form8kcomstocknovember2607.htm
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): November 26,
2007
COMSTOCK
RESOURCES, INC.
(Exact
Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
STATE
OF NEVADA
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000-16741
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94-1667468
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(State
or other
jurisdiction
of incorporation)
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(Commission
File Number)
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(I.R.S.
Employer
Identification
Number)
|
5300
Town And Country Boulevard
Suite
500
Frisco,
Texas 75034
(Address
of principal executive offices)
(972)
668-8800
(Registrant's
Telephone No.)
Check
the
appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously
satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following
provisions:
¨
|
Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17
CFR
230.425)
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¨
|
Soliciting
material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14a-12)
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¨
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Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17
CFR
240.14d-2(b))
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¨
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Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17
CFR
240.13e-4(c))
|
Item
1.01. Entry into a Material
Definitive Agreement
On
November 26, 2007, Comstock Oil and Gas, LP, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary
of Comstock Resources, Inc. ("Comstock"), entered into a purchase and sale
agreement with SWEPI LP, an affiliate of Shell Oil Company ("Shell") to acquire
from Shell certain oil and gas properties and related assets for $170.0 million
in cash (subject to adjustment). The transaction will be effective
October 1, 2007 and is expected to close in December 2007. Comstock
will acquire producing properties in South Texas which include 70 (43.3 net)
producing wells. Comstock estimates that the properties being
acquired have net proved reserves of approximately 57.8 billion cubic feet
of
natural gas ("Bcf"). All of the reserves acquired are in the
developed category. In addition to the proved reserves, Comstock
estimates that the properties being acquired could yield an additional 90
Bcf of
resources potential from future exploitation. The Purchase and Sale
Agreement relating to this transaction is attached hereto as Exhibit
2.1.
Item
9.01. Financial Statements,
Pro Forma Financial Information
and Exhibits
(a) Financial
Statements of Business Acquired
Not
Applicable
(b) Pro
Forma Financial Information
Not
Applicable
(c) Exhibits. The
following exhibits are filed with this document:
Exhibit
No.
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Description
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|
|
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2.1
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Purchase
and Sale Agreement dated November 26, 2007
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99.1
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Press
Release Dated November 26, 2007 announcing the
acquisition
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
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COMSTOCK
RESOURCES, INC.
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|
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|
|
|
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Dated: November
26, 2007
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By:
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/s/
M. JAY ALLISON
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M.
Jay Allison
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|
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President
and Chief Executive Officer
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exhibit2pnt1.htm
Exhibit
2.1
EXECUTION
VERSION
PURCHASE
AND SALE AGREEMENT
Between
SWEPI
LP
(“Seller”)
and
COMSTOCK
OIL & GAS, LP
(“Purchaser”)
Dated
November 26, 2007
Relating
to Oil & Gas Interests in Duval, Jim Hogg and Zapata Counties,
Texas
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
SECTION
1 – DEFINITIONS / EXHIBITS
|
5
|
|
1.1
|
Accrued
Interest:
|
5
|
|
1.2
|
Affiliate(s):
|
5
|
|
1.3
|
Agreement:
|
5
|
|
1.4
|
Assumed
Obligations:
|
6
|
|
1.5
|
Closing
|
6
|
|
1.6
|
Effective
Time:
|
6
|
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1.7
|
Environmental
Law:
|
6
|
|
1.8
|
Exhibits
and Schedules:
|
6
|
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1.9
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Known/Knowledge:
|
6
|
|
1.10
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Lease:
|
7
|
|
1.11
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[Intentionally
Left Blank]:
|
7
|
|
1.12
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Net
Revenue Interest:
|
7
|
|
1.13
|
Oil
& Gas Interests:
|
7
|
|
1.14
|
Operator:
|
7
|
|
1.15
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Retained
Obligations:
|
7
|
|
1.16
|
Seller
Group:
|
8
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|
1.17
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Working
Interest:
|
8
|
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1.18
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Other
Definitions:
|
8
|
SECTION
2 – PURCHASE AND SALE
|
9
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2.1
|
Purchase
and Sale of Assets:
|
9
|
|
|
2.1.1
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Lease(s):
|
9
|
|
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2.1.2
|
Associated
Interests:
|
9
|
|
|
2.1.3
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Wells:
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9
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|
|
2.1.4
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Facilities:
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9
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|
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2.1.5
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Easements:
|
10
|
|
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2.1.6
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Zapata
Office Building:
|
10
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|
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2.1.7
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Contract
Rights:
|
10
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|
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2.1.8
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Business
Records:
|
10
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2.2
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Excluded
Assets:
|
10
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|
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2.2.1
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Licensed
Data; Seller's IP:
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10
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|
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2.2.2
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Trade
Accounts and Causes of Action:
|
10
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|
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2.2.3
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Third
Party Equipment:
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11
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2.2.4
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Other
Excluded Assets:
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11
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2.3
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Assets
Subject to Existing Agreements and Legal Requirements:
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11
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2.4
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Purchase
Price:
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11
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2.5
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Performance
Deposit:
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12
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2.6
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Qualified
Intermediary:
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12
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SECTION
3 – TITLE TO AND CONDITION OF OIL & GAS INTERESTS
|
13
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3.1
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Purchaser's
Data Review:
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13
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3.2
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Purchaser's
Obligations with Respect to the Pre-Acquisition Review:
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13
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3.3
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Material
Environmental Defects:
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14
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3.4
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Material
Title Defects:
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15
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3.5
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Preferential
Rights and Consents to Transfer:
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17
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3.6
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Removal
of Oil & Gas Interests: Section 3.3(c)(iii) and Section
3.4(c)
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17
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SECTION
4 – CLOSING
|
17
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4.1
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Closing
Conditions:
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17
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|
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4.1.1
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Purchaser:
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17
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|
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4.1.2
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Seller:
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18
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4.2
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Time
and Place:
|
18
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4.3
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Closing:
|
18
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4.4.1
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Operations
before Closing:
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19
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4.4.2
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Notice
of Litigation:
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20
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4.5
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Post
Closing Obligations:
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20
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4.5.1
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Recording
& Filing:
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20
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4.5.2
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Change
of Operator:
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20
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4.5.3
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Notices
to Third Parties:
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20
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4.5.4
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Property
Records:
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21
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4.5.5
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Use
of Name:
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21
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4.5.6
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Accounting
Assistance:
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22
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4.5.7
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Suspense
Funds:
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22
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4.5.8
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Additional
Geological and Geophysical Information:
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22
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4.5.9
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Access
to Properties:
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22
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SECTION
5 – GENERAL REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
|
22
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5.1
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Seller's
Representations & Warranties:
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22
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5.2
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Purchaser's
Representations & Warranties:
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24
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SECTION
6 – ACCOUNTING FOR REVENUE & EXPENSES
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26
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6.1
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Adjustments:
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26
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6.1.1
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Final
Accounting:
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26
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|
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6.1.2
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Notice
to Remitters of Proceeds:
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27
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6.2
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Allocation
of Tax Liabilities:
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27
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SECTION
7 – PURCHASER'S OBLIGATION
|
28
|
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7.1
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Purchaser's
Assumed Obligations:
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28
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7.1.1
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Retained
Obligations:
|
29
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7.2
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Plugging
and Abandonment of Wells, Removal of Facilities:
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29
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7.3
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Environmental
Obligations:
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29
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7.3.1
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Retained
Obligations:
|
30
|
SECTION
8 – DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY
|
30
|
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8.1
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Sale
"As Is" "Where Is" / Release for Physical and Environmental
Condition:
|
30
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8.2
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DISCLAIMER
REGARDING OIL & GAS INTERESTS:
|
31
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8.3
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DISCLAIMER
REGARDING INFORMATION:
|
31
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8.4
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DISCLAIMER
REGARDING ASBESTOS AND NORM:
|
32
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8.5
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DISCLAIMER
AS TO TITLE TO OIL & GAS INTERESTS AND PIPELINES:
|
32
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8.6
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CONSPICUOUSNESS:
|
32
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SECTION
9 – INDEMNIFICATION
|
33
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9.1
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Indemnification
|
33
|
SECTION
10 – CASUALTY LOSS
|
36
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10.1
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Casualty
Loss Prior to Closing:
|
36
|
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10.2
|
Limitation:
|
36
|
SECTION
11 – ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
|
36
|
|
11.1
|
Expenses
of Sale:
|
36
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11.2
|
Third
Party Rights:
|
36
|
|
11.3
|
Further
Actions:
|
36
|
|
11.4
|
Assignment:
|
37
|
|
|
11.4.1
|
Assignment
of Agreement:
|
37
|
|
|
11.4.2
|
Further
Assignment of Oil & Gas Interests:
|
37
|
|
11.5
|
Notices:
|
37
|
|
11.6
|
Public
Announcements:
|
38
|
|
11.7
|
Time
Limits:
|
38
|
|
11.8
|
Compliance
with Laws & Regulations:
|
38
|
|
11.9
|
Applicable
Law:
|
38
|
|
|
11.9.1
|
DTPA
Waiver:
|
38
|
|
11.10
|
Arbitration:
|
39
|
|
11.11
|
Severance
of Invalid Provisions:
|
40
|
|
11.12
|
Construction
& Interpretation:
|
40
|
|
|
11.12.1
|
Headings
for Convenience:
|
40
|
|
|
11.12.2
|
Gender
& Number:
|
40
|
|
|
11.12.3
|
Independent
Representation:
|
41
|
|
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11.12.4
|
Section
References:
|
41
|
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11.13
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Integrated
Agreement:
|
41
|
|
11.14
|
Binding
Effect:
|
41
|
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11.15
|
Multiple
Counterparts:
|
41
|
|
11.16
|
Fair
Notice Disclosure Statement:
|
42
|
PURCHASE
AND SALE AGREEMENT
THIS
PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT is
dated November 26, 2007 by and between SWEPI LP (“SWEPI”), a
Delaware limited partnership (“Seller”), the address for which
is 200 N. Dairy Ashford, Houston, Texas 77079, and Comstock Oil & Gas, LP, a
Nevada limited partnership, (“Purchaser”), the address for
which is 5300 Town and Country Blvd., Suite 500, Frisco, Texas
77034. Seller and Purchaser are sometimes separately referred to as a
“Party” and are sometimes collectively referred to as
“Parties”.
WHEREAS,
subject to the terms and
conditions set forth in this Agreement, Purchaser desires to purchase from
Seller, and Seller desires to sell to Purchaser, certain of Seller's interests
in oil and gas exploration, development and producing properties located in
Duval, Jim Hogg and Zapata counties, Texas.
NOW
THEREFORE, in consideration of the
mutual promises contained herein, the benefits to be derived by each Party
hereunder, and other good and valuable consideration, Purchaser and Seller
agree
as follows:
SECTION
1 - DEFINITIONS / EXHIBITS
The
following terms as used in this
Agreement shall have the definitions set forth below:
1.1 Accrued
Interest:
Means,
with respect to the Performance Deposit, (i) if the Performance Deposit has
been
deposited into a separate account for purposes of effecting a non-simultaneous
like-kind exchange of the Oil & Gas Interests, or for other reasons, the
actual interest or investment earnings on such deposit, less actual deposit
fees
and expenses paid by Seller with respect thereto, or otherwise, (ii) a daily
rate equal to the 30-day LIBOR rate quoted in the Money Rates column of the
Wall
Street Journal.
1.2 Affiliate(s):
Means
any
person that (a) controls, either directly or indirectly, a Party, or (b) is
controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Party, or (c) is, directly or
indirectly, controlled by a person that directly or indirectly controls such
Party, for which purpose “control” shall mean the right to
exercise fifty percent (50%) or more of the voting rights in the appointment
of
the directors or similar representation of a person, and for which purpose
and
for the purpose of other provisions of this Agreement, and
“person” shall mean any individual, corporation, government,
partnership, company, group, authority, association, joint venture, enterprise,
trust or other entity.
1.3 Agreement:
Means
this Purchase and Sale Agreement together with its attached Exhibits and the
operative conveyances and Closing documents, all of which are incorporated
into
this Agreement for all purposes and as fully as if set forth in the text of
this
Agreement.
1.4 Assumed
Obligations:
Means
those responsibilities, obligations, claims and liabilities assumed by Purchaser
under Section 7 hereof, subject to the exclusions set forth
therein.
1.5 Closing:
Means
(i)
the execution and delivery of the operative conveyances and other Closing
documents evidencing this transaction, and (ii) the payment of the Purchase
Price to Seller, and any other amounts to be paid at Closing pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement.
1.6 Effective
Time:
Means
7:00 a.m. local time where the Oil & Gas Interests are located on October 1,
2007.
1.7 Environmental
Law:
Means
all
applicable federal, state or local laws and regulations concerning or relating
to the pollution, protection or restoration of the environment, including,
but
not limited to, the Clean Air Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (“CERCLA”),
the Federal Water Pollution Control Act,
the Safe Drinking Water Act, the
Toxic Substance Control Act, the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments Act of
1984, the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, the Hazardous
Materials Transportation Act, the Clean Water Act, the National Environmental
Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Fish and Wildlife Coordination
Act,
the National Historic Preservation Act and the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, as
such laws have been and may be amended, replaced or substituted from time to
time and all regulations, orders, rulings, directives, requirements and
ordinances promulgated thereunder.
1.8 Exhibits
and Schedules:
Attached
hereto and forming an integral part of this Agreement are Exhibits 1 through
7,
which are individually described as follows:
Exhibit
1 Description
of Leases and other Oil & Gas Interests
Exhibit
2 Form
of Assignment and Bill of Sale
Exhibit
3 Excluded
Property
Exhibit
4 Non-Foreign
Affidavit
Exhibit
5 Guaranty
Agreement
Exhibit
6 Pre-Acquisition
Review Plan
Exhibit
7 Litigation
Indemnification Agreement
Schedule
1 Seller’s
Disclosure Schedule
Schedule
2 Post-Effective
Time Operations and Costs Accepted by Seller
1.9 Known/Knowledge:
Whenever
a statement regarding the existence (or absence) of any fact in this Agreement
is qualified by a phrase such as “to such Party's Knowledge”, “Known to such
Party,” or “had actual Knowledge”, the Parties intend that the only information
to be attributed to such Party is information actually known to (a) the person
in the case of an individual or (b) in the case of a corporation (or other
business entity), the current officer and manager who devotes substantial
attention to matters of such nature during the ordinary course of his or her
employment. Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement,
no Party is represented or obligated to have undertaken a separate investigation
in connection with the transaction contemplated in this Agreement to determine
the existence (or absence) of any statement or representation qualified by
a
phrase such as “to such Party's Knowledge”, “Known to such Party” or “had actual
Knowledge”.
1.10 Lease:
Means
the
oil and gas lease(s) (or portion(s) thereof) identified in Exhibit 1 attached
hereto.
1.11 Material
Adverse Effect:
Means
a
material adverse effect upon the ownership or operation of the Oil & Gas
Interests, taken as a whole, by Purchaser or the ability of Seller to consummate
the transactions evidenced by this Agreement.
1.12 Net
Revenue Interest:
Means
the
aggregate fractional or percentage ownership of Seller, immediately prior to
the
Effective Time, of the right to receive hydrocarbon production (either in-kind
or the share of proceeds from sales of hydrocarbon production) from the
applicable Leases (excluding non-consent operations), after the deduction of
all
burdens upon a Lease such as lessor's royalty on production. Net
Revenue Interests are shown for the purposes described in this Agreement in
Exhibit 1, but are not warranted as being accurate.
1.13 Oil
& Gas Interests:
Means
all
of Seller's interest in those certain Lease(s), and the lands described therein,
and other oil and gas leasehold estates or interests, as set forth in Exhibit
1,
together with Seller's ownership or other interest in the building and surface
lease described in Section 2.1.6, together with Seller’s ownership and other
interests in the well(s), pipeline laterals and other personal property located
on the Lease(s) and/or directly related thereto, all as described in Section
2.1, but excluding the Excluded Assets described in
Section 2.2.
1.14 Operator:
Means
the
person, designated or approved as Operator of the Oil & Gas Interests under
the terms of the applicable joint or unit operating agreement, if any, or by
the
appropriate government agency.
1.15 Retained
Obligations:
Means
those obligations retained by Seller pursuant to Sections 7.1.1 and
7.3.1.
1.16 Seller
Group
Means
any
Affiliate of Seller, and the directors, officers, employees, agents and
representatives of Seller or any Affiliate of Seller.
1.17 Working
Interest:
Means
the
aggregate fractional or percentage record title interest and operating rights
of
Seller in and to each Lease or other oil and gas interest immediately prior
to
the Effective Time by virtue of which Seller has the right to conduct the
operations contemplated by a Lease. Working Interests are shown for
the purposes described in this Agreement in Exhibit 1, but are not warranted
as
being accurate.
1.18 Other
Definitions:
In
addition, the following terms are defined in this Agreement in the Section
so
identified.
Defined
Term
|
Definition
found in Section:
|
Accounting
Notice
|
6.1.1(a)
|
Accounting
Referee
|
6.1.1(b)
|
Basic
Documents
|
2.3
|
Casualty
Loss
|
10.1
|
CERCLA
|
1.7
|
Claim
Notice
|
9.1(c)
|
Closing
Date
|
4.2
|
CPR
Data
Exchange
|
11.10
3.1
|
Dispute
|
11.10
|
Environmental
Defect
|
3.3(a)
|
Environmental
Obligations
|
7.3
|
Excluded
Assets
|
2.2
|
Final
Accounting
|
6.1.1(a)
|
Final
Accounting Date
|
6.1.1(a)
|
Indemnified
Party
|
9.1(d)
|
Indemnifying
Party
|
9.1(d)
|
Losses
|
9.1(a)
|
Material
|
3.3(b)
|
Non-Environmental
Claim
|
9.1(b)
|
Notice
Period
|
9.1(d)
|
Performance
Deposit
|
2.5
|
Pre-Acquisition
Review
|
3.2
|
Preliminary
Accounting
|
6.1
|
Purchase
Price
|
2.4
|
Purchaser
Amounts
|
6.1
|
Rules
|
11.10
|
Seller
Amounts
|
6.1
|
Title
Defect
|
3.4(a)
|
|
|
SECTION
2 - PURCHASE AND SALE
2.1 Purchase
and Sale of Assets:
Seller
agrees to sell and Purchaser agrees to purchase, for the consideration recited
and upon the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement, the Oil & Gas
Interests described in this Section 2.1 and Exhibit 1. Except for the
Excluded Assets listed in Section 2.2 below, upon Closing, Seller shall sell,
assign and deliver to Purchaser all of Seller's right, title and interest in,
to
and under all of the Oil & Gas Interests, including the following
assets:
2.1.1 Lease(s):
All
of
Seller's interest in each Lease (and the land described therein), all of
Seller’s rights and obligations comprising the Working Interest and Net Revenue
Interest in each Lease, or portion thereof, and other interests in oil and
gas
leasehold estates or interests described in Exhibit 1 (provided that Seller
does
not warrant the accuracy of the Working Interest and Net Revenue Interest
percentages shown on Exhibit 1) and all rights, privileges and obligations
appurtenant to each Lease; and
2.1.2 Associated
Interests:
All
of
Seller's rights and obligations in any pool or unit in which a Lease is
included, or arising from any pooling agreement, cooperative agreement, well
slot use agreement, unit agreement or operating agreement, and any agreement
similar to the foregoing, to the extent that these rights arise from and are
associated with a Lease; and
2.1.3 Wells:
All
of
Seller's right, title and interest in all (i) oil, gas or condensate wells
and
wellbore(s) (whether producing, not producing or abandoned) and (ii) water
source, water injection and other injection and disposal wells and systems,
located on a Lease (or lands unitized, pooled or associated with a Lease);
and
2.1.4 Facilities:
All
of
Seller's right, title and interest in all facilities, pipelines, gathering
systems, equipment, fixtures, inventory, spare parts, tools and other personal
property (but excluding personal computers and peripheral computer equipment
and
telecommunications equipment, whether or not in current operation, but only
if
(i) located on a Lease or lands unitized therewith or located on a third party’s
property by reason of a pooling agreement, unit agreement, operating agreement
or similar agreement, and (ii) used or dedicated exclusively to operations
on a
Lease or lands unitized or pooled therewith; (but excepting any Excluded Assets
listed in Section 2.2 below), it being understood and agreed that the Oil &
Gas Interests include the twin out-of-service H2S and CO2
natural gas
treating facilities located in the Rosita East Production Area; and
2.1.5 Easements:
All
of
Seller's right, title and interest in all easements, rights of way, licenses,
permits, servitudes, surface leases and similar interests exclusively applicable
to or exclusively used in operating a Lease or the wells, platforms or pipelines
described above, including but not limited to those listed on Exhibit 1, to
the
extent assignable or transferable; and
2.1.6 Zapata
Office Building
All
of
Seller’s right, title and interest in and to the building and surface lease
located on Highway 16, 26 miles northeast of Zapata, Texas, and the personal
property and movables located therein or thereon except for the personal
property and movables listed on Exhibit 3; and
2.1.7 Contract
Rights:
All
of
Seller's right, title and interest in the contracts and contractual rights,
obligations and interests, to the extent assignable or transferable, insofar
as
relating to any Lease, and those other contracts and contractual rights,
obligations and leases related to any of the Oil & Gas Interests and
identified on Exhibit 1 hereto; and
2.1.8 Business
Records:
Photocopies
or other images of all lease files, land files, well files, production records,
division order files, abstracts, title opinions and contract files in Seller's
possession and all seismic, geological or geophysical data owned by Seller,
insofar as it directly relates to a Lease or lands unitized therewith or other
interests included in the Oil & Gas Interests (but excluding any internal
valuations, price, technical or economic forecasts, interpretive data or
documentation, privileged or confidential information, information or records
that are subject to any third party license or secrecy agreement that may
restrict Seller’s ability to disclose or transfer such information or records,
or documents that relate solely to any Retained Obligation).
2.2 Excluded
Assets:
The
assets to be assigned and conveyed under this Agreement do not include
(collectively, the “Excluded Assets”):
2.2.1 Licensed
Data; Seller's IP:
Seismic,
geological, or geophysical data licensed from third parties or subject to a
confidentiality obligation in favor of a third party or any of Seller's or
Seller’s Affiliates’ intellectual property, software, patents, trademarks, logos
or service marks used in developing or operating a Lease; and
2.2.2 Trade
Accounts and Causes of Action:
Accounts
receivable, tax, contract, insurance premium or other refunds, income or
revenue, deposits, insurance or condemnation proceeds or awards, rights with
respect to operations or claims and causes of action in favor of Seller
(including, without limitation, any joint operating or unit operating agreement
audit claims), any of which are attributable to Seller's ownership of the Oil
& Gas Interests prior to the Effective Time; and
2.2.3 Third
Party Equipment:
Any
leased equipment for which Purchaser does not specifically assume the lease
or
third party equipment and property that may be located on a Lease, pipelines,
fixtures, and equipment which belong to third parties such as lessors,
purchasers and transporters of hydrocarbons; and
2.2.4 Other
Excluded Assets:
Those
assets owned by Seller listed on Exhibit 3 hereof, entitled “Excluded
Property”.
2.3 Assets
Subject to Existing Agreements and Legal Requirements:
The
sale
of the Oil & Gas Interests to Purchaser will be made subject to (and
Purchaser agrees to accept the Oil & Gas Interests subject to) any and all
reservations, exceptions, limitations, contracts, assignments, subleases,
farmout agreements, joint or unit operating agreements, pooling agreements,
letter agreements, production processing or handling agreements, interconnect,
transportation, gas sales, metering and allocation, pooling or unitization
agreements, easements, rights-of-way and all other agreements or instruments
pertaining to the Oil & Gas Interests (the “Basic
Documents”), including those Basic Documents (i) that are of record
with the Texas Secretary of State or any county office, or (ii) that have
been disclosed or delivered to Purchaser for its review prior to
Closing, or that are referred to therein, or (iii) that are listed on
Exhibit 1, or (iv) of which Purchaser has actual or constructive knowledge,
including, without limitation, any matter included or referenced in the Data
Exchange or otherwise in materials made available to Purchaser by Seller or
other party with the legal right to provide the same. In addition, as
a part of the consideration hereunder, Purchaser shall assume, pay for, and
perform Seller's duties, liabilities and obligations as lessee of each Lease
and
all duties imposed by governmental laws and regulations.
2.4 Purchase
Price:
The
total
purchase price for the Oil & Gas Interests shall be One Hundred Seventy
Million Dollars ($170,000,000.00) (the “Purchase Price”)
payable to Seller at Closing and subject to adjustments as provided for in
Section 6.
Seller
and Purchaser agree to allocate the Purchase Price and any liabilities assumed
by Purchaser under this Agreement based on the Schedule of Values provided
that
no more than 5% of the Purchase Price shall be allocated to tangible property
and no less than 95% shall be allocated to the Leases. Seller and Purchaser
each
agree that the Oil & Gas Interests subject to this Agreement do not
constitute an “applicable asset acquisition” as described under the Internal
Revenue Code section 1060 and the regulations thereunder, and do not constitute
a trade or business in the ordinary sense of the term. Seller and Purchaser
each
agree to report the federal, state and local income and other tax consequences
of the transactions contemplated herein, and in particular to report the
information consistent with the terms of this Agreement and shall not take
any
position inconsistent therewith upon examination of any tax return, in any
refund claim, in any litigation, investigation or otherwise unless required
to
do so by applicable law after notice to the other Party, or with such other
Party's prior consent.
2.5 Performance
Deposit
Upon
execution of this Agreement, Purchaser shall pay by wire transfer to Seller
Eight Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($8,500,000.00) in good and
immediately available funds, as a performance deposit (the “Performance
Deposit”) on the Oil & Gas Interests to be transferred to Purchaser
hereunder. The Performance Deposit shall be paid by wire transfer to
SWEPI’s designated Qualified Intermediary, Wachovia Bank, N.A., using the
following instructions:
Account
Name: Wachovia Bank Deposit Collection Account on behalf of SWEPI
LP
Account # 2000032566785
ABA/Routing # 053000219
Attention: Derrick
Tharpe (888) 693-5566
This
Performance Deposit is solely to assure the performance of Purchaser pursuant
to
the terms and conditions of this Agreement. If Purchaser fails, refuses or
is
unable for any reason (including failure to obtain financing) to close the
transaction in accordance with the terms hereof, Seller shall have the right,
at
its sole option, to retain the Performance Deposit as agreed liquidated damages
and not as a penalty. However, if this Agreement is terminated pursuant to
the
provisions of Sections 3.4(b) (Material Environmental Defects), 3.4(c) (Material
Title Defects), 3.6 (Removal of Oil & Gas Interests) or 10.1 (Casualty
Loss), Seller shall return the Performance Deposit, plus all Accrued Interest,
to Purchaser within five (5) banking days of receipt of the notice of
termination.
2.6 Qualified
Intermediary:
Seller
and Purchaser hereby agree that this transaction may be completed as a like-kind
exchange and that each Party will assist in completing the sale as a like-kind
exchange. As a like-kind exchange, Seller and Purchaser agree that
Purchaser, in lieu of the purchase of the Oil & Gas Interests from Seller
for the cash consideration provided herein, shall have the right at any time
prior to Closing to assign all or a portion of its rights under this Agreement
to a Qualified Intermediary (as that term is defined in Section
1.1031(k)-1(g)(4)(v) of the U.S Internal Revenue Service Treasury Regulations)
in order to accomplish the transaction in a manner that will comply, either
in
whole or in part, with the requirements of a like-kind exchange pursuant to
Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Likewise, Seller
shall have the right at any time prior to Closing to assign all or a portion
of
its rights under this Agreement to a Qualified Intermediary for the same
purpose. In the event either Party assigns its rights under this Agreement
pursuant to this Section 2.6, such Party agrees to notify the other Party in
writing of such assignment at or before Closing. If Seller assigns its rights
under this Agreement for this purpose, Purchaser agrees to (i) consent to
Seller’s assignment of its rights in this Agreement in the form reasonably
requested by the Qualified Intermediary, and (ii) pay the Purchase Price (as
may
be adjusted under the terms of this Agreement) for the Oil & Gas Interests
into a qualified escrow or qualified trust account at Closing as directed in
writing. If Purchaser assigns its rights under this Agreement for this purpose,
Seller agrees to (i) consent to Purchaser’s assignment of its rights in this
Agreement in the form reasonably requested by the Qualified Intermediary, (ii)
accept the Purchase Price (as may be adjusted under the terms of this Agreement)
for the Oil & Gas Interests from the qualified escrow or qualified trust
account at Closing, and (iii) at Closing, convey and assign directly to
Purchaser the Oil & Gas Interests which are the subject of this Agreement
upon satisfaction of the other conditions to Closing and other terms and
conditions hereof. Seller and Purchaser acknowledge and agree that any
assignment of this Agreement, shall not increase the costs, expenses or
liabilities of a Party as a result of the other Party’s assignment of this
Agreement to a Qualified Intermediary, shall not release either Party from
any
of their respective liabilities and obligations to each other under this
Agreement, and that neither Party represents to the other that any particular
tax treatment will be given to either Party as a result thereof.
SECTION
3 - TITLE TO AND CONDITION OF OIL & GAS
INTERESTS
3.1 Purchaser’s
Data Review:
Purchaser
acknowledges that it has received from Seller (i) a USB portable drive
containing images of certain documents, instruments and agreements relevant
to
Purchaser’s examination of the Oil & Gas Interests, (ii) the
opportunity, to the extent Seller was able to provide it, to conduct site
visit(s) of the Oil & Gas Interests, (iii) the opportunity to review lease,
land contract and regulatory files in Seller’s possession that relate to the Oil
& Gas Interests, (iv) the opportunity to ask questions related to the Oil
& Gas Interests of managers and employees of Seller and its Affiliates, and
(v) drafts of the Exhibits and Schedules to this Agreement (collectively
referred to as the “Data Exchange”).
3.2 Purchaser’s
Obligations with Respect to the Pre-Acquisition Review:
(a) Upon
execution of and pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, Purchaser shall have
the right, at reasonable times during normal business hours, at Purchaser’s sole
cost and expense, to continue to conduct an expert investigation into the
environmental condition of the Oil & Gas Interests and the status of title
to the Oil & Gas Interests (the “Pre-Acquisition Review”),
pursuant to the Pre-Acquisition Review Plan that has already been submitted
by
Purchaser to Seller and which is attached hereto as Exhibit 6. Seller
hereby approves Purchaser’s Pre-Acquisition Review Plan. The scope of the
Pre-Acquisition Review includes:
(i) To
the extent Seller has the right to grant such rights to Purchaser, and only
after notice to the Operator of any Lease or other facility, the right to enter
all or any part of the Oil & Gas Interests at any reasonable time, and to
inspect, inventory, investigate, perform environmental assessments, study and
examine the same and the operations conducted thereon (provided that Purchaser
shall have no right to conduct any invasive environmental sampling or testing
on
any Oil & Gas Interest); and
(ii) The
right to inspect and review at Seller’s offices at reasonable times and upon
reasonable notice, all non-privileged and non-proprietary files, records, data
and documents related to the Oil & Gas Interests. Such records
may include, but shall not be limited to, any of the following if in Seller’s
possession: original well record files, regulatory, accounting,
royalty, environmental, pipeline, maintenance, transportation, processing,
production, engineering, lease and contract files and
records. Purchaser’s Pre-Acquisition Review Plan, as approved by
Seller,
(1) identifies
each person or company that will participate in the Pre-Acquisition
Review;
(2) makes
an assignment of value (subject to the agreement of Seller) to each discreet
Lease or unit and other discreet material property, included within the Oil
& Gas Interests;
(3) includes
an estimated timetable for the conduct of the Pre-Acquisition Review;
and
(4) describes
the scope of the Pre-Acquisition Review.
(b) Purchaser
shall maintain the results of its investigation, testing and evaluation and
review of files and records, confidential in accordance with and otherwise
comply with the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement dated August 27,
2007.
(c) Purchaser
shall provide Seller a copy of any assessment reports of or about the Oil &
Gas Interests, including, without limitation, any reports, data and conclusions
developed pursuant to the Pre-Acquisition Review, promptly after such assessment
report has been furnished to or obtained by Purchaser, and Seller shall be
permitted to discuss the contents of any such assessment reports with the party
who prepared such reports.
(d) While
conducting the Pre-Acquisition Review, Purchaser and its employees, agents
and
consultants shall abide by Seller’s (or the Operator’s with respect to
non-operated Oil & Gas Interests) safety rules, regulations and other
operating policies applicable to the Oil & Gas Interests, which are
furnished to Purchaser by Seller.
3.3 Material
Environmental Defects:
(a) If,
as a consequence of the Pre-Acquisition Review, Purchaser determines, based
upon
facts or circumstances, that there is any contamination of the Oil & Gas
Interests or adverse condition or operation affecting the Oil & Gas
Interests, as a result of any production, storage, transportation, treatment,
discharge, release, spill, seepage, escape, emission, emptying, or leaching
of
any hydrocarbons, wastes, pollutants, contaminants, hazardous materials,
hazardous substances or other substances on, in or below the Oil & Gas
Interests that (i) creates a present liability under applicable Environmental
Law to the owner or operator of the Oil & Gas Interests or (ii) requires
immediate remediation or remediation promptly after Closing under applicable
Environmental Law, or (iii) is in violation of applicable Environmental Law,
consent decrees or judgments in effect at the Effective Time (an
“Environmental Defect”), Purchaser shall give notice of the
same to Seller at least five (5) business days prior to the Closing
Date. Such notice shall include Purchaser’s good faith estimate of
the cost to cure or remedy the listed condition(s) in accordance with applicable
law or agency requirements, and give a detailed and specific description of
such
contamination or adverse condition. FAILURE TO GIVE IN A
TIMELY MANNER ANY SUCH NOTICE SHALL FORECLOSE PURCHASER FROM SECURING THE
BENEFITS OF SECTION 3.3(c), SHALL NOT EXCUSE PURCHASER FOR FAILING TO CLOSE
BECAUSE OF MATTERS ARISING OUT OF THE PRE-ACQUISITION REVIEW, AND EXCEPT WITH
RESPECT TO SELLER's INDEMNIFICATION OBLIGATIONS SPECIFIED IN
SECTION 9.1(b), SHALL CONSTITUTE A COMPLETE WAIVER AND RELEASE BY PURCHASER
OF
ALL CLAIMS AGAINST SELLER AND EACH MEMBER OF SELLER GROUP WITH RESPECT TO THE
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION OF THE OIL & GAS INTERESTS, WHETHER CONTRACT, TORT
OR STATUTORY, REGARDLESS OF THE PAST NEGLIGENCE OR FAULT OR STRICT OR STATUTORY
LIABILITY OF SELLER.
(b) If
the aggregate of the costs necessary to cure or remedy all of the Environmental
Defects is Material (as defined below), then the Closing Date shall be extended
for thirty days, unless the parties otherwise
agree. “Material” means Two Million Five Hundred and
Fifty Thousand Dollars ($2,550,000.00).
(c) If
the aggregate of the costs necessary to cure or remedy all of the Environmental
Defects identified by Purchaser is Material, then within the period between
the
date of receipt of Purchaser’s notice and the extended Closing Date, Seller
shall take one or more of the following actions, to the extent of reducing
such
costs that may be borne by Purchaser to an amount that is not
Material:
(i)
Seller shall remedy or agree to remedy, to a degree agreed upon prior to
Closing, the Environmental Defects described in such notice (provided that
in
the event current remediation of such Environmental Defects is required by
a
Federal, State or local agency, Seller shall only be obligated to remedy the
Environmental Defects in accordance with and to the satisfaction of the
appropriate agency's requirements);
(ii)
Seller shall agree with Purchaser on an adjustment to the Purchase Price which
adjustment shall reflect Purchaser’s cost (as originally estimated by Purchaser
and subject to the agreement of Seller) to remedy such Environmental Defects
in
accordance with and to the satisfaction of the law or agency
requirements;
(iii)
Seller shall remove the affected portion or portions of the Oil & Gas
Interests from this Agreement and in such event the Purchase Price shall be
adjusted accordingly based on the agreed values established pursuant to Section
3.2(a)(ii)(2); or
(iv)
Seller shall agree to indemnify Purchaser from Losses incurred by Purchaser
to
cure or remedy identified Environmental Defects, pursuant to written indemnity
agreement reasonable agreeable to Seller and Purchaser.
Provided,
however, that if the aggregate of the Environmental Defects identified by
Purchaser is Material, and if Seller takes the actions under this Section
3.3(c)(iii), resulting in the removal of Oil & Gas Interests having agreed
values established pursuant to Section 3.2(a)(2) equal to or greater than Ten
Percent (10%) of the Purchase Price, then either Party may terminate this
Agreement by giving written notice of such termination to the other Party on
or
prior to the extended Closing Date. Upon the giving of such termination notice,
Purchaser shall be entitled to a return of the Performance Deposit held by
the
Seller, plus all Accrued Interest. IN THE EVENT THE PARTIES AGREE TO
REMEDY THE CONDITION OR TO ADJUST THE PURCHASE PRICE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE
CONDITION, THEN PURCHASER SHALL ACQUIRE THE AFFECTED PORTIONS OF THE OIL &
GAS INTERESTS “WHERE IS” AND “AS IS” WITH NO RIGHT TO RECOVER ANY FURTHER
AMOUNTS FROM SELLER FOR ANY LIABILITIES, COSTS OR EXPENSES RELATED TO SUCH
CONDITIONS (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AND DAMAGES
TO NATURAL RESOURCES). ACQUISITION OF THE PROPERTY CONTAINING SUCH CONDITIONS
“WHERE IS” AND “AS IS” SHALL CONSTITUTE PURCHASER'S WAIVER, GENERAL RELEASE AND
AGREEMENT TO DEFEND, INDEMNIFY AND HOLD SELLER AND EACH MEMBER OF SELLER GROUP
HARMLESS FROM ALL LIABILITIES, COSTS OR EXPENSES RELATED TO SUCH CONDITIONS
(INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS, CERCLA LIABILITY
AND
DAMAGES TO NATURAL RESOURCES), WHETHER CONTRACT, TORT OR STATUTORY, REGARDLESS
OF THE PAST NEGLIGENCE OR FAULT OR STRICT OR STATUTORY LIABILITY OF SELLER
OR
ANY MEMBER OF SELLER GROUP.
(d) If
the aggregate of the alleged Environmental Defects set forth in the notice
are
not Material, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Seller shall
nonetheless have the option at its sole discretion to remove from this Agreement
any portion or portions of the Oil & Gas Interests affected by the
Environmental Defects, and the Purchase Price shall be adjusted accordingly
based on the agreed values pursuant to Section 3.2(a)(2) hereto. As to those
portions of the Oil & Gas Interests, identified by Seller as having an
Environmental Defect (the aggregate of such Environmental Defects not being
Material), if Seller does not elect to remove the affected portion or portions
of the Oil & Gas Interests, PURCHASER SHALL ACQUIRE THE AFFECTED
PORTIONS OF THE PROPERTY “WHERE IS” AND “AS IS” WITH NO RIGHT TO RECOVER FROM
SELLER FOR ANY LIABILITIES, COSTS OR EXPENSES RELATED TO SUCH CONDITIONS
(INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AND DAMAGES TO NATURAL
RESOURCES). ACQUISITION OF THE PROPERTY CONTAINING SUCH NON-MATERIAL CONDITIONS
“WHERE IS” AND “AS IS” SHALL CONSTITUTE PURCHASER’S WAIVER, GENERAL RELEASE AND
AGREEMENT TO DEFEND, INDEMNIFY AND HOLD SELLER AND EACH MEMBER OF SELLER GROUP
HARMLESS FROM ALL LIABILITIES, COSTS OR EXPENSES RELATED TO SUCH NON-MATERIAL
CONDITIONS (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, NON-MATERIAL ENVIRONMENTAL
CONDITIONS, CERCLA LIABILITY AND DAMAGES TO NATURAL RESOURCES), WHETHER
CONTRACT, TORT OR STATUTORY, REGARDLESS OF THE PAST NEGLIGENCE OR FAULT OR
STRICT OR STATUTORY LIABILITY OF SELLER OR ANY MEMBER OF SELLER
GROUP.
(e) If
Seller agrees to remedy specific adverse condition(s) under Section 3.3(c),
then
Purchaser and Seller agree that all negotiations and contacts with state,
federal and local agencies for approval and review of such remedial action
shall
be made by Seller.
3.4 Material
Title Defects:
(a) If,
as a consequence of the Pre-Acquisition Review, Purchaser determines, based
upon
facts or circumstances, that there is any defect in Seller’s title to the Oil
& Gas Interests such that:
(1)
Seller’s Working Interest in a Lease is greater than as identified in Exhibit 1
without a proportionate increase in Seller’s Net Revenue Interest, or Seller’s
Net Revenue Interest in a Lease is less than as identified in Exhibit 1,
or
(2)
Seller’s title is subject to a mortgage, lien or other security interest,
or
(3)
Seller is in default of a material obligation contained in a Lease or agreement
with respect to the Oil & Gas Interests; or
(4)
Purchaser is reasonably likely to experience any reduction in its rights to
use
such Oil & Gas Interests as an owner, lessee, licensee or permitee (as
compared to Seller’s use of the same at the Effective Time) due to a
reversionary, recoupment, back-in or similar right; (any
of
the foregoing being a “Title Defect”), Purchaser shall give
notice of the same to Seller at least ten (10) days prior to the Closing
Date. Such notice shall include Purchaser’s good faith estimate of
the amount by which the Oil & Gas Interests affected are impaired by the
listed defect(s).
(b) If
the aggregate of the amount of all impairments to the affected Oil & Gas
Interests arising from Title Defects, as estimated by Purchaser, is Material,
then the Closing Date shall be extended for thirty days, unless the Parties
otherwise agree.
(c) If
the aggregate of the amount of all impairments to the affected Oil & Gas
Interests arising from Title Defects is Material, then within the period between
the date of receipt of Purchaser’s notice and the extended Closing Date, Seller
shall take one or more of the following actions, to the extent of reducing
the
amounts of such impairments to an amount that is not Material:
(i)
Seller shall cure or agree to remedy the Title Defect(s) described in such
notice;
(ii)
Seller shall remove the affected portion or portions of the Oil & Gas
Interests from this Agreement and in such event the Purchase Price shall be
adjusted accordingly based on the agreed values pursuant to Section 3.2(a)(2);
or
(iii)
Seller shall agree to indemnify Purchaser from Losses incurred by Purchaser
as a
result of or connected with such Title Defect(s), pursuant to a written
indemnity agreement reasonably agreeable to Seller and Purchaser.
Provided,
however, that if the aggregate of the Title Defects identified by Purchaser
is
Material, and if Seller takes the actions under this Section 3.4(c)(ii)
resulting in the removal of Oil & Gas Interests having agreed values
established pursuant to 3.2(a)(ii)(2) equal to or greater than Ten Percent
(10%)
of the Purchase Price, then either Party may terminate this Agreement by giving
written notice of such termination to the other Party on or prior to the
extended Closing Date. Upon the giving of such termination notice, Purchaser
shall be entitled to a return of the Performance Deposit, plus all Accrued
Interest, held by the Seller.
(d) Anything
in the foregoing notwithstanding, the following shall not constitute a Title
Defect:
(1) Preferential
rights to purchase or restrictions upon assignment of any Lease or other Oil
& Gas Interest, to the extent waived, expired or granted, as the case may
be, prior to Closing; or
(2) Consent
or voting rights with respect to the election or succession of Purchaser to
be
Operator of any Oil & Gas Interest; or
(3) Materialmen’s,
mechanics, repairmen’s, contractor’s, employee’s, operator’s, tax or similar
liens arising in the ordinary course of business, which obligations are not
yet
due and pursuant to which Seller is not in default; or
(4) All
rights reserved to or vested in any governmental agency with respect to the
Oil
& Gas Interests and any conveyance thereof.
(e) SUBJECT
TO SECTION 3.4(f), THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION 3.4 ARE
PURCHASER’S EXCLUSIVE RIGHT AND REMEDY AGAINST SELLER FOR ANY DEFECT IN TITLE TO
ALL OR ANY PORTION OF THE OIL & GAS INTERESTS. EXCEPT AS
SPECIFICALLY PROVIDED HEREIN, PURCHASER, FOR ITSELF AND FOR ITS SUCCESSORS
AND
ASSIGNS, FOREVER RELEASES AND DISCHARGES SELLER AND EACH MEMBER OF SELLER GROUP
FROM AND AGAINST ANY LIABILITY, LOSS, CLAIM, COST OR EXPENSE ON ACCOUNT OF
TITLE
TO (OR LACK OF TITLE TO) ANY OF THE OIL & INTERESTS.
(f) Anything
in this Agreement notwithstanding, Seller warrants that title to the Leases
is
free from claims by, through and under Seller, but not otherwise.
3.5 Preferential
Rights and Consents to Transfer:
Seller
believes that none of the Oil & Gas Interests are subject to any
preferential right held by a third party to purchase such Oil & Gas
Interest. However, in the event any portion of the Oil & Gas
Interests are burdened with a preferential right, or are subject to a
requirement to obtain the consent to assignment of a third party, then the
conveyance or transfer of that portion of the Oil & Gas Interests shall be
conditioned upon the waiver of or the expiration of the period for exercising
such preferential right, or the obtaining of such consent, as the case may
be. Seller shall not be liable to Purchaser by reason of any
inability or failure to obtain any such waiver of preferential rights or
consent.
3.6 Removal
of Oil & Gas Interests: Section 3.3(c)(iii) and Section
3.4(c):
If
Seller
takes the actions under both Section 3.3(c)(iii) and Section 3.4(c)(ii)
resulting in the removal of Oil & Gas Interests having agreed values
established pursuant to 3.2(a)(ii)(2) altogether equal to or greater than Ten
Percent (10%) of the Purchase Price, then either Party may terminate this
Agreement by giving written notice of such termination to the other Party on
or
prior to the extended Closing Date. Upon the giving of such termination notice,
Purchaser shall be entitled to a return of the Performance Deposit, plus all
Accrued Interest, held by the Seller.
SECTION
4 – CLOSING
4.1 Closing
Conditions:
4.1.1 Purchaser:
The
obligations of Purchaser to close the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement shall be subject to the satisfaction prior to the Closing Date of
the
following conditions:
(a) The
representations and warranties of Seller set forth in Section 5 that are
qualified by materiality or with reference to a Material Adverse Effect shall
be
true and accurate and those not so qualified shall be true and accurate in
all
material respects as of the Closing Date and Seller shall have performed in
all
material respects those covenants and agreements of Seller set forth herein
that
are required to be performed prior to Closing.
(b) Except
for approvals and consents customarily obtained after Closing, all necessary
consents of third parties and filings with any governmental agency or
instrumentality relating to the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by
this Agreement shall have been obtained, effected or waived.
(c) No
action, suit or other proceeding shall be pending or threatened before any
court
or governmental agency seeking to restrain Purchaser from consummating the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or seeking damages from Purchaser
as
a result of consummating the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
4.1.2 Seller:
The
obligations of Seller to close the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
shall be subject to the satisfaction prior to the Closing Date of the following
conditions:
(a) The
representations and warranties of Purchaser set forth in Section 5 that are
qualified by materiality or with reference to a Material Adverse Effect shall
be
true and accurate and those not so qualified shall be true and accurate in
all
material respects as of the Closing Date and Purchaser shall have performed
in
all material respects those covenants and agreements of Purchaser set forth
herein that are required to be performed prior to Closing.
(b) Except
for approvals and consents customarily obtained after Closing, all necessary
consents of third parties and filings with any governmental agency or
instrumentality relating to the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by
this Agreement shall have been obtained, effected or waived.
(c) No
action, suit or other proceeding shall be pending or threatened before any
court
or governmental agency seeking to restrain Seller from consummating the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or seeking damages from Seller
as a
result of consummating the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
(d) Purchaser
shall have complied with Section 4.3(b) with regard to providing Seller with
additional security for the assumption by Purchaser of the Assumed
Obligations.
4.2 Time
and Place:
Unless
otherwise mutually agreed, the Closing shall be held on the later of (i) the
fifth business day following satisfaction of the conditions to Closing set
forth
in Section 4.1 or (ii) December 31, 2007 (the “Closing
Date”), at the offices of Seller at 200 N. Dairy Ashford, Houston,
Texas 77079. The time and place for Closing may be changed to an
earlier or later time and place by mutual written agreement of the Parties,
but
any acceleration or postponement of the Closing shall not change the Effective
Time.
4.3 Closing:
The
following shall take place at the Closing:
(a) Seller
and Purchaser shall execute and deliver the transfers, assignments and bills
of
sale, each with special warranty of title against claims by, through and under
Seller, but not otherwise, using the form which is attached as Exhibit
2.
(b) Purchaser
shall cause it corporate parent, Comstock Resources, Inc., to deliver the
corporate guaranty in the form attached as Exhibit 5.
(c) Purchaser
shall pay to Seller by wire transfer an amount equal to the Purchase Price,
as
adjusted by the Preliminary Accounting, less an amount equal to the Performance
Deposit (provided that Seller may direct that Purchaser shall pay the unadjusted
Purchase Price, less the Performance Deposit, to the Qualified Intermediary,
and
in such event on the Closing Date the Party that owes the net amount to the
other under the Preliminary Accounting shall pay such amount by wire transfer
to
the other Party).
(d) Purchaser
and Seller shall execute and deliver the Non-Foreign Affidavit attached as
Exhibit 4, such designation of operator forms as are necessary to transfer
operations to Purchaser for those Oil & Gas Interests that are operated by
Seller and which are intended to be operated by Purchaser after the Closing,
and
such other remaining documents, letters-in-lieu of transfer orders, joinders,
ratifications, certificates, instruments or agreements which are contemplated
by
the transaction described herein or deemed necessary or appropriate by the
Parties.
(e) Seller
shall execute and deliver the Litigation Indemnification Agreement in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit “7”.
Upon
Purchaser's completion of its Closing obligations, Seller shall deliver to
Purchaser exclusive possession of the Oil & Gas Interests as of the
Closing. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the
failure of Purchaser to deliver at Closing all of the Purchase Price, as
adjusted as contemplated above, shall entitle Seller to withhold all conveyance
documents until such time as it has received the full consideration for the
conveyance. This right shall be in addition to all other rights and
remedies that Seller may have under this Agreement or at law or in
equity.
No
agreement to be executed and delivered at the Closing, or action to be taken
at
the Closing, shall be effective until all such agreements have been executed
and
delivered or actions have been taken, and all such agreements and actions shall
be deemed to be effective concurrently.
4.4.1 Operations
before Closing:
As
Closing will occur subsequent to the Effective Time, Seller will continue the
operation of the Oil & Gas Interests for the account of Purchaser in the
ordinary course of business, and operate the Oil & Gas Interests in material
compliance with all applicable laws, including, without limitation,
Environmental Laws, and in material compliance with all contracts relating
to
the Oil & Gas Interests. From the date hereof until Closing,
Seller will not, without Purchaser’s prior consent in connection with the Oil
& Gas Interests:
(a) expend
any funds, or make any commitments to expend funds (including entering into
new
agreements which would obligate Seller to expend funds), or otherwise incur
any
other obligations or liabilities, other than in connection with the ordinary
course of business and as would a prudent operator, except in the event of
an
emergency requiring immediate action to protect life, prevent environmental
contamination, or preserve the Oil & Gas Interests;
(b) except
where necessary to prevent the termination of a Lease, propose the drilling
of
any additional wells, or propose the deepening, plugging back or reworking
of
any existing wells, or propose the abandonment of any wells relating to the
Oil
& Gas Interests (and Seller agrees that it will advise Purchaser of any such
proposals made by third parties and will respond to each such proposal made
by a
third party in the manner requested by Purchaser);
(c) sell,
transfer or abandon any portion of the Oil & Gas Interests other than items
of materials, supplies, machinery, equipment, improvements or other personal
property or fixtures forming a part of the Oil & Gas Interests (and then
only if the same is replaced with an item of substantially equal suitability,
free of liens and security interests, which replacement item will then, for
the
purposes of this Agreement, become part of the Oil & Gas Interests);
or
(d) release
(or permit to terminate), or modify its rights under any Leases.
EXCEPT
AS PROVIDED IN THIS PARAGRAPH 4.4, PURCHASER RELEASES SELLER AND EACH MEMBER
OF
SELLER GROUP FROM ANY LIABILITY FOR SELLER’S OR SUCH SELLER GROUP MEMBER’S OWN
NEGLIGENCE, INCLUDING SELLER’S OR SELLERS GROUP MEMBER’S SOLE NEGLIGENCE (BUT
NOT GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT), IN ANY CAPACITY, OR FROM ANY
LIABILITY TO PURCHASER EXISTING BY OPERATION OF STATUTE OR UNDER STRICT
LIABIILTY, ARISING OUT OF, CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED TO, SELLER’S OPERATION,
OWNERSHIP OR CONTROL OF THE OIL & GAS INTERESTS FROM THE EFFECTIVE DATE
UNTIL THE CLOSING DATE.
4.4.2 Notice
of Litigation:
Until
the
Closing, (a) Purchaser, upon learning of the same, shall promptly notify Seller
of any proceeding which is commenced or threatened against Purchaser and which
affects this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, and (b) Seller,
upon learning of the same, shall promptly notify Purchaser of any proceeding
which is commenced or threatened against Seller which affects this Agreement
or
the transactions contemplated hereby.
4.5 Post
Closing Obligations:
Upon
condition that the Closing shall have occurred, Seller and Purchaser agree
to
perform the following post-Closing obligations:
4.5.1 Recording
& Filing:
Within
thirty (30) days of Closing, Purchaser shall, at its expense (i) file or record
the conveyance documents with the appropriate governmental agencies or records
office. Purchaser shall provide a copy of same, including recording
date, to the Seller and any other contract parties requiring the
same.
4.5.2 Change
of Operator:
Where
Seller is the designated Operator of a Lease, Purchaser shall promptly file
all
appropriate forms, declarations or bonds with federal and state governmental
agencies relative to Purchaser's assumption of operations, if applicable, from
Seller. Purchaser shall also take all actions necessary to qualify as
a successor Operator to Seller under any applicable joint operating agreement
(subject to the terms of that operating agreement). Seller makes no
representation or warranty or provides any assurance that Purchaser shall
succeed Seller as operator of any portion of the Oil & Gas
Interests.
4.5.3 Notices
to Third Parties:
Purchaser
shall notify all lessors, royalty owners, operators, non-operators, purchasers
of production, other contract parties and governmental agencies that Purchaser
has purchased the Oil & Gas Interests and has assumed liability for their
continued operation from and after the Closing. Purchaser and Seller
shall execute all transfer orders, division orders, or letters-in-lieu necessary
to transfer payment of the proceeds from the sale of production from the Oil
& Gas Interests as of the Effective Time to Purchaser, and joinders,
ratifications or other similar instruments required to transfer Leases,
Easements or other Contract Rights as of the Effective Time to the
Purchaser.
4.5.4 Property
Records:
Within
thirty (30) days after Closing, unless a shorter period is mutually agreed
to by
the Parties with respect to certain data and records, Seller shall deliver
to
Purchaser original records of the contract rights specified in Section 2.1.7
and
the property and business records specified in Section 2.1.8 of this Agreement
(subject to the limitations contained in this Agreement). Seller may
retain photocopies of any original records. Seller shall reasonably co-operate
with any special requests of Purchaser for re-formatting or re-imaging of any
of
the records and data to be provided to Purchaser, but the costs of any such
re-formatting or re-imaging shall be paid by Purchaser. Purchaser
shall retain any original records delivered, and Seller shall retain any such
original records not delivered to Purchaser for a period of seven (7) years
from
the Effective Time. Seller reserves the right to access (and copy at
Seller's expense) all original records delivered for a period of seven (7)
years
from the Effective Time (and Purchaser agrees to grant Seller access to the
records during Purchaser's normal business hours). During normal
business hours, and if requested by Purchaser, Seller shall make available
the
financial books and records pertaining to the Oil & Gas Interests in order
that Purchaser may cause there to be performed an audit of the financial results
of the Oil & Gas Interests necessary for Purchaser to comply with applicable
securities laws and regulations. In the event that Seller or
Purchaser wishes to destroy any original books or records in its possession
or
in the possession of any of its Affiliates prior to such date, such Party shall
give not less than sixty (60) days notice to the other Party and such other
Party shall have the right, at its own expense, during reasonable business
hours, to remove such books and records and to keep possession of
same. After the seventh anniversary of the Effective Time, each Party
will retain (and may destroy) such books and records in accordance with such
party's customary record retention practices. If Purchaser transfers
any portion of Oil & Gas Interests, Purchaser shall ensure that this records
retention obligation shall continue as its assignee's obligation.
4.5.5 Use
of Name:
On
or
before thirty (30) days after Closing, Purchaser will remove, or cause to be
removed, from the facilities pertaining to the Oil & Gas Interests, the
name, logo and service mark of Seller and all variations and derivations
thereof, and will not thereafter make use thereof.
4.5.6 Accounting
Assistance:
For
a
period ending on the last day of the calendar month that follows the month
in
which the Closing occurred, Seller shall offer to assist Purchaser in
making royalty payments due on the Oil & Gas Interests and handling other
revenue accounting for the Oil & Gas Interests. In addition, in the event
Closing occurs during a calendar month, then Seller shall perform marketing
of
the production sales from the Oil & Gas Interests for that month and
corresponding royalty payments, as further described in Section 6.1
hereof.
4.5.7 Suspense
Funds:
As
soon
as practicable after the Closing Date, but no later than 30 days thereafter,
Seller shall provide to Purchaser a listing showing all proceeds from production
attributable to the Oil & Gas Interests operated by Seller, which are
currently held in suspense by Seller, and shall transfer to Purchaser all those
suspended proceeds. Thereafter, Purchaser shall be responsible for
proper distribution of the suspended proceeds to the parties lawfully entitled
to them to the extent and only to the extent of suspended proceeds.
4.5.8 Additional
Geological and Geophysical Information:
If
Purchaser acquires a third party license covering the same seismic data as
excluded under Section 2.2.1 of this Agreement, upon presentation of the license
to Seller (and, if required by the license, receipt of acknowledgment by the
licensor), Seller shall make available to Purchaser all of Seller’s reprocessed
and reformatted data and maps pertaining to such third party seismic data,
insofar as it directly relates to a Lease or land unitized therewith or other
interest included in the Oil & Gas Interests.
4.5.9 Access
to Properties:
Purchaser
shall provide Seller and its contractors and consultants with access, upon
reasonable notice, to complete the remediation and operations described on
Schedule 2 hereto.
SECTION
5 - GENERAL REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
5.1 Seller's
Representations & Warranties:
Seller
represents and warrants to Purchaser, that, except as disclosed in Schedule
1
hereto, as of the date of this Agreement and the Closing:
(a) Organization.
Seller is a limited partnership duly organized, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of Delaware and is duly qualified to carry on
its
business in the state of Texas.
(b) Validity
of Agreement. Seller has the corporate power to carry on its
business as presently conducted, to execute and deliver this Agreement and
the
other agreements and documents contemplated hereby and to perform its
obligations under this Agreement and the other agreements and documents
contemplated hereby. This Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation
of Seller, duly authorized and enforceable against it in accordance with the
terms hereof, subject to applicable bankruptcy and other similar laws affected
creditor’s rights and to principles of equity. This Agreement (and all closing
documents) is or will be executed by authorized officers, attorneys-in-fact
or
agents of Seller.
(c) No
Conflict. This Agreement, and the execution and delivery hereof by
Seller, does not, and the consummation of the transaction contemplated hereunder
will not, violate any provision of, or constitute a default under, the charter
or by-laws of Seller or, to its Knowledge, any law or regulation to which Seller
is subject or, to its, Knowledge, any provision of any agreement, indenture,
mortgage, lien, lease, instrument, order, arbitration award, judgment, or decree
to which Seller is a party or by which it or any of the Oil & Gas Interests
are bound. Other than consents to assignment (or waivers of
preferential rights to purchase) from third parties, to Seller’s Knowledge, no
consent, approval, order, or authorization of, or declaration, filing, or
registration with, any court or governmental agency or of any third party is
required to be obtained or made by Seller in connection with the execution,
delivery, or performance by Seller of this Agreement, each other agreement,
instrument, or document executed or to be executed by Seller in connection
with
the transactions contemplated hereby to which it is a party or the consummation
by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
(d) Bankruptcy.
There are no bankruptcy, reorganization or receivership proceedings
pending, being contemplated or threatened against Seller.
(e) Permits. Except
as would not result in a Material Adverse Effect, Seller has all permits
necessary or required to own the Oil and Gas Interests and to operate those
Oil
& Gas Interests as to which Seller is Operator, and all such permits are in
full force and effect. Seller has not received written notice of any
violations in respect of any such permits, and to Seller’s knowledge, Seller is
not in violation of the terms of any such permits, except for such violations
as
would not result in Material Adverse Effect. All material permits
affecting the Oil & Gas Interests that Seller operates and that are in
Seller’s possession have been made available or will be made available before
Closing for Purchaser's review.
(f) Compliance
with Laws and Regulations: As of the date hereof, Seller is not
in violation of any applicable laws and any applicable regulations, rules or
orders promulgated by any governmental agency with respect to the ownership
and
operation of the Oil & Gas Interests, except for such violations as would
not result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(g) Litigation: Except
as disclosed in Schedule 1 (Part G), there is (i) no suit, proceeding, action
or
claim against Seller pending and Seller has not received notice, written or
oral, of any threatened suit, proceeding, action or claim, (ii) no investigation
or inquiry by any administrative agency or governmental body pending against
Seller and Seller has not received notice, written or oral, of any threatened
investigation or inquiry, and (iii) no administrative or arbitration proceeding
pending against Seller and Seller has not received notice, written or oral,
of
any threatened administrative or arbitration proceeding, which results or may
result in a claim against the Oil & Gas Interests, or which challenges the
execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby.
(h) Taxes: All
ad valorem, property, production, excise, severance, windfall profit and similar
taxes and assessments payable by Seller with respect to the Oil & Gas
Interests and based on or measured by the ownership of property or the
production or removal of hydrocarbons or the receipt of proceeds therefrom
have
been timely paid, except for such failures to pay as would not have a Material
Adverse Effect.
(i) Preferential
Rights and Consents to Assign: To Seller’s Knowledge, the Oil
& Gas Interests are not subject to any preferential rights to purchase, and
are not subject to any consents to assign other than those consents to assign
that are set forth in one or more of the agreements identified on Schedule
1
(Part I) hereto.
(j) Outstanding
AFEs: There are no outstanding Authorizations for Expenditures
issued by any third party pertaining to the Oil & Gas Interests other than
those identified on Schedule 1 (Part J) hereof.
(k) Basic
Documents: Except as disclosed in Schedule 1 (Part K) and as set
forth in the complaints in suits disclosed in Schedule 1 (Part G), and except
for matters that have been resolved prior to the date of this Agreement, Seller
has not received written notice from any counterparty to a Basic Document of
any
alleged material default under any such Basic Document or of any
requirements or demands to drill additional wells on any of the Leases. All
Basic Documents are in full force and effect, and Seller is not in breach or
default with respect to any of its obligations under any of the Basic Documents,
and Seller has made all payments (including without limitation royalties, delay
rentals, shut-in royalties, and valid calls under operating agreements) due
thereunder in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Basic Documents,
except for such breaches, defaults or failures to pay as would not have a
Material Adverse Effect.
(l) Production
Imbalances. To Seller’s Knowledge, as of the Effective Time,
there are no hydrocarbon production imbalances associated with or burdening
any
of the Oil & Gas Interests.
5.2 Purchaser's
Representations & Warranties:
Purchaser
represents and warrants to Seller, that as of the date of this Agreement and
the
Closing (except that Purchaser makes the representation in Section 5.2(i) only
as of the date of Closing):
(a) Organization.
Purchaser is a Nevada limited partnership, duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of Nevada and is duly qualified
to
carry on its business in the state of Texas.
(b) Validity
of Agreement. Purchaser has the corporate authority to carry on its
business as presently conducted, to execute and deliver this Agreement and
the
other agreements and documents contemplated hereby and to perform its
obligations under this Agreement and the other agreements and documents
contemplated hereby. This Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation
of Purchaser, enforceable against it in accordance with the terms hereof,
subject to applicable bankruptcy and other similar laws affected creditor’s
rights and to principles of equity. This Agreement (and all closing documents)
are or will be executed by authorized representatives, officers,
attorneys-in-fact or agents of Purchaser.
(c) No
Conflict. This Agreement, and the execution and delivery hereof by
Purchaser, does not, and the consummation of the transaction contemplated
hereunder will not, violate any provision of, or constitute a default under,
the
governing document of Purchaser or, to Purchaser’s Knowledge, any law or
regulation to which Purchaser is subject or, to Purchaser’s Knowledge, any
provision of any agreement, indenture, mortgage, lien, lease, instrument, order,
arbitration award, judgment, or decree to which Purchaser is a party or by
which
it or any of the Oil & Gas Interests are bound.
(d) Bankruptcy.
There are no bankruptcy, reorganization or receivership proceedings pending,
being contemplated or threatened against Purchaser or to
Purchaser’s Knowledge, any direct or indirect shareholder of
Purchaser that is an Affiliate of Purchaser.
(e) Receipt
of Data: Pursuant to the procedures described in Section 3,
Purchaser has had or will have the opportunity to perform due diligence on
the
Oil & Gas Interests, which includes physical inspection(s), environmental
assessment(s), reviewing well data and other files requested by Purchaser,
making inquiries of Seller and performing all necessary tasks involved in
evaluating the Oil & Gas Interests.
(f) Independent
Evaluation: Purchaser is an experienced and knowledgeable
investor in the oil and gas business and is experienced with the usual and
customary practices of producers such as Seller. In making the
decision to enter into this Agreement and consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby, Purchaser has relied solely on the basis of its own
independent due diligence investigation of the Oil & Gas Interests, relying
upon Purchaser’s own legal, financial, engineering and technical expertise and
advisors. ACCORDINGLY, PURCHASER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT SELLER HAS
NOT MADE, NOR HAS ANY MEMBER OF THE SELLER GROUP NOR ANY PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF
OF SELLER, AND SELLER HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS AND NEGATES ANY REPRESENTATION
OR WARRANTY (OTHER THAN THOSE EXPRESS LIMITED REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
MADE IN SECTION 3.4(f) AND 5.1 OF THIS AGREEMENT RELATING TO THE OIL & GAS
INTERESTS), WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AT COMMON OR CIVIL LAW, BY STATUTE
OR
OTHERWISE.
(g) No
Securities Distribution: Purchaser intends to acquire the Oil
& Gas Interests for Purchaser's own benefit and account and not with a view
of making any distribution of any part thereof, within the meaning of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(h) Financing:
Prior to Closing, Purchaser will have arranged to have available sufficient
funds to enable Purchaser to pay the Purchase Price to Seller and otherwise
to
perform Purchaser’s obligations under this Agreement.
SECTION
6 - ACCOUNTING FOR REVENUE & EXPENSES
6.1 Adjustments:
Except
as
specifically provided for in the next succeeding paragraph, anything herein
to
the contrary notwithstanding, all hydrocarbon production revenues and expenses
(including without limitation, Lease rental or maintenance expenses, overhead
charged in the manner provided for in applicable joint or unit operating
agreements, capital expenditures or prepaid charges and royalties, overriding
royalties, and other payments out of production, but excluding all non-cash
charges attributable to depletion, depreciation, bad debt losses, lease
abandonment, or similar amounts), produced from or attributable to any part
of
Oil & Gas Interests and relating to the period prior to the Effective Time
shall be owned by and borne by Seller (“Seller Amounts”) and
all similar hydrocarbon production revenues and expenses, produced from or
attributable to the Oil & Gas Interests conveyed by Seller to Purchaser
pursuant to this Agreement, which relate to the period after the Effective
Time,
shall be owned by and borne by Purchaser (“Purchaser
Amounts”).
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, Seller shall retain responsibility for completing the projects
and operations described on Schedule 2, and those costs, even if incurred after
the Effective Time, shall not constitute Purchaser Amounts.
Seller
shall, or as applicable shall cause the operator of the Oil & Gas Interests
to gauge all merchantable hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon substances associated
with the Oil & Gas Interests and stored in tanks and vessels to the bottom
of the flange, as of the Effective Time, and in accordance with the foregoing,
Seller shall be entitled to the proceeds of the same when
sold. Substances in treating and separation equipment below pipeline
connections, as of the Effective Time, shall not be considered merchantable
and
shall become the property of the Purchaser. Five business days prior
to Closing, Seller shall furnish Purchaser with a good faith estimated
accounting (“Preliminary Accounting”), prepared in a manner
consistent with Seller’s past accounting practices, showing the estimated
Seller’s Amount and estimated Purchaser’s Amount, subject to final adjustment as
provided in Section 6.1.1.
6.1.1 Final
Accounting:
(a) Seller
and Purchaser shall use all reasonable efforts to accomplish a single final
accounting and cash adjustment for the period between the Effective Time and
the
Closing no later than ninety (90) days after Closing to accomplish the purposes
of Section 6.1 and of this Agreement (“Final
Accounting”). Parties shall cooperate to avoid split month
accounting for revenue. To that end, in the event Closing does not occur on
the
first day of a calendar month, then, Seller will market Oil & Gas Interest
production, pay associated royalties for that calendar month on Purchaser’s
behalf, and Seller’s remittance of the amount of production sales, less
royalties, paid by Seller to Purchaser will be included in the Final Accounting
adjustments. Seller shall prepare the Final Accounting and submit it to
Purchaser for acceptance. To the extent reasonably required by
Seller, Purchaser shall assist in the preparation of the Final
Accounting. Purchaser shall have the right to audit the Final
Accounting. The Parties' failure to complete the Final Accounting
shall not constitute a waiver of the right to receive any amount otherwise
due. The Final Accounting shall become final and binding upon the
Parties and payable thirty (30) days after receipt thereof by Purchaser (the
“Final Accounting Date”) unless Purchaser gives written notice
of its desire to audit or of its disagreement (an “Accounting
Notice”) to Seller prior to such date. Time is of the
essence with respect to the Accounting Notice. Any Accounting Notice
that sets out a disagreement shall specify in detail the dollar amount, nature
and basis of any disagreement so asserted. If an Accounting Notice is
received by Seller in a timely manner, then, following any requested audit,
the
Final Accounting (as revised in accordance with clause (i) or (ii) below) shall
become final and binding on the Parties and any amounts due shall be payable
by
the earlier of thirty (30) days after (i) the date Seller and Purchaser agree
in
writing with respect to all matters as to which there is a disagreement or
(ii)
the date on which the Accounting Referee issues its decision.
(b) During
the sixty (60) days following the date of receipt by Seller of an Accounting
Notice which requests an audit, Seller shall make available the necessary
records to permit the audit and Seller and Purchaser shall attempt (in good
faith) to resolve in writing any differences that they may have with respect
to
all matters specified in the Accounting Notice or discovered in the
audit. If, at the end of such sixty (60) day period, Seller and
Purchaser have not reached agreement on such matters, pursuant to Section 11.10
and this Section, the matters that remain in dispute shall be submitted to
a
neutral accountant (the “Accounting Referee”) for review and
final binding resolution. The Accounting Referee shall be a certified
public accountant who is an employee or partner of a recognized independent
public accounting firm. All determinations and adjustments with
respect to allocating items to the period before or after the Effective Time
shall be in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles,
consistently applied and this Agreement. The Accounting Referee shall render
a
decision resolving the matters in dispute within fifteen (15) days following
their submission to the Accounting Referee. Seller and Purchaser shall each
be
responsible for one-half of the fees and expenses of the Accounting
Referee.
(c) If
a Party receives any proceeds or pays any additional expenses for or on behalf
of the other Party, it shall promptly invoice the other Party for such expenses
(who shall promptly pay such invoice) or remit to the other Party the proceeds
received (to the extent such amounts had not been previously accounted for
in
the Final Accounting).
6.1.2 Notice
to Remitters of Proceeds:
After
the
Closing, the Parties shall inform the remitters of any proceeds attributable
to
the Oil & Gas Interests to pay Purchaser to the extent practical the
revenues after the Effective Time. To the extent that any
remitter pays revenues to the incorrect Party, that Party shall promptly remit
such revenues (without interest) to the correct Party.
6.2 Allocation
of Tax Liabilities:
All
taxes
(except state or federal income taxes) pertaining to the Oil & Gas Interests
or production from the Oil & Gas Interests and similar obligations are
Seller's responsibility where attributable to the period prior to the Effective
Time and Purchaser's responsibility where attributable to the period after
the
Effective Time (regardless of when assessed on the Oil & Gas
Interests). To the extent possible, amounts relating to such taxes
shall be included in the Final Accounting. Each Party shall be
responsible for its own state or federal income taxes or franchise
taxes. After the Effective Time, each Party shall supply the other
Party all information and documents reasonably necessary to comply with tax
and
financial reporting requirements and audits.
SECTION
7 - PURCHASER'S OBLIGATION
7.1 Purchaser's
Assumed Obligations:
After
the
Closing, but with effect from the Effective Time, and subject to
Section 7.1.1, Purchaser shall assume the liabilities arising from, and
perform all of the rights, duties, obligations and liabilities of ownership
of
the Oil & Gas Interests, whether arising prior to or after the Effective
Time (all of which, subject to Section 7.1.1 and 7.3.1), shall constitute the
“Assumed Obligations”). The Assumed Obligations
include, without limitation, the following:
(a) The
express and implied obligations, conditions and covenants under the terms of
each Basic Document, Lease, other instruments in the chain of title, the
contracts, agreements, instruments and orders listed on Exhibit 1, and all
other
contracts, agreements, instruments and orders to which the Oil & Gas
Interests are subject; and
(b) Responsibility
for compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, ordinances, rules and
orders and the procurement and maintenance of all permits and bonds required
by
governmental authorities relating to the Oil & Gas Interests;
and
(c) Responsibility
for royalties, overriding royalties, net profits interests, rentals, shut-in
payments and all other burdens, charges or encumbrances to which the Oil &
Gas Interests are subject; and
(d) The
responsibility for proper accounting for and disbursement of production proceeds
for the Oil & Gas Interests; and
(e) The
responsibility for any and all claims for personal injury or death or damage
to
property arising directly or indirectly from or incident to the use, occupation,
ownership, operation or maintenance of any of the Oil & Gas Interests, or
the condition thereof, after the Effective Time; and
(f) The
responsibility to properly plug, abandon and restore the Oil & Gas
Interests, as provided in Section 7.2, the Environmental Obligations, as
provided in Section 7.3, and all other obligations assumed by Purchaser
under the terms of this Agreement.
Purchaser
assumes full responsibility and liability for the Assumed Obligations without
regard to whether the obligation (1) relates to an Oil & Gas Interest as to
which Purchaser is not the operator or (2) relates to the period of time prior
to the Effective Time or between the Effective Time and the Closing
Date.
7.1.1 Retained
Obligations:
Notwithstanding
Section 7.1, Purchaser shall not assume or be responsible for and the Assumed
Obligations shall not include, and Seller shall remain liable for (i)
responsibility for claims for personal injury or death, arising directly or
indirectly from or incident to the use, occupation, ownership, operation or
maintenance of the Oil & Gas Interests, or the condition thereof, to the
extent that such claims arise from Seller’s ownership or operation of the Oil
& Gas Interests prior to the Effective Time; (ii) responsibility for the
exclusions from the Environmental Obligations described in Section 7.3.1; (iii)
the liability of Seller under the suits and proceedings listed on Schedule
1
(Part G); (iv) any liability for which and to the extent that Seller is
obligated to provide an indemnity under the Litigation Indemnification Agreement
attached hereto as Exhibit 7, and (v) any liability for which and to the extent
that Seller is obligated to provide an indemnity under Article
9.1(b)(v).
7.2 Plugging
and Abandonment of Wells, Removal of Facilities:
Upon
and
after Closing, Purchaser assumes full responsibility and liability for all
plugging, abandonment and restoration obligations with respect to the Oil &
Gas Interests, regardless of whether such obligations relate or are attributable
to the ownership or operation of the Oil & Gas Interests prior to or after
the Effective Time, and including, but not limited to, the obligation
to:
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(i)
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plug
and abandon (or re-plug) any and all oil, gas or condensate wells
and
wellbore(s) (whether producing, not producing or abandoned or plugged
prior to or after the Effective Time), water source, water injection
and
other injection and disposal wells and systems located on each Lease
(or
lands pooled with a Lease); and
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(ii)
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remove
and dispose of all structures, equipment and facilities;
and
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(iii)
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restore
each Lease and wellsite(s) associated with the Oil & Gas Interests,
including the surface, and subsurface;
and
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(iv)
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cleanup
and dispose of any equipment or materials contaminated with NORM
or
asbestos; and
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(v)
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perform
all other obligations related to the foregoing that arise by contract,
lease terms, applicable law or demands of governmental
agencies;
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all
to be
performed in a good and workmanlike manner and in accordance with lease
obligations and the rules, regulations, and requirements of any governmental
authority having jurisdiction thereof, and in accordance with all obligations,
express or implied, in any contract assumed by Purchaser. Purchaser
agrees to pay all costs and expenses associated with any such plugging and
abandoning, removal, or restoration.
7.3 Environmental
Obligations:
In
addition, except as provided in Sections 7.3.1, upon and after Closing,
Purchaser assumes full responsibility and liability for the environmental
condition of the Oil & Gas Interests (“Environmental
Obligations”), including without limitation, claims arising out of the
following circumstances, conditions, occurrences, events and activities on
or
related to the Oil & Gas Interests, regardless of whether occurring, or
arising or resulting from any acts or omissions of Seller or any other person
prior to the Effective Time or the condition of the Oil & Gas Interests when
acquired:
(a) Environmental
pollution or contamination, including pollution or contamination of the soil,
subsurface, groundwater or air by hydrocarbons, brine, hazardous wastes,
hazardous substances, asbestos, NORM or otherwise;
(b) Underground
injection activities and waste disposal onsite;
(c) Clean-up
responses, and the cost of remediation, control, assessment or compliance with
respect to surface, and subsurface pollution;
(d) Disposal
on or about the Oil & Gas Interests of any hazardous substances, wastes,
materials, and products generated by or used in connection with the ownership
or
operation of the Oil & Gas Interests; and
(e) Compliance
or noncompliance with, or satisfaction of remedies provided under, any
Environmental Law.
7.3.1. Retained
Obligations:
Purchaser's
Environmental Obligations do not include, and Seller shall remain liable for
the
following:
(a) Any
civil or criminal fines or penalties that may be levied against Seller by any
court or regulatory authority for any violation of any laws, rules or
regulations in connection with the ownership or operation of the Oil & Gas
Interests before the Effective Time; and
(b) Transportation
and disposal offsite from the Oil & Gas Interests before the Effective Time
of any hazardous substances, wastes, or NORM generated by or used in connection
with the ownership or operation of the Oil & Gas Interests before the
Effective Time; and
(c) Any
claim by a third party, including any governmental agency, under Environmental
Laws, that arose, accrued, and is attributable to the ownership or operation
of
the Oil & Gas Interest prior to the Effective Time, and which is
asserted within eighteen (18) months of the Closing Date, based upon
Environmental Laws as in effect as of the Effective Time, and where and to
the
extent that the amount claimed and paid exceeds Two Million Five Hundred and
Fifty Thousand Dollars ($2,550,000.00). It is agreed and understood,
moreover, that this exclusion and Seller's indemnity obligations with respect
to
the same under this Agreement shall be limited only to claims against Purchaser
by third parties, including governmental agencies, and as to each such claim,
the Assumed Obligations include the first Two Million Five Hundred and Fifty
Thousand Dollars ($2,550,000.00) of such claim.
SECTION
8 - DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY
8.1 Sale
“As Is” “Where Is”/ Release for Physical and Environmental
Condition:
PURCHASER
REPRESENTS THAT IT HAS INSPECTED OR HAS OR WILL BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO
INSPECT THE OIL & GAS INTERESTS AND AGREES TO ACCEPT AS OF THE EFFECTIVE
TIME THE PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION OF SAME ON AN “AS IS-WHERE IS”
BASIS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT. PURCHASER ACKNOWLEDGES ALSO THAT
PHYSICAL CHANGES IN THE OIL & GAS INTERESTS OR ADJACENT LANDS MAY HAVE
OCCURRED AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE OIL AND GAS DRILLING, PRODUCTION AND RELATED
OPERATIONS CONDUCTED ON THE LEASES. THE OIL & GAS INTERESTS MAY
CONTAIN UNPLUGGED OR IMPROPERLY PLUGGED WELLS, WELLBORES OR BURIED PIPELINES
OR
OTHER EQUIPMENT, THE LOCATIONS OF WHICH MAY NOT NOW BE KNOWN TO SELLER OR BE
READILY APPARENT FROM A PHYSICAL INSPECTION OF THE
PROPERTY.
PURCHASER
RELEASES SELLER AND EACH MEMBER OF SELLER GROUP FROM ANY LIABILITY WITH RESPECT
TO THE PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION OF THE OIL & GAS INTERESTS AS OF
THE EFFECTIVE TIME, OTHER THAN AS MAY BE PROVIDED FOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT,
WHETHER OR NOT CAUSED BY OR ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE NEGLIGENCE, FAULT, OR STRICT
LIABILITY OF SELLER OR ANY MEMBER OF SELLER GROUP, AND WHETHER OR NOT ARISING
DURING THE PERIOD OF, OR FROM, OR IN CONNECTION WITH SELLER'S OWNERSHIP OF
THE
OIL & GAS INTERESTS OR USE OF THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED IN THE LEASES BEFORE OR
AT THE EFFECTIVE TIME. WITHOUT LIMITING THE ABOVE, PURCHASER WAIVES
ANY RIGHT, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT PROVIDED FOR IN THIS AGREEMENT, TO RECOVER
FROM
SELLER OR ANY MEMBER OF SELLER GROUP AND, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT PROVIDED FOR
IN
THIS AGREEMENT, FOREVER RELEASES AND DISCHARGES SELLER AND EACH
MEMBER OF SELLER GROUP FROM ANY AND ALL DAMAGES, CLAIMS, LOSSES, LIABILITIES,
PENALTIES, FINES, LIENS, JUDGMENTS, COSTS AND EXPENSES WHATSOEVER, (INCLUDING
WITHOUT LIMITATION, ATTORNEYS' FEES AND COSTS), WHETHER DIRECT OR INDIRECT,
KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, FORESEEN OR UNFORESEEN, THAT MAY ARISE ON ACCOUNT OF OR IN
ANY
WAY BE CONNECTED WITH THE PHYSICAL CONDITION OF THE OIL & GAS INTERESTS AT
THE EFFECTIVE TIME OR ANY LAW OR REGULATION APPLICABLE THERETO, INCLUDING
WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE, COMPENSATION
AND
LIABILITY ACT OF 1980, AS AMENDED (42 U.S.C. 9 9601 ET. SEQ.), THE
RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND RECOVERY ACT OF 1976 (42 U.S.C. 9 6901 ET.
SEQ.), THE CLEAN WATER ACT (33 U.S.C. 99 466 ET. SEQ.), THE
SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT (14 U.S.C. 9 1401-1450), THE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
TRANSPORTATION ACT (49 U.S.C. 9 7401 ET. SEQ.) AS
AMENDED, THE CLEAN AIR ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1990, AND ANY OTHER APPLICABLE FEDERAL,
STATE OR LOCAL LAW, WHETHER OR NOT ARISING DURING THE PERIOD OF, OR FROM, OR
IN
CONNECTION WITH, SELLER'S OWNERSHIP OF THE OIL & GAS INTERESTS OR USE OF THE
PROPERTY DESCRIBED IN THE LEASES AT OR PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE TIME, AND WHETHER
OR NOT ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE STRICT LIABILITY OF SELLER OR ANY MEMBER OF SELLER
GROUP OR TO THE SOLE, JOINT OR CONCURRENT, ACTIVE OR PASSIVE, NEGLIGENCE OF
SELLER OR ANY MEMBER OF SELLER GROUP, EVEN IF CAUSED BY THE NEGLIGENCE OR
WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OF SELLER OR ANY MEMBER OF SELLER GROUP PRIOR TO
CLOSING.
8.2 DISCLAIMER
REGARDING OIL & GAS INTERESTS:
PURCHASER
ACKNOWLEDGES THAT, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT PROVIDED FOR IN THIS AGREEMENT, NONE
OF
SELLER, ANY MEMBER OF SELLER GROUP, OR ANY PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF SELLER,
HAS MADE, AND SELLER HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS AND NEGATES, ANY REPRESENTATION
OR WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, RELATING TO THE CONDITION OF ANY IMMOVABLE
PROPERTY, MOVABLE PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT, INVENTORY, MACHINERY, FIXTURES AND
PERSONAL PROPERTY CONSTITUTING PART OF THE OIL & GAS INTERESTS (INCLUDING,
WITHOUT LIMITATION, (a) ANY IMPLIED OR EXPRESS WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY
(b)
ANY IMPLIED OR EXPRESS WARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, (c) ANY
IMPLIED OR EXPRESS WARRANTY OF CONFORMITY TO MODELS OR SAMPLES OF MATERIALS,
(d)
ANY RIGHTS OF PURCHASER UNDER APPROPRIATE STATUTES TO CLAIM DIMINUTION OF
CONSIDERATION OR RETURN OF THE PURCHASE PRICE, (e) ANY IMPLIED OR EXPRESS
WARRANTY OF FREEDOM FROM PATENT OR TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT, (f) ANY IMPLIED
OR
EXPRESS WARRANTY OF FREEDOM FROM REDHIBITORY VICES OR DEFECTS OR OTHER VICES
OR
DEFECTS, WHETHER KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, AND (g) ANY AND ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES
EXISTING UNDER APPLICABLE LAW NOW OR HEREAFTER IN EFFECT, IT BEING THE EXPRESS
INTENTION OF SELLER AND PURCHASER THAT THE IMMOVABLE PROPERTY, MOVABLE PROPERTY,
EQUIPMENT, INVENTORY, MACHINERY, FIXTURES AND PERSONAL PROPERTY SHALL BE
CONVEYED TO PURCHASER AS IS AND IN THEIR PRESENT CONDITION AND STATE OF REPAIR
AND PURCHASER REPRESENTS TO SELLER THAT PURCHASER HAS MADE OR CAUSED TO BE
MADE
SUCH INSPECTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE IMMOVABLE PROPERTY, MOVABLE PROPERTY,
EQUIPMENT, INVENTORY, MACHINERY, FIXTURES AND PERSONAL PROPERTY AS PURCHASER
DEEMS APPROPRIATE AND PURCHASER WILL ACCEPT THE IMMOVABLE PROPERTY, MOVABLE
PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT, INVENTORY, MACHINERY, FIXTURES AND PERSONAL PROPERTY AS
IS,
IN THEIR PRESENT CONDITION AND STATE OF REPAIR.
8.3 DISCLAIMER
REGARDING INFORMATION:
SELLER
HEREBY EXPRESSLY NEGATES AND DISCLAIMS, AND PURCHASER HEREBY WAIVES, AND
ACKNOWLEDGES THAT, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED FOR IN THIS AGREEMENT, NONE OF SELLER,
ANY
MEMBER OF SELLER GROUP, OR ANY PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF SELLER, HAS MADE,
AND
PURCHASER IS NOT RELYING UPON, ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, OR OTHER ASSURANCE RELATING TO (a) THE ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS OR
MATERIALITY OF ANY INFORMATION, DATA OR OTHER MATERIALS (WRITTEN OR VERBAL)
NOW,
HERETOFORE, OR HEREAFTER FURNISHED TO PURCHASER BY OR ON BEHALF OF SELLER OR
(b)
PRODUCTION RATES, RECOMPLETION OPPORTUNITIES, DECLINE RATES, GEOLOGICAL OR
GEOPHYSICAL DATA OR INTERPRETATIONS, THE QUALITY, QUANTITY, RECOVERABILITY
OR
COST OF RECOVERY OF ANY HYDROCARBON RESERVES, ANY PRODUCT PRICING ASSUMPTIONS,
OR THE ABILITY TO SELL OR MARKET ANY HYDROCARBONS
AFTER CLOSING.
8.4 DISCLAIMER
REGARDING ASBESTOS AND NORM:
PURCHASER
ACKNOWLEDGES THAT SOME OILFIELD PRODUCTION EQUIPMENT INCLUDED WITHIN THE OIL
& GAS INTERESTS MAY CONTAIN ASBESTOS AND/OR NATURALLY OCCURRING RADIOACTIVE
MATERIAL (“NORM”). PURCHASER SPECIFICALLY ACKNOWLDEDGES THAT NORM MAY
AFFIX OR ATTACH ITSELF TO THE INSIDE OF WELLBORES, MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT
AS
SCALE OR IN OTHER FORMS, AND THAT WELLS, MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT INCLUDED WITHIN
THE OIL & GAS INTERESTS AND/OR LOCATED ON A LEASE MAY CONTAIN NORM AND
NORM-CONTAINING MATERIAL MAY HAVE BEEN DISPOSED OF ON OR OFF OF A
LEASE. PURCHASER UNDERSTANDS THAT, INASMUCH AS THE PRESENCE
ASBESTOS AND/OR NORM MAY CONSTITUTE A HEALTH HAZARD, SPECIAL SAFETY AND HANDLING
PROCEDURES MAY BE REQUIRED FOR THE REMOVAL AND DISPOSAL OF ASBESTOS AND NORM
FROM THE OIL & GAS INTERESTS IF AND WHERE SUCH MAY BE
FOUND.
8.5 DISCLAIMER
AS TO TITLE TO OIL & GAS INTERESTS AND PIPELINES:
SELLER
SHALL CONVEY SELLER’S INTERESTS IN AND TO THE OIL & GAS INTERESTS TO
PURCHASER WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY OF TITLE, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, EXCEPT AS TO CLAIMS
BY, THROUGH AND UNDER SELLER BUT NOT OTHERWISE. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED
FOR IN THIS AGREEMENT, SELLER DOES NOT MAKE OR PROVIDE (AND SELLER HEREBY
EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS) AND PURCHASER HEREBY WAIVES ANY WARRANTY OR REPRESENTATION,
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, OR OTHER ASSURANCES CONCERNING THE DESCRIPTION OF THE OIL
& GAS INTERESTS, WORKING INTERESTS OR NET REVENUE
INTERESTS.
WITH
RESPECT TO THE SURFACE LEASES, EASEMENTS, RIGHTS-OF-WAY AND PERMITS FOR ANY
PIPELINES OR FACILITIES COMPRISING A PORTION OF THE OIL & GAS INTERESTS,
SELLER EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS AND PURCHASER HEREBY WAIVES, ALL WARRANTIES AND
REPRESENTATIONS THAT SELLER OWNS THE SURFACE LEASES, EASEMENTS, RIGHTS-OF-WAY
AND PERMITS; THAT THEY ARE IN FORCE AND EFFECT; THAT THEY MAY BE ASSIGNED;
THAT
THEY ARE CONTINGUOUS; THAT THE PIPELINES LIE WITHIN THE EASEMENTS, RIGHTS-OF-WAY
AND PERMITS; OR THAT THEY GRANT THE RIGHT TO LAY, MAINTAIN, REPAIR, REPLACE,
OPERATE, CONSTRUCT OR REMOVE ANY PIPELINES.
8.6 CONSPICUOUSNESS:
PURCHASER
ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE DISCLAIMERS, WAIVERS AND RELEASES CONTAINED IN THIS
SECTION 8 AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS AGREEMENT ARE CONSPICUOUS.
SECTION
9 - INDEMNIFICATION
9.1 Indemnification:
(a) Purchaser
shall except to the extent that a claim or matter is indemnified by Seller
pursuant to Section 9.1(b), indemnify, defend and hold harmless Seller and
each
member of Seller Group from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses,
causes of actions, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, those
involving theories of negligence or strict liability and including court costs
and attorneys' fees) (“Losses”) asserted against, resulting
from, imposed upon or incurred by Seller or such other persons entitled to
indemnification under this Section 9.1(a) as a result of, or arising out
of:
(i) the
breach (without regard to any qualification of materiality or Material Adverse
Effect) of any of the representations or warranties, or any of the covenants
or
agreements of Purchaser contained in this Agreement;
(ii) the
Assumed Obligations;
(iii)
the provision by Seller or its
Affiliates to Purchaser of any advice or services in connection with the
transition of ownership or operation of the Oil & Gas Interests to
Purchaser;
(iv) any
obligations for a brokerage or finder’s fee or commission incurred by Purchaser
in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(v) any
violation of securities laws by Purchaser in connection with the Oil & Gas
Interests, and any claim arising out of Purchaser’s dealings with its partners,
investors, lender, assignees or other third parties in connection with the
transactions evidenced by this Agreement;
(vi) Purchaser’s
ownership or operation of any portion of the Oil & Gas Interests that may be
reconveyed or reassigned to Seller due to failure to obtain requisite consents
or governmental approval;
(vii) Purchaser’s
Pre-Acquisition Review of the Oil & Gas Interests pursuant to Section 3.1;
and
(viii) the
cost and expenses, including reasonable attorneys fees, of enforcing this
Section 9.1(a).
THE
INDEMNITIES PROVIDED ABOVE SHALL BE EFFECTIVE FOR LOSSES RESULTING FROM OR
ARISING OUT OF THE INDEMNIFIED PARTY’S ACTUAL OR ALLEGED SOLE OR CONCURRENT
NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY OR FAULT. However, the
indemnities provided above do not extend to that portion of any claim that
arises out of the willful misconduct or fraud of the indemnified
party.
(b) Subject
to Section 9.1(c) of this Agreement, Seller shall indemnify, defend and hold
harmless Purchaser and its Affiliates, and Purchaser's and such Affiliates’
directors, officers, employees, stockholders and agents, from and against all
Losses asserted against, resulting from, imposed upon or incurred by Purchaser
or such other persons entitled to indemnification under this Section 9.1(b)
as a result of, or arising out of:
(i) the
breach (without regard to any qualification of materiality or Material Adverse
Effect) of any of the representations or warranties, or
any of the covenants or agreements of Seller contained in this
Agreement;
(ii) the
Excluded Assets;
(iii) the
Retained Obligations;
(iv) any
obligations for a brokerage or finder’s fee or commission incurred by Seller in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(v) any
Non-Environmental Claim, arising from the ownership or operation of the Oil
& Gas Interests prior to the Effective Time, to the extent that such claim
is a claim for Losses incurred with respect to the period prior to the Effective
Time, if such claim is first asserted within 36 months after the Closing Date;
provided that Purchaser shall assume, without indemnification from Seller,
the
first $500,000 in aggregate of Losses attributable to such Non-Environmental
Claims, and
(vi) the
cost and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, of enforcing this
Section 9.1(b).
THE
INDEMNITIES PROVIDED ABOVE SHALL BE EFFECTIVE FOR LOSSES RESULTING FROM OR
ARISING OUT OF THE INDEMNIFIED PARTY’S ACTUAL OR ALLEGED SOLE OR CONCURRENT
NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY OR FAULT. However, the
indemnities provided above do not extend to that portion of any claim that
arises out of the willful misconduct or fraud of the indemnified
party.
The
term “Non-Environmental
Claim” shall mean any claim, demand, cause of action, suit, proceeding,
action, or arbitration proceeding arising out of the ownership or operation
of
the Oil & Gas Interests and seeking damages or a remedy with respect the
periods prior to the Effective Time, except for any claim, demand, cause of
action, suit, proceeding, action or arbitration proceeding to enforce or in
respect of any of the Environmental Obligations or any of the Retained
Obligations described in Article 7.1.1, clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and
(iv). For the avoidance of doubt, with respect to sub-clause (v)
above, Seller’s indemnification obligation for a Non-Environmental Claim seeking
damages or remedies that are determined, directly or indirectly, with respect
to
royalty or other burden paid or expected to be paid on production during periods
that are both prior to and after the Effective Time shall be limited to that
portion of the Non-Environmental Claim that is allocable to production for
periods prior to the Effective Time.
(c) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the liability of Seller and
Purchaser under this Agreement and any documents delivered in connection
herewith or contemplated hereby shall be limited as follows:
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(i)
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Except
for the special warranty of title as provided in paragraphs 3.4(f)
and
4.3(a), which warranty is perpetual, the representations and warranties
of
the Parties set forth in this Agreement shall survive the Closing
Date for
a period of thirty-six (36) months and all representations and warranties
of the Parties under this Agreement shall terminate thirty-six (36)
months
after the Closing Date; provided, however, that any such representation
or
warranty for which a written notice of claim specifying in reasonable
detail the specific nature of the Losses and the estimated amount
of such
Losses (“Claim Notice”) delivered in good faith in
compliance with the requirements of this 9.1(c) shall survive with
respect
only to the specific matter described in such Claim Notice until
the
earlier to occur of (A) the date on which a final non-appealable
resolution of the matter described in such Claim Notice has been
reached
or (B) the date on which the matter described in such Claim Notice
has
otherwise reached final resolution.
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(ii)
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Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary herein, in no event shall (i) Seller or
Purchaser be liable to the other for punitive, exemplary, consequential,
or special damages (except where such damages constitute part of
a claim
of a third party which is indemnified pursuant to the provisions
of this
Agreement); and (ii) Seller indemnify Purchaser, or be otherwise
liable to Purchaser, for any Losses arising from a breach of a
representation or warranty of Seller until Purchaser has suffered
Losses
in the aggregate in excess of a deductible in an amount equal to
Two
Million Five Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars ($2,550,000.00),
after
which point Seller will be obligated only to indemnify Purchaser
from and
against further Losses in excess of such
deductible.
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(iii)
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No
amount shall be recovered from any Party for the breach or untruth
of any
representations or warranties, of the other Party, or for any other
matter, to the extent that the Party claiming a Loss as a result
thereof
had actual Knowledge of such breach, untruth or other matter at or
prior
to the Closing, nor shall Purchaser be entitled to rescission with
respect
to any such matter.
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(d) All
claims for indemnification under this Agreement shall be asserted and resolved
pursuant to this Section 9.1(d). Any person claiming indemnification hereunder
is hereinafter referred to as the “Indemnified Party” and any
person against whom such claims are asserted hereunder is hereinafter referred
to as the “Indemnifying Party.” In the event that any Losses
are asserted against or sought to be collected from an Indemnified Party by
a
third party, said Indemnified Party shall with reasonable promptness provide
to
the Indemnifying Party a Claim Notice. The Indemnifying Party shall not be
obligated to indemnify the Indemnified Party with respect to any such Losses
if
the Indemnified Party fails to notify the Indemnifying Party thereof in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement in reasonably sufficient time
so that the Indemnifying Party's ability to defend against the Losses is not
materially prejudiced. The Indemnifying Party shall have thirty (30) days from
the personal delivery or receipt of the Claim Notice (the “Notice
Period”) to notify the Indemnified Party (i) whether or not it disputes
the liability of the Indemnifying Party to the Indemnified Party hereunder
with
respect to such Losses and/or (ii) whether or not it desires, at the sole cost
and expense of the Indemnifying Party, to defend the Indemnified Party against
such Losses; provided, however, that any Indemnified Party is hereby authorized
prior to and during the Notice Period to file any motion, answer or other
pleading that it shall deem necessary or appropriate to protect its interests
or
those of the Indemnifying Party (and of which it shall have given notice and
opportunity to comment to the Indemnifying Party). In the event that the
Indemnifying Party notifies the Indemnified Party within the Notice Period
that
it desires to defend the Indemnified Party against such Losses, the Indemnifying
Party shall have the right to defend all appropriate proceedings with counsel
of
its own choosing, which proceedings shall be promptly settled or prosecuted
by
them to a final conclusion. If the Indemnified Party desires to participate
in,
but not control, any such defense or settlement it may do so at its sole cost
and expense. If requested by the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnified Party
agrees to cooperate with the Indemnifying Party and its counsel in contesting
any Losses that the Indemnifying Party elects to contest or, if appropriate
and
related to the claim in question, in making any counterclaim against the person
asserting the third party Losses, or any cross-complaint against any person.
No
claim may be settled or otherwise compromised without the prior written consent
of the Indemnifying Party and no claim may be settled or compromised by the
Indemnifying Party without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party
unless such settlement or compromise entails a full and unconditional release
of
the Indemnified Party without any admission or finding of fault or
liability.
SECTION
10 – CASUALTY LOSS
10.1 Casualty
Loss prior to Closing:
If,
prior
to the Closing, any substantial portion of the Oil & Gas Interests are
materially damaged or destroyed by fire or other casualty (not including normal
wear and tear, downhole mechanical failure or reservoir changes) or if any
substantial portion of the Oil & Gas Interests are taken by condemnation or
under the right of eminent domain (all of which are herein called
“Casualty Loss” and are limited to property damage or taking
only), Seller shall notify Purchaser promptly after Seller learns of such event.
Seller shall have the right, but not the obligation, to cure a Casualty Loss
that consists of property damage by repairing the affected Oil & Gas
Interests no later than the Closing Date, all to Purchaser’s reasonable
satisfaction. If any uncured Casualty Loss exists at the Closing, Purchaser
shall proceed to purchase the Oil & Gas Interests affected thereby, and upon
receipt of the Purchase Price, Seller shall pay to Purchaser all sums paid
to
Seller by third parties by reason of the damage or taking of such Oil & Gas
Interests, and to the extent Seller is not contractually prohibited from doing
so, Seller shall assign, transfer and set over unto Purchaser all of the right,
title and interest of Seller in and to any claims, unpaid proceeds or other
payments from third parties arising out of such damage or taking.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the aggregate reduction in the value of the
Oil & Gas Interests on account of such uncured Casualty Loss exceeds Two
Million Five Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars ($2,550,000.00), either
Purchaser or Seller shall have the right to terminate this Agreement by so
notifying the other Party in writing prior to Closing. Upon termination, Seller
shall return the Performance Deposit to Purchaser, plus Accrued
Interest. SELLER DISCLAIMS ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY AS
TO THE EXISTENCE OF INSURANCE COVERING CASUALTY LOSS TO THE OIL & GAS
INTERESTS, AND DISCLAIMS ANY OBLIGATION, COVENANT OR DUTY TO PURCHASER TO ASSERT
OR PURSUE ANY CLAIM AGAINST ANY INSURER OR OTHER PERSON FOR CASUALTY LOSS TO
THE
OIL & GAS INTERESTS.
10.2 Limitation:
Anything
in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, Purchaser’s recourse with
respect to a Casualty Loss shall be limited to the proceeds of Seller’s casualty
insurance coverage actually recovered by Seller in respect thereof or other
sums
paid to Seller by third parties (or an assignment of claims related thereto),
payable to Purchaser only upon or after the Closing of the transactions
contemplated herein. Seller shall have no other liability or
responsibility to Purchaser with respect to a Casualty Loss, even if
such Casualty Loss shall have resulted from or shall have arisen out of the
sole
or concurrent negligence, fault, breach of statute or willful misconduct of
Seller or any member of Seller Group.
SECTION
11 - ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
11.1 Expenses
of Sale:
Except
as
otherwise specifically provided herein, each Party to this Agreement shall
pay
its own expenses (including without limitation, the fees and expenses of their
respective agents, representatives, counsel and accountants) with respect to
the
negotiation, execution and the delivery of this Agreement and the consummation
of the transactions under this Agreement.
11.2 Third
Party Rights:
Except
as
to those indemnity obligations owed to the indemnified entities or persons
listed in Section 9.1(a) or 9.1(b), and the indemnity, release and waiver
provisions in this Agreement in favor of the Seller Group, notwithstanding
any
other provision of this Agreement, this Agreement shall not create benefits
on
behalf of any person who is not a Party to this Agreement (including without
limitation, any broker or finder, creditor or other person), and this Agreement
shall be effective only as between the Parties hereto, their successors and
permitted assigns.
11.3 Further
Actions:
Purchaser
and Seller further agree that each will, from time to time and upon reasonable
request, execute, acknowledge and deliver, or cause to be executed, acknowledged
and delivered, such instruments, and take such other action as may be necessary,
or advisable, to carry out their obligations under this Agreement.
11.4 Assignment:
11.4.1 Assignment
of Agreement:
Except
as
provided in Section 2.6, neither Party shall assign this Agreement or any of
its
rights or obligations under this Agreement prior to Closing without obtaining
the prior written consent of the other Party, and any purported assignment
by
any Party without the prior written consent of the other Party shall be
void.
11.4.2 Further
Assignment of Oil & Gas Interests:
Purchaser
may assign its rights under this Agreement to its assignee of any of the Oil
& Gas Interests; however, (i) this Agreement shall remain in effect between
Purchaser and Seller regardless of such assignment; and (ii) Purchaser shall
require its successors and assigns to expressly assume the Assumed Obligations
and all of its other duties, responsibilities and obligations under this
Agreement, to the extent related or applicable to the Oil & Gas Interests or
the portion thereof acquired by them, but such assumption shall not release
Purchaser from any such Assumed Obligation or other duty, responsibility or
obligation.
11.5 Notices:
Any
notice provided or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be in
writing, and may be sent by personal delivery, facsimile machine or by
depositing same in the United States Mail, addressed to the Party to be
notified, postage prepaid, and registered or certified with a return receipt
requested. Notices deposited in the mail in the manner hereinabove
described shall be deemed to have been given and received upon the date of
delivery as shown on the return receipt (or upon the date of attempted delivery
where delivery is refused). Notice served in any other manner shall
be deemed to have been given and received only if and when actually received
by
the addressee (confirmation of such receipt by confirmed facsimile transmission
being deemed receipt of communications sent by telecopy or other facsimile
means), and when delivered and receipted for, if hand-delivered, sent by express
courier or delivery service. For purposes of notice, the addresses of
the Parties shall be as follows:
EXPRESS
MAIL REGULAR
MAIL
SWEPI
LP SWEPI
LP
Contracts
& Joint
Ventures Contracts
& Joint Ventures,
Attn:
B.D. Griffin,
Manager Attn :
B.D. Griffin, Manager
200
N.
Dairy Ashford P.O.
Box 576
Houston,
TX
77079 Houston,
TX 77001
Telephone
- (281) 544-3027
Facsimile - (281)
544-2619
Purchaser
COMSTOCK
OIL & GAS, LP
Attn: D.
Dale Gillette
5300
Town
and Country Blvd., Suite 500
Frisco,
Texas 75034
Telephone
- (972) 668-8880
Facsimile -
(972) 668-8882
or
at
such other address and number as either Party shall have previously designated
by written notice given to the other Party in the manner hereinabove set
forth.
11.6 Public
Announcements:
The
Parties agree that prior to Purchaser making any public announcement or
statement with respect to the transaction contemplated by this Agreement,
Purchaser shall obtain the written approval of Seller to the text of such
announcement or statement, which approval may be withheld for any
reason. Nothing contained in this Section shall be construed to
require either Party to obtain approval of the other Party to disclose
information with respect to the transaction contemplated by this Agreement
to
any state or federal governmental authority or agency, to the extent required
by
applicable law or by any applicable rules, regulations or orders of any
governmental authority or agency having jurisdiction, or necessary to comply
with disclosure requirements of applicable securities laws or any applicable
stock exchanges; provided that a Party required to make such a disclosure shall
use reasonable efforts to consult with the other Party prior to making such
disclosure.
11.7 Time
Limits:
Time
is
of the essence in this Agreement and all time limits shall be strictly construed
and enforced. Subject to the foregoing, however, the failure or delay of any
Party in the enforcement of the rights granted under this Agreement shall not
constitute a waiver of said rights nor shall it be considered as a basis for
estoppel. Except as otherwise limited by the time limits contained in
this Agreement, such Party may exercise its rights under this Agreement despite
any delay or failure to enforce the rights when the right or obligation
arose.
11.8 Compliance
with Laws & Regulations:
This
Agreement, and all operations conducted by the Parties pursuant to this
Agreement, are expressly subject to and shall comply with all laws, orders,
rules and regulations of any federal, state or local governmental authority
having jurisdiction. No Party shall suffer a forfeiture or be liable in damages
for failure to comply with any of the provisions of this Agreement if such
compliance is prevented by or if such failure results from compliance with
any
applicable law, order, rule or regulation.
11.9 Applicable
Law:
The
provisions of this Agreement and the relationship of the Parties shall be
governed and interpreted according to the laws of the State of Texas without
giving effect to principles of conflicts of laws.
11.9.1 DTPA
Waiver:
PURCHASER
HEREBY REPRESENTS AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT IS A “BUSINESS CONSUMER” FOR THE
PURPOSES OF THE TEXAS DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES-CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT
(SUBCHAPTER E OF CHAPTER 17 OF THE TEXAS BUSINESS AND COMMERCE CODE (THE
“TEXAS DTPA”)), AND THAT IT HAS ASSETS OF $25,000,000 OR MORE ACCORDING TO ITS
MOST RECENT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH GENERALLY ACCEPTED
ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES OR IS OWNED BY AN ENTITY THAT HAS ASSETS OF MORE THAN
$25,000,000, AND THAT THEREFORE IT IS NOT A “CONSUMER” FOR PURPOSES OF THE TEXAS
DTPA, THAT IT HAS BEEN REPRESENTED BY LEGAL COUNSEL OF ITS CHOICE IN ENTERING
INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY, AND
THAT IT IS NOT IN A SIGNIFICANTLY DISPARATE BARGAINING POSITION WITH RESPECT
TO
THE PARTIES TO AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS
AGREEMENT. PURCHASER HEREBY WAIVES THE PROVISIONS OF THE TEXAS DTPA,
TO THE EXTENT ANY SUCH PROVISION MAY BE APPLICABLE, AND OF ANY OTHER APPLICABLE
DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES OR CONSUMER PROTECTION LEGISLATION OF ANY
JURISDICTION, EXCEPT THAT PURCHASER DOES NOT WAIVE ANY PROVISION FOR WHICH,
BY
EXPRESS PROVISION OF LAW, A WAIVER BY PURCHASER CANNOT BE
EFFECTIVE
11.10 Arbitration:
Except
as
provided in Section 6.1.1, any controversy or claim, whether based on contract,
tort, statute or other legal or equitable theory (including but not limited
to
any claim of fraud, misrepresentation or fraudulent inducement or any question
of validity or effect of this agreement including this clause) arising out
of or
related to this Agreement (including any amendments or extensions), or the
breach or termination thereof (a “Dispute”) shall be settled by
consultation between the Parties initiated by written notice of the Dispute
to
the other Party. In the event such consultation does not settle the
Dispute within (30) days after receipt of the written notice of such Dispute,
the Dispute shall be settled by binding arbitration in accordance with the
then
current CPR Institute for Dispute Resolution (“CPR”) Rules for
Non-Administered Arbitration of Business Disputes, (the
“Rules”), and this provision. The arbitration shall
be governed by the United States Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C 1-16, to the exclusion
of any provision of state law inconsistent therewith or which would produce
a
different result, and judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may
be
entered by any court having jurisdiction.
The
arbitration shall be held in Houston, Texas.
There
shall be one arbitrator mutually agreeable to the Parties. In the
event the Parties cannot agree on an arbitrator, the arbitrator shall be
selected in accordance with the Rules.
The
arbitrator shall determine the claims of the Parties that are the subject of
the
Dispute and render a final award in accordance with the substantive law of
the
State of Texas, excluding the conflicts provisions of such law. The
arbitrator shall set forth the reasons for the award in writing. All
statutes of limitations and defenses based upon passage of time applicable
to
any claim that is part of the Dispute (including any counterclaim or setoff)
shall be interrupted by the filing of the arbitration and suspended while the
arbitration is pending.
The
obligation to arbitrate any Dispute shall extend to the successors, assigns
and
third Party beneficiaries of the parties. The Parties shall use their
best efforts to cause the obligation to arbitrate any Dispute to extend to
any
officer, director, employee, shareholder, agent, trustee, affiliate, or
subsidiary. The terms hereof shall not limit any obligations of a
Party to defend, indemnify, or hold harmless another Party against court
proceedings or other Losses incurred thereby pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement.
The
arbitrator shall order the Parties to promptly exchange copies of all exhibits
and witness lists, and, if requested by a Party, to produce other relevant
documents, to answer interrogatories, to respond to requests for admissions
(which shall be deemed admitted if not denied) and to produce for deposition
and, if requested, at the hearing all witnesses that such Party has listed
and
all other persons within such Party's control. Any additional
discovery shall only occur by agreement of the Parties or as ordered by the
arbitrator upon finding good cause. The arbitration proceeding will
be conducted on a confidential basis.
Each
Party shall bear its own costs, expenses and attorney's fees; provided that
if
court proceedings to stay litigation or compel arbitration are necessary, the
Party who unsuccessfully opposes such proceedings shall pay all reasonable
associated costs, expenses, and attorney's fees in connection with such court
proceeding. The cost of the arbitrator shall be shared equally by the
Parties.
In
order
to prevent irreparable harm, the arbitrator shall have the power to grant
temporary or permanent injunctive or other equitable relief. Prior to the
appointment of an arbitrator a Party may, notwithstanding any other provision
of
this Agreement, seek temporary injunctive relief from any court of competent
jurisdiction; provided that the Party seeking such relief shall (if arbitration
has not already been commenced) simultaneously commence
arbitration. Such court ordered relief shall not continue more than
10 days after the appointment of the arbitrator and in no event for longer
than
60 days.
11.11 Severance
of Invalid Provisions:
In
case
of a conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and the provisions of
any
applicable laws or regulations, the provisions of the laws or regulations shall
govern over the provisions of this Agreement. If, for any reason and for so
long
as, any clause or provision of this Agreement is held by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be illegal, invalid, unenforceable or unconscionable under
any
present or future law (or interpretation thereof), the remainder of this
Agreement shall not be affected by such illegality or invalidity. Any such
invalid provision shall be deemed severed from this Agreement as if this
Agreement had been executed with the invalid provision eliminated.
11.12 Construction
& Interpretation:
The
interpretation and construction of the terms of this Agreement will be governed
by the following conventions:
11.12.1 Headings
for Convenience:
Except
for the definition headings, all the table of contents, captions, numbering
sequences, paragraph headings and punctuation used in this Agreement are
inserted for convenience only and shall in no way define, limit or describe
the
scope or intent of this Agreement or any part thereof, nor have any legal effect
other than to aid a reasonable interpretation of this Agreement.
11.12.2 Gender
& Number:
The
use
of pronouns in whatever gender or number shall be deemed to be a proper
reference to the Parties to this Agreement though the Parties may be
individuals, business entities or groups thereof. Any necessary
grammatical changes required to make the provisions of this Agreement refer
to
the correct gender or number shall in all instances be assumed as though each
case was fully expressed.
11.12.3
Independent Representation:
Each
Party has had the benefit of independent legal representation with respect
to
the subject matter of this Agreement. This Agreement, though drawn by one Party,
shall be construed fairly and reasonably and not more strictly against one
Party
than another.
11.12.4 Section
References:
Unless
otherwise stated, references in this Agreement to sections or subsections are
references to the sections or subsections of this Agreement.
11.13 Integrated
Agreement:
This
Agreement, and the Exhibits and Schedules attached and incorporated herein,
and
the instruments delivered at or in connection with the Closing hereunder
contains the final and entire agreement of the Parties with respect to the
subject matter of this contract. There are no representations,
warranties or promises, oral or written, between the Parties other than those
included in this Agreement or in any such Closing document. Upon
execution of this Agreement by all Parties, this Agreement shall supersede
and
replace all previous negotiations, understandings or promises, whether written
or oral, relative to the subject of this Agreement. Each of the
Parties acknowledges that no other Party has made any promise, representation
or
warranty that is not expressly stated in this Agreement or in any Closing
document. This Agreement shall not be modified or changed (nor any
provision of this Agreement waived) except by a written amendment signed by
all
the Parties. This Agreement is entire as to all the performances to
be rendered under it, and breach of any provision shall constitute a breach
of
the entire Agreement. A waiver of any breach or failure to enforce
any of the terms or conditions of this Agreement shall not in any way affect,
limit or waive a Party's rights under this Agreement at any time to enforce
strict compliance thereafter with any other term or condition of this
Agreement.
11.14 Binding
Effect:
This
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and
their respective successors and assigns.
11.15 Multiple
Counterparts:
This
Agreement may be executed by signing the original or a counterpart
hereof. If this Agreement is executed in multiple counterparts, each
counterpart shall be deemed an original, and all of which when taken together
shall constitute but one and the same agreement with the same effect as if
all
Parties had signed the same instrument.
11.16 Fair
Notice Disclosure Statement:
PURCHASER'S
ATTENTION IS DIRECTED TO CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT THAT REQUIRE
PURCHASER TO DEFEND, INDEMNIFY AND HOLD SELLER HARMLESS IRRESPECTIVE OF THE
STRICT LIABILITY OF SELLER OR THE SOLE, JOINT OR CONCURRENT, ACTIVE OR PASSIVE,
NEGLIGENCE OF SELLER.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed the Agreement as of the date first
above written.
SWEPI
LP
By: /s/
B.D. GRIFFIN
Printed
Name: B.D.
Griffin
Title:
Attorney In Fact
COMSTOCK
OIL &
GAS, LP
By:
Comstock
Oil & Gas
GP, LLC
Its
General Partner
By: Comstock
Resources, Inc.
Its
Sole
Member
By: /s/
M. JAY ALLISON
M.
Jay Allison, President
and
Chief
Executive Officer
exhibit99pnt1.htm
Exhibit
99.1
|
5300
Town and Country Blvd., Suite 500
|
|
Frisco,
Texas 75034
|
Telephone:
(972) 668-8800
|
Contact:
Roland O. Burns
|
Sr.
Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer
|
|
Web
Site:
www.comstockresources.com
|
NEWS
RELEASE
COMSTOCK
RESOURCES, INC. ANNOUNCES
$170.0
MILLION OIL & GAS PROPERTY ACQUISITION
FRISCO,
TEXAS, November 26, 2007 -- Comstock Resources, Inc. ("Comstock" or the
"Company")(NYSE:CRK) announced today that it has agreed to purchase certain
oil
and gas properties from SWEPI LP, an affiliate of Shell Exploration &
Production for $170.0 million, effective October 1, 2007. With the
acquisition, Comstock will acquire producing properties in the Dinn Ranch,
Fandango, Rosita, and Rosita East fields in Duval and Zapata counties in
South
Texas on 11,500 (7,600 net) acres. The properties being acquired
include 70 (43.3 net) producing wells that are currently producing approximately
21.9 million cubic feet of natural gas per day. Comstock estimates
that these properties have net proved reserves of approximately 57.8 billion
cubic feet ("Bcf") of natural gas. All of the proved reserves are in
the developed category. In addition to the proved reserves, Comstock
estimates that the properties could yield an additional 90 Bcf of resources
potential from future exploitation. The transaction is expected to
close in December 2007 and will be funded with borrowings under Comstock's
$600.0 million bank credit facility.
"This
transaction expands our presence in our South Texas operating region, which
is
making a substantial contribution to our onshore production and reserve growth
this year," stated M. Jay Allison, President and Chief Executive Officer
of
Comstock.
This
press release may contain "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined
in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such
statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject
to a
number of factors and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ
materially from those described herein. Although the Company believes
the expectations in such statements to be reasonable, there can be no assurance
that such expectations will prove to be correct.
Comstock
Resources, Inc. is a growing independent energy company based in Frisco,
Texas
and is engaged in oil and gas acquisitions, exploration and development
primarily in Louisiana and Texas and in the Gulf of Mexico through its ownership
in Bois d'Arc Energy, Inc. (NYSE: BDE). The Company's stock is traded
on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol
CRK.