EXHIBIT 10.3
NEW OMNIBUS AGREEMENT
among
WEG Acquisitions, L.P.,
Williams Energy Services, LLC,
Williams Natural Gas Liquids, Inc.
and
The Williams Companies, Inc.
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 Persons 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.
MLPis 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 meansan individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated organization or any other entity.
Prospectus means the MLPs 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 firms 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:
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(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 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:
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:
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:
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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.
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.
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.
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7.2 Certain Limitations. The provisions of Section 7.1 shall be subject to the following limitations:
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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.
8.1 Williams Reimbursement of Partnership Group Maintenance Capital Expenditures. The Williams Entities will reimburse the Partnership Group in each of the MLPs 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.
9.1 Payments; Disputed Amounts; Audit Rights.
9.2 Third-Party Beneficiary; Assignment; Enforcement.
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 recipients normal business hours, or at the beginning of the recipients next business day after receipt if not received during the recipients normal business hours. All notices to be sent to a party pursuant to this Agreement shall be sent to or made at the address set forth below such
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partys 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.
9.7 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.
9.9 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.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement on, and effective as of, the date first written above.
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THE BUYER |
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WEG ACQUISITIONS, L.P. |
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By: WEG Acquisition Management, LLC |
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its General Partner |
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By: |
/s/ Justin S. Huscher |
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Name: Justin S. Huscher |
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Title: Authorized Signatory |
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By: |
/s/ Pierre F. Lapeyre, Jr |
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Name: Pierre F. Lapeyre, Jr. |
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Title: Authorized Signatory |
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Address for Notice: |
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One Williams Center |
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Tulsa, Oklahoma 74172 |
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Facsimile: 918-573-6928 |
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Attention: Mr. Lonny Townsend |
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THE WILLIAMS PARTIES |
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WILLIAMS ENERGY SERVICES, LLC |
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By: |
/s/ Phillip D. Wright |
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Name: Phillip D. Wright |
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Title: Authorized Signatory |
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WILLIAMS NATURAL GAS LIQUIDS, INC. |
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By: |
/s/ Phillip D. Wright |
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Name: Phillip D. Wright |
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Title: Authorized Signatory |
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THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC. |
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By: |
/s/ Phillip D. Wright |
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Name: Phillip D. Wright |
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Title: Authorized Signatory |
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Address for Notice to Each of the Williams Parties: |
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One Williams Center |
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Tulsa, Oklahoma 74172 |
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Facsimile: 918-573-4503 |
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Attention: Mr. Tony Gehres |
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