-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, RMgoWZm1fsJe0A52NNopBQTSSfINssNFNlxn4mg08ffl4xaheDS4wkZWqV7eKvhW nfGdk3J9exZgCsRgBiCoUw== 0000950129-08-001326.txt : 20080228 0000950129-08-001326.hdr.sgml : 20080228 20080228172712 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950129-08-001326 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 53 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20071231 FILED AS OF DATE: 20080228 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20080228 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: EL PASO CORP/DE CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001066107 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: NATURAL GAS TRANSMISSION [4922] IRS NUMBER: 760568816 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-14365 FILM NUMBER: 08651972 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1001 LOUISIANA ST, SUITE 2955A STREET 2: EL PASO BLDG CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77002 BUSINESS PHONE: 7134202600 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1001 LOUISIANA ST STREET 2: SUITE 2955A CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77002 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: EL PASO ENERGY CORP/DE DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19980716 10-K 1 h53583e10vk.htm FORM 10-K - ANNUAL REPORT e10vk
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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
Form 10-K
(Mark One)
     
þ   ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007
OR
     
o   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from           to          .
Commission File Number 1-14365
El Paso Corporation
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
     
Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
  76-0568816
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
     
El Paso Building
1001 Louisiana Street
Houston, Texas

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
  77002
(Zip Code)
Telephone Number: (713) 420-2600
Internet Website: www.elpaso.com
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
     
Title of Each Class   Name of Each Exchange
on which Registered
     
Common Stock, par value $3 per share   New York Stock Exchange
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
     Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes þ     No o.
     Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes o     No þ.
     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ     No o.
     Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. o
     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
             
Large accelerated filer þ   Accelerated filer o   Non-accelerated filer o   Smaller reporting company o
    (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o     No þ.
     State the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant.
     Aggregate market value of the voting stock (which consists solely of shares of common stock) held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 29, 2007 computed by reference to the closing sale price of the registrant’s common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on such date: $12,068,373,398.
     Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
     Common Stock, par value $3 per share. Shares outstanding on February 22, 2008: 700,784,034
Documents Incorporated by Reference
     List hereunder the following documents if incorporated by reference and the part of the Form 10-K (e.g., Part I, Part II, etc.) into which the document is incorporated: Portions of our definitive proxy statement for the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are incorporated by reference into Part III of this report. These will be filed no later than April 30, 2008.
 
 

 


 

EL PASO CORPORATION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
         
    Caption   Page
 
  PART I    
 
       
  Business   4
  Risk Factors   27
  Unresolved Staff Comments   37
  Properties   37
  Legal Proceedings   37
  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders   37
 
       
 
  PART II    
 
       
  Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities   38
  Selected Financial Data   40
  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations   41
  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk   76
  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data   79
  Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure   143
  Controls and Procedures   143
  Other Information   143
 
       
 
  PART III    
 
       
  Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance   144
  Executive Compensation   144
  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters   144
  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence   144
  Principal Accountant Fees and Services   144
 
       
 
  PART IV    
 
       
  Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules   145
 
  Signatures   146
 Amendment No.1 to 1995 Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors
 Amendment No.2 to Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors
 Amendment No.1 to 2001 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors
 Amendment No.2 to 2001 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors
 1999 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan
 Amendment No.1 to 2001 to the 1999 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan
 2001 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan
 Amendment No.1 to to the 2001 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan
 Amendment No.2 to to the 2001 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan
 Amendment No.3 to to the 2001 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan
 Amended Supplemental Benefits Plan
 Amendment No.1 to Supplemental Benefits Plan
 Amendment No.5 to Amended Supplemental Benefits Plan
 Amendment No.1 to Senior Executive Survivor Benefit Plan
 Amendment No.2 to Senior Executive Survivor Benefit Plan
 Amendment No.1 to Key Executive Severance Protection Plan
 Amendment No.2 to Key Executive Severance Protection Plan
 Amendment No.3 to Key Executive Severance Protection Plan
 Amendment No.5 to Key Executive Severance Protection Plan, as amended
 Amendment No.1 to 2004 Key Executive Severance Protection Plan
 Amendment No.1 to Director Charitable Award Plan
 Amended Strategic Stock Plan
 Amendment No.1 to Strategic Stock Plan
 Amendment No.2 to Strategic Stock Plan
 Amendment No.3 to Strategic Stock Plan
 Amendment No.4 to Strategic Stock Plan
 Termination of the Executive Award Plan of Sonat Inc
 Amended Omnibus Plan for Management Employees
 Amendment No.1 to Omnibus Plan for Management Employees
 Amendment No.2 to Omnibus Plan for Management Employees
 Amendment No.3 to Omnibus Plan for Management
 Amendment No.4 to Omnibus Plan for Management Employees
 Amendment No.1 to Amended Severance Pay Plan
 Amendment No.2 to 2005 Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors
 Amendment No.1 to 2005 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan
 Amendment No.1 to 2005 Supplemental Benefits Plan
 Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends
 Subsidiaries
 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
 Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
 Consent of Ryder Scott Company, L.P.
 Certification of CEO Pursuant to Section 302
 Certification of CFO Pursuant to Section 302
 Certification of CEO Pursuant to Section 906
 Certification of CFO Pursuant to Section 906
 Ryder Scott Reserve Report
 Ryder Scott Reserve Report

 


Table of Contents

     Below is a list of terms that are common to our industry and used throughout this document:
         
/d
  =   per day
Bbl
  =   barrel
BBtu
  =   billion British thermal units
Bcf
  =   billion cubic feet
Bcfe
  =   billion cubic feet of natural gas equivalents
LNG
  =   liquefied natural gas
MBbls
  =   thousand barrels
Mcf
  =   thousand cubic feet
Mcfe
  =   thousand cubic feet of natural gas equivalents
MDth
  =   thousand dekatherms
MMBtu
  =   million British thermal units
MMcf
  =   million cubic feet
MMcfe
  =   million cubic feet of natural gas equivalents
GWh
  =   thousand megawatt hours
MW
  =   megawatt
NGL
  =   natural gas liquids
TBtu
  =   trillion British thermal units
Tcfe
  =   trillion cubic feet of natural gas equivalents
     When we refer to natural gas and oil in “equivalents,” we are doing so to compare quantities of oil with quantities of natural gas or to express these different commodities in a common unit. In calculating equivalents, we use a generally recognized standard in which one Bbl of oil is equal to six Mcf of natural gas. Also, when we refer to cubic feet measurements, all measurements are at a pressure of 14.73 pounds per square inch.
     When we refer to “us”, “we”, “our”, “ours”, “the Company”, or “El Paso”, we are describing El Paso Corporation and/or our subsidiaries.

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PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Business and Strategy
     We are an energy company, originally founded in 1928 in El Paso, Texas that primarily operates in the natural gas transmission and exploration and production sectors of the energy industry. Our purpose is to provide natural gas and related energy products in a safe, efficient and dependable manner.
     Natural Gas Transmission. We own or have interests in North America’s largest interstate pipeline system with approximately 42,000 miles of pipe that connect North America’s major natural gas producing basins to its major consuming markets. We also provide approximately 230 Bcf of storage capacity and have an LNG receiving terminal and related facilities in Elba Island, Georgia with 806 MMcf of daily base load sendout capacity. The size, connectivity and diversity of our U.S. pipeline system provides growth opportunities through infrastructure development or large scale expansion projects and gives us the capability to adapt to the dynamics of shifting supply and demand. Our focus is to enhance the value of our transmission business by successfully executing on our backlog of committed expansion projects in the United States and Mexico and developing new growth projects in our market and supply areas.
     Exploration and Production. Our exploration and production business is currently focused on the exploration for and the acquisition, development and production of natural gas, oil and NGL in the United States, Brazil and Egypt. As of December 31, 2007, we held an estimated 2.9 Tcfe of proved natural gas and oil reserves, not including our equity share in the proved reserves of an unconsolidated affiliate of 0.2 Tcfe. In this business, we are focused on growing our reserve base through disciplined capital allocation and portfolio management, cost control and marketing our natural gas and oil production at optimal prices while managing associated price risks.
     Our operations are conducted through two core segments, Pipelines and Exploration and Production. We also have Marketing and Power segments. Our business segments provide a variety of energy products and services and are managed separately as each segment requires different technology and marketing strategies. For a further discussion of our business segments, see Part II, Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 16.
Pipelines Segment
     Our Pipelines segment includes our interstate natural gas transmission systems and related operations conducted through four separate, wholly owned pipeline systems, three majority-owned systems and three partially owned systems. These systems connect the nation’s principal natural gas supply regions to the five largest consuming regions in the United States: the Gulf Coast, California, the northeast, the southwest and the southeast. We also have access to systems in Canada and assets in Mexico. Our Pipelines segment also includes our ownership of storage capacity through our transmission systems, two underground storage facilities and our LNG terminal and related facilities.
     Each of our U.S. pipeline systems and storage facilities operate under Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved tariffs that establish rates, cost recovery mechanisms, and other terms and conditions of service to our customers. The fees or rates established under our tariffs are a function of our costs of providing services to our customers, including a reasonable return on our invested capital.

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Our strategy is to enhance the value of our transmission and storage business by:
    Successfully executing on our backlog of committed expansion projects;
 
    Developing new growth projects in our market and supply areas;
 
    Recontracting or contracting available or expiring capacity;
 
    Focusing on efficiency and synergies across our systems;
 
    Ensuring the safety of our pipeline systems and assets; and
 
    Providing outstanding customer service.
     In November 2007, we formed El Paso Pipeline Partners, L.P., our master limited partnership (MLP). We contributed our Wyoming Interstate system and 10 percent general partner interests in each of Southern Natural Gas and Colorado Interstate Gas to the MLP. Our ownership interest in the MLP at December 31, 2007 consists of a two percent general partner interest and a 64.8 percent limited partner interest.
     The tables below provide more information on our pipeline systems:
                                                             
                As of December 31, 2007    
Transmission   Supply and   Ownership   Miles of   Design   Storage   Average Throughput(1)
System   Market Region   Percentage   Pipeline   Capacity   Capacity   2007   2006   2005
        (Percent)           (MMcf/d)   (Bcf)           (BBtu/d)        
 
                                                           
Tennessee Gas
Pipeline (TGP)
  Extends from Louisiana, the Gulf of Mexico and south Texas to the northeast section of the U.S., including the metropolitan areas of New York City and Boston.     100       13,700       7,069       92       4,880       4,534       4,443  
 
                                                           
El Paso Natural Gas
(EPNG)
  Extends from San Juan, Permian, Anadarko basins and via interconnects the Rocky Mountains to California, its single largest market, as well as markets in Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and northern Mexico.     100       10,200     5,650(2)     44       4,189       4,179       4,053  
 
                                                           
Mojave Pipeline
(MPC)
  Connects with the EPNG system near Cadiz, California, the EPNG and Transwestern systems at Topock, Arizona and to the Kern River Gas Transmission Company system in California. This system also extends to customers in the vicinity of Bakersfield, California.     100       400     400(4)           458       461       161  
 
                                                           
Cheyenne Plains Gas
Pipeline (CPG) (3)
  Extends from Cheyenne hub and Yuma County in Colorado to various pipeline interconnections near Greensburg, Kansas.     100       400       861             735       583       433  
 
(1)   Includes throughput transported on behalf of affiliates.
 
(2)   Reflects winter-sustainable west-flow capacity of 4,850 MMcf/d and approximately 800 MMcf/d of east-end delivery capacity.
 
(3)   Completed in 2005
 
(4)   Reflects east to west flow capacity

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        As of December 31, 2007    
Transmission   Supply and   Ownership   Miles of   Design   Storage     Average Throughput(1)
System   Market Region   Interest   Pipeline(1)   Capacity(1)   Capacity(1)     2007   2006   2005
        (Percent)           (MMcf/d)   (Bcf)     (BBtu/d)                
 
                                                         
Southern Natural Gas (SNG)
  Extends from natural gas fields in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Gulf of Mexico to Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee, including, the metropolitan areas of Atlanta and Birmingham.     97       7,600       3,665     60       2,345       2,167       1,984  
 
                                                         
Colorado Interstate Gas (CIG)
  Extends from production areas in the Rocky Mountain region and the Anadarko Basin to the front range of the Rocky Mountains and multiple interconnections with pipeline systems transporting gas to the midwest, the southwest, California and the Pacific northwest.     97       4,000       3,048     29       2,339       2,008       1,902  
 
                                                         
Wyoming Interstate (WIC)(2)
  Extends from western Wyoming, eastern Utah, western Colorado and the Powder River Basin to various pipeline interconnections near Cheyenne, Wyoming.     67       800       2,721           2,071       1,914       1,572  
 
                                                         
Florida Gas
Transmission(3) (FGT)
  Extends from South Texas to South Florida.     50       4,881       2,100           2,056       2,018       1,916  
 
                                                         
Samalayuca Pipeline and Gloria a Dios Compression Station(4)
  Extends from U.S.-Mexico border to the state of Chihuahua, Mexico.     50       23       460           462       442       423  
 
                                                         
San Fernando Pipeline(4)
  Extends from Pemex Compression Station 19 to the Pemex metering station in San Fernando, Mexico in the State of Tamaulipas.     50       71       1,000           951       951       951  
 
(1)   Includes throughput transported on behalf of affiliates and represents the systems’ totals and are not adjusted for our ownership interest.
 
(2)   Includes the recently completed Kanda expansion project placed in service in January 2008.
 
(3)   We have a 50 percent equity interest in Citrus Corp. (Citrus), which owns this system.
 
(4)   We have a 50 percent equity interest in Gasoductos de Chihuahua, which owns these systems.
     In December 2007, we placed the LPG Burgos pipeline in service. This 117 mile pipeline, in which we own 50%, transports liquified petroleum gas and extends from Pemex’s Burgos complex to the Monterrey market in the state of Nuevo Leoń, Mexico. The system has a design capacity of 30 million barrels/day and in 2007 we transported an average of 30 million barrels/day.

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     As of December 31, 2007, we had the following FERC approved pipeline expansion projects on our systems. For a further discussion of other backlog expansion projects, see Item 7 Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
                     
    Existing   Capacity       Anticipated
Project   System   (MMcf/d)   Description   Completion or In-Service Date
Essex Middlesex Project
  TGP     80     To construct 7.8 miles of 24-inch pipeline connecting our Beverly-Salem line to the DOMAC line in Essex and Middlesex Counties, Massachusetts   November 2008
 
                   
Medicine Bow Expansion
  WIC     330     To construct a new 24,930 horsepower compression facility which increases capacity from the Powder River Basin in northeast Wyoming to the WIC mainline near the Cheyenne Hub   July 2008
 
                   
Cheyenne Plains Expansion
  CPG     70     To construct a new compression facility comprised of 10,310 horsepower at the Kirk Compressor Station in Yuma County, Colorado   July 2008
 
                   
Cypress Phase II
  SNG     114     To add 10,350 horsepower of additional compression on pipeline facilities extending southward from our Elba Island facility   May 2008
 
                   
Cypress Phase III
  SNG     161     To add 20,700 horsepower of additional compression on pipeline facilities extending southward from our Elba Island facility   January 2011
 
                   
Southeast Supply Header
(Phase I)
  SNG     140     To construct 115 miles of pipeline to the western portion of our system and provide access through pipeline interconnects to several supply basins   June 2008
Intrastate Transmission Systems
     CIG has a 50 percent interest in WYCO Development, L.L.C. (WYCO). WYCO owns a state regulated intrastate gas pipeline that extends from the Cheyenne Hub in northeast Colorado to Public Service Company of Colorado’s (PSCo) Fort St. Vrain electric generation plant. WYCO also owns a compressor station on our WIC system’s Medicine Bow lateral in Wyoming and leases these pipeline and compression facilities to PSCo and WIC, respectively, under long-term leases. WYCO currently has two expansion projects underway, the High Plains pipeline and Totem storage expansion projects, expected to be completed in 2008 and 2009. CIG will lease these facilities and will be the operator of these projects.
Underground Natural Gas Storage Facilities
     In addition to the storage along our pipeline systems, we own or have interests in the following natural gas storage facilities:
             
    As of December 31, 2007    
    Ownership   Storage    
Storage Entity   Interest   Capacity(1)   Location
    (Percent)   (Bcf)    
Bear Creek Storage
  100   58   Louisiana
Young Gas Storage
  48   6   Colorado
 
(1)   Approximately 58 Bcf is contracted to affiliates. Amounts are not adjusted for our ownership interest.
LNG Facility
     We own an LNG receiving terminal located on Elba Island, near Savannah, Georgia with a peak sendout capacity of 1.2 Bcf/d and a base load sendout capacity of 0.8 Bcf/d. The capacity at the terminal is contracted with subsidiaries of British Gas Group and Royal Dutch Shell PLC.

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     In September 2007, we received FERC approval to expand the Elba Island LNG receiving terminal and construct the Elba Express Pipeline. The expansion is anticipated to increase the peak sendout capacity of the terminal from 1.2 Bcf/d to 2.1 Bcf/d. The Elba Express Pipeline will consist of approximately 190 miles of pipeline with a total capacity of 1.2 Bcf/d, which will transport natural gas from the Elba Island LNG terminal to markets in the southeastern and eastern United States. In February 2008, we completed our acquisition of a 50 percent interest in the Gulf LNG Clean Energy Project, which is constructing a FERC approved liquefied natural gas terminal in Pascagoula, Mississippi that is expected to be placed in service in late 2011.
Markets and Competition
     Our Pipelines segment provides natural gas services to a variety of customers, including natural gas producers, marketers, end-users and other natural gas transmission, distribution and electric generation companies. In performing these services, we compete with other pipeline service providers as well as alternative energy sources such as coal, nuclear energy, wind, hydroelectric power and fuel oil.
     Imported LNG is one of the fastest growing supply sectors of the natural gas market. LNG terminals and other regasification facilities can serve as important sources of supply for pipelines, enhancing their delivery capabilities and operational flexibility and complementing traditional supply transported into market areas. However, these LNG delivery systems may also compete with our pipelines for transportation of gas into the market areas we serve.
     Electric power generation is the fastest growing demand sector of the natural gas market. The growth of the electric power industry potentially benefits the natural gas industry by creating more demand for natural gas turbine generated electric power. This potential benefit is offset, in varying degrees, by increased generation efficiency, the more effective use of surplus electric capacity, increased natural gas prices and the use and availability of other fuel sources for power generation. In addition, in several regions of the country, new additions in electric generating capacity have exceeded load growth and electric transmission capabilities out of those regions. These developments may inhibit owners of new power generation facilities from signing firm transportation contracts with natural gas pipelines.
     Our existing contracts mature at various times and in varying amounts of throughput capacity. Our ability to extend our existing contracts or remarket expiring capacity is dependent on competitive alternatives, the regulatory environment at the federal, state and local levels and market supply and demand factors at the relevant dates these contracts are extended or expire. The duration of new or renegotiated contracts will be affected by current prices, competitive conditions and judgments concerning future market trends and volatility. Subject to regulatory requirements, we attempt to recontract or remarket our capacity at the rates allowed under our tariffs although, at times, we discount these rates to remain competitive. The level of discount varies for each of our pipeline systems. The table below shows our firm transportation contracts as of December 31, 2007 for our wholly and majority owned systems that expire by year over the next five years and thereafter.
(BAR DIAGRAM)
     The following table details information related to our pipeline systems, including the customers, contracts, markets served and the competition faced by each as of December 31, 2007. Firm customers reserve capacity on our pipeline system, storage facilities or LNG terminalling facilities and are obligated to pay a monthly reservation or demand charge, regardless of the amount of natural gas they transport or store, for the term of their contracts. Interruptible customers are customers without reserved capacity that pay usage charges based on the volume of gas they request to transport, store, inject or withdraw.

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TGP
         
Customer Information   Contract Information   Competition
Approximately 440 firm and interruptible customers.
  Approximately 500 firm transportation contracts. Weighted average remaining contract term of approximately four years.   TGP faces competition in its northeast, Appalachian, midwest and southeast market areas. It competes with other interstate and intrastate pipelines for deliveries to multiple-connection customers who can take deliveries at alternative points. Natural gas delivered on the TGP system competes with alternative energy sources such as electricity, hydroelectric power, coal and fuel oil. In addition, TGP competes with pipelines and gathering systems for connection to new supply sources in Texas, the Gulf of Mexico and from the Canadian border.
Major Customer:
       
National Grid USA and subsidiaries
       
      (722 BBtu/d)
  Expire in 2009-2027.    
 
       
 
 
       
EPNG
       
Approximately 140 firm and interruptible customers
  Approximately 190 firm transportation contracts. Weighted average remaining contract term of approximately four years.   EPNG faces competition in the west and southwest from other existing and proposed pipelines, from California storage facilities, and from alternative energy sources that are used to generate electricity such as hydroelectric power, nuclear energy, wind, solar, coal and fuel oil. In addition, construction of facilities to bring LNG into California and northern Mexico are underway.
Major Customers:
       
Southern California Gas Company
       
      (187 BBtu/d)
  Expires in 2009.    
      (246 BBtu/d)
  Expires in 2010.    
      (323 BBtu/d)
  Expires in 2011.    
 
       
   Southwest Gas Corporation
       
      (11 BBtu/d)
  Expires in 2008.    
      (603 BBtu/d)
  Expire in 2011-2015.    
 
       
 
 
       
MPC
       
Approximately 20 firm and interruptible customers
  Approximately five firm transportation contracts. Weighted average remaining contract term of approximately eight years.   MPC faces competition from other existing and proposed pipelines, and alternative energy sources that are used to generate electricity such as hydroelectric power, nuclear energy, wind, solar, coal and fuel oil. In addition, construction of facilities to bring LNG into California and northern Mexico are underway.
Major Customer:
       
   EPNG
       
      (312 BBtu/d)
  Expires in 2015.    
 

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CPG
         
Customer Information   Contract Information   Competition
Approximately 50 firm and interruptible customers
  Approximately 30 firm transportation contracts. Weighted average remaining contract term of approximately eight years.   CPG competes directly with other interstate pipelines serving the mid-continent region. Indirectly, CPG competes with pipelines that transport Rocky Mountain gas to other markets.
Major Customers:
       
   Oneok Energy Services Company L.P.
  Expires in 2015.    
      (195 BBtu/d)
       
   Encana Marketing (USA) Inc.
  Expires in 2015.    
      (170 BBtu/d)
       
   Anadarko Petroleum Corporation
  Expire in 2015-2016.    
      (195 BBtu/d)
       
   Coral Energy Resources, L.P.
  Expires in 2019.    
      (125 BBtu/d)
       
 
       
 
SNG
       
Approximately 280 firm and interruptible customers
  Approximately 190 firm transportation contracts. Weighted average remaining contract term of approximately six years.   SNG faces competition in a number of its key markets. SNG competes with other interstate and intrastate pipelines for deliveries to multiple-connection customers who can take deliveries at alternative points. Natural gas delivered on SNG’s system competes with alternative energy sources used to generate electricity, such as hydroelectric power, coal and fuel oil. SNG’s four largest customers are able to obtain a significant portion of their natural gas requirements through transportation from other pipelines. Also, SNG competes with several pipelines for the transportation business of their other customers. In addition, SNG competes with pipelines and gathering systems for connection to new supply sources.
Major Customers:
       
Atlanta Gas Light Company
      (981 BBtu/d)
  Expire in 2008-2015.    
 
       
Southern Company Services
       
      (418 BBtu/d)
  Expire in 2010-2018.    
 
       
Alabama Gas Corporation
       
      (413 BBtu/d)
  Expire in 2010-2013.    
 
       
SCANA Corporation
       
      (315 BBtu/d)
  Expire in 2010-2019.    
 
       
 

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CIG
         
Customer Information   Contract Information   Competition
Approximately 120 firm and interruptible customers
  Approximately 180 firm transportation contracts. Weighted average remaining contract term of approximately five years.   CIG serves two major markets, an “on- system” market and an “off- system” market. Its ‘on-system’ market consists of utilities and other customers located along the front range of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado and Wyoming. Competitors in this market consist of an intrastate pipeline, an interstate pipeline, local production from the Denver-Julesburg basin, and long-haul shippers who elect to sell into this market rather than the off-system market. CIG’s off-system market consists of the transportation of Rocky Mountain production from multiple supply basins to interconnections with other pipelines bound for the midwest, the southwest, California and the Pacific northwest. Competition for this off-system market consists of interstate pipelines that are directly connected to its supply sources. CIG faces competition from other existing pipelines and alternative energy sources that are used to generate electricity such as hydroelectric power, wind, solar, coal and fuel oil.
 
       
Major Customers:
       
PSCo
       
      (187 BBtu/d)
  Expires in 2008.    
      (9 BBtu/d)
  Expires in 2009.    
      (1,106 BBtu/d)
  Expire in 2012-2014.    
 
       
Williams Gas Marketing, Inc.
       
      (53 BBtu/d)
  Expires in 2009.    
      (113 BBtu/d)
  Expires in 2010.    
      (350 BBtu/d)
  Expire in 2011-2013.    
 
       
Anadarko Petroleum Corporation
       
      (70 BBtu/d)
  Expires in 2008.    
      (12 BBtu/d)
  Expires in 2009.    
      (80 BBtu/d)
  Expires in 2010.    
      (128 BBtu/d)
  Expire in 2011-2015.    
 
       
 
WIC(1)
       
Approximately 50 firm and interruptible customers
  Approximately 50 firm transportation contracts. Weighted average remaining contract term of approximately ten years.   WIC competes with existing pipelines to provide transportation services from supply basins in northwest Colorado, eastern Utah and Wyoming to pipeline interconnects in northeast Colorado, and western Wyoming.
Major Customers:
       
 
       
Williams Gas Marketing, Inc.
       
      (25 BBtu/d)
  Expires in 2008.    
      (84 BBtu/d)
  Expires in 2010.    
      (744 BBtu/d)
  Expire in 2013-2021.    
 
       
Anadarko Petroleum Corporation
       
      (25 BBtu/d)
  Expires in 2008.    
      (810 BBtu/d)
  Expire in 2009-2022.    
 
(1)   Information included has been adjusted to reflect the completion of the Kanda expansion project placed in service in January 2008.

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     Regulatory Environment. Our interstate natural gas transmission systems and storage operations are regulated by the FERC under the Natural Gas Act of 1938, the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 and the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Each of our interstate pipeline systems and storage facilities operates under tariffs approved by the FERC that establish rates, cost recovery mechanisms, and terms and conditions for services to our customers. Generally, the FERC’s authority extends to:
    rates and charges for natural gas transportation, storage and related services;
 
    certification and construction of new facilities;
 
    extension or abandonment of services and facilities;
 
    maintenance of accounts and records;
 
    relationships between pipelines and certain affiliates;
 
    terms and conditions of service;
 
    depreciation and amortization policies;
 
    acquisition and disposition of facilities; and
 
    initiation and discontinuation of services.
     Our interstate pipeline systems are also subject to federal, state and local pipeline and LNG plant safety and environmental statutes and regulations of the U.S. Department of Transportation, the U.S. Department of Interior and the U.S. Coast Guard. We have ongoing inspection programs designed to keep our facilities in compliance with pipeline safety and environmental requirements, and we believe that our systems are in material compliance with the applicable regulations.

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Exploration and Production Segment
     Our Exploration and Production segment’s business strategy focuses on the exploration for and the acquisition, development and production of natural gas, oil and NGL in the United States, Brazil and Egypt. As of December 31, 2007, we controlled over four million net leasehold acres and our proved natural gas and oil reserves at December 31, 2007, were approximately 2.9 Tcfe, which does not include 0.2 Tcfe related to our unconsolidated investment in Four Star Oil and Gas Company (Four Star). During 2007, daily equivalent natural gas production averaged approximately 792 MMcfe/d, not including 70 MMcfe/d from our equity investment in Four Star.
     We completed the acquisition of Peoples Energy Production Company (Peoples) in September 2007 for $887 million. This acquisition upgraded our portfolio of assets across a number of our operating regions, primarily the Onshore and Texas Gulf Coast regions. We are also further upgrading our portfolio by selling selected non-core properties that no longer meet our strategic objectives. In January 2008, we entered into agreements to sell $517 million of certain non-core properties in our Onshore and Texas Gulf Coast regions with estimated proved reserves of 191 Bcfe at December 31, 2007. While we do not anticipate exiting any region, our divestitures will be weighted towards the Gulf of Mexico and south Texas areas. We have a balanced portfolio of development and exploration projects, including long-lived and shorter-lived properties divided into the following regions discussed below:
United States
     Onshore. The Onshore region includes operations that are primarily focused on unconventional tight gas sands, coal bed methane and lower risk conventional producing areas, which are generally characterized by lower development costs, higher drilling success rates and longer reserve lives. We have a large inventory of drilling prospects in this region. During 2007, we invested $543 million on capital projects, not including acquisitions, and production averaged 374 MMcfe/d. The principal operating areas are listed below:
                             
        2007
                        Average
        Net   Capital   Production
Area   Description   Acres   Investment   (MMcfe/d)
        (In millions)
East Texas/North
Louisiana
(Arklatex)
  Concentrated land positions primarily focused on tight gas sands production in the Travis Peak/Hosston, Bossier and Cotton Valley formations. The Peoples acquisition added to our existing asset in this area most notably in Logansport, Bald Prairie, Bethany, Minden and Bethany Longstreet fields. We also have land positions in the Mississippi area, primarily in Hub Field located on the southern edge of the Mississippi Salt Basin.     113,000     $ 260       136  
 
                           
Black Warrior Basin
  Established shallow coal bed methane producing areas of northwestern Alabama. We have high average working interests in our operated properties in addition to an average 50 percent working interest covering approximately 46,000 net acres operated by Black Warrior Methane which produces from the Brookwood Field.     171,000     $ 51       62  
 
                           
Mid-Continent
  Primarily in Oklahoma with a focus on development projects in the Arkoma Basin where we utilize horizontal drilling in the Hartshorne Coals area, West Verdon Field, an oil producing waterflood project and shallow natural gas production in the Hugoton field.     456,000     $ 40       30  
 
                           
Rocky Mountains
(Rockies)
  Primarily in Wyoming and Utah with a focus in the Powder River and Uinta basins, consisting predominantly of operated oil fields utilizing both primary and secondary recovery methods combined with non-operated coal bed methane fields. We operate the Altamont and Bluebell processing plants and related gathering systems in Utah. We also have a non-operated working interest primarily in the Stadium Unit in the Williston Basin of North Dakota, which is undergoing secondary recovery.     357,000     $ 79       71  

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        2007
                        Average
        Net   Capital   Production
Area   Description   Acres   Investment   (MMcfe/d)
        (In millions)
Raton Basin
  Primarily focused on coal bed methane production in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado where we own the minerals and have a 100 percent working interest in the Vermejo Park Ranch. We also have working interests in land positions in the San Juan Basin primarily in the Fruitland Coal and Dakota formations and the tight gas formations in Pictured Cliffs and Mesaverde.     605,000     $ 113       75  
     Included in our Mid-Continent operating area are our interests in 127,000 net acres in West Virginia and 122,000 net acres in the Illinois Basin, primarily in the New Albany Shale area in southwestern Indiana. We are the operator of these properties and maintain a 50 percent working interest in this large emerging area which is still under evaluation. We have drilled 34 gross wells in this basin through the end of 2007.
     Texas Gulf Coast. The Texas Gulf Coast region focuses on developing and exploring for tight gas sands in south Texas and the upper Gulf Coast of Texas. In this area, we have an inventory of over 10,000 square miles of three dimensional (3D) seismic data. During 2007, we acquired producing properties and undeveloped acreage in Zapata County, Texas for $254 million. During 2007, we also invested $327 million on capital projects and production averaged 213 MMcfe/d. The principal operating areas are listed below:
                             
        2007
                        Average
                Capital   Production
Area   Description   Net Acres   Investment   (MMcfe/d)
        (In millions)
Vicksburg/Frio Trends
  Includes concentrated and contiguous assets, located in south Texas, including the Jeffress and Monte Christo fields primarily in Hidalgo County, in which we have an average 90 percent working interest. We also have assets in the Alvarado and Kelsey fields and in Starr and Brooks Counties with an average working interest of over 65 percent.     83,000     $ 128       132  
 
                           
Upper Gulf Coast Wilcox
  Located onshore Texas Gulf Coast, including Renger, Dry Hollow, Brushy Creek and Speaks fields in Lavaca County and Graceland Field, located in Colorado, County.     37,000     $ 56       32  
 
                           
South Texas Wilcox
  Includes positions in which we have working interests in Bob West, Jennings Ranch and Roleta fields in Zapata County. We also have working interests in the Laredo and Loma Novia fields in Webb and Duval counties.     79,000     $ 143       49  

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     Gulf of Mexico and south Louisiana. Our Gulf of Mexico and south Louisiana operations are generally characterized by relatively high initial production rates, resulting in near-term cash flows, and high decline rates. During 2007, we invested $309 million on drilling, workover and facilities projects and production averaged 191 MMcfe/d. The principal operating areas are listed below:
                             
        2007
                        Average
                Capital   Production
Area   Description   Net Acres   Investment   (MMcfe/d)
        (In millions)
Gulf of Mexico
  Primarily drilling interests in 148 Blocks south of the Louisiana, Texas and Alabama shorelines focused on deep (greater than 12,000 feet) natural gas and oil reserves in relatively shallow water depths (less than 300 feet).     543,000     $ 281       174  
 
                           
South Louisiana
  Primarily in Vermilion Parish and associated bays and inland waters in southwestern Louisiana covered by the Catapult 3D seismic project. We have internally processed 2,800 square miles of contiguous 3D seismic data in this project.     21,000     $ 28       17  
     Unconsolidated Investment in Four Star. During the third quarter of 2007, we increased our ownership interest in Four Star from 43 percent to 49 percent. Four Star operates onshore in the San Juan, Permian, Hugoton and South Alabama Basins and the Gulf of Mexico. During 2007, our proportionate share of Four Star’s daily equivalent natural gas production averaged approximately 70 MMcfe/d and at December 31, 2007, proved natural gas and oil reserves, net to our interest, were 0.2 Tcfe.
International
     Brazil. Our Brazilian operations cover approximately 361,000 net acres. During 2007, we invested $220 million on capital projects in Brazil. Our operations include interests in 13 concessions located in the Espirito Santo, Potiguar and Camamu Basins, including our 35 percent working interest in the Pescada-Arabaiana Fields in the Potiguar Basin. We currently own 100 percent of the BM-CAL-4 concession which includes the Pinauna project. During 2007, we completed drilling two successful exploratory wells that extended the southern limits of the Pinauna project. We are currently assessing development options and have a process underway to potentially market up to a 50 percent non-operating interest in this concession. In addition, we completed drilling and testing two exploratory wells with Petrobras in the ES-5 Block in the Espirito Basin. These wells confirmed the extension of an earlier discovery by Petrobras on a block to the south. Our production in Brazil, primarily attributable to the Pescada-Arabaiana Fields, averaged approximately 14 MMcfe/d in 2007.
     Egypt. Our Egyptian operations include a 20 percent non-operated working interest in approximately 13,000 net acres in the South Feiran concession located in the Gulf of Suez. We are currently in the seismic, exploratory drilling and evaluation phases of the project. Our total funding commitment to the South Feiran concession is $3 million. In 2007, we received formal government approval and signed the concession agreement for the South Mariut Block. The block is approximately 1.2 million acres and is located onshore in the western part of the Nile Delta. We paid $3 million for the concession and agreed to a $22 million firm working commitment over three years. We are currently performing seismic evaluations on the block and expect to drill our first exploratory well in late 2008.

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Natural Gas and Oil Properties
Natural Gas, Oil and Condensate and NGL Reserves and Production
     The table below presents our estimated proved reserves by region and classification as of December 31, 2007 based on an internal reserve report as well as our 2007 production by region. Net proved reserves exclude royalties and interests owned by others and reflect contractual arrangements and royalty obligations in effect at the time of the estimate.
                                                 
    Net Proved Reserves   2007
    Natural Gas   Oil/Condensate   NGL   Total   Production
    (MMcf)   (MBbls)   (MBbls)   (MMcfe)   (Percent)   (MMcfe)
Reserves and Production by Region
                                               
United States
                                               
Onshore
    1,567,666       36,308       301       1,787,318       63 %     136,701  
Texas Gulf Coast
    471,448       3,806       9,205       549,513       19 %     77,633  
Gulf of Mexico and
south Louisiana
    207,546       9,560       608       268,555       9 %     69,671  
 
                                               
Total United States
    2,246,660       49,674       10,114       2,605,386       91 %     284,005  
Brazil
    51,206       32,710             247,468       9 %     5,237  
 
                                               
Total
    2,297,866       82,384       10,114       2,852,854       100 %     289,242  
 
                                               
Unconsolidated investment in
Four Star
    200,109       2,858       6,411       255,722       100 %     25,470  
 
                                               
 
                                               
Reserves by Classification
                                               
 
                                               
United States
                                               
Producing
    1,419,621       26,578       6,679       1,619,159       62 %        
Non-Producing
    318,475       8,492       1,453       378,147       15 %        
Undeveloped
    508,564       14,604       1,982       608,080       23 %        
 
                                               
Total proved
    2,246,660       49,674       10,114       2,605,386       100 %        
 
                                               
 
                                               
Brazil
                                               
Producing
    15,229       342             17,281       7 %        
Non-Producing
    3,414       338             5,444       2 %        
Undeveloped
    32,563       32,030             224,743       91 %        
 
                                               
Total proved
    51,206       32,710             247,468       100 %        
 
                                               
 
                                               
Worldwide
                                               
Producing
    1,434,850       26,920       6,679       1,636,440       58 %        
Non-Producing
    321,889       8,830       1,453       383,591       13 %        
Undeveloped
    541,127       46,634       1,982       832,823       29 %        
 
                                               
Total proved
    2,297,866       82,384       10,114       2,852,854       100 %        
 
                                               
 
                                               
Unconsolidated investment in
Four Star
                                               
Producing
    167,114       2,804       5,316       215,828       85 %        
Non-Producing
    3,072             29       3,246       1 %        
Undeveloped
    29,923       54       1,066       36,648       14 %        
 
                                               
Total Four Star
    200,109       2,858       6,411       255,722       100 %        
 
                                               
     Our consolidated reserves in the table above are consistent with estimates of reserves filed with other federal agencies except for differences of less than five percent resulting from actual production, acquisitions, property sales, necessary reserve revisions and additions to reflect actual experience.
     Ryder Scott Company, L.P. (Ryder Scott), an independent reservoir engineering firm that reports to the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors, conducted an audit of the estimates of 84 percent of our consolidated proved natural gas and oil reserves as of December 31, 2007. The scope of the audit performed by Ryder Scott included the preparation of an independent estimate of proved natural gas and oil reserves estimates for fields comprising greater than 80 percent of our total worldwide present value of future cash flows (pretax). The specific fields included in Ryder Scott’s audit represented the largest fields based on value. Ryder Scott also conducted an audit of the estimates of 75 percent of the proved natural gas and oil reserves of Four Star, our unconsolidated affiliate. Our estimates of Four Star’s proved natural gas and oil reserves are prepared by our internal reservoir engineers and do not reflect

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those prepared by the engineers of Four Star. Based on the amount of proved reserves determined by Ryder Scott, we believe our reported reserve amounts are reasonable. Ryder Scott’s reports are included as exhibits to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
     There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of proved reserves, projecting future rates of production costs, and projecting the timing of development expenditures, including many factors beyond our control. Reservoir engineering is a subjective process of estimating underground accumulations of natural gas and oil that cannot be measured in an exact manner. The reserve data represents only estimates which are often different from the quantities of natural gas and oil that are ultimately recovered. The accuracy of any reserve estimate is highly dependent on the quality of available data, the accuracy of the assumptions on which they are based, and on engineering and geological interpretations and judgment.
     All estimates of proved reserves are determined according to the rules currently prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These rules indicate that the standard of “reasonable certainty” be applied to proved reserve estimates. This concept of reasonable certainty implies that as more technical data becomes available, a positive or upward revision is more likely than a negative or downward revision. Estimates are subject to revision based upon a number of factors, including reservoir performance, prices, economic conditions and government restrictions. In addition, results of drilling, testing and production subsequent to the date of an estimate may justify revision of that estimate.
     In general, the volume of production from natural gas and oil properties declines as reserves are depleted. Except to the extent we conduct successful exploration and development activities or acquire additional properties with proved reserves, or both, our proved reserves will decline as reserves are produced. Recovery of proved undeveloped reserves requires significant capital expenditures and successful drilling operations. The reserve data assumes that we can and will make these expenditures and conduct these operations successfully, but future events, including commodity price changes, may cause these assumptions to change. In addition, estimates of proved undeveloped reserves and proved non-producing reserves are subject to greater uncertainties than estimates of proved producing reserves. For further discussion of our reserves, see Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, under the heading Supplemental Natural Gas and Oil Operations.
Acreage and Wells
     The following tables detail (i) our interest in developed and undeveloped acreage at December 31, 2007, (ii) our interest in natural gas and oil wells at December 31, 2007 and (iii) our exploratory and development wells drilled during the years 2005 through 2007. Any acreage in which our interest is limited to owned royalty, overriding royalty and other similar interests is excluded.
                                                 
    Developed   Undeveloped   Total
    Gross(1)   Net(2)   Gross(1)   Net(2)   Gross(1)   Net(2)
Acreage
                                               
United States
                                               
Onshore
    1,026,566       627,034       1,524,237       1,075,443       2,550,803       1,702,477  
Texas Gulf Coast
    173,282       119,025       114,842       80,396       288,124       199,421  
Gulf of Mexico and south Louisiana
    517,597       376,378       220,314       187,506       737,911       563,884  
 
                                               
Total United States
    1,717,445       1,122,437       1,859,393       1,343,345       3,576,838       2,465,782  
Brazil
    49,262       17,242       1,158,643       343,563       1,207,905       360,805  
Egypt
                1,247,064       1,195,272       1,247,064       1,195,272  
 
                                               
Worldwide Total
    1,766,707       1,139,679       4,265,100       2,882,180       6,031,807       4,021,859  
 
                                               
 
(1)   Gross interest reflects the total acreage we participated in, regardless of our ownership interest in the acreage.
 
(2)   Net interest is the aggregate of the fractional working interests that we have in the gross acreage.
     In the United States, our net developed acreage is concentrated primarily in the Gulf of Mexico (33 percent), Texas (13 percent), Utah (11 percent), New Mexico (10 percent), Alabama (8 percent), Oklahoma (8 percent) and Louisiana (7 percent). Our net undeveloped acreage is concentrated primarily in New Mexico (34 percent), the Gulf of Mexico (14 percent), Wyoming (10 percent), West Virginia (10 percent), Indiana (8 percent), Alabama (6 percent) and Texas (6 percent). Approximately 14 percent, 8 percent and 5 percent of our total United States net undeveloped acreage is held under leases that have minimum remaining primary terms expiring in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Approximately 17 percent, 14 percent and 17 percent of our total Brazilian net undeveloped acreage is held under leases that have minimum remaining primary terms expiring in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Approximately 30 percent of our total Egyptian net undeveloped acreage is held under leases that have minimum remaining primary terms expiring in 2010. We employ various techniques to manage the expiration of leases, including extending lease terms, drilling the acreage ourselves, or through farm-out agreements with other operators.

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                                                    Wells Being Drilled at December 31,
    Natural Gas   Oil   Total   2007
    Gross(1)   Net(2)   Gross(1)   Net(2)   Gross(1)   Net(2)(3)   Gross(1)   Net(2)
Productive Wells
                                                               
United States
                                                               
 
                                                               
Onshore
    4,901       3,627       658       495       5,559       4,122       74       61  
 
                                                               
Texas Gulf Coast
    1,643       1,167                   1,643       1,167       8       7  
Gulf of Mexico and south Louisiana
    193       127       56       31       249       158       2       1  
 
                                                               
Total
    6,737       4,921       714       526       7,451       5,447       84       69  
Brazil
    4       1       6       2       10       3              
 
                                                               
Worldwide Total
    6,741       4,922       720       528       7,461       5,450       84       69  
 
                                                               
                                                 
    Net Exploratory(2)(4)   Net Development(2)(4)
    2007   2006   2005   2007   2006   2005
Wells Drilled
                                               
United States
                                               
Productive
    214       106       86       238       319       279  
Dry
    12       6       2       1       2       4  
 
                                               
Total
    226       112       88       239       321       283  
 
                                               
Brazil
                                               
Productive
    3                                
Dry
                                   
 
                                               
Total
    3                                
 
                                               
Worldwide
                                               
Productive
    217       106       86       238       319       279  
Dry
    12       6       2       1       2       4  
 
                                               
Total
    229       112       88       239       321       283  
 
                                               
 
(1)   Gross interest reflects the total wells we participated in, regardless of our ownership interest.
 
(2)   Net interest is the aggregate of the fractional working interests that we have in the gross wells or gross wells drilled.
 
(3)   At December 31, 2007, we operated 4,905 of the 5,450 net productive wells.
 
(4)   In 2007, there was a reduction in the number of non-operated development wells drilled in the Rockies and an increase in the number of exploration wells drilled in the Raton Basin.
     The drilling performance above should not be considered indicative of future drilling performance, nor should it be assumed that there is any correlation between the number of productive wells drilled and the amount of natural gas and oil that may ultimately be recovered.

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Net Production, Sales Prices, Transportation and Production Costs
     The following table details our net production volumes, average sales prices received, average transportation costs and average production costs (including production taxes) associated with the sale of natural gas and oil for each of the three years ended December 31:
                         
    2007     2006     2005  
Consolidated Volumes, Prices, and Costs per Unit:
                       
Net Production Volumes
                       
United States
                       
Natural gas (MMcf)
    238,021       213,262       206,714  
Oil, condensate and NGL (MBbls)
    7,664       7,439       7,516  
Total (MMcfe)
    284,005       257,899       251,807  
Brazil(1)
                       
Natural gas (MMcf)
    4,295       7,140       15,578  
Oil, condensate and NGL (MBbls)
    157       247       620  
Total (MMcfe)
    5,237       8,619       19,300  
Worldwide
                       
Natural gas (MMcf)
    242,316       220,402       222,292  
Oil, condensate and NGL (MBbls)
    7,821       7,686       8,136  
Total (MMcfe)
    289,242       266,518       271,107  
Total (MMcfe/d)
    792       730       743  
Natural Gas Average Realized Sales Price ($/Mcf)
                       
United States
                       
Excluding hedges
  $ 6.60     $ 6.77     $ 7.92  
Including hedges
  $ 7.36     $ 6.50     $ 6.69  
Brazil
                       
Excluding hedges
  $ 2.61     $ 2.61     $ 2.33  
Including hedges
  $ 2.61     $ 2.61     $ 2.33  
Worldwide
                       
Excluding hedges
  $ 6.53     $ 6.64     $ 7.53  
Including hedges
  $ 7.28     $ 6.38     $ 6.39  
Oil, Condensate and NGL Average Realized Sales Price ($/Bbl)
                       
United States
                       
Excluding hedges
  $ 63.56     $ 55.95     $ 45.86  
Including hedges
  $ 63.56     $ 55.95     $ 45.86  
Brazil
                       
Excluding hedges
  $ 70.86     $ 64.02     $ 53.42  
Including hedges
  $ 41.27     $ 54.48     $ 42.42  
Worldwide
                       
Excluding hedges
  $ 63.71     $ 56.21     $ 46.43  
Including hedges
  $ 63.11     $ 55.90     $ 45.60  
Average Transportation Costs
                       
United States
                       
Natural gas ($/Mcf)
  $ 0.27     $ 0.24     $ 0.20  
Oil, condensate and NGL ($/Bbl)
  $ 0.83     $ 0.85     $ 0.69  
Worldwide
                       
Natural gas ($/Mcf)
  $ 0.27     $ 0.23     $ 0.18  
Oil, condensate and NGL ($/Bbl)
  $ 0.81     $ 0.82     $ 0.63  

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    2007     2006     2005  
Average Production Costs ($/Mcfe)
                       
United States
                       
Lease operating costs
  $ 0.86     $ 0.97     $ 0.73  
Production taxes
    0.31       0.28       0.27  
 
                 
Total production costs
  $ 1.17     $ 1.25     $ 1.00  
 
                 
Brazil
                       
Lease operating costs
  $ 1.63     $ 0.28     $ 0.42  
Production taxes
    0.51       0.53        
 
                 
Total production costs
  $ 2.14     $ 0.81     $ 0.42  
 
                 
Worldwide
                       
Lease operating costs
  $ 0.88     $ 0.95     $ 0.72  
Production taxes
    0.31       0.29       0.24  
 
                 
Total production costs
  $ 1.19     $ 1.24     $ 0.96  
 
                 
 
Unconsolidated affiliate volumes (Four Star)(2)
                       
Natural gas (MMcf)
    19,380       18,140       6,689  
Oil, condensate and NGL (MBbls)
    1,015       1,087       359  
Total equivalent volumes
                       
MMcfe
    25,470       24,663       8,844  
MMcfe/d
    70       68       24  
 
(1)   Production volumes in Brazil decreased due to a contractual reduction of our ownership interest in the Pescada-Arabaiana Fields in early 2006.
 
(2)   Includes our proportionate share of volumes in Four Star which was acquired in 2005. In the third quarter of 2007, we increased our ownership interest in Four Star from 43 percent to 49 percent.

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Acquisition, Development and Exploration Expenditures
     The following table details information regarding the costs incurred in our acquisition, development and exploration activities for each of the three years ended December 31:
                         
    2007     2006     2005  
    (In millions)  
United States
                       
Acquisition Costs:
                       
Proved
  $ 964     $ 2     $ 643  
Unproved
    262       34       143  
Development Costs
    735       738       503  
Exploration Costs:
                       
Delay rentals
    6       6       3  
Seismic acquisition and reprocessing
    19       23       7  
Drilling
    373       294       133  
Asset Retirement Obligations
    38       3       1  
 
                 
Total full cost pool expenditures
    2,397       1,100       1,433  
Non-full cost pool expenditures
    13       8       22  
 
                 
Total costs incurred(1)
  $ 2,410     $ 1,108     $ 1,455  
 
                 
Acquisition of unconsolidated investment in Four Star(2)
  $ 27     $     $ 769  
 
                 
Brazil and Other International(1)
                       
Acquisition Costs:
                       
Proved
  $     $ 2     $ 8  
Unproved
    5       1       1  
Development Costs
    26       40       6  
Exploration Costs:
                       
Seismic acquisition and reprocessing
    6       7       7  
Drilling
    193       46       8  
Asset Retirement Obligations
    7              
 
                 
Total full cost pool expenditures
    237       96       30  
Non-full cost pool expenditures
    1              
 
                 
Total costs incurred
  $ 238     $ 96     $ 30  
 
                 
Worldwide
                       
Acquisition Costs:
                       
Proved
  $ 964     $ 4     $ 651  
Unproved
    267       35       144  
Development Costs
    761       778       509  
Exploration Costs:
                       
Delay rentals
    6       6       3  
Seismic acquisition and reprocessing
    25       30       14  
Drilling
    566       340       141  
Asset Retirement Obligations
    45       3       1  
 
                 
Total full cost pool expenditures
    2,634       1,196       1,463  
Non-full cost pool expenditures
    14       8       22  
 
                 
Total costs incurred(1)
  $ 2,648     $ 1,204     $ 1,485  
 
                 
Acquisition of unconsolidated investment in Four Star(2)
  $ 27     $     $ 769  
 
                 
 
(1)   Costs incurred for Egypt were $10 million and $4 million for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006.
 
(2)   In 2005, amount includes deferred tax adjustments of $179 million related to the acquisition of full-cost pool properties and $217 million related to the acquisition of our unconsolidated investment in Four Star.
     We spent approximately $200 million in 2007, $192 million in 2006 and $247 million in 2005 to develop proved undeveloped reserves that were included in our reserve report as of January 1 of each year.

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Markets and Competition
     We primarily sell our domestic natural gas and oil to third parties through our Marketing segment at spot market prices, subject to customary adjustments. We sell our NGL at market prices under monthly or long-term contracts, subject to customary adjustments. In Brazil, we sell the majority of our natural gas and oil to Petrobras, Brazil’s state-owned energy company. We also enter into derivative contracts on our natural gas and oil production to stabilize our cash flows, reduce the risk and financial impact of downward commodity price movements and to protect the economic assumptions associated with our capital investment programs. As of December 31, 2007, our Exploration and Production segment had entered into derivative swap and option contracts on approximately 141 TBtu of our anticipated 2008 natural gas production, 16 TBtu of our total anticipated 2009-2012 natural gas production, basis swaps on 97 TBtu of our anticipated 2008 production and 15 TBtu of our total anticipated 2009-2012 natural gas production and fixed price swaps on 2,498 MBbls of our anticipated 2008 oil production. For a further discussion of these contracts, see Part II, Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. Our Marketing segment has also entered into additional production related derivative contracts as further described below.
     The exploration and production business is highly competitive in the search for and acquisition of additional natural gas and oil reserves and in the sale of natural gas, oil and NGL. Our competitors include major and intermediate sized natural gas and oil companies, independent natural gas and oil operators and individual producers or operators with varying scopes of operations and financial resources. Competitive factors include price and contract terms, our ability to access drilling and other equipment and our ability to hire and retain skilled personnel on a timely and cost effective basis. Ultimately, our future success in the exploration and production business will be dependent on our ability to find or acquire additional reserves at costs that yield acceptable returns on the capital invested.
     Regulatory Environment. Our natural gas and oil exploration and production activities are regulated at the federal, state and local levels, in the United States, Brazil and Egypt. These regulations include, but are not limited to, those governing the drilling and spacing of wells, conservation, forced pooling and protection of correlative rights among interest owners. We are also subject to governmental safety regulations in the jurisdictions in which we operate.
     Our domestic operations under federal natural gas and oil leases are regulated by the statutes and regulations of the U.S. Department of the Interior that currently impose liability upon lessees for the cost of environmental impacts resulting from their operations. Royalty obligations on all federal leases are regulated by the Minerals Management Service, which has promulgated valuation guidelines for the payment of royalties by producers. Our exploration and production operations in Brazil and Egypt are subject to environmental regulations administered by those governments, which include political subdivisions in those countries. These domestic and international laws and regulations affect the construction and operation of facilities, water disposal rights, drilling operations, production or the delay or prevention of future offshore lease sales. In addition, we maintain insurance to limit exposure to sudden and accidental pollution liability exposures.

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Marketing Segment
     Our Marketing segment’s primary focus is to market our Exploration and Production segment’s natural gas and oil production and to manage the Company’s overall price risk, primarily through the use of natural gas and oil derivative contracts. In addition, we continue to manage and liquidate various natural gas supply, transportation, power and other natural gas related contracts remaining from our legacy trading activities, which were primarily entered into prior to the deterioration of the energy trading environment in 2002. As of December 31, 2007, we managed the following types of contracts:
    Production-Related Natural Gas and Oil Derivative Contracts. Includes options that provide price protection on our Exploration and Production segment’s natural gas and oil production.
 
    Natural Gas Transportation-Related Contracts. Includes contracts that provide transportation capacity primarily with our affiliates.
 
    Legacy Natural Gas and Power Contracts. Includes a variety of natural gas derivative contracts and long-term supply obligations, including our Midland Cogeneration Venture (MCV) supply agreement and power contracts in the Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland (PJM) region.
Production-Related Natural Gas and Oil Derivative Contracts
     Our natural gas and oil contracts include options designed to provide price protection to El Paso from fluctuations in natural gas and oil prices. These contracts are in addition to contracts entered into by our Exploration and Production segment described in that segment. For a further discussion of the entirety of El Paso’s production-related price risk management activities, refer to Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition, Results of Operations and Liquidity and Capital Resources. As of December 31, 2007, our Marketing segment’s contracts provided El Paso with price protection on the following quantities of future natural gas and oil production:
                 
    2008   2009
Natural Gas (TBtu)
               
Volumes with floor and ceiling prices
          17  
Oil (MBbls)
               
Volumes with floor and ceiling prices
    930        
Contracts Related to Legacy Trading Operations
     Natural gas transportation-related contracts. Our transportation contracts give us the right to transport natural gas using pipeline capacity for a fixed reservation charge plus variable transportation costs. Our ability to utilize our transportation capacity under these contracts is dependent on several factors, including the difference in natural gas prices at receipt and delivery locations along the pipeline system, the amount of working capital needed to use this capacity and the capacity required to meet our other long-term obligations. The following table details our transportation contracts as of December 31, 2007:
                 
    Affiliated Pipelines(1)   Other Pipelines
Daily capacity (MMBtu/d)
  521,000   63,000
Expiration
  2009 to 2028   2012 to 2026
Receipt points
  Various   Various
Delivery points
  Various   Various
 
(1)   Primarily consists of contracts with TGP and EPNG.
     Other natural gas contracts. As of December 31, 2007, we had eight significant physical natural gas contracts with power plants associated with our legacy trading activities, including MCV. We sold our equity investment in the MCV power facility in 2006. These contracts obligate us to sell gas to these plants and have various expiration dates ranging from 2008 to 2028, with expected obligations under individual contracts with third parties ranging from 12,550 MMBtu/d to 130,000 MMBtu/d.

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     Power contracts. As of December 31, 2007, we had four derivative contracts that require us to swap locational differences in power prices between four power plants in the PJM eastern region with the PJM west hub. In total, these contracts require us annually to swap locational differences in power prices on approximately 4,000 GWh of power through 2008; 3,700 GWh from 2009 to 2012; 2,400 GWh for 2013 and 1,700 GWh from 2014 to 2016. Additionally, these contracts require us to provide installed capacity of approximately 71 GWh per year in the PJM power pool through 2016. While we have basis and capacity risk associated with the contracts, we do not have commodity risk associated with these contracts due to positions we put in place prior to 2007.
Markets, Competition and Regulatory Environment
     Our Marketing segment operates in a highly competitive environment, competing on the basis of price, operating efficiency, technological advances, experience in the marketplace and counterparty credit. Each market served is influenced directly or indirectly by energy market economics. Our primary competitors include major oil and natural gas producers and their affiliates, large domestic and foreign utility companies, large local distribution companies and their affiliates, other interstate and intrastate pipelines and their affiliates, and independent energy marketers and financial institutions. Our marketing activities are subject to the regulations of among others, the FERC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
Power Segment
     As of December 31, 2007, our Power segment primarily included the ownership and operation of our remaining investments in international power generation facilities listed below. These facilities primarily sell power under long-term power purchase agreements with power transmission and distribution companies owned by local governments. As a result, we are subject to certain political risks related to these facilities. We continue to pursue the sale of our remaining power investments.
                                                 
            El Paso                   Expiration    
            Ownership   Gross           Year of Power    
Project   Area   Interest   Capacity   Power Purchaser   Sales Contracts   Fuel Type
            (Percent)   (MW)                        
Brazil
                                               
Manaus(1)
  Brazil     100       238     Manaus Energia     2008     Oil
Porto Velho(2)
  Brazil     50       404     Eletronorte     2010, 2023     Oil
Rio Negro(1)
  Brazil     100       158     Manaus Energia     2008     Oil
Asia & Central America
                                               
Habibullah
  Pakistan     50       136     Pakistan Water and Power     2029     Natural Gas
Khulna Power Co.
  Bangladesh     74       113     BPDB     2013     Heavy Fuel Oil
Tipitapa(3)
  Nicaragua     60       51     Union Fenosa     2014     Heavy Fuel Oil
 
(1)   Ownership of these plants transferred to the power purchaser in January 2008.
 
(2)   In the third quarter of 2007, we received an offer from our partners to purchase this investment. For further discussion, see Item 8, Financial Statements, Note 17.
 
(3)   In December 2007, we signed an agreement to sell this facility which is expected to close in the first half of 2008.
     In addition to the international power plants above, we also have investments in two operating pipelines in South America with a total design capacity and average 2007 throughput of 1,197 MMcf/d and 1,162 BBtu/d, unadjusted for our ownership interest.
     Regulatory Environment. Our remaining international power generation activities are regulated by governmental agencies in the countries in which these projects are located. Many of these countries have developed or are developing new regulatory and legal structures for private and foreign-owned businesses. These regulatory and legal structures are subject to change over time.

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Environmental
     A description of our environmental activities is included in Part II, Item 8 Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 12.
Employees
     As of February 22, 2008, we had approximately 4,992 full-time employees, of which 204 employees are subject to collective bargaining arrangements.
Executive Officers of the Registrant
     Our executive officers as of February [26], 2008, are listed below.
                     
        Officer    
Name   Office   Since   Age
Douglas L. Foshee
  President and Chief Executive Officer of El Paso     2003       48  
D. Mark Leland
  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of El Paso     2005       46  
Robert W. Baker
  Executive Vice President and General Counsel of El Paso     2002       51  
Brent Smolik
  Executive Vice President of El Paso and President of El Paso Exploration & Production Company     2006       46  
Susan B. Ortenstone
  Senior Vice President (Human Resources and Administration) of El Paso     2003       51  
James C. Yardley
  Executive Vice President, Pipeline Group     2005       56  
James J. Cleary
  President of Western Pipeline Group     2005       53  
Daniel B. Martin
  Senior Vice President of Pipeline Operations     2005       51  
     Douglas L. Foshee has been President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of El Paso since September 2003. He became Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Halliburton Company in 2003, having joined that company in 2001 as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Several subsidiaries of Halliburton, including DII Industries and Kellogg Brown & Root, commenced prepackaged Chapter 11 proceedings to discharge current and future asbestos and silica personal injury claims in December 2003 and an order confirming a plan of reorganization became final effective December 31, 2004. Under the plan of reorganization, all current and future asbestos and silica personal injury claims were channeled into trusts established for the benefit of asbestos and silica claimants. Prior to assuming his position at Halliburton, Mr. Foshee was President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Nuevo Energy Company from 1997 to 2001. From 1993 to 1997, Mr. Foshee served Torch Energy Advisors Inc. in various capacities, including Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Foshee serves on the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Houston Branch as a director. Mr. Foshee serves on the Board of Trustees of Rice University, where he chairs the Building and Grounds Committee in addition to serving as a member of the Council of Overseers for the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Management at Rice University. He is a member of the Greater Houston Partnership Board and Executive Committee and serves as Chair of the Environment Advisory Committee. In addition, Mr. Foshee serves on the Boards of Central Houston, Inc., Children’s Museum of Houston, Goodwill Industries, Small Steps Nurturing Center and the Texas Business Hall of Fame Foundation. Mr. Foshee serves on the board of directors of El Paso Pipeline GP Company, L.L.C., the general partner of El Paso Pipeline Partners, L.P.
     D. Mark Leland has been Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of El Paso since August 2005. Mr. Leland served as Executive Vice President of El Paso Exploration & Production Company (formerly known as El Paso Production Holding Company) from January 2004 to August 2005, and as Chief Financial Officer and a Director from April 2004 to August 2005. He served in various capacities for GulfTerra Energy Partners, L.P. and its general partner, including as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer from January 2003 to December 2003, as Senior Vice President and Controller from July 2000 to January 2003, and as Vice President from August 1998 to July 2000. Mr. Leland has also worked in various capacities for El Paso Field Services and El Paso Natural Gas Company since 1986. Mr. Leland serves on the board of directors of El Paso Pipeline GP Company, L.L.C.

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     Robert W. Baker has been Executive Vice President and General Counsel of El Paso since January 2004. From February 2003 to December 2003, he served as Executive Vice President of El Paso and President of El Paso Merchant Energy. He was Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel of El Paso from January 2002 to February 2003. Prior to that time he worked in various capacities in the legal department of Tenneco Energy and El Paso since 1983. Mr. Baker serves as Executive Vice President and General Counsel of El Paso Pipeline GP Company, L.L.C.
     Brent J. Smolik has been Executive Vice President of El Paso and President of El Paso Exploration & Production Company since November 2006. Mr. Smolik was President of ConocoPhillips Canada from April 2006 to October 2006. Prior to the Burlington Resources merger with ConocoPhillips, he was President of Burlington Resources Canada from September 2004 to March 2006. From 1990 to 2004, Mr. Smolik worked in various engineering management and executive capacities for Burlington Resources Inc.
     Susan B. Ortenstone has been Senior Vice President of El Paso since October 2003. Ms. Ortenstone was Chief Executive Officer for Epic Energy Pty Ltd. from January 2001 to June 2003. She served as Vice President of El Paso Gas Services Company and President of El Paso Energy Communications from December 1997 to December 2000. Prior to that time Ms. Ortenstone worked in various strategy, marketing, business development, engineering and operations capacities since 1979. Ms. Ortenstone serves as Senior Vice President of El Paso Pipeline GP Company, L.L.C.
     James C. Yardley has been Executive Vice President of El Paso with responsibility for the regulated pipeline business unit since August 2006. He has also served as President of Southern Natural Gas Company since May 1998 and President and Chairman of the Board of Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company since August 2006. Mr. Yardley has also been Chairman of the Board of El Paso Natural Gas Company since August 2006. He has been a member of the Management Committees of both Colorado Interstate Gas Company and Southern Natural Gas Company since their conversion to general partnerships in November 2007. Mr. Yardley served as Vice President, Marketing and Business Development for Southern Natural Gas Company from April 1994 to April 1998. Prior to that time, he worked in various capacities with Southern Natural Gas and Sonat Inc. beginning in 1978. Mr. Yardley serves as Director, President and Chief Executive Officer of El Paso Pipeline GP Company, L.L.C.
     James J. Cleary has been President of El Paso Natural Gas Company and Colorado Interstate Gas Company since January 2004. He also served as Chairman of the Board of El Paso Natural Gas Company and Colorado Interstate Gas Company from May 2005 to August 2006. From January 2001 to December 2003, he served as President of ANR Pipeline Company. Prior to that time, Mr. Cleary served as Executive Vice President of Southern Natural Gas Company from May 1998 to January 2001. He also worked for Southern Natural Gas Company and its affiliates in various capacities beginning in 1979. Mr. Cleary serves as Senior Vice President of El Paso Pipeline GP Company, L.L.C
     Daniel B. Martin has been Director of Colorado Interstate Gas Company, El Paso Natural Gas Company, Southern Natural Gas Company and Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company since May 2005. He was Director of ANR prior to its sale in February 2007. He has been Senior Vice President of El Paso Natural Gas Company since February 2000, Senior Vice President of Southern Natural Gas Company and Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company since June 2000 and Senior Vice President Colorado Interstate Gas Company since January 2001. He was Senior Vice President of ANR Pipeline prior to its sale in February 2007. Prior to 2001, Mr. Martin worked in various capacities with Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company since 1978. Mr. Martin serves as Senior Vice President of El Paso Pipeline GP Company, L.L.C.
Available Information
     Our website is http://www.elpaso.com. We make available, free of charge on or through our website, our annual, quarterly and current reports, and any amendments to those reports, as soon as is reasonably possible after these reports are filed with the SEC. Information about each of our Board members, as well as each of our Board’s standing committee charters, our Corporate Governance Guidelines and our Code of Business Conduct are also available, free of charge, through our website. Information contained on our website is not part of this report.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT FOR PURPOSES OF THE “SAFE HARBOR” PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995
     This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions or beliefs that we believe to be reasonable; however assumed facts almost always vary from the actual results, and differences between assumed facts and actual results can be material, depending upon the circumstances. Where, based on assumptions, we or our management express an expectation or belief as to future results, that expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and is believed to have a reasonable basis. We cannot assure you, however, that the stated expectation or belief will occur, be achieved or accomplished. The words “believe,” “expect,” “estimate,” “anticipate” and similar expressions will generally identify forward-looking statements. All of our forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements and any other cautionary statements that may accompany such forward-looking statements. In addition, we disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this report.
     With this in mind, you should consider the risks discussed elsewhere in this report and other documents we file with the SEC from time to time and the following important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement made by us or on our behalf.
Risks Related to Our Business
     Our operations are subject to operational hazards and uninsured risks.
     Our operations are subject to the inherent risks normally associated with those operations, including pipeline ruptures, explosions, pollution, release of toxic substances, fires, adverse weather conditions (such as hurricanes and flooding), terrorist activity or acts of aggression, and other hazards. Each of these risks could result in damage to or destruction of our facilities or damages or injuries to persons and property causing us to suffer substantial losses.
     While we maintain insurance against many of these risks to the extent and in amounts that we believe are reasonable, our insurance coverages have material deductibles and self-insurance levels, as well as limits on our maximum recovery, and do not cover all risks. As a result, our results of operations, cash flows or financial condition could be adversely affected if a significant event occurs that is not fully covered by insurance.
     The success of our pipeline business depends, in part, on factors beyond our control.
     Most of the natural gas we transport and store is owned by third parties. The results of our transportation and storage operations are impacted by the volumes of natural gas we transport or store and the prices we are able to charge for doing so. The volume of natural gas we are able to transport and store depends on the actions of those third parties and is beyond our control. Further, the following factors, most of which are beyond our control, may unfavorably impact our ability to maintain or increase current throughput, or to remarket unsubscribed capacity on our pipeline systems:
    service area competition;
 
    expiration or turn back of significant contracts;
 
    changes in regulation and action of regulatory bodies;
 
    weather conditions that impact throughput and storage levels;
 
    price competition;
 
    drilling activity and decreased availability of conventional gas supply sources and the availability and timing of other natural gas supply sources, such as LNG;

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    continued development of additional sources of gas supply that can be accessed;
 
    decreased natural gas demand due to various factors, including increases in prices and the availability or increased demand of alternative energy sources such as hydroelectric power, nuclear energy, wind, solar, coal and fuel oil;
 
    availability and cost of capital to fund ongoing maintenance and growth projects;
 
    opposition to energy infrastructure development, especially in environmentally sensitive areas;
 
    adverse general economic conditions including prolonged recessionary periods that might negatively impact natural gas demand and the capital markets;
 
    expiration and/or renewal of existing interests in real property, including real property on Native American lands; and
 
    unfavorable movements in natural gas prices in certain supply and demand areas.
Certain of our systems’ transportation services are subject to long-term, fixed-price “negotiated rate” contracts that are not subject to adjustment, even if our cost to perform such services exceeds the revenues received from such contracts, and, as a result, our costs could exceed our revenues received under such contracts.
     It is possible that costs to perform services under “negotiated rate” contracts will exceed the negotiated rates. Under FERC policy, a regulated service provider and a customer may mutually agree to sign a contract for service at a “negotiated rate” which may be above or below the FERC regulated “recourse rate” for that service, and that contract must be filed and accepted by FERC. These “negotiated rate” contracts are not generally subject to adjustment for increased costs which could be produced by inflation or other factors relating to the specific facilities being used to perform the services. Any shortfall of revenue, representing the difference between “recourse rates” (if higher) and negotiated rates, under current FERC policy is generally not recoverable from other shippers.
The revenues of our pipeline businesses are generated under contracts that must be renegotiated periodically.
     Substantially all of our pipeline subsidiaries’ revenues are generated under contracts which expire periodically and must be renegotiated, extended or replaced. If we are unable to extend or replace these contracts when they expire or renegotiate contract terms as favorable as the existing contracts, we could suffer a material reduction in our revenues, earnings and cash flows. In particular, our ability to extend and replace contracts could be adversely affected by factors we cannot control, including:
    competition by other pipelines, including the change in rates or upstream supply of existing pipeline competitors, as well as the proposed construction by other companies of additional pipeline capacity or LNG terminals in markets served by our interstate pipelines;
 
    changes in state regulation of local distribution companies, which may cause them to negotiate short-term contracts or turn back their capacity when their contracts expire;
 
    reduced demand and market conditions in the areas we serve;
 
    the availability of alternative energy sources or natural gas supply points; and
 
    regulatory actions.
     Fluctuations in energy commodity prices could adversely affect our pipeline businesses.
     Revenues generated by our transportation, storage and LNG contracts depend on volumes and rates, both of which can be affected by the prices of natural gas and LNG. Increased prices could result in a reduction of the volumes transported by our customers, including power companies that may not dispatch natural gas-fired power plants if natural gas prices increase. Increased prices could also result in industrial plant shutdowns or load losses to competitive fuels as well as local distribution companies’ loss of customer base. The success of our transmission, storage and LNG operations is subject to continued development of additional gas supplies to offset the natural decline from existing wells connected to our systems, which requires the development of additional oil and natural gas reserves, obtaining additional supplies from interconnecting pipelines, and the development of LNG facilities on or near our systems. A decline in energy prices could cause a decrease in these development activities and could cause a decrease in the volume of

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reserves available for transmission, storage and processing through our systems. Pricing volatility may impact the value of under or over recoveries of retained natural gas, imbalances and system encroachments. If natural gas prices in the supply basins connected to our pipeline systems are higher than prices in other natural gas producing regions, our ability to compete with other transporters may be negatively impacted on a short-term basis, as well as with respect to our long-term recontracting activities. Furthermore, fluctuations in pricing between supply sources and market areas could negatively impact our transportation revenues. Fluctuations in energy prices are caused by a number of factors, including:
    regional, domestic and international supply and demand;
 
    availability and adequacy of transportation facilities;
 
    energy legislation;
 
    federal and state taxes, if any, on the sale or transportation of natural gas;
 
    abundance of supplies of alternative energy sources; and
 
    political unrest among countries producing oil and LNG.
The expansion of our pipeline systems by constructing new facilities subjects us to construction and other risks that may adversely affect the financial results of our pipeline businesses.
     We may expand the capacity of our existing pipeline, storage or LNG facilities by constructing additional facilities. Construction of these facilities is subject to various regulatory, development and operational risks, including:
    our ability to obtain necessary approvals and permits by the FERC and other regulatory agencies on a timely basis and on terms that are acceptable to us;
 
    the ability to obtain continued access to sufficient capital to fund expansion projects;
 
    the availability of skilled labor, equipment, and materials to complete expansion projects;
 
    potential changes in federal, state and local statutes, regulations, and orders, including environmental requirements that prevent a project from proceeding or increase the anticipated cost of the project;
 
    impediments on our ability to acquire rights-of-way or land rights on a timely basis or on terms that are acceptable to us;
 
    our ability to construct projects within anticipated costs, including the risk that we may incur cost overruns resulting from inflation or increased costs of equipment, materials, labor, contractor productivity or other factors beyond our control, that we may not be able to recover from our customers which may be material;
 
    the lack of future growth in natural gas supply; and
 
    the lack of transportation, storage or throughput commitments.
     Any of these risks could prevent a project from proceeding, delay its completion or increase its anticipated costs. As a result, new facilities may not achieve our expected investment return, which could adversely affect our results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

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Natural gas and oil prices are volatile. A substantial decrease in natural gas and oil prices could adversely affect the financial results of our exploration and production business.
     Our future financial condition, revenues, results of operations, cash flows and future rate of growth depend primarily upon the prices we receive for our natural gas and oil production. Natural gas and oil prices historically have been volatile and are likely to continue to be volatile in the future, especially given current world geopolitical conditions. The prices for natural gas and oil are subject to a variety of additional factors that are beyond our control. These factors include:
    the level of consumer demand for, and the supply of, natural gas and oil;
 
    the availability and reliability of commodity processing, gathering and pipeline capacity;
 
    the level of imports of, and the price of, foreign natural gas and oil;
 
    the ability of the members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries to agree to and maintain oil price and production controls;
 
    domestic governmental regulations and taxes;
 
    the price and availability of alternative fuel sources;
 
    weather conditions, such as unusually warm or cold weather, and hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico;
 
    market uncertainty;
 
    political conditions or hostilities in natural gas and oil producing regions;
 
    worldwide economic conditions; and
 
    changes in demand for the use of natural gas and oil because of market concerns about global warming or changes in governmental policies and regulations due to climate change initiatives.
     Further, because the majority of our proved reserves at December 31, 2007 were natural gas reserves, we are substantially more sensitive to changes in natural gas prices than we are to changes in oil prices. Declines in natural gas and oil prices would not only reduce revenue, but could reduce the amount of natural gas and oil that we can produce economically and, as a result, could adversely affect the financial results of our exploration and production business. A decline in natural gas and oil prices could result in a downward revision of our reserves and a full cost ceiling test write-down of the carrying value of our natural gas and oil properties, which could be substantial, and would negatively impact our net income and stockholders’ equity.
The success of our exploration and production business is dependent, in part, on the following factors.
     The performance of our exploration and production business is dependent upon a number of factors that we cannot control, including:
    the results of future drilling activity;
 
    the availability and increases in future costs of rigs, equipment and labor to support drilling activity and production operations;
 
    our ability to identify and precisely locate prospective geologic structures and to drill and successfully complete wells in those structures in a timely manner;
 
    our ability to expand our leased land positions in desirable areas, which often are subject to intensely competitive conditions from other companies;
 
    our ability to successfully integrate acquisitions;
 
    adverse changes in future tax policies, rates, and drilling or production incentives by state, federal, or foreign governments;

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    increased federal or state regulations, including environmental regulations, that limit or restrict the ability to drill natural gas or oil wells, reduce operational flexibility, or increase capital and operating costs;
 
    governmental action affecting the profitability of our exploration and production activities, such as increased royalty rates payable on oil and gas leases, the imposition of additional taxes on such activities or the modification or withdrawal of tax incentives in favor of exploration and development activity;
 
    our lack of control over jointly owned properties and properties operated by others;
 
    declines in production volumes, including those from the Gulf of Mexico; and
 
    continued access to sufficient capital to fund drilling programs to develop and replace a reserve base with rapid depletion characteristics.
     Our natural gas and oil drilling and producing operations involve many risks and may not be profitable.
     Our operations are subject to all the risks normally incident to the operation and development of natural gas and oil properties and the drilling of natural gas and oil wells, including well blowouts, cratering and explosions, pipe failure, fires, formations with abnormal pressures, uncontrollable flows of natural gas, oil, brine or well fluids, release of contaminants into the environment and other environmental hazards and risks. Additionally, our offshore operations may encounter usual marine perils, including hurricanes and other adverse weather conditions, damage from collisions with vessels, governmental regulations and interruption or termination of drilling rights by governmental authorities based on environmental and other considerations. Each of these risks could result in damage to property, injuries to people or the shut in of existing production as damaged energy infrastructure is repaired or replaced.
     We maintain insurance coverage to reduce exposure to potential losses resulting from these operating hazards. The nature of the risks is such that some liabilities could exceed our insurance policy limits, or, as in the case of environmental fines and penalties, cannot be insured which could adversely affect our future results of operations, cash flows or financial condition.
     Our drilling operations are also subject to the risk that we will not encounter commercially productive reservoirs. New wells drilled by us may not be productive, or we may not recover all or any portion of our investment in those wells. Drilling for natural gas and oil can be unprofitable, not only because of dry holes but wells that are productive may not produce sufficient net reserves to return a profit at then realized prices after deducting drilling, operating and other costs.
     Estimating our reserves, production and future net cash flow is inherently imprecise.
     Estimating quantities of proved natural gas and oil reserves is a complex process that involves significant interpretations and assumptions. It requires interpretations and judgment of available technical data, including the evaluation of available geological, geophysical, and engineering data. It also requires making estimates based upon economic factors, such as natural gas and oil prices, production costs, severance and excise taxes, capital expenditures, workover and remedial costs, and the assumed effect of governmental regulation. Due to a lack of substantial, if any, production data, there are greater uncertainties in estimating proved undeveloped reserves, proved developed non-producing reserves and proved developed reserves that are early in their production life. As a result, our reserve estimates are inherently imprecise. We also use a ten percent discount factor for estimating the value of our future net cash flows from reserves and a one-day spot price (typically the last day of the year), each as prescribed by the SEC. This discount factor may not necessarily represent the most appropriate discount factor, given actual interest rates and risks to which our exploration and production business or the natural gas and oil industry, in general, are subject. Additionally, this one day spot price will not generally represent the market prices for natural gas and oil over time. Any significant variations from the interpretations or assumptions used in our estimates or changes of conditions could cause the estimated quantities and net present value of our reserves to differ materially.
     Our reserve data represents an estimate. You should not assume that the present values referred to in this report represent the current market value of our estimated natural gas and oil reserves. The timing of the production and the expenses related to the development and production of natural gas and oil properties will affect both the timing of actual future net cash flows from our proved reserves and their present value. Changes in the present value of these reserves could cause a write-down in the carrying value of our natural gas and oil properties, which could be substantial, and would negatively affect our net income and stockholders’ equity.

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     A portion of our estimated proved reserves are undeveloped. Recovery of undeveloped reserves requires significant capital expenditures and successful drilling operations. The reserve data assumes that we can and will make these expenditures and conduct these operations successfully, but future events, including commodity price changes, may cause these assumptions to change.
The success of our exploration and production business depends upon our ability to replace reserves that we produce.
     Unless we successfully replace the reserves that we produce, our reserves will decline which will eventually result in a decrease in natural gas and oil production and lower revenues and cash flows from operations. We historically have replaced reserves through both drilling and acquisitions. The business of exploring for, developing or acquiring reserves requires substantial capital expenditures. Our operations require continued access to sufficient capital to fund drilling programs to develop and replace a reserve base with rapid depletion characteristics. If we do not continue to make significant capital expenditures, if our capital resources become limited, or if our exploration, development and acquisition activities are unsuccessful, we may not be able to replace the reserves that we produce, which would negatively affect our future revenues, cash flows and results of operations.
     We face competition from third parties to acquire and develop natural gas and oil reserves.
     The natural gas and oil business is highly competitive in the search for and acquisition of reserves. Our competitors include the major and independent natural gas and oil companies, individual producers, gas marketers and major pipeline companies some of which have financial and other resources that are substantially greater than those available to us, as well as participants in other industries supplying energy and fuel to industrial, commercial and individual consumers. In order to expand our leased land positions in intensively competitive and desirable areas, we must identify and precisely locate prospective geologic structures, identify and review any potential risks and uncertainties in these areas, and drill and successfully complete wells in a timely manner. Our future success and profitability in the production business may be negatively impacted if we are unable to identify these risks or uncertainties and find or acquire additional reserves at costs that allow us to remain competitive.
     Our use of derivative financial instruments could result in financial losses.
     Some of our subsidiaries use futures, over-the-counter options and price and basis swaps with other natural gas merchants and financial institutions. To the extent we have positions that are not designated as hedges or do not qualify as hedges, changes in commodity prices, interest rates, volatility, correlation factors and the liquidity of the market could cause our revenues and net income to be volatile.
     We could incur financial losses in the future as a result of volatility in the market values of the energy commodities we trade, or if one of our counterparties fails to perform under a contract. The valuation of these financial instruments involves estimates. Changes in the assumptions underlying these estimates can occur, changing our valuation of these instruments and potentially resulting in financial losses. To the extent we hedge our commodity price exposure and interest rate exposure, we forego the benefits we could otherwise experience if commodity prices or interest rates were to change favorably. The use of derivatives, to the extent they require collateral posting with our counterparties, could impact our working capital (current assets less current liabilities) and liquidity when commodity prices or interest rates change. For additional information concerning our derivative financial instruments, see Part II, Item 7A, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk and Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 7.

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     Our foreign operations and investments involve special risks.
     Our activities in areas outside the United States, including power, pipeline and exploration and production projects in Brazil, exploration and production projects in Egypt and pipeline projects in Mexico, are subject to the risks inherent in foreign operations. As a general rule, we have elected not to carry political risk insurance against these sorts of risks including:
    loss of revenue, property and equipment as a result of hazards such as wars or insurrection;
 
    the effects of currency fluctuations and exchange controls, such as devaluation of foreign currencies and other economic problems;
 
    changes in laws, regulations and policies of foreign governments, including those associated with changes in the governing parties, nationalization, and expropriation; and
 
    protracted delays in securing government consents, permits, licenses, customer authorizations or other regulatory approvals necessary to conduct our operations.
Retained liabilities associated with businesses that we have sold could exceed our estimates and we could experience difficulties in managing these liabilities.
     We have sold a significant number of assets and either retained certain liabilities or indemnified certain purchasers against future liabilities relating to businesses and assets sold, including breaches of warranties, environmental expenditures, asset maintenance, tax, litigation, personal injury claims and other representations that we have provided. Although we believe that we have established appropriate reserves for these liabilities, we could be required to accrue additional amounts in the future and these amounts could be material. We have experienced substantial reductions and turnover in the workforce that previously supported the ownership and operation of such assets which could result in difficulties in managing these businesses, including a reduction in historical knowledge of the assets and businesses and in managing the liabilities retained after closing or defending any associated litigation.
Our business requires the retention and recruitment of a skilled workforce and the loss of employees could result in the failure to implement our business plans.
     Our pipeline and exploration and production businesses require the retention and recruitment of a skilled workforce. If we are unable to retain and recruit employees such as engineers and other technical personnel, our business could be negatively impacted.
Risks Related to Legal and Regulatory Matters
     The outcome of pending governmental investigations could be materially adverse to us.
     We are subject to various governmental investigations by one or more of the following governmental agencies: the SEC, FERC and the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Pipeline Safety. Although we are cooperating with the governmental agency or agencies in these investigations, the outcome of each of these investigations and the costs to the Company of responding and participating in these investigations is uncertain. The ultimate costs and sanctions, if any, that may be imposed upon us could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operation.
     The agencies that regulate our pipeline businesses and their customers could affect our profitability.
     Our pipeline businesses are regulated by the FERC, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the U.S. Department of Interior, and various state and local regulatory agencies whose actions have the potential to adversely affect our profitability. In particular, the FERC regulates the rates our pipelines are permitted to charge their customers for their services and sets authorized rates of return. The FERC uses a discounted cash flow model that incorporates the use of proxy groups to develop a range of reasonable returns earned on equity interests in companies with corresponding risks. The FERC then assigns a rate of return on equity within that range to reflect specific risks of that pipeline when compared to the proxy group companies. The FERC had been using a proxy group of companies that included local distribution companies that are not faced with as much competition or risk as interstate pipelines. The inclusion of these lower risk companies could have created downward pressure on tariff rates when subjected to review by the FERC in future rate proceedings. Recently, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit issued a decision that would require the FERC, if it utilizes lower risk companies in the proxy group, to make upward adjustments to the return on equity to compensate for their lower level of risk. Pursuant to the FERC’s jurisdiction over rates, existing rates may be challenged by complaint and proposed

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rate increases may be challenged by protest. A successful complaint or protest against our pipelines rates could have an adverse impact on our revenues. In addition, in July 2007, the FERC issued a proposed policy statement addressing the issue of the proxy groups it will use to decide the return on equity of natural gas pipelines. The proposed policy statement describes the FERC’s intention to allow the use of master limited partnerships in proxy groups, which we and other pipelines have advocated. However, the FERC also proposed certain restrictions that would reduce the overall benefit that pipelines would receive by use of master limited partnerships in the proxy group. Through our trade association, we have filed comments on the policy and participated in a public conference on this subject.
     Additionally, we formed El Paso Pipeline Partners, L.P., a master limited partnership, in 2007. The FERC currently allows publicly traded partnerships to include in their cost-of-service an income tax allowance. Any changes to FERC’s treatment of income tax allowances in cost of service and to potential adjustment in a future rate case of our pipelines’ respective equity rates of return that underlie their recourse rates may cause their recourse rates to be set at a level that is different, and in some instances lower than the level otherwise in effect, could negatively impact our investment in El Paso Pipeline Partners, L.P.
     Also, increased regulatory requirements relating to the integrity of our pipelines requires additional spending in order to maintain compliance with these requirements. Any additional requirements that are enacted could significantly increase the amount of these expenditures. Further, state agencies that regulate our pipelines’ local distribution company customers could impose requirements that could impact demand for our pipelines’ services.
Environmental compliance and remediation costs and the costs of environmental liabilities could exceed our estimates.
     Our operations are subject to various environmental laws and regulations regarding compliance and remediation obligations. Compliance obligations can result in significant costs to install and maintain pollution controls, fines and penalties resulting from any failure to comply and potential limitations on our operations. Remediation obligations can result in significant costs associated with the investigation or clean up of contaminated properties (some of which have been designated as Superfund sites by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA)), as well as damage claims arising out of the contamination of properties or impact on natural resources. Although we believe we have established appropriate reserves for our environmental liabilities, it is not possible for us to estimate the exact amount and timing of all future expenditures related to environmental matters and we could be required to set aside additional amounts which could significantly impact our future consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position. See Part I, Item 3, Legal Proceedings and Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 12.
In estimating our environmental liabilities, we face uncertainties that include:
    estimating pollution control and clean up costs, including sites where preliminary site investigation or assessments have been completed;
 
    discovering new sites or additional information at existing sites;
 
    quantifying liability under environmental laws that impose joint and several liability on all potentially responsible parties;
 
    evaluating and understanding environmental laws and regulations, including their interpretation and enforcement; and
 
    changing environmental laws and regulations that may increase our costs.
     Currently, various legislative and regulatory measures to address greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, including carbon dioxide and methane, are in various phases of discussion or implementation. These include the Kyoto Protocol which has been ratified by some of the international countries in which we have operations such as Mexico, Brazil, and Egypt. In the United States, various federal legislative proposals have been made over the last several years. It is difficult to predict the timing of enactment of any federal legislation, as well as the ultimate legislation that will be enacted. However, components of the legislation that have been proposed in the past could negatively impact our operations and financial results, including whether any of our facilities are designated as the point of regulation for GHG emissions, whether the federal legislation will expressly preempt the potentially conflicting state GHG legislation and how inter-fuel issues will be handled, including how allowances are granted and whether caps will be imposed on GHG charges.

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     Legislation and regulation are also in various stages of proposal, enactment, and implementation in many of the states in which we operate. This includes various initiatives of individual states and coalition of states in the northeastern portion of the United States that are members of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and seven western states that are members of the Western Climate Initiative.
     Additionally, various governmental entities and environmental groups have filed lawsuits seeking to force the federal government to regulate GHG emissions and individual companies to reduce the GHG emissions from their operations. These and other suits may also result in decisions by federal agencies and state courts and other agencies that impact our operations and ability to obtain certifications and permits to construct future projects.
     These legislative, regulatory, and judicial actions could result in changes to our operations and to the consumption and demand for natural gas and oil. Changes to our operations could include increased costs to (i) operate and maintain our facilities, (ii) install new emission controls on our facilities, (iii) construct new facilities, (iv) acquire allowances to authorize our GHG emissions, (v) pay any taxes related to our GHG emissions and (vi) administer and manage a GHG emissions program.
     While we may be able to include some or all of any costs in our rates charged by our pipelines and in the prices at which we sell natural gas and oil, such recovery of costs is uncertain and may depend on events beyond our control including the outcome of future rate proceedings before the FERC and the provisions of any final legislation.
     Costs of litigation matters and other contingencies could exceed our estimates.
     We are involved in various lawsuits in which we or our subsidiaries have been sued (see Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 12). We also have other contingent liabilities and exposures. Although we believe we have established appropriate reserves for these liabilities, we could be required to set aside additional amounts in the future and these amounts could be material.
Risks Related to Our Liquidity
We have significant debt and below investment grade credit ratings, which have impacted and will continue to impact our financial condition, results of operations and liquidity.
     We have significant debt, debt service and debt maturity obligations. The ratings assigned to El Paso’s senior unsecured indebtedness are below investment grade, currently rated Ba3 with a positive outlook by Moody’s Investor Service (Moody’s) and BB- with a positive outlook by Standard & Poor’s. These ratings have increased our cost of capital and our operating costs, particularly in our marketing operations, and could impede our access to capital markets. Although we must retain greater liquidity levels to operate our business than if we had investment grade credit ratings, the simplification of our capital structure and business has reduced the amount of liquidity we maintain in the ordinary course of business. If there is significant volatility in energy commodity prices or interest rates, then these lower liquidity levels might not be adequate. In such an event, if our ability to generate or access capital becomes significantly restrained, then our financial condition and future results of operations could be significantly adversely affected. See Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 11, for a further discussion of our debt.
A breach of the covenants applicable to our debt and other financing obligations could affect our ability to borrow funds and could accelerate our debt and other financing obligations and those of our subsidiaries.
     Our debt and other financing obligations contain restrictive covenants, which become more restrictive over time, and contain cross default provisions. A breach of any of these covenants could preclude us or our subsidiaries from issuing letters of credit, from borrowing under our credit agreements and could accelerate our debt and other financing obligations and those of our subsidiaries. If this were to occur, we might not be able to repay such debt and other financing obligations.
     Additionally, some of our credit agreements are collateralized by our equity interests in EPNG and TGP as well as certain natural gas and oil reserves. A breach of the covenants under these agreements could permit the lenders to exercise their rights to foreclose on these collateral interests.

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Adverse changes in general domestic economic conditions could adversely affect our operating results, financial condition, or liquidity.
     We are subject to the risks arising from adverse changes in general domestic economic conditions including recession or economic slowdown. Recently, the direction and relative strength of the U.S. economy has been increasingly uncertain due to softness in the housing markets, rising oil prices, and difficulties in the financial services sector. If economic growth in the United States is slowed, demand growth from consumers for natural gas and oil produced and transported by us on our natural gas transportation systems may decrease which could impact our planned growth capital. Additionally, our access to capital could be impeded. Any of these events, which are beyond our control, could negatively impact our business, results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity.
     We are subject to financing and interest rate risks.
     Our future success, financial condition and liquidity could be adversely affected based on our ability to access capital markets and obtain financing at cost effective rates. This is dependent on a number of factors, many of which we cannot control, including changes in:
    our credit ratings;
 
    the unhedged portion of our exposure to interest rates;
 
    the structured and commercial financial markets;
 
    market perceptions of us or the natural gas and energy industry;
 
    tax rates due to new tax laws;
 
    our stock price; and
 
    market prices for hydrocarbon products.

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
     None.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
     A description of our properties is included in Part I, Item 1, Business, and is incorporated herein by reference.
     We believe that we have satisfactory title to the properties owned and used in our businesses, subject to liens for taxes not yet payable, liens incident to minor encumbrances, liens for credit arrangements and easements and restrictions that do not materially detract from the value of these properties, our interests in these properties or the use of these properties in our businesses. We believe that our properties are adequate and suitable for the conduct of our business in the future.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
     Details of the cases listed below, as well as a description of our other legal proceedings are included in Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 12, and are incorporated herein by reference.
     Fort Morgan Storage Field. CIG owns and operates an underground natural gas storage field in the vicinity of Fort Morgan, Colorado. In October 2006, the production casing in one of the field’s injection and withdrawal wells failed resulting in the emergence of natural gas from the storage reservoir at the ground surface. In June 2007, CIG received a proposed Administrative Order of Consent (AOC) from the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (Commission). In January 2008, the Commission approved the AOC with a settlement of all alleged violations with a penalty of $374,000.
     Rawlins Plant Notice of Probable Violation. CIG owns and operates the Rawlins Gas Plant and Compressor Station which produces butane, propane, and natural gas liquids. Recently, CIG discovered that emissions from the loading process were emitted into the atmosphere and reported the discovery to the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (Department) which issued a Notice of Violation. CIG has reached an agreement with the Department to pay a total of $83,000 and to conduct a supplemental environmental program to install additional equipment which will reduce future emissions.
      Natural Buttes. On May 19, 2004, the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) issued a Compliance Order (“Order”) to CIG related to alleged violations of a Title V air permit in effect at CIG’s Natural Buttes Compressor Station. On July 7, 2004, the EPA issued a confidential “Pre-filing Settlement Offer” which contained a proposed fine of $350,000. In September 2005 the matter was referred to the U.S Department of Justice (“DOJ”). We have entered into a tolling agreement with the United States and have concluded settlement discussions in principle with the DOJ and the EPA, setting a penalty of $470,000, which includes $50,000 in incremental costs for a Supplemental Environmental Project. We have established a reserve for this penalty amount, and we anticipate a documented settlement in the first half of 2008.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
     None.

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PART II
ITEM 5.   MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.
     Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol EP. As of February 22, 2008, we had 33,757 stockholders of record, which does not include beneficial owners whose shares are held by a clearing agency, such as a broker or bank.
     Quarterly Stock Prices. The following table reflects the quarterly high and low sales prices for our common stock based on the daily composite listing of stock transactions for the New York Stock Exchange and the cash dividends per share we declared in each quarter:
                         
    High   Low   Dividends
2007
                       
Fourth Quarter
  $ 18.37     $ 15.29     $ 0.04  
Third Quarter
    18.56       15.00       0.04  
Second Quarter
    17.43       14.41       0.04  
First Quarter
    15.66       13.71       0.04  
2006
                       
Fourth Quarter
  $ 15.84     $ 12.92     $ 0.04  
Third Quarter
    16.39       12.82       0.04  
Second Quarter
    16.00       11.85       0.04  
First Quarter
    13.95       11.80       0.04  
     Stock Performance Graph. This graph reflects the comparative changes in the value of $100 invested since December 31, 2002 as invested in (i) El Paso’s common stock, (ii) the Standard & Poor’s 500 Stock Index, (iii) the Standard & Poor’s 500 Oil & Gas Storage & Transportation Index and (iv) our peer group identified below. The Peer Group we used for this comparison is the same group we use to compare total shareholder return relative to our performance for compensation purposes. Our peer group for 2007 included the following companies: Anadarko Petroleum Corp., Apache Corp., CenterPoint Energy Inc., Devon Energy Corp., Dominion Resources, Inc., Enbridge, Inc., Equitable Resources, Inc., NiSource, Inc., ONEOK, Inc., PG&E Corp., PPL Corp., Questar Corp., Sempra Energy, Southern Union Co., Spectra Energy Corp., Transcanada Corp. and Williams Companies, Inc. Our peer group for 2006 included the companies listed above as well as Western Gas Resources, Inc. and Kinder Morgan, Inc., but did not include Spectra Energy Corp.

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COMPARISON OF ANNUAL CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURNS
(PERFORMANCE GRAPH)
                                                 
    12/02   12/03   12/04   12/05   12/06   12/07
El Paso Corporation
  $ 100     $ 120.27     $ 155.64     $ 184.60     $ 234.61     $ 267.31  
S&P 500 Stock Index
  $ 100     $ 128.68     $ 142.69     $ 149.70     $ 173.34     $ 182.86  
S&P 500 Oil & Gas Storage & Transportation Index(1)
  $ 100     $ 163.09     $ 228.19     $ 301.43     $ 358.54     $ 409.59  
New Peer Group
  $ 100     $ 137.32     $ 172.32     $ 225.16     $ 254.39     $ 319.86  
Old Peer Group
  $ 100     $ 137.51     $ 172.76     $ 226.38     $ 256.51     $ 328.44  
 
(1)   The S&P 500 Oil & Gas Storage & Transportation Index was created as of May 1, 2005 and thus, historical values for this index were not available. Accordingly, we provided this comparison against a custom index which includes the companies in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Oil & Gas Storage & Transportation Index, including El Paso.
 
(2)   The annual values of each investment are based on the share price appreciation and assume cash dividend reinvestment. The calculations exclude any applicable brokerage commissions and taxes. Cumulative total stockholder returns from each investment can be calculated from the annual values given above.
     Dividends Declared. On February 7, 2008, we declared a quarterly dividend of $0.04 per share of our common stock, payable on April 1, 2008, to shareholders of record as of March 7, 2008. Future dividends will depend on business conditions, earnings, our cash requirements and other relevant factors.
     Other. The terms of our 750,000 outstanding shares of 4.99% convertible preferred stock prohibit the payment of dividends on our common stock unless we have paid or set apart for payment all accumulated and unpaid dividends on such preferred stock for all preceding dividend periods. In addition, although our credit facilities do not contain any direct restrictions on the payment of dividends, dividends are included as a fixed charge in the calculation of our fixed charge coverage ratio under our credit facilities. If our fixed charge ratio were to exceed the permitted maximum level, our ability to pay additional dividends would be restricted.
     Odd-lot Sales Program. We have an odd-lot stock sales program available to stockholders who own fewer than 100 shares of our common stock. This voluntary program offers these stockholders a convenient method to sell all of their odd-lot shares at one time without incurring any brokerage costs. We also have a dividend reinvestment and common stock purchase plan available to all of our common stockholders of record. This voluntary plan provides our stockholders a convenient and economical means of increasing their holdings in our common stock. Neither the odd-lot program nor the dividend reinvestment and common stock purchase plan have a termination date; however, we may suspend either at any time. You should direct your inquiries to Computershare Trust Company, N.A., our stock transfer agent at 1-877-453-1503.

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ITEM 6: SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
     The following selected historical financial data as of and for the years ended December 31, 2004 to 2007 is derived from our audited consolidated financial statements for El Paso and its subsidiaries and is not necessarily indicative of results to be expected in the future. The amounts as of and for the year ended December 31, 2003, are derived from unaudited consolidated financial statements. Such amounts were adjusted to reflect the reclassification of ANR, our Michigan storage assets and our 50% interest in Great Lakes Gas Transmission as discontinued operations. The selected financial data should be read together with Part II, Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data included in this Report on Form 10-K.
                                         
    As of or for the Year Ended December 31,  
    2007     2006     2005     2004     2003  
    (In millions, except per common share amounts)  
Operating Results Data:
                                       
Operating revenues
  $ 4,648     $ 4,281     $ 3,359     $ 4,783     $ 5,596  
Income (loss) from continuing operations
  $ 436     $ 531     $ (506 )   $ (1,032 )   $ (795 )
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders
  $ 1,073     $ 438     $ (633 )   $ (947 )   $ (1,883 )
Basic earnings (loss) per common share from continuing operations
  $ 0.57     $ 0.73     $ (0.82 )   $ (1.61 )   $ (1.33 )
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share from continuing operations
  $ 0.57     $ 0.72     $ (0.82 )   $ (1.61 )   $ (1.33 )
Cash dividends declared per common share
  $ 0.16     $ 0.16     $ 0.16     $ 0.16     $ 0.16  
Basic average common shares outstanding
    696       678       646       639       597  
Diluted average common shares outstanding
    699       739       646       639       597  
 
                                       
Financial Position Data:
                                       
Total assets
  $ 24,579     $ 27,261     $ 31,840     $ 31,398     $ 36,968  
Long-term financing obligations, less current maturities
    12,483       13,329       16,282       17,506       19,193  
Minority Interest
    565       31       31       367       447  
Stockholders’ equity
    5,280       4,186       3,389       3,438       4,346  
     Factors Affecting Trends. Prior to 2006, our financial position and operating results were substantially affected by the restructuring and realignment of our business around our core pipeline and exploration and production operations. Accordingly, we sold a substantial amount of non-core assets to reduce our long-term financing obligations resulting in a significant reduction of our revenues and net income during the years ended December 31, 2003, 2004, and 2005. We recorded net pretax charges of approximately $0.1 billion in 2005, $1.1 billion in 2004 and $1.3 billion in 2003, primarily as a result of losses and impairments of assets and equity investments, restructuring charges, and settling litigation. In 2007, we sold our ANR pipeline system and related assets and also completed the offering of common units in El Paso Pipeline Partners, L.P., our master limited partnership.
 

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Overview
     Our Management’s Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the accompanying footnotes. MD&A includes forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that may result in actual results differing from the statements we make. These risks and uncertainties are discussed further beginning on page 27. Listed below is a general outline of our MD&A:
     Our Business — includes a summary of our business purpose and description, factors influencing profitability, a summary of our 2007 performance, an outlook for 2008 and an update of our credit profile;
     Results of Operations — includes a year-over-year analysis beginning on page 44 of the results of our business segments, our corporate activities and other income statement items, including trends that may impact our business in the future;
     Liquidity and Capital Resources — includes a general discussion beginning on page 65 of our debt obligations, available liquidity, expected 2008 cash flows, and significant factors that could impact our liquidity, as well as an overview of cash flow activity during 2007;
     Off Balance Sheet Arrangements, Contractual Obligations, and Commodity-Based Derivative Contracts — includes a discussion beginning on page 68 of our (i) off balance sheet arrangements, including guarantees and letters of credit, (ii) other contractual obligations, and (iii) derivative contracts used to manage the price risks associated with our natural gas and oil production and;
     Critical Accounting Estimates — includes a discussion beginning on page 71 of accounting estimates that involve the use of significant assumptions and/or judgments in the preparation of our financial statements.
Our Business
     Our business purpose is to provide natural gas and related energy products in a safe, efficient and dependable manner. We own or have interests in North America’s largest interstate natural gas pipeline systems and are a large independent natural gas and oil producer focused on growing our reserve base through disciplined capital investment and portfolio management, cost control and marketing and selling our natural gas and oil production at optimal prices while managing associated price risks.
     Factors Influencing Our Profitability. Our pipeline operations are rate-regulated and accordingly we generate profit based on our ability to earn a return in excess of our costs through the rates we charge our customers. Our exploration and production operations generate profits dependent on the prices for natural gas and oil and the volumes we are able to produce, among other factors. Our future profitability in each of our operating segments will be primarily influenced by the following factors:
     Pipelines
    Successfully executing on our backlog of committed expansion projects and developing new growth projects in our market and supply areas;
 
    Contracting and recontracting pipeline capacity with our customers;
 
    Maintaining or obtaining approval by FERC of acceptable rates and terms of service; and
 
    Improving operating efficiency.
     Exploration and Production
    Increasing our natural gas and oil proved reserve base and production volumes through successful drilling programs and/or acquisitions;
 
    Finding and producing natural gas and oil at a reasonable cost; and
 
    Managing price risks to optimize realized prices on our natural gas and oil production.

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     In addition to these factors, our future profitability will also continue to be impacted by our debt level and related interest costs, the successful resolution of our historical contingencies and completing the orderly exit of our remaining power assets, historical derivative contracts and other remaining non-core assets.
     Summary of Overall Performance in 2007. The year ended December 31, 2007 marked our fifth consecutive year of improved profitability, driven primarily by a strong base of earnings and cash flow in our pipeline and exploration and production businesses as well as an interest expense reduction of approximately 20 percent. Across our pipeline system, we made progress on our backlog of committed expansion projects and created El Paso Pipeline Partners, L.P., our master limited partnership. In our exploration and production business, we experienced continued success in our worldwide exploration and drilling programs. These successes allowed us to replace our worldwide natural gas and oil reserves and move forward in high grading our portfolio to improve our cost structure. The following provides additional details of these items and other significant highlights in our core businesses in 2007:
     
Area of Operations   Significant Highlights
 
   
Pipelines
  Completed and entered into new expansion projects resulting in a current backlog of almost $4 billion.
 
   
 
  Completed the sale of ANR, our Michigan storage assets and our 50 percent interest in Great Lakes Gas Transmission for net cash proceeds of approximately $3.7 billion
 
   
 
  Implemented FERC approved rate case settlements for El Paso Natural Gas Company and Mojave Pipeline Company
 
   
 
  Completed a $575 million initial public offering of common units for El Paso Pipeline Partners, L.P., a newly formed master limited partnership to enhance the value and financial flexibility of our pipeline assets and provide a lower-cost source of capital for new pipeline growth projects
 
   
 
  Reached an agreement (completed February 2008) to acquire a 50 percent interest in the Gulf LNG Clean Energy project, which is constructing an LNG regasification terminal in Mississippi
 
   
Exploration and Production
  Met production and cost targets established for 2007 with increased production volumes in each quarter of 2007
 
   
 
  High-graded our portfolio through the acquisition of Peoples for $887 million, adding proved reserves of 298 Bcfe, and progressed on our announced divestiture program
 
   
 
  Replaced 129% of our worldwide natural gas and oil reserves, excluding acquisitions, and 252% including acquisitions
 
   
 
  Achieved success in our exploration programs in Brazil
 
   
 
  Managed price risk through derivative contracts which, when combined with our other positions, provided higher realized commodity prices in 2007 and gives us price protection on approximately two-thirds of our planned 2008 equivalent production.
     In addition, our 2007 performance was impacted by our Marketing and Power segments where we continued to reduce the size and volatility of these operations and by corporate costs incurred in conjunction with simplifying and strengthening our balance sheet. Specifically, we incurred (i) mark-to-market losses in our Marketing segment on production-related option contracts and legacy positions, including our Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland (PJM) power contracts and (ii) incremental losses in our Power segment on Brazilian power investments. Additionally, in 2007, we (i) incurred debt extinguishment costs of approximately $291 million in conjunction with repurchasing or refinancing more than $5 billion of debt to strengthen our balance sheet and (ii) resolved certain legal and contractual disputes (see, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 12).

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     Outlook. For 2008, we expect the current operating trends in our core pipeline and exploration and production businesses to continue with a focus on growing these businesses. For each business, we expect the following:
Pipelines — We anticipate that our pipeline operations will continue to provide strong operating results based on its expansion plans, the current levels of contracted capacity, and the status of its rate and regulatory actions. In the pipeline industry, a favorable macroeconomic environment supports continued industry growth. We expect to spend significant pipeline growth capital in 2008. These expenditures should lay the foundation for future growth and the advancement of our significant backlog of committed expansion projects in our market and supply areas and in the development of significant new infrastructure opportunities. Additionally, we will continue to pursue proposed joint venture development projects that would use our incumbent pipeline infrastructure to connect supply areas to areas of high demand in the West, Northeast and Southeast. Finally, we expect to grow our MLP through organic growth opportunities, potential acquisitions, or through future asset contributions. Currently we have in excess of $2 billion in net operating losses available to us to offset any potential tax gains on future asset contributions to the MLP.
Exploration and Production — We expect to continue with the momentum established in 2007 and seek to create value through a disciplined and balanced capital investment program. Our drilling programs will focus on growing reserves at reasonable finding and development costs, and growing production efficiently through active cost management. In 2008, our domestic programs will constitute approximately 80 percent of our planned capital and substantially all of our expected production. Performance of these programs will require successful integration and execution of our 2007 acquisitions and our 2008 planned divestitures. In 2008, our International capital is expected to increase approximately 50 percent over our 2007 program. Successful execution of these programs, primarily in Brazil, will require effective project management, partner relations and successful negotiations with regulatory agencies. Our future financial results will be primarily dependent on the continued successful execution of these drilling programs and favorable commodity prices to the extent our anticipated natural gas and oil production is unhedged. Based on our current derivative positions, we anticipate our 2008 hedging program will provide protection from price exposure on a substantial portion of our anticipated natural gas and oil production as previously described.
Credit Profile. Our outstanding debt was $12.8 billion at December 31, 2007. In 2007, we strengthened our credit profile as a result of several actions taken during the year including:
    Reducing debt by approximately $2.6 billion (including debt of our discontinued ANR operations) primarily with proceeds from the sale of ANR;
 
    Refinancing approximately $2.0 billion of the debt of our subsidiaries SNG, EPNG, and EPEP;
 
    Receiving upgraded senior unsecured debt ratings for El Paso of Ba3 with a positive outlook from Moody’s, BB- with a positive outlook from Standard and Poor’s and BB+ from Fitch Ratings and receiving investment grade senior unsecured debt ratings on our pipeline subsidiaries of Baa3 with a positive outlook from Moody’s, BB with a positive outlook from Standard and Poor’s and an investment grade rating of BBB- from Fitch Ratings. This improvement should provide us a lower cost of capital on planned expansions in our pipeline business;
 
    Restructuring the El Paso and EPEP revolving credit facilities with improved terms and total capacities of $1.5 billion and $1.0 billion, respectively; and
 
    Completing our pipeline MLP initial public offering in November 2007 providing us a lower cost of capital for further pipeline growth projects and entering into a $750 million revolving credit facility available to the MLP and non-recourse to El Paso.

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Results of Operations
Overview
     As of December 31, 2007, our core operating business segments were Pipelines and Exploration and Production. We also have a Marketing segment that markets our natural gas and oil production and manages our legacy trading activities and a Power segment that has interests in several international power plants. Our segments are managed separately, provide a variety of energy products and services, and require different technology and marketing strategies. Our corporate activities include our general and administrative functions, as well as other miscellaneous businesses, contracts and assets all of which are immaterial.
     Our management uses earnings before interest expense and income taxes (EBIT) to assess the operating results and effectiveness of our business segments, which consist of both consolidated businesses and investments in unconsolidated affiliates. We believe EBIT is useful to our investors because it allows them to evaluate our operating performance using the same performance measure analyzed internally by our management. We define EBIT as net income (loss) adjusted for (i) items that do not impact our income or loss from continuing operations, such as discontinued operations and the impact of accounting changes, (ii) income taxes and (iii) interest and debt expense. We exclude interest and debt expense from this measure so that investors may evaluate our operating results without regard to our financing methods or capital structure. EBIT may not be comparable to measurements used by other companies. Additionally, EBIT should be considered in conjunction with net income and other performance measures such as operating income or operating cash flows.
     Below is a reconciliation of our EBIT (by segment) to our consolidated net income (loss) for each of the three years ended December 31:
                         
    2007     2006     2005  
    (In millions)  
 
                       
Segment
                       
Pipelines
  $ 1,265     $ 1,187     $ 924  
Exploration and Production
    909       640       696  
Marketing
    (202 )     (71 )     (837 )
Power
    (37 )     82       (89 )
Field Services
                285  
 
                 
Segment EBIT
    1,935       1,838       979  
Corporate and other
    (283 )     (88 )     (521 )
 
                 
Consolidated EBIT
    1,652       1,750       458  
Interest and debt expense
    (994 )     (1,228 )     (1,295 )
Income taxes
    (222 )     9       331  
 
                 
Income (loss) from continuing operations
    436       531       (506 )
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes
    674       (56 )     (96 )
Cumulative effect of accounting changes, net of income taxes
                (4 )
 
                 
Net income (loss)
  $ 1,110     $ 475     $ (606 )
 
                 
     The discussions that follow provide additional analysis of the year over year results of each of our business segments, our corporate activities and other income statement items.

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Pipelines Segment
Overview
     Our Pipelines segment operates primarily in the United States and consists of interstate natural gas transmission, storage and LNG terminalling related services. We face varying degrees of competition in this segment from other existing and proposed pipelines and proposed LNG facilities, as well as from alternative energy sources used to generate electricity, such as hydroelectric power, nuclear energy, wind, solar, coal and fuel oil. Our revenues from transportation, storage, LNG terminalling and related services consist of two types:
             
        Percent of Total
Type   Description   Revenues
 
           
Reservation
  Reservation revenues are from customers (referred to as firm customers) that reserve capacity on our pipeline systems, storage facilities or LNG terminalling facilities. These firm customers are obligated to pay a monthly reservation or demand charge, regardless of the amount of natural gas they transport or store, for the term of their contracts.     77  
 
           
Usage and Other
  Usage revenues are from both firm customers and interruptible customers (those without reserved capacity) that pay usage charges based on the volume of gas actually transported, stored, injected or withdrawn. We also earn revenues from the processing and sale of natural gas liquids and other miscellaneous sources.     23  
     The FERC regulates the rates we can charge our customers. These rates are generally a function of the cost of providing services to our customers, including a reasonable return on our invested capital. Because of our regulated nature and the high percentage of our revenues attributable to reservation charges, our revenues have historically been relatively stable. However, our financial results can be subject to volatility due to factors such as changes in natural gas prices, market conditions, regulatory actions, competition, weather and declines in the creditworthiness of our customers. We also experience earnings volatility at certain pipelines when the amount of natural gas used in operations differs from the amounts we receive for that purpose.
     Historically, much of our business was conducted through long-term contracts with customers. However, many of our customers have shifted from a traditional dependence on long-term contracts to a portfolio approach, which balances short-term opportunities with long-term commitments. This shift, which can increase the volatility of our revenues, is due to changes in market conditions and competition driven by state utility deregulation, local distribution company mergers, new supply sources, volatility in natural gas prices, demand for short-term capacity and new power plant markets.
     We continue to manage our recontracting process to limit the risk of significant impacts on our revenues from expiring contracts. Our ability to extend existing customer contracts or remarket expiring contracted capacity is dependent on competitive alternatives, the regulatory environment at the federal, state and local levels and market supply and demand factors at the relevant dates these contracts are extended or expire. The duration of new or renegotiated contracts will be affected by current prices, competitive conditions and judgments concerning future market trends and volatility. Subject to regulatory requirements, we attempt to recontract or remarket our capacity at the rates allowed under our tariffs, although we discount these rates at various levels for each of our pipeline systems to remain competitive. Our existing contracts mature at various times and in varying amounts of throughput capacity. The weighted average remaining contract term for active contracts is approximately five years as of December 31, 2007. Below are the contract expiration portfolio and the associated revenue expirations for our firm transportation contracts on our wholly and majority owned systems as of December 31, 2007, including those with terms beginning in 2008 or later:
                                 
            Percent of Total           Percent of Total
    BBtu/d   Contracted Capacity   Reservation Revenue   Reservation Revenue
                    (In millions)          
2008
    1,836       8     $   31       2  
2009
    2,539       11       170       9  
2010
    3,388       14       309       17  
2011
    2,755       11       152       9  
2012
    3,909       16       222       12  
2013 and beyond
    9,740       40       929       51  
 
                             
Total
    24,167       100       $1,813       100  
 
                             

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     In November 2007, we completed an offering of common units in an MLP. We contributed 100 percent of WIC (our wholly owned interstate pipeline transportation business located primarily in Wyoming and Colorado) and 10 percent equity interests in CIG and SNG to the MLP. We have both a 2 percent general partner interest and a 64.8 percent limited partner interest in the MLP.
Summary of Operational and Financial Performance
     In 2007, we continued to deliver strong financial performance across all pipelines. We placed several expansion projects in service including Phase I of the SNG Cypress project, TGP Louisiana Deepwater Link project, TGP Triple-T Extension project, TGP Northeast Connexion-New England project and Mexico LPG Burgos project and continued to make significant progress on our backlog of expansion projects. We also successfully resolved our EPNG and Mojave rate cases and restructured and renewed certain customer contracts. During 2007, we benefited from (i) higher realized rates on certain of our systems, (ii) increased throughput, and (iii) increased activity under other various interruptible services.
     The level of throughput on our systems can provide evidence of the underlying long-term value of our system capacity. In 2007, increased throughput across our system was a result of broad based increases in power demand from Mexico, California, the Northeast and the Southeast based on underlying growth in electricity demand, colder weather and lower availability of hydroelectric power in the Northwest. We have also experienced higher supply related throughput as a result of our Rockies—related expansions.
     During 2008, we currently plan on spending $1.6 billion in capital, of which $1.2 billion will be targeted towards our backlog of expansion projects. We intend to build on the growth achieved in 2007 and currently have almost $4 billion in committed expansion projects that comprise our backlog as follows:
                         
Project   Anticipated In-Service Dates     Estimated Cost     FERC Approved  
          (in millions)        
Cheyenne Plains Expansion
    July 2008     $ 23     Yes
Cypress II/III
    May 2008/January 2011       102     Yes
Essex-Middlesex
    November 2008       76     Yes
Southeast Supply Header — Phase I
    June 2008       137     Yes
WIC Medicine Bow Expansion
    July 2008       32     Yes
High Plains Pipeline (50%)
    November 2008       98     No
Carthage Expansion
    May 2009       39     No
Concord Lateral Expansion
    November 2009       21     No
WIC Piceance Lateral Expansion
    4th Quarter 2009       62     No
Totem Storage (50%)
    July 2009       60     No
Elba Expansion III and Elba Express
    2010-2013       1,093     Yes
South System III and Southeast Supply Header — Phase II
    2010-2012       319     No
FGT Phase VIII Expansion (50%)
    2011       1,050     No
Gulf LNG Clean Energy (50%)(1)
    2011       787     Yes
 
                     
Total Committed Expansion Backlog
          $ 3,899          
 
                     
 
(1)   Includes approximately $294 million that we paid to acquire a 50 percent interest in this project.
     Other Large Projects in Development. We also have two development projects underway, the recently announced Ruby Pipeline project and the Northeast Passage project. Combined, these projects are estimated to cost over $4 billion (over $2 billion net to our interests) with estimated in-service dates in 2011. These projects are in various phases of development, including obtaining necessary customer commitments and holding ownership discussions.
Operating Results
                         
    2007     2006     2005  
    (In millions, except volumes)  
Operating revenues
  $ 2,494     $ 2,402     $ 2,171  
Operating expenses
    (1,383 )     (1,339 )     (1,392 )
 
                 
Operating income
    1,111       1,063       779  
Other income
    154       124       145  
 
                 
EBIT
  $ 1,265     $ 1,187     $ 924  
 
                 
Throughput volumes (BBtu/d)(1)
                       
TGP
    4,880       4,534       4,443  
EPNG and MPC
    4,216       4,255       4,214  
CIG, WIC and CPG
    4,906       4,301       3,734  
SNG
    2,345       2,167       1,984  
Other
    50       50       50  
Equity investments(2)
    1,734       1,705       1,645  
 
                 
Total throughput
    18,131       17,012       16,070  
 
                 
 
(1)   Volumes exclude intrasegment activities.
 
(2)   Represents our proportional share.

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     The table below and discussion that follows detail the impact on EBIT of significant events in 2007 compared with 2006 and 2006 as compared with 2005. We have also provided an outlook on events that may affect our operations in the future.
                                                                 
    2007 to 2006     2006 to 2005  
    Variance     Variance  
    Revenue     Expense     Other     EBIT     Revenue     Expense     Other     EBIT  
    Impact     Impact     Impact     Impact     Impact     Impact     Impact     Impact  
    Favorable/(Unfavorable)  
    (In millions)  
Reservation and usage revenues
  $ 31     $     $     $ 31     $ 128     $     $     $ 128  
Expansions
    50       (7 )     9       52       75       (9 )     (10 )     56  
Gas not used in operations, revaluations, processing revenues and other natural gas sales
    3       (16 )           (13 )     20       38             58  
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
          12             12             (1 )           (1 )
Asset impairments
          4       (2 )     2             30             30  
General and administrative expense
          (10 )           (10 )           52             52  
Depreciation expense
          2             2             (19 )           (19 )
Operating costs (including pipeline integrity)
          (25 )           (25 )           (32 )           (32 )
Bankruptcy settlements
          (3 )           (3 )     15       3             18  
Equity earnings from Citrus
                19       19                   (4 )     (4 )
Other(1)
    8       (1 )     4       11       (7 )     (9 )     (7 )     (23 )
 
                                               
Total impact on EBIT
  $ 92     $ (44 )   $ 30     $ 78     $ 231     $ 53     $ (21 )   $ 263  
 
                                               
 
(1)   Consists of individually insignificant items on several of our pipeline systems.
     Reservation and Usage Revenues. During the year ended December 31, 2007, our EBIT was favorably impacted by:
    an increase in throughput on our pipeline systems, primarily in the Rocky Mountains and southern regions which increased due to new supply, colder weather and increased transportation services to power plants;
 
    additional firm capacity sold in the south central region on our TGP system; and
 
    increased rates on our CIG system effective October 2006 as a result of CIG’s rate settlement
     Partially offsetting these favorable impacts in 2007 was the expiration of certain firm transportation contracts on our EPNG, MPC and SNG systems.
     The increase in our reservation and usage revenues in 2006 compared with 2005 was primarily due to:
    the expiration of reduced EPNG tariff rates effective December 31, 2005, to certain customers under the terms of EPNG’s FERC-approved system wide capacity allocation proceeding;
 
    an increase in EPNG’s tariff rates effective January 1, 2006 as a result of its rate filing;
 
    the sales of additional firm capacity and higher realized rates on several of our pipeline systems in 2006; and
 
    increased activity on our pipeline systems under various interruptible services provided under their tariffs as a result of favorable market conditions.
     Expansions. During 2007 and 2006, our reservation revenues and throughput volumes increased due to projects placed in service. Below is a discussion of our expansion projects placed in service.
Projects Placed in Service in 2007 and 2006. During 2007, we placed several expansion projects in service including Phase I of the Cypress project, the Louisiana Deepwater Link project, the Triple-T Extension project, the Northeast Connexion-New England project and the Mexico LPG Burgos project. In 2006, we placed several expansion projects in service including the Cheyenne Plains Yuma Lateral project, the Elba Island LNG expansion and the Piceance Basin project on our WIC system.

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     Projects Placed in Service in 2008. In January 2008, we completed the WIC Kanda Lateral project which should increase annual revenues by approximately $25 million.
     Gas Not Used in Operations, Revaluations, Processing Revenues and Other Natural Gas Sales. During the year ended December 31, 2007, our EBIT was unfavorably impacted by the (i) revaluation of net gas imbalances and other gas owed to our customers in our CIG and WIC systems as a result of increasing natural gas prices in 2007 versus decreasing natural gas prices in 2006 (ii) lower processing revenues and operational gas costs on our CIG system due to a decrease in processing volumes and natural gas liquids. Partially offsetting these unfavorable impacts in 2007 were higher volumes of gas not used in TGP’s operations.
     During 2006, higher realized prices on sales of gas not used in operations resulted in favorable impacts to our operating revenues, partially offset by lower sales volumes of natural gas not used in operations during 2006 compared to 2005. We also experienced favorable impacts to our operating expenses in 2006 due to decreases in the index prices used to value the net imbalance position on several of our pipeline systems. In 2005, higher gas prices caused an increase in our obligation to replace system gas and settle gas imbalances in the future, resulting in an unfavorable impact on our 2005 operating results. In addition, our pipelines also retained lower volumes of gas not used in operations during 2005. We anticipate that the overall activity in this area will continue to vary based on factors such as volatility in natural gas prices, the efficiency of our pipeline operations, regulatory actions and other factors.
     Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. During 2007, we incurred lower operation and maintenance expenses to repair damage caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita as compared to 2006. In 2006, we recorded higher operation and maintenance expenses compared with 2005 as a result of unreimbursed amounts expended to repair hurricane damage. We do not anticipate that expenditures related to these hurricanes, net of related reimbursements, will materially impact our future financial results.
     Asset Impairments. During 2007, we recorded a $10 million impairment of certain pipeline assets originally purchased to repair certain offshore hurricane damage following a decision not to use these assets. In addition, we recorded a loss of approximately $9 million pursuant to a FERC determination on the accounting treatment for the pending sale of certain transmission facilities. During 2006 and 2005, we impaired various pipeline development projects based on changing market conditions. In 2006, these impairments included $13 million and $3 million due to discontinuing our Continental Connector Pipeline

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project and the remainder of our Seafarer Project. In 2005, we recorded impairments of $18 million and $28 million due to discontinuing a portion of our Seafarer project and the entirety of our Blue Atlantic development project.
     General and Administrative Expenses. During the year ended December 31, 2007, our general and administrative expenses were higher than in 2006 primarily due to increased insurance costs for wind damage on our pipeline assets located primarily in the Gulf of Mexico region. Our general and administrative costs were lower in 2006 than 2005, primarily due to a decrease in accrued benefit costs and lower allocated costs from El Paso based on the estimated level of resources devoted to the pipeline segment and the relative size of its EBIT, gross property and payroll as compared to the consolidated totals.
     Depreciation Expense. Depreciation expense was higher for 2006 compared to 2005 primarily due to higher depreciation rates applied to EPNG’s property, plant and equipment following its 2006 rate case.
     Operating Costs (Including Pipeline Integrity). During 2007, we incurred higher operating costs than in 2006 primarily due to increased repair and maintenance costs, allowances for non-trade accounts receivable and environmental reserves. During 2006, we incurred higher costs than in 2005 primarily for repairs and maintenance and $19 million of pipeline integrity costs which we began expensing in 2006 as a result of the adoption of an accounting release issued by the FERC.
     Bankruptcy Settlements. In 2007, we received $10 million to settle our bankruptcy claim against USGen New England, Inc. During 2007 and 2006, we recorded income of approximately $5 million and $18 million, net of amounts potentially owed to certain customers, related to amounts recovered from the Enron bankruptcy settlement. In February 2008, we received a portion of the bankruptcy settlement under Calpine Corporation’s approved plan of reorganization. In connection with this plan, we received Calpine common stock with a market value of approximately $29 million, on which we will recognize a gain in the first quarter of 2008.
     Equity Earnings from Citrus. During the year ended December 31, 2007, equity earnings on our Citrus investment increased primarily due to (i) a favorable settlement of approximately $8 million for litigation brought against Spectra LNG Sales (formerly Duke Energy LNG Sales, Inc.) for the wrongful termination of a gas supply contract; (ii) Citrus’ sale of a receivable for approximately $3 million related to the bankruptcy of Enron North America and (iii) favorable operating results of approximately $8 million from Florida Gas Transmission Company, a pipeline owned 100 percent by Citrus, due to higher system usage and lower operating costs.
     Regulatory Matters/Rate Cases. Our pipeline systems periodically file for changes in their rates, which are subject to the approval of the FERC. Changes in rates and other tariff provisions resulting from these regulatory proceedings have the potential to positively or negatively impact our profitability. Currently, certain of our pipelines have no requirements to file new rate cases in 2008 and expect to continue operating under their existing rates. Certain other pipelines have recently completed, or are in rate proceedings or have upcoming rate actions including the following:
    EPNG — In August 2007, EPNG received approval of the settlement of its rate case from the FERC. The settlement provides benefits for both EPNG and its customers for a three year period ending December 31, 2008. Under the terms of the settlement, EPNG is required to file a new rate case to be effective January 1, 2009. EPNG received approval of its settlement from the FERC and refunded $115 million, with interest, in the fourth quarter of 2007. A final refund of $10 million was paid in January 2008.
 
    MPC — MPC’s primary customer is EPNG. In February 2007, MPC filed with the FERC a general rate case proposing a 33 percent decrease in its base tariff rates. No new services were proposed. The new base rates were effective March 1, 2007. In December 2007, FERC approved an offer of settlement to resolve all issues in the rate case. Under the settlement, MPC has a $4 million, third party refund obligation for a previously accrued regulatory obligation.

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    CIG/WIC — In August 2007, CIG filed a tariff change with the FERC to modify its fuel recovery mechanism to recover all cost impacts, or flow through to shippers any revenue impacts, of fuel imbalance revaluations and related gas balance items. CIG currently experiences variability in cash flow and earnings under its fuel recovery mechanism, but its earnings variability from price fluctuations will be substantially reduced if the FERC approves the fuel tracker. This tariff filing was protested by certain shippers and the FERC suspended the effective date to March 1, 2008 subject to the similar outcome of a technical conference on the proposed tariff change which was held in November 2007. In September 2007, WIC filed a tariff change with the FERC. This tariff filing was protested by certain shippers and the FERC suspended the effective date to April 1, 2008, subject to the outcome of a technical conference on the proposed tariff change, which was held in November 2007. Comments on these proposals have been filed by various parties to the proceedings, but no further action has yet been taken by the FERC relative to these proceedings.

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Exploration and Production Segment
Overview and Strategy
     Our Exploration and Production segment conducts our natural gas and oil exploration and production activities. The profitability and performance of this segment are driven by the ability to locate and develop economic natural gas and oil reserves and extract those reserves with the lowest possible production and administrative costs. Accordingly, we manage this business with the goal of creating value through disciplined capital allocation, cost control and portfolio management.
     Our domestic natural gas and oil reserve portfolio blends slower decline rate, typically longer lived assets in our Onshore region with steeper decline rate and shorter lived assets in our Texas Gulf Coast, Gulf of Mexico and south Louisiana regions. We believe the combination of our assets in these domestic regions provides significant near-term cash flow while providing consistent opportunities for competitive investment returns. In addition, our international activities in Brazil and Egypt provide opportunity for additional future reserve additions and longer term cash flows.
     As part of our business strategy, we attempt to create value through a balance of drilling activities, exploration, and through acquisitions of assets and companies. For 2008, we expect our growth to occur principally through drilling activities and we will continue to evaluate acquisition and growth opportunities that are tightly focused around our core competencies and areas of competitive advantage. We believe strategic acquisitions can support our corporate objectives by:
    Re-shaping our portfolio to provide greater opportunities to achieve our long term performance goals;
 
    Leveraging operational expertise we already possess in key operating areas, geologies or techniques;
 
    Balancing our exposure to regions, basins and commodities;
 
    Achieving risk-adjusted returns competitive with those available within our existing inventory; and
 
    Increasing our reserves more rapidly by supplementing our current drilling inventory.
     In September 2007, we acquired Peoples, which provided an upgrade to our portfolio of assets. We are also further upgrading our portfolio by selling selected properties. In January 2008, we entered into agreements to sell $517 million of certain non-core properties in our Onshore and Texas Gulf Coast regions with estimated proved reserves of 191 Bcfe at December 31, 2007. These sales are expected to close in the first quarter of 2008. We expect upgrading our portfolio will extend the reserve life of our assets, reduce unit operation and maintenance costs, increase predictability, improve capital efficiency and expand the depth of our inventory.
     In addition to executing on our strategy, the profitability and performance of our exploration and production operations can be substantially impacted by (i) changes in commodity prices, (ii) industry-wide increases in drilling and oilfield service costs, and (iii) the effect of hurricanes and other weather impacts on our daily production, operating and capital costs. To the extent possible, we attempt to mitigate these factors. As part of our risk management activities, we have entered into derivative contracts on a significant portion of our anticipated 2008 natural gas and oil production to reduce the financial impact of downward commodity price movements.

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Significant Operational Factors Affecting the Year Ended December 31, 2007
     Production. Our average daily production for the year was 792 MMcfe/d (not including 70 MMcfe/d from our share of production from our equity investment in Four Star). Our production levels grew in every quarter of 2007. Below is a further analysis of our 2007 production by region (MMcfe/d):
                         
    2007   2006   2005
United States
                       
Onshore
    374       345       300  
Texas Gulf Coast
    213       187       211  
Gulf of Mexico and south Louisiana
    191       174       179  
International
                       
Brazil
    14       24       53  
 
                       
Total Consolidated
    792       730       743  
 
                       
Four Star
    70       68       24  
 
                       
Onshore region — Our 2007 production continued to increase through capital projects where we maintained or increased production in most of our major operating areas, with the majority of growth coming from the Rockies and Arklatex areas. Our Peoples acquisition in September 2007 also contributed to production volume increases during the year.
Texas Gulf Coast region — The acquisition of properties in Zapata County during the first quarter of 2007 and the success of our drilling program more than offset natural production declines and the sale of certain non-strategic south Texas properties in 2006. Our Peoples acquisition in September 2007 also contributed to production volume increases during the year.
Gulf of Mexico and south Louisiana region — We began producing from development wells in the western Gulf and south Louisiana and several exploratory discoveries occurring prior to 2007. We also recovered volumes previously shut-in by hurricane damage which, when coupled with these new production sources, helped to offset natural production declines.
Brazil — Production volumes decreased in 2007 due to natural production declines and a contractual reduction of our ownership interest in the Pescada-Arabaiana Fields in early 2006.
Four Star — Our original ownership interest in Four Star was obtained in the Medicine Bow acquisition in August 2005. In January 2007, Four Star acquired properties that added production of approximately 5 MMcfe/d, net of our interest on the acquisition date. In the third quarter of 2007, we spent $27 million to increase our ownership interest in Four Star from 43 percent to 49 percent.
2007 Drilling Results
     Onshore. We realized a 99 percent success rate on 502 gross wells drilled.
     Texas Gulf Coast. We experienced a 92 percent success rate on 84 gross wells drilled.
     Gulf of Mexico and south Louisiana. We drilled six successful wells and seven unsuccessful wells.
     Brazil. We currently own 100 percent of the BM-CAL-4 concession in the Camamu Basin. In 2007, we completed drilling two successful exploratory wells south of the Pinauna Field in this concession that extends the southern limits of the Pinauna project. We are currently assessing development options and have a process underway to potentially market up to a 50 percent non-operating interest in this concession. In addition, we completed drilling and testing two exploratory wells with Petrobras in the ES-5 Block in the Espirito Basin. These wells confirmed the extension of an earlier discovery by Petrobras on a block to the south. We are currently in negotiations with Petrobras on a unitization agreement for the development of this discovery.
     Egypt. In 2007, we received formal government approval and signed the concession agreement for the South Mariut Block. The block is approximately 1.2 million acres and is located onshore in the western part of the Nile Delta. We paid $3 million for the concession and agreed to a $22 million firm working commitment over three years. We are currently performing seismic evaluations on the block and expect to drill our first exploratory well in late 2008.

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     Cash Operating Costs. We monitor cash operating costs required to produce our natural gas and oil volumes. These costs are calculated on a per Mcfe basis and include total operating expenses less depreciation, depletion and amortization expense, other non-cash expense items and the cost of products and services on our income statement. In 2007, cash operating costs per unit increased to $1.88/Mcfe as compared to $1.86/Mcfe in 2006. Our operating costs increased primarily as a result of higher production taxes which increased due to higher natural gas and oil reserves, lower severance tax credits, higher marketing and other costs and higher corporate overhead allocations.
     Reserve Replacement Costs/Reserve Replacement Ratio. We calculate two primary metrics, (i) a reserve replacement ratio and (ii) reserve replacement costs, to measure our ability to establish a long-term trend of adding reserves at a reasonable cost in our core asset areas. The reserve replacement ratio is an indicator of our ability to replenish annual production volumes and grow our reserves. It is important for us to economically find and develop new reserves that will more than offset produced volumes and provide for future production given the inherent decline of hydrocarbon reserves. In addition, we calculate reserve replacement costs to assess the cost of adding reserves which is ultimately included in depreciation, depletion and amortization expense. We believe the ability to develop a competitive advantage over other natural gas and oil companies is dependent on adding reserves in our core asset areas at a lower cost than our competition. We calculate these metrics as follows:
     
Reserve replacement ratio   Sum of reserve additions(1)
 
   
 
  Actual production for the corresponding period
     
Reserve replacement costs/Mcfe   Total oil and gas capital costs(2)
 
   
 
  Sum of reserve additions (1)
 
(1)   Reserve additions include proved reserves and reflect reserve revisions, extensions, discoveries and other additions and acquisitions and do not include unproved reserve quantities or proved reserve additions attributable to investments accounted for using the equity method. Amounts are derived directly from the table presented in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Supplemental Natural Gas and Oil Operations.
 
(2)   Total oil and gas capital costs include the costs of development, exploration and property acquisition activities conducted to add reserves and exclude asset retirement obligations. Amounts are derived directly from the table presented in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Supplemental Natural Gas and Oil Operations.
     Both the reserve replacement ratio and reserve replacement costs per unit are statistical indicators that have limitations, including their predictive and comparative value. As an annual measure, the reserve replacement ratio is limited because it typically varies widely based on the extent and timing of new discoveries, project sanctioning and property acquisitions. In addition, since the reserve replacement ratio does not consider the cost or timing of future production of new reserves, it cannot be used as a measure of value creation.
     The exploration for and the acquisition and development of natural gas and oil reserves is inherently uncertain as further discussed in Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors, Risks Related to our Business. One of these risks and uncertainties is our ability to spend sufficient capital to increase our reserves. While we currently expect to spend such amounts in the future, there are no assurances as to the timing and magnitude of these expenditures or the classification of the proved reserves as developed or undeveloped. At December 31, 2007, proved developed reserves represent approximately 71 percent of total proved reserves. Proved developed reserves will generally begin producing within the year they are added whereas proved undeveloped reserves generally require a major future expenditure.

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     The table below shows our reserve replacement costs and reserve replacement ratio for our domestic and worldwide operations for each of the years ended December 31:
                         
    2007   2006   2005
    ($/Mcfe)
Domestic
                       
Reserve replacement costs, including acquisitions
  $ 3.26     $ 3.92     $ 3.02  
Reserve replacement costs, excluding acquisitions
    3.22       3.94       3.98  
Worldwide
                       
Reserve replacement costs, including acquisitions
  $ 3.55     $ 4.17     $ 2.75  
Reserve replacement costs, excluding acquisitions
    3.79       4.19       3.19  
                         
    (% of Production)
Domestic
                       
Reserve replacement ratio, including acquisitions
    255 %     109 %     188 %
Reserve replacement ratio, excluding acquisitions
    129 %     108 %     79 %
Worldwide
                       
Reserve replacement ratio, including acquisitions
    252 %     108 %     195 %
Reserve replacement ratio, excluding acquisitions
    129 %     107 %     93 %
     In 2007, our domestic reserve replacement costs decreased primarily due to favorable acquisitions and finding and development costs and upward revisions in previous estimates of reserves due to higher commodity prices at December 31, 2007. We typically cite reserve replacement costs in the context of a multi-year trend, in recognition of its limitation as a single year measure, but also to demonstrate consistency and stability, which are essential to our business model. For the three year period ending December 31, 2007, our average reserve replacement costs for our domestic and worldwide operations were $3.31/Mcfe and $3.40/Mcfe, including acquisitions, and $3.64/Mcfe and $3.75/Mcfe excluding acquisitions.
     Capital Expenditures. Our capital expenditures were as follows for the three years ended December 31:
                         
    2007     2006     2005  
    (in millions)  
Total oil and gas capital costs(1)
  $ 2,589     $ 1,193     $ 1,462  
Less: acquisition capital
    (1,178 )     (4 )     (651 )
 
                 
Capital expenditures, excluding acquisitions
  $ 1,411     $ 1,189     $ 811  
 
                 
 
(1)   Total oil and gas capital costs include the costs of development, exploration and property acquisition activities conducted to add reserves and exclude asset retirement obligations. Amounts are derived directly from the table presented in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Supplemental Natural Gas and Oil Operations.
Outlook for 2008
     For 2008, we anticipate the following on a worldwide basis:
    Average daily production volumes for the year of approximately 805 MMcfe/d to 860 MMcfe/d, which excludes approximately 65 MMcfe/d to 70 MMcfe/d from our equity investment in Four Star.
 
    Capital expenditures, excluding acquisitions, of approximately $1.7 billion. While approximately 80% of the Company’s planned 2008 capital program is allocated to its domestic program, we plan to spend approximately $350 million in international capital in 2008, primarily in our Brazil exploration and development program. As part of our domestic capital program, we will allocate a greater percentage of our capital to our Onshore and Texas Gulf Coast regions in light of our announced divestiture plans.
 
    Average cash operating costs which include production costs, general and administrative expenses and other expenses of approximately $1.75/Mcfe to $1.90/Mcfe for the year; and
 
    Depreciation, depletion and amortization rate of between $2.80/Mcfe and $3.20/Mcfe.

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Price Risk Management Activities
     As part of our strategy, we enter into derivative contracts on our natural gas and oil production to stabilize cash flows, to reduce the risk and financial impact of downward commodity price movements on commodity sales and to protect the economic assumptions associated with our capital investment programs. Because this strategy only partially reduces our exposure to downward movements in commodity prices, our reported results of operations, financial position and cash flows can be impacted significantly by movements in commodity prices from period to period. Adjustments to our hedging strategy and the decision to enter into new positions or to alter existing positions are made at the corporate level based on the goals of the overall company.
     The following table and discussion that follows shows, as of December 31, 2007, the contracted volumes and the minimum, maximum and average prices we will receive under these contracts when combined with the sale of the underlying hedged production:
                                                                                                 
    Fixed Price                                   Basis
    Swaps(1)   Floors(1)   Ceilings(1)   Swaps(1)(2)
            Average           Average           Average   Texas Gulf Coast   Onshore-Raton   Rockies
    Volumes   Price   Volumes   Price   Volumes   Price   Volumes   Avg. Price   Volumes   Avg. Price   Volumes   Avg. Price
 
                                                                                               
Natural Gas
                                                                                               
2008
    33     $ 7.65       108     $ 8.00       108     $ 10.80       58     $ (0.33 )     26     $ (1.13 )     13     $ (1.37 )
2009
    5     $ 3.56                                           15     $ (1.00 )            
2010
    5     $ 3.70                                                              
2011-2012
    6     $ 3.88                                                              
 
                                                                                               
Oil
                                                                                               
2008
    2,498     $ 88.48                                                              
 
(1)   Volumes presented are TBtu for natural gas and MBbl for oil. Prices presented are per MMBtu of natural gas and per Bbl of oil.
 
(2)   Our basis swaps effectively limit our exposure to differences between the NYMEX gas price and the price at the location where we sell our gas. The average prices listed above are the amounts we will pay per MMBtu relative to the NYMEX price to “lock-in” these locational differences.
     All of our oil fixed price swaps and 86 percent of our natural gas fixed price swaps and option contracts are designated as accounting hedges. Gains and losses associated with these natural gas contracts are deferred in accumulated other comprehensive income and will be recognized in earnings upon the sale of the related production at market prices, resulting in a realized price that is approximately equal to the hedged price. With regard to our natural gas positions, approximately 7 TBtu of our fixed price swaps, 15 TBtu of our option contracts and all of our basis swaps are not designated as accounting hedges. Accordingly, changes in the fair value of these derivatives are recognized in earnings each period.
     During January and February 2008, we entered into (i) 47 TBtu of options on our anticipated 2008 natural gas production with a floor price of $8.00 per MMBtu and an average ceiling price of $10.64 per MMBtu; (ii)  7 TBtu of options on our anticipated 2009 natural gas production with a floor price of $8.00 per MMBtu and a ceiling price of $11.05 per MMBtu; and (iii) 292 MBbls of fixed price swaps on our anticipated 2008 oil production at a price of $99.00 per barrel. All of these contracts were designated as accounting hedges, except for 19 TBtu of the 2008 natural gas option contracts. The total of all our positions provides price protection on approximately two-thirds of our planned 2008 equivalent production.
     Additionally, the table above does not include contracts entered into by our Marketing segment as further described in that segment. For the consolidated impact of the entirety of El Paso’s production-related price risk management activities on our overall liquidity, see the discussion of factors that could impact our liquidity in Liquidity and Capital Resources.

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Operating Results and Variance Analysis
     The tables below and the discussion that follows provide the operating results and analysis of significant variances in these results during the periods ended December 31:
                         
    2007     2006     2005  
    (In millions, except for  
    Volumes and prices)  
 
                       
Operating Revenues:
                       
Natural gas
  $ 1,764     $ 1,406     $ 1,420  
Oil, condensate and NGL
    494       430       371  
Other
    42       18       (4 )
 
                 
Total operating revenues
    2,300       1,854       1,787  
Operating Expenses:
                       
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
    (780 )     (645 )     (612 )
Production costs
    (344 )     (331 )     (261 )
Cost of products and services
    (92 )     (87 )     (47 )
General and administrative expenses
    (185 )     (156 )     (185 )
Other
    (13 )     (10 )     (11 )
 
                 
Total operating expenses
    (1,414 )     (1,229 )     (1,116 )
 
                 
Operating income
    886       625       671  
Other income (1)
    23       15       25  
 
                 
EBIT
  $ 909     $ 640     $ 696  
 
                 
 
(1)     Includes equity earnings from our investment in Four Star.
                                         
            Percent             Percent        
    2007     Variance     2006     Variance     2005  
Consolidated volumes, prices and costs per unit:
                                       
Natural gas
                                       
Volumes (MMcf)
    242,316       10 %     220,402       (1 )%     222,292  
Average realized prices including hedges ($/Mcf)
  $ 7.28       14 %   $ 6.38       %   $ 6.39  
Average realized prices excluding hedges ($/Mcf)
  $ 6.53       (2 )%   $ 6.64       (12 )%   $ 7.53  
Average transportation costs ($/Mcf)
  $ 0.27       17 %   $ 0.23       28 %   $ 0.18  
Oil, condensate and NGL
                                       
Volumes (MBbls)
    7,821       2 %     7,686       (6 )%     8,136  
Average realized prices including hedges ($/Bbl)
  $ 63.11       13 %   $ 55.90       23 %   $ 45.60  
Average realized prices excluding hedges ($/Bbl)
  $ 63.71       13 %   $ 56.21       21 %   $ 46.43  
Average transportation costs ($/Bbl)
  $ 0.81       (1 )%   $ 0.82       30 %   $ 0.63  
Total equivalent volumes
                                       
MMcfe
    289,242       9 %     266,518       (2 )%     271,107  
MMcfe/d
    792       8 %     730       (2 )%     743  
Production costs and other cash operating costs ($/Mcfe)
                                       
Average lease operating costs
  $ 0.88       (7 )%   $ 0.95       32 %   $ 0.72  
Average production taxes(1)
    0.31       7 %     0.29       21 %     0.24  
 
                                 
Total production costs
  $ 1.19       (4 )%   $ 1.24       29 %   $ 0.96  
Average general and administrative expenses
  $ 0.64       8 %   $ 0.59       (13 )%   $ 0.68  
Average taxes, other than production and income taxes
  $ 0.05       67 %   $ 0.03       %   $ 0.03  
 
                                 
Total cash operating costs
  $ 1.88       1 %   $ 1.86       11 %   $ 1.67  
 
                                 
Depreciation, depletion and amortization ($/Mcfe)
  $ 2.70       12 %   $ 2.42       7 %   $ 2.26  
 
                                 
 
                                       
Unconsolidated affiliate volumes (Four Star)
                                       
Natural gas (MMcf)
    19,380               18,140               6,689  
Oil, condensate and NGL (MBbls)
    1,015               1,087               359  
Total equivalent volumes
                                       
MMcfe
    25,470               24,663               8,844  
MMcfe/d
    70               68               24  
 
(1)     Production taxes include ad valorem and severance taxes.

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Year Ended December 31, 2007 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2006
     Our EBIT for 2007 increased $269 million as compared to 2006. The table below lists the significant variances in our operating results in 2007 as compared to 2006:
                                 
    Variance  
    Operating     Operating              
    Revenue     Expense     Other     EBIT  
    Favorable/(Unfavorable)  
    (In millions)  
Natural Gas Revenue
                               
Lower natural gas prices in 2007
  $ (26 )   $     $     $ (26 )
Impact of hedges
    239                   239  
Higher volumes in 2007
    145                   145  
Oil, Condensate and NGL Revenue
                               
Higher oil, condensate, and NGL prices in 2007
    59                   59  
Impact of hedges
    (4 )                 (4 )
Higher volumes in 2007
    7                   7  
Other Revenue
                               
Change in fair value of derivatives not designated as accounting hedges
    47                   47  
Other
    (21 )                 (21 )
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Expense
                               
Higher depletion rate in 2007
          (82 )           (82 )
Higher production volumes in 2007
          (52 )           (52 )
Production Costs
                               
Higher lease operating costs in 2007
          (1 )           (1 )
Higher production taxes in 2007
          (12 )           (12 )
General and Administrative Expenses
          (29 )           (29 )
Other
                               
Earnings from investment in Four Star
                2       2  
Other
          (9 )     6       (3 )
 
                       
Total Variances
  $ 446     $ (185 )   $ 8     $ 269  
 
                       
     Operating revenues. During 2007, revenues increased compared with 2006 due to higher realized natural gas and oil prices, including the effects of our hedging program. Realized gains on hedging transactions were $177 million during 2007, as compared to losses of $58 million in 2006. During 2007, we also benefited from an increase in production volumes in all domestic regions over 2006.
     Other revenue. During 2007, we recognized mark-to-market gains of $7 million compared to losses of $40 million in 2006 related to the change in fair value of derivatives not designated as hedges, including a portion of our oil and natural gas fixed price swaps, option contracts and basis swaps.
     Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense. During 2007, our depletion rate increased as compared to the same periods in 2006 as a result of the Peoples and Zapata County, Texas property acquisitions and higher finding and development costs.
     Production costs. Our production taxes increased during 2007 as compared to 2006 primarily due to higher natural gas and oil revenues and lower severance tax credits in 2007.
     General and administrative expenses. Our general and administrative expenses increased during 2007 as compared to 2006 primarily due to higher marketing and other costs previously included in our Marketing segment and higher corporate overhead allocations.

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Year Ended December 31, 2006 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2005
     Our EBIT for 2006 decreased $56 million as compared to 2005. The table below lists the significant variances in our operating results in 2006 as compared to 2005:
                                 
    Variance  
    Operating     Operating              
    Revenue     Expense     Other     EBIT  
    Favorable/(Unfavorable)  
    (In millions)  
 
                               
Natural Gas Revenue
                               
Lower natural gas prices in 2006
  $ (197 )   $     $     $ (197 )
Impact of hedges
    197                   197  
Lower production volumes in 2006
    (14 )                 (14 )
Oil, Condensate and NGL Revenue
                               
Higher oil, condensate, and NGL prices in 2006
    75                   75  
Impact of hedges
    5                   5  
Lower volumes in 2006
    (21 )                 (21 )
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Expense
                               
Higher depletion rate in 2006
          (51 )           (51 )
Lower production volumes in 2006
          10             10  
Production Costs
                               
Higher lease operating costs in 2006
          (58 )           (58 )
Higher production taxes in 2006
          (12 )           (12 )
General and Administrative Expenses
          29             29  
Other
                               
Change in fair value of oil and basis swaps
    (31 )                 (31 )
Earnings from investment in Four Star
                (9 )     (9 )
Processing plants
    41       (29 )           12  
Other
    12       (2 )     (1 )     9  
 
                       
Total Variances
  $ 67     $ (113 )   $ (10 )   $ (56 )
 
                       
     Operating revenues. Natural gas revenues decreased by approximately $197 million as natural gas prices were not as strong in 2006 as compared to 2005. However, we experienced lower hedging program losses for 2006 of $58 million compared to losses of $260 million for 2005. Realized oil, condensate and NGL prices increased in 2006 when compared to 2005.
     Our production volumes benefited in 2006 from our acquisitions in 2005. However, overall production volumes decreased in our Texas Gulf Coast and Gulf of Mexico and south Louisiana regions due to natural declines, and the sale of certain non-strategic south Texas properties with average production of 5 MMcfe/d in 2006. Also, our Gulf of Mexico and south Louisiana region production continued to be impacted in 2006 by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, which occurred in late 2005. Our production volumes in Brazil decreased due to the contractual reduction of our ownership interest in the Pescada-Arabaiana Fields in 2006.
     Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense. During 2006, we experienced higher depletion rates as compared to 2005 primarily as a result of higher finding and development costs and the cost of acquired reserves. However, lower production volumes in 2006 partially offset the impact of these higher depletion rates.
     Production costs. In 2006, our lease operating costs increased as compared to 2005 in all regions as a result of inflation in fuel costs, power and other services. In our Onshore region, additional increases were due to increased subsurface maintenance and our acquisition of Medicine Bow. In the Gulf of Mexico region, additional increases were due to hurricane repairs not recoverable through insurance. Additionally, production taxes increased as a result of lower tax credits in Texas taken in 2006 compared to 2005.
     General and administrative expenses. Our general and administrative expenses decreased during 2006 as compared to the same period in 2005, primarily due to lower corporate overhead allocations.
     Other. During 2006, we recorded a loss of approximately $40 million of the fair value of our derivatives not designated as hedges as compared to a $9 million loss in 2005. In 2006, our EBIT was also unfavorably impacted by earnings from Four Star due to lower natural gas prices. Our EBIT was favorably impacted by operations at our processing plants and insurance recoveries resulting from Hurricane Ivan, among other items.

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Marketing Segment
     Our Marketing segment’s primary focus is to market our Exploration and Production segment’s natural gas and oil production and to manage the Company’s overall price risks, primarily through the use of natural gas and oil derivative contracts. In addition, we continue to manage and liquidate remaining legacy natural gas supply, transportation, power and other natural gas contracts entered into prior to the deterioration of the energy trading environment in 2002. Any future liquidations may impact our cash flows and financial results. However, we may not liquidate certain of these remaining legacy contracts before their expiration if (i) they are uneconomical to sell or terminate in the current environment due to their terms, credit concerns of the counterparty or lack of liquidity in the market or (ii) a sale would require an acceleration of cash demands. The table that follows provides a description of our remaining contracts and our remaining exposure on these contracts. All mark-to-market contracts are subject to interest rate exposure as the interest rates used in determining the fair market values are subject to change from period to period.
         
Contract Type   Description   Remaining Exposure
Mark-to-Market
       
Production-related natural gas and oil derivatives
  Option contracts with various floor and ceiling prices   Changes in natural gas and oil prices.
 
       
Power contracts
  Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland (PJM) basis and installed capacity positions.   Changes in regional power prices and installed capacity prices.
 
       
 
  PJM commodity contracts.   Counterparty credit as commodity positions are hedged at PJM west hub.
 
       
Other natural gas contracts
  Fixed-price and index-priced, physical delivery contracts; fixed-for-float swaps.   Counterparty credit as commodity positions were flattened as a result of transactions entered into in 2006 and 2007.
 
       
Accrual
       
 
       
Transportation-related
natural gas contracts
  Pipeline capacity contracts.   Locational differences in natural gas prices which could affect our ability to use the capacity to recover demand charges. Exposure to future losses reduced significantly due to releasing or assigning capacity related to Alliance and other pipelines in 2006 and 2007.
 
       
Long-term gas supply
obligations
  Primarily four contracts with delivery obligations up to 0.3 Bcf/d with expiration dates ranging from 2011 to 2028.   Index-priced contracts are exposed to locational changes in natural gas prices.

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Operating Results
     Overview. Over the past three years, our operating results and year-to-year comparability have been impacted by significant commodity and other market fluctuations, changes in the composition of our portfolio (and related effort to manage our portfolio) based on actions taken to reduce exposure and exit our legacy trading activities. The tables below and discussions that follow provide further information about these events, our overall operating results and analysis by significant contract type for our Marketing segment during each of the three years ended December 31:
                         
    2007     2006     2005  
    (In millions)  
Revenue by Significant Contract Type:
                       
Production-Related Natural Gas and Oil Derivative Contracts
                       
Changes in fair value of options and swaps
  $ (89 )   $ 269     $ (436 )
Contracts Related to Legacy Trading Operations:
                       
Natural gas transportation-related natural gas contracts:
                       
Demand charges
    (98 )     (125 )     (156 )
Settlements, net of termination payments
    76       (110 )     121  
Changes in fair value of other natural gas derivative contracts
    (31 )     (163 )     39  
Changes in fair value of power contracts
    (77 )     71       (386 )
Other
                22  
 
                 
Total revenues
    (219 )     (58 )     (796 )
Operating expenses
    (15 )     (33 )     (59 )
 
                 
Operating loss
    (234 )     (91 )     (855 )
Other income, net
    32       20       18  
 
                 
EBIT
  $ (202 )   $ (71 )   $ (837 )
 
                 
     Our 2007 results were primarily driven by mark-to-market losses on our production-related option contracts and legacy natural gas and power positions (including our PJM contracts). These losses were partially offset by $23 million of other income recognized upon the sale of our investment in the NYMEX and $28 million of EBIT ($23 million of revenues and $5 million of other income) related to the settlement of outstanding California power price disputes.
     Our 2006 and 2005 financial results were significantly impacted by:
    mark-to-market gains and losses on our production-related natural gas and oil derivative contracts
 
    the divestiture in 2006 of a significant portion of our natural gas portfolio
 
    a termination payment in 2006 of $188 million to a third party to assume our Alliance transportation capacity obligations effective November 1, 2007
 
    losses in 2006 based on changes in the fair value of our other natural gas derivative contracts including approximately $133 million of previously unrecorded losses on our Midland Cogeneration Venture (MCV) supply agreement in conjunction with the sale of our interest in that facility
 
    the divestitures in 2005 of our Cordova tolling agreement and a majority of the contracts in our power portfolio
Production-related Natural Gas and Oil Derivative Contracts
     Options contracts. Our production-related natural gas and oil derivative contracts are designed to provide protection to El Paso against changes in natural gas and oil prices. These are in addition to those derivative contracts entered into by our Exploration and Production segment which are further described in the discussion of that segment above. For the consolidated impact of all of El Paso’s production-related price risk management activities, refer to our Liquidity and Capital Resources discussion. The fair value of our derivative contracts is impacted by changes in commodity prices from period-to-period and is marked-to-market in our results. Listed below are the volumes and average prices associated with our production-related derivative contracts as of December 31, 2007:
                                 
    Floors(1)   Ceilings(1)
            Average           Average
    Volumes   Price   Volumes   Price
Natural Gas — 2009
    17     $ 6.00       17     $ 8.75  
 
                               
Oil — 2008
    930     $ 55.00       930     $ 57.03  
 
(1)   Volumes presented are TBtu for natural gas and MBbl for oil. Prices presented are per MMBtu of natural gas and per Bbl of oil.

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     We experience volatility in our financial results based on changes in the fair value of our option contracts which generally move in the opposite direction from changes in forward commodity prices. During 2007 and 2005, increases in forward commodity prices reduced the fair value of our option contracts resulting in a loss. During 2006, decreases in forward commodity prices increased the fair value of our option contracts resulting in a gain. We received approximately $45 million and $59 million in 2007 and 2006 and paid $40 million in 2005 on contracts that settled during those periods.
Contracts Related to Legacy Trading Operations
     Natural gas transportation-related contracts. As of December 31, 2007, our transportation contracts provide us with approximately 0.6 Bcf/d of pipeline capacity. The recovery of demand charges related to our transportation contracts and therefore the profitability of these contracts, is dependent upon our ability to use or remarket the contracted pipeline capacity, which is impacted by a number of factors including differences in natural gas prices at contractual receipt and delivery locations, the working capital needed to use this capacity and the capacity required to meet our other long term obligations. In November, 2007, our future earnings exposure relating to our transportation contracts was reduced with the transfer of our Alliance capacity to a third party. As of December 31, 2007, our contracts require us to pay demand charges of approximately $41 million in 2008 and an average of $24 million between 2009 and 2012. Our transportation contracts are accounted for on an accrual basis and impact our revenues as delivery or service under the contracts occurs. The following table is a summary of demand charges (in millions) and percentage of recovery of these charges for each of the three years ended December 31:
                         
    2007   2006   2005
 
                       
Alliance:
                       
Demand charges
  $ 56     $ 64     $ 65  
Recovery(1)
    48 %     59 %     93 %
Other:
                       
Demand charges
  $ 42     $ 61     $ 91  
Recovery
    100 %     68 %     69 %
 
(1)   Excluded from this amount is the $188 million we paid in 2006 in conjunction with the sale of this contract.
     Other natural gas derivative contracts. In 2006 we divested or entered into transactions to divest of a substantial portion of these natural gas contracts, which substantially reduced our exposure to price movements on these contracts. However, we maintain contracts with third parties that require us to purchase or deliver natural gas primarily at market prices including a gas supply contract with the MCV power facility. Additionally, we recognized a $49 million gain in 2006 associated with the assignment of certain natural gas derivative contracts to supply natural gas in the southeastern U.S. In 2006 in conjunction with sale of the MCV facility in our Power segment, we recorded a cumulative mark to market loss of approximately $133 million which had not been previously recognized due to our affiliated ownership interest.
     Power Contracts. By the end of 2005, we had substantially eliminated exposure to power price movements on our legacy power contracts. Prior to eliminating this price risk, we experienced significant net decreases in the fair value of these contracts based primarily on changes in natural gas and power prices as well as differences in locational power prices.
     The remaining exposure in our power portfolio is related to several contracts that require us to swap locational differences in power prices between power plants in the Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland (PJM) eastern region with the PJM west hub, and provide installed capacity in the PJM power pool through 2016. The fair value of these contracts decreased by approximately $100 million in 2007 and increased by approximately $70 million in 2006. The losses in 2007 were primarily the result of increasing installed capacity prices in the PJM region, while the gains in 2006 primarily related to locational price differences in these regions. By the end of 2006, we had eliminated the commodity price risk associated with these contracts. In 2007, the PJM Independent System Operator began conducting periodic auctions to set prices for providing installed capacity to customers in the PJM power pool. The fair value of our power contracts is impacted by changes in installed capacity prices, which are based in part on the result of these auctions. The results of future auctions, and other potential developments with our contracts and the PJM marketplace may result in future volatility in our operating results. We estimate that a ten percent change in auction prices from the most recent capacity price of $174/MW-day would change the fair value of our contracts by approximately $5 million.
     Other. During 2005, a bankruptcy court entered an order allowing Mohawk River Funding III’s, our subsidiary’s, bankruptcy claims with USGen New England. We received payment on these claims and recognized a gain of $17 million in 2005 in other income related to this settlement.

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Power Segment
     Overview. Our Power segment consists of assets in Brazil, Asia and Central America. We continue to pursue the sales of these remaining power investments. As of December 31, 2007, our remaining investment, guarantees and letters of credit related to projects in this segment totaled approximately $548 million, which consisted of approximately $514 million in equity investments and notes receivable and approximately $34 million in financial guarantees and letters of credit as follows:
         
    Amount  
Area   (In millions)  
Brazil
       
Porto Velho
  $ 275  
Manaus & Rio Negro
    57  
Pipeline projects
    138  
Asia & Central America
    78  
 
     
Total investment, guarantees and letters of credit
  $ 548  
 
     
     Operating Results. In 2007, our results were primarily negatively impacted by impairment losses in Brazil related to the Porto Velho, Manaus and Rio Negro projects. Prior to 2006, our financial results in this segment were significantly impacted by impairments, net of gains and losses on sale, on both domestic and other international power facilities. A further discussion of these events and other factors impacting our results in this segment for the three years ended December 31 are listed below:
                         
    2007     2006     2005  
    (In millions)  
EBIT by Area:
                       
Brazil
                       
Impairments
  $ (72 )   $     $  
Other EBIT from operations
    51       64       55  
Other International Power
                       
Impairments, net of gains (losses) on sales
    (1 )     (12 )     (45 )
Other EBIT from operations
    (1 )     (1 )     34  
Domestic Power
                       
Impairments, net of gains (losses) on sales
          10       (167 )
Favorable resolution of bankruptcy claim
                53  
Gain on sale of available-for-sale investment (1)
          47       40  
Other(2)
    (14 )     (26 )     (59 )
 
                 
EBIT
  $ (37 )   $ 82     $ (89 )
 
                 
 
(1)   Related to the disposition of our shares of International Commodity Exchange in 2005 and 2006.
 
(2)   Consists of indirect expenses and general and administrative costs and includes $27 million of impairments and losses in 2005.
     Brazil. In 2007, our Porto Velho project, Manaus and Rio Negro projects and our other Brazilian operations (including our interests in the Bolivia-to-Brazil and Argentina-to-Chile pipelines) generated EBIT losses of $27 million, EBIT losses of $6 million and EBIT of $12 million, respectively. Our 2007 results included charges of $57 million for Porto Velho and $15 million for Manaus and Rio Negro based on adverse developments at these projects. In 2006 and 2005, EBIT was $41 million and $23 million for Porto Velho, $17 million and $19 million for Manaus and Rio Negro and $6 million and $13 million for our other Brazilian operations. For a further discussion of matters that have impacted or could impact our Brazilian investments, see Item 8, Financial Statements, Note 17.
     Other International Power. During 2005, we recorded impairments of $176 million which were significantly offset by gains on sales of assets of $131 million based on the value received or expected to be received upon closing the sales of our assets in Asia and Central America. Our results were also impacted by our decision to not recognize earnings from assets we planned to sell based on our inability to realize those earnings through their expected selling price. We did not recognize earnings of approximately $10 million, $26 million and $30 million for the years ended 2007, 2006 and 2005. We continue to pursue the sale of our remaining investments in Asia and Central America and until these sales are completed, any changes in regional political and economic conditions could negatively impact the anticipated proceeds we may receive, which could result in additional impairments of our investments.

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     Domestic Power. In 2006, we completed the disposition of our domestic power business. We recorded a gain in this segment of approximately $10 million, primarily related to the sale of our investment in MCV. The disposition of our investment in MCV in 2006 also impacted certain contracts and the financial results in our Marketing segment. Prior to 2006 we sold our interests in several domestic power facilities and restructured power contracts, resulting in significant impairments and substantially lower earnings from these operations. In addition, we recorded our proportionate share of MCV’s losses based on their impairment of the plant assets in 2005.
Field Services
     Prior to January 1, 2006, we had a Field Services segment. During 2005, we generated EBIT of $285 million which, among other items, was primarily due to a gain of $183 million on the sale of our general partner and limited partner interests in Enterprise Products Partners, L.P. and a gain of $111 million on the sale of our Javelina processing operations.
Corporate and Other Expenses, Net
     Our corporate activities include our general and administrative functions as well as a number of miscellaneous businesses, which do not qualify as operating segments and are not material to our current year results. The following is a summary of significant items impacting the EBIT in our corporate activities for each of the three years ended December 31:
                         
    2007     2006     2005  
    (In millions)  
Early extinguishment/exchange of debt
  $ (291 )   $ (26 )   $ (29 )
Foreign currency fluctuations on Euro-denominated debt
    (8 )     (20 )     36  
Change in litigation, insurance and other reserves
    23       (71 )     (490 )
Lease termination
                (27 )
Other
    (7 )     29       (11 )
 
                 
Total EBIT
  $ (283 )   $ (88 )   $ (521 )
 
                 
     Extinguishment of Debt. During 2007, we incurred losses of $291 million in conjunction with repurchasing or refinancing more than $5 billion of debt. This amount included $86 million related to repurchasing EPEP’s $1.2 billion notes. For further information on our debt, see Item 8, Financial Statements, Note 11.
     Litigation, Insurance, and Other Reserves. During 2007, we recorded a gain of approximately $77 million on the reversal of a liability related to The Coastal Corporation’s legacy crude oil marketing and trading business. For a further discussion of this matter, see Item 8, Financial Statements, Note 12. We also have a number of pending litigation matters against us. In all of these matters, we evaluate each lawsuit and claim as to its merits and our defenses. Adverse rulings and unfavorable settlements against us related to these matters impacted our results in 2007 and 2006 and may further impact our future results. In 2005, we recorded significant charges in operation and maintenance expense to increase our litigation, insurance and other reserves based on ongoing assessments, developments and evaluations of the possible outcomes of these matters. In 2005, the most significant item was a charge in connection with a ruling by an appellate court that we indemnify a former subsidiary for certain payments being made under a retiree benefit plan. Additionally, in 2005 we incurred charges of $72 million primarily related to the final prepayment of the Western Energy Settlement and additional charges related to increased premiums from a mutual insurance company in which we participate, based primarily on the impact of several hurricanes in 2005.
Interest and Debt Expense
     Our interest and debt expense was approximately $1.0 billion, $1.2 billion and $1.3 billion during the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005.
     Our total interest and debt expense has decreased over the past three years primarily due to the retirements of debt and other financing obligations, net of issuances. See Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 11, for a further discussion.

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Income Taxes
                         
    Years Ended December 31,
    2007   2006   2005
    (In millions)
Income taxes from continuing operations
  $ 222     $ (9 )   $ (331 )
Effective tax rate
    34 %     (2 )%     40 %
     In 2007, our overall effective tax rate on continuing operations for each period differed from the statutory rate due primarily to earnings from unconsolidated affiliates where we anticipate receiving dividends that qualify for the dividend received deduction. In 2006 and 2005, we recorded $159 million and $58 million of tax benefits based primarily on the conclusion of IRS audits. In 2006, the audits of The Coastal Corporation’s 1998-2000 tax years and El Paso’s 2001 and 2002 tax years were concluded which resulted in the reduction of tax contingencies and the reinstatement of certain tax credits. In 2005, we finalized The Coastal Corporation’s IRS tax audits for years prior to 1998.
     For a discussion of our effective tax rates and other tax matters, see Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 4.
Discontinued Operations
     Our discontinued operations in the years presented primarily include our ANR pipeline and related assets, our gathering and processing operations in south Louisiana and certain international power operations. For the year ended December 31, 2007, income from discontinued operations was $674 million primarily a result of the gain on the sale of ANR and related operations of $648 million, net of income taxes of $354 million. For the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, we had losses from our discontinued operations of $56 million and $96 million. Our 2006 loss of $56 million was primarily a result of recording approximately $188 million of deferred taxes upon agreeing to sell the stock of ANR, our Michigan storage assets and our 50 percent interest in Great Lakes Gas Transmission. Prior to our decision to sell, we were only required to record deferred taxes on individual assets and liabilities and a portion of our investment in the stock of one of these companies. Our 2005 loss of $96 million was primarily a result of impairments of our discontinued international power operations partially offset by income from ANR and related assets and a gain on the sale of our south Louisiana operations. All of these items are further discussed in Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 2.
Commitments and Contingencies
     For a further discussion of our commitments and contingencies, see Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 12.

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Liquidity and Capital Resources
     Sources and Uses of Cash. Our primary sources of cash are cash flow from operations and amounts available to us under revolving credit facilities. On occasion and as conditions warrant, we may also generate funds through capital market activities and proceeds from asset sales. Our primary uses of cash are funding the capital expenditure programs of our pipeline and exploration and production operations, meeting operating needs, and repaying debt when due or repurchasing certain debt obligations when conditions warrant.
     Overview of Cash Flow Activities. During 2007, we generated positive operating cash flow of approximately $1.8 billion, primarily as a result of cash provided by our pipeline and exploration and production operations. We also sold our ANR pipeline and related assets which generated $3.7 billion of net proceeds. We utilized our operating cash flow and cash from the sale of ANR to fund maintenance and growth projects in our pipeline and exploration and production operations and to reduce our debt obligations (see Item 8, Financial Statements, Note 11). In November 2007, we issued units in a master limited partnership generating gross proceeds of $575 million from the initial public offering. For the year ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, our cash flows from continuing operations are summarized as follows:
                 
    2007     2006  
    (In billions)  
Cash Flow from Operations
               
Continuing operating activities
               
Income from continuing operations
  $ 0.4     $ 0.5  
Loss on debt extinguishment
    0.3        
Other income adjustments
    1.4       1.1  
Change in other assets and liabilities
    (0.3 )     0.2  
 
           
Total cash flow from operations
  $ 1.8     $ 1.8  
 
           
 
               
Other Cash Inflows
               
Continuing investing activities
               
Net proceeds from the sale of assets and investments
  $ 0.1     $ 0.7  
Net change in restricted cash and other
          0.2  
 
           
 
    0.1       0.9  
 
           
Continuing financing activities
               
Net proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt
    6.6       0.4  
Contribution from discontinued operations
    3.4       0.2  
Net proceeds from the issuance of common stock
          0.5  
Net proceeds from the issuance of minority interest in consolidated subsidiary
    0.5        
 
           
 
    10.5       1.1  
 
           
Total other cash inflows
  $ 10.6     $ 2.0  
 
           
 
               
Cash Outflows
               
Continuing investing activities
               
Capital expenditures
  $ 2.5     $ 2.2  
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired
    1.2        
 
           
 
    3.7       2.2  
 
           
Continuing financing activities
               
Payments to retire long-term debt and other financing obligations
    8.9       3.0  
Dividends and other
    0.1       0.2  
 
           
 
    9.0       3.2  
 
           
Total cash outflows
  $ 12.7     $ 5.4  
 
           
Net change in cash
  $ (0.3 )   $ (1.6 )
 
           
     The contribution of cash generated from our discontinued operations reflected above consists of the following for the year ended December 31, 2007:
         
    (In billions)  
Proceeds from sale of ANR and related assets
  $ 3.7  
Payments to retire ANR debt obligations
    (0.3 )
 
     
Contribution from discontinued operations
  $ 3.4  
 
     

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     Credit Profile. The substantial repayment of debt obligations during 2007 improved our credit profile and our credit ratings. In March 2007, Moody’s Investor Services upgraded our pipeline subsidiaries’ senior unsecured debt rating to an investment grade rating of Baa3 and upgraded El Paso’s senior unsecured debt rating to Ba3 while maintaining a positive outlook. Additionally, in March 2007, (i) Standard and Poor’s upgraded our pipeline subsidiaries’ senior unsecured debt rating to BB and upgraded El Paso’s senior unsecured debt rating to BB- maintaining a positive outlook and (ii) Fitch Ratings initiated coverage on El Paso assigning a rating of BB+ on our senior unsecured debt and an investment grade rating of BBB- to our pipeline subsidiaries’ senior unsecured debt. This improvement should provide us a lower cost of capital on our planned expansion projects in our pipeline business.
     In addition, during 2007 we restructured our El Paso and El Paso Exploration & Production revolving credit agreements with improved terms and pricing and refinanced approximately $2.0 billion of EPEP, SNG and EPNG debt providing us with a lower cost of debt with less restrictive covenants. We also established a pipeline MLP which provides us a lower cost of capital and allows us to better compete for expansion projects of our pipeline business. We expect to grow our MLP through organic growth and accretive acquisitions from third parties, El Paso or both.
     Liquidity/Cash Flow Outlook. For 2008, we expect to continue to generate positive operating cash flows. We also anticipate generating over $1 billion upon the completion of asset divestitures in conjunction with high grading our exploration and production asset portfolio and completing remaining international power asset sales. We anticipate using cash proceeds from our exploration and production divestitures to repay debt in the first quarter of 2008. We expect to use our cash from operations and remaining sales proceeds primarily for working capital requirements and for expected capital expenditures. We have approximately $0.3 billion of debt that matures through December 31, 2008 that we currently intend on refinancing. Additionally, we previously announced our intention to repurchase debt of approximately $0.5 billion of CIG and SNG. In December 2007, we repurchased approximately $0.2 billion and anticipate completing the remaining $0.3 billion of repurchases in the first half of 2008.
     Our planned cash capital expenditures for 2008 are as follows:
         
    Total  
    (In billions)  
Pipelines
       
Maintenance
  $ 0.4  
Growth
    1.2  
Exploration and Production
    1.7  
Corporate and other(1)
    0.1  
 
     
 
  $ 3.4  
 
     
 
(1)   Relates primarily to building renovations at our corporate facilities.
     Factors That Could Impact Our Future Liquidity. Based on the simplification of our capital structure and our businesses, we have reduced the amount of liquidity needed in the normal course of business. However, our liquidity needs could increase or decrease based on certain factors described below and others listed in Part 1, Item 1A, Risk Factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, the completion of planned asset sales, the effect that our debt level, and below investment grade credit ratings could have on our cost of capital, our ability to access capital markets, and operating costs (primarily margining requirements related to our derivative positions) and adverse changes in domestic economic conditions, including recession or economic slowdown, which could also impact the demand for our natural gas transportation services and ultimately impact our planned growth capital.

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     Price Risk Management Activities and Cash Margining Requirements. Our Exploration and Production and Marketing segments have derivative contracts that provide price protection on a portion of our anticipated natural gas and oil production. The following table shows the contracted volumes and the minimum, maximum and average cash prices that we will receive under our derivative contracts when combined with the sale of the underlying production as of December 31, 2007. These cash prices may differ from the income impacts of our derivative contracts, depending on whether the contracts are designated as hedges for accounting purposes or not. The individual segment discussions provide additional information on the income impacts of our derivative contracts.
                                                                                                 
    Fixed Price                                                   Basis                
    Swaps(1)   Floors(1)   Ceilings(1)   Swaps(1)(2)
            Average           Average           Average   Texas Gulf Coast   Onshore-Raton   Rockies
    Volumes   Price   Volumes   Price   Volumes   Price   Volumes   Avg. Price   Volumes   Avg. Price   Volumes   Avg. Price
Natural Gas
                                                                                               
2008
    33     $ 7.65       108     $ 8.00       108     $ 10.80       58     $ (0.33 )     26     $ (1.13 )     13     $ (1.37 )
2009
    5     $ 3.56       17     $ 6.00       17     $ 8.75                   15     $ (1.00 )            
2010
    5     $ 3.70                                                              
2011-2012
    6     $ 3.88                                                              
 
                                                                                               
Oil
                                                                                               
2008
    2,498     $ 88.48       930     $ 55.00       930     $ 57.03                                      
 
(1)   Volumes presented are TBtu for natural gas and MBbl for oil. Prices presented are per MMBtu of natural gas and per Bbl of oil.
 
(2)   Our basis swaps effectively limit our exposure to differences between the NYMEX gas price and the price at the location where we sell our gas. The average prices listed above are the amounts we will pay per MMBtu relative to the NYMEX price to “lock-in” these locational price differences.
     During January and February 2008, we entered into (i) 47 TBtu of options on our anticipated 2008 natural gas production with a floor price of $8.00 per MMBtu and an average ceiling price of $10.64 per MMBtu; (ii) 7 TBtu of options on anticipated 2009 natural gas production with a floor price of $8.00 per MMBtu and a ceiling price of $11.05 per MMBtu; and (iii) 292 MBbls of fixed price swaps on our anticipated 2008 oil production at a price of $99.00 per barrel.
     We currently post letters of credit for the required margin on most of our derivative contracts. Historically, we were required to post cash margin deposits for these amounts. During 2007, approximately $90 million of posted cash margin deposits were returned to us resulting from settlement of the related contracts and changes in commodity prices. In 2008, based on current prices, we expect approximately $0.2 billion of the total of $1.0 billion in collateral outstanding at December 31, 2007 to be returned to us, primarily in the form of letters of credit.
     Depending on changes in commodity prices, we could be required to post additional margin or may recover margin earlier than anticipated. Based on our derivative positions at December 31, 2007, a $0.10/MMBtu increase in the price of natural gas would result in an increase in our margin requirements of approximately $14 million which consists of $5 million for transactions that settle in 2008, $3 million for transactions that settle in 2009 and $6 million for transactions that settle in 2010 and thereafter. We have a $250 million unsecured contingent letter of credit facility available to us if the average NYMEX gas price strip for the remaining calendar months through March 2008 reaches $11.75 per MMBtu, which is further described in Item 8, Financial Statements, Note 11.

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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
     We enter into a variety of financing arrangements and contractual obligations, some of which are referred to as off-balance sheet arrangements. These include guarantees, letters of credit and other interests in variable interest entities.
Guarantees
     We are involved in joint ventures and other ownership arrangements that sometimes require additional financial support in the form of financial and performance guarantees. In a financial guarantee, we are obligated to make payments if the guaranteed party fails to make payments under, or violates the terms of, the financial arrangement. In a performance guarantee, we provide assurance that the guaranteed party will execute on the terms of the contract. If they do not, we are required to perform on their behalf. For example, if the guaranteed party is required to purchase services from a third party and then fails to do so, we would be required to either purchase these services or make payments to the third party to compensate them for any losses they incurred because of this non-performance. We also periodically provide indemnification arrangements related to assets or businesses we have sold. These arrangements include, but are not limited to, indemnifications for income taxes, the resolution of existing disputes, environmental matters and necessary expenditures to ensure the safety and integrity of the assets sold.
     Our potential exposure under guarantee and indemnification agreements can range from a specified amount to an unlimited dollar amount, depending on the nature of the claim and the particular transaction. For those arrangements with a specified dollar amount, we have a maximum stated value of approximately $785 million, for which we are indemnified by third parties for $15 million. These amounts exclude guarantees for which we have issued related letters of credit discussed in Note 11. Included in the above maximum stated value is approximately $438 million related to indemnification arrangements associated with the sale of ANR and related operations and approximately $119 million related to tax matters, related interest and other indemnifications and guarantees arising out of the sale of our Macae power facility. As of December 31, 2007, we have recorded obligations of $51 million related to our guarantees and indemnification arrangements, of which $8 million is related to ANR and related assets and Macae. We are unable to estimate a maximum exposure for our guarantee and indemnification agreements that do not limit the amount of future payments due to the uncertainty of these exposures.
     In addition to the exposures described above, a trial court has ruled, which was upheld on appeal, that we are required to indemnify a third party for benefits paid to a closed group of retirees of one of our former subsidiaries. We have a liability of approximately $379 million associated with our estimated exposure under this matter as of December 31, 2007. For a further discussion of this matter, see Part II, Item 8 Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Notes 12 and 13.
Letters of Credit
     We enter into letters of credit in the ordinary course of our operations as well as periodically in conjunction with sales of assets or businesses. As of December 31, 2007, we had outstanding letters of credit of approximately $1.3 billion, including $1.0 billion of letters of credit securing our recorded obligations related to price risk management activities.
Interests in Variable Interest Entities
     We have interests in several variable interest entities, primarily investments held in our Power segment. A variable interest entity is a legal entity whose equity owners do not have sufficient equity at risk or a controlling financial interest in the entity. We are required to consolidate such entities if we are allocated the majority of the variable interest entity’s losses or return, including fees paid by the entity. As of December 31, 2007, we do not consolidate six variable interest entities since we are not the primary beneficiary of the variable interest entity’s operations. For additional information regarding our interests in those entities, see Part II, Item 8 Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 17, Investments in, Earnings from and Transactions with Unconsolidated Affiliates.

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Contractual Obligations
     We are party to various contractual obligations, which include the off-balance sheet arrangements described above. A portion of these obligations are reflected in our financial statements, such as long-term debt, liabilities from commodity-based derivative contracts and other accrued liabilities, while other obligations, such as demand charges under transportation and storage commitments, operating leases and capital commitments, are not reflected on our balance sheet. The following table and discussion that follows summarizes our contractual cash obligations as of December 31, 2007, for each of the periods presented (all amounts are undiscounted except liabilities from commodity-based derivative contracts):
                                         
    Due in Less     Due in 1 to     Due in 4 to              
    than 1 Year     3 Years     5 Years     Thereafter     Total  
            (In millions)                  
Long-term financing obligations:
                                       
Principal
  $ 331     $ 1,346     $ 2,718     $ 8,452     $ 12,847  
Interest
    914       1,677       1,490       8,051       12,132  
Liabilities from commodity-based derivative contracts
    267       431       319       178       1,195  
Other contractual liabilities
    56       68       26       54       204  
Operating leases
    14       23       14       29       80  
Other contractual commitments and purchase obligations:
                                       
Transportation and storage
    26       43       26       100       195  
Other
    561       91       31       26       709  
 
                             
Total contractual obligations
  $ 2,169     $ 3,679     $ 4,624     $ 16,890     $ 27,362  
 
                             
     Long Term Financing Obligations (Principal and Interest). Debt obligations included represent stated maturities unless otherwise puttable to us prior to their stated maturity date. Contractual interest payments are shown through the stated maturity date of the related debt. For a further discussion of our debt obligations see Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 11.
     Liabilities from Commodity-Based Derivative Contracts. These amounts only include the fair value of our price risk management liabilities. The fair value of our commodity-based price risk management assets of $303 million as of December 31, 2007 is not reflected in these amounts. We have also excluded margin and other deposits held associated with these contracts from these amounts. For a further discussion of our commodity-based derivative contracts, see the discussion of commodity-based derivative contracts below.
     Other Contractual Liabilities. Included in this amount are contractual, environmental and other obligations included in other current and non-current liabilities in our balance sheet. We have excluded from these amounts expected contributions to our pension and other postretirement benefit plans, because these expected contributions are not contractually required. For further information on our expected contributions to our pension and post retirement benefit plans, see Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 13. Also excluded are potential amounts due under an indemnification of a former subsidiary for benefits being paid to a closed group of retirees, for which we have a liability of approximately $379 million related to the litigation associated with this matter as of December 31, 2007. We have also excluded from these amounts liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits of $157 million as of December 31, 2007, since we cannot reasonably estimate the time frame over which those amounts may be resolved.
     Operating Leases. For a further discussion of these obligations, see Part II, Item 8 Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 12.
     Other Contractual Commitments and Purchase Obligations. Other contractual commitments and purchase obligations are defined as legally enforceable agreements to purchase goods or services that have fixed or minimum quantities and fixed or minimum variable price provisions, and that detail approximate timing of the underlying obligations. Included are the following:
    Transportation and Storage Commitments. Included in these amounts are commitments for demand charges for firm access to natural gas transportation and storage capacity.
 
    Other Commitments. Included in these amounts are commitments for drilling and seismic activities in our exploration and production operations and various other maintenance, engineering, procurement and construction contracts, as well as service and license agreements used by our other operations. We have excluded asset retirement obligations and reserves for litigation, environmental remediation and self-insurance claims as these liabilities are not contractually fixed as to timing and amount.

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     Commodity-Based Derivative Contracts. We use derivative financial instruments in our Exploration and Production and Marketing segments to manage the price risk of commodities. In the tables below, derivatives designated as hedges primarily consist of options and swaps used to hedge natural gas production. Other commodity-based derivative contracts relate to derivative contracts not designated as hedges, such as options, swaps and other natural gas and power purchase and supply contracts. The following table details the fair value of our commodity-based derivative contracts by year of maturity and valuation methodology as of December 31, 2007:
                                                 
    Maturity     Maturity     Maturity     Maturity     Maturity     Total  
    Less Than     1 to 3     4 to 5     6 to 10     Beyond     Fair  
    1 Year     Years     Years     Years     10 Years     Value  
                    (In millions)                  
Derivatives designated as hedges
                                               
Non-exchange traded positions
                                               
Assets
  $ 65     $     $     $     $     $ 65  
Liabilities
    (19 )     (42 )     (27 )                 (88 )
 
                                   
Total derivatives designated as hedges
    46       (42 )     (27 )                 (23 )
 
                                   
Other commodity-based derivatives
                                               
Exchange-traded positions(1)
                                               
Liabilities
          (15 )                       (15 )
Non-exchange traded positions
                                               
Assets
    48       72       82       29       7       238  
Liabilities
    (248 )     (374 )     (292 )     (174 )     (4 )     (1,092 )
 
                                   
Total other commodity-based derivatives
    (200 )     (317 )     (210 )     (145 )     3       (869 )
 
                                   
Total commodity-based derivatives
  $ (154 )   $ (359 )   $ (237 )   $ (145 )   $ 3     $ (892 )
 
                                   
 
(1)   These positions are traded on active exchanges such as the New York Mercantile Exchange, the International Petroleum Exchange and the London Clearinghouse.
     The following is a reconciliation of our commodity-based derivatives for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006:
                         
            Other     Total  
    Derivatives     Commodity-     Commodity-  
    Designated     Based     Based  
    as Hedges     Derivatives     Derivatives  
            (In millions)          
Fair value of contracts outstanding at December 31, 2005
  $ (653 )   $ (763 )   $ (1,416 )
 
                 
Fair value of contract settlements during the period(1)
    204       38       242  
Change in fair value of contracts
    514       154       668  
Assignment of contracts
          36       36  
Other commodity-based derivatives subsequently designated as hedges
    (16 )     16        
Reclassification of derivatives that no longer qualify as hedges
    6       (6 )      
Option premiums paid(2)
    6       69       75  
 
                 
Net change in contracts outstanding during the period
    714       307       1,021  
 
                 
Fair value of contracts outstanding at December 31, 2006
    61       (456 )     (395 )
 
                 
Fair value of contract settlements during the period(1)
    (109 )     (224 )     (333 )
Change in fair value of contracts
    4       (211 )     (207 )
Assignment of contracts
          18       18  
Option premiums paid(2)
    21       4       25  
 
                 
Net change in contracts outstanding during the period
    (84 )     (413 )     (497 )
 
                 
Fair value of contracts outstanding at December 31, 2007
  $ (23 )   $ (869 )   $ (892 )
 
                 
 
(1)   In 2006 includes derivative contracts sold/terminated. In 2007, we settled derivative assets of approximately $381 million by applying the related cash margin we held against amounts due to us under those contracts.
 
(2)   Amounts are net of premiums received.
     Fair Value of Contract Settlements. The fair value of contract settlements during the period represents the estimated amounts of derivative contracts settled through physical delivery of a commodity or by a claim to cash as accounts receivable or payable. The fair value of contract settlements also includes physical or financial contract terminations due to counterparty bankruptcies and the sale or settlement of derivative contracts through early termination or through the sale of the entities that own these contracts, including amounts received from the sale of option contracts.

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     Changes in Fair Value of Contracts. The change in fair value of contracts during the year represents the change in value of contracts from the beginning of the period, or the date of their origination or acquisition, until their settlement, early termination or, if not settled or terminated, until the end of the period. In 2006, the change in fair value also includes a loss on natural gas supply agreements related to MCV upon the sale of our interest in this facility.
     Assignment of Contracts. In 2006, we sold or entered into offsetting derivative transactions to eliminate the price risk associated with a substantial portion of our remaining historical natural gas derivatives. We paid proceeds of approximately $32 million related to this transaction.
     Designation and Reclassifications of Hedges. During 2006, we removed the hedging designation on certain derivative contracts where we experienced decreases in the related anticipated hedged production volumes in Brazil. Also, during 2006 we designated certain existing other commodity-based derivatives as hedges of our anticipated 2007 natural gas production.
Critical Accounting Estimates
     Our significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to select appropriate accounting estimates and to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses and the disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. We consider our critical accounting estimates to be those that require difficult, complex, or subjective judgment necessary in accounting for inherently uncertain matters and those that could significantly influence our financial results based on changes in those judgments. Changes in facts and circumstances may result in revised estimates and actual results may differ materially from those estimates. We have discussed the development and selection of the following critical accounting estimates and related disclosures with the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors.
     Accounting for Natural Gas and Oil Producing Activities. Our estimates of proved reserves reflect quantities of natural gas, oil and NGL which geological and engineering data demonstrate, with reasonable certainty, will be recoverable in future years from known reservoirs under existing economic conditions. Natural gas and oil reserves estimates underlie a number of the accounting estimates in our financial statements. The process of estimating natural gas and oil reserves, particularly proved undeveloped and proved non-producing reserves, is complex, requiring significant judgment in the evaluation of all available geological, geophysical, engineering and economic data. Our reserve estimates are developed internally by a reserve reporting group which is separate from our operations group and reviewed by internal committees and internal auditors. In addition, a third-party reservoir engineering firm, which is appointed by and reports to the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors, conducted an audit of the estimates of a significant portion of our proved reserves. The scope of the audit performed by Ryder Scott included the preparation of an independent estimate of proved natural gas and oil reserves estimates for fields comprising greater than 80 percent of our total worldwide present value of future cash flows (pretax). The specific fields included in Ryder Scott’s audit represented the largest fields based on value.
     As of December 31, 2007, of our total proved reserves, 29 percent were undeveloped and 13 percent were developed, but non-producing. The data for a given field may change substantially over time as a result of numerous factors, including additional development activity, evolving production history and a continual reassessment of the viability of production under changing economic conditions. As a result, material revisions to existing reserve estimates occur from time to time. In addition, the subjective decisions and variances in available data for various fields increase the likelihood of significant changes in these estimates.
     The estimates of proved natural gas and oil reserves primarily impact our property, plant and equipment amounts in our balance sheets and the depreciation, depletion and amortization amounts in our income statements, among other items. We use the full cost method to account for our natural gas and oil producing activities. Under this accounting method, we capitalize substantially all of the costs incurred in connection with the acquisition, exploration and development of natural gas and oil reserves, including salaries, benefits and other internal costs directly related to these finding activities. Capitalized costs are maintained in full cost pools by geographic areas, regardless of whether reserves are actually discovered. We record depletion expense of these capitalized amounts over the life of our proved reserves based on the unit of production method. If all other factors are held constant, a 10 percent increase in estimated proved reserves would decrease our unit of production depletion rate by 9 percent and a 10 percent decrease in estimated proved reserves would increase our unit of depletion rate by 11 percent.
     Natural gas and oil properties include unproved property costs that are excluded from costs being depleted. These unproved property costs include non-producing leasehold, geological and geophysical costs associated with leasehold or drilling interests and

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exploration drilling costs in investments in unproved properties and major development projects in which we own a direct interest. We exclude these costs on a country-by-country basis until proved reserves are found or until it is determined that the costs are impaired. All costs excluded are reviewed at least quarterly to determine if exclusion from the full-cost pool continues to be appropriate. If costs are determined to be impaired, the amount of any impairment is transferred to the full cost pool if a reserve base exists or is expensed if a reserve base has not yet been created. Impairments transferred to the full cost pool increase the depletion rate for that country.
     Under the full cost accounting method, we are required to conduct quarterly impairment tests of our capitalized costs in each of our full cost pools. This impairment test is referred to as a ceiling test. Our total capitalized costs, net of related income tax effects, are limited to a ceiling based on the present value of future net revenues from proved reserves, discounted at 10 percent, net of related income tax effects, plus the lower of cost or fair market value of unproved properties. We utilize end of period spot prices when calculating future net revenues unless those prices result in a ceiling test charge in which case we evaluate price recoveries subsequent to the end of the period. If the discounted revenues are not greater than or equal to the total capitalized costs, we are required to write-down our capitalized costs to this level. Our ceiling test calculations include the effect of derivative instruments we have designated as, and that qualify as hedges of our anticipated natural gas and oil production. Higher proved reserves can reduce the likelihood of ceiling test impairments. We had no ceiling test charges in 2007, 2006 and 2005.
     The price used in the ceiling test calculation is held constant over the life of the reserves, even though actual prices of natural gas and oil are volatile and change from period to period. A decline in commodity prices can impact the results of our ceiling test and may result in a write-down. A decrease in commodity prices of 10 percent from the price levels at December 31, 2007 would not have resulted in a ceiling test charge in 2007.
     Accounting for Legal and Environmental Reserves, Guarantees and Indemnifications. We accrue legal and environmental reserves when our assessments indicate that it is probable that a liability has been incurred or an asset will not be recovered and an amount can be reasonably estimated. Estimates of our liabilities are based on an evaluation of potential outcomes, currently available facts, and in the case of environmental reserves, existing technology and presently enacted laws and regulations taking into consideration the likely effects of societal and economic factors, estimates of associated onsite, offsite and groundwater technical studies and legal costs. Actual results may differ from our estimates, and our estimates can be, and often are, revised in the future, either negatively or positively, depending upon actual outcomes or changes in expectations based on the facts surrounding each matter.
     As of December 31, 2007, we had accrued approximately $460 million for legal matters, net of related insurance receivables, which includes approximately $379 million associated with an indemnity for certain retiree benefit payments, which is further discussed below. We have accrued $260 million for environmental matters. Our environmental estimates range from approximately $260 million to approximately $470 million, and the amounts we have accrued represent a combination of two estimation methodologies. First, where the most likely outcome can be reasonably estimated, that cost has been accrued ($18 million). Second, where the most likely outcome cannot be estimated, a range of costs is established ($242 million to $452 million) and the lower end of the expected range has been accrued.
     We also have guarantee and indemnification agreements related to various joint ventures and other ownership arrangements that require us to assess our potential exposure. This exposure can range from a specified amount to an unlimited dollar amount, depending on the nature of the claim and the particular transaction. For those arrangements with a specified dollar amount, we have a maximum stated value of approximately $785 million, for which we are indemnified by third parties for $15 million. As of December 31, 2007, we have recorded obligations of $51 million related to our guarantees and indemnification arrangements. We are unable to estimate a maximum exposure for our guarantee and indemnification agreements that do not provide for limits on the amount of future payments under the agreement due to the uncertainty of these exposures. For further information, see Off Balance Sheet Arrangements above.
     Accounting for Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits. We reflect an asset or liability for our pension and other postretirement benefit plans based on their over funded or under funded status. As of December 31, 2007, our combined pension plans were over funded by $513 million and our combined other postretirement benefit plans were under funded by $110 million. Our pension and other postretirement benefit assets and liabilities are primarily based on actuarial calculations. We use various assumptions in performing these calculations, including those related to the return that we expect to earn on our plan assets, the rate at which we expect the compensation of our employees to increase over the plan term, the estimated cost of health care when benefits are provided under our plans and other factors. A significant assumption we utilize is the discount rates used in calculating our benefit obligations. We select our discount rates by matching the timing and amount of our expected future benefit payments for our pension and other postretirement benefit obligations to the average yields of various high-quality bonds with corresponding maturities. We also

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compare our discount rates to the Citigroup Pension Discount Curve and to the yields of several high-quality bond indices with maturity profiles similar to the average duration of our benefit obligations, including the Moody’s Aa Average Corporate Bond Rate.
     Actual results may differ from the assumptions included in these calculations, and as a result, our estimates associated with our pension and other postretirement benefits can be, and often are, revised in the future. The income statement impact of the changes in the assumptions on our related benefit obligations, along with changes to the plans and other items, are deferred and amortized into income over either the period of expected future service of active participants, or over the lives of the plan participants. We record these deferred amounts as accumulated other comprehensive income for our non-regulated operations and as either a regulatory asset or liability for our regulated operations. As of December 31, 2007 we had deferred losses of approximately $237 million, net of income taxes in accumulated other comprehensive income. The following table shows the impact of a one percent change in the primary assumptions used in our actuarial calculations associated with our pension and other postretirement benefits for the year ended December 31, 2007 (in millions):
                                 
    Pension Benefits   Other Postretirement Benefits
            Change in Net           Change in Net
            Asset and Pretax           Asset and Pretax
            Accumulated Other           Accumulated Other
    Net Benefit   Comprehensive   Net Benefit   Comprehensive
    Expense (Income)   Income   Expense (Income)   Income
One percent increase in:
                               
Discount rates
  $ (11 )   $ 170     $     $ 36  
Expected return on plan assets
    (23 )           (3 )      
Rate of compensation increase
    2       (4 )            
Health care cost trends
                1       (13 )
One percent decrease in:
                               
Discount rates
  $ 13     $ (201 )   $     $ (40 )
Expected return on plan assets(1)
    23             3        
Rate of compensation increase
    (2 )     3              
Health care cost trends
                (1 )     12  
 
(1)   If the actual return on plan assets was one percent lower than the expected return on plan assets, our expected cash contributions to our pension and other postretirement benefit plans would not significantly change.
     The estimates for our net benefit expense or income are partially based on the expected return on pension plan assets. We use a market-related value of plan assets to determine the expected return on pension plan assets. In determining the market-related value of plan assets, differences between expected and actual asset returns are deferred over three years, after which they are considered for inclusion in net benefit expense or income. If we used the fair value of our plan assets instead of the market-related value of plan assets in determining the expected return on pension plan assets, our net benefit expense would have been $6 million lower for the year ended December 31, 2007.
     As stated in Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 12, we were ordered to indemnify a third party for certain benefit payments being made to a closed group of retirees pending the outcome of litigation related to these payments. We estimated the initial liability associated with this indemnification obligation using actuarial methods similar to those used in estimating our obligations on our other postretirement benefit plans, which involves using various assumptions, including those related to discount rates and health care trends. The following table shows the impact of a one percent change in the primary assumptions used in our calculation of this liability for the year ended December 31, 2007 (in millions):
         
    Change in
    Accrued Liability
One percent increase in:
       
Discount rates
  $ (35 )
Health care cost trends
    38  
One percent decrease in:
       
Discount rates
  $ 39  
Health care cost trends
    (33 )

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     Price Risk Management Activities. We record the derivative instruments used in our price risk management activities at their fair values. We estimate the fair value of our derivative instruments using exchange prices, third-party pricing data and valuation techniques that incorporate specific contractual terms, statistical and simulation analysis and present value concepts. One of the primary assumptions used to estimate the fair value of derivative instruments is pricing. Our pricing assumptions are based upon price curves derived from actual prices observed in the market, pricing information supplied by a third-party valuation specialist and independent pricing sources and models that rely on this forward pricing information.
     The table below presents the hypothetical sensitivity of our commodity-based price risk management activities to changes in fair values arising from immediate selected potential changes in quoted market prices at December 31, 2007:
                                         
            10 Percent Increase     10 Percent Decrease  
    Fair Value     Fair Value     Change     Fair Value     Change  
                    (In millions)                  
Derivatives designated as hedges
  $ (23 )   $ (117 )   $ (94 )   $ 76     $ 99  
Other commodity-based derivatives
    (869 )     (910 )     (41 )     (828 )     41  
 
                             
Total
  $ (892 )   $ (1,027 )   $ (135 )   $ (752 )   $ 140  
 
                             
     Another significant assumption are the discount rates we use in determining the fair value of our derivative instruments. The table below presents the hypothetical sensitivity of our commodity- based price risk management activities to changes in fair values arising from changes in the discount rates we used to determine the fair value of our derivatives at December 31, 2007:
                                         
            Change in Discount Rate  
            1 Percent Increase     1 Percent Decrease  
    Fair Value     Fair Value     Change     Fair Value     Change  
                    (In millions)                  
Derivatives designated as hedges
  $ (23 )   $ (21 )   $ 2     $ (25 )   $ (2 )
Other commodity-based derivatives
    (869 )     (846 )     23       (894 )     (25 )
 
                             
Total
  $ (892 )   $ (867 )   $ 25     $ (919 )   $ (27 )
 
                             
     Other significant assumptions that we use in determining the fair value of our derivative instruments are those related to anticipated market liquidity and the credit risk of our counterparties. We believe the application of these assumptions derive a fair value that is representative of the proceeds we would receive if we disposed of our derivative instruments. We currently do not consider the impact of our credit risk in determining the fair value of our derivative liabilities, which we will begin considering upon our adoption of SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements, on January 1, 2008. The assumptions and methodologies we use to determine the fair values of our derivatives may differ from those used by our derivative counterparties, and these differences can be significant. As a result, the actual settlement of our price risk management activities could differ materially from the fair value recorded and could impact our future operating results.
     Deferred Taxes and Uncertain Income Tax Positions. We record deferred income tax assets and liabilities reflecting tax consequences deferred to future periods based on differences between the financial statement carrying value of assets and liabilities and the tax basis of assets and liabilities. Additionally, our deferred tax assets and liabilities also reflect our assessment that tax positions taken, and the resulting tax basis, are more likely than not to be sustained if they are audited by taxing authorities. Our most significant judgments on tax related matters include, but are not limited to, the items noted below. All of these matters involve the exercise of significant judgment which could change and materially impact our financial condition or results of operations. For a further discussion of these items and other income tax matters, see Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 4.
          Valuation Allowance. The realization of our deferred tax assets depends on recognition of sufficient future taxable income in specific tax jurisdictions during periods in which those temporary differences are deductible. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred income tax assets to the amounts we believe are more likely than not to be recovered. In evaluating our valuation allowance, we consider the reversal of existing temporary differences, the existence of taxable income in prior carryback years, tax planning strategies and future taxable income for each of our taxable jurisdictions, the latter two of which involve the exercise of significant judgment. Changes to our valuation allowance could materially impact our results of operations.
          Uncertain Tax Positions. We have liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions connected with ongoing examinations and open tax years. Changes in our assessment of these liabilities may require us to increase the liability and record additional tax expense or reverse the liability and recognize a tax benefit which would positively or negatively impact our effective tax rate.

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          Undistributed Earnings of Foreign Investees and Certain Unconsolidated Affiliates. We record deferred tax liabilities on the undistributed earnings of our foreign investments if we anticipate these earnings to be repatriated. If we do not plan to repatriate these foreign undistributed earnings, no provision has been made for any U.S. taxes or foreign withholding taxes. Additionally, we have not recorded a provision for U.S. income taxes on the foreign currency translation adjustments recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income. Any changes to our repatriation assumptions, including the repatriation of proceeds from sales of these investments, could require us to record additional deferred taxes.
          Additionally, we believe certain of our unconsolidated affiliates’ undistributed earnings will ultimately be distributed to us through dividends which would be eligible for a dividends received deduction. We and our joint venture partners have the intent and ability to recover these cumulative undistributed earnings over time through dividends; however, should we subsequently determine that our unconsolidated affiliates would be unable to pay such dividends, we would be required to record additional deferred income tax liabilities.
     Asset and Investment Impairments. The accounting rules on asset and investment impairments require us to continually monitor our businesses and the business environment to determine if an event has occurred that indicates that a long-lived asset or investment may be impaired. If an event occurs, which is a determination that involves judgment, we then estimate the fair value of the asset, which considers a number of factors, including the potential value we would receive if we sold the asset and the projected cash flows of the asset based on current and anticipated future market conditions. The assessment of project level cash flows requires judgment to make projections and assumptions for many years into the future for pricing, demand, competition, operating costs, legal and regulatory issues and other factors. Actual results can, and often do, differ from our estimates. Utilizing these cash flow projections, we assess our ability to recover the carrying value of our assets and investments based on either (i) our long-lived assets’ ability to generate future cash flows on an undiscounted basis or (ii) the fair value of our investments in unconsolidated affiliates. If an impairment is indicated, we record an impairment charge for the excess of carrying value of the asset over its fair value. We recorded impairments of our long-lived assets of $20 million, $16 million and $73 million and impairments and losses on our investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates of $75 million, $13 million and $347 million during the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005. We also recorded asset and investment impairments of our discontinued operations of $13 million and $502 million, net of minority interest during the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005. Future changes in the economic and business environment can impact our assessments of potential impairments.
New Accounting Pronouncements Issued But Not Yet Adopted
     See Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 1 under New Accounting Pronouncements Issued But Not Yet Adopted.

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
     We are exposed to market risks in our normal business activities. Market risk is the potential loss that may result from market changes associated with an existing or forecasted financial or commodity transaction. The types of market risks we are exposed to and examples of each are:
    Commodity Price Risk
    Natural gas and oil price changes, impacting the sale of natural gas and oil in our Exploration and Production segment, affecting gas not used in the operations of our Pipelines segment and affecting the fair value of our natural gas and oil derivative contracts held in our Marketing segment;
 
    Natural gas locational price differences change, affecting our ability to optimize pipeline transportation capacity contracts held in our Marketing segment; and
 
    Electricity price changes and locational pricing changes, affecting the value of our remaining power contracts held in our Marketing segment.
  Interest Rate Risk
    Changes in interest rates affect the interest expense we incur on our variable-rate debt and the fair value of our fixed-rate debt;
 
    Changes in interest rates used in the estimation of the fair value of our derivative positions can result in increases or decreases in the unrealized value of those positions; and
 
    Changes in interest rates used to discount liabilities which can result in higher or lower accretion expense over time.
    Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk
    Weakening or strengthening of the U.S. dollar relative to the Euro can result in an increase or decrease in the value of our Euro-denominated debt obligations and/or the related interest costs associated with that debt; and
 
    Weakening or strengthening of the U.S. dollar relative to the Brazilian real and the Mexican peso can affect the revenues and expenses generated by our foreign pipeline, exploration and production, and power operations.
     We manage our risks by entering into contractual commitments involving physical or financial settlement that attempt to limit exposure related to future market movements. The timing and extent of our risk management activities is based on a number of factors, including our market outlook, risk tolerance and liquidity. Our risk management activities typically involve the use of the following types of contracts:
    Forward contracts, which commit us to purchase or sell energy commodities in the future;
 
    Futures contracts, which are exchange-traded standardized commitments to purchase or sell a commodity or financial instrument, or to make a cash settlement at a specific price and future date;
 
    Options, which convey the right to buy or sell a commodity, financial instrument or index at a predetermined price;
 
    Swaps, which require payments to or from counterparties based upon the differential between two prices or rates for a predetermined contractual (notional) quantity; and
 
    Structured contracts, which may involve a variety of the above characteristics.
     Many of the contracts we use in our risk management activities qualify as derivative financial instruments. A discussion of our accounting policies for derivative instruments are included in Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Notes 1 and 7.

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Commodity Price Risk
     Production-Related Derivatives
     We attempt to mitigate commodity price risk and stabilize cash flows associated with our forecasted sales of natural gas and oil production through the use of derivative natural gas and oil swaps, basis swaps and option contracts. These derivative contracts are entered into by both our Exploration and Production and Marketing segments. The table below presents the hypothetical sensitivity to changes in fair values arising from immediate selected potential changes in the quoted market prices of the derivative commodity instruments used to mitigate these market risks. We have designated certain of these derivatives as accounting hedges. Contracts that are designated as accounting hedges will impact our earnings when the related hedged production sales occur, and, as a result, any gain or loss on these hedging derivatives would be offset by a gain or loss on the sale of the underlying hedged commodity, which is not included in the table. Contracts that are not designated as accounting hedges impact our earnings as the fair value of these derivatives changes. Our production-related derivatives do not mitigate all of the commodity price risks of our forecasted sales of natural gas and oil production and, as a result, we are subject to commodity price risks on our remaining forecasted natural gas and oil production.
                                         
            10 Percent Increase   10 Percent Decrease
    Fair Value   Fair Value   (Decrease)   Fair Value   Increase
Impact of changes in commodity prices on production-related derivative instruments
                                       
December 31, 2007
  $ (64 )   $ (181 )   $ (117 )   $ 58     $ 122  
December 31, 2006
  $ 124     $ (9 )   $ (133 )   $ 264     $ 140  
     Other Commodity-Based Derivatives
     In our Marketing segment, we have other derivative contracts that are not used to mitigate the commodity price risk associated with our natural gas and oil production. Many of these contracts, which include forwards, swaps, options and futures, are long-term historical contracts that we either intend to assign to third parties or manage until their expiration. We measure risks from these contracts on a daily basis using a Value-at-Risk simulation. This simulation allows us to determine the maximum expected one-day unfavorable impact on the fair values of those contracts of adverse market movements over a defined period of time within a specified confidence level and allows us to monitor our risk in comparison to established thresholds. To measure Value-at-Risk, we use what is known as the historical simulation technique. This technique simulates potential outcomes in the value of our portfolio based on market-based price changes. Our exposure to changes in fundamental prices over the long-term can vary from the exposure using the one-day assumption in our Value-at-Risk simulations. We supplement our Value-at-Risk simulations with additional fundamental and market-based price analyses, including scenario analysis and stress testing to determine our portfolio’s sensitivity to underlying risks. These analyses and our Value-at-Risk simulations do not include commodity exposures related to our production-related derivatives (described above), our Marketing segment’s natural gas transportation related contracts that are accounted for under the accrual basis of accounting, or our Exploration and Production segment’s sales of natural gas and oil production.
     Our maximum expected one-day unfavorable impact on the fair values of our other commodity-based derivatives as measured by Value-at-Risk based on a confidence level of 95 percent and a one-day holding period was $1 million and $6 million as of December 31, 2007 and 2006. Our highest, lowest and average of the month-end values for Value-at-Risk during 2007 was $6 million, $1 million and $2 million. We may experience changes in our Value-at-Risk in the future if commodity prices are volatile.

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Interest Rate Risk
     Many of our debt-related financial instruments and project financing arrangements are sensitive to changes in interest rates. The table below shows the maturity of the carrying amounts and related weighted-average interest rates on our long-term interest-bearing securities by expected maturity date as well as the total fair value of those securities. The fair value of the securities has been estimated based on quoted market prices for the same or similar issues. We estimate that the fair value of our long-term debt with variable rates approximates its carrying value because of the market based nature of its interest rate.
                                                                                 
    December 31, 2007   December 31, 2006
    Expected Fiscal Year of Maturity of Carrying Amounts           Fair   Carrying   Fair
    2008   2009   2010   2011   2012   Thereafter   Total   Value   Amounts   Value
                                    (In millions)                                
Long-term debt and other obligations, including current portion — fixed rate.
  $ 318     $ 1,097     $ 236     $ 621     $ 425     $ 8,248     $ 10,945     $ 11,244     $ 14,093     $ 14,891  
Average interest rate
    6.2 %     6.7 %     6.1 %     6.4 %     7.3 %     7.2 %                                
Long-term debt and other obligations, including current portion — variable rate
  $ 13     $ 14     $ 15     $ 16     $ 1,648     $ 163     $ 1,869     $ 1,869     $ 596     $ 596  
Average interest rate
    6.3 %     6.3 %     6.3 %     6.3 %     5.0 %     6.3 %                                
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk
     Our exposure to foreign currency exchange rates relates primarily to changes in foreign currency rates on our Euro-denominated debt obligations. As of December 31, 2007 and 2006, we have Euro-denominated debt with a principal amount of 380 million and 500 million which matures in 2009. As of December 31, 2007 and 2006, we have swaps that effectively convert 330 million and 350 million of debt into $379 million and $402 million. The remaining principal at December 31, 2007 and 2006 of 50 million and 150 million is subject to foreign currency exchange risk. A $0.10 change in the Euro to U.S. dollar exchange rate would result in a $5 million gain or loss on our unhedged Euro-denominated debt as of December 31, 2007.

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Index
     Below is an index to the items contained in Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
         
    Page
    80  
    81  
    86  
    87  
    89  
    90  
    91  
    92  
    92  
    98  
    101  
    101  
    104  
    104  
    105  
    108  
    108  
    109  
    110  
    115  
    120  
    123  
    124  
    126  
    130  
Supplemental Financial Information
       
    134  
    135  
Financial Statement Schedule
       
    142  

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MANAGEMENT’S ANNUAL REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
     Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined by SEC rules adopted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Our internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. It consists of policies and procedures that:
    Pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets;
 
    Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of the financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors; and
 
    Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
     Under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), we made an assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007. In making this assessment, we used the criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on our evaluation, we concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2007. The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007 has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report included herein.

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Board of Directors and Stockholders of
El Paso Corporation:
     We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of El Paso Corporation as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the years then ended. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15(a) for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006. These financial statements and schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and schedule based on our audits. The financial statements of Citrus Corp. and Subsidiaries (a corporation in which the Company had a 50% interest as of December 31, 2007 and 2006) and Four Star Oil & Gas Company (a corporation in which the Company had approximately a 49% and 43% interest, as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively) have been audited by other auditors whose reports have been furnished to us, and our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, insofar as it relates to the amounts included from Citrus Corp. and Subsidiaries and Four Star Oil & Gas Company, is based solely on the reports of the other auditors. In the consolidated financial statements, the Company’s combined investments in these companies represent approximately 3% of total assets as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and earnings from these investments represent approximately 23% and 24% of income before income taxes from continuing operations for the years then ended, based on the amounts audited by other auditors.
     We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits and the reports of other auditors provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
     In our opinion, based on our audits and the reports of other auditors, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of El Paso Corporation at December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.
     As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, effective January 1, 2007, the Company adopted the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109, effective December 31, 2006 the Company adopted the recognition provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 158, Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans - An Amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R), and effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(revised 2004), Share-Based Payment and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s accounting release related to pipeline assessment costs.
     We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), El Paso Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 25, 2008 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
         
     
  /s/ Ernst & Young LLP    
Houston, Texas
February 25, 2008

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER
FINANCIAL REPORTING
The Board of Directors and Stockholders of
El Paso Corporation:
     We have audited El Paso Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the COSO criteria). El Paso Corporation’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
     We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
     A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
     Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
     In our opinion, El Paso Corporation maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on the COSO criteria.
     We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the 2007 consolidated financial statements of El Paso Corporation and our report dated February 25, 2008 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
         
     
  /s/ Ernst & Young LLP    
Houston, Texas
February 25, 2008

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
El Paso Corporation:
In our opinion, the consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2005 present fairly, in all material respects, the results of operations and cash flows of El Paso Corporation and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) for the year then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. In addition, in our opinion, the financial statement schedule for the year ended December 31, 2005 presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein when read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements. These financial statements and the financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and the financial statement schedule based on our audit. We conducted our audit of these statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit of financial statements includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
As discussed in the notes to the consolidated financial statements, the Company adopted FASB Interpretation No. 47, Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations, on December 31, 2005.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Houston, Texas
March 2, 2006, except for the eleventh paragraph
of Note 2, as to which the date is May 10, 2006
and the tenth paragraph of Note 2, as to which
the date is February 26, 2007


Table of Contents

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders of Four Star Oil & Gas Company:
     In our opinion, the consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated statements of income, of stockholders’ equity and of cash flows (not presented separately herein) present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Four Star Oil & Gas Company (the “Company”) and its subsidiary at December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2007, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
     As described in Notes 3 and 4 to the financial statements, the Company has significant transactions with affiliated companies. Because of these relationships, it is possible that the terms of these transactions are not the same as those that would result from transactions among wholly unrelated parties.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Houston, Texas
February 25, 2008


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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Citrus Corp.:
In our opinion, the consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated statements of income, of stockholders’ equity, of comprehensive income and of cash flows (not presented separately herein) present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Citrus Corp. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) at December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2007 in conformity with the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
As discussed in Notes 2 and 6 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company adopted the recognition and disclosure provisions of FASB Statement No. 158 “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Pension and Other Postretirement Plans — an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106 and 132(R),” as of December 31, 2006.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Houston, Texas
February 25, 2008


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EL PASO CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In millions, except per common share amounts)
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2007     2006     2005  
Operating revenues
                       
Pipelines
  $ 2,494     $ 2,402     $ 2,171  
Exploration and Production
    2,300       1,854       1,787  
Marketing
    (219 )     (58 )     (796 )
Power
          6       82  
Field Services
                123  
Corporate and eliminations
    73       77       (8 )
 
                 
 
    4,648       4,281       3,359  
 
                 
Operating expenses
                       
Cost of products and services
    245       238       245  
Operation and maintenance
    1,333       1,337       1,935  
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
    1,176       1,047       1,006  
Taxes, other than income taxes
    249       232       234  
 
                 
 
    3,003       2,854       3,420  
 
                 
Operating income (loss)
    1,645       1,427       (61 )
Earnings from unconsolidated affiliates
    101       145       281  
Loss on debt extinguishment
    (291 )     (26 )     (29 )
Other income
    214       245       285  
Other expenses
    (11 )     (40 )     (17 )
Minority interest
    (6 )     (1 )     (1 )
Interest and debt expense
    (994 )     (1,228 )     (1,295 )
 
                 
Income (loss) before income taxes from continuing operations
    658       522       (837 )
Income taxes
    222       (9 )     (331 )
 
                 
Income (loss) from continuing operations
    436       531       (506 )
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes
    674       (56 )     (96 )
Cumulative effect of accounting changes, net of income taxes
                (4 )
 
                 
Net income (loss)
    1,110       475       (606 )
Preferred stock dividends
    37       37       27  
 
                 
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders
  $ 1,073     $ 438     $ (633 )
 
                 
 
                       
Basic earnings (loss) per common share
                       
Income (loss) from continuing operations
  $ 0.57     $ 0.73     $ (0.82 )
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes
    0.97       (0.08 )     (0.15 )
Cumulative effect of accounting changes, net of income taxes
                (0.01 )
 
                 
Net income (loss) per common share
  $ 1.54     $ 0.65     $ (0.98 )
 
                 
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share
                       
Income (loss) from continuing operations
  $ 0.57     $ 0.72     $ (0.82 )
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes
    0.96       (0.08 )     (0.15 )
Cumulative effect of accounting changes, net of income taxes
                (0.01 )
 
                 
Net income (loss) per common share
  $ 1.53     $ 0.64     $ (0.98 )
 
                 
See accompanying notes.

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EL PASO CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In millions, except share amounts)
                 
    December 31,  
    2007     2006  
ASSETS
               
Current assets
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 285     $ 537  
Accounts and notes receivable
               
Customer, net of allowance of $17 in 2007 and $28 in 2006
    468       516  
Affiliates
    196       192  
Other
    201       495  
Inventory
    131       115  
Assets from price risk management activities
    113       436  
Assets held for sale and of discontinued operations
          4,161  
Deferred income taxes
    191       478  
Other
    127       237  
 
           
Total current assets
    1,712       7,167  
 
           
Property, plant and equipment, at cost
               
Pipelines
    16,750       15,672  
Natural gas and oil properties, at full cost
    19,048       16,572  
Other
    530       566  
 
           
 
    36,328       32,810  
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization
    16,974       16,132  
 
           
Total property, plant and equipment, net
    19,354       16,678  
 
           
Other assets
               
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates
    1,614       1,707  
Assets from price risk management activities
    302       414  
Other
    1,597       1,295  
 
           
 
    3,513       3,416  
 
           
Total assets
  $ 24,579     $ 27,261  
 
           
See accompanying notes.

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EL PASO CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In millions, except share amounts)
                 
    December 31,  
    2007     2006  
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Current liabilities
               
Accounts payable
               
Trade
  $ 460     $ 478  
Affiliates
    5       3  
Other
    502       569  
Short-term financing obligations, including current maturities
    331       1,360  
Liabilities from price risk management activities
    267       278  
Liabilities of discontinued operations
          1,817  
Margin deposits held by us
    20       344  
Accrued interest
    195       269  
Other
    633       1,033  
 
           
Total current liabilities
    2,413       6,151  
 
           
Long-term financing obligations, less current maturities
    12,483       13,329  
 
           
Other
               
Liabilities from price risk management activities
    931       924  
Deferred income taxes
    1,157       950  
Other
    1,750       1,690  
 
           
 
    3,838       3,564  
 
           
 
               
Commitments and contingencies (Note 12)
               
Minority interests
    565       31  
Stockholders’ equity
               
 
               
Preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share; authorized 50,000,000 shares;
issued 750,000 shares of 4.99% convertible perpetual stock; stated at liquidation value
    750       750  
 
Common stock, par value $3 per share; authorized 1,500,000,000 shares;
issued 709,192,605 shares in 2007 and 705,833,206 shares in 2006
    2,128       2,118  
Additional paid-in capital
    4,699       4,804  
Accumulated deficit
    (1,834 )     (2,940 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (272 )     (343 )
Treasury stock (at cost); 8,656,095 shares in 2007 and 8,715,288 shares in 2006
    (191 )     (203 )
 
           
Total stockholders’ equity
    5,280       4,186  
 
           
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 24,579     $ 27,261  
 
           
See accompanying notes.

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EL PASO CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In millions)
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2007     2006     2005  
Cash flows from operating activities
                       
Net income (loss)
  $ 1,110     $ 475     $ (606 )
Less income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes
    674       (56 )     (96 )
 
                 
Net income (loss) before discontinued operations
    436       531       (510 )
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash from operating activities
                       
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
    1,176       1,047       1,006  
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)
    182       (20 )     (303 )
Earnings from unconsolidated affiliates, adjusted for cash distributions
    88       (6 )     (78 )
Loss on debt extinguishment
    291       26       29  
Other non-cash income items
    (25 )     72       401  
Asset and liability changes
                       
Accounts and notes receivable
    213       344       122  
Change in price risk management activities, net
    (69 )     (420 )     325  
Accounts payable
    (67 )     (382 )     (118 )
Change in margin and other deposits
    90       911       (679 )
Western Energy Settlement liability
                (395 )
Other asset changes
    (150 )     (179 )     177  
Other liability changes
    (327 )     (100 )     (10 )
 
                 
Cash provided by (used in) continuing activities
    1,838       1,824       (33 )
Cash provided by (used in) discontinued activities
    (33 )     279       301  
 
                 
Net cash provided by operating activities
    1,805       2,103       268  
 
                 
Cash flows from investing activities
                       
Capital expenditures
    (2,495 )     (2,164 )     (1,474 )
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired
    (1,197 )           (1,140 )
Net proceeds from the sale of assets and investments
    106       673       1,424  
Net change in restricted cash
    33       129       (57 )
Other
    3       23       204  
 
                 
Cash used in continuing activities
    (3,550 )     (1,339 )     (1,043 )
Cash provided by discontinued activities
    3,660       185       542  
 
                 
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
    110       (1,154 )     (501 )
 
                 
Cash flows from financing activities
                       
Net proceeds from issuance of long-term debt
    6,624       375       1,620  
Payments to retire long-term debt and other financing obligations
    (8,902 )     (3,024 )     (1,491 )
Net proceeds from issuance of minority interest in consolidated subsidiary
    538              
Net proceeds from the issuance of common stock
          500        
Dividends paid
    (149 )     (145 )     (121 )
Net proceeds from issuance of preferred stock
                723  
Payments to minority interest holders
          (5 )     (306 )
Contributions from discontinued operations
    3,344       232       666  
Other
    5       (13 )      
 
                 
Cash provided by (used in) continuing activities
    1,460       (2,080 )     1,091  
Cash used in discontinued activities
    (3,627 )     (464 )     (843 )
 
                 
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    (2,167 )     (2,544 )     248  
 
                 
Change in cash and cash equivalents
    (252 )     (1,595 )     15  
Cash and cash equivalents
                       
Beginning of period
    537       2,132       2,117  
 
                 
End of period
  $ 285     $ 537     $ 2,132  
 
                 
Supplemental cash flow information related to continuing operations
                       
Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized
  $ 1,054     $ 1,217     $ 1,238  
Income tax payments
    34       77       11  
See accompanying notes

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\

EL PASO CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(In millions, except per share amounts)
                                                 
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2007     2006     2005  
    Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount  
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value:
                                               
Balance at beginning of year
    1     $ 750       1     $ 750           $  
Equity offering
                            1       750  
 
                                   
Balance at end of year
    1       750       1       750       1       750  
 
                                   
Common stock, $3.00 par value:
                                               
Balance at beginning of year
    706       2,118       667       2,001       651       1,953  
Exchange of equity security units
                            14       41  
Equity offering
                36       107              
Other, net
    3       10       3       10       2       7  
 
                                   
Balance at end of year
    709       2,128       706       2,118       667       2,001  
 
                                   
Additional paid-in capital:
                                               
Balance at beginning of year
            4,804               4,592               4,538  
Equity offering
                          393                
Dividends
            (149 )             (147 )             (131 )
Exchange of equity security units
                                        230  
Other, including stock-based compensation
            44               (34 )             (45 )
 
                                         
Balance at end of year
            4,699               4,804               4,592  
 
                                         
Accumulated deficit:
                                               
Balance at beginning of year
            (2,940 )             (3,415 )             (2,809 )
Net income (loss)
            1,110               475               (606 )
Cumulative effect of adopting of FIN No. 48
            (4 )                            
 
                                         
Balance at end of year
            (1,834 )             (2,940 )             (3,415 )
 
                                         
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):
                                               
Balance at beginning of year
            (343 )             (332 )             1  
Other comprehensive income (loss)
            80               380               (333 )
Cumulative effect of adopting SFAS No. 158, net of income tax of $4 in 2007 and $210 in 2006
            (9 )             (391 )              
 
                                         
Balance at end of year
            (272 )             (343 )             (332 )
 
                                         
Treasury stock, at cost:
                                               
Balance at beginning of year
    (9 )     (203 )     (8 )     (190 )     (8 )     (225 )
Stock-based and other compensation
          12       (1 )     (13 )           35  
 
                                   
Balance at end of year
    (9 )     (191 )     (9 )     (203 )     (8 )     (190 )
 
                                   
Unamortized compensation:
                                               
Balance at beginning of year
                          (17 )             (20 )
Stock-based compensation
                                        3  
Adoption of SFAS No. 123(R)
                          17                
 
                                   
Balance at end of year
                                        (17 )
 
                                   
Total stockholders’ equity
    700     $ 5,280       697     $ 4,186       659     $ 3,389  
 
                                   
See accompanying notes.

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EL PASO CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(In millions)
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2007     2006     2005  
Net income (loss)
  $ 1,110     $ 475     $ (606 )
 
                 
Foreign currency translation adjustments (net of income tax benefits of less than $1 in 2006 and $13 in 2005)
          4       (9 )
Pension and postretirement obligations
               
Unrealized actuarial gains (losses) arising during period (net of taxes of $91 in 2007, $3 in 2006 and $2 in 2005)
    181       5       (3 )
Reclassification adjustments (net of taxes of $13 in 2007)
    26              
Cash flow hedging activities:
                       
Unrealized mark-to-market gains (losses) arising during period (net of income tax of $2 in 2007, $196 in 2006 and $229 in 2005)
    (3 )     352       (415 )
Reclassification adjustments for changes in initial value to settlement date (net of income tax of $65 in 2007, $15 in 2006 and $46 in 2005)
    (112 )     22       79  
Investments available for sale:
                       
Unrealized gains arising during period (net of income tax of $2 in 2007, $16 in 2006 and $9 in 2005)
    3       28       15  
Realized gains reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income during period (net of income tax of $8 in 2007 and $17 in 2006)
    (15 )     (31 )      
 
                 
Other comprehensive income (loss)
    80       380       (333 )
 
                 
Comprehensive income (loss)
  $ 1,190     $ 855     $ (939 )
 
                 
See accompanying notes.

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EL PASO CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies
     Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation
     Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and include the accounts of all majority owned and controlled subsidiaries after the elimination of all significant intercompany accounts and transactions. Our financial statements for prior periods include reclassifications that were made to conform to the current year presentation. These reclassifications did not impact our reported net income (loss) or stockholders’ equity.
     We consolidate entities when we either (i) have the ability to control the operating and financial decisions and policies of that entity or (ii) are allocated a majority of the entity’s losses and/or returns through our variable interests (see Note 17) in that entity. The determination of our ability to control or exert significant influence over an entity and whether we are allocated a majority of the entity’s losses and/or returns involves the use of judgment. We apply the equity method of accounting where we can exert significant influence over, but do not control, the policies and decisions of an entity and where we are not allocated a majority of the entity’s losses and/or returns. We use the cost method of accounting where we are unable to exert significant influence over the entity.
     Use of Estimates
     The preparation of our financial statements requires the use of estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts we report as assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and our disclosures in these financial statements. Actual results can, and often do, differ from those estimates.
     Regulated Operations
     Our interstate natural gas pipelines and storage operations are subject to the jurisdiction of the FERC under the Natural Gas Act of 1938, the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 and the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Our pipelines follow the regulatory accounting principles prescribed under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 71, Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation. Under SFAS No. 71, we record regulatory assets and liabilities that would not be recorded under GAAP for non-regulated entities. Regulatory assets and liabilities represent probable future revenues or expenses associated with certain charges or credits that will be recovered from or refunded to customers through the rate making process. Items to which we apply regulatory accounting requirements include certain postretirement employee benefit plan costs, an equity return component on regulated capital projects and certain costs included in, or expected to be included in, future rates.
     Cash and Cash Equivalents
     We consider short-term investments with an original maturity of less than three months to be cash equivalents.
     We maintain cash on deposit with banks and insurance companies that is pledged for a particular use or restricted to support a potential liability. We classify these balances as restricted cash in other current or non-current assets on our balance sheet based on when we expect the restrictions on this cash to be removed. As of December 31, 2007, we had $7 million of restricted cash in current assets and $91 million in other non-current assets. As of December 31, 2006, we had $8 million of restricted cash in other current assets and $123 million in other non-current assets.
     Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
     We establish provisions for losses on accounts and notes receivable and for natural gas imbalances due from shippers and operators if we determine that we will not collect all or part of the outstanding balance. We regularly review collectibility and establish or adjust our allowance as necessary using the specific identification method.

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     Inventory
     Our inventory consists primarily of supplies and materials and is classified as current on our balance sheet. We use the average cost method to account for our inventories. We value all inventory at the lower of its cost or market value.
     Property, Plant and Equipment
     Pipelines and Other (Excluding Natural Gas and Oil Properties). Our property, plant and equipment is recorded at its original cost of construction or, upon acquisition, at the fair value of the assets acquired. For assets we construct, we capitalize direct costs, such as labor and materials, and indirect costs, such as overhead, interest and, an equity return component in our regulated businesses. We capitalize major units of property replacements or improvements and expense minor items. Prior to January 1, 2006, we capitalized certain costs our interstate pipelines incurred related to their pipeline integrity programs as part of our property, plant and equipment. Beginning January 1, 2006, we began expensing these costs based on FERC guidance. During the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, we expensed approximately $18 million and $19 million as a result of the adoption of this accounting release, which was approximately $0.03 per basic and fully diluted share in 2007 and $0.02 per basic and fully diluted share in 2006.
     Included in our pipeline property balances are additional acquisition costs, which represent the excess purchase costs associated with purchase business combinations allocated to our regulated interstate systems’ property, plant and equipment. These costs are amortized on a straight-line basis and we do not recover these excess costs in our rates.
     When we retire property, plant and equipment in our regulated operations, we charge accumulated depreciation and amortization for the original cost of the assets in addition to the cost to remove, sell or dispose of the assets, less their salvage value. We do not recognize a gain or loss unless we sell an entire operating unit. We include gains or losses on dispositions of operating units in operating income.
     Natural Gas and Oil Properties. We use the full cost method to account for our natural gas and oil properties. Under the full cost method, substantially all costs incurred in connection with the acquisition, development and exploration of natural gas and oil reserves are capitalized on a country-by-country basis. These capitalized amounts include the costs of unproved properties, internal costs directly related to acquisition, development and exploration activities, asset retirement costs and capitalized interest. Under the full cost method, both dry hole costs and geological and geophysical costs are capitalized into the full cost pool, which is subject to amortization and periodically assessed for impairment through a ceiling test calculation discussed below.
     Capitalized costs associated with proved reserves are amortized over the life of the reserves using the unit of production method. Conversely, capitalized costs associated with unproved properties are excluded from the amortizable base until these properties are evaluated, which occurs quarterly. We transfer unproved property costs into the amortizable base when properties are determined to have proved reserves. In addition, in areas where a natural gas or oil reserve base exists, we transfer unproved property costs to the amortizable base when unproved properties are evaluated as being impaired and as exploratory dry holes are determined to be unsuccessful. Additionally, the amortizable base includes future development costs; dismantlement, restoration and abandonment costs, net of estimated salvage values; and geological and geophysical costs incurred that cannot be associated with specific unevaluated properties or prospects in which we own a direct interest.
     Our capitalized costs, net of related income tax effects, are limited to a ceiling based on the present value of future net revenues discounted at 10 percent plus the lower of cost or fair market value of unproved properties, net of related income tax effects. We utilize end-of-period spot prices when calculating future net revenues unless those prices result in a ceiling test charge in which case we evaluate price recoveries subsequent to the end of the period. If total capitalized costs exceed the ceiling, we are required to write-down our capitalized costs to the ceiling. We perform this ceiling test calculation each quarter. Any required write-down is included in our income statement as a ceiling test charge. Our ceiling test calculations include the effects of derivative instruments we have designated as, and that qualify as, cash flow hedges of our anticipated future natural gas and oil production. Our ceiling test calculations exclude the estimated future cash outflows associated with asset retirement liabilities related to proved developed reserves.
     When we sell or convey interests in our natural gas and oil properties, we reduce our natural gas and oil reserves for the amount attributable to the sold or conveyed interest. We do not recognize a gain or loss on sales of our natural gas and oil properties, unless those sales would significantly alter the relationship between capitalized costs and proved reserves. We treat sales proceeds on non-significant sales as an adjustment to the cost of our properties.
     Asset and Investment Divestitures/Impairments
     We evaluate assets and investments for impairment when events or circumstances indicate that their carrying values may not be recovered. These events include market declines that are believed to be other than temporary, changes in the manner in which we intend to use a long-lived asset, decisions to sell an asset or investment and adverse changes in the legal or business environment such

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as adverse actions by regulators. When an event occurs, we evaluate the recoverability of our carrying value based on either (i) the long-lived asset’s ability to generate future cash flows on an undiscounted basis or (ii) the fair value of the investment in an unconsolidated affiliate. If an impairment is indicated, or if we decide to sell a long-lived asset or group of assets, we adjust the carrying values of the asset downward, if necessary, to their estimated fair value. Our fair value estimates are generally based on market data obtained through the sales process or an analysis of expected discounted cash flows. The magnitude of any impairment is impacted by a number of factors, including the nature of the assets being sold and our established time frame for completing the sale, among other factors.
     We reclassify the asset or assets to be sold as either held-for-sale or as discontinued operations, depending on, among other criteria, whether we will have significant long-term continuing involvement with those assets after they are sold. We cease depreciating assets in the period that they are reclassified as either held for sale or discontinued operations.
     Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
     We maintain several pension and other postretirement benefit plans. These plans require us to make contributions to fund the benefits to be paid out under the plans. These contributions are invested until the benefits are paid out to plan participants. We record benefit expense related to these plans in our income statement. This benefit expense is a function of many factors including benefits earned during the year by plan participants (which is a function of the employee’s salary, the level of benefits provided under the plan, actuarial assumptions, and the passage of time), expected returns on plan assets and amortization of certain deferred gains and losses. For a further discussion of our policies with respect to our pension and postretirement plans, see Note 13.
     Our pension and other postretirement benefit plans use the recognition provisions of SFAS No. 158, Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans — an Amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106 and 132(R). Under SFAS No. 158, we record an asset or liability for our pension and other postretirement benefit plans based on their overfunded or underfunded status. Any deferred amounts related to unrealized gains and losses or changes in actuarial assumptions are recorded either as a regulatory asset or liability for our regulated operations or in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), a component of stockholders’ equity, for our nonregulated operations until those gains and losses are recognized in the income statement. For a further discussion of our application of SFAS No. 158, see Note 13.
     Revenue Recognition
     Our business segments provide a number of services and sell a variety of products. We record revenues for these products and services which include estimates of amounts earned but unbilled. We estimate these unbilled revenues related to services provided or products delivered based on contract data, regulatory information, commodity prices, and preliminary throughput and allocation measurements, among other items. The revenue recognition policies of our most significant operating segments are as follows:
     Pipelines revenues. Our Pipelines segment derives revenues primarily from transportation and storage services. Revenues for all services are generally based on the thermal quantity of gas delivered or subscribed at a price specified in the contract. For our transportation and storage services, we recognize reservation revenues on firm contracted capacity ratably over the contract period regardless of the amount of natural gas that is transported or stored. For interruptible or volumetric based services, we record revenues when physical deliveries of natural gas are made at the agreed upon delivery point or when gas is injected or withdrawn from the storage facility. Gas not needed for operations is based on the volumes we are allowed to retain relative to the amounts of gas we use for operating purposes. We recognize revenue from gas not used in operations when we retain the volumes under our tariffs. We are subject to FERC regulations and, as a result, revenues we collect in rate proceedings may be subject to refund. We establish reserves for these potential refunds.
     Exploration and Production revenues. Our Exploration and Production segment derives revenues primarily through the physical sale of natural gas, oil, condensate and NGL. Revenues from sales of these products are recorded upon delivery and passage of title using the sales method, net of any royalty interests or other profit interests in the produced product. When actual natural gas sales volumes exceed our entitled share of sales volumes, an overproduced imbalance occurs. To the extent the overproduced imbalance exceeds our share of the remaining estimated proved natural gas reserves for a given property, we record a liability. Costs associated with the transportation and delivery of production are included in cost of products and services.

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     Marketing revenues. Our Marketing segment derives revenues from physical natural gas and power transactions and the management of derivative contracts. Our derivative transactions are recorded at their fair value and changes in their fair value are reflected net in operating revenues. For a further discussion of our income recognition policies on derivatives see Price Risk Management Activities below. The impact of non-derivative transactions, including our transportation contracts, are recognized net in operating revenues based on the contractual or market price and related volumes at the time the commodity is delivered or the contracts are terminated.
     Environmental Costs and Other Contingencies
     Environmental Costs. We record liabilities at their undiscounted amounts on our balance sheet as other current and long-term liabilities when environmental assessments indicate that remediation efforts are probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated. Estimates of our liabilities are based on currently available facts, existing technology and presently enacted laws and regulations taking into consideration the likely effects of other societal and economic factors, and include estimates of associated legal costs. These amounts also consider prior experience in remediating contaminated sites, other companies’ clean-up experience and data released by the EPA or other organizations. Our estimates are subject to revision in future periods based on actual costs or new circumstances. We capitalize costs that benefit future periods and recognize a current period charge in operation and maintenance expense when clean-up efforts do not benefit future periods.
     We evaluate any amounts paid directly or reimbursed by government sponsored programs and potential recoveries or reimbursements of remediation costs from third parties, including insurance coverage, separately from our liability. Recovery is evaluated based on the creditworthiness or solvency of the third party, among other factors. When recovery is assured, we record and report an asset separately from the associated liability on our balance sheet.
     Other Contingencies. We recognize liabilities for other contingencies when we have an exposure that, when fully analyzed, indicates it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. Where the most likely outcome of a contingency can be reasonably estimated, we accrue a liability for that amount. Where the most likely outcome cannot be estimated, a range of potential losses is established and if no one amount in that range is more likely than any other, the low end of the range is accrued.
     Price Risk Management Activities
     Our price risk management activities consist of the following activities:
    derivatives entered into to hedge or otherwise reduce the commodity exposure on our natural gas and oil production and interest rate and foreign currency exposure on our long-term debt; and
 
    derivatives not intended to hedge these exposures, including those related to our legacy trading activities that we entered into with the objective of generating profits from exposure to shifts or changes in market prices.
     Our derivatives are reflected on our balance sheet at their fair value as assets and liabilities from price risk management activities. We classify our derivatives as either current or non-current assets or liabilities based on their anticipated settlement date. We net derivative assets and liabilities for counterparties where we have a legal right of offset. See Note 7 for a further discussion of our price risk management activities. During 2007, we adopted the provisions of FASB Staff Position (FSP) FIN No. 39-1, Offsetting of Amounts Related to Certain Contracts, which allowed companies the option to offset amounts recorded for their derivative contracts with cash collateral posted or held if the contracts are executed with the same counterparty and under the same master netting arrangement. We elected to continue to report separately amounts recorded for derivative contracts from cash collateral posted or held on our balance sheet and, as a result, our adoption of this standard had no impact on our financial statements.
     Derivatives that we have designated as accounting hedges impact our revenues or expenses based on the nature and timing of the transactions that they hedge. Derivatives that we have not designated as hedges are marked-to-market each period and changes in their fair value are reflected as revenues.
     In our cash flow statement, cash inflows and outflows associated with the settlement of our derivative instruments are recognized in operating cash flows (other than those derivatives intended to hedge the principal amounts of our foreign currency denominated debt). In our balance sheet, receivables and payables resulting from the settlement of our derivative instruments are reported as trade receivables and payables.

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     Income Taxes
     We record current income taxes based on our current taxable income and provide for deferred income taxes to reflect estimated future tax payments and receipts. Deferred taxes represent the tax impacts of differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities and carryovers at each year end. We account for tax credits under the flow-through method, which reduces the provision for income taxes in the year the tax credits first become available. We reduce deferred tax assets by a valuation allowance when, based on our estimates, it is more likely than not that a portion of those assets will not be realized in a future period. The estimates utilized in recognition of deferred tax assets are subject to revision, either up or down, in future periods based on new facts or circumstances.
     Effective January 1, 2007, we adopted the provisions of FIN No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes. FIN No. 48 clarifies SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes, and requires us to evaluate our tax positions for all jurisdictions and for all years where the statute of limitations has not expired. FIN No. 48 requires companies to meet a “more-likely-than-not” threshold (i.e. greater than a 50 percent likelihood of a tax position being sustained under examination) prior to recording a benefit for their tax positions. Additionally, for tax positions meeting this “more-likely-than-not” threshold, the amount of benefit is limited to the largest benefit that has a greater than 50 percent probability of being realized upon effective settlement. We recognize interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expenses on our income statement. For a further discussion of the impact of the adoption of FIN No. 48, see Note 4.
     Foreign Currency Translation
     For foreign operations whose functional currency is the local currency, assets and liabilities are translated at year-end exchange rates and revenues and expenses are translated at average exchange rates prevailing during the year. The cumulative effects of translating the local currency to the U.S. dollar are included as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in stockholders’ equity on our balance sheet.
     Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations
     We account for our asset retirement obligations in accordance with SFAS No. 143, Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations and Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Interpretation (FIN) No. 47, Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations. We record a liability for legal obligations associated with the replacement, removal, or retirement of our long-lived assets. Our asset retirement liabilities are recorded at their estimated fair value with a corresponding increase to property, plant and equipment. This increase in property, plant and equipment is then depreciated over the useful life of the long-lived asset to which that liability relates. An ongoing expense is also recognized for changes in the value of the liability as a result of the passage of time, which we record as depreciation, depletion and amortization expense in our income statement. Our regulated pipelines have the ability to recover certain of these costs from their customers and have recorded an asset (rather than expense) associated with the depreciation of the property, plant and equipment and accretion of the liabilities described above.
     Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.
     On January 1, 2006, we adopted SFAS No. 123(R), Share-Based Payment, prospectively for awards of stock-based compensation granted after that date and for the unvested portion of outstanding awards at that date. We measure all employee stock-based compensation awards at fair value on the date they are granted to employees and recognize compensation cost in our financial statements over the requisite service period. Prior to January 1, 2006, we accounted for stock-based compensation awards using the intrinsic value method under the provisions of Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and its related interpretations, and did not record compensation expense on stock options that were granted at the market value of the stock on the date of grant. For additional information on our stock-based compensation awards, see Note 15.

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     The following table shows the impact on the net loss available to common stockholders and loss per share had we applied the provisions of SFAS No. 123 in 2005 (in millions, except for per share amounts):
         
Net loss available to common stockholders, as reported
  $ (633 )
Add: Stock-based employee compensation expense included in reported net loss, net of taxes
    12  
Deduct: Total stock-based compensation expense determined under fair-value based method for all awards, net of taxes
    (19 )
 
     
Net loss available to common stockholders, pro forma
  $ (640 )
 
     
Loss per common share:
       
Basic and diluted, as reported
  $ (0.98 )
 
     
Basic and diluted, pro forma
  $ (0.99 )
 
     
     New Accounting Pronouncements Issued But Not Yet Adopted
     As of December 31, 2007, the following accounting standards and interpretations had not yet been adopted by us.
     Fair Value Measurements. In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements, which provides guidance on measuring the fair value of assets and liabilities in the financial statements. We will adopt the provisions of this standard for our financial assets and liabilities effective January 1, 2008, at which time we will be required to consider our own credit standing in the determination of the fair value of our liabilities. Adoption of the standard is not expected to have a material impact on our financial statements. The FASB provided a one year deferral of the adoption of SFAS No. 157 for certain non-financial assets and liabilities. We have elected to defer the adoption for certain of our non-financial assets and liabilities and are currently evaluating the impact, if any, that the deferred provisions of this standard will have on our financial statements.
     Measurement Date of Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits. In December 2006, we adopted the recognition provisions of SFAS No. 158. Beginning in 2008, this standard will also require us to change the measurement date of our pension and other postretirement benefit plans from September 30, the date we currently use, to December 31. Adoption of the measurement date provisions of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on our financial statements.
     Fair Value Option. In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities — including an Amendment to FASB Statement No. 115, Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities, which permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value. We will adopt the provisions of this standard effective January 1, 2008, and do not anticipate that it will have a material impact on our financial statements.
     Business Combinations. In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141(R), Business Combinations, which provides revised guidance on the accounting for acquisitions of businesses. This standard changes the current guidance to require that all acquired assets, liabilities, minority interest and certain contingencies be measured at fair value, and certain other acquisition-related costs be expensed rather than capitalized. SFAS No. 141(R) will apply to acquisitions that are effective after December 31, 2008, and application of the standard to acquisitions prior to that date is not permitted.
     Noncontrolling Interests. In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements, which provides guidance on the presentation of minority interest in the financial statements. This standard requires that minority interest be presented as a separate component of equity rather than as a “mezzanine” item between liabilities and equity, and also requires that minority interest be presented as a separate caption in the income statement. This standard also requires all transactions with minority interest holders, including the issuance and repurchase of minority interests, be accounted for as equity transactions unless a change in control of the subsidiary occurs. SFAS No. 160 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, and we are currently evaluating the impact that this standard will have on our financial statements.

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2. Acquisitions and Divestitures
Acquisitions
     Peoples Energy Production Company (Peoples). In September 2007, we acquired Peoples for $887 million using cash on hand and borrowings under our revolving credit facilities. Peoples is an exploration and production company with natural gas and oil properties located primarily in the Arklatex, Texas Gulf Coast and Mississippi areas and in the San Juan and Arkoma Basins. We accounted for this acquisition under the purchase method of accounting and allocated the purchase price primarily to natural gas and oil properties on our balance sheet, which is subject to change based on the finalization of this allocation. We did not record any goodwill associated with this transaction.
     South Texas properties. In January 2007, we acquired operated natural gas and oil producing properties and undeveloped acreage in south Texas, for approximately $254 million.
     Medicine Bow. In August 2005, we completed the acquisition of Medicine Bow, a privately held energy company, for total cash consideration of approximately $853 million. As part of the transaction, we also acquired Four Star, an unconsolidated affiliate of Medicine Bow, and we reflect our proportionate share of their operating results as earnings from unconsolidated affiliates in our financial statements (see Note 17). In 2007, we increased our ownership in Four Star from 43 percent to 49 percent.
     Gulf LNG. In February 2008, we closed on the previously announced acquisition of a 50 percent interest in the Gulf LNG Clean Energy Project, a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal which is currently under construction in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and paid $294 million.
     Divestitures
     During 2007, 2006 and 2005, we sold a number of assets and investments in each of our business segments and corporate activities. The table and discussions below summarize the assets sold and proceeds from these sales:
                         
    2007     2006     2005  
    (In millions)  
Power
  $ 1     $ 531     $ 625  
Field Services
                657  
Exploration and Production
    2       122       7  
Marketing
    24              
Pipelines
    36       3       49  
Corporate
    3       2       121  
 
                 
Total continuing(1)
    66       658       1,459  
Discontinued
    3,660       368       577  
 
                 
Total
  $ 3,726     $ 1,026     $ 2,036  
 
                 
 
(1)   Proceeds exclude any returns of capital on our investments in unconsolidated affiliates and cash transferred with the assets sold and include costs incurred in preparing assets for disposal. These items increased our sales proceeds by $40 million for the year ended December 31, 2007, increased our sales proceeds by $15 million for the year ended December 31, 2006, and decreased our sales proceeds by $35 million for the years ended December 31, 2005.
     Power. Assets sold in 2006 consisted primarily of our interests in MCV and power plants in Brazil, Asia, and Central America. Assets sold in 2005 consisted primarily of interests in our power contract restructuring entities and power plants in India and Korea.
     Field Services. Assets sold in 2005 consisted primarily of our investment in Enterprise and the Javelina natural gas processing and pipeline assets.

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     Exploration and Production, Marketing, Pipelines and Corporate. Assets sold consisted primarily of our investment in NYMEX and our Stagecoach Pipeline lateral in 2007, natural gas and oil properties in south Texas in 2006 and pipeline facilities and gathering systems located in the southeastern and western U.S. and Lakeside Technology Center in 2005.
     Discontinued Operations and Assets Held for Sale
     Under SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, we classify assets to be disposed of as held for sale or, if appropriate, discontinued operations when they have received appropriate approvals to be disposed of by our management or Board of Directors and when they meet other criteria. Cash flows from our discontinued businesses are reflected as discontinued operating, investing, and financing activities in our statement of cash flows. To the extent these operations do not maintain separate cash balances, we reflect the net cash flows generated from these businesses as a contribution to our continuing operations in cash from continuing financing activities. The following is a description of our discontinued operations and summarized results of these operations for the periods ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005. We also had $28 million of assets held for sale as of December 31, 2006. As of December 31, 2007, all of our assets and liabilities related to our discontinued operations and assets held for sale had been sold.
     ANR and Related Operations. In February 2007, we sold ANR, our Michigan storage assets and our 50 percent interest in Great Lakes Gas Transmission for approximately $3.7 billion. We recorded a gain on the sale of $648 million, net of taxes of $354 million. Included in the net assets of these discontinued operations as of the date of sale were net deferred tax liabilities assumed by the purchaser. We also recorded approximately $188 million of deferred taxes in 2006 in conjunction with the sale.
     International Power Operations. During 2006, we completed the sale of all of our discontinued international power operations including Macae, a wholly owned power plant facility in Brazil, and Asian and Central American power assets for total net proceeds of approximately $368 million. Previously in 2005, we recognized approximately $499 million of impairments, net of minority interest, based upon indications of the value we would receive upon the sale of the assets.
     South Louisiana Gathering and Processing Operations. During 2005, we completed the sale of our south Louisiana gathering and processing assets for net proceeds of approximately $486 million and recorded a pre-tax gain of approximately $394 million. These assets were part of our historical Field Services segment.
     Other. Prior to 2005, our Canadian and certain other international natural gas and oil production operations and our petroleum markets businesses and operations were approved for sale. We completed the sale of substantially all of these properties in 2004 and 2005.
     Income Taxes on Discontinued Operations. For the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, we incurred income tax expense associated with our discontinued operations of $369 million, $274 million and $179 million resulting in an effective tax rate of approximately 35%, 126% and 216% for these years. The effective tax rates in 2006 and 2005 are significantly higher than the statutory rate of 35% primarily due to the following items:
    In 2006, we recorded approximately $188 million of deferred taxes upon agreeing to sell the stock of ANR, our Michigan storage assets and our 50 percent interest in Great Lakes Gas Transmission. Prior to our decision to sell, we only recorded deferred taxes on individual assets/liabilities and a portion of our investment in the stock of one of these companies;
    In 2005, (i) impairments and operating losses of certain foreign investments for which no tax benefit was available, (ii) receipt of dividends from foreign subsidiaries taxable in the U.S. and (iii) state income taxes.

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     The summarized operating results and financial position data of our discontinued operations were as follows:
                                         
                    South              
                    Louisiana              
                    Gathering              
    ANR and     International     and              
    Related     Power     Processing              
    Operations     Operations     Operations     Other     Total  
    (In millions)  
Year Ended December 31, 2007
                                       
Revenues
  $ 101     $     $     $     $ 101  
Costs and expenses
    (43 )                       (43 )
Other expense(1)
    (7 )                       (7 )
Interest and debt expense
    (10 )                       (10 )
Income taxes
    (15 )                       (15 )
 
                             
Income from operations
                                    26  
Gain on sale, net of income taxes of $354 million
                                    648  
 
                             
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes
                                  $ 674  
 
                             
 
                                       
Year Ended December 31, 2006
                                       
Revenues
  $ 581     $ 149     $     $     $ 730  
Costs and expenses
    (334 )     (159 )                 (493 )
Gain (loss) on long-lived assets
          (11 )     5             (6 )
Other income
    63       3                   66  
Interest and debt expense
    (65 )     (14 )                 (79 )
Income taxes
                                    (274 )
 
                                     
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes
                                  $ (56 )
 
                                     
 
                                       
Year Ended December 31, 2005
                                       
Revenues
  $ 612     $ 207     $ 292     $ 127     $ 1,238  
Costs and expenses
    (372 )     (216 )     (264 )     (182 )     (1,034 )
Gain (loss) on long-lived assets
          (510 )     394       2       (114 )
Other income
    62       13             12       87  
Interest and debt expense
    (68 )     (26 )                 (94 )
Income taxes
                                    (179 )
 
                                     
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes
                                  $ (96 )
 
                                     
 
(1)   Includes a loss of approximately $19 million associated with the extinguishment of certain debt obligations.
         
    ANR and  
    Related  
    Operations  
    (In millions)  
December 31, 2006
       
Assets of discontinued operations
       
Accounts and notes receivable
  $ 19  
Other current assets
    757  
Property, plant and equipment, net
    3,357  
 
     
Total assets
  $ 4,133  
 
     
Liabilities of discontinued operations
       
Accounts payable
  $ 64  
Other current liabilities
    160  
Long-term debt
    741  
Deferred income taxes
    852  
 
     
Total liabilities
  $ 1,817  
 
     

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3. Other Income and Other Expenses
     The following are the components of other income and other expenses from continuing operations for each of the three years ended December 31:
                         
    2007     2006     2005  
    (In millions)  
Other Income
                       
Interest income
  $ 49     $ 138     $ 125  
Allowance for funds used during construction
    32       20       23  
Deferred taxes on capitalized funds used during construction
    18       11       14  
Development, management and administrative services fees on power projects from affiliates
    3       7       11  
Reversal of liability for legacy crude oil purchases (see Note 12)
    77              
Foreign currency gain, net
                36  
Gain on sale of non-equity method investments
    24       47       40  
Dividend income
          14       19  
Other
    11       8       17  
 
                 
Total
  $ 214     $ 245     $ 285  
 
                 
Other Expenses
                       
Foreign currency losses, net
  $ 1     $ 20     $  
Loss on sale of non-equity method investments
          12        
Other
    10       8       17  
 
                 
Total
  $ 11     $ 40     $ 17  
 
                 
4. Income Taxes
     Pretax Income (Loss) and Income Tax Expense (Benefit). The tables below show our pretax income (loss) from continuing operations and the components of income tax expense (benefit) for each of the years ended December 31:
                         
    2007     2006     2005  
    (In millions)  
Pretax Income (Loss)
                       
U.S.
  $ 587     $ 442     $ (872 )
Foreign
    71       80       35  
 
                 
 
  $ 658     $ 522     $ (837 )
 
                 
Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit)
                       
Current
                       
Federal
  $ (1 )   $ 7     $ (13 )
State
    33       (15 )     (37 )
Foreign
    8       19       22  
 
                 
 
    40       11       (28 )
 
                 
Deferred
                       
Federal
    217       (46 )     (372 )
State
    (39 )     32       67  
Foreign
    4       (6 )     2  
 
                 
 
    182       (20 )     (303 )
 
                 
Total income taxes
  $ 222     $ (9 )   $ (331 )
 
                 

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     Effective Tax Rate Reconciliation. Our income taxes, included in income (loss) from continuing operations, differs from the amount computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate of 35 percent for the following reasons for each of the three years ended December 31:
                         
    2007     2006     2005  
    (In millions, except rates)  
Income taxes at the statutory federal rate of 35%
  $ 230     $ 183     $ (293 )
Increase (decrease)
                       
Audit settlements
          (159 )     (58 )
Earnings from unconsolidated affiliates where we anticipate receiving dividends
    (40 )     (35 )     (36 )
Texas margins tax credit on accumulated net operating loss
    (16 )            
State income taxes, net of federal income tax effect
    14       20       (16 )
Sales and write-offs of foreign investments
    1       (17 )     (7 )
Foreign income taxed at different rates
    24       (13 )     75  
IRS interest refund
          (11 )      
Valuation allowances
    10       23       34  
Non-taxable Medicare reimbursements
    (3 )     (6 )     (25 )
Other
    2       6       (5 )
 
                 
Income taxes
  $ 222     $ (9 )   $ (331 )
 
                 
Effective tax rate
    34 %     (2 )%     40 %
 
                 
     In 2006 and 2005, our overall effective tax rate on continuing operations was significantly different than the statutory rate due primarily to the conclusion of IRS audits. In 2006, our audit settlements primarily relate to the conclusion of the audits of The Coastal Corporation’s 1998-2000 tax years and El Paso’s 2001 and 2002 tax years which resulted in the reduction of tax contingencies and the reinstatement of certain tax credits. In 2005, audit settlements primarily relate to the conclusion of The Coastal Corporation’s IRS tax audits for years prior to 1998.
     Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities. The following are the components of our net deferred tax liability related to continuing operations as of December 31:
                 
    2007     2006  
    (In millions)  
Deferred tax liabilities
               
Property, plant and equipment
  $ 3,106     $ 2,736  
Investments in affiliates
    227       555  
Regulatory and other assets
    107       53  
 
           
Total deferred tax liability
    3,440       3,344  
 
           
Deferred tax assets
               
Net operating loss and tax credit carryovers
               
Federal
    1,135       1,560  
State
    188       214  
Foreign
    105       81  
Price risk management activities
    439       284  
Legal and other reserves
    321       332  
Other
    464       568  
Valuation allowance
    (137 )     (127 )
 
           
Total deferred tax asset
    2,515       2,912  
 
           
Net deferred tax liability
  $ 925     $ 432  
 
           
     We expect to receive sales proceeds within the U.S. on Asia and Central America power assets and have recorded U.S. deferred tax assets and liabilities on book versus tax basis differences in these assets. As of December 31, 2007 and 2006, we have U.S. deferred tax assets of $12 million and $45 million and U.S. deferred tax liabilities of $1 million and $2 million related to these investments. Cumulative undistributed earnings from substantially all of the remainder of our foreign subsidiaries and foreign corporate joint ventures (excluding the power assets discussed above) have been or are intended to be indefinitely reinvested in foreign operations. Therefore, no provision has been made for any U.S. taxes or foreign withholding taxes that may be applicable upon actual or deemed repatriation, and an estimate of the taxes if earnings were to be repatriated is not practical. At December 31, 2007, the portion of the cumulative undistributed earnings from these investments on which we have not recorded U.S. income taxes was approximately $117 million. For these same reasons, we have not recorded a provision for U.S. income taxes on the foreign currency translation adjustments recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income.

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     Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Liabilities) for Uncertain Tax Matters (FIN No. 48). We file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, and various states and foreign jurisdictions. With few exceptions, we are no longer subject to U.S. federal, state and local, or non-U.S. income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 1999. Additionally, the Internal Revenue Service has completed an examination of El Paso’s U. S. income tax returns for 2003 and 2004, with a tentative settlement at the appellate level for all issues. While the settlement of these matters is expected to change our unrecognized tax benefits in the next twelve months, we do not anticipate the impact to be significant to our results of operations, financial condition or liquidity. For our remaining open tax years, our unrecognized tax benefits (liabilities for uncertain tax matters) could increase or decrease our income tax expense and effective income tax rates as these matters are finalized, although we are currently unable to estimate the range of potential impacts these matters could have on our financial statements.
     Upon the adoption of FIN No. 48, we recorded additional liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits of $2 million, including interest and penalties, which we accounted for as an increase of $4 million to our January 1, 2007 accumulated deficit and an increase of $2 million to additional paid—in capital. The following table below shows the change in unrecognized tax benefits from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2007:
         
Balance at January 1, 2007(1)
  $ 139  
Additions:
       
Tax positions taken in prior years
    2  
Tax positions taken in current year
    23  
Foreign currency fluctuations
    1  
Reductions:
       
Tax positions taken in prior years
    (5 )
Settlements with taxing authorities
    (3 )
 
     
 
       
Balance at December 31, 2007(2)
  $ 157  
 
     
 
(1)   Balance at January 1, 2007 including $39 million of interest and penalties was $178 million.
 
(2)   There were no lapses in statutes of limitations during 2007 that impacted our unrecognized tax benefits.
     As of December 31, 2007, approximately $132 million (net of federal tax benefits) of unrecognized tax benefits would affect our income tax expense and our effective income tax rate if recognized in future periods. While the amount of our unrecognized tax benefits could change in the next twelve months, we do not expect this change to have a significant impact on our results of operations or financial position.
     During the year ended December 31, 2007, we recognized $6 million in interest and penalties. We had $45 million accrued for the payment of interest and penalties as of December 31, 2007.
     Tax Credit and NOL Carryovers. As of December 31, 2007, we have U.S. federal alternative minimum tax credits of $344 million that carryover indefinitely. The table below presents the details of our federal and state net operating loss carryover periods as of December 31, 2007:
                                         
    Carryover Period
    2008   2009-2012   2013-2017   2018-2027   Total
    (In millions)
U.S. federal net operating loss
  $     $ 19     $ 17     $ 2,335     $ 2,371  
State net operating loss
    197       752       553       1,224       2,726  
     We also had $240 million of foreign net operating loss carryovers and $68 million of foreign capital loss carryovers which carryover indefinitely. Usage of our U.S. federal carryovers is subject to the limitations provided under Sections 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code as well as the separate return limitation year rules of IRS regulations.

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     Valuation Allowances. Deferred tax assets are recorded on net operating losses and temporary differences in the book and tax basis of assets and liabilities expected to produce tax deductions in future periods. The realization of these assets depends on recognition of sufficient future taxable income in specific tax jurisdictions during periods in which those temporary differences or net operating losses are deductible. In assessing the need for a valuation allowance on our deferred tax assets, we consider whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of them will not be realized. As part of our assessment, we consider future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, primarily related to depreciation. We believe it is more likely than not that we will realize the benefit of our deferred tax assets, net of existing valuation allowances.
5. Earnings Per Share
     We calculated basic and diluted earnings per common share as follows for the three years ended December 31:
                                                 
    2007     2006     2005  
    Basic     Diluted     Basic     Diluted     Basic     Diluted  
    (In millions, except per share amounts)  
Income (loss) from continuing operations
  $ 436     $ 436     $ 531     $ 531     $ (506 )   $ (506 )
Convertible preferred stock dividends
    (37 )     (37 )     (37 )           (27 )     (27 )
 
                                   
Income (loss) from continuing operations available to common stockholders
    399       399       494       531       (533 )     (533 )
Discontinued operations
    674       674       (56 )     (56 )     (96 )     (96 )
Cumulative effect of accounting changes, net of income taxes
                            (4 )     (4 )
 
                                   
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders
  $ 1,073     $ 1,073     $ 438     $ 475     $ (633 )   $ (633 )
 
                                   
Weighted average common shares outstanding
    696       696       678       678       646       646  
Effect of dilutive securities:
                                               
Options and restricted stock
          3             4              
Convertible preferred stock
                      57              
 
                                   
Weighted average common shares outstanding and dilutive potential common shares
    696       699       678       739       646       646  
 
                                   
Earnings per common share:
                                               
Income (loss) from continuing operations
  $ 0.57     $ 0.57     $ 0.73     $ 0.72     $ (0.82 )   $ (0.82 )
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes
    0.97       0.96       (0.08 )     (0.08 )     (0.15 )     (0.15 )
Cumulative effect of accounting changes, net of income taxes
                            (0.01 )     (0.01 )
 
                                   
Net income (loss)
  $ 1.54     $ 1.53     $ 0.65     $ 0.64     $ (0.98 )   $ (0.98 )
 
                                   
     We exclude potentially dilutive securities from the determination of diluted earnings per share (as well as their related income statement impacts) when their impact on income from continuing operations per common share is antidilutive. These potentially dilutive securities consist of our employee stock options, restricted stock, convertible preferred stock, trust preferred securities, and zero coupon convertible debentures (which were paid off in April 2006). For the year ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, certain employee stock options and our trust preferred securities were antidilutive. Additionally, in 2006, our zero coupon convertible debentures (redeemed in April 2006) were antidilutive and in 2007 our convertible preferred stock was antidilutive. For the year ended December 31, 2005, we incurred losses from continuing operations and accordingly excluded all potentially dilutive securities from the determination of diluted earnings per share as their impact on loss per common share was antidilutive. For a discussion of our capital stock activity, our stock-based compensation arrangements, and other instruments noted above, see Notes 14 and 15.
6. Fair Value of Financial Instruments
                                 
    As of December 31,
    2007   2006
    Carrying   Fair   Carrying   Fair
    Amount   Value   Amount   Value
    (In millions)
Long-term financing obligations, including current maturities
  $ 12,814     $ 13,113     $ 14,689     $ 15,487  
Commodity-based price risk management derivatives
    (892 )     (892 )     (395 )     (395 )
Interest rate and foreign currency derivatives
    109       109       43       43  
Investments
    4       4       23       23  

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     As of December 31, 2007 and 2006, the carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, short-term borrowings, and trade receivables and payables represented fair value because of the short-term nature of these instruments. The fair value of long-term debt with variable interest rates approximates its carrying value because of the market-based nature of the interest rate. We estimated the fair value of debt with fixed interest rates based on quoted market prices for the same or similar issues. See Note 7 for a discussion of our methodology of determining the fair value of the derivative instruments used in our price risk management activities. Our investments primarily relate to available for sale securities and cost basis investments.
7. Price Risk Management Activities
     The following table summarizes the carrying value of the derivatives used in our price risk management activities as of December 31, 2007 and 2006. In the table, derivatives designated as hedges consist of instruments used to hedge our natural gas and oil production. Other commodity-based derivative contracts relate to derivative contracts not designated as hedges, such as options and swaps, other natural gas and power purchase and supply contracts, and derivatives from our historical energy trading activities. Finally, interest rate and foreign currency derivatives consist of swaps that are primarily designated as hedges of our interest rate and foreign currency risk on long-term debt.
                 
    As of December 31,  
    2007     2006  
    (In millions)  
Net assets (liabilities)
               
Derivatives designated as hedges
  $ (23 )   $ 61  
Other commodity-based derivative contracts
    (869 )     (456 )
 
           
Total commodity-based derivatives
    (892 )     (395 )
Interest rate and foreign currency derivatives
    109       43  
 
           
Net liabilities from price risk management activities(1)
  $ (783 )   $ (352 )
 
           
 
(1)   Included in both current and non-current assets and liabilities on the balance sheet.
     Our derivative contracts are recorded in our financial statements at fair value. The best indication of fair value is quoted market prices. However, when quoted market prices are not available, we estimate the fair value of those derivatives. We use commodity pricing data either obtained or derived from an independent pricing source and other assumptions about certain power and natural gas markets to develop price curves. The curves are then used to estimate the value of settlements in future periods based on the contractual settlement quantities and dates. Finally, we discount these estimated settlement values using a LIBOR curve. We record valuation adjustments to reflect uncertainties associated with the estimates we use in determining fair value. Common valuation adjustments include those for market liquidity and those for the credit-worthiness of our contractual counterparties. We believe this methodology results in a fair value that is representative of the proceeds we would receive if we disposed of our derivative instruments. The estimates utilized in determining the fair value of derivatives are subject to revisions, either up or down, in future periods based on changes in market conditions. During 2006, we changed the independent pricing source that provided the pricing data we used in valuing certain of our commodity-based derivative contracts. These changes did not have a material impact on the fair value of our positions.
Derivatives Designated as Hedges
     We engage in two types of hedging activities: hedges of cash flow exposure and hedges of fair value exposure. When we enter into a derivative contract, we may designate the derivative as either a cash flow hedge or a fair value hedge, at which time we prepare the documentation required under SFAS No. 133. Hedges of cash flow exposure, which primarily relate to our natural gas and oil production hedges and interest rate risks on our long-term debt, are designed to hedge forecasted sales transactions or limit the variability of cash flows to be received or paid related to a recognized asset or liability. Hedges of fair value exposure are entered into to protect the fair value of a recognized asset, liability or firm commitment. Hedges of our interest rate and foreign currency exposure are designated as either cash flow hedges or fair value hedges based on whether the interest on the underlying debt is converted to either a fixed or floating interest rate. Changes in derivative fair values that are designated as cash flow hedges are deferred in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss to the extent that they are effective and then recognized in earnings when the hedged transactions occur. Changes in the fair value of derivatives that are designated as fair value hedges are recognized in earnings as offsets to the changes in fair values of the related hedged assets, liabilities or firm commitments. The ineffective portion of a hedge’s change in fair value, if any, is recognized immediately in earnings as a component of operating revenues or interest and debt expense in our income statement. A discussion of each of our hedging activities is as follows:

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     Cash Flow Hedges. A majority of our commodity sales and purchases are at spot market or forward market prices. We use fixed price swaps and floor and ceiling option contracts to limit our exposure to decreases in commodity prices as well as fluctuations in foreign currency and interest rates with the objective of limiting the variability of the cash flows from these activities. A summary of the impacts of our cash flow hedges included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes, as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 follows:
                                 
    Accumulated              
    Other     Estimated        
    Comprehensive     Income (Loss)     Final  
    Income (Loss)     Reclassification     Termination  
    2007     2006     in 2008(1)     Year  
    (In millions)  
Commodity cash flow hedges
                               
Held by consolidated entities
  $ (25 )   $ 84     $ 46       2012  
Held by unconsolidated affiliates
    (4 )     (4 )     (1 )     2013  
 
                         
Total commodity cash flow hedges
    (29 )     80       45          
Interest rate and foreign currency cash flow hedges
                               
Fixed rate
    (2 )     3             2015  
De-designated
    (4 )     (3 )           2009  
 
                         
Total foreign currency cash flow hedges
    (6 )                    
 
                         
Total interest rate and cash flow hedges
  $ (35 )   $ 80     $ 45          
 
                         
 
(1)   Reclassifications occur upon the physical delivery of the hedged commodity or if the forecasted transaction is no longer probable.
     For the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, we recognized a net loss of $3 million, a net gain of $10 million and a net loss of $5 million, net of income taxes, respectively, in our income (loss) from continuing operations related to the ineffective portion of our cash flow hedges.
     Fair Value Hedges. We have fixed rate U.S. dollar and foreign currency denominated debt that exposes us to paying higher than market rates should interest rates decline. We use interest rate swaps to protect the value of these debt instruments by converting the fixed amounts of interest due under the debt agreements to variable interest payments and have recorded the fair value of these derivatives as a component of long-term debt and the related accrued interest. As of December 31, 2007 and 2006, these derivatives were as follows (amounts in millions):
                                         
            Hedged     Price Risk Management  
    Weighted     Debt     Asset (Liability)(1)  
Derivative   Average Rate     2007     2006     2007     2006  
Fixed-to-floating swaps
  LIBOR + 4.18%   $ 218     $ 440     $ (5 )   $ (31 )
Fixed-to-floating cross currency swaps(2)
  LIBOR + 4.23%     379       402       118       67  
 
                                   
 
                          $ 113     $ 36  
 
                                   
 
(1)   We did not record any ineffectiveness related to our fair value hedges in 2006 or 2007.
 
(2)   As of December 31, 2007 and 2006, these derivatives, when combined with our Euro denominated debt, converted 330 million Euro and 350 million Euro of our debt to $379 million and $402 million.
     Other Commodity-Based Derivatives.
     Our other commodity-based derivatives primarily relate to derivative contracts not designated as hedges and other contracts associated with our legacy trading activities.
     Credit Risk
     We are subject to credit risk related to our financial instrument assets. Credit risk relates to the risk of loss that we would incur as a result of non-performance by counterparties pursuant to the terms of their contractual obligations. We measure credit risk as the estimated replacement costs for commodities we would have to purchase or sell in the future, plus amounts owed from counterparties for delivered and unpaid commodities. These exposures are netted where we have a legally enforceable right of setoff. We maintain credit policies with regard to our counterparties in our price risk management activities to minimize overall credit risk. These policies

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require (i) the evaluation of potential counterparties’ financial condition (including credit rating), (ii) collateral under certain circumstances (including cash in advance, letters of credit, and guarantees), (iii) the use of margining provisions in standard contracts, and (iv) the use of master netting agreements that allow for the netting of positive and negative exposures of various contracts associated with a single counterparty.
     We use daily margining provisions in our financial contracts, most of our physical power agreements and our master netting agreements, which require a counterparty to post cash or letters of credit when the fair value of the contract exceeds the daily contractual threshold. The threshold amount is typically tied to the published credit rating of the counterparty. Our margining collateral provisions also allow us to terminate a contract and liquidate all positions if the counterparty is unable to provide the required collateral. Under our margining provisions, we are required to return collateral if the amount of posted collateral exceeds the amount of collateral required. Collateral received or returned can vary significantly from day to day based on the changes in the market values and our counterparty’s credit ratings. Furthermore, the amount of collateral we hold may be more or less than the fair value of our derivative contracts with that counterparty at any given period. The following table presents a summary of the fair value of our derivative contracts, net of collateral and liabilities where a right of offset exists. It is presented by type of derivative counterparty in which we had net asset exposure as of December 31, 2007 and 2006:
                                 
            Below     Not        
Counterparty   Investment Grade(1)     Investment Grade(1)     Rated(1)     Total  
    (In millions)  
December 31, 2007
                               
Energy marketers
  $ 30     $ 110     $     $ 140  
Natural gas and electric utilities
                71       71  
Financial institutions and other
    86                   86  
 
                       
Net financial instrument assets
    116       110       71       297  
Collateral held by us
          (100 )     (47 )     (147 )
 
                       
Net exposure from derivative assets
  $ 116     $ 10     $ 24     $ 150  
 
                       
                                 
            Below     Not        
Counterparty   Investment Grade(1)     Investment Grade(1)     Rated(1)     Total  
    (In millions)  
December 31, 2006
                               
Energy marketers
  $ 136     $ 81     $     $ 217  
Natural gas and electric utilities
    6             64       70  
Commodity exchanges
    321                   321  
Financial institutions and other
    153             1       154  
 
                       
Net financial instrument assets
    616       81       65       762  
Collateral held by us
    (328 )     (78 )     (64 )     (470 )
 
                       
Net exposure from derivative assets
  $ 288     $ 3     $ 1     $ 292  
 
                       
 
(1)   “Investment Grade” and “Below Investment Grade” are determined using publicly available credit ratings. “Investment Grade” includes counterparties with a minimum Standard & Poor’s rating of BBB — or Moody’s rating of Baa3. “Below Investment Grade” includes counterparties with a public credit rating that do not meet the criteria of “Investment Grade”. “Not Rated” includes counterparties that are not rated by any public rating service.
     We have approximately 48 counterparties as of December 31, 2007. If one of our counterparties fails to perform, we may recognize an immediate loss in our earnings, as well as additional financial impacts in the future delivery periods to the extent a replacement contract at the same prices and quantities cannot be established.
     As of December 31, 2007, four counterparties, (Merrill Lynch Commodities, Morgan Stanley Group, Central Lomas de Real and Constellation Energy Commodities Group, Inc.) comprise 20 percent, 16 percent, 15 percent and 12 percent, respectively of our net financial asset exposure. As of December 31, 2006, three counterparties (Deutsche Bank AG, J. Aron & Company and Constellation Energy Commodities Group, Inc.) comprised 39 percent, 18 percent and 16 percent of our net financial instrument asset exposure. The concentration of counterparties may impact our overall exposure to credit risk, either positively or negatively, in that the counterparties may be similarly affected by changes in economic, regulatory or other conditions.

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8. Regulatory Assets and Liabilities
     Our regulatory assets and liabilities relate to our interstate pipeline operations and are included in other current and non-current assets and liabilities on our balance sheets. These balances are recoverable or reimbursable over various periods. Below are the details of our regulatory assets and liabilities as of December 31:
                 
    2007     2006  
    (In millions)  
Current regulatory assets
  $     $ 6  
 
           
Non-current regulatory assets
               
Taxes on capitalized funds used during construction
    122       106  
Postretirement benefits
    18       22  
Unamortized net loss on reacquired debt
    59       19  
Under-collected income taxes
    8       3  
Other
    14       21  
 
           
Total non-current regulatory assets
    221       171  
 
           
Total regulatory assets
  $ 221     $ 177  
 
           
 
               
Current regulatory liabilities
  $ 41     $ 16  
 
           
Non-current regulatory liabilities
               
Environmental liability
    143       130  
Cost of removal of offshore assets
    7       12  
Property and plant depreciation
    67       70  
Postretirement benefits
    90       19  
Plant regulatory liability
    11       11  
Excess deferred income taxes
    3       6  
Other
    7       4  
 
           
Total non-current regulatory liabilities
    328       252  
 
           
Total regulatory liabilities
  $ 369     $ 268  
 
           
9. Other Assets and Liabilities
     Below is the detail of our other current and non-current assets and liabilities on our balance sheets as of December 31:
                 
    2007     2006  
    (In millions)  
Other current assets
               
Prepaid expenses
  $ 66     $ 72  
Margin and other deposits held by others
    27       60  
Deposits
          60  
Other
    34       45  
 
           
Total
  $ 127     $ 237  
 
           
Other non-current assets
               
Pension, other postretirement and postemployment benefits (Note 13)
  $ 660     $ 332  
Notes receivable from affiliates
    220       232  
Restricted cash (Note 1)
    91       123  
Unamortized debt expenses
    107       133  
Regulatory assets (Note 8)
    221       171  
Long-term receivables
    116       131  
Other
    182       173  
 
           
Total
  $ 1,597     $ 1,295  
 
           

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    2007     2006  
    (In millions)  
Other current liabilities
               
Accrued taxes, other than income
  $ 89     $ 95  
Income taxes
    47       17  
Environmental, legal and rate reserves (Note 12)
    174       560  
Deposits
    62       30  
Pension and other postretirement benefits (Note 13)
    28       30  
Accrued lease obligations
          56  
Asset retirement obligations (Note 10)
    41       89  
Dividends payable
    37       37  
Regulatory liabilities (Note 8)
    41       16  
Other
    114       103  
 
           
Total
  $ 633     $ 1,033  
 
           
Other non-current liabilities
               
Environmental and legal reserves (Note 12)
  $ 590     $ 616  
Pension, other postretirement and postemployment benefits (Note 13)
    236       294  
Regulatory liabilities (Note 8)
    328       252  
Asset retirement obligations (Note 10)
    212       154  
Other deferred credits
    62       159  
Insurance reserves
    111       118  
Other
    211       97  
 
           
Total
  $ 1,750     $ 1,690  
 
           
10. Property, Plant and Equipment
     Depreciable lives. The table below presents the depreciation method and depreciable lives of our property, plant and equipment:
                 
    Method     Depreciable
Lives
 
    (In years)  
Regulated interstate systems
  Composite       (1)  
Non-regulated assets
               
Natural gas and oil properties
    (2)       (2)  
Transmission and storage facilities
  Straight-line       15-26  
Gathering and processing systems
  Straight-line       15-40  
Transportation equipment
  Straight-line       5  
Buildings and improvements
  Straight-line       4-49  
Office and miscellaneous equipment
  Straight-line       1-10  
 
(1)   Under the composite (group) method, assets with similar useful lives and other characteristics are grouped and depreciated as one asset. We apply the depreciation rate approved in our rate settlements to the total cost of the group until its net book value equals its salvage value. We re-evaluate depreciation rates each time we redevelop our transportation rates when we file with the FERC for an increase or decrease in rates.
 
(2)   Capitalized costs associated with proved reserves are amortized over the life of the reserves using the unit of production method. Conversely, capitalized costs associated with unproved properties are excluded from the amortizable base until these properties are evaluated. See Note 1 for additional information.
     Excess purchase costs. As of December 31, 2007 and 2006, TGP and EPNG have excess purchase costs associated with their historical acquisition. Total excess costs on these pipelines were approximately $2.5 billion and accumulated depreciation was approximately $0.4 billion at December 31, 2007 and 2006. These excess costs are being depreciated over the life of the pipeline assets to which the costs were assigned, and our related depreciation expense for each year ended December 31, 2007, 2006, and 2005 was approximately $42 million. We do not currently earn a return on these excess purchase costs from our rate payers.
     Capitalized costs during construction. We capitalize a carrying cost on funds related to our construction of long-lived assets and reflect these as increases in the cost of the asset on our balance sheet. This carrying cost consists of (i) an interest cost on our debt that could be attributed to the assets being constructed, and (ii) in our regulated transmission business, a return on our equity, that could be attributed to the assets being constructed. The debt portion is calculated based on the average cost of debt. Interest costs capitalized are included as a reduction of interest expense in our income statements and were $50 million, $41 million and $41 million during the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005. The equity portion is calculated using the most recent FERC approved equity rate of return. Equity amounts capitalized are included as other non-operating income on our income statement and were $32 million, $20 million and $23 million during the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005.

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     Construction work-in progress. At December 31, 2007 and 2006, we had approximately $1.6 billion and $1 billion of construction work-in-progress included in our property, plant and equipment.
     Asset retirement obligations. We have legal obligations associated with the retirement of our natural gas and oil wells and related infrastructure, natural gas pipelines, transmission facilities and storage wells, and obligations related to our corporate headquarters building. In our production operations, we have obligations to plug wells when abandoned because production is exhausted or we no longer plan to use the wells. In our pipeline operations, our legal obligations primarily involve purging and sealing the pipelines if they are abandoned. We also have obligations to remove hazardous materials associated with our natural gas transmission facilities and in our corporate headquarters if these facilities are ever demolished, replaced or renovated. We continue to evaluate our asset retirement obligations and future developments could impact the amounts we record.
     Where we can reasonably estimate the asset retirement obligation liability, we accrue a liability based on an estimate of the timing and amount of their settlement In estimating the fair value of the liabilities associated with our asset retirement obligations, we utilize several assumptions, including a projected inflation rate of 2.5 percent, and credit-adjusted discount rates that currently range from six to eight percent. We record changes in these estimates based on the expected amount and timing of payments to settle our asset retirement obligations. Typically, these changes result from obtaining new information in our Exploration and Production segment about the timing of our obligations to plug our natural gas and oil wells and the costs to do so. In 2006, we also revised our estimates due primarily to the impacts of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. In our pipelines operations, we intend on operating and maintaining our natural gas pipeline and storage systems as long as supply and demand for natural gas exists, which we expect for the foreseeable future. Therefore, we believe that we cannot reasonably estimate the asset retirement obligation liability for the substantial majority of our natural gas pipeline and storage system assets because these assets have indeterminate lives.
     The net asset retirement liability as of December 31 reported on our balance sheet in other current and non-current liabilities, and the changes in the net liability for the years ended December 31, were as follows:
                 
    2007     2006  
    (In millions)  
Net asset retirement liability at January 1
  $ 243     $ 252  
Liabilities settled
    (62 )     (48 )
Accretion expense
    23       19  
Liabilities incurred
    16       5  
Changes in estimate
    33       15  
 
           
Net asset retirement liability at December 31
  $ 253     $ 243  
 
           
11. Debt, Other Financing Obligations and Other Credit Facilities
                 
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2007     2006  
    (In millions)  
Short-term financing obligations, including current maturities
  $ 331     $ 1,360  
Long-term financing obligations
    12,483       13,329  
 
           
Total
  $ 12,814     $ 14,689  
 
           

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The following provides additional detail on our long-term financing obligations:
                 
Colorado Interstate Gas Company (CIG)
               
Notes, 5.95% through 6.85%, due 2015 through 2037
  $ 575     $ 700  
El Paso Corporation
               
Notes, 6.375% through 10.75%, due 2008 through 2037
    6,090       7,939  
$1.25 billion revolver, variable due 2009
          200  
$1.5 billion revolver, variable due 2012
    425        
El Paso Natural Gas Company (EPNG)
               
Notes, 5.95% through 8.625%, due 2010 through 2032
    1,169       1,115  
El Paso Exploration & Production Company (EPEP)
               
Senior note, 7.75%, due 2013
    1       1,200  
Revolving credit facility, variable due 2012
    750        
Revolving credit facility, variable due 2010
          145  
El Paso Pipeline Partners, L.P.
               
Revolving credit facility, variable due 2012
    455        
Southern Natural Gas Company (SNG)
               
Notes, 5.9% through 8.0%, due 2008 through 2032
    1,134       1,200  
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company
               
Notes, 6.0% through 8.375%, due 2011 through 2037
    1,626       1,626  
Other
    297       310  
 
           
 
    12,522       14,435  
 
           
 
               
Other financing obligations
               
Capital Trust I, due 2028
    325       325  
 
           
Subtotal
    12,847       14,760  
Less:
               
Other, including unamortized discounts and premiums
    33       71  
Current maturities
    331       1,360  
 
           
Total long-term financing obligations, less current maturities
  $ 12,483     $ 13,329  
 
           
Changes in Long-Term Financing Obligations. During 2007, we had the following changes in our long-term financing obligations:
                     
                Cash  
        Book Value     Received /  
Company   Interest Rate   Increase (Decrease)     (Paid)  
Issuances
                   
EPEP
                   
Revolving credit facility due 2012
  variable   $ 955     $ 952  
El Paso
                   
Revolving credit facility due 2012
  variable     3,125       3,117  
Notes due 2014
  6.875%     374       371  
Notes due 2017
  7.00%     893       886  
EPNG notes due 2017
  5.95%     354       350  
El Paso Pipeline Partners, L.P.
                   
Revolving credit facility due 2012
  variable     455       454  
SNG notes due 2017
  5.90%     500       494  
 
               
Increases through December 31, 2007
      $ 6,656     $ 6,624  
 
               
 
                   
Repayments, repurchases and other
                   
El Paso
  6.375%-10.75%   $ (3,001 )   $ (3,175 )
El Paso-Euro
  7.125%     (157 )     (165 )
EPEP
  7.75%     (1,199 )     (1,267 )
SNG
  6.70%     (100 )     (100 )
SNG
  8.875%     (398 )     (418 )
SNG
  6.125%     (66 )     (66 )
CIG
  5.95%     (125 )     (127 )
EPNG
  7.625%     (299 )     (314 )
Other
  various     64       (20 )
 
               
 
        (5,281 )     (5,652 )

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                    Cash  
            Book Value     Received /  
    Interest Rate     Increase (Decrease)     (Paid)  
Revolving Credit Facilities
                       
EPEP
  variable     (350 )     (350 )
El Paso
  variable     (2,900 )     (2,900 )
 
                   
Decreases through December 31, 2007
          $ (8,531 )   $ (8,902 )
 
                   
     During 2007, we recorded $291 million of pre-tax losses on the extinguishment of certain debt obligations repurchased and debt refinanced above.
     Prior to their redemption in 2006, we recorded accretion expense on our zero coupon debentures, which increased the principal balance of long-term debt each period. During 2006 and 2005, the accretion recorded in interest expense was $4 million and $25 million. During 2006 and 2005, we redeemed $615 million and $236 million of our zero coupon convertible debentures, of which $110 million and $34 million represented increased principal due to the accretion of interest on the debentures. We account for these redemptions as financing activities in our statement of cash flows.
     Debt Maturities. Aggregate maturities of the principal amounts of long-term financing obligations for the next 5 years and in total thereafter are as follows (in millions):
         
2008
  $ 331  
2009
    1,095  
2010
    251  
2011
    643  
2012
    2,075  
Thereafter
    8,452  
 
     
Total long-term financing obligations, including current maturities
  $ 12,847  
 
     
     Credit Facilities/Letters of Credit
     As of December 31, 2007, subject to the terms of various agreements, we had available capacity under such credit agreements of approximately $1.0 billion, exclusive of capacity on the El Paso Pipeline Partners, L.P. (EPPP) facility further discussed below. Below is a description of our existing credit facilities as of December 31, 2007:
     $1.5 Billion Revolving Credit Agreement. In November 2007, we restructured our $1.75 billion credit agreement to eliminate the $0.5 billion deposit letter of credit facility and to increase the revolving credit facility from $1.25 billion to $1.5 billion. El Paso and certain of its subsidiaries have guaranteed the $1.5 billion revolving credit agreement, which is collateralized by our stock ownership in EPNG and TGP who are also eligible borrowers under the $1.5 billion revolving credit agreement.
     Under the $1.5 billion revolving credit facility which matures in November 2012, we can borrow funds at LIBOR plus 1.25% based on a current applicable margin or issue letters of credit at 1.375% of the amount issued. We pay an annual commitment fee of 0.25% (based on a current applicable margin) on any unused capacity under the revolving credit facility. Under the credit agreement, the applicable margin used to calculate interest on borrowings, letters of credit and commitment fees is determined by a variable pricing grid tied to the credit ratings of our senior secured debt. As of December 31, 2007, we had approximately $0.3 billion of letters of credit issued and $0.4 billion of debt outstanding under this facility.
     Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility. We have a $500 million unsecured revolving credit facility that matures in July 2011 with a third party and a third party trust that provides for both borrowings and issuing letters of credit. We are required to pay fixed facility fees at a rate of 2.34% on the total committed amount of the facility. In addition, we will pay interest on any borrowings at a rate comprised of either LIBOR or a base rate. Substantially all of the capacity under this facility was used to issue letters of credit.
     Unsecured Credit Facility. In June 2007, we entered into a $150 million unsecured facility that provides for both borrowings and issuing letters of credit. As of December 31, 2007, we had increased the capacity under this facility to $500 million. The facility matures in various tranches during 2009. Based on this facility size, we are required to pay a fixed facility fee at a weighted average rate of 1.58% per annum on the full facility amount. Borrowings carry an interest rate of LIBOR in addition to the facility fee. Substantially all of the capacity under the facility has been used to issue letters of credit.

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     EPEP $1.0 Billion Revolving Credit Agreement. In September 2007, we amended and restated EPEP’s revolving credit facility, increasing the capacity by $0.5 billion to $1.0 billion. The other material terms and conditions of this facility remain the same. As of December 31, 2007, we had $0.8 billion outstanding under this facility. Based on current borrowing levels, we pay interest at LIBOR plus 1.25% on borrowings, and a commitment fee of 0.30% on any unused capacity. This facility is collateralized by certain of our natural gas and oil properties, which are subject to revaluation on a semi-annual basis. As of December 31, 2007, the most recent determination was sufficient to fully support this facility.
     Contingent Letter of Credit Facility. We have a $250 million unsecured contingent letter of credit facility that matures in March 2008. Letters of credit are available to us under the facility if the average NYMEX gas price strip for the remaining calendar months through March 2008 is equal to or exceeds $11.75 per MMBtu. The facility fee, if triggered, is 1.66% per annum.
     El Paso Pipeline Partners, L.P. Revolving Credit Facility. In November 2007, EPPP and WIC, their subsidiary, entered into an unsecured 5-year revolving credit facility with an initial aggregate borrowing capacity of up to $750 million expandable to $1.25 billion for certain expansion projects and acquisitions. This facility is only available to EPPP and its subsidiaries and borrowings are guaranteed by EPPP or its subsidiaries. Amounts borrowed are non-recourse to El Paso. Approximately $455 million was outstanding under the credit facility as of December 31, 2007. The credit facility has two pricing grids, one based on credit ratings and the other based on leverage. Currently, the leverage pricing grid is in effect and EPPP’s cost of borrowings is LIBOR plus 0.525% based on EPPP’s current leverage. EPPP also pays a 0.125% annual commitment fee for this facility.
     Letters of Credit. We enter into letters of credit in the ordinary course of our operating activities as well as periodically in conjunction with the sales of assets or businesses. As of December 31, 2007, we had outstanding letters of credit of approximately $1.3 billion. Included in this amount is $1.0 billion of letters of credit securing our recorded obligations related to price risk management activities.
     Restrictive Covenants
     $1.5 billion Revolving Credit Agreement. Our covenants under the $1.5 billion revolving credit facility include restrictions on debt levels, restrictions on liens securing debt and guarantees, restrictions on mergers and on the sales of assets, dividend restrictions, cross default and cross-acceleration. A breach of any of these covenants could result in acceleration of our debt and other financial obligations and that of our subsidiaries. Under our credit agreement the most restrictive debt covenants and cross default provisions are:
  (a)   Our ratio of Debt to Consolidated EBITDA, each as defined in the credit agreement, shall not exceed 5.5 to 1 at anytime prior to June 30, 2008. Thereafter it shall not exceed 5.25 to 1 until maturity;
 
  (b)   Our ratio of Consolidated EBITDA, as defined in the credit agreement, to interest expense plus dividends paid shall not be less than 1.75 to 1 at anytime prior to June 30, 2008. Thereafter it shall not be less than 2.00 to 1 until maturity;
 
  (c)   EPNG and TGP cannot incur incremental Debt if the incurrence of this incremental Debt would cause their Debt to Consolidated EBITDA ratio, each as defined in the credit agreement, for that particular company to exceed 5.0 to 1; and
 
  (d)   the occurrence of an event of default and after the expiration of any applicable grace period, with respect to Debt in an aggregate principal amount of $200 million or more.
     EPEP $1.0 Billion Revolving Credit Agreement. EPEP’s borrowings under this facility are subject to various conditions. The financial coverage ratio under the facility requires that EPEP’s EBITDA, as defined in the facility, to interest expense not be less than 2.0 to 1 and EPEP’s debt to EBITDA, each as defined in the credit agreement, must not exceed 4.0 to 1.

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     EPPP Revolving Credit Facility. EPPP’s borrowings under the credit facility contains covenants and provisions, the most restrictive of which requires EPPP to maintain, as of the end of each fiscal quarter, a consolidated leverage ratio (consolidated indebtedness to consolidated EBITDA (as defined in the credit facility)) of less than 5.0 to 1.0 for any four consecutive quarters; and 5.5 to 1.0 for any three consecutive quarters subsequent to the consummation of specified permitted acquisitions having a value greater than $25 million. EPPP has also added additional flexibility to their covenants for growth projects. In case of a capital construction or expansion project in excess of $20 million, adjustments to consolidated EBITDA, approved by the lenders, may be made based on the percentage of capital costs expended and projected cash flows for the project. Such adjustments shall be limited to 25% of actual EBITDA.
     Other Restrictions and Provisions. In addition to the above restrictions and provisions, we and/or our subsidiaries are subject to a number of additional restrictions and covenants. These restrictions and covenants include limitations of additional debt at some of our subsidiaries; limitations on the use of proceeds from borrowing at some of our subsidiaries; limitations, in some cases, on transactions with our affiliates; limitations on the occurrence of liens; potential limitations on the ability of some of our subsidiaries to declare and pay dividends and potential limitations on some of our subsidiaries to participate in our cash management program. Our most restrictive acceleration provision is $10 million and is associated with the indenture of one of our subsidiaries. This indenture states that should an event of default occur resulting in the acceleration of other debt obligations in excess of $10 million, the long-term debt obligation containing that provision could be accelerated. The acceleration of our debt would adversely affect our liquidity position and in turn, our financial condition.
     We have also issued various guarantees securing financial obligations of our subsidiaries and affiliates with similar covenants as the above facilities.
     Other Financing Arrangements
     Capital Trusts. El Paso Energy Capital Trust I (Trust I), is a wholly owned business trust formed in March 1998 that issued 6.5 million of 4.75 percent trust convertible preferred securities for $325 million. Trust I exists for the sole purpose of issuing preferred securities and investing the proceeds in 4.75 percent convertible subordinated debentures we issued, which are due 2028. Trust I’s sole source of income is interest earned on these debentures. This interest income is used to pay distributions on the preferred securities. We also have two wholly owned business trusts, El Paso Energy Capital Trust II and III (Trust II and III), under which we have not issued securities. We provide a full and unconditional guarantee of Trust I’s preferred securities, and would provide the same guarantee if securities were issued under Trust II and III.
     Trust I’s preferred securities are non-voting (except in limited circumstances), pay quarterly distributions at an annual rate of 4.75 percent, carry a liquidation value of $50 per security plus accrued and unpaid distributions and are convertible into our common shares at any time prior to the close of business on March 31, 2028, at the option of the holder at a rate of 1.2022 common shares for each Trust I preferred security (equivalent to a conversion price of $41.59 per common share). We have classified these securities as long-term debt and we have the right to redeem these securities at any time.
     Non-Recourse Project Financings. Several of our subsidiaries and investments have debt obligations related to their costs of construction or acquisition. This project financing debt is recourse only to the project company and assets (i.e. without recourse to El Paso). As of December 31, 2007, two international power projects accounted for as equity investments are in default under their debt agreements; however, we have no material exposure as a result of these defaults.

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12. Commitments and Contingencies
Legal Proceedings
     ERISA Class Action Suit. In December 2002, a purported class action lawsuit entitled William H. Lewis, III v. El Paso Corporation, et al. was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas alleging that our communication with participants in our Retirement Savings Plan included various misrepresentations and omissions that caused members of the class to hold and maintain investments in El Paso stock in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). Various motions have been filed and we are awaiting the court’s ruling. We have insurance coverage for this lawsuit, subject to certain deductibles and co-pay obligations. We have established accruals for this matter which we believe are adequate.
     Cash Balance Plan Lawsuit. In December 2004, a purported class action lawsuit entitled Tomlinson, et al. v. El Paso Corporation and El Paso Corporation Pension Plan was filed in U.S. District Court for Denver, Colorado. The lawsuit alleges various violations of ERISA and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act as a result of our change from a final average earnings formula pension plan to a cash balance pension plan. Certain of the claims that our cash balance plan violated ERISA were recently dismissed by the trial court. Our costs and legal exposure related to this lawsuit are not currently determinable.
     Shareholder Litigation. In 2007, we settled twenty-eight shareholder class action lawsuits that had alleged violations of federal securities laws by us and several of our current and former officers and directors. Under the settlement, we contributed approximately $48 million, our insurers contributed approximately $225 million, and a third party contributed $12 million.
     Retiree Medical Benefits Matters. We serve as the plan administrator for a medical benefits plan that covers a closed group of retirees of the Case Corporation who retired on or before July 1, 1994. Case was formerly a subsidiary of Tenneco, Inc. that was spun off in 1994. Tenneco retained an obligation to provide certain medical benefits at the time of the spin-off and we assumed this obligation as a result of our merger with Tenneco. Pursuant to an agreement with the applicable union for Case employees, our liability for these benefits was subject to a cap, such that costs in excess of the cap were to be assumed by plan participants. In 2002, we and Case were sued by individual retirees in a federal court in Detroit, Michigan in an action entitled Yolton et al. v. El Paso Tennessee Pipeline Co. and Case Corporation. The suit alleges, among other things, that El Paso and Case violated ERISA and that they should be required to pay all amounts above the cap. Case further filed claims against El Paso asserting that El Paso was obligated to indemnify Case for the amounts it would be required to pay. In separate rulings in 2004, the court ruled that, pending a trial on the merits, Case must pay the amounts incurred above the cap and that El Paso must reimburse Case for those payments. In January 2006, these rulings were upheld on appeal by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit. In October 2007, pending a trial on the merits, the court expanded the number of retirees covered by its prior preliminary rulings. We will proceed with a trial on the merits with regard to the issues of whether the cap is enforceable and to what degree benefits have actually vested. Until this is resolved, El Paso will indemnify Case for payments Case makes above the cap, which are currently about $2 million per month. We continue to defend the action and have filed for approval by the trial court various amendments to the medical benefit plans which would allow us to deliver the benefits to plan participants in a more cost effective manner. Although it is uncertain what plan amendments will ultimately be approved, the approval of plan amendments could reduce our overall costs and, as a result, could reduce our recorded obligation. We have established an accrual for this matter which we believe is adequate and further discussed in guarantees and indemnifications below.
     Natural Gas Commodities Litigation. Beginning in August 2003, several lawsuits were filed against El Paso Marketing L.P. (EPM) alleging that El Paso, EPM and other energy companies conspired to manipulate the price of natural gas by providing false price information to industry trade publications that published gas indices. The first cases were consolidated in federal court in New York for all pre-trial purposes and were styled In re: Gas Commodity Litigation. In September 2005, the court certified the class to include all persons who purchased or sold NYMEX natural gas futures between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2002. A settlement was finalized and has been paid. The second set of cases, involving similar allegations on behalf of commercial and residential customers, was transferred to a multi-district litigation proceeding (MDL) in the U.S. District Court for Nevada and styled In re: Western States Wholesale Natural Gas Antitrust Litigation. These cases were dismissed. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, however, reversed the dismissal and ordered that these cases be remanded to the trial court. A petition for certiorari has been filed with the U.S. Supreme Court. The third set of cases also involve similar allegations on behalf of certain purchasers of natural gas. These include Farmland Industries v. Oneok Inc., et al. (filed in state court in Wyandotte County, Kansas in July 2005) and Missouri Public Service Commission v. El Paso Corporation, et al. (filed in the circuit court of Jackson County, Missouri at Kansas City in October 2006), and the purported class action lawsuits styled: Leggett, et al. v. Duke Energy Corporation, et al. (filed in Chancery Court of Tennessee in January 2005); Ever-Bloom Inc., et al. v. AEP Energy Services Inc., et al. (filed in federal court for

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the Eastern District of California in September 2005); Learjet, Inc., et al. v. Oneok Inc., et al. (filed in state court in Wyandotte County, Kansas in September 2005); Breckenridge, et al. v. Oneok Inc., et al. (filed in state court in Denver County, Colorado in May 2006); Arandell, et al. v. Xcel Energy, et al. (filed in the circuit court of Dane County, Wisconsin in December 2006); and Heartland, et al. v. Oneok Inc., et al. (filed in the circuit court of Buchanan County, Missouri in March 2007). The Leggett case was dismissed by the Tennessee state court and has been appealed. The remaining cases have all been transferred to the MDL proceeding. The Missouri Public Service case has been remanded to state court. Dispositive motions have been filed or are anticipated to be filed in these cases. Our costs and legal exposure related to these lawsuits and claims are not currently determinable.
     Gas Measurement Cases. A number of our subsidiaries were named defendants in actions that generally allege mismeasurement of natural gas volumes and/or heating content resulting in the underpayment of royalties. The first set of cases was filed in 1997 by an individual under the False Claims Act, which have been consolidated for pretrial purposes (In re: Natural Gas Royalties Qui Tam Litigation, U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming). These complaints allege an industry-wide conspiracy to underreport the heating value as well as the volumes of the natural gas produced from federal and Native American lands. In October 2006, the U.S. District Judge issued an order dismissing all claims against all defendants. An appeal has been filed.
     Similar allegations were filed in a set of actions initiated in 1999 in Will Price, et al. v. Gas Pipelines and Their Predecessors, et al., in the District Court of Stevens County, Kansas. The plaintiffs currently seek certification of a class of royalty owners in wells on non-federal and non-Native American lands in Kansas, Wyoming and Colorado. Motions for class certification have been briefed and argued in the proceedings and the parties are awaiting the court’s ruling. The plaintiff seeks an unspecified amount of monetary damages in the form of additional royalty payments (along with interest, expenses and punitive damages) and injunctive relief with regard to future gas measurement practices. Our costs and legal exposure related to these lawsuits and claim are not currently determinable.
     MTBE. Certain of our subsidiaries used the gasoline additive methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) in some of their gasoline. Certain subsidiaries have also produced, bought, sold and distributed MTBE. A number of lawsuits have been filed throughout the U.S. regarding the potential impact of MTBE on water supplies. Some of our subsidiaries are among the defendants in approximately 80 such lawsuits. The plaintiffs, certain state attorneys general, various water districts and a limited number of individual water customers, generally seek remediation of their groundwater, prevention of future contamination, damages (including natural resource damages), punitive damages, attorney’s fees and court costs. Among other allegations, plaintiffs assert that gasoline containing MTBE is a defective product and that defendant refiners are liable in proportion to their market share. Although these suits had been consolidated for pre-trial purposes in multi-district litigation in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, a recent appellate court decision directed two of the cases to be remanded back to state court. A limited number of cases have since been remanded to separate state court proceedings. It is possible many of the other cases will also be remanded. We have reached an agreement in principle with the plaintiffs to settle approximately 60 of the lawsuits. We have also reached an agreement in principle with our insurers, whereby our insurers would fund substantially all of the consideration to be provided by our subsidiaries under the terms of the settlement with the plaintiffs. Approximately 20 of the remaining lawsuits are not covered by the terms of this settlement. While the damages claimed in these remaining actions are substantial there remains significant legal uncertainty regarding the validity of the causes of action asserted and the availability of the relief sought by the plaintiffs. We have tendered these remaining cases to our insurers. Our costs and legal exposure related to these remaining lawsuits are not currently determinable.
Government Investigations and Inquiries
     Reserve Revisions. In March 2004, we received a subpoena from the SEC requesting documents relating to our December 31, 2003 natural gas and oil reserve revisions. We continue to cooperate with the SEC in its investigation related to such reserve revisions. We originally self-reported this matter to the SEC and have been cooperating fully with the investigation, which has included producing a large volume of documents and making our employees available for interviews or testimony upon request. On July 13, 2007, we received a notice indicating the SEC staff has made a preliminary decision to recommend to the SEC that it institute an enforcement action against us and two of our subsidiaries related to the reserve revisions. We understand that the staff of the SEC may have also issued similar notices to several of our former employees related to the reserves revisions. We were given the opportunity to respond to the staff before it makes its formal recommendation on whether any action should be brought by the SEC, and on September 25, 2007 we submitted our response.
     Legacy Crude Oil Trading. In 2007, we recorded $77 million of other income in our income statement related to the reversal of amounts accrued prior to 2001 relating to shipments of crude oil allegedly purchased by Coastal in 1990. We reversed these amounts following the expiration of the related statute of limitation periods and the completion of a review of the matter and related defenses.

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     In addition to the above proceedings, we and our subsidiaries and affiliates are named defendants in numerous lawsuits and governmental proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of our business. There are also other regulatory rules and orders in various stages of adoption, review and/or implementation. For each of these matters, we evaluate the merits of the case, our exposure to the matter, possible legal or settlement strategies and the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome. If we determine that an unfavorable outcome is probable and can be estimated, we establish the necessary accruals. While the outcome of these matters, including those discussed above, cannot be predicted with certainty, and there are still uncertainties related to the costs we may incur, based upon our evaluation and experience to date, we believe we have established appropriate reserves for these matters. It is possible, however, that new information or future developments could require us to reassess our potential exposure related to these matters and adjust our accruals accordingly, and these adjustments could be material. As of December 31, 2007, we had approximately $460 million accrued, net of related insurance receivables, for our outstanding legal and governmental proceedings.
Rates and Regulatory Matters
     Notice of Inquiry on Pipeline Fuel Retention Policies. In September 2007, the FERC issued a Notice of Inquiry regarding its policy about the in-kind recovery of fuel and lost and unaccounted for gas by natural gas pipeline companies. Under current policy, pipelines have options for recovering these costs. For some pipelines, the tariff states a fixed percentage as a non-negotiable fee-in-kind retained from the volumes tendered for shipment by each shipper. There is also a tracker approach, where the pipeline’s tariff provides for prospective adjustments to the fuel retention rates from time-to-time, but does not include a mechanism to allow the pipeline to reconcile past over or under-recoveries of fuel. Finally, some pipelines’ tariffs provide for a tracker with a true-up approach, where provisions in a pipeline’s tariff allow for periodic adjustments to the fuel retention rates, and also provide for a true-up of past over and under-recoveries of fuel and lost and unaccounted for gas. In this proceeding, the FERC is seeking comments on whether it should change its current policy and prescribe a uniform method for all pipelines to use in recovering these costs. Our pipeline subsidiaries currently utilize a variety of these methodologies. At this time, we do not know what impact this proceeding may ultimately have on any of us.
     Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. On October 3, 2007, the Minerals Management Service (MMS) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for “Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf — Pipelines and Pipeline Rights-of-Way”. If adopted, the proposed rules would substantially revise MMS Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) pipeline and rights-of-way (ROW) regulations. The proposed rules would have the effect of: (1) increasing the financial obligations of entities, like us, which have pipelines and pipeline rights-of-way in the OCS; (2) increasing the regulatory requirements imposed on the operation and maintenance of existing pipelines in the OCS; and (3) increasing the requirements and preconditions for obtaining new rights-of-way in the OCS. .
     EPNG. In August 2007, EPNG received approval of the settlement of its rate case from the FERC. The settlement provides benefits for both EPNG and its customers for a three year period ending December 31, 2008. Under the terms of the settlement, EPNG is required to file a new rate case to be effective January 1, 2009. EPNG received approval from the FERC to begin billing the settlement rates on October 1, 2007. Our financial statements reflect EPNG’s settled rates. Additionally, in 2007 and 2006, we recorded rate refund provisions of approximately $60 million and $65 million inclusive of interest, which we reflected as accrued liabilities on our balance sheet. In the fourth quarter of 2007, EPNG refunded $115 million including interest in rate refunds to its customers and refunded the remaining $10 million in January 2008.
Other Contingencies
     Navajo Nation. Approximately 900 looped pipeline miles of the north mainline of our EPNG pipeline system are located on lands held in trust by the United States for the benefit of the Navajo Nation. Our rights-of-way on lands crossing the Navajo Nation are the subject of a pending renewal application filed in 2005 with the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs. An interim agreement with the Navajo Nation expired at the end of December 2006. Negotiations on the terms of the long-term agreement are continuing. In addition, we continue to preserve other legal, regulatory and legislative alternatives, which include continuing to pursue our application with the Department of the Interior for renewal of our rights-of-way on Navajo Nation lands. It is uncertain whether our negotiation, or other alternatives, will be successful, or if successful, what the ultimate cost will be of obtaining the rights-of-way and whether we will be able to recover these costs in EPNG’s rates.

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Environmental Matters
     We are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations governing environmental quality and pollution control. These laws and regulations require us to remove or remedy the effect on the environment of the disposal or release of specified substances at current and former operating sites. At December 31, 2007, we accrued approximately $260 million, which has not been reduced by $27 million for amounts to be paid directly under government sponsored programs. Our accrual includes approximately $251 million for expected remediation costs and associated onsite, offsite and groundwater technical studies and approximately $9 million for related environmental legal costs. Of the $260 million accrual, $22 million was reserved for facilities we currently operate and $238 million was reserved for non-operating sites (facilities that are shut down or have been sold) and Superfund sites.
     Our estimates of potential liability range from approximately $260 million to approximately $470 million. Our accrual represents a combination of two estimation methodologies. First, where the most likely outcome can be reasonably estimated, that cost has been accrued ($18 million). Second, where the most likely outcome cannot be estimated, a range of costs is established ($242 million to $452 million) and if no one amount in that range is more likely than any other, the lower end of the expected range has been accrued. Our environmental remediation projects are in various stages of completion. Our recorded liabilities reflect our current estimates of amounts we will expend to remediate these sites. However, depending on the stage of completion or assessment, the ultimate extent of contamination or remediation required may not be known. As additional assessments occur or remediation efforts continue, we may incur additional liabilities. By type of site, our reserves are based on the following estimates of reasonably possible outcomes:
                 
    December 31, 2007  
Sites   Expected     High  
    (In millions)  
Operating
  $ 22     $ 28  
Non-operating
    211       393  
Superfund
    27       49  
 
           
Total
  $ 260     $ 470  
 
           
     Below is a reconciliation of our accrued liability from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2007 (in millions):
         
Balance as of January 1, 2007
  $ 314  
Additions/adjustments for remediation activities
    21  
Payments for remediation activities
    (75 )
 
     
Balance as of December 31, 2007
  $ 260  
 
     
For 2008, we estimate that our total remediation expenditures will be approximately $65 million, most of which will be expended under government directed clean-up plans. In addition, we expect to make capital expenditures for environmental matters of approximately $7 million in the aggregate for the years 2008 through 2011. These expenditures primarily relate to compliance with clean air regulations.
     CERCLA Matters. We have received notice that we could be designated, or have been asked for information to determine whether we could be designated, as a Potentially Responsible Party (PRP) with respect to 44 active sites under the Comprehensive Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) or state equivalents. We have sought to resolve our liability as a PRP at these sites through indemnification by third parties and settlements, which provide for payment of our allocable share of remediation costs. As of December 31, 2007, we have estimated our share of the remediation costs at these sites to be between $27 million and $49 million. Because the clean-up costs are estimates and are subject to revision as more information becomes available about the extent of remediation required, and in some cases we have asserted a defense to any liability, our estimates could change. Moreover, liability under the federal CERCLA statute is joint and several, meaning that we could be required to pay in excess of our pro rata share of remediation costs. Our understanding of the financial strength of other PRPs has been considered, where appropriate, in estimating our liabilities. Accruals for these issues are included in the previously indicated estimates for Superfund sites.
     It is possible that new information or future developments could require us to reassess our potential exposure related to environmental matters. We may incur significant costs and liabilities in order to comply with existing environmental laws and regulations. It is also possible that other developments, such as increasingly strict environmental laws, regulations and orders of regulatory agencies, as well as claims for damages to property and the environment or injuries to employees and other persons resulting from our current or past operations, could result in substantial costs and liabilities in the future. As this information becomes available, or other relevant developments occur, we will adjust our accrual amounts accordingly. While there are still uncertainties related to the ultimate costs we may incur, based upon our evaluation and experience to date, we believe our reserves are adequate.

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Commitments, Purchase Obligations and Other Matters
     Operating Leases. We maintain operating leases in the ordinary course of our business activities. These leases include those for office space, operating facilities and equipment. The terms of the agreements vary from 2008 until 2053. Minimum annual rental commitments under our operating leases at December 31, 2007, were as follows:
         
Year Ending December 31,   Operating  
    Leases(1)  
    (In millions)  
2008
  $ 14  
2009
    13  
2010
    10  
2011
    7  
2012
    7  
Thereafter
    29  
 
     
Total
  $ 80  
 
     
 
(1)   Amounts have not been reduced by minimum sublease rentals of approximately $1 million due in the future under noncancelable subleases.
     Rental expense on our lease obligations for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006, and 2005 was $40 million, $43 million and $53 million, which includes $27 million in 2005 related to consolidating our Houston-based operations.
     Guarantees. We are involved in various joint ventures and other ownership arrangements that sometimes require financial and performance guarantees. In a financial guarantee, we are obligated to make payments if the guaranteed party fails to make payments under, or violates the terms of, the financial arrangement. In a performance guarantee, we provide assurance that the guaranteed party will execute on the terms of the contract. If they do not, we are required to perform on their behalf. We also periodically provide indemnification arrangements related to assets or businesses we have sold. These arrangements include, but are not limited to, indemnification for income taxes, the resolution of existing disputes and environmental matters.
     Our potential exposure under guarantee and indemnification agreements can range from a specified amount to an unlimited dollar amount, depending on the nature of the claim and the particular transaction. For those arrangements with a specified dollar amount, we have a maximum stated value of approximately $785 million, for which we are indemnified by third parties for $15 million. These amounts exclude guarantees for which we have issued related letters of credit discussed in Note 11. Included in the above maximum stated value is approximately $438 million related to indemnification arrangements associated with the sale of ANR and related operations and approximately $119 million related to tax matters, related interest and other indemnifications and guarantees arising out of the sale of our Macae power facility. As of December 31, 2007, we have recorded obligations of $51 million related to our guarantees and indemnification arrangements, of which $8 million is related to ANR and related assets and Macae. We are unable to estimate a maximum exposure for our guarantee and indemnification agreements that do not provide for limits on the amount of future payments due to the uncertainty of these exposures.
     In addition to the exposures described above, a trial court has ruled, which was upheld on appeal, that we are required to indemnify a third party for benefits being paid to a closed group of retirees of one of our former subsidiaries. We have a liability of approximately $379 million associated with our estimated exposure under this matter as of December 31, 2007. For a further discussion of this matter, see Retiree Medical Benefits Matters above.
     Other Commercial Commitments. We have various other commercial commitments and purchase obligations that are not recorded on our balance sheet. At December 31, 2007, we had firm commitments under transportation and storage capacity contracts of $195 million due at various times and other purchase and capital commitments (including maintenance, engineering, procurement and construction contracts) of $709 million, the substantial majority of which is due in less than one year.
     We also hold cancelable easements or right-of-way arrangements from landowners permitting the use of land for the construction and operation of our pipeline systems. Currently, our obligation under these easements is not material to the results of our operations. However, we are currently negotiating a long-term right-of-way agreement with the Navajo Nation which could result in a significant commitment by us (see Navajo Nation above).

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13. Retirement Benefits
     Overview of Retirement Benefits
          Pension Benefits. Our primary pension plan is a defined benefit plan that covers substantially all of our U.S. employees and provides benefits under a cash balance formula. Certain employees who participated in the prior pension plans of El Paso, Sonat, Inc. or The Coastal Corporation receive the greater of cash balance benefits or transition benefits under the prior plan formulas. We do not anticipate making any contributions to this pension plan in 2008.
          In addition to our primary pension plan, we maintain a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP) that provides additional benefits to selected officers and key management. The SERP provides benefits in excess of certain IRS limits that essentially mirror those in the primary pension plan. We expect to contribute $4 million to the SERP in 2008. We also maintain two other frozen pension plans that are closed to new participants which provide benefits to former employees of our previously discontinued coal and convenience store operations. We do not anticipate making any contributions to our frozen pension plans in 2008. The SERP and the frozen plans together are referred to below as other pension plans. We also participate in several multi-employer pension plans for the benefit of our former employees who were union members. Our contributions to these plans during 2007, 2006 and 2005 were not material.
          Retirement Savings Plan. We maintain a defined contribution plan covering all of our U.S. employees. We match 75 percent of participant basic contributions up to 6 percent of eligible compensation and can make additional discretionary matching contributions depending on our performance relative to our peers. Amounts expensed under this plan were approximately $16 million, $30 million and $25 million for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005.
          Other Postretirement Benefits. We provide postretirement medical benefits for closed groups of retired employees and limited postretirement life insurance benefits for current and retired employees. Other postretirement employee benefits (OPEB) for our regulated pipeline companies are prefunded to the extent such costs are recoverable through rates. To the extent OPEB costs for our regulated pipeline companies differ from the amounts recovered in rates, a regulatory asset or liability is recorded. We expect to contribute $27 million to our postretirement plans in 2008. Medical benefits for these closed groups of retirees may be subject to deductibles, co-payment provisions, and other limitations and dollar caps on the amount of employer costs, and we reserve the right to change these benefits.
     Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits. On December 31, 2006, we adopted the recognition provisions of SFAS No. 158, and upon adoption we reflected the assets and liabilities related to our pension and other postretirement benefit plans based on their funded or unfunded status and all actuarial deferrals were reclassified as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income. The adoption of this standard decreased our other non-current assets by $601 million, our other non-current deferred tax liabilities by $210 million, and our accumulated other comprehensive income by $391 million. In March 2007, the FERC issued guidance requiring regulated pipeline companies to recognize a regulatory asset or liability for the funded status asset or liability that would otherwise be recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income under SFAS No. 158, if it is probable that amounts calculated on the same basis as SFAS No. 106, Employers’ Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions, would be included in our rates in future periods. Upon adoption of this FERC guidance, we reclassified approximately $9 million from the beginning balance of accumulated other comprehensive income to regulatory liabilities, which is included in other non-current liabilities on our balance sheet.
     The table below provides additional information related to our pension and other postretirement plans as of September 30, our measurement date, for our benefit obligations and plan assets and as of December 31 for the balance sheet amounts:
                                 
                    Other
    Pension Benefits   Postretirement Benefits
    2007   2006   2007   2006
    (In millions)
Projected benefit obligation/accumulated postretirement benefit obligation
  $ 2,027     $ 2,157     $ 418     $ 494  
Fair value of plan assets
    2,537       2,382       303       276  
Current benefit liability
    4       5       24       25  
Non-current benefit liability
    33       52       192       228  
Non-current benefit asset
    550       285       106       44  
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes
  $ (269 )   $ (450 )   $ 32     $ 15  

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     Our accumulated benefit obligation for our defined benefit pension plans was $2.0 billion and $2.1 billion as of December 31, 2007 and 2006. Our projected benefit obligation and accumulated benefit obligation for our pension plans whose accumulated benefit obligations exceeded the fair value of plan assets, was $37 million as of December 31, 2007 and $167 million as of December 31, 2006.
     Our accumulated postretirement benefit obligation for our other postretirement benefit plans whose accumulated postretirement benefit obligations exceeded the fair value of plan assets was $222 million and $320 million as of December 31, 2007 and 2006.
     Our accumulated other comprehensive income includes approximately $8 million of unamortized prior service costs, net of tax. We anticipate that approximately $16 million of our accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, will be recognized as a part of our net periodic benefit cost in 2008.
     Change in Benefit Obligation, Plan Assets and Funded Status. Our benefits are presented and computed as of and for the twelve months ended September 30:
                                 
                    Other  
                    Postretirement  
    Pension Benefits     Benefits  
    2007     2006     2007     2006  
    (In millions)  
Change in benefit obligation(1):
                               
Benefit obligation — beginning of period
  $ 2,157     $ 2,235     $ 494     $ 527  
Service cost
    17       17       1       11  
Interest cost
    119       118       26       26  
Participant contributions
                32       34  
Actuarial gain
    (86 )     (37 )     (66 )     (35 )
Benefits paid
    (186 )     (176 )     (69 )     (69 )
Other
    6                    
 
                       
Benefit obligation — end of period
  $ 2,027     $ 2,157     $ 418     $ 494  
 
                       
Change in plan assets:
                               
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of period
  $ 2,382     $ 2,350     $ 276     $ 251  
Actual return on plan assets(2)
    333       192       39       19  
Employer contributions
    8       16       25       41  
Participant contributions
                32       34  
Benefits paid
    (186 )     (176 )     (69 )     (69 )
 
                       
Fair value of plan assets at end of period
  $ 2,537     $ 2,382     $ 303     $ 276  
 
                       
Reconciliation of funded status:
                               
Fair value of plan assets at September 30
  $ 2,537     $ 2,382     $ 303     $ 276  
Less: Benefit obligation — end of period
    2,027       2,157       418       494  
 
                       
Funded status at September 30
    510       225       (115 )     (218 )
Fourth quarter contributions and income
    3       3       5       9  
 
                       
Net asset (liability) at December 31
  $ 513     $ 228     $ (110 )   $ (209 )
 
                       
 
(1)   Benefit obligation in the table above refers to the projected benefit obligation for our pension plans and accumulated postretirement benefit obligation for our postretirement plans.
 
(2)   We defer the difference between our actual return on plan assets and our expected return over a three year period, after which they are considered for inclusion in net benefit expense or income. Our deferred actuarial gains and losses are amortized only to the extent that our remaining unrecognized actual gains and losses exceed the greater of 10 percent of our projected benefit obligations or market related value of plan assets.
     Expected Payment of Future Benefits. As of December 31, 2007, we expect the following payments under our plans, net of participant contributions:
                 
Year Ending           Other Postretirement
December 31   Pension Benefits   Benefits(1)
    (In millions)
2008
  $ 167     $ 44  
2009
    167       43  
2010
    166       42  
2011
    164       41  
2012
    163       39  
2013-2017
    793       173  
 
(1)   Includes a reduction in each of the years presented for an expected subsidy related to the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003.

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     Components of Net Benefit Cost (Income). For each of the years ended December 31, the components of net benefit cost (income) are as follows:
                                                 
    Pension Benefits     Other Postretirement Benefits  
    2007     2006     2005     2007     2006     2005  
    (In millions)  
Service cost
  $ 17     $ 17     $ 22     $ 1     $ 11     $ 1  
Interest cost
    119       118       121       26       26       29  
Expected return on plan assets
    (181 )     (175 )     (168 )     (16 )     (14 )     (12 )
Amortization of net actuarial loss
    43       55       69       (1 )            
Amortization of prior service cost(1)
    (2 )     (2 )     (2 )     (1 )     (1 )     (1 )
Other
          (2 )     1             (1 )     8  
 
                                   
Net benefit cost (income)
  $ (4 )   $ 11     $ 43     $ 9     $ 21     $ 25  
 
                                   
 
(1)   As permitted, the amortization of any prior service cost is determined using a straight-line amortization of the cost over the average remaining service period of employees expected to receive benefits under the plan.
     Actuarial Assumptions and Sensitivity Analysis. Projected benefit obligations and net benefit cost are based on actuarial estimates and assumptions. The following table details the weighted-average actuarial assumptions used in determining the projected benefit obligation and net benefit costs of our pension and other postretirement plans for 2007, 2006 and 2005:
                                                 
                            Other
    Pension Benefits   Postretirement Benefits
    2007   2006   2005   2007   2006   2005
    (Percent)   (Percent)
Assumptions related to benefit obligations at September 30:
                                               
Discount rate
    6.25       5.75               6.05       5.50          
Rate of compensation increase
    4.27       4.00                                  
Assumptions related to benefit costs for the year ended December 31:
                                               
Discount rate
    5.75       5.50       5.75       5.50       5.25       5.75  
Expected return on plan assets(1)
    8.00       8.00       8.00       8.00       8.00       7.50  
Rate of compensation increase
    4.00       4.00       4.00                          
 
(1)   The expected return on plan assets is a pre-tax rate of return based on our targeted portfolio of investments. Some of our postretirement benefit plans’ investment earnings are subject to unrelated business income tax at a rate of 35%. The expected return on plan assets for our postretirement benefit plans is calculated using the after-tax rate of return.
     Actuarial estimates for our other postretirement benefit plans assumed a weighted-average annual rate of increase in the per capita costs of covered health care benefits of 9.4 percent, gradually decreasing to 5.0 percent by the year 2015. Assumed health care cost trends have a significant effect on the amounts reported for other postretirement benefit plans. A one-percentage point change in assumed health care cost trends would have the following effects as of September 30:
                 
    2007   2006
    (In millions)
One percentage point increase:
               
Aggregate of service cost and interest cost
  $ 1     $ 1  
Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation
    13       18  
One percentage point decrease:
               
Aggregate of service cost and interest cost
  $ (1 )   $ (1 )
Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation
    (12 )     (15 )

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     Plan Assets. The primary investment objective of our plans is to ensure that over the long-term life of the plans an adequate pool of sufficiently liquid assets to meet the benefit obligations to participants, retirees and beneficiaries exists. Investment objectives are long-term in nature covering typical market cycles of three to five years. Any shortfall of investment performance compared to investment objectives is the result of general economic and capital market conditions. The following table provides the target and actual asset allocations in our pension and other postretirement benefit plans as of September 30:
                                                 
    Pension Plans   Other Postretirement Plans
Asset Category   Target   Actual 2007   Actual 2006   Target   Actual 2007   Actual 2006
            (Percent)                   (Percent)        
Equity securities
    60       67       66       65       63       63  
Debt securities
    40       32       33       35       33       33  
Other
          1       1             4       4  
 
                                               
Total
    100       100       100       100       100       100  
 
                                               
     Other Matters. A trial court has ruled, which was upheld on appeal, that we are required to indemnify a third party for benefits paid to a closed group of retirees. We estimated our liability under this ruling utilizing actuarial methods similar to those used in estimating our obligations associated with our other postretirement benefit plans; however, these legal reserves are not included in the disclosures related to our pension and other postretirement benefits above. For a further discussion of this matter, see Note 12.
14. Stockholders’ Equity and Minority Interest
      Stockholders’ Equity
     Common Stock. In 2006, we issued 35.7 million shares of common stock for net proceeds of approximately $500 million. In 2005, we issued approximately 13.6 million shares of common stock to the remaining holders of $272 million of notes which originally formed a portion of our equity security units in settlement of their commitment to purchase the shares.
     Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock. In 2005, we issued $750 million of convertible perpetual preferred stock. Dividends on the preferred stock are declared quarterly at the rate of 4.99% per annum if approved by our Board of Directors and dividends accumulate if not paid. Each share of the preferred stock is convertible at the holder’s option, at any time, subject to adjustment, into 76.7754 shares of our common stock under certain conditions. This conversion rate represents an equivalent conversion price of approximately $13.03 per share. The conversion rate is subject to adjustment based on certain events which include, but are not limited to, fundamental changes in our business such as mergers or business combinations as well as distributions of our common stock or adjustments to the current rate of dividends on our common stock. We will be able to cause the preferred stock to be converted into common stock five years after issuance if our common stock is trading at a premium of 130 percent to the conversion price.
     The net proceeds from the issuance of the preferred stock, along with cash on hand, was used to settle litigation of approximately $442 million and to redeem all of the 6 million outstanding shares of 8.25% Series A cumulative preferred stock of our subsidiary, El Paso Tennessee Pipeline Company for approximately $300 million.
     Dividends. The table below shows the amount of dividends paid and declared (in millions, except per share amounts):
                 
            Convertible
    Common Stock   Preferred Stock
    ($0.16/share)   (4.99%/year)
Amount paid in 2007
  $ 112     $ 37  
Amount paid in January 2008
  $ 28     $ 9  
Declared in 2008:
               
Date of declaration
  February 7, 2008   February 7, 2008
Payable to shareholders on record
  March 7, 2008   March 15, 2008
Date payable
  April 1, 2008   April 1, 2008
     Dividends on our common stock and preferred stock are treated as reduction of additional paid-in-capital since we currently have an accumulated deficit. We expect dividends paid on our common and preferred stock in 2007 will be taxable to our stockholders because we anticipate that these dividends will be paid out of current or accumulated earnings and profits for tax purposes.

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     The terms of our 750,000 outstanding shares of 4.99% convertible preferred stock prohibit the payment of dividends on our common stock unless we have paid or set aside for payment all accumulated and unpaid dividends on such preferred stock for all preceding dividend periods. In addition, although our credit facilities do not contain any direct restriction on the payment of dividends, dividends are included as a fixed charge in the calculation of our fixed charge coverage ratio under our credit facilities. If our fixed charge ratio were to exceed the permitted maximum level, our ability to pay additional dividends would be restricted.
     Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. The following table provides the components of our accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) as of December 31:
                 
    2007     2006  
Cash flow hedges (see Note 7)
  $ (35 )   $ 80  
Pension and other postretirement benefits (see Note 13)
    (237 )     (435 )
Investments available for sale
          12  
 
           
Total accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of income taxes
  $ (272 )   $ (343 )
 
           
Minority Interest
     In November 2007, we issued common units in our subsidiary El Paso Pipeline Partners, L.P., a master limited partnership and accordingly recorded minority interest on our balance sheet of $537 million. Under its partnership agreement, the MLP is obligated to distribute available cash as defined in the agreement. Currently, the MLP’s minimum quarterly distribution on its common units is $0.2875/unit per quarter.
15. Stock-Based Compensation
     Overview. Under our stock-based compensation plans, we may issue to our employees incentive stock options on our common stock (intended to qualify under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code), non-qualified stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, performance shares, performance units and other stock-based awards. We are authorized to grant awards of approximately 42.5 million shares of our common stock under our current plans, which includes 35 million shares under our employee plan, 2.5 million shares under our non-employee director plan and 5 million shares under our employee stock purchase plan. At December 31, 2007, approximately 29 million shares remain available for grant under our current plans. In addition, we have approximately 18 million shares of stock option awards outstanding that were granted under terminated plans that obligate us to issue additional shares of common stock if they are exercised. Stock option exercises and restricted stock are funded primarily through the issuance of new common shares.
     We record stock-based compensation expense, excluding amounts capitalized, as operation and maintenance expense over the requisite service period for each separately vesting portion of the award, net of estimates of forfeitures. If actual forfeitures differ from our estimates, additional adjustments to compensation expense will be required in future periods.
     Non-Qualified Stock Options. We grant non-qualified stock options to our employees with an exercise price equal to the market value of our stock on the grant date. Our stock option awards have contractual terms of 10 years and generally vest in equal amounts over three years from the grant date. We do not pay dividends on unexercised options. A summary of our stock option transactions for the year ended December 31, 2007 is presented below:
                                 
                    Weighted      
            Weighted   Average    
            Average   Remaining    
    # Shares   Exercise   Contractual      
    Underlying   Price   Term   Aggregate
    Options   per Share   (In years)   Intrinsic Value
                            (In millions)
Outstanding at December 31, 2006
    24,135,442     $ 35.52                  
Granted
    4,931,457     $ 14.77                  
Exercised
    (768,867 )   $ 8.85                  
Forfeited or canceled
    (1,347,888 )   $ 12.52                  
Expired
    (2,966,149 )   $ 47.32                  
 
                               
Outstanding at December 31, 2007
    23,983,995     $ 31.93       5.03     $ 72  
 
                               
Vested at December 31, 2007 or expected to vest in the future
    23,590,686     $ 32.25       4.97     $ 70  
 
                               
Exercisable at December 31, 2007
    16,117,816     $ 41.23       3.36     $ 37  
 
                               

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     In 2007 and 2006, we recognized $16 million and $11 million of pre-tax compensation expense on stock options, capitalized approximately $4 million and $2 million of this expense in each respective year as part of fixed assets and recorded $6 million and $4 million of income tax benefits. Total compensation cost related to non-vested option awards not yet recognized at December 31, 2007 was approximately $16 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 10 months. Options exercised during the year ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 had a total intrinsic value of approximately $6 million and $5 million, generated $7 million and $6 million of cash proceeds and did not generate any significant associated income tax benefit. The total intrinsic value, cash received and income tax benefit generated from option exercises was not material during the year ended December 31, 2005.
     Fair Value Assumptions. The fair value of each stock option granted is estimated on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model based on several assumptions. These assumptions are based on management’s best estimate at the time of grant. For the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 the weighted average grant date fair value per share of options granted was $5.53, $4.89, and $3.88.
     Listed below is the weighted average of each assumption based on grants in each fiscal year:
                         
    2007   2006   2005
Expected Term in Years
    6.0       6.0       4.8  
Expected Volatility
    34 %     38 %     42 %
Expected Dividends
    1 %     1.3 %     1.5 %
Risk-Free Interest Rate
    4.6 %     4.9 %     3.7 %
     We estimate expected volatility based on an analysis of implied volatilities from traded options on our common stock and our historical stock price volatility over the expected term, adjusted for certain time periods that we believe are not representative of future stock performance. Prior to January 1, 2006, we estimated expected volatility based primarily on adjusted historical stock price volatility. Effective January 1, 2006, we adopted the provisions of SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) No. 107 and estimate the expected term of our option awards based on the vesting period and average remaining contractual term. We expect to continue to use this approach for all stock option contracts consistent with SEC SAB No. 110, Share Based Payment, which allows us to continue the use of the “simplified method” in estimating our expected term consistent with the manner in which we determined expected term under SAB 107. We use this method due to a lack of sufficient historical data to provide a reasonable basis for estimating our expected term based on significant changes in the composition of our employees receiving stock-based compensation awards over the last several years.
     Restricted Stock. We may grant shares of restricted common stock, which carry voting and dividend rights, to our officers and employees. Sale or transfer of these shares is restricted until they vest. We currently have outstanding and grant time-based restricted stock. The fair value of our time-based restricted shares is determined on the grant date and these shares generally vest in equal amounts over three years from the date of grant. A summary of the changes in our non-vested restricted shares for each fiscal years are presented below:
                 
            Weighted Average
            Grant Date Fair Value
Nonvested Shares   # Shares   per Share
Nonvested at December 31, 2006
    3,739,220     $ 11.44  
Granted
    2,541,836     $ 14.73  
Vested
    (1,765,800 )   $ 10.43  
Forfeited
    (599,316 )   $ 13.38  
 
               
Nonvested at December 31, 2007
    3,915,940     $ 13.74  
 
               
     The weighted average grant date fair value per share for restricted stock granted during 2007, 2006 and 2005 was $14.73, $13.09 and $10.78. The total fair value of shares vested during 2007, 2006 and 2005 was $31 million, $24 million, and $14 million.
     During 2007, 2006 and 2005, we recognized approximately $25 million, $17 million and $18 million of pre-tax compensation expense on our restricted share awards, capitalized approximately $7 million in 2007 and $2 million in 2006 and 2005 as part of fixed assets and recorded $9 million, $6 million and $6 million of income tax benefits related to restricted stock arrangements. The total unrecognized compensation cost related to these arrangements at December 31, 2007 was approximately $24 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 10 months.

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     Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Our employee stock purchase plan allows participating employees the right to purchase our common stock at 95 percent of the market price on the last trading day of each month. This plan is non-compensatory under the provisions of SFAS No. 123(R). Shares issued under this plan were insignificant during 2007, 2006 and 2005.
16. Business Segment Information
     As of December 31, 2007, our business consists of two core segments, Pipelines and Exploration and Production. We also have Marketing and Power segments. Prior to 2006, we also had a Field Services segment. Our segments are strategic business units that provide a variety of energy products and services. They are managed separately as each segment requires different technology and marketing strategies. Our corporate activities include our general and administrative functions, as well as other miscellaneous businesses and various other contracts and assets, all of which are immaterial. A further discussion of each segment follows.
     Pipelines. Provides natural gas transmission, storage, and related services, primarily in the United States. As of December 31, 2007, we conducted our activities primarily through seven wholly or majority owned interstate pipeline systems and equity interests in three interstate transmission systems, along with two underground natural gas storage entities and an LNG terminalling facility.
     Exploration and Production. Engaged in the exploration for and the acquisition, development and production of natural gas, oil and NGL, primarily in the United States, Brazil and Egypt.
     Marketing. Markets and manages the price risks associated with our natural gas and oil production as well as our remaining legacy trading portfolio.
     Power. Manages the risks associated with our remaining international power assets, primarily in Brazil, Asia and Central America. We continue to pursue the sale of these assets.
     Prior to January 1, 2006, we had a Field Services segment which conducted midstream activities. We have disposed of substantially all of the assets in this segment.
     We had no customers whose revenues exceeded 10 percent of our total revenues in 2007, 2006 and 2005.
     Our management uses earnings before interest expense and income taxes (EBIT) to assess the operating results and effectiveness of our business segments which consist of both consolidated businesses and investments in unconsolidated affiliates. We believe EBIT is useful to our investors because it allows them to more effectively evaluate the operating performance using the same performance measure analyzed internally by our management. We define EBIT as net income or loss adjusted for (i) items that do not impact our income or loss from continuing operations, such as discontinued operations and the impact of accounting changes, (ii) income taxes and (iii) interest and debt expense. We exclude interest and debt expense so that investors may evaluate our operating results without regard to our financing methods or capital structure. EBIT may not be comparable to measures used by other companies. Additionally, EBIT should be considered in conjunction with net income and other performance measures such as operating income or operating cash flow. Below is a reconciliation of our EBIT to our income from continuing operations for the periods ended December 31:
                         
    2007     2006     2005  
    (In millions)  
Segment EBIT
  $ 1,935     $ 1,838     $ 979  
Corporate and other
    (283 )     (88 )     (521 )
Interest and debt expense
    (994 )     (1,228 )     (1,295 )
Income taxes
    (222 )     9       331  
 
                 
Income (loss) from continuing operations
  $ 436     $ 531     $ (506 )
 
                 

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     The following tables reflect our segment results as of and for each of the three years ended December 31:
                                                 
    As of or for the Year Ended December 31, 2007
    Segment        
            Exploration and                   Corporate    
    Pipelines   Production   Marketing   Power   and Other(1)   Total
    (In millions)
Revenue from external customers
                                               
Domestic
  $ 2,429     $ 1,123 (2)   $ 814     $     $ 54     $ 4,420  
Foreign
    11       17 (2)     163             37       228  
Intersegment revenue
    54       1,160 (2)     (1,196 )           (18 )      
Operation and maintenance
    753       439       11       17       113       1,333  
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
    373       780       3       1       19       1,176  
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates
    105       11             (15 )           101  
EBIT
    1,265       909       (202 )     (37 )     (283 )(5)     1,652  
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes
    674                               674  
Assets of continuing operations
                                               
Domestic
    13,764       7,404       506       5       1,482       23,161  
Foreign(3)
    175       625       31       526       61       1,418  
Capital expenditures and investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates, net(4)
    1,059       2,613             (34 )     7       3,645  
Total investments in unconsolidated affiliates
    759       704             151             1,614  
 
(1)   Includes eliminations of intercompany transactions. Our intersegment revenues, along with our intersegment operating expenses, were incurred in the normal course of business between our operating segments. We recorded an intersegment revenue elimination of $19 million and an operation and maintenance expense elimination of $1 million, which is included in the “Corporate” column, to remove intersegment transactions.
 
(2)   Revenues from external customers include gains and losses related to our hedging of price risk associated with our natural gas and oil production. Intersegment revenues represent sales to our Marketing segment, which is responsible for marketing our production to third parties.
 
(3)   Of total foreign assets, approximately $0.6 billion relates to property, plant and equipment, and approximately $0.6 billion relates to investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates.
 
(4)   Amounts are net of third party reimbursements of our capital expenditures and returns of invested capital.
 
(5)   Includes debt extinguishment costs of $86 million related to refinancing EPEP’s $1.2 billion notes.

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    As of or for the Year Ended December 31, 2006
    Segments        
            Exploration and                   Corporate(1)    
    Pipelines   Production   Marketing   Power   and Other   Total
                    (In millions)
Revenue from external customers
                                               
Domestic
  $ 2,331     $ 645 (2)   $ 1,012     $ 4     $ 116     $ 4,108  
Foreign
    10       32 (2)     131                   173  
Intersegment revenue
    61       1,177 (2)     (1,201 )     2       (39 )      
Operation and maintenance
    743       410       28       57       99       1,337  
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
    370       645       4       2       26       1,047  
Earnings from unconsolidated affiliates
    90       10             45             145  
EBIT
    1,187       640       (71 )     82       (88 )     1,750  
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes
    118                   (27 )     (147 )     (56 )
Assets of continuing operations(3)
                                               
Domestic
    12,958       5,858       1,115             1,950       21,881  
Foreign(4)
    147       404       28       618       50       1,247  
Capital expenditures, and investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates, net(5)
    1,023       1,113             (44 )     14       2,106  
Total investments in unconsolidated affiliates
    757       729             221             1,707  
 
(1)   Includes eliminations of intercompany transactions. Our intersegment revenues, along with our intersegment operating expenses, were incurred in the normal course of business between our operating segments. We recorded an intersegment revenue elimination of $37 million and an operation and maintenance expense elimination of $13 million, which is included in the “Corporate” column, to remove intersegment transactions.
 
(2)   Revenues from external customers include gains and losses related to our hedging of price risk associated with our natural gas and oil production. Intersegment revenues represent sales to our Marketing segment, which is responsible for marketing our production to third parties.
 
(3)   Excludes assets of discontinued operations of $4,133 million (see Note 2).
 
(4)   Approximately $0.4 billion of total foreign assets relates to property, plant and equipment and approximately $0.7 billion relates to investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates.
 
(5)   Amounts are net of third party reimbursements of our capital expenditures and returns of invested capital.

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    As of or for the Year Ended December 31, 2005
    Segments        
            Exploration and                   Field   Corporate(1)    
    Pipelines   Production   Marketing   Power   Services   and Other   Total
    (In millions)
Revenue from external customers
                                                       
Domestic
  $ 2,094     $ 466 (2)   $ 411     $ 71     $ 96     $ 85     $ 3,223  
Foreign
    7       54 (2)     3                         64  
Intersegment revenue
    70       1,267 (2)     (1,210 )     11       27       (93 )     72 (3)
Operation and maintenance
    772       383       54       122       37       567       1,935  
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
    343       612       4       2       3       42       1,006  
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates
    100       19             (139 )     301             281  
EBIT
    924       696       (837 )     (89 )     285       (521 )     458  
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes
    154       9             (476 )     251       (34 )     (96 )
Assets of continuing operations(4)
                                                       
Domestic
    12,264       5,215       3,786       70       99       4,081       25,515  
Foreign(5)
    125       355       33       1,106             57       1,676  
Capital expenditures, and investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates, net(6)
    780       1,851             5       8       14       2,658  
Total investments in unconsolidated affiliates
    734       761             670                   2,165  
 
(1)   Includes eliminations of intercompany transactions. Our intersegment revenues, along with our intersegment operating expenses, were incurred in the normal course of business between our operating segments. We recorded an intersegment revenue elimination of $91 million and an operation and maintenance expense elimination of $2 million, which is included in the “Corporate” column, to remove intersegment transactions.
 
(2)   Revenues from external customers include gains and losses related to our hedging of price risk associated with our natural gas and oil production. Intersegment revenues represent sales to our Marketing segment, which is responsible for marketing our production to third parties.
 
(3)   Relates to intercompany activities between our continuing operations and our discontinued operations.
 
(4)   Excludes assets of discontinued operations of $4,649 million.
 
(5)   Of total foreign assets, approximately $0.3 billion relates to property, plant and equipment and approximately $1.0 billion relates to investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates.
 
(6)   Amounts are net of third party reimbursements of our capital expenditures and returns of invested capital.

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17. Investments in, Earnings from and Transactions with Unconsolidated Affiliates
     We hold investments in unconsolidated affiliates which are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. Our income statement typically reflects (i) our share of net earnings directly attributable to these unconsolidated affiliates, and (ii) impairments and other adjustments recorded by us.
     Our investment balance differs from the underlying net equity in our investments due primarily to purchase price adjustments and impairment charges recorded by us. As of December 31, 2007 and 2006, our investment balance exceeded the net equity in the underlying net assets of these investments by $377 million and $409 million due to these items. The majority of our purchase price adjustments is related to our investment in Four Star which we acquired in 2005. We generally amortize and assess the recoverability of this amount based on the development and production of the underlying estimated proved natural gas and oil reserves of Four Star. Our net ownership interest, investments in and earnings (losses) from our unconsolidated affiliates are as follows as of and for the years ended December 31:
                                                         
    Net Ownership                     Earnings (Losses) from  
    Interest     Investment     Unconsolidated Affiliates  
    2007     2006     2007     2006     2007     2006     2005  
    (Percent)     (In millions)             (In millions)  
Domestic:
                                                       
Four Star(1)
    49       43     $ 698     $ 723     $ 12     $ 10     $ 19  
Citrus
    50       50       576       597       81       62       66  
Enterprise Products Partners(2)
                                        183  
Midland Cogeneration Venture(2)
                                  13       (162 )
Javelina(2)
                                        121  
Other Domestic Investments
  various   various     38       36       3       3       17  
 
                                             
Total domestic
                    1,312       1,356       96       88       244  
 
                                             
Foreign:
                                                       
Bolivia to Brazil Pipeline
    8       8       105       105       11       11       20  
Gasoductos de Chihuahua
    50       50       146       126       21       25       19  
Habibullah Power(3)
    50       50       17       17             1       (13 )
Manaus/Rio Negro(4)
    100       100       56       96       (6 )     17       19  
Porto Velho(3)
    50       50       (60 )     (34 )     (23 )     2       (16 )
Korea Independent Energy Corporation(2)
                                        127  
EGE Itabo(2)
                                  1       (58 )
Other Foreign Investments
  various   various     38       41       2             (61 )
 
                                             
Total foreign
                    302       351       5       57       37  
 
                                             
Total investments in unconsolidated affiliates
                  $ 1,614     $ 1,707                          
 
                                                   
Total earnings from unconsolidated affiliates
                                  $ 101     $ 145     $ 281  
 
                                                 
 
(1)   Amortization of our purchase cost in excess of the underlying net assets of Four Star was $53 million, $54 million and $20 million during 2007, 2006 and 2005. During the third quarter of 2007, we paid $27 million to increase our ownership interest in Four Star from 43 percent to 49 percent.
 
(2)   We sold our interests in these investments.
 
(3)   As of December 31, 2007 and 2006, we had outstanding advances and receivables not included in these balances of $350 million and $413 million related to our foreign investments of which $12 million and $25 million related to our investment in Habibullah Power, $335 million and $350 million relate to our investment in Porto Velho, and the remainder in our other foreign investments. We recognized interest income on these outstanding advances and receivables of approximately $1 million, $46 million, and $47 million in 2007, 2006 and 2005. For a further discussion of these receivables, see Matters that Could Impact Our Investments below.
 
(4)   We transferred ownership of these plants to the power purchaser in January 2008. For a further discussion, see Matters that Could Impact Our Investments below.

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     Impairment charges and gains and losses on sales of equity investments are included in earnings from unconsolidated affiliates. During 2007, 2006 and 2005, our impairments and gains and losses were primarily a result of our decision to sell a number of these investments or were based on declines in their fair value of the investments due to changes in economics of the investments’ underlying contracts, or the markets they serve. These gains (losses) consisted of the following:
                         
Investment or Group   2007     2006     2005  
    (In millions)  
Midland Cogeneration Venture(1)
  $     $ 13     $ (162 )
Asia power investments
    (1 )     (8 )     (64 )
Porto Velho(2)
    (32 )            
Manaus and Rio Negro
    (15 )            
Central and other South American power investments
    (2 )     1       (89 )
Enterprise
                183  
Javelina
                111  
KIECO
                108  
Other
                4  
 
                 
 
  $ (50 )   $ 6     $ 91  
 
                 
 
(1)   Amounts represent our proportionate share of losses from our investment in MCV in 2005 primarily based on MCV’s impairment of the plant assets, and a gain on the sale in 2006.
 
(2)   Amount does not include a $25 million impairment of our note receivable in 2007 as further described in Matters that Could Impact Our Investments, below.
     Below is summarized financial information of our proportionate share of the operating results and financial position of our unconsolidated affiliates, including those in which we hold greater than a 50 percent interest.
                         
    Year Ended December 31,
    2007   2006   2005
    (In millions)
Operating results data:
                       
Operating revenues
  $ 872     $ 1,101     $ 1,476  
Operating expenses
    528       741       1,407  
Income (loss) from continuing operations
    211       174       (163 )
Net income (loss)(1)
    211       174       (163 )
Financial position data:(2)
                       
Current assets
  $ 390     $ 441     $ 942  
Non-current assets
    2,323       2,408       3,423  
Short-term debt
    41       82       242  
Other current liabilities
    328       321       441  
Long-term debt
    519       556       1,171  
Other non-current liabilities
    588       592       632  
Minority interests
                83  
Redeemable preferred stock
                9  
Equity in net assets
    1,237       1,298       1,787  
 
(1)   Includes net income (loss) of $(1) million, $20 million and $15 million in 2007, 2006 and 2005, related to our proportionate share of affiliates in which we hold greater than a 50 percent interest.
 
(2)   Includes total assets of $190 million and $417 million as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 related to our proportionate share of affiliates in which we hold greater than a 50 percent interest.
     We received distributions and dividends of $223 million and $177 million in 2007 and 2006, which includes $34 million and $38 million of returns of capital from our investments.
     The following table shows revenues and charges resulting from transactions with our unconsolidated affiliates:
                         
    2007   2006   2005
    (In millions)
Operating revenue(1)
  $ 7     $ 64     $ 114  
Cost of sales
    5       3       7  
Other income
    4       6       9  
Interest income(2)
    1       46       47  
 
(1)   Decrease primarily due to the sale of investments in our Power segment.
 
(2)   Decrease primarily due to the impairment of our Porto Velho note receivable in 2007 as further described below.

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     Accounts Receivable Sales Program. Several of our pipeline subsidiaries have agreements to sell certain accounts receivable to qualifying special purpose entities (QSPEs) under SFAS No. 140, Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities. As of December 31, 2007 and 2006, we sold approximately $189 million and $202 million, of receivables, received cash of approximately $79 million and $108 million, received subordinated beneficial interests of approximately $107 million and $91 million, and recognized a loss of approximately $3 million in both years. In conjunction with the sale, the QSPEs also issued senior beneficial interests on the receivables sold to a third party financial institution, which totaled $80 million and $111 million as of December 31, 2007 and 2006. We reflect the subordinated beneficial interest in receivables sold as accounts receivable from affiliates in our balance sheet. We reflect accounts receivable sold under this program and changes in the subordinated beneficial interests as operating cash flows in our statement of cash flows. Under the agreements, we earn a fee for servicing the accounts receivable and performing all administrative duties for the QSPEs which is reflected as a reduction of operation and maintenance expense in our income statement. The fair value of these servicing and administrative agreements as well as the fees earned were not material to our financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006.
Matters that Could Impact Our Investments
     International Power. During 2006, we completed the sales of our in domestic power facilities and, accordingly, our remaining power investments are in international power facilities. As of December 31, 2007, we had equity investments in six power generation and transmission facilities in Asia, Central America, and Brazil that are considered variable interests under FIN No. 46(R). We operate these facilities but do not supply a significant portion of the fuel consumed or purchase a significant portion of the power generated by these facilities. Additionally, the long-term debt issued by these entities is recourse only to the project. We have investments in and advances to these entities as well as guarantees and other agreements which are as follows at December 31, 2007:
     Porto Velho. We have an equity investment in and a note receivable from the Porto Velho project in Brazil. The power generated by the Porto Velho project is committed to a state-owned utility under power purchase agreements, the largest of which extends through 2023. In July 2007, we received an offer from our partner to purchase our investment in the project for less than its overall carrying value. Our discussions with our partner about this offer have been temporarily suspended pending the resolution of certain claims with the state-owned utility, which are further described below, and a decision to sell our investment has not been made at this time. The power markets in Brazil continue to evolve and mature, and during the third quarter of 2007, the Brazilian national power grid operator communicated to Porto Velho’s management that its power plant (and the region that the plant serves) will be interconnected to an integrated power grid in Brazil as soon as late 2008. When the interconnection is completed, the state-owned utility will have access to sources of power at rates that may be less than the price under Porto Velho’s existing power purchase agreements. Furthermore, there are plans to construct new hydroelectric plants in northern Brazil that could reportedly be completed as early as 2012 which, once connected to the grid, could further reduce regional power prices and the amount of power Porto Velho will be able to sell under its power purchase agreements. Based on our assessment of the impact these ongoing developments may have on northern Brazil’s electricity markets and Porto Velho’s power purchase agreements, we recorded incremental losses on our investment during 2007 of approximately $32 million. We also recorded a $25 million impairment of our note receivable from the project, and have discontinued accruing interest on the note. After these adjustments, our total investment in the Porto Velho project was approximately $275 million as of December 31, 2007, comprised primarily of the note receivable from the project. In February 2008, we received a dividend from the project of approximately $29 million, and we and our partner extended the date upon which we will be required to convert approximately $80 million of the amounts due under this note into an equity investment in the project until July 2008. In addition, we may be required to convert up to an additional $80 million of the note in July 2008, depending on the level of equity that our partner contributes to the project, which would increase our percentage ownership in Porto Velho.
     In December 2006, the Brazilian tax authorities assessed a $30 million fine against the Porto Velho power project for allegedly not filing the proper tax forms related to the delivery of fuel to the power facility under its power purchase agreements. We believe the claim by the tax authorities is without merit. In addition, beginning in the fourth quarter of 2007, the state-owned utility made claims against the Porto Velho project for the period of 2003 through 2007 totaling approximately $60 million related to alleged excess fuel consumption. We believe that we have valid defenses to these fuel claims. The state-owned utility has made additional net claims of $30 million for retroactive currency indexation adjustments, which are partially offset by retroactive revenue surcharges for periods when the plant uses oil for fuel. We are currently evaluating this claim. Further adverse developments in the Brazilian power markets or at the project could impact our ability to recover our remaining investment in the future.

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     Manaus /Rio Negro. On January 15, 2008, we transferred our ownership in the Manaus and Rio Negro facilities to the plants’ power purchaser as required by their power purchase agreements. On the transfer date, we have approximately $69 million of accounts receivable owed to us under the projects terminated power purchase agreements, which are guaranteed by the purchaser’s parent. The purchaser has withheld payment of these receivables in light of a dispute over approximately $54 million of maintenance and other items that the purchaser claims should have been performed at the plants prior to the transfer. We intend to recover our receivable through our legal rights to enforce the parental guarantee, independent of the resolution of the disputed claim. The ultimate resolution of each of these matters is unknown at this time. During 2007, we recorded an impairment of our investments in these projects of approximately $15 million as a result of our assessment of these matters and other unrelated mechanical failures at the plants. Adverse developments related to either our ability to collect amounts due to us or related to the dispute could require us to record additional losses in the future.
     Asian and Central American power investments. As of December 31, 2007, our total investment (including advances to the projects) and guarantees related to these projects was approximately $78 million. We are in the process of selling these assets. Any changes in political and economic conditions could negatively impact the amount of net proceeds we expect to receive upon their sale, which may result in additional impairments.
     Investment in Bolivia. We own an 8 percent interest in the Bolivia to Brazil pipeline. As of December 31, 2007, our total investment and guarantees related to this pipeline project was approximately $117 million, of which the Bolivian portion was $3 million. In 2006, the Bolivian government announced a decree significantly increasing its interest in and control over Bolivia’s oil and gas assets. We continue to monitor and evaluate, together with our partners, the potential commercial impact that these political events in Bolivia could have on our investment. As new information becomes available or future material developments arise, we may be required to record an impairment of our investment.
     Investment in Argentina. We own an approximate 22 percent interest in the Argentina to Chile pipeline. As of December 31, 2007, our total investment in this pipeline project was approximately $21 million. We are currently evaluating opportunities to sell our interest in this pipeline. In addition, in July 2006, the Ministry of Economy and Production in Argentina issued a decree that significantly increases the export taxes on natural gas. We continue to evaluate, together with our partners, the potential commercial impact that this and other decrees could have on the Argentina to Chile pipeline and the potential value we expect to receive upon the sale of our investment. As new information becomes available or future material developments arise, we may be required to record an impairment of our investment.

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Supplemental Selected Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited)
Financial information by quarter, adjusted to reflect our discontinued operations, is summarized below.
                                         
    Quarters Ended    
    March 31   June 30   September 30   December 31   Total
    (In millions, except per common share amounts)
2007
                                       
Operating revenues
  $ 1,022     $ 1,198     $ 1,166     $ 1,262     $ 4,648  
Operating income
    335       451       417       442       1,645  
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates
    37       44       (6 )     26       101  
Income (loss) from continuing operations
    (48 )     169       155       160       436  
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes
    677       (3 )                 674  
Net income
    629       166       155       160       1,110  
Net income available to common stockholders
    620       156       146       151       1,073  
Basic earnings per common share
                                       
Income (loss) from continuing operations
    (0.08 )     0.23       0.21       0.22       0.57  
Net income
    0.89       0.23       0.21       0.22       1.54  
Diluted earnings per common share
                                       
Income (loss) from continuing operations
    (0.08 )     0.22       0.20       0.21       0.57  
Net income
    0.89       0.22       0.20       0.21       1.53  
2006
                                       
Operating revenues
  $ 1,337     $ 1,089     $ 942     $ 913     $ 4,281  
Operating income
    683       363       218       163       1,427  
Earnings from unconsolidated affiliates
    29       37       55       24       145  
Income (loss) from continuing operations
    301       134       111       (15 )     531  
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes
    55       16       24       (151 )     (56 )
Net income (loss)
    356       150       135       (166 )     475  
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders
    346       141       126       (175 )     438  
Basic earnings per common share
                                       
Income (loss) from continuing operations
    0.44       0.19       0.15       (0.03 )     0.73  
Net income (loss)
    0.53       0.21       0.18       (0.25 )     0.65  
Diluted earnings per common share
                                       
Income (loss) from continuing operations
    0.42       0.19       0.15       (0.03 )     0.72  
Net income (loss)
    0.49       0.21       0.18       (0.25 )     0.64  
     Below are unusual or infrequently occurring items, if any, in each of the respective quarters of 2007 and 2006:
     September 30, 2007. Items include (i) $77 million gain in other income related to the reversal of a liability related to a legacy crude oil marketing and trading business matter and (ii) losses of $64 million ($72 million for the year ended December 31, 2007) related to our Porto Velho and Manaus and Rio Negro projects.
     June 30, 2007. Items include (i) $86 million loss on debt extinguishment relating to repurchasing notes of El Paso Exploration and Production Company and (ii) a $35 million loss ($100 million for the year ended December 31, 2007) on our PJM power contracts, primarily resulting from increases in installed capacity prices.
     March 31, 2007. Items include (i) gain of $651 million, net of taxes of $356 million on the sale of ANR and related assets recorded in discontinued operations and (ii) a loss on extinguishment of debt of $201 million in conjunction with the repurchase of $3.5 billion of debt obligations.
     December 31, 2006. Items include (i) $188 million charge associated with the release of capacity under our Alliance contract and (ii) approximately $188 million in deferred taxes related to ANR discontinued operations (Note 2).
     September 30, 2006. Items include (i) Mark-to-market losses of $133 million on our MCV supply agreement recorded in conjunction with the sale of our interest in the related power facility and (ii) a $105 million income tax benefit associated with the reduction of tax contingencies and reinstatement of certain tax credits as a result of IRS audit settlements and net tax amounts recognized on certain foreign investments (Note 4).
     June 30, 2006. Items include income tax benefit of $34 million associated with IRS audit settlements (Note 4).

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Supplemental Natural Gas and Oil Operations (Unaudited)
     Our Exploration and Production segment is engaged in the exploration for, and the acquisition, development and production of natural gas, oil and NGL, in the United States, Brazil and Egypt.
     Capitalized Costs. Capitalized costs relating to natural gas and oil producing activities and related accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization were as follows at December 31 (in millions):
                         
            Brazil        
    United     and        
    States     Egypt(1)     Worldwide  
2007
                       
Natural gas and oil properties:
                       
Costs subject to amortization
  $ 17,631     $ 546     $ 18,177  
Costs not subject to amortization
    474       265       739  
 
                 
 
    18,105       811       18,916  
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization
    11,847       255       12,102  
 
                 
Net capitalized costs
  $ 6,258     $ 556     $ 6,814  
 
                 
2006
                       
Natural gas and oil properties:
                       
Costs subject to amortization
  $ 15,582     $ 460     $ 16,042  
Costs not subject to amortization
    333       77       410  
 
                 
 
    15,915       537       16,452  
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization
    11,322       202       11,524  
 
                 
Net capitalized costs
  $ 4,593     $ 335     $ 4,928  
 
                 
 
(1)   Capitalized costs for Egypt were $14 million and $4 million as of December 31, 2007 and 2006.
     Total Costs Incurred. Costs incurred in natural gas and oil producing activities, whether capitalized or expensed, were as follows for the year ended December 31 (in millions):
                         
    United     Brazil and        
    States     Egypt(1)     Worldwide  
2007
                       
Property acquisition costs
                       
Proved properties
  $ 964     $     $ 964  
Unproved properties
    262       5       267  
Exploration costs
    398       199       597  
Development costs
    735       26       761  
 
                 
Costs expended
    2,359       230       2,589  
Asset retirement obligation costs
    38       7       45  
 
                 
Total costs incurred
  $ 2,397     $ 237     $ 2,634  
 
                 
Unconsolidated investment in Four Star
  $ 27     $     $ 27  
 
                 
2006
                       
Property acquisition costs
                       
Proved properties
  $ 2     $ 2     $ 4  
Unproved properties
    34       1       35  
Exploration costs
    323       53       376  
Development costs
    738       40       778  
 
                 
Costs expended
    1,097       96       1,193  
Asset retirement obligation costs
    3             3  
 
                 
Total costs incurred
  $ 1,100     $ 96     $ 1,196  
 
                 
2005
                       
Property acquisition costs
                       
Proved properties
  $ 643     $ 8     $ 651  
Unproved properties
    143       1       144  
Exploration costs
    143       15       158  
Development costs
    503       6       509  
 
                 
Costs expended
    1,432       30       1,462  

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    United     Brazil and        
    States     Egypt(1)     Worldwide  
Asset retirement obligation costs
    1             1  
 
                 
Total costs incurred
  $ 1,433     $ 30     $ 1,463  
 
                 
Unconsolidated investment in Four Star(2)
  $ 769     $     $ 769  
 
                 
 
(1)   Costs incurred for Egypt were $10 million and $4 million for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006.
 
(2)   Amount includes deferred income tax adjustments of $179 million related to the acquisition of full-cost pool properties and $217 million related to the acquisition of our unconsolidated investment in Four Star.
     Pursuant to the full cost method of accounting, we capitalize certain general and administrative expenses related to property acquisition, exploration and development activities and interest costs incurred and attributable to unproved oil and gas properties and major development projects of oil and gas properties. The table above includes capitalized internal general and administrative costs incurred in connection with the acquisition, development and exploration of natural gas and oil reserves of $69 million, $50 million and $47 million for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005. We also capitalized interest of $35 million, $30 million and $30 million for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005.
     In our January 1, 2008 reserve report, the amounts estimated to be spent in 2008, 2009 and 2010 to develop our consolidated worldwide proved undeveloped reserves are $743 million, $515 million and $170 million.
     Unevaluated Capitalized Costs. We exclude capitalized costs of natural gas and oil properties from amortization that are in various stages of evaluation. We expect a majority of these costs to be included in the amortization calculation in 2008 and 2009.
     Presented below is an analysis of the capitalized costs of natural gas and oil properties by year of expenditures that are not being amortized as of December 31, 2007, pending determination of proved reserves (in millions):
                                         
    Cumulative     Costs Excluded     Cumulative  
    Balance     for Years Ended(1)     Balance  
    December 31,     December 31     December 31,  
    2007     2007     2006     2005     2004  
United States
                                       
Acquisition
  $ 418     $ 235     $ 30     $ 126     $ 27  
Exploration
    56       37       14       3       2  
Development
                             
 
                             
Total United States
    474       272       44       129       29  
 
                             
Brazil & Egypt
                                       
Acquisition
    8       3       2             3  
Exploration
    257       193       45       9       10  
Development
                             
 
                             
Total Brazil & Egypt
    265       196       47       9       13  
 
                             
Worldwide
  $ 739     $ 468     $ 91     $ 138     $ 42  
 
                             
 
(1)   Includes capitalized interest of $33 million, $24 million and $9 million for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005.
     Natural Gas and Oil Reserves. Net quantities of proved developed and undeveloped reserves of natural gas and NGL, oil and condensate, and changes in these reserves at December 31, 2007 presented in the tables below are based on our internal reserve report. Net proved reserves exclude royalties and interests owned by others and reflect contractual arrangements and royalty obligations in effect at the time of the estimate. Our consolidated reserves are consistent with estimates of reserves filed with other federal agencies except for differences of less than five percent resulting from actual production, acquisitions, property sales, necessary reserve revisions and additions to reflect actual experience.
     Ryder Scott, an independent reservoir engineering firm that reports to the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors, conducted an audit of the estimates of 84 percent of our consolidated natural gas and oil reserves. The scope of the audit performed by Ryder Scott included the preparation of an independent estimate of proved natural gas and oil reserves estimates for fields comprising greater than 80 percent of our total worldwide present value of future cash flows (pretax). The specific fields included in Ryder Scott’s audit represented the largest fields based on value. Ryder Scott also conducted an audit of the estimates of 75 percent of the proved reserves of Four Star, our unconsolidated affiliate. Our estimates of Four Star’s proved natural gas and oil reserves are prepared by our internal reservoir engineers and do not reflect those prepared by the engineers of Four Star. Based on the amount of proved reserves determined by Ryder Scott, we believe our reported reserve amounts are reasonable. Ryder Scott’s reports are included as exhibits to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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                            Oil and Condensate   NGL    
    Natural Gas (in Bcf)   (in MBbls)   (in MBbls)   Equivalent
    United                   United                   United   Volumes
    States   Brazil   Worldwide   States   Brazil   Worldwide   States   (in Bcfe)
Consolidated
                                                               
January 1, 2005
    1,724       69       1,793       27,331       24,171       51,502       13,201       2,181  
Revisions due to prices
    18       4       22       945       210       1,155       115       30  
Revisions other than price
    (61 )     (6 )     (67 )     (685 )     7,717       7,032       1,033       (19 )
Extensions and discoveries
    183       5       188       8,145       772       8,917       169       242  
Purchases of reserves in place
    192             192       13,338             13,338       772       276  
Sales of reserves in place
    (18 )           (18 )     (969 )           (969 )     (89 )     (24 )
Production
    (207 )     (16 )     (223 )     (4,877 )     (620 )     (5,497 )     (2,639 )     (271 )
 
                                                               
December 31, 2005
    1,831       56       1,887       43,228       32,250       75,478       12,562       2,415  
Revisions due to prices
    (48 )           (48 )     (1,007 )           (1,007 )     (152 )     (55 )
Revisions other than price
    56       (1 )     55       (507 )     (365 )     (872 )     (1,682 )     40  
Extensions and discoveries
    254       8       262       5,012       209       5,221       958       299  
Purchases of reserves in place
    1             1       90             90       32       2  
Sales of reserves in place
    (17 )           (17 )     (230 )           (230 )     (174 )     (20 )
Production
    (213 )     (7 )     (220 )     (5,907 )     (247 )     (6,154 )     (1,532 )     (266 )
 
                                                               
December 31, 2006
    1,864       56       1,920       40,679       31,847       72,526       10,012       2,415  
 
                                                               
Revisions due to prices
    28             28       2,336       10       2,346       154       43  
Revisions other than price
    (39 )     (1 )     (40 )     3,711       1,010       4,721       (35 )     (12 )
Extensions and discoveries
    296             296       5,876             5,876       1,681       341  
Purchases of reserves in place
    339             339       3,111             3,111             357  
Sales of reserves in place
    (2 )           (2 )     (73 )           (73 )           (2 )
Production
    (238 )     (4 )     (242 )     (5,966 )     (157 )     (6,123 )     (1,698 )     (289 )
 
                                                               
December 31, 2007
    2,248       51       2,299       49,674       32,710       82,384       10,114       2,853  
 
                                                               
Proved developed reserves
                                                               
December 31, 2005
    1,404       27       1,431       28,581       1,144       29,725       11,010       1,675  
December 31, 2006
    1,469       23       1,492       29,616       824       30,440       8,665       1,727  
December 31, 2007
    1,738       19       1,757       35,070       680       35,750       8,132       2,020  
Unconsolidated investment in Four Star
                                                               
December 31, 2007
                                                               
Net proved developed and undeveloped reserves
    200             200       2,858             2,858       6,411       256  
Proved developed reserves
    170             170       2,804             2,804       5,345       219  
December 31, 2006
                                                               
Net proved developed and undeveloped reserves
    167             167       2,947             2,947       6,209       222  
Proved developed reserves
    139             139       2,874             2,874       5,095       187  
     In 2007, of the 341 Bcfe of extensions and discoveries, 80 Bcfe related to the Raton area in northern New Mexico, 43 Bcfe related to the McCook area in south Texas, 34 Bcfe related to the Zapata area in south Texas, 26 Bcfe related to the success in the Niobrara and Johnson counties in Wyoming, 22 Bcfe related to the Mustang Island 739/740 block in the Gulf of Mexico and 20 Bcfe related to the Victoria area in south Texas.
     In 2006, of the 299 Bcfe of extensions and discoveries, 45 Bcfe related to the coal bed methane projects in central Alabama, 37 Bcfe related to the House Creek Parkman and County Line areas in northeast Wyoming, 35 Bcfe related to the McCook area in South Texas, 27 Bcfe related to the Raton area in northern New Mexico, 18 Bcfe related to the Victoria area in south Texas, 18 Bcfe related to the Bear Creek area in northern Louisiana, and 16 Bcfe related to the Minden area in east Texas.
     In 2005, of the 242 Bcfe of extensions and discoveries, 46 Bcfe related to the Holly and Minden fields in northwest Louisiana and east Texas, 39 Bcfe related to the West Cameron 62/75 offshore block in the Gulf of Mexico, 25 Bcfe related to the Raton area in northern New Mexico, 22 Bcfe related to the coal bed methane projects in central Alabama, 22 Bcfe related to the House Creek Parkman area in northeast Wyoming, and 14 Bcfe related to the Altamont/Bluebell area in northeast Utah.
     There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of proved reserves, projecting future rates of production and projecting the timing of development expenditures, including many factors beyond our control. The reserve data represents only estimates. Reservoir engineering is a subjective process of estimating underground accumulations of natural gas and oil that cannot be measured in an exact manner. The accuracy of any reserve estimate is a function of the quality of available data and of engineering

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and geological interpretations and judgment. All estimates of proved reserves are determined according to the rules prescribed by the SEC. These rules indicate that the standard of “reasonable certainty” be applied to proved reserve estimates. This concept of reasonable certainty implies that as more technical data becomes available, a positive, or upward, revision is more likely than a negative, or downward, revision. Estimates are subject to revision based upon a number of factors, including reservoir performance, prices, economic conditions and government restrictions. In addition, results of drilling, testing and production subsequent to the date of an estimate may justify revision of that estimate. Reserve estimates are often different from the quantities of natural gas and oil that are ultimately recovered.
     The meaningfulness of reserve estimates is highly dependent on the accuracy of the assumptions on which they were based. In general, the volume of production from natural gas and oil properties we own declines as reserves are depleted. Except to the extent we conduct successful exploration and development activities or acquire additional properties containing proved reserves, or both, our proved reserves will decline as reserves are produced. There have been no major discoveries or other events, favorable or adverse, that may be considered to have caused a significant change in the estimated proved reserves since December 31, 2007.

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     Results of Operations. Results of operations from producing activities by fiscal year were as follows at December 31 (in millions):
                         
    United              
    States     Brazil     Worldwide  
2007
                       
Net Revenues
                       
Sales to external customers
  $ 1,085     $ 25     $ 1,110  
Affiliated sales
    1,149       (8 )     1,141  
 
                 
Total
    2,234       17       2,251  
Cost of products and services(1)
    (72 )           (72 )
Production costs(2)
    (327 )     (11 )     (338 )
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
    (748 )     (16 )     (764 )
 
                 
 
    1,087       (10 )     1,077  
Income tax expense
    (392 )     4       (388 )
 
                 
Results of operations from producing activities
  $ 695     $ (6 )   $ 689  
 
                 
Equity earnings from unconsolidated investment in Four Star
  $ 12     $     $ 12  
 
                 
Depreciation, depletion and amortization ($/Mcfe)
  $ 2.63     $ 3.10     $ 2.64  
 
                 
 
                       
2006
                       
Net Revenues
                       
Sales to external customers
  $ 608     $ 41     $ 649  
Affiliated sales
    1,160       (9 )     1,151  
 
                 
Total
    1,768       32       1,800  
Cost of products and services(1)
    (58 )           (58 )
Production costs(2)
    (318 )     (7 )     (325 )
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
    (611 )     (19 )     (630 )
 
                 
 
    781       6       787  
Income tax expense
    (281 )     (2 )     (283 )
 
                 
Results of operations from producing activities
  $ 500     $ 4     $ 504  
 
                 
Equity earnings from unconsolidated investment in Four Star
  $ 10     $     $ 10  
 
                 
Depreciation, depletion and amortization ($/Mcfe)
  $ 2.37     $ 2.14     $ 2.36  
 
                 
 
                       
2005
                       
Net Revenues
                       
Sales to external customers
  $ 466     $ 62     $ 528  
Affiliated sales
    1,268       (9 )     1,259  
 
                 
Total
    1,734       53       1,787  
Cost of products and services(1)
    (47 )           (47 )
Production costs(2)
    (253 )     (8 )     (261 )
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
    (567 )     (45 )     (612 )
 
                 
 
    867             867  
Income tax expense
    (309 )           (309 )
 
                 
Results of operations from producing activities
  $ 558     $     $ 558  
 
                 
Equity earnings from unconsolidated investment in Four Star(3)
  $ 19     $     $ 19  
 
                 
Depreciation, depletion and amortization ($/Mcfe)
  $ 2.25     $ 2.31     $ 2.26  
 
                 
 
(1)   Cost of products and services consists primarily of transportation costs.
 
(2)   Production costs include lease operating costs and production related taxes, including ad valorem and severance taxes.
 
(3)   Acquired in August 2005.

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     Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows. The standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows relating to our consolidated proved natural gas and oil reserves at December 31 is as follows (in millions):
                         
    United              
    States     Brazil     Worldwide  
2007
                       
Future cash inflows(1)
  $ 19,329     $ 3,226     $ 22,555  
Future production costs
    (4,822 )     (560 )     (5,382 )
Future development costs
    (1,805 )     (444 )     (2,249 )
Future income tax expenses
    (3,144 )     (625 )     (3,769 )
 
                 
Future net cash flows
    9,558       1,597       11,155  
10% annual discount for estimated timing of cash flows
    (3,704 )     (617 )     (4,321 )
 
                 
Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows
  $ 5,854     $ 980     $ 6,834  
 
                 
Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows, including effects of hedging activities
  $ 5,902     $ 980     $ 6,882  
 
                 
 
                       
2006
                       
Future cash inflows(1)
  $ 12,349     $ 1,977     $ 14,326  
Future production costs
    (3,623 )     (431 )     (4,054 )
Future development costs
    (1,280 )     (506 )     (1,786 )
Future income tax expenses
    (1,089 )     (239 )     (1,328 )
 
                 
Future net cash flows
    6,357       801       7,158  
10% annual discount for estimated timing of cash flows
    (2,302 )     (377 )     (2,679 )
 
                 
Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows
  $ 4,055     $ 424     $ 4,479  
 
                 
Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows, including effects of hedging activities
  $ 4,225     $ 424     $ 4,649  
 
                 
 
                       
2005
                       
Future cash inflows(1)
  $ 18,175     $ 1,992     $ 20,167  
Future production costs
    (3,968 )     (453 )     (4,421 )
Future development costs
    (1,335 )     (309 )     (1,644 )
Future income tax expenses
    (3,160 )     (286 )     (3,446 )
 
                 
Future net cash flows
    9,712       944       10,656  
10% annual discount for estimated timing of cash flows
    (3,660 )     (381 )     (4,041 )
 
                 
Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows
  $ 6,052     $ 563     $ 6,615  
 
                 
Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows, including effects of hedging activities
  $ 5,748     $ 560     $ 6,308  
 
                 
 
                       
Unconsolidated Investment in Four Star
                       
Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows
                       
2007
  $ 444     $     $ 444  
 
                 
2006
  $ 323     $     $ 323  
 
                 
2005
  $ 617     $     $ 617  
 
                 
 
(1)   United States excludes $61 million, $219 million and $(502) million of future net cash inflows (outflows) attributable to hedging activities in the years 2007, 2006 and 2005. Brazil excludes $4 million of future net cash outflows attributable to hedging activities in 2005.

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     For the calculations in the preceding table, estimated future cash inflows from estimated future production of proved reserves were computed using year-end prices of $6.80, $5.64, and $10.08 per MMBtu for natural gas and $95.98, $61.05 and $61.04 per barrel of oil at December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005. In the United States, after adjustments for transportation and other charges, net prices were $6.40 per Mcf of gas, $87.88 per barrel of oil and $58.63 per barrel of NGL at December 31, 2007. We may receive amounts different than the standardized measure of discounted cash flow for a number of reasons, including price changes and the effects of our hedging activities.
     Changes in Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows. The following are the principal sources of change in our consolidated worldwide standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows (in millions):
                         
    Years Ended December 31,(1)  
    2007     2006     2005  
    (In millions)  
Sales and transfers of natural gas and oil produced net of production costs
  $ (1,657 )   $ (1,516 )   $ (1,477 )
Net changes in prices and production costs
    2,723       (2,891 )     2,884  
Extensions, discoveries and improved recovery, less related costs
    910       549       793  
Changes in estimated future development costs
    (4 )     (55 )     2  
Previously estimated development costs incurred during the period
    200       192       247  
Revision of previous quantity estimates
    117       (38 )     47  
Accretion of discount
    501       827       476  
Net change in income taxes
    (1,333 )     1,123       (1,093 )
Purchases of reserves in place
    810       4       956  
Sale of reserves in place
    (7 )     (42 )     (83 )
Change in production rates, timing and other
    95       (289 )     (333 )
 
                 
Net change
  $ 2,355     $ (2,136 )   $ 2,419  
 
                 
 
(1)   This disclosure reflects changes in the standardized measure calculation excluding the effects of hedging activities.

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SCHEDULE II
EL PASO CORPORATION
VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(In millions)
                                         
    Balance at   Charged to           Charged   Balance at
    Beginning   Costs and           to Other   End of
Description   of Period   Expenses   Deductions   Accounts   Period
2007
                                       
Allowance for doubtful accounts
  $ 28     $ (4 )   $ (5 )   $ (2 )   $ 17  
Valuation allowance on deferred tax assets
    127       10                   137  
Legal reserves(7)
    548       36       (128 )(2)     4       460  
Environmental reserves
    314       21       (75 )           260  
Regulatory reserves(3)
    65       61       (116 )           10  
2006(1)
                                       
Allowance for doubtful accounts
  $ 65     $ (5 )   $ (27 )(4)   $ (5 )   $ 28  
Valuation allowance on deferred tax assets
    107       23             (3 )     127  
Legal reserves(7)
    574       48       (74 )           548  
Environmental reserves
    348       30       (64 )           314  
Regulatory reserves(3)
    1       65       (1 )           65  
2005(1)
                                       
Allowance for doubtful accounts
  $ 195     $ (68 )   $ (54 )(4)   $ (8 )   $ 65  
Valuation allowance on deferred tax assets
    51       34 (5)           22       107  
Legal reserves(7)
    592       496       (516 )(6)     2       574  
Environmental reserves
    349       60       (61 )(6)           348  
Regulatory reserves
    1                         1  
 
(1)   Amounts reflect the reclassification of discontinued operations.
 
(2)   Included is the settlement of our shareholder litigation lawsuits.
 
(3)   In 2006 and 2007, we recorded reserves for rate refunds under EPNG’s rate case which was settled in 2007 and refunds paid to customers.
 
(4)   In 2006, relates primarily to the sale of our accounts receivable under an accounts receivable sales program. In 2005, relates primarily to accounts written off.
 
(5)   Relates primarily to valuation allowances for deferred tax assets related to the Western Energy Settlement, foreign ceiling test charges, foreign asset impairments and state and foreign net operating loss carryovers.
 
(6)   Relates primarily to payments for various litigation reserves (including $442 million related to the Western Energy Settlement), environmental remediation reserves or revenue crediting and rate settlement reserves.
 
(7)   Amounts are net of related insurance receivables.

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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
     None.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
     As of December 31, 2007, we carried out an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our CEO and our CFO, as to the effectiveness, design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. This evaluation considered the various processes carried out under the direction of our disclosure committee in an effort to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accurate, complete and timely. Our management, including our CEO and CFO, does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal controls will prevent and/or detect all error and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within our company have been detected. Based on the results of this evaluation, our CEO and CFO concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective at a reasonable level of assurance at December 31, 2007. See Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data under Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
     There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting during the fourth quarter of 2007.
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
     None.

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PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
     The information included under the captions “Corporate Governance”, “Proposal No. 1 — Election of Directors”, “Section 16(a), Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” and “Information about the Board of Directors and Committees” in our Proxy Statement for the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is incorporated herein by reference. Information regarding our executive officers is presented in Part I, Item 1, Business, of this Form 10-K under the caption “Executive Officers of the Registrant.”
     As required by the New York Stock Exchange corporate governance listing standards, in June 2007, Douglas L. Foshee, our president and chief executive officer, submitted an unqualified certification to the New York Stock Exchange that as of the date of the certification, he was not aware of any violation by El Paso of the exchange’s corporate governance standards. The certifications of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached as Exhibits 31.A and 31.B to this report.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
     Information appearing under the captions “Information about the Board of Directors and Committees — Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation”, “Executive Compensation”, “Director Compensation” and “Compensation Committee Report” in our Proxy Statement for the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
     Information appearing under the captions “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” and “Equity Compensation Plan Information Table” in our Proxy Statement for the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
     Information appearing under the captions “Corporate Governance — Independence of Board Members” and “Corporate Governance — Transactions with Related Persons” in our Proxy Statement for the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
     Information appearing under the caption “Proposal No. 2 — Ratification of Appointment of Ernst & Young, LLP as our Independent Registered Public Accountant — Principal Accountant Fees and Services” and “Information about the Board of Directors — Policy for Approval of Audit and Non-Audit Fees,” in our Proxy Statement for the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is incorporated herein by reference.

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PART IV
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a) The following documents are filed as a part of this report:
     1. Financial statements.
     The following consolidated financial statements are included in Part II, Item 8 of this report:
             
        Page  
        81  
        86  
        87  
        89  
        90  
        91  
        92  
2.  
Financial statement schedules and supplementary information required to be submitted
       
        142  
3.  
Exhibits
       
     The Exhibit Index, which index follows the signature page to this report and is hereby incorporated herein by reference, sets forth a list of those exhibits filed herewith, and includes and identifies management contracts or compensatory plans or arrangements required to be filed as exhibits to this Form 10-K by Item 601 (b)(10)(iii) of Regulation S-K.
Undertaking
     We hereby undertake, pursuant to Regulation S-K, Item 601(b), paragraph (4) (iii), to furnish to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request all constituent instruments defining the rights of holders of our long-term debt and consolidated subsidiaries not filed herewith for the reason that the total amount of securities authorized under any of such instruments does not exceed 10 percent of our total consolidated assets.

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SIGNATURES
     Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, El Paso Corporation has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized on the 28th day of February, 2008.
         
  EL PASO CORPORATION
 
 
  By:   /s/ Douglas L. Foshee    
    Douglas L. Foshee   
    President and Chief Executive Officer   
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of El Paso Corporation and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
         
Signature   Title   Date
 
       
/s/ Douglas L. Foshee
 
Douglas L. Foshee
  President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
  February 28, 2008
 
       
/s/ D. Mark Leland
 
D. Mark Leland
  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
  February 28, 2008
 
       
/s/ John R. Sult
 
John R. Sult
  Senior Vice President and Controller
(Principal Accounting Officer)
  February 28, 2008
 
       
/s/ Ronald L. Kuehn, Jr.
 
  Chairman of the Board    February 28, 2008
Ronald L. Kuehn, Jr.
       
 
       
/s/ Juan Carlos Braniff
 
  Director    February 28, 2008
Juan Carlos Braniff
       
 
       
/s/ James L. Dunlap
 
  Director    February 28, 2008
James L. Dunlap
       
 
       
/s/ Robert W. Goldman
 
  Director    February 28, 2008
Robert W. Goldman
       
 
       
/s/ Anthony W. Hall, Jr.
 
  Director    February 28, 2008
Anthony W. Hall, Jr.
       
 
       
/s/ Thomas R. Hix
 
  Director    February 28, 2008
Thomas R. Hix
       
 
       
/s/ William H. Joyce
 
  Director    February 28, 2008
William H. Joyce
       
 
       
/s/ Ferrell P. McClean
 
  Director    February 28, 2008
Ferrell P. McClean
       
 
       
/s/ Steven J. Shapiro
 
  Director    February 28, 2008
Steven J. Shapiro
       
 
       
/s/ J. Michael Talbert
 
  Director    February 28, 2008
J. Michael Talbert
       
 
       
/s/ Robert F. Vagt
 
  Director    February 28, 2008
Robert F. Vagt
       
 
       
/s/ John L. Whitmire
 
  Director    February 28, 2008
John L. Whitmire
       
 
       
/s/ Joe B. Wyatt
 
  Director    February 28, 2008
Joe B. Wyatt
       

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EL PASO CORPORATION
EXHIBIT INDEX
December 31, 2007
     Each exhibit identified below is filed as part of this report. Exhibits filed with this Report are designated by “*”. All exhibits not so designated are incorporated herein by reference to a prior filing as indicated. Exhibits designated with a “+” constitute a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
     
Exhibit    
Number   Description
3.A
  Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (included in Exhibit 3.A to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 31, 2005).
 
   
3.B
  By-laws effective as of December 6, 2007 (Exhibit 3.B to our Form 8-K filed December 6, 2007).
 
   
4.A
  Indenture dated as of May 10, 1999, by and between El Paso and HSBC Bank USA, National Association (as successor-in-interest to JPMorgan Chase Bank (formerly The Chase Manhattan Bank)), as Trustee (Exhibit 4.A to our 2004 Form 10-K).
 
   
4.B
  Certificate of Designations of 4.99% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock (included in Exhibit 3.A to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 31, 2005).
 
   
4.C
  Registration Rights Agreement, dated April 15, 2005, by and among El Paso Corporation and the Initial Purchasers party thereto (Exhibit 4.A to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 15, 2005).
 
   
4.D
  Tenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 28, 2005 between El Paso Corporation and HSBC Bank USA, National Association, as trustee, to Indenture dated as of May 10, 1999 (Exhibit 4.A to our Form 8-K filed January 4, 2006).
 
   
4.E
  Eleventh Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 31, 2006, between El Paso Corporation and HSBC Bank USA, National Association, as trustee, to Indenture dated as of May 10, 1999 (Exhibit 4.A to our 2006 Third Quarter Form 10-Q).
 
   
4.F
  Twelfth Supplemental Indenture dated as of June 18, 2007 between El Paso Corporation and HSBC Bank USA, National Association, as trustee, to Indenture dated as of May 10, 1999 (Exhibit 4.A to our 2007 Second Quarter Form 10-Q).
 
   
+10.A
  1995 Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors Amended and Restated effective as of December 4, 2003 (Exhibit 10.F to our 2003 Form 10-K).
 
   
*+10.A.1
  Amendment No. 1 effective as of January 1, 2007 to the 1995 Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors Amended and Restated effective as of December 4, 2003.
 
   
+10.B
  Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors Amended and Restated effective as of January 20, 1999 (Exhibit 10.G to our 2004 Form 10-K).
 
   
+10.B.1
  Amendment No. 1 effective as of July 16, 1999 to the Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors (Exhibit 10.G.1 to our 2004 Form 10-K).
 
   
*+10.B.2
  Amendment No. 2 effective as of February 7, 2001 to the Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors.
 
   
+10.B.3
  Amendment No. 3 effective as of October 26, 2006 to the Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors (Exhibit 10.N to our 2006 Third Quarter Form 10-Q).
 
   
+10.C
  2001 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors effective as of January 29, 2001 (Exhibit 10.1 to our Form S-8 filed June 29, 2001);
 
   
*+10.C.1
  Amendment No. 1 effective as of February 7, 2001 to the 2001 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors.
 
   
*+10.C.2
  Amendment No. 2 effective as of December 4, 2003 to the 2001 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors.
 
   
+10.C.3
  Amendment No. 3 effective as of October 26, 2006 to the 2001 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors (Exhibit 10.O to our 2006 Third Quarter Form 10-Q).
 
   
+10.D
  1995 Omnibus Compensation Plan Amended and Restated effective as of August 1, 1998 (Exhibit 10.I to our 2004 Form 10-K); Amendment No. 1 effective as of December 3, 1998 to the 1995 Omnibus Compensation Plan (Exhibit 10.I.1 to our 2004 Form 10-K); Amendment No. 2 effective as of January 20, 1999 to the 1995 Omnibus Compensation Plan

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Exhibit    
Number   Description
 
  (Exhibit 10.I.2 to our 2004 Form 10-K); Amendment No. 3 effective as of October 26, 2006 to the 1995 Omnibus Compensation Plan (Exhibit 10.L to our 2006 Third Quarter Form 10-Q).
 
   
*+10.E
  1999 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan dated January 20, 1999.
 
   
*+10.E.1
  Amendment No. 1 effective as of February 7, 2001 to the 1999 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan.
 
   
+10.E.2
  Amendment No. 2 effective as of May 1, 2003 to the 1999 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (Exhibit 10.I.1 to our 2003 Second Quarter Form 10-Q).
 
   
+10.E.3
  Amendment No. 3 effective as of October 26, 2006 to the 1999 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (Exhibit 10.K to our 2006 Third Quarter Form 10-Q).
 
   
*+10.F
  2001 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan effective as of January 29, 2001.
 
   
*+10.F.1
  Amendment No. 1 effective as of February 7, 2001 to the 2001 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan.
 
   
*+10.F.2
  Amendment No. 2 effective as of April 1, 2001 to the 2001 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan.
 
   
*+10.F.3
  Amendment No. 3 effective as of July 17, 2002 to the 2001 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan.
 
   
+10.F.4
  Amendment No. 4 effective as of May 1, 2003 to the 2001 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (Exhibit 10.J.1 to our 2003 Second Quarter Form 10-Q).
 
   
+10.F.5
  Amendment No. 5 effective as of March 8, 2004 to the 2001 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (Exhibit 10.K.1 to our 2003 Form 10-K).
 
   
+10.F.6
  Amendment No. 6 effective as of October 26, 2006 to the 2001 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (Exhibit 10.M to our 2006 Third Quarter Form 10-Q).
 
   
*+10.G
  Supplemental Benefits Plan Amended and Restated effective December 7, 2001.
 
   
*+10.G.1
  Amendment No. 1 effective as of November 7, 2002 to the Supplemental Benefits Plan.
 
   
+10.G.2
  Amendment No. 2 effective as of June 1, 2004 to the Supplemental Benefits Plan (Exhibit 10.L.1 to our 2004 Form 10-K).
 
   
+10.G.3
  Amendment No. 3 effective December 17, 2004 to the Supplemental Benefits Plan (Exhibit 10.UU to our 2004 Third Quarter Form 10-Q).
 
   
+10.G.4
  Amendment No. 4 to the Supplemental Benefits Plan effective as of December 31, 2004 (Exhibit 10.I.1 to our 2005 Form 10-K).
 
   
*+10.G.5
  Amendment No. 5 effective as of January 1, 2007 to the Supplemental Benefits Plan Amended and Restated effective December 7, 2001.
 
   
+10.H
  Senior Executive Survivor Benefit Plan Amended and Restated effective as of August 1, 1998 (Exhibit 10.M to our 2004 Form 10-K).
 
   
*+10.H.1
  Amendment No. 1 effective as of February 7, 2001 to the Senior Executive Survivor Benefit Plan.
 
   
*+10.H.2
  Amendment No. 2 effective as of October 1, 2002 to the Senior Executive Survivor Benefit Plan.
 
   
+10.I
  Key Executive Severance Protection Plan Amended and Restated effective as of August 1, 1998 (Exhibit 10.N to our 2004 Form 10-K).
 
   
*+10.I.1
  Amendment No. 1 effective as of February 7, 2001 to the Key Executive Severance Protection Plan.
 
   
*+10.I.2
  Amendment No. 2 effective as of November 7, 2002 to the Key Executive Severance Protection Plan.
 
   
*+10.I.3
  Amendment No. 3 effective as of December 6, 2002 to the Key Executive Severance Protection Plan.
 
   
+10.I.4
  Amendment No. 4 effective as of September 2, 2003 to the Key Executive Severance Protection Plan (Exhibit 10.N.1 to our 2003 Third Quarter Form 10-Q).
 
   
*+10.I.5
  Amendment No. 5 effective as of January 1, 2007 to the Key Executive Severance Protection Plan Amended and Restated effective as of August 1, 1998.
 
   
+10.J
  2004 Key Executive Severance Protection Plan effective as of March 9, 2004 (Exhibit 10.P to our 2003 Form 10-K).
 
   
*+10.J.1
  Amendment No. 1 effective as of January 1, 2007 to the 2004 Key Executive Severance Protection Plan effective as of March 9, 2004.

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Exhibit    
Number   Description
+10.K
  Director Charitable Award Plan Amended and Restated effective as of August 1, 1998 (Exhibit 10.P to our 2004 Form 10-K).
 
   
*+10.K.1
  Amendment No. 1 effective as of February 7, 2001 to the Director Charitable Award Plan.
 
   
+10.K.2
  Amendment No. 2 effective as of December 4, 2003 to the Director Charitable Award Plan (Exhibit 10.Q.1 to our 2003 Form 10-K).
 
   
*+10.L
  Strategic Stock Plan Amended and Restated effective as of December 3, 1999.
 
   
*+10.L.1
  Amendment No. 1 effective as of February 7, 2001 to the Strategic Stock Plan.
 
   
*+10.L.2
  Amendment No. 2 effective as of November 7, 2002 to the Strategic Stock Plan.
 
   
*+10.L.3
  Amendment No. 3 effective as of December 6, 2002 to the Strategic Stock Plan.
 
   
*+10.L.4
  Amendment No. 4 effective as of January 29, 2003 to the Strategic Stock Plan.
 
   
+10.L.5
  Amendment No. 5 effective as of October 26, 2006 to the Strategic Stock Plan (Exhibit 10.J to our 2006 Third Quarter Form 10-Q).
 
   
+10.M
  Domestic Relocation Policy effective November 1, 1996 (Exhibit 10.R to our 2004 Form 10-K).
 
   
+10.N
  Executive Award Plan of Sonat Inc. Amended and Restated effective as of July 23, 1998, as amended May 27, 1999 (Exhibit 10.S to our 2004 Form 10-K).
 
   
*+10.N.1
  Termination of the Executive Award Plan of Sonat Inc.
 
   
+10.N.2
  Amendment to the Executive Award Plan of Sonat Inc. effective as of October 26, 2006 (Exhibit 10.H to our 2006 Third Quarter Form 10-Q).
 
   
*+10.O
  Omnibus Plan for Management Employees Amended and Restated effective as of December 3, 1999.
 
   
*+10.O.1
  Amendment No. 1 effective as of December 1, 2000 to the Omnibus Plan for Management Employees.
 
   
*+10.O.2
  Amendment No. 2 effective as of February 7, 2001 to the Omnibus Plan for Management Employees.
 
   
*+10.O.3
  Amendment No. 3 effective as of December 7, 2001 to the Omnibus Plan for Management.
 
   
*+10.O.4
  Amendment No. 4 effective as of December 6, 2002 to the Omnibus Plan for Management Employees.
 
   
+10.O.5
  Amendment No. 5 effective as of October 26, 2006 to the Corporation Omnibus Plan for Management Employees (Exhibit 10.I to our 2006 Third Quarter Form 10-Q).
 
   
+10.P
  Severance Pay Plan Amended and Restated effective as of October 1, 2002 (Exhibit 10.Z to our 2003 First Quarter Form 10-Q); Supplement No. 1 to the Severance Pay Plan effective as of January 1, 2003 (Exhibit 10.Z to our 2003 First Quarter Form 10-Q); and Amendment No. 1 to Supplement No. 1 effective as of March 21, 2003 (Exhibit 10.Z to our 2003 First Quarter Form 10-Q); Amendment No. 2 to Supplement No. 1 effective as of June 1, 2003 (Exhibit 10.Z.1 to our 2003 Second Quarter Form 10-Q); Amendment No. 3 to Supplement No. 1 effective as of September 2, 2003 (Exhibit 10.Z.1 to our 2003 Third Quarter Form 10-Q); Amendment No. 4 to Supplement No. 1 effective as of October 1, 2003 (Exhibit 10.W.1 to our 2003 Form 10-K); Amendment No. 5 to Supplement No. 1 effective as of February 2, 2004 (Exhibit 10.W.1 to our 2003 Form 10-K); Supplement No. 2 dated April 1, 2005 to the Severance Pay Plan Amended and Restated effective as of October 1, 2002 (Exhibit 10.S.1 to our 2005 Form 10-K).
 
   
*+10.P.1
  Amendment No. 1 effective January 1, 2007 to the Severance Pay Plan Amended and Restated effective as of October 1, 2002.
 
   
+10.Q
  Letter Agreement dated September 20, 2006 between El Paso Corporation and Brent J. Smolik (Exhibit 10.A to our Form 8-K filed October 16, 2006).
 
   
+10.R
  Letter Agreement dated July 15, 2003 between El Paso and Douglas L. Foshee (Exhibit 10.U to our 2003 Third Quarter Form 10-Q).
 
   
+10.S
  Letter Agreement dated December 18, 2003 between El Paso and Douglas L. Foshee (Exhibit 10.BB.1 to our 2003 Form 10-K).
 
   
+10.T
  Form of Indemnification Agreement of each member of the Board of Directors effective November 7, 2002 or the effective date such director was elected to the Board of Directors, whichever is later (Exhibit 10.FF to our 2002 Form 10-K).

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Exhibit    
Number   Description
+10.U
  Form of Indemnification Agreement executed by El Paso for the benefit of each officer and effective the date listed in Schedule A thereto (Exhibit 10.F to our 2006 Third Quarter Form 10-Q).
 
   
+10.V
  Indemnification Agreement executed by El Paso for the benefit of Douglas L. Foshee, effective December 17, 2004 (Exhibit 10.XX to our 2004 Third Quarter Form 10-Q).
 
   
10.W
  Agreement With Respect to Collateral dated as of June 11, 2004, by and among El Paso Production Oil & Gas USA, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, Bank of America, N.A., acting solely in its capacity as Collateral Agent under the Collateral Agency Agreement, and The Office of the Attorney General of the State of California, acting solely in its capacity as the Designated Representative under the Designated Representative Agreement (Exhibit 10.HH to our 2003 Form 10-K).
 
   
10.X
  Purchase Agreement dated April 11, 2005, by and among El Paso Corporation and the Initial Purchasers party thereto (Exhibit 10.A to our Form 8-K filed April 15, 2005).
 
   
+10.Y
  El Paso Corporation 2005 Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors effective as of May 26, 2005 (Exhibit 10.A to our Form 8-K filed May 31, 2005); Amendment No. 1 to the El Paso Corporation 2005 Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors effective as of October 26, 2006 (Exhibit 10.P to our 2006 Third Quarter Form 10-Q).
 
   
*+10.Y.1
  Amendment No. 2 effective as of January 1, 2007 to the El Paso Corporation 2005 Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors effective as of May 26, 2005.
 
   
+10.Z
  El Paso Corporation 2005 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan effective as of May 26, 2005 (Exhibit 10.B to our Form 8-K filed May 31, 2005); Amendment No. 1 to the 2005 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan effective as of December 2, 2005 (Exhibit 10.HH.1 to our 2005 Form 10-K); Amendment No. 2 to the El Paso Corporation 2005 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan effective as of October 26, 2006 (Exhibit 10.Q to our 2006 Third Quarter Form 10-Q).
 
   
*+10.Z.1
  Amendment No. 3 to the El Paso Corporation 2005 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan effective as of May 26, 2005.
 
   
+10.AA
  El Paso Corporation Employee Stock Purchase Plan, Amended and Restated Effective as of July 1, 2005 (Exhibit 10.E to our 2005 Second Quarter Form 10-Q); Amendment No. 1 to the El Paso Corporation Employee Stock Purchase Plan effective as of October 26, 2006 (Exhibit 10.G to our 2006 Third Quarter Form 10-Q).
 
   
+10.BB
  2005 Supplemental Benefits Plan effective as of January 1, 2005 (Exhibit 10.KK to our 2005 Form 10-K).
 
   
*+10.BB.1
  Amendment No. 1 effective as of January 1, 2007 to the 2005 Supplemental Benefits Plan effective as of January 1, 2005.
 
   
10.CC
  Credit Agreement dated as of July 19, 2006 among El Paso Corporation, as Borrower, Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as Initial Lender, Issuing Bank, Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent (Exhibit 10.A to our Form 8-K filed July 20, 2006).
 
   
10.DD
  Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of November 16, 2007, among El Paso Corporation, El Paso Natural Gas Company, Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, the several banks and other financial institutions from time to time parties thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent and as collateral agent (Exhibit 10.A to our Form 8-K filed November 21, 2007).
 
   
10.EE
  Third Amended and Restated Security Agreement dated as of November 16, 2007, made by among El Paso Corporation, El Paso Natural Gas Company, Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, the Subsidiary Grantors and certain other credit parties thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., not in its individual capacity, but solely as collateral agent for the Secured Parties and as the depository bank (Exhibit 10.B to our Form 8-K filed November 21, 2007).
 
   
10.FF
  Third Amended and Restated Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement dated as of November 16, 2007, made by each of the Subsidiary Guarantors in favor of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Collateral Agent (Exhibit 10.C to our Form 8-K filed November 21, 2007).
 
   
10.GG
  Purchase and Sale Agreement dated December 22, 2006, among El Paso Corporation, El Paso CNG Company, L.L.C., and TransCanada American Investments Ltd. (Exhibit 10.A to our Form 8-K filed December 29, 2006).
 
   
10.HH
  Purchase and Sale Agreement dated December 22, 2006, among El Paso Great Lakes Company, L.L.C., TC GL Intermediate Limited Partnership and TransCanada PipeLine USA Ltd. (Exhibit 10. B to our Form 8-K filed December 29, 2006).
 
   
*12
  Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends.
 
   
*21
  Subsidiaries of El Paso Corporation.
 
   
*23.A
  Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, Ernst & Young LLP.

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Exhibit    
Number   Description
*23.B
  Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP.
 
   
*23.C
  Consent of Ryder Scott Company, L.P.
 
   
*31.A
  Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
   
*31.B
  Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
   
*32.A
  Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
   
*32.B
  Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
   
*99.A
  Ryder Scott reserve report for El Paso Exploration & Production Company as of December 31, 2007.
 
   
*99.B
  Ryder Scott reserve report for Four Star Oil & Gas Company as of December 31, 2007.

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EX-10.A.1 2 h53583exv10waw1.htm AMENDMENT NO.1 TO 1995 COMPENSATION PLAN FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS exv10waw1
 

EXHIBIT 10.A.1
AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE
EL PASO CORPORATION
 
1995 COMPENSATION PLAN FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS
     WHEREAS, El Paso Corporation (the “Company”) maintains the El Paso Corporation 1995 Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the “Plan”), amended and restated effective as of December 4, 2003; and
     WHEREAS, Section 9.7 of the Plan permits the Board of Directors or the Management Committee (as defined in the Plan) from time to time to amend the Plan, in whole or in part; and
     WHEREAS, it is intended hereby to amend the Plan to comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
     NOW, THEREFORE, the Plan is amended as follows:
     1. Section 5.5 is hereby added to the Plan to read as follows:
     “5.5 Deferrals During 2005
     Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any deferrals made pursuant to Section 5.2 during the calendar year 2005 (and any Conversion Premium set forth in Section 6.2(a) thereon) shall be deemed to be made under the 2005 Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors (“2005 Plan”) and any such deferrals (and Conversion Premium) shall subject to the corresponding provisions, including the payment features, of the 2005 Plan.”
     2. Section 7.3 is hereby added to the Plan to read as follows:
     “7.3 Long- Term Equity Credit During 2005
     Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any Long-Term Equity Credit made pursuant to Section 7.1 during the calendar year 2005 shall be deemed to be made under the 2005 Plan, and such Long-Term Equity Credit shall be subject to the corresponding provisions, including the payment features, of the 2005 Plan.”
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this amendment has been executed by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, effective as of January 1, 2007.
         
  EL PASO CORPORATION
 
 
  By:      /s/ Susan B. Ortenstone    
       
       
 
     ATTEST:
             
 
           
 
  By:   /s/ Marguerite Woung-Chapman    
 
           
 
      Corporate Secretary    

 

EX-10.B.2 3 h53583exv10wbw2.htm AMENDMENT NO.2 TO STOCK OPTION PLAN FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS exv10wbw2
 

EXHIBIT 10.B.2
AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO THE
EL PASO ENERGY CORPORATION
STOCK OPTION PLAN FOR
NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS
     Pursuant to Section 9.1 of the El Paso Energy Corporation Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors, Amended and Restated effective as of January 20, 1999 (the “Plan”), the Plan is hereby amended as follows, effective February 7, 2001:
     WHEREAS, the Certificate of Incorporation of El Paso Energy Corporation, a Delaware corporation, was amended to change the name of the corporation to El Paso Corporation effective February 7, 2001.
     NOW THEREFORE, the name of the Plan is hereby changed to the “El Paso Corporation Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors” and all references in the Plan to “El Paso Energy Corporation” or the “Company” shall mean “El Paso Corporation.”
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this amendment to be duly executed on this 7th day of February 2001.
         
  EL PASO CORPORATION
 
 
  By:        /s/ Joel Richards III     
    Joel Richards III   
    Executive Vice President
Human Resources and Administration 
 
 
Attest:
     
 
   
/s/ David L. Siddall
    
 
   
Corporate Secretary
   

 

EX-10.C.1 4 h53583exv10wcw1.htm AMENDMENT NO.1 TO 2001 STOCK OPTION PLAN FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS exv10wcw1
 

EXHIBIT 10.C.1
AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE
EL PASO ENERGY CORPORATION
2001 STOCK OPTION PLAN
FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS
     Pursuant to Section 9.1 of the El Paso Energy Corporation 2001 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors, effective as of January 29, 2001 (the “Plan”), the Plan is hereby amended as follows, effective February 7, 2001:
     WHEREAS, the Certificate of Incorporation of El Paso Energy Corporation, a Delaware corporation, was amended to change the name of the corporation to El Paso Corporation effective February 7, 2001.
     NOW THEREFORE, the name of the Plan is hereby changed to the “El Paso Corporation 2001 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors” and all references in the Plan to “El Paso Energy Corporation” or the “Company” shall mean “El Paso Corporation.”
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this amendment to be duly executed on this 7th day of February 2001.
         
  EL PASO CORPORATION
 
 
  By:       /s/ Joel Richards III    
    Joel Richards III   
    Executive Vice President
Human Resources and Administration 
 
 
Attest:
     
 
   
/s/ David L. Siddall
   
 
   
Corporate Secretary
   

 

EX-10.C.2 5 h53583exv10wcw2.htm AMENDMENT NO.2 TO 2001 STOCK OPTION PLAN FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS exv10wcw2
 

EXHIBIT 10.C.2
AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO THE
EL PASO CORPORATION
2001 STOCK OPTION PLAN
FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS
     Pursuant to authorization by the El Paso Corporation Board of Directors (the “Board”) and Section 9.2 of the El Paso Corporation 2001 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors, effective as of January 29, 2001, as amended (the “Plan”), the Plan is hereby amended as follows, effective December 4, 2003:
     WHEREAS, the Board, based upon a recommendation from its Compensation Committee, has determined it is in the best interests of the Company to terminate the Plan.
     NOW THEREFORE, the Plan is hereby terminated with respect to any Shares which are not at the effective date of this amendment subject to any outstanding stock options, effective December 4, 2003. The termination of the Plan does not impair the right of a Participant to acquire Shares or retain Shares that the Participant may have acquired as a result of participation in the Plan prior to the effective date of this amendment.
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this amendment to be duly executed on this 4th day of December, 2003.
         
  EL PASO CORPORATION
 
 
  By:      /s/ Susan B. Ortenstone       
    Susan B. Ortenstone   
    Senior Vice President,
Human Resources 
 
 
     ATTEST:
         
         
     By:      /s/ David L. Siddall  
   
 
   
    Corporate Secretary    

 

EX-10.E 6 h53583exv10we.htm 1999 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN exv10we
 

EXHIBIT 10.E
EL PASO ENERGY CORPORATION
1999 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE
COMPENSATION PLAN
Effective as of January 20, 1999

 


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
         
SECTION 1 PURPOSES
    1  
 
       
SECTION 2 DEFINITIONS
    1  
2.1 Adjusted Value
    1  
2.2 Beneficiary
    1  
2.3 Board of Directors
    1  
2.4 Cause
    1  
2.5 Change in Control
    2  
2.6 Code
    3  
2.7 Common Stock
    3  
2.8 Exchange Act
    3  
2.9 Fair Market Value
    3  
2.10 Good Reason
    4  
2.11 Incentive Award
    5  
2.12 Incentive Stock Option
    5  
2.13 Management Committee
    5  
2.14 Maximum Annual Employee Grant
    5  
2.15 Nonqualified Option
    5  
2.16 Option Price
    5  
2.17 Participant
    5  
2.18 Performance Cycle
    5  
2.19 Performance Goals
    6  
2.20 Performance Peer Group
    6  
2.21 Performance Period
    6  
2.22 Performance Ranking Position
    7  
2.23 Performance Unit or Units
    7  
2.24 Permanent Disability or Permanently Disabled
    7  
2.25 Plan Administrator
    7  
2.26 Restricted Stock
    7  
2.27 Rule 16b-3
    7  
2.28 Section 16 Insider
    8  
2.29 Section 162(m)
    8  
2.30 Subsidiary
    8  
2.31 Total Shareholder Return
    8  
2.32 Valuation Date
    8  
 
       
SECTION 3 ADMINISTRATION
    8  
 
       
SECTION 4 ELIGIBILITY
    10  
 
       
SECTION 5 SHARES AND UNITS AVAILABLE FOR THE PLAN
    10  
         
El Paso Energy Corporation       Table of Contents
1999 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan        

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SECTION 6 STOCK OPTIONS
    11  
 
       
SECTION 7 STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
    18  
 
       
SECTION 8 LIMITED STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
    19  
 
       
SECTION 9 PERFORMANCE UNITS
    20  
9.1 Grants of Units
    20  
9.2 Notice to Participants
    20  
9.3 Vesting
    20  
9.4 Valuation of Performance Units
    21  
9.5 Entitlement to Payment
    22  
9.6 Deferred Payment
    25  
9.7 Acceleration of Payment Due to Change in Control
    25  
 
       
SECTION 10 RESTRICTED STOCK
    25  
 
       
SECTION 11 INCENTIVE AWARDS
    28  
11.1 Procedures for Incentive Awards
    28  
11.2 Performance Goal Certification
    28  
11.3 Maximum Incentive Award Payable
    28  
11.4 Discretion to Reduce Awards; Participant’s Performance
    29  
11.5 Required Payment of Incentive Awards
    29  
11.6 Restricted Stock Election
    30  
11.7 Deferred Payment
    30  
11.8 Payment Upon Change in Control
    30  
 
       
SECTION 12 REGULATORY APPROVALS AND LISTING
    31  
 
       
SECTION 13 EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF PLAN
    32  
 
       
SECTION 14 GENERAL PROVISIONS
    32  
 
       
SECTION 15 COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 16b-3 AND SECTION 162(m)
    35  
 
       
SECTION 16 AMENDMENT, TERMINATION OR DISCONTINUANCE OF THE PLAN
    35  
         
El Paso Energy Corporation       Table of Contents
1999 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan        

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EL PASO ENERGY CORPORATION
1999 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
SECTION 1 PURPOSES
     The purposes of the El Paso Energy Corporation 1999 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) are to promote the interests of El Paso Energy Corporation (the “Company”) and its stockholders by strengthening its ability to attract and retain officers and key management employees (“key management employees” means those employees who hold the position of department director) in the employ of the Company and its Subsidiaries (as defined below) by furnishing suitable recognition of their ability and industry which contribute materially to the success of the Company and to align the interests and efforts of the Company’s officers and key management employees to the long-term interests of the Company’s stockholders, and to provide a direct incentive to the Participants (as defined below) to achieve the Company’s strategic and financial goals. The Plan provides for the grant of stock options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, incentive awards and performance units in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth below.
SECTION 2 DEFINITIONS
     Unless otherwise required by the context, the following terms when used in the Plan shall have the meanings set forth in this Section 2:
2.1 Adjusted Value
     The dollar value of Performance Units determined as of a Valuation Date.
2.2 Beneficiary
     The person or persons designated by the Participant pursuant to Section 6.4(f) or Section 14.7 of this Plan to whom payments are to be paid pursuant to the terms of the Plan in the event of the Participant’s death.
2.3 Board of Directors
     The Board of Directors of the Company.
2.4 Cause
     The Company may terminate the Participant’s employment for Cause. A termination for Cause is a termination evidenced by a resolution adopted in good faith by two-thirds (2/3) of the Board of Directors that the Participant (i) willfully and continually failed to substantially perform the Participant’s duties with the Company (other than a
     
     
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1999 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan    

 


 

failure resulting from the Participant’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness) which failure continued for a period of at least thirty (30) days after a written notice of demand for substantial performance has been delivered to the Participant specifying the manner in which the Participant has failed to substantially perform or (ii) willfully engaged in conduct which is demonstrably and materially injurious to the Company, monetarily or otherwise; provided, however, that no termination of the Participant’s employment shall be for Cause as set forth in clause (ii) above until (A) there shall have been delivered to the Participant a copy of a written notice setting forth that the Participant was guilty of the conduct set forth in clause (ii) above and specifying the particulars thereof in detail and (B) the Participant shall have been provided an opportunity to be heard by the Board of Directors (with the assistance of the Participant’s counsel if the Participant so desires). No act, nor failure to act, on the Participant’s part shall be considered “willful” unless the Participant has acted, or failed to act, with an absence of good faith and without a reasonable belief that the Participant’s action or failure to act was in the best interest of the Company. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Plan to the contrary, no failure to perform by the Participant after notice of termination is given by the Participant shall constitute Cause.
2.5 Change in Control
     As used in the Plan, a Change in Control shall be deemed to occur (i) if any person (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing twenty percent (20%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities, (ii) upon the first purchase of the Common Stock pursuant to a tender or exchange offer (other than a tender or exchange offer made by the Company), (iii) upon the approval by the Company’s stockholders of a merger or consolidation, a sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or a plan of liquidation or dissolution of the Company, or (iv) if, during any period of two (2) consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board of Directors cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof, unless the election or nomination for the election by the Company’s stockholders of each new director was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who were directors at the beginning of the period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur if the Company either merges or consolidates with or into another company or sells or disposes of all or substantially all of its assets to another company, if such merger, consolidation, sale or disposition is in connection with a corporate restructuring wherein the stockholders of the Company immediately before such merger, consolidation, sale or disposition own, directly or indirectly, immediately following such merger, consolidation, sale or disposition at least eighty percent (80%) of the combined voting power of all outstanding classes of securities of the company resulting from such merger or consolidation, or to which the Company sells or disposes of its assets, in substantially the same proportion as their ownership in the Company immediately before such merger, consolidation, sale or disposition.
     
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2.6 Code
     The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time, and the temporary or final regulations of the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury adopted pursuant to the Code.
2.7 Common Stock
     The Common Stock of the Company, $3 par value per share, or such other class of shares or other securities as may be applicable pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.
2.8 Exchange Act
     The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
2.9 Fair Market Value
     Unless otherwise provided by the Plan Administrator prior to the date of a Change in Control as applied to a specific date, Fair Market Value shall be deemed to be the mean between the highest and lowest quoted selling prices at which Common Stock is sold on such date as reported in the NYSE-Composite Transactions by The Wall Street Journal for such date, or if no Common Stock was traded on such date, on the next preceding day on which Common Stock was so traded. Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the exercise,
     (a) during the thirty (30) day period following a Change in Control, of a limited stock appreciation right or stock appreciation right granted in connection with a Nonqualified Option more than six (6) months prior to a Change in Control, or
     (b) during the seven (7) month period following a Change in Control, of a limited stock appreciation right or of a stock appreciation right granted in connection with a Nonqualified Option less than six (6) months prior to a Change in Control,
on or after a Change in Control, Fair Market Value on the date of exercise shall be deemed to be the greater of (i) the highest price per share of Common Stock as reported in the NYSE-Composite Transactions by The Wall Street Journal during the sixty (60) day period ending on the day preceding the date of exercise of the stock appreciation right or limited stock appreciation right, as the case may be, and (ii) if the Change in Control is one described in clause (ii) or (iii) of Section 2.5, the highest price per share paid for Common Stock in connection with such Change in Control.
     
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2.10 Good Reason
     For purposes of the Plan, a Participant’s termination of employment for Good Reason, following a Change in Control, shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events or conditions:
     (a) a change in the Participant’s status, title, position or responsibilities (including reporting responsibilities) which, in the Participant’s reasonable judgment, represents a substantial reduction of the status, title, position or responsibilities as in effect immediately prior thereto; the assignment to the Participant of any duties or responsibilities which, in the Participant’s reasonable judgment, are inconsistent with such status, title, position or responsibilities; or any removal of the Participant from or failure to reappoint or reelect the Participant to any of such positions, except in connection with the termination of the Participant’s employment for Cause, for Permanent Disability or as a result of his or her death, or by the Participant other than for Good Reason;
     (b) a reduction in the Participant’s annual base salary;
     (c) the Company’s requiring the Participant (without the consent of the Participant) to be based at any place outside a thirty-five (35) mile radius of his or her place of employment prior to a Change in Control, except for reasonably required travel on the Company’s business which is not materially greater than such travel requirements prior to the Change in Control;
     (d) the failure by the Company to (i) continue in effect any material compensation or benefit plan in which the Participant was participating at the time of the Change in Control, including, but not limited to, the Plan, the El Paso Energy Corporation Pension Plan, the El Paso Energy Corporation Supplemental Benefits Plan, the El Paso Energy Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan and the El Paso Energy Corporation Retirement Savings Plan, with any amendments and restatements of such plans (or substantially similar successor plans) made prior to such Change in Control; or (ii) provide the Participant with compensation and benefits at least equal (in terms of benefit levels and/or reward opportunities) to those provided for under each employee benefit plan, program and practice as in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control (or as in effect following the Change in Control, if greater);
     (e) any material breach by the Company of any provision of the Plan; or
     (f) any purported termination of the Participant’s employment for Cause by the Company which does not otherwise comply with the terms of the Plan.
     
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1999 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan    

 


 

2.11 Incentive Award
     A percentage of base salary, fixed dollar amount or other measure of compensation for which Participants are eligible to receive, in cash and/or shares of Restricted Stock, at the end of a Performance Period if certain Performance Goals are achieved.
2.12 Incentive Stock Option
     An option intended to meet the requirements of an Incentive Stock Option as defined in Section 422 of the Code, as in effect at the time of grant of such option, or any statutory provision that may hereafter replace such Section.
2.13 Management Committee
     A committee consisting of the Chief Executive Officer and such other senior officers as the Chief Executive Officer shall designate.
2.14 Maximum Annual Employee Grant
     The Maximum Annual Employee Grant set forth in Section 5.4.
2.15 Nonqualified Option
     An option which is not intended to meet the requirements of an Incentive Stock Option as defined in Section 422 of the Code.
2.16 Option Price
     The price per share of Common Stock at which an option is exercisable.
2.17 Participant
     An eligible employee to whom an option, limited stock appreciation right, stock appreciation right, Restricted Stock, Incentive Award or Performance Unit is granted under the Plan as set forth in Section 4.
2.18 Performance Cycle
     That period commencing with January 1 of each year in which the grant of a Performance Unit is made and ending on December 31 of the third succeeding year, or such other time period as the Plan Administrator may determine. The Plan Administrator, it its discretion, may initiate an overlapping Performance Cycle that begins before an existing Performance Cycle has ended.
     
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2.19 Performance Goals
     The Plan Administrator shall establish one or more performance goals (“Performance Goals”) for each Performance Period in writing. Such Performance Goals shall be set no later than the commencement of the applicable Performance Period, or such later date as may be permitted with respect to “performance-based” compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, and shall establish the amount of any Incentive award to be granted to each Participant, subject to Section 5.4 below.
     Each Performance Goal selected for a particular Performance Period shall be any one or more of the following, either individually, alternatively or in any combination, applied to either the Company as a whole or to a Subsidiary or business unit, either individually, alternatively or in any combination, and measured either annually or cumulatively over a period of years, on an absolute basis or relative to the pre-established target, to previous years’ results or to a designated comparison group, in each case as specified by the Plan Administrator: Total Shareholder Return, operating income, pre-tax profit, earnings per share, cash flow, return on capital, return on equity, return on net assets, net income, debt reduction, safety, return on investment, revenues, or Common Stock price. The foregoing terms shall have the same meaning as used in the Company’s financial statements, or if the terms are not used in the Company’s financial statements, they shall have the meaning generally applied pursuant to general accepted accounting principles, or as used in the industry, as applicable. The Plan Administrator may appropriately adjust any evaluation of performance under a Performance Goal to exclude any of the following events that occurs during a Performance Period: (i) asset write-downs, (ii) litigation or claim judgments or settlements, (iii) the effect of changes in tax law, accounting principles or other such laws or provisions affecting reported results, (iv) accruals for reorganization and restructuring programs, and (v) extraordinary non-recurring items as described in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 30 and/or in management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations appearing in the Company’s annual report to stockholders for the applicable year.
2.20 Performance Peer Group
     Those publicly held companies selected by the Plan Administrator prior to the commencement of a Performance Period, or such later date as may be permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code, consistent with maintaining the status of Performance Units as “performance-based compensation,” to form a comparative performance group in applying Section 9.4.
2.21 Performance Period
     That period of time during which Performance Goals are measured to determine the vesting or granting of options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights, Restricted Stock, Performance Units or Incentive Awards, as the Plan Administrator may determine.
     
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2.22 Performance Ranking Position
     The relative placement of the Company’s Total Shareholder Return measured against the Total Shareholder Return of the other companies in the Performance Peer Group for which purposes rank shall be determined by quartile, with a ranking in the first (1st) quartile (e.g., the Company’s Total Shareholder Return is equal to or greater than the Total Shareholder Return of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the Performance Peer Group) corresponding to the highest quartile of Total Shareholder Return.
2.23 Performance Unit or Units
     Units of long-term incentive compensation granted to a Participant with respect to a particular Performance Cycle.
2.24 Permanent Disability or Permanently Disabled
     A Participant shall be deemed to have become Permanently Disabled for purposes of the Plan if the Chief Executive Officer of the Company shall find upon the basis of medical evidence satisfactory to the Chief Executive Officer that the Participant is totally disabled, whether due to physical or mental condition, so as to be prevented from engaging in further employment by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and that such disability will be permanent and continuous during the remainder of the Participant’s life; provided, that with respect to Section 16 Insiders such determination shall be made by the Plan Administrator.
2.25 Plan Administrator
     The Board of Directors or the committee appointed and/or authorized pursuant to Section 3 to administer the Plan.
2.26 Restricted Stock
     Common Stock granted under the Plan that is subject to the requirements of Section 10 and such other restrictions as the Plan Administrator deems appropriate. References to Restricted Stock in this Plan shall include Performance Restricted Stock (as defined in Section 5.2) unless the context otherwise requires.
2.27 Rule 16b-3
     Rule 16b-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act.
     
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2.28 Section 16 Insider
     Any person who is selected by the Plan Administrator to receive options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights, Restricted Stock, Incentive Award and/or Performance Units pursuant to the Plan and who is subject to the requirements of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
2.29 Section 162(m)
     Section 162(m) of the Code, and regulations promulgated thereunder.
2.30 Subsidiary
     An entity that is designated by the Plan Administrator as a subsidiary for purposes of the Plan and that is a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or other entity, in which the Company owns directly or indirectly, fifty percent (50%) or more of the voting power or profit interests, or as to which the Company or one of its affiliates serve as general or managing partner or in a similar capacity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of options intended to qualify as incentive stock options, the term “Subsidiary” shall mean a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for tax purposes) in which the Company directly or indirectly holds more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power.
2.31 Total Shareholder Return
     The sum of (i) the appreciation or depreciation in the price of a share of a company’s common stock, and (ii) the dividends and other distributions paid during the applicable Performance Cycle, expressed as a percentage basis of the Fair Market Value of such share on the first day of the applicable Performance Cycle, as calculated in a manner determined by the Plan Administrator.
2.32 Valuation Date
     The date for determining the Adjusted Value of vested Units that will be paid or credited to the Participant or Beneficiary in accordance with Section 9.5 or 9.6. The Valuation Date shall occur on the last day of the applicable Performance Cycle, or such other time as provided in this Plan, or as the Plan Administrator may select. The Valuation Date for each Performance Cycle shall be set forth in the grant of Performance Units and shall be established no later than the date on which the Performance Goals for a particular Performance Cycle are selected, except as otherwise specifically provided herein.
     
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SECTION 3 ADMINISTRATION
     3.1 With respect to awards made under the Plan to Section 16 Insiders, the Plan shall be administered by the Board of Directors or Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, which shall be constituted at all times so as to meet the non-employee director standards of Rule 16b-3 and the outside director requirements of Section 162(m), so long as any of the Company’s equity securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act. Subject to the Board of Directors, and as may be required by the foregoing sentence, the Plan shall be administered by the Management Committee.
     No member of the Board of Directors or the Plan Administrator shall vote with respect directly to the granting of options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights, Restricted Stock, Incentive Awards and/or Performance Units hereunder to himself or herself, as the case may be, and, if state corporate law does not permit a committee to grant options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights, Restricted Stock, Incentive Awards and Performance Units to directors, then any option, limited stock appreciation right, stock appreciation right, Restricted Stock, Incentive Award or Performance Unit granted under the Plan to a director for his or her services as such shall be approved by the full Board of Directors.
     3.2 Except for the terms and conditions explicitly set forth in the Plan, the Plan Administrator shall have sole authority to construe and interpret the Plan, to establish, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan, to select persons eligible to participate in the Plan, to grant options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights, Restricted Stock, Incentive Awards and Performance Units thereunder, to administer the Plan, to make recommendations to the Board of Directors, and to take all such steps and make all such determinations in connection with the Plan and the options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights, Restricted Stock, Incentive Awards and Performance Units granted thereunder as it may deem necessary or advisable, which determination shall be final and binding upon all Participants, so long as such interpretation and construction with respect to Incentive Stock Options corresponds to any applicable requirements of Section 422 of the Code. The Plan Administrator shall cause the Company at its expense to take any action related to the Plan which may be necessary to comply with the provisions of any federal or state law or any regulations issued thereunder, which the Plan Administrator determines are intended to be complied with.
     3.3 Each member of any committee acting as Plan Administrator, while serving as such, shall be considered to be acting in his or her capacity as a director of the Company. Members of the Board of Directors and members of any committee acting under the Plan shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the advice of counsel and shall incur no liability except for gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of their duties.
     
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SECTION 4 ELIGIBILITY
     To be eligible for selection by the Plan Administrator to participate in the Plan, an individual must be an officer or key management employee of the Company, or of any Subsidiary, as of the date on which the Plan Administrator grants to such individual an option, limited Stock appreciation right, stock appreciation right, Restricted Stock, Incentive Award or Performance Unit or a person who, in the judgment of the Plan Administrator, holds a position of responsibility and is able to contribute substantially to the Company’s continued success. Members of the Board of Directors of the Company who are full-time salaried officers shall be eligible to participate. Members of the Board of Directors who are not employees are not eligible to participate in this Plan.
SECTION 5 SHARES AND UNITS AVAILABLE FOR THE PLAN
     5.1 Subject to Section 5.5, the maximum number of shares that may be issued upon settlement of Incentive Awards or Performance Units and exercise of options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights and Restricted Stock granted under the Plan is six million (6,000,000) shares of Common Stock, from shares held in the Company’s treasury or out of authorized but unissued shares of the Company, or partly out of each, as shall be determined by the Board of Directors. For purposes of Section 5.1, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock issued under this Plan at any time shall equal only the number of shares actually issued upon exercise or settlement of options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights, Restricted Stock, Incentive Awards and Performance Units and not returned to the Company upon cancellation, expiration or forfeiture of any such award or delivered (either actually or by attestation) in payment or satisfaction of the purchase price, exercise price or tax obligation of the award.
     5.2 Notwithstanding the foregoing, and subject to Section 5.5, the number of shares for which Restricted Stock may be granted pursuant to Section 10 of the Plan may not exceed two million (2,000,000) shares of Common Stock, including the granting or vesting of Restricted Stock that is in compliance with the performance-based requirements of Section 162(m) (the “Performance Restricted Stock”).
     5.3 Subject to Section 5.5, the number of Performance Units which may be granted under the Plan is set at five hundred thousand (500,000) Units. Units that have been granted and are fully vested or that still may become fully vested under the terms of the Plan shall reduce the number of outstanding Units that are available for use in making future grants under the Plan.
     5.4 The maximum number of shares, as calculated in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.1, and maximum dollar amount with respect to which awards under this Plan may be granted to any eligible employee in any one year shall not exceed: (a) one million (1,000,000) in the case of options (and related limited stock appreciation
     
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rights or stock appreciation rights) or issuable upon settlement of Performance Units; (b) one million (1,000,000) in the case of shares of Restricted Stock (whether or not such Restricted Stock is Performance Restricted Stock); and (c) five million dollars ($5,000,000) in cash, Restricted Stock or a combination thereof, in the case of Incentive Awards. With respect to Performance Units, the maximum Units granted to any eligible employee for any Performance Cycle shall not exceed one hundred thousand (100,000) Performance Units. Collectively, the foregoing maximums referred in this Section 5.5 shall be referred to as the “Maximum Annual Employee Grant.”
     5.5 In the event of a recapitalization, stock split, stock dividend, exchange of shares, merger, reorganization, change in corporate structure or shares of the Company or similar event, the Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of the Plan Administrator, may make appropriate adjustments in the number of shares authorized for the Plan, the Maximum Annual Employee Grant and, with respect to outstanding options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights, and Restricted Stock, the Plan Administrator may make appropriate adjustments in the number of shares and the Option Price, except that any such adjustments for purposes of Sections 5.4 and 6.3 shall be consistent with the requirements under Code Sections 162(m) and 422, respectively.
SECTION 6 STOCK OPTIONS
     6.1 Options may be granted to eligible employees in such number, and at such times during the term of the Plan as the Plan Administrator shall determine, the Plan Administrator taking into account the duties of the respective employees, their present and potential contributions to the success of the Company, and such other factors as the Plan Administrator shall deem relevant in accomplishing the purposes of the Plan. The granting of an option shall take place when the Plan Administrator by resolution, written consent or other appropriate action determines to grant such an option to a particular Participant at a particular price. Each option shall be evidenced by a written instrument delivered by or on behalf of the Company containing provisions not inconsistent with the Plan, which may (but need not) require the Participant’s signature.
     6.2 An option granted under the Plan may be either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Option.
     6.3 Each provision of the Plan and each Incentive Stock Option granted thereunder shall be construed so that each such option shall qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, and any provision thereof that cannot be so construed shall be disregarded, unless the Participant agrees otherwise. The total number of shares which may be purchased upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan shall not exceed the total specified in Section 5.1. Incentive Stock Options, in addition to complying with the other provisions of the Plan relating to options generally, shall be subject to the following conditions:
     
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     (a) Ten Percent (10%) Stockholders
     A Participant must not, immediately before an Incentive Stock Option is granted to him or her, own stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Company or of a Subsidiary. This requirement is waived if (i) the Option Price of the Incentive Stock Option to be granted is at least one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the stock subject to the option, determined at the time the option is granted, and (ii) the option is not exercisable more than five (5) years from the date the option is granted.
     (b) Annual Limitation
     To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time of the grant of the option) of the stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by the Participant during any calendar year exceeds One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000), such options shall be treated as Nonqualified Options.
     (c) Additional Terms
     Any other terms and conditions which the Plan Administrator determines, upon advice of counsel, must be imposed for the option to be an Incentive Stock Option.
     6.4 Except as otherwise provided in Section 6.3, all Incentive Stock Options and Nonqualified Options under the Plan shall be granted subject to the following terms and conditions:
     (a) Option Price
     The Option Price shall be determined by the Plan Administrator, but shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date the option is granted.
     (b) Duration of Options
     Options shall be exercisable at such time and under such conditions as set forth in the option grant, but in no event shall any Incentive Stock Option be exercisable subsequent to the day before the tenth anniversary of the date on which the option is granted, nor shall any other option be exercisable later than the tenth anniversary of the date of its grant.
     
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     (c) Exercise of Options
     Subject to Section 6.4(j), a Participant may not exercise an option until the Participant has completed one (1) year of continuous employment with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from and including the date on which the option is granted, or such longer period as the Plan Administrator may determine in a particular case. This requirement is waived in the event of death, Permanent Disability of a Participant or a Change in Control before such period of continuous employment is completed and may be waived or modified in the agreement evidencing the option or by resolution adopted at any time by the Plan Administrator. Thereafter, shares of Common Stock covered by an option may be purchased at one time or in such installments over the balance of the option period as may be provided in the option grant. Any shares not purchased on the applicable installment date may be purchased thereafter at any time prior to the final expiration of the option. To the extent that the right to purchase shares has accrued thereunder, options may be exercised from time to time by written notice to the Company setting forth the number of shares with respect to which the option is being exercised.
     (d) Payment
     The purchase price of shares purchased under options shall be paid in full to the Company upon the exercise of the option by delivery of consideration equal to the product of the Option Price and the number of shares purchased (the “Purchase Price”). Such consideration may be either (i) in cash or (ii) at the discretion of the Plan Administrator, in Common Stock already owned by the Participant for at least six (6) months, or any combination of cash and Common Stock. The Fair Market Value of such Common Stock as delivered shall be valued as of the day prior to delivery. The Plan Administrator can determine that additional forms of payment will be permitted. To the extent permitted by the Plan Administrator and applicable laws and regulations (including, but not limited to, federal tax and securities laws, regulations and state corporate law), an option may also be exercised in a “cashless” exercise by delivery of a properly executed exercise notice together with irrevocable instructions to a broker to promptly deliver to the Company the amount of sale or loan proceeds to pay the Purchase Price. A Participant shall have none of the rights of a stockholder until the shares of Common Stock are issued to the Participant.
     If specifically authorized in the option grant, a Participant may elect to pay all or a portion of the Purchase Price by having shares of Common Stock with a Fair Market Value equal to all or a portion of the Purchase Price be withheld from the shares issuable to the Participant upon the exercise of the option; provided that such shall be permitted of a Participant who is a Section 16 Insider only if approved in advance by the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee, if required by Section 16, and rules promulgated thereunder, of the Exchange Act.
     
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The Fair Market Value of such Common Stock as is withheld shall be determined as of the same day as the exercise of the option.
     Notwithstanding any other provision in this Plan to the contrary and unless the Plan Administrator shall otherwise determine, in the event of a “cashless” exercise, and for that purpose only under this Plan, a Participant’s compensation shall be equal to the difference between the actual sales price received for the underlying Common Stock and the Option Price. For all other purposes under this Plan, the Fair Market Value shall be the value against which compensation is determined.
     (e) Restrictions
     The Plan Administrator shall determine and reflect in the option grant, with respect to each option, the nature and extent of the restrictions, if any, to be imposed on the shares of Common Stock which may be purchased thereunder, including, but not limited to, restrictions on the transferability of such shares acquired through the exercise of such options for such periods as the Plan Administrator may determine and, further, that in the event a Participant’s employment by the Company, or a Subsidiary, terminates during the period in which such shares are nontransferable, the Participant shall be required to sell such shares back to the Company at such prices as the Plan Administrator may specify in the option. In addition, the Plan Administrator may require that a Participant who wants to effectuate a “cashless” exercise of options be required to sell the shares of Common Stock acquired in the associated exercise to the Company, or in the open market through the use of a broker selected by the Company, at such price and on such terms as the Plan Administrator may determine at the time of grant, or otherwise.
     (f ) Nontransferability of Options
     Options granted under the Plan and the rights and privileges conferred thereby shall not be subject to execution, attachment or similar process and may not be transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated in any manner (whether by operation of law or otherwise) other than by will or by the applicable laws of descent and distribution. Notwithstanding the foregoing and only as provided by the Plan Administrator or the Company, as applicable, Nonqualified Options may be transferred to a Participant’s immediate family members, directly or indirectly or by means of a trust, corporate entity or partnership (a person who thus acquires this option by such transfer, a “Permitted Transferee”). A transfer of an option may only be effected by the Company at the request of the Participant and shall become effective upon the Permitted Transferee agreeing to such terms as the Plan Administrator may require and only when recorded in the Company’s record of outstanding options. In the event an option is transferred as contemplated hereby, the option may not be subsequently transferred by the Permitted
     
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Transferee except a transfer back to the Participant or by will or the laws of descent and distribution. A transferred option may be exercised by a Permitted Transferee to the same extent as, and subject to the same terms and conditions as, the Participant (except as otherwise provided herein), as if no transfer had taken place. As used herein, “immediate family” shall mean, with respect to any person, such person’s child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, and shall include adoptive relationships. In the event of exercise of a transferred option by a Permitted Transferee, any amounts due to (or to be withheld by) the Company upon exercise of the option shall be delivered by (or withheld from amounts due to) the Participant, the Participant’s estate or the Permitted Transferee, in the reasonable discretion of the Company.
     In addition, to the extent permitted by applicable law and Rule 16b-3, the Plan Administrator may permit a recipient of a Nonqualified Option to designate in writing during the Participant’s lifetime a Beneficiary to receive and exercise the Participant’s Nonqualified Options in the event of such Participant’s death (as provided in Section 6.4(i)). A designation by a Participant under the Company’s Omnibus Compensation Plan dated as of January 1, 1992, as amended, or the Company’s 1995 Omnibus Compensation Plan effective as of January 13, 1995, as amended and restated (the “Predecessor Plans”), shall remain in effect under the Plan for any options unless such designation is revoked or changed under the Plan. Except as otherwise provided for herein, if any Participant attempts to transfer, assign, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of any option under the Plan or of any right or privilege conferred thereby, contrary to the provisions of the Plan or such option, or suffers the sale or levy or any attachment or similar process upon the rights and privileges conferred hereby, all affected options held by such Participant shall be immediately forfeited.
     (g) Purchase for Investment
     The Plan Administrator shall have the right to require that each Participant or other person who shall exercise an option under the Plan, and each person into whose name shares of Common Stock shall be issued pursuant to the exercise of an option, represent and agree that any and all shares of Common Stock purchased pursuant to such option are being purchased for investment only and not with a view to the distribution or resale thereof and that such shares will not be sold except in accordance with such restrictions or limitations as may be set forth in the option or by the Plan Administrator. This Section 6.4(g) shall be inoperative during any period of time when the Company has obtained all necessary or advisable approvals from governmental agencies and has completed all necessary or advisable registrations or other qualifications of shares of Common Stock as to which options may from time to time be granted as contemplated in Section 12.
     
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     (h) Termination of Employment
     Upon the termination of a Participant’s employment for any reason other than death or Permanent Disability, the Participant’s option shall be exercisable only to the extent that it was then exercisable and, unless the term of the options expires sooner, such options shall expire according to the following schedule; provided, that the Plan Administrator may at any time determine in a particular case that specific limitations and restrictions under the Plan shall not apply:
     (i) Retirement
               The option shall expire, unless exercised, thirty-six (36) months after the Participant’s retirement from the Company or any Subsidiary.
     (ii) Disability
          The option shall expire, unless exercised, thirty-six (36) months after the Participant’s termination on account of Permanent Disability.
     (iii) Termination
          Subject to subparagraphs (iv) and (v) below, the option shall expire, unless exercised, for a period not to exceed thirty-six (36) months, as specified in the grant letter, after a Participant resigns or is terminated as an employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, unless the Chief Executive Officer of the Company shall have determined in a specific case that the option should expire sooner or should terminate when the Participant’s employment status ceases; provided, however, that for Section 16 Insiders, such determination shall be made by the Plan Administrator.
     (iv) Termination Following a Change in Control
          The option shall expire, unless exercised or expiring earlier in accordance with its original terms, thirty-six (36) months after a Participant’s termination of employment (other than a termination by the Company for Cause or a voluntary termination by the Participant other than for Good Reason) following a Change in Control, provided that said termination of employment occurs within two (2) years following a Change in Control.
     (v) All Other Terminations
          Notwithstanding subparagraphs (iii) and (iv) above, the option shall expire upon termination of employment for Cause and any option
     
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intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option shall expire, unless exercised, one year after the Participant’s termination of employment on account of disability (as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code) and shall expire three (3) months after the Participant’s termination of employment other than on account of death, Permanent Disability or termination for Cause.
     (i) Death of Participant
     Upon the death of a Participant, whether during the Participant’s period of employment or during the thirty-six (36) month period referred to in Sections 6.4(h)(i), (ii) and (iii), the option shall expire, unless the original term of the option expires sooner, twelve (12) months after the date of the Participant’s death, unless the option is exercised within such twelve (12) month period by the Participant’s Beneficiary, legal representatives, estate or the person or persons to whom the deceased’s option rights shall have passed by will or the laws of descent and distribution; provided, that the Plan Administrator may determine in a particular case that specific limitations and restrictions under the Plan shall not apply. Notwithstanding any other Plan provisions pertaining to the times at which options may be exercised, no option shall continue to be exercisable, pursuant to Section 6.4(h) or this Section 6.4(i), at a time that would violate the maximum duration of Section 6.4(b).
     (j) Change in Control
     Notwithstanding other Plan provisions pertaining to the times at which options may be exercised, all outstanding options, to the extent not then currently exercisable, shall become exercisable in full upon the occurrence of a Change in Control. No option (whether or not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option) shall continue to be exercisable, pursuant to Sections 6.4(h) and 6.4(i), at a time that would violate the maximum duration of Section 6.4(b).
     (k) Deferral Election
     A Participant may elect irrevocably (at a time and in a manner determined by the Plan Administrator or the Company, as appropriate) prior to exercising an option granted under the Plan that issuance of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of such option and/or associated stock appreciation right shall be deferred until a pre-specified date in the future or until the Participant ceases to be employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as elected by the Participant. After the exercise of any such option and prior to the issuance of any deferred shares, the number of shares of Common Stock issuable to the Participant shall be credited to the deferred stock account (or such other account(s) as the management committee shall deem necessary and appropriate) under a memorandum deferred account established pursuant the Company’s then-existing Deferred Compensation Plan (as it may be further amended) (the “Deferred
     
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Compensation Plan”), and any dividends or other distributions paid on the Common Stock (or its equivalent) shall be deemed reinvested in additional shares of Common Stock (or its equivalent) until all credited deferred shares shall become issuable pursuant to the Participant’s election, unless the management committee of the Deferred Compensation Plan shall otherwise determine.
SECTION 7 STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
     7.1 The Plan Administrator may grant stock appreciation rights to Participants in connection with any option granted under the Plan, either at the time of the grant of such option or at any time thereafter during the term of the option. Such stock appreciation rights shall cover the same number of shares covered by the options (or such lesser number of shares of Common Stock as the Plan Administrator may determine) and shall, except as provided in Section 7.3, be subject to the same terms and conditions as the related options and such further terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as shall from time to time be determined by the Plan Administrator.
     7.2 Each stock appreciation right shall entitle the holder of the related option to surrender to the Company unexercised the related option, or any portion thereof, and to receive from the Company in exchange therefor an amount equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the date the right is exercised over the Option Price per share times the number of shares covered by the option, or portion thereof, which is surrendered. Payment shall be made in shares of Common Stock valued at Fair Market Value as of the date the right is exercised, or in cash, or partly in shares and partly in cash, at the discretion of the Plan Administrator; provided, however, that payment shall be made solely in cash with respect to a stock appreciation right which is exercised within seven (7) months following a Change in Control. Stock appreciation rights may be exercised from time to time upon actual receipt by the Company of written notice stating the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which the stock appreciation right is being exercised. The value of any fractional shares shall be paid in cash.
     7.3 Stock appreciation rights are subject to the following restrictions:
     (a) Each stock appreciation right shall be exercisable at such time or times as the option to which it relates shall be exercisable, or at such other times as the Plan Administrator may determine. In the event of death or Permanent Disability of a Participant during employment but before the Participant has completed such period of continuous employment, such stock appreciation right shall be exercisable; but only within the period specified in the related option. In the event of a Change in Control, the requirement that a Participant shall have completed a six (6) month period of continuous employment is waived with respect to a Participant who is employed by the Company at the time of the Change in Control but who, within the six (6) month period, voluntarily
     
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terminates employment for Good Reason or is terminated by the Company other than for Cause.
     (b) Except following a Change in Control, each request to exercise a stock appreciation right shall be subject to approval or denial in whole or in part by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion. Denial or approval of such request shall not require a subsequent request to be similarly treated by the Plan Administrator.
     (c) The right of a Participant to exercise a stock appreciation right shall be canceled if and to the extent the related option is exercised. To the extent that a stock appreciation right is exercised, the related option shall be deemed to have been surrendered unexercised and canceled.
     (d) A holder of stock appreciation rights shall have none of the rights of a stockholder until shares of Common Stock, if any, are issued to such holder pursuant to such holder’s exercise of such rights.
     (e) The acquisition of Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of a stock appreciation right shall be subject to the same restrictions as would apply to the acquisition of Common Stock acquired upon exercise of the related option, as set forth in Section 6.4.
SECTION 8 LIMITED STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
     8.1 The Plan Administrator may grant limited stock appreciation rights to Participants in connection with any options granted under the Plan, either at the time of the grant of such option or at any time thereafter during the term of the option. Such limited stock appreciation rights shall cover the same number of shares covered by the options (or such lesser number of shares of Common Stock as the Plan Administrator may determine) and shall, except as provided in Section 8.3, be subject to the same terms and conditions as the related options and such further terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as shall from time to time be determined by the Plan Administrator.
     8.2 Each limited stock appreciation right shall entitle the holder of the related option to surrender to the Company the unexercised portion of the related option and to receive from the Company in exchange therefor an amount in cash equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of one (1) share of Common Stock on the date the right is exercised over the Option Price per share times the number of shares covered by the option, or portion thereof, which is surrendered.
     
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     8.3 Limited stock appreciation rights are subject to the following restrictions:
     (a) Each limited stock appreciation right shall be exercisable in full for a period of seven (7) months following the date of a Change in Control regardless of whether the holder is employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries on the date the right is exercised. Limited stock appreciation rights shall be exercisable only to the same extent and subject to the same conditions as the options related thereto are exercisable, as provided in Section 6.4(j).
     (b) The right of a Participant to exercise a limited stock appreciation right shall be canceled if and to the extent the related option is exercised. To the extent that a limited stock appreciation right is exercised, the related option shall be deemed to have been surrendered unexercised and canceled.
SECTION 9 PERFORMANCE UNITS
9.1 Grants of Units
     Subject to the Maximum Annual Employee Grant, Units may be granted to Participants in such number as the Plan Administrator shall determine, taking into account the duties of the respective Participants, their present and potential contributions to the success of the Company or its Subsidiaries, their compensation provided by other incentive plans, their salaries, and such other factors as the Plan Administrator shall deem appropriate. Normally, Units will be granted only at the beginning of each Performance Cycle except in cases where a prorated grant may be made in mid-cycle to a newly eligible Participant or a Participant whose job responsibilities have significantly changed during the cycle.
9.2 Notice to Participants
     The Plan Administrator shall notify each Participant in writing of the grant of Units to the Participant. Such notice shall set forth the Total Shareholder Return requirements, vesting schedule and other terms and conditions applicable to such Units, and may (but need not) require the Participant’s signature.
9.3 Vesting
     (a) Vesting Schedule
     The Plan Administrator shall adopt a vesting schedule for each year of a Performance Cycle. Vesting of Units for each year may (i) occur automatically after a Participant has completed the specified period of continuous employment with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from the date of grant of such Units, (ii) be contingent upon attaining certain levels of Total Shareholder Return for the
     
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year in which the Units are eligible to vest, or (iii) occur at such other times or subject to such other criteria as the Plan Administrator may determine. The Plan Administrator may, in its discretion, alter the vesting guidelines in the event of unusual circumstances provided that to the extent applicable any such discretion shall be exercised in a manner consistent with Section 162(m). Vesting of Units with respect to Participants who begin participation or receive an additional grant of Units during the Performance Cycle will be determined by the Plan Administrator at the time of grant.
(b) Change in Control
          Notwithstanding the foregoing vesting provisions, upon a Change in Control all unvested Units shall become fully vested on a pro rata basis measured in the next higher whole year between (i) the date of grant and (ii) the date of a Change in Control.
9.4 Valuation of Performance Units
     All Performance Units granted to Participants under the Plan shall be valued as follows:
(a) Initial and Continuing Value
          Each Performance Unit shall have an initial value of one hundred dollars ($100) as of the date of the grant of Performance Units. Except where the Adjusted Value of Performance Units is determined as provided under Section 9.4(b), each Performance Unit shall continue to have a dollar value of one hundred dollars ($100) on each date subsequent to the date of grant of the Performance Unit.
(b) Adjusted Value
          The determination of the Adjusted Value of Performance Units for benefit payments under Sections 9.5(b)(i) and 9.5(b)(ii) as of any relevant Valuation Date shall be made based on the Company’s Performance Ranking Position for the applicable Performance Cycle compared to the Performance Ranking Position of the Performance Peer Group, based on the following schedule:
         
Company’s Performance   Adjusted
Ranking Position   Value
1st Quartile
  $ 150  
2nd Quartile
  $ 100  
3rd Quartile
  $ 50  
4th Quartile
  $ 0  
     
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If any company which is a member of the Performance Peer Group that (i) ceases to exist by reason of a liquidation, merger or other transaction; (ii) undergoes a significant alternation in size, through recapitalization or otherwise, such that its total market capitalization as determined from its published financial statements is more than fifty (50%) greater or less than its total market capitalization as of the grant date for the applicable Performance Cycle; or (iii) otherwise changes its line of business significantly to make it inappropriate to use such company in comparison, and if such event(s) occurs after the time the Plan Administrator can alter the Performance Peer Group under Section 2.20 above, then such company shall be considered to remain in the Performance Peer Group, and to have achieved a Total Shareholder Return less than the Company’s Total Shareholder Return without regard to any actual Total Shareholder Return actually achieved by such company, provided, however, that the Plan Administrator shall have the authority to reduce the Adjusted Value of Performance Units in such event if it determines that such reduction is appropriate in view of the Company’s performance relative to those companies in the Performance Peer Group and not described in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii), above.
9.5 Entitlement to Payment
(a) Performance Certification
          The Plan Administrator shall certify in writing, prior to payment of the Performance Units pursuant to this Section 9.5, the Company’s Performance Ranking Position. In no event will an award be payable under this Section 9 if the Company’s Performance Ranking Position is in the fourth (4th) quartile.
(b) Eligibility for Benefit Payments
          Benefit payments with respect to vested Performance Units shall be paid under the following circumstances:
          (i) Primary Benefit Payment
          Upon the expiration of each Performance Cycle, all uncanceled Performance Units granted with respect to such Performance Cycle shall vest and benefit payments with respect to such Performance Units shall become payable. A Participant who has remained an employee continuously from the date of the grant of the Performance Units for a Performance Cycle through the last day of such Performance Cycle shall be eligible to receive a benefit payment equal to the Adjusted Value, as provided for in Section 9.4(b), of the Performance Units (the “Primary Benefit”) with respect to and as of the close of such Performance Cycle. The Valuation Date for determining such Adjusted Value shall be
     
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established by the Plan Administrator at the time the Performance Units are granted. The amount of any benefit payment payable with respect to Performance Units shall be reduced by the amount of any interim benefit payments made pursuant to Section 9.5(b)(ii) with respect to such Performance Units. If the interim benefit payments exceed the Primary Benefit, no payment shall be made.
          (ii) Interim Benefit Payments
          The Plan Administrator may in its sole discretion provide for an interim benefit payment to be made to a Participant with respect to Performance Units granted for any particular Performance Cycle. The right to any interim benefit payment shall be set forth in the grant of Performance Units to a Participant, or at such other time as the Plan Administrator shall determine, and must establish the terms and conditions of such interim benefit payment (including the Company’s Total Shareholder Return which must be attained during such Performance Period). An interim benefit payment may be provided for after the second year of a Performance Cycle. The interim benefit payment shall be based upon the Adjusted Value of the Performance Units, as provided for in Section 9.4(b) for the period up to the date of the interim payment valuation, and the amount of any such payment shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) of such Adjusted Value for the Performance Units which are vested at the end of the second year; provided, however, that such interim payment will be made only if the Company’s Performance Ranking Position is in the first (1st) or second (2nd) quartile. The Valuation Date for determining such Adjusted Value shall be set forth in the grant of Performance Units, or at such other time as determined by the Plan Administrator. The Performance Units which are valued for the interim benefit payment shall also be valued in accordance with Section 9.5(b)(i) or Section 9.7 if applicable, to determine what, if any, additional value the Participant may be entitled to. Interim benefit payments may be made to those Participants who have remained employees continuously from the date of the grant of the applicable Performance Units until the date of the interim benefit payment relating to such Performance Units. The amount of any benefit payment payable with respect to Performance Units pursuant to Sections 9.5(b)(i) and 9.5(d) shall be reduced by the amount of any interim benefit payment made pursuant to this Section 9.5(b)(ii), but not below zero.
     (c) Form of Payment
          A Participant or a Participant’s Beneficiary shall be entitled to receive from the Company a benefit payment as provided pursuant to Sections 9.5(b)(i) or 9.5(b)(ii), as applicable, equal to the product of the Adjusted Value and the
     
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number of vested Units of a Participant. Such payment shall be made as soon as practicable following the applicable Valuation Date in accordance with this Section 9.5(c).
     Except as provided in Sections 9.5(d) and 9.7 (or unless the Plan Administrator otherwise determines at any time that the form of payment should be changed), each benefit payment made to a Participant pursuant to this Section 9, shall be made as follows:
(i) Participants employed by the Company holding the position of Chairman of the Board, President or Chief Executive Officer and Participants employed by Company Subsidiaries holding equivalent positions, but not necessarily the same title, shall receive their Performance Unit payout as follows:
(A) 50% (fifty percent) in cash and
(B) 50% (fifty percent) in Common Stock.
(ii) Participants employed by the Company holding the position of Vice Chairman of the Board, Chief Operating Officer, or Executive Vice President and Participants employed by Company Subsidiaries holding equivalent positions, but not necessarily the same title, shall receive their Performance Unit payout as follows:
(A) 60% (sixty percent) in cash and
(B) 40% (forty percent) in Common Stock.
(iii) Participants employed by the Company holding the position of Senior Vice President and Participants employed by Company Subsidiaries holding equivalent positions, but not necessarily the same title, shall receive their Performance Unit payout as follows:
(A) 75% (seventy-five percent) in cash and
(B) 25% (twenty-five percent) in Common Stock.
     (d) Retirement, Death, Disability or Termination of Employment
          Participants (or their Beneficiaries in the case of their deaths) who have retired, died, become Permanently Disabled, or who have terminated their employment, prior to the end of a Performance Cycle shall not be entitled to receive payment from the Company or its Subsidiaries for any Units which were not vested as of the time such Participants ceased active employment with the Company or its Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding Section 9.5(c), such Participants (or their Beneficiaries in the case of their deaths) will be entitled to receive a cash payment for vested Units in accordance with Section 9.5(b)(i). No payments shall
     
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be made to such Participants (or Beneficiaries) pursuant to Section 9.5(b)(ii). Unless the Plan Administrator otherwise determines, a Participant who is terminated with Cause shall receive no benefit under this Section 9.
9.6 Deferred Payment
     Prior to the time that Units first vest pursuant to Section 9.3, the Participant may, subject to the consent of the Management Committee and in accordance with procedures that the Management Committee has approved, elect to have all or a portion (subject to a $1,000 minimum) of the lump-sum cash payment payable pursuant to Section 9.5(c) with respect to such vested Units deferred according to the terms and conditions of the Company’s Deferred Compensation Plan.
9.7 Acceleration of Payment Due to Change In Control
     Upon a Change in Control, the current Performance Cycle shall immediately end and all vested Units (including Units that vest pursuant to Section 9.3(b)) shall be paid in cash to Participants based on a value of one hundred fifty dollars ($150) per Unit. This payment will be reduced to reflect any interim benefit payments made in accordance with Section 9.5(b)(ii) and shall be made (i) in a lump sum in cash that is in lieu of any otherwise applicable form and time of payment for such Unites under the Plan and (ii) within ten (10) days after the Change in Control.
SECTION 10 RESTRICTED STOCK
     10.1 Subject to Sections 5.2 and 5.4, Restricted Stock (including Performance Restricted Stock) may be granted to Participants in such number and at such times during the term of the Plan as the Plan Administrator shall determine, the Plan Administrator taking into account the duties of the respective Participants, their present and potential contributions to the success of the Company, and such other factors as the Plan Administrator shall deem relevant in accomplishing the purposes of the Plan. The granting of Restricted Stock shall take place when the Plan Administrator by resolution, written consent or other appropriate action determines to grant such Restricted Stock to a particular Participant. Each grant shall be evidenced by a written instrument delivered by or on behalf of the Company containing provisions not inconsistent with the Plan, which may (but need not) require the Participant’s signature. The Participant receiving a grant of Restricted Stock shall be recorded as a stockholder of the Company. Each Participant who receives a grant of Restricted Stock shall have all the rights of a stockholder with respect to such shares (except as provided in the restrictions on transferability), including the right to vote the shares and receive dividends and other distributions; provided, however, that no Participant awarded Restricted Stock shall have any right as a stockholder with respect to any shares subject to the Participant’s Restricted Stock grant prior to the date of issuance to the Participant of a certificate or certificates, or the establishment of a book-entry account, for such shares.
     
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     10.2 Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary in this Section 10, before Performance Restricted Stock can be granted or vested, as applicable, the Plan Administrator shall:
     (a) Determine the Performance Goals, if any, applicable to the particular Performance Period; and
     (b) Certify in writing that any such Performance Goals for a particular Performance Period have been attained.
     10.3 A grant of Restricted Stock shall entitle a Participant to receive, on the date or dates designated by the Plan Administrator, or, if later, upon payment to the Company of the par value of the Common Stock, if required, in a manner determined by the Plan Administrator, the number of shares of Common Stock selected by the Plan Administrator. The Plan Administrator may require, under such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate or desirable, that the certificates for Restricted Stock delivered under the Plan may be held in custody by a bank or other institution, or that the Company may itself hold such shares in custody until the Restriction Period (as defined in Section 10.4) expires or until restrictions thereon otherwise lapse, and may require, as a condition of any issuance of Restricted Stock that the Participant shall have delivered a stock power endorsed in blank relating to the shares of Restricted Stock.
     10.4 During a period of years following the date of grant, as determined by the Plan Administrator, which shall in no event be less than one (1) year (the “Restriction Period”), the Restricted Stock may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise encumbered or disposed of by the recipient, except in the event of death or termination of employment on account of Permanent Disability, the transfer to the Company as provided under the Plan, the Plan Administrator’s waiver or modification of such restrictions in the agreement evidencing the grant of Restricted Stock, or by resolution of the Plan Administrator adopted at any time.
     10.5 Except as provided in Sections 10.4, 10.6 or 10.7, if a Participant terminates employment with the Company for any reason before the expiration of the Restriction Period, all shares of Restricted Stock still subject to restriction shall be forfeited by the Participant to the Company. In addition, in the event of any attempt by the Participant to sell, exchange, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of shares of Restricted Stock in violation of the terms of the Plan without the Company’s prior written consent, such shares shall be forfeited to the Company.
     10.6 The Restriction Period for any Participant shall be deemed to end and all restrictions on shares of Restricted Stock shall lapse, upon the Participant’s death or termination of employment on account of Permanent Disability or any termination of employment determined by the Plan Administrator to end the Restriction Period.
     
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     10.7 The Restriction Period for any Participant shall be deemed to end and all restrictions on shares of Restricted Stock shall terminate immediately upon a Change in Control.
     10.8 When the restrictions imposed by Section 10.4 expire or otherwise lapse with respect to one or more shares of Restricted Stock, the Company shall deliver to the Participant (or the Participant’s legal representative, Beneficiary or heir) one (1) share of Common Stock for each share of Restricted Stock.
     10.9 Subject to Section 10.3 (and Section 10.2 in the case of Performance Restricted Stock), a Participant entitled to receive Restricted Stock under the Plan shall be issued a certificate, or have a book-entry account established, for such shares. Such certificate, or book-entry account, shall be registered in the name of the Participant, and shall bear an appropriate legend reciting the terms, conditions and restrictions, if any, applicable to such shares and shall be subject to appropriate stop-transfer orders.
     10.10 Restricted Stock awarded to Participants pursuant to Section 11 in lieu of cash shall be considered Performance Restricted Stock for purposes of the Plan.
     10.11 The Restriction Period for any Participant shall be deemed to end and all restrictions on shares of Restricted Stock awarded pursuant to Sections 11.5(a)(ii), 11.5(b)(ii), and 11.6 (except for Restricted Stock awarded pursuant to Section 11.5(c)) shall lapse upon the Participant’s death, retirement, Permanent Disability, or any other involuntary termination without Cause. The Restriction Period shall be deemed to end and all restrictions on a Participant’s shares of Restricted Stock awarded pursuant to Section 11.5(c) shall lapse on a pro rata basis measured in years between (i) the amount of time which has elapsed between the Award Date and the Participant’s death, retirement, Permanent Disability, or any other involuntary termination without Cause and (ii) the Restriction Period for such shares. All shares of Restricted Stock for which the Restriction Period has not lapsed as described above shall be forfeited to the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Plan Administrator, or the Management Committee in the case of Participants other than Section 16 Insiders, may determine that such Restriction Period should not lapse or that the Restriction Period on additional shares of Restricted Stock should lapse.
     10.12 A Participant may elect irrevocably (at a time and in the manner determined by the Plan Administrator or the Company, as appropriate), prior to vesting of Restricted Stock, that the Participant relinquishes any and all rights in the shares of Restricted Stock in exchange for an interest in the Deferred Compensation Plan, in which case receipt of such shares shall be deferred until a pre-specified date in the future or until the Participant ceases to be employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as elected by the Participant. At the time the restrictions would have otherwise lapsed on the shares of Restricted Stock (as specified at the time of grant, or otherwise if changed by the Plan Administrator), the number of shares of Common Stock issuable to the Participant shall be credited to the deferred stock account (or such other account(s) as the
     
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Management Committee shall deem necessary and appropriate) under a memorandum deferred account established pursuant to the Deferred Compensation Plan, and any dividends or other distributions paid on the Common Stock (or its equivalent) shall be deemed reinvested in additional shares of Common Stock (or its equivalent) until all credited deferred shares shall become issuable pursuant to the Participant’s election, unless the Management Committee of the Deferred Compensation Plan shall otherwise determine.
SECTION 11 INCENTIVE AWARDS
11.1 Procedures for Incentive Awards
     Prior to the beginning of a particular Performance Period, or such other date as the Code may allow, the Plan Administrator shall specify in writing:
  (a)   the Participants who shall be eligible to receive an Incentive Award for a Performance Period,
 
  (b)   the Performance Goals for such Performance Period, and
 
  (c)   the maximum Incentive Award amount payable to each Participant if the Performance Goals are met.
     Any Participant chosen to participate in under this Section 11 for a given Performance Period shall receive the maximum Incentive Award amount if the designated Performance Goals are achieved, subject to the discretion of the Plan Administrator to reduce such award, as described in Section 11.4.
11.2 Performance Goal Certification
     An Incentive Award shall become payable to the extent provided herein in the event that the Plan Administrator certifies in writing prior to payment of the award that the Performance Goal or Goals selected for a particular Performance Period has or have been attained. In no event will an award be payable under this Plan if the threshold level of performance set for each Performance Goal for the applicable Performance Period is not attained.
11.3 Maximum Incentive Award Payable
     The maximum Incentive Award payable under this Plan to any Participant for any Performance Period shall be five million dollars ($5,000,000) in cash, Restricted Stock, or a combination of cash and Restricted Stock.
     
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11.4 Discretion to Reduce Awards; Participant’s Performance
     The Plan Administrator, in its sole and absolute discretion, may reduce the amount of any Incentive Award otherwise payable to a Participant upon attainment of any Performance Goal for the applicable Performance Period. A Participant’s individual performance must be satisfactory, regardless of the Company’s performance and the attainment of Performance Goals, before he or she may be granted an Incentive Award. In evaluating a Participant’s performance, the Plan Administrator shall consider the Performance Goals of the Company and the Participant’s responsibilities and accomplishments, and such other factors as it deems appropriate.
11.5 Required Payment of Incentive Awards
     The Plan Administrator, or the Management Committee in the case of Participants other than Section 16 Insiders, shall make a determination within thirty (30) days after the Company’s financial information is available for a particular Performance Period (the “Award Date”) whether the Performance Goals for that Performance Period have been achieved and the amount of the award for each Participant. In the absence of an election by the Participant pursuant to Sections 11.6 or 11.7, the award shall be paid not later than the end of the month following the month in which the Plan Administrator determines the amount of the award and shall be paid as follows:
(a) Participants employed by the Company holding the position of Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer, Vice Chairman of the Board, Chief Operating Officer, Executive Vice President, or Senior Vice President and Participants employed by Company subsidiaries with equivalent positions thereto, but not necessarily the same titles, shall receive their incentive award as follows:
     (i) 50% (fifty percent) in cash and
     (ii) 50% (fifty percent) in Restricted Stock.
(b) Participants employed by the Company holding the position of Vice President and Participants employed by Company subsidiaries with an equivalent position thereto, but not necessarily the same title, shall receive their incentive award as follows:
     (i) 75% (seventy-five percent) in cash and
     (ii) 25% (twenty-five percent) in Restricted Stock.
(c) Because the Participant bears forfeiture, price fluctuation, and other attendant risks during the Restriction Period (as defined in Section 10.4) associated with the Restricted Stock awarded under this Plan, Participants shall be awarded an additional amount of Restricted Stock equal to the amount of Restricted Stock which a Participant is awarded pursuant to Sections 11.5(a)(ii) or 11.5(b)(ii), as applicable.
     
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(d) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b) above, the Plan Administrator or Management Committee, as appropriate, may determine that a Participant must receive a greater amount of his or her award in Restricted Stock, up to and including the entire award in Restricted Stock. (For purposes of the Plan, such required shares shall be treated as being awarded pursuant to Section 11.5(a)(ii) or Section 11.5(b)(ii), as applicable.) In such event, a Participant shall be entitled to the additional shares of Restricted Stock, awarded pursuant to Section 11.5(c) above.
     The value of awards payable in Restricted Stock pursuant to this Section 11 shall be calculated by using Fair Market Value.
11.6 Restricted Stock Election
     In lieu of receiving all or any portion of the cash in accordance with Sections 11.5(a)(i) or 11.5(b)(i), a Participant may elect to receive additional Restricted Stock with a value equal to the portion of the incentive award which the Participant would otherwise have received in cash, but has elected to receive in Restricted Stock (“Restricted Stock Election”). Participants must make their Restricted Stock Election at such time and in such a manner as prescribed by the Management Committee. If required by Rule 16b-3 promulgated under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, any Restricted Stock Election made by a Participant who is a Section 16 Insider shall be made at least six months prior to the Award Date, or at such other time as is allowed by Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act. Each Participant who makes the Restricted Stock Election shall be entitled to the additional Restricted Stock granted pursuant to Section 11.5(c) with respect to the amount of the Participant’s Restricted Stock Election. Except as provided in Section 10, all shares of Restricted Stock awarded pursuant to the Restricted Stock Election are subject to the same terms and conditions as the Restricted Stock a Participant receives pursuant to Sections 11.5(a)(ii) or 11.5(b)(ii), as applicable.
11.7 Deferred Payment
     Each Participant may elect to have the payment of all or a portion of any Incentive Award made pursuant to Sections 11.5(a)(i) or 11.5(b)(i), as applicable, for the year deferred according to the terms and conditions of the Company’s Deferred Compensation Plan. The election shall be irrevocable and shall be made at such time and in such a manner as prescribed by the Management Committee. The election shall apply only to that year. If a Participant has not made an election under this Section, any incentive award granted to the Participant for that year shall be paid pursuant to Sections 11.5 or 11.6, as applicable.
     
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11.8 Payment Upon Change in Control
     Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, in the event of a Change in Control of the Company, the Incentive Award attributable to the Performance Period in which the Change in Control occurs shall become fully vested and distributable, in cash, within 30 days after the date of the Change in Control, in an amount equal to the greater of the annual incentive percentage of Annual Salary established by the Plan Administrator, or the following:
     
Percentage of Annual Salary   Participants employed by the Company holding any of the following positions and Participants employed by Company subsidiaries with positions equivalent thereto, but not necessarily with the same titles:
100% of Annual Salary
  Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer, Vice Chairman of the Board, Chief Operating Officer, or Executive Vice President
 
   
80% of Annual Salary
  Senior Vice President
 
   
60% of Annual Salary
  Vice President
The term “Annual Salary” as used in this Plan shall mean a Participant’s annual base salary (whether actual or illustrative) in effect on the date of a Change in Control.
     In the event a Change in Control is deemed to have occurred after the end of a Performance Period, but before the Award Date, each Participant shall be entitled to receive in cash, within 30 days after the date of the Change in Control, those amounts set forth above in this Section 11.8 for such Performance Period. Such amounts are in addition to the amount to which Participants shall be entitled for the Performance Period in which a Change in Control is deemed to occur.
SECTION 12 REGULATORY APPROVALS AND LISTING
     The Company shall not be required to issue any certificate for shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of an option or a stock appreciation right granted under the Plan, in payment of an Incentive Award, with respect to a grant of Restricted Stock or Common Stock awarded as payment of vested Units prior to:
     (a) obtaining any approval or ruling from the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Internal Revenue Service or any other governmental agency
     
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which the Company, in its sole discretion, shall determine to be necessary or advisable;
     (b) listing of such shares on any stock exchange on which the Common Stock may then be listed; and
     (c) completing any registration or other qualification of such shares under any federal or state laws, rulings or regulations of any governmental body which the Company, in its sole discretion, shall determine to be necessary or advisable.
     All certificates, or book-entry accounts, for shares of Common Stock delivered under the Plan shall also be subject to such stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Plan Administrator may deem advisable under the rules, regulations and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange upon which Common Stock is then listed and any applicable federal or State securities laws, and the Plan Administrator may cause a legend or legends to be placed on any such certificates, or notations on such book-entry accounts, to make appropriate reference to such restrictions. The foregoing provisions of this paragraph shall not be effective if and to the extent that the shares of Common Stock delivered under the Plan are covered by an effective and current registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or if and so long as the Plan Administrator determines that application of such provisions are no longer required or desirable. In making such determination, the Plan Administrator may rely upon an opinion of counsel for the Company.
SECTION 13 EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF PLAN
     The Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors on January 20, 1999, and is subject to approval by the Company’s stockholders within the earlier of the date of the Company’s next annual meeting of stockholders and twelve (12) months after the date the Plan is adopted by the Board of Directors. Subject to the foregoing condition, options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights, Restricted Stock, Incentive Awards and Performance Units may be granted pursuant to the Plan from time to time within the period commencing upon adoption of the Plan by the Board of Directors and ending ten (10) years after the earlier of such adoption and the approval of the Plan by the stockholders. Options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights, Restricted Stock, Incentive Awards and Performance Units theretofore granted may extend beyond that date and the terms and conditions of the Plan shall continue to apply thereto and to shares of Common Stock acquired thereunder. To the extent required to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m), shares of Common Stock underlying options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights, Restricted Stock and Common Stock granted, subject to stockholder approval of the Plan may not be vested, paid, exercised or sold until such stockholder approval is obtained.
     
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SECTION 14 GENERAL PROVISIONS
     14.1 Nothing contained in the Plan, or in any option, limited stock appreciation right, stock appreciation right, Restricted Stock, Incentive Award or Performance Unit granted pursuant to the Plan, shall confer upon any employee any right with respect to continuance of employment by the Company or a Subsidiary, nor interfere in any way with the right of the Company or a Subsidiary to terminate the employment of such employee at any time with or without assigning any reason therefor.
     14.2 Grants, vesting or payment of stock options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights, Restricted Stock, Incentive Awards or Performance Units shall not be considered as part of a Participant’s salary or used for the calculation of any other pay, allowance, pension or other benefit unless otherwise permitted by other benefit plans provided by the Company or its Subsidiaries, or required by law or by contractual obligations of the Company or its Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the Restricted Stock awarded pursuant to Section 11.5(c) shall not be considered as part of a Participant’s salary or used for the calculation of any other pay, allowance, pension, or other benefit unless required by contractual obligations of the Company or its subsidiaries.
     14.3 Unless otherwise provided in the Plan, the right of a Participant or Beneficiary to the payment of any compensation under the Plan may not be assigned, transferred, pledged or encumbered, nor shall such right or other interests be subject to attachment, garnishment, execution or other legal process.
     14.4 Leaves of absence for such periods and purposes conforming to the personnel policy of the Company, or of its Subsidiaries, as applicable, shall not be deemed terminations or interruptions of employment, unless a Participant commences a leave of absence from which he or she is not expected to return to active employment with the Company or its Subsidiaries. The foregoing notwithstanding, with respect to Incentive Stock Options, employment shall not be deemed to continue beyond the first ninety (90) days of such leave unless the Participant’s reemployment rights are guaranteed by statute or contract.
     14.5 In the event a Participant is transferred from the Company to a Subsidiary, or vice versa, or is promoted or given different responsibilities, the stock options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights, Restricted Stock, Incentive Awards and Performance Units granted to the Participant prior to such date shall not be affected.
     14.6 Any amounts (deferred or otherwise) to be paid to Participants pursuant to the Plan are unfunded obligations. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is required to segregate any monies from its general funds, to create any trusts or to make any special deposits with respect to this obligation. The Management Committee, in its sole discretion, may direct the Company to share with its subsidiaries the costs of a portion of
     
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the incentive awards paid to Participants who are executives of those companies. Beneficial ownership of any investments, including trust investments which the Company may make to fulfill this obligation, shall at all times remain in the Company. Any investments and the creation or maintenance of any trust or any Participant account shall not create or constitute a trust or a fiduciary relationship between the Plan Administrator, the Management Committee, the Company or any Subsidiary and a Participant, or otherwise create any vested or beneficial interest in any Participant or the Participant’s Beneficiary or the Participant’s creditors in any assets of the Company or its Subsidiaries whatsoever. The Participants shall have no claim against the Company for any changes in the value of any assets which may be invested or reinvested by the Company with respect to the Plan.
     14.7 The designation of a Beneficiary shall be on a form provided by the Management Committee, executed by the Participant (with the consent of the Participant’s spouse, if required by the Management Committee for reasons of community property or otherwise), and delivered to the Management Committee. A Participant may change his or her Beneficiary designation at any time. A designation by a Participant under the Predecessor Plans shall remain in effect under the Plan for any Restricted Stock, Incentive Awards or Performance Units unless such designation is revoked or changed under the Plan. If no Beneficiary is designated, if the designation is ineffective, or if the Beneficiary dies before the balance of a Participant’s account is paid, the balance shall be paid to the Participant’s spouse, or if there is no surviving spouse, to the Participant’s lineal descendants, pro rata, or if there is no surviving spouse or any lineal descendant, to the Participant’s estate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, a Participant’s Beneficiary shall be determined under applicable state law if such state law does not recognize Beneficiary designations under plans of this sort and is not preempted by laws which recognize the provisions of this Section 14.7.
     14.8 The Plan shall be construed and governed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, except that it shall be construed and governed in accordance with applicable federal law in the event that such federal law preempts state law.
     14.9 Appropriate provision shall be made for all taxes required to be withheld in connection with the exercise, grant or other taxable event with respect to options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights, Restricted Stock, Incentive Awards and Performance Units under the applicable laws and regulations of any governmental authority, whether federal, state or local and whether domestic or foreign, including, but not limited to, the required withholding of a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to a Participant to satisfy the said required minimum tax withholding obligations. Unless otherwise provided in the grant, a Participant is permitted to deliver shares of Common Stock (including shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an option or stock appreciation right other than the option or stock appreciation right currently being exercised, to the extent permitted by applicable regulations) for payment of withholding taxes on the exercise of an option, stock appreciation right, or limited stock appreciation right, upon the grant or vesting of
     
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Restricted Stock or upon the payout of Incentive Awards or Performance Units. At the election of the Plan Administrator or, subject to approval of the Plan Administrator at its sole discretion, at the election of a Participant, shares of Common Stock may be withheld from the shares issuable to the Participant upon the exercise of an option or stock appreciation right, upon the vesting of the Restricted Stock or upon the payout of Performance Units to satisfy tax withholding obligations. The Fair Market Value of Common Stock as delivered pursuant to this Section 14.9 shall be determined as of the day prior to delivery, and shall be calculated in accordance with Section 2.9.
     Any Participant that makes a Section 83(b) election under the Code shall, within ten (10) days of making such election, notify the Company in writing of such election and shall provide the Company with a copy of such election form filed with the Internal Revenue Service.
     Tax advice should be obtained by the Participant prior to the Participant’s (i) entering into any transaction under or with respect to the Plan, (ii) designating or choosing the times of distributions under the Plan, or (iii) disposing of any shares of Common Stock issued under the Plan.
     14.10 The Plan administrator may in its discretion provide financing to a Participant in a principal amount sufficient to pay the purchase price of any award under the Plan and/or to pay the amount of taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to any award. Any such loan shall be subject to all applicable legal requirements and restrictions pertinent thereto, including Regulation G promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board. The grant of an award shall in no way obligate the Company or the Plan Administrator to provide any financing whatsoever in connection therewith.
SECTION 15 COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 16b-3 AND SECTION 162(m)
     The Company’s intention is that, so long as any of the Company’s equity securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act, with respect to awards granted to or held by Section 16 Insiders, the Plan shall comply in all respects with Rule 16b-3 and Section 162(m) and, if any Plan provision is later found not to be in compliance with Rule 16b-3 or Section 162(m), that provision shall be deemed modified as necessary to meet the requirements of Rule 16b-3 and Section 162(m). Notwithstanding the foregoing, and subject to Section 5.2, the Plan Administrator may grant or vest Restricted Stock in a manner which is not in compliance with Section 162(m) if the Plan Administrator determines that it would be in the best interests of the Company.
     Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the Board of Directors, in its absolute discretion, may bifurcate the Plan so as to restrict, limit or condition the use of any provision of the Plan to Participants who are Section 16 Insiders without so restricting, limiting or conditioning the Plan with respect to other Participants.
     
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SECTION 16 AMENDMENT, TERMINATION OR DISCONTINUANCE
OF THE PLAN
     16.1 Subject to the Board of Directors and Section 16.2, the Plan Administrator may from time to time make such amendments to the Plan as it may deem proper and in the best interest of the Company without further approval of the stockholders of the Company, including, but not limited to, any amendment necessary to ensure that the Company may obtain any regulatory approval referred to in Section 12; provided, however, that after a Change in Control no change in any option, limited stock appreciation right, stock appreciation right, Restricted Stock, Incentive Award or Performance Unit theretofore granted may be made without the consent of the Participant which would impair the right of the Participant to acquire or retain Common Stock or cash that the Participant may have acquired as a result of the Plan.
     16.2 The Plan Administrator and the Board of Directors may not amend the Plan without the approval of the stockholders of the Company to
     (a) materially increase the number of shares, rights, Incentive Awards or Units that may be issued under the Plan to Section 16 Insiders; or
     (b) lower the Option Price at which options may be granted pursuant to Section 6.4(a) or lower the Option Price of any outstanding options, except as provided by Section 5.5.
     16.3 The Board of Directors may at any time suspend the operation of or terminate the Plan with respect to any shares of Common Stock, rights or Performance Units which are not at that time subject to option, limited stock appreciation right, stock appreciation right or grant of Restricted Stock, Incentive Awards or Performance Units.
     
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1999 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan    

 


 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused the Plan to be executed effective as of January 20, 1999.
         
  EL PASO ENERGY CORPORATION
 
 
  By:      /s/ Joel Richards III     
    Joel Richards III   
    Executive Vice President
Human Resources and Administration 
 
 
Attest:
     
 
   
/s/ David L. Siddall
    
 
   
Corporate Secretary
   
     
El Paso Energy Corporation   Page 37
1999 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan    

 

EX-10.E.1 7 h53583exv10wew1.htm AMENDMENT NO.1 TO 2001 TO THE 1999 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN exv10wew1
 

EXHIBIT 10.E.1
AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE
EL PASO ENERGY CORPORATION
1999 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
     Pursuant to Section 16.1 of the El Paso Energy Corporation 1999 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, effective as of January 20, 1999 (the “Plan”), the Plan is hereby amended as follows, effective February 7, 2001:
     WHEREAS, the Certificate of Incorporation of El Paso Energy Corporation, a Delaware corporation, was amended to change the name of the corporation to El Paso Corporation effective February 7, 2001.
     NOW THEREFORE, the name of the Plan is hereby changed to the “El Paso Corporation 1999 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan” and all references in the Plan to “El Paso Energy Corporation” or the “Company” shall mean “El Paso Corporation.”
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this amendment to be duly executed on this 7th day of February 2001.
         
  EL PASO CORPORATION
 
 
  By:      /s/ Joel Richards III     
    Joel Richards III   
    Executive Vice President
Human Resources and Administration 
 
 
Attest:
     
/s/ David L. Siddall
 
Corporate Secretary
   

 

EX-10.F 8 h53583exv10wf.htm 2001 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN exv10wf
 

EXHIBIT 10.F
EL PASO ENERGY CORPORATION
2001 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE
COMPENSATION PLAN
Effective as of January 29, 2001

 


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
         
SECTION 1 PURPOSES
    1  
 
       
SECTION 2 DEFINITIONS
    1  
2.1 Adjusted Value
    1  
2.2 Beneficiary
    1  
2.3 Board of Directors
    1  
2.4 Cause
    1  
2.5 Change in Control
    2  
2.6 Code
    3  
2.7 Common Stock
    3  
2.8 Exchange Act
    3  
2.9 Fair Market Value
    3  
2.10 Good Reason
    3  
2.11 Incentive Award
    4  
2.12 Incentive Stock Option
    5  
2.13 Management Committee
    5  
2.14 Maximum Annual Employee Grant
    5  
2.15 Nonqualified Option
    5  
2.16 Option Price
    5  
2.17 Participant
    5  
2.18 Performance Cycle
    5  
2.19 Performance Goals
    5  
2.20 Performance Peer Group
    6  
2.21 Performance Period
    6  
2.22 Performance Ranking Position
    7  
2.23 Performance Unit or Units
    7  
2.24 Permanent Disability or Permanently Disabled
    7  
2.25 Plan Administrator
    7  
2.26 Restricted Stock
    7  
2.27 Rule 16b-3
    7  
2.28 Section 16 Insider
    7  
2.29 Section 162(m)
    8  
2.30 Subsidiary
    8  
2.31 Total Shareholder Return
    8  
2.32 Valuation Date
    8  
 
       
SECTION 3 ADMINISTRATION
    9  
 
       
SECTION 4 ELIGIBILITY
    10  
 
       
SECTION 5 SHARES AND UNITS AVAILABLE FOR THE PLAN
    10  
         
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SECTION 6 STOCK OPTIONS
    11  
 
       
SECTION 7 STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
    18  
 
       
SECTION 8 LIMITED STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
    20  
 
       
SECTION 9 PERFORMANCE UNITS
    20  
9.1 Grants of Units
    20  
9.2 Notice to Participants
    21  
9.3 Vesting
    21  
9.4 Valuation of Performance Units
    22  
9.5 Entitlement to Payment
    23  
9.6 Deferred Payment
    25  
9.7 Acceleration of Payment Due to Change in Control
    26  
 
       
SECTION 10 RESTRICTED STOCK
    26  
 
       
SECTION 11 INCENTIVE AWARDS
    29  
11.1 Procedures for Incentive Awards
    29  
11.2 Performance Goal Certification
    29  
11.3 Maximum Incentive Award Payable
    29  
11.4 Discretion to Reduce Awards; Participant’s Performance
    29  
11.5 Required Payment of Incentive Awards
    30  
11.6 Restricted Stock Election
    31  
11.7 Deferred Payment
    31  
11.8 Payment Upon Change in Control
    31  
 
       
SECTION 12 REGULATORY APPROVALS AND LISTING
    32  
 
       
SECTION 13 EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF PLAN
    33  
 
       
SECTION 14 GENERAL PROVISIONS
    34  
 
       
SECTION 15 COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 16b-3 AND SECTION 162(m)
    37  
 
       
SECTION 16 AMENDMENT, TERMINATION OR DISCONTINUANCE OF THE PLAN
    37  
         
         
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EL PASO ENERGY CORPORATION
2001 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
SECTION 1 PURPOSES
     The purposes of the El Paso Energy Corporation 2001 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) are to promote the interests of El Paso Energy Corporation (the “Company”) and its stockholders by strengthening its ability to attract and retain officers and key management employees (“key management employees” means those employees who hold the position of department director) in the employ of the Company and its Subsidiaries (as defined below) by furnishing suitable recognition of their ability and industry which contribute materially to the success of the Company and to align the interests and efforts of the Company’s officers and key management employees to the long-term interests of the Company’s stockholders, and to provide a direct incentive to the Participants (as defined below) to achieve the Company’s strategic and financial goals. The Plan provides for the grant of stock options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, incentive awards and performance units in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth below.
SECTION 2 DEFINITIONS
     Unless otherwise required by the context, the following terms when used in the Plan shall have the meanings set forth in this Section 2:
2.1 Adjusted Value
     The dollar value of Performance Units determined as of a Valuation Date.
2.2 Beneficiary
     The person or persons designated by the Participant pursuant to Section 6.4(f) or Section 14.7 of this Plan to whom payments are to be paid pursuant to the terms of the Plan in the event of the Participant’s death.
2.3 Board of Directors
     The Board of Directors of the Company.
2.4 Cause
     The Company may terminate the Participant’s employment for Cause. A termination for Cause is a termination evidenced by a resolution adopted in good faith by two-thirds (2/3) of the Board of Directors that the Participant (i) willfully and continually failed to substantially perform the Participant’s duties with the Company (other than a
     
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2001 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan
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failure resulting from the Participant’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness) which failure continued for a period of at least thirty (30) days after a written notice of demand for substantial performance has been delivered to the Participant specifying the manner in which the Participant has failed to substantially perform or (ii) willfully engaged in conduct which is demonstrably and materially injurious to the Company, monetarily or otherwise; provided, however, that no termination of the Participant’s employment shall be for Cause as set forth in clause (ii) above until (A) there shall have been delivered to the Participant a copy of a written notice setting forth that the Participant was guilty of the conduct set forth in clause (ii) above and specifying the particulars thereof in detail and (B) the Participant shall have been provided an opportunity to be heard by the Board of Directors (with the assistance of the Participant’s counsel if the Participant so desires). No act, nor failure to act, on the Participant’s part shall be considered “willful” unless the Participant has acted, or failed to act, with an absence of good faith and without a reasonable belief that the Participant’s action or failure to act was in the best interest of the Company. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Plan to the contrary, no failure to perform by the Participant after notice of termination is given by the Participant shall constitute Cause.
2.5 Change in Control
     As used in the Plan, a Change in Control shall be deemed to occur (i) if any person (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing twenty percent (20%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities, other than persons who exceed such percentage solely as a result of being executive officers, directors and/or other affiliates of the Company who are deemed to constitute a “group” as a result of acting to oppose a Change in Control proposed by another person (ii) upon the first purchase of the Common Stock pursuant to a tender or exchange offer (other than a tender or exchange offer made by the Company), (iii) upon the approval by the Company’s stockholders of a merger or consolidation, a sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or a plan of liquidation or dissolution of the Company, or (iv) if, during any period of two (2) consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board of Directors cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof, unless the election or nomination for the election by the Company’s stockholders of each new director was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who were directors at the beginning of the period and such new director’s initial assumption of office does not occur in connection with an actual or threatened election contest, including but not limited to a consent solicitation, relating to the election of directors of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur if the Company either merges or consolidates with or into another company or sells or disposes of all or substantially all of its assets to another company, if such merger, consolidation, sale or disposition is in connection with a corporate restructuring wherein the stockholders of the Company immediately before such merger, consolidation, sale or disposition own,
     
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directly or indirectly, immediately following such merger, consolidation, sale or disposition at least eighty percent (80%) of the combined voting power of all outstanding classes of securities of the company resulting from such merger or consolidation, or to which the Company sells or disposes of its assets, in substantially the same proportion as their ownership in the Company immediately before such merger, consolidation, sale or disposition.
2.6 Code
     The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time, and the temporary or final regulations of the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury adopted pursuant to the Code.
2.7 Common Stock
     The Common Stock of the Company, $3 par value per share, or such other class of shares or other securities as may be applicable pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.
2.8 Exchange Act
     The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
2.9 Fair Market Value
     Unless otherwise provided by the Plan Administrator prior to the date of a Change in Control as applied to a specific date, Fair Market Value shall be deemed to be the mean between the highest and lowest quoted selling prices at which Common Stock is sold on such date as reported in the NYSE-Composite Transactions by The Wall Street Journal for such date, or if no Common Stock was traded on such date, on the next preceding day on which Common Stock was so traded. Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the exercise, of a limited stock appreciation right or stock appreciation right granted in connection with a Nonqualified Option on or after a Change in Control, Fair Market Value on the date of exercise shall be deemed to be the greater of (i) the highest price per share of Common Stock as reported in the NYSE-Composite Transactions by The Wall Street Journal during the sixty (60) day period ending on the day preceding the date of exercise of the stock appreciation right or limited stock appreciation right, as the case may be, and (ii) if the Change in Control is one described in clause (ii) or (iii) of Section 2.5, the highest price per share paid for Common Stock in connection with such Change in Control.
2.10 Good Reason
     For purposes of the Plan, a Participant’s termination of employment for Good Reason, following a Change in Control, shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events or conditions:
     
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     (a) a change in the Participant’s status, title, position or responsibilities (including reporting responsibilities) which represents a substantial reduction of the status, title, position or responsibilities as in effect immediately prior thereto; the assignment to the Participant of any duties or responsibilities which are inconsistent with such status, title, position or responsibilities; or any removal of the Participant from or failure to reappoint or reelect the Participant to any of such positions, except in connection with the termination of the Participant’s employment for Cause, for Permanent Disability or as a result of his or her death, or by the Participant other than for Good Reason;
     (b) a reduction in the Participant’s annual base salary;
     (c) the Company’s requiring the Participant (without the consent of the Participant) to be based at any place outside a thirty-five (35) mile radius of his or her place of employment prior to a Change in Control, except for reasonably required travel on the Company’s business which is not materially greater than such travel requirements prior to the Change in Control;
     (d) the failure by the Company to (i) continue in effect any material compensation or benefit plan in which the Participant was participating at the time of the Change in Control, including, but not limited to, the Plan, the El Paso Energy Corporation Pension Plan, the El Paso Energy Corporation Supplemental Benefits Plan, the El Paso Energy Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan and the El Paso Energy Corporation Retirement Savings Plan, with any amendments and restatements of such plans (or substantially similar successor plans) made prior to such Change in Control; or (ii) provide the Participant with compensation and benefits at least equal (in terms of benefit levels and/or reward opportunities) to those provided for under each employee benefit plan, program and practice as in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control (or as in effect following the Change in Control, if greater);
     (e) any material breach by the Company of any provision of the Plan or of any provision of a Participant’s employment agreement, if any, with the Company or a Subsidiary; or
     (f) any purported termination of the Participant’s employment for Cause by the Company which does not otherwise comply with the terms of the Plan or the Participant’s employment agreement, if any, with the Company or a Subsidiary.
2.11 Incentive Award
     A percentage of base salary, fixed dollar amount or other measure of compensation which Participants are eligible to receive, in cash and/or shares of
     
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Restricted Stock, at the end of a Performance Period if certain Performance Goals are achieved.
2.12 Incentive Stock Option
     An option intended to meet the requirements of an Incentive Stock Option as defined in Section 422 of the Code, as in effect at the time of grant of such option, or any statutory provision that may hereafter replace such Section.
2.13 Management Committee
     A committee consisting of the Chief Executive Officer and such other senior officers as the Chief Executive Officer shall designate.
2.14 Maximum Annual Employee Grant
     The Maximum Annual Employee Grant set forth in Section 5.4.
2.15 Nonqualified Option
     An option which is not intended to meet the requirements of an Incentive Stock Option as defined in Section 422 of the Code.
2.16 Option Price
     The price per share of Common Stock at which an option is exercisable.
2.17 Participant
     An eligible employee to whom an option, limited stock appreciation right, stock appreciation right, Restricted Stock, Incentive Award or Performance Unit is granted under the Plan as set forth in Section 4.
2.18 Performance Cycle
     That period commencing with January 1 of each year in which the grant of a Performance Unit is made and ending on December 31 of the third succeeding year, or such other time period as the Plan Administrator may determine. The Plan Administrator, it its discretion, may initiate an overlapping Performance Cycle that begins before an existing Performance Cycle has ended.
2.19 Performance Goals
     The Plan Administrator shall establish one or more performance goals (“Performance Goals”) for each Performance Period in writing. Such Performance Goals
     
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shall be set no later than the commencement of the applicable Performance Period, or such later date as may be permitted with respect to “performance-based” compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, and shall establish the amount of any Incentive Award to be granted to each Participant, subject to Section 5.4 below.
     Each Performance Goal selected for a particular Performance Period shall be any one or more of the following, either individually, alternatively or in any combination, applied to either the Company as a whole or to a Subsidiary or business unit, either individually, alternatively or in any combination, and measured either annually or cumulatively over a period of years, on an absolute basis or relative to the pre-established target, to previous years’ results or to a designated comparison group, in each case as specified by the Plan Administrator: Total Shareholder Return, operating income, pre-tax profit, earnings per share, cash flow, return on capital, return on equity, return on net assets, net income, debt reduction, safety, return on investment, revenues, or Common Stock price. The foregoing terms shall have the same meaning as used in the Company’s financial statements, or if the terms are not used in the Company’s financial statements, they shall have the meaning generally applied pursuant to general accepted accounting principles, or as used in the industry, as applicable. The Plan Administrator may appropriately adjust any evaluation of performance under a Performance Goal to exclude any of the following events that occurs during a Performance Period: (i) asset write-downs, (ii) litigation or claim judgments or settlements, (iii) the effect of changes in tax law, accounting principles or other such laws or provisions affecting reported results, (iv) accruals for reorganization and restructuring programs, and (v) extraordinary non-recurring items as described in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 30 and/or in management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations appearing in the Company’s annual report to stockholders for the applicable year.
2.20 Performance Peer Group
     Those publicly held companies selected by the Plan Administrator prior to the commencement of a Performance Period, or such later date as may be permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code, consistent with maintaining the status of Performance Units as “performance-based compensation,” to form a comparative performance group in applying Section 9.4.
2.21 Performance Period
     That period of time during which Performance Goals are measured to determine the vesting or granting of options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights, Restricted Stock, Performance Units or Incentive Awards, as the Plan Administrator may determine.
     
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2.22 Performance Ranking Position
     The relative placement of the Company’s Total Shareholder Return measured against the Total Shareholder Return of the other companies in the Performance Peer Group for which purposes rank shall be determined by quartile, with a ranking in the first (1st) quartile (e.g., the Company’s Total Shareholder Return is equal to or greater than the Total Shareholder Return of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the Performance Peer Group) corresponding to the highest quartile of Total Shareholder Return.
2.23 Performance Unit or Units
     Units of long-term incentive compensation granted to a Participant with respect to a particular Performance Cycle.
2.24 Permanent Disability or Permanently Disabled
     A Participant shall be deemed to have become Permanently Disabled for purposes of the Plan if the Chief Executive Officer of the Company shall find upon the basis of medical evidence satisfactory to the Chief Executive Officer that the Participant is totally disabled, whether due to physical or mental condition, so as to be prevented from engaging in further employment by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and that such disability will be permanent and continuous during the remainder of the Participant’s life; provided, that with respect to Section 16 Insiders such determination shall be made by the Plan Administrator.
2.25 Plan Administrator
     The Board of Directors or the committee appointed and/or authorized pursuant to Section 3 to administer the Plan.
2.26 Restricted Stock
     Common Stock granted under the Plan that is subject to the requirements of Section 10 and such other restrictions as the Plan Administrator deems appropriate. References to Restricted Stock in this Plan shall include Performance Restricted Stock (as defined in Section 5.2) unless the context otherwise requires.
2.27 Rule 16b-3
     Rule 16b-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act.
2.28 Section 16 Insider
     Any person who is selected by the Plan Administrator to receive options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights, Restricted Stock, Incentive Awards
     
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and/or Performance Units pursuant to the Plan and who is subject to the requirements of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
2.29 Section 162(m)
     Section 162(m) of the Code, and regulations promulgated thereunder.
2.30 Subsidiary
     An entity that is designated by the Plan Administrator as a subsidiary for purposes of the Plan and that is a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or other entity in which the Company owns directly or indirectly, fifty percent (50%) or more of the voting power or profit interests, or as to which the Company or one of its affiliates serves as general or managing partner or in a similar capacity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of options intended to qualify as Incentive Stock Options, the term “Subsidiary” shall mean a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for tax purposes) in which the Company directly or indirectly holds more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power.
2.31 Total Shareholder Return
     The sum of (i) the appreciation or depreciation in the price of a share of a company’s common stock, and (ii) the dividends and other distributions paid during the applicable Performance Cycle, expressed as a percentage basis of the Fair Market Value of such share on the first day of the applicable Performance Cycle, as calculated in a manner determined by the Plan Administrator.
2.32 Valuation Date
     The date for determining the Adjusted Value of vested Units that will be paid or credited to the Participant or Beneficiary in accordance with Section 9.5 or 9.6. The Valuation Date shall occur on the last day of the applicable Performance Cycle, or such other time as provided in this Plan, or as the Plan Administrator may select. The Valuation Date for each Performance Cycle shall be set forth in the grant of Performance Units and shall be established no later than the date on which the Performance Goals for a particular Performance Cycle are selected, except as otherwise specifically provided herein.
     
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SECTION 3 ADMINISTRATION
     3.1 With respect to awards made under the Plan to Section 16 Insiders or employees subject to Section 162(m), the Plan shall be administered by the Board of Directors or Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, which shall be constituted at all times so as to meet the non-employee director standards of Rule 16b-3 and the outside director requirements of Section 162(m), so long as any of the Company’s equity securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act. Subject to the Board of Directors, and as may be required by the foregoing sentence, the Plan shall be administered by the Management Committee.
     No member of the Board of Directors or the Plan Administrator shall vote with respect directly to the granting of options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights, Restricted Stock, Incentive Awards and/or Performance Units hereunder to himself or herself, as the case may be, and, if state corporate law does not permit a committee to grant options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights, Restricted Stock, Incentive Awards and Performance Units to directors, then any option, limited stock appreciation right, stock appreciation right, Restricted Stock, Incentive Award or Performance Unit granted under the Plan to a director for his or her services as such shall be approved by the full Board of Directors.
     3.2 Except for the terms and conditions explicitly set forth in the Plan, the Plan Administrator shall have sole authority to construe and interpret the Plan, to establish, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan, to select persons eligible to participate in the Plan, to grant options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights, Restricted Stock, Incentive Awards and Performance Units hereunder, to administer the Plan, to make recommendations to the Board of Directors, to determine whether, and the extent to which, adjustments are made pursuant to Section 5.5 hereof, and to take all such steps and make all such determinations in connection with the Plan and the options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights, Restricted Stock, Incentive Awards and Performance Units granted thereunder as it may deem necessary or advisable, which determination shall be final and binding upon all Participants, so long as such interpretation and construction with respect to Incentive Stock Options corresponds to any applicable requirements of Section 422 of the Code. The Plan Administrator shall cause the Company at its expense to take any action related to the Plan which may be necessary to comply with the provisions of any federal or state law or any regulations issued thereunder, which the Plan Administrator determines are intended to be complied with.
     3.3 Each member of any committee acting as Plan Administrator, while serving as such, shall be considered to be acting in his or her capacity as a director of the Company. Members of the Board of Directors and members of any committee acting under the Plan shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the advice of counsel and shall incur no liability except for gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of their duties.
     
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SECTION 4 ELIGIBILITY
     To be eligible for selection by the Plan Administrator to participate in the Plan, an individual must be an officer or key management employee (other than an employee who is a member of a unit covered by a collective bargaining agreement) of the Company, or of any Subsidiary, as of the date on which the Plan Administrator grants to such individual an option, limited stock appreciation right, stock appreciation right, Restricted Stock, Incentive Award or Performance Unit or a person who, in the judgment of the Plan Administrator, holds a position of responsibility and is able to contribute substantially to the Company’s continued success. Members of the Board of Directors of the Company who are full-time salaried officers shall be eligible to participate. Members of the Board of Directors who are not employees are not eligible to participate in this Plan.
SECTION 5 SHARES AND UNITS AVAILABLE FOR THE PLAN
     5.1 Subject to Section 5.5, the maximum number of shares that may be issued upon settlement of Incentive Awards or Performance Units and exercise of options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights and Restricted Stock granted under the Plan is six million (6,000,000) shares of Common Stock, from shares held in the Company’s treasury or out of authorized but unissued shares of the Company, or partly out of each, as shall be determined by the Plan Administrator. For purposes of Section 5.1, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock issued under this Plan at any time shall equal only the number of shares actually issued upon exercise or settlement of options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights, Restricted Stock, Incentive Awards and Performance Units and not returned to the Company upon cancellation, expiration or forfeiture of any such award or delivered (either actually or by attestation) in payment or satisfaction of the purchase price, exercise price or tax obligation of the award.
     5.2 Notwithstanding the foregoing, and subject to Section 5.5, the number of shares for which Restricted Stock may be granted pursuant to Section 10 of the Plan may not exceed two million (2,000,000) shares of Common Stock, including the granting or vesting of Restricted Stock that is in compliance with the performance-based requirements of Section 162(m) (the “Performance Restricted Stock”).
     5.3 Subject to Section 5.5, the number of Performance Units which may be granted under the Plan may not exceed five hundred thousand (500,000) Units. Units that have been granted and are fully vested or that still may become fully vested under the terms of the Plan shall reduce the number of outstanding Units that are available for use in making future grants under the Plan.
     5.4 For purposes of qualifying as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m), the maximum number of shares, as calculated in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.1, and maximum amount with respect to which awards under this
     
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Plan may be granted to any eligible employee in any one year shall not exceed: (a) one million (1,000,000) shares, in the case of options (and related limited stock appreciation rights or stock appreciation rights); (b) one million (1,000,000) shares in the case of shares of Restricted Stock (whether or not such Restricted Stock is Performance Restricted Stock) or shares issuable upon settlement of Performance Units; and (c) ten million dollars ($10,000,000) in cash, Restricted Stock or a combination thereof, in the case of Incentive Awards. With respect to Performance Units, the maximum number of Units granted to any eligible employee for any Performance Cycle shall not exceed one hundred thousand (100,000) Performance Units, each with a value of not more than $150. Collectively, the foregoing maximums referred to in this Section 5.4 shall be referred to as the “Maximum Annual Employee Grant.”
     5.5 In the event of a recapitalization, stock split, stock dividend, exchange of shares, merger, reorganization, change in corporate structure or shares of the Company or similar event, the Board of Directors or the Plan Administrator, may make, and following a Change in Control may make, appropriate adjustments in the number of shares authorized for issuance under the Plan, the Maximum Annual Employee Grant and, with respect to outstanding options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights, and Restricted Stock, the Plan Administrator may make appropriate adjustments in the number of shares and the Option Price, except that any such adjustments for purposes of Sections 5.4 and 6.3 shall be consistent with the requirements under Code Sections 162(m) and 422, respectively.
SECTION 6 STOCK OPTIONS
     6.1 Options may be granted to eligible employees in such number, and at such times during the term of the Plan as the Plan Administrator shall determine, the Plan Administrator taking into account the duties of the respective employees, their present and potential contributions to the success of the Company, and such other factors as the Plan Administrator shall deem relevant in accomplishing the purposes of the Plan. The Plan Administrator may grant an option or provide for the grant of an option, either from time to time in the discretion of the Plan Administrator or automatically upon the occurrence of specified events, including, without limitation, the achievement of performance goals, the satisfaction of an event or condition within the control of the recipient of the option or within the control of others. The granting of an option shall take place when the Plan Administrator by resolution, written consent or other appropriate action determines to grant such an option to a particular Participant at a particular price. Each option shall be evidenced by a written instrument delivered by or on behalf of the Company containing provisions not inconsistent with the Plan, which may (but need not) require the Participant’s signature.
     6.2 An option granted under the Plan may be either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Option.
     
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     6.3 Each provision of the Plan and each Incentive Stock Option granted thereunder shall be construed so that each such option shall qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, and any provision thereof that cannot be so construed shall be disregarded, unless the Participant agrees otherwise. The total number of shares which may be purchased upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan shall not exceed the total specified in Section 5.1, as adjusted pursuant to Section 5.5. Incentive Stock Options, in addition to complying with the other provisions of the Plan relating to options generally, shall be subject to the following conditions:
     (a) Ten Percent (10%) Stockholders
     A Participant must not, immediately before an Incentive Stock Option is granted to him or her, own stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Company or of a Subsidiary. This requirement is waived if (i) the Option Price of the Incentive Stock Option to be granted is at least one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the stock subject to the option, determined at the time the option is granted, and (ii) the option is not exercisable more than five (5) years from the date the option is granted.
     (b) Annual Limitation
     To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time of the grant of the option) of the stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by the Participant during any calendar year exceeds One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000), such options shall be treated as Nonqualified Options.
     (c) Additional Terms
     Any other terms and conditions which the Plan Administrator determines, upon advice of counsel, must be imposed for the option to be an Incentive Stock Option.
     6.4 Except as otherwise provided in Section 6.3, all Incentive Stock Options and Nonqualified Options under the Plan shall be granted subject to the following terms and conditions:
     (a) Option Price
     The Option Price shall be determined by the Plan Administrator, but shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date the option is granted.
     
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     (b) Duration of Options
     Options shall be exercisable at such time and under such conditions as set forth in the option grant, but in no event shall any Incentive Stock Option be exercisable subsequent to the day before the tenth anniversary of the date this Plan was adopted, nor shall any option (including an Incentive Stock Option) be exercisable later than the tenth anniversary of the date of its grant.
     (c) Exercise of Options
     Subject to Section 6.4(j), a Participant may not exercise an option until the Participant has completed one (1) year of continuous employment with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from and including the date on which the option is granted, or such other period as the Plan Administrator may determine in a particular case. This requirement is waived in the event of death, Permanent Disability of a Participant or a Change in Control before such period of continuous employment is completed. Thereafter, shares of Common Stock covered by an option may be purchased at one time or in such installments over the balance of the option period as may be provided in the option grant. Any shares not purchased on the applicable installment date may be purchased thereafter at any time prior to the final expiration of the option. To the extent that the right to purchase shares has accrued thereunder, options may be exercised from time to time by written notice to the Company setting forth the number of shares with respect to which the option is being exercised.
     (d) Payment
The purchase price of shares purchased under options shall be paid in full to the Company upon the exercise of the option by delivery of consideration equal to the product of the Option Price and the number of shares purchased (the “Purchase Price”). Such consideration may be either (i) in cash or (ii) at the discretion of the Plan Administrator, in Common Stock already owned by the Participant for at least six (6) months, or any combination of cash and Common Stock. The Fair Market Value of such Common Stock as delivered shall be valued as of the day prior to delivery. The Plan Administrator can determine that additional forms of payment will be permitted. To the extent permitted by the Plan Administrator and applicable laws and regulations (including, but not limited to, federal tax and securities laws, regulations and state corporate law), an option may also be exercised in a “cashless” exercise by delivery of a properly executed exercise notice together with irrevocable instructions to a broker selected by the Company to promptly deliver to the Company the amount of sale or loan proceeds to pay the Purchase Price. A Participant shall have none of the rights of a stockholder until the shares of Common Stock are issued to the Participant.
     
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     If specifically authorized in the option grant, a Participant may elect to pay all or a portion of the Purchase Price by having shares of Common Stock with a Fair Market Value equal to all or a portion of the Purchase Price be withheld from the shares issuable to the Participant upon the exercise of the option; provided that such shall be permitted of a Participant who is a Section 16 Insider only if approved in advance by the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee, if required by Section 16, and rules promulgated thereunder, of the Exchange Act. The Fair Market Value of such Common Stock as is withheld shall be determined as of the same day as the exercise of the option.
     Notwithstanding any other provision in this Plan to the contrary and unless the Plan Administrator shall otherwise determine, in the event of a “cashless” exercise, and for that purpose only under this Plan, a Participant’s compensation shall be equal to the difference between the actual sales price received for the underlying Common Stock and the Option Price. For all other purposes under this Plan, the Fair Market Value shall be the value against which compensation is determined.
     (e) Restrictions
     The Plan Administrator shall determine and reflect in the option grant, with respect to each option, the nature and extent of the restrictions, if any, to be imposed on the shares of Common Stock which may be purchased thereunder, including, but not limited to, restrictions on the transferability of such shares acquired through the exercise of such options for such periods as the Plan Administrator may determine and, further, that in the event a Participant’s employment by the Company, or a Subsidiary, terminates during the period in which such shares are nontransferable, the Participant shall be required to sell such shares back to the Company at such prices as the Plan Administrator may specify in the option. In addition, the Plan Administrator may require that a Participant who wants to effectuate a “cashless” exercise of options be required to sell the shares of Common Stock acquired in the associated exercise to the Company, or in the open market through the use of a broker selected by the Company, at such price and on such terms as the Plan Administrator may determine at the time of grant, or otherwise. Without limiting the foregoing, the Plan Administrator may impose such restrictions, conditions or limitations as it determines appropriate as to the timing and manner of any resales by the Participant or other subsequent transfers by the Participant of any shares issued as a result of the exercise of an option, including without limitation (i) restrictions under an insider trading policy, (ii) restrictions designed to delay and/or coordinate the timing and manner of sales by the Participant and other participants and (iii) restrictions as to the use of a specified brokerage firm for such resales or other transfers.
     
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     (f ) Nontransferability of Options
     Options granted under the Plan and the rights and privileges conferred thereby shall not be subject to execution, attachment or similar process and may not be transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated in any manner (whether by operation of law or otherwise) other than by will or by the applicable laws of descent and distribution. Notwithstanding the foregoing and only as provided by the Plan Administrator or the Company, as applicable, Nonqualified Options may be transferred to a Participant’s immediate family members, directly or indirectly or by means of a trust, corporate entity or partnership (a person who thus acquires this option by such transfer, a “Permitted Transferee”). A transfer of an option may only be effected by the Company at the request of the Participant and shall become effective upon the Permitted Transferee agreeing to such terms as the Plan Administrator may require and only when recorded in the Company’s record of outstanding options. In the event an option is transferred as contemplated hereby, the option may not be subsequently transferred by the Permitted Transferee except a transfer back to the Participant or by will or the laws of descent and distribution. A transferred option may be exercised by a Permitted Transferee to the same extent as, and subject to the same terms and conditions as, the Participant (except as otherwise provided herein), as if no transfer had taken place. As used herein, “immediate family” shall mean, with respect to any person, such person’s child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, and shall include adoptive relationships. In the event of exercise of a transferred option by a Permitted Transferee, any amounts due to (or to be withheld by) the Company upon exercise of the option shall be delivered by (or withheld from amounts due to) the Participant, the Participant’s estate or the Permitted Transferee, in the reasonable discretion of the Company.
     In addition, to the extent permitted by applicable law and Rule 16b-3, the Plan Administrator may permit a recipient of a Nonqualified Option to designate in writing during the Participant’s lifetime a Beneficiary to receive and exercise the Participant’s Nonqualified Options in the event of such Participant’s death (as provided in Section 6.4(i)). A designation by a Participant under the Company’s Omnibus Compensation Plan dated as of January 1, 1992, as amended, the Company’s 1995 Omnibus Compensation Plan effective as of January 13, 1995, as amended and restated, or the 1999 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan effective as of January 20, 1999 (the “Predecessor Plans”), shall remain in effect under the Plan for any options unless such designation is revoked or changed under the Plan. Except as otherwise provided for herein, if any Participant attempts to transfer, assign, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of any option under the Plan or of any right or privilege conferred thereby, contrary to the provisions of the Plan or such option, or suffers the sale or levy or any attachment or similar process upon the rights and privileges conferred hereby, all affected options held by such Participant shall be immediately forfeited.
     
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     (g) Purchase for Investment
     The Plan Administrator shall have the right to require that each Participant or other person who shall exercise an option under the Plan, and each person into whose name shares of Common Stock shall be issued pursuant to the exercise of an option, represent and agree that any and all shares of Common Stock purchased pursuant to such option are being purchased for investment only and not with a view to the distribution or resale thereof and that such shares will not be sold except in accordance with such restrictions or limitations as may be set forth in the option or by the Plan Administrator. This Section 6.4(g) shall be inoperative during any period of time when the Company has obtained all necessary or advisable approvals from governmental agencies and has completed all necessary or advisable registrations or other qualifications of shares of Common Stock as to which options may from time to time be granted as contemplated in Section 12.
     (h) Termination of Employment
     Upon the termination of a Participant’s employment for any reason other than death or Permanent Disability, the Participant’s option shall be exercisable only to the extent that it was then exercisable and, unless provided otherwise in this Plan or in the grant letter, shall immediately be forfeited to the extent not exercisable. Unless the term of the options expires sooner, the exercisable portion of such options shall expire according to the following schedule; provided, that the Plan Administrator may at any time determine in a particular case that specific limitations and restrictions under the Plan shall not apply:
     (i) Retirement
     The option shall expire, unless exercised, thirty-six (36) months after the Participant’s retirement from the Company or any Subsidiary.
     (ii) Disability
     The option shall expire, unless exercised, thirty-six (36) months after the Participant’s termination on account of Permanent Disability.
     (iii) Termination
     Subject to subparagraphs (iv) and (v) below, the option shall expire, unless exercised, not more than thirty-six (36) months, as specified in the grant letter, after a Participant resigns or is terminated as an employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries other than as a result of retirement, disability or death, unless the Chief Executive Officer of the Company shall have determined in a specific case that the option should expire sooner or should terminate when the Participant’s employment
     
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status ceases; provided, however, that for Section 16 Insiders, such determination shall be made by the Plan Administrator.
     (iv) Termination Following a Change in Control
     The option shall expire, unless exercised or expiring earlier in accordance with its original terms, thirty-six (36) months after a Participant’s termination of employment (other than a termination by the Company for Cause or a voluntary termination by the Participant other than for Good Reason) following a Change in Control, provided that said termination of employment occurs within two (2) years following a Change in Control.
     (v) All Other Terminations
     Notwithstanding subparagraphs (iii) and (iv) above, the option shall expire upon termination of employment for Cause and any option intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option shall state that it will not qualify for tax treatment as an Incentive Stock Option if it is exercised more than one year after the Participant’s termination of employment on account of disability (as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code) and shall expire three (3) months after the Participant’s termination of employment other than on account of death, Permanent Disability or termination for Cause.
     (i) Death of Participant
     Upon the death of a Participant, whether during the Participant’s period of employment or during the period prior to the option’s expiration as provided in Section 6.4(h), the option shall expire, unless the original term of the option expires sooner, twelve (12) months after the date of the Participant’s death, unless the option is exercised within such twelve (12) month period by the Participant’s Beneficiary, legal representatives, estate or the person or persons to whom the deceased’s option rights shall have passed by will or the laws of descent and distribution; provided, that the Plan Administrator may determine in a particular case that specific limitations and restrictions under the Plan shall not apply. Notwithstanding any other Plan provisions pertaining to the times at which options may be exercised, no option shall continue to be exercisable, pursuant to Section 6.4(h) or this Section 6.4(i), at a time that would violate the maximum duration of Section 6.4(b).
     (j) Change in Control
     Notwithstanding other Plan provisions pertaining to the times at which options may be exercised, all outstanding options, to the extent not then currently
     
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exercisable, shall become exercisable in full upon the occurrence of a Change in Control. No option (whether or not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option) shall continue to be exercisable, pursuant to Sections 6.4(h) and 6.4(i), at a time that would violate the maximum duration of Section 6.4(b).
     (k) Deferral Election
     A Participant may elect irrevocably (at a time and in a manner determined by the Plan Administrator or the Company, as appropriate) prior to exercising an option granted under the Plan that issuance of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of such option and/or associated stock appreciation right shall be deferred until a pre-specified date in the future or until the Participant ceases to be employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as elected by the Participant. After the exercise of any such option and prior to the issuance of any deferred shares, the number of shares of Common Stock issuable to the Participant shall be credited to the deferred stock account (or such other account(s) as the Management Committee shall deem necessary and appropriate) under a memorandum deferred account established pursuant the Company’s then-existing Deferred Compensation Plan (as it may be further amended) (the “Deferred Compensation Plan”), and any dividends or other distributions paid on the Common Stock (or its equivalent) shall be deemed reinvested in additional shares of Common Stock (or its equivalent) until all credited deferred shares shall become issuable pursuant to the Participant’s election, unless the management committee of the Deferred Compensation Plan shall otherwise determine.
     (l) Repricing
     The Company shall not reprice any options, except for adjustments pursuant to Section 5.5, as determined by the Plan Administrator, unless such action is subject to approval of the Company’s stockholders or unless the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan is reduced by the number of shares that were subject to options affected by such action. For purposes of the Plan, the term “reprice” shall mean lowering the exercise price of previously awarded Nonqualified Options within the meaning of Item 402(i) under Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation S-K.
SECTION 7 STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
     7.1 The Plan Administrator may grant stock appreciation rights to Participants in connection with any option granted under the Plan, either at the time of the grant of such option or at any time thereafter during the term of the option. Such stock appreciation rights shall cover the same number of shares covered by the options (or such lesser number of shares of Common Stock as the Plan Administrator may determine) and shall, except as provided in Section 7.3, be subject to the same terms and conditions as
     
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the related options and such further terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as shall from time to time be determined by the Plan Administrator.
     7.2 Each stock appreciation right shall entitle the holder of the related option to surrender to the Company unexercised the related option, or any portion thereof, and to receive from the Company in exchange therefor an amount equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the date the right is exercised over the Option Price per share times the number of shares covered by the option, or portion thereof, which is surrendered. Payment shall be made in shares of Common Stock valued at Fair Market Value as of the date the right is exercised, or in cash, or partly in shares and partly in cash, at the discretion of the Plan Administrator. Stock appreciation rights may be exercised from time to time upon actual receipt by the Company of written notice stating the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which the stock appreciation right is being exercised. The value of any fractional shares shall be paid in cash.
     7.3 Stock appreciation rights are subject to the following restrictions:
     (a) Each stock appreciation right shall be exercisable at such time or times as the option to which it relates shall be exercisable, or at such other times as the Plan Administrator may determine. In the event of death or Permanent Disability of a Participant during employment but before the Participant has completed such period of continuous employment, such stock appreciation right shall be exercisable, but only within the period specified in the related option. In the event of a Change in Control, the requirement that a Participant shall have completed a one (1) year period of continuous employment is waived with respect to a Participant who is employed by the Company at the time of the Change in Control but who, within the one (1) year period, voluntarily terminates employment for Good Reason or is terminated by the Company other than for Cause.
     (b) Except following a Change in Control, each request to exercise a stock appreciation right shall be subject to approval or denial in whole or in part by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion. Denial or approval of such request shall not require a subsequent request to be similarly treated by the Plan Administrator.
     (c) The right of a Participant to exercise a stock appreciation right shall be canceled if and to the extent the related option is exercised or canceled. To the extent that a stock appreciation right is exercised, the related option shall be deemed to have been surrendered unexercised and canceled.
     (d) A holder of stock appreciation rights shall have none of the rights of a stockholder until shares of Common Stock, if any, are issued to such holder pursuant to such holder’s exercise of such rights.
     
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     (e) The acquisition of Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of a stock appreciation right shall be subject to the same restrictions as would apply to the acquisition of Common Stock acquired upon exercise of the related option, as set forth in Section 6.4.
SECTION 8 LIMITED STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
     8.1 The Plan Administrator may grant limited stock appreciation rights to Participants in connection with any options granted under the Plan, either at the time of the grant of such option or at any time thereafter during the term of the option. Such limited stock appreciation rights shall cover the same number of shares covered by the options (or such lesser number of shares of Common Stock as the Plan Administrator may determine) and shall, except as provided in Section 8.3, be subject to the same terms and conditions as the related options and such further terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as shall from time to time be determined by the Plan Administrator.
     8.2 Each limited stock appreciation right shall entitle the holder of the related option to surrender to the Company the unexercised portion of the related option and to receive from the Company in exchange therefor an amount in cash equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of one (1) share of Common Stock on the date the right is exercised over the Option Price per share times the number of shares covered by the option, or portion thereof, which is surrendered.
     8.3 Limited stock appreciation rights are subject to the following restrictions:
     (a) Limited stock appreciation rights shall be exercisable only to the same extent and subject to the same conditions as the options related thereto are exercisable, as provided in Section 6.4(j).
     (b) The right of a Participant to exercise a limited stock appreciation right shall be canceled if and to the extent the related option is exercised. To the extent that a limited stock appreciation right is exercised, the related option shall be deemed to have been surrendered unexercised and canceled.
SECTION 9 PERFORMANCE UNITS
9.1 Grants of Units
     Subject to the Maximum Annual Employee Grant, Units may be granted to Participants in such number as the Plan Administrator shall determine, taking into account the duties of the respective Participants, their present and potential contributions to the success of the Company or its Subsidiaries, their compensation provided by other
     
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incentive plans, their salaries, and such other factors as the Plan Administrator shall deem appropriate. Normally, Units will be granted only at the beginning of each Performance Cycle except in cases where a prorated grant may be made in mid-cycle to a newly eligible Participant or a Participant whose job responsibilities have significantly changed during the cycle.
9.2 Notice to Participants
     The Plan Administrator shall notify each Participant in writing of the grant of Units to the Participant. Such notice shall set forth the Total Shareholder Return requirements, vesting schedule and other terms and conditions applicable to such Units, and may (but need not) require the Participant’s signature.
9.3 Vesting
     (a) Vesting Schedule
     The Plan Administrator shall adopt a vesting schedule for each year of a Performance Cycle. Vesting of Units for each year may (i) occur automatically after a Participant has completed the specified period of continuous employment with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from the date of grant of such Units, (ii) be contingent upon attaining certain levels of Total Shareholder Return for the year in which the Units are eligible to vest, or (iii) occur at such other times or subject to such other criteria as the Plan Administrator may determine. The Plan Administrator may, in its discretion, at any time prior to a Change in Control alter the vesting guidelines in the event of unusual circumstances provided that to the extent applicable any such discretion shall be exercised in a manner consistent with Section 162(m). Vesting of Units with respect to Participants who begin participation or receive an additional grant of Units during the Performance Cycle will be determined by the Plan Administrator at the time of grant.
     (b) Change in Control
     Notwithstanding the foregoing vesting provisions, upon a Change in Control all unvested Units shall become fully vested on a pro rata basis to the maximum extent to which they could have vested as of the end of the year in which the Change in Control occurs.
     
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9.4 Valuation of Performance Units
     All Performance Units granted to Participants under the Plan shall be valued as follows:
     (a) Initial and Continuing Value
     Each Performance Unit shall have an initial value of one hundred dollars ($100) as of the date of the grant of Performance Units. Except where the Adjusted Value of Performance Units is determined as provided under Section 9.4(b), each Performance Unit shall continue to have a dollar value of one hundred dollars ($100) on each date subsequent to the date of grant of the Performance Unit.
     (b) Adjusted Value
     The determination of the Adjusted Value of Performance Units for benefit payments under Sections 9.5(b)(i) and 9.5(b)(ii) as of any relevant Valuation Date shall be made based on the Company’s Performance Ranking Position for the applicable Performance Cycle compared to the Performance Ranking Position of the Performance Peer Group, based on the following schedule:
         
Company’s Performance   Adjusted
Ranking Position   Value
1st Quartile
  $ 150  
2nd Quartile
  $ 100  
3rd Quartile
  $ 50  
4th Quartile
  $ 0  
If any company which is a member of the Performance Peer Group (i) ceases to exist by reason of a liquidation, merger or other transaction; (ii) undergoes a significant alteration in size, through recapitalization or otherwise, such that its total market capitalization as determined from its published financial statements is more than fifty percent (50%) greater or less than its total market capitalization as of the grant date for the applicable Performance Cycle; or (iii) otherwise changes its line of business significantly to make it inappropriate to use such company in comparison, and if such event(s) occurs after the time the Plan Administrator can alter the Performance Peer Group under Section 2.20 above, then such company shall be considered to remain in the Performance Peer Group, and to have achieved a Total Shareholder Return less than the Company’s Total Shareholder Return without regard to any actual Total Shareholder Return actually achieved by such company, provided, however, that the Plan Administrator shall have the authority to reduce the Adjusted Value of Performance Units in such event if it determines that such reduction is appropriate in view of the Company’s
     
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performance relative to those companies in the Performance Peer Group and not described in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii), above.
9.5 Entitlement to Payment
     (a) Performance Certification
     The Plan Administrator shall certify in writing, prior to payment of the Performance Units pursuant to this Section 9.5, the Company’s Performance Ranking Position. In no event will an award be payable under this Section 9 if the Company’s Performance Ranking Position is in the fourth (4th) quartile.
     (b) Eligibility for Benefit Payments
     Benefit payments with respect to vested Performance Units shall be paid under the following circumstances:
     (i) Primary Benefit Payment
     Upon the expiration of each Performance Cycle, all uncanceled Performance Units granted with respect to such Performance Cycle shall vest and benefit payments with respect to such Performance Units shall become payable. A Participant who has remained an employee continuously from the date of the grant of the Performance Units for a Performance Cycle through the last day of such Performance Cycle shall be eligible to receive a benefit payment equal to the Adjusted Value, as provided for in Section 9.4(b), of the Performance Units (the “Primary Benefit”) with respect to and as of the close of such Performance Cycle. The Valuation Date for determining such Adjusted Value shall be established by the Plan Administrator at the time the Performance Units are granted. The amount of any benefit payment payable with respect to Performance Units shall be reduced by the amount of any interim benefit payments made pursuant to Section 9.5(b)(ii) with respect to such Performance Units. If the interim benefit payments exceed the Primary Benefit, no payment shall be made.
     (ii) Interim Benefit Payments
     The Plan Administrator may in its sole discretion provide for an interim benefit payment to be made to a Participant with respect to Performance Units granted for any particular Performance Cycle. The right to any interim benefit payment shall be set forth in the grant of Performance Units to a Participant, or at such other time as the Plan Administrator shall determine, and must establish the terms and conditions of such interim benefit payment (including the Company’s Total
     
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Shareholder Return which must be attained during such Performance Period). An interim benefit payment may be provided for after the second year of a Performance Cycle. The interim benefit payment shall be based upon the Adjusted Value of the Performance Units, as provided for in Section 9.4(b) for the period up to the date of the interim payment valuation, and the amount of any such payment shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) of such Adjusted Value for the Performance Units which are vested at the end of the second year; provided, however, that such interim payment will be made only if the Company’s Performance Ranking Position is in the first (1st) or second (2nd) quartile. The Valuation Date for determining such Adjusted Value shall be set forth in the grant of Performance Units, or at such other time as determined by the Plan Administrator. The Performance Units which are valued for the interim benefit payment shall also be valued in accordance with Section 9.5(b)(i) or Section 9.7 if applicable, to determine what, if any, additional value the Participant may be entitled to. Interim benefit payments may be made to those Participants who have remained employees continuously from the date of the grant of the applicable Performance Units until the date of the interim benefit payment relating to such Performance Units. The amount of any benefit payment payable with respect to Performance Units pursuant to Sections 9.5(b)(i) and 9.5(d) shall be reduced by the amount of any interim benefit payment made pursuant to this Section 9.5(b)(ii), but not below zero.
     (c) Form of Payment
     A Participant or a Participant’s Beneficiary shall be entitled to receive from the Company a benefit payment as provided pursuant to Sections 9.5(b)(i) or 9.5(b)(ii), as applicable, equal to the product of the Adjusted Value and the number of vested Units of a Participant. Such payment shall be made as soon as practicable following the applicable Valuation Date in accordance with this Section 9.5(c).
     Except as provided in Sections 9.5(d) and 9.7 (or unless the Plan Administrator otherwise determines at any time that the form of payment should be changed), each benefit payment made to a Participant pursuant to this Section 9, shall be made as follows:
     
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(i) Participants employed by the Company holding the position of Chairman of the Board, President or Chief Executive Officer and Participants employed by Company Subsidiaries holding equivalent positions, but not necessarily the same title, shall receive their Performance Unit payout as follows:
(A) 50% (fifty percent) in cash and
 
(B) 50% (fifty percent) in Common Stock.
(ii) Participants employed by the Company holding the position of Vice Chairman of the Board, Chief Operating Officer, or Executive Vice President and Participants employed by Company Subsidiaries holding equivalent positions, but not necessarily the same title, shall receive their Performance Unit payout as follows:
(A) 60% (sixty percent) in cash and
 
(B) 40% (forty percent) in Common Stock.
(iii) Participants employed by the Company holding the position of Senior Vice President and Participants employed by Company Subsidiaries holding equivalent positions, but not necessarily the same title, shall receive their Performance Unit payout as follows:
(A) 75% (seventy-five percent) in cash and
 
(B) 25% (twenty-five percent) in Common Stock.
(d) Retirement, Death, Disability or Termination of Employment
     Participants (or their Beneficiaries in the case of their deaths) who have retired, died, become Permanently Disabled, or who have terminated their employment, prior to the end of a Performance Cycle shall not be entitled to receive payment from the Company or its Subsidiaries for any Units which were not vested as of the time such Participants ceased active employment with the Company or its Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding Section 9.5(c), such Participants (or their Beneficiaries in the case of their deaths) will be entitled to receive a cash payment for vested Units in accordance with Section 9.5(b)(i). No payments shall be made to such Participants (or Beneficiaries) pursuant to Section 9.5(b)(ii). Unless the Plan Administrator otherwise determines, a Participant who is terminated with Cause shall receive no benefit under this Section 9.
9.6 Deferred Payment
     Prior to the time that Units first vest pursuant to Section 9.3, the Participant may, subject to the consent of the Management Committee and in accordance with procedures that the Management Committee has approved, elect to have all or a portion (subject to a
 
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$1,000 minimum) of the lump-sum cash payment payable pursuant to Section 9.5(c) with respect to such vested Units deferred according to the terms and conditions of the Company’s Deferred Compensation Plan.
9.7 Acceleration of Payment Due to Change In Control
     Upon a Change in Control, the current Performance Cycle shall immediately end and all vested Units (including Units that vest pursuant to Section 9.3(b)) shall be paid in cash to Participants based on a value of one hundred fifty dollars ($150) per Unit. This payment will be reduced to reflect any interim benefit payments made in accordance with Section 9.5(b)(ii) and shall be made (i) in a lump sum in cash that is in lieu of any otherwise applicable form and time of payment for such Units under the Plan and (ii) within ten (10) days after the Change in Control.
SECTION 10 RESTRICTED STOCK
     10.1 Subject to Sections 5.2 and 5.4, Restricted Stock (including Performance Restricted Stock) may be granted to Participants in such number and at such times during the term of the Plan as the Plan Administrator shall determine, the Plan Administrator taking into account the duties of the respective Participants, their present and potential contributions to the success of the Company, and such other factors as the Plan Administrator shall deem relevant in accomplishing the purposes of the Plan. The granting of Restricted Stock shall take place when the Plan Administrator by resolution, written consent or other appropriate action determines to grant such Restricted Stock to a particular Participant. Each grant shall be evidenced by a written instrument delivered by or on behalf of the Company containing provisions not inconsistent with the Plan, which may (but need not) require the Participant’s signature. The Participant receiving a grant of Restricted Stock shall be recorded as a stockholder of the Company. Each Participant who receives a grant of Restricted Stock shall have all the rights of a stockholder with respect to such shares (except as provided in the restrictions on transferability), including the right to vote the shares and receive dividends and other distributions; provided, however, that no Participant awarded Restricted Stock shall have any right as a stockholder with respect to any shares subject to the Participant’s Restricted Stock grant prior to the date of issuance to the Participant of a certificate or certificates, or the establishment of a book-entry account, for such shares.
     10.2 Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary in this Section 10, before Performance Restricted Stock can be granted or vested, as applicable, the Plan Administrator shall:
(a) Determine the Performance Goals, if any, applicable to the particular Performance Period; and
 
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(b) Certify in writing that any such Performance Goals for a particular Performance Period have been attained.
     10.3 A grant of Restricted Stock shall entitle a Participant to receive, on the date or dates designated by the Plan Administrator, or, if later, upon payment to the Company of the par value of the Common Stock, if required, in a manner determined by the Plan Administrator, the number of shares of Common Stock selected by the Plan Administrator. The Plan Administrator may require, under such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate or desirable, that the certificates for Restricted Stock delivered under the Plan may be held in custody by a bank or other institution, or that the Company may itself hold such shares in custody until the Restriction Period (as defined in Section 10.4) expires or until restrictions thereon otherwise lapse, and may require, as a condition of any issuance of Restricted Stock that the Participant shall have delivered a stock power endorsed in blank relating to the shares of Restricted Stock.
     10.4 During a period of years following the date of grant, as determined by the Plan Administrator, which shall in no event be less than one (1) year (the “Restriction Period”), the Restricted Stock may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise encumbered or disposed of by the recipient, except in the event of death or termination of employment on account of Permanent Disability or a Change in Control, or the transfer to the Company as provided under the Plan.
     10.5 Except as provided in Sections 10.4, 10.6 or 10.7, if a Participant terminates employment with the Company for any reason before the expiration of the Restriction Period, all shares of Restricted Stock still subject to restriction shall be forfeited by the Participant to the Company. In addition, in the event of any attempt by the Participant to sell, exchange, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of shares of Restricted Stock in violation of the terms of the Plan without the Company’s prior written consent, such shares shall be forfeited to the Company.
     10.6 The Restriction Period for any Participant shall be deemed to end and all restrictions on shares of Restricted Stock shall lapse, upon the Participant’s death or termination of employment on account of Permanent Disability or any termination of employment determined by the Plan Administrator to end the Restriction Period.
     10.7 The Restriction Period for any Participant shall be deemed to end and all restrictions on shares of Restricted Stock shall terminate immediately upon a Change in Control.
     10.8 When the restrictions imposed by Section 10.4 expire or otherwise lapse with respect to one or more shares of Restricted Stock, the Company shall deliver to the Participant (or the Participant’s legal representative, Beneficiary or heir) one (1) share of Common Stock in cancellation and satisfaction of each share of Restricted Stock.
 
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     10.9 Subject to Section 10.3 (and Section 10.2 in the case of Performance Restricted Stock), a Participant entitled to receive Restricted Stock under the Plan shall be issued a certificate, or have a book-entry account established, for such shares. Such certificate, or book-entry account, shall be registered in the name of the Participant, and shall bear an appropriate legend reciting the terms, conditions and restrictions, if any, applicable to such shares and shall be subject to appropriate stop-transfer orders.
     10.10 Restricted Stock awarded to Participants pursuant to Section 11 in lieu of cash shall be considered Performance Restricted Stock for purposes of the Plan.
     10.11 The Restriction Period for any Participant shall be deemed to end and all restrictions on shares of Restricted Stock awarded pursuant to Sections 11.5(a)(ii), 11.5(b)(ii), and 11.6 (except for Restricted Stock awarded pursuant to Section 11.5(c)) shall lapse upon the Participant’s death, retirement, Permanent Disability, or any other involuntary termination without Cause. The Restriction Period shall be deemed to end and all restrictions on a Participant’s shares of Restricted Stock awarded pursuant to Section 11.5(c) shall lapse on a pro rata basis measured in years between (i) the amount of time which has elapsed between the Award Date and the Participant’s death, retirement, Permanent Disability, or any other involuntary termination without Cause and (ii) the Restriction Period for such shares. All shares of Restricted Stock for which the Restriction Period has not lapsed as described above shall be forfeited to the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Plan Administrator, or the Management Committee in the case of Participants other than Section 16 Insiders, may determine that such Restriction Period should not lapse or that the Restriction Period on additional shares of Restricted Stock should lapse.
     10.12 A Participant may elect irrevocably (at a time and in the manner determined by the Plan Administrator or the Company, as appropriate), prior to vesting of Restricted Stock, that the Participant relinquishes any and all rights in the shares of Restricted Stock in exchange for an interest in the Deferred Compensation Plan, in which case receipt of such shares shall be deferred until a pre-specified date in the future or until the Participant ceases to be employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as elected by the Participant. At the time the restrictions would have otherwise lapsed on the shares of Restricted Stock (as specified at the time of grant, or otherwise if changed by the Plan Administrator), the number of shares of Common Stock issuable to the Participant shall be credited to the deferred stock account (or such other account(s) as the Management Committee shall deem necessary and appropriate) under a memorandum deferred account established pursuant to the Deferred Compensation Plan, and any dividends or other distributions paid on the Common Stock (or its equivalent) shall be deemed reinvested in additional shares of Common Stock (or its equivalent) until all credited deferred shares shall become issuable pursuant to the Participant’s election, unless the management committee of the Deferred Compensation Plan shall otherwise determine.
 
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SECTION 11 INCENTIVE AWARDS
11.1 Procedures for Incentive Awards
     Prior to the beginning of a particular Performance Period, or such other date as the Code may allow, the Plan Administrator shall specify in writing:
  (a)   the Participants who shall be eligible to receive an Incentive Award for a Performance Period,
 
  (b)   the Performance Goals for such Performance Period, and
 
  (c)   the maximum Incentive Award amount payable to each Participant if the Performance Goals are met.
     Any Participant chosen to participate under this Section 11 for a given Performance Period shall receive the maximum Incentive Award amount if the designated Performance Goals are achieved, subject to the discretion of the Plan Administrator to reduce such award, as described in Section 11.4.
11.2 Performance Goal Certification
     An Incentive Award shall become payable to the extent provided herein in the event that the Plan Administrator certifies in writing prior to payment of the award that the Performance Goal or Goals selected for a particular Performance Period has or have been attained. In no event will an award be payable under this Plan if the threshold level of performance set for each Performance Goal for the applicable Performance Period is not attained.
11.3 Maximum Incentive Award Payable
     The maximum Incentive Award payable under this Plan to any Participant for any Performance Period shall be ten million dollars ($10,000,000) in cash, Restricted Stock, or a combination of cash and Restricted Stock.
11.4 Discretion to Reduce Awards; Participant’s Performance
     The Plan Administrator, in its sole and absolute discretion, prior to a Change in Control may reduce the amount of any Incentive Award otherwise payable to a Participant upon attainment of any Performance Goal for the applicable Performance Period. A Participant’s individual performance must be satisfactory, regardless of the Company’s performance and the attainment of Performance Goals, before he or she may be granted an Incentive Award. In evaluating a Participant’s performance, the Plan Administrator shall consider the Performance Goals of the Company and the Participant’s responsibilities and accomplishments, and such other factors as it deems appropriate.
 
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11.5 Required Payment of Incentive Awards
     The Plan Administrator, or the Management Committee in the case of Participants other than Section 16 Insiders or employees subject to Section 162(m), shall make a determination within thirty (30) days after the Company’s financial information is available for a particular Performance Period (the “Award Date”) whether the Performance Goals for that Performance Period have been achieved and the amount of the award for each Participant. In the absence of an election by the Participant pursuant to Sections 11.6 or 11.7, the award shall be paid not later than the end of the month following the month in which the Plan Administrator determines the amount of the award and shall be paid as follows:
(a) Participants employed by the Company holding the position of Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer, Vice Chairman of the Board, Chief Operating Officer, Executive Vice President, or Senior Vice President and Participants employed by Company Subsidiaries with equivalent positions thereto, but not necessarily the same titles, shall receive their incentive award as follows:
(i) 50% (fifty percent) in cash and
 
(ii) 50% (fifty percent) in Restricted Stock.
(b) Participants employed by the Company holding the position of Vice President and Participants employed by Company Subsidiaries with an equivalent position thereto, but not necessarily the same title, shall receive their incentive award as follows:
(i) 75% (seventy-five percent) in cash and
 
(ii) 25% (twenty-five percent) in Restricted Stock.
(c) Because the Participant bears forfeiture, price fluctuation, and other attendant risks during the Restriction Period (as defined in Section 10.4) associated with the Restricted Stock awarded under this Plan, Participants shall be awarded an additional amount of Restricted Stock equal to the amount of Restricted Stock which a Participant is awarded pursuant to Sections 11.5(a)(ii) or 11.5(b)(ii), as applicable.
(d) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b) above, the Plan Administrator or Management Committee, as appropriate, may determine that a Participant must receive a greater amount of his or her award in Restricted Stock, up to and including the entire award in Restricted Stock. (For purposes of the Plan, such required shares shall be treated as being awarded pursuant to Section 11.5(a)(ii) or Section 11.5(b)(ii), as applicable.) In such event, a Participant shall be entitled to the additional shares of Restricted Stock, awarded pursuant to Section 11.5(c) above.
 
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     The value of awards payable in Restricted Stock pursuant to this Section 11 shall be calculated by using Fair Market Value.
11.6 Restricted Stock Election
     In lieu of receiving all or any portion of the cash in accordance with Sections 11.5(a)(i) or 11.5(b)(i), a Participant may elect to receive additional Restricted Stock with a value equal to the portion of the incentive award which the Participant would otherwise have received in cash, but has elected to receive in Restricted Stock (“Restricted Stock Election”). Participants must make their Restricted Stock Election at such time and in such a manner as prescribed by the Management Committee. Each Participant who makes the Restricted Stock Election shall be entitled to the additional Restricted Stock granted pursuant to Section 11.5(c) with respect to the amount of the Participant’s Restricted Stock Election. Except as provided in Section 10, all shares of Restricted Stock awarded pursuant to the Restricted Stock Election are subject to the same terms and conditions as the Restricted Stock a Participant receives pursuant to Sections 11.5(a)(ii) or 11.5(b)(ii), as applicable.
11.7 Deferred Payment
     Each Participant may elect to have the payment of all or a portion of any Incentive Award made pursuant to Sections 11.5(a)(i) or 11.5(b)(i), as applicable, for the year deferred according to the terms and conditions of the Company’s Deferred Compensation Plan. The election shall be irrevocable and shall be made at such time and in such a manner as prescribed by the Management Committee. The election shall apply only to that year. If a Participant has not made an election under this Section, any incentive award granted to the Participant for that year shall be paid pursuant to Sections 11.5 or 11.6, as applicable.
11.8 Payment Upon Change in Control
     Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, in the event of a Change in Control of the Company, the Incentive Award attributable to the Performance Period in which the Change in Control occurs shall become fully vested and distributable, in cash equal to the Fair Market Value of the cash and shares of Common Stock that otherwise would have been issued to the Participant, within thirty (30) days after the date of the Change in Control, in an amount equal to the greater of the annual incentive percentage of Annual Salary established by the Plan Administrator, or the following:
 
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Percentage of Annual Salary
  Participants employed by the Company holding any of the following positions and Participants employed by Company Subsidiaries with positions equivalent thereto, but not necessarily with the same titles:
100% of Annual Salary
  Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer, Vice Chairman of the Board, Chief Operating Officer, or Executive Vice President
 
   
80% of Annual Salary
  Senior Vice President
 
   
60% of Annual Salary
  Vice President
The term “Annual Salary” as used in this Plan shall mean a Participant’s annual base salary (whether actual or illustrative) in effect on the date of a Change in Control.
     In the event a Change in Control is deemed to have occurred after the end of a Performance Period, but before the Award Date, each Participant shall be entitled to receive in cash, within thirty (30) days after the date of the Change in Control, those amounts set forth above in this Section 11.8 for such Performance Period. Such amounts are in addition to the amount to which Participants shall be entitled for the Performance Period in which a Change in Control is deemed to occur.
SECTION 12 REGULATORY APPROVALS AND LISTING
     The Company shall not be required to issue any certificate for shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of an option or a stock appreciation right granted under the Plan, in payment of an Incentive Award, with respect to a grant of Restricted Stock or Common Stock awarded as payment of vested Units prior to:
     (a) obtaining any approval or ruling from the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Internal Revenue Service or any other governmental agency which the Company, in its sole discretion, shall determine to be necessary or advisable;
     (b) listing of such shares on any stock exchange on which the Common Stock may then be listed; and
     (c) completing any registration or other qualification of such shares under any federal or state laws, rulings or regulations of any governmental body which the Company, in its sole discretion, shall determine to be necessary or advisable.
 
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     All certificates, or book-entry accounts, for shares of Common Stock delivered under the Plan shall also be subject to such stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Plan Administrator may deem advisable under the rules, regulations and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange upon which Common Stock is then listed and any applicable federal or State securities laws, and the Plan Administrator may cause a legend or legends to be placed on any such certificates, or notations on such book-entry accounts, to make appropriate reference to such restrictions. The foregoing provisions of this paragraph shall not be effective if and to the extent that the shares of Common Stock delivered under the Plan are covered by an effective and current registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or if and so long as the Plan Administrator determines that application of such provisions are no longer required or desirable. In making such determination, the Plan Administrator may rely upon an opinion of counsel for the Company. Without limiting the foregoing, the Plan Administrator may impose such restrictions, conditions or limitations as it determines appropriate as to the timing and manner of any resales by the Participant or other subsequent transfers by the Participant of any shares issued under this Plan, including without limitation (i) restrictions under an insider trading policy, (ii) restrictions designed to delay and/or coordinate the timing and manner of sales by the Participant and other Participants and (iii) restrictions as to the use of a specified brokerage firm for such resales or other transfers.
SECTION 13 EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF PLAN
     The Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors on January 29, 2001, and is subject to approval by the Company’s stockholders within the earlier of the date of the Company’s next annual meeting of stockholders and twelve (12) months after the date the Plan is adopted by the Board of Directors. Subject to the foregoing condition, options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights, Restricted Stock, Incentive Awards and Performance Units may be granted pursuant to the Plan from time to time within the period commencing upon adoption of the Plan by the Board of Directors and ending ten (10) years after the earlier of such adoption and the approval of the Plan by the stockholders. Options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights, Restricted Stock, Incentive Awards and Performance Units theretofore granted may extend beyond that date and the terms and conditions of the Plan shall continue to apply thereto and to shares of Common Stock acquired thereunder. To the extent required to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m), shares of Common Stock underlying options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights, Restricted Stock and Common Stock granted, subject to stockholder approval of the Plan may not be vested, paid, exercised or sold until such stockholder approval is obtained.
 
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SECTION 14 GENERAL PROVISIONS
     14.1 Nothing contained in the Plan, or in any option, limited stock appreciation right, stock appreciation right, Restricted Stock, Incentive Award or Performance Unit granted pursuant to the Plan, shall confer upon any employee any right with respect to continuance of employment by the Company or a Subsidiary, nor interfere in any way with the right of the Company or a Subsidiary to terminate the employment of such employee at any time with or without assigning any reason therefor.
     14.2 Grants, vesting or payment of stock options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights, Restricted Stock, Incentive Awards or Performance Units shall not be considered as part of a Participant’s salary or used for the calculation of any other pay, allowance, pension or other benefit unless otherwise permitted by other benefit plans provided by the Company or its Subsidiaries, or required by law or by contractual obligations of the Company or its Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the Restricted Stock awarded pursuant to Section 11.5(c) shall not be considered as part of a Participant’s salary or used for the calculation of any other pay, allowance, pension, or other benefit unless required by contractual obligations of the Company or its Subsidiaries.
     14.3 Unless otherwise provided in the Plan, the right of a Participant or Beneficiary to the payment of any compensation under the Plan may not be assigned, transferred, pledged or encumbered, nor shall such right or other interests be subject to attachment, garnishment, execution or other legal process.
     14.4 Leaves of absence for such periods and purposes conforming to the personnel policy of the Company, or of its Subsidiaries, as applicable, shall not be deemed terminations or interruptions of employment, unless a Participant commences a leave of absence from which he or she is not expected to return to active employment with the Company or its Subsidiaries. The foregoing notwithstanding, with respect to Incentive Stock Options, employment shall not be deemed to continue beyond the first ninety (90) days of such leave unless the Participant’s reemployment rights are guaranteed by statute or contract. With respect to any Participant who, after the date an award is granted under this Plan, ceases to be employed by the Company or a Subsidiary on a full-time basis but remains employed on a part-time basis, the Plan Administrator may make appropriate adjustments, as determined in its sole discretion, as to the number of shares issuable under, the vesting schedule of or the amount payable under any unvested awards held by such Participant.
     14.5 In the event a Participant is transferred from the Company to a Subsidiary, or vice versa, or is promoted or given different responsibilities, the stock options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights, Restricted Stock, Incentive Awards and Performance Units granted to the Participant prior to such date shall not be affected.
 
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     14.6 Any amounts (deferred or otherwise) to be paid to Participants pursuant to the Plan are unfunded obligations. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is required to segregate any monies from its general funds, to create any trusts or to make any special deposits with respect to this obligation. The Management Committee, in its sole discretion, may direct the Company to share with its Subsidiaries the costs of a portion of the Incentive Awards paid to Participants who are executives of those companies. Beneficial ownership of any investments, including trust investments which the Company may make to fulfill this obligation, shall at all times remain in the Company. Any investments and the creation or maintenance of any trust or any Participant account shall not create or constitute a trust or a fiduciary relationship between the Plan Administrator, the Management Committee, the Company or any Subsidiary and a Participant, or otherwise create any vested or beneficial interest in any Participant or the Participant’s Beneficiary or the Participant’s creditors in any assets of the Company or its Subsidiaries whatsoever. The Participants shall have no claim against the Company for any changes in the value of any assets which may be invested or reinvested by the Company with respect to the Plan.
     14.7 The designation of a Beneficiary shall be on a form provided by the Management Committee, executed by the Participant (with the consent of the Participant’s spouse, if required by the Management Committee for reasons of community property or otherwise), and delivered to the Management Committee. A Participant may change his or her Beneficiary designation at any time. A designation by a Participant under the Predecessor Plans shall remain in effect under the Plan for any Restricted Stock, Incentive Awards or Performance Units unless such designation is revoked or changed under the Plan. If no Beneficiary is designated, if the designation is ineffective, or if the Beneficiary dies before the balance of a Participant’s benefit is paid, the balance shall be paid to the Participant’s spouse, or if there is no surviving spouse, to the Participant’s lineal descendants, pro rata, or if there is no surviving spouse or any lineal descendant, to the Participant’s estate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, a Participant’s Beneficiary shall be determined under applicable state law if such state law does not recognize Beneficiary designations under plans of this sort and is not preempted by laws which recognize the provisions of this Section 14.7.
     14.8 The Plan shall be construed and governed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas.
     14.9 Appropriate provision shall be made for all taxes required to be withheld in connection with the exercise, grant or other taxable event with respect to options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights, Restricted Stock, Incentive Awards and Performance Units under the applicable laws and regulations of any governmental authority, whether federal, state or local and whether domestic or foreign, including, but not limited to, the required withholding of a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to a Participant to satisfy the said required minimum tax withholding obligations. To the extent provided by the Plan Administrator, a Participant is permitted to deliver shares of Common Stock (including shares acquired
 
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pursuant to the exercise of an option or stock appreciation right other than the option or stock appreciation right currently being exercised, to the extent permitted by applicable regulations) for payment of withholding taxes on the exercise of an option, stock appreciation right, or limited stock appreciation right, upon the grant or vesting of Restricted Stock or upon the payout of Incentive Awards or Performance Units. At the election of the Plan Administrator or, subject to approval of the Plan Administrator at its sole discretion, at the election of a Participant, shares of Common Stock may be withheld from the shares issuable to the Participant upon the exercise of an option or stock appreciation right, upon the vesting of the Restricted Stock or upon the payout of Performance Units to satisfy tax withholding obligations. The Fair Market Value of Common Stock as delivered pursuant to this Section 14.9 shall be determined as of the day prior to delivery, and shall be calculated in accordance with Section 2.9.
     Any Participant who makes a Section 83(b) election under the Code shall, within ten (10) days of making such election, notify the Company in writing of such election and shall provide the Company with a copy of such election form filed with the Internal Revenue Service.
     A Participant is solely responsible for obtaining, or failing to obtain, tax advice with respect to participation in the Plan prior to the Participant’s (i) entering into any transaction under or with respect to the Plan, (ii) designating or choosing the times of distributions under the Plan, or (iii) disposing of any shares of Common Stock issued under the Plan.
     14.10 The Plan Administrator may in its discretion provide financing to a Participant in a principal amount sufficient to pay the purchase price of any award under the Plan and/or to pay the amount of taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to any award. Any such loan shall be subject to all applicable legal requirements and restrictions pertinent thereto, including Regulation G promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board. The grant of an award shall in no way obligate the Company or the Plan Administrator to provide any financing whatsoever in connection therewith.
     14.11 The Company and any Subsidiary which is in existence or hereafter comes into existence shall not be liable to a Participant or any other person as to (a) the non-issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock as to which the Company has been unable to obtain from any regulatory body having jurisdiction the authority deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any shares hereunder; and (b) any tax consequence expected, but not realized, by any Participant or other person due to the issuance, exercise, settlement, cancellation or other transaction involving any award provided for hereunder.
 
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SECTION 15 COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 16b-3 AND SECTION 162(m)
     The Company’s intention is that, so long as any of the Company’s equity securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act, with respect to awards granted to or held by Section 16 Insiders, the Plan shall comply in all respects with Rule 16b-3 and Section 162(m) and, if any Plan provision is later found not to be in compliance with Rule 16b-3 or Section 162(m), that provision shall be deemed modified as necessary to meet the requirements of Rule 16b-3 and Section 162(m). Notwithstanding the foregoing, and subject to Section 5.2, the Plan Administrator may grant or vest Restricted Stock in a manner which is not in compliance with Section 162(m) if the Plan Administrator determines that it would be in the best interests of the Company.
     Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the Board of Directors, in its absolute discretion, may bifurcate the Plan so as to restrict, limit or condition the use of any provision of the Plan to Participants who are Section 16 Insiders without so restricting, limiting or conditioning the Plan with respect to other Participants.
SECTION 16 AMENDMENT, TERMINATION OR DISCONTINUANCE OF THE PLAN
     16.1 Subject to the Board of Directors and Section 16.2, the Plan Administrator may from time to time make such amendments to the Plan as it may deem proper and in the best interest of the Company without further approval of the stockholders of the Company or any Participants, including, but not limited to, any amendment necessary to ensure that the Company may obtain any regulatory approval referred to in Section 12; provided, however, that after a Change in Control no change in any option, limited stock appreciation right, stock appreciation right, Restricted Stock, Incentive Award or Performance Unit theretofore granted may be made without the consent of the Participant which would impair the right of the Participant to acquire or retain Common Stock or cash that the Participant may have acquired as a result of the Plan.
     16.2 The Plan Administrator and the Board of Directors may not amend the Plan without the approval of the stockholders of the Company to
     (a) materially increase the number of shares, rights, Incentive Awards or Units that may be issued under the Plan to Section 16 Insiders; or
     (b) lower the Option Price at which options may be granted pursuant to Section 6.4(a) or lower the Option Price of any outstanding options, except as provided by Section 5.5.
     16.3 The Board of Directors may at any time suspend the operation of or terminate the Plan with respect to any shares of Common Stock, rights or Performance
 
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Units which are not at that time subject to option, limited stock appreciation right, stock appreciation right or grant of Restricted Stock, Incentive Awards or Performance Units.
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused the Plan to be executed effective as of January 29, 2001.
         
  EL PASO ENERGY CORPORATION
 
 
  By:   /s/ Joel Richards III    
    Joel Richards III   
    Executive Vice President   
 
     Attest:
         
     
  /s/ David L. Siddall    
  Corporate Secretary   
     
 
 
El Paso Energy Corporation
2001 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan
  Page 38

 

EX-10.F.1 9 h53583exv10wfw1.htm AMENDMENT NO.1 TO TO THE 2001 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN exv10wfw1
 

EXHIBIT 10.F.1
AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE
EL PASO ENERGY CORPORATION
2001 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
     Pursuant to Section 16.1 of the El Paso Energy Corporation 2001 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, effective as of January 29, 2001 (the “Plan”), the Plan is hereby amended as follows, effective February 7, 2001:
     WHEREAS, the Certificate of Incorporation of El Paso Energy Corporation, a Delaware corporation, was amended to change the name of the corporation to El Paso Corporation effective February 7, 2001.
     NOW THEREFORE, the name of the Plan is hereby changed to the “El Paso Corporation 2001 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan” and all references in the Plan to “El Paso Energy Corporation” or the “Company” shall mean “El Paso Corporation.”
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this amendment to be duly executed on this 7th day of February 2001.
         
  EL PASO CORPORATION
 
 
  By:   /s/ Joel Richards III    
    Joel Richards III   
    Executive Vice President
Human Resources and Administration 
 
 
Attest:
         
     
  /s/ David L. Siddall    
  Corporate Secretary   
     
 

EX-10.F.2 10 h53583exv10wfw2.htm AMENDMENT NO.2 TO TO THE 2001 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN exv10wfw2
 

EXHIBIT 10.F.2
AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO THE
EL PASO CORPORATION
2001 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
     Pursuant to Section 16.1 of the El Paso Corporation 2001 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, effective as of January 29, 2001 (the “Plan”), the Plan is hereby amended as follows, effective April 1, 2001:
     WHEREAS, the Company desires to clarify a provision of the Plan to reflect the intent of the Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee relating to the amount of additional Restricted Stock that may be awarded to Participants due to the risks of forfeiture, price fluctuation, and other attendant risks associated with Restricted Stock awarded under the Plan pursuant to Sections 11.5(a)(ii) or 11.5(b)(ii), or in lieu of receiving all or any portion of cash awarded in accordance with Sections 11.5(a)(i) or 11.5(b)(i).
     NOW THEREFORE, Section 11.5(c) is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:
“(c) Because the Participant bears forfeiture, price fluctuation, and other attendant risks during the Restriction Period (as defined in Section 10.4) associated with the Restricted Stock awarded under this Plan, Participants shall be awarded an additional amount of Restricted Stock equal to the amount of Restricted Stock which a Participant is awarded pursuant to Sections 11.5(a)(ii) or 11.5(b)(ii), as applicable, or such other amount of Restricted Stock as determined by the Plan Administrator.”
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this amendment to be duly executed on this 1st day of April 2001.
         
  EL PASO CORPORATION
 
 
  By:        /s/ Joel Richards III    
    Joel Richards III   
    Executive Vice President
Human Resources and Administration 
 
 
     Attest:
         
     
  /s/ David L. Siddall    
  Corporate Secretary   
     
 

EX-10.F.3 11 h53583exv10wfw3.htm AMENDMENT NO.3 TO TO THE 2001 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN exv10wfw3
 

EXHIBIT 10.F.3
AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO THE
EL PASO CORPORATION
2001 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
     Pursuant to Section 16.1 of the El Paso Corporation 2001 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, effective as of January 29, 2001, as amended (the “Plan”), the Plan is hereby amended as follows, effective July 17, 2002:
     WHEREAS, the Company desires to clarify provisions of the Plan to reflect the intent of the Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee relating to the required payment of incentive awards and restricted stock election pursuant to Sections 11.5 and 11.6 of the Plan.
     NOW THEREFORE, the following amendments shall be made to the Plan:
     Section 11.5 is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:
     “11.5 Required Payment of Incentive Awards
     The Plan Administrator, or the Management Committee in the case of Participants other than Section 16 Insiders or employees subject to Section 162(m), shall make a determination within thirty (30) days after the Company’s financial information is available for a particular Performance Period (the “Award Date”) whether the Performance Goals for that Performance Period have been achieved and the amount of the award for each Participant. In the absence of an election by the Participant pursuant to Sections 11.6 or 11.7, the award shall be paid not later than the end of the month following the month in which the Plan Administrator determines the amount of the award and shall be paid as follows.
(a) Participants shall receive their awards in any combination of cash and/or Restricted Stock as determined by the Plan Administrator.
(b) Because the Participant bears forfeiture, price fluctuation, and other attendant risks during the Restriction Period (as defined in Section 10.4) associated with the Restricted Stock awarded under this Plan, the Plan Administrator or Management Committee, as appropriate, may decide that Participants who are awarded Restricted Stock shall be awarded an additional amount of Restricted Stock up to the amount of Restricted Stock which a Participant is awarded pursuant to Sections 11.5(a). No additional amount of Restricted Stock is required to be awarded pursuant to this Section 11.5(b).”

 


 

     Section 11.6 shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:
     “11.6 Restricted Stock Election
     In lieu of receiving all or any portion of the cash in accordance with Sections 11.5(a), a Participant designated by the Plan Administrator or Management Committee, as appropriate, may elect to receive additional Restricted Stock with a value equal to the portion of the Incentive Award which the Participant would otherwise have received in cash, but has elected to receive in Restricted Stock (“Restricted Stock Election”). Participants must make their Restricted Stock Election at such time and in such a manner as prescribed by the Management Committee. The Plan Administrator or Management Committee, as appropriate, may determine that each Participant who makes the Restricted Stock Election shall be awarded the additional Restricted Stock granted pursuant to Section 11.5(b) up to the amount of the Participant’s Restricted Stock Election. Notwithstanding the foregoing no additional amount of Restricted Stock is required to be awarded pursuant to this Section 11.6. Except as provided in Section 10, all shares of Restricted Stock awarded pursuant to the Restricted Stock Election are subject to the same terms and conditions as the Restricted Stock a Participant receives pursuant to Sections 11.5(a).”
     All references to Sections 11.5(a)(ii) and/or 11.5(b)(ii) shall be changed to Section 11.5(a) and Section 11.5(c) shall be changed to Section 11.5(b).
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this amendment to be duly executed on this 17th day of July 2002.
         
  EL PASO CORPORATION
 
 
  By:        /s/ Joel Richards III    
    Joel Richards III   
    Executive Vice President
Human Resources and Administration 
 
 
Attest:
         
     
  /s/ David L. Siddall    
  Corporate Secretary   
     
 

 

EX-10.G 12 h53583exv10wg.htm AMENDED SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS PLAN exv10wg
 

EXHIBIT 10.G
EL PASO CORPORATION
SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS PLAN
Amended and Restated Effective as of December 7, 2001

 


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
             
SECTION 1
  PURPOSES     1  
 
           
SECTION 2
  DEFINITIONS     1  
2.1
  Beneficiary     1  
2.2
  Board     1  
2.3
  Change in Control     1  
2.4
  Code     2  
2.5
  Company     2  
2.6
  Deferred Compensation Plans     2  
2.7
  Employer     3  
2.8
  Management Committee     3  
2.9
  Participant     3  
2.10
  Pension Plan     3  
2.11
  RSP     3  
2.12
  Surviving Spouse     3  
 
           
SECTION 3
  ADMINISTRATION     3  
3.1
  Management Committee     3  
 
           
SECTION 4
  PARTICIPANTS     4  
4.1
  Participants     4  
 
           
SECTION 5
  BENEFITS     4  
5.1
  Supplemental Pension Benefits     4  
5.2
  Supplemental RSP Benefits     5  
5.3
  Other Supplemental Benefits     6  
5.4
  Time and Manner of Payment     6  
5.5
  Determination of Supplemental Pension Benefit Payments     7  
5.6
  Provisions Regarding Certain Former Sonat Employees     8  
5.7
  Provisions Regarding Certain Former Coastal Employees     10  
 
           
SECTION 6
  GENERAL PROVISIONS     11  
6.1
  Unfunded Obligation     11  
6.2
  Discretionary Investment by Company     11  
6.3
  Incapacity of Participant, Surviving Spouse or Beneficiary     12  
6.4
  Nonassignment     12  
6.5
  No Right to Continued Employment     12  
6.6
  Withholding Taxes     12  
6.7
  Termination and Amendment     13  
6.8
  ERISA Exemption     13  
6.9
  Applicable Law     13  
 
El Paso Corporation
Supplemental Benefits Plan
  Table of Contents

- i -


 

EL PASO CORPORATION
SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS PLAN
Amended and Restated Effective as of December 7, 2001
SECTION 1 PURPOSES
     The purposes of the El Paso Corporation Supplemental Benefits Plan (the “Plan”) are to attract and retain exceptional executives by providing retirement or termination benefits to selected officers and key management employees of outstanding competence. This Plan is effective January 15, 1992.
SECTION 2 DEFINITIONS
     For purposes of this Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
2.1 Beneficiary
     “Beneficiary” means the individual(s) designated by a Participant to receive benefits from this Plan in the event of his or her death. If no designated Beneficiary survives the Participant, the Beneficiary shall be the person or persons in the first of the following classes who survive the Participant:
  (a)   spouse at date of death,
 
  (b)   descendants, per stirpes,
 
  (c)   parents,
 
  (d)   brothers and sisters,
 
  (e)   estate.
2.2 Board
     “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
2.3 Change in Control
     A “Change in Control” shall be deemed to occur:
     (a) if any person (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act),
 
El Paso Corporation
Supplemental Benefits Plan
  Page 1

 


 

directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 20% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities;
     (b) upon the first purchase of the Company’s Common Stock pursuant to a tender or exchange offer (other than a tender or exchange offer made by the Company);
     (c) upon the approval by the Company’s stockholders of a merger or consolidation, a sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or a plan of liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or
     (d) if, during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board of Directors of the Company cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof, unless the election or nomination for the election by the Company’s stockholders of each new director was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who were directors at the beginning of the period.
     Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur if the Company either merges or consolidates with or into another company or sells or disposes of all or substantially all of its assets to another company, if such merger, consolidation, sale or disposition is in connection with a corporate restructuring wherein the stockholders of the Company immediately before such merger, consolidation, sale or disposition own, directly or indirectly, immediately following such merger, consolidation, sale or disposition at least eighty percent (80%) of the combined voting power of all outstanding classes of securities of the company resulting from such merger or consolidation, or to which the Company sells or disposes of its assets, in substantially the same proportion as their ownership in the Company immediately before such merger, consolidation, sale or disposition.
2.4 Code
     “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
2.5 Company
     “Company” means El Paso Corporation (f/k/a/ El Paso Energy Corporation), a Delaware corporation.
2.6 Deferred Compensation Plans
     “Deferred Compensation Plans” means the El Paso Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan, 2001 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, 1999 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, 1995 Incentive Compensation Plan, 1995 Omnibus Compensation Plan, Strategic Stock Plan and other similar plans maintained by an
 
El Paso Corporation
Supplemental Benefits Plan
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Employer and such additional deferred compensation plans as may be designated by the Company from time to time.
2.7 Employer
     “Employer” means El Paso Corporation, and its subsidiaries.
2.8 Management Committee
     “Management Committee” means the committee appointed pursuant to Section 3.1 to administer the Plan.
2.9 Participant
     “Participant” means each individual who participates in the Plan in accordance with Section 4.
2.10 Pension Plan
     “Pension Plan” means the El Paso Corporation Pension Plan and any pension plans maintained by an Employer.
2.11 RSP
     “RSP” means the El Paso Corporation Retirement Savings Plan.
2.12 Surviving Spouse
     “Surviving Spouse” means the person to whom surviving spouse death benefits are to be paid pursuant to the terms of the Pension Plan.
SECTION 3 ADMINISTRATION
3.1 Management Committee
     This Plan shall be administered by the Management Committee consisting of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and such other senior officers of the Company as he or she shall designate. Subject to the compensation committee (the “Compensation Committee”) of the Board of Directors, the Management Committee shall interpret the Plan, prescribe, amend and rescind rules relating to it, select eligible Participants, and take all other action necessary for its administration, which actions shall be final and binding upon all Participants. No member of the Management Committee shall vote on any matter that pertains solely to himself or herself.
 
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Supplemental Benefits Plan
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SECTION 4 PARTICIPANTS
4.1 Participants
     The Management Committee shall determine and designate the officers and key management employees of an Employer who are eligible to become Participants and receive benefits under the Plan. Each Participant must be a selected management or highly compensated employee, or entitled to qualified plan benefits in excess of the Code Section 415 limitations on benefits. A Participant who is not a selected management or highly compensated employee shall be eligible only for the benefits described in Sections 5.1(a) and 5.2(a).
SECTION 5 BENEFITS
5.1 Supplemental Pension Benefits
     Upon termination of employment of a Participant, the Company shall pay or cause to be paid to such Participant (or his or her Surviving Spouse in the case of his or her death) supplemental pension benefits under this Plan which, when combined with the amounts he or she is entitled to receive under the Pension Plan shall be the actuarial equivalent of the retirement, or Surviving Spouse death benefits, which would have been payable to the Participant or his or her Surviving Spouse had the Pension Plan’s benefit formula been applied:
     (a) without regard to the limitations of Section 415 of the Code (including, without limitation, the maximum benefit payable under Section 415(b)(1), the actuarial reduction for early retirement of Section 415(b)(2)(C), the reduction for limited service or participation of Section 415(b)(5) and the combined limits of Section 415(e)),
     (b) by including in the Participant’s compensation during the period for which the Pension Plan benefits are computed, to the extent not already done so under the Pension Plan, any amount that has not been taken into account due to the limitations of Section 401(a)(17) of the Code or due to a reduction of compensation that has occurred pursuant to an election of the Participant under Section 125 or Section 401(k) of the Code or under the Deferred Compensation Plans, and
     (c) by taking into account any service granted to the Participant and any benefit formula adjustments required by an employment contract.
     Supplemental pension benefits under this Section 5 shall be vested and nonforfeitable to the same extent that the related benefits under the Pension Plan are vested and nonforfeitable. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, in the event of a
 
El Paso Corporation
Supplemental Benefits Plan
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Change in Control, the supplemental pension benefits computed under this Section 5.1 shall be fully vested and nonforfeitable immediately.
5.2 Supplemental RSP Benefits
     Upon termination of employment of a Participant, the Company shall pay or cause to be paid to such Participant (or his or her Beneficiary in the case of his or her death) supplemental RSP benefits calculated as described below. The Company shall periodically determine the amount of any additional Employer matching contributions that would have been credited to a Participant’s account under the RSP if his or her current election of Participant contributions had been given effect and no adjustment of such contributions had occurred due to:
     (a) the maximum dollar limit under Code Section 415(c)(1)(A) on RSP annual additions,
     (b) the maximum limit under Code Section 401(a)(17) on the compensation taken into account under the RSP,
     (c) any further reductions in the compensation taken into account under the RSP as a result of any deferrals of compensation elected by the Participant pursuant to Section 125 or Section 401(k) of the Code or under the Deferred Compensation Plans.
     From time to time, as determined by the Management Committee, the Company shall allocate amounts equal to such additional Employer matching contributions to a ledger account (the “Memorandum Account”) to be established in the El Paso Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan, as it may be amended (the “Deferred Compensation Plan”) for the Participant as of the time or times that such amounts would have been contributed to the RSP if permitted thereunder. Interest or earnings/losses, as applicable, will be credited to the balance in each Participant’s Memorandum Account on a semi-monthly basis or at such other intervals as may be determined by the Management Committee. The Management Committee shall determine the rate of interest or earnings/losses periodically and in so doing may take into account the earnings, losses, appreciation or depreciation attributable to any discretionary investment made pursuant to Section 6.2, and any other factors it deems appropriate. Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, any and all supplemental RSP benefits determined pursuant to this Plan shall be credited to the Deferred Compensation Plan.
     Supplemental RSP benefits under this Section 5.2 shall be vested and nonforfeitable to the same extent that the related benefits under the RSP are vested and nonforfeitable.
 
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Supplemental Benefits Plan
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5.3 Other Supplemental Benefits
     Upon the termination of employment of a Participant, the Company shall pay or cause to be paid to such Participant (or his or her Beneficiary in the case of his or her death) other supplemental benefits as determined by the Board and contained in any other plan or program maintained by the Company or in the Participant’s employment contract or other agreement with the Company. Other supplemental benefits under this Section 5.3 shall be vested and nonforfeitable to the extent provided in the applicable plan or program maintained by the Company or the Participant’s employment contract or other agreement with the Company.
5.4 Time and Manner of Payment
     The payment of any benefits shall be made as provided below. Such payment or payments shall constitute a complete discharge of all obligations to the Participant and his or her Surviving Spouse or Beneficiary under the Plan.
     (a) Supplemental Pension Benefit Payments. The amount of the payments under this subparagraph 5.4(a) shall be determined pursuant to Section 5.5.
     (i) The payment of any supplemental benefits pursuant to Section 5.1 owed to a Participant (or his or her Surviving Spouse) shall be made in a lump sum if such Participant (A) terminates employment with the Employer prior to attaining age 55, or (B) dies while employed with the Employer. The payment shall be made as soon as practicable after the Participant’s termination of employment with the Employer or death.
     (ii) In the absence of a valid, irrevocable election made by a Participant pursuant to the provisions described in (iii) below, the payment of any supplemental pension benefits pursuant to Section 5.1 owed to a Participant who terminates employment with the Employer after attaining age 55 shall be made in a lump sum as soon as practicable after the Participant terminates employment with the Employer. The amount of such payments shall be determined under Section 5.5 below.
     (iii) In the case of a benefit payable under Section 5.1, the Participant may irrevocably elect one of the forms of payment described in (iv) below. Such election must be made by the Participant before the later of (A) the date the Participant attains age 53, or (B) 30 days after becoming a Participant. For such election to become effective, the Participant must remain in continuous active employment with the Employer for at least two years or, in the case of an election made pursuant to clause (B), such Participant must remain in continuous active employment for a minimum of six months following such election. In no
 
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Supplemental Benefits Plan
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event will an election become effective if the Participant terminates employment with the Employer prior to attaining age 55, or dies in service.
     (iv) A Participant may elect only one of the following forms of payment:
     (A) A lump sum;
     (B) Monthly payments made over a five-year period, notwithstanding the earlier death of the Participant;
     (C) Monthly payments made over a ten-year period, notwithstanding the earlier death of the Participant; or
     (D) Monthly payments made over the remaining life of the Participant.
     In the case of option (A), payment will be made as soon as practicable after the Participant’s termination of employment with the Employer. In the case of (B), (C) and (D), monthly payments will commence as soon as practicable after the Participant’s termination of employment with the Employer.
     (b) Supplemental RSP Benefit Payments. The payment of any supplemental RSP benefits pursuant to Section 5.2 owed to a Participant (or his or her Beneficiary) shall be made in a lump sum as soon as practicable after the Participant’s termination of employment with the Employer and shall be in an amount equal to the Participant’s Memorandum Account balance at the time of such payment, subject to other applicable terms and conditions of the Deferred Compensation Plan (other than the time and manner of payment).
     (c) Other Supplemental Benefit Payments. The payment of any other supplemental benefits pursuant to another plan or program maintained by the Company or a Participant’s employment contract or other agreement with the Company under Section 5.3 shall be made as provided in such other applicable plan, program, employment contract or agreement.
5.5 Determination of Supplemental Pension Benefit Payments
     The amount of a payment of supplemental pension benefits pursuant to Section 5.1 to a Participant (or his or her Surviving Spouse in the event of the Participant’s termination of employment on account of death) shall be determined by calculating the benefit according to the terms of the Pension Plan as a single life annuity. If another form of payment is payable, the amount under such form shall be actuarially equivalent to such single life benefit using the interest rate and mortality assumptions for calculating lump sum distributions under the Pension Plan.
 
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5.6 Provisions Regarding Certain Former Sonat Employees
     (a) Definitions. For purposes of this Section 5.6:
     “Actuarial Equivalent” shall mean a benefit actuarially equal in value to the value of a given benefit in a given form or schedule, based upon (1) the 1983 Group Annuity Mortality Table and (2) an interest rate equal to 5.24% (the yield on new 7-12 year AA-rated general obligation tax-exempt bonds as determined by Merrill Lynch & Co. (or its affiliates) and published in The Wall Street Journal on December 30, 1999, all as set forth in the Sonat Supplemental Plan).
     “Eligible Spouse” shall mean the person who was married to the Participant under the laws of the State where the marriage was contracted throughout the one-year period ending on December 31, 1999.
     “Sonat Retirement Plan” shall mean the Sonat Inc. Retirement Plan, as in effect as of December 31, 1999.
     “Sonat Supplemental Plan” shall mean the Sonat Inc. Supplemental Benefit Plan, as in effect on December 31, 1999.
     “Credited Service,” “Retirement Benefit,” “Survivors Benefit,” “Termination of Employment,” “Vested Benefit,” “Vesting Date” and “Vesting Service” shall have the meanings set forth in the Sonat Retirement Plan.
     (b) Supplemental Pension Benefits. Upon termination of employment of a Participant who (1) was a Participant in this Plan on January 1, 2000, and (2) was a “Participant” in Article II of the Sonat Supplemental Plan, the supplemental pension benefits payable under this Plan, when expressed in the form of a cash lump sum, shall equal the greater of (A) the amount determined pursuant to Section 5.1 (calculated in lump sum form as provided in Section 5.5), and (B) the Sonat Preserved Benefit (as defined below).
     The Sonat Preserved Benefit, expressed in the form of a cash lump sum, shall be equal to the sum of:
     (i) the Actuarial Equivalent of the excess, if any, of (1) the amount that hypothetically would have been payable to the Participant as a Retirement Benefit or a Vested Benefit, as the case may be, under the Sonat Retirement Plan if Sections 401(a)(17) and 415 of the Code were nonexistent and the provisions of the Sonat Retirement Plan incorporating the limitations contained in Sections 401(a)(17) and 415 of the Code were inoperative, over (2) the amount which hypothetically would have been payable to the Participant as a Retirement Benefit or Vested Benefit, as the case may be, under the Sonat Retirement Plan upon application of the actual terms of the Sonat Retirement Plan, assuming that for purposes of
 
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Supplemental Benefits Plan
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clauses (1) and (2) that (A) the Participant had a Termination of Employment (other than death) on December 31, 1999, (B) the Participant elected to receive such Retirement Benefit or Vested Benefit in the form of a single life annuity commencing on the earliest date on which the Participant could have commenced receipt of his Retirement Benefit or Vested Benefit, as the case may be, under the terms of the Sonat Retirement Plan, and taking into account the repeal of Code Section 415(e); plus
     (ii) if the Participant is entitled to a Retirement Benefit and had an Eligible Spouse on December 31, 1999, the Actuarial Equivalent of the excess, if any, of (1) the amount that hypothetically would have been payable to the Eligible Spouse as a Survivors Benefit under the Sonat Retirement Plan upon the death of the Participant if Sections 401(a)(17) and 415 of the Code were nonexistent and Section 7.10 and the provisions of the Sonat Retirement Plan incorporating the limitations contained in Sections 401(a)(17) and 415 of the Code were inoperative, over (2) the amount which hypothetically would have been payable to the Eligible Spouse as a Survivors Benefit under the Sonat Retirement Plan upon application of the actual terms of the Sonat Retirement Plan, with such excess to be valued as a reversionary annuity, payable immediately upon the death of the Participant, and taking into account the repeal of Code Section 415(e).
     (c) Supplemental RSP Benefits. Each person who (i) was a “Participant” in Article III of the Sonat Supplemental Plan and (ii) is a Participant in this Plan on January 1, 2000 shall have credited to a Memorandum Account established under Section 5.2 an amount equal to the sum of (a) the balance of his Accounts in the Sonat Supplemental Plan on December 31, 1999 (determined as set forth in Section 3.2(c) of the Sonat Supplemental Plan) plus (b) the amount of any credits made under Section 3.2(a) of the Sonat Supplemental Plan in 2000 with respect to pay periods ending before January 1, 2000. Such credit shall be made effective as of January 1, 2000, shall initially be credited to an Interest Account (as defined in the El Paso Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan) and shall be paid as provided in such Plan.
     (d) Vesting Benefits. Upon termination of employment (other than death) after December 31, 1999 of an employee (whether or not a Participant in this Plan) who was a “Participant” in Article IV of the Sonat Supplemental Plan, such employee shall be entitled to a Vesting Benefit, payable in the form of a cash lump sum that is equal in amount to the Actuarial Equivalent of the excess, if any, of (i) the amount hypothetically payable to the employee as a Vested Benefit under the Sonat Retirement Plan if (x) Section 5.01 of the Sonat Retirement Plan were hypothetically amended to provide a Vesting Date based on a period of Vesting Service equivalent to the actual Vesting Service of the employee, and (y)
 
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Supplemental Benefits Plan
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Sections 401(a)(17) and 415 of the Code were nonexistent and the provisions of the Sonat Retirement Plan incorporating the limitations contained in Sections 401(a)(17) and 415 of the Code were inoperative, over (ii) the amount payable as a Vested Benefit under the Sonat Retirement Plan, assuming for purposes of clauses (i) and (ii) that (A) the employee had a Termination of Employment (other than death) on December 31, 1999, and (B) the employee commenced receiving benefits under such clause in the form of a single life annuity on the earliest date on which the employee could have commenced receipt of a Vested Benefit under the Sonat Retirement Plan (had he or she been entitled to such Benefit). The grant of Vesting Benefits shall not increase the employee’s Credited Service under the Sonat Retirement Plan. Such cash lump-sum payment shall be paid as soon as practicable (and within 30 days) after the employee’s Termination of Employment.
     The Vesting Benefit payable under this Section 5.6(d) shall be reduced (but not below $0) by (1) any amounts payable to the employee (when expressed as a cash lump sum) under Section 5.1 of the Plan, and (2) by any amount paid to the employee under Section 8.5(c) of the Sonat Supplemental Plan.
5.7 Provisions Regarding Certain Former Coastal Employees
     (a) Definitions. For purposes of this Section 5.7:
     “Actuarial Equivalent” shall mean any one of two or more benefits of equivalent value as determined actuarially on the basis of such rate of interest and rates of mortality as shall have been adopted for such purpose.
     “Coastal Pension Plan” shall mean the Pension Plan for Employees of The Coastal Corporation or the Coastal Coal Company, LLC Pension Plan, as in effect as of January 29, 2001.
     “Coastal Replacement Pension Plan” shall mean The Coastal Corporation Replacement Pension Plan, as in effect as of January 29, 2001.
     “Retirement Income” shall mean a pension or any other payment or payments payable under the terms of the Coastal Pension Plan.
     (b) Supplemental Pension Benefits. Upon termination of employment of a Participant who (1) was a Participant in this Plan on January 29, 2001, and (2) was a “Participant” in the Coastal Replacement Pension Plan, the supplemental pension benefits payable under this Plan, when expressed in the form of a cash lump sum, shall equal the greater of (A) the amount determined pursuant to Section 5.1 (calculated in lump sum form as provided in Section 5.5), and (B) the Coastal Preserved Benefit (as defined below).
 
El Paso Corporation
Supplemental Benefits Plan
  Page 10

 


 

     The Coastal Preserved Benefit, expressed in the form of a cash lump sum, shall be equal to the sum of the Actuarial Equivalent of the excess, if any, of (1) the amount that hypothetically would have been payable to the Participant as Retirement Income under the Coastal Pension Plan if Sections 401(a)(17) and 415 of the Code were nonexistent and the provisions of the Coastal Pension Plan incorporating the limitations contained in Sections 401(a)(17) and 415 of the Code were inoperative, over (2) the amount which hypothetically would have been payable to the Participant as Retirement Income under the Coastal Pension Plan upon application of the actual terms of the Coastal Pension Plan, assuming for purposes of clauses (1) and (2) that (A) the Participant had a Termination of Employment (other than death) on January 29, 2001, and (B) the Participant elected to receive such Retirement Income in the form of a single life annuity commencing on the earliest date on which the Participant could have commenced receipt of his Retirement Income under the terms of the Coastal Replacement Pension Plan.
SECTION 6 GENERAL PROVISIONS
6.1 Unfunded Obligation
     The supplemental benefits to be paid to Participants and/or their Surviving Spouses and Beneficiaries pursuant to this Plan are unfunded obligations of the Company, and shall, until actual payment, continue to be part of the general funds of the Company. The Company is not required to segregate any monies from its general funds, or to create any trusts, or to make any special deposits with respect to these obligations. Beneficial ownership of any investments, including trust investments, which the Company may make to fulfill these obligations shall at all times remain in the Company. Any investments and the creation or maintenance of any trust or memorandum accounts shall not create or constitute a trust or a fiduciary relationship between the Management Committee or the Employer and a Participant, or otherwise create any vested or beneficial interest in any Participant or his or her Surviving Spouse or Beneficiary or his or her creditors in any assets of the Employer whatsoever. The Participants and their Surviving Spouses and Beneficiaries shall have no claim against the Employer for any changes in the value of any assets which may be invested or reinvested by the Company with respect to this Plan.
6.2 Discretionary Investment by Company
     The Management Committee, after consulting with the actuary employed by the Company in conjunction with the Pension Plan, may from time to time direct the investment by the Company of an amount sufficient to meet all or such portion of the supplemental benefits to be paid under this Plan as the Management Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine. The Management Committee may in its sole discretion determine that all or some portion of the amount to be invested shall be paid into one or
 
El Paso Corporation
Supplemental Benefits Plan
  Page 11

 


 

more grantor trusts to be established by the Employer of which it shall be the Beneficiary, and to the assets of which it shall become entitled as and to the extent that Participants (or their Surviving Spouses or Beneficiaries in the case of their deaths) receive benefits under this Plan. The Management Committee may designate an investment advisor to direct investments and reinvestments of the funds, including investments of any grantor trusts hereunder.
6.3 Incapacity of Participant, Surviving Spouse or Beneficiary
     If the Management Committee finds that any Participant, Surviving Spouse or Beneficiary to whom a payment is payable under the Plan is unable to care for his or her affairs because of illness or accident or is under a legal disability, any payments due (unless a prior claim therefor shall have been made by a duly appointed legal representative) at the discretion of the Management Committee may be paid to the spouse, child, parent or brother or sister of such Participant, Surviving Spouse or Beneficiary, or to any person whom the Management Committee has determined has incurred expense for such Participant, Surviving Spouse or Beneficiary. Any such payment shall be a complete discharge of the obligations of the Company under the provisions of the Plan.
6.4 Nonassignment
     The right of a Participant or his or her Surviving Spouse or Beneficiary to the payment of any amounts under the Plan may not be assigned, transferred, pledged or encumbered nor shall such right or other interests be subject to attachment, garnishment, execution or other legal process, except that any right of a Participant or Beneficiary to the payment of any amounts under the Plan may be waived, released or otherwise relinquished by a Participant to enable such Participant to receive similar benefits under another plan or program maintained by the Company.
6.5 No Right to Continued Employment
     Nothing in the Plan shall be construed to confer upon any Participant any right to continued employment with the Company or a subsidiary nor interfere in any way with the right of the Company or a subsidiary to terminate the employment of such Participant at any time without assigning any reason therefor.
6.6 Withholding Taxes
     Provision shall be made for the withholding of taxes under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act as required by regulations and appropriate income taxes shall be withheld from payments made to Participants pursuant to this Plan.
 
El Paso Corporation
Supplemental Benefits Plan
  Page 12

 


 

6.7 Termination and Amendment
     The Board or the Compensation Committee may from time to time amend, suspend, or terminate the Plan, in whole or in part, and if the Plan is suspended or terminated, the Board or the Compensation Committee may reinstate any or all of its provisions. The Management Committee may amend the Plan provided that it may not suspend or terminate the Plan, substantially increase the administrative cost of the Plan or increase the obligations of the Company, or expand the classification of employees who are eligible to participate in the Plan. No amendment, suspension or termination may, however, impair the right of a Participant or his or her Surviving Spouse or Beneficiary to receive the supplemental benefits accrued prior to the effective date of such amendment, suspension or termination. The Board of Directors amended and restated the Plan effective as of December 7, 2001. The Board of Directors had previously amended and restated the Plan effective as of August 1, 1998, in connection with the reorganization of the Company into a holding company structure whereby the Company became the publicly held company and El Paso Natural Gas Company became a wholly owned subsidiary. This Plan was assumed by the Company pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption Agreement effective as of August 1, 1998, by and between the Company and El Paso Natural Gas Company.
     If the Plan is terminated, Participants, Surviving Spouses and Beneficiaries who have accrued benefits under the Plan as of the date of termination will receive payment of such benefits at the times specified in the Plan. Notwithstanding this or any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, this Plan may not be terminated so long as the Pension Plan and/or RSP remain in effect.
6.8 ERISA Exemption
     The portion of this Plan providing benefits in excess of the limitations of Section 415 of the Code is intended to qualify for exemption from the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) as an unfunded excess benefit plan under Sections 3(36) and 4(b)(5) of ERISA. The portion of this Plan providing benefits in excess of the limitation of Section 401(a)(17) of the Code and other supplemental benefits is intended to qualify for exemption from Parts II, III and IV of ERISA as a plan maintained primarily for the purpose of providing deferred compensation for a select group of management or highly compensated employees under Sections 201(2), 301(a)(3) and 401(a)(1) of ERISA.
6.9 Applicable Law
     The Plan shall be construed and governed in accordance with the laws of the State Texas.
 
El Paso Corporation
Supplemental Benefits Plan
  Page 13

 


 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused the Plan to be amended and restated effective as of December 7, 2001.
         
  EL PASO CORPORATION
 
 
  By:        /s/ Joel Richards III    
    Joel Richards III   
    Executive Vice President
Human Resources and Administration 
 
 
     
Attest:
   
 
   
/s/ David L. Siddall
 
   
Corporate Secretary
   
 
El Paso Corporation
Supplemental Benefits Plan
  Page 14

 

EX-10.G.1 13 h53583exv10wgw1.htm AMENDMENT NO.1 TO SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS PLAN exv10wgw1
 

EXHIBIT 10.G.1
AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE
EL PASO CORPORATION
SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS PLAN
     Pursuant to Section 6.7 of the El Paso Corporation Supplemental Benefits Plan, Amended and Restated effective as of December 7, 2001 (the “Plan”), the Plan is hereby amended as follows, effective November 7, 2002:
     Section 2.6 is deleted in its entirety.
     Section 5.2 is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:
     “5.2 Supplemental RSP Benefits
     Upon termination of employment of a Participant, the Company shall pay or cause to be paid to such Participant (or his or her Beneficiary in the case of his or her death) supplemental RSP benefits calculated as described below. The Company shall periodically determine the amount of any additional Employer matching contributions that would have been credited to a Participant’s account under the RSP if his or her current election of Participant contributions had been given effect and no adjustment of such contributions had occurred due to:
     (a) the maximum dollar limit under Code Section 415(c)(1)(A) on RSP annual additions,
     (b) the maximum limit under Code Section 401(a)(17) on the compensation taken into account under the RSP,
     (c) any further reductions in the compensation taken into account under the RSP as a result of any deferrals of compensation elected by the Participant pursuant to Section 125 or Section 401(k) of the Code or under the Deferred Compensation Plans.
     From time to time, as determined by the Management Committee, the Company shall allocate amounts equal to such additional Employer matching contributions to a ledger account for the Participant as of the time or times that such amounts would have been contributed to the RSP if permitted thereunder.
     Supplemental RSP benefits under this Section 5.2 shall be vested and nonforfeitable to the same extent that the related benefits under the RSP are vested and nonforfeitable.”

 


 

     Section 5.4(b) is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:
     “(b) Supplemental RSP Benefit Payments. The payment of any supplemental RSP benefits pursuant to Section 5.2 owed to a Participant (or his or her Beneficiary) shall be made in a lump sum as soon as practicable after the Participant’s termination of employment with the Employer and shall be in an amount equal to the Participant’s ledger account balance at the time of such payment.”
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this amendment to be duly executed on this 7th day of November, 2002.
         
  EL PASO CORPORATION
 
 
  By:        /s/ David E. Zerhusen    
    David E. Zerhusen   
    Its Executive Vice President
Administration 
 
 
         
ATTEST:    
 
       
By:
  /s/ David L. Siddall    
 
 
 
Corporate Secretary
   

 

EX-10.G.5 14 h53583exv10wgw5.htm AMENDMENT NO.5 TO AMENDED SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS PLAN exv10wgw5
 

EXHIBIT 10.G.5
AMENDMENT NO. 5 TO THE
EL PASO CORPORATION
SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS PLAN
     WHEREAS, El Paso Corporation (the “Company”) maintains the El Paso Corporation Supplemental Benefits Plan (the “Plan”), amended and restated effective as of December 7, 2001;
     WHEREAS, Section 6.7 of the Plan permits the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors from time to time to amend the Plan, in whole or in part;
     WHEREAS, it is intended hereby to amend the Plan to comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
     NOW, THEREFORE, the Plan is amended as follows:
  1.   Section 6.10 is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:
     “6.10 Cessation of Accruals under the Plan
     Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, effective as of December 31, 2004, the accrual of benefits under this Plan shall cease, other than interest credits and other earnings accrued following December 31, 2004 in respect of amounts accrued under the Plan on or prior to December 31, 2004. All Participants, who accrued a supplemental pension benefit under Section 5.1 of the Plan, but who were not vested in such benefit on December 31, 2004, shall not be paid a supplemental pension benefit under this Plan, and such non-vested accrued benefit shall be paid to the Participant under the El Paso Corporation 2005 Supplemental Benefits Plan, upon such benefit becoming vested and in accordance with the payment terms of the 2005 Supplemental Benefits Plan. The intent of this Section 6.10 is to cause the Plan not to be subject to Section 409A of the Code.”
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this amendment has been executed by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, effective as of January 1, 2007.
         
  EL PASO CORPORATION
 
 
  By:   /s/ Susan B. Ortenstone    
       
       
 
         
ATTEST:    
 
       
By:
  /s/ Marguerite Woung-Chapman
 
            Corporate Secretary
   

 

EX-10.H.1 15 h53583exv10whw1.htm AMENDMENT NO.1 TO SENIOR EXECUTIVE SURVIVOR BENEFIT PLAN exv10whw1
 

EXHIBIT 10.H.1
AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE
EL PASO ENERGY CORPORATION
SENIOR EXECUTIVE SURVIVOR
BENEFIT PLAN
     Pursuant to Section 7.5 of the El Paso Energy Corporation Senior Executive Survivor Benefit Plan, Amended and Restated effective as of August 1, 1998 (the “Plan”), the Plan is hereby amended as follows, effective February 7, 2001:
     WHEREAS, the Certificate of Incorporation of El Paso Energy Corporation, a Delaware corporation, was amended to change the name of the corporation to El Paso Corporation effective February 7, 2001.
     NOW THEREFORE, the name of the Plan is hereby changed to the “El Paso Corporation Senior Executive Survivor Benefit Plan “ and all references in the Plan to “El Paso Energy Corporation” or the “Company” shall mean “El Paso Corporation.”
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this amendment to be duly executed on this 7th day of February 2001.
         
  EL PASO CORPORATION
 
 
  By:        /s/ Joel Richards III    
    Joel Richards III   
    Executive Vice President
Human Resources and Administration 
 
 
     
Attest:
   
 
   
/s/ David L. Siddall
 
Corporate Secretary
   

 

EX-10.H.2 16 h53583exv10whw2.htm AMENDMENT NO.2 TO SENIOR EXECUTIVE SURVIVOR BENEFIT PLAN exv10whw2
 

EXHIBIT 10.H.2
AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO THE
EL PASO CORPORATION
SENIOR EXECUTIVE SURVIVOR
BENEFIT PLAN
     Pursuant to Section 7.5 of the El Paso Corporation Senior Executive Survivor Benefit Plan, Amended and Restated effective as of August 1, 1998, as amended (the “Plan”), the Plan is hereby amended as follows, effective October 1, 2002:
     WHEREAS, the Company desires to clarify provisions of the Plan to reflect the intent of the Committee relating to participation in the Plan pursuant to Section 3.1 of the Plan and payment of a pre-retirement survivor’s benefit pursuant to Section 4.1 of the Plan.
     NOW THEREFORE, the following amendments shall be made to the Plan:
     Section 3.1 of the Plan is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:
3.1 Participation in the Plan
     Executives of the Company and its subsidiaries who possess an employee classification of level F or higher will be eligible to participate in the Plan (the “Participants”). Generally, Participants will be the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, the Vice Chairman and the Senior Officers of the Company and certain of its operating subsidiaries reporting directly to them who have the principal responsibility for the management, direction and success of the Company as a whole or particular business unit thereof. However, the Administrator may, at his discretion and solely for purposes of determining eligibility to be a Participant, adjust an employee’s level classification to ensure that level classifications are determined in a uniform manner among the Company and its subsidiaries. Any participant in the Burlington Resources Inc. Senior Executive Survivor Benefit Plan (“BRI Plan”) on the day immediately preceding the effective date of this Plan, who is an employee of the Company, shall become a Participant of this Plan on the effective date and shall immediately cease participation in the BRI Plan.”
     Section 4.1 is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:
     “4.1 Pre-Retirement Survivor’s Benefit
     If a Participant dies while employed by the Company or a subsidiary, the Company (either directly or through a third party) shall pay to the Participant’s Beneficiary a monthly survivor benefit (“Survivor’s Benefit”) for 30 months. The monthly payment shall be calculated as follows:

 


 

  (a)   the amount necessary to pay (i) two and one-half times the Participant’s Annual Salary less (ii) the amount of any Cash-Out that the Participant previously received (as described in Section 4.2), and less (iii) $50,000, which may be paid as a group life insurance benefit;
 
  (b)   divided by thirty.
In the alternative, the Plan Administrator, in its sole discretion, may provide that the Survivor’s Benefit be paid in lump-sum.
     In the event the Survivor’s Benefit is deemed taxable to the Participant’s Beneficiary, the benefit will be increased to adjust for Federal income taxes at the highest applicable marginal rate for the year in which the lump-sum payment is made or the monthly payments begin. In the case of monthly payments, the Beneficiary shall be assumed to pay tax on the complete benefit in the year the monthly payments commence, rather than upon receipt of each monthly payment when such amounts are actually taxable. If the amount so calculated is zero or less, no payment shall be made to the Participant’s Beneficiary under this Plan.”
          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this amendment to be duly executed on this 1st day of October 2002.
         
  EL PASO CORPORATION
 
 
  By:        /s/ David E. Zerhusen    
    David E. Zerhusen   
    Its Executive Vice President
Administration 
 
 
         
ATTEST:    
 
By:
  /s/ David L. Siddall
 
Corporate Secretary
    

 

EX-10.I.1 17 h53583exv10wiw1.htm AMENDMENT NO.1 TO KEY EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE PROTECTION PLAN exv10wiw1
 

EXHIBIT 10.I.1
AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE
EL PASO ENERGY CORPORATION
KEY EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE PROTECTION PLAN
     Pursuant to Section 8 of the El Paso Energy Corporation Key Executive Severance Protection Plan, Amended and Restated effective as of August 1, 1998 (the “Plan”), the Plan is hereby amended as follows, effective February 7, 2001:
     WHEREAS, the Certificate of Incorporation of El Paso Energy Corporation, a Delaware corporation, was amended to change the name of the corporation to El Paso Corporation effective February 7, 2001.
     NOW THEREFORE, the name of the Plan is hereby changed to the “El Paso Corporation Key Executive Severance Protection Plan” and all references in the Plan to “El Paso Energy Corporation” or the “Company” shall mean “El Paso Corporation.”
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this amendment to be duly executed on this 7th day of February 2001.
         
  EL PASO CORPORATION
 
 
  By:        /s/ Joel Richards III    
    Joel Richards III   
    Executive Vice President
Human Resources and Administration 
 
 
     
Attest:
   
 
   
/s/ David L. Siddall
   
 
Corporate Secretary
   

 

EX-10.I.2 18 h53583exv10wiw2.htm AMENDMENT NO.2 TO KEY EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE PROTECTION PLAN exv10wiw2
 

EXHIBIT 10.I.2
AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO THE
EL PASO CORPORATION
KEY EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE PROTECTION PLAN
     Pursuant to Section 8.1 of the El Paso Corporation Key Executive Severance Protection Plan, Amended and Restated effective as of August 1, 1998, as amended (the “Plan”), effective November 7, 2002, the Plan is hereby amended to attach Appendix II to provide a list of certain officers of the Company and its subsidiaries who are deemed to be participants in the Plan, in addition to those participants who are eligible to participate in the Plan pursuant to Section 3.1 of the Plan, and closed to any other new participants.
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this amendment to be duly executed on this 7th day of November, 2002.
         
  EL PASO CORPORATION
 
 
 
  By:        /s/ David E. Zerhusen    
    David E. Zerhusen   
    Its Executive Vice President
Administration 
 
 
         
ATTEST:    
 
By:
  /s/ David L. Siddall    
 
 
 
Corporate Secretary
   

 


 

APPENDIX II
EL PASO CORPORATION
KEY EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE PROTECTION PLAN
     The following individuals are deemed to be participants in the Plan as of each individual’s effective date of participation (“Effective Date of Participation”).
     
Employee   Effective Date of Participation
Wayne B. Allred
  November 7, 2002
Robert W. Baker
  November 7, 2002
Randy L. Bartley
  November 7, 2002
Stephen C. Beasley
  November 7, 2002
James J. Cleary
  November 7, 2002
Daniel F. Collins
  November 7, 2002
Bruce Connery
  November 7, 2002
Ralph Eads
  December 4, 2001
John T. Elzner
  November 7, 2002
Rodney D. Erskine
  December 4, 2001
Greg G. Gruber
  November 7, 2002
John L. Harrison
  November 7, 2002
Peggy A. Heeg
  December 4, 2001
E. Jay Holm
  November 7, 2002
John J. Hopper
  November 7, 2002
Gregory W. Huston
  November 7, 2002
Harvey R. Klingensmith
  November 7, 2002
Gary J. Konnie
  November 7, 2002
Charles W. Latch
  November 7, 2002
Richard J. Louden
  November 7, 2002
Daniel B. Martin
  November 7, 2002
Graciela E. Martinez
  November 7, 2002
Kevin J. McMichael
  November 7, 2002
Joseph A. Mills
  November 7, 2002
D. Dwight Scott
  October 1, 2002
David L. Siddall
  November 7, 2002
Clark C. Smith
  November 7, 2002
Judy A. Vandagriff
  November 7, 2002
Gene W. Waguespack
  November 7, 2002
James C. Yardley
  November 7, 2002
David E. Zerhusen
  October 1, 2002
 
   
Acknowledged and Accepted this 7th day of November, 2002.
         
By:
  /s/ David E. Zerhusen     
 
       
 
  David E. Zerhusen    
 
  Its Executive Vice President    
 
  Administration    

 

EX-10.I.3 19 h53583exv10wiw3.htm AMENDMENT NO.3 TO KEY EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE PROTECTION PLAN exv10wiw3
 

EXHIBIT 10.I.3
AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO THE
EL PASO CORPORATION
KEY EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE PROTECTION PLAN
     Pursuant to Section 8.1 of the El Paso Corporation Key Executive Severance Protection Plan, Amended and Restated effective as of August 1, 1998, as amended (the “Plan”), by resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company, the Plan was amended and closed to any new participants effective as of August 1, 1998, unless expressly determined otherwise by the Board of Directors.
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this amendment to be duly executed on this 6th day of December, 2002.
         
  EL PASO CORPORATION
 
 
  By:        /s/ David E. Zerhusen    
    David E. Zerhusen   
    Its Executive Vice President
Administration 
 
 
             
 
  ATTEST:    
 
           
 
  By:   /s/ David L. Siddall
 
Corporate Secretary
   

 

EX-10.I.5 20 h53583exv10wiw5.htm AMENDMENT NO.5 TO KEY EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE PROTECTION PLAN, AS AMENDED exv10wiw5
 

EXHIBIT 10.I.5
AMENDMENT NO. 5 TO THE
EL PASO CORPORATION
KEY EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE PROTECTION PLAN
     WHEREAS, El Paso Corporation (the “Company”) maintains the El Paso Corporation Key Executive Severance Protection Plan (the “Plan”), effective as of August 1, 1998; and
     WHEREAS, Section 8.1 of the Plan permits the Board of Directors from time to time to amend the Plan, in whole or in part; and
     WHEREAS, it is intended hereby to amend the Plan to comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
     NOW, THEREFORE, the Plan is amended as follows:
     1. Section 4.2 is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:
     “4.2 Amount of Severance Benefit
     If a Participant’s employment is terminated in circumstances entitling him or her to a Severance Benefit as provided in Section 4.1, such Participant shall be entitled to the following benefits:
     (a) the Company shall pay to the Participant, as severance pay and in lieu of any further salary for periods subsequent to the Termination Date (as specified in Section 5.2), in a single payment (without any discount for accelerated payment), an amount in cash equal to three (3) times the sum of (A) the Participant’s Base Salary and (B) the Bonus Amount;
     (b) for a period of eighteen (18) months subsequent to the Participant’s termination of employment, the Company shall at its expense continue on behalf of the Participant and his or her dependents and beneficiaries, the basic life insurance, flexible spending account, medical and dental benefits which were being provided to the Participant at the time of termination of employment. The benefits provided in this Subsection 4.2(b) shall be no less favorable to the Participant, in terms of amounts and deductibles and costs to him or her, than the coverage provided the Participant under the plans providing such benefits at the time Notice of Termination is given. The Company’s obligation hereunder to provide the foregoing benefits shall terminate if the Participant obtains health benefits coverage under a subsequent employer’s benefit plans. The Company also shall pay a lump sum equal to the amount of any additional income tax payable by the Participant and attributable to the benefits provided under this Subsection 4.2 (b) at the time such tax is imposed upon the Participant. Except as

 


 

provided below with respect to a Specified Employee (as defined below), the payment of any health or medical claims for the health and medical coverage provided in this Subsection 4.2(b) shall be made to a Participant as soon as administratively practicable after a Participant has provided the appropriate claim documentation, but in no event shall the payment for any such health or medical claim be paid later than the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the expense was incurred. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, to the extent required by Section 409A of the Code: (1) the amount of medical claims eligible for reimbursement or to be provided as an in-kind benefit under this Plan during a calendar year may not affect the medical claims eligible for reimbursement or to be provided as an in-kind benefit in any other calendar year, and (2) the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits under this Plan shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit. With respect to a Specified Employee, during the six-month period commencing the date after the Specified Employee’s Termination Date, the cost of any health or medical claims for health and medical coverage provided in this Subsection 4.2(b) which are not otherwise exempt from Section 409A of the Code shall be paid by the Specified Employee to the health and medical service provider and reimbursed by the Company after the completion of such six-month period but no later than the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which such health and medical expenses were incurred.
     (c) the Company shall pay a lump sum pension supplement payable under the terms of the El Paso Corporation Supplemental Benefit Plan (“Supplemental Plan”) or El Paso Corporation 2005 Supplemental Benefits Plan (“2005 Supplemental Plan”) equal to a pension calculated by adding three years of additional credited pension service to the Participant’s existing credited pension service as of the termination of the Participant’s employment, and then by calculating the Participant’s pension in accordance with the formula provided in the pension plan. A Participant who is entitled to a pension supplement under any other agreement between such Participant and the Company may elect, in writing, to receive the pension supplement provided under this subparagraph (c) in lieu of, but not in addition to, such other pension supplement as may be provided by such other agreement. In the event that no election is made, the Participant shall forego his or her right to receive the pension supplement provided under this subparagraph;
     (d) the Company shall transfer to the Participant, all right, title or other ownership interest it may have in any automobile, if any, then being provided by the Company for use by the Participant;
     (e) the Company shall transfer to the Participant, any right, title or ownership in any club memberships provided by the Company;
     The amounts provided for in Section 4.2(a), (c), (d) and (e) shall be paid or transferred within thirty (30) days after the Executive Employee’s termination

-2-


 

of employment. The Participant shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in this Plan by seeking other employment or otherwise and no such payment shall be offset or reduced by the amount of any compensation or benefits provided to the Executive Employee in any subsequent employment. If a Participant is a “specified employee” as defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Code”) (“Specified Employee”), then any severance pay which is not otherwise exempt from Section 409A of the Code shall be paid during a 30-day period which commences on the date which is the day after the six-month anniversary of such Specified Employee’s Termination Date.”
2. Section 6.1(a) is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:
     “6.1 Gross-Up Payment
     In the event it shall be determined that any payment or distribution of any type by the Company to or for the benefit of the Participant, whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Plan or otherwise (the “Total Payments”), would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or any interest or penalties with respect to such excise tax (such excise tax, together with any such interest and penalties, are collectively referred to as the “Excise Tax”), then the Participant shall be entitled to receive an additional payment (a “Gross-Up Payment”) in an amount such that after payment by the Participant of all taxes (including any interest or penalties imposed with respect to such taxes), including any Excise Tax, imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment, the Participant retains an amount of the Gross-Up Payment equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon the Total Payments. Payment of the Gross-Up Payment shall be made in accordance with Section 6.3, provided that the payment of any Gross-Up Payment shall be made prior to the date the Participant is to remit the Excise Tax as provided under the Code or pursuant to any judgment or agreement with any taxing authority.”
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this amendment has been executed by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, effective as of January 1, 2007.
         
  EL PASO CORPORATION
 
 
  By:        /s/ Susan B. Ortenstone    
       
       
 
         
ATTEST:    
         
By:   /s/ Marguerite Woung-Chapman
 
   
    Corporate Secretary                        

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EX-10.J.1 21 h53583exv10wjw1.htm AMENDMENT NO.1 TO 2004 KEY EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE PROTECTION PLAN exv10wjw1
 

EXHIBIT 10.J.1.
AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE
EL PASO CORPORATION
2004 KEY EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE PROTECTION PLAN
     WHEREAS, El Paso Corporation (the “Company”) maintains the El Paso Corporation 2004 Key Executive Severance Protection Plan (the “Plan”), effective as of March 9, 2004;
     WHEREAS, Section 8.1 of the Plan permits the Board of Directors from time to time to amend the Plan, in whole or in part;
     WHEREAS, it is intended hereby to amend the Plan to comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
     NOW, THEREFORE, the Plan is amended as follows:
     1. Section 4.2 is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:
     “4.2 Amount of Severance Benefit
     If a Participant’s employment is terminated in circumstances entitling him or her to a Severance Benefit as provided in Section 4.1, such Participant shall be entitled to the following benefits:
     (a) the Company shall pay to the Participant, as severance pay and in lieu of any further salary for periods subsequent to the Termination Date (as specified in Section 5.2), in a single payment (without any discount for accelerated payment), an amount in cash equal to a formula, as described below, and based upon a multiplier, as assigned in the table below to the Participant according to the Participant’s salary grade level (“Executive Grade Level”):
         
    Executive   Corporate Title
Multiplier   Grade Level   (or Equivalent Position at Subsidiary Level)
3 X
  XA   President and Chief Executive Officer
2 X
  XB — XE; XF   Executive Vice President and Senior Vice President
1 X
  XG — XI   Vice President
(X) times the sum of (A) the Participant’s Base Salary and (B) the Bonus Amount. The Company shall also pay to the Participant the prorated portion of the Participant’s Bonus Amount for the year in which the Participant’s employment is terminated;

 


 

     The amounts provided for in this Section 4.2(a) shall be paid or transferred within thirty (30) days after the Participant’s termination of employment (or, if Section 4.1(b) applies to the termination, then within 30 days after the Change in Control). The Participant shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in this Plan by seeking other employment or otherwise and no such payment shall be offset or reduced by the amount of any compensation or benefits provided to the Participant in any subsequent employment. If a Participant is a “specified employee” as defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Code”) (“Specified Employee”), then any severance pay which is not otherwise exempt from Section 409A of the Code shall be paid during a 30-day period which commences on the date which is the day after the six-month anniversary of such Specified Employee’s Termination Date.
     (b) for the period of months, as specified for each Executive Grade Level in the table below, subsequent to the Participant’s termination of employment, the Company shall at its expense continue on behalf of the Participant and his or her dependents and beneficiaries, the basic life insurance, flexible spending account, medical and dental benefits which were being provided to the Participant immediately prior to the Change in Control (or, if greater, at any time thereafter). The benefits provided in this Subsection 4.2(b) shall be no less favorable to the Participant, in terms of amounts and deductibles and costs to him or her, than the coverage provided the Participant under the plans providing such benefits at the time Notice of Termination is given. The Company’s obligation hereunder to provide the foregoing benefits shall terminate to the extent the Participant obtains replacement coverage under a subsequent employer’s benefit plans at an equal or higher level. The Company also shall pay a lump sum equal to the amount of any additional income tax payable by the Participant and attributable to the benefits provided under this subparagraph (b) at the time such tax is imposed upon the Participant;
         
Number of Months of   Executive   Corporate Title
Continued Coverage   Grade Level   (or Equivalent Position at Subsidiary Level)
36 months
  XA   President and Chief Executive Officer
24 months
  XB — XE; XF   Executive Vice President and Senior Vice President
12 months
  XG — XI   Vice President
     Except as provided below with respect to a Specified Employee, the payment of any health or medical claims for the health and medical coverage provided in this Section 4.2(b) shall be made to a Participant as soon as administratively practicable after a Participant has provided the appropriate claim documentation, but in no event shall the payment for any such health or medical claim be paid later than the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the expense was incurred. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, to the extent required by Section 409A of the Code: (1) the amount of medical claims eligible for reimbursement or to be provided as an in-kind benefit under this Plan during a calendar year may not affect the medical claims eligible for reimbursement or to be provided as an in-kind benefit in any other calendar year, and (2) the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits under this Plan

-2-


 

shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit. With respect to a Specified Employee, during the six-month period commencing the date after the Specified Employee’s Termination Date, the cost of any health or medical claims for health and medical coverage provided in this Section 4.2(b) which are not otherwise exempt from Section 409A of the Code shall be paid by the Specified Employee to the health and medical service provider and reimbursed by the Company after the completion of such six-month period but no later than the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which such health and medical expenses were incurred.”
     2. Section 6.1(a) is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:
     “6.1 Gross-Up Payment
     (a) Subject only to Section 6.1(b) hereof, in the event it shall be determined that any payment or distribution of any type by the Company or any of its affiliates to or for the benefit of the Participant, whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Plan or otherwise (the “Payments”), would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, or any interest or penalties with respect to such excise tax (such excise tax, together with any such interest and penalties, are collectively referred to as the “Excise Tax”), then the Participant shall be entitled to receive an additional payment (a “Gross-Up Payment”) in an amount such that after payment by the Participant of all taxes (including any interest or penalties imposed with respect to such taxes), including any income taxes, employment taxes and Excise Tax, imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment, the Participant retains an amount of the Gross-Up Payment equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon the Payments. Payment of the Gross-Up Payment shall be made in accordance with Section 6.3, provided that the payment of any Gross-Up Payment shall be made prior to the date the Participant is to remit the Excise Tax as provided under the Code or pursuant to any judgment or agreement with any taxing authority.”
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this amendment has been executed by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, effective as of January 1, 2007.
         
  EL PASO CORPORATION
 
 
  By:        /s/ Susan B. Ortenstone    
       
       
 
         
ATTEST:    
         
By:   /s/ Marguerite Woung-Chapman
 
   
    Corporate Secretary                        

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EX-10.K.1 22 h53583exv10wkw1.htm AMENDMENT NO.1 TO DIRECTOR CHARITABLE AWARD PLAN exv10wkw1
 

EXHIBIT 10.K.1
AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE
EL PASO ENERGY CORPORATION
DIRECTOR CHARITABLE AWARD PLAN
     Pursuant to Section 6 of the El Paso Energy Corporation Director Charitable Award Plan, Amended and Restated effective as of August 1, 1998 (the “Plan”), the Plan is hereby amended as follows, effective February 7, 2001:
     WHEREAS, the Certificate of Incorporation of El Paso Energy Corporation, a Delaware corporation, was amended to change the name of the corporation to El Paso Corporation effective February 7, 2001.
     NOW THEREFORE, the name of the Plan is hereby changed to the “El Paso Corporation Director Charitable Award Plan” and all references in the Plan to “El Paso Energy Corporation” or the “Company” shall mean “El Paso Corporation.”
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this amendment to be duly executed on this 7th day of February 2001.
         
  EL PASO CORPORATION
 
 
  By:        /s/ Joel Richards III    
    Joel Richards III   
    Executive Vice President
Human Resources and Administration 
 
 
     
Attest:
   
 
   
/s/ David L. Siddall
 
Corporate Secretary
   

 

EX-10.L 23 h53583exv10wl.htm AMENDED STRATEGIC STOCK PLAN exv10wl
 

EXHIBIT 10.L
EL PASO ENERGY CORPORATION
STRATEGIC STOCK PLAN
Amended and Restated Effective as of December 3, 1999

 


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
             
SECTION 1
  PURPOSES     1  
 
           
SECTION 2
  DEFINITIONS     1  
2.1
  Beneficiary     1  
2.2
  Board of Directors     1  
2.3
  Cause     1  
2.4
  Change in Control     2  
2.5
  Code     3  
2.6
  Common Stock     3  
2.7
  Company     3  
2.8
  Exchange Act     3  
2.9
  Fair Market Value     3  
2.10
  Good Reason     4  
2.11
  Management Committee     4  
2.12
  Option     5  
2.13
  Option Price     5  
2.14
  Participant     5  
2.15
  Performance Goals     5  
2.16
  Performance Period     5  
2.17
  Permanent Disability or Permanently Disabled     5  
2.18
  Plan Administrator     6  
2.19
  Restricted Stock     6  
2.20
  Rule 16b-3     6  
2.21
  Section 16 Insider     6  
2.22
  Subsidiary     6  
2.23
  Total Shareholder Return     6  
 
           
SECTION 3
  ADMINISTRATION     6  
 
           
SECTION 4
  ELIGIBILITY     7  
 
           
SECTION 5
  SHARES AVAILABLE FOR THE PLAN     7  
 
           
SECTION 6
  STOCK OPTIONS     8  
 
           
SECTION 7
  STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS     13  
 
           
SECTION 8
  LIMITED STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS     15  
 
           
SECTION 9
  RESTRICTED STOCK     16  
 
           
SECTION 10
  REGULATORY APPROVALS AND LISTING     18  
         
E1 Paso Energy Corporation       Table of Contents
Strategic Stock Plan        

i


 

             
SECTION 11
  EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF PLAN     18  
 
           
SECTION 12
  GENERAL PROVISIONS     19  
 
           
SECTION 13
  COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 16b-3     21  
 
           
SECTION 14
  AMENDMENT, TERMINATION OR DISCONTINUANCE OF THE PLAN     21  
         
E1 Paso Energy Corporation       Table of Contents
Strategic Stock Plan        

ii


 

EL PASO ENERGY CORPORATION
STRATEGIC STOCK PLAN
Amended and Restated Effective as of December 3, 1999
SECTION 1 PURPOSES
     The purposes of the El Paso Energy Corporation Strategic Stock Plan (the “Plan”) are to promote the interests of the Company (as defined below) and its stockholders by strengthening its ability to attract and retain officers and key management employees in the employ of the Company and its Subsidiaries (as defined below) by furnishing suitable recognition of their ability and industry which contributes materially to the success of the Company in strategic transactions and to align the interests and efforts of the Company’s officers and key management employees to the long-term interests of the Company’s stockholders. The Plan provides for the grant of stock options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights and restricted stock in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth below.
SECTION 2 DEFINITIONS
     Unless otherwise required by the context, the following terms when used in the Plan shall have the meanings set forth in this Section 2:
2.1 Beneficiary
     The person or persons designated by the Participant pursuant to Section 6.2(f) of this Plan to whom payments are to be paid pursuant to the terms of the Plan in the event of the Participant’s death.
2.2 Board of Directors
     The Board of Directors of the Company.
2.3 Cause
     The Company may terminate the Participant’s employment for Cause. A termination for Cause is a termination evidenced by a resolution adopted in good faith by the Management Committee (or by two-thirds (2/3) of the Board of Directors in the case of a Management Committee member) that the Participant (i) willfully and continually failed to substantially perform the Participant’s duties with the Company (other than a failure resulting from the Participant’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness) which failure continued for a period of at least thirty (30) days after a written notice of demand for substantial performance has been delivered to the Participant specifying the manner in which the Participant has failed to substantially perform or (ii) willfully engaged in conduct which is demonstrably and materially injurious to the Company, monetarily or otherwise; provided, however, that no termination of the Participant’s employment shall
         
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Strategic Stock Plan        

 


 

be for Cause as set forth in clause (ii) above until (A) there shall have been delivered to the Participant a copy of a written notice setting forth that the Participant was guilty of the conduct set forth in clause (ii) above and specifying the particulars thereof in detail and (B) the Participant shall have been provided an opportunity to be heard by the Board of Directors (with the assistance of the Participant’s counsel if the Participant so desires). No act, nor failure to act, on the Participant’s part shall be considered “willful” unless the Participant has acted, or failed to act, with an absence of good faith and without a reasonable belief that the Participant’s action or failure to act was in the best interest of the Company. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Plan to the contrary, no failure to perform by the Participant after notice of termination is given by the Participant shall constitute Cause.
2.4 Change in Control
     As used in the Plan, a Change in Control shall be deemed to occur (i) if any person (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing twenty percent (20%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities, (ii) upon the first purchase of the Common Stock pursuant to a tender or exchange offer (other than a tender or exchange offer made by the Company), (iii) upon the approval by the Company’s stockholders of a merger or consolidation, a sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or a plan of liquidation or dissolution of the Company, or (iv) if, during any period of two (2) consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board of Directors cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof, unless the election or nomination for the election by the Company’s stockholders of each new director was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who were directors at the beginning of the period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur if the Company either merges or consolidates with or into another company or sells or disposes of all or substantially all of its assets to another company, if such merger, consolidation, sale or disposition is in connection with a corporate restructuring wherein the stockholders of the Company immediately before such merger, consolidation, sale or disposition own, directly or indirectly, immediately following such merger, consolidation, sale or disposition at least eighty percent (80%) of the combined voting power of all outstanding classes of securities of the company resulting from such merger or consolidation, or to which the Company sells or disposes of its assets, in substantially the same proportion as their ownership in the Company immediately before such merger, consolidation, sale or disposition. The acquisition and merger of Tenneco Inc. shall not constitute a Change in Control under this Plan.
     
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2.5 Code
     The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time, and the temporary or final regulations of the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury adopted pursuant to the Code.
2.6 Common Stock
     The Common Stock of the Company, $3 par value per share, or such other class of shares or other securities as may be applicable pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.
2.7 Company
     El Paso Energy Corporation, a Delaware corporation.
2.8 Exchange Act
     The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
2.9 Fair Market Value
     As applied to a specific date, Fair Market Value shall be deemed to be the mean between the highest and lowest quoted selling prices at which Common Stock is sold on such date as reported in the NYSE-Composite Transactions by The Wall Street Journal on such date, or if no Common Stock was traded on such date, on the next preceding day on which Common Stock was so traded. Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the exercise,
     (a) during the thirty (30) day period following a Change in Control, of a limited stock appreciation right or stock appreciation right granted in connection with an option more than six (6) months prior to a Change in Control, or
     (b) during the seven (7) month period following a Change in Control, of a limited stock appreciation right or of a stock appreciation right granted in connection with an option less than six (6) months prior to a Change in Control,
On or after a Change in Control, Fair Market Value on the date of exercise shall be deemed to be the greater of (i) the highest price per share of Common Stock as reported in the NYSE-Composite Transactions by The Wall Street Journal during the sixty (60) day period ending on the day preceding the date of exercise of the stock appreciation right or limited stock appreciation right, as the case may be, and (ii) if the Change in Control is one described in clause (ii) or (iii) of Section 2.4, the highest price per share paid for Common Stock in connection with such Change in Control.
     
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2.10 Good Reason
     Good Reason shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events or conditions, after a Change in Control:
     (a) a change in the Participant’s status, title, position or responsibilities (including reporting responsibilities) which, in the Participant’s reasonable judgment, represents a substantial reduction of the status, title, position or responsibilities as in effect immediately prior thereto; the assignment to the Participant of any duties or responsibilities which, in the Participant’s reasonable judgment, are inconsistent with such status, title, position or responsibilities; or any removal of the Participant from or failure to reappoint or reelect the Participant to any of such positions, except in connection with the termination of the Participant’s employment for Cause, for Permanent Disability or as a result of his or her death, or by the Participant other than for Good Reason;
     (b) a reduction in the Participant’s annual base salary;
     (c) the Company’s requiring the Participant (without the consent of the Participant) to be based at any place outside a thirty-five (35) mile radius of his or her place of employment prior to a Change in Control, except for reasonably required travel on the Company’s business which is not materially greater than such travel requirements prior to the Change in Control;
     (d) the failure by the Company to (i) continue in effect any material compensation or benefit plan in which the Participant was participating at the time of the Change in Control or (ii) provide the Participant with compensation and benefits at least equal (in terms of benefit levels and/or reward opportunities) to those provided for under each employee benefit plan, program and practice as in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control (or as in effect following the Change in Control, if greater);
     (e) any material breach by the Company of any provision of the Plan; or
     (f) any purported termination of the Participant’s employment for Cause by the Company which does not otherwise comply with the terms of the Plan.
2.11 Management Committee
     A committee consisting of the Chief Executive Officer and such other senior officers as the Chief Executive Officer shall designate. The Chief Executive Officer may from time to time remove members from, or add members to, the Management Committee.
     
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Strategic Stock Plan    

 


 

2.12 Option
     An option which is not intended to meet the requirements of an Incentive Stock Option as defined in Section 422 of the Code.
2.13 Option Price
     The price per share of Common Stock at which each option is exercisable.
2.14 Participant
     An eligible employee to whom an option, limited stock appreciation right, stock appreciation right or Restricted Stock is granted under the Plan as set forth in Section 4.
2.15 Performance Goals
     The Plan Administrator shall establish one or more performance goals (“Performance Goals”) for each Performance Period in writing. Each Performance Goal selected for a particular Performance Period shall be a relative or absolute measure of any one or more of the following (or such other measures as the Plan Administrator may determine): Total Shareholder Return, operating income, pre-tax profit, earnings per share, cash flow, return on capital, return on equity, return on net assets, net income, debt reduction, safety, return on investment or revenues. The foregoing terms shall have the same meaning as used in the Company’s financial statements, or if the terms are not used in the Company’s financial statements, they shall have the meaning generally applied pursuant to general accepted accounting principles, or as used in the industry, as applicable.
2.16 Performance Period
     That period of time during which Performance Goals are measured to determine the vesting or granting of options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights or Restricted Stock, as the Plan Administrator may determine.
2.17 Permanent Disability or Permanently Disabled
     A Participant shall be deemed to have become Permanently Disabled for purposes of the Plan if the Plan Administrator shall find upon the basis of medical evidence satisfactory to the Plan Administrator that the Participant is totally disabled, whether due to physical or mental condition, so as to be prevented from engaging in further employment by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and that such disability will be permanent and continuous during the remainder of the Participant’s life; provided, that with respect to Section 16 Insiders such determination shall be made by the Board of Directors, or the Compensation Committee thereof, if required.
     
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2.18 Plan Administrator
     The Management Committee (or the Board of Directors or a committee thereof in the case of Section 16 Insiders, if required), pursuant to Section 3, shall administer the Plan.
2.19 Restricted Stock
     Common Stock granted under the Plan that is subject to the requirements of Section 9 and such other restrictions as the Plan Administrator deems appropriate.
2.20 Rule 16b-3
     Rule 16b-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act.
2.21 Section 16 Insider
     Any person who is selected by the Plan Administrator to receive options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights and/or Restricted Stock pursuant to the Plan and who is subject to the requirements of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
2.22 Subsidiary
     An entity that is designated by the Plan Administrator as a subsidiary for purposes of the Plan and that is a corporation (or other form of business association that is treated as a corporation for tax purposes) of which shares (or other ownership interests) having more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Company so as to qualify as a “subsidiary corporation” (within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code).
2.23 Total Shareholder Return
     The sum of (i) the appreciation or depreciation in the price of a share of a company’s common stock, and (ii) the dividends and other distributions paid and/or declared during the applicable Performance Period, expressed as a percentage basis of the Fair Market Value of such share on the first day of the applicable Performance Period, as calculated in a manner determined by the Plan Administrator.
SECTION 3 ADMINISTRATION
     3.1 The Plan shall be administered by the Management Committee, unless the Board of Directors shall otherwise determine the administrator of the Plan.
     
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     3.2 Except for the terms and conditions explicitly set forth in the Plan, the Plan Administrator shall have full authority to construe and interpret the Plan, to establish, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan, to select persons eligible to participate in the Plan, to grant options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights and Restricted Stock thereunder, to administer the Plan, to make recommendations to the Board of Directors, to take all such steps and make all such determinations in connection with the Plan and the options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights and Restricted Stock granted thereunder as it may deem necessary or advisable, which determination shall be final and binding upon all Participants. The Plan Administrator shall cause the Company at its expense to take any action related to the Plan which may be required or necessary to comply with the provisions of any federal or state law or any regulations issued thereunder.
     3.3 Each member of the Management Committee acting as Plan Administrator, while serving as such, shall be considered to be acting in his or her capacity as an officer of the Company. Members of the Management Committee acting under the Plan shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the advice of counsel and shall incur no liability except for gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of their duties.
SECTION 4 ELIGIBILITY
     To be eligible for selection by the Plan Administrator to participate in the Plan, an individual must be an officer or key management employee of the Company, or of any Subsidiary, as of the date on which the Plan Administrator grants to such individual an option, limited Stock appreciation right, stock appreciation right or Restricted Stock or a person who, in the judgment of the Plan Administrator, holds a position of responsibility and is able to contribute substantially to the Company’s continued success. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Plan Administrator may make a grant under this Plan to individuals who are not officers or key management employees, provided that the effectiveness of such grant shall be conditioned upon such individual becoming an officer or key management employee of the Company or any Subsidiary. Members of the Board of Directors of the Company who are full-time salaried officers shall be eligible to participate. Members of the Board of Directors who are not employees are not eligible to participate in this Plan.
SECTION 5 SHARES AVAILABLE FOR THE PLAN
     5.1 Subject to Section 5.2, the maximum number of shares that may be issued for which options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights and Restricted Stock may at any time be granted under the Plan is four million (4,000,000) shares of Common Stock, from shares held in the Company’s treasury or out of authorized but unissued shares of the Company, or partly out of each, as shall be determined by the Plan Administrator, subject to, and reduced by (on a post-split basis),
     
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the number of shares of Common Stock awarded prior to the occurrence of a two-for-one stock split effected by the Company in the form of a 100% stock dividend on April 1, 1998. Any options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights and shares of Restricted Stock outstanding under the Plan on April 1, 1998, shall be adjusted on a two-for-one basis to reflect the stock dividend. For purposes of this Section 5.1, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock issued under this Plan at any time shall equal only the number of shares actually issued upon exercise or settlement of options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights or Restricted Stock and not returned to the Company upon cancellation, expiration or forfeiture (regardless of whether the holder of such awards received dividends or other economic benefits) of any such award or delivered (either actually or by attestation) in payment or satisfaction of the purchase price, exercise price or tax obligation of the award.
     5.2 In the event of a recapitalization, stock split, stock dividend, exchange of shares, merger, reorganization, change in corporate structure or shares of the Company or similar event, the Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of the Plan Administrator, may make appropriate adjustments in the number of shares authorized for the Plan and, with respect to outstanding options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights, and Restricted Stock, the Plan Administrator may make appropriate adjustments in the number of shares and the Option Price.
SECTION 6 STOCK OPTIONS
     6.1 Options may be granted to eligible employees in such number, and at such times during the term of the Plan as the Plan Administrator shall determine, the Plan Administrator taking into account the duties of the respective employees, their present and potential contributions to the success of the Company, and such other factors as the Plan Administrator shall deem relevant in accomplishing the purposes of the Plan. The granting of an option shall take place when the Plan Administrator by resolution, written consent or other appropriate action determines to grant such an option to a particular Participant at a particular price. Each option shall be evidenced by a written instrument delivered by or on behalf of the Company containing provisions not inconsistent with the Plan.
     6.2 All options granted under the Plan shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:
     (a) Option Price
     The Option Price shall be the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date the option is granted, unless otherwise determined by the Plan Administrator.
     
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     (b) Duration of Options
     Options shall be exercisable at such time and under such conditions as set forth in the option grant, but in no event shall any option be exercisable later than the tenth anniversary of the date of its grant.
     (c) Exercise of Options
     Subject to Section 6.2(j), a Participant may not exercise an option until the Participant has completed one (1) year of continuous employment with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from and including the date on which the option is granted, or such shorter or longer period as the Plan Administrator may determine in a particular case. This requirement is waived in the event of death or Permanent Disability of a Participant before such period of continuous employment is completed and may be waived or modified in the agreement evidencing the option or by written notice to the Participant from the Plan Administrator. Thereafter, shares of Common Stock covered by an option may be purchased at one time or in such installments over the balance of the option period as may be provided in the option grant. Any shares not purchased on the applicable installment date may be purchased thereafter at any time prior to the final expiration of the option. To the extent that the right to purchase shares has accrued thereunder, options may be exercised from time to time by written notice to the Company setting forth the number of shares with respect to which the option is being exercised.
     (d) Payment
     The purchase price of shares purchased under options shall be paid in full to the Company upon the exercise of the option by delivery of consideration equal to the product of the Option Price and the number of shares purchased (the “Purchase Price”). Such consideration may be either (i) in cash or (ii) at the discretion of the Plan Administrator, in Common Stock already owned by the Participant for at least six (6) months, or any combination of cash and Common Stock. The Fair Market Value of such Common Stock as delivered shall be valued as of the day prior to delivery. The Plan Administrator can determine at the time the option is granted that additional forms of payment will be permitted. To the extent permitted by the Plan Administrator and applicable laws and regulations (including, but not limited to, federal tax and securities laws, regulations and state corporate law), an option may also be exercised by delivery of a properly executed exercise notice together with irrevocable instructions to a broker to promptly deliver to the Company the amount of sale or loan proceeds to pay the Purchase Price. A Participant shall have none of the rights of a stockholder until the shares of Common Stock are issued to the Participant.
     If specifically authorized in the option grant, a Participant may elect to pay all or a portion of the Purchase Price by having shares of Common Stock with a
     
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Fair Market Value equal to all or a portion of the Purchase Price be withheld from the shares issuable to the Participant upon the exercise of the option; provided that such shall be permitted of a Participant who is a Section 16 Insider only if approved in advance by the Board of Directors or Plan Administrator, if required by Section 16, and rules promulgated thereunder, of the Exchange Act. The Fair Market Value of such Common Stock as is withheld shall be determined as of the same day as the exercise of the option.
     Notwithstanding any other provision in this Plan to the contrary and unless the Plan Administrator shall otherwise determine, in the event of a “cashless” exercise, and for that purpose only under this Plan, a Participant’s compensation shall be equal to the difference between the actual sales price received for the underlying Common Stock and the Option Price. For all other purposes under this Plan, the Fair Market Value shall be the value against which compensation is determined.
     (e) Restrictions
     The Plan Administrator shall determine and reflect in the option grant, with respect to each option, the nature and extent of the restrictions, if any, to be imposed on the shares of Common Stock which may be purchased thereunder, including, but not limited to, restrictions on the transferability of such shares acquired through the exercise of such options for such periods as the Plan Administrator may determine and, further, that in the event a Participant’s employment by the Company, or a Subsidiary, terminates during the period in which such shares are nontransferable, the Participant shall be required to sell such shares back to the Company at such prices as the Plan Administrator may specify in the option. In addition, the Plan Administrator may require that a Participant who wants to effectuate a “cashless” exercise of options be required to sell the shares of Common Stock acquired in the associated exercise to the Company, or in the open market through the use of a broker selected by the Company, at such price and on such terms as the Plan Administrator may determine at the time of grant, or otherwise.
     (f) Nontransferability of Options
     Options granted under the Plan and the rights and privileges conferred thereby shall not be subject to execution, attachment or similar process and may not be transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated in any manner (whether by operation of law or otherwise) other than by will or by the applicable laws of descent and distribution. Notwithstanding the foregoing and only as provided by the Plan Administrator or the Company, as applicable, options may be transferred to a Participant’s immediate family members, directly or indirectly or by means of a trust, corporate entity or partnership (a person who thus acquires this option by such transfer, a “Permitted Transferee”). A transfer of an option may only be effected by the Company at the request of the Participant and shall become
     
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effective upon the Permitted Transferee agreeing to such terms as the Plan Administrator may require and only when recorded in the Company’s record of outstanding options. In the event an option is transferred as contemplated hereby, the option may not be subsequently transferred by the Permitted Transferee except a transfer back to the Participant or by will or the laws of descent and distribution. A transferred option may be exercised by a Permitted Transferee to the same extent as, and subject to the same terms and conditions as, the Participant (except as otherwise provided herein), as if no transfer had taken place. As used herein, “immediate family” shall mean, with respect to any person, such person’s child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, and shall include adoptive relationships. In the event of exercise of a transferred option by a Permitted Transferee, any amounts due to (or to be withheld by) the Company upon exercise of the option shall be delivered by (or withheld from amounts due to) the Participant, the Participant’s estate or the Permitted Transferee, in the reasonable discretion of the Company.
     In addition, to the extent permitted by applicable law and Rule 16b-3, the Plan Administrator may permit a recipient of a Nonqualified Option to designate in writing during the Participant’s lifetime a Beneficiary to receive and exercise the Participant’s options in the event of such Participant’s death (as provided in Section 6.2(i)). Except as otherwise provided for herein, if any Participant attempts to transfer, assign, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of any option under the Plan or of any right or privilege conferred thereby, contrary to the provisions of the Plan or such option, or suffers the sale or levy or any attachment or similar process upon the rights and privileges conferred hereby, all affected options held by such Participant shall be immediately forfeited.
     (g) Purchase for Investment
     The Plan Administrator shall have the right to require that each Participant or other person who shall exercise an option under the Plan, and each person into whose name shares of Common Stock shall be issued pursuant to the exercise of an option, represent and agree that any and all shares of Common Stock purchased pursuant to such option are being purchased for investment only and not with a view to the distribution or resale thereof and that such shares will not be sold except in accordance with such restrictions or limitations as may be set forth in the option. This Section 6.2(g) shall be inoperative during any period of time when the Company has obtained all necessary or advisable approvals from governmental agencies and has completed all necessary or advisable registrations or other qualifications of shares of Common Stock as to which options may from time to time be granted.
     
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     (h) Termination of Employment
     Upon the termination of a Participant’s employment for any reason other than death or Permanent Disability, the Participant’s option shall be exercisable only to the extent that it was then exercisable and, unless the term of the options expires sooner, such options shall expire according to the following schedule; provided, that the Plan Administrator may at any time determine in a particular case that specific limitations and restrictions under the Plan shall not apply:
     (i) Retirement
     The option shall expire, unless exercised, thirty-six (36) months after the Participant’s retirement from the Company or any Subsidiary.
     (ii) Disability
     The option shall expire, unless exercised, thirty-six (36) months after the Participant’s Permanent Disability.
     (iii) Termination
     Subject to subparagraph (iv) below, the option shall expire, unless exercised, not later than thirty-six (36) months, as specified in the grant letter, after a Participant resigns or is terminated as an employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, unless the Plan Administrator shall have determined in a specific case that the option should expire sooner or should terminate when the Participant’s employment status ceases.
     (iv) Termination Following a Change in Control
     The option shall expire, unless exercised, thirty-six (36) months after a Participant’s termination of employment (other than a termination by the Company for Cause or a voluntary termination by the Participant other than for Good Reason) following a Change in Control, provided that said termination of employment occurs within two (2) years following a Change in Control.
     (v) All Other Terminations
     Notwithstanding subparagraphs (iii) and (iv) above, the option shall expire upon termination of employment for Cause.
     (i) Death of Participant
     Upon the death of a Participant, whether during the Participant’s period of employment or during the thirty-six (36) month period referred to in Sections
     
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6.2(h)(i), (ii) and (iii), the option shall expire, unless the original term of the option expires sooner, twelve (12) months after the date of the Participant’s death, unless the option is exercised within such twelve (12) month period by the Participant’s Beneficiary, legal representatives, estate or the person or persons to whom the deceased’s option rights shall have passed by will or the laws of descent and distribution; provided, that the Plan Administrator shall determine in a particular case that specific limitations and restrictions under the Plan shall not apply. Notwithstanding any other Plan provisions pertaining to the times at which options may be exercised, no option shall continue to be exercisable, pursuant to Section 6.2(h) or this Section 6.2(i), at a time that would violate the maximum duration of Section 6.2(b).
     (j) Change in Control
     Notwithstanding other Plan provisions pertaining to the times at which options may be exercised, all outstanding options, to the extent not then currently exercisable, shall become exercisable in full upon the occurrence of a Change in Control. In addition, no option shall continue to be exercisable at a time that would violate the maximum duration of Section 6.2(b).
     (k) Deferral Election
     A Participant may elect irrevocably (at a time and in the manner determined by the Plan Administrator or the Company, as appropriate) at any time prior to exercising an option granted under the Plan that issuance of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of such option and/or associated stock appreciation right shall be deferred until a pre-specified date in the future or until the Participant ceases to be employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as elected by the Participant. After the exercise of any such option and prior to the issuance of any deferred shares, the number of shares of Common Stock issuable to the Participant shall be credited to the deferred stock account (or such other account(s) as the Management Committee shall deem necessary and appropriate) under a memorandum deferred account established pursuant to the Company’s then-existing Deferred Compensation Plan (as it may be further amended) (the “Deferred Compensation Plan”), and any dividends or other distributions paid on the Common Stock (or its equivalent) shall be deemed reinvested in additional shares of Common Stock (or its equivalent) until all credited deferred shares shall become issuable pursuant to the Participant’s election, unless the Management Committee of the Deferred Compensation Plan shall otherwise determine.
SECTION 7 STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
     7.1 The Plan Administrator may grant stock appreciation rights to Participants in connection with any option granted under the Plan, either at the time of the grant of such option or at any time thereafter during the term of the option. Such stock appreciation rights shall cover the same shares covered by the options (or such lesser
     
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number of shares of Common Stock as the Plan Administrator may determine) and shall, except as provided in Section 7.3, be subject to the same terms and conditions as the related options and such further terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as shall from time to time be determined by the Plan Administrator.
     7.2 Each stock appreciation right shall entitle the holder of the related option to surrender to the Company unexercised the related option, or any portion thereof, and to receive from the Company in exchange therefor an amount equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the date the right is exercised over the Option Price per share times the number of shares covered by the option, or portion thereof, which is surrendered. Payment shall be made in shares of Common Stock valued at Fair Market Value as of the date the right is exercised, or in cash, or partly in shares and partly in cash, at the discretion of the Plan Administrator; provided, however, that payment shall be made solely in cash with respect to a stock appreciation right which is exercised within seven (7) months following a Change in Control. Stock appreciation rights may be exercised from time to time upon actual receipt by the Company of written notice stating the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which the stock appreciation right is being exercised. The value of any fractional shares shall be paid in cash.
     7.3 Stock appreciation rights are subject to the following restrictions:
     (a) Each stock appreciation right shall be exercisable at such time or times as the option to which it relates shall be exercisable, or at such other times as the Plan Administrator may determine; provided, however, that such right shall not be exercisable until the Participant shall have completed a six (6) month period of continuous employment with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries immediately following the date on which the stock appreciation right is granted. In the event of death or Permanent Disability of a Participant during employment but before the Participant has completed such period of continuous employment, such stock appreciation right shall be exercisable; but only within the period specified in the related option. In the event of a Change in Control, the requirement that a Participant shall have completed a six (6) month period of continuous employment is waived with respect to a Participant who is employed by the Company at the time of the Change in Control but who, within the six (6) month period, voluntarily terminates employment for Good Reason or is terminated by the Company other than for Cause.
     (b) Except in the event of a Change in Control, the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion may approve or deny in whole or in part a request to exercise a stock appreciation right. Denial or approval of such request shall not require a subsequent request to be similarly treated by the Plan Administrator.
     (c) The right of a Participant to exercise a stock appreciation right shall be canceled if and to the extent the related option is exercised. To the extent
     
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that a stock appreciation right is exercised, the related option shall be deemed to have been surrendered unexercised and canceled.
     (d) A holder of stock appreciation rights shall have none of the rights of a stockholder until shares of Common Stock, if any, are issued to such holder pursuant to such holder’s exercise of such rights.
     (e) The acquisition of Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of a stock appreciation right shall be subject to the same restrictions as would apply to the acquisition of Common Stock acquired upon acquisition of the related option, as set forth in Section 6.2.
SECTION 8 LIMITED STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
     8.1 The Plan Administrator may grant limited stock appreciation rights to Participants in connection with any options granted under the Plan, either at the time of the grant of such option or at any time thereafter during the term of the option. Such limited stock appreciation rights shall cover the same shares covered by the options (or such lesser number of shares of Common Stock as the Plan Administrator may determine) and shall, except as provided in Section 8.3, be subject to the same terms and conditions as the related options and such further terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as shall from time to time be determined by the Plan Administrator.
     8.2 Each limited stock appreciation right shall entitle the holder of the related option to surrender to the Company the unexercised portion of the related option and to receive from the Company in exchange therefor an amount in cash equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of one (1) share of Common Stock on the date the right is exercised over the Option Price per share times the number of shares covered by the option, or portion thereof, which is surrendered.
     8.3 Limited stock appreciation rights are subject to the following restrictions:
     (a) Each limited stock appreciation right shall be exercisable in full for a period of seven (7) months following the date of a Change in Control regardless of whether the holder is employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries on the date the right is exercised; provided. Limited stock appreciation rights shall be exercisable only to the same extent and subject to the same conditions as the options related thereto are exercisable, as provided in Section 6.2(j).
     (b) The right of a Participant to exercise a limited stock appreciation right shall be canceled if and to the extent the related option is exercised. To the extent that a limited stock appreciation right is exercised, the related option shall be deemed to have been surrendered unexercised and canceled.
     
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SECTION 9 RESTRICTED STOCK
     9.1 Restricted Stock may be granted to Participants in such number and at such times during the term of the Plan as the Plan Administrator shall determine, the Plan Administrator taking into account the duties of the respective Participants, their present and potential contributions to the success of the Company, and such other factors as the Plan Administrator shall deem relevant in accomplishing the purposes of the Plan. The granting of Restricted Stock shall take place when the Plan Administrator by resolution, written consent or other appropriate action determines to grant such Restricted Stock to a particular Participant. Each grant shall be evidenced by a written instrument delivered by or on behalf of the Company containing provisions not inconsistent with the Plan. The Participant receiving a grant of Restricted Stock shall be recorded as a stockholder of the Company. Each Participant who receives a grant of Restricted Stock shall have all the rights of a stockholder with respect to such shares (except as provided in the restrictions on transferability), including the right to vote the shares and receive dividends and other distributions; provided, however, that no Participant awarded Restricted Stock shall have any right as a stockholder with respect to any shares subject to the Participant’s Restricted Stock grant prior to the date of issuance to the Participant of a certificate or certificates for such shares, or before the effective date of any book entry form, as applicable.
     9.2 A grant of Restricted Stock shall entitle a Participant to receive, on the date or dates designated by the Plan Administrator, upon payment to the Company of the par value of the Common Stock in a manner determined by the Plan Administrator, the number of shares of Common Stock selected by the Plan Administrator. The Plan Administrator may require, under such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate or desirable, that the certificates for Restricted Stock delivered under the Plan may be held in custody by a bank or other institution, or that the Company may itself hold such shares in custody until the Restriction Period (as defined in Section 9.3) expires or until restrictions thereon otherwise lapse, and may require, as a condition of any issuance of Restricted Stock that the Participant shall have delivered a stock power endorsed in blank relating to the shares of Restricted Stock.
     9.3 During a period of years following the date of grant, as determined by the Plan Administrator, which shall in no event be less than one (1) year and/or until the required Performance Goals are achieved, if applicable (the “Restriction Period”), the Restricted Stock may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise encumbered or disposed of by the recipient, except in the event of death or Permanent Disability, the transfer to the Company as provided under the Plan or the Plan Administrator’s waiver or modification of such restrictions in the agreement evidencing the grant of Restricted Stock, or by resolution of the Plan Administrator adopted at any time.
     9.4 Except as provided in Section 9.5 or 9.6, or as determined by the Plan Administrator, if a Participant terminates employment with the Company for any reason before the expiration of the Restriction Period, all shares of Restricted Stock still subject
     
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to restriction shall be forfeited by the Participant to the Company. In addition, in the event of any attempt by the Participant to sell, exchange, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of shares of Restricted Stock in violation of the terms of the Plan, such shares shall be forfeited to the Company.
     9.5 The Restriction Period for any Participant shall be deemed to end and all restrictions on shares of Restricted Stock shall lapse, upon the Participant’s death or Permanent Disability or any termination of employment determined by the Plan Administrator to end the Restriction Period.
     9.6 The Restriction Period for any Participant shall be deemed to end and all restrictions on shares of Restricted Stock shall terminate immediately upon a Change in Control.
     9.7 When the restrictions imposed by Section 9.3 expire or otherwise lapse with respect to one or more shares of Restricted Stock, the Company shall deliver to the Participant (or the Participant’s legal representative, Beneficiary or heir) one (1) share of Common Stock for each share of Restricted Stock. At that time, the agreement referred to in Section 9.1, as it relates to such shares, shall be terminated.
     9.8 Subject to Section 9.2, a Participant entitled to receive Restricted Stock under the Plan shall be issued a certificate for such shares. Such certificate shall be registered in the name of the Participant, and shall bear an appropriate legend reciting the terms, conditions and restrictions, if any, applicable to such shares and shall be subject to appropriate stop-transfer orders.
     9.9 A Participant may elect irrevocably (at a time and in the manner determined by the Plan Administrator or the Company, as appropriate), prior to vesting of Restricted Stock, that the Participant relinquishes any and all rights in the shares of Restricted Stock in exchange for an interest in the Deferred Compensation Plan and receipt of such shares shall be deferred until a pre-specified date in the future or until the Participant ceases to be employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as elected by the Participant. At the time the restrictions lapse on the shares of Restricted Stock (as specified at the time of grant, or otherwise if changed by the Plan Administrator), the number of shares of Common Stock issuable to the Participant shall be credited to the deferred stock account (or such other account(s) as the Management Committee shall deem necessary and appropriate) under a memorandum deferred account established pursuant to the Deferred Compensation Plan, and any dividends or other distributions paid on the Common Stock (or its equivalent) shall be deemed reinvested in additional shares of Common Stock (or its equivalent) until all credited deferred shares shall become issuable pursuant to the Participant’s election, unless the Management Committee of the Deferred Compensation Plan shall otherwise determine.
     
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SECTION 10 REGULATORY APPROVALS AND LISTING
     10.1 The Company shall not be required to issue any certificate for shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of an option or a stock appreciation right granted under the Plan, with respect to a grant of Restricted Stock:
     (a) obtaining any approval or ruling from the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Internal Revenue Service or any other governmental agency which the Company, in its sole discretion, shall determine to be necessary or advisable;
     (b) listing of such shares on any stock exchange on which the Common Stock may then be listed; or
     (c) completing any registration or other qualification of such shares under any federal or state laws, rulings or regulations of any governmental body which the Company, in its sole discretion, shall determine to be necessary or advisable.
     All certificates, or book-entry accounts, for shares of Common Stock delivered under the Plan shall also be subject to such stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Plan Administrator may deem advisable under the rules, regulations and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange upon which Common Stock is then listed and any applicable federal or State securities laws, and the Plan Administrator may cause a legend or legends to be placed on any such certificates, or notations on such book-entry accounts, to make appropriate reference to such restrictions. The foregoing provisions of this paragraph shall not be effective if and to the extent that the shares of Common Stock delivered under the Plan are covered by an effective and current registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or if and so long as the Plan Administrator determines that application of such provisions as no longer required or desirable. In making such determination, the Plan Administrator may rely upon an opinion of counsel for the Company.
SECTION 11 EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF PLAN
     The Plan was originally adopted by the Board of Directors effective as of June 19, 1996. The Board amended and restated the Plan effective as of December 3, 1999, and also effective as of August 1, 1998, in connection with the reorganization of the Company into a holding company structure whereby El Paso Energy Corporation became the publicly held company and El Paso Natural Gas Company became a wholly owned subsidiary. This Plan was assumed by El Paso Energy Corporation pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption Agreement effective as of August 1, 1998, by and between El Paso Energy Corporation and El Paso Natural Gas Company. Options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights and Restricted Stock may be granted pursuant to the Plan from time to time within the period commencing upon adoption of
      
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the Plan by the Board of Directors and ending ten (10) years after the of such adoption. Options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights and Restricted Stock theretofore granted may extend beyond that date and the terms and conditions of the Plan shall continue to apply thereto and to shares of Common Stock acquired thereunder. To the extent required for compliance with Rule 16b-3, shares of Common Stock underlying options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights, Restricted Stock and Common Stock granted to Section 16 Insiders may not be sold until a date at least six (6) months after the date of such grant.
SECTION l2 GENERAL PROVISIONS
     12.1 Nothing contained in the Plan, or in any option, limited stock appreciation right, stock appreciation right or Restricted Stock granted pursuant to the Plan, shall confer upon any employee any right with respect to continuance of employment by the Company or a Subsidiary, nor interfere in any way with the right of the Company or a Subsidiary to terminate the employment of such employee at any time with or without assigning any reason therefor.
     12.2 Grants, vesting or payment of stock options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights or Restricted Stock shall not be considered as part of a Participant’s salary or used for the calculation of any other pay, allowance, pension or other benefit unless otherwise permitted by other benefit plans provided by the Company or its Subsidiaries, or required by law or by contractual obligations of the Company or its Subsidiaries.
     12.3 The right of a Participant or Beneficiary to the payment of any compensation under the Plan may not be assigned, transferred, pledged or encumbered, nor shall such right or other interests be subject to attachment, garnishment, execution or other legal process.
     12.4 Leaves of absence for such periods and purposes conforming to the personnel policy of the Company, or of its Subsidiaries, as applicable, shall not be deemed terminations or interruptions of employment, unless a Participant commences a leave of absence from which he or she is not expected to return to active employment with the Company or its Subsidiaries.
     12.5 In the event a Participant is transferred from the Company to a Subsidiary, or vice versa, or is promoted or given different responsibilities, the stock options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights and Restricted Stock granted to the Participant prior to such date shall not be affected. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision in this Plan, in the event a Participant becomes an officer or director of the Company subject to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, the Plan Administrator may take any and all action necessary to prevent any violation of Section 16(b), including, but not limited to, accelerating the vesting of options, rights or Restricted Stock, canceling any unvested options, rights or Restricted Stock and/or requiring the Participant to
      
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exercise any and all vested options or rights at such times as the Plan Administrator may determine.
     12.6 The Plan shall be construed and governed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, except that it shall be construed and governed in accordance with applicable federal law in the event that such federal law preempts state law.
     12.7 Appropriate provision shall be made for all taxes required to be withheld in connection with the exercise, grant or other taxable event with respect to options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights, Restricted Stock and Performance Units under the applicable laws and regulations of any governmental authority, whether federal, state or local and whether domestic or foreign, including, but not limited to, the required withholding of a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to a Participant to satisfy the said required minimum tax withholding obligations. Unless otherwise provided in the grant, a Participant is permitted to deliver shares of Common Stock (including shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an option or stock appreciation right other than the option or stock appreciation right currently being exercised, to the extent permitted by applicable regulations) for payment of withholding taxes on the exercise of an option, stock appreciation right, or limited stock appreciation right, upon the grant or vesting of Restricted Stock. At the election of the Plan Administrator or, subject to approval of the Plan Administrator at its sole discretion, at the election of a Participant, shares of Common Stock may be withheld from the shares issuable to the Participant upon the exercise of an option or stock appreciation right or upon the vesting of the Restricted Stock to satisfy tax withholding obligations. The Fair Market Value of Common Stock as delivered pursuant to this Section 12.7 shall be valued as of the day prior to delivery, and shall be calculated in accordance with Section 2.9.
     Any Participant that makes a Section 83(b) election under the Code shall, within ten (10) days of making such election, notify the Company in writing of such election and shall provide the Company with a copy of such election form filed with the Internal Revenue Service.
     Tax advice should be obtained by the Participant prior to the Participant’s (i) entering into any transaction under or with respect to the Plan, (ii) designating or choosing the times of distributions under the Plan, or (iii) disposing of any shares of Common Stock issued under the Plan.
     12.8 Any amounts (deferred or otherwise) to be paid to Participants pursuant to the Plan are unfunded obligations. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is required to segregate any monies from its general funds, to create any trusts or to make any special deposits with respect to this obligation. The Management Committee, in its sole discretion, may direct the Company to share with its subsidiaries the costs of a portion of the incentive awards paid to Participants who are executives of those companies. Beneficial ownership of any investments, including trust investments which the Company may make to fulfill this obligation, shall at all times remain in the Company. Any
      
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investments and the creation or maintenance of any trust or any Participant account shall not create or constitute a trust or a fiduciary relationship between the Plan Administrator, the Management Committee, the Company or any Subsidiary and a Participant, or otherwise create any vested or beneficial interest in any Participant or the Participant’s Beneficiary or the Participant’s creditors in any assets of the Company or its Subsidiaries whatsoever. The Participants shall have no claim against the Company for any changes in the value of any assets which may be invested or reinvested by the Company with respect to the Plan.
SECTION 13 COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 16b-3
     The Company’s intention is that, so long as any of the Company’s equity securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act, with respect to awards granted to or held by Section 16 Insiders, the Plan shall comply in all respects with Rule 16b-3, or with any other exemption available pursuant to Section 16 of the Exchange Act or rules thereunder, and, if any Plan provision is later found not to be in compliance with Rule 16b-3, that provision shall be deemed modified as necessary to meet the requirements of Rule 16b-3.
     Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the Board of Directors, in its absolute discretion, may bifurcate the Plan so as to restrict, limit or condition the use of any provision of the Plan to Participants who are Section 16 Insiders without so restricting, limiting or conditioning the Plan with respect to other Participants.
SECTION 14 AMENDMENT, TERMINATION OR DISCONTINUANCE OF THE PLAN
     14.1 Subject to the Board of Directors and Section 14.2, the Plan Administrator may from time to time make such amendments to the Plan as it may deem proper and in the best interest of the Company, including, but not limited to, any amendment necessary to ensure that the Company may obtain any regulatory approval referred to in Section 10; provided, however, that no change in any option, limited stock appreciation right, stock appreciation right or Restricted Stock theretofore granted may be made without the consent of the Participant which would impair the right of the Participant to acquire or retain Common Stock or cash that the Participant may have acquired as a result of the Plan.
     14.2 The Board of Directors may at any time suspend the operation of or terminate the Plan with respect to any shares of Common Stock or rights which are not at that time subject to option, limited stock appreciation right, stock appreciation right or grant of Restricted Stock.
      
El Paso Energy Corporation   Page 21
Strategic Stock Plan    

 


 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused the Plan to be amended and restated effective as of December 3, 1999.
         
  EL PASO ENERGY CORPORATION
 
 
  By:    /s/ Joel Richards III     
    Joel Richards III   
    Executive Vice President   
 
Attest:
     
/s/ David L. Siddall
 
Corporate Secretary
   
      
El Paso Energy Corporation   Page 22
Strategic Stock Plan    

 

EX-10.L.1 24 h53583exv10wlw1.htm AMENDMENT NO.1 TO STRATEGIC STOCK PLAN exv10wlw1
 

EXHIBIT 10.L.1
AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE
EL PASO ENERGY CORPORATION
STRATEGIC STOCK PLAN
     Pursuant to Section 14.1 of the El Paso Energy Corporation Strategic Stock Plan, Amended and Restated effective as of December 3, 1999 (the “Plan”), the Plan is hereby amended as follows, effective February 7, 2001:
     WHEREAS, the Certificate of Incorporation of El Paso Energy Corporation, a Delaware corporation, was amended to change the name of the corporation to El Paso Corporation effective February 7, 2001.
     NOW THEREFORE, the name of the Plan is hereby changed to the “El Paso Corporation Strategic Stock Plan” and all references in the Plan to “El Paso Energy Corporation” or the “Company” shall mean “El Paso Corporation.”
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this amendment to be duly executed on this 7th day of February 2001.
         
  EL PASO CORPORATION
 
 
  By:    /s/ Joel Richards III     
    Joel Richards III   
    Executive Vice President
Human Resources and Administration 
 
 
Attest:
     
/s/ David L. Siddall
 
Corporate Secretary
   

 

EX-10.L.2 25 h53583exv10wlw2.htm AMENDMENT NO.2 TO STRATEGIC STOCK PLAN exv10wlw2
 

EXHIBIT 10.L.2
AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO THE
EL PASO CORPORATION
STRATEGIC STOCK PLAN
     Pursuant to Section 14.1 of the El Paso Corporation Strategic Stock Plan, Amended and Restated effective as of December 3, 1999, as amended (the “Plan”), the Plan is hereby amended as follows, effective November 7, 2002:
     Section 4 is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:
     “To be eligible for selection by the Plan Administrator to participate in the Plan, an individual must be an officer or key management employee of the Company, or of any Subsidiary, as of the date on which the Plan Administrator grants to such individual an option, limited stock appreciation right, stock appreciation right or Restricted Stock or a person who, in the judgment of the Plan Administrator, holds a position of responsibility and is able to contribute substantially to the Company’s continued success. Members of the Board of Directors of the Company who are full-time salaried officers shall be eligible to participate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Plan Administrator may make a grant under this Plan to members of the Board of Directors who are not employees of the Company but contribute substantially to the Company’s continued success and to individuals who are not officers or key management employees, provided that the effectiveness of such grant shall be conditioned upon such individual becoming an officer or key management employee of the Company or any Subsidiary. “Termination of employment,” as it relates to non-employee members of the Board of Directors, who participate in the Plan, shall mean the cessation of a Director’s continued service on the Board under the Plan.”
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this amendment to be duly executed on this 7th day of November, 2002.
         
  EL PASO CORPORATION
 
 
  By:     /s/ David E. Zerhusen        
    David E. Zerhusen   
    Its Executive Vice President Administration   
 
ATTEST:
         
By:  
  /s/ David L. Siddall 
 
Corporate Secretary
   

 

EX-10.L.3 26 h53583exv10wlw3.htm AMENDMENT NO.3 TO STRATEGIC STOCK PLAN exv10wlw3
 

EXHIBIT 10.L.3
AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO THE
EL PASO CORPORATION
STRATEGIC STOCK PLAN
     Pursuant to Section 14.1 of the El Paso Corporation Strategic Stock Plan, Amended and Restated effective as of December 3, 1999, as amended (the “Plan”), the Plan is hereby amended as follows, effective December 6, 2002:
     A new Section 12.9 is added to read as follows:
“12.9 Any stock options or other awards outstanding under the Plan may be changed to reduce the exercise price, cancelled in exchange for other compensation, or repurchased, subject to such terms as the Plan Administrator shall determine is appropriate, provided that the Company shall obtain the consent or approval of the Participant to any such reduction in exercise price, cancellation or repurchase if and to the extent required under the terms of the Plan, stock option or other award. Any such stock options or other equity awards will then be placed back into the Plan for reissuance.”
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this amendment to be duly executed on this 6th day of December, 2002.
         
  EL PASO CORPORATION
 
 
  By:   /s/ David E. Zerhusen   
    David E. Zerhusen   
    Its Executive Vice President Administration   
 
Attest:
     
/s/ David L. Siddall
 
Corporate Secretary
   

 

EX-10.L.4 27 h53583exv10wlw4.htm AMENDMENT NO.4 TO STRATEGIC STOCK PLAN exv10wlw4
 

EXHIBIT 10.L.4
AMENDMENT NO. 4 TO THE
EL PASO CORPORATION
STRATEGIC STOCK PLAN
     Pursuant to Section 14.1 of the El Paso Corporation Strategic Stock Plan, Amended and Restated effective as of December 3, 1999, as amended (the “Plan”), the Plan is hereby amended as follows, effective January 29, 2003:
     A new Section 5.3 is added to read as follows:
“5.3 Subject to Sections 5.1 and 5.2, shares of Common Stock may be issued from the Plan to members of the Board of Directors who are not employees of the Company pursuant to the terms and conditions of the (1) El Paso Corporation 1995 Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors, Amended and Restated effective as of January 29, 2002 (the “Director’s Plan”), for allocation of the Director’s “Deferred Compensation” or “Deferred Retirement Benefit Credit” paid for past and future “Plan Quarters” (all terms in quotations shall have the same meanings as defined under the Director’s Plan),” and (2) El Paso Corporation 2001 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors.
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this amendment to be duly executed on this 29th day of January, 2003.
         
  EL PASO CORPORATION
 
 
  By:     /s/ David E. Zerhusen        
    David E. Zerhusen   
    Its Executive Vice President Administration   
 
ATTEST:
         
By:  
  /s/ David L. Siddall 
 
Corporate Secretary
     

 

EX-10.N.1 28 h53583exv10wnw1.htm TERMINATION OF THE EXECUTIVE AWARD PLAN OF SONAT INC exv10wnw1
 

EXHIBIT 10.N.1
TERMINATION OF THE
EXECUTIVE AWARD PLAN OF
SONAT INC.
     El Paso Energy Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“El Paso”), as successor to Sonat Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Sonat”), does hereby terminate the Executive Award Plan of Sonat Inc. (the “Plan”) as set forth below:
     WHEREAS, on October 25, 1999, Sonat merged with and into El Paso (the “Merger”) pursuant to the terms of the Second Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of March 13, 1999 by and between Sonat and El Paso (the “Merger Agreement”); and
     WHEREAS, El Paso, as successor to Sonat and pursuant to Section 6.10(a) of the Merger Agreement, has assumed all of Sonat’s obligations under the Plan; and
     WHEREAS, the Merger was a Change of Control (as defined in the Plan); and
     WHEREAS, El Paso has satisfied all of its obligations under the Plan with respect to the occurrence of the Change of Control.
     NOW, THEREFORE, the Plan is hereby terminated, effective as of December 31, 1999. The termination of the Plan shall not impair any of the rights of any holder of any award outstanding on such date without the holder’s written consent.
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this document has been executed by El Paso Energy Corporation as of October 25, 1999.
         
  EL PASO ENERGY CORPORATION
 
 
  By:      /s/ Joel Richards III    
    Joel Richards III   
    Executive Vice President
Human Resources and Administration 
 
 

 

EX-10.O 29 h53583exv10wo.htm AMENDED OMNIBUS PLAN FOR MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEES exv10wo
 

EXHIBIT 10.O
EL PASO ENERGY CORPORATION
OMNIBUS PLAN FOR
MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEES
Amended and Restated Effective as of December 3, 1999

 


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
             
        Page
SECTION 1
  PURPOSE     1
 
           
SECTION 2
  DEFINITIONS     1
 
  2.1 Beneficiary     1
 
  2.2 Board of Directors     1
 
  2.3 Cause     1
 
  2.4 Change in Control     2
 
  2.5 Code     3
 
  2.6 Common Stock     3
 
  2.7 Exchange Act     3
 
  2.8 Fair Market Value     3
 
  2.9 Good Reason     4
 
  2.10 Management Committee     4
 
  2.11 Option     5
 
  2.12 Option Price     5
 
  2.13 Participant     5
 
  2.14 Permanent Disability or Permanently Disabled     5
 
  2.15 Plan Administrator     5
 
  2.16 Restricted Stock     5
 
  2.17 Subsidiary     5
 
           
SECTION 3
  ADMINISTRATION     6
 
           
SECTION 4
  ELIGIBILITY     6
 
           
SECTION 5
  SHARES AVAILABLE FOR THE PLAN     7
 
           
SECTION 6
  STOCK OPTIONS     7
 
           
SECTION 7
  STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS     12
 
           
SECTION 8
  LIMITED STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS     13
 
           
SECTION 9
  RESTRICTED STOCK     14
 
           
SECTION 10
  REGULATORY APPROVALS AND LISTING     16
 
           
SECTION 11
  EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF THE PLAN     16
 
           
SECTION 12
  GENERAL PROVISIONS     17
 
           
SECTION 13
  AMENDMENT, TERMINATION OR DISCONTINUANCE
OF THE PLAN
    19
      
El Paso Energy Corporation
Omnibus Plan for Management Employees
      Table of Contents

- i -


 

EL PASO ENERGY CORPORATION
OMNIBUS PLAN FOR MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEES
Amended and Restated Effective as of December 3, 1999
SECTION 1 PURPOSE
     The purpose of the El Paso Energy Corporation Omnibus Plan for Management Employees, originally known as the El Paso Natural Gas Company Stock Option Plan for Management Employees, (the “Plan”) is to promote the interests of El Paso Energy Corporation (the “Company”) and its stockholders by strengthening its ability to attract and retain key employees in the employ of the Company and its Subsidiaries (as defined below) by furnishing suitable recognition of their ability and industry which materially contributes to the success of the Company. The Plan provides for the grant of stock options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights and restricted stock in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth below.
SECTION 2 DEFINITIONS
     Unless otherwise required by the context, the following terms when used in the Plan shall have the meanings set forth in this Section 2:
2.1 Beneficiary
     The person or persons designated by the Participant pursuant to Section 6.2(f) to whom payments are to be paid pursuant to the terms of the Plan in the event of the Participant’s death.
2.2 Board of Directors
     The Board of Directors of the Company.
2.3 Cause
     A termination for Cause is a termination evidenced by a statement adopted in good faith by the Management Committee that the Participant (i) willfully and continually failed to substantially perform the Participant’s duties with the Company (other than a failure resulting from the Participant’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness) which failure continued for a period of at least thirty (30) days after a written notice of demand for substantial performance has been delivered to the Participant specifying the manner in which the Participant has failed to substantially perform or (ii) willfully engaged in conduct which is demonstrably and materially injurious to the Company, monetarily or otherwise; provided, however, that no termination of the Participant’s employment shall be for Cause as set forth in clause (ii) above until (A) there shall have been delivered to
      
El Paso Energy Corporation
Omnibus Plan for Management Employees
  Page 1

 


 

the Participant a copy of a written notice setting forth that the Participant was guilty of the conduct set forth in clause (ii) above and specifying the particulars thereof in detail, and (B) the Participant shall have been provided an opportunity to be heard by the Management Committee (with the assistance of the Participant’s counsel if the Participant so desires). No act, nor failure to act, on the Participant’s part shall be considered “willful” unless the Participant has acted, or failed to act, with an absence of good faith and without a reasonable belief that the Participant’s action or failure to act was in the best interest of the Company. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Plan to the contrary, no failure to perform by the Participant after notice of termination is given to the Participant shall constitute Cause.
2.4 Change in Control
     As used in the Plan, a Change in Control shall be deemed to occur (i) if any person (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing twenty percent (20%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities, (ii) upon the first purchase of the Common Stock pursuant to a tender or exchange offer (other than a tender or exchange offer made by the Company), (iii) upon the approval by the Company’s stockholders of a merger or consolidation, a sale or disposition of all or substantially all the Company’s assets or a plan of liquidation or dissolution of the Company, or (iv) if, during any period of two (2) consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board of Directors cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof, unless the election or nomination for the election by the Company’s stockholders of each new director was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who were directors at the beginning of the period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur if the Company either merges or consolidates with or into another company or sells or disposes of all or substantially all of its assets to another company, if such merger, consolidation, sale or disposition is in connection with a corporate restructuring wherein the stockholders of the Company immediately before such merger, consolidation, sale or disposition own, directly or indirectly, immediately following such merger, consolidation, sale or disposition at least eighty percent (80%) of the combined voting power of all outstanding classes of securities of the company resulting from such merger or consolidation, or to which the Company sells or disposes of its assets, in substantially the same proportion as their ownership in the Company immediately before such merger, consolidation, sale or disposition. In addition, the consummation of the merger between the Company and Sonat Inc. as publicly announced on March 15, 1999, and as the terms of such merger may be amended or modified, shall not constitute a Change in Control under this Plan with respect to all grants made pursuant to the Plan to employees who are hired, promoted, or acquired in an acquisition (including, but not limited to, employees of EnCap Investments L.L.C.) effective on or after January 29, 1999, through the date of consummation of the Company and Sonat Inc. merger.
      
El Paso Energy Corporation   Page 2
Omnibus Plan for Management Employees    

 


 

2.5 Code
     The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time, and the temporary or final regulations of the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury adopted pursuant to the Code.
2.6 Common Stock
     The common stock of the Company, $3 par value per share, or such other class of shares or other securities as may be applicable pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.
2.7 Exchange Act
     The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
2.8 Fair Market Value
     As applied to a specific date, Fair Market Value shall be deemed to be the mean between the highest and lowest quoted selling prices at which Common Stock was sold on such date as reported in the NYSE-Composite Transactions by The Wall Street Journal on such date, or if no Common Stock was traded on such date, on the next preceding day on which Common Stock was so traded.
     Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the exercise,
     (a) during the thirty (30) day period following a Change in Control, of a limited stock appreciation right or stock appreciation right granted in connection with an Option more than six (6) months prior to a Change in Control, or
     (b) during the seven (7) month period following a Change in Control, of a limited stock appreciation right or of a stock appreciation right granted in connection with an Option less than six (6) months prior to a Change in Control,
On or after a Change in Control, Fair Market Value on the date of exercise shall be deemed to be the greater of (i) the highest price per share of Common Stock as reported in the NYSE-Composite Transactions by The Wall Street Journal during the sixty (60) day period ending on the day preceding the date of exercise of the stock appreciation right or limited stock appreciation right, as the case may be, and (ii) if the Change in Control is one described in clause (ii) or (iii) of Section 2.4, the highest price per share paid for Common Stock in connection with such Change in Control.
      
El Paso Energy Corporation   Page 3
Omnibus Plan for Management Employees    

 


 

2.9 Good Reason
     Good Reason shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events or conditions, after a Change in Control:
     (a) a change in the Participant’s status, title, position or responsibilities (including reporting responsibilities) which, in the Participant’s reasonable judgment, represents a substantial reduction of the status, title, position or responsibilities as in effect immediately prior thereto; the assignment to the Participant of any duties or responsibilities which, in the Participant’s reasonable judgment, are inconsistent with such status, title, position or responsibilities; or any removal of the Participant from or failure to reappoint or reelect the Participant to any of such positions, except in connection with the termination of the Participant’s employment for Cause, for Permanent Disability, as a result of his or her death, or by the Participant other than for Good Reason;
     (b) a reduction in the Participant’s annual base salary;
     (c) the Company requires the Participant (without the consent of the Participant) to be based at any place outside a thirty-five (35) mile radius of his or her place of employment prior to a Change in Control, except for reasonably required travel due to the Company’s business which is not materially greater than such travel requirements prior to the Change in Control;
     (d) the failure by the Company to (i) continue in effect any material compensation or benefit plan in which the Participant was participating at the time of the Change in Control, including, but not limited to, the Plan, the El Paso Energy Corporation Pension Plan and the El Paso Energy Corporation Retirement Savings Plan; or (ii) provide the Participant with compensation and benefits at least equal (in terms of benefit levels and/or reward opportunities) to those provided for under each employee benefit plan, program and practice as in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control (or as in effect following the Change in Control, if greater);
     (e) any material breach by the Company of any provision of the Plan; or
     (f) any purported termination of the Participant’s employment for Cause by the Company which does not otherwise comply with the terms of the Plan.
2.10 Management Committee
     A committee consisting of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and such other officers as the Chief Executive Officer shall designate.
      
El Paso Energy Corporation   Page 4
Omnibus Plan for Management Employees    

 


 

2.11 Option
     A stock option which is not intended to meet the requirements of an Incentive Stock Option, as defined in Section 422 of the Code.
2.12 Option Price
     The price per share of Common Stock at which each Option is exercisable.
2.13 Participant
     An eligible employee to whom an Option, limited stock appreciation right, stock appreciation right or Restricted Stock is granted under the Plan as set forth in Section 4.
2.14 Permanent Disability or Permanently Disabled
     A Participant shall be deemed to have become Permanently Disabled for purposes of the Plan if the Chief Executive Officer of the Company shall find upon the basis of medical evidence satisfactory to the Chief Executive Officer that the Participant is totally disabled, whether due to physical or mental condition, so as to be prevented from engaging in further employment with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and that such disability will be permanent and continuous during the remainder of the Participant’s life.
2.15 Plan Administrator
     The Management Committee shall, pursuant to Section 3, administer the Plan.
2.16 Restricted Stock
     Common Stock granted under the Plan that is subject to the requirements of Section 9 and such other restrictions as the Plan Administrator deems appropriate.
2.17 Subsidiary
     An entity that is designated by the Plan Administrator as a subsidiary for purposes of the Plan and that is a corporation (or other form of business association that is treated as a corporation for tax purposes) of which shares (or other ownership interests) having more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Company so as to qualify as a “subsidiary corporation” within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code.
      
El Paso Energy Corporation   Page 5
Omnibus Plan for Management Employees    

 


 

SECTION 3 ADMINISTRATION
     3.1 The Plan shall be administered by the Management Committee, unless the Board of Directors shall otherwise determine the administrator of the Plan. The administrator of the Plan is referred to herein as the “Plan Administrator.”
     3.2 The members of the Management Committee serving as Plan Administrator shall be appointed by the Chief Executive Officer for such term as the Chief Executive Officer may determine. The Chief Executive Officer may from time to time remove members from, or add members to, the Management Committee.
     3.3 Except for the terms and conditions explicitly set forth in the Plan, the Plan Administrator shall have full authority to construe and interpret the Plan, to establish, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan, to select persons eligible to participate in the Plan, to grant Options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights and Restricted Stock thereunder, to administer the Plan, to make recommendations to the Board of Directors, to take all such steps and make all such determinations in connection with the Plan and the Options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights and Restricted Stock granted thereunder as it may deem necessary or advisable, which determination shall be final and binding upon all Participants. The Plan Administrator shall cause the Company at its expense to take any action related to the Plan which may be required or necessary to comply with the provisions of any federal or state law or any regulations issued thereunder.
     3.4 Each member of the Management Committee acting as Plan Administrator, while serving as such, shall be considered to be acting in his or her capacity as an officer of the Company. Members of the Management Committee acting under the Plan shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the advice of counsel and shall incur no liability except for gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of their duties.
SECTION 4 ELIGIBILITY
     To be eligible for selection by the Plan Administrator to participate in the Plan, an individual must be a salaried employee (other than an employee who is a member of a unit covered by a collective bargaining agreement) of the Company, or of any Subsidiary, as of the date on which the Plan Administrator grants to such individual an Option, limited stock appreciation right, stock appreciation right or Restricted Stock and who in the judgment of the Plan Administrator holds a position of responsibility and is able to contribute substantially to the Company’s continued success.
      
El Paso Energy Corporation   Page 6
Omnibus Plan for Management Employees    

 


 

SECTION 5 SHARES AVAILABLE FOR THE PLAN
     5.1 Subject to Section 5.2, the maximum number of shares for which Options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights and Restricted Stock may at any time be granted under the Plan is twenty-two million (22,000,000) shares of Common Stock, from shares held in the Company’s treasury or out of authorized but unissued shares of the Company, or partly out of each, as shall be determined by the Plan Administrator, subject to, and reduced by (on a post-split basis), the number of shares of Common Stock awarded prior to the occurrence of a two-for-one stock split effected by the Company in the form of a 100% stock dividend on April 1, 1998. Any Options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights and shares of Restricted Stock outstanding under the Plan on April 1, 1998, shall be adjusted on a two-for-one basis to reflect the stock dividend. For purposes of this Section 5.1, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock issued under this Plan at any time shall equal only the number of shares actually issued upon exercise or settlement of options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights or Restricted Stock and not returned to the Company upon cancellation, expiration or forfeiture (regardless of whether the holder of such awards received dividends or other economic benefits) of any such award or delivered (either actually or by attestation) in payment or satisfaction of the purchase price, exercise price or tax obligation of the award.
     5.2 In the event of a recapitalization, stock split, stock dividend, exchange of shares, merger, reorganization, change in corporate structure or shares of the Company or similar event, the Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of the Plan Administrator, may make appropriate adjustments in the number of shares authorized for the Plan and, with respect to outstanding Options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights and Restricted Stock, the Plan Administrator may make appropriate adjustments in the number of shares and the Option Price.
SECTION 6 STOCK OPTIONS
     6.1 Options may be granted to eligible employees in such number and at such times during the term of the Plan as the Plan Administrator shall determine. When determining a grant, the Plan Administrator may take into account the duties of the respective employees, their present and potential contributions to the success of the Company, and such other factors as the Plan Administrator shall deem relevant in accomplishing the purpose of the Plan. The granting of an Option shall take place when the Plan Administrator determines to grant such an Option to a particular Participant at the Option Price. Each Option shall be evidenced by a written instrument delivered by or on behalf of the Company containing provisions not inconsistent with the Plan.
     6.2 All Options under the Plan shall be granted subject to the following terms and conditions:
      
El Paso Energy Corporation   Page 7
Omnibus Plan for Management Employees    

 


 

     (a) Option Price
     The Option Price shall be the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date the Option is granted, unless otherwise specified by the Plan Administrator.
     (b) Duration of Options
     Options shall be exercisable at such time and under such conditions as set forth in the Option grant, but in no event shall any Option be exercisable later than the tenth anniversary of the date of its grant.
     (c) Exercise of Options
     Subject to Section 6.2(j), a Participant may not exercise an Option until the Participant has completed one (1) year of continuous employment with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries immediately following the date on which the Option is granted, or such other shorter or longer period as the Plan Administrator may determine in a particular case. This requirement is waived in the event of death or Permanent Disability of a Participant before such period of continuous employment is completed and may be waived or modified in the agreement evidencing the Option or by written notice to the Participant from the Plan Administrator. Thereafter, shares of Common Stock covered by an Option may be purchased at one time or in such installments over the balance of the Option period as may be provided in the Option grant. Any shares not purchased on the applicable installment date may be purchased at one time or in such installments at any time prior to the final expiration of the Option as may be provided in the Option grant. To the extent that the right to purchase shares has accrued thereunder, Options may be exercised from time to time by providing written notice to the Company setting forth the number of shares to which the Option is being exercised.
     (d) Payment
     The product of the Option Price and the number of shares purchased (the “Purchase Price”) shall be paid in full to the Company upon the exercise of an Option. The Purchase Price may be paid either (i) in cash or (ii) at the discretion of the Plan Administrator, in Common Stock already owned by the Participant for at least six (6) months, or any combination of cash and Common Stock. The Fair Market Value of such Common Stock as delivered shall be valued as of the day prior to delivery. To the extent permitted by the Plan Administrator and applicable laws and regulations (including, but not limited to, federal tax and securities laws and regulations and state corporate law), an Option may also be exercised by delivering a properly executed exercise notice together with irrevocable instructions to a broker to promptly deliver to the Company the
      
El Paso Energy Corporation   Page 8
Omnibus Plan for Management Employees    

 


 

amount of sale or loan proceeds to pay the Purchase Price. A Participant shall have none of the rights of a stockholder until the shares of Common Stock are issued to the Participant.
     Notwithstanding any other provision in this Plan to the contrary and unless the Plan Administrator shall otherwise determine, in the event of a “cashless” exercise, and for that purpose only under this Plan, a Participant’s compensation shall be equal to the difference between the actual sales price received for the underlying Common Stock and the Option Price. For all other purposes under this Plan, the Fair Market Value shall be value against which compensation is determined.
     (e) Restrictions
     The Plan Administrator shall determine, with respect to each Option, the nature and extent of the restrictions, if any, to be imposed on the shares of Common Stock which may be purchased thereunder, including, but not limited to, restrictions on the transferability of such shares acquired through the exercise of an Option for such periods as the Plan Administrator may determine and, further, that in the event a Participant’s employment by the Company, or a Subsidiary, terminates during the period in which such shares are nontransferable, the Participant shall be required to sell such shares back to the Company at such prices as the Plan Administrator may specify in the Option. In addition, the Plan Administrator may require that a Participant who wants to effectuate a “cashless” exercise of Options be required to sell the shares of Common Stock acquired in the associated exercise to the Company, or in the open market through the use of a broker selected by the Plan Administrator, at such price and on such terms as the Plan Administrator may determine at the time of grant, or otherwise.
     (f) Nontransferability of Options
     During a Participant’s lifetime, an Option may be exercisable only by the Participant. Options granted under the Plan and the rights and privileges conferred thereby shall not be subject to execution, attachment or similar process and may not be transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated in any manner (whether by operation of law or otherwise) other than by will or by the applicable laws of descent and distribution, except that to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Plan Administrator may permit a recipient of an Option to designate in writing during the Participant’s lifetime a Beneficiary to receive and exercise Options in the event of such Participant’s death (as provided in Section 6.2(i)). Any attempt to transfer, assign, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of any Option under the Plan or of any right or privilege conferred thereby, contrary to the provisions of the Plan, or the sale or levy or any attachment or similar process upon the rights and privileges conferred hereby, shall be null and void.
      
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     (g) Purchase for Investment
     The Plan Administrator shall have the right to require that each Participant or other person who shall exercise an Option under the Plan, and each person into whose name shares of Common Stock shall be issued pursuant to the exercise of an Option, represent and agree that any and all shares of Common Stock purchased pursuant to such Option are being purchased for investment only and not with a view to the distribution or resale thereof and that such shares will not be sold except in accordance with such restrictions or limitations as may be set forth in the Option. This Section 6.2(g) shall be inoperative during any period of time when the Company has obtained all necessary or advisable approvals from governmental agencies and has completed all necessary or advisable registrations or other qualifications of shares of Common Stock as to which Options may from time to time be granted.
     (h) Termination of Employment
     Upon the termination of a Participant’s employment for any reason other than death or Permanent Disability, the Participant’s Option shall be exercisable only to the extent that it was then exercisable and, unless the term of the Option expires sooner, such Option shall expire according to the following schedule; provided, that the Plan Administrator may at any time determine in a particular case that specific limitations and restrictions under the Plan shall not apply:
          (i) Retirement
     The Option shall expire, unless exercised, thirty-six (36) months after the Participant’s retirement from the Company or any Subsidiary.
          (ii) Disability
     The Option shall expire, unless exercised, thirty-six (36) months after the Participant’s Permanent Disability.
          (iii) Termination
     Subject to subparagraph (iv) below, the Option shall expire, unless exercised, not later than thirty-six (36) months, as specified in the grant letter, after a Participant resigns or is terminated as an employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, unless the Plan Administrator shall have determined in a specific case that the Option should expire sooner or should terminate when the Participant’s employment status ceases.
      
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          (iv) Termination Following a Change in Control
     The Option shall expire, unless exercised, within thirty-six (36) months of a Participant’s termination of employment (other than a termination by the Company for Cause or a voluntary termination by the Participant other than for Good Reason) following a Change in Control, provided that said termination of employment occurs within two (2) years following a Change in Control.
          (v) All Other Terminations
     Except as provided in subparagraphs (iii) and (iv) above, the Option shall expire upon termination of employment.
     (i) Death of Participant
     Upon the death of a Participant, whether during the Participant’s period of employment or during the thirty-six (36) month period referred to in Sections 6.2(h)(i), (ii) and (iii), the Option shall expire, unless the term of the Option expires sooner, twelve (12) months after the date of the Participant’s death, unless the Option is exercised within such twelve (12) month period by the Participant’s Beneficiary, legal representatives, estate or the person or persons to whom the deceased’s Option rights shall have passed by will or the laws of descent and distribution; provided, that the Plan Administrator may determine in a particular case that specific limitations and restrictions under the Plan shall not apply.
     (j) Change in Control
     Notwithstanding other Plan provisions pertaining to the times at which Options may be exercised, all outstanding Options, to the extent not then currently exercisable, shall become exercisable in full upon the occurrence of a Change in Control. No Option shall be exercisable at a time that would violate the maximum duration of Section 6.2(b).
     (k) Deferral Election
     A Participant may elect irrevocably (at a time and in a manner determined by the Plan Administrator or the Company, as appropriate) at any time prior to exercising an option granted under the Plan that issuance of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of such option and/or associated stock appreciation right shall be deferred until a pre-specified date in the future or until the Participant ceases to be employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as elected by the Participant. After the exercise of any such option and prior to the issuance of any deferred shares, the number of shares of Common Stock issuable to the Participant shall be credited to the deferred stock account (or such other
      
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account(s) as the Management Committee shall deem necessary and appropriate) under a memorandum deferred account established pursuant to the Company’s then-existing Deferred Compensation Plan (as it may be further amended) (the “Deferred Compensation Plan”), and any dividends or other distributions paid on the Common Stock (or its equivalent) shall be deemed reinvested in additional shares of Common Stock (or its equivalent) until all credited deferred shares shall become issuable pursuant to the Participant’s election, unless the Management Committee of the Deferred Compensation Plan shall otherwise determine.
SECTION 7 STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
     7.1 The Plan Administrator may grant stock appreciation rights to Participants in connection with any Option granted under the Plan, either at the time of the grant of such Option or at any time thereafter during the term of the Option. Such stock appreciation rights shall cover the same shares covered by the Options (or such lesser number of shares of Common Stock as the Plan Administrator may determine) and shall, except as provided in Section 7.3, be subject to the same terms and conditions as the related Options and such further terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as shall from time to time be determined by the Plan Administrator.
     7.2 Each stock appreciation right shall entitle the holder of the related Option to surrender to the Company the related unexercised Option, or any portion thereof, and to receive from the Company in exchange therefor an amount equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the date the right is exercised over the Option Price per share times the number of shares covered by the Option, or portion thereof, which is surrendered. Payment shall be made in shares of Common Stock valued at Fair Market Value as of the date the right is exercised, or in cash, or partly in shares and partly in cash, at the discretion of the Plan Administrator; provided, however, that payment shall be made solely in cash with respect to a stock appreciation right which is exercised within seven (7) months following a Change in Control. Stock appreciation rights may be exercised from time to time upon actual receipt by the Company of written notice stating the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which the stock appreciation rights are being exercised. The value of any fractional shares shall be paid in cash.
     7.3 Stock appreciation rights are subject to the following restrictions:
     (a) Each stock appreciation right shall be exercisable at such time or times that the Option to which they relate shall be exercisable or at such other times as the Plan Administrator may determine; provided, however, that such rights shall not be exercisable until the Participant shall have completed six (6) months of continuous employment with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries immediately following the date on which the stock appreciation right is granted. In the event of death or Permanent Disability of a Participant during employment
      
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but before the Participant has completed such period of continuous employment, such stock appreciation right shall be exercisable only within the period specified in the related Option. In the event of a Change in Control, the requirement that a Participant shall have completed a six (6) month period of continuous employment is waived with respect to a Participant who is employed by the Company at the time of the Change in Control but who, within the six (6) month period, voluntarily terminates employment for Good Reason or is terminated by the Company other than for Cause.
     (b) Except in the event of a Change in Control, the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion may approve or deny in whole or in part a request to exercise a stock appreciation right. Denial or approval of such request shall not require a subsequent request to be similarly treated by the Plan Administrator.
     (c) The right of a Participant to exercise a stock appreciation right shall be canceled if and to the extent the related Option is exercised. To the extent that a stock appreciation right is exercised, the related Option shall be deemed to have been surrendered, unexercised and canceled.
     (d) A holder of stock appreciation rights shall have none of the rights of a stockholder until shares of Common Stock, if any, are issued to such holder pursuant to such holder’s exercise of such rights.
     (e) The acquisition of Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of a stock appreciation right shall be subject to the same restrictions as would apply to the acquisition of Common Stock acquired upon acquisition of the related Option, as set forth in Section 6.2.
SECTION 8 LIMITED STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
     8.1 The Plan Administrator may grant limited stock appreciation rights to Participants in connection with any Options granted under the Plan, either at the time of the grant of such Option or at any time thereafter during the term of the Option. Such limited stock appreciation rights shall cover the same shares covered by the Options (or such lesser number of shares of Common Stock as the Plan Administrator may determine) and shall, except as provided in Section 8.3, be subject to the same terms and conditions as the related Options and such further terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as shall from time to time be determined by the Plan Administrator.
     8.2 Each limited stock appreciation right shall entitle the holder of the related Option to surrender to the Company the unexercised portion of the related Option and to receive from the Company in exchange therefor an amount in cash equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of one (1) share of Common Stock on the date the right is
      
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exercised over the Option Price per share times the number of shares covered by the Option, or portion thereof, which is surrendered.
     8.3 Limited stock appreciation rights are subject to the following restrictions:
     (a) Each limited stock appreciation right shall be exercisable in full for a period of seven (7) months following the date of a Change in Control, provided, however, that limited stock appreciation rights may not be exercised under any circumstances until the expiration of the six (6) month period following the date of grant. Limited stock appreciation rights shall be exercisable only to the same extent and subject to the same conditions as the Options related thereto are exercisable, as provided in Section 6.2(j).
     (b) The right of a Participant to exercise a limited stock appreciation right shall be canceled if and to the extent the related Option is exercised. To the extent that a limited stock appreciation right is exercised, the related Option shall be deemed to have been surrendered, unexercised and canceled.
SECTION 9 RESTRICTED STOCK
     9.1 Restricted Stock may be granted to Participants in such number and at such times during the term of the Plan as the Plan Administrator shall determine, the Plan Administrator taking into account the duties of the respective Participants, their present and potential contributions to the success of the Company, and such other factors as the Plan Administrator shall deem relevant in accomplishing the purposes of the Plan. The granting of Restricted Stock shall take place when the Plan Administrator by resolution, written consent or other appropriate action determines to grant such Restricted Stock to a particular Participant. Each grant shall be evidenced by a written instrument delivered by or on behalf of the Company containing provisions not inconsistent with the Plan. The Participant receiving a grant of Restricted Stock shall be recorded as a stockholder of the Company. Each Participant who receives a grant of Restricted Stock shall have all the rights of a stockholder with respect to such shares (except as provided in the restrictions on transferability), including the right to vote the shares and receive dividends and other distributions; provided, however, that no Participant awarded Restricted Stock shall have any right as a stockholder with respect to any shares subject to the Participant’s Restricted Stock grant prior to the date of issuance to the Participant of a certificate or certificates for such shares.
     9.2 A grant of Restricted Stock shall entitle a Participant to receive, on the date or dates designated by the Plan Administrator, upon payment to the Company of the par value of the Common Stock in a manner determined by the Plan Administrator, the number of shares of Common Stock selected by the Plan Administrator. The Plan Administrator may require, under such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate or desirable, that the certificates for Restricted Stock delivered under the Plan may be held
      
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in custody by a bank or other institution, or that the Company may itself hold such shares in custody until the Restriction Period (as defined in Section 9.3) expires or until restrictions thereon otherwise lapse, and may require, as a condition of any issuance of Restricted Stock that the Participant shall have delivered a stock power endorsed in blank relating to the shares of Restricted Stock.
     9.3 During a period of years following the date of grant, which shall in no event be less than one (1) year and until required performance targets are achieved, if applicable, as determined by the Plan Administrator (the “Restriction Period”), the Restricted Stock may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise encumbered or disposed of by the recipient, except in the event of death or Permanent Disability, the transfer to the Company as provided under the Plan or the Plan Administrator’s waiver or modification of such restrictions in the agreement evidencing the grant of Restricted Stock, or by resolution of the Plan Administrator adopted at any time.
     9.4 Except as provided in Section 9.5 or 9.6, if a Participant terminates employment with the Company for any reason before the expiration of the Restriction Period, all shares of Restricted Stock still subject to restriction shall be forfeited by the Participant to the Company. In addition, in the event of any attempt by the Participant to sell, exchange, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of shares of Restricted Stock in violation of the terms of the Plan, such shares shall be forfeited to the Company.
     9.5 The Restriction Period for any Participant shall be deemed to end and all restrictions on shares of Restricted Stock shall lapse, upon the Participant’s death, Permanent Disability, retirement or any termination of employment determined by the Plan Administrator to end the Restriction Period.
     9.6 The Restriction Period for any Participant shall be deemed to end and all restrictions on shares of Restricted Stock shall terminate immediately upon a Change in Control.
     9.7 When the restrictions imposed by Section 9.3 expire or otherwise lapse with respect to one or more shares of Restricted Stock, the Company shall deliver to the Participant (or the Participant’s legal representative, Beneficiary or heir) one (1) share of Common Stock for each share of Restricted Stock. At that time, the agreement referred to in Section 9.1, as it relates to such shares, shall be terminated.
     9.8 Subject to Section 9.2, a Participant entitled to receive Restricted Stock under the Plan shall be issued a certificate for such shares. Such certificate shall be registered in the name of the Participant, and shall bear an appropriate legend reciting the terms, conditions and restrictions, if any, applicable to such shares and shall be subject to appropriate stop-transfer orders.
      
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     9.9 A Participant may elect irrevocably (at a time and in the manner determined by the Plan Administrator or the Company, as appropriate), prior to vesting of Restricted Stock, that the Participant relinquishes any and all rights in the shares of Restricted Stock in exchange for an interest in the Deferred Compensation Plan and receipt of such shares shall be deferred until a pre-specified date in the future or until the Participant ceases to be employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as elected by the Participant. At the time the restrictions lapse on the shares of Restricted Stock (as specified at the time of grant, or otherwise if changed by the Plan Administrator), the number of shares of Common Stock issuable to the Participant shall be credited to the deferred stock account (or such other account(s) as the Management Committee shall deem necessary and appropriate) under a memorandum deferred account established pursuant to the Deferred Compensation Plan, and any dividends or other distributions paid on the Common Stock (or its equivalent) shall be deemed reinvested in additional shares of Common Stock (or its equivalent) until all credited deferred shares shall become issuable pursuant to the Participant’s election, unless the Management Committee of the Deferred Compensation Plan shall otherwise determine.
SECTION 10 REGULATORY APPROVALS AND LISTING
     10.1 The Company shall not be required to issue any certificate for shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of an Option or a stock appreciation right granted under the Plan, or with respect to a grant of Restricted Stock prior to:
     (a) the obtaining of any approval or ruling from the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Internal Revenue Service or any other governmental agency which the Company, in its sole discretion, shall determine to be necessary or advisable;
     (b) the listing of such shares on any stock exchange on which the Common Stock may then be listed; or
     (c) the completion of any registration or other qualification of such shares under any federal or state laws, rulings or regulations of any governmental body which the Company, in its sole discretion, shall determine to be necessary or advisable.
SECTION 11 EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF THE PLAN
     The Plan was originally adopted by the Board of Directors as of December 14, 1993. The Board of Directors amended and restated the Plan effective as of December 3, 1999 and effective as of August 1, 1998, in connection with the reorganization of the Company into a holding company structure whereby El Paso Energy Corporation became the publicly held company and El Paso Natural Gas Company became a wholly owned
      
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subsidiary. This Plan was assumed by El Paso Energy Corporation pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption Agreement effective as of August 1, 1998, by and between El Paso Energy Corporation and El Paso Natural Gas Company. Options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights and Restricted Stock may be granted pursuant to the Plan from time to time as the Plan Administrator shall determine. The Plan shall terminate on December 14, 2003. However, Options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights and Restricted Stock granted prior to the expiration of the Plan may extend beyond that date and the terms and conditions of the Plan shall continue to apply thereto and to shares of Common Stock acquired hereunder.
SECTION 12 GENERAL PROVISIONS
     12.1 Nothing contained in the Plan, or in any Option, limited stock appreciation right, stock appreciation right or Restricted Stock granted pursuant to the Plan, shall confer upon any employee any right with respect to continuance of employment by the Company or a Subsidiary, nor interfere in any way with the right of the Company or a Subsidiary to terminate the employment of such employee at any time with or without assigning any reason therefor.
     12.2 Grants, vesting or payment of Options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights or Restricted Stock shall not be considered as part of a Participant’s salary or used for the calculation of any other pay, allowance, pension or other benefit unless otherwise permitted by other benefit plans provided by the Company or its Subsidiaries, or required by law or by contractual obligations of the Company or its Subsidiaries.
     12.3 The right of a Participant or Beneficiary to the payment of any compensation under the Plan may not be assigned, transferred, pledged or encumbered, nor shall such right or other interests be subject to attachment, garnishment, execution or other legal process.
     12.4 Leaves of absence for such periods and purposes conforming to the personnel policy of the Company, or of its Subsidiaries, as applicable, shall not be deemed terminations or interruptions of employment.
     12.5 In the event a Participant is transferred from the Company to a Subsidiary, or vice versa, or is promoted or given different responsibilities, the Options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights and Restricted Stock granted to the Participant prior to such date shall not be affected. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision in this Plan, in the event a Participant becomes an officer or director of the Company subject to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, the Plan Administrator may take any and all action necessary to prevent any violation of Section 16(b), including, but not limited to, accelerating the vesting of Options, rights or Restricted Stock, canceling any unvested Options, rights or Restricted Stock and/or requiring the Participant to
      
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exercise any and all vested Options or rights at such times as the Plan Administrator may determine.
     12.6 Each grant to a Participant of an Option, limited stock appreciation right, stock appreciation right and Restricted Stock hereunder shall make reference to this Plan by title and date to confirm the applicability of the Plan and the source of shares and rights covered by the grant.
     12.7 The Plan shall be construed and governed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, except that it shall be construed and governed in accordance with applicable federal law in the event that such federal law preempts state law.
     12.8 Appropriate provision shall be made for all taxes required to be withheld in connection with the exercise, grant or other taxable event with respect to Options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights and Restricted Stock under the applicable laws and regulations of any governmental authority, whether federal, state or local and whether domestic or foreign, including, but not limited to, the required withholding of a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to a Participant to satisfy the said required minimum tax withholding obligations. Unless otherwise provided in the grant, a Participant is permitted to deliver shares of Common Stock for payment of withholding taxes on the exercise of an option, stock appreciation right, or limited stock appreciation right or upon the grant or vesting of Restricted Stock. At the election of the Plan Administrator or, subject to approval of the Plan Administrator at its sole discretion, at the election of a Participant, shares of Common Stock may be withheld from the shares issuable to the Participant upon the exercise of an option or stock appreciation right or upon the vesting of the Restricted Stock to satisfy tax withholding obligations. The Fair Market Value of Common Stock as delivered pursuant to this Section 12.8 shall be valued as of the day prior to delivery, and shall be calculated in accordance with Section 2.8.
     Any Participant that makes a Section 83(b) election under the Code shall, within ten (10) days of making such election, notify the Company in writing of such election and shall provide the Company with a copy of such election form filed with the Internal Revenue Service.
     Tax advice should be obtained by the Participant prior to the Participant’s (i) entering into any transaction under or with respect to the Plan, (ii) designating or choosing the times of distributions under the Plan, or (iii) disposing of any shares of Common Stock issued under the Plan.
     12.9 Any amounts (deferred or otherwise) to be paid to Participants pursuant to the Plan are unfunded obligations. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is required to segregate any monies from its general funds, to create any trusts or to make any special deposits with respect to this obligation. The Management Committee, in its sole discretion, may direct the Company to share with its subsidiaries the costs of a portion of
      
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the incentive awards paid to Participants who are executives of those companies. Beneficial ownership of any investments, including trust investments which the Company may make to fulfill this obligation, shall at all times remain in the Company. Any investments and the creation or maintenance of any trust or any Participant account shall not create or constitute a trust or a fiduciary relationship between the Plan Administrator, the Management Committee, the Company or any Subsidiary and a Participant, or otherwise create any vested or beneficial interest in any Participant or the Participant’s Beneficiary or the Participant’s creditors in any assets of the Company or its Subsidiaries whatsoever. The Participants shall have no claim against the Company for any changes in the value of any assets which may be invested or reinvested by the Company with respect to the Plan.
SECTION 13 AMENDMENT, TERMINATION OR DISCONTINUANCE OF THE PLAN
     13.1 Subject to Section 13.2, the Plan Administrator may from time to time make such amendments to the Plan as it may deem proper and in the best interest of the Company without further approval of the Board of Directors, including, but not limited to, any amendment necessary to ensure that the Company may obtain any regulatory approval referred to in Section 10; provided, however, that no change in any Option, limited stock appreciation right, stock appreciation right or Restricted Stock theretofore granted may be made without the consent of the Participant which would impair the right of the Participant to acquire or retain Common Stock or cash that the Participant may have acquired as a result of the Plan.
     13.2 The Plan Administrator may not amend the Plan without the approval of the Board of Directors to:
     (a) increase the number of shares or rights that may be issued under the Plan; or
     (b) otherwise materially increase the benefits accruing to the Participants under the Plan.
     13.3 The Plan Administrator may at any time suspend the operation of or terminate the Plan with respect to any shares of Common Stock not subject to Option, limited stock appreciation right, stock appreciation right or Restricted Stock at the time.
      
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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused the Plan to be amended and restated effective as of December 3, 1999.
         
  EL PASO ENERGY CORPORATION
 
  By  /s/ Joel Richards III  
    Executive Vice President 
     
 
ATTEST:
         
By
  /s/ David L. Siddall
 
Corporate Secretary
   
      
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EX-10.O.1 30 h53583exv10wow1.htm AMENDMENT NO.1 TO OMNIBUS PLAN FOR MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEES exv10wow1
 

EXHIBIT 10.O.1
AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE
OMNIBUS PLAN FOR MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEES
     Pursuant to Section 13.1 of the El Paso Energy Corporation Omnibus Plan for Management Employees, Amended and Restated Effective as of December 3, 1999 (the “Plan”), the Plan is hereby amended as follows, effective December 1, 2000:
     Section 5.1 is hereby amended to read as follows:
     “5.1 Subject to Section 5.2, the maximum number of shares for which Options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights and Restricted Stock may at any time be granted under the Plan is thirty-seven million (37,000,000) shares of Common Stock, from shares held in the Company’s treasury or out of authorized but unissued shares of the Company, or partly out of each, as shall be determined by the Plan Administrator, subject to, and reduced by (on a post-split basis), the number of shares of Common Stock awarded prior to the occurrence of a two-for-one stock split effected by the Company in the form of a 100% stock dividend on April 1, 1998. Any Options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights and shares of Restricted Stock outstanding under the Plan on April 1, 1998, shall be adjusted on a two-for-one basis to reflect the stock dividend. For purposes of this Section 5.1, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock issued under this Plan at any time shall equal only the number of shares actually issued upon exercise or settlement of Options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights or Restricted Stock and not returned to the Company upon cancellation, expiration or forfeiture (regardless of whether the holder of such awards received dividends or other economic benefits) of any such award or delivered (either actually or by attestation) in payment or satisfaction of the purchase price, exercise price or tax obligation of the award.”
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this amendment to be duly executed on this 1sth day of December, 2000.
         
  EL PASO ENERGY CORPORATION
 
 
  By   /s/ Joel Richards III    
    Executive Vice President   
       
 
         
  ATTEST:
 
 
  By   /s/ David L. Siddall    
    Corporate Secretary   
       
 

 

EX-10.O.2 31 h53583exv10wow2.htm AMENDMENT NO.2 TO OMNIBUS PLAN FOR MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEES exv10wow2
 

EXHIBIT 10.O.2
AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO THE
EL PASO ENERGY CORPORATION
OMNIBUS PLAN FOR MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEES
     Pursuant to Section 13.1 of the El Paso Energy Corporation Omnibus Plan for Management Employees, Amended and Restated effective as of December 3, 1999 (the “Plan”), the Plan is hereby amended as follows, effective February 7, 2001:
     WHEREAS, the Certificate of Incorporation of El Paso Energy Corporation, a Delaware corporation, was amended to change the name of the corporation to El Paso Corporation effective February 7, 2001.
     NOW THEREFORE, the name of the Plan is hereby changed to the “El Paso Corporation Omnibus Plan for Management Employees” and all references in the Plan to “El Paso Energy Corporation” or the “Company” shall mean “El Paso Corporation.”
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this amendment to be duly executed on this 7th day of February 2001.
         
  EL PASO CORPORATION
 
 
  By   /s/ Joel Richards III    
    Executive Vice President   
  Human Resources and Administration   
 
         
  ATTEST:
 
 
  By   /s/ David L. Siddall    
    Corporate Secretary   
       
 

 

EX-10.O.3 32 h53583exv10wow3.htm AMENDMENT NO.3 TO OMNIBUS PLAN FOR MANAGEMENT exv10wow3
 

EXHIBIT 10.O.3
AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO THE
OMNIBUS PLAN FOR MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEES
     Pursuant to Section 13.1 of the El Paso Corporation Omnibus Plan for Management Employees, Amended and Restated Effective as of December 3, 1999 (the “Plan”), the Plan is hereby amended as follows, effective December 7, 2001:
Section 5.1 is hereby amended to read as follows:
     “5.1 Subject to Section 5.2, the maximum number of shares for which Options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights and Restricted Stock may at any time be granted under the Plan is fifty-eight million (58,000,000) shares of Common Stock, from shares held in the Company’s treasury or out of authorized but unissued shares of the Company, or partly out of each, as shall be determined by the Plan Administrator, subject to, and reduced by (on a post-split basis), the number of shares of Common Stock awarded prior to the occurrence of a two-for-one stock split effected by the Company in the form of a 100% stock dividend on April 1, 1998. Any Options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights and shares of Restricted Stock outstanding under the Plan on April 1, 1998, shall be adjusted on a two-for-one basis to reflect the stock dividend. For purposes of this Section 5.1, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock issued under this Plan at any time shall equal only the number of shares actually issued upon exercise or settlement of Options, limited stock appreciation rights, stock appreciation rights or Restricted Stock and not returned to the Company upon cancellation, expiration or forfeiture (regardless of whether the holder of such awards received dividends or other economic benefits) of any such award or delivered (either actually or by attestation) in payment or satisfaction of the purchase price, exercise price or tax obligation of the award.”
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this amendment to be duly executed on this 7th day of December, 2001.
         
  EL PASO CORPORATION
 
 
  By   /s/ Joel Richards III    
  Executive Vice President   
  Human Resources and Administration   
 
         
  ATTEST:
 
 
  By   /s/ David L. Siddall    
  Title: Corporate Secretary   
       
 

 

EX-10.O.4 33 h53583exv10wow4.htm AMENDMENT NO.4 TO OMNIBUS PLAN FOR MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEES exv10wow4
 

EXHIBIT 10.O.4
AMENDMENT NO. 4 TO THE
EL PASO CORPORATION
OMNIBUS PLAN FOR MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEES
     Pursuant to Section 13.1 of the El Paso Corporation Omnibus Plan for Management Employees, Amended and Restated effective as of December 3, 1999, as amended (the “Plan”), the Plan is hereby amended as follows, effective December 6, 2002:
     The term of the Plan is hereby extended under Section 11 of the Plan and shall terminate on December 6, 2012.
     A new Section 12.10 is added to read as follows:
“12.10 Any stock options or other awards outstanding under the Plan may be changed to reduce the exercise price, cancelled in exchange for other compensation, or repurchased, subject to such terms as the Plan Administrator shall determine is appropriate, provided that the Company shall obtain the consent or approval of the Participant to any such reduction in exercise price, cancellation or repurchase if and to the extent required under the terms of the Plan, stock option or other award. Any such stock options or other equity awards will then be placed back into the Plan for reissuance.”
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this amendment to be duly executed on this 6th day of December, 2002.
         
  EL PASO CORPORATION
 
 
  By:   /s/ David E. Zerhusen        
    David E. Zerhusen   
    Its Executive Vice President
Administration 
 
 
         
  ATTEST:
 
 
  By:      /s/ David L. Siddall        
    Corporate Secretary   
       
 

 

EX-10.P.1 34 h53583exv10wpw1.htm AMENDMENT NO.1 TO AMENDED SEVERANCE PAY PLAN exv10wpw1
 

EXHIBIT 10.P.1
AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE
EL PASO CORPORATION
SEVERANCE PAY PLAN
     WHEREAS, El Paso Corporation (the “Company”) maintains the El Paso Corporation Severance Pay Plan (the “Plan”), as amended and restated effective as of October 1, 2002;
     WHEREAS, Section 6.2 of the Plan permits the Company from time to time to amend the Plan, in whole or in part;
     WHEREAS, it is intended hereby to amend the Plan to comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
     NOW, THEREFORE, the Plan is amended as follows:
     1. Section 2.2A is hereby added to the Plan as follows:
 “2.2A “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any and all regulations and rulings thereunder.”
     2. Section 4.2 is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:
 “4.2 Form and Time of Payment
    Except as provided hereunder for Specified Employees (as defined below), Severance Pay shall be paid in a lump sum in cash, less any applicable federal, state, local and foreign taxes required to be withheld. Severance Pay shall be paid as soon as administratively practicable after the expiration of the period during which the Eligible Employee may revoke the Separation Agreement pursuant to the terms of the Separation Agreement, provided that the Severance Pay shall be paid, as determined by the Plan Administrator in his sole discretion, no later than the later to occur of (i) the last day of the calendar year in which the Eligible Employee’s Qualifying Termination occurs or (ii) the 90th day following the day of the Eligible Employee’s Qualifying Termination. The Severance Pay payable to any Eligible Employee shall be solely the obligation of the Employer by whom the Eligible Employee was employed on his or her Termination Date. If an Eligible Employee is a “specified employee” as defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code (“Specified Employee”), then any Severance Pay which is not otherwise exempt from Section 409A of the Code shall be paid during a 30-day period which commences on the date which is the day after the six-month anniversary of such Specified Employee’s Qualifying Termination.”

 


 

     3. Section 4.4 is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:
4.4 Outplacement Benefits
     Each Eligible Employee whose termination of employment entitles him or her to Severance Pay shall be entitled to receive outplacement benefits from the Company at its expense. The scope, nature and duration of such outplacement benefits shall be as determined by the Company in its sole discretion; provided, that no outplacement benefits shall be for a period longer than six (6) months. Except as provided below with respect to a Specified Employee, the payment of any outplacement benefits provided in this Section 4.4 shall be made to the Eligible Employee as soon as administratively practicable after the Eligible Employee has provided the appropriate claim documentation, but in no event shall the payment for any such outplacement benefits be paid later than the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the expense was incurred. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, to the extent required by Section 409A of the Code: (1) the amount of outplacement benefits eligible for reimbursement or to be provided as an in-kind benefit under this Plan during a calendar year may not affect the outplacement benefits eligible for reimbursement or to be provided as an in-kind benefit in any other calendar year, and (2) the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits under this Plan shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit. With respect to a Specified Employee during the six-month period commencing the date after the Specified Employee’s termination of employment, the cost of any outplacement benefits provided in this Section 4.4 which are not otherwise exempt from Section 409A of the Code shall be paid by the Specified Employee to the outplacement service provider and reimbursed by the Company after the completion of such six-month period but no later than the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which such outplacement benefits were incurred.
     4. Section 4.5 is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:
4.5 Continued Health Benefits
     Each Eligible Employee whose termination of employment entitles him or her to Severance Pay shall be entitled to receive the continued health benefits from the Company set forth on the attached Exhibit B and as set forth below. Except as provided below with respect to a Specified Employee, the payment of any health or medical claims for the health and medical coverage provided in this Section 4.5 shall be made to the Eligible Employee as soon as administratively practicable after the Eligible Employee has provided the appropriate claim documentation, but in no event shall the payment for any such health or medical claim be paid later than the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the expense was incurred. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, to the extent required by Section 409A of the Code: (1) the amount of medical claims eligible for reimbursement or to be provided as an in-kind benefit under this Plan during a calendar year may not affect the medical claims eligible

-2-


 

for reimbursement or to be provided as an in-kind benefit in any other calendar year, and (2) the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits under this Plan shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit. With respect to a Specified Employee during the six-month period commencing the date after the Specified Employee’s termination of employment, the cost of any health or medical claims for health and medical coverage provided in this Section 4.4 which are not otherwise exempt from Section 409A of the Code shall be paid by the Specified Employee to the health and medical service provider and reimbursed by the Company after the completion of such six-month period but no later than the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which such health and medical expenses were incurred.”
        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this amendment has been executed by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, effective as of January 1, 2007.
         
  EL PASO CORPORATION
 
 
  By:      /s/ Susan B. Ortenstone       
       
       
 
         
  ATTEST:
 
 
  By:   /s/ Marguerite Woung-Chapman    
    Corporate Secretary   
       
 

-3-

EX-10.Y.1 35 h53583exv10wyw1.htm AMENDMENT NO.2 TO 2005 COMPENSATION PLAN FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS exv10wyw1
 

EXHIBIT 10.Y.1
AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO THE
EL PASO CORPORATION
2005 COMPENSATION PLAN FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS
     WHEREAS, El Paso Corporation (the “Company”) maintains the El Paso Corporation 2005 Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the “Plan”), effective as of May 26, 2005; and
     WHEREAS, Section 10.7 of the Plan permits the Board of Directors or the Management Committee (as defined in the Plan) from time to time to amend the Plan, in whole or in part; and
     WHEREAS, it is intended hereby to amend the Plan to comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
     NOW, THEREFORE, the Plan is amended as follows:
     1. Section 5.5 is hereby added to the Plan to read as follows:
     “5.5 Deferrals Under the Prior Plan
     Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any deferrals made pursuant to Section 5.2 of the 1995 Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors (“Prior Plan”) (and any Conversion Premium set forth in Section 6.2(a) of the Prior Plan thereon) during the calendar year 2005 shall be deemed to be deferrals pursuant to Section 5.2 of this Plan (and the Conversion Premium of Section 6.2 of this Plan).”
     2. Section 7.2 is hereby added to the Plan to read as follows:
     “7.2 Long-Term Equity Credit Under the Prior Plan
     Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any Long-Term Equity Credit made pursuant to Section 7.1 of the Prior Plan during the calendar year 2005 shall be deemed to be a Long-Term Equity Credit under Section 7.1 of this Plan.”
     3. Section 9.3(c) is hereby removed from the Plan.
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this amendment has been executed by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, effective as of January 1, 2007.
         
  EL PASO CORPORATION
 
 
  By:   /s/ Susan B. Ortenstone    
 
ATTEST:
         
     
  By:   /s/ Marguerite Woung-Chapman    
    Corporate Secretary   
       

 

EX-10.Z.1 36 h53583exv10wzw1.htm AMENDMENT NO.1 TO 2005 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN exv10wzw1
 

         
EXHIBIT 10.Z.1
AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO THE
EL PASO CORPORATION
2005 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
     WHEREAS, El Paso Corporation (the “Company”) maintains the El Paso Corporation 2005 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Plan”), effective as of May 26, 2005;
     WHEREAS, under Section 19.1 of the Plan, the Board of Directors or the “Plan Administrator” (as defined in the Plan) may amend the Plan, in whole or in part;
     WHEREAS, it is intended hereby to amend the Plan to comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;
     NOW, THEREFORE, the Plan is amended as follows:
     1. Section 8.4 is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:
     “8.4 Form and Timing of Payment
     The payment described in Section 8.3 shall be made in shares of Common Stock, or in cash, or partly in shares of Common Stock and partly in cash, at the discretion of the Plan Administrator and set forth in the Award Agreement. The value of any fractional shares shall be paid in cash. Payment shall be made in a lump sum or installments as prescribed by the Plan Administrator and set forth in the Award Agreement; provided that each Award Agreement shall comply with the timing of payment requirements set forth in Section 409A of the Code, including, but not limited to the timing of payments to “specified employees” as defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code. If a number of shares of Common Stock is to be converted into an amount of cash on any date, or if an amount of cash is to be converted into a number of shares of Common Stock on any date, such conversion shall be done at the then-current Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on such date.”
     2. Section 10.5 is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:
     “10.5 Issuance of Shares; Settlement of Awards
     When the restrictions imposed by Section 10.2 expire or otherwise lapse with respect to one or more Restricted Stock Units, Restricted Stock Units shall be settled (i) in cash or (ii) by the delivery to the Participant of the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of the Participant’s Restricted Stock Units that are vested, or any combination thereof, as the Plan Administrator shall determine. The payment hereunder shall comply with the timing of payment requirements set forth in Section 409A of the Code, including, but not limited to the timing of payments to “specified employees” as defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code. The delivery of shares pursuant to this Section

 


 

10.5 shall be subject to any required share withholding to satisfy tax withholding obligations pursuant to Section 17.10. Any fractional shares subject to such Restricted Stock Units shall be paid to the Participant in cash.”
     3. Section 11.4 (a) is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:
     “(a) Participants shall receive their Incentive Awards in any combination of cash and/or other Awards under the Plan as determined by the Plan Administrator. The payment hereunder shall comply with the timing of payment requirements set forth in Section 409A of the Code, including, but not limited to the timing of payments to “specified employees” as defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code.”
     4. Section 12.4 is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:
     “12.4 Payment of Cash Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards
     Payment, if any, with respect to a Cash Award or an Other Stock-Based Award shall be made in accordance with the terms of the Award, in cash or shares of Common Stock as the Plan Administrator determines. The value of any fractional shares shall be paid in cash. The payment hereunder shall comply with the timing of payment requirements set forth in Section 409A of the Code, including, but not limited to the timing of payments to “specified employees” as defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code.”
     5. Section 20 is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:
SECTION 20 DEFERRAL ELECTIONS
     The Plan Administrator may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, including, but not limited to Section 409A of the Code, permit Participants to defer Awards under the Plan. Any such deferrals shall be subject to such terms, conditions and procedures that the Plan Administrator may establish from time to time in its sole discretion.”
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this amendment has been executed by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, effective as of January 1, 2007.
         
  EL PASO CORPORATION
 
 
  By:   /s/ Susan B. Ortenstone    
 
ATTEST:
         
     
  By:   /s/ Marguerite Woung-Chapman    
    Corporate Secretary   
       

-2-

EX-10.BB.1 37 h53583exv10wbbw1.htm AMENDMENT NO.1 TO 2005 SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS PLAN exv10wbbw1
 

         
EXHIBIT 10.BB.1
AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE
EL PASO CORPORATION
2005 SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS PLAN
     WHEREAS, El Paso Corporation (the “Company”) maintains the El Paso Corporation 2005 Supplemental Benefits Plan (the “Plan”), effective as of January 1, 2005;
     WHEREAS, Section 6.7 of the Plan permits the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors from time to time to amend the Plan, in whole or in part;
     WHEREAS, it is intended hereby to amend the Plan to comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
     NOW, THEREFORE, the Plan is amended as follows:
     1. Section 2.12 is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:
     “2.12 Specified Employee
     “Specified Employee” means any Participant who is a “specified employee” pursuant to Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code.”
     2. Section 5.1 is hereby amended to add the following paragraph to the end of Section 5.1:
     “Notwithstanding the foregoing, Participants who were not vested in their accrued supplemental pension benefits under the Frozen Plan as of December 31, 2004 shall receive such accrued supplemental pension benefits under this Plan so long as the Participants become vested in such supplemental pension benefit as set forth in the preceding paragraph.”
     3. Section 5.4 is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:
     “5.4 Time and Manner of Payment
     The payment of any benefits shall be made as provided below. Such payment or payments shall constitute a complete discharge of all obligations to the Participant and his or her Surviving Spouse or Beneficiary under the Plan.
     (a) Supplemental Pension Benefit Payments. Subject to Section 5.4(d), the payment of any supplemental pension benefits pursuant to Section 5.1 owed to a Participant (or his or her Surviving Spouse) shall be made in lump sum as soon as practicable after the Participant’s termination of employment with the Employer as determined by the Management Committee in its sole discretion; provided however, that the payment shall be made no later than the later to occur of (i) the last day of the calendar year in which the Participant’s termination of employment occurs or (ii) the 90th day following the Participant’s termination of

 


 

employment. The amount of the payment under this subparagraph 5.4(a) shall be determined pursuant to Section 5.5; provided, however, no such payment shall be required to be made to the Participant if the amount of the payment the Participant is entitled to receive for supplement pension benefits under this Plan is less than $100.
     (b) Supplemental RSP Benefit Payments. Subject to Section 5.4(d), the payment of any supplemental RSP benefits pursuant to Section 5.2 owed to a Participant (or his or her Beneficiary) shall be made in a lump sum as soon as practicable after the Participant’s termination of employment with the Employer as determined by the Management Committee in its sole discretion and shall be in an amount equal to the Participant’s ledger account balance at the time of such payment; provided however, that the payment shall be made no later than the later to occur of (i) the last day of the calendar year in which the Participant’s termination of employment occurs or (ii) the 90th day following the Participant’s termination of employment. Not withstanding the above, no such payment shall be required to be made to the Participant if the amount of the payment the Participant is entitled to receive for supplemental RSP benefits under this Plan is less than $100.
     (c) Other Supplemental Benefit Payments. Subject to Section 5.4(d), the payment of any other supplemental benefits pursuant to another plan or program maintained by the Company or a Participant’s employment contract or other agreement with the Company under Section 5.3 shall be made as provided in such other applicable plan, program, employment contract or agreement.
     (d) Required Delay in Payment of Benefits for Specified Employees. Notwithstanding Sections 5.4(a), 5.4(b) and 5.4(c), the payment of any benefit owed to any Participant who is a Specified Employee pursuant to the Plan which is not otherwise exempt from Section 409A of the Code shall be paid in a lump sum during a 30-day period which commences on the date which is the day after the six-month anniversary of such Specified Employee’s termination of employment; provided, however, that this Section 5.4(d) shall not apply if the Participant’s termination occurs by reason of his or her death.”
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this amendment has been executed by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, effective as of January 1, 2007.
         
  EL PASO CORPORATION
 
 
  By:   /s/ Susan B. Ortenstone    
 
ATTEST:
         
     
  By:   /s/ Marguerite Woung-Chapman    
    Corporate Secretary   
       
 

-2-

EX-12 38 h53583exv12.htm RATIO OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS exv12
 

Exhibit 12
EL PASO CORPORATION
COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)
                                         
    2003     2004     2005     2006     2007  
Earnings
                                       
Pre-tax income (loss) from continuing operations
  $ (1,392 )   $ (1,148 )   $ (837 )   $ 522     $ 658  
Minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries
    54       62       11       1       6  
(Income) from equity investees
    (293 )     (479 )     (281 )     (145 )     (101 )
 
                             
Pre-tax income (loss) from continuing operations before adjustment for minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries and (income) loss from equity investees
    (1,631 )     (1,565 )     (1,107 )     378       563  
Fixed charges
    1,907       1,743       1,441       1,354       1,074  
Distributed income of equity investees
    291       260       209       139       189  
Capitalized interest
    (38 )     (41 )     (45 )     (45 )     (51 )
Preferred returns on consolidated subsidiaries
    (54 )     (76 )     (11 )     (1 )     (6 )
 
                             
Total earnings available for fixed charges
  $ 475     $ 321     $ 487     $ 1,825     $ 1,769  
 
                             
 
                                       
Fixed charges
                                       
Interest and debt expense
  $ 1,822     $ 1,640     $ 1,413     $ 1,340     $ 1,055  
Interest component of rent
    31       27       17       13       13  
Preferred returns on consolidated subsidiaries
    54       76       11       1       6  
 
                             
 
                                       
Total fixed charges
  $ 1,907     $ 1,743     $ 1,441     $ 1,354     $ 1,074  
 
                             
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (1)
                      1.35       1.65  
 
                             
 
                                       
Fixed charges
                                       
Interest and debt expense
  $ 1,822     $ 1,640     $ 1,413     $ 1,340     $ 1,055  
Interest component of rent
    31       27       17       13       13  
Preferred returns on consolidated subsidiaries
    54       76       11       1       6  
Preferred stock dividend of parent
                27       36       56  
 
                             
Total fixed charges and preferred stock dividend
  $ 1,907     $ 1,743     $ 1,468     $ 1,390     $ 1,130  
 
                             
 
                                       
Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends (2)
                      1.31       1.57  
 
                             
 
(1)   Earnings for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005 were inadequate to cover fixed charges by $1,432 million, $1,422 million, and $954 million, respectively.
 
(2)   Earnings for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005 were inadequate to cover fixed charges and preferred stock dividends by $1,432 million, $1,422 million, and $981 million, respectively.
For purposes of computing these ratios, earnings means pre-tax income (loss) from continuing operations before:
    minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries;
 
    income or loss from equity investees, adjusted to reflect actual distributions from equity investments; and
 
    fixed charges;
less:
    capitalized interest; and
 
    preferred returns on consolidated subsidiaries.
Fixed charges means the sum of the following:
    interest costs, not including interest on tax liabilities which is included in income tax expense our income statement
 
    amortization of debt costs;
 
    that portion of rental expense which we believe represents an interest factor; and
 
    preferred stock dividends and preferred returns on consolidated subsidiaries.

EX-21 39 h53583exv21.htm SUBSIDIARIES exv21
 

EXHIBIT 21
EL PASO CORPORATION
OWNERSHIP LIST
As of December 31, 2007
                                 
 
        Place of                 %  
  Entity Name     Incorporation     Owner     Relationship     Ownership  
 
Agropecuaria Santo Antonio Ltda.
    Brazil     El Paso Energia do Brasil Ltda.     Owner       0.0002    
 
 
          Termogas S/A     Unaffiliated Parties       0.0002    
 
 
          Termo Norte Energia Ltda.     Owner       99.9996    
 
Agua del Cajon (Cayman) Company
    Cayman Islands     EPED B Company     Owner of Preferred Stock       50.0000    
 
 
          El Paso Neuquen Holding Company     Owner of Ordinary Stock       50.0000    
 
Alpheus Communications, L.P.
    Delaware     Zipline, L.L.C.     General Partner       1.0000    
 
 
          Genesis Park Telecom Partners, L.P.     Unaffiliated Parties - LP Owner       28.0000    
 
 
          El Paso Telecom, L.L.C.     Limited Partner       71.0000    
 
Amethyst Power Holdings, L.L.C.
    Delaware     Garnet Power Holdings, L.L.C.     Member       100.0000    
 
ANR Advance Holdings, Inc.
    Delaware     El Paso Midwest Company     Stockholder       50.0000    
 
 
          Unaffiliated Parties     Unaffiliated Parties       50.0000    
 
ANR Development Company, L.L.C.
    Delaware     El Paso CGP Company, L.L.C.     Member       100.0000    
 
ANR Real Estate Corporation
    Delaware     Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
ANR Western Coal Development Company
    Delaware     El Paso CNG Company, L.L.C.     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
Aquamarine Power Holdings, L.L.C.
    Delaware     Diamond Power Holdings, L.L.C.     Member       100.0000    
 
BBPP Holdings Ltda.
    Brazil     EPIC Gas International Servicos do Brasil Ltda.     Owner       33.3333    
 
 
          British Gas International Holdings B.V.     Unaffiliated Parties       33.3333    
 
 
          TotalFinaElf Gas and Power Brazil     Unaffiliated Parties       33.3334    
 
Bear Creek Storage Company
    Louisiana     Tennessee Storage Company     Partner       50.0000    
 
 
          Southern Gas Storage Company, L.L.C.     Partner       50.0000    
 
Berkshire Feedline Acquisition Limited Partnership
    Massachusetts     Berkshire Pittsfield, Inc.     Unaffiliated Parties - GP Owner       1.0000    
 
 
          General Electric Capital Corporation     Unaffiliated Parties - GP Owner       49.0000    
 
 
          El Paso Energy Pittsfield Corporation     Limited Partner       50.0000    
 
Black Warrior Methane Corp.
    Alabama     El Paso E&P Company, L.P.     Stockholder       50.0000    
 
 
          Jim Walter Resources, Inc.     Unaffiliated Parties       50.0000    
 
Black Warrior Transmission Corp.
    Alabama     El Paso E&P Company, L.P.     Stockholder       50.0000    
 
 
          Jim Walter Resources, Inc.     Unaffiliated Parties       50.0000    
 
Canyon Creek Compression Company
    Illinois     EPWP Resources Company     Partner       15.0000    
 
 
          URC-Canyon Creek Compression Company     Unaffiliated Parties       15.0000    
 
 
          NGPL-Canyon Compression Co.     Unaffiliated Parties       70.0000    
 
CEG Finance Company Ltd.
    Cayman Islands     Coastal Power Nicaragua Holding Company Ltd.     Owner       100.0000    
 
Chaparral Investors, L.L.C.
    Delaware     El Paso Merchant Energy North America Company     Member       100.0000    
 
Cheyenne Plains Gas Pipeline Company, L.L.C.
    Delaware     Cheyenne Plains Investment Company, L.L.C.     Member       100.0000    
 
Cheyenne Plains Investment Company, L.L.C.
    Delaware     El Paso CNG Company, L.L.C.     Member       100.0000    
 
CIG Finance Company, L.L.C.
    Delaware     Colorado Interstate Gas Company     Member       100.0000    
 
CIG Funding Company, L.L.C.
    Delaware     CIG Finance Company, L.L.C.     Member       100.0000    
 
CIG Gas Storage Company
    Delaware     El Paso CNG Company, L.L.C.     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
CIG Merchant Company
    Delaware     El Paso CGP Company, L.L.C.     Stockholder       100.0000    
 

Page 1


 

EXHIBIT 21
EL PASO CORPORATION
OWNERSHIP LIST
As of December 31, 2007
                                 
 
        Place of                 %  
  Entity Name     Incorporation     Owner     Relationship     Ownership  
 
CIG Pipeline Services Company, L.L.C.
    Delaware     El Paso Noric Investments III, L.L.C.     Member       100.0000    
 
CIGE Company
    Delaware     CIGE Holdco, Inc.     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
CIGE Holdco, Inc.
    Delaware     El Paso CGP Company, L.L.C.     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
Citrine FC Company
    Cayman Islands     Emerald Finance, L.L.C.     Owner       100.0000    
 
Citrus Corp.
    Delaware     El Paso Citrus Holdings, Inc.     Stockholder       50.0000    
 
 
          CrossCountry Citrus, LLC     Unaffiliated Parties       50.0000    
 
Citrus Energy Services, Inc.
    Delaware     Citrus Corp.     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
Citrus Trading Corp.
    Delaware     Citrus Corp.     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
Cliffside Helium, LLC
    Delaware     EPWP Resources Company     Member       4.0000    
 
 
          The BOC Group, Inc.     Unaffiliated Parties       26.0000    
 
 
          Praxair, Inc.     Unaffiliated Parties       34.0000    
 
 
          Air Products Manufacturing Corp.     Unaffiliated Parties       36.0000    
 
Cliffside Refiners, L.P.
    Delaware     Cliffside Helium, LLC     General Partner       1.0000    
 
 
          EPWP Resources Company     Limited Partner       3.9600    
 
 
          The BOC Group, Inc.     Unaffiliated Parties - LP Owner       25.7400    
 
 
          Wall Chemical, Inc.     Unaffiliated Parties - LP Owner       33.6600    
 
 
          Air Products Helium, Inc.     Unaffiliated Parties - LP Owner       35.6400    
 
CNG Cayman Two Ltd.
    Cayman Islands     CNG International Corporation     Unaffiliated Parties       23.0800    
 
 
          DBNGP Finance Company L.L.C.     Owner       76.9200    
 
CNG Labuan One Limited
    Malaysia     CNG Cayman Two Ltd.     Owner       100.0000    
 
Coastal (Bermuda) Petroleum Limited
    Bermuda     Coastal Securities Company Limited     Owner       100.0000    
 
Coastal (Rotterdam) B.V.
    Netherlands     El Paso Merchant Energy-Petroleum Company     Owner       100.0000    
 
Coastal Austral Ltd.
    Cayman Islands     Coastal Cape Horn Ltd.     Owner       100.0000    
 
Coastal Australia AC 96-3 Ltd.
    Cayman Islands     El Paso E&P International Corporation     Owner       100.0000    
 
Coastal Belcher Petroleum Pte Ltd.
    Singapore     Coastal Securities Company Limited     Owner       0.2797    
 
 
          Coastal Cayman Finance Ltd.     Owner       99.7203    
 
Coastal Bridger Lake Pipeline Corporation
    Delaware     El Paso Merchant Energy-Petroleum Company     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
Coastal Canada Petroleum, Inc.
    New Brunswick     Cosbel Petroleum Corporation     Owner       100.0000    
 
Coastal Cape Horn Ltd.
    Cayman Islands     El Paso CGP Company, L.L.C.     Owner       100.0000    
 
Coastal Cayman Finance Ltd.
    Cayman Islands     Coastal (Bermuda) Petroleum Limited     Owner       100.0000    
 
Coastal Chem, Inc.
    Delaware     El Paso CGP Company, L.L.C.     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
Coastal Coal, Inc.
    Delaware     El Paso CGP Company, L.L.C.     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
Coastal Eagle Point Oil Company
    Delaware     El Paso CGP Company, L.L.C.     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
Coastal Energy of Panama, Inc.
    Panama     Coastal Stock Company Limited     Owner       100.0000    
 
Coastal Energy Resources Ltd.
    Mauritius     Coastal India Petroleum Ltd.     Owner       100.0000    
 
Coastal Europe Limited
    United Kingdom     Coastal Stock Company Limited     Owner       100.0000    
 
Coastal Fuels of Puerto Rico, Inc.
    Delaware     Cosbel Petroleum Corporation     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
Coastal Fuji Oil Ltd.
    Cayman Islands     Coastal Petroleum N.V.     Owner       50.0000    
 

Page 2


 

EXHIBIT 21
EL PASO CORPORATION
OWNERSHIP LIST
As of December 31, 2007
                                 
 
        Place of                 %  
  Entity Name     Incorporation     Owner     Relationship     Ownership  
 
 
          Fuji Power & Petroleum Ltd.     Unaffiliated Parties       50.0000    
 
Coastal Halcon Pipeline I Ltd.
    Cayman Islands     El Paso CGP Company, L.L.C.     Owner       100.0000    
 
Coastal Halcon Pipeline II Ltd.
    Cayman Islands     El Paso CGP Company, L.L.C.     Owner       100.0000    
 
Coastal India Petroleum Ltd.
    Cayman Islands     Coscol Petroleum Corporation     Owner       100.0000    
 
Coastal International Finance Ltd.
    Cayman Islands     El Paso CNG Company, L.L.C.     Owner       100.0000    
 
Coastal Liquids Partners, L.P.
    Delaware     El Paso Exploration & Production Management, Inc.     Limited Partner       2.1940    
 
 
          El Paso Merchant Energy-Petroleum Company     General and Limited Partner       97.8060    
 
Coastal Management Services (Singapore) Pte Ltd.
    Singapore     Coastal Securities Company Limited     Owner       100.0000    
 
Coastal Mart, Inc.
    Delaware     El Paso Remediation Company     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
Coastal Mobile Refining Company
    Delaware     El Paso CGP Company, L.L.C.     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
Coastal Offshore Finance Ltd.
    Cayman Islands     Coastal International Finance Ltd.     Owner       100.0000    
 
Coastal Offshore Insurance Ltd.
    Bermuda     Coastal Offshore Finance Ltd.     Owner       100.0000    
 
Coastal Oil & Gas Australia 20 Pty Ltd.
    Australia     Coastal Australia AC 96-3 Ltd.     Owner       100.0000    
 
Coastal Oil New England, Inc.
    Massachusetts     Cosbel Petroleum Corporation     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
Coastal Oil New York, Inc.
    Delaware     Cosbel Petroleum Corporation     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
Coastal Palembang Power (Singapore) Pte Ltd.
    Singapore     Coastal Palembang Power Ltd.     Owner       100.0000    
 
Coastal Palembang Power Ltd.
    Cayman Islands     El Paso CGP Company, L.L.C.     Owner       100.0000    
 
Coastal Petrochemical International (L) Limited
    Labuan     Coastal Petrochemical International A.V.V.     Owner       100.0000    
 
Coastal Petrochemical International A.V.V.
    Aruba     Coscol Petroleum Corporation     Owner       100.0000    
 
Coastal Petroleum (Far East) Pte Ltd.
    Singapore     Coastal Securities Company Limited     Owner       100.0000    
 
Coastal Petroleum Argentina, S.A.
    Argentina     Triunion Energy Company     Owner       5.0001    
 
 
          Coastal Petroleum N.V.     Owner       94.9999    
 
Coastal Petroleum N.V.
    Aruba     Coastal Stock Company Limited     Owner       100.0000    
 
Coastal Petroleum N.V. Chile Limitada
    Chile     El Paso Latin America Inc.     Owner       0.0030    
 
 
          Coastal Petroleum N.V.     Owner       99.9970    
 
Coastal Pipeline Company
    Delaware     El Paso Merchant Energy-Petroleum Company     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
Coastal Power International II Ltd.
    Cayman Islands     El Paso CGP Company, L.L.C.     Owner       100.0000    
 
Coastal Power Nicaragua Holding Company Ltd.
    Cayman Islands     Coastal Power Nicaragua Ltd.     Owner       100.0000    
 
Coastal Power Nicaragua Ltd.
    Cayman Islands     El Paso CGP Company, L.L.C.     Owner       100.0000    
 
Coastal Romanian Petroleum International A.V.V.
    Aruba     Delve Overseas S.A.     Unaffiliated Parties       1.0000    
 
 
          Coastal Petroleum N.V.     Owner       49.5000    
 
 
          Arpechim S.A     Unaffiliated Parties       49.5000    
 
Coastal Romanian Petroleum SRL
    Romania     Delve Overseas S.A.     Unaffiliated Parties       1.0000    
 
 
          Coscol Petroleum Corporation     Owner       49.5000    
 
 
          Arpechim S.A     Unaffiliated Parties       49.5000    
 
Coastal Securities Company Limited
    Bermuda     Coastal Stock Company Limited     Owner       100.0000    
 
Coastal States Energy Company
    Delaware     El Paso CGP Company, L.L.C.     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
Coastal States Management Corporation
    Colorado     El Paso CGP Company, L.L.C.     Stockholder       100.0000    
 

Page 3


 

EXHIBIT 21
EL PASO CORPORATION
OWNERSHIP LIST
As of December 31, 2007
                                 
 
        Place of                 %  
  Entity Name     Incorporation     Owner     Relationship     Ownership  
 
Coastal Stock Company Limited
    Bermuda     El Paso Merchant Energy-Petroleum Company     Owner of Common Stock       0.2800    
 
 
          Coastal Austral Ltd.     Owner of Common Stock       0.8100    
 
 
          EnCap Holdings (Cayman) Company     Owner of Class A Stock       5.9820    
 
 
          EPED B Company     Owner of Class A Stock       16.3420    
 
 
          Coastal Petrochemical International (L) Limited     Owner of Common Stock       19.2230    
 
 
          Coscol Petroleum Corporation     Owner of Common Stock       57.3630    
 
Coastal Subic Bay Terminal, Inc.
    Philippines     Coscol Petroleum Corporation     Owner       100.0000    
 
Coastal Technology Nicaragua S.A.
    Nicaragua     Directors/Officers/Other Individuals     Individual Owner(s)       2.0000    
 
 
          El Paso Technology, Inc.     Owner       98.0000    
 
Coastal Technology Palembang (Cayman) Ltd.
    Cayman Islands     El Paso Technology, Inc.     Owner       100.0000    
 
Coastal Unilube, Inc.
    Tennessee     El Paso CGP Company, L.L.C.     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
Coastal Wartsila Petroleum Private Limited
    India     Coastal Energy Resources Ltd.     Owner       50.0000    
 
 
          Unaffiliated Party/Parties unknown     Unaffiliated Parties       50.0000    
 
Coastal West Ventures, Inc.
    Delaware     El Paso CGP Company, L.L.C.     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
Colbourne Insurance Company Limited
    United Kingdom     Directors/Officers/Other Individuals     Individual Owner(s)       0.0002    
 
 
          El Paso Energy Capital Company     Owner       22.9998    
 
 
          Coastal Europe Limited     Owner       77.0000    
 
Colorado Interstate Gas Company
    Delaware     EPPP CIG GP Holdings, L.L.C.     Partner       10.0000    
 
 
          El Paso Noric Investments III, L.L.C.     Partner       90.0000    
 
Colorado Interstate Issuing Corporation
    Delaware     Colorado Interstate Gas Company     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
Continental Connector Pipeline Company
    Delaware     El Paso Corporation     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
Copper Eagle Gas Storage, LLC
    Delaware     El Paso Natural Gas Company     Member       100.0000    
 
Coronado Energy E&P Company, L.L.C.
    Delaware     Coronado Energy Production Operating, L.L.C.     Member       1.0000    
 
 
          Coronado Energy Production Partners, L.L.C.     Member       99.0000    
 
Coronado Energy Production Operating, L.L.C.
    Delaware     Coronado Energy Production, L.L.C.     Member       100.0000    
 
Coronado Energy Production Partners, L.L.C.
    Delaware     Coronado Energy Production Operating, L.L.C.     Member       1.0000    
 
 
          Coronado Energy Production, L.L.C.     Member       99.0000    
 
Coronado Energy Production, L.L.C.
    Delaware     EPC Holdings 756 LLC     Unaffiliated Party - Like Kind Exchange       100.0000    
 
Cosbel Petroleum Corporation
    Delaware     El Paso CGP Company, L.L.C.     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
Coscol Holding Company Ltd.
    Cayman Islands     Coscol Petroleum Corporation     Owner       100.0000    
 
Coscol Petroleum Corporation
    Delaware     El Paso CGP Company, L.L.C.     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
Cross Country Development L.L.C.
    Delaware     Collins & Aikman Products Co.     Unaffiliated Parties       9.0000    
 
 
          Wilson Sporting Goods Co.     Unaffiliated Parties       40.6700    
 
 
          El Paso Natural Gas Company     Member       50.3300    
 
Crystal Exploration and Production, L.L.C.
    Delaware     Crystal Gas Storage, Inc.     Member       100.0000    
 
Crystal Gas Storage, Inc.
    Delaware     El Paso Remediation Company     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
DBNGP Finance Company L.L.C.
    Delaware     EPED Holding Company     Member       50.0000    
 
 
          CNG International Corporation     Unaffiliated Parties       50.0000    
 

Page 4


 

EXHIBIT 21
EL PASO CORPORATION
OWNERSHIP LIST
As of December 31, 2007
                                 
 
        Place of                 %  
  Entity Name     Incorporation     Owner     Relationship     Ownership  
 
DeepTech International Inc.
    Delaware     El Paso Corporation     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
Diamond Power Holdings, L.L.C.
    Delaware     Diamond Power Ventures, L.L.C.     Member       100.0000    
 
Diamond Power Ventures, L.L.C.
    Delaware     Garnet Power Holdings, L.L.C.     Member       49.0000    
 
 
          Gemstone Investor Limited     Member       51.0000    
 
Dutonorte Investimentos Ltda
    Brazil     Termogas International Inc.     Unaffiliated Parties       46.7158    
 
 
          El Paso Cayman TNG Company     Owner       53.2842    
 
Dynaf Bolivia S.A.
    Bolivia     Directors/Officers/Other Individuals     Individual Owner(s)       0.2000    
 
 
          EPED Holding Company     Owner       99.8000    
 
Eastern Gulf Pipeline Company
    Delaware     El Paso Corporation     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
Eastern Insurance Company Limited
    Bermuda     El Paso Corporation     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
El Paso Amazonas Energia Ltda.
    Brazil     El Paso Energy Rio Negro Company     Owner       0.0100    
 
 
          EPIC Energy Amazon Company     Owner       99.9900    
 
El Paso Asia (Labuan) Limited
    Labuan     EPED B Company     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso Bahamas Holding B.V.
    Netherlands     El Paso Pipeline Holding B.V.     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso Brazil Holdings Company
    Cayman Islands     El Paso Brazil, L.L.C.     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso Brazil, L.L.C.
    Delaware     El Paso Cayman Brazil Ventures Company     Member       7.6923    
 
 
          El Paso Cayman BM-CAL-4 Company     Member       7.6923    
 
 
          El Paso Cayman BAS-97 Company     Member       7.6923    
 
 
          El Paso Cayman BCAM-2 Company     Member       7.6923    
 
 
          El Paso Cayman BS-1 Company     Member       7.6923    
 
 
          El Paso Cayman BM-POT-11 Company     Member       7.6923    
 
 
          El Paso Cayman BM-POT-13 Company     Member       7.6923    
 
 
          El Paso Cayman BM-S-13 Company     Member       7.6923    
 
 
          El Paso Cayman BM-CAL-6 Company     Member       7.6923    
 
 
          El Paso Cayman BM-ES-5 Company     Member       7.6923    
 
 
          El Paso Cayman BM-CAL-5 Company     Member       7.6923    
 
 
          El Paso Cayman CAL-M-312 Company     Member       7.6923    
 
 
          El Paso Cayman CAL-M-372 Company     Member       7.6923    
 
El Paso Canada Pipeline B.V.
    Netherlands     El Paso Pipeline Holding B.V.     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso Canada Pipeline Company
    Nova Scotia     El Paso Canada Pipeline B.V.     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso Capital Trust II
    Delaware     El Paso Corporation     Sponsor       100.0000    
 
El Paso Capital Trust III
    Delaware     El Paso Corporation     Sponsor       100.0000    
 
El Paso Cayman BAS-97 Company
    Cayman Islands     El Paso Preferred Holdings Company     Owner       5.0000    
 
 
          El Paso E&P International Holding Company     Owner       95.0000    
 
El Paso Cayman BCAM-2 Company
    Cayman Islands     El Paso Preferred Holdings Company     Owner       5.0000    
 
 
          El Paso E&P International Holding Company     Owner       95.0000    
 
El Paso Cayman BM-CAL-4 Company
    Cayman Islands     El Paso Preferred Holdings Company     Owner       5.0000    
 
 
          El Paso E&P International Holding Company     Owner       95.0000    
 

Page 5


 

EXHIBIT 21
EL PASO CORPORATION
OWNERSHIP LIST
As of December 31, 2007
                                 
 
        Place of                 %  
  Entity Name     Incorporation     Owner     Relationship     Ownership  
 
El Paso Cayman BM-CAL-5 Company
    Cayman Islands     El Paso Preferred Holdings Company     Owner       5.0000    
 
 
          El Paso E&P International Holding Company     Owner       95.0000    
 
El Paso Cayman BM-CAL-6 Company
    Cayman Islands     El Paso Preferred Holdings Company     Owner       5.0000    
 
 
          El Paso E&P International Holding Company     Owner       95.0000    
 
El Paso Cayman BM-ES-5 Company
    Cayman Islands     El Paso Preferred Holdings Company     Owner       5.0000    
 
 
          El Paso E&P International Holding Company     Owner       95.0000    
 
El Paso Cayman BM-ES-6 Company
    Cayman Islands     El Paso Preferred Holdings Company     Owner       5.0000    
 
 
          El Paso E&P International Holding Company     Owner       95.0000    
 
El Paso Cayman BM-PAMA-1 Company
    Cayman Islands     El Paso Preferred Holdings Company     Owner       5.0000    
 
 
          El Paso E&P International Holding Company     Owner       95.0000    
 
El Paso Cayman BM-POT-11 Company
    Cayman Islands     El Paso Preferred Holdings Company     Owner       5.0000    
 
 
          El Paso E&P International Holding Company     Owner       95.0000    
 
El Paso Cayman BM-POT-13 Company
    Cayman Islands     El Paso Preferred Holdings Company     Owner       5.0000    
 
 
          El Paso E&P International Holding Company     Owner       95.0000    
 
El Paso Cayman BM-S-13 Company
    Cayman Islands     El Paso Preferred Holdings Company     Owner       5.0000    
 
 
          El Paso E&P International Holding Company     Owner       95.0000    
 
El Paso Cayman BPAR-10 Company
    Cayman Islands     El Paso Preferred Holdings Company     Owner       5.0000    
 
 
          El Paso E&P International Holding Company     Owner       95.0000    
 
El Paso Cayman Brazil Ventures Company
    Cayman Islands     El Paso Preferred Holdings Company     Owner       5.0000    
 
 
          El Paso E&P International Holding Company     Owner       95.0000    
 
El Paso Cayman BS-1 Company
    Cayman Islands     El Paso Preferred Holdings Company     Owner       5.0000    
 
 
          El Paso E&P International Holding Company     Owner       95.0000    
 
El Paso Cayman BT-PR-4 Company
    Cayman Islands     El Paso Preferred Holdings Company     Owner       5.0000    
 
 
          El Paso E&P International Holding Company     Owner       95.0000    
 
El Paso Cayman CAL-M-312 Company
    Cayman Islands     El Paso Preferred Holdings Company     Owner       5.0000    
 
 
          El Paso E&P International Holding Company     Owner       95.0000    
 
El Paso Cayman CAL-M-372 Company
    Cayman Islands     El Paso Preferred Holdings Company     Owner       5.0000    
 
 
          El Paso E&P International Holding Company     Owner       95.0000    
 
El Paso Cayman DBNGP, Ltd.
    Cayman Islands     DBNGP Finance Company L.L.C.     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso Cayman TNG Company
    Cayman Islands     EPED B Company     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso CGP Company, L.L.C.
    Delaware     El Paso Corporation     Member       100.0000    
 
El Paso CGP Gas Transmission Company
    Delaware     El Paso Field Operations Company     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
El Paso Citrus Holdings, Inc.
    Delaware     El Paso Corporation     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
El Paso CNG Company, L.L.C.
    Delaware     El Paso Corporation     Member       100.0000    
 
El Paso Coal Holding, L.L.C.
    Delaware     El Paso CNG Company, L.L.C.     Member       100.0000    
 
El Paso Compression Services de Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V.
    Mexico     El Paso Gas Transmission de Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V.     Owner       0.0134    
 
 
          Grupo El Paso, S. de R.L. de C.V.     Owner       99.9866    
 
El Paso Corporate Foundation
    Texas     El Paso Corporation     Member       100.0000    
 

Page 6


 

EXHIBIT 21
EL PASO CORPORATION
OWNERSHIP LIST
As of December 31, 2007
                                 
 
        Place of                 %  
  Entity Name     Incorporation     Owner     Relationship     Ownership  
 
El Paso Corporation
    Delaware     Unaffiliated Parties     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
El Paso DBNGP Limited
    Labuan     El Paso Cayman DBNGP, Ltd.     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso E&P Cayman Finance Ltd.
    Cayman Islands     El Paso E&P International Holding Company     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso E&P Company, L.P.
    Delaware     El Paso Exploration & Production Management, Inc.     General Partner       1.0000    
 
 
          El Paso E&P Holdings, Inc.     Limited Partner       99.0000    
 
El Paso E&P Finance Company, L.L.C.
    Delaware     El Paso E&P Cayman Finance Ltd.     Member       100.0000    
 
El Paso E&P Holdings, Inc.
    Delaware     El Paso Exploration & Production Management, Inc.     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
El Paso E&P International Corporation
    Delaware     El Paso Corporation     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
El Paso E&P International Holding Company
    Delaware     El Paso Exploration & Production Company     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
El Paso E&P S. Feiran Cayman Company
    Cayman Islands     El Paso Egypt Production Company     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso E&P S. Mariut Cayman Company
    Cayman Islands     El Paso E&P International Holding Company     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso E&P Zapata, L.P.
    Texas     El Paso South Texas E&P Company, L.L.C.     General Partner       1.0000    
 
 
          El Paso E&P Company, L.P.     Limited Partner       99.0000    
 
El Paso Egypt Production Company
    Cayman Islands     El Paso E&P International Holding Company     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso Egypt S. Feiran Company
    Cayman Islands     El Paso E&P S. Feiran Cayman Company     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso El Sauz B.V.
    Netherlands     EPED Holding Company     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso Energia Cayman I Limited
    Cayman Islands     EPED Holding Company     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso Energia do Brasil Ltda.
    Brazil     El Paso Oleo e Gas do Brasil Ltda.     Owner       0.0001    
 
 
          El Paso Merchant Energy Americas do Sul (Cayman) Company     Owner       0.0313    
 
 
          El Paso Energy Brazil Corporation     Owner       99.9686    
 
El Paso Energia Mexico, SA de CV
    Mexico     El Paso Energy International Company     Owner       49.7500    
 
 
          El Paso Latin America Inc.     Owner       50.2500    
 
El Paso Energia Servicios S de R.L. de C.V.
    Mexico     El Paso Mexico Management S. de R.L. de C.V.     Owner       0.0300    
 
 
          Grupo El Paso, S. de R.L. de C.V.     Owner       99.9700    
 
El Paso Energy Amazon Company
    Cayman Islands     Amethyst Power Holdings, L.L.C.     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso Energy Argentina Limitada S.A.
    Argentina     Triunion Energy Inversiones Company     Owner       5.0000    
 
 
          Triunion Energy Company     Owner       95.0000    
 
El Paso Energy Argentina Service Company
    Delaware     EPED Holding Company     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
El Paso Energy Brazil Corporation
    Cayman Islands     EPED B Company     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso Energy Capital Company
    Delaware     El Paso CGP Company, L.L.C.     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
El Paso Energy Capital Trust I
    Delaware     El Paso Corporation     Sponsor       100.0000    
 
El Paso Energy Corporation Environmental Settlement Irrevocable Trust I
          El Paso Energy E.S.T. Company     Trustee       100.0000    
 
El Paso Energy E.S.T. Company
    Delaware     El Paso Corporation     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
El Paso Energy Engineering Company
    Delaware     El Paso Corporation     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
El Paso Energy Global Holdings Company
    Cayman Islands     EPED Holding Company     Owner       100.0000    
 

Page 7


 

EXHIBIT 21
EL PASO CORPORATION
OWNERSHIP LIST
As of December 31, 2007
                                 
 
        Place of                 %  
  Entity Name     Incorporation     Owner     Relationship     Ownership  
 
El Paso Energy Hydro Holding B.V.
    Netherlands     El Paso El Sauz B.V.     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso Energy India (Private) Ltd.
    India     El Paso Energy Global Holdings Company     Owner       0.0022    
 
 
          El Paso International Power Operations Company     Owner       99.9978    
 
El Paso Energy International Company
    Delaware     El Paso Tennessee Pipeline Co.     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
El Paso Energy Marketing de Mexico, S de RL de CV
    Mexico     El Paso Merchant Energy Company     Owner       0.1100    
 
 
          El Paso Japan Holding B.V.     Owner       99.8900    
 
El Paso Energy Oil Transmission, L.L.C.
    Delaware     El Paso Exploration & Production Management, Inc.     Member       100.0000    
 
El Paso Energy Operating Services Company
    Cayman Islands     EPED B Company     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso Energy Pittsfield Corporation
    Delaware     El Paso Energy International Company     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
El Paso Energy Portland Corporation
    Delaware     Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
El Paso Energy Rio Negro Company
    Cayman Islands     El Paso Energy Amazon Company     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso Energy Service Company
    Delaware     El Paso Corporation     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
El Paso Energy Servicios S. de R.L. de C.V.
    Mexico     El Paso Energy International Company     Owner       1.0000    
 
 
          EPED Holding Company     Owner       99.0000    
 
El Paso EPNG Investments, L.L.C.
    Delaware     El Paso Corporation     Member       100.0000    
 
El Paso Europe Limited
    Scotland     El Paso Merchant Energy International Company     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso European Energie B.V.
    Netherlands     El Paso El Sauz B.V.     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso Exploration & Production Company
    Delaware     El Paso Corporation     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
El Paso Exploration & Production Management, Inc.
    Delaware     El Paso Exploration & Production Company     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
El Paso Field Operations Company
    Delaware     El Paso CGP Company, L.L.C.     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
El Paso Field Services Management, Inc.
    Delaware     El Paso Transmission Company     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
El Paso Field Services, L.L.C.
    Delaware     El Paso Field Services Management, Inc.     Member       1.0000    
 
 
          El Paso Transmission Company     Member       99.0000    
 
El Paso Fife I Company
    Cayman Islands     EPED B Company     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso Gas Marketing Company
    Delaware     El Paso Merchant Energy-Gas Company     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
El Paso Gas Services Company
    Delaware     El Paso Corporation     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
El Paso Gas Transmission de Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V.
    Mexico     El Paso Compression Services de Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V.     Owner       0.0001    
 
 
          Grupo El Paso, S. de R.L. de C.V.     Owner       99.9999    
 
El Paso Global Networks Company
    Delaware     El Paso Corporation     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
El Paso Guna Power (Mauritius) Limited
    Mauritius     KLT Power Asia     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso Indonesia B.V.
    Netherlands     El Paso El Sauz B.V.     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso Industrial Energy, L.P.
    Delaware     El Paso Merchant Energy Company     General Partner       1.0000    
 
 
          El Paso Marketing, L.P.     Limited Partner       99.0000    
 
El Paso International Power Operations Company
    Cayman Islands     El Paso Energy Global Holdings Company     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso Japan Holding B.V.
    Netherlands     EPED Holding Company     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso Khulna Power ApS
    Denmark     El Paso Power Khulna Holding Ltd.     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso Latin America Inc.
    Delaware     El Paso Energy International Company     Stockholder       100.0000    
 

Page 8


 

EXHIBIT 21
EL PASO CORPORATION
OWNERSHIP LIST
As of December 31, 2007
                                 
 
        Place of                 %  
  Entity Name     Incorporation     Owner     Relationship     Ownership  
 
El Paso Maritime B.V.
    Netherlands     El Paso Oleo e Gas do Brasil Ltda.     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso Marketing, L.P.
    Delaware     El Paso Merchant Energy Company     General Partner       1.0000    
 
 
          El Paso SPM Company     Limited Partner       23.0000    
 
 
          El Paso Merchant Energy-Gas Company     Limited Partner       76.0000    
 
El Paso Mauritius Holding Limited
    Mauritius     EPED B Company     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso Merchant Energy Americas do Sul (Cayman) Company
    Cayman Islands     El Paso Merchant Energy International Company     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso Merchant Energy Brazil, Ltd.
    Cayman Islands     El Paso Merchant Energy International Company     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso Merchant Energy Company
    Delaware     El Paso Merchant Energy North America Company     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
El Paso Merchant Energy do Brasil Ltda.
    Brazil     El Paso Energia do Brasil Ltda.     Owner       0.0001    
 
 
          El Paso Merchant Energy Brazil, Ltd.     Owner       99.9999    
 
El Paso Merchant Energy Europe Holdings I Company
    Cayman Islands     El Paso Merchant Energy International Company     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso Merchant Energy Europe Holdings II Company
    Cayman Islands     El Paso Merchant Energy International Company     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso Merchant Energy Europe Holdings III Company
    Cayman Islands     El Paso Merchant Energy International Company             100.0000    
 
El Paso Merchant Energy Europe Limited
    Scotland     El Paso Merchant Energy Europe Holdings I Company     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso Merchant Energy International Company
    Cayman Islands     El Paso Energy Global Holdings Company     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso Merchant Energy North America Company
    Delaware     El Paso Tennessee Pipeline Co.     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
El Paso Merchant Energy-Gas Company
    Delaware     EPEC Corporation     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
El Paso Merchant Energy-Petroleum Company
    Delaware     El Paso CGP Company, L.L.C.     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
El Paso Mexico Gasoductos B.V.
    Netherlands     El Paso El Sauz B.V.     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso Mexico Management S. de R.L. de C.V.
    Mexico     El Paso Compression Services de Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V.     Owner       0.0300    
 
 
          Grupo El Paso, S. de R.L. de C.V.     Owner       99.9700    
 
El Paso Midwest Company
    Delaware     El Paso Energy Capital Company     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
El Paso Mojave Pipeline Co.
    Delaware     El Paso Natural Gas Company     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
El Paso Natural Gas Company
    Delaware     El Paso EPNG Investments, L.L.C.     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
El Paso Nederland Energie B.V.
    Netherlands     El Paso El Sauz B.V.     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso Neuquen Holding Company
    Cayman Islands     El Paso Energy Argentina Service Company     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso Noric Investments III, L.L.C.
    Delaware     El Paso CNG Company, L.L.C.     Member       100.0000    
 
El Paso O&M do Brasil Ltda.
    Brazil     El Paso Energia do Brasil Ltda.     Owner       0.0001    
 
 
          El Paso International Power Operations Company     Owner       99.9999    
 
El Paso Oleo e Gas do Brasil Ltda.
    Brazil     El Paso Brazil Holdings Company     Owner       0.1998    
 
 
          El Paso Brazil, L.L.C.     Owner       99.8002    
 
El Paso Pakistan Power (Private) Limited
    Pakistan     Directors/Officers/Other Individuals     Individual Owner(s)       0.2000    
 
 
          El Paso Energy International Company     Owner       99.8000    
 
El Paso Petroleum Overseas N.V.
    Aruba     Coastal Stock Company Limited     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso Pipeline Corporation
    Delaware     El Paso Corporation     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
El Paso Pipeline GP Company, L.L.C.
    Delaware     El Paso Pipeline Holding Company, L.L.C.     Member       100.0000    
 
El Paso Pipeline Holding B.V.
    Netherlands     El Paso Corporation     Owner       100.0000    
 

Page 9


 

EXHIBIT 21
EL PASO CORPORATION
OWNERSHIP LIST
As of December 31, 2007
                                 
 
        Place of                 %  
  Entity Name     Incorporation     Owner     Relationship     Ownership  
 
El Paso Pipeline Holding Company, L.L.C.
    Delaware     El Paso Pipeline Corporation     Member       1.0000    
 
 
          El Paso Corporation     Member       99.0000    
 
El Paso Pipeline LP Holdings, L.L.C.
    Delaware     El Paso Pipeline Holding Company, L.L.C.     Member       100.0000    
 
El Paso Pipeline Partners Operating Company, L.L.C.
    Delaware     El Paso Pipeline Partners, L.P.     Member       100.0000    
 
El Paso Pipeline Partners, L.P.
    Delaware     El Paso Pipeline GP Company, L.L.C.     General Partner       2.0000    
 
 
          Unaffiliated Parties     Limited Partner       28.9000    
 
 
          El Paso Pipeline LP Holdings, L.L.C.     Limited Partner       69.1000    
 
El Paso Pipeline Services Company
    Delaware     El Paso Natural Gas Company     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
El Paso Power Khulna Holding Ltd.
    Cayman Islands     El Paso CGP Company, L.L.C.     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso PPC Holding B.V.
    Netherlands     El Paso El Sauz B.V.     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso Preferred Holdings Company
    Delaware     El Paso E&P International Holding Company     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
El Paso Production Company Turkey BV
    Netherlands     El Paso Production Holdings B.V.     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso Production Holdings B.V.
    Netherlands     El Paso Corporation     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso Production International Cayman Company
    Cayman Islands     El Paso E&P International Holding Company     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso Production Oil & Gas Gathering, L.P.
    Delaware     El Paso Exploration & Production Management, Inc.     General Partner       1.0000    
 
 
          El Paso E&P Holdings, Inc.     Limited Partner       99.0000    
 
El Paso Production Resale Company
    Delaware     El Paso Exploration & Production Management, Inc.     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
El Paso Reata Energy, L.P.
    Delaware     El Paso Merchant Energy Company     General Partner       1.0000    
 
 
          El Paso Marketing, L.P.     Limited Partner       99.0000    
 
El Paso Remediation Company
    Delaware     El Paso Corporation     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
El Paso Rio Bravo B.V.
    Netherlands     El Paso El Sauz B.V.     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso Rio Negro Energia Ltda.
    Brazil     EPIC Energy Amazon Company     Owner       0.0100    
 
 
          El Paso Energy Rio Negro Company     Owner       99.9900    
 
El Paso Rondonia Power Company
    Cayman Islands     Aquamarine Power Holdings, L.L.C.     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso Ruby Holding Company, L.L.C.
    Delaware     El Paso CNG Company, L.L.C.     Member       100.0000    
 
El Paso Samalayuca Holding (Cayman) Company
    Cayman Islands     EPED SAM Holdings Company     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso Services (D.C.) Inc.
    Delaware     El Paso Energy Service Company     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
El Paso Services Holding Company
    Delaware     El Paso Tennessee Pipeline Co.     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
El Paso SLOC Holding Company
    Cayman Islands     Coscol Petroleum Corporation     Owner       100.0000    
 
El Paso SNG Holding Company, L.L.C.
    Delaware     El Paso Corporation     Member       100.0000    
 
El Paso South Texas E&P Company, L.L.C.
    Delaware     El Paso E&P Company, L.P.     Member       100.0000    
 
El Paso SPM Company
    Delaware     El Paso Merchant Energy Company     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
El Paso Tankships Malta, Ltd.
    Malta     Coscol Holding Company Ltd.     Owner       1.0000    
 
 
          El Paso SLOC Holding Company     Owner       99.0000    
 
El Paso Tankships USA Company
    Delaware     Coscol Petroleum Corporation     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
El Paso Technology Pakistan (Private) Limited
    Pakistan     Directors/Officers/Other Individuals     Individual Owner(s)       0.0003    
 
 
          El Paso Technology, Inc.     Owner       99.9997    
 

Page 10


 

EXHIBIT 21
EL PASO CORPORATION
OWNERSHIP LIST
As of December 31, 2007
                                 
 
        Place of                 %  
  Entity Name     Incorporation     Owner     Relationship     Ownership  
 
El Paso Technology, Inc.
    Delaware     El Paso CGP Company, L.L.C.     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
El Paso Telecom, L.L.C.
    Delaware     El Paso Global Networks Company     Member       100.0000    
 
El Paso Tennessee Pipeline Co.
    Delaware     El Paso Corporation     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
El Paso TGPC Investments, L.L.C.
    Delaware     El Paso Tennessee Pipeline Co.     Member       100.0000    
 
El Paso Transmission Company
    Delaware     El Paso Tennessee Pipeline Co.     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
El Paso Wyoming Gas Supply Company, L.L.C.
    Delaware     El Paso Pipeline Partners Operating Company, L.L.C.     Member       100.0000    
 
Elba Express Company, L.L.C.
    Delaware     El Paso Corporation     Member       100.0000    
 
Emerald Finance, L.L.C.
    Delaware     El Paso Energia Cayman I Limited     Member       100.0000    
 
EnCap Holdings (Cayman) Company
    Cayman Islands     El Paso Merchant Energy International Company     Owner       100.0000    
 
EnCap Investments L.L.C.
    Delaware     David Miller     Unaffiliated Parties       8.3333    
 
 
          Martin Phillips     Unaffiliated Parties       8.3333    
 
 
          Gary Petersen     Unaffiliated Parties       8.3333    
 
 
          Robert Zorich     Unaffiliated Parties       8.3333    
 
 
          El Paso Merchant Energy North America Company     Member       33.3333    
 
 
          EnCap Investments L.P.     Unaffiliated Parties       33.3333    
 
EnerVest Energy, L.P.
    Delaware     Coronado Energy E&P Company, L.L.C.     Partner       23.0000    
 
 
          Unaffiliated Party/Parties unknown     Partner       77.0000    
 
Enfield Holdings B.V.
    Netherlands     EPIC Energy Hungary B.V.     Owner       50.0000    
 
 
          NRGenerating International B.V.     Unaffiliated Parties       50.0000    
 
EP Connect, L.L.C.
    Delaware     El Paso Corporation     Member       100.0000    
 
EP Power Finance, L.L.C.
    Delaware     El Paso Merchant Energy North America Company     Member       100.0000    
 
EPEC Communications Corporation
    Delaware     Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
EPEC Corporation
    Delaware     El Paso Services Holding Company     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
EPEC Gas Brazil Corporation
    Delaware     El Paso Energy International Company     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
EPEC Gas Canada Ltd.
    Canada     El Paso Energy International Company     Owner       100.0000    
 
EPEC Gas Chile Corporation
    Delaware     El Paso Energy International Company     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
EPEC Nederland B.V.
    Netherlands     El Paso Corporation     Owner       100.0000    
 
EPEC Oil Company Liquidating Trust
          El Paso Energy E.S.T. Company     Trustee       100.0000    
 
EPEC Polymers, Inc.
    Delaware     El Paso Remediation Company     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
EPEC Realty, Inc.
    Delaware     Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
EPEC West, Inc.
    Delaware     Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
EPED B Company
    Cayman Islands     EPED Holding Company     Owner       100.0000    
 
EPED Holding Company
    Delaware     El Paso Energy International Company     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
EPED SAM Holdings Company
    Delaware     EPED Holding Company     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
EPGM Gasoductos, S. de R.L. de C.V.
    Mexico     El Paso Mexico Management S. de R.L. de C.V.     Member       0.0001    
 
 
          Grupo El Paso, S. de R.L. de C.V.     Member       99.9999    
 
EPIC Energy (Australia) Nominees Pty. Ltd.
    Australia     Directors/Officers/Other Individuals     Individual Owner(s)       0.2217    
 
 
          El Paso DBNGP Limited     Owner       33.2594    
 

Page 11


 

EXHIBIT 21
EL PASO CORPORATION
OWNERSHIP LIST
As of December 31, 2007
                                 
 
        Place of                 %  
  Entity Name     Incorporation     Owner     Relationship     Ownership  
 
 
          CNG Labuan One Limited     Owner       33.2594    
 
 
          Isarose Pty Limited     Unaffiliated Parties       33.2594    
 
EPIC Energy Amazon Company
    Cayman Islands     Amethyst Power Holdings, L.L.C.     Owner       100.0000    
 
EPIC Energy Australia Trust
    Australia     El Paso DBNGP Limited     Owner       33.3000    
 
 
          CNG Labuan One Limited     Owner       33.3000    
 
 
          Unaffiliated Party/Parties unknown     Unaffiliated Parties       33.4000    
 
EPIC Energy Hungary B.V.
    Netherlands     El Paso Energy International Company     Owner       100.0000    
 
EPIC Gas International Servicos do Brasil Ltda.
    Brazil     El Paso Services Holding Company     Owner       0.0001    
 
 
          El Paso Energy International Company     Owner       14.9736    
 
 
          EPEC Gas Brazil Corporation     Owner       85.0263    
 
EPNG Finance Company, L.L.C.
    Delaware     El Paso Natural Gas Company     Member       100.0000    
 
EPNG Funding Company, L.L.C.
    Delaware     EPNG Finance Company, L.L.C.     Member       100.0000    
 
EPNG Mojave, Inc.
    Delaware     El Paso Natural Gas Company     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
EPPP CIG GP Holdings, L.L.C.
    Delaware     El Paso Pipeline Partners Operating Company, L.L.C.     Member       100.0000    
 
EPPP SNG GP Holdings, L.L.C.
    Delaware     El Paso Pipeline Partners Operating Company, L.L.C.     Member       100.0000    
 
EPWP Resources Company
    Delaware     El Paso CNG Company, L.L.C.     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
Fife Power
    Scotland     El Paso Fife I Company     Owner       50.0000    
 
 
          Fife Limited     Unaffiliated Parties       50.0000    
 
Florida Gas Transmission Company, LLC
    Delaware     Citrus Corp.     Member       100.0000    
 
Four Star Oil & Gas Company
    Delaware     Texaco Nederland BV     Unaffiliated Party - Owner of Class A Stock       0.2787    
 
 
          Chevron Texaco Global Energy Inc.     Unaffiliated Party - Owner of Class A and Class B Stock       19.8439    
 
 
          Chevron U.S.A. Inc.     Unaffiliated Party - Owner of Class A and Class B Stock       31.1037    
 
 
          MBOW Four Star Corporation     Stockholder       48.7737    
 
Garnet Power Holdings, L.L.C.
    Delaware     EPED B Company     Member       100.0000    
 
Gas de Chile S.A.
    Chile     EPEC Gas Chile Corporation     Owner       50.0000    
 
 
          Empresa Nacional del Petroleo S.A.     Unaffiliated Parties       50.0000    
 
Gas TransBoliviano S.A.
    Bolivia     EPED B Company     Owner       2.0000    
 
 
          BG Overseas Holdings Limited     Unaffiliated Parties       2.0000    
 
 
          Petrobras Gas S.A.     Unaffiliated Parties       11.0000    
 
 
          Shell Gas (Latin America) B.V.     Unaffiliated Parties       17.0000    
 
 
          Enron (Bolivia) C.V.     Unaffiliated Parties       17.0000    
 
 
          Transredes S.A.     Unaffiliated Parties       51.0000    
 
Gasoducto del Pacifico (Argentina) S.A.
    Argentina     YEF Sociedad Argentina     Unaffiliated Parties       10.0000    
 
 
          Empresa Nacional del Petroleo S.A.     Unaffiliated Parties       18.2000    
 

Page 12


 

EXHIBIT 21
EL PASO CORPORATION
OWNERSHIP LIST
As of December 31, 2007
                                 
 
        Place of                 %  
  Entity Name     Incorporation     Owner     Relationship     Ownership  
 
 
          Compania de Consumidores de Gas de Santiago S.A.     Unaffiliated Parties       20.0000    
 
 
          El Paso Energy Argentina Limitada S.A.     Owner of Preferred Stock       21.8000    
 
 
          Nova Gas Sur Gas Transmission (Argentina) Ltd.     Unaffiliated Parties       30.0000    
 
Gasoducto del Pacifico (Cayman) Ltd.
    Cayman Islands     YPF Societe Anonima     Unaffiliated Parties       10.0000    
 
 
          Nova Gas Sur Gas Transmission (Argentina) Ltd.     Unaffiliated Parties       15.0000    
 
 
          Nova Gas Sur Gas Transmission (Chile) Ltd.     Unaffiliated Parties       15.0000    
 
 
          Empresa Nacional del Petroleo S.A.     Unaffiliated Parties       18.2000    
 
 
          Gasco S.A.     Unaffiliated Parties       20.0000    
 
 
          Triunion Energy Pacifico Company     Owner       21.8000    
 
Gasoducto del Pacifico S.A.
    Chile     Repsol YPF Chile Ltda.     Unaffiliated Parties       10.0000    
 
 
          Empresa Nacional del Petroleo S.A.     Unaffiliated Parties       18.2000    
 
 
          Gasco S.A.     Unaffiliated Parties       20.0000    
 
 
          Triunion Energy Inversiones Pacifico (Chile) Limitada     Owner of Preferred Stock       21.8000    
 
 
          Nova Gas Sur Gas Transmission (Argentina) Ltd.     Unaffiliated Parties       30.0000    
 
Gasoductos de Chihuahua, S. de R.L. de C.V.
    Mexico     Pemex - Gas Y Petroquimica Basica     Unaffiliated Parties       50.0000    
 
 
          EPGM Gasoductos, S. de R.L. de C.V.     Owner       50.0000    
 
Gasoductos de Tamaulipas, S. de R.L. de C.V.
    Mexico     Gasoductos Servicios, S. de R.L. de C.V.     Owner       0.0100    
 
 
          Gasoductos de Chihuahua, S. de R.L. de C.V.     Owner       99.9900    
 
Gasoductos Servicios, S. de R.L. de C.V.
    Mexico     Gasoductos de Tamaulipas, S. de R.L. de C.V.     Owner       0.0100    
 
 
          Gasoductos de Chihuahua, S. de R.L. de C.V.     Owner       99.9900    
 
GEBF, L.L.C.
    Louisiana     ConocoPhillips Company     Unaffiliated Parties       33.3333    
 
 
          Chevron U.S.A. Inc.     Unaffiliated Parties       33.3333    
 
 
          Vermilion Bay Land, L.L.C.     Member       33.3334    
 
Gemstone Investor Limited
    Cayman Islands     EPED Holding Company     Owner of Ordinary Class A Stock       100.0000    
 
Gemstone Investor, Inc.
    Delaware     Gemstone Investor Limited     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
Grupo El Paso, S. de R.L. de C.V.
    Mexico     El Paso El Sauz B.V.     Owner       0.0300    
 
 
          El Paso Nederland Energie B.V.     Owner       99.9700    
 
Habibullah Coastal Power Company (Private) Limited
    Pakistan     Directors/Officers/Other Individuals     Individual Owner(s)       0.0001    
 
 
          Quetta Power Holding Company II Ltd.     Owner       0.9999    
 
 
          Quetta Power Holding Company I Ltd.     Owner       99.0000    
 
Harbortown Commercial Partnership
    Michigan     MichCon Development Corp.     Unaffiliated Parties       33.3330    
 
 
          ANR Development Company, L.L.C.     General Partner       66.6670    
 
Harbortown Condominium Partnership
    Michigan     MichCon Development Corp.     Unaffiliated Parties       33.3330    
 
 
          ANR Development Company, L.L.C.     General Partner       66.6670    
 
Harbortown Development Partnership
    Michigan     MichCon Development Corp.     Unaffiliated Parties       33.3330    
 
 
          ANR Development Company, L.L.C.     General Partner       66.6670    
 

Page 13


 

EXHIBIT 21
EL PASO CORPORATION
OWNERSHIP LIST
As of December 31, 2007
                                 
 
        Place of                 %  
  Entity Name     Incorporation     Owner     Relationship     Ownership  
 
Harbortown Limited Dividend Housing Association
    Michigan     ANR Development Company, L.L.C.     General Partner       50.0000    
 
 
          MichCon Development Corp.     Unaffiliated Parties       50.0000    
 
Interenergy Company
    Cayman Islands     EPED B Company     Owner       100.0000    
 
Inversiones EPEC Gas (Chile) Limitada
    Chile     El Paso Latin America Inc.     Owner       0.0001    
 
 
          EPEC Gas Chile Corporation     Owner       99.9999    
 
Jewel Investor, L.L.C.
    Delaware     EPED Holding Company     Member       100.0000    
 
Khulna Power Company Ltd.
    Bangladesh     Wartsila Development & Financial Services (Asia) Ltd.     Unaffiliated Party - Owner of Class A and Class B Stock       6.1000    
 
 
          Summit Industrial & Mercantile Corporation (Pvt) Ltd.     Unaffiliated Party - Owner of Class A and Class B Stock       10.0000    
 
 
          United Enterprises & Company Ltd.     Unaffiliated Party - Owner of Class A and Class B Stock       10.0000    
 
 
          El Paso Khulna Power ApS     Owner of Class A and Class B Stock       73.9000    
 
KLT Power Asia
    Cayman Islands     KLT Power Inc.     Owner       100.0000    
 
KLT Power Inc.
    Missouri     EPED Holding Company     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
MBOW Four Star Corporation
    Delaware     El Paso Exploration & Production Company     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
McCoy Caney Coal Company
    Delaware     Coastal Coal, Inc.     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
Mesquite Investors, L.L.C.
    Delaware     Chaparral Investors, L.L.C.     Member       100.0000    
 
Mojave Pipeline Company
    Texas     El Paso Mojave Pipeline Co.     Partner       50.0000    
 
 
          EPNG Mojave, Inc.     Partner       50.0000    
 
Mojave Pipeline Operating Company
    Texas     Mojave Pipeline Company     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
Mont Belvieu Land Company
    Delaware     El Paso Remediation Company     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
Mt. Franklin Insurance Ltd.
    Bermuda     El Paso Corporation     Owner       100.0000    
 
Pacific Refining Company
    California     El Paso Merchant Energy-Petroleum Company     Partner       2.0000    
 
 
          Coastal West Ventures, Inc.     Partner       98.0000    
 
Palembang Coastal Technology (Singapore) Pte Ltd.
    Singapore     Coastal Technology Palembang (Cayman) Ltd.     Owner       100.0000    
 
Petro-Tex Chemical Corporation Dissolution, Distribution, Liquidating and Recovery Trust
          EPEC Polymers, Inc.     Trustee       100.0000    
 
Potiguar 4A LLC
    Delaware     Potiguar I, L.L.C.     Member       100.0000    
 
Potiguar 4B LLC
    Delaware     Potiguar I, L.L.C.     Member       100.0000    
 
Potiguar I, L.L.C.
    Delaware     El Paso Production International Cayman Company     Member       100.0000    
 
Potiguar II, L.L.C.
    Delaware     Potiguar I, L.L.C.     Member       100.0000    
 
Quetta Power Holding Company I Ltd.
    Cayman Islands     H.E.I. Ltd.     Unaffiliated Parties       25.0000    
 
 
          Habibullah Energy Limited (Pakistan)     Unaffiliated Parties       25.0000    
 
 
          Coastal Power International II Ltd.     Owner       50.0000    
 
Quetta Power Holding Company II Ltd.
    Cayman Islands     Coastal Power International II Ltd.     Owner       1.0000    
 
 
          Habibullah Energy Limited     Unaffiliated Parties       1.0000    
 
 
          Quetta Power Holding Company I Ltd.     Owner       98.0000    
 
Rondonia Power Company
    Cayman Islands     El Paso Rondonia Power Company     Owner       50.0000    
 

Page 14


 

EXHIBIT 21
EL PASO CORPORATION
OWNERSHIP LIST
As of December 31, 2007
                                 
 
        Place of                 %  
  Entity Name     Incorporation     Owner     Relationship     Ownership  
 
 
          Termo Gas International     Unaffiliated Parties       50.0000    
 
Ruby Pipeline, L.L.C.
    Delaware     El Paso Ruby Holding Company, L.L.C.     Member       100.0000    
 
Samalayuca II Management, L.L.C.
    Delaware     EPED SAM Holdings Company     Member       50.0000    
 
 
          Samalayuca Construction Management Corporation     Unaffiliated Parties       50.0000    
 
Sandbar Petroleum Company
    Delaware     El Paso Energy International Company     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
Seafarer Bahamas Pipeline System, Ltd.
    Bahamas     Directors/Officers/Other Individuals     Individual Owner(s)       0.0400    
 
 
          El Paso Bahamas Holding B.V.     Owner       99.9600    
 
Seafarer US Pipeline System, Inc.
    Delaware     El Paso Corporation     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
SNG Finance Company, L.L.C.
    Delaware     Southern Natural Gas Company     Member       100.0000    
 
SNG Funding Company, L.L.C.
    Delaware     SNG Finance Company, L.L.C.     Member       100.0000    
 
SNG Pipeline Services Company, L.L.C.
    Delaware     El Paso SNG Holding Company, L.L.C.     Member       100.0000    
 
SNG RenCen Company, L.L.C.
    Delaware     Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company     Member       100.0000    
 
Sonora LNG Terminal Holding, S. de R.L. de C.V.
    Mexico     Sonora Pipeline Holding, S de R. L. de C.V.     Owner       0.0300    
 
 
          Sonora Terminal and Pipeline, S. de R.L. de C.V.     Owner       99.9700    
 
Sonora Pipeline Holding, S de R. L. de C.V.
    Mexico     Sonora LNG Terminal Holding, S. de R.L. de C.V.     Owner       0.0300    
 
 
          Sonora Terminal and Pipeline, S. de R.L. de C.V.     Owner       99.9700    
 
Sonora Pipeline, S. de R.L. de C.V.
    Mexico     Sonora Terminal and Pipeline, S. de R.L. de C.V.     Owner       0.0300    
 
 
          Sonora Pipeline Holding, S de R. L. de C.V.     Owner       99.9700    
 
Sonora Services Energy, S. de R.L. de C.V.
    Mexico     Sonora Pipeline Holding, S de R. L. de C.V.     Owner       0.0300    
 
 
          Sonora Terminal and Pipeline, S. de R.L. de C.V.     Owner       99.9700    
 
Sonora Terminal and Pipeline, S. de R.L. de C.V.
    Mexico     Sonora Pacific Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V.     Unaffiliated Parties       50.0000    
 
 
          Grupo El Paso, S. de R.L. de C.V.     Owner       50.0000    
 
Southeast Storage Development Company, L.L.C.
    Delaware     El Paso Corporation     Member       100.0000    
 
Southern Gas Storage Company, L.L.C.
    Delaware     Southern Natural Gas Company     Member       100.0000    
 
Southern Gulf LNG Company, L.L.C.
    Delaware     El Paso Corporation     Member       100.0000    
 
Southern Gulf Merger Company, L.L.C.
    Delaware     Southern Gulf LNG Company, L.L.C.     Member       100.0000    
 
Southern LNG Inc.
    Delaware     El Paso Corporation     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
Southern Natural Gas Company
    Delaware     EPPP SNG GP Holdings, L.L.C.     Partner       10.0000    
 
 
          El Paso SNG Holding Company, L.L.C.     Partner       90.0000    
 
Southern Natural Issuing Corporation
    Delaware     Southern Natural Gas Company     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
Starr County Gathering System
    Texas     EEX Natural Gas Company     Unaffiliated Parties       1.0000    
 
 
          El Paso CGP Gas Transmission Company     General Partner       30.0000    
 
 
          EEX Pipeline Company, L.P.     Unaffiliated Parties       69.0000    
 
Starr-Zapata Pipe Line
    Texas     EEX Natural Gas Company     Unaffiliated Parties       1.0000    
 
 
          EEX Pipeline Company, L.P.     Unaffiliated Parties       49.0000    
 
 
          El Paso CGP Gas Transmission Company     General Partner       50.0000    
 
Subic Bay Petroleum Products Ltd.
    Cayman Islands     Coastal Stock Company Limited     Owner       100.0000    
 
TCN Energia Ltda.
    Brazil     El Paso Energia do Brasil Ltda.     Owner       0.0500    
 

Page 15


 

EXHIBIT 21
EL PASO CORPORATION
OWNERSHIP LIST
As of December 31, 2007
                                 
 
        Place of                 %  
  Entity Name     Incorporation     Owner     Relationship     Ownership  
 
 
          EPED B Company     Owner       99.9500    
 
TDF, S. de R.L. de C.V.
    Mexico     Gasoductos Servicios, S. de R.L. de C.V.     Owner       0.0001    
 
 
          Transportadora del Norte SH, S. de R.L. de C.V.     Owner       99.9999    
 
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company
    Delaware     El Paso TGPC Investments, L.L.C.     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
Tennessee Storage Company
    Delaware     Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
Terminal GNL de Sonora, S. de R.L. de C.V.
    Mexico     Sonora Terminal and Pipeline, S. de R.L. de C.V.     Owner       0.0300    
 
 
          Sonora LNG Terminal Holding, S. de R.L. de C.V.     Owner       99.9700    
 
Termo Norte Energia Ltda.
    Brazil     CS Participacoes Ltda.     Unaffiliated Parties       0.0001    
 
 
          El Paso Energia do Brasil Ltda.     Owner       0.0001    
 
 
          Rondonia Power Company     Owner       99.9998    
 
Termo O&M Energia Ltda.
    Brazil     El Paso O&M do Brasil Ltda.     Owner       50.0000    
 
 
          Termogas S/A     Unaffiliated Parties       50.0000    
 
TGP Finance Company, L.L.C.
    Delaware     Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company     Member       100.0000    
 
TGP Funding Company, L.L.C.
    Delaware     TGP Finance Company, L.L.C.     Member       100.0000    
 
Tipitapa Power Company Ltd.
    Cayman Islands     Coastal Power Nicaragua Holding Company Ltd.     Owner       1.0000    
 
 
          Unaffiliated Parties     Unaffiliated Parties       40.0000    
 
 
          Coastal Power Nicaragua Ltd.     Owner       59.0000    
 
TNG Participacoes Ltda.
    Brazil     Dutonorte Investimentos Ltda     Owner       50.0000    
 
 
          Petrobras Gas S.A.     Unaffiliated Parties       50.0000    
 
Topaz Power Ventures, L.L.C.
    Delaware     EPED Holding Company     Member       100.0000    
 
Transport USA, Inc.
    Pennsylvania     ANR Advance Holdings, Inc.     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
Transportadora Brasiliera Gasoduto Bolivia-Brazil S.A.
    Brazil     Shell     Unaffiliated Parties       4.0000    
 
 
          Enron     Unaffiliated Parties       4.0000    
 
 
          Transporte de Hidrocarburos     Unaffiliated Parties       12.0000    
 
 
          BBPP Holdings Ltda.     Owner       29.0000    
 
 
          Petrobras affiliate     Unaffiliated Parties       51.0000    
 
Transportadora del Norte SH, S. de R.L. de C.V.
    Mexico     Gasoductos Servicios, S. de R.L. de C.V.     Owner       0.0001    
 
 
          Gasoductos de Chihuahua, S. de R.L. de C.V.     Owner       99.9999    
 
Triunion Energy Company
    Cayman Islands     EPED B Company     Owner       23.2000    
 
 
          Agua del Cajon (Cayman) Company     Owner       38.4000    
 
 
          Interenergy Company     Owner       38.4000    
 
Triunion Energy Inversiones (Chile) Limitada
    Chile     Triunion Energy Company     Owner       0.4200    
 
 
          Triunion Energy Pacifico Company     Owner       99.5800    
 
Triunion Energy Inversiones Company
    Cayman Islands     Triunion Energy Company     Owner       100.0000    
 
Triunion Energy Inversiones Pacifico (Chile) Limitada
    Chile     Triunion Energy Pacifico Company     Owner       0.2200    
 
 
          Triunion Energy Inversiones (Chile) Limitada     Owner       99.7800    
 
Triunion Energy Pacifico Company
    Cayman Islands     Triunion Energy Inversiones Company     Owner       100.0000    
 
United Summit Coastal Oil Ltd.
    Bangladesh     Summit Industrial & Mercantile Corporation (Pvt) Ltd.     Unaffiliated Parties       25.0000    
 

Page 16


 

EXHIBIT 21
EL PASO CORPORATION
OWNERSHIP LIST
As of December 31, 2007
                                 
 
        Place of                 %  
  Entity Name     Incorporation     Owner     Relationship     Ownership  
 
 
          United Enterprises & Company Ltd.     Unaffiliated Parties       25.0000    
 
 
          Coastal Petroleum N.V.     Owner       50.0000    
 
UnoPaso Exploracao e Producao de Petroleo e Gas Ltda.
    Brazil     Potiguar 4B LLC     Owner       0.0001    
 
 
          El Paso Oleo e Gas do Brasil Ltda.     Owner       0.0001    
 
 
          Potiguar II, L.L.C.     Owner       99.9998    
 
Vermilion Bay Land, L.L.C.
    Delaware     Crystal Gas Storage, Inc.     Member       100.0000    
 
Western Fuel Oil Company
    California     Pacific Refining Company     Stockholder       100.0000    
 
WIC Holdings Company, L.L.C.
    Delaware     El Paso Pipeline Partners Operating Company, L.L.C.     Member       100.0000    
 
WYCO Development LLC
    Colorado     Xcel Energy WYCO Inc.     Unaffiliated Parties       50.0000    
 
 
          WYCO Holding Company, L.L.C.     Member       50.0000    
 
WYCO Holding Company, L.L.C.
    Delaware     Colorado Interstate Gas Company     Member       100.0000    
 
Wyoming Interstate Company, Ltd.
    Colorado     El Paso Wyoming Gas Supply Company, L.L.C.     Limited Partner       50.0000    
 
 
          WIC Holdings Company, L.L.C.     General Partner       50.0000    
 
Young Gas Storage Company, Ltd.
    Colorado     The City of Colorado Springs     Unaffiliated Parties - LP Owner       5.0000    
 
 
          CIG Gas Storage Company     General Partner       47.5000    
 
 
          Xcel Energy Markets Holdings Inc.     Unaffiliated Parties       47.5000    
 
Zipline, L.L.C.
    Delaware     Genesis Park GP Company, L.L.C.     Unaffiliated Parties       50.0000    
 
 
          El Paso Global Networks Company     Member       50.0000    
 

Page 17

EX-23.A 40 h53583exv23wa.htm CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP exv23wa
 

Exhibit 23A
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, Ernst & Young LLP
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 333-134406) and related Prospectus of El Paso Corporation, and in the following Registration Statements on Form S-8:
     
Form S-8 No.   Pertaining to:
333-127951
  El Paso Corporation Retirement Savings Plan
 
   
333-126599
  El Paso Corporation 2005 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan
 
   
333-126597
  El Paso Corporation 2005 Compensation Plan for Non-employee Directors
 
   
333-96959
  El Paso Corporation Employee Stock Purchase Plan
 
   
333-26813
  El Paso Energy Corporation Retirement Savings Plan
 
   
333-26831
  El Paso Natural Gas Company Omnibus Plan for Management Employees
 
   
333-26823 and
333-94717
  El Paso Energy Corporation Strategic Stock Plan
 
   
033-46519
  Omnibus Compensation Plan and Stock Option Plan for Non-employee Directors
 
   
033-49956
  El Paso Natural Gas Company Retirement Savings Plan
 
   
033-51851
  El Paso Natural Gas Company Stock Option Plan for Management Employees
 
   
033-57553
  1995 Omnibus Compensation Plan, 1995 Incentive Compensation Plan and 1995 Compensation Plan for Non-employee Directors
 
   
033-51853
  El Paso Natural Gas Company Incentive Compensation Plan
 
   
333-75781
  El Paso Energy Corporation Sonat Savings Plan
 
   
333-78949
  El Paso Energy Corporation Employee Stock Purchase Plan
 
   
333-78951
  El Paso Energy Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan
 
   
333-78979
  El Paso Corporation 1999 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan and El Paso Energy Corporation Omnibus Plan for Management Employees
 
   
333-94719
  El Paso Energy Corporation Omnibus Plan for Management Employees
 
   
333-64240
  El Paso Corporation 2001 Stock Option Plan for Non-employee Directors
 
   
333-31060
  El Paso Corporation Coastal Aruba Refining Company N.V. Thrift Plan (formerly Coastal Aruba Refining Company N. V. Thrift Plan)
of our reports dated February 25, 2008, with respect to the consolidated financial statements and schedule of El Paso Corporation, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of El Paso Corporation, included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2007.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Houston, Texas
February 25, 2008

EX-23.B 41 h53583exv23wb.htm CONSENT OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP exv23wb
 

Exhibit 23B
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-3 (File No. 333-134406) and Form S-8 (File Nos. 333-127951, 333-126599, 333-126597, 333-96959, 333-26813, 333-26831, 333-26823, 033-46519, 033-49956, 033-51851, 033-57553, 033-51853, 333-75781, 333-78949, 333-78951, 333-78979, 333-94717, 333-94719, 333-64240, 333-31060) of the following reports which appear in this Form 10-K:
  Our report dated March 2, 2006, except for the eleventh paragraph of Note 2, as to which the date is May 10, 2006, and the tenth paragraph of Note 2, as to which the date is February 26, 2007, relating to the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule of El Paso Corporation.
 
  Our report dated February 25, 2008, relating to the consolidated financial statements of Four Star Oil & Gas Company.
 
  Our report dated February 25, 2008, relating to the consolidated financial statements of Citrus Corp.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Houston, Texas
February 25, 2008

EX-23.C 42 h53583exv23wc.htm CONSENT OF RYDER SCOTT COMPANY, L.P. exv23wc
 

(CONSENT OF RYDER SCOTT COMPANY, L.P.)
1100 LOUISIANA SUITE 3800 HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002-5218 fAX (713) 651-0849 TELEPHONE (713) 651-9191 EXHIBIT 23.C CONSENT OF RYDER SCOTT COMPANY, L.P. As independent petroleum engineers, Ryder Scott Company, L.P. hereby consents to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-3 (File Nos. 333-127797 and 333-134406) and Form S-8 (File Nos. 333-127951, 333-126599, 333-126597, 333-96959, 333-26813,333-26831,333-26823,033-46519, 033-49956, 033-51851, 033-57553, 03351853, 333-75781, 333-78949, 333-78951, 333-78979, 333-94717, 333-94719, 333-64240, 333-31060) of EI Paso Corporation of the reference to us and our reports under the captions “Part I. Business - - Exploration and Production Segment — Natural Gas and Oil Properties” and “Part II. Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - Supplemental Natural Gas and Oil Operations (Unaudited)” and our reserve reports attached as Exhibits 99.A and Exhibits 99.B in the Annual Report on Form 10K of EI Paso Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2007. RYDER SCOTT COMPANY, L.P. Houston, Texas February 25, 2008 1200. 530 - - 8TH AVENUE. S.W. 621 17TH STAEET. SUITE 1550 CALGAAY. AlBEATA T2P 358 DENVEA. COLOAADO 80293-1501 Tel (403) 262-2799 TEL (303) 623-9147 fAX (403) 262-2790 fAX (303)623-4258

EX-31.A 43 h53583exv31wa.htm CERTIFICATION OF CEO PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 exv31wa
 

EXHIBIT 31.A
CERTIFICATION
I, Douglas L. Foshee, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of El Paso Corporation;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Date: February 28, 2008
         
     
  /s/ Douglas L. Foshee    
  Douglas L. Foshee   
  President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
El Paso Corporation 
 

 

EX-31.B 44 h53583exv31wb.htm CERTIFICATION OF CFO PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 exv31wb
 

         
EXHIBIT 31.B
CERTIFICATION
I, D. Mark Leland, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of El Paso Corporation;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Date: February 28, 2008
         
     
  /s/ D. Mark Leland    
  D. Mark Leland   
  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
El Paso Corporation 
 

 

EX-32.A 45 h53583exv32wa.htm CERTIFICATION OF CEO PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 exv32wa
 

         
EXHIBIT 32.A
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906
OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
     In connection with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ending December 31, 2007, of El Paso Corporation (the “Company”) as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Douglas L. Foshee, President and Chief Executive Officer, certify (i) that the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and (ii) that the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
         
     
  /s/ Douglas L. Foshee    
  Douglas L. Foshee   
  President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer) 

February 28, 2008
 
 
A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to El Paso Corporation and will be retained by El Paso Corporation and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

 

EX-32.B 46 h53583exv32wb.htm CERTIFICATION OF CFO PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 exv32wb
 

EXHIBIT 32.B
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906
OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
     In connection with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ending December 31, 2007, of El Paso Corporation (the “Company”) as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, D. Mark Leland, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, certify (i) that the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and (ii) that the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
         
     
  /s/ D. Mark Leland    
  D. Mark Leland   
  Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)

February 28, 2008 
 
 
A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to El Paso Corporation and will be retained by El Paso Corporation and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

 

EX-99.A 47 h53583exv99wa.htm RYDER SCOTT RESERVE REPORT exv99wa
 

(RYDER SCOTT COMPANY LOGO)       FAX (713) 651-0849

1100 LOUSIANA     SUITE 3800   HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002-5218   TELEPHONE (713) 651-9191
January 25, 2008
El Paso Production Company
El Paso Tower
1001 Louisiana
Houston, TX 77002
Gentlemen:
     At your request, we have conducted a reserves audit of the estimates of the remaining proved reserves attributable to certain properties of El Paso Production Company (El Paso), as of December 31, 2007, as prepared by its engineering and geological staff and based on Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) guidelines. The properties that we audited are comprised of 6,866 reserve determinations and are located in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Dakota, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and Wyoming, and in the federal waters offshore Louisiana and Texas. The international properties are located offshore Brazil. These estimated reserves and future income amounts do not include El Paso’s equity interest in Four Star Oil & Gas. In our opinion, the overall proved reserves for the audited properties as estimated by El Paso are, in the aggregate, reasonable within the established audit tolerance guidelines of 10 percent as set forth in the Standards Pertaining to the Estimating and Auditing of Oil and Gas Reserves Information promulgated by the Society of Petroleum Engineers.
     The net reserves attributable to the properties that we audited account for 78 percent of the total net remaining liquid hydrocarbon reserves and 86 percent of the total net remaining gas reserves. The properties that we audited represent 84 percent of the total proved discounted future net income based on the unescalated pricing policy of the SEC as taken from reserve and income projections prepared by El Paso as of December 31, 2007.
     The estimated reserves presented in this report are related to hydrocarbon prices. El Paso has informed us that in the preparation of their reserve and income projections, as of December 31, 2007, they used December 2007 hydrocarbon prices as required by SEC guidelines; however, actual future prices may vary significantly from December 2007. Therefore, volumes of reserves actually recovered and the amounts of income actually received may differ significantly from the estimated quantities presented in this report. The net remaining reserves as estimated by El Paso attributable to El Paso’s interest in properties that we audited and the reserves of properties that we did not audit are summarized as follows:
SEC CASE
Estimated Net Remaining Reserves
Attributable to Certain Properties of
El Paso Production Company
As of December 31, 2007
                                 
    Proved
    Developed           Total
    Producing   Non-Producing   Undeveloped   Proved
Net Reserves of Properties
                               
Audited by Ryder Scott
                               
Oil/Condensate — Barrels
    17,799,977       6,555,134       39,473,411       63,828,522  
Plant Products — Barrels
    6,093,833       894,881       1,560,132       8,548,846  
Gas — MMCF
    1,270,718       229,839       475,149       1,975,706  
 
                               
Total Gas Equivalents — MMCFE*
    1,414,081       274,539       721,350       2,409,970  
(GRAPHIC)

 


 

El Paso Production Company
January 25, 2008
Page 2
                                 
    Proved
    Developed           Total
    Producing   Non-Producing   Undeveloped   Proved
Net Reserves of Properties
                               
Not Audited by Ryder Scott
                               
Oil/Condensate — Barrels
    9,119,632       2,275,468       7,160,589       18,555,689  
Plant Products — Barrels
    584,911       558,258       421,833       1,565,002  
Gas — MMCF
    164,132       92,050       65,978       322,160  
 
                               
Total Gas Equivalents — MMCFE*
    222,359       109,052       111,473       442,884  
 
                               
Total Net Reserves
                               
Oil/Condensate — Barrels
    26,919,609       8,830,602       46,634,000       82,384,211  
Plant Products — Barrels
    6,678,744       1,453,139       1,981,965       10,113,848  
Gas — MMCF
    1,434,850       321,889       541,127       2,297,866  
 
                               
Total Gas Equivalents — MMCFE*
    1,636,440       383,591       832,823       2,852,854  
 
*   1 bbl liquid — 6 MCF gas equivalents
     Liquid hydrocarbons are expressed in standard 42 gallon barrels. All gas volumes are expressed in millions of cubic feet (MMCF) at the official temperature and pressure bases of the areas in which the gas reserves are located.
Reserves Included in This Report
     In our opinion, the proved reserves presented in this report comply with SEC definitions and guidelines, as outlined below. SEC Regulation S-X Rule 4-10 paragraph (a) defines proved reserves as follows:
Proved oil and gas reserves. Proved oil and gas reserves are the estimated quantities of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids which geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be recoverable in future years from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions, i.e., prices and costs as of the date the estimate is made. Prices include consideration of changes in existing prices provided only by contractual arrangements, but not on escalations based upon future conditions.
(i) Reservoirs are considered proved if economic producibility is supported by either actual production or conclusive formation test. The area of a reservoir considered proved includes:
(A) that portion delineated by drilling and defined by gas-oil and/or oil-water contacts, if any; and
(B) the immediately adjoining portions not yet drilled, but which can be reasonably judged as economically productive on the basis of available geological and engineering data. In the absence of information on fluid contacts, the lowest known structural occurrence of hydrocarbons controls the lower proved limit of the reservoir.
(ii) Reserves which can be produced economically through application of improved recovery techniques (such as fluid injection) are included in the “proved” classification when successful testing by a pilot project, or the operation of an installed program in the reservoir, provides support for the engineering analysis on which the project or program was based.
(iii) Estimates of proved reserves do not include the following:
RYDER SCOTT COMPANY     PETROLEUM CONSULTANTS

 


 

El Paso Production Company
January 25, 2008
Page 3
(A) oil that may become available from known reservoirs but is classified separately as “indicated additional reserves”;
(B) crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids, the recovery of which is subject to reasonable doubt because of uncertainty as to geology, reservoir characteristics, or economic factors;
(C) crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids, that may occur in undrilled prospects; and
(D) crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids, that may be recovered from oil shales, coal, gilsonite and other such sources.
Proved developed oil and gas reserves. Proved developed oil and gas reserves are reserves that can be expected to be recovered through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods. Additional oil and gas expected to be obtained through the application of fluid injection or other improved recovery techniques for supplementing the natural forces and mechanisms of primary recovery should be included as “proved developed reserves” only after testing by a pilot project or after the operation of an installed program has confirmed through production response that increased recovery will be achieved.
Proved undeveloped reserves. Proved undeveloped oil and gas reserves are reserves that are expected to be recovered from new wells on undrilled acreage, or from existing wells where a relatively major expenditure is required for recompletion. Reserves on undrilled acreage shall be limited to those drilling units offsetting productive units that are reasonably certain of production when drilled. Proved reserves for other undrilled units can be claimed only where it can be demonstrated with certainty that there is continuity of production from the existing productive formation. Under no circumstances should estimates for proved undeveloped reserves be attributable to any acreage for which an application of fluid injection or other improved recovery technique is contemplated, unless such techniques have been proved effective by actual tests in the area and in the same reservoir.
     Certain Staff Accounting Bulletins published subsequent to the promulgation of Regulation S-X have dealt with matters relating to the application of financial accounting and disclosure rules for oil and gas producing activities. In particular, the following interpretations extracted from Staff Accounting Bulletins set forth the Commissionstaff’s view on specific questions pertaining to proved oil and gas reserves.
     Economic producibility of estimated proved reserves can be supported to the satisfaction of the Office of Engineering if geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty that those reserves can be recovered in future years under existing economic and operating conditions. The relative importance of the many pieces of geological and engineering data which should be evaluated when classifying reserves cannot be identified in advance. In certain instances, proved reserves may be assigned to reservoirs on the basis of a combination of electrical and other type logs and core analyses which indicate the reservoirs are analogous to similar reservoirs in the same field which are producing or have demonstrated the ability to produce on a formation test. (extracted from SAB-35)
     In determining whether “proved undeveloped reserves” encompass acreage on which fluid injection (or other improved recovery technique) is contemplated, is it appropriate to distinguish between (i) fluid injection used for pressure maintenance during the early life of a field and (ii) fluid injection used to effect secondary recovery when a field is in the late stages of depletion? .... The Office of Engineering believes that the distinction identified in the above question may be appropriate in a few limited circumstances, such as in the case of certain fields in the North Sea. The staff will review estimates of proved reserves attributable to fluid injection in the light of the strength of the evidence presented by the registrant in support of a contention that enhanced recovery will be achieved, (extracted from SAB-35)
     Companies should report reserves of natural gas liquids which are net to their leasehold interest, i.e., that portion recovered in a processing plant and allocated to the leasehold interest. It may be appropriate in the case of natural gas liquids not clearly attributable to leasehold interests ownership to
RYDER SCOTT COMPANY PETROLEUM CONSULTANTS

 


 

El Paso Production Company
January 25, 2008
Page 4
follow instruction (b) of Item 2(b)(3) of Regulation S-K and report such reserves separately and describe the nature of the ownership. (extracted from SAB-35)
     The staff believes that since coalbed methane gas can be recovered from coal in its natural and original location, it should be included in proved reserves, provided that it complies in all other respects with the definition of proved oil and gas reserves as specified in Rule 4-10(a)(2) including the requirement that methane production be economical at current prices, costs, (net of the tax credit) and existing operating conditions. (extracted from SAB-85)
     Statements in Staff Accounting Bulletins are not rules or interpretations of the Commission nor are they published as bearing the Commission’s official approval; they represent interpretations and practices followed by the Division of Corporation Finance and the Office of the Chief Accountant in administering the disclosure requirements of the Federal securities laws.
     Because of the direct relationship between volumes of proved undeveloped reserves and development plans, we include in the proved undeveloped category only reserves assigned to undeveloped locations that we have been assured will definitely be drilled and reserves assigned to the undeveloped portions of secondary or tertiary projects which we have been assured will definitely be developed.
Audit Procedure and Opinion
     As prescribed by the Society of Petroleum Engineers in Paragraph 2.2(f) of the Standards Pertaining to the Estimating and Auditing of Oil and Gas Reserves Information a reserves audit is defined as “the process of reviewing certain of the pertinent facts interpreted and assumptions made that have resulted in an estimate of reserves prepared by others and the rendering of an opinion about (1) the appropriateness of the methodologies employed, (2) the adequacy and quality of the data relied upon, (3) the depth and thoroughness of the reserves estimation process, (4) the classification of reserves appropriate to the relevant definitions used, and (5) the reasonableness of the estimated reserve quantities.”
     In performing our audit, we have relied upon data furnished by El Paso with respect to property interests owned, production and well tests from examined wells, historical costs of operation and development, product prices, geological structural and isopach maps, well logs, core analyses, and pressure measurements. These data were accepted as authentic and sufficient for determining the reserves unless, during the course of our examination, a matter of question came to our attention in which case the data were not accepted until all questions were satisfactorily resolved. Our audit included such tests and procedures as we considered necessary under the circumstances to render the conclusions set forth herein.
     In our opinion, El Paso’s estimates of future reserves for the audited properties were prepared in accordance with generally accepted petroleum engineering and evaluation principles for the estimation of future reserves as set forth in the Standards Pertaining to the Estimating and Auditing of Oil and Gas Reserves Information, and we found no bias in the utilization and analysis of data in estimates for these properties. In general, we were in reasonable agreement with El Paso’s estimates of remaining proved reserves for the properties which we audited; however, in certain cases there was more than an acceptable variance in El Paso’s estimates and our estimates due to a difference in interpretation of data or due to our having access to data which were not available to El Paso when its reserve estimates were prepared. In these cases, El Paso revised its estimates to conform to our estimates. As a consequence, it is our opinion that the data presented herein for the properties that we audited fairly reflect the estimated net reserves owned by El Paso.
     Certain technical personnel of El Paso are responsible for the preparation of reserve estimates on new properties and for the preparation of revised estimates, when necessary, on old properties. These personnel assembled the necessary data and maintained the data and workpapers in an orderly manner. We consulted with these technical personnel and had access to their workpapers and supporting data in the course of our audit.
RYDER SCOTT COMPANY     PETROLEUM CONSULTANTS

 


 

El Paso Production Company
January 25, 2008
Page 5
Other Properties
     Other properties, as used herein, are those properties of El Paso which we did not audit. The reserves attributable to the other properties account for 22 percent of the total net remaining oil/condensate reserves and 14 percent of the total net remaining gas reserves. The same technical personnel of El Paso prepared the reserve estimates for the properties that we audited and for the other properties.
Reserves Estimates
     The reserves for the properties that we audited were estimated by performance methods or the volumetric method. The reserves estimates by the performance method utilized extrapolations of various historical data in those cases where such data were definitive. Reserves were estimated by the volumetric method in those cases where there were inadequate historical data to establish a definitive trend or where the use of production performance data as a basis for the reserves estimates was considered to be inappropriate and the volumetric data were adequate for a reasonable estimate.
     The reserves presented herein, as estimated by El Paso and audited by us, are estimates only and should not be construed as being exact quantities. Moreover, estimates of reserves may increase or decrease as a result of future operations.
General
     In general, the reserve estimates for the properties that we audited are based on data available through December, 2007. Gas imbalances, if any, were not taken into account in the gas reserve estimates audited.
     Neither we nor any of our employees have any interest in the subject properties, and neither the employment to do this work nor the compensation is contingent on our estimates of reserves for the properties which were audited.
     This report was prepared for the exclusive use of El Paso Production Company. The data and work papers used in the preparation of this report are available for examination by authorized parties in our offices. Please contact us if we can be of further service.
         
  Very truly yours,

RYDER SCOTT COMPANY, L.P.
 
 
  /s/ Jeffrey D. Wilson, P.E.    
  Jeffrey D. Wilson, P.E.   
  Senior Vice President   
 
RYDER SCOTT COMPANY     PETROLEUM CONSULTANTS

 

EX-99.B 48 h53583exv99wb.htm RYDER SCOTT RESERVE REPORT exv99wb
 

(RYDER SCOTT COMPANY LOGO)       FAX (713) 651-0849

1100 LOUSIANA     SUITE 3800   HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002-5218   TELEPHONE (713) 651-9191
January 25, 2008
El Paso Production Company
El Paso Tower
1001 Louisiana Houston,
TX 77002
Gentlemen:
     At your request, we have conducted a reserves audit of the estimates of the remaining proved reserves attributable to the equity interest of El Paso Production Company (El Paso) in Four Star Oil & Gas, as of December 31, 2007, as prepared by its engineering and geological staff and based on Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) guidelines. The properties that we audited are comprised of 1,273 reserve determinations and are located in the states of Alabama, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. In our opinion, the overall proved reserves for the audited properties as estimated by El Paso are, in the aggregate, reasonable within the established audit tolerance guidelines of 10 percent as set forth in the Standards Pertaining to the Estimating and Auditing of Oil and Gas Reserves Information promulgated by the Society of Petroleum Engineers.
     The net reserves attributable to the properties that we audited account for 75 percent of the total net remaining liquid hydrocarbon reserves and 75 percent of the total net remaining gas reserves. The properties that we audited represent 73 percent of the total proved discounted future net income based on the unescalated pricing policy of the SEC as taken from reserve and income projections prepared by El Paso as of December 31, 2007. El Paso owns a 48.77 percent equity interest in Four Star Oil & Gas.
     The estimated reserves presented in this report are related to hydrocarbon prices. El Paso has informed us that in the preparation of their reserve and income projections, as of December 31, 2007, they used December 2007 hydrocarbon prices as required by SEC guidelines; however, actual future prices may vary significantly from December 2007. Therefore, volumes of reserves actually recovered and the amounts of income actually received may differ significantly from the estimated quantities presented in this report. The net remaining reserves as estimated by EI Paso attributable to El Paso’s interest in properties that we audited and the reserves of properties that we did not audit are summarized as follows:
SEC CASE
Estimated Net Remaining Reserves
Attributable to the Equity Interest of
El Paso Production Company in Four Star Oil & Gas
As of December 31, 2007
                                 
    Proved
    Developed        
    Producing   Non-Producing   Undeveloped   Total Proved
Net Reserves of Properties
                               
Audited by Ryder Scott
                               
Oil/Condensate — Barrels
    2,220,983             54,164       2,275,147  
Plant Products — Barrels
    3,637,158       22,760       1,058,064       4,717,982  
 
Gas — MMCF
    123,179       908       25,502       149,589  
Total Gas Equivalents — MMCFE*
    158,328       1,045       32,175       191,548  
(GRAPHIC)

 


 

El Paso Production Company
January 25, 2008
Page 2
                                 
    Proved
    Developed        
    Producing   Non-Producing   Undeveloped   Total Proved
Net Reserves of Properties
                               
Not Audited by Ryder Scott
                               
Oil/Condensate — Barrels
                               
Plant Products — Barrels
    582,577             40       582,617  
Gas-MMCF
    1,678,399       6,216       8,522       1,693,137  
 
Total Gas Equivalents — MMCFE*
    43,935       2,164       4,421       50,520  
 
Total Net Reserves
    57,501       2,201       4,472       64,174  
Oil/Condensate — Barrels
    2,803,560             54,204       2,857,764  
Plant Products — Barrels
    5,315,557       28,976       1,066,586       6,411,119  
Gas-MMCF
    167,114       3,072       29,923       200,109  
 
Total Gas Equivalents — MMCFE*
    215,828       3,246       36,648       255,722  
 
*   1 bbl liquid = 6 MCF gas equivalents
     Liquid hydrocarbons are expressed in standard 42 gallon barrels. All gas volumes are expressed in millions of cubic feet (MMCF) at the official temperature and pressure bases of the areas in which the gas reserves are located.
Reserves Included in This Report
     In our opinion, the proved reserves presented in this report comply with SEC definitions and guidelines, as outlined below. SEC Regulation S-X Rule 4-10 paragraph (a) defines proved reserves as follows:
Proved oil and gas reserves. Proved oil and gas reserves are the estimated quantities of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids which geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be recoverable in future years from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions, i.e., prices and costs as of the date the estimate is made. Prices include consideration of changes in existing prices provided only by contractual arrangements, but not on escalations based upon future conditions.
(i) Reservoirs are considered proved if economic producibility is supported by either actual production or conclusive formation test. The area of a reservoir considered proved includes:
(A) that portion delineated by drilling and defined by gas-oil and/or oil-water contacts, if any; and
(B) the immediately adjoining portions not yet drilled, but which can be reasonably judged as economically productive on the basis of available geological and engineering data. In the absence of information on fluid contacts, the lowest known structural occurrence of hydrocarbons controls the lower proved limit of the reservoir.
(ii) Reserves which can be produced economically through application of improved recovery techniques (such as fluid injection) are included in the “proved” classification when successful testing by a pilot project, or the operation of an installed program in the reservoir, provides support for the engineering analysis on which the project or program was based.
(iii) Estimates of proved reserves do not include the following:
RYDER SCOTT COMPANY     PETROLEUM CONSULTANTS


 

El Paso Production Company
January 25, 2008
Page 3
(A) oil that may become available from known reservoirs but is classified separately as
“indicated additional reserves”;
(B) crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids, the recovery of which is subject to reasonable doubt because of uncertainty as to geology, reservoir characteristics, or economic factors;
(C) crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids, that may occur in undrilled prospects; and
(D) crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids, that may be recovered from oil shales, coal, gilsonite and other such sources.
Proved developed oil and gas reserves. Proved developed oil and gas reserves are reserves that can be expected to be recovered through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods. Additional oil and gas expected to be obtained through the application of fluid injection or other improved recovery techniques for supplementing the natural forces and mechanisms of primary recovery should be included as “proved developed reserves” only after testing by a pilot project or after the operation of an installed program has confirmed through production response that increased recovery will be achieved.
Proved undeveloped reserves. Proved undeveloped oil and gas reserves are reserves that are expected to be recovered from new wells on undrilled acreage, or from existing wells where a relatively major expenditure is required for recompletion. Reserves on undrilled acreage shall be limited to those drilling units offsetting productive units that are reasonably certain of production when drilled. Proved reserves for other undrilled units can be claimed only where it can be demonstrated with certainty that there is continuity of production from the existing productive formation. Under no circumstances should estimates for proved undeveloped reserves be attributable to any acreage for which an application of fluid injection or other improved recovery technique is contemplated, unless such techniques have been proved effective by actual tests in the area and in the same reservoir.
     Certain Staff Accounting Bulletins published subsequent to the promulgation of Regulation S-X have dealt with matters relating to the application of financial accounting and disclosure rules for oil and gas producing activities. In particular, the following interpretations extracted from Staff Accounting Bulletins set forth the Commission staff’s view on specific questions pertaining to proved oil and gas reserves.
     Economic producibility of estimated proved reserves can be supported to the satisfaction of the Office of Engineering if geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty that those reserves can be recovered in future years under existing economic and operating conditions. The relative importance of the many pieces of geological and engineering data which should be evaluated when classifying reserves cannot be identified in advance. In certain instances, proved reserves may be assigned to reservoirs on the basis of a combination of electrical and other type logs and core analyses which indicate the reservoirs are analogous to similar reservoirs in the same field which are producing or have demonstrated the ability to produce on a formation test. (extracted from SAB-35)
     In determining whether “proved undeveloped reserves” encompass acreage on which fluid injection (or other improved recovery technique) is contemplated, is it appropriate to distinguish between (i) fluid injection used for pressure maintenance during the early life of a field and (ii) fluid injection used to effect secondary recovery when a field is in the late stages of depletion? .... The Office of Engineering believes that the distinction identified in the above question may be appropriate in a few limited circumstances, such as in the case of certain fields in the North Sea. The staff will review estimates of proved reserves attributable to fluid injection in the light of the strength of the evidence presented by the registrant in support of a contention that enhanced recovery will be achieved. (extracted from SAB-35)
     Companies should report reserves of natural gas liquids which are net to their leasehold interest, i.e., that portion recovered in a processing plant and allocated to the leasehold interest. It may be appropriate in the case of natural gas liquids not clearly attributable to leasehold interests ownership to
RYDER SCOTT COMPANY     PETROLEUM CONSULTANTS

 


 

El Paso Production Company
January 25, 2008
Page 4
follow instruction (b) of Item 2(b)(3) of Regulation S-K and report such reserves separately and describe the nature of the ownership, (extracted from SAB-35)
     The staff believes that since coalbed methane gas can be recovered from coal in its natural and original location, it should be included in proved reserves, provided that it complies in all other respects with the definition of proved oil and gas reserves as specified in Rule 4-10(a)(2) including the requirement that methane production be economical at current prices, costs, (net of the tax credit) and existing operating conditions, (extracted from SAB-85)
     Statements in Staff Accounting Bulletins are not rules or interpretations of the Commission nor are they published as bearing the Commission’s official approval; they represent interpretations and practices followed by the Division of Corporation Finance and the Office of the Chief Accountant in administering the disclosure requirements of the Federal securities laws.
     Because of the direct relationship between volumes of proved undeveloped reserves and development plans, we include in the proved undeveloped category only reserves assigned to undeveloped locations that we have been assured will definitely be drilled and reserves assigned to the undeveloped portions of secondary or tertiary projects which we have been assured will definitely be developed.
Audit Procedure and Opinion
     As prescribed by the Society of Petroleum Engineers in Paragraph 2.2(f) of the Standards Pertaining to the Estimating and Auditing of Oil and Gas Reserves Information a reserves audit is defined as “the process of reviewing certain of the pertinent facts interpreted and assumptions made that have resulted in an estimate of reserves prepared by others and the rendering of an opinion about (1) the appropriateness of the methodologies employed, (2) the adequacy and quality of the data relied upon, (3) the depth and thoroughness of the reserves estimation process, (4) the classification of reserves appropriate to the relevant definitions used, and (5) the reasonableness of the estimated reserve quantities.”
     In performing our audit, we have relied upon data furnished by El Paso with respect to property interests owned, production and well tests from examined wells, historical costs of operation and development, product prices, geological structural and isopach maps, well logs, core analyses, and pressure measurements. These data were accepted as authentic and sufficient for determining the reserves unless, during the course of our examination, a matter of question came to our attention in which case the data were not accepted until all questions were satisfactorily resolved. Our audit included such tests and procedures as we considered necessary under the circumstances to render the conclusions set forth herein.
     In our opinion, El Paso’s estimates of future reserves for the audited properties were prepared in accordance with generally accepted petroleum engineering and evaluation principles for the estimation of future reserves as set forth in the Standards Pertaining to the Estimating and Auditing of Oil and Gas Reserves Information, and we found no bias in the utilization and analysis of data in estimates for these properties. In general, we were in reasonable agreement with El Paso’s estimates of remaining proved reserves for the properties which we audited; however, in certain cases there was more than an acceptable variance in El Paso’s estimates and our estimates due to a difference in interpretation of data or due to our having access to data which were not available to El Paso when its reserve estimates were prepared. In these cases, El Paso revised its estimates to conform to our estimates. As a consequence, it is our opinion that the data presented herein for the properties that we audited fairly reflect the estimated net reserves owned by El Paso.
     Certain technical personnel of El Paso are responsible for the preparation of reserve estimates on new properties and for the preparation of revised estimates, when necessary, on old properties. These personnel assembled the necessary data and maintained the data and workpapers in an orderly manner. We consulted with these technical personnel and had access to their workpapers and supporting data in the course of our audit.
RYDER SCOTT COMPANY PETROLEUM CONSULTANTS

 


 

El Paso Production Company
January 25, 2008
Page 5
Other Properties
     Other properties, as used herein, are those properties of El Paso which we did not audit. The reserves attributable to the other properties account for 25 percent of the total net remaining oil/condensate reserves and 25 percent of the total net remaining gas reserves. The same technical personnel of El Paso prepared the reserve estimates for the properties that we audited and for the other properties.
Reserves Estimates
     The reserves for the properties that we audited were estimated by performance methods or the volumetric method. The reserves estimates by the performance method utilized extrapolations of various historical data in those cases where such data were definitive. Reserves were estimated by the volumetric method in those cases where there were inadequate historical data to establish a definitive trend or where the use of production performance data as a basis for the reserves estimates was considered to be inappropriate and the volumetric data were adequate for a reasonable estimate.
     The reserves presented herein, as estimated by El Paso and audited by us, are estimates only and should not be construed as being exact quantities. Moreover, estimates of reserves may increase or decrease as a result of future operations.
General
     In general, the reserve estimates for the properties that we audited are based on data available through December, 2007. Gas imbalances, if any, were not taken into account in the gas reserve estimates audited.
     Neither we nor any of our employees have any interest in the subject properties, and neither the employment to do this work nor the compensation is contingent on our estimates of reserves for the properties which were audited.
     This report was prepared for the exclusive use of El Paso Production Company. The data and work papers used in the preparation of this report are available for examination by authorized parties in our offices. Please contact us if we can be of further service.
         
  Very truly yours,

RYDER SCOTT COMPANY, L.P.
 
 
  /s/ Jeffrey D. Wilson    
  Jeffrey D. Wilson, P.E.    
  Senior Vice President   
 
RYDER SCOTT COMPANY     PETROLEUM CONSULTANTS

 

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-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----