13,000,000 Common Units DUNCAN ENERGY PARTNERS L.P. Representing Limited Partner Interests UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT 1.1
13,000,000 Common Units
XXXXXX ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.
Representing Limited Partner Interests
January 30, 2007
Xxxxxx Brothers Inc.
UBS Securities LLC
As Representatives of the several Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto
UBS Securities LLC
As Representatives of the several Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto
c/x Xxxxxx Brothers Inc.
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
c/o UBS Securities LLC
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Xxxxxx Energy Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), proposes to
sell to the underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the “Underwriters”) 13,000,000 common units
(the “Firm Units”), representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the “Common Units”).
In addition, the Partnership proposes to grant to the Underwriters an option to purchase up to
1,950,000 additional Common Units on the terms and for the purposes set forth in Section 2 (the
“Option Units”). The Firm Units and the Option Units, if purchased, are referred to collectively
herein as the “Units.”
This is to confirm the agreement among the Partnership, DEP Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company and the general partner of the Partnership (the “General Partner”), DEP Operating
Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), DEP OLPGP, LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company and the general partner of the Operating Partnership (“OLPGP”)
and Enterprise Products Operating L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“EPOLP” and, together with
the Partnership, the General Partner, the Operating Partnership and OLPGP, the “DEP Parties”) and
the Underwriters concerning the purchase of the Units from the Partnership by the Underwriters.
It is understood and agreed to by all parties hereto that the Partnership was initially formed
to acquire certain natural gas gathering, transportation, marketing and storage assets and certain
natural gas liquid transportation and storage assets from EPOLP, each as more particularly
described in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus (as such terms are hereinafter defined).
It is further understood and agreed to by all parties hereto that as of the date hereof:
(i) the Partnership owns 100% of the limited liability company interests in OLPGP and a
99.999% limited partner interest in the Operating Partnership;
(ii) the General Partner owns a 2% general partner interest in the Partnership;
(iii) OLPGP owns a 0.001% general partner interest in the Operating Partnership;
(iv) EPOLP and its general partner, Enterprise Products OLPGP, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (“EPOLPGP”), collectively or individually own 100% of the limited liability
company interests in the General Partner and 100% of the limited liability company interests
or partnership interests, as the case may be, in each of Mont Belvieu Caverns, LLC (“MBC
LLC”), South Texas NGL Pipelines, LLC (“South Texas NGL”), Acadian Gas, LLC (“Acadian Gas”),
Enterprise Xxx-Xxx Propylene Pipeline L.P. (“Xxx-Xxx LP”), and Sabine Propylene Pipeline
L.P. (“Sabine LP”, and collectively with MBC LLC, South Texas NGL, Acadian Gas, Xxx-Xxx LP
and Sabine LP, the “Initial Operating Subsidiaries”); and
(v) the Partnership has entered into a $300 million revolving credit facility (the
“Credit Facility”).
The General Partner, the Partnership, OLPGP, the Operating Partnership, the Initial Operating
Subsidiaries and the subsidiaries of the Initial Operating Subsidiaries named in Schedule III
hereto (together with the Initial Operating Subsidiaries, the “Subsidiaries”) are referred to
collectively herein as the “Partnership Entities.” The General Partner, the Partnership, the
OLPGP, the Operating Partnership, the Initial Operating Subsidiaries, Xxxxxxxxxx Gas Pipeline
Company, L.P. and Xxxxxxxxxx Gas Corp. are collectively herein referred to as the “Significant DEP
Entities”).
It is further understood and agreed to by the parties hereto that the following transactions
have occurred prior to the date hereof or will occur on the date hereof:
(i) the Partnership and the Initial Operating Subsidiaries will enter into various new
and amended transportation, storage and operating agreements with EPOLP and its affiliates,
including the following:
a) South Texas NGL and EPOLP entered into an NGL Transportation
Agreement dated as of January 1, 2007 regarding transportation of dedicated
production from EPD’s Xxxxx and Xxxxxxxxx facilities to Mont Belvieu, Texas;
and
b) MBC LLC entered into (1) the Storage Lease (Enterprise Products NGL
Marketing), between Enterprise Products Operating L.P. and Mont Belvieu
Caverns, LLC, (2) the Storage Lease (North Propane —
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Propylene Splitters), between Enterprise Products Operating L.P. and
Mont Belvieu Caverns, LLC, (3) the Storage Lease (Belvieu Environmental
Fuels), between Enterprise Products Operating L.P. and Mont Belvieu Caverns,
LLC, (4) the Storage Lease (Butane Isomer), between Enterprise Products
Operating L.P. and Mont Belvieu Caverns, LLC, (5) the Storage Lease
(Enterprise Fractionation Plant), between Enterprise Products Operating
L.P., Duke Energy NGL Services L.P., Burlington Resources Inc. and Mont
Belvieu Caverns, LLC, and (6) the Amended and Restated RGP Storage Lease,
between Enterprise Products Operating L.P. and Mont Belvieu Caverns, LLC,
each dated as of January 23, 2007 with lease terms commencing on February 1,
2007; and MBC LLC became party to the Ground Lease Agreement, dated as of
January 17, 2002, by and between Enterprise Products Operating L.P.
(successor-in-interest to Diamond-Xxxx, X.X.) and Mont Belvieu Caverns, LLC
(successor-in-interest to Enterprise Products Texas Operating L.P.), with a
lease term commencing on February 1, 2007.
(ii) EPOLP, EPOLPGP, EPD, the Partnership, the General Partner, OLPGP and the Operating
Partnership will enter into a Contribution, Conveyance and Assumption Agreement (the
“Contribution Agreement”) pursuant to which EPOLP, for itself and on behalf of the General
Partner, will contribute to the Partnership an aggregate of 66% of the limited liability
company or limited partnership interests, as the case may be, in each of the Initial
Operating Subsidiaries in exchange for the issuance by the Partnership to EPOLP of 7,301,571
Common Units (the “Sponsor Units”) and a continuation of the General Partner’s 2% general
partner interest in the Partnership;
(iii) MBC LLC has entered into a Contribution, Conveyance and Assumption Agreement
dated January 23, 2007 but effective as of February 1, 2007 with EPOLP and certain of its
affiliates relating to assets located at Mont Belvieu, Texas (the “MB Contribution
Agreement”), and South Texas NGL has entered into a Contribution, Conveyance and Assumption
Agreement dated January 23, 2007 but effective as of January 1, 2007 with EPOLP and certain
of its affiliates relating to assets that form part of the South Texas NGL Pipeline System
(the “South Texas Contribution Agreement”); and
(iv) EPOLP has assigned to the appropriate Initial Operating Subsidiary (a) the Sabine
Pipeline Propylene Exchange Agreement, by and between Shell Chemical LP and Enterprise
Products Operating L.P., dated as of July 12, 2006, (b) Propylene Product Exchange
Agreement, by and between Enterprise Products Operating L.P. and Shell Chemical Company,
dated as of March 1, 2000 as amended April 1, 2005, and (c) the Chemical Grade Propylene
Product Exchange Agreement between Enterprise Products Operating L.P. and Exxon Mobil
Company, dated as of June 1, 2000.
The agreements described in (i) and (iv) above, as assigned, are referred to herein
collectively as the “Commercial Agreements.”
It is further understood and agreed to by the parties hereto that the following additional
transactions will occur on or prior to the Initial Delivery Date:
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(i) the Partnership will amend and restate its agreement of limited partnership (as so
amended and restated, the “Partnership Agreement”);
(ii) the General Partner will amend and restate its limited liability company agreement
(as so amended and restated, the “GP LLC Agreement”);
(iii) the OLPGP will amend and restate its limited liability company agreement (as so
amended and restated, the “OLPGP LLC Agreement”);
(iv) each of the Initial Operating Subsidiaries will amend and restate their limited
liability company agreement or limited partnership agreement, as the case may be (as so
amended and restated, the “Operating Subsidiaries Formation Agreements”);
(v) EPOLP, the General Partner, the Partnership, OLPGP, the Operating Partnership and
the Initial Operating Subsidiaries will enter into an Omnibus Agreement (the “Omnibus
Agreement”) pursuant to which (A) EPOLP has agreed to indemnify the Partnership for certain
liabilities, (B) EPOLP has agreed to reimburse the Partnership for its 66% share of excess
expenditures, if any, relating to construction of the South Texas NGL Pipeline System and
additional brine production capacity and above-ground storage reservoirs at Mont Belvieu,
(C) EPOLP will have a right of first refusal on the equity interests of the current and
future Subsidiaries and their assets, and (D) EPOLP will have preemptive rights with respect
to certain issuances of equity by the Subsidiaries;
(vi) EPCO, Inc., Enterprise Products Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership
(“EPD”), and its general partner, Enterprise GP Holdings L.P. and its general partner, EPOLP
and its general partner, TEPPCO Partners, L.P. and its general partner, TE Products Pipeline
Company, Limited Partnership, TEPPCO Midstream Companies, L.P., TCTM, L.P., the Partnership
and the General Partner will enter into the Fourth Amended and Restated Administrative
Services Agreement (the “Administrative Services Agreement”) pursuant to which (A) EPCO,
Inc. will provide all necessary administrative, management, engineering and operating
services to the Partnership, (B) business opportunities will be allocated amongst the
parties, and (C) certain parameters will be established regarding the parties’ governance
structures;
(vii) the public offering of the Firm Units contemplated hereby will be consummated;
(viii) the Partnership will borrow approximately $200 million under the
Credit Facility;
(ix) the Partnership will distribute to EPOLP $198.9 million of borrowings under the
Credit Facility and approximately $224.5 million of the net proceeds of the public offering;
provided, the actual final amount of net proceeds so distributed shall be calculated as set
forth under “Use of Proceeds” in the Prospectus and in accordance with the Contribution
Agreement; and
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(x) the Partnership will contribute to the Operating Partnership (including 0.001% for
the benefit of OLPGP) its ownership interests in the Initial Operating Subsidiaries.
The transactions contemplated in the paragraphs above are referred to herein collectively as
the “Transactions.”
In connection with the Transactions, the parties to the Transactions have entered or will
enter into various bills of sale, assignments, conveyances, contribution agreements and related
documents (collectively with the Contribution Agreement, the South Texas Contribution Agreement and
the MB Contribution Agreement, the “Contribution Documents”). The “Transaction Documents” shall
mean the Contribution Documents, the Omnibus Agreement, the Administrative Services Agreement and
the Credit Facility. The “Organizational Documents” shall mean the Partnership Agreement, the GP
LLC Agreement, the OLPGP LLC Agreement, the Operating Partnership Agreement (as defined below) and
the Initial Operating Subsidiaries Formation Agreements. The “Operative Agreements” shall mean the
Transaction Documents, the Commercial Agreements and the Organizational Documents collectively.
The “Operating Partnership Agreement” shall mean the Agreement of Limited Partnership of the
Operating Partnership.
The DEP Parties wish to confirm as follows their agreement with you in connection with the
purchase of the Units from the Partnership by the Underwriters.
1. Representations, Warranties and Agreements of the DEP Parties. The DEP Parties jointly and
severally represent, warrant and agree that:
(a) Registration; Definitions; No Stop Order. A registration statement (Registration
No. 333-138371) on Form S-1 relating to the Units has (i) 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) been filed with the
Commission under the Securities Act; and (iii) become effective under the Securities Act.
Copies of such registration statement and any amendment thereto have been delivered by the
Partnership to you as the Representatives of the Underwriters (the “Representatives”). As
used in this Agreement:
(i) “Applicable Time” means 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on the date of this
Agreement, which the Underwriters have informed the Partnership and its counsel is a time
prior to the time of the first sale of the Units;
(ii) “Effective Date” means the date and time as of which the Registration Statement,
or any post-effective amendment or amendments thereto, was declared effective by the
Commission;
(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 Units;
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(iv) “Preliminary Prospectus” means any preliminary prospectus relating to the Units
included in the Registration Statement or filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 of
the Rules and Regulations;
(v) “Pricing Disclosure Package” means, as of the Applicable Time, the most recent
Preliminary Prospectus, together with the information set forth on Schedule IV
hereto and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus filed with the Commission or used by the
Partnership on or before the Applicable Time, other than a road show that is an Issuer Free
Writing Prospectus but is not required to be filed under Rule 433 of the Rules and
Regulations;
(vi) “Prospectus” means the final prospectus relating to the Units, 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-1 (File No.
333-138371) relating to the Units, as amended as of the Effective Date, including any
Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and all exhibits to such registration statement. Any
reference herein to the term “Registration Statement” shall be deemed to include the
abbreviated registration statement to register additional Common Units under Rule 462(b) of
the Rules and Regulations (the “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement”).
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 on or prior to the date hereof.
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 or examination for such purpose has been instituted or, to the knowledge of any of the
DEP Parties, threatened by the Commission.
(b) Partnership Not an “Ineligible Issuer.” The Partnership was not at the time of
initial filing of the Registration Statement and at the earliest time thereafter that the
Partnership or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of
Rule 164(h)(2) of the Rules and Regulations) of the Units, is not on the date hereof and
will not be on the applicable Delivery Date (as defined in Section 4), an “ineligible
issuer” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations).
(c) Registration Statement and Prospectus Conform to the Requirements of the Securities
Act. The Registration Statement conformed when filed and will conform in all material
respects on each of the Effective Date and the applicable Delivery Date, and any amendment
to the Registration Statement filed after the date hereof will conform in all material
respects when filed, to the 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) of
the Rules and Regulations and on the applicable Delivery Date, to the requirements of the
Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations.
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(d) No Material Misstatements or Omissions in Registration Statement. The Registration
Statement did not, as of the 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
Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which
information is specified in Section 8(e).
(e) No Material Misstatements or Omissions in Prospectus. The Prospectus will not, as
of its date and on the applicable Delivery 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 Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for
inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 8(e).
(f) No Material Misstatements or Omissions in Pricing Disclosure Package. The Pricing
Disclosure Package did not, as of the Applicable 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 Representatives by or on behalf of any
Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section
8(e).
(g) No Material Misstatements or Omissions in Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. 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 Applicable Time, did not contain an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary 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 any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity
with written information furnished to the Partnership through the Representatives by or on
behalf of any Underwriters specifically for inclusion therein, which information is
specified in Section 8(e).
(h) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses Conform to the Requirements of the Securities Act.
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 all prospectus delivery requirements, any filing
requirements and any record keeping requirements applicable to such Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus pursuant to the Rules and Regulations. The
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Partnership has not made any offer relating to the Units that would constitute an
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus without the prior written consent of the Representatives.
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
Units will not be required to be filed pursuant to the Rules and Regulations. Each Issuer
Free Writing Prospectus does not include any information that conflicts with the information
contained in the Registration Statement as of the Applicable Time.
(i) Formation, Qualification and Authority. Each of the Significant DEP Entities and
EPOLP has been duly formed or incorporated, as the case may be, is validly existing and is
in good standing under the laws of its respective jurisdiction of formation or
incorporation, as applicable, with all corporate, limited liability company or partnership,
as the case may be, power and authority necessary to own or hold its properties and conduct
the businesses in which it is engaged and, in the case of the General Partner and the OLPGP,
to act as general partner of the Partnership and the Operating Partnership, respectively, in
each case in all material respects as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing
Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. Each of the Significant DEP Entities is duly
registered or qualified to do business in and is in good standing as a foreign limited
partnership, limited liability company or corporation, as applicable, in each jurisdiction
in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such
qualification or registration, except where the failure to be so qualified or registered
could not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the condition
(financial or otherwise), securityholders’ equity, results of operations, properties,
business or prospects of the Partnership Entities taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse
Effect”), or subject the limited partners of the Partnership to any material liability or
disability.
(j) Ownership of General Partner. At each Delivery Date, EPOLP will own 100% of the
issued and outstanding membership interests in the General Partner; such membership
interests will be duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the GP LLC Agreement
and fully paid (to the extent required under the GP LLC Agreement) and non-assessable
(except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the
Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (the “Delaware LLC Act”)); and EPOLP will own such
membership interests free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, security interests, charges
or claims (“Liens”).
(k) Ownership of the General Partner Interest in the Partnership. At each Delivery
Date, the General Partner will be the sole general partner of the Partnership with a 2.0%
general partner interest in the Partnership; such general partner interest will be duly
authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Partnership Agreement; and the General
Partner will own such general partner interest free and clear of all Liens (except for
restrictions on transferability described in the Pricing Disclosure Package).
(l) Ownership of Sponsor Units by EPOLP. Assuming no purchase by the Underwriters of
Option Units on the Initial Delivery Date, at the Initial Delivery Date,
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after giving effect to the Transactions, EPOLP will own the Sponsor Units; the Sponsor
Units and the limited partner interests represented thereby will have been duly authorized
and validly issued in accordance with the Partnership Agreement and will be fully paid (to
the extent required under the Partnership Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such
nonassessability may be affected by Sections 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware Revised
Uniform Limited Partnership Act (the “Delaware LP Act”); and EPOLP will own the Sponsor
Units free and clear of all Liens.
(m) Valid Issuance of the Units. At the Initial Delivery Date or the Option Unit
Delivery Date (as defined in Section 4 hereof), as the case may be, the Firm Units or the
Option Units, as the case may be, and the limited partner interests represented thereby,
will be duly authorized in accordance with the Partnership Agreement and, when issued and
delivered to the Underwriters against payment therefor in accordance with this Agreement,
will be duly and validly issued, fully paid (to the extent required under the Partnership
Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections
17-607 or 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act). Other than the Sponsor Units, the Units will be
the only limited partner interests of the Partnership issued and outstanding at each
Delivery Date.
(n) Ownership of OLPGP. At each Delivery Date, the Partnership will own 100% of the
issued and outstanding membership interests in OLPGP; such membership interests will have
been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the OLPGP LLC Agreement and will
be fully paid (to the extent required under the OLPGP LLC Agreement) and non-assessable
(except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the
Delaware LLC Act); and the Partnership will own such membership interests free and clear of
all Liens (except for restrictions on transferability described in the Pricing Disclosure
Package, including under the Credit Facility).
(o) Ownership of the Operating Partnership. At each Delivery Date, (i) OLPGP will be
the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership with a 0.001% general partner interest
in the Operating Partnership; such general partner interest will have been duly authorized
and validly issued in accordance with the Operating Partnership Agreement; and OLPGP will
own such general partner interest free and clear of all Liens; and (ii) the Partnership will
be the sole limited partner of the Operating Partnership with a 99.999% limited partner
interest in the Operating Partnership; such limited partner interest will have been duly
authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Operating Partnership Agreement and
will be fully paid (to the extent required under the Operating Partnership Agreement) and
non-assessable (except as such non-assessability may be affected by Sections 17-607 and
17-804 of the Delaware LP Act); and the Partnership will own such limited partner interest
free and clear of all Liens (except for restrictions on transferability described in the
Pricing Disclosure Package, including under the Credit Facility).
(p) Ownership of the Initial Operating Subsidiaries. At each Delivery Date, the
Operating Partnership will own 66% of the limited liability company interests or partnership
interests, as the case may be, in each of the Initial Operating Subsidiaries free
9
and clear of all Liens, except for Liens described in the Pricing Disclosure Package,
including under the Omnibus Agreement. Such limited liability company interests or
partnership interests, as the case may be, will be duly authorized and validly issued in
accordance with the Initial Operating Subsidiaries Formation Agreements and will be fully
paid (to the extent required under the applicable Operating Subsidiaries Formation
Agreement) and non-assessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections
18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act, in the case of a Delaware limited liability
company, or Sections 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act, in the case of a Delaware
limited partnership).
(q) No Other Subsidiaries. Other than its ownership of its 2.0% general partner
interest in the Partnership, the General Partner does not own, and at each Delivery Date
will not own, directly or indirectly, any equity or long-term debt securities of any
corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association or other
entity. Other than (i) the Partnership’s ownership of a 99.999% limited partnership
interest in the Operating Partnership and a 100% membership interest in OLPGP, and (ii) the
Operating Partnership’s 66% ownership of the outstanding membership interests or partnership
interests, as the case may be, in each of the Initial Operating Subsidiaries, neither the
Partnership nor the Operating Partnership owns, and at each Delivery Date will directly own,
any equity or long-term debt securities of any corporation, partnership, limited liability
company, joint venture, association or other entity. None of the Subsidiaries has, or will
have at each Delivery Date, any subsidiaries which, individually or considered as a whole,
would 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).
(r) No Preemptive Rights, Registration Rights or Options. Except as identified in the
most recent Preliminary Prospectus (including the rights of EPOLP under the Omnibus
Agreement), 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 interests in of any
of the Significant DEP Entities or (ii) outstanding options or warrants to purchase any
securities of any of the Significant DEP Entities. Except for such rights that have been
waived or complied with, none of the filing of the Registration Statement, the consummation
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Operative Agreements (including
the Transactions), 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 Common Units or other
securities of any of the Significant DEP Entities.
(s) Authority and Authorization. The Partnership has all requisite partnership power
and authority to issue, sell and deliver the (i) the Units, in accordance with and upon the
terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Partnership Agreement, the most recent
Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and (ii) the Sponsor Units, in accordance with and
upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Partnership Agreement and the Contribution
Agreement. Each of the DEP Parties has all requisite right, power and authority to execute
and deliver the Underwriting Agreement and to perform its respective obligations thereunder.
At each Delivery Date, all corporate, partnership and limited liability company action, as
the case may be, required to be taken
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by any of the Partnership Entities or any of their respective unitholders,
stockholders, members or partners for the authorization, issuance, sale and delivery of the
Units, the execution and delivery of the Operative Agreements and the consummation of the
transactions (including the Transactions) contemplated by this Agreement and the Operative
Agreements, shall have been validly taken.
(t) Authorization, Execution and Delivery of this Agreement. This Agreement has been
duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by each of the DEP Parties.
(u) Authorization, Execution, Delivery and Enforceability of Certain Agreements. At
each Delivery Date:
(i) The Transaction Documents will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
the parties thereto and each will be a valid and legally binding agreement of the parties
thereto, enforceable against such parties in accordance with its terms;
(ii) The Commercial Agreements will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered
by the parties thereto and each will be a valid and legally binding agreement of the parties
thereto, enforceable against such parties in accordance with its terms;
(iii) the Partnership Agreement will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered
by the General Partner and EPOLP and will be a valid and legally binding agreement of the
General Partner and EPOLP, enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms;
(iv) the GP LLC Agreement will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
EPOLP and will be a valid and legally binding agreement, enforceable against EPOLP in
accordance with its terms;
(v) the OLPGP LLC Agreement will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
the Partnership and will be a valid and legally binding agreement, enforceable against the
Partnership in accordance with its terms;
(vi) the Operating Partnership Agreement will have been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Partnership and the OLPGP and will be a valid and legally binding agreement
of the Partnership and the OLPGP, enforceable against each of them in accordance with its
terms;
(vii) the Initial Operating Subsidiaries Formation Agreements will have been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto and each will be a valid and
legally binding agreement of the parties thereto, enforceable against such parties in
accordance with its terms;
provided, however, that, with respect to each agreement described in this Section 1(u), the
enforceability thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer or
conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’
11
rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); and provided further that the indemnity,
contribution and exoneration provisions contained in any such agreements may be limited by
applicable laws relating to fiduciary duties, public policy and an implied covenant of good faith
and fair dealing.
(v) Sufficiency of the Contribution Documents. The Contribution Documents will be
legally sufficient (i) to transfer or convey to the Partnership all equity interests in the
Initial Operating Subsidiaries as contemplated by the Pricing Disclosure Package and the
Prospectus and (ii) to transfer or convey to the applicable Subsidiaries all properties not
already held by them that are, individually or in the aggregate, required to enable the
Initial Operating Subsidiaries to conduct their operations in all material respects as
contemplated by the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, in each case subject to
the conditions, reservations and limitations contained in the Contribution Documents and
those set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The Operating
Partnership and the Subsidiaries, as the case may be, upon execution and delivery of the
Contribution Documents, will succeed in all material respects to the business, assets,
properties, liabilities and operations reflected by the pro forma financial statements of
the Partnership, except as disclosed in the Prospectus and the Contribution Documents.
(w) No Conflicts. None of (i) the offering, issuance and sale by the Partnership of
the Units and the application of the proceeds from the sale of the Units as described under
“Use of Proceeds” in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, (ii) the execution, delivery
and performance of this Agreement or the Operative Agreements by the DEP Parties party
hereto or thereto or (iii) the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby (including the Transactions) (A) conflicts or will conflict with or constitutes or
will constitute a violation of the partnership agreement, limited liability company
agreement, certificate of formation or conversion, certificate or articles of incorporation,
bylaws or other constituent document 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 (other than Liens created pursuant to the Credit Facility), which
conflicts, breaches, violations, defaults or Liens, in the case of clauses (B), (C) or (D),
would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect or materially impair
the ability of any of the DEP Parties to consummate the transactions (including the
Transactions) provided for in this Agreement or the Operative Agreements.
(x) 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 is required in connection with (i)
12
the offering, issuance or sale by the Partnership of the Units, (ii) the application of
the proceeds therefrom as described under “Use of Proceeds” in the most recent Preliminary
Prospectus, (iii) the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the Operative Agreements
by the DEP Parties party hereto or thereto and consummation by such DEP Parties of the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including the Transactions), except for (i)
consents, approvals and similar authorizations as may be required under the Securities Act,
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and state securities
or “Blue Sky” laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Units by the
Underwriters, (ii) such consents that have been, or prior to any such Delivery Date will be,
obtained, (iii) such consents that, if not obtained, would not have a Material Adverse
Effect and (iv) with respect to the transactions contemplated by the South Texas
Contribution Agreement and the MB Contribution Agreement only, which (A) are of a routine or
administrative nature, (B) are not customarily obtained or made prior to the consummation of
transactions such as those contemplated by this Agreement and (C) are expected in the
reasonable judgment of the General Partner to be obtained within a reasonable period
following the Initial Delivery Date.
(y) No Defaults. None of the Significant DEP Entities (i) is in violation of its
certificate of limited partnership, agreement of limited partnership, limited liability
company agreement, certificate of incorporation or bylaws or other organizational documents,
(ii) is in violation of any law, statute, ordinance, administrative or governmental rule or
regulation applicable to it or of any decree of any court or governmental agency or body
having jurisdiction over it, or (iii) is in 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 bond, debenture, note or any other
evidence of indebtedness or in any agreement, indenture, lease or other instrument to which
it is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound, which breach, default or
violation, in the case of clause (ii) or (iii), would, if continued, reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect or could materially impair the ability of any of the DEP
Parties to perform their obligations under this Agreement or the Operative Agreements.
(z) Conformity of Units to Description in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and
Prospectus. The Units, when issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the
Partnership Agreement and this Agreement against payment therefor as provided therein and
herein, will conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the
Registration Statement, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus.
(aa) No Material Adverse Change. None of the Partnership Entities has sustained, since
the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the most recent Preliminary
Prospectus, any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other
calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or
governmental action, order or decree , and since such date, there has not been any change in
the capitalization or increase in the long-term debt of any of the Partnership Entities or
any adverse change in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), results of
operations, securityholders’ equity, properties, management or
13
business of the Partnership Entities taken as a whole, in each case except as could
not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
(bb) Conduct of Business. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the
most recent Preliminary Prospectus, since the date as of which information is given in the
most recent Preliminary Prospectus, none of the Partnership Entities has (i) incurred any
liability or obligation, direct or contingent, that, individually or in the aggregate, is
material to the Partnership Entities taken as a whole, other than liabilities and
obligations that were incurred in the ordinary course of business, (ii) entered into any
transaction not in the ordinary course of business that, individually or in the aggregate,
is material to the Partnership Entities taken as a whole, or (iii) declared, paid or made
any dividend or distribution on any class of security other than distributions of cash by
the Initial Operating Subsidiaries prior to the effective time of contribution to the
Partnership pursuant to the Contribution Agreement.
(cc) Financial Statements. The historical financial statements (including the related
notes and supporting schedules) included in the Registration Statement and most recent
Preliminary Prospectus (i) comply in all material respects with the requirements under the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act, (ii) 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 at the dates or for the periods indicated, and
(iii) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States consistently applied throughout the periods involved. The summary historical
and pro forma financial and operating data included in the most recent Preliminary
Prospectus under the caption “Summary—Summary Historical and Pro Forma Financial and
Operating Data” in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the selected historical and
pro forma financial and operating data set forth under the caption “Selected Historical and
Pro Forma Financial and Operating Data” included in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus
are fairly presented in all material respects and prepared on a basis consistent with the
audited and unaudited historical financial statements and pro forma financial statements, as
applicable, from which they have been derived. The other financial information of the
General Partner and the Partnership and its subsidiaries, including non-GAAP financial
measures, if any, contained in the Registration Statement and the most recent Preliminary
Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement thereto) has been derived from the accounting
records of the General Partner, the Partnership and its subsidiaries, and fairly presents
the information purported to be shown thereby.
(dd) Pro Forma Financial Statements. The pro forma financial statements included in
the most recent Preliminary Prospectus include assumptions that provide a reasonable basis
for presenting the significant effects directly attributable to the transactions and events
described therein, the related pro forma adjustments give appropriate effect to those
assumptions, and the pro forma adjustments reflect the proper application of those
adjustments to the historical financial statement amounts in the pro forma financial
statements included in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus. The pro forma financial
statements included in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus comply as
14
to form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of Regulation S-X
under the Securities Act.
(ee) Statistical and Market-Related Data. The statistical and market-related data
included under the captions “Prospectus Summary,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Business” in the most recent Preliminary
Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the DEP Parties believe to be reliable
and accurate in all material respects.
(ff) Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. Deloitte & Touche LLP, who has
audited the audited financial statements contained in the Registration Statement and the
most recent Preliminary Prospectus, whose reports appear in the most recent Preliminary
Prospectus and the Prospectus and who has delivered the initial letter referred to in
Section 7(g) hereof, is, and were during the periods covered by the financial statements
covered by such reports, an independent registered public accounting firm within the meaning
of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder adopted by the
Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (the “PCAOB”).
(gg) Title to Properties. At each Delivery Date, each Partnership Entity will have
good and indefeasible title to all its interests in real property, subject to recordation of
individual conveyances and assignments, and good title to all its personal property
(excluding easements or rights-of-way), in each case free and clear of all Liens except (i)
as described, and subject to the limitations contained, in the Prospectus, (ii) as do not
materially affect the value of such property taken as a whole and 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 Prospectus, (iii) could
not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (iv) are described, and
subject to the limitations contained in, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus; 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 Prospectus and are proposed to be used in the future as described in the
Prospectus.
(hh) Rights-of-Way. At each Delivery Date, each of the Partnership Entities will have
such consents, easements, rights-of-way or licenses from any person (collectively,
“rights-of-way”) as are necessary to conduct its business in the manner described in the
most recent Preliminary Prospectus, subject to such qualifications as may be set forth in
the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and except for such rights-of-way the failure of
which to have obtained, would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse
effect upon the ability of the Partnership Entities, taken as a whole, to conduct their
businesses in all material respects as currently conducted; at each Delivery Date, each
Partnership Entity will have fulfilled and performed all its material obligations with
respect to such rights-of-way and no event has occurred which allows, or after notice or
lapse of time would allow, revocation or termination thereof or would result in
15
any impairment of the rights of the holder of any such rights-of-way, except for such
revocations, terminations and impairments that will not have a material adverse effect upon
the ability of the Partnership Entities, taken as a whole, to conduct their businesses in
all material respects as currently conducted, subject in each case to such qualification as
may be set forth in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus; and, except as described in the
most recent Preliminary Prospectus, none of such rights-of-way will contain any restriction
that is materially burdensome to the Partnership Entities, taken as a whole.
(ii) Permits. Each of the Partnership Entities has such permits, consents, licenses,
franchises, certificates and authorizations of governmental or regulatory authorities
(“permits”) as are necessary to own or lease its properties and to conduct its business in
the manner described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, subject to such
qualifications as may be set forth in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and except for
such consents (i) which if not obtained, would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect or (ii) with respect to the transactions contemplated by the South
Texas Contribution Agreement and the MB Contribution Agreement only, which (A) are of a
routine or administrative nature, (B) are not customarily obtained or made prior to the
consummation of transactions such as those contemplated by this Agreement and (C) are
expected in the reasonable judgment of the General Partner to be obtained within a
reasonable period following the Initial Delivery Date; each of the Partnership Entities has
fulfilled and performed all its material obligations with respect to such permits in the
manner described, and subject to the limitations contained in the most recent Preliminary
Prospectus, and no event has occurred that would prevent the permits from being renewed or
reissued or that allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation or
termination thereof or results or would result in any impairment of the rights of the holder
of any such permit, except for such non-renewals, non-issues, revocations, terminations and
impairments that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect. None of the Partnership Entities has received notification of any revocation or
modification of any such permit or has any reason to believe that any such permit will not
be renewed in the ordinary course.
(jj) Environmental Compliance. Except as described in the most recent Preliminary
Prospectus, each of DEP Parties, with respect to the assets to be owned or leased by the
Partnership Entities at the Initial Delivery Date, (i) is, and at all times prior hereto
was, in compliance with any and all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations
relating to the protection of human health and safety and 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, (iii) is in compliance with all
terms and conditions of any such permits and (iv) has not received notice of any actual or
alleged violation of Environmental Law and does not have any potential 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 could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect. The term “Hazardous Material” means (A) any “hazardous substance”
as defined in the Comprehensive
16
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 other Environmental Law.
(kk) Insurance. The DEP Parties, with respect to the assets to be owned or leased by
the Partnership Entities at the Initial Delivery Date, maintain insurance covering their
properties, operations, personnel and businesses against such losses and risks as are
reasonably adequate to protect them and their businesses in a manner consistent with other
businesses similarly situated. None of the Partnership Entities has received notice from
any insurer or agent of such insurer that material capital improvements or other material
expenditures will have to be made in order to continue such insurance, and all such
insurance is outstanding and duly in force on the date hereof and will be outstanding and
duly in force on each Delivery Date.
(ll) Intellectual Property. Each of DEP Parties, with respect to the assets to be
owned or leased by the Partnership Entities at the Initial Delivery Date, owns or possesses
adequate rights to use all material patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks,
trade names, trademark registrations, service xxxx registrations, copyrights, licenses and
know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or
confidential information, systems or procedures) necessary for the conduct of their
respective businesses; and the conduct of their respective businesses will not conflict in
any material respect with, and no DEP Party has received any notice of any claim of conflict
with, any such rights of others.
(mm) Litigation. Except as described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, 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 DEP 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 reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (B) prevent or result in the suspension of the
offering and issuance of the Units, or (C) in any manner draw into question the validity of
this Agreement.
(nn) Related Party Transactions. No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between
or among the Partnership Entities on the one hand, and the directors, officers, partners,
customers or suppliers of the General Partner and its affiliates (other than the Partnership
Entities) on the other hand, which is required to be described in the most recent
Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus and which is not so described.
17
(oo) No Labor Disputes. No labor dispute with the employees that are engaged in the
business of the Partnership or its subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the DEP
Parties, is imminent or threatened that is reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse
Effect.
(pp) Tax Returns. Each of the Partnership Entities has filed (or has obtained
extensions with respect to) all material federal, state, local and foreign income and
franchise tax returns required to be filed through the date hereof, which returns are
complete and correct in all material respects, and has timely paid all taxes due thereon,
other than those (i) which are being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves
have been established in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or (ii)
which, if not paid, would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(qq) No Omitted Descriptions; Legal Proceedings. There are no legal or governmental
proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the DEP Parties, threatened or contemplated,
against any of the Partnership Entities, or to which any of the Partnership Entities is a
party, or to which any of their respective properties or assets is subject, that are
required to be described in the Registration Statement or the most recent Preliminary
Prospectus but are not described as required, and there are no agreements, contracts,
indentures, leases or other instruments that are required to be described in the
Registration Statement or the most recent Preliminary Prospectus or to be filed as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement that are not described or filed as required by the
Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations or the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations
thereunder. The statements included in the Registration Statement and the most recent
Preliminary Prospectus under the headings “Description of Our Common Units,” “Cash
Distribution Policy and Restrictions on Distributions,” “Description of Material Provisions
of Our Partnership Agreement,” “Material Tax Consequences,” “Business,” “Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition,” and “Certain Relationships and Related
Party Transactions,” insofar as such statements summarize legal matters, agreements,
documents or proceedings discussed therein, are accurate and fair summaries of such legal
matters, agreements, documents or proceedings.
(rr) Books and Records. The Partnership Entities and Xxxxxx Energy Partners
Predecessor (as defined in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus) (i) make and keep books,
records and accounts that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the
transactions and dispositions of assets, and (ii) maintain systems of internal accounting
controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (A) transactions are executed in
accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (B) transactions are
recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and to maintain
accountability for assets; (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with
management’s general or specific authorization; and (D) the recorded accountability for
assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is
taken with respect to any differences.
18
(ss) Disclosure Controls and Procedures. (i) The Partnership Entities have established
and maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15
under the Exchange Act), (ii) such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure
that the information required to be disclosed by the Partnership in the reports it files or
will file or submit under the Exchange Act, as applicable, is accumulated and communicated
to management of the Partnership Entities, including their respective principal executive
officers and principal financial officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions
regarding required disclosure to be made and (iii) such disclosure controls and procedures
are effective in all material respects to perform the functions for which they were
established.
(tt) No Changes in Internal Controls. Since the date of the most recent balance sheet
of Xxxxxx Energy Partners Predecessor audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, (i) neither EPD nor
any of the Partnership Entities has been advised of (A) any significant deficiencies in the
design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting that are reasonably likely
to adversely affect the ability of the Partnership Entities to record, process, summarize
and report financial data, or any material weaknesses in internal controls over financial
reporting affecting any of the Partnership Entities, or (B) any fraud, whether or not
material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the
internal controls over financial reporting of EPD or any of the Partnership Entities, and
(ii) since that date, there have been no significant changes in the internal controls of EPD
or any of the Partnership Entities that materially affected or are reasonably likely to
materially affect any internal controls over financial reporting relating to any of the
Partnership Entities.
(uu) Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002. There is and has been no failure on the part of the
Partnership and any of the General Partner’s directors or officers, in their capacities as
such, to comply with the provisions of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002 and the rules and
regulations promulgated in connection therewith.
(vv) Directed Unit Sales. None of the Directed Units distributed in connection with
the Directed Unit Program (each as defined in Section 3) will be offered or sold outside of
the United States. The Partnership has not offered, or caused Xxxxxx Brothers Inc. to
offer, Units to any person pursuant to the Directed Unit Program with the specific intent to
unlawfully influence (i) a customer or supplier of any of the Partnership Entities to alter
the customer’s or supplier’s level or type of business with any such entity or (ii) a trade
journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about any of the
Partnership Entities, or their respective businesses or products.
(ww) No Distribution of Other Offering Materials. None of the Partnership Entities has
distributed and, prior to the later to occur of any Delivery Date and completion of the
distribution of the Units, will distribute any offering material in connection with the
offering and sale of the Units other than any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to which the Representatives have consented in accordance
with Section 1(h) or 5(a)(v), any other materials, if any, permitted by the Securities Act,
including Rule 134, and, in connection with the Directed
19
Unit Program described in Section 3, the enrollment materials prepared by Xxxxxx
Brothers Inc.
(xx) Market Stabilization. None of the General Partner, the Partnership or any of
their affiliates has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or which has
constituted or which would reasonably be expected to cause or result, under the Exchange Act
or otherwise, in stabilization or manipulation of the price of any securities of the
Partnership or to facilitate the sale or resale of the Units.
(yy) Listing on the New York Stock Exchange. The Units have been approved for listing
on the New York Stock Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance.
(zz) Investment Company. None of the Partnership Entities is now, or after sale of the
Units to be sold by the Partnership hereunder and application of the net proceeds from such
sale as described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus under the caption “Use of
Proceeds” will be, an “investment company” or a company “controlled by” an “investment
company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
“Investment Company Act”), and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
(aaa) Private Placement. The sale and issuance of the Sponsor Units to EPOLP are
exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, the Rules and Regulations
and the securities laws of any state having jurisdiction with respect thereto, and none of
the Partnership Entities has taken or will take any action that would cause the loss of such
exemption. The Partnership has not sold or issued any securities that would be integrated
with the offering of the Units contemplated by this Agreement pursuant to the Securities
Act, the Rules and Regulations or the interpretations thereof by the Commission.
(bbb) Critical Accounting Policies. The section entitled “Management’s Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Critical Accounting Policies
and Estimates” in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus accurately and fully describes (A)
the accounting policies that the Partnership believes are the most important in the
portrayal of the financial condition and results of operations of the Partnership and Xxxxxx
Energy Partners Predecessor and that require management’s most difficult, subjective or
complex judgments; (B) the judgments and uncertainties affecting the application of critical
accounting policies; and (C) the likelihood that materially different amounts would be
reported under different conditions or using different assumptions and an explanation
thereof.
(ccc) No Foreign Operations. None of the Partnership Entities conducts business
operations outside the United States.
Any certificate signed by any officer of the DEP Parties and delivered to the Representatives
or counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the offering of the Units shall be deemed a
representation and warranty by such entity, as to matters covered thereby, to each Underwriter.
20
2. Purchase of the Units by the Underwriters. On the basis of the representations and
warranties contained in, and subject to the terms and conditions of, this Agreement, the
Partnership agrees to sell the Firm Units to the several Underwriters, and each of the
Underwriters, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase the number of Firm Units set forth
opposite that Underwriter’s name in Schedule I hereto. The respective purchase obligations of the
Underwriters with respect to the Firm Units shall be rounded among the Underwriters to avoid
fractional Units, as the Representatives may determine.
In addition, the Partnership grants to the Underwriters an option to purchase up to 1,950,000
Option Units. Such option (the “Option”) is exercisable in the event that the Underwriters sell
more Common Units than the number of Firm Units in the offering and as set forth in Section 4
hereof. Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase the number of Option Units
(subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional Units as the Representatives may determine)
that bears the same proportion to the total number of Option Units to be sold on such Delivery Date
as the number of Firm Units set forth in Schedule I hereto opposite the name of such Underwriter
bears to the total number of Firm Units.
The price of the Firm Units and any Option Units purchased by the Underwriters shall be $19.74
per Common Unit.
The Partnership shall not be obligated to deliver any of the Firm Units or Option Units to be
delivered on the applicable Delivery Date, except upon payment for all such Units to be purchased
on such Delivery Date as provided herein.
3. Offering of Units by the Underwriters. Upon authorization by the Representatives of the
release of the Firm Units, the several Underwriters propose to offer the Firm Units for sale upon
the terms and conditions to be set forth in the Prospectus.
It is understood that 650,000 Firm Units (the “Directed Units”) initially will be reserved by
the several Underwriters for offer and sale upon the terms and conditions to be set forth in the
most recent Preliminary Prospectus and in accordance with the rules and regulations of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the “NASD”) to directors, officers and employees of the
General Partner and its affiliates (“Directed Unit Participants”) who have heretofore delivered to
Xxxxxx Brothers Inc. offers to purchase Firm Units in form satisfactory to Xxxxxx Brothers Inc.
(such program, the “Directed Unit Program”) and that any allocation of such Firm Units among such
persons will be made in accordance with timely directions received by Xxxxxx Brothers Inc. from the
Partnership; provided that under no circumstances will Xxxxxx Brothers Inc. or any Underwriter be
liable to the Partnership or to any such person for any action taken or omitted in good faith in
connection with such Directed Unit Program. It is further understood that any Directed Units not
affirmatively reconfirmed for purchase by any participant in the Directed Unit Program by 9:00
a.m., New York City time, on the first business day following the date hereof or otherwise are not
purchased by such persons will be offered by the Underwriters to the public upon the terms and
conditions set forth in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus.
21
The Partnership agrees to pay all fees and disbursements incurred by the Underwriters in
connection with the Directed Unit Program and any stamp duties or other taxes incurred by the
Underwriters in connection with the Directed Unit Program.
4. Delivery of and Payment for the Units. Delivery of and payment for the Firm Units shall be
made at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on February 5, 2007 or at such other date or place as shall
be determined by agreement between the Representatives and the Partnership. This date and time are
sometimes referred to as the “Initial Delivery Date.” Delivery of the Firm Units shall be made to
the Representatives for the account of each Underwriter against payment by the several Underwriters
through the Representatives and of the respective aggregate purchase prices of the Firm Units being
sold by the Partnership to or upon the order of the Partnership of the purchase price by wire
transfer in immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Partnership. Time shall
be of the essence, and delivery at the time and place specified pursuant to this Agreement is a
further condition of the obligation of each Underwriter hereunder. The Partnership shall deliver
the Firm Units through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company unless the Representatives
shall otherwise instruct.
The Option granted in Section 2 will expire 30 days after the date of this Agreement and may
be exercised in whole or from time to time in part by written notice being given to the Partnership
by the Representatives; provided that if such date falls on a day that is not a business day, the
Option granted in Section 2 will expire on the next succeeding business day. Such notice shall set
forth the aggregate number of Option Units as to which the option is being exercised, the names in
which the Option Units are to be registered, the denominations in which the Option Units are to be
issued and the date and time, as determined by the Representatives, when the Option Units are to be
delivered; provided, however, that this date and time shall not be earlier than the Initial
Delivery Date nor earlier than the second business day after the date on which the Option shall
have been exercised nor later than the fifth business day after the date on which the Option shall
have been exercised. Each date and time the Option Units are delivered is sometimes referred to as
an “Option Unit Delivery Date,” and the Initial Delivery Date and any Option Unit Delivery Date are
sometimes each referred to as a “Delivery Date.”
Delivery of the Option Units by the Partnership and payment for the Option Units by the
several Underwriters through the Representatives shall be made at 10:00 A.M., New York City time,
on the date specified in the corresponding notice described in the preceding paragraph or at such
other date or place as shall be determined by agreement between the Representatives and the
Partnership. On the Option Unit Delivery Date, the Partnership shall deliver or cause to be
delivered the Option Units to the Representatives for the account of each Underwriter against
payment by the several Underwriters through the Representatives and of the respective aggregate
purchase prices of the Option Units being sold by the Partnership to or upon the order of the
Partnership of the purchase price by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the accounts
specified by the Partnership. Time shall be of the essence, and delivery at the time and place
specified pursuant to this Agreement is a further condition of the obligation of each Underwriter
hereunder. The Partnership shall deliver the Option Units through the facilities of Depository
Trust Company unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct.
22
5. Further Agreements of the DEP Parties and the Underwriters.
(a) Each of the DEP Parties, jointly and severally, covenants and agrees to cause the
Partnership:
(i) Preparation of Prospectus and Registration Statement. To prepare the Prospectus in
a form approved by the Representatives and to file such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b)
of the Rules and Regulations within the time period prescribed by the rule; to make no
further amendment or any supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus prior to
the last Delivery Date except as provided herein; to advise the Representatives, promptly
after it receives notice thereof, of the time when any amendment or supplement to the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus has been filed and to furnish the Representatives
with copies thereof; to advise the Representatives, promptly after it receives notice
thereof, of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of any order preventing or
suspending the use of the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, of the
suspension of the qualification of the Units for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of
the initiation or threatening of any proceeding or examination for any such purpose or of
any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the Registration
Statement, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or for additional
information; and, in the event of the issuance of any stop order or of any order preventing
or suspending the use of the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or suspending
any such qualification, to use promptly its best efforts to obtain its withdrawal;
(ii) Signed Copies of Registration Statement. To furnish promptly to the
Representatives and to counsel for the Underwriters, upon request, a signed copy of the
Registration Statement as originally filed with the Commission, and each amendment thereto
filed with the Commission, including all consents and exhibits filed therewith;
(iii) Copies of Documents to Underwriters. To deliver promptly to the Representatives
such number of the following documents as the Representatives shall reasonably request: (A)
conformed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed with the Commission and
each amendment thereto (in each case excluding exhibits other than this Agreement), (B) each
Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and any amended or supplemented Prospectus and (C)
each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus; and, if the delivery of a prospectus is required at any
time after the date hereof in connection with the offering or sale of the Units or any other
securities relating thereto and if at such time any events shall have occurred as a result
of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of
a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made when such Prospectus
is delivered, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary to amend or
supplement the Prospectus in order to comply with the Securities Act, to notify the
Representatives and, upon its request, to file such document and to prepare and furnish
without charge to each Underwriter and to any dealer in securities as many copies as the
Representatives may from time to time reasonably request of an amended or supplemented
Prospectus that will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance;
23
(iv) Filing of Amendment or Supplement. To file promptly with the Commission any
amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus that may, in the
judgment of the Partnership or the Representatives, be required by the Securities Act or
requested by the Commission; prior to filing with the Commission any amendment or supplement
to the Registration Statement or to the Prospectus, to furnish a copy thereof to the
Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters and obtain the consent of the
Representatives to the filing, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld and which,
if to be so provided, shall be provided to the Partnership promptly after having been given
notice of the proposed filing;
(v) Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. Not to make any offer relating to the Units that
would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus without the prior written consent of the
Representatives, not to be unreasonably withheld; to comply with all applicable requirements
of Rule 433 of the Rules and Regulations with respect to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus;
to retain in accordance with the Rules and Regulations all Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses
not required to be filed pursuant to the Rules and Regulations; and if at any time after the
date hereof any events shall have occurred as a result of which any Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, would conflict with the information in the
Registration Statement, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or would
include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary
in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary to amend or
supplement any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, to notify the Representatives and, upon its
request, to file such document and to prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter
as many copies as the Representatives may from time to time reasonably request of an amended
or supplemented Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that will correct such conflict, statement or
omission or effect such compliance;
(vi) Reports to Security Holders. As soon as practicable after the Effective Date (it
being understood that the Partnership shall have until at least 410 or, if the fourth
quarter following the fiscal quarter that includes the Effective Date is the last fiscal
quarter of the Partnership’s fiscal year, 455 days after the end of the Partnership’s
current fiscal quarter), to make generally available to the Partnership’s security holders
and to deliver to the Representatives an earnings statement of the Partnership and its
subsidiaries (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act
and the Rules and Regulations (including, at the option of the Partnership, Rule 158);
(vii) Qualifications. Promptly from time to time to take such action as the
Representatives may reasonably request to qualify the Units for offering and sale under the
securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may request and to comply with
such laws so as to permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such
jurisdictions for as long as may be necessary to complete the distribution of the Units;
provided that in connection therewith the Partnership shall not be required to (i) qualify
as a foreign limited partnership in any jurisdiction in which it would not otherwise be
required to so qualify, (ii) file a general consent to service of process in any
24
such jurisdiction or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any jurisdiction in which it
would not otherwise be subject;
(viii) Lock-Up Period; Lock-Up Letters. For a period commencing on the date hereof and
ending on the 180th day after the date of the Prospectus (the “Lock-Up Period”), not to,
directly or indirectly, (1) offer for sale, sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of (or enter
into any transaction or device that is designed to, or could be expected to, result in the
disposition by any person at any time in the future of) any other Common Units or securities
convertible into or exchangeable for Common Units (other than the Units and Common Units
issued pursuant to employee benefit plans, option plans or other employee compensation plans
existing on the date hereof), or sell or grant options, rights or warrants with respect to
any Common Units or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Units (other than
the grant of options or restricted units pursuant to plans existing on the date hereof), (2)
enter into any swap or other derivatives transaction that transfers to another, in whole or
in part, any of the economic benefits or risks of ownership of such Common Units, whether
any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of
Common Units or other securities, in cash or otherwise, (3) file or cause to be filed a
registration statement, including any amendments, with respect to the registration of any
Common Units or securities convertible, exercisable or exchangeable into Common Units or any
other securities of the Partnership (other than any registration statement on Form S-8) or
(4) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing, in each case without the
prior written consent of the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters, and to cause
EPOLP and the executive officers and directors of the General Partner to furnish to the
Representatives, prior to the Initial Delivery Date, an executed letter or letters,
substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto (the “Lock-Up Agreements”); notwithstanding
the foregoing, if (1) during the last 17 days of the Lock-Up Period, the Partnership issues
an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to the Partnership occurs
or (2) prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, the Partnership announces that it will
release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the Lock-Up
Period, then the restrictions imposed in this Section 5(a)(viii) shall continue to apply
until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release
or the announcement of the material news or the occurrence of the material event, unless the
Representatives, on behalf of the Underwriters, waives such extension in writing;
(ix) Directed Unit Program. In connection with the Directed Unit Program, to ensure
that the Directed Units will be restricted from sale, transfer, assignment, pledge or
hypothecation to the same extent provided for in Section 5(a)(viii), and the Representatives
will notify the Partnership as to which Directed Unit Participants will need to be so
restricted. At the request of the Representatives, the Partnership will direct the transfer
agent to place stop-transfer restrictions upon such securities for such period of time as is
consistent with Section 5(a)(viii); and
(x) Application of Proceeds. To apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Units
being sold by the Partnership as set forth in the Prospectus.
25
(b) Each Underwriter severally agrees that such Underwriter shall not include any
“issuer information” (as defined in Rule 433 of the Rules and Regulations) in any “free
writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations) used or referred
to by such Underwriter without the prior consent of the Partnership (any such issuer
information with respect to whose use the Partnership has given its consent, “Permitted
Issuer Information”) provided that (i) no such consent shall be required with respect to any
such issuer information contained in any document filed by the Partnership with the
Commission prior to the use of such free writing prospectus and (ii) “issuer information,”
as used in this Section 5(b), shall not be deemed to include information prepared by or on
behalf of such Underwriter on the basis of or derived from Permitted Issuer Information or
issuer information referred to in clause (i).
6. Expenses. Each of the DEP Parties covenants and agrees, jointly and severally, whether or
not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is
terminated, that the DEP Parties will pay or cause to be paid all costs, expenses, fees and taxes
incident to and in connection with (a) the authorization, issuance, sale and delivery of the Units,
and the preparation, printing, authentication, issuance and delivery of certificates for the Units,
including any stamp or transfer taxes in connection with the original issuance and sale of the
Units; (b) the preparation, printing and filing under the Securities Act of the Registration
Statement (including any exhibits thereto), any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer
Free Writing Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto; (c) the distribution of the
Registration Statement (including any exhibits thereto), any Preliminary Prospectus, the
Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, all as
provided in this Agreement; (d) services provided by the transfer agent or registrar; (e) the
production and distribution of this Agreement, any supplemental agreement among Underwriters, and
any other related documents in connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the
Units; (f) any required review by the NASD of the terms of sale of the Units; (g) the listing of
the Units on the New York Stock Exchange or any other exchange; (h) the qualification of the Units
under the securities laws of the several jurisdictions as provided in Section 5(a)(vii)) and the
preparation, printing and distribution of a Blue Sky Memorandum (including related fees and
expenses of counsel to the Underwriters); (i) the offer and sale of the Units by the Underwriters
in connection with the Directed Unit Program, including the fees and disbursements of counsel to
the Underwriters related thereto, the costs and expenses of preparation, printing and distribution
of the Directed Unit Program material and all stamp duties or other taxes incurred by the
Underwriters in connection with the Directed Unit Program; (j) the investor presentations on any
“road show” undertaken in connection with the marketing of the Units, including, without
limitation, expenses associated with any electronic road show, travel and lodging expenses of the
Representatives and officers of the General Partner, half of the cost of any aircraft that is
chartered in connection with the road show; and (l) all other costs and expenses incident to the
performance of the obligations of the Partnership under this Agreement; provided that, except as
provided in this Section 6 and in Section 11, the Underwriters shall pay their own costs and
expenses, including the costs and expenses of their counsel, any transfer taxes on the Units that
they may sell and the expenses of advertising any offering of the Units made by the Underwriters.
The Underwriters shall reimburse the Partnership for certain expenses that are incurred by the
Partnership in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including from the
sale of any Option Units) in an amount of up to the lesser of $546,000 or the actual expenses
incurred by the Partnership, in each case as such expenses are
26
evidenced by a written invoice provided to the Representatives. Such reimbursement may be
made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to such account or accounts designated by the
Partnership or such other method as agreed to by the Representatives and Partnership following
delivery of reasonably satisfactory documentation of such expenses to the Representatives.
7. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations. The respective obligations of the Underwriters
hereunder are subject to the accuracy, when made and on each Delivery Date, of the representations
and warranties of the DEP Parties contained herein, to the performance by the DEP Parties of their
respective obligations hereunder, and to each of the following additional terms and conditions:
(a) The Prospectus shall have been timely filed with the Commission in accordance with
Section 5(a)(i); the DEP Parties shall have complied with all filing requirements applicable
to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus used or referred to after the date hereof; no stop
order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or suspending
the use of the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been issued and
no proceeding or examination for such purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the
Commission; and any request of the Commission for inclusion of additional information in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus or otherwise shall have been complied with.
(b) No Underwriter shall have discovered and disclosed to any of the DEP Parties on or
prior to such Delivery Date that the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Pricing
Disclosure Package, or any amendment or supplement thereto, contains an untrue statement of
a fact which, in the opinion of Xxxxx Xxxxx L.L.P., counsel to the Underwriters, is material
or omits to state a fact which, in the opinion of such counsel, is material and is required
to be stated therein or is necessary (in the case of the Prospectus or the Pricing
Disclosure Package, in the light of the circumstances under which such statements were made)
to make the statements therein not misleading.
(c) All corporate, partnership and limited liability company proceedings and other
legal matters incident to the authorization, form and validity of this Agreement, the Units,
the Operative Agreements, the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, the
Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and all other legal matters relating to
this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be reasonably satisfactory in
all material respects to counsel for the Underwriters, and the DEP Parties shall have
furnished to such counsel all documents and information that they may reasonably request to
enable them to pass upon such matters.
(d) Xxxxxxx Xxxxx LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives its written opinion,
as counsel to the Partnership, addressed to the Underwriters and dated such Delivery Date,
in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, substantially in the
form attached hereto as Exhibit B-1.
(e) Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxxx shall have furnished to the Underwriters her written
opinion, as Chief Legal Officer, addressed to the Underwriters and dated such
27
Delivery Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters,
substantially to the effect set forth in Exhibit B-2 hereto.
(f) Xxxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives its written
opinion, as counsel to the Partnership, addressed to the Underwriters and dated such
Delivery Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives,
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B-3.
(g) The Representatives shall have received from Xxxxx Xxxxx L.L.P., counsel for the
Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated such Delivery Date, with respect to the
issuance and sale of the Units, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing
Disclosure Package and other related matters as the Representatives may reasonably require,
and the DEP Parties shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they reasonably
request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.
(h) At the time of execution of this Agreement, the Underwriters shall have received
from Deloitte & Touche LLP a letter or letters, in form and substance satisfactory to the
Underwriters, addressed to the Underwriters and dated the date hereof (i) confirming that
they are an independent registered public accounting firm within the meaning of the
Securities Act and are in compliance with the applicable rules and regulations thereunder
adopted by the Commission, including Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X, and the PCAOB, and (ii)
stating that, as of the date hereof (or, with respect to matters involving changes or
developments since the respective dates as of which specified financial information is given
in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, as of a date not more than
three days prior to the date hereof), the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect
to the financial information and other matters ordinarily covered by accountants’ “comfort
letters” to underwriters in connection with registered public offerings.
(i) With respect to the letter of Deloitte & Touche L.L.P. referred to in the preceding
paragraph and delivered to the Representatives concurrently with the execution of this
Agreement (the “initial letter”), the DEP Parties shall have furnished to the
Representatives a letter (the “bring-down letter”) of such accountants, addressed to the
Underwriters and dated such Delivery Date (i) confirming that they are independent public
accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and are in compliance with the
applicable rule and regulations thereunder adopted by the Commission, including Rule 2-01 of
Regulation S-X, and the PCAOB, (ii) stating, as of the date of the bring-down letter (or,
with respect to matters involving changes or developments since the respective dates as of
which specified financial information is given in the Prospectus, as of a date not more than
three days prior to the date of the bring-down letter), the conclusions and findings of such
firm with respect to the financial information and other matters covered by the initial
letter and (iii) confirming in all material respects the conclusions and findings set forth
in the initial letter.
(j) The Partnership shall have furnished to the Underwriters a certificate, dated such
Delivery Date, of the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer of
28
the General Partner stating that: (i) such officers have carefully examined the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package; (ii) 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 such Delivery Date, and (3) the
Pricing Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time, did not and do not include any untrue
statement of a material fact and did not and do not 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; (iii) as of such Delivery Date, the representations and
warranties of the DEP Parties in this Agreement are true and correct; (iv) the DEP Parties
have complied with all their agreements contained herein and satisfied all conditions on
their part to be performed or satisfied hereunder on or prior to such Delivery Date; (v) no
stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and no
proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or, to the best of such officer’s
knowledge, are threatened; (vi) the Commission has not notified the Partnership of any
objection to the use of the form of the Registration Statement or any post-effective
amendment thereto; (vii) since the date of the most recent financial statements included in
the Prospectus, there has been no material adverse effect on the condition (financial or
otherwise), results of operations, business or prospects of the Partnership Entities, taken
as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business,
except as set forth in or contemplated in the Prospectus; and (viii) since the Effective
Date, no event has occurred that is required under the Rules and Regulations or the
Securities Act to be set forth in a supplement or amendment to the Registration Statement,
the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that has not been so set forth.
(k) Except as described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, (i) none of the
Partnership Entities shall have sustained, since the date of the latest audited financial
statements included in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, any loss or interference with
its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by
insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree or
(ii) since such date there shall not have been any change in the capitalization or increase
in the long-term debt of any of the Partnership Entities or any change, or any development
involving a prospective change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise),
results of operations, securityholders’ equity, properties, management, business or
prospects of the Partnership Entities, taken as a whole, the effect of which, in any such
case described in clause (i) or (ii), is, in the judgment of the Representatives, so
material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public
offering or the delivery of the Units being delivered on such Delivery Date on the terms and
in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.
(l) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement there shall not have
occurred any of the following: (i) trading in securities generally on the New York Stock
Exchange or the American Stock Exchange or in the over-the-counter market shall have been
suspended or materially limited or the settlement of such trading generally shall have been
materially disrupted or minimum prices shall have been established on any such exchange or
such market by the Commission, by such exchange or by any other regulatory body or
governmental authority having jurisdiction, (ii) trading in any
29
securities of the Partnership on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market, shall
have been suspended or materially limited or the settlement of such trading generally shall
have been materially disrupted, (iii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared by
federal or state authorities, (iv) the United States shall have become engaged in
hostilities, there shall have been an escalation in hostilities involving the United States
or there shall have been a declaration of a national emergency or war by the United States
or (iv) there shall have occurred such a material adverse change in general economic,
political or financial conditions, including, without limitation, as a result of terrorist
activities after the date hereof (or the effect of international conditions on the financial
markets in the United States shall be such), as to make it, in the judgment of the
Representatives, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or
delivery of the Units being delivered on such Delivery Date on the terms and in the manner
contemplated in the Prospectus.
(m) The New York Stock Exchange shall have approved the Units for listing subject only
to official notice of issuance.
(n) The Lock-Up Agreements between the Representatives and each of the parties listed
on Schedule II hereto and, in the case of each participant in the Directed Unit Program, the
lock-up agreement contained in the Directed Unit Program materials and delivered to the
Representatives on or before the date of this Agreement, shall be in full force and effect
on such Delivery Date.
All opinions, letters, evidence and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this
Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form
and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters.
8. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) Each of the DEP Parties, jointly and severally, shall indemnify and hold harmless
each Underwriter, its directors, managers, officers and employees and each person, if any,
who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, from
and against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in respect
thereof (including, but not limited to, any loss, claim, damage, liability or action
relating to purchases and sales of the Units), to which that Underwriter, director, manager,
officer, employee or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act or
otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is
based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact (in the
case of any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Issue Free Writing Prospectus, in
light of the circumstances under which such statements were made) contained in (A) any
Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or in any amendment or
supplement thereto, (B) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement
thereto, (C) any Permitted Issuer Information used or referred to in any “free writing
prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations) used or referred to by any
Underwriter, or (D) any “road show” (as defined in Rule 433 of the Rules and Regulations)
not constituting an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (a “Non-Prospectus Road Show”), or (ii)
the omission or alleged omission to
30
state in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any Permitted
Issuer Information or any Non-Prospectus Road Show, any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (in the case of any
Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, in light of
the circumstances under which such statements were made), and shall reimburse each
Underwriter and each such director, officer, employee or controlling person promptly upon
demand for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by that Underwriter, director,
officer, employee or controlling person in connection with investigating or defending or
preparing to defend against any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such
expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the DEP Parties shall not be liable in any
such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out
of, or is based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or
alleged omission made in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the
Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any such amendment or supplement
thereto or in any Permitted Issuer Information or any Non-Prospectus Road Show, in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information concerning such Underwriter furnished to the
Partnership through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for
inclusion therein, which information consists solely of the information specified in Section
8(e). The foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to any liability which the
Partnership may otherwise have to any Underwriter or to any director, officer, employee or
controlling person of that Underwriter.
(b) Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, shall indemnify and hold harmless each
of the DEP Parties, their respective directors (including any person who, with his or her
consent, is named in the Registration Statement as about to become a director of the General
Partner), managers, officers and employees, and each person, if any, who controls any of the
DEP Parties within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, from and against any
loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in respect thereof, to
which the DEP Parties or any such director, manager, officer, employee or controlling person
may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim,
damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, (i) any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any
amendment or supplement thereto or in any Non-Prospectus Road Show, or (ii) the omission or
alleged omission to state in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the
Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or
in any Non-Prospectus Road Show, any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but in each case only to the extent
that the untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was
made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information concerning such Underwriter
furnished to the Partnership through the Representatives by or on behalf of that Underwriter
specifically for inclusion therein, which information is limited to the information set
forth in Section 8(e). The foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to any liability
that any
31
Underwriter may otherwise have to the Partnership or any such director, officer,
employee or controlling person.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of
any claim or the commencement of any action, the indemnified party shall, if a claim in
respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 8, notify
the indemnifying party in writing of the claim or the commencement of that action; provided,
however, that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any
liability which it may have under this Section 8 except to the extent it has been materially
prejudiced by such failure, and provided further that the failure to notify the indemnifying
party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to an indemnified party
otherwise than under this Section 8. If any such claim or action shall be brought against
an indemnified party, and it shall notify the indemnifying party thereof, the indemnifying
party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly
with any other similarly notified indemnifying party, to assume the defense thereof with
counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. After notice from the
indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the defense of such
claim or action, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to the indemnified party under
this Section 8 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the indemnified
party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation;
provided, however, that the Representatives shall have the right to employ counsel to
represent jointly the Representatives and those other Underwriters and their respective
directors, managers, officers, employees and controlling persons who may be subject to
liability arising out of any claim in respect of which indemnity may be sought by the
Underwriters against the DEP Parties under this Section 8 if (i) the DEP Parties and the
Underwriters shall have so mutually agreed; (ii) the DEP Parties have failed within a
reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters; (iii) the
Underwriters and their respective directors, managers, officers, employees and controlling
persons shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to them
that are different from or in addition to those available to the DEP Parties; or (iv) the
named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both any of
the Underwriters or their respective directors, managers, officers, employees or controlling
persons, on the one hand, and any of the DEP Parties, on the other hand, and representation
of both sets of parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or
potential differing interests between them, and in any such event the fees and expenses of
such separate counsel shall be paid by the DEP Parties. No indemnifying party shall (i)
without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties (which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld), settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with
respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which
indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified
parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement,
compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all
liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding and does not include any
findings of fact or admissions of fault or culpability as to the indemnified party, or (ii)
be liable for any settlement of any such action effected without its written consent (which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), but if settled with the consent of the
indemnifying
32
party or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff in any such action, the
indemnifying party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any indemnified party from and
against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 shall for any reason be
unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Section 8(a),
8(b), or 8(c) in respect of any loss, claim, damage or liability, or any action in respect
thereof, referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall, in lieu of indemnifying
such indemnified party, contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party
as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, (i) in
such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the DEP
Parties, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, from the offering of the Units
or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (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 (i) above but also the relative fault of the DEP Parties, on the one hand, and the
Underwriters, on the other, with respect to the statements or omissions that resulted in
such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, as well as any other
relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the DEP Parties, on
the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, with respect to such offering shall be
deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Units
purchased under this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the DEP Parties, as
set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus, on the one hand, and the total
underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters with respect to the
Units purchased under this Agreement, as set forth in the table on the cover page of the
Prospectus, on the other hand. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to
whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged
omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the DEP Parties or the
Underwriters, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information
and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The DEP Parties and the
Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this
Section 8(d) were to be 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 into account the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or
payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, damage or liability, or
action in respect thereof, referred to above in this Section 8(d) shall be deemed to
include, for purposes of this Section 8(d), any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred
by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or
claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8(d), no Underwriter shall be
required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds from the
sale of the Units underwritten by it exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter
has otherwise paid or become liable to pay by reason of any 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
Underwriters’ obligations to contribute as provided in this Section 8(d) are several in
proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint.
33
(e) The Underwriters severally confirm and the DEP Parties acknowledge and agree that
the statements regarding the delivery of Units by the Underwriters set forth on the cover
page of the Prospectus, and the concession figure and the subsection relating to
“Stabilization, Short Positions and Penalty Bids” by the Underwriters appearing under the
caption “Underwriting” in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus are
correct and constitute the only information concerning such Underwriters furnished in
writing to the DEP Parties by or on behalf of the Underwriters specifically for inclusion in
any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free
Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any Non-Prospectus Road
Show.
(f) The DEP Parties shall, jointly and severally, indemnify and hold harmless Xxxxxx
Brothers Inc. (including its directors, officers and employees) and each person, if any, who
controls Xxxxxx Brothers Inc. within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act
(“Xxxxxx Brothers Entities”), from and against any loss, claim, damage or liability, or any
action in respect thereof to which any of the Xxxxxx Brothers Entities may become subject,
under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or
action (i) arises out of, or is based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact contained in any material prepared by or with the approval of any of the
DEP Parties for distribution to Directed Unit Participants in connection with the Directed
Unit Program or 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, (ii) arises
out of, or is based upon, the failure of the Directed Unit Participant to pay for and accept
delivery of Directed Units that the Directed Unit Participant agreed to purchase or (iii) is
otherwise related to the Directed Unit Program; provided that the DEP Parties shall not be
liable under this clause (iii) for any loss, claim, damage, liability or action that is
determined in a final judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from
the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Xxxxxx Brothers Entities. The DEP Parties
shall reimburse the Xxxxxx Brothers Entities promptly upon demand for any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending or
preparing to defend against any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such
expenses are incurred.
9. Defaulting Underwriters. If, on any Delivery Date, any Underwriter defaults in the
performance of its obligations under this Agreement, the remaining non-defaulting Underwriters
shall be obligated to purchase the Units that the defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to
purchase on such Delivery Date in the respective proportions which the number of Firm Units set
forth opposite the name of each remaining non-defaulting Underwriter in Schedule I hereto bears to
the total number of Firm Units set forth opposite the names of all the remaining non-defaulting
Underwriters in Schedule I hereto; provided, however, that the remaining non-defaulting
Underwriters shall not be obligated to purchase any of the Units on such Delivery Date if the total
number of Units that the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase on
such date exceeds 10% of the total number of Units to be purchased on such Delivery Date, and any
remaining non-defaulting Underwriter shall not be obligated to purchase more than 110% of the
number of Units that it agreed to purchase on such Delivery Date pursuant to the terms of Section
2. If the foregoing maximums are exceeded, the remaining non-defaulting Underwriters, or those
other underwriters
34
satisfactory to the Representatives who so agree, shall have the right, but shall not be
obligated, to purchase, in such proportion as may be agreed upon among them, all the Units to be
purchased on such Delivery Date. If the remaining Underwriters or other underwriters satisfactory
to the Representatives do not elect to purchase the units that the defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase on such Delivery Date, this Agreement (or, with respect
to any Option Unit Delivery Date, the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase, and of the
Partnership to sell, the Option Units) shall terminate without liability on the part of any
non-defaulting Underwriter or any of the DEP Parties, except that the Partnership will continue to
be liable for the payment of expenses to the extent set forth in Sections 6 and 11. As used in
this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” includes, for all purposes of this Agreement unless the
context requires otherwise, any party not listed in Schedule I hereto that, pursuant to this
Section 9, purchases Units that a defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase.
Nothing contained herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of any liability it may have
to the DEP Parties, including expenses paid pursuant to Section 6, for damages caused by its
default. If other Underwriters are obligated or agree to purchase the Units of a defaulting or
withdrawing Underwriter, either the Representatives or the Partnership may postpone the Delivery
Date for up to seven full business days in order to effect any changes that in the opinion of
counsel for the Partnership or counsel for the Underwriters may be necessary in the Registration
Statement, the Prospectus or in any other document or arrangement.
10. Termination. The obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be terminated by the
Representatives by notice given to and received by the DEP Parties prior to delivery of and payment
for the Firm Units if, prior to that time, any of the events described in Sections 7(k) or 7(l)
shall have occurred or if the Underwriters shall decline to purchase the Units for any reason
permitted under this Agreement.
11. Reimbursement of Underwriters’ Expenses. If (a) the Partnership shall fail to tender the
Units for delivery to the Underwriters by reason of any failure, refusal or inability on the part
of any DEP Parties to perform any agreement on its part to be performed, or because any other
condition to the Underwriters’ obligations hereunder required to be fulfilled by the DEP Parties is
not fulfilled for any reason or (b) the Underwriters shall decline to purchase the Units for any
reason permitted under this Agreement, the Partnership will reimburse the Underwriters for all
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel) incurred by the
Underwriters in connection with this Agreement and the proposed purchase of the Units, and upon
demand the Partnership shall pay the full amount thereof to the Representatives; provided, however,
that, if this Agreement is terminated because of the failure of the conditions set forth in Section
7(l) (other than Section 7(l)(ii)), the Partnership shall not be required to reimburse the
Underwriters for such expenses. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 9 (Defaulting
Underwriters) by reason of the default of one or more Underwriters, the Partnership shall not be
obligated to reimburse any defaulting Underwriter on account of such Underwriter’s expenses.
12. Research Analyst Independence. Each of the DEP Parties acknowledges that the
Underwriters’ research analysts and research departments are required to be independent from their
respective investment banking divisions and are subject to certain regulations and internal
policies, and that such Underwriters’ research analysts may hold views and make
35
statements or investment recommendations or publish research reports with respect to the
Partnership or EPD or the offering of the Units that differ from the views of their respective
investment banking divisions. Each of the DEP Parties hereby waives and releases, to the fullest
extent permitted by law, any claims that the DEP Parties may have against the Underwriters with
respect to any conflict of interest that may arise from the fact that the views expressed by their
independent research analysts and research departments may be different from or inconsistent with
the views or advice communicated to the DEP Parties by such Underwriters’ investment banking
divisions. Each of the DEP Parties acknowledges that each of the Underwriters is a full service
securities firm and as such from time to time, subject to applicable securities laws, may effect
transactions for its own account or the account of its customers and hold long or short positions
in debt or equity securities of the Partnership or EPD.
13. No Fiduciary Duty. Each of the DEP Parties acknowledges and agrees that, in connection
with this offering and sale of the Units or any other services the Underwriters may be deemed to
be providing hereunder, notwithstanding any preexisting relationship, advisory or otherwise,
between the parties or any oral representations or assurances previously or subsequently made by
the Underwriters: (i) no fiduciary or agency relationship between any of the DEP Parties and any
other person, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, exists; (ii) the Underwriters,
are not acting as advisors, expert or otherwise, to any of the DEP Parties, including, without
limitation, with respect to the determination of the public offering price of the Units, and such
relationship between the DEP Parties, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, is
entirely and solely commercial, based on arms-length negotiations; (iii) any duties and obligations
that the Underwriters may have to any of the DEP Parties shall be limited to those duties and
obligations specifically stated herein; and (iv) the Underwriters and their respective affiliates
may have interests that differ from those of the DEP Parties. Each of the DEP Parties hereby
waives any claims that any such entity may have against the Underwriters with respect to any breach
of fiduciary duty in connection with this offering of Units.
14. Notices, Etc. All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in
writing, and:
(a) if to the Underwriters, shall be delivered or sent by mail or facsimile
transmission to (i) Xxxxxx Brothers Inc., 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000,
Attention: Syndicate Registration (Fax: 000-000-0000), with a copy, in the case of any
notice pursuant to Section 8(c), to the Director of Litigation, Office of the General
Counsel, Xxxxxx Brothers Inc., 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 (Fax:
000-000-0000), and (ii) UBS Securities LLC, 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 (Fax:
(000) 000-0000), Attention: Legal Department; or
(b) if to the Partnership, shall be delivered or sent by mail or facsimile transmission
to the address of the Partnership set forth in the Registration Statement, Attention:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, President (Fax: (000) 000-0000).
Any such statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect at the time of receipt
thereof. The DEP Parties shall be entitled to act and rely upon any request, consent, notice or
agreement given or made on behalf of the Underwriters by Xxxxxx Brothers Inc. and UBS Securities
LLC.
36
15. Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of
and be binding upon the Underwriters, the DEP Parties and their respective successors. This
Agreement and the terms and provisions hereof are for the sole benefit of only those persons,
except that (A) the agreements and indemnities of the DEP Parties contained in Sections 8 and 16 of
this Agreement shall also be deemed to be for the benefit of the directors, managers, officers and
employees of the Underwriters and each person or persons, if any, who control any Underwriter
within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and (B) the agreements and indemnities of
the Underwriters contained in Sections 5(b) and 8(c) of this Agreement shall be deemed to be for
the benefit of the directors and managers of the DEP Parties, the officers of the DEP Parties who
have signed the Registration Statement and any person controlling the DEP Parties within the
meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act. No purchaser of any of the Units from any Underwriter
shall be construed a successor by reason merely of such purchase. Nothing in this Agreement is
intended or shall be construed to give any person, other than the persons referred to in this
Section 15, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or
any provision contained herein.
16. Survival. The respective indemnities, representations, warranties and agreements of the
DEP Parties and the Underwriters contained in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them,
respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Units
and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation (or any statement as to
the results thereof) made by or on behalf of any of them or any person controlling any of them.
17. Definition of the Terms “Business Day” and “Subsidiary.” For purposes of this Agreement,
(a) “business day” means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday that is not a day on
which banking institutions in New York are generally authorized or obligated by law or executive
order to close and (b) “subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 of the Rules and
Regulations.
18. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of New York.
19. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts and, if executed
in more than one counterpart, the executed counterparts shall each be deemed to be an original but
all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.
20. Headings. The headings herein are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not
intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.
[Signature pages follow]
37
If the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement between DEP Parties and the Underwriters,
please indicate your acceptance in the space provided for that purpose below.
Very truly yours, Xxxxxx Energy Partners L.P. |
||||
By: | DEP Holdings, LLC, | |||
its general partner |
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||
Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer | |||
DEP Holdings, LLC |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||
Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer | |||
DEP OLPGP, LLC |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||
Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer | |||
DEP Operating Partnership, L.P. |
||||
By: | DEP OLPGP, LLC, | |||
its general partner |
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||
Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer | |||
[Signature page to Underwriting Agreement]
Enterprise Products Operating L.P. |
||||
By: | Enterprise Products OLPGP, Inc., | |||
its general partner |
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||
Title: | Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary | |||
[Signature page to Underwriting Agreement]
Accepted:
For itself and as Representative
of the several Underwriters named
in Schedule I hereto
For itself and as Representative
of the several Underwriters named
in Schedule I hereto
XXXXXX BROTHERS INC.
By:
|
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxx | |
||
Authorized Representative Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Title: Vice President |
UBS SECURITIES LLC
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxx | |
||
Authorized Representative Name: Xxxxxx Xxxx Title: Director |
||||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxx | |||
Authorized Representative Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxx Title: Associate Director |
[Signature page to Underwriting Agreement]
SCHEDULE I
Number of Firm Units | ||||
Underwriters | to be Purchased | |||
Xxxxxx Brothers Inc. |
3,250,000 | |||
UBS Securities LLC |
3,250,000 | |||
Citigroup Global Markets Inc. |
910,000 | |||
Xxxxxxx, Sachs & Co. |
910,000 | |||
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated |
910,000 | |||
Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC |
910,000 | |||
X.X. Xxxxxxx & Sons, Inc. |
416,000 | |||
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc. |
416,000 | |||
Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Incorporated |
416,000 | |||
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx & Associates, Inc. |
416,000 | |||
RBC Capital Markets Corporation |
416,000 | |||
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Inc. |
416,000 | |||
Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. |
234,000 | |||
Natexis Bleichroeder Inc. |
65,000 | |||
Banc of America Securities LLC |
65,000 | |||
TOTAL |
13,000,000 | |||
Schedule I
SCHEDULE II
Persons Delivering Lock-Up Agreements
Xxx X. Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Xxx X. Xxxxxx
W. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, III
Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
Xxx X. Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Xxx X. Xxxxxx
W. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, III
Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
Xxx X. Xxxxxx
Enterprise Products OLPGP, Inc., as general partner of Enterprise Products Operating Partnership,
L.P.
Schedule II
SCHEDULE III
Subsidiaries of Acadian Gas, LLC |
Ownership | |
Xxxxxxxxxx Gulf Coast Gas, LLC |
100% | |
Xxxxxxxxxx Gas Corp. |
45% | |
Xxxxxxxxxx Gas Pipeline Company, L.P. |
55% | |
Cypress Gas Pipeline, LLC |
100% | |
MCN Pelican Transmission LLC |
100% | |
TXO-Acadian Gas Pipeline, LLC |
100% | |
Acadian Gas Pipeline System |
100% | |
Calcasieu Gas Gathering System |
100% | |
Neches Pipeline System |
100% | |
Pontchartrain Natural Gas System |
100% | |
Acadian Acquisition, LLC |
100% | |
MCN Acadian Gas Pipeline, LLC |
100% | |
Cypress Gas Marketing, LLC |
100% | |
MCN Pelican Interstate Gas, LLC |
100% | |
Tejas-Magnolia Energy, LLC |
100% | |
Acadian Consulting LLC |
100% |
Schedule III
SCHEDULE IV
Number of Units: 13,000,000
Public offering price for the Units: $21.00 per common unit
Schedule IV
EXHIBIT A
LOCK-UP LETTER AGREEMENT
Xxxxxx Brothers Inc.
UBS Securities LLC
As Representatives of the several Underwriters
named in Schedule I to the Underwriting Agreement
UBS Securities LLC
As Representatives of the several Underwriters
named in Schedule I to the Underwriting Agreement
c/x Xxxxxx Brothers Inc.
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
c/o UBS Securities LLC
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned understands that you (the “Representatives”) and certain other firms (the
“Underwriters”) propose to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”)
providing for the purchase by the Underwriters of common units (the “Common Units”) representing
limited partner interests in Xxxxxx Energy Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the
“Partnership”), and that the Underwriters propose to reoffer the Common Units to the public (the
“Offering”).
In consideration of the execution of the Underwriting Agreement by the Representatives on
behalf of the Underwriters, and for other good and valuable consideration, the undersigned hereby
irrevocably agrees that without the prior written consent of the Representatives on behalf of the
Underwriters, the undersigned will not, directly or indirectly, (1) offer for sale, sell or
otherwise dispose of (or enter into any transaction or device that is designed to, or could be
expected to, result in the disposition by any person at any time in the future of) any Common Units
(including, without limitation, Common Units that may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the
undersigned in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
and Common Units that may be issued upon exercise of any options or warrants) or securities
convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Units, (2) enter into any swap or other
derivatives transaction that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic
benefits or risks of ownership of the Common Units, whether any such transaction described in
clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Units or other securities, in cash
or otherwise, (3) make any demand for or exercise any right or cause, or otherwise attempt to
cause, to be filed a registration statement, including any amendments thereto, with respect to the
registration of any Common Units or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for
Common Units or any other securities of the Partnership (except on Form S-8 in connection with
option plans existing on the date hereof) or (4) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the
foregoing, for a period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the 180th day after the date of
the final prospectus relating to the Offering (such 180-day period, the “Lock-Up Period”).
A-1
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (1) during the last 17 days of the Lock-Up Period, the
Partnership issues an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to the
Partnership occurs or (2) prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, the Partnership announces
that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the
Lock-Up Period, then the restrictions imposed by this Lock-Up Letter Agreement shall continue to
apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release
or the announcement of the material news or the occurrence of the material event, unless the
Representatives waives such extension in writing. The undersigned hereby further agrees that,
prior to engaging in any transaction or taking any other action that is subject to the terms of
this Lock-Up Letter Agreement during the period from the date of this Lock-Up Letter Agreement to
and including the 34th day following the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, it will give notice
thereof to the Partnership and will not consummate such transaction or take any such action unless
it has received written confirmation from the Partnership that the Lock-Up Period (as such may have
been extended pursuant to this paragraph) has expired.
In furtherance of the foregoing, the Partnership and its transfer agent are hereby authorized
to decline to make any transfer of securities if such transfer would constitute a violation or
breach of this Lock-Up Letter Agreement.
It is understood that, if the Partnership notifies the Representatives that it does not intend
to proceed with the Offering, if the Underwriting Agreement does not become effective, or if the
Underwriting Agreement (other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) shall
terminate or be terminated prior to payment for and delivery of the Common Units, the undersigned
will be released from its obligations under this Lock-Up Letter Agreement.
The undersigned understands that the Partnership and the Underwriters will proceed with the
Offering in reliance on this Lock-Up Letter Agreement.
Whether or not the Offering actually occurs depends on a number of factors, including market
conditions. Any Offering will only be made pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement, the terms of
which are subject to negotiation between the Partnership and the Underwriters.
The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and
authority to enter into this Lock-Up Letter Agreement and that, upon request, the undersigned will
execute any additional documents necessary in connection with the enforcement hereof. Any
obligations of the undersigned shall be binding upon the heirs, personal representatives,
successors and assigns of the undersigned.
Very truly yours, | ||||
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
Dated:
A-2
EXHIBIT B-1
FORM OF OPINION OF XXXXXXX XXXXX LLP
1. Each of the General Partner, the Partnership, the Operating Partnership and the OLPGP has
been duly formed is validly existing and is in good standing under the laws of the State of
Delaware, with all limited liability company or partnership, as the case may be, power and
authority necessary to own or hold its properties and conduct the businesses in which it is engaged
and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and, in the case of the General
Partner and the OLPGP, to act as general partner of the Partnership and the Operating Partnership,
respectively, in each case in all material respects as described in the most recent Preliminary
Prospectus. Each of the General Partner, the Partnership, the Operating Partnership and the OLPGP
is duly registered or qualified to do business in and is in good standing as a foreign limited
partnership or limited liability company, as applicable, in the State of Texas.
2. EPOLP owns 100% of the issued and outstanding membership interests in the General Partner;
such membership interests have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the GP
LLC Agreement and are fully paid (to the extent required by the GP LLC Agreement) and
non-assessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of
the Delaware LLC Act); and EPOLP owns such membership interests free and clear of all Liens (A) in
respect of which a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of Delaware
naming EPOLP as debtor is on file in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware,
or (B) otherwise known to such counsel without independent investigation, other than those created
by or arising under Section 18-607 of the Delaware LLC Act, and those in favor of lenders of EPD.
3. 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 (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 in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or (B) otherwise known to
such counsel without independent investigation, other than those created by or arising under
Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act.
4. The Sponsor Units 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 under the Partnership Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such
nonassessability may be affected by Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act); and
EPOLP owns the Sponsor Units free and clear of all Liens (A) in respect of which a financing
statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of Delaware naming EPOLP as debtor is on
file in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or (B) otherwise known to
such counsel without independent investigation, other than those created by or arising under
Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act.
B-1-1
5. The Units and the limited partner interests represented thereby have been duly authorized
by the Partnership and, when issued and delivered to the Underwriters against payment therefor in
accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid (to the
extent required under the Partnership Agreement) and non-assessable (except as such
non-assessability may be affected by Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act).
Other than the Sponsor Units, the Units are the only limited partnership interests of the
Partnership issued and outstanding.
6. The Partnership owns 100% of the issued and outstanding membership interests in the OLPGP;
such membership interests has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the OLPGP
LLC Agreement; and the Partnership owns such membership interests free and clear of all Liens (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 in the office of the Secretary of State of the
State of Delaware or (B) otherwise known to such counsel without independent investigation, other
than those created by or arising under Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act.
7. The OLPGP is the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership with a 0.001% general
partner interest in the Operating Partnership; such general partner interest has been duly
authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Operating Partnership Agreement; and the OLPGP
owns such general partner interest free and clear of all Liens (A) in respect of which a financing
statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of Delaware naming the OLPGP as debtor is
on file in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or (B) otherwise known to
such counsel without independent investigation, other than those created by or arising under
Sections 17-303, 17-607 or 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act; and (ii) the Partnership is the sole
limited partner of the Operating Partnership with a 99.999% limited partner interest in the
Operating Partnership; such limited partner interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in
accordance with the Operating Partnership Agreement and is fully paid (to the extent required under
the Operating Partnership Agreement) and non-assessable (except as such non-assessability may be
affected by Sections 17-303, 17-607 or 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act); and the Partnership owns
such limited partner interest free and clear of all Liens (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 in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or (B) otherwise
known to such counsel without independent investigation, other than those created by or arising
under Sections 17-303, 17-607 or 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act.
8. Except as described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and for rights that have been
effectively complied with or waived, there are no preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe
for or to purchase, nor any restriction upon the voting or transfer of, any partnership interests
or membership interests in the General Partner, the Partnership, the OLPGP or the Operating
Partnership, in each case pursuant to the organizational documents of such entity. To such
counsel’s knowledge, neither the filing of the Registration Statement, the offering or sale of the
Units as contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement nor the application of the proceeds therefrom
as described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus gives rise to any rights for or relating to
the registration of any Common Units or other securities of the Partnership, other than as have
been waived, effectively complied with or satisfied.
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9. The Partnership has all requisite partnership power and authority (i) to execute and
deliver the Underwriting Agreement and to perform its obligations thereunder, including to issue,
sell and deliver the Units, in accordance with and upon the terms and conditions set forth in the
Underwriting Agreement, the Partnership Agreement, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the
Prospectus, and (ii) to issue and deliver the Sponsor Units, in accordance with and upon the terms
and conditions set forth in the Partnership Agreement and the Contribution Agreement. Each of the
other DEP Parties has all requisite corporate, partnership or limited liability company power and
authority to execute and deliver the Underwriting Agreement and to perform its respective
obligations thereunder.
10. The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by
each of the DEP Parties.
11. Each of the Operative Agreements (excluding the Commercial Agreements and the Credit
Facility) has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto and is a valid
and legally binding agreement of the Partnership Entities thereto, enforceable against such parties
in accordance with its terms; provided that, with respect to each such agreement, the
enforceability thereof may be limited by (A) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium,
fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’
rights generally, (B) principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered
in a proceeding in equity or at law), (C) public policy limitations, (D) applicable law relating to
fiduciary duties and indemnification and (E) an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
12. None of the offering, issuance and sale by the Partnership of the Units, the execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement or the Operative Agreements (excluding the Credit
Facility) by the Partnership Entities hereto or thereto, or the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby at or prior to the Closing (A) constitutes or will constitute a
violation of the partnership agreement, limited liability company agreement, certificate of
formation or conversion or other constituent document of any of the DEP Parties (other than EPOLP),
(B) 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 filed as exhibit to the
Registration Statement, or (C) results or will result in any violation of the Delaware LP Act, the
Delaware LLC Act, the DGCL, the laws of the State of Texas or the applicable laws of the United
States of America, which violation, in the case of clauses (B) and (C) would, individually or in
the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect or materially impair the ability of any of the DEP
Parties to consummate the transactions provided for in this Agreement or the Operative Agreements;
provided, however, that for purposes of this paragraph, such counsel need not express an opinion
with respect to federal or state securities laws, other antifraud laws or antitrust laws.
13. No Governmental Approval of any federal, Delaware or Texas court, governmental agency or
body having jurisdiction over the Partnership Entities or any of their respective properties, other
than those that have been obtained or taken and are in full force and effect, is required in
connection with offering, issuance or sale by the Partnership of the Units, application of the
proceeds therefrom as described under “Use of Proceeds” in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus,
execution and delivery of this Agreement or the Operative Agreements
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(excluding the Credit Facility) by the Partnership Entities hereto or thereto and consummation
by such parties of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, except (A) for such consents
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, (B) for such consents which have been obtained or
made, (C) for such consents which (i) are of a routine or administrative nature, (ii) are not
customarily obtained or made prior to the consummation of transactions such as those contemplated
by this Agreement and the Operative Agreements and (iii) are expected in the reasonable judgment of
the General Partner to be obtained or made in the ordinary course of business subsequent to the
consummation of the Transactions, or (D) for such consents which, if not obtained or made, would
not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
14. The Common Units conform in all material respects to the description set forth under
“Summary—The Offering,” “Cash Distribution Policy and Restrictions on Distributions,” “Description
of Our Common Units,” “How We Make Cash Distributions,” and “Description of Material Provisions of
Our Partnership Agreement” in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and Prospectus.
15. Each of the conveyances that are part of the Contribution Documents that relates to the
transfer of property in the State of Texas, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery
thereof by the parties thereto, to the extent it is a valid and legally binding agreement under the
laws of the State of Texas and that such law applies thereto, is a valid and legally binding
agreement of the parties thereto under the laws of the State of Texas, enforceable in accordance
with its terms subject to 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); each of those conveyances is in a form legally sufficient as between the parties thereto to
transfer or convey to the transferee thereunder all of the right, title and interest of the
transferor stated therein in and to the assets located in the State of Texas, as described in the
Contribution Documents, subject to the conditions, reservations, encumbrances and limitations
contained in the Contribution Documents and those set forth in most recent Preliminary Prospectus
and the Prospectus, except motor vehicles or other property requiring conveyance of certificated
title, as to which the conveyances are legally sufficient to compel delivery of such certificated
title.
16. Each of the forms of Contribution Documents that is a deed or real property assignment
(including, without limitation, the form of the exhibits and schedules thereto) is in a form
legally sufficient for recordation in the appropriate public offices of the State of Texas, to the
extent such recordation is required to evidence title to the properties covered thereby in the
transferee or successor, as the case may be, thereunder, and, upon proper recordation of any of
such deeds or real property assignments, as the case may be, in the State of Texas, will constitute
notice to all third parties under the recordation statutes of the State of Texas concerning record
title to the assets transferred thereby; the county clerk’s office in each county in the State of
Texas in which any Initial Operating Subsidiary owns property in which recordation has been made is
the appropriate public office for the recordation of deeds and assignments of interests in real
property located in such county.
B-1-4
17. The statements made in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and Prospectus under the
captions “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Credit Facility,” “Conflicts of Interest and Fiduciary
Duties,” “Cash Distribution Policy,” “Description of Material Provisions of Our Partnership
Agreement,” “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions,” “How We Make Cash
Distributions,” and “Description of Our Common Units,” “Cash Distribution Policy and Restrictions
on Distributions,” insofar as they purport to constitute summaries of the terms of statutes, rules
or regulations, legal and governmental proceedings or 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.
18. The statements under the caption “Material Tax Consequences” in the most recent
Preliminary Prospectus and Prospectus, insofar as they refer to statements of law or legal
conclusions, fairly summarize the matters referred to therein in all material respects, subject to
the qualifications and assumptions stated therein.
19. The opinion of Xxxxxxx Xxxxx LLP that is filed as Exhibit 8.1 to the Registration
Statement (filed with the Commission on January 23, 2007) is confirmed and the Underwriters may
rely upon such opinion as if it were addressed to them.
20. None of the Partnership Entities is an “investment company,” as such term is defined in
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
21. Any required filing of the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) has been made in the manner
and within the time period required by such Rule.
Such counsel shall state that they have been advised orally (and in writing, if available) by
the Commission that the Registration Statement was declared effective under the Securities Act on
January 30, 2007; to the knowledge of such counsel, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of
the Registration Statement has been issued and, to such counsel’s knowledge based on oral
communication with the Commission, no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or
threatened by the Commission.
In addition, such counsel shall state that they have participated in conferences with officers
and other representatives of the General Partner and the Partnership, the independent registered
public accounting firm for the General Partner and the Partnership, your counsel 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 does not assume any responsibility for the
accuracy, completeness or fairness of, the statements contained in the Registration Statement, the
Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (except as and to the extent set forth in opinions
14, 17 and 18 above), on the basis of the foregoing (relying to a limited extent with respect to
factual matters upon statements by officers and other representatives of the DEP Parties and their
subsidiaries),
(a) such counsel confirms that, in their opinion, each of the Registration Statement,
as of the Effective Date and the applicable Delivery Date, the Preliminary
B-1-5
Prospectus, as of its date and the applicable Delivery Date, and the Prospectus, as of
its date and the applicable Delivery Date, appeared on its face to be appropriately
responsive, in all material respects, to the requirements of the Securities Act and the
Rules and Regulations (except that such counsel need not make a statement with respect to
Regulation S-T), and
(b) no facts have come to such counsel’s attention that have led them to believe that
(i) the Registration Statement, as of the Effective Date, contained an untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) the Pricing Disclosure
Package, as of the Applicable Time, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or (iii) the Prospectus, as of
its date and the applicable Delivery Date, contained or contains an untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted or omits to state any 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 in this
letter with respect to (A) the financial statements and related schedules, including the
notes and schedules thereto and the auditor’s report thereon, (B) any other financial data
included in, or excluded from, the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, the
Prospectus or the Pricing Disclosure Package, and (C) representations and warranties and
other statements of fact included in the exhibits to the Registration Statement.
In rendering such opinions, such counsel may (A) rely in respect of matters of fact upon
certificates of officers and employees for the Partnership Entities and of the transfer agent of
the Partnership and upon information obtained from public officials, (B) assume that all documents
submitted to them as originals are authentic, that all copies submitted to them conform to the
originals thereof, and that the signatures on all documents examined by them are genuine, (C) state
that their opinion is limited to the Delaware LP Act, the Delaware LLC Act, the DGCL and the laws
of the State of Texas, the applicable laws of the United States of America and, with respect to the
opinion set forth in paragraph 18 above, United States federal income tax law, (D) with respect to
the opinion expressed in paragraph 1 above with respect to the good standing and foreign
qualification of the Partnership, the General Partner, the Operating Partnership and OLPGP, state
that such opinions are based solely on certificates of foreign qualification provided by the
Secretary of State of the applicable state, (E) with respect to the opinions expressed in clause
(A) of paragraphs (2), (3), (4), (6) and (7) above, respectively, such counsel relied solely on
reports, dated as of recent dates, purporting to describe all financing statements on file as of
the dates specified therein in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware naming
EPOLP, the General Partner, the Partnership and OLPGP, or one or more of them, as debtors, and (F)
state that such counsel expresses no opinion with respect to (i) any permits to own or operate any
real or personal property, (ii) the title of any of the Partnership Entities to any of their
respective real or personal property, other than with regard to the opinions set forth above
regarding the ownership of capital stock, partnership interests and membership interests, or with
respect to the accuracy or descriptions of real or personal property or (iii) state or local tax
statutes to which any of the limited partners of the Partnership or any of the DEP Parties or the
General Partner may be subject.
B-1-6
EXHIBIT B-2
FORM OF GENERAL COUNSEL’S OPINION
1. Each of the Subsidiaries, EPD and EPOLP has been duly formed, is validly existing and is in
good standing under the laws of its respective jurisdiction of formation, with all limited
liability company or partnership, as the case may be, power and authority necessary to own or hold
its properties and conduct the businesses in which it is engaged and to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and the Transaction Documents to which they are party, in each case
in all material respects as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package
and the Prospectus. Each of the Subsidiaries is duly registered or qualified to do business in and
is in good standing as a foreign limited partnership or limited liability company, as applicable,
in each jurisdiction set forth opposite its name on Annex A to this opinion.
2. The Operating Partnership owns 66% the partnership interests or membership interests, as
applicable, in each of the Initial Operating Subsidiaries; such partnership interests or membership
interests have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the applicable Operating
Subsidiaries Formation Agreement and are fully paid (to the extent required under the applicable
Operating Subsidiaries Formation Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may
be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act, in the case of a Delaware
limited liability company, or Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act, in the
case of a Delaware limited partnership); and the Operating Partnership owns such partnership
interests or membership interests free and clear of all Liens (A) in respect of which a financing
statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of Delaware naming the Operating
Partnership as debtor is on file in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware
or (B) otherwise known to such counsel without independent investigation, other than those created
or arising under Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act or Sections 17-303, 17-607 and
17-804 of the Delaware LP Act.
3. Except as described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and for rights that have been
waived, there are no preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or to purchase, nor any
restriction upon the voting or transfer of, any capital stock or partnership or membership
interests or capital stock in (a) the Subsidiaries pursuant to the organizational documents of any
such entity or (b) the Partnership Entities pursuant to any agreement or other instrument known to
such counsel to which any of them is a party or by which any of them may be bound (other than the
organizational documents of such entity). To such counsel’s knowledge, neither the filing of the
Registration Statement nor the offering, sale of the Units as contemplated by the Underwriting
Agreement, or application of proceeds therefrom as described in the most recent Preliminary
Prospectus and the Prospectus gives rise to any rights for or relating to the registration of any
Common Units or other securities of the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries, other than as have
been waived. To such counsel’s knowledge, there are no outstanding options or warrants to purchase
any partnership or membership interests or capital stock in any of the Partnership Entities.
4. Each of the Commercial Agreements has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
parties thereto and is a valid and legally binding agreement of the parties
B-2-1
thereto, enforceable against such parties in accordance with its terms; provided that, with
respect to each such agreement, the enforceability thereof may be limited by (A) applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer and similar laws
relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, (B) principles of equity (regardless of
whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), (C) public policy
limitations, (D) applicable law relating to fiduciary duties and indemnification and (E) an implied
covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
5. The Credit Facility has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Partnership.
6. None of the offering, issuance and sale by the Partnership of the Units, the execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement or the Operative Agreements by the parties hereto or
thereto, or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (A) constitutes or
will constitute a violation of the partnership agreement, limited liability company agreement,
certificate of formation or conversion or other constituent document of any of the Subsidiaries,
EPD or EPOLP, or (B) 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 known to
such counsel 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 (other than those filed as exhibits to the Registration
Statement), or (C) will result in any violation of any judgment, order, decree, injunction, rule or
regulation of any court, arbitrator or governmental agency or body known to such counsel having
jurisdiction over any of the Partnership Entities or any of their assets or properties, or (D)
results of will result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any property or assets of any
of the Subsidiaries, which conflict, breach, violation, default or Lien, in the case of clauses
(B), (C) and (D), would, individually or in the aggregate, 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 or the Operative Agreements.
7. None of (i) the execution, delivery and performance of the Credit Facility by the
Partnership and (ii) the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby (A) constitutes or
will constitute a violation of the partnership agreement, limited liability company agreement,
certificate of formation or conversion or other constituent document of any of the DEP Parties, (B)
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 filed as exhibit to the
Registration Statement, or (C) results or will result in any violation of the laws of the State of
Texas or the applicable laws of the United States of America, which violation, in the case of
clauses (B) and (C) would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect or
materially impair the ability of any of the DEP Parties to consummate the transactions provided for
in this Agreement or the Operative Agreements; provided, however, that for purposes of this
paragraph, such counsel need not express an opinion with respect to federal or state securities
laws, other antifraud laws or antitrust laws.
8. To the knowledge of such counsel, (i) there are no legal or governmental proceedings
pending or threatened to which any of the Partnership Entities is a party or to which
B-2-2
any of their respective properties is subject that are required to be described in the
Prospectus but are not so described as required and (ii) there are no agreements, contracts,
indentures, leases or other instruments that are required to be described in the most recent
Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement
that are not described or filed as required by the Rules and Regulations.
In addition, such counsel shall state that she has participated in conferences with officers
and other representatives of the General Partner and the Partnership, the independent registered
public accounting firm for the General Partner and the Partnership, your counsel 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 do not assume any responsibility for the accuracy,
completeness or fairness of, the statements contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing
Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, on the basis of the foregoing (relying to a limited extent
with respect to factual matters upon statements by officers and other representatives of the DEP
Parties and their subsidiaries), no facts have come to such counsel’s attention that have led them
to believe that (i) the Registration Statement, as of the Effective Date, contained an untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) the Pricing Disclosure Package, as of
the Applicable Time, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any
material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading, or (iii) the Prospectus, as of its date and the applicable
Delivery Date, contained or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to
state any 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 in this letter with respect to (A) the financial statements and related
schedules, including the notes and schedules thereto and the auditor’s report thereon, (B) any
other financial data included in, or excluded from, the Registration Statement, the Preliminary
Prospectus, the Prospectus or the Pricing Disclosure Package, and (C) representations and
warranties and other statements of fact included in the exhibits to the Registration Statement.
In rendering such opinion, such counsel may (A) rely on certificates of officers and
representatives of the Partnership Entities and upon information obtained from public officials,
(B) assume that all documents submitted to him as originals are authentic, that all copies
submitted to him conform to the originals thereof, and that the signatures on all documents
examined by him are genuine, (C) state that her opinion is limited to federal laws, the Delaware LP
Act, the Delaware LLC Act, the DGCL and the laws of the State of Texas, (D) with respect to the
opinion expressed in paragraph 1 above as to the good standing or foreign qualification of the
Subsidiaries, state that such opinions are based solely on certificates provided by the appropriate
official of the applicable state, (E) with respect to the opinion expressed in clause (A) of
paragraph (2) above, such counsel relied solely on reports, dated as of recent dates, purporting to
describe all financing statements on file as of the dates specified therein in the office of the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware naming the Operating Partnership as a debtor and (F)
state that such counsel expresses no opinion with respect to: (i) any permits to own or operate any
real or personal property, (ii) the title of any of the Partnership Entities to any of their
respective real or personal property, other than with regard to the opinions set forth above
regarding the ownership of capital stock, partnership interests and membership interests,
B-2-3
or with respect to the accuracy or descriptions of real or personal property or (iii) state or
local taxes or tax statutes to which any of the limited partners of the Partnership or any of the
Partnership Entities may be subject.
X-0-0
XXXXXXX X-0
FORM OF OPINION OF XXXXXXXXX & XXXXXXXX LLP
1. The Credit Facility is a valid and legally binding agreement of the parties thereto,
enforceable against such parties in accordance with its terms; provided that, with respect to such
agreement, the enforceability thereof may be limited by (A) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer and similar laws relating to or affecting
creditors’ rights generally, (B) principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), (C) public policy limitations, (D) applicable law
relating to fiduciary duties and indemnification and (E) an implied covenant of good faith and fair
dealing.
2. No Governmental Approval, other than those that have been obtained or taken and are in full
force and effect, is required in connection with the execution and delivery of the Credit Facility
by the Partnership and consummation by the Partnership of the transactions contemplated by the
Credit Facility.
4. The statements made in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and Prospectus under the
captions “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Credit Facility,” insofar as they purport to
constitute summaries of the Credit Facility, constitute accurate summaries of the terms of the
Credit Facility in all material respects.
B-3-1