Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Company, LP UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
Panhandle
Eastern Pipe Line Company, LP
October
23, 0000
Xxxx
xx
Xxxxxxx Securities LLC
000
Xxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
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X.X.
Xxxxxx Securities Inc.
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000
Xxxx Xxxxxx
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Xxx
Xxxx, XX 00000
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Wachovia
Capital Markets, LLC
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|
000
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
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Xxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000-0000
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As
Representatives of the several
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Underwriters
listed in Exhibit A
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hereto
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Ladies
and Gentlemen:
Panhandle
Eastern Pipe Line Company, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the
“Company”), proposes to sell to the several underwriters named in Exhibit
A attached hereto (collectively, the “Underwriters,” which term shall
also include any underwriter substituted as hereinafter provided in
Section 10 hereof), for whom Banc of America Securities LLC, X.X. Xxxxxx
Securities Inc. and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC are acting as representatives
(in such capacity, the “Representatives”), $300,000,000.00
aggregate principal amount of its 6.200% Senior Notes due 2017 (the
“Securities”), to be issued under an indenture (the “Base
Indenture”) dated as of March 29, 1999 between the Company and The Bank of
New York Trust Company, N.A. (as successor to X.X. Xxxxxx Trust Company,
National Association, Bank One Trust Company, National Association, and NBD
Bank), as trustee (the “Trustee”), as amended and supplemented by the
fifth supplemental indenture (the “Fifth Supplemental Indenture”) to be
dated as of October 26, 2007 between the Company and the Trustee (the Base
Indenture, as so amended and supplemented, the “Indenture”).
SECTION
1. Representations and Warranties.
(a) Representations
and Warranties by the Company. The Company represents and warrants to each
Underwriter as of the date hereof, as of the Applicable Time, as of the Closing
Date referred to in Section 2(c) hereof, and agrees with each Underwriter,
as follows:
(1) Compliance
with Registration Requirements. The Securities have been duly
registered under the 1933 Act pursuant to the Registration
Statement. The Initial Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf
registration statement” as defined under Rule 405 of the 1933 Act that has been
filed with the Commission not earlier than three
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(2) years
prior to the date hereof. The Company has not received from the
Commission any notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) of the 1933 Act objecting
to
use of the automatic shelf registration statement form and the Company has
not
otherwise ceased to be eligible to use the automatic shelf registration
statement form. The Registration Statement has become effective under
the 1933 Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement has been issued under the 1933 Act and no proceedings for that purpose
have been instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or
Southern Union Company (the “Parent”) are contemplated by the Commission,
and any request on the part of the Commission for additional information has
been complied with.
At
the
respective times, the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendments
thereto became or become effective and at the Closing Date, the Registration
Statement and any amendments and supplements thereto complied and will comply
in
all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act
Regulations and did not and will 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. Neither the Final
Prospectus nor any amendments or supplements thereto, as of its date, at the
Closing Date, and at any time when a prospectus is required by applicable law
to
be delivered in connection with sales of Securities, included or will include
an
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or will 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.
Each
preliminary prospectus and prospectus filed as part of the Registration
Statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment thereto, or filed
pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act in connection with the offering of
the Securities (including, without limitation, the Final Prospectus and the
Statutory Prospectus), complied when so filed in all material respects with
the
requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations and each preliminary
prospectus and prospectus (including, without limitation, the Final Prospectus
and the Statutory Prospectus) and any amendments or supplements thereto
delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offering of the
Securities was identical to the electronically transmitted copy thereof filed
with the Commission pursuant to XXXXX, except to the extent permitted by
Regulation S-T.
As
of the
Applicable Time, neither (a) any Issuer General Use Free Writing
Prospectuses issued at or prior to the Applicable Time, the Statutory Prospectus
as of the Applicable Time and the information included on Exhibit F hereto,
all considered together (collectively, the “General Disclosure Package”),
nor (b) any individual Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus, when
considered together with the General Disclosure Package, included or will
include any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or will omit to
state
any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.
Each
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as of its date and at all subsequent times
through the completion of the public offering and sale of the Securities, did
not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts
or
will conflict with the
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information
contained in the Registration Statement or the Statutory Prospectus or the
Final
Prospectus and any preliminary or other prospectus deemed to be a part thereof
that has not been superseded or modified.
The
representations and warranties in this subsection shall not apply to statements
in or omissions from the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus,
the
Final Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus) made in reliance upon
and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by any
Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration
Statement, the Statutory Prospectus, the Final Prospectus or such Issuer Free
Writing Prospectus, as the case may be.
At
the
time of filing the Initial Registration Statement, at the time of the most
recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3)
of
the 1933 Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment,
incorporated report filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act or
form of prospectus), at the time the Company or any person acting on its behalf
(within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c) of the 0000 Xxx)
made
any offer relating to the Securities in reliance on the exemption of Rule 163
of
the 1933 Act and at the date hereof, the Parent was and is a “well known
seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 of the 1933 Act.
At
the
time of filing the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendments
thereto and at the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible
issuer” as defined in Rule 405, in each case without taking into
account any determination made by the Commission pursuant to clause 2 of the
definition of such term in Rule 405.
The
Company and the Parent meet the requirements to incorporate documents by
reference into the Registration Statement under the 1933 Act. The
documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Final
Prospectus and the General Disclosure Package at the time they were or hereafter
are filed with the Commission complied and will comply in all material respects
with the requirements of the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations, and, when
read together with the other information in the Registration Statement, Final
Prospectus and the General Disclosure Package, at the time the Final Prospectus
and the General Disclosure Package were filed, as applicable, and at the Closing
Date, did not and will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make
the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading.
(3) Independent
Accountants. The accountants who certified the financial
statements and supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement,
the
Final Prospectus and the General Disclosure Package are independent public
accountants with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries within the meaning
of Regulation S-X under the 1933 Act.
(4) Financial
Statements. The Company’s financial statements, together with the
related schedules and notes, included or incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement, the Final Prospectus and the General Disclosure Package
present fairly the financial position of the Company and its consolidated
subsidiaries at the dates indicated and the statements of operations, statement
of partners’ capital and comprehensive income, statement of cash flows of the
Company and its consolidated subsidiaries for the periods specified; said
financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) applied on a
consistent basis throughout the periods involved. The supporting
schedules, if any, included or incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement, the Final Prospectus and the General Disclosure Package present
fairly in accordance with GAAP the information required to be stated
therein. The capitalization table, the selected financial information
and the summary financial information included or incorporated by reference
in
the Registration Statement, the Final Prospectus and the General Disclosure
Package present fairly the information shown therein and have been compiled
on a
basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements or unaudited
financial statements, as the case may be, included or incorporated by reference
in the Registration Statement, the Final Prospectus and the General Disclosure
Package.
(5) No
Material Adverse Change in Business. Except as disclosed in the
General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, since the end of the period
covered by the financial statements of the Company included or incorporated
by
reference in the Final Prospectus and the General Disclosure Package, (A) there
has been no material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise,
or
in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and
its
subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the
ordinary course of business (a “Material Adverse Effect”), and (B) there
have been no transactions entered into by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, other than those in the ordinary course of business, which are
material with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one
enterprise, and (C) except in the ordinary course of business and consistent
with past practice, there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind
declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of its partnership
interests.
(6) Good
Standing of the Company. The Company has been duly organized and
is validly existing as a limited partnership in good standing under the laws
of
the State of Delaware and has full limited partnership power and authority
to
own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as currently
conducted and as described in the Final Prospectus and the General Disclosure
Package and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement
and
the Indenture; and the Company is duly qualified as a foreign limited
partnership to transact business and is in good standing in each other
jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of
the
ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the
failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not result in a Material
Adverse Effect. The Company’s conversions from a corporation to a
limited liability company on June 16, 2003 then to a limited partnership on
June
29, 2004 were validly authorized and completed under the laws of the State
of
Delaware, and the conversions did not and will not, whether with or without
the
giving of notice or passage of time or both, cause or
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(7) result
in a default under any agreement or instrument to which the Company or any
of
its subsidiaries is a party or by which or any of them may be bound, or to
which
any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is
subject, except for such defaults as would not singly or in the aggregate have
a
Material Adverse Effect.
(8) Material
Subsidiaries. Exhibit B sets forth a true and correct list of all
subsidiaries of the Company, in which the Company (a) directly or indirectly
through one or more subsidiaries, beneficially owns capital stock or other
equity interests having in the aggregate fifty percent (50%) or more of the
total combined voting power, without giving effect to any contingent voting
rights, in the election of directors (or persons fulfilling similar functions
or
duties) of such owned subsidiary or (b) is a general partner (the “Material
Subsidiaries”).
(9) Good
Standing of Material Subsidiaries. Each Material Subsidiary of
the Company has been duly organized and is validly existing in good standing
under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has the requisite power
(corporate or otherwise) and authority to own, lease and operate its properties
and to conduct its business as described in the Final Prospectus and the General
Disclosure Package and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good
standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether
by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business,
except where the failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would not
result in a Material Adverse Effect; all of the issued and outstanding limited
liability company interests, capital stock or similar interests (as the case
may
be) of each Material Subsidiary has been duly authorized and validly issued,
is
fully paid and non-assessable and is owned by the Company, directly or through
subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien,
encumbrance, claim or equity; none of the outstanding limited liability company
interests, shares of capital stock or similar interests (as the case may be)
of
the Material Subsidiaries was issued in violation of any preemptive or similar
rights of any securityholder of such Material Subsidiary. The other
subsidiaries of the Company other than Material Subsidiaries, considered in
the
aggregate as a single subsidiary, do not constitute a “significant
subsidiary” as defined in Rule 1.02 of Regulation S-X.
(10) Capitalization. All
of the limited partnership interests of the Company are owned of record and
beneficially by Southern Union Panhandle, LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company, which in turn is wholly owned by the Parent. No person other
than Southern Union Panhandle, LLC and the Parent owns of record or beneficially
any equity interests or rights to acquire equity interests in the
Company. All limited partnership interests of the Company have been
duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; none
of the outstanding partnership interests of the Company were issued in violation
of the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the
Company.
(11) Authorization
of Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed
and delivered by the Company, and the Company has full right, power and
authority to perform its obligations hereunder.
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(12) Authorization
and Qualification of the Indenture. The Fifth Supplemental
Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company and, when the Fifth
Supplemental Indenture is executed and delivered by the Company and the Trustee,
will constitute a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable
against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement
thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency (including, without limitation,
all laws relating to fraudulent transfers), reorganization, moratorium or
similar laws affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and except as
enforcement thereof is subject to general principles of equity (regardless
of
whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law). The Base Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust
Indenture Act and has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Company and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Company,
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as the
enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency (including, without
limitation, all laws relating to fraudulent transfers), reorganization,
moratorium or similar laws affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally
and except as enforcement thereof is subject to general principles of equity
(regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity
or at
law).
(13) Authorization
of the Securities. The Securities have been duly authorized by
the Company for issuance and sale pursuant to this Agreement. The
Securities, when authenticated, issued and delivered in the manner provided
for
in the Indenture and delivered against payment of the purchase price therefor
as
provided in this Agreement, will constitute valid and binding obligations of
the
Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except
as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency (including,
without limitation, all laws relating to fraudulent transfers), reorganization,
moratorium or similar laws affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally
and except as enforcement thereof is subject to general principles of equity
(regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity
or at
law), and will be in the form contemplated by, and entitled to the benefits
of,
the Indenture.
(14) Description
of the Securities and the Indenture. The Securities and the
Indenture conform in all material respects to the respective statements relating
thereto contained in the Final Prospectus and the General Disclosure Package
and
will be in substantially the respective forms last delivered to the Underwriters
prior to the date of this Agreement.
(15) Absence
of Defaults and Conflicts. Neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries is in violation of its certificate of formation, limited
partnership agreement, charter, by-laws or similar organizational instruments
(as the case may be) or in default in the performance or observance of any
obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract,
indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease or
other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries
is
a party or by which any of them may be bound, or to which any of the property
or
assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject except for such
defaults as would not singly or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect;
and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Indenture,
the Securities and
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(16) any
other agreement or instrument entered into or issued or to be entered into
or
issued by the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby
or
thereby or in the Final Prospectus and the General Disclosure Package, and
the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, thereby and in the Final
Prospectus and the General Disclosure Package (including the issuance and sale
of the Securities and the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities
as
described in the Final Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds”)
and compliance by the Company with its obligations hereunder and thereunder
have
been duly authorized by all necessary limited partnership action and do not
and
will not, whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or
both, conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default or Repayment Event
(as
defined below) under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien,
charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of
its
subsidiaries pursuant to, any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition
contained in (i) any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or
credit agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument evidencing or
governing indebtedness for borrowed money, to which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them may be bound, or to which any
of
the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject
or
(ii) any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement,
note, lease or other agreement or instrument other than those referred to in
clause (i) above to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party
or
by which any of them may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets
of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject except (in the case of this
clause (ii)) for such conflicts, breaches or defaults or Repayment Events or
liens, charges or encumbrances that would not singly or in the aggregate result
in a Material Adverse Effect, nor will such action result in any violation
of
the provisions of the certificate of formation, limited partnership agreement,
charter, by-laws or similar organizational instruments (as the case may be)
of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any applicable law, statute, rule,
regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any government, government
instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the
Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their assets, properties or
operations, except for such exceptions as would not singly or in the aggregate
have a Material Adverse Effect. As used herein, a “Repayment
Event” means any event or condition which gives the holder of any note,
debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such
holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of
all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries.
(17) Absence
of Labor Dispute. No labor dispute with the employees of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company,
is imminent, and the Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor
disturbance by the employees of any of its or any of its subsidiaries’ principal
suppliers, manufacturers, customers or contractors, which, in either case,
would
result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(18) Absence
of Proceedings. Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure
Package and the Final Prospectus, there is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry
or investigation before or brought by any court or governmental agency or body,
domestic or foreign, now pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened, against or
6
(19) affecting
the Company or any of its subsidiaries which might result in a Material Adverse
Effect, or which might materially and adversely affect the properties or assets
of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Indenture or the Final
Prospectus and the General Disclosure Package or the performance by the Company
of its obligations under this Agreement or the Indenture. The
aggregate of all pending legal or governmental proceedings to which the Company
or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any of their respective
property or assets is the subject which are not described in the Final
Prospectus and the General Disclosure Package, including ordinary routine
litigation incidental to the business, could not reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(20) Absence
of Manipulation. Neither the Company nor any affiliate of the
Company has taken, nor will the Company or any affiliate take, directly or
indirectly, any action which is designed to or which has constituted or which
would be expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the
price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the
Securities.
(21) Possession
of Intellectual Property. The Company and its subsidiaries own or
possess, or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate patents, patent rights,
licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and other
unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems
or procedures), trademarks, service marks, trade names or other intellectual
property (collectively, “Intellectual Property”) necessary to carry on
the business now operated by them, and neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries has received any notice or is otherwise aware of any infringement
of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any Intellectual
Property or of any facts or circumstances which would render any Intellectual
Property invalid or inadequate to protect the interest of the Company or any
of
its subsidiaries therein, and which infringement or conflict (if the subject
of
any unfavorable decision, ruling or finding) or invalidity or inadequacy, singly
or in the aggregate, would result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(22) Absence
of Further Requirements. No filing with, or authorization,
approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or decree of,
any
court or governmental authority or agency, domestic or foreign, is necessary
or
required for the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder, in
connection with the offering, issuance or sale of the Securities hereunder
or
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the
Indenture or for the due execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement
or
the Indenture by the Company, except for such consents, approvals,
authorizations, orders and registrations or qualifications as may be required
under applicable state securities laws in connection with the purchase and
distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters.
(23) Possession
of Licenses and Permits. The Company and its subsidiaries possess
such permits, licenses, approvals, consents and other authorizations
(collectively, “Governmental Licenses”) issued by the appropriate
federal, state, local or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to
conduct the business now operated by them,
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(24) except
where the failure so to possess would not, singly or in the aggregate, result
in
a Material Adverse Effect; the Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance
with the terms and conditions of all such Governmental Licenses, except where
the failure so to comply would not singly or in the aggregate have a Material
Adverse Effect; all of the Governmental Licenses are valid and in full force
and
effect, except where the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses or the failure
of such Governmental Licenses to be in full force and effect would not singly
or
in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect; and neither the Company nor
any
of its subsidiaries has received any notice of proceedings relating to the
revocation or modification of any such Governmental Licenses which, singly
or in
the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding,
would have a Material Adverse Effect.
(25) Title
to Property. The Company and its subsidiaries have good and valid
title to all real property owned by the Company and its subsidiaries and good
title to all other properties owned by them, in each case, free and clear of
all
mortgages, pledges, liens, security interests, claims, restrictions or
encumbrances of any kind except such as (a) are described in the Final
Prospectus and General Disclosure Package (b) do not, singly or in the
aggregate, materially affect the value of such property and do not interfere
with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company or
any
of its subsidiaries or (c) could not reasonably be expected, singly or in the
aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect; and all of the leases and
subleases material to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries,
considered as one enterprise, and under which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries holds properties described in the Final Prospectus and General
Disclosure Package, are in full force and effect, and neither the Company nor
any of its subsidiaries has any notice of any claim of any sort that has been
asserted by anyone adverse to the rights of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries under any of the leases or subleases mentioned above, or affecting
or questioning the rights of the Company or any subsidiary thereof to the
continued possession of the leased or subleased premises under any such lease
or
sublease, except for such claims that could not reasonably be expected singly
or
in the aggregate to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(26) Environmental
Laws. Except as described in the Final Prospectus and General
Disclosure Package and except for such matters as would not, singly or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, (A) neither the Company nor any
of
its subsidiaries is in violation of any federal, state, local or foreign
statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code, policy or rule of common law
or
any judicial or administrative interpretation thereof, including any judicial
or
administrative order, consent, decree or judgment, relating to pollution or
protection of human health, the environment (including, without limitation,
ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata)
or
wildlife, including, without limitation, laws and regulations relating to the
release or threatened release of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes,
toxic substances, hazardous substances, petroleum or petroleum products,
asbestos-containing materials or mold (collectively, “Hazardous
Materials”) or to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment,
storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials (collectively,
“Environmental Laws”), (B) the Company and its subsidiaries have all
permits, authorizations and approvals required under any applicable
Environmental Laws and are each in compliance with their requirements,
(C)
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(27) there
are no pending or threatened administrative, regulatory or judicial actions,
suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of noncompliance or
violation, investigation or proceedings relating to any Environmental Law
against the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (D) there are no events or
circumstances that would reasonably be expected to form the basis of an order
for clean-up or remediation, or an action, suit or proceeding by any private
party or governmental body or agency, against or affecting the Company or any
of
its subsidiaries relating to Hazardous Materials or Environmental Laws, (E)
there has been no spill, discharge, leak, emission, injection, escape, dumping
or release of Hazardous Materials onto property now or previously owned or
leased by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or at any location at which
Hazardous Materials generated by the Company or any of its subsidiaries have
come to rest, or into the environment surrounding such property, of Hazardous
Materials due to or caused by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or with
respect to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries have received notice
or
have knowledge of the Company’s or any of its subsidiaries’ actual or potential
liability, (F) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has any liability
of any nature whatsoever, including any retained or assumed contractual
liability, pertaining to any Environmental Laws, and (G) no facility owned
or
operated by the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently, or was at
any
time, listed on the National Priorities List promulgated under the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 9601, et
seq., or any comparable state list.
(28) Investment
Company Act. The Company is not required, and upon the issuance
and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated and the application of the
net
proceeds therefrom as described in the Final Prospectus and General Disclosure
Package will not be required, to register as an “investment company” under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).
(29) Disclosure
Controls and Procedures. The Company has established disclosure
controls and procedures to ensure that information required to be disclosed
by
the Company, including consolidated entities, in reports filed or submitted
under the 1934 Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the
time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms. The
Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that
information required to be disclosed in the reports it files or submits under
the 1934 Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including the
Company’s Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate,
to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
(30) No
Material Weakness in Internal Controls. Except as disclosed in
the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, or in any document
incorporated by reference therein, since the end of the Company’s most recent
audited fiscal year, there has been (i) no material weakness in the Company’s
internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (ii)
no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has
materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s
internal control over financial reporting.
(31) Public
Utility Holding Company Act. Neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries is a “holding company” or a “subsidiary company” of a holding
company or an “affiliate” thereof within the meaning of the Public Utility
Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended.
(32) Compliance
with ERISA. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Affect, each employee benefit plan, within the meaning of
Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended
(“ERISA”), that is maintained, administered or contributed to by the
Company or any of its affiliates for employees or former employees of the
Company and its affiliates has been maintained in compliance with its terms
and
the requirements of any applicable statutes, orders, rules and regulations,
including but not limited to ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the “Code”); no prohibited transaction, within the meaning of
Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, has occurred with respect
to
any such plan excluding transactions effected pursuant to a statutory or
administrative exemption; and for each such plan that is subject to the funding
rules of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, no “accumulated
funding deficiency” as defined in Section 412 of the Code has been incurred,
whether or not waived, and no liability has been incurred under Title IV of
ERISA that has not been satisfied.
(33) Insurance. The
Company and its subsidiaries have insurance covering their respective
properties, operations, personnel and businesses, including business
interruption insurance, as appropriate and customary in the industry in which
the Company operates, which insurance is in amounts and insures against such
losses and risks as are adequate to protect the Company and its subsidiaries
and
their respective businesses; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries
has (i) received notice from any insurer or agent of such insurer that capital
improvements or other expenditures are required or necessary to be made in
order
to continue such insurance or (ii) any reason to believe that it will not be
able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires
or to obtain similar coverage at reasonable cost from similar insurers as may
be
necessary to continue its business.
(34) No
Unlawful Payments. Neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries nor, to the best knowledge of the Company, any director, officer,
agent, employee or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries has (i) used any corporate funds for any
unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating
to
political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any
foreign or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds; (iii)
violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices
Act of 1977; or (iv) made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback
or other unlawful payment.
(35) No
Restrictions on Subsidiaries. No subsidiary of the Company is
currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, under any agreement or other
instrument to which it is a party or is subject, from paying any dividends
to
the Company, from making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s capital
stock, equity interests or similar interests, from repaying to the Company
any
loans or advances to such subsidiary from
9
(36) the
Company or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s properties or assets to
the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company.
(37) No
Broker’s Fees. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is
a party to any contract, agreement or understanding with any person (other
than
this Agreement) that would give rise to a valid claim against the Company or
any
of its subsidiaries or any Underwriter for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee
or like payment in connection with the offering and sale of the
Securities.
(38) No
Registration Rights. No person has the right to require the
Company or any of its subsidiaries to register any securities other than the
Securities for sale under the 1933 Act by reason of the issuance and sale of
the
Securities.
(39) Forward-Looking
Statements. No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of
Section 27A of the 1933 Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained
in
the Final Prospectus and General Disclosure Package has been made or reaffirmed
without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good
faith.
(40) Statistical
and Market Data. Nothing has come to the attention of the Company
that has caused the Company to believe that the statistical and market-related
data included in the Final Prospectus and General Disclosure Package is not
based on or derived from sources that are reliable and accurate in all material
respects.
(41) Compliance
with Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act. The Company and the Company’s directors,
managers or officers, in their capacities as such, are in compliance in all
material respects with the provisions of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002 and
the
rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith (the
“Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act”), including Section 402 related to loans and
Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications; there is and has been no failure
on the part of the Company or any of the Company’s directors, managers or
officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with any provision of the
Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act, including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302
and
906 related to certifications.
(42) Officer’s
Certificates. Any certificate signed by any officer of the
Company, the Parent or any of its subsidiaries delivered to the Representatives
or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed a representation and warranty
by the Company, the Parent or any of its subsidiaries, respectively, to each
Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.
SECTION
2. Sale and Delivery to Underwriters;
Closing.
(a) Securities. The
Company agrees to issue and sell the Securities to the several Underwriters
as
provided in this Agreement, and each Underwriter, on the basis of the
representations, warranties and agreements set forth herein and subject to
the
conditions set forth herein, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase
from
the Company the respective principal amount of Securities set forth opposite
such Underwriter’s name in Exhibit A hereto at a price equal to 99.741% of the
principal amount thereof plus accrued interest, if any, from October
26,
10
(b) 2007
to the Closing Date (as defined below). The Company will not be
obligated to deliver any of the Securities except upon payment for all the
Securities to be purchased as provided herein.
(c) The
Company understands that the Underwriters intend to make a public offering
of
the Securities as soon after the effectiveness of this Agreement as in the
judgment of the Representative is advisable, and initially to offer the
Securities on the terms set forth in the Final Prospectus. The
Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters may offer and sell
Securities to or through any affiliate of an Underwriter and that any such
affiliate may offer and sell Securities purchased by it to or through any
Underwriter.
(d) Payment.
Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of certificates for, the
Securities shall be made at the offices of Xxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx, 000
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000, or at such other place as shall
be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company, at 9:00 A.M.
(Eastern time) on October 26, 2007 (unless postponed in accordance with the
provisions of Section 10), or such other time not later than ten business
days after such date as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the
Company (such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called
“Closing Date”).
Payment
shall be made to the Company by wire transfer of immediately available funds
to
a single bank account designated by the Company, in each case against delivery
to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the Underwriters of
certificates for the Securities to be purchased by them. It is
understood that each Underwriter has authorized the Representatives, for its
account, to accept delivery of, receipt for, and make payment of the purchase
price for, the Securities which it has agreed to purchase. Wachovia
Capital Markets, LLC, individually and not as representative of the
Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment of the purchase
price for the Securities, to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds have
not been received by the Closing Date, but such payment shall not relieve such
Underwriter from its obligations hereunder.
(e) Denominations;
Registration. Global notes representing the Securities shall be
in such denominations and registered in such names as the Representatives may
request in writing at least one full business day before the Closing Date
(collectively, the “Global Note”), with any transfer taxes payable in
connection with the sale of the Securities duly paid by the
Company. The Global Note will be made available for examination and
packaging by the Representatives in The City of New York not later than noon
(Eastern time) on the business day prior to the Closing Date.
SECTION
3. Covenants of the Company. The Company
covenants with each Underwriter as follows:
(a) Compliance
with Securities Regulations and Commission Requests. The
Company, subject to Section 3(b), will comply with the requirements of
Rule 430A, 430B or 430C (the “Rule 430 Information”) under the 1933
Act and will notify the Representatives immediately, and confirm the notice
in
writing, (i) when the Registration Statement or any post-effective
amendment to the Registration Statement shall become effective hereafter, or
any
supplement to the Final Prospectus or any amended prospectus
11
(b) shall
have been filed, (ii) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission,
(iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the
Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Final Prospectus,
or any document incorporated by reference therein or any Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus or for additional information, (iv) of the issuance by the
Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary
prospectus, or of the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for
offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of
any
proceedings for any of such purposes, or of any examination pursuant to Section
8(e) of the 1933 Act concerning the Registration Statement and (v) if the
Company becomes the subject of a proceeding under Section 8A of the 1933 Act
in
connection with the offering of the Securities. The Company will make
every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any stop order and, if any
stop order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible
moment.
(c) Filing
of Amendments. For so long as any Securities remain unsold by
the Underwriters, the Company will give the Representatives notice of its
intention to file or prepare any amendment to the Registration Statement or
any
amendment, supplement or revision to either the prospectus included in the
Registration Statement at the time it became effective or to the Final
Prospectus, whether pursuant to the 1933 Act or otherwise, or (without
limitation to the provisions of Section 16 of this Agreement), any Issuer Free
Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto and will furnish
the
Representatives with copies of any such documents within a reasonable amount
of
time prior to such proposed filing or use, as the case may be, and will not
file
or use any such document to which the Representatives or counsel for the
Underwriters shall object.
(d) Delivery
of Registration Statements. The Company has furnished or will deliver to
the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, without charge, signed
copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and of each amendment
thereto (including exhibits filed therewith or incorporated by reference therein
and documents incorporated by reference therein) and signed copies of all
consents and certificates of experts. The copies of the Registration
Statement and each amendment thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be
identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the
Commission pursuant to XXXXX, except to the extent permitted by
Regulation S-T.
(e) Delivery
of Prospectuses. The Company has delivered to each Underwriter, without
charge, as many copies of each preliminary prospectus and any Issuer Free
Writing Prospectuses prepared prior to the date of this Agreement as such
Underwriter reasonably requested, and the Company hereby consents to the use
of
such copies for purposes permitted by the 1933 Act. The Company will
furnish to each Underwriter, without charge, such number of copies of the
documents constituting the General Disclosure Package, any Issuer Free Writing
Prospectuses prepared on or after the date of this Agreement and the Final
Prospectus (and any amendments or supplements thereto) as such Underwriter
may
reasonably request. The Statutory Prospectus, each Issuer Free
Writing Prospectus and the Final Prospectus and any amendments or supplements
thereto furnished to the Underwriters is or will be, as the
12
(f) case
may be, identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof
filed with the Commission pursuant to XXXXX, except to the extent permitted
by
Regulation S-T.
(g) Continued
Compliance with Securities Laws. The Company will comply with the 1933 Act,
the 1933 Act Regulations so as to permit the completion of the distribution
of
the Securities as contemplated in this Agreement and in the Final
Prospectus. If at any time when a prospectus is required by the 1933
Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Securities (including,
without limitation, pursuant to Rule 172), any event shall occur or condition
shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel
for
the Underwriters or for the Company, to amend the Registration Statement or
amend or supplement the Final Prospectus in order that the Final Prospectus
will
not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading in the
light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a purchaser,
or if it shall be necessary, in the opinion of such counsel, at any such time
to
amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Final Prospectus
in
order to comply with the requirements of the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act
Regulations, the Company will promptly prepare and file with the Commission,
subject to Section 3(b) hereof, such amendment or supplement as may be
necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make the Registration
Statement or the Final Prospectus comply with such requirements, and the Company
will furnish to the Underwriters such number of copies of such amendment or
supplement as the Underwriters may reasonably request. If at any time
following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs
an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus
conflicted, conflicts or would conflict with the information contained in the
Registration Statement or included, includes or would include an untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or would omit to state a material
fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances, prevailing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company
will promptly notify the Representatives and the Company will, subject to
Section 3(b) hereof, promptly amend or supplement such Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or
omission.
(h) Blue
Sky Qualifications. The Company will use its best efforts, in cooperation
with the Underwriters, to qualify the Securities for offering and sale under
the
applicable securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions (domestic
or
foreign) as the Representatives may designate and to maintain such
qualifications in effect for a period of not less than one year from the date
of
this Agreement; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated
to
file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign
corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is
not
so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business
in
any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject. In each
jurisdiction in which the Securities have been so qualified, the Company will
file such statements and reports as may be required by the laws of such
jurisdiction to continue such qualification in effect for a period of not less
than one year from the date of this Agreement.
(i) Rule 158.
The Company will timely file such reports pursuant to the 1934 Act as
are
necessary in order to make generally available to its securityholders as soon
as
practicable an earnings statement for the purposes of, and to provide to the
Underwriters the benefits contemplated by, the last paragraph of
Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act.
(j) Use
of Proceeds. The Company will use the net proceeds received by
it from the sale of the Securities in the manner specified in the General
Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus under “Use of
Proceeds.”
(k) Clear
Market. During the period from the date hereof through and
including the business day following the Closing Date, the Company will not,
without the prior written consent of the Representatives, offer, sell, contract
to sell or otherwise dispose of any debt securities issued or guaranteed by
the
Company and having a tenor of more than one year.
(l) No
Stabilization. The Company will not take, directly or
indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to
cause
or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the
Securities.
(m) Reporting
Requirements. The Company, during the period when the Final Prospectus is
required to be delivered under the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act, will file all
documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the 1934 Act
within the time periods required by the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act
Regulations.
(n) Preparation
of Prospectus. Immediately following the execution of this Agreement, the
Company will, subject to Section 3(b) hereof, prepare the Final Prospectus
containing the Rule 430 Information and other selling terms of the
Securities, the plan of distribution thereof and such other information as
may
be required by the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations or as the
Representatives and the Company may deem appropriate, and will file the Final
Prospectus with the Commission in the manner and within the time period required
by Rule 424(b) (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8)). Any
Final Prospectus delivered pursuant to Rule 173(d) shall be identical to
the electronically transmitted copy thereof filed with the Commission pursuant
to Rule 424(b).
(o) Pricing
Term Sheet. The Company will prepare a pricing term sheet
containing only a description of the Securities, in a form approved by the
Representatives and contained in Exhibit F hereto, and will file such term
sheet
pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the 1933 Act within the time required by such
rule
(such term sheet, the “Pricing Term Sheet”).
(p) Registration
Statement Renewal Deadline. If immediately prior to the third
anniversary (the “Renewal Deadline”) of the initial effective date of the
Initial Registration Statement, any of the Securities remain unsold by the
Underwriters, the Parent will prior to the Renewal Deadline file, if it has
not
already done so and is eligible to do so, a new automatic shelf registration
statement relating to the Securities, in a form satisfactory to the
Representatives. If the Parent is no longer eligible to file an
automatic
13
(q) shelf
registration statement, the Parent will prior to the Renewal Deadline, if it
has
not already done so, file a new shelf registration statement relating to the
Securities, in a form satisfactory to the Representatives, and will use its
best
efforts to cause such registration statement to be declared effective within
60
days after the Renewal Deadline. The Company and the Parent will take
all other action necessary or appropriate to permit the public offering and
sale
of the Securities to continue as contemplated in the expired registration
statement relating to the Securities. References herein to the
Registration Statement shall include such new automatic shelf registration
statement or such new shelf registration statement, as the case may
be.
(r) Notice
of Inability to Use Automatic Shelf Registration Statement
Form. If at any time when Securities remain unsold by the
Underwriters the Parent or the Company receives from the Commission a notice
pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) or otherwise ceases to be eligible to use the
automatic shelf registration statement form, the Parent will (i) promptly notify
the Representatives, (ii) promptly file a new registration statement or
post-effective amendment on the proper form relating to the Securities, in
a
form satisfactory to the Representatives, (iii) use its best efforts to cause
such registration statement or post-effective amendment to be declared effective
and (iv) promptly notify the Representatives of such
effectiveness. The Company will take all other action necessary or
appropriate to permit the public offering and sale of the Securities to continue
as contemplated in the registration statement that was the subject of the Rule
401(g)(2) notice or for which the Company has otherwise become
ineligible. References herein to the Registration Statement shall
include such new registration statement or post-effective amendment, as the
case
may be.
(s) Filing
Fees. The Company agrees to pay the required Commission filing
fees relating to the Securities within the time required by Rule 456(b)(1)
of
the 1933 Act without regard to the proviso therein and otherwise in accordance
with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) of the 1933 Act.
SECTION
4. Payment of Expenses.
(a) Expenses. The
Company will pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations
including (i) the preparation, printing and filing of the Post-Effective
Amendment (including financial statements and any schedules or exhibits and
any
document incorporated therein by reference) as originally filed and of each
amendment thereto, (ii) the word processing, printing and delivery to the
Underwriters of this Agreement, any Agreement among Underwriters and such other
documents as may be required in connection with the offering, purchase, sale,
issuance or delivery of the Securities, (iii) the preparation, issuance and
delivery of the Global Note for the Securities to the Underwriters, including
any stock or other transfer taxes and any stamp or other duties payable upon
the
sale, issuance or delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters, (iv) the
fees and disbursements of the counsel, accountants and other advisors to the
Company, (v) the qualification of the Securities under securities laws in
accordance with the provisions of Section 3(f) hereof, including filing
fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters
in connection therewith and in connection with the preparation of the Blue
Sky
Survey and any supplement thereto, (vi) the fees and expenses of the
Trustee, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Trustee
in
14
(b) connection
with the Indenture and the Securities, (vii) the costs and expenses of the
Company relating to investor presentations on any “road show” undertaken in
connection with the marketing of the Securities including, without limitation,
expenses associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees
and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the road show
presentations, travel and lodging expenses of the representatives and officers
of the Company and any such consultants, and the cost of aircraft and other
transportation chartered in connection with the road show and (viii) any
fees payable in connection with the rating of the Securities and (ix) the
printing and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of each preliminary
prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the documents constituting
the
General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus and any amendments or
supplements thereto.
(c) Termination
of Agreement. If this Agreement is terminated by the
Representatives in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 or
Section 9(a)(i), (a)(iii) (but only with respect to the Company’s or the
Parent’s Securities) or (a)(v) hereof, the Company shall reimburse the
Underwriters for all of their out-of-pocket expenses, including the reasonable
fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters.
SECTION
5. Conditions of Underwriters’
Obligations. The obligations of the several Underwriters
hereunder are subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties
of
the Company contained in this Agreement or in certificates of any officer of
the
Company or any subsidiary of the Company delivered pursuant to the provisions
hereof, to the performance by the Company of its respective covenants and other
obligations hereunder, and to the following further conditions:
(a) Effectiveness
of Registration Statement. The Registration Statement has become effective
and at the Closing Date no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement shall have been issued under the 1933 Act or proceedings
therefor initiated or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the
Commission, and any request on the part of the Commission for additional
information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of
counsel to the Underwriters. The preliminary prospectus and the Final
Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission in the manner and within
the time period required by Rule 424(b) (without reliance upon Rule 424(b)(8)),
and prior to Closing Date, the Company shall have provided evidence satisfactory
to the Representatives of such timely filing.
(b) Representations
and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the
Company contained herein shall be true and correct on the date hereof and on
and
as of the Closing Date; and the statements of the Company and its officers
made
in any certificates delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be true and
correct on and as of the Closing Date.
(c) No
Downgrade. Subsequent to the earlier of (A) the Applicable Time
and (B) the execution and delivery of this Agreement, (i) no downgrading shall
have occurred in the rating accorded the Securities or any other debt securities
or preferred stock of or guaranteed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries
by
any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization”, as such term is
defined by the Commission for purposes
15
(d) of
Rule 436(g)(2) under the 1933 Act and (ii) no such organization shall have
publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, or has changed
its
outlook with respect to, its rating of the Securities or of any other debt
securities or preferred stock of or guaranteed by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries (other than an announcement with positive implications of a
possible upgrading).
(e) No
Material Adverse Change. No event or condition of a type
described in Section 1(a)(4) hereof shall have occurred or shall exist, which
event or condition is not described in the General Disclosure Package (excluding
any amendment or supplement thereto) and the Final Prospectus (excluding any
amendment or supplement thereto) and the effect of which in the judgment of
the
Representative makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the
offering, sale or delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner
contemplated by this Agreement, the General Disclosure Package and the Final
Prospectus.
(f) Opinion
and 10b-5 Statement of Counsel for Company. On the Closing Date, the
Representative shall have received the favorable opinion and 10b-5 statement,
dated as of the Closing Date, of Xxxxx Lord Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP, counsel
for the Company (“Company Counsel”), in form and substance satisfactory
to counsel for the Underwriters, together with signed or reproduced copies
of
such letter for each of the other Underwriters, to the effect set forth in
Exhibit C hereto.
(g) Opinion
and 10b-5 Statement of Counsel for Underwriters. On the Closing Date, the
Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion and 10b-5 Statement,
dated as of Closing Date, of Xxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx, counsel for the
Underwriters, together with signed or reproduced copies of such
documents for each of the other Underwriters, with respect to such matters
as
the Representatives may reasonably request, to the effect set forth in Exhibit
D
hereto.
(h) Officers’
Certificate. On the Closing Date there shall not have been, since the date
hereof or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the
Final Prospectus and the General Disclosure Package (exclusive of any amendments
or supplements thereto subsequent to the date of this Agreement), any material
adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings,
business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries
considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course
of
business, and, on the Closing Date, the Representatives shall have received
a
certificate of the Chairman, the President, the Chief Executive Officer or
an
Executive Vice President or Senior Vice President of the Company and of the
Chief Financial Officer or Chief Accounting Officer of the Company, dated as
of
Closing Date, to the effect that (i) there has been no such material
adverse change, (ii) the representations and warranties of the Company in
this Agreement are true and correct with the same force and effect as though
expressly made at and as of the Closing Date, (iii) the Company has
complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be
performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date under or pursuant to
this
Agreement, and (iv) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose
have
been instituted or are pending or, to their knowledge, are contemplated by
the
Commission.
16
(i) Parent’s
Officers’ Certificate. At Closing Date there shall not have been, since the
date hereof or since the respective dates as of which information is given
in
the Final Prospectus and the General Disclosure Package (exclusive of any
amendments or supplements thereto subsequent to the date of this Agreement),
any
material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the
earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its
subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the
ordinary course of business, and, at the Closing Date, the Representatives
shall
have received a certificate of the Chief Financial Officer or Chief Accounting
Officer of the Parent, dated as of Closing Date, to the effect that
(i) there has been no such material adverse change, (ii) the
representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and
correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made at and as of
Closing Date, (iii) confirming that the Registration Statement, including
the documents incorporated by reference, and the financial statements and
certain financial information together with the related schedules and notes
contained therein at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the
Commission complied and will comply in all material respects with the
requirements of the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations and at the time the
Final Prospectus and the General Disclosure Package were issued and at the
Closing Date, did not and will not include an untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading, and (iv) no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings
for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to their knowledge,
are
contemplated by the Commission.
(j) Accountant’s
Comfort Letter. At the time of the execution of this Agreement, the
Representatives shall have received
from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP a letter, dated the date
of this Agreement and in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives,
together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other
Underwriters, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily
included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect
to the financial statements and certain financial information of the Company
contained in the General Disclosure Package and the Final
Prospectus.
(k) Bring-down
Comfort Letter. On the Closing Date, the Representatives shall have
received from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP a letter, dated as of Closing Date
and
in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect that
they reaffirm the statements made in the letter furnished pursuant to
subsection (i) of this Section, except that the specified date referred to
shall be a date not more than three business days prior to Closing
Date.
(l) Additional
Documents. On the Closing Date, counsel for the Underwriters shall have
been furnished with such documents and opinions as they may require for the
purpose of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Securities
as
herein contemplated, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the
representations or warranties, or the fulfillment of any of the conditions,
contained in this Agreement; and all proceedings taken by the Company in
connection with the issuance and sale of the
17
(m) Securities
as herein contemplated and in connection with the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement shall be satisfactory in form and substance
to
the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters.
(n) Termination
of Agreement. If any condition specified in this Section 5 shall not
have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, this Agreement may
be
terminated by the Representatives by notice to the Company at any time on or
prior to the Closing Date, and such termination shall be without liability
of
any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4 hereof and
except that Sections 1, 6, 7, 8 and 13 hereof shall survive any such
termination and remain in full force and effect.
SECTION
6. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification
by the Company. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each
Underwriter, its affiliate, as such term is defined in Rule 501(b) under the
1933 Act (each, an “Affiliate”), its directors, officers, employees and agents,
and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of
Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act as
follows:
(i) against
any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred,
arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or
the
omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or arising
out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
included in any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus,
the
Statutory Prospectus or the Final Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement
thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(ii) against
any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred,
to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation,
or
any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced
or
threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement
or
omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that
(subject to Section 6(d) below) any such settlement is effected with the
written consent of the Company; and
(iii) against
any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the fees and
disbursements of counsel chosen by the Representatives), reasonably incurred
in
investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any
investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or
threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or
omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that
any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above,
(iv) provided,
however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss,
liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by
any
Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration
Statement (or any amendment thereto), or in any preliminary prospectus, any
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Statutory Prospectus or the Final Prospectus
(or any amendment or supplement thereto).
(b) Indemnification
by the Underwriters. Each Underwriter severally agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its limited partner, general partner
and their respective members and directors, each of its officers who signed
the
Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within
the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934
Act against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described
in
the indemnity contained in subsection (a) (1) of this Section 6,
as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged
untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any
amendment thereto), or any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus, the Statutory Prospectus or the Final Prospectus (or any amendment
or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through the
Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any
amendment thereto) or such preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus, the Statutory Prospectus or the Final Prospectus (or any amendment
or supplement thereto).
(c) Actions
against Parties; Notification. Each indemnified party shall give notice as
promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of any action
commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder,
but
failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying
party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is not materially prejudiced
as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it from any liability
which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity
agreement. Counsel to the indemnified parties pursuant to Section
6(a) shall be selected by the Representatives and, counsel to the indemnified
parties pursuant to Section 6(b) shall be selected by the Company. An
indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the defense of any
such
action; provided, however, that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not
(except with the consent of the indemnified party) also be counsel to the
indemnified party. In no event shall the indemnifying parties be
liable for the fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any
local counsel) separate from their own counsel for all indemnified parties
in
connection with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in
the
same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances.
No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written
consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the
entry
of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation or
proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or
any
claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could
be
sought under this Section 6 or Section 7 hereof (whether or not the
indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such
settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of
each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation,
investigation, proceeding or claim and
(d) (ii) does
not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure
to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(e) Settlement
Without Consent if Failure to Reimburse. If at any time an indemnified
party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified
party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that
it
shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by
Section 6(a)(ii) effected without its written consent if (i) such
settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying
party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have
received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such
settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not
have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior
to
the date of such settlement.
SECTION
7. Contribution. If the indemnification
provided for in Section 6 hereof is for any reason unavailable to or
insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses,
liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein, then each
indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses,
liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such indemnified party,
as
incurred, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative
benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the
other hand from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement or
(ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) 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 Company on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other hand
in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses,
liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations.
The
relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters
on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Securities pursuant
to
this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as
the
total net proceeds from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this
Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the total
underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each
case as set forth on the cover of the Final Prospectus, bear to the aggregate
initial public offering price of the Securities as set forth on such
cover.
The
relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other
hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such
untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged
omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company
or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to
information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or
omission.
The
Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable
if
contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata
allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such
purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of
the
equitable considerations referred to above in this
Section 7. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims,
damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above
in
this Section 7 shall be deemed to include any legal or
18
other
expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating,
preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or
proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or
any
claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission.
Notwithstanding
the provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriter shall be required to
contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which
the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public exceeds the
amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to
pay
by reason of any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission.
No
person
guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f)
of the 0000 Xxx) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was
not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
For
purposes of this Section 7, each person, if any, who controls an
Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or
Section 20 of the 1934 Act and each Underwriter’s Affiliates and selling
agents shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and
each
director of the general partner of the Company, each officer of the Company
who
signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the
Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20
of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the
Company. The Underwriters’ respective obligations to contribute
pursuant to this Section 7 are several in proportion to the amount of
Securities set forth opposite their respective names in Exhibit A hereto
and not joint.
SECTION
8. Representations, Warranties and Agreements to
Survive Delivery. All representations, warranties and agreements
contained in this Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Company or
any
of its subsidiaries submitted in relation to the offering covered by this
Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect, a) regardless
of
any investigation made (i) by or on behalf of any Underwriter or its
Affiliates or selling agents, any person controlling any Underwriter, its
officers, directors, employees or agents or (ii) by or on behalf of the Company,
any person controlling the Company, its directors and each of its officers
who signed the Registration Statement and b) shall survive delivery of the
Securities to the Underwriters.
SECTION
9. Termination of Agreement.
(a) Termination;
General. The Representatives may terminate this Agreement, by notice to the
Company, at any time on or prior to the Closing Date (i) if there has been,
since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the respective dates
as
of which information is given in the Final Prospectus and the General Disclosure
Package, any material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise,
or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and
its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the
ordinary course of business, or (ii) if there has occurred any material
adverse change in the financial markets in the United States or the
international financial markets, any outbreak of hostilities or escalation
thereof or other calamity or crisis or any change or development involving
a
prospective change in national or international political, financial or
economic
19
(b) conditions,
in each case the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of
the
Representatives, impracticable or inadvisable to market the Securities or to
enforce contracts for the sale of the Securities, or (iii) if trading in
any securities of the Company or the Parent has been suspended or materially
limited by the Commission or the NYSE, or if trading generally on the American
Stock Exchange or the NYSE or in the Nasdaq National Market has been suspended
or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading have been fixed,
or maximum ranges for prices have been required, by any of said exchanges or
by
such system or by order of the Commission, the FINRA or any other governmental
authority, or a material disruption has occurred in commercial banking or
securities settlement or clearance services in the United States or in Europe,
or (iv) if a banking moratorium has been declared by either Federal or New
York authorities or (v) if there shall have occurred, since the time of
execution of this Agreement, any downgrading in the rating of any debt
securities of the Company or by any “nationally recognized statistical rating
organization” (as defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436 under the
0000 Xxx) or any public announcement that any such organization has under
surveillance or review its ratings on any such debt securities, (other than
an
announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading, and no
implication of a possible downgrading, of such rating) or any announcement
by
any such organization that the Company has been placed on negative
outlook.
(c) Liabilities.
If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section 9, such
termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except
as
provided in Section 4 hereof, and provided further that Sections 1, 6,
7, 8 and 13 hereof shall survive such termination and remain in full force
and
effect.
SECTION
10. Default by One or More of the
Underwriters. If one or more of the Underwriters shall fail at
the Closing Date to purchase the Securities which it or they are obligated
to
purchase under this Agreement (the “Defaulted Securities”), the
Representatives shall have the right, within 24 hours thereafter, to make
arrangements for one or more of the non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other
underwriters, to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Defaulted
Securities in such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms herein
set
forth; if, however, the Representatives shall not have completed such
arrangements within such 24-hour period, then:
(a) if
the number of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the number of
Securities to be purchased on such date, each of the non-defaulting Underwriters
shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, to purchase the full amount
thereof in the proportions that their respective underwriting obligations
hereunder bear to the underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting
Underwriters; or
(b) if
the number of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the number of Securities
to be
purchased on such date, this Agreement shall terminate without liability on
the
part of any non-defaulting Underwriter.
No
action
taken pursuant to this Section 10 shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter
from liability in respect of its default.
20
In
the
event of any such default which does not result in a termination of this
Agreement, the Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone
the Closing Date for a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect any
required changes in the Registration Statement or Final Prospectus or in any
other documents or arrangements. As used herein, the term
“Underwriter” includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this
Section 10.
SECTION
11. Notices. All notices and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been
duly given if mailed or transmitted by any standard form of
telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be directed to
the Representatives at Banc of America Securities LLC, 00 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx,
NY1-040-27-03, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc., 000 Xxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000, Attention: High Grade Syndicate Desk, 8th Floor,
Facsimile:
(00) 000-0000, Attention: High Grade Transaction Management Legal, Wachovia
Capital Markets, LLC, 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000,
Attention of Transaction Management Group; notices to the Company shall be
directed to it at Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Company, LP, 0000 Xxxxxxxxxx
Xxxx,
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000-0000, Attention of General Counsel.
SECTION
12. Parties. This Agreement shall inure to
the benefit of and be binding upon the Underwriters, the Company and their
respective successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this
Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, firm or
corporation, other than the Underwriters and the Company and their respective
successors and the controlling persons and officers and directors referred
to in
Sections 6 and 7 and their heirs and legal representatives, any legal or
equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any
provision herein contained. This Agreement and all conditions and
provisions hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of
the
Underwriters, the Company and their respective successors, and said controlling
persons and officers and directors and their heirs and legal representatives,
and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation. No
purchaser of Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor
by reason merely of such purchase.
SECTION
13. GOVERNING LAW AND TIME. THIS AGREEMENT
SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE
OF
NEW YORK. SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY
TIME.
SECTION
14. Effect of Headings. The Section and
Exhibit headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the
construction hereof.
SECTION
15. Definitions. As used in this Agreement,
the following terms have the respective meanings set forth below:
“Applicable
Time” means 3:45 PM (New York time) on October 23, 2007 or such other date
or time as agreed by the Company and the Representatives.
“Commission”
means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“XXXXX”
means the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval
System.
21
“Final
Prospectus” means the Statutory Prospectus that discloses the public
offering price, other Rule 430 Information and other final terms of the
Securities and otherwise satisfies Section 10(a) of the 1933 Act.
“FINRA”
means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
“GAAP”
means generally accepted accounting principles.
“Initial
Registration Statement” means the Parent’s registration statement on Form
S-3 (Registration No. 333-137998), as amended (if applicable), at the time
it
became effective, including the Rule 430 Information and the documents
incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3
under the 1933 Act.
“Issuer
Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,”
as defined in Rule 433, relating to the Securities (including, without
limitation, any “road show” that is a “written communication” within the meaning
of Rule 433(d)(8)(i) whether or not required to be filed with the
Commission and any issuer free writing prospectus that is exempt from filing
pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) because it contains a description of the
Securities or of the offering that does not reflect the final terms), in each
case in the form furnished to the Underwriters for use in connection with the
offering of the Securities (and not as the form of Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433).
“Issuer
General Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus that is intended for general distribution to prospective investors,
as evidenced by it being listed in Exhibit E hereto.
“Issuer
Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus that is not an Issuer General Use Free Writing
Prospectus.
“Lien”
means any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or
equity.
“NYSE”
means the New York Stock Exchange.
“Post-Effective
Amendment” means the Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Initial
Registration Statement filed by the Parent and the Company with the Commission
on October 23, 2007.
“preliminary
prospectus” means any prospectus (including the documents incorporated by
reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the 0000 Xxx) used
in connection with the offering of the Securities that was used before the
Initial Registration Statement became effective, or that was used after such
effectiveness and prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, or
that
omitted the Rule 430 Information or that was captioned “Subject to
Completion”.
“Registration
Statement” means the Initial Registration Statement, together with the
Post-Effective Amendment.
22
“Rule
164,” “Rule 172,” “Rule 424(b),” “Rule 430A” and
“Rule 433” refer to such rules under the 1933 Act.
“Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx
Act” means the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder or implementing the provisions thereof.
“Statutory
Prospectus” as of any time means the prospectus supplement or preliminary
prospectus supplement, as the case may be, relating to the Securities, together
with the prospectus that is included in the Initial Registration Statement
immediately prior to that time, in the form furnished to the Underwriters for
use in connection with the offering of the Securities, including the documents
incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the
1933
Act.
“Trust
Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended.
“1933
Act” means the 1933 Act of 1933, as amended.
“1933
Act Regulations” means the rules and regulations of the Commission under the
1933 Act.
“1934
Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“1934
Act Regulations” means the rules and regulations of the Commission under the
1934 Act.
“1940
Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
All
references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other
information that is “contained,” “included” or “stated” in the Registration
Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Statutory Prospectus or the Final
Prospectus (and all other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean
and
include all such financial statements and schedules and other information that
is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, any preliminary
prospectus, the Statutory Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, as the case may
be, pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-1 under the 0000 Xxx.
All
references in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, any preliminary
prospectus, the Statutory Prospectus, the Final Prospectus or any amendment
or
supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy filed
with the Commission pursuant to XXXXX; and all references to any Issuer Free
Writing Prospectus that is required to be filed with the Commission pursuant
to
Rule 433 shall be deemed to include the copy thereof filed with the Commission
pursuant to XXXXX.
23
SECTION
16. Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses. The
Company represents, warrants and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior
consent of the Representatives, and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly,
represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Company
and the Representatives, it has not made and will not make any offer relating
to
the Securities that would constitute an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as
defined in Rule 433, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing
prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405, required to
SECTION
17. be filed with the Commission. Any such free
writing prospectus consented to by the Representatives or by the Company and
the
Representatives, as the case may be, is hereinafter referred to as a
“Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” The Company represents
and warrants that it has treated and agrees that it will treat each Permitted
Free Writing Prospectus as an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in
Rule 433, and has complied and will comply with the requirements of
Rule 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including
timely filing with the Commission where required, legending and record
keeping. For the purposes of clarity, nothing in this Section 16
shall restrict the Company from making any filings required under the 1934
Act
or 1934 Act Regulations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Underwriters may use a term sheet substantially in the form of Exhibit F hereto
without the consent of the Company.
SECTION
18. Absence of Fiduciary Relationship. The
Company acknowledges and agrees that:
(a) Each
of the Underwriters is acting solely as an underwriter in connection with the
public offering of the Securities and no fiduciary, advisory or agency
relationship between the Company on the one hand, and any of the Underwriters,
on the other hand, has been or will be created in respect of any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, irrespective of whether or not
any
of the Underwriters have advised or is advising the Company on other matters
and
none of the Underwriters has any obligation to the Company with respect to
the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement except the obligations expressly
set
forth in this Agreement;
(b) the
public offering price of the Securities and the price to be paid by the
Underwriters for the Securities set forth in this Agreement were established
by
the Company following discussions and arms-length negotiations with the
Representatives;
(c) it
is capable of evaluating and understanding, and understands and accepts, the
terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement;
(d) in
connection with each transaction contemplated by this Agreement and the process
leading to such transactions, each Underwriter is and has been acting solely
as
principal and not as fiduciary, advisor or agent of the Company or any of its
respective affiliates, partners, creditors or employees or any other
party;
(e) none
of the Underwriters has provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice
with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and it has
consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent
it has deemed appropriate;
(f) it
is aware that the Underwriters and their respective affiliates are engaged
in a
broad range of transactions which may involve interests that differ from those
of the Company and that none of the Underwriters has any obligation to disclose
such interests and transactions to the Company by virtue of any fiduciary,
advisory or agency relationship; and
(g) it
waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims it may have against
any of the Underwriters for breach of fiduciary duty or alleged breach of
fiduciary duty and agrees that none of the Underwriters shall have any liability
(whether direct or indirect, in
24
(h) contract,
tort or otherwise) to it in respect of such a fiduciary duty claim or to any
person asserting a fiduciary duty claim on its behalf or in right of
it or the Company or any partners, employees or creditors of the
Company.
SECTION
19. General Provision. This Agreement may be
executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be
an
original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same
Agreement.
[Signature
Page Follows]
25
If
the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please
sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument,
along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement between the
Underwriters and the Company in accordance with its terms.
Very
truly yours,
By ____________________
Name:
Title:
26
CONFIRMED
AND ACCEPTED, as of the date first above written:
BANC
OF
AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
By:
___________________________
Authorized
Signatory
X.X.
XXXXXX SECURITIES INC.
By:
___________________________
Authorized
Signatory
WACHOVIA
CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC
By:
___________________________
Authorized
Signatory
For
themselves and on behalf of the
several
Underwriters listed
in
Exhibit A hereto.
27
EXHIBIT
A
Name
of Underwriter
|
Principal
Amount
|
Banc
of America Securities
LLC
|
$75,000,000
|
X.X.
Xxxxxx Securities
Inc.
|
75,000,000
|
Wachovia
Capital Markets,
LLC.
|
75,000,000
|
Lazard
Capital Markets
LLC
|
18,750,000
|
Calyon
Securities (USA)
Inc.
|
18,750,000
|
Xxxxx
Fargo Securities,
LLC
|
18,750,000
|
The
Xxxxxxxx Capital Group,
L.P.
|
18,750,000
|
Total
|
$300,000,000
|
A-1
EXHIBIT
B
MATERIAL
SUBSIDIARIES OF THE COMPANY
Material
Subsidiaries
List
of
Subsidiaries
|
1.
|
Pan
Gas Storage LLC
|
|
2.
|
Panhandle Energy
LNG Services, LLC
|
|
3.
|
Panhandle
Holdings LLC
|
|
4.
|
Panhandle
Storage LLC
|
|
5.
|
Trunkline
Deepwater Pipeline LLC
|
|
6.
|
Trunkline
Gas Company, LLC
|
|
7.
|
Trunkline
LNG Company, LLC
|
|
8.
|
Trunkline
LNG Holdings LLC
|
|
9.
|
Trunkline
Offshore Pipeline LLC
|
|
10.
|
Trunkline
Field Services LLC
|
|
11.
|
Sea
Xxxxx Pipeline Company, LLC
|
X-0
XXXXXXX
X
XXXX
XX
XXXXXXX & 00X-0 XXXXXXXXX OF COMPANY COUNSEL
Draft
October
[26], 0000
Xxxx
xx
Xxxxxxx Securities LLC
000
Xxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
|
X.X.
Xxxxxx Securities Inc.
|
|
000
Xxxx Xxxxxx
|
Xxx
Xxxx,
XX 00000
|
Wachovia
Capital Markets, LLC
|
|
000
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
|
Xxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000-0000
As
Representatives of the Several Underwriters
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
We
have
acted as counsel for Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Company, LP, a Delaware limited
partnership (the “Company”), in connection with the sale by the Company
of $[l] aggregate
principal amount of the Company’s [l]% Senior Notes
due 2017
(the “Securities”) to the several underwriters named in Exhibit A (the
“Underwriters”) to that certain Underwriting Agreement, dated as of
October [23], 2007 (the “UnderwritingAgreement”), among the
Company and Banc of America Securities LLC, X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc. and
Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC, as representatives of the
Underwriters. The Securities are to be issued pursuant to an
indenture (the “Base Indenture”), dated as of March 29, 1999, between the
Company and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. (as successor to X.X.
Xxxxxx Trust Company, National Association; Bank One Trust Company, National
Association; and NBD Bank), as trustee (the “Trustee”), as amended and
supplemented by the fifth supplemental indenture (the “Fifth Supplemental
Indenture”) dated as of October [l], 2007 between
the
Company and the Trustee (the Base Indenture, as so amended and supplemented,
the
“Indenture”). Capitalized terms used herein but not defined herein shall
have the meanings ascribed to them in the Underwriting Agreement.
In
connection with the preparation of this letter, we have, among other things,
participated in the preparation of:
(a) the
Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-3
(Registration No. 333-137998), including the base prospectus dated October
23,
2007 (the “Base Prospectus”), filed by the Company with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on October 23, 2007 (together
with the documents incorporated by reference
C-1
(b) therein,
the “Post-Effective Amendment”), for the purpose of registering the sale
of the Securities by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the “Securities Act”);
(c) the
Company’s preliminary prospectus supplement dated October 23, 2007, covering the
offering of the Securities through the Underwriters, together with the Base
Prospectus (together with the documents incorporated by reference therein,
the
“Preliminary Prospectus”) and the pricing term sheet dated October 23,
2007 (the “Pricing Term Sheet,” and together with the Preliminary
Prospectus, the “General Disclosure Package”); and
(d) the
Company’s prospectus supplement dated October 23, 2007, covering the offering of
the Securities through the Underwriters, in the form which includes the initial
offering price and related terms of the Securities (together with the documents
incorporated by reference therein, the “Final Prospectus”);
and
(e) the
Fifth Supplemental Indenture and Underwriting Agreement.
We
have
also reviewed:
(a) the
Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-137998), including the related
prospectus, filed by Southern Union Company (the “Parent”) on October 13,
2006 (the “Initial Registration Statement, and together with the
Post-Effective Amendment, the “Registration Statement”);
(b) a
copy of the executed Base Indenture;
(c) certified
copies of the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Company and the
Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Company;
(d) a
certified copy of the resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the
Parent (the sole member in Southern Union Panhandle LLC (the “General
Partner”), which is the sole general partner in the Company);
(e) certified
copies of the charter, certificate of incorporation, articles of incorporation,
certificate of formation, certificate of limited partnership, bylaws, limited
partnership agreement, operating agreement, limited liability company agreement
and other documents providing for the formation, organization and governance
of
the Parent, the General Partner and each of the Material Subsidiaries (all
of
such documents, together with the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the
Company and the Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Company, the
“Organizational Documents”);
(f) copies
of all certificates and other documents delivered today at the closing of the
purchase and sale of the Securities under the Underwriting Agreement;
and
(g) such
other documents, certificates and information as described in the third full
paragraph on page 6 of this letter or as we have otherwise considered necessary
for purposes of this letter.
(h) Subject
to the assumptions, qualifications and limitations which are identified in
this
letter, we advise you that:
(1) The
Company has been duly organized and is in good standing under the laws of the
State of Delaware and is qualified to do business and in good standing in all
other jurisdictions in which the Company has advised us that its ownership
or
lease of property or the conduct of its business requires qualification as
a
foreign limited partnership, and has all limited partnership power and authority
necessary to own or hold its properties and conduct its business as described
in
the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and Final
Prospectus.
(2) Each
Material Subsidiary has been duly organized and is in good standing under the
laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and is qualified to do business
and
in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which the Company has advised
us
that such Material Subsidiary’s ownership or lease of property or the conduct of
its business requires qualification as a foreign entity.
(3) The
Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company,
the
Securities have been duly authorized and (assuming the Securities have been
duly
authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the Indenture and have been
delivered and paid for pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement on the date
hereof) the Securities have been duly executed, issued and delivered; and the
Indenture (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of the
Indenture by the Trustee) and the Securities (assuming the Securities have
been
duly authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the Indenture and have
been
delivered and paid for pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement on the date
hereof) constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company,
enforceable against it in accordance with their terms (and the holders of the
Securities will be entitled to the benefits and security provided by the
Indenture), subject to bankruptcy, insolvency (including, without limitation,
all laws relating to fraudulent transfers), reorganization, moratorium and
similar laws affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and except as
enforcement thereof is subject to general equitable principles (regardless
of
whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law).
(4) The
Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the
Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the
Final
Prospectus, will not be an “investment company,” as defined in the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(5) No
consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing with, any governmental
agency or body or any court is required for the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement in connection with the offering,
issuance and sale of the Securities by the Company, except for (i) the
registration of the Securities under the Securities Act, which registration
has
been effected, and (ii) such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders and
filings as may be required under applicable state securities laws in connection
with the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the
Underwriters.
(6) The
execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the
Underwriting Agreement and the Indenture, the issuance and sale of
the Securities being delivered on the date hereof, and the compliance by the
Company with the terms of, and the consummation of the
C-2
transactions
contemplated by, the Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture and the Securities
will not (i) conflict with, or result in a breach or violation of, any of the
terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation
or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets
of
the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries pursuant to, any indenture,
mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument listed
as an exhibit in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2006 or in any report subsequently filed by the Company pursuant
to
Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act, (ii) result in any violation
of the Organizational Documents or (iii) result in the violation of any law,
statute or regulation or, to our knowledge, any judgment or order of any court
or arbitrator or governmental authority (other than the blue sky laws of the
various states as to which we express no opinion) except, in the case of clauses
(i) and (iii) above, for such conflicts, breaches, violations or defaults that
would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect.
(7) The
Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act, the
Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus have been filed with the
Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b), and the Pricing Term Sheet has been filed
with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d), in each case, within the time
required by such Rule. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement or any part thereof has been issued and, to our
knowledge, no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending
or contemplated under the Securities Act; the statements in the Registration
Statement, General Disclosure Package and Final Prospectus under the heading
“Description of the Senior Notes,” to the extent that they constitute summaries
of the terms of the Securities and the Indenture, matters of law or legal
conclusions, fairly summarize the matters described therein in all material
respects; and, to our knowledge, (A) there are no current or pending legal
or
governmental proceedings required to be described in the Registration Statement,
the General Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus which are not described
therein, and (B) there are no contracts or documents of a character required
to
be described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package
or
the Final Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement
which are not described therein and filed therewith.
(8) The
Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
the
Company.
**********
The
purpose of our professional engagement was not to establish factual matters,
and
preparation of the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus involved
many
determinations of a wholly or partially nonlegal character. We make
no representation that we have independently verified the accuracy, completeness
or fairness of the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus or that the
actions taken in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement,
the General Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus (including the actions
described in the next paragraph) were sufficient to cause the Registration
Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus to be
accurate, complete or fair. We are not passing upon and do not assume
any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the
Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus
except to the extent otherwise explicitly indicated in numbered paragraph 7
above.
C-3
We
can,
however, confirm that we have participated in conferences with representatives
of the Company, representatives of the Underwriter, counsel for the Underwriter
and representatives of the independent accountants for the Company during which
disclosures in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and
the Final Prospectus and related matters were discussed. In addition,
we have reviewed certain corporate records furnished to us by the
Company.
Based
upon our participation in conferences and our document review identified in
the
preceding paragraph, our understanding of applicable law and the experience
we
have gained in our practice thereunder, and, to the extent we have considered
reasonable and necessary, relying as to factual matters upon the statements
of
officers and other representatives of the Company, we can advise that nothing
has come to our attention that has caused us to conclude that (i) the
Registration Statement (other than financial statements and related notes and
other accounting and financial data included or incorporated by reference in
the
Registration Statement, as to which we express no opinion and give no advice)
at
its effective date and at the date hereof contained or contains an untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; (ii) the
General Disclosure Package (other than financial statements and related notes
and other accounting and financial data included or incorporated by reference
in
the General Disclosure Package, as to which we express no opinion and give
no
advice), as of the Applicable Time, contained an untrue statement of a material
fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading; (iii) the Final Prospectus (other than financial statements
and
related notes and other accounting and financial data included or incorporated
by reference in the Final Prospectus, as to which we express no opinion and
give
no advice) at the date it bears and at the date hereof contained or contains
an
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits 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 (iv) subject to the foregoing,
we also advise you that, in our opinion, each of the Registration Statement,
as
of the effective date and the date hereof and the Final Prospectus as of the
date it bears and the date hereof, appeared or appears on its face to be
responsive in all material respects to the requirements of Form S-3 (other
than financial statements and related notes and other accounting and financial
data included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and
the
Final Prospectus, as to which we express no opinion and give no
advice).
*********
Except
as
otherwise specified in this letter, we have not undertaken any investigation
to
determine the facts upon which the advice in this letter is based. We
have not undertaken any search of court records for the purposes of this
letter.
We
have
assumed for purposes of this letter: each document we have reviewed
for purposes of this letter is accurate and complete (other than the
Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Final
Prospectus), each such document that is an original is authentic, each such
document that is a copy conforms to an authentic original, and all signatures
on
each such document are genuine; that the Underwriting Agreement and every other
agreement
C-4
we
have
examined for purposes of this letter constitutes a valid and binding obligation
of each party to that document and that each such party has satisfied all legal
requirements that are applicable to such party to the extent necessary to
entitle such party to enforce such agreement (except that we make no such
assumption with respect to the Company); that you have acted in good faith
and
without notice of any fact which has caused you to reach any conclusion contrary
to any of the conclusions provided in this letter; and that the
constitutionality or validity of a relevant statute, rule, regulation or agency
is not at issue.
In
preparing this letter, we have relied without independent verification upon:
(i) factual information contained in certificates obtained from
governmental authorities; (ii) factual information represented to be
true in the Underwriting Agreement and other documents specifically identified
at the beginning of this letter as having been read by us;
(iii) factual information provided to us by the Company or its
representatives; and (iv) factual information we have obtained from
such other sources as we have deemed reasonable. We have assumed that
there has been no relevant change or development between the dates as of which
the information cited in the preceding sentence was given and the date of this
letter and that the information upon which we have relied is accurate and does
not omit disclosures necessary to prevent such information from being
misleading. For purposes of numbered paragraphs 1 and 2, we have
relied exclusively upon certificates issued by governmental authorities in
the
relevant jurisdiction and such opinion is not intended to provide any conclusion
or assurance beyond that conveyed by those certificates.
We
confirm that we do not have knowledge that has caused us to conclude that our
reliance and assumptions cited in the two immediately preceding paragraphs
are
unwarranted. Whenever this letter provides advice about (or is based
upon) our knowledge of any particular information or about any information
which
has or has not come to our attention, such advice is based entirely on the
actual knowledge at the time this letter is delivered on the date it bears
by
the lawyers with our firm at that time who (i) have represented the Company
in
connection with the offering of the Securities effected pursuant to the Final
Prospectus, or (ii) have spent time representing the Company on other
significant matters.
Our
advice on every legal issue addressed in this letter is based exclusively on
the
internal laws of the State of New York, the General Corporation Law of the
State
of Delaware, the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act or the federal
law of the United States, and represents our opinion as to how that issue would
be resolved were it to be considered by the highest court in the jurisdiction
which enacted such law. The manner in which any particular issue
relating to the opinions would be treated in any actual court case would depend
in part on facts and circumstances particular to the case and would also depend
on how the court involved chose to exercise the wide discretionary authority
generally available to it. This letter is not intended to guarantee
the outcome of any legal dispute which may arise in the future. We
express no opinion with respect to any laws, regulations, statutes, governmental
rules or regulations or decisions which in our experience are not applicable
generally to transactions of the kind covered by the Underwriting Agreement
or
covered by opinions typically delivered in connection with transactions of
the
kind covered by the Underwriting Agreement. We are not qualified to
practice law in the State of Delaware and our opinions herein regarding Delaware
law are limited solely to our review of provisions of the General Corporation
Law of the State of Delaware and the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited
Partnership Act, which we consider
C-5
normally
applicable to transactions of the type contemplated by the Underwriting
Agreement, without our having made any special investigation as to the
applicability of another statute, law, rule or regulation. None
of the opinions or other advice contained in this letter considers or covers
(i) any foreign or state securities (or “blue sky”) laws or
regulations, (ii) any financial statements or supporting schedules
(or any notes to any such statements or schedules) or other accounting or
financial information derived therefrom set forth or incorporated by reference
in (or omitted from) the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus
(including but not limited to any computation to determine whether the
execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Underwriting Agreement
and the Indenture, the issuance and sale of the Securities being delivered
on
the date hereof, and the compliance by the Company with the terms of, and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by, the Underwriting Agreement,
the Indenture and the Securities will not result in a breach or
violation of any financial covenant or similar provision of any
contract of the Company), (iii) any rules and regulations of the
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority relating to the compensation of
underwriters or (iv) provisions of the Underwriting Agreement which
require indemnification or contribution, including, without limitation,
indemnification or contribution obligations which arise out of the failure
to
comply with applicable state or federal securities laws.
This
letter speaks as of the time of its delivery on the date it bears. We
do not assume any obligation to provide you with any subsequent opinion or
advice by reason of any fact about which we did not have knowledge at that
time,
by reason of any change subsequent to that time in any law or other governmental
requirement or interpretation thereof covered by any of our opinions or advice,
or for any other reason.
This
letter is being provided to you pursuant to the provision in the Underwriting
Agreement cited in the initial paragraph of this letter and may not be relied
upon by you for any other purpose. Without our written
consent: (i) no person other than the Underwriters may
rely on this letter for any purpose; (ii) this letter may not be
cited or quoted in any financial statement, prospectus, private placement
memorandum or other similar document; (iii) this letter may not be
cited or quoted in any other document or communication which might encourage
reliance upon this letter by any person or for any purpose excluded by the
restrictions in this paragraph; and (iv) copies of this letter may
not be furnished to anyone for purposes of encouraging such
reliance.
Very
truly yours,
XXXXX
LORD XXXXXXX & XXXXXXX LLP
By
Xxxx
X.
Xxxxxx
C-6
EXHIBIT
D
FORM
OF
OPINION & 10B-5 STATEMENT OF UNDERWRITERS COUNSEL
[To
be
Provided by Xxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx]
X-0
EXHIBIT E
ISSUER
GENERAL USE FREE WRITING PROSPECTUSES
|
1.
|
Pricing
Term Sheet dated October 23, 2007 and attached hereto as Exhibit
F.
|
E-1
EXHIBIT F
Filed
Pursuant to Rule 433
Registration
No. 333-137998
October
23, 2007
Panhandle
Eastern Pipe Line Company, LP
Pricing
Term Sheet
6.200%
Senior Notes due 2017
The
following information supplements the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement dated
October 23, 2007, and is filed pursuant to Rule 433, under Registration No.
333-137998
Issuer:
|
Panhandle
Eastern Pipe Line Company, LP
|
Security
Type:
|
Senior
Unsecured Notes
|
Ratings
(Xxxxx’x / S&P / Fitch):
|
Baa3
/ BBB- / BBB
|
Pricing
Date:
|
October
23, 2007
|
Settlement
Date:
|
October
26, 2007
|
Maturity
Date:
|
November
1, 2017
|
Principal
Amount:
|
$300,000,000
|
Benchmark:
|
T
4.750% due August 15, 2017
|
Benchmark
Yield:
|
4.415%
|
Re-offer
Spread to Benchmark:
|
+
182 bps
|
Yield
to Maturity:
|
6.235%
|
Coupon:
|
6.200%
|
Public
Offering Price:
|
99.741%
|
Optional
Redemption:
|
T
+
30 bps
|
Interest
Payment Dates:
|
May
1 and November 1, beginning May 1, 2008
|
CUSIP
/ ISIN:
|
000000XX0
/ US698455AA09
|
Joint
Bookrunning Managers:
|
Banc
of America Securities LLC
X.X.
Xxxxxx Securities Inc.
Wachovia
Capital Markets, LLC
|
Co-Managers:
|
Calyon
Securities (USA) Inc.
Lazard
Capital Markets LLC
Xxxxx
Fargo Securities, LLC
The
Xxxxxxxx Capital Group, L.P.
|
The
issuer and its parent, Southern Union Company, have filed a registration
statement (including a base prospectus) and a prospectus supplement with the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the offering to which this
communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus
supplement for this offering, the issuer’s prospectus in that registration
statement and any other documents the issuer has filed with the SEC for more
complete information about the issuer and this offering. You may get these
documents for free by searching the SEC online data base (XXXXX) on the SEC
web
site at xxxx://xxx.xxx.xxx. Alternatively, the issuer, any underwriter or any
dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the prospectus
supplement and prospectus if you request it by calling Banc of America
Securities LLC toll-free at 1-800-294-1322, X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc. collect
at 000-000-0000 or Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC toll-free at
0-000-000-0000.
F-1