(1) | Golar GLS UK Limited, a company organized under the laws of England and Wales, whose registered office is at 13th Floor, 1 America Square, Crosswall, London UK EC3N 2LB (Company Number 10234146) (“Golar”); and |
(2) | Schlumberger B.V., a company incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands with its registered address at Parkstraat 83-89, 2514 JG, The Hague, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands (“Schlumberger”). |
PART I | Definitions and Interpretation |
1. | Definitions |
2. | Interpretation |
(a) | references to an “entity” or “company” shall be construed so as to include any company, corporation or other body corporate, wherever and however incorporated or established and references to a “person” include any individual, firm, body corporate, unincorporated association, government, state or agency of a state, local or municipal authority or government body or any joint venture, association or partnership (whether or not having separate legal personality); |
(b) | references to “Clauses” are to Clauses of this Agreement; |
(c) | a reference to an “agreement” or other document is a reference to that agreement or document as supplemented or amended from time to time; |
(d) | the words “include” and “including” are to be construed without limitation, general words introduced by the word “other” are not to be given a restrictive meaning by reason of the fact that they are preceded by words indicating a particular class of acts, matters or things and general words are not to be given a restrictive meaning by reason of the fact that they are followed by particular examples intended to be embraced by the general words; |
(e) | unless the context otherwise requires, words importing the singular shall also include the plural and vice versa; |
(f) | references to any English legal term for any action, remedy, method of judicial proceeding, legal document, legal status, court, official, or any legal concept or thing shall in respect of any jurisdiction other than England be deemed to include what most nearly approximates in that jurisdiction to the English legal term; |
(g) | a reference to a date which is not a Business Day shall be construed as a reference to the next succeeding Business Day; |
(h) | headings are for convenience only and shall not affect this Agreement's interpretation; |
(i) | in this Agreement, unless otherwise specified: |
(i) | a reference to any statutory provision is to that provision as in force at the date of this Agreement, includes any order, instrument or regulation made or issued under it and shall be construed as a reference to any statutory provision of which it is a re-enactment or consolidation; and |
(ii) | the expression “in the agreed form” in relation to a document means a document in a form approved and for the purposes of identification initialled by or on behalf of each of the parties. |
PART II | Creation of the Joint Venture/Formation of the Company/Closing |
3. | Creation of the Joint Venture |
3.1 | Schlumberger and Golar agree and undertake to form the Joint Venture through the medium of the Company for the purpose of undertaking the Business. |
3.2 | In relation to the Business and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Schlumberger and Golar undertake to invest funds in the Company, up to the Schlumberger Commitment and the Golar Commitment, respectively. |
4. | Incorporation of the Company |
4.1 | Schlumberger and Golar acknowledge and agree that, as soon as practically possible from the date hereof and prior to Closing, Golar, in cooperation with Schlumberger, shall take all reasonable and necessary actions to set up the Company as a societe anonyme, and the Parties will procure that the Company adopts the Articles as its articles of association. |
4.2 | The Parties undertake to collaborate with each other to facilitate the incorporation of the Company including by taking any action and providing to each other all information and documents necessary for the incorporation of the Company and the opening of a bank account of the Company. |
4.3 | The name of the Company shall be OneLNG SA. |
4.4 | The Company shall have an initial share capital of United States Dollars One Hundred Thousand (US$100,000) and divided into ten thousand (10,000) ordinary shares, each of a nominal value of United States Dollars Ten (US$10), forty-nine percent (49%) of which will be held by Schlumberger and fifty-one percent (51%) of which will be held by Golar (the “Initial Shareholding”). At Closing, the Company shall have a share capital of United States Dollars Twenty Million (US$20,000,000) divided into two million (2,000,000) ordinary shares, each of a nominal value of United States Dollars Ten (US$10), forty-nine percent (49%) of which will be held by Schlumberger and fifty-one percent(51%) of which will be held by Golar. |
4.5 | The Parties (i) acknowledge that the Board of the Company shall be composed as provided under Clause 8 below, (ii) acknowledge that, in accordance with the principles of Clause 8.1 below, immediately following Closing, the Board will be composed of the persons identified in Schedule 4.5 (the “Initial Board”), (iii) acknowledge that the first Chairman of the Board will be the person identified in Schedule 4.5 and (iv) therefore undertake to vote at the general meeting of the shareholders of the Company to be held at Closing, in favour of the persons identified in Schedule 4.5 for their appointment as members of the Board and in favour of the person mentioned in Schedule 4.5 for his appointment as Chairman of the Board. |
4.6 | The Parties acknowledge that the Auditor will be appointed as Auditor of the Company and therefore undertake, at the general meeting of the shareholders of the Company to be held at Closing, to vote in favour of their appointment as Auditor of the Company. |
4.7 | The Parties acknowledge that a Golar nominee will be appointed as secretary at meetings of the Board and therefore undertake to cause their representative of the Board, at each |
4.8 | The Parties undertake to cause the Company to adhere to this Agreement at Closing by executing the adherence agreement attached in Schedule 4.8. |
5. | Closing |
5.1 | Date and Place of Closing |
5.1.1 | Unless this Agreement shall have been terminated and the transactions contemplated hereby shall have been abandoned pursuant to Clause 5.3, the closing of the formation of the Joint Venture and the completion of this Agreement (the “Closing”) will take place at the offices of United International Management S.A., 5 Avenue Gaston Diderich, Luxembourg L-1420, five (5) Business Days after the execution of this Agreement or on such other date as may be agreed between the Parties (the “Closing Date”). |
5.2 | Obligations of the Shareholders on the Closing Date |
5.2.1 | Obligations of Schlumberger |
5.2.2 | Obligations of Golar |
5.2.3 | Obligations of the Company |
(i) | deliver to the Shareholders (a) a copy of the minutes of the Company’s shareholders meeting (such meeting to be held immediately after the incorporation of the Company) evidencing (i) the appointment of the members of the Initial Board, and (ii) the appointment of Ernst & Young S.A. 35E avenue John F. Kennedy L-1855 Luxembourg as Auditors of the Company; |
(ii) | deliver to the Shareholders a copy of the minutes of the Board meeting (attached in Schedule 5.2.3(a)) evidencing (i) the appointment of the Chairman of the Board, (ii) the convening of an extraordinary Shareholders’ meeting to be held before the notary in order to increase the Company’s share capital through the contribution of funds in consideration for the nine hundred seventy five thousand and one hundred (975,100) Shares to be issued and allotted at Closing to Schlumberger and for the one million fourteen thousand and nine hundred (1,014,900) Shares to be issued and allotted at Closing to Golar, and (iii) the passing of a resolution approving this Agreement and authorising the execution on behalf of the Company of an adherence agreement on the terms attached in Schedule 4.8; |
(iii) | deliver to the Shareholders a copy of the notary deed whereby the Company’s share capital will have been increased, the nine hundred seventy five thousand and one hundred (975,100) Shares issued to Schlumberger and the one million fourteen thousand and nine hundred (1,014,900) Shares issued to Golar, and an unblocked funds certificate issued by the notary; |
(iii) | deliver to the Shareholders a copy of the up-to-date shareholders’ register of the Company pursuant to the issuance of the Schlumberger Shares and of the Golar Shares further to the Company’s share capital increase; and |
(iv) | deliver to the Shareholders a copy of an adherence agreement on the terms attached in Schedule 4.8, duly executed by the Company. |
(b) | Further to Closing the Company shall update its statutory books to reflect the transactions referred to in Clause 4 and shall file any documents, forms and returns which require filing with the appropriate governmental authorities within the statutory time limits. |
5.3 | Right to terminate |
5.3.1 | If the provisions of Clauses 5.2.2 and/or 5.2.3 are not complied with by Golar and/or the Company, the Closing will be postponed by three (3) Business Days. If, following this three (3) Business Day period, the Closing has not been performed in compliance with Clauses 5.2.2 and/or 5.2.3, the Closing will be postponed by a further three (3) Business Days. If the provisions of Clauses 5.2.2 and/or 5.2.3 are still not complied with following this additional three (3) Business Day period, Schlumberger shall be entitled to terminate this Agreement. |
5.3.2 | If the provisions of Clauses 5.2.1 and/or 5.2.3 are not complied with by Schlumberger and/or the Company, the Closing will be postponed by three (3) Business Days. If, following this three (3) Business Day period, the Closing has not been performed in compliance with Clauses 5.2.1 and/or 5.2.3, the Closing will be postponed by a further three (3) Business Days. If the provisions of Clauses 5.2.1 and/or 5.2.3 are still not complied with following this additional three (3) Business Day period, Golar shall be entitled to terminate this Agreement. |
5.3.3 | In any event, Schlumberger, Golar and the Company agree that, for the purpose of this Clause 5, the Parties are under a duty to act reasonably and in good faith to procure that the Closing occurs on the Closing Date. |
5.3.4 | The Shareholders acknowledge that should either Shareholder be in breach of its obligations under Clause 5.2 the other Shareholder (provided such other shareholder is not in breach of its obligations) shall have the right to terminate this agreement as provided under this Clause 5.3, and termination pursuant to this Clause 5.3 shall be its sole and exclusive remedy in respect of such breach. |
6. | Financing |
6.1 | Initial Funding |
6.2 | Capital Commitments |
6.2.1 | Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, each Shareholder shall make Capital Contributions to the Company in accordance with the Initial Budget, the relevant Annual Budget or the relevant Revised Annual Budget and in accordance with Clause 6.3, in an aggregate amount not to exceed their respective Capital Commitment. |
6.2.2 | The Shareholders acknowledge that they may, in accordance with and subject to Clause 6.4 below, decide to provide the Company with Capital Contributions above their respective Capital Commitments. |
6.3 | Capital Contributions |
6.3.1 | The Capital Contributions of the Shareholders shall be paid in separate Drawdowns in amounts determined in accordance with the Initial Budget, the relevant Annual Budget or the relevant Revised Annual Budget and pursuant to the terms of this Clause 6.3. |
6.3.2 | For each Capital Contribution, whether to fund investment in a Committed Project through the Company or to fund the Company’s Operating Expenses, the Board shall provide each Shareholder with a notice of each Drawdown (a “Drawdown Notice”) at least twenty (20) Business Days prior to the date on which such Drawdown is due and payable (the “Drawdown Date”). |
6.3.3 | The relevant Drawdown Notice shall provide details and explanations as to the purpose of such Drawdown and, in the case where such Drawdown is meant to fund an investment by the Company in a Committed Project, shall give a satisfactory description of such investment to the Shareholders as prepared by the Management Team and by the Board. In addition, such Drawdown Notice shall specify, to the knowledge of the Board as of the date thereof, the amount of such Drawdown that will be used by the Company for the purposes of an investment in a Committed Project or pay Operating Expenses. |
6.3.4 | Notwithstanding Clause 6.3.3, if the actual Capital Contribution to be paid by a Shareholder changes after delivery of a Drawdown Notice (due, for example, to a change in the amount or nature of the investment to be made in a Committed Project by the Company), the Board shall issue a revised Drawdown Notice to the Shareholders, provided that the new Drawdown Date shall be (i) no earlier than the prior Drawdown Date and (ii) at least three (3) Business Days after the date that such revised Drawdown Notice is given. Such Shareholders shall pay any additional Capital Contribution thereby required no later than the Drawdown Date specified in such revised Drawdown Notice. |
6.3.5 | Each Shareholder shall, subject to Clause 6.2, pay the Capital Contributions determined in accordance with the provisions of this Clause 6.3 and specified in the relevant Drawdown Notice, as the same may be revised pursuant to Clause 6.3.4, by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the Company’s account. The required Capital Contribution of each Shareholder shall be made no later than the Drawdown Date specified in such Drawdown Notice and shall be pro rata to each Shareholder’s share in the share capital of the Company at the time of the Drawdown Date. |
6.4 | Funding above Capital Commitment |
6.4.1 | Any Shareholder and/or any member of the Board may at any time call for additional Capital Contributions in connection with the acquisition or financing of an investment in a Committed Project by the Company which requires a funding of the Company above the total aggregate Capital Commitments. In such a case, the person calling for additional Capital Contributions shall send a written notice (an “Additional Drawdown Notice”) to the Shareholders and to the Board setting out details and explanations as to the purpose of such Capital Contribution and where such Capital Contribution is meant to fund an investment by the Company in a Committed Project, give a satisfactory description of such investment to the Shareholders and the Board prepared by the party serving the Additional Drawdown Notice. The Additional Drawdown Notice shall be served at least forty (40) Business Days prior to the date on which such Drawdown is due and payable (the “Additional Drawdown Date”). The Shareholders shall procure that the Company shall adhere to the following procedure in respect of an Additional Drawdown Notice: |
(a) | The Board shall within ten (10) Business Days after receiving the Additional Drawdown Notice meet to discuss the terms of the Additional Drawdown Notice and the transaction contemplated thereby. If the Board approves the Additional Drawdown Notice it shall submit the proposed Capital Contribution to the vote of the Shareholders as a Sponsor Vote; |
(b) | In the event the contemplated transaction is not approved by a Sponsor Vote, the Additional Drawdown Notice shall be considered null and void and the provisions of Clause 8.7 (Deadlock) shall apply; and |
(c) | In the event the transaction contemplated by the Additional Drawdown Notice is approved by a Sponsor Vote of the Shareholders, each Shareholder shall pay the Capital Contributions determined in accordance with the provisions of this Clause 6.4 and specified in the Additional Drawdown Notice, by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the Company’s account. The required Capital Contribution of each Shareholder shall be made no later than the Additional Drawdown Date specified in such Additional Drawdown Notice and shall be pro rata to such Shareholder’s share in the share capital of the Company at the time of the Additional Drawdown Date. |
6.5 | Defaulting Shareholder |
6.5.1 | It is an Event of Default by a Shareholder (the “Defaulting Shareholder”) where any of the following events occurs: |
(a) | the Defaulting Shareholder commits a breach of this Agreement which is material in the context of the Joint Venture taken as a whole and either (1) the breach is not capable of being remedied or (2) the Defaulting Shareholder does not remedy that breach within twenty Business Days (or, in the case of a default in payment of all or any portion of any Capital Contribution or any other amount required to be funded by such Shareholder, sixty (60)) Business Days of the Defaulting Shareholder receiving (or being deemed to receive) notice requiring it to remedy that breach; or |
(b) | as per the legislation applicable to the Defaulting Shareholder, the Defaulting Shareholder is unable to pay its debts as they fall due or the Defaulting Shareholder enters into any composition or arrangement with its creditors generally; or |
(c) | an encumbrancer lawfully takes possession, or an administrative receiver or the equivalent in any jurisdiction is validly appointed over, the whole or any material part of the undertaking, property or assets of the Defaulting Shareholder; or |
(d) | an order is made or resolution is passed for the appointment of an administrator of or the insolvency of the Defaulting Shareholder; or |
(e) | any voluntary dissolution (other than in connection with insolvency or bankruptcy) of the Defaulting Shareholder takes place other than with the prior written consent (not to be unreasonably withheld) or the other Shareholder (the “Non-Defaulting Shareholder”); or |
(f) | a Change of Control occurs in relation to the Defaulting Shareholder. |
6.5.2 | If an Event of Default occurs, the Defaulting Shareholder will notify the Non-Defaulting Shareholder and the Company as soon as reasonably practicable. |
6.6 | Distress |
6.6.1 | In the event that Golar or Schlumberger determines in its reasonable discretion that the Company is in Distress, it should notify the other Shareholder of such Distress with all relevant supporting calculations and justifications (the “Distress Notice”). |
6.6.2 | Upon receipt of the Distress Notice, the recipient Shareholder, shall have five (5) Business Days to determine whether it considers that the Company is in Distress and notify it to the Shareholder that served the Distress Notice (the “Distress Response Notice”). |
6.6.3 | Promptly following receipt of the Distress Response Notice, Golar and Schlumberger shall meet to discuss their respective conclusions as to the situation of the Company. If Golar and Schlumberger are unable to agree as to whether the Company is in Distress, the Shareholder which sent the Distress Notice shall have the right to appoint, at the Company’s cost, an independent accounting firm of international reputation and to instruct it to assess whether the Company is in Distress (the “Accounting Firm”). |
6.6.4 | In such a case the Company shall and shall instruct the Auditor to: (i) cooperate fully and completely in responding to questions and requests for information submitted by the Accounting Firm and (ii) give access to the Accounting Firm to the books, records, documents and information of the Company, or any other information that is necessary for the Accounting Firm to determine whether the Company is in Distress, including working papers of the accountants of the Company and of the Company’s Auditor, and to any of the employees of the Company, during regular business hours. |
6.6.5 | The Accounting Firm shall within fifteen (15) Business Days from its date of appointment deliver to the Shareholders, and to the Board a detailed report including all relevant calculations and justifications as to whether the Company is in Distress (the “Distress Report”). |
6.6.6 | Should (i) Golar and Schlumberger both determine that the Company is in Distress or (ii) the Distress Report determine that the Company is in Distress, Golar and Schlumberger shall meet to decide what decision should be taken to resolve the Distress situation. |
6.6.7 | Golar and Schlumberger agree that should the Company be determined, either by mutual agreement or as per the Distress Report, to be in Distress, Golar and/or Schlumberger (the “Funding Shareholder”) shall have the right to subscribe for additional Shares of the Company for the Fair Market Value of such additional Shares as agreed among Golar and Schlumberger or, in the absence of agreement, in proportion to their then holding of Shares. |
6.6.8 | Should Golar and Schlumberger have agreed that the Company is in Distress without having recourse to the intervention of the Accounting Firm but be unable to agree upon the Fair Market Value of the Shares, the Shareholders shall mutually appoint, at the Company’s cost, an Accounting Firm to determine the Fair Market Value of the Shares. Such Accounting Firm shall provide a report as to the Fair Market Value of the Shares within fifteen (15) Business Days as from its appointment including all relevant calculations and justifications as to the Fair Market Value of the Shares to the Shareholders and to the Board (the “Fair Market Value Report”). Absent of manifest error, the conclusions of the Fair Market Value Report shall be binding upon the Shareholders and the Company. |
6.6.9 | The Company and the Shareholders hereby undertake to take all necessary actions for the Funding Shareholder or the Funding Shareholders, as the case may be, to be able to subscribe for new Shares at Fair Market Value as soon as possible as from the determination of the Fair Market Value. |
PART III | Business of the Company |
7. | Business |
7.1 | Nature of the Business/Geographical Scope/Timing |
7.1.1 | The Shareholders agree that the business of the Company (the “Business”) is to develop, finance, invest in and operate projects for the conversion of natural gas reserves to LNG, and potentially other liquid products using FLNG facilities, by combining SPM Capabilities and the knowledge and experience of Golar and its Affiliates particularly in maritime activities and floating liquefaction. |
(a) | SPM services without potential for FLNG deployment; and |
(b) | FLNG deployment without the provision of SPM services; and |
(c) | the provision of the first two (2) FSRUs to Golar Power Ltd, the joint venture company which offers integrated LNG-based downstream solutions, through the ownership and operation of FSRU and associated terminal and power generation infrastructure, |
7.1.2 | For the purpose of carrying on the Business, the Shareholders may procure that the Company shall: |
(a) | Identify and evaluate Target Projects; |
(b) | promote, develop and implement Committed Projects; |
(c) | through Committed Projects, pursue, prioritise, monetise and maximise the value of natural gas reserves which may be commercialised through, among others, the use of processing technology and FLNG vessels and other production and storage technology; |
(d) | pursue associated and non-associated gas exploration, appraisal, development and/or production opportunities including through acquiring interests in upstream concessions, licences, production sharing contracts or similar arrangements for the grant of rights to explore for and/or produce hydrocarbons in connection with Committed Projects; |
(e) | take Ownership Interests, whether upstream, midstream and/or downstream in Committed Projects; |
(f) | acquire, market and sell LNG produced from Committed Projects; |
(g) | access and/or develop markets for natural gas and/or LNG with a view to maximising the value of natural gas and/or LNG produced from Committed Projects; |
(h) | identify and define targets based on specific delivery time for Golar FLNG vessels; |
(i) | purchase of LNG vessels from Golar and conversion of such vessels into FLNG vessels for the Business; |
(j) | perform field operations with Golar/Schlumberger support; and/or |
(k) | carry out such other activities as are agreed by the Shareholders from time to time. |
7.1.3 | Subject to Clauses 6.1-6.4 inclusive, all resources necessary for the execution of a Committed Project and related RDS shall be provided by the Parties (or their Affiliates), acting reasonably, and in accordance with the relevant Annual Budgets or Revised Annual Budgets, with: |
(a) | Golar (or its Affiliates) primarily providing the services and materials associated with processing and liquefaction of the offshore stranded gas produced and delivery of the resulting LNG utilising one or more FLNG vessels including: |
(i) | gas characterization and metocean analysis performed by Golar to assure FLNG suitability; and |
(ii) | FLNG vessel design, engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning and operation by Golar, on a single source basis and on arm’s length terms; |
(a) | Schlumberger (or its Affiliates) primarily providing the SPM Capabilities; |
7.1.4 | The Shareholders acknowledge that the Company shall start to carry out its Business immediately after Closing. |
7.2 | Capital Investment/Returns Expected |
7.2.1 | The Shareholders agree that the Company intends, in line with the objectives of the Initial Business Plan, to carry out two (2) to five (5) Target Projects, each implying a potential equity investment of between United States Dollars Four Hundred Million (US$400,000,000) to United States Dollars Two Billion (US$2,000,000,000) each. The Shareholders acknowledge that the Board may however consider and assess potential investments in targets which do not fall within this equity investment range. |
7.2.2 | The Shareholders agree that their common objective, without being legally bound in this respect but in line with the targeted objectives of the Initial Business Plan, is that the Business shall be carried out with a view to target investments with expected cash distributions to the Shareholders yielding: |
(a) | a 15% internal rate of return (unlevered post-tax, real) in the Low Case and a 20% internal rate of return (unlevered post-tax, real) in the Base Case; |
(b) | NIBD/EBITDA of 3x in the Base Case and up to 4x in the Low Case; and |
(c) | Interest coverage ratio of 2.25x in the Low Case and 4x in High Case. |
7.2.3 | For the purpose of Clause 7.2.2: |
(a) | “Low Case” means US$5 per MMBTU and US$50 Brent ICE Nasdaq quotation; |
(b) | “High Case” means US$10 per MMBTU and US$90 Brent ICE Nasdaq quotation; |
(c) | “Base Case” means US$7 per MMBTU and US$70 Brent ICE Nasdaq quotation; |
(d) | “NIBD” means net interest-bearing debt; and |
(e) | “EBITDA” means earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization. |
7.2.4 | The Shareholders acknowledge that the Board may consider and assess potential target investments which do not meet the target investment criteria set out in Clause 7.2.2. |
7.3 | Investment Structures |
7.4 | Target Projects |
7.4.1 | High grading of Projects. The Board shall resolve what Target Projects are to be appraised by the Company, economically and technically, and what order of priority should be given to each Target Project which is to be appraised. |
7.4.2 | Pre-Feasibility Studies. In relation to such Target Projects as the Board resolves shall be appraised by the Company, the Company, through its Management Team and in consultation with the Shareholders, will prepare and submit to the Board within three (3) calendar months a pre-feasibility evaluation study covering technical scoping; site investigation and requirements; gas composition; cost estimates (including gas price, operating expenditure and capital expenditure); marketing implications; infrastructure/vessel requirements; vessel capacity; the fiscal and political environments; risk register; preliminary project economics; and a recommendation as to whether the Board should proceed to give authority to negotiate and proceed with a feasibility study. No expense shall be incurred by the Company for the purpose of the pre-feasibility study which would require a variation of the Initial Budget or (as applicable) the Annual Budget or Revised Annual Budget). |
7.4.3 | Authority to Negotiate and Feasibility Studies. If the Board in respect of a Target Project decides to give the Management Team authority to negotiate and to proceed with a feasibility study, the Company, through its Management Team and in consultation with the Shareholders, will prepare and submit to the Board and the Shareholders (within the limits of any variation as shall have been agreed by the Shareholders in respect of the Initial Budget, the Annual Budget or the Revised Annual Budget, as applicable) a feasibility study dealing with all the matters in the pre-feasibility study in a greater degree of detail (and/or such other matters as the Board and/or the Shareholders may direct) including details of: |
(i) | any proposed acquisition (including by way of farm-in), on a direct or virtual basis, of any participating interest in any concession agreement, production sharing contract, risk service contract, buy back contract, participation agreement, licence agreement, lease, or similar arrangement relating to any oil and gas assets or operations and material agreements relating thereto or that grant the right to explore for, appraise, develop and/or produce oil or gas; |
(ii) | the proposed terms and conditions of any direct or virtual acquisition under item (i) above; |
(iii) | the proposed liquefaction services to be provided by the Project Company and the proposed terms and conditions relating to the provision of such services; |
(iv) | any proposed shipping services to be provided by/to the Project Company and the proposed terms and conditions relating to the provision of such services; |
(v) | whether it is intended that the Project Company will take title to gas or LNG at any point in the value chain of the relevant investment opportunity; |
(vi) | what the proposed terms and conditions are for the sale and marketing of any LNG or gas in which the Project Company will hold title; |
(vii) | whether it is intended that the Project Company or an Affiliate will participate in any shipping and/or regasification of LNG produced by the relevant Target Project; |
(viii) | whether it is intended that the Project Company or an Affiliate will participate in any power generation or other downstream project for the consumption of regasified LNG relating to the relevant upstream/midstream project; |
(ix) | the proposed financial model relating to the evaluation of the investment opportunity; |
(x) | any requirement to provide a parent company guarantee or other credit support; |
(xi) | any restriction on change of control or third party pre-emption rights or right of first offer; |
(xii) | any departure from Golar’s or Schlumberger’s policies on health and safety, environment and/or anti-bribery and corruption is proposed; |
(xiii) | the proposed project budget including any contingency; |
(xiv) | the mechanism for funding (equity, shareholder loans, third party debt financing, capital markets) and the consequence of any failure to fund; |
(xv) | whether the project company would be incorporated as a Subsidiary of the Company or as a separate company that is not a Subsidiary of the Company; |
(xvi) | a tax report; |
(xvii) | an insurance report; |
(xviii) | an environmental report; |
(xix) | a technical report; and |
(xx) | a recommendation of whether or not the proposed Target Project should be continued including an evaluation of whether or not it meets the target investment criteria set out in Clause 7.2.2. |
7.4.4 | Project Business Plan; Finance Memorandum; Committed Projects. Following completion and submission of a feasibility study to the Board, if a Sponsor Vote is passed by the Board that the relevant Target Project shall continue to be assessed, then: |
(a) | the Company will prepare a project business plan (a “Project Business Plan”) in respect of such Target Project; |
(b) | each Project Business Plan will (unless the Shareholders otherwise agree) adopt the commercial case set out in the feasibility study and set out, without limitation: |
(i) | the contracting strategy for the Target Project and (where applicable) proposed contractual terms for the principal agreements to be entered into, including a comprehensive review of the risk and commitments the Company would be undertaking; and |
(ii) | a detailed funding proposal (“Finance Memorandum”) for the Target Project which may include (without limitation or indication of priority): |
(1) | equity; |
(2) | loans or advances by the Shareholders; |
(3) | borrowing by the Company, with or without support from the Shareholders; |
(4) | limited recourse project financing with, if necessary, pre-completion guarantees and/or other forms of financial support to be provided by the Company; or |
(5) | such other debt or equity funding or financing as the Company may recommend; |
(c) | the Shareholders will co-operate with the Company and each other to develop the Finance Memorandum to meet their common business objectives; |
(d) | the Project Business Plan will be submitted to the Shareholders for approval by a Sponsor Vote of the Shareholders. If a Sponsor Vote of the Shareholders approves the Project Business Plan and the entering into of legally binding documentation in respect thereof, such Target Project will be a “Committed Project” for the purposes of this Agreement and the Board shall appoint a project team specifically tasked with the development of the Committed Project; |
(e) | if the Target Project does not become a Committed Project, such Target Project will be an “Excluded Project” for the purposes of this Agreement; and |
(f) | if the Project Business Plan is not approved by the Shareholder(s) or, at the point of approval one Shareholder is unwilling or unable to proceed, the Project Business Plan may (if both Shareholders agree) be revised in accordance with the directions of the Shareholder(s) and resubmitted for approval by the Shareholders. |
7.4.5 | Except to the extent that the Shareholders may otherwise agree, no decision will be taken to authorise the Company to incur or commit to expenditure in respect of the procurement and/or construction of a FLNG vessel in relation to a Target Project before it is a Committed Project. |
7.4.6 | Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Clause 7.4: |
(a) | each Shareholder shall have the right, following receipt of written notification from a sponsor that it does not wish to contract with the other Shareholder for the provision of services within the other Shareholder’s capabilities, to proceed with the corresponding project after a period of six (6) calendar months from the date of receipt of the sponsor’s notification, and after such period the provisions of Clause 13 (Non-compete) shall not apply to the activities of such Shareholder in relation to such project; |
(b) | either Shareholder shall have the right in its discretion at any time, but prior to any Sponsor Vote converting a Target Project into a Committed Project, to notify the Board that it does not wish a Target Project to be converted into a Committed Project, in which case such Target Project shall be an Excluded Project. |
PART IV | Management and Board of the Company |
8. | Directors and Board Meetings; Approvals |
8.1 | Composition of the Board |
(a) | The Board of the Company shall be composed of: |
(i) | Two (2) directors appointed by Schlumberger in accordance with the Articles and this Clause 8.1; and |
(ii) | Two (2) directors appointed by Golar in accordance with the Articles and this Clause 8.1. |
(b) | Golar and Schlumberger agree that one (1) of the two (2) Golar Directors shall be appointed the Chairman of the Board by the members of the Board. |
(c) | The Shareholders undertake that any Director whose position as a Director is terminated for whatever reason(s) (including resignation, death, retirement, dismissal or permanent incapacity) shall be replaced by an individual, to be designated pursuant to the Articles and this Clause 8.1, for the remaining term of his mandate. |
(d) | At the time of the completion of any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposition of all of the Shares held by a Shareholder, such Shareholder shall procure the resignation of each Director appointed by it, unless the parties otherwise agree in writing. |
8.2 | Organizational Rules of the Board |
8.2.1 | Meetings of the Board (normally convened by the Chairman of the Board) shall be properly convened by any of the Directors and held regularly at the Company’s principal place of business at least once every three months, or at any other place as the Board may from time to time determine. Provided it is agreed in writing by each Director, meetings may occasionally be held through telephone conferences. Meetings shall be conducted in English, and materials used for such meetings will be in English. |
8.2.2 | Not less than seven (7) days’ notice of each meeting of the Board, together with the agenda for such meeting and relevant Board papers and documents necessary to assess the matters referred to in the agenda shall be given to each Director, unless otherwise agreed in writing by each Director. |
8.2.3 | The Company shall make available to the Directors copies of (and supporting papers relating to) minutes of meetings of the Board in the English language (at the request of any of the Directors), such minutes to be provided within ten (10) days of any such meetings. |
8.2.4 | The quorum for any meeting of the Board held pursuant to the first convening notice shall be two (2) Schlumberger Directors and two (2) Golar Directors present or represented. In the event that no quorum is present for the meetings held pursuant to the first convening notice, the meeting shall be adjourned and a second convening notice shall be issued for a meeting at the same time and place the following week. The quorum for a meeting held pursuant to the second convening notice is met when at least one (1) Schlumberger Director and one (1) Golar Director are present or represented. If the quorum is not met pursuant to the second convening notice, then a third convening notice shall be sent and the quorum of the Board meeting held pursuant to the third convening notice will be met when a minimum of two Directors, comprising of at least one (1) Director from Golar and one (1) Director from Schlumberger respectively, are present or represented. |
8.2.5 | The decisions of the Board will, at all times, subject to Clause 8.6.1, be adopted by a vote of the members of the Board by a simple majority. If there is an equal number votes for and against a resolution then the Chairman of the Board will have a casting vote except in relation to Reserved Matters. |
8.2.6 | Any Schlumberger Director or Golar Director may give another Director appointed upon the binding nomination of the same nominating Shareholder a written power of attorney to act on such Director's behalf at a meeting of the Board. When a Director holding a written power of attorney attends any meeting of the Board, it shall provide the other Directors in attendance with a copy of any such written power of attorney. |
8.3 | Remuneration of the Directors |
8.4 | Power of the Board |
8.4.1 | Powers of the Board in relation to the Company |
8.4.2 | Appointment of Management Team |
(a) | (I) The Board shall be responsible for appointing a team of operational managers (“Management Team”) for the Company composed of: |
(A) | a managing director (“Managing Director”), selected among candidates proposed by Golar; |
(B) | a finance director (“Finance Director”), selected among candidates proposed by Schlumberger; |
(C) | an asset director (“Asset Director”), selected among candidates proposed by Schlumberger; |
(D) | a business development director (“Business Development Director”), selected among candidates proposed by Golar. |
(II) | Where the shareholding of a Shareholder falls below forty percent (40%) but remains above or equal to twenty percent (20%), of the Company: |
(A) | that Shareholder shall nominate only one (1) Director and the other Shareholder shall nominate three (3) Directors of the available four (4) Directors; |
(B) | that Shareholder (if Golar) shall lose the right to select the Managing Director; and |
(C) | that Shareholder (if Schlumberger) shall lose the right to select the Finance Director. |
(III) | Where the shareholding of a Shareholder falls below twenty percent (20%) but remains above or equal to ten percent (10%), of the Company: |
(A) | that Shareholder shall nominate only one (1) Director and the other Shareholder shall nominate three (3) Directors of the available four (4) Directors; and |
(B) | that Shareholder (if Schlumberger) shall lose the right to select the Asset Director; |
(C ) | that Shareholder (if Golar) shall lose the right to select the Business Development Director. |
(b) | The Board shall also be responsible for dismissing any member of the Management Team. |
(c) | The Shareholders undertake that any member of the Management Team whose position as member of the Management Team is terminated for whatever reasons (including resignation, death, retirement, dismissal or permanent incapacity) shall be replaced by an individual, to be designated pursuant to the provisions of this Clause 8.4.2. |
(d) | The Parties acknowledge that the Management Team may include seconded employees from the Parties and external recruits as necessary and a mix of operational and financial expertise, on the basis of the Human Resources appendix in attached at Schedule 8.4.2(d). |
(e) | The Management Team will be responsible for the day-to-day management and oversight of the Company and will in particular identify and evaluate investment opportunities and submit evaluations for consideration by the Board in accordance with Clause 7.4. The Management Team will report on a regular basis to the Board. |
(f) | The Shareholders acknowledge that, and shall ensure that, save where it is agreed otherwise, each member of the Management Team through its employment or secondment agreement undertakes to be fully dedicated to the Business Project(s) and not to in any case develop, promote, have an interest in directly or indirectly, or be involved in any manner whatsoever, in any activity in relation to the Business outside the Company. |
8.4.3 | Powers of the Board in relation to the JV Group |
8.5 | Operational management of the JV Group |
8.6 | Reserved Matters |
8.6.1 | The Shareholders with respect to the Shareholder Reserved Matters (as outlined below) and the Directors with respect to the Board Reserved Matters (as outlined below) shall procure that the Company does not, and the Company undertakes not to (whether through its Board, legal representative, collective body, employee, officer and/or general meeting), take any action with respect to the following matters (the “Reserved Matters”) without a Sponsor Vote. In exceptional circumstances, any Golar Director or any Schlumberger Director may request that the Shareholders decide a Board Reserved Matter, in which case there shall be a Sponsor Vote of the Shareholders on such Board Reserved Matter. This Clause 8.6.1 shall apply to each JV Group Company as if references to “the Company” were to the relevant JV Group Company. |
(a) | any amendment to the memorandum or articles of association of the Company or the adoption of new articles of association of the Company (or equivalent constitutional documents); |
(b) | the creation, allotment or issue of any shares or the grant or agreement to grant any option or interest (in the form of obligations convertible into shares or otherwise) over any shares or any uncalled capital of the Company; |
(c) | the consolidation, sub-division, conversion or cancellation of any share capital of the Company; |
(d) | the capitalisation, repayment or other form of distribution of any amount standing to the credit of any reserve of the Company or the redemption or purchase of any of its own shares or any other reorganisation or reduction of its share capital (excluding for these purposes the payment of any dividend); |
(e) | the repayment of capital or assets to members of the Company; |
(f) | the admission after Closing of any person as a member of the Company other than pursuant to a transfer in accordance with this Agreement; |
(g) | the passing of any resolution whereby the classification or status of the Company may change; |
(h) | the making of any petition or passing of any resolution for winding-up the Company; |
(i) | the making of or any arrangement with creditors generally or any application for an administration order or for the appointment of a receiver or administrator; |
(j) | any decision involving the Company in relation to any business outside the scope of the Business or any material change in the nature or scope of the Business; |
(k) | the amalgamation or merger of the Company with any other company or legal entity. |
(l) | amendment of the Initial Business Plan and approval of any Project Business Plan or Business Plan, or any amendment of any Project Business Plan or Business Plan; |
(m) | amendment of the Initial Budget and approval of any Annual Budget or any Revised Annual Budget, or any amendment of any Annual Budget or any Revised Annual Budget; |
(n) | making or entering into commitments to make any capital expenditure in excess of United States Dollars One Million (US$1,000,000) at the level of the Company other than as approved in the Initial Budget, an Annual Budget, a Revised Annual Budget, the Initial Business Plan or a Business Plan; |
(o) | the incorporation of any Subsidiary of the Company other than as required for the purpose of a Committed Project; |
(p) | any acquisition by the Company, of entities or assets, or any Transfer of a material asset or entity of the Company, other than as required for the purpose of a Committed Project; |
(q) | the closing down of any business operation or the disposal or dilution of its interest in any of its Subsidiaries for the time being other than as required in the ordinary course; |
(r) | any borrowing, issuance or repayment of debt securities or other indebtedness of the Company other than any such borrowing, issuance or repayment contemplated by an approved Business Plan and Annual Budget; |
(s) | the granting of any Encumbrance over the assets of the Company or of a material asset of any JV Group Company in favour of a third party other than any such Encumbrance contemplated by and approved in the relevant Business Plan and Annual Budget or for the purpose of a Committed Project; |
(t) | the issuance of a guarantee or other security by the Company in favour of a third party or third parties in respect of any borrowing or issuance of debt securities or any other undertaking, other than for the purpose of a Committed Project or approved in the Initial Budget, an Annual Budget, a Revised Annual Budget, the Initial Business Plan or a Business Plan; |
(u) | any material change in the tax election of the Company and tax structure of any Committed Project or any material change in the Accounting Policies; |
(v) | the making of any payment to, or the incurring or entering into or varying of, any agreement, liability or commitment whatsoever or renewing or entering into any agreement, in each case between the Company on the one hand and any Shareholder or any of its Affiliates on the other hand other than as approved in the Initial Business Plan or the Project Business Plan; |
(w) | the entry into any partnership, joint venture or cooperation agreement with a third party with respect to all or part of the Business, other than as approved in a Project Business Plan; |
(x) | commencing, defending or settling any arbitration, litigation or regulatory investigation which is outside the ordinary course of business or involves a disputed amount in excess of United States Dollars Five Hundred Thousand (US$500,000); |
(y) | any change of the Auditors; |
(z) | any material decision relating to compliance with Business Ethics Laws as referred to in Clause 21.8. |
8.7 | Deadlock |
8.7.1 | If the board of any JV Group Company (other than the Company) cannot reach agreement on any resolution before it within twenty one (21) days of such resolution first being tabled at a board meeting, the subject of any such resolution before it may be referred to the Board by any director of such company. |
8.7.2 | If the Board cannot reach agreement on any resolution before it (including any matter referred to it pursuant to Clause 8.7.1) within twenty one (21) days of such resolution first being tabled at a Board meeting, or two or more consecutive Board meetings have been dissolved because a quorum is not present, the subject of any such resolution before them may be referred to the Shareholders by any Schlumberger Director or Golar Director. |
8.7.3 | If the Shareholders cannot reach agreement on any resolution before them at any Shareholders’ meeting (including any matter referred to them pursuant to Clause 8.7.2), or two or more consecutive Shareholders’ meetings have been dissolved because a quorum is not present, the subject of any such resolution before them may be referred to the chairman of Schlumberger Limited and the chairman of Golar LNG Limited by Schlumberger or Golar to resolve the matter at the level of the respective board of the relevant parent company. |
8.7.4 | Nothing in this clause is intended as a waiver or variation of the requirement that any decision on behalf of a relevant entity should be formally approved in a properly convened and held meeting of the shareholders and/or directors of such entity. |
8.7.5 | Either chairman may nominate an independent third party acceptable to the other chairman to act as mediator to assist them to resolve the matter. |
8.7.6 | If any matter remains unresolved by the chairmen pursuant to Clause 8.7.3 for a period of twenty eight (28) days after it is referred to them pursuant to Clause 8.7.3, the matter in dispute shall not proceed and the status quo shall continue. During the process set out in this Clause 8.7 the Shareholders will continue to fulfil their obligations under this Agreement and to fund the Business in accordance with the then current Business Plan or Budget. |
8.7.7 | To the extent unaffected by the dispute the Business will continue to be managed and carried on in all respects as it was before the dispute arose, and the provisions of this Agreement and the obligations of the Shareholders and their Affiliates thereunder will remain in full force and effect. |
8.7.8 | The arbitration provisions in Clause 20.2 do not apply to any matter which is the subject of disagreement and to which this Clause 8.7 applies except to the extent that it relates to the interpretation of this Agreement or the respective rights and obligations of the Shareholders pursuant to this Agreement. |
PART V | Budgets/Profit Distributions/Financial Information/Operation of the Company |
9. | Business Plan, Budgets, Financial Information and Audits |
9.1 | Initial Business Plan |
9.2 | Business Plan |
9.2.1 | Schlumberger and Golar shall procure that the Board shall prepare and submit to the Shareholders a draft business plan for the Company and its Subsidiaries which shall include, without limitations, financial projections, cash flows, capital expenditure, financing request, borrowings, dividends and forecasts for the following five-year period at the latest thirty (30) Business Days before the end of the third financial year of each three-year period as from the Closing Date and a draft of a modified Business Plan (if modified) together with a draft Annual Budget, at the latest forty five (45) Business Days before the end of each financial year and, as the case may be, a modified Business Plan (if modified) together with any Revised Annual Budget. |
9.2.2 | Following receipt by the Shareholders of any draft business plan for any given period (including any proposed modification of a Business Plan as a result of the adoption of Annual Budgets or Revised Annual Budgets), Golar and Schlumberger shall consult with each other upon the content of such business plan and shall each use all reasonable endeavours to reach agreement as to its contents and to adopt such business plan as the agreed Business Plan of the Company for the relevant period. In the event a business plan is not agreed upon, the Company shall adhere to the Business Plan for the prior period until a new Business Plan is agreed. |
9.2.3 | The Business Plan shall be prepared in accordance with the Accounting Policies. |
9.3 | Initial Budget |
9.4 | Annual Budget |
9.4.1 | Golar and Schlumberger shall procure that not later than thirty (30) Business Days before the beginning of each financial year the Board prepares and delivers to them a draft annual budget (including, without limitation, financial projections, cash flows, capital expenditure, financing request, borrowings, dividends, forecasts and Operating Expenses) for the next financial year and such other information relating to the financial position and affairs of the Company as each Shareholder may from time to time reasonably require, generally in a form mutually agreed by Golar and Schlumberger (the “Annual Budget”). |
9.4.2 | Within fifteen (15) Business Days following receipt by the Shareholders of the draft Annual Budget for any year, either Shareholder shall be entitled to request such further information as may reasonably be necessary to enable it to reach an informed view as to the content, reasonableness and prudence of the draft in question. The Company shall comply with any such request within seven (7) Business Days of its receipt and shall copy its response to the other Shareholder. |
9.4.3 | Following receipt by the Shareholders of the draft Annual Budget for any financial year and any further information supplied in accordance with Clause 9.4.2, Golar and Schlumberger shall consult with each other upon the content of such Annual Budget and shall each use all reasonable endeavours to reach agreement as to its contents and to adopt such Annual Budget as the agreed Annual Budget of the Company for the relevant year. In the event the Annual Budget for any financial year has not been agreed upon, until a new Annual Budget is agreed the Company shall only incur operating expenses to the extent required in order to maintain the Company as a going concern (but shall not incur any capital expenditure). |
9.5 | Revised Annual Budget |
9.5.1 | The Shareholders shall procure that the Board will regularly review the agreed Annual Budget during the course of the relevant financial year of the Company. The Board may propose Annual Budget amendments and the adoption of a revised annual budget (the “Revised Annual Budget”) to the Shareholders pursuant to the following procedure: |
(a) | the Board shall require that the Management Team of the Company prepare a memorandum in a form mutually agreeable to Golar and Schlumberger, describing the desired budget amendments in reasonable detail; |
(b) | the memorandum including the proposed Revised Annual Budget shall be delivered in final form to the Board (with a copy to each of Golar and Schlumberger); |
(c) | in the event the amendments contemplated by the proposed Revised Annual Budget are approved by a Sponsor Vote of the Board (or by a Sponsor Vote of Shareholders, if elected by a Director as set forth in Clause 8.6.1 above), the Company shall be bound by such Revised Annual Budget; and |
(d) | in the event the amendments contemplated by the proposed Revised Budget are rejected by a Sponsor Vote of the Board (or by a Sponsor Vote of Shareholders), the Company shall adhere to the Annual Budget adopted for the current financial year until a new Annual Budget is agreed. |
9.6 | Information of Shareholders and Financial Statements |
9.6.1 | The Shareholders shall procure that, and the Company undertakes to take all necessary actions so that: |
(a) | each JV Group Company shall keep, at all times, each Shareholder fully and promptly informed of all material matters of which the relevant JV Group Company is aware relating to the progress of the Business and provide the Shareholders with access at all reasonable times to all documents and information required by the Shareholders; |
(b) | audited accounts for each JV Group Company and audited consolidated accounts for the Company complying with the relevant laws and regulations shall be prepared and reported on by the auditors of the relevant JV Group Company and by the Auditors within three months from the end of the financial year in question (the first such accounts to be for the period ending 31 December 2016) and shall be forthwith thereafter delivered to each Shareholder; |
(c) | the audited statutory accounts of each JV Group Company and the audited consolidated accounts of the Company for each financial year shall comply with the Accounting Policies; |
(d) | the accounts referred to in Clause 9.6.1(b) above shall be laid before the relevant company in a general meeting within a period of four months following the end of the financial year in question; |
(e) | so far as they are able, the auditors of each JV Group Company, and the Auditors of the Company from time to time shall, (as appropriate) at the expense of the Company, certify the profits of each JV Group Company as disclosed in the audited accounts which are available for distribution for each financial year at the same time as they sign their report on the audited statutory accounts of each JV Group Company and on the audited consolidated accounts of the Company for that financial year and so far as they are able shall generally prepare such certificates and calculations as may be reasonably required by the Shareholders from time to time and the auditors shall be given such assistance and information by each JV Group Company in connection with the performance of any duties imposed upon them hereunder or by the relevant Articles; and |
(f) | the Board shall prepare for each JV Group Company quarterly management accounts commencing with the first day of the calendar quarter following Closing, such accounts to include (in addition to any further information or details which the Shareholders may reasonably require), a profit and loss account for each JV Group Company and a consolidated profit and loss account for the Company, or, where relevant, the income statement and balance sheet. Such management accounts shall refer to any known matter occurring in or relating to the period in question, including a statement of any material variation from the Annual Budget or Revised Annual Budget then relevant, comparing the results shown in such management accounts with the results for the corresponding period in the previous year. Such management accounts shall then be submitted to the Shareholders within thirty (30) Business Days from the end of the relevant calendar quarter end to which they relate and considered at the first Board meeting following such submission. |
(g) | Each JV Group Company shall implement internal control procedures over financial reporting as are reasonably required for its own or Sarbanes Oxley Act audit purposes (which may include the provision of a SOC 1 report). |
9.6.2 | If the Board shall for whatever reason at any time fail in any material respect to perform, or shall be in material breach of its obligations under this Clause 9.6 then if such non-performance or breach has not been remedied by the Board within sixty (60) days after receipt of written notification from either Shareholder specifying the breach or non-performance to the reasonable satisfaction of the notifying Shareholder each Shareholder shall be entitled (without prejudice to any other remedies or rights which they may have in respect of any such non-performance or breach) to appoint an independent accountant or accountants of their own choosing (subject to appropriate undertakings as to confidentiality) to investigate the affairs of the relevant JV Group Company with a view to obtaining the information which was not supplied pursuant to this Clause 9.6 and in the event that such independent accountant or accountants shall be so appointed: |
(a) | the relevant JV Group Company shall afford, or (so far as any of them is able to do so) shall procure that there shall be afforded by any necessary third party, to such independent accountant or accountants such assistance and co-operation (including without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing full and unrestricted access to the accounting books and records of the relevant JV Group Company) as he or they may from time to time request; and |
(b) | the reasonable costs of and incidental to any such appointment shall be paid by the Company. |
9.7 | Right of Audit |
(a) | to visit and inspect any premises of any JV Group Company at normal business hours and to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the relevant JV Group Company with its officers and employees; and |
(b) | to inspect and request and retain copies of any books, records or other documents relating to the Business or any other affairs of the relevant JV Group Company and such JV Group Company shall afford such access and co-operation as may be reasonable in the circumstances to facilitate the carrying out of such audit or review. |
9.8 | Financial Information/Reporting Obligations |
10. | Operation of the Company |
10.1 | Except as provided in this Agreement and save as the Shareholders may otherwise agree, each of the Shareholders and Directors shall procure that: |
(a) | the Company carries on no business or activity other than the Business; |
(b) | each other JV Group Company carries on no business or activity other than the Committed Project for which it was established; |
(c) | the Business is carried on and conducted in a proper and efficient manner and for the benefit of each JV Group Company and the Shareholders; |
(d) | no JV Group Company shall enter into any agreement or arrangement restricting its competitive freedom to provide and receive goods and services by such means, and from and to such persons, as they may respectively think fit; |
(e) | if any JV Group Company requires any approval, consent or licence for carrying on its business in the places and in the manner in which it is for the time being carried on or proposed to be carried on by it, the relevant JV Group Company will use its best endeavours to maintain the same in full force and effect; |
(f) | all business of each JV Group Company is undertaken and transacted by the Board in accordance with the Initial Business Plan or the Business Plan (as may be modified) and the Initial Budget, the Annual Budget or the Revised Annual Budget, as the case may be; |
(g) | each JV Group Company maintain with a well-established and reputable insurer adequate insurance against all risks usually insured against by companies carrying on the same or a similar business; |
(h) | the JV Group is registered for VAT purposes as a company which is independent of each of the Shareholders and their respective groups. |
11. | Profits Distributions |
11.1 | The Shareholders undertake to exercise their powers in relation to the Company, and the Company undertakes that (subject to any Legal Requirements and unless the Shareholders otherwise agree in writing): |
(a) | insofar as the Company has Distributable Cash resulting from profits and subject to applicable Legal Requirements and to its Articles, the Company shall pay as dividends the entire Company’s Distributable Cash resulting from profits. Such dividends in respect of the Shares shall be paid strictly in accordance with the Articles and for the avoidance of doubt such dividends shall be paid to the Shareholders pro rata to their respective shareholding in the Company at the time of the payment of the distribution; and |
(b) | the method and timing of distribution of Distributable Cash resulting from profits shall take into account the interests of the Shareholders in minimizing taxation liabilities. |
11.2 | The Shareholders undertake to exercise their powers in relation to the Company, and the Company undertakes to exercise its powers in relation to each other JV Group Company so that (subject to any Legal Requirements and unless the Shareholders otherwise agree in writing) each JV Group Company that has Distributable Cash declares and pays to the Company such dividends as is necessary to permit lawful and prompt payment by the Company of any dividends as provided by Clause 11.1. |
PART VI | Transfer of Company Shares |
12. | Transfer of Shares and Related Matters |
12.1 | Notwithstanding any provision of the Articles, no Shareholder shall Transfer any Share or any interest in any Share except in compliance with Schedule 1. |
12.2 | Following the Lock-up Period, either of Golar or Schlumberger may elect to procure that the Company pursue a listing of the Shares on an internationally recognised investment exchange, in which case: |
12.3 | Without prejudice to the provisions of Schedule 1, the Shareholders shall procure that before any person (other than a person who is already a Shareholder) is registered as a holder of any Share (whether on transfer or allotment), such person shall enter into a deed of adherence substantially in the form set out in Schedule 4.8 covenanting with the continuing Parties to observe, perform and be bound by all the terms of this Agreement which are capable of applying to such person and which have not been performed. Upon being so registered, that person shall be deemed to be a Party to this Agreement. |
PART VII | Miscellaneous/General |
13. | Non Compete |
13.1 | Golar Non Compete Undertakings |
13.1.1 | Save as provided in Clause 13.1.2, Golar undertakes that all investments contemplated or carried out by any entity of the Golar Group within the scope of the Business in the Territory (the “Restricted Business”) shall be contemplated and carried out exclusively through the Company and Golar therefore undertakes not to (and shall procure that no entity or person part of the Golar Group shall), as from the date hereof and as long as it remains a Shareholder and for a period ending two (2) years thereafter: |
13.1.2 | Clause 13.1.1 shall not apply in connection with any Excluded Project, provided that, unless Schlumberger otherwise agrees in writing, the Golar Group, in contemplating or carrying out such Excluded Project, is not involved in any incorporated or unincorporated joint venture with a Defined Competitor of Schlumberger. Schlumberger acknowledges that, notwithstanding the provisions of Clause 13.1.1, Golar shall have the right to contemplate or carry out an investment in any entity or asset carrying out an activity competing with that of the JV Group provided that: |
13.2 | Schlumberger Non Compete Undertakings |
13.2.1 | Save as provided in Clause 13.2.2, Schlumberger undertakes that all investments contemplated or carried out by any entity of the Schlumberger Group within the scope of the Restricted Business shall be contemplated and carried out exclusively through the Company and Schlumberger therefore undertakes not to (and shall procure that no entity or person part of the Schlumberger Group shall), as from the date hereof and as long as it remains a Shareholder and for a period ending two (2) years thereafter: |
13.2.2 | Clause 13.2.1 shall not apply in connection with any Excluded Project, provided that, unless Golar otherwise agrees in writing, the Schlumberger Group, in contemplating or carrying out such Excluded Project, is not involved in any incorporated or unincorporated joint venture with a Defined Competitor of Golar. Golar acknowledges that, notwithstanding the provisions of Clause 13.2.1, Schlumberger shall have the right to contemplate or carry out an investment in any entity or asset carrying out an activity competing with that of the JV Group provided that: |
(b) | Schlumberger’s contemplated investment does not exceed twenty percent (20%) in a Restricted Business, and Schlumberger has no ability to direct the management of such Restricted Business. |
14. | Term and Termination |
15. | Confidentiality |
15.1 | During the term of this Agreement and after termination or expiration of this Agreement for any reason, each Party shall keep and treat as strictly confidential and not at any time disclose or make known in any way to any person who is not a Party or use for a purpose other than the performance of its obligations under this Agreement any information (“Confidential Information”) which it now possesses or which may come within its knowledge during the term of this Agreement relating to or connected with or arising out of this Agreement or the matters contained in it or the business, activities or affairs of any other Party or, through any failure to exercise all due care, cause any unauthorised disclosure of any Confidential Information and shall make every effort to prevent the use or disclosure of such information except that these restrictions do not apply to the disclosure of Confidential Information if and to the extent: |
(a) | Disclosure is required by law or for the purpose of any judicial proceedings, or by any regulatory authority, government body or securities exchange after consultation with the other Parties, where practicable; |
(b) | The information is or becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a breach of any undertaking or duty of confidentiality by any person; |
(c) | The information is disclosed on a strictly confidential basis by a Party to its advisers, consultants, auditors and bankers for the purposes of its business; |
(e) | Disclosure is by a Party to a member of its Group which accepts restrictions in the terms of this Clause 15; |
(f) | Each of the other Parties has given its prior written consent to the contents and the manner of the disclosure; or |
(g) | Disclosure is for the purpose of business development of the capabilities of the Company. |
15.2 | Forthwith after termination of this Agreement each Party shall return to the other Parties all copies of any documents containing Confidential Information of the other Parties. The restrictions contained in this Clause 15 shall continue to apply after termination of this Agreement without limit in time. |
15.3 | The Parties acknowledge that damages would not be an adequate remedy for any breach of this Clause 15 and each Party shall be entitled to the remedy of injunction, specific performance and other equitable relief for any threatened or actual breach of this Clause 15 and no proof of special damages shall be necessary for the enforcement of this Agreement. |
15.4 | No public announcement may be made, or circular issued, relating to this Agreement, the Joint Venture, the JV Group or any Target Project or any Committed Project without the prior written approval of both Shareholders. This does not affect any announcement or circular required by law or any regulatory body or the rules of any recognised stock exchange, but the Shareholder with an obligation to make such an announcement or issue such a circular will consult with the other Shareholder so far as is reasonably practicable before complying with such obligation and shall use reasonable efforts to comply with any reasonable requests from the other Shareholder as to the content of such announcement or circular. Any statements made or replies to questions given by either Shareholder or its Affiliates relating to this Agreement, the Joint Venture, the JV Group or any Target Project or any Committed Project will be consistent with any such public announcements or circulars. |
16. | Costs |
17. | Assignment |
18. | Notices |
18.1 | Any notice to be given under this Agreement shall be in writing in the English language signed by or on behalf of the Party giving it and may be delivered personally or sent by first class post or by a recognised international courier service, fees prepaid, or by fax or email, to the recipient at its address set out on the signature page hereto or such other address as it may have specified by giving not less than five (5) Business Days' notice to the others. |
18.2 | In the absence of evidence of earlier receipt, any notice or other communication is deemed given, if delivered personally, when left at the address of the relevant Party; if sent (fees prepaid) by a generally recognised international courier service, two (2) Business Days after delivery to the relevant international courier, and if sent by fax, on completion of its transmission or by email, as evidenced by a delivery receipt. |
19. | General |
19.1 | The Company shall adopt policies with respect to business ethics (including anti-bribery and corruption and healthy, safety and environment) which shall be no less rigorous than the policies of the Shareholders. In the event of inconsistency between the requirements of such policies of the Shareholders, the Company shall adopt the more onerous requirement. |
19.2 | If during the continuance of this Agreement any ambiguity or conflict arises between the terms of this Agreement and those of the Company's memorandum of association or the Articles, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail as between the Shareholders and the Shareholders shall procure that the memorandum or the Articles are amended as soon as practicable to the extent necessary to permit the Company and its affairs to be administered as provided in this Agreement. |
19.3 | No variation of this Agreement shall be valid unless it is in writing and signed by or on behalf of each Party. |
19.4 | Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, the rights, powers and remedies contained in this Agreement are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, powers or remedies provided by law. |
19.5 | Notwithstanding any indemnity given by any party under this Agreement, each Party shall mitigate any loss in respect which it is to be indemnified under this Agreement. |
19.6 | Each Party shall (at its own cost), and shall use their respective reasonable endeavours to procure that any third party shall, do, execute and perform all such further deeds, documents, assurances, acts and things as any of the other Parties may reasonably require by notice in writing to the others to carry the provisions of this Agreement and the Articles. |
19.7 | Nothing in this Agreement, and no action taken by the Parties pursuant to this Agreement, creates, or is to be construed as creating, a partnership between the Shareholders or as constituting either Shareholder as the agent of the other Shareholder for any purpose whatsoever. No Party has the authority or power to bind any other Party or to contract in the name of or create a liability against any other Party in any way. |
19.8 | This Agreement shall be binding on the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns. |
19.9 | No delay or failure on the part of any party in exercising a right, power or remedy provided by law or under this Agreement will impair that right, power or remedy or operate as a waiver of it or any other rights and remedies. The single or partial exercise of any right, power or remedy provided by law or under this Agreement will not preclude any other or further exercise or the exercise of any other rights power or remedy. |
19.10 | This Agreement contains the whole agreement between the Shareholders relating to the Joint Venture at the date hereof and supersedes any other agreements, warranties or representations, written or oral, between the Shareholders concerning such subject matter. |
19.11 | Without prejudice to any liability for fraudulent misrepresentation, each of the Parties acknowledges and agrees that, in entering into this Agreement and the documents referred to in it, it does not rely on, and that no Party is liable for, or is entitled to claim rescission or any other remedy in respect of, any statement, representation, warranty or assurance (whether negligently or innocently made) of any person which is not expressly set out in this Agreement and that no Party is liable for, or is entitled to any remedy in respect of, any misrepresentation or untrue statement unless and to the extent that a claim for breach of contract subsists in relation to this Agreement. This Agreement and the documents referred to in it constitute the entire agreement between the Parties and supersede and extinguishes all previous drafts, agreements, arrangements and understandings between them, whether written or oral, relating to its subject matter. |
19.12 | If a provision of this Agreement is or becomes or is found by a court or other competent authority to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, under any law, such provision shall to that extent only be deemed not to form part of this Agreement and the legality, validity and enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected or impaired. |
19.13 | This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, and by the Parties on separate counterparts, but shall not be effective until each Party has executed at least one counterpart. Each counterpart, once executed, is deemed to form part of and will together constitute this Agreement. |
19.14 | A person who is not a Party to this Agreement has no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce or to enjoy the benefit of any term of this Agreement. |
20. | Governing Law and Arbitration |
20.1 | This Agreement and any non-contractual obligations connected with it shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. |
20.2 | All disputes, controversies or claims arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, including the breach, termination or invalidity thereof, and all disputes relating to non-contractual obligations, shall be referred to and finally resolved by arbitration under the London Court of International Arbitration (the “LCIA”) Rules, which Rules are deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Clause 20. The number of arbitrators shall be three (3). The Shareholders shall each be entitled to nominate one arbitrator, the third arbitrator being appointed by the LCIA Court. The seat of arbitration shall be London, England. The language to be used in the arbitral proceedings shall be English. The Parties shall have the right to seek interim relief from a court of competent jurisdiction, at any time before and after the arbitrators have been appointed, up until the arbitrators have made their final award. |
21. | Business Ethics |
21.1 | Each Shareholder represents, warrants and covenants to the other Shareholder, in connection with this Agreement, that it and its Affiliates and any officers, directors, employees, consultants and/or agents of it, its Affiliates or any person acting or performing services on its or its Affiliates’ behalf in respect of whose actions or inactions the Shareholders and/or their Affiliates may be liable under the Business Ethics Laws: |
(a) | shall comply with Business Ethics Laws even if the provisions of the Business Ethics Law do not strictly apply to such Party or its representatives because of their jurisdictional status and references in this Clause 21 to Business Ethics Law shall be interpreted accordingly; |
(b) | has not offered or given, directly or indirectly, and will not offer or give, directly or indirectly, any advantage, benefit or thing of value to any public official (including any officer, employee, director, officer, principal, consultant, agent, representative, candidate or official of any government, any state-owned agency, enterprise or joint venture interest, any public international organization or any political party) which would violate any Business Ethics Laws; |
(c) | has not offered or given, directly or indirectly, and will not offer or give, directly or indirectly any advantage to any officer, director, employee, agent or representative of any other person or entity which would violate the Business Ethics Laws; |
(d) | has not and will not, directly or through any other person or entity, request, agree to receive or accept any service, action or inaction by any other person or entity which would violate Business Ethics Laws; |
(e) | has not and will not, directly or indirectly request, agree to receive or accept any advantage or benefit which would violate the Business Ethics Laws; |
(f) | has given adequate training to its personnel and informed them of their obligations in relation to the Business Ethics Laws and that it shall have in place ongoing training, adequate policies and procedures in relation to business ethics and conduct and the reporting and investigating of suspected violations of Business Ethics Laws; |
(g) | has not and will not violate any economic or trade sanctions, embargoes or restrictive measures administered, enacted or enforced by OFAC, the US Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or its member states; |
(h) | has not and will not hold another person in slavery or servitude, employ, engage or otherwise use forced or compulsory labour, trafficked labour or child labour; nor engage in or condone the use of corporal punishments or mentally, physically, sexually or verbally abusive or inhumane treatment of workers; |
(i) | will promptly, to the extent permitted by law, notify the other Shareholder as soon as it become aware, or reasonably believes, that it or any other person in connection with this Agreement has breached any of the requirements in this Clause 21; |
(j) | has and will maintain accurate and complete books and records and internal controls sufficient and of such quality, consistent with accounting principles and practices contained in US GAAP so as to permit an audit of the books and records by an internationally recognised firm of public or chartered accountants or their equivalent, and which would, following that audit, result in an unqualified audit opinion and will not maintain any off the book accounts or record any non-existent expenditure nor enter liabilities with incorrect identification of their object or use false documents; |
(k) | will provide all reasonable assistance and access to permit the other Shareholder to conduct an audit of its documents, books and records (including providing copies of documentation when requested) during normal business hours for the purpose of confirming compliance with this Clause 21; |
(l) | will use all reasonable endeavours to procure access to any third party, their properties, their employees and documents, where such access is reasonably necessary to perform such audit; for the avoidance of doubt access includes providing copies of the third party's documentation where requested; |
(m) | will disclose to the other Shareholder any circumstances, past or present, which may reasonably be considered a material risk factor for violations of Business Ethics Laws; and |
(n) | will promptly take all such steps as may be necessary and or requested by the other Shareholder to ensure that such risk factors referred to above do not give rise to any conflict of interest, or any breach of Business Ethics Laws. |
21.2 | Each Shareholder represents, warrants and covenants to the other Shareholder that to the best of its knowledge and belief neither it nor any of its Affiliates nor any officer, director, employee, consultant and/or agent of it or its Affiliates: |
(a) | appears on any list of entities or individuals debarred from tendering or participating in any project funded by the World Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development or any other multi-lateral or bi-lateral aid agency; |
(b) | has at any time been found by a court in any jurisdiction to have breached the Business Ethics Laws other than as disclosed in writing to the other Parties. |
21.3 | Each Shareholder represents, warrants and covenants that it will, if requested in writing by the other Shareholder, promptly: provide any information which the other Shareholder may reasonably require in order to monitor its compliance with the warranties, covenants and/or representations contained in this Clause 21; and provide, where available, documentary support in respect of the information provided pursuant to this Clause 21. |
21.4 | Each Shareholder shall defend, indemnify and hold the other Shareholder harmless from and against any and all claims, damages, liabilities, losses, penalties, costs and expenses arising from or related to, any breach by the indemnifying Shareholder of this Clause 21 or Business Ethics Laws. |
21.5 | The rights and obligations contained in Clause 21.4 above shall survive termination or expiry of this Agreement. |
21.6 | Each Shareholder shall require its Affiliates, contractors, consultants and agents involved in the project to act in accordance with the requirements of this Clause 21 and Business Ethics Laws. |
21.7 | Each Shareholder shall procure that the Company shall comply with this Clause 21 and that the Company shall implement and operate a compliance program including regular business ethics training and assessments of its activities and those of its contractors, consultants and agents involved in the project to verify that they are following their obligations in this Clause 21 and retain the right to have an independent auditor review and verify such compliance. |
21.8 | Any material decision related to compliance with Business Ethics Laws shall be treated as a Reserved Matter. |
21.9 | The Managing Director’s responsibilities shall be deemed to include the implementation and monitoring of policies, procedures and controls in relation to the recording of financial transactions and assessment and prevention of any risks associated with Business Ethics Laws. Such policies and procedures shall include all appropriate measures to assess, prevent and monitor such business risks including the training of personnel; whistle-blowing facilities; due diligence on third party engagements / contracts; gifts and hospitality, promotional expenditures, sponsorship and charitable donations; and audit functions. The Managing Director shall provide, or shall cause to be provided, regular business ethics updates to the Board on a not less than quarterly basis. |
SIGNED by Pernille Noraas for and on behalf of GOLAR GLS UK LIMITED | ) ) ) | /s/ Pernille Noraas |
in the presence of: | ||
Signature /s/ Lee Sennett | ||
Name Lee Sennet | ||
Address | ||
Occupation Solicitor | ||
SIGNED by Azlina Jaafar for and on behalf of SCHLUMBERGER B.V. | ) ) ) | /s/ Azlina Jaafar |
in the presence of: | ||
Signature /s/ Robert Villard | ||
Name Robert Villard | ||
Address | ||
(a) | During the Lock-up Period and unless permissible pursuant to Section 1(b) or Section 1(d) hereafter, any Transfer of Shares shall become effective only with the written consent of all Parties. |
(b) | Any Party may at any time carry out a Transfer of all, but not part only, of its Shares to a wholly-owned Affiliate of such Party (a “Permitted Transferee”), provided, however, that (i) such Transfer of Shares shall become effective only if the Permitted Transferee, duly adheres to the provisions of this Agreement by the execution of a Supplemental Deed on terms substantially similar to those set out in Schedule 4.8 and (ii) if the transferee is to cease to be a wholly-owned Affiliate of the relevant Party, the transferring Party shall procure that the transferee (before it so ceases) shall transfer all of its Shares to the original Party or another wholly-owned Affiliate of such Party. |
(c) | After the end of the Lock-up Period, every Party may carry out a Transfer of all but not part only of its Shares without the consent requirement set forth in Section 1(a) and accordingly the other Party shall provide any consents required under applicable laws or Articles of the Company to give effect to such Transfer provided that, however, the transferring Party adheres to the provisions set forth in Sections 2 and 3. |
(d) | The consent requirement set forth in Section 1(a) shall not apply to any Transfer of Shares in consummation of the Golar Call Option, the Schlumberger Call Option or the Drag-Along Right. |
(a) | If, after the expiry of the Lock-up Period, a Shareholder (the "Selling Party") wishes to transfer any Shares other than to a Permitted Transferee, and has received a bona fide offer from an unaffiliated third party (the "Potential Purchaser") to purchase such Shares (the "Offered Shares"), then the Selling Party shall first notify the other Shareholder (the "Offeree") in writing of the proposed sale or transfer. Such notification (the "Notification") shall contain all material terms of the proposed transfer, including, without limitation, a copy of the offer received, the name and address of the Potential Purchaser, the purchase price and terms of payment, the date and place of the proposed transfer, and the number and description of the Offered Shares. The Offeree shall have the option, for a period of sixty (60) days from the date the Notification is given, to elect to purchase all (but not part only) of the Offered Shares, at the same price and subject to the same material terms and conditions as described in the Notification (or terms and conditions as similar as reasonably possible). If the Offeree gives the Selling Party notice that it desires to purchase the Offered Shares, payment for the Offered Shares shall be made by wire transfer against delivery of the Offered Shares to be purchased at the time of the scheduled closing therefor, which shall be no later than the later of (i) sixty (60) days after the Notification is given or (ii) the date contemplated in the Notification for the closing with the Potential Purchaser. |
(b) | If the Offeree does not elect to purchase the Offered Shares within the time period specified in Section 2(a), the Selling Party shall, subject to Section 3, be free to sell all but not part only of the Offered Shares to the Potential Purchaser (other than to a Defined Competitor of the Offeree) on the same terms and conditions as outlined in the Notification, and provided that in the event such Shares are not sold within ninety (90) days of the date of the Notification, they shall once again be subject to the rights of first refusal provided herein. |
(c) | If the Potential Purchaser acquires the Offered Shares from the Selling Party then the Selling Party shall procure as a condition to such Transfer that the Potential Purchaser agrees to be bound by all of the provisions hereof by execution of the Supplemental Deed in the form set out in Schedule 4.8. The Parties shall cooperate with each other to reasonably amend the terms of this Agreement for incorporating such changes as may be necessary as a result of the sale and transfer of the Offered Shares to the Potential Purchaser. |
(a) | If the Offeree notifies the Selling Party that it does not wish to acquire the Offered Shares, the Selling Party shall, prior to completing such Transfer to the Potential Purchaser provide the Offeree with a final draft of the documentation agreed with the Potential Purchaser in relation to the Transfer of the Offered Shares (the “Sales Documentation”). The Offeree may, within ten Business Days after receipt of the draft of the Sales Documentation, require that the Selling Party procures that the Potential Purchaser shall acquire all (but not less than all) of the Shares held by the Offeree in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the Sales Documentation. If the Offeree does so require, the completion of the sale of the Offered Shares shall be conditional on completion of the sale of the Shares held by the Offeree. |
(b) | If the Potential Purchaser is not willing to purchase the Offeree's Shares in accordance with Section 3(a), the Selling Party is not entitled to sell the Offered Shares to the Potential Purchaser, and the Company shall refuse to register any transfer of the Offered Shares. |
(a) | A Defined Competitor acquires directly more than twenty percent (20%) of the shares or voting rights in Golar; |
(b) | Golar becomes a Defaulting Shareholder; |
(a) | if the Golar Call Option is exercised based on Clause 6.5.1(a), and |
(b) | if the Schlumberger Call Option is exercised based on Clause 6.5.1(a). |
(i) | Alternatively to the exercise of the Golar Call Option, if any of the events listed in Clause 6.5.1 has occurred in relation to Schlumberger, Golar may initiate the sale of one hundred percent (100%) of the Shares of the Company to a third-party and require that Schlumberger sells all of its Shares in the Company to such third-party, at the same price and under the same terms and conditions as those applicable to Golar's shares in the Company (the "Golar Drag-Along Right"). |
(ii) | Golar may exercise the Golar Drag-Along Right only if the transaction is a bona fide arm’s length sale to an unaffiliated third party. |
(b) | Schlumberger Drag-Along Right |
(i) | Alternatively to the exercise of the Schlumberger Call Option, if any of the events listed in Clause 6.5.1 has occurred in relation to Golar, Schlumberger may initiate the sale of one hundred percent (100%) of the Shares to a third-party and require that Golar sells all of its Shares to such third-party, at the same price and under the same terms and conditions as those applicable to Schlumberger's Shares (the "Schlumberger Drag-Along Right”). |
(ii) | Schlumberger may exercise the Schlumberger Drag-Along Right only if the transaction is a bona fide arm’s length sale to an unaffiliated third party. |
(a) | If only one Party carries out a Transfer of Shares, all transaction costs regarding such Transfer of Shares shall be borne solely by such Party. |
(b) | If more than one Party carries out a Transfer of Shares together with other Parties in a joint transaction (also in case a Drag-Along Right or Tag-Along Right has been exercised), all transaction costs regarding such Transfer of Shares shall be borne by the exiting Parties pro rata to their participation in such Transfer of Shares. |
(a) | “Fair Market Value” of the Shares means the cash price that a willing buyer would pay to a willing seller in an arm's-length transaction, assuming that the Shares are being sold in an auction or otherwise in a manner reasonably designed to solicit all possible participants and permit all interested persons an opportunity to participate and to achieve the best value reasonably available to the seller at the time, taking into account all existing circumstances, including, without limitation, (a) the terms and conditions of all agreements to which the Company is then a party or by which it is otherwise benefited or affected (including any financing arrangements), (b) the existence of any third party offers for such Shares or for comparable assets, and (c) any projections of future cash flow from such Shares that have been agreed upon by the Board and the Party for whom such valuation is relevant. No discounts for minority interest or illiquidity shall be applied, and the value shall be computed on a fully diluted basis after giving effect to the exercise of any and all outstanding conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants and options. |
(b) | The Party seeking to take affirmative action under this Agreement where a determination of Fair Market Value is required (the “Trigger Party”) shall promptly notify the Company and the other Shareholder of its proposed determination of Fair Market Value (as defined herein) (the “FMV Notice”). |
(c) | Within ten (10) days following receipt of the FMV Notice, the other Party (the “Other Shareholder”) shall notify the Trigger Party of any disagreement with the determination of Fair Market Value. In the absence of such notification, the determination of Fair Market Value by the Trigger Party shall be binding on the Company and all of the Parties. If the Other Shareholder determines there is a disagreement, the determination of Fair Market Value shall be made by internationally recognized investment bankers, with experience in the industries and countries in which the Company is located and the JV Group does business, and may not be an Affiliate of any Party or have performed any significant work for any Party or any Affiliate of any Party within the prior year (each a “Recognized Investment Banker”). |
(d) | Within ten (10) days following receipt by the Trigger Party of notification of disagreement with the determination of Fair Market Value, the Trigger Party will select and identify to the Other Shareholder in writing a Recognized Investment Banker (the “First Appraiser”) and the Other Shareholder will select and identify to the Trigger Party in writing a Recognized Investment Banker (the “Second Appraiser”). The date when both the First Appraiser and the Second Appraiser have been selected and identified is referred to herein as the “Start Date”. If either the Trigger Party, on the one hand, or the Other Shareholders, on the other hand, fail to select a Recognized Investment Banker within the 10-day period, the Recognized Investment Banker that is selected within the 10-day period shall be the appraiser and shall conduct an appraisal of the Fair Market Value within thirty (30) days of the expiration of such 10-day period, which appraisal shall then be deemed to be the final appraisal of the Fair Market Value. |
(e) | Within three (3) days after the Start Date, the First Appraiser and the Second Appraiser will together designate another Recognized Investment Banker (the “Third Appraiser”), who shall at no time be informed of the values determined by the First Appraiser and the Second Appraiser, to render its appraisal of the Fair Market Value. If the First Appraiser and the Second Appraiser are unable to agree on a Third Appraiser prior to the expiration of such 3-day period, then, on the Business Day following the expiration of such period, each of the First Appraiser and the Second Appraiser shall be entitled to eliminate any one of the Recognized Investment Bankers set forth on Exhibit A from consideration, and the Third Appraiser shall be the remaining Recognized Investment Banker set forth on Exhibit A. The Third Appraiser will make an independent determination of the Fair Market Value (the “Third Value”). |
(f) | Within thirty (30) days after the Start Date (the “Appraisal Deadline”), the First Appraiser and the Second Appraiser will each provide to the Trigger Party and the Other Shareholder its written appraisal and report of the Fair Market Value as of the applicable date, and the Third Appraiser shall be prepared to provide its appraisal of the Fair Market Value as of the applicable date, which appraisal shall be completed by the Appraisal Deadline but shall only be delivered to the Trigger Party and the Other Shareholder, if at all, in accordance with paragraph (g) of this Schedule 2. The Shareholders will, and will procure that the Company and its Subsidiaries will, cooperate with each of the appraisers appointed to determine the Fair Market Value and will deliver, or make available, all information reasonably required by such appraisers that is relevant to the determination of the Fair Market Value. If (i) either the First Appraiser or the Second Appraiser fails to deliver its appraisal on or before the Appraisal Deadline, the appraisal that is delivered on or before the Appraisal Deadline shall be deemed to be the final appraisal of the Fair Market Value or (ii) neither the First Appraiser nor the Second Appraiser delivers its appraisal on or before the Appraisal Deadline, then the Third Appraiser shall deliver its appraisal and the Third Value shall be deemed to be the final appraisal of the Fair Market Value. |
(g) | If (i) the higher Fair Market Value (the “High Value”) set forth in a written report by one of the First and Second Appraisers is not more than one hundred and ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value (the “Low Value”) determined by the other of the First and Second Appraisers, then the Fair Market Value will be the average of the High Value and the Low Value and (ii) if the High Value is more than one hundred and ten percent (110%) of the Low Value, then, the Third Appraiser (who shall not be informed of the values determined by the First Appraiser and the Second Appraiser) shall immediately provide its written report to the Parties and the Company setting forth its determination of the Fair Market Value. If the Third Value is within the middle one-third (the “Mid-Range”) of the range of values between the High Value and Low Value, then the final and binding Fair Market Value shall equal the Third Value. If the Third Value is not within the Mid-Range, the final and binding Fair Market Value will be the average of (i) the Third Value and (ii) either (x) the High Value or (y) the Low Value, whichever is closer to the Third Value; provided, that the final and binding Fair Market Value shall not be determined to be less than the Low Value or greater than the High Value. |
(h) | Each Recognized Investment Banker engaged for the purposes set forth in this Schedule 2 shall be engaged on customary terms, and the First Appraiser and the Second Appraiser shall be engaged on the same financial basis and on substantially the same terms. No Party to this Agreement nor any of their Affiliates or anyone acting on behalf of any of them shall provide to the Third Appraiser (i) any information regarding the appraisals of either the First Appraiser or the Second Appraiser (including the results of the first two appraisals) or (ii) any work product of the First Appraiser or Second Appraiser (including any information derived from information provided by the Company). The Parties will procure that each of the Recognized Investment Bankers selected by them agrees to be bound by the preceding sentence to the same extent as the parties hereto. |
(i) | To the extent any applicable deadline under this Agreement would occur during the pendency of the procedures described in this Schedule 2, such deadline shall be deemed extended to the extent reasonably necessary to accommodate the procedures set forth herein. |
OneLNG Société anonyme Luxembourg |
CONSTITUTION D'UNE SOCIETE ANONYME du [date] |
1) | The number of directors is set at 4 (four) and that of the statutory auditor (commissaire aux comptes) at 1 (one). |
2) | Are appointed as directors: |
- | Tor Olav Trøim, [residing/with professional address] at [address] as a class A director; |
- | Oscar Spieler, [residing/with professional address] at [address] as a class A director; |
- | [Patrick Schorn], [residing/with professional address] at [address] as a class B director; and |
- | [Simon Ayat], [residing/with professional address] at [address] as a class B director. |
3) | Is elected as statutory auditor (commissaire aux comptes) [Ernst & Young], a company having its registered office at [registered office of the statutory auditor]. |
4) | The Company shall have its registered office at [Luxembourg address]. |
1. | The Covenantor hereby confirms that it has been supplied with a copy of the JV Master Agreement and hereby covenants with each of the persons named in appendix 1 hereto to observe perform and be bound by all the terms of the JV Master Agreement applicable to the Covenantor and which have not been performed at the date hereof to the intent and effect that the Covenantor shall be deemed with effect from the date on which the Covenantor is registered as a Shareholder of the Company to be a party to the JV Master Agreement. |
2. | The parties hereby agree and confirm that the Covenantor shall have the benefit of all of the provisions of the JV Master Agreement as if the Covenantor were named therein as a Shareholder and as if the Covenantor had been a party thereto from the date on which the Covenantor is registered as a Shareholder of the Company. |
3. | The governing law of and jurisdiction Clause of the JV Master Agreement shall apply mutatis mutandis to this agreement (and any dispute, controversy, proceedings or claim of whatever nature arising out of or in any way relating to this agreement or its formation). |
ASSEMBLEE GENERALE EXTRAORDINAIRE du […] 2016 |
1. | Waiving of notice right; |
2. | Increase of the share capital of the Company by an amount of USD 19,900,000 (nineteen million nine hundred thousand United States Dollars), so as to raise it from its current amount of USD 100,000 (one hundred thousand United States Dollars) to USD 20,000,000 (twenty million United States Dollars) by the issuance of 1,990,000 (one million nine hundred ninety thousand) new shares with a nominal value of USD 10 (ten United States Dollars); |
3. | Subscription, intervention of the subscribers and payment of the new shares of the Company by way of contributions in cash; |
4. | Composition of the shareholding of the Company; |
5. | Subsequent amendment of article 7 paragraph 1 of the articles of association of the Company in order to reflect the new share capital of the Company pursuant to resolutions 2. and 3. above; and |
6. | Miscellaneous. |
(i) | Golar GLS UK Limited, a company organized under the laws of England and Wales, having its registered office at 13th Floor, 1 America Square, Crosswall, London UK EC3N 2LB (“Golar”), declares to subscribe to 1,014,900 (one million fourteen thousand nine hundred) new shares with a nominal value of USD 10 (ten United States Dollars) each by way of contribution in cash amounting to USD 10,149,000 (ten million one hundred forty nine thousand United States Dollars); and |
(ii) | Schlumberger B.V., a company incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands, having its registered address at Parkstraat 83-89, 2514 JG, The Hague, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands (“Schlumberger”), declares to subscribe to 975,100 (nine hundred seventy five thousand one hundred) new shares with a nominal value of USD 10 (ten United States Dollars) each by way of contribution in cash amounting to USD 9,751,000 (nine million seven hundred fifty one thousand United States Dollars). |
(i) Golar GLS UK Limited | 1,020,000 (one million twenty thousand) shares with a nominal value of USD 10 (ten United States Dollars) each |
(ii) Schlumberger B.V. | 980,000 (nine hundred eighty thousand) shares with a nominal value of USD 10 (ten United States Dollars) each |
1. | Ratification of the setting-up of a Luxembourg bank account for the Company; |
2. | Ratification of a domiciliation agreement entered into on behalf of the Company; |
3. | Appointment of Mr. […] as chairman of the board of directors of the Company; |
4. | Proposal to recommend to the shareholders of the Company the increase of the share capital of the Company through contributions in cash; |
5. | Convening of an extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders of the Company relating to resolution 4 above; |
6. | Approval of the adherence by the Company to the joint-venture and shareholders’ agreement entered into by and between the shareholders of the Company; and |
7. | Miscellaneous. |
1. | Ratification of the setting-up of a Luxembourg bank account for the Company |
• | the setting up of the Bank Account and the Documentation be and are hereby approved and ratified to the extent necessary; |
• | any directors of the Company be and are hereby authorized on behalf of the Company, with full power of sub-delegation, to do all such acts and execute all such documents, certificates and notices as he may consider expedient in connection with the setting up of the Bank Account, the execution or performance by the Company of the Documentation or which might otherwise be desirable in connection therewith. |
2. | Ratification of a domiciliation agreement entered into on behalf of the Company |
• | the Domiciliation Agreement is in the best interest of the Company; |
• | the Domiciliation Agreement be and hereby is approved and ratified to the extent necessary; |
• | any directors of the Company be and are hereby authorized on behalf of the Company, with full power of sub-delegation, to do all such acts and execute all such documents, certificates and notices as he may consider expedient in connection with the execution or performance by the Company of the Domiciliation Agreement or which might otherwise be desirable in connection therewith. |
3. | Appointment of Mr. […] as chairman of the board of directors of the Company |
• | the Appointment is in the best interest of the Company; |
• | the Appointment be and hereby is approved; and |
• | any director of the Company be and are hereby individually authorised on behalf of the Company, with full power of sub-delegation, to do all such acts and execute all such documents, certificates and notices in the name and on behalf of the Company, as he/she may consider expedient in connection with the Appointment or which might otherwise be considerable in connection therewith. |
4. | Proposal to recommend to the shareholders of the Company the increase of the share capital of the Company through contributions in cash |
• | the Share Capital Increase, the New Shares, the Contribution and the Update are in the best interest of the Company; |
• | the Share Capital Increase, the New Shares, the Contribution and the Update be and are hereby approved; |
• | any directors of the Company be and are hereby individually authorized in the name and on behalf of the Company, with full power of sub-delegation to do all such acts and execute all such documents, certificates and notices in the name and on behalf of the Company, as he/she may consider expedient in connection with the Contribution, the Share Capital Increase, the New Shares, the Contribution and the Update or which might otherwise be desirable in connection therewith. |
5. | Convening of an extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders of the Company relating to resolution 4 above |
1. | Waiving of notice right; |
2. | Increase of the share capital of the Company by an amount of USD 19,900,000 (nineteen million nine hundred thousand United States Dollars), so as to raise it from its current amount of USD 100,000 (one hundred thousand United States Dollars) to USD 20,000,000 (twenty million United States Dollars) by the issuance of 1,990,000 (one million nine hundred ninety thousand) new shares with a nominal value of USD 10 (ten United States Dollars); |
3. | Subscription, intervention of the subscribers and payment of the new shares of the Company by way of contributions in cash; |
4. | Composition of the shareholding of the Company; |
5. | Subsequent amendment of article 7 paragraph 1 of the articles of association of the Company in order to reflect the new share capital of the Company pursuant to resolutions 2. and 3. above; and |
6. | Miscellaneous.” |
• | the Convening and the EGM Agenda are in the best interest of the Company; |
• | the Convening and the EGM Agenda be and hereby approved; and |
• | any directors of the Company be and hereby individually authorized in the name and on behalf of the Company, with full power of sub-delegation to do all such acts and execute all such documents, certificates and notices in the name and on behalf of the Company, as he/she may consider expedient in connection with the Convening and the EGM Agenda, or which might otherwise be desirable in connection herewith. |
6. | Approval of the adherence by the Company to the joint-venture and shareholders’ agreement entered into by and between the shareholders of the Company |
• | the JV Agreement and the Deed of Adherence and more specifically the assumption of the duties and rights by the Company thereunder are in the best interest of the Company; |
• | the entering into the JV Agreement by the Company and the Deed Of Adherence be and hereby approved; |
• | any directors of the Company be and hereby individually authorized in the name and on behalf of the Company, with full power of sub-delegation to execute the Deed Of Adherence (with any such amendments, modifications or revisions that he or she in his or her absolute discretion may think fit) and to do all such acts and execute all such documents, certificates and notices in the name and on behalf of the Company, as he/she may consider expedient in connection with the JV Agreement and the Deed Of Adherence or which might otherwise be desirable in connection therewith. |
7. | Miscellaneous |
(a) | The Golar Joint Venture Partner shall duly perform all of its obligations under the Agreement; and |
(b) | In the event the Golar Joint Venture Partner fails to perform its obligations under the Agreement or commits a breach thereunder, Schlumberger B.V. shall, within 30 days after its determination that such a failure or breach has occurred, deliver to us a written notice that such failure or breach has occurred, stating the reasons for such determination. Upon receipt of such notice from Schlumberger B.V., Guarantor agrees as follows: |
(i) | In the event the Golar Joint Venture Partner fails to perform its obligations under the Agreement, we shall perform or take whatever steps may be necessary to achieve performance of said obligations under the Agreement. |
(ii) | In the event the Golar Joint Venture Partner breaches the Agreement, we shall indemnify and hold Schlumberger B.V harmless from or against any loss, damages, claims, costs and expenses (including but not limited to reasonable legal expenses) howsoever caused which may be incurred by Schlumberger B.V. by reason of any such breach on the part of Golar Joint Venture Partner. |
• | The US becoming an exporter of gas; |
• | Japan decreasing their imports of LNG; |
• | Gas prices substantially dropping (in line with crude); |
• | Pricing moving away from pure oil indexing; |
• | Too many projects having started several years ago coming on-stream (20 trains being developed and coming on stream 1 every 8 weeks); |
• | Market sentiment moving away from LNG projects due to track-record for cost overruns; and |
• | Gas industry being grouped with coal and oil, and seen as part of environmental problem rather than part of the solution. |
1. | High-level identification and screening of potential assets/partners worldwide; |
2. | Ranked list with light DD on higher potential opportunities—create “The Hopper”; |
3. | Board agreement of top 3 opportunities—Authority To Negotiate (ATN) |
4. | Commence Negotiations; 3 Month update to Board; |
5. | Term Sheet & Finance Memo Approved; |
6. | Contract signed & Team assigned. |
• | The quality of the reservoir; |
• | Quality of the gas; |
• | The PSA terms; |
• | Sea conditions; |
• | The cost of development; |
• | Complexity of the construction; |
• | The ownership structure of the field; |
• | Alignment with owners and government; |
• | Speed of development; and |
• | Political risk. |
• | Creation of the Joint Venture June/July 2016; |
• | Identification of first 3 targets July 2016; |
• | Identification of 5 further targets December 2016; |
• | FID on first target Q1 2017; |
• | 2 further FIDs End 2017; |
• | First production of gas 2019; |
• | 2nd and 3rd projects operational 2021; |
• | 10 vessels operational 2025. |
• | 1 GM Golar, 1 CFO Schlumberger; |
• | 1 Business Developer (1 Golar); |
• | 1 Asset manager (1 Schlumberger). |
• | 4 vessels are operational by 2022; |
• | 1 each year starting in late 2019; |
• | the cost of each vessel is between $1.0-1.2 billion; |
• | the cost of the upstream development is $0.2-0.6 billion; |
• | the equity/debt split is 30/70%; and |
• | the earnings are based on a fee of $3/mmbtu for the vessel and $0.9/mmbtu for the upstream part (base case assuming gas prices of $7/mmbtu and Brent at $70/bbl). |
• | Failure of the JV to identify projects. We are already in the process of identifying the first potential projects. The current list is already fairly extensive but will grow once the first FLNG vessel is functioning and companies turn to the JV for help; |
• | Failure of the upstream projects. This will be covered by the extensive due diligence that will take place before any decisions are taken to proceed; |
• | Political problems. Again covered by the due diligence. In the worst case, it may be possible to remove the vessel; |
• | Low gas prices. In the low case ($5/mmbtu and $50/bbl) there will still be a potential for an EBITDA of around $1bn annually; |
• | Problems between the two cultures of the JV partners. There are differences in the cultures of Golar and Schlumberger which can be summed up by comparing the respective sizes of the 2 companies (one being small but creative, while the other is more process-driven but powerful). It will be important to safeguard the 2 cultures by allowing Golar to develop the vessels as they currently do but at the same time upstream project must follow standard Schlumberger processes and procedures. |