WILLIAMS PIPELINE PARTNERS L.P. 16,250,000 Common Units Representing Limited Partner Interests UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT 1.1
Execution Copy
XXXXXXXX PIPELINE PARTNERS L.P.
16,250,000 Common Units
Representing Limited Partner Interests
January 17, 2008
XXXXXX BROTHERS INC.
CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.
XXXXXXX LYNCH, PIERCE, XXXXXX & XXXXX
INCORPORATED
As the Representatives of the several
Underwriters named in Schedule 1 attached hereto
CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.
XXXXXXX LYNCH, PIERCE, XXXXXX & XXXXX
INCORPORATED
As the Representatives of the several
Underwriters named in Schedule 1 attached hereto
c/x Xxxxxx Brothers Inc.
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
c/o Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
x/x Xxxxxxx Xxxxx & Xx.
Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx
Incorporated
0 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx
Incorporated
0 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Xxxxxxxx Pipeline Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), proposes
to sell 16,250,000 common units (the “Firm Units”) representing limited partner interests in the
Partnership (the “Common Units”). In addition, the Partnership proposes to grant to the
underwriters (the “Underwriters”) named in Schedule 1 attached to this agreement (this
“Agreement”) an option to purchase up to an additional 2,437,500 Common Units on the terms set
forth in Section 2 (the “Option Units”). The Firm Units and the Option Units, if
purchased, are hereinafter collectively called the “Units.” Capitalized terms used but not defined
herein shall have the same meanings given them in the Partnership Agreement or the Prospectus (each
as defined herein).
It is understood and agreed to by all parties that the Partnership was formed to acquire an
indirect interest in Northwest Pipeline GP, a Delaware general partnership (“Northwest”), as
described more particularly in the Prospectus (as defined in Section 1(a)). Xxxxxxxx
Pipeline GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, is the general partner (the “General
Partner”) of the Partnership. As of the Initial Delivery Date (as defined in Section 4),
Xxxxxxxx Gas Pipeline
Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“WGPC”) and a direct wholly owned
subsidiary of The Xxxxxxxx Companies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Xxxxxxxx”), will serve as the
sole member of the General Partner. The Partnership will be the sole member of Xxxxxxxx Pipeline
Operating LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“OLLC”).
Prior to the date hereof, the following have occurred:
(a) WGPC formed Xxxxxxxx Pipeline Partners Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
(“WPP Holdings”), under the terms of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (the “Delaware LLC
Act”) and contributed 11.6% of the stock of Northwest Pipeline Corporation, a Delaware corporation
(“NWP Corp”) to WPP Holdings in exchange for all of the membership interests in WPP Holdings;
(b) WGPC formed WGPC Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“WGPC Holdings”),
under the terms of the Delaware LLC Act and contributed 88.4% of the stock of NWP Corp to WGPC
Holdings in exchange for all of the membership interests in WGPC Holdings;
(c) WGPC formed the General Partner under the terms of the Delaware LLC Act and contributed
$1,000 in exchange for all of the membership interests in the General Partner;
(d) The General Partner and Xxxxxxxx Pipeline Services Company, a Delaware corporation
(“WPSC”), formed the Partnership under the terms of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited
Partnership Act (the “Delaware LP Act”), to which the General Partner contributed $20 and WPSC
contributed $980 in exchange for a 2% general partner interest and 98% limited partner interest,
respectively;
(e) The Partnership formed WPP Merger LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“WPP
Merger”), under the terms of the Delaware LLC Act and contributed $1,000 in exchange for all of the
interests in WPP Merger;
(f) The Partnership formed OLLC, under the terms of the Delaware LLC Act and contributed
$1,000 in exchange for all of the interests in OLLC;
(g) NWP Corp formed Parachute Lateral LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Parachute”),
under the terms of the Delaware LLC Act and contributed $1,000 in exchange for all of the interests
in Parachute;
(h) NWP Corp converted to a general partnership under the Delaware Revised Uniform Partnership
Act (the “Delaware Partnership Act”) and is renamed Northwest Pipeline G.P., and WGPC Holdings
distributed a 0.5% general partner interest in Northwest to WGPC, which, in turn, contributed such
interest to WPP Holdings;
(i) the Partnership will enter into a working capital loan agreement with Xxxxxxxx providing
for a $20 million revolving credit facility (the “Working Capital Loan Agreement”);
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(j) (1) Northwest received approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to transfer
the Parachute Lateral Assets to Parachute, a Delaware limited liability company, (2) Northwest sold
all of the member interests in Parachute to an affiliate of Xxxxxxxx and (3) Northwest subsequently
distributed the sale proceeds to WGPC through WGPC Holdings; and
(k) WPP Holdings will transfer a 7% interest in Northwest to WGPC, which will immediately
transfer such interest to WPP Holdings, resulting in WPP Holdings owning a 19.1% interest in
Northwest.
The transactions described in clauses (a) – (k) above are referred to herein
collectively as the “Prior Transactions.”
On the Initial Delivery Date, the following will occur:
(a) The public, through the Underwriters, will contribute $304.3 million to the Partnership in
exchange for Common Units representing a 47.5% limited partner interest in the Partnership;
(b) The General Partner, the Partnership, OLLC, WPP Merger, WPP Holdings, Northwest, WGPC,
WGPC Holdings and WPSC will enter into a Contribution, Conveyance and Assumption Agreement (the
“Contribution Agreement”) pursuant to which the following transactions will occur on the Initial
Delivery Date:
(i) the Partnership will use the offering proceeds to (A) pay transaction costs of $3.4
million, (B) make a cash capital contribution to WPP Merger of $300.9 million (such amount
is referred to as the “Net Proceeds”), and (c) redeem the limited partner interest in the
Partnership acquired by WPSC in exchange for $980;
(ii) WPP Merger will contribute the Net Proceeds to Northwest in exchange for a 12.9%
general partner interest in Northwest;
(iii) WPP Merger will merge with and into WPP Holdings with WPP Holdings continuing as
the surviving entity, and the Partnership will contribute the membership interests in
post-merger WPP Holdings to OLLC;
(iv) the Partnership will distribute the Net Proceeds to WGPC Holdings, and WGPC
Holdings will distribute the Net Proceeds to WGPC as a reimbursement for certain capital
expenditures;
(v) WGPC will contribute 100% of its membership interests in WPP Holdings (the “WPP
Holdings Interest”) to the General Partner;
(vi) the General Partner will contribute the WPP Holdings Interest to the Partnership
in exchange for a continuation of its 2% general partner interest, as represented by 684,869
general partner units, 6,350,668 Common Units and 10,957,900 Subordinated Units,
representing 50.5% of the Partnership’s common and subordinated units, and the incentive
distribution rights; and
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(vii) if the Underwriters exercise their option to purchase any Option Units within 30
days after the date of this Agreement as provided in Section 2, the Partnership will sell
the Option Units to the Underwriters at the price set forth in Section 2 and the net
proceeds from the sale of any Option Units will be used by the Partnership for general
partnership purposes.
(c) The General Partner, the Partnership, Xxxxxxxx and certain of its affiliates will enter
into an omnibus agreement (the “Omnibus Agreement”) governing certain reimbursement,
indemnification and licensing matters between such parties;
(d) The Partnership shall adopt the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Xxxxxxxx Pipeline Partners L.P. (as the same may be amended or restated on or prior to each
Delivery Date, the “Partnership Agreement”); and
(e) The Northwest shall adopt the Amended and Restated Agreement of General Partnership of
Northwest (as the same may be amended or restated on or prior to each Delivery Date, the “Northwest
Partnership Agreement”).
The transactions described above in clauses (a) — (e) above are referred to as
the “Subsequent Transactions” and, together with the Prior Transactions, are referred to as the
“Transactions.”
Each of Northwest and WPP Holdings is referred to herein, individually, as a “Subsidiary” and,
collectively, as the “Subsidiaries.” The Partnership, the General Partner, OLLC and the
Subsidiaries are sometimes referred to herein collectively as the “Partnership Entities.” The
General Partner, the Partnership and OLLC are sometimes referred to herein collectively as the
“Xxxxxxxx Parties.” The Xxxxxxxx Parties, together with Xxxxxxxx, Northwest Pipeline Services and
WGPC are sometimes referred to herein collectively as the “Xxxxxxxx Entities.”
This is to confirm the agreement (this “Agreement”) concerning the purchase of the Firm Units
and the Option Units, if any, from the Partnership by the Underwriters.
Section 1. Representations, Warranties and Agreements of the Xxxxxxxx Parties. The Xxxxxxxx Parties jointly and severally represent, warrant and agree that:
(a) A registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-146015) relating to the Units
has (i) been prepared by the Partnership in conformity with the requirements of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the rules and regulations
(the “Rules and Regulations”) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”)
thereunder, (ii) been filed with the Commission under the Securities Act and (iii) become
effective under the Securities Act. Copies of such registration statement and any amendment
thereto have been delivered by the Partnership to you as the representatives (the
“Representatives”) of the Underwriters. As used in this Agreement:
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(i) “Applicable Time” means 8:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the date of this
Agreement, which the Underwriters have informed the Partnership and its counsel is a time
prior to the time of the first sale of the Units;
(ii) “Effective Date” means the date and time as of which such registration statement
was declared effective by the Commission;
(iii) “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means each “free writing prospectus” (as defined
in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations) prepared by or on behalf of the Partnership or
used or referred to by the Partnership in connection with the offering of the Units;
(iv) “Preliminary Prospectus” means any preliminary prospectus relating to the Units
included in such registration statement or filed with the Commission by the Partnership
pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations;
(v) “Pricing Disclosure Package” means, as of the Applicable Time, the most recent
Preliminary Prospectus, together with the information included in Schedule 3 hereto,
and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus filed or used by the Partnership on or before the
Applicable Time, other than a road show that is an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus but is not
required to be filed under Rule 433 of the Rules and Regulations;
(vi) “Prospectus” means the final prospectus relating to the Units, as filed with the
Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations; and
(vii) “Registration Statement” means the registration statement relating to the Units
on Form S-1 (File No. 333-146015), as amended as of the Effective Date, including any
Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus and all exhibits to such registration statement.
Any reference to the “most recent Preliminary Prospectus” shall be deemed to refer to the
latest Preliminary Prospectus included in the Registration Statement or filed pursuant to
Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations prior to or on the date hereof. Any reference
herein to the term “Registration Statement” shall be deemed to include any abbreviated
registration statement to register additional Common Units under Rule 462(b) of the Rules
and Regulations (a “Rule 462 Registration Statement”). The Commission has not issued any
order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and no proceeding or examination
for such purpose has been instituted or threatened by the Commission.
(b) The Partnership was not at the time of initial filing of the Registration Statement
and at the earliest time thereafter that the Partnership or another offering participant
made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) of the Rules and Regulations)
of the Units, is not on the date hereof and will not be on the applicable Delivery Date (as
defined in Section 4) an “ineligible issuer” (as defined in Rule 405).
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(c) The Registration Statement conformed and will conform in all material respects on
the Effective Date and on the applicable Delivery Date, and any amendment to the
Registration Statement filed after the date hereof will conform in all material respects
when filed, to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations. The
most recent Preliminary Prospectus conformed, and the Prospectus will conform, in all
material respects when filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and
Regulations and on the applicable Delivery Date to the requirements of the Securities Act
and the Rules and Regulations.
(d) The Registration Statement did not, as of the Effective Date, contain an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided that no representation
or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Registration
Statement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Partnership through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for
inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 8(e).
(e) The Prospectus will not, as of its date and on the applicable Delivery Date,
contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no representation or
warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Prospectus in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Partnership through the
Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which
information is specified in Section 8(e).
(f) The Pricing Disclosure Package did not, as of the Applicable Time, contain an
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information
contained in or omitted from the Pricing Disclosure Package in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Partnership through the Representatives
by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information is
specified in Section 8(e).
(g) Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (including, without limitation, any road show
that is a free writing prospectus under Rule 433 of the Rules and Regulations) when
considered together with the Pricing Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time, did not
contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(h) Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conformed or will conform in all material
respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations on the date
of first use, and the Partnership has complied with all prospectus delivery and any filing
requirements applicable to such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus pursuant to the
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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 Representatives. The Partnership has retained in accordance with the Rules and
Regulations all Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses that were not required to be filed pursuant
to the Rules and Regulations. The Partnership has taken all actions necessary so that any
“road show” (as defined in Rule 433 of the Rules and Regulations) in connection with the
offering of the Common Units will not be required to be filed pursuant to the Rules and
Regulations.
(i) The Partnership has been duly formed and is validly existing in good standing as a
limited partnership under the Delaware LP Act, has full partnership power and authority
necessary to own or hold its properties and assets and to conduct the businesses in which it
is engaged, and is, or at each Delivery Date will be, duly registered or qualified to do
business as a foreign limited partnership in each jurisdiction listed opposite its name in
Annex I, such jurisdictions being the only jurisdictions in which its ownership or
lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where
the failure to so register or qualify could not reasonably be expected to (i) have a
material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations,
securityholders’ equity, properties, business or prospects of the Partnership Entities,
taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse Effect”), or (ii) subject the limited partners of the
Partnership to any material liability or disability.
(j) Each of the General Partner, OLLC and WPP Holdings has been duly formed and is
validly existing in good standing as a limited liability company under the Delaware LLC Act,
has full limited liability company power and authority necessary to own or hold its
properties and to conduct the businesses in which it is engaged, and is, or at each Delivery
Date will be, duly registered or qualified to do business as a foreign limited liability
company in each jurisdiction listed opposite its name in Annex I, such jurisdictions
being the only jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of
its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to so register or qualify
could not reasonably be expected to (i) have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) subject the
limited partners of the Partnership to any material liability or disability.
(k) Northwest has been duly formed and is validly existing in good standing as a
general partnership under the Delaware Partnership Act, has full general partnership power
and authority necessary to own or hold its properties and to conduct the businesses in which
it is engaged, and Northwest, or, to the extent required by applicable law, one of its
partners, is, or at each Delivery Date will be, duly registered or qualified to do business
as a foreign entity in each jurisdiction listed opposite its name in Annex I, such
jurisdictions being the only jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of property or
the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to so
register or qualify could not reasonably be expected to (i) have a Material Adverse Effect
or (ii) subject the limited partners of the Partnership to any material liability or
disability.
(l) On the Initial Delivery Date, after giving effect to the Transactions, the General
Partner will be the sole general partner of the Partnership with an initial 2.0% general
partner interest in the Partnership; such general partner interest will be duly
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authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Partnership Agreement; and the
General Partner will own such general partner interest free and clear of all liens,
encumbrances, security interests, charges or claims (collectively, “Liens”).
(m) On the Initial Delivery Date, after giving effect to the Transactions, the General
Partner will own 6,350,668 Common Units, 10,957,900 Subordinated Units and 684,869 General
Partner Units (collectively, the “Sponsor Units”), and the General Partner will own all of
the Incentive Distribution Rights; on the Initial Delivery Date, after giving effect to the
Transactions, all of such Sponsor Units, the limited partner interests represented thereby
and the Incentive Distribution Rights will be duly authorized and validly issued in
accordance with the Partnership Agreement, and will be fully paid (to the extent required
under the Partnership Agreement) and non-assessable (except as such non-assessability may be
affected by Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act); and the General
Partner will own such Sponsor Units and Incentive Distribution Rights, in each case, free
and clear of all Liens (except, with respect to the Sponsor Units and the Incentive
Distribution Rights, restrictions on transferability contained in the Partnership Agreement
or as described in the Prospectus).
(n) The Firm Units and the Option Units, if any, to be issued and sold by the
Partnership to the Underwriters under this Agreement have been duly authorized and, when
issued and delivered against payment therefor in accordance with this Agreement, will be
validly issued, fully paid (to the extent required under the Partnership Agreement) and
non-assessable (except as such non-assessability may be affected by Sections 17-303, 17-607
and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act); the Firm Units and the Option Units, if any, when issued
and delivered against payment therefor in accordance with this Agreement, will conform in
all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the most recent Preliminary
Prospectus and the Prospectus; and other than the Sponsor Units and the Incentive
Distribution Rights, the Firm Units and the Option Units, if any, will be the only limited
partner interests of the Partnership issued and outstanding at each Delivery Date other than
any Common Units issued after the date of this Agreement to newly elected directors of the
General Partner pursuant to the General Partner’s Long-Term Incentive Plan.
(o) The Partnership is the sole member of OLLC with a 100% limited liability company
interest in OLLC; such limited liability company interest has been duly authorized and
validly issued in accordance with the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company
Agreement of OLLC (as the same may be amended and restated on or prior to each Delivery
Date, the “OLLC Agreement”) and is fully paid (to the extent required under the OLLC
Agreement) and non-assessable (except as such non-assessability may be affected by Sections
18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act); and the Partnership owns such limited liability
company interest free and clear of all Liens.
(p) On the Initial Delivery Date, after giving effect to the Transactions, OLLC will be
the sole member of WPP Holdings with a 100% limited liability company interest in WPP
Holdings; such limited liability company interest has been duly authorized and validly
issued in accordance with the Limited Liability Company Agreement of WPP
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Holdings (as the same may be amended and restated on or prior to each Delivery Date,
the “WPP Holdings LLC Agreement”) and is fully paid (to the extent required under the WPP
Holdings LLC Agreement) and non-assessable (except as such non-assessability may be affected
by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act); and OLLC owns such limited liability
company interest free and clear of all Liens.
(q) On the Initial Delivery Date, after giving effect to the Transactions, OLLC will
own a 35.0% general partnership interest in Northwest; such general partnership interest
will be duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Northwest Partnership
Agreement; and OLLC will own such general partnership interest free and clear of all Liens.
(r) Other than (i) the General Partner’s ownership of the Sponsor Units and the
Incentive Distribution Rights, (ii) the Partnership’s ownership of a 100% limited liability
company interest in OLLC, (iii) OLLC’s ownership of a 100% limited liability company
interest in WPP Holdings and (iv) WPP Holdings’s ownership of a 35% general partnership
interest in Northwest, on each Delivery Date, after giving effect to the Transactions, none
of the Partnership Entities will own, directly or indirectly, any equity or long-term debt
securities of any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture,
association or other entity.
(s) WGPC owns a 100% limited liability company interest in the General Partner; such
limited liability company interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance
with the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Agreement of the General Partner (as the
same may be amended or restated on or prior to each Delivery Date, the “GP LLC Agreement”),
and is fully paid (to the extent required under the GP LLC Agreement) and non-assessable
(except as such non-assessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the
Delaware LLC Act); and WGPC owns such limited liability company interest free and clear of
all Liens.
(t) Xxxxxxxx directly owns a 100% limited liability company interest in WGPC; such
limited liability company interests have been duly authorized and validly issued in
accordance with the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of WGPC (as the
same may be amended or restated on or prior to each Delivery Date, the “WGPG LLC Agreement”)
and are fully paid (to the extent required under the WGPG LLC Agreement) and non-assessable
(except as such non-assessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the
Delaware LLC Act); and Xxxxxxxx owns such limited liability company interests free and clear
of all Liens.
(u) On the Initial Delivery Date, after giving effect to the Transactions, WGPC will
indirectly own a 65% general partnership interest in Northwest; such general partnership
interest will be duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Northwest
Partnership Agreement; and WGPC will own such general partnership interest free and clear of
all Liens.
(v) Except as described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus or
as provided in the Organizational Documents (as defined below), there are
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no preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or to purchase, nor any
restriction upon the voting or transfer of, (i) any limited partner interests in the
Partnership, (ii) any limited liability company interests in the General Partner, OLLC, WPP
Holdings or WGPC, or (iii) any general partnership interest in Northwest, in each case
pursuant to the Partnership Agreement, the WPP Holdings LLC Agreement, the OLLC Agreement,
the GP LLC Agreement, the WGPC LLC Agreement or the Northwest Partnership Agreement, each as
amended or restated on or prior to each Delivery Date (collectively, the “Organizational
Documents”), or any other agreement or instrument to which any of such entities is a party
or by which any one of them may be bound. Except as described in the most recent
Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, there are no outstanding options or warrants to
purchase (A) any Common Units or Subordinated Units or other interests in the Partnership or
(B) any interests in the General Partner, OLLC or any Subsidiary.
(w) None of the Partnership Entities has sold or issued any securities that would be
integrated with the offering of the Units contemplated by this Agreement pursuant to the
Securities Act, the Rules and Regulations or the interpretations thereof by the Commission.
(x) The Partnership has all requisite power and authority to issue, sell and deliver
(i) the Firm Units and the Option Units, if any, in accordance with and upon the terms and
conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Partnership Agreement, the Registration
Statement, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and (ii) the Sponsor
Units and Incentive Distribution Rights, in accordance with and upon the terms and
conditions set forth in the Partnership Agreement and Contribution Agreement. On each
Delivery Date, all corporate, partnership and limited liability company action, as the case
may be, required to be taken by the Xxxxxxxx Entities or any of their stockholders, members
or partners for the authorization, issuance, sale and delivery of the Firm Units, the Option
Units, if any, the Sponsor Units and the Incentive Distribution Rights and the execution and
delivery by the Xxxxxxxx Entities of the Operative Agreements (as defined below) and the
consummation of the transactions (including the Transactions) contemplated by this Agreement
and the Operative Agreements, shall have been validly taken.
(y) This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by or
on behalf of each of the Xxxxxxxx Parties.
(z) On or before the Initial Delivery Date:
(i) The Partnership Agreement will have been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the General Partner and the organizational limited partner named
therein (the “Organizational Limited Partner”) and will be a valid and legally
binding agreement of the General Partner and the Organizational Limited Partner,
enforceable against the General Partner in accordance with its terms;
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(ii) The OLLC Agreement will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered
by or on behalf of the Partnership and will be a valid and legally binding agreement
of the Partnership, enforceable against the Partnership in accordance with its
terms;
(iii) The GP LLC Agreement will have been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by WGPC, and will be a valid and legally binding agreement of WGPC,
enforceable against WGPC in accordance with its terms;
(iv) The WPP Holdings LLC Agreement will have been duly authorized, executed
and delivered by OLLC, and will be a valid and legally binding agreement of OLLC,
enforceable against OLLC in accordance with its terms;
(v) The Northwest Partnership Agreement will have been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by or on behalf of each of OLLC and WGPC and will be a valid
and legally binding agreement of OLLC and WGPC, enforceable against each of them in
accordance with its terms;
(vi) The Working Capital Loan Agreement will have been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Partnership and Xxxxxxxx and will be a
valid and legally binding agreement of the Partnership, enforceable against the
Partnership in accordance with its terms;
(vii) The Contribution Agreement will have been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Xxxxxxxx Entities party thereto, and will be valid and legally
binding agreements of the Xxxxxxxx Entities party thereto, enforceable against such
parties in accordance with its terms; and
(viii) The Omnibus Agreement will have been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Xxxxxxxx Entities party thereto, and will be valid and legally
binding agreements of the Xxxxxxxx Entities party thereto, enforceable against such
parties in accordance with its terms.
provided that, with respect to each agreement described in this Section 1(z), the
enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer,
reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights
generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); and provided, further, that the indemnity,
contribution and exoneration provisions contained in any of such agreements may be limited
by applicable laws and public policy. The Organizational Documents, the Working Capital
Loan Agreement, the Contribution Agreement and the Omnibus Agreement are herein collectively
referred to as the “Operative Agreements.”
(aa) None of the offering, issuance and sale by the Partnership of the Units and the
application of the net proceeds therefrom as described under “Use of Proceeds” in the most
recent Preliminary Prospectus, the execution, delivery and performance of this
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Agreement or the Operative Agreements by the Xxxxxxxx Entities that are parties
thereto, or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (including
the Transactions) (i) conflicts or will conflict with or constitutes or will constitute a
violation of the agreement of limited partnership, limited liability company agreement,
certificate or articles of incorporation or bylaws or other organizational documents of any
of the Xxxxxxxx Entities, (ii) conflicts or will conflict with or constitutes or will
constitute a breach or violation of, or a default under (or an event which, with notice or
lapse of time or both, would constitute such an event), any indenture, mortgage, deed of
trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument to which any of the Xxxxxxxx
Entities is a party or by which any of them or any of their respective properties may be
bound, (iii) 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
Xxxxxxxx Entities or any of their properties in a proceeding to which any of them or their
property is a party or (iv) will result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any
property or assets of any of the Xxxxxxxx Entities, which conflicts, breaches, violations,
defaults or Liens, in the case of clauses (ii), (iii) or (iv),
would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(bb) Except for (i) the registration of the Units under the Securities Act, (ii) such
consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and applicable
state securities laws in connection with the purchase and sale of the Units by the
Underwriters, (iii) such consents (as defined below) that have been, or prior to each
Delivery Date will be, obtained, (iv) such consents in connection with the transactions
contemplated by the Operative Agreements that, if not obtained, would not, individually or
in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect or (v) such consents in connection with the
transactions contemplated by the Operative Agreements that are (A) of a routine or
administrative nature, (B) are not customarily obtained or made prior to the consummation of
the transactions contemplated by the Operative Agreements and (C) are expected in the
reasonable judgment of the General Partner to be obtained in the ordinary course of business
subsequent to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Operative Agreements,
no consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing or registration with, any court
or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the any of the Xxxxxxxx Parties or
any of their properties or assets (“consent”) is required for the execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement by the Xxxxxxxx Parties and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby (including the Transactions) and the application of the
proceeds from the sale of the Units as described under “Use of Proceeds” in the most recent
Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus.
(cc) Except as described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and
the Partnership Agreement, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between any
of the Xxxxxxxx Parties and any person granting such person the right to require the
Partnership to file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to any
securities of the Partnership Entities owned or to be owned by such person or to require the
Partnership to include such securities in the Units registered
12
pursuant to the Registration Statement or in any securities being registered pursuant
to any other registration statement filed by any of the Partnership Entities under the
Securities Act.
(dd) None of the Partnership Entities has sustained, since the date of the latest
audited financial statements included in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the
Prospectus, any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other
calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or
governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the
most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus; and, since such date, except as
described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, there has not been
any change in the capitalization or long-term debt of any of the Partnership Entities or
any adverse change, or any development involving a prospective adverse change, in or
affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, securityholders’
equity, properties, management, business or prospects of any of the Partnership Entities, in
each case except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ee) The historical financial statements (including the related notes and supporting
schedules) included in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus comply as
to form in all material respects with the requirements of Regulation S-X under the
Securities Act and present fairly in all material respects the financial position, results
of operations and cash flows of the entities purported to be shown thereby on the basis
stated therein at the respective dates or for the respective periods to which they apply and
have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States consistently applied throughout the periods involved, except to the extent disclosed
therein. The selected historical and pro forma financial and operating information set
forth in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus under the caption
“Selected Historical and Pro Forma Financial and Operating Data” is accurately presented in
all material respects and prepared on a basis consistent with the audited and unaudited
historical consolidated financial statements and pro forma financial statements, as
applicable, from which it has been derived.
(ff) The pro forma financial statements included in the most recent Preliminary
Prospectus and the Prospectus comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable
requirements of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act; such pro forma financial statements
have been properly compiled on the bases described therein; the assumptions used in the
preparation of such pro forma financial statements are, in the opinion of management of the
General Partner, reasonable; and the pro forma adjustments used in such pro forma financial
statements are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and circumstances referred to
therein. At September 30, 2007, the Partnership would have had, on the consolidated pro
forma basis indicated in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, a
capitalization as set forth therein.
(gg) Ernst & Young LLP, who has certified certain financial statements of the
Partnership, the General Partner, Xxxxxxxx Pipeline Partner Predecessor (as defined therein)
and Northwest, whose reports appear in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus
13
and the Prospectus and who have delivered the initial letter referred to in Section
7(h) hereof, were an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the
Partnership and the General Partner during those periods covered by the financial statements
on which they reported contained in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the
Prospectus for which they were required by the Rules and Regulations to be an independent
registered public accounting firm.
(hh) On each Delivery Date, after giving effect to the Transactions, each of the
Partnership Entities will have good and indefeasible title to all real property and good
title to all personal property, contemplated as owned or to be owned by any of them in the
Operative Agreements or the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, in each
case free and clear of all liens, claims, security interests, encumbrances and other
defects, except (i) such as are described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the
Prospectus or (ii) such as do not materially interfere with the use made in the past and
proposed to be made in the future of such property as described in the most recent
Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus; provided, that, with respect to title to pipeline
rights-of-way, the Xxxxxxxx Parties represent that (A) no Xxxxxxxx Entity has received any
actual notice or claim from any owner of land upon which any pipeline that will be owned by
any Subsidiary as of the Initial Delivery Date as described in the most recent Preliminary
Prospectus and the Prospectus is located that such Xxxxxxxx Entity does not have sufficient
title to enable it to use and occupy the pipeline rights-of-way as they have been used and
occupied in the past and are proposed to be used and occupied in the future as described in
the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and (B) any lack of title to the
pipeline rights-of-way that will have a material adverse effect on the ability of any
Subsidiary to use and occupy the pipeline rights-of-way as they have been used and occupied
in the past and are proposed to be used and occupied in the future as described in the most
recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus will be subject to the indemnification
provisions of Section 2.2(a) of the Omnibus Agreement. All assets held under lease or
license by the Partnership Entities are held under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases
or licenses, with such exceptions as are not material and do not materially interfere with
the use made in the past and proposed to be made in the future of such assets by the
Partnership Entities taken as a whole as described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus
and the Prospectus.
(ii) Each of the Partnership Entities carry, or are covered by, insurance from insurers
of recognized financial responsibility in such amounts and covering such risks related to
property damage and liability to third parties as is reasonably adequate for the conduct of
their respective businesses and the value of their respective properties and as is customary
for companies engaged in similar businesses in similar industries. All policies of
insurance of each of the Partnership Entities are in full force and effect on the date
hereof; each of the Partnership Entities are in compliance with the terms of such policies
in all material respects as of the date hereof; and none of the Partnership Entities has
received notice from any insurer or agent of such insurer that substantial capital
improvements or other expenditures will have to be made in order to continue such insurance.
14
(jj) Each of the Partnership Entities owns or possesses adequate rights to use all
material patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark
registrations, service xxxx registrations, copyrights, licenses and know-how (including
trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential
information, systems or procedures) necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses
and none of the Partnership Entities has any reason to believe that the conduct of their
respective businesses conflict or will conflict in any material respect with, and have not
received any notice of any claim of conflict with, any such rights of other parties.
(kk) Except as described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus,
there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which any of the Xxxxxxxx Parties
is a party or of which any of their property or assets is the subject that could reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or could reasonably be expected to have a
material adverse effect on the performance of this Agreement or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby or that are required to be described in the most recent
Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus but are not described as required; and to the knowledge of the Xxxxxxxx Parties, no such proceedings are threatened by governmental
authorities or by others.
(ll) There are no contracts or other documents that are required to be described in the
most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus or filed as exhibits to the
Registration Statement by the Securities Act or by the Rules and Regulations that have not
been described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus or filed as
exhibits to the Registration Statement; and the statements set forth in the most recent
Preliminary Prospectus under the captions “Summary—The Offering,” “Cash Distribution Policy
and Restrictions on Distributions,” “Description of the Common Units,” “Description of the
Subordinated Units” and “The Partnership Agreement,” insofar as they purport to constitute a
summary of the terms of the Common Units and the Subordinated Units, and under the caption
“Material Tax Consequences,” insofar as they purport to describe the provisions of the laws
and documents referred to therein, are fair summaries in all material respects.
(mm) Except as described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus,
no labor disturbance by the employees of any of the Partnership Entities (and to the extent
they perform services on behalf of any of the Partnership Entities, employees employed
directly or indirectly by any of the Xxxxxxxx Entities other than the Partnership Entities),
exists or, to the knowledge of the Xxxxxxxx Parties, is imminent or threatened, which might
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(nn) Each of the Xxxxxxxx Parties has filed all federal, state and local income and
franchise tax returns required to be filed through the date hereof, subject to permitted
extensions, and has timely paid all taxes shown to be due thereon, other than those (i)
which, if not filed or paid, would not have a Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) which are
being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been established in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
15
(oo) Since the date as of which information is given in the most recent Preliminary
Prospectus and the Prospectus through the date hereof, and except with respect to the
Working Capital Loan Agreement or as may otherwise be disclosed in the most recent
Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, none of the Partnership Entities have (i) issued
or granted any securities, (ii) incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent,
other than liabilities and obligations which were incurred in the ordinary course of
business or (iii) entered into any transaction not in the ordinary course of business.
(pp) Each of the Partnership Entities (i) makes and keeps books and records which, in
reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of assets
and (ii) maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable
assurance that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or
specific authorizations, (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of
the Partnership’s financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States and to maintain accountability for its assets, (C) access to
the Partnership’s assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or
specific authorization and (D) the recorded accountability for the Partnership’s assets is
compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with
respect to any differences.
(qq) (i) The Partnership has established and maintains disclosure controls and
procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act), (ii) such
disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that the information required to
be disclosed by the Partnership and its subsidiaries in the reports they file or submit
under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management of the Partnership and
its subsidiaries, including their respective principal executive officers and principal
financial officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure
to be made and (iii) such disclosure controls and procedures are effective in all material
respects to perform the functions for which they were established.
(rr) Since the date of the most recent balance sheet of the Partnership and its
consolidated subsidiaries audited by Ernst & Young LLP, (i) the certifying officers of the
General Partner have not disclosed to the Partnership’s auditors and the audit committee of
the General Partner’s board of directors (A) any significant deficiencies or material
weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are
reasonable likely to adversely affect the Partnership’s ability to record, process,
summarize and report financial information, or (B) any fraud, whether or not material, that
involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Partnership’s
internal control over financial reporting, and (ii) since that date, there have been no
changes in the Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially
affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Partnership’s internal control
over financial reporting.
(ss) Except as described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus,
no relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Partnership Entities, on
the one hand, and the directors, officers, securityholders, customers or
16
suppliers of the Partnership Entities, on the other hand, that is required to be
described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus which is not so
described. No Partnership Entity has, in violation of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002,
directly or indirectly, extended or maintained credit, or arranged for the extension of
credit, or renewed or amended any extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan to or
for any of its directors or executive officers.
(tt) The Partnership is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable
requirements of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002.
(uu) None of the Xxxxxxxx Parties (i) is in violation of its certificate or agreement
of limited partnership, certificate of formation or limited liability company agreement,
certificate or articles of incorporation or bylaws or other organizational documents; (ii)
is in breach or default in any material respect, and no event has occurred which, with
notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a breach or default, in the due
performance or observance of any term, covenant or condition contained in any indenture,
mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which it is a
party or by which it is bound or to which any of its properties or assets is subject, (iii)
is in violation of any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental
agency or body having jurisdiction over its property or assets or (iv) has failed to obtain
any license, permit, certificate, franchise or other governmental authorization or permit
necessary to the ownership of its property or to the conduct of its business, except in the
case of clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv) as could not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(vv) None of the Xxxxxxxx Parties, nor any director, officer, employee, or to the
knowledge of the Xxxxxxxx Parties, any agent or other person associated with or acting on
behalf of any of the Xxxxxxxx Parties, has used any corporate funds for any unlawful
contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity;
made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official
or employee from corporate funds; violated or is in violation of any provision of the
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977; or made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment,
kickback or other unlawful payment.
(ww) Except as described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, the Partnership
Entities (i) are in compliance with any and all applicable federal, state and local laws and
regulations relating to the protection of health and human safety, the environment or
natural resources or imposing liability or standards of conduct concerning any Hazardous
Materials (as defined below) (“Environmental Laws”), (ii) have received and, as necessary,
maintained all permits required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their
respective businesses, (iii) are in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such
permits and (iv) do 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 and maintain required permits, failure to comply with the terms and
conditions of such permits or liability in connection with such releases could not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
The term “Hazardous
17
Materials” means (A) any “hazardous substance” as defined in the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (“CERCLA”), (B)
any “hazardous waste” as defined in the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended,
(C) any petroleum or petroleum product, (D) any polychlorinated biphenyl and (E) any
pollutant or contaminant or hazardous, dangerous or toxic chemical, material, waste or
substance regulated under or within the meaning of any other Environmental Law. None of the
Partnership Entities has been named as a “potentially responsible party” under CERCLA or any
other similar Environmental Law, except with respect to any matters that, individually or in
the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except
as described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, (A) none of the
Xxxxxxxx Parties is a party to any proceeding under Environmental Laws in which a
governmental authority is also a party, other than such proceedings in which it is
reasonably believed that no monetary penalties of $100,000 or more will be imposed, and (B)
none of the Xxxxxxxx Parties anticipates material capital expenditures relating to
Environmental Laws.
(xx) As of each Delivery Date, and after giving effect to the Transactions, each
Partnership Entity will be 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 (after giving effect to the Transactions) would have
any liability, excluding any reportable event for which a waiver could apply; no Partnership
Entity (after giving effect to the Transactions) 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.
(yy) Each of the Partnership Entities has, or at each Delivery Date will have, such
permits, consents, licenses, franchises, certificates and authorizations of governmental or
regulatory authorities (“permits”) as are necessary to own or lease its properties and to
conduct its business in the manner described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and
the Prospectus, subject to such qualifications as may be set forth in the most recent
Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and (i) except for such permits that, if not
obtained, could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect or (ii) such permits that have been, or prior to each Delivery Date
will be, obtained; except as described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the
Prospectus, each of the Partnership Entities has, or at each Delivery Date will have,
fulfilled and performed all its material obligations with respect to such permits that are
or will be due to have been fulfilled and performed by such date; and no
18
event has occurred that would prevent the permits from being renewed or reissued or
that allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation or termination thereof
or results or would result in any impairment of the rights of the holder of any such permit,
except for such non-renewals, non-issues, revocations, terminations and impairments that
could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect.
(zz) None of the Partnership Entities are or, as of each Delivery Date after giving
effect to the Transactions and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as described
under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the
Prospectus, will be, an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended.
(aaa) None of the Xxxxxxxx Parties has distributed and, prior to the later to occur of
any Delivery Date and completion of the distribution of the Units, will not distribute any
offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Units other than any
Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to which the
Representatives have consented in accordance with Sections 1(h) or 5(a)(vi).
(bbb) None of the Xxxxxxxx Entities has taken, nor will it take, directly or
indirectly, any action designed to or that has constituted or that could reasonably be
expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Common
Units to facilitate the sale or resale of the Units.
(ccc) The Units have been approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
(the “NYSE”), subject only to official notice of issuance.
(ddd) Except for this Agreement and any engagement letters with the Representatives,
there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Partnership and any person
that would give rise to a valid claim against the Partnership or any Underwriter for a
brokerage commission, finder’s fee or other like payment in connection with the offering and
sale of the Units contemplated by this Agreement.
(eee) The statistical and market-related data included in the most recent Preliminary
Prospectus and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Partnership
Entities believe to be reliable and accurate in all material respects.
Each certificate signed by or on behalf of any of the Xxxxxxxx Parties and delivered to the
Underwriters or counsel for the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be a
representation and warranty by each such Xxxxxxxx Party to the Underwriters as to the matters
covered thereby.
Section 2. Purchase of the Units by the Underwriters. On the basis of the representations and
warranties contained in, and subject to the terms and conditions of, this Agreement, the
Partnership agrees to sell the Firm Units to the several Underwriters and each of the Underwriters,
severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase the
number of Firm Units set forth opposite that Underwriter’s name in Schedule I hereto. The respective purchase obligations of
19
the Underwriters with respect to the Firm Units shall be rounded
among the Underwriters to avoid fractional Common Units as the Representatives may determine.
In addition, the Partnership grants to the Underwriters an option to purchase up to 2,437,500
Common Units, severally and not jointly. Such option (the “Option”) is exercisable in the event
that the Underwriters sell more Common Units than the number of Firm Units in the offering and as
set forth in Section 4 hereof. Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to
purchase the number of Option Units (subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional Common
Units as the Representatives may determine) that bears the same proportion to the total number of
Option Units to be sold on such Delivery Date as the number of Firm Units set forth in Schedule
1 hereto opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm Units.
The price of both the Firm Units and any Option Units shall be $18.80 per Common Unit.
The Partnership shall not be obligated to deliver any of the Units to be delivered on any
Delivery Date, except upon payment for all the Units to be purchased on such Delivery Date as
provided herein.
Section 3. Offering of Units by the Underwriters. Upon authorization by the Representatives of the
release of the Firm Units, the several Underwriters propose to offer the Firm Units for sale upon
the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus. It is understood that approximately 540,000
of the Firm Units (the “Directed Units”) will initially be reserved by the several Underwriters for
offer and sale upon the terms and conditions to be set forth in the most recent Preliminary
Prospectus and in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority, Inc. (the “FINRA”) to employees of the Xxxxxxxx Entities and persons having business
relationships with the Xxxxxxxx Entities (each, a “Directed Unit Participant”) who have heretofore
delivered to the Representative offers or indications of interest to purchase Firm Units in form
satisfactory to Xxxxxx Brothers Inc. (such program, the “Directed Unit Program”) and that any
allocation of such Firm Units among such persons will be made in accordance with timely directions
received by Xxxxxx Brothers Inc. from the Partnership; provided that under no circumstances will
Xxxxxx Brothers Inc. or any Underwriter be liable to the Partnership or to any such person for any
action taken or omitted in good faith in connection with such Directed Unit Program. It is further
understood that any Directed Units not affirmatively reconfirmed for purchase by any participant in
the Directed Unit Program by 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the first business day following
the date hereof or otherwise are not purchased by such persons will be offered by the Underwriters
to the public upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus. The Partnership agrees to
pay all fees and disbursements incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the Directed Unit
Program and any stamp duties or other taxes incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the
Directed Unit Program.
Section 4. Delivery of and Payment for the Units. Delivery of and payment for the Firm Units shall
be made at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the third full business day following the date of
this Agreement or at such other date or place as shall be determined by agreement among the
Representatives and the Partnership. This date and time are sometimes referred to as the “Initial
Delivery Date.” Delivery of the Firm Units shall be made to the Representatives for
20
the account of
each Underwriter against payment by the several Underwriters through the Representatives and of the
respective aggregate purchase prices of the Firm Units being sold by the Partnership of the
purchase price by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the
Partnership. Time shall be of the essence, and delivery at the time and place specified pursuant to
this Agreement is a further condition of the obligation of each Underwriter hereunder. The
Partnership shall deliver the Firm Units through the facilities of DTC unless the Representatives
shall otherwise instruct.
The Option granted in Section 2 will expire 30 days after the date of this Agreement
and may be exercised in whole or in part from time to time by written notice being given to the
Partnership by the Representatives; provided that if such date falls on a day that is not a
business day, the Option granted in Section 2 will expire on the next succeeding business
day. Such notice shall set forth the aggregate number of Option Units as to which the Option is
being exercised, the names in which the Option Units are to be registered, the denominations in
which the Option Units are to be issued and the date and time, as determined by the
Representatives, when the Option Units are to be delivered; provided, however, that this date and
time shall not be earlier than the Initial Delivery Date nor earlier than the second business day
after the date on which the Option shall have been exercised nor later than the fifth business day
after the date on which the Option shall have been exercised. Each date and time the Option Units
are delivered are sometimes referred to as an “Option Unit Delivery Date” and the Initial Delivery
Date and any Option Unit Delivery Date are sometimes each referred to as a “Delivery Date.”
Delivery of the Option Units by the Partnership and payment for the Option Units by the
several Underwriters through the Representatives shall be made at 10:00 A.M., New York City time,
on the date specified in the corresponding notice described in the preceding paragraph or at such
other date or place as shall be determined by agreement between the Representatives and the
Partnership. On the Option Unit Delivery Date, the Partnership shall deliver or cause to be
delivered the Option Units to the Representatives for the account of each Underwriter against
payment by the several Underwriters through the Representatives and of the respective aggregate
purchase prices of the Option Unit being sold by the Partnership to or upon the order of the
Partnership of the purchase price by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the accounts
specified by the Partnership. Time shall be of the essence, and delivery at the time and place
specified pursuant to this Agreement is a further condition of the obligation of each Underwriter
hereunder. The Partnership shall deliver the Option Units through the facilities of DTC unless the
Representatives shall otherwise instruct.
Section 5. Further Agreements of the Xxxxxxxx Parties.
(a) Each of the Xxxxxxxx Parties, jointly and severally, covenants and agrees with each
Underwriter:
(i) To prepare the Prospectus in a form approved by the Representatives and to file
such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations not later than the
Commission’s close of business on the second business day following the execution and
delivery of this Agreement; to make no further amendment or any supplement to the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus prior to the last Delivery Date except as provided
herein; to advise the Representatives, promptly after it
21
receives notice thereof, of the
time when any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus has
been filed and to furnish the Representatives with copies thereof; to advise the
Representatives, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the issuance by the
Commission of any stop order or of any order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement or preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus,
the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, of the suspension of the qualification
of the Units for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or threatening of
any proceeding or examination for any such purpose or of any request by the Commission for
the amending or supplementing of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the
Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or for additional information; and, in the
event of the issuance of any stop order or of any order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement or preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus,
the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or suspending any such qualification,
to use promptly its best efforts to obtain its withdrawal;
(ii) To furnish promptly to the Representatives and to counsel for the Underwriters a
signed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed with the Commission, and each
amendment thereto filed with the Commission, including all consents and exhibits filed
therewith;
(iii) To deliver promptly to the Representatives such number of the following documents
as the Representatives shall reasonably request: (A) conformed copies of the Registration
Statement as originally filed with the Commission and each amendment thereto (in each case
excluding exhibits other than this Agreement and the computation of per unit earnings), (B)
each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and any amended or supplemented Prospectus, and
(C) each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus; and, if the delivery of a prospectus is required at
any time after the date hereof in connection with the offering or sale of the Units or any
other securities relating thereto and if at such time any events shall have occurred as a
result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make
the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made when
such Prospectus is delivered, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be
necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to comply with the Securities Act,
to notify the Representatives and, upon its request, to file such document and to prepare
and furnish without charge to each Underwriter and to any dealer in securities as many
copies as the Representatives may from time to time reasonably request of an amended or supplemented
Prospectus that will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance;
(iv) To file promptly with the Commission any amendment to the Registration Statement
or the Prospectus or any supplement to the Prospectus that may, in the reasonable judgment
of the Partnership or the Representatives, be required by the Securities Act or requested by
the Commission;
22
(v) Prior to filing with the Commission any amendment or supplement to the Registration
Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, to furnish a copy thereof to the
Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters and obtain the consent of the
Representatives, which consent shall not be reasonably withheld and which shall be provided
to the Partnership promptly after having been given notice of the proposed filing; provided
that, the foregoing provision shall not apply if such filing is, in the judgment of counsel
to the Partnership, required by law;
(vi) Not to make any offer relating to the Units that would constitute an Issuer Free
Writing Prospectus without the prior written consent of the Representatives;
(vii) To comply with all applicable requirements of Rule 433 with respect to Issuer
Free Writing Prospectuses not required to be filed pursuant to the Rules and Regulations;
and if at any time after the date hereof any events shall have occurred as a result of which
any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, would conflict with the
information in the Registration Statement, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus or the
Prospectus or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it
shall be necessary to amend or supplement any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, to notify the
Representatives and, upon its request, to file such document and to prepare and furnish
without charge to each Underwriter as many copies as the Representatives may from time to
time reasonably request of an amended or supplemented Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that
will correct such conflict, statement or omission or effect such compliance;
(viii) As soon as practicable after the Effective Date (it being understood that the
Company shall have until 455 days after the end of the Company’s current fiscal quarter), to
make generally available to the Partnership’s security holders and to deliver to the
Representatives an earnings statement of the Partnership and its subsidiaries (which need
not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the Rules and
Regulations (including, at the option of the Partnership, Rule 158);
(ix) Promptly from time to time to take such action as the Representatives may
reasonably request to qualify the Units for offering and sale under the securities laws of
such jurisdictions as the Representatives may request and to comply with such laws so as to
permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions for as long as
may be necessary to complete the distribution of the Units; provided that in connection therewith the Partnership shall not be required to (i)
qualify as a foreign limited partnership in any jurisdiction in which it would not otherwise
be required to so qualify, (ii) file a general consent to service of process in any such
jurisdiction or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any jurisdiction in which it would not
otherwise be subject;
(x) Except for transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Transactions, for a
period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the 180th day after the date of the
Prospectus (the “Lock-Up Period”), not to, directly or indirectly, (1)
23
offer for sale, sell,
pledge or otherwise dispose of (or enter into any transaction or device that is designed to,
or could be expected to, result in the disposition by any person at any time in the future
of) any Common Units or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Units (other
than the Units and Common Units issued pursuant to employee benefit plans, qualified option
plans or other employee compensation plans existing on the date hereof or pursuant to
currently outstanding options, warrants or rights), or sell or grant options, rights or
warrants with respect to any Common Units or securities convertible into or exchangeable for
Common Units (other than the grant of options pursuant to option plans existing on the date
hereof), (2) enter into any swap or other derivatives transaction that transfers to another,
in whole or in part, any of the economic benefits or risks of ownership of such Common
Units, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is
to be settled by delivery of Common Units or other securities, in cash or otherwise, (3)
file or cause to be filed a registration statement, including any amendments, with respect
to the registration of any Common Units or securities convertible, exercisable or
exchangeable into Common Units or any other securities of the Partnership (other than any
registration statement on Form S-8) or (4) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the
foregoing, in each case, without the prior written consent of the Representatives on behalf
of the Underwriters, and to cause each officer and director of the General Partner and
unitholder of the Partnership set forth on Schedule 2 hereto to furnish to the
Representatives, prior to the Initial Delivery Date, a letter or letters, substantially in
the form of Exhibit A hereto (the “Lock-Up Agreements”); notwithstanding the
foregoing, if (1) during the last 17 days of the Lock-Up Period, the Partnership issues an
earnings release or material news or a material event relating to the Partnership occurs or
(2) prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, the Partnership announces that it will
release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the Lock-Up
Period, then the restrictions imposed in the preceding paragraph shall continue to apply
until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release
or the announcement of the material news or the occurrence of the material event, unless the
Representatives, on behalf of the Underwriters, waive such extension in writing.
(xi) To apply the net proceeds from the offering of the Units as set forth in the
Prospectus;
(xii) To take such steps as shall be necessary to ensure that none of the Partnership
Entities shall become an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended; and
(xiii) In connection with the Directed Unit Program, to ensure that the Directed Units
will for a period of 25 days be restricted from sale, transfer, assignment, pledge or
hypothecation to the same extent (other than with respect to the Lock-Up Period) as sales
and dispositions of Common Units by the Partnership are restricted pursuant to Section
5(a)(x), and Xxxxxx Brothers Inc. will notify the Partnership as to which Directed Unit
Participants will need to be so restricted. At the request of Xxxxxx Brothers Inc., the
Partnership will direct the transfer agent to place stop transfer
24
restrictions upon such
securities for such period of time as is consistent with Section 5(a)(x); and
(b) Each Underwriter severally agrees that such Underwriter shall not include any
“issuer information” (as defined in Rule 433 of the Rules and Regulations) in any “free
writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations) used or referred
to by such Underwriter without the prior consent of the General Partner (any such issuer
information with respect to whose use the General Partner has given its consent, being
defined as “Permitted Issuer Information”); provided that (i) no such consent shall be
required with respect to any such issuer information contained in any document filed by the
Partnership with the Commission prior to the use of such free writing prospectus and (ii)
“issuer information,” as used in this Section 5(b), shall not be deemed to include
information prepared by or on behalf of such Underwriter on the basis of or derived from
issuer information.
Section 6. Expenses. The Xxxxxxxx Parties agree, whether or not the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, to pay all costs, expenses, fees
and taxes incident to and in connection with (a) the authorization, issuance, sale and delivery of
the Units and any stamp duties or other taxes payable in that connection, and the preparation and
printing of certificates for the Units; (b) the preparation, printing and filing under the
Securities Act of the Registration Statement (including any exhibits thereto), any Preliminary
Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any amendment or supplement
thereto; (c) the distribution of the Registration Statement (including any exhibits thereto), any
Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any amendment or
supplement thereto, all as provided in this Agreement; (d) the production and distribution of this
Agreement, any supplemental agreement among Underwriters, and any other related documents in
connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Units; (e) any required review by
FINRA of the terms of sale of the Units (including related fees and expenses of counsel to the
Underwriters); (f) the listing of the Units on the NYSE; (g) the qualification of the Units under
the securities laws of the several jurisdictions as provided in Section 5(a)(x) and the
preparation, printing and distribution of a Blue Sky Memorandum (including related fees and
expenses of counsel to the Underwriters); (h) the investor presentations on any “road show”
undertaken in connection with the marketing of the Units, including, without limitation, expenses
associated with any electronic roadshow, travel and lodging expenses of the representatives and
officers of the Xxxxxxxx Parties and the cost of any aircraft chartered in connection with the road
show; and (i) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the
Xxxxxxxx Parties under this Agreement; provided that, except as provided in this Section 6
and in Section 11, the Underwriters shall pay their own costs and expenses, including the costs and
expenses of their counsel and the expenses of advertising any offering of the Units made by the
Underwriters. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement are consummated, the Underwriters shall reimburse the Xxxxxxxx Parties for $812,500
of the expenses described in clauses (a) through (i) of this Section 6.
Section 7. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations. The respective obligations of the Underwriters
hereunder are subject to the accuracy, when made and on each Delivery Date, of
25
the representations
and warranties of the Xxxxxxxx Parties contained herein, to the performance by the Xxxxxxxx Parties
of their obligations hereunder, and to each of the following additional terms and conditions:
(a) The Prospectus shall have been timely filed with the Commission in accordance with
Section 5(a)(i); the Partnership shall have complied with all filing requirements
applicable to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus used or referred to after the date hereof;
no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or
suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus shall have been issued and no proceeding for such purpose shall have been
initiated or threatened by the Commission; and any request of the Commission for inclusion
of additional information in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the
Prospectus or otherwise shall have been complied with.
(b) No Underwriter shall have discovered and disclosed to the Partnership on or prior
to such Delivery Date that the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the
Prospectus or the Pricing Disclosure Package, or any amendment or supplement thereto
contains an untrue statement of a fact which, in the reasonable opinion of Xxxxxx & Xxxxxx
L.L.P., counsel for the Underwriters, is material or omits to state a fact which, in the
reasonable opinion of such counsel, is material and is required to be stated therein or is
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (in the case of any Preliminary
Prospectus, the Prospectus or the Pricing Disclosure Package, in light of the circumstances
under which such statements were made).
(c) All corporate, partnership and limited liability company proceedings and other
legal matters incident to the authorization, form and validity of this Agreement, the Units,
the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and any Issuer Free
Writing Prospectus, and all other legal matters relating to this Agreement, the transactions
contemplated hereby (including the Transactions) shall be reasonably satisfactory in all
material respects to counsel for the Underwriters, and the Xxxxxxxx Parties shall have
furnished to such counsel all documents and information that they may reasonably request to
enable them to pass upon such matters.
(d) Holland & Xxxx LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives their written
opinion, as counsel to the Partnership Entities, addressed to the Underwriters and dated
such Delivery Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives,
with respect to the matters set forth in Exhibit B to this Agreement.
(e) Xxxxxxx Xxxxx LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives their written
opinion, as counsel to the Partnership Entities, addressed to the Underwriters and dated
such Delivery Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives,
with respect to the matters set forth in Exhibit C to this Agreement.
(f) The Representatives shall have received from Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx, internal counsel to
the Partnership, his written opinion, addressed to the Underwriters and dated such Delivery
Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, with respect to
the matters set forth in Exhibit D to this Agreement.
26
(g) The Representatives shall have received from Xxxxxx & Xxxxxx L.L.P., counsel for
the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated such Delivery Date, with respect to the
issuance and sale of the Units, the Registration Statement, the most recent Preliminary
Prospectus, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package and other related matters as
the Representatives may reasonably require, and the Xxxxxxxx Parties shall have furnished to
such counsel such documents as they reasonably request for the purpose of enabling them to
pass upon such matters.
(h) At the time of execution of this Agreement, the Representatives shall have received
from Ernst & Young LLP a letter or letters, in form and substance satisfactory to the
Representatives, addressed to the Underwriters and dated the date hereof (i) confirming that
they are independent public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and are in
compliance with the applicable requirements relating to the qualification of accountants
under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X of the Commission and (ii) stating, as of the date hereof
(or, with respect to matters involving changes or developments since the respective dates as
of which specified financial information is given in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus,
as of a date not more than three days prior to the date hereof), the conclusions and
findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and other matters ordinarily
covered by accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters in connection with registered
public offerings.
(i) With respect to the letter or letters of Ernst & Young LLP referred to in the
preceding paragraph and delivered to the Representatives concurrently with the execution of
this Agreement (the “initial letter”), the Partnership shall have furnished to the
Representatives a letter (the “bring-down letter”) of such accountants, addressed to the
Underwriters and dated such Delivery Date (i) confirming that they are independent public
accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and are in compliance with the
applicable requirements relating to the qualification of accountants under Rule 2-01 of
Regulation S-X of the Commission, (ii) stating, as of the date of the bring-down letter (or,
with respect to matters involving changes or developments since the respective dates as of
which specified financial information is given in the Prospectus, as of a date not more than
three days prior to the date of the bring-down letter), the conclusions and findings of such
firm with respect to the financial information and other matters covered by the initial
letter and (iii) confirming in all material respects the conclusions and findings set forth
in the initial letter.
(j) On each Delivery Date, the General Partner shall have furnished to the
Representatives a certificate, dated such Delivery Date, of its Chief Executive Officer and
its Chief Financial Officer stating that:
(i) The representations, warranties and agreements of the Xxxxxxxx Parties
contained in Section 1 are true and correct as of such Delivery Date, and
the Xxxxxxxx Parties have complied with all of their agreements contained herein and
satisfied all the conditions on their part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at
or prior to such Delivery Date;
27
(ii) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement
has been issued, and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or, to
their knowledge, threatened; and
(iii) They have carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Pricing
Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and in their opinion, (A)(1) the Registration
Statement, as of the Effective Date, (2) the Pricing Disclosure Package, as of the
Applicable Time, or (3) the Prospectus, as of its date and on the applicable
Delivery Date, 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 (in the case of the
Registration Statement, required to be stated therein or) necessary to make the
statements therein (in the case of the Pricing Disclosure Package and the
Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which such statements were made)
not misleading, and (B) since the Effective Date, no event has occurred that should
have been set forth in a supplement or amendment to the Registration Statement, the
most recent Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus that has not been so set forth.
(k) Except as described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus,
none of the Partnership Entities shall have sustained since the date of the latest audited
financial statements included in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus
(i) any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other
calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or
governmental action, order or decree, or shall have become party to or the subject of any
litigation, court, or governmental action, investigation, or decree which is adverse to the
Partnership Entities or (ii) since such date there shall not have been any adverse change in
the partners’ capital, members’ equity or short-term or long-term debt of the Partnership
Entities or any change, or any development involving a prospective adverse change, in or
affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, securityholders’
equity, properties, management, business or prospects of the Partnership Entities, the
effect of which, in any such case described in clause (i) or (ii), is, in
the judgment of the Representatives, so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or
inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Units being delivered
on such Delivery Date on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.
(l) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement (i) no downgrading shall
have occurred in the rating accorded Northwest’s debt securities by any “nationally
recognized statistical rating organization” (as that term is defined by the Commission for
purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) of the Rules and Regulations), and (ii) no such organization
shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, with possible
negative implications, its rating of any of Northwest’s debt securities.
(m) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement there shall not have
occurred any of the following: (i) trading in securities generally on the NYSE or the
American Stock Exchange or in the over-the-counter market, or trading in any securities of
the Partnership on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market, shall have been
28
suspended
or materially limited or the settlement of such trading generally shall have been materially
disrupted or minimum prices shall have been established on any such exchange or such market
by the Commission, by such exchange or by any other regulatory body or governmental
authority having jurisdiction, (ii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared by federal
or state authorities, (iii) the United States shall have become engaged in hostilities,
there shall have been an escalation in hostilities involving the United States or there
shall have been a declaration of a national emergency or war by the United States or (iv)
there shall have occurred such a material adverse change in general economic, political or
financial conditions, including, without limitation, as a result of terrorist activities
after the date hereof (or the effect of international conditions on the financial markets in
the United States shall be such) as to make it, in the judgment of the Representatives,
impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or delivery of the Units
being delivered on such Delivery Date on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the
Prospectus.
(n) The NYSE shall have approved the Units for listing, subject only to official notice
of issuance.
(o) The Lock-Up Agreements among the Representatives and the persons and entities set
forth on Schedule 2, delivered to the Representatives on or before the date of this
Agreement, shall be in full force and effect on such Delivery Date.
(p) The Xxxxxxxx Parties shall have furnished the Representatives such additional
documents and certificates as the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters may
reasonably request.
(q) The Representatives shall have received evidence satisfactory to them that each of
the Transactions (other than the offering of the Units) have been consummated or will be
consummated as of the Initial Delivery Date, in each case, on substantially the terms as
described in the Prospectus and this Agreement.
All opinions, letters, documents, evidence and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in
this Agreement shall be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters.
Section 8. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) Each of the Xxxxxxxx Parties and WGPC, jointly and severally, shall indemnify and
hold harmless each Underwriter, its directors, officers and employees and each person, if
any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act,
from and against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in
respect thereof (including, but not limited to, any loss, claim, damage, liability or action
relating to purchases and sales of Units), to which that Underwriter, director, officer,
employee or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise,
insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon,
(i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in (A) any
Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the
29
Prospectus (in the case of any
Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which any such
statements were made) or in any amendment or supplement thereto, (B) any Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under
which any such statements were made, (C) any Permitted Issuer Information used or referred
to in any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations)
used or referred to by any Underwriter, (D) any “road show” (as defined in Rule 433 of the
Rules and Regulations) not constituting an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (a “Non-Prospectus
Road Show”) or (E) any Blue Sky application or other document prepared or executed by the
Partnership (or based upon any written information furnished by the Partnership for use
therein) specifically for the purpose of qualifying any or all of the Units under the
securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction (any such application, document or
information being hereinafter called a “Blue Sky Application”), or (ii) the omission or
alleged omission to state in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the
Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or
in any Permitted Issuer Information, any Non-Prospectus Road Show or any Blue Sky
Application, any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading (in the case of any Preliminary Prospectus, the
Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which
any such statements were made), and shall reimburse each Underwriter and each such director,
officer, employee or controlling person promptly upon demand for any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by that Underwriter, director, officer, employee or controlling person
in connection with investigating or defending or preparing to defend against any such loss,
claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that
neither the Xxxxxxxx Parties nor WGPC shall be liable in any such case to the extent that
any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any
Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus or in any such amendment or supplement thereto or in any Permitted Issuer
Information, any Non-Prospectus Road Show or any Blue Sky Application, in reliance upon and
in conformity with written information concerning such Underwriter furnished to the
Partnership through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein,
which information consists solely of the information specified in Section 8(e). The
foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to any liability which the Partnership may
otherwise have to any Underwriter or to any director, officer, employee or controlling
person of that Underwriter.
(b) Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, shall indemnify and hold harmless each
of the Xxxxxxxx Parties, their respective directors (including any person who, with his or
her consent, is named in the Registration Statement as about to become a director of the
General Partner or the Partnership), managers, officers and employees, and each person, if
any, who controls any Xxxxxxxx Party within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act,
from and against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in
respect thereof, to which the Xxxxxxxx Parties or any such director, manager, officer,
employee or controlling person may become subject, under the
30
Securities Act or otherwise,
insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon,
(i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or in any Non-Prospectus Road Show or
Blue Sky Application, or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state in any Preliminary
Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus
or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or in any Non-Prospectus Road Show or Blue Sky
Application, any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading (in the case of any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus
or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which any such
statements were made), but in each case only to the extent that the untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information concerning such Underwriter furnished to the Partnership
through the Representatives by or on behalf of that Underwriter specifically for inclusion
therein, which information is limited to the information set forth in Section 8(e).
The foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to any liability that any Underwriter may
otherwise have to any of the Xxxxxxxx Parties or any such director, manager, officer,
employee or controlling person.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of
notice of any claim or the commencement of any action, the indemnified party shall, if a
claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section
8, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the claim or the commencement of that
action; provided, however, that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not
relieve it from any liability which it may have under this Section 8 except to the
extent it has been materially prejudiced by such failure and, provided, further, that the
failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it
may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 8. If any such
claim or action shall be brought against an indemnified party, and it shall notify the
indemnifying party thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein
and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with any other similarly notified indemnifying
party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. After
notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the
defense of such claim or action, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to the
indemnified party under this Section 8 for any legal or other expenses subsequently
incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than
reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, that the Representatives shall have
the right to employ counsel to represent jointly the Representatives and those other
Underwriters and their respective directors, officers, employees and controlling persons who
may be subject to liability arising out of any claim in respect of which indemnity may be
sought by the Underwriters against the Xxxxxxxx Parties and WGPC under this Section
8 if (i) the Xxxxxxxx Parties, WGPC and the Underwriters shall have so mutually agreed;
(ii) the Xxxxxxxx Parties and WGPC have failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters; (iii) the Underwriters and their respective
directors, officers, employees and controlling persons shall have reasonably
31
concluded that
there may be legal defenses available to them that are different from or in addition to
those available to the Xxxxxxxx Parties or WGPC; or (iv) the named parties in any such
proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Underwriters or their
respective directors, officers, employees or controlling persons, on the one hand, and the
Xxxxxxxx Parties or WGPC or their respective directors, managers, officers, employees or
controlling persons, on the other hand, and representation of both sets of parties by the
same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between
them, and in any such event the fees and expenses of such separate counsel shall be paid by
the Xxxxxxxx Parties or WGPC. No indemnifying party shall (i) without the prior written
consent of the indemnified parties (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld),
settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or
threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or
contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or
potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent
includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out
of such claim, action, suit or proceeding and does not include any findings of fact or
admissions of fault or culpability as to the indemnified party, or (ii) be liable for any
settlement of any such action effected without its written consent (which consent shall not
be unreasonably withheld), but if settled with the consent of the indemnifying party or if
there be a final judgment of the plaintiff in any such action, the indemnifying party agrees
to indemnify and hold harmless any indemnified party from and against any loss or liability
by reason of such settlement or judgment.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 shall for any reason
be unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Section
8(a) or 8(b) in respect of any loss, claim, damage or liability, or any action
in respect thereof, referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall, in lieu of
indemnifying such indemnified party, contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect
thereof, (i) in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits
received by the Xxxxxxxx Parties and WGPC, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the
other, from the offering of the Units or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is
not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only
the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of
the Xxxxxxxx Parties and WGPC, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, with
respect to the statements or omissions that resulted in such loss, claim, damage or
liability, or action in respect thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative benefits received by the Xxxxxxxx Parties and WGPC, on the one
hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, with respect to such offering shall be deemed to
be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Units purchased
under this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Partnership, as set forth
in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus, on the one hand, and the total
underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters with respect to the
Units purchased under this Agreement, as set forth in the table on the cover page of the
Prospectus, on the other hand, bear to the total gross proceeds from the offering of the
32
Units under this Agreement, as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus.
The relative fault shall be determined by reference to whether the untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact
relates to information supplied by the Xxxxxxxx Parties, WGPC or the Underwriters, the
intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Xxxxxxxx Parties, WGPC and the
Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this
Section 8(d) were to be determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters
were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does
not take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or
payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, damage or liability, or
action in respect thereof, referred to above in this Section 8(d) shall be deemed to
include, for purposes of this Section 8(d), any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such
action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8(d), no
Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the
total price at which the Units underwritten by it and distributed to the public was offered
to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise paid or
become liable to pay by reason of any untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or
alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of
Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who
was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations to
contribute as provided in this Section 8(d) are several in proportion to their
respective underwriting obligations and not joint.
(e) The Underwriters severally confirm and the Xxxxxxxx Parties and WGPC acknowledge
that the second full paragraph under the heading “Commissions and Expenses” and the first
and second full paragraphs and the last sentence of the third paragraph under the heading
“Stabilization, Short Positions and Penalty Bids” appearing under the caption “Underwriting”
in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus are correct and constitute the
only information concerning such Underwriters furnished in writing to the Xxxxxxxx Parties
by or on behalf of the Underwriters specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus,
the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement
thereto.
(f) Each of the Xxxxxxxx Parties and WGPC, jointly and severally, shall indemnify and
hold harmless Xxxxxx Brothers Inc. (including its directors, officers and employees) and
each person, if any, who controls Xxxxxx Brothers Inc. within the meaning of Section 15 of
the Securities Act (“Xxxxxx Brothers Entities”), from and against any loss, claim, damage or
liability or any action in respect thereof to which any of the Xxxxxx Brothers Entities may
become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage,
liability or action (i) arises out of, or is based upon, any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in any material prepared by or with the
approval of the Partnership for distribution to Directed Unit Participants in connection
with the Directed Unit Program or any omission
33
or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, (ii) arises out of, or is based upon, the failure of the Directed Unit
Participant to pay for and accept delivery of Directed Units that the Directed Unit
Participant agreed to purchase or (iii) is otherwise related to the Directed Unit Program;
provided that neither the Xxxxxxxx Parties nor WGPC shall be liable under this clause (iii)
for any loss, claim, damage, liability or action that is determined in a final judgment by a
court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful
misconduct of the Xxxxxx Brothers Entities. The Xxxxxxxx Parties and WGPC shall reimburse
the Xxxxxx Brothers Entities promptly upon demand for any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending or preparing to defend
against any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred.
Section 9. Defaulting Underwriters. If, on any Delivery Date, any Underwriter defaults in the
performance of its obligations under this Agreement, the remaining non-defaulting Underwriters
shall be obligated to purchase the Units that the defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to
purchase on such Delivery Date in the respective proportions which the number of the Firm Units set
forth opposite the name of each remaining non-defaulting Underwriter in Schedule 1 hereto
bears to the total number of Firm Units set forth opposite the names of all the remaining
non-defaulting Underwriters in Schedule 1 hereto; provided, however, that the remaining
non-defaulting Underwriters shall not be obligated to purchase any of the Units on such Delivery
Date if the total number of the Units that the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but
failed to purchase on such date exceeds 9.09% of the total number of Units to be purchased on such
Delivery Date, and any remaining non-defaulting Underwriter shall not be obligated to purchase more
than 110% of the number of Units that it agreed to purchase on such Delivery Date pursuant to the
terms of Section 2. If the foregoing maximums are exceeded, the remaining non-defaulting
Underwriters, or those other underwriters satisfactory to the Representatives who so agree, shall
have the right, but shall not be obligated, to purchase, in such proportion as may be agreed upon
among them, all the Units to be purchased on such Delivery Date. If the remaining Underwriters or
other underwriters satisfactory to the Representatives do not elect to purchase the Units that the
defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase on such Delivery Date, this Agreement
(or, with respect to the Option Unit Delivery Date, the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase,
and of the Partnership to sell, the Option Units) shall terminate without liability on the part of
any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Xxxxxxxx Parties, except that the Xxxxxxxx Parties will
continue to be liable for the payment of expenses to the extent set forth in Sections 6 and
11. As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” includes, for all purposes of this
Agreement unless the context requires otherwise, any party not listed in Schedule 1 hereto
that, pursuant to this Section 9, purchases Firm Units that a defaulting Underwriter agreed
but failed to purchase.
Nothing contained herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of any liability it may have
to the Xxxxxxxx Parties for damages caused by its default. If other Underwriters are obligated or
agree to purchase the Units of a defaulting or withdrawing Underwriter, either the Representatives
or the Partnership, as the case may be, may postpone the Delivery Date for up to seven full
business days in order to effect any changes that in the opinion of counsel for the
34
Partnership or
counsel for the Underwriters may be necessary in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary
Prospectus or the Prospectus or in any other document or arrangement.
Section 10. Termination. The obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be terminated by the
Representatives by notice given to and received by the Partnership prior to delivery of and payment
for the Firm Units if, prior to that time, any of the events described in Sections 7(j),
7(k) or 7(l), shall have occurred or if the Underwriters shall decline to purchase
the Units for any reason permitted under this Agreement.
Section 11. Reimbursement of Underwriters’ Expenses. If the Partnership shall fail to tender the
Units for delivery to the Underwriters by reason of any failure, refusal or inability on the part
of any of the Xxxxxxxx Parties to perform any agreement on its part to be performed, or because any
other condition of the Underwriters’ obligations hereunder required to be fulfilled by any of the
Xxxxxxxx Parties (including, without limitation, with respect to the Transactions) is not
fulfilled, the Xxxxxxxx Parties will reimburse the Underwriters for all reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel) incurred by the Underwriters in connection
with this Agreement and the proposed purchase of the Units (the “Expenses”), and upon demand the
Xxxxxxxx Parties shall pay the full amount thereof to the Representatives. If this Agreement is
terminated pursuant to Section 9 by reason of the default of one or more Underwriters, the
Xxxxxxxx Parties shall not be obligated to reimburse any defaulting Underwriter on account of those
Expenses. If this agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 10 because any of the events
described in Section 7(m) shall have occurred, the Xxxxxxxx Parties will reimburse the Underwriters
severally through the Representatives on demand for its behalf of the Expenses; provided, however,
that the Xxxxxxxx Parties shall not be responsible for any amount in excess of $500,000 under this
sentence.
Section 12. Research Analyst Independence. The Xxxxxxxx Parties acknowledge that the
Underwriters’ research analysts and research departments are required to be independent from their
respective investment banking divisions and are subject to certain regulations and
internal policies, and that such Underwriters’ research analysts may hold views and make
statements or investment recommendations and/or publish research reports with respect to the
Partnership and/or the offering of the Units that differ from the views of their respective
investment bankers. The Xxxxxxxx Parties hereby waive and release, to the fullest extent permitted
by law, any claims that the Xxxxxxxx Parties may have against the Underwriters with respect to any
conflict of interest that may arise from the fact that the views expressed by their independent
research analysts and research departments may be different from or inconsistent with the views or
advice communicated to the Xxxxxxxx Parties by such Underwriters’ investment banking divisions.
The Xxxxxxxx Parties acknowledge that each of the Underwriters is a full service securities firm
and as such from time to time, subject to applicable securities laws, may effect transactions for
its own account or the account of its customers and hold long or short positions in debt or equity
securities of the Partnership.
Section 13. No Fiduciary Duty. The Xxxxxxxx Parties acknowledge and agree that in connection with
the offering of the Units, the sale of the Units or any other services the Underwriters may be
deemed to be providing hereunder, notwithstanding any preexisting relationship, advisory or
otherwise, between the parties or any oral representations or assurances previously or subsequently
made by the Underwriters: (i) no fiduciary or agency relationship
35
between the Xxxxxxxx Parties and
any other person, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, exists; (ii) the
Underwriters are not acting as advisors, expert or otherwise, to the Xxxxxxxx Parties, including,
without limitation, with respect to the determination of the public offering price of the Units,
and such relationship between the Xxxxxxxx Parties, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the
other, is entirely and solely commercial, based on arms-length negotiations; (iii) any duties and
obligations that the Underwriters may have to the Xxxxxxxx Parties shall be limited to those duties
and obligations specifically stated herein; and (iv) the Underwriters and their respective
affiliates may have interests that differ from those of the Xxxxxxxx Parties. The Xxxxxxxx Parties
hereby waive any claims that the Xxxxxxxx Parties may have against the Underwriters with respect to
any breach of fiduciary duty in connection with this offering.
Section 14. Notices. All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in
writing, and:
(a) if to the Underwriters, shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile
transmission to (i) Xxxxxx Brothers Inc., 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx
00000, Attention: Syndicate Registration (Fax: 000-000-0000), with a copy, in the case of
any notice pursuant to Section 8(c), to the Director of Litigation, Office of the
General Counsel, Xxxxxx Brothers Inc., 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
(Fax: 000-000-0000); (ii) Citigroup Global Markets Inc., General Counsel (fax no.: (000)
000-0000) and confirmed to the General Counsel, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., at 000
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention: General Counsel; and (iii) Xxxxxxx
Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Incorporated, 4 World Financial Center, New York, New York,
10080, Attention: Origination Counsel Group; and
(b) if to the Xxxxxxxx Parties, shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile
transmission to the address of the Partnership set forth in the Registration Statement,
Attention: Chief Financial Officer (Fax: 000-000-0000).
Any such statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect at the time of receipt
thereof. The Xxxxxxxx Parties shall be entitled to act and rely upon any request, consent, notice
or agreement given or made on behalf of the Underwriters by the Representatives.
Section 15. Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of
and be binding upon the Underwriters, the Xxxxxxxx Parties and their respective successors. This
Agreement and the terms and provisions hereof are for the sole benefit of only those persons,
except that (A) the representations, warranties, indemnities and agreements of the Xxxxxxxx Parties
contained in this Agreement shall also be deemed to be for the benefit of the directors, officers
and employees of the Underwriters and each person or persons, if any, who control any Underwriter
within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and (B) the indemnity agreement of the
Underwriters contained in Section 8(b) of this Agreement shall be deemed to be for the
benefit of the directors and managers of the Xxxxxxxx Parties, the officers of the Xxxxxxxx Parties
who have signed the Registration Statement and any person controlling the Xxxxxxxx Parties within
the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be
construed to give any person, other than the persons referred to in this Section 15, any
legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this
36
Agreement or any provision
contained herein. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person,
other than the persons referred to in this Section 15, any legal or equitable right, remedy or
claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision contained herein. Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary, all liabilities and obligations of the Xxxxxxxx Parties
hereunder shall be non-recourse against any partner (including any limited partner or general
partner), stockholder, member, officer, director or employee of any of the Xxxxxxxx Parties, other
than the Xxxxxxxx Parties in their capacities as such. In that connection, no such partner,
stockholder, member, officer, director or employee shall be bound by this Agreement, or be
obligated by virtue of this Agreement or the obligations of any party created hereunder to (A)
provide funds to any of the Xxxxxxxx Parties, whether by contributions to capital, loans, returns
of monies, securities or other property, or (B) assume any liabilities of any of the Xxxxxxxx
Parties.
Section 16. Survival. The respective indemnities, representations, warranties and agreements of
the Xxxxxxxx Parties and the Underwriters contained in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of
them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall survive the delivery of and payment for the
Units and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on
behalf of any of them or any person controlling any of them.
Section 17. Definition of the Terms “Business Day” and “Subsidiary”. For purposes of this
Agreement, (a) “business day” means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday that is not
a day on which banking institutions in New York are
generally authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close and (b) “subsidiary” has the
meaning set forth in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations.
Section 18. Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
Section 19. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts and, if
executed in more than one counterpart, the executed counterparts shall each be deemed to be an
original but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.
Section 20. Headings. The headings herein are inserted for convenience of reference only and are
not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.
[Signature pages follow.]
37
If the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement among the Xxxxxxxx Parties and the
Underwriters, please indicate your acceptance in the space provided for that purpose below.
Very truly yours, | ||||||
XXXXXXXX PIPELINE GP LLC | ||||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||||
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer |
||||||
XXXXXXXX PIPELINE PARTNERS L.P. | ||||||
By: | Xxxxxxxx Pipeline GP LLC, | |||||
its General Partner | ||||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||||
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer |
||||||
XXXXXXXX PIPELINE OPERATING LLC | ||||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||||
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Manager | ||||||
XXXXXXXX GAS PIPELINE COMPANY, LLC | ||||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||||
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Senior Vice President |
Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement
Accepted:
XXXXXX BROTHERS INC.
CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.
XXXXXXX LYNCH , PIERCE, XXXXXX & XXXXX
INCORPORATED
CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.
XXXXXXX LYNCH , PIERCE, XXXXXX & XXXXX
INCORPORATED
For themselves and as Representatives
of the several Underwriters named
in Schedule 1 hereto
of the several Underwriters named
in Schedule 1 hereto
By: XXXXXX BROTHERS INC.
By: |
/s/ Xxxxxxxx Xxxx | |||
Authorized Representative |
By: CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.
By: |
/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxx | |||
Authorized Representative |
By: XXXXXXX LYNCH , PIERCE, XXXXXX & XXXXX
INCORPORATED
INCORPORATED
By: |
/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx | |||
Authorized Representative |
Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement
SCHEDULE 1
Number of Firm Units | ||||
Underwriters | to be Purchased | |||
Xxxxxx Brothers Inc. |
3,916,250 | |||
Citigroup Global Markets Inc. |
3,916,250 | |||
Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx
Incorporated |
2,843,750 | |||
Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC |
975,000 | |||
Xxxxxxx, Sachs & Co. |
812,500 | |||
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated |
812,500 | |||
UBS Securities LLC |
812,500 | |||
Banc of America Securities LLC |
650,000 | |||
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc. |
406,250 | |||
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx & Associates, Inc. |
406,250 | |||
RBC Capital Markets Corporation |
406,250 | |||
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx & Company, Incorporated |
292,500 | |||
Total |
16,250,000 | |||
Schedule 1-1
SCHEDULE 2
PERSONS DELIVERING LOCK-UP AGREEMENTS
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx X. Sailor
The Xxxxxxxx Companies, Inc.
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx X. Sailor
The Xxxxxxxx Companies, Inc.
Schedule 2-1
SCHEDULE 3
PRICING INFORMATION
Units offered: |
16,250,000 | |||
Price to public: |
$ | 20.00 |
Schedule 3-1
ANNEX I
JURISDICTIONS OF QUALIFICATION
Jurisdiction of | Jurisdictions | |||
Name of Entity | Formation | of Qualification | ||
Xxxxxxxx Pipeline Partners L.P.
|
Delaware | Oklahoma | ||
Xxxxxxxx Gas Pipeline Company, LLC
|
Delaware | Oklahoma, Texas | ||
Xxxxxxxx Pipeline Operating LLC
|
Delaware | Oklahoma | ||
Xxxxxxxx Pipeline Partners Holdings LLC
|
Delaware | Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming | ||
Northwest Pipeline GP
|
Delaware | Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Oregon*, Utah*, Washington*, Wyoming* | ||
WGPC Holdings LLC
|
Delaware | Oklahoma | ||
Xxxxxxxx Pipeline GP LLC
|
Delaware | Oklahoma | ||
Xxxxxxxx Pipeline Services Company
|
Delaware | Oklahoma | ||
The Xxxxxxxx Companies, Inc.
|
Delaware | District of Columbia, Kentucky, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah |
* | Qualified by a partner |
Annex I-1
EXHIBIT A
LOCK-UP LETTER AGREEMENT
XXXXXX BROTHERS INC.
CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.
XXXXXXX LYNCH, PIERCE, XXXXXX & XXXXX
INCORPORATED
As Representatives of the several
Underwriters named in Schedule 1,
c/x Xxxxxx Brothers Inc.
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.
XXXXXXX LYNCH, PIERCE, XXXXXX & XXXXX
INCORPORATED
As Representatives of the several
Underwriters named in Schedule 1,
c/x Xxxxxx Brothers Inc.
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Dear Sirs:
The undersigned understands that you and certain other firms propose to enter into an
Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) providing for the purchase by you and such
other firms (the “Underwriters”) of common units representing limited partner interests (the
“Common Units”) of Xxxxxxxx Pipeline Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the
“Partnership”), and that the Underwriters propose to reoffer the Common Units to the public (the
“Offering”).
In consideration of the execution of the Underwriting Agreement by the Underwriters, and for
other good and valuable consideration, the undersigned hereby irrevocably agrees that, without the
prior written consent of Xxxxxx Brothers Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Xxxxxxx Lynch,
Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Incorporated, on behalf of the Underwriters, the undersigned will not,
directly or indirectly, (1) offer for sale, sell, pledge, or otherwise dispose of (or enter into
any transaction or device that is designed to, or could be expected to, result in the disposition
by any person at any time in the future of) any Common Units (including, without limitation, Common
Units that may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the undersigned in accordance with the rules
and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and Common Units that may be issued upon
exercise of any option or warrant) or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Units
owned by the undersigned on the date of execution of this Lock-Up Letter Agreement or on the date
of the completion of the Offering, or (2) enter into any swap or other derivatives transaction that
transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic benefits or risks of ownership of
such Common Units, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2)
above is to be settled by delivery of Common Units or other securities, in cash or otherwise, (3)
cause to be filed a registration statement (other than any registration statement on Form S-8) with
respect to the registration of any Common Units or securities convertible, exercisable or
exchangeable into Common Units or any other securities of the Partnership or (4) publicly disclose
the intention to do any of the foregoing for a period of 180 days after the date of the final
Prospectus relating to the Offering (such 180-day period, the “Lock-Up Period”). The foregoing
sentence shall not apply to bona fide gifts, sales
A-1
or other dispositions of any Common Units that are made exclusively between and among the
undersigned or members of the undersigned’s family, or affiliates of the undersigned, including its
partners (if a partnership) or members (if a limited liability company); provided that it shall be
a condition to any such transfer that (i) the transferee/donee agrees to be bound by the terms of
the lock-up agreement (including, without limitation, the restrictions set forth in the preceding
sentence) to the same extent as if the transferee/donee were a party hereto, (ii) no filing by any
party (donor, donee, transferor or transferee) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the “Exchange Act”), shall be required or shall be voluntarily made in connection with
such transfer or distribution (other than a filing on Form 5, Schedule 13D or Schedule 13G (or
13D/A or 13G/A) made after the expiration of the 180-day period referred to above), (iii) each
party (donor, donee, transferor or transferee) shall not be required by law (including without
limitation the disclosure requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Exchange
Act) to make, and shall agree to not voluntarily make, any public announcement of the transfer or
disposition, and (iv) the undersigned notifies Xxxxxx Brothers’ Equity Capital Markets at least two
business days prior to the proposed transfer or disposition.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (1) during the last 17 days of the Lock-Up Period, the
Partnership issues an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to the
Partnership occurs or (2) prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, the Partnership announces
that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the
Lock-Up Period, then the restrictions imposed by this Lock-Up Letter Agreement shall continue to
apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release
or the announcement of the material news or the occurrence of the material event, unless Xxxxxx
Brothers Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Incorporated
waive such extension in writing. The undersigned hereby further agrees that, prior to engaging in
any transaction or taking any other action that is subject to the terms of this Lock-Up Letter
Agreement during the period from the date of this Lock-Up Letter Agreement to and including the
34th day following the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, it will give notice thereof to the
Partnership and will not consummate such transaction or take any such action unless it has received
written confirmation from the Partnership that the Lock-Up Period (as such may have been extended
pursuant to this paragraph) has expired.
In furtherance of the foregoing, the Partnership and its transfer agent are hereby authorized
to decline to make any transfer of securities if such transfer would constitute a violation or
breach of this Lock-Up Letter Agreement.
It is understood that, if the Partnership notifies the Underwriters that it does not intend to
proceed with the Offering, if the Underwriting Agreement does not become effective, or if the
Underwriting Agreement (other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) shall
terminate or be terminated prior to payment for and delivery of the Common Units, the undersigned
will be released from its obligations under this Lock-Up Letter Agreement.
The undersigned understands that the Partnership and the Underwriters will proceed with the
Offering in reliance on this Lock-Up Letter Agreement.
A-2
Whether or not the Offering actually occurs depends on a number of factors, including market
conditions. Any Offering will only be made pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement, the terms of
which are subject to negotiation among the Partnership and the Underwriters.
The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and
authority to enter into this Lock-Up Letter Agreement and that, upon request, the undersigned will
execute any additional documents necessary in connection with the enforcement hereof. Any
obligations of the undersigned shall be binding upon the heirs, personal representatives,
successors and assigns of the undersigned.
Very truly yours, | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: | ||||||
Title: | ||||||
Dated: January _____, 2008
A-3
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF OPINION OF HOLLAND & XXXX LLP
(i) The Partnership has been duly formed and is validly existing as a limited partnership
under the Delaware LP Act, is duly registered or qualified to do business and is in good standing
as a foreign limited partnership under the laws of the jurisdictions set forth on Annex I
to this Agreement; and the Partnership has all requisite partnership power and authority necessary
to own or hold its properties and assets and to conduct the businesses in which it is engaged, as
described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus.
(ii) Each of the General Partner, OLLC and WPP Holdings has been duly formed and is validly
existing in good standing as a limited liability company under the Delaware LLC Act, is duly
registered or qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign limited liability
company under the laws of the jurisdictions set forth on Annex I to this Agreement; and
each such limited liability company has all requisite limited liability company power and authority
necessary to own or hold its properties and to conduct the businesses in which it is engaged, in
each case as described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus.
(iii) Northwest is validly existing in good standing as a general partnership under the
Delaware Partnership Act. Either Northwest or one of its partners is duly registered or qualified
to do business and is in good standing as a foreign general partnership under the laws of the
jurisdictions set forth on Annex I to this Agreement. Northwest has all requisite
partnership power and authority necessary to own or hold its properties and to conduct the
businesses in which it is engaged, in each case as described in the most recent Preliminary
Prospectus and the Prospectus.
(iv) The General Partner is the sole general partner of the Partnership with an initial 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, encumbrances, security interests or claims
(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 the date of such counsel’s opinion
with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or (B) otherwise known to such counsel,
without independent investigation, other than those created by or arising under the Delaware LP Act
or the Partnership Agreement.
(v) The Sponsor Units, the Incentive Distribution Rights and the limited partner interests
represented thereby have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Partnership
Agreement, and are fully paid (to the extent required under the Partnership Agreement) and
non-assessable (except as such non-assessability may be affected by Sections 17-303, 17-607 and
17-804 of the Delaware LP Act); and the General Partner owns the Sponsor Units free and clear of
all liens, encumbrances, security interests or claims (except restrictions on transferability in
the Partnership Agreement, as described in the Prospectus or those created 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 the date of such
counsel’s opinion with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware
B-1
or (B) otherwise known to such counsel, without independent investigation, other than those
created by or arising under the Delaware LP Act or the Partnership Agreement; and the General
Partner owns the Incentive Distribution Rights free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, security
interests or claims (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 the date of such
counsel’s opinion with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or (B) otherwise known to
such counsel, without independent investigation, other than those created by or arising under the
Delaware LP Act or the Partnership Agreement.
(vi) The Firm Units and the Option Units, if any, to be issued and sold by the Partnership to
the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement have been duly authorized and, when issued and
delivered against payment therefor in accordance with this Agreement will be validly issued, fully
paid (to the extent required under the Partnership Agreement) and non-assessable (except as such
non-assessability may be affected by Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act);
and other than the Sponsor Units and the Incentive Distribution Rights, the Firm Units will be the
only limited partner interests of the Partnership issued and outstanding at the Initial Delivery
Date.
(vii) The Partnership owns a 100% limited liability company interest in OLLC; such limited
liability company interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the OLLC
Agreement and is fully paid (to the extent required under the OLLC Agreement) and non-assessable
(except as such non-assessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC
Act); and the Partnership owns such limited liability company interest free and clear of all liens,
encumbrances, security interests or claims (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
the date of such counsel’s opinion with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or (B)
otherwise known to such counsel, without independent investigation, other than those created by or
arising under the Delaware LLC Act or the OLLC Agreement.
(viii) OLLC owns a 100% limited liability company interest in WPP Holdings; such limited
liability company interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the WPP
Holdings LLC Agreement and is fully paid (to the extent required under the WPP Holdings LLC
Agreement) and non-assessable (except as such non-assessability may be affected by Sections 18-607
and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act); and OLLC owns such limited liability company interest free and
clear of all liens, encumbrances, security interests or claims (A) in respect of which a financing
statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of Delaware naming the OLLC as debtor is
on file as of the date of such counsel’s opinion with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware or (B) otherwise known to such counsel, without independent investigation, other than
those created by or arising under the Delaware LLC Act or the WPP Holdings LLC Agreement.
(ix) On the Initial Delivery Date, and after giving effect to the Transactions, WPP Holdings
will own a 35.0% general partnership interest in Northwest; such general partnership interest will
be duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Northwest Partnership Agreement; and
WPP Holdings will own such general partnership interest free and clear of all liens, encumbrances,
security interests or claims (A) in respect of which a financing statement
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under the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of Delaware naming WPP Holdings as debtor is on
file as of the date of such counsel’s opinion with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware
or (B) otherwise known to such counsel, without independent investigation, other than those created
by or arising under the Delaware Partnership Act or the Northwest Partnership Agreement.
(x) Except as described in the Prospectus or as provided in the Working Capital Credit
Agreement or [specific provisions of applicable Organizational Documents to be referenced], there
are no preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or to purchase, nor any restriction upon
the voting or transfer of (i) any limited partner interests in the Partnership, (ii) any limited
liability company interests in the General Partner or OLLC or (iii) any general partnership
interests in Northwest, in each case pursuant to the Organizational Documents or any other
agreement or instrument known to such counsel to which any of such entities is a party or by which
any one of them may be bound. To such counsel’s knowledge, except as described in the Prospectus,
there are no outstanding options or warrants to purchase (A) any Common Units or Subordinated Units
or other interests in the Partnership or (B) any interests in the General Partner, OLLC or any
Subsidiary.
(xi) Each of the Organizational Documents, other than the Partnership Agreement, has been duly
authorized and validly executed and delivered by or on behalf of each of the Xxxxxxxx Parties party
thereto.
(xii) Assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by each party thereto (other than
the Xxxxxxxx Parties), each of the Organizational Documents, other than the Partnership Agreement,
constitutes a valid and binding obligation of each of the Xxxxxxxx Parties party thereto,
enforceable against each such Xxxxxxxx Party in accordance with its terms, (A) limited by
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or conveyance or
other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally, (B) subject to the
application of general principles of equity (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in
equity or at law), including, without limitation, the possible unavailability of specific
performance, injunctive relief or any other equitable remedy and concepts of materiality,
reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, and (C) subject to public policy, applicable law
relating to fiduciary duties and indemnification and an implied contractual covenant of good faith
and fair dealing.
(xiii) The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by or on
behalf of each of the Xxxxxxxx Parties party thereto.
(xiv) The offering, issuance and sale by the Partnership of the Units, the execution and
delivery of, or the incurrence or performance by the Xxxxxxxx Entities of their respective
obligations under, each of the Underwriting Agreement and the Operative Agreements to which any of
the Xxxxxxxx Entities is a party, each in accordance with its terms, and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including the Transactions) has not caused, and will
not cause, as applicable, (A) a violation of the Organizational Documents, (B) a breach or
violation of, or a default under (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would
constitute such an event), any Operative Agreement to which any of the Xxxxxxxx Parties is a party
or any agreement filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or (C) any violation of
B-3
any applicable law of the United States of America, the Delaware LP Act and the Delaware LLC
Act, excluding in the case of clauses (B) and (C), any such breaches, violations
and defaults that would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xv) Except for the registration of the Units under the Securities Act, no Governmental
Approval is required for the execution and delivery by each of the Xxxxxxxx Parties of this
Agreement or any of the Operative Agreements to which it is a party or the incurrence or
performance of its obligations thereunder and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
thereby, except for such (A) as have been, or will be prior to each Delivery Date, obtained or
made, (B) as may be required under the Exchange Act and applicable state securities laws in
connection with the purchase and distribution of the Units by the Underwriters, (C) would not have
a Material Adverse Effect if not obtained or made, and (D) as disclosed in the Prospectus. As used
in this paragraph, “Governmental Approval” means any consent, approval, license, authorization or
validation of, or filing, recording or registration with, any executive, legislative, judicial,
administrative or regulatory body of the State of Delaware or the United State of America, pursuant
to (i) the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, (ii) the Delaware Limited Liability
Company Act and (iii) the applicable laws of the United States of America.
(xvi) The statements contained in the Prospectus under the captions “Business—Regulatory
Matters—Energy Policy Act of 2005,” “Business—Regulatory Matters—Environmental Regulation,”
“Management—Long-Term Incentive Plan,” “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions,” and
“Investment in Xxxxxxxx Pipeline Partners L.P. by Employee Benefit Plans” and under the fourth
paragraph under the caption “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources of Northwest—Working Capital,” insofar as
such statements purport to summarize certain provisions of documents referred to therein or refer
to statements of law or legal conclusions, fairly summarize the matters referred to therein in all
material respects, subject to the qualifications and assumptions stated therein.
(xvii) The Registration Statement was declared effective under the Securities Act as of the
date and time specified in such opinion; the Prospectus was filed with the Commission pursuant to
the subparagraph of Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations specified in such opinion on the date
specified therein; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has
been issued and, to the knowledge of such counsel, based solely upon oral communications between
such counsel and the Commission, no proceeding for that purpose is pending or threatened by the
Commission.
(xviii) To the best of such counsel’s knowledge, there are no contracts or other documents
that are required to be described in the Prospectus or filed as exhibits to the Registration
Statement by the Securities Act or by the Rules and Regulations and are not so described or filed.
(xix) None of the Partnership Entities are, after giving effect to the Transactions and the
application of the net proceeds therefrom as described under “Use of Proceeds” in the Prospectus,
will be, an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
B-4
In addition, such counsel has participated in conferences with officers and other
representatives of the Xxxxxxxx Parties, representatives of the independent registered public
accounting firm of the Partnership and the General Partner and the Underwriters’ representatives,
at which the contents of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure
Package and related matters were discussed, and, although such counsel has not independently
verified and is not passing upon, and does not assume any responsibility for, the accuracy,
completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus
and the Pricing Disclosure Package (except as and to the extent set forth in paragraphs
(xvi) and (xviii) above), on the basis of the foregoing (relying as to factual matters
in respect of the determination of materiality to the extent such counsel deems reasonable and
appropriate upon the statements of fact made by officers and other representatives of the
Partnership Entities), no facts have come to such counsel’s attention that have led such counsel to
believe that (i) the Registration Statement, at the time it became effective, 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 or (ii) the Prospectus, as of its date and
as of each Delivery Date, contained or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted
or omits a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading, or (iii) the Pricing Disclosure Package, as of the
Applicable Time, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a
material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading, it being understood that such counsel expresses no opinion,
statement or belief with respect to (i) the historical and pro forma financial statements and
related schedules, including the notes and schedules thereto and the auditors’ reports thereon,
(ii) any other related financial and accounting data included in, or excluded from, the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Pricing Disclosure Package or any further amendment
or supplement thereto and (iii) representations and warranties and other statements of fact
included in the exhibits to the Registration Statement.
Such counsel shall also state that each of the Registration Statement, on the Effective Date,
and the Prospectus, as of its date (except for the financial statements and related schedules,
including the notes and schedules thereto and the auditor’s reports thereon, and any other related
financial and accounting data included therein or excluded therefrom, as to which such counsel need
express no opinion), appear on its face to be appropriately responsive in all material respects to
the requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations (except that such counsel
expresses no statement or belief as to Regulation S-T).
Such counsel’s opinion may be limited to matters governed by the applicable laws of the United
States of America, the Delaware LP Act, Delaware Partnership Act and the Delaware LLC Act. Such
counsel need not express any opinion with respect to the title of any of the Partnership Entities
to any of their respective real or personal property or the accuracy of the descriptions or
references in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or the
Operative Agreements to any real or personal property, and need not express any opinion with
respect to state or local taxes or tax statutes to which any of the limited partners of the
Partnership or any of the Partnership Entities may be subject.
B-5
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF OPINION OF XXXXXXX XXXXX LLP
(i) Each of the Working Capital Agreement, the Contribution Agreement, the Omnibus Agreement,
and the Partnership Agreement has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by or on
behalf of each of the Xxxxxxxx Parties party thereto.
(ii) Assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by each party thereto (other than
the Xxxxxxxx Parties), each of the Working Capital Agreement, the Contribution Agreement, the
Omnibus Agreement, and the Partnership Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of each
of the Xxxxxxxx Parties party thereto, enforceable against each such Xxxxxxxx Party in accordance
with its terms, (A) limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium,
fraudulent transfer or conveyance or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights of
creditors generally, (B) subject to the application of general principles of equity (regardless of
whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), including, without limitation, the
possible unavailability of specific performance, injunctive relief or any other equitable remedy
and concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, and (C) subject to public
policy, applicable law relating to fiduciary duties and indemnification and an implied covenant of
good faith and fair dealing.
(iii) The statements contained in the Prospectus under the captions “How We Make Cash
Distributions,” “Business—Regulatory Matters—FERC Regulation,” “Business—Regulatory Matters—FERC
Policy Statement on Income Tax Allowances,” “Business—Regulatory Matters—FERC Policy Statement on
Proxy Groups and Return on Equity,” “Conflicts of Interest and Fiduciary Duties,” and “The
Partnership Agreement,” insofar as such statements purport to summarize certain provisions of
documents referred to therein or refer to statements of law or legal conclusions, fairly summarize
the matters referred to therein in all material respects, subject to the qualifications and
assumptions stated therein; and the Common Units, the Subordinated Units and the Incentive
Distribution Rights conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the
Prospectus under the captions “Prospectus Summary—The Offering,” “Cash Distribution Policy and
Restrictions on Distribution,” “Description of the Common Units,” “Description of the Subordinated
Units” and “The Partnership Agreement.”
(iv) The opinion of Xxxxxxx Xxxxx LLP that is filed as Exhibit 8.1 to the Registration
Statement is confirmed and the Underwriters may rely upon such opinion as if it were addressed to
them.
In addition, such counsel has participated in conferences with officers and other
representatives of the Xxxxxxxx Parties, representatives of the independent registered public
accounting firm of the Partnership and the General Partner and the Underwriters’ representatives,
at which the contents of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure
Package and related matters were discussed, and, although such counsel has not independently
verified and is not passing upon, and does not assume any responsibility for, the accuracy,
completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus
and the Pricing Disclosure Package (except as and to the extent set forth in paragraph
C-1
(iii) above), on the basis of the foregoing (relying as to factual matters in respect of the
determination of materiality to the extent such counsel deems reasonable and appropriate upon the
statements of fact made by officers and other representatives of the Partnership Entities), no
facts have come to such counsel’s attention that have led such counsel to believe that (i) the
Registration Statement, at the time it became effective, 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 or (ii) the Prospectus, as of its date and as of each
Delivery Date, contained or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits a
material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading, or (iii) the Pricing Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time,
contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, it being understood that such counsel expresses no opinion, statement or belief with
respect to (i) the historical and pro forma financial statements and related schedules, including
the notes and schedules thereto and the auditors’ reports thereon, (ii) any other related financial
and accounting data included in, or excluded from, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or
the Pricing Disclosure Package or any further amendment or supplement thereto and (iii)
representations and warranties and other statements of fact included in the exhibits to the
Registration Statement.
Such counsel shall also state that each of the Registration Statement, on the Effective Date,
and the Prospectus, as of its date (except for the financial statements and related schedules,
including the notes and schedules thereto and the auditor’s reports thereon, and any other related
financial and accounting data included therein or excluded therefrom, as to which such counsel need
express no opinion), appear on its face to be appropriately responsive in all material respects to
the requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations (except that such counsel
expresses no statement or belief as to Regulation S-T).
Such counsel’s opinion may be limited to matters governed by the applicable laws of the United
States of America, the state of New York, the Delaware LP Act and the Delaware LLC Act. Such
counsel need not express any opinion with respect to the title of any of the Partnership Entities
to any of their respective real or personal property or the accuracy of the descriptions or
references in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or the
Operative Agreements to any real or personal property, and need not express any opinion with
respect to state or local taxes or tax statutes to which any of the limited partners of the
Partnership or any of the Partnership Entities may be subject.
C-2
EXHIBIT D
FORM OF OPINION OF XXXXX X. XXXXXX
(i) On the Initial Delivery Date, and after giving effect to the Transactions, WGPC will own a
65.0% general partnership interest in Northwest; such general partnership interest will be duly
authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Northwest Partnership Agreement; and WGPC will
own such general partnership interest free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, security interests
or claims (A) in respect of which a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of the
State of Delaware naming WGPC as debtor is on file as of the date in such counsel’s opinion with
the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or (B) otherwise known to such counsel, without
independent investigation, other than those created by or arising under the Delaware LLC Act or the
Northwest Partnership Agreement.
(ii) Each of the Operative Agreements to which any of the Xxxxxxxx Entities, other than the
Xxxxxxxx Parties, is a party has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by or on
behalf of each of the Xxxxxxxx Entities party thereto.
(iii) The offering, issuance and sale by the Partnership of the Units, the execution, delivery
and performance by the Xxxxxxxx Entities of any of the Operative Agreements and the consummation of
the transactions contemplated thereby will not result in: (A) a violation of the certificate of
incorporation, bylaws, limited liability company agreement, limited partnership agreement or
similar organizational document of any of the Xxxxxxxx Entities (other than the Xxxxxxxx Parties),
(B) a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any
indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to or by which
any of the Xxxxxxxx Entities (other than the Xxxxxxxx Parties) is bound or to which any of the
property or assets of any of the Xxxxxxxx Entities (other than the Xxxxxxxx Parties), is subject,
or (C) any violation of any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body
having jurisdiction over any of the Xxxxxxxx Entities (other than the Xxxxxxxx Parties) or any of
their properties or assets, except as described in the Prospectus and any such conflicts, breaches,
violations or defaults that would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(iv) Except as described in the Prospectus or the Partnership Agreement, there are no
contracts, agreements or understandings between the any of the Xxxxxxxx Entities and any person
granting such person the right to require the Partnership to file a registration statement under
the Securities Act with respect to any securities of the Partnership Entities owned or to be owned
by such person or to require the Partnership to include such securities in the Units registered
pursuant to the Registration Statement or in any securities being registered pursuant to any other
registration statement filed by any of the Partnership Entities under the Securities Act.
(v) To such counsel’s knowledge, other than as set forth in the Prospectus, there are no legal
or governmental proceedings pending to which any of the Partnership Entities is a party or to which
any property or assets of any of the Partnership Entities is the subject which, if determined
adversely to such Partnership Entity, might (A) reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect, or (B) subject the limited partners of the Partnership to any material
D-1
liability or disability; and, to such counsel’s knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened
or contemplated by governmental authorities or by others.
(vi) WGPC owns a 100% limited liability company interest in the General Partner; such limited
liability company interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the GP
LLC Agreement, and is fully paid (to the extent required under the GP LLC Agreement) and
non-assessable (except as such non-assessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of
the Delaware LLC Act); and WGPC owns such limited liability company interest free and clear of all
liens, encumbrances, security interests or claims (A) in respect of which a financing statement
under the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of Delaware naming WGPC as debtor is on file as of
the date of such counsel’s opinion with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or (B)
otherwise known to such counsel, without independent investigation, other than those created by or
arising under the Delaware LLC Act or the GP LLC Agreement.
D-2