Exhibit 4.31
LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP |
CONFORMED COPY
EGGBOROUGH POWER (HOLDINGS) LIMITED
AS SELLER
AND
BARCLAYS BANK PLC
AS BUYER
AND
EGGBOROUGH POWER LIMITED
AND
BRITISH ENERGY POWER AND ENERGY TRADING LIMITED
SHARE OPTION AGREEMENT
CONTENTS
Clause | Page | |||
1. | Interpretation | 1 | ||
2. | Condition Precedent | 15 | ||
3. | Grant of Call Option to Buy Shares | 15 | ||
4. | Exercise of Break Option | 15 | ||
5. | Exercise of the Enforcement Option | 16 | ||
6. | Revocation of Notice | 16 | ||
7. | Break Option Price | 16 | ||
8. | Enforcement Option Price | 17 | ||
9. | Discharge of Finance Party Liabilities | 17 | ||
10. | Experts | 17 | ||
11. | Sales | 18 | ||
12. | Evaluation of Break Option | 18 | ||
13. | Calculation of Reduction Amount | 19 | ||
14. | Failure to Transfer | 20 | ||
15. | Break Option Completion | 21 | ||
16. | Enforcement Option Completion | 22 | ||
17. | Post Break Option Completion | 23 | ||
18. | Approved Fuel Contracts | 23 | ||
19. | Purchase of Approved Fuel | 24 | ||
20. | Release of Collateral | 24 | ||
21. | Escrow Account | 25 | ||
22. | Pensions | 26 | ||
23. | Warranties | 27 | ||
24. | Restrictions | 27 | ||
25. | Tax and Other Costs and Expenses | 27 | ||
26. | Payments | 29 | ||
27. | Conversion to Euros | 29 | ||
28. | Invalidity or Illegality | 29 | ||
29. | General | 30 | ||
30. | Entire Agreement | 30 | ||
31. | Assignment | 31 |
32. | Seller’s Offer | 31 | ||
33. | Buyer’s Enquiries | 32 | ||
34. | Seller’s Acceptance | 32 | ||
35. | Non-Acceptance of Buyer’s Offer | 32 | ||
36. | Confidentiality | 32 | ||
37. | Notices | 33 | ||
38. | Term | 35 | ||
39. | Governing Law and Jurisdiction | 35 | ||
40. | Counterparts | 35 | ||
SCHEDULE 1 COMPLETION ACCOUNTS | 36 | |||
SCHEDULE 2 FORMOF SHARE OPTION NOTICE | 38 | |||
SCHEDULE 3 FORMOF ENFORCEMENT OPTION NOTICE | 40 | |||
SCHEDULE 4 WARRANTIES | 43 | |||
SCHEDULE 5 INSTRUCTION LETTERTO ESCROW AGENT | 44 | |||
SCHEDULE 6 ENFORCEMENT FEE | 46 | |||
SCHEDULE 7 FORM OF DISPOSAL NOTICE | 47 | |||
SCHEDULE 8 CONFIDENTIALITY UNDERTAKING | 48 |
THIS AGREEMENT is made on 30 September 2004
BETWEEN:
(1) | EGGBOROUGH POWER (HOLDINGS) LIMITED, a company incorporated in Scotland (registered no. SC201083), whose registered office is at 3 Redwood Crescent, Peel Park, East Kilbride G74 5PR (the “Seller”); |
(2) | BARCLAYS BANK PLC, a company incorporated in England and Wales (registered no. 01026167), whose registered office is at 54 Lombard Street, London EC3P 3AH acting as agent and security trustee for the Finance Parties (the “Buyer”); |
(3) | EGGBOROUGH POWER LIMITED, a company incorporated in England and Wales (registered no. 03782700), whose registered office is at Barnett Way, Barnwood, Gloucester, Gloucestershire GL4 3RS (the “Company”); and |
(4) | BRITISH ENERGY POWER AND ENERGY TRADING LIMITED(registered number SC200887) whose registered office is at 3 Redwood Crescent, Peel Park, East Kilbride, G74 5PR (“BEPET”). |
THE PARTIES AGREE as follows:
1. | INTERPRETATION |
1.1 | In this Agreement: |
“Acceptance Period” means, in respect of any proposed Disposal and subject to Clause 32, the period commencing on the date a Disposal Notice is properly served on the Seller in respect of such proposed Disposal and ending at close of business in London (5 p.m.) on the date falling 10 Business Days thereafter.
“Account Bank” has the same meaning as given to it in the Credit Agreement.
“Accounts” means the Company’s audited accounts (as that term is used in section 226 of the Act) for the financial year ended on the Last Accounting Date.
“Act” means the Companies Act 1985 as modified or re-enacted from time to time.
“Actual Approved Fuel” means the amount of Approved Fuel stored at the Station on the Option Completion Date as set out in the Fuel Survey.
“Additional Capital Expenditure” means any capital expenditure incurred by the Seller, or on behalf of the Seller by a Seller’s Group Company, other than pursuant to the Capital Investment Works Schedule (as defined in the New CTA) but with the prior approval of the Agent.
“Additional Capital Expenditure Amount” means:
(a) | in respect of the Break Option, the amount or amounts (if any) agreed by the Agent and the Seller as representing the benefit to the Finance Parties as at the Break Option Completion Date of any Additional Capital Expenditure paid for by a Seller’s Group Company; and |
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(b) | in respect of the Enforcement Option, the amount or amounts (if any) determined by the Experts as representing the benefit to the Finance Parties as at the Enforcement Option Completion Date of any Additional Capital Expenditure paid for by a Seller’s Group Company. |
“Adjusted Break Fee” means the Break Fee, subject to the following adjustments:
(a) | there shall be added such amount (if any) by which the Net Assets as shown in the Statement are greater than zero pounds sterling (£0); |
(b) | there shall be deducted such amount (if any) by which the Net Assets as shown in the Statement are less than zero pounds sterling (£0); and |
(c) | the Reduction Amount (if any) shall be deducted. |
“Agent” has the same meaning as given to it in the Credit Agreement.
“Agreement” means this agreement, together with the Schedules hereto.
“Amendment and Restatement Agreement” has the same meaning as given to it in the Credit Agreement.
“Ancillary Services” has the same meaning as given to it in the New CTA.
“Approved Fuel” has the same meaning as given to it in the New CTA.
“Approved Fuel Contracts” means any contract for the sale and purchase of fuel between BEPET and any third party, provided that:
(a) | such contract has been approved by the Agent in accordance with clause 15.17(c) of the Credit Agreement; and |
(b) | prior to the Option Completion Date, BEPET has notified the Company in writing that such contract is to be novated in accordance with Clauses 18.1. |
“Approved Fuel Price” means:
(a) | in respect of the Break Option, an amount equal to the book value of the Actual Approved Fuel as recorded in the accounting records of BEPET in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United Kingdom; and |
(b) | in respect of the Enforcement Option, an amount equal to the then applicable market value of the Actual Approved Fuel (taking into account the cost of delivering fuel equivalent to the Actual Approved Fuel to the Station), as agreed between the Buyer and the Seller or, if they cannot agree, as determined by the Fuel Expert. |
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“Asset Option Agreement” means the asset option agreement between the Company, the Buyer and BEPET dated on or about the date of this Agreement under which the Company grants an option to the Buyer to acquire the Business and the Station Assets.
“Asset Option Notice” has the same meaning as given to “Option Notice” in the Asset Option Agreement.
“BEH” means British Energy Holdings plc a company with registered number SC270186 whose registered office is at 3 Redwood Crescent, Peel Park, East Kilbride, G74 5PR.
“Break Fee” means the aggregate of:
(a) | one hundred and four million pounds sterling (£104 million); and |
(b) | an amount equal to the Scheduled CTA Bond Amount (if any). |
“Break Option” has the same meaning as given to it in Clause 3.1.1.
“Break Option Completion” means completion of the Break Option in accordance with Clause 15.
“Break Option Completion Date” means 31 March 2010.
“Break Option Price” means the aggregate purchase price of the Option Shares, being the sum of:
(a) | the Additional Capital Expenditure Amount; and |
(b) | the Adjusted Break Fee. |
“Break Option Time” means the Option Time in respect of the Break Option.
“British Energy plc” means the company of that name with registered number SC162273 whose registered office is at 3 Redwood Crescent, Peel Park, East Kilbride, G74 5PR.
“Business” means the business of generation, transmission and sale of electricity and the provision of Ancillary Services as carried on by the Seller.
“Business Day” means a day other than a Saturday or Sunday or public holiday in England and Wales or Scotland.
“Buyer’s Accountants” means Ernst & Young LLP or such other recognised firm of auditors licensed to practice in England and Wales and Scotland as the Buyer may, by notice in writing to the Seller, appoint for the purposes of this Agreement.
“Buyer’s Solicitors” means Allen & Overy LLP, or such other solicitors as the Buyer may, by notice in writing to the Seller, appoint for the purposes of this Agreement.
“Cap Amount” means the sum of (i) £267,300,000 plus (ii) the EPL Swap Amount less (iii) the Equity Amount.
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“CCL” has the same meaning as given to it in Clause 25.3.
“Close Period” means the period starting on (and including) the date of this Agreement until the earlier of (but excluding):
(a) | an Option Completion Date; and |
(b) | 31 March 2010. |
“Collateral Provider” has the same meaning as given to it in Clause 20.1.1.
“Competitor” means any competitor of a Seller’s Group Company, as notified by the Seller (acting reasonably) to the Buyer within 5 Business Days of receipt of an Option Notice.
“Completion” means Break Option Completion or Enforcement Option Completion (as the case may be).
“Completion Accounts” means the profit and loss account of the Company for the period starting on the day after the Last Accounting Date and ending on the Option Completion Date and the balance sheet of the Company as at the Option Completion Date and all attached notes, to be prepared in accordance with Schedule 1.
“Confidential Information” means any information relating to a Seller’s Group Company or any third party which is obtained by the Buyer, its directors, officers, employees, legal advisers, accountants, auditors and/or financial advisers, as a result of the negotiation and entering into of the Restructuring Documents whether such information is obtained before or after the date of this Agreement.
“Confidentiality Undertaking” means the confidentiality undertaking substantially in the form set out in Schedule 8.
“Covenant Expert” has the same meaning as given to it in Clause 13.6.
“Covenants” has the same meaning as given to it in Clause 13.1.1.
“Credit Agreement” means the credit agreement originally dated 13 July 2000 as amended and restated on 8 September 2000, 24 October 2000, 12 December 2000, 5 February 2001 and on or about the date of this Agreement between,inter alios, the Buyer and the Company.
“Creditor Restructuring Agreement” means the creditor restructuring agreement dated as of 30 September 2003 between,inter alios, British Energy plc and the Company.
“CTA Bonds” means the £150 million seven (7)% fixed rate bonds issued by BEH on the Restructuring Date as represented by the CTA Global Bond Certificate.
“CTA Global Bond Certificate” means the certificate issued in respect of the CTA Bonds by BEH to the Company on or about the Restructuring Date.
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“Disposal” means an assignment and/or transfer of all (but not part only) of the Buyer’s rights under this Agreement.
“Disposal Agreement” means, in respect of any proposed Disposal, a document:
(a) | complete in all material respects, save the dating thereof; |
(b) | on substantially the same terms as the Third Party Disposal Agreement relating to such proposed Disposal; |
(c) | stating the Purchase Price; and |
(d) | which, subject to the acceptance by the Seller in accordance with Clauses 32 to 35 of this Agreement, will constitute a legally binding agreement for the making by the Buyer and acceptance by a Seller’s Group Company, of such Disposal. |
“Disposal Notice” means a notice substantially in the form of Schedule 7.
“Disposal Period” means, in respect of any proposed Disposal, the period commencing on the date the Acceptance Period ends and ending at close of business in London (5 p.m.) one calendar month thereafter.
“Dispute” has the same meaning as given to it in Clause 39.2.
“Due Date” has the same meaning as given in Clause 21.1.
“Employees” means the employees of the Company as at the Option Completion Date.
“Encumbrance” means a mortgage, charge, pledge, lien, option, restriction, right of first refusal, right of pre-emption, third-party right or interest, other encumbrance or security interest of any kind, or another type of preferential arrangement (including a title transfer or retention arrangement) having similar effect.
“Enforcement Event” means the exercise by the Buyer (acting in its capacity as security trustee for the Finance Parties) of any or all of its rights under any Security Document in accordance with clause 18.2(a)(i) of the Credit Agreement.
“Enforcement Fee” means, in respect of the Enforcement Option:
(a) | where the Enforcement Option is being exercised as a consequence of a Payment Default or a Station Default, the sum of £1; or |
(b) | otherwise, the amount applicable to the month in which the Enforcement Option Notice was delivered, as set out in Schedule 6, |
together with, in each case, an amount equal to the Scheduled CTA Bond Amount.
“Enforcement Notice Date” means the date on which the Buyer notifies the Seller that it wishes to exercise the Enforcement Option in accordance with clause 18(a)(ii) of the Credit Agreement.
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“Enforcement Option” has the same meaning as given to it in Clause 3.1.2.
“Enforcement Option Cap Amount” means the sum of:
(a) | the Cap Amount; and |
(b) | an amount equal to the interest that would have accrued on the Cap Amount up to (and including) the Enforcement Notice Date had the Cap Amount been outstanding from the Restructuring Date and borne interest at the rate of 4.75 per cent. per annum (calculated on the basis of a year of 365 days). |
“Enforcement Option Claim Amount” means the Proceeds less the Enforcement Fee.
“Enforcement Option Completion” means completion of the Enforcement Option in accordance with Clause 16.
“Enforcement Option Completion Date” means a date falling after the Restructuring Date but no later than 31 August 2009 specified by the Buyer in the Enforcement Option Notice as being the date on which the Enforcement Option is to be completed.
“Enforcement Option Notice” means a written notice in the form set out in Schedule 3 from the Buyer to the Seller exercising the Enforcement Option pursuant to Clause 5.1.2.
“Enforcement Option Price” means the sum of:
(a) | the Additional Capital Expenditure Amount (if any); |
(b) | the Enforcement Fee; and |
(c) | the Redemption Fee (if any). |
“Enforcement Option Time” means the Option Time in respect of the Enforcement Option.
“EPL Swap Amount” means an amount equal to the sum of all EPL Swap Crystallised Liabilities calculated as being due from EPL (if any) in respect of the termination of all Swap Agreements on the earlier of (i) 20 October 2004 and (ii) the Restatement Date.
“EPL Swap Crystallised Liability” has the same meaning as given to it in Schedule 3 of the Creditor Restructuring Agreement.
“Equity Amount” means:
(a) | an amount equal to the middle market quotation for ordinary shares in the Parent on the Enforcement Notice Date as derived from the Daily Official List of the London Stock Exchange, |
multiplied by:
(b) | the number of ordinary shares issued by the Parent to the Finance Parties on the Restructuring Date. |
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“Escrow Account” means a separately designated interest-bearing account with the Account Bank in the name of the Escrow Agent.
“Escrow Agent” means the person appointed by the Buyer and the Seller pursuant to the Escrow Letter.
“Escrow Letter” means the instruction letter substantially in the form set out in Schedule 5 (or any other agreed form) from the Buyer and the Seller to the Escrow Agent.
“Euro” means the lawful currency of the member states of the European Union that adopt the single currency in accordance with the Treaty establishing the European Community, as amended by the Treaty on European Union.
“Euro Effective Date” has the same meaning as given to it in Clause 27.1.
“Evaluation” has the same meaning as given to it in Clause 12.1.
“Evaluation Report” has the same meaning as given to it in Clause 13.1.
“Event of Default” has the same meaning as given to it in the Credit Agreement.
“Expert” has the same meaning as given to it in Clause 10.
“Finance Documents” has the same meaning as given to it in the Credit Agreement.
“Finance Parties” or “Finance Party” has the same meaning as given to it in the Credit Agreement.
“Finance Party Liabilities” means all present and future sums, liabilities and obligations (actual or contingent) payable, owing, due or incurred by the Obligors to any of the Finance Parties under or in connection with the Finance Documents.
“Financial Expert” means a person:
(a) | who is independent and who has confirmed in writing that it will (i) have no conflict in acting as an Expert; and (ii) remain neutral and impartial at all times when acting as an Expert under this Agreement; |
(b) | who is not a Competitor; |
(c) | who is not an affiliate of either the Seller or the Buyer; and |
(d) | being a reputable bank, financial institution or international accounting firm having appropriate expertise in the production of financial models for, and the assessment and valuation of cashflows relating to, power stations of a similar type, and operated in a similar manner, as the Station within the United Kingdom. |
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“First Amount” has the same meaning as given to it in Schedule 3 of the Creditor Restructuring Agreement.
“First Intercompany Loan Agreement” means the intercompany loan agreement dated on or about the date of this Agreement between BEH as lender and EPHL as borrower.
“Frustration Event” means:
(a) | an Event of Default pursuant to clause 17.10(a) and (b) of the Credit Agreement; or |
(b) | the destruction of all or a material part of the Station Assets (taken as a whole); or |
(c) | where, in respect of any Share Option Notice, at any time after 31 August 2009 but prior to the Break Option Completion Date, a breach by the Seller of the Covenants has resulted in a reduction in the value of the Station Assets taken as a whole (as compared to the aggregate value of the Station Assets as at 31 August 2009) in excess of £104,000,000 and such event has been notified by the Buyer to the Seller no later than one calendar month prior to the Break Option Completion Date and confirmed by the Experts. |
“Fuel Expert” means a person approved by BEPET and the Buyer in writing who has appropriate expertise in the evaluation of fuel stocks at power stations similar in type to the Station.
“Fuel Survey” means a full volumetric and density survey of the Approved Fuel stored at the Station prepared by the Fuel Expert.
“Heavy Fuel Oil Agreement” means the agreement to supply heavy fuel oil dated 27 March 2002 between TotalFinaElf UK Limited as supplier and the Company as buyer.
“Indemnified Party” means the Seller and each of its affiliates, employees, directors, officers, agents and representatives.
“Indemnity Amount” means the Indemnity Proceeds less:
(a) | all amounts accrued but unpaid under the Finance Documents (other than this Agreement) on the Long-Stop Date; and |
(b) |
(i) | if the Enforcement Option has been exercised, the sum of the Enforcement Fee and the Redemption Fee that would have been payable had the Enforcement Option been completed in accordance with this Agreement; or |
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(ii) | if the Break Option has been exercised, the Adjusted Break Fee that would have been payable had the Break Option been completed in accordance with this Agreement; and |
(c) | the Additional Capital Expenditure Amount (if any). |
“Indemnity Proceeds” means on the Sales Proceeds Date, an amount equal to the sum of:
(a) | the aggregate value as at the Sales Proceeds Date of all, or any of, the Option Shares that the Seller continues to own on the Sales Proceeds Date in breach of this Agreement, as determined by the Experts; and |
(b) | any amounts, dividends or other distributions received by the Seller on, and/or in respect of, the Option Shares during the Sales Period. |
“Independent Engineer” has the same meaning as given to it in Clause 12.1.
“Industry Documents” has the same meaning as given to it in the Credit Agreement.
“Intra-Group Obligation” has the same meaning as given to it in Clause 20.1.1.
“Last Accounting Date” means the last day of the financial year of the Company immediately preceding the Option Completion Date.
“LIBOR” means in relation to any amount under this Agreement on which interest for a given period is to accrue, the rate per annum at which Barclays Bank PLC was offering prime banks in the London interbank market deposits in sterling for such period as of 11.00 am on the date falling 2 Business Days prior to the start of such period.
“Long-Stop Date” has the same meaning as given to it in Clause 14.1.
“Majority Banks” has the same meaning as given to such term in the Credit Agreement.
“Net Assets” means the Working Capital Assets less the Working Capital Liabilities.
“Net Sales Proceeds” means:
(a) | the aggregate proceeds received or receivable or deemed receivable (whether for cash or consideration in kind, directly or indirectly) by, or on behalf of, the Buyer (or its nominee) and/or any Finance Party in respect of the sale of all, or any of, the Option Shares and/or all, or any part of, the Business and/or the Station Assets at any time during the Sales Period (provided that in the event that all, or any of, the Option Shares or all, or any part of, the Business and/or the Station Assets is sold more than once during the Sales Period, only the first such sale (in each case) shall be taken into account for the purposes of this definition), |
less:
(b) | all reasonable expenses (but excluding any Taxes (other than any stamp tax payable by the Buyer (or its nominee) in connection with the exercise of the Enforcement Option)) incurred by the Buyer (or its nominee) with the prior written consent of the Seller. |
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“New CTA” means the capacity and tolling agreement dated on or about the date of this Agreement between the Company and BEPET.
“Novated Debt” means the First Amount less the Second Amount.
“Obligors” has the same meaning as given to it in the Credit Agreement.
“Option” means the Break Option or the Enforcement Option (as the case may be).
“Option Completion Date” means the Break Option Completion Date or the Enforcement Option Completion Date (as the case may be).
“Option Notice” means a Share Option Notice or an Enforcement Option Notice (as the case may be).
“Option Shares” means all the shares in the capital of the Company registered in the Seller’s name on the Option Completion Date.
“Option Time” means the time at which notice to exercise an Option pursuant to Clause 4.1.2 or 5.1.2 is deemed given to the Seller by virtue of Clause 37.2.
“Parent” means British Energy Group plc a company with registered number SC270184 whose registered office is at 3 Redwood Crescent, Peel Park, East Kilbride, G74 5PR.
“Payment Default” has the same meaning as given to it in the Credit Agreement.
“Permitted Encumbrance” means any Encumbrance over the Option Shares:
(a) | arising under, or permitted by, the Restructuring Documents and the Documents (as defined in the Credit Agreement); |
(b) | arising as a result of the act or omission of the Buyer or any Finance Party; or |
(c) | any liens imposed by law (to the extent not extant as the result of any default or omission of the Seller). |
“Proceedings” has the same meaning as given to it in Clause 39.4.
“Proceeds” means on the Sales Date, an amount equal to the sum of:
(a) | the aggregate Net Sales Proceeds on the Sales Date; |
(b) | in the event that the Seller continues to own all, or any of, the Option Shares on the Sales Date as a result of a breach of this Agreement by the Seller, the aggregate value as at the Sales Date of such Option Shares, as determined by the Experts; |
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(c) | in the event that the Seller transfers all, or any of, the Option Shares to the Buyer (or its nominee) pursuant to this Agreement, the aggregate value as at the Sales Date of any such Option Shares that have not been sold during the Sales Period (but disregarding any sale under this Agreement for these purposes), as determined by the Experts; and |
(d) | any amounts, dividends or other distributions received on, and/or in respect of, the Option Shares during the Sales Period. |
“Purchase Price” means the Third Party Purchase Price multiplied by one hundred and five per cent. (105%).
“Records” means the Seller’s books and records relating exclusively to the Business and the Station Assets.
“Redemption Fee” means, if the Enforcement Option Claim Amount exceeds the Enforcement Option Cap Amount, the difference between such amounts.
“Reduction Amount” has the same meaning as given to it in Clause 13.1.2.
“Relevant Event” has the same meaning as given to it in Clause 28.1.
“Restatement Date” has the same meaning as given to it in the Amendment and Restatement Agreement.
“Restructuring Date” has the same meaning as given to it in the Creditor Restructuring Agreement.
“Restructuring Documents” has the same meaning as given to it in the Creditor Restructuring Agreement.
“Sales Completion Date” means on or after the Option Completion Date, the date on which all the Option Shares are sold (but disregarding any sale under this Agreement).
“Sales Date” means the earlier of the Sales Completion Date and the Sales Proceeds Date.
“Sales Period” means the period commencing on the Option Completion Date and ending on the Sales Date (both inclusive).
“Sales Proceeds Date” means the date falling (12) calendar months after the Option Completion Date.
“Scheduled CTA Bond Amount” means the aggregate of:
(a) | all repayments of principal under the Credit Agreement which would have been due on a scheduled basis on or after the Option Completion Date but which have instead been received prior to the Option Completion Date; and |
(b) | any premium received by the Finance Parties in respect of the payments made in paragraph (a) above. |
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“Second Amount” has the meaning given to such term in Schedule 3 of the Creditor Restructuring Agreement.
“Security” means the security interests from time to time constituted by or pursuant to the Security Documents.
“Security Documents” has the same meaning as given to it in the Credit Agreement.
“Seller’s Accountants” means PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP or such other recognised firm of auditors licensed to practice in England and Wales and Scotland as may be appointed by the Seller from time to time.
“Seller’s Group Company” means the Parent or an undertaking which is, on or at any time after the date of this Agreement, a subsidiary undertaking of the Parent.
“Share Option Notice” means a written notice in the form set out in Schedule 2 from the Buyer to the Seller exercising the Option pursuant to Clause 4.1.2.
“Share Subscription Agreement” means the share subscription deed dated on or about the date of this Agreement between,inter alios, the Company and the Buyer.
“Statement” means a statement of the adjustments to made to the Break Fee pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (b) of the definition of Adjusted Break Fee, to be prepared in accordance with Schedule 1.
“Station” means the coal fired power station located at Eggborough, Yorkshire with a capacity of approximately 2000MW.
“Station Assets” means all property and assets owned by the Company at the Option Completion Date (wherever located).
“Station Default” has the same meaning as given to it in the Credit Agreement.
“Swap Agreement” has the same meaning as given to in Schedule 3 of the Creditor Restructuring Agreement.
“Tax” means all taxes and all levies, duties, imports, charges and withholdings in the nature of taxation whenever and wherever imposed, including taxes on gross or net income, profits or gains and taxes on receipts, sales, use, occupation, franchise, value added and personal property together with all fines, penalties, charges and interest relating to any of them.
“Technical Expert” means a person:
(a) | who is independent and who has confirmed in writing that it will (i) have no conflict in acting as an Expert; and (ii) remain neutral and impartial at all times when acting as an Expert under this Agreement; |
(b) | who is not a Competitor; |
(c) | who is not an affiliate of either the Seller or the Buyer; and |
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(d) | having appropriate expertise in the technical assessment and valuation of power stations of a type similar to, and operated in a similar manner as, the Station within the United Kingdom. |
“Third Party” means any person other than a Seller’s Group Company.
“Third Party Disposal Agreement” means, in respect of any proposed Disposal, a document:
(a) | complete in all respects, save the dating thereof; |
(b) | setting out the terms required by the Buyer for the making of the Disposal to the relevant Third Party; and |
(c) | in which the Third Party Purchase Price is stated as a fixed and ascertained amount. |
“Third Party Purchase Price” means, in respect of any proposed Disposal, the price (if any) for such Disposal agreed between the Buyer and the relevant Third Party.
“Transferee” means the holder of the Option Shares immediately after the transfer of the Option Shares in accordance with Clause 16.2.1.
“VAT” has the same meaning as given to it in Clause 25.3.
“Warranty” means a statement contained in Schedule 4 and “Warranties” means all those statements.
“Working Capital Assets” means the sum of the amounts in the Completion Accounts attributed to those items agreed between the Buyer and Seller prior to the Restructuring Date as being “working capital assets”.
“Working Capital Liabilities” means the sum of the amounts in the Completion Accounts attributed to those items agreed between the Buyer and Seller prior to the Restructuring Date as being “working capital liabilities”.
1.2 | In this Agreement, a reference to: |
1.2.1 | a “subsidiary undertaking” is to be construed in accordance with section 258 of the Act; |
1.2.2 | liability under, pursuant to or arising out of (or any analogous expression) any agreement, contract, deed or other instrument includes a reference to contingent liability under, pursuant to or arising out of (or any analogous expression) that agreement, contract, deed or other instrument; |
1.2.3 | a party being liable to another party, or to liability, includes any liability in equity, contract or tort (including negligence) or under the Misrepresentation Act 1967; |
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1.2.4 | a statutory provision includes a reference to such statutory provision as modified or re-enacted or both from time to time before the date of this Agreement and any subordinate legislation made under the statutory provision (as so modified or re-enacted) before the date of this Agreement; |
1.2.5 | this Agreement or any other agreement or document shall be construed as a reference to this Agreement or, as the case may be, such other agreement or document as the same may have been, or may from time to time be, amended, varied, novated or supplemented; |
1.2.6 | a “person” includes a reference to any individual, firm, company, corporation or other body corporate, government, state or agency of a state or any joint venture, association or partnership, works council or employee representative body (whether or not having separate legal personality) and includes a reference to that person’s legal personal representatives, successors and permitted assigns; |
1.2.7 | a “party” includes a reference to that party’s successors and permitted assigns; |
1.2.8 | “£” and “pounds sterling” is to the lawful currency of the United Kingdom; |
1.2.9 | a “clause”, “paragraph”, “sub-paragraph” or “schedule”, unless the context otherwise requires, is a reference to a clause or paragraph or sub-paragraph of, or schedule to, this Agreement; |
1.2.10 | any English legal term for any action, remedy, method of judicial proceeding, legal document, legal status, court, official or any legal concept or thing shall, in respect of any jurisdiction other than England, be deemed to include what most nearly approximates in that jurisdiction to the English legal term and any reference to any English statute shall be construed so as to include equivalent or analogous laws of any other jurisdiction; |
1.2.11 | the terms “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be construed without limitation; |
1.2.12 | a reference to “disposal” is to be construed so as to include a sale, lease or other disposal; |
1.2.13 | a time of day is a reference to the time in London; and |
1.2.14 | a document in the “agreed form” is a reference to a document in a form approved and for the purposes of identification signed by or on behalf of each party. |
1.3 | The headings in this Agreement do not affect its interpretation. |
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2. | CONDITION PRECEDENT |
The provisions of this Agreement shall only become effective on the occurrence of the Restatement Date.
3. | GRANT OF CALL OPTION TO BUY SHARES |
3.1 | In consideration of £2,500,000 satisfied by the Buyer agreeing to the reduction by that amount of the amount owing by the Seller to the Buyer under the Novated Debt, the Seller irrevocably grants to the Buyer: |
3.1.1 | an option to buy, and to require the Seller to sell, all of the Option Shares on the Break Option Completion Date (the “Break Option”); and |
3.1.2 | an option to buy, and to require the Seller to sell, all of the Option Shares at any time after the Enforcement Notice Date but prior to 31 August 2009 (the “Enforcement Option”), |
in each case, in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
3.2 | The Option Shares shall be sold with full title guarantee free from any Encumbrance other than a Permitted Encumbrance and with all rights attaching to the Option Shares on the Option Completion Date including the right to receive any dividend, distribution or return of capital declared, paid or made in respect of the Option Shares in respect of periods starting on or after the Option Completion Date. |
4. | EXERCISE OF BREAK OPTION |
4.1 | The Break Option may be exercised by the Buyer only: |
4.1.1 | in whole and not in part; and |
4.1.2 | by the delivery by the Buyer to the Seller of a Share Option Notice at any time after the Restructuring Date but no later than 31 August 2009. |
4.2 | The Buyer may not deliver a Share Option Notice to the Seller at the same time as, or at any time after: |
4.2.1 | the delivery by it of an Enforcement Option Notice or an Asset Option Notice; or |
4.2.2 | the occurrence of an Enforcement Event. |
4.3 | After the Break Option Time, the Buyer may only revoke the Share Option Notice in accordance with Clause 6. |
4.4 | It shall be a condition of the exercise of the Break Option that on the Break Option Completion Date, the Buyer (acting in its capacity as security trustee for the Finance Parties) shall fully and irrevocably discharge, or procure the full and irrevocable discharge of, all the Finance Party Liabilities and fully and irrevocably release, or procure the full and irrevocable release of, the Security. |
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5. | EXERCISE OF THE ENFORCEMENT OPTION |
5.1 | The Enforcement Option may be exercised by the Buyer only: |
5.1.1 | in whole and not in part; and |
5.1.2 | by the delivery by the Buyer to the Seller of an Enforcement Option Notice at any time after the Enforcement Notice Date but prior to 31 August 2009. |
5.2 | The Buyer may not deliver an Enforcement Option Notice to the Seller at the same time as, or at any time after: |
5.2.1 | the delivery by it of a Share Option Notice or an Asset Option Notice; or |
5.2.2 | the occurrence of an Enforcement Event. |
5.3 | After the Enforcement Option Time, the Buyer may only revoke the Enforcement Option Notice in the circumstances set out in Clause 6. |
5.4 | It shall be a condition of the exercise of the Enforcement Option that on the Enforcement Option Completion Date, the Buyer (acting in its capacity as security trustee for the Finance Parties) shall fully and irrevocably discharge, or procure the full and irrevocable discharge of, all the Finance Party Liabilities and fully and irrevocably release, or procure the full and irrevocable release of the Security. |
5.5 | If, at any time after an assignment and/or transfer of all of the Buyer’s rights under this Agreement in accordance with Clause 31, the new owner of such rights is not owed directly all of the Finance Party Liabilities, then, immediately upon the occurrence of such assignment or transfer, the rights of the Buyer under this Clause 5 and to the Enforcement Option shall be cancelled in full and shall not be capable of future use or revival. |
6. | REVOCATION OF NOTICE |
6.1 | The Buyer may only revoke an Option Notice: |
6.1.1 | with the prior written consent of the Seller; or |
6.1.2 | where a Frustration Event has occurred and is continuing and the Buyer (acting on the instructions of the Majority Banks) has voted to enforce the Security Documents in accordance with clause 18.2(a)(i) of the Credit Agreement. |
7. | BREAK OPTION PRICE |
7.1 | In consideration for the purchase of the Option Shares pursuant to the exercise of the Break Option, the Buyer shall: |
7.1.1 | pay to the Seller the Break Option Price, by paying to the Seller: |
(a) | on the Break Option Completion Date, the Additional Capital Expenditure Amount; and |
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(b) | the Adjusted Break Fee in accordance with Clause 17; and |
7.1.2 | take the steps set out in Clause 9. |
7.2 | The provisions of Schedule 1 shall apply in respect of the preparation, and the agreement or determination of the Completion Accounts and the Statement and any subsequent adjustment to the Break Option Price. |
8. | ENFORCEMENT OPTION PRICE |
8.1 | In consideration for the purchase of the Option Shares pursuant to the exercise of the Enforcement Option, the Buyer shall: |
8.1.1 | pay the Enforcement Option Price, by paying to the Seller: |
(a) | on the Enforcement Option Completion Date, the Additional Capital Expenditure Amount (if any) and the Enforcement Fee; and |
(b) | within three (3) Business Days of the earlier of (a) the Sales Completion Date and; (b) the Sales Proceeds Date, the Redemption Fee (if any); and |
8.1.2 | take the steps set out in Clause 9. |
9. | DISCHARGE OF FINANCE PARTY LIABILITIES |
The Buyer shall on and as from the Option Completion Date:
9.1.1 | fully and irrevocably discharge, or procure the full and irrevocable discharge of, all the Finance Party Liabilities; and |
9.1.2 | fully and irrevocably release, or procure the full and irrevocable release of, all the Security. |
10. | EXPERTS |
10.1 | Promptly after the Option Time, the Buyer and Seller shall, in accordance with Clause 10.3, appoint: |
10.1.1 | a Financial Expert; and |
10.1.2 | a Technical Expert, |
(together, the “Experts” and each, an “Expert”).
10.2 | Each Expert shall act as an expert and not as an arbitrator and the law of arbitration shall not apply. |
10.3 | If within 15 Business Days of the Option Time, the Buyer and the Seller cannot agree on the identity of an Expert, then the identity of such Expert shall be chosen by: |
10.3.1 | if such dispute relates to the appointment of the Financial Expert, the President for the time being of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales; and |
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10.3.2 | if such dispute relates to the appointment of the Technical Expert, the President for the time being of the UK Institute of Civil Engineers. |
10.4 | Unless otherwise set out in this Agreement, or if the Buyer and Seller otherwise agree, the fees and expenses of the Experts shall be borne equally by the Buyer and the Seller. |
10.5 | Each Expert shall carry out such determinations as are required under this Agreement. |
11. | SALES |
11.1 | If, during the Sales Period, all, or any of, the Option Shares and/or all, or any part of, the Business and/or the Station Assets are sold for cash or other consideration, the Buyer shall, or if it is not the Transferee at such time, shall procure that the Transferee shall, use its reasonable endeavours and all appropriate diligence to sell such Option Shares and/or all, or any such part of, the Business and/or the Station Assets at the best obtainable market price and terms and conditions for such sale. |
11.2 | The Seller shall at all times have the right to identify potential purchasers to the Transferee. |
12. | EVALUATION OF BREAK OPTION |
12.1 | The Seller and the Company will permit: |
12.1.1 | the Buyer; |
12.1.2 | any prospective purchaser of the Option Shares who has executed a Confidentiality Undertaking; and/or |
12.1.3 | an independent engineer complying with the requirements set out in the definition of the Technical Expert and appointed by the Buyer, at the sole cost of the Buyer (an “Independent Engineer”), |
upon 5 Business Days prior written notice, to have access during business hours on any Business Day falling not more than nineteen months prior to the Break Option Completion Date to:
12.1.4 | the Station Assets (other than Records and financial information); and |
12.1.5 | all historic Records and information of the Company (but excluding information relating to the operating regime of the Station Assets or any Record or information containing forecasts and/or projections), |
in order to prepare an evaluation of the Station Assets, the Option Shares, the Company and/or the Break Option (an “Evaluation”), provided that:
12.1.6 | the process and scope of such access has been agreed by the Buyer and the Seller acting reasonably following good faith consultation; and |
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12.1.7 | such access does not significantly interfere with the commercial operation of the Station by the Company. |
12.2 | If the Buyer wishes to disclose the Evaluation to any third party other than a Finance Party, it shall notify the Seller of the identity of such person. No Finance Party (including the Buyer) shall disclose the Evaluation to any third party without the due execution by such third party of a Confidentiality Undertaking. |
12.3 | Access to the Station Assets and/or the Records by an Independent Engineer shall be conditional upon the entry by such person into all such disclaimers or other undertakings as may reasonably be required by the Seller from time to time. |
13. | CALCULATION OF REDUCTION AMOUNT |
13.1 | Upon appointment of the Experts pursuant to Clause 10, the Buyer shall request the Technical Expert to prepare an evaluation as to the condition of the Station (the “Evaluation Report”) so as to assess: |
13.1.1 | the extent to which the Company has failed to comply with any of the covenants set out in clauses 15.8, 15.10, 15.13, 15.16, 15.17, 15.18, 15.20, 15.23, 15.27, 15.30 and 15.31 of the Credit Agreement (the “Covenants”) as at the Break Option Completion Date; and |
13.1.2 | together with the Financial Expert, the extent to which this has caused a material reduction in the value of the Station from the value that the Station would have been worth on the Break Option Completion Date had it been operated at all times in accordance with the Covenants (the “Reduction Amount”). The reference terms to be used by the Technical Expert in preparing the Evaluation Report, the preparation and the agreement or determination of any breach of any Covenant and any consequent adjustment to be made to the Break Fee calculation shall be agreed between the Buyer and the Seller no later than three (3) months prior to the Break Option Completion Date. |
13.2 | The Buyer shall ensure that the Technical Expert shall submit the Evaluation Report to the Buyer and the Seller no later than the Break Option Completion Date. |
13.3 | Within thirty (30) Business Days of the date of receipt of the Evaluation Report, the Seller shall notify the Buyer whether or not it agrees with the Evaluation Report. |
13.4 | If the Seller notifies the Buyer of its agreement with the Evaluation Report within the thirty (30) Business Day period referred to in Clause 13.3 or fails to give any notification within that period, the Evaluation Report shall be final and binding on the Buyer and the Seller and the Break Fee shall be adjusted downwards by an amount equal to the Reduction Amount (if any). |
13.5 | If the Seller notifies the Buyer within the thirty (30) Business Day period referred to in Clause 13.3 that it disagrees with the Evaluation Report, Clause 13.6 applies. |
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13.6 | If, within ten (10) Business Days starting on the Business Day after receipt of a notification referred to in Clause 13.5, the Seller and the Buyer have not agreed the items in dispute in relation to the Evaluation Report, the Buyer or the Seller may refer the matters in dispute to a partner of at least 10 years qualified experience at an independent firm of engineers agreed by the Buyer and the Seller in writing or, failing agreement on the identity of the firm of engineers within fifteen (15) Business Days starting on the Business Day after receipt of the notification referred to in Clause 13.5, an independent firm of engineers appointed (on the application of either the Buyer or the Seller) by the President for the time being of the Institution of Civil Engineers in England and Wales (the “Covenant Expert”). |
13.7 | The Covenant Expert shall act on the following basis: |
13.7.1 | as an expert and not as an arbitrator; |
13.7.2 | the Covenant Expert’s terms of reference shall be to determine the matters in dispute in respect of the Evaluation Report, within ten (10) Business Days of his appointment; |
13.7.3 | the Covenant Expert may engage a Financial Expert to the extent necessary to assist it with all or any part of a dispute that is financial in nature; |
13.7.4 | the Buyer, the Seller and the Company shall each provide the Covenant Expert with all information which the Covenant Expert reasonably requires and the Covenant Expert shall be entitled (to the extent he considers appropriate) to base his determination on such information and on the accounting and other records of the Company; and |
13.7.5 | if the Covenant Expert determines that a material adjustment of the Break Fee is required, the Seller shall pay the reasonable costs of the Technical Expert and the Covenant Expert, otherwise the Buyer and the Seller shall each pay one half of the costs. |
13.8 | The Evaluation Report adjusted in accordance with (as the case may be): |
13.8.1 | the agreement, if any, between the Seller and the Buyer pursuant to Clause 13.6; or |
13.8.2 | the decision of the Covenant Expert in accordance with this Clause 13.7, |
shall be final and binding on the Buyer and the Seller, save in the event of fraud or manifest error and the Break Fee shall be adjusted downwards by an amount equal to the Reduction Amount (if any).
13.9 | The Covenant Expert’s determination shall not be subject to the law of arbitration. |
14. | FAILURE TO TRANSFER |
14.1 | If the Seller is obliged to transfer title to the Option Shares in accordance with Clause 15 or 16 (as the case may be) but has |
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failed to do so by the date falling 5 Business Days, or if the Seller is actively assisting the Buyer with such transfer, 30 Business Days after the Option Completion Date (the “Long-Stop Date”) the Buyer shall other than in circumstances where such failure is directly attributable to a Finance Party:
14.1.1 | be entitled to exercise its rights under clauses 18.1 and 18.2(a)(i) of the Credit Agreement in respect of all amounts accrued but unpaid under the Finance Documents (other than this Agreement) on the Long-Stop Date (unless the Buyer has assigned all of its rights under this Agreement and the new owner of such rights is not owed all of the Finance Party Liabilities); and |
14.1.2 | on the earlier of the Sales Completion Date and the Sales Proceeds Date, have a liquidated damages claim for an amount equal to the Indemnity Amount. |
14.2 | Notwithstanding the failure to transfer the Option Shares in accordance with Clause 15 or 16 (as the case may be), the Buyer shall comply with its obligations under the Share Subscription Agreement. |
14.3 | Receipt by the Buyer of all amounts under this Clause 14, shall extinguish fully and irrevocably the Finance Party Liabilities and the Buyer shall deliver to the Seller evidence (in form and substance satisfactory to the Seller) that: |
14.3.1 | the Finance Party Liabilities have been fully and irrevocably discharged; and |
14.3.2 | the Security has been fully and irrevocably released. |
15. | BREAK OPTION COMPLETION |
15.1 | Break Option Completion shall take place by 3.00 p.m. on the Break Option Completion Date at the Seller’s registered office, or at another place agreed by the Seller and the Buyer. |
15.2 | At Break Option Completion the Seller and the Buyer shall sign the Escrow Letter in the agreed form and the Buyer shall deliver the Escrow Letter to the Escrow Agent as soon as practicable at Break Option Completion. |
15.3 | At Break Option Completion: |
15.3.1 | the Seller shall: |
(a) | give to the Buyer a duly completed transfer of the Option Shares in favour of the Buyer (or as it directs) and a share certificate in respect of all the Option Shares or, where appropriate, renounceable documents of title; and |
(b) | sign all documents and take all other action necessary to enable the Buyer (or its nominee) to become the registered and beneficial owner of the Option Shares including the use of its voting and other rights arising by its holding of shares in the capital of the Company to ensure that the Buyer’s (or its nominee’s) name is entered in the register of members of the Company as the holder of the Option Shares; and |
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15.3.2 | the Buyer shall: |
(a) | pay the Additional Capital Expenditure Amount due (if any) in full to the Seller in accordance with Clause 7.1.1(a); |
(b) | deliver the Break Fee to the Escrow Agent in full and ensure that this amount is immediately deposited into the Escrow Account; |
(c) | deliver to the Seller written evidence (in form and substance satisfactory to the Seller) that: |
(i) | the Finance Party Liabilities have been fully and irrevocably discharged; and |
(ii) | the Security has been fully and irrevocably released; and |
(d) | comply with its, and procure that the Company complies with its, obligations under the Share Subscription Agreement. |
15.4 | The Buyer and the Seller agree that money in the Escrow Account shall only be used in accordance with the provisions set out in Clause 21 and in the Escrow Letter. The Buyer and the Seller shall each ensure that all rights to the Escrow Account remain free from any Encumbrance, set-off or counterclaim except as referred to in Clause 21. |
16. | ENFORCEMENT OPTION COMPLETION |
16.1 | Enforcement Option Completion shall take place by 3.00 p.m. on the Enforcement Option Completion Date at the place determined by the Buyer. |
16.2 | At Enforcement Option Completion: |
16.2.1 | the Seller shall: |
(a) | give to the Buyer a duly completed transfer of the Option Shares in favour of the Buyer (or as it directs) and a share certificate in respect of all the Option Shares or, where appropriate, renounceable documents of title; and |
(b) | sign all documents and take all other action necessary to enable the Buyer (or its nominee) to become the registered and beneficial owner of the Option Shares including the use of its voting and other rights arising by its holding of shares in the capital of the Company to ensure that the Buyer’s (or its nominee) name is entered in the register of members of the Company as the holder of the Option Shares; and |
16.2.2 | the Buyer shall: |
(a) | pay the Additional Capital Expenditure Amount due (if any) and the Enforcement Fee in full to the Seller in accordance with Clause 8.1.1(a); and |
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(b) | deliver to the Seller written evidence (in form and substance satisfactory to the Seller) that: |
(i) | the Finance Party Liabilities have been fully and irrevocably discharged; and |
(ii) | the Security has been fully and irrevocably released; and |
(c) | comply with its, and procure that the Company complies with its, obligations under the Share Subscription Agreement. |
17. | POST BREAK OPTION COMPLETION |
17.1 | Promptly upon the determination of the Adjusted Break Fee in accordance with this Agreement, all amounts standing to the credit of the Escrow Account shall be disbursed as follows: |
17.1.1 | if the Adjusted Break Fee exceeds the amount standing to the credit of the Escrow Account, the Buyer shall pay to the Seller the amount of the excess, together with an amount equivalent to interest on the amount of the excess at the rate of LIBOR plus one (1) per cent. per annum for the period from the Break Option Completion Date to the date of payment and all amounts standing to the credit of the Escrow Account shall be paid to the Seller; or |
17.1.2 | if the Adjusted Break Fee payable under Clause 7 is less than the amount standing to the credit of the Escrow Account, such amounts shall be disbursed as follows: |
(a) | the Adjusted Break Fee shall be paid to the Seller, together with the interest that has accrued on the Adjusted Break Fee in the period from the Break Option Completion Date to the date of payment; and |
(b) | the balance (if any) on the Escrow Account shall be paid to the Buyer. |
18. | APPROVED FUEL CONTRACTS |
18.1 | Immediately prior to the Option Completion Date, BEPET’s rights and obligations under any Approved Fuel Contracts shall be novated to the Company so that: |
18.1.1 | the Company shall be: |
(a) | responsible for performing all the rights and obligations under or arising in respect of such Approved Fuel Contracts; |
(b) | responsible for all liabilities, claims and demands howsoever and whenever arising under such Approved Fuel Contracts; and |
(c) | be bound by the terms of such Approved Fuel Contracts in every way as if it had at all times been a party to such Approved Fuel Contracts in place of BEPET, |
in each case, on and following the novation; and
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18.1.2 | the Company shall release and discharge BEPET from all further performance under such Approved Fuel Contracts and from all liabilities, claims and demands howsoever and whenever arising under such Approved Fuel Contracts. |
19. | PURCHASE OF APPROVED FUEL |
19.1 | On the Option Completion Date, the Fuel Expert shall carry out the Fuel Survey. BEPET shall pay the reasonable costs incurred by the Fuel Expert in carrying out the Fuel Survey. |
19.2 | No later than thirty (30) days after the Option Completion Date: |
19.2.1 | BEPET shall sell and the Buyer shall buy all the Actual Approved Fuel (including any Actual Approved Fuel that has subsequently been burnt at the Station post the Option Completion Date); and |
19.2.2 | the Buyer shall pay the Approved Fuel Price to BEPET or as BEPET directs in writing by transfer of funds for same day value to such account as shall have been notified to the Buyer by BEPET at least (3) Business Days before the Option Completion Date. |
19.3 | In the absence of manifest error, the determinations of the Fuel Expert made pursuant to this Clause 19 shall be final, conclusive and binding on BEPET and the Buyer. |
20. | RELEASE OF COLLATERAL |
20.1 | The Company shall, and the Buyer shall take all reasonable steps to procure that the Company shall: |
20.1.1 | from the Option Completion Date, procure that any cash collateral, financial or other guarantee, indemnity, undertaking or bond (as the case may be) provided by a Seller’s Group Company (other than the Company) (the “Collateral Provider”) for and on behalf of the Company, including under or in respect of the Industry Documents (each an “Intra-Group Obligation”), shall be unconditionally and irrevocably released if reasonably possible on, or if not, as soon as reasonably possible thereafter, the Option Completion Date; and |
20.1.2 | on each date on which any cash collateral is released in accordance with Clause 20.1.1 above and paid to the Company and provided that such collateral is not accounted for in the Completion Accounts, pay an amount equal to such cash collateral to the relevant Collateral Provider. |
20.2 | Pending the release of any Collateral Provider from all liability under or in respect of an Intra-Group Obligation, the Buyer shall indemnify each Collateral Provider on demand in respect of all costs, fees or other charges incurred on or after the Option Completion Date by each Collateral Provider under or in respect of such Intra-Group Obligation. This indemnity shall survive termination of this Agreement. |
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20.3 | The Company shall, and the Buyer shall procure that the Company shall: |
20.3.1 | on and from the Option Completion Date, procure that any cash collateral, financial or other guarantee, indemnity, undertaking or bond (as the case may be) provided by the Company prior to the Option Completion Date under or in respect of: |
(a) | the Industry Documents; |
(b) | the Gale Common Licence (including under the Gale Common Escrow Agreement); and |
(c) | the Heavy Fuel Oil Agreement |
the Heavy Fuel Oil Agreement
is unconditionally and irrevocably released if reasonably possible on, or if not, as soon as reasonably possible thereafter, the Option Completion Date; and
20.3.2 | on each date on which any cash collateral is released in accordance with Clause 20.3.1 above, pay an amount equal to such cash collateral to the Seller. |
21. | ESCROW ACCOUNT |
21.1 | If the Seller or the Buyer is entitled to money from the Escrow Account, the Seller and the Buyer shall promptly (and in any event within seven days of the date on which the entitlement arises) (the “Due Date”) jointly instruct the Escrow Agent in writing to release the money to the Seller and/or the Buyer (as the case may be) together with an amount (less any tax and other amount the Escrow Agent is legally required to deduct from that amount) equal to the interest actually accrued on such sum (accrued daily and compounded monthly) calculated for the period from the Option Completion Date to the date of payment (both dates inclusive). |
21.2 | Interest accruing from time to time on the balance of money standing to the credit of the Escrow Account shall be added to the money standing to the credit of the Escrow Account and shall form part of it for the purposes of this Clause 21. |
21.3 | The Seller and the Buyer shall each pay one half of the Escrow Agent’s costs in respect of any work done pursuant to this Clause 21. |
21.4 | The Buyer and the Seller acknowledge that the Escrow Agent may withdraw from the Escrow Account an amount of tax on the interest earned in respect of money held in the Escrow Account for which it is or may become liable. |
21.5 | If either the Buyer or the Seller fails to give an instruction pursuant to Clause 21.1 in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, the party in default shall pay interest on the sum concerned from the Due Date until the date on which its obligation to pay the money is discharged at the rate of LIBOR plus one (1) per cent. per annum. |
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22. | PENSIONS |
22.1 | The Buyer shall enter into all such documents and do all such other things as may be necessary in order to procure (subject to the consent of any third party that may be required including the Inland Revenue) that, with effect from the Option Completion Date: |
22.1.1 | the Buyer shall be appointed as the Principal Employer of the British Energy Combined Group (the “BECG”) of the Electricity Supply Pension Scheme (the “ESPS”), in substitution for the Seller’s Group Company that is the Principal Employer of the BECG immediately before the Option Completion Date (the “Existing Principal Employer”); |
22.1.2 | those Employees who are in contributing service under the BECG immediately before the Option Completion Date shall continue in contributing service under the BECG on the same terms from the Option Completion Date (although this shall not be construed so as to prevent the Buyer from subsequently providing benefits applicable under the BECG for the Employees under a different arrangement); and |
22.1.3 | the Existing Principal Employer (and each other Seller’s Group Company that has participated in the BECG before the Option Completion Date) shall be discharged from all functions, duties, obligations and liabilities whatsoever in respect of the Employees and those members who, immediately prior to ceasing active membership of the BECG for the last time were employed by the Company, under and in relation to the BECG and the Buyer shall undertake full responsibility for all such functions, duties, obligations and liabilities, whether arising before or after the Option Completion Date. The Existing Principal Employer shall remain liable for all other functions, duties, obligations and liabilities arising out of or in connection with any other member of the BECG. |
22.2 | The Seller shall lend all reasonable assistance as the Buyer may request in relation to the Buyer’s obligations under Clause 22.1. The Buyer and the Seller shall co-operate with a view to ensuring an orderly transfer of the BECG to the Buyer as provided for in Clause 22.1, including in relation to: |
22.2.1 | changing the Group Trustees and the Group Administrator of the BECG; and |
22.2.2 | making appropriate alternative arrangements for the administration of the BECG, if any Seller’s Group Company is a party to those arrangements immediately before the Option Completion Date. |
22.3 | From the Option Completion Date, the Buyer shall indemnify, and keep indemnified, the Seller on demand against each loss, liability and/or cost which the Seller incurs, or which is asserted against or demanded from the Seller, under or in relation to the BECG as a result of the Buyer’s failure to comply with its obligations under Clause 22.1 and each loss, liability and/or |
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cost incurred as a result of defending or settling a claim alleging such a liability. This indemnity shall survive termination of this Agreement. |
22.4 | From the Option Completion Date, the Seller shall indemnify, and keep indemnified, the Buyer on demand against each loss, liability and/or cost which the Buyer incurs, or which is asserted against or demanded from the Buyer, under or in relation to the BECG in respect of those members of the BECG whose employer immediately prior to their last ceasing active membership of the BECG before the Option Completion Date was not the Company, and each loss, liability and/or cost incurred as a result of defending or settling a claim alleging such a liability. This indemnity shall survive termination of this Agreement. |
23. | WARRANTIES |
23.1 | The Seller warrants to the Buyer that each Warranty is true, accurate and not misleading at the date of this Agreement. |
23.2 | The Seller acknowledges that the Buyer is entering into this Agreement in reliance on each Warranty, which has also been given as a representation and with the intention of inducing the Buyer to enter into this Agreement. |
24. | RESTRICTIONS |
24.1 | Until the Option Completion Date the Seller may not (without having first obtained the Buyer’s written consent): |
24.1.1 | sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any interest in any of the Option Shares or any right attaching to the Option Shares; or |
24.1.2 | create or allow to be created any Encumbrance over any of the Option Shares other than a Permitted Encumbrance. |
25. | TAX AND OTHER COSTS AND EXPENSES |
25.1 | Upon the receipt of any amount under the Tax Deed of Covenant (as defined in the Credit Agreement), the Seller shall forthwith subscribe that amount for Deferred Shares (as defined in the Share Subscription Agreement) in the Company and procure that the Company applies the proceeds of the share subscription in settlement of the Tax liability which gave rise to the payment under the Tax Deed of Covenant. |
25.2 | The Seller hereby agrees that upon being given evidence reasonably satisfactorily to it that the Buyer has, solely as a result of the grant (but not the actual exercise or completion) of the Option, paid stamp duty in respect of this Agreement or has accounted for stamp duty reserve tax in respect of the grant of the Option, the Seller will within 10 Business Days reimburse to the Buyer the amount of such stamp duty or (as the case may be) stamp duty reserve tax. If the Seller so requests, the Buyer will use all reasonable endeavours to assist the Seller to minimise the stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax due on the grant of the Option. For the avoidance of doubt, all stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax due in respect of the exercise of the Option or |
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Completion shall be paid by the Buyer and will not be reimbursed by the Seller. If the Buyer so requests, the Seller will use all reasonable endeavours to assist the Buyer to minimise the stamp duty or stamp duty land tax due on exercise of the Option. |
25.3 | The Seller and the Buyer shall make all reasonable efforts to ensure the Company ceases from the Option Completion Date, to be treated by HM Customs & Excise as a member of a group with a Seller’s Group Company for the purposes of section 43 to 43C (inclusive) of the Value Added Tax Act 1994 and/or paragraph 6 of SI 2001/7 (Climate Change Levy). Where the Company is in a group for the purposes of Value Added Tax (“VAT”) or Climate Change Levy (“CCL”) (or any substantially similar tax group) with a Seller’s Group Company after the Option Completion Date, such payments shall be made by the Company to, or to the Company by, the representative member of the VAT, CCL or other group to ensure that (ignoring in the case of VAT, supplies between members of that VAT group) the representative member and the Company are put in the position they would have been had the relevant group not been in existence from the Option Completion Date. The Seller and the Buyer shall take such steps as are reasonably within their powers for so long as may be reasonably necessary to give each other all the assistance and co-operation as may be required to enable the representative member of any such VAT or CCL or other group to comply with its obligations as representative member of the relevant group. The Seller shall pay to the Buyer an amount equal to any liability of the Company for VAT and/or CCL debts incurred by the Company in consequence of the joint and several liability of members of VAT or CCL groups where the liability is one the Company would not have incurred had no VAT or CCL group (as the case may be) been in existence between the Company and a Seller’s Group Company. |
25.4 | The Buyer agrees with the Seller that if Completion takes place, the Buyer will procure that the Company does nothing after Break Option Completion or Enforcement Option Completion (as the case may be) that will give rise to a liability under section 767A or section 767AA Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 (or similar legislation enacted after the date hereof but before Completion takes place) for a Seller’s Group Company (or any person which is then or has been in control of a Seller’s Group Company, or is then or has been under the control of a Seller’s Group Company) in respect of or referable to Tax relating to income, profits or gains of the Company arising after Completion except to the extent: |
25.4.1 | such income, profits or gains have in accordance with generally applicable accounting standards been treated in the Company’s accounts as arising prior to Completion; or |
25.4.2 | that the liability only arises because of actions taken by a Seller’s Group Company (including the Company) before, or some actions undertaken before by a Seller’s Group Company (including the Company) and some undertaken by the Buyer or the Company after, Completion provided that this exception shall not apply to any actions taken by the Buyer or, after Completion, the Company outside the ordinary course of trading. |
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25.5 | If any VAT is due in respect of any supply under this Agreement, the Buyer shall (against delivery of a valid VAT invoice), in addition to all other amounts due and payable by it hereunder, also make payment of such VAT and any amount equal to any penalty or interest incurred by the Seller for the late payment of VAT resulting from any failure or delay by the Buyer in making such payment under this Clause 25.5. |
26. | PAYMENTS |
26.1 | All payments made by the Buyer or the Seller under this Agreement shall be made gross, free of any right of counterclaim or set-off and without deduction or withholding of any kind other than any deduction or withholding required by law. |
26.2 | If the Buyer or the Seller makes a deduction or withholding required by law from a payment (other than a payment of interest) under this Agreement, the sum due from that party shall be increased to the extent necessary to ensure that, after the making of any deduction or withholding, the party to whom such amount is payable (including an Indemnified Party or Indemnified Parties) receives a sum equal to the sum it would have received had no deduction or withholding been made. |
26.3 | Nothing in this Clause 26 shall effect any obligation of the Escrow Agent which shall be governed instead by Clause 21. |
27. | CONVERSION TO EUROS |
27.1 | With effect from the date (if any) that the United Kingdom adopts the Euro as its lawful currency in substitution for pounds sterling (the “Euro Effective Date”): |
27.1.1 | payments falling due under this Agreement on or after the Euro Effective Date shall be made by the payer to the recipient in Euros; |
27.1.2 | no payments falling due after the Euro Effective Date which would have been payable in pounds sterling under this Agreement but for the adoption of the Euro by the United Kingdom as its lawful currency shall be made in pounds sterling or national currency units; and |
27.1.3 | on the Euro Effective Date, all amounts stated in pounds sterling shall be converted into Euros at the fixed conversion rate provided for by the Laws of England and Wales and, on and after the Euro Effective Date, all amounts required to be calculated in pounds sterling shall be calculated in Euros. |
28. | INVALIDITY OR ILLEGALITY |
28.1 | If at any time any provision of this Agreement is or becomes illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any respect under the law of any jurisdiction (a “Relevant Event”), that shall not affect or impair: |
28.1.1 | the legality, validity or enforceability in that jurisdiction of any other provision of this Agreement; or |
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28.1.2 | the legality, validity or enforceability under the law of any other jurisdiction of that or any other provision of this Agreement. |
28.2 | Immediately upon a party becoming aware of the occurrence or potential occurrence of a Relevant Event, each party shall use its reasonable endeavours to negotiate in good faith and settle within thirty (30) Business Days an agreement or provision which as closely as possible reflects the financial and commercial intent of the parties under this Agreement or under the relevant provision which is the subject of the Relevant Event. |
29. | GENERAL |
29.1 | A variation of this Agreement is valid only if it is in writing and signed by or on behalf of each party. |
29.2 | The failure to exercise or delay in exercising a right or remedy provided by this Agreement or by law does not impair or constitute a waiver of the right or remedy or an impairment of or a waiver of other rights or remedies. No single or partial exercise of a right or remedy provided by this Agreement or by law prevents further exercise of the right or remedy or the exercise of another right or remedy. |
29.3 | Each date, time or period referred to in this Agreement is of the essence. If the parties agree in writing to vary a date, time or period, the varied date, time or period is of the essence. |
29.4 | Except to the extent that they have been performed and except where this Agreement provides otherwise the obligations contained in this Agreement remain in force after the Option Completion Date. |
29.5 | A person who is not a party to this Agreement has no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any term of this Agreement but this does not affect any right or remedy of a third party which exists or is available apart from that Act. |
30. | ENTIRE AGREEMENT |
30.1 | This Agreement and each document referred to in it constitute the entire agreement and supersede any previous agreement between the parties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement. |
30.2 | The Buyer acknowledges that it has not relied on or been induced to enter into this agreement by any representation, warranty or undertaking (whether contractual or otherwise) given by or on behalf of the Seller, its directors, officers or employees other than those expressly given in this Agreement. |
30.3 | The Seller is not liable to the Buyer (in equity, contract or tort (including negligence), under the Misrepresentation Act 1967 or in any other way) for a representation, warranty or undertaking that is not set out in this Agreement. |
30.4 | The Seller acknowledges and represents that it has not relied on or been induced to enter into this Agreement by any representation, warranty or undertaking (whether contractual or otherwise) given by or on behalf of the Buyer or any adviser other than those expressly given in this Agreement. |
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30.5 | The Buyer is not liable to the Seller (in equity, contract or tort (including negligence), under the Misrepresentation Act 1967 or in any other way) for a representation, warranty or undertaking that is not set out in this Agreement. |
30.6 | The Buyer has not entered into this Agreement in reliance on any representation, statement, assurance, covenant, undertaking, indemnity, guarantee or commitment of any kind whatsoever and the Buyer will not have any remedy against the Seller in respect of any representation, statement, assurance, covenant, undertaking indemnity, guarantee, or commitment of any kind whatsoever made on or prior to the date of this Agreement. |
30.7 | Nothing in this Clause 30 shall have the effect of limiting or restricting any liability arising as a result of any fraud, wilful misconduct or wilful concealment or for personal injury or death resulting from negligence. |
31. | ASSIGNMENT |
31.1 | No party may (nor purport to) assign or transfer, or declare a trust of the benefit of, or in any other way dispose of any of its rights under this Agreement, in whole or in part, without first having obtained the other parties prior written consent, save that: |
31.1.1 | the Buyer shall be entitled to make a Disposal to a Third Party in accordance with Clauses 32 to 35; and |
31.1.2 | The Seller shall be entitled to assign and/or transfer all (but not part only) of its rights under this Agreement to BEH by way of security for the First Intercompany Loan Agreement. |
31.2 | Subject to Clause 31.1.1, during the Close Period the Buyer may not enter into any agreement or other arrangement: |
31.2.1 | that relates to the exercise of any of its rights under this Agreement; or |
31.2.2 | to assign or transfer or declare a trust of the benefit of or in any other way dispose of all or any of the Option Shares after an Option Completion Date. |
32. | SELLER’S OFFER |
32.1 | Prior to committing to make a Disposal to a Third Party, the Buyer shall first serve on the Seller: |
32.1.1 | a Disposal Notice, signed by the Buyer; |
32.1.2 | a copy of the Third Party Disposal Agreement; and |
32.1.3 | a Disposal Agreement in duplicate, one copy of which shall be signed by the Buyer. |
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32.2 | The offer constituted by a Disposal Notice served on the Seller shall be irrevocable during the Acceptance Period. |
33. | BUYER’S ENQUIRIES |
After service of any Disposal Notice on the Seller and until the earlier of acceptance by the Seller of the offer constituted by such Disposal Notice or the expiration of the Acceptance Period, the Buyer shall reply promptly and in writing to any reasonable enquiry put to them by the Seller or its advisers relating to the proposed Disposal, the Third Party Disposal Agreement and/or the Disposal Agreement. In the event that the Buyer fails to reply within two (2) Business Days to any such enquiry, the Acceptance Period shall be extended by a period equal to the period commencing on the date such enquiry is made and ending on the date the Buyer replies in writing to such enquiry.
34. | SELLER’S ACCEPTANCE |
If the Seller wishes to accept the offer constituted by a Disposal Notice, a Seller’s Group Company shall do so by signing and dating the copy of the Disposal Agreement served with such Disposal Notice and by returning it to the Buyer within the Acceptance Period.
35. | NON-ACCEPTANCE OF BUYER’S OFFER |
35.1 | If, within the Acceptance Period, a Seller’s Group Company does not accept the offer constituted by the Disposal Notice served on the Seller, the Buyer may, during the Disposal Period, enter into the Third Party Disposal Agreement but at not less than the Third Party Purchase Price and otherwise on terms, in all material respects, the same as those contained in the Third Party Disposal Agreement served on the Seller with such Disposal Notice. |
35.2 | The Buyer agrees with the Seller: |
35.2.1 | within 5 Business Days of the Buyer entering into the Third Party Disposal Agreement with a Third Party, to provide to the Seller a copy thereof, certified by the Buyer’s Solicitors; and |
35.2.2 | within 5 Business Days of completion of the transaction contemplated by such Third Party Disposal Agreement, to notify the Seller in writing of such completion. |
35.3 | If, by the date of expiration of the Disposal Period, the Buyer and the Third Party have not entered into the Third Party Disposal Agreement or, if the Buyer and the Third Party have but the Disposal thereby contemplated has not been completed, the Buyer shall only make such Disposal (and/or any other Disposal) by again first complying with the provisions of Clauses 31 to 35. |
36. | CONFIDENTIALITY |
36.1 | Subject to Clause 36.2, the Buyer may not, and the Buyer shall procure that each party to a Third Party Disposal Agreement and/or any Transferee shall not, disclose any Confidential Information. |
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36.2 | The Buyer may, and any party to a Third Party Disposal Agreement and/or any Transferee may: |
36.2.1 | disclose Confidential Information to any Finance Party, provided that such Finance Party has first entered into a confidentiality undertaking in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Seller; |
36.2.2 | disclose any Confidential Information: |
(a) | if and to the extent required by law or for the purpose of any judicial proceedings; |
(b) | if and to the extent required by any securities exchange or regulatory or governmental body to which that party is subject or submits, wherever situated, including the Stock Exchange, the Financial Services Authority or the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers, whether or not the requirement for information has the force of law; |
(c) | to any of its directors or employees who needs to know such Confidential Information in order to discharge his duties; |
(d) | to its professional advisers, auditors and bankers; |
(e) | if and to the extent that the Buyer can demonstrate that the Confidential Information has come into the public domain through no fault of the Buyer; or |
(f) | if and to the extent the Seller and the Company has given prior written consent; and |
36.2.3 | disclose any Confidential Information detailed in any Evaluation in accordance with Clause 12. |
36.3 | The restrictions contained in this Clause 36 shall continue to apply after the termination of this Agreement without limit in time. |
37. | NOTICES |
37.1 | A notice or other communication under or in connection with this Agreement (a “Notice”) shall be: |
37.1.1 | in writing; |
37.1.2 | in the English language; and |
37.1.3 | delivered personally or sent by first class post pre-paid recorded delivery (and air mail if overseas) or by fax to the party due to receive the Notice to the address or fax number set out in Clause 37.3 or to another address or fax number specified by that party by not less than five (5) Business Days written notice to the other party received before the Notice was despatched. |
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37.2 | Unless there is evidence that it was received earlier, a Notice is deemed given if: |
37.2.1 | delivered personally, when left at the address referred to in Clause 37.3; |
37.2.2 | sent by mail, except air mail, two (2) Business Days after posting it; |
37.2.3 | sent by air mail, six (6) Business Days after posting it; and |
37.2.4 | sent by fax, when confirmation of its transmission has been recorded by the sender’s fax machine. |
37.3 | The address referred to in Clause 37.1.3 is: |
Name of party | Address | |
The Seller | Eggborough Power (Holdings) Limited 3 Redwood Crescent Peel Park East Kilbride G74 5PR
Attention: Corporate Affairs Director and Company Secretary
Telephone: 01355 594 020
Facsimile: 01355 594 022 | |
The Buyer | 5 The North Colonnade Canary Wharf London E14 4BB
Attention: ******** | |
The Company | Eggborough Power Limited Barnett Way Barnwood Gloucester Gloucestershire GL4 3RS,
Attention: Corporate Affairs Director and Company Secretary
Telephone: 01355 594 020
Facsimile: 01355 594 022 |
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BEPET | British Energy Power and Energy Trading Limited 3 Redwood Crescent Peel Park East Kilbride G74 5PR
Attention: Corporate Affairs Director and Company Secretary
Telephone: 01355 594 020 Facsimile: 01355 594 022 |
38. | TERM |
38.1 | Unless an Option has been exercised and not revoked hereunder; or (ii) a Clause is expressed to survive termination of this Agreement, all provisions of this Agreement shall terminate on the earliest of the following: |
38.1.1 | the exercise by the Buyer of an Option (as defined in the Asset Option Agreement); |
38.1.2 | the occurrence of an Enforcement Event; |
38.1.3 | 1 April 2010; and |
38.1.4 | otherwise with the agreement of all parties hereto. |
39. | GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION |
39.1 | This Agreement is governed by English law. |
39.2 | The courts of England have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute arising from or connected with this Agreement (a “Dispute”). |
39.3 | The parties agree that the courts of England are the most appropriate and convenient courts to settle any Dispute and, accordingly, that they will not argue to the contrary. |
39.4 | The parties agree that the documents which start any proceedings relating to a Dispute (“Proceedings”) and any other documents required to be served in relation to those Proceedings may be served in accordance with Clause 37. These documents may, however, be served in any other manner allowed by law. This clause applies to all Proceedings wherever started. |
40. | COUNTERPARTS |
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when executed and delivered is an original and all of which together evidence the same agreement.
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SCHEDULE 1
COMPLETION ACCOUNTS
1. | PART A |
1.1 | After the Option Completion Date the Buyer shall ensure that the Buyer’s Accountants prepare: |
1.1.1 | draft Completion Accounts; and |
1.1.2 | a draft Statement. |
The Seller and the Buyer shall each pay one half of the Buyer’s Accountants’ costs incurred under this Paragraph 1.1.
1.2 | Except as agreed between the Buyer and the Seller prior to the Restructuring Date, the draft Completion Accounts shall be prepared on a basis consistent with the balance sheet in the Accounts, using the same accounting principles, policies and practices and, so far as consistent with the foregoing, applicable standards, principles and practices generally accepted in the United Kingdom as if they were statutory accounts required to be prepared under the Act. In preparing the draft Completion Accounts, no account is to be taken of an event taking place after the Option Completion Date or of facts or circumstances only known to the Buyer and/or Seller after the Option Completion Date, otherwise than pursuant to Paragraph 1.3. |
1.3 | After the Option Completion Date, the Seller shall provide the Buyer and the Buyer’s Accountants with access to those assets, documents and records within its possession or control which they may reasonably require for the purpose of preparing and agreeing the draft Completion Accounts and the draft Statement. |
1.4 | The Buyer shall ensure that within forty (40) Business Days starting on the Business Day after the Option Completion Date, the Buyer’s Accountants submit to the Seller’s Accountants: |
1.4.1 | the draft Completion Accounts, their working papers, and a report by the Buyer’s Accountants addressed to the Buyer and the Seller stating whether in their opinion the draft Completion Accounts have been prepared in accordance with Paragraph 1.2; and |
1.4.2 | the draft Statement. |
1.5 | Within twenty-five (25) Business Days starting on the Business Day after receipt of the draft Completion Accounts and the draft Statement, the Seller shall notify the Buyer whether or not it agrees with the draft Completion Accounts and the draft Statement. The Buyer shall ensure that the Seller and the Seller’s Accountants are given access to all additional information they may reasonably require to enable the Seller to make its decision. |
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1.6 | If the Seller notifies its agreement with the draft Completion Accounts and the draft Statement within the twenty-five (25) Business Day period referred to in Paragraph 1.5 or fails to give any notification within that period, the draft Completion Accounts and the draft Statement shall cease to be drafts and be final and binding on the Buyer and the Seller. |
1.7 | If the Seller notifies the Buyer within the twenty-five (25) Business Day period referred to in Paragraph 1.5 that it disagrees with the draft Completion Accounts or with the draft Statement, Paragraph 1.8 applies. |
1.8 | If, within ten (10) Business Days starting on the Business Day after receipt of the notification referred to in Paragraph 1.7, the Seller and the Buyer have not agreed the items in dispute in relation to the draft Completion Accounts or the draft Statement the Buyer or Seller may refer the matters in dispute to a partner of at least 10 years qualified experience at an independent firm of chartered accountants agreed by the Buyer and Seller in writing or, failing agreement on the identity of the firm of chartered accountants within fifteen (15) Business Days starting on the Business Day after receipt of the notification referred to in Paragraph 1.7, to an independent firm of chartered accountants appointed on the application of either the Buyer or Seller by the President for the time being of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (the “Determinator”). |
1.9 | The Determinator shall act on the following basis: |
1.9.1 | as an expert and not as an arbitrator; |
1.9.2 | the Determinator’s terms of reference shall be to determine the matters in dispute in respect of the draft Completion Accounts and draft Statement within twenty (20) Business Days of his appointment; |
1.9.3 | the Buyer and Seller shall each provide the Determinator with all information relating to the Company which the Determinator reasonably requires and the Determinator shall be entitled (to the extent he considers appropriate) to base his determination on such information and on the accounting and other records of the Company; |
1.9.4 | the decision of the Determinator shall, in the absence of fraud or manifest error, be final and binding on the Buyer and the Seller; and |
1.9.5 | the Seller and the Buyer shall each pay one half of the Determinator’s costs or as the Determinator may determine. |
1.10 | The draft Completion Accounts and the draft Statement adjusted in accordance with the agreement, if any, between the Seller and the Buyer pursuant to Paragraph 1.8 or (as the case may be) the decision of the Determinator in accordance with Paragraph 1.9 shall cease to be drafts and be final and binding on the Buyer and the Seller. |
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SCHEDULE 2
FORMOF SHARE OPTION NOTICE
[BUYER’S LETTERHEAD]
To: | Eggborough Power (Holdings) Limited |
3 Redwood Crescent
Peel Park
East Kilbride
G74 5PR
cc. | British Energy Power and Energy Trading Limited |
3 Redwood Crescent
Peel Park
East Kilbride
G74 5PR
Eggborough Power Limited
Barnett Way
Barnwood
Gloucester
Gloucestershire
GL4 3RS
Date: [·]
BY HAND
BY REGISTERED/RECORDED DELIVERY POST
SHARE OPTION NOTICE
1. | We refer to the Share Option Agreement dated September 2004 between Eggborough Power (Holdings) Limited, Barclays Bank PLC, Eggborough Power Limited and British Energy Power and Energy Trading Limited (the “Share Option Agreement”). |
2. | Terms defined in the Share Option Agreement shall have the same meanings in this Share Option Notice unless the context requires otherwise. References to a “Clause” are to a clause of the Share Option Agreement. |
3. | The Buyer hereby notifies the Seller pursuant to Clause 4.1.2 that it wishes to exercise the Option granted in Clause 3.1.1. |
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4. | The Option Completion Date shall be the Break Option Completion Date. |
Signed by [·]
Director/Secretary
for and on behalf of
Barclays Bank PLC
acting as agent and security trustee
for the Finance Parties
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SCHEDULE 3
FORMOF ENFORCEMENT OPTION NOTICE
[BUYER’S LETTERHEAD]
To: | Eggborough Power (Holdings) Limited |
3 Redwood Crescent
Peel Park
East Kilbride
G74 5PR
cc. | British Energy Power and Energy Trading Limited |
3 Redwood Crescent
Peel Park
East Kilbride
G74 5PR
Eggborough Power Limited
Barnett Way
Barnwood
Gloucester
Gloucestershire
GL4 3RS
Date: [·]
BY HAND
BY REGISTERED/RECORDED DELIVERY POST
ENFORCEMENT OPTION NOTICE
1. | We refer to the Share Option Agreement dated September 2004 between Eggborough Power Holdings Limited, Barclays Bank PLC, Eggborough Power Limited and British Energy Power and Energy Trading Limited (the “Share Option Agreement”). |
2. | Terms defined in the Share Option Agreement shall have the same meanings in this Share Option Notice unless the context requires otherwise. References to a “Clause” are to a clause of the Share Option Agreement. |
3. | The Buyer hereby notifies the Seller pursuant to Clause 5.1.2 that it wishes to exercise the Option granted in Clause 3.1.2. |
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4. | The Buyer hereby notifies the Seller that the Enforcement Option Completion Date shall be [•]. |
Signed by [·]
Director/Secretary
for and on behalf of
Barclays Bank PLC
acting as agent and security
trustee for the Finance Parties
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(On duplicate)
Eggborough Power (Holdings) Limited acknowledges receipt of the notice from Barclays Bank PLC of which this is a duplicate, and confirms acceptance of its terms.
Dated: [·]
Signed by [·]
Director/Secretary
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SCHEDULE 4
WARRANTIES
Incorporation and existence
1. | The Seller is a limited company incorporated under Scottish law and has been in continuous existence since incorporation. |
Right, power, authority and action
2. | The Seller has the right, power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute, deliver and exercise its rights, and perform its obligations, under this Agreement. |
3. | The Seller has the right, power and authority to conduct its business as conducted at the date of this Agreement. |
Binding agreements
4. | The Seller’s obligations under this Agreement are enforceable in accordance with their terms. |
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SCHEDULE 5
INSTRUCTION LETTERTO ESCROW AGENT
TO: | [insert name and address of Escrow Agent] |
Dear Sirs
Escrow Account
We are writing to confirm the terms on which money deposited with you today by Barclays Bank PLC (the “Buyer”) (the “Escrow Fund”) is to be held by you on trust for us. These terms are:
1. | You shall maintain the Escrow Fund in a separately designated interest-bearing account with [Bank] in your name. |
2. | Subject to Paragraph 4 below, you shall pay or hold the Escrow Fund (or any part of it) to or for the person or in the manner directed in our joint written instructions. |
3. | If either of us (the “Payee”): |
3.1 | notifies you that the other is in breach of its obligation to notify or has not complied with its obligation to instruct you to pay an amount in accordance with the share option agreement dated September 2004 between us, Eggborough Power Limited and British Energy Power and Energy Trading Limited; and |
3.2 | produces evidence in writing that the other has accepted that the Payee is entitled to be paid the amount notified or a decision of a tax authority or a judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction against which no appeal has been lodged or is capable of being lodged within the statutory time limit to the effect that the Payee is entitled to be paid the amount notified, you shall pay or hold the amount notified to or for the Payee or in the manner directed in the Payee’s written instructions. |
4. | You may withdraw from the Escrow Fund an amount of tax on the interest earned in respect of the Escrow Fund for which you are or may become liable. |
5. | We shall each pay one half of your costs in respect of any work done pursuant to the terms of this letter. |
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6. | This letter shall be governed by and construed in accordance with English law. |
Yours sincerely
Signed by [·] |
Director/Secretary |
for and on behalf of |
Eggborough Power (Holdings) Limited |
|
Signed by [·] |
Director/Secretary |
for and on behalf of |
Barclays Bank PLC |
acting as agent and |
security trustee for the |
Finance Parties |
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SCHEDULE 6
ENFORCEMENTFEE
£ (millions)
From: | April-03 | April-04 | April-05 | April-06 | April-07 | April-08 | April-09 | |||||||
To: | March-04 | March-05 | March-06 | March-07 | March-08 | March-09 | August-09 | |||||||
April | — | 29 | 57 | 76 | 89 | 104 | 104 | |||||||
May | — | 32 | 58 | 77 | 91 | 104 | 104 | |||||||
June | — | 34 | 60 | 78 | 92 | 104 | 104 | |||||||
July | — | 36 | 62 | 79 | 93 | 104 | 104 | |||||||
August | — | 39 | 63 | 80 | 95 | 104 | 104 | |||||||
September | — | 41 | 65 | 81 | 96 | 104 | ||||||||
October | — | 43 | 66 | 83 | 97 | 104 | ||||||||
November | 5 | 46 | 68 | 84 | 99 | 104 | ||||||||
December | 10 | 48 | 70 | 85 | 100 | 104 | ||||||||
January | 16 | 50 | 71 | 86 | 101 | 104 | ||||||||
February | 21 | 53 | 73 | 87 | 103 | 104 | ||||||||
March | 27 | 55 | 75 | 88 | 104 | 104 |
**** indicates material omitted and filed separately with the Commission | - 46 - |
SCHEDULE 7
FORMOF DISPOSAL NOTICE
To: | Eggborough Power (Holdings) Limited 3 Redwood Crescent Peel Park East Kilbride G74 5PR | BY HAND or BY REGISTERED/RECORDED DELIVERY POST |
1. | We refer to the Share Option Agreement (the “Option Agreement”) dated September 2004 between Eggborough Power (Holdings) Limited, Eggborough Power Limited, British Energy Power and Energy Trading Limited and Barclays Bank PLC. |
2. | Terms defined in the Option Agreement shall have the same meanings in this Disposal Notice unless the context otherwise requires. |
3. | We, Barclays Bank PLC Registration No. 01026167, as Buyer offer to make to you the Disposal referred to in the contract (being a Disposal Agreement (as defined in the Option Agreement)) which accompanies this notice in duplicate, one copy of which has been signed by us. |
4. | If you wish to accept the offer constituted by this notice, a Seller’s Group Company must do so by signing and dating the copy of the contract which has been signed by us and then returning such copy to us within the Acceptance Period referred to in the Option Agreement. |
Dated [·] |
|
Director/Company Secretary for and |
on behalf ofBarclays Bank PLC |
acting as agent and security |
trustee for the Finance Parties |
**** indicates material omitted and filed separately with the Commission | - 47 - |
SCHEDULE 8
CONFIDENTIALITY UNDERTAKING
STRICTLY PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL
To: | [·] |
Date: [·]
Dear Sirs,
Eggborough Power Limited (registered number 03782700) (the “Company”)
We understand that you wish to access the coal fired power station located at Eggborough (the “Plant”) owned by us for the purposes of performing due diligence on the Plant including (but not limited to) engineering due diligence for the purposes of considering a potential direct or indirect investment (that may include the purchase of an option to buy all the issued shares in the Company) (the “Permitted Purpose”).
Unless otherwise defined, terms in this letter have the same meaning as given in the Credit Agreement.
“Act” means the Companies Act 1985.
“Credit Agreement” means the credit agreement originally dated 13 July 2000 as amended and restated on 8 September 2000, 24 October 2000, 12 December 2000, 5 February 2001 and on or about the Restructuring Date between,inter alios, the Company and Barclays Bank PLC as agent and security trustee.
“Information” means information of whatever nature relating to the Group supplied to you or your advisers by or on behalf of the Company or any other member of the Group in writing, orally or otherwise and includes any information obtained by you, in writing or orally, through discussions with the management, employees and advisers of the Company or any other member of the Group, together with any reports, analyses, compilations, studies or other documents prepared by you or on your behalf which contain or otherwise reflect such information, but “Information” shall not include such information which is in or which comes into the public domain other than as a result of:
(a) | a breach by you of the obligations imposed by this letter (or by any person to whom disclosure of information is made as permitted under this letter); or |
(b) | a breach by you (or any other such person) of any other duty of confidentiality relating to that information. |
1. | In consideration of the Company agreeing to supply you Information, you acknowledge that the Information is confidential and is received by you under a duty of confidentiality to the Company and for the exclusive purpose of the Permitted Purpose, and you undertake with the Company as follows: |
1.1 | You will keep confidential and not disclose to any person, other than as permitted under Sub-paragraph 1.4, your interest in, and your discussions and negotiations with, the Banks, the Company and any other member of the Group in connection with the Permitted Purpose; |
**** indicates material omitted and filed separately with the Commission | - 48 - |
1.2 | You will keep all Information confidential and in a secure place and not disclose any Information to any person, other than as permitted under Sub-paragraph 1.4; |
1.3 | You will use Information solely for the Permitted Purpose and not for any other purpose; |
1.4 | You will not, without the prior written consent of the Company, disclose any Information to any person other than those of your senior executives, the senior executives of your associated undertakings, employees and those members of your professional advisers who, in each case, need to know the Information for the purpose of evaluating or advising (as appropriate) in relation to the Permitted Purpose or (subject to Sub-paragraph 1.6) as required by law or other regulation applicable to you save that, where you have acquired all the issued shares in the Company, you shall be entitled to disclose such information as would no longer be proprietary to the Group; |
1.5 | You will procure that each person to whom disclosure of Information is made as permitted under Sub-paragraph 1.4 is made aware (in advance of disclosure) of the terms of this letter and you will procure that each such person provides a confidentiality undertaking to you on substantially the same terms as this undertaking and also includes an express acknowledgement and confirmation that such person extends the terms of such undertaking for the benefit of each member of the Group; and |
1.6 | You will promptly notify the Company and EPHL in writing if any Information is required to be disclosed by law or other regulation or any stock exchange whether in the United Kingdom or elsewhere and cooperate with the Company its ultimate parent regarding the timing and content of such disclosure or any action which the Company or its ultimate parent may reasonably elect to take to challenge the validity of such requirement. |
2. | You further acknowledge and confirm to the Company that: |
2.1 | Your obligations under this letter shall extend to protect each and every member of the Group; and |
2.2 | Your obligations under this letter shall be continuing for a period of two years from the date of this letter, in particular they shall survive the termination of any discussions or negotiations between you, the Company, and each other member of the Group and the Banks regarding the Plant and/or the issued shares in the Company. |
3. | The Company and any other member of the Group are permitted to enforce the terms of this letter against you under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999. |
**** indicates material omitted and filed separately with the Commission | - 49 - |
4. | Please note that, by providing to you Information, the Company and each other member of the Group makes no representation or warranty to you or any other recipient of the Information as to the accuracy or completeness of the Information or to the accuracy or completeness of the copies of the Information. |
Please indicate your acceptance of the above by signing and returning the enclosed copy of this letter under confidential cover as soon as possible.
Yours faithfully, |
Station Director |
for and on behalf of |
Eggborough Power Limited |
|
[Authorised Signatory] |
for and on behalf of |
Eggborough Power (Holdings) Limited |
Accepted and agreed: |
|
for and on behalf of [·] |
**** indicates material omitted and filed separately with the Commission | - 50 - |
EXECUTED by the parties: | ||||
Signed by | ) | |||
a duly authorised representative of/ | ) | |||
for and on behalf of | ) | |||
EGGBOROUGH POWER | ) | ROBERT ARMOUR | ||
(HOLDINGS) LIMITED | ) | |||
Signed by | ) | |||
a duly authorised representative of/ | ) | |||
for and on behalf of | ) | SIMON DEAVES | ||
BARCLAYS BANK PLC | ) | |||
Signed by | ) | |||
a duly authorised representative of/ | ) | |||
for and on behalf of | ) | ROBERT ARMOUR | ||
EGGBOROUGH POWER LIMITED | ) | |||
Signed by | ) | |||
a duly authorised representative of/ | ) | |||
for and on behalf of | ) | |||
BRITISH ENERGY POWER AND | ) | ROBERT ARMOUR | ||
ENERGY TRADING LIMITED | ) |
**** indicates material omitted and filed separately with the Commission | - 51 - |