EXECUTION COPY
EXHIBIT 10.9
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NEW OMNIBUS AGREEMENT
among
WEG Acquisitions, L.P.,
Williams Energy Services, LLC,
Williams Natural Gas Liquids, Inc.
and
The Williams Companies, Inc.
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NEW OMNIBUS AGREEMENT
THIS NEW OMNIBUS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is entered into on, and
effective as of, June 17, 2003 among WEG Acquisitions, L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership ("Buyer"), Williams Energy Services, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company ("WES"), Williams Natural Gas Liquids, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("WNGL"), and The Williams Companies, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("Williams", and together with WES and WNGL, the "Williams Parties").
R E C I T A L S:
WHEREAS, Williams, WES, WNGL, Williams Pipe Line Company, LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company ("WPL"), Williams Energy Partners, L.P., a
Delaware limited partnership (the "MLP"), Williams OLP, L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership (the "OLP"), Williams GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
(the "Old GP"), and Williams Information Technology, Inc. (f/k/a Williams
Information Services Corporation), a Delaware corporation, entered into that
certain Omnibus Agreement, effective as of February 9, 2001, as amended by the
Amendment I thereto, dated January 28, 2002, the Second Amendment thereto, dated
April 11, 2002, and the Third Amendment thereto, dated September 30, 2002 (as
amended, the "Old Omnibus Agreement");
WHEREAS, Buyer, WES, WNGL and the Old GP have entered into that certain
Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 18, 2003, as amended by Amendment No. 1
thereto dated as of May 5, 2003 (as amended, the "Purchase Agreement"), for the
purchase and sale of all of the membership interests of WEG GP LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company ("WEG GP LLC"), all of the common units and
subordinated units representing limited partner interests in the MLP owned by
WES and WNGL, and all of the class B common units representing limited partner
interests in the MLP owned by the Old GP (as contemplated in the Purchase
Agreement, the "Transaction");
WHEREAS, the Old Omnibus Agreement will terminate upon closing of the
Transaction (the "Closing" and the date on which the Closing occurs, the
"Closing Date"); and
WHEREAS, the parties hereto specifically intend for each of the
entities comprising the Partnership Entities and the Partnership Group, as
applicable, to be third-party beneficiaries with respect to certain of the
rights and benefits herein of the parties hereto.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants,
conditions, and agreements contained herein, and for other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the
parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
1.1 DEFINITIONS.
(a) Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall
have the meanings given to them in the MLP Agreement.
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(b) As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall
have the respective meanings set forth below:
"Accounting Referee" is defined in Section 9.1(a).
"Acquisition Date" means April 11, 2002, the date WES
contributed and the MLP acquired all of the membership interests in
WPL.
"Affiliate" of a Person means a Person that directly or
indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled
by, or is under common control with, the first-mentioned Person.
"Applicable Period" means the period commencing on the Closing
Date and terminating on the second (2nd) anniversary of the Closing
Date.
"Assignee" is defined in the MLP Agreement.
"Buyer" is defined in the introduction to this Agreement.
"Buyer Entities" means the Buyer and any entity that directly,
or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, is controlled by the
Buyer, including WEG GP LLC (but excluding each entity comprising the
Partnership Group).
"Buyer Offer" is defined in Section 3.3(a).
"Change of Control" means, with respect to any Person (the
"Applicable Person"), any of the following events:
(i) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer
(in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or
substantially all of the Applicable Person's assets to any other
Person, unless immediately following such sale, lease, exchange or
other transfer such assets are owned, directly or indirectly, by the
Applicable Person;
(ii) the consolidation or merger of the
Applicable Person with or into another Person pursuant to a transaction
in which the outstanding Voting Securities of the Applicable Person are
changed into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other
than any such transaction where (a) the outstanding Voting Securities
of the Applicable Person are changed into or exchanged for Voting
Securities of the surviving corporation or its parent and (b) the
holders of the Voting Securities of the Applicable Person immediately
prior to such transaction own, directly or indirectly, not less than a
majority of the Voting Securities of the surviving corporation or its
parent immediately after such transaction;
(iii) a "person" or "group" (within the meaning of
Sections 13(d) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) being or becoming the
"beneficial owner" (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the
Exchange Act, except that a person or group shall be deemed to have
"beneficial ownership" of all Voting Securities that such person or
group has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable
immediately or only after the
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passage of time) of more than 50% of all of the then outstanding Voting
Securities of the Applicable Person, except in a merger or
consolidation that would not constitute a Change of Control under
clause (ii) above; or
(iv) solely with respect to WEG GP LLC, the
Continuing Directors of WEG GP LLC cease for any reason to constitute
all of the board of directors of WEG GP LLC then in office;
notwithstanding the foregoing, the events described in clauses (i)
through (iii) of this definition shall not constitute a Change of
Control of WEG GP LLC if the other Person (or "person" or "group," in
the case of clause (iii)) referred to in such clauses, immediately
prior to such transaction, is an Affiliate of Buyer or WEG GP LLC.
"Closing" is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
"Closing Date" is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
"Conflicts Committee" is defined in the MLP Agreement.
"Continuing Directors" means (1) all individuals constituting
the board of directors of WEG GP LLC immediately after the Closing and
(2) any new directors whose nomination for election to the board of
directors of WEG GP LLC was approved by WEG GP LLC or the board of
directors of WEG GP LLC, or the nominating committee of such board, at
a time that Continuing Directors comprised all of such board of
directors.
"control" means the possession, direct or indirect, of the
power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies
of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by
contract or otherwise.
"Covered Environmental Losses" is defined in Section 4.1.
"Environmental Laws" means all federal, state, and local laws,
statutes, rules, regulations, orders, and ordinances relating to
protection of health and the environment including, without limitation,
the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act, the Superfund Amendments Reauthorization Act, the
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Clean Air Act, the Federal
Water Pollution Control Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, the Oil
Pollution Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Hazardous Materials
Transportation Act, and other environmental conservation and protection
laws, each as amended through the IPO Date.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
"G&A Cap Amount" is defined in Section 7.1(a).
"General Partner" means WEG GP LLC and its successors as
general partner of the MLP, unless the context otherwise requires.
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"IPO Assets" is defined in Section 4.1.
"IPO Date" means February 9, 2001, the date of the closing of
the initial public offering of common units representing limited
partner interests in the MLP.
"Limited Partner" is defined in the MLP Agreement.
"MLP" is defined in the introduction to this Agreement.
"MLP Agreement" means the Second Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership of the MLP, dated as of September 27,
2002, as amended by Amendments Nos. 1 and 2 thereto, each dated as of
November 15, 2002, as such agreement may be further amended or
supplemented through the Closing Date, to which reference is hereby
made for all purposes of this Agreement. No amendment or modification
to the MLP Agreement subsequent to the Closing Date shall be given
effect for the purposes of this Agreement unless consented to by each
of the parties to this Agreement.
"OLP" is defined in the introduction to this Agreement.
"Old Omnibus Agreement" is defined in the recitals to this
Agreement.
"Partnership Entities" means the General Partner, the MLP, the
OLP, WPL and any entity controlled by any of the foregoing.
"Partnership Group" means the Partnership Entities, with the
exclusion of the General Partner.
"Payment Request" is defined in Section 9.1(a).
"Person" means an individual, corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated organization
or any other entity.
"Prospectus" means the MLP's final prospectus, dated February
5, 2001, relating to the initial public offering of common units
representing limited partner interests in the MLP, as filed with
Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the
Securities Act of 1933.
"Purchase Agreement" is defined in the recitals to this
Agreement.
"Refined Products" means all grades of motor gasoline,
distillate and aviation fuel.
"Restricted Assets" means, (i) with respect to the Williams
Entities, for purposes of Article II, any assets or any business having
assets engaged in the activities prohibited by Section 2.1 and (ii)
with respect to the Buyer Entities, for purposes of Article III, any
assets or any business having assets engaged in the activities
prohibited by Section 3.1.
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"Services Agreement" means the Services Agreement, dated the
date hereof, among Williams Petroleum Services, LLC, Williams Alaska
Pipeline Company, LLC, and WPL.
"Transaction" is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
"Transition Services Agreement" means the Transition Services
Agreement, dated the date hereof, between Buyer and Williams.
"Upper Cap Amount" is defined in Section 7.2(c)(i).
"Voting Securities" means securities of any class of a Person
entitling the holders thereof to vote on a regular basis in the
election of members of the board of directors or other similar
governing body of such Person; provided, however, that in the case of
WEG GP LLC, "Voting Securities" shall refer solely to the membership
interests in WEG GP LLC.
"WAP LP" is defined in Section 5.1.
"WEG GP LLC" is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
"WES" is defined in the introduction to this Agreement.
"Williams" is defined in the introduction to this Agreement.
"Williams Entities" means Williams and any entity that
directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls,
is controlled by or is under common control with Williams, including
without limitation, WNGL, WES and the Old GP.
"Williams Offer" is defined in Section 2.3(a).
"Williams Parties" is defined in the recitals to this
Agreement.
"WNGL" is defined in the introduction to this Agreement.
"WPL" is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
"WTH LP" is defined in Section 5.2.
"2003 Pre-Closing Stub Period" is defined in Section
7.1(b)(i)(A).
"2003 Pre-Closing Cap" is defined in Section 7.1(b)(i)(A).
"2003 Post-Closing Stub Period" is defined in Section
7.1(b)(i)(B).
"2003 Post-Closing Cap" is defined in Section 7.1(b)(i)(B).
"2003 Post-Closing Upper Cap Amount" is defined in Section
7.2(c)(ii)(A).
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"2004 Stub Period" is defined in Section 7.2(c)(iii)(B).
"2004 Stub Period Upper Cap Amount" is defined in Section
7.2(c)(iii)(B).
ARTICLE II
WILLIAMS ENTITIES' BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
2.1 WILLIAMS ENTITIES RESTRICTED ASSETS. During the Applicable
Period, the Williams Entities shall be prohibited from engaging in or acquiring
any business having assets engaged in the following activities:
(a) the transportation, storage or distribution of
ammonia or related products in the United States;
(b) the ownership and operation of facilities for the
terminalling and storage of refined petroleum products in any state in the
United States, except Alaska and Hawaii;
(c) Refined Product transportation (including, without
limitation, through joint tariff arrangements or capacity leases or otherwise)
to a delivery point within a 50-mile radius of a Refined Products delivery point
owned or supplied by a Partnership Entity on the Acquisition Date; and
(d) Refinery grade butane transportation from the Koch
Pine Bend, MN, refinery, Marathon St. Paul, MN refinery, ExxonMobil Joilet
refinery, BP Whiting, IN refinery and CITGO Lemont, IL refinery.
2.2 PERMITTED EXCEPTIONS. Notwithstanding any provision of Section
2.1 to the contrary, any Williams Entity may own and operate Restricted Assets
under the following circumstances:
(a) The Restricted Asset was owned, leased or operated by
the Williams Entities on the Closing Date;
(b) The value of the Restricted Assets acquired after the
Closing Date in a transaction does not exceed $20 million at the time of the
acquisition, as determined by Williams, in its reasonable sole discretion;
(c) (i) The value of the Restricted Assets acquired after
the Closing Date in a transaction exceeds $20 million at the time of
acquisition, as determined by Williams, in its reasonable sole discretion, and
(ii) the General Partner has elected not to cause a member of the Partnership
Group to pursue such opportunity in accordance with the procedures set forth in
Section 2.3; or
(d) The value of the Restricted Assets acquired after the
Closing Date in a transaction represents less than 30% of the consideration paid
by Williams or another Williams Entity in connection with such transaction, as
determined by Williams, in its reasonable sole discretion.
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2.3 PROCEDURES. In the event that, pursuant to Section 2.2(c), a
Williams Entity acquires Restricted Assets valued or having an original cost in
excess of $20 million at the time of the acquisition, as determined by Williams,
in its reasonable sole discretion, then not later than six (6) months after the
consummation of the acquisition by such Williams Entity of the Restricted
Assets, such Williams Entity shall notify the General Partner of such purchase
and offer the Partnership Group the opportunity to purchase such Restricted
Assets. As soon as practicable, but in any event, within sixty (60) days after
receipt of such notification, the General Partner shall notify the Williams
Entity that either (i) the General Partner has elected not to cause a member of
the Partnership Group to purchase such Restricted Assets, in which event such
Williams Entity shall be forever free to continue to own or operate such
Restricted Assets, or (ii) the General Partner has elected to cause a member of
the Partnership Group to purchase such Restricted Assets, in which event the
following procedures shall be followed:
(a) Within thirty (30) days of receipt of the notice from
the General Partner that the General Partner has elected to cause a member of
the Partnership Group to purchase the Restricted Assets, Williams shall submit
an offer to the General Partner to sell the Restricted Assets (the "Williams
Offer") to any member of the Partnership Group selected by the General Partner
on the terms and for the consideration stated in the Williams Offer;
(b) Williams and the General Partner shall negotiate
after receipt of such Williams Offer by the General Partner, the terms on which
the Restricted Assets will be sold to a member of the Partnership Group.
Williams shall provide all information concerning the business, operations and
finances of such Restricted Assets as may be reasonably requested by the General
Partner.
(i) If Williams and the General Partner agree on
such terms within sixty (60) days after receipt by the General Partner
of the Williams Offer, the General Partner shall cause a member of the
Partnership Group to purchase the Restricted Assets on such terms as
soon as commercially practicable after such agreement has been reached;
(ii) If Williams and the General Partner are
unable to agree on the terms of a sale during the 60-day period after
receipt by the General Partner of the Williams Offer, Williams and the
General Partner will engage an independent investment banking firm with
a national reputation to determine the fair market value of the
Restricted Assets. In determining the fair market value of the
Restricted Assets, the investment banking firm will have access to the
proposed sale and purchase values for the Restricted Assets submitted
by Williams and the General Partner, respectively. Such investment
banking firm will determine the value of the Restricted Assets within
thirty (30) days and furnish Williams and the General Partner its
opinion of such value. The fees of the investment banking firm's
appraisal will be split equally between Williams and the MLP. Upon
receipt of such opinion, the General Partner will have the option, but
not the obligation to:
(iii)
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(A) cause a member of the Partnership Group
to purchase the Restricted Assets in accordance with
the following process:
(1) if the valuation of the investment
banking firm is in the range between the
proposed sale/purchase values of Williams
and the General Partner, the General Partner
will have the right to cause a member of the
Partnership Group to purchase the Restricted
Assets at the valuation submitted by the
investment banking firm;
(2) if the valuation of the investment
banking firm is less than the proposed
purchase value submitted by the General
Partner, the General Partner will have the
right to cause a member of the Partnership
Group to purchase the Restricted Assets for
the amount submitted by the General Partner;
and
(3) if the valuation of the investment
banking firm is greater than the proposed
sale value submitted by Williams, the
General Partner will have the right to cause
a member of the Partnership Group to
purchase the Restricted Assets for the
amount submitted by Williams; or
(B) decline to purchase such Restricted
Assets, in which event the Williams Entity forever
will be free to continue to own and operate such
Restricted Assets.
2.4 SCOPE OF PROHIBITION. Williams and any other Williams Entity
shall only be required to offer Restricted Assets to the General Partner for
purchase by a member of the Partnership Group upon the terms and conditions,
including the price to be paid, contained in this Article II. Except as provided
in this Article II, each Williams Entity shall be free to engage in any business
activity whatsoever, including those that may be in direct competition with
Buyer or any Partnership Entity.
ARTICLE III
BUYER ENTITIES' BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
3.1 BUYER ENTITIES RESTRICTED ASSETS. During the Applicable
Period, the Buyer Entities shall be prohibited from engaging in or acquiring any
business having assets engaged in the following activities:
(a) the transportation, storage or distribution of
ammonia or related products in the United States;
(b) the ownership and operation of facilities for the
terminalling and storage of refined petroleum products in any state in the
United States, except Alaska and Hawaii; and
(c) Refined Product transportation (including, without
limitation, through joint tariff arrangements or capacity leases or otherwise)
to a delivery point within a 50-mile
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radius of a Refined Products delivery point owned or supplied by a Partnership
Entity on the Acquisition Date.
3.2 PERMITTED EXCEPTIONS. Notwithstanding any provision of Section
3.1 to the contrary, any Buyer Entity may own and operate Restricted Assets
under the following circumstances:
(a) The Restricted Asset was owned, leased or operated by
the Buyer Entities on the Closing Date;
(b) The Restricted Asset is owned, leased or operated by
the Buyer Entities on behalf of the Partnership Group;
(c) The value of the Restricted Assets acquired after the
Closing Date in a transaction does not exceed $20 million at the time of the
acquisition, as determined by Buyer, in its reasonable sole discretion;
(d) (i) The value of the Restricted Assets acquired after
the Closing Date in a transaction exceeds $20 million at the time of
acquisition, as determined by Buyer, in its reasonable sole discretion, and (ii)
the General Partner (with the approval of the Conflicts Committee) has elected
not to cause a member of the Partnership Group to pursue such opportunity in
accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 3.3; or
(e) The value of the Restricted Assets acquired after the
Closing Date in a transaction represents less than 30% of the consideration paid
by Buyer or another Buyer Entity in connection with such transaction, as
determined by Buyer, in its reasonable sole discretion.
3.3 PROCEDURE. In the event that, pursuant to Section 3.2(d), a
Buyer Entity acquires Restricted Assets valued or having an original cost in
excess of $20 million at the time of the acquisition, as determined by Buyer, in
its reasonable sole discretion, then not later than six (6) months after the
consummation of the acquisition by such Buyer Entity of the Restricted Assets,
such Buyer Entity shall notify the General Partner of such purchase and offer
the Partnership Group the opportunity to purchase such Restricted Assets. As
soon as practicable, but in any event, within sixty (60) days after receipt of
such notification, the General Partner shall notify the Buyer Entity that either
(i) the General Partner has elected (with the approval of the Conflicts
Committee) not to cause a member of the Partnership Group to purchase such
Restricted Assets, in which event such Buyer Entity shall be forever free to
continue to own or operate such Restricted Assets, or (ii) the General Partner
(with the approval of the Conflicts Committee) has elected to cause a member of
the Partnership Group to purchase such Restricted Assets, in which event the
following procedures shall be followed:
(a) Within thirty (30) days of receipt of the notice from
the General Partner that General Partner has elected to cause a member of the
Partnership Group to purchase the Restricted Assets, the Buyer Entity shall
submit an offer to the General Partner to sell the Restricted Assets (the "Buyer
Offer") to any member of the Partnership Group selected by the General Partner
on the terms and for the consideration stated in the Buyer Offer;
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(b) The Buyer Entity and the General Partner shall
negotiate after receipt of such Buyer Offer by the General Partner, the terms on
which the Restricted Assets will be sold to a member of the Partnership Group.
The Buyer Entity shall provide all information concerning the business,
operations and finances of such Restricted Assets as may be reasonably requested
by the General Partner.
(i) If the Buyer Entity and the General Partner
agree on such terms within sixty (60) days after receipt by the General
Partner of the Buyer Offer, a member of the Partnership Group shall
purchase the Restricted Assets on such terms as soon as commercially
practicable after such agreement has been reached;
(ii) If the Buyer Entity and the General Partner
are unable to agree on the terms of a sale during the 60-day period
after receipt by the General Partner of the Buyer Offer, the Buyer
Entity and the General Partner will engage an independent investment
banking firm with a national reputation to determine the fair market
value of the Restricted Assets. In determining the fair market value of
the Restricted Assets, the investment banking firm will have access to
the proposed sale and purchase values for the Restricted Assets
submitted by the Buyer Entity and the General Partner, respectively.
Such investment banking firm will determine the value of the Restricted
Assets within thirty (30) days and furnish the Buyer Entity and the
General Partner its opinion of such value. The fees of the investment
banking firm's appraisal will be split equally between the Buyer Entity
and the MLP. Upon receipt of such opinion, the General Partner will
have the option, but not the obligation to:
(iii)
(A) cause a member of the Partnership Group
to purchase the Restricted Assets in accordance with
the following process:
(1) if the valuation of the investment
banking firm is in the range between the
proposed sale/purchase values of the Buyer
Entity and the General Partner, a member of
the Partnership Group will have the right to
purchase the Restricted Assets at the
valuation submitted by the investment
banking firm;
(2) if the valuation of the investment
banking firm is less than the proposed
purchase value submitted by the General
Partner, a member of the Partnership Group
will have the right to purchase the
Restricted Assets for the amount submitted
by the General Partner; and
(3) if the valuation of the investment
banking firm is greater than the proposed
sale value submitted by the Buyer Entity, a
member of the Partnership Group will have
the right to purchase the Restricted Assets
for the amount submitted by the Buyer
Entity; or
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(B) decline to purchase such Restricted
Assets, in which event the Buyer Entity forever will
be free to continue to own and operate such
Restricted Assets.
3.4 SCOPE OF PROHIBITION. Except as provided in this Article III,
each Buyer Entity shall be free to engage in any business activity whatsoever,
including those that may be in direct competition with any member of the
Partnership Group.
ARTICLE IV
ENVIRONMENTAL INDEMNIFICATION
4.1 WES INDEMNIFICATION FOR COVERED ENVIRONMENTAL LOSSES. Williams
and WES, jointly and severally, shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the
Partnership Entities from and against any Covered Environmental Losses relating
to the assets of the Partnership Entities described in the Prospectus that arose
prior to the IPO Date (the "IPO Assets") that become known by February 9, 2004
and that exceed all amounts recovered or recoverable by any Partnership Entity
under contractual indemnities from third Persons or under any applicable
insurance policies. "Covered Environmental Losses" mean those non-contingent
environmental losses, costs, damages and expenses suffered or incurred by the
Partnership Entities arising from correction of violations of, or performance of
remediation required by, Environmental Laws in effect at the IPO Date due to
events and conditions associated with the operation of the IPO Assets and
occurring before the IPO Date.
4.2 LIMITATIONS. Williams and WES shall have no indemnification
obligation under Section 4.1 for claims made after February 9, 2004. The
aggregate liability of Williams and WES in respect of all Covered Environmental
Losses under Section 4.1 shall not exceed $13.3 million, representing $15
million less amounts previously paid by Williams or WES to the Partnership
Entities pursuant to Section 3.1 of the Old Omnibus Agreement.
ARTICLE V
RIGHT-OF-WAY INDEMNIFICATION
5.1 WNGL RIGHT-OF-WAY INDEMNIFICATION. Williams and WNGL, jointly
and severally, shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Partnership
Entities and their successors or assigns until February 9, 2016 from and against
any losses, costs, damages, expenses and fees suffered or incurred by any of the
Partnership Entities or their successors or assigns as a result of (a) the
failure of Williams Ammonia Pipeline, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("WAP
LP"), or its successors or assigns to be the owner of such valid and
indefeasible easement rights in and to the easements and rights of way in which
the ammonia pipeline was located as of the IPO Date and as are necessary to
enable WAP LP and its successors and assigns to continue to own and operate the
ammonia pipeline in the manner that it was owned and operated as of the IPO
Date; and (b) the failure of WAP LP or its successors and assigns to have the
consents and permits necessary to allow such pipeline to cross the roads,
waterways, railroads and other areas upon which the ammonia pipeline was located
as of the IPO Date.
5.2 WES RIGHT-OF-WAY INDEMNIFICATION. Williams and WES, jointly
and severally, shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless, the Partnership
Entities and their successors and
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assigns, until February 9, 2016, from and against any losses, costs, damages,
expenses and fees suffered or incurred by any of the Partnership Entities or
their successors or assigns as a result of (a) the failure of Williams Terminals
Holdings, L.P. , a Delaware limited partnership ("WTH LP"), or its successors
and assigns to be the owner of valid and indefeasible easement rights in and to
the easements and rights of way in which the pipelines that are associated with
the marine terminal facilities at Galena Park, Texas, Corpus Christi, Texas and
Marrero, Louisiana were located as of the IPO Date and that are necessary to
enable WTH LP and its successors and assigns to continue to own and operate the
pipelines in all material respects in the manner that such pipelines were owned
and operated prior to the IPO Date; and (b) the failure of WTH LP or its
successors and assigns to have the consents and permits necessary to allow such
pipelines to cross roads, waterways, railroads and other areas upon which such
pipelines were located as of the IPO Date.
ARTICLE VI
ENVIRONMENTAL AND RIGHT-OF-WAY INDEMNIFICATION PROCEDURES
6.1 Buyer agrees that within a reasonable period of time after
any Partnership Entity becomes aware of facts giving rise to a claim for
indemnification pursuant to Sections 4.1, 5.1 or 5.2, Buyer will use its
reasonable best efforts to cause such Partnership Entity to provide notice
thereof in writing to Williams, specifying the nature of and specific basis for
such claim.
(a) Except as provided in this Section 6.1(b), Williams
shall have the right to control all aspects of the defense of (and any
counterclaims with respect to) any claims brought against the Partnership
Entities that are covered by the indemnification set forth in Sections 4.1, 5.1
or 5.2, including, without limitation, the selection of counsel, determination
of whether to appeal any decision of any court and the settling of any such
matter or any issues relating thereto; provided, however, that no such
settlement shall be entered into without the consent of the Partnership Entities
unless it includes a full and unconditional release of the Partnership Entities
from all liability with respect to such matter or issues, as the case may be,
the sole relief provided is monetary damages that are paid in full by the
Williams Parties, and there is no admission or statement of fault or culpability
on the part of any Partnership Entity.
(b) Buyer agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to
cause the Partnership Entities, at their own cost and expense, to cooperate
fully with Williams with respect to all aspects of the defense of any claims
covered by the indemnification set forth in Sections 4.1, 5.1 or 5.2, including,
without limitation, the prompt furnishing to Williams of any correspondence or
other notice relating thereto that the Partnership Entities may receive,
permitting the names of the Partnership Entities to be utilized in connection
with such defense, the making available to Williams of any files, records or
other information of the Partnership Entities that Williams reasonably considers
relevant to such defense and the making reasonably available to Williams, during
normal business hours, of any employees of the Partnership Entities; provided,
however, that in connection therewith Williams agrees to use reasonable best
efforts to minimize the impact thereof on the operations of such Partnership
Entities. In no event shall the obligation of Buyer to use its reasonable best
efforts to cause the Partnership Entities to cooperate with Williams as set
forth in the immediately preceding sentence be construed as imposing upon the
Buyer or the Partnership Entities an obligation to hire and pay for counsel in
connection with the defense of any claims covered by the indemnification set
forth in this Article VI, it being agreed
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that the Williams Parties, jointly and severally, shall pay the fees and
expenses of such counsel; provided, further, that Buyer or the Partnership
Entities may hire and pay for separate counsel in connection with any such
defense, at the Buyers or the MLP's own option, cost and expense, as the case
may be; provided, further, that the Williams Parties, jointly and severally,
shall pay the fees and expenses of separate counsel for the Buyer or the
Partnership Entities if (i) the Williams Parties have agreed to pay such fees
and expenses or (ii) counsel for the Williams Parties reasonably determines that
representation of both the Williams Parties, on the one hand, and the
Partnership Entities, on the other hand, by the same counsel would create a
conflict of interest. Williams agrees to keep any counsel hired by the
Partnership Entities reasonably informed as to the status of any such defense,
but Williams shall have the right to retain sole control over such defense
except as provided above.
(c) In determining the amount of any loss, cost, damage
or expense for which any of the Partnership Entities are to be indemnified under
Sections 4.1, 5.1 or 5.2, the gross amount of the indemnification will be
reduced by (i) any insurance proceeds realized or to be realized by the
Partnership Entities, and such correlative insurance benefit shall be net of any
incremental insurance premium that becomes due and payable by the Partnership
Entities as a result of such claim and (ii) all amounts recovered or recoverable
by any Partnership Entity under contractual indemnities from third Persons as
described in Section 4.1.
ARTICLE VII
GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
7.1 G&A CAP AMOUNT.
(a) Subject to Section 7.2, the amount of general and
administrative expenses reimbursed by the Partnership Group to the Buyer
Entities (or, in the case of Section 7.1(b)(i)(A) below, to the Williams
Entities) for any MLP fiscal year shall not exceed the amounts calculated
pursuant to Section 7.1(b) (for any MLP fiscal year, the "G&A Cap Amount").
(b) 2003 Fiscal Year. For the MLP fiscal year ending on
December 31, 2003, the G&A Cap Amount shall be calculated as follows:
(A) For the period beginning on January 1,
2003 and ending on the day immediately preceding the
Closing Date (the "2003 Pre-Closing Stub Period"),
the amount of general and administrative expenses
reimbursed by the Partnership Group to the Williams
Entities shall not exceed $37.9 million times a
fraction, (X) the numerator of which is the number of
successive whole months beginning with January 2003
and ending with the month in which the Closing occurs
and (Y) the denominator of which is twelve (12) (the
"2003 Pre-Closing Cap"). To the extent that the
Partnership Group reimbursed the Williams Entities
for general and administrative expenses incurred in
2003 in excess of the 2003 Pre-Closing Cap, the
Williams Parties shall reimburse the MLP for any such
excess amounts and shall make such payment no later
than thirty (30) days following the Closing Date. To
the extent that the Williams Entities paid
unreimbursed general and administrative expenses up
to the 2003 Pre-
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Closing Cap, Buyer shall use commercially reasonable
efforts to cause the MLP to, make payment to the
appropriate Williams Entity of such unreimbursed
amount no later than thirty (30) days following the
Closing Date.
(B) For the period beginning with the
Closing Date and ending on December 31, 2003 (the
"2003 Post-Closing Stub Period"), the amount of
general and administrative expenses reimbursed by the
Partnership Group to the Buyer Entities shall not
exceed the sum of (1) the product of $37.9 million
(as may be adjusted pursuant to Section 7.1(b)(iii))
times a fraction, (X) the numerator of which is the
number of successive whole months beginning with the
month following the month in which the Closing occurs
and ending with December 2003 and (Y) the denominator
of which is twelve (12) (the "2003 Post-Closing
Cap"), plus (2) the amount of general and
administrative expenses incurred by or on behalf of
the Partnership Group in excess of the 2003
Post-Closing Upper Cap Amount less any amounts duly
reimbursed by the Williams Parties to the Buyer
Entities pursuant to Section 7.2(c)(iii)(A).
(ii) Succeeding Fiscal Years. For each succeeding
MLP fiscal year beginning with the MLP fiscal year ending December 31,
2004, the G&A Cap Amount shall be calculated as follows:
(A) The G&A Cap Amount from the preceding
fiscal year (as may be adjusted pursuant to Section
7.1(b)(iii)) shall be increased by the greater of (A)
7% per year and (B) the percentage increase in the
Consumer Price Index -- All Urban Consumers, U.S.
City Average, Not Seasonally Adjusted.
(B) For purposes of calculating the initial
increase in the G&A Cap Amount for the MLP fiscal
year ending on December 31, 2004, the G&A Cap Amount
for the 2003 fiscal year shall be $37.9 million (as
may be adjusted pursuant to Section 7.1(b)(iii) for
acquisitions, construction, capital improvements,
replacements or expansions occurring in 2003).
(iii) Adjustment for Acquisitions and Other
Events. If, after the Closing Date, the Partnership Group (A) makes an
acquisition, (B) constructs or causes to be constructed any assets to
be owned, leased or operated by any member of the Partnership Group or
(C) makes or causes to be made any capital improvements, replacements
or expansions of any assets owned, leased or operated by any member of
the Partnership Group, the amount of general and administrative
expenses reimbursed by the Partnership Group to the Buyer Entities will
be increased by the Buyer's good faith reasonable estimate of the
additional amount of annual general and administrative expenses to be
incurred by or on behalf of the Partnership Group with respect to such
acquisition, construction, capital improvement, replacement or
expansion. The pro rata portion of the additional general and
administrative expenses shall be added to the G&A Cap Amount and the
Upper Cap Amount in the year in which such acquisition, construction,
capital
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improvement, replacement or expansion occurs for the portion of the
year occurring thereafter and the full amount of such general and
administrative expenses shall be added to the G&A Cap Amount and the
Upper Cap Amount thereafter.
7.2 CERTAIN LIMITATIONS. The provisions of Section 7.1 shall be
subject to the following limitations:
(a) Expiration of G&A Cap. The amount of general and
administrative expenses reimbursed by the Partnership Group to the Buyer
Entities shall not be limited under this Agreement with respect to any fiscal
year ending after December 31, 2010.
(b) Certain Expenses Not Included. General and
administrative expenses with respect to the following matters shall be excluded
in determining limitations herein on the amount of general and administrative
expenses that are required to be reimbursed by the Partnership Group or the
Williams Parties to the Buyer Entities:
(i) expenses associated with equity-based
incentive compensation plans;
(ii) general and administrative expenses incurred
by Buyer that are covered under Section 4.15 to the Purchase Agreement,
regardless of whether in excess of the Expense Limit (as defined in
Section 4.15 to the Purchase Agreement), it being understood that to
the extent the Williams Parties reimburse Buyer for general and
administrative expenses in excess of the Expense Limit, Buyer shall
promptly pay any such reimbursements to the MLP by wire transfer of
immediately available funds to an account or accounts designated in
writing by the MLP; or
(iii) general and administrative expenses incurred
in connection with providing Services (as defined by the Services
Agreement) under the Services Agreement.
(c) Upper Cap Amount.
(i) Notwithstanding the limitations in Section
7.1 on the Partnership Group's reimbursement obligations for general
and administrative expenses in excess of the G&A Cap Amount, the
Partnership Group (or in the case of Section 7.2(c)(iii), the Williams
Parties) shall be required to reimburse the Buyer Entities for general
and administrative expenses incurred on behalf of the Partnership Group
in any MLP fiscal year in excess of the Upper Cap Amount as calculated
below (the "Upper Cap Amount").
(ii) The Upper Cap Amount shall be calculated as
follows:
(A) For the 2003 Post-Closing Stub Period,
the Upper Cap Amount shall be equal to the product of
$49.3 million (as may be adjusted pursuant to Section
7.1(b)(iii)) times a fraction, (X) the numerator of
which is the number of successive whole months
beginning with the month following the month in which
the Closing occurs and ending with month of
Page 15
December 2003 and (Y) the denominator of which is
twelve (12) (the "2003 Post-Closing Upper Cap
Amount").
(B) For each succeeding MLP fiscal year
beginning with the MLP fiscal year ending December
31, 2004, the Upper Cap Amount shall be calculated as
follows:
(1) The Upper Cap Amount from the
preceding fiscal year (as may be adjusted
pursuant to Section 7.1(b)(iii)) shall be
increased annually by the lesser of (A) 2.5%
per year and (B) the percentage increase in
the Consumer Price Index -- All Urban
Consumers, U.S. City Average, Not Seasonally
Adjusted.
(2) For purposes of calculating the
initial increase in the Upper Cap Amount for
the MLP fiscal year ending on December 31,
2004, the Upper Cap Amount for the 2003
fiscal year shall be $49.3 million (as may
be adjusted pursuant to Section 7.1(b)(iii)
for acquisitions, construction, capital
improvements, replacements and expansions
occurring in 2003).
(iii) For the twelve months immediately following
the Closing Date, the Williams Parties shall be required to reimburse
the Buyer Entities for any and all general and administrative expenses
incurred by or on behalf of the Partnership Group in excess of the
Upper Cap Amount, as follows:
(A) If, for the 2003 Post-Closing Stub
Period, the general and administrative expenses
incurred by or on behalf of the Partnership Group are
in an amount in excess of 2003 Post-Closing Upper Cap
Amount, the Williams Parties, jointly and severally,
shall be required to reimburse the Buyer Entities in
full for the amount of such excess and shall make
such payment no later than thirty (30) days after the
last day of the 2003 Post-Closing Stub Period by wire
transfer of immediately available funds to an account
or accounts designated in writing by the Buyer
Entities.
(B) If, for the period beginning on January
1, 2004 and ending on the last day of the month in
which the first anniversary of the Closing Date
occurs (the "2004 Stub Period"), the general and
administrative expenses incurred by or on behalf of
the Partnership Group exceed the Upper Cap Amount for
the MLP fiscal year ended December 31, 2004
multiplied by a fraction, (X) the numerator of which
is the number of successive months beginning with
January 2004 and ending with the month in which the
2004 Stub Period ends and (Y) the denominator of
which is twelve (12) (the "2004 Stub Period Upper Cap
Amount"), the Williams Parties, jointly and
severally, shall be required to reimburse the Buyer
Entities in full for the amount of such excess and
shall make such payment no later than thirty (30)
days after the last day of the 2004 Stub Period by
wire transfer of immediately available funds to an
account or accounts designated in
Page 16
writing by the Buyer Entities. If Buyer becomes
obligated to pay the 5% premium for transition
services pursuant to the final proviso in Section
4(a) of the Transition Services Agreement, then for
purposes of the immediately preceding sentence, the
2004 Stub Period Upper Cap Amount shall be increased
by the portion of such premium constituting general
and administrative expenses of the Partnership Group
attributable to the 2004 Stub Period.
(C) Buyer shall, and shall cause each of the
other Buyer Entities to, use good faith efforts to
minimize the amount of general and administrative
expenses incurred by any of the Buyer Entities and
for which the Williams Parties would be required to
reimburse the Buyer Entities under this Section
7.2(c)(iii).
(D) Notwithstanding any other provision of
this Article VII, the Williams Entities will not have
any obligations to reimburse the Buyer Entities for
general and administrative expenses incurred on
behalf of the Partnership Group or otherwise, except
as specifically provided in this Section 7.2(c)(iii).
(iv) Except as provided in Section 7.2(c)(iii),
the Partnership Group shall be required to reimburse the Buyer Entities
for any and all general and administrative expenses in excess of the
Upper Cap Amount incurred by or on behalf of the Partnership Group in
any MLP fiscal year.
7.3 NO AFFECT ON SECTION 7.4 OF THE MLP AGREEMENT. Nothing in this
Article VII is intended or shall be construed to affect or modify the terms and
conditions of Section 7.4 of the MLP Agreement.
ARTICLE VIII
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES
8.1 WILLIAMS REIMBURSEMENT OF PARTNERSHIP GROUP MAINTENANCE
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES. The Williams Entities will reimburse the Partnership Group
in each of the MLP's 2003 and 2004 fiscal years for any reasonable and customary
maintenance capital expenditures made by the Partnership Group, in accordance
with past practices, to maintain the assets of WPL, in either year, in excess of
$19 million; provided, that the Williams Entities shall not be required to
reimburse the Partnership Group in excess of an aggregate amount of $15 million
under this Section 8.1.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
9.1 PAYMENTS; DISPUTED AMOUNTS; AUDIT RIGHTS.
(a) Except as otherwise provided herein, any payments to
be made by the Williams Entities to Buyer or the Partnership Entities under this
Agreement shall be made by the Williams Entities within sixty (60) days of
receipt of a written request for such payment from
Page 17
Buyer (which request shall contain a description in reasonable detail of the
individual costs and expenses that comprise the aggregate amount of the payment
requested) (a "Payment Request"). In the event of a good faith dispute as to the
amount of such payment, the applicable Williams Entity shall give written notice
of such dispute on or before the due date with respect to all or any portion of
the Payment Request, with the particulars of such dispute. Upon receipt of such
notice, Buyer shall, or shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the
Partnership Entities to, furnish to the applicable Williams Entity additional
supporting documentation to reasonably substantiate the amount of the Payment
Request. Upon delivery of such additional documentation, the applicable Williams
Entity and the Buyer Entities shall cooperate and use their reasonable best
efforts to resolve such dispute. If they are unable to resolve their dispute
within twenty (20) business days of the delivery of such additional supporting
documentation to the applicable Williams Entity, then the dispute shall be
referred for resolution by a firm of independent accountants of nationally
recognized standing reasonably satisfactory to each of Buyer and the applicable
Williams Entity (the "Accounting Referee"), which shall determine the disputed
amounts within thirty (30) days of the referral of such dispute to such
Accounting Referee. The determination of the Accounting Referee shall not
require the applicable Williams Entity to pay more than the amount in dispute
nor require Buyer or any Partnership Entity to return any amount previously paid
by the applicable Williams Entity. The fees and expenses of the Accounting
Referee shall be borne equally by the applicable Williams Entity, on the one
hand, and Buyer or a member of the Partnership Entities, on the other hand. The
determination of the Accounting Referee shall be finally binding. If any dispute
is resolved in favor of Buyer or any Partnership Entity, the applicable Williams
Entity shall make payment to Buyer or the applicable Partnership Entity within
thirty (30) days of resolution of the dispute. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in
no event shall the Williams Entities be entitled to withhold any amounts other
than those portions of the applicable payment that are in dispute.
(b) Williams shall have the right, at any time within six
(6) months after the date of any payment by Williams to Buyer or the Partnership
Entities pursuant to a Payment Request to audit those books and records of Buyer
and/or any Partnership Entity that incurred costs or expenses attributable to
such Payment Request or which books and records relate thereto, to verify the
amount reflected on such Payment Request. Any such audit shall be conducted
during normal business hours by Williams or its designated auditor after ten
(10) days prior written notice to Buyer, at Williams' sole cost and expense, in
the offices of Buyer and the relevant Partnership Entities or such other
location as may be mutually agreed. Buyer shall cooperate and shall use its
reasonable best efforts to cause any relevant Partnership Entity to cooperate
with and provide reasonable assistance to Williams and/or its auditor in
connection with the performance of any such audit. Williams shall assert any
claim for refund of amounts reimbursed to Buyer or the Partnership Entities
under the audited Payment Request within sixty (60) days after the completion of
the audit. Buyer shall have sixty (60) days from receipt of Williams' claim for
refund to respond. If Buyer does not dispute Williams' refund claim, Buyer or
the applicable Partnership Entity shall pay such refund within such 60-day
period. Should Buyer dispute the claim and refuse to pay any refund claim by
Williams resulting from the exercise of Williams' audit rights, the parties will
refer the dispute to an Accounting Referee in the manner described in Section
9.1(a) above.
9.2 THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARY; ASSIGNMENT; ENFORCEMENT.
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(a) Each of Buyer and the Williams Parties specifically
intends that each entity comprising the Partnership Entities or the Partnership
Group, as applicable, shall be entitled to assert rights and remedies hereunder
as third-party beneficiaries hereto with respect to those provisions of this
Agreement affording a right, benefit or privilege to any such entity.
Notwithstanding anything else in this Agreement, pursuant to Section 4.25 of the
Purchase Agreement, no provision of this Agreement with respect to which any of
the entities comprising the Partnership Entities or the Partnership Group, as
applicable, is a third-party beneficiary shall be amended, modified, waived or
terminated by a party hereto without the express prior written approval of the
MLP, and if the General Partner, in its capacity as general partner of the MLP,
determines in its reasonable discretion that such an amendment, modification,
waiver or termination is reasonably likely to adversely affect the holders of
common units representing limited partner interests in the MLP, such amendment,
modification, waiver of termination must also be approved by Special Approval
(as such term is defined in the MLP Agreement).
(b) No party shall have the right to assign its rights or
obligations under this Agreement without the consent of the other parties
hereto.
(c) The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage
would occur if any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in
accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is
accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or
injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically
the terms and provisions hereof, this being in addition to any other remedy to
which they are entitled at law or in equity. The third-party beneficiaries to
whom certain rights and remedies under this Agreement extend as contemplated
under Section 9.2(a) above shall also be entitled to enforce this Agreement in
the manner provided in this Section 9.2(c). Notwithstanding anything else in
this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement are enforceable solely by the
parties to this Agreement and the third-party beneficiaries identified in
Section 9.2(a) above, and no Limited Partner (other than Buyer), Assignee or
other Person (other than a permitted assignee under Section 9.2(b)) may enforce
any provision of this Agreement or compel any party to this Agreement to comply
with the terms of this Agreement.
9.3 CHOICE OF LAW; SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION. This Agreement
shall be governed and construed in accordance with the internal and substantive
laws of New York, and without regard to any conflicts of laws concepts that
would apply the substantive law of some other jurisdiction. Each party hereby
submits to the jurisdiction of the state and federal courts in the State of New
York and to venue in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York, New York.
9.4 NOTICE. All notices or requests or consents provided for or
permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement must be in writing and must be
given by depositing same in the United States mail, addressed to the Person to
be notified, postpaid, and registered or certified with return receipt requested
or by delivering such notice in person or by telecopier or telegram to such
party. Notice given by personal delivery or mail shall be effective upon actual
receipt. Notice given by telegram or telecopier shall be effective upon actual
receipt if received during the recipient's normal business hours, or at the
beginning of the recipient's next business day after receipt if not received
during the recipient's normal business hours. All notices to be sent to a party
pursuant to this Agreement shall be sent to or made at the address set forth
below such
Page 19
party's signature to this Agreement, or at such other address as such party may
stipulate to the other parties in the manner provided in this Section 9.4.
9.5 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement, together with the provisions
of the Purchase Agreement relating hereto, represent the entire agreement and
understanding of the parties hereto and thereto with reference to the
transactions set forth herein. This Agreement, together with the provisions of
the Purchase Agreement relating hereto, supercede all prior negotiations,
discussions, correspondence, communications, understandings and agreements
between the parties relating to the transactions set forth herein and all prior
drafts hereof (including Exhibit 1.2(a)(iv)(1) to the Purchase Agreement). No
prior drafts hereof and no words or phrases from any such prior drafts shall be
admissible into evidence in any action or suit involving this Agreement.
9.6 TERMINATION OF CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS UPON CHANGE OF CONTROL
(a) Upon a Change of Control of Williams, the obligations
of the Williams Entities under Article II shall terminate.
(b) Upon a Change of Control of Buyer or WEG GP LLC, the
obligations of the Buyer Entities under Article III shall terminate.
(c) Upon a Change of Control of Buyer or WEG GP LLC, the
obligations of the Williams Parties under Article V shall terminate as of the
later to occur of (A) the date of such Change of Control and (B) the expiration
of all of the obligations of WES pursuant to Sections 10.1(a) (with respect to
breaches of environmental representations, warranties, agreements or covenants),
10.1(b) and 10.1(c) of that certain Contribution Agreement dated as of April 11,
2002 by and among WES, the Old GP and the MLP and the expiration of all of the
corresponding obligations of Williams pursuant to that certain Corporate
Guarantee in favor of the General Partner, dated as of March 14, 2003, of
Williams.
(d) Upon a Change of Control of Buyer or WEG GP LLC,
Article VII and the limitations therein on the amount of general and
administrative expenses for which the Partnership Group is required to reimburse
the Buyer Entities shall terminate (including the provisions therein relating to
the reimbursement obligations of the Williams Parties in favor of the Buyer
Entities).
9.7 EFFECT OF WAIVER OR CONSENT. No waiver of any provision of
this Agreement shall be effective unless set forth in writing by the party to be
bound thereby. Except as otherwise expressly provided therein, no waiver or
consent, express or implied, by any party to or of any breach or default by any
Person in the performance by such Person of its obligations hereunder shall be
deemed or construed to be a consent or waiver to or of any other breach or
default in the performance by such Person of the same or any other obligations
of such Person hereunder. Failure on the part of a party to complain of any act
of any Person or to declare any Person in default, irrespective of how long such
failure continues, shall not constitute a waiver by such party of its rights
hereunder until the applicable statute of limitations period has run.
9.8 AMENDMENT OR MODIFICATION. Subject to the second sentence of
Section 9.2(a), this Agreement may be amended or modified from time to time only
by the written agreement of
Page 20
all the parties hereto. Each such instrument shall be reduced to writing and
shall be designated on its face an "Amendment" or an "Addendum" to this
Agreement.
9.9 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts with the same effect as if all signatory parties had signed the
same document. All counterparts shall be construed together and shall constitute
one and the same instrument.
9.10 SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Agreement or the
application thereof to any Person or circumstance shall be held invalid or
unenforceable to any extent, the remainder of this Agreement and the application
of such provision to other Persons or circumstances shall not be affected
thereby and shall be enforced to the greatest extent permitted by law.
9.11 GENDER, PARTS, ARTICLES AND SECTIONS. Whenever the context
requires, the gender of all words used in this Agreement shall include the
masculine, feminine and neuter, and the number of all words shall include the
singular and plural. Unless otherwise provided, all references to Article
numbers and Section numbers refer to Articles and Sections of this Agreement.
9.12 FURTHER ASSURANCES. In connection with this Agreement and all
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, each signatory party hereto agrees
to execute and deliver such additional documents and instruments and to perform
such additional acts as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate, carry out
and perform all of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Agreement and
all such transactions.
9.13 WITHHOLDING OR GRANTING OF CONSENT. Except as otherwise
expressly provided herein, each party may, with respect to any consent or
approval that it is entitled to grant pursuant to this Agreement, grant or
withhold such consent or approval in its sole and uncontrolled discretion, with
or without cause, and subject to such conditions as it shall deem appropriate.
9.14 U.S. CURRENCY. All sums and amounts payable to or to be
payable pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement shall be payable in coin or
currency of the United States of America that, at the time of payment, is legal
tender for the payment of public and private debts in the United States of
America.
9.15 LAWS AND REGULATION. Notwithstanding any provision of this
Agreement to the contrary, no party to this Agreement shall be required to take
any act, or fail to take any act, under this Agreement if the effect thereof
would be to cause such party to be in violation of any applicable law, statute,
rule or regulation.
9.16 WAIVER OF RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL. The Williams Parties hereby
agree that, effective as of the date hereof, any and all rights, benefits and
privileges of WES and any other Williams Entity under Section 11.10 of that
certain Contribution Agreement dated as of April 11, 2002 by and among WES, the
Old GP and the MLP are hereby forever terminated in all respects, and WES, WNGL
and Williams hereby waive any and all rights, benefits and privileges of WES and
any other Williams Entity under such section of such agreement.
Page 21
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement on, and
effective as of, the date first written above.
THE BUYER
WEG ACQUISITIONS, L.P.
By: WEG Acquisition Management, LLC
its General Partner
By: /s/ Justin S. Huscher
---------------------------
Name: Justin S. Huscher
Title: Authorized Signatory
By: /s/ Pierre F. Lapeyre, Jr.
------------------------------
Name: Pierre F. Lapeyre, Jr.
Title: Authorized Signatory
Address for Notice:
One Williams Center
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74172
Facsimile: 918-573-6928
Attention: Mr. Lonny Townsend
THE WILLIAMS PARTIES
WILLIAMS ENERGY SERVICES, LLC
By: /s/ Phillip D Wright
---------------------------
Name: Phillip D. Wright
Title: Authorized Signatory
WILLIAMS NATURAL GAS LIQUIDS, INC.
By: /s/ Phillip D Wright
---------------------------
Name: Phillip D. Wright
Title: Authorized Signatory
THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC.
By: /s/ Phillip D Wright
---------------------------
Name: Phillip D. Wright
Page 22
Title: Authorized Signatory
Address for Notice to Each of the Williams Parties:
One Williams Center
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74172
Facsimile: 918-573-4503
Attention: Mr. Tony Gehres
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