<PAGE> 1
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 20, 1996
BENTON OIL AND GAS COMPANY
(End name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 1-10762 77-0196707
(State or other (Commission (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of File Number) Identification No.)
incorporation)
1145 Eugenia Place, Suite 200
Carpinteria, California 93013
(Address of principal executive offices, with zip code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (805) 566-5600
1
<PAGE> 2
ITEM 5. OTHER.
On March 20, 1996, the Company entered into an agreement with Shell
Offshore, Inc. ("Shell") for the sale of all of the outstanding capital stock of
Benton Oil and Gas Company of Louisiana, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the
Company ("BOGLA"). BOGLA owns substantially all of the Company's U.S.
properties. Shell will purchase the capital stock of BOGLA for a purchase price
of $35 million, subject to adjustment, effective as of December 31, 1995. The
sale is subject to regulatory approval and the Company expects the sale will be
completed in April 1996. Attached hereto as Schedule A and incorporated herein
by this reference is a copy of the Company's press release, issued on March 20,
1996,
Attached hereto as Schedule B and incorporated herein by this reference is
a copy of the Company's press release regarding 1995 and fourth quarter
earnings, issued on March 20, 1996.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(a) Financial Statement of Businesses Acquired.
None
(b) Pro Forma Financial Information.
None
(c) Exhibits.
2.1 Stock Purchase and Sale Agreement by and between Benton Oil and
Gas Company and Shell Offshore, Inc. Re: Benton Oil and Gas
Company of Louisiana dated effective as of December 31, 1995.
2.2 Consent and Waiver by and between Benton Oil and Gas Company and
John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company related to $15 million
aggregate principal amount of 13% Senior Notes due September 30,
2002, dated March 18, 1996.
2.3 Consent and Waiver by and between Benton Oil and Gas Company and
John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company related to $20 million
aggregate principal amount of 13% Senior Notes due June 30,
2007, dated 18, 1996.
2
<PAGE> 3
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized on this 25th day of March, 1996.
BENTON OIL AND GAS COMPANY
By: /s/ Chris C. Hickok
----------------------------
Chris C. Hickok, Vice President-Controller
and Principal Accounting Officer
3
<PAGE> 4
SCHEDULE A
BENTON OIL AND GAS CO. ANNOUNCES SIGNED AGREEMENT WITH SHELL OFFSHORE INC.
TO SELL BENTON OIL GAS OF LOUISIANA AND RELATED DEBT REPAYMENT
CARPINTERIA, Calif., March 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Benton Oil and Gas Company
(Nasdaq: BNTN) today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement with
Shell Offshore Inc., an affiliate of Shell Oil Company, to sell all of the
issued and outstanding shares of Benton Oil and Gas of Louisiana, which
includes its interest in its Louisiana oil and gas properties for $35.4
million. Closing of the sale is anticipated to occur on or before April 30,
1996, subject to regulatory approval. The definitive agreement follows the
signing of a letter of intent between the two companies, which was announced in
January 1996.
In conjunction with this sale, the Company will repay the $35 million of 13%
senior unsecured notes held by John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company,
along with prepayment premiums of $11.1 million. Repayment of $15 million of
the notes along with $3.4 million of prepayment premium will be made upon the
closing of the sale. Repayment of the remaining $20 million of the notes plus
$7.7 million of prepayment premium will be made on or before June 30, 1996.
Offsetting the $11.1 million in prepayment premiums is an estimated gain of $10
million, which will be adjusted for first quarter revenues and expenses, on the
sale of the properties to Shell. Assuming the sale closes in April as
anticipated, both of these amounts will be recorded in the second quarter of
1996. The Company also announced it has accepted an offer of financing
totaling $50 million from Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, subject to
execution of a definitive agreement.
Benton Oil and Gas Company is an independent oil and gas exploration and
production company with international operations in the eastern region of
Venezuela and the West Siberia region of Russia.
CONTACT: Greg Grabar, V.P., Corporate Development and Administration of Benton
Oil & Gas, 805-566-5600
<PAGE> 5
BENTON OIL AND GAS COMPANY REPORTS 1995 FOURTH
QUARTER EARNINGS UP 309%
* Earnings for year 1995 up 253%
* Annual revenue up 88%
* Annual cash flow up 117%
* Production up 94% for the year
* Reserves up 19%, with replacement of reserves of 186%
CARPINTERIA, Calif., March 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Benton Oil and Gas
Company (Nasdaq: BNTN) today reported fourth quarter 1995 earnings rose 309% to
$4.5 million, or 17 cents per share, from $1.1 million, or 5 cents per share,
for the same period of 1994. The fourth quarter 1995 results included a $1.7
million (or 6 cents per share) one time charge for costs related to the
previously announced settlement of litigation. Excluding this charge, earnings
from operations in the fourth quarter of 1995 were $6.2 million or 23 cents per
share. Revenues for the fourth quarter of 1995 totaled $20.9 million, an
increase of 61% from the $13.0 million in revenues in the fourth quarter of
1994. Cash flow from operations before working capital changes increased 113%
to $13.0 million, or 48 cents per share, in the fourth quarter of 1995 compared
to $6.1 million, or 24 cents per share, in the fourth quarter of 1994.
For the full year 1995, Benton reported an increase in net earnings of
253% to $10.6 million, or 40 cents per share, compared to net income of $3.0
million, or 12 cents per share in 1994. Revenues for 1995 totaled $65.1
million, an increase of 88% from $34.7 million in 1994. Cash flow from
operations before working capital changes increased 117% to $33.4 million, or
$1.25 per share, compared to $15.4 million, or 62 cents per share, in cash flow
from operations before working capital changes in 1994.
For the fourth quarter of 1995, Benton's oil and natural gas production
reached 2.2 MMBOE (million barrels of oil equivalent), an increase of 69%
compared to the 1.3 MMBOE produced in the fourth quarter of 1994. Production
for the full year 1995 increased 94% to 6.6 MMBOE from 3.4 MMBOE for 1994. The
substantial gains in both fourth quarter and full year 1995 results were due
largely to increased production in Venezuela, where Benton has an 80% interest
in the South Monagas Unit. Average daily production during the fourth quarter
of 1995 was 20,800 barrels of crude oil compared to 10,200 barrels in the
fourth quarter of 1994. Full year 1995 production averaged 14,900 barrels of
oil per day compared to 6,900 barrels per day in 1994. Production has
continued to rise in early 1996. To date, the Company has drilled 41
successful wells in the Uracoa Field, including 24 horizontal wells. Two
drilling rigs are being utilized full-time and have recently been completing
new horizontal wells in less than three weeks. The per barrel operating fee
received for Venezuelan production was $8.86 during the fourth quarter of 1995,
as compared to $8.70 per barrel in the fourth quarter of 1994. For the full
year 1995, the operating fee was $9.01 per barrel as compared to $8.52 per
barrel in 1994.
"1995 was a very successful year for Benton, as the Company's
Venezuelan operations continue to exceed expectations," stated A. E. Benton,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Current production from the Uracoa Field
is now at a sustainable rate of 33,000 barrels of oil per day. We are
optimistic that Benton can continue to increase production for the foreseeable
future through continued drilling and evaluation of new fault blocks in the
Uracoa Field, as well as development of the Tucupita and Bombal Fields."
The Company continues its discussions regarding long-term project
financing for development of the North Gubkinskoye Field in Russia. Benton
expects to accelerate development activities in Russia once such project
financing is secured. In addition, the Company is exploring a business
partnership with Gazprom, Russia's gas monopoly, for the production and sale of
natural gas from the North Gubkinskoye Field.
<PAGE> 6
Benton Oil and Gas Company is an independent oil and gas exploration
and production company with international operations in the eastern region of
Venezuela and the West Siberia region of Russia.
BENTON OIL AND GAS COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands except per BOE and per share amounts)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
THREE MONTHS ENDED:
December 31, 1995 December 31, 1994
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Barrels of oil sold: 1,928 1,129
Mcf of gas sold: 1,667 807
Barrel of oil equivalents(BOE) sold: 2,206 1,263
Average price/barrel $8.96 $9.45
Average price/mcf $1.88 $1.64
$ $/BOE $ $/BOE
REVENUES:
Oil and gas sales $20,340 $9.22 $11,996 $9.50
Gain on exchange rates 225 0.10 502 0.40
Investment earnings 272 0.12 387 0.31
Other 70 0.04 87 0.06
20,907 9.48 12,972 10.27
EXPENSES:
Lease operating costs 2,318 1.05 2,479 1.96
Production taxes 141 0.06 1,071 0.85
Depletion 6,141 2.78 4,255 3.37
Depreciation and amortization 74 0.03 60 0.05
General and administrative 2,826 1.28 1,491 1.18
Interest 1,782 0.82 1,465 1.16
Litigation settlement costs 1,673 0.76
14,955 6.78 10,821 8.57
INCOME BEFORE TAXES AND
MINORITY INTEREST 5,952 2.70 2,151 1.70
Income taxes (801) (0.36) 428 0.34
INCOME BEFORE MINORITY
INTEREST 6,753 3.06 1,723 1.36
Minority interest in
Venezuela 2,218 1.00 596 0.47
NET INCOME $4,535 $2.06 $1,126 $0.89
NET INCOME PER SHARE $0.17 $0.05
CASH FLOW BEFORE WORKING
CAPITAL CHANGES $13,015 $5.90 $6,061 $4.80
CASH FLOW BEFORE WORKING
CAPITAL CHANGES PER SHARE $0.48 $0.24
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Weighted average shares
<S> <C> <C>
outstanding 27.1 million 24.9 million
</TABLE>
<PAGE> 7
BENTON OIL AND GAS COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands except per BOE and per share amounts)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED: December 31, 1995 December 31, 1994
<S> <C> <C>
Barrels of oil sold: 6,016 3,040
Mcf of gas sold: 3,785 2,062
Barrel of oil equivalents
(BOE) sold: 6,647 3,384
Average price/barrel $9.26 $9.29
Average price/mcf $1.69 $1.79
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
$ $/BOE $ $/BOE
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
REVENUES:
Oil and gas sales $62,157 $9.35 $31,943 $9.44
Gain on exchange rates 998 0.15 1,445 0.43
Investment earnings 1,770 0.27 1,181 0.35
Other 143 0.02 136 0.04
65,068 9.79 34,705 10.26
EXPENSES:
Lease operating costs 9,156 1.38 7,039 2.08
Production taxes 1,547 0.23 2,492 0.74
Depletion 17,093 2.57 10,084 2.98
Depreciation and amortization 318 0.05 215 0.06
General and administrative 9,410 1.42 5,241 1.55
Interest 7,498 1.13 3,888 1.15
Litigation settlement costs 1,673 0.25
46,695 7.03 28,959 8.56
INCOME BEFORE TAXES AND
MINORITY INTEREST 18,373 2.76 5,746 1.70
Income taxes 2,478 0.37 698 0.21
INCOME BEFORE MINORITY
INTEREST 15,895 2.39 5,048 1.49
Minority interest in Venezuela 5,304 0.80 2,094 0.62
NET INCOME $10,591 $1.59 $2,954 $0.87
NET INCOME PER SHARE $0.40 $0.12
CASH FLOW BEFORE WORKING
CAPITAL CHANGES $33,449 $5.03 $15,397 $4.55
CASH FLOW BEFORE WORKING
CAPITAL CHANGES PER SHARE $1.25 $0.62
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Weighted average shares
<S> <C> <C>
outstanding - Primary 26.7 million 24.9 million
</TABLE>
<PAGE> 8
BENTON OIL AND GAS COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
($ millions)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31, December 31,
1995 1994
<S> <C> <C>
ASSETS:
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and equivalents $6.2 $14.2
Restricted cash 20.3 19.5
Accounts receivable 24.9 13.2
Property held for sale 0.0 14.9
Prepaid expenses and other 0.2 0.6
Total current assets 51.6 62.4
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C>
OTHER ASSETS 3.4 1.4
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, (net) 159.6 98.8
TOTAL ASSETS $214.7 $162.6
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable $22.5 $12.1
Accrued interest, payroll and
related taxes 1.7 1.2
Income taxes payable 1.0
Short term borrowings 21.9 21.0
Current portion of long term debt 7.4 6.4
Total current liabilities 54.5 40.7
LONG TERM DEBT 49.5 31.9
MINORITY INTEREST 7.0 1.7
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Common stock and paid-in capital 98.0 93.2
Retained earnings (deficit) 5.7 (4.9)
Total stockholders' equity 103.7 88.3
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS'
EQUITY $214.7 $162.6
</TABLE>
CONTACT: Gregory S. Grabar, V.P., Corporate Development and Administration of
Benton Oil and Gas, 805-566-5600
<PAGE> 1
STOCK PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT
Dated effective as of December 31, 1995
By and Between
BENTON OIL AND GAS COMPANY,
as Seller
and
SHELL OFFSHORE INC.,
as Buyer
Re:
Benton Oil and Gas
Company of Louisiana
<PAGE> 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ARTICLE PAGE
- ------- ----
<S> <C>
ARTICLE I: DEFINITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.1 Certain Defined Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.2 Accounting Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
1.3 References to Instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
1.4 Singular and Plural . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
ARTICLE II: SALE OF COMPANY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2.1 Sale and Purchase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2.2 Excluded Assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2.3 Resolution of Intercompany Obligations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2.4 Resolution of Bank Credit Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
ARTICLE III: PURCHASE PRICE AND PAYMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
3.1 Purchase Price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
3.2 Closing Payment Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
ARTICLE IV: SELLER'S REPRESENTATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
4.1 Ownership of the Stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
4.2 Organization and Good Standing;
Qualification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
4.3 Capitalization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
4.4 Authorization and Validity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
4.5 Subsidiaries and Joint Ventures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
4.6 Financial Statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
4.7 No Violation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
4.8 Finder's Fee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
4.9 Outstanding Debt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
4.10 Pending Claims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
4.11 Accuracy of Records Furnished . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
4.12 Banks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
4.13 Public Utility Holding Company Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
4.14 Investment Company Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
4.15 Gas Imbalances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
4.16 Employee Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
4.17 Commitments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
4.18 Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
4.19 Compliance with Laws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
</TABLE>
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<TABLE>
<S> <C>
4.20 Books of Account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
4.21 Payout Balances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
4.22 Derivatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
4.23 Hydrocarbon Sale Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
4.24 Consents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
4.25 Contracts to Which Company is a Party . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
4.26 Employee Benefit Plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
4.27 Taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
4.28 Subject Interests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
4.29 Representations True at Closing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
ARTICLE V: BUYER'S REPRESENTATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
5.1 Organization and Good Standing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
5.2 Authorization and Validity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
5.3 No Violation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
5.4 Finder's Fee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
5.5 Absence of Bankruptcy Proceedings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
ARTICLE VI: ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND INSPECTION; DUE DILIGENCE . . . . . . . . . . 24
6.1 Records and Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
6.2 Other Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
6.3 Environmental Assessment and Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
6.4 Confidentiality Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
6.5 Geophysical Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
ARTICLE VII: TITLE, ENVIRONMENTAL AND OTHER MATTERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
7.1 Buyer's Title and Environmental Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
7.1.1 Title Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
7.1.2 Environmental Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
7.2 Arbitration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
ARTICLE VIII: OTHER AGREEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
8.1 Covenants of Seller Pending Closing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
8.2 No Solicitation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
8.3 Tax Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
8.4 Expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
8.5 Damages and Force Majeure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
8.6 Employees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
ARTICLE IX: CLOSING CONDITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
9.1 Seller's Closing Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
9.2 Buyer's Closing Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
</TABLE>
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<PAGE> 4
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
ARTICLE X: CLOSING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
10.1 Closing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
10.2 Seller's Closing Obligations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
10.3 Buyer's Closing Obligations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
10.4 Distribution of Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
10.5 Taking of Necessary Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
10.6 Final Settlement Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
10.7 Post-Closing Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
10.8 Post-Closing Audit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
ARTICLE XI: LIMITATIONS ON WARRANTIES AND REMEDIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
11.1 Limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
11.2 Survival; Time Limit for Claims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
ARTICLE XII: DEFAULT AND REMEDIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
12.1 Remedies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
12.2 Right of Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
12.3 Effect of Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
12.4 Other Remedies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
12.5 Specific Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
ARTICLE XIII: MISCELLANEOUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
13.1 Antitrust Laws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
13.2 Confidentiality or Proprietary Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
13.3 Public Announcements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
13.4 Delivery of Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
13.5 Further Assurances and Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
13.6 Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
13.7 Incidental Expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
13.8 Entire Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
13.9 Governing Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
13.10 Counterparts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
13.11 Waiver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
13.12 Binding Effect; Assignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
13.13 No Recordation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
13.14 Time Periods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
13.15 Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
</TABLE>
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<PAGE> 5
EXHIBITS:
A-1 - Arbitration Procedures
A-2 - Subject Interests
B - Indemnity Agreement
C - Form 8023-A
D - Release
E - Opinion of Seller's Counsel
F - Opinion of Buyer's Counsel
SCHEDULES:
2.4 - List of Bank Credit Agreement Instruments
4.6 - Financial Statements
4.12 - Company Bank Accounts
4.15 - Scheduled (Negative) Imbalances and Scheduled
(Positive) Imbalances
4.21 - Payout Balances
4.26(g) - Partnerships
4.28(2) - Subject Interests Agreements
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STOCK PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT, dated effective as of the 31st day of December 1995, is
by and between BENTON OIL AND GAS COMPANY, a Delaware corporation ("Seller"),
and SHELL OFFSHORE INC., a Delaware corporation ("Buyer").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, Buyer desires to purchase from Seller, and Seller desires to
sell to Buyer, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of BENTON OIL
AND GAS COMPANY OF LOUISIANA, a California corporation (the "Company"), a
wholly owned subsidiary of Seller, upon the terms and subject to the conditions
set forth in this Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants, agreements,
representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement, the parties to this
Agreement hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
1.1 Certain Defined Terms. The following terms, as used in this
Agreement, have the following meanings:
"Agreement" means this Stock Purchase and Sale Agreement between Seller
and Buyer.
"Arbitration Procedures" means the arbitration procedures set forth in
Exhibit A-1.
"Assets" means all of the assets and properties of the Company,
tangible and intangible, real, personal and mixed, corporeal or incorporeal,
movable or immovable, excluding only such assets and properties to be conveyed
or distributed to Seller or Seller's designee prior to Closing Date pursuant to
Article 2.2. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, "Assets" will
include (i) the Subject Interests, (ii) the Subject Interest Agreements, and
(iii) all raw and interpretative seismic, geological, geophysical, well logs
and data, maps, displays, geologic and production data bases, and all other
technical and engineering data (in all existing formats) (hereafter "Data")
whether relevant
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to the Subject Interests or to other properties in the Atchafalaya Basin area
regardless of whether such properties are owned by the Company, and regardless
of whether such Data is in the possession of or owned by Seller.
"Bank Credit Agreement" is defined in Section 2.4.
"Closing" is defined in Section 10.1.
"Closing Date" is defined in Section 10.1.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
"Closing Payment Adjustment" is defined in Section 3.2.
"Confidentiality Agreement" is defined in Section 6.4.
"Defect" means an Environmental Defect or a Title Defect.
"Defensible Title" means, with respect to any Subject Interest, such
title to such Subject Interest that, (i) entitles the Company to receive not
less than the net revenue interest of the Company for such Subject Interest as
set forth in Exhibit A-2 of all oil and gas produced from or attributable to
such Subject Interest, (ii) obligates the Company to bear the costs and
expenses relating to the maintenance, development and operation of such Subject
Interest in an amount not greater than the working interest of the Company for
such Subject Interest as set forth in Exhibit A-2 and (iii) except for the
Permitted Encumbrances, is free and clear of all liens, security interests,
collateral assignments, encumbrances, irregularities and defects.t
"Environmental Defect" means a condition existing at the Closing Date,
whether known or unknown, with respect to the air, land, soil, surface,
subsurface strata, surface water, ground water or sediments that causes an
Asset to be subject to Remediation under, or not in compliance with, any
Environmental Law.
"Environmental Laws" means all Laws relating to (a) the control of any
hazardous substance, contaminant, pollutant or potential pollutant, (b)
protection of the air, water, land or the environment, (c) solid, gaseous or
liquid waste generation, handling, treatment, storage, disposal, transportation
or remediation, or (d) exposure to hazardous, toxic or other substances alleged
to be harmful, including but not limited to asbestos, radon and polychlorinated
biphenyls. "Environmental Laws" will include,
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but not be limited to, the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 7401 et seq., the
Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. Sec. 1251 et seq., the Resource Conservation
Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 6901 et seq., the Superfund Amendments and
Reauthorization Act, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 11001 et seq., the Water Pollution Control
Act, 33 U.S.C. Sec. 1251 et seq., the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. Sec.
300f et seq., the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and
Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 9601 et seq., the Toxic Substance Control Act, 15
U.S.C. Sec. 2601 et seq., and the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, 33 U.S.C. Sec.
2701 et seq., as such laws have been amended or supplemented from time to time
through the Closing Date and the regulations promulgated pursuant thereto
through the Closing Date. "Environmental Laws" shall not include the
Occupational Safety and Health Act, 29 U.S.C. Sec. 651 et seq., and other Laws
relating to the protection of workers or the control and regulation of working
conditions.
"Financial Statements" means any 1995 unaudited Company financial
statements and the 1994 Audited Consolidated Financial Statements of the
Seller, in addition to Seller's Annual Reports on Form 10-K as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") for the year ended December 31, 1994
and its 1995 third quarterly report on Form 10-Q as filed with the SEC for the
first three quarters of 1995, attached as Schedule 4.6.
"GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles, as set forth in
the opinions of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants and statements of the Financial Accounting
Standards Board or in such opinions and statements of such other entities as
may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the
United States of America.
"Governmental Authority" means (i) the United States of America, (ii)
any state, county or other governmental subdivision within the United States of
America and (iii) any court or any governmental department, commission, board,
bureau, agency or other instrumentality of the United States of America or of
any state, county or other governmental subdivision within the United States of
America.
"Hart-Scott Act" is defined in Section 13.1.
"Hydrocarbons" means crude oil, natural gas, casinghead gas,
condensate, sulphur, natural gas liquids and other liquid or gaseous
hydrocarbons (including CO2), and also refers to all other
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minerals of every kind and character that may be covered by or included in the
Subject Interests.
"Indemnity Agreement" means the Indemnity Agreement dated as of the
Closing Date between Buyer and Seller, the form of which is attached as Exhibit
B.
"Joint Venture" means any partnership, joint venture or joint
exploration arrangement, area of mutual interest agreements, facility use
agreements, or seismic agreements, or other agreements with third parties in
which the Company is a partner, venturer, or participant.
"Law" means any applicable statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule,
ruling, order, restriction, requirement, writ, injunction, decree or other
official act of or by any Governmental Authority.
"Limited Partnership Suit" mean that certain lawsuit, filed June 13,
1994, entitled Charles Agnew, et al. v. Benton Oil and Gas Company, et al., No.
CIV-144976 in the Superior Court of California, County of Ventura.
"Permitted Encumbrances" means any of the following matters:
(a) the terms, conditions, restrictions, exceptions,
reservations, limitations and other matters contained in the agreements,
instruments and documents (x) that create or reserve to the Company its
interests in any of the Subject Interests or (y) that are listed in this
Agreement or in any schedule or exhibit to this Agreement, to the extent such
terms, conditions, restrictions, exceptions, reservations, limitations or other
matters (i) do not reduce the net revenue or royalty interest of the Company in
the Subject Interests or increase the working interest of the Company in the
Subject Interests from that specified on Exhibit A-2 and (ii) do not create
liens on the Subject Interests other than those permitted under the following
provisions of this definition;
(b) any (i) inchoate liens or inchoate charges constituting or
securing the payment of expenses that were incurred incidental to maintenance,
development, production, or operation of the Assets for the purpose of
developing, producing or processing Hydrocarbons therefrom or therein and (ii)
materialman's, mechanics', repairman's, employees', contractors', operators' or
other similar liens or charges for liquidated amounts arising in
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the ordinary course of business for obligations that are not delinquent or, if
delinquent, that are being contested in good faith by appropriate action;
(c) any liens in respect of Taxes and assessments for Taxes
not yet delinquent;
(d) any liens or security interests created by Law (including
without limitation any Environmental Laws) or reserved in oil and gas leases
for bonus or rental or for compliance with the terms under which the
Subject Interests are held, securing obligations that are not delinquent or, if
delinquent, that are being contested in good faith by appropriate action;
(e) any obligations or duties affecting the Subject Interests
to any municipality or public authority with respect to any franchise, grant,
license, or permit, and all applicable laws, rules and orders of Governmental
Authority;
(f) (i) easements, rights-of-way, servitudes, permits,
surface leases and other rights in respect of surface operations,
pipelines, grazing, hunting, fishing, logging, canals, ditches, reservoirs or
the like or (ii) easements for streets, alleys, highways, pipelines, telephone
lines, power lines, railways and other similar rights-of-way, on, over or in
respect of property owned or leased by the Company or over which the Company
owns rights-of-way, easements, permits, or licenses, to the extent such
matters, individually or in the aggregate, do not interfere materially with oil
and gas operations on the applicable Subject Interest;
(g) all lessor's and sublessor's royalties, overriding
royalties, net profits interests, carried interests, reversionary interests,
production payments, and other burdens if the net cumulative effect of
such burdens does not operate to reduce the net revenue or royalty interest or
increase the working interest of the Company in the Subject Interests as
reflected in Exhibit A-2;
(h) required third party consents to assignments and similar
agreements (not including preferential rights to purchase and similar
agreements, which are covered by (i) below) so long as not triggered by the
transactions contemplated hereby;
(i) all rights to consent by, required notices to, filings
with, or other actions by governmental entities in connection with the sale or
conveyance of oil and gas leases or
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interests therein if the same are customarily obtained contemporaneously with
or subsequent to such sale or conveyance;
(j) production sale contracts, division orders, contracts for
sale, purchase, exchange, or processing of Hydrocarbons, unitization and pooling
designations, declarations, orders and agreements, operating agreements,
agreements of development, area of mutual interest agreements, gas balancing or
deferred production agreements, processing agreements, plant agreements,
pipeline, gathering and transportation agreements, injection, repressuring and
recycling agreements, carbon dioxide purchase or sale agreements, salt water or
other disposal agreements, seismic or geophysical permits or agreements, and
other agreements that are customary in the oil, gas and other mineral
exploration and development business or in the business of processing of gas
and gas condensate production for the extraction of products therefrom, in each
case, that individually or in the aggregate are not such as to interfere
materially with the value of any Subject Interest, and do not prevent the
Company, as the case may be, from receiving the proceeds of production from
such Subject Interest; and, provided that such agreements do not create liens
on the Subject Interests other than those permitted under other provisions of
this definition;
(k) all other liens, charges, encumbrances, contracts,
agreements, instruments, obligations, defects and irregularities affecting
any Subject Interest that individually or in the aggregate are not such as to
interfere with the operation, value or use of such Subject Interest, and do not
prevent the Company, as the case may be, from receiving the proceeds of
production from such Subject Interest; and
(l) any agreement, contract lease, instrument, permit,
amendment or extension entered into by the Company in accordance with Section
8.1.
"Purchase Price" is defined in Section 3.1.
"Remediation" means actions taken to correct an Environmental Defect
and implement the terms of a written plan that sets forth the actions to be
taken to effect any remediation necessary to bring an Asset into compliance
with applicable Environmental Laws.
"Scheduled (Negative) Imbalances" means, with respect to the producing
properties to which the Subject Interests are attributable and without
duplication, the sum (expressed in Mcfs)
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of (i) the aggregate make-up, prepaid or other volumes of Hydrocarbons, that
the Company was obligated as of the Effective Date, on account of prepayment,
advance payment, take-or-pay, gas balancing or similar obligations, to deliver
from the Subject Interests after the Effective Date without then or thereafter
being entitled to receive full payment therefor and (ii) to the extent same are
not covered by clause (i) above, the aggregate pipeline or processing plant
imbalances or overdeliveries for which the Company was obligated as of the Date
to deliver or pay Hydrocarbons or cash to any pipeline, gatherer, transporter,
processor, co-owner or purchaser in connection with any Hydrocarbons
attributable to the Subject Interests.
"Scheduled (Positive) Imbalances" means, with respect to the producing
properties to which the Subject Interests are attributable and without
duplication, the sum (expressed in Mcfs) of (i) the aggregate make-up, prepaid
or other volumes of Hydrocarbons, that the Company was entitled as of the
Effective Date, on account of prepayment, advance payment, take-or-pay, gas
balancing or similar obligations, to receive from the Subject Interests after
the Balance Sheet Effective Date without then or thereafter being obligated to
make any payment therefor and (ii) to the extent same are not covered by clause
(i) above, the aggregate pipeline or processing plant imbalances or
underdeliveries for which the Company was entitled as of the Effective Date to
receive Hydrocarbons or cash from any pipeline, gatherer, transporter,
processor, co-owner or purchaser in connection with any Hydrocarbons
attributable to the Subject Interests.
"Stock" is defined in Section 2.1.
"Subject Interests" means all interests presently owned by the Company
or which the Company is or will be entitled to receive by reason of any
participation, joint venture, partnership, farm-in, farmout, gas balancing
agreement, purchase and sale agreement, operating or other agreement, in and to
the oil, gas and/or mineral leases, lands, permits, licenses, concessions,
leasehold estates, fee, royalty and overriding royalty interests described in
Exhibit A-2.
"Subject Interests Agreements" are those agreements listed on Schedule
4.28(2).
"Tax" or "Taxes" means any federal, state, local, foreign and other
taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges, including without
limitation taxes relating to income, gross receipts, net proceeds, alternative
or add-on minimum, ad valorem,
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value added, turnover, sales, use, property (tangible and intangible), stamp,
lease, user, excise, duty, franchise, transfer, license, withholding, payroll,
employment, fuel, excess profits, occupational, interest equalization, windfall
profit, severance, production, and other similar governmental charges
(including any interest thereon and any penalties, additions to tax or
additional amounts applicable thereto).
"Tax Claim" is defined in Section 8.3(j).
"Tax Returns" is defined in Section 4.26(a).
"Title Defect" is defined in Section 7.1.1(a).
1.2 Accounting Terms. For the purposes of this Agreement, all
accounting terms not otherwise defined in this Agreement will have the meanings
assigned to such terms in accordance with GAAP.
1.3 References to Instruments. Unless the context otherwise
indicates, references in this Agreement to a particular section, exhibit or
schedule are to the corresponding section of, or the corresponding exhibit or
schedule to, this Agreement.
1.4 Singular and Plural. The definitions contained in Section 1.1 are
equally applicable to both the singular and plural form of the terms defined in
such Section.
ARTICLE II
SALE OF COMPANY
2.1 SALE AND PURCHASE.
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement, at the Closing, Buyer will purchase and acquire, and Seller
will sell, assign, transfer, convey and deliver to Buyer, in exchange for the
Purchase Price (adjusted by the Closing Payment Adjustment), all of the issued
and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company (the "Stock") free and
clear of all security interests, liens, adverse claims, proxies, options,
stockholders' agreements and other encumbrances. The certificates representing
the Stock will be duly endorsed in blank by Seller or accompanied by stock
powers duly executed in blank. Seller agrees to cure any deficiencies with
respect to the endorsements of the certificates representing the Stock or with
respect to the stock powers accompanying any such certificates. At the
Closing, Buyer will pay the Purchase Price determined in accordance with
Article III.
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2.2 EXCLUDED ASSETS. At or before Closing Seller will cause the
Company to take all actions necessary to convey or distribute to Seller or its
nominee the following rights, interests, assets and properties:
1. Scott Field, Lafayette Parish, Louisiana; and
2. The Company's right to receive the first $100,000
attributable to the sale of Oryx Energy Company's
seismic at Belle Isle.
The foregoing rights, interests, assets and properties will not
be included in the term "Assets" and are expressly excluded from this Agreement.
2.3 RESOLUTION OF INTERCOMPANY OBLIGATIONS. Certain intercompany
receivables and intercompany payables existed between the Company on the one
hand and Seller on the other hand as of the Effective Date. In the ordinary
course of the Company's business following the Effective Date and to the
Closing Date, changes have occurred and will occur in the amounts of
intercompany receivables and intercompany payables.
Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, all
of such intercompany payables and intercompany receivables that exist at the
Effective Date will be paid by the Company on the one hand, or the Seller on
the other hand, prior to Closing. To the extent practicable, payment may be
made by offsetting payables and receivables, with a final net payment by the
Company or Seller as applicable. All other intercompany obligations and
commitments shall be released at Closing pursuant to the release contemplated
by Section 10.2(m).
2.4 RESOLUTION OF BANK CREDIT AGREEMENT. All outstanding debt,
credit, and credit facility agreements of the Company, including that
certain Fifteen Million ($15,000,000) Dollar Credit Agreement dated December
27, 1994, by and between Seller, Company, New York Gas Fund I and Christiana
Bank Og Kreditkasse, New York Branch, and all mortgages, net profit interests,
financing statements and all other security obligations therefor, including but
not limited to those instruments identified on Schedule 2.4 attached hereto,
shall be discharged or terminated, as evidenced by instruments in recordable
form acceptable to Buyer prior to or at the Closing Date, and neither Buyer nor
Company on or after the Closing Date shall have any liability therefor.
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ARTICLE III
PURCHASE PRICE AND PAYMENT
3.1 PURCHASE PRICE.
The purchase price that will be payable by Buyer to Seller for
the Stock (the "Purchase Price") will be $35,400,000. The Purchase
Price, subject to the Closing Payment Adjustment and such closing adjustments,
if any, as are expressly provided for in this Agreement, will be paid by Buyer
to Seller at Closing by means of a completed federal funds transfer to the
account of Seller, which account number will be given to Buyer by Seller at
least 48 hours before the Closing.
3.2 CLOSING PAYMENT ADJUSTMENT.
No less than three (3) business days prior to the Closing,
Seller shall deliver to Buyer Seller's estimates of Buyer's share of revenue
less capital expenditures and expenses attributable to the Subject Interests
from the Effective Date (as hereinafter defined) through Closing ("Closing
Payment Adjustment"). For purposes of calculating the Closing Payment
Adjustment, Seller shall use actual expenses (including royalty, but not Taxes
other than severance taxes), capital expenditures, and revenues attributable to
the Subject Interests to the extent such information is available and
thereafter use its best estimate of such expenses, expenditures and revenues
where actual information is not yet available. In the event Buyer disagrees
with Seller's estimation of the Closing Payment Adjustment, the parties shall
negotiate in good faith to attempt to agree on such estimation. The Closing
Payment Adjustment for the purposes of Closing shall be calculated based upon
Seller's and Buyer's agreed upon amount. If agreement is not reached prior to
the Closing Date, the disputed amount shall be paid without waiver of Buyer's
right to pursue arbitration and final adjustment to the Purchase Price pursuant
to Section 10.6 hereof.
ARTICLE IV
SELLER'S REPRESENTATIONS
Seller hereby represents and warrants to Buyer that:
4.1 OWNERSHIP OF THE STOCK.
Seller owns, beneficially and of record, good and marketable
title to the Stock, which constitutes all of the issued
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and outstanding capital stock of the Company, free and clear of all security
interests, liens, adverse claims, proxies, options, stockholders' agreements
and other encumbrances. At the Closing, subject to the terms and conditions of
this Agreement, Seller will convey to Buyer good and marketable title to all of
the Stock, free and clear of all security interests, liens, adverse claims,
proxies, options, stockholders' agreements and other encumbrances. There exist
no options, warrants, subscriptions, conversion rights, rights of first
refusal, or other rights to purchase, or securities convertible into or
exchangeable for, capital Stock of the Company.
4.2 ORGANIZATION AND GOOD STANDING; QUALIFICATION.
(a) The Seller is a corporation duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of its state of incorporation,
with all requisite corporate power and authority to carry on the business in
which it is engaged, to own the properties it owns, to execute and deliver this
Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
(b) The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of its state of incorporation,
with all requisite corporate power and authority to carry on the business
in which it is engaged and to own the properties it owns. The Company is duly
qualified to do business and is in good standing in all jurisdictions where the
nature of its business makes such qualification necessary, except for any
states wherein the failure to be so qualified or in good standing will not have
a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition.
4.3 CAPITALIZATION. The authorized capital stock of the Company
consists of 100,000 shares of common stock, no stated par value, of which
2,000 shares are issued and outstanding, and no shares of such capital stock
are held in the treasury of the Company. All of the issued and outstanding
shares of capital stock of the Company are duly authorized, fully paid and
nonassessable, and held by Seller.
4.4 AUTHORIZATION AND VALIDITY. The execution, delivery and
performance by Seller of this Agreement and the other agreements contemplated
hereby to which Seller is or will be a party, and the consummation by Seller of
the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, have been duly authorized by
Seller. This Agreement has been, and each other agreement contemplated hereby
to which Seller is or will be a party will as of the Closing Date be, duly
executed and delivered by Seller and constitutes or will constitute the
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legal, valid and binding obligation of Seller, enforceable against Seller in
accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and subject to
principles of equity and public policy that affect enforceability of agreements
generally. Seller has the full right, power, and authority to make the
representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities, and agreements herein.
4.5 SUBSIDIARIES AND JOINT VENTURES.
(a) The Company does not own, directly or indirectly, any
subsidiary.
(b) Other than as may be established by any Subject
Interest Agreement, the Company does not own, directly or indirectly, any
interest in any Joint Venture, nor is it subject to any area of mutual
interest ("AMI") arrangement.
4.6 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. The Company has furnished to Buyer the
Financial Statements, attached as Schedule 4.6. The Financial Statements
fairly present, in accordance with GAAP applied on a basis consistent with
prior periods, the consolidated financial position and results of operations
and cash flow of the Company as of the dates and for the periods indicated.
There are no bankruptcy, reorganization or arrangement proceedings pending
against, being contemplated by, or to Seller's knowledge threatened against,
Seller or Company.
4.7 NO VIOLATION. Neither the execution, delivery or performance
of this Agreement or the other agreements contemplated hereby nor the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby will (i)
conflict with, or result in a violation or breach of the terms, conditions and
provisions of, or constitute a default under, the Articles of Incorporation or
Bylaws of Seller or any material agreement, indenture or other instrument under
which Seller is bound or (ii) violate or conflict with any judgment, decree,
order, statute, rule or regulation of any Governmental Authority having
jurisdiction over Seller or Company the properties or assets of Seller or
Company.
4.8 FINDER'S FEE. Neither the Seller nor the Company has incurred
any obligation for any finder's, broker's or agent's fee in connection with
the transactions contemplated hereby; provided, however, that in the event any
such obligation is alleged, Seller shall indemnify and hold Buyer harmless from
any loss, cost, or expense with respect thereto.
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4.9 OUTSTANDING DEBT. Except as reflected in the Financial
Statements, or incurred in the ordinary course of business since the date
thereof, the Company has not incurred or otherwise become subject to any
outstanding debt, payables, liabilities or liens of any kind, whether fixed,
contingent, matured or unmatured which are material in nature to the Company.
Except as set forth in Section 2.4, the Company does not have any currently
effective contracts relating to the borrowing of money. The Company is not
liable upon or with respect to, or obligated in any other way to provide funds
in respect of or to guarantee, any debt, obligation or dividend of any person,
corporation, association, partnership, joint venture, trust or other entity,
nor are its Assets security therefor. There are not any currently effective
letters of credit or escrow or trust agreements to which the Company is a party
or otherwise liable (whether contingently or absolutely). As of the Closing
Date there shall be no debts, liabilities or other obligations of any material
nature, whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise, of the Company.
4.10 PENDING CLAIMS. Except for (i) the pending royalty audit by
the Louisiana State Mineral Board (ii) the pending dispute between Seller and
Texaco, Inc. with respect to the liability of TESLA Resources, Inc. for
invoices rendered during the first six months of 1995 for West Cote Blanche Bay
Field, and (iii) the Limited Partnership Suit, there are no suits, legal
actions, claims, demands, tax liens, or controversies, no governmental
proceeding or investigation, or no administrative, conservation, regulatory or
arbitration proceedings pending, or, to the best of Seller's knowledge,
threatened against Seller, Company, or the Subject Interests, or involving the
Subject Interests Agreements, before any court, or by or before any
governmental commission, bureau or any regulatory authority, that if decided
adversely to the interest of Seller or Company could adversely affect Seller or
the Company, any of the Subject Interests or the rights of Buyer under this
Agreement or the documents to be delivered at the Closing. Neither the Seller
nor Company has knowledge of any set of facts or situation that is reasonably
likely to give rise to any such suit, action, proceeding or investigation that
is reasonably likely to result in an uninsured liability of the Company in
excess of $25,000. Neither the Seller nor Company is (i) subject to any
material continuing court or administrative order, writ, injunction or decree
applicable specifically to Company or to its respective business, Assets,
operations or employees or (ii) in default with respect to any such order,
writ, injunction or decree.
4.11 ACCURACY OF RECORDS FURNISHED. To the best of Seller's
knowledge, the production, lease operating expense, technical, and
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operational records and reports furnished to Buyer by the Company in connection
with the transactions contemplated hereby are accurate and complete in all
material respects. All material environmental, health and OSHA files, reports
and audits in the possession of Company or Seller have been furnished to Buyer
for review. The reserve reports furnished to Buyer are based upon and comport
with The Huddleston Reserve Report dated January 24, 1996.
4.12 BANKS. Except as reflected on Schedule 4.12 attached
hereto, as of the Closing Date, Company shall not have any bank accounts,
credit line, safe deposit box or vault or maintain any banking relations.
4.13 PUBLIC UTILITY HOLDING COMPANY ACT. Company is not a
"holding company" or a "subsidiary company" of a "holding company," or an
affiliate of a "holding company" or a "subsidiary company" of a "holding
company," in each case within the meaning of the Public Utility Holding Company
Act of 1935, as amended.
4.14 INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT. Company is not an "investment
company" or a company "controlled" by an "investment company," in each case
within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
4.15 GAS IMBALANCES. Schedule 4.15 contains a list accurate in all
material aspects of all Scheduled (Negative) Imbalances and all Scheduled
(Positive) Imbalances as of the Effective Date.
4.16 EMPLOYEE MATTERS.
(a) Employee Policies and Procedures. Subject to
applicable Law, all employee manuals, policies, procedures and work-related
rules that apply to employees of the Company can be amended or terminated at
will by the Company.
(b) Discrimination. The Company has not received any
written claim of any unfair labor practice or illegal discrimination on the
basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age or handicap in its
employment conditions or practices. To the best of Seller's knowledge, the
Company has not engaged in any unfair labor practice or illegal discrimination
on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age or handicap in
its employment conditions or practices.
(c) Labor Matters. (i) There are no controversies pending
or, to the knowledge of Seller, threatened, between the
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Company and any person who performs services for the Company on a contract or
other basis, which controversies could have a material adverse effect on the
Company, (ii) the Company is not a party to any collective bargaining agreement
or other labor union contract applicable to persons who perform services for
the Company on a contract or other basis; and (iii) neither the Company nor
Seller have any knowledge of any strikes, slowdowns, work stoppages, lockouts
or threats thereof, by or with respect to any persons who perform services for
the Company on a contract or other basis that could have a material adverse
effect on the Company.
(d) Company Employees. Buyer is assuming no obligations to
any employee of the Company or Seller, and as of Closing Date the Company will
have no employees.
4.17 COMMITMENTS. To the best of Seller's knowledge, the Company is
not in default under, nor has any event occurred that with the giving of notice
or lapse of time or both would constitute a default by the Company under any
material contract or arrangement that involves the payment of money.
4.18 INSURANCE. The Company carries property, liability, workers'
compensation and such other types of insurance as is customary in the industry
of the insured for a company of its size and activity. All of the policies
under which such insurance is provided are valid and enforceable policies,
issued by insurers of recognized responsibility in amounts and against such
risks and losses as is customary in the industry of the insured. Such
insurance will be outstanding and duly in force without interruption up to the
Closing Date.
4.19 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. To the best of Seller's knowledge, the
Company has complied with all Laws and has filed with the proper authorities
all necessary statements and reports the failure to comply with or to file
would have a material adverse effect on the Company, there are no existing
material violations by the Company or Seller of any Law that would adversely
affect the property or business of the Company, the Company possesses all
necessary material licenses, franchises, permits and governmental
authorizations, in full force and effect, to conduct its business as now
conducted (collectively, "Governmental Authorizations"), the Company is not in
material violation of any Governmental Authorization, and no proceeding is
pending, or to the knowledge of Seller or the Company, threatened, which
purports to challenge, revoke or limit any Governmental Authorization.
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4.20 BOOKS OF ACCOUNT. The books of account of the Company have
been kept accurately in all material respects in the ordinary course of
business, the transactions entered therein represent bona fide transactions and
the revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities of the Company have been
properly recorded in such books, all in conformity with GAAP or Securities and
Exchange Commission rules.
4.21 PAYOUT BALANCES. The payout balances with respect to any of the
Assets that are subject to future change on account of reversionary interests,
non-consent penalties or similar agreements or arrangements set forth on
Schedule 4.21 are correct as of the dates shown thereon; provided however, they
are subject to audits between Operator and non-operator.
4.22 DERIVATIVES. The Company is not, nor has it been since
the Effective Date, a party to any interest rate swap or other derivative
product, oil and gas swap, collar, futures, hedging or similar agreement.
4.23 HYDROCARBON SALE CONTRACTS. The Assets are not subject to any
call on production or contract for the sale of Hydrocarbons, except those
contracts for the sale of Hydrocarbons that are listed on Exhibit A-2 and
Schedule 4.28(2). As of the Effective Date, there existed no claims that have
been asserted against the Company by oil or gas purchasers for any refund with
respect to proceeds from the sale of Hydrocarbons produced from the Assets.
The Company is currently receiving, with respect to Hydrocarbons produced from
all of the Assets, the prices provided for under the applicable contract
governing the purchase of the Hydrocarbons. No person has any call upon,
option to purchase, or other right with respect to the Company's share of
production from the Assets, whether upon the transfer of any of the Assets or
otherwise. The Company as of the Closing Date has not incurred any gas
pipeline nominations penalties for nominations made prior to Closing.
4.24 CONSENTS. Except for filings and approvals required under the
Hart-Scott Act, no consent, preferential right waiver, authorization,
exemption, franchise, approval, permit or license of, or filing with, any
Governmental Authority or third party is required to authorize, or is required
in connection with, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
or the other agreements contemplated hereby or the performance of the
obligations contemplated hereby or thereby by or on the part of the Company or
Seller.
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4.25 CONTRACTS TO WHICH COMPANY IS A PARTY. Except for contracts
which have had and will have no material adverse effect on Company, Company is
not a party to any contracts except those listed on Exhibit A-2 and Schedule
4.28(2). As of Closing, neither Buyer nor Company shall have any obligations
or liability under that certain agreement by and among Company, ENCAP Gas Fund
Partnership, and Tenneco Ventures Corporation, dated April 1, 1995.
4.26 EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS.
(a) Identification. The Company has no written employee
benefit plan. The employees of the Company have been participating in Seller's
401(K) plan (the "Employee Benefit Plan"), although that plan inadvertently
stated that no employees of any affiliated company would be participating in
that plan. Seller shall indemnify and hold harmless Buyer concerning same, as
further set forth in Exhibit B. No unwritten amendment exists with respect to
the Employee Benefit Plan.
(b) Compliance. To the best of Seller's knowledge, (i) the
Employee Benefit Plan has been administered and maintained in compliance with
all Laws, (ii) the Employee Benefit Plan is not currently the subject of an
audit, investigation, enforcement action or other similar proceeding conducted
by any Governmental Authority, (iii) no prohibited transactions (within the
meaning of Section 4975 of the Code) have occurred with respect to the Employee
Benefit Plan, and (iv) no pending or, to the knowledge of Seller, threatened
claims, suits or other proceedings exist with respect to the Employee Benefit
Plan other than normal benefit claims filed by participants or beneficiaries.
(c) Qualification. A favorable determination letter or
ruling has been received from the Internal Revenue Service as to the current
qualified status of the Employee Benefit Plan intended to be qualified within
the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code and/or tax-exempt within the meaning
of Section 501(a) of the Code. No proceedings exist or, to Seller's knowledge,
have been threatened that would result in the revocation of any such favorable
determination letter or ruling.
(d) Funding Status. No accumulated funding deficiency
(within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code), whether waived or unwaived,
exists with respect to the Employee Benefit Plan. The assets of the Employee
Benefit Plan are at least equal to the liabilities that result if all employees
were fully vested and terminated employment and the plan is terminated as of
the Closing Date.
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(e) Multiemployer Plans. The Company is not nor ever has
been obligated to contribute to a multiemployer plan within the meaning of
Section 3(37) of ERISA.
(f) PBGC. No facts or circumstances exist that would
result in the imposition of liability against Buyer, Seller, or Company by the
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. No reportable event (within the meaning
of Section 4043 of ERISA) for which the notice requirement has not been waived
has occurred with respect to any Employee Benefit Plan subject to the
requirements of Title IV of ERISA.
(g) Retirees. The Company has no obligation or commitment
to provide medical, dental, or life insurance benefits to or on behalf of any
of its employees who may retire or any of its former employees who have retired
from employment with the Company, including those receiving disability
benefits.
(h) As of the Closing Date, the Company will have no
employees, nor will it owe any wages, salaries, or benefits of any type.
4.27 TAXES.
(a) Filing of Tax Returns. The Company has duly and timely
filed or will duly and timely file (in accordance with any extensions duly
granted by the appropriate governmental agency, if applicable) with the
appropriate governmental agencies all returns (including information returns)
and reports, including all schedules or attachments thereto, required by the
United States or any state or any political subdivision thereof or any foreign
jurisdiction to be filed on or before the Closing Date by the Company in
connection with any Tax ("Tax Returns"). All such Tax Returns are, or will be,
complete and accurate and properly reflect the Taxes of the Company for the
periods covered hereby. Seller has duly and timely filed or will duly and
timely file (in accordance with any extensions duly granted by the appropriate
governmental agency, if applicable) all consolidated and combined unitary Tax
Returns required to be filed for each taxable period through and including the
Closing Date which Tax Returns were required to include the Company. All such
Tax Returns are, or will be, complete and accurate and properly reflect the
Taxes of the Seller for the periods covered thereby.
(b) Payment of Taxes. Seller and the Company have paid or
accrued all Taxes that have become due with respect to any Tax Returns that
they have filed.
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(c) No Pending Deficiencies, Delinquencies, Assessments or
Audits. No Tax deficiency or delinquency has been asserted against the
Company; there is no unpaid assessment, proposal for additional Taxes,
deficiency or delinquency in the payment of any of the Taxes of the Company
that, to the knowledge of Seller, could be asserted by any Tax authority; there
is no Tax authority audit of the Company pending and the results of any
completed audits are properly reflected in the Financial Statements; the
Company has no disallowed Tax audit items; the Company has not violated any
federal, state, local or foreign Tax law, except where such violation would not
have a material adverse effect; and there are no pending claims for refund of
Taxes filed by the Company. Neither Seller nor Company has extended the
statute of limitations.
(d) Tax Liens. There are no liens for Taxes upon any
assets of the Company other than statutory liens for Taxes not yet delinquent.
(e) All Withholding Requirements Satisfied. All monies
required to be withheld by the Company and paid to governmental agencies for
all Taxes (including any amounts required to be withheld pursuant to Sections
1441 through 1446 of the Code) have been (i) collected or withheld and either
paid to the respective governmental agencies or set aside in accounts for such
purpose or (ii) properly reflected in the Financial Statements.
(f) Request for Rulings. There are no outstanding requests
for rulings with any Tax or revenue authority that would have a material
adverse effect on the operations of the Company.
(g) Partnerships. Except as set forth in Schedule 4.26(g),
the Company owns no interest in any entity that is characterized as a
partnership under the Code.
(h) Sales and Use Tax. Seller and Company will avail
itself of Louisiana's occasional sales and use tax exemption.
4.28 SUBJECT INTERESTS. To the best of Seller's knowledge, with
respect to each of the Subject Interests:
(1) All royalties, rentals, shut-in payments and other
payments due with respect to such Subject Interests have been properly and
timely paid, except for payments held in suspense for title or other reasons
which are customary in the industry and which will not result in grounds for a
cancellation of the rights of the Company in such Subject Interests;
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(2) The Company is not in material default under the terms
of any lease, farmout agreements or other contracts or agreements respecting
such Subject Interests, including those listed on Schedule 4.28(2) (the
"Subject Interests Agreements"), which could (i) interfere with the operation,
value or use thereof, (ii) prevent the Company from receiving the proceeds of
production attributable to their interest therein, and (iii) result in
cancellation of the interest of the Company therein;
(3) The Company is not obligated by virtue of any material
gas imbalance, prepayment or advance payment arrangement under any contract for
the sale of production of hydrocarbons, or under any other agreements,
including any "take-or-pay" or similar arrangement, to deliver any volume of
hydrocarbons produced from or attributable to such Subject Interests, without
then or thereafter being entitled to receive payment therefor or to deliver any
volume of hydrocarbons at a reduced or prearranged price and the Company has
not received any "take-or-pay" production or similar payment that is subject to
refund or recoupment in cash;
(4) All ad valorem, property, production, severance and
other taxes based on or measured by the ownership of such Subject Interests or
the production of oil and gas therefrom have been properly and timely paid;
(5) As of the Closing, the Subject Interests shall not be
subject to any net profits interests, overriding royalty interests, production
payments, or other carved out mineral interests created by Seller or Company
that would decrease the net revenue interest percentages reflected on Exhibit
A-2.
(6) The Subject Interests have been operated in all
material respects in accordance with all rules and regulations of all
governmental authorities having or asserting jurisdiction relating to the
ownership and operation of the Subject Interests, including the production of
hydrocarbons attributable thereto, and are not presently subject to reduced
allowables or other penalties on account of overproduction or otherwise.
(7) No fire, explosion, accident, earthquake, act of public
enemy, or other casualty (regardless of whether covered by insurance) adversely
affecting any material portion of the Subject Interests or the operation
thereof, or adversely affecting the ability of Seller or Company to perform its
obligations under this Agreement or the Exhibits hereto, has occurred in the
last 180 days.
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(8) Seller or Company or the Operator has obtained all
material permits, licenses and other authorizations which are presently
required under federal, state and local laws with respect to pollution or
protection of the environment relating to the Subject Interests, including laws
relating to actual or threatened emissions, discharges or releases of
pollutants, raw materials, products, contaminants or hazardous or toxic or
materials or wastes into ambient air, surface water, ground water or land, or
otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use,
treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of pollutants, contaminants
or hazardous or toxic materials or wastes, the failure of which to obtain would
affect the value, use of operation of any of the Subject Interests; and neither
Seller nor Company has received notice of any violation of or investigation
relating to any federal, state or local laws with respect to pollution or
protection of the environment relating to the Subject Interests. None of the
operations of Seller or Company or its predecessors relating to the Subject
Interests is now subject to federal or state investigation evaluating whether
any remedial action involving material expenditure is needed to respond to a
release or discharge of any toxic or hazardous waste or substance into the
environment, and neither Seller nor Company has any material contingent
liability in connection with any release or discharge of any toxic or hazardous
waste or substance into the environment from Seller's Subject Interests.
(9) All material contract rights, leases and leaseholds to
be transferred to Buyer hereunder are in full force and effect according to
their respective terms.
(10) Except as set forth in Section 2.4 or referenced in
4.9, neither Seller nor Company nor its predecessors in title have created nor
does there presently exist under any contract or by operation of law any liens,
pledges, mortgages, installment obligations, encumbrances or other burdens in
or on the Subject Interests, so as to reduce the Net Revenue Interests or
increase the Working Interests set out on Exhibit A-2.
(11) Since the Effective Date neither Seller nor Company has
received any notice of any proposed or contemplated modifications of any
existing drilling or production unit or units or the establishment of new
drilling or production units affecting the Subject Interests or amendments to
or modifications or revisions of the unit order or orders establishing same
which would have an adverse impact upon the Subject Interests to be conveyed
pursuant to this Agreement.
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(12) Seller or Company has paid or will pay all bills,
debts, expenses or charges relating to the Subject Interests as of the Closing
in the normal course of its business operations; provided, however, Seller and
Company shall have the right to question and reject the payment of any such
bill, debt, expense, or charge which would be so treated in the normal course
of business, and, Seller shall indemnify and hold Buyer harmless from any loss
as a result thereof.
(13) All proceeds of production attributable to the Subject
Interests are currently being paid directly to Seller or Company or its
authorized agent without the furnishing of indemnity other than the customary
warranty contained in the division orders, transfer orders or gas sale
contracts that have been furnished to Buyer and no portion of such proceeds are
being held in suspense.
(14) Seller represents that Company's working interest and
net revenue interest in each of the Subject Interests are as reflected on
Exhibit "A-2" hereto. Exhibit "A-2" sets forth a true and complete description
of the Subject Interests.
(15) To the best of Sellers' knowledge, all wells,
platforms, fixtures, facilities, personal property and equipment owned or
leased by the Company or which it has the right to use are adequate for normal
operations in accordance with standard industry practice in the areas in which
they are operated; however, Seller makes no representation or warranty
whatsoever, either express or implied, as to the condition of such items
including their fitness for any particular purpose whatsoever.
(16) Subject to Article 11.1, Company has succeeded fully to
all right, title, and interest of Seller in and to the Subject Interests and
the Subject Interests Agreements.
(17) Seller has made available for examination all
applicable written agreements, correspondence, or other documents of which
Seller is aware that materially affect the Subject Interests, including, but
not limited to, applicable operating agreements, joint venture agreements, tax
partnership agreements, product purchase and sale agreements, farmout
agreements, processing agreements, seismic ownership and licensing agreements,
and "area of mutual interest" agreements.
(18) The Company owns 3D Data over and around West Cote
Blanche Bay Field which was acquired under Agreement for Geophysical Work
between Texaco Exploration and Production, Inc., Seller, and Tesla Resources,
Inc. executed by Seller on June 25, 1991.
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4.29 REPRESENTATIONS TRUE AT CLOSING. All representations made by
Seller in this Article IV will be true on the Closing Date.
ARTICLE V
BUYER'S REPRESENTATIONS
Buyer represents to Seller that:
5.1 ORGANIZATION AND GOOD STANDING. Buyer is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Delaware, with all requisite corporate power and authority to carry on the
business in which it is engaged, to own the properties it owns, to execute and
deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
5.2 AUTHORIZATION AND VALIDITY. The execution, delivery and
performance by Buyer of this Agreement and the other agreements contemplated
hereby to which Buyer is or will be a party, and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, have been duly authorized by
Buyer. This Agreement has been, and each other agreement contemplated hereby
to which Buyer is or will be a party will as of the Closing Date be, duly
executed and delivered by Buyer and constitutes or will constitute legal, valid
and binding obligations of Buyer, enforceable against Buyer in accordance with
their respective terms, except as may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and subject to
principles of equity and public policy that affect enforceability of agreements
generally.
5.3 NO VIOLATION. Neither the execution, delivery or performance
of this Agreement or the other agreements contemplated hereby nor the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby will (i)
conflict with, or result in a violation or breach of the terms, conditions and
provisions of, or constitute a default under, the Articles of Incorporation or
Bylaws of Buyer or any material agreement, indenture or other instrument under
which Buyer is bound or (ii) violate or conflict with any judgment, decree,
order, statute, rule or regulation of any Governmental Authority having
jurisdiction over Buyer or the properties or assets of Buyer.
5.4 FINDER'S FEE. Buyer has not incurred any obligation for any
finder's, broker's or agent's fee in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby.
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5.5 ABSENCE OF BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS. There are no bankruptcy,
reorganization or arrangement proceedings pending against, being contemplated
by, or to Buyer's knowledge threatened against, Buyer.
ARTICLE VI
ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND INSPECTION; DUE DILIGENCE
6.1 RECORDS AND FILES. From the date hereof until the Closing
Date, Seller and Company will give or cause to be given to Buyer and its
representatives at reasonable times during normal business hours reasonable (i)
access to examine, at their actual location, all Assets and all accounting
records, payments, receipts, books, records, abstracts of title, title
opinions, title files, federal and state tax returns and records, ownership
maps, lease files, assignments, division orders and agreements pertaining to
the Company and the Assets insofar as the same may now be in existence and in
the possession or control of Seller or the Company, and (ii) opportunity to
interview the employees and representatives of Seller or the Company regarding
the Assets and the business of the Company.
6.2 OTHER FILES. Prior to Closing, Seller will make available to
Buyer for inspection by Buyer at reasonable times during normal business hours
at their actual location, all geological, seismic, geophysical, production and
engineering books, records and data in possession or control of Seller or the
Company pertaining to the Assets, except for records or data that Seller or the
Company is prevented by contractual obligations with third parties from
disclosing to Buyer.
6.3 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND INSPECTION. From the date hereof
until the Closing Date, Buyer shall have the right (subject to third party
operator approval, which Seller will use reasonable efforts to obtain) to make
an environmental assessment of the Assets. Buyer and its agents shall have the
right (subject to third party operator approval, which Seller will use
reasonable efforts to obtain) to enter upon the Assets and all facilities
thereon at reasonable times and at Buyer's sole risk, cost and expense, for the
purpose of conducting reasonable inspections of the same, conduct soil and
water tests and borings, and generally conduct such tests, examinations,
investigations and studies as may be necessary or appropriate for the
preparation of appropriate engineering and other reports in relation to the
Assets, their environmental condition and the presence of hazardous substances;
provided, however, Buyer shall repair any damage to the Assets
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resulting from such inspections or tests and Buyer does hereby indemnify and
hold harmless Seller or the Company from and against any and all losses, costs,
damages, obligations, claims, liabilities, expenses or causes of action to the
extent attributable to Buyer's inspection of the Assets or tests, including,
without limitation, claims for personal injuries, property damage and
reasonable attorney fees (except to the extent caused by the gross negligence
or willful misconduct of the Company or Seller). Buyer shall promptly furnish
to the Seller a copy of any report rendered to Buyer with respect to the
environmental condition of the Assets, unless otherwise prohibited by contract.
6.4 CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT. Until the execution hereof, all
information made available to Buyer pursuant to this Agreement will be
maintained confidential by Buyer as provided in that certain letter agreement
regarding confidentiality dated December 12, 1995, between the Company and
Buyer (the "Confidentiality Agreement"), the terms of which are incorporated
into this Agreement by reference and made a part hereof as if the references to
"we" and "us" used therein included Seller within the meaning of such terms.
Buyer will further take whatever steps may be necessary to ensure that Buyer's
employees, consultants and agents comply with the provisions of this Article VI
and the provisions of the Confidentiality Agreement.
6.5 GEOPHYSICAL DATA. For purposes of this Agreement, seismic and
geophysical records and data will include (to the extent in existence and in
the possession or control of the Company or Seller and regardless of whether
pertaining to the Subject Interests), but not be limited to, seismic tapes in
archival quality (SEGY format tapes) media for all versions and vintages of 3D
(subject to the physical availability and format availability), maps,
observer's logs, surveyor's notes, base maps showing shot point locations and
all other information necessary to allow complete reprocessing thereof, subject
to the limitations to contractual obligations with third parties.
ARTICLE VII
TITLE, ENVIRONMENTAL AND OTHER MATTERS
7.1 BUYER'S TITLE AND ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.
7.1.1 TITLE REVIEW.
(a) Title Defects. For the purposes of this Agreement, a
portion of the Subject Interests will be deemed to have a "Title Defect" if the
following statement is untrue with respect to such
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portion of the Subject Interests as of the Effective Date and as of the Closing
Date:
The Company has Defensible Title thereto;
provided that the Company will not be deemed to lack
Defensible Title under this Section for failure to pay
royalties, rentals or other payments with respect to a
Subject Interest or by reason of default under the Subject
Interest Agreements or any lease, farmout agreement or other
contract or agreement with respect to a Subject Interest,
although the same may constitute a breach of a warranty or
representation under Article IV.
(b) Notice of Title Defects. Not later than five (5) days
before the Closing Date, Buyer will notify Seller in writing of any matters
that, in Buyer's reasonable opinion, constitute Title Defects with respect to
the Company's title to all or any portion of the Subject Interests. Buyer's
failure to timely raise a Title Defect five (5) days prior to Closing
constitutes a waiver of any such Defect, except with respect to a matter
covered by any applicable warranty or representation of Seller under Article
IV.
(c) Seller's Right to Cure Title Defects and Effect of
Failure to Cure. Seller will have until the Closing Date, at its cost and
expense, if it so elects, but without obligation, to cure all or a portion of
asserted Title Defects. If Seller within such time fails or refuses to cure
the Title Defects of which Buyer has given timely written notice as required
above, Buyer will elect by written notice to Seller, as Buyer's sole and
exclusive remedy, either to (x) obtain a refund from Seller of an agreed
portion of the Purchase Price, if in Buyer's opinion the amount attributable to
the Title Defects is less than 3% of the Purchase Price but more than 1%, or
(y) terminate this Agreement without further liability if the amount is greater
than 3% (which right to terminate Seller also has under this circumstance), or
(z) alternative to either, proceed to Closing and submit the matter to
arbitration in accordance with Exhibit A-1.
7.1.2 ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.
(a) Notice of Environmental Defects. Subject to Section
10.6, not later than five (5) days before the Closing Date, Buyer will notify
Seller in writing of any matters that, in Buyer's reasonable opinion,
constitute Environmental Defects with respect to all or any portion of the
Assets. Buyer's failure to timely raise an Environmental Defect five (5) days
prior to Closing shall constitute a waiver of any such defect, except with
respect to any applicable warranty or representation of Seller under Article
IV.
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(b) Method of Determining Environmental Defect Amounts. In
the event of an Environmental Defect, if Buyer's cost of Remediation
attributable to such Environmental Defect is less than 1% of the Purchase Price
but more than .1%, Buyer shall be entitled to a refund of a portion of the
Purchase Price. If Buyer's cost of Remediation in Buyer's opinion is in excess
of 1% of the Purchase Price, Buyer shall have the right to terminate this
Agreement without further liability unless Seller either agrees (i) to promptly
remediate such defect, or (ii) defend, indemnify, and hold Buyer and Company
harmless for same. Any disputes between Buyer and Seller concerning the
existence of an Environmental Defect and/or the Environmental Defect amount
shall be subject to arbitration in accordance with Exhibit A-1.
(c) Contribution. If Buyer or the Company have any claim
for or right of contribution, reimbursement or other similar action against any
third party with respect to an Environmental Defect that causes Seller to be
required to refund a portion of the Purchase Price to Buyer, then Buyer or the
Company shall assign a pro rata portion of such right to Seller (based upon the
ultimate liability paid by each of Buyer and Seller with respect to such
Environmental Defect) and will assist Seller in pursuing such claim against the
third party; provided that Buyer will not be obligated to bear any outpocket
third-party costs in respect of such claim.
(d) Seller shall defend, indemnify, and hold Buyer harmless
for all liability under Environmental Laws of the Company unrelated to the
Subject Interests for periods prior to the Effective Date.
7.2 ARBITRATION.
(a) Notwithstanding anything herein provided to the
contrary, Seller shall be entitled to cure any Defect at any time prior to the
point in time when a final and binding written decision of the applicable
arbitrator(s) is made with respect thereto in accordance with the Arbitration
Procedures. The amount of any refund of a portion of the Purchase Price to
which Buyer becomes entitled under the final and binding written decision of
the applicable arbitrator(s) shall be promptly refunded by Seller to Buyer.
(b) Buyer and Seller will each use their reasonable efforts
to cause the completion of any Arbitration Procedures
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within 90 days after the appointment of arbitrator in accordance with the
Arbitration Procedures.
ARTICLE VIII
OTHER AGREEMENTS
8.1 COVENANTS OF SELLER PENDING CLOSING. From and after the date
of this Agreement and until the Closing, Seller will cause the Company to
conduct its business in the ordinary course consistent with past practices. In
addition, from and after the date of this Agreement and until the Closing,
except as contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise consented to by Buyer in
writing, and subject to Section 8.2 below and the constraints of applicable
operating and other agreements:
(a) Capital Expenditures. Seller will use reasonable
efforts to prevent the Company from making any capital expenditures (with
respect to the Company's net working interest) relating to the Company's
business and within the Company's current capital budget as provided to Buyer
that, singly or in the aggregate with respect to any single project, exceed
$25,000, except in connection with the performance by Seller or the Company of
an obligation or agreement existing on the date of this Agreement or pursuant
to this Agreement. Nevertheless, Buyer shall be deemed to have nonconsented any
AFE or capital expenditure request if it has not advised Seller of its consent
within fifteen (15) days of receipt of written notification thereof.
(b) Business Operations. Seller will use reasonable
efforts to cause the Subject Interests to be developed, maintained and/or
operated in a manner consistent with past practices of the Company, and in the
ordinary course of business. Seller will use reasonable efforts to cause the
Company to continue the marketing of Hydrocarbons from the Assets consistent
with past practices. Seller will use reasonable efforts not to, and will use
reasonable efforts to cause the Company not to, take or fail to take any action
(except at the instruction of Buyer or as required by Section 8.1) that would
cause or permit any of the representations made in Article IV to be inaccurate
at the time of Closing. Seller will use reasonable efforts to cause the
Company to provide Buyer, as soon as reasonably practicable following receipt
by the Company, with copies of all written proposals for drilling or other
operations proposed in writing by third parties with respect to proposals
involving the expenditure of more than $25,000 net to the Company's interest
per proposal, and provide Buyer with such proposals made by the Company at the
time they are sent to third
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persons, except to the extent any such proposals may be restricted from
disclosure by contractual obligations with third parties. Seller will use
reasonable efforts to cause the Company to timely pay all costs and expenses
incurred in connection with the Assets, except to the extent contested in good
faith utilizing appropriate action, and otherwise to keep the Assets free of
liens (except for Permitted Encumbrances).
(c) Material Change. Seller will promptly inform Buyer in
writing of any material adverse change in the financial condition, operations,
Assets, liabilities (contingent or otherwise), business or prospects of the
Company. Notwithstanding the disclosure to Buyer of any such material adverse
change, Seller will not be relieved of any liability for, nor will the
providing of such information by Seller to Buyer be deemed a waiver by Buyer
of, the breach, if any, of any representation or warranty of Seller contained
in this Agreement.
(d) Contracts. Seller will use reasonable efforts to cause
the Company to perform all material obligations of the Company under any
material contract. Seller will use reasonable efforts to insure that the
Company will not waive any material right or cancel any material contract, debt
or claim or assume or enter into any material contract, lease, license,
obligation, indebtedness, commitment, purchase or sale except in a manner
consistent with past practices of the Company, as appropriate, and in the
ordinary course of business, except with the written consent of Buyer. Seller
will cause the Company to maintain in full force and effect all insurance
policies.
(e) Capital Assets. Seller will use reasonable efforts to
insure that the Company will not acquire or dispose of any material capital
asset.
(i) Mortgages, Liens and Guaranties. Seller will
insure that the Company does not make any material capital contribution or
investment in any corporation, business or other person, enter into or assume
any mortgage, pledge, conditional sale or other title retention agreement,
permit any security interest, lien, encumbrance or claim of any kind to attach
to any of the Assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or guarantee or
otherwise become contingently liable for any obligation of another, except
obligations arising by reason of endorsement for collection and other similar
transactions in a manner consistent with past practices of the Company, and in
the ordinary course of business.
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(f) Distributions and Repurchases. Subject to Sections 2.2
and 2.3, Seller will insure that no distribution, payment or dividend of any
kind is declared or paid by the Company, and no repurchase of any Stock is
approved or effected.
(g) Notices. Seller will use reasonable efforts to cause
the Company to promptly notify Buyer of any notice or threatened notice of
which Seller or the Company becomes aware relating to any default, inquiry into
any possible default or action to alter, terminate, rescind or procure a
judicial reformation of any material lease or other material contract or any
provision thereof. The Seller will use reasonable efforts to cause the Company
to notify promptly Buyer of any new suits, actions or other proceedings before
any court, arbitrator or governmental agency and any causes of action involving
the Assets and that would materially impair the value of the Assets.
(h) Production Declines. Prior to the Closing, Seller will
promptly furnish to Buyer on a weekly basis production data relative to the
Subject Interests for the preceding week.
(i) Casualty and Condemnation. Seller will use reasonable
efforts to cause the Company to promptly notify Buyer of any material loss or
destruction by fire, explosion, accident, earthquake, act of the public enemy,
act of God or other similar casualty affecting any of the Assets of which
Seller or the Company becomes aware.
8.2 NO SOLICITATION. From and after the execution date of this
Agreement until Closing, Seller will not participate in any discussions with,
solicit offers from, or negotiate with, any party other than Buyer for the
purpose of selling any of the Assets or merging Seller or the Company.
8.3 TAX MATTERS.
(a) Preparation and Filing of Certain Tax Returns. At the
appropriate time (taking into account all extensions of time relating to any
filing) after the Closing Date, Seller shall prepare and file all appropriate
federal and state consolidated and combined unitary Tax Returns for all Tax
periods which include on a consolidated or combined unitary basis the business
and operations of the Company (the "Operations") through the end of business on
the Closing Date (the "Pre-Closing Date Periods"). Seller shall have no
responsibility for filing Tax Returns for the Company for taxable periods
beginning after the Closing Date (the "Post Closing Date") and the Buyer shall
prepare and file such returns. Seller
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will include the income of the Company for all Pre-Closing Date Periods on
Seller's consolidated and combined unitary Tax Returns and pay all Taxes
attributable thereto. The income of the Company shall be apportioned among the
Pre-Closing Periods and the Post-Closing Periods by closing the books of the
Company as of the end of the Closing Date, with Buyer entitled to
Post-Effective Date income.
(b) Payment and Indemnity of Taxes Described in Section
8.3(a). Seller shall pay or cause to be paid all Taxes due with respect to
operations and ownership of the Company and any income earned or recognized in
taxable years which include on a consolidated or combined unitary basis, the
Operations during the Pre-Closing Date Periods, subject to Buyer's obligation
to reimburse Seller for taxes due by the Company on income between the
Effective Date and Closing. Seller shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless
Buyer and its affiliates from and against any liability for any Taxes of Seller
or the Company for Pre-Effective Date periods, and Seller shall be entitled to
all refunds of such Taxes. Seller shall also be liable for tax penalties and
interest with respect to Tax Returns filed and Taxes paid for the period
between the Effective Date and Closing. Subject to the foregoing, Buyer shall
be liable for, and shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Seller and its
affiliates from and against any Taxes of the Company for Post-Effective Date
periods, and Buyer shall be entitled to all refunds of such Taxes. Seller
shall also be responsible for any taxes imposed on Seller or Company as a
result of the payment, release, or cancellation of any intercompany payable or
receivable pursuant to Article 10.3(m) and 2.3.
(c) State and Local Sales or Use Tax. Seller shall be
responsible for any state and local sales or use taxes that may arise from the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this agreement. Seller shall
avail itself of Louisiana's occasional sales and use tax exemption for
Louisiana sales and use tax.
(d) Termination of Tax Sharing Agreements. Effective as of
midnight, December 31, 1995, all liabilities and obligations between Seller and
the Company under any tax allocation agreement or arrangement in effect shall
be extinguished in full, and any liabilities or rights existing under any such
agreement or arrangement shall cease to exist and shall no longer be
enforceable, except for amounts reflected in the Financial Statements.
Accordingly, Seller shall not make any payments to Buyer or the Company in the
event that Seller, or any of their affiliates other than the Company realizes a
reduction in Taxes as a result of the inclusion of the Company in a
consolidated or combined unitary Tax
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Return of Seller for any taxable year or period ending on or before the
Closing Date.
(e) Section 338 Election. At Buyer's option, Seller and
Buyer agree to make valid elections under Section 338(h)(10) and Section 338(g)
of the Code, satisfactory to Buyer, as set forth on Exhibit C, and any similar
state law tax election in all applicable states with respect to the Company.
Seller and Buyer shall attach hereto completed and executed copies of Form
8023-A and required schedules thereto (the "Form") and Seller and Buyer agree
to take all other action and file all other necessary reports to elect validly
pursuant to Section 338(h)(10) of the Code. Buyer and Seller shall each file a
copy of the Form in a timely manner and shall provide assurance to the other
party that it has done so. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed as
requiring that either Seller or Buyer hire appraisers or otherwise incur
out-of-pocket expenses in order to reach agreement as to any of the allocations
described above.
(f) Cooperation. After the Closing Date, Buyer and Seller,
shall cooperate in the preparation of all Tax Returns (including any
statements, reports or returns required as a result of the elections made under
Section 338 of the Code) and responses to Tax audits and shall preserve and
provide, or cause to be provided, to the requesting party any records or other
information requested by such party in connection therewith as well as access
to, and the cooperation with, the auditors of Buyer and Seller. Each of Seller
and Buyer shall provide notice within 25 days in writing to the other of any
pending Tax audits, assessments or proceedings that it becomes aware of related
to Taxes of the Company for which it is indemnified by the other party
hereunder. The Company shall retain the originals of all Tax records,
including asset records, presently existing with respect to the Company, and
Buyer shall make such records available to Seller and its representatives upon
reasonable request by Seller. Seller shall retain copies of all records
pertaining to the Company for Pre-Closing Date Periods which Seller deems
necessary or desirable to have for use in connection with Tax matters. The
originals of all records of the Company shall not be destroyed without Buyer
first giving Seller 60 days prior written notice of the intention to destroy
any such original records. In addition, at Buyer's option Seller shall use its
reasonable efforts to cause any partnership or Tax partnership in which the
Company is a partner to make an election under Section 754 of the Code to
adjust the basis of the assets of such partnership.
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(g) Notice. If a claim shall be made by any Tax authority
against Buyer or the Company or the Seller which, if successful, would result
in the indemnification of Buyer by Seller or of Seller by Buyer pursuant to
this Section (a "Tax Claim"), or if an audit is commenced by any taxing
authority with respect to any Tax that could give rise to a Tax Claim, Buyer or
Seller, as the case may be, shall notify the other party in writing within 25
days of such claim or commencement of such audit. If such notice is not given
in reasonable detail to apprise the party receiving the notice of the nature of
the Tax Claim or audit, the party receiving the notice shall not be liable to
the party giving the notice to the extent that the position of the party
receiving the notice is prejudiced as a result thereof. In the event that
either Seller or Buyer receives a request for information or documents from any
Tax authority and any such information or documents is in the possession or
control of the other party, then such other party shall make such information
or documents available within 45 days of the date so requested to do so. If,
following any such request for information or documents, (i) the party in
possession of the requested information or documents fails or refuses to comply
with the request therefor, and (ii) said failure or refusal is a proximate
cause of any assessment of any Tax by the Tax authority referenced in the
preceding sentence, then, notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement, the party in possession of the requested information or documents
shall assume exclusive liability for the defense of any such assessment and the
payment of any such Tax and the other party shall be indemnified, defended and
held harmless by the party in possession of the requested information or
documents.
(h) Control of Proceedings. (i) Seller shall have the
right upon timely notice to Buyer, to assume and control the conduct of any
audit and the defense of any suit, action or proceeding with respect to any Tax
Claim resulting from a Pre-Closing Date Period at its own expense and with its
own counsel. If Seller elects to assume the defense of any audit or Tax Claim,
notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (A) Seller shall not
agree to any settlement thereof without the written consent of Buyer if the
effect of such settlement would be to increase the liability of Buyer or its
affiliates (including the Company) for any Tax for any Post-Closing Date Period
unless Seller agrees to pay to Buyer the full amount of the increase in
liability, (B) Buyer shall not be required to pay for or otherwise indemnify
Seller against any attorneys' fees of Seller in connection with such audit or
Tax Claim if Seller elects to assume the defense of such audit or Tax Claim as
provided herein, and (C) Seller shall keep Buyer informed of all material
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developments and events relating to such audit or Tax Claim. Except as
provided above, Seller will either pursue or forego any and all administrative
appeals, proceedings, hearings and conferences with the Tax authority with
respect to any audit or Tax Claim and may, in its sole option, either pay the
Income Tax claimed and sue for a refund where applicable law permits such
refund suits ormay contest the Tax Claim in any permissible manner, and
prosecute such contest to an initial determination in a court of initial
jurisdiction, and to a final determination in an appellate court.
(ii) At Buyer's option, except as otherwise provided in
Section 8.3(h)(i), Buyer shall have the right upon timely notice to Seller, to
assume and control the conduct of any audit and the defense of any suit, action
or proceeding with respect to any Tax Claim, whether resulting from a
Pre-Closing Date Period or a Post-Closing Date Period, at its own expense and
with its own counsel. If Buyer elects to assume the defense of any audit or
Tax Claim, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (A) Buyer
shall not agree to any settlement thereof without the written consent of Seller
if the effect of such settlement would be to increase the liability of Seller
or its affiliates for any Tax for any Pre-Closing Date Period unless Buyer
agrees to pay to Seller the full amount of the increase in liability, (B)
Seller shall not be required to pay for or otherwise indemnify Buyer against
any attorneys' fees of Buyer in connection with such audit or Tax Claim if
Buyer elects to assume the defense of such audit or Tax Claim as provided
herein, and (C) Buyer shall keep Seller informed of all material developments
and events relating to such audit or Tax Claim. Except as provided above,
Buyer will either pursue or forego any and all administrative appeals,
proceedings, hearings and conferences with the Tax authority with respect to
any audit or Tax Claim and may, in its sole option, either pay the Tax claimed
and sue for a refund where applicable law permits such refund suits or may
contest the Tax Claim in any permissible manner, and prosecute such contest to
an initial determination in a court of initial jurisdiction, and to a final
determination in an appellate court.
8.4 EXPENSES. Except as provided in Section 13.7, Buyer will bear
its own expenses, and Seller will bear its own expenses and the expenses of the
Company, in connection with the Closing, and delivery of the Assets to Buyer,
including the fees and disbursements of its counsel, petroleum engineers,
accountants, financial advisors and other representatives, and travelling,
copying, and shipping expenses, whether or not the transactions contemplated
hereby are consummated.
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8.5 DAMAGES AND FORCE MAJEURE. In the event any physical asset,
including fixtures and improvements, to be sold hereunder is damaged by fire or
other calamity before Closing, Seller may repair the damage at its sole cost
and risk or withdraw the damaged asset from the sale and reduce the Purchase
Price by the replacement value thereof. In the event the parties are unable to
agree as to the extent of the damage prior to the Closing, the Purchase
Priceshall be reduced by the amount the Seller agrees in good faith that it
should be reduced without waiver of Buyer's right to pursue arbitration and
final adjustment to the Purchase Price pursuant to Section 10.6 hereof.
Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, in the event
that the damage is such that the good faith evaluation of a mutually agreeable
third party the Purchase Price would be reduced by 3% or more, either Buyer or
Seller shall have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section
12.2 by giving written notice thereof to the other, and the parties hereto
shall have no further claim against each other arising from this transaction.
8.6 EMPLOYEES. All employees of the Company shall be transferred
to and become employees of Seller on or prior to the Closing Date. Seller
shall indemnify and hold Buyer harmless from any loss, claim, or expense,
including reasonable attorneys' fees, arising out of such transfer.
8.7 AUDIT AND BILLING ADJUSTMENTS. Seller retains all rights,
liabilities and responsibility for any audit adjustments relative to the
Company for matters occurring prior to the Effective Date. Seller also retains
all rights, liabilities and responsibilities with respect to billing
adjustments by the Company for Tenneco Ventures and Tenneco Gas Production
prior to the Effective Date.
ARTICLE IX
CLOSING CONDITIONS
9.1 SELLER'S CLOSING CONDITIONS. The obligations of Seller under
this Agreement are subject, at the option of Seller, to the satisfaction at or
prior to the Closing of the following conditions:
(a) All representations of Buyer contained in Article V
will be true in all material respects at and as of the Closing as if such
representations were made at and as of the Closing, and
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Buyer will have performed and satisfied all agreements required by this
Agreement to be performed and satisfied by Buyer at or prior to the Closing;
(b) All necessary consents of and filings with third
parties (including the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice)
necessary for Seller's sale of Stock will have been obtained, accomplished or
waived and all applicable waiting periods under the Hart-Scott Act will have
expired or been terminated;
(c) As of the Closing Date, no suit, action or other
proceeding (excluding any such matter initiated by Seller or the Company) will
be pending or threatened before any Governmental Authority seeking to restrain
Seller or prohibit the Closing or seeking damages against Seller or the Company
as a result of the consummation of this Agreement;
(d) Seller will have received all documents, duly executed
in form reasonably satisfactory to Seller and its counsel, referred to in
Section 10.3.
9.2 BUYER'S CLOSING CONDITIONS. The obligations of Buyer under
this Agreement are subject, at the option of Buyer, to the satisfaction at or
prior to the Closing of the following conditions:
(a) All representations of Seller contained in Article IV
will be true in all material respects at and as of the Closing as if such
representations were made at and as of the Closing, and Seller will have
performed and satisfied all agreements required by this Agreement to be
performed and satisfied by Seller at or prior to the Closing;
(b) All necessary consents of and filings with third
parties (including the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice)
necessary for Seller's sale of the Stock will have been obtained, accomplished
or waived and all applicable waiting periods under the Hart-Scott Act will have
expired or been terminated;
(c) As of the Closing Date, no suit, action or other
proceeding (excluding any such matter initiated by Buyer) will be pending or
threatened before any Governmental Authority seeking to restrain Buyer or
prohibit the Closing or seeking damages against Buyer as a result of the
consummation of this Agreement;
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(d) Buyer will have received all documents, duly executed
in form reasonably satisfactory to Buyer and its counsel, referred to in
Section 10.2; and
(e) Buyer will have received satisfactory evidence that all
expenses of the Company in respect of the transactions contemplated hereby have
either been reimbursed by Seller or adequate provision for such reimbursement
after the Closing Date has been made.
(f) Form 8023-A and required schedules thereto have been
completed and executed by Seller and Buyer.
(g) Board approval has been given by Buyer's Board of
Directors.
(h) Seller shall have properly assigned unto Company all
Data relating to the Subject Interests, State waters, or the Atchafalaya Basin.
ARTICLE X
CLOSING
10.1 CLOSING. The closing of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement (the "Closing") will be held at 10:00 a.m., at the offices of Buyer,
One Shell Square, Suite 1504, New Orleans, Louisiana, within 48 hours after
receipt of notification of termination of the waiting period under the
Hart-Scott Act, or at such other date or place as the parties may agree in
writing (the "Closing Date").
10.2 SELLER'S CLOSING OBLIGATIONS. At Closing, Seller will deliver
to Buyer the following:
(a) Certificates representing all of the Stock, duly
endorsed and in proper form for transfer to Buyer by delivery under applicable
law, or accompanied by duly executed instruments of transfer in blank;
(b) A copy of resolutions of the Board of Directors of
Seller authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
and all related documents and agreements, certified by the Secretary of Seller
as being true and correct copies of the originals thereof subject to no
modifications or amendments;
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(c) A certificate of an executive officer of Seller, dated
the Closing Date, setting forth the status of Seller's performance and
compliance with the covenants of Seller contained in Article VIII;
(d) A certificate of an executive officer of Seller, dated
the Closing Date (i) as to the truth and correctness of the representations of
Seller under Article IV as of the Closing Date, (ii) as to the performance of
and compliance by Seller with the covenants of Seller (other than those set
forth in Article VIII) contained herein on and as of the Closing Date and (iii)
certifying that all conditions precedent of Seller to the Closing have been
satisfied or are waived;
(e) A certificate of the Secretary of Seller certifying as
to the incumbency of the directors and officers of Seller and as to the
signatures of all directors and officers who have executed documents delivered
at the Closing on behalf of Seller;
(f) Certificates, dated within five business days prior to
the Closing Date, of the Secretary of State of the states of incorporation of
Seller and the Company establishing that Seller and the Company are in
existence, have paid all franchise taxes and otherwise are in good standing to
transact business in its state of incorporation;
(g) Certificates, dated within five business days prior to
the Closing Date, of the Secretaries of State of the states in which the
Company is qualified to do business, to the effect that the Company is
qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in
each of such states;
(h) All authorizations, consents, approvals, permits and
licenses required by Section 4.28(8);
(i) Evidence of Seller's compliance with the Hart-Scott
Act;
(j) Resignations or terminations of the directors and
officers of the Company effective as of the Closing Date;
(k) The Indemnity Agreement dated as of the Closing Date
executed on behalf of Seller, in the form attached as Exhibit B;
(l) A nonforeign affidavit, as such affidavit is referred
to in Section 1445(b)(2) of the Code, in form reasonably acceptable to Buyer,
of Seller and Company, signed under penalty of
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perjury and dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that such persons
are United States citizens (and thus not foreign persons) and providing such
persons' United States taxpayer identification numbers;
(m) Instruments of release on recordable forms approved by
Buyer sufficient to effect a full release and cancellation of record of the
security obligations and filings referenced in Article 2.4 hereof, attached as
Exhibit D.
(n) Duly executed documents in form reasonably satisfactory
to Buyer pursuant to which Seller, releases, relinquishes and waives any and
all claims, demands, causes of action, suits, judgments or controversies of any
kind whatsoever, whether known or unknown, that Seller may have against the
Company as of the Closing Date, for any reason whatsoever, including without
limitation claims by Seller against the Company with respect to dividends,
repayment of loans, violation of preemptive rights, or payment of salaries or
other compensation;
(o) Such other instrument or instruments of transfer as
will be necessary or appropriate, as Buyer or its counsel reasonably requests,
to vest in Buyer good and marketable title to the Stock;
(p) Evidence of waivers granted by John Hancock Life
Insurance Company regarding the covenants not to sell the stock of subsidiaries
as set forth in Seller's credit or debenture agreements dated September 30,
1994,as amended and June 30, 1995, as amended, respectively; and
(q) Opinion Letter of Seller's Counsel ________, attached
as Exhibit E.
10.3 BUYER'S CLOSING OBLIGATIONS. At Closing, Buyer will deliver to
Seller the following:
(a) The Purchase Price (less Closing Payment Adjustment) in
immediately available funds;
(b) A copy of the Unanimous Action or other resolution of
the Board of Directors of Buyer authorizing the execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement and all related documents and agreements, each
certified by Buyer's Secretary as being true and correct copies of the
originals thereof subject to no modifications or amendments;
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(c) A certificate of the Attorney-in-Fact of Buyer, dated
the Closing Date (i) as to the truth and correctness of the representations
of Buyer under Article V on and as of the Closing Date, (ii) as to the
performance of and compliance by Buyer with all covenants contained herein on
and as of the Closing Date and (iii) certifying that all conditions precedent
of Buyer to the Closing have been satisfied or are waived;
(d) Evidence of Buyer's compliance with the Hart-Scott Act;
(e) Opinion Letter of Buyer's Counsel ________, attached as
Exhibit F.
10.4 DISTRIBUTION OF PROPERTIES. To the extent not conveyed or
distributed to Seller or Seller's designee prior to the Closing Date, at
Closing, Seller will cause the Company to cause to be conveyed or distributed
to Seller or Seller's designee the rights, interests, properties and assets
excluded from the Assets under Sections 2.2 and 2.3 and Article VII.
10.5 TAKING OF NECESSARY ACTION. Subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement and to applicable Law, each of the parties to this
Agreement will use all reasonable efforts promptly to take or cause to be taken
all action and promptly to do or cause to be done all things necessary, proper
or advisable under applicable Laws to consummate and make effective the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing,
each of the parties to this Agreement will, and will cause each of its
subsidiaries to, use reasonable efforts to obtain and make all consents,
approvals, assurances or filings of or with third parties and Governmental
Authorities necessary or, in the opinion of Seller, advisable for the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby. Each party will
cooperate with the other in good faith to help the other satisfy its
obligations in this Section 10.5.
10.6 FINAL SETTLEMENT STATEMENT. Within one hundred eighty (180)
days after Closing, Seller shall present a Final Settlement Statement to Buyer
covering revenues and expenses attributable to Buyer's interest in the Assets
between the Effective Date and the Closing Date (and any matters which may
arise out of operations by Seller or otherwise for time periods thereafter)
together with reasonable evidence thereof. In the event of any dispute between
the parties with respect thereto, the parties shall attempt to resolve them by
good faith negotiations, but if they are unable to do so all unresolved issues
shall be submitted to arbitration for
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settlement of the matter in the manner set forth herein. Within three (3)
business days after items on the Final Settlement Statement are agreed upon or
are resolved, the party owing funds to the other shall pay same.
10.7 POST-CLOSING OPERATIONS. Seller agrees to cooperate fully
with, and without charge to, Buyer for up to ninety (90) days after Closing (i)
to enable Buyer to operate the Subject Interests on behalf of the Company, (ii)
to pay royalties, materials, invoices, other office expenses, and handle
accounting matters during transition to Buyer's accounting system, and (iii) to
assist in the Louisiana State Mineral Board audit, all subject to Buyer's
control and supervision.
10.8 POST-CLOSING AUDIT. Within one (1) year of Closing, either
party may, at its own expense, audit the other party's books, accounts and
records relating to production, sales proceeds, operating expenses and Taxes
paid which may have been adjusted due to this transaction. Such audit shall be
conducted following reasonable advance written notice to the party to be
audited and shall be conducted during regular business hours and at minimum
inconvenience to the audited party.
ARTICLE XI
LIMITATIONS ON WARRANTIES AND REMEDIES
11.1 LIMITATIONS. The representations of Seller contained in this
Agreement are exclusive and are in lieu of all other representations and
warranties, express, implied or statutory, including without limitation any
representation or warranty with respect to the quality, quantity or volume of
the reserves of oil, gas or other Hydrocarbons in or under the Subject
Interests. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (1) no
warranty is made, expressly or impliedly, as to title of Company to the Assets,
except as to claims made by, through, or under Seller or Company, (2) the items
of personal property, equipment, fixtures and appurtenances included as part of
the Assets are accepted by Buyer "AS IS, WHERE IS" and no warranties or
representations of any kind or character, express or implied, including any
warranty of quality, merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose or
condition, are given by or on behalf of Seller, (3) THE WARRANTIES OF SELLER
AND BUYER CONTAINED IN THIS AGREEMENT ARE EXCLUSIVE AND IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER
WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AND BUYER AND SELLER HEREBY WAIVE ALL
WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY IMPLIED
WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR CONDITION, and
(4) Buyer acknowledges
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that in making the decision to enter into this Agreement that it has relied
solely on the basis of its independent investigation and review and has reached
its independent conclusion with respect therein.
11.2 SURVIVAL; TIME LIMIT FOR CLAIMS. The representations and
warranties made in this Agreement will survive the Closing for a period of
eighteen (18) months after the Closing.
ARTICLE XII
DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
12.1 REMEDIES. Upon failure of either party to comply with this
Agreement by the Closing Date, as it may be extended in accordance with this
Agreement, the other party will be entitled to pursue, exercise and enforce any
and all remedies, rights, powers and privileges available at law or in equity.
12.2 RIGHT OF TERMINATION. This Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby may be terminated at any time at or prior to the Closing:
(a) By mutual consent of the parties;
(b) Pursuant to the express provisions hereof, or by either
party if the Closing shall not have occurred pursuant to Article 10.1;
provided, however, that neither party shall exercise any right of termination
pursuant to this Section 12.2 if the event giving rise to such termination
right shall be due to the willful failure of such party to perform or observe
in any material respect any of the covenants or agreements set forth herein to
be performed or observed by such party.
12.3 EFFECT OF TERMINATION. If this Agreement is terminated
pursuant hereto, this Agreement shall become void and of no further force or
effect and such termination shall be without liability of or to any party to
this Agreement (except for the provisions of Sections 8.1 and 8.7 which shall
survive any such termination and continue in full force and effect); provided,
however, that if either party is in material default of its obligations under
this Agreement at the time this Agreement is so terminated such defaulting
party shall continue to be liable to the other party for damages (but in no
event for specific performance) in respect of such default and such liability
shall not be affected by such termination.
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12.4 OTHER REMEDIES. In addition to the foregoing, termination of
this Agreement will not prejudice or impair Seller's or Buyer's obligations
under Sections 6.4 (and the Confidentiality Agreement referenced in Section
6.4) and such other portions of this Agreement as are necessary to the
enforcement and construction of Section 6.4. The prevailing party in any legal
proceeding brought under or to enforce this Agreement will be additionally
entitled to recover court costs and reasonable attorney's fees from the
non-prevailing party.
12.5 SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. Buyer and Seller understand and agree
that the covenants and undertakings on each of their parts contained in this
Agreement are uniquely related to the desire of Buyer and Seller to consummate
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and that the sale of the Stock
to Buyer is a unique business opportunity for Buyer and Seller, and that
monetary damages would not be an adequate remedy therefor. Accordingly, Buyer
and Seller agree that Buyer will be entitled to obtain specific performance
from Seller of each and every covenant and undertaking contained in this
Agreement to be observed or performed by Seller and that Seller will be
entitled to obtain specific performance from Buyer of each and every covenant
and undertaking contained in this Agreement to be observed or performed by
Buyer. The election by Buyer or Seller to exercise its right to obtain specific
performance shall be in lieu of any right to damages which might result in
double recovery.
ARTICLE XIII
MISCELLANEOUS
13.1 ANTITRUST LAWS. This Agreement is subject in all respects to
and conditioned upon compliance by the parties with Title II of the
Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (the "Hart-Scott Act"),
and rules and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto, to the extent that such
Act, rules and regulations are applicable to the transactions contemplated
hereby. Buyer and Seller agree to make such filings with and provide such
information to the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice with
respect to the transactions contemplated hereby as are required in connection
with the Hart-Scott Act sufficiently in advance of the Closing Date to permit
the lapse of the normal waiting periods prescribed in connection with the
Hart-Scott Act prior to the Closing Date and to join each others' requests for
early termination. Buyer and Seller agree to use reasonable efforts to obtain
all governmental approvals required to consummate
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<PAGE> 49
the transactions contemplated hereby and to cause early termination of the
waiting period under the Hart-Scott Act.
13.2 CONFIDENTIALITY OR PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. Subsequent to the
execution of this Agreement, neither Seller nor any of its affiliates will for
itself or on behalf of any corporation, person, firm, partnership, association,
or other entity (whether as an individual, agent, servant, employee, employer,
director, officer, shareholder, investor, principal, consultant or in any other
capacity) disclose to any person or entity (i) any financial information or
(ii) any of the confidential seismic and other oil and gas information, trade
secrets, exploratory data, methods, systems, procedures, data bases or software
programs or applications or processes of, or utilized by, the Company; provided
that (after reasonable measures have been taken to maintain the confidentiality
and after giving reasonable notice to Buyer specifying the information involved
and the manner and extent of the proposed disclosure thereof) (i) any
disclosure of such information may be made to the extent required by applicable
Law or judicial or regulatory process, (ii) such information may be used as
evidence in or in connection with any pending or threatened litigation relating
to this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby, (iii) any disclosure
of such information may be made to the extent that such information is in the
public domain (other than by or through Seller), and (iv) any disclosure of
such information may be made to the extent required by any agreement or
agreements under which Seller or the Company is bound or to which the Stock or
any of the Assets are subject.
13.3 PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS. Except as set forth in the following
sentence, the parties to this Agreement agree that prior to making any public
announcement or statement with respect to the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, the party desiring to make such public announcement or statement
will consult with the other party and exercise reasonable efforts to (i) agree
upon the text of a joint public announcement or statement to be made by both of
such parties or (ii) obtain approval of the other party to the text of a public
announcement or statement to be made solely by Seller or Buyer, as the case may
be. Nothing contained in this Section will be construed to require either
party to obtain approval of the other party to disclose information, or to
submit any such disclosed information for review by the other party, with
respect to any disclosure (i) required by applicable Law or (ii) necessary to
comply with disclosure requirements of any applicable stock exchange.
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<PAGE> 50
13.4 DELIVERY OF RECORDS. Seller will deliver to Buyer as soon
after the Closing Date as is practicable all original files, data including the
Data and all other technical, contractual, legal and financial information
relevant to the Assets, books (including corporate minute books) and records
(including stock transfer records) of the Company and the Subsidiaries. Seller
shall furnish such information, records, and Data in all existing formats.
Seller shall cause Western Geophysical Company and any other geophysical
consultant or contractor to transfer without cost to Buyer all storage and
access rights to all 3D data sets involving the Assets to which Seller or the
Company is entitled.
13.5 FURTHER ASSURANCES AND RECORDS.
(a) After the Closing each of the parties will execute,
acknowledge and deliver to the other such further instruments, and take such
other action, as may be reasonably requested in order to more effectively
assure to such party all of the respective properties, rights, titles,
interests, estates, and privileges intended to be assigned or delivered to, or
to inure to the benefit of, such party in consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby.
(b) Buyer agrees to maintain the files and records of the
Company that are acquired pursuant to this Agreement until December 31, 2005
(or for such longer period of time as Seller will advise Buyer is necessary in
order to have records available with respect to open years for Tax audit
purposes), or, if any of such records pertain to any claim or dispute pending
at December 31, 2005, Buyer will maintain any of such records designated by
Seller until such claim or dispute is finally resolved and the time for all
appeals has been exhausted. Buyer will provide Seller and its representatives
reasonable access to and the right to copy such files and records for the
purposes of (i) preparing and delivering any accounting provided for under this
Agreement and adjusting, prorating and settling the charges and credits
provided for in this Agreement, (ii) complying with any Law affecting Seller's
interest in the Company's interest in the Assets prior to the Closing Date,
(iii) preparing any audit of the books and records of any third party relating
to Seller's interest in the Company's interest in the Assets prior to the
Closing Date, or responding to any audit prepared by such third parties, (iv)
preparing Tax Returns, (v) responding to or disputing any Tax audit or (vi)
asserting, defending or otherwise dealing with any claim or dispute under this
Agreement or with respect to the Company or the Assets. In no event will Buyer
destroy any such files and records without giving Seller 60 days advance
written notice thereof and the opportunity,
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<PAGE> 51
at Seller's expense, to obtain such files and records prior to their
destruction.
13.6 NOTICES. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
Agreement, all communications required or permitted under this Agreement will
be in writing and any such communication or delivery will be deemed to have
been duly given and received when actually delivered to the address set forth
below of the party to be notified personally (by a recognized commercial
courier or delivery service that provides a receipt) or by telecopier
(confirmed in writing by a personal delivery as set forth above), addressed as
follows:
If to Seller:
Benton Oil and Gas Company
1145 Eugenia Place
Suite 200
Carpenteria, CA 93013
Attention: Clarence Cottman
Fax: (805) 566-5600
If to Buyer:
Shell Offshore Inc.
P. O. Box 61933
New Orleans, LA 70161
Attention: Shelf Division Contracts Manager
Fax: (504) 588-8076
Any party may, by written notice so delivered to the other, change the address
to which delivery will thereafter be made.
13.7 INCIDENTAL EXPENSES. Buyer will bear and pay (i) all transfer
or documentary taxes incident to the transfer of Stock to Buyer and (ii) all
filing, recording or registration fees for any assignment or conveyance
delivered under this Agreement.
13.8 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement embodies the entire agreement
between the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement
(superseding all prior agreements, including the Letter of Intent and
Confidentiality Agreement), arrangements, understandings and solicitations of
interest or offers related to the subject matter of this Agreement), and may be
supplemented, altered, amended, modified or revoked by writing only, signed by
both of the parties to this Agreement. The headings in this
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<PAGE> 52
Agreement are for convenience only and will have no significance in the
interpretation of any term or provision of this Agreement.
13.9 GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement will be governed and construed
and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Louisiana, without
regard to rules concerning conflicts of laws.
13.10 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, and each and every counterpart will be deemed for all purposes
one agreement.
13.11 WAIVER. Any of the terms, provisions, covenants,
representations or conditions contained in this Agreement may be waived only by
a written instrument executed by the party waiving compliance. The failure of
any party at any time or times to require performance of any provision of this
Agreement will in no manner affect such party's right to enforce the same. No
waiver by any party of any condition, or of the breach of any term, provision,
covenant or representation contained in this Agreement, whether by conduct or
otherwise, in any one or more instances, will be deemed to be or construed as a
further or continuing waiver of any such condition or breach or a waiver of any
other condition or of the breach of any other term, provision, covenant or
representation.
13.12 BINDING EFFECT; ASSIGNMENT. All the terms, provisions,
covenants, representations and conditions of this Agreement will be binding
upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties to this
Agreement and their respective successors and assigns; but this Agreement and
the rights and obligations hereunder will not be assignable or delegable by any
party without the prior written consent of the non-assigning or non-delegating
parties, which may be withheld at the sole discretion of such parties.
13.13 NO RECORDATION. Buyer and Seller expressly covenant and agree
not to record or place of record this Agreement or any copy or memorandum
thereof in any real property records.
13.14 TIME PERIODS. Time is of the essence in the performance of
this Agreement.
13.15 CONSTRUCTION. Each party hereby acknowledges and agrees that
such party has consulted legal counsel in connection with the negotiation of
this Agreement and that such party has bargaining power equal to that of the
other party in connection with the negotiation and execution of this Agreement.
Accordingly,
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<PAGE> 53
the parties agree the rule of contract construction to the effect that an
agreement will be construed against the draftsman will have no application in
the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.
13.16 BOARD APPROVAL. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to
the contrary, the parties hereto recognize that this Agreement is subject to
the approval by the Board of Directors of both Seller and Buyer.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their duly authorized officers as of the date first above written.
WITNESSES: BENTON OIL AND GAS COMPANY
/s/ Karen B. Weaver By: /s/ Clarence Cottman
- ------------------------ ----------------------------
/s/ Marilyn S. Banoni Name: Clarence Cottman
- ------------------------ --------------------------
Title: Vice President
-------------------------
SHELL OFFSHORE INC.
/s/ Micheal R. Keener By: /s/ Stacey M. King
- ------------------------ ----------------------------
/s/ Lew S. Boudreaux Name: Stacey M. King
- ------------------------ --------------------------
Title: Attorney-In-Fact
-------------------------
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<PAGE> 1
CONSENT AND WAIVER
THIS CONSENT AND WAIVER is entered into this 18th day of March, 1996
between BENTON OIL AND GAS COMPANY (the "Company") and JOHN HANCOCK MUTUAL LIFE
INSURANCE COMPANY (the "Holder"). The Company and the Holder are parties to a
Note Agreement dated as of September 30, 1994, as amended (the "1994 Note
Agreement") relating to the issuance and sale by the Company of its 13% Senior
Notes in the aggregate amount of $15 million. As of the date of this Consent
and Waiver, Holder is the holder of all of the outstanding Senior Notes issued
and sold pursuant to the Note Agreement.
The Company has entered into or intends to enter into an agreement with Shell
Offshore, Inc. ("Shell"), a draft copy of which has been delivered to Holder
(the "Sale Agreement"), to sell substantially all of its United States oil and
gas properties (the "U.S. Properties") for a total purchase price of
$35,400,000, as adjusted. Such a sale would constitute an Event of Default
under the terms of the 1994 Note Agreement. In connection therewith, the
Holder has agreed to waive certain terms of the Note Agreement and consents to
the terms of the Shell transaction based on the agreements by the Company
contained herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree:
1. Offer of Prepayment. (A) Pursuant to the terms of the Sale
Agreement, it is anticipated that the U.S. Properties will be sold on or before
April 30, 1996, the actual date such sale is consummated referred to herein as
the "Sale Date." The Company and the Holder agree that in consideration of
Holder's waiver and consent set forth in Section 2 below, on the Sale Date, the
Company shall prepay the outstanding principal amount due under the 1994 Note
Agreement, together with interest accrued to the Sale Date and the Make Whole
Amount, as defined in the 1994 Note Agreement. If the Sale Date occurs,
failure to pay the principal amount due under with 1994 Note Agreement, with
interest and the Make Whole Amount on the Sale Date, shall constitute an Event
of Default under the 1994 Note Agreement.
(B) Section 4B of the 1994 Note Agreement requires that the Company
give Holder at least 30 days and no more than 60 days notice prior to
prepayment of the Notes. Accordingly, Holder and the Company agree that the
notice requirements of Section 4B are waived to the extent such requirements
are inconsistent with the prepayment terms described above.
(C) The Company estimates that the upon consummation of the sale of
the U.S. Properties pursuant to the Sale Agreement, the Company will prepay
$15,160,000 in principal and accrued interest on the 1994 Senior Notes and will
pay $3,420,000 for the Make Whole Amount. The Company agrees to provide to
Holder, on the date which is two Business days prior to the Sale Date, an
Officer's Certificate setting forth in detail the calculation used in
determining the outstanding principal, accrued interest and the Make Whole
Amount.
2. Consent and Waiver. Holder hereby consents to the sale of
substantially all of the Company's United States oil and gas properties under
the terms of the Sale Agreement. From and after December 31, 1995, Holder
hereby waives any Default or Event of Default relating to Negative Covenants
contained in Section 6 of the 1994 Note Agreement. Specifically, Holder
<PAGE> 2
waives compliance with the Current Ratio covenant required by Section 6(A)1 of
the 1994 Note Agreement. The waivers described herein shall lapse and be of no
further force and effect if for any reason the Sale Date shall not occur prior
to April 30, 1996 or if the 1994 Notes shall not have been prepaid on the Sale
Date.
3. Exclusivity. This Consent and Waiver is not and shall not be
deemed to be a waiver of any other provisions of the 1994 Note Agreement except
as specifically set forth in this Consent and Waiver. Capitalized terms used
herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed to them in
the 1994 Note Agreement.
4. GOVERNING LAW. THIS CONSENT AND WAIVER IS TO BE CONSTRUED AND
ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES SHALL BE GOVERNED
BY, THE LAWS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS (WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY
LAWS OR RULES RELATING TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS THAT WOULD CAUSE THE APPLICATION OF
THE LAWS OF ANY JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS).
5. Counterparts. This Consent and Waiver may be executed
simultaneously in two or more counterparts. Each of which shall be deemed an
original, and it shall not be necessary in making proof of this Waiver to
produce or account for more than one such counterpart.
This Waiver is executed under seal as of the date first above written.
BENTON OIL AND GAS COMPANY
By:__________________________
Title: President
JOHN HANCOCK MUTUAL LIFE
INSURANCE COMPANY
By:__________________________
Title: Investment Officer
<PAGE> 1
CONSENT AND WAIVER
THIS CONSENT AND WAIVER is entered into this 18th day of March, 1996
between BENTON OIL AND GAS COMPANY (the "Company") and JOHN HANCOCK MUTUAL LIFE
INSURANCE COMPANY (the "Holder"). The Company and the Holder are parties to a
Note Agreement dated as of June 16, 1995 (the "1995 Note Agreement") relating
to the issuance and sale by the Company of its 13% Senior Notes due June 30,
2007 in the aggregate amount of $20 million (the "Senior Notes"). As of the
date of this Consent and Waiver, Holder is the holder of all of the outstanding
Senior Notes.
The Company has entered into or intends to enter into an agreement with
Shell Offshore, Inc. ("Shell"), a draft copy of which has been delivered to
Holder (the "Sale Agreement"), to sell substantially all of its United States
oil and gas properties (the "U.S. Properties") for a total purchase price of
$35,400,000, as adjusted. Such a sale would constitute an Event of Default
under the terms of the 1995 Note Agreement. In addition, the Company is
evaluating alternatives for the refinancing of the Senior Notes. In connection
therewith, the Holder has agreed to waive certain terms of the 1995 Note
Agreement and consents to the terms of the Sale Agreement based on the
agreements by the Company contained herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree:
1. Offer of Prepayment. (A) Pursuant to the terms of the Sale
Agreement, it is anticipated that the U.S. Properties will be sold on or before
April 30, 1996 (the "Sale Date"). In addition, the Company expects to finalize
the terms for refinancing the Senior Notes on or before June 30, 1996, and the
actual date such financing shall occur is referred to herein as the "Financing
Date". Provided that the sale occurs on or prior to the Sale Date, the Company
and the Holder agree that in consideration of Holder's waiver and consent set
forth in Section 2 below, on the Financing Date, the Company shall prepay the
outstanding principal amount due under the 1995 Note Agreement, together with
interest accrued to the Financing Date and the Make Whole Amount, as defined in
the 1995 Note Agreement. If the sale of the U.S. Properties occurs, failure to
pay the principal amount, accrued interest and Make Whole Amount on the
Financing Date shall constitute an Event of Default under the terms of the 1995
Note Agreement.
(B) Section 4B of the 1995 Note Agreement requires that the Company
give Holder at least 30 days and no more than 60 days notice prior to
prepayment of the Notes. Accordingly, Holder and the Company agree that the
notice requirements of Section 4B are waived to the extent such requirements
are inconsistent with the prepayment terms described above.
(C) The Company estimates that upon closing of the financing referred
to herein, the Company will prepay $20,000,000 in principal and accrued
interest on the 1995 Senior Notes and will pay $7,690,000 for the Make Whole
Amount. The Company agrees to provide to Holder, on the date which is two
Business days prior to the Financing Date, an Officer's Certificate setting
forth in detail the calculation used in determining the outstanding principal,
accrued interest and Make Whole Amount.
2. Consent and Waiver. Holder hereby consents to the sale of
substantially all of the
<PAGE> 2
Company's United States oil and gas properties under the terms of the Sale
Agreement. From and after December 31, 1995, Holder hereby waives any Default
or Event of Default relating to Negative Covenants contained in Section 6 of
the 1995 Note Agreement. Specifically, Holder waives compliance with the
Current Ratio covenant required by Section 6(A)1 of the 1995 Note Agreement.
The waivers described herein shall lapse and be of no further force and effect
if for any reason the Financing Date shall not occur prior to June 30, 1996, or
if the Senior Notes shall not have been prepaid on the Financing Date.
3. Exclusivity. This Consent and Waiver is not and shall not be
deemed to be a waiver of any other provisions of the 1995 Note Agreement except
as specifically set forth in this Consent and Waiver. Capitalized terms used
herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed to them in
the 1995 Note Agreement.
4. GOVERNING LAW. THIS CONSENT AND WAIVER IS TO BE CONSTRUED AND
ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES SHALL BE GOVERNED
BY, THE LAWS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS (WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY
LAWS OR RULES RELATING TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS THAT WOULD CAUSE THE APPLICATION OF
THE LAWS OF ANY JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS).
5. Counterparts. This Consent and Waiver may be executed
simultaneously in two or more counterparts. Each of which shall be deemed an
original, and it shall not be necessary in making proof of this Waiver to
produce or account for more than one such counterpart.
This Waiver is executed under seal as of the date first above written.
BENTON OIL AND GAS COMPANY
By:_______________________
Title: President
JOHN HANCOCK MUTUAL LIFE
INSURANCE COMPANY
By:_______________________
Title: Investment Officer
