EXHIBIT 10.4
ATLAS 2000 SYSTEM
ASSIGNMENT, CONTRIBUTION AND LICENSE
AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
WILLIAMS ENERGY SERVICES, LLC, AND
AND
WILLIAMS ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.
ASSIGNMENT,
CONTRIBUTION AND LICENSE AGREEMENT
THIS
ASSIGNMENT, CONTRIBUTION AND LICENSE AGREEMENT (the Agreement) effective as of
this 17th day of June, 2003 (the Effective Date), by and between Williams
Energy Services, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (WES), and Williams Energy Partners, L.P.,
a Delaware limited partnership (the Partnership).
RECITALS
A. This
Agreement is entered into by the parties hereto in connection with that certain
Purchase Agreement, dated April 18, 2003 as amended by Amendment No. 1
thereto, dated May 5, 2003 (as so amended, the Purchase Agreement), among the WEG Acquisitions, L.P., a
Delaware limited partnership (Buyer), WES, Williams Natural Gas Liquids, Inc.
and Williams GP LLC.
B. Effective
as of the Closing Date (as defined in the Partnership Agreement), WES desires
to assign and transfer all right, title and interest to the Atlas Software (as
defined herein) and to contribute the Hardware and convey all title in such
Hardware (as defined herein) to the Partnership; and, pursuant to Section
4.11(a) of the Purchase Agreement, the Buyer has designated the Partnership to
receive such assignments and contributions.
C. Upon
such assignment, the Partnership desires (i) to grant to WES a worldwide,
nonexclusive, royalty-free, irrevocable license (except in accordance with the
express provisions herein), nontransferable (other than to Affiliates (as
defined below)), without right to sublicense (except to Affiliates of WES,
Williams Bio-Energy LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (WBE), and WBEs Affiliates), to use,
copy, modify, enhance, and upgrade the ATLAS 2000 System to support any
business currently owned or operated by any Selling Party (as defined in the
Purchase Agreement) (or Affiliate thereof) or WBE (or Affiliate thereof), and
(ii) to maintain and support the ATLAS 2000 System as further provided herein.
D. Upon
transfer to the Partnership (or a Partnership Entity) of the employees of WES
or its Affiliates that support and maintain the ATLAS Software (the ATLAS Employees), WES desires to assign
to the Partnership the right to receive any payments in respect of such support
and maintenance services that the Partnership may receive from WBE in
connection with its sublicense to WBE.
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:
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1. DEFINITIONS
1.1 Definitions. Capitalized terms used in this Agreement and
not otherwise defined herein have the meanings corresponding thereto as set
forth in this Section 1.1. Other
terms defined herein have the meanings so given them. A defined term has its defined meaning throughout this Agreement
and in each Exhibit hereto, regardless of whether such term appears before or
after the place where it is defined.
(a) Affiliate means with respect to a
specified person, a person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries,
controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the person
specified.
(b) ATLAS Employees means those G&A
Employees (as defined in the Transition Services Agreement) performing those
G&A Services (as defined in the Transition Services Agreement) contemplated
by Item 5.a of Schedule A of the Transition Services Agreement.
(c) ATLAS Software means the ATLAS 2000
System, as more fully described in Exhibit A-1, the object code thereof,
all software user manuals, reference manuals and installation guides, or
portions thereof (if any), which are related to the ATLAS Software, and all
rights to the Intellectual Property embodied in or relating to any of the
forgoing.
(d) Confidential
Information means: (i) the ATLAS Software and any Derivative
Works related thereto and (ii) any business or technical information of
WES or the Partnership or their respective Affiliates, including but not
limited to any information relating to WES or the Partnerships product plans,
designs, costs, product prices and names, finances, marketing plans, business
opportunities, personnel, research, development or know-how that is designated
by the disclosing party as confidential or proprietary and, if orally
disclosed, reduced to writing by the disclosing party within thirty (30) days
of such disclosure.
(e) Derivative Works
means works that are based upon one (1) or more pre-existing works, such as:
(i) for copyrightable or copyrighted material, any translation, portation,
modification, correction, addition, extension, upgrade, improvement,
compilation, abridgment, revision or other form in which such material may be
recast, transformed, or adapted; (ii) for patentable or patented material, any
improvement thereon; and (iii) for material that is protected by trade secret,
any new material derived from such existing trade secret material, including
new material
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that may be
protected by any of copyright, mask work right, patent, and trade secret.
(f) Hardware means the computer equipment
set forth and identified in Exhibit B.
(g) Knowledge means the actual knowledge,
after reasonable inquiry, of those individuals named in Section 9.16(g) of the
Purchase Agreement.
(h) Intellectual Property mean
and include all intellectual property of any kind, both foreign and domestic,
including, without limitation, all patents, trademarks, service marks, trade
names, trade dress, (and the goodwill associated with each), copyrights,
confidential and proprietary information (including trade secrets and
know-how), and registrations and applications for registration of any of the
foregoing.
(i) Marks means
those trademarks, trade names, service marks, logos, designs and insignias, as
identified in Exhibit C
(j) Partnership Entities has the meaning
assigned to such term in Section 2.4(a) of the Purchase Agreement, but excludes
the Partnership.
(j) Transition Services Agreement
has means the Transition Services Agreement, dated the date hereof, by and
between the Buyer and The Williams Companies, Inc.
1.2 Construction. As used in this Agreement, unless expressly
stated otherwise, references to (a) including mean including, without
limitation and (b) or mean either or both. Unless otherwise specified, all references in this Agreement to
Sections, Schedules or Exhibits are deemed references to the corresponding
sections, schedules or exhibits in this Agreement. All monetary values set forth in this Agreement shall be deemed
to be in U.S. Dollars and do not include taxes unless otherwise clearly stated.
2. ASSIGNMENT
AND CONTRIBUTION
2.1 ATLAS
Software. WES hereby assigns,
grants, bargains, sells, conveys, and sets over unto the Partnership (or a
Partnership Entity designated in writing by the Partnership) and the
Partnership hereby accepts, or shall cause such Partnership Entity to accept,
all of WES right, title, and interest in, to, and under the ATLAS Software
effective as of the Effective Date, subject to the terms of this Agreement.
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2.2 Marks. WES hereby assigns, grants, bargains, sells,
conveys, and sets over unto the Partnership (or a Partnership Entity designated
in writing by the Partnership) and the Partnership hereby accepts, or shall
cause such Partnership Entity to accept, all of WES right, title, and interest
in, to, and under the Marks, including all goodwill associated with the Marks,
effective as of the Effective Date, subject to the terms of this Agreement.
2.3 Hardware. WES hereby contributes to the Partnership
(or a Partnership Entity designated in writing by the Partnership) and the
Partnership hereby accepts, or shall cause such Partnership Entity to accept,
all of WES right, title, and interest in, the Hardware effective as of the
Effective Date to have and to hold the hardware unto the Partnership, its
successors and assigns, forever, subject to the terms of this Agreement.
3. LICENSES
3.1 ATLAS
Software License Grant. Subject to
the terms and conditions of this Agreement and solely to the extent that it
received from WES under the terms and conditions of this Agreement the ability
to grant such a license, the Partnership hereby grants to WES a worldwide,
nonexclusive, royalty-free, irrevocable (except in accordance the terms herein)
license, nontransferable (other than to Affiliates of WES) without right to
sublicense (except as provided in clause (b) and (c) below):
(a) to
use, copy, modify, enhance, upgrade and produce Derivative Works of the ATLAS
Software, in object or source code form;
(b) to
sublicense the ATLAS Software to any Affiliate of WES; and
(c) to
sublicense the ATLAS Software to WBE or any Affiliate thereof.
3.2 Trademark
License Grant: Subject to the terms
and conditions of this Agreement and solely to the extent that it received from
WES under the terms and conditions of this Agreement the ability to grant such
a license, the Partnership hereby grants to WES a worldwide, nonexclusive,
royalty-free, irrevocable (except in accordance the terms herein) license,
nontransferable (other than to Affiliates of WES) without right to sublicense
(except to WBE or any Affiliate thereof), to use the Marks, and to reproduce
and use such Marks only in connection with the use, provision, sublicensing (as
permitted pursuant to Section 3.1 (b) and (c)), of the ATLAS Software. WES agrees that the nature and quality of
its use of the Marks shall conform to the standard set by and be under the
control of the Partnership. Such
standard shall at a minimum specifically be the type and quality of goods and
products that historically have been associated with the Marks. WES shall ensure that all sub-licensees of
the
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Marks by written
agreement also are bound to the forgoing standard. The use of such Marks by WES and its Affiliates shall inure
solely to the benefit of the Partnership and nothing contained herein shall be
construed to grant any ownership interest in or to such Marks.
3.3 Third
Party Consents. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section
3, in the event that the consent of any third-party vendor is required in
connection with the grants of the licenses described in Sections 3.1 and
3.2 above, the Partnership shall be relieved of its obligations
thereunder unless and until any such consent is obtained by WES in a form
reasonably acceptable to the Partnership.
3.4 Restrictions.
The Partnership reserves all rights and licenses to the ATLAS Software not
expressly granted to WES under this Agreement.
3.5 Ownership.
WES and the Partnership each agree that any new Derivative Works related to the
ATLAS Software will be owned by the party developing such Derivative Works.
4. MAINTENANCE
AND SUPPORT SERVICES
4.1 Maintenance
and Support Services. Subject to
the limitations in Section 4.5 and to the such other limitations as are
stated herein, the Partnership will (or will cause the appropriate Partnership
Entity or Entities to) maintain and support the ATLAS Software, at the
Partnerships (or any Partnership Entitys, as the case may be) sole expense,
so as to provide WES (and any Affiliate of WES) and WBE (and any Affiliate of
WBE) with the same quantity of processing, maintenance and support services as
each such entity, respectively, is receiving as of the date of Closing and with
the same quality of maintenance and support services as the current licensees
(and sub-licensees) of the ATLAS Software are receiving as of the date of
Closing (the Services). The
aforementioned quality, which the parties agree to be synonymous with
performing the Services in a good and workmanlike fashion, is the sole and
exclusive standard of care that will be applied to measure the Partnerships
(or the appropriate Partnership Entitys or Entities) performance of the
Services. The Partnership (or any
Partnership Entity, as the case may be) shall, to the extent that the
Partnership (or any Partnership Entity, as the case may be) produces any
upgrades, enhancements, updates or new versions of the ATLAS Software, in a commercially
reasonable manner and time (i) provide such to WES (and any licensee or
sub-licensee) under the terms of this Agreement, and (ii) make available to WES
(and its licensees or sub-licensees) any Derivative Works which it creates that
are materially different from the present version of ATLAS Software. Such
upgrades, enhancements, updates or new versions of the ATLAS Software shall be
governed by the same
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license and
license restrictions as governs the ATLAS Software in this Agreement. FOR ANY BREACH BY THE PARTNERSHIP (OR THE
APPROPRIATE PARTNERSHIP ENTITY OR ENTITIES) OF THE FORGOING OBLIGATIONS, WES
(OR ANY LICENSEES OR SUB-LICENSEES) SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY SHALL BE
RE-PERFORMANCE OF THE UNSATISFACTORY SERVICES OR THE DELIVERY OF THE PARTICULAR
ITEMS.
4.2 Additional
Maintenance and Support Services.
The provision of any additional maintenance and support services not
described herein to any of the forgoing entities or to any future licensees
shall be governed by subsequent arms-length negotiations.
4.3 Assignment
of Support Payments. Effective as of the date that the ATLAS Employees are
transferred to the Partnership (or a Partnership Entity designated in writing
by the Partnership or Buyer) pursuant to the Transition Services Agreement, WES
hereby assigns to the Partnership (or a Partnership Entity designated in
writing by the Partnership or Buyer) the right to receive any payments in
respect of such support and maintenance services that it may receive from WBE
in connection with its sublicense to WBE or any other arrangement between the
parties.
4.4 Duration. The Partnership will provide the Services to
each of the entities listed in Section 4.1 for so long as that particular
entity continues to use (and/or sublicense) the ATLAS 2000 System.
4.5 Limitations. The Partnerships obligation to WES, a
specific licensee or sub-licensee under this Section 4 and the Partnerships
obligation to provide certain aspects of the Services to such party shall be
limited to the extent that: (i) the
party makes any change or modification to the ATLAS Software that materially,
negatively affects or precludes the provision of such particular aspect of the
Services, (ii) the party combines the ATLAS Software with products or
programs not utilized by the party as of the date of Closing, if such
combination materially increases the time or cost required for the Partnership
to perform such particular aspect of the Services or (iii) the party
modifies, changes or replaces any hardware connected with the ATLAS Software if
such modification, change or replacement individually or in combination with
other modifications, changes or replacements materially increases the time or
cost required for the Partnership to perform such particular aspect of the
Services.
4.6 In
addition, in the event that the consent of any third-party vendor is required
in connection with the performance of the Partnerships (or any Partnership
Entitys) obligations under this Section 4, the Partnership (and any
such Partnership Entity) shall be relieved of its obligations unless and until
any such consent is obtained by WES in a form reasonably acceptable to the
Partnership.
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5. SUPPORTING
SOFTWARE
5.1 Supporting
Software. All software which relates to or is required for the operation of
the ATLAS Software is set forth on Schedule A-2 (the Supporting Software).
5.2 Migration
Supporting Software. The IT
Migration Plan (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) will identify the
software to be included in the Migration Assets (as defined in the Purchase
Agreement) that the Partnership will use in lieu of the Supporting Software
(the Migration Supporting Software);
provided, the Migration Supporting
Software may, but is not required to, include all or a portion of the
Supporting Software.
6. CONFIDENTIALITY
6.1 Use
and Disclosure Restrictions. During
the term of this Agreement, and for a period of two (2) years after any
termination of this Agreement, each party will not use another partys
Confidential Information except as permitted herein, and will not disclose such
Confidential Information to any third party except to employees and consultants
as is reasonably required in connection with the exercise of its rights and
obligations under this Agreement (and only subject to binding use and
disclosure restrictions at least as protective as those set forth herein
executed in writing by such employees and consultants). However, each party may disclose
Confidential Information of another party:
(i) pursuant to the order or requirement of a court, administrative
agency, or other governmental body, provided that the disclosing party gives
reasonable notice to the other parties to contest such order or requirement;
and (ii) on a confidential basis to legal or financial advisors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties
confidentiality obligations with respect to all source code shall continue in perpetuity,
unless such source code becomes non-confidential in accordance with Section
6.2, below.
6.2 Exclusions. Confidential Information shall not include
information that: (i) is or
becomes generally known or available by publication, commercial use or
otherwise through no fault of the receiving party; (ii) is known to the
receiving party at the time of disclosure without violation of any
confidentiality restriction and without any restriction on the receiving
partys further use or disclosure; (iii) is independently developed by the
receiving party without use of the disclosing partys Confidential Information;
or (iv) is rightfully received from a third party not under an obligation as to
disclosure of such information.
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7. WARRANTIES
7.1 WES
Warranties.
(a) WES
represents and warrants to the Partnership that: (i) it has full power and authority to enter into this Agreement;
(ii) it has sufficient right and authority to carry out its obligations
hereunder and to grant, assign or contribute, as appropriate, the ATLAS
Software, the Marks and the Hardware to the Partnership hereunder, and (iii) to
WES Knowledge, the ATLAS Software and the Marks do not violate any rights
relating to the Intellectual Property any third party.
(b) WITHOUT
LIMITING IN ANY WAY THE APPLICABLE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES CONTAINED IN
THE PURCHASE AGREEMENT, THE WARRANTIES IN THIS SECTION 7.1 ARE IN LIEU
OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES MADE BY WES, EXPRESS AND IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE AND INFRINGEMENT, EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION 7.1. WES DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE ATLAS SOFTWARE
IS ERROR-FREE OR THAT ANY USE THEREOF BY THE PARTNERSHIP OR ANY LICENSEE OR
SUB-LICENSEE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED.
7.2 PartnershipWarranties.
(a) The
Partnership represents and warrants to WES that: (i) it has full power and
authority to enter into this Agreement; and (ii) it has sufficient right and
authority to carry out its obligations hereunder and to grant to WES and its
Affiliates all licenses and rights that the Partnership is granting to WES and
its Affiliates hereunder, and (iii) to the Partnerships knowledge, any
updates, upgrades, enhancements or Derivative Works provided to WES and its Affiliates
pursuant to Section 4.1, do not violate any rights relating to the Intellectual
Property any third party.
(b) THE
WARRANTIES IN THIS SECTION 7.2 ARE IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES MADE
BY THE PARTNERSHIP, EXPRESS AND IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY
IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND
INFRINGEMENT, EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION 7.2. THE PARTNERSHIP DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE
ATLAS SOFTWARE IS ERROR-FREE OR THAT
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ANY USE THEREOF BY
WES OR ANY LICENSEE OR SUB-LICENSEE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED.
8. INDEMNIFICATION
8.1 WES
will defend at its expense any suits against the Partnership or any Partnership
Entity based upon a claim that the ATLAS Software or the Marks, as assigned
hereunder, infringes any rights related to the Intellectual Property of any
third party and will pay any damages, costs and expenses finally awarded in any
such suit (including without limitation reasonable attorneys fees) provided
that the Partnership or the applicable Partnership Entity: (i) promptly notifies WES in writing of
the suit; (ii) provides WES with sole control and authority to defend and
settle such suit; and (iii) provides WES, at WES expense, with all reasonable
assistance and information requested by WES for the defense and settlement of
such suit. WES may, in its sole
discretion, settle any such claim on a basis requiring WES to substitute for
the ATLAS Software alternative substantially equivalent non-infringing
programs. In the event that any preliminary injunction, temporary restraining
order or final injunction shall be obtained, WES shall, at its sole option,
either: (a) obtain the right for continued use of the infringing portions
of the ATLAS Software; or (b) modify the infringing portions so as to avoid
such infringement while obtaining at least equivalent functionality; or
(c) substitute for the infringing portions of the ATLAS Software
alternative equivalent software and supporting documentation.
8.2 WES
will have no obligation under this Section 8 for any claim of
infringement or misappropriation that arises from: (i) the combination of the ATLAS Software with products,
programs, or data not furnished by WES, if such claim would have been avoided
by the use of the ATLAS Software as provided by WES without such combination;
or (ii) the modification of the ATLAS Software by the Partnership, if such
claim would have been avoided by use of the unmodified ATLAS Software.
8.3 The
Partnership will defend at its expense any suits against WES based upon a claim
that any updates, upgrades, enhancements or Derivative Works provided to WES
and its Affiliates pursuant to Section 4.1 infringe any rights related to the
Intellectual Property of any third party and will pay any damages, costs and
expenses finally awarded in any such suit (including without limitation
reasonable attorneys fees) provided that:
(i) WES promptly notifies the Partnership in writing of the suit; (ii) WES
provides the Partnership with sole control and authority to defend and settle
such suit; and (iii) WES provides the Partnership, at the Partnerships
expense, with all reasonable assistance and information requested by the
Partnership for the defense and settlement of such suit. The Partnership may, in its sole discretion,
settle any such claim on a basis requiring the Partnership to substitute for
the ATLAS Software alternative
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substantially
equivalent non-infringing programs. In the event that any preliminary
injunction, temporary restraining order or final injunction shall be obtained,
the Partnership shall, at its sole option, either: (a) obtain the right for continued use of the infringing portions
of the ATLAS Software; or (b) modify the infringing portions so as to
avoid such infringement while obtaining at least equivalent functionality; or
(c) substitute for the infringing portions of the ATLAS Software alternative
equivalent software and supporting documentation.
8.4 The
Partnership will have no obligation under this Section 8 for any claim
of infringement or misappropriation that arises from: (i) the combination of the ATLAS Software (or updates,
upgrades, enhancements or Derivative Works provided to WES and its Affiliates
pursuant to Section 4.1) with products, programs, or data not furnished by the
Partnership, if such claim would have been avoided by the use of the Atlas
Software (or updates, upgrades, enhancements or Derivative Works provided to
WES and its Affiliates pursuant to Section 4.1) as provided by the Partnership
without such combination; or (ii) the modification of the ATLAS Software
(or the updates, upgrades, enhancements or Derivative Works provided to WES and
its Affiliates pursuant to Section 4.1), if such claim would have been avoided
by use of the ATLAS Software (or the updates, upgrades, enhancements or
Derivative Works provided to WES and its Affiliates pursuant to Section 4.1) as
provided by the Partnership without such modification.
8.5 THE
FOREGOING ARE WES AND THE PARTNERSHIPS SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE OBLIGATIONS, AND
THEIR RESPECTIVE SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDIES, WITH RESPECT TO INFRINGEMENT OR
MISAPPROPRIATION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS RELATING TO THE ATLAS
SOFTWARE.
9. LIMITATION
OF LIABILITY
9.1 THE
PARTNERSHIP SHALL NOT BE LIABLE IN ANY WAY FOR SERVICES TO THE EXTENT SUCH
SERVICES ARE PERFORMED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STANDARD OF CARE SPECIFIED IN
SECTION 4. REGARDLESS OF WHETHER ANY
REMEDY FAILS OF ITS ESSENTIAL PURPOSE OR OTHERWISE, IN NO EVENT SHALL ANY PARTY
BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY OR
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND (INCLUDING LOSS OF USE, DATA, BUSINESS OR
PROFITS) ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, WHETHER SUCH
LIABILITY ARISES FROM ANY CLAIM BASED UPON CONTRACT, WARRANTY, TORT (INCLUDING
NEGLIGENCE), PRODUCT LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE, AND WHETHER OR NOT ANY PARTY HAS
BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH LOSS OR DAMAGE,
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OTHER THAN
(A) THE PARTNERSHIPS INTENTIONAL, WILLFUL, GROSSLY NEGLIGENT AND/OR
REPETITIVE BREACH OF WES CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION AND ANY INFRINGEMENT OF ANY
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RELATED TO THE UPDATES, UPGRADES, ENHANCEMENTS OR
DERIVATIVE WORKS PROVIDED TO WES AND ITS AFFILIATES PURSUANT TO SECTION 4.1, OR
(B) WES (OR ANY AFFILIATE OF WES) OR WBES (OR ANY AFFILIATE OF WBE)
INTENTIONAL, WILLFUL, GROSSLY NEGLIGENT AND/OR REPETITIVE BREACH OF THE
PARTNERSHIPS CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, ANY INFRINGEMENT OF ANY INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY RELATED TO THE ATLAS SOFTWARE OR ANY BREACH OF THE LICENSE PROVISIONS
IN SECTION 3 HEREIN.
9.2 IN
CONNECTION WITH A CLAIM, DEMAND OR CAUSE OF ACTION BY ONE PARTY AGAINST ANOTHER
(OR ITS AFFILIATES OR THE APPROPRIATE PARTNERSHIP ENTITY OR ENTITIES) TO
RECOVER DAMAGES BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR THE PERFORMANCE
OF SERVICES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF ACTIONS OR
INACTIONS OF A PARTY (OR ITS AFFILIATE OR A PARTNERSHIP ENTITY OR ENTITIES)
ANCILLARY TO THE PERFORMANCE OF SERVICES, WHETHER SUCH CLAIM IS FOUNDED UPON
THEORIES OF NEGLIGENCE, BREACH OF WARRANTY, STRICT TORT LIABILITY, BREACH OF
CONTRACT, OR THE VIOLATION OF ANY OTHER APPLICABLE LEGAL DUTY OR STANDARD, THE
AMOUNT OF DAMAGES TO BE RECOVERED BY SUCH PARTY WITH RESPECT TO SUCH CLAIM,
DEMAND OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE REDUCED BY A PERCENTAGE EQUAL TO THAT
PARTYS PERCENTAGE OF RESPONSIBILITY OR FAULT AND SUCH PARTY SHALL HAVE NO
RIGHT TO RECOVER DAMAGES IF ITS PERCENTAGE OF RESPONSIBILITY OR FAULT EXCEEDS
FIFTY PERCENT (50%).
9.3 SUBJECT
TO SECTION 9.2 ABOVE, IN CONNECTION WITH A CLAIM, DEMAND OR CAUSE OF ACTION BY
ONE PARTY AGAINST ANOTHER (OR ITS AFFILIATES OR A PARTNERSHIP ENTITY OR
ENTITIES) TO RECOVER DAMAGES BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR THE
PERFORMANCE OF THE SERVICES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT
OF ACTIONS OR INACTIONS OF SUCH PARTY (OR ITS AFFILIATES OR A PARTNERSHIP
ENTITY OR ENTITIES) ANCILLARY TO THE PERFORMANCE OF SERVICES, WHETHER SUCH CLAIM
IS FOUNDED UPON THEORIES OF NEGLIGENCE, BREACH OF WARRANTY, STRICT TORT
LIABILITY, BREACH OF CONTRACT OR THE VIOLATION OF ANY OTHER APPLICABLE LEGAL
DUTY OR STANDARD, SUCH PARTY (OR ITS AFFILIATES
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OR PARTNERSHIP
ENTITY OR ENTITIES) SHALL BE LIABLE TO SUCH CLAIMANT ONLY FOR THAT PERCENTAGE
OF CLAIMANTS DAMAGES WHICH ARE EQUAL TO SUCH PARTYS (OR ITS AFFILIATES OR A
PARTNERSHIP ENTITYS OR ENTITIES) PERCENTAGE OF RESPONSIBILITY OR FAULT WITH
RESPECT TO THE CLAIM, DEMAND OR CAUSE OF ACTION FOR WHICH DAMAGES ARE
ALLOWED. TO THE EXTENT THAT THE ACTIONS
OR INACTIONS OF SOME OTHER ENTITY (EVEN AN ENTITY WHICH HAS SETTLED WITH
CLAIMANT) CAUSED OR CONTRIBUTED TO CAUSE IN ANY WAY CLAIMANTS HARM FOR WHICH
RECOVERY OF DAMAGES IS SOUGHT, THE PARTY AGAINST WHOM THE CLAIM IS BROUGHT (OR
ITS AFFILIATES OR PARTNERSHIP ENTITY OR ENTITIES) SHALL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE TO
CLAIMANT FOR THE PERCENTAGE OF CLAIMANTS DAMAGES ATTRIBUTABLE TO ANY SUCH
THIRD PARTY FOR WHOSE CONDUCT THE PARTY AGAINST WHOM THE CLAIM IS BROUGHT (OR
ITS AFFILIATES OR PARTNERSHIP ENTITY OR ENTITIES) IS NOT LEGALLY LIABLE. IN THE EVENT THAT CLAIMANT SETTLES WITH A
THIRD PARTY OR RECOVERS FUNDS FROM ANY SOURCE WITH RESPECT TO A CLAIM, DEMAND
OR CAUSE OF ACTION BROUGHT BY CLAIMANT AGAINST PARTY AGAINST WHOM THE CLAIM IS
BROUGHT (OR ITS AFFILIATES OR PARTNERSHIP ENTITY OR ENTITIES), THE PARTY
AGAINST WHOM THE CLAIM IS BROUGHT (OR ITS AFFILIATES OR PARTNERSHIP ENTITY OR
ENTITIES) SHALL BE ENTITLED TO A CREDIT AGAINST THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGES THE
CLAIMANT OTHERWISE WOULD BE ENTITLED TO RECOVER AGAINST THE PARTY AGAINST WHOM
THE CLAIM IS BROUGHT (OR ITS AFFILIATES OR PARTNERSHIP ENTITY OR ENTITIES) IN
THE SUM OF THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS OF ALL SUCH SETTLEMENTS OR PAYMENTS RECEIVED BY
CLAIMANT FROM OTHER SOURCES.
9.4 IN
THE EVENT THAT A PARTY HEREUNDER BELIEVES THAT IT HAS A CLAIM AGAINST ANOTHER
PARTY (OR ITS AFFILIATES OR PARTNERSHIP ENTITY OR ENTITIES) FOR DAMAGES ARISING
OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR THE PERFORMANCE OF THE SERVICES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT
OR BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF ACTIONS OR INACTIONS OF THE PARTY AGAINST WHOM
THE CLAIM MAY BE BROUGHT (OR ITS AFFILIATES OR PARTNERSHIP ENTITY OR ENTITIES)
ANCILLARY TO THE PERFORMANCE OF SERVICES, WHETHER SUCH CLAIM IS FOUNDED UPON
THEORIES OF NEGLIGENCE, BREACH OF WARRANTY, STRICT TORT LIABILITY, BREACH OF
CONTRACT OR THE VIOLATION OF ANY OTHER APPLICABLE LEGAL DUTY OR STANDARD, THE
CLAIMANT SHALL PROMPTLY SO NOTIFY THE PARTY AGAINST WHOM THE
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CLAIM MAY BE
BROUGHT (OR ITS AFFILIATES OR PARTNERSHIP ENTITY OR ENTITIES). THE PARTY AGAINST WHOM THE CLAIM MAY BE
BROUGHT (OR ITS AFFILIATES OR PARTNERSHIP ENTITY OR ENTITIES) SHALL THEREAFTER
ENDEAVOR IN GOOD FAITH TO RESOLVE THE CLAIM WITH THE CLAIMANT. IT IS EXPRESSLY AGREED THAT THE STATUTE OF
LIMITATIONS GOVERNING ANY AND ALL CAUSES OF ACTION THAT SUCH CLAIMANT MAY HAVE
AGAINST THE PARTY AGAINST WHOM THE CLAIM MAY BE BROUGHT (OR ITS AFFILIATES OR
PARTNERSHIP ENTITY OR ENTITIES) ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR THE
PERFORMANCE OF THE SERVICES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT
OF ACTIONS OR INACTIONS OF THE PARTY AGAINST WHOM THE CLAIM MAY BE BROUGHT (OR
ITS AFFILIATES OR PARTNERSHIP ENTITY OR ENTITIES) ANCILLARY TO THE PERFORMANCE
OF SERVICES, WHETHER SUCH CLAIM IS FOUNDED UPON THEORIES OF NEGLIGENCE, BREACH
OF WARRANTY, STRICT TORT LIABILITY, BREACH OF CONTRACT OR THE VIOLATION OF ANY
OTHER APPLICABLE LEGAL DUTY OR STANDARD, SHALL BE ONE (1) YEAR FROM THE DATE
THAT THE CLAIMANT KNEW OR THROUGH REASONABLE DILIGENCE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN OF THE
FACTS GIVING RISE TO THE CAUSE OF ACTION.
9.5 A
PARTYS TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THE SUBJECT
MATTER OF THIS AGREEMENT, IN CONTRACT, TORT, OR OTHERWISE, SHALL NOT EXCEED THE
TOTAL AMOUNT PAID TO THE PARTNERSHIP (OR ANY PARTNERSHIP ENTITY OR ENTITIES)
(I) IN THE CALENDAR YEAR IN WHICH THE CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION AROSE AND (II)
FOR THE PARTNERSHIPS PERFORMANCE OF ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER THIS AGREEMENT.
9.6 THE
EXCLUSIVE REMEDY (IN LIEU OF ANY OTHER REMEDY AT LAW OR IN EQUITY) OF ANY OF
WES, A LICENSEE OR A SUB-LICENSEE FOR ANY CAUSE WHATSOEVER, REGARDLESS OF THE
FORM OF ACTION, WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT, AND THE PARTNERSHIPS (AND ANY
PARTNERSHIP ENTITYS OR ENTITIES) ENTIRE LIABILITY TO WES, A LICENSEE OR A
SUB-LICENSEE IS SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION 9.
9.7 IT
IS EXPRESSLY UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED THAT EACH AND EVERY PROVISION OF THIS
AGREEMENT WHICH PROVIDES FOR A LIMITATION OF LIABILITY, DISCLAIMER OF
WARRANTIES, OR EXCLUSION OF DAMAGES IS INTENDED BY THE PARTIES TO BE SEVERABLE
AND INDEPENDENT OF ANY OTHER PROVISION AND TO BE ENFORCED AS SUCH. WES AND
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THE PARTNERSHIP
EACH ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT WERE NEGOTIATED TO
REFLECT AN INFORMED, VOLUNTARY ALLOCATION BETWEEN WES AND THE PARTNERSHIP OF
ALL RISKS (BOTH KNOWN AND UNKNOWN) ASSOCIATED WITH THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS
AGREEMENT.
10. TERM AND
TERMINATION
10.1 Term.
This
Agreement commences as of the
Effective Date and shall remain in force for so long as WES, an
Affiliated assignee, WBE or any Affiliate sub-licensee continues to use the
ATLAS 2000 System in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
10.2 Termination. This Agreement and the licenses
granted hereunder shall terminate upon the earliest to occur of the
following: (i) thirty (30) days after
the Partnership gives WES notice of a material breach of any provision of this
Agreement, unless such breach is cured within thirty (30) days of such notice;
(ii) with respect to WES or an individual licensee or sub-licensee, thirty (30)
days after such party gives the Partnership written notice of the partys
desire to terminate this Agreement, for any reason; or (iii) immediately with
respect to WES or an individual licensee or sub-licensee if such party files
for bankruptcy (subject to an automatic stay ordered by a Federal Bankruptcy
Court), becomes insolvent, ceases to do business or makes an assignment for the
benefit of creditors.
10.3 Duties Upon Termination. Upon any termination hereunder, the licenses hereunder
are terminated (and all rights in and to the ATLAS Software granted
pursuant to such licenses shall
terminate). The terminated party or parties shall immediately cease all use of the
ATLAS Software and shall irretrievably delete and/or remove such software from
all computer hardware and storage media.
Within thirty days after any termination, the terminated party or
parties shall deliver to the Partnership at the partys or parties sole
expense (adequately packaged and insured for safe delivery) or destroy all
copies of (i) the ATLAS Software in every form and (ii) all Confidential
Information of the Partnership. To the
extent that the Partnership has any Confidential Information of a terminated
party, the Partnership within thirty days after any termination will deliver to
such party at the Partnerships sole expense or destroy all copies of
all Confidential Information of the terminated party.
10.4 Survival. The rights and obligations of the parties
contained in Sections 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10,
and 11 will survive any termination of this Agreement.
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11. GENERAL
11.1 Governing
Law. This Agreement shall be
governed by 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.
11.2 Relationship
of the Parties. The parties to this
Agreement are independent contractors and this Agreement will not establish any
relationship of partnership, joint venture, employment, franchise, or agency
between the parties. No party will have
the power to bind the others or incur obligations on the others behalf without
the others prior written consent.
11.3 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall be
held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, invalid or
unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
11.4 Waiver. No waiver of any breach of any provision of
this Agreement shall constitute a waiver of any prior, concurrent or subsequent
breach of the same or any other provisions hereof, and no waiver shall be
effective unless made in writing and signed by an authorized representative of
the waiving party.
11.5 Notice. All notices required or permitted under this
Agreement will be in writing and delivered by confirmed facsimile transmission,
by courier or overnight delivery service, or by certified mail, and in each
instance will be deemed given upon receipt.
All communications will be sent to the addresses set forth below or to
such other address as may be specified by a party to the others in accordance
with this Section 11.5.
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To WES:
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To the Partnership:
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One Williams Center
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c/o WEG GP LLC
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Tulsa, Oklahoma
74172
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One Williams Center
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Attention:
Mr. Tony Gehres
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Tulsa, Oklahoma
74172
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Facsimile:
(918) 573-4503
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Attention:
Mr. Lonny Townsend
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Facsimile:
(918) 573-6928
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11.6 Continuing
Cooperation; Successors and Assigns.
The parties to this Agreement hereby agree to cooperate in good faith to
give full legal effect to the transactions provided for in this Agreement,
including, without limitation, by executing, delivery and/or filing such other
instruments or certificates as may be reasonably requested by the other party
to this Agreement. The provisions of
the immediately preceding sentence shall survive the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Each of the Partnership and WES may, upon written notice to, but without
the prior consent of, the other party, assign or transfer its rights hereunder
to the Buyer or any Partnership Entity (in the case of the Partnership) or any
Affiliate of
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WES (in the case
of WES) and, if so assigned or transferred, such transferee shall be entitled
to enforce the rights hereunder so transferred or assigned as if it were a
named party hereto, but no such transfer or assignment shall relieve the
transferor of its obligations hereunder.
This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the
heirs, devises, executors, administrators, legal representatives, successors
and permitted assigns of the parties hereto.
11.7 Force
Majeure. Except for any obligation to make payments, no party will be
liable for any failure or delay in its performance under this Agreement due to
causes beyond its reasonable control, including, but not limited to, acts of
God, war, riot, embargoes, terrorism, acts of civil or military authorities,
strikes, lockouts, fire, floods, earthquakes, accidents, strikes, or fuel
crises.
11.8 Entire
Agreement. This Agreement, together
with the exhibits attached hereto, and the provisions of the Purchase Agreement
relating hereto, represent the entire agreement and understanding of the
parties hereto and thereto with reference to the matters set forth herein and
no representations or warranties have been made in connection herewith other
than those expressly set forth herein or therein. This Agreement, together with the exhibits attached hereto, and
the provisions of the Purchase Agreement relating hereto, supersedes all prior
negotiations, discussions, correspondence, communications, understandings and
agreements between the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and all
prior drafts of such documents (including Exhibit 1.2(a)(iv)(3) to the Purchase
Agreement). No prior drafts of such
documents and no words or phrases from any such prior drafts shall be
admissible into evidence in any action or suit involving such documents.
11.9 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two
counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, but both of which
together will constitute one and the same instrument.
11.10 Publicity. The parties agree to make appropriate public
press announcements to announce this Agreement, at a mutually agreeable time
and in a mutually agreeable format and manner.
11.11 Third-party Beneficiaries. This Agreement shall inure solely to the
benefit of and be binding upon WES and the Partnership and their respective
successors and permitted assigns and no other person shall have any right,
remedy, or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused
this Agreement to be executed and delivered by their duly authorized officers
as of the date first above written.
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WILLIAMS ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.
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WILLIAMS ENERGY SERVICES, LLC
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By:
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WEG GP LLC
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its General Partner
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By:
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/s/ Don R. Wellendorf
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By:
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/s/ Phillip D. Wright
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Name:
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Don R. Wellendorf
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Name:
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Phillip D. Wright
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Title:
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Authorized Signatory
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Title:
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Authorized Signatory
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