UNITHOLDER RIGHTS AND RESTRICTIONS AGREEMENT by and among ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P., and ENTERPRISE GP HOLDINGS, L.P., RAY C. DAVIS and NATURAL GAS PARTNERS VI, L.P.
EXHIBIT 10.3
Execution Copy
by and among
ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P.,
and
ENTERPRISE GP HOLDINGS, L.P.,
XXX X. XXXXX
and
NATURAL GAS PARTNERS VI, L.P.
THIS UNITHOLDER RIGHTS AND RESTRICTIONS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and
entered into as of May 7, 2007, by and among ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership (“ETE”), ENTERPRISE GP HOLDINGS, L.P. (“Investor”), XXX X. XXXXX
(“Xxxxx”) and NATURAL GAS PARTNERS VI, L.P. (“NGP”).
This Agreement is made in connection with the sale of 38,976,090 common units of ETE (the
“Purchased Units”) to the Investor pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as
of May 7, 2007, by and among Xxxxx, Avatar Holdings LLC, Avatar Investments LP, Natural Gas
Partners VI, L.P., Xxx Xxxx, MHT Properties, Ltd., P. Xxxxx Xxxxx Holdings LP, LE GP, LLC and the
Investor (the “Purchase Agreement”). ETE has agreed to enter into this Agreement pursuant
to Section 5.5 of the Purchase Agreement.
In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein and for good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged by each party
hereto, the parties hereby agree (in the case of the Investors, severally and not jointly) as
follows:
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.01 Definitions. The terms set forth below are used herein as so defined:
“Agreement” has the meaning specified therefor in the introductory paragraph.
“Affiliate” means any Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more
intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Person
specified. The term “control” (including the terms “controlling,” “controlled by,” and “under
common control with”) means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting
securities, by contract or otherwise.
“Antitrust Investigation” means any investigation, inquiry, review, proceeding, action
or threatened action taken by a Governmental Authority in enforcing the Antitrust Laws solely in
connection with: (i) the acquisition by Investor of the Purchased Units and membership interests
in the general partner of ETE pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, (ii) the resulting ownership by
Investor of the Purchased Units or membership units in the general partner of ETE as of the date of
this Agreement or (iii) the possession of rights and powers of Investor provided by this Agreement
or otherwise related to the ownership of the membership units in the general partner of ETE or the
Purchased Units; provided, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), solely with respect to
the assets, business and operations of ETE, the Investor and their Affiliates as of the date of
this Agreement and not with respect to any subsequent acquisitions by, or changes to the assets,
business or operations of, ETE, Investor or their respective Affiliates.
“Antitrust Laws” shall include the Xxxxxxx Act, as amended, the Xxxxxxx Act, as
amended, the HSR Act, the Federal Trade Commission Act, as amended, and all other federal,
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state and foreign statutes, rules, regulations, orders, decrees, administrative and judicial
doctrines and other laws that are designed or intended to prohibit, restrict or regulate actions
having the purpose or effect of monopolization or restraint of trade or lessening of competition.
“Commercially Sensitive Information” has the meaning specified therefor in the
Statement of Policies Relating to Relationship with Enterprise Holdings GP, L.P., a copy of which
is attached to this Agreement as Exhibit A and incorporated herein for all purposes, as
such Statement may be amended from time to time.
“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Common Units” means the common units of ETE.
“Confidential Information” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 4.03 of this
Agreement.
“Demand Registration” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.01(a) of this
Agreement.
“Demand Registration Statement” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.01(a)
of this Agreement.
“Disposition” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 3.01 of this Agreement.
“Divestiture Losses” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 6.01(d) of this
Agreement
“Effectiveness Period” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.01(a) of this
Agreement.
“ETE” has the meaning specified therefor in the introductory paragraph.
“ETP” means Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Final Restricted Period” means the twelve-month period beginning on the date
immediately after the end of the Initial Restricted Period.
“GAAP” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 4.01(a) of this Agreement.
“Governmental Authority” means any federal, national, supranational, state,
provincial, local or other government, governmental, regulatory or administrative authority, agency
or commission or any court, tribunal or judicial or arbitral body, including but not limited to all
U.S., state and foreign governmental agencies responsible for enforcing the Antitrust Laws.
“Holder” means the record holder of any Registrable Securities.
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“Included Registrable Securities” has the meaning specified therefor in Section
2.02(a) of this Agreement.
“Initial Restricted Period” means the period from the date of this Agreement through
the date six months after the date of this Agreement.
“Investor” has the meaning specified therefor in the introductory paragraph.
“Losses” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.07(a) of this Agreement.
“Managing Underwriter” means, with respect to any Underwritten Offering, a
book-running lead manager of such Underwritten Offering.
“Notice” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 3.04 of this Agreement.
“NYSE” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 3.02 of this Agreement.
“Person” means an individual, corporation, association, trust, limited liability
company, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, partnership, incorporated
organization, or other entity or group (as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act).
“Piggyback Registration” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.02(a) of this
Agreement.
“Purchase Agreement” has the meaning specified therefor in the Recital of this
Agreement.
“Purchased Units” has the meaning specified therefor in the Recital of this Agreement.
“Registrable Securities” means (i) the Purchased Units and (ii) any Common Units
issued as (or issuable upon the conversion or exercise of any warrant, right or other security
which is issued as) a dividend or other distribution with respect to, or in exchange for or in
replacement of, the Purchased Units, in each case until such time as such securities described in
clause (i) or (ii) above cease to be Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 1.02 hereof.
“Registration Expenses” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.06(a) of this
Agreement.
“Restricted Periods” means the Initial Restricted Period and the Final Restricted
Period.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Selling Expenses” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.07(a) of this
Agreement.
“Selling Holder” means a Holder who is selling Registrable Securities pursuant to a
registration statement.
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“Standstill Period” means the period from the date of this Agreement through the date
three years from the date of this Agreement.
“Underwritten Offering” means an offering (including an offering pursuant to a Demand
Registration Statement) in which Common Units are sold to an underwriter on a firm commitment basis
for reoffering to the public or an offering that is a “bought deal” with one or more investment
banks.
Section 1.02 Registrable Securities. Any Registrable Security will cease to be a
Registrable Security when (a) a registration statement covering such Registrable Security has been
declared effective by the Commission and such Registrable Security has been sold or disposed of
pursuant to such effective registration statement; (b) such Registrable Security has been disposed
of pursuant to any section of Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in force under the Securities
Act); (c) such Registrable Security is held by ETE or one of its Subsidiaries; or (d) (i) such
Registrable Security is eligible for resale under Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act and (ii) the
Holder of such Registrable Security is able to utilize Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act.
ARTICLE II.
REGISTRATION RIGHTS
Section 2.01 Demand Registration.
(a) Demand Registration. At any time following the last day of the Initial
Restricted Period (“Initial Restriction Expiration Date”), any Holder or Holders
holding an aggregate of not less than 50% of the then outstanding Registrable Securities
(“Initial Holders”) may request, by written notice (a “Demand”) to ETE,
specifying the number of Registrable Securities desired to be sold (which shall not be less
than 10% of the Registrable Securities, and which may not exceed the limits set forth in
Section 3.01 during the Final Restricted Period), that ETE prepare and file a registration
statement under the Securities Act (“Demand Registration Statement”) to permit the
public resale of Registrable Securities either (a) in an Underwritten Offering or (b) from
time to time as permitted by Rule 415 under the Securities Act (either, a “Demand
Registration”). Promptly upon receipt of a Demand, ETE shall give written notice
thereof to all other Holders. All such Holders who notify ETE in writing within fifteen
(15) days after the date of such notice that they desire to include Registrable Securities
in the Demand Registration Statement shall be permitted to do so. ETE shall use its
commercially reasonable efforts to cause a Demand Registration Statement to become effective
no later than 180 days after the date of the Demand. A Demand Registration Statement filed
pursuant to this Section 2.01(a) shall be on such appropriate registration form of the
Commission as shall be selected by ETE; provided, however, that if a
prospectus or a prospectus supplement will be used in connection with the marketing of an
Underwritten Offering from the Demand Registration Statement and the Managing Underwriter
selected by the Selling Holders at any time shall notify ETE in writing that, in the sole
judgment of such Managing Underwriter, inclusion of detailed information to be used in such
prospectus or prospectus supplement is of material importance to the success of the
Underwritten Offering of such Registrable Securities, ETE shall use its commercially
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reasonable efforts to include such information in such a prospectus or prospectus
supplement. In the case of a shelf registration, ETE will cause a Demand Registration
Statement filed pursuant to this Section 2.01(a) to be continuously effective under the
Securities Act until all Registrable Securities covered by the Demand Registration Statement
have been distributed in the manner set forth and as contemplated in the Demand Registration
Statement or there are no longer any Registrable Securities outstanding covered by such
Demand Registration Statement (the “Effectiveness Period”). The Demand Registration
Statement when declared effective (including the documents incorporated therein by
reference) will comply as to form with all applicable requirements of the Securities Act 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.
As soon as practicable following the date a Demand Registration Statement becomes effective,
but in any event within two Business Days after such date, ETE shall provide the Selling
Holders with written notice thereof. ETE is obligated to effect only three (3) Demand
Registrations pursuant to this Section 2.01.
(b) Delay Rights. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein,
ETE may, upon written notice to any Selling Holder whose Registrable Securities are included
in a Demand Registration Statement, suspend such Selling Holder’s use of any prospectus
which is a part of the Demand Registration Statement (in which event the Selling Holder
shall discontinue sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Demand Registration
Statement other than the closing of sales already committed for prior to receipt of such
notice to suspend) if ETE (i) is pursuing a financing, acquisition, merger, reorganization,
disposition or other similar transaction and determines in good faith that its ability to
pursue or consummate such a transaction would be materially adversely affected by any
required disclosure of such transaction in the Demand Registration Statement or (ii) has
experienced some other material non-public event the disclosure of which at such time, in
the good faith judgment of ETE, would materially adversely affect ETE; provided,
however, that in no event shall the Selling Holders be suspended for a period
exceeding an aggregate of 90 days (exclusive of days covered by any lock-up agreement
executed by a Holder in connection with any Underwritten Offering by ETE or the Holders) in
any 365-day period. Upon disclosure of such information or the termination of the condition
described above, ETE shall provide prompt notice to the Selling Holders whose Registrable
Securities are included in the Demand Registration Statement, and shall promptly terminate
any suspension of sales it has put into effect and shall take such other actions to permit
registered sales of Registrable Securities as contemplated in this Agreement.
Section 2.02 Piggyback Registration.
(a) Participation. If ETE at any time proposes to file a registration
statement or a prospectus supplement to an effective registration statement with respect to
an Underwritten Offering of Common Units for its own account or to register any Common Units
for its own account for sale to the public in an Underwritten Offering other than (x) a
registration relating solely to employee benefit plans, (y) a registration relating solely
to a Rule 145 transaction, or (z) a registration on any registration form which does not
permit secondary sales or does not include substantially the same information as
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would be required to be included in a registration statement covering the sale of
Registrable Securities, then, as soon as practicable following the engagement of counsel to
ETE to prepare the documents to be used in connection with an Underwritten Offering, ETE
shall give notice of such proposed Underwritten Offering to the Holders and such notice
shall offer the Holders the opportunity to include in such Underwritten Offering such number
of Registrable Securities as each such Holder may request in writing (a “Piggyback
Registration”); provided, however, that ETE shall not be required to
offer such opportunity to Holders if ETE has been advised by a Managing Underwriter that the
inclusion of Registrable Securities for sale for the benefit of the Holders will have a
material adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the Common Units. Subject to
the preceding sentence and subject to Section 2.02(b), ETE shall include in such
Underwritten Offering all such Registrable Securities (“Included Registrable
Securities”) with respect to which ETE has received requests within ten days after ETE’s
notice has been delivered in accordance with Section 7.01. If no request for inclusion from
a Holder is received within the specified time, such Holder shall have no further right to
participate in such Piggyback Registration. If, at any time after giving written notice of
its intention to undertake an Underwritten Offering and prior to the closing of such
Underwritten Offering, ETE shall determine for any reason not to undertake or to delay such
Underwritten Offering, ETE may, at its election, give written notice of such determination
to the Selling Holders and, (x) in the case of a determination not to undertake such
Underwritten Offering, shall be relieved of its obligation to sell any Included Registrable
Securities in connection with such terminated Underwritten Offering, and (y) in the case of
a determination to delay such Underwritten Offering, shall be permitted to delay offering
any Included Registrable Securities for the same period as the delay in the Underwritten
Offering. Any Selling Holder shall have the right to withdraw such Selling Holder’s request
for inclusion of such Selling Holder’s Registrable Securities in such offering by giving
written notice to ETE of such withdrawal up to and including the time of pricing of such
offering. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Holder may deliver written notice to ETE
requesting that such Holder not receive notice from ETE of any proposed Underwritten
Offering; provided, that such Holder may later revoke any such notice.
(b) Priority of Piggyback Registration. If the Managing Underwriter or
Underwriters of any proposed Underwritten Offering of Common Units included in a Piggyback
Registration advises ETE that the total amount of Common Units which the Selling Holders and
any other Persons intend to include in such offering exceeds the number which can be sold in
such offering without being likely to have a material adverse effect on the price, timing or
distribution of the Common Units offered or the market for the Common Units, then the Common
Units to be included in such Underwritten Offering shall include the number of Registrable
Securities that such Managing Underwriter or Underwriters advises ETE can be sold without
having such material adverse effect, with such number to be allocated pro rata among the
Selling Holders who have requested participation in the Piggyback Registration (based, for
each such Selling Holder, on the percentage derived by dividing (A) the number of
Registrable Securities proposed to be sold by such Selling Holder in such offering; by (B)
the aggregate number of Common Units proposed to be sold by the Selling Holders and any
other Persons with registration rights that are pari passu with the rights
of the Holders
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participating in the Piggyback Registration to be included in such offering). If there
are to be any Included Registrable Securities in the proposed Underwritten Offering of
Common Units, then the Selling Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities
to be sold in the Underwritten Offering shall be entitled to approve one Managing
Underwriter with respect to the Registrable Securities to be sold in that Underwritten
Offering.
(c) Termination of Piggyback Registration Rights. The Piggyback Registration
rights granted pursuant to this Section 2.02 shall terminate two years following the
Restriction Expiration Date.
Section 2.03 Underwritten Offering. In the event that a Selling Holder elects to
dispose of Registrable Securities under a Demand Registration Statement pursuant to an Underwritten
Offering, ETE shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Managing
Underwriter, which shall include, among other provisions, indemnities to the effect and to the
extent provided in Section 2.07, and shall take all such other reasonable actions as are requested
by a Managing Underwriter in order to expedite or facilitate the registration and disposition of
the Registrable Securities. In connection with any Underwritten Offering under this Agreement, a
majority of the Selling Holders shall be entitled to select the Managing Underwriter with respect
to the Registrable Securities to be sold in that Underwritten Offering. In connection with an
Underwritten Offering under Section 2.01 or 2.02 hereof, each Selling Holder and ETE shall be
obligated to enter into an underwriting agreement which contains such representations, covenants,
indemnities and other rights and obligations as are customary in underwriting agreements for firm
commitment offerings of securities. No Selling Holder may participate in such Underwritten
Offering unless such Selling Holder agrees to sell its Registrable Securities on the basis provided
in such underwriting agreement and completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney,
indemnities, lock-up agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such
underwriting agreement. Each Selling Holder may, at its option, require that any or all of the
representations and warranties by, and the other agreements on the part of, ETE to and for the
benefit of such underwriters also be made to and for such Selling Holder’s benefit and that any or
all of the conditions precedent to the obligations of such underwriters under such underwriting
agreement also be conditions precedent to its obligations. No Selling Holder shall be required to
make any representations or warranties to or agreements with ETE or the underwriters other than
representations, warranties or agreements regarding such Selling Holder and its ownership of the
securities being registered on its behalf and its intended method of distribution and any other
representation required by law. If any Selling Holder disapproves of the terms of an underwriting,
such Selling Holder may elect to withdraw therefrom by notice to ETE and a Managing Underwriter;
provided, however, that such withdrawal must be made at or prior to the time of
pricing of such offering to be effective. No such withdrawal or abandonment shall affect ETE’s
obligation to pay Registration Expenses.
Section 2.04 Registration Procedures. In connection with its obligations contained in
Sections 2.01 and 2.02, ETE will, as expeditiously as possible:
(a) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and supplements to the Demand
Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary
to keep a Demand Registration Statement that is a shelf registration
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effective for the Effectiveness Period and as may be necessary to comply with the
provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered
by the Demand Registration Statement;
(b) furnish to each Selling Holder (i) as far in advance as reasonably practicable
before filing any registration statement contemplated by this Agreement or any supplement or
amendment thereto, upon request, copies of reasonably complete drafts of all such documents
proposed to be filed (including furnishing or making available exhibits and each document
incorporated by reference therein to the extent then required by the rules and regulations
of the Commission), and provide each such Selling Holder the opportunity to object to any
information pertaining to such Selling Holder and its plan of distribution that is contained
therein and make the corrections reasonably requested by such Selling Holder with respect to
such information prior to filing such registration statement or supplement or amendment
thereto, and (ii) such number of copies of such registration statement and the prospectus
included therein and any supplements and amendments thereto as such Persons may reasonably
request in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable
Securities covered by such registration statement;
(c) if applicable, use its commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the
Registrable Securities covered by any registration statement contemplated by this Agreement
under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Selling Holders or, in
the case of an Underwritten Offering, the Managing Underwriter, shall reasonably request,
provided that ETE will not be required to qualify generally to transact business in
any jurisdiction where it is not then required to so qualify or to take any action which
would subject it to general service of process or taxation in any such jurisdiction where it
is not then so subject;
(d) promptly notify each Selling Holder and each underwriter, at any time when a
prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of (i) the
filing of any registration statement contemplated by this Agreement or any prospectus or
prospectus supplement to be used in connection therewith, or any amendment or supplement
thereto, and, with respect to such registration statement contemplated by this Agreement,
when the same has become effective; and (ii) any written comments from the Commission with
respect to any filing referred to in clause (i) and any written request by the Commission
for amendments or supplements to any registration statement contemplated by this Agreement
or any prospectus or prospectus supplement thereto;
(e) immediately notify each Selling Holder and each underwriter, at any time when a
prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of (i) the
happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus or prospectus supplement
contained in any registration statement contemplated by this Agreement, as then in effect,
includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light
of the circumstances then existing; (ii) the issuance or threat of issuance by the
Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of any
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registration statement contemplated by this Agreement, or the initiation of any
proceedings for that purpose; or (iii) the receipt by ETE of any notification with respect
to the suspension of the qualification of any Registrable Securities for sale under the
applicable securities or blue sky laws of any jurisdiction. Following the provision of such
notice, ETE agrees to as promptly as practicable amend or supplement the prospectus or
prospectus supplement or take other appropriate action so that the prospectus or prospectus
supplement does 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 not
misleading in the light of the circumstances then existing and to take such other action as
is necessary to remove a stop order, suspension, threat thereof or proceedings related
thereto;
(f) furnish to each Selling Holder copies of any and all transmittal letters or other
correspondence with the Commission or any other governmental agency or self-regulatory body
or other body having jurisdiction (including any domestic or foreign securities exchange)
relating to such offering of Registrable Securities;
(g) furnish within 30 days of a written request, which may be made from time to time,
whether in the case of an Underwritten Offering or otherwise in connection with the sale or
resale of the Registrable Securities, (i) an opinion of counsel for ETE, dated the effective
date of the applicable registration statement or the date of any amendment or supplement
thereto, and a letter of like kind dated the date of the closing under the underwriting
agreement, if any, and (ii) a “comfort letter,” dated the effective date of the applicable
registration statement or the date of any amendment or supplement thereto and a letter of
like kind dated the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement, if any, in each
case, signed by the independent public accountants who have certified ETE’s financial
statements included or incorporated by reference into the applicable registration statement,
and each of the opinion and the “comfort letter” shall be in customary form and covering
substantially the same matters with respect to such registration statement (and the
prospectus and any prospectus supplement included therein) and as are customarily covered in
opinions of issuer’s counsel and in accountants’ letters delivered to the underwriters in
Underwritten Offerings of securities, and such other matters as such underwriters may
reasonably request;
(h) otherwise use its commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable
rules and regulations of the Commission, and make available to its security holders, as soon
as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least 12 months,
but not more than 18 months, beginning with the first full calendar month after the
effective date of such registration statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the
provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 promulgated thereunder;
(i) make available to the appropriate representatives of the Managing Underwriter and
Selling Holders access to such information and ETE personnel as is reasonable and customary
to enable such parties to establish a due diligence defense under the Securities Act;
provided that ETE need not disclose any information to any
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such representative unless and until such representative has entered into a
confidentiality agreement with ETE;
(j) cause all such Registrable Securities registered pursuant to this Agreement to be
listed on each securities exchange or nationally recognized quotation system on which
similar securities issued by ETE are then listed;
(k) use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registrable Securities to be
registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be
necessary by virtue of the business and operations of ETE to enable the Selling Holders to
consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;
(l) provide a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities covered by
such registration statement not later than the effective date of such registration
statement;
(m) enter into customary agreements and take such other actions as are reasonably
requested by the Selling Holders or the underwriters, if any, in order to expedite or
facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities; and
(n) notify the Selling Holders in advance of ETE’s or any affiliate’s intent to conduct
any repurchase of Common Units, whether in the open market, through privately negotiated
transactions, by tender offer or otherwise.
Each Selling Holder, upon receipt of notice from ETE of the happening of any event of the kind
described in subsection (e) of this Section 2.04, shall forthwith discontinue disposition of the
Registrable Securities until such Selling Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or
amended prospectus contemplated by subsection (e) of this Section 2.04 or until it is advised in
writing by ETE that the use of the prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any
additional or supplemental filings incorporated by reference in the prospectus, and, if so directed
by ETE, such Selling Holder will, or will request the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any,
to deliver to ETE (at ETE’s expense) all copies in their possession or control, other than
permanent file copies then in such Selling Holder’s possession, of the prospectus covering such
Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice.
Section 2.05 Cooperation by Holders. ETE shall have no obligation to include in any
Demand Registration units of a Holder or in a Piggyback Registration units of a Selling Holder who
has failed to timely furnish all such information which, in the opinion of counsel to ETE, is
reasonably required in order for the registration statement or any prospectus or prospectus
supplement thereto, as applicable, to comply with the Securities Act.
Section 2.06 Expenses.
(a) Certain Definitions. “Registration Expenses” means all expenses
incident to ETE’s performance under or compliance with this Agreement to effect the
registration of Registrable Securities in a Demand Registration or a Piggyback Registration,
and the disposition of such securities, including, without limitation, all registration,
filing, securities exchange listing and NYSE fees, all registration, filing, qualification
and other
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fees and expenses of complying with securities or blue sky laws, fees of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., transfer taxes and fees of transfer agents and
registrars, all word processing, duplicating and printing expenses, the fees and
disbursements of counsel and independent public accountants for ETE, including the expenses
of any special audits or “comfort letters” required by or incident to such performance and
compliance. Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.07 hereof, ETE shall not be
responsible for legal fees incurred by Holders in connection with the exercise of such
Holders’ rights hereunder. In addition, ETE shall not be responsible for any “Selling
Expenses,” which means all underwriting fees, discounts and selling commissions
allocable to the sale of the Registrable Securities.
(b) Expenses. ETE will pay all Registration Expenses in connection with any
Demand Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2.01(a) of this Agreement and ETE
will pay all Registration Expenses in connection with a Piggyback Registration, whether or
not the Demand Registration Statement becomes effective or any sale is made pursuant to a
Demand Registration or Piggyback Registration. Each Selling Holder shall pay all Selling
Expenses in connection with any sale of its Registrable Securities hereunder.
Section 2.07 Indemnification.
(a) By ETE. In the event of a registration of any Registrable Securities under
the Securities Act pursuant to this Agreement, ETE will indemnify and hold harmless each
Selling Holder thereunder, its directors and officers and each underwriter, pursuant to the
applicable underwriting agreement with such underwriter of Registrable Securities thereunder
and each Person, if any, who controls such Selling Holder or underwriter within the meaning
of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, against any losses, claims, damages, expenses or
liabilities (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) (collectively,
“Losses”), joint or several, to which such Selling Holder, director, officer,
underwriter or controlling Person may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange
Act or otherwise, insofar as such Losses (or actions or proceedings, whether commenced or
threatened, in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any registration statement
contemplated by this Agreement, any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus contained
therein, or any amendment or supplement thereof, or arise out of or are based upon the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of a prospectus, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, and will reimburse each such
Selling Holder, its directors and officers, each such underwriter and each such controlling
Person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with
investigating or defending any such Loss or actions or proceedings; provided,
however, that ETE will not be liable in any such case if and to the extent that any
such Loss arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission so made in conformity with information furnished by such
Selling Holder, such underwriter or such controlling Person in writing specifically for use
in any registration statement contemplated by this Agreement or any prospectus contained
therein or any amendment or supplement thereof,
11
as applicable. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any
investigation made by or on behalf of such Selling Holder or any such director, officer,
underwriter or controlling Person, and shall survive the transfer of such securities by such
Selling Holder.
(b) By Each Selling Holder. Each Selling Holder agrees severally and not
jointly to indemnify and hold harmless ETE, its directors and officers, and each Person, if
any, who controls ETE within the meaning of the Securities Act or of the Exchange Act to the
same extent as the foregoing indemnity from ETE to the Selling Holders, but only with
respect to information regarding such Selling Holder furnished in writing by or on behalf of
such Selling Holder expressly for inclusion in any registration statement contemplated by
this Agreement or any prospectus contained therein or any amendment or supplement thereof
relating to the Registrable Securities; provided, however, that the
liability of each Selling Holder shall not be greater in amount than the dollar amount of
the proceeds (net of any Selling Expenses) received by such Selling Holder from the sale of
the Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification.
(c) Notice. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party hereunder of notice
of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect
thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party hereunder, notify the indemnifying
party in writing thereof, but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall not
relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party other than under
this Section 2.07. In any action brought against any indemnified party, it shall notify the
indemnifying party of the commencement thereof. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to
participate in and, to the extent it shall wish, to assume and undertake the defense thereof
with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party and, after notice from the
indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume and undertake the
defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under
this Section 2.07 for any legal expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in
connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation and of
liaison with counsel so selected; provided, however, that, (i) if the
indemnifying party has failed to assume the defense and employ counsel or (ii) if the
defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party
and counsel to the indemnified party shall have concluded that there may be reasonable
defenses available to the indemnified party that are different from or additional to those
available to the indemnifying party, or if the interests of the indemnified party reasonably
may be deemed to conflict with the interests of the indemnifying party, then the indemnified
party shall have the right to select a separate counsel and to assume such legal defense and
otherwise to participate in the defense of such action, with the reasonable expenses and
fees of such separate counsel and other reasonable expenses related to such participation to
be reimbursed by the indemnifying party as incurred. Notwithstanding any other provision of
this Agreement, no indemnifying party shall settle any action brought against an indemnified
party with respect to which such indemnified party is entitled to indemnification hereunder
without the consent of the indemnified party, unless the settlement thereof imposes no
liability or obligation on, and includes a complete and unconditional release from all
liability of, the indemnified party.
12
(d) Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this Section 2.07 is
held by a court or government agency of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to ETE or
any Selling Holder in respect of any Losses, then each such indemnifying party, in lieu of
indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
indemnified party as a result of such Losses as between ETE on the one hand and such Selling
Holder on the other, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of
ETE on the one hand and of such Selling Holder on the other in connection with the
statements or omissions which resulted in such Losses, as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations; provided, however, that in no event shall such
Selling Holder be required to contribute an aggregate amount in excess of the dollar amount
of proceeds (net of Selling Expenses) received by such Selling Holder from the sale of
Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification. The relative fault of ETE on
the one hand and each Selling Holder on the other shall be determined by reference to, among
other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact has been made by, or relates to,
information supplied by such party, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to
information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The parties
hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this
paragraph were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation
which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the first
sentence of this paragraph. The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the
Losses referred to in the first sentence of this paragraph shall be deemed to include any
legal and other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with
investigating or defending any Loss which is the subject of this paragraph. No person guilty
of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who is not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation.
(e) Other Indemnification. The provisions of this Section 2.07 shall be in
addition to any other rights to indemnification or contribution which an indemnified party
may have pursuant to law, equity, contract or otherwise.
Section 2.08 Rule 144 Reporting. With a view to making available the benefits of
certain rules and regulations of the Commission that may permit the sale of the Registrable
Securities to the public without registration, ETE agrees to use its commercially reasonable
efforts to:
(a) Make and keep public information regarding ETE available, as those terms are
understood and defined in Rule 144 of the Securities Act, at all times from and after the
date hereof;
(b) File with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents
required of ETE under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act at all times from and after
the date hereof; and
(c) So long as a Holder owns any Registrable Securities, furnish to such Holder
forthwith upon request a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of
13
ETE, and such other reports and documents so filed as such Holder may reasonably
request in availing itself of any rule or regulation of the Commission allowing such Holder
to sell any such securities without registration.
Section 2.09 Transfer or Assignment of Registration Rights. The rights to cause ETE
to register Registrable Securities granted to the Investor by ETE under this Article II may be
transferred or assigned by the Investor to one or more transferee(s) or assignee(s) of such
Registrable Securities that is an Affiliate of Investor, provided that (a) ETE is given
written notice prior to any said transfer or assignment, stating the name and address of each such
transferee and identifying the securities with respect to which such registration rights are being
transferred or assigned, (b) each such transferee agrees to be bound by the terms of this
Agreement, and (c) such transferee would own Registrable Securities at the time of such transfer
that have a market value of not less than $25 million.
Section 2.10 Information by Holder. Any Holder or Holders of Registrable Securities
included in any registration shall promptly furnish to ETE all such information regarding such
Holder or Holders and the distribution proposed by such Holder or Holders as ETE may reasonably
request and as shall be required in connection with any registration, qualification or compliance
referred to herein.
Section 2.11 Limitation on Subsequent Registration Rights. From and after the date
hereof until the termination of the Investor’s piggyback registration rights pursuant to Section
2.02(c) hereof, ETE shall not, without the prior written consent of the Holders of a majority of
the then outstanding Registrable Securities, enter into any agreement with any current or future
holder of any securities of ETE that would allow such current or future holder to require ETE to
include securities in any registration statement filed by ETE on a basis that would give such
holder priority in any way over the piggyback rights granted to the Investor under Section 2.02
hereof.
ARTICLE III.
TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS
Section 3.01 Restricted Period. Except as permitted under Section 3.04, Investor,
Xxxxx and NGP each agrees that (i) during the Initial Restricted Period, with respect to 100
percent of the Common Units owned by such party or its Affiliates set forth on Schedule
3.01 hereto, and (ii) during the Final Restricted Period, with respect to 50 percent of the
Common Units owned by such party or its Affiliates set forth on Schedule 3.01 hereto, it
will not (a) loan, offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase,
purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or
otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, such Common Units or any security
convertible into or exchangeable for such Common Units, or (b) enter into any swap or other
arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of
ownership of such Common Units, whether any such transaction described in clause (a) or (b) above
is settled by delivery of such Common Units or other securities, in cash or otherwise (any
disposition or arrangement described in clause (a) or (b) above being referred to herein as a
“Disposition”), or publicly disclose any intent to make any Disposition, without, in each
case, the prior written consent of ETE.
14
Section 3.02 Orderly Market. Investor acknowledges that the maintenance of an orderly
market in the Common Units is in the best interests of ETE, Investor and other holders of Common
Units. Investor agrees, unless (a) it shall have the prior written consent of ETE or (b) such
offer(s) and sale(s) are pursuant to an Underwritten Offering, Investor shall not sell, or offer to
sell, after the Initial Restriction Expiration Date, Common Units on the New York Stock Exchange
(“NYSE”) or any other public market upon which the Common Units are then traded, on any
trading day in an amount in excess of 10% of the average daily trading volume of the Common Units
on the NYSE, or such other market, for the previous ten trading days, or such other amount as may
be mutually agreed upon in writing by ETE and Investor.
Section 3.03 “Lock-up” Agreement. Investor agrees that so long as Investor and its
Affiliates own 5% or more of the outstanding Common Units, Investor and any Affiliate of Investor
owning Common Units will, upon request of a Managing Underwriter in connection with an Underwritten
Offering, enter into a lock-up agreement with such Managing Underwriter, the terms of which shall
provide that Investor and such Affiliates will not, for a period of no more than 90 days following
the closing of such Underwritten Offering: (a) loan, offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell
any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option,
right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any
Common Units or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Units, or (b) enter into
any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic
consequences of ownership of Common Units, whether any such transaction described in clause (a) or
(b) above is settled by delivery of Common Units or other securities, in cash or otherwise. The
foregoing provision of this Section 3.03 shall only be applicable to Investor and its Affiliates if
(i) all other holders of more than 5% of the outstanding Common Units that are Affiliates of ETE
and (ii) all executive officers and directors of ETE also agree to a similar lock-up agreement.
Section 3.04 Permitted Dispositions. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.01,
during the Restricted Periods, Investor, Xxxxx and NGP may (a) sell, transfer or otherwise dispose
of such Common Units in a private transaction, without the prior written consent of ETE, to its
respective Affiliate that agrees in writing with ETE to be bound by the terms of this Agreement,
(b) pledge the Purchased Units as security for bona fide loans, letters of credit, interest rate or
other hedging transactions and related fees, costs, indemnities and other obligations from one or
more third parties who are not Affiliates of such party, (c) sell all or a portion of such Common
Units, as a result of any divestiture ordered by, or agreed to with, a Governmental Authority. In
addition, Article III shall also not restrict or affect the manner of sale or other disposition of
any Common Units in connection with any foreclosure or other disposition after default of a lender
or other counterparty in connection with the pledge of such securities for bona fide loans, letters
of credit, interest rate or other hedging transactions and related fees, costs, indemnities and
other obligations from one or more third parties who are not Affiliates of such party and shall not
apply to any permitted transferee who does not assume the rights and obligations of Investor, Xxxxx
or NGP in accordance with Section 7.12 of this Agreement.
Section 3.05 Legends. Investor, Xxxxx and NGP acknowledge that the certificates
representing the Common Units subject to Section 3.01 of this Agreement may bear, in addition to a
customary legend relating to restrictions under the Securities Act, the restrictive legend set
15
forth below evidencing the terms of this Agreement and that stop transfer instructions may be
imposed with respect to the certificates representing the applicable Common Units during the
Restricted Periods. EPE shall remove the following restrictive legend after the end of the
applicable Restricted Periods upon exchange of the existing certificates.
The Common Units evidenced by this certificate are subject to restrictions on
transfer set forth in Section 3.01 of the Unitholder Rights and Restrictions
Agreement dated as of May ___, 2007. A copy of this agreement will be furnished by
the Partnership upon request.
ARTICLE IV.
INFORMATION RIGHTS AND CONFIDENTIALITY
Section 4.01 Information Rights. Investor shall be entitled to obtain, upon request,
any of the following information from ETE, for the sole purpose of monitoring Investor’s investment
in the Purchased Units:
(a) as soon as practicable, but in any event within 120 days after the end of each
fiscal year of ETE, a consolidated audited financial statement of ETE consisting of a
balance sheet, a statement of operations, a statement of partners’ capital and a statement
of cash flows, together with appropriate notes to such financial statements, prepared in
accordance with general accepted accounting principals (“GAAP”);
(b) as soon as practicable, but in any event within 60 days after the end of each
fiscal quarter of ETE, an unaudited consolidated financial statement of ETE, consisting of a
balance sheet, statement of operations, statement of partners’ capital and a statement of
cash flows, together with appropriate notes to such financial statements, prepared in
accordance with GAAP; and
(c) such other information relating to the financial condition, business or corporate
affairs of ETE as Investor may reasonably request; provided, however, ETE
shall not be obligated to provide any information pursuant to this clause (c) that (i) ETE
reasonably determines in good faith to be Commercially Sensitive Information or (ii) would
adversely affect the attorney-client privilege between ETE and its counsel.
Section 4.02 Reporting Company Exception. The rights granted to Investor to obtain
information described in clauses (a) and (b) of Section 4.01 shall not be applicable so long as ETE
is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act or the Common Units
are registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act.
Section 4.03 Confidentiality. Investor agrees that it will keep confidential and will
not disclose, divulge or use for any purpose, other than to monitor its investment in ETE, any
Confidential Information (as defined below) obtained from ETE pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement; provided, however, Investor may disclose Confidential Information: (i)
to its attorneys, accountants and other professional advisors who have a need to know such
information in connection with monitoring of Investor’s investment in ETE (subject to each such
authorized recipient of such confidential information agreeing to keep such information
confidential and provided that Investors shall be liable for any breach of confidentiality
by any
16
such recipient); (ii) in its periodic reports required under the Exchange Act or any
registration statement or prospectus under the Securities Act to the extent, and only to the
extent: (A) Investor is advised by legal counsel that such disclosure is required to comply with
the Securities Act or the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated
thereunder, (B) Investor takes reasonable steps to minimize the extent of any such required
disclosure, and (C) Investor advises ETE of any such proposed disclosure prior to its filing and
consults with ETE as to the nature and extent of such disclosure; or (iii) as may otherwise be
required by law, provided that Investor takes reasonable steps to minimize the extent of
any such required disclosure. “Confidential Information” shall mean any confidential
information regarding ETE excluding information that (a) is known or becomes known to the public in
general (other than as a result of a breach of this Section 4.02 by Investor), (b) is or has been
independently developed or conceived by the Investor without the use of ETE’s confidential
information, or (c) is or has been made known or disclosed to the Investor by a third party without
a breach of any obligation of confidentiality such third party may have to ETE.
Section 4.04 Trading. Investor acknowledges that the receipt of material non-public
information pursuant to this Agreement may restrict the ability of Investor to trade in securities
of ETE, ETP or their respective Affiliates.
Section 4.05 Investor’s SEC Reporting. Nothing in this Agreement shall obligate ETE,
ETP or any of their respective subsidiaries to (a) make any representations or warranties, or
otherwise provide any indemnification, in connection with any report filed by Investor or any of
its Affiliates (other than ETE) pursuant to the Exchange Act or any registration statement or
prospectus of Investor or any of its Affiliates (other than of ETE) under the Securities Act, (b)
deliver any “comfort letter” to any underwriter, placement agent or purchaser in connection with
any offering by Investor or any of its Affiliates (other than ETE) of securities issued by them, or
(c) otherwise subject ETE, ETP or any of their subsidiaries to liability for any report filed by
Investor or any of its Affiliates (other than ETE) pursuant to the Exchange Act or any registration
statement or prospectus of the Investor or any of its Affiliates (other than ETE) under the
Securities Act.
ARTICLE V.
STANDSTILL
Investor agrees that during the Standstill Period, it shall not, and agrees to cause its
Affiliates not to, directly or indirectly without the prior written consent of the Board of
Directors of LE GP, LLC: (a) in any manner acquire, agree to acquire or make a proposal to acquire
any Common Units or other securities or other property of ETE, ETP or any of their respective
Affiliates if such acquisition would cause Investor and its Affiliates to collectively own Common
Units in excess of 49.9% of the then outstanding Common Units, or (b) form or join or in any way
participate in a “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) with respect
to any voting securities of ETE, ETP or any of their respective Affiliates, other than a “group”
consisting of one or more of the members of the general partner of ETE or ETP or Investor and its
Affiliates.
17
ARTICLE VI.
GOVERNMENTAL APPROVAL
Section 6.01 Consents and Approvals.
(a) Investor and ETE shall each use all commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all
necessary consents, waivers, authorizations and approvals of all Governmental Authorities
and of all other Persons required in connection with the execution and delivery by such
party of this Agreement and the Purchase Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and the Purchase Agreement, and the Investor and ETE will
cooperate fully with each other in promptly seeking to obtain all such authorizations,
consents, orders and approvals, to give such notices and to make such filings.
(b) Investor and ETE shall, in connection with their efforts to obtain all requisite
material approvals and authorizations for the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
and the Purchase Agreement, use commercially reasonable best efforts to (i) supply promptly
any information and documentary materials requested by, and cooperate with, any Antitrust
Investigation, (ii) promptly inform the other party of any communication received from, or
given to, any Governmental Authority and of any material communication received or given in
connection with any Antitrust Investigation, and (iii) permit the other party to review any
communication given by it to, and consult with other parties in advance of, any meeting or
conference with, any Governmental Authority and give the other parties the opportunity to
attend and participate in such meetings and conferences.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 6.01(a) or elsewhere in this
Agreement, nothing in this Agreement shall obligate ETE, ETP or any of their respective
subsidiaries to divest, accept any condition, take any action or agree to any limitation
with respect to any of its business, operations or assets, each, a “Divestiture
Action”, in order to resolve any Antitrust Investigation or otherwise.
(d) In the event any Governmental Authority requires ETE, ETP, or any of their
respective subsidiaries to take any Divestiture Action and ETE, ETP or any of their
respective subsidiaries takes any such actions to resolve any Antitrust Investigation,
Investor hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless ETE, ETP and their respective
subsidiaries against any and all fines, penalties, expenses, damages and losses incurred by
ETE, ETP or any of their respective subsidiaries (including all consequential damages, but
excluding any punitive or exemplary damages) in connection with such Divestiture Action
(“Divestiture Losses”). Projected cash flows obtained in connection with the
acquisition of alternative assets directly or indirectly with the proceeds of any such
Divestiture Action compared to the projected cash flows of the assets divested may be
considered in connection with the determination of the amount of damages and losses. In
addition, the strategic value of any asset subject to a Divestiture Action by ETE, ETP or
any of their respective subsidiaries, including any consequential diminution in value of any
other assets of ETE, ETP or any of their respective subsidiaries, may be considered in
determining the amount of damages or loss incurred by ETE, ETP and their respective
18
subsidiaries in connection with any such Divestiture Action. ETE shall not be entitled
to multiple recovery for any Divestiture Losses, including any indirect Losses to ETE for
which EPE has compensated ETP or its subsidiaries directly.
ARTICLE VII.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 7.01 Communications. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by facsimile, courier service or personal delivery:
(a) if to the Investor, 0000 Xxxxxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000, Attn:
President;
(b) if to ETE, at 0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000, or
(c) such other address as a party hereto may specify in writing, notice of which is
given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3.01.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been received at the time delivered by
hand, if personally delivered; when receipt acknowledged, if sent via facsimile or sent via
Internet electronic mail; and when actually received, if sent by any other means.
Section 7.02 Successor and Assignees. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of
and be binding upon the successors and permitted assignees of each of the parties, including
subsequent Holders of Registrable Securities to the extent permitted herein.
Section 7.03 Recapitalization, Exchanges, etc. Affecting the Common Units. The
provisions of this Agreement shall apply to the full extent set forth herein with respect to any
and all units of ETE or any successor or assignee of ETE (whether by merger, consolidation, sale of
assets or otherwise) which may be issued in respect of, in exchange for or in substitution of, the
Registrable Securities, and shall be appropriately adjusted for combinations, unit splits,
recapitalizations and the like occurring after the date of this Agreement.
Section 7.04 Specific Performance. Damages in the event of breach of this Agreement
by a party hereto may be difficult, if not impossible, to ascertain, and it is therefore agreed
that each such party, in addition to and without limiting any other remedy or right it may have,
will have the right to an injunction or other equitable relief in any court of competent
jurisdiction, enjoining any such breach, and enforcing specifically the terms and provisions
hereof, and each of the parties hereto hereby waives any and all defenses it may have on the ground
of lack of jurisdiction or competence of the court to grant such an injunction or other equitable
relief. The existence of this right will not preclude any such party from pursuing any other
rights and remedies at law or in equity which such party may have.
Section 7.05 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which counterparts,
when so executed and delivered, shall be deemed to be an original and all of which counterparts,
taken together, shall constitute but one and the same Agreement.
19
Section 7.06 Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
Section 7.07 Governing Law. The laws of the State of New York shall govern this
Agreement without regard to principles of conflict of laws.
Section 7.08 Severability of Provisions. Any provision of this Agreement which is
prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to
the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions
hereof or affecting or impairing the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other
jurisdiction.
Section 7.09 Entire Agreement. This Agreement is intended by the parties as a final
expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the
agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained
herein. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set
forth or referred to herein with respect to the rights granted by ETE set forth herein. This
Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to
such subject matter.
Section 7.10 Amendment. This Agreement may be amended only by means of a written
amendment signed by ETE and the Holders of a majority of the then outstanding Registrable
Securities.
Section 7.11 No Presumption. In the event any claim is made by a party relating to
any conflict, omission, or ambiguity in this Agreement, no presumption or burden of proof or
persuasion shall be implied by virtue of the fact that this Agreement was prepared by or at the
request of a particular party or its counsel.
Section 7.12 Successors and Assigns; Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement shall
inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the parties hereto and their respective successors
and permitted assigns. Except as expressly permitted herein, no party shall be entitled to assign
its rights or benefits hereunder to any other person without the consent of each of the other
parties hereto. Nothing in this Agreement shall confer upon any person not a party to this
Agreement, or its legal representatives, any rights or remedies of any nature or kind whatsoever
under or by reason of this Agreement. The rights and remedies expressly provided to ETE for Losses
that may be incurred by ETE and the subsidiaries of ETE and ETP pursuant to Section 6.01 hereof,
ETE shall be enforceable solely by ETE any not by any other party.
[The remainder of this page is intentionally left blank.]
20
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
ETE: | ||||||
ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P. | ||||||
By: LE GP, LLC, its general partner | ||||||
By: | /s/ Xxxx X. XxXxxxxxxx | |||||
Name: Xxxx X. XxXxxxxxxx | ||||||
Title: President | ||||||
INVESTOR: | ||||||
ENTERPRISE GP HOLDINGS, L.P. | ||||||
By: EPE Holdings, LLC, its general partner | ||||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx | |||||
Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, CEO | |||||
XXXXX: | ||||||
/s/ Xxx X. Xxxxx | ||||||
Xxx X. Xxxxx | ||||||
NGP: | ||||||
NATURAL GAS PARTNERS VI, L.P. |
By: | G.F.W. Energy VI, L.P., | |||||||||
its general partner | ||||||||||
By: | GFW VI, L.L.C., | |||||||||
its general partner | ||||||||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxx | |||||||||
An Authorized Member |
Schedule 3.01
(Common Units beneficially owned, excluding Common Units owned directly by the Company)
(Common Units beneficially owned, excluding Common Units owned directly by the Company)
Investor:
|
38,976,090 Common Units | |
Xxxxx:
|
18,184,531 Common Units | |
NGP:
|
15,631,777 Common Units |
EXHIBIT A
STATEMENT OF POLICIES RELATING TO RELATIONSHIP
WITH ENTERPRISE HOLDINGS GP, L.P.
This Statement of Policies Related to Relationship with Enterprise GP Holdings, L.P. (the
“Statement”) specifies the policies and procedures that have been adopted by Energy
Transfer Equity, L.P. (“ETE”) and Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (“ETP”), as
authorized and approved by their respective general partners, to address potential conflicts among,
and protect the confidential information of, ETE, ETP and their subsidiaries (collectively, the
“Energy Transfer Entities”), on the one hand, and Enterprise GP Holdings L.P. and its
affiliates (collectively, the “Enterprise Entities”), on the other hand.
Corporate Governance
Independent Directors. Each of LE GP, LLC, in its capacity as the general partner of
ETE (“ETE GP”) or Energy Transfer Partners, L.L.C., in its capacity as the general partner
of Energy Transfer Partners GP, L.P., the general partner of ETP (“ETP GP”), will have at
least three Independent Directors on its board of directors.
No Overlapping Directors. No director or employee of ETE GP or ETP GP will serve on
the board of directors of EPE Holdings, LLC, the general partner of Enterprise GP Holdings L.P., or
any successor thereto (“EPE GP”), and no director or employee of any of the Enterprise
Entities will serve on the board of directors of ETE GP or ETP GP.
Separate Employees
None of the Energy Transfer Entities will employ any person who is, or was within the prior
six months, an employee of any of the Enterprise Entities.
Transactions Between Enterprise Entities and Energy Transfer Entities
Any material transaction between any of the Enterprise Entities, on the one hand, and the
Energy Transfer Entities, on the other hand, will require the prior approval of the Conflicts
Committee of the boards of directors of each of ETE GP and ETP GP.
Screening of Commercially Sensitive Information
The Energy Transfer Entities will take reasonable precautions to ensure that the Energy
Transfer Entities do not provide information to any of the Enterprise Entities that the Screening
Officers of the Energy Transfer Entities reasonably determine in good faith to be Commercially
Sensitive Information.
Definitions
For purposes of this statement, capitalized terms used but not defined above shall have the
following meanings:
“Commercial Information” shall mean information about Commercial Development Activities or
other competitively sensitive information of any Energy Transfer Entities related to the business,
operations or strategies of any of the Energy Transfer Entities or any of their competitors.
Commercial Information includes information regarding prices, costs, margins, volumes and
contractual terms for any particular customer, any method, tool or computer program used to
determine prices for any asset or service; all plans or strategies used or adopted to negotiate,
target or identify a particular customer or group of customers for any asset or service or expand
existing service offerings or offer a new service; all information regarding plans and prospective
budgets to expand or build a new facility; all information regarding a proposal to buy an existing
facility, and information related to the capacity and capacity utilization of any facility.
“Commercial Development Activities” shall mean Confidential Information with respect to (i)
proposed changes to any Potentially Overlapping Assets, (ii) the plans and strategies dealing with
the business of the Potentially Overlapping Assets and (iii) commercial development activities
related to opportunities to construct or acquire, directly or indirectly (including, without
limitation, by means of joint venture or by means of acquisition of assets, equity interest in an
entity, contractual rights to capacity or use, or otherwise), any interstate or intrastate natural
gas pipeline, interstate or intrastate natural gas liquids pipeline, natural gas gathering system,
natural gas treating, processing or fractionating facilities, other midstream natural gas assets or
facilities and any wholesale or retail propane facility or business.
“Commercially Sensitive Information” means Confidential Information with respect to (i)
Commercial Information related to Potentially Overlapping Assets and (ii) Commercial Development
Activities.
“Confidential Information” shall mean any confidential information regarding the Energy
Transfer Entities excluding information that (a) is known or becomes known to the public in general
(other than as a result of a breach by any person of its confidentiality agreements with the Energy
Transfer Entities), (b) is or has been independently developed or conceived by any person without
the use of the Energy Transfer Entities’ confidential information, or (c) is or has been made known
or disclosed to any person by a third party without a breach of any obligation of confidentiality
such third party may have to the Energy Transfer Entities.
“Independent Director” shall mean an individual director who meets the independence,
qualification and experience requirements established by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, and by
The New York Stock Exchange applied to
such director as if he or she were a director of any of the Enterprise Entities and either ETE GP
(if such director is a director of ETE GP) or ETP GP (if such director is a director of ETP GP).
“Potential Overlapping Assets” shall mean such assets of the Energy Transfer Entities as
determined by ETE or ETP, from time to time, to be significantly competitive with assets or
operations of the Enterprise Entities.
“Screening Officer” shall mean any of the Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial
Officer, General Counsel or Chief Compliance Officer of either ETE or ETP, or their respective
designees.