UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT
REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of
1934
Date of Report
(Date of earliest event reported) June 11,
2006
Plains
All American Pipeline, L.P.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE
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1-14569
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76-0582150
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(State or other
jurisdiction of
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incorporation)
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(Commission File
Number)
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(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
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333
Clay Street, Suite 1600, Houston, Texas 77002
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrants
telephone number, including area code 713-646-4100
(Former name or
former address, if changed since last report.)
Check the appropriate box
below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy
the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
þ
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17
CFR 230.425)
o
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
(17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under
the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under
the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
Purchase Agreement. On June 12,
2006, Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. (the Partnership) announced that it
had entered into a Purchase Agreement (the Purchase Agreement) with LB
Pacific, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (LB Pacific), pursuant to which
the Partnership will purchase from LB Pacific (i) all of the issued and
outstanding limited partner interest in Pacific Energy GP, LP, a Delaware
limited partnership and the general partner of PPX (defined below) (PPX
General Partner), (ii) the sole member interest in Pacific Energy
Management LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (General Partner Holdco),
(iii) 2,616,250 common units in Pacific Energy Partners, L.P., a Delaware
limited partnership (PPX), and (iv) 7,848,750 subordinated units in PPX
for an aggregate purchase price of $700 million in cash.
Each of the Partnership and LB Pacific has made customary
representations and warranties in the Purchase Agreement. The Purchase Agreement
may be terminated by LB Pacific or the Partnership upon or after termination of
the Merger Agreement (defined below), and may be terminated at any time by the
mutual written agreement of LB Pacific and the Partnership. In addition, the
Purchase Agreement is subject to customary closing conditions, including
satisfaction of all conditions specified in the Merger Agreement (defined
below).
The foregoing description of the Purchase Agreement does not purport to
be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Purchase
Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 2.1 hereto and is incorporated into
this report by reference.
Merger Agreement. On
June 12, 2006, the Partnership announced that it had entered into an
Agreement and Plan of Merger (the Merger Agreement) with PPX, PPX General
Partner, General Partner Holdco, Plains AAP, L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership (PAA General Partner), and Plains All American GP LLC, (GP LLC),
pursuant to which PPX will be merged into the Partnership, and all outstanding
common units of PPX not purchased by the Partnership pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement will be converted into common units of the Partnership based on an
exchange ratio of 0.77 common units of the Partnership per common unit of PPX. The
Merger Agreement was unanimously approved by GP LLCs Board of Directors, as
well as by the Board of Directors of General Partner Holdco.
Each of the Partnership and PPX has made customary representations,
warranties and covenants in the Merger Agreement. In addition, the Merger
Agreement contains certain termination rights for both the Partnership, on the
one hand, and PPX, on the other, and further provides that, upon termination of
the Merger Agreement under specified circumstances, the Partnership will be
required to pay PPX a termination fee of $10 million and under other specified
circumstances, the Partnership will be required to pay PPX a termination fee of
$40 million. In addition, under specified circumstances, PPX will be
required to pay the Partnership a termination fee of $10 million and under
other specified circumstances, PPX will be required to pay the Partnership a
termination fee of $40 million.
The merger is subject to customary closing conditions including, among
other things, (1) approval by the affirmative vote or consent of at least
a unit majority (as such term is defined in the agreement of limited
partnership of PPX) of the holders of the outstanding common units and
subordinated units in PPX, (2) approval by the affirmative vote or consent
of at least a majority of the holders of outstanding common units in the
Partnership, (3) receipt of applicable regulatory approvals, including the
expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the
Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, the approvals of state
utility commissions in California, Colorado and Wyoming, and the approvals of
Canadian regulatory agencies, (4) effectiveness of a registration
statement on Form S-4 with respect to the issuance of the Partnerships
common units in connection with the Merger, (5) approval for listing the
common units of the Partnership to be issued in connection with the Merger on
the New York Stock Exchange and (6) closing of the transactions
contemplated by the Purchase Agreement.
The foregoing description of the merger and the Merger Agreement does
not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the
Merger Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 2.2 hereto and is incorporated
into this report by reference.
2
Cautionary Statements
The Merger Agreement has been included to provide investors with
information regarding its terms. The Merger Agreement is not intended to be a
source of any other information about the parties. Other information about the
Partnership will be set forth in the joint proxy statement/prospectus referred
to below and in the other filings that the Partnership makes with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), which may be obtained in the
manner set forth below.
3
The representations, warranties and covenants made by the parties in
the Merger Agreement are qualified by information in the confidential
disclosure schedules provided by the Partnership to PPX on the one hand and by
PPX to the Partnership on the other hand in connection with the execution of
the Merger Agreement, and are subject to important limitations agreed to by the
parties to the Merger Agreement in connection with negotiating its terms.
Certain representations and warranties may have been used by the parties to
allocate risks among the respective parties to the Merger Agreement, including
where the parties do not have complete knowledge of all facts, instead of
establishing such matters as facts. Furthermore, the representations and
warranties may be subject to standards of materiality applicable to the
contracting parties, which may be different from any particular investors
standards of what constitutes important information. These representations and
warranties may or may not have been accurate as of any specific date and do not
purport to be accurate as of the date of this filing. Accordingly, they should
not be relied upon as statements of factual information. Investors are not
third-party beneficiaries under the Merger Agreement and should not rely on the
representations, warranties and covenants or any descriptions thereof as
characterizations of the actual state of facts or condition of the Partnership
or its affiliates. None of the representations and warranties contained in the
Merger Agreement will have any legal effect among the parties to the Merger
Agreement after the closing of the Merger.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
The Partnership and PPX will file a joint proxy statement/prospectus
and other documents with the SEC in relation to this transaction. Investors and
security holders are urged to read carefully these documents when they become
available because they will contain important information regarding the
Partnership, PPX and the merger. A definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus
will be sent to security holders of the Partnership and PPX seeking their
approval of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement. Investors
and security holders may obtain a free copy of the joint proxy
statement/prospectus (when it is available) and other documents containing
information about the Partnership and PPX, without charge, at the SECs website
at www.sec.gov. Copies of the joint proxy statement/prospectus and the SEC
filings that will be incorporated by reference in the joint proxy
statement/prospectus may also be obtained free of charge by directing a request
to the respective partnerships as follows:
Information regarding the Partnership can be obtained by contacting its
investor relations department at 713-646-4100 or by accessing its
website at www.paalp.com, and information regarding PPX can be obtained by
contacting its investor relations department at 562-728-2871 or by
accessing its website at www.pacificenergy.com.
The Partnership and PPX and the officers and directors of the
respective general partners of the Partnership and PPX may be deemed to be
participants in the solicitation of proxies from their security holders.
Information about these persons can be found in the Partnerships and PPXs
respective Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-K/A
filed with the SEC, and additional information about such persons may be
obtained from the joint proxy statement/prospectus when it becomes available.
4
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d) Exhibits.
Exhibit 2.1
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Purchase Agreement dated as of June 11, 2006 by
and between Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. and LB Pacific, LP (the
schedules and exhibits have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of
Regulation S-K)
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Exhibit 2.2
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Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of June 11,
2006 by and among Plains All American Pipeline, L.P., Plains AAP, L.P.,
Plains All American GP LLC, Pacific Energy Partners, L.P., Pacific Energy
Management LLC and Pacific Energy GP, LP (the schedules and exhibits have
been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K)
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has
duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto
duly authorized.
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PLAINS ALL AMERICAN PIPELINE, L.P.
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By:
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Plains AAP, L.P., its general partner
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By:
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Plains All American GP LLC, its general partner
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By:
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/s/ Tim Moore
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Name:
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Tim Moore
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Title:
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Vice President
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June 12, 2006
6
Exhibit
2.1
PURCHASE
AGREEMENT
dated
as of
June
11, 2006
by and
between
PLAINS
ALL AMERICAN PIPELINE L.P.
and
LB
PACIFIC, LP
Table
of Contents
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Page
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ARTICLE I
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DEFINITIONS
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SECTION 1.1 Definitions
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1
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SECTION 1.2 Rules of Construction
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ARTICLE II
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PURCHASE
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SECTION 2.1 Purchase.
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ARTICLE III
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REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
CONCERNING THE TRANSACTION
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SECTION 3.1 Representations of
Seller
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SECTION 3.2 Representations of
Buyer
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12
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ARTICLE IV
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ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS, COVENANTS,
RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS
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SECTION 4.1 Covenant Compliance
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SECTION 4.2 Access to Information.
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14
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SECTION 4.3 Confidentiality
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SECTION 4.4 Commercially Reasonable
Efforts; Further Assurances
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SECTION 4.5 No Public Announcement
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SECTION 4.6 Expenses
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SECTION 4.7 Tax Matters.
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SECTION 4.8 Transfer of Purchased
Interests.
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SECTION 4.9 Payment of Credit
Facility Debt and Release of Encumbrances
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17
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ARTICLE V
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TERMINATION AND REMEDIES FOR DEFAULT
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SECTION 5.1 Termination
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SECTION 5.2 Indemnity
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SECTION 5.3 Survival
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SECTION 5.4 Enforcement of this
Agreement
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SECTION 5.5 No Waiver Relating to
Claims for Fraud/Willful Misconduct
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ARTICLE VI
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MISCELLANEOUS
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SECTION 6.1 Notices
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SECTION 6.2 Governing Law;
Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial
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SECTION 6.3 Entire Agreement;
Waivers
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SECTION 6.4 Binding Effect and
Assignment
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SECTION 6.5 Severability
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SECTION 6.6 Execution
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EXHIBITS
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Exhibit A
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Form of Purchased Common
Unit Transfer Power
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Exhibit B
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Form of Purchased
Subordinated Unit Transfer Power
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Exhibit C
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Form of Purchased GP
Interest Transfer Power
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Exhibit D
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Form of Purchased Holdco
Interest Power
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ii
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
THIS PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this Agreement) dated as of June 11,
2006 (the Execution Date), is entered into by and between LB Pacific, LP, a
Delaware limited partnership (Seller), and Plains All American Pipeline L.P.,
a Delaware limited partnership (Buyer).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, Seller owns the sole limited partner interest in MLP General
Partner, the sole limited liability company interest in General Partner Holdco,
2,616,250 MLP Common Units and 7,848,750 MLP Subordinated Units (each such
capitalized term as defined herein);
WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, Seller
desires to sell to Buyer, and Buyer desires to purchase from Seller, the
interests described in the immediately preceding recital;
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the Merger
Agreement) of even date herewith by and among MLP, MLP General Partner,
General Partner Holdco, Buyer, Buyer General Partner and Buyer GP Holdco, MLP
will, on the terms and conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, merge with
and into Buyer, with Buyer surviving such merger (the Merger); and
WHEREAS, each of MLP General Partner, the Board of Directors of General
Partner Holdco and the MLP Conflicts Committee has approved the Merger
Agreement and each of the Board of Directors of General Partner Holdco and the
MLP Conflicts Committee has recommended that the holders of MLP Subordinated
Units and MLP Common Units vote for the approval and adoption of the Merger
Agreement and the Merger;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the respective
representations, warranties, covenants, agreements and conditions contained
herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1 Definitions. In this
Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms shall
have the following meanings respectively:
affiliate has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 of the rules and
regulations under the Securities Act, unless otherwise expressly stated herein.
Agreement has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
Business Day means any day on which commercial banks are generally
open for business in New York, New York other than a Saturday, a
Sunday or a day observed as a holiday in New York, New York under the
Laws of the State of New York or the federal Laws of the United States of
America.
Buyer has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
Buyer Confidentiality Agreement means that certain Confidentiality
Agreement dated June 6, 2006 between Buyer and Seller.
Buyer Disclosure Schedule means the disclosure schedule prepared and
delivered by Buyer to Seller as of the date of this Agreement.
Buyer General Partner means Plains AAP, L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership.
Buyer GP Holdco means Plains All American GP LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company.
Buyer Group Entities means Buyer, Buyer General Partner and the
subsidiaries of Buyer.
Closing has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).
Closing Date has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Confidentiality Agreements means the MLP Confidentiality Agreement
and the Buyer Confidentiality Agreement.
Consolidated Group means the MLP Group Entities, on one hand, and the
Buyer Group Entities, on the other hand.
A reference to a Consolidated Group is a reference to each of the
members of such Consolidated Group.
Damages means claims,
liabilities, damages, penalties, judgments, assessments, losses, costs,
expenses, including reasonable attorneys fees and expenses, incurred by the
party seeking indemnification under this Agreement.
Delaware Courts has the meaning set forth in Section 6.2.
Encumbrances means pledges, restrictions on transfer, proxies and
voting or other agreements, liens, claims, charges, mortgages, security
interests or other legal or equitable encumbrances, limitations or restrictions
of any nature whatsoever.
Evaluation Material has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(b).
Execution Date has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
GAAP has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2.
General Partner Holdco means Pacific Energy Management LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company.
2
General Partner Holdco Financial Statements has the meaning set forth
in Section 3.1(i).
General Partner Holdco LLC Agreement means the Limited Liability
Company Agreement of General Partner Holdco dated as of March 3, 2005, as
amended and as further amended from time to time after the Execution Date in
accordance with this Agreement.
governing documents means, with respect to any person, the
certificate or articles of incorporation, by-laws, articles of organization,
limited liability company agreement, partnership agreement, formation
agreement, joint venture agreement, operating agreement, unanimous equityholder
agreement or declaration or other similar governing documents of such person.
Governmental Entity means any (a) multinational, federal,
national, provincial, territorial, state, regional, municipal, local or other
government, governmental or public department, central bank, court, tribunal,
arbitral body, commission, administrative agency, board, bureau or agency,
domestic or foreign, (b) subdivision, agent, commission, board, or
authority of any of the foregoing, or (c) quasi-governmental or private
body exercising any regulatory, expropriation or taxing authority under, or for
the account of, any of the foregoing, in each case which has jurisdiction or
authority with respect to the applicable party.
holders means, when used with reference to the MLP Units, the holders
of such units shown from time to time in the registers maintained by or on
behalf of MLP.
knowledge means, with respect to Seller, the actual knowledge of each
person listed in Section 1.1(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule.
Laws means all statutes, regulations, statutory rules, orders,
judgments, decrees and terms and conditions of any grant of approval,
permission, authority, permit or license of any court, Governmental Entity,
statutory body or self-regulatory authority (including the NYSE).
Merger has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
Merger Agreement has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
MLP means Pacific Energy Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership.
MLP Common Units means the Common Units of MLP issued pursuant to the
MLP Partnership Agreement.
MLP Confidentiality Agreement means that certain Confidentiality
Agreement dated April 17, 2006 between Lehman Brothers Inc. and Buyer.
MLP Conflicts Committee means the Conflicts Committee of the Board of
Directors of General Partner Holdco.
MLP General Partner means Pacific Energy GP, LP, a Delaware limited
partnership.
3
MLP General Partner Financial Statements has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.1(e).
MLP General Partner Partnership Agreement means the Agreement of Limited Partnership of MLP General Partner dated as of March 3,
2005, as amended, and as further amended from time to time after the
Execution Date in accordance with this Agreement.
MLP Group Entities means the MLP Parties and their subsidiaries.
MLP Material Adverse
Effect means any change, effect, event or occurrence with respect to the
condition (financial or otherwise), properties, assets, liabilities,
obligations (whether absolute, accrued, conditional or otherwise), businesses,
operations or results of operations of Seller or the MLP Group Entities (taken
as a whole), that is, or would reasonably be expected to be, material and
adverse to Seller or to the MLP Group Entities (taken as a whole) or that
materially and adversely affects the ability of Seller to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby; provided, however, that an MLP Material
Adverse Effect shall not include any change, effect, event or occurrence with
respect to the condition (financial or otherwise), properties, assets,
liabilities, obligations (whether absolute, accrued, conditional or otherwise),
businesses, operations or results of operations of Seller or any MLP Group
Entity (or any MLP Partially Owned Entity) directly or indirectly arising out
of or attributable to (a) any decrease in the market price of MLPs publicly
traded equity securities (but not any change or effect underlying such decrease
to the extent such change or effect would otherwise contribute to an MLP Material
Adverse Effect), (b) changes in the general state of the industries in which
Seller or the MLP Group Entities operate to the extent that such changes would
have the same general effect on companies engaged in such industries, (c)
changes in general economic conditions (including changes in commodity prices)
that would have the same general effect on companies engaged in the same lines
of business as those conducted by Seller or the MLP Group Entities, (d) the
announcement or proposed consummation of this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby, (e) changes in GAAP or (f) acts of terrorism, war,
sabotage or insurrection not directly damaging or impacting Seller or the MLP
Group Entities, to the extent that such acts have the same general effect on
companies engaged in the same lines of business as those conducted by Seller or
the MLP Group Entities.
MLP Parties means MLP, MLP
General Partner and General Partner Holdco.
MLP Partnership Agreement means the First Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership of MLP dated as of July 26, 2002, as amended,
and as further amended from time to time after the Execution Date in accordance
with this Agreement.
MLP Subordinated Units means the Subordinated Units of MLP, as of the
date of this Agreement, issued pursuant to the MLP Partnership Agreement, provided, that any MLP Subordinated Units that convert to MLP
Common Units after the date of this Agreement shall be deemed to be MLP
Subordinated Units for the purposes of this Agreement.
MLP Units means the MLP Common Units and the MLP Subordinated Units.
Notice has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1.
4
NYSE means the New York Stock Exchange.
Payoff Amount has the meaning set forth in Section 4.8.
person includes any individual, firm, partnership, joint venture,
venture capital fund, limited liability company, association, trust, estate,
group, body corporate, corporation, unincorporated association or organization,
Governmental Entity, syndicate or other entity, whether or not having legal
status.
Purchase Price has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b).
Purchased Common Units has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.1(b)(ii).
Purchased Entities means MLP General Partner and General Partner
Holdco.
Purchased GP Interest has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.1(b)(iii).
Purchased Holdco Interest has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.1(b)(iv).
Purchased Interests means the Purchased Holdco Interest together with
the Purchased Subordinated Units, the Purchased Common Units and the Purchased
GP Interest.
Purchased Subordinated Units has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.1(b)(i).
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Seller has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
Seller Credit Facility means the Credit and Guaranty Agreement dated
March 3, 2005, among Seller, various lenders, and Citicorp North America Inc.
as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, Lehman Commercial Paper Inc. as
Syndicate Agent and Citigroup Global Market Inc. as Sole Lead Arranger and Sole
Bookrunner.
Seller Disclosure Schedule means the disclosure schedule prepared and
delivered by Seller to Buyer as of the date of this Agreement.
subsidiary means with respect to a specified person, any other person
(a) that is a subsidiary as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and
Regulations under the Securities Act of such specified person and (b) of
which such specified person or another of its subsidiaries owns beneficially
more than 50% of the equity interests.
Tax or Taxes means any taxes, assessments, fees and other
governmental charges imposed by any Governmental Entity, including income,
profits, gross receipts, net proceeds, alternative or add-on minimum, ad
valorem, value added, turnover, sales, use, property, personal property
(tangible and intangible), environmental, stamp, leasing, lease, user, excise,
duty, franchise, capital stock, transfer, registration, license, withholding,
social security (or similar), unemployment, disability, payroll, employment,
fuel, excess profits, occupational,
5
premium,
windfall profit, severance, estimated, or other charge of any kind whatsoever,
including any interest, penalty, or addition thereto, whether disputed or not.
Tax Return means any return, declaration, report, claim for refund,
or information return or statement relating to Taxes, including any schedule or
attachment thereto, and including any amendment thereof.
SECTION 1.2 Rules of Construction. The division of this
Agreement into articles, sections and other portions and the insertion of
headings are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the
construction or interpretation hereof.
Unless otherwise indicated, all references to an Article or Section
followed by a number or a letter refer to the specified Article or Section of
this Agreement. The terms this
Agreement, hereof, herein and hereunder and similar expressions refer to
this Agreement (including the Buyer Disclosure Schedule and the Seller
Disclosure Schedule) and not to any particular Article, Section or other
portion hereof. Unless otherwise
specifically indicated or the context otherwise requires, (a) all
references to dollars or $ mean United States dollars, (b) words
importing the singular shall include the plural and vice versa and words
importing any gender shall include all genders, (c) include, includes
and including shall be deemed to be followed by the words without
limitation, and (d) all words used as accounting terms shall have the
meanings assigned to them under United States generally accepted accounting
principles applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (GAAP). In the event that any date on which any
action is required to be taken hereunder by any of the parties hereto is not a
Business Day, such action shall be required to be taken on the next succeeding
day that is a Business Day. Reference to
any party hereto is also a reference to such partys permitted successors and
assigns. The Exhibits attached to this
Agreement are hereby incorporated by reference into this Agreement and form
part hereof. Unless otherwise indicated,
all references to an Exhibit followed by a number or a letter refer to the
specified Exhibit to this Agreement. The
parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of
this Agreement. In the event an
ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, it is the intent of
the parties hereto that this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly
by the parties hereto and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise
favoring or disfavoring any person by virtue of the authorship of any of the
provisions of this Agreement.
ARTICLE II
PURCHASE
SECTION
2.1 Purchase.
(a) Closing Date. The closing of the transactions contemplated
by this Section 2.1 (the Closing) shall take place at the offices of Baker
Botts L.L.P. at 910 Louisiana Street, Houston, Texas 77002, on the date of the
Merger, but immediately prior to the consummation of the Merger (such date the Closing
Date).
(b) Purchase of Purchased Interests. On the Closing Date, Seller
shall convey to Buyer:
(i) 7,848,750
MLP Subordinated Units (the Purchased Subordinated Units), which units
constitute approximately 19.97% of the issued and outstanding
6
limited partner interests in MLP (such conveyance or assignment to be
in substantially the form set forth as Exhibit A to this
Agreement or in such other form as is required to transfer such Purchased
Subordinated Units through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company),
free and clear of all Encumbrances (other than those set forth in the MLP
Partnership Agreement);
(ii) 2,616,250
MLP Common Units (the Purchased Common Units), which units constitute
approximately 6.7% of the issued and outstanding limited partner interests in
MLP (such conveyance or assignment to be in substantially the form set forth as
Exhibit B to this Agreement or in
such other form as is required to transfer such Purchased Common Units through
the facilities of The Depository Trust Company), free and clear of all
Encumbrances (other than those set forth in the MLP Partnership Agreement);
(iii) a
99.9% limited partner interest in MLP General Partner (the Purchased GP
Interest), which interest constitutes the sole issued and outstanding limited
partner interest in MLP General Partner (such conveyance or assignment to be in
substantially the form set forth as Exhibit C to this
Agreement), free and clear of all Encumbrances (other than those set forth in
the MLP General Partner Partnership Agreement); and
(iv) a
100% limited liability company interest in General Partner Holdco (the Purchased
Holdco Interest), which interest constitutes the sole issued and outstanding
member interest in General Partner Holdco (such conveyance or assignment to be
in substantially the form set forth as Exhibit D to this
Agreement), free and clear of all Encumbrances (other than those set forth in
the General Partner Holdco LLC Agreement);
for
an aggregate cash amount equal to seven hundred million dollars ($700,000,000) (the
Purchase Price). At the Closing, Buyer
shall pay the Purchase Price by wire transfer in immediately available funds to
an account designated by Seller to Buyer at least 2 Business Days prior to the
Closing Date.
(c) Conditions to Closing.
(i) The obligation of Seller to proceed with the Closing is subject to
the satisfaction on or prior to the Closing Date of all of the following
conditions, any one or more of which may be waived by Seller in writing, in
whole or in part:
(A) All
of the conditions of the MLP Parties to the consummation of the Merger (other
than completing the transactions referred to in this Section 2.1) shall have
been satisfied or waived; and
(B) (i) The
representations and warranties of Buyer set forth in Section 3.2 shall be true
and correct in all material respects (without regard to any materiality
qualifiers set forth therein) as of the Closing Date, as if remade on such date
(except for representations and warranties made as of a specific date, which
shall be true and correct as of such specific date), and Buyer shall have
7
performed all of its obligations hereunder in all material respects,
and (ii) Seller shall have received a certificate, dated as of the Closing
Date, of an executive officer of Buyer certifying to the matters set forth in
this Section 2.1(c)(i)(B).
(ii) The
obligation of Buyer to proceed with the Closing is subject to the satisfaction
on or prior to the Closing Date of all of the following conditions, any one or
more of which may be waived by Buyer in writing, in whole or in part:
(A) All
of the conditions of the Buyer Parties (as defined in the Merger Agreement) to
the consummation of the Merger (other than completing the transactions referred
to in this Section 2.1) shall have been satisfied or waived;
(B) (i) The
representations and warranties of Seller set forth in Section 3.1 (other than
those set forth in Section 3.1(m)) shall be true and correct in all material
respects (without regard to any materiality qualifiers set forth therein) as of
the Closing Date, as if remade on such date (except for representations and
warranties made as of a specific date, which shall be true and correct as of
such specific date), and Seller shall have performed all of its obligations
hereunder in all material respects, and (ii) Buyer shall have received a
certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, of an executive officer of Seller
certifying to the matters set forth in this Section 2.1(c)(ii)(B);
(C) The
representation and warranty of Seller set forth in Section 3.1(m) shall be true and correct as of the
Closing Date, as if remade on such date, except where the failure of such
representation and warranty to be true and correct would not, in the aggregate,
result in an MLP Material Adverse Effect, and (ii) Buyer shall have
received a certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, of an executive officer
of Seller certifying to the matters set forth in this
Section 2.1(c)(ii)(C); and
(D) All
outstanding debt of Seller, including all principal, accrued and unpaid
interest and fees under the Seller Credit Facility, shall have been paid off as
of or prior to the Closing.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES CONCERNING THE TRANSACTION
SECTION
3.1 Representations
of Seller. Except as
set forth in a section of the Seller Disclosure Schedule delivered concurrently
herewith corresponding to the applicable sections of this Section 3.1 to which
such disclosure applies (provided that any information set forth in one section
of the Seller Disclosure Schedule shall be deemed to apply to each other
Section thereof to which its relevance is reasonably apparent on its face)
Seller hereby represents and warrants to Buyer that:
(a) Organization; Qualification.
Seller has been duly formed and is validly existing and in good standing
as a limited partnership under the law of the State of Delaware with all
requisite partnership power and authority to own, lease or otherwise hold and
operate its properties and assets and to carry on its business as presently
8
conducted, except where the failure to have such power or authority,
individually or in the aggregate, would not have a material adverse effect on
Sellers ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. Seller is duly qualified and
in good standing to do business as a foreign limited partnership in each
jurisdiction in which the conduct or nature of its business or the ownership,
leasing, holding or operating of its properties makes such qualification
necessary, except such jurisdictions where the failure to be so qualified or in
good standing, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a material
adverse effect on Sellers ability to consummate the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement.
(b) Authority; No Violation.
Seller has all requisite partnership power and authority to enter into
this Agreement and to carry out its obligations hereunder and to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby. The
execution, delivery and performance by Seller of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly
authorized by all requisite partnership action on the part of Seller and its
general partner, and no other partnership proceedings are necessary to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. This Agreement has
been duly executed and delivered by Seller and, assuming the due authorization,
execution and delivery hereof by Buyer, constitutes a legal, valid and binding
agreement of Seller, enforceable against Seller in accordance with its terms
(except insofar as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws
relating to or affecting creditors rights generally and by general principles
of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law)). Except for matters described in clauses (ii),
(iii) or (iv) below that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a
material adverse effect on Seller, neither the execution and delivery by Seller
of this Agreement, nor the consummation by Seller of the transactions
contemplated hereby and the performance by Seller of this Agreement will
(i) violate or conflict with any provision of Sellers Certificate of
Limited Partnership or Agreement of Limited Partnership; (ii) require any
consent, approval, authorization or permit of, registration, declaration or
filing with, or notification to, any Governmental Entity or any other person;
(iii) result in any breach of or constitute a default (or an event that,
with notice or lapse of time or both, would become a default) under, or give to
others any right of termination, cancellation, amendment or acceleration of any
obligation or the loss of any benefit under Sellers or any MLP Group Entitys
governing documents or any agreement or instrument to which Seller or any MLP
Group Entity is a party or by or to which Seller or any MLP Group Entity or any
of their properties are bound or subject; (iv) result in the creation of
an Encumbrance upon or require the sale or give any person the right to acquire
any of the assets of Seller or any MLP Group Entity, or restrict, hinder,
impair or limit the ability of Seller or any MLP Group Entity to carry on its
businesses as and where they are now being carried on; or (v) violate or
conflict with any Law applicable to Seller or any MLP Group Entity. Section
3.1(b) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule identifies all material consents,
approvals and authorizations of any Governmental Entity or third party that are
required to be obtained by Seller or any MLP Group Entity for the consummation
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
9
(c) Brokerage and Finders Fee.
Except for MLPs and Sellers obligations to Petrie Parkman & Co.
and Lehman Brothers Inc. as described in Section 5.9 of the MLP Disclosure
Schedule (as such term is defined in the Merger Agreement), none of Seller or
any MLP Group Entity, nor any equityholder, director, officer or employee
thereof, has incurred or will incur on behalf of Seller, any MLP Group Entity
or itself, any brokerage, finders, success, deal completion or similar fee in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement that will
impose any obligation on Buyer or any MLP Group Entity.
(d) Capitalization of MLP General Partner. Seller is the sole limited partner of MLP
General Partner and is the sole beneficial owner of the limited partner
interest in MLP General Partner. General Partner Holdco is the sole general
partner of MLP General Partner and is the sole beneficial owner of the general
partner interest in MLP General Partner.
Each such limited partner interest and general partner interest has been
duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with applicable Laws and the
MLP General Partner Partnership Agreement, and is fully paid (to the extent
required under the MLP General Partner Partnership Agreement) and
non-assessable (except as such non-assessability may be affected by the
Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act). Except for any Encumbrances
arising under the MLP General Partner Partnership Agreement, applicable
securities Laws or this Agreement, Seller and General Partner Holdco own their
respective interests in MLP General Partner free and clear of any Encumbrances
and have good and marketable title to such interests; and upon delivery of such
limited partner interest and the payment of the purchase price therefor as
contemplated by this Agreement, Buyer will receive good and marketable title to
such interest free and clear of any Encumbrances.
(e) Financial Statements of MLP General Partner. The unaudited non-consolidated financial
statements of MLP General Partner as of and for the fiscal year ended December
31, 2005 (the MLP General Partner Financial Statements), including all
related notes and schedules (such MLP General Partner Financial Statements and
related notes and schedules being included in Section 3.1(e) of the Seller
Disclosure Schedule), fairly present in all material respects the financial
position of MLP General Partner, as of the respective dates thereof, and the
results of operations, cash flows and changes in partners equity of MLP
General Partner for the periods indicated, and have been prepared in accordance
with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except
as may be indicated in the notes thereto) and subject in the case of interim
financial statements to normal year-end adjustment.
(f) Undisclosed Liabilities of MLP General Partner. MLP General Partner does not have
any indebtedness or liability, absolute or contingent, which is of a nature
required to be reflected on the balance sheet of MLP General Partner or in the
footnotes thereto, in each case prepared in conformity with GAAP, and which is
not shown on or provided for in the MLP General Partner Financial Statements,
other than (1) liabilities incurred or accrued in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice since December 31, 2005, including liens
for current Taxes and assessments not in default, or (2) liabilities of MLP
General Partner that, individually or in the aggregate, are not material to MLP
General Partner.
10
(g) MLP General Partner Assets and Conduct of Business. Since its formation, MLP General Partner has
not owned any assets other than its 2% general partner interest in MLP and the
MLP incentive distribution rights and has not conducted any business other than
that related to its acting as the general partner of MLP.
(h) Capitalization of General Partner Holdco. Seller is the sole
member of General Partner Holdco and is the sole beneficial holder of the
limited liability company interest in General Partner Holdco. Such limited liability company interest has
been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with applicable Laws and
the General Partner Holdco LLC Agreement, and is fully paid (to the extent
required under the General Partner Holdco LLC Agreement) and non-assessable
(except as such non-assessability may be affected by the Delaware Limited
Liability Company Act). Except for any Encumbrances arising under the General
Partner Holdco LLC Agreement, applicable securities Laws or this Agreement,
Seller owns its interest in General Partner Holdco free and clear of any
Encumbrances and has good and marketable title to such interest; and upon
delivery of such interest and the payment of the purchase price therefor as
contemplated by this Agreement, Buyer will receive good and marketable title to
such interest free and clear of any Encumbrances.
(i) Financial Statements of General Partner Holdco.
The unaudited non-consolidated financial statements of General Partner
Holdco as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 (the General
Partner Holdco Financial Statements), including all related notes and
schedules (such General Partner Holdco Financial Statements and related notes
and schedules being included in Section 3.1(i) of the Seller Disclosure
Schedule), fairly present in all material respects the financial position of
General Partner Holdco, as of the respective dates thereof, and the results of
operations, cash flows and changes in members equity of General Partner Holdco
for the periods indicated, and have been prepared in accordance with GAAP
applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as may be
indicated in the notes thereto) and subject in the case of interim financial
statements to normal year-end adjustment.
(j) Undisclosed Liabilities of General
Partner Holdco.
General Partner Holdco does not have any indebtedness, obligation or
liability, absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise, and which is not shown
on or provided for in the General Partner Holdco Financial Statements, other
than (1) liabilities incurred or accrued in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice since December 31, 2005, including liens for
current Taxes and assessments not in default, or (2) liabilities of General
Partner Holdco that, individually or in the aggregate, are not material to
General Partner Holdco.
(k) General Partner Holdco Assets and Conduct of Business. Since its formation, General Partner Holdco
has not owned any assets other than its 0.1% general partner interest in MLP
General Partner and has not conducted any business other than that related to
its acting as the general partner of MLP General Partner.
(l) Interests in MLP.
Seller owns beneficially and of record 2,616,250 MLP Common Units and
7,848,750 MLP Subordinated Units. MLP
General Partner owns beneficially and of record a 2% general partner interest
in MLP and the MLP incentive
11
distribution
rights and is the sole general partner of MLP.
Each such interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in
accordance with applicable Laws and the MLP Partnership Agreement, and is fully
paid (to the extent required under the MLP Partnership Agreement) and
non-assessable (except to the extent such non-assessability may be affected by
the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act). Except for any Encumbrances arising under the
MLP Partnership Agreement, applicable securities Laws or this Agreement, Seller
and MLP General Partner own their above-described interests in MLP free and
clear of any Encumbrances and have good and marketable title to such interests;
and upon delivery of such interests and the payment of the purchase price
therefor as contemplated by this Agreement, Buyer will receive good and
marketable title to such interests free and clear of any Encumbrances.
(m) Taxes. Each of the
Purchased Entities is a disregarded entity for federal income tax purposes
pursuant to Treas. Reg. § 301.7701-3.
(n) To the knowledge
of Seller, the representations and warranties of the MLP Parties set forth in
Article III of the Merger Agreement are true and correct.
(o) Limitation of Representations and Warranties. EXCEPT FOR THE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION 3.1, THE PURCHASED INTERESTS ARE BEING SOLD AND
TRANSFERRED AS IS, WHERE IS, AND SELLER IS NOT MAKING ANY OTHER
REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, WRITTEN OR ORAL, STATUTORY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED,
CONCERNING THE PURCHASED INTERESTS, OR THE BUSINESS, ASSETS, OR LIABILITIES OF
ANY OF MLP GENERAL PARTNER, GENERAL PARTNER HOLDCO, MLP OR ANY MLP GROUP
ENTITY, INCLUDING, IN PARTICULAR, ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS
FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ALL OF WHICH ARE HEREBY EXPRESSLY EXCLUDED AND
DISCLAIMED.
SECTION
3.2 Representations
of Buyer. Except as
set forth in a section of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule delivered concurrently
herewith corresponding to the applicable sections of this Section 3.2 to which
such disclosure applies (provided that any information set forth in one section
of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule shall be deemed to apply to each other Section
thereof to which its relevance is reasonably apparent on its face), Buyer hereby
represents and warrants to Seller that:
(a) Organization; Qualification.
Buyer has been duly formed and is validly existing and in good standing
as a limited partnership under the law of the State of Delaware with all
requisite partnership power and authority to own, lease or otherwise hold and
operate its properties and assets and to carry on its business as presently
conducted, except where the failure to have such power or authority,
individually or in the aggregate, would not have a material adverse effect on
Buyers ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. Buyer is duly qualified and
in good standing to do business as a foreign limited partnership in each
jurisdiction in which the conduct or nature of its business or the ownership,
leasing, holding or operating of its properties makes such qualification
necessary, except such jurisdictions where the failure
12
to be so qualified or in good standing, individually or in the
aggregate, would not have a material adverse effect on Buyers ability to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) Authority; No Violation.
Buyer has all requisite partnership power and authority to enter into
this Agreement and to carry out its obligations hereunder and to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby. The
execution, delivery and performance by Buyer of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly
authorized by all requisite partnership action on the part of Buyer and Buyer
General Partner, and no other partnership proceedings are necessary to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. This Agreement has
been duly executed and delivered by Buyer and, assuming the due authorization,
execution and delivery hereof by Seller, constitutes a legal, valid and binding
agreement of Buyer, enforceable against Buyer in accordance with its terms
(except insofar as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws
relating to or affecting creditors rights generally and by general principles
of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law)). Except
as set forth in Section 3.2(b) of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule and matters
described in clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv) below that would not, individually or
in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on Buyer, neither the
execution and delivery by Buyer of this Agreement, nor the consummation by
Buyer of the transactions contemplated hereby and the performance by Buyer of
this Agreement will (i) violate or conflict with any provision of Buyers
Certificate of Limited Partnership or Agreement of Limited Partnership; (ii) require
any consent, approval, authorization or permit of, registration, declaration or
filing with, or notification to, any Governmental Entity or any other person;
(iii) result in any breach of or constitute a default (or an event that,
with notice or lapse of time or both, would become a default) under, or give to
others any right of termination, cancellation, amendment or acceleration of any
obligation or the loss of any benefit under Buyers or any Buyer Group Entitys
governing documents or any agreement or instrument to which Buyer or any Buyer
Group Entity is a party or by or to which Buyer or any Buyer Group Entity or
any of their properties are bound or subject; (iv) result in the creation
of an Encumbrance upon any or require the sale or give any person the right to
acquire any of the of assets of Buyer or any Buyer Group Entity, or restrict,
hinder, impair or limit the ability of Buyer or any Buyer Group Entity to carry
on its businesses as and where they are now being carried on; or (v) violate
or conflict with any Law applicable to Buyer or any Buyer Group Entity. Section
3.2(b) of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule identifies all material consents,
approvals and authorizations of any Governmental Entity or third party that are
required to be obtained by Buyer or any Buyer Group Entity for the consummation
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(c) Brokerage and Finders Fee.
None of Buyer nor any Buyer Group Entity, nor any equityholder,
director, officer or employee thereof, has incurred or will incur on behalf of
any of Buyer, any Buyer Group Entity or itself, any brokerage, finders,
success, deal completion or similar fee in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement that will impose any obligation on Seller.
13
(d) Independent Investigation. Buyer has conducted its own
independent investigation, review and analysis of the business, operations,
assets, liabilities, results of operations, financial condition and prospects
of MLP General Partner, General Partner Holdco, MLP and the MLP Group Entities,
both individually and on a consolidated basis, which investigation, review and
analysis was done by Buyer and, to the extent Buyer deemed necessary or
appropriate, by its representatives.
(e) Investment Intent; Investment Experience; Restricted Securities. In acquiring the Purchased Interests, Buyer
is not offering or selling, and shall not offer or sell the Purchased
Interests, in connection with any distribution of any of such Purchased
Interests, and Buyer has no participation and shall not participate in any such
undertaking or in any underwriting of such an undertaking except in compliance
with applicable federal and state securities Laws. Buyer acknowledges that it can bear the
economic risk of its investment in the Purchased Interests, and has such
knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that it is capable
of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Purchased Interests.
Buyer is an accredited investor as such term is defined in Regulation D under
the Securities Act. Buyer understands
that none of the Purchased Interests shall have been registered pursuant to the
Securities Act or any applicable state securities Laws, that all of such Purchased
Interests shall be characterized as restricted securities under federal
securities Laws and that under such Laws and applicable regulations none of
such Purchased Interests can be sold or otherwise disposed of without
registration under the Securities Act or an exemption therefrom.
(f) Status. Buyer is not
an employee benefit plan or other organization exempt from taxation pursuant to
Section 501(a) of the Code, a non-resident alien, a foreign corporation or
other foreign Person, or a regulated investment company within the meaning of
Section 851 of the Code.
(g) Financing. Buyer or its affiliates have
currently available, and will have at the Closing, all funds necessary to pay
the Purchase Price and to perform all other obligations under this Agreement.
(h) Limitation of Representations and Warranties. EXCEPT FOR THE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION 3.2, BUYER IS NOT MAKING ANY OTHER REPRESENTATIONS OR
WARRANTIES, WRITTEN OR ORAL, STATUTORY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED.
ARTICLE IV
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS, COVENANTS, RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS
SECTION 4.1 Covenant Compliance.
Seller agrees to comply with, and shall use its
reasonable best efforts to cause its affiliates to comply with, all of the
covenants contained in the Merger Agreement.
Seller agrees to comply with Section 5.6(a) of the Merger Agreement as
if it were included within the definition of MLP Parties for all purposes
thereunder.
SECTION 4.2 Access to Information. Subject to
Section 4.2(b) and applicable Laws, upon reasonable notice, Seller shall
use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause
14
the MLP Group Entities to afford the officers, employees, counsel,
accountants and other authorized representatives and advisors of Buyer
reasonable access, during normal business hours from the Execution Date until
the earlier to occur of the Closing and the termination of this Agreement, to
the MLP Group Entities properties, books, contracts and records as well as to
their management personnel; provided that
such access shall be provided on a basis that minimizes the disruption to the
operations of the MLP Group Entities.
Subject to Section 4.2(b) and applicable Laws, during such period,
Seller shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the MLP Group
Entities to furnish promptly to Buyer all information concerning the MLP Group
Entities business, properties and personnel as Buyer may reasonably
request. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
Seller shall have no obligation to use its commercially reasonable efforts to
cause the MLP Group Entities to disclose or provide access to any information
the disclosure of which Seller or the MLP Group Entities have concluded may
jeopardize any privilege available to such parties relating to such information
or would be in violation of a confidentiality obligation binding on Seller or
the MLP Group Entities.
(b) The parties acknowledge that
certain information received pursuant to Section 4.2(a) will be non-public
or proprietary in nature and as such will be deemed to be Evaluation Material
for purposes of the MLP Confidentiality Agreement. Buyer further agrees to be bound by the terms
and conditions of the MLP Confidentiality Agreement and to maintain the
confidentiality of such Evaluation Material in accordance with the MLP
Confidentiality Agreement. In the event
that the Closing occurs, the MLP Confidentiality Agreement shall be terminated
and of no further force or effect.
SECTION 4.3 Confidentiality.
Seller shall not, and shall cause its affiliates not
to, directly or indirectly, disclose to any person any confidential
information, in any form, whether acquired prior to or after the Closing Date,
relating to the business and operations of Buyer and its affiliates or, after
the Closing, the MLP Group Entities; provided, however, that this
obligation shall not apply to information that is or becomes generally
available to the public other than as a result of disclosure by Seller or its
affiliates or representatives and information that becomes available to Seller
and its affiliates on a non-confidential basis from a source other than Buyer,
its affiliates or the MLP Group Entities provided that such source is not known
to Seller or its affiliates to be bound by a confidentiality agreement with
Buyer, its affiliates or the MLP Group Entities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Seller may
disclose such confidential information if required by Law. Promptly following the Closing Date, Seller
and its affiliates shall return to Buyer or destroy all information not in the
public domain or not generally known in the industry, in any form, whether
acquired prior to or after the Closing Date, relating to Buyer and its
affiliates or the MLP Group Entities.
SECTION 4.4 Commercially Reasonable Efforts; Further
Assurances. From and after
the Execution Date, upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereof, Seller
shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken,
all appropriate action, and to do or cause to be done,
all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Laws to consummate
and make effective the transactions contemplated by, and to satisfy the closing
conditions of, this Agreement and the Merger Agreement as promptly as
practicable, and, except to the extent permitted by Section 5.6 of the Merger
Agreement, shall take no action that could reasonably be expected to impede,
interfere with, delay, postpone or materially affect the transactions
15
contemplated hereby or by
the Merger Agreement or the likelihood of such transactions being
consummated. Without limiting the
foregoing but subject to the other terms of this Agreement, the parties hereto
agree that, from time to time, whether before, at or after the Closing Date,
each of them will execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered,
such instruments of assignment, transfer, conveyance, endorsement, direction or
authorization as may be necessary to consummate and make effective such
transactions. Buyer and Seller understand and agree that no
person who is or becomes during the term of this Agreement a director or
officer of MLP, MLP General Partner or General Partner Holdco makes any
agreement or understanding pursuant to this Section 4.4 in his or her capacity
as such director or officer. Nothing in
this Section 4.4 shall limit or affect any actions of any designee of Seller in
his or her capacity as an officer or director of MLP, MLP General Partner or
General Partner Holdco.
SECTION 4.5 No Public Announcement. Except as contemplated by the Merger Agreement, no party hereto
shall issue any press release or make any other public announcement concerning
this Agreement or the Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby
and thereby (other than public announcements at industry road shows and
conferences, as may be required by Law or by obligations pursuant to any
listing agreement with the NYSE, in which event the
party making the public announcement or press release shall, to the extent
practicable, notify Buyer or Seller, as applicable, in advance of such public
announcement or press release) without the prior approval of Buyer or Seller,
as applicable, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or
conditioned. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, Buyer and Seller may respond to inquiries from securities analysts
and the news media to the extent necessary to respond to such inquiries,
provided that such responses are in compliance with applicable securities Laws.
SECTION 4.6 Expenses. Whether or not
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Merger Agreement are
consummated, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement,
including legal fees, accounting fees, financial advisory fees and other
professional and non-professional fees and expenses, shall be paid by the party
hereto incurring such expenses, except to the extent otherwise provided in this
Agreement and the Merger Agreement.
SECTION
4.7 Tax Matters.
(a) Buyer
and Seller agree and consent to treat the purchase of the Purchased Interests
more particularly described under Section 2.1 as a sale of the Purchased
Interests in the manner described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.708-1(c)(4).
(b) Following
the Closing, Buyer shall cause MLP General Partner to provide Seller with a
copy of the MLP and MLP General Partner federal income Tax Returns for any period
ending on or before the Closing Date to be provided to Seller on or before the
tenth Business Day prior to the due date (including extensions) for such Tax
Returns and Buyer shall use reasonable efforts to consult with Seller with
respect to the preparation of the Schedules K-1 relating to such Tax Returns.
SECTION 4.8 Transfer
of Purchased Interests. Seller agrees
not to sell, transfer, assign, convey or otherwise dispose of, directly or
indirectly, any of the Purchased Interests
16
(other than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) until this
Agreement terminates in accordance with its terms.
SECTION 4.9 Payment of
Credit Facility Debt and Release of Encumbrances.
(a) As
of or prior to the Closing, Seller shall pay off all of its outstanding debt
including under the Seller Credit Facility (including all principal, accrued
and unpaid interests and fees); terminate all the notes, pledges, mortgages,
and other agreements relating to or arising from such debt; and to release, or
caused to be released, all Encumbrances affecting the Purchased Interests.
(b) Without
limiting Section 4.9(a), with respect to the Seller Credit Facility,
(i) Seller
shall notify the Seller Credit Facility lenders in writing (with a copy of such
writing being contemporaneously provided to Buyer) promptly after the date
hereof that, subject to conditions to Closing set forth in Article II,
all outstanding debt under the Seller Credit Facility (including all principal,
accrued and unpaid interests and fees) will be paid in full on the Closing
Date;
(ii) Seller
shall cause the Seller Credit Facility lenders to inform Buyer in writing (with
a copy to Seller regarding (A) the amount that will be required to pay in full
all outstanding debt under the Seller Credit Facility on (and as of) the
Closing Date (the Payoff Amount), and (B) account and wiring instructions for
the Payoff Amount; and
(iii) Seller
shall deliver to Buyer a copy of all documents and other instruments, in form
and substance reasonably satisfactory to Buyer, executed by the Seller Credit
Facility lenders and any third party, as the case may be, sufficient (A) to
terminate all the notes, pledges, mortgages, and other agreements relating to
or arising from the Seller Credit Facility, and (B) to release all Encumbrances
affecting the Purchased Interests, including a written agreement of the Seller
Credit Facility lenders (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
Buyer) to release such documents and other instruments to Buyer at Closing upon
receipt of the Payoff Amount.
ARTICLE V
TERMINATION AND REMEDIES FOR DEFAULT
SECTION 5.1 Termination. This
Agreement may be terminated by either Buyer or Seller upon or after the
termination of the Merger Agreement.
This Agreement may be terminated at any time by the mutual written
agreement of the parties hereto.
SECTION 5.2 Indemnity. Seller shall indemnify and hold harmless
Buyer and its respective officers, directors and employees (the Buyer Indemnified Parties) from any and
all Damages incurred by any such person in connection with the breach of a
representation or warranty set forth in Sections 3.1(d), (h) and (l). Except as otherwise provided in Section 5.4,
the liability of Seller under this Section 5.2 shall not exceed seven hundred
million dollars ($700,000,000) in the aggregate.
17
SECTION 5.3 Survival. In the event of
termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 5.1, all rights and
obligations of the parties hereto under this Agreement shall terminate, except
the provisions of Section 4.2(b), Section 4.5, Section 4.6,
Article V and Article VI shall survive such termination;
provided that nothing herein shall relieve any party hereto
from any liability for any material breach by such party of any of its
representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement
and all rights and remedies of a nonbreaching party under this Agreement in the
case of such a material breach, at law or in equity, shall be preserved. In the event the Closing occurs, the
representations and warranties of Seller contained in Sections 3.1(d), (h) and
(l) shall survive the Closing and any investigation by Buyer or its affiliates
with respect thereto indefinitely. Other
than as set forth in the preceding sentence and the obligations contained in
Section 4.3, 4.4, 4.6 and 4.7, none of the representations, warranties,
agreements, covenants or obligations in this Agreement or in any instrument
delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Closing.
SECTION 5.4 Enforcement
of this Agreement. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that
an award of money damages would be inadequate for any
breach of this Agreement by any party and any such breach would cause the
non-breaching parties irreparable harm. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree
that, in the event of any breach or threatened breach of this Agreement by one
of the parties, the parties will also be entitled, without the requirement of
posting a bond or other security, to equitable relief, including injunctive
relief and specific performance, provided such party is not in material default
hereunder. Such remedies will not be the exclusive remedies for any breach of
this Agreement but will be in addition to all other remedies available at law
or equity to each of the parties.
SECTION 5.5 No Waiver Relating to Claims for Fraud/Willful
Misconduct. The liability of any party under this Article
V shall be in addition to, and not exclusive of, any other liability that such
party may have at law or in equity based on such partys (a) fraudulent acts or
omissions or (b) willful misconduct.
None of the provisions set forth in this Agreement shall be deemed to be
a waiver by or release of any party of any right or remedy that such party may
have at law or equity based on any other partys fraudulent acts or omissions
or willful misconduct nor shall any such provisions limit, or be deemed to
limit, (i) the amounts of recovery sought or awarded in any such claim for
fraud or willful misconduct, (ii) the time period during which a claim for
fraud or willful misconduct may be brought, or (iii) the recourse that any such
party may seek against another party with respect to a claim for fraud or
willful misconduct.
ARTICLE VI
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 6.1 Notices. Any
notice, request, instruction, correspondence or other document to be given hereunder
by any party to another party (each, a Notice) shall be in writing and
delivered in person or by courier service requiring acknowledgment of receipt
of delivery or mailed by U.S. registered or certified mail, postage
prepaid and return receipt requested, or by telecopier, as follows; provided,
that copies to be delivered below shall not be required for effective notice
and shall not constitute notice:
18
If to Seller, addressed to:
LB Pacific, LP
c/o Pacific Energy Partners, L.P.
5900 Cherry Avenue
Long Beach, California 90805
Attention: Christopher Manning
Telecopy: (646) 758-3708
with a copy to:
Pacific Energy Partners, L.P.
5900 Cherry Avenue
Long Beach, California 90805
Attention: Lynn Wood
Telecopy: (562) 728-2823
with a copy to:
Baker Botts L.L.P.
910 Louisiana Street
Houston, Texas 70002
Attention: Kelly B. Rose
Telecopy: (713) 229-7996
If to Buyer, addressed to:
Plains All American Pipeline, L.P.
333 Clay Street, Suite 1600
Houston, Texas 77002
Attention: Harry N. Pefanis and Lawrence J.
Dreyfuss
Telecopy: (713)
646-4378 and (713) 646-4216
with a copy to:
Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.
2300 First City Tower
1001 Fannin
Houston, Texas 77002-6760
Attention: David P. Oelman
Telecopy: (713) 615-5861
Notice
given by personal delivery, courier service or mail shall be effective upon
actual receipt. Notice given by telecopy
shall be confirmed by appropriate answer back and shall be effective upon
actual receipt if received during the recipients normal business hours, or at
the beginning of the recipients next Business Day after receipt if not
received during the recipients normal business hours. All Notices by telecopy shall be confirmed
promptly after transmission
19
in
writing by certified mail or personal delivery.
Any party may change any address to which Notice is to be given to it by
giving Notice as provided above of such change of address.
SECTION 6.2 Governing
Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.
To the
maximum extent permitted by applicable Law, the provisions of this Agreement
shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the Laws of
the State of Delaware, without regard to principles of conflicts of law. Each of the parties hereto agrees that this
Agreement involves at least U.S. $100,000 and that this Agreement has been
entered into in express reliance upon 6 Del. C. § 2708. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably and
unconditionally confirms and agrees that it is and shall continue to be (i)
subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware and of the
federal courts sitting in the State of Delaware, and (ii) subject to service of
process in the State of Delaware. Each
party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (a) consents and
submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of any federal or state court located in
the State of Delaware, including the Delaware Court of Chancery in and for New
Castle County (the Delaware Courts) for any actions, suits or proceedings
arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement (and agrees not to commence any litigation relating thereto
except in such courts), (b) waives any objection to the laying of venue of
any such litigation in the Delaware Courts and agrees not to plead or claim in
any Delaware Court that such litigation brought therein has been brought in any
inconvenient forum and (c) acknowledges and agrees that any controversy
that may arise under this Agreement is likely to involve complicated and
difficult issues, and therefore each such party hereby irrevocably and
unconditionally waives any right such party may have to a trial by jury in
respect of any litigation directly or indirectly arising or relating to this
Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
SECTION 6.3 Entire
Agreement; Waivers. Except
for the Confidentiality Agreements, this Agreement and the exhibits and
schedules hereto constitute the entire agreement between the parties
hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior
agreements, understandings, negotiations and discussions, whether oral or
written, of the parties, and there are no warranties, representations or other
agreements between or among the parties in connection with the subject matter
hereof except as set forth specifically herein or contemplated hereby. Except
as expressly set forth in this Agreement (including the representations and
warranties set forth in Sections 3.1 and 3.2), (i) the parties acknowledge and
agree that neither party nor any other person has made, and neither party is
relying upon, any covenant, representation or warranty, expressed or implied,
as to either party or any Consolidated Group or as to the accuracy or
completeness of any information regarding either party and either Consolidated
Group furnished or made available to either party or any of their affiliates
and (ii) neither party shall have or be subject to any liability to the other
party or any other person, or any other remedy in connection herewith, based
upon the distribution to the other party of, or such partys use of or reliance
on, any such information or any information, documents or material made
available to such party in any data rooms, virtual data rooms, management
presentations or in any other form in expectation of, or in connection with,
the transactions contemplated hereby. No supplement, modification or waiver of
this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the party to be
bound thereby. The failure of a party to
exercise any right or remedy shall not be deemed or constitute a waiver of such
right or remedy in the future. No waiver
of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute
20
a waiver of any other provision hereof
(regardless of whether similar), nor shall any such waiver constitute a
continuing waiver unless otherwise expressly provided.
SECTION 6.4 Binding
Effect and Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and
assigns. Nothing in this Agreement,
express or implied, is intended to confer upon any person other than the parties
hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns, any rights,
benefits or obligations hereunder. No
party hereto may assign, transfer, dispose of or otherwise alienate this
Agreement or any of its rights, interests or obligations under this Agreement
(whether by operation of law or otherwise); provided
that Buyer may assign its rights under this Agreement to a wholly owned
subsidiary of Buyer, but any such assignment shall not relieve Buyer of its
obligations hereunder. Any attempted assignment,
transfer, disposition or alienation in violation of this Agreement shall be
null, void and ineffective.
SECTION 6.5 Severability. If
any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal, or incapable
of being enforced by any rule of applicable Law, or public policy, all other
conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain
in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement are not affected in any manner
materially adverse to any party hereto.
Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid,
illegal, or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in
good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the
parties hereto as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order
that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated as
originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.
SECTION 6.6 Execution. This
Agreement may
be executed in multiple counterparts each of which shall be deemed an original
and all of which shall constitute one instrument.
[The remainder of this page is blank.]
21
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the
parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be signed by their respective
officers hereunto duly authorized, all as of the date first written above.
|
PLAINS ALL AMERICAN
PIPELINE L.P.
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By:
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Plains AAP, L.P., its
general partner
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By:
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Plains All American GP
LLC, its
general partner
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By:
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/s/ Harry N. Pefanis
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Title:
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President and COO
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LB PACIFIC, LP
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By:
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LB Pacific GP, LLC, its
general
partner
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By:
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/s/ Christopher Manning
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Title:
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President
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Signaure Page to Purchase
Agreement
Exhibit
2.2
AGREEMENT
AND PLAN OF MERGER
dated
as of
June
11, 2006
by and
among
PLAINS
ALL AMERICAN PIPELINE L.P.,
PLAINS
AAP, L.P.,
PLAINS
ALL AMERICAN GP LLC,
PACIFIC
ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.,
PACIFIC
ENERGY MANAGEMENT LLC,
and
PACIFIC
ENERGY GP, LP
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
ARTICLE
I DEFINITIONS
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1
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Section
1.1
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Definitions
|
1
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Section
1.2
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Rules
of Construction
|
11
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ARTICLE
II MERGER
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12
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Section
2.1
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Closing
of the Merger
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12
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ARTICLE
III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE MLP PARTIES
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15
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Section
3.1
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Organization;
Qualification
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16
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Section
3.2
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Authority;
No Violation; Consents and Approvals
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16
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Section
3.3
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Capitalization
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17
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Section
3.4
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Financial
Statements
|
18
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Section
3.5
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Undisclosed
Liabilities
|
19
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Section
3.6
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MLP
SEC Reports and Compliance
|
19
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Section
3.7
|
Operating
Surplus
|
20
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Section
3.8
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Compliance
with Applicable Laws; Permits
|
20
|
Section
3.9
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Certain
Contracts and Arrangements
|
20
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Section
3.10
|
Legal
Proceedings
|
21
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Section
3.11
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Environmental
Matters
|
22
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Section
3.12
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Title
to Properties and Rights of Way
|
22
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Section
3.13
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Insurance
|
23
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Section
3.14
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Tax
Matters
|
23
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Section
3.15
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Employee
Benefits
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24
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Section
3.16
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Books
and Records
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26
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Section
3.17
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No
Changes or Material Adverse Effects
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26
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Section
3.18
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Regulation
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26
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Section
3.19
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State
Takeover Laws
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26
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Section
3.20
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Opinion
of Financial Advisor
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26
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Section
3.21
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Approvals
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27
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Section
3.22
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Brokers
Fees
|
27
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Section
3.23
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Limitation
of Representations and Warranties
|
27
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|
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ARTICLE
IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BUYER PARTIES
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27
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Section
4.1
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Organization;
Qualification
|
27
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Section
4.2
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Authority;
No Violation; Consents and Approvals
|
28
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Section
4.3
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Capitalization
|
29
|
Section
4.4
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Financial
Statements
|
30
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Section
4.5
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Undisclosed
Liabilities
|
30
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Section
4.6
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Buyer
SEC Reports and Compliance
|
31
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Section
4.7
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Operating
Surplus
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31
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Section
4.8
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Compliance
with Applicable Laws; Permits
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31
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Section
4.9
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Certain
Contracts and Arrangements
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32
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Section
4.10
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Legal
Proceedings
|
33
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i
Section
4.11
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Environmental
Matters
|
33
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Section
4.12
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Title
to Properties and Rights of Way
|
34
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Section
4.13
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Insurance
|
34
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Section
4.14
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Tax
Matters
|
35
|
Section
4.15
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Employee
Benefits
|
36
|
Section
4.16
|
Books
and Records
|
38
|
Section
4.17
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No
Changes or Material Adverse Effect
|
38
|
Section
4.18
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Regulation
|
38
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Section
4.19
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State
Takeover Laws
|
38
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Section
4.20
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Opinion
of Financial Advisor
|
38
|
Section
4.21
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Approvals
|
38
|
Section
4.22
|
Brokers
Fees
|
39
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Section
4.23
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Limitation
of Representations and Warranties
|
39
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|
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ARTICLE
V ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS, COVENANTS, RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS
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39
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Section
5.1
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Conduct
of Business
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39
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Section
5.2
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Access
to Information; Confidentiality
|
43
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Section
5.3
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Certain
Filings
|
44
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Section
5.4
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Unitholders
Meetings
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45
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Section
5.5
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Affiliates
|
46
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Section
5.6
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No
Solicitation
|
46
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Section
5.7
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Commercially
Reasonable Efforts; Further Assurances
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49
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Section
5.8
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No
Public Announcement
|
49
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Section
5.9
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Expenses
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50
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Section
5.10
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Regulatory
Issues
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50
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Section
5.11
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Tax
Matters
|
50
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Section
5.12
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Section 16(b)
|
51
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Section
5.13
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D&O
Insurance
|
51
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Section
5.14
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Distributions
|
52
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Section
5.15
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Comfort
Letters
|
52
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Section
5.16
|
Consent
to Use of Financial Statements; Financing Cooperation
|
52
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|
|
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ARTICLE
VI CONDITIONS TO CLOSING
|
53
|
Section
6.1
|
Conditions
to Each Partys Obligations
|
53
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Section
6.2
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Conditions
to the Buyer Parties Obligations
|
54
|
Section
6.3
|
Conditions
to the MLP Parties Obligations
|
55
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Section
6.4
|
Frustration
of Conditions
|
55
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|
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ARTICLE
VII EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
|
56
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Section
7.1
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Employee
Matters
|
56
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Section
7.2
|
MLP
Restricted Units
|
57
|
|
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ARTICLE
VIII TERMINATION
|
58
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Section
8.1
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Termination
by Mutual Consent
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58
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Section
8.2
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Termination
by MLP or Buyer
|
58
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Section
8.3
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Termination
by MLP
|
58
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Section
8.4
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Termination
by Buyer
|
59
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ii
Section
8.5
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Effect
of Certain Terminations
|
59
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Section
8.6
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Survival
|
60
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Section
8.7
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Enforcement
of this Agreement
|
60
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Section
8.8
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No
Waiver Relating to Claims for Fraud/Willful Misconduct
|
61
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ARTICLE
IX MISCELLANEOUS
|
61
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Section
9.1
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Notices
|
62
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Section
9.2
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Governing
Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial
|
62
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Section
9.3
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Entire
Agreement; Amendments and Waivers
|
62
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Section
9.4
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Binding
Effect and Assignment
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63
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Section
9.5
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Severability
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63
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Section
9.6
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Execution
|
64
|
iii
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this Agreement) dated as of June
11, 2006 (the Execution Date), is entered into by and among Pacific Energy
Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (MLP), Pacific Energy GP, LP,
a Delaware limited partnership (MLP General Partner), Pacific Energy
Management LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (General Partner Holdco),
Plains All American Pipeline L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (Buyer),
Plains AAP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (Buyer General Partner), and
Plains All American GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (Buyer GP
Holdco).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, MLP and Buyer desire to combine their businesses on the terms
and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the respective
representations, warranties, covenants, agreements and conditions contained
herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1 Definitions. In this Agreement, unless the
context otherwise requires, the following terms shall have the following
meanings respectively:
affiliate has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 of the rules and
regulations under the Securities Act, unless otherwise expressly stated herein.
Agreement has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
Business Day means any day on which commercial banks are generally
open for business in New York, New York other than a Saturday, a
Sunday or a day observed as a holiday in New York, New York under the
Laws of the State of New York or the federal Laws of the United States of
America.
Buyer has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
Buyer Common Units means the Common Units of Buyer issued pursuant to
the Buyer Partnership Agreement.
Buyer Confidentiality Agreement means that certain Confidentiality
Agreement dated May 24, 2006 between MLP and Buyer.
Buyer Disclosure Schedule means the disclosure schedule prepared and
delivered by Buyer to MLP as of the date of this Agreement.
Buyer Financial Statements has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4.
1
Buyer General Partner has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
Buyer GP Holdco has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
Buyer Group Entities means the Buyer Parties and their subsidiaries
and the Buyer Partially Owned Entities.
Buyer Insurance Policy has the meaning set forth in Section 4.13.
Buyer Material Adverse Effect means any change, effect, event or
occurrence with respect to the condition (financial or otherwise), properties,
assets, liabilities, obligations (whether absolute, accrued, conditional or
otherwise), businesses, operations or results of operations of the Buyer Group
Entities (taken as a whole), that is, or would reasonably be expected to be,
material and adverse to the Buyer Group Entities (taken as a whole) or that
materially and adversely affects the ability of the Buyer Parties to consummate
the Merger and Sale Transactions; provided,
however, that a Buyer Material Adverse Effect shall not include any
change, effect, event or occurrence with respect to the condition (financial or
otherwise), properties, assets, liabilities, obligations (whether absolute,
accrued, conditional or otherwise), businesses, operations or results of
operations of any Buyer Group Entity directly or indirectly arising out of or
attributable to (a) any decrease in the market price of Buyers publicly traded
equity securities (but not any change or effect underlying such decrease to the
extent such change or effect would otherwise contribute to a Buyer Material
Adverse Effect), (b) changes in the general state of the industries in
which the Buyer Group Entities operate to the extent that such changes would
have the same general effect on companies engaged in such industries, (c) changes
in general economic conditions (including changes in commodity prices) that
would have the same general effect on companies engaged in the same lines of
business as those conducted by the Buyer Group Entities, (d) the
announcement or proposed consummation of this Agreement and the Merger and Sale
Transactions, (e) changes in GAAP or (f) acts of terrorism, war, sabotage or
insurrection not directly damaging or impacting the Buyer Group Entities, to
the extent that such acts have the same general effect on companies engaged in
the same lines of business as those conducted by the Buyer Group Entities.
Buyer Material Agreements has the meaning set forth in Section
4.9(a).
Buyer Partially Owned Entities means the Partially Owned Entities of
the Buyer.
Buyer Parties means Buyer, Buyer General Partner and Buyer GP Holdco.
Buyer Partnership Agreement means the Third Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership of Buyer dated as of June 27, 2001, as
amended, and as further amended from time to time after the Execution Date in
accordance with this Agreement.
Buyer Permits has the meaning set forth in Section 4.8(b).
Buyer Recommendation has the meaning set forth in Section 5.4.
Buyer Recommendation Change has the meaning set forth in Section 5.4.
2
Buyer Related Employees means employees of Buyer General Partner that
work primarily for the benefit of the Buyer Group Entities.
Buyer SEC Reports has the meaning set forth in Section 4.6.
Buyer Subsidiaries means the subsidiaries of Buyer.
Buyer Takeover Proposal means any inquiry, proposal or offer from any
person relating to, or that could reasonably be expected to lead to, any direct
or indirect acquisition or purchase, in one transaction or a series of
transactions, of assets (other than product sales in the ordinary course of
business) or businesses that constitute 50% or more of the revenues, net income
or assets of the Buyer Group Entities, taken as a whole, or 50% or more of any
class of equity securities of any Buyer Party, any tender offer or exchange
offer that if consummated would result in any person beneficially owning 50% or
more of any class of equity securities of any Buyer Party, or any merger,
consolidation, business combination, recapitalization, liquidation,
dissolution, joint venture, binding unit exchange or similar transaction
involving the Buyer Group Entities pursuant to which any person or the
equityholders of any person would own 50% or more of any class of equity
securities of any Buyer Party or of any resulting parent company of any Buyer
Party, other than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Buyer Unitholder Approval has the meaning set forth in Section
6.1(a).
Buyer Unitholders Meeting has the meaning set forth in Section 5.4.
Certificates has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(f).
Closing has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).
Closing Date has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Competition Act means
the Competition Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-34 of
Canada, as amended from time to time, together with all rules and regulations
thereunder.
Competition Act Notification
means notification of the Merger and Sale Transactions pursuant to Section 102
or 114 of the Competition Act.
Competition Act Requirement
means that:
(a) the Commissioner of
Competition (the Commissioner) appointed under the Competition Act has issued
an advance ruling certificate pursuant to Section 102 of the Competition Act in
respect of the Merger and Sale Transactions; or
(b) the Competition Act
Notification has been given and either:
(i) the
applicable waiting period under Section 123 of the Competition Act has expired
without the Commissioner having advised the parties that he intends to
3
apply to the Competition Tribunal for an order under Section 92 or
Section 100 of the Competition Act in respect of the Merger and Sale
Transactions; or
(ii) the
Commissioner has advised Buyer that the Commissioner does not intend at the
current time to apply to the Competition Tribunal for an order under Section 92
of the Competition Act in respect of the Merger and Sale Transactions.
Competition Tribunal means the competition tribunal established by
Subsection 3(1) of the Competition
Tribunal Act.
Confidentiality Agreements means the MLP Confidentiality Agreement
and the Buyer Confidentiality Agreement.
Consolidated Group means the MLP Group Entities, on one hand, and the
Buyer Group Entities, on the other hand.
A reference to a Consolidated Group is a reference to each of the
members of such Consolidated Group.
Contango Facility means the Restated Credit Facility (Uncommitted
Senior Secured Discretionary Contango Facility) dated November 19, 2004 among
Plains Marketing, L.P., Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and the
lenders party thereto.
Continuing Employees has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.
D&O Insurance has the meaning set forth in Section 5.13.
Delaware Courts has the meaning set forth in Section 9.2.
Drop-Dead Date has the meaning set forth in Section 8.2(a).
DRULPA means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, as
amended.
Effective Time has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b).
Employment Agreement means any employment agreement to which any
entity is a party other than (i) standard offer letters or (ii) any agreement
that is terminable upon 30 days notice without liability to the employer.
Employee Benefit Plan means any employee
benefit plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA), and any
equity-based purchase, option, change-in-control, collective bargaining,
incentive, employee loan, deferred compensation, pension, profit-sharing,
retirement, bonus, retention bonus, severance and other employee benefit or
fringe benefit plan, agreement, program, policy or other arrangement, whether
or not subject to ERISA (including any funding mechanism now in effect or
required in the future), whether formal or informal, oral or written, legally
binding or not, maintained by, sponsored by or contributed to by or obligated
to be contributed to by the entity in question or with respect to which the
entity in question has any obligation or liability, whether secondary,
contingent or otherwise.
4
Encumbrances means pledges, restrictions on transfer, proxies and
voting or other agreements, liens, claims, charges, mortgages, security
interests or other legal or equitable encumbrances, limitations or restrictions
of any nature whatsoever.
Environmental Laws means any applicable law (including common law)
regulating or prohibiting Releases of Hazardous Materials into any part of the
workplace or the environment, or pertaining to the protection of natural
resources, wildlife, the environment, or public or employee health and safety
including, without limitation, the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) (42 U.S.C. Section 9601 et
seq.), the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. Section 5101 et
seq.), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. Section 6901 et
seq.), the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. Section 1251 et seq.), the Clean Air Act
(42 U.S.C. Section 7401 et seq.), the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C.
Section 2601 et seq.), the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. Section 2701 et
seq.), the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. Section 2014 et seq.), the
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. Section 136 et
seq.), and the Occupational Safety and Health Act (29 U.S.C. Section 651 et
seq.) (OSHA) and the regulations promulgated pursuant thereto, and any
analogous international treaties, national, provincial, state or local
statutes, and the regulations promulgated pursuant thereto, as such laws have
been amended as of the Closing Date.
ERISA means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended.
Evaluation Material has the meaning set forth in Section 5.2(b).
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Exchange Agent has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(e).
Exchange Fund has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(e).
Exchange Ratio means the ratio of a Buyer Common Unit per MLP Common
Unit described in Section 2.1(b)(i).
Execution Date has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
FCC means the Federal Communications Commission.
Fractional Unit Payment has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.1(c).
GAAP has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2.
General Partner Holdco has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
governing documents means, with respect to any person, the
certificate or articles of incorporation, by-laws, articles of organization,
limited liability company agreement, partnership agreement, formation
agreement, joint venture agreement, operating agreement,
5
unanimous equityholder agreement or declaration or
other similar governing documents of such person.
Governmental Entity means any (a) multinational, federal,
national, provincial, territorial, state, regional, municipal, local or other
government, governmental or public department, central bank, court, tribunal,
arbitral body, commission, administrative agency, board, bureau or agency,
domestic or foreign, (b) subdivision, agent, commission, board, or
authority of any of the foregoing, or (c) quasi-governmental or private body
exercising any regulatory, expropriation or taxing authority under, or for the
account of, any of the foregoing, in each case, which has jurisdiction or
authority with respect to the applicable party.
Hazardous Material means and includes each substance defined,
designated or classified as a hazardous waste, hazardous substance, hazardous
material, pollutant, contaminant or toxic substance under any Environmental Law
and any petroleum or petroleum products that have been Released into the
environment.
holders means, when used with reference to the MLP Common Units and
the Buyer Common Units, the holders of such units shown from time to time in
the registers maintained by or on behalf of MLP or Buyer, as applicable.
HSR Act means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act
of 1976, 15 U.S.C. §18a, as amended.
IDR Reduction Date has the meaning set forth in Section 4.21.
Investment Canada Act
means the Investment Canada Act, R.S.C. 1985, c.
28 (1st Suppl.), as amended from time to time, together with all
rules and regulations thereunder.
Investment Canada Approval means approval of the Merger and Sale
Transactions under the Investment Canada Act.
knowledge means (a) with respect to the MLP Parties, the actual
knowledge of each person listed in Section 1.1(a) of the MLP Disclosure
Schedule, and (b) with respect to the Buyer Parties, the actual knowledge
of each person listed in Section 1.1(b) of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule.
Laws means all statutes, regulations, statutory rules, orders,
judgments, decrees and terms and conditions of any grant of approval,
permission, authority, permit or license of any court, Governmental Entity,
statutory body or self-regulatory authority (including the NYSE), but does not
include Environmental Laws or ERISA.
LBPLP has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(a).
Letter of Transmittal has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.1(f).
Materiality Requirement means any requirement in a representation or
warranty that a condition, event or state of fact be material, correct or
true in all material respects, have a Buyer Material Adverse Effect or an MLP
Material Adverse Effect or be or not be
6
reasonably expected to have a Buyer Material
Adverse Effect or reasonably expected to have an MLP Material Adverse Effect
(or other words or phrases of similar effect or impact) in order for such
condition, event or state of facts to cause such representation or warranty to
be inaccurate.
Merger means the merger of MLP with and into Buyer, with Buyer as the
sole surviving entity.
Merger and Sale Transactions means the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated by Section 2.1, and the sale of the Purchased
Interests contemplated in the Purchase Agreement.
MLP has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
MLP Board means the Board of Directors of General Partner Holdco.
MLP Common Units means the Common Units of MLP issued pursuant to the
MLP Partnership Agreement.
MLP Confidentiality Agreement means that certain Confidentiality
Agreement dated April 17, 2006 between Lehman Brothers Inc. and Buyer.
MLP Conflicts Committee means the Conflicts Committee of the MLP
Board.
MLP D&O Indemnified Parties has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.13.
MLP Disclosure Schedule means the disclosure schedule prepared and delivered
by MLP to Buyer as of the date of this Agreement.
MLP Financial Statements has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4.
MLP General Partner has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
MLP Group Entities means the MLP Parties and their subsidiaries and
the MLP Partially-Owned Entities.
MLP Insurance Policy has the meaning set forth in Section 3.13.
MLP Material Adverse Effect means any change, effect, event or
occurrence with respect to the condition (financial or otherwise), properties,
assets, liabilities, obligations (whether absolute, accrued, conditional or
otherwise), businesses, operations or results of operations of the MLP Group
Entities (taken as a whole), that is, or would reasonably be expected to be,
material and adverse to the MLP Group Entities (taken as a whole) or that
materially and adversely affects the ability of the MLP Parties to consummate
the Merger and Sale Transactions; provided,
however, that an MLP Material Adverse Effect shall not include any
change, effect, event or occurrence with respect to the condition (financial or
otherwise), properties, assets, liabilities, obligations (whether absolute,
accrued, conditional or otherwise), businesses, operations or results of
operations of any MLP Group Entity (or any MLP Partially
7
Owned Entity) directly or indirectly arising out of
or attributable to (a) any decrease in the market price of MLPs publicly
traded equity securities (but not any change or effect underlying such decrease
to the extent such change or effect would otherwise contribute to an MLP
Material Adverse Effect), (b) changes in the general state of the industries in
which the MLP Group Entities operate to the extent that such changes would have
the same general effect on companies engaged in such industries, (c) changes in
general economic conditions (including changes in commodity prices) that would
have the same general effect on companies engaged in the same lines of business
as those conducted by the MLP Group Entities, (d) the announcement or proposed
consummation of this Agreement and the Merger and Sale Transactions, (e)
changes in GAAP or (f) acts of terrorism, war, sabotage or insurrection not
directly damaging or impacting the MLP Group Entities, to the extent that such
acts have the same general effect on companies engaged in the same lines of
business as those conducted by the MLP Group Entities.
MLP Material Agreements has the meaning set forth in Section 3.9 (a).
MLP Partially Owned Entities means Partially Owned Entities of the
MLP.
MLP Parties means MLP, MLP General Partner and General Partner
Holdco.
MLP Partnership Agreement means the First Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership of MLP dated as of July 26, 2002, as amended
and as further amended from time to time after the Execution Date in accordance
with this Agreement.
MLP Permits has the meaning set forth in Section 3.8(b).
MLP Recommendation has the meaning set forth in Section 5.4.
MLP Recommendation Change has the meaning set forth in Section
5.6(b).
MLP Related Employees means employees of MLP General Partner or
General Partner Holdco that work primarily for the benefit of the MLP Group
Entities.
MLP SEC Reports has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.
MLP Subordinated Units means the Subordinated Units of MLP issued
pursuant to the MLP Partnership Agreement.
MLP Subsidiaries means the subsidiaries of MLP.
MLP Takeover Proposal means any inquiry, proposal or offer from any
person (other than the Buyer Group Entities) relating to, or that could reasonably
be expected to, lead to any direct or indirect acquisition or purchase, in one
transaction or a series of transactions, of assets (other than product sales in
the ordinary course of business) or businesses that constitute 30% or more of
the revenues, net income or assets of the MLP Group Entities, taken as a whole,
or 30% or more of any class of equity securities of any MLP Party, any tender
offer or exchange offer that if consummated would result in any person
beneficially owning 30% or more of any class of equity securities of any MLP
Party, or any merger, consolidation, business combination, recapitalization,
liquidation, dissolution, joint venture, binding unit exchange or similar
8
transaction involving the MLP Group Entities
pursuant to which any person or the equityholders of any person would own 30%
or more of any class of equity securities of any MLP Party or of any resulting
parent company of any MLP Party, other than the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement.
MLP Unit Plans mean the MLP General Partners long-term incentive
plan and any other equity compensation plan relating to MLP Units in existence,
or pursuant to which awards are outstanding, on the Execution Date, and which
plans are included in Section 3.15 of the MLP Disclosure Schedule.
MLP Unitholder Approval has the meaning set forth in
Section 6.1(a).
MLP Unitholders Meeting has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.4.
MLP Units means the MLP Common Units and the MLP Subordinated Units.
Notice has the meaning set forth in Section 9.1.
NYSE means the New York Stock Exchange.
Partially Owned Entity means, with respect to a specified person, any
other person that is not a subsidiary of such specified person but in which
such specified person, directly or indirectly, owns less than 100% of the
equity interests thereof (whether voting or non-voting and including beneficial
interests).
Party Group means the MLP Parties, on the one hand, and the Buyer
Parties, on the other hand. A reference
to a Party Group is a reference to each of the members of such Party Group.
Permitted Encumbrances means any liens, title defects, preferential
rights or other encumbrances upon any of the relevant persons property, assets
or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, that are
(i) carriers, warehousemens, mechanics, materialmens, repairmens or
other like liens arising in the ordinary course of business which are not
overdue for a period of more than 60 days or which are being contested in
good faith by appropriate proceeding, (ii) pledges or deposits in
connection with workers compensation, unemployment insurance and other social
security legislation and deposits securing liability to insurance carriers
under insurance or self-insurance arrangements, (iii) for Taxes not yet
due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings
(provided that adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the
books of such person or its subsidiaries, as the case may be, in conformity
with GAAP), (iv) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade
contracts (other than for borrowed money), leases, statutory obligations,
surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like
nature incurred in the ordinary course of business, (v) easements,
rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar encumbrances incurred in the
ordinary course of business which, in the aggregate, do not materially
interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business by such person and its
subsidiaries and (vi) created pursuant to construction, operating and
maintenance agreements, space lease agreements and other similar agreements, in
each case having ordinary and customary terms and entered into in the ordinary
course of business by such person and its subsidiaries.
9
person includes any individual, firm, partnership, joint venture,
venture capital fund, limited liability company, association, trust, estate,
group, body corporate, corporation, unincorporated association or organization,
Governmental Entity, syndicate or other entity, whether or not having legal
status.
Proxy Statement/Prospectus has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.3.
Purchase Agreement means that certain Purchase Agreement dated as of
the Execution Date between Buyer and LBPLP.
Purchased Interests has the meaning set forth in the Purchase
Agreement.
Purchased Units means the MLP Common Units and MLP Subordinated Units
to be purchased pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
Registration Statement has the meaning set forth in Section 5.3.
Release means any depositing, spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring,
placing, burying, emitting, discarding, abandoning, emptying, discharging,
migrating, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping or disposing.
Representatives has the meaning set forth in Section 5.6(a).
Required Divestiture has the meaning set forth in Section 5.10.
rights-of-way has the meaning set forth in Section 3.12(b).
Rule 145 Affiliates has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.5.
SEC means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
subsidiary means with respect to a specified person, any other person
(a) that is a subsidiary as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and
Regulations under the Securities Act of such specified person and (b) of
which such specified person or another of its subsidiaries owns beneficially
more than 50% of the equity interests.
Superior Proposal means any bona fide written offer made by a third
party that (i) if consummated, would result in such person (or its
equityholders) owning, directly or indirectly, the general partner interest in
MLP and at least a majority of the MLP Common Units then outstanding (or of the
surviving entity in a merger or the direct or indirect parent of the surviving
entity in a merger) or all or substantially all of the assets of the MLP Group
Entities, taken as a whole, (ii) includes terms that the MLP Conflicts
Committee determines in its good faith judgment (after consultation with a
financial advisor of nationally recognized reputation and outside legal
counsel, and after taking into account all the terms and conditions of such
third party offer, including any break-up fees, expense reimbursement
provisions and conditions to consummation, as well as any bona fide written
offer to revise the terms of the Merger or this
10
Agreement made by Buyer after being notified
pursuant to Section 5.6 (which offer is not revocable prior to the termination
of the three Business Day period contemplated by Section 5.6(g)(ii))) are
more favorable to the holders of MLP Common Units (other than LBPLP) from a
financial point of view than the Merger and more favorable to all of the
equityholders of the MLP as a whole from a financial point of view than the
Merger and Sale Transactions, (iii) is likely to be consummated on the terms
and conditions so proposed, taking into account all legal, financial,
regulatory and other aspects of such proposal and (iv) is not subject to any
financing contingencies or due diligence contingencies.
Tax or Taxes means any taxes, assessments, fees and other
governmental charges imposed by any Governmental Entity, including income,
profits, gross receipts, net proceeds, alternative or add-on minimum, ad
valorem, value added, goods and services, turnover, sales, use, property,
personal property (tangible and intangible), environmental, stamp, leasing,
lease, user, excise, duty, franchise, capital stock, transfer, registration,
license, withholding, social security (or similar), unemployment, disability,
payroll, employment, fuel, excess profits, occupational, premium, windfall
profit, severance, estimated, or other charge of any kind whatsoever, including
any interest, penalty, or addition thereto, whether disputed or not.
Tax Return means any return, declaration, report, election,
designation, notice, claim for refund, or information return or statement
relating to Taxes, including any schedule or attachment thereto, and including
any amendment thereof.
SECTION 1.2 Rules of Construction. The division of this Agreement
into articles, sections and other portions and the insertion of headings are
for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the construction or
interpretation hereof. Unless otherwise
indicated, all references to an Article or Section followed by a number or
a letter refer to the specified Article or Section of this Agreement. The terms this Agreement, hereof, herein
and hereunder and similar expressions refer to this Agreement (including the
MLP Disclosure Schedule and the Buyer Disclosure Schedule) and not to any
particular Article, Section or other portion hereof. Unless otherwise specifically indicated or
the context otherwise requires, (a) all references to dollars or $
mean United States dollars, (b) words importing the singular shall include
the plural and vice versa and words importing any gender shall include all
genders, (c) include, includes and including shall be deemed to be
followed by the words without limitation, and (d) all words used as
accounting terms shall have the meanings assigned to them under United States
generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis during
the periods involved (GAAP). In the
event that any date on which any action is required to be taken hereunder by
any of the parties hereto is not a Business Day, such action shall be required
to be taken on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day. Reference to any party hereto is also a
reference to such partys permitted successors and assigns. The Exhibits attached to this Agreement are
hereby incorporated by reference into this Agreement and form part hereof. Unless otherwise indicated, all references to
an Exhibit followed by a number or a letter refer to the specified Exhibit to
this Agreement. The parties hereto have
participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. In the event an ambiguity or question of
intent or interpretation arises, it is the intention of the parties hereto that
this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto
and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any
person by virtue of the authorship of any of the provisions of this Agreement.
11
ARTICLE II
MERGER
SECTION 2.1 Closing of the Merger.
(a) Closing Date. Subject
to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions to closing set forth in Article
VI, the closing (the Closing) of the Merger and the transactions contemplated
by this Section 2.1 shall be held at the offices of Baker Botts L.L.P. at
910 Louisiana Street, Houston, Texas 77002 on the third Business Day
following the satisfaction or waiver of all of the conditions set forth in
Article VI (other than conditions that would normally be satisfied on the
Closing Date) commencing at 9:00 a.m., local time, or such other place,
date and time as may be mutually agreed upon in writing by the parties
hereto. The Closing Date, as referred
to herein, shall mean the date of the Closing.
(b) Merger. At
the Closing, the Merger shall occur by the filing of a certificate of merger
with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, executed in accordance
with the relevant provisions of DRULPA (the date and time of such filing (or
such later time and date as may be expressed therein as the effective date and
time of the Merger) being the Effective Time). As a result of the Merger, the separate
existence of MLP shall cease, and Buyer shall continue as the surviving limited
partnership in the Merger. At the
Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of
Buyer, MLP or any holder of MLP Common Units, (i) each of the outstanding
MLP Common Units other than the MLP Common Units included in the Purchased
Units shall be converted into the right to receive 0.77 Buyer Common Units,
which Buyer Common Units shall be duly authorized and validly issued in
accordance with applicable Laws and the Buyer Partnership Agreement, fully paid
(to the extent required under the Buyer Partnership Agreement) and non-assessable
(except to the extent such non-assessability may be affected by DRULPA),
(ii) the 2% general partner interest of MLP, the incentive distribution
rights in MLP and the Purchased Units shall be cancelled without consideration
therefor and without any further action by any person and (iii) Buyers
partnership interests issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time shall be unchanged and remain outstanding and each limited partner and
general partner admitted to Buyer immediately prior to the Effective Time shall
continue as a limited partner and general partner, as applicable. The Merger shall have the effects set forth
in the applicable provisions of DRULPA.
At the Effective Time, the Buyer Partnership Agreement as in effect
immediately prior to the Effective Time shall continue in effect until
thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or by applicable Law. Buyer General Partner consents to the
admission of each holder of MLP Common Units (other than the MLP Common Units
included in the Purchased Units) who is issued Buyer Common Units in exchange
for such unitholders MLP Common Units in accordance with this Article II upon
the proper surrender of the Certificate representing such MLP Common Units as
an Additional Limited Partner (as defined in the Buyer Partnership
Agreement). Upon such surrender of the
Certificate (or upon a waiver of the requirement to surrender a Certificate
granted by Buyer General Partner in its sole discretion) and the recording of
the name of such Person as a limited partner of Buyer on the books and records
of Buyer, such Person shall automatically and
effective as of the Effective Time be admitted to Buyer as an
Additional Limited Partner and be bound by the Buyer Partnership Agreement as
such. By its surrender of a Certificate,
or by its acceptance of the Buyer Common Units, a unitholder of MLP
12
Common
Units confirms its agreement to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of
the Buyer Partnership Agreement, including the power of attorney in Section 2.6
thereof.
(c) Fractional Units.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement,
(i) no certificates or scrip representing fractional Buyer Common Units
shall be issued, and such fractional units will not entitle the owner thereof
to vote or to any rights as a unitholder of Buyer and (ii) each registered
holder of MLP Common Units exchanged pursuant to the Merger who would otherwise
have been entitled to receive a fractional Buyer Common Unit (after taking into
account all Buyer Common Units held by such holder at the Effective Time) shall
receive, in lieu thereof, from Buyer in exchange for such fractional unit, an
amount (a Fractional Unit Payment) in cash (payable in dollars, without
interest) equal to the product of (i) such fraction, multiplied by
(ii) the average of the closing price of Buyer Common Units on the NYSE
Composite Transaction Reporting System as reported in The Wall Street Journal
(but subject to correction for typographical or other manifest errors in such reporting)
over the five trading day period ending on the third trading day immediately
preceding the Effective Time.
(d) Certain Adjustments.
If between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time,
whether or not permitted pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, the
outstanding MLP Common Units or Buyer Common Units shall be changed into a
different number of units or other securities by reason of any split,
combination, merger, consolidation, reorganization or other similar
transaction, or any distribution payable in equity securities shall be declared
thereon with a record date within such period, the Exchange Ratio (and the
number of Buyer Common Units issuable in the Merger) and the form of securities
issuable in the Merger shall be appropriately adjusted to provide the holders
of MLP Common Units the same economic effect as contemplated by this Agreement
prior to such event.
(e) Exchange Agent.
Prior to the mailing of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, Buyer
shall appoint American Stock Transfer and Trust Company to act as exchange
agent (the Exchange Agent) for the payment of the Buyer Common Units and any
Fractional Unit Payment. At or prior to
the Closing Date, Buyer shall deposit with the Exchange Agent, for the benefit
of the holders of MLP Common Units, an amount of cash equal to the estimated
aggregate Fractional Unit Payment (the Exchange Fund) and Buyer shall
authorize the Exchange Agent to exchange Buyer Common Units in accordance with
this Section 2.1. Buyer shall
deposit with the Exchange Agent any additional funds in excess of the Exchange
Fund as and when necessary to pay any Fractional Unit Payment and other amounts
required to be paid under this Agreement.
Buyer shall pay all costs and fees of the Exchange Agent and all
expenses associated with the exchange process.
Any Buyer Common Units, or fraction thereof, and any remaining amount of
the Exchange Fund or other funds deposited, after the earlier to occur of
(i) payment in full of all amounts due to the holders of MLP Common Units
or to the Exchange Agent or (ii) the expiration of the period specified in
Section 2.1(i), shall be returned to Buyer.
(f) Exchange Procedures.
Promptly after the Closing Date, Buyer shall cause the
Exchange Agent to mail to each record holder, as of the Effective Time, of any
outstanding certificate or certificates that immediately prior to the Effective
Time represented MLP Common Units (the Certificates), a form of letter of
transmittal (the Letter of Transmittal) (which shall specify that delivery shall
be effected, and risk of loss and title to the Certificates shall pass, only
upon proper delivery of the Certificates to the Exchange Agent and which shall
have such other
13
provisions
as may be necessary for the unitholders of MLP Common Units to be admitted as
Additional Limited Partners and which shall be in such form and have such other
provisions as Buyer General Partner and MLP General Partner may reasonably
specify) and instructions for use in effecting the surrender of the
Certificate(s) and payment therefor.
Upon surrender to the Exchange Agent of such Certificates, together with
such properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal, the holder of
a Certificate shall be entitled to a certificate or certificates representing
the number of full Buyer Common Units into which the Certificates surrendered
shall have been converted pursuant to this Agreement and the Fractional Unit
Payment, if any, payable in redemption of any fractional Buyer Common Unit
otherwise issuable. The instructions for
effecting the surrender of Certificates shall set forth procedures that must be
taken by the holder of any Certificate that has been lost, destroyed or
stolen. It shall be a condition to the
right of such holder to receive a certificate representing Buyer Common Units
and the Fractional Unit Payment, if any, that the Exchange Agent shall have
received, along with the Letter of Transmittal, a duly executed lost
certificate affidavit, including an agreement to indemnify Buyer, signed
exactly as the name or names of the registered holder or holders appeared on
the books of MLP immediately prior to the Effective Time, together with a
customary bond and such other documents as Buyer may reasonably require in
connection therewith. After the
Effective Time, there shall be no further transfer on the records of MLP or its
transfer agent of Certificates; and if such Certificates are presented to MLP
or its transfer agent for transfer, they shall be canceled against delivery of
the certificate or certificates for Buyer Common Units and any Fractional Unit
Payment as hereinabove provided. If any
certificate for such Buyer Common Units is to be issued to a person other than
the registered holder of a Certificate surrendered for exchange, it shall be a
condition of such exchange that the Certificate so surrendered shall be
properly endorsed, with signature guaranteed, or otherwise in proper form for
transfer and that the person requesting such exchange shall pay to Buyer or the
Exchange Agent any transfer or other taxes required by reason of the issuance
of certificates for such Buyer Common Units in a name other than that of the
registered holder of the Certificate(s) surrendered, or establish to the
reasonable satisfaction of Buyer or the Exchange Agent that such tax has been
paid or is not applicable. Until
surrendered as contemplated by this Section 2.1(f), each Certificate shall
be deemed at any time after the Closing Date to represent only the right to
receive upon such surrender the Buyer Common Units and Fractional Unit Payment,
if any, as contemplated by this Section 2.1. No interest will be paid or will accrue on
any Fractional Unit Payment.
(g) Distributions with Respect to Unexchanged
Certificates. No dividends or
other distributions with respect to Buyer Common Units with a record date after
the Effective Time shall be paid to the holder of any unsurrendered Certificate
with respect to Buyer Common Units issuable in respect thereof and no
Fractional Unit Payment shall be paid to any such holder until the surrender of
such Certificate in accordance with this Section 2.1. Subject to the effect of applicable Laws,
there shall be paid to the holder of each Certificate, without interest,
(i) at the time of surrender of any such Certificate, the amount of any
Fractional Unit Payment to which such holder is entitled and the amount of
dividends or other distributions previously paid with respect to the whole
Buyer Common Units issuable with respect to such Certificate that have a record
date after the Effective Time and a payment date on or prior to the time of
surrender and (ii) at the appropriate payment date, the amount of
dividends or other distributions payable with respect to such whole Buyer
Common Units with a record date after the Effective Time and prior to such
surrender and a payment date subsequent to such surrender.
14
(h) No Further Ownership Rights in MLP Common Units. All Buyer Common Units issued upon
the surrender for exchange of Certificates in accordance with the terms of this
Section 2.1 (including any Fractional Unit Payment) shall be deemed to
have been issued (and paid) in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to
the MLP Common Units heretofore represented by such Certificates (including all
rights to common units arrearages), subject, however, to Buyers obligation,
with respect to MLP Common Units outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time, to pay any distributions with a record date prior to the Effective Time
that may have been declared or made by MLP on such MLP Common Units in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement on or prior to the Effective Time
and that remain unpaid at the Closing Date.
(i) Termination of Exchange Fund. Any portion of the Exchange Fund
that remains undistributed to the holders of the Certificates for twelve months
after the Closing Date shall be delivered to Buyer, upon demand, and any
holders of the Certificates who have not theretofore complied with this
Section 2.1 shall thereafter look only to Buyer and only as general
creditors thereof for payment of their claim for Buyer Common Units, any
Fractional Unit Payment and any distributions with respect to Buyer Common
Units to which such holders may be entitled.
(j) No Liability. None
of Buyer, MLP or the Exchange Agent shall be liable to any person in respect of
any Buyer Common Units (or distributions with respect thereto) or Fractional
Unit Payment properly delivered to a public official pursuant to any applicable
abandoned property, escheat or similar Law.
If any Certificates shall not have been surrendered prior to such date
on which any Buyer Common Units, any Fractional Unit Payment or any
distributions with respect to Buyer Common Units in respect of such Certificate
would escheat to or become the property of any Governmental Entity, any such
units, cash, dividends or distributions in respect of such Certificates shall,
to the extent permitted by applicable Laws, become the property of Buyer, free
and clear of all claims or interest of any person previously entitled thereto.
(k) Affiliates. Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Certificates surrendered for
exchange by any Rule 145 Affiliate (as determined pursuant to
Section 5.5) of MLP shall not be exchanged until Buyer shall have received
from such Rule 145 Affiliate the letter referred to in Section 5.5.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE MLP PARTIES
Except as set forth in a section of the MLP Disclosure Schedule
delivered concurrently herewith corresponding to the applicable sections of
this Article III to which such disclosure applies (provided that any
information set forth in one section of the MLP Disclosure Schedule shall be
deemed to apply to each other Section thereof to which its relevance is
reasonably apparent on its face), the MLP Parties hereby represent and warrant,
jointly and severally, to the Buyer Parties that:
15
SECTION 3.1 Organization;
Qualification.
(a) Each of the MLP
Group Entities has been duly formed or incorporated and is validly existing and
in good standing as a limited partnership, limited liability company,
corporation or otherwise under the law of its jurisdiction of formation or
incorporation with all requisite partnership, limited liability company,
corporate or other power and authority, as the case may be, to own, lease or
otherwise hold and operate its properties and assets and to carry on its
business as presently conducted, except in each case where the failure to have
such power or authority, individually or in the aggregate, would not have an
MLP Material Adverse Effect. Each of
the MLP Group Entities is duly qualified and in good standing to do business as
a foreign limited partnership, limited liability company, corporation,
unlimited liability company or otherwise, as the case may be, in each jurisdiction
in which the conduct or nature of its business or the ownership, leasing,
holding or operating of its properties makes such qualification necessary,
except such jurisdictions where the failure to be so qualified or in good
standing, individually or in the aggregate, would not have an MLP Material
Adverse Effect.
(b) Section 3.1(b) of
the MLP Disclosure Schedule sets forth, as of the date hereof, a true and
complete list of each of the MLP Group Entities, together with (i) the
nature of the legal organization of such person, (ii) the jurisdiction of
organization or formation of such person, (iii) the name of each MLP Group
Entity that owns beneficially or of record any equity or similar interest in
such person, and (iv) the percentage interest owned by each such MLP Group
Entity in such person.
(c) Each of the MLP
Parties has heretofore made available to Buyer complete and correct copies of
its governing documents.
SECTION 3.2 Authority; No Violation;
Consents and Approvals. Each
of the MLP Parties has all requisite corporate, limited liability company,
partnership or other power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to
carry out its obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby. The execution,
delivery and performance by each MLP Party of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized
by all requisite corporate, limited liability company, partnership or other
action on the part of such MLP Party, and, subject to MLP Unitholder Approval,
no other corporate, limited liability company, partnership or other
organizational proceedings are necessary to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. This
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each MLP Party and, assuming
the due authorization, execution and delivery hereof by Buyer, Buyer General
Partner and Buyer GP Holdco, constitutes a legal, valid and binding agreement
of such MLP Party, enforceable against such MLP Party in accordance with its
terms (except insofar as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws
relating to or affecting creditors rights generally and by general principles
of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law)). The
MLP Unitholder Approval is the only additional vote of partnership interest
holders in MLP necessary to approve this Agreement and the Merger. Except for matters expressly contemplated by
this Agreement and matters described in clauses (b), (c) or (d) below that
would not, individually or in the aggregate, have an MLP Material Adverse
Effect, neither the execution and delivery by the MLP Parties of this Agreement,
nor the consummation by the MLP Parties of the
16
transactions contemplated hereby and
the performance by the MLP Parties of this Agreement will (a) violate or
conflict with any provision of the governing documents of the MLP Group
Entities; (b) require any consent, approval, authorization or permit of,
registration, declaration or filing with, or notification to, any Governmental
Entity or any other person; (c) result in any breach of or constitute a
default (or an event that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would become a
default) under, or give to others any right of termination, cancellation,
amendment or acceleration of any obligation or the loss of any benefit under
any agreement or instrument to which any of the MLP Group Entities is a party
or by or to which any of their properties are bound; (d) result in the
creation of an Encumbrance upon or require the sale or give any person the
right to acquire any of the assets of any of the MLP Group Entities, or
restrict, hinder, impair or limit the ability of any of the MLP Group Entities
to carry on their businesses as and where they are now being carried on; or
(e) violate or conflict with any Law applicable to the MLP Group
Entities. Section 3.2 of the MLP
Disclosure Schedule identifies all material consents, approvals and
authorizations of any Governmental Entity or third party that are required to
be obtained by any MLP Group Entity in connection with (1) the execution and
delivery by the MLP Parties of this Agreement or (2) the consummation by the
MLP Group Entities of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
SECTION 3.3 Capitalization.
(a) MLP General Partner
is the sole general partner of MLP. MLP
General Partner is the sole record and beneficial owner of the 2% general
partner interest and incentive distribution rights in MLP, and such general
partner interest and incentive distribution rights have been duly authorized
and validly issued in accordance with the applicable Laws and the MLP
Partnership Agreement. MLP General
Partner owns such general partner interest and incentive distribution rights
free and clear of any Encumbrances.
General Partner Holdco is the sole general partner of MLP General
Partner and is the sole record and beneficial owner of the general partner
interest in MLP General Partner, and such general partner interest has been
duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with applicable Laws and the
governing documents of MLP General Partner.
General Partner Holdco owns such general and limited partner interests
free and clear of any Encumbrances. LB
Pacific, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (LBPLP) is the sole record owner
of the limited partner interest in MLP General Partner, and such limited
partner interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with
applicable Laws and the governing documents of the MLP General Partner. LBPLP is the sole record holder of the
limited liability company interests in General Partner Holdco, and such limited
liability company interests have been duly authorized and validly issued in
accordance with applicable Laws and the governing documents of General Partner
Holdco.
(b) As of the Execution
Date, MLP has no limited partner interests issued and outstanding other than
the following:
(i) 31,457,782
MLP Common Units, which includes 2,616,250 MLP Common Units owned beneficially
and of record by LBPLP and 28,841,532 MLP Common Units issued to the general
public; and
(ii) 7,848,750
MLP Subordinated Units, all of which are owned beneficially and of record by LBPLP.
17
Each
of such MLP Units and the limited partner interests represented thereby have
been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with applicable Laws and
the MLP Partnership Agreement, and are fully paid (to the extent required under
the MLP Partnership Agreement) and non-assessable (except to the extent such
non-assessability may be affected by Section 17-607 of DRULPA). Such MLP Units were not issued in violation
of any pre-emptive or similar rights or any other agreement or understanding
binding on MLP. Except for outstanding
awards for the issuance of 100,293 restricted MLP Common Units having the
vesting schedules set forth in Section 3.3(b) of the MLP Disclosure Schedule,
(i) there are no outstanding options, warrants, subscriptions, puts, calls or
other rights, agreements, arrangements or commitments (pre-emptive, contingent
or otherwise) obligating any of the MLP Group Entities to offer, issue, sell,
redeem, repurchase, otherwise acquire or transfer, pledge or encumber any equity
interest in any of the MLP Group Entities; (ii) there are no outstanding
securities or obligations of any kind of any of the MLP Group Entities that are
convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for any equity interest in any
of the MLP Group Entities or any other person, and none of the MLP Group
Entities has any obligation of any kind to issue any additional securities or
to pay for or repurchase any securities; (iii) there are not outstanding any
equity appreciation rights, phantom equity or similar rights, agreements,
arrangements or commitments based on the value of the equity, book value,
income or any other attribute of any of the MLP Group Entities; (iv) there are
no outstanding bonds, debentures or other evidences of indebtedness of any of the
MLP Group Entities having the right to vote (or that are exchangeable for or
convertible or exercisable into securities having the right to vote) with the
holders of the MLP Units on any matter; and (v) except as described in the MLP
Partnership Agreement, there are no unitholder agreements, proxies, voting
trusts, rights to require registration under securities Laws or other
arrangements or commitments to which any of the MLP Group Entities is a party
or by which any of their securities are bound with respect to the voting,
disposition or registration of any outstanding securities of any of the MLP
Group Entities.
(c) All of the
outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of each MLP
Subsidiary (1) have been duly authorized and validly issued and
(2) are owned 100% directly or indirectly by MLP, free and clear of any
Encumbrance. As of the date hereof,
there are no MLP Subsidiaries other than those set forth in Section 3.1(b) of
the MLP Disclosure Schedule.
(d) All of the
outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of each MLP
Partially Owned Entity (1) have been duly authorized and validly issued
and (2) are owned in the respective percentages shown on Section 3.1(b) of
the MLP Disclosure Schedule directly or indirectly by MLP, free and clear of
any Encumbrance.
(e) Except with respect
to the ownership of any equity or long-term debt securities between or among
the MLP Group Entities, none of the MLP Group Entities (excluding Partially
Owned Entities) owns or will own at the Closing Date, directly or indirectly,
any equity or long-term debt securities of any corporation, partnership,
limited liability company, joint venture, association or other entity.
SECTION 3.4 Financial Statements. The financial statements of MLP (the MLP
Financial Statements), including all related notes and schedules, listed in
Section 3.4 of the MLP Disclosure Schedule or incorporated by reference
therein, fairly present in all material
18
respects the consolidated financial
position of MLP and the MLP Subsidiaries, as of the respective dates thereof,
and the consolidated results of operations, cash flows and changes in partners
equity of MLP and the MLP Subsidiaries for the periods indicated, have been
prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the
periods involved (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto) and subject
in the case of interim financial statements to normal year-end adjustment.
SECTION 3.5 Undisclosed Liabilities. Neither MLP nor any of the MLP Subsidiaries
has any indebtedness or liability, absolute or contingent, which is of a nature
required to be reflected on the balance sheet of MLP or in the footnotes
thereto, in each case prepared in conformity with GAAP, and which is not shown
on or provided for in the MLP Financial Statements, other than (1) liabilities
incurred or accrued in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice since March 31, 2006, including liens for current Taxes and
assessments not in default or (2) liabilities of MLP or any of the MLP
Subsidiaries that, individually or in the aggregate, are not material to the
MLP Group Entities, taken as a whole.
SECTION 3.6 MLP SEC Reports and
Compliance.
(a) Since March 31,
2003, all reports, including but not limited to the Annual Reports on Form
10-K, the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and the Current Reports on Form 8-K,
forms, schedules, statements and other documents required to be filed or
furnished by MLP with or to the SEC, as applicable, pursuant to the Exchange
Act or the Securities Act have been or will be timely filed or furnished (the MLP
SEC Reports). All such MLP SEC Reports
(1) complied or will comply in all material respects in accordance with the
requirements of applicable Law (including the Exchange Act and the Securities
Act and the rules and regulations thereunder), and (2) as of its filing date in
the case of any Exchange Act report and as of its effective date in the case of
any Securities Act filing, did not or will not contain any untrue statement of
a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(b) There are no
outstanding comments from, or unresolved issues raised by, the SEC with respect
to the MLP SEC Reports. No enforcement
action has been initiated against any of the MLP Parties relating to
disclosures contained in any MLP SEC Document.
(c) Since March 31,
2003, (1) none of the MLP Group Entities nor, to the knowledge of the MLP
Parties, any director, officer, employee, auditor, accountant or representative
of the MLP Group Entities has received or otherwise had or obtained knowledge
of any material complaint, allegation, assertion or claim, whether written or
oral, regarding the accounting or auditing practices, procedures, methodologies
or methods of the MLP Group Entities or their respective internal accounting
controls, including any material complaint, allegation, assertion or claim that
either of MLP or any of the MLP Subsidiaries has engaged in questionable
accounting or auditing practices and (2) no attorney representing any of the
MLP Group Entities, whether or not employed thereby, has reported evidence of a
material violation of securities Laws, breach of fiduciary duty or similar
violation by the MLP Group Entities or any of their officers, directors,
employees or agents, to the board of directors of any MLP Group Entity or any
committee thereof or to any director or officer of any MLP Group Entity.
19
SECTION 3.7 Operating Surplus.
All distributions made by MLP during its existence have been made from
Operating Surplus (as such term is defined in the MLP Partnership Agreement).
SECTION 3.8 Compliance with Applicable Laws; Permits.
(a) Except with respect
to Tax matters (which are provided for in Section 3.14), environmental matters (which are
provided for in Section 3.11), and employee benefit matters (which are provided
for in Section 3.15) and except as set forth in any MLP SEC Report filed
on or prior to the Execution Date, each of the MLP Group Entities is in
compliance with all applicable Laws, other than any noncompliance which would
not, individually or in the aggregate, have an MLP Material Adverse
Effect. No MLP Group Entity has received
any written communication within the past two years from a Governmental Entity
that alleges that any MLP Group Entity is not in compliance in any material
respect with any applicable Laws that has not been satisfactorily resolved.
(b) The MLP Group
Entities are in possession of all franchises, grants, authorizations, licenses,
permits, easements, variances, exemptions, consents, certificates, approvals
and orders necessary to own, lease and operate their properties and to lawfully
carry on their businesses as they are now being conducted (collectively, the MLP
Permits), except where the failure to be in possession of such MLP Permits
would not, individually or in the aggregate, have an MLP Material Adverse
Effect. None of the MLP Group Entities
is in conflict with, or in default or violation of any of the MLP Permits,
except for any such conflicts, defaults or violations that would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have an MLP Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.9 Certain Contracts and
Arrangements.
(a) To the extent permitted by applicable
Law, Section 3.9(a) of the MLP Disclosure Schedule sets forth as of the date hereof
(including
those contracts, agreements or commitments filed as exhibits to the MLP SEC
Reports or incorporated by reference therein), a true and complete list of the
following contracts, agreements or commitments to which any of the MLP Group
Entities is a party, whether written or oral: (1) storage agreements,
terminalling agreements and ship or pay agreements, in each case having fixed pricing
terms representing revenues in excess of $3,000,000 per year or having a term
in excess of one year from and after the date hereof; (2) contracts, loan
agreements, letters of credit, repurchase agreements, mortgages, security
agreements, guarantees, pledge agreements, trust indentures, promissory notes,
lines of credit and similar documents in each case relating to the borrowing of
money, in any case for amounts in excess of $10,000,000 (other than contracts
solely between or among the MLP Group Entities, ancillary or collateral
agreements related to any such contracts filed as exhibits to the MLP SEC
Reports and interest rate swap agreements); (3) real property leases calling for payments by
any of the MLP Group Entities of amounts greater than $1,000,000 per year
(other than rights-of-way and leases solely between or among the MLP Group
Entities); (4) partnership or joint venture agreements (which do not include
joint tariff or joint operating agreements); (5) contracts limiting the ability
of any of the MLP Group Entities to compete in any line of business or with any
Person or in any geographic area; (6) contracts relating to any
20
outstanding
commitment for capital expenditures in excess of $10,000,000; (7) contracts
with any labor union or organization; (8) contracts not
entered into in the ordinary course of the MLP Group Entities business other
than those that are not material to the business of the MLP Group Entities; (9) contracts, agreements or
documents not yet filed by MLP with the SEC but that are currently in effect
and that any of the MLP Group Entities will be required to or expects to file
with or furnish to the SEC as exhibits in an annual or periodic report after
the Execution Date; and (10) all amendments and modifications that have
not been filed by MLP with the SEC but are currently in effect to contracts,
agreements or documents that have been filed by any of the MLP Group Entities
with the SEC since March 31, 2003 (collectively, the MLP Material Agreements).
(b) Except to the extent
that enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or
affecting creditors rights generally and by general principles of equity
(regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in
equity or at law); and provided further that any indemnity, contribution and
exoneration provisions contained in any such MLP Material Agreement may be
limited by applicable Laws and public policy, each of the MLP Material
Agreements (1) constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the
applicable MLP Group Entity and constitutes the legal, valid and binding
obligation of the other parties thereto, (2) is in full force and effect
as of the date hereof, and (3) will be in full force and effect upon the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, in each case
unless the failure to be so would not have an MLP Material Adverse Effect.
(c) There is not, to the
knowledge of any of the MLP Parties, under any MLP Material Agreement, any
default or event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute
a default on the part of any of the parties thereto, except such events of
default and other events as to which requisite waivers or consents have been
obtained or which would not have an MLP Material Adverse Effect.
(d) True and complete
copies of all MLP Material Agreements have been delivered or made available to
Buyer by MLP to the extent permitted by applicable Law and the provisions of
such agreements. To the extent permitted
by applicable Law, all MLP Material Agreements not so delivered or made
available are listed and described on Section 3.9(d) of the MLP Disclosure
Schedule.
SECTION 3.10 Legal Proceedings. Except as disclosed in any MLP SEC Report
filed on or prior to the Execution Date, there are no pending lawsuits or
claims, with respect to which any MLP Group Entity has been contacted in
writing by counsel for the plaintiff or claimant, against or affecting any MLP
Group Entity or any of their properties, assets, operations or business and
which individually would have an MLP Material Adverse Effect. Except as disclosed in any MLP SEC Report
filed on or prior to the Execution Date or as would not individually have an
MLP Material Adverse Effect, none of the MLP Group Entities is a party or
subject to or in default under any judgment, order, injunction or decree of any
Governmental Entity or arbitration tribunal applicable to it or any of its
properties, assets, operations or business.
Except as disclosed in any MLP SEC Report filed on or prior to the
Execution Date or as would not individually have an MLP Material Adverse
Effect, there is no pending or, to the
21
knowledge of the MLP Parties,
threatened investigation of or affecting any MLP Group Entity or any of its
properties, assets, operations or business by any Governmental Entity.
SECTION 3.11 Environmental Matters. Except as reflected in the MLP Financial
Statements, and except for any such matter that individually would not have an
MLP Material Adverse Effect:
(a) The operations of
each of the MLP Group Entities have been and, as of the Closing Date, will be,
in compliance with all Environmental Laws;
(b) Each of the MLP
Group Entities has obtained and will, as of the Closing Date, maintain in full
force and effect all permits, licenses and registrations, and has timely made
and will, as of the Closing Date, timely make all filings, permit renewal
applications, reports and notices required under applicable Environmental Law
in connection with the operations of its businesses;
(c) None of the MLP
Group Entities is the subject of any outstanding written agreements (including
consent orders and settlement agreements) with any Governmental Entity or other
Person imposing liability with respect to any environmental matter;
(d) None of the MLP
Group Entities has received any written communication from any Governmental
Entity or other Person alleging, with respect to any such party, the violation
of or liability under any Environmental Law or requesting, with respect to any
such party, information with respect to an investigation pursuant to any
Environmental Law;
(e) There has been no
Release of any Hazardous Material from or in connection with the properties or
operations of the MLP Group Entities that has not been adequately reserved for
in the Buyer Financial Statements and that has resulted or could reasonably be
expected to result in liability under Environmental Laws or a claim for damages
or compensation by any Person.
SECTION 3.12 Title to Properties and
Rights of Way.
(a) Each of the MLP
Group Entities has defensible title to all material real property and good
title to all material tangible personal property owned by the MLP Group
Entities and which is sufficient for the operation of their respective
businesses as presently conducted, free and clear of all Encumbrances except
Permitted Encumbrances.
(b) Each of the MLP
Group Entities has such consents, easements, rights-of-way, permits or licenses
from each Person (collectively, rights-of-way) as are sufficient to conduct
its business in the manner described, and subject to the limitations contained,
in any MLP SEC Report filed on or prior to the Execution Date, except for
(1) qualifications, reservations and encumbrances as may be set forth in
any MLP SEC Report filed on or prior to the Execution Date and (2) such
rights-of-way the absence of which would not, individually or in the aggregate,
result in an MLP Material Adverse Effect.
Other than as set forth, and subject to the limitations contained, in
any MLP SEC Report filed on or prior to the Execution Date, each of the MLP
Group Entities has fulfilled and performed all its material obligations with
respect to such rights-of-way and no event has occurred that allows, or after
notice or lapse of time would
22
allow,
revocation or termination thereof or would result in any impairment of the
rights of the holder of any such rights-of-way, except for such revocations,
terminations and impairments that would not individually or in the aggregate,
result in an MLP Material Adverse Effect; and, except as described in any MLP
SEC Report filed on or prior to the Execution Date, none of such rights-of-way
contains any restriction that is materially burdensome to the MLP Group
Entities, taken as a whole.
SECTION 3.13 Insurance. None of the MLP Group Entities has received
any notice from any insurer or agent of such insurer that (i) substantial
capital improvements or other expenditures will have to be made in order to
continue any insurance policy or instrument pursuant to which any MLP Group
Entity is insured (an MLP Insurance Policy) or (ii) such insurer has
cancelled or terminated or has initiated procedures to cancel or terminate any
MLP Insurance Policy. All such MLP
Insurance Policies are outstanding and duly in force on the date hereof and
will be outstanding and duly in force on the Closing Date in all material
respects. The MLP Group Entities are in
compliance with the terms of all MLP Insurance Policies in all material
respects; and there are no material claims by any of the MLP Group Entities
under any such MLP Insurance Policy as to which any insurance company is
denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights clause.
SECTION 3.14 Tax Matters.
(a) (i) Each of the MLP Group Entities has
filed (or joined in the filing of) when due all material Tax Returns required
by applicable Law to be filed by or with respect to it, has obtained all
required Tax permits and licenses and has satisfied all registration
requirements relating to Taxes;
(ii) all
such Tax Returns were true correct and complete in all material respects as of
the time of such filing;
(iii) except
for Taxes being contested in good faith in appropriate proceedings, all
material Taxes relating to periods ending on or before the Closing Date owed by
any of the MLP Group Entities (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) have
been paid or will be timely paid;
(iv) there
is no action, suit, proceeding, investigation, audit or claim now pending
against, or with respect to, any of the MLP Group Entities in respect of any
material Tax or material Tax assessment, nor has any claim for additional
material Tax or material Tax assessment been asserted in writing or been
proposed by any Tax authority;
(v) no
written claim has been made by any Tax authority in a jurisdiction where any of
the MLP Group Entities does not currently file a Tax Return that it is or may
be subject to any material Tax in such jurisdiction, nor has any such assertion
been threatened or proposed in writing;
(vi) none
of the MLP Group Entities has any outstanding request for any extension of time
within which to pay any material Taxes or file any Tax Returns with respect to
any material Taxes;
23
(vii) there
has been no waiver or extension of any applicable statute of limitations for
the assessment or collection of any material Taxes of any of the MLP Group
Entities;
(viii) none
of the MLP Group Entities has entered into any agreement or arrangement with
any Tax authority that requires any MLP Group Entity to take any action or
refrain from taking any action;
(ix) none
of the MLP Group Entities is a party to any agreement, whether written or
unwritten, providing for the payment of Taxes, Tax losses, entitlements to Tax
refunds or similar Tax matters;
(x) each
of the MLP Group Entities has withheld and paid all material Taxes required to
be withheld in connection with any amounts paid or owing to any employee,
creditor, independent contractor or other third party;
(xi) MLP
is not a foreign person within the meaning of Section 1445 of the Code;
(xii) each
of the MLP Group Entities that is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal
tax purposes has in effect an election under Section 754 of the Code; and
(xiii) none
of the MLP Group Entities has been a member of an affiliated group filing a
consolidated federal income Tax Return or has any liability for the Taxes of
any Person (other than an MLP Group Entity) under Treasury Regulation
Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local, or foreign
Law), as a transferee or successor, by contract, or otherwise.
(b) In each tax year
since the formation of MLP up to and including the current tax year, at least
90% of the gross income of MLP has been income which is qualifying income
within the meaning of Section 7704(d) of the Code.
(c) Except for Aurora
Pipeline Company Ltd. and Pacific Energy Finance Corporation, none of the MLP
Group Entities has elected to be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal tax
purposes.
SECTION 3.15 Employee Benefits.
(a) Section 3.15 of the
MLP Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete and accurate list of each
Employee Benefit Plan which is or has been sponsored, maintained or contributed
to by any MLP Group Entity or with respect to which any MLP Group Entity has
any liability (contingent, secondary or otherwise). True, correct and complete copies of each
such Employee Benefit Plan and any related documents, including all amendments
thereto, have been furnished or made available to Buyer. There has also been furnished or made
available to Buyer, with respect to each such Employee Benefit Plan, the most
recent favorable determination letters, the reports on Form 5500 for the
immediately preceding three years and the most recent summary plan description
and summaries of material modifications thereto, if applicable, with respect to
each such Employee Benefit Plan.
24
(b) Section 3.15 of the
MLP Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true and complete list of all Employment
Agreements of the MLP Group Entities. As
of the date hereof, there are no other agreements (other than enrollment or
similar forms to commence participation or initiate or continue coverage in an
Employee Benefit Plan or employment offer letters issued by MLP Group Entities)
between any MLP Group Entity and any natural persons that provide for
(i) participation in, coverage under or benefits from an Employee Benefit
Plan, (ii) annual compensation in excess of $150,000 or (iii) change of
control, termination or severance payments in excess of $100,000. No MLP Group Entity is subject to any legal,
contractual, equitable, or other obligation or commitment (whether legally
binding or not) to enter into an Employment Agreement, establish or contribute
to an Employee Benefit Plan or modify (except to the extent required by
applicable Law) any existing Employee Benefit Plan or Employment Agreement.
(c) No MLP Group Entity
and no company or other entity that is required to be treated as a single
employer together with an MLP Group Entity under Section 414 of the Code
maintains or has ever maintained or been obligated to contribute to or has any
liability (secondary or otherwise) to an Employee Benefit Plan that is (1)
subject to Title IV of ERISA or the minimum funding requirements of Section 412
of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, (2) a plan of the type described in
Section 4063 of ERISA or Section 413(c) of the Code, (3) a multiemployer
plan (as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA) or (4) a multiple employer welfare
arrangement (as defined in Section 3(40) of ERISA).
(d) (i) The Employee Benefit Plans of the
MLP Group Entities and their affiliates (A) have been maintained (in form and
in operation) in all material respects in accordance with their terms and with
ERISA, the Code and all other applicable Laws, (B) if intended to be qualified
under Section 401(a) of the Code, have been maintained, and are currently, in
material compliance with the Codes qualification requirements in form and
operation, and (C) do not provide, and have not provided, any post-retirement
welfare benefits or coverage, except as required under Part 6 of Subtitle B of
Title I of ERISA and Code Section 4980B (or similar state or local law);
(ii) No
MLP Group Entity, other than General Partner Holdco, MLP General Partner and Rangeland Pipeline Partnership of the MLP,
has or has ever had employees and General Partner Holdco, MLP General Partner
and such Canadian subsidiaries are, and have been, in compliance in all
material respects with all applicable Laws relating to the employment of labor,
including all such applicable Laws relating to wages, hours, collective
bargaining, discrimination, civil rights, safety and health and workers
compensation;
(iii) Each
Employee Benefit Plan in which a MLP Group Entity employee participates is a
single employer plan maintained or sponsored solely by one or more of the MLP
Group Entities;
(iv) Each
Employee Benefit Plan maintained or sponsored by a MLP Group Entity can be
unilaterally amended or terminated at any time by a MLP Group Entity without
liability other than liability for benefits accrued to the date of such
amendment or termination pursuant to the terms of the plan;
25
(v) No
MLP Group Entity is a party to a collective bargaining agreement;
(vi) All
contributions or payments required by a MLP Group Entity to or with respect to
an Employee Benefit Plan have been timely made and all liabilities of a MLP
Group Entity with respect to any Employee Benefit Plan are properly reflected in
the MLP Financial Statements in accordance with GAAP;
(vii) There
are no material actions, suits, or claims pending (other than routine claims
for benefits) or, to the knowledge of any MLP Group Entity, threatened against,
or with respect to, any of the Employee Benefit Plans; and
(viii) No
act, omission or transaction has occurred which would result in imposition on
any MLP Group Entity of (A) breach of fiduciary duty liability damages under
Section 409 of ERISA, (B) a civil penalty assessed pursuant to subsections (c),
(i) or (l) of Section 502 of ERISA, or (C) a tax imposed pursuant to Chapter 43
of Subtitle D of the Code.
SECTION 3.16 Books and Records. The minute books of General Partner Holdco
and MLP General Partner contain true and correct copies of all actions taken at
all meetings of the Board of Directors of General Partner Holdco, or MLP
General Partner, as applicable, or the Audit Committee thereof and all written
consents executed in lieu of such meetings.
Complete copies of all such minute books for 2005 and 2006 and other
records have been made available to outside counsel and other advisors to
Buyer.
SECTION 3.17 No Changes or Material Adverse Effects.
(a) Between March 31,
2006 and the Execution Date, the business of the MLP Group Entities, taken as a
whole, has been conducted in the ordinary course consistent with past
practices, and none of the MLP Group Entities has taken any of the actions
prohibited by Section 5.1(b), except in connection with entering into this
Agreement.
(b) Subsequent to March
31, 2006, there has not been an MLP Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION
3.18 Regulation. None of the MLP Group Entities is an investment
company or a company controlled by an investment company within the
meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
SECTION 3.19 State Takeover Laws. No approvals are required under state
takeover or similar laws in connection with the performance by the MLP Parties
of their obligations under this Agreement or the performance by LBPLP of its
obligations under the Purchase Agreement.
SECTION 3.20 Opinion of Financial Advisor. The MLP Board has received the opinion of
Lehman Brothers Inc., dated the date of this Agreement, to the effect that the
aggregate consideration to be received by MLP equityholders is fair from a
financial point of view. In addition,
the MLP Conflicts Committee has received the opinion of Petrie Parkman &
26
Co., dated the date of this
Agreement, to the effect that the Exchange Ratio is fair to the holders of MLP
Common Units (other than LBPLP) from a financial point of view.
SECTION 3.21 Approvals. MLP General Partner has approved this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as required under
Section 17-211 of the DRULPA and under Article 14 of the MLP Partnership
Agreement. The MLP Board at a meeting
duly called and held, has by unanimous vote of those directors present, (i)
determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby are
advisable, fair to and in the best interests of MLP and the holders of MLP
Common Units and MLP Subordinated Units, (ii) approved this Agreement and (iii)
recommended that the Merger and this Agreement be approved and adopted by the
holders of MLP Common Units and MLP Subordinated Units. The MLP Conflicts Committee at a meeting duly
called and held, has by unanimous vote (i) determined that this Agreement and
the transactions contemplated hereby are advisable, fair to and in the best
interests of MLP and the holders of MLP Common Units (other than LBPLP), (ii)
approved this Agreement and (iii) recommended that the Merger and this
Agreement be approved and adopted by the holders of MLP Common Units (other
than LBPLP). The approval of the MLP
Conflicts Committee constitutes Special Approval under Section 7.9 of the MLP
Partnership Agreement with respect to this Agreement, the Purchase Agreement
and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
SECTION 3.22 Brokers Fees. None of the MLP Group Entities, nor any of
their respective officers or directors has employed any broker, finder or other
person or incurred any liability on behalf of any MLP Group Entity, any Buyer
Group Entity or itself for any advisory, brokerage, finder, success, deal completion
or similar fees or commissions in connection with the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement, other than fees to be paid to Petrie Parkman & Co. and
Lehman Brothers Inc., each as described on Section 5.9 of the MLP Disclosure
Schedule.
SECTION 3.23 Limitation of
Representations and Warranties.
EXCEPT FOR THE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES SET FORTH IN THIS ARTICLE
III, THE MLP PARTIES ARE NOT MAKING ANY OTHER REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES,
WRITTEN OR ORAL, STATUTORY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, CONCERNING THE MLP COMMON
UNITS, OR THE BUSINESS, ASSETS, OR LIABILITIES OF ANY MLP GROUP ENTITY,
INCLUDING, IN PARTICULAR, ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ALL OF WHICH ARE HEREBY EXPRESSLY EXCLUDED AND DISCLAIMED.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BUYER PARTIES
Except
as set forth in a section of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule delivered
concurrently herewith corresponding to the applicable sections of this Article
IV to which such disclosure applies (provided that any information set forth in
one section of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule shall be deemed to apply to each
other Section thereof to which its relevance is reasonably apparent on its
face), the Buyer Parties hereby represent and warrant, jointly and severally,
to the MLP Parties that:
SECTION 4.1 Organization; Qualification.
27
(a) Each of the Buyer
Group Entities has been duly formed or incorporated and is validly existing and
in good standing as a limited partnership, limited liability company,
corporation or otherwise under the law of its jurisdiction of formation or
incorporation with all requisite partnership, limited liability company,
corporate or other power and authority, as the case may be, to own, lease or
otherwise hold and operate its properties and assets and to carry on its
business as presently conducted, except in each case where the failure to have
such power or authority, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a
Buyer Material Adverse Effect. Each of
the Buyer Group Entities is duly qualified and in good standing to do business
as a foreign limited partnership, limited liability company, corporation,
unlimited liability company or otherwise, as the case may be, in each
jurisdiction in which the conduct or nature of its business or the ownership,
leasing, holding or operating of its properties makes such qualification
necessary, except such jurisdictions where the failure to be so qualified or in
good standing, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Buyer
Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Section 4.1(b) of
the Buyer Disclosure Schedule sets forth, as of the date hereof, a true and
complete list of each of the Buyer Group Entities, together with (i) the
nature of the legal organization of such person, (ii) the jurisdiction of
organization or formation of such person, (iii) the name of each Buyer
Group Entity that owns beneficially or of record any equity or similar interest
in such person, and (iv) the percentage interest owned by each such Buyer
Group Entity in such person.
(c) Each of the Buyer
Parties has heretofore made available to MLP complete and correct copies of its
governing documents.
SECTION 4.2 Authority; No Violation;
Consents and Approvals. Each
of the Buyer Parties has all requisite corporate, limited liability company,
partnership or other power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to
carry out its obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby. The execution,
delivery and performance by each Buyer Party of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized
by all requisite corporate, limited liability company, partnership or other
action on the part of such Buyer Party, and subject to the Buyer Unitholder
Approval, no other corporate, limited liability company, partnership or other
organizational proceedings are necessary to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. This
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each Buyer Party and,
assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery hereof by MLP and MLP
General Partner, constitutes a legal, valid and binding agreement of each Buyer
Party, enforceable against such Buyer Party in accordance with its terms
(except insofar as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws
relating to or affecting creditors rights generally and by general principles
of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law)). The
Buyer Unitholder Approval is the only additional vote of partnership interest
holders in Buyer necessary to approve this Agreement and the Merger. Except for matters expressly contemplated by
this Agreement and matters described in clauses (b), (c) or (d) below that
would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Buyer Material Adverse
Effect, neither the execution and delivery by the Buyer Parties of this Agreement,
nor the consummation by the Buyer Parties of the transactions contemplated
hereby and the performance by the Buyer Parties of this Agreement will
(a) violate or conflict with any provision of the governing documents of
the Buyer Group Entities;
28
(b) require any consent, approval,
authorization or permit of, registration, declaration or filing with, or
notification to, any Governmental Entity or any other person; (c) result
in any breach of or constitute a default (or an event that, with notice or
lapse of time or both, would become a default) under, or give to others any
right of termination, cancellation, amendment or acceleration of any obligation
or the loss of any benefit under any agreement or instrument to which any of
the Buyer Group Entities is a party or by or to which any of their properties
are bound; (d) result in the creation of an Encumbrance upon or require
the sale or give any person the right to acquire any of the assets of any of the
Buyer Group Entities, or restrict, hinder, impair or limit the ability of any
of the Buyer Group Entities to carry on their businesses as and where they are
now being carried on; or (e) violate or conflict with any Law applicable
to the Buyer Group Entities. Section 4.2
of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule identifies all material consents, approvals
and authorizations of any Governmental Entity or third party that are required
to be obtained by any Buyer Group Entity in connection with (1) the execution
and delivery by the Buyer Parties of this Agreement or (2) the consummation by
the Buyer Group Entities of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
SECTION 4.3 Capitalization.
(a) Buyer General
Partner is the sole general partner of Buyer.
Buyer General Partner is the sole record and beneficial owner of the 2%
general partner interest and incentive distribution rights in Buyer, and such
general partner interest and incentive distribution rights have been duly
authorized and validly issued in accordance with applicable Laws and the Buyer
Partnership Agreement. Buyer General
Partner owns such general partner interest and incentive distribution rights
free and clear of any Encumbrances.
Buyer GP Holdco is the sole record and beneficial owner of the general
partner interest in Buyer General Partner, and such general partner interest
has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with applicable Laws
and the partnership agreement of Buyer General Partner. Buyer GP Holdco owns such general partner
interest free and clear of any Encumbrances.
(b) As of the Execution
Date, Buyer has no limited partner interests issued and outstanding other than
77,273,248 Buyer Common Units issued to the general public.
(c) Each of such Buyer
Common Units and the limited partner interests represented thereby have been
duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with applicable Laws and the
Buyer Partnership Agreement, and are fully paid (to the extent required under
the Buyer Partnership Agreement) and non-assessable (except to the extent such
non-assessability may be affected by Section 17-607 of DRULPA). Such Buyer Units were not issued in violation
of any pre-emptive or similar rights or any other agreement or understanding
binding on Buyer. Except for outstanding
awards for the issuance of 2,407,025 Buyer Common Units having the vesting
schedules set forth in Section 4.3(c) of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule, (i)
there are no outstanding options, warrants, subscriptions, puts, calls or other
rights, agreements, arrangements or commitments (pre-emptive, contingent or
otherwise) obligating any of the Buyer Group Entities to offer, issue, sell,
redeem, repurchase, otherwise acquire or transfer, pledge or encumber any
equity interest in any of the Buyer Group Entities; (ii) there are no
outstanding securities or obligations of any kind of any of the Buyer Group
Entities which are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for any
equity interest in any of the Buyer Group Entities or any other person, and none
of the Buyer Group Entities has any obligation of any kind to issue
29
any
additional securities or to pay for or repurchase any securities; (iii) there
are not outstanding any equity appreciation rights, phantom equity or similar
rights, agreements, arrangements or commitments based on the value of the
equity, book value, income or any other attribute of any of the Buyer Group
Entities; (iv) there are no outstanding bonds, debentures or other evidence of indebtedness
of any of the Buyer Group Entities having the right to vote (or that are
exchangeable for or convertible or exercisable into securities having the right
to vote) with the holders of the Buyer Common Units on any matter; and (v)
except as described in the Buyer Partnership Agreement, there are no unitholder
agreements, proxies, voting trusts, rights to require registration under
securities Laws or other arrangements or commitments to which any of the Buyer
Group Entities is a party or by which any of their securities are bound with
respect to the voting, disposition or registration of any outstanding
securities of any of the Buyer Group Entities.
(d) All of the
outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of each Buyer
Subsidiary (1) have been duly authorized and validly issued and
(2) are owned 100% directly or indirectly by Buyer, free and clear of any
Encumbrances. As of the date hereof,
there are no Buyer Subsidiaries other than those set forth in Section 4.1(b) of
the Buyer Disclosure Schedule.
(e) All of the
outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of each Buyer
Partially Owned Entity (1) have been duly authorized and validly issued
and (2) are owned in the respective percentages shown on Section 4.1(b) of
the Buyer Disclosure Schedule directly or indirectly by Buyer, free and clear
of any Encumbrances.
(f) Except with respect
to the ownership of any equity or long-term debt securities between or among
the Buyer Group Entities (excluding Partially Owned Entities), none of the
Buyer Group Entities owns or will own at the Closing Date, directly or
indirectly, any equity or long-term debt securities of any corporation,
partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association or other
entity.
SECTION 4.4 Financial Statements. The financial statements of Buyer (the Buyer
Financial Statements), including all related notes and schedules, listed in
Section 4.4 of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule or incorporated by reference
therein, fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial
position of Buyer and the Buyer Subsidiaries, as of the respective dates
thereof, and the consolidated results of operations, cash flows and changes in
partners equity of Buyer and the Buyer Subsidiaries for the periods indicated,
have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis
throughout the periods involved (except as may be indicated in the notes
thereto) and subject in the case of interim financial statements to normal
year-end adjustment.
SECTION 4.5 Undisclosed Liabilities. Neither Buyer nor any of the Buyer
Subsidiaries has any indebtedness or liability, absolute or contingent, which
is of a nature required to be reflected on the balance sheet of Buyer or in the
footnotes thereto, in each case prepared in conformity with GAAP, and which is
not shown on or provided for in the Buyer Financial Statements, other than (1)
liabilities incurred or accrued in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practice since March 31, 2006, including liens for current Taxes
30
and assessments not in default, or (2)
liabilities of the Buyer Subsidiaries that, individually or in the aggregate,
are not material to the Buyer Group Entities, taken as a whole.
SECTION 4.6 Buyer SEC Reports and Compliance.
(a) Since March 31,
2003, all reports, including but not limited to the Annual Reports on Form
10-K, the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and the Current Reports on Form 8-K,
forms, schedules, statements and other documents required to be filed or
furnished by Buyer with or to the SEC, as applicable, pursuant to the Exchange
Act or the Securities Act have been or will be timely filed or furnished (the Buyer
SEC Reports). All such Buyer SEC Reports
(1) complied or will comply in all material respects in accordance with the
requirements of applicable Law (including the Exchange Act and the Securities
Act and the rules and regulations thereunder), and (2) as of its filing date in
the case of any Exchange Act report or as of its effective date in the case of
any Securities Act filing, did not or will not contain any untrue statement of
a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(b) There are no
outstanding comments from, or unresolved issues raised by, the SEC with respect
to the Buyer SEC Reports. No enforcement
action has been initiated against any of the Buyer Parties relating to
disclosures contained in any Buyer SEC Document.
(c) Since March 31,
2003, (1) none of the Buyer Group Entities nor, to the knowledge of the Buyer
Parties, any director, officer, employee, auditor, accountant or representative
of the Buyer Group Entities has received or otherwise had or obtained knowledge
of any material complaint, allegation, assertion or claim, whether written or
oral, regarding the accounting or auditing practices, procedures, methodologies
or methods of the Buyer Group Entities or their respective internal accounting
controls, including any material complaint, allegation, assertion or claim that
any of the Buyer Group Entities has engaged in questionable accounting or
auditing practices, and (2) no attorney representing any of the Buyer Group
Entities, whether or not employed thereby, has reported evidence of a material
violation of securities Laws, breach of fiduciary duty or similar violation by
the Buyer Group Entities or any of their officers, directors, employees or
agents, to the board of directors of any Buyer Group Entity or any committee
thereof or to any director or officer of any Buyer Group Entity.
SECTION 4.7 Operating Surplus. All distributions made by Buyer during
its existence have been made from Operating Surplus (as such term is defined in
the Buyer Partnership Agreement).
SECTION 4.8 Compliance with Applicable Laws; Permits.
(a) Except with respect
to Tax matters (which are provided for in Section 4.14), environmental matters
(which are provided for in Section 4.11), and employee benefit matters (which
are provided for in Section 4.15) and except as set forth in any Buyer SEC
Report filed on or prior to the Execution Date, each of the Buyer Group
Entities is in compliance with all applicable Laws, other than any
noncompliance which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Buyer
Material Adverse Effect. No Buyer Group
Entity has received any
31
written
communication within the past two years from a Governmental Entity that alleges
that any Buyer Group Entity is not in compliance in any material respect with
any applicable Laws that has not been satisfactorily resolved.
(b) The Buyer Group
Entities are in possession of all franchises, grants, authorizations, licenses,
permits, easements, variances, exemptions, consents, certificates, approvals
and orders necessary to own, lease and operate their properties and to lawfully
carry on their businesses as they are now being conducted (collectively, the Buyer
Permits), except where the failure to be in possession of such Buyer Permits
would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Buyer Material Adverse
Effect. None of the Buyer Group Entities
is in conflict with, or in default or violation of any of the Buyer Permits,
except for any such conflicts, defaults or violations that would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Buyer Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 4.9 Certain Contracts and Arrangements.
(a) To the extent permitted by applicable
Law, Section 4.9(a) of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule sets forth as of the date hereof
(including
those contracts, agreements or commitments filed as exhibits to the Buyer SEC
Reports or incorporated by reference therein), a true and complete list of the
following contracts, agreements or commitments to which any of the Buyer Group
Entities is a party, whether written or oral: (1) storage agreements,
terminalling agreements and ship or pay agreements, in each case having fixed
pricing terms representing revenues in excess of $6,000,000 per year or having
a term in excess of one year from and after the date hereof; (2) contracts,
loan agreements, letters of credit, repurchase agreements, mortgages, security
agreements, guarantees, pledge agreements, trust indentures, promissory notes,
lines of credit and similar documents in each case relating to the borrowing of
money or for lines of credit, in any case for amounts in excess of $20,000,000
(other than contracts solely between or among the Buyer Group Entities,
ancillary or collateral agreements related to any such contracts filed as
exhibits to the Buyer SEC Reports and interest rate swap agreements); (3) real property leases calling for payments by
any of the Buyer Group Entities of amounts greater than $1,000,000 per year
(other than rights-of-way and leases solely between or among the Buyer Group
Entities); (4) partnership or joint venture agreements (which do not include
joint tariff or joint operating agreements); and (5) contracts limiting the
ability of any of the Buyer Group Entities to compete in any line of business
or with any Person or in any geographic area; (6) contracts relating to any
outstanding commitment for capital expenditures in excess of $20,000,000; (7)
contracts with any labor union or organization; (8) contracts not
entered into in the ordinary course of the Buyer Group Entities business other
than those that are not material to the business of the Buyer Group Entities; (9) contracts, agreements or
documents not yet filed by Buyer with the SEC but that are currently in effect
and that any of the Buyer Group Entities will be required to or expects to file
with or furnish to the SEC as exhibits in an annual or periodic report after
the Execution Date; and (10) all amendments and modifications that have
not been filed by any of the Buyer Group Entities with the SEC but are
currently in effect to contracts, agreements or documents that have been filed
by any of the Buyer Group Entities with the SEC since March 31, 2003 (collectively, the Buyer Material
Agreements).
(b) Except to the extent
that enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating
32
to
or affecting creditors rights generally and by general principles of equity
(regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in
equity or at law); and provided further that any indemnity, contribution and
exoneration provisions contained in any such Buyer Material Agreement may be
limited by applicable Laws and public policy, each of the Buyer Material
Agreements (1) constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the
applicable Buyer Group Entity and constitutes the legal, valid and binding
obligation of the other parties thereto, (2) is in full force and effect
as of the date hereof, and (3) will be in full force and effect upon the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, in each case
unless the failure to be so would not have a Buyer Material Adverse Effect.
(c) There is not, to the
knowledge of the Buyer Parties, under any Buyer Material Agreement, any default
or event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a
default on the part of any of the parties thereto, except such events of
default and other events as to which requisite waivers or consents have been
obtained or which would not have a Buyer Material Adverse Effect.
(d) True and complete
copies of all Buyer Material Agreements have been delivered or made available
to MLP by Buyer to the extent permitted by applicable Law and the provisions of
such agreements. To the extent permitted
by applicable Law, all Buyer Material Agreements not so delivered or made
available are listed and described on Section 4.9(d) of the Buyer Disclosure
Schedule.
SECTION 4.10 Legal Proceedings. Except as disclosed in any Buyer SEC Report
filed on or prior to the Execution Date, there are no pending lawsuits or claims,
with respect to which any Buyer Group Entity has been contacted in writing by
counsel for the plaintiff or claimant, against or affecting any Buyer Group
Entity or any of their properties, assets, operations or business and which
individually would have a Buyer Material Adverse Effect. Except as disclosed in any Buyer SEC Report
filed on or prior to the Execution Date or as would not individually have a
Buyer Material Adverse Effect, none of the Buyer Group Entities is a party or
subject to or in default under any judgment, order, injunction or decree of any
Governmental Entity or arbitration tribunal applicable to it or any of its
properties, assets, operations or business.
Except as disclosed in any Buyer SEC Report filed on or prior to the
Execution Date or as would not individually have a Buyer Material Adverse
Effect, there is no pending or, to the knowledge of the Buyer Parties,
threatened investigation of or affecting any Buyer Group Entity or any of their
properties, assets, operations or business by any Governmental Entity.
SECTION 4.11 Environmental Matters. Except as reflected in the Buyer Financial
Statements, and except for any such matter that individually would not have a
Buyer Material Adverse Effect:
(a) The operations of
each of the Buyer Group Entities have been and, as of the Closing Date, will
be, in compliance with all Environmental Laws;
(b) Each of the Buyer
Group Entities has obtained and will, as of the Closing Date, maintain in full
force and effect all permits, licenses and registrations, and has timely made
and will, as of the Closing Date, timely make all filings, permit renewal
applications, reports and
33
notices
required under applicable Environmental Law in connection with the operations
of their respective businesses;
(c) None of the Buyer
Group Entities is the subject of any outstanding written agreements (including
consent orders and settlement agreements) with any Governmental Entity or other
Person imposing liability with respect to any environmental matter;
(d) None of the Buyer
Group Entities has received any written communication from any Governmental
Entity or other Person alleging, with respect to any such party, the violation
of or liability under any Environmental Law or requesting, with respect to any
such party, information with respect to an investigation pursuant to any
Environmental Law; and
(e) There has been no
Release of any Hazardous Material from or in connection with the properties or
operations of the Buyer Group Entities that has not been adequately reserved
for in the Buyer Financial Statements and that has resulted or could reasonably
be expected to result in liability under Environmental Laws or a claim for
damages or compensation by any Person.
SECTION 4.12 Title to Properties and Rights of Way.
(a) Each of the Buyer
Group Entities has defensible title to all material real property and good
title to all material tangible personal property owned by the Buyer Group
Entities and which is sufficient for the operation of their respective
businesses as presently conducted, free and clear of all Encumbrances except
Permitted Encumbrances.
(b) Each of the Buyer
Group Entities has such rights-of-way as are sufficient to conduct its business
in the manner described, and subject to the limitations contained, in any Buyer
SEC Report filed on or prior to the Execution Date, except for
(1) qualifications, reservations and encumbrances as may be set forth in
any Buyer SEC Report filed on or prior to the Execution Date and (2) such
rights-of-way the absence of which would not, individually or in the aggregate,
result in a Buyer Material Adverse Effect.
Other than as set forth, and subject to the limitations contained, in
any Buyer SEC Report filed on or prior to the Execution Date, each of the Buyer
Group Entities has fulfilled and performed all its material obligations with
respect to such rights-of-way and no event has occurred that allows, or after
notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation or termination thereof or would
result in any impairment of the rights of the holder of any such rights-of-way,
except for such revocations, terminations and impairments that would not
individually or in the aggregate, result in a Buyer Material Adverse Effect;
and, except as described in any Buyer SEC Report filed on or prior to the
Execution Date, none of such rights-of-way contains any restriction that is
materially burdensome to the Buyer Group Entities, taken as a whole.
SECTION 4.13 Insurance. None of the Buyer Group Entities has received
any notice from any insurer or agent of such insurer that (i) substantial
capital improvements or other expenditures will have to be made in order to
continue any insurance policy or instrument pursuant to which any Buyer Group Entity
is insured (a Buyer Insurance Policy) or (ii) such insurer has cancelled or
terminated or has initiated procedures to cancel or terminate any Buyer
Insurance Policy. All such Buyer
Insurance Policies are outstanding and duly in force on the
34
date hereof and will be outstanding and
duly in force on the Closing Date in all material respects. The Buyer Group Entities are in compliance
with the terms of all Buyer Insurance Policies in all material respects; and
there are no material claims by any of the Buyer Group Entities under any such
Buyer Insurance Policy as to which any insurance company is denying liability
or defending under a reservation of rights clause.
SECTION 4.14 Tax Matters.
(a) (i) Each of the Buyer Group Entities has
filed (or joined in the filing of) when due all material Tax Returns required
by applicable Law to be filed by or with respect to it, has obtained all
required Tax permits and licenses and has satisfied all registration requirements
relating to Taxes;
(ii) all
such Tax Returns were true correct and complete in all material respects as of
the time of such filing;
(iii) except
for Taxes being contested in good faith in appropriate proceedings, all
material Taxes relating to periods ending on or before the Closing Date owed by
any of the Buyer Group Entities (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) have
been paid or will be timely paid;
(iv) there
is no action, suit, proceeding, investigation, audit or claim now pending
against, or with respect to, any of the Buyer Group Entities in respect of any
material Tax or material Tax assessment, nor has any claim for additional
material Tax or material Tax assessment been asserted in writing or been
proposed by any Tax authority;
(v) no
written claim has been made by any Tax authority in a jurisdiction where any of
the Buyer Group Entities does not currently file a Tax Return that it is or may
be subject to any material Tax in such jurisdiction, nor has any such assertion
been threatened or proposed in writing;
(vi) none
of the Buyer Group Entities has any outstanding request for any extension of
time within which to pay any material Taxes or file any Tax Returns with
respect to any material Taxes;
(vii) there
has been no waiver or extension of any applicable statute of limitations for
the assessment or collection of any material Taxes of any of the Buyer Group
Entities;
(viii) none
of the Buyer Group Entities has entered into any agreement or arrangement with
any Tax authority that requires any Buyer Group Entity to take any action or
refrain from taking any action;
(ix) none
of the Buyer Group Entities is a party to any agreement, whether written or
unwritten, providing for the payment of Taxes, Tax losses, entitlements to Tax
refunds or similar Tax matters;
35
(x) each
of the Buyer Group Entities has withheld and paid all material Taxes required
to be withheld in connection with any amounts paid or owing to any employee,
creditor, independent contractor or other third party;
(xi) Buyer
is not a foreign person within the meaning of Section 1445 of the Code;
(xii) each
of the Buyer Group Entities that is classified as a partnership for U.S.
federal tax purposes has in effect an election under Section 754 of the Code;
and
(xiii) none
of the Buyer Group Entities has been a member of an affiliated group filing a
consolidated federal income Tax Return or has any liability for the Taxes of
any Person (other than a Buyer Group Entity) under Treasury Regulation
Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local, or foreign
Law), as a transferee or successor, by contract, or otherwise.
(b) In each tax year
since the formation of Buyer up to and including the current tax year, at least
90% of the gross income of Buyer has been income which is qualifying income
within the meaning of Section 7704(d) of the Code.
(c) Except for PAA
Finance Corp. and PMC (Nova Scotia) Company, none of the Buyer Group Entities
has elected to be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal tax purposes.
SECTION 4.15 Employee Benefits.
(a) Section 4.15 of the
Buyer Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete and accurate list of each
Employee Benefit Plan which is or has been sponsored, maintained or contributed
to by any Buyer Group Entity or with respect to which any Buyer Group Entity
has any liability (contingent, secondary or otherwise). True, correct and complete copies of each
such Employee Benefit Plan and any related documents, including all amendments
thereto, have been furnished or made available to the MLP Parties. There has also been furnished or made
available to the MLP Parties, with respect to each such Employee Benefit Plan,
the most recent favorable determination letters, the reports on Form 5500 for
the immediately preceding three years and the most recent summary plan
description and summaries of material modifications thereto, if applicable,
with respect to each such Employee Benefit Plan.
(b) Section 4.15 of the
Buyer Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true and complete list of all Employment
Agreements of the Buyer Group Entities.
As of the date hereof, there are no other agreements (other than
enrollment or similar forms to commence participation or initiate or continue
coverage in an Employee Benefit Plan or employment offer letters issued by
Buyer Group Entities) between any Buyer Group Entities and any natural persons
that provide for (i) participation in, coverage under or benefits from an
Employee Benefit Plan, (ii) annual base salary in excess of $300,000 or
(iii) change of control, termination or severance payments in excess of
$1,000,000. No Buyer Group Entity is
subject to any legal, contractual, equitable, or other obligation or commitment
(whether legally binding or not) to enter into an Employment Agreement,
establish or contribute to an Employee Benefit Plan or modify (except to the
extent required by applicable Law) any existing Employee Benefit Plan or
Employment Agreement.
36
(c) No Buyer Group
Entity and no company or other entity that is required to be treated as a
single employer together with a Buyer Group Entity under Section 414 of the
Code maintains or has ever maintained or been obligated to contribute to or has
any liability (secondary or otherwise) to an Employee Benefit Plan that is (1)
subject to Title IV of ERISA or the minimum funding requirements of Section 412
of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, (2) a plan of the type described in
Section 4063 of ERISA or Section 413(c) of the Code, (3) a multiemployer plan
(as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA) or (4) a multiple employer welfare
arrangement (as defined in Section 3(40) of ERISA).
(d) (i) The Employee Benefit Plans of the
Buyer Group Entities and their affiliates (A) have been maintained (in form and
in operation) in all material respects in accordance with their terms and with
ERISA, the Code and all other applicable Laws, (B) if intended to be qualified
under Section 401(a) of the Code, have been maintained, and are currently, in
material compliance with the Codes qualification requirements in form and
operation, and (C) do not provide, and have not provided, any post-retirement
welfare benefits or coverage, except as required under Part 6 of Subtitle B of
Title I of ERISA and Code Section 4980B (or similar state or local law);
(ii) No
Buyer Group Entity, other than Buyer GP Holdco and PMC (Nova Scotia) Company
has ever had employees and Buyer General Partner and such Canadian subsidiaries
of Buyer are, and have been, in compliance in all material respects with all
applicable Laws relating to the employment of labor, including all such
applicable Laws, relating to wages, hours, collective bargaining,
discrimination, civil rights, safety and health and workers compensation;
(iii) Each Employee
Benefit Plan in which a Buyer Group Entity participates is a single employer
plan maintained or sponsored solely by one or more of the Buyer Group Entities;
(iv) Each Employee
Benefit Plan maintained or sponsored by a Buyer Group Entity can be
unilaterally amended or terminated at any time by a Buyer Group Entity without
liability other than liability for benefits accrued to the date of such
amendment or termination pursuant to the terms of the plan;
(v) No Buyer Group
Entity is a party to a collective bargaining agreement;
(vi) All contributions or
payments required by a Buyer Group Entity to or with respect to an Employee
Benefit Plan have been timely made and all liabilities of a Buyer Group Entity
with respect to any Employee Benefit Plan are properly reflected in the Buyer
Financial Statements in accordance with GAAP;
(vii) There are no
material actions, suits, or claims pending (other than routine claims for
benefits) or, to the knowledge of any Buyer Group Entity, threatened against,
or with respect to, any of the Employee Benefit Plans; and
(viii) No act, omission or
transaction has occurred which would result in imposition on any Buyer Group
Entity of (A) breach of fiduciary duty liability damages
37
under
Section 409 of ERISA, (B) a civil penalty assessed pursuant to subsections (D),
(i) or (l) of Section 502 of ERISA, or (D) a tax imposed pursuant to Chapter 43
of Subtitle D of the Code.
SECTION 4.16 Books and Records. The minute books of Buyer General Partner
contain true and correct copies of all actions taken at all meetings of the
Board of Directors of Buyer General Partner or the Audit Committee thereof and
all written consents executed in lieu of such meetings. Complete copies of all such minute books for
2005 and 2006 and other records have been made available to the MLP Conflicts
Committee and its advisors and to outside counsel to the MLP.
SECTION 4.17 No Changes or Material Adverse Effect.
(a) Between March 31,
2006 and the Execution Date, the business of the Buyer Group Entities, taken as
a whole, has been conducted in the ordinary course consistent with past
practices, and none of the Buyer Group Entities has taken any of the actions
prohibited by Section 5.1(b), except in connection with entering into this
Agreement.
(b) Subsequent to March
31, 2006, there has not been a Buyer Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 4.18 Regulation. None of the Buyer Group Entities is, nor will
any of the Buyer Group Entities be following the consummation of the Merger and
Sale Transactions, an investment company or a company controlled by an investment
company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
SECTION 4.19 State Takeover Laws. No approvals are required under state
takeover or similar laws in connection with the performance by the Buyer
Parties of their obligations under this Agreement or the performance by Buyer
of its obligations under the Purchase Agreement.
SECTION 4.20 Opinion of Financial Advisor. Buyer GP Holdcos Board of Directors has
received the opinion of Simmons & Company International, dated the date of
this Agreement, to the effect that the aggregate consideration to be paid by
Buyer in the Merger and Sale Transactions is fair to holders of Buyer Common
Units from a financial point of view.
SECTION 4.21 Approvals. Buyer GP Holdco has approved this Agreement
and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as required under Section
17-211 of the DRULPA and under Article 14 of the Buyer Partnership
Agreement. The Board of Directors of
Buyer GP Holdco at a meeting duly called and held, has by unanimous vote (i)
determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby are
advisable, fair to and in the best interests of Buyer and the holders of Buyer
Common Units, (ii) approved this Agreement and (iii) recommended that the
Merger and this Agreement, including the issuance of Buyer Common Units, be
approved and adopted by the holders of Buyer Common Units. Buyer GP Holdco has taken all steps
necessary and has obtained all approvals required to reduce the amounts payable
pursuant to the Incentive Distribution Rights of Buyer as hereinafter
described. The incentive distribution rights shall be
adjusted commencing with the earlier to occur of (x) the payment date of the
first quarterly distribution declared and paid after the Closing Date that
38
equals or exceeds $0.80 per unit or (y)
the payment date of the second quarterly distribution declared and paid after
the Closing Date (the earlier to occur of (x) or (y) being referred to as the IDR
Reduction Date). Such adjustment shall
be as follows: (i) for the quarterly distribution paid on the IDR Reduction
Date and the three quarterly distributions declared and paid following the IDR
Reduction Date, any distributions with respect to the Incentive Distribution
Rights shall be reduced by $5,000,000 per quarter, (ii) for the four quarterly
distributions commencing on the first anniversary of the IDR Reduction Date,
such distributions shall be reduced by $3,750,000 per quarter, (iii) for the
four quarterly distributions commencing on the second anniversary of the IDR
Reduction Date, such distributions shall be reduced by $3,750,000 per quarter,
(iv) for the four quarterly distributions commencing on the third anniversary
of the IDR Reduction Date, such distributions shall be reduced by $2,500,000
per quarter and (v) for the four quarterly distributions commencing on the
fourth anniversary of the IDR Reduction Date, such distributions shall be
reduced by $1,250,000 per quarter. For
the avoidance of doubt, the reduction shall be an aggregate of $20 million for
the first four quarters (commencing with and including the IDR Reduction Date),
$15 million for the second four quarters, $15 million for the third four
quarters, $10 million for the fourth four quarters and $5 million for the fifth
four quarters, for an aggregate of $65 million over twenty quarters.
SECTION 4.22 Brokers Fees. None of the Buyer Group Entities, nor any of
their respective officers or directors has employed any broker, finder or other
person or incurred any liability on behalf of any MLP Group Entity, any Buyer
Group Entity or itself for any advisory, brokerage, finder, success, deal
completion or similar fees or commissions in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, other than fees to be paid to Simmons &
Company International.
SECTION 4.23 Limitation of
Representations and Warranties.
EXCEPT FOR THE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES SET FORTH IN THIS ARTICLE
IV, THE BUYER PARTIES ARE NOT MAKING ANY OTHER REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES,
WRITTEN OR ORAL, STATUTORY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, CONCERNING THE BUYER COMMON
UNITS, OR THE BUSINESS, ASSETS, OR LIABILITIES OF ANY BUYER GROUP ENTITY,
INCLUDING, IN PARTICULAR, ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ALL OF WHICH ARE HEREBY EXPRESSLY EXCLUDED AND DISCLAIMED.
ARTICLE V
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS, COVENANTS, RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS
SECTION 5.1
Conduct of Business.
(a) Ordinary Course. From the Execution Date
until the Closing Date, each Party Group with respect to the business of its
Consolidated Group shall, except as permitted under Section 5.1(b),
(i) conduct the business of such Consolidated Group in the ordinary course
consistent with past practices, (ii) use its commercially reasonable
efforts to preserve intact the present business organizations and material
rights and franchises of such Consolidated Group, to keep available the
services of the MLP Related Employees or the Buyer Related Employees, as
applicable, and the current officers and employees of such Consolidated Group,
and to preserve the material relationships of such Consolidated Group with
customers, suppliers and others
39
having
business dealings with them, and (iii) maintain and keep the material
properties and assets of such Consolidated Group in as good repair and
condition, including any material insurance coverage thereon, as at the Execution Date, subject to
ordinary wear and tear.
(b) Certain Covenants.
Without limiting the generality of Section 5.1(a),
except (1) as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement (including Section
5.6), (2) as otherwise required by Law or Environmental Law or ERISA or
(3) as set forth in Section 5.1(b) of the MLP Disclosure Schedule or
in Section 5.1(b) of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule, without the prior written
consent of the other Party Group (which consent will not be unreasonably
withheld, delayed or conditioned), each Party Group will not, and agrees that
it will cause its respective Consolidated Group not to:
(i) make
any material change in the conduct of its business and operations;
(ii) make
any change in its governing documents, other than changes that would not be
adverse to the other Party Group;
(iii) issue,
deliver or sell or authorize or propose the issuance, delivery or sale of, any
of its equity securities or securities convertible into its equity securities,
or subscriptions, rights, warrants or options to acquire or other agreements or
commitments of any character obligating it to issue any such securities (other
than (i) issuances pursuant to options, warrants and phantom unit awards in
existence on the Execution Date, (ii) issuances of restricted units or unit
options to current or newly-hired employees consistent with past practice (A)
by MLP of up to 50,000 MLP Common Units, and (B) by Buyer of up to 1,500,000
Buyer Common Units, (iii) by MLP of MLP equity securities up to an aggregate of
$150,000,000 and (iv) by Buyer of Buyer equity securities up to an aggregate of
$500,000,000);
(iv) except
for (A) distributions to the holders of MLP Units of no more than
$0.5675 per MLP Unit per quarter, plus the proportionate distribution on
the general partner interests in MLP and payments under the MLP incentive
distribution rights, (b) distributions to the holders of Buyer Common Units of
no more than $0.80 per Buyer Common Unit
per quarter, plus the proportionate distribution on the general partner
interests in Buyer and payments under the Buyer incentive distribution rights
and (C) any distributions from the MLP Subsidiaries to MLP, or from the
Buyer Subsidiaries to Buyer, declare, set aside or pay any distributions in
respect of its equity securities, or split, combine or reclassify any of its
equity securities or issue or authorize the issuance of any other securities in
respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for any of its equity securities, or
purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any of its
equity securities; provided that, in the case of distributions in respect of
equity securities, consent to such distributions shall not be unreasonably
withheld, delayed or conditioned;
(v) merge
into or with any other person (other than (A) mergers among wholly owned
subsidiaries of the same person, (B) mergers between an MLP Party and its
wholly owned subsidiaries, (C) mergers between a Buyer Party and its
wholly owned subsidiaries or (D) as permitted by clause (vi));
40
(vi) acquire,
through merger, consolidation or otherwise, all or substantially all of the
business or assets of any person, or acquire any interest in or contribute any
assets to any partnership or joint venture (other than contributions to
Partially Owned Entities of such Consolidated Group as required under the
governing documents of such Partially Owned Entities) or enter into any similar
arrangement, for consideration in excess of,
in the case of MLP Group Entities, $200,000,000 individually or in the aggregate,
or, in the case of Buyer Group Entities, in excess of $350,000,000
individually, or $700,000,000 in the aggregate;
(vii) except
as permitted by exclusions under other clauses of this Section 5.1(b),
other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices,
enter into any material contract or agreement or terminate or amend in any
material respect any material contract or agreement to which it is a party or
waive any material rights under any material contract or agreement to which it
is a party;
(viii) purchase
any securities of or make any investment in any person (other than (A)
ordinary-course overnight investments consistent with cash management practices
of such Party Group, (B) investments in wholly owned subsidiaries, (C)
investments in Partially Owned Entities owned by such Party Group as of the
Execution Date as required under the governing documents of such Partially
Owned Entities, (D) investments by MLP General Partner in MLP pursuant to the
MLP Partnership Agreement, (E) investments by Buyer General Partner in Buyer
pursuant to the Buyer Partnership Agreement, (F) purchases and investments in
addition to those contemplated by (A) through (E) above up to an aggregate
amount of $5,000,000 for each Party Group and (G) as permitted pursuant to
clause (vi));
(ix) incur,
assume or guarantee any indebtedness for borrowed money, issue, assume or
guarantee any debt securities, grant any option, warrant or right to purchase
any debt securities, or issue any securities convertible into or exchangeable
for any debt securities (other than in connection with (A) borrowings in the
ordinary course of business by MLP under its existing bank credit facilities or
by Buyer under its existing bank credit facilities (including, with respect to
Buyer, the Contango Facility, (B) the refinancing or replacement of
existing indebtedness (provided, in the case of the MLP Parties, such
refinancing or replacement is on substantially comparable terms), including the
refinancing of the MLP Group Entities existing indebtedness by the Buyer Group
Entities, (C) other than as permitted by (A) and (B) above, the
incurrence by MLP of up to $50,000,000 in principal amount of indebtedness,
(D) other than as permitted by (A) and (B) above, the incurrence
by Buyer of up to $1,000,000,000 in principal amount of indebtedness, and
(E) in connection with a transaction permitted by clauses (vi) and
(xii));
(x) (A)
sell, assign, transfer, abandon, lease or otherwise dispose of assets having a
fair market value, in the case of MLP Group Entities, in excess of $5,000,000
in the aggregate, or, in the case of Buyer Group Entities, in excess of
$10,000,000 in the aggregate, except for (1) assets listed on Section 5.1(b)(x)
of the MLP Disclosure Schedule and Section 5.1(b)(x) of the Buyer Disclosure
Schedule, (2) idled assets and (3) dispositions of inventory or worn-out or
obsolete equipment for fair value
41
in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices or
(B) other than Permitted Encumbrances, grant any security interest with respect
to, pledge or otherwise encumber any assets other than security interests
granted after the Execution Date (i) with respect to assets acquired after the
Execution Date (which acquisition is otherwise permitted by this Agreement)
pursuant to related financing arrangements or (ii) with respect to assets
already owned prior to the Execution Date, pursuant to the requirements of
existing financial arrangements;
(xi) (A) settle
any claims, demands, lawsuits or state or federal regulatory proceedings for
damages to the extent such settlements in the aggregate assesses damages in
excess of $10,000,000, in the case of MLP Group Entities, and $20,000,000, in
the case of Buyer Group Entities (other than any claims, demands, lawsuits or
proceedings to the extent insured (net of deductibles), to the extent reserved
against in the MLP Financial Statements or Buyer Financial Statements, as
applicable, or to the extent covered by an indemnity obligation not subject to
dispute or adjustment from a solvent indemnitor) or (B) settle any claims,
demands, lawsuits or state or federal regulatory proceedings seeking an
injunction or other equitable relief where such settlements would have an MLP Material
Adverse Effect or a Buyer Material Adverse Effect, as applicable;
(xii) except
as set forth in Section 5.1(b)(xii) of the MLP Disclosure Schedule or in
Section 5.1(b)(xii) of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule or as required on an
emergency basis or for the safety of persons or the environment, make any
capital expenditure in excess of $25,000,000 in the aggregate, in the case of
MLP Group Entities, and $100,000,000, in the case of Buyer Group Entities
(other than as permitted by clause (vi));
(xiii) make
any material change in its tax methods, principles or elections;
(xiv) make
any material change to its financial reporting and accounting methods other
than as required by a change in GAAP;
(xv) fail
to file on a timely basis all applications and other documents necessary to
maintain, renew or extend any material permit, license, variance or any other
material approval required by any Governmental Entity for the continuing
operation of its business;
(xvi) (A) grant
any increases in the compensation of any of its officers or employees, except
in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices,
(B) amend any existing employment or severance or termination contract
with any officer or employee, (C) become obligated under any new pension
plan, welfare plan, multiemployer plan, Employee Benefit Plan, severance plan,
change of control or other benefit arrangement or similar plan or arrangement,
or (D) amend any MLP or Buyer Employee Benefit Plan, as applicable, if
such amendment would have the effect of enhancing any benefits thereunder;
42
(xvii) adopt
or vote to adopt a plan of complete or partial dissolution or liquidation; or
(xviii) agree
or commit to do any of the foregoing.
(c) Notification of Certain Events. From the Execution Date until the
Closing Date, each Party Group shall promptly notify the other Party Group in
writing of (i) any event, condition or circumstance that could reasonably be
expected to result in any representation or warranty of the notifying Party
Group contained in this Agreement (without regard to Materiality Requirements
therein) to be inaccurate in any material respect at the Effective Time (or, in
the case of any representation or warranty made as of a specified date, as of
such specified date), (ii) any event, condition or circumstance that could
reasonably be expected to result in any of the conditions set forth in Article
VI not being satisfied at the Effective Time, and (iii) any MLP Material
Adverse Effect or Buyer Material Adverse Effect, as applicable, and
(iv) any material breach by the notifying Party Group of any covenant,
obligation or agreement contained in this Agreement; provided, however, that the delivery of any notice pursuant
to this Section 5.1(c) shall not limit or otherwise affect the remedies
available hereunder to the notified Party Group.
SECTION 5.2 Access to Information; Confidentiality.
(a) Subject to
Section 5.2(b) and applicable Laws, upon reasonable notice, each Party
Group shall (and shall cause its Consolidated Group to) afford the officers,
employees, counsel, accountants and other authorized representatives and
advisors of the requesting Party Group reasonable access, during normal
business hours from the Execution Date until the Closing Date, to its
properties, books, contracts and records as well as to their management
personnel; provided that such
access shall be provided on a basis that minimizes the disruption to the
operations of the disclosing Party Group and its Consolidated Group; provided further that the Buyer Group Entities shall be
obligated to provide such access to their respective properties to any MLP
Group Entity only upon reasonable request in order to determine whether or not
a condition to Closing has been satisfied. The disclosing Party Group shall not be
responsible to the requesting Party Group for personal injuries sustained by
the requesting Party Groups officers, employees, counsel, accountants and
other representatives and advisors in connection with the access provided
pursuant to this Section 5.2(a), and shall be indemnified and held harmless by
the requesting Party Group for any losses suffered by the disclosing Party
Group or its officers, employees or representatives in connection with any such
personal injuries. Subject to
Section 5.2(b) and applicable Laws, during such period, each Party Group
shall (and shall cause its Consolidated Group to) furnish promptly to the other
Party Group (i) a copy of each report, schedule, registration statement and
other document filed, published, announced or received by it in connection with
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement during such period pursuant to
the requirements of Federal, state or foreign laws (including pursuant to the
HSR Act, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the rules of any Governmental
Entity thereunder), as applicable (other than documents which such Party Group
is not permitted to disclose under applicable Laws) and (ii) all information
concerning the disclosing Party Groups business, properties and personnel as
the requesting Party Group may reasonably request, including all information
relating to environmental matters.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Party Group shall have no obligation to
disclose or provide access to any information the disclosure of which such
Party Group has concluded may jeopardize any privilege available to
43
such
Party Group or its Consolidated Group relating to such information or would be
in violation of a confidentiality obligation binding on such Party Group or
Consolidated Group.
(b) The parties
acknowledge that certain information received pursuant to Section 5.2(a)
will be non-public or proprietary in nature and as such will be deemed to be Evaluation
Material for purposes of the Confidentiality Agreements. Each party further agrees to be bound by the
terms and conditions of the Confidentiality Agreements (except that the term of
the Confidentiality Agreements shall be two years from the Execution Date) and
to maintain the confidentiality of such Evaluation Material in accordance with
the Confidentiality Agreements. In the event that the Closing occurs, the
Confidentiality Agreements shall be terminated and of no further force or
effect.
SECTION 5.3 Certain Filings. As promptly as practicable following the
Execution Date (and in any event, in the case of clauses (i) and (x), no later
than two weeks following the Execution Date, in the case of clauses (iv), (v),
(vi) and (vii) below, no later than three weeks following the Execution Date
and, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), no later than four weeks following
the Execution Date), (i) the parties shall prepare and file with the
Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice the appropriate
filings and any supplemental information which may be reasonably requested in
connection therewith under the HSR Act, it being agreed that Buyer is the
primary Acquiring Person for purposes of the HSR Act and shall pay the
required filing fee, (ii) MLP and Buyer shall prepare and file with or
furnish to the SEC a Proxy Statement/Prospectus to be distributed to the
holders of MLP Common Units and Buyer Common Units in connection with the MLP
Unitholders Meeting and Buyer Unitholders Meeting (the Proxy
Statement/Prospectus) and to be part of the Registration Statement described
below, (iii) Buyer shall prepare and file with or furnish to the SEC a
registration statement on Form S-4 (the Registration Statement) with
respect to the issuance of Buyer Common Units in connection with the Merger,
(iv) Buyer and MLP shall prepare and file all necessary applications with the
Public Utility Commission of the State of California in order to consummate the
Merger and Sale Transactions, (v) Buyer and MLP shall prepare and file all
necessary applications with the Public Service Commission of the States of
Wyoming and Colorado in order to consummate the Merger and Sale Transactions,
(vi) Buyer shall give the requisite notice of the proposed transaction under
Section 114 of the Competition Act and, in addition, promptly file a request
for an advance ruling certificate under Section 102 of the Competition Act in
respect of the Merger and Sale Transactions and Buyer shall pay the applicable
filing fee and all Taxes thereon, provided that MLP shall cooperate with and
provide reasonable assistance to Buyer in the preparation of such notice and
request, (vii) Buyer shall make all requisite applications and filings required
pursuant to the Investment Canada Act in respect of the transactions herein,
and shall pay any applicable fees and all Taxes thereon, provided that MLP
shall cooperate with and provide reasonable assistance to Buyer in the
preparation of any such applications and filings, (viii) Buyer shall use
its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Buyer Common Units to be
issued in the Merger to be listed on the NYSE, (ix) the parties hereto
shall make all required filings under applicable state securities and blue sky
Laws, provided, however, that no
such filings shall be required in any jurisdiction where, as a result thereof,
Buyer would become subject to general service of process or to taxation or
qualification to do business as a foreign partnership doing business in such
jurisdiction solely as a result of such filing, and (x) the parties hereto
shall make all required filings or applications necessary to obtain any
consents required to be obtained from the FCC in
44
connection with the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement. Each of the MLP
Parties and Buyer Parties further agrees that if it shall become aware prior to
the date of the MLP Unitholders Meeting or Buyer Unitholders Meeting of any
information that would cause any of the statements in the Proxy
Statement/Prospectus to become false or misleading with respect to any material
fact, or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
false or misleading, it will promptly inform the other parties thereof and take
the necessary steps to correct the Proxy Statement/Prospectus. Each of Buyer and MLP will provide the other
with reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the Proxy Statement/Prospectus
and any amendment or supplement thereto prior to filing the Proxy
Statement/Prospectus or any such amendment or supplement, and further agree
that each of them will be provided with such number of copies of all filings
made with the SEC as such party shall reasonably request. Buyer will provide MLP with reasonable
opportunity to review and comment on the Registration Statement and any
amendment or supplement thereto prior to filing any such document with the SEC. No filings of the Registration Statement or
the Proxy Statement/Prospectus (or any amendments or supplements to either of
them) shall be made without the consent of MLP and Buyer (which consent shall
not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned); provided that with
respect to documents that are incorporated by reference into the Registration
Statement or the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, the foregoing consent right shall
only apply with respect to information relating to the other party or its
business, financial condition or results of operations. Each of MLP and Buyer shall (1) promptly
notify the other of receipt of any comments from the SEC or its staff or any
other applicable government official and of any requests by the SEC or its
staff or any other applicable government official for amendments or supplements
to any of the filings with the SEC in connection with the Merger and other
transactions contemplated hereby or for additional information and (2) promptly
supply the other with copies of all correspondence between MLP or any of its
representatives, or Buyer or any of its representatives, as the case may be, on
the one hand, and the SEC or its staff or any other applicable government
official, on the other hand, with respect thereto. Buyer and MLP shall use their respective commercially
reasonable efforts to respond to any comments of the SEC or its staff with
respect to the Proxy Statement/Prospectus or the Registration Statement as
promptly as practicable.
SECTION 5.4 Unitholders Meetings. Subject
to Section 5.6, the MLP Parties shall, in accordance with
applicable Law and the MLP Partnership Agreement, cause a meeting of the
holders of MLP Common Units and MLP Subordinated Units (the MLP Unitholders
Meeting) to be duly called and held as soon as practicable after the Registration
Statement is declared effective under the Securities Act to consider and vote
upon the adoption and approval of this Agreement and the Merger. Except as permitted by Section 5.6(c),
the MLP Board shall unanimously recommend approval and adoption of this
Agreement and the Merger by the holders of MLP Units and the MLP Conflicts
Committee shall unanimously recommend approval and adoption of this
45
Agreement and the Merger by the holders
of MLP Common Units (other than LBPLP) (the MLP Recommendation) and shall
include such MLP Recommendation in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus. The Buyer Parties shall, in accordance with
applicable Law and the Buyer Partnership Agreement, cause a meeting of the holders
of Buyer Common Units (the Buyer Unitholders Meeting) to be duly called and
held as soon as practicable after the Registration Statement is declared
effective under the Securities Act to consider and vote upon the adoption and
approval of this Agreement and the Merger.
The Buyer GP Holdcos Board of Directors shall unanimously recommend
approval and adoption of this Agreement and the Merger by holders of Buyer
Common Units (the Buyer Recommendation) and shall include such recommendation
in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Buyer GP Holdcos Board of Directors
shall be permitted not to recommend to Buyers unitholders that they give the
Buyer Unitholder Approval or to withdraw or modify in a manner adverse to MLP the
Buyer Recommendation (any such action being referred to as a Buyer
Recommendation Change) if the Buyer GP Holdcos Board of Directors determines
in good faith, after consulting with outside legal counsel, that failure to so
not recommend or withdraw or modify such recommendation would be reasonably
likely to constitute a violation of the directors fiduciary obligations under
applicable Law.
SECTION 5.5 Affiliates. Prior
to the Effective Time, MLP shall cause to be prepared and delivered to Buyer a
list identifying all persons who, at such time or at the Effective Time, MLP
reasonably believes may be or will be deemed to be affiliates of MLP, as that
term is used in paragraphs (c) and (d) of Rule 145 under
the Securities Act (the Rule 145 Affiliates). Buyer shall be entitled to place restrictive
legends on any Buyer Common Units received by such Rule 145
Affiliates. MLP shall use its
commercially reasonable efforts to cause each person who is identified as a
Rule 145 Affiliate in such list to deliver to Buyer on or prior to the
Closing Date a letter substantially in the form attached as Exhibit 5.5.
SECTION 5.6 No Solicitation.
(a) The MLP Parties
shall not, and the MLP Parties shall cause their respective subsidiaries not
to, and the MLP Parties shall direct and use their reasonable best efforts to
cause the MLP Parties respective directors, officers or employees or any
investment bank, financial advisor, attorney, accountant or other advisor,
agent or representative retained by them or any of their subsidiaries,
including for clarification and without limitation the MLP Conflicts Committee
and its members, financial advisors, attorneys and other advisors
(collectively, Representatives) not to, directly or indirectly, take any
action to solicit, initiate, or knowingly encourage or knowingly facilitate the
making of any MLP Takeover Proposal or any inquiry with respect thereto or
engage in discussions or negotiations with any person with respect thereto
(except to notify such person of the existence of the provisions of this
Section 5.6), or disclose any non-public information or afford access to
properties, books or records to, any person that has made, or to the MLP
Parties knowledge is considering making, any MLP Takeover Proposal or any
inquiry with respect thereto, or approve or recommend, or propose to approve or
recommend, or execute or enter into any letter of intent, agreement in
principle, merger agreement, option agreement, acquisition agreement or other
similar agreement relating to an MLP Takeover Proposal, or propose publicly or
agree to do any of the foregoing relating to an MLP Takeover Proposal or any
inquiry with respect thereto. The MLP
Parties shall, and shall cause their respective subsidiaries to, immediately
cease and cause to be terminated, and shall use their reasonable best efforts
to cause their Representatives to immediately cease and cause to be terminated,
all existing discussions or negotiations with any person conducted heretofore
with respect to any MLP Takeover Proposal.
The MLP Parties shall enforce, and not terminate or grant any waiver
with respect to, existing confidentiality, standstill or similar agreements.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time prior to (but not after) the date of
the MLP Unitholder Approval, in response to a bona fide written MLP Takeover
Proposal, which MLP Takeover Proposal was not solicited, initiated, knowingly
encouraged or knowingly facilitated by the MLP Parties or their respective
Representatives, was made after the date hereof and did
46
not
otherwise result from a breach of this Section 5.6(a), the MLP Parties
may, if and only if (i) the MLP Conflicts Committee determines in good
faith (A) after consultation with its financial advisor, that the MLP
Takeover Proposal constitutes or is reasonably likely to result in a Superior
Proposal and (B) after consultation with outside legal counsel, that the
failure to do so would be reasonably likely to constitute a violation of its
fiduciary duties owed to the holders of MLP Units under applicable Law and
(ii) the MLP Parties comply with all of their obligations under this
Section 5.6, (x) furnish information with respect to the MLP Group
Entities to the person making such MLP Takeover Proposal (and its
Representatives) pursuant to an executed confidentiality agreement not less
restrictive of such person than the MLP Confidentiality Agreement, provided
that all such information has previously been provided to Buyer or is provided
to Buyer within two days of the time it is provided to such person, and (y)
participate in discussions or negotiations with the person making such MLP
Takeover Proposal (and its Representatives) regarding such MLP Takeover
Proposal.
(b) Neither the MLP
Board nor the MLP Conflicts Committee, in each case unless permitted by Section
5.6(c), shall (i)(A) withdraw, modify or qualify, or propose publicly to
withdraw, modify or qualify, in any manner adverse to Buyer, the approval,
recommendation or declaration of advisability by such MLP Board or MLP
Conflicts Committee of this Agreement, the Merger or the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, (B) recommend, adopt or approve, or
propose publicly to recommend, adopt or approve, any MLP Takeover Proposal, or
(C) fail to reaffirm (publicly if so requested) the MLP Recommendation
within six days after Buyer requests in writing that such MLP Recommendation be
affirmed (any action described in clauses (A), (B) or (C) of this clause
(i) being referred to as an MLP Recommendation Change) or (ii) approve
or recommend, or propose to approve or recommend, or allow any MLP Group Entity
to execute or enter into, any letter of intent, memorandum of understanding,
agreement in principle, merger agreement, acquisition agreement, option
agreement, joint venture agreement, partnership agreement or other similar
agreement constituting or related to, or that is intended to or would
reasonably be expected to lead to, any MLP Takeover Proposal (other than a
confidentiality agreement permitted to be entered into pursuant to
Section 5.6(a)).
(c) (i) Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement, the MLP Conflicts Committee shall be permitted to make an MLP
Recommendation Change, only if and to the extent that all of the following
conditions are met: (i) the MLP Unitholder Approval has not been obtained; (ii)
the MLP Conflicts Committee determines in good faith, after consulting with
outside legal counsel, that failure to so make an MLP Recommendation Change
would be reasonably likely to constitute a violation of its fiduciary
obligations owed to the holders of MLP Units under applicable Law; (iii) at
least three Business Days prior to taking any such action, the MLP gives Buyer
written notice advising Buyer of the decision of the MLP Conflicts Committee to
take such action, including the reasons therefor and, in the event that such
decision relates to an MLP Takeover Proposal, such notice specifies the
material terms and conditions of such MLP Takeover Proposal and identifies the
person making such MLP Takeover Proposal (and the MLP keeps Buyer reasonably
and promptly informed with respect to the status and changes in the material
terms and conditions of such proposal); and (iv) the MLP has given Buyer at
least three Business Days after delivery of each such notice to propose
revisions to the terms of this Agreement (or to make another proposal) and has
negotiated in good faith with Buyer with respect to such proposed revisions or
other proposal, if any.
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(ii)
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the MLP Board
shall be permitted to make an MLP Recommendation Change, only if and to the
extent that all of the following conditions are met: (i) the MLP Unitholder Approval
has not been obtained; (ii) the MLP Board determines in good faith, after
consulting with outside legal counsel, that failure to so make an MLP
Recommendation Change would be reasonably likely to constitute a violation of
its fiduciary obligations owed to the holders of MLP Units under applicable
Law; (iii) at least three Business Days prior to taking any such action, the
MLP gives Buyer written notice advising Buyer of the decision of the MLP Board
to take such action, including the reasons therefor and, in the event that such
decision relates to an MLP Takeover Proposal, such notice specifies the
material terms and conditions of such MLP Takeover Proposal and identifies the
person making such MLP Takeover Proposal (and the MLP keeps Buyer reasonably
and promptly informed with respect to the status and changes in the material
terms and conditions of such proposal); and (iv) the MLP has given Buyer at
least three Business Days after delivery of each such notice to propose
revisions to the terms of this Agreement (or to make another proposal) and has
negotiated in good faith with Buyer with respect to such proposed revisions or
other proposal, if any.
(d) In the event the MLP
Parties receive an MLP Takeover Proposal, or any request for non-public information
relating to the MLP Parties or for access to the properties, books or records
of the MLP Parties by any person that has made, or to the MLP Parties
knowledge may be considering making, an MLP Takeover Proposal, the MLP Parties
will (A) promptly (and in no event later than twenty-four (24) hours after
receipt of any MLP Takeover Proposal) notify (which notice shall be provided
orally and in writing and shall identify the person making such MLP Takeover
Proposal or request and set forth the material terms thereof) Buyer thereof and
(B) will keep Buyer reasonably and promptly informed of any material changes to
the terms of any such MLP Takeover Proposal or request.
(e) Nothing contained in
this Agreement shall prohibit MLP from (x) taking and disclosing to its
unitholders a position contemplated by Rule 14e-2(a) promulgated under the
Exchange Act with regard to an MLP Takeover Proposal or (y) making any
required disclosure to holders of MLP Units if, in the good faith judgment of
the MLP Conflicts Committee after consultation with outside legal counsel,
failure to so disclose would be reasonably likely to constitute a violation of
its fiduciary obligations owed to the holders of MLP Units under applicable
Law; provided, however, that no MLP Recommendation Change shall occur in any
event except as permitted by Section 5.6(c).
(f) The MLP Parties
agree that they will take all necessary steps promptly to inform their
subsidiaries and Representatives of the obligations undertaken in this Section
5.6.
(g) Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, at any time prior to obtaining the MLP
Unitholder Approval, the MLP Conflicts Committee may, in response to a Superior
Proposal that was not solicited after the date hereof and was made after the
date hereof and did not otherwise result from a breach of this
Section 5.6, cause the MLP Parties to terminate this Agreement in order to
accept a Superior Proposal (and the MLP may waive or modify any standstill or
similar obligation into which the person making such Superior Proposal has
entered into) but only if:
48
(i) the
MLP shall have first provided written notice to Buyer that it is prepared to
terminate this Agreement with respect to a Superior Proposal, which notice
shall attach the most current version of any written offer or agreement
relating to the transaction that constitutes such Superior Proposal;
(ii) Buyer
does not make, within three Business Days after the receipt of such notice, a
written offer that is not revocable for at least three Business Days after such
offer is made and that the MLP Conflicts Committee determines in good faith,
after consultation with its financial advisor, is at least as favorable from a
financial point of view to the holders of MLP Common Units (other than LBPLP)
and is at least as favorable from a financial point of view to all of the
equityholders of the MLP as a whole as the Merger and Sale Transactions as such
Superior Proposal;
(iii) MLP
shall have negotiated in good faith with Buyer with respect to such written
offer; and
(iv) in
the event of any termination of this Agreement by MLP pursuant to this Section
5.6(g), MLP pays or causes to be paid the termination fee under Section 8.5(b)
concurrently with and as a condition to such termination.
SECTION 5.7 Commercially Reasonable Efforts; Further Assurances. From and after the Execution Date,
upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereof, each of the parties hereto
shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken,
all appropriate action, and to do or cause to be done, all things necessary,
proper or advisable under applicable Laws to consummate and make effective the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement as promptly as practicable. Without limiting the foregoing but subject to
the other terms of this Agreement, the parties hereto agree that, from time to
time, whether before, at or after the Closing Date, each of them will execute
and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such instruments of
assignment, transfer, conveyance, endorsement, direction or authorization as
may be necessary to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement.
SECTION 5.8 No Public Announcement. On the Execution Date, the parties
hereto shall issue a joint press release with respect to the execution of this
Agreement and the Merger and Sale Transactions, which press release shall be
reasonably satisfactory to Buyer General Partner and MLP General Partner. No party hereto shall issue any other press
release or make any other public announcement concerning this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement (other than an MLP Recommendation
Change or Buyer Recommendation Change, public announcements at industry road
shows and conferences, as may be required by Law or by obligations pursuant to
any listing agreement with the NYSE, in which event the party making the public
announcement or press release shall, to the extent practicable, notify Buyer
General Partner or MLP General Partner, as applicable, in advance of such
public announcement or press release) without the prior approval of Buyer
General Partner or MLP General Partner, as applicable, which approval shall not
be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Buyer
Parties and the MLP Parties may respond to inquiries from securities analysts
and the news media to the extent necessary to
49
respond to such inquiries, provided
that such responses are in compliance with applicable securities Laws.
SECTION 5.9 Expenses. Whether
or not the Merger and Sale Transactions are consummated, all costs and expenses
incurred in connection with this Agreement, including legal fees, accounting
fees, financial advisory fees and other professional and non-professional fees
and expenses, shall be paid by the party hereto incurring such expenses, except
as expressly provided in Section 8.5 and except that Buyer and MLP shall
each pay for one-half of (a) any filing fees with respect to the Registration
Statement and the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and (b) the costs of printing
and mailing of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus.
The fees and expenses of Lehman Brothers Inc., financial advisor to the
MLP Parties, and Petrie Parkman & Co., financial advisor to the MLP
Conflicts Committee, shall be borne by MLP and LBPLP in the manner described in
Section 5.9 of the MLP Disclosure Schedule.
SECTION 5.10 Regulatory Issues.
Unless otherwise agreed to by MLP General Partner and Buyer
General Partner, if as a condition to obtaining an agreement from any
Governmental Entity not to seek an injunction preventing or delaying the
consummation of the Merger and Sale Transactions, to satisfy any condition to a
consent or approval of any Governmental Entity necessary for the consummation
of the Merger and Sale Transactions, or to prevent the entry of any order
preventing or delaying the Merger and Sale Transactions at the request of any
Governmental Entity, such Governmental Entity shall require the divestiture (or
the execution of a consent decree that contemplates such a divestiture) of any
assets of the MLP Group Entities (a Required Divestiture), then Buyer General
Partner shall agree to cause (or to agree in the consent decree to cause) such
Required Divestitures to be made unless such Required Divestiture(s) would
have a material adverse effect on the business being acquired by Buyer pursuant
to this Agreement and the Purchase Agreement.
Unless otherwise agreed by MLP and Buyer, all Required Divestitures
shall be conditioned on the closing of the Merger. MLP and Buyer shall cooperate fully with
respect to any filing, submission or communication with a Governmental Entity
having jurisdiction over the Merger and Sale Transactions. Such cooperation shall include the parties:
(1) providing, in the case of oral communications with a Governmental
Entity, advance notice of any such communication and an opportunity for
the other party to participate; (2) providing, in the case of written
communications, an opportunity for the other party to comment on any such
communication and provide the other with a final copy of all such
communications; and (3) complying promptly with any request for information
from a Governmental Entity (including an additional request for information and
documentary material, a second request), unless directed not to do so by the
other party hereto. Notwithstanding the
prior two sentences, the MLP Parties agree, and agree to cause each of the MLP
Group Entities, not to participate in any communication with a Governmental
Entity relating to a Required Divestiture, provided that MLP may
review in advance and comment on any written submission to a Governmental
Entity related to a Required Divestiture and observe any oral communications
relating to any Required Divestiture.
All cooperation shall be conducted in such a manner so as to preserve
all applicable privileges.
SECTION 5.11 Tax Matters.
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(a) The Buyer Parties
shall, to the extent permissible by applicable Law, treat the combined
businesses of MLP and Buyer as a single activity for purposes of
Section 469 of the Code.
(b) The Buyer Parties
and the MLP Parties agree and consent to treat the purchase of the Purchased
Interests more particularly described under Section 2.1 of the Purchase
Agreement as a sale of such Purchased Interests as described in Treasury
Regulation Section 1.708-1(c)(4).
SECTION 5.12 Section 16(b). No fewer than 18 Business
Days prior to the Effective Time, MLP shall prepare and cause to be delivered
to Buyer a schedule (a) identifying each individual that, for purposes of
Section 16(b) under the Exchange Act, (i) is an officer or director
of an MLP Party or (ii) will, at the Effective Time (to the extent so
identified to MLP by Buyer General Partner), be an officer or director of a
Buyer Party and who owns securities issued by MLP, (b) the number of
securities of MLP owned by each such individual and (c) the number of
securities to be issued to each such person as a result of the Merger. Buyer General Partner, on behalf of Buyer,
and MLP General Partner, on behalf of MLP, will adopt or cause to be adopted a
resolution satisfying the requirements of Rules 16b-3(d) and 16b-3(e)
under the Exchange Act, as applicable, and will otherwise cooperate with each
other to cause the conversion and issuance of Buyer Common Units and MLP Common
Units, to the extent they involve such officers and directors, to be exempt
under Rule 16b-3(a) under the Exchange Act.
SECTION 5.13 D&O Insurance.
(a) For a period of six
years after the Effective Time, Buyer shall maintain officers and directors
liability insurance covering each person who is immediately prior to the
Effective Time, or has been at any time prior to the Effective Time, an officer
or director of any of the MLP Group Entities and each person who immediately
prior to the Effective Time is serving or prior to the Effective Time has
served at the request of any of the MLP Group Entities as a director, officer,
trustee or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust,
pension or other Employee Benefit Plan or Buyer (collectively, the MLP D&O
Indemnified Parties) who are or at any time prior to the Effective Time were
covered by the existing officers and directors liability insurance applicable
to the MLP Group Entities (D&O Insurance) on terms substantially no less
advantageous to the MLP D&O Indemnified Parties than such existing
insurance with respect to acts or omissions, or alleged acts or omissions,
prior to the Effective Time (whether claims, actions or other proceedings
relating thereto are commenced, asserted or claimed before or after the
Effective Time). Such insurance shall
(i) not provide for any allocation of the coverage or benefits thereof to any
person other than the D&O Indemnified Parties, (ii) provide coverage for
the D&O Indemnified Parties substantially identical to that which would be
provided under a policy covering only independent directors of an entity and
(iii) contain a no rescission endorsement or the substantive equivalent
thereof. Buyer shall have the right to
cause coverage to be extended under the D&O Insurance by obtaining a
six-year tail policy on terms and conditions no less advantageous than the
existing D&O Insurance, and such tail policy shall satisfy the provisions
of this Section 5.13.
(b) The rights of each
MLP D&O Indemnified Party hereunder shall be in addition to any other
rights such MLP D&O Indemnified Party may have under the governing
51
documents
of any MLP Group Entity, under applicable Delaware Law, or otherwise. The provisions of this Section 5.13
shall survive the consummation of the Merger and expressly are intended to
benefit each of the MLP D&O Indemnified Parties.
(c) In the event Buyer
or any of its successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into
any other person and shall not be the continuing or surviving entity in such
consolidation or merger or (ii) transfers all or substantially all of its
properties and assets to any person, then and in either such case, Buyer shall
cause proper provision to be made so that its successors and assigns, as the
case may be, shall assume the obligations set forth in this Section 5.13.
SECTION 5.14 Distributions. The Buyer Parties and the MLP
Parties shall coordinate with each other the declaration of, and the setting of
record dates and payment dates for, distributions in respect of their respective
Common Units so that, in respect of any fiscal quarter, holders of MLP Common
Units do not (a) receive more than one distribution in respect of both
(i) MLP Common Units and (ii) Buyer Common Units received pursuant to
the Merger in exchange therefor or (b) fail to receive a distribution in
respect of both (i) MLP Common Units and (ii) Buyer Common Units
received pursuant to the Merger in exchange therefor.
SECTION 5.15
Comfort Letters.
(a) In connection with
the information regarding the MLP Group Entities or the Merger and Sale
Transactions provided by MLP specifically for inclusion in, or incorporation by
reference into, the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and the Registration Statement,
MLP shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be delivered to
Buyer a letter of KPMG LLP, dated the date on which the Registration Statement
shall become effective and addressed to Buyer, in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to Buyer and customary in scope and substance for letters
delivered by independent public accountants in connection with registration
statements similar to the Registration Statement on Form S-4.
(b) In connection with
the information regarding the Buyer Group Entities or the Merger and Sale
Transactions provided by Buyer specifically for inclusion in, or incorporation
by reference into, the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and the Registration
Statement, Buyer shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be
delivered to MLP a letter of PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP, dated the date on
which the Registration Statement shall become effective and addressed to MLP,
in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to MLP and customary in scope and
substance for letters delivered by independent public accountants in connection
with registration statements similar to the Registration Statement on
Form S-4.
SECTION 5.16
Consent to Use of Financial
Statements; Financing Cooperation. The MLP Parties hereby consent to
the Buyer Group Entities use of and reliance on any audited or unaudited
financial statements, including the MLP Financial Statements, relating to the
MLP Group Entities reasonably requested by the Buyer Parties to be used in any
financing or other activities of the Buyer Parties, including any filings that
the Buyer Parties desire to make with the SEC. In addition, the MLP Parties
will use commercially reasonable efforts, at the Buyer Parties sole cost and
expense, to obtain comfort letters from KPMG LLP regarding information about
the MLP Parties as reasonably requested by the lead underwriter(s) or initial
purchaser(s)
52
in connection with any registered or private offering or otherwise and
to obtain the consent of KPMG LLP to the inclusion of the financial statements
referenced above in appropriate filings with the SEC. Prior to the Closing, the MLP Parties will
provide the Buyer Parties such information, and make available such personnel,
as the Buyer Parties may reasonably request in order to assist any of the Buyer
Group Entities in connection with financing activities, including any public
offerings to be registered under the Securities Act or private offerings.
ARTICLE VI
CONDITIONS TO CLOSING
SECTION 6.1 Conditions to Each Partys Obligations. The obligation of the parties
hereto to proceed with the Closing is subject to the satisfaction on or prior
to the Closing Date of all of the following conditions, any one or more of
which may be waived in writing, in whole or in part, as to a party by such
party:
(a) Unitholders Meetings. Each of the items described in
Section 5.4 to be submitted to the holders of MLP Common Units and MLP
Subordinated Units at the MLP Unitholders Meeting shall have been approved by
the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least a Unit Majority (as
such term is defined in the MLP Partnership Agreement) (the MLP Unitholder
Approval). Each of the items described
in Section 5.4 to be submitted to the holders of Buyer Common Units at the
Buyer Unitholders Meeting shall have been approved by the affirmative vote or
consent of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding Buyer Common
Units (the Buyer Unitholder Approval).
(b) Approvals. The
applicable waiting periods under the HSR Act shall have expired or been
terminated (including any extended waiting period arising as a result of a
request for additional information), and the Public Utility Commission of the
State of California, the Public Service Commission of the State of Wyoming and
the Public Service Commission of the State of Colorado shall have approved the
consummation of the Merger and Sale Transactions, and in the case of Wyoming,
any protest period subsequent to such approval shall have lapsed without a
protest or, if a protest has been filed, such protest shall have been resolved
to the reasonable satisfaction of the parties.
The Competition Act Requirement shall have been satisfied, and the
Investment Canada Approval shall have been obtained or written confirmation shall
have been received from Industry Canada indicating that approval of the Merger
and Sale Transactions is not required under the Investment Canada Act. The parties shall have received all consents
required to be obtained from the FCC in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. The
parties hereto shall have received all other governmental consents and
approvals, the absence of which would, individually or in the aggregate, have
an MLP Material Adverse Effect or a Buyer Material Adverse Effect.
(c) Registration Statement. The Registration Statement shall
have become effective under the Securities Act, no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and no
proceedings for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the SEC
or any other Governmental Entity.
(d) NYSE Listing. The
Buyer Common Units to be issued in the Merger shall have been approved for
listing on the NYSE subject to official notice of issuance.
53
(e) No Governmental Restraint. No order, decree or injunction of
any Governmental Entity shall be in effect, and no Law or Environmental Law
shall have been enacted or adopted, that enjoins, prohibits or makes illegal
the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or
the Purchase Agreement, and no action, proceeding or investigation by any
Governmental Entity with respect to the Merger and Sale Transactions or the
other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Purchase Agreement
shall be pending that seeks to restrain, enjoin, prohibit or delay consummation
of the Merger and Sale Transactions or such other transactions or to impose any
material restrictions or requirements thereon or on the Buyer Parties or the
MLP Parties with respect thereto.
(f) Other Transactions.
The closing of the transactions described in Section 2.1
of the Purchase Agreement shall have occurred, and all of the interests
purchased pursuant to Section 2.1 of the Purchase Agreement shall be owned
directly by Buyer or by one or more persons that are wholly owned by Buyer.
SECTION 6.2 Conditions to the Buyer Parties Obligations. The obligation of the Buyer
Parties to proceed with the Closing is subject to the satisfaction on or prior
to the Closing Date of all of the following conditions, any one or more of
which may be waived in writing, in whole or in part, by the Buyer Parties (in
their sole discretion):
(a) Representations and Warranties; Performance. (i) The representations and
warranties of the MLP Parties set forth in Article III (other than those
set forth in Sections 3.3 and 3.17(b)) shall be true and correct (without
regard to Materiality Requirements therein) as of the Closing, as if remade on
the date thereof (except for representations and warranties made as of a
specific date, which shall be true and correct as of such specific date),
except where the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and
correct would not, in the aggregate, result in an MLP Material Adverse Effect,
(ii) the representations and warranties of the MLP Parties set forth in
Sections 3.3 and 3.17(b) shall be true and correct (except as permitted
pursuant to Section 5.1) as of the Closing, as if remade on the date thereof
(except for representations and warranties made as of a specific date, which
shall be true and correct as of such specific date), (iii) each of the MLP
Parties shall have performed or complied with all agreements and covenants
required to be performed by it hereunder that have Materiality Requirements and
shall have performed or complied in all material respects with all other
agreements and covenants required to be performed by it hereunder that are not
so qualified and (iv) Buyer General Partner shall have received a
certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, of an executive officer of MLP
General Partner certifying to the matters set forth in this
Section 6.2(a).
(b) Resignations of Directors. The directors of General Partner
Holdco and the directors of such other MLP Group Entities designated by Buyer
shall tender to Buyer their resignations as such directors effective as of the
Closing.
(c) Tax Opinion. The Buyer Parties shall have received an
opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. or another nationally-recognized tax
counsel dated as of the Closing Date to the effect that, for U.S. federal
income tax purposes, (i) no Buyer Group Entity will recognize any income
or gain as a result of the Merger (other than any gain resulting from any
decrease in partnership liabilities pursuant to Section 752 of the Code),
(ii) no gain or loss will be recognized by holders of Buyer Common Units
as a result of the Merger (other than any gain resulting from
54
any
decrease in partnership liabilities pursuant to Section 752 of the Code),
and (iii) 90% of the combined gross income of MLP and Buyer for the most
recent four complete calendar quarters ending before the Closing Date for which
the necessary financial information is available are from sources treated as qualifying
income within the meaning of Section 7704(d) of the Code. In rendering such opinion, such counsel shall
be entitled to receive and rely upon representations of officers of the Buyer
Parties and any of their respective affiliates as to such matters as such
counsel may reasonably request.
SECTION 6.3 Conditions to the MLP Parties Obligations. The obligation of the MLP Parties
to proceed with the Closing is subject to the satisfaction on or prior to the
Closing Date of all of the following conditions, any one or more of which may
be waived in writing, in whole or in part, by the MLP Parties (in their sole
discretion):
(a) Representations and Warranties; Performance. (i) The representations and
warranties of the Buyer Parties set forth in Article IV (other than those set
forth in Sections 4.3 and 4.17(b)) shall be true and correct (without
regard to Materiality Requirements therein) as of the Closing, as if remade on
the date thereof (except for representations and warranties made as of a
specific date, which shall be true and correct as of such specific date),
except where the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and
correct would not, in the aggregate, result in a Buyer Material Adverse Effect,
(ii) the representations and warranties of the Buyer Parties set forth in
Sections 4.3 and 4.17(b) shall be true and correct (except as permitted
pursuant to Section 5.1) as of the Closing, as if remade on the date thereof
(except for representations and warranties made as of a specific date, which
shall be true and correct as of such specific date), (iii) each of the Buyer
Parties shall have performed or complied with all agreements and covenants
required to be performed by it hereunder that have Materiality Requirements and
shall have performed or complied in all material respects with all other
agreements and covenants required to be performed by it hereunder that are not
so qualified and (iv) MLP General Partner shall have received a
certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, of an executive officer of Buyer
General Partner certifying to the matters set forth in this
Section 6.3(a).
(b) Tax Opinion. The MLP Parties shall have received an
opinion dated as of the Closing Date of Baker Botts L.L.P. or another
nationally-recognized tax counsel to the effect that, for U.S. federal income
tax purposes, except with respect to fractional units, (i) no MLP Group
Entity will recognize any income or gain as a result of the Merger (other than
any gain resulting from any decrease in partnership liabilities pursuant to
Section 752 of the Code), and (ii) no gain or loss will be recognized
by holders of MLP Common Units as a result of the Merger (other than any gain
resulting from any decrease in partnership liabilities pursuant to
Section 752 of the Code). In
rendering such opinion, such counsel shall be entitled to receive and rely upon
representations of officers of the MLP Parties and any of their respective
affiliates as to such matters as such counsel may reasonably request.
SECTION 6.4 Frustration of Conditions. None of parties to this Agreement may rely on
the failure of any condition set forth in this Article VI to be satisfied if
such failure was caused by such partys failure to act in good faith or such
partys failure to observe in any material respect any of its obligations under
this Agreement.
55
ARTICLE VII
EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
SECTION 7.1 Employee Matters.
(a) The employees of
General Partner Holdco or Rangeland Pipeline Partnership who remain in the
employment of the MLP Group Entities or the Buyer Group Entities (the Continuing
Employees) shall receive employee benefits that are substantially comparable
in the aggregate, as determined in good faith by Buyer, to the employee
benefits provided by Buyer to its similarly situated employees. At the Closing, Buyer shall deliver documents
reasonably acceptable to MLP providing for the assumption by Buyer of each
employment agreement or severance plan or arrangement (including, without
limitation, the severance arrangements described in Section 3.15 of the MLP
Disclosure Schedule) of the MLP Group Entities.
Buyer agrees to pay or cause to be paid the severance benefits payable
to employees terminated within twelve months following the Effective Time
pursuant to the terms of the severance arrangements described in Section 3.15
of the MLP Disclosure Schedule.
(b) Buyer General
Partner shall (or shall cause the applicable MLP Group Entity or Buyer Group
Entity to) recognize the service of each Continuing Employee as if such service
had been performed with the Buyer Group Entities to the extent such service was
recognized under a comparable plan of an MLP Group Entity immediately prior to
the Effective Time (i) for purposes of eligibility and vesting (but not benefit
accrual) under any Buyer Group Entity defined contribution plan in which such
Continuing Employee becomes eligible to participate, (ii) for purposes of
vacation under Buyer General Partners vacation program, (iii) for
purposes of eligibility and participation under any health or welfare plan
maintained by Buyer General Partner and (iv) for benefit accrual purposes
under Buyer General Partners severance plan.
(c) With respect to any
group health plan maintained by Buyer General Partner in which Continuing
Employees are eligible to participate after the Effective Time, Buyer General
Partner shall, and shall cause the MLP Group Entities and the Buyer Group
Entities to, (i) waive all limitations as to preexisting condition
exclusions with respect to participation and coverage requirements applicable
to such employees to the extent such preexisting condition exclusions were
satisfied or did not apply to such employees under the welfare plans of the MLP
Group Entities immediately prior to the Effective Time and (ii) provide
each Continuing Employee with credit for any co-payments and deductibles paid
in the year of the Closing prior to the Effective Time in satisfying any
analogous deductible or out-of-pocket requirements to the extent applicable
under any such plan for such year.
(d) Following the
satisfaction or waiver of all of the conditions set forth in Article VI (other
than conditions that would normally be satisfied on the Closing Date), but
prior to the Effective Time, MLP shall pay or cause to be paid to specified
employees (the Specified Employees) the retention benefits described in this
Section 7.1(d). No officer of MLP, MLP
General Partner or General Partner Holdco shall be considered to be a Specified
Employee. The aggregate retention
benefits (Retention Benefits) for all Specified Employees will not exceed
$1,250,000. Payments of Retention
Benefits shall be materially consistent with a schedule provided to Buyer prior
to the Execution Date. Retention
Benefits shall be subject to applicable
56
withholding
of taxes. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
in order for a Specified Employee to be eligible to receive his or her
Retention Benefit, such Specified Employee must remain in the employ of the MLP
Group Entities with at least a satisfactory performance rating until the date
of the payment.
(e) Following the
satisfaction or waiver of all of the conditions set forth in Article VI (other
than conditions that would normally be satisfied on the Closing Date), but
prior to the Effective Time, each employee of any MLP Group Entity
participating in the MLP General Partners Annual Incentive Plan (as in effect
on the date hereof and a true and correct copy of which has been delivered to
Buyer) shall be paid by his employer a cash amount (less applicable withholding
taxes) (A) if the Effective Time occurs during 2006 equal to the product of (i)
the target amount payable pursuant to such Annual Incentive Plan to such person
for the 2006 calendar year multiplied by (ii) a fraction, the numerator of
which is the number of days elapsed in 2006 as of the payment date, and the
denominator of which is 365 and (B) if the Effective Time occurs during 2007,
100% of the target amount payable pursuant to such Annual Incentive Plan to
such person for 2006 plus the product of (i) the target amount payable pursuant
to such Annual Incentive Plan to such person for 2007 multiplied by (ii) a
fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days elapsed in 2007 as of
the payment date, and the denominator of which is 365. Such payment shall be in complete
satisfaction of any bonus otherwise payable under the Annual Incentive Plan for
2006 and, if applicable, 2007. The
Annual Incentive Plan covering any 2007 calendar year payments shall be
consistent in all material respects with the Annual Incentive Plan as in effect
on the date hereof. If the Effective
Time occurs during 2007, amounts payable with respect to the 2006 calendar year
pursuant to this Section 7.1(e) shall be payable to any employee of an MLP
Group Entity participating in the MLP General Partners Annual Incentive Plan
as of December 31, 2006, whether or not such employee remains employed by any
MLP Group Entity on the date of payment.
(f) The provisions of
this Section 7.1 shall survive the consummation of the Merger.
SECTION 7.2 MLP Restricted Units. (a) As soon as practicable following
the date of this Agreement, the Board of Directors of General Partner Holdco
(or, if appropriate, any committee thereof administering the MLP Unit Plans)
shall adopt such resolutions or take such other actions as may be required to
effect the following:
(i) adjust
the terms of each MLP Restricted Unit as necessary to provide that the restrictions
on such units shall lapse at the Effective Time; and
(ii) make
such other changes to the MLP Unit Plans and MLP Employee Benefit Plans as
Buyer General Partner and MLP General Partner may agree are appropriate to give
effect to the Merger.
57
ARTICLE VIII
TERMINATION
SECTION 8.1 Termination by Mutual
Consent. This Agreement may
be terminated at any time prior to the Effective Time by the mutual written
agreement of the parties hereto.
SECTION 8.2 Termination by MLP or
Buyer. At any time prior to
the Effective Time, this Agreement may be terminated by MLP or Buyer if:
(a) the Effective Time
shall not have occurred on or before November
30, 2006 (the Drop-Dead Date); provided,
however, that if the Effective Time has not occurred by such date by
reason of nonsatisfaction of the condition set forth in Section 6.1(b) and all
other conditions set forth in Article VI have theretofore been satisfied or
waived or are then capable of being satisfied, the Drop-Dead Date will be
February 28, 2007; provided, further,
that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.2(a)
shall not be available to any party hereto whose failure to perform or observe
in any material respect any of its obligations under this Agreement in any
manner shall have been the principal cause of, or resulted in, the failure of
the Effective Time to occur on or before such date;
(b) a Governmental
Entity shall have issued an order, decree or ruling or taken any other action
(including the enactment of any statute, rule, regulation, decree or executive
order) permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the Merger
and such order, decree, ruling or other action (including the enactment of any
statute, rule, regulation, decree or executive order) shall have become final
and non-appealable; provided, however, that the person seeking to terminate
this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.2(b) shall have complied with
Section 5.3 and Section 5.7;
(c) if the MLP
Unitholder Approval shall not have been obtained at the MLP Unitholders
Meeting (or at any reconvened meeting after an adjournment or postponement
thereof); or
(d) if the Buyer
Unitholder Approval shall not have been obtained at the Buyer Unitholders
Meeting (or at any reconvened meeting after an adjournment or postponement
thereof).
SECTION 8.3 Termination by MLP. This Agreement may be terminated
by MLP at any time prior to the Effective Time:
(a) (notwithstanding any
approval of the unitholders of MLP or Buyer) if the condition set forth in
Section 6.3(a) cannot be satisfied (with or without the passage of time); provided, that the right to terminate this Agreement
pursuant to this Section 8.3(a) shall not be available to MLP if, at such
time, the condition set forth in Section 6.2(a) cannot be satisfied;
(b) pursuant to Section
5.6(g); or
(c) if a Buyer
Recommendation Change shall have occurred, whether or not permitted by the
terms of this Agreement.
58
SECTION 8.4 Termination by Buyer. This Agreement may be terminated
by Buyer at any time prior to the Effective Time:
(a) (notwithstanding any
approval of the unitholders of Buyer or MLP) if the condition set forth in
Section 6.2(a) cannot be satisfied (with or without the passage of time); provided, that the right to terminate this Agreement
pursuant to this Section 8.4(a) shall not be available to Buyer if, at
such time, the condition set forth in Section 6.3(a) cannot be satisfied;
or
(b) if an MLP
Recommendation Change shall have occurred, whether or not permitted by the
terms of this Agreement.
SECTION 8.5 Effect of Certain Terminations.
(a) In the event of
termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article VIII, all rights and
obligations of the parties hereto under this Agreement shall terminate, except
the provisions of Section 5.2(b), Section 5.8, Section 5.9, Article VIII and
Article IX shall survive such termination; provided that nothing herein shall
relieve any party hereto from any liability for any intentional or willful and
material breach by such party of any of its representations, warranties,
covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement and all rights and remedies
of a nonbreaching party under this Agreement in the case of such intentional or
willful and material breach, at law or in equity, shall be preserved. Except to the extent otherwise provided in
the immediately preceding sentence and Section 8.7 and 8.8, the MLP Parties and
the Buyer Parties agree that, if this Agreement has been terminated, any amount
payable pursuant to this Section 8.5 shall be the sole and exclusive remedy of
the parties hereto.
(b) If this Agreement is
terminated by MLP pursuant to Section 8.3(b), MLP shall promptly pay to Buyer a
fee equal to $40,000,000 by wire transfer of same-day funds.
(c) If this Agreement is
terminated by MLP pursuant to Section 8.3(c), Buyer shall promptly pay to MLP a
fee equal to $40,000,000 by wire transfer of same-day funds.
(d) If this Agreement is
terminated by Buyer pursuant to Section 8.4(b), MLP shall promptly pay Buyer a
fee equal to $40,000,000 by wire transfer of same-day funds.
(e) If (A)(1) prior
to the MLP Unitholders Meeting, a bona fide MLP Takeover Proposal shall have
been publicly made to the MLP Parties or shall have been made directly to the
unitholders of MLP generally and thereafter this Agreement is terminated by
either Buyer or MLP pursuant to Section 8.2(c) (and in the case of a
termination by Buyer, the Buyer Parties shall not have been in material breach
of this Agreement) or (2) prior to the Drop-Dead Date, a bona fide MLP Takeover
Proposal shall have been made and thereafter this Agreement is terminated by
either Buyer or MLP pursuant to Section 8.2(a) (and in the case of a
termination by Buyer, the Buyer Parties shall not have been in material breach
of this Agreement) and (B) within twelve months after such termination, MLP
enters into a definitive agreement to consummate, or consummates, an MLP
Takeover Proposal, then MLP shall promptly pay to Buyer a fee equal to
$40,000,000 by wire transfer of same-day funds.
Any amount owing pursuant to this Section 8.5(e) shall be reduced by any
amount paid pursuant to Section 8.5(h).
For purposes of this Section 8.5(e), the term MLP Takeover Proposal
shall
59
have
the meaning assigned in Section 1.1, except that references to 30% or more
shall be deemed to be references to 50% or more.
(f) If (A)(1) prior to
the Buyer Unitholders Meeting, a bona fide Buyer Takeover Proposal shall have
been publicly made to the Buyer Parties or shall have been made directly to the
unitholders of Buyer generally and thereafter this Agreement is terminated by
either MLP or Buyer pursuant to Section 8.2(d) (and in the case of a
termination by MLP, the MLP Parties shall not have been in material breach of
this Agreement) or (2) prior to the Drop-Dead Date, a bona fide Buyer Takeover
Proposal shall have been made and thereafter this Agreement is terminated by
either MLP or Buyer pursuant to Section 8.2(a) (and in the case of a
termination by MLP, the MLP Parties shall not have been in material breach of
this Agreement) and (B) within twelve months after such termination, Buyer
enters into a definitive agreement to consummate, or consummates, a Buyer
Takeover Proposal, then Buyer shall promptly pay to MLP a fee equal to
$40,000,000 by wire transfer of same-day funds.
Any amount owing pursuant to this Section 8.5(f) shall be reduced by any
amount paid pursuant to Section 8.5(g).
(g) If this Agreement is
terminated by MLP or Buyer pursuant to Section 8.2(d), Buyer shall promptly pay
MLP an amount equal to $10,000,000 by wire transfer of same-day funds.
(h) If this Agreement is
terminated by MLP or Buyer pursuant to Section 8.2(c), MLP shall promptly pay
Buyer an amount equal to $10,000,000 by wire transfer of same-day funds.
(i) The parties
acknowledges that the agreements contained in this Section 8.5 are an integral
part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and that, without
these agreements, the parties would not enter into this Agreement. Accordingly,
if either party fails to pay timely any amount due pursuant to this Section 8.5
and, in order to obtain such payment, the other party commences a suit which
results in a judgment against the party failing to perform for the amount
payable to the other party pursuant to this Section 8.5, the party failing to
perform shall pay to the other party its costs and expenses (including
reasonable attorneys fees and expenses) in connection with such suit, together
with interest on the amount so payable at the rate on six-month United States
Treasury obligations (as of the date such payment was required to be made
pursuant to this Agreement) plus three percent (3%).
SECTION 8.6 Survival. Except as otherwise provided in
Section 5.13, paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (f) of Section 7.1, this
Section 8.6 and Article IX, none of the representations, warranties,
agreements, covenants or obligations in this Agreement or in any instrument
delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the consummation of the
Merger.
SECTION 8.7 Enforcement of this
Agreement. The parties hereto
acknowledge and agree that an award of money damages would be inadequate for
any breach of this Agreement by any party and any such breach would cause the
non-breaching parties irreparable harm.
Accordingly, the parties hereto agree that prior to the termination of
this Agreement, in the event of any breach or threatened breach of this
Agreement by one of the parties, the parties will also be entitled, without the
requirement of posting a bond or other security, to equitable relief, including
injunctive relief and specific performance, provided such party is not in
material
60
default hereunder. Such remedies will not be the exclusive
remedies for any breach of this Agreement but will be in addition to all other
remedies available at law or equity to each of the parties.
SECTION 8.8 No Waiver
Relating to Claims for Fraud/Willful Misconduct. The liability of any party under this Article
VIII shall be in addition to, and not exclusive of, any other liability that
such party may have at law or in equity based on such partys (a) fraudulent
acts or omissions or (b) willful misconduct.
None of the provisions set forth in this Agreement shall be deemed to be
a waiver by or release of any party of any right or remedy that such party may
have at law or equity based on any other partys fraudulent acts or omissions
or willful misconduct nor shall any such provisions limit, or be deemed to
limit, (i) the amounts of recovery sought or awarded in any such claim for
fraud or willful misconduct, (ii) the time period during which a claim for
fraud or willful misconduct may be brought, or (iii) the recourse that any such
party may seek against another party with respect to a claim for fraud or
willful misconduct.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 9.1 Notices. Any notice, request, instruction,
correspondence or other document to be given hereunder by any party to another
party (each, a Notice) shall be in writing and delivered in person or by
courier service requiring acknowledgment of receipt of delivery or mailed by
U.S. registered or certified mail, postage prepaid and return receipt
requested, or by telecopier, as follows; provided, that copies to be delivered
below shall not be required for effective notice and shall not constitute
notice:
If
to any of the MLP Parties, addressed to:
Pacific Energy Partners,
L.P.
5900 Cherry Avenue
Long Beach, California 90805
Attention: Lynn Wood
Telecopy: (562) 728-2823
with a copy to:
Baker Botts L.L.P.
910 Louisiana Street
Houston, Texas 77002
Attention: Kelly B. Rose
Telecopy: (713) 229-7996
If to any of the Buyer
Parties, addressed to:
Plains All American Pipeline L.P.
333 Clay Street, Suite 1600
Houston, Texas 77002
61
Attention: Harry N. Pefanis and Lawrence J.
Dreyfuss
Telecopy: (713)
646-4378 and (713) 646-4216
with a copy to:
Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.
2300 First City Tower
1001 Fannin
Houston, Texas 77002-6760
Attention: David P. Oelman
Telecopy: (713) 615-2222
Notice
given by personal delivery, courier service or mail shall be effective upon
actual receipt. Notice given by
telecopier shall be confirmed by appropriate answer back and shall be effective
upon actual receipt if received during the recipients normal business hours,
or at the beginning of the recipients next Business Day after receipt if not
received during the recipients normal business hours. All Notices by telecopier shall be confirmed
promptly after transmission in writing by certified mail or personal
delivery. Any party may change any
address to which Notice is to be given to it by giving Notice as provided above
of such change of address.
SECTION 9.2 Governing Law;
Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial. To
the maximum extent permitted by applicable Law, the provisions of this
Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with
the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to principles of conflicts of
law. Each of the parties hereto agrees
that this Agreement involves at least U.S.$100,000 and that this Agreement has
been entered into in express reliance upon 6 Del. C. § 2708. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably and
unconditionally confirms and agrees that it is and shall continue to be (i)
subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware and of the
federal courts sitting in the State of Delaware, and (ii) subject to service of
process in the State of Delaware. Each
party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (a) consents and
submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of any federal or state court located in
the State of Delaware, including the Delaware Court of Chancery in and for New
Castle County (the Delaware Courts) for any actions, suits or proceedings
arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement (and agrees not to commence any litigation relating thereto
except in such courts), (b) waives any objection to the laying of venue of
any such litigation in the Delaware Courts and agrees not to plead or claim in
any Delaware Court that such litigation brought therein has been brought in any
inconvenient forum and (c) acknowledges and agrees that any controversy
which may arise under this Agreement is likely to involve complicated and
difficult issues, and therefore each such party hereby irrevocably and
unconditionally waives any right such party may have to a trial by jury in
respect of any litigation directly or indirectly arising or relating to this
Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
SECTION 9.3 Entire Agreement;
Amendments and Waivers. Except
for the Confidentiality Agreements, this Agreement and the exhibits and
schedules hereto constitute the entire agreement between and among the parties
hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior
agreements, understandings, negotiations and discussions, whether oral or
62
written, of the parties, and there are
no warranties, representations or other agreements between or among the parties
in connection with the subject matter hereof except as set forth specifically
herein or contemplated hereby. Except as
expressly set forth in this Agreement (including the representations and
warranties set forth in Articles III and IV) , (i) the parties acknowledge and
agree that neither the MLP Group Entities nor any other person has made, and
the Buyer Group Entities are not relying upon, any covenant, representation or
warranty, expressed or implied, as to the MLP Group Entities or as to the
accuracy or completeness of any information regarding the any MLP Group Entity
furnished or made available to any Buyer Group Entity and (ii) the MLP Parties
shall not have or be subject to any liability to any Buyer Group Entity or any
other person, or any other remedy in connection herewith, based upon the
distribution to any Buyer Group Entity of, or any Buyer Group Entitys use of
or reliance on, any such information or any information, documents or material
made available to the Buyer Group Parties in any data rooms, virtual data
rooms, management presentations or in any other form in expectation of, or in
connection with, the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement may be
amended by the parties hereto, by or pursuant to action taken by their (or
their general partners) respective boards of directors or conflicts
committees, at any time before or after approval of the matters presented in
connection with the Merger and related transactions by the holders of MLP
Common Units, but, after any such approval, no amendment shall be made which by
Law requires further approval by such unitholders without such further
approval. No supplement, modification or
waiver of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the
party to be bound thereby. The failure
of a party to exercise any right or remedy shall not be deemed or constitute a
waiver of such right or remedy in the future.
No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or
shall constitute a waiver of any other provision hereof (regardless of whether
similar), nor shall any such waiver constitute a continuing waiver unless
otherwise expressly provided.
SECTION 9.4 Binding Effect and
Assignment. This Agreement
shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their
respective permitted successors and assigns.
Except as provided in Section 5.13, nothing in this Agreement,
express or implied, is intended to confer upon any person other than the
parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns, any
rights, benefits or obligations hereunder.
No party hereto may assign, transfer, dispose of or otherwise alienate
this Agreement or any of its rights, interests or obligations under this
Agreement (whether by operation of law or otherwise). Any attempted assignment, transfer,
disposition or alienation in violation of this Agreement shall be null, void
and ineffective.
SECTION 9.5 Severability.
If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid,
illegal, or incapable of being enforced by any rule of applicable Law, or
public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall
nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal
substance of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are not affected
in any manner materially adverse to any party hereto. Upon such determination that any term or
other provision is invalid, illegal, or incapable of being enforced, the
parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to
effect the original intent of the parties hereto as closely as possible in a
mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement are consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent
possible.
63
SECTION 9.6 Execution. This Agreement may be executed in
multiple counterparts each of which shall be deemed an original and all of
which shall constitute one instrument.
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64
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the
parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be signed by their respective
officers hereunto duly authorized, all as of the date first written above.
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PACIFIC ENERGY PARTNERS,
L.P.
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By:
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Pacific Energy GP, LP, its
General Partner
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By:
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Pacific Energy Management
LLC, its general partner
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By:
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/s/ Irvin Toole, Jr.
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Name:
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Irvin Toole, Jr.
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Title:
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President and CEO
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PACIFIC ENERGY GP, LP
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By:
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Pacific Energy Management
LLC, its general partner
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By:
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/s/ Irvin Toole, Jr.
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Name:
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Irvin Toole, Jr.
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Title:
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President and CEO
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PACIFIC ENERGY MANAGEMENT
LLC
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By:
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/s/ Irvin Toole, Jr.
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Name:
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Irvin Toole, Jr.
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Title:
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President and CEO
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Signature
Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger
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PLAINS
ALL AMERICAN PIPELINE L.P.
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By:
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Plains
AAP, L.P., its general partner
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By:
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Plains All American GP
LLC, its general partner
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By:
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/s/ Harry N. Pefanis
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Name:
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Harry N. Pefanis
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Title:
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President and COO
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PLAINS AAP, L.P.
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By:
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Plains All American GP
LLC, its general partner
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By:
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/s/ Harry N. Pefanis
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Name:
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Harry N. Pefanis
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Title:
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President and COO
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PLAINS ALL AMERICAN GP LLC
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By:
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/s/ Harry N. Pefanis
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Name:
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Harry N. Pefanis
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Title:
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President and COO
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Signature
Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger