Adjustments to Purchase Price (a) For purposes of determining the amounts of the adjustments to the Purchase Price provided for in this Section 2.4, the principles set forth in this Section 2.4(a) shall apply. Buyer shall be entitled to all production of Hydrocarbons from or attributable to the Units, Leases, and ▇▇▇▇▇ at and after the Effective Time (and all products and proceeds attributable thereto), and to all other income, proceeds, receipts and credits earned with respect to the Assets at or after the Effective Time, and shall be responsible for (and entitled to any refunds with respect to) all Operating Expenses incurred at and after the Effective Time. SM Energy shall be entitled to all Hydrocarbon production from or attributable to Units, Leases and ▇▇▇▇▇ prior to the Effective Time (and all products and proceeds attributable thereto), and to all other income, proceeds, receipts and credits earned with respect to the Assets prior to the Effective Time, and shall be responsible for (and entitled to any refunds with respect to) all Operating Expenses incurred prior to the Effective Time. “Earned” and “incurred”, as used in the Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with GAAP and Council of Petroleum Accountants Society standards, except as otherwise specified herein. For purposes of allocating production (and proceeds and accounts receivable with respect thereto), under this Section 2.4, (i) liquid Hydrocarbons shall be deemed to be “from or attributable to” the Units, Leases and ▇▇▇▇▇ when they pass through the pipeline connecting into the storage facilities into which they are run and (ii) gaseous Hydrocarbons shall be deemed to be “from or attributable to” the Units, Leases and ▇▇▇▇▇ when they pass through the royalty measurement meters, delivery point sales meters or custody transfer meters on the gathering lines or pipelines through which they are transported (whichever meter is closest to the well). SM Energy shall utilize reasonable interpolative procedures, consistent with industry practice, to arrive at an allocation of production when exact meter readings or gauging and strapping data are not available. As part of the Preliminary Settlement Statement, Buyer shall provide to SM Energy such data as is reasonably necessary to support any estimated allocation, for purposes of establishing the Closing Amount.
Purchase Price Adjustment (a) If, for the twelve (12)-month period ended December 31, 2010 (the “Adjustment Period”):
(i) The EBITDA of the Nordic Business is less than $108,000,000 (the “EBITDA Floor”), Seller shall pay to Buyer as provided in Section 2.5(c)(iv) an amount equal to the excess of the EBITDA Floor over the EBITDA of the Nordic Business for the Adjustment Period; or
(ii) The EBITDA of the Nordic Business is greater than $118,000,000 (the “EBITDA Ceiling”), Buyer shall pay to Seller as provided in Section 2.5(c)(iv) an amount equal to the excess of EBITDA of the Nordic Business for the Adjustment Period over the EBITDA Ceiling (any payment required pursuant to Sections 2.5(a)(i) or (ii), the “Contingent Payment”). For the avoidance of doubt, no payment shall be required pursuant to this Section 2.5 if EBITDA of the Nordic Business for the Adjustment Period is greater than or equal to the EBITDA Floor and less than or equal to the EBITDA Ceiling.
(b) Except as may otherwise be agreed by the parties, as promptly as practicable, but in no event later than ninety (90) days after the end of the Adjustment Period, Buyer shall in good faith prepare and deliver to Seller a statement (the “Adjustment Statement”) setting forth Buyer’s calculation of the EBITDA of the Nordic Business for the Adjustment Period, calculated on a basis consistent with Schedule D (for the avoidance of doubt, such calculation shall be performed in local currency and shall be converted into U.S. Dollars using the exchange rates set forth in Schedule D), and Buyer’s calculation of the Contingent Payment, if any, with respect thereto; provided, however, if the Adjustment Period ends on or prior to the Closing Date, such Adjustment Statement shall be delivered as promptly as practicable after Closing, but in no event later than ninety (90) days after Closing (in which case, for the avoidance of doubt, after the end of the Adjustment Period and prior to the Closing, Seller shall, in accordance with Section 6.2, permit Buyer and its Representatives to have reasonable access to the books, records and other documents (including work papers) reasonably necessary for Buyer to begin to prepare the Adjustment Statement). For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall the Contingent Payment be payable prior to the Closing.
(c) Without prejudice to any of Buyer’s rights hereunder, following delivery of the Adjustment Statement, the following provisions will apply:
(i) Buyer shall, and shall cause the Nordic Companies to, permit Seller and its Representatives to have reasonable access to the books, records and other documents (including work papers) pertaining to or used in connection with preparation of the Adjustment Statement and provide Seller with copies thereof (as reasonably requested by Seller). If Seller disagrees with Buyer’s calculation of the EBITDA of the Nordic Business for the Adjustment Period or the Contingent Payment, Seller shall, within sixty (60) days after Seller’s receipt of the Adjustment Statement, notify Buyer in writing of such disagreement by setting forth Seller’s calculation of the EBITDA of the Nordic Business for the Adjustment Period and the Contingent Payment, and describing in reasonable detail the basis for such disagreement (an “Adjustment Objection Notice”). If no Adjustment Objection Notice is delivered on or prior to the sixtieth (60th) day after Seller’s receipt of the Adjustment Statement, Buyer’s calculation of such EBITDA and the Contingent Payment shall be deemed to be binding on the parties hereto. If an Adjustment Objection Notice is timely delivered to Buyer, then Buyer and Seller shall negotiate in good faith to resolve their disagreements with respect to the computation of such EBITDA and the Contingent Payment. In the event that Buyer and Seller are unable to resolve all such disagreements within fifteen (15) days after Buyer’s receipt of such Adjustment Objection Notice, Buyer and Seller shall submit such remaining disagreements to the Auditor for resolution.
(ii) Buyer and Seller shall use their respective reasonable efforts to cause the Auditor to resolve all remaining disagreements with respect to the computation of the EBITDA of the Nordic Business for the Adjustment Period and the amount of any Contingent Payment as soon as practicable, but in any event shall direct the Auditor to render a determination within forty-five (45) days after its retention. The Auditor shall consider only those items and amounts in Buyer’s and Seller’s respective calculations of such EBITDA and Contingent Payment that are identified as being items and amounts to which Buyer and Seller have been unable to agree on. In resolving any disputed item, the Auditor shall act as an expert and not as an arbitrator and the Auditor may not assign a value to any item greater than the greatest value for such item claimed by either party or less than the smallest value for such item claimed by either party. The Auditor’s determination of such EBITDA and the amount of any Contingent Payment shall not be limited to the materials submitted by Buyer and Seller but may include any relevant accounting literature or guidance, and shall be based on Schedule D and the definition of “EBITDA” included herein. The determination of the Auditor shall be conclusive and binding upon the parties hereto.
(iii) The costs and expenses of the Auditor in determining the EBITDA of the Nordic Business for the Adjustment Period and the amount of any Contingent Payment shall be borne equally by Buyer and Seller.
(iv) Within five (5) Business Days after the EBITDA of the Nordic Business for the Adjustment Period and the amount of any Contingent Payment are finally determined pursuant to this Section 2.5, (A) if any Contingent Payment is payable pursuant to Section 2.5(a)(i), Seller shall pay the amount thereof by (x) wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account(s) designated by Buyer or (y) in a manner as otherwise agreed by the parties or (B) if any Contingent Payment is payable pursuant to Section 2.5(a)(ii), Buyer shall pay the amount thereof by (x) wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account(s) designated by Seller or (y) in a manner as otherwise agreed by the parties.
(d) Following the Closing, until December 31, 2010, Buyer shall manage and operate the Nordic Business in a commercially reasonable manner and consistent with the business plan for the applicable Nordic Company for the then current year previously delivered to Buyer (the “Business Plan”). Seller acknowledges and agrees that, following the Closing, Buyer shall, in its sole and absolute discretion, have complete control over all strategic and operational decisions concerning the Nordic Business and may manage and operate the Nordic Companies and their businesses as Buyer determines in a manner consistent with the Business Plan. Seller further agrees that (i) the right of Buyer to receive the Contingent Payment does not create in Seller any right to control or direct the management and operations of the Nordic Companies and (ii) Seller will have no claim against Buyer or any of its Affiliates (including the Nordic Companies) with respect to the management and operation of the Nordic Companies, including any impact thereof on the EBITDA of the Nordic Companies or on the amount of any Contingent Payment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the impact of any change as a result of any deviation from the Business Plan shall be excluded from the calculation of EBITDA.
(e) All payments made pursuant to this Section 2.5 shall have the nature of adjustments to the Closing Purchase Price and shall be treated accordingly by all parties hereto (and all of their Affiliates) for all Tax purposes to the maximum extent permitted by applicable Law.