Exhibit 10.26

 

Execution Version

 

 

MEMBERSHIP INTEREST PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

by and among

 

SCISSORTAIL ENERGY, LLC

 

HAMILTON SCISSORTAIL LLC,

 

SCISSORTAIL HOLDINGS, LLC,

 

JAY A. PRECOURT,

 

FREDERIC C. HAMILTON,

 

COPANO ENERGY, L.L.C.

 

and

 

COPANO ENERGY/ROCKY MOUNTAINS AND MID-CONTINENT, L.L.C.

 

dated as of

 

June 20, 2005

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

§1.

 

Definitions

 

 

 

 

 

§2.

 

Purchase and Sale of Membership Interests

 

 

 

(a)

Basic Transaction

 

 

 

(b)

Purchase Price

 

 

 

(c)

Net Working Capital

 

 

 

(d)

Closing

 

 

 

(e)

Deliveries at Closing

 

 

 

(f)

Purchase Price Allocation

 

 

 

 

 

§3.

 

Representations and Warranties Concerning Transaction

 

 

 

(a)

Sellers’ Representations and Warranties

 

 

 

(b)

Buyer’s Representations and Warranties

 

 

 

 

 

§4.

 

Representations and Warranties of the Company

 

 

 

(a)

Organization, Qualification, and Power

 

 

 

(b)

Non-contravention

 

 

 

(c)

Brokers’ Fees

 

 

 

(d)

Tangible Assets

 

 

 

(e)

Subsidiaries

 

 

 

(f)

Financial Statements; Internal Controls; Undisclosed Liabilities

 

 

 

(g)

Subsequent Events

 

 

 

(h)

Legal Compliance

 

 

 

(i)

Tax Matters

 

 

 

(j)

Real Property

 

 

 

(k)

Intellectual Property

 

 

 

(l)

Contracts

 

 

 

(m)

Powers of Attorney

 

 

 

(n)

Litigation

 

 

 

(o)

Employee Benefits

 

 

 

(p) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#pEmployees__111745]

Employees [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#pEmployees__111745]

 

 

 

(q) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#qPermit_111753]

Permits [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#qPermit_111753]

 

 

 

(r) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#rEnvironme_111755]

Environmental Matters [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#rEnvironme_111755]

 

 

 

(s) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#sCertainBusinessRela_112346]

Certain Business Relationships with Company
[a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#sCertainBusinessRela_112346]

 

 

 

(t) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#tInsuran_111843]

Insurance [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#tInsuran_111843]

 

 

 

(u) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#uGovernmental_111845]

Governmental Regulation [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#uGovernmental_111845]

 

 

 

(v) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#vDisclaimerOfOt_111848]

Disclaimer of Other Representations and Warranties
[a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#vDisclaimerOfOt_111848]

 

 

 

 

 

§5. [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#a5_PreclosingCo_111851]

 

Pre-Closing Covenants [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#a5_PreclosingCo_111851]

 

 

 

(a) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#aGener_111853]

General [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#aGener_111853]

 

 

 

(b) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#bNoticesAn_111856]

Notices and Consents [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#bNoticesAn_111856]

 

 

 

(c) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#cOperationOfB_111859]

Operation of Business [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#cOperationOfB_111859]

 

 

 

(d) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#dFullAcces_111903]

Full Access [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#dFullAcces_111903]

 

 

 

(e) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#eNoticeOfDevelo_111906]

Notice of Developments [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#eNoticeOfDevelo_111906]

 

 

 

(f) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#fExclusivit_111917]

Exclusivity [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#fExclusivit_111917]

 

 

 

(g) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#gSouthernDom_111919]

Southern Dome [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#gSouthernDom_111919]

 

 

 

(h) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#hExpansionOfInsurance_111921]

Expansion of Insurance Policies
[a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#hExpansionOfInsurance_111921]

 

 

 

 

 

§6. [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#a6_PostclosingCoven_111933]

 

Post-Closing Covenants [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#a6_PostclosingCoven_111933]

 

 

 

(a) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#aGenera_111943]

General [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#aGenera_111943]

 

 

 

(b) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#bLitigationS_111945]

Litigation Support [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#bLitigationS_111945]

 

 

 

(c) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#cReportingProced_111950]

Reporting Procedures Under Section 751
[a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#cReportingProced_111950]

 

 

 

(d) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#dEmployeeMatters__111952]

Employee Matters [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#dEmployeeMatters__111952]

 

 

 

(e) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#eTaxMatters__111954]

Tax Matters [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#eTaxMatters__111954]

 

 

 

(f) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#fCompanyConfidential_111957]

Company Confidential Information
[a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#fCompanyConfidential_111957]

 

 

 

(g) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#gFinancialSta_111959]

Financial Statements [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#gFinancialSta_111959]

 

 

 

(h) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#hRightToN_112001]

Right to Name [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#hRightToN_112001]

 

 

i

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

 

(i) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#iNoncompetitionAndNonsolicitation_112003]

Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Covenant
[a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#iNoncompetitionAndNonsolicitation_112003]

 

 

 

 

 

§7. [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#a7_ConditionsToObligationToClos_112013]

 

Conditions to Obligation to Close
[a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#a7_ConditionsToObligationToClos_112013]

 

 

 

(a) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#aConditions_112110]

Conditions to Buyer’s Obligation [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#aConditions_112110]

 

 

 

(b) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#bConditionsToE_112114]

Conditions to Each Seller’s Obligation
[a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#bConditionsToE_112114]

 

 

 

 

 

§8. [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#a8_RemediesForBreachesOfThisAgree_112120]

 

Remedies for Breaches of This Agreement
[a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#a8_RemediesForBreachesOfThisAgree_112120]

 

 

 

(a) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#aSurvivalOfRepresentat_112124]

Survival of Representations, Warranties and Covenants
[a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#aSurvivalOfRepresentat_112124]

 

 

 

(b) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#bIndemnificationPro_112126]

Indemnification Provisions for Buyer’s Benefit
[a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#bIndemnificationPro_112126]

 

 

 

(c) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#cIndemnificationP_112130]

Indemnification Provisions for Sellers’ Benefit
[a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#cIndemnificationP_112130]

 

 

 

(d) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#dMattersInvolv_112131]

Matters Involving Third Parties [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#dMattersInvolv_112131]

 

 

 

(e) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#eMattersNotIn_112136]

Matters not Involving Third Party Claims
[a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#eMattersNotIn_112136]

 

 

 

(f) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#fClaimsAgainstEscro_112138]

Claims Against Escrow Amount [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#fClaimsAgainstEscro_112138]

 

 

 

(g) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#gPayment_112140]

Payment of Claims [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#gPayment_112140]

 

 

 

(h) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#hDeterminationOf_112142]

Determination of Adverse Consequences
[a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#hDeterminationOf_112142]

 

 

 

(i) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#iExclusiveRe_112144]

Exclusive Remedy [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#iExclusiveRe_112144]

 

 

 

(j) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#jLimitationOn_112147]

Limitation on Damages [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#jLimitationOn_112147]

 

 

 

 

 

§9. [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#a9_Termination__112149]

 

Termination [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#a9_Termination__112149]

 

 

 

(a) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#aTerminationOf_112153]

Termination of Agreement [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#aTerminationOf_112153]

 

 

 

(b) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#bEffectOfTe_112155]

Effect of Termination [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#bEffectOfTe_112155]

 

 

 

 

 

§10. [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#a10_Miscellaneous__112157]

 

Miscellaneous [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#a10_Miscellaneous__112157]

 

 

 

(a) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#aNatureOfSellers_112200]

Nature of Sellers’ Obligations [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#aNatureOfSellers_112200]

 

 

 

(b) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#bPressReleasesAndPu_112202]

Press Releases and Public Announcements
[a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#bPressReleasesAndPu_112202]

 

 

 

(c) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#cNoThirdpartyBe_112203]

No Third-Party Beneficiaries [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#cNoThirdpartyBe_112203]

 

 

 

(d) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#dEntireAg_112207]

Entire Agreement [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#dEntireAg_112207]

 

 

 

(e) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#eSuccessionA_112209]

Succession and Assignment [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#eSuccessionA_112209]

 

 

 

(f) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#fCounterpar_112211]

Counterparts [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#fCounterpar_112211]

 

 

 

(g) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#gHeading_112213]

Headings [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#gHeading_112213]

 

 

 

(h) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#hNotices__112214]

Notices [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#hNotices__112214]

 

 

 

(i) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#iGoverning_112220]

Governing Law [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#iGoverning_112220]

 

 

 

(j) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#jArbitratio_112222]

Arbitration [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#jArbitratio_112222]

 

 

 

(k) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#kAmendmentsAndW_112225]

Amendments and Waivers [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#kAmendmentsAndW_112225]

 

 

 

(l) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#lSevera_112228]

Severability [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#lSevera_112228]

 

 

 

(m) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#mExpenses_112231]

Expenses [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#mExpenses_112231]

 

 

 

(n) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#nBuyerParentGuaranty__112233]

Buyer Parent Guaranty [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#nBuyerParentGuaranty__112233]

 

 

 

(o) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#oIndividualJoinder__112256]

Individual Joinder [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#oIndividualJoinder__112256]

 

 

 

(p) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#pConstructio_112258]

Construction [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#pConstructio_112258]

 

 

 

(q) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#qIncorporationOfExhibitsAnn_112301]

Incorporation of Exhibits, Annexes, and Schedules
[a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#qIncorporationOfExhibitsAnn_112301]

 

 

 

(r) [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#rBoldAndorCapit_112303]

Bold and/or Capitalized Letters [a05-13293_1ex10d26.htm#rBoldAndorCapit_112303]

 

 

ii

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Exhibit A

 

—

Escrow Agreement

 

Exhibit B

 

—

Bank of America Commitment Letter

 

Exhibit C

 

—

Financial Statements

 

Exhibit D

 

—

Pre-Closing Buyer Escrow Agreement

 

Exhibit E

 

—

Pre-Closing Sellers Escrow Agreement

 

Exhibit F

 

—

Terms of Agreements Related to the Excluded Subsidiary

 

Exhibit G

 

—

Terms of Expanded Insurance Policy

 

Exhibit H

 

—

Non-Competition Area

 

Exhibit I

 

—

Form of Employment Agreement

 

 

 

 

 

 

Annex I

 

—

Exceptions to Sellers’ Representations and Warranties Concerning Transaction

 

Annex II

 

—

Exceptions to Buyer’s Representations and Warranties Concerning Transaction

 

Disclosure Schedule

 

—

Exceptions to Representations and Warranties Concerning the Company and Certain
Other Exceptions and Disclosures

 

 

i

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

MEMBERSHIP INTEREST PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

This Membership Interest Purchase Agreement (this “Agreement”) is entered into
as of June 20, 2005, by and among ScissorTail Energy, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company (the “Company”), Hamilton ScissorTail LLC, a Colorado limited
liability company (“Hamilton LLC”) and ScissorTail Holdings, LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company (“Holdings LLC”) together with Hamilton LLC the
“Sellers” and each a “Seller”), Jay A. Precourt, Frederic C. Hamilton, Copano
Energy, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (“Buyer Parent”), and
Copano Energy/Rocky Mountains and Mid-Continent, L.L.C., a Delaware limited
liability company (“Buyer”). Each of the Company, Buyer Parent, Buyer and
Sellers as a group are referred in this Agreement as a “Party” and collectively
as the “Parties.”  Jay A. Precourt joins as a signatory to this Agreement solely
and exclusively with respect to the covenants set forth in §6(f), (i) and (j)
and for no other purpose, and Frederic C. Hamilton joins as a signatory to this
Agreement solely and exclusively with respect to the covenants set forth in
§6(i) and (f) and for no other purpose.

 

Sellers in the aggregate own 100% of the outstanding membership interests (the
“Membership Interests”) of the Company.

 

This Agreement contemplates a transaction in which Buyer will purchase from
Sellers, and Sellers will sell to Buyer, the Membership Interests of the Company
in return for cash.

 

Now, therefore, in consideration of the premises and the mutual promises made in
this Agreement, and in consideration of the representations, warranties, and
covenants contained in this Agreement, the Parties agree as follows.

 

§1.                               Definitions.

 

“Accredited Investor” has the meaning set forth in Regulation D promulgated
under the Securities Act.

 

“Actual Working Capital Statement” has the meaning set forth in §2(c)(ii).

 

“Adverse Consequences” means all Proceedings, charges, complaints, claims,
demands, injunctions, judgments, orders, decrees, rulings, damages, remedial
obligations, dues, penalties, fines, costs, reasonable amounts paid in
settlement, Liabilities, obligations, Taxes, liens, losses, expenses, and fees,
including court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses.

 

“Affiliate” has the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 of the regulations
promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

“Allocable Portion” means with respect to the share of any Seller in a
particular amount that fraction equal to 75% as to Holdings LLC and 25% as to
Hamilton LLC.

 

“Applicable Rate” as of any date means the Prime Rate as published in the “Money
Rates” section of the Wall Street Journal.

 

1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

“Assets” means all of the Company’s right, title and interest in and to all of
the assets that are used in its business, including (a) real property, pipeline
systems, leaseholds and subleaseholds therein, improvements, fixtures, and
fittings thereon, and easements, rights of way, and other appurtenants thereto,
(b) tangible personal property (such as machinery, equipment, linefill,
inventories of raw materials and supplies, manufactured and purchased parts,
goods in process and finished goods, furniture, automobiles, pickup and other
trucks, tractors, vehicles, rail cars, compressors, trailers, tools, jigs, and
dies), (c) Intellectual Property, goodwill associated therewith, licenses and
sublicenses granted and obtained with respect thereto, and rights thereunder,
remedies against infringements thereof, and rights to protection of interests
therein under the laws of all jurisdictions, (d) leases, subleases, and rights
thereunder, (e) agreements, contracts, indentures, mortgages, instruments,
guaranties, other similar arrangements, and rights thereunder, (f) accounts,
notes, and other receivables, (g) securities, (h) claims, deposits, prepayments,
refunds, causes of action, choses in action, rights of recovery, rights of set
off, and rights of recoupment (including any such item relating to the payment
of Taxes), (i) Permits, (j) books, records, ledgers, files, documents,
correspondence, lists, plats, architectural plans, drawings and specifications,
creative materials, advertising and promotional materials, studies, reports,
business and strategic plans and other printed or written materials, and (k)
rights in and with respect to the assets associated with its Employee Benefit
Plans, but excluding the membership interests in the Excluded Subsidiary.

 

“Audited Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in §4(f)(i).

 

“Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or other day on
which banks are closed in the City of New York.

 

“Business of Southern Dome” means the purchase, sale, gathering, processing,
fractionating, compression and transportation of natural gas and related
by-products from the Southern Dome Prospect by and through contract rights and
facilities owned or to be acquired by the Excluded Subsidiary.

 

“Buyer” has the meaning set forth in the preface.

 

“Buyer Benefit Plan” has the meaning set forth in §6(d)(ii).

 

“Buyer Parent” has the meaning set forth in the preface.

 

“Change of Control Agreements” shall mean the following agreements:  (i) Long
Term Profits Participation Agreement, dated February 17, 2005, by and between
the Company and Sharon Robinson, (ii) Long Term Profits Participation Agreement,
dated March 2, 2005, by and between the Company and John Raber, (iii) Long Term
Profits Participation Agreement, dated February 17, 2005, by and between the
Company and Bruce Roderick, (iv) Long Term Profits Participation Agreement,
dated February 22, 2005, by and between the Company and Lee Fiegener, (v) Long
Term Profits Participation Agreement, dated February 17, 2005, by and between
the Company and Tom Coleman and (vi) Change of Control Agreement, dated June 8,
2005, by and between the Company and John E. Elgin.

 

2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

“Claim for Indemnification” means a written notice by Buyer or Sellers to the
other asserting a claim under §8 delivered in accordance with the Escrow
Agreement or §10(h), as the case may be; provided, however, that such notice
shall be sufficient if it provides a general description of the Adverse
Consequences that the Indemnified Party may suffer, with an estimate of the
extent of the dollar amount of Adverse Consequences.

 

“Closing” has the meaning set forth in §2(d).

 

“Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in §2(d).

 

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

“Company” has the meaning set forth in the preface.

 

“Confidential Information” means any information concerning the business and
affairs of Company that is not already generally available to the public.

 

“Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct
or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether
through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise.

 

“Covered Persons” has the meaning set forth in §6(d)(iii).

 

“Credit Facility” means the Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement
dated as of May 30, 2003, as amended, among the Company, the lenders named
therein and Bank of America, N.A. as agent for such lenders.

 

“Current Assets” means the current Assets of the Company, excluding the Oxley
Receivable, in all cases as such amounts are shown on the Company’s balance
sheet, determined in accordance with GAAP applied consistently with the
Company’s past practices, other than imbalances, if any, which shall be marked
to market.

 

“Current Liabilities” means the current liabilities of the Company, excluding
amounts accrued in respect of overpayments from Oneok Energy Services, in all
cases as such amounts are shown on the Company’s balance sheet, determined in
accordance with GAAP (except as set forth in §4(f)(iv) of the Disclosure
Schedule) applied consistently with the Company’s past practices, other than
imbalances, if any, which shall be marked to market.  For the avoidance of
doubt, any amounts that become due and payable under the Change of Control
Agreements as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (and
are not paid by the Company prior to Closing) shall be deemed to be Current
Liabilities as of the Closing Date.

 

“Disclosure Schedule” has the meaning set forth in §4.

 

“Duke Agreement” that certain Purchase and Sale Agreement dated May 1, 2003
among the Company, United LP Gas, LLC and Duke Energy Field Services, LP.

 

3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

“Employee Benefit Plan” means any “employee benefit plan” (as such term is
defined in ERISA §3(3)) and any other material employee benefit compensation
plan, program or arrangement.

 

“Employee Welfare Benefit Plan” has the meaning set forth in ERISA §3(1).

 

“Environmental Law” means any and all Laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, or
regulations of any Governmental Authority pertaining to the protection of the
environment or natural resources or to Hazardous Materials in any and all
jurisdictions in which the Company owns property or conducts business or in
which the Assets are located, including the Clean Air Act, the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (“CERCLA”), the
Federal Water Pollution Control Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act of
1970 (to the extent relating to environmental matters), the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Toxic
Substances Control Act, the Hazardous & Solid Waste Amendments Act of 1984, the
Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, the Hazardous Materials
Transportation Act, the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, any state or local Laws
implementing or substantially equivalent to the foregoing federal Laws, and any
state or local Laws pertaining to the handling of oil and gas exploration,
production, gathering, and processing wastes or the use, maintenance, and
closure of pits and impoundments, all as amended through the Closing Date.

 

“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

 

“ERISA Affiliate” means each entity that is treated as a single employer with
Company for purposes of Code §414 or ERISA §4001.

 

“Escrow Agent” means JP Morgan Chase Bank, or such other escrow agent mutually
agreeable to Buyer and Sellers, as escrow agent pursuant to the Escrow
Agreement.

 

“Escrow Agreement” means the Escrow Agreement, in the form of Exhibit A to this
Agreement, to be entered into by the Company, Sellers, Buyer and Escrow Agent at
the Closing.

 

“Escrow Amount” has the meaning set forth in §2(b).

 

“Estimated Allocation Schedule” has the meaning set forth in §2(f).

 

“Estimated Net Working Capital” has the meaning set forth in §2(c).

 

“Exchange Act” has the meaning set forth in §7(a)(xi).

 

“Excluded Subsidiary” means the Company’s wholly owned Subsidiary, Southern
Dome, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

“Existing Policy” has the meaning set forth in §5(h).

 

“Expanded Insurance Policy” has the meaning set forth in §5(h).

 

4

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“Final Allocation Schedule” has the meaning set forth in §2(f).

 

“Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in §4(f).

 

“GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles as in effect
from time to time, consistently applied.

 

“Governmental Authorities” means (a) the United States of America or any state
or political subdivision thereof within the United States of America and (b) any
court or any governmental or administrative department, commission, board,
bureau or agency of the United States of America or of any state or political
subdivision thereof within the United States of America.

 

“Hamilton Base Amount” has the meaning set forth in §2(b).

 

“Hamilton LLC” has the meaning set forth in the preface.

 

“Hamilton Purchase Price” has the meaning set forth in §2(b).

 

“Hazardous Materials” means: (a) any chemicals, materials or substances defined
or included in the definition of “hazardous substance,” “hazardous material,”
“toxic substance,” “solid waste,” “pollutant,” “contaminant,” or words of
similar import, under any applicable Environmental Law and (b) radioactive
materials (other than naturally occurring radioactive materials), friable
asbestos, mercury, lead based paints, polychlorinated biphenyls, and any waste
or spilled petroleum (including, without limitation, crude oil or any faction
thereof), petroleum products, natural gas liquids, or natural gas condensate
(but excluding petroleum, petroleum products, natural gas liquids, or natural
gas condensate that has not been Released).

 

“Holdings Base Amount” has the meaning set forth in §2(b).

 

“Holdings LLC” has the meaning set forth in the preface.

 

“Holdings Purchase Price” has the meaning set forth in §2(b).

 

“HSR Act” shall mean the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976,
as amended, and regulations and rules promulgated pursuant to that act or any
successor law.

 

“Indemnified Party” has the meaning set forth in §8(d)(i).

 

“Indemnifying Party” has the meaning set forth in §8(d)(i).

 

“Intellectual Property” means (a) all inventions (whether patentable or
unpatentable and whether or not reduced to practice), all improvements thereto,
and all patents, patent applications, and patent disclosures, together with all
reissuances, continuations, continuations-in-part, revisions, extensions, and
reexaminations thereof, (b) all trademarks, service marks, trade dress, logos,
trade names, and corporate names, together with all translations, adaptations,
derivations, and combinations thereof and including all goodwill associated
therewith, and all

 

5

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applications, registrations, and renewals in connection therewith, (c) all
copyrightable works, all copyrights, and all applications, registrations, and
renewals in connection therewith, (d) all mask works and all applications,
registrations, and renewals in connection therewith, (e) all trade secrets and
confidential business information (including ideas, research and development,
know-how, formulas, compositions, manufacturing and production processes and
techniques, technical data, designs, drawings, specifications, customer and
supplier lists, pricing and cost information, and business and marketing plans
and proposals), (f) all computer software (including data and related
documentation), (g) all other proprietary rights, and (h) all copies and
tangible embodiments thereof (in whatever form or medium).

 

“Knowledge of Buyer” means actual knowledge without independent investigation of
the individuals listed in §1(a) of the Disclosure Schedule.

 

“Knowledge of the Company” means actual knowledge without independent
investigation of the individuals listed in §1(b) of the Disclosure Schedule

 

“Knowledge of either Seller” means actual knowledge without independent
investigation of the individuals listed in §1(c) of the Disclosure Schedule.

 

“Laws” means all applicable statutes, laws (including common law), regulations,
rules, rulings, ordinances, orders, restrictions, requirements, writs,
judgments, injunctions, decrees and other official acts of or by any
Governmental Authority.

 

“Leased Real Property” means all leasehold or subleasehold estates and other
rights to use or occupy any land, buildings, structures, improvements, fixtures,
or other interest in real property that is used in the Company’s business.

 

“Leases” means all leases, subleases, licenses, concessions and other agreements
(written or oral), including all amendments, extensions, renewals, guaranties,
and other agreements with respect thereto, pursuant to which the Company holds
any Leased Real Property.

 

“Liability” means any liability (whether known or unknown, whether asserted or
unasserted, whether absolute or contingent, whether accrued or unaccrued,
whether liquidated or unliquidated, and whether due or to become due), including
any liability for Taxes.

 

“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, charge, or other security
interest or restriction (whether on voting, sale, transfer, disposition or
otherwise).

 

“LLC Agreement” has the meaning set forth in §3(a)(v).

 

“Material Adverse Effect” or “Material Adverse Change” means any effect, event,
circumstance or occurrence or change that is or could reasonably be expected to
be materially adverse to the business, condition (financial or otherwise),
results of operations, assets, liabilities or obligations of the Company, taken
as a whole, or to the ability of any Party to consummate timely the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement; provided that none of the following shall be
deemed to constitute, and none of the following shall be taken into account in
determining whether there has been, a Material Adverse Effect or Material
Adverse Change: (a)

 

6

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any adverse change, event, development, or effect arising from or relating to
(1) general business or economic conditions, (2) national or international
political or social conditions, including the engagement or continuation by the
United States in hostilities, whether or not pursuant to the declaration of a
national emergency or war, or the occurrence of any military or terrorist attack
upon the United States, or any of its territories, possessions, or diplomatic or
consular offices or upon any military installation, equipment or personnel of
the United States, (3) financial, banking, or securities markets (including any
disruption thereof and any decline in the price of any security, commodity or
market index), (4) changes in United States generally accepted accounting
principles (5) changes in Laws or other binding directives issued by any
Governmental Authority, or (6) the taking of any action required by this
Agreement; provided that none of the changes, events, developments or effects
described in clauses (1) through (5) specifically relate to or have the effect
of specifically relating to or having a materially disproportionate effect on
the Company relative to most other industry participants in the midstream
natural gas industry and (b) any adverse change in or effect on the business of
the Company arising after the date of this Agreement that is cured by a Seller
before the earlier of (1) the Closing Date and (2) the date on which this
Agreement is terminated pursuant to §9 of this Agreement.  For purposes of this
Agreement, (i) any reference to “Material Adverse Effect” in any representation
or warranty contained in §4 of this Agreement shall be deemed to include any
event, circumstance or occurrence or change that has or could reasonably be
expected to result in Adverse Consequences of at least $2,000,000 and (ii) any
reference to “material” in respect to any representation or warranty contained
in §4 of this Agreement shall be deemed to include any event, circumstance,
occurrence or change that has or could reasonably be expected to result in
Adverse Consequences of at least $500,000.

 

“Material Leases” has the meaning set forth in §4(j)(ii).

 

“Membership Interests” has the meaning set forth in the preface.

 

“Net Working Capital” means an amount (which may be a positive or negative
number) equal to the difference between the Company’s (a) Current Assets and
Other Assets and (b) Current Liabilities, indebtedness in respect of borrowed
money and capital leases as recorded in accordance with GAAP and not otherwise
included in Current Liabilities, and as determined in accordance with §1(d) of
the Disclosure Schedule.

 

“Octagon Agreement” means that certain Stock and Asset Purchase Agreement
entered into as of June 29, 2000, among the Company, Octagon Resources, Inc.,
and G. Curtis Harris.

 

“Ordinary Course of Business” means the ordinary course of business consistent
with past custom and practice (including with respect to quantity and frequency.

 

“Other Assets” means the sum of (a) the costs incurred prior to Closing for
capital improvements that have been or will be placed in service after
December 31, 2004, not to exceed $6,000,000 (unless otherwise agreed in writing
by Buyer and excluding any capital improvements made on behalf of the Excluded
Subsidiary), plus (b) those assets denominated as such on the Company’s
regularly prepared balance sheets in accordance with GAAP to the extent not
included in Current Assets.

 

7

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“Owned Real Property” means all land, together with all buildings, structures,
improvements, and fixtures located thereon, and all easements and other rights
and interests appurtenant thereto, owned by the Company.

 

“Oxley Receivable” means the imbalance receivable described in the third
paragraph of §4(f)(iv) of the Disclosure Schedule.

 

“Party” has the meaning set forth in the preface.

 

“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

 

“Permits” means all permits, licenses, certificates, orders, approvals,
authorizations, registrations, grants, consents, concessions, warrants,
franchises and similar rights and privileges granted by a Governmental
Authority.

 

“Permitted Encumbrances” means: (a) real estate Taxes, assessments and other
levies, fees, or charges imposed by a Governmental Authority that are (i) not
due and payable as of the Closing Date or (ii) being contested in good faith by
appropriate Proceedings; (b) any Lien consisting of (i) rights reserved to or
vested in any Governmental Authority to control or regulate any Asset of the
Company or to limit the use of such Asset in any manner which does not
materially impair the use of such Asset for the purposes for which it is held by
the Company or (ii) obligations or duties to any Governmental Authority with
respect to any Permit relating to any period after Closing and the rights
reserved or vested in any Governmental Authority to terminate any such Permit or
to condemn or expropriate any property; (c) mechanics Liens and similar Liens
for labor, materials, or supplies provided with respect to Owned Real Property
incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business for amounts that are (i) not
delinquent and would not, in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect or
(ii) being contested in good faith by appropriate Proceedings; (d) zoning,
building codes, and other land use Laws regulating the use or occupancy of Owned
Real Property or the activities conducted thereon that are imposed by any
Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over such Owned Real Property;
(e) any Lien for financing secured by Assets that is an obligation of the
Company that will not be paid off at Closing and is listed on §1(e) of the
Disclosure Schedule; and (f) easements, servitudes, rights-of-way, covenants,
conditions, restrictions, and other similar matters affecting title to Owned
Real Property and other title defects that do not or would not materially impair
the use or occupancy of such Owned Real Property in the operation of the
business of the Company taken as a whole.

 

“Person” means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a limited liability
company, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an
unincorporated organization, any other business entity or a Governmental
Authority (including any department, agency, or political subdivision thereof).

 

“Pipeline Rights” has the meaning set forth in §4(j)(iii).

 

“Pre-Closing Tax Period” means any Tax periods or portions thereof ending on or
before the Closing Date.

 

8

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“Proceeding” means any action, suit, claim, investigation, review or other
judicial or administrative proceeding, at law or in equity, before or by any
Governmental Authority or arbitration or other dispute resolution proceeding.

 

“Purchase Price” has the meaning set forth in §2(b).

 

“Release” means any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying,
discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, or disposing of Hazardous
Materials into or upon the environment (including the abandonment or discarding
of barrels, containers, and other closed receptacles containing any Hazardous
Material and which are not empty as defined by 40 C.F.R. §261.7(b)).

 

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

“Sellers” has the meaning set forth in the preface.

 

“Southern Dome Prospect” means the area covered by Township 10 north, Ranges 1
west, 2 west and 3 west; Township 11 north, Ranges 1 west, 2 west and 3 west;
Township 12 north, Ranges 1 west, 2 west and 3 west all in the state of
Oklahoma.

 

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited
liability company, partnership, association, or other business entity of which
(i) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of shares of stock
entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the
election of directors, managers, or trustees thereof is at the time owned or
controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other
Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof or (ii) if a limited
liability company, partnership, association, or other business entity (other
than a corporation), a majority of the partnership or other similar ownership
interests thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by
that Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof
and for this purpose, a Person or Persons own a majority ownership interest in
such a business entity (other than a corporation) if such Person or Persons
shall be allocated a majority of such business entity’s gains or losses or shall
be or control any managing director or general partner of such business entity
(other than a corporation). The term “Subsidiary” shall include all Subsidiaries
of such Subsidiary.

 

“Substantial Buyer Breach” has the meaning set forth in §5(e)(viii).

 

“Substantial Seller Breach” has the meaning set forth in §5(e)(vi).

 

“Tax” or “Taxes” means any federal, state, local, or foreign income, gross
receipts, license, payroll, employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation,
premium, windfall profits, environmental (including Taxes under Code §59A),
customs duties, capital stock, franchise, profits, withholding, social security
(or similar), unemployment, disability, real property, personal property, sales,
use, transfer, registration, value added, ad valorem, alternative or add-on
minimum, estimated, or other tax of any kind whatsoever, including any interest,
penalty, or addition thereto, whether disputed or not.

 

9

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“Tax Return” means any return, declaration, report, claim for refund, or
information return or statement relating to Taxes, including any schedule or
attachment thereto, and including any amendment thereof.

 

“Threshold” has the meaning set forth in §8(b)(iii).

 

“Third-Party Claim” has the meaning set forth in §8(d).

 

“Unaudited Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in §4(f).

 

“Working Capital True Up” has the meaning set forth in §2(c)(ii).

 

§2.                               Purchase and Sale of Membership Interests.

 

(a)                                 Basic Transaction.  On the terms and subject
to the conditions of this Agreement and at Closing, Buyer agrees to purchase
from each Seller, and each Seller severally agrees to sell to Buyer, the
following Membership Interests, free and clear of all Liens, for the
consideration specified below in this §2:

 

Seller

 

Membership Interests to be Sold to Buyer

 

 

 

 

 

Holdings LLC

 

 

75.00

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hamilton LLC

 

 

25.00

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

100.00

%

 

 

(b)                                 Purchase Price.  At Closing, Buyer agrees to
pay (x) to Holdings LLC (i) $375,000,000 (the “Holdings Base Amount”) plus
(ii) its Allocable Portion of the Estimated Net Working Capital as calculated in
§2(c)(i) (together with the Holdings Base Amount, the “Holdings Purchase
Price”), and (y) to Hamilton LLC (i) $125,000,000 (the “Hamilton Base Amount”)
plus (ii) its Allocable Portion of the Estimated Net Working Capital as
calculated in §2(c)(i) (together with the Hamilton Base Amount, the “Hamilton
Purchase Price”, and the Hamilton Purchase Price together with the Holdings
Purchase Price, the “Purchase Price”) by delivery of cash payable by wire
transfer in accordance with the instructions provided by Sellers; provided,
however, that in lieu of delivery to Sellers, Buyer shall deposit (A) Fifteen
Million Dollars ($15,000,000) of the Holdings Purchase Price and Five Million
Dollars ($5,000,000) of the Hamilton Purchase Price into escrow at the Closing
(such amounts, in the aggregate, the “Escrow Amount”) on the terms and subject
to the conditions of the Escrow Agreement and (B) such amount, if any, required
to be deposited in the Pre-Closing Buyer Escrow Fund pursuant to §5(e)(v) or
§5(e)(vi) to be held on the terms and subject to the conditions of the
Pre-Closing Buyer Escrow Agreement. The Purchase Price shall be increased or
decreased, as the case may be, after Closing by the aggregate of the Working
Capital True Up pursuant to §2(c), and any increase or decrease shall be
allocated among Sellers in accordance with their Allocable Portions.

 

10

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(c)                                  Net Working Capital.

 

(i)                                     At least five (5) Business Days prior to
Closing, Sellers will cause the Company to deliver to Buyer in writing a good
faith determination of the estimated Net Working Capital as of the Closing Date
(the “Estimated Net Working Capital”), together with such supporting
documentation and other data as is reasonably requested by Buyer.  The Estimated
Net Working Capital shall reflect any distributions to be declared by the
Company to Sellers prior to the Closing.

 

(ii)                                  As soon as reasonably practicable, but in
any event no later than ninety (90) days following Closing, Buyer shall cause
the Company to prepare and deliver to Buyer and Sellers a written statement (the
“Actual Working Capital Statement”), prepared by the Chief Financial Officer of
the Company, certifying the actual amount of Net Working Capital on the Closing
Date, upon which a payment (the “Working Capital True Up”) will be based, and
setting forth the calculation of such amount. The Working Capital True Up may be
a positive or negative number and shall be an amount equal to (A) the Company’s
actual amount of Net Working Capital on the Closing Date, less (B) the Estimated
Net Working Capital. If, within fifteen (15) Business Days following delivery of
the Actual Working Capital Statement to Buyer and Sellers, Sellers shall not
have given Buyer notice of Sellers’ objection to the computation of the Working
Capital True Up (which notice shall contain a statement of the basis of such
objection), then the amount of Working Capital True Up at the Closing Date will
be final and binding upon the Parties, absent manifest error. If Sellers give
notice to Buyer of Sellers’ objection, and Buyer and Sellers are unable to
resolve the issues in dispute within thirty (30) days after delivery of such
notice of objection, such issues will be submitted for resolution to Ernst &
Young LLP, independent certified public accountants, or if Ernst & Young is
unable or unwilling to serve in such role, such other independent certified
public accountants that is selected by Buyer and Sellers (the “Neutral
Auditor”). The Neutral Auditor shall be engaged by the Company within fifteen
(15) days after the expiration of the thirty (30) day period set forth in the
preceding sentence. The Neutral Auditor shall make such review and examination
of the relevant facts and documents as the Neutral Auditor deems appropriate
(including inquiry of such experts in the gas gathering and processing industry
as it deems necessary and advisable), and shall permit each of Buyer and Sellers
to make a written presentation of their respective positions; provided, however,
that the Neutral Auditor shall require all facts, documents and written
presentations from Buyer and Sellers jointly to be completely submitted within
thirty (30) days after the Neutral Auditor has been engaged. Within thirty (30)
days after submission of such facts, documents and written presentations, the
Neutral Auditor shall resolve all disputed items in writing and shall prepare
and deliver its decision, which shall be final and binding upon the Parties
without further recourse or collateral attack; provided that the Neutral Auditor
shall not assign a value to any particular disputed item greater than the
greatest value for such item claimed by Buyer or Sellers or less that the
smallest value for such item claimed by Buyer or Sellers.  All costs of the
dispute resolution process contemplated by this §2(c)(ii) (including, without
limitation, the Neutral Auditor’s fees, but exclusive of attorneys’ fees) shall
be borne by the Party (that is, either Buyer or Sellers jointly) who is the
least successful in such process, as determined by the Neutral Auditor, which
shall be determined by comparing (x) the position asserted by each Party on all
disputed matters taken together to (y) the final decision of the Neutral Auditor
on all disputed matters taken together. If the Neutral Auditor determines that
Sellers shall bear such costs each Seller shall bear its Allocable Portion. For
purposes of the second preceding sentence: the

 

11

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“disputed matters” shall be all matters raised in Sellers’ notice of objection
provided pursuant to the fourth sentence of this §2(c)(ii) and the “position
asserted” by Sellers and by Buyer shall be determined by reference to the
written presentations submitted pursuant to the sixth sentence of this
§2(c)(ii). The Neutral Auditor shall not preside over any hearing of the Parties
nor permit the Parties to make any oral arguments to the Neutral Auditor.

 

(iii)                               Within five (5) Business Days of the
completion of the computations required by §2(c)(ii), if the Working Capital
True Up is a positive number, it shall be paid by Buyer to Sellers in their
Allocable Portions, and if it is a negative number, it shall be paid by Sellers
in their Allocable Portions to Buyer, in either case by wire transfer of
immediately available funds.

 

(iv)                              Except as set forth in this §2(c), Buyer and
Sellers jointly shall each bear their own expenses incurred in connection with
the preparation and review of the Actual Working Capital Statement, with Sellers
bearing their Allocable Portion of such expenses.

 

(d)                                 Closing.  The closing of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement with respect to the sale by Sellers of Membership
Interests (“Closing”) shall take place at the offices of Bartlit Beck Herman
Palenchar & Scott LLP in Denver, Colorado commencing at 9:00 a.m. local time on
the later to occur of August 1, 2005 (with an effective time of 12:01 a.m.) and
the last Business Day of the month during which the satisfaction or waiver of
all conditions to the obligations of the Parties to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (other than conditions with respect to actions
the respective Parties are required to take at Closing itself) or such other
date as Buyer and Sellers may mutually determine (the “Closing Date”). 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) in no event shall Buyer be obligated to
purchase any Membership Interests pursuant to this Agreement if either of
Sellers defaults in its obligation to sell its Membership Interests to Buyer and
(b) if Buyer purchases any Membership Interests pursuant to this Agreement,
Buyer shall purchase all of the Membership Interests of Sellers pursuant to this
Agreement.

 

(e)                                  Deliveries at Closing.  At Closing,
(i) each Seller will deliver to Buyer the various certificates, instruments, and
documents referred to in §7(a), (ii) Buyer will deliver to each Seller the
various certificates, instruments, and documents referred to in §7(b),
(iii) each Seller will deliver to Buyer an instrument of assignment transferring
to Buyer all of Seller’s right, title and interest in and to the percentage of
Membership Interests to be sold by such Seller to Buyer as set forth in §2(a),
(iv) Buyer will deliver to each Seller the consideration specified in §2(b),
(v) Buyer will deliver the Escrow Amount to the Escrow Agent to hold pursuant to
the Escrow Agreement, (vi) each Seller will deliver to Buyer a certificate of
good standing, existence or similar document with respect to such Seller and the
Company issued by the appropriate Governmental Authority of the jurisdiction of
formation as of a date not more than five (5) days prior to the Closing Date,
(v) Buyer will deliver to such Seller a certificate of good standing, existence
or similar document with respect to Buyer Parent and Buyer issued by the
appropriate Governmental Authority of the jurisdiction of formation as of a date
not more than five (5) days prior to the Closing Date, (vi) Sellers will deliver
the written resignations of Jay A. Precourt, John E. Elgin and each other
manager and director of the Company designated in writing by Buyer at least five
Business Days prior to the Closing Date, such resignations to be effective

 

12

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concurrently with the Closing on the Closing Date, (vii) each Seller will
deliver resolutions of the Board of Directors or other managing body of each
Seller and the Company authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement and a certificate of an officer of each Seller and the Company,
dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that such resolutions were duly
adopted and are in full force and effect and (viii) each Seller will deliver
such other certificates, instruments of conveyance and documents as may be
reasonably requested by Buyer prior to the Closing Date to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(f)                                   Purchase Price Allocation. The Purchase
Price shall be allocated among the Assets in accordance with the estimated
allocation schedule (the “Estimated Allocation Schedule”) set forth on §2(f) of
the Disclosure Schedule. After Closing, Sellers and Buyer shall jointly prepare
a final allocation schedule (the “Final Allocation Schedule”) that will be
mutually acceptable to the Parties.  Should Sellers and Buyer fail to mutually
agree upon a Final Allocation Schedule with forty-five (45) days after Closing,
the issue shall be subject to the Dispute resolution provisions of
Section 10(j).  The Parties agree that they will not take nor will they permit
any Affiliate to take, for income tax purposes, any position inconsistent with
the Final Allocation Schedule. Upon resolution of any Disputes, or in the event
there are no Disputes, the Final Allocation Schedule shall be signed by the
Parties.

 

§3.                               Representations and Warranties Concerning
Transaction.

 

(a)                                  Sellers’ Representations and Warranties. 
Each Seller represents and warrants to Buyer (subject to the limitations set
forth in §10(a)(i)) that the statements contained in this §3(a) are correct and
complete as of the date of this Agreement and will be correct and complete as of
the Closing Date (as though made then and as though the Closing Date were
substituted for the date of this Agreement throughout this §3 (a)) with respect
to itself, except as set forth in Annex I attached hereto.

 

(i)                                     Organization.  Seller is a limited
liability company duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under
the Laws of the jurisdiction of its formation.

 

(ii)                                  Authorization of Transaction.  Seller has
requisite limited liability company power and authority to execute and deliver
this Agreement and to perform its obligations under this Agreement. This
Agreement has been duly executed by each Seller and constitutes the valid and
legally binding obligation of Seller, enforceable in accordance with its terms
and conditions, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium and other similar Laws affecting creditor’s rights generally and
general principals of equity. Seller need not give any notice to, make any
filing with, or obtain any authorization, consent, or approval of any
Governmental Authority in order to consummate the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement or to effect the legality, validity, binding effect or
enforceability of this Agreement.  The execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement and all other agreements contemplated by this Agreement have been
duly authorized by Seller.

 

(iii)                               Non-contravention.  Neither the execution
and delivery of this Agreement, nor the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, will (A) violate any Law or other restriction of
any Governmental Authority to which Seller is subject or any

 

13

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provision of its certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement,
or other governing documents, (B) conflict with, result in a breach of,
constitute a default (or an event which with the giving of notice or lapse of
time, or both, would become a default) under, result in the acceleration of,
create in any party the right to accelerate, terminate, modify, or cancel, or
require any notice or consent under any agreement, contract, lease, license,
instrument, or other arrangement to which Seller is a party or by which it is
bound or to which any of its assets is subject, or (C) result in the imposition
or creation of a Lien upon or with respect to the Membership Interests owned by
such Seller.

 

(iv)                              Brokers’ Fees.  Seller has no Liability or
obligation to pay any fees or commissions to any broker, finder, or agent with
respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement for which Buyer or
the Company could become liable or obligated.

 

(v)                                 Membership Interests.  Seller holds of
record and owns beneficially the percentage of Membership Interests set forth
next to its name in §2(a), free and clear of any restrictions on transfer (other
than restrictions under the Securities Act, state securities Laws and the
Company’s limited liability company agreement (the “LLC Agreement”)), Taxes,
Liens, options, warrants, purchase rights, contracts, commitments, equities,
claims, and demands. At Closing, Seller will transfer and deliver to Buyer good
and valid title to the percentage of Membership Interests set forth in §2(b),
free and clear of any restrictions on transfer (other than restrictions under
the Securities Act, state securities Laws and the LLC Agreement (as defined)),
Taxes, Liens (other than any Lien created by Buyer), options, warrants, purchase
rights, contracts, commitments, equities, claims, and demands. The Membership
Interests are duly authorized, validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable.
Seller is not a party to any option, warrant, purchase right, or other contract
or commitment (other than this Agreement) that could require Seller to sell,
transfer, or otherwise dispose of any Membership Interests. Seller is not a
party to any voting trust, proxy, or other agreement or understanding with
respect to the voting of any Membership Interests of the Company.

 

(b)                                 Buyer’s Representations and Warranties. 
Buyer represents and warrants to the Company and each Seller that the statements
contained in this §3(b) are correct and complete as of the date of this
Agreement and will be correct and complete as of the Closing Date (as though
made then and as though the Closing Date were substituted for the date of this
Agreement throughout this §3(b)), except as set forth in Annex II attached
hereto.

 

(i)                                     Organization.  Each of Buyer Parent and
Buyer is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing, and in
good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware.

 

(ii)                                  Authorization of Transaction.  Each of
Buyer Parent and Buyer has requisite limited liability company power and
authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations
under this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly executed by Buyer Parent and
Buyer and constitutes the valid and legally binding obligation of Buyer Parent
and Buyer, enforceable in accordance with its terms and conditions, subject to
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar
Laws affecting creditor’s rights generally and general principals of equity.
Neither Buyer Parent nor Buyer need give any

 

14

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notice to, make any filing with, or obtain any authorization, consent, or
approval of any Governmental Authority in order to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or to effect the legality, validity, binding
effect or enforceability of this Agreement. The execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement and all other agreements contemplated by this
Agreement have been duly authorized by Buyer Parent and Buyer.

 

(iii)                               Non-contravention.  Neither the execution
and delivery of this Agreement, nor the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, will (A) violate any Law or other restriction of
any Governmental Authority to which Buyer Parent or Buyer is subject or any
provision of their certificates of formation, limited liability company
agreements or other governing documents or (B) conflict with, result in a breach
of, constitute a default (or an event which with the giving of notice or lapse
of time, or both, would become a default) under, result in the acceleration of,
create in any party the right to accelerate, terminate, modify, or cancel, or
require any notice or consent under any agreement, contract, lease, license,
instrument, or other arrangement to which Buyer Parent or Buyer is a party or by
which it is bound or to which any of its assets is subject.

 

(iv)                              Brokers’ Fees.  Buyer has no Liability or
obligation to pay any fees or commissions to any broker, finder, or agent with
respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement for which either
Seller could become liable or obligated.

 

(v)                                 Investment.  Buyer is acquiring Membership
Interests for its own account for investment and not with a view to any
distribution thereof within the meaning of the Securities Act. Buyer
acknowledges that the Membership Interests have not been registered under the
Securities Act or the securities Laws of any state and neither Sellers nor the
Company has any obligation to register the Membership Interests. Without such
registration, the Membership Interests may not be sold, pledged, hypothecated or
otherwise transferred unless it is determined that registration is not required.
Buyer has received certain information concerning the Company from the Company
and Sellers and Buyer has had the opportunity to obtain additional information
as desired. Buyer is an Accredited Investor and Buyer itself, or through its
officers, employees or agents, has sufficient knowledge and experience in
financial and business matters to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks
of an investment such as an investment in the Membership Interests. Buyer,
either alone or through its officers, employees or agents, has evaluated the
merits and risks of the investment in the Membership Interests and is able to
bear the economic risk and lack of liquidity inherent in holding the Membership
Interests.

 

(vi)                              Available Funds.  A copy of the written
commitment from Bank of America, N.A. to provide financing in an amount of not
less than $655 million is attached hereto as Exhibit B.  At the Closing, Buyer
will have sufficient cash resources to enable it to make payment in immediately
available funds of the Purchase Price when due and any other amounts to be paid
by it under this Agreement or as a result of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, including, without limitation, the payment in full of
indebtedness in respect of money borrowed by the Company required to be retired
as a result of the Closing.

 

15

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(vii)                           Qualified for Permits.  Buyer is qualified to
obtain, maintain and control any Permit necessary for the ownership and
operation by Buyer of the Company as of Closing in the same manner as the
Company is presently owned or operated by Sellers.

 

(viii)                        Independent Investigation.  Buyer is knowledgeable
in the business of (A) owning and operating natural gas gathering, processing
and treatment facilities, and (B) the handling, storage and delivery of natural
gas, natural gas liquids and condensate and has had access to the Assets, the
Company’s representatives, and to the Company’s records with respect to the
Assets. In making the decision to enter into this Agreement and consummate the
transaction contemplated by this Agreement, Buyer has relied solely on its own
independent due diligence investigations regarding the Company and its Assets,
the representations and warranties of Sellers and the Company made in this
Agreement, and the covenants and undertakings of Sellers and the Company in this
Agreement.  BUYER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT, EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET OUT IN THIS
AGREEMENT, NEITHER THE COMPANY NOR ANY SELLER HAS MADE ANY REPRESENTATION OR
WARRANTY OF ANY KIND OR NATURE, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING,
WITHOUT LIMITATION, WARRANTIES OF THE CONDITION, USEFULNESS OR ADEQUACY OF THE
ASSETS, QUALITY, MERCHANTABILITY, AND/OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE,
MARKETABILITY, AND CONFORMITY TO SAMPLES, ALL OF WHICH ARE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMED
BY SELLERS AND THE COMPANY AND, EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT, WAIVED BY
BUYER.

 

§4.                               Representations and Warranties of the
Company.  The Company represents and warrants to Buyer that the statements
contained in this §4 are correct and complete as of the date of this Agreement
and will be correct and complete as of the Closing Date (as though made then and
as though the Closing Date were substituted for the date of this Agreement
throughout this §4), except as set forth in the disclosure schedule delivered to
Buyer on the date of this Agreement arranged in sections corresponding to the
lettered and numbered sections contained in this Agreement (the “Disclosure
Schedule”), which exceptions contained in the Disclosure Schedule shall be
deemed to have been disclosed for purposes of another section or sections of
this Agreement if the relevance or applicability of such disclosure to the
subject matter of such other section or sections is reasonably apparent on the
face of such disclosure.

 

(a)                                 Organization, Qualification, and Power.  The
Company is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing, and in
good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware. The Company is duly
authorized to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct business and is
in good standing under the Laws of each jurisdiction where such qualification is
required, except where the lack of such qualification would not, individually or
in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has requisite
limited liability company power and authority to carry on the business in which
it is engaged and to own and use the properties owned and used by it.  §4(a) of
the Disclosure Schedule lists the managers and officers of the Company.  There
are (i) no outstanding limited liability company interests or other voting
securities of the Company other than the Membership Interests, (ii) no
securities of the Company convertible into or exchangeable for limited liability
company interests or other voting securities of the Company and (iii) no options
or other rights to acquire, and no obligations of the Company to issue or sell,

 

16

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any limited liability company interests or other voting securities of the
Company or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for such limited
liability company interests.  There are no obligations of the Company to
repurchase, redeem, or otherwise acquire any Membership Interests of the Company
or any of the foregoing securities, options, equity equivalents, interests or
rights.

 

(b)                                 Non-contravention.  Neither the execution
and delivery of this Agreement, nor the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, will (i) violate any Law or other restriction of
any Governmental Authority to which Company is subject or any provision of the
certificate of formation or LLC Agreement of the Company or (ii) conflict with,
result in a breach of, constitute a default (or an event which with the giving
of notice or lapse of time, or both, would become a default) under, result in
the acceleration of, create in any party the right to accelerate, terminate,
modify, or cancel, or require any notice or consent under any agreement,
contract, lease, license, instrument, or other arrangement to which Company is a
party or by which it is bound or to which any of the Assets is subject (or
result in the imposition of any Lien upon any of the Assets), except where the
violation, conflict, breach, default, acceleration, termination, modification,
cancellation, failure to give notice, or Lien would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as set forth in §4(b) of the
Disclosure Schedule, the Company does not need to give any notice to, make any
filing with, or obtain any authorization, consent, or approval of any
Governmental Authority in order for the Parties to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(c)                                  Brokers’ Fees.  The Company has not entered
into any agreement or arrangement that would result in any Liability or
obligation to pay any fees or commissions to any broker, finder, or agent with
respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(d)                                 Tangible Assets.  The Company (i) owns or
leases all tangible Assets necessary for the conduct of its business as
presently conducted free and clear of all Liens (except for Permitted
Encumbrances) and (ii) has good and valid title to all tangible Assets reflected
on the balance sheet included in the Unaudited Financial Statements as of and
for the four months ended April 30, 2005 (except for (x) Assets sold or
otherwise disposed of since the date of this Agreement in the Ordinary Course of
Business and (y) defects in title that are not material) free and clear of all
Liens (except for Permitted Encumbrances). The Company is currently operating
its tangible Assets in material compliance with applicable Laws. Each such
tangible Asset is free from material defects, has been maintained in accordance
with normal gas gathering and processing industry practice, is in satisfactory
operating condition and repair (subject to normal wear and tear), and is
suitable for the purposes for which it presently is used.

 

(e)                                  Subsidiaries.  The Company has no
Subsidiaries, other than the Excluded Subsidiary.  The Company does not own or
have any right to acquire, directly or indirectly, any outstanding capital stock
of, or other equity interests in, any Person, other than the Excluded
Subsidiary.  §4(e) of the Disclosure Schedules contains a true and complete list
of all assets of the Excluded Subsidiary.  Except as set forth in §4(e) of the
Disclosure Schedules, (i) the Excluded Subsidiary has not been involved in any
business arrangement or relationship with the Company within the past twelve
(12) months, (ii) the Excluded Subsidiary does not own any asset, tangible or
intangible, that is used in the Company’s business and (iii) the Excluded

 

17

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Subsidiary is not a party to any contract, commitment or agreement (whether
written or oral) with the Company.

 

(f)                                   Financial Statements; Internal Controls;
Undisclosed Liabilities.

 

(i)                                     Attached hereto as Exhibit C are the
following financial statements (collectively the “Financial Statements”):
(i) audited balance sheets and statements of income (loss), comprehensive income
(loss) and members’ equity, and statements of cash flow as of and for the fiscal
years ended December 31, 2002, 2003 and 2004 for the Company (the “Audited
Financial Statements”); and (ii) unaudited balance sheets, statements of
earnings and statements of cash flow each of which shall exclude any and all
assets, liabilities, income and expense associated with or attributable to the
Excluded Subsidiary (the “Unaudited Financial Statements”) as of and for the
three months ended March 31, 2005 and as of and for the four months ended
April 30, 2005 for the Company. The Financial Statements (including the notes
thereto) have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent
basis throughout the periods covered thereby and present fairly the financial
condition of the Company as of such dates and the results of operations of the
Company for such periods; provided, however, that the Unaudited Financial
Statements are subject to normal year-end adjustments and lack certain footnotes
otherwise required by GAAP.  The Company does not have any off-balance sheet
arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future
material effect on the financial condition, results of operations, liquidity,
capital expenditures or capital resources of the Company.

 

(ii)                                  The Company has received no written notice
from any Governmental Authority concerning noncompliance with, or deficiencies
in, the Company’s financial reporting practices.  All material transactions have
been properly recorded in the accounting records underlying the Financial
Statements.  There are no significant deficiencies, including material
weaknesses, in the design or operation of internal control over the Company’s
financial reporting.  To the Knowledge of the Company, no member of the
Company’s management nor any other employee with a significant role in the
Company’s internal controls has committed any act of fraud having a material
effect on the Financial Statements.

 

(iii)                               The Company has not received or otherwise
had or obtained Knowledge of any complaint, allegation, assertion or claim,
whether written or oral, alleging fraud or suspected fraud affecting the
Company.

 

(iv)                              All Liabilities that are required by GAAP to
be reflected or reserved against in the balance sheet included in Unaudited
Financial Statements have been so reflected or reserved against in such balance
sheet.  Since April 30, 2005, the Company has not incurred any material
liability other than in the Ordinary Course of Business.

 

(g)                                  Subsequent Events.  Except as set forth in
§4(g) of the Disclosure Schedule since April 30, 2005, (i) there has not been
any Material Adverse Change in the business, financial condition, operations,
results of operations, assets, liabilities, obligations or future prospects of
the Company since April 30, 2005 and (ii) the business of the Company has been
conducted only

 

18

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in the Ordinary Course of Business.  Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, except as set forth on §4(g) of the Disclosure Schedule, since that
date the Company has not:

 

(i)                                     sold, leased, transferred, or assigned
any of its Assets, tangible or intangible, other than for a fair consideration
in the Ordinary Course of Business;

 

(ii)                                  entered into any agreement, contract,
lease, or license (or series of related agreements, contracts, leases, and
licenses) either involving more than $1,000,000 or outside the Ordinary Course
of Business;

 

(iii)                               accelerated, terminated, modified, or
cancelled any agreement, contract, lease, or license (or series of related
agreements, contracts, leases, and licenses) involving more than $1,000,000 to
which it is a party or by which it is bound;

 

(iv)                              imposed any Lien upon any of its Assets,
tangible or intangible;

 

(v)                                 made any capital expenditure (or series of
related capital expenditures) outside the Ordinary Course of Business (it being
understood that capital expenditures contemplated by the definition of “Other
Assets” in §1 of this Agreement are in the Ordinary Course of Business);

 

(vi)                              made any capital investment in, any loan to,
or any acquisition (by merger, consolidation or acquisition of stock or assets
or otherwise) of the securities or Assets of, any other Person (or series of
related capital investments, loans, and acquisitions);

 

(vii)                           issued any note, bond, or other debt security or
created, incurred, assumed, or guaranteed any indebtedness for borrowed money or
capitalized lease obligation either involving more than $250,000 singly or
$1,000,000 in the aggregate other than advances and letters of credit under the
Credit Facility in accordance with its terms;

 

(viii)                        delayed or postponed the payment of accounts
payable and other Liabilities outside the Ordinary Course of Business;

 

(ix)                              cancelled, compromised, waived, or released
any right or claim (or series of related rights and claims) either involving
more than $1,000,000 or outside the Ordinary Course of Business;

 

(x)                                 made or authorized any change in its
certificate of formation or the LLC Agreement;

 

(xi)                              issued, sold, or otherwise disposed of any
Membership Interests, or granted any options, warrants, or other rights to
purchase or obtain (including upon conversion, exchange, or exercise) any
Membership Interests, other than Buyer’s right to purchase the Membership
Interests pursuant to this Agreement;

 

(xii)                           made any distribution with respect to its
Membership Interests (whether in cash or in kind) or redeemed, purchased, or
otherwise acquired any of its Membership Interests;

 

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(xiii)                        experienced any material damage, destruction, or
loss (whether or not covered by insurance) to its Assets;

 

(xiv)                       made any loan to, or entered into or modified the
terms of any other transaction or agreement with, any of its managers, officers,
employees, consultants, or Affiliates outside the Ordinary Course of Business;

 

(xv)                          entered into any employment contract, consulting
agreement or collective bargaining agreement, written or oral, or modified the
terms of any existing such contract or agreement;

 

(xvi)                       granted any increase in the compensation of any of
its managers, officers, employees and consultants;

 

(xvii)                    adopted, amended, modified, or terminated any bonus,
profit sharing, incentive, severance, retention, change of control or other
plan, contract, arrangement or commitment for the benefit of any of its
managers, officers, employees and consultants (or taken any such action with
respect to any other Employee Benefit Plan);

 

(xviii)                 made any other change in employment terms for any of its
managers, officers, employees and consultants outside the Ordinary Course of
Business;

 

(xix)                       made or pledged to make any charitable or other
capital contribution outside the Ordinary Course of Business;

 

(xx)                          changed any of the accounting principles or
practices used by it;

 

(xxi)                       made or changed any election relating to Taxes,
settled any claim or assessment relating to Taxes or consented to any claim or
assessment relating to Taxes or any waiver of the statute of limitations for any
such claim or assessment;

 

(xxii)                    entered into any settlement of any pending or
threatened Proceeding other than solely for cash;

 

(xxiii)                 entered into any non-compete agreements under which the
Company is the obligor or modified or waived the Company’s rights under existing
confidentiality or non-compete agreements under which the Company is the
beneficiary; or

 

(xxiv)                committed to do any of the foregoing.

 

(h)                                 Legal Compliance.  The Company has complied
with all applicable Laws of Governmental Authorities, except where the failure
to comply would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect; the Company has not received any written communication from any
Governmental Authority or any other Person that alleges that the business of the
Company may not be in compliance in any material respect, or may be subject to
material liability, under any Law; and to the Knowledge of the Company, there
are no investigations or reviews pending or threatened by any Governmental
Authority relating to any

 

20

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alleged violation arising out of the operation of the business of the Company. 
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the provisions of
this §4(h) shall not relate to or cover compliance with Laws related to Taxes,
Employee Benefit Plans, employees, or Environmental Laws which are covered
exclusively by §4(i), §4(o), §4(p) and §4(r), respectively.

 

(i)                                     Tax Matters.

 

(i)                                     The Company has timely filed all Tax
Returns that it was required to file, and has paid all Taxes shown thereon as
owing, except where the failure to file Tax Returns or to pay Taxes would not
have a Material Adverse Effect. All such Tax Returns when filed were correct and
complete in all material respects.

 

(ii)                                  §4(i) of the Disclosure Schedule lists all
Tax Returns filed with respect to Company for taxable periods ended on or after
December 31, 2001, indicates those Tax Returns that have been audited, and
indicates those Tax Returns that currently are the subject of audit. The Company
has made available to Buyer correct and complete copies of all federal and state
Tax Returns, examination reports, and statements of deficiencies assessed
against or agreed to by Company since December 31, 2001.

 

(iii)                               The Company has not waived any statute of
limitations in respect of Taxes or agreed to any extension of time with respect
to a Tax assessment or deficiency.

 

(iv)                              The Company has withheld and paid all Taxes
required to have been withheld and paid in connection with amounts paid or owing
to any employee, independent contractor, creditor, stockholder, or other third
party, except where the failure to withhold or pay such Taxes would not have a
Material Adverse Effect.

 

(v)                                 There is no dispute or claim concerning any
Tax Liability of the Company either claimed or raised by any authority in
writing or which, to the Knowledge of the Company, has been asserted by any
Governmental Authority.

 

(vi)                              The Company has not filed an election under
Treasury Regulation §301.7701-3 to be classified as a corporation for federal
income tax purposes. Since its formation, the Company has been a business entity
that will be classified as a partnership under Treasury Regulation §§301.7701-2
and - 3.

 

(vii)                           The Company has not agreed to make, nor is
required to make, any adjustment under Section 481 of the Code or any comparable
provision of state, local or foreign Law by reason of a change in accounting
method or otherwise.

 

(viii)                        Except for those Assets located on the lands
identified on the map set forth on §4(i)(viii) of the Disclosure Schedule, for
the purposes of Code §168(j), all of the Company’s “tangible depreciable
property” (as defined in the Code) is located on “Indian reservations” (as
defined in IRS Notice 98-45).

 

21

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(ix)                              This §4(i) contains the sole and exclusive
representations and warranties of the Company with respect to any tax matters,
including without limitation any arising under any Laws related to Taxes.

 

(j)                                    Real Property.

 

(i)                                     §4(j)(i) of the Disclosure Schedule sets
forth the address and description of each parcel of Owned Real Property which is
material to the business of the Company. With respect to each parcel of Owned
Real Property, and except for matters that would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect:

 

(A)                               the Company has good and marketable title,
free and clear of all Liens, except Permitted Encumbrances;

 

(B)                               except as set forth in §4(j)(i)(B) of the
Disclosure Schedule, the Company has not leased or otherwise granted to any
Person the right to use or occupy such Owned Real Property or any portion
thereof;

 

(C)                               there are no outstanding options, rights of
first offer or rights of first refusal to purchase such Owned Real Property or
any portion thereof or interest therein;

 

(D)                               there are no parties (other than the Company)
in possession of the parcel of Owned Real Property, other than tenants under any
leases disclosed in §4(j)(i)(D) of the Disclosure Schedule who are in possession
of space to which they are entitled; and

 

(E)                                all facilities located on the parcels of
Owned Real Property are supplied with utilities and other services necessary for
the operation of such facilities, including electricity, water, telephone all of
which services are adequate and are provided via public roads or via appurtenant
easements benefiting the parcels of Owned Real Property.

 

(ii)                                  §4(j)(ii) of the Disclosure Schedule sets
forth the address of each parcel of Leased Real Property which is material to
the business of the Company (“Material Leases”) and a true and complete list of
all Material Leases for each such parcel of Leased Real Property. The Company
has made available to Buyer a true and complete copy of each Material Lease
document. With respect to each of the Material Leases listed in §4(j)(ii) of the
Disclosure Schedule and except for matters that would not, individually or in
the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect:

 

(A)                               each such Material Lease is legal, valid,
binding, enforceable, and in full force and effect;

 

(B)                               each such Material Lease will continue to be
legal, valid, binding, enforceable, and in full force and effect on identical
terms following the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement;

 

22

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(C)                               the Company is not in breach or default under
such Material Lease, and no event has occurred which, with notice or lapse of
time, would constitute a breach or default or permit termination, modification,
or acceleration thereunder;

 

(D)                               no other party to such Material Lease has
repudiated any provision thereof;

 

(E)                                all facilities leased or subleased under such
Material Lease have received all approvals of Governmental Authorities
(including Permits) required in connection with the operation thereof and have
been operated and maintained in accordance with applicable Laws; and

 

(F)                                 all facilities leased or subleased under
such Material Leases are supplied with utilities and other services necessary
for the operation of such facilities, including electricity, water, telephone
all of which services are adequate and are provided via public roads or via
appurtenant easements benefiting the parcel of Leased Real Property.

 

(iii)                               The Company has not received written notice
of any claims or disputes which challenge the rights of the Company to use, or
allege a breach or default of agreements granting to the Company rights to
pipeline easements, right-of-way, licenses and land use Permits (the “Pipeline
Rights”), which claims or disputes, breaches or defaults would, individually or
in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(k)                                 Intellectual Property.  Except as described
in §4(k) of the Disclosure Schedule, the Company has not received any written
notice of infringement, misappropriation or conflict with respect to
Intellectual Property from any Person with respect to the ownership, use or
operation of the Company’s Assets or the conduct of the Company’s business. To
the Knowledge of the Company, the ownership, use and operation of the Assets or
the conduct of the Company’s business have not infringed, misappropriated or
otherwise conflicted with any patents, patent applications, patent rights,
trademarks, trademark applications, service marks, service mark applications,
copyrights, trade names, unregistered copyrights, trade secrets of any other
Person.  The Company owns or has the valid right to use pursuant to license,
sublicense, agreement or permission all Intellectual Property necessary or
desirable for the operation of the business of the Company as presently
conducted.  In connection with the acquisition of the Membership Interests,
Buyer shall acquire any rights that Sellers, the Company and any of their
respective Affiliates have to the name “ScissorTail” (or any derivation
therefrom) or any trademark, trade name or symbol related thereto.

 

(l)                                     Contracts.  §4(l) of the Disclosure
Schedule lists the following contracts and other agreements to which the Company
is a party:

 

(i)                                     any agreement (or group of related
agreements) for the lease of personal property to or from any Person providing
for lease payments in excess of $2,000,000 per annum;

 

(ii)                                  any agreement (or group of related
agreements) for the purchase or sale of raw materials, commodities, supplies,
products, or other personal property, or for the furnishing

 

23

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or receipt of services, the performance of which is reasonably expected to
involve annual consideration in excess of $5,000,000;

 

(iii)                               any agreement concerning a partnership or
joint venture;

 

(iv)                              any agreement (or group of related agreements)
under which it has created, incurred, assumed, or guaranteed any indebtedness
for borrowed money, or any capitalized lease obligation;

 

(v)                                 any agreement concerning confidentiality or
noncompetition;

 

(vi)                              any agreement with any of Sellers or their
Affiliates;

 

(vii)                           any profit sharing, equity option, equity
purchase, equity appreciation, deferred compensation, severance, retention,
change of control or other plan or arrangement for the benefit of its current or
former managers, officers, employees and/or consultants;

 

(viii)                        any collective bargaining agreement;

 

(ix)                              any agreement for or with respect to
employment of any individual on a full-time, part-time, or consulting basis;

 

(x)                                 any agreement under which it has advanced or
loaned any amount to any of its managers, officers, employees and consultants;

 

(xi)                              any agreement under which the consequences of
a default or termination could have a Material Adverse Effect on the business,
financial condition, operations, assets, liabilities, obligations results of
operations, assets, liabilities, obligations or future prospects of the Company;
or

 

(xii)                           any other agreement (or group of related
agreements) not enumerated in this §4(l), the performance of which involves
consideration in excess of $5,000,000.

 

The Company has made available to Buyer a correct and complete copy of each
written agreement listed in §4(l) of the Disclosure Schedule (as amended to
date). With respect to each such agreement: (A) the agreement is legal, valid,
binding, enforceable, and in full force and effect; (B) the agreement will
continue to be legal, valid, binding, enforceable, and in full force and effect
on identical terms following the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement; (C) the Company is not in breach or default, and no event has
occurred which with notice or lapse of time would constitute a breach or default
by the Company, or permit termination, modification, or acceleration, under the
agreement; and (D) to the Knowledge of the Company, no other party is in breach
or default, and no event has occurred which with notice or lapse of time would
constitute a breach or default by such other party, or permit termination,
modification or acceleration under the agreement other than in accordance with
its terms nor has any other party repudiated any provision of the agreement.

 

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(m)                             Powers of Attorney.  There are no outstanding
powers of attorney executed on behalf of Company.

 

(n)                                 Litigation.  There is no injunction,
restraining order or Proceeding pending against the Company that restrains or
prohibits the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Except for the Proceedings identified on §4(n) of the Disclosure Schedule, there
are no written claims, investigations or examinations pending, or to the
Knowledge of the Company, threatened, against or affecting the Company, the
Membership Interests, the Assets or the Company’s ownership or operation of its
Assets, before or by any Governmental Authority or any Person. Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the provisions of this §4(n) shall
not relate to or cover Proceedings related to Taxes, Employee Benefit Plans,
employees, or Environmental Laws which are covered exclusively by §4(i), §4(o),
§4(p) and §4(r), respectively.

 

(o)                                 Employee Benefits.

 

(i)                                     §4(o) of the Disclosure Schedule lists
each Employee Benefit Plan that Company sponsors, maintains or to which the
Company contributes or has any obligation to contribute for the benefit of its
current or former employees, officers or managers.

 

(A)                               Each such Employee Benefit Plan (and each
related trust, insurance contract, or fund) complies in form and in operation in
all material respects with its governing documents and the applicable
requirements of ERISA and the Code.

 

(B)                               All required reports (including Form 5500
Annual Reports) and other material descriptions, summary annual reports, summary
plan descriptions, and summaries of material modifications have been timely
filed and distributed appropriately with respect to each such Employee Benefit
Plan. The material requirements of COBRA have been met with respect to each such
Employee Benefit Plan that is a group health plan within the meaning of Code
§ 5000(b)(1).

 

(C)                               All contributions, premiums or other payments
that are due for all periods ending on or before the Closing Date have been
timely paid with respect to each such Employee Benefit Plan.

 

(D)                               The Company has made available to Buyer
correct and complete copies of the plan documents, summary plan descriptions,
and summaries of material modifications, the most recent determination letter
received from the Internal Revenue Service, the most recent Form 5500 Annual
Report, and all related trust arrangements, insurance contracts, and other
funding agreements which implement each such Employee Benefit Plan.

 

(E)                                No such Employee Benefit Plan is a defined
benefit plan within the meaning of ERISA §3(35) and no such Employee Benefit
Plan is a multiemployer plan within the meaning of ERISA § 3(37).

 

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(F)                                 As to each such Employee Benefit Plan that
is intended to be qualified under Code § 401(a), (i) such Employee Benefit Plan
has been adopted on a prototype form that has received a favorable opinion
letter from the Internal Revenue Service regarding the qualified status of plans
adopted by plan sponsors who utilize such form (and a copy of any such opinion
letter has been provided to Buyer), (ii) there has been no termination or
partial termination of such plan within the meaning of Code § 411(d)(3) and
(iii) to the Knowledge of the Company, there exist no facts or circumstances
that could adversely affect the qualified status of any such Employee Benefit
Plan.

 

(G)                              To the Knowledge of the Company, no act,
omission or transaction has occurred which would result in imposition on the
Company of (i) breach of fiduciary duty liability damages under ERISA § 409,
(ii) a civil penalty assessed pursuant to subsections (c), (i) or (l) of ERISA
§ 502, or (iii) a tax imposed pursuant to Chapter 43 of Subtitle D of the Code.

 

(H)                              Except as listed on §4(o) of the Disclosure
Schedule, no such Employee Benefit Plan contains terms or provisions that would
be triggered by the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation
of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(I)                                   § 4(o) of the Disclosure Schedule lists
each agreement requiring the Company to make a payment or provide any other form
of compensation or benefit to any person performing services for the Company
upon the consummation of a sale of more than 50% of the Membership Interests of
the Company or the sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s Assets (a
“Qualifying Sale”) or upon the termination of services of any such person if
such termination follows a Qualifying Sale.

 

(J)                                   No such Employee Benefit Plan that is an
Employee Welfare Benefit Plan contains any provision which by its terms would
impose liability on the Company in the event of any amendment or termination of
such Employee Benefit Plan, except as to benefits accrued thereunder prior to
such amendment or termination.

 

(K)                              Except to the extent required pursuant to Code
§ 4980B(f) and ERISA §§601-608 or other applicable Law, no Employee Benefit Plan
of the Company or Contract listed on §4(l) of the Disclosure Schedule provides
medical or life insurance benefits to any Person upon retirement or termination
of employment, and the Company is not contractually or otherwise obligated
(whether or not in writing) to provide any Person with life insurance or medical
benefits upon retirement or termination of employment.

 

(L)                                The vacation policies of the Company do not
provide for carryover of vacation from one calendar year to the next.

 

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(ii)           With respect to each Employee Benefit Plan that the Company and
any ERISA Affiliate sponsors, maintains, or contributes to or which any of them
has sponsored, maintained or contributed to during the prior six (6) years:

 

(A)          No Proceeding with respect to the administration or the investment
of the Assets of any such Employee Benefit Plan (other than routine claims for
benefits) is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened and, to the
Knowledge of the Company, no facts or circumstances exist that could give rise
to any such Proceedings, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate,
have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(B)          The Company has not incurred, and the Company has no reason to
expect that the Company will incur, any material Liability to the PBGC (other
than PBGC premium payments) or otherwise under Title IV of ERISA (including any
withdrawal liability as defined in ERISA §4201) or under the Code, which
liability has not been satisfied.

 

(p)           Employees.

 

(i)            § 4(p) of the Disclosure Schedule identifies, as of the date of
this Agreement, the following with respect to each employee of the Company: 
(A) the name, job title, original hire date, service date, bonus, if any, paid
for calendar years 2003 and 2004, accrued and unused vacation as of May 31,
2005, and current annual salary (or rate of pay) and other compensation
(including, without limitation, normal bonus, profit-sharing, pension benefits
and other compensation) payable to each such employee; and (B) all transactions
outside of the Ordinary Course of Business of the Company between the Company
and any such employee since December 31, 2004, which transactions are not
otherwise reflected in any of the contracts listed in § 4(l) of the Disclosure
Schedule.

 

(ii)           Except as set forth on § 4(p) of the Disclosure Schedule or to
the extent accrued as a current liability on the Unaudited Financial Statements
as of and for the four months ended April 30, 2005, all bonuses, if any, due and
payable as of the Closing Date to employees of the Company have been paid in
full to such employees prior to Closing.  The compensation and benefits
(including vacation benefits) paid or provided with respect to all employees of
the Company have been reflected in the Financial Statements for the periods
covered thereby.  The Company has complied with all applicable Laws of
Governmental Authorities pertaining to employment and employment practices,
terms and conditions of employment, immigration wages, and hours, occupational
health and safety, payment of unemployment benefits and social security
contributions, withholding and other payroll taxes and workers compensation,
except where the failure to comply would not, individually or in the aggregate,
have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(iii)          The Company is not a party to or bound by any collective
bargaining agreement or any other contract with any labor union, and no such
agreement or contract is being negotiated. Within the past three (3) years, the
Company has not experienced any strikes, work stoppages, slow downs, picketing
or any other interference with work or production, grievances,

 

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claims of unfair labor practices, or other collective bargaining disputes or
concerted action by employees.  To the Knowledge of the Company, (A) the Company
has not committed any unfair labor practice, (B) there are no organizational
efforts presently being made or threatened by or on behalf of any labor union
with respect to employees of the Company, and (C) there is no pending, or
threatened grievance, charge, complaint or other legal action against the
Company by the National Labor Relations Board or any comparable agency of any
state of the United States.

 

(iv)          To the Knowledge of the Company, the relationships of the Company
with its employees, as a group, are satisfactory and there are no facts that
would indicate that such employees will not continue in their employ following
the Closing (other than any resignations referred to in §2(e)).  Except as
listed on § 4(l) of the Disclosure Schedule, the Company is not currently
negotiating, and does not have any outstanding offer with respect to, any
employment, consulting, non-compete, management, severance, change of control,
retention, termination pay or similar contract with any individual or employee.

 

(v)           To the Knowledge of the Company, (A) no Proceeding has been
commenced with respect to the Company under any Laws affecting the employment
relationship, (B) no Proceedings, charges, or complaints are threatened under
any such Laws and (C) no facts or circumstances exist which would give rise to
any such Proceedings, charges, complaints, or claims.  The Company is not
subject to any settlement or consent decree with any present or former employee,
employee representative or any Governmental Authority relating to claims of
discrimination or other claims in respect of employment practices and policies. 
No Governmental Authority has issued a judgment, order, decree or finding with
respect to the labor and employment practices (including practices relating to
discrimination) of the Company.

 

(vi)          All employees of the Company have been employed and work in the
United States.

 

(q)           Permits.  Except as set forth in §4(q) of the Disclosure
Schedules, (i) all material Permits required or necessary for the Company to own
and operate the Assets in the places and in the manner currently owned or
operated or otherwise necessary to conduct its business as it is currently
conducted have been obtained and are in full force and effect, (ii) the Company
has received no written notification concerning violations that are currently in
existence with respect to such Permits and (iii) no Proceeding is pending or, to
the Knowledge of the Company, has been threatened with respect to the revocation
or limitation of any of such Permits.  Notwithstanding anything in this
Agreement to the contrary, the provisions of this §4(q) shall not relate to or
cover any Permit or matter relating to or arising out of any Environmental Laws.

 

(r)            Environmental Matters.  Except as set forth in §4(r) of the
Disclosure Schedules:

 

(i)            The Company has not caused or allowed the generation, use,
treatment, manufacture, storage, or disposal of, or the exposure of any Person
or property to, any Hazardous Materials at, on or from the Assets, except in
material compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws.

 

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(ii)           There has been no Release of any Hazardous Materials at, on,
from, or underlying any of the Assets in violation of applicable Environmental
Laws or in any concentration or location that requires remediation or other
corrective action under Environmental Laws.

 

(iii)          The Company has secured all material Permits required under
Environmental Laws for the ownership, use and operation of the Assets, such
Permits are in full force and effect and are not subject to any challenge by any
Person, and the Company is in material compliance with such Permits.

 

(iv)          The Company has received no written inquiry or notice of any
actual or threatened claim related to or arising under any Environmental Law
relating to the Assets.

 

(v)           The Company is not operating any of the Assets under any
compliance order, decree or agreement, any consent decree or order, or
corrective action decree or order issued by or entered into with any
Governmental Authority under any Environmental Law or any Law regarding health
or safety in the workplace.

 

(vi)          The Company, the Assets and their operations are and, within the
term of all applicable statutes of limitations, have been in compliance with
Environmental Laws with respect to any matter that is not referred to in clauses
(i) through (v), and (vii) through (ix) of this §4(r), except where the lack of
such compliance would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect.

 

(vii)         (A) The Company has not been named or, to the Knowledge of the
Company, threatened to be named as a potentially responsible party under CERCLA
or any similar state Law relating to the Assets, (B) none of the Assets has been
designated as a facility that is subject to an existing or, to the Knowledge of
the Company, threatened claim under CERCLA or any similar state Law; and
(C) none of the Assets is subject to any Lien arising under Environmental Laws.

 

(viii)        To the Knowledge of the Company, none of the off-site locations
where Hazardous Materials from any of the Assets have been stored, treated,
recycled, disposed of or Released is subject to any remedial obligation or other
corrective action requirement under Environmental Laws.

 

(ix)          The Company has provided Buyer with copies of all material
environmental studies, audits and assessments prepared by or in the possession
of the Company with respect to any of the Assets.

 

(x)           This §4(r) contains the sole and exclusive representations and
warranties of the Company with respect to any environmental matters, including
without limitation any arising under any Environmental Laws.

 

(s)            Certain Business Relationships with Company.  Except as set forth
on §4(l) or §4(s) of the Disclosure Schedules, (i) neither Seller nor any of
their respective officers, directors, members or Affiliates (excluding the
Company) has been involved in any material business

 

29

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arrangement or relationship with Company within the past twelve (12) months,
(ii) neither Seller nor any of their respective officers, directors, members or
Affiliates (excluding the Company) owns any asset, tangible or intangible, that
is used in the Company’s business and (iii) neither Seller nor any of their
respective officers, directors, members or Affiliates (excluding the Company) is
a party to any contract, commitment or agreement (whether written or oral) with
the Company.

 

(t)            Insurance.  §4(t) of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth (i) all
insurance policies of the Company (including the amounts and types of coverage),
(ii) each material claim under any insurance policy made by or on behalf of the
Company during the past three years, which claim was denied by the insurer and
(iii) each application for insurance coverage made by or on behalf of the
Company during the last three years that was rejected by the proposed insurer. 
All such insurance policies are in full force and effect and all premiums due
and payable on such policies have been paid.  No notice of cancellation of, or
indication of an intention not to renew, any such insurance policy has been
received by the Company other than in the Ordinary Course of Business.

 

(u)           Governmental Regulation.  The Company is not subject to regulation
under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, the Federal Power Act, the
Interstate Commerce Act, the Natural Gas Act, the Investment Company Act of 1940
or any state public utilities laws.

 

(v)           Disclaimer of Other Representations and Warranties.  EXCEPT AS
EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN §3 AND THIS §4, NEITHER THE COMPANY NOR ANY SELLER MAKES
ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AT LAW OR IN EQUITY, IN
RESPECT OF THE COMPANY, OR ANY OF ITS ASSETS, LIABILITIES OR OPERATIONS,
INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, WITH RESPECT TO THE CONDITION, USEFULNESS OR
ADEQUACY OF THE ASSETS, QUALITY, MERCHANTABILITY AND/OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE, MARKETABILITY, CONFORMITY TO SAMPLES, AND ANY SUCH OTHER
REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES ARE HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMED. THE
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES SET FORTH IN THIS §4 ARE MADE EXCLUSIVELY BY THE
COMPANY AND THE BUYER SHALL HAVE NO RECOURSE AGAINST ANY SELLER AS A RESULT OF A
BREACH OF ANY SUCH REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY, OTHER THAN WITH RESPECT TO
BREACHES OF REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS DISCLOSED PRIOR TO CLOSING
IN ACCORDANCE WITH §5(E) AND THE ESCROW AMOUNT AS PROVIDED IN §8. BUYER HEREBY
ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT SPECIFICALLY SET FORTH IN §3
AND THIS §4, BUYER IS PURCHASING THE MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS ON AN “AS-IS,
WHERE-IS” AND “WITH ALL FAULTS” BASIS.  EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN §3 AND
THIS §4, THE COMPANY AND EACH SELLER HEREBY DISCLAIMS ANY CLAIMS BY BUYER FOR
DAMAGES BECAUSE OF LATENT VICES OR DEFECTS, WHETHER KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, IT BEING
THE INTENTION OF THE COMPANY, SELLERS AND BUYER THAT, SUBJECT TO THE

 

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TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE ASSETS ARE TO BE ACCEPTED BY BUYER IN THEIR PRESENT
CONDITION AND STATE OF REPAIR.

 

§5.          Pre-Closing Covenants.  Buyer, the Company and each Seller agree as
follows with respect to the period between the execution of this Agreement and
Closing.

 

(a)           General.  Each of the Parties will cooperate with each other and
use its commercially reasonable efforts to take all actions and to do all things
necessary, proper, or advisable in order to consummate and make effective the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including satisfaction, but not
waiver, of the Closing conditions set forth in §7).  Sellers agree to provide,
and shall cause the Company and each of its officers and employees to provide,
all cooperation reasonably requested by Buyer, at Buyer’s sole cost and expense,
and necessary in connection with the arrangement of any equity or debt financing
(“Financing”) required by Buyer to consummate the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, it being understood that the primary responsibility of such
officers and employees is to the management of the Company’s business, including
(i) preparation of financial statements for use in any offering document
prepared by Buyer and (ii) delivery by the Company of any pledge and security
documents, lien releases, other definitive financing documents, including any
indemnity agreements or other requested certificates or documents relating to
the Financing; provided, however, that no such agreements or documents shall
impose any monetary obligation or liability on the Company prior to the Closing
Date or on such officers, employees or Sellers at any time.  Sellers and the
Company shall take all actions reasonably requested by Buyer, at Buyer’s sole
cost, to cause Grant Thornton LLP to provide any unqualified opinions, consents
or customary comfort letters with respect to the financial statements needed in
connection with the Financing.

 

(b)           Notices and Consents.  (i)  Each of the Parties shall give any
notices to third parties, and use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any
third party consents required in connection with the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, provided that neither Party shall
be required to (i) provide any consideration to such third party or
(ii) commence any Proceeding, in either case to secure any such consent. Each of
the Parties shall give any notices to, make any filings with, and use its
commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any authorizations, consents, and
approvals of Governmental Authorities in connection with the matters referred to
in §3(a)(ii), §3(b)(ii) and §4(b), including reviewing the other Parties’
filings with Governmental Authorities, if any. The Parties shall cooperate in
connection with the making of all such filings or obtaining such authorizations,
consents and approvals, through, among other means, providing copies of all such
documents to the nonfiling party and its advisors prior to filing and, if
requested, accepting all reasonable additions, deletions, or changes suggested
in connection therewith. The Parties shall furnish or cause to be furnished all
information required for any application or other filing to be made pursuant to
any applicable Law in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.

 

(ii)           Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each of the
Parties will (A) file (or use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause its
appropriate Affiliates to file) any notification, report forms and related
material that it may be required to file with the Federal Trade Commission and
the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice under the HSR
Act, and will use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain an early
termination of

 

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the applicable waiting period and (B) make any further filings pursuant thereto
that may be necessary, proper, or advisable in connection therewith.

 

(c)           Operation of Business.  Except as provided in §5(c) to the
Disclosure Schedule, Sellers shall cause the Company to not engage in any
practice, take any action, or enter into any transaction outside the Ordinary
Course of Business and to use commercially reasonable efforts to preserve,
maintain and protect its business, assets, rights and properties and its
relationships with its employees, customers, suppliers and others having
relationships with the Company, provided however that the Company shall be
permitted to take all actions in its discretion to enforce its rights under
contracts with such persons. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing
and except as provided in §5(c) to the Disclosure Schedule, Sellers will not
permit the Company to engage in any practice, take any action, or enter into any
transaction of the sort described in §4(g) without the prior written consent of
Buyer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at or prior to the Closing Date, Sellers
shall cause the Company shall be required to (i) close its positions in all of
its open hedges and (ii) distribute the entire membership interest in the
Excluded Subsidiary to Sellers.

 

(d)           Full Access.  (i)  Sellers shall cause the Company to permit
representatives of Buyer (including legal counsel and accountants) to have full
access at all reasonable times, and in a manner so as not to interfere with the
normal business operations of the Company, to all premises, properties,
personnel, books, records (including tax records), contracts, and documents of
or pertaining to the Company. Buyer acknowledges that any access to the Assets
utilized by Buyer or any representative, consultant or other Person acting by or
on behalf of Buyer shall be at the sole risk, cost, and expense of Buyer.
Notwithstanding the preceding sentence to the contrary, nothing in this
Agreement shall be construed to permit Buyer or its representatives to have
access to any personnel, books, records, contracts or documents of the Company,
Sellers or any of their Affiliates to the extent that any related disclosure to
Buyer, in the reasonable judgment of Sellers, could risk violating any antitrust
or similar Law.

 

(ii)           Other than in connection with obtaining consent under the HSR Act
necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated under this Agreement,
Buyer and its representatives and Affiliates shall not, prior to the Closing
Date, contact any customer, vendor or supplier or employee of, the Company or
with respect to any aspect of the transactions contemplated under this
Agreement, without the prior consent of Sellers which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed.

 

(iii)          Buyer will treat as confidential and hold as such any
Confidential Information it receives from any of Sellers and the Company in
accordance with the terms of the Confidentiality Letter between the Company and
Buyer dated as of March 24, 2005 (the “Confidentiality Letter”).

 

(e)           Notice of Developments.

 

(i)  Between the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, Sellers shall give
prompt written notice to Buyer if, to the Knowledge of the Company or Sellers,
there has been any development causing a breach of any of the Company’s or
Sellers’ representations,

 

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warranties or covenants and Buyer shall give prompt written notice to Sellers
if, to the Knowledge of Buyer, there has been any development causing a breach
of any of Buyer’s representations, warranties or covenants.

 

(ii)           Between the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date,
(A) Sellers shall give prompt written notice to Buyer, if to the Knowledge of
the Company or the Knowledge of Sellers, there has been a breach of any of
Buyer’s representations, warranties or covenants and (B) Buyer shall give prompt
written notice to the Company or Sellers, as the case may be, if to the
Knowledge of Buyer, there has been a breach of any of the representations,
warranties or covenants of the Company or Sellers, as the case may be.

 

(iii)          Between the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, each
Party shall give prompt written notice to the other Parties, if to the Knowledge
of such notifying Party, there has occurred any event that may make the
satisfaction of the conditions in §7 impossible or unlikely.

 

(iv)          No disclosure by any Party pursuant to this §5(e) shall be deemed
to amend or supplement the Annexes or Disclosure Schedules or to prevent or cure
any misrepresentation, breach of warranty, or breach of covenant, except to the
extent set forth in this §5(e).

 

(v)           Upon delivery of any such notice with respect to a breach by the
Company or either Seller of any of its representations, warranties or covenants
contained in this Agreement, Sellers (or the applicable Seller) shall elect to
either (A) cure or cause the Company to cure such breach (if curable, meaning
that the Company shall experience no Adverse Consequences resulting from or
arising out of such breach after affecting such cure), at Sellers’ (or such
Seller’s) or the Company’s cost (and if at the Company’s cost, the Parties agree
that such cost shall be reflected in the calculation of Net Working Capital),
prior to the earlier to occur of the second Business Day immediately preceding
the Closing Date and 15 days after receipt of such notice or (B) have a portion
of the Purchase Price equal to the estimated cost of curing such breach
(together with the estimated Adverse Consequences resulting from or arising out
of such breach, if any, after affecting such cure, the “Cost of Curing”), placed
into a separate escrow fund with the Escrow Agent at Closing (the “Pre-Closing
Buyer Escrow Fund”) pursuant to an escrow agreement in the form of Exhibit D
(the “Pre-Closing Buyer Escrow Agreement”), and, in either case Buyer shall be
obligated, subject to the other terms and conditions of this Agreement, to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and shall not be
entitled to any remedy pursuant to §8 of this Agreement for any Adverse
Consequences arising from or related to such breach.  If Sellers (or such
Seller) elect to cure such breach and do not cure the breach within the time
specified in clause (A), then Sellers (or such Seller) shall be deemed to have
elected the action specified in clause (B).

 

(vi)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in §5(e)(v), if
the estimated Cost of Curing all such breaches pursuant to §5(e)(v) is expected
to exceed $20,000,000 in the aggregate (such breaches in the aggregate a
“Substantial Seller Breach”), (x) subject to the next sentence, Sellers shall
have the right to terminate this Agreement without any liability to Buyer,
except as provided in §5(e)(xi) below, by providing written notice of such

 

33

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election to Buyer and (y) Buyer shall have the right to terminate this Agreement
without any liability to Sellers by providing written notice of such election to
Sellers.  If Sellers provide such written notice to Buyer, then Buyer may elect
to waive any such breach or breaches (or portion of such breaches) sufficient to
make the Cost of Curing all such non-waived breaches no greater than
$20,000,000.  In such case, Buyer shall notify Sellers that Buyer desires to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement by providing written
notice to Sellers of such election, within the earlier to occur of the second
Business Day immediately prior to the then scheduled Closing Date or 10 Business
Days of receipt of the written notice from Sellers electing to terminate this
Agreement, in which case Sellers and the Company shall be required to consummate
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement.  If Buyer elects to waive any such breaches (or
portion of such breaches) and cause Sellers and the Company to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (x) Sellers shall take the actions
specified in clause (A) of the first sentence of §5(e)(v) with respect to all
such breaches not waived by Buyer or, in lieu of taking the actions specified by
clause (A), Sellers shall place $20,000,000 (or such portion of $20,000,000
attributable to any breach not so cured) into the Pre-Closing Buyer Escrow Fund
at Closing, (y) the breaching Party shall have no obligation to take the actions
specified in clauses (A) and (B) of the first sentence of §5(e)(v) with respect
to all such breaches (or portions) waived by Buyer, and (z) Buyer shall not be
entitled to any remedy pursuant to §8 of this Agreement for any Adverse
Consequences arising from or related to such breaches.

 

(vii)         Upon delivery of any such notice with respect to a breach by Buyer
of any of its representations, warranties or covenants contained in this
Agreement, Buyer shall elect to either (A) cure such breach (if curable, meaning
that Sellers shall experience no Adverse Consequences resulting from or arising
out of such breach after affecting such cure), at Buyer’s cost prior to the
earlier to occur of the second Business Day immediately preceding the Closing
Date and 15 days after receipt of such notice or (B) place an amount equal to
the estimated Cost of Curing such breach into a separate escrow fund with the
Escrow Agent at Closing (the “Pre-Closing Sellers Escrow Fund”) pursuant to an
escrow agreement in the form of Exhibit E (the “Pre-Closing Sellers Escrow
Agreement”), and, in either case, Sellers and the Company shall be obligated,
subject to the other terms and conditions of this Agreement, to consummate the
transactions contemplated in this Agreement and Sellers shall not be entitled to
any remedy pursuant to §8 of this Agreement for any Adverse Consequences arising
from or related to such breach.  If Buyer elects to cure such breach and does
not cure the breach within the time specified in clause (A), then Buyer shall be
deemed to have elected the action specified in clause (B).

 

(viii)        Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in §5(e)(vii),
if the estimated Cost of Curing all such breaches by Buyer pursuant to this
Agreement is expected to exceed $20,000,000 in the aggregate (such breaches in
the aggregate, a “Substantial Buyer Breach”), (x) subject to the next sentence,
Buyer shall have the right to terminate this Agreement without any liability to
Sellers, except as provided in §5(e)(xi) below, by providing written notice of
such election to Sellers and (y) Sellers shall have the right to terminate this
Agreement without any liability to Buyer by providing written notice of such
election to Buyer.  If Buyer provides such written notice to Sellers, then
Sellers may elect to waive any such breach or breaches (or portion of such
breach) sufficient to make the Cost of Curing all such non-waived

 

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breaches no greater than $20,000,000.  In such case, Sellers shall notify Buyer
that Sellers desire to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement by providing written notice to Buyer of such election, within the
earlier to occur of the second Business Day immediately prior to the then
scheduled Closing Date or 10 Business Days of receipt of the written notice from
Buyer electing to terminate this Agreement, in which case Buyer shall be
required to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.  If Sellers elect to waive any
such breaches (or portion of such breaches) and cause Buyer to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (x) Buyer shall take the actions
specified in clause (A) of the first sentence of §5(e)(vii) or, in lieu of
taking the actions specified by clause (A), Buyer shall place $20,000,000 (or
such portion of $20,000,000 attributable to any breach not so cured) into the
Pre-Closing Sellers Escrow Fund at Closing, (y) Buyer shall have no obligation
to take the actions specified in clauses (A) and (B) of the first sentence of
§5(e)(vii) with respect to all breaches (or portions thereof ) waived by
Sellers, and (z) Sellers shall not be entitled to any remedy pursuant to §8 of
this Agreement for any Adverse Consequences arising from or related to such
breaches.

 

(ix)          The amount to be placed into the Pre-Closing Buyer Escrow Fund or
the Pre-Closing Seller Escrow Fund at Closing, as the case may be, shall be
determined in good faith by Sellers and Buyer and, if Sellers and Buyer are
unable to agree upon the estimated Cost of Curing within five (5) Business Days
after notice of such breach, the estimated Cost of Curing such breach shall be
determined by a mutually agreed upon Person experienced in the area at issue (an
“Expert”).  Buyer and Sellers shall direct the Expert to determine the estimated
Cost of Curing no later than the second Business Day immediately preceding the
then scheduled Closing Date.  In the event the Cost of Curing any breach or
potential breach by a Party pursuant to this Agreement cannot be determined or
reasonably estimated on or prior to the Closing Date, then, subject to the other
terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Closing Date shall be automatically
extended until the last Business Day of the immediately following month to
permit such determination.

 

(x)           The Expert shall resolve all issues related to the Cost of Curing
after the Closing.  If Buyer and Sellers previously determined the estimated
Cost of Curing to be placed in escrow in good faith without any Expert, Buyer
and Sellers shall appoint an Expert at or prior to Closing to act in accordance
with this §5(e)(x).  If any amount is deposited into either the Pre-Closing
Buyer Escrow Fund or the Pre-Closing Seller Escrow Fund, within ten (10) days
after the Closing Date, Buyer and Sellers may make a written presentation of
their respective positions related to the Cost of Curing any such breach and the
Expert shall make such review and examination of the presentations and relevant
facts and documents regarding such breach as the Expert deems appropriate. 
Within ten (10) days after submission of such facts, documents and written
presentations, the Expert shall resolve all disputed items in writing and shall
prepare and deliver its decision, which shall be final and binding upon the
Parties without further recourse or collateral attack and shall constitute a
Final Determination of such dispute; provided that the Expert shall not assign a
value to any particular disputed item greater than the greatest value for such
item claimed by Buyer or Sellers or less that the smallest value for such item
claimed by Buyer or Sellers.  All costs of engaging the Expert (including the
Expert’s fees, but exclusive of attorneys’ fees) shall be borne by the Party
(that is, either Buyer or Sellers jointly) who is the least successful in such
process, as determined by the Expert, which shall be determined by

 

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comparing (x) the position asserted by each Party on the actual Cost of Curing
to (y) the final decision of the Expert.  If the Expert determines that Sellers
shall bear such costs each Seller shall bear its Allocable Portion.  If a
Pre-Closing Buyer Escrow Fund is established, disbursements shall be made from
such fund to Buyer to reimburse Buyer for any Adverse Consequences resulting
from or arising out of such breach.  Any proceeds remaining in the Pre-Closing
Buyer Escrow Fund following such reimbursement of Buyer shall be disbursed to
Sellers.  If a Pre-Closing Sellers Escrow Fund is established, disbursements
shall be made from such fund to Sellers to reimburse Sellers for any Adverse
Consequences resulting from or arising out of such breach.  Any proceeds
remaining in the Pre-Closing Sellers Escrow Fund following such reimbursement of
Sellers shall be disbursed to Buyer.

 

(xi)          The rights set forth in this §5(e) shall be the Parties’ sole and
exclusive remedy for any breach of another Party’s representations, warranties
or covenants that is disclosed to the other Parties by written notice pursuant
to §5(e)(i), §5(e)(ii) or §5(e)(iii) above, other than for intentional breaches
of any of such other Parties’ representations and warranties or covenants.

 

(f)            Exclusivity.  No Seller will (and neither Seller will cause or
permit Company to) solicit, initiate, or encourage the submission of any
proposal or offer from any Person relating to the acquisition of Membership
Interests or all or substantially all of the Assets of the Company (including
any acquisition structured as a merger, consolidation, or equity interest
exchange).

 

(g)           Southern Dome.  Buyer and Sellers acknowledge that,
(i) immediately prior to the Closing, Sellers shall cause the Company to
distribute the entire membership interest of the Excluded Subsidiary to Sellers,
and (ii) the Parties will enter into one of more definitive agreements with
respect to the Excluded Subsidiary substantially as contemplated by Exhibit F to
this Agreement.

 

(h)           Expansion of Insurance Policies.  Buyer and Sellers shall (and
Sellers shall cause the Company to) use commercially reasonable efforts to
obtain a commitment from the insurers to amend, on the Closing Date at Buyer’s
expense, the Company’s Pollution Legal Liability AISLIC Policy No. PLS7619775
(the “Existing Policy”) to expand the Existing Policy to cover all of the
Company’s Assets on the Closing Date and to extend the term of the Existing
Policy until May 30, 2013 on substantially the terms set forth on Exhibit G to
this Agreement (such expanded and extended insurance policy being referred to
herein as the “Expanded Insurance Policy”).

 

§6.          Post-Closing Covenants.  The Parties agree as follows with respect
to the period following Closing.

 

(a)           General.  In case at any time after Closing any further action is
necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this Agreement, each of the
Parties will take such further action (including the execution and delivery of
such further instruments and documents) as any other Party reasonably may
request, all at the sole cost and expense of the requesting Party (unless the
request is made pursuant to §§2(c), 2(f) or 6(e) or the requesting Party is
entitled to indemnification therefor under §8).  Following the Closing, Buyer
(i) will use commercially

 

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reasonable efforts to collect amounts owed under the Oxley Receivable; provided,
that Buyer shall not be required to commence any Proceeding against any other
Person to collect amounts owing thereunder, and will pay to Sellers any amounts
collected thereunder less any costs incurred by Buyer in collecting the same.

 

(b)           Litigation Support.  In the event and for so long as any Party
actively is contesting or defending against any Proceeding (other than any in
which Buyer, on the one hand, and Sellers, on the other hand, are adverse to
each other), in connection with (i) any transaction contemplated under this
Agreement or (ii) any fact, situation, circumstance, status, condition,
activity, practice, plan, occurrence, event, incident, action, failure to act,
or transaction on or prior to the Closing Date involving the Company, each of
the other Parties shall cooperate with it and its counsel in the defense or
contest, make available its personnel, and provide such testimony and access to
its books and records as shall be necessary in connection with the defense or
contest, all at the sole cost and expense of the contesting or defending Party
(unless the contesting or defending Party is entitled to indemnification
therefor under §8).

 

(c)           Reporting Procedures Under Section 751.  Each Seller shall notify
the Company in writing of the Membership Interests sold to Buyer within thirty
(30) days of the Closing Date (or, if earlier, January 15 of the calendar year
following the calendar year in which the Closing Date occurred). The notice from
each Seller to the Company shall include: (i) the names and addresses of such
Seller and Buyer; (ii) the taxpayer identification numbers of such Seller and
the Buyer; and (iii) the Closing Date. The Company shall prepare a separate
return on IRS Form 8308 with respect to the Membership Interest sold by each
Seller to Buyer.  The Company shall furnish a copy of the completed IRS
Form 8308, on or before January 31 of the calendar year following the calendar
year in which the Closing Date occurred, to Sellers and Buyer listed in the IRS
Form 8308. The Company shall file the completed IRS Forms 8308 as an attachment
to the Company’s Tax Return for the taxable year in which the Closing Date
occurred. Each Seller shall include with its Tax Return for the taxable year in
which the Closing Date occurred a statement setting forth separately the
following information: (a) the Closing Date; (b) the amount of gain or loss
attributable to Section 751 property of the Company (determined in accordance
with the Final Allocation Schedule); and (c) the amount of any gain or loss
attributable to capital gain or loss on the sale of the Membership Interests by
such Seller to Buyer (determined in accordance with the Final Allocation
Schedule).  The Parties’ respective obligations pursuant to this §6(c) shall
survive until the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations (after
giving effect to any extension).

 

(d)           Employee Matters.

 

(i)            Subject to applicable Law and all agreements and other
arrangements with the Company’s employees, Buyer shall, and shall cause the
Company to, for a period of twelve (12) months following the Closing Date,
provide salary and benefits to employees of the Company who continue to be
employed by the Company immediately after the Closing Date (“Continuing
Employees”), including participation in the Company’s Employee Benefit Plans (or
comparable Buyer Benefit Plans), which will be no less favorable (taken as a
whole) to those currently provided by the Company to its similarly situated
employees. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (A) any Continuing Employee who
resigns his or her employment, dies or terminates

 

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his or her employment as a result of disability prior to the first anniversary
of the Closing Date shall not be entitled to any salary or benefits attributable
to the period following the effective date of the termination of his employment
(“Termination Date”), except as otherwise provided in any written agreement
between such Continuing Employee and the Company, (B) no Continuing Employee
whose employment with the Company is terminated prior to the first anniversary
of the Closing Date shall be eligible to participate in any Employee Benefit
Plan of the Company or any of its Affiliates that is intended to be qualified
under Code § 401(a) (a “Qualified Plan”) with respect to any period following
his or her Termination Date, (C) in the event that a particular Employee Benefit
Plan (other than a Qualified Plan) does not permit the participation of the
Continuing Employee due to the termination of his or her employment, with
respect to the Company’s agreement under this paragraph to continue such
Continuing Employee’s participation in such Employee Benefit Plan until the
first anniversary of the Closing Date, the Company shall pay such Continuing
Employee an amount equal to the then monthly out-of-pocket cost to the Company
of providing such Continuing Employee coverage under such Employee Benefit Plan
multiplied by the number of whole months between such Continuing Employee’s
Termination Date and the first anniversary of the Closing Date.  Notwithstanding
the preceding provisions of this §6(d)(i), in the case of any Continuing
Employee who is party to an agreement providing for severance or change of
control benefits in the event of the termination of his or her employment with
the Company or any of its Affiliates following the Closing Date, such Continuing
Employee shall be entitled to receive the more valuable of the payments and
other benefits provided for under this paragraph (in the aggregate) or the
payments and benefits provided for under such agreement (in the aggregate) but
no Continuing Employee shall be entitled to claim benefits under both this
paragraph and such agreement or in part under this paragraph and in part under
such agreement.  Any benefits provided to a terminated Continuing Employee under
this paragraph under any Employee Benefit Plan that constitutes a “group health
plan” within the meaning of Code § 5000(b)(1) shall count towards the Company’s
obligation to make continuation coverage available to such Continuing Employee
pursuant to Code § 4980B(f) and ERISA §§ 601-608.  Notwithstanding the preceding
provisions of this §6(d)(i), Buyer and the Company shall comply with the
applicable provisions of the Employee Benefit Plans, ERISA and the Code with
respect to each Continuing Employee.

 

(ii)           After Closing, Buyer shall cause the Company to, satisfy all
post-Closing obligations of the Company pursuant to any written employment,
severance, profits participation or other employee compensation plan adopted by
the Company or any agreements between the Company and any employee of the
Company. To the extent that the employees of the Company become eligible to
participate in any Employee Benefit Plans or programs that Buyer or the Company
implement on or after the Closing Date (each a “Buyer Benefit Plan”), then for
all purposes (including, without limitation, determining eligibility to
participate, vesting under plans, early retirement and benefit accrual), service
with the Company shall be treated as service under such Buyer Benefit Plan, in
as similar a manner as practicable; provided, however that such service need not
be recognized as benefit service (A) under any Buyer Benefit Plan which is a
qualified defined benefit pension plan or (B) to the extent that such
recognition would result in any duplication of benefits. All Buyer Benefit Plans
shall waive any pre-existing conditions, actively-at-work exclusions and waiting
periods with respect to participation by and coverage of the employees and their
eligible dependents and, with respect to the 2005 calendar year, shall

 

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provide that any expenses incurred on or before Closing by or on behalf of any
such individuals shall be taken into account under the applicable Buyer Benefit
Plans for purposes of satisfying applicable deductible, coinsurance and maximum
out-of-pocket provisions.

 

(iii)          For a period of ten (10) years after the Closing Date, Buyer
shall (A) maintain in effect the current provisions regarding indemnification of
any of the Company’s members, managers, officers, agents and employees (“Covered
Persons”) contained in the LLC Agreement, and (B) indemnify the Covered Persons
to the fullest extent to which Buyer is permitted to indemnify current or former
members, managers, officers, directors, agents or employees under its
certificate of incorporation, certificate of organization, bylaws, limited
liability company agreement, operating agreement or other organizational
documents and applicable Law.

 

(e)           Tax Matters. 

 

(i)            Sellers shall prepare or cause to be prepared and file or cause
to be filed any required Tax Returns for all Pre-Closing Tax Periods with
respect to the Company. Buyer shall, and shall cause the Company to, cooperate
fully, as and to the extent reasonably requested by Sellers in connection with
the filing of Tax Returns pursuant to this Section and any audit, litigation or
other Proceeding, including the retention of books and records relevant to any
such Tax Returns until Sellers’ notice to Buyer of the expiration of the
applicable statute of limitations (or any extension), and make employees
available on a mutually convenient basis to provide additional information and
explanation of any material provided hereunder.

 

(ii)           Sellers shall pay to Buyer (or Buyer shall pay to Sellers) the
amount by which Taxes attributable to the portion of such Pre-Closing Period
ending on the Closing Date exceed (or are less than) any reserve for Tax
Liability for such Taxes included in the calculation of Net Working Capital as
of the Closing Date. Any such payment by Sellers to Buyer (or by Buyer to
Sellers) under this §6(e)(ii) shall be made within fifteen (15) days after the
date on which Taxes are paid with respect to such Pre-Closing Periods. For
purposes of this §6(e)(ii), in the case of any Taxes that are imposed on a
periodic basis and are payable for a Taxable period that includes (but does not
end on) the Closing Date, the portion of such Tax which relates to the portion
of such Taxable period ending on the Closing Date shall be deemed to be the
amount of such Tax for the entire Taxable period multiplied by a fraction the
numerator of which is the number of days in the Taxable period ending on the
Closing Date and the denominator of which is the number of days in the entire
Taxable period. Any credits relating to a Pre-Closing Period that begins before
and ends after the Closing Date shall be allocated so that a portion of such
credits that relate to the portion of a Taxable period ending on the Closing
Date are allocated to the Pre-Closing Period. All determinations necessary to
give effect to the foregoing allocations shall be made in a manner consistent
with prior practice of the Company.

 

(iii)          Any information shared in connection with Taxes shall be kept
confidential, except as may otherwise be necessary in connection with the filing
of Tax Returns or reports, tax audits, tax claims and tax litigation, or as
required by Law.

 

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(iv)          Buyer shall provide prompt written notice to Sellers of any
pending or threatened tax audit, assessment or Proceeding that it becomes aware
of related to the Company for any Pre-Closing Tax Period. Such notice shall
contain factual information (to the extent known) describing the asserted tax
adjustment, assessment, Proceeding or Liability in reasonable detail and shall
be accompanied by copies of any notice or other document received from or with
any tax authority in respect of any such matters. Sellers shall control audits
and disputes related to such Taxes due or Tax matters for any Pre-Closing Tax
Period (including action taken to pay, compromise or settle such Taxes or Tax
matters). Buyer and the Company and their Affiliates shall provide Sellers and
their Affiliates with such powers of attorney or other authorizing documentation
as are reasonably necessary to empower them to execute and file Pre-Closing Tax
Returns, file refund and equivalent claims for Taxes related to Pre-Closing Tax
Periods, and contest, settle, and resolve any related audits and disputes
(including any refund claims or amended Tax Returns which result in audits or
disputes).

 

(v)           If Buyer or any Affiliate of Buyer (including the Company)
receives a refund of any Taxes attributable to a Pre-Closing Tax Period, Buyer
or such Affiliate receiving such refund shall, within ten (10) days after
receipt of such refund, remit it to Sellers in accordance with their Allocable
Portions.

 

(vi)          The Parties’ respective obligations pursuant to this §6(e) shall
survive until the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations (after
giving effect to any extensions).

 

(f)            Company Confidential Information.For a period of two years
following the Closing, none of Jay A. Precourt, Frederic C. Hamilton or Sellers
shall, directly or indirectly, disclose or permit any Affiliate, directly or
indirectly, to disclose to any Person any confidential information of the
Company, unless compelled to disclose by any applicable Law, except to the
extent that such information can be shown to have been (i) in the public domain
through no fault of Jay A. Precourt, Frederic C. Hamilton or Sellers or any of
their Affiliates or (ii) lawfully acquired by Jay A. Precourt, Frederic C.
Hamilton or Sellers after the Closing Date on a non-confidential basis from
sources other than Buyer or the Company or any of their Affiliates, but only to
the extent that any such source is not bound by a confidentiality agreement or
other duty to keep such information confidential.

 

(g)           Financial Statements.   Each   Seller shall use its commercially
reasonable efforts to assist Buyer in preparing financial statements of the
Company in such form and covering such periods as may be required by any
applicable securities laws to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission by Buyer as a result of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.  Each Seller shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause
the independent public accountants of the Company to provide any consent
necessary to the filing of such financial statements with the Securities and
Exchange Commission and to provide such customary representation letters as are
necessary in connection therewith.

 

(h)           Right to Name.  As soon as reasonably practicable after the
Closing (and in any event, within 30 days after the Closing Date) Sellers will,
and will cause each of their Affiliates to, remove the name “ScissorTail” (and
all derivations therefrom), and all trademarks, trade names and symbols related
thereto from the properties and assets of Sellers and their Affiliates.  Within

 

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10 days after the Closing Date, each Seller will change its legal name to delete
from such name the word “ScissorTail.”

 

(i)            Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Covenant.

 

(i)            Each of Jay A. Precourt and Frederic C. Hamilton (the
“Non-Competition Parties”) hereby acknowledge and recognize the highly
competitive nature of the business of the Company being acquired by Buyer
pursuant to this Agreement, including the intellectual property, trade secrets
and confidential information of the Company.  Accordingly, each of the
Non-Competition Parties hereby agrees that he or it will not, directly or
indirectly through Persons they Control, during the period commencing on the
Closing Date and ending on the second anniversary of such date, (A) engage in,
or own, manage, operate, control or participate in the ownership, management,
operation or control of, or have any interest, financial or otherwise, in or act
as a partner, manager, member, principal, agent, representative, consultant or
independent contractor of, licensor to, or lessor to, or in any way assist, any
Person in the conduct of any business that is engaged or may become engaged in,
any business competitive to the business of the Company as it exists immediately
after the Closing, including without limitation the business of gathering,
treating, processing, storing, transporting and selling natural gas and
transporting, fractionating and selling natural gas liquids, and such
restriction shall be limited to the area described in Exhibit H to this
Agreement  or (B) solicit or hire any of the officers or employees of the
Company as of the date hereof or as of immediately prior to the Closing. 
Notwithstanding anything in this §6(i) to the contrary, (x) any of the
Non-Competition Parties may own (collectively with their Affiliates) up to 5% of
the outstanding equity securities in any Person that is listed upon a national
stock exchange or actively traded in the over-the-counter market, (y) any
Non-Competition Party may participate in the business of the Excluded Subsidiary
or its successors as contemplated by Exhibit F, and (z) each of Jay A. Precourt
and Frederic C. Hamilton may serve on the Board of Directors of any Person that
files reports pursuant Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

 

(ii)      Although the Non-Competition Parties and Buyer consider the
restrictions contained in clause (i) above to be reasonable, if a final
determination is made by an arbitration panel selected in accordance with §10(j)
that the time or territory or any other restriction contained in clause (i) is
an unenforceable restriction against the Non-Competition Parties under
applicable law, the provisions of clause (i) will not be rendered void, but will
be deemed amended as to such restriction as such arbitration panel may determine
or indicate to be reasonable.

 

(j)       Termination of Related Party Contracts.  Each of Sellers and Jay A.
Precourt shall cause the following agreements to be terminated on or prior to
the Closing Date with the Company having no further obligations or liabilities
thereunder:  (i) Salary Agreement effective January 1, 2002 between the Company
and Jay A. Precourt and (ii) Services Agreement dated February 24, 2005, between
the Company and Wyoming Refining Company (collectively, the “Related Party
Contracts”).

 

(k)      Payment of Obligations under Lehman Agreement.  At the Closing, Sellers
shall pay and discharge all amounts owed at Closing by the Company or Sellers to
Lehman Brothers,

 

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Inc. (“Lehman”) pursuant to that Letter Agreement, dated February 4, 2005
between Lehman and the Company.

 

§7.          Conditions to Obligation to Close.

 

(a)           Conditions to Buyer’s Obligation.  Buyer’s obligation to
consummate the transactions with Sellers to be performed by Buyer in connection
with Closing is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions:

 

(i)            the representations and warranties of the Company in this
Agreement that are qualified by materiality (whether by reference to the terms
“material”, “Material Adverse Effect,” “Material Adverse Change,” any threshold
amount or otherwise) and the representations and warranties of Sellers shall be
true and correct in all respects as of the date of this Agreement and at and as
of the Closing Date, and the representations and warranties of the Company in
this Agreement that are not so qualified by materiality shall be true and
correct in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement and at and as
of the Closing Date;

 

(ii)           the Company and Sellers shall have performed and complied with
all covenants, agreements and obligations that are qualified by materiality and
are required by this Agreement to be so performed or complied with by the
Company and Sellers, and the Company and Sellers shall have performed and
complied in all material respects with all other covenants, agreements and
obligations required by this Agreement to be so performed or complied with by
the Company and Sellers, all at or prior to Closing;

 

(iii)          there shall not be any preliminary or permanent injunction,
judgment, order, decree, ruling, or charge, and no Law promulgated or enacted by
any Governmental Authority, shall be in effect preventing or otherwise making
illegal consummation of any of the transactions with Sellers contemplated by
this Agreement or any Proceeding pending by any Governmental Authority seeking
to enjoin or restrain consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or to
recover damages in connection therewith;

 

(iv)          Sellers shall have delivered to Buyer a certificate to the effect
that each of the conditions specified in §7(a)(i)-(iii) is satisfied in all
respects;

 

(v)           Buyer Parent, Buyer, Sellers and the Company shall have received
all authorizations, consents, and approvals of Governmental Authorities referred
to in §3(a)(ii), §3(b)(ii), and §4(b) that are required to consummate the
transactions with Sellers contemplated by this Agreement, including, without
limitation all required approvals, clearance or decisions under the HSR Act;

 

(vi)          the applicable Parties shall have entered into the agreements
contemplated by Exhibit F;

 

(vii)         all consents from Persons other than Governmental Authorities that
are listed in §7(a)(vii) of the Disclosure Schedule with respect to the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have been received;

 

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(viii)        Buyer, Sellers, the Company and the Escrow Agent shall have
entered into the Escrow Agreement dated as of the Closing Date in the form of
Exhibit A attached to this Agreement, and the same shall be in full force and
effect;

 

(ix)          each of the officers of the Company listed in §7(a)(ix) of the
Disclosure Schedule shall have executed and delivered to Buyer an employment
agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit I;

 

(x)           the insurers under the Existing Policy shall have committed to
enter into the Expanded Insurance Policy;

 

(xi)          Sellers shall have delivered to Buyer, at the expense of Buyer,
(a) true and complete copies of any audited financial statements (which shall be
accompanied by an unqualified report of the Company’s independent public
accountants) and any unaudited financial statements, in each case that are
required to be included under Item 2.01 of Form 8-K filed by the Company under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) as a result
of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby assuming such
Form 8-K is filed on the first Business Day immediately following the Closing
Date and (b) any consents of the Company’s independent public accountants
required under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act in
connection with the filing of such Form 8-K;

 

(xii)         all actions to be taken by Sellers in connection with consummation
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement with respect to Sellers and
all certificates, instruments, and other documents required to effect the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including delivering to Buyer
instruments of assignment and transfer as shall be necessary to transfer to
Buyer all of Sellers’ right, title and interest in and to the percentage of the
Membership Interests to be sold by Sellers to Buyer pursuant to §2(e), will be
reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to Buyer; and

 

(xiii)        the Related Party Contracts shall have been terminated in
accordance with §6(j).

 

Buyer may waive any condition specified in this §7(a) if it executes a writing
so stating at or prior to Closing.

 

(b)           Conditions to Each Seller’s Obligation.  The Company’s and each
Seller’s obligation to consummate the transactions to be performed by it in
connection with Closing is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions:

 

(i)            the representations and warranties of Buyer in this Agreement
that are qualified by materiality (whether by reference to the terms “material”,
“Material Adverse Effect,” “Material Adverse Change,” any threshold amount or
otherwise) shall be true and correct in all respects as of the date of this
Agreement and at and as of the Closing Date, and the representations and
warranties of Buyer in this Agreement that are not so qualified by materiality
shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date of this
Agreement and at and as of the Closing Date;

 

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(ii)           Buyer Parent and Buyer shall have performed and complied with all
covenants, agreements and obligations that are qualified by materiality and
required by this Agreement to be so performed or complied with by them, and
Buyer Parent and Buyer shall have performed and complied in all material
respects with all other covenants, agreements and obligations required by this
Agreement to be so performed or complied with by them, all at or prior to
Closing;

 

(iii)          there shall not be any preliminary or permanent injunction,
judgment, order, decree, ruling, or charge, and no Law promulgated or enacted by
any Governmental Authority, shall be in effect preventing or otherwise making
illegal consummation of any of the transactions with Buyer Parent or Buyer
contemplated by this Agreement or any Proceeding pending by any Governmental
Authority seeking to enjoin or restrain consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby or to recover damages in connection therewith;

 

(iv)          Buyer shall have delivered to the Company and Sellers a
certificate to the effect that each of the conditions specified in
§7(b)(i)-(iii) is satisfied in all respects;

 

(v)           Buyer Parent, Buyer, Sellers and the Company shall have received
all authorizations, consents, and approvals of Governmental Authorities referred
to in §3(a)(ii), §3(b)(ii), and §4(b) that are required to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation all
required approvals, clearance or decisions under the HSR Act;

 

(vi)          the applicable Parties shall have entered into the agreements
contemplated by Exhibit F;

 

(vii)         all consents from Persons other than Governmental Authorities that
are listed in §7(b)(vii) of the Disclosure Schedule with respect to the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have been received;

 

(viii)        Buyer, Sellers, the Company and the Escrow Agent shall have
entered into the Escrow Agreement dated as of the Closing Date in the form of
Exhibit A attached to this Agreement, and the same shall be in full force and
effect; and

 

(ix)          all actions to be taken by Buyer in connection with consummation
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the payment of the
amounts to Sellers and the Escrow Agent as required pursuant to §2, and all
certificates, instruments, and other documents required to effect the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement will be reasonably satisfactory in
form and substance to Sellers.

 

Sellers may waive any condition specified in this §7(b) if it executes a writing
so stating at or prior to Closing.

 

§8.          Remedies for Breaches of This Agreement.

 

(a)           Survival of Representations, Warranties and Covenants.

 

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All of the representations and warranties of the Parties contained in §3 shall
survive the Closing (except for misrepresentations or breaches of warranty which
are disclosed to the Parties pursuant to §5(e)) and continue in full force and
effect after Closing subject to any applicable statute of limitations. All of
the representations and warranties of the Company contained in §4 shall survive
Closing (except for misrepresentations or breaches of warranty which are
disclosed to the Parties pursuant to §5(e)) and continue in full force and
effect for a period of twelve (12) months thereafter.  The obligations of the
Parties to perform the covenants set forth in §5 shall terminate at and as of
Closing, provided however, that a Party may make a Claim for Indemnification for
a breach of any such covenant that occurs prior to Closing until twelve (12)
months after the Closing Date.  All of the other covenants and agreements of the
Parties contained herein shall survive Closing until the later of (i) the end of
the period of time required by the applicable provisions of this Agreement or
(ii) twelve (12) months after the Closing Date.  Claims for Indemnification
pursuant to this §8 may only be made after the Closing.

 

(b)           Indemnification Provisions for Buyer’s Benefit.  (i)  In the event
the Company breaches any of its representations and warranties set forth in §4
of this Agreement, provided that Buyer or any of its Affiliates makes a written
Claim for Indemnification to the Escrow Agent against the Company, pursuant to
the notice provisions of the Escrow Agreement within any applicable survival
period, then Sellers shall indemnify Buyer and its Affiliates from and against
any Adverse Consequences Buyer or any of its Affiliates (including the Company)
shall suffer through and after the date of the Claim for Indemnification
resulting from or arising out of the breach; subject to the terms and conditions
of the Escrow Agreement and the applicable limitations of this §8.

 

(ii)           In the event any Seller breaches any of its representations and
warranties set forth in §3(a) of this Agreement or any Seller breaches any of
its covenants contained in this Agreement, provided that Buyer or any of its
Affiliates makes a written Claim for Indemnification against such Seller within
any applicable survival period and pursuant to the notice provisions of §10(h),
then such Seller shall indemnify Buyer and its Affiliates from and against any
Adverse Consequences Buyer or any of its Affiliates (including the Company)
shall suffer through and after the date of the Claim for Indemnification
resulting from or arising out of such breach subject to the applicable
limitations of this §8.

 

(iii)          Sellers shall have no obligation to indemnify Buyer or its
Affiliates pursuant to §8(b)(i) until Buyer and its Affiliates (including the
Company) has suffered Adverse Consequences by reason of all such breaches in
excess of $5,000,000 (the “Threshold”), after which point Sellers will be
obligated to indemnify Buyer and its Affiliates only from and against further
Adverse Consequences in excess of such Threshold.

 

(iv)          No amount shall be payable pursuant to §8(b)(i) with respect to
any matter or series of related matters resulting in Adverse Consequences to
Buyer or its Affiliates of $100,000 or less; provided that such Adverse
Consequences shall be included in calculating the Threshold.

 

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(v)           Each Seller’s obligation to indemnify Buyer pursuant to
§8(b)(ii) from and against any breach of a covenant made by both Sellers or the
Company (other than pursuant to §2(a), §6(f), §6(g) or §6(i)) shall be limited
to such Seller’s Allocable Portion of any Adverse Consequences Buyer shall
suffer through and after the date of the Claim for Indemnification and may not
be increased under any circumstances.

 

(vi)          Sellers shall have no obligation to indemnify Buyer or its
Affiliates pursuant to §8(b)(i) by reason of any breaches of the Company’s
representations and warranties set forth in §4(d) and 4(r) of this Agreement
until the Company has exhausted all remedies available to it under the Expanded
Policy, the Duke Agreement and the Octagon Agreement (the “Primary Remedies”). 
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, Buyer’s rights to pursue
a Claim for Indemnification for the Company’s breach of the representations and
warranties set forth in §4(d) and 4(r) shall survive during the time Buyer or
its Affiliates are actively pursuing the Primary Remedies and for the period
thereafter required to bring any related Claim for Indemnification against
Sellers, so long as Buyer has provided notice of its potential Claim for
Indemnification (and the assertion of its Primary Remedies) to Sellers within
twelve (12) months after the Closing Date.

 

(vii)         Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Escrow
Amount shall be the sole and exclusive source of funds available to Buyer with
respect to any Claim for Indemnification made after the Closing arising pursuant
to §8(b)(i), and after distribution to Buyer of the entire Escrow Amount,
Sellers will have no obligation to further indemnify Buyer from and against such
Adverse Consequences.

 

(c)           Indemnification Provisions for Sellers’ Benefit.  In the event
Buyer breaches any of its representations, warranties, or covenants contained in
this Agreement, and, provided that any Seller or any of its Affiliates makes a
written Claim for Indemnification against Buyer pursuant to the notice
provisions of §10(h) within any applicable survival period, then Buyer shall
indemnify each Seller and its Affiliates from and against any Adverse
Consequences Sellers or any of its Affiliates shall suffer through and after the
date of the Claim for Indemnification resulting from or arising out of the
breach subject to the applicable limitations of this §8.

 

(d)           Matters Involving Third Parties.  (i)  If any third party shall
notify any Party (the “Indemnified Party”) with respect to any matter (a “Third
Party Claim”) which may give rise to a Claim for Indemnification against any
other Party (the “Indemnifying Party”) under this §8, then the Indemnified Party
shall promptly notify each Indemnifying Party thereof in writing; provided,
however, that no delay on the part of the Indemnified Party in notifying any
Indemnifying Party shall relieve the Indemnifying Party from any obligation
under this Agreement unless (and then solely to the extent) the Indemnifying
Party thereby is prejudiced.

 

(ii)           Any Indemnifying Party will have the right to defend the
Indemnified Party against the Third Party Claim with counsel of its choice
reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party so long as (A) the Third Party
Claim involves only money damages and does not seek an injunction or other
equitable relief and, in respect of Third Party Claims in which Buyer or its
Affiliates is the Indemnified Party, in Buyer’s reasonable judgment could not
result in money damages in excess of any remaining Escrow Amount, (B) settlement
of, or an adverse

 

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judgment with respect to, the Third Party Claim is not, in the good faith
judgment of the Indemnified Party, likely to establish a precedential custom or
practice materially adverse to the continuing business interests of the
Indemnified Party, and (C) the Indemnifying Party conducts the defense of the
Third Party Claim actively and diligently.

 

(iii)          So long as the Indemnifying Party is conducting the defense of
the Third Party Claim in accordance with §8(d)(ii), (A) the Indemnified Party
may retain separate co-counsel at its sole cost and expense and participate in
the defense of the Third Party Claim, (B) the Indemnified Party will not consent
to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement with respect to the
Third Party Claim without the prior written consent of the Indemnifying Party
(not to be withheld unreasonably), and (C) the Indemnifying Party will not
consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement with respect
to the Third Party Claim without the prior written consent of the Indemnified
Party (not to be withheld unreasonably).

 

(iv)          In the event any of the conditions in §8(d)(ii) is or becomes
unsatisfied, however, (A) the Indemnified Party may defend against, and consent
to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement with respect to, the
Third Party Claim in any manner it may deem appropriate subject to the consent
of the Indemnifying Party in the case of any proposed entry of a judgment or
settlement, (B) the Indemnifying Parties will have sixty (60) days from the
receipt of any notice under §8(d)(i) to cure to the Indemnified Party’s
satisfaction the subject matter of the notice, and, in the absence of such a
timely, satisfactory cure, the Indemnifying Parties will reimburse the
Indemnified Party promptly and periodically for the costs of defending against
the Third Party Claim (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses), and
(C) the Indemnifying Parties will remain responsible for any Adverse
Consequences the Indemnified Party may suffer resulting from, arising out of,
relating to, in the nature of, or caused by the Third Party Claim to the fullest
extent provided in this §8.

 

(e)           Matters not Involving Third Party Claims.  Buyer or Sellers may
make a claim for any matter that does not involve a Third Party Claim in any
amount to which they may be entitled under this §8 by providing a Claim for
Indemnification against the other promptly after such Indemnified Party has
notice of any Adverse Consequence which may give rise to a Claim for
Indemnification; provided, however, that no delay on the part of Buyer or
Sellers in notifying the other shall relieve the Indemnifying Party from any
obligation hereunder unless (and then solely to the extent) the Indemnifying
Party is actually prejudiced by such delay. The Indemnifying Party shall have
thirty (30) days to object to the Claim for Indemnification by delivery of a
written notice of such objection to the Indemnified Party specifying in
reasonable detail the basis for such objection. Failure to timely respond shall
constitute a final and binding acceptance of the Claim for Indemnification by
the Indemnifying Party, and the Claim for Indemnification shall be paid in
accordance with §8(g). If an objection is timely interposed by the Indemnifying
Party, then the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party shall negotiate in
good faith for a period of twenty (20) Business Days from the date the
Indemnified Party receives such objection prior to commencing any arbitration,
formal legal action, suit or proceeding with respect to such Claim for
Indemnification.

 

(f)            Claims Against Escrow Amount.  Subject to this §8, any Claim for
Indemnification by Buyer against Sellers pursuant to §8(b)(i) shall be made
solely with respect to the Escrow

 

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Amount and may be made at any time within the applicable survival period. Upon
any Final Determination (as defined below) of a Claim for Indemnification
against Sellers, Sellers and Buyer shall provide joint written instructions to
the Escrow Agent to pay to Buyer the amount of such Claim for Indemnification as
determined by such Final Determination. Upon the expiration of the applicable
survival period without any pending claims, the remaining balance of the Escrow
Amount will be disbursed by the Escrow Agent (pursuant to joint written
instructions by Sellers and Buyer) to Sellers in accordance with the Escrow
Agreement; provided, however, that in the event that there are any pending
Claims for Indemnification at the time of such expiration: (i) the claimed
amounts shall remain in escrow; (ii) the remaining balance of the Escrow Amount
after such retention will be so disbursed by Escrow Agent (pursuant to joint
written instructions by Sellers and Buyer) to Sellers in accordance with the
Escrow Agreement; and (iii) as each such Claim for Indemnification is resolved
by a Final Determination, any amount retained with respect thereto that remains
in escrow after such resolution will be disbursed by Escrow Agent (pursuant to
joint written instructions by Sellers and Buyer) to Sellers in accordance with
the Escrow Agreement.

 

(g)           Payment of Claims.  Upon Final Determination of the amount of a
Claim for Indemnification, the Indemnifying Party (or the Escrow Agent, if
applicable) shall pay the amount of such claim within ten (10) days of the date
of such Final Determination. A “Final Determination” of a claim shall be (i) a
judgment of any court determining the validity or amount of a disputed claim, if
no appeal is pending from such judgment or if the time to appeal therefrom has
elapsed (it being understood that the Indemnified Party shall have no obligation
to appeal); (ii) an award of any arbitrator or arbitration panel determining the
validity or amount of such disputed claim, if there is not pending any motion to
set aside such award or if the time within which to move to set such award aside
has elapsed; (iii) a written termination of the dispute with respect to such
claim signed by all of the parties thereto or their attorneys; (iv) a written
acknowledgment of the Indemnifying Party that it does not dispute the validity
or amount of such claim; (v) a failure by an Indemnifying Party to respond to a
Claim for Indemnification by the date specified in §8(e); or (vi) such other
evidence of final determination of a disputed claim as shall be reasonably
acceptable to the Parties.

 

(h)           Determination of Adverse Consequences.  All indemnification
payments under this §8 shall be paid by the Indemnifying Party net of any Tax
benefits, insurance coverage and other indemnification rights that are available
to the Indemnified Party and shall be computed on a present value basis (using
the Applicable Rate as the discount rate). All indemnification payments under
this §8 shall be deemed adjustments to the Purchase Price.

 

(i)            Exclusive Remedy.  EXCEPT WITH RESPECT TO BREACHES OF
REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS DISCLOSED PRIOR TO CLOSING AS PROVIDED
IN §5(E), BUYER, THE COMPANY AND SELLERS ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT THE
FOREGOING INDEMNIFICATION PROVISIONS IN THIS §8 SHALL BE THE EXCLUSIVE REMEDY OF
BUYER, THE COMPANY AND SELLERS WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE EVENTS
GIVING RISE THERETO AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT.  BUYER,
THE COMPANY AND EACH SELLER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT NEITHER IT, NOR ANY SUCCESSOR OR
ASSIGN,

 

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SHALL HAVE ANY RIGHTS AGAINST THE OTHER PARTIES OR ITS AFFILIATES WITH RESPECT
TO THE TRANSACTIONS PROVIDED FOR IN THIS AGREEMENT OTHER THAN AS IS EXPRESSLY
PROVIDED IN THIS AGREEMENT.

 

(j)            Limitation on Damages.  NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY
IN THIS AGREEMENT, IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COMPANY, ANY SELLER OR BUYER BE LIABLE
TO THE OTHER UNDER THIS AGREEMENT FOR ANY EXEMPLARY, PUNITIVE, REMOTE,
SPECULATIVE, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES OR LOSS OF PROFITS.

 

§9.          Termination.

 

(a)           Termination of Agreement.  Certain of the Parties may terminate
this Agreement as follows:

 

(i)            Buyer and each Seller may terminate this Agreement by mutual
written consent at any time prior to Closing;

 

(ii)           Buyer or Sellers may terminate this Agreement as provided by
§5(e);

 

(iii)          Buyer may terminate this Agreement by giving written notice to
Sellers at any time prior to Closing if Closing shall not have occurred on or
before August 31, 2005 (unless the failure results primarily from Buyer itself
breaching any representation, warranty, or covenant contained in this
Agreement); and

 

(iv)          Either Seller may terminate this Agreement by giving written
notice to Buyer at any time prior to Closing if Closing shall not have occurred
on or before August 31, 2005 (unless the failure results primarily from the
Company or a Seller breaching any representation, warranty, or covenant
contained in this Agreement).

 

(b)           Effect of Termination.  If any Party terminates this Agreement
pursuant to §9(a), all rights and obligations of the applicable Parties under
this Agreement shall terminate without any Liability of any Party to any other
Party (except for any Liability of any Party then in breach); provided, however,
that the confidentiality provisions contained in §5(d) shall survive
termination.

 

§10.        Miscellaneous.

 

(a)           Nature of Sellers’ Obligations.

 

(i)            The covenants of each Seller in §2(a) concerning the sale of its
Membership Interests to Buyer, the representations and warranties of each Seller
in §3(a) and the covenants contained in §6(f), (g) or (i) are individual and not
joint or several obligations. This means that the particular Seller making the
representation, warranty, or covenant shall be solely responsible to the extent
provided in §5(e) and §8(b) for any Adverse Consequences Buyer may suffer as a
result of any breach thereof.

 

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(ii)           The remainder of Sellers’ representations, warranties, and
covenants in this Agreement are based on each Seller’s Allocable Portion of any
Adverse Consequences Buyer may suffer as a result of any breach thereof as set
forth in §5(e) and §8(b).

 

(b)           Press Releases and Public Announcements.  No Party shall issue any
press release or make any public announcement relating to the subject matter of
this Agreement prior to Closing without the prior written approval of Buyer and
Sellers; provided, however, that any Party may make any public disclosure it
believes in good faith is required by applicable Law or any listing or trading
agreement concerning its publicly traded securities (in which case the
disclosing Party will use its commercially reasonable efforts to advise the
other Parties prior to making the disclosure).

 

(c)           No Third-Party Beneficiaries.  Except for the rights conferred on
the Company’s employees and Covered Persons pursuant to §6(d) of this Agreement,
this Agreement shall not confer any rights or remedies upon any Person other
than the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns and with
respect to the rights conferred pursuant to §6(d), any remedies shall be limited
to actual damages and not punitive or consequential damages.

 

(d)           Entire Agreement.  This Agreement (including the Escrow Agreement
and the other documents referred to in this Agreement) and the Confidentiality
Agreement dated March 24, 2005 among the Parties constitute the entire agreement
among the Parties and supersede any prior understandings, agreements, or
representations by or among the Parties, written or oral, to the extent they
relate in any way to the subject matter of this Agreement.

 

(e)           Succession and Assignment.  This Agreement shall be binding upon
and inure to the benefit of the Parties named in this Agreement and their
respective successors and permitted assigns. No Party may assign either this
Agreement or any of its rights, interests, or obligations under this Agreement
without the prior written approval of Buyer and Sellers. A reference to a Party
to this Agreement or another agreement or document includes the Party’s
successors and assigns.

 

(f)            Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts (including by means of facsimile), each of which shall be deemed an
original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

 

(g)           Headings.  The section headings contained in this Agreement are
inserted for convenience only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.

 

(h)           Notices.  All notices, requests, demands, claims, and other
communications under this Agreement shall be in writing. Any notice, request,
demand, claim, or other communication under this Agreement shall be deemed duly
given if (and then two (2) Business Days after) it is sent by registered or
certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, and addressed to the
intended recipient as set forth below:

 

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If to the Company:

 

ScissorTail Energy, LLC
624 South Boston, Suite 800
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74119-1239

Facsimile:  (918) 587-2990

Attention:  John A. Raber

 

With copies to:

 

Bartlit Beck Herman Palenchar & Scott LLP
1899 Wynkoop, Suite 800
Denver, Colorado 80202
Facsimile:  (303) 592-3140
Attention:  James L. Palenchar

 

If to Sellers:

 

ScissorTail Holdings, LLC
1600 Broadway, Suite 2300
Denver, Colorado 80202-4923
Facsimile: (303) 837-9089
Attention: Jay A. Precourt

 

Hamilton ScissorTail LLC
1560 Broadway, Suite 2200
Denver, Colorado 80202
Facsimile: (303) 863-3006
Attention: Frederic C. Hamilton

 

With copies to:

 

Bartlit Beck Herman Palenchar & Scott LLP
1899 Wynkoop, Suite 800
Denver, Colorado 80202
Facsimile: (303) 592-3140
Attention: James L. Palenchar

 

ScissorTail Holdings, LLC
1600 Broadway, Suite 2300
Denver, Colorado 80202-4923
Facsimile: (303) 837-9089
Attention: John E. Elgin

 

 

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If to Buyer Parent:

 

Copano Energy, L.L.C.
2727 Allen Parkway, Suite 1200

Houston, Texas 77019
Facsimile: (713) 621-9545
Attention:  Ron W. Bopp

 

With copies to:

 

Vinson & Elkins, L.L.P.

2300 First City Tower

1001 Fannin Street

Houston, Texas 77002-6760

Facsimile:  (713) 615-5861

Attention:  David P. Oelman

 

If to Buyer:

 

Copano Energy/Rocky Mountains and Mid-Continent, L.L.C.
2727 Allen Parkway, Suite 1200

Houston, Texas 77019
Facsimile: (713) 621-9545
Attention:  Ron W. Bopp

 

With copies to:

 

Vinson & Elkins, L.L.P.

2300 First City Tower

1001 Fannin Street

Houston, Texas 77002-6760

Facsimile:  (713) 615-5861

Attention:  David P. Oelman

 

Any Party may send any notice, request, demand, claim, or other communication
under this Agreement to the intended recipient at the address set forth above
using any other means (including personal delivery, expedited courier, messenger
service, telecopy, ordinary mail, or electronic mail), but no such notice,
request, demand, claim, or other communication shall be deemed to have been duly
given unless and until it actually is received by the intended recipient. Any
Party may change the address to which notices, requests, demands, claims, and
other communications under this Agreement are to be delivered by giving the
other Parties notice in the manner set forth in this Agreement.

 

(i)            Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the domestic laws of the State of Delaware without giving
effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State
of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the
laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware.

 

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(j)            Arbitration.  Any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or
relating to this Agreement (a “Dispute”) (excluding any dispute or disagreement
among the Parties concerning the Working Capital True Up, which shall be
resolved pursuant to the provisions of §2(c)), shall be settled by binding
arbitration in accordance with the commercial arbitration rules of the American
Arbitration Association.   Any such Dispute shall be arbitrated on an individual
basis, and shall not be consolidated in any arbitration with any dispute, claim
or controversy of any other Party.  The arbitration shall be conducted in
Denver, Colorado, and any court having jurisdiction thereof may immediately
issue judgment on the arbitration award. The Parties agree that the arbitration
provided for in this §10(j) shall be the exclusive means to resolve all Disputes
and the arbitrator shall be empowered to grant specific performance or other
equitable remedies to a Party.

 

(k)           Amendments and Waivers.  No amendment of any provision of this
Agreement shall be valid unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the
Company, Buyer and Sellers. No waiver by any Party of any provision of this
Agreement or any default, misrepresentation, or breach of warranty or covenant
under this Agreement, whether intentional or not, shall be valid unless the same
shall be in writing and signed by the Party making such waiver, nor shall such
waiver be deemed to extend to any prior or subsequent default,
misrepresentation, or breach of warranty or covenant under this Agreement or
affect in any way any rights arising by virtue of any prior or subsequent such
occurrence.

 

(l)            Severability.  Any term or provision of this Agreement that is
invalid or unenforceable in any situation in any jurisdiction shall not affect
the validity or enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions of this
Agreement or the validity or enforceability of the offending term or provision
in any other situation or in any other jurisdiction.

 

(m)          Expenses.  Except as otherwise provided in this §10(m) or in §2(c),
Buyer and each Seller will bear its own costs and expenses (including legal fees
and expenses) incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. All transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp,
registration and other such Taxes, and all conveyance fees, recording charges
and other similar fees and charges (including any penalties and interest) 
incurred in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement shall be paid by Buyer when due, and Buyer shall, at its own
expense, file all necessary Tax Returns and other documentation with respect to
all such Taxes, fees and charges, and, if required by applicable Law, the
Parties will, and will cause their Affiliates to, join in the execution of any
such Tax Returns and other documentation.

 

(n)           Buyer Parent Guaranty.

 

Buyer Parent irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees to each Seller (the
“Guaranty”) the full and punctual performance and compliance by Buyer with each
and every covenant, indemnity, term and condition to be performed or complied
with by Buyer under this Agreement, the Confidentiality Agreement and the Escrow
Agreement.  The Guaranty expressed in this §10(n) is an absolute, present,
primary and continuing guaranty of performance and compliance. Buyer Parent
acknowledges and agrees that its liability under the Guaranty is joint and
several with Buyer and, upon any default by Buyer, Sellers shall not be
obligated to first

 

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attempt enforcement against Buyer.  Buyer Parent waives any and all defenses to
enforcement of the Guaranty, now existing or hereafter arising, which may be
available to guarantors, sureties and other secondary parties at law or in
equity.  Buyer Parent agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses, including
reasonable attorney fees and related costs, incurred by Sellers or any
Affiliates in enforcing the Guaranty.

 

(o)           Individual Joinder.  Jay A. Precourt joins as a signatory to this
Agreement solely and exclusively with respect to the covenants set forth in
§6(f), (i) and (j) and for no other purpose and Frederic C. Hamilton joins as a
signatory to this Agreement solely and exclusively with respect to the covenants
set forth in §6(f) and (i) and for no other purpose

 

(p)           Construction.  The Parties have participated jointly in the
negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. In the event an ambiguity or
question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed
as if drafted jointly by the Parties and no presumption or burden of proof shall
arise favoring or disfavoring any Party by virtue of the authorship of any of
the provisions of this Agreement. All references in this Agreement to articles,
sections or subdivisions thereof shall refer to the corresponding article,
section or subdivision thereof of this Agreement unless specific reference is
made to such articles, sections, or subdivisions of another document or
instrument. Any reference to any federal, state, local, or foreign statute or
law shall be deemed also to refer to all rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder, unless the context requires otherwise. The word “including” means
including without limitation.

 

(q)           Incorporation of Exhibits, Annexes, and Schedules.  The Exhibits,
Annexes, and Schedules identified in this Agreement are incorporated in this
Agreement by reference and made a part of this Agreement.

 

(r)            Bold and/or Capitalized Letters.  THE PARTIES AGREE THAT THE BOLD
AND/OR CAPITALIZED LETTERS IN THIS AGREEMENT CONSTITUTE CONSPICUOUS LEGENDS.

 

[Signature page follows.]

 

54

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the
date first above written.

 

 

THE COMPANY:

 

 

 

SCISSORTAIL ENERGY, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BUYER:

 

 

 

COPANO ENERGY/ROCKY MOUNTAINS AND

 

MID-CONTINENT, L.L.C.

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

BUYER PARENT:

 

 

 

COPANO ENERGY, L.L.C.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

SELLERS:

 

 

 

HAMILTON SCISSORTAIL LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

SCISSORTAIL HOLDINGS, LLC

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

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Joining as signatory solely and
exclusively with respect to the covenants
set forth in §6(f),(i) and (j) and for no
other purpose:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jay A. Precourt

 

 

 

 

 

Joining as signatory solely and
exclusively with respect to the covenants
set forth in §6(f) and (i) and for no other
purpose:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frederic C. Hamilton

 

2

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