ex10-1.htm


EXHIBIT 10.1


 


OPTION AGREEMENT








This Option Agreement (“Agreement”) is made and entered into as of the 4th day of October 2010, by and between CADIZ INC., and FENNER MUTUAL WATER COMPANY, on the one hand (collectively, “CADIZ”), and SUBURBAN WATER SYSTEMS (referred to herein as either “SWS” or “Optionee”), on the other hand, with reference to the following facts and intentions:


 









 


RECITALS


 


A.           CADIZ owns and controls approximately 35,000 acres of land located in the Cadiz and Fenner valleys of San Bernardino County (the “Property”).


 


B.           Substantial quantities of percolating groundwater exist within the aquifer system underlying the Property that naturally migrates to the Bristol and Cadiz dry lakes and then is lost to evaporation, such that water that would otherwise be wasted can be conserved and made available for reasonable and beneficial use in accordance with modern sustainable groundwater management practices.


 


C.           Existing and potential aquifer capacity exists within the underlying aquifers that can be prudently used to store conserved and imported water for subsequent beneficial use.


 


D.           The County of San Bernardino has previously approved a Conditional Use Permit in 1993 authorizing the withdrawal of water for agricultural uses on the overlying land and CADIZ has made substantial investments in continuing its agricultural concern on up to 9,600 acres.


 


E.           CADIZ has acquired a 99-year right of way along an active railroad line from the Arizona & California Railroad to construct a pipeline and power line to convey water to and from the Property to the Colorado River Aqueduct (“CRA”).


 


F.           The Parties acknowledge and agree that other public water purveyors within six Southern California counties (Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego) are evaluating their potential participation in the Program (as defined below) as potential purchasers of conserved water.


 


G.           The Parties intend to conserve groundwater and manage the available groundwater supply in accordance with the directives stated by the California Supreme Court in City of Los Angeles v. City of San Fernando (1975) 14 Cal.3d 199 thereby withdrawing any temporary surplus required to obtain optimal groundwater water levels and to manage extractions within the long-term safe annual yield.


 


H.           CADIZ will operate the Program on a long-term sustainable basis and in a manner consistent with its covenants to the Natural Heritage Institute so as to avoid unreasonable environmental harm.


 


I.           Prior to the initiation of environmental review, CADIZ will cause the preparation of a watershed analysis and technical evaluation of the water supply availability by a qualified national engineering firm which must demonstrate the potential for recovery of conserved water in quantities sufficient to meet the promised deliveries to the purchasers of conserved water.


 


J.           CADIZ is prepared to reserve up to a maximum of 10% of the conserved water and storage developed from the Property for reasonable and beneficial uses by public water purveyors within San Bernardino County.


 


K.           CADIZ desires to grant an option to the Optionee to acquire certain quantities of conserved water and storage capacity rights, and the Optionee desires to acquire such an option, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.


 


L.           The method of delivery of water from CADIZ to the CRA, the potential that the Program may earn Intentionally Created Surplus Credits (“ICS Credits”) for MWD under federal law, the eligibility of the Program to receive state and federal grants, CADIZ’ offer to grant a portion of the available Storage to MWD, and MWD Local Resources Program (“LRP”), all create opportunities for a direct and dollar-for-dollar reduction in the price of water to be made available by the Program as it is finally delivered to the purchasers of the conserved water.


 


M.           The Parties acknowledge that the final price for water, adjusting for other consideration, cannot be determined until several contingencies to the operation of the Program, including but not limited to the items set forth in Recital L above and as may be learned through environmental review, are satisfied.


 


N.           Notwithstanding the contingencies of environmental review and the availability of third party funding which may impact the as-received price for water to the purchasers of conserved water, CADIZ is willing to grant the rights to the Optionee as set forth in this Agreement.


 


O.           CADIZ intends to facilitate the implementation of this Agreement through the Fenner Mutual Water Company, a private non-profit water company, that may own or control various water, storage, easement and conveyance rights in a manner suitable to implementation of the Program and consistent with the terms hereof.


 


NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereto agree as follows:


 


ARTICLE 1


THE PROGRAM


 


1.1 Program Summary.  The “Program” is defined and summarized in the attached Exhibit “A” and incorporated by this reference.


 


1.2 Definitions.  The following definitions shall apply.


 


(a)           “Annual Quantity” means the quantity of water that is made available by CADIZ through its intended water conservation program that will optimize groundwater basin management and avoid loss of groundwater to evaporation.  Included within the Annual Quantity shall be the Initial 5K AF referenced herein.


 


(b)           “Carry-Over Storage” means the use of unsaturated soils to store water from year to year for subsequent withdrawal and delivery to Optionee for beneficial use.  Carry-Over Storage may be used to stored imported or foreign water, provided that sufficient pipeline capacity exists to convey water from the CRA to the Property.


 


(c)           “Supplemental Storage” means the use of unsaturated soils to store Conserved Water in the event that CADIZ is unable to or prevented from delivering Conserved Water to the CRA because there is insufficient capacity in the CRA, and is further defined in Section 2.2(d).


 


ARTICLE 2


 


OPTION


 


2.1 Option Consideration.  As consideration for the Option and as a condition precedent to the exercise of the Option, the Optionee hereby agrees to pay the sum of $125,000, to cooperate in the completion of environmental review of the Program and to designate a representative to serve on a technical committee (the “Option Consideration”).


 


(a)           Payment Date.  The Optionee will pay to CADIZ the sum of $125,000 within thirty (30) days following its receipt of written notice from CADIZ indicating more than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) have been expended by CADIZ in preparing environmental analysis of the Program.


 


(b)           Management and Administration.  CADIZ will exercise good faith and best efforts in selecting competent professionals and consultants to perform the tasks that are necessary and prudent to implement the environmental review of the Program, such selection to be made with the consent of the Lead Agency.  CADIZ will assume primary responsibility for causing the retention of a qualified expert to prudently prepare an administrative draft of environmental documents, studies, analyses, and reports.  Further, the Parties acknowledge and agree that upon completion of the environmental process, all studies, reports, analyses, and plans shall be the joint property of CADIZ, on the one hand, and the Lead Agency, on the other; provided, however CADIZ will provide copies of all such studies, reports, analyses and plans to the Optionee upon request.


 


2.2 Grant of Option and Exercise Price.  Subject to the Optionee’s performance of its obligations hereunder and agreement to the terms hereof, including but not limited to Section 2.1 above, CADIZ hereby grants to Optionee an option to acquire Conserved Water along with the following interests as set forth in Exhibit “B” (the “Price Schedule”) (collectively, the “Option”):


 


(a)           Conserved Water.  The Optionee shall have the option, but not the obligation to acquire up to 5,000 acre-feet per year of conserved water as an Annual Quantity Right (the “Initial 5K AF”) (the “Conserved Water”).  The exercise price for the acquisition of the Initial 5K AF and the timing of such payments are set forth on the Price Schedule.  Upon the Optionee’s exercise of the Option to purchase 5,000 acre-feet of conserved water as an Annual Quantity, CADIZ will make available an additional 5,000 acre-feet of conserved water as a one-time supply free of charge to the Optionee.  The parties will determine a reasonable schedule for delivery of this latter 5,000 acre-feet of conserved water.  The Conserved Water shall be delivered to the Optionee in the CRA each year on a mutually agreed schedule which shall provide for delivery of such water so that it can be used in the Optionee’s service area over a reasonable period of time at flows and rates that are established with the regional wholesale water purveyor within the MWD service area.


 


(b)           Class A Carry-Over Storage.  In the event the Optionee purchases at least the Initial 5K AF, the Optionee shall have the additional option, but not the obligation, to acquire without charge up to 5,000 Class A Carry-Over Storage upon purchase of a minimum of 5,000 acre-feet of Class B Carry-Over Storage pursuant to this Agreement.  No losses will be assessed upon water held in a Class A Carry-Over Storage.  The acquisition of Class A Carry-Over Storage shall include the right to transport any acquired Conserved Water through firm pipeline capacity to the CRA, at no extra cost to the Optionee.  Class A Carry-Over Storage is only available where the Optionee has purchased at least 5,000 acre-feet of Class B Carry-Over Storage.  For example, if Optionee purchases 5,000 acre-feet of Class B Carry-Over Storage, Optionee is entitled to 5,000 acre-feet of Class A Carry-Over Storage for a cumulative quantity of 10,000 acre-feet of Carry-Over Storage by paying only for the Class B Carry-Over Storage.


 


(c)           Class B Carry-Over Storage.  The Optionee shall have the option, but not the obligation, to acquire up to 25,000 acre-feet of Class B Carry-Over Storage at the exercise price set forth on, and payable in accordance with, the Price Schedule, provided that the Option be exercised in increments of 5,000 acre-feet, with a minimum of 5,000 acre-feet.  No losses will be assessed upon water held in Class B Carry-Over Storage.  Upon acquisition of Class B Carry-Over Storage, the Optionee shall elect, in writing to CADIZ, whether it wishes to acquire firm or space-available pipeline capacity, which shall enable the Optionee to utilize the purchased Class B Carry-Over Storage in its discretion.  As further provided in Section 2.2(e) below, Class A Carry-Over Storage includes firm pipeline capacity for that 5,000 acre-feet to the CRA.  The Price Schedule sets forth the Optionee’s costs for both “firm” and “space-available” capacity through the Pipeline that delivers water to the CRA.


 


(d)           Supplemental Storage.  In the event that CADIZ is unable to deliver or is prevented from delivering Conserved Water to the CRA on an approved schedule as provided in Section 2.2(a) hereof because there is insufficient capacity to exchange or wheel the Conserved Water for beneficial use within Optionee’s service area, then CADIZ will provide storage capacity in sufficient quantity to retain and store the Conserved Water for the benefit of the Optionee (“Supplemental Storage”).  The Supplemental Storage will be made available free of charge to Optionee on a mutually agreeable schedule, and for as long as there is insufficient capacity in the CRA for Optionee to receive delivery of the Conserved Water stored within the Supplemental Storage.  No losses will be assessed to Conserved Water held in Supplemental Storage.


 


(e)           Pipeline Capacity.  The acquisition of the Initial 5K AF shall include the right to transport 5,000 acre-feet of Conserved Water through firm pipeline capacity to the CRA, at no extra cost to the Optionee.  Additionally, the acquisition of Class A Carry-Over Storage shall include the right to transport 5,000 acre-feet of any acquired Conserved Water through Class A Firm pipeline capacity to the CRA, at no extra cost to the Optionee.  Upon acquisition of Class B Carry-Over Storage, the Optionee shall elect, in writing to CADIZ, whether it wishes to acquire Class B Firm or Space Available pipeline capacity in accordance with the Price Schedule.  For example, if Optionee acquires 5,000 acre-feet of Class B Carry-Over Storage and does not wish to secure firm capacity for that 5,000 acre-feet of stored Conserved Water, it will still have a firm right to convey 5,000 acre-feet of Conserved Water that may be stored within its Class A Carry-Over Storage.


 


(f)           First Fill Quantity.  CADIZ will exercise reasonable best efforts to sequence the Program construction to initiate the capture of Conserved Water as soon as prudent, and upon the Optionee’s exercise of its option to acquire Carry-Over Storage, CADIZ will dedicate a quantity of conserved water equivalent to the quantity of Class B Carry-Over Storage actually acquired.  For example, if the Optionee elects to acquire 5,000 acre-feet of Class B Carry-Over Storage, then CADIZ will make a one-time dedication of 5,000 acre-feet of conserved water to the applicable storage account for the benefit of the Optionee.  The First Fill Quantity is in addition to the dedication of 5,000 acre-feet of conserved water made available by CADIZ in connection with the Optionee’s acquisition of an Annual Quantity of 5,000 acre-feet.


 


(g)           Administrative Fees.  Upon exercise of the Option (in whole or in part), the Optionee shall pay an annual storage administrative fee to CADIZ in accordance with the Price Schedule for the term of the exercised Option.


 


(h)           No Additional Fees.   CADIZ will not impose, and the Optionee will not be responsible for, any additional fees and costs, other than as expressly set forth in this Agreement and the Price Schedule.


 


(i)           Term of Exercised Option.  Upon exercise, the Conserved Water and Carry-Over Storage rights acquired through the Optionee’s exercise of the Option shall be for a term of fifty (50) years from the date construction of the Program is deemed complete and Conserved Water is made available for delivery to the CRA (the “initial term”).  In the event CADIZ fails to deliver to the Optionee the acquired Conserved Water as requested by the Optionee during the initial term for any reason (other than as a result of a force majeure), the initial term shall be extended by that number of years necessary to fulfill CADIZ’ obligation to deliver the acquired Conserved Water.  This means if the well-field fails to produce sufficient water to meet Optionee’s scheduled delivery request for Conserved Water, regardless of whether the Conserved Water is Annual Quantity or from Carry-Over Storage, the initial term of the Agreement will be extended for so long as necessary to complete the delivery.  Additionally, if Supplemental Storage exists at the end of the 50-year term, the term shall be extended for the purpose of conveying to Optionee such stored water as otherwise herein provided.  In addition, the initial term of the exercised Option may be mutually extended by CADIZ and the Optionee by the Optionee’s transmittal of written notice (delivered no later than 36 months prior to the expiration of the initial term) of its intent to negotiate an extension of the term of an additional thirty (30) years no later than December 31, 2050.  Upon receipt of the written notice, the Parties will exercise good faith and reasonable best efforts to extend the term under mutually agreeable terms.


 


(j)           Cost Off-Sets. The final cost of water, as delivered by CADIZ and as received by the Optionee, may be subject to the resolution of state and federal grants applications, contracts for services, exchanges and other consideration that may be obtained from the state and federal government, MWD and other third parties (collectively “Cost Off-Sets”).  These Cost Off-Sets may substantially reduce the cost of water as delivered by CADIZ and as received by the Optionee.  The Parties recognize and CADIZ expressly agrees that any Cost-Off Sets will be applied as a dollar-for-dollar credit against some or all of the Program costs as may be requested by the Optionee so as to reduce the actual cost of Conserved Water delivered by CADIZ and as received by the Optionee, as more fully detailed in Exhibit “C” attached hereto.  Further, CADIZ acknowledges that the Optionee may elect in its sole discretion to participate in an alternative public financing of some or all of the capital costs attributable to conveying water to and from the Property to the CRA and that the final cost will be incrementally reduced to reflect this decision.


 


(k)           Effective Cost The adjusted cost of Conserved Water and Storage to the Optionee after accounting for the application of any Cost Off-Sets, inclusive of the potential in-kind contributions made by CADIZ as referenced in Section 2.2(b) and 2.2(e) above is the “Effective Cost” and is generally described in Exhibit “C”.  Specifically, following completion of Environmental Review for the Program, Optionee may elect on its own or in coordination with some or all of the other purchasers of conserved water, to assume complete responsibility for the design, financing, construction and operation of the pipeline that conveys water between the CRA and the Property.  The Effective Cost will reflect Optionee’s assumption of these costs.


 


2.3 Exercise Period.  The Option for acquiring the Initial 5K AF shall be exercisable for a period commencing upon the date of execution of this Agreement and continuing until 5:00 p.m. PST on the 60th day following the satisfaction of the condition precedent set forth in Section 2.4(b) (the “Exercise Period”).  Upon timely exercise and satisfaction of the obligations hereunder, the parties shall enter into an agreement reflecting the provisions hereof intended to survive exercise of the Option.  Such agreement shall be negotiated and executed in good faith, consistent with the terms of this Agreement.  This Option, this Agreement and any rights accrued to the Optionee shall terminate immediately as to the Optionee, without further notice, if the Optionee does not timely fulfill its obligations under Section 2.1 hereof.


 


2.4 Conditions Precedent to Exercise of Option.  The obligations of the Parties shall be conditioned as follows:


 


(a)           Option Exercise.  The obligations of CADIZ under this Article 2 are conditioned upon the Optionee’s timely exercise of the Option pursuant to this Article 2 and performance of its obligations under Section 2.1 hereof.


 


(b)           Environmental Review and Approval.  The obligations of the Parties under this Article 2 are conditioned upon the completion of environmental review, as may be required under federal and state environmental resource protection laws and regulations and compliance with all other applicable law.  The parties acknowledge that the environmental impact report shall include the Optionee’s involvement in the Program, although there may be other third-party responsible agencies as well.  In the event litigation is commenced following the completion of the environmental review process, the Parties will meet and confer to determine whether the condition of environmental review and approval has been satisfied and whether to toll any applicable time periods under the Option while the litigation is unresolved.  CADIZ may terminate this Agreement if it makes a good faith determination that either: (a) the projected environmental mitigation costs will exceed $10 million, subject to CADIZ providing written notice to SWS for purposes of exploring potential cost-sharing arrangements between and among the parties for the environmental mitigation costs; or (b) the Project is infeasible.  In either case CADIZ shall provide written notice of termination to all Parties and reimburse the Parties for the amounts paid by them not otherwise reimbursed or credited pursuant to Section 2.7(g), up to the date of termination.


 


(c)           ICS Credit. CADIZ and Optionee will make application for an ICS Credit, which if obtained, shall be shared equally (50/50) on a per acre-foot basis.  CADIZ and Optionee will coordinate their efforts in support of an application and will exercise good faith and reasonable best efforts to secure ICS Credits.


 


                (d)           LRP Credit.  Optionee may, in its discretion, apply for an LRP Credit from MWD by and through a MWD member agency and the value of the LRP Credit is presently estimated at $250 per acre-foot.  Upon request by Optionee, CADIZ will provide good faith assistance in support of Optionee’s application.  If the Optionee applies for the LRP Credit and it is not granted, or if at any time such LRP Credit is terminated or substantially modified, at the Optionee’s option, it may terminate this Agreement (or the Agreement referenced in Section 2.3) with no further liability thereafter.


 


2.5 Exercise of Option.  Provided the Optionee has satisfied its obligations under this Agreement, the Optionee may exercise the Option, in whole or in part as set forth above, in its sole and complete discretion by providing written notice to CADIZ within the Exercise Period.  If any part of the Option is not timely exercised or this Agreement is terminated, then CADIZ, in its sole and complete discretion and without notice to or approval from the Optionee, may allocate the unexercised portion of the Conserved Water, Carry-Over Storage rights, and pipeline (firm or space-available) capacity to any other person or entity.


 


2.6 Reversion.  In the event the Optionee withdraws from participation in the Program, all rights and interests previously held by the Optionee under the Option (exercised or otherwise) shall revert to CADIZ.  For purposes of this Section 2.6, “withdrawal” shall mean any of the following:  (i) the Optionee’s failure to timely pay the Option Consideration when due; (ii) the Lead Agency’s failure to complete its environmental review; or (iii) as to the Initial 5K AF, Optionee’s failure to obtain approval from the California Public Utilities Commission (“CPUC”) (including an unappealed administrative law judge decision) within one-hundred and eighty (180) days of completion of the environmental review unless in its sole and complete discretion, the Optionee has waived the requirements described in this subclause (iii).


 







 


2.7 Other Covenants.  The Parties hereby agree further to the following covenants:


 


(a)           Conveyance and Distribution System.  The Parties intend to coordinate their efforts and to work constructively with Metropolitan Water District (“MWD”) and MWD member agencies to determine the most efficient method to achieve their objectives and to obtain access to the MWD conveyance and distribution system.  The Parties may coordinate their proposed conservation efforts with MWD to facilitate the generation of Intentionally Created Surplus Credits (ICS Credits) for the benefit of MWD.  In addition, in its complete discretion, CADIZ may offer an “in kind” contribution to MWD in the form of available storage capacity within the CADIZ Program for the purpose of reducing the cost of conveying and exchanging water or otherwise reducing the cost of water delivered by CADIZ or as received by the Optionee.  If CADIZ makes such an “in kind” offer of storage capacity within the CADIZ Program and MWD accepts, the Parties will exercise best efforts to negotiate equitable remuneration for CADIZ that fairly reflects the benefit that has been conferred by CADIZ on the other Parties.


 


(b)           Cooperation.  The Parties shall cooperate with each other and with other contracted purchasers of conserved water for the purpose of obtaining all regulatory approvals, including, without limitation, an environmental review and compliance analysis and other state and federal approvals required to satisfy conditions necessary to implement the Program.


 


(c)           Suppliers and Contractors.  CADIZ will exercise good faith and best efforts to select companies based primarily within the Inland Empire to provide the materials and services that will be required to construct and operate any water related projects on the Property.


 


(d)           Environmental Betterment.  The Parties acknowledge the goal of a general “environmental betterment” whereby the Property and the operation of the groundwater bank will be evaluated for use in connection with providing water to beneficial environmental uses.  The Optionee hereby agrees to meet to-be-determined demand management strategies which it approves and adopts that will indirectly reduce stress on the San Francisco / San Joaquin Bay-Delta.


 


(e)           Solar and Geothermal Power.  CADIZ agrees to exert reasonable best efforts to provide solar and geothermal power to operate the Program facilities.  The Program will be evaluated using both solar and geothermal power and, in the event solar and geothermal power is not available in sufficient quantity to operate the Program, then traditional forms of energy.


 


(f)           Most Favored Nation.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Optionee has, in its sole and complete discretion, the right to elect the same price terms offered to any other purchaser of Conserved Water or Storage made available by CADIZ from the date of execution of this Agreement, subject to Program capacity.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, this clause shall not apply to that certain agreement between CADIZ and Santa Margarita Water District for the quantity for Fill Water and First Fill Storage the latter receives at no additional cost, and agreements with public interest environmental groups in furtherance of the Program.


 


(g)           Option Consideration Reimbursement or Credit.


 


(i)           Reimbursement.  Optionee will be entitled to full reimbursement of the Option Consideration if:  (a) the CPUC has not approved SWS’s participation for the Initial 5K AF within one hundred eighty (180) days of the completion of the environmental review, including an administrative law judge decision, or an order of the CPUC, that imposes any terms or conditions that is reasonably expected to have a material adverse affect on SWS without requiring SWS to appeal any such decision or order, or (b) MWD or any member agency of MWD has not approved the transportation of water to SWS for beneficial use and provided funding for local resources supply development under the MWD Local Resources Program (“LRP”) or another form of equivalent MWD funding under economic terms acceptable to SWS as may be determined in its discretion, or (c) the Lead Agency has failed to complete environmental review.  Additionally, if prior to processing formal CPUC approval but within thirty (30) days of execution of this Agreement, the Optionee determines, after informal discussion with CPUC, that obtaining CPUC approval is unlikely, the Optionee may terminate this Agreement without further obligation to CADIZ.


 


(ii)           Credit.  If the CPUC approves SWS’s participation in the Program, and SWS exercises its Option hereunder, the Option Consideration paid by SWS shall be credited towards SWS’s purchase of water or storage in the Program pursuant to this Agreement.


 


ARTICLE 3


 


REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES


 


3.1 Representations and Warranties by the Parties.  Each Party hereby makes the following covenants, representations and warranties to each other Party:


 


(a)           Authority.  It has the authority to enter into this Agreement and perform as set forth herein and therein.  This Agreement has been duly authorized by all required action.


 


(b)           No Violations.  The execution of this Agreement and performance of its obligations under this Agreement will not violate any contract, transaction, option, covenant, condition, obligation of undertaking of such Party, nor to the best of its knowledge, will it violate any law, ordinance, statute, order or regulation.


 


(c)           Enforceability.  This Agreement and all documents required hereby to be executed by such Party are and shall be valid, legally binding obligations enforceable against such Party in accordance with their terms.


 


ARTICLE 4


 


GENERAL PROVISIONS


 


4.1 Interpretation.  The provisions of this Agreement should be liberally interpreted to effectuate its purposes.  The language of this Agreement shall be construed simply according to its plain meaning and shall not be construed for or against either Party, as each Party has participated in the drafting of this Agreement and has had the opportunity to have their counsel review it.  Whenever the context and construction so requires, all words used in the singular shall be deemed to be used in the plural, all masculine shall include the feminine and neuter, and vice versa.  The word “including” means without limitation, and the word “or” is not exclusive.  Unless the context otherwise requires, references herein: (i) to Articles, Sections and Exhibits mean the Articles and Section of and the Exhibits attached to this Agreement; (ii) to an agreement, instrument or other document means such agreement, instrument or other document as amended, supplemented and modified from time to time to the extent permitted by the provisions thereof and by this Agreement; and (iii) to a statute means such statute as amended from time to time and includes any successor legislation thereto.


 


4.2 Notice.  All notices and other communications required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be conclusively deemed to have been duly provided: (i) when transmitted via e-mail; (ii) seventy-two (72) hours after the writing is deposited in the mail system of the United States Postal Service prepaid for standard or certified mail return receipt requested; or (iii) at 4:59 p.m. PDST on the Business Day after the writing is deposited with a national overnight delivery service, e.g., Federal Express, DHL Worldwide Express or United Parcel Service, postage prepaid, with next-business-day delivery guaranteed, provided that the sending Party receives a confirmation of delivery from the delivery service provider.  Notices shall be directed as indicated below, or as may be changed or supplemented from time to time by the recipient Party by giving the other Party written notice in the manner stated above.


 



	
If to CADIZ:

	
CADIZ, Inc.


550 S. Hope Street, Suite 2850


Los Angeles, CA 90017


(213) 271-1600


(213) 271-1614 (facsimile)


Attn:  Scott Slater


sslater@bhfs.com


 


	
If to Optionee:

	
Suburban Water Systems


1211 E. Center Court Drive


Covina, CA  91724


(626) 543-2590


(626) 331-6363 (facsimile)


Attn: Michael Quinn


mquinn@swwc.com


 












4.3 Date and Delivery of Agreement.  The Parties intend that this Agreement, upon execution, shall be deemed effective, executed and delivered for all purposes under this Agreement, subject to the conditions precedent set forth in Section 2.4.


 


4.4 Good Faith.  The Parties agree to exercise their commercially reasonable best efforts and good faith to effectuate all the terms and conditions of this Agreement.


 


4.5 Other Instruments.  Each Party shall cause to be executed any further documents reasonably necessary in the opinion of the requesting Party.  The requesting Party shall pay the cost of the further documents, except that each Party shall pay its own attorney fees.


 


4.6 Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement shall be binding on and shall inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns, except as restricted by this Agreement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Option and Optionee’s rights hereunder shall not be assignable to any other person or entity without the express prior written consent of CADIZ, which shall be exercised in its sole discretion.


 


4.7 No Third-Party Rights.  Nothing in this Agreement, whether express or implied, is intended to confer any rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement on any persons other than the Parties to this Agreement and their respective successors and assigns, nor is anything in this Agreement intended to relieve or discharge the obligations or liability of any third persons to any party to this Agreement, nor shall any provision give any third persons any right of subrogation or action over or against any party to this Agreement.


 


4.8 Dispute Resolution.  The Parties shall seek to resolve any dispute concerning the interpretation or implementation of this Agreement through good faith negotiation, involving, as and when appropriate, the general manager or chief executive officer of each of the Parties.  Any dispute that remains unresolved thirty (30) days after notice of the dispute is made to the Parties, shall be resolved by a single arbitrator with substantial experience on the matter or matters in dispute, conducted in accordance with JAMS.  If the Parties cannot agree on a single arbitrator within ten (10) days of the written election to submit the matter to arbitration, either Party may request JAMS to appoint a single, neutral arbitrator.  The Parties shall use their reasonable best efforts to have the arbitration proceeding concluded within ninety (90) business days of selection of the arbitrator.  In rendering the award, the arbitrator shall determine the rights and obligations of the Parties according to the substantive and procedural laws of California.  All discovery shall be governed by the CCP with all applicable time periods for notice and scheduling provided therein being reduced by one-half.  The arbitrator may establish other discovery limitations or rules.  The arbitrator shall have the authority to grant provisional remedies and all other remedies at law or in equity, but shall not have the power to award punitive or consequential damages.  The decision of the arbitrator shall be final, conclusive and binding upon the Parties, and either Party shall be entitled to the entry of judgment in a court of competent jurisdiction based upon such decision.  The losing Party shall pay all costs and expenses of the arbitration; provided, however, if neither Party is clearly the losing Party, then the arbitrator shall allocate the arbitration costs between the Parties in an equitable manner, as the arbitrator may determine in his or her sole discretion.


 


4.9 Default.  The failure by either Party to perform its obligations under this Agreement, which continues for more than thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice from the other Party stating the existence and nature of such default (unless the default cannot be cured in said thirty (30) days, and in that event, if the defaulting Party fails to continuously and diligently remedy the default) shall constitute a default, which default shall entitle the other Party to terminate this Agreement at its option by notification to the defaulting Party.  Said termination option shall be in addition to, not in lieu of, other rights and remedies of the nondefaulting Party under this Agreement and by law.


 


4.10 Waiver.  No waiver of any provision or consent to any action shall constitute a waiver of any other provision or consent to any other action, whether or not similar.  No waiver or consent shall constitute a continuing waiver or consent or commit a Party to provide a waiver in the future except to the extent specifically stated in writing.  Any waiver given by a Party shall be null and void if the Party requesting such waiver has not provided a full and complete disclosure of all material facts relevant to the waiver requested.  No waiver shall be binding unless executed in writing by the Party making the waiver.


 


4.11 Attorney Fees.  Subject to Section 4.8 above, if any legal action or any arbitration or other proceeding is brought for the enforcement of this Agreement, or because of an alleged dispute, breach, default or misrepresentation in connection with any of the provisions of this Agreement, the successful or prevailing Party shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorney fees and other costs incurred in that action or proceeding, in addition to any other relief to which it or they may be entitled.


 


4.12 Entire Agreement.  This Agreement and its exhibits is the entire understanding of the Parties. There are no other promises, representations, agreements or warranties by any of the Parties.  This Agreement may be only be amended or supplemented by a writing signed by all Parties.  Each Party waives its right to assert that this Agreement was affected by oral agreement, course of conduct, waiver or estoppel.


 


4.13 Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.


 


4.14 Authorizations.  All individuals executing this and other documents on behalf of the respective Parties certify and warrant that they have the capacity and have been duly authorized to so execute the documents on behalf of the entity so indicated.  Each signatory shall also indemnify the other Parties to this Agreement, and hold them harmless, from any and all damages, costs, attorney fees and other expenses, if the signatory is not so authorized.


 







 







 


[signatures contained on next page]


 







 


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have set forth their signatures as of the date first written above.


 



	
“OPTIONEE”

	
SUBURBAN WATER SYSTEMS


By: /s/ Michael Quinn


       Michael Quinn


Title: President


	
“CADIZ”

	
CADIZ INC.


By: /s/ Scott Slater


Title: General Counsel 


 


FENNER MUTUAL WATER COMPANY


By: /s/ Scott Slater


Title: General Counsel












 


Exhibit A:                      Program Summary


Exhibit B:                      Price Schedule


Exhibit C:                      Example of Effective Cost Range


EXHIBIT A


 


PROGRAM SUMMARY


 


A groundwater banking operation on the Cadiz Property for the purpose of conserving water that is presently lost through evaporation from the Cadiz and Bristol Dry-Lakes and conjunctively managing imported surface water that is spread and stored for recovery.  The proposed project would make new and reliable water available for irrigation, solar, municipal water supply, environmental and other beneficial uses.







This Program may conserve, store and deliver to public water systems: (a) native groundwater water conserved by reducing controllable losses from the aquifer system and implementing prudent groundwater management strategies, and (b) water imported from outside the property (probably from the Colorado River) and percolated to actively recharge the aquifer.  The Program will be conducted consistent with prevailing groundwater management methodology governed by three primary principles: (a) Recharge and extraction of native and imported water within the Property will be conducted in a manner that achieves and then maintains optimal, long-term, safe (sustainable) yield and conjunctive use of water; (b) Management of the groundwater levels will not result in harm to the aquifers, or cause material adverse changes in water quality, differential land subsidence, or impairment of habitats dependent upon near-surface expressions of groundwater (such as phreatophytic vegetation, wetlands or surface stream flows); and (c) The banked water will directly and indirectly result in restoration of unrelated aquatic ecosystems currently impaired by water development.







The Program is intended to achieve environmental restoration benefits through the banking of imported water for active recharge and its use for environmental restoration purposes.







All native and imported water, whether conserved or stored, will be recovered and conveyed between the Cadiz Property and the CRA along an active railroad line right-of-way that Cadiz has acquired from the Arizona & California Railroad.







The proposed well-field and pipeline will be sized to accommodate the expected long-term recoverable yield of conserved water from the Fenner Valley and Orange Blossom Watersheds and foreign water that is stored in wet years and recovered in dry-years.







The initial term of the Program will be 50 years.


 


EXHIBIT B


 


PRICE SCHEDULE


 







A.           Conserved Water                                                                 For Initial 5K AF - $775.001 per afy2


 

 







The price per acre-foot per year is the complete and final cost for the delivery of water to the CRA.  There are no added costs for this service.







B.           Supplemental Storage                                                                                                                      $0







CADIZ will provide Supplemental Storage to the Optionee without charge.  Supplemental Storage will be provided for the benefit of the Optionee in the event CADIZ is unable to deliver or is prevented from delivering water to the CRA because there is insufficient capacity in the CRA to accept the Conserved Water.







C.           ICS Credits







CADIZ and the Optionee will share the benefit of any ICS Credits that are obtained equally (50/50) on a per acre-foot basis.  This means that if an ICS Credit is earned for the 5,000 acre-feet purchased by the Optionee, CADIZ and the Optionee will equally share the compensation attributable or fairly apportioned to that 5,000 acre-feet.







D.           Price Reductions







Further reductions in the price of Conserved Water may occur from applications from state and federal grants applications, contracts for services, exchanges of storage, conserved water and other consideration that may be obtained from the state and federal governments, MWD and other third parties (collectively, “Cost Off-Sets”).  These Cost Off-Sets may reasonably reduce the cost of water as delivered by CADIZ to the CRA as provided in Exhibit “C” as well as further reductions in cost being obtained and applied for the benefit of the Optionee after the delivery of water to the CRA and prior to the Conserved Water being received by the Optionee.  The Parties recognize and CADIZ expressly agrees that any Cost Off-Sets will be applied as a credit against some or all of the Program costs as may be requested by the Optionee so as to reduce the actual cost and the purchase price of Conserved Water delivered by CADIZ and as received by the Optionee.  (See Exhibit “C”).







E.           Carry-Over Storage


 



	 	1.  Class A (5,000 acre-feet) 	**3    
	 	2.  Class B (5,000 acre-feet) 	$1,500.004 per af 
	 	3.  Supplemental 	No Charge5    










F.           Pipeline Capacity6


 




	 	1.  Class A Firm (5,000 acre-feet) 	 **7
	 	2.  Class B Firm (5,000 acre-feet) 	2,400.008 per af9
	 	3.  Space Available Use   	TBD10







G.           Annual Storage Administration Fee





 




	 	1.  Class A and B Carry-Over Storage Capacity  	$20.0011 per af
	 	2.  Supplemental Storage    	$0





                      











EXAMPLE







If SWS exercises its option to purchase 5,000 acre-feet per year of Conserved Water and elects to purchase 5,000 acre-feet of Class B Carry-Over Storage, it will receive 5,000 acre-feet of Class A Carry-Over Storage without paying additional compensation.  SWS would then make an election as to whether it wished to purchase additional Firm capacity or elect to move a portion of its Conserved Water on a Space Available basis.








	
Conserved Water – Initial 5K AF

	
Paid Upon Delivery of Water to Canal or Carry-Over Storage

	
$775 Per AFY subject to a 5% cap on annualized escalation (see fn 1 and 2) prior to Cost Off-Sets.


	
Supplemental Storage

	
No Charge

	
No Charge


	
Class A Carry-Over Storage

	
No Charge

	
$0


	
Class B Carry-Over Storage

	
Paid Upon Project Approval12

	
$7.5 million13 per 5,000 af of storage capacity


	
First Fill Water equivalent to quantity of Class B Carry-Over Storage acquired (i.e., 5,000 acre-feet)

	
Dedicated upon acquisition of Class B Carry-Over Storage

	
$0


	
Class A Pipeline Capacity

	
Paid Upon Project Approval

	
$0


	
Class B “Firm” Pipeline Capacity

	
Paid Upon Project Approval

	
$12 million14 per 5,000 af of storage


	
Class B “Space Available” Pipeline Capacity

	
Paid Upon Actual Use of Pipeline Capacity

	
Buyer pays actual incremental cost to Cadiz plus a share of pro-rated capital to reimburse the costs of those parties holding firm capacity.







 

 


Accordingly, by way of example and without commitment, if the purchaser exercised its option for 5,000 acre-feet of the Initial 5K AF Conserved Water, 10,000 acre-feet of Carry-Over Storage (i.e., 5,000 Class B acquired plus 5,000 Class A at no cost) and 10,000 acre-feet of Firm Capacity (i.e., 5,000 Class A Firm at no cost plus 5,000 Class B Firm acquired), the total up-front cost for the Program would be $19.5 million with an annual charge of $775 for the water and an ongoing maintenance charge of $20 per acre-foot or $200,000 annually.   The decision to purchase Space Available Pipeline Capacity would reduce the upfront costs by $12 million so that a total of $7.5 million would be due and payable for the purchase of Carry-Over Storage.  However, the purchaser would then pay both CADIZ’ incremental cost in transporting the water, if any, and a share of pro-rated capital costs.  Note all dollar amounts are stated in April 2010 dollars.


 









  

1 April 2010 dollars.




  

2 Subject to a 5% cap on average annualized escalation.




  

3 Made available upon purchase of Class B Carry-Over Storage.




  

4 April 2010 dollars.




  

5 Made available.




  

6 Charges may be subject to Cost Off-Sets as provided in C. and D. above.




  

7 Made available.




  

8 April 2010 dollars.




  

9 LOI quotes at $12 million per 5,000 af.




  

10 Actual incremental cost plus a reasonable share of pro-rated capital.




  

11 April 2010 dollars




  

12 The approval of the Project by the Lead Agency and the CPUC’s approval of participation by SWS.




  

13 April 2010 dollars.




  

14 April 2010 dollars.




EXHIBIT C


 


EXAMPLE OF EFFECTIVE COST RANGE


 


(In April 2010 dollars)


 


 







 



	COST OF INITIAL 5K AF 	$775 
	 	 
	ICS Credits 	($200)
	 	 
	Sub Net 	$575 
	 	 
	LRP Funding 	($250) 
	 	 
	Net of Combined Credits 	$325 
	 	 
	COST OF WHEELING 	$314 





 


RANGE OF AS DELIVERED PRICE TO MWD MEMBER AGENCY: $639-$1089