SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP $250,000,000 2.95% Senior Notes due 2016 $250,000,000 4.60% Senior Notes due 2021 UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT June 6, 2011
Exhibit 1.1
EXECUTION VERSION
$250,000,000 2.95% Senior Notes due 2016
$250,000,000 4.60% Senior Notes due 2021
June 6, 2011
June 6, 2011
Xxxxx Fargo Securities, LLC
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. LLC
RBS Securities Inc.
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. LLC
RBS Securities Inc.
c/o Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Spectra Energy Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), proposes to
issue and sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule II hereto (the “Underwriters”), for
whom you are acting as managers (the “Managers”), $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its
2.95% Senior Notes due 2016 (the “2016 Notes”) and $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its
4.60% Senior Notes due 2021 (the “2021 Notes” and, together with the 2016 Notes, the “Notes”). The
Notes are to be issued under an indenture dated as of June 9, 2011 (the “Base Indenture”), between
the Partnership and Xxxxx Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the
First Supplemental Indenture, to be dated as of June 9, 2011 (the “Supplemental Indenture” and,
together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”). If the firm or firms listed in Schedule II
hereto include only the Managers, then the term “Underwriters” as used herein shall be deemed to
refer to such firms.
The Partnership, Spectra Energy Partners GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“GP
LLC”), and Spectra Energy Partners (DE) GP, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “General
Partner”), are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Partnership Parties.” The Partnership
Parties, East Tennessee Natural Gas, LLC, a Tennessee limited liability company (“East Tennessee”),
Saltville Gas Storage Co. L.L.C., a Virginia limited liability company (“Saltville”), Gulfstream
Natural Gas System, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (“Gulfstream”), Spectra Energy
Partners MHP Holding, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“SEP MHP”), Market Hub Partners
Holding, a Delaware general partnership (“Market Hub”), Xxxx Hub Storage, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company (“Xxxx Hub”), Xxxx Bluff Hub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Xxxx
Bluff”), Atlas Arkansas Pipeline LLC, an Oklahoma limited liability company (“Atlas”),
Mid-Continent Arkansas Pipeline, LLC, an Arkansas limited liability company (“MCAP”), NOARK
Pipeline System, Limited Partnership, an Arkansas limited partnership (“NOARK”), Ozark Gas
Transmission, L.L.C., an Oklahoma limited liability company (“OGT”), Ozark Gas Gathering, L.L.C.,
an Oklahoma limited liability company (“OGG”) and all other Partnership subsidiaries are herein
collectively referred to as the “Partnership Entities.” Spectra Energy Corp, a Delaware
Corporation (“SE”) and its subsidiaries, other than the Partnership Entities, are hereinafter
referred to as the “Spectra Entities.”
1. Representations and Warranties. The Partnership Parties, jointly and severally, represent
and warrant to and agree with each of the Underwriters that:
(a) Registration Statement / Prospectus. A registration statement on Form S-3 relating to the
Notes (File No. 333-158097) (i) has been prepared by the Partnership in conformity with the
requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the rules and
regulations (the “Rules and Regulations”) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“Commission”) thereunder; (ii) has been filed with the Commission under the Securities Act; and
(iii) is effective under the Securities Act. Copies of such registration statement and any
amendment thereto have been delivered by the Partnership to the Managers. As used in this
Agreement:
(i) “Effective Date” means any date as of which any part of such registration statement
relating to the Notes became, or is deemed to have become, effective under the Securities
Act in accordance with the Rules and Regulations;
(ii) “Execution Time” means the date and time that this Agreement is executed and
delivered by the parties hereto;
(iii) “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means each “free writing prospectus” (as defined
in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations) prepared by or on behalf of the Partnership or
used or referred to by the Partnership in connection with the offering of the Notes;
(iv) “Preliminary Prospectus” means any preliminary prospectus relating to the Notes
included in such registration statement or filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b)
of the Rules and Regulations, including any preliminary prospectus supplement thereto
relating to the Notes;
(v) “Pricing Disclosure Package” means, as of the Execution Time, the most recent
Preliminary Prospectus, together with (A) each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus filed or used
by the Partnership on or before the Execution Time, other than a road show that is an Issuer
Free Writing Prospectus under Rule 433 of the Rules and Regulations, and (B) the Additional
Pricing Disclosure Package Information identified in Schedule I;
(vi) “Prospectus” means the final prospectus relating to the Notes, including any
prospectus supplement thereto relating to the Notes, as filed with the Commission pursuant
to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations; and
(vii) “Registration Statement” means the registration statement on Form S-3 (File No.
333-158097), as amended as of the Effective Date, including any Preliminary Prospectus or
the Prospectus and all exhibits to such registration statement and including the information
(if any) deemed to be a part of the registration statement at the time of effectiveness
pursuant to Rule 430A or Rule 430B under the Securities Act.
Any reference to any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and
include any documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Form S-3 under the
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Securities Act as of the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case
may be. Any reference to the “most recent Preliminary Prospectus” shall be deemed to refer to the
latest Preliminary Prospectus included in the Registration Statement or filed pursuant to Rule
424(b) of the Rules and Regulations prior to or on the date hereof (including, for purposes hereof,
any documents incorporated by reference therein prior to or on the date hereof). Any reference to
any amendment or supplement to any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to
refer to and include any document filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
“Exchange Act”), after the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may
be, and incorporated by reference in such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may
be. Any reference to any amendment to the Registration Statement shall be deemed to include any
annual report of the Partnership on Form 10-K filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a)
or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the Effective Date that is incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement. As used herein, the term “Incorporated Documents” means the documents that
at the time are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus
or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto. The Commission has not issued any order
preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and no proceeding for such purpose has been instituted
or, to the Partnership Parties’ knowledge, threatened by the Commission. The Commission has not
notified the Partnership of any objection to the use of the form of the Registration Statement.
(b) Form of Documents. The Registration Statement conformed and will conform in all material
respects on each Effective Date and on the Closing Date (as defined herein), and any amendment to
the Registration Statement filed after the date hereof will conform in all material respects when
filed, to the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations. The
most recent Preliminary Prospectus conformed, and the Prospectus will conform, in all material
respects when filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date to the
requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations. The Incorporated Documents
conformed and will conform, when filed with the Commission, in all material respects to the
requirements of the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, as applicable, and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder.
(c) No Material Misstatements or Omissions in the Registration Statement. The Registration
Statement did not, as of its most recent Effective Date, contain an untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make
the statements therein not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to
information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Partnership through the Managers by or on
behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein.
(d) No Material Misstatements or Omissions in the Final Prospectus. The Prospectus will not,
as of its date and on the Closing Date, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no representation or
warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Prospectus in reliance upon and
in conformity with written information furnished to the Partnership through the Managers by or on
behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein.
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(e) Incorporated Documents. The Incorporated Documents filed prior to the Execution Time,
when filed with the Commission, did not, and any Incorporated Documents filed after the Execution
Time, when filed with the Commission, will not, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(f) No Material Misstatements or Omissions in the Pricing Disclosure Package. The Pricing
Disclosure Package did not, as of the Execution Time, contain an untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no
representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Pricing
Disclosure Package in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Partnership through the Managers by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion
therein.
(g) No Material Misstatements or Omissions in each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. Each
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (including, without limitation, any road show that is a free writing
prospectus under Rule 433 of the Rules and Regulations), when considered together with the Pricing
Disclosure Package as of the Execution Time, did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no representation or
warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus
in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Partnership through
the Managers by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein.
(h) Form of Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conformed or
will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and
Regulations on the date of first use, and the Partnership has complied with any filing requirements
applicable to such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus pursuant to the Rules and Regulations. The
Partnership has not made any offer relating to the Notes that would constitute an Issuer Free
Writing Prospectus without the prior written consent of the Managers. The Partnership has retained
in accordance with the Rules and Regulations all Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses that were not
required to be filed pursuant to the Rules and Regulations. The Partnership has taken all actions
necessary so that any road show (as defined in Rule 433 of the Rules and Regulations) in connection
with the offering of the Notes will not be required to be filed pursuant to the Rules and
Regulations.
(i) Ineligible Issuer. At the earliest time after the initial filing of the Registration
Statement that the Partnership or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the
meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) under the Securities Act) of the Notes, the Partnership was not an
“ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act with respect to the offering
of the Notes as contemplated hereby.
(j) Formation and Qualification. Each of the Partnership Entities has been duly formed and is
validly existing as a general partnership, limited partnership or limited liability
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company, as applicable, in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization
with full power and authority to own or lease and to operate its properties currently owned or
leased and to conduct its business as currently conducted, in each case as described in the Pricing
Disclosure Package. Each of the Partnership Entities is duly qualified to do business as a foreign
general partnership, limited partnership or limited liability company, as applicable, and is in
good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction that requires such qualification, except where
the failure to be so qualified would not reasonably be expected to (i) have a material adverse
effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, earnings, business or properties,
taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, of
the Partnership Entities (a “Material Adverse Effect”), or (ii) subject the limited partners of the
Partnership to any material liability or disability.
(k) Power and Authority to Act as General Partner. The General Partner has full power and
authority to act as general partner of the Partnership in all material respects as described in the
Pricing Disclosure Package. GP LLC has full power and authority to act as general partner of the
General Partner in all material respects as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package.
(l) Ownership of Partnership Entities. All of the equity interests of each of the Partnership
Entities are owned as set forth on Exhibit A hereto; all of such equity interests are duly
authorized and validly issued in accordance with the general partnership, limited partnership or
limited liability company agreements of each such Partnership Entity (the “Organizational
Agreements”), and, except in the case of general partner interests, are fully paid (to the extent
required by the applicable Organizational Agreements) and nonassessable (except as such
nonassessability may be affected, as applicable, by (i) Sections 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware
Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act (the “Delaware LP Act”), (ii) Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of
the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (the “Delaware LLC Act”), (iii) Sections 15-309 and
15-807 of the Delaware Revised Uniform Partnership Act (the “Delaware GP Act”), (iv) Sections 306
and 620 of the Tennessee Revised Limited Liability Company Act, (v) Section 13.1-1035 of the
Virginia Limited Liability Company Act, (vi) Sections 4-47-508 and 4-47-509 of the Arkansas Uniform
Limited Partnership Act (vii) Sections 4-32-601 and 4-32-604 of the Arkansas Small Business Entity
Tax Pass Through Act or (viii) Sections 2030 and 2040 of the Oklahoma Limited Liability Company
Act; and, such equity interests are owned as set forth on Exhibit A free and clear of all
liens, encumbrances, security interests, charges or other claims (“Liens”) (except restrictions on
transferability as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package).
(m) Valid Issuance of the Notes. The Notes to be purchased by the Underwriters from the
Partnership have been duly authorized for issuance and sale to the Underwriters pursuant to this
Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement against
payment of the consideration set forth herein, will be validly issued and fully paid (to the extent
required under the partnership agreement of the Partnership (the “Partnership Agreement”)) and
nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by matters described in Sections
17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act).
(n) No Other Subsidiaries. Except as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package, none of the
Partnership Entities own, directly or indirectly, any equity or long-term debt
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securities of any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture,
association or other entity. Big Xxxxx Pipeline, LLC would not be deemed to be a “significant
subsidiary” of the Partnership (as such term is defined in Section 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X of the
Securities Act, substituting 40% for 10% each place it appears therein).
(o) No Preemptive Rights, Options or Registration Rights. Except as identified in the Pricing
Disclosure Package or as provided for the Organizational Documents, there are no (i) preemptive
rights or other rights to subscribe for or to purchase, nor any restriction upon the voting or
transfer of, any equity securities of the Partnership Entities or (ii) outstanding options or
warrants to purchase any securities of the Partnership Entities. Except for such rights that have
been waived or as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package, neither the filing of the
Registration Statement nor the offering or sale of the Notes as contemplated by this Agreement
gives rise to any rights for or relating to the registration of any Notes or other securities of
the Partnership.
(p) Authority and Authorization. Each of the Partnership Parties has all requisite power and
authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and perform its respective obligations hereunder.
The Partnership has all requisite partnership power and authority to issue, sell and deliver the
Notes, in accordance with and upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the
Partnership Agreement, the Registration Statement, and the Pricing Disclosure Package. All
partnership and limited liability company action, as the case may be, required to be taken by the
Partnership Entities or any of their members or partners for the authorization, issuance, sale and
delivery of the Notes and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and
the Indenture shall have been validly taken.
(q) Authorization of this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by each of the Partnership Parties.
(r) Authorization and Enforceability of the Base Indenture and the Supplemental Indenture.
The execution and delivery of, and the performance by the Partnership of its obligations under the
Base Indenture, have been duly and validly authorized by the Partnership and, assuming due
authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Trustee, when duly executed and delivered by
the Partnership, will constitute a valid and legally binding agreement of the Partnership,
enforceable against the Partnership in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability thereof
may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and
similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of
equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law); the execution and delivery of, and the performance by the Partnership of its obligations
under the Supplemental Indenture, have been duly and validly authorized by the Partnership and,
assuming due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Trustee, when duly executed and
delivered by the Partnership, will constitute a valid and legally binding agreement of the
Partnership, enforceable against the Partnership in accordance with its terms, except as
enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer,
reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally
and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law). The Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture
Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”).
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(s) Valid Issuance of the Notes. The Notes have been duly authorized and, when delivered to
and paid for by the Underwriters, will have been duly executed by the Partnership in accordance
with the provisions of the Indenture. The Notes, when authenticated, issued and delivered in the
manner provided for in the Indenture and delivered against payment of the purchase price for the
Notes as provided in this Agreement, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the
Partnership enforceable against the Partnership in accordance with its terms, except as
enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer,
reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally
and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law).
(t) Enforceability of Organizational Agreements. The Organizational Agreements have been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto, and are valid and legally binding
agreements of such parties, enforceable against such parties in accordance with their terms;
provided that, the enforceability of the agreements described in this Section 1(t) may be limited
by (A) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws
relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity
(regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and
(B) public policy, applicable law relating to fiduciary duties and indemnification and an implied
covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
(u) No Conflicts. None of (i) the offering, issuance or sale by the Partnership of the Notes
and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as set forth in the description under “Use of
Proceeds” in the Final Prospectus or (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
or the Indenture by the Partnership Parties that are parties thereto, or (iii) the consummation of
a transaction contemplated by this Agreement or the Indenture (A) conflicts or will conflict with
or constitutes or will constitute a violation of the Organizational Agreements or the certificate
of formation or conversion, certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or other constituent
document (collectively, the “Organizational Documents”) of any of the Partnership Entities, (B)
conflicts or will conflict with or constitutes or will constitute a breach or violation of, or a
default (or an event that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default)
under any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or
instrument to which any of the Partnership Entities is a party or by which any of them or any of
their respective properties may be bound, (C) violates or will violate any statute, law or
regulation or any order, judgment, decree or injunction of any court or governmental agency or body
directed to any of the Partnership Entities or any of their properties in a proceeding to which any
of them or their property is a party or (D) results or will result in the creation or imposition of
any Lien upon any property or assets of any of the Partnership Entities, which conflicts, breaches,
violations, defaults or Liens, in the case of clauses (B), (C) or (D), would, individually or in
the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or materially impair the
ability of the Partnership Parties to consummate the transactions provided for in this Agreement.
(v) No Consents. No permit, consent, approval, authorization, order, registration, filing or
qualification of or with any court, governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over any of the
Partnership Entities or any of their properties or assets is required in connection with the
offering, issuance or sale by the Partnership of the Notes and the application of the net
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proceeds therefrom as set forth in the description under “Use of Proceeds” in the Final
Prospectus, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Partnership Parties,
or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except for such permits,
consents, approvals and similar authorizations required under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act
and blue sky laws of any jurisdiction.
(w) No Defaults. None of the Partnership Entities is in (i) violation of its Organizational
Documents, (ii) violation of any statute, law, rule or regulation, or any judgment, order,
injunction or decree of any court, governmental agency or body or arbitrator having jurisdiction
over any of the Partnership Entities or any of their properties or assets or (iii) breach, default
(or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such an event) or
violation in the performance of any obligation, agreement or condition contained in any indenture,
mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument to which it is a
party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound, which in the case of (ii) or (iii)
would reasonably be expected to have, if continued, a Material Adverse Effect or materially impair
the ability of the Partnership Parties to consummate the transactions provided for in this
Agreement.
(x) Conformity of the Indenture and the Notes to Description. The Indenture and Notes, when
issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the Partnership Agreement and this Agreement
against payment therefor as provided therein, herein and in the Indenture, will conform in all
material respects to the description thereof contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package.
(y) No Labor Dispute. No labor problem or dispute with the Partnership Entities’ employees or
with the Spectra Entities’ employees who are engaged in the business of the Partnership exists, or
to the knowledge of the Partnership Parties are imminent or threatened, that would reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(z) Financial Statements. At March 31, 2011, the Partnership would have had, on an as
adjusted basis as indicated in the Pricing Disclosure Package (and any amendment or supplement
thereto), a total capitalization as set forth therein. The historical financial statements
(including the related notes and supporting schedules) included in the most recent Preliminary
Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Registration Statement present fairly in all
material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the entities
purported to be shown thereby on the basis shown therein as of the dates and for the periods
indicated, comply as to form with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act and
have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a
consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as otherwise noted therein). The summary
and selected historical financial and operating information included or incorporated by reference
in the Registration Statement, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure
Package (and any amendment or supplement thereto) is accurately presented in all material respects
and prepared on a basis consistent with the audited and unaudited historical financial statements
from which it has been derived.
(aa) Independent Public Accountants. Deloitte & Touche LLP, who has audited the audited
financial statements included in the Registration Statement and the Pricing Disclosure
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Package and delivered its reports with respect to the audited financial statements included in
the Registration Statement Pricing Disclosure Package, is an independent registered public
accounting firm with respect to the Partnership and the General Partner within the meaning of the
Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations and the rules and regulations of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board.
(bb) Litigation. Except as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package, there is (i) no
action, suit or proceeding before or by any court, arbitrator or governmental agency, body or
official, domestic or foreign, now pending or, to the knowledge of any of the Partnership Parties,
threatened, to which any of the Partnership Entities is or may be a party or to which the business
or property of any of the Partnership Entities is or may be subject, (ii) no statute, rule,
regulation or order that has been enacted, adopted or issued by any governmental agency and (iii)
no injunction, restraining order or order of any nature issued by a federal or state court or
foreign court of competent jurisdiction to which any of the Partnership Entities is or may be
subject, that, in the case of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above, is reasonably expected to (A)
individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect, (B) prevent or result in the
suspension of the offering and issuance of the Notes, or (C) in any manner draw into question the
validity of this Agreement.
(cc) Title to Properties. The Partnership Entities have good and indefeasible title to all
real property and good title to all personal property described in the Pricing Disclosure Package
as owned by the Partnership Entities, free and clear of all Liens except (i) as described, and
subject to limitations contained, in the Pricing Disclosure Package, (ii) that arise under the $500
million credit agreement of the Partnership, as borrower (the “Credit Agreement”), or (iii) such as
do not materially interfere with the use of such properties taken as a whole as they have been used
in the past and are proposed to be used in the future as described in the Pricing Disclosure
Package; provided that, with respect to any real property and buildings held under lease by the
Partnership Entities, such real property and buildings are held under valid and subsisting and
enforceable leases with such exceptions as do not materially interfere with the use of the
properties of the Partnership Entities taken as a whole as they have been used in the past as
described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and are proposed to be used in the future as described
in the Pricing Disclosure Package.
(dd) Rights-of-Way. The Partnership Entities have such easements or rights-of-way from each
person (collectively, “rights-of-way”) as are necessary to conduct their business in the manner
described, and subject to the limitations contained, in the Pricing Disclosure Package, except for
(i) qualifications, reservations and encumbrances that would not have, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (ii) such rights-of-way
that, if not obtained, would not have, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect; other than as set forth, and subject to the limitations contained,
in the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Partnership Entities have fulfilled and performed all their
material obligations with respect to such rights-of-way and no event has occurred that allows, or
after notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation or termination thereof or would result in any
impairment of the rights of the holder of any such rights-of-way, except for such revocations,
terminations and impairments that would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and, except as
described in the Pricing Disclosure Package, none of such rights-
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of-way contains any restriction that is materially burdensome to the Partnership Entities,
taken as a whole.
(ee) Transfer Taxes. There are no transfer taxes or other similar fees or charges under
Federal law or the laws of any state, or any political subdivision thereof, required to be paid in
connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the issuance by the Partnership or
sale by the Partnership of the Notes.
(ff) Tax Returns. Each of the Partnership Entities has filed all foreign, federal, state and
local tax returns that are required to be filed or has requested extensions thereof, except in any
case in which the failure so to file would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect, and has paid all taxes required to be paid by it and any other assessment, fine or penalty
levied against it, to the extent that any of the foregoing is due and payable, except for any such
assessment, fine or penalty that is currently being contested in good faith or as would not have a
Material Adverse Effect.
(gg) Insurance. The Partnership Entities carry or are entitled to the benefits of insurance
relating to the properties, operations, personnel and business of the Partnership Entities in such
amounts and covering such risks as is commercially reasonable, and all such insurance is in full
force and effect. None of the Partnership Entities have any reason to believe that they will not
be able (i) to renew their existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (ii) to
obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct
such business as now conducted and at a cost that would not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.
(hh) Distribution Restrictions. No subsidiary of the Partnership is currently prohibited,
directly or indirectly, from paying any distributions to the Partnership, from making any other
distribution on such subsidiary’s equity interests, from repaying to the Partnership any loans or
advances to such subsidiary from the Partnership or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s
property or assets to the Partnership or any other subsidiary of the Partnership, except as
described in or contemplated by the Pricing Disclosure Package or arising under the Credit
Agreement.
(ii) Possession of Licenses and Permits. The Partnership Entities possess such permits,
licenses, approvals, consents and other authorizations (collectively, “Governmental Licenses”)
issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary
to conduct their business, except where the failure so to possess would not, singly or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; the Partnership Entities
are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such Governmental Licenses, except where the
failure so to comply would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Effect; all of the Governmental Licenses are valid and in full force and effect,
except when the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses or the failure of such Governmental
Licenses to be in full force and effect would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and the Partnership Entities have not received any
notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such Governmental Licenses
which, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would reasonably be expected
to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
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(jj) Environmental Laws. Each of the Partnership Entities (i) is in compliance with all
applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the prevention of pollution or
protection of the environment or imposing liability or standards of conduct concerning any
Hazardous Materials (as defined below) (“Environmental Laws”), (ii) has received all permits
required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses as
presently conducted, (iii) is in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permits and
(iv) does not have any liability in connection with the release into the environment of any
Hazardous Material, except where such noncompliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive
required permits, failure to comply with the terms and conditions of such permits or liability in
connection with such releases would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect. The term “Hazardous Material” means (A) any “hazardous substance” as defined in the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, (B) any
“hazardous waste” as defined in the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended, (C) any
petroleum or petroleum product, (D) any polychlorinated biphenyl and (E) any pollutant or
contaminant or hazardous, dangerous or toxic chemical, material, waste or substance regulated under
or within the meaning of any applicable Environmental Law. In the ordinary course of business, the
Partnership Entities periodically review the effect of Environmental Laws on their business,
operations and properties, in the course of which they identify and evaluate costs and liabilities
that are reasonably likely to be incurred pursuant to such Environmental Laws (including, without
limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or
compliance with Environmental Laws, or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on
operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties). On the basis of such review,
the Partnership Entities have reasonably concluded that such associated costs and liabilities would
not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(kk) ERISA. Each Partnership Entity is in compliance in all material respects with all
presently applicable provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended,
including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (“ERISA”); no “reportable event”
(as defined in ERISA) has occurred with respect to any “pension plan” (as defined in ERISA) for
which any Partnership Entity would have any liability, excluding any reportable event for which a
waiver could apply; no Partnership Entity expects to incur liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA
with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any “pension plan” or (ii) Sections 412 or 4971
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including the regulations and published
interpretations thereunder (the “Code”); and each “pension plan” for which any Partnership Entity
would have any liability that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has been
determined by the Internal Revenue Service to be so qualified and nothing has occurred, whether by
action or by failure to act, which could reasonably be expected to cause the loss of such
qualification.
(ll) Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002. The Partnership is in compliance in all material respects
with all applicable provisions of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002, the rules and regulations
promulgated in connection therewith and the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) that are
effective and applicable to the Partnership.
(mm) Investment Company. None of the Partnership Entities is nor, after giving effect to the
offering and sale of the Notes and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in
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the Pricing Disclosure Package, will any of the Partnership Entities be, an “investment
company” or a company “controlled by” an “investment company,” each as defined in the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”).
(nn) Books and Records. Each Partnership Entity maintains a system of internal accounting
controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in
accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as
necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted
only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded
accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and
appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.
(oo) Disclosure Controls. The Partnership has established and maintains disclosure controls
and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act)
which (i) are designed to ensure that material information relating to the Partnership, including
its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to the General Partner’s principal executive officer
and its principal financial officer by others within those entities, particularly during the
periods in which the periodic reports required under the Exchange Act are being prepared; (ii) have
been evaluated for effectiveness as of the end of the period covered by the Partnership’s most
recent annual report filed with the Commission; and (iii) are effective in achieving reasonable
assurances that the Partnership’s desired control objectives as described in Item 9A of the
Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2010 (the “2010 Annual
Report”) have been met.
(pp) No Deficiency in Internal Controls. Based on the evaluation of its internal controls and
procedures conducted in connection with the preparation and filing of the 2010 Annual Report, the
Partnership is not aware of (i) any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the design
or operation of its internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and
15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that are likely to adversely affect the Partnership’s ability to
record, process, summarize and report financial data; or (ii) any fraud, whether or not material,
that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Partnership’s
internal controls over financial reporting.
(qq) No Changes in Internal Controls. Since the date of the most recent evaluation of the
disclosure controls and procedures described in Section 1(pp) hereof, there have been no
significant changes in the Partnership’s internal controls that materially affected or are
reasonably likely to materially affect the Partnership’s internal controls over financial
reporting.
(rr) Market Stabilization. None of the Partnership Entities has taken, directly or
indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to
cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price
of any security of the Partnership to facilitate the sale or resale of the Notes.
(ss) Statistical Data. Any statistical and market-related data included in the Pricing
Disclosure Package are based on or derived from sources that the Partnership believes to be
12
reliable and accurate, and the Partnership has obtained the written consent to the use of such
data from such sources to the extent required.
(tt) No Distribution of Other Offering Materials. None of the Partnership Entities has
distributed and, prior to the later to occur of (i) the Closing Date or any settlement date and
(ii) completion of the distribution of the Notes, will distribute any offering material in
connection with the offering and sale of the Notes other than any Preliminary Prospectus, the
Prospectus, any free writing prospectus to which the Managers have consented in accordance with
this Agreement, and any other materials, if any, permitted by the Securities Act, including Rule
134.
(uu) No Material Adverse Change. There has not occurred any material adverse change, or any
development involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition, financial or
otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of the Partnership and its subsidiaries,
taken as a whole, from that set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package.
(vv) Foreign Corrupt Practices. No Partnership Entity nor any director, officer, or employee
of the Partnership Entities, nor, to the Partnership’s knowledge, any agent or representative of
any Partnership Entity, has taken or will take any action in furtherance of an offer, payment,
promise to pay, or authorization or approval of the payment or giving of money, property, gifts or
anything else of value, directly or indirectly, to any “government official” (including any officer
or employee of a government or government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international
organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the
foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office) to influence
official action or secure an improper advantage; and the Partnership Entities have conducted their
businesses in compliance with applicable anti-corruption laws and have instituted and maintain and
will continue to maintain policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with
such laws and with the representation and warranty contained herein.
(ww) Anti-Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Partnership Entities are and have been
conducted at all times in material compliance with all applicable financial recordkeeping and
reporting requirements, including those of the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by Title III of the
Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct
Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act), and the applicable anti-money laundering statutes of
jurisdictions where the Partnership Entities conduct business, the rules and regulations thereunder
and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by
any governmental agency (collectively, the “Anti-Money Laundering Laws”), and no action, suit or
proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator
involving the Partnership Entities with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to
the best knowledge of the Partnership Parties, threatened.
(xx) Office of Foreign Assets Control. (i) No Partnership Entity nor any director, officer
or employee of the Partnership Entities, nor, to the Partnership’s knowledge, any agent or
representative of any Partnership Entity, is an individual or entity (“Person”) that is, or is
owned or controlled by a Person that is:
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(A) the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S.
Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) (collectively,
“Sanctions”), nor
(B) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the
subject of Sanctions (including, without limitation, Burma/Myanmar, Cuba, Iran,
North Korea, Sudan and Syria).
(ii) No Partnership Entity will, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the
offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds, to any subsidiary,
joint venture partner or other Person:
(A) to fund or facilitate any activities or business of or with any Person or
in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is
the subject of Sanctions; or
(B) in any other manner that will result in a violation of Sanctions by any
Person (including any Person participating in the offering, whether as underwriter,
advisor, investor or otherwise).
Any certificate signed by any officer of any of the Partnership Parties and delivered to the
Mangers or counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the offering of the Notes shall be
deemed a representation and warranty by such entity, as to matters covered thereby, to each
Underwriter.
2. Agreements to Sell and Purchase. On the basis of the representations and warranties
contained in this Agreement, and subject to its terms and conditions herein, the Partnership hereby
agrees to sell to the several Underwriters, and each Underwriter, agrees, severally and not
jointly, to purchase from the Partnership (a) the principal amount of 2016 Notes set forth opposite
such Underwriter’s name on Schedule II hereto at a purchase price equal to 99.178% of the principal
amount thereof and (b) the principal amount of 2021 Notes set forth opposite such Underwriter’s
name on Schedule II hereto at a purchase price equal to 99.317% of the principal amount thereof, in
each case plus accrued interest, if any, from the Closing Date.
3. Payment and Delivery. Payment for the Notes shall be made to the Partnership in Federal or
other funds immediately available in New York City on the closing date and time set forth in
Schedule I hereto, or at such other time on the same or such other date, not later than the fifth
business day thereafter, as may be designated in writing by you. The time and date of such payment
are hereinafter referred to as the “Closing Date.” Delivery of the Notes shall be made to the
Managers for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters against payment by the several
Underwriters through the Managers of the purchase price thereof to or upon the order of the
Partnership by wire transfer payable in same-day funds to an account specified by the Partnership
to the Managers against delivery to the nominee of The Depository Trust Company, for the account of
the Underwriters, of one or more global notes representing the Notes.
The Notes shall be registered in such names and in such denominations as you shall request in
writing not later than one full business day prior to the Closing Date, for the respective accounts
of the several Underwriters, with any transfer taxes payable in connection
14
with the transfer of the Notes to the Underwriters duly paid, against payment of the purchase
price therefor.
4. Conditions to the Underwriters’ Obligations. The several obligations of the Underwriters
are subject to the following conditions:
(a) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date,
there shall not have occurred any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in the
condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of the Partnership
Entities, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package as of Execution
Time that, in your judgment, is material and adverse and that makes it, in your judgment,
impracticable to market the Notes on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Pricing
Disclosure Package.
(b) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, if any debt securities of the
Partnership Parties are rated by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as
that term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act, (i) no
downgrading shall have occurred, and no notice shall have been given of any intended or potential
downgrading in the rating accorded such debt securities (including the Notes) and (ii) no such
organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, with possible
negative implications, its rating of any securities (including the Notes) of any of the Partnership
Parties.
(c) The Partnership and the Trustee shall have executed and delivered the Indenture and the
Partnership shall have executed and delivered the Notes.
(d) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date a certificate of the Partnership,
signed on behalf of the Partnership by the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer
of the General Partner, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that the signers of such certificate
have carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus
and any amendment or supplement thereto, as well as each electronic road show used in connection
with the offering of the Notes, and this Agreement and that:
(i) the representations and warranties of the Partnership Parties in this Agreement are
true and correct on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as if made on the
Closing Date, and the Partnership has complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the
conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date;
(ii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any
notice objecting to its use has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been
instituted or, to the Partnership’s knowledge, threatened;
(iii) since the date of the most recent financial statements included or incorporated
by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the
Prospectus, there has been no Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or
contemplated in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and
15
(iv) in their opinion, (1) the Registration Statement, as of the most recent Effective
Date, (2) the Prospectus, as of the date of the Prospectus and as of the Closing Date, and
(3) the Pricing Disclosure Package, as of the Execution Time, did not and do not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact and did not and do not omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (except in the
case of the Registration Statement, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made) not misleading.
(e) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Xxxxxx & Xxxxxx
L.L.P., outside counsel for the Partnership, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that:
(i) Formation and Qualification. Each of the Partnership Entities organized under the
laws of the State of Delaware (the “Covered Partnership Entities”) has been duly formed and
is validly existing as a general partnership, limited partnership or limited liability
company, as applicable, and is in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware with
full power and authority necessary to own or lease and to operate its properties currently
owned or leased and to conduct its business as currently conducted, in each case as
described in the Pricing Disclosure Package. Each of the Covered Partnership Entities is
duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing as a foreign limited partnership
or foreign limited liability company in each jurisdiction set forth opposite its name on an
annex to be attached to such counsel’s opinion.
(ii) Power and Authority to Act as General Partner. The General Partner has full power
and authority to act as general partner of the Partnership in all material respects as
described in the Pricing Disclosure Package. GP LLC has full power and authority to act as
general partner of the General Partner in all material respects as described in the Pricing
Disclosure Package.
(iii) Ownership of GP LLC. Spectra Energy Transmission, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company (“SET”), owns all of the issued and outstanding membership interests of GP
LLC; such membership interests have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance
with the limited liability company agreement of GP LLC (the “GP LLC Agreement”) and are
fully paid (to the extent required by the GP LLC Agreement) and nonassessable (except as
such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC
Act); and SET owns such membership interests free and clear of all Liens (except
restrictions on transferability as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and Liens
created or arising under the Delaware LLC Act), (A) in respect of which a financing
statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of Delaware naming SET as debtor is
on file as of a recent date in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware
or (B) otherwise known to such counsel, without independent investigation.
(iv) Ownership of the Limited Partner Interest in the General Partner. Spectra Energy
Southeast Pipeline Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“SEPL”), owns a 99% limited partner
interest in the General Partner; such limited partner interest has been duly and validly
authorized and issued in accordance with the partnership agreement of the General Partner
(the “GP Partnership Agreement”) and is fully paid (to the
16
extent required by the GP Partnership Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such
nonassessability may be affected by Sections 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act); and
SEPL owns such limited partner interest free and clear of all Liens (except restrictions on
transferability as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package or Liens created by or
arising under the Delaware LP Act) (A) in respect of which a financing statement under the
Uniform Commercial Code of the State of Delaware naming SEPL as debtor is on file as of a
recent date in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or (B)
otherwise known to such counsel, without independent investigation.
(v) Ownership of the General Partner Interest in the General Partner. GP LLC is the
sole general partner of the General Partner with a 1% general partner interest in the
General Partner; such general partner interest has been duly authorized and validly issued
in accordance with the GP Partnership Agreement; and GP LLC owns such general partner
interest free and clear of all Liens (except restrictions on transferability as described in
the Pricing Disclosure Package or Liens created by or arising under the Delaware LP Act) (A)
in respect of which a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of
Delaware naming GP LLC as debtor is on file as of a recent date in the office of the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or (B) otherwise known to such counsel, without
independent investigation.
(vi) Ownership of the General Partner Interest in the Partnership. The General Partner
is the sole general partner of the Partnership with a 2.0% general partner interest in the
Partnership; such general partner interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in
accordance with the Partnership Agreement; and the General Partner owns such general partner
interest free and clear of all Liens (except restrictions on transferability as described in
the Pricing Disclosure Package or Liens created by or arising under the Delaware LP Act) (A)
in respect of which a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of
Delaware naming the General Partner as debtor is on file as of a recent date in the office
of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or (B) otherwise known to such counsel,
without independent investigation.
(vii) Capitalization; Valid Issuance of Outstanding Limited Partner Interests in the
Partnership. As of the Closing Date, the issued and outstanding partnership interests of the
Partnership consisted of 89,150,429 common units (the “Common Units”), the Incentive
Distribution Rights and 1,819,396 General Partner Units. All outstanding Common Units and
the Incentive Distribution Rights and the limited partner interests represented thereby have
been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Partnership Agreement, and
are fully paid (to the extent required by the Partnership Agreement) and nonassessable
(except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 17-607 and 17-804 of the
Delaware LP Act).
(viii) Ownership of Sponsor Units and Incentive Distribution Rights. XXXX owns
43,956,556 Common Units, SET owns 16,958,130 Common Units and the General Partner owns the
Incentive Distribution Rights, in each case, free and clear of all Liens (except
restrictions on transferability as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package or Liens
created by or arising under the Delaware LP Act) (A) in respect of which a financing
statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of
17
Delaware naming SEPL, SET or the General Partner as debtor is on file as of a recent
date in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or (B) otherwise known
to such counsel, without independent investigation.
(ix) Valid Issuance of Notes to be Purchased. The Notes to be purchased by the
Underwriters from the Partnership have been duly authorized for issuance and sale to the
Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Partnership
pursuant to this Agreement against payment of the consideration set forth herein, will be
validly issued and fully paid (to the extent required by the Partnership Agreement) and
nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by matters described in
Sections 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act). The Notes, when authenticated, issued
and delivered in the manner provided for in the Indenture and delivered against payment of
the purchase price for the Notes as provided in this Agreement, will constitute valid and
legally binding obligations of the Partnership enforceable against the Partnership in
accordance with its terms, provided that the enforceability thereof may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws
relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity
(regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law).
(x) Ownership of Gulfstream. The Partnership owns 49.0% of the issued and outstanding
membership interests of Gulfstream; such membership interests have been duly authorized and
validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreement of Gulfstream (the
“Gulfstream LLC Agreement”) and are fully paid (to the extent required by the Gulfstream LLC
Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections
18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act); and the Partnership owns such membership
interests free and clear of all Liens (except restrictions on transferability as described
in the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Gulfstream LLC Agreement and Liens created by or
arising under the Credit Agreement or the Delaware LLC Act) (A) in respect of which a
financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of Delaware naming the
Partnership as debtor is on file as of a recent date in the office of the Secretary of State
of the State of Delaware or (B) otherwise known to such counsel, without independent
investigation.
(xi) Ownership of SEP MHP. The Partnership owns 100% of the issued and outstanding
membership interests of SEP MHP; such membership interests have been duly authorized and
validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreement of SEP MHP (the
“SEP MHP LLC Agreement”) and are fully paid (to the extent required by the SEP MHP LLC
Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections
18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act); and the Partnership owns such membership
interests free and clear of all Liens (except restrictions on transferability as described
in the Pricing Disclosure Package or the SEP MHP LLC Agreement and Liens created by or
arising under the Credit Agreement or the Delaware LLC Act) (A) in respect of which a
financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of Delaware naming the
Partnership as
18
debtor is on file as of a recent date in the office of the Secretary of State of the
State of Delaware or (B) otherwise known to such counsel, without independent investigation.
(xii) Ownership of Market Hub. SEP MHP owns 50% of the issued and outstanding
partnership interests of Market Hub; such partnership interests have been duly authorized
and validly issued in accordance with the general partnership agreement of Market Hub (the
“Market Hub Partnership Agreement”); and SEP MHP owns such partnership interests free and
clear of all Liens (except restrictions on transferability as described in the Pricing
Disclosure Package or the Market Hub Partnership Agreement and Liens created by or arising
under the Delaware GP Act) (A) in respect of which a financing statement under the Uniform
Commercial Code of the State of Delaware naming SEP MHP as debtor is on file as of a recent
date in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or (B) otherwise known
to such counsel, without independent investigation.
(xiii) Ownership of Market Hub Subsidiaries. Market Hub owns 100% of the outstanding
membership interests of Xxxx Hub and Xxxx Bluff (collectively, the “Market Hub
Subsidiaries”); such membership interests have been duly authorized and validly issued in
accordance with the limited liability company agreements of the respective Market Hub
Subsidiaries (the “Market Hub LLC Agreements”) and are fully paid (to the extent required by
the respective Market Hub LLC Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability
may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act); and Market Hub owns
such membership interests free and clear of all Liens (except restrictions on
transferability as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package or the respective Market Hub
LLC Agreement and Liens created by or arising under the Delaware LLC Act) (A) in respect of
which a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of Delaware
naming Market Hub as debtor is on file as of a recent date in the office of the Secretary of
State of the State of Delaware or (B) otherwise known to such counsel, without independent
investigation.
(xiv) No Preemptive Rights, Options or Registration Rights. Except as identified in
the Pricing Disclosure Package, there are no (A) preemptive rights or other rights to
subscribe for or to purchase (with the exception of those rights provided in Section 4.06 of
the Gulfstream LLC Agreement), nor any restriction upon the voting or transfer of, any
equity securities of the Partnership Entities (with the exception of those restrictions
provided in Section 8.4 of the Credit Agreement and 8.3 of that certain Note Purchase
Agreement dated as of December 15, 2002 by and among East Tennessee and the other parties
thereto) or (B) outstanding options or warrants to purchase any securities of the
Partnership Entities, in each case pursuant to their respective Organizational Agreements or
any other agreement or instrument to which any Partnership Entity is a party listed as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement or any Incorporated Document. To such counsel’s
knowledge, neither the filing of the Registration Statement nor the offering or sale of the
Units as contemplated by this Agreement gives rise to any rights for or relating to the
registration of any Units or other securities of the Partnership other than as described in
the Pricing Disclosure Package, as set forth in the Partnership Agreement or as have been
waived.
19
(xv) Authority and Authorization. Each of the Partnership Parties has all requisite
power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and perform its respective
obligations hereunder. The Partnership has all requisite partnership power and authority to
issue, sell and deliver the Notes in accordance with and upon the terms and conditions set
forth in this Agreement, the Partnership Agreement, the Registration Statement and the
Pricing Disclosure Package. All partnership and limited liability company action, as the
case may be, required to be taken by the Covered Partnership Entities or any of their
members or partners for the authorization, issuance, sale and delivery of the Notes and the
consummation of the transactions provided for in this Agreement and the Indenture has been
validly taken.
(xvi) Authorization of this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by each of the Partnership Parties.
(xvii) Authorization and Enforceability of the Base Indenture and the Supplemental
Indenture. The Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act. The
execution and delivery of, and the performance of the Partnership of its obligations under
the Base Indenture have been duly and validly authorized by the Partnership and, assuming
due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Trustee, when duly executed and
delivered by the Partnership, the Base Indenture will constitute a valid and legally binding
agreement of the Partnership, enforceable against the Partnership in accordance with its
terms; provided that the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting
creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether such
enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law). The execution and
delivery of, and the performance of the Partnership of its obligations under the
Supplemental Indenture have been duly and validly authorized by the Partnership and,
assuming due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Trustee, when duly
executed and delivered by the Partnership, the Supplemental Indenture will constitute a
valid and legally binding agreement of the Partnership, enforceable against the Partnership
in accordance with its terms; provided that the enforceability thereof may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws
relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity
(regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law).
(xviii) Enforceability of Organizational Agreements. The Organizational Agreements of
the Covered Partnership Entities, have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Covered Partnership Entities that are parties thereto. The Organizational Agreements of the
Covered Partnership Entities are valid and legally binding agreements of the Covered
Partnership Entities that are parties thereto, enforceable against such parties in
accordance with their terms; provided that, with respect to each agreement described in this
Section (xviii), the enforceability thereof may be limited by (A) bankruptcy, insolvency,
fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting
creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether such
enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at
20
law) and (B) public policy, applicable law relating to fiduciary duties and
indemnification and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
(xix) No Conflicts. None of (A) the offering, issuance or sale by the Partnership of
the Notes and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as set forth in the description
under “Use of Proceeds” in the Final Prospectus, (B) the execution, delivery and performance
of this Agreement or the Indenture or (C) the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement and the Indenture (i) conflicts with or will conflict with or constitutes
or will constitute a violation of the Organizational Documents of any of the Covered
Partnership Entities, (ii) conflicts or will conflict with or constitutes or will constitute
a breach or violation of, or a default (or an event that, with notice or lapse of time or
both, would constitute such a default) under any agreement or other instrument filed as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement or any Incorporated Document that is governed by the
laws of the States of Texas, Delaware or New York, (iii) violates or will violate the
Delaware LP Act, the Delaware LLC Act, the Delaware GP Act, the laws of the State of Texas,
or federal law, (iv) violates or will violate any order, judgment, decree or injunction of
any court or governmental agency or other authority of or with any court, governmental
agency or body of the States of Delaware or Texas, or the United States of America having
jurisdiction over any of the Partnership Entities or any of their properties or assets in a
proceeding to which any of them or their property is a party or (v) results or will result
in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any property or assets of any of the
Partnership Entities, which conflicts, breaches, violations, defaults or Liens, in the case
of clauses (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v), would have a Material Adverse Effect or materially
impair the ability of any of the Partnership Entities to consummate the transactions
provided for in this Agreement; provided, however, that no opinion need be expressed
pursuant to this paragraph with respect to federal or state securities laws and other
anti-fraud laws.
(xx) No Consents. No permit, consent, approval, authorization, order, registration,
filing or qualification under the Delaware LP Act, the Delaware LLC Act, the Delaware GP
Act, Texas law, or federal law is required in connection with the offering, issuance or sale
by the Partnership of the Notes and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as set
forth in the description under “Use of Proceeds” in the Final Prospectus or the execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Indenture by the Partnership Parties,
except for such permits, consents, approvals and similar authorizations required under the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act and state securities or “Blue Sky” laws, as to which such
counsel need not express any opinion.
(xxi) Effectiveness of Registration Statement. The Registration Statement has become
effective under the Securities Act; any required filing of the Prospectus, and any
supplements thereto, pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations has been made in
the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations;
to the knowledge of such counsel, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement or any notice objecting to its use has been issued and no proceedings
for that purpose have been instituted or threatened.
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(xxii) Form of Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Registration Statement and
the Prospectus, when filed with the Commission and on the Closing Date, were, on their face,
appropriately responsive, in all material respects, to the requirements of the Securities
Act, except that in each case such counsel need express no opinion with respect to the
financial statements or other financial and statistical data contained in or omitted from
the Registration Statement or the Prospectus.
(xxiii) Description of the Indenture and the Notes. The statements included or
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement under the caption “Description of
Debt Notes” and in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package
under the captions “Description of Notes” and “Description of Debt Securities,” insofar as
such statements purport to summarize certain provisions of documents referred to therein and
reviewed by us as described above, fairly summarize such provisions in all material
respects, subject to the qualifications and assumptions stated therein.
(xxiv) Descriptions and Summaries. The statements included in the Registration
Statement and the most recent Preliminary Prospectus under the captions “Our Cash
Distribution Policy and Restrictions on Distributions,” “Certain Relationships and Related
Transactions and Director Independence,” “Conflicts of Interest and Fiduciary Duties,” “The
Partnership Agreement,” and “Investment in Spectra Energy Partners, LP by Employee Benefit
Plans” insofar as they purport to constitute summaries of the terms of federal or Texas
statutes, rules or regulations or the Delaware LP Act or the Delaware LLC Act, any legal and
governmental proceedings or any contracts and other documents, constitute accurate summaries
of the terms of such statutes, rules and regulations, legal and governmental proceedings and
contracts and other documents in all material respects. The description of the federal
statutes, rules and regulations set forth in the 2010 Annual Report under
“Business—Regulations” and “Business—Environmental Matters” constitute accurate summaries
of the terms of such statutes, rules and regulations in all material respects.
(xxv) Tax Opinion. The opinion of Xxxxxx & Xxxxxx L.L.P. that is filed as Exhibit 8.1
to the Partnership’s Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed with the Commission on or after
the Execution Time and before the Closing Date is confirmed and the Underwriters may rely
upon such opinion as if it were addressed to them.
(xxvi) Investment Company. None of the Partnership Entities is, nor after giving
effect to the offering and sale of the Notes and the application of the proceeds thereof as
described in the Pricing Disclosure Package will any of the Partnership Entities be, an
“investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act.
In rendering such opinion, such counsel may (i) rely in respect of matters of fact upon
certificates of officers and employees of the Partnership Entities and upon information obtained
from public officials, (ii) assume that all documents submitted to such counsel as originals are
authentic, that all copies submitted to such counsel conform to the originals thereof, and that the
signatures on all documents examined by such counsel are genuine, (iii) state that its opinion is
limited to matters governed by federal law and the Delaware LP Act, the Delaware LLC Act, the
22
Delaware GP Act, and the laws of the State of Texas, (iv) with respect to the opinions
expressed as to the due qualification or registration as a foreign general partnership, limited
partnership or limited liability company, as the case may be, of the Partnership Entities, state
that such opinions are based upon certificates of foreign qualification or registration provided by
the Secretary of State of the States listed on an annex to be attached to such counsel’s opinion
(each of which shall be dated as of a date not more than fourteen days prior to the Closing Date
and shall be provided to counsel to the Underwriters) and (v) state that they express no opinion
with respect to (A) any permits to own or operate any real or personal property or (B) state or
local taxes or tax statutes to which any of the limited partners of the Partnership or any of the
Partnership Parties may be subject.
In addition, such counsel shall state that they have participated in conferences with officers
and other representatives of the Partnership Entities, the independent public accountants of the
Partnership and your representatives, at which the contents of the Registration Statement, the
Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and related matters were discussed, and although such
counsel has not independently verified, is not passing upon, and is not assuming any responsibility
for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in, the Registration
Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (except to the extent specified in the
foregoing opinion), based on the foregoing, no facts have come to such counsel’s attention that
lead such counsel to believe that:
(A) the Registration Statement, as of the latest Effective Date, contained an
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
(B) the Pricing Disclosure Package, as of the Execution Time, contained any
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary
in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading, or
(C) the Prospectus, as of its date and on the Closing Date, contained or
contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a
material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
it being understood that such counsel expresses no statement or belief with respect to (i) the
financial statements and related schedules included or incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement, including the notes thereto and independent registered public accountants’
reports thereon, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, (ii) any other financial
information included, incorporated by reference or omitted in the Registration Statement, the
Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus and (iii) representations and warranties and other
statements of fact included in the exhibits to the Registration Statement or any Incorporated
Documents.
(f) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx,
general counsel for SE, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that:
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(i) Formation and Qualification. Each of East Tennessee, Saltville, Atlas, MCAP, OGG
and OGT has been duly formed and is validly existing as a limited liability company and is
in good standing under the laws of the state of its formation. NOARK has been duly formed
and is validly existing as a limited partnership under the laws of the State of Arkansas.
(Such counsel may base this opinion solely on certificates of the Secretary of State of
Tennessee, Virginia, Arkansas and Oklahoma, as applicable).
(ii) No Conflicts. None of (A) the offering, issuance or sale by the Partnership of
the Notes and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as set forth in the description
under “Use of Proceeds” in the Final Prospectus, (B) the execution, delivery and performance
of this Agreement or the Indenture by the Partnership Parties that are parties thereto or
(C) the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Indenture
(i) conflicts with or will conflict with or constitutes or will constitute a violation of
the Organizational Documents of any of the Spectra Entities, (ii) conflicts or will conflict
with or constitutes or will constitute a breach or violation of, or a default (or an event
that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default) under, any
agreement that is filed as a material agreement in the most recent annual report on Form
10-K filed by SE, or (iii) violates or will violate any order, judgment, decree or
injunction of any court or governmental agency or other authority of or with any court,
governmental agency or body of the States of Delaware or Texas or the United States of
America having jurisdiction over any of the Spectra Entities or any of their properties or
assets in a proceeding to which any of them or their property is a party, which conflicts,
breaches, violations, defaults or Liens, in the case of clauses (ii) or (iii), would have a
Material Adverse Effect or materially impair the ability of any of the Partnership Parties
to consummate the transactions provided for in this Agreement; provided, however, that no
opinion need be expressed pursuant to this paragraph with respect to federal or state
securities laws and other anti-fraud laws.
(iii) Legal Proceedings; Material Agreements. To the knowledge of such counsel, there
are no (A) legal or governmental proceedings pending or threatened to which any of the
Partnership Entities is a party or to which any of their respective properties is subject
that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure
Package or the Prospectus but are not so described as required or, if determined adversely
to any Partnership Entity, would individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse
Effect on the Partnership Entities; and (B) agreements, contracts, indentures, leases or
other instruments that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the
Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration
Statement or any Incorporated Document that are not described or filed as required by the
Securities Act.
In rendering such opinion, such counsel may (i) rely in respect of matters of fact upon
certificates of officers and employees of the Partnership Parties and upon information obtained
from public officials, (ii) assume that all documents submitted to such counsel as originals are
authentic, that all copies submitted to such counsel conform to the originals thereof, and that the
signatures on all documents examined by such counsel are genuine, (iii) state that such counsel’s
opinion is limited to matters governed by federal law and the Delaware LP Act, the Delaware LLC Act
and the Delaware General Corporate Law and the laws of the State of Texas, and (iv)
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state that such counsel expresses no opinion with respect to (A) any permits to own or
operate any real or personal property or (B) state or local taxes or tax statutes to which any of
the limited partners of the Partnership or any of the Partnership Parties may be subject.
(g) The Underwriters shall have received from Xxxxx Xxxxx L.L.P., counsel for the
Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Managers, with
respect to the issuance and sale of the Notes, the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure
Package and the Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) and other related matters as the
Managers may reasonably require, and the Partnership Parties shall have furnished to such counsel
such documents as they request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.
(h) The Underwriters shall have received, on each of the date hereof and the Closing Date, a
letter dated the date hereof or the Closing Date, as the case may be, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Underwriters, from Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent public accountants,
containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort
letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information
contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus;
provided that the letter delivered on the Closing Date shall use a “cut off date” not earlier than
the date hereof.
5. Covenants of the Partnership Parties. Each of the Partnership Parties, jointly and
severally, covenants with each Underwriter as follows:
(a) To furnish to you, without charge, a signed copy of the Registration Statement (including
exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein) and to deliver to each of the
Underwriters during the period mentioned in Section 5(e) or 5(f) below, as many copies of the most
recent Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Incorporated Documents and any supplements and
amendments thereto or to the Registration Statement as you may reasonably request.
(b) Before amending or supplementing the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or
the Prospectus, to furnish to you a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement and not to
file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which you reasonably object.
(c) To furnish to you a copy of each proposed free writing prospectus to be prepared by or on
behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Partnership and not to use or refer to any proposed free
writing prospectus to which you reasonably object.
(d) Not to take any action that would result in an Underwriter or the Partnership being
required to file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act a free
writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of the Underwriter that the Underwriter otherwise would
not have been required to file thereunder.
(e) If the Pricing Disclosure Package is being used to solicit offers to buy the Notes at a
time when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers and any event shall occur
or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Pricing
25
Disclosure Package in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances,
not misleading, or if any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which the Pricing
Disclosure Package conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement then on
file, or if, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or supplement
the Pricing Disclosure Package to comply with applicable law, forthwith to prepare, file with the
Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to any dealer upon request,
either amendments or supplements to the Pricing Disclosure Package so that the statements in the
Pricing Disclosure Package as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the
circumstances when the Pricing Disclosure Package is delivered to a prospective purchaser, be
misleading or so that the Pricing Disclosure Package, as amended or supplemented, will no longer
conflict with the Registration Statement, or so that the Pricing Disclosure Package, as amended or
supplemented, will comply with applicable law.
(f) If, during such period after the first date of the public offering of the Notes as in the
opinion of counsel for the Underwriters the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to
in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is required by law to be delivered in connection with sales
by an Underwriter or dealer, any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is
necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances when the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule
173(a) of the Securities Act) is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if, in the opinion of
counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with
applicable law, forthwith to prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to
the Underwriters and to the dealers (whose names and addresses you will furnish to the Partnership)
to which Notes may have been sold by you on behalf of the Underwriters and to any other dealers
upon request, either amendments or supplements to the Prospectus so that the statements in the
Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when the
Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is
delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will
comply with applicable law.
(g) To endeavor to qualify the Notes for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws
of such jurisdictions as you shall reasonably request; provided that in no event shall the
Partnership be obligated to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so
qualified or to take any action that would subject it to service of process in suits, other than
those arising out of the offering or sale of the Notes, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so
subject.
(h) To make generally available to the Partnership’s security holders and to you as soon as
practicable an earning statement covering a period of at least twelve months beginning with the
first fiscal quarter of the Partnership occurring after the date of this Agreement which shall
satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder.
(i) Whether or not the transactions contemplated in this Agreement are consummated or this
Agreement is terminated, to pay or cause to be paid all expenses incident to the performance of its
obligations under this Agreement, including: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the
Partnership’s counsel and the Partnership’s accountants in connection with the purchase and sale of
the Notes under the Securities Act and all other fees or expenses in
26
connection with the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary
Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, any free writing prospectus prepared by
or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Partnership and amendments and supplements to any
of the foregoing, including the filing fees payable to the Commission relating to the Notes (within
the time required by Rule 456(b)(1), if applicable), all printing costs associated therewith, and
the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers, in the quantities
hereinabove specified, (ii) all costs and expenses related to the purchase and sale of the Notes to
the Underwriters, including any transfer or other taxes payable thereon, (iii) the cost of printing
or producing any Blue Sky or Legal Investment memorandum in connection with the offer and sale of
the Notes under state securities laws and all expenses in connection with the qualification of the
Notes for offer and sale under state securities laws as provided in Section 5(g) hereof, including
filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection
with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky or Legal Investment memorandum, (iv)
all filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters incurred
in connection with the review and qualification of the offering of the Notes by the Financial
Industry Regulatory Authority, (v) the cost of printing certificates representing the Notes, (vi)
the costs and charges of any transfer agent, registrar or depositary, (vii) the costs and expenses
of the Partnership relating to investor presentations on any “road show” undertaken in connection
with the marketing of the offering of the Notes, including, without limitation, expenses associated
with the preparation or dissemination of any electronic road show, expenses associated with the
production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in
connection with the road show presentations with the prior approval of the Partnership, travel and
lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of the Partnership and any such consultants,
and the cost of any aircraft chartered in connection with the road show, (viii) the document
production charges and expenses associated with printing this Agreement and (ix) all other costs
and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Partnership hereunder for which
provision is not otherwise made in this Section. It is understood, however, that except as
provided in this Section, Section 7 entitled “Indemnity and Contribution” and the last paragraph of
Section 9 below, the Underwriters will pay all of their costs and expenses, including fees and
disbursements of their counsel and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may
make.
(j) During the period from the date hereof through and including Closing Date, the Partnership
will not, without the prior written consent of the Managers, offer, sell, contract to sell or
otherwise dispose of any debt securities issued by the Partnership Parties.
6. Covenants of the Underwriters. Each Underwriter severally covenants with the Partnership
not to take any action that would result in the Partnership’s being required to file with the
Commission under Rule 433(d) a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of such Underwriter
that otherwise would not be required to be filed by the Partnership thereunder, but for the action
of the Underwriter
7. Indemnity and Contribution. (a) Each of the Partnership Parties agrees, jointly and
severally, to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, each person, if any, who controls any
Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act, each affiliate of any Underwriter within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities
Act and each agent of any Underwriter from and against any and all losses, claims,
27
damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) caused by any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration
Statement or any amendment thereof, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package, any
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act, any Partnership
information that the Partnership has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under
the Securities Act, or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or caused by any
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities are caused by any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue
statement or omission based upon information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the
Partnership in writing by such Underwriter through you expressly for use therein.
(b) Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the
each of the Partnership Parties and each of their directors, each of their officers who sign the
Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Partnership Parties within the
meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same
extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Partnership Parties to such Underwriter, but only with
reference to information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Partnership in writing by
such Underwriter through you expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary
Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus or
any amendment or supplement thereto.
(c) In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted
involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 7(a) or 7(b),
such person (the “indemnified party”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity
may be sought (the “indemnifying party”) in writing and the indemnifying party, upon request of the
indemnified party, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to
represent the indemnified party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such
proceeding and shall pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In
any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the
fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the
indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such
counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include
both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both parties by the
same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them.
It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in respect of the legal expenses of any
indemnified party in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same
jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to
any local counsel) for all such indemnified parties and that all such fees and expenses shall be
reimbursed as they are incurred. Such firm shall be designated in writing by the Managers, in the
case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 7(a), and by the Partnership, in the case of
parties indemnified pursuant to Section 7(b). The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any
settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent
or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the
indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.
Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at
28
any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the
indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second and third
sentences of this paragraph, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any
settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered
into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii)
such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such
request prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior
written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened
proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity
could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement includes an
unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject
matter of such proceeding.
(d) To the extent the indemnification provided for in Section 7(a) or 7(b) is unavailable to
an indemnified party or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities
referred to therein, then each indemnifying party under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying
such indemnified party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion
as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Partnership Parties on the one
hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the offering of the Notes or (ii) if the
allocation provided by clause 7(d)(i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion
as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause 7(d)(i) above but
also the relative fault of the Partnership Parties on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the
other hand in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative
benefits received by the Partnership Parties on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand
in connection with the offering of the Notes shall be deemed to be in the same respective
proportions as the net proceeds from the offering of the Notes (before deducting expenses) received
by the Partnership Parties and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the
Underwriters bear to the aggregate initial public offering price of the Notes set forth in the
Prospectus. The relative fault of the Partnership Parties on the one hand and the Underwriters on
the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material
fact relates to information supplied by the Partnership Parties or by the Underwriters and the
parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent
such statement or omission. The Underwriters’ respective obligations to contribute pursuant to
this Section 7 are several in proportion to the respective number of Notes they have purchased
hereunder, and not joint.
(e) The Partnership Parties and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just or equitable
if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the
Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that
does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in Section 7(d). The amount paid
or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities
referred to in Section 7(d) shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above,
any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with
investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the
29
provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in
excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Notes underwritten by it and distributed
to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter
has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission
or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of
Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The remedies provided for in this Section 7 are not
exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any
indemnified party at law or in equity.
(f) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 7 and the
representations, warranties and other statements of the Partnership Parties contained in this
Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of
this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, any person
controlling any Underwriter or any affiliate or agent of any Underwriter or by or on behalf of the
Partnership Parties, each of their officers or directors or any person controlling the Partnership
Parties and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any of the Notes.
8. Termination. The Underwriters may terminate this Agreement by notice given by you to the
Partnership, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date
(i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on, or by, the New York Stock
Exchange or the NASDAQ Global Market, (ii) trading of any securities of the Partnership shall have
been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market, (iii) a material disruption in
securities settlement, payment or clearance services in the United States shall have occurred, (iv)
any moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by Federal or New York
State authorities or (v) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, or
any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis that, in your judgment, is material and
adverse and which, singly or together with any other event specified in this clause (v), makes it,
in your judgment, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offer, sale or delivery of the
Notes on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Pricing Disclosure Package or the
Prospectus.
9. Effectiveness; Defaulting Underwriters. This Agreement shall become effective upon the
execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto.
If, on the Closing Date, as the case may be, any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or
refuse to purchase and pay for any of the Notes that it has or they have agreed to purchase
hereunder on such date, the other Underwriters shall be obligated severally, in the proportions
that the principal amount of the Notes set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule II
bears to the aggregate principal amount of the Notes set forth opposite the names of all such non
defaulting Underwriters, to purchase the Notes which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters
agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such date; provided that in no event shall the
principal amount of Notes that any Underwriter has agreed to purchase pursuant to this Agreement be
increased pursuant to this Section 9 by an amount in excess of one ninth of such principal amount
of Notes without the written consent of such Underwriter. If, on the Closing Date, any Underwriter
or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Notes and the principal amount of Notes with
respect to which such default occurs is more than one tenth of the
30
aggregate principal amount of Notes to be purchased on such date, and arrangements
satisfactory to you and the Partnership for the purchase of such Notes are not made within 36 hours
after such default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any non
defaulting Underwriter or the Partnership. In any such case either you or the Partnership shall
have the right to postpone the Closing Date, but in no event for longer than seven days, in order
that the required changes, if any, in the Registration Statement, in the Pricing Disclosure
Package, in the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected.
If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriters (other than as a result of the
events described in Section 8(i), Section 8(iii), Section 8(iv), Section 8(v) or Section 9), or any
of them, because of any failure or refusal on the part of the Partnership to comply with the terms
or to fulfill any of the conditions of this Agreement, or if for any reason the Partnership shall
be unable to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Partnership will reimburse the
Underwriters or such Underwriters as have so terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves,
severally, for all out of pocket expenses (including the fees and disbursements of their counsel)
reasonably incurred by such Underwriters in connection with this Agreement or the offering
contemplated hereunder.
10. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with any contemporaneous written agreements
and any prior written agreements (to the extent not superseded by this Agreement) that relate to
the offering of the Notes, represents the entire agreement between the Partnership and the
Underwriters with respect to the preparation of any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure
Package, the Prospectus, the conduct of the offering, and the purchase and sale of the Notes.
11. No Fiduciary Duty. The Partnership acknowledges that in connection with the offering of
the Notes: (a) the Underwriters have acted at arms length, are not agents of, and owe no fiduciary
duties to, the Partnership or any other person, (b) the Underwriters owe the Partnership only those
duties and obligations set forth in this Agreement and prior written agreements (to the extent not
superseded by this Agreement), if any, (c) the Underwriters may have interests that differ from
those of the Partnership and (d) any review by the Underwriters of the Company, the transactions
contemplated hereby or other matters relating to such transactions will be performed solely for the
benefit of the Underwriters and shall not be on behalf of the Company. The Partnership waives to
the full extent permitted by applicable law any claims it may have against the Underwriters arising
from an alleged breach of fiduciary duty in connection with the offering of the Notes.
12. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in two or more counterparts, each of which
shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the
same instrument.
13. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
internal laws of the State of New York.
14. Headings. The headings of the sections of this Agreement have been inserted for
convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed a part of this Agreement.
31
15. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and effective only on receipt,
and, if sent to the Managers, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to Xxxxx Fargo Securities,
LLC, 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000, Attention: Transaction
Management Department, Facsimile: (000) 000-0000; or, if sent to any of the Partnership Entities,
will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed Partnership Entities, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed
to Spectra Energy Partners, 0000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000, Attention: Xxxxxxxxxxx X.
Xxxx-Xxxxxx, Facsimile: (000) 000-0000.
32
Very truly yours, Spectra Energy Partners, LP |
||||
By: | Spectra Energy Partners (DE) GP, LP | |||
its general partner | ||||
By: | Spectra Energy Partners GP, LLC | |||
its general partner | ||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx | |||
Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer | |||
Spectra Energy Partners GP, LLC |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx | |||
Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer | |||
Spectra Energy Partners (DE) GP, LP |
||||
By: | Spectra Energy Partners GP, LLC | |||
its general partner | ||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx | |||
Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer | |||
(Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement)
Accepted as of the date hereof
Xxxxx Fargo Securities, LLC
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. LLC
RBS Securities Inc.
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. LLC
RBS Securities Inc.
Acting severally on behalf of themselves and the
several Underwriters named in Schedule II hereto.
By: | Xxxxx Fargo Securities, LLC | |||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx | |||
Title: | Director | |||
By: | X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC | |||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx | |||
Title: | Vice President | |||
By: | Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. LLC | |||
By: | /s/ Xxxx Xxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxx Xxxx | |||
Title: | ED | |||
By: | RBS Securities Inc. | |||
By: | /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxx Xxxxxxx | |||
Title: | Director | |||
(Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement)
SCHEDULE I
Filed Pursuant to Rule 433
Registration No. 333-158097
June 6, 2011
Registration No. 333-158097
June 6, 2011
Spectra Energy Partners, LP
Pricing Term Sheet
$250,000,000 2.95% Notes due 2016
$250,000,000 4.60% Notes due 2021
Pricing Term Sheet
$250,000,000 2.95% Notes due 2016
$250,000,000 4.60% Notes due 2021
Issuer:
|
Spectra Energy Partners, LP | |||
Security Type:
|
Senior Unsecured Notes | |||
Pricing Date:
|
June 6, 2011 | |||
Settlement Date: (T+3)
|
June 9, 2011 | |||
2.95% Notes due 2016 | 4.60% Notes due 2021 | |||
Maturity Date:
|
June 15, 2016 | June 15, 2021 | ||
Principal Amount:
|
$250,000,000 | $250,000,000 | ||
Benchmark:
|
1.750% due May 31, 2016 | 3.125% due May 15, 2021 | ||
Benchmark Price / Yield:
|
100-231/4 / 1.598% | 101-01 / 3.004% | ||
Spread to Benchmark:
|
+ 140 bps | + 160 bps | ||
Yield to Maturity:
|
2.998% | 4.604% | ||
Coupon:
|
2.95% | 4.60% | ||
Public Offering Price:
|
99.778% | 99.967% | ||
Optional Redemption: | We will have the right to redeem the notes of either series, in whole or in part at any time before the date that is one month prior to the maturity date of the 2016 notes or three months prior to the maturity date of the 2021 notes, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed and (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on such notes (exclusive of interest accrued to the redemption date) discounted to the redemption date on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 20 basis points in the case of the 2016 notes and 25 basis points in the case of the 2021 notes, plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the principal amount being redeemed to such redemption date. On or after the date that is one month prior to the maturity date of the 2016 notes and three months prior to the maturity date of the 2021 notes, the notes of that series will be redeemable, at our option, at any time in whole, or from time to time in part, at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed plus accrued interest on the notes to be redeemed to the date of redemption. | |||
Interest Payment Dates: | June 15 and December 15, commencing December 15, 2011 | |||
Denominations:
|
$2,000 x $1,000 | |||
CUSIP / ISIN:
|
84756N AA7 / US84756NAA72 | 84756N AB5 / US84756NAB55 | ||
Joint Bookrunning Managers:
|
Xxxxx Fargo Securities, LLC |
I-1
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. LLC RBS Securities Inc. |
||||
Co-Managers:
|
SunTrust Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Inc.
UBS Securities LLC |
The issuer has filed a registration statement (including a preliminary prospectus supplement
and a prospectus) and a prospectus supplement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC) for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read
the prospectus supplement for this offering, the issuer’s prospectus in that registration
statement and any other documents the issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information
about the issuer and this offering. You may get these documents for free by searching the SEC
online data base (XXXXX) on the SEC web site at xxxx://xxx.xxx.xxx. Alternatively, the issuer,
any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the
prospectus supplement and prospectus if you request it by calling Xxxxx Fargo Securities, LLC
toll-free at 0-000-000-0000, X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC at 0-000-000-0000, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co.
LLC at 0-000-000-0000 or RBS Securities Inc. at 0-000-000-0000.
I-2
SCHEDULE II
Principal Amount of | Principal Amount of | |||||||
2016 Notes to be | 2021 Notes to be | |||||||
Underwriter | Purchased | Purchased | ||||||
Xxxxx Fargo Securities, LLC |
$ | 62,500,000 | $ | 62,500,000 | ||||
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC |
$ | 50,000,000 | $ | 50,000,000 | ||||
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. LLC |
$ | 50,000,000 | $ | 50,000,000 | ||||
RBS Securities Inc. |
$ | 50,000,000 | $ | 50,000,000 | ||||
SunTrust Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Inc. |
$ | 18,750,000 | $ | 18,750,000 | ||||
UBS Securities LLC |
$ | 18,750,000 | $ | 18,750,000 | ||||
Total |
$ | 250,000,000 | $ | 250,000,000 | ||||
II-1
EXHIBIT A
OWNERSHIP OF PARTNERSHIP ENTITIES
Partnership Entity: | Equity Owned By | |
Partnership
|
• 2% general partner interest owned by the General Partner represented by 1,819,396 General Partner Units |
|
• All Incentive Distribution Rights owned by the General Partner |
||
• 18.6% limited partner interest owned by SET,
represented by 16,958,130 Common Units |
||
• 48.3% limited partner interest owned by XXXX
represented by 43,956,556 Common Units |
||
• 31% limited partner interest owned by public
unitholders, represented by 28,235,743 Common Units. |
||
GP LLC
|
• 100% of membership interests owned by SET |
|
General Partner
|
• 1% general partner interest owned by GP LLC |
|
• 99% limited partner interest owned by SEPL |
||
East Tennessee
|
• 100% of membership interests owned by the Partnership |
|
Saltville
|
• 100% of membership interests owned by the Partnership |
|
Gulfstream
|
• 49.0% of membership interests owned by the
Partnership |
|
• 1.0% of membership interests owned by SEPL |
||
SEP MHP
|
• 100% of membership interests owned by the Partnership |
|
Market Hub
|
• 50% of partnership interests owned by XXX XXX |
|
• 48% of partnership interests owned by Spectra Energy
MHP Holding, LLC |
||
• 2% of partnership interests owned by Spectra Energy
Southeast MHP Holding, LLC. |
||
Xxxx Hub and Xxxx
Bluff
|
• 100% of membership interests owned by Market Hub |
|
Atlas
|
• 100% of membership interests owned by the Partnership |
|
MCAP
|
• 100% of membership interests owned by the Partnership |
|
NOARK
|
• 25% general partner interest owned by MCAP |
|
• 74% general partner interest owned by Atlas |
||
• 1% limited partner interest owned by Atlas |
||
OGG and OGT
|
• 100% of membership interests owned by NOARK |
A-1