Quicksilver Gas Services LP 5,000,000 Common Units Representing Limited Partner Interests Underwriting Agreement
Exhibit 1.1
5,000,000 Common Units
Representing Limited Partner Interests
[ __, 2007]
UBS Securities LLC
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co.
as Managing Underwriters
c/o UBS Securities LLC
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co.
as Managing Underwriters
c/o UBS Securities LLC
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
c/o Goldman, Sachs & Co.
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Quicksilver Gas Services LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”),
proposes to issue and sell to the underwriters named in Schedule A annexed hereto (the
“Underwriters”), for whom UBS Securities LLC (“UBS”) and Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co.
(“Goldman”) are acting as representatives (the “Representatives”), an aggregate of
5,000,000 common units (the “Firm Units”) representing limited partner interests in the
Partnership. Units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership, including, without
limitation, any common units or subordinated units, together with any units representing general
partner interests in the Partnership, are collectively referred to herein as the “Partnership
Units.” In addition, solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments, the Partnership
proposes to grant to the Underwriters the option to purchase from the Partnership up to an
additional 750,000 common units (the “Additional Units”). The Firm Units and the
Additional Units are hereinafter collectively sometimes referred to as the “Units.” The
Units are described in the Prospectus which is referred to below. This agreement (the
“Agreement”) is to confirm the agreement among the Partnership, Quicksilver Gas Services GP
LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “General Partner”), Quicksilver Gas Services
Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Holdings”) and Quicksilver Resources
Inc. (“Quicksilver,” and together with the Partnership, the General Partner and Holdings,
the “Quicksilver Parties”) on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand,
concerning the purchase of the Units from the Partnership by the Underwriters. The Quicksilver
Parties, other than Quicksilver and Holdings, and the subsidiaries listed on Schedule B
hereto (the “Subsidiaries”) are hereinafter collectively sometimes referred to as the
“Partnership Entities.”
The Partnership hereby acknowledges that, in connection with the proposed offering (the
“Offering”) of the Units, it has requested UBS Financial Services, Inc. (the “DUP
Manager”) to administer a directed unit program (the “Directed Unit Program”) under
which up to 187,500 Firm Units (the “Reserved Units”) shall be reserved for sale by the DUP
Manager at the initial public offering price to the General Partner’s officers, directors and
employees and its sole member and other persons having a relationship with the Partnership as
designated by the Partnership (the “Directed Unit Participants”) as part of the
distribution of Units by the Underwriters, subject to the terms of this Agreement, the applicable
rules, regulations and
interpretations of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the “NASD”)
and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations. The number of Units available for sale to
the general public will be reduced to the extent that that Directed Unit Participants purchase
Reserved Units. The Underwriters may offer any Reserved Units not purchased by Directed Unit
Participants to the general public on the same basis as the other Units being issued and sold
hereunder. The Partnership has supplied the DUP Manager with the names, addresses and telephone
numbers of the individuals or other entities which the Partnership has designated to be
participants in the Directed Unit Program. It is understood that any number of those so designated
to participate in the Directed Unit Program may decline to do so.
The Partnership has prepared and filed, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the
“Securities Act”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a
registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-140599) under the Securities Act, including a
prospectus, relating to the Units. Amendments to such registration statement have been similarly
prepared and filed with the SEC in accordance with the Securities Act. Such registration
statement, as so amended, has become effective under the Securities Act.
Except where the context otherwise requires, “Registration Statement,” as used herein,
means the registration statement, as amended at the time of such registration statement’s
effectiveness for purposes of Section 11 of the Securities Act (the “Effective Time”),
including (i) all documents filed as a part thereof, (ii) any information contained in a prospectus
subsequently filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act and deemed,
pursuant to Rule 430A or Rule 430C under the Securities Act, to be part of the registration
statement at the Effective Time, and (iii) any registration statement filed to register the offer
and sale of Units pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act.
The Partnership has furnished to you, for use by the Underwriters and by dealers in connection
with the Offering, copies of one or more preliminary prospectuses relating to the Units. Except
where the context otherwise requires, “Preliminary Prospectus,” as used herein, means each
such preliminary prospectus, in the form so furnished.
Except where the context otherwise requires, “Prospectus,” as used herein, means the
prospectus relating to the Units, filed by the Partnership with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b)
under the Securities Act on or before the second business day after the date hereof (or such
earlier time as may be required under the Securities Act), or, if no such filing is required, the
final prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the time it became effective under the
Securities Act, in each case in the form furnished by the Partnership to you for use by the
Underwriters and by dealers in connection with the Offering.
“Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses,” as used herein, means the documents listed on
Schedule D attached hereto, each “road show” (as defined in Rule 433(h)(4) under the Securities
Act), if any, related to the Offering contemplated hereby that is a “written communication” (as
defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) (each such road show, a “Road Show”) and any
other “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) to which the
Representatives provide their prior consent.
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“Disclosure Package,” as used herein, means any Preliminary Prospectus together with
any combination of one or more of the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any.
As used in this Agreement, “business day” shall mean a day on which the New York Stock
Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for trading. The terms “herein,” “hereof,” “hereto,”
“hereinafter” and similar terms, as used in this Agreement, shall in each case refer to this
Agreement as a whole and not to any particular section, paragraph, sentence or other subdivision of
this Agreement. The term “or,” as used herein, is not exclusive.
The Partnership has prepared and filed, in accordance with Section 12 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “Exchange
Act”), a registration statement (as amended, the “Exchange Act Registration Statement”)
on Form 8-A (File No. [ ]) under the Exchange Act to register, under Section 12(b) of the
Exchange Act, the class of securities consisting of the Partnership Units.
It is understood and agreed to by all parties that the Partnership was recently formed by
Holdings and the General Partner to gather and process natural gas produced in the Fort Worth
Basin. The Partnership will initially own a pipeline system in the southern portion of the Fort
Worth Basin (the “Cowtown Pipeline”) and a natural gas processing plant in Hood County,
Texas (the “Cowtown Plant”). Currently, Quicksilver indirectly owns the Cowtown Pipeline
through its indirect ownership of Cowtown Pipeline L.P. (“Pipeline LP”) and indirectly owns
the Cowtown Plant through its indirect ownership of Cowtown Processing L.P. (“Processing
LP”).
Prior to the date hereof, the following transactions occurred:
1. | Pipeline LP and Processing LP formed Holdings to act as the holding company for Quicksilver’s interest in the Partnership; | ||
2. | Holdings formed Quicksilver Gas Services Operating GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Quicksilver OPGP”) to act as the general partner of each of Cowtown Pipeline Partners L.P. (“Pipeline Partners”) and Cowtown Gas Processing Partners L.P. (“Processing Partners”); | ||
3. | Holdings formed the General Partner to act as the general partner of the Partnership; | ||
4. | The General Partner and Holdings formed the Partnership; and | ||
5. | The Partnership formed Quicksilver Gas Services Operating LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Quicksilver Operating LLC”) to become a subsidiary of the Partnership and to indirectly own all of the interests in the Partnership’s assets. |
The transactions described in clauses (1)-(5) above are referred to herein collectively as the
“Prior Transactions.”
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It is further understood and agreed to by all parties that, on or prior to the Closing Date,
the following transactions will occur:
1. | Pipeline LP will make a capital contribution to Holdings of its 1.0% general partner interest and 92.0% limited partner interest in Pipeline Partners in exchange for a continuation of its member interest in Holdings; | ||
2. | Processing LP will make a capital contribution to Holdings of its 1.0% general partner interest and 94.0% limited partner interest in Processing Partners in exchange for a continuation of its member interest in Holdings; | ||
3. | Holdings will make a capital contribution to Quicksilver OPGP of the 1.0% general partner interests in each of Pipeline Partners and Processing Partners in exchange for a continuation of its member interest in Quicksilver OPGP; | ||
4. | The Partnership will enter into a $150 million revolving credit facility with Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, and the other lenders named therein (collectively with the other financing documents entered into in connection therewith, the “Credit Facility”); | ||
5. | The Partnership will borrow approximately $1.7 million under the Credit Facility to finance a portion of the payment to Quicksilver and the Private Investors (as defined in the Registration Statement) in connection with the reimbursement of capital expenditures; | ||
6. | Holdings will convey to the General Partner, as a capital contribution, a part of its limited partner interests in each of Pipeline Partners and Processing Partners with an aggregate value equal to 2.0% of the equity value of the Partnership; | ||
7. | The General Partner will convey to the Partnership, as a capital contribution, its limited partner interests in each of Pipeline Partners and Processing Partners in exchange for (a) 415,614 general partner units representing a continuation of its 2.0% general partner interest in the Partnership and (b) all of the Incentive Distribution Rights (as defined in the Partnership Agreement); | ||
8. | Holdings will convey to the Partnership, as a capital contribution, all of its interest in Quicksilver OPGP and the rest of its limited partner interests in each of Pipeline Partners and Processing Partners in exchange for (a) 11,513,625 subordinated units representing limited partner interests and 5,696,752 Common Units representing limited partner interests, with an aggregate 73.2% limited partner interest in the Partnership, and (b) the right to receive approximately $162.1 million in cash in part to reimburse it for certain capital expenditures incurred by it or its affiliate; |
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9. | The Private Investors will convey, as a capital contribution, their limited partner interests in each of Pipeline Partners and Processing Partners in exchange for (a) an aggregate 816,873 common units representing an aggregate 3.5% limited partner interest in the Partnership, and (b) the right to receive approximately $7.7 million in cash in part for reimbursement for certain capital expenditures incurred by the Private Investors; | ||
10. | The public, through the underwriters, will contribute $[•] million in cash, $[•] million of gross proceeds, net of the Underwriters’ discounts and commissions and a structuring fee (the “Offering Proceeds”), to the Partnership in exchange for 5,000,000 million Common Units (5,750,000 Common Units if the Underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional Common Units in full) representing an 21.3% limited partner interest in the Partnership (the “Offering”); | ||
11. | The Partnership will use the Offering Proceeds and the cash contribution from the General Partner to (i) pay the underwriters’ structuring fee, (ii) pay approximately $3.0 million in offering expenses (net of the Underwriters’ discounts and commissions and structuring fees) incurred by Holdings on behalf of the Partnership, and (iii) distribute approximately $162.1 million in cash to Quicksilver and $7.7 million in cash to the Private Investors as reimbursement for capital expenditures comprising most of the initial investment by Quicksilver and the Private Investors in the Partnership; | ||
12. | The Partnership will enter into a $50 million subordinated intercompany note with Quicksilver to finance a portion of the expenses associated with the Offering; | ||
13. | The Partnership will convey to Quicksilver Operating LLC, as a capital contribution, its limited partner interests in each of Pipeline Partners and Processing Partners and its interest in Quicksilver OPGP; | ||
14. | The agreements of limited partnership and the limited liability company agreements of the aforementioned entities will be amended and restated to the extent necessary to reflect the foregoing transactions and any other transactions contemplated by the Contribution Documents (as defined below); | ||
15. | If the Underwriters exercise their option to purchase any Option Units within 30 days after the date of this Agreement as provided in Section 4, the Partnership will use the net proceeds of the sale of those Option Units to redeem a pro rata portion of the Common Units issued to Holdings; and | ||
16. | The Partnership will redeem the limited partner interest in the Partnership acquired by Holdings in exchange for the amount of the initial cash capital contribution by Holdings. |
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The transactions described above in clauses (1)-(16) or otherwise provided for in the
Contribution Documents (as defined below) together with the Prior Transactions, are referred to as
the “Transactions.” In connection with the Transactions, the parties to the Transactions
have entered or will enter into various bills of sale, assignments, conveyances, contribution
agreements and related documents (collectively, the “Contribution Documents”). The Omnibus
Agreement to be dated the Closing Date among the Partnership, the General Partner and Quicksilver
is referred to herein as the “Omnibus Agreement.” The Services and Secondment Agreement to
be dated the Closing Date among the General Partner and Quicksilver is referred to herein as the
“Services Agreement.” The Contribution Documents, the Credit Facility, the Omnibus
Agreement and the Services Agreement are referred to herein collectively as the “Transaction
Documents.”
The “Organizational Documents” shall mean each of the Partnership Agreement, the
General Partner LLC Agreement, the Quicksilver OPGP LLC Agreement and Quicksilver Operating LLC
Agreement (each as defined below) and the certificates of limited partnership or formation and
other organizational documents of the Partnership Entities. The “Operative Documents”
shall mean the Transaction Documents and the Organizational Documents, collectively.
The Quicksilver Parties and the Underwriters agree as follows:
1. Sale and Purchase. Upon the basis of the representations and warranties and
subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Partnership agrees to issue and sell to
the respective Underwriters, each of the General Partner and Holdings agree to cause the
Partnership to issue and sell to the respective Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters,
severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Partnership, the number of Firm Units set
forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule A attached hereto, subject to
adjustment in accordance with Section 9 hereof, in each
case at a purchase price of $[•]
per Unit. The Partnership is advised by you that the Underwriters intend (i) to make a public
offering of their respective portions of the Firm Units as soon after the effective date of the
Registration Statement as in your judgment is advisable and (ii) initially to offer the Firm Units
upon the terms set forth in the Prospectus. You may from time to time increase or decrease the
public offering price after the initial public offering to such extent as you may determine.
In addition, the Partnership hereby grants to the several Underwriters the option (the
“Over-Allotment Option”) to purchase, and upon the basis of the representations and
warranties and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Underwriters shall have
the right to purchase, severally and not jointly, from the Partnership, ratably in accordance with
the number of Firm Units to be purchased by each of them, all or a portion of the Additional Units
in the event the Underwriters sell more than the number of Firm Units, at the same purchase price
per Unit to be paid by the Underwriters to the Partnership for the Firm Units. The Over-Allotment
Option may be exercised by the Representatives on behalf of the several Underwriters at any time
and from time to time on or before the thirtieth day following the date of the Prospectus, by
written notice to the Partnership. Such notice shall set forth the aggregate number of Additional
Units as to which the Over-Allotment Option is being exercised and the date and time when the
Additional Units are to be delivered (any such date and time being herein referred to as an
“additional time of purchase”); provided, however, that no additional time
of
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purchase shall be earlier than the “time of purchase” (as defined below) nor earlier than the
second business day after the date on which the Over-Allotment Option shall have been exercised nor
later than the tenth business day after the date on which the Over-Allotment Option shall have been
exercised. The number of Additional Units to be sold to each Underwriter shall be the number which
bears the same proportion to the aggregate number of Additional Units being purchased as the number
of Firm Units set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter on Schedule A hereto bears to
the total number of Firm Units (subject, in each case, to such adjustment as the Representatives
may determine to eliminate fractional Units), subject to adjustment in accordance with Section
9 hereof.
2. Payment and Delivery. Payment of the purchase price for the Firm Units shall be
made to the Partnership by Federal Funds wire transfer against electronic delivery of the
certificates for the Firm Units to you through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company
(“DTC”) for the respective accounts of the Underwriters. Such payment and delivery shall
be made at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on [closing date] (unless another time shall be agreed
to by you and the Partnership or unless postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section
9 hereof). The time at which such payment and delivery are to be made is hereinafter sometimes
called the “time of purchase.” Electronic transfer of the Firm Units shall be made to you
at the time of purchase in such names and in such denominations as you shall specify.
Payment of the purchase price for the Additional Units shall be made at the additional time of
purchase in the same manner and at the same office as the payment for the Firm Units. Electronic
transfer of the Additional Units shall be made to you at the additional time of purchase in such
names and in such denominations as you shall specify.
Deliveries of the documents described in Section 7 hereof with respect to the purchase
of the Units shall be made at the offices of Xxxxxxx Xxxxx LLP, at 9:00 A.M., Houston, Texas time,
on the date of the closing of the purchase of the Firm Units or the Additional Units, as the case
may be.
3. Representations and Warranties of the Partnership. Each of the Quicksilver Parties
jointly and severally, represents and warrants to and agrees with each of the Underwriters that:
(a) Registration; No Material Misstatements or Omissions. The Registration Statement
has heretofore become effective under the Securities Act or, with respect to any
registration statement to be filed to register the offer and sale of Units pursuant to Rule
462(b) under the Securities Act, will be filed with the SEC and become effective under the
Securities Act no later than 10:00 P.M., New York City time, on the date of determination of
the public offering price for the Units; no stop order of the SEC preventing or suspending
the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing
Prospectus or the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, has been issued, and no
proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or, to the Partnership’s knowledge after
due inquiry, are contemplated by the SEC; the Exchange Act Registration Statement has become
effective as provided in Section 12 of the Exchange Act; the Registration Statement complied
when it became effective, complies as of the date hereof and, as amended or supplemented, at
the time of purchase, each
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additional time of purchase, if any, and at all times during which a prospectus is
required by the Securities Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance
with Rule 172 under the Securities Act or any similar rule) in connection with any sale of
Units, will comply, in all material respects, with the requirements of the Securities Act;
the Registration Statement did not, as of the Effective Time, 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; each Preliminary Prospectus complied, at the
time it was filed with the SEC, and complies as of the date hereof, in all material respects
with the requirements of the Securities Act; at no time during the period that begins on the
earlier of the date of such Preliminary Prospectus and the date such Preliminary Prospectus
was filed with the SEC and ends at the time of purchase did or will any Preliminary
Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, include an untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light
of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and at no time during such
period did or will any Preliminary Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, together
with any combination of one or more of the then-issued Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses,
if any, include 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; the Prospectus will comply, as of its date and the
date it is filed with the SEC, the time of purchase, each additional time of purchase, if
any, and at all times during which a prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be
delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act
or any similar rule) in connection with any sale of Units, will comply, in all material
respects, with the requirements of the Securities Act (including, without limitation,
Section 10(a) of the Securities Act); at no time during the period that begins on the
earlier of the date of such Prospectus and the date the Prospectus is filed with the SEC and
ends at the later of the time of purchase, the latest additional time of purchase, if any,
and the end of the period during which a prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be
delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act
or any similar rule) in connection with any sale of Units did or will the Prospectus, as
then amended or supplemented, include 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; at no time during the period that
begins on the date of such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus and ends at the time of
purchase did or will any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus include 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, or
conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary
Prospectus or the Prospectus; provided, however, that the Quicksilver
Parties make no representation or warranty in this Section 3(a) with respect to any
statement contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the
Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with
the information specified in Section 11 hereof furnished in writing by or on behalf
of such Underwriter through you to the Partnership expressly for use in the Registration
Statement, such Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or such Permitted Free Writing
Prospectus. All Permitted
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Free Writing Prospectuses were preceded by, or accompanied with, a statutory prospectus
meeting the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act as required by Rule 164
under the Securities Act.
(b) Prospectuses Used in Offering. Prior to the execution of this Agreement, the
Partnership has not, directly or indirectly, offered or sold any Units by means of any
“prospectus” (within the meaning of the Securities Act) or used any “prospectus”
(within the meaning of the Securities Act) in connection with the offer or sale of the
Units, in each case other than the Preliminary Prospectuses and the Permitted Free Writing
Prospectuses, if any; the Partnership has not, directly or indirectly, prepared, used or
referred to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus except in compliance with Rules 164 and
433 under the Securities Act; assuming that such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus is so
sent or given after the Registration Statement was filed with the SEC (and after such
Permitted Free Writing Prospectus was, if required pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the
Securities Act, filed with the SEC), the sending or giving, by any Underwriter, of any
Permitted Free Writing Prospectus will satisfy the provisions of Rule 164 and Rule 433
(without reliance on subsections (b), (c) and (d) of Rule 164); each of the Preliminary
Prospectuses is a prospectus that, other than by reason of Rule 433 or Rule 431 under the
Securities Act, satisfies the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act, including a
price range where required by rule; neither the Partnership nor the Underwriters are
disqualified, by reason of subsection (f) or (g) of Rule 164 under the Securities Act, from
using, in connection with the offer and sale of the Units, “free writing prospectuses” (as
defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) pursuant to Rules 164 and 433 under the
Securities Act; the Partnership is not an “ineligible issuer” (as defined in Rule 405 under
the Securities Act) as of the eligibility determination date for purposes of Rules 164 and
433 under the Securities Act with respect to the Offering contemplated by the Registration
Statement; the parties hereto agree and understand that the content of any and all “road
shows” (as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act) related to the Offering is
solely the property of the Partnership; the Partnership has caused there to be made
available at least one version of a “bona fide electronic road show” (as defined in Rule
433(h)(5) under the Securities Act) in a manner that, pursuant to Rule 433(d)(8)(ii) under
the Securities Act, causes the Partnership not to be required, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under
the Securities Act, to file with the SEC any Road Show.
(c) Formation and Qualification of Partnership Entities. Each of the Partnership
Entities has been duly formed and is validly existing in good standing as a limited
partnership or limited liability company, as the case may be, under the laws of its
respective jurisdiction of formation, with all partnership or limited liability company
power and authority necessary to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its
business as described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectuses, the
Prospectus and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any; and (i) in the case of the
General Partner, to act as the general partner of the Partnership and (ii) in the case of
each party to an Operative Document that is a Partnership Entity, to execute and deliver the
Operative Documents to which such Partnership Entity is a party and to consummate the
transactions contemplated thereby, and (iii) in the case of the Quicksilver Parties, to
execute and deliver this Agreement to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
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(d) Foreign Qualification and Registration. Each of the Partnership Entities is duly
qualified to do business as a foreign limited liability company or limited partnership, as
the case may be, and is in good standing in each jurisdiction where the ownership or leasing
of its properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where
the failure to be so qualified and in good standing would not, individually or in the
aggregate, (i) have a material adverse effect on the business, properties, financial
condition, results of operations 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; insofar as the foregoing representation
relates to the registration or qualification of each Partnership Entity, the applicable
jurisdictions are set forth on Schedule C hereto.
(e) Ownership of the General Partner. At the time of purchase, after giving effect to
the Transactions, Holdings will own all of the issued and outstanding membership interests
in the General Partner; such membership interests will be duly authorized and validly issued
in accordance with the limited liability company agreement of the General Partner, as in
effect at the time of purchase (“General Partner LLC Agreement”), and Holdings will
own such membership interests free and clear of all Liens.
(f) Ownership of the General Partner Interest in the Partnership. At the time of
purchase, after giving effect to the Transactions, the General Partner will be the sole
general partner of the Partnership with a 2% general partner interest in the Partnership
(the “GP Interest”); such GP Interest will be duly authorized and validly issued in
accordance with the Partnership Agreement of the Partnership, as in effect at the time of
purchase, and the General Partner will own such general partner interest free and clear of
all Liens.
(g) Ownership of the Sponsor Units. Immediately prior to the purchase by the
Underwriters of any Units pursuant to this Agreement, after giving effect to the
Transactions, there will be 5,365,275 common units and 11,513,625 subordinated units
outstanding, of which Holdings will own 5,696,752 common units and 11,513,625 subordinated
units and the Private Investors will own 816,873 common units (such common units and
subordinated units being collectively referred to herein as the “Sponsor Units”) and
the General Partner will own all of the Incentive Distribution Rights (as defined in the
Partnership Agreement). All of the Sponsor Units and 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 nonassessable (except as such
nonassessability may be affected by Sections 17-303 and 17-607 of the Delaware Revised
Uniform Limited Partnership Act (the “Delaware LP Act”) and as otherwise described
in the Prospectus under the caption “The Partnership Agreement—Limited Liability”). All of
the Sponsor Units owned by Holdings and the Private Investors and the Incentive Distribution
Rights owned by the General Partner will be owned free and clear of all Liens (except with
respect to the restrictions on transferability contained in Section 4.7 and 4.8 of the
Partnership Agreement and as otherwise described in the Prospectus).
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(h) Ownership of Quicksilver Operating LLC. At the time of purchase, after giving
effect to the Transactions, the Partnership will own all of the issued and outstanding
member interests in Quicksilver Operating LLC, such ownership interest will be duly
authorized and validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreement of
Quicksilver Operating LLC, as in effect at the time of purchase (“Quicksilver Operating
LLC Agreement”), and the Partnership will own such ownership interest free and clear of
all Liens.
(i) Ownership of Quicksilver OPGP. At the time of purchase, after giving effect to the
Transactions, Quicksilver Operating LLC will own all of the issued and outstanding
membership interests in Quicksilver OPGP; such ownership interests will be duly authorized
and validly issued in accordance with the Quicksilver OPGP limited liability company
agreement (the “Quicksilver OPGP LLC Agreement”), and Quicksilver Operating LLC will
own such ownership interests free and clear of all Liens.
(j) Subsidiaries. The Partnership has no other direct or indirect subsidiaries (as
defined under the Securities Act) other than the Subsidiaries. Other than the Subsidiaries,
the Partnership does not own, directly or indirectly, any shares of stock or any other
equity interests or long-term debt securities of any corporation, firm, partnership, joint
venture, association or other entity; complete and correct copies of the formation and
governing documents of each of the Partnership Entities and all amendments thereto have been
delivered to you, and, except as set forth in the exhibits to the Registration Statement, no
changes thereto will be made on or after the date hereof, through and including the time of
purchase, or, if later, any additional time of purchase; each of the Partnership Entities is
in compliance with the laws, orders, rules, regulations and directives issued or
administered by such jurisdictions, except where the failure to be in compliance would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; each Subsidiary is duly
registered or qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation,
limited liability company, limited partnership or general partnership, as the case may be,
in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its
businesses requires such registration or qualification; and all of the outstanding limited
liability company interests, partnership interests or shares of capital stock of each of the
Subsidiaries, as applicable, have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid
and non-assessable.
(k) Valid Issuance of Units. As of the time of purchase or any additional time of
purchase, the Firm Units and the Additional Units, if any, and the limited partner interests
represented thereby, will be duly authorized in accordance with the Partnership Agreement
and, when issued, and delivered to the Underwriters against payment therefor in accordance
with the terms hereof, will be validly issued, fully paid (to the extent required under the
Partnership Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by
(i) matters described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the
Prospectus under the caption “Risk Factors—Risks Inherent in an Investment in Us—Your
liability may not be limited if a court finds that unitholder action constitutes control of
our business” and “—Risks Inherent in an Investment in Us—Unitholders may have liability to
repay distributions that were wrongfully distributed to them” (and any similar information,
if any, contained in any
11
Permitted Free Writing Prospectus) and (ii) Sections 17-303 and 17-607 of the Delaware
LP Act); and other than the Sponsor Units, the Units will be the only limited partner
interests of the Partnership issued and outstanding as of the time of purchase and any
additional time of purchase, as applicable; the Units, when issued and delivered against
payment therefor as provided herein, will be free of any restriction upon the voting or
transfer thereof pursuant to the Partnership’s formation and governing documents or any
agreement or other instrument to which the Partnership or any of the Partnership Entities or
their affiliates is a party or by which any of them or any of their respective properties
may be bound or affected.
(l) Conformity to Description of Partnership Units. The Units, when issued and
delivered in accordance with the terms of the Partnership Agreement and against payment
therefore as provided herein, and the Sponsor Units, the GP Interest and the Incentive
Distribution Rights, when issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the
Partnership Agreement, will conform in all material respects to the description thereof
contained in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectuses, the Prospectus and
the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any.
(m) Authorization, Execution and Delivery of this Agreement. This Agreement has been
duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Quicksilver Parties.
(n) Authorization, Execution, Delivery and Enforceability of Certain Agreements. At or
before the time of purchase:
(i) the Partnership Agreement will be duly authorized and executed and validly
delivered by the General Partner and will be a valid and legally binding agreement
of the General Partner, enforceable against the General Partner in accordance with
its terms;
(ii) the General Partner LLC Agreement will be duly authorized and executed and
validly delivered by Holdings and will be a valid and legally binding agreement of
Holdings, enforceable against Holdings in accordance with its terms;
(iii) the Quicksilver Operating LLC Agreement will be duly authorized and
executed and validly delivered by the Partnership and will be a valid and legally
binding agreement of the Partnership, enforceable against the Partnership in
accordance with its terms;
(iv) the Quicksilver OPGP LLC Agreement will be duly authorized and executed
and validly delivered by Quicksilver Operating LLC and will be a valid and legally
binding agreement of each of them and enforceable against Quicksilver Operating LLC
in accordance with its terms;
(v) the Contribution Agreement will be duly authorized and executed and validly
delivered by the Partnership and each of the Partnership Entities party thereto and
will be a valid and legally binding agreement of each of them, enforceable against
each of them in accordance with its terms;
12
(vi) the Omnibus Agreement will be duly authorized and executed and validly
delivered by Quicksilver and each of the Partnership Entities party thereto and will
be a valid and legally binding agreement of each of them, enforceable against each
of them in accordance with its terms;
(vii) the Credit Facility will be duly authorized and executed and validly
delivered by each of the Partnership Entities party thereto and will be a valid and
legally binding agreement of each of them, enforceable against each of them in
accordance with its terms;
(viii) the Services Agreement will be duly authorized and executed and validly
delivered by each of the General Partner and Quicksilver and will be a valid and
legally binding agreement of each of them, enforceable against each of them in
accordance with its terms;
except; with respect to each agreement described in this Section 3(o), as the enforceability
thereof may be limited (A) by (bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization,
moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by
general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law) and (B) with respect to the indemnity, contribution and exoneration
provisions therein, by public policy and applicable laws relating to fiduciary duties and
indemnification.
(o) No Conflicts or Violations; No Default. None of the Partnership Entities is (A) in
violation of its respective Organizational Documents, or (B) in breach of, in default under
or violation of (nor has any event occurred which with notice, lapse of time or both would
result in any breach of, default under or violation of or give the holder of any
indebtedness (or a person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the
repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a part of such indebtedness under) any
indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, bank loan or credit agreement or other evidence of
indebtedness, or any license, lease, contract or other agreement or instrument to which it
is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound or affected, or (C) in
violation of any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation or rule, or (D) in
violation of any rule or regulation of any self-regulatory organization or other
non-governmental regulatory authority (including, without limitation, the rules and
regulations of NYSE Arca), or (E) in violation of any decree, judgment or order applicable
to any of the Partnership Entities or any of their properties, which breach, default or
violation in the case of Clauses (B), (C), (D) and (E)
above, would, if continued, have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect, affect the validity of the Units or prevent or materially interfere with
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Offering, the
other transactions contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus,
the Prospectus and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, if any, the Transactions and the
Operative Documents; and none of (i) the execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement and the Operative Documents by the parties thereto, (ii) the offering, issuance
and sale of the Units or (iii) the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby (including, without limitation, the Transactions) will conflict with, result in any
breach or violation
13
of or constitute a default under, or constitute any event which, with notice, lapse of
time or both, would result in any breach or violation of, constitute a default under or give
the holder of any indebtedness (or a person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to
require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a part of such indebtedness under,
or result in the creation or imposition of a Lien, charge or encumbrance on any property or
assets of the Partnership Entities pursuant to (I) any Organizational Document, or (II) any
indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, bank loan or credit agreement or other evidence of
indebtedness, or any license, lease, contract or other agreement or instrument to which any
of the Partnership Entities is a party or by which any of them or any of their respective
properties may be bound or affected, or (III) any federal, state, local or foreign law,
regulation or rule, or (IV) any rule or regulation of any self-regulatory organization or
other non-governmental regulatory authority (including, without limitation, the rules and
regulations of NYSE Arca), or (V) any decree, judgment or order applicable to any of the
Partnership Entities or any of their respective properties, which conflicts, breaches,
violation or defaults, in the case of clauses (II), (III), (IV) or
(V) above, would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect,
affect the validity of the Units or prevent or materially interfere with consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Offering, the other transactions
contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and
the Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, if any, the Transactions and the Operative Documents.
(p) No Consents Regarding the Offering. No approval, authorization, consent or order
of or filing with any federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory
commission, board, body, authority or agency, or of or with any self-regulatory organization
or other non-governmental regulatory authority (including, without limitation, NYSE Arca)
(each, a “Consent”) or any approval of the security holders of the Partnership
Entities, is required in connection with the Offering and the execution, delivery and
performance of the Operative Documents by the Quicksilver Parties, or the consummation by
the Partnership of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (including, without
limitation, the Transactions) other than (i) registration of the Units under the Securities
Act, which has been effected (or, with respect to any registration statement to be filed
hereunder pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, will be effected in accordance
herewith), (ii) any necessary qualification under the securities or blue sky laws of the
various jurisdictions in which the Units are being offered by the Underwriters, (iii) under
the Conduct Rules of the NASD and (iv) such Consents that have been, or prior to the Closing
Date will be, obtained, or, if not obtained, would not, individually or in the aggregate,
result in a Material Adverse Effect, affect the validity of the Units or prevent or
materially interfere with consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
including the Offering, the other transactions contemplated by the Registration Statement,
the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, if
any, the Transactions and the Operative Documents.
(q) No Preemptive Rights, Registration Rights, Options or Other Rights. Except as
described in the Registration Statement (excluding the exhibits thereto), each Preliminary
Prospectus and the Prospectus, (i) no person has the right, contractual or
14
otherwise, to cause the Partnership to issue or sell to it Partnership Units or other
equity interests of the Partnership, (ii) no person has any preemptive rights, resale
rights, rights of first refusal or other rights to purchase any Partnership Units or other
equity interests in the Partnership, (iii) no person has any resale rights in respect of the
Partnership Units that would be required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement and
are not so disclosed and (iv) no person has the right to act as an underwriter or as a
financial advisor to the Partnership in connection with the Offering; no person has the
right, contractual or otherwise, to cause the Partnership to register under the Securities
Act any Partnership Units or other equity interests in the Partnership, or to include any
such Partnership Units or other interests in the Registration Statement or the Offering
contemplated thereby.
(r) Permits. Each of the Partnership Entities has all necessary licenses,
authorizations, consents and approvals (each, a “Permit”) and has made all necessary filings
required under any applicable law, regulation or rule, and has obtained all necessary
licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals from other persons, in order to conduct
their respective businesses except for such Permits that, if not obtained, would not have a
Material Adverse Effect; none of the Partnership Entities is in violation of, or in default
under, or has received notice of any proceedings relating to the revocation or modification
of, any such Permit or any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation or rule or any
decree, order or judgment applicable to any of the Partnership Entities, except where such
violation, default, revocation or modification would not, individually or in the aggregate,
have a Material Adverse Effect.
(s) Descriptions; Exhibits. All legal or governmental proceedings, affiliate
transactions, off-balance sheet transactions, contracts, licenses, agreements, properties,
leases or documents of a character required to be described in the Registration Statement,
each Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement have been so described or filed as required; and the statements
included in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectuses and the Prospectus
under the headings “Our Cash Distribution Policy and Restrictions on Distributions,”
“Provisions of our Partnership Agreement Relating to Cash Distributions,” “Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and
Capital Resources” and “—Capital Requirements,” “Management,” “Certain Relationships and
Related Party Transactions,” “Conflicts of Interest and Fiduciary Duties,” “Description of
the Common Units,” “The Partnership Agreement,” “Material Tax Consequences” and
“Underwriting” (and any similar information, if any, contained in any Permitted Free Writing
Prospectus) insofar as such statements summarize legal matters, agreements, documents or
proceedings discussed therein, are accurate and fair summaries of such legal matters,
agreements, documents or proceedings.
(t) Litigation. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary
Prospectus, the Prospectus and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, there are no
actions, suits, claims, investigations or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the
Partnership Entities, threatened or contemplated to which any of the Partnership Entities or
any of their respective directors or officers is or would be a party or of which any of
their respective properties is or would be subject at law or in equity,
15
before or by any federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory
commission, board, body, authority or agency, or before or by any self-regulatory
organization or other non-governmental regulatory authority (including, without limitation,
NYSE Arca), except any such action, suit, claim, investigation or proceeding that would not
result in a judgment, decree or order having, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect.
(u) Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms. Deloitte & Touche LLP, whose
report on the financial statements of the Partnership and the General Partner are included
in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectuses and the Prospectus or any
Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses containing an audit report, are independent registered
public accountants as required by the Securities Act and by the rules of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board.
(v) Financial Statements. The financial statements included in the Registration
Statement, the Preliminary Prospectuses, the Prospectus and the Permitted Free Writing
Prospectuses, if any, together with the related notes and schedules, present fairly in all
material respects the consolidated financial position of the Partnership and the General
Partner as of the dates indicated and the consolidated statements of operations, cash flows
and changes in partners’ equity of the Partnership and the General Partner for the periods
specified and have been prepared in compliance with the requirements of the Securities Act
and Exchange Act and in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles
applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved; all pro forma financial
statements or data included in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectuses, the
Prospectus and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, (excluding the pro forma
information set forth under the caption “Our Cash Distribution Policy and Restrictions on
Distributions—Unaudited Pro Forma Available Cash” and the related notes) comply with the
requirements of the Securities Act (including, without limitation, Regulation S-X under the
Securities Act) (including, without limitation, Regulation G under the Securities Act and
the Exchange Act), Item 10 under Regulation S-K and Financial Interpretation No. 46, and the
assumptions used in the preparation of such pro forma financial statements and data are
reasonable, the pro forma adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the
transactions or circumstances described therein and the pro forma adjustments have been
properly applied to the historical amounts in the compilation of those statements and data;
and the other financial and statistical data contained set forth in the Registration
Statement, the Preliminary Prospectuses, the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing
Prospectuses are accurately and fairly presented and prepared on a basis consistent with the
financial statements and books and records of the Partnership Entities. The assumptions and
forecasts underlying the pro forma information set forth under the caption “Our Cash
Distribution Policy and Restrictions on Distributions—Unaudited Pro Forma Available Cash”
and the related notes in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectuses and the
Prospectus (and any similar information, if any, contained in any Permitted Free Writing
Prospectus) are, in the informed judgment of management of the Partnership Entities,
reasonable. There are no financial statements (historical or pro forma) that are required
to be included in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus
that are not included as required. The Partnership Entities do not have any material
liabilities or
16
obligations, direct or contingent (including any off-balance sheet obligations), not
described in the Registration Statement (excluding the exhibits thereto), each Preliminary
Prospectus and the Prospectus.
(w) No Material Adverse Change. Subsequent to the respective dates as of which
information is given in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectuses, the
Prospectus and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, in each case excluding any
amendments or supplements to the foregoing made after the execution of this Agreement, there
has not been (i) any material adverse change, or any development involving, individually or
in the aggregate, a material adverse change, in the business, properties, management,
financial condition, prospects or results of operations of the Partnership Entities
(considered as a single enterprise), (ii) any transaction which is material to the
Partnership Entities (considered as a single enterprise), (iii) any obligation or liability,
direct or contingent (including any off-balance sheet obligations), incurred by any of the
Partnership Entities, which is material to the Partnership Entities (considered as a single
enterprise), (iv) any material change in the capitalization, ownership or outstanding
indebtedness of any of the Partnership Entities or (v) any dividend or distribution of any
kind declared, paid or made on the security interests of any of the Partnership Entities, in
each case whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business.
(x) Lock-Up Agreement. The Partnership Entities have obtained for the benefit of the
Underwriters the agreement (a “Lock-Up Agreement”), in substantially the form set
forth as Exhibit A hereto, of each of the directors and “officers” of the General
Partner (within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(f) under the Exchange Act), the Private Investors,
as such term is defined in the Prospectus under the caption “Summary—Formation Transactions
and Partnership Structure,” each Directed Unit Participant who purchases Reserved Units,
each holder of Sponsor Units and each holder of Partnership Units named in Exhibit
A-1 hereto.
(y) Investment Company. None of the Partnership Entities is and at no time during
which a prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be delivered (whether physically or
through compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act or any similar rule) in connection
with any sale of Units will any of them be, and, after giving effect to the Offering and
sale of the Units and the application of the proceeds thereof, none of them will be, an
“investment company” or an entity “controlled” by an “investment company,” as such terms are
defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company
Act”).
(z) Title to Properties. Each of the Partnership Entities has good and marketable
title to all real property and good title to all personal property described in the
Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectuses, the Prospectus and the Permitted Free
Writing Prospectuses, if any, as being owned by any of them, free and clear of all Liens
except Liens, individually or in the aggregate, that would not have a Material Adverse
Effect, Liens that would not materially interfere with the use of any such property for the
conduct of its businesses and/or Liens described in the Registration Statement, the
Preliminary Prospectuses and the Prospectus. All of the property
17
described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectuses, the Prospectus
and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, as being held under lease by any of the
Partnership Entities is held thereby under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases.
(aa) Information Underlying Reserve Report of Quicksilver. The factual information
underlying the estimates of reserves of Quicksilver, including, without limitation,
production volumes, costs of operation and development, current prices for production,
agreements relating to current and future operations and sales of production, which was
supplied by Quicksilver to Schlumberger Data and Consulting Services
(“Schlumberger”) for purposes of preparing (i) the reserve reports, (ii) the
estimates of proved reserves of Quicksilver in the Fort Worth Basin, and (iii) the letter
(the “Reserve Report Letter”) of Schlumberger, was true and correct in all material
respects on the dates such estimates were made and such information was supplied and was
prepared in accordance with customary industry practices; other than normal production of
the reserves and intervening market commodity price fluctuations, Quicksilver is not aware
of any facts or circumstances that would result in a material adverse change in the reserves
as described in the Prospectus and as reflected in the Reserve Report Letter; estimates of
such reserves as described in the Prospectus and reflected in the Reserve Report Letter
comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of Regulation S-X and
Industry Guide 2 under the Securities Act.
(bb) Independent Petroleum Engineers. Schlumberger, whose report dated February 7,
2007 is referenced in the Registration Statement, Prospectus and Preliminary Prospectus and
who has delivered the letter referred to in Section 7(c) hereof, was, as of the date of such
report, and is, as of the date hereof, an independent reserve engineer with respect to
Quicksilver.
(cc) Rights-of-Way. Each of the Partnership Entities has such consents, easements,
rights-of-way or licenses from any person (“rights-of-way”) as are necessary to enable it to
conduct its business in the manner described in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary
Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, subject to such
qualifications as may be set forth in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary
Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, except for (i)
qualifications, reservations and encumbrances that would not have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and (ii) such rights-of-way that, if not obtained,
would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; and, except as
described in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any
Permitted Free Writing Prospectus or as would not interfere with the operations of the
Partnership Entities as conducted on the date hereof to such a material extent that the
Representatives could reasonably conclude that proceeding with the Offering would be
inadvisable, none of such rights-of-way contains any restriction that is materially
burdensome to the Partnership Entities, taken as a whole.
(dd) Intellectual Property. Each of the Partnership Entities owns or possesses all
inventions, patent applications, patents, trademarks (both registered and unregistered),
tradenames, service names, copyrights, trade secrets and other proprietary information
described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectuses, the Prospectus and
18
the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, as being owned or licensed by it or
which is necessary for the conduct of, or material to, its respective businesses, except
where the failure to own, license or have such rights would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect (collectively, the “Intellectual
Property”) and the Partnership Entities are unaware of any claim to the contrary or any
challenge by any other person to the rights of any of the Partnership Entities with respect
to the Intellectual Property. None of the Partnership Entities has infringed or is
infringing the intellectual property of a third party, and none of the Partnership Entities
has received notice of a claim by a third party to the contrary.
(ee) Labor and Employment. None of the Partnership Entities is engaged in any unfair
labor practice; no labor disputes with the employees that are engaged in the businesses of
the Partnership Entities exist or, to the knowledge of the Quicksilver Parties after due
inquiry, are imminent or threatened that would, individually or in the aggregate, have a
Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the Quicksilver Parties: (i) there is (A) no
unfair labor practice complaint pending or threatened against any of the Partnership
Entities before the National Labor Relations Board, and no grievance or arbitration
proceeding arising out of or under collective bargaining agreements is pending or
threatened, (B) no strike, labor dispute, slowdown or stoppage pending or threatened against
any of the Partnership Entities and (C) no union representation dispute currently existing
concerning the employees of any of the Partnership Entities, (ii) no union organizing
activities are currently taking place concerning the employees of any of the Partnership
Entities and (iii) there has been no violation of any federal, state, local or foreign law
relating to discrimination in the hiring, promotion or pay of employees, any applicable wage
or hour laws or any provision of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended (“ERISA”), or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder concerning
the employees of the Partnership Entities.
(ff) Environmental Compliance. Except as described in the Registration Statement, any
Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, each of
the Partnership Entities and their subsidiaries (i) is in compliance with any and all
applicable federal, state, local or foreign laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations,
orders, decrees, judgments, injunctions, permits, licenses, authorizations or other binding
requirements, or common laws, relating to health, safety or the protection, cleanup or
restoration of the environment or natural resources, including those relating to the
distribution, processing, generation, treatment, storage, disposal, transportation, other
handling or release or threatened release of Hazardous Materials (as defined below)
(“Environmental Laws”), (ii) has received and are in compliance with all permits,
licenses, or other approvals required of it under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct
its respective businesses as it is currently being conducted, (iii) has not received written
notice of any, and to the knowledge of the Quicksilver Parties after due inquiry there are
no, pending events or circumstances that could reasonably be expected to form the basis for
any actual or potential liability for the investigation or remediation of any disposal or
release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, and (iv) is
not subject to any pending or, to the knowledge of the Quicksilver Parties after due
inquiry, threatened actions, suits, demands, orders or proceedings relating to any
Environmental Laws against the Partnership Entities (collectively, “Proceedings”),
except
19
in the cases of clauses (i) through (iv) where such non-compliance with Environmental
Laws, failure to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals, actual or potential
liability or Proceedings could not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as described in the Registration Statement, any
Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, none of
the Partnership Entities nor their subsidiaries has entered into any agreement relating to
any alleged violation of any Environmental Law or any actual or alleged release or
threatened release or cleanup at any location of any Hazardous Materials (as defined below).
Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, or the
Prospectus, none of the Partnership Entities or their subsidiaries is currently named as a
“potentially responsible party” under the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (“CERCLA”). As used herein,
“Hazardous Materials” means any material (including, without limitation, pollutants,
contaminants, hazardous or toxic substances or wastes) that is regulated by or may give rise
to liability under any Environmental Law.
(gg) Environmental Compliance Review. In the ordinary course of their respective
businesses, the Partnership Entities (i) monitor changes in Environmental Laws applicable to
their respective businesses, operations and properties, and take actions as necessary to
obtain and maintain compliance with any new or amended Environmental Laws; (ii) retain
environmental consultants to apply for and obtain certain permits, licenses and approvals
required for their operations under Environmental Laws, and to advise the Partnership
Entities as to measures that may be required to obtain and maintain compliance with
Environmental Laws; and (iii) consult with appropriate operations personnel to ensure that
adequate capital and operating budgets are established to provide funding for expenditures
required to conduct their operations in compliance with Environmental Laws.
(hh) Tax Returns. All tax returns required to be filed by the Partnership Entities
have been timely filed, and all taxes and other assessments of a similar nature (whether
imposed directly or through withholding) including any interest, additions to tax or
penalties applicable thereto due or claimed to be due from such entities have been timely
paid, other than those (i) that are being contested in good faith and for which adequate
reserves have been provided or (ii) that, if not paid, would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ii) Insurance. Quicksilver maintains insurance covering the Partnership Entities’
properties, operations, personnel and businesses as Quicksilver reasonably deems adequate;
such insurance insures against such losses and risks to an extent which is adequate in
accordance with customary industry practice to protect the Partnership Entities and their
respective businesses; all such insurance is fully in force on the date hereof and will be
fully in force at the time of purchase and each additional time of purchase, if any;
Quicksilver does not have reason to believe that it will not be able to renew any such
insurance as and when such insurance expires.
(jj) No Business Interruptions. None of the Partnership Entities has sustained since
the date of the last audited financial statements included in the Registration
20
Statement, any Preliminary Prospectuses, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing
Prospectuses any material loss or interference with its respective 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.
(kk) Non-Renewal of Agreements; No Third Party Defaults. Except as described in the
Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, none of the
Partnership Entities has sent or received any communication regarding termination of, or
intent not to renew, any of the contracts or agreements referred to or described in any
Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, or referred
to or described in, or filed as an exhibit to, the Registration Statement, and no such
termination or non-renewal has been threatened by any of the Partnership Entities or, to the
knowledge of the Partnership Entities, any other party to any such contract or agreement.
To the knowledge of the Quicksilver Parties after due inquiry, no third party to any
indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other
agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which any of the Partnership
Entities or any of their subsidiaries is a party or bound or to which their respective
properties are subject, is in breach, default or violation under any such agreement (and no
event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such an
event), which breach, default or violation would have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ll) Internal Controls. The Partnership Entities maintain a system of internal
accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are
executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (ii)
transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain accountability for
assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or
specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with
existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any
differences.
(mm) Disclosure Controls. The Partnership has established and will maintain and
evaluate “disclosure controls and procedures” (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15 and
15d-15 under the Exchange Act) and “internal control over financial reporting” (as such term
is defined in Rule 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act); such disclosure controls and
procedures are designed to ensure that material information relating to the Partnership,
including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to General Partner’s Chief Executive
Officer and Chief Financial Officer, and such disclosure controls and procedures are
effective to perform the functions for which they were established; the Partnership’s
independent auditors and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the General
Partner have been advised of: (i) all known significant deficiencies, if any, in the design
or operation of internal control over financial reporting which could adversely affect the
Partnership’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data; and (ii) any
known fraud, if any, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees
who have a significant role in the Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting;
all material weaknesses, if any, in internal control over financial
21
reporting have been identified to the Partnership’s independent auditors; and the
Partnership Entities have taken all necessary actions to ensure that, upon and at all time
after effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the Partnership Entities and the officers
and directors of the General Partner, will be in compliance in all material respects with
all applicable effective provisions of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act and the rules and regulations
of the SEC and NYSE Arca promulgated thereunder.
(nn) Related Party Transactions. None of the Partnership Entities has, directly or
indirectly, including through any Subsidiary: (A) extended credit, arranged to extend
credit, or renewed any extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan, to or for any
director or executive officer of the General Partner or its affiliates, or to or for any
family member or affiliate of any director or executive officer of the General Partner or
its affiliates; or (B) made any material modification, including any renewal thereof, to the
term of any personal loan to any director or executive officer of the General Partner or its
affiliates, or any family member or affiliate of any director or executive officer of the
General Partner or its affiliates.
(oo) Forward-Looking Statements. Each “forward-looking statement” (within the meaning
of Section 27A of the Securities Act or Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained or
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectuses, the
Prospectus and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, has been made or reaffirmed
with a reasonable basis and in good faith.
(pp) Statistical and Market-Related Data. All statistical or market-related data
included in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectuses, the Prospectus and the
Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, are based on or derived from sources that the
Partnership reasonably believes to be reliable and accurate, and the Partnership has
obtained the written consent to the use of such data from such sources to the extent
required.
(qq) No Prohibition on Distributions. None of the Partnership Entities is currently
prohibited, directly or indirectly, from making distributions with respect of its equity
securities or from repaying to the Partnership any loans or advances or from transferring
any property or assets to the Partnership or any other Subsidiary, except as described in
(i) the Registration Statement (excluding the exhibits thereto), each Preliminary Prospectus
and the Prospectus or (ii) the Organizational Documents of the Partnership and the General
Partner.
(rr) Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. None of the Partnership Entities nor, to the
knowledge of the Quicksilver Parties, any employee or agent of the Company or any Subsidiary
has made any payment of funds of the Partnership Entities or received or retained any funds
in violation of any law, rule or regulation (including, without limitation, the Foreign
Corrupt Practices Act of 1977), which payment, receipt or retention of funds is of a
character required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus
or the Prospectus;
22
(ss) Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Partnership Entities are and have
been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and
reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as
amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations
thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered
or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”);
and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority
or body or any arbitrator or non-governmental authority involving the Partnership Entities
with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Quicksilver
Parties, threatened;
(tt) No Other Securities. Immediately after the issuance and sale of the Units as
contemplated hereby, except as described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary
Prospectus, the Prospectus and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, no other
securities of the Partnership shall be issued or outstanding; and the issuance and sale of
the Units as contemplated hereby will not cause any holder of Partnership Units, securities
convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Partnership Units, or options, warrants
or other rights to purchase Partnership Units or any other securities of the Partnership to
have any right to acquire any other securities of the Partnership.
(uu) NYSE Arca Listing. The Units have been approved for trading on NYSE Arca, subject
only to official notice of issuance.
(vv) No Brokers’ Fees. Except pursuant to this Agreement, none of the Partnership
Entities has incurred any liability for any finder’s or broker’s fee or agent’s commission
in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the
transactions (including, without limitation, the Transactions) contemplated hereby or by the
Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus.
(ww) No Stabilizing Transactions. None of the Partnership Entities nor any of their
Affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act) has
taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed, or which has constituted or might
reasonably be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price
of any security of the Partnership to facilitate the sale or resale of the Units.
(xx) NASD Affiliations. To the knowledge of the Quicksilver Parties after due inquiry,
there are no affiliations or associations between (i) any member of the NASD and (ii) the
Partnership, the General Partner, any of the General Partner’s officers and directors or 5%
or greater security holders of the Partnership, or any beneficial owner of the Partnership’s
unregistered equity securities that were acquired at any time on or after the 180th day
immediately preceding the date the Registration Statement was initially filed with the SEC,
other than the Private Investors (as defined in the Registration Statement), except as
disclosed in the Registration Statement (excluding the exhibits thereto), the Preliminary
Prospectuses and the Prospectus.
23
(yy) Directed Unit Program. The Registration Statement, each Preliminary Prospectus,
the Prospectus and each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus comply, any further amendments or
supplements thereto will comply, with any applicable laws or regulations of any foreign
jurisdiction in which any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free
Writing Prospectus is distributed in connection with the Directed Unit Program; and no
approval, authorization, consent or order of or filing with any governmental or regulatory
commission, board, body, authority or agency, other than those heretofore obtained, is
required in connection with the offering of the Reserved Units in any jurisdiction where the
Reserved Units are being offered.
(zz) Reserved Unit Sales. The Partnership has not offered, or caused the Underwriters
to offer, Units to any person pursuant to the Directed Unit Program with the intent to
influence unlawfully (A) a customer or supplier of the Partnership Entities to alter the
customer’s or supplier’s level or type of business with the Partnership Entities, or (B) a
trade journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about the
Partnership Entities or any of their products or services.
(aaa) No Distribution of Other Offering Materials. None of the Partnership Entities
has distributed nor will they distribute, prior to the later to occur of (i) the time of
purchase and additional time of purchase and (ii) the completion of the distribution of the
Units, any prospectus (as defined under the Securities Act) in connection with the offering
and sale of the Units other than the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the
Prospectus, any Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses or other materials, if any, permitted by
the Securities Act, including Rule 134 promulgated thereunder.
In addition, any certificate signed by any officer of the Partnership Entities or any of the
Subsidiaries and delivered to the Underwriters or counsel for the Underwriters in connection with
the Offering shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Partnership Entity or
Subsidiary, as the case may be, as to matters covered thereby, to each Underwriter.
4. Certain Covenants of the Partnership. The Quicksilver Parties, jointly and
severally, hereby agree:
(a) Blue Sky Qualification. To furnish such information as may be required and
otherwise to cooperate in qualifying the Units for offering and sale under the securities or
blue sky laws of such states or other jurisdictions as you may designate and to maintain
such qualifications in effect so long as you may request for the distribution of the Units;
provided, however, that the Partnership shall not be required to qualify as
a foreign corporation or to consent to the service of process under the laws of any such
jurisdiction (except service of process with respect to the offering and sale of the Units);
and to promptly advise you of the receipt by the Partnership of any notification with
respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Units for offer or sale in any
jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose.
(b) Copies of Prospectus. To make available to the Underwriters in New York City, as
soon as practicable after this Agreement becomes effective, and thereafter
24
from time to time to furnish to the Underwriters, as many copies of the Prospectus (or
of the Prospectus as amended or supplemented if the Partnership shall have made any
amendments or supplements thereto after the effective date of the Registration Statement) as
the Underwriters may request for the purposes contemplated by the Securities Act; in case
any Underwriter is required to deliver (whether physically or through compliance with Rule
172 under the Securities Act or any similar rule) a prospectus after the nine-month period
referred to in Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act in connection with the sale of the
Units, the Partnership will prepare, at its expense, promptly upon request such amendment or
amendments to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as may be necessary to permit
compliance with the requirements of Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act.
(c) Effectiveness of Registration Statement. If, at the time this Agreement is
executed and delivered, it is necessary or appropriate for a post-effective amendment to the
Registration Statement, or a Registration Statement under Rule 462(b) under the Securities
Act, to be filed with the SEC and become effective before the Units may be sold, to use its
best efforts to cause such post-effective amendment or such Registration Statement to be
filed and become effective, and will pay any applicable fees in accordance with the
Securities Act, as soon as possible; and the Partnership will advise you promptly and, if
requested by you, will confirm such advice in writing, (i) when such post-effective
amendment or such Registration Statement has become effective, and (ii) if Rule 430A under
the Securities Act is used, when the Prospectus is filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule
424(b) under the Securities Act (which the Partnership agrees to file in a timely manner in
accordance with such Rules).
(d) Delivery of Prospectus. If, at any time during the period when a prospectus is
required by the Securities Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance
with Rule 172 under the Securities Act or any similar rule) in connection with any sale of
Units, the Registration Statement shall cease to comply with the requirements of the
Securities Act with respect to eligibility for the use of the form on which the Registration
Statement was filed with the SEC, to (i) promptly notify the Underwriters, (ii) promptly
file with the SEC a new registration statement under the Securities Act, relating to the
Units, or a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, which new registration
statement or post-effective amendment shall comply with the requirements of the Securities
Act and shall be in a form satisfactory to the Underwriters, (iii) use its best efforts to
cause such new registration statement or post-effective amendment to become effective under
the Securities Act as soon as practicable, (iv) promptly notify the Underwriters of such
effectiveness and (v) take all other action necessary or appropriate to permit the public
offering and sale of the Units to continue as contemplated in the Prospectus; all references
herein to the Registration Statement shall be deemed to include each such new registration
statement or post-effective amendment, if any.
(e) Filing of Amendments or Supplements. To advise the Underwriters promptly,
confirming such advice in writing, of any request by the SEC for amendments or supplements
to the Registration Statement or the Exchange Act Registration Statement, any Preliminary
Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing
25
Prospectus or for additional information with respect thereto, or of notice of
institution of proceedings for, or the entry of a stop order, suspending the effectiveness
of the Registration Statement and, if the SEC should enter a stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement, to use its best efforts to obtain the lifting
or removal of such order as soon as possible; to advise the Underwriters promptly of any
proposal to amend or supplement the Registration Statement or the Exchange Act Registration
Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing
Prospectus, and to provide the Underwriters and Underwriters’ counsel copies of any such
documents for review and comment a reasonable amount of time prior to any proposed filing
and to file no such amendment or supplement to which the Underwriters shall object in
writing.
(f) Exchange Act Reports. Subject to Section 4(e) hereof, to file promptly all
reports and documents and any preliminary or definitive proxy or information statement
required to be filed by the Partnership with the SEC in order to comply with the Exchange
Act for so long as a prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be delivered (whether
physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act or any similar rule)
in connection with any sale of Units.
(g) Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. If necessary or appropriate, to file a
registration statement pursuant to, and in accordance with, Rule 462(b) under the Securities
Act and pay the applicable fees in accordance with the Securities Act.
(h) Misstatements and Omissions. To advise the Underwriters promptly of the happening
of any event within the period during which a prospectus is required by the Securities Act
to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities
Act or any similar rule) in connection with any sale of Units, which event could require the
making of any change in the Prospectus then being used so that the Prospectus would not
include 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 are
made, not misleading, and to advise the Underwriters promptly if, during such period, it
shall become necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to cause the Prospectus to
comply with the requirements of the Securities Act, and, in each case, during such time,
subject to Section 4(e) hereof, to prepare and furnish, at the Partnership’s
expense, to the Underwriters promptly such amendments or supplements to such Prospectus as
may be necessary to reflect any such change or to effect such compliance.
(i) Earnings Information. To make generally available to its security holders, and to
deliver to the Underwriters, an earnings statement of the Partnership (which will satisfy
the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act) covering a period of twelve months
beginning after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined in Rule 158(c)
under the Securities Act) as soon as is reasonably practicable after the termination of such
twelve-month period but in any case not later than 18 months after the effective date of
this Registration Statement.
26
(j) Annual Report. Unless otherwise available through the electronic data gathering,
analysis and retrieval system (“XXXXX”), to furnish to the Partnership’s security
holders as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year an annual report (including
a consolidated balance sheet of the General Partner, as required, and the consolidated
balance sheet and statements of income, partners’ equity and cash flow of the Partnership
and the Subsidiaries for such fiscal year, accompanied by a copy of the certificate of
report thereon of nationally recognized independent registered public accountants duly
registered with the PCAOB).
(k) Copies of the Registration Statement. To furnish or make available via XXXXX to
the Underwriters as many copies of the Registration Statement as may be reasonably
requested, as such Registration Statement was initially filed with the SEC, and of all
amendments thereto (including all exhibits thereto) and sufficient copies of the foregoing
(other than exhibits) for distribution of a copy to each of the other Underwriters and
counsel.
(l) Copies of Other Documents. To furnish or make available via XXXXX to each of the
Underwriters for a period of five years from the date of this Agreement (i) copies of any
reports, proxy statements, or other communications which the Partnership shall send to its
security holders (excluding any periodic income tax reporting materials) or shall from time
to time publish or publicly disseminate, (ii) copies of all annual, quarterly, transition
and current reports filed with the SEC on Forms 10-K, 10-Q or 8-K, or such other similar
forms as may be designated by the SEC, (iii) copies of documents or reports filed with any
national securities exchange on which any class of securities of the Partnership is listed
and (iv) such other information as you may reasonably request regarding the Partnership
Entities, in each case to the extent that such materials are not publicly available.
(m) Interim Financial Statements. To furnish to you as early as practicable prior to
the time of purchase and any additional time of purchase, as the case may be, but not later
than two business days prior thereto, a copy of the latest available unaudited interim and
monthly consolidated financial statements, if any, of the General Partner, the Partnership
and the Subsidiaries which have been read by the Partnership’s independent registered public
accountants, as stated in their letter to be furnished pursuant to Section 7(b) hereof.
(n) Application of Proceeds. To apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Units in
the manner set forth under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Prospectus and to file such
reports with the SEC with respect to the sale of the Units and the application of the
proceeds therefrom as may be required by Rule 463 under the Securities Act.
(o) Compliance with Rules 433(d) and (g). To comply with Rule 433(d) under the
Securities Act (without reliance on Rule 164(b) under the Securities Act) and Rule 433(g)
under the Securities Act.
(p) Partnership Lock-Up. Beginning on the date hereof and ending on, and including,
the date that is 180 days after the date hereof (the “Lock-Up Period”), without
27
the prior written consent of the Representatives, not to (i) issue, sell, offer to
sell, contract or agree to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant any option to purchase or
otherwise dispose of or agree to dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establish or
increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position
within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the
SEC promulgated thereunder, with respect to, any Partnership Units or securities convertible
into or exchangeable or exercisable for Partnership Units or warrants or other rights to
purchase Partnership Units or any other securities of the Partnership that are substantially
similar to Partnership Units, (ii) file or cause to become effective a registration
statement under the Securities Act relating to the offer and sale of any Partnership Units
or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Partnership Units or
warrants or other rights to purchase Partnership Units or any other securities of the
Partnership that are substantially similar to Partnership Units, (iii) enter into any swap
or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic
consequences of ownership of Partnership Units or any securities convertible into or
exchangeable or exercisable for Partnership Units or warrants or other rights to purchase
Partnership Units or any such securities, whether any such transaction is to be settled by
delivery of Partnership Units or such other securities, in cash or otherwise or (iv)
publicly announce an intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (i),
(ii) or (iii), except, in each case, for (A) the registration of the offer
and sale of the Units as contemplated by this Agreement, (B) issuances of Partnership Units
upon the exercise of options or warrants disclosed as outstanding in the Registration
Statement (excluding the exhibits thereto), each Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus,
and (C) the issuance of employee options not exercisable during the Lock-Up Period pursuant
to option plans described in the Registration Statement (excluding the exhibits thereto),
each Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus; provided, however, that if
(a) during the period that begins on the date that is seventeen (17) days before the last
day of the Lock-Up Period and ends on the last day of the Lock-Up Period, the Partnership
issues an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to the Partnership
occurs; or (b) prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, the Partnership announces that
it will release earnings results during the sixteen (16) day period beginning on the last
day of the Lock-Up Period, then the restrictions imposed by this Section 4(p) shall
continue to apply until the expiration of the date that is eighteen (18) days after the date
on which the issuance of the earnings release or the material news or material event occurs.
(q) Lock-Up Agreements and Restrictions. To cause (i) each Directed Unit Participant
who purchases Reserved Units and (ii) each security holder named in Exhibit A-1
hereto to execute and deliver to the Underwriters a Lock-Up Agreement, and otherwise to
cause the Partnership Units (including, without limitation, such Reserved Units) that are
subject to those Lock-Up Agreements to be restricted from sale, transfer, assignment, pledge
or hypothecation to such extent as may be required by the NASD and its rules, and to direct
the transfer agent to place a stop transfer restriction upon such Partnership Units
(including, without limitation, such Reserved Units) during the Lock-Up Period or any such
longer period of time as may be required by the NASD and its rules; and to comply with all
applicable securities and other laws, rules and regulations in each jurisdiction in which
such Partnership Units (including, without limitation, such
28
Reserved Units) are offered in connection with this Agreement and the Directed Unit
Program.
(r) Press Releases and Other Communications. Prior to the time of purchase or any
additional time of purchase, as the case may be, not to issue any press release or other
communication directly or indirectly and not to hold any press conferences with respect to
the Partnership, the General Partner or any Partnership Entity, the financial condition,
results of operations, business, properties, assets, or liabilities of any of the
Partnership Entities or the Offering, without the Underwriters’ prior consent, which shall
not be unreasonably withheld, except for press releases issued in compliance with Rule 134
of the Securities Act.
(s) Distribution of Prospectuses. Not, at any time at or after the execution of this
Agreement, to, directly or indirectly, offer or sell any Units by means of any “prospectus”
(within the meaning of the Securities Act), or use any “prospectus” (within the meaning of
the Securities Act) in connection with the offer or sale of the Units, in each case other
than the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.
(t) No Stabilization. Not to take, directly or indirectly, any action designed, or
which has constituted or might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the
Exchange Act or otherwise, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of
the Partnership to facilitate the sale or resale of the Units.
(u) NYSE Arca Listing. To use its best efforts to cause the Units to be approved for
trading on NYSE Arca.
(v) Transfer Agent. To maintain a transfer agent and, if necessary under the
jurisdiction of formation of the Partnership, a registrar for the Partnership Units.
5. Covenant to Pay Costs. The Quicksilver Parties jointly and severally agree to pay
all costs, expenses, fees and taxes in connection with (i) the preparation and filing of the
Registration Statement, each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, each Permitted Free Writing
Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, and the printing and furnishing of copies of
each thereof to the Underwriters, counsel and to dealers (including costs of mailing and shipment),
(ii) the registration, issue, sale and delivery of the Units including any stock or transfer taxes
and stamp or similar duties payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the Units to the
Underwriters, (iii) the producing, word processing and/or printing of this Agreement, any agreement
among underwriters, any dealer agreements, any powers of attorney and custody agreements and any
closing documents (including compilations thereof) and the reproduction and/or printing and
furnishing of copies of each thereof to the Underwriters and counsel and (except closing documents)
to dealers (including costs of mailing and shipment), (iv) the qualification of the Units for
offering and sale under state or foreign laws and the determination of their eligibility for
investment under state or foreign law (including the reasonably incurred legal fees and filing fees
and other disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters) and the reasonably incurred costs and
expenses of printing and furnishing of copies of any Canadian wrapper, blue sky surveys or legal
investment surveys to the Underwriters and to dealers, (v) any listing of the Units on any
securities exchange or qualification of the Units for quotation on
29
NYSE Arca and any registration thereof under the Exchange Act, (vi) any filing for review of
the public offering of the Units by the NASD, including any reasonably incurred legal fees and
filing fees and other disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters relating to NASD matters in an
amount not to exceed $20,000, (vii) the fees and disbursements of any transfer agent or registrar
for the Units, (viii) the costs and expenses of the Partnership Entities relating to presentations
or meetings undertaken in connection with the marketing of the offering and sale of the Units to
prospective investors and the Underwriters’ sales forces, including, without limitation, expenses
associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, travel, lodging and other expenses
incurred by the officers of any of the Partnership Entities, (ix) the costs and expenses of
qualifying the Units for inclusion in the book-entry settlement system of the DTC, (x) the
preparation and filing of the Exchange Act Registration Statement, including any amendments
thereto, (xi) the offer and sale of the Reserved Units, including all costs and expenses of
UBS-FinSvc and the Underwriters, including the fees and disbursement of counsel for the
Underwriters and (xii) the performance of the obligations of the Partnership Entities hereunder;
provided, however, that (i) except as otherwise provided in this Section 5
and in Section 6 hereof, the Underwriters shall bear and pay all of their own costs and
expenses, including the fees and expenses of their counsel, any transfer taxes payable on the
issuance of any Units and any advertising expenses incurred by them in connection with any offers
they make.
6. Reimbursement of Underwriters’ Expenses. If the Units are not delivered for any
reason other than the termination of this Agreement pursuant to the fifth paragraph of Section 9
hereof or the default by one or more of the Underwriters in its or their respective obligations
hereunder, the Partnership shall, in addition to paying the amounts described in Section 5 hereof,
reimburse the Underwriters for all of their out-of-pocket expenses, including the fees and
disbursements of their counsel.
7. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations. The several obligations of the
Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the
part of the Quicksilver Parties on the date hereof, at the time of purchase and, if applicable, at
the additional time of purchase, the performance by the Quicksilver Parties of their obligations
hereunder and to the following additional conditions precedent:
(a) The Partnership shall furnish to you at the time of purchase and, if applicable, at
the additional time of purchase, an opinion of Xxxxxxx Xxxxx LLP, counsel for the
Partnership, addressed to the Underwriters, and dated the time of purchase or the additional
time of purchase, as the case may be, with executed copies for each of the other
Underwriters, and in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit [___] hereto.
(b) You shall have received from Deloitte & Touche LLP customary comfort letters dated,
respectively, the date of this Agreement, the date of the Prospectus, the time of purchase
and, if applicable, the additional time of purchase, and addressed to the Underwriters (with
executed copies for each of the Underwriters) in the forms approved by the Representatives,
which letters shall cover, without limitation, the various financial disclosures contained
in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectuses, the Prospectus and the
Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any.
30
(c) You shall have received a Reserve Report Letter from Schlumberger dated the time of
purchase and, if applicable, the additional time of purchase, and addressed to the
Underwriters (with executed copies for each of the Underwriters) in the forms approved by
the Representatives.
(d) You shall have received at the time of purchase and, if applicable, at the
additional time of purchase, the favorable opinion of Xxxxxx & Xxxxxx L.L.P., counsel for
the Underwriters, dated the time of purchase or the additional time of purchase, as the case
may be, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.
(e) No Prospectus or amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus shall have been filed to which you shall have objected.
(f) The Registration Statement and any registration statement required to be filed,
prior to the sale of the Units, under the Securities Act pursuant to Rule 462(b) shall have
been filed and shall have become effective under the Securities Act. The Prospectus shall
have been filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act at or before
5:30 P.M., New York City time, on the second full business day after the date of this
Agreement (or such earlier time as may be required under the Securities Act).
(g) Prior to and at the time of purchase, and, if applicable, the additional time of
purchase, (i) no stop order with respect to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement
shall have been issued under the Securities Act or proceedings initiated under Section 8(d)
or 8(e) of the Securities Act; (ii) the Registration Statement and all amendments thereto
shall 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 not misleading;
(iii) none of the Preliminary Prospectuses or the Prospectus, and no amendment or supplement
thereto, shall include 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 are made, not misleading; (iv) no Disclosure Package, and no amendment or
supplement thereto, shall include 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 are made, not misleading; and (v) none of the Permitted Free
Writing Prospectuses, if any, shall include 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 are made, not misleading.
(h) Between the time of execution of this Agreement and the time of purchase or the
additional time of purchase, as the case may be, (i) no material adverse change or any
development involving a prospective material adverse change in the business, properties,
management, financial condition, or results of operations or prospects of the Partnership
Entities, taken as a whole, shall occur or become known and (ii) no transaction which is
material and adverse to the Partnership Entities, taken as a whole, shall have been entered
into by any of the Partnership Entities or become probable, the effect of which is, in the
judgment of the Representatives, so material or adverse as to
31
make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the Offering or the delivery of
the Units as contemplated by the Prospectus.
(i) The Partnership will, at the time of purchase and, if applicable, at the additional
time of purchase, deliver to you a certificate of the President and Chief Executive Officer
and the Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the General Partner,
dated the time of purchase or the additional time of purchase, as the case may be, in the
form attached as Exhibit B hereto.
(j) You shall have received each of the signed Lock-Up Agreements referred to in
Section 4(q) hereof, and each such Lock-Up Agreement shall be in full force and
effect at the time of purchase and the additional time of purchase, as the case may be.
(k) The Partnership shall have furnished to you such other documents and certificates
as to the accuracy and completeness of any statement in the Registration Statement, any
Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as of the
time of purchase and, if applicable, the additional time of purchase, as you may reasonably
request.
(l) The Units shall have been approved for listing on NYSE Arca, subject only to notice
of issuance at or prior to the time of purchase or the additional time of purchase, as the
case may be.
(m) The NASD shall not have raised any objection (that has not been resolved) with
respect to the fairness or reasonableness of the underwriting, or other arrangements of the
transactions, contemplated hereby.
8. Effective Date of Agreement; Termination. This Agreement shall become effective
when the parties hereto have executed and delivered this Agreement.
The obligations of the several Underwriters hereunder shall be subject to termination in the
absolute discretion of the Representatives, if (1) since the time of execution of this Agreement or
the earlier respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the
Preliminary Prospectuses, the Prospectus and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, there
has been any change or any development involving a prospective change in the business, properties,
management, financial condition or results of operations of or prospects of the Partnership
Entities, taken as a whole, the effect of which change or development is, in the sole judgment of
the Representatives, so material and adverse as to make it impractical or inadvisable to proceed
with the public offering or the delivery of the Units on the terms and in the manner contemplated
in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectuses, the Prospectus and the Permitted Free
Writing Prospectuses, if any, or (2) since the time of execution of this Agreement, there shall
have occurred: (A) a suspension or material limitation in trading in securities generally on NYSE
Arca; (B) a suspension or material limitation in trading in the Partnership’s securities on NYSE
Arca; (C) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities declared by either federal or New
York State authorities or a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or
clearance services in the United States; (D) an outbreak or escalation of hostilities or acts of
terrorism involving the
32
United States or a declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war; or (E) any
other calamity or crisis or any change in financial, political or economic conditions in the United
States or elsewhere, if the effect of any such event specified in clause (D) or
(E), in the judgment of the Representatives, makes it impractical or inadvisable to proceed
with the public offering or the delivery of the Units on the terms and in the manner contemplated
in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectuses, the Prospectus and the Permitted Free
Writing Prospectuses, if any, or (3) since the time of execution of this Agreement, there shall
have occurred any downgrading, or any notice or announcement shall have been given or made of: (A)
any intended or potential downgrading or (B) any watch, review or possible change that does not
indicate an affirmation or improvement in the rating accorded any securities of or guaranteed by
the Partnership or any Subsidiary by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,”
as that term is defined in Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act.
If the Representatives elect to terminate this Agreement as provided in this Section 8, the
Partnership and each other Underwriter shall be notified promptly in writing.
If the sale to the Underwriters of the Units, as contemplated by this Agreement, is not
carried out by the Underwriters for any reason permitted under this Agreement, or if such sale is
not carried out because the Quicksilver Parties shall be unable to comply with any of the terms of
this Agreement, the Quicksilver Parties shall not be under any obligation or liability under this
Agreement (except to the extent provided in Sections 5, 6 and 10 hereof),
and the Underwriters shall be under no obligation or liability to the Partnership Entities under
this Agreement (except to the extent provided in Section 10 hereof) or to one another
hereunder.
9. Increase in Underwriters’ Commitments. Subject to Sections 7 and 8
hereof, if any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to take up and pay for the Firm Units to
be purchased by it hereunder (otherwise than for a failure of a condition set forth in Section
7 hereof or a reason sufficient to justify the termination of this Agreement under the
provisions of Section 8 hereof) and if the number of Firm Units which all Underwriters so
defaulting shall have agreed but failed to take up and pay for does not exceed 10% of the total
number of Firm Units, the non-defaulting Underwriters (including the Underwriters, if any,
substituted in the manner set forth below) shall take up and pay for (in addition to the aggregate
number of Firm Units they are obligated to purchase pursuant to Section 1 hereof) the
number of Firm Units agreed to be purchased by all such defaulting Underwriters, as hereinafter
provided. Such Units shall be taken up and paid for by such non-defaulting Underwriters in such
amount or amounts as you may designate with the consent of each Underwriter so designated or, in
the event no such designation is made, such Units shall be taken up and paid for by all
non-defaulting Underwriters pro rata in proportion to the aggregate number of Firm Units set forth
opposite the names of such non-defaulting Underwriters in Schedule A.
Without relieving any defaulting Underwriter from its obligations hereunder, the Partnership
agrees with the non-defaulting Underwriters that it will not sell any Firm Units hereunder unless
all of the Firm Units are purchased by the Underwriters (or by substituted Underwriters selected by
you with the approval of the Partnership or selected by the Partnership with your approval).
33
If a new Underwriter or Underwriters are substituted by the Underwriters or by the Partnership
for a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters in accordance with the foregoing provision, the
Partnership or you shall have the right to postpone the time of purchase for a period not exceeding
five business days in order that any necessary changes in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus and other documents may be effected.
The term “Underwriter” as used in this Agreement shall refer to and include any
Underwriter substituted under this Section 9 with like effect as if such substituted Underwriter
had originally been named in Schedule A hereto.
If the aggregate number of Firm Units which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed
to purchase exceeds 10% of the total number of Firm Units which all Underwriters agreed to purchase
hereunder, and if neither the non-defaulting Underwriters nor the Partnership shall make
arrangements within the five business day period stated above for the purchase of all the Firm
Units which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed to purchase hereunder, this Agreement
shall terminate without further act or deed and without any liability on the part of the
Quicksilver Parties to any Underwriter and without any liability on the part of any non-defaulting
Underwriter to the Quicksilver Parties. Nothing in this paragraph, and no action taken hereunder,
shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such
Underwriter under this Agreement.
10. Indemnity and Contribution.
(a) Each of the Quicksilver Parties, jointly and severally, agrees to indemnify, defend
and hold harmless each Underwriter, its partners, directors and officers, and any person who
controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section
20 of the Exchange Act, and the successors and assigns of all of the foregoing persons, from
and against any loss, damage, expense, liability or claim (including the reasonable cost of
investigation) which, jointly or severally, any such Underwriter or any such person may
incur under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the common law or otherwise, insofar as
such loss, damage, expense, liability or claim arises out of or is based upon (i) any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in, or any omission or
alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated in, the Registration
Statement (or in the Registration Statement as amended by any post-effective amendment
thereof by the Partnership) or arises out of or is based upon any omission or alleged
omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, except insofar as any such loss, damage, expense,
liability or claim arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in, and in conformity with the information specified
in Section 11 hereof furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Underwriter
through you to the Partnership expressly for use in, the Registration Statement or arises
out of or is based upon any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact in the
Registration Statement in connection with such information, which material fact was not
contained in such information and which material fact was required to be stated in such
Registration Statement or was necessary to make such information not misleading, (ii) any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any Prospectus
(the term Prospectus for the purpose of this
34
Section 10 being deemed to include any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus
and any amendments or supplements to the foregoing), in any Permitted Free Writing
Prospectus, in any “issuer information” (as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act) of
the Partnership or in any Prospectus together with any combination of one or more of the
Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, or arises out of or is based upon any omission
or alleged omission 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,
except, with respect to such Prospectus or Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, insofar as any
such loss, damage, expense, liability or claim arises out of or is based upon any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in, and in conformity
with the information specified in Section 11 hereof furnished in writing by or on
behalf of such Underwriter through you to the Partnership expressly for use in, such
Prospectus or Permitted Free Writing Prospectus or arises out of or is based upon any
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact in such Prospectus or Permitted Free
Writing Prospectus in connection with such information, which material fact was not
contained in such information and which material fact was necessary in order to make the
statements in such information, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading, or (iii) the Directed Unit Program, except, with respect to this
clause (iii), insofar as such loss, damage, expense, liability or claim is finally
judicially determined to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of
the Underwriters in conducting the Directed Unit Program.
Without limitation of and in addition to its obligations under the other paragraphs of this
Section 10, each of the Quicksilver Parties, jointly and severally, agrees to indemnify,
defend and hold harmless the DUP Manager and its partners, directors and officers, and any person
who controls the DUP Manager within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20
of the Exchange Act, and the successors and assigns of all of the foregoing persons, from and
against any loss, damage, expense, liability or claim (including the reasonable cost of
investigation) which, jointly or severally, the DUP Manager or any such person may incur under the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the common law or otherwise, insofar as such loss, damage,
expense, liability or claim (1) arises out of or is based upon (a) any of the matters referred to
in clauses (i) through (iii) of the first paragraph of this Section 10(a),
or (b) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
material prepared by or with the consent of the Partnership for distribution to Directed Unit
Participants in connection with the Directed Unit Program or caused by any omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading; (2) is or was caused by the failure of any Directed Unit
Participant to pay for and accept delivery of Reserved Units that the Directed Unit Participant has
agreed to purchase; or (3) otherwise arises out of or is based upon the Directed Unit Program,
provided that the Quicksilver Parties shall not be responsible under this clause
(3) for any loss, damage, expense, liability or claim that is finally judicially determined to
have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the DUP Manager in conducting the
Directed Unit Program. Section 10(a) shall apply equally to any Proceeding (as defined
below) brought against the DUP Manager or any such person in respect of which indemnity may be
sought against the Quicksilver Parties pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, except that
the Quicksilver Parties shall be liable for the expenses of one separate counsel (in addition to
any local counsel) for the DUP Manager and any such person, separate and in addition to counsel for
the persons
35
who may seek indemnification pursuant to the first paragraph of this Section 10(a), in
any such Proceeding.
(b) Each Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the
Quicksilver Parties, their directors and officers, and any person who controls the
Partnership within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act, and the successors and assigns of all of the foregoing persons, from and
against any loss, damage, expense, liability or claim (including the reasonable cost of
investigation) which, jointly or severally, the Quicksilver Parties or any such person may
incur under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the common law or otherwise, insofar as
such loss, damage, expense, liability or claim arises out of or is based upon (i) any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in, and in conformity
with the information specified in Section 11 hereof furnished in writing by or on
behalf of such Underwriter through you to the Partnership expressly for use in, the
Registration Statement (or in the Registration Statement as amended by any post-effective
amendment thereof by the Partnership), or arises out of or is based upon any omission or
alleged omission to state a material fact in such Registration Statement in connection with
such information, which material fact was not contained in such information and which
material fact was required to be stated in such Registration Statement or was necessary to
make such information not misleading or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in, and in conformity with the information specified
in Section 11 hereof furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Underwriter
through you to the Partnership expressly for use in, a Prospectus or a Permitted Free
Writing Prospectus, or arises out of or is based upon any omission or alleged omission to
state a material fact in such Prospectus or Permitted Free Writing Prospectus in connection
with such information, which material fact was not contained in such information and which
material fact was necessary in order to make the statements in such information, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(c) If any action, suit or proceeding (each, a “Proceeding”) is brought against
a person (an “indemnified party”) in respect of which indemnity may be sought
against the Quicksilver Parties or an Underwriter (as applicable, the “indemnifying
party”) pursuant to subsection (a) or (b), respectively, of this
Section 10, such indemnified party shall promptly notify such indemnifying party in
writing of the institution of such Proceeding and such indemnifying party shall assume the
defense of such Proceeding, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to
such indemnified party and payment of all fees and expenses; provided,
however, that the failure to so notify such indemnifying party shall not relieve
such indemnifying party from any liability which such indemnifying party may have to any
indemnified party or otherwise. The indemnified party or parties shall have the right to
employ its or their own counsel in any such case, but the fees and expenses of such counsel
shall be at the expense of such indemnified party or parties unless the employment of such
counsel shall have been authorized in writing by the indemnifying party in connection with
the defense of such Proceeding or the indemnifying party shall not have, within a reasonable
period of time in light of the circumstances, employed counsel to defend such Proceeding or
such indemnified party or parties shall have reasonably concluded that there may be defenses
36
available to it or them which are different from, additional to or in conflict with
those available to such indemnifying party (in which case such indemnifying party shall not
have the right to direct the defense of such Proceeding on behalf of the indemnified party
or parties), in any of which events such fees and expenses shall be borne by such
indemnifying party and paid as incurred (it being understood, however, that, except as
provided in the second paragraph of Section 10(a), such indemnifying party shall not
be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (in addition to any local
counsel) in any one Proceeding or series of related Proceedings in the same jurisdiction
representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such Proceeding). The indemnifying
party shall not be liable for any settlement of any Proceeding effected without its written
consent, but, if settled with its written consent, such indemnifying party agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless the indemnified party or parties from and against any loss or
liability by reason of such settlement. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any
time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the
indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second sentence of
this Section 10(c), then the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for
any settlement of any Proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement
is entered into more than 60 business days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the
aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have fully reimbursed the
indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement and
(iii) such indemnified party shall have given the indemnifying party at least 30 days’ prior
notice of its intention to settle. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written
consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened
Proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and
indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement
includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims
that are the subject matter of such Proceeding and does not include an admission of fault or
culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of such indemnified party.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 10 is unavailable to an
indemnified party under subsections (a) and (c) of this Section 10
or insufficient to hold an indemnified party harmless in respect of any losses, damages,
expenses, liabilities or claims referred to therein, then each applicable indemnifying party
shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such
losses, damages, expenses, liabilities or claims (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to
reflect the relative benefits received by the Quicksilver Parties on the one hand and the
Underwriters on the other hand from the Offering 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 Quicksilver Parties on the one hand and of the
Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in
such losses, damages, expenses, liabilities or claims, as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Quicksilver Parties on the
one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same respective
proportions as the total proceeds from the Offering (net of underwriting discounts and
commissions but before deducting expenses) received by the Quicksilver Parties, and the
total underwriting discounts and
37
commissions received by the Underwriters, bear to the aggregate public offering price
of the Units. The relative fault of the Quicksilver Parties on the one hand and of the
Underwriters on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether
the untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged
omission relates to information supplied by the Quicksilver Parties or by the Underwriters
and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
correct or prevent such statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a
result of the losses, damages, expenses, liabilities and claims referred to in this
subsection shall be deemed to include any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably
incurred by such party in connection with investigating, preparing to defend or defending
any Proceeding.
(e) The Quicksilver Parties and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 10 were determined by pro rata
allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any
other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations
referred to in subsection (d) above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
Section 10, 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 such Underwriter and
distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damage which
such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue statement 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 pursuant to this Section
10 are several in proportion to their respective underwriting commitments and not joint.
(f) The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 10 and
the covenants, warranties and representations of the Quicksilver Parties contained in this
Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or
on behalf of any Underwriter, its partners, directors or officers or any person (including
each partner, officer or director of such person) who controls any Underwriter within the
meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, or by or on
behalf of the Quicksilver Parties, their directors or officers or any person who controls
the Quicksilver Parties within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20
of the Exchange Act, and shall survive any termination of this Agreement or the issuance and
delivery of the Units. The Quicksilver Parties and each Underwriter agree promptly to
notify each other of the commencement of any Proceeding against it and, in the case of the
Quicksilver Parties, against any of the General Partner’s officers or directors in
connection with the issuance and sale of the Units, or in connection with the Registration
Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing
Prospectus.
11. Information Furnished by the Underwriters. The concession and reallowance figures
appearing under the captions “Underwriting—Commissions and Discounts,” the legal name of each
Underwriter appearing under the caption “Underwriters,” the disclosure appearing
38
under the caption “Underwriting—Discretionary Sales” and the statements relating to
stabilization by the Underwriters appearing under the caption “Underwriting—Price Stabilization,
Short Positions” in the prospectus constitute the only information furnished by or on behalf of the
Underwriters, as such information is referred to in Sections 3 and 10 hereof.
12. Notices. Except as otherwise herein provided, all statements, requests, notices
and agreements shall be in writing or by telegram or facsimile and, if to the Underwriters, shall
be sufficient in all respects if delivered or sent to UBS Securities LLC, 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx
Xxxx, XX 00000-0000, and Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co., 00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000-0000, Attention:
Syndicate Departments, and, if to the Quicksilver Parties, shall be sufficient in all respects if
delivered or sent to the Quicksilver Parties at the offices of the Partnership at 000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 00000, Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx, General Counsel.
13. Governing Law; Construction. This Agreement and any claim, counterclaim or
dispute of any kind or nature whatsoever arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement
(“Claim”), directly or indirectly, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws
of the State of New York. The section headings in this Agreement have been inserted as a matter of
convenience of reference and are not a part of this Agreement.
14. Submission to Jurisdiction. Except as set forth below, no Claim may be commenced,
prosecuted or continued in any court other than the courts of the State of New York located in the
City and County of New York or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New
York, which courts shall have jurisdiction over the adjudication of such matters, and the parties
hereto consent to the jurisdiction of such courts and personal service with respect thereto. The
parties hereto hereby consent to personal jurisdiction, service and venue in any court in which any
Claim arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement is brought by any third party against
any Underwriter or any indemnified party. Each Underwriter and the Quicksilver Parties (on each of
its behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of each of its equity holders
and affiliates waive all right to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim (whether
based upon contract, tort or otherwise) in any way arising out of or relating to this Agreement.
The Quicksilver Parties agree that a final judgment in any such action, proceeding or counterclaim
brought in any such court shall be conclusive and binding upon the Quicksilver Parties and may be
enforced in any other courts to the jurisdiction of which the Quicksilver Parties are or may be
subject, by suit upon such judgment.
15. Parties at Interest. The Agreement herein set forth has been and is made solely
for the benefit of the Underwriters and the Quicksilver Parties and to the extent provided in
Section 10 hereof the controlling persons, partners, directors and officers referred to in such
Section, and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, personal representatives and executors
and administrators. No other person, partnership, association or corporation (including a
purchaser, as such purchaser, from any of the Underwriters) shall acquire or have any right under
or by virtue of this Agreement.
16. No Fiduciary Relationship. The Quicksilver Parties hereby acknowledge that the
Underwriters are acting solely as underwriters in connection with the purchase and sale of the
Partnership’s securities. The Quicksilver Parties further acknowledge that the Underwriters are
39
acting pursuant to a contractual relationship created solely by this Agreement entered into on
an arm’s length basis, and in no event do the parties intend that the Underwriters act or be
responsible as a fiduciary to the Quicksilver Parties, their management, security holders or
creditors or any other person in connection with any activity that the Underwriters may undertake
or have undertaken in furtherance of the purchase and sale of the Units, either before or after the
date hereof. The Underwriters hereby expressly disclaim any fiduciary or similar obligations to
the Quicksilver Parties, either in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
or any matters leading up to such transactions, and the Quicksilver Parties hereby confirm their
understanding and agreement to that effect. The Quicksilver Parties and the Underwriters agree
that they are each responsible for making their own independent judgments with respect to any such
transactions and that any opinions or views expressed by the Underwriters to the Quicksilver
Parties regarding such transactions, including, but not limited to, any opinions or views with
respect to the price or market for the Partnership’s securities, do not constitute advice or
recommendations to the Quicksilver Parties. The Quicksilver Parties hereby waive and release, to
the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Quicksilver Parties may have against the
Underwriters with respect to any breach or alleged breach of any fiduciary or similar duty to the
Quicksilver Parties in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any
matters leading up to such transactions.
17. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed by the parties in one or more
counterparts which together shall constitute one and the same agreement among the parties.
18. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Underwriters and
the Quicksilver Parties and their successors and assigns and any successor or assign of any
substantial portion of any of the Quicksilver Parties and any of the Underwriters’ respective
businesses and/or assets.
19. Miscellaneous. UBS, an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of UBS AG, is not a bank
and is separate from any affiliated bank, including any U.S. branch or agency of UBS AG. Because
UBS is a separately incorporated entity, it is solely responsible for its own contractual
obligations and commitments, including obligations with respect to sales and purchases of
securities. Securities sold, offered or recommended by UBS are not deposits, are not insured by
the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, are not guaranteed by a branch or agency, and are not
otherwise an obligation or responsibility of a branch or agency.
[The Remainder of This Page Intentionally Left Blank; Signature Page Follows]
40
If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding between the Quicksilver Parties and
the several Underwriters, please so indicate in the space provided below for that purpose,
whereupon this Agreement and your acceptance shall constitute a binding agreement between the
Quicksilver Parties and the Underwriters, severally.
Very truly yours, | ||||||
QUICKSILVER GAS SERVICES LP | ||||||
By: | Quicksilver Gas Services GP LLC, its general partner |
|||||
By: | ||||||
Name: | Xxxxxx X. Xxxx | |||||
Title: | Senior Vice President — Chief Financial Officer | |||||
QUICKSILVER GAS SERVICES GP LLC | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: | Xxxxxx X. Xxxx | |||||
Title: | Senior Vice President — Chief Financial Officer | |||||
QUICKSILVER GAS SERVICES HOLDINGS LLC | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: | Xxxxxx X. Xxxx | |||||
Title: | Senior Vice President — Chief Financial Officer | |||||
QUICKSILVER RESOURCES INC. | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: | Xxxxxx X. Xxxx | |||||
Title: | Senior Vice President — Chief Financial Officer |
41
Accepted and agreed to as of the date first above
written, on behalf of themselves and the other
several Underwriters named in Schedule A
written, on behalf of themselves and the other
several Underwriters named in Schedule A
UBS SECURITIES LLC
XXXXXXX, XXXXX & CO.
[CO’S]
XXXXXXX, XXXXX & CO.
[CO’S]
By: UBS SECURITIES LLC
By: |
||||
Name:
|
||||
Title:
|
Managing Director | |||
By: |
||||
Name:
|
||||
Title:
|
Associate Director | |||
By: XXXXXXX, SACHS & CO. | ||||
By: |
||||
42
SCHEDULE A
Number of | ||
Underwriter | Firm Units | |
UBS Securities LLC |
[•] | |
Xxxxxxx, Sachs & Co. |
[•] | |
X.X. Xxxxxxx & Sons, Inc. |
[•] | |
Fortis Securities LLC |
[•] | |
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc. |
[•] | |
Total |
5,000,000 | |
Schedule A
SCHEDULE B
Subsidiaries
Jurisdiction | ||
Subsidiary | of Formation | |
Quicksilver Gas Services Operating LLC |
DE | |
Quicksilver Gas Services Operating GP LLC |
DE | |
Cowtown Pipeline Partners L.P. |
TX | |
Cowtown Gas Processing Partners L.P. |
TX |
Schedule B
SCHEDULE C
Jurisdictions of Foreign Qualification or Registration
Entities | Foreign Jurisdictions | |
TX | ||
Quicksilver Gas Services GP LLC |
TX | |
Quicksilver Gas Services Operating LLC |
TX | |
Quicksilver Gas Services Operating GP LLC |
TX | |
Cowtown Pipeline Partners L.P. |
[None] | |
Cowtown Gas Processing Partners L.P. |
[None] | |
Cowtown Pipeline L.P. |
[None] | |
Cowtown Gas Processing L.P. |
[None] |
Schedule C
SCHEDULE D
Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses
1. Electronic Road Show on xxx.xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx and xxx.xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.
Schedule D
EXHIBIT A
Form of Lock-Up Agreement
, 2007
UBS Securities LLC
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co.
Together with the other Underwriters
named in Schedule A to the Underwriting Agreement
referred to herein
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co.
Together with the other Underwriters
named in Schedule A to the Underwriting Agreement
referred to herein
c/o UBS Securities LLC
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
c/o Goldman, Sachs & Co.
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This Lock-Up Agreement is being delivered to you in connection with the proposed Underwriting
Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) to be entered into by Quicksilver Gas Services LP,
a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), Quicksilver Gas Services GP LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company, Quicksilver Gas Services Holdings LLC, UBS Securities LLC and Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxx & Co. (collectively, the “Representatives”) and the other underwriters named in
Schedule A to the Underwriting Agreement, with respect to the initial public offering (the
“Offering”) of 5,000,000 common units of the Partnership representing limited partner
interests in the Partnership (the “Partnership Units).” Capitalized terms used but not
defined herein have the meanings given to them in the Underwriting Agreement.
In order to induce you to enter into the Underwriting Agreement, the undersigned agrees that,
for a period (the “Lock-Up Period”) beginning on the date hereof and ending on, and
including, the date that is 180 days after the date of the final prospectus relating to the
Offering, the undersigned will not, without the prior written consent of each of the
Representatives, (i) sell, offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant any
option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agree to dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file
(or participate in the filing of) a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the “SEC”) in respect of, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or
liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder
(the “Exchange Act”) with respect to, any Partnership Units or any other securities of the
Partnership that are substantially similar to Partnership Units, or any securities convertible into
or exchangeable or exercisable for, or any warrants or other rights to purchase, the foregoing,
(ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any
of the economic
Exhibit A-1
consequences of ownership of Partnership Units or any other securities of the Partnership that
are substantially similar to Partnership Units, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable
or exercisable for, or any warrants or other rights to purchase, the foregoing, whether any such
transaction is to be settled by delivery of Partnership Units or such other securities, in cash or
otherwise or (iii) publicly announce an intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (i)
or (ii). The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (a) the registration of the offer and sale of
the Units as contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement and the sale of the Units to the
Underwriters (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement) in the Offering, (b) bona fide gifts,
provided the recipient thereof agrees in writing with the Underwriters to be bound by the terms of
this Lock-Up Agreement or (c) dispositions to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the
undersigned and/or the immediate family of the undersigned, provided that such trust agrees in
writing with the Underwriters to be bound by the terms of this Lock-Up Agreement. For purposes of
this paragraph, “immediate family” shall mean the undersigned and the spouse, any lineal
descendent, father, mother, brother or sister of the undersigned.
In addition, the undersigned hereby waives any rights the undersigned may have to require
registration of Partnership Units in connection with the filing of a registration statement
relating to the Offering. The undersigned further agrees that, for the Lock-Up Period, the
undersigned will not, without the prior written consent of each of the Representatives, make any
demand for, or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of Partnership Units or any
securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Partnership Units, or warrants or
other rights to purchase Partnership Units or any such securities.
Notwithstanding the above, if (a) during the period that begins on the date that is seventeen
(17) days before the last day of the Lock-Up Period and ends on the last day of the Lock-Up Period,
the Partnership issues an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to the
Partnership occurs; or (b) prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, the Partnership announces
that it will release earnings results during the sixteen (16) day period beginning on the last day
of the Lock-Up Period, then the restrictions imposed by this Lock-Up Agreement shall continue to
apply until the expiration of the date that is eighteen (18) days after the date on which the
issuance of the earnings release or the material news or material event occurs.
In addition, the undersigned hereby waives any and all preemptive rights, participation
rights, resale rights, rights of first refusal and similar rights that the undersigned may have in
connection with the Offering or with any issuance or sale by the Partnership of any equity or other
securities before the Offering, except for any such rights as have been heretofore duly exercised.
The undersigned hereby confirms that the undersigned has not, directly or indirectly, taken,
and hereby covenants that the undersigned will not, directly or indirectly, take, any action
designed, or which has constituted or will constitute or might reasonably be expected to cause or
result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Partnership to
facilitate the sale or resale of Partnership Units.
If (i) the Partnership notifies you in writing that it does not intend to proceed with the
Offering, (ii) the registration statement filed with the SEC with respect to the Offering is
Exhibit A-2
withdrawn or (iii) for any reason the Underwriting Agreement shall be terminated prior to the
“time of purchase” (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement), this Lock-Up Agreement shall be
terminated and the undersigned shall be released from its obligations hereunder.
Yours very truly, | ||||||
Name: | ||||||
Title: | ||||||
Exhibit X-0
XXXXXXX X-0
List of Parties to Execute Lock-Up Agreements
Name | Position with General Partner | |
1. Quicksilver Resources Inc. |
||
2. Quicksilver Gas Services
Holdings LLC |
||
3. Quicksilver Gas Services GP
LLC |
||
4. Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx |
President, Chief Executive Officer and | |
Director | ||
5. Xxxxx Xxxxxx |
Chairman of the Board | |
6. Xxxx X. Xxxx |
Executive Vice President - Chief Operating Officer and Director | |
7. Xxxxxx X. Xxxx |
Senior Vice President - Chief Financial | |
Officer and Director | ||
8. Xxxx X. Xxxxxx |
Senior Vice President, General Counsel | |
and Secretary | ||
9. D. Xxxxx Xxxxx |
Vice President - Chief Accounting Officer | |
10. Xxxxx Xxxxxxx |
Director | |
11. Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx |
Director | |
12. Little Hoss Cowtown Pipeline
Partners, L.P. |
||
13. Little Hoss Cowtown
Processing Partners, L.P. |
||
14. LGS — Xxxxxx Investments, LLC |
||
15. |
||
16. |
||
17. |
Exhibit X-0-0
Xxxxxxx X-0
EXHIBIT B
Form of Officer’s Certificate
The undersigned officers of Quicksilver Gas Services GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company (the “General Partner”), which is the general partner of Quicksilver Gas Services
LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership,” and, together with the General
Partner, the “Partnership Entities”), on behalf of the Partnership Entities, does hereby
certify pursuant to Section 7(h) of that certain Underwriting Agreement, dated ___, 2007 (the
“Underwriting Agreement”) among the Quicksilver Parties, Quicksilver Resources Inc., a
Delaware corporation and the several Underwriters named therein, that as of the date hereof:
1. They are the duly elected and acting (i) President and Chief Executive Officer and (ii)
Senior Vice President — Chief Financial Officer, respectively, of the General Partner.
2. The representations, warranties and agreements of the Partnership Entities contained in
the Underwriting Agreement are true and correct as of the date hereof, and the Partnership
Entities have performed and complied with all their covenants and agreements, and satisfied
all conditions, under the Underwriting Agreement at or prior to the date hereof.
3. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any notice
objecting to its use has been issued, and no proceedings for that purpose have been
instituted or, to their knowledge, threatened by the SEC.
4. They have carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the
Prospectus and, in their opinion, (A) the Registration Statement, as of the Effective Time,
the Disclosure Package as of its date, and the Prospectus, as of its date and as of the
date hereof, did not and do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact and did not
and do not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading (in the case of the Prospectus, in light of the
circumstances under which such statements were made) and (B) since the Effective Time, no
event has occurred that should have been set forth in a supplement or amendment to the
Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus that has not been so set
forth.
5. The Common Units have been approved for listing on NYSE Arca.
6. Each of Xxxxxx & Xxxxxx L.L.P. and Xxxxxxx Xxxxx LLP is entitled to rely on this
certificate in connection with the rendering of its opinion pursuant to Section 7 of the
Underwriting Agreement.
Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such
terms in the Underwriting Agreement.
[Signature page follows]
Exhibit B-1
IN WITNESS
WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this
Certificate as of this day of
, 2007.
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | ||||
President and Chief Executive Officer | ||||
Officer |
Exhibit B-2