UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
BEFORE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
- COMMISSIONERS:
- Timothy J. Muris, Chairman
- Sheila F. Anthony
- Mozelle W. Thompson
- Orson Swindle
- Thomas B. Leary
In the Matter of
Chevron Corporation, a
corporation, and
Texaco Inc., a corporation.
Docket No. C-4023
DECISION AND ORDER
The Â鶹´«Ã½ Trade Commission ("Commission") having
initiated an investigation of the proposed merger (the "Merger") of Respondent
Chevron Corporation ("Chevron") and Respondent Texaco Inc. ("Texaco"),
and Respondents having been furnished thereafter with a copy of a draft of Complaint that
the Bureau of Competition proposed to present to the Commission for its consideration and
which, if issued by the Commission, would charge Respondents with violations of Section 5
of the Â鶹´«Ã½ Trade Commission Act, as amended, 15 U.S.C. § 45, and Section 7 of
the Clayton Act, as amended, 15 U.S.C. § 18; and
Respondents, their attorneys, and counsel for the Commission
having thereafter executed an Agreement Containing Consent Orders ("Consent
Agreement") containing an admission by Respondents of all the jurisdictional facts
set forth in the aforesaid draft of Complaint, a statement that the signing of said
Consent Agreement is for settlement purposes only and does not constitute an admission by
Respondents that the law has been violated as alleged in such Complaint, or that the facts
as alleged in such Complaint, other than jurisdictional facts, are true, and waivers and
other provisions as required by the Commission's Rules; and
The Commission having thereafter considered the matter and
having determined that it had reason to believe that Respondents have violated said Acts,
and that a Complaint should issue stating its charges in that respect, and having
thereupon issued its Complaint and its Order to Hold Separate and Maintain Assets, and
having accepted the executed Consent Agreement and placed such Consent Agreement on the
public record for a period of thirty (30) days for the receipt and consideration of public
comments, now in further conformity with the procedure described in Commission Rule 2.34,
16 C.F.R. § 2.34, the Commission hereby makes the following jurisdictional findings
and issues the following Decision and Order ("Order"):
- 1. Respondent Chevron is a corporation organized, existing and
doing business under and by virtue of the laws of the state of Delaware, with its office
and principal place of business located at 575 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94105.
-
- 2. Respondent Texaco is a corporation organized, existing and
doing business under and by virtue of the laws of the state of Delaware, with its office
and principal place of business located at 2000 Westchester Ave., White Plains, NY 10650.
-
- 3. The Commission has jurisdiction of the subject matter of
this proceeding and of Respondents, and the proceeding is in the public interest.
ORDER
I.
IT IS ORDERED that, as used in this Order,
the following definitions shall apply:
- A. "Chevron" means Chevron Corporation, its
directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives, predecessors, successors, and
assigns; its joint ventures, subsidiaries, divisions, groups, and affiliates controlled by
Chevron, and the respective directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives,
successors, and assigns of each.
-
- B. "Texaco" means Texaco Inc., its directors,
officers, employees, agents, representatives, predecessors, successors, and assigns; its
joint ventures, subsidiaries, divisions, groups, and affiliates controlled by Texaco, and
the respective directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives, successors, and
assigns of each.
-
- C. "Avfuel" means Avfuel Corporation, a corporation
organized, existing and doing business under and by virtue of the laws of the state of
Michigan, with its office and principal place of business located at 47 West Ellsworth,
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108.
-
- D. "Aviation Fuel" means Aviation Gasoline and Jet
Fuel.
E. "Aviation Fuel Divestiture Agreement" means all agreements entered into
between Respondents and AvFuel relating to the sale of Texaco's Overlap General Aviation
Business Assets, including but not limited to the Purchase and Sale Agreement, the
Trademark License Agreement, all supply agreements, and all other ancillary agreements,
dated August 7, 2001, and attached hereto as Confidential Appendix B to this Order.
-
- F. "Aviation Gasoline" or "AvGas" means
gasoline intended for aviation use that meets the specifications set forth by the American
Society for Testing and Materials, ASTM specification D910.
-
- G. "Aviation Marketing Agreements" means all
agreements or contracts between Texaco and any Person relating to such Person's right or
obligation to sell, resell or distribute Aviation Fuel under the Texaco brand.
-
- H. "Aviation Overlap State" means each of the
following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho,
Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, and Washington.
-
- I. "Aviation Supply Agreements" means all agreements
or contracts between Texaco and any Person relating to an obligation to sell or supply
Aviation Fuel to Texaco, including but not limited to supply agreements and exchange
agreements.
J. "Aviation Terminal" means a facility that provides temporary storage of
Aviation Fuel received from a pipeline, marine vessel, truck or railway and the redelivery
of Aviation Fuel from storage tanks into tank trucks, transport trailers or railcars.
-
- K. "Aviation Terminal Throughput Agreements" means
all agreements or contracts between Texaco and any Person relating to Texaco's right to
use or have another Person use any tanks, equipment, pipelines, trucks, or other services
or facilities at an Aviation Terminal.
-
- L. "Aviation Transportation Agreements" means all
agreements or contracts between Texaco and any Person relating to the transportation of
Aviation Fuel.
-
- M. "Change of Control Provisions" means Section
12.04 of the Equilon LLC Agreement or the Motiva LLC Agreement.
-
- N. "Concentration Levels" means market
concentration, measured in annual volume (gallons) sold (or, if volume in gallons is not
available, other standard industry measures), as determined by the Herfindahl Hirschmann
Index.
-
- O. "Disclose" means to convey by any means or
otherwise make available information to any person or persons.
-
- P. "Discovery Producer Services LLC" means the
limited liability company established by the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability
Company Agreement dated May 15, 1998, between and among Texaco Discovery Holdings LLC,
Mapco Energy L.L.C., and British-Borneo Pipeline LLC.
-
- Q. "Discovery System" means Discovery Producer
Services LLC, and all of its assets, including but not limited to Discovery Gas
Transmission LLC and all of its assets, and including all pipelines of the system that
transport natural gas offshore of Louisiana and onshore to the processing plant at LaRose,
Louisiana; the processing plant at Larose, Louisiana; all pipelines that transport natural
gas between the processing plant and natural gas transmission pipelines; all pipelines
that transport raw mix between the processing plant and the fractionating plant at
Paradis, Louisiana; the fractionating plant at Paradis, Louisiana; and equipment including
but not limited to condensate stabilization facilities and pumping stations.
-
- R. "Divestiture Trustee" means a trustee appointed
pursuant to Paragraph III.B. of this Order with the obligation to divest TRMI and/or TRMI
East pursuant to this Order.
-
- S. "Enterprise Fractionating Plant" means the
fractionating plant at Mont Belvieu, Texas, operated by Enterprise Products Company and
partially owned by Texaco.
-
- T. "Equilon" means Equilon Enterprises LLC, a joint
venture formed pursuant to the Equilon LLC Agreement.
-
- U. "Equilon Interest" means all of the ownership
interests in Equilon owned directly or indirectly by Texaco, including the interests owned
by TRMI and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Texaco Convent Refining Inc., and Texaco
Anacortes Cogeneration Company.
-
- V. "Equilon LLC Agreement" means the Limited
Liability Company Agreement of Equilon Enterprises LLC dated as of January 15, 1998 among
certain subsidiaries of Shell and Texaco, as amended.
W. "General Aviation Business Agreements" means all Aviation Supply Agreements,
Aviation Terminal Throughput Agreements, Aviation Transportation Agreements, Aviation
Marketing Agreements, and all other agreements or contracts related to Texaco's Domestic
General Aviation Business, including but not limited to aviation retail sales agreements,
aviation fuel agreements, aviation dealer support agreements, customer agreements, credit
card agreements, distributor agreements, marketer agreements, supply agreements, rail
contracts, railcar lease agreements, barge agreements, refueler agreements, loans, grants,
or leases.
-
- X. "Jet Fuel" means fuel intended for use in jet
airplanes that meets the specifications set forth by the American Society for Testing and
Materials, ASTM specification D1655.
-
- Y. "JV Agreements" means the Equilon LLC Agreement
and the Motiva LLC Agreement.
-
- Z. "Members Committee" means the "Members
Committee" as defined in Section 6.03 of the Equilon LLC Agreement and the Motiva LLC
Agreement.
-
- AA. "Merger" means any merger between Respondents,
including the proposed merger contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated
October 15, 2000, as amended, among Respondents and Keepep Inc.
-
- BB. "Merger Date" means the date on which the Merger
is consummated.
CC. "Metropolitan Area" means any Metropolitan Area (including Metropolitan
Statistical Areas, Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Areas, or Primary Metropolitan
Statistical Areas) as defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget.
-
- DD. "Motiva" means Motiva Enterprises LLC, a joint
venture formed pursuant to the Motiva LLC Agreement.
-
- EE. "Motiva Interest" means all of the ownership
interests in Motiva owned directly or indirectly by Texaco, including the interest owned
by TRMI East.
-
- FF. "Motiva LLC Agreement" means the Limited
Liability Company Agreement of Motiva Enterprises LLC dated as of July 1, 1998, among
Shell, Shell Norco Refining Company, SRI and TRMI East.
-
- GG. "Non-Public Equilon Or Motiva Information" means
any information not in the public domain relating to Equilon or Motiva.
HH. "Operating Trustee" means each trustee appointed pursuant to Paragraph
III.O. of this Order with the obligation to manage TRMI and/or TRMI East pursuant to this
Order.
-
- II. "Person" means any individual, partnership,
firm, trust, association, corporation, joint venture, unincorporated organization, or
other business or governmental entity.
-
- JJ. "Relevant OCS Area" means the Grand Isle, Grand
Isle South, South Timbalier, and South Timbalier South areas as defined by the Department
of Interior Minerals Management Service.
-
- KK. "Respondents" means Chevron and Texaco,
individually and collectively, and any successors.
-
- LL. "Section of the Country" means a Metropolitan
Area in those cases where the retail outlets that Respondents have agreed to supply
pursuant to Paragraph IV.F. are located in a Metropolitan Area, or a county in those cases
where the retail outlets that Respondents have agreed to supply are located outside of a
Metropolitan Area.
-
- MM. "Shell" means Shell Oil Company, a Delaware
corporation, with its principal place of business located at One Shell Plaza, Houston,
Texas 77002, its parents, and its subsidiaries controlled by Shell.
-
- NN. "SRI" means Saudi Refining, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, with its principal place of business located at 9009 West Loop South,
Houston, TX 77210, its parents, and its subsidiaries controlled by SRI.
-
- OO. "Substitute Aviation Fuel Divestiture Agreement"
means an agreement, other than the Aviation Fuel Divestiture Agreement, approved by the
Commission, for the divestiture of Texaco's Domestic General Aviation Business Assets to
an acquirer approved by the Commission.
-
- PP. "Texaco-Williams Contract" means the Product
Sale, Purchase and Exchange Agreement dated February 1, 1997, between Mapco Energy L.L.C.
and Bridgeline Gas Distribution LLC.
QQ. "Texaco's Domestic General Aviation Business" means the supply,
distribution, marketing, transportation, and sale of Aviation Fuel by Texaco on a direct
or distributor basis to customers (other than commercial airlines and military) in the
United States (including the Aviation Overlap States), including but not limited to fixed
base operators, airport dealers, distributors, jobbers, resellers, brokers, corporate
accounts, or consumers.
RR. "Texaco's Domestic General Aviation Business Assets" means all assets,
tangible or intangible, relating to Texaco's Domestic General Aviation Business in the
United States, including but not limited to all General Aviation Business Agreements used
in or relating to Texaco's Domestic General Aviation Business.
SS. "Texaco's Overlap General Aviation Business" means the supply, distribution,
marketing, transportation, and sale of Aviation Fuel by Texaco on a direct or distributor
basis to customers (other than commercial airlines and military) in the Aviation Overlap
States, including but not limited to fixed base operators, airport dealers, distributors,
jobbers, resellers, brokers, corporate accounts, or consumers, but excluding the assets
and agreements set forth on Schedule 2.3(c) of the Aviation Fuel Divestiture Agreement.
TT. "Texaco's Overlap General Aviation Business Assets" means all assets,
tangible or intangible, relating to Texaco's Overlap General Aviation Business, including
but not limited to all General Aviation Business Agreements used in or relating to
Texaco's Overlap General Aviation Business, but excluding the assets and agreements set
forth on Schedule 2.3(c) of the Aviation Fuel Divestiture Agreement.
-
- UU. "TRMI" means Texaco Refining and Marketing Inc.,
a Delaware corporation and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Texaco, and its
subsidiary, Texaco Convent Refining Inc., and Texaco's interest in all other subsidiaries,
divisions, groups, joint ventures, or affiliates of Texaco that own or control any
ownership interest in Equilon.
-
- WW. "TRMI East" means Texaco Refining and Marketing
(East) Inc., a Delaware corporation and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Texaco, and
Texaco's interest in all other subsidiaries, divisions, groups, joint ventures, or
affiliates of Texaco that own or control any ownership interest in Motiva.
-
- XX. "Trust" means the trust established by the Trust
Agreement.
-
- YY. "Trust Agreement" means the Agreement and
Declaration of Trust approved by the Commission and attached hereto and made part hereof
as Appendix A to this Order.
-
- ZZ. "Venice System" means Venice Energy Services
Company, L.L.C., and all of its assets, including but not limited to (i) natural gas
processing, fractionation and natural gas liquids storage and terminaling facilities at
the Venice Complex (as that term is defined in the Second Amended and Restated Limited
Liability Company Agreement of Venice Energy Services Company, L.L.C.), (ii) onshore and
offshore natural gas pipelines upstream from the Venice Complex, known as the Venice
Gathering System, (iii) compression, separation, dehydration, and residue gas and liquid
gas handling facilities at or associated with the Venice Complex (excluding any residue
gas pipelines and metering facilities owned by the downstream pipelines), and (iv) natural
gas liquids facilities (excluding natural gas liquids pipelines downstream from the Venice
Complex) related to such processing, fractionation, storage and termination facilities.
II.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that:
- A. Respondents shall divest:
-
- 1. either (a) the Equilon Interest to Shell no later than the
Merger Date, in a manner that receives the prior approval of the Commission, or (b) no
later than eight (8) months after the Merger Date, in a manner that receives the prior
approval of the Commission, either (i) the Equilon Interest to Shell or (ii) TRMI,
absolutely and in good faith, at no minimum price, to an acquirer or acquirers that
receive the prior approval of the Commission; and
-
- 2. either (a) the Motiva Interest to Shell and/or SRI no later
than the Merger Date, in a manner that receives the prior approval of the Commission, or
(b) no later than eight (8) months after the Merger Date, in a manner that receives the
prior approval of the Commission, either (i) the Motiva Interest to Shell and/or SRI or
(ii) TRMI East, absolutely and in good faith, at no minimum price, to an acquirer or
acquirers that receive the prior approval of the Commission.
Such divestitures shall be accomplished by Respondents prior to or on the Merger Date or,
after the Merger Date, by the Divestiture Trustee pursuant to the provisions of Paragraph
III. of this Order or as otherwise approved by the Commission.
- B. Respondents shall not consummate the Merger unless and
until Texaco:
- 1. has either (a) divested the Equilon Interest pursuant to
Paragraph II.A.1.(a) of this Order or (b) transferred TRMI to the Trust pursuant to
Paragraph III. of this Order; and
-
- 2. has either (a) divested the Motiva Interest pursuant to
Paragraph II.A.2.(a) of this Order or (b) transferred TRMI East to the Trust pursuant to
Paragraph III. of this Order.
-
- Provided, however, if Texaco has triggered the Change of
Control Provisions pursuant to either or both of the JV Agreements, then the transfer by
Respondents to the Trust of TRMI and/or TRMI East shall not prevent Shell and/or SRI from
exercising any rights they may have under the applicable JV Agreement to acquire the
Equilon Interest and/or the Motiva Interest pursuant to the valuation process described in
Sections 12.04 and 12.05 of the JV Agreement; further, should Shell and/or SRI decline to
exercise their rights to acquire the Equilon Interest and/or the Motiva Interest pursuant
to Section 12.04 of the applicable JV Agreement, then Shell and/or SRI shall not be
precluded, as a result of the transfer to the Trust or as a result of Shell and/or SRI
declining to exercise their rights, from offering to acquire either the Equilon Interest
or TRMI and/or the Motiva Interest or TRMI East pursuant to Paragraph III. of this Order.
-
- C. If the Trust is rescinded, unwound, dissolved, or otherwise
terminated at any time after the Merger but before Respondents have complied with
Paragraph II.A. of this Order, then Respondents shall immediately upon such rescission,
unwinding, dissolution, or termination, hold TRMI and TRMI East separate and apart from
Respondents pursuant to the Order to Hold Separate and Maintain Assets issued in this
matter.
-
- D. The purpose of these divestitures is to ensure the
continuation of Equilon and Motiva as ongoing, viable businesses engaged in the same
businesses as Equilon and Motiva are presently engaged, to ensure the ownership of the
Equilon Interest (or TRMI) and the Motiva Interest (or TRMI East) by a person other than
Respondents that has been approved by the Commission, and to remedy the lessening of
competition resulting from the Merger as alleged in the Commission's Complaint.
III.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, if Respondents
have not divested the Equilon Interest to Shell and/or the Motiva Interest to Shell and/or
SRI pursuant to the requirements of Paragraph II. of this Order on or before the Merger
Date:
- A. Texaco shall, on or before the Merger Date: (1) enter into
the Trust Agreement, and (2) transfer or cause to be transferred (a) TRMI to the Trust if
the Equilon Interest has not been divested to Shell, and/or (b) TRMI East to the Trust if
the Motiva Interest has not been divested to Shell and/or SRI. Simultaneously with the
Merger, Texaco shall cause its representatives to resign from the Members Committee of
Equilon and Motiva.
-
- B. Respondents shall agree to the appointment of Robert A.
Falise as Divestiture Trustee and enter into the Trust Agreement no later than the Merger
Date.
-
- C. No later than the Merger Date, Respondents shall transfer
to the Divestiture Trustee the sole and exclusive power and authority to divest TRMI
and/or TRMI East or to divest the Equilon Interest to Shell and/or the Motiva Interest to
Shell and/or SRI, consistent with the terms of Paragraph II. of this Order and subject to
the prior approval of the Commission. After such transfer, the Divestiture Trustee shall
have the sole and exclusive power and authority to divest such assets or interests,
subject to the prior approval of the Commission, and the Divestiture Trustee shall
exercise such power and authority and carry out the duties and responsibilities of the
Divestiture Trustee in a manner consistent with the purposes of this Order in consultation
with the Commission's staff.
-
- D. The Divestiture Trustee shall have eight (8) months from
the Merger Date to accomplish the divestitures required by Paragraph II. of this Order,
which shall be subject to the prior approval of the Commission. If, however, at the end of
the eight-month period, the Divestiture Trustee has submitted a plan of divestiture or
believes that divestiture can be achieved within a reasonable time, the Divestiture
Trustee's divestiture period may be extended by the Commission. An extension of time by
the Commission under this subparagraph shall not preclude the Commission from seeking any
relief available to it for any failure by Respondents to divest the Equilon Interest or
TRMI and/or the Motiva Interest or TRMI East consistent with the requirements of Paragraph
II. of this Order.
-
- E. If, on or prior to the Merger Date, Texaco has executed but
has not consummated an agreement or agreements to divest the Equilon Interest to Shell
and/or the Motiva Interest to Shell and/or SRI, and the Commission has approved such
agreement or agreements, then Texaco shall, no later than the Merger Date, assign such
agreement or agreements to the Trust and grant sole and exclusive authority to the
Divestiture Trustee to consummate any divestiture contemplated thereby.
-
- F. The Divestiture Trustee shall divest the Equilon Interest
to Shell and/or the Motiva Interest to Shell and/or SRI, in a manner that receives the
prior approval of the Commission, pursuant to the terms of the applicable agreement or
agreements approved by the Commission, if either (1) Texaco has executed an agreement or
agreements with Shell and/or SRI with respect to such divestiture or divestitures prior to
the Merger Date, and such agreement or agreements have been approved by the Commission and
have not been breached by Shell and/or SRI; or (2) Shell has exercised its right to
acquire the Equilon Interest pursuant to the Equilon LLC Agreement and/or Shell and/or SRI
have exercised their rights to acquire the Motiva Interest pursuant to the Motiva LLC
Agreement.
-
- G. Subject to Respondents' absolute and unconditional
obligation to divest expeditiously at no minimum price, the Divestiture Trustee shall use
his or her best efforts to negotiate the most favorable price and terms available for the
divestiture of (1) TRMI if the Divestiture Trustee has not divested the Equilon Interest
pursuant to subparagraph F. of this Paragraph and/or (2) TRMI East if the Divestiture
Trustee has not divested all or part of the Motiva Interest pursuant to subparagraph F. of
this Paragraph. Each divestiture shall be made only in a manner that receives the prior
approval of the Commission, and, unless the acquirers are Shell and/or SRI, the
divestiture shall be made only to an acquirer or acquirers that receive the prior approval
of the Commission; provided, however, if the Divestiture Trustee receives bona fide offers
from more than one acquiring entity, and if the Commission determines to approve more than
one such acquiring entity, the Divestiture Trustee shall divest to the acquiring entity or
entities selected by Respondents from among those approved by the Commission; provided
further, however, that Respondents shall select such entity within five (5) days of
receiving notification of the Commission's approval.
-
- H. The Divestiture Trustee shall have full and complete access
to all personnel, books, records, documents, and facilities of Respondents, TRMI and TRMI
East, as needed to fulfill the Divestiture Trustee's obligations, or to any other relevant
information, as the Divestiture Trustee may reasonably request, including but not limited
to all documents and records kept in the normal course of business that relate to
Respondents' obligations under this Order. Respondents or the Operating Trustees, as
appropriate, shall develop such financial or other information as the Divestiture Trustee
may reasonably request and shall cooperate with the Divestiture Trustee. Respondents shall
take no action to interfere with or impede the Divestiture Trustee's ability to perform
his or her responsibilities.
-
- I. The Divestiture Trustee shall serve, without bond or other
security, at the cost and expense of Respondents, on such reasonable and customary terms
and conditions as the Commission may set. The Divestiture Trustee shall have the authority
to employ, at the cost and expense of Respondents, such financial advisors, consultants,
accountants, attorneys, and other representatives and assistants as are reasonably
necessary to carry out the Divestiture Trustee's duties and responsibilities.
-
- J. Respondents shall indemnify the Divestiture Trustee and
hold the Divestiture Trustee harmless against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or
expenses arising out of, or in connection with, the performance of the Divestiture
Trustee's duties, including all reasonable fees of counsel and other expenses incurred in
connection with the preparation for, or defense of any claim, whether or not resulting in
any liability, except to the extent that such liabilities, losses, damages, claims, or
expenses result from misfeasance, gross negligence, willful or wanton acts, or bad faith
by the Divestiture Trustee.
-
- K. The Divestiture Trustee shall account for all monies
derived from the sale and all expenses incurred, subject to the approval of the
Commission. After approval by the Commission of the account of the Divestiture Trustee,
all remaining monies shall be paid as directed in the Trust Agreement, and the Divestiture
Trustee's powers shall be terminated.
-
- L. The Divestiture Trustee shall report in writing to the
Commission thirty (30) days after the Merger Date and every thirty (30) days thereafter
concerning the Divestiture Trustee's efforts to accomplish the requirements of this Order
until such time as the divestitures required by Paragraph II. of this Order have been
accomplished and Respondents have notified the Commission that the divestitures have been
accomplished.
-
- M. If, for any reason, Robert A. Falise cannot serve or cannot
continue to serve as Divestiture Trustee, or fails to act diligently, the Commission shall
select a replacement Divestiture Trustee, subject to the consent of Respondents, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. If Respondents have not opposed, in writing,
including the reasons for opposing, the selection of any replacement Divestiture Trustee
within ten (10) days after notice by the staff of the Commission to Respondents of the
identity of any proposed replacement Divestiture Trustee, Respondents shall be deemed to
have consented to the selection of the proposed replacement Divestiture Trustee. The
replacement Divestiture Trustee shall be a person with experience and expertise in
acquisitions and divestitures.
-
- N. The Commission may on its own initiative or at the request
of the Divestiture Trustee issue such additional orders or directions as may be necessary
or appropriate to assure compliance with the requirements of this Order.
-
- O. Respondents shall agree to the appointment of Joe B. Foster
as Operating Trustee of TRMI (with respect to the Equilon Interest) and John Linehan as
Operating Trustee of TRMI East (with respect to the Motiva Interest) and enter into the
Trust Agreement no later than the Merger Date.
-
- P. The Operating Trustees shall have sole and exclusive power
and authority to manage TRMI and/or TRMI East (as the case may be), as set forth in the
Trust Agreement and specifically to cause TRMI and TRMI East respectively to exercise the
rights of TRMI and TRMI East under the Equilon and Motiva LLC Agreements. Each Operating
Trustee may engage in any other activity such Operating Trustee may deem reasonably
necessary, advisable, convenient or incidental in connection therewith and shall exercise
such power and authority and carry out the duties and responsibilities of the Operating
Trustee in a manner consistent with the purposes of this Order in consultation with the
Commission's staff.
-
- Q. Each Operating Trustee shall have full and complete access
to all personnel, books, records, documents, and facilities of TRMI and/or TRMI East as
needed to fulfill such Operating Trustee's obligations, or to any other relevant
information, as such Operating Trustees may reasonably request, including but not limited
to all documents and records kept in the normal course of business that relate to
Respondents' obligations under this Order. Respondents shall develop such financial or
other information as such Operating Trustees may reasonably request and shall cooperate
with the Operating Trustees. Respondents shall take no action to interfere with or impede
the Operating Trustees' ability to perform his or her responsibilities.
-
- R. The Operating Trustees shall serve, without bond or other
security, at the cost and expense of Respondents, on such reasonable and customary terms
and conditions as the Commission may set. Each Operating Trustee shall have the authority
to employ, at the cost and expense of Respondents, such consultants, accountants,
attorneys, and other representatives and assistants as are reasonably necessary to carry
out such Operating Trustee's duties and responsibilities.
-
- S. Respondents shall indemnify each Operating Trustee and hold
each Operating Trustee harmless against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or
expenses arising out of, or in connection with, the performance of such Operating
Trustee's duties, including all reasonable fees of counsel and other expenses incurred in
connection with the preparation for, or defense of any claim, whether or not resulting in
any liability, except to the extent that such liabilities, losses, damages, claims, or
expenses result from misfeasance, gross negligence, willful or wanton acts, or bad faith
by such Operating Trustee.
-
- T. The Operating Trustees shall account for all expenses
incurred, including fees for his or her services, subject to the approval of the
Commission.
-
- U. Each Operating Trustee shall report in writing to the
Commission thirty (30) days after the Merger Date and every thirty (30) days thereafter
concerning the Operating Trustee's performance of his or her duties under this Order and
the Trust Agreement. The Operating Trustees shall serve until such time as Respondents
have complied with their obligation to divest TRMI and/or TRMI East as required by this
Order and Respondents have notified the Commission that the divestitures have been
accomplished.
-
- V. If for any reason Joe B. Foster cannot serve or cannot
continue to serve as Operating Trustee of TRMI or John Linehan cannot serve or cannot
continue to serve as Operating Trustee of TRMI East, or fails to act diligently, the
Commission shall select a replacement Operating Trustee, subject to the consent of
Respondents, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. If Respondents have not
opposed, in writing, including the reasons for opposing, the selection of any replacement
Operating Trustee within ten (10) days after notice by the staff of the Commission to
Respondents of the identity of any proposed replacement Operating Trustee, Respondents
shall be deemed to have consented to the selection of the proposed replacement Operating
Trustee. The replacement Operating Trustee shall be a person with experience and expertise
in the management of businesses of the type engaged in by Equilon and Motiva.
-
- W. The Commission may on its own initiative or at the request
of either Operating Trustee issue such additional orders or directions as may be necessary
or appropriate to assure compliance with the requirements of this Order.
-
- X. Except as provided herein or in the Trust Agreement,
neither the Divestiture Trustee nor the Operating Trustees shall disclose any Non-Public
Equilon Or Motiva Information to an employee of Respondents.
-
- Y. Respondents may require the Divestiture Trustee or
Operating Trustees to sign a confidentiality agreement prohibiting the disclosure of any
information gained as a result of his or her role as Divestiture Trustee or Operating
Trustee to anyone other than the Commission.
-
- Z. The purpose of this Paragraph III. is to effectuate the
divestitures required by Paragraph II. of this Order and to maintain operation of TRMI,
TRMI East, Equilon and Motiva separate and apart from Respondents' operations pending the
required divestitures.
IV.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that:
- A. Respondents shall offer to extend the license provided to
Equilon and Motiva, on terms and conditions comparable to those in existence as of the
date the Consent Agreement is executed by Respondents, for the use of the Texaco brand for
the marketing of motor fuels until June 30, 2002 for Equilon and until June 30, 2003, for
Motiva (the "Brand License Date"). Provided however, the license for the
marketing of motor fuels shall be provided on an exclusive basis in those areas of the
United States where Equilon and Motiva respectively are currently licensed to market motor
fuels.
-
- B. For the purposes of this Paragraph IV., "Waives and
Releases" shall mean to waive and release: (1) all amounts any Texaco branded dealer
or wholesale marketer may be required to pay under any Facility Development Incentive
Program Agreement (or any other agreement requiring that such dealer or marketer reimburse
Equilon or Motiva) in existence as of the date the Commission accepts this Order for
public comment, which amounts become due (or which Equilon or Motiva contends become due)
as a result of the loss of the Texaco brand at any retail outlet; and (2) all deed
restrictions prohibiting or restricting the sale of motor fuel not sold by Equilon or
Motiva at any Texaco retail outlet for which Equilon or Motiva has not executed an
agreement for the sale of Shell branded gasoline on or before the Brand License Date.
-
- C. If Equilon Waives and Releases the amounts and deed
restrictions set forth in Paragraph IV.B., Texaco shall further offer (1) to extend the
license set forth in Paragraph IV.A. to Equilon on an exclusive basis until June 30, 2003
(which shall then become the new "Brand License Date" for Equilon), and (2) to
extend the license on a nonexclusive basis for up to an additional three (3) years, until
June 30, 2006, on terms and conditions comparable to those in existence as of the date the
Consent Agreement is executed by Respondents, for all retail outlets for which Equilon has
executed agreements with such retail outlets on or before the Brand License Date for the
conversion of such retail outlets to the Shell brand.
-
- D. If Motiva Waives and Releases the amounts and deed
restrictions set forth in Paragraph IV.B., Texaco shall further offer to extend the
license set forth in Paragraph IV.A. to Motiva on a nonexclusive basis for up to an
additional three (3) years, until June 30, 2006, on terms and conditions comparable to
those in existence as of the date the Consent Agreement is executed by Respondents, for
all retail outlets for which Motiva has executed agreements with such retail outlets on or
before the Brand License Date for the conversion of such retail outlets to the Shell
brand.
-
- E. If either Equilon or Motiva does not Waive and Release the
amounts set forth in Paragraph IV.B., Respondents shall indemnify each Texaco dealer and
wholesale marketer for all amounts such dealer or marketer may be required to pay under
any Facility Development Incentive Program Agreement (or any other agreement requiring
that such dealers or marketers reimburse Equilon or Motiva) in existence as of the date
the Commission accepts this Order for public comment, which amounts become due (or which
Equilon or Motiva contends become due) as a result of the loss of the Texaco brand at any
retail outlet, together with any reasonable litigation or arbitration expenses incurred by
such dealer or marketer in contesting or defending against such payment, provided that (1)
the dealer or marketer has declined a request for payment from Equilon or Motiva, (2)
Equilon or Motiva has commenced litigation or arbitration to compel payment, and (3) the
dealer or marketer has, at the Respondents' option, either (a) vigorously defended the
litigation or arbitration or (b) afforded Respondents the right to defend the litigation
or arbitration on the dealer's or marketer's behalf. Provided further, however, that no
such indemnification need be provided for any retail outlet (a) as to which the dealer or
marketer terminates its brand relationship prior to the Brand License Date, (b) which
becomes a Shell branded outlet, or (c) which received or will receive compensation,
directly or indirectly, for the amounts such dealer or marketer may be required to pay,
but only to the extent of such compensation.
- F. For a period of one (1) year following the date on which
Equilon or Motiva stops supplying gasoline under the Texaco brand to any retail outlet
branded Texaco as of the date this Consent Agreement is executed by Respondents,
Respondents shall not enter into any agreement for the sale of branded gasoline to such
retail outlet, sell branded gasoline to such retail outlet, or approve the branding of
such retail outlet, under the Texaco brand or under any brand that contains the Texaco
brand, unless either (1) such agreement, sale, or approval would not
result in an increase in Concentration Levels in the sale of gasoline in any Section of
the Country, based on market share data supplied to the Commission by
Respondents that is verifiable by the Commission, or (2) there are no sales of Chevron
branded gasoline in that Section of the Country. Respondents shall notify the Commission
of each such agreement no later than sixty (60) days after the execution of the agreement,
including in the notification: (1) a copy of the agreement, (2) the address
(street, city, county, state) of each retail outlet covered by the agreement, and the most
recent annual sales volume (in gallons) at each such retail outlet, (3)
the identity of the branded dealer or wholesale marketer that owns or supplies the retail
outlets covered by the agreement, (4) the identity of each Section of the Country in which
each such retail outlet is located, (5) the changes in Concentration Levels that
Respondents believe will result from such agreement in each Section of the Country,
together with the basis for such belief, (6) to the extent known or reasonably available,
the annual sales volume and market shares of each of Shell, Texaco and
Chevron branded gasoline, and the retail outlets subject to the agreement, in each Section
of the Country affected by the agreement, both prior to and after execution of the
agreement, measured by volume in gallons sold (or, if volume in gallons is not available,
by other standard industry measures), and (7) all market survey data for such Section of
the Country obtained from New Image, NPD, Lundberg, or any other independent third-party
market surveyor, or conducted by Respondents, together with all other data relied upon by
Respondents as the basis for their assessment of Concentration Levels or changes in
Concentration Levels. This Paragraph IV.F. shall expire on June 30, 2007.
(1) It shall not be a violation of this Order if Respondents rescind any agreement for the
sale of Texaco branded gasoline to a retail outlet that results in an increase in
Concentration Levels under the standards set forth in this Paragraph IV.F., if Respondents
rescind such agreement within thirty (30) days
of being informed by the Commission that the Commission believes such agreement would
result in such an increase.
-
- (2) In any enforcement proceeding brought by or on behalf of
the Commission, pursuant to Section 5(l) of the Â鶹´«Ã½ Trade Commission Act, 15
U.S.C. Sec. 45(l), or any other statute enforced by the Commission, Respondents
shall have the burden of proving that the agreement does not result in an increase in
Concentration Levels in the sale of gasoline in any Section of the Country.
V.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that:
- A. Respondents shall, within six (6) months of the Merger
Date, divest absolutely and in good faith, at no minimum price, all of Texaco's interest
in the Discovery System.
-
- B. Respondents shall divest all of Texaco's interest in the
Discovery System only to an acquirer or acquirers that receives the prior approval of the
Commission and only in a manner that receives the prior approval of the Commission.
-
- C. Respondents shall, prior to divestiture of Texaco's
interest in the Discovery System and subject to the prior approval of the Commission,
enter into an agreement with the acquirer of Texaco's interest in the Discovery System for
the purchase, sale or exchange of natural gas liquids that is no less favorable for the
acquirer than the terms of the Texaco-Williams Contract; provided, however, that the
volumes of natural gas liquids to be transported or exchanged under such agreement may be
limited to volumes attributable to natural gas production transported by the Discovery
System from natural gas producing wells originating from the Relevant OCS Area. The
purpose of this agreement is to prevent Respondents from imposing rates or terms for
pipeline transportation to markets from the Discovery System's fractionating plant that
would impede the ability of the Discovery System to compete for natural gas transportation
from the Relevant OCS Area, and to fully preserve the viability of the Discovery System.
-
- D. Respondents shall waive and not enforce Texaco's right to
terminate the Texaco-Williams Contract pursuant to Section 1.1 of the Texaco-Williams
Contract if Texaco owns less than a twenty percent (20%) interest in the Discovery System.
-
- E. No later than five (5) business days following the Merger
Date, Respondents shall, pursuant to the Agreement for the Operation and Management of the
Larose Gas Processing Plant & Paradis Fractionation Facility dated February 1, 1997,
and any other applicable agreements, give notice to the other owners of the Discovery
System of Texaco's resignation as operator of the Discovery System. Texaco shall resign as
operator of the Discovery System immediately after it obtains the approvals required by
the Agreement for the Operation and Management of the Larose Gas Processing Plant &
Paradis Fractionation Facility dated February 1, 1997, and any other applicable
agreements, but in no event later than one (1) year from the date Respondents give notice
of Texaco's resignation as operator of the Discovery System. Respondents shall use best
efforts to obtain those approvals as early as possible.
-
- F. The purpose of the divestiture of Texaco's interest in the
Discovery System is to eliminate the overlap of ownership between the
Discovery System and the Venice System and to remedy the lessening of competition
resulting from the proposed Merger as alleged in the Commission's Complaint.
VI.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that:
- A. Respondents shall divest, absolutely and in good faith and
at no minimum price, within six (6) months from the Merger Date, all of Texaco's interest
in the Enterprise Fractionating Plant.
-
- B. Respondents shall divest all of Texaco's interest in the
Enterprise Fractionating Plant only to an acquirer that receives the prior approval of the
Commission and only in a manner that receives the prior approval of the Commission.
-
- C. The purpose of the divestiture of Texaco's interest in the
Enterprise Fractionating Plant is to eliminate an overlap of ownership between the
Enterprise Fractionating Plant and other fractionating plants at Mont Belvieu, Texas, in
which Respondents or their affiliates own interests, and to remedy the lessening of
competition resulting from the proposed Merger as alleged in the Commission's Complaint.
VII.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that:
- A. No later than ten (10) days after the Merger Date,
Respondents shall divest, absolutely and in good faith, Texaco's Overlap General Aviation
Business Assets to Avfuel, pursuant to and in accordance with the Aviation Fuel
Divestiture Agreement. Any failure by Respondents to comply with any provision of the
Aviation Fuel Divestiture Agreement shall constitute a failure to comply with this Order; provided,
however, that if Respondents fail to divest Texaco's Overlap General Aviation
Business Assets to Avfuel pursuant to and in accordance with the Aviation Fuel Divestiture
Agreement within ten (10) days after the Merger Date, Respondents shall divest Texaco's
Domestic General Aviation Business Assets, at no minimum price, to an acquirer or
acquirers that receive the prior approval of the Commission in a manner that receives the
prior approval of the Commission pursuant to a Substitute Aviation Fuel Divestiture
Agreement. Divestiture of Texaco's Domestic General Aviation Business Assets to an
acquirer or acquirers that receive the prior approval of the Commission in a manner that
receives the prior approval of the Commission pursuant to a Substitute Aviation Fuel
Divestiture Agreement shall not preclude the Commission or the Attorney General from
seeking civil penalties or any other relief available pursuant to § 5(l) of the
Â鶹´«Ã½ Trade Commission Act, or any other statute enforced by the Commission, for any
failure by the Respondents to comply with their obligation to divest Texaco's Overlap
General Aviation Business Assets to Avfuel pursuant to the Aviation Fuel Divestiture
Agreement.
-
- B. If Respondents have divested Texaco's Overlap General
Aviation Business Assets to Avfuel pursuant to the Aviation Fuel Divestiture Agreement,
and at the time the Commission makes this Order final, it determines that Avfuel is not
acceptable as the acquirer of Texaco's Overlap General Aviation Business Assets or that
the Aviation Fuel Divestiture Agreement is not an acceptable manner of divestiture, and
the Commission so notifies Respondents, Respondents shall within ten (10) days of such
notification rescind the Aviation Fuel Divestiture Agreement with Avfuel.
C. If the Aviation Fuel Divestiture Agreement with Avfuel is rescinded pursuant to
Paragraph VII.B. of this Order, then Respondents shall, within four (4) months of the
Merger Date, divest Texaco's Domestic General Aviation Business Assets, at no minimum
price, to an acquirer or acquirers that receive the prior approval of the Commission and
in a manner that receives the prior approval of the Commission, pursuant to a Substitute
Aviation Fuel Divestiture Agreement.
D. On or before the date of consummation of the Substitute Aviation Fuel Divestiture
Agreement, Respondents shall assign to the acquirer all General Aviation Business
Agreements used in or relating to Texaco's Domestic General Aviation Business; provided,
however, should Respondents fail to obtain any such assignments, Respondents shall,
subject to the prior approval of the Commission, substitute alternative agreements or
arrangements sufficient to enable the acquirer approved by the Commission to operate
Texaco's Domestic General Aviation Business in the same manner and at the same level and
quality as Texaco operated it at the time of the announcement of the Merger.
E. Respondents shall include in the Substitute Aviation Fuel Divestiture Agreement, at the
option of the acquirer, a license for a period of up to ten (10) years from the date of
such Agreement to use the Texaco brand in connection with the acquirer's operation of
Texaco's Domestic General Aviation Business Assets. The license shall be royalty free for
five (5) years from the date of consummation of such Substitute Aviation Fuel Divestiture
Agreement, but subject to Commission approval may provide for payments beginning five (5)
years after the date of the Agreement and escalating each year until the end of the
ten-year term.
F. For a period of six (6) months after the date of consummation of any Substitute
Aviation Fuel Divestiture Agreement, Respondents shall not solicit, engage in discussions
concerning, participate in, offer to enter into, or enter into, any contract or agreement
for the direct supply of branded Aviation Fuel to any fixed base operator or distributor
that had a Marketing Agreement for the sale of Texaco-branded Aviation Fuel in the United
States.
G. For a period of twelve (12) months after the acquirer pursuant to any Substitute
Aviation Fuel Divestiture Agreement stops supplying Texaco-branded Aviation Fuel to a
fixed base operator or distributor, Respondents shall not (1) enter into any contract or
agreement for the direct or indirect supply of Texaco-branded Aviation Fuel to such fixed
base operator or distributor, or (2) approve the branding of such fixed base operator or
distributor with the Texaco brand.
H. The purpose of the divestiture of Texaco's Overlap General Aviation Business Assets, or
of Texaco's Domestic General Aviation Business Assets, is to ensure the continuation of
such assets in the same business in which the assets were engaged at the time of the
announcement of the Merger by a Person other than Respondents, and to remedy the lessening
of competition alleged in the Commission's Complaint.
VIII.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that:
- A. If Respondents have divested neither: (1) Texaco's Overlap
General Aviation Business Assets as required by Paragraph VII. of this Order, nor (2)
Texaco's Domestic General Aviation Business Assets as required by Paragraph VII. of this
Order within four (4) months of the Merger Date, the Commission may appoint a trustee to
divest Texaco's Domestic General Aviation Business Assets. In the event that the
Commission or the Attorney General brings an action pursuant to § 5(l) of the
Â鶹´«Ã½ Trade Commission Act, 15 U.S.C. § 45(l), or any other statute enforced
by the Commission, Respondents shall consent to the appointment of a trustee in such
action. Neither the appointment of a trustee nor a decision not to appoint a trustee under
this Paragraph shall preclude the Commission or the Attorney General from seeking civil
penalties or any other relief available to it, including a court-appointed trustee,
pursuant to § 5(l) of the Â鶹´«Ã½ Trade Commission Act, or any other statute
enforced by the Commission, for any failure by the Respondents to comply with this Order.
-
- B. If a trustee is appointed by the Commission or a court
pursuant to Paragraph VIII.A. of this Order, Respondents shall consent to the following
terms and conditions regarding the trustee's powers, duties, authority, and
responsibilities:
1. The Commission shall select a trustee, subject to the consent of Respondents, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The trustee shall be a Person with experience
and expertise in acquisitions and divestitures. If Respondents have not opposed, in
writing, including the reasons for opposing, the selection of the proposed trustee within
ten (10) days after notice by the staff of the Commission to Respondents of the identity
of any proposed trustee, Respondents shall be deemed to have consented to the selection of
the proposed trustee.
2. Subject to the prior approval of the Commission, the trustee shall have the exclusive
power and authority to divest the Texaco Domestic General Aviation Business Assets.
-
- 3. Within ten (10) days after appointment of the trustee,
Respondents shall execute a trust agreement that, subject to the prior approval of the
Commission and, in the case of a court-appointed trustee, of the court, transfers to the
trustee all rights and powers necessary to permit the trustee to effect the divestitures
required by this Order.
-
- 4. The trustee shall have four (4) months from the date of
appointment to accomplish the divestiture, which shall be subject to the prior approval of
the Commission. If, however, at the end of the four-month period, the trustee has
submitted a plan of divestiture or believes that divestiture can be achieved within a
reasonable time, the divestiture period may be extended by the Commission, or, in the case
of a court-appointed trustee, by the court; provided, however, the Commission may extend
this period only two (2) times. The decision by the Commission to extend the time during
which the trustee may accomplish the divestiture shall not preclude the Commission or the
Attorney General from seeking civil penalties or any other relief available to it,
including a court-appointed trustee, pursuant to § 5(l) of the Â鶹´«Ã½ Trade
Commission Act, or any other statute enforced by the Commission, for any failure by the
Respondents to comply with this Order.
-
- 5. The trustee shall have full and complete access to the
personnel, books, records and facilities related to the assets to be divested or to any
other relevant information, as the trustee may request. Respondents shall develop such
financial or other information as such trustee may request and shall cooperate with the
trustee. Respondents shall take no action to interfere with or impede the trustee's
accomplishment of the divestiture. Any delays in divestiture caused by Respondents shall
extend the time for divestiture under this Paragraph in an amount equal to the delay, as
determined by the Commission or, for a court-appointed trustee, by the court.
6. The trustee shall use his or her best efforts to negotiate the most favorable price and
terms available in each contract that is submitted to the Commission, subject to
Respondents' absolute and unconditional obligation to divest expeditiously at no minimum
price. The divestiture shall be made in the manner and to the acquirer or acquirers as set
out in Paragraph VII. of this Order, as applicable; provided, however, if the trustee
receives bona fide offers from more than one acquiring entity, and if the Commission
determines to approve more than one such acquiring entity, the trustee shall divest to the
acquiring entity or entities selected by Respondents from among those approved by the
Commission.
-
- 7. The trustee shall serve, without bond or other security, at
the cost and expense of Respondents, on such reasonable and customary terms and conditions
as the Commission or a court may set. The trustee shall have the authority to employ, at
the cost and expense of Respondents, such consultants, accountants, attorneys, investment
bankers, business brokers, appraisers, and other representatives and assistants as are
necessary to carry out the trustee's duties and responsibilities. The trustee shall
account for all monies derived from the divestiture and all expenses incurred. After
approval by the Commission and, in the case of a court-appointed trustee, by the court, of
the account of the trustee, including fees for his or her services, all remaining monies
shall be paid at the direction of the Respondents, and the trustee's power shall be
terminated. The trustee's compensation shall be based at least in significant part on a
commission arrangement contingent on the trustee's divesting the assets to be divested.
8. Respondents shall indemnify the trustee and hold the trustee harmless against any
losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or expenses arising out of, or in connection with,
the performance of the trustee's duties, including all reasonable fees of counsel and
other expenses incurred in connection with the preparation for, or defense of any claim,
whether or not resulting in any liability, except to the extent that such liabilities,
losses, damages, claims, or expenses result from misfeasance, gross negligence, willful or
wanton acts, or bad faith by the trustee.
9. If the trustee ceases to act or fails to act diligently, a substitute trustee shall be
appointed in the same manner as provided in Paragraph VIII.B.1. of this Order.
-
- 10. The Commission or, in the case of a court-appointed
trustee, the court, may on its own initiative or at the request of the trustee issue such
additional orders or directions as may be necessary or appropriate to accomplish the
divestitures required by this Order.
-
- 11. The trustee shall have no obligation or authority to
operate or maintain the assets to be divested.
-
- 12. The trustee shall report in writing to Respondents and the
Commission every sixty (60) days concerning the trustee's efforts to accomplish the
divestitures.
IX.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, within sixty
(60) days after the date this Order becomes final and every sixty (60) days thereafter
until Respondents have fully complied with the provisions of Paragraphs II., III., IV.,
V., VI., VII., VIII., and XI. of this Order, Respondents shall submit to the Commission a
verified written report setting forth in detail the manner and form in which they intend
to comply, are complying, and have complied with those provisions. Respondents shall
include in their compliance reports, among other things that are required from time to
time, a full description of all contacts or negotiations with prospective acquirers for
the divestitures of assets or businesses specified in this Order, including the identity
of all parties contacted. Respondents also shall include in their compliance reports
copies of all written communications to and from such parties, and all internal memoranda,
reports and recommendations concerning divestiture.
X.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, for the purposes
of determining or securing compliance with this Order, and subject to any legally
recognized privilege, upon written request and on reasonable notice to Respondents made to
its principal office, Respondents shall permit any duly authorized representatives of the
Commission:
- A. During office hours and in the presence of counsel, access
to all facilities and access to inspect and copy all books, ledgers, accounts,
correspondence, memoranda and other records and documents in the possession or under the
control of Respondents relating to any matters contained in this Order; and
-
- B. Upon five (5) days' notice to Respondents and without
restraint or interference from Respondents, to interview officers or employees of
Respondents who may have counsel present, regarding such matters.
XI.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that within five (5)
business days after the date on which the Commission accepts this Order for public
comment, but in no event less than thirty (30) days before the Merger Date, Respondents
shall notify Shell and SRI of the projected Merger Date and shall serve on Shell and SRI,
by overnight delivery, copies of the Agreement Containing Consent Orders and all documents
attached thereto, including the Trust Agreement, omitting or redacting from such service
any information contained therein or attached thereto that is confidential business
information. Any omissions or redactions to such agreements or documents attached thereto
shall be subject to the prior approval of the Commission.
XII.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Respondents shall
notify the Commission at least thirty (30) days prior to any proposed change in the
corporate Respondents such as dissolution, assignment, sale resulting in the emergence of
a successor corporation, or the creation or dissolution of subsidiaries or any other
change in the corporation that may affect compliance obligations arising out of the Order.
XIII.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that:
- A. If (i) the Divestiture Trustee or Respondents have
submitted a complete application in support of the divestiture of the assets, interests or
businesses to be divested pursuant to Paragraph II. of this Order (including the buyer,
manner of divestiture and all other matters subject to Commission approval) at least one
month before the deadline for such divestiture; and (ii) the Commission has approved
the divestiture and has not withdrawn its acceptance; but (iii) the Divestiture
Trustee or Respondents have certified to the Commission within ten (10) days after the
Commission's approval of the divestiture that a State, notwithstanding timely and complete
application by Respondents to the State, has failed to approve the divestiture under a
consent decree in an action commenced by any State requiring such divestiture, then, with
respect to that divestiture, the time in which the divestiture is required under this
Order to be complete shall be extended for sixty (60) days. During such sixty (60) day
period, Respondents or the Divestiture Trustee shall exercise utmost good faith and best
efforts to resolve the concerns of the particular State.
-
- B. If any Trustee or Respondents are unable to comply with any
obligation of this Order, with the exception of the obligations of Paragraph II. of this
Order, because of any failure to act or any action by any State or any court pursuant to a
consent decree in an action commenced by any State in connection with the Merger, the time
in which such obligation of this Order must be completed shall be extended for sixty (60)
days. During such sixty (60) day period, Respondents or the applicable Trustee shall
exercise utmost good faith and best efforts to resolve the concerns of the particular
State or court.
By the Commission.
Donald S. Clark
Secretary |