
not result from a Third Party Claim.
“ Disclosure Letter
” means the letter, of even date herewith, of Seller or
Buyers to which such party’s Schedules are
attached.
“ Dispute Deadline Date
” is defined in Section 2.5(c) .
“ Effective Date
” means the close of business on the last day of the month
preceding the Closing Date.
“ Effective Date Financial
Statements ” is defined in Section 2.5(b)
.
“ Effective Date GLGTCO
Financial Statements ” is defined in
Section 2.5(b) .
“ Effective Date GLGTLP
Financial Statements ” is defined in
Section 2.5(b) .
“ El Paso ” means
El Paso Corporation, a Delaware corporation.
3
“ El Paso Marks
” means the name “El Paso” and other similar
trademarks, service marks, and trade names owned by Seller or its
Affiliates (other than the Acquired Companies).
“ Employee Plan ”
means any stock purchase, stock option, pension, profit sharing,
bonus, deferred compensation, incentive compensation, severance or
termination pay, hospitalization or other medical or dental, life
or other insurance, supplemental unemployment benefits plan or
agreement or policy or other arrangement providing
employment-related compensation or benefits, including
“employee benefit plans,” as defined in
Section 3(3) of ERISA.
“ Encumbrances ”
means liens, charges, pledges, options, rights of first refusal,
reversionary rights, mortgages, deeds of trust, security interests,
claims, leases, licenses, restrictions (whether on voting, sale,
transfer, disposition, or otherwise), easements, encroachments and
other encumbrances or limitations of every type and description,
whether imposed by law, agreement, understanding, or
otherwise.
“ ERISA ” means
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended.
“ Excluded Assets
” is defined in Section 7.8 .
“ Excluded Information
” is defined in Section 7.1(a) .
“ Exhibits ”
means the exhibits attached to this Agreement.
“ FERC ” means
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
“ GLGTCO ” is
defined in the Recitals.
“ GLGTCO Financial
Statements ” is defined in Section 4.7
.
“ GLGTCO Shares ”
is defined in the Recitals.
“ GLGTCO Working
Capital ” is defined in Section 2.5(f)
.
“ GLGTLP ” is
defined in the Recitals.
“ GLGTLP GP Interest
” is defined in the Recitals.
“ GLGTLP Financial
Statements ” is defined in Section 4.7
.
“ GLGTLP Working
Capital ” is defined in Section 2.5(f)
.
“ GL Financial
Statements ” is defined in Section 4.7
.
“ Governmental Entity
” means any court or tribunal in any jurisdiction (domestic
or foreign) or any federal, state, municipal, or local government
or other governmental body, agency, authority, department,
commission, board, bureau, instrumentality, arbitrator, or arbitral
body (domestic or foreign).
4
“ HSR Measures ”
is defined in Section 7.2(a) .
“ Income Tax ”
means federal, state, local or foreign income or franchise Taxes or
other similar Taxes measured in whole or part by income and any
interest and penalties or additions thereon.
“ Indemnifying Party
” means a Party required to provide indemnification under
Section 12.1.
“ Indemnitee ”
means a Party entitled to receive indemnification under Section
12.1 .
“ IRS ” means the
Internal Revenue Service.
“ knowledge ”
means, when used with respect to Seller or the Acquired Companies,
that which is actually known by the individuals listed on
Schedule 1.1(b) , without due inquiry, and when used
with respect to Buyers, that which is actually known by the
individuals listed on Schedule 1.1(c) , without due
inquiry.
“ Long Term Debt
” means both the current and long-term portions of the
outstanding principal amount of indebtedness as of the date of
determination under the Debt Documents, and including the amount of
unamortized debt discount under U.S. GAAP.
“ Losses ” means,
collectively, any and all claims, liabilities, losses, causes of
action, fines, penalties, litigation, lawsuits, administrative
proceedings, administrative investigations, costs, and expenses,
including reasonable attorneys’ fees, court costs, and other
costs of suit.
“LP Adjustment
Amount ” is defined
in Section 2.5(a) .
“ LP Base Purchase
Price ” is defined in Section 2.2(a) .
“ LP Buyer ” is
defined in the Preamble.
“ LP Estimated Adjustment
Amount ” means Seller’s good faith and reasonable
estimate of the LP Adjustment Amount, as of the date on which
Seller delivers to Buyers the written statement contemplated by
Section 2.4 .
“ LP Interest
Adjustment ” means interest (calculated based on the
actual number of days assuming a 360-day year) on the LP Base
Purchase Price, as adjusted by the LP Estimated Adjustment Amount
at the Prime Rate plus 1.0% from (and including) the Effective Date
to (but excluding) the Closing Date.
“ Material Adverse
Effect ” means, any circumstance, change, or effect that
is materially adverse to the financial condition, properties,
operations, results of operations, assets or business of the
Acquired Companies taken as a whole or that impedes or delays the
ability of Seller to perform its obligations under this Agreement
or the Related Agreements or to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby, other than (i) any adverse
circumstance, change, or effect arising from or relating to general
business or economic conditions in the industries or
5
markets in which the Acquired
Companies operate, including (A) changes in national or
regional gathering and pipeline systems or (B) rules,
regulations, or decisions of FERC or the courts affecting the
interstate natural gas transportation industry as a whole,
(ii) any adverse circumstance, change, or effect arising from
weather conditions, including unexpected or harsh weather
conditions, (iii) seasonal reductions in revenues or earnings
of the Acquired Companies in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past periods, (iv) national or international
political, diplomatic, or military conditions, including any
engagement in hostilities, whether or not pursuant to a declaration
of war, or the occurrence of any military or terrorist attack not
disproportionately affecting the Acquired Companies,
(v) changes in U.S. GAAP, (vi) changes in Applicable Laws
not disproportionately affecting the Acquired Companies,
(vii) the taking of any action required or permitted by
Section 7.8 of this Agreement, or the failure of Seller
or the Acquired Companies to take any action for which Seller in
good faith requests Buyers’ written consent under Section
6.1 or 6.2 and Buyers fail or refuse to provide such
consent, (viii) any changes in prices for commodities, goods,
or services, or the availability or costs of hedges or other
derivatives, including fluctuations in interest rates,
(ix) any matter that is expressly disclosed in the Schedules
as of the date of execution of this Agreement, and (x) the
execution and delivery or announcement of this Agreement. The
Parties agree that any determination as to whether a change,
effect, event, or occurrence is a Material Adverse Effect shall be
made after taking into account and considering all matters relevant
to such analysis, including (y) all amounts, if any,
recognized by the Person and its Affiliates, as applicable, under
insurance or third-party indemnifications or similar agreements,
and (z) all Tax Benefits with respect to such change, effect,
event, or occurrence.
“NGA”
is defined in Section 4.20
.
“NLRB”
is defined in Section 4.14(d)
.
“ Notice ” means
any notice, request, demand, or other communications required or
permitted to be given or made under this Agreement by either
Party.
“ Notice of
Disagreement ” is defined in Section 2.5(c)
.
“ Party ” is
defined in the Preamble.
“ Permits ” means
licenses, permits, franchises, consents, approvals, variances,
exemptions, and other authorizations of or from Governmental
Entities.
“ Permitted
Encumbrances ” means (i) zoning, planning and building
codes and ordinances; (ii) defects, imperfections or irregularities
in title (including easements, rights-of-way, covenants,
conditions, restrictions, and other matters affecting title to real
property) that are not material in character, amount or extent with
respect to the asset or assets to which they relate or, together
with any other such defects, imperfections or irregularities, in
the aggregate; (iii) Encumbrances created by or referenced in
any of the Scheduled Contracts; (iv) Encumbrances created by
Buyers, or their successors and assigns, (v) liens for Taxes
not yet due and payable, (vi) statutory liens (including
materialmen’s, mechanic’s, repairmen’s,
landlord’s and other similar liens) arising in connection
with the ordinary course of business
6
securing payments not yet due and
payable; (vii) Encumbrances arising under the Debt Documents;
and (viii) Encumbrances that would not materially interfere
with the operations of the Acquired Companies, as currently
conducted, whether of record or not of record.
“ Person ” means
any individual, corporation, limited liability company,
partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company,
trust, enterprise, unincorporated organization, or Governmental
Entity.
“ Pipeline/Storage PSA
” is defined in Section 8.4 .
“ Post-Effective Date
Taxes ” is defined in Section 11.1(d)
.
“ Pre-Closing Taxes
” is defined in Section 11.1(c) .
“ Prime Rate ”
means the prime interest rate reported in The Wall Street
Journal on the Effective Date.
“ Proceedings ”
means all proceedings, actions, claims, suits, investigations, and
inquiries by or before any mediator, arbitrator, or Governmental
Entity.
“ Purchase Price
” means (i) in the case of the GLGTLP GP Interest, the
sum of the LP Base Purchase Price, as adjusted by the LP Adjustment
Amount and the LP Interest Adjustment, and (ii) in the case of the
GLGTCO Shares, the sum of the Corp Base Purchase Price, as adjusted
by the Corp Adjustment Amount and the Corp Interest
Adjustment.
“ Purchase Price Allocation
Schedule ” is defined in Section 2.7
.
“ Purchased Interests
” is defined in the Recitals.
“ Related Agreements
” means any document, agreement, certificate or instrument
delivered in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, and with respect to Buyers only, the Buyers Guaranty,
and with respect to Seller only, the Seller Guaranty.
“ Savings Plan ”
is defined in Section 7.3(b) .
“ Scheduled Contracts
” means any of the agreements or contracts listed on
Schedule 4.13 .
“ Schedules ”
means the schedules attached to the Disclosure Letter of Seller or
Buyers, as the case may be.
“ Securities Act
” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Seller”
is defined in the
Preamble.
“ Seller Guarantor
” means El Paso.
“Seller
Guaranty” means a
guaranty agreement in the form of Exhibit 7.12(b)
.
7
“ Seller Indemnitees
” means, collectively, Seller and its Affiliates (other than
the Acquired Companies) and each of their officers, directors,
employees, agents, and representatives.
“ Seller Protected
Information ” is defined in Section 7.2(c)(ii)
.
“ Straddle Period
” means a Tax period or year commencing before and ending
after the Closing Date.
“ Straddle Return
” means a Tax Return for a Straddle Period.
“ Tax Audit ” is
defined in Section 11.6(a) .
“ Tax Benefit ”
means an amount by which the current Tax liability of a Party (or
group of corporations including the Party) is reduced (including by
deduction, reduction of income by virtue of increased Tax basis or
otherwise, entitlement of refund, credit, or otherwise).
“ Tax Return ”
means any return or report, declaration, report, claim for refund,
information return, or statement relating to Taxes, including any
related schedules, attachments, or other supporting information,
with respect to Taxes, and including any amendment
thereto.
“ Taxes ” means
any federal, state, local or foreign income, gross receipts,
license, payroll, parking, employment, excise, severance, stamp,
occupation, premium, windfall profits, environmental, customs
duties, capital stock, franchise, profits, withholding, social
security (or similar), unemployment, disability, real property,
personal property, sales, use, transfer, registration, value added,
alternative or add-on minimum, estimated tax or other tax of any
kind whatsoever, including any interest, penalty or addition
thereto, including such item for which a liability arises as a
transferee or successor-in-interest.
“ Taxing Authority
” means any Governmental Entity responsible for the
imposition or collection of any Tax.
“ Third Party ”
means any Person other than (i) Seller or any of its
Affiliates (including the Acquired Companies) and (ii) Buyers
and their respective Affiliates.
“ Third Party Claim
” means any claim or the commencement of any claim, action,
or proceeding made or brought by a Third Party.
“Total Purchase
Price” means the
sum of (i) the Purchase Price and (ii) 50% of the principal amount
of the Long Term Debt outstanding as of the Closing.
“ Transition Period
” is defined in Section 7.10 .
“ U.S. GAAP ”
means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States
of America, including interpretations, guidance, or bulletins
issued in respect thereof, as in effect on the date to which the
document or calculation to which it refers relates, applied on a
consistent basis throughout the periods covered by such document or
calculation.
8
1.2
Construction . In construing this Agreement, the
following principles shall be followed:
(a)
the terms “herein,” “hereof,”
“hereby,” “hereunder,” and other similar
terms, refer to this Agreement as a whole and not only to the
particular Article, Section, or other subdivision in which any such
terms may be employed;
(b)
references to Articles, Sections, Schedules, Exhibits and other
subdivisions and clauses refer to the Articles, Sections,
Schedules, Exhibits and other subdivisions and clauses of this
Agreement;
(c)
a reference to any Person shall include such Person’s
predecessors and successors;
(d)
all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings
assigned to them in accordance with U.S. GAAP;
(e)
all references herein to amounts in dollars or preceded by
“$” shall constitute references to such amounts in U.S.
currency;
(f)
no consideration shall be given to the captions of the Articles,
Sections, subsections, or clauses, which are inserted for
convenience in locating the provisions of this Agreement and not as
an aid in its construction;
(g)
examples shall not be construed to limit, expressly or by
implication, the matter they illustrate;
(h)
the word “includes” and its syntactical variants mean
“includes, but is not limited to” and corresponding
syntactical variant expressions;
(i)
a defined term has its defined meaning throughout this Agreement,
regardless of whether it appears before or after the place in this
Agreement where it is defined;
(j)
the plural shall be deemed to include the singular, and vice versa;
and
(k)
each Exhibit and Schedule to this Agreement is a part of this
Agreement, but if there is any conflict or inconsistency between
the main body of this Agreement and any Exhibit or Schedule, the
provisions of the main body of this Agreement shall
prevail.
Article 2
TERMS OF THE TRANSACTION
2.1
Agreement to Sell and to Purchase the Purchased Interests
.
(a)
At the Closing, and on the terms and subject to the conditions in
this Agreement, Seller shall sell, transfer, deliver, and convey to
LP Buyer, and LP Buyer shall purchase and
9
accept from Seller, the GLGTLP GP
Interest, free and clear of all Encumbrances, other than
restrictions on the transfer of securities under Applicable Laws or
under the partnership agreement of GLGTLP.
(b)
At the Closing, and on the terms and subject to the conditions in
this Agreement, Seller shall sell, transfer, deliver, and convey to
Corp Buyer, and Corp Buyer shall purchase and accept from Seller,
the GLGTCO Shares, free and clear of all Encumbrances, other than
restrictions on the transfer of securities under Applicable Laws or
under the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of
GLGTCO.
2.2
Purchase Price and Payment .
(a)
In consideration of the sale of the GLGTLP GP Interest to LP Buyer,
LP Buyer shall pay to Seller at the Closing, in immediately
available funds by confirmed wire transfer to a bank account or
accounts to be designated by Seller to LP Buyer not less than three
business days prior to the Closing, an amount equal to
$750,000,000.00 (the “ LP Base Purchase Price
”), as adjusted by the LP Estimated Adjustment Amount,
plus the LP Interest Adjustment.
(b)
In consideration of the sale of the GLGTCO Shares to Corp Buyer,
Corp Buyer shall pay to Seller at the Closing, in immediately
available funds by confirmed wire transfer to a bank account or
accounts to be designated by Seller to Corp Buyer not less than
three business days prior to the Closing, an amount equal to
$60,000,000.00 (the “ Corp Base Purchase Price
”), as adjusted by the Corp Estimated Adjustment Amount,
plus the Corp Interest Adjustment.
2.3
[Intentionally omitted.]
2.4
Calculation of Closing Consideration . Not later than
five business days prior to the Closing Date, Seller shall deliver
to Buyers a written statement from Seller setting forth the
calculations of (i) the LP Base Purchase Price, LP Estimated
Adjustment Amount and LP Interest Adjustment and (ii) the Corp Base
Purchase Price, Corp Estimated Adjustment Amount and Corp Interest
Adjustment, in each case, in reasonable detail, based on the best
information available to Seller as of the date hereof, together
with supporting work papers with respect to such
calculations. The LP Base Purchase Price shall be increased
by the LP Estimated Adjustment Amount if the LP Estimated
Adjustment Amount is positive or decreased by the LP Estimated
Adjustment Amount if the LP Estimated Adjustment Amount is
negative. The Corp Base Purchase Price shall be increased by
the Corp Estimated Adjustment Amount if the Corp Estimated
Adjustment Amount is positive or decreased by the Corp Estimated
Adjustment Amount if the Corp Estimated Adjustment Amount is
negative.
2.5
Calculation and Payment of Adjustment Amounts .
(a)
Adjustment Amounts . The “ Corp Adjustment
Amount ” equals 50% of the net increase to, or net
decrease from, the GLGTCO Working Capital between the Balance Sheet
Date and the Effective Date. The “ LP Adjustment
Amount ” equals 50% of the net increase to, or net
decrease from, the GLGTLP Working Capital between the Balance Sheet
Date and the Effective Date. For purposes of clarity, an
increase in GLGTCO Working Capital or GLGTLP Working Capital shall
be represented by a positive number
10
and a decrease in GLGTCO Working
Capital or GLGTLP Working Capital shall be represented by a
negative number.
(b)
Effective Date Financial Statements and Adjustment Amount
. As promptly as practicable after the Closing Date, and in
any event not later than 90 days after the Closing Date, Buyers
shall prepare and deliver to Seller a consolidated balance sheet of
GLGTCO as of the Effective Date (the “ Effective Date
GLGTCO Financial Statements ”), a consolidated balance
sheet of GLGTLP as of the Effective Date (the “ Effective
Date GLGTLP Financial Statements ”, and collectively with
the Effective Date GLGTCO Financial Statements, the “
Effective Date Financial Statements ”), in each case
prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP applied on the same basis as
the balance sheet included in the GL Financial Statements have been
prepared (except that the Effective Date Financial Statements shall
be prepared using actual volumes and revenues and based on other
best available information through the period ending upon the date
the same is delivered to Seller), and (ii) a statement of
Buyers (the “ Adjustment Statement ”) showing in
reasonable detail their calculation of the LP Adjustment Amount and
the Corp Adjustment Amount, together with supporting work
papers. Seller agrees, at no cost to Buyers, to give Buyers
and their authorized representatives reasonable access to such
employees, offices, and other facilities and such books and records
of Seller and its Affiliates as are reasonably necessary to allow
Buyers and their authorized representatives to prepare the
Effective Date Financial Statements, the LP Adjustment Amount and
the Corp Adjustment Amount in compliance with this
Section 2.5 . Buyers, at no cost to Seller, shall
give representatives of Seller reasonable access to the Acquired
Companies’ premises, employees, and other facilities and to
its and the Acquired Companies’ books and records as are
reasonably necessary for purposes of reviewing, verifying, and
auditing the calculations contained in the Effective Date Financial
Statements and the Adjustment Statement.
(c)
Dispute Resolution . The Adjustment Statement shall
become final and binding on Seller and Buyers as to the LP
Adjustment Amount and the Corp Adjustment Amount on the 90th day
following the date the Adjustment Statement is received by Seller
(the “ Dispute Deadline Date ”), unless prior to
the Dispute Deadline Date, Seller delivers Notice to Buyers of its
disagreement (“ Notice of Disagreement ”).
Seller’s Notice of Disagreement shall set forth all of
Seller’s disputed items together with Seller’s proposed
changes thereto, including an explanation in reasonable detail of
the basis on which Seller proposes such changes. If Seller
has delivered a timely Notice of Disagreement, then Seller and
Buyers shall use their good faith efforts to reach written
agreement on the disputed items to determine the LP Adjustment
Amount and the Corp Adjustment Amount. If all of
Seller’s disputed items have not been resolved by Seller and
Buyers by the 120th day following Seller’s receipt of the
Adjustment Statement, then Seller’s disputed items that are
still disputed shall be submitted to binding arbitration by an
independent nationally recognized accounting firm without any
material financial relationship to either Seller or Buyers, as
mutually selected by Seller and Buyers within 5 business days after
the end of the foregoing 120-day period (or in the absence of
agreement between Seller and Buyers by the close of business on
such 5th business day as selected by the president of the American
Arbitration Association or his designee).
11
The arbitrator’s determination
shall in no event be more favorable to Buyers than reflected on the
Adjustment Statement prepared by Buyers nor more favorable to
Seller than shown in the proposed changes delivered by Seller under
its Notice of Disagreement. The fees and expenses of such
arbitration shall be borne 50% by Buyers and 50% by Seller.
The determination of the disputed items by such arbitration shall
be final and binding upon Seller and Buyers as to such disputed
items.
(d)
Final Date . The LP Adjustment Amount and the Corp
Adjustment Amount shall be deemed to be finally determined in the
amounts set forth in the Adjustment Statement on the Dispute
Deadline Date unless a Notice of Disagreement is timely given in
accordance with Section 2.5(c) with respect to the
calculation thereof. If such a Notice of Disagreement is
timely given, the LP Adjustment Amount and the Corp Adjustment
Amount shall be deemed finally determined on the date that the
selected accounting firm gives Notice to Buyers and Seller of its
determination with respect to all disputed items regarding the
calculation thereof, or, if earlier, the date on which Seller and
Buyers agree in writing on the amount thereof, in which case the LP
Adjustment Amount and the Corp Adjustment Amount shall be
calculated in accordance with such determination or agreement, as
the case may be.
(e)
Payments .
(i)
If the LP Adjustment Amount, as finally determined, exceeds the LP
Estimated Adjustment Amount, then LP Buyer shall pay to Seller the
amount of such excess, plus interest on the amount of such excess
from (and including) the Effective Date to (but excluding) the date
of payment at the Prime Rate plus 1.0%. If the LP Adjustment
Amount, as finally determined, is less than the LP Estimated
Adjustment Amount, then Seller shall pay to LP Buyer the amount of
such deficiency, plus interest on the amount of such deficiency
from (and including) the Effective Date to (but excluding) the date
of payment at the Prime Rate plus 1.0%.
(ii)
If the Corp Adjustment Amount, as finally determined, exceeds the
Corp Estimated Adjustment Amount, then Corp Buyer shall pay to
Seller the amount of such excess, plus interest on the amount of
such excess from (and including) the Effective Date to (but
excluding) the date of payment at the Prime Rate plus 1.0%.
If the Corp Adjustment Amount, as finally determined, is less than
the Corp Estimated Adjustment Amount, then Seller shall pay to Corp
Buyer the amount of such deficiency, plus interest on the amount of
such deficiency from (and including) the Effective Date to (but
excluding) the date of payment at the Prime Rate plus
1.0%.
(iii)
Any payments due under this Section 2.5(e) shall be made
within three business days of the date the LP Adjustment Amount and
the Corp Adjustment Amount are deemed to be finally determined
under Section 2.5(d) .
12
(f)
Definition . The “ GLGTCO Working Capital
” and the “ GLGTLP Working Capital ,” in
each case as of the Balance Sheet Date, are calculated as set forth
on Schedule 2.5(f) . The “ GLGTCO
Working Capital ” as of the Effective Date shall be
calculated using the Effective Date GLGTCO Financial Statements and
shall be equal to (1) the amount of current assets of GLGTCO,
as reflected on the Effective Date GLGTCO Financial Statements,
less (2) the amount of current liabilities of GLGTCO, as
reflected on the Effective Date GLGTCO Financial Statements.
The “ GLGTLP Working Capital ” as of the
Effective Date shall be calculated using the Effective Date GLGTLP
Financial Statements and shall be equal to (1) the amount of
current assets of GLGTLP, as reflected on the Effective Date GLGTLP
Financial Statements, less (2) the amount of current liabilities of
GLGTLP, as reflected on the Effective Date GLGTLP Financial
Statements. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence,
(i) for the purpose of calculating the GLGTCO Working Capital,
none of the following have been or shall be included in either
current assets or current liabilities: (A) assets or
liabilities of GLGTCO relating to Taxes (including any deferred Tax
assets or liabilities); (B) any assets or liabilities of
GLGTCO relating to an intercompany account; (C) cash or cash
equivalents on hand or accounts receivable constituting the
proceeds of insurance received or receivable by GLGTCO in respect
of a casualty loss experienced by GLGTCO after the Balance Sheet
Date, which casualty loss involves an asset reflected as a
non-current asset as of the Balance Sheet Date; and (D) any
Excluded Assets and (ii) for the purpose of calculating the
GLGTLP Working Capital, none of the following have been or shall be
included in either current assets or current liabilities: (A)
assets or liabilities of GLGTLP relating to Taxes (including any
deferred Tax assets or liabilities); (B) the current portion of any
principal payment obligation with respect to Long-Term Debt; (C)
cash or cash equivalents on hand or accounts receivable
constituting the proceeds of insurance received or receivable by
GLGTLP in respect of a casualty loss experienced by GLGTLP after
the Balance Sheet Date, which casualty loss involves an asset
reflected as a non-current asset as of the Balance Sheet Date; and
(D) any Excluded Assets. Except to the extent specifically
contemplated above, Seller represents and warrants to Buyers that
the GLGTCO Working Capital and GLGTLP Working Capital as of the
Balance Sheet Date has been calculated in a manner consistent with
the method for calculating GLGTCO Working Capital and GLGTLP
Working Capital, respectively, as of the Effective Date as set
forth in this Section 2.5(f) .
2.6
Acknowledgement of Obligations . For the avoidance of
doubt, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement,
including Sections 7.3 and 7.8 and Articles 11
and 12 , (i) Buyers acknowledge and agree that,
following the Closing, the Acquired Companies shall remain
obligated for their liabilities and obligations, including the
Long-Term Debt and accrued and unpaid interest thereon, outstanding
as of the Closing (the “ Assumed Obligations ”),
and (ii) the Acquired Companies shall pay, perform, and
discharge the Assumed Obligations from and after the Closing in
accordance with their terms.
2.7
Purchase Price Allocation . Seller and Buyers agree
that the Purchase Price shall be allocated among the Acquired
Companies for Tax purposes in accordance with the allocation set
forth on Schedule 2.7 (the “ Purchase Price
Allocation Schedule ”). The Purchase Price
Allocation Schedule shall be revised to take into account
subsequent adjustments under this
13
Agreement to the Purchase Price
after the Closing. Seller and Buyers shall each report the
Tax consequences of the purchase and sale contemplated hereby in a
manner consistent with the Purchase Price Allocation Schedule and
shall not take any inconsistent position on any Tax Returns unless
required by Applicable Law.
Article 3
CLOSING
3.1
Closing . Subject to fulfillment or waiver of the
conditions in this Agreement, the Closing shall take place on the
Closing Date. The Closing shall take place at the offices of
Andrews Kurth LLP, 600 Travis Street, Houston, Texas 77002 or such
other place as the Parties may agree, at 10:00 a.m., Houston, Texas
time, as promptly as practicable following the satisfaction or
waiver of all conditions to Closing in Articles 8 and
9 (other than conditions that by their nature are to be
satisfied at the Closing) or at such other time as the Parties may
agree. For the avoidance of doubt, the Parties agree that the
Closing shall occur on the same business day as the Closing of the
transactions under the Pipeline/Storage PSA. Unless otherwise
agreed, all Closing transactions shall be deemed to have occurred
simultaneously.
3.2
Deliveries by Seller . At the Closing, Seller will
deliver the following documents to Buyers:
(a)
A certificate executed on behalf of Seller by the president, senior
vice president, or vice president of Seller, dated the Closing
Date, representing and certifying, in such detail as Buyers may
reasonably request, that the conditions set forth in
Sections 9.1 and 9.2 have been
fulfilled.
(b)
The certificates, instruments, and documents listed
below:
(i)
An assignment or other transfer document for the transfer of the
GLGTLP GP Interest to LP Buyer in a form acceptable to Buyers, free
and clear of all Encumbrances.
(ii)
The stock certificates representing all of the GLGTCO Shares duly
endorsed in blank, or accompanied by stock powers duly executed in
blank, and otherwise in form acceptable to Buyers for transfer of
the GLGTCO Shares to Corp Buyer free and clear of all
Encumbrances.
(iii)
The written resignations of the directors and officers appointed or
designated by Seller or any of its Affiliates to the Acquired
Companies, such resignations to be effective concurrently with the
Closing on the Closing Date.
(c)
An agreement in form and substance mutually satisfactory to Seller
and Buyers pursuant to which each of Buyers and any other Affiliate
of Buyers that is a party to or is otherwise bound by the
agreements referenced below, and each of Seller; American Natural
Resources Company; ANR Pipeline Company; El Paso CNG Company,
L.L.C.; ANR Capital Corporation; Seafarer US Pipeline System, Inc.
and any other Affiliate of Seller that is a party to or is
otherwise bound by the agreements
14
referenced below, is released from,
and waives any rights it may have under, (i) the Capital
Contribution Agreement, dated as of April 5, 1990, as amended,
among American Natural Resources Company, Seller, Corp Buyer,
TransCanada GL, Inc. and GLGTCO, including any consents,
assignments, assumptions, waivers or other instruments related
thereto, (ii) the Corporate Agreement, date as of August 20,
1965, as amended, between American Natural Resources Company and
TransCanada PipeLines Limited, including any consents, assignments,
assumptions, waivers or other instruments related thereto, or
(iii) Article VII of the Agreement of Limited Partnership
of GLGTLP dated as of April 5, 1990 among TransCanada GL Inc.,
Coastal Great Lakes, Inc. and GLGTCO, as amended including any
consents, assignments, assumptions, waivers or other instruments
related thereto.
(d)
Such other certificates, instruments of conveyance, and documents
as may be reasonably requested by Buyers prior to the Closing Date
to carry out the intent and purposes of this Agreement.
3.3
Deliveries by Buyers . At the Closing, Buyers will
deliver the following documents to Seller:
(a)
A certificate executed by the president, senior vice president, or
vice president of the Corp Buyer and a similar officer of the
general partner of the LP Buyer, in each case dated the Closing
Date, representing and certifying, in such detail as Seller may
reasonably request, that the conditions set forth in
Sections 8.1 and 8.2 have been
fulfilled.
(b)
Such other certificates, instruments, and documents as may be
reasonably requested by Seller prior to the Closing Date to carry
out the intent and purposes of this Agreement.
(c)
Payment of the sum of the LP Base Purchase Price, as adjusted by
the LP Estimated Adjustment Amount, and the LP Interest Adjustment
by LP Buyer, in immediately available funds to the bank account or
accounts designated by Seller under Section 2.2
.
(d)
Payment of the sum of the Corp Base Purchase Price, as adjusted by
the Corp Estimated Adjustment Amount, and the Corp Interest
Adjustment by Corp Buyer, in immediately available funds to the
bank account or accounts designated by Seller under
Section 2.2 .
(e)
An executed counterpart of the agreement specified in Section
3.2(c) .
Article 4
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER
Except as set forth in the Schedules
(it being understood that a representation or warranty shall not be
deemed to be qualified by any item disclosed or described in any
Schedule unless it
15
is reasonably apparent that such
item is applicable to such representation or warranty), Seller
represents and warrants to Buyers as follows:
4.1
Corporate Organization
. Seller is a limited
liability company duly organized, validly existing, and in good
standing under the laws of Delaware.
4.2
Acquired Companies
.
(a)
List of Acquired
Companies . Except
as set forth on Schedule 4.2 , to the Seller’s
knowledge, the Acquired Companies do not own, directly or
indirectly, any capital stock or other equity securities of any
corporation or have any direct or indirect equity or ownership
interest in any other Person. Schedule 4.2 lists
(i) each Acquired Company, the jurisdiction of incorporation
or formation of each Acquired Company, and the authorized (in the
case of capital stock) and outstanding capital stock or other
equity interests held or owned by Seller in each Acquired Company
(including the owners thereof), and (ii) to Seller’s
knowledge, each of the other entities in which the Acquired
Companies own any equity interests. To Seller’s
knowledge, each corporate Acquired Company is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of
the jurisdiction of its incorporation and each other Acquired
Company is duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under
the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation. To
Seller’s knowledge, each Acquired Company has all requisite
corporate or other power and authority, as applicable, to own,
lease, and operate its assets and properties and to carry on its
business as now being conducted. To Seller’s knowledge,
no actions or proceedings to dissolve any Acquired Company are
pending.
(b)
No Encumbrances
. Except as otherwise
indicated on Schedule 4.2 , the Purchased Interests
constitute the only equity interests in the Acquired Companies
owned by Seller and such Purchased Interests are owned directly or
indirectly by Seller free and clear of all Encumbrances, other than
(i) restrictions on transfer that may be imposed by federal or
state securities laws, (ii) those that arise by virtue of any
actions taken by or on behalf of either Buyer or its respective
Affiliates, or (iii) the restrictions on transfer that may be
imposed under the certificate of incorporation, bylaws, or other
organizational documents of the Acquired Companies. All
outstanding shares of capital stock of each corporate Acquired
Company owned directly or indirectly by Seller have been validly
issued and are fully paid and nonassessable. All equity
interests of each other Acquired Company owned directly or
indirectly by Seller have been validly issued and are fully
paid. None of the shares of capital stock or other equity
interests of any Acquired Company owned directly or indirectly by
Seller are subject to, or were issued in violation of, any
preemptive or similar rights.
(c)
No Options
. Except for equity interests
in the Acquired Companies that are owned by Affiliates of the Corp
Buyer as set forth in Section 5.9 or as set forth on
Schedule 4.2 , there are outstanding (i) to
Seller’s knowledge, no shares of capital stock or other
equity securities of any Acquired Company, (ii) to
Seller’s knowledge, no securities of any Acquired Company
convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock or
other equity securities of any Acquired Company, (iii) no
options or other rights to
16
acquire from Seller or, to
Seller’s knowledge, any Acquired Company, and no obligation
of Seller or, to Seller’s knowledge, any Acquired Company to
issue or sell, any shares of capital stock or other equity
securities, and (iv) to Seller’s knowledge, no equity
equivalent, interests in the ownership or earnings, or other
similar rights of or with respect to any Acquired Company or any
securities convertible into or exchangeable for such capital stock
or equity securities. There are no outstanding obligations of
Seller or, to Seller’s knowledge, any Acquired Company to
repurchase, redeem, or otherwise acquire any of the foregoing
shares, securities, options, equity equivalents, interests, or
rights.
(d)
Qualification
. To Seller’s knowledge,
each of the Acquired Companies is duly qualified or licensed to do
business as a corporation, foreign corporation, limited
partnership, or limited liability company, as applicable, and the
Acquired Companies are each in good standing in each of the
jurisdictions set forth opposite its name on
Schedule 4.2 , which are all the jurisdictions in which
the assets or property owned, leased, or operated by it or the
conduct of its business requires such qualification or licensing,
except jurisdictions in which the failure to be so qualified or
licensed would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
4.3
Charter and Bylaws
. To Seller’s knowledge,
Seller has made available to Buyers in the Data Site accurate and
complete copies of the certificate of incorporation and bylaws (or
equivalent organizational documents) as currently in effect for
each Acquired Company.
4.4
Authority Relative to this
Agreement . Seller
has full power and authority to execute, deliver, and perform this
Agreement and the Related Agreements. The execution,
delivery, and performance by Seller of this Agreement and the
Related Agreements, and the consummation by it of the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby, have been duly authorized by all
necessary action on the part of Seller and no other action on the
part of Seller or any Affiliate or member of Seller is necessary to
authorize such execution, delivery and performance. This
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Seller and
constitutes, and each Related Agreement has been, or when executed
will be, duly executed and delivered by Seller and constitutes, or
when executed and delivered will constitute, valid and legally
binding obligations of Seller, enforceable against Seller in
accordance with its terms, except that such enforceability may be
limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium, and similar laws affecting
creditors’ rights generally and (ii) equitable
principles which may limit the availability of certain equitable
remedies (such as specific performance) in certain
instances.
4.5
No Conflict
. The execution, delivery, and
performance by Seller of this Agreement and the Related Agreements
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or
thereby do not and will not (x) violate or breach the
certificate of incorporation or by-laws (or equivalent
organizational documents) of (i) Seller or (ii) to Seller’s
knowledge, GLGTCO, GLGTLP or any other Acquired Company,
(y) violate or breach any Applicable Law binding upon Seller
or, to Seller’s knowledge, any Acquired Company, or any of
their respective assets or properties, or (z) to
Seller’s knowledge, violate or result in any breach of, or
constitute a
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default (or event which with the
giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would become a default)
under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment,
acceleration or cancellation of, or result in the creation of any
Encumbrance on any of the assets or properties of any Acquired
Company under, any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, contract,
agreement, lease, license, permit, franchise, or other instrument
relating to such assets or properties to which any Acquired Company
is a party or by which any of such assets or properties is bound or
affected, except in the case of clauses (y) and (z) as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to
have, a Material Adverse Effect.
4.6
Consents, Approvals, and
Licenses . No
consent, approval, authorization, license, order or Permit of, or
declaration, filing or registration with, or notification to, any
Governmental Entity, or any other Person, is required to be made or
obtained by Seller or, to Seller’s knowledge, any Acquired
Company in connection with the execution, delivery, and performance
of this Agreement or the Related Agreements and the consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, except:
(a) as set forth on Schedule 4.6 ; (b) where
the failure to obtain such consents, approvals, authorizations,
licenses, orders, or Permits of, or to make such declarations,
filings, or registrations or notifications, would not, individually
or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to have, a
Material Adverse Effect; and (c) as may be necessary as a
result of any facts or circumstances relating solely to
Buyers.
4.7
Financial Statements and
Reports .
Schedule 4.7(a) contains (i)(A) an audited
consolidated balance sheet of GLGTCO as of December 31, 2005 and an
unaudited consolidated balance sheet of GLGTCO as of
September 30, 2006, (B) an audited consolidated statement
of income of GLGTCO for the year ended December 31, 2005 and an
unaudited consolidated statement of income of GLGTCO for the
nine-month period ended September 30, 2006, and (C) an
audited consolidated statement of cash flow of GLGTCO for the year
ended December 31, 2005 (collectively, the “ GLGTCO
Financial Statements ”), and (ii)(A) an audited
consolidated balance sheet of GLGTLP as of December 31, 2005 and an
unaudited consolidated balance sheet of GLGTLP as of
September 30, 2006, (B) an audited consolidated statement
of income of GLGTLP for the year ended December 31, 2005 and an
unaudited consolidated statement of income of GLGTLP for the
nine-month period ended September 30, 2006, and (C) an
audited consolidated statement of cash flow of GLGTLP for the year
ended December 31, 2005 (collectively, the “ GLGTLP
Financial Statements ” and with the GLGTCO Financial
Statements, the “ GL Financial Statements
”). To Seller’s knowledge, the GL Financial
Statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, except
as set forth in the notes thereto, consistently applied throughout
the periods covered thereby. To Seller’s knowledge, the
GL Financial Statements are consistent with the books and records
of GLGTCO and GLGTLP, as the case may be, and fairly present, in
all material respects, the financial position, results of
operations, and cash flows of GLGTCO or GLGTLP, as the case may be,
as of the date and for the period indicated. To
Seller’s knowledge, except as disclosed on
Schedule 4.7 , there are no significant deficiencies,
including material weaknesses in the design or operation of
internal controls over the Acquired Companies’ financial
reporting.
4.8
Absence of Certain
Changes . Except as
disclosed on Schedule 4.8 , as contemplated by other
provisions of this Agreement, or as would not, individually or in
the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect, since the Balance
18
Sheet Date, to Seller’s
knowledge, (i) there has not been any adverse change in the
assets, liabilities, business, operations, results of operation, or
financial condition of the Acquired Companies, (ii) the
businesses of the Acquired Companies have been conducted only in
the ordinary course consistent with past practice, (iii) none
of the Acquired Companies has incurred any liability or entered
into any agreement, in each case, outside the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice, (iv) none of the
Acquired Companies has suffered any unrepaired loss, damage,
destruction, or other casualty to any of its property, plant,
equipment, or inventories (whether or not covered by insurance),
and (v) the Acquired Companies have not made any change in
compensation levels of their senior executives, any changes in the
manner in which other employees of the Acquired Companies are
generally compensated, or any provision of additional or
supplemental benefits for employees of the Acquired Companies
generally, except normal periodic increases or promotions effected
in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice.
4.9
Undisclosed
Liabilities . To
Seller’s knowledge, the Acquired Companies do not have any
liability or obligation, except (i) liabilities or obligations
reflected on the GL Financial Statements, (ii) liabilities or
obligations which have arisen since the Balance Sheet Date in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice,
(iii) liabilities or obligations reflected on
Schedule 4.9 , (iv) liabilities or obligations with
respect to the Tax and environmental matters, which are addressed
by the representations and warranties set forth in Section
4.10 and 4.15 , respectively, and (v) other
liabilities or obligations which, individually or in the aggregate,
have not had and would not be reasonably expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.
4.10
Tax Matters
. Except as disclosed on
Schedule 4.10 :
(a)
to Seller’s knowledge, all
material Tax Returns required to be filed by or with respect to the
Acquired Companies (including consolidated, combined, or unitary
Tax Returns in which the Acquired Companies are members), have been
timely filed with the appropriate Taxing Authorities in all
jurisdictions in which such Tax Returns are required to be
filed;
(b)
to Seller’s knowledge, such
Tax Returns were correct and complete in all material respects as
to the Acquired Companies, and all Taxes due and payable on such
Tax Returns have been paid in full or adequate reserves (determined
in accordance with U.S. GAAP) have been provided for, on the GLGTCO
Financial Statements and on the GLGTLP Financial Statements as to
the Acquired Companies;
(c)
to Seller’s knowledge, there
are no outstanding agreements or waivers extending the statutory
period of limitations applicable to any material Tax Returns filed
by or with respect to, the Acquired Companies;
(d)
to Seller’s knowledge, none of
the Tax Returns of or with respect to any of the Acquired
Companies, is currently being audited or examined by any Taxing
Authority;
19
(e)
to Seller’s knowledge, no
material deficiency for any Taxes has been assessed with respect to
any of the Acquired Companies, that has not been abated, paid in
full, or adequately provided for on the GL Financial
Statements;
(f)
to Seller’s knowledge, there
is no material dispute or material claim concerning any Tax
liability of any of the Acquired Companies, claimed or raised by
any Taxing Authority in writing;
(g)
all material Taxes that, to
Seller’s knowledge, any of the Acquired Companies is or was
required to withhold or collect have been duly withheld or
collected, and to the extent required, have been paid to the proper
Taxing Authority;
(h)
to Seller’s knowledge, no
payments are due or will become due by any of the Acquired
Companies, under any Tax sharing agreement or similar
arrangement;
(i)
each of the Acquired Companies is
and has been since its inception classified for federal tax
purposes in the manner described in Treasury Regulations Sections
301.7701-2 and -3(b) (and any comparable provision of Applicable
Law of state and local jurisdictions that permit such
treatment);
(j)
to Seller’s knowledge, a valid
election under Section 754 of the Code is or will be in effect for
each of the Acquired Companies classified as a partnership for
federal tax purposes for the taxable year in which Buyers acquire
the Purchased Interests of the Company; and
(k)
to Seller’s knowledge, none of
the Acquired Companies is required to indemnify any other party for
taxes owed by any other party.
4.11
Compliance With Laws
. To Seller’s
knowledge, the Acquired Companies are in compliance with all
Applicable Laws (other than Applicable Environmental Laws, as to
which Seller’s sole representations and warranties are set
forth in Section 4.15 , and Taxes, as to which
Seller’s sole representations and warranties are set forth in
Section 4.10 ), except (i) as disclosed on
Schedule 4.11 or (ii) for noncompliance with such
Applicable Laws that would not, individually or in the aggregate,
have or reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect. Since January 1, 2004, to Seller’s knowledge,
none of the Acquired Companies (x) has received written notice
of any material violation of any Applicable Law (other than
(I) Applicable Environmental Laws, as to which Seller’s
sole representations and warranties are set forth in
Section 4.15 , (II) Taxes, as to which
Seller’s sole representations and warranties are set forth in
Section 4.10 and (III) such notices that have been
resolved with the applicable Governmental Entity without liability
or cost to the Acquired Companies after the Closing or (y) is
in default in any material respect under any judgment, order, writ,
injunction or decree of any Governmental Entity applicable to the
Acquired Companies or any of their respective assets, properties or
operations.
4.12
Legal Proceedings
. Except as disclosed on
Schedule 4.12 , to Seller’s knowledge, there are
no material Proceedings pending or threatened against or involving
any of the Acquired Companies or any properties of any of the
Acquired Companies. Except (i) as disclosed
on
20
Schedule 4.12
and (ii) for judgments, orders,
writs, injunctions or decrees issued by FERC, to Seller’s
knowledge, none of the Acquired Companies is subject to any
material judgment, order, writ, injunction, or decree of any
Governmental Entity. Except as set forth in
Schedule 4.12 , to Seller’s knowledge, no
Acquired Company is subject to any judgment, order, writ,
injunction, or decree issued by FERC that would, individually or in
the aggregate, have, or reasonably be expected to have, a Material
Adverse Effect. Except as disclosed on
Schedule 4.12 , there are no Proceedings pending or, to
Seller’s knowledge, threatened, seeking to restrain,
prohibit, or obtain damages or other relief from Seller or the
Acquired Companies in connection with this Agreement, the Related
Agreements or the transactions contemplated hereby or
thereby.
4.13
Acquired Company
Agreements .
(a)
List of Agreements
. To Seller’s knowledge,
set forth on Schedule 4.13 is a list of the following
agreements and contracts to which any Acquired Company is a party
or by which any Acquired Company is otherwise bound:
(i)
any commitment, agreement or
purchase order that could, in accordance with its terms, involve
aggregate payments by any Acquired Company of more than $5,000,000
within the remaining term of such agreement;
(ii)
any note, loan, evidence of
indebtedness, letter of credit or guarantee of the indebtedness or
performance of any obligations of another Person;
(iii)
any lease under which any Acquired
Company is the lessor or lessee of real or personal property, which
lease (A) cannot be terminated by any Acquired Company without
penalty upon not more than 180 calendar days’ notice and
(B) involves an annual base rental during 2006 in excess of
$5,000,000;
(iv)
any contracts or agreements
containing covenants limiting the freedom of any Acquired Company
or any Acquired Company and its Affiliates, in any material
respect, after the Closing Date to engage in any line of business
or compete with any Person (other than the partnership agreement,
certificate of incorporation or other governing document of any of
the Acquired Companies);
(v)
any pending sale or lease of real or
personal property of any Acquired Company (other than sales of
natural gas, natural gas liquids, or other items of inventory in
the ordinary course of business) in excess of
$5,000,000;
(vi)
any gas purchase contracts, gas
sales contracts, gas processing agreements, transportation
agreements, natural gas liquids sales contracts, operational
balancing agreements, storage agreements and gathering agreements
involving payments to or from any Acquired Company during calendar
year 2006 in excess of $5,000,000;
(vii)
any contract requiring a capital
expenditure or a commitment for a capital expenditure in excess of
$5,000,000;
21
(viii)
any material obligation to make
future payments, contingent or otherwise, arising out of or
relating to the acquisition or disposition of any business, assets,
or stock of any Acquired Company or of any other Person by any
Acquired Company;
(ix)
any joint venture, joint development
or partnership agreement (other than the partnership or limited
liability company operating agreements of the Acquired
Companies);
(x)
documents granting any power of
attorney to any officer or employee of Seller or any of its
Affiliates (other than the Acquired Companies) with respect to the
material affairs of any Acquired Company;
(xi)
any material agreement between any
Acquired Company, on the one hand, and a Seller or any Affiliate of
a Seller (other than an Acquired Company), on the other hand,
including agreements with respect to the purchase, sale,
transportation, or storage of natural gas, including operational
balancing and measurement agreements; and
(xii)
all material amendments,
modifications, extensions or renewals of any of the
foregoing.
(b)
No Violations
. To Seller’s knowledge,
except as disclosed in Schedule 4.13 , none of the
Acquired Companies is in material breach or material violation
of,