SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP 6,250,000 COMMON UNITS REPRESENTING LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT DECEMBER 2, 2010
Exhibit 1.1
Execution
Version
6,250,000 COMMON UNITS REPRESENTING LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
DECEMBER 2, 2010
December 2, 2010
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Barclays Capital Inc.
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC
Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Incorporated
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
Xxxxx Fargo Securities, LLC
Barclays Capital Inc.
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC
Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Incorporated
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
Xxxxx Fargo Securities, LLC
c/o Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Spectra Energy Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), proposes to
issue and sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule II hereto (the “Underwriters”), for
whom you are acting as managers (the “Managers”), the number of common units representing limited
partner interests set forth in Schedule I hereto (the “Firm Units”). The Partnership also proposes
to issue and sell to the several Underwriters not more than the number of additional common units
representing limited partner interests set forth in Schedule I hereto (the “Additional Units”) if
and to the extent that you, as Managers of the offering, shall have determined to exercise, on
behalf of the Underwriters, the right to purchase such common units granted to the Underwriters in
Section 2 hereof. The Firm Units and the Additional Units are hereinafter collectively referred to
as the “Units.” The common units representing limited partner interests of the Partnership to be
outstanding after giving effect to the sales contemplated hereby are hereinafter referred to as the
“Common Units.” If the firm or firms listed in Schedule II hereto include only the Managers, then
the term “Underwriters” as used herein shall be deemed to refer to such firms.
The Partnership, Spectra Energy Partners GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“GP
LLC”), and Spectra Energy Partners (DE) GP, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “General
Partner”), are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Partnership Parties.” The Partnership
Parties, Spectra Energy Partners OLP, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating
Partnership”), Spectra Energy Partners OLP GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the
“Operating GP”), East Tennessee Natural Gas, LLC, a Tennessee limited liability company (“East
Tennessee”), Saltville Gas Storage Co. L.L.C., a Virginia limited liability company (“Saltville”),
Gulfstream Natural Gas System, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (“Gulfstream”), Spectra
Energy Partners MHP Holding, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“SEP MHP”), Market Hub
Partners Holding, a Delaware general partnership (“Market Hub”), Xxxx Hub Storage, LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company (“Xxxx Hub”), Xxxx Bluff Hub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
(“Xxxx Bluff”), Atlas Arkansas Pipeline LLC, an Oklahoma limited liability company (“Atlas”);
Mid-Continent Arkansas Pipeline, LLC, an Arkansas limited liability company (“MCAP”); NOARK
Pipeline System, Limited Partnership, an Arkansas limited partnership (“NOARK”), Ozark Gas
Transmission,
L.L.C., an Oklahoma limited liability company (“OGT”), Ozark Gas Gathering, L.L.C., an
Oklahoma limited liability company (“OGG”) and all other Partnership subsidiaries are herein
collectively referred to as the “Partnership Entities.” Spectra Energy Corp, a Delaware
Corporation (“SE”) and its subsidiaries, other than the Partnership Entities, are hereinafter
referred to as the “Spectra Entities.”
1. Representations and Warranties. The Partnership Parties, jointly and severally, represent
and warrant to and agree with each of the Underwriters that:
(a) Registration Statement / Prospectus. A registration statement on Form S-3 relating to the
Units (File No. 333-158097) (i) has been prepared by the Partnership in conformity with the
requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the rules and
regulations (the “Rules and Regulations”) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“Commission”) thereunder; (ii) has been filed with the Commission under the Securities Act; and
(iii) is effective under the Securities Act. Copies of such registration statement and any
amendment thereto have been delivered by the Partnership to the Managers. As used in this
Agreement:
(i) “Effective Date” means any date as of which any part of such registration statement
relating to the Units became, or is deemed to have become, effective under the Securities
Act in accordance with the Rules and Regulations;
(ii) “Execution Time” means the date and time that this Agreement is executed and
delivered by the parties hereto;
(iii) “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means each “free writing prospectus” (as defined
in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations) prepared by or on behalf of the Partnership or
used or referred to by the Partnership in connection with the offering of the Units;
(iv) “Preliminary Prospectus” means any preliminary prospectus relating to the Units
included in such registration statement or filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b)
of the Rules and Regulations, including any preliminary prospectus supplement thereto
relating to the Units;
(v) “Pricing Disclosure Package” means, as of the Execution Time, the most recent
Preliminary Prospectus, together with (A) each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus filed or used
by the Partnership on or before the Execution Time, other than a road show that is an Issuer
Free Writing Prospectus under Rule 433 of the Rules and Regulations, and (B) the Additional
Pricing Disclosure Package Information identified in Schedule I;
(vi) “Prospectus” means the final prospectus relating to the Units, including any
prospectus supplement thereto relating to the Units, as filed with the Commission pursuant
to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations; and
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(vii) “Registration Statement” means the registration statement on Form S-3 (File No.
333-158097), as amended as of the Effective Date, including any
Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus and all exhibits to such registration
statement and including the information (if any) deemed to be a part of the registration
statement at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A or Rule 430B under the
Securities Act.
Any reference to any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and
include any documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Form S-3 under the Securities
Act as of the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be. Any
reference to the “most recent Preliminary Prospectus” shall be deemed to refer to the latest
Preliminary Prospectus included in the Registration Statement or filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of
the Rules and Regulations prior to or on the date hereof (including, for purposes hereof, any
documents incorporated by reference therein prior to or on the date hereof). Any reference to any
amendment or supplement to any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to
and include any document filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange
Act”), after the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, and
incorporated by reference in such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be.
Any reference to any amendment to the Registration Statement shall be deemed to include any annual
report of the Partnership on Form 10-K filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d)
of the Exchange Act after the Effective Date that is incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement. As used herein, the term “Incorporated Documents” means the documents that at the time
are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the
Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto. The Commission has not issued any order
preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and no proceeding for such purpose has been instituted
or, to the Partnership Parties’ knowledge, threatened by the Commission. The Commission has not
notified the Partnership of any objection to the use of the form of the Registration Statement.
(b) Form of Documents. The Registration Statement conformed and will conform in all material
respects on each Effective Date and on the Closing Date (as defined herein) and any Option Closing
Date (as defined herein), and any amendment to the Registration Statement filed after the date
hereof will conform in all material respects when filed, to the applicable requirements of the
Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations. The most recent Preliminary Prospectus conformed,
and the Prospectus will conform, in all material respects when filed with the Commission pursuant
to Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date to the requirements of the
Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations. The Incorporated Documents conformed and will
conform, when filed with the Commission, in all material respects to the requirements of the
Exchange Act or the Securities Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder.
(c) No Material Misstatements or Omissions in the Registration Statement. The Registration
Statement did not, as of its most recent Effective Date, contain an untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make
the statements therein not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty
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is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Partnership through the Managers by or on
behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein.
(d) No Material Misstatements or Omissions in the Final Prospectus. The Prospectus will not,
as of its date and on the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date, contain an untrue statement of
a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein,
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no
representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Prospectus in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Partnership through the
Managers by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein.
(e) Incorporated Documents. The Incorporated Documents filed prior to the Execution Time,
when filed with the Commission, did not, and any Incorporated Documents filed after the Execution
Time, when filed with the Commission, will not, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(f) No Material Misstatements or Omissions in the Pricing Disclosure Package. The Pricing
Disclosure Package did not, as of the Execution Time, contain an untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no
representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Pricing
Disclosure Package in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Partnership through the Managers by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion
therein.
(g) No Material Misstatements or Omissions in each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. Each
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (including, without limitation, any road show that is a free writing
prospectus under Rule 433 of the Rules and Regulations), when considered together with the Pricing
Disclosure Package as of the Execution Time, did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no representation or
warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus
in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Partnership through
the Managers by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein.
(h) Form of Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conformed or
will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and
Regulations on the date of first use, and the Partnership has complied with any filing requirements
applicable to such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus pursuant to the Rules and Regulations. The
Partnership has not made any offer relating to the Units that would constitute an Issuer Free
Writing Prospectus without the prior written consent of the Managers. The
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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.
(i) Ineligible Issuer. At the earliest time after the initial filing of the Registration
Statement that the Partnership or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the
meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) under the Securities Act) of the Units, the Partnership was not an
“ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act with respect to the offering
of the Units as contemplated hereby.
(j) Formation and Qualification. Each of the Partnership Entities has been duly formed and is
validly existing as a general partnership, limited partnership or limited liability company, as
applicable, in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization with full power and
authority to own or lease and to operate its properties currently owned or leased and to conduct
its business as currently conducted, in each case as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package.
Each of the Partnership Entities is duly qualified to do business as a foreign general partnership,
limited partnership or limited liability company, as applicable, and is in good standing under the
laws of each jurisdiction that requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so
qualified would not reasonably be expected to (i) have a material adverse effect on the condition
(financial or otherwise), prospects, earnings, business or properties, taken as a whole, whether or
not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, of the Partnership Entities (a
“Material Adverse Effect”), or (ii) subject the limited partners of the Partnership to any material
liability or disability.
(k) Power and Authority to Act as General Partner. The General Partner has full power and
authority to act as general partner of the Partnership in all material respects as described in the
Pricing Disclosure Package. GP LLC has full power and authority to act as general partner of the
General Partner in all material respects as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package. The
Operating GP has full power and authority to act as general partner of the Operating Partnership in
all material respects as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package.
(l) Ownership of Partnership Entities. All of the equity interests of each of the Partnership
Entities are owned as set forth on Exhibit A hereto; all of such equity interests are duly
authorized and validly issued in accordance with the general partnership, limited partnership or
limited liability company agreements of each such Partnership Entity (the “Organizational
Agreements”), and, except in the case of general partner interests, are fully paid (to the extent
required by the applicable Organizational Agreements) and nonassessable (except as such
nonassessability may be affected, as applicable, by (i) Sections 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware
Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act (the “Delaware LP Act”), (ii) Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of
the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (the “Delaware LLC Act”), (iii) Sections 15-309 and
15-807 of the Delaware Revised Uniform Partnership Act (the “Delaware GP Act”), (iv) Sections 306
and 620 of the Tennessee Revised Limited Liability Company Act, (v) Section 13.1-1035 of the
Virginia Limited Liability Company Act, (vi) Sections 4-47-508 and 4-47-509 of the Arkansas Uniform
Limited Partnership Act (vii) Sections
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4-32-601 and 4-32-604 of the Arkansas Small Business Entity
Tax Pass Through Act or (viii) Sections 2030 and 2040 of the Oklahoma Limited Liability Company
Act; and, such equity interests are owned as set forth on Exhibit A free and clear of all
liens, encumbrances, security interests, charges or other claims (“Liens”) (except restrictions on
transferability as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package).
(m) Valid Issuance of Units. The Units to be purchased by the Underwriters from the
Partnership have been duly authorized for issuance and sale to the Underwriters pursuant to this
Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement against
payment of the consideration set forth herein, will be validly issued and fully paid (to the extent
required under the partnership agreement of the Partnership (the “Partnership Agreement”)) and
nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by matters described in Sections
17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act).
(n) No Other Subsidiaries. Except as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package, none of the
Partnership Entities own, directly or indirectly, any equity or long-term debt securities of any
corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association or other entity.
(o) No Preemptive Rights, Options or Registration Rights. Except as identified in the Pricing
Disclosure Package or as provided for the Organizational Documents, there are no (i) preemptive
rights or other rights to subscribe for or to purchase, nor any restriction upon the voting or
transfer of, any equity securities of the Partnership Entities or (ii) outstanding options or
warrants to purchase any securities of the Partnership Entities. Except for such rights that have
been waived or as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package, neither the filing of the
Registration Statement nor the offering or sale of the Units as contemplated by this Agreement
gives rise to any rights for or relating to the registration of any Units or other securities of
the Partnership.
(p) Authority and Authorization. Each of the Partnership Parties has all requisite power and
authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and perform its respective obligations hereunder.
The Partnership has all requisite partnership power and authority to issue, sell and deliver the
Units, in accordance with and upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the
Partnership Agreement, the Registration Statement, and the Pricing Disclosure Package. All
partnership and limited liability company action, as the case may be, required to be taken by the
Partnership Entities or any of their members or partners for the authorization, issuance, sale and
delivery of the Units and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
shall have been validly taken.
(q) Authorization of this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by each of the Partnership Parties.
(r) Enforceability of Organizational Agreements. The Organizational Agreements have been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto, and are valid and legally binding
agreements of such parties, enforceable against such parties in accordance with their terms;
provided that, the enforceability of the agreements described in this Section 1(r) may
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be limited by (A) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws
relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity
(regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and
(B) public policy, applicable law relating to fiduciary duties and indemnification and an implied
covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
(s) No Conflicts. None of (i) the offering, issuance or sale by the Partnership of the Units
or (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, (A) conflicts or will conflict
with or constitutes or will constitute a violation of the Organizational Agreements or the
certificate of formation or conversion, certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or other
constituent document (collectively, the “Organizational Documents”) of any of the Partnership
Entities, (B) conflicts or will conflict with or constitutes or will constitute a breach or
violation of, or a default (or an event that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would
constitute such a default) under any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or
other agreement or instrument to which any of the Partnership Entities is a party or by which any
of them or any of their respective properties may be bound, (C) violates or will violate any
statute, law or regulation or any order, judgment, decree or injunction of any court or
governmental agency or body directed to any of the Partnership Entities or any of their properties
in a proceeding to which any of them or their property is a party or (D) results or will result in
the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any property or assets of any of the Partnership
Entities, which conflicts, breaches, violations, defaults or Liens, in the case of clauses (B), (C)
or (D), would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect or materially impair the ability of the Partnership Parties to consummate the transactions
provided for in this Agreement.
(t) No Consents. No permit, consent, approval, authorization, order, registration, filing or
qualification of or with any court, governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over any of the
Partnership Entities or any of their properties or assets is required in connection with the
offering, issuance or sale by the Partnership of the Units, the execution, delivery and performance
of this Agreement by the Partnership Parties, or the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement, except for such permits, consents, approvals and similar authorizations required
under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and blue sky laws of any jurisdiction.
(u) No Defaults. None of the Partnership Entities is in (i) violation of its Organizational
Documents, (ii) violation of any statute, law, rule or regulation, or any judgment, order,
injunction or decree of any court, governmental agency or body or arbitrator having jurisdiction
over any of the Partnership Entities or any of their properties or assets or (iii) breach, default
(or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such an event) or
violation in the performance of any obligation, agreement or condition contained in any indenture,
mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument to which it is a
party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound, which in the case of (ii) or (iii)
would reasonably be expected to have, if continued, a Material Adverse Effect or materially impair
the ability of the Partnership Parties to consummate the transactions provided for in this
Agreement.
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(v) Conformity of Units to Description. 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 Pricing Disclosure Package.
(w) No Labor Dispute. No labor problem or dispute with the Partnership Entities’ employees or
with the Spectra Entities’ employees who are engaged in the business of the
Partnership exists, or to the knowledge of the Partnership Parties are imminent or threatened,
that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(x) Financial Statements. At September 30, 2010, the Partnership would have had, on an as
adjusted basis as indicated in the Pricing Disclosure Package (and any amendment or supplement
thereto), a total capitalization as set forth therein. The historical financial statements
(including the related notes and supporting schedules) included in the most recent Preliminary
Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Registration Statement present fairly in all
material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the entities
purported to be shown thereby on the basis shown therein as of the dates and for the periods
indicated, comply as to form with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act and
have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a
consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as otherwise noted therein). The summary
and selected historical financial and operating information included or incorporated by reference
in the Registration Statement, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure
Package (and any amendment or supplement thereto) is accurately presented in all material respects
and prepared on a basis consistent with the audited and unaudited historical financial statements
from which it has been derived.
(y) Independent Public Accountants. Deloitte & Touche LLP, who has audited the audited
financial statements included in the Registration Statement and the Pricing Disclosure Package and
delivered its reports with respect to the audited financial statements included in the Registration
Statement Pricing Disclosure Package, is an independent registered public accounting firm with
respect to the Partnership and the General Partner within the meaning of the Securities Act and the
Rules and Regulations and the rules and regulations of the Public Company Accounting Oversight
Board.
(z) Litigation. Except as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package, there is (i) no
action, suit or proceeding before or by any court, arbitrator or governmental agency, body or
official, domestic or foreign, now pending or, to the knowledge of any of the Partnership Parties,
threatened, to which any of the Partnership Entities is or may be a party or to which the business
or property of any of the Partnership Entities is or may be subject, (ii) no statute, rule,
regulation or order that has been enacted, adopted or issued by any governmental agency and (iii)
no injunction, restraining order or order of any nature issued by a federal or state court or
foreign court of competent jurisdiction to which any of the Partnership Entities is or may be
subject, that, in the case of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above, is reasonably expected to (A)
individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect, (B) prevent or result in the
suspension of the offering and issuance of the Units, or (C) in any manner draw into question the
validity of this Agreement.
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(aa) Title to Properties. The Partnership Entities have good and indefeasible title to all
real property and good title to all personal property described in the Pricing Disclosure Package
as owned by the Partnership Entities, free and clear of all Liens except (i) as described, and
subject to limitations contained, in the Pricing Disclosure Package, (ii) that arise under the $500
million credit agreement of the Operating Partnership, as borrower (the “Credit Agreement”), or
(iii) such as do not materially interfere with the use of such properties taken as a whole as they
have been used in the past and are proposed to be used in the future as described in the Pricing
Disclosure Package; provided that, with respect to any real property and buildings held under
lease by the Partnership Entities, such real property and buildings are held under valid and
subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as do not materially interfere with the use
of the properties of the Partnership Entities taken as a whole as they have been used in the past
as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and are proposed to be used in the future as
described in the Pricing Disclosure Package.
(bb) Rights-of-Way. The Partnership Entities have such easements or rights-of-way from each
person (collectively, “rights-of-way”) as are necessary to conduct their business in the manner
described, and subject to the limitations contained, in the Pricing Disclosure Package, except for
(i) qualifications, reservations and encumbrances that would not have, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (ii) such rights-of-way
that, if not obtained, would not have, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect; other than as set forth, and subject to the limitations contained,
in the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Partnership Entities have fulfilled and performed all their
material obligations with respect to such rights-of-way and no event has occurred that allows, or
after notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation or termination thereof or would result in any
impairment of the rights of the holder of any such rights-of-way, except for such revocations,
terminations and impairments that would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and, except as
described in the Pricing Disclosure Package, none of such rights-of-way contains any restriction
that is materially burdensome to the Partnership Entities, taken as a whole.
(cc) Transfer Taxes. There are no transfer taxes or other similar fees or charges under
Federal law or the laws of any state, or any political subdivision thereof, required to be paid in
connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the issuance by the Partnership or
sale by the Partnership of the Units.
(dd) Tax Returns. Each of the Partnership Entities has filed all foreign, federal, state and
local tax returns that are required to be filed or has requested extensions thereof, except in any
case in which the failure so to file would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect, and has paid all taxes required to be paid by it and any other assessment, fine or penalty
levied against it, to the extent that any of the foregoing is due and payable, except for any such
assessment, fine or penalty that is currently being contested in good faith or as would not have a
Material Adverse Effect.
(ee) Insurance. The Partnership Entities carry or are entitled to the benefits of insurance
relating to the properties, operations, personnel and business of the Partnership Entities in such
amounts and covering such risks as is commercially reasonable, and all such insurance is
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in full force and effect. None of the Partnership Entities have any reason to believe that they will not
be able (i) to renew their existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (ii) to
obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct
such business as now conducted and at a cost that would not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.
(ff) Distribution Restrictions. No subsidiary of the Partnership is currently prohibited,
directly or indirectly, from paying any distributions to the Partnership, from making any other
distribution on such subsidiary’s equity interests, from repaying to the Partnership any loans
or advances to such subsidiary from the Partnership or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s
property or assets to the Partnership or any other subsidiary of the Partnership, except as
described in or contemplated by the Pricing Disclosure Package or arising under the Credit
Agreement.
(gg) Possession of Licenses and Permits. The Partnership Entities possess such permits,
licenses, approvals, consents and other authorizations (collectively, “Governmental Licenses”)
issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary
to conduct their business, except where the failure so to possess would not, singly or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; the Partnership Entities
are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such Governmental Licenses, except where the
failure so to comply would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Effect; all of the Governmental Licenses are valid and in full force and effect,
except when the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses or the failure of such Governmental
Licenses to be in full force and effect would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and the Partnership Entities have not received any
notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such Governmental Licenses
which, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would reasonably be expected
to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(hh) Environmental Laws. Each of the Partnership Entities (i) is in compliance with all
applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the prevention of pollution or
protection of the environment or imposing liability or standards of conduct concerning any
Hazardous Materials (as defined below) (“Environmental Laws”), (ii) has received all permits
required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses as
presently conducted, (iii) is in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permits and
(iv) does not have any liability in connection with the release into the environment of any
Hazardous Material, except where such noncompliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive
required permits, failure to comply with the terms and conditions of such permits or liability in
connection with such releases would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect. The term “Hazardous Material” means (A) any “hazardous substance” as defined in the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, (B) any
“hazardous waste” as defined in the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended, (C) any
petroleum or petroleum product, (D) any polychlorinated biphenyl and (E) any pollutant or
contaminant or hazardous, dangerous or toxic chemical, material, waste or substance regulated under
or within the meaning of any applicable
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Environmental Law. In the ordinary course of business, the
Partnership Entities periodically review the effect of Environmental Laws on their business,
operations and properties, in the course of which they identify and evaluate costs and liabilities
that are reasonably likely to be incurred pursuant to such Environmental Laws (including, without
limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or
compliance with Environmental Laws, or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on
operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties). On the basis of such review,
the Partnership Entities have reasonably concluded that such associated costs and liabilities would
not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ii) ERISA. Each Partnership Entity is in compliance in all material respects with all
presently applicable provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended,
including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (“ERISA”); no “reportable event”
(as defined in ERISA) has occurred with respect to any “pension plan” (as defined in ERISA) for
which any Partnership Entity would have any liability, excluding any reportable event for which a
waiver could apply; no Partnership Entity expects to incur liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA
with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any “pension plan” or (ii) Sections 412 or 4971
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including the regulations and published
interpretations thereunder (the “Code”); and each “pension plan” for which any Partnership Entity
would have any liability that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has been
determined by the Internal Revenue Service to be so qualified and nothing has occurred, whether by
action or by failure to act, which could reasonably be expected to cause the loss of such
qualification.
(jj) Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002. The Partnership is in compliance in all material respects
with all applicable provisions of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002, the rules and regulations
promulgated in connection therewith and the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) that are
effective and applicable to the Partnership.
(kk) Investment Company. None of the Partnership Entities is nor, after giving effect to the
offering and sale of the Units and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the
Pricing Disclosure Package, will any of the Partnership Entities be, an “investment company” or a
company “controlled by” an “investment company,” each as defined in the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”).
(ll) Books and Records. Each Partnership Entity maintains a system of internal accounting
controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in
accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as
necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted
only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded
accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and
appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.
(mm) Disclosure Controls. The Partnership has established and maintains disclosure controls
and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the
11
Exchange Act) which (i) are designed to ensure that material information relating to the Partnership, including
its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to the General Partner’s principal executive officer
and its principal financial officer by others within those entities, particularly during the
periods in which the periodic reports required under the Exchange Act are being prepared; (ii) have
been evaluated for effectiveness as of the end of the period covered by the Partnership’s most
recent annual report filed with the Commission; and (iii) are effective in achieving reasonable
assurances that the Partnership’s desired control objectives as described in Item 9A of the
Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2009 (the “2009 Annual
Report”) have been met.
(nn) No Deficiency in Internal Controls. Based on the evaluation of its internal controls and
procedures conducted in connection with the preparation and filing of the 2009 Annual Report, the
Partnership is not aware of (i) any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the design
or operation of its internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and
15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that are likely to adversely affect the Partnership’s ability to
record, process, summarize and report financial data; or (ii) any fraud, whether or not material,
that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Partnership’s
internal controls over financial reporting.
(oo) No Changes in Internal Controls. Since the date of the most recent evaluation of the
disclosure controls and procedures described in Section 1(nn) hereof, there have been no
significant changes in the Partnership’s internal controls that materially affected or are
reasonably likely to materially affect the Partnership’s internal controls over financial
reporting.
(pp) Market Stabilization. None of the Partnership Entities has taken, directly or
indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to
cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price
of any security of the Partnership to facilitate the sale or resale of the Units.
(qq) Statistical Data. Any statistical and market-related data included in the Pricing
Disclosure Package are based on or derived from sources that the Partnership believes to be
reliable and accurate, and the Partnership has obtained the written consent to the use of such data
from such sources to the extent required.
(rr) No Distribution of Other Offering Materials. None of the Partnership Entities has
distributed and, prior to the later to occur of (i) the Closing Date or any settlement date and
(ii) completion of the distribution of the Units, will distribute any offering material in
connection with the offering and sale of the Units other than any Preliminary Prospectus, the
Prospectus, any free writing prospectus to which the Managers have consented in accordance with
this Agreement, and any other materials, if any, permitted by the Securities Act, including Rule
134.
(ss) Listing on NYSE. The Units have been approved to be listed on the NYSE, subject to
official notice of issuance.
(tt) No Material Adverse Change. There has not occurred any material adverse change, or any
development involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition,
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financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of the Partnership and its subsidiaries,
taken as a whole, from that set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package.
(uu) Foreign Corrupt Practices. No Partnership Entity nor any director, officer, or employee
of the Partnership Entities, nor, to the Partnership’s knowledge, any agent or representative of
any Partnership Entity, has taken or will take any action in furtherance of an offer, payment,
promise to pay, or authorization or approval of the payment or giving of money, property, gifts or
anything else of value, directly or indirectly, to any “government official” (including any officer
or employee of a government or government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international
organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the
foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office) to
influence official action or secure an improper advantage; and the Partnership Entities have
conducted their businesses in compliance with applicable anti-corruption laws and have instituted
and maintain and will continue to maintain policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve
compliance with such laws and with the representation and warranty contained herein.
(vv) Anti-Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Partnership Entities are and have been
conducted at all times in material compliance with all applicable financial recordkeeping and
reporting requirements, including those of the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by Title III of the
Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct
Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act), and the applicable anti-money laundering statutes of
jurisdictions where the Partnership Entities conduct business, the rules and regulations thereunder
and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by
any governmental agency (collectively, the “Anti-Money Laundering Laws”), and no action, suit or
proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator
involving the Partnership Entities with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to
the best knowledge of the Partnership Parties, threatened.
(ww) Office of Foreign Assets Control. (i) No Partnership Entity nor any director, officer
or employee of the Partnership Entities, nor, to the Partnership’s knowledge, any agent or
representative of any Partnership Entity, is an individual or entity (“Person”) that is, or is
owned or controlled by a Person that is:
(A) the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S.
Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) (collectively,
“Sanctions”), nor
(B) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the
subject of Sanctions (including, without limitation, Burma/Myanmar, Cuba, Iran,
North Korea, Sudan and Syria).
(ii) No Partnership Entity will, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the
offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds, to any subsidiary,
joint venture partner or other Person:
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(A) to fund or facilitate any activities or business of or with any Person or
in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is
the subject of Sanctions; or
(B) in any other manner that will result in a violation of Sanctions by any
Person (including any Person participating in the offering, whether as underwriter,
advisor, investor or otherwise).
Any certificate signed by any officer of any of the Partnership Parties and delivered to the
Mangers or counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the offering of the Units shall be
deemed a representation and warranty by such entity, as to matters covered thereby, to each
Underwriter.
2. Agreements to Sell and Purchase. On the basis of the representations and warranties
contained in this Agreement, and subject to its terms and conditions herein, the Partnership hereby
agrees to sell to the several Underwriters, and each Underwriter, agrees, severally and not
jointly, to purchase from the Partnership the respective numbers of Firm Units set forth in
Schedule II hereto opposite its name at the purchase price set forth in Schedule I hereto (the
“Purchase Price”).
On the basis of the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement, and subject to
its terms and conditions, the Partnership agrees to sell to the Underwriters the Additional Units,
and the Underwriters shall have the right to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to the number
of Additional Units set forth in Schedule I hereto at the Purchase Price; provided, however, that
the amount paid by the Underwriters for any Additional Units shall be reduced by an amount per unit
equal to any distributions declared by the Partnership and payable on the Firm Units but not
payable on such Additional Units. You may exercise this right on behalf of the Underwriters in
whole or from time to time in part by giving written notice not later than 30 days after the date
of the Prospectus. Any exercise notice shall specify the number of Additional Units to be
purchased by the Underwriters and the date on which such units are to be purchased. Each purchase
date must be at least one business day after the written notice is given and may not be earlier
than the closing date for the Firm Units. Additional Units may be purchased as provided in Section
4 hereof solely for the purpose of covering over allotments made in connection with the offering of
the Firm Units. On each day, if any, that Additional Units are to be purchased (an “Option Closing
Date”), each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase the number of Additional
Units (subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional units as you may determine) that bears
the same proportion to the total number of Additional Units to be purchased on such Option Closing
Date as the number of Firm Units set forth in Schedule II hereto opposite the name of such
Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm Units.
3. Public Offering. The Partnership is advised by you that the Underwriters propose to make a
public offering of their respective portions of the Units as soon after the Registration Statement
and this Agreement have become effective as in your judgment is advisable. The Partnership is
further advised by you that the Units are to be offered to the public upon the terms set forth in
the Prospectus.
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4. Payment and Delivery. Payment for the Firm Units shall be made to the Partnership in
Federal or other funds immediately available in New York City on the closing date and time set
forth in Schedule I hereto, or at such other time on the same or such other date, not later than
the fifth business day thereafter, as may be designated in writing by you. The time and date of
such payment are hereinafter referred to as the “Closing Date.”
Payment for any Additional Units shall be made to the Partnership in Federal or other funds
immediately available in New York City on the date specified in the corresponding notice described
in Section 2 or at such other time on the same or on such other date, in any event not later than
the tenth business day thereafter, as may be designated in writing by you.
The Firm Units and the Additional Units shall be registered in such names and in such
denominations as you shall request in writing not later than one full business day prior to the
Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be, for the respective
accounts of the several Underwriters, with any transfer taxes payable in connection with the
transfer of the Units to the Underwriters duly paid, against payment of the Purchase Price
therefor.
5. Conditions to the Underwriters’ Obligations. The several obligations of the Underwriters
are subject to the following conditions:
(a) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date
or any Option Closing Date, there shall not have occurred any change, or any development involving
a prospective change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or
operations of the Partnership Entities, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the Pricing
Disclosure Package as of Execution Time that, in your judgment, is material and adverse and that
makes it, in your judgment, impracticable to market the Units on the terms and in the manner
contemplated in the Pricing Disclosure Package.
(b) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date a certificate of the Partnership,
signed on behalf of the Partnership by the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer
of the General Partner, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that the signers of such certificate
have carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus
and any amendment or supplement thereto, as well as each electronic road show used in connection
with the offering of the Units, and this Agreement and that:
(i) the representations and warranties of the Partnership Parties in this Agreement are
true and correct on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as if made on the
Closing Date, and the Partnership has complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the
conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date;
(ii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any
notice objecting to its use has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been
instituted or, to the Partnership’s knowledge, threatened;
15
(iii) since the date of the most recent financial statements included or incorporated
by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the
Prospectus, there has been no Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or
contemplated in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and
(iv) in their opinion, (1) the Registration Statement, as of the most recent Effective
Date, (2) the Prospectus, as of the date of the Prospectus and as of the Closing Date or any
Option Closing Date, and (3) the Pricing Disclosure Package, as of the Execution Time, did
not and do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact and did not and do not omit
to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein (except in the case of the Registration Statement, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made) not misleading.
(c) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Xxxxxx & Xxxxxx
L.L.P., outside counsel for the Partnership, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that:
(i) Formation and Qualification. Each of the Partnership Entities organized under the
laws of the State of Delaware (the “Covered Partnership Entities”) has been duly formed and
is validly existing as a general partnership, limited partnership or limited liability
company, as applicable, and is in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware with
full power and authority necessary to own or lease and to operate its properties currently
owned or leased and to conduct its business as currently conducted, in each case as
described in the Pricing Disclosure Package. Each of the Covered Partnership Entities is
duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing as a foreign limited partnership
or foreign limited liability company in each jurisdiction set forth opposite its name on an
annex to be attached to such counsel’s opinion.
(ii) Power and Authority to Act as General Partner. The General Partner has full power
and authority to act as general partner of the Partnership in all material respects as
described in the Pricing Disclosure Package. GP LLC has full power and authority to act as
general partner of the General Partner in all material respects as described in the Pricing
Disclosure Package. The Operating GP has full power and authority to act as general partner
of the Operating Partnership in all material respects as described in the Pricing Disclosure
Package.
(iii) Ownership of GP LLC. Spectra Energy Transmission, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company (“SET”), owns all of the issued and outstanding membership interests of GP
LLC; such membership interests have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance
with the limited liability company agreement of GP LLC (the “GP LLC Agreement”) and are
fully paid (to the extent required by the GP LLC Agreement) and nonassessable (except as
such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC
Act); and SET owns such membership interests free and clear of all Liens (except
restrictions on transferability as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and Liens
created or arising under the Delaware LLC Act), (A) in respect of which a financing
statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of Delaware naming SET as debtor is
on file as of a recent date in the office
16
of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware
or (B) otherwise known to such counsel, without independent investigation.
(iv) Ownership of the Limited Partner Interest in the General Partner. Spectra Energy
Southeast Pipeline Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“SEPL”), owns a 99% limited partner
interest in the General Partner; such limited partner interest has been duly and validly
authorized and issued in accordance with the partnership agreement of the General Partner
(the “GP Partnership Agreement”) and is fully paid (to the extent required by the GP
Partnership Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by
Sections 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act); and SEPL owns such limited partner
interest free and clear of all Liens (except restrictions on transferability as described in
the Pricing Disclosure Package or Liens created by or arising under the Delaware LP Act) (A)
in respect of which a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of
Delaware naming SEPL as debtor is on file as of a recent date in the office of the Secretary
of State of the State of Delaware or (B) otherwise known to such counsel, without
independent investigation.
(v) Ownership of the General Partner Interest in the General Partner. GP LLC is the
sole general partner of the General Partner with a 1% general partner interest in the
General Partner; such general partner interest has been duly authorized and validly issued
in accordance with the GP Partnership Agreement; and GP LLC owns such general partner
interest free and clear of all Liens (except restrictions on transferability as described in
the Pricing Disclosure Package or Liens created by or arising under the Delaware LP Act) (A)
in respect of which a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of
Delaware naming GP LLC as debtor is on file as of a recent date in the office of the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or (B) otherwise known to such counsel, without
independent investigation.
(vi) Ownership of the General Partner Interest in the Partnership. The General Partner
is the sole general partner of the Partnership with a 2.0% general partner interest in the
Partnership; such general partner interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in
accordance with the Partnership Agreement; and the General Partner owns such general partner
interest free and clear of all Liens (except restrictions on transferability as described in
the Pricing Disclosure Package or Liens created by or arising under the Delaware LP Act) (A)
in respect of which a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of
Delaware naming the General Partner as debtor is on file as of a recent date in the office
of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or (B) otherwise known to such counsel,
without independent investigation.
(vii) Capitalization; Valid Issuance of Outstanding Limited Partner Interests in the
Partnership. As of the Closing Date, immediately prior to the issuance of the Firm Units
pursuant to this Agreement, the issued and outstanding partnership interests of the
Partnership consisted of 82,291,647 Common Units, the Incentive Distribution Rights and
1,678,677 General Partner Units. All outstanding Common Units and the Incentive
Distribution Rights and the limited partner interests represented thereby have been duly
authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Partnership
17
Agreement, and are fully paid (to the extent required by the Partnership Agreement) and nonassessable
(except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act).
(viii) Ownership of Sponsor Units and Incentive Distribution Rights. SEPL owns
43,956,556 Common Units, SET owns 16,958,130 Common Units and the General Partner owns the
Incentive Distribution Rights, in each case, free and clear of all Liens (except
restrictions on transferability as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package or Liens
created by or arising under the Delaware LP Act) (A) in respect of which a financing
statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of Delaware naming SEPL, SET or the
General Partner as debtor is on file as of a recent date in the office of the Secretary of
State of the State of Delaware or (B) otherwise known to such counsel, without independent
investigation.
(ix) Valid Issuance of Units to be Purchased. The Units to be purchased by the
Underwriters from the Partnership have been duly authorized for issuance and sale to the
Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Partnership
pursuant to this Agreement against payment of the
consideration set forth herein, will be validly issued and fully paid (to the extent
required by the Partnership Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability
may be affected by matters described in Sections 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act).
(x) Ownership of the Operating GP. The Partnership owns all of the issued and
outstanding membership interests of the Operating GP; such membership interests have been
duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company
agreement of the Operating GP (the “Operating GP LLC Agreement”) and are fully paid (to the
extent required by the Operating GP LLC Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such
nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act); and
the Partnership owns such membership interests free and clear of all Liens (except
restrictions on transferability as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and Liens
created by or arising under the Delaware LLC Act) (A) in respect of which a financing
statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of Delaware naming the Partnership
as debtor is on file as of a recent date in the office of the Secretary of State of the
State of Delaware or (B) otherwise known to such counsel, without independent investigation.
(xi) Ownership of the General Partner Interest in the Operating Partnership. The
Operating GP 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 partnership agreement of the Operating
Partnership (the “OLP Partnership Agreement”); and the Operating GP owns such general
partner interest free and clear of all Liens (except restrictions on transferability as
described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and Liens created by or arising under the Credit
Agreement or the Delaware LP Act) (A) in respect of which a financing statement under the
Uniform Commercial Code of the State of Delaware naming the Operating GP as debtor is on
file as of a recent date in the office of
18
the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or
(B) otherwise known to such counsel, without independent investigation.
(xii) Ownership of the Limited Partner Interest in the Operating Partnership. The
Partnership owns 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
OLP Partnership Agreement and is fully paid (to the extent required by the OLP Partnership
Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by matters
described in Sections 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act); and the Partnership owns
such limited partner interest free and clear of all Liens (except restrictions on
transferability as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and Liens created by or
arising under the Delaware LP Act) (A) in respect of which a financing statement under the
Uniform Commercial Code of the State of Delaware naming the Partnership as debtor is on file
as of a recent date in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or (B)
otherwise known to such counsel, without independent investigation.
(xiii) Ownership of Gulfstream. The Operating Partnership owns 49.0% of the issued and
outstanding membership interests of Gulfstream; such membership
interests have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the limited
liability company agreement of Gulfstream (the “Gulfstream
LLC Agreement”) and are fully
paid (to the extent required by the Gulfstream LLC Agreement) and nonassessable (except as
such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC
Act); and the Operating Partnership owns such membership interests free and clear of all
Liens (except restrictions on transferability as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package
or the Gulfstream LLC Agreement and Liens created by or arising under the Credit Agreement
or the Delaware LLC Act) (A) in respect of which a financing statement under the Uniform
Commercial Code of the State of Delaware naming the Operating Partnership as debtor is on
file as of a recent date in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or
(B) otherwise known to such counsel, without independent investigation.
(xiv) Ownership of SEP MHP. The Operating Partnership owns 100% of the issued and
outstanding membership interests of SEP MHP; such membership interests have been duly
authorized and validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreement of
SEP MHP (the “SEP MHP LLC Agreement”) and are fully paid (to the extent required by the SEP
MHP LLC Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by
Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act); and the Operating Partnership owns such
membership interests free and clear of all Liens (except restrictions on transferability as
described in the Pricing Disclosure Package or the SEP MHP LLC Agreement and Liens created
by or arising under the Credit Agreement or the Delaware LLC Act) (A) in respect of which a
financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of Delaware naming the
Operating Partnership as debtor is on file as of a recent date in the office of
19
the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or (B) otherwise known to such counsel, without
independent investigation.
(xv) Ownership of Market Hub. SEP MHP owns 50% of the issued and outstanding
partnership interests of Market Hub; such partnership interests have been duly authorized
and validly issued in accordance with the general partnership agreement of Market Hub (the
“Market Hub Partnership Agreement”); and SEP MHP owns such partnership interests free and
clear of all Liens (except restrictions on transferability as described in the Pricing
Disclosure Package or the Market Hub Partnership Agreement and Liens created by or arising
under the Delaware GP Act) (A) in respect of which a financing statement under the Uniform
Commercial Code of the State of Delaware naming SEP MHP as debtor is on file as of a recent
date in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or (B) otherwise known
to such counsel, without independent investigation.
(xvi) Ownership of Market Hub Subsidiaries. Market Hub owns 100% of the outstanding
membership interests of Xxxx Hub and Xxxx Bluff (collectively, the “Market Hub
Subsidiaries”); such membership interests have been duly authorized and validly issued in
accordance with the limited liability company agreements of the respective Market Hub
Subsidiaries (the “Market Hub LLC Agreements”) and are fully paid (to the extent required by
the respective Market Hub LLC Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability
may be affected by Sections 18-607 and
18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act); and Market Hub owns such membership interests free and
clear of all Liens (except restrictions on transferability as described in the Pricing
Disclosure Package or the respective Market Hub LLC Agreement and Liens created by or
arising under the Delaware LLC Act) (A) in respect of which a financing statement under the
Uniform Commercial Code of the State of Delaware naming Market Hub as debtor is on file as
of a recent date in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or (B)
otherwise known to such counsel, without independent investigation.
(xvii) No Preemptive Rights, Options or Registration Rights. Except as identified in
the Pricing Disclosure Package, there are no (A) preemptive rights or other rights to
subscribe for or to purchase (with the exception of those rights provided in Section 4.06 of
the Gulfstream LLC Agreement), nor any restriction upon the voting or transfer of, any
equity securities of the Partnership Entities (with the exception of those restrictions
provided in Section 8.4 of the Credit Agreement and 8.3 of that certain Note Purchase
Agreement dated as of December 15, 2002 by and among East Tennessee and the other parties
thereto) or (B) outstanding options or warrants to purchase any securities of the
Partnership Entities, in each case pursuant to their respective Organizational Agreements or
any other agreement or instrument to which any Partnership Entity is a party listed as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement or any Incorporated Document. To such counsel’s
knowledge, neither the filing of the Registration Statement nor the offering or sale of the
Units as contemplated by this Agreement gives rise to any rights for or relating to the
registration of any Units or other securities of the Partnership other
20
than as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package, as set forth in the Partnership Agreement or as have been
waived.
(xviii) Authority and Authorization. Each of the Partnership Parties has all requisite
power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and perform its respective
obligations hereunder. The Partnership has all requisite partnership power and authority to
issue, sell and deliver the Units, in accordance with and upon the terms and conditions set
forth in this Agreement, the Partnership Agreement, the Registration Statement and the
Pricing Disclosure Package. All partnership and limited liability company action, as the
case may be, required to be taken by the Covered Partnership Entities or any of their
members or partners for the authorization, issuance, sale and delivery of the Units and the
consummation of the transactions provided for in this Agreement has been validly taken.
(xix) Authorization of this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by each of the Partnership Parties.
(xx) Enforceability of Organizational Agreements. The Organizational Agreements of the
Covered Partnership Entities, have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Covered Partnership Entities that are parties thereto. The Organizational Agreements of the
Covered Partnership Entities are valid and legally binding agreements of the Covered
Partnership Entities that are parties thereto, enforceable against such parties in
accordance with their terms; provided that, with respect to each agreement described in this
Section (xx), the enforceability thereof may be limited by (A) bankruptcy, insolvency,
fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws
relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of
equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or
at law) and (B) public policy, applicable law relating to fiduciary duties and
indemnification and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
(xxi) No Conflicts. None of (A) the offering, issuance or sale by the Partnership of
the Units or (B) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the
Partnership Parties that are parties hereto (i) conflicts with or will conflict with or
constitutes or will constitute a violation of the Organizational Documents of any of the
Covered Partnership Entities, (ii) conflicts or will conflict with or constitutes or will
constitute a breach or violation of, or a default (or an event that, with notice or lapse of
time or both, would constitute such a default) under any agreement or other instrument filed
as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or any Incorporated Document that is governed by
the laws of the States of Texas, Delaware or New York, (iii) violates or will violate the
Delaware LP Act, the Delaware LLC Act, the Delaware GP Act, the laws of the State of Texas,
or federal law, (iv) violates or will violate any order, judgment, decree or injunction of
any court or governmental agency or other authority of or with any court, governmental
agency or body of the States of Delaware or Texas, or the United States of America having
jurisdiction over any of the Partnership Entities or any of their properties or assets in a
proceeding to which any of them or their property is a party or (v) results or will result
in the creation or imposition of any Lien
21
upon any property or assets of any of the
Partnership Entities, which conflicts, breaches, violations, defaults or Liens, in the case
of clauses (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v), would have a Material Adverse Effect or materially
impair the ability of any of the Partnership Entities to consummate the transactions
provided for in this Agreement; provided, however, that no opinion need be expressed
pursuant to this paragraph with respect to federal or state securities laws and other
anti-fraud laws.
(xxii) No Consents. No permit, consent, approval, authorization, order, registration,
filing or qualification under the Delaware LP Act, the Delaware LLC Act, the Delaware GP
Act, Texas law, or federal law is required in connection with the offering, issuance or sale
by the Partnership of the Units or the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
by the Partnership Parties, except for such permits, consents, approvals and similar
authorizations required under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and state securities or
“Blue Sky” laws, as to which such counsel need not express any opinion.
(xxiii) Effectiveness of Registration Statement. The Registration Statement has become
effective under the Securities Act; any required filing of the Prospectus, and any
supplements thereto, pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations has been made in
the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations;
to the knowledge of such counsel, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement or any notice objecting to its use has been issued and no proceedings
for that purpose have been instituted or threatened.
(xxiv) Form of Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Registration Statement and
the Prospectus, when filed with the Commission and on the Closing Date, were, on their face,
appropriately responsive, in all material respects, to the requirements of the Securities
Act, except that in each case such counsel need express no opinion with respect to the
financial statements or other financial and statistical data contained in or omitted from
the Registration Statement or the Prospectus.
(xxv) Description of Common Units. The statements included or incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement and the most recent Preliminary Prospectus under the
captions “Summary—The Offering,” “Our Cash Distribution Policy and Restrictions on
Distributions—General,” “Provisions of Our Partnership Agreement Relating to Cash
Distributions,” “Description of the Common Units,” and “The Partnership Agreement” insofar
as they purport to constitute summaries of the terms of the Common Units (including the
Units) and the Incentive Distribution Rights, are accurate summaries of the terms thereof in
all material respects.
(xxvi) Descriptions and Summaries. The statements included in the Registration
Statement and the most recent Preliminary Prospectus under the captions “Our Cash
Distribution Policy and Restrictions on Distributions,” “Certain Relationships and Related
Transactions and Director Independence,” “Conflicts of Interest and Fiduciary Duties,” “The
Partnership Agreement,” and “Investment in Spectra Energy
22
Partners, LP by Employee Benefit
Plans” insofar as they purport to constitute summaries of the terms of federal or Texas
statutes, rules or regulations or the Delaware LP Act or the Delaware LLC Act, any legal
and governmental proceedings or any contracts and other documents, constitute accurate
summaries of the terms of such statutes, rules and regulations, legal and governmental
proceedings and contracts and other documents in all material respects. The description of
the federal statutes, rules and regulations set forth in the 2009 Annual Report under
“Business—Regulations” and “Business—Environmental Matters” constitute accurate summaries
of the terms of such statutes, rules and regulations in all material respects.
(xxvii) Tax Opinion. The opinion of Xxxxxx & Xxxxxx L.L.P. that is filed as Exhibit
8.1 to the Partnership’s Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed with the Commission on or
after the Execution Time and before the Closing Date is confirmed and the Underwriters may
rely upon such opinion as if it were addressed to them.
(xxviii) Investment Company. None of the Partnership Entities is, nor after giving
effect to the offering and sale of the Units and the application of the proceeds thereof as
described in the Pricing Disclosure Package will any of the Partnership Entities be, an
“investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act.
In rendering such opinion, such counsel may (i) rely in respect of matters of fact upon
certificates of officers and employees of the Partnership Entities and upon information obtained
from public officials, (ii) assume that all documents submitted to such counsel as originals are
authentic, that all copies submitted to such counsel conform to the originals thereof, and that the
signatures on all documents examined by such counsel are genuine, (iii) state that its opinion is
limited to matters governed by federal law and the Delaware LP Act, the Delaware LLC Act, the
Delaware GP Act, and the laws of the State of Texas, (iv) with respect to the opinions
expressed as to the due qualification or registration as a foreign general partnership, limited
partnership or limited liability company, as the case may be, of the Partnership Entities, state
that such opinions are based upon certificates of foreign qualification or registration provided by
the Secretary of State of the States listed on an annex to be attached to such counsel’s opinion
(each of which shall be dated as of a date not more than fourteen days prior to the Closing Date
and shall be provided to counsel to the Underwriters) and (v) state that they express no opinion
with respect to (A) any permits to own or operate any real or personal property or (B) state or
local taxes or tax statutes to which any of the limited partners of the Partnership or any of the
Partnership Parties may be subject.
In addition, such counsel shall state that they have participated in conferences with officers
and other representatives of the Partnership Entities, the independent public accountants of the
Partnership and your representatives, at which the contents of the Registration Statement, the
Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and related matters were discussed, and although such
counsel has not independently verified, is not passing upon, and is not assuming any responsibility
for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in, the Registration
Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (except to the extent specified in the
foregoing opinion), based on the foregoing, no facts have come to such counsel’s attention that
lead such counsel to believe that:
23
(A) the Registration Statement, as of the latest Effective Date, contained
an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
(B) the Pricing Disclosure Package, as of the Execution Time, contained any
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary
in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading, or
(C) the Prospectus, as of its date and on the Closing Date, contained or
contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a
material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
it being understood that such counsel expresses no statement or belief with respect to (i) the
financial statements and related schedules included or incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement, including the notes thereto and independent registered public accountants’
reports thereon, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, (ii) any other financial
information included, incorporated by reference or omitted in the Registration Statement, the
Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus and (iii) representations and warranties and other
statements of fact included in the exhibits to the Registration Statement or any Incorporated
Documents.
(d) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx,
general counsel for SE, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that:
(i) Formation and Qualification. Each of East Tennessee, Saltville, Atlas, MCAP, OGG
and OGT has been duly formed and is validly existing as a limited liability company and is
in good standing under the laws of the state of its formation. NOARK has been duly formed
and is validly existing as a limited partnership under the laws of the State of Arkansas.
(Such counsel may base this opinion solely on certificates of the Secretary of State of
Tennessee, Virginia, Arkansas and Oklahoma, as applicable).
(ii) No Conflicts. None of (A) the offering, issuance or sale by the Partnership of
the Units or (B) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the parties
hereto (i) conflicts with or will conflict with or constitutes or will constitute a
violation of the Organizational Documents of any of the Spectra Entities, (ii) conflicts or
will conflict with or constitutes or will constitute a breach or violation of, or a default
(or an event that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default)
under, any agreement that is filed as a material agreement in the most recent annual report
on Form 10-K filed by SE, or (iii) violates or will violate any order, judgment, decree or
injunction of any court or governmental agency or other authority of or with any court,
governmental agency or body of the States of Delaware or Texas or the United States of
America having jurisdiction over any of the Spectra Entities or any of their properties or
assets in a proceeding to which any of them or their property is a party,
24
which conflicts, breaches, violations, defaults or Liens, in the case of clauses (ii) or
(iii), would have a Material Adverse Effect or materially impair the ability of any of the
Partnership Parties to consummate the transactions provided for in this Agreement; provided,
however, that no opinion need be expressed pursuant to this paragraph with respect to
federal or state securities laws and other anti-fraud laws.
(iii) Legal Proceedings; Material Agreements. To the knowledge of such counsel, there
are no (A) legal or governmental proceedings pending or threatened to which any of the
Partnership Entities is a party or to which any of their respective properties is subject
that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure
Package or the Prospectus but are not so described as required or, if determined adversely
to any Partnership Entity, would individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse
Effect on the Partnership Entities; and (B) agreements, contracts, indentures, leases or
other instruments that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the
Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration
Statement or any Incorporated Document that are not described or filed as required by the
Securities Act.
In rendering such opinion, such counsel may (i) rely in respect of matters of fact upon
certificates of officers and employees of the Partnership Parties and upon information obtained
from public officials, (ii) assume that all documents submitted to such counsel as originals are
authentic, that all copies submitted to such counsel conform to the originals thereof, and that the
signatures on all documents examined by such counsel are genuine, (iii) state that such counsel’s
opinion is limited to matters governed by federal law and the Delaware LP Act, the Delaware LLC Act
and the Delaware General Corporate Law and the laws of the State of Texas, and (iv) state that such
counsel expresses no opinion with respect to (A) any permits to own or operate any real or personal
property or (B) state or local taxes or tax statutes to which any of the limited partners of the
Partnership or any of the Partnership Parties may be subject.
(e) The Underwriters shall have received from Xxxxx Xxxxx L.L.P., counsel for the
Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Managers, with
respect to the issuance and sale of the Units, the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure
Package and the Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) and other related matters as the
Managers may reasonably require, and the Partnership Parties shall have furnished to such counsel
such documents as they request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.
(f) The Underwriters shall have received, on each of the date hereof and the Closing Date, a
letter dated the date hereof or the Closing Date, as the case may be, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Underwriters, from Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent public accountants,
containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort
letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information
contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus;
provided that the letter delivered on the Closing Date shall use a “cut off date” not earlier than
the date hereof.
25
(g) The “lock up” agreements, each substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto,
between you and each of SE, SET, SEPL, the General Partner and each officer and director of GP LLC
relating to sales and certain other dispositions of Common Units or certain other securities,
delivered to you on or before the date hereof, shall be in full force and effect on the Closing
Date.
The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase Additional Units hereunder are subject
to the delivery to you on the applicable Option Closing Date of such documents as you may
reasonably request with respect to the good standing of the Partnership Entities, the due
authorization and issuance of the Additional Units to be sold on such Option Closing Date and other
matters related to the issuance of such Additional Units.
6. Covenants of the Partnership Parties. Each of the Partnership Parties, jointly and
severally, covenants with each Underwriter as follows:
(a) To furnish to you, without charge, a signed copy of the Registration Statement (including
exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein) and to deliver to each of the
Underwriters during the period mentioned in Section 6(e) or 6(f) below, as many copies of the most
recent Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Incorporated Documents and any supplements and
amendments thereto or to the Registration Statement as you may reasonably request.
(b) Before amending or supplementing the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or
the Prospectus, to furnish to you a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement and not to
file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which you reasonably object.
(c) To furnish to you a copy of each proposed free writing prospectus to be prepared by or on
behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Partnership and not to use or refer to any proposed free
writing prospectus to which you reasonably object.
(d) Not to take any action that would result in an Underwriter or the Partnership being
required to file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act a free
writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of the Underwriter that the Underwriter otherwise would
not have been required to file thereunder.
(e) If the Pricing Disclosure Package is being used to solicit offers to buy the Units at a
time when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers and any event shall occur
or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Pricing
Disclosure Package in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances, not
misleading, or if any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which the Pricing
Disclosure Package conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement then on
file, or if, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or supplement
the Pricing Disclosure Package to comply with applicable law, forthwith to prepare, file with the
Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to any dealer upon request,
either amendments or supplements to the Pricing Disclosure Package so that the
26
statements in the Pricing Disclosure Package as so amended or supplemented will not, in the
light of the circumstances when the Pricing Disclosure Package is delivered to a prospective
purchaser, be misleading or so that the Pricing Disclosure Package, as amended or supplemented,
will no longer conflict with the Registration Statement, or so that the Pricing Disclosure Package,
as amended or supplemented, will comply with applicable law.
(f) If, during such period after the first date of the public offering of the Units as in the
opinion of counsel for the Underwriters the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to
in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is required by law to be delivered in connection with sales
by an Underwriter or dealer, any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is
necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances when the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule
173(a) of the Securities Act) is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if, in the opinion of
counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with
applicable law, forthwith to prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to
the Underwriters and to the dealers (whose names and addresses you will furnish to the Partnership)
to which Units may have been sold by you on behalf of the Underwriters and to any other dealers
upon request, either amendments or supplements to the Prospectus so that the statements in the
Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when the
Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is
delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will
comply with applicable law.
(g) To endeavor to qualify the Units for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws
of such jurisdictions as you shall reasonably request; provided that in no event shall the
Partnership be obligated to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so
qualified or to take any action that would subject it to service of process in suits, other than
those arising out of the offering or sale of the Units, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so
subject.
(h) To make generally available to the Partnership’s security holders and to you as soon as
practicable an earning statement covering a period of at least twelve months beginning with the
first fiscal quarter of the Partnership occurring after the date of this Agreement which shall
satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder.
(i) Whether or not the transactions contemplated in this Agreement are consummated or this
Agreement is terminated, to pay or cause to be paid all expenses incident to the performance of its
obligations under this Agreement, including: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the
Partnership’s counsel and the Partnership’s accountants in connection with the registration and
delivery of the Units under the Securities Act and all other fees or expenses in connection with
the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing
Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of, used
by, or referred to by the Partnership and amendments and supplements to any of the foregoing,
including the filing fees payable to the Commission relating to the Units (within the time required
by Rule 456(b)(1), if applicable), all printing costs associated therewith, and the mailing and
delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers, in
27
the quantities hereinabove specified, (ii) all costs and expenses related to the transfer and
delivery of the Units to the Underwriters, including any transfer or other taxes payable thereon,
(iii) the cost of printing or producing any Blue Sky or Legal Investment memorandum in connection
with the offer and sale of the Units under state securities laws and all expenses in connection
with the qualification of the Units for offer and sale under state securities laws as provided in
Section 6(g) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for
the Underwriters in connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky or Legal
Investment memorandum, (iv) all filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to
the Underwriters incurred in connection with the review and qualification of the offering of the
Units by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, (v) all costs and expenses incident to
listing the Units on the NYSE, (vi) the cost of printing certificates representing the Units, (vii)
the costs and charges of any transfer agent, registrar or depositary, (viii) the costs and expenses
of the Partnership relating to investor presentations on any “road show” undertaken in connection
with the marketing of the offering of the Units, including, without limitation, expenses associated
with the preparation or dissemination of any electronic road show, expenses associated with the
production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in
connection with the road show presentations with the prior approval of the Partnership, travel and
lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of the Partnership and any such consultants,
and the cost of any aircraft chartered in connection with the road show, (ix) the document
production charges and expenses associated with printing this Agreement and (x) all other costs and
expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Partnership hereunder for which
provision is not otherwise made in this Section. It is understood, however, that except as
provided in this Section, Section 8 entitled “Indemnity and Contribution” and the last paragraph of
Section 10 below, the Underwriters will pay all of their costs and expenses, including fees and
disbursements of their counsel, stock transfer taxes payable on resale of any of the Units by them
and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.
(j) Not to, without the prior written consent of Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (“Citi”),
during the restricted period set forth in Schedule I hereto, (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to
sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any
option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or
indirectly, any Common Units or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for
Common Units or (2) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or
in part, any of the economic consequences 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
such other securities, in cash or otherwise or (3) file any registration statement with the
Commission relating to the offering of any Common Units or any securities convertible into or
exercisable or exchangeable for Common Units. The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (a) the
Units to be sold hereunder, (b) the issuance by the Partnership of Common Units pursuant to any
employee benefit plan of the Partnership in effect at the Effective Time and upon the exercise of
an option or warrant or the conversion of a security outstanding as of the Effective Time, or (c)
the establishment of a trading plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act for the transfer
of Common Units, provided that such plan does not provide for the transfer of Common Units during
the 45 day restricted period.
28
7. Covenants of the Underwriters. Each Underwriter severally covenants with the Partnership
not to take any action that would result in the Partnership’s being required to file with the
Commission under Rule 433(d) a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of such Underwriter
that otherwise would not be required to be filed by the Partnership thereunder, but for the action
of the Underwriter
8. Indemnity and Contribution. (a) Each of the Partnership Parties agrees, jointly and
severally, to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, each person, if any, who controls any
Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act, each affiliate of any Underwriter within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities
Act and each agent of any Underwriter from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and
liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in
connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) caused by any untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any
amendment thereof, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package, any Issuer Free
Writing Prospectus as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act, any Partnership information
that the Partnership has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the
Securities Act, or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or caused by any omission
or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities are caused by any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or
omission based upon information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Partnership in writing
by such Underwriter through you expressly for use therein.
(b) Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the
each of the Partnership Parties and each of their directors, each of their officers who sign the
Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Partnership Parties within the
meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same
extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Partnership Parties to such Underwriter, but only with
reference to information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Partnership in writing by
such Underwriter through you expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary
Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus or
any amendment or supplement thereto.
(c) In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted
involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 8(a) or 8(b),
such person (the “indemnified party”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity
may be sought (the “indemnifying party”) in writing and the indemnifying party, upon request of the
indemnified party, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to
represent the indemnified party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such
proceeding and shall pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In
any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the
fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the
indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such
counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such
29
proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the
indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due
to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood that the indemnifying
party shall not, in respect of the legal expenses of any indemnified party in connection with any
proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of
more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all such indemnified parties and
that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Such firm shall be
designated in writing by the Manager authorized to appoint counsel under this Section set forth in
Schedule I hereto, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(a), and by the
Partnership, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(b). The indemnifying party
shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but
if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying
party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of
such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified
party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and
expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second and third sentences of this paragraph, the
indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected
without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt
by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have
reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such
settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified
party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any
indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by
such indemnified party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such
indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding.
(d) To the extent the indemnification provided for in Section 8(a) or 8(b) is unavailable to
an indemnified party or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities
referred to therein, then each indemnifying party under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying
such indemnified party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion
as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Partnership Parties on the one
hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the offering of the Units or (ii) if the
allocation provided by clause 8(d)(i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion
as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause 8(d)(i) above but
also the relative fault of the Partnership Parties on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the
other hand in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative
benefits received by the Partnership Parties on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand
in connection with the offering of the Units shall be deemed to be in the same respective
proportions as the net proceeds from the offering of the Units (before deducting expenses) received
by the Partnership Parties and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the
Underwriters bear to the aggregate initial public offering price of the Units set forth in the
Prospectus. The relative fault of the Partnership Parties on the one hand and the Underwriters on
the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether
30
the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to
state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Partnership Parties or by the
Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Underwriters’ respective obligations to
contribute pursuant to this Section 8 are several in proportion to the respective number of Units
they have purchased hereunder, and not joint.
(e) The Partnership Parties and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just or equitable
if contribution pursuant to this Section 8 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the
Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that
does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in Section 8(d). The amount paid
or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities
referred to in Section 8(d) shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above,
any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with
investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
Section 8, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by
which the total price at which the Units underwritten by it and distributed to the public were
offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been
required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of
the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation. The remedies provided for in this Section 8 are not exclusive and
shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any indemnified party at
law or in equity.
(f) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 8 and the
representations, warranties and other statements of the Partnership Parties contained in this
Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of
this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, any person
controlling any Underwriter or any affiliate or agent of any Underwriter or by or on behalf of the
Partnership Parties, each of their officers or directors or any person controlling the Partnership
Parties and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any of the Units.
9. Termination. The Underwriters may terminate this Agreement by notice given by you to the
Partnership, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date
(i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on, or by, the New York Stock
Exchange or the NASDAQ Global Market, (ii) trading of any securities of the Partnership shall have
been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market, (iii) a material disruption in
securities settlement, payment or clearance services in the United States shall have occurred, (iv)
any moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by Federal or New York
State authorities or (v) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, or
any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis that, in your judgment, is material and
adverse and which, singly or together with any other event specified in this clause (v), makes it,
in your judgment, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed
31
with the offer, sale or delivery of the Units on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the
Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus.
10. Effectiveness; Defaulting Underwriters. This Agreement shall become effective upon the
execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto.
If, on the Closing Date or an Option Closing Date, as the case may be, any one or more of the
Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Units that it has or they have agreed to purchase
hereunder on such date, and the aggregate number of Units which such defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase is not more than one tenth of the aggregate
number of the Units to be purchased on such date, the other Underwriters shall be obligated
severally in the proportions that the number of Firm Units set forth opposite their respective
names in Schedule II bears to the aggregate number of Firm Units set forth opposite the names of
all such non defaulting Underwriters, or in such other proportions as you may specify, to purchase
the Units which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to
purchase on such date; provided that in no event shall the number of Units that any Underwriter has
agreed to purchase pursuant to this Agreement be increased pursuant to this Section 10 by an amount
in excess of one ninth of such number of Units without the written consent of such Underwriter.
If, on the Closing Date, any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Firm
Units and the aggregate number of Firm Units with respect to which such default occurs is more than
one tenth of the aggregate number of Firm Units to be purchased on such date, and arrangements
satisfactory to you and the Partnership for the purchase of such Firm Units are not made within 36
hours after such default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any non
defaulting Underwriter or the Partnership. In any such case either you or the Partnership shall
have the right to postpone the Closing Date, but in no event for longer than seven days, in order
that the required changes, if any, in the Registration Statement, in the Pricing Disclosure
Package, in the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. If, on an
Option Closing Date, any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Additional
Units and the aggregate number of Additional Units with respect to which such default occurs is
more than one tenth of the aggregate number of Additional Units to be purchased on such Option
Closing Date, the non-defaulting Underwriters shall have the option to (i) terminate their
obligation hereunder to purchase the Additional Units to be sold on such Option Closing Date or
(ii) purchase not less than the number of Additional Units that such non-defaulting Underwriters
would have been obligated to purchase in the absence of such default. Any action taken under this
paragraph shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of
such Underwriter under this Agreement. 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 II hereto that, pursuant to this Section 10, purchases Units that a defaulting Underwriter
agreed but failed to purchase.
If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriters (other than as a result of the
events described in Section 9(i), Section 9(iii), Section 9(iv), Section 9(v) or Section 10), or
any of them, because of any failure or refusal on the part of the Partnership to comply with the
terms or to fulfill any of the conditions of this Agreement, or if for any reason the Partnership
shall be
32
unable to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Partnership will reimburse the
Underwriters or such Underwriters as have so terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves,
severally, for all out of pocket expenses (including the fees and disbursements of their counsel)
reasonably incurred by such Underwriters in connection with this Agreement or the offering
contemplated hereunder.
11. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with any contemporaneous written agreements
and any prior written agreements (to the extent not superseded by this Agreement) that relate to
the offering of the Units, represents the entire agreement between the Partnership and the
Underwriters with respect to the preparation of any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure
Package, the Prospectus, the conduct of the offering, and the purchase and sale of the Units.
12. No Fiduciary Duty. The Partnership acknowledges that in connection with the offering of
the Units: (a) the Underwriters have acted at arms length, are not agents of, and owe no fiduciary
duties to, the Partnership or any other person, (b) the Underwriters owe the Partnership only those
duties and obligations set forth in this Agreement and prior written agreements (to the extent not
superseded by this Agreement), if any, and (c) the Underwriters may have interests that differ from
those of the Partnership. The Partnership waives to the full extent permitted by applicable law
any claims it may have against the Underwriters arising from an alleged breach of fiduciary duty in
connection with the offering of the Units.
13. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in two or more counterparts, each of which
shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the
same instrument.
14. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
internal laws of the State of New York.
15. Headings. The headings of the sections of this Agreement have been inserted for
convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed a part of this Agreement.
16. Notices. All communications hereunder shall be in writing and effective only upon receipt
and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered, mailed or sent to you at the address set forth in
Schedule I hereto; and if to the Partnership shall be delivered, mailed or sent to the address set
forth in Schedule I hereto.
33
Very truly yours, Spectra Energy Partners, LP |
||||
By: | Spectra Energy Partners (DE) GP, LP its general partner |
|||
By: | Spectra Energy Partners GP, LLC its general partner |
|||
By: | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx | |||
Title: | Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||
Spectra Energy Partners GP, LLC |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx | |||
Title: | Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||
Spectra Energy Partners (DE) GP, LP |
||||
By: | Spectra Energy Partners GP, LLC its general partner |
|||
By: | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx | |||
Title: | Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||
Accepted as of the date hereof Citigroup Global Markets Inc. Barclays Capital Inc. X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Incorporated Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated Xxxxx Fargo Securities, LLC Acting severally on behalf of themselves and the several Underwriters named in Schedule II hereto. |
||||
By: | Citigroup Global Markets Inc. |
|||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxxx Xxxxx | |||
Title: | Director | |||
By: | Barclays Capital Inc. |
|||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxxx Xxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxxxx Xxxx | |||
Title: | Vice President | |||
By: | X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC |
|||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxxx Xxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxxxx Xxxx | |||
Title: | Vice President | |||
By: | Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Incorporated |
|||
By: | /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxx X. Xxxxx | |||
Title: | Director | |||
By: | Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated |
|||
By: | /s/ Xxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||
Title: | Executive Director |
By: | Xxxxx Fargo Securities, LLC |
|||
By: | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxx Xxxxxx | |||
Title: | Director | |||
SCHEDULE I
Managers: |
||
Manager authorized to release
lock-up under Section 6:
|
Citigroup Global Markets Inc. | |
Manager authorized to appoint
counsel under Section 8(c):
|
Citigroup Global Markets Inc. | |
Additional Pricing Disclosure Package
Information:
|
Number of Units: 6,250,000 Firm Units or, if the Underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase Additional Units, 7,187,500 Units | |
Public offering price for the Units: $32.87 per unit | ||
Purchase Price: $31.55 per unit | ||
Lock-up Restricted Period:
|
45 days from the date of the Prospectus | |
Title of Units to be purchased:
|
Common Units representing limited partner interests | |
Selling Concession:
|
$0.79 a unit | |
Closing Date and Time:
|
December 7, 2010; 9:00 a.m. | |
Closing Location:
|
Xxxxxx & Xxxxxx LLP First City Tower 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000 Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000-0000 |
|
Address for Notices to Underwriters:
|
Citigroup Global Markets Inc. 000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 Attn: General Counsel |
|
Address for Notices to the Partnership:
|
Spectra Energy Partners, LP 0000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000 Attn: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxx, Secretary |
I-1
SCHEDULE II
Number of Firm Units To Be | ||||
Underwriter | Purchased | |||
Citigroup Global Markets Inc. |
843,750 | |||
Barclays Capital Inc. |
843,750 | |||
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC |
843,750 | |||
Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx
Incorporated |
843,750 | |||
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated |
843,750 | |||
Xxxxx Fargo Securities, LLC |
843,750 | |||
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC |
312,500 | |||
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. |
312,500 | |||
UBS Securities LLC |
312,500 | |||
RBC Capital Markets, LLC |
250,000 | |||
Total: |
6,250,000 | |||
II-1
EXHIBIT A
OWNERSHIP OF PARTNERSHIP ENTITIES
Partnership Entity: | Equity Owned By | |||
Partnership
|
• | 2% general partner interest owned by the General Partner represented by 1,678,677 General Partner Units | ||
• | All Incentive Distribution Rights owned by the General Partner | |||
• | 20.2% limited partner interest owned by SET, represented by 16,958,130 Common Units | |||
• | 52.3% limited partner interest owned by SEPL represented by 43,956,556 Common Units | |||
• | 25.5% limited partner interest owned by public unitholders, represented by 21,376,961 Common Units. | |||
GP LLC
|
• | 100% of membership interests owned by SET | ||
General Partner
|
• | 1% general partner interest owned by GP LLC | ||
• | 99% limited partner interest owned by SEPL | |||
Operating
Partnership
|
• | .001% general partner interest owned by the Operating GP | ||
• | 99.999% limited partner interest owned by the Partnership | |||
Operating GP
|
• | 100% of membership interests owned by the Partnership | ||
East Tennessee
|
• | 100% of membership interests owned by the Operating Partnership | ||
Saltville
|
• | 100% of membership interests owned by the Operating Partnership | ||
Gulfstream
|
• | 49.0% of membership interests owned by the Operating Partnership | ||
• | 1.0% of membership interests owned by SEPL | |||
SEP MHP
|
• | 100% of membership interests owned by the Operating Partnership | ||
Market Hub
|
• | 50% of partnership interests owned by SEP MHP | ||
• | 48% of partnership interests owned by Spectra Energy MHP Holding, LLC | |||
• | 2% of partnership interests owned by Spectra Energy Southeast MHP Holding, LLC |
A-1
Partnership Entity: | Equity Owned By | |||
Xxxx Hub and Xxxx
Bluff
|
• | 100% of membership interests owned by Market Hub | ||
Atlas
|
• | 100% of membership interests owned by the Operating Partnership | ||
MCAP
|
• | 100% of membership interests owned by the Operating Partnership | ||
NOARK
|
• | 25% general partner interest owned by MCAP | ||
• | 74% general partner interest owned by Atlas | |||
• | 1% limited partner interest owned by Atlas | |||
OGG and OGT
|
• | 100% of membership interests owned by NOARK |
A-2
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF LOCK-UP LETTER
December 2, 2010
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
& the other Managers set forth on Schedule I
to the Underwriting Agreement
& the other Managers set forth on Schedule I
to the Underwriting Agreement
c/o
|
Citigroup Global Markets Inc. | |
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx | ||
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned understands that Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (“Citi”), Barclays Capital
Inc., X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC, Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Incorporated, Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated and Xxxxx Fargo Securities, LLC (the “Managers”) propose to enter into
an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Spectra Energy Partners, LP (the
“Partnership”), Spectra Energy Partners GP, LLC and Spectra Energy Partners (DE) GP, LP, providing
for the public offering (the “Public Offering”) by the several Underwriters (the “Underwriters”),
of 6,250,000 common units (the “Units”) of the common units representing limited partner interests
in the Partnership (the “Common Units”).
To induce the Underwriters that may participate in the Public Offering to continue their
efforts in connection with the Public Offering, the undersigned hereby agrees that, without the
prior written consent of Citi on behalf of the Underwriters, it will not, during the period
commencing on the date hereof and ending 45 days after the date of the final prospectus relating to
the Public Offering (the “Prospectus”), (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option
or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or
warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Common
Units or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Units or (2)
enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the
economic consequences 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 such other securities, in
cash or otherwise. The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (a) transactions relating to Common
Units or other securities acquired in open market transactions after the completion of the Public
Offering, provided that no filing under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the “Exchange Act”), shall be required or shall be voluntarily made in connection with
subsequent sales of Common Units or other securities acquired in such open market transactions or
(b) transfers of Common Units or any security convertible into Common Units as a bona fide gift;
provided that in the case of any transfer or distribution pursuant to clause (b), (i) each donee or
distributee shall sign and deliver a lock up letter substantially in the form of this letter and
(ii) no filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, reporting a reduction in beneficial
ownership of Common Units, shall be required or shall be voluntarily made during the restricted
period referred to in the foregoing sentence, or (c) the
B-1
establishment of a trading plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act for the
transfer of Common Units, provided that such plan does not provide for the transfer of Common Units
during the restricted period. In addition, the undersigned agrees that, without the prior written
consent of Citi on behalf of the Underwriters, it will not, during the period commencing on the
date hereof and ending 45 days after the date of the Prospectus, make any demand for or exercise
any right with respect to, the registration of any Common Units or any security convertible into or
exercisable or exchangeable for Common Units. The undersigned also agrees and consents to the
entry of stop transfer instructions with the Partnership’s transfer agent and registrar against the
transfer of the undersigned’s Common Units except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.
The undersigned understands that the Partnership and the Underwriters are relying upon this
agreement in proceeding toward consummation of the Public Offering. The undersigned further
understands that this agreement is irrevocable and shall be binding upon the undersigned’s heirs,
legal representatives, successors and assigns.
Whether or not the Public Offering actually occurs depends on a number of factors, including
market conditions. Any Public Offering will only be made pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement,
the terms of which are subject to negotiation between the Partnership and the Underwriters.
Very truly yours, |
||||
Name: | ||||
B-2