(ii)Due Authorization. Seller has full power to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and has taken all proper action to authorize entering into this Agreement and performance of its obligations hereunder.
(iii)Approvals. Other than requirements (if any) that there be obtained consents to assignment (or waivers of preferential rights to purchase) from third parties, and except for approvals ("Routine Governmental Approvals") required to be obtained from governmental entities who are lessors under leases forming a part of the Oil and Gas Properties (or who administer such leases on behalf of such lessors) which are customarily obtained post-closing and which Seller has no reason to believe cannot be obtained to Seller's knowledge (which, as used in this Agreement, shall mean to the actual knowledge of any of Seller's officers) and except as set forth inExhibit 4(a)(iii), neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, nor the compliance with the terms hereof, will result in any default under any agreement or instrument to which Seller is a party or by which the Properties are bound, or violate any order, writ, injunction, decree, statute, rule or regulation applicable to Seller or to the Properties.
(iv)Valid, Binding and Enforceable. This Agreement constitutes (and the Conveyance provided for herein to be delivered at Closing will, when executed and delivered, constitute) the legal, valid and binding obligation of Seller, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as limited by bankruptcy or other laws applicable generally to creditor's rights and as limited by general equitable principles.
(v)Litigation. Except for those suits, actions and other proceedings that are listed onExhibit 4(a)(v) or to which Seller is not a party and that affect the oil and gas industry generally or in the states where the Oil and Gas Properties are located, there are no pending, and to the best of Seller's knowledge, threatened suits, actions, or other proceedings which affect the Properties in any material respect (including, without limitation, any actions challenging or pertaining to Seller's title to any of the Properties), or affecting the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
(vi)AFE's. With respect to the joint, unit or other operating agreements relating to the Properties, except as set forth inExhibit 4(a)(vi), there are no calls or payments in excess of $25,000.00 under authorities for expenditures for payments relating to the Properties which are due or which Seller has committed to make which have not been made.
(vii)Contractual Restrictions. Seller has not entered into any contracts for or received prepayments, take-or-pay arrangements, buydowns, buyouts for Oil and Gas, or storage of the same relating to the Properties which Buyer shall be obligated to honor and make deliveries of Oil and Gas or pay refunds of amounts previously paid under such contracts or arrangements.
(viii)Operating Permits and Consents. Except as to Required Permits (hereinafter defined) relating to or arising under Environmental Laws (hereinafter defined), with respect to Properties, to the best of Seller's knowledge, (i) the operator of such Properties has acquired all permits, licenses, certificates, authorizations, approvals and consents from appropriate governmental bodies, authorities and agencies which are required to conduct operations on the Properties in material compliance with applicable laws, rules, regulations, ordinances and orders (the"Required Permits"), (ii) the operator of such Properties has made any necessary applications for renewal of the Required Permits, (iii) the Required Permits are in full force and effect and (iv) the Properties are in material compliance with all Required Permits. To the best of Seller's knowledge, all Required Permits are listed onExhibit 4(a)(viii). Seller shall assist Buyer in causing the transfer of a ny Required Permit (on the same terms and conditions) to Buyer as may be necessary to allow Buyer to operate the Properties as currently conducted. Seller has not been advised, in writing, that any violations exist or have been recorded in respect of any Required Permits, or the filings or reports related thereto, and no judicial, administrative or arbitral proceeding is pending or, to the best of Seller's knowledge, threatened relating to the challenging, revocation or limitation of any of the Required Permits, or the filings or reports related thereto.
(ix)Broker's Fees. Seller shall retain the obligation or liability, contingent or otherwise, for brokers' or finders' fees for brokers or finders claiming by, through, or under Seller in respect of the matters provided for in this Agreement and Buyer shall have no responsibility therefor.
(x)Taxes. Except as set forth inExhibit 4(a)(x), (i) Seller has filed (with respect to the Properties) all material Tax returns that are due by Seller, (ii) all Taxes due with respect to the Properties have been paid, and (iii) there is no material dispute or claim concerning any Tax liability of the Seller (with respect to the Properties) claimed or raised by any Tax authority in writing. For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Tax" or "Taxes" means any federal, state, local or tribal, income, gross receipts, license, payroll, employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, windfall profits, environmental (including taxes under Section 59A of the Code), custom duties, capital stock, franchise, profits, withholding, social security (or similar excises), unemployment, disability, real property, personal property, ad valorem, production and similar taxes based on the value of property or production of Oil and Gas, sales, use, transfer, registration, val ue added, alternative or add-on minimum, estimated, or other tax of any kind whatsoever, including any interest, penalty or addition thereto, whether disputed or not.
(xi)Preferential Purchase Rights and Restrictions on Assignment. To the best of Seller's knowledge, all preferential purchase rights, consent requirements, notice of assignment requirements and any other restrictions or limitations on assignment with respect to the Properties (collectively, the"Preferential Rights and Consents") are identified and set forth onExhibit 4(a)(xi).
(xii)Compliance with Laws. To the best of Seller's knowledge, except in regard to Environmental Laws, the Properties, have been operated, in substantial compliance with all laws, ordinances, regulations and orders applicable to the Properties, except where the failure to be in such compliance would not, singularly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Properties taken as a whole.
(xiii)Tax Partnerships. The Properties are not subject to any tax partnership agreement which would bind Buyer.
(xiv)Interests in Full Force. To the best of Seller's knowledge, the following statements are true as to the Properties: (i) All Leases, unit agreements, pooling agreements, communitization agreements and other agreements or documents creating interests comprising the Properties are in full force and effect, (ii) Seller is in substantial compliance with all express covenants thereunder, (iii) there are no amounts claimed to be due to Seller in respect to the Properties that are being held in suspense because of a dispute as to title of such Properties or for any other reason, (iv) Seller is entitled to be paid, and is being paid, its interest in the Properties without indemnity or guarantee other than those customarily found in division orders and other similar agreements and documents and (v) Seller has not received written notice that it is in default under the items described in (i) above which default would have or could reasonably be expected to have a material adver se effect on any of the Properties.
(xv)Material Contracts.Exhibit 4(a)(xv) to this Agreement is a complete list of all existing material contracts with respect to the Properties (collectively the"Material Contracts"). To Seller's knowledge, all the Material Contracts are valid and effective. Seller has not received written notice that it is in default under any Material Contract, which default would have or could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on any of the Properties. As used in this provision, Material Contracts (excluding the agreements and documents creating the Interests) means:
(1) All AFE's currently outstanding affecting the Properties which require a future expenditure in the aggregate in excess of $25,000; and
(2) Any agreement that has a term of one (1) year or more and/or provides for future payments aggregating in excess of $25,000 that is not terminable (without penalty) on no more than thirty (30) days notice.
(xvi)Production Imbalances. Except as set forth onExhibit 4(a)(xvi), there are no production imbalances relating to the Properties.
(xvii)Wells. To the best knowledge of Seller, (i) all of the Wells have been drilled and completed within the boundaries of the Leases, Units or Interests or within the limits otherwise permitted by contract, pooling or unit agreement, and by applicable law; all drilling and completion of such Wells and all development and operations on the Properties have been conducted in substantial compliance with all of the terms and conditions of the Contracts and the applicable agreements and documents creating the Interests and (ii) no Well is subject to penalties on allowables because of any overproduction or any other violation of any applicable law, Required Permit or order that would prevent such Well from being entitled to its full legal and regular allowable from and after the Closing Date as prescribed by any governmental authority.
(xviii)Condition of Properties. To the best of Seller's knowledge, all wells, fixtures, facilities, personal property and equipment that are material to the operation of the Wells operated by Seller have been and are currently being maintained in a state of repair so as to be adequate for normal operations as currently operated. To the best of Seller's knowledge, all wells, fixtures, facilities, personal property and equipment that are material to the operation of Wells that are not operated by Seller have been and are currently being maintained in a state of repair so as to be adequate for normal operations as currently operated.
(xix)Securities Representations.
(1) Except for any distribution of the Shares to its members and any Member's sale pursuant to registration under Section 18, the Seller will hold the Shares for its own account for investment purposes only, and not with a view to, or for resale in connection with, any distribution of all or any part thereof, except in compliance with applicable federal or state securities laws.
(2) Seller understands that (A) the Shares (1) have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws, (2) will be issued in reliance upon exemptions from registration under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws for an offer and sale of securities not involving a public offering, and(3) may not be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of without satisfaction of certain conditions, including registration under, or the availability of any exemption from registration under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, and (B) Seller must therefore bear the economic risk of such investment indefinitely unless a subsequent disposition thereof is registered under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or is exempt therefrom. Seller further understands that such exemptions depend upon, among other things, the nature of the investment intent of Seller expressed herein.
(3) Seller has been furnished by Buyer and Energen all information (or provided access to all information) regarding the business and financial condition of Energen, the attributes of the Shares and the merits and risks of an investment in the Shares which Seller has requested to evaluate an investment in the Shares. Specifically, Seller acknowledges that Seller has had an opportunity to review Energen's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2001 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2001 and the other SEC Documents (as defined in Section 5(i)).
(4) Seller is an "accredited investor" as defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D promulgated under the Act, and Seller, or those persons retained by Seller, have knowledge, skill and experience in financial, business and investment matters relating to an investment of the same nature as the Shares and are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of such investment and protecting Seller in connection with the purchase and an investment in the Shares. Seller has, to the extent deemed necessary, retained, at its own expense, and relied upon, appropriate professional advice regarding the investment, tax and legal merits and consequences of an investment in the Shares. Seller has examined the SEC Documents, or caused the same to be examined, by its representatives to the extent it deems necessary or appropriate. Seller has not received any legal, business, tax or other advice from Energen, its counsel or other representatives.
(5) No person or entity, other than Energen, has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations on behalf of Energen in connection with the purchase, and if given or made, such information or representations have not been relied upon by Seller as having been made or authorized by Energen. The only representations, warranties and information made by Energen in connection with the purchase are those contained in this Agreement and the SEC Documents.
(6) Energen has provided Seller the opportunity to ask questions of, and receive answers from, Energen and Buyer and their respective officers and directors concerning the purchase and the Shares and to obtain any appropriate additional information necessary to the investment decision being made by Seller in connection with the Purchase and the Shares.