COMMON UNIT PURCHASE AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG DCP MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP AND THE PURCHASERS
COMMON
UNIT
PURCHASE
AGREEMENT
BY
AND AMONG
AND
THE
PURCHASERS
COMMON
UNIT PURCHASE AGREEMENT, dated as of May 21, 2007 (this “Agreement”),
by
and among DCP Midstream Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the
“Partnership”),
and
each of the Purchasers listed in Schedule
2.01
attached
hereto (each referred to herein as a “Purchaser”
and
collectively, the “Purchasers”).
WHEREAS,
Gas Supply Resource Holdings, Inc. (“Buyer,”
and
with the Partnership, the “Buyer
Parties”),
Momentum Energy Group Inc. (the “Company”),
the
sellers party thereto (the “Sellers,”
and
with Company, the “Seller
Parties”),
entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement, dated May 21, 2007 (the “Purchase
Agreement”),
pursuant to which the Sellers will sell all of the outstanding capital stock
of
the Company, to the Buyer (the “Transaction”);
WHEREAS,
the Partnership and Buyer have entered into a Contribution Agreement, dated
May
21, 2007 (the “Contribution
Agreement”)
pursuant to which the Buyer will contribute to the Partnership its ownership
interests in certain subsidiaries of the Company (the “Contributed
Assets”)
on or
after the closing of the Transaction (the “Drop
Down”);
WHEREAS,
the Partnership desires to fund a portion of the cash consideration for the
Drop
Down through the sale of Common Units in a private placement exempt from the
registration requirements of the Securities Act (as defined herein), and the
Purchasers desire to purchase such Common Units from the Partnership, each
in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement;
WHEREAS,
it is a condition to the obligations of the Purchasers hereunder that,
concurrently with the closing of the issuance and sale of Common Units pursuant
to this Agreement, the Partnership also close the Drop Down; and
WHEREAS,
the Partnership has agreed to provide Purchasers with certain registration
rights with respect to the Purchased Units acquired pursuant to this
Agreement.
NOW
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth
herein and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency
of
which are hereby acknowledged, the Partnership and each of the Purchasers,
severally and not jointly, hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
Section
1.01 Definitions.
As used
in this Agreement, and unless the context requires a different meaning, the
following terms have the meanings indicated:
“Action”
against
a Person means any lawsuit, action, proceeding, investigation or complaint
before any Governmental Authority, mediator or arbitrator.
“Affiliate”
means,
with respect to a specified Person, any other Person, whether now in existence
or hereafter created, directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or
under
direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes
of
this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, “controlling,”
“controlled by,” and “under common control with”) means the power to direct or
cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, directly
or
indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract
or
otherwise.
“Agreement”
shall
have the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph.
“Allocated
Purchase Amount”
means
with respect to each Purchaser, the dollar amount set forth opposite such
Purchaser’s name under the heading Allocated Purchase Amount on Schedule
2.01
hereto.
“Alternative
Class”
shall
have the meaning specified in Section
5.07.
“Assignment
and Assumption Agreement”
shall
have the meaning specified in Section 8.04(c).
“Basic
Documents”
means,
collectively, this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Purchase
Agreement, the Contribution Agreement and any and all other agreements or
instruments executed and delivered by the Parties on even date herewith or
at
Closing relating to the issuance and sale of the Purchased Units, or any
amendments, supplements, continuations or modifications thereto.
“Board
of Directors”
means
the board of directors of the GP LLC.
“Break-Up
Fee”
means
$500,000, to be paid to the Purchasers in accordance with the terms of
Section
8.12(d).
“Business
Day”
means
any day other than a Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday for commercial banks
in Denver, Colorado.
“Buyer”
shall
have the meaning specified in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Buyer
Parties”
shall
have the meaning specified in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Class C
Units”
means
the Class C Units of the Partnership representing limited partner interests
therein.
“Closing”
shall
have the meaning specified in Section 2.02.
“Closing
Date”
shall
have the meaning specified in Section 2.02.
“Commission”
means
the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Common
Units”
means
the Common Units of the Partnership representing limited partner interests
therein.
2
“Company”
shall
have the meaning specified in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Contributed
Assets”
shall
have the meaning specified in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Contribution
Agreement”
shall
have the meaning specified in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Credit
Facilities”
means
the Revolving Credit Agreement, dated December 7, 2005, between DCP
Midstream Operating, LP and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as
administrative agent for the lenders named therein, as amended by the First
Amendment thereto, dated May 9, 2007, and the Bridge Loan Credit Agreement
dated
May 9, 2007, among DCP Midstream Operating, LP, DCP Midstream Partners, LP,
Wachovia Bank, National Association and Xxxxxx Brothers, Commercial
Bank.
“Delaware
LLC Act”
means
the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act.
“Delaware
LP Act”
means
the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act.
“Drop
Down”
shall
have the meaning specified in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Exchange
Act”
means
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and the
rules
and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
“GAAP”
means
generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America in
effect from time to time.
“General
Partner”
means
DCP Midstream GP, LP, a Delaware limited partnership.
“Governmental
Authority”
shall
include the country, state, county, city and political subdivisions in which
any
Person or such Person’s Property is located or which exercises valid
jurisdiction over any such Person or such Person’s Property, and any court,
agency, department, commission, board, bureau or instrumentality of any of
them
and any monetary authorities that exercise valid jurisdiction over any such
Person or such Person’s Property. Unless otherwise specified, all references to
Governmental Authority herein shall mean a Governmental Authority having
jurisdiction over, where applicable, the Partnership, its Subsidiaries or any
of
their Property or any of the Purchasers.
“GP
LLC”
means
DCP Midstream GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
“HSR
Act”
shall
mean the Xxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as
amended.
“Incentive
Distribution Rights”
has
the
meaning specified for such term in the Partnership Agreement.
“Indemnified
Party”
shall
have the meaning specified in Section 7.03.
3
“Indemnifying
Party”
shall
have the meaning specified in Section 7.03.
“Investor
Purchase Amount”
shall
have the meaning specified in Section
5.02.
“Law”
means
any federal, state, local or foreign order, writ, injunction, judgment,
settlement, award, decree, statute, law, rule or regulation.
“Lien”
means
any interest in Property securing an obligation owed to, or a claim by, a Person
other than the owner of the Property, whether such interest is based on the
common law, statute or contract, and whether such obligation or claim is fixed
or contingent, and including but not limited to the lien or security interest
arising from a mortgage, encumbrance, pledge, security agreement, conditional
sale or trust receipt or a lease, consignment or bailment for security
purposes.
“Lock-Up
Date”
means
90 days from the Closing Date.
“LTIP”
shall
have the meaning specified in Section
3.02(c).
“NYSE”
shall
mean The New York Stock Exchange.
“NYSE
Amendment”
shall
have the meaning specified in Section
5.07.
“Partnership”
shall
have the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph.
“Partnership
Agreement”
means
the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the
Partnership, dated as of November 1, 2006 as it may be further amended from
time
to time.
“Partnership
Material Adverse Effect”
means
any material and adverse effect on (i) the assets, liabilities, financial
condition, business, operations, affairs or prospects of the Partnership and
its
Subsidiaries and the Contributed Assets, taken as a whole, (ii) the ability
of
the Partnership and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to carry out their
business as of the date of this Agreement or to meet their obligations under
the
Basic Documents on a timely basis, or (iii) the ability of the Partnership
to
consummate the issuance and sale of the Purchased Units. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, a “Partnership Material Adverse Effect” shall not include any effect
resulting or arising from: (a) any change in general economic conditions in
the
industries or markets in which the Partnership or its Subsidiaries operate
that
do not have a disproportionate impact on the Partnership and its Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole; (b) any engagement in hostilities pursuant to a declaration
of
war, or the occurrence of any military or terrorist attack; (c) changes in
GAAP
or other accounting principles or (d) the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby and in connection with the Transaction or the Drop
Down.
“Partnership
Related Parties”
shall
have the meaning specified in Section 7.02.
“Party”
or
“Parties”
means
the Partnership and the Purchasers party to this Agreement, individually or
collectively, as the case may be.
4
“Person”
means
any
individual, corporation, company, voluntary association, partnership, joint
venture, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated organization or
government or any agency, instrumentality or political subdivision thereof,
or
any other form of entity.
“Potential
Investors”
shall
have the meaning specified in Section
5.02.
“Property”
means
any interest in any kind of property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed,
or tangible or intangible.
“Purchase
Agreement”
shall
have the meaning specified in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Purchased
Units”
means
the Common Units to be issued and sold to the Purchasers pursuant to this
Agreement.
“Purchaser”
and
“Purchasers”
shall
have the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph.
“Purchaser
Material Adverse Effect”
means
any material and adverse effect on (i) the ability of a Purchaser to meet its
obligations under the Purchase Agreement on a timely basis or (ii) the
ability of a Purchaser to consummate the transactions under the Purchase
Agreement.
“Purchaser
Related Parties”
shall
have the meaning specified in Section 7.01.
“Purchasers”
shall
have the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph.
“Registration
Rights Agreement”
means
the Registration Rights Agreement, substantially in the form attached to this
Agreement as Exhibit
A,
to be
entered into at the Closing, among the Partnership and the
Purchasers.
“Representatives”
of
any
Person means the Affiliates, control persons, officers, directors, employees,
agents, counsel, investment bankers and other representatives of such
Person.
“SEC
Documents”
shall
have the meaning specified in Section 3.03
“Securities
Act”
means
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, and the rules and
regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
“Seller
Parties”
shall
have the meaning specified in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Sellers”
shall
have the meaning specified in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Subordinated
Units”
has
the
meaning specified for such term in the Partnership Agreement.
“Subsidiary”
means,
as to any Person, any corporation or other entity of which at least a majority
of the outstanding equity interest having by the terms thereof ordinary voting
power to elect a majority of the board of directors of such corporation or
other
entity is at the time directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such Person
or one or more of its Subsidiaries.
5
“Transaction”
shall
have the meaning specified in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Unitholders”
means
the Unitholders of the Partnership (within the meaning of the Partnership
Agreement).
Section
1.02 Accounting
Procedures and Interpretation.
Unless
otherwise specified in this Agreement, all accounting terms used herein shall
be
interpreted, all determinations with respect to accounting matters under this
Agreement shall be made, and all financial statements and certificates and
reports as to financial matters required to be furnished to the Purchasers
under
this Agreement shall be prepared, in accordance with GAAP applied on a
consistent basis during the periods involved (except, in the case of unaudited
statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q promulgated by the Commission) and in
compliance as to form in all material respects with applicable accounting
requirements and with the published rules and regulations of the Commission
with
respect thereto.
ARTICLE
II
SALE
AND PURCHASE
Section
2.01 Sale
and Purchase.
(a) Sale
and Purchase.
Subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at the Closing, the Partnership
hereby agrees to issue and sell to each Purchaser, and each Purchaser hereby
agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Partnership, the number
of Purchased Units determined pursuant to paragraph (b) below of this
Section
2.01,
and
each Purchaser agrees to pay the Partnership the Purchase Price for each
Purchased Unit, in each case, as set forth in paragraph (c) below of this
Section
2.01.
The
obligation of each Purchaser under this Agreement is independent of the
obligation of each other Purchaser, and the failure or waiver of performance
with respect to any Purchaser does not excuse performance by any other
Purchaser.
(b) Common
Units.
The
number of Purchased Units to be issued and sold to each Purchaser shall be
equal
to the quotient determined by dividing (i) the Allocated Purchase Amount for
such Purchaser by (ii) the Purchase Price (as defined in Section
2.01(c)
below),
which quotient shall be rounded, if necessary, up or down to the nearest whole
number.
(c) Consideration.
The
amount per Common Unit each Purchaser will pay to the Partnership to purchase
the Purchased Units (the “Purchase
Price”)
shall
be $42.00.
Section
2.02 Closing.
The
execution and delivery of the Basic Documents (other than this Agreement),
the
delivery of certificates representing the Purchased Units and the execution
and
delivery of all other instruments, agreements, and other documents required
by
this Agreement (the “Closing”)
shall
take place concurrently with the closing of the Drop Down, subject to
satisfaction or waiver of all of the conditions to each of the respective
Parties’ obligations to consummate the purchase and sale of the Purchased Units
hereunder (such date, the “Closing
Date”).
The
Closing shall take place at the offices of Xxxxxx & Xxxxxx, L.L.P., 0000
Xxxxxx Xx., Xxxxx 0000, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000.
Section
2.03 Independent
Nature of Purchasers’ Obligations and Rights.
The
respective obligations of each Purchaser under this Agreement and the
Registration Rights Agreement are several and not joint with the obligations
of
any other Purchaser, and no Purchaser shall be responsible in any way for the
performance of the obligations of any other Purchaser under this Agreement.
The
failure or waiver of performance under this Agreement or the Registration Rights
Agreement by any Purchaser, or on its behalf, does not excuse performance by
any
other Purchaser. Nothing contained herein or in the Registration Rights
Agreement, and no action taken by any Purchaser pursuant thereto, shall be
deemed to constitute the Purchasers as a partnership, an association, a joint
venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Purchasers
are in any way acting in concert or as a group for purposes of Section 13(d)
of
the Exchange Act with respect to such obligations or the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement. Each
Purchaser shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights,
including the rights arising out of this Agreement or the Registration Rights
Agreement, and it shall not be necessary for any other Purchaser to be joined
as
an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose.
ARTICLE
III
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE
PARTNERSHIP
The
Partnership represents and warrants to the Purchasers as follows:
Section
3.01 Existence
of
Partnership and its Subsidiaries.
(a) The
Partnership: (i) is a limited partnership duly organized, validly existing
and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware; (ii) has the
requisite limited partnership power and authority, and has all governmental
licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals, necessary to own, lease,
use
and operate its Properties and carry on its business as its business is now
being conducted as described in the SEC Documents and will have, at the Closing,
the requisite limited partnership power and authority, and all governmental
licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals, necessary to own, lease,
use
and operate its Properties and carry on its business as its business will be
conducted following the Drop Down, except where the failure to obtain such
licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals would not reasonably be
expected to have a Partnership Material Adverse Effect; and (iii) is
qualified to do business in all jurisdictions in which the nature of the
business conducted by it makes such qualifications necessary, except where
failure so to qualify would not reasonably be expected to have a Partnership
Material Adverse Effect. The Partnership is not in
material violation of its certificate of limited partnership or the Partnership
Agreement.
(b) Each
of
the Partnership’s Subsidiaries has been duly formed and is validly existing and
in good standing under the laws of the State or other jurisdiction of its
organization and has the requisite power and authority, and has all governmental
licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals necessary, to own, lease,
use
or operate its respective Properties and carry on its business as now being
conducted and will have, at the Closing, the requisite power and authority,
and
all governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals necessary,
to
own, lease, use or operate its respective Properties and carry on its business
as its business will be conducted following the Drop Down, except where the
failure to obtain such licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals would
not be reasonably likely to have a Partnership Material Adverse Effect. Each
of
the Partnership’s Subsidiaries is duly qualified or licensed and in good
standing as a foreign limited partnership or limited liability company, as
applicable, and is authorized to do business in each jurisdiction in which
the
ownership or leasing of its respective Properties or the character of its
respective operations makes such qualification necessary, except where the
failure to obtain such qualification, license, authorization or good standing
would not be reasonably likely to have a Partnership Material Adverse Effect.
None of such Subsidiaries is
in
material violation of its certificate or agreement of limited partnership,
certificate of formation or limited liability company agreement or other
organizational documents.
6
Section
3.02 Purchased
Units, Capitalization and Valid Issuance.
(a) A
true
and correct copy of the Partnership Agreement, as amended through the date
hereof, has been filed by the Partnership with the Commission as Exhibit 3.1
to
the Partnership’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-32678) filed on
November 7, 2006. The Purchased Units shall have those rights, preferences,
privileges and restrictions governing the Common Units as reflected in the
Partnership Agreement.
(b) As
of the
date of this Agreement and prior to the sale of the Purchased Units contemplated
by this Agreement, the issued and outstanding limited partner interests of
the
Partnership consist of 10,357,143 Common Units, 200,312 Class C
Units, 7,142,857 Subordinated Units and the Incentive Distribution Rights
and the only issued and outstanding general partner interests are the
361,231 general partner units, representing the General Partner’s 2%
general partner interest. All of the outstanding Common Units, Class C Units,
Subordinated Units and Incentive Distribution Rights have been duly authorized
and validly issued in accordance with applicable Law and the Partnership
Agreement and are fully paid (to the extent required under applicable Law and
the Partnership Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability
may be affected by Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act).
The general partner interests have been duly authorized and validly issued
in
accordance with the Partnership Agreement.
(c) Other
than the General Partner’s Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “LTIP”),
the
Partnership has no equity compensation plans that contemplate the issuance
of
Common Units (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Units).
No indebtedness having the right to vote (or convertible into or exchangeable
for securities having the right to vote) on any matters on which the Unitholders
may vote is issued or outstanding. Except as have been granted pursuant to
the
LTIP, as contemplated by this Agreement, or as are contained in or contemplated
by the Partnership Agreement, there are no outstanding or authorized (i)
options, warrants, preemptive rights, subscriptions, calls, convertible or
exchangeable securities or other rights, agreements, claims or commitments
of
any character obligating the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries to issue,
transfer or sell any limited partner interests or other equity interests in,
the
Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries or securities convertible into or
exchangeable for such limited partner interests or other equity interests,
(ii)
obligations of the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem
or otherwise acquire any limited partner interests or other equity interests
of
the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries or any such securities or agreements
listed in clause (i) of this sentence or (iii) voting trusts or similar
agreements to which the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries is a party with
respect to the voting of the equity interests of the Partnership or any of
its
Subsidiaries.
7
(d) (i)
All
of the issued and outstanding equity interests of each of the Partnership’s
Subsidiaries are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Partnership free and
clear of any Liens (except for such restrictions as may exist under applicable
Law and except for such Liens as may be imposed pursuant to the Credit
Facilities and any other credit agreements entered into after the date hereof
in
the ordinary course of business, to which the Partnership or any of the
Subsidiaries are party), and all such ownership interests have been duly
authorized, validly issued and are fully paid (to the extent required by
applicable Law and the organizational documents of such Subsidiaries) and
non-assessable (except as nonassessability may be affected by Sections 17-303,
17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act and Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of
the
Delaware LLC Act, as applicable, or the organizational documents of such
Subsidiaries) and (ii) except as disclosed in the Partnership’s SEC Documents,
neither the Partnership nor any of its Subsidiaries owns any shares of capital
stock or other securities of, or interest in, any other Person, or is obligated
to make any capital contribution to or other investment in any other Person
other than such Subsidiaries.
(e) The
offer
and sale of the Purchased Units and the limited partner interests represented
thereby have been duly authorized by the Partnership pursuant to the Partnership
Agreement and, when issued and delivered to the Purchasers against payment
therefor in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be validly issued,
fully paid (to the extent required by applicable Law and the Partnership
Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected
by
Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act) and will be free
of
any and all Liens and restrictions on transfer, other than restrictions on
transfer under the Partnership Agreement and under applicable state and federal
securities Laws and other than such Liens as are created by the Purchasers.
(f) The
Partnership’s currently outstanding Common Units are quoted on the NYSE, and the
Partnership has not received any notice of delisting.
(g) Except
(i) as set forth in the Partnership Agreement, (ii) as provided in the Basic
Documents or (iii) for existing awards under the LTIP, there are no preemptive
rights or other rights to subscribe for or to purchase, nor any restriction
upon
the voting or transfer of, any partnership or membership interests of the
Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case, pursuant to any agreement
or instrument to which any of such entities is a party or by which any one
of
them may be bound. None of the execution of this Agreement, the offering or
sale
of the Purchased Units or the registration of the Purchased Units pursuant
to
the Registration Rights Agreement gives rise to any rights for or relating
to
the registration of any Common Units or other securities of the Partnership
other than pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement and those rights
granted to the General Partner or any of its Affiliates (as such term is defined
in the Partnership Agreement) under Section 7.12 of the Partnership
Agreement.
8
Section
3.03 SEC
Documents.
The
Partnership has filed with the Commission all reports, schedules and statements
required to be filed by it under the Exchange Act since December 31, 2006
(all such documents filed on or prior to the date of this Agreement,
collectively, the “SEC
Documents”).
The
SEC Documents, including any audited or unaudited financial statements and
any
notes thereto or schedules included therein, at the time filed, (except to
the
extent corrected by a subsequently filed SEC Document filed prior to the date
of
this Agreement) (i) complied as to form in all material respects with
applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the applicable accounting
requirements and with the published rules and regulations of the Commission
with
respect thereto, (ii) were prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a
consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be indicated in
the
notes thereto or, in the case of unaudited statements, as permitted by
Form 10-Q of the Commission) and (iii) fairly present (subject in the case
of unaudited statements to normal, recurring and year-end audit adjustments)
in
all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Partnership
as
of the dates thereof and the consolidated results of its operations and cash
flows for the periods then ended. Deloitte & Touche LLP is an independent
registered public accounting firm with respect to the Partnership and has not
resigned or been dismissed.
Section
3.04 No
Material Adverse Change.
Except
as set forth in or contemplated by the SEC Documents and except for the Drop
Down, since December 31, 2006, the Partnership and its Subsidiaries have
conducted their business in the ordinary course, consistent with past practice,
and there has been no (i) change that has had or would reasonably be expected
to
have a Partnership Material Adverse Effect, (ii) acquisition or disposition
of
any material asset by the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries or any contract
or arrangement therefor, otherwise than for fair value in the ordinary course
of
business, (iii) material change in the Partnership’s accounting principles,
practices or methods or (iv) incurrence of material indebtedness.
9
Section
3.05 No
Conflicts.
The
execution, delivery and performance by the Partnership of the Basic Documents
to
which it is a party and all other agreements and instruments to be executed
and
delivered by the Partnership pursuant thereto or in connection therewith, and
compliance by the Partnership with the terms and provisions thereof, do not
and
will not (a) violate any provision of any Law, governmental permit,
determination or award having applicability to the Partnership or any of its
Subsidiaries or any of their respective Properties, (b) conflict with or
result in a violation of any provision of the organizational documents of the
Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries, (c) require any consent, approval
or notice under or result in a violation or breach of or constitute (with or
without due notice or lapse of time or both) a default (or give rise to any
right of termination, cancellation or acceleration) under any note, bond,
mortgage, license, loan or credit agreement or other instrument, obligation
or
agreement to which the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or
by
which the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective
Properties may be bound or (d) result in or require the creation or
imposition of any Lien upon or with respect to any of the Properties now owned
or hereafter acquired by the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries, except
in
the cases of clauses
(a),
(c)
and
(d)
where
such violation, default, breach, termination, cancellation, failure to receive
consent or approval, or acceleration with respect to the foregoing provisions
of
this Section 3.05
would
not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Partnership Material Adverse Effect.
Section
3.06 Authority.
The
Partnership has all necessary limited partnership power and authority to
execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Basic Documents to which
it is a party and to consummate the transactions contemplated thereby; the
execution, delivery and performance by the Partnership of the Basic Documents
to
which it is a party, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary action on its part; and
the
Basic Documents will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of
Partnership (subject to any Unitholder approval required pursuant to Section
5.07), enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as such enforceability
may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer and similar Laws
affecting creditors’ rights generally or by general principles of equity,
including principles of commercial reasonableness, fair dealing and good faith.
Section
3.07 Approvals.
Except
as required by the Commission in connection with the Partnership’s obligations
under the Registration Rights Agreement, the filing and waiting period
requirements under the HSR Act relating to the Drop Down and any Unitholder
approval required pursuant to Section 5.07, no authorization, consent, approval,
waiver, license, qualification or written exemption from, nor any filing,
declaration, qualification or registration with, any Governmental Authority
or
any other Person is required in connection with the execution, delivery or
performance by the Partnership of any of the Basic Documents to which it is
a
party or the Partnership’s issuance and sale of the Purchased Units, except (i)
as may be required under the state securities or “Blue Sky” Laws, or (ii) where
the failure to receive such authorization, consent, approval, waiver, license,
qualification or written exemption or to make such filing, declaration,
qualification or registration would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Partnership Material Adverse Effect.
10
Section
3.08 Insurance.
The
Partnership is insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility
covering its properties, operations, personnel and businesses against such
losses and risks and in such amounts as are reasonably adequate to protect
the
Partnership in the business in which the Partnership is engaged. The Partnership
does not have 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 from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its
business.
Section
3.09 Execution
and Sufficiency of Contribution Agreement.
The
Partnership has, prior to or contemporaneously with entering into this
Agreement, entered into the Contribution Agreement. The consummation of the
transactions contemplated by the Contribution Agreement will be legally
sufficient to transfer or convey to the Partnership all of the Buyer’s right,
title and interest in the Contributed Assets, subject to the conditions,
reservations and limitations contained in the Contribution
Agreement.
Section
3.10 MLP
Status.
The
Partnership has, for each taxable year beginning after December 31, 2005
during which the Partnership was in existence, met the gross income requirements
of Section 7704(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended.
Section
3.11 Investment
Company Status.
The
Partnership is not now, and after the sale of the Purchased Units and the
application of the net proceeds from such sale will not be an “investment
company” or a company “controlled by” an “investment company” within the meaning
of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
Section
3.12 Offering.
Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Purchasers
contained in this Agreement and in any Assignment and Assumption Agreement
delivered pursuant to Section 8.04(c), the sale and issuance of the Purchased
Units pursuant to this Agreement is exempt from the registration requirements
of
the Securities Act, and neither the Partnership nor, to the Partnership’s
knowledge, any authorized Representative acting on its behalf has taken or
will
take any action hereafter that would cause the loss of such
exemption.
Section
3.13 No
Integrated Offering
.
Neither
the Partnership nor any of its Affiliates, nor, to the Partnership’s knowledge,
any Person acting on its or their behalf has, directly or indirectly, made
any
offers or sales of any security of the Partnership or solicited any offers
to
buy any security, under circumstances that would adversely affect reliance
by
the Partnership on Section 4(2) of the Securities Act for the exemption from
the
registration requirements imposed under Section 5 of the Securities Act for
the
transactions contemplated hereby or that would require such registration under
the Securities Act.
Section
3.14 Certain
Fees.
No fees
or commissions are or will be payable by the Partnership to brokers, finders
or
investment bankers with respect to the sale of any of the Purchased Units or
the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Purchasers
shall not be liable for any such fees or commissions.
Section
3.15 No
Side Agreements.
Except
for the confidentiality agreements described in Section
8.06
and the
Basic Documents, there are no other agreements by, among or between the
Partnership or its Affiliates, on the one hand, and any of the Purchasers or
their Affiliates, on the other hand, with respect to the transactions
contemplated hereby nor promises or inducements for future transactions between
or among any of such parties.
11
Section
3.16 Form
S-3 Eligibility.
The
Partnership is eligible to register the Purchased Units for resale by the
Purchasers on a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities
Act.
Section
3.17 Compliance
with Laws.
Neither
the Partnership nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any Law
applicable to the Partnership or its Subsidiaries, except as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Partnership Material Adverse Effect.
The Partnership and its Subsidiaries possess all certificates, authorizations
and permits issued by the appropriate regulatory authorities necessary to
conduct their respective businesses, except where the failure to possess such
certificates, authorizations or permits would not have, individually or in
the
aggregate, a Partnership Material Adverse Effect, and neither the Partnership
nor any such Subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to
the
revocation or modification of any such certificate, authorization or permit,
except where such potential revocation or modification would not have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Partnership Material Adverse
Effect.
ARTICLE
IV
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF EACH PURCHASER
Each
Purchaser, severally and not jointly, represents and warrants to the Partnership
with respect to itself as follows:
Section
4.01 Valid
Existence.
Such
Purchaser (i) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the Laws of its respective jurisdiction of organization and (ii) has
the requisite power, and has all material governmental licenses, authorizations,
consents and approvals necessary to own its Properties and carry on its business
as its business is now being conducted, except where the failure to obtain
such
licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals would not reasonably be
expected to have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect.
Section
4.02 No
Conflicts.
The
execution, delivery and performance by such Purchaser of this Agreement and
the
Registration Rights Agreement and all other agreements and instruments to be
executed and delivered by such Purchaser pursuant hereto or thereto or in
connection herewith or therewith, compliance by such Purchaser with the terms
and provisions hereof and thereof, and the purchase of the Purchased Units
by
such Purchaser do not and will not (a) violate any provision of any Law,
governmental permit, determination or award having applicability to such
Purchaser or any of its Properties, (b) conflict with or result in a
violation of any provision of the organizational documents of such Purchaser,
or
(c) require any consent (other than standard internal consents), approval
or notice under or result in a violation or breach of or constitute (with or
without due notice or lapse of time or both) a default (or give rise to any
right of termination, cancellation or acceleration) under any note, bond,
mortgage, license, loan or credit agreement or other instrument or agreement
to
which such Purchaser is a party or by which such Purchaser or any of its
Properties may be bound, except in the case of clauses (a) and (c), where such
violation, default, breach, termination, cancellation, failure to receive
consent or approval, or acceleration with respect to the foregoing provisions
of
this Section 4.02
would
not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Purchaser Material Adverse Effect.
12
Section
4.03 Investment.
The
Purchased Units are being acquired for such Purchaser’s own account, or the
accounts of clients for whom such Purchaser exercises discretionary investment
authority, not as a nominee or agent, and with no present intention of
distributing the Purchased Units or any part thereof, and such Purchaser has
no
present intention of selling or granting any participation in or otherwise
distributing the same in any transaction in violation of the securities Laws
of
the United States of America or any state. If such Purchaser should in the
future decide to dispose of any of the Purchased Units, such Purchaser
understands and agrees (a) that it may do so only (i) in compliance
with the Securities Act and applicable state securities law, as then in effect,
or (ii) in the manner contemplated by any registration statement pursuant
to which such securities are being offered, and (b) that stop-transfer
instructions to that effect will be in effect with respect to such securities.
Section
4.04 Nature
of Purchaser.
Such
Purchaser represents and warrants to, and covenants and agrees with, the
Partnership that, (a) it is an “accredited investor” (within the meaning of
Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act), (b) by reason of its business
and financial experience it has such knowledge, sophistication and experience
in
business and financial matters so as to be capable of evaluating the merits
and
risks of the prospective investment in the Purchased Units, is able to bear
the
economic risk of such investment and, at the present time, would be able to
afford a complete loss of such investment and (c) it is acquiring the
Purchased Units purchased by it only for its own account and not for the account
of others, for investment purposes and not on behalf of any other account or
Person or with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any
distribution thereof. Purchaser is not an entity formed for the specific purpose
of acquiring the Purchased Units.
Section
4.05 Receipt
of Information.
Such
Purchaser acknowledges that it (a) has access to the SEC Documents and (b)
has
been provided a reasonable opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers
from Representatives of the Partnership regarding such matters, including with
respect to the Drop Down.
Section
4.06 Restricted
Securities.
Such
Purchaser understands that the Purchased Units it is purchasing are
characterized as “restricted securities” under the federal securities Laws
inasmuch as they are being acquired from the Partnership in a transaction not
involving a public offering and that under such Laws and applicable regulations
such securities may be resold without registration under the Securities Act
only
in certain limited circumstances. In this connection, such Purchaser represents
that it is knowledgeable with respect to Rule 144 of the Commission
promulgated under the Securities Act.
Section
4.07 Certain
Fees.
No fees
or commissions will be payable by such Purchaser to brokers, finders, or
investment bankers with respect to the sale of any of the Purchased Units or
the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
13
Section
4.08 Legend.
It is
understood that the certificates evidencing the Purchased Units will bear the
following legend:
“These
securities have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the “Securities Act”), or the securities laws of any state or other
jurisdiction. These securities may not be sold, offered for sale, pledged or
hypothecated except pursuant to an effective registration statement under the
Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption from registration thereunder, in
each
case in accordance with all applicable securities laws of the states or other
jurisdictions, and in the case of a transaction exempt from registration, such
securities may only be transferred if the transfer agent for such securities
has
received documentation satisfactory to it that such transaction does not require
registration under the Securities Act.”
Section
4.09 Reliance
on Exemptions.
Purchaser understands that the Purchased Units are being offered and sold to
Purchaser in reliance upon specific exemptions from the registration
requirements of United States federal and state securities laws and that the
Partnership is relying upon the truth and accuracy of, and Purchaser’s
compliance with, the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgments
and understandings of Purchaser set forth herein in order to determine the
availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of Purchaser to acquire
the
Purchased Units.
Section
4.10 Reliance
on Purchaser Statements. Purchaser acknowledges that the Partnership and others
will rely on the acknowledgments, understandings, agreements, representations
and warranties contained in this Agreement.
ARTICLE
V
COVENANTS
Section
5.01 Purchaser
Lock-Ups.
(a) Without
the prior written consent of the Partnership, each Purchaser agrees that from
and after the date of this Agreement until Closing, neither such Purchaser
nor
any of its Affiliates will offer, sell, pledge or otherwise transfer or dispose
of any Common Units or enter into any transaction or device designed to do
the
same.
(b) Without
the prior written consent of the Partnership, each Purchaser agrees that from
and after the Closing it will not sell any of its Purchased Units prior to
the
Lock-Up
Date.
Section
5.02 Subsequent
Private Offerings.
From
the date of this Agreement and until the Closing Date, the Partnership shall
not
grant, issue or sell any Common Units or other equity or voting securities
of
the Partnership or any securities convertible into or exchangeable therefor
(the
“Partnership
Securities”),
or
take any other action that may result in the issuance of any of the foregoing,
in a private offering at a price less than $41.00 per unit without the written
consent of the holders of a majority of the Purchased Units; provided,
however,
that no
such consent shall be required in respect of (i) the issuance of awards pursuant
to the LTIP, the issuance of Common Units upon the exercise of options to
purchase Common Units granted pursuant to the LTIP or the issuance of Common
Units upon the vesting of “phantom units” granted pursuant to the LTIP, (ii) the
issuance of Common Units as purchase price consideration to DCP Midstream LLC
in
connection with future acquisitions that are accretive to cash flow per Common
Unit, (iii) the issuance of Partnership Securities to the General Partner in
order for the General Partner to maintain its 2% general partner interest in
the
Partnership or (iv) private offerings pursuant to which Xxxxxx Brothers MLP
Opportunity Fund L.P. and Banc of America Capital Investors V, L.P. (the
“Potential
Investors”)
are
offered the opportunity to participate in such private offering on the same
terms as all other participants in such private offering and in an amount (the
“Investor
Purchase Amount”)
that
is, in the aggregate, no less than the largest amount that will be invested
by a
purchaser (that is not also a Purchaser under this Agreement) participating
in
such private offering. For the purposes of the preceding sentence, the Investor
Purchase Amount shall be allocated to each of the Potential Investors on a
pro
rata basis. The pro rata allocation for each such Potential Investor shall
be
the number of Purchased Units that such Potential Investor shall have purchased
or is entitled to purchase under this Agreement divided by the total number
of
Purchased Units that the Potential Investors, as a whole, have purchased or
are
entitled to purchase under this Agreement. Each of the Potential Investors
participating in a particular offering shall have the opportunity to share
pro
rata that portion of the Investor Purchase Amount allocable to any Potential
Investor not so participating. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Partnership
shall not, and shall cause its directors, officers and Affiliates not to, sell,
offer for sale or solicit offers to buy any security (as defined in the
Securities Act) that would be integrated with the sale of the Purchased Units
in
a manner that would require the registration under the Securities Act of the
sale of the Purchased Units to the Purchasers.
14
Section
5.03 Taking
of Necessary Action.
Each of
the Parties hereto shall use its commercially reasonable efforts promptly to
take or cause to be taken all action and promptly to do or cause to be done
all
things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Law and regulations
to
consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Without
limiting the foregoing, the Partnership and each Purchaser shall use its
commercially reasonable efforts to make all filings and obtain all consents
of
Governmental Authorities that may be necessary or, in the reasonable opinion
of
the Purchasers or the Partnership, as the case may be, advisable for the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Basic
Documents.
Section
5.04 Disclosure;
Public Filings.
The
Partnership may, without prior written consent or notice, (i) file the Basic
Documents as exhibits to Exchange Act reports and (ii) disclose such information
with respect to any Purchaser as required by applicable Law or the rules or
regulations of the NYSE or other exchange on which securities of the Partnership
are listed or traded.
Section
5.05 Other
Actions.
The
Partnership shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after the date hereof,
and
not later than immediately prior to the Closing, file a supplemental listing
application with the NYSE to list the Purchased Units.
Section
5.06 Certain
Special Allocations of Book and Taxable Income.
To the
extent that the Purchase Price is less than the trading price of the Common
Units on the New York Stock Exchange as of the Closing Date, the General Partner
intends to specially allocate items of book and taxable income to the Purchasers
so that their capital accounts in their Common Units are consistent, on a
per-unit basis, with the capital accounts of the other holders of Common Units
(and thus to assure fungibility of all Common Units). Such special allocation
will occur upon the earlier to occur of any taxable period of the Partnership
ending upon, or after, (i) a book-up event or book-down event in accordance
with
Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f) or a sale of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Partnership occurring after the date
of
the issuance of the Purchased Units or (ii) a transfer by a Purchaser of Common
Units to a Person that is not an Affiliate of the holder. A Purchaser holding
a
Common Unit shall be required to provide notice to the General Partner of the
transfer of a Common Unit to a Person that is not an Affiliate of the Purchaser
no later than the last Business Day of the calendar year during which such
transfer occurred, unless by virtue of the application of clause (i) above,
the
General Partner has determined that the Common Units transferred are consistent,
on a per-unit basis, with the capital accounts of the other holders of Common
Units.
15
Section
5.07 NYSE
Rule Change.
In the
event that 20 Business Days prior to the expected Closing Date, the NYSE and
the
SEC have not yet adopted and approved an amendment to Section 312.03 of the
NYSE
Listed Company Manual that would exempt limited partnerships from the provisions
of Subsections 312.03(b), (c) and (d) thereof (the “NYSE
Amendment”),
the
Partnership and the Purchasers shall negotiate in good faith to amend the terms
of this Agreement so as to cause (A) the Purchased Units to consist of the
maximum number of Common Units that may be issued pursuant to this Agreement
without requiring the approval of the unitholders of the Partnership under
the
rules of the NYSE and (B) the remainder of the Purchased Units to consist of
an
alternative class of limited partner interests in the Partnership that do not
constitute “common stock” or “voting securities” under Section 312.03 of the
NYSE Listed Company Manual and having customary terms and conditions for
offerings of this nature (the “Alternative
Class”).
ARTICLE
VI
CLOSING
CONDITIONS
Section
6.01 Conditions
to the Closing.
(a) Mutual
Conditions.
The
respective obligation of each Party to consummate the purchase and issuance
and
sale of the Purchased Units shall be subject to the satisfaction on or prior
to
the Closing Date of each of the following conditions (any or all of which may
be
waived by a particular Party on behalf of itself in writing, in whole or in
part, to the extent permitted by applicable Law):
(i) no
Law
shall have been enacted or promulgated, and no action shall have been taken,
by
any Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction which temporarily,
preliminarily or permanently restrains, precludes, enjoins or otherwise
prohibits the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
or
makes the transactions contemplated by this Agreement illegal;
16
(ii) there
shall not be pending any Action by any Governmental Authority seeking to
restrain, preclude, enjoin or prohibit the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement;
(iii) the
Partnership shall have concurrently closed the Drop Down, substantially on
the
terms set forth in the Purchase Agreement;
(iv) the
Purchase Units that are Common Units shall have been approved for listing on
the
NYSE, subject to notice of issuance; and
(v) in
the
event the NYSE Amendment has not occurred, the Partnership shall have received
confirmation from the NYSE that the terms of the Alternative Class are
acceptable and the issuance and sale of the Purchased Units by the Partnership
will not require the approval of the Partnership’s unitholders pursuant to the
rules of the NYSE.
(b) Each
Purchaser’s Conditions.
The
respective obligation of each Purchaser to consummate the purchase of its
Purchased Units shall be subject to the satisfaction on or prior to the Closing
Date of each of the following conditions (any or all of which may be waived
by a
particular Purchaser on behalf of itself in writing, in whole or in part, to
the
extent permitted by applicable Law):
(i) the
Partnership shall have performed and complied with the covenants and agreements
contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed and complied
with
by the Partnership on or prior to the Closing Date;
(ii) the
representations and warranties of the Partnership contained in this Agreement
that are qualified by materiality or Partnership Material Adverse Effect shall
be true and correct when made and as of the Closing Date and all other
representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material
respects when made and as of the Closing Date, in each case as though made
at
and as of the Closing Date (except that representations made as of a specific
date shall be required to be true and correct as of such date
only);
(iii) no
notice
of delisting from the NYSE shall have been received by the Partnership with
respect to the Common Units; and
(iv) the
Partnership shall have delivered, or caused to be delivered, to the Purchasers
at the Closing, the Partnership’s closing deliveries described in Section
6.02.
(c) The
Partnership’s Conditions.
The
obligation of the Partnership to consummate the sale of the Purchased Units
to
each of the Purchasers shall be subject to the satisfaction on or prior to
the
Closing Date of each of the following conditions with respect to each Purchaser
individually and not the Purchasers jointly (any or all of which may be waived
by the Partnership in writing, in whole or in part, to the extent permitted
by
applicable Law):
17
(i) each
Purchaser shall have performed and complied with the covenants and agreements
contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed and complied
with
by that Purchaser on or prior to the Closing Date;
(ii) the
representations and warranties of each Purchaser contained in this Agreement
that are qualified by materiality or Purchaser Material Adverse Effect shall
be
true and correct when made and as of the Closing Date and all other
representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material
respects when made and as of the Closing Date, in each case as though made
at
and as of the Closing Date (except that representations made as of a specific
date shall be required to be true and correct as of such date
only);
(iii) since
the
date of this Agreement, no Purchaser Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred
and be continuing; and
(iv) each
Purchaser shall have delivered, or caused to be delivered, to the Partnership
at
the Closing, such Purchaser’s closing deliveries described in Section
6.03.
Section
6.02 Partnership
Deliveries.
At
the
Closing, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Partnership
will deliver, or cause to be delivered, to each Purchaser:
(a) The
Purchased Units by delivering certificates (bearing the legend set forth in
Section
4.08)
evidencing such Purchased Units at the Closing, all free and clear of any Liens,
encumbrances or interests of any other party other than restrictions on transfer
imposed by federal and state securities Laws and those imposed by such
Purchaser;
(b) Copies
of
(i) the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, (ii) the
Certificate of Limited Partnership of the General Partner and (iii) the
Certificate of Formation of the GP LLC, each certified by the Secretary of
State
of the State of Delaware, dated as of a recent date;
(c) A
certificate of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, dated as of
a
recent date, that the Partnership is in good standing;
(d) An
Officer’s Certificate substantially in the form attached to this Agreement as
Exhibit D;
(e) The
Registration Rights Agreement in substantially the form attached to this
Agreement as Exhibit
A,
which
shall have been duly executed by the Partnership;
(f) Confirmation
that the Purchase Agreement and Contribution Agreement have been entered into
in
substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit
B
and
Exhibit
C,
respectively; and
18
(g) A
certificate of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the General Partner,
on
behalf of the Partnership, certifying as to (i) the Partnership Agreement,
as
amended, (ii) board resolutions authorizing the execution and delivery of the
Basic Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby
and (iii) the incumbent officers authorized to execute the Basic Documents,
setting forth the name and title and bearing the signatures of such officers.
Section
6.03 Purchaser
Deliveries.
At
the
Closing, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each Purchaser
will deliver, or cause to be delivered:
(a) payment
to the Partnership of such Purchaser’s Allocated Purchase Amount by wire
transfer(s) of immediately available funds to an account designated by
Partnership in writing at least two (2) Business Days prior to the
Closing;
(b) the
Registration Rights Agreement in substantially the form attached to this
Agreement as Exhibit
A,
which
shall have been duly executed by such Purchaser; and
(c) an
Officer’s Certificate substantially in the form attached to this Agreement as
Exhibit
E.
ARTICLE
VII
INDEMNIFICATION,
COSTS AND EXPENSES
Section
7.01 Indemnification
by the
Partnership.The
Partnership agrees to indemnify each Purchaser and its Representatives
(collectively, “Purchaser
Related Parties”)
from,
and hold each of them harmless against any and all actions, suits, proceedings
(including any investigations, litigation or inquiries), demands and causes
of
action, and, in connection therewith, and promptly on demand, pay and reimburse
each of them costs, losses, liabilities, damages, or expenses of any kind or
nature whatsoever, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel
and all other reasonable expenses incurred in connection with investigating,
defending or preparing to defend any such matter that may be incurred by them
or
asserted against or involve any of them as a result of, arising out of, or
in
any way related to the breach of any of the representations, warranties or
covenants of the Partnership contained herein; provided,
that
such claim for indemnification relating to a breach of a representation or
warranty is made prior to the expiration of such representation or warranty;
and
provided
further, that
no
Purchaser Related Party shall be entitled to recover special, consequential
(including lost profits) or punitive damages. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary, consequential damages shall not be deemed to include diminution in
value of the Purchased Units, which shall be specifically indemnifiable under
this provision.
Section
7.02 Indemnification
by Purchasers.Each
Purchaser agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify the Partnership and
its Representatives (collectively, “Partnership
Related Parties”)
from,
and hold each of them harmless against, any and all actions, suits, proceedings
(including any investigations, litigation, or inquiries), demands and causes
of
action and, in connection therewith, and promptly upon demand, pay and reimburse
each of them costs, losses, liabilities, damages, or expenses of any kind or
nature whatsoever, including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel and all other reasonable expenses incurred in
connection with investigating, defending or preparing to defend any such matter
that may be incurred by them or asserted against or involve any of them as
a
result of, arising out of, or in any way related to the breach of any of the
representations, warranties or covenants of such Purchaser contained herein;
provided,
that
such claim for indemnification relating to a breach of a representation or
warranty is made prior to the expiration of such representation or warranty;
and
provided
further, that no
Partnership Related Party shall be entitled to recover special, consequential
(including lost profits) or punitive damages. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary, consequential damages shall not be deemed to include diminution in
value of the Purchased Units, which shall be specifically indemnifiable under
this provision.
19
Section
7.03 Indemnification
Procedure.
Promptly
after any Partnership Related Party or Purchaser Related Party (hereinafter,
the
“Indemnified
Party”)
has
received notice of any indemnifiable claim hereunder, or the commencement of
any
action or proceeding by a third party, which the Indemnified Party believes
in
good faith is an indemnifiable claim under this Agreement, the Indemnified
Party
shall give the indemnitor hereunder (the “Indemnifying
Party”)
written notice of such claim or the commencement of such action or proceeding,
but failure to so notify the Indemnifying Party will not relieve the
Indemnifying Party from any liability it may have to such Indemnified Party
hereunder except to the extent that the Indemnifying Party is materially
prejudiced by such failure. Such notice shall state the nature and the basis
of
such claim to the extent then known. The Indemnifying Party shall have the
right
to defend and settle, at its own expense and by its own counsel who shall be
reasonably acceptable to the Indemnified Party, any such matter as long as
the
Indemnifying Party pursues the same diligently and in good faith. If the
Indemnifying Party undertakes to defend or settle, it shall promptly notify
the
Indemnified Party of its intention to do so, and the Indemnified Party shall
cooperate with the Indemnifying Party and its counsel in all commercially
reasonable respects in the defense thereof and the settlement thereof. Such
cooperation shall include furnishing the Indemnifying Party with any books,
records and other information reasonably requested by the Indemnifying Party
and
in the Indemnified Party’s possession or control. Such cooperation of the
Indemnified Party shall be at the cost of the Indemnifying Party. After the
Indemnifying Party has notified the Indemnified Party of its intention to
undertake to defend or settle any such asserted liability, and for so long
as
the Indemnifying Party diligently pursues such defense, the Indemnifying Party
shall not be liable for any additional legal expenses incurred by the
Indemnified Party in connection with any defense or settlement of such asserted
liability; provided,
however,
that
the Indemnified Party shall be entitled (i) at its expense, to participate
in
the defense of such asserted liability and the negotiations of the settlement
thereof and (ii) if (A) the Indemnifying Party has failed to assume the defense
or employ counsel reasonably acceptable to the Indemnified Party or (B) 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 in addition 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
expenses and fees of such separate counsel and other expenses related to such
participation to be reimbursed by the Indemnifying Party as incurred.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Indemnifying Party
shall not settle any indemnified claim without the consent of the Indemnified
Party, unless the settlement thereof imposes no liability or obligation on,
involves no admission of wrongdoing or malfeasance by, and includes a complete
release from liability of, the Indemnified Party.
20
ARTICLE
VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section
8.01 Interpretation.Article,
Section, Schedule, and Exhibit references are to this Agreement, unless
otherwise specified. All references to instruments, documents, contracts, and
agreements are references to such instruments, documents, contracts, and
agreements as the same may be amended, supplemented, and otherwise modified
from
time to time, unless otherwise specified. The word “including” shall mean
“including but not limited to.” Whenever the Partnership has an obligation under
the Basic Documents, the expense of complying with such obligation shall be
an
expense of the Partnership unless otherwise specified therein. Whenever any
determination, consent or approval is to be made or given by a Purchaser under
the Basic Documents, such action shall be in such Purchaser’s sole discretion
unless otherwise specified therein. If any provision in the Basic Documents
is
held to be illegal, invalid, not binding, or unenforceable, such provision
shall
be fully severable and the Basic Documents shall be construed and enforced
as if
such illegal, invalid, not binding or unenforceable provision had never
comprised a part of the Basic Documents, and the remaining provisions shall
remain in full force and effect. The Basic Documents have been reviewed and
negotiated by sophisticated parties with access to legal counsel and shall
not
be construed against the drafter.
Section
8.02 Survival
of Provisions.
The
representations and warranties set forth in Sections 3.01, 3.02, 3.06, 3.09,
3.10, 3.11, 3.12, 4.01, 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 4.06, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09 and 4.10 of
this Agreement shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement
indefinitely, and the other representations and warranties set forth in this
Agreement shall survive for a period of twelve (12) months following the Closing
Date regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Partnership
or
any Purchaser. The covenants made in this Agreement or any other Basic Document
shall survive the closing of the transactions described herein and remain
operative and in full force and effect regardless of acceptance of any of the
Purchased Units and payment therefor and repayment, conversion or repurchase
thereof. All indemnification obligations of the Partnership and the Purchasers
pursuant to this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect
unless such obligations are expressly terminated in a writing by the Parties,
regardless of any purported general termination of this Agreement.
Section
8.03 No
Waiver; Modifications in Writing.
(a) Delay.
No
failure or delay on the part of any Party in exercising any right, power, or
remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or
partial exercise of any such right, power, or remedy preclude any other or
further exercise thereof or the exercise of any right, power, or remedy. The
remedies provided for herein are cumulative and are not exclusive of any
remedies that may be available to a Party at Law or in equity or otherwise.
21
(b) Specific
Waiver; Amendment.
Except
as otherwise provided herein, no amendment, waiver, consent, modification or
termination of any provision of this Agreement or any other Basic Document
shall
be effective unless signed by each of Parties or each of the original
signatories thereto affected by such amendment, waiver, consent, modification
or
termination. Any amendment, supplement or modification of or to any provision
of
any Basic Document, any waiver of any provision of any Basic Document and any
consent to any departure by the Partnership from the terms of any provision
of
any Basic Document shall be effective only in the specific instance and for
the
specific purpose for which made or given. Except where notice is specifically
required by this Agreement, no notice to or demand on the Partnership in any
case shall entitle the Partnership to any other or further notice or demand
in
similar or other circumstances.
Section
8.04 Binding
Effect; Assignment.
(a) Binding
Effect.
This
Agreement shall be binding upon the Partnership, each Purchaser and their
respective successors and permitted assigns. Except as expressly provided in
this Agreement, this Agreement shall not be construed so as to confer any right
or benefit upon any Person other than the Parties to this Agreement and as
provided in Article VII, and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
(b) Assignment
of Purchased Units.
All or
any portion of a Purchaser’s Purchased Units purchased pursuant to this
Agreement may be sold, assigned or pledged by such Purchaser, subject to
compliance with applicable federal and state securities Laws, Section
5.04(b)
and the
Registration Rights Agreement.
(c) Assignment
of Rights.
Each
Purchaser may assign all or any portion of its rights and, with respect to
clause (iii) below, obligations under this Agreement without the consent of
the
Partnership (i) to any Affiliate of such Purchaser, (ii) in connection with
a
total return swap or similar transaction with respect to the Purchased Units
purchased by such Purchaser, or (iii) on or prior to June 1, 2007, to
shareholders of Momentum Energy Group Inc. up to an aggregate of $20 million,
and in each case the assignee shall be deemed to be a Purchaser hereunder with
respect to such assigned rights and obligations and shall agree to be bound
by
the provisions of this Agreement and shall execute and deliver to the
Partnership on or prior to the Closing Date (or in the case of clause (iii)
above, on or prior to June 1, 2007) a written instrument reasonably satisfactory
to the Partnership pursuant to which the assignee shall make each of the
representations and warranties set forth in Article IV to the Partnership (such
instrument an, “Assignment
and Assumption Agreement”).
Except
as expressly permitted by this Section
8.04(c),
such
rights and obligations may not otherwise be transferred except with the prior
written consent of the Partnership (which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld), in which case the assignee shall be deemed to be a Purchaser
hereunder with respect to such assigned rights or obligations and shall agree
to
be bound by the provisions of this Agreement and shall execute an Assignment
and
Assumption Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, for the purposes of clause
(iii) above, the execution and delivery of an Assignment and Assumption
Agreement shall be deemed to be an effective amendment of Schedule
2.01
without
any further action of the Parties, notwithstanding Section
8.03(b).
22
Section
8.05 Aggregation
of Purchased Units.
All
Purchased Units held or acquired by Persons who are Affiliates of one another
shall be aggregated together for the purpose of determining the availability
of
any rights under this Agreement.
Section
8.06 Confidentiality
and Non-Disclosure.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, each Purchaser that has entered
into a confidentiality agreement in favor of the Partnership shall continue
to
be bound by such confidentiality agreement in accordance with the terms thereof.
Section
8.07 Communications.
All
notices and demands provided for hereunder shall be in writing and shall be
given by regular mail, registered or certified mail, return receipt requested,
facsimile, air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery, electronic mail or
personal delivery to the addresses listed in Schedule
8.07
of this
Agreement or to such other address as the Partnership or a Purchaser may
designate in writing. All notices and communications shall be deemed to have
been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; when
notice that the recipient has read the message, if sent via electronic mail;
upon actual receipt, if sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt
requested, or regular mail, if mailed; when receipt acknowledged, if sent via
facsimile; and upon actual receipt when delivered to an air courier guaranteeing
overnight delivery.
Section
8.08 Removal
of Legend.
The
Partnership shall remove the legend described in Section
4.08
from the
certificates evidencing the Purchased Units at the request of a Purchaser
submitting to the Partnership such certificates, together with an opinion of
counsel, if required by the Partnership’s transfer agent, to the effect that
such legend is no longer required under the Securities Act or applicable state
securities Laws, as the case may be, unless the Partnership, with the advice
of
counsel, determines that such removal is inappropriate.
Section
8.09 Entire
Agreement.
This
Agreement and the other Basic Documents are 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 and thereto
in respect of the subject matter contained herein and therein. There are no
restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth
or referred to herein and therein, with respect to the rights granted by the
Partnership or a Purchaser set forth herein and therein. This Agreement and
the
other Basic Documents supersede all prior agreements and understandings between
the Parties with respect to such subject matter. The Schedules and Exhibits
referred to herein and attached hereto are incorporated herein by this
reference, and unless the context expressly requires otherwise, are incorporated
in the definition of “Agreement.”
23
Section
8.10 Governing
Law.
This
Agreement will be construed in accordance with and governed by the Laws of
the
State of New York without regard to principles of conflicts of Laws.
Section
8.11 Execution
in Counterparts.
This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different Parties
hereto in separate counterparts, including facsimile 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.
Section
8.12 Termination.
(a) Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, this Agreement may be terminated at any time
at
or prior to the Closing by the mutual written consent of the Purchasers entitled
to purchase a majority of the Purchased Units and the Partnership.
(b) Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, this Agreement shall automatically terminate
at
any time at or prior to the Closing:
(i) if
a
statute, rule, order, decree or regulation shall have been enacted or
promulgated, or if any action shall have been taken by any Governmental
Authority of competent jurisdiction which permanently restrains, precludes,
enjoins or otherwise prohibits the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement or makes the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
illegal;
(ii) if
the
Purchase Agreement shall have been terminated pursuant to its terms;
or
(iii) if
the
Closing shall not have occurred on or before November 15, 2007.
(c) In
the
event of the termination of this Agreement as provided in Sections 8.12(a)
or
8.12(b),
this
Agreement shall forthwith become null and void. In the event of such
termination, there shall be no liability on the part of any party hereto, except
(i) as set forth in Section
8.12(d)
below,
(ii) as set forth in Article
VII
of this
Agreement and (iii) with respect to the requirement to comply with any
confidentiality agreement in favor of the Partnership; provided,
that
nothing herein shall relieve any party from any liability or obligation with
respect to any willful breach of this Agreement.
(d) If
(i)
this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 8.12(b)(iii) and (ii) prior
to
such termination (A) the Transaction shall have closed, (B) the condition
contained in Section 6.01(a)(iii) shall not have been satisfied, (C) all of
the
other conditions to the obligation of the Partnership to consummate the issuance
and sale of the Purchased Units pursuant to this Agreement shall have been
satisfied, then the Partnership shall be obligated to pay the Break-Up Fee,
which Break-Up Fee shall be allocated to the Purchasers in proportion to each
Purchaser’s Allocated Purchase Amount.
24
Section
8.13 Recapitalization,
Exchanges, Etc.
The
provisions of this Agreement shall apply to the full extent set forth herein
with respect to any and all equity interests of the Partnership or any successor
or assign of the Partnership (whether by merger, consolidation, sale of assets
or otherwise) that may be issued in respect of, in exchange for or in
substitution of, the Purchased Units, and shall be appropriately adjusted for
combinations, unit splits, recapitalizations and the like occurring after the
date of this Agreement.
Section
8.14 Expenses.
If any action at law or equity is necessary to enforce or interpret the terms
of
this Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement, the prevailing Party shall
be entitled to reasonable attorney’s fees, costs and necessary disbursements in
addition to any other relief to which such Party may be entitled.
Section
8.15 Obligations
Limited to Parties to Agreement. Each of the parties hereto covenants, agrees
and acknowledges that no Person other than the Purchasers shall have any
obligation hereunder and that, notwithstanding that one or more of the
Purchasers may be a corporation, partnership or limited liability company,
no
recourse under this Agreement or the other Basic Documents or under any
documents or instruments delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall
be
had against any former, current or future director, officer, employee, agent,
general or limited partner, manager, member, stockholder or Affiliate of any
of
the Purchasers or any former, current or future director, officer, employee,
agent, general or limited partner, manager, member, stockholder or Affiliate
of
any of the foregoing, whether by the enforcement of any assessment or by any
legal or equitable proceeding, or by virtue of any applicable Law, it being
expressly agreed and acknowledged that no personal liability whatsoever shall
attach to, be imposed on or otherwise by incurred by any former, current or
future director, officer, employee, agent, general or limited partner, manager,
member, stockholder or Affiliate of any of the Purchasers or any former, current
or future director, officer, employee, agent, general or limited partner,
manager, member, stockholder or Affiliate of any of the foregoing, as such,
for
any obligations of the Purchasers under this Agreement or the other Basic
Documents or any documents or instruments delivered in connection herewith
or
therewith or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such
obligation or its creation, except in each case for any assignee of a Purchaser
hereunder.
25
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto execute this Agreement, effective as of
the
date first above written.
DCP MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP | ||
By: DCP Midstream Partners GP, LP, | ||
its
General Partner
|
||
By: DCP Midstream Partners GP, LLC, | ||
its
General Partner
|
||
|
|
|
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxx | |
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxx |
||
Title: Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
XXXXXX BROTHERS MLP OPPORTUNITY FUND L.P. | ||
By: Xxxxxx Brothers MLP Opportunity Associates L.P., | ||
its
general partner
|
||
By: Xxxxxx Brothers MLP Opportunity Associates L.L.C., | ||
its
general partner
|
||
|
|
|
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx |
||
Title: Managing Director |
BANC OF AMERICA CAPITAL INVESTORS V, L.P. | ||
By: Banc of America Capital Management V, L.P., | ||
its
general partner
|
||
By: BACM I GP, LLC, | ||
its
general partner
|
||
|
|
|
By: | /s/ Xxxx X. Shrimp | |
Name: Xxxx X. Shrimp |
||
Title: Authorized Signatory |
[Signature
Page to Purchase Agreement]
Exhibit
A
REGISTRATION
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”)
is
made and entered into as of _______, 2007, by and among DCP Midstream Partners,
LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”),
and
the Purchasers listed on the signature pages to this Agreement (each, a
“Purchaser”
and
collectively, the “Purchasers”).
WHEREAS,
this Agreement is made in connection with the Closing of the issuance and sale
of the Purchased Units pursuant to the Common Unit Purchase Agreement, dated
as
of May 21, 2007, by and among the Partnership and the Purchasers (the
“Purchase
Agreement”);
WHEREAS,
the Partnership has agreed to provide the registration and other rights set
forth in this Agreement for the benefit of the Purchasers pursuant to the
Purchase Agreement; and
WHEREAS,
it is a condition to the obligations of each Purchaser and the Partnership
under
the Purchase Agreement that this Agreement be executed and
delivered.
NOW
THEREFORE, 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
as
follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
Section
1.01 Definitions.
Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings given
to them in the Purchase Agreement. The terms set forth below are used herein
as
so defined:
“Affiliate”
means,
with respect to a specified Person, any other Person, whether now in existence
or hereafter created, directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or
under
direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes
of
this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, “controlling,”
“controlled by,” and “under common control with”) means the power to direct or
cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, directly
or
indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract
or
otherwise.
“Agreement”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in the introductory paragraph.
“Commission”
means
the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Common
Units”
means
the Common Units of the Partnership representing limited partner interests
therein.
“Effectiveness
Period”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in Section
2.01(a)
of this
Agreement.
“Holder”
means
the record holder of any Registrable Securities.
“Included
Registrable Securities”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in Section
2.02(a)
of this
Agreement.
“Liquidated
Damages”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in Section
2.01(b)
of this
Agreement.
“Liquidated
Damages Multiplier”
means
the product of $42.00 times the number of Common Units purchased by such
Purchaser (excluding any Excluded Registrable Securities).
“Losses”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in Section
2.07(a)
of this
Agreement.
“Managing
Underwriter”
means,
with respect to any Underwritten Offering, the book-running lead manager of
such
Underwritten Offering.
“NYSE”
means
The New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
“Opt
Out Notice”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in Section
2.02(a)
of this
Agreement.
“Other
Holders”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in Section
2.02(b)
of this
Agreement.
“Person”
means
any
individual, corporation, company, voluntary association, partnership, joint
venture, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated organization or
government or any agency, instrumentality or political subdivision thereof,
or
any other form of entity.
“Purchase
Agreement”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in the Recitals of this Agreement.
“Purchaser”
and
“Purchasers”
have
the meanings specified therefor in the introductory paragraph of this
Agreement.
“Registrable
Securities”
means:
(i) the Common Units comprising the Purchased Units and (ii) any Common Units
issued as Liquidated Damages pursuant to Section
2.01
of this
Agreement, if any, all of which Registrable Securities are subject to the rights
provided herein until such rights terminate pursuant to the provisions
hereof.
“Registration
Expenses”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in Section
2.06(b)
of this
Agreement.
“Selling
Expenses”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in Section
2.06(b)
of this
Agreement.
“Selling
Holder”
means
a
Holder who is selling Registrable Securities pursuant to a registration
statement.
2
“Shelf
Registration Statement”
means
a
registration statement under the Securities Act to permit the resale of the
Registrable Securities from time to time, including as permitted by Rule 415
under the Securities Act (or any similar provision then in force under the
Securities Act).
“Underwritten
Offering”
means
an offering (including an offering pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement)
in which Common Units are sold to an underwriter on a firm commitment basis
for
reoffering to the public.
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 can be disposed of pursuant to Rule 144(k) (or any similar
provision then in force under the Securities Act) by the Holder, (d) such
Registrable Security is held by the Partnership or one of its subsidiaries;
(e)
two years from the date on which the Shelf Registration Statement contemplated
by Section
2.01
is
declared effective by the Commission or (f) such Registrable Security has been
sold in a private transaction in which the transferor’s rights under this
Agreement are not assigned to the transferee of such securities.
ARTICLE
II
REGISTRATION
RIGHTS
Section
2.01 Shelf
Registration.
(a) Deadline
To Go Effective.
As soon
as practicable following the Closing, but in any event within 90 days of the
Closing, the Partnership shall prepare and file a Shelf Registration Statement
under the Securities Act with respect to all of the Registrable Securities.
The
Partnership shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Shelf
Registration Statement to become effective no later than 180 days after the
date
of the Closing. The Partnership will use its commercially reasonable efforts
to
cause the Shelf Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Section
2.01
to be
continuously effective under the Securities Act until the date on which all
such
Registrable Securities have ceased to be Registrable Securities (the
“Effectiveness
Period”).
The
Shelf Registration Statement when declared effective (including any documents
incorporated therein by reference) will comply as to form in all material
respects with all applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange
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.
(b) Failure
To Go Effective.
If the
Shelf Registration Statement required by Section
2.01
is not
declared effective within 180 days after Closing, then each Purchaser shall
be
entitled to a payment (with respect to the Purchased Units of each such
Purchaser), as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, of 0.25% of the
Liquidated Damages Multiplier per 30-day period for the first 60 days following
the 180th day, increasing by an additional 0.25% of the Liquidated Damages
Multiplier per 30-day period for each subsequent 60 days, up to a maximum of
1.00% of the Liquidated Damages Multiplier per 30-day period (the “Liquidated
Damages”).
The
Liquidated Damages payable pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence shall
be
payable
within ten Business Days after the end of each such 30-day period. Any
Liquidated Damages shall be paid to each Purchaser in immediately available
funds; provided,
however,
if the
Partnership certifies that it is unable to pay Liquidated Damages in cash
because such payment would result in a breach under a credit facility or other
debt instrument filed as exhibits to the SEC Documents, then the Partnership
may
pay the Liquidated Damages in kind in the form of the issuance of additional
Common Units. Upon any issuance of Common Units as Liquidated Damages, the
Partnership shall promptly prepare and file an amendment to the Shelf
Registration Statement prior to its effectiveness adding such Common Units
to
such Shelf Registration Statement as additional Registrable Securities. The
determination of the number of Common Units to be issued as Liquidated Damages
shall be equal to the amount of Liquidated Damages divided by the average
closing price of the Partnership’s Common Units on the NYSE for the ten trading
days immediately preceding the date on which the Liquidated Damages payment
is
due. The payment of the Liquidated Damages to a Purchaser shall cease at such
time as the Purchased Units of such Purchaser cease to be Registrable
Securities. As soon as practicable following the date that the Shelf
Registration Statement becomes effective, but in any event within three Business
Days of such date, the Partnership shall provide the Purchasers with written
notice of the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement.
3
(c) Waiver
of Liquidated Damages.
If the
Partnership is unable to cause a Shelf Registration Statement to go effective
within the 180 days as a result of an acquisition, merger, reorganization,
disposition or other similar transaction, then the Partnership may request
a
waiver of the Liquidated Damages, and each Holder may individually
grant or
withhold its
consent to such request in its reasonable discretion.
(d) Termination
of Purchaser’s Rights.
A
Purchaser’s rights (and any transferee’s rights pursuant to Section
2.10)
under
this Section
2.01
shall
terminate upon the termination of the Effectiveness Period.
(e) Delay
Rights.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Partnership
may,
upon written notice to any Selling Holder whose Registrable Securities are
included in the Shelf Registration Statement, suspend such Selling Holder’s use
of any prospectus which is a part of the Shelf Registration Statement (in which
event the Selling Holder shall discontinue sales of the Registrable Securities
pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement) if (i) the Partnership is pursuing
an acquisition, merger, reorganization, disposition or other similar transaction
and the Partnership determines in good faith that the Partnership’s ability to
pursue or consummate such a transaction would be materially adversely affected
by any required disclosure of such transaction in the Shelf Registration
Statement or (ii) the Partnership has experienced some other material non-public
event the disclosure of which at such time, in the good faith judgment of the
Partnership, would materially adversely affect the Partnership; provided,
however,
in no
event shall the Purchasers be suspended for a period that exceeds an aggregate
of 30 days in any 90-day period or 90 days in any 365-day period, in each case,
exclusive of days covered by any lock-up agreement executed by a Purchaser
in
connection with any Underwritten Offering. Upon disclosure of such information
or the termination of the condition described above, the Partnership shall
provide prompt notice to the Selling Holders whose Registrable Securities are
included in the Shelf 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.
4
(f) Additional
Rights to Liquidated Damages.
If (i)
the Holders shall be prohibited from selling their Registrable Securities under
the Registration Statement as a result of a suspension pursuant to Section
2.01(e)
of this
Agreement in excess of the periods permitted therein or (ii) the Registration
Statement is filed and declared effective but, during the Effectiveness Period,
shall thereafter cease to be effective or fail to be usable for its intended
purpose without being succeeded by a post-effective amendment to the
Registration Statement, a supplement to the prospectus or a report filed with
the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or l5(d) of the Exchange
Act, then, until the suspension is lifted or a post-effective amendment,
supplement or report is filed with the Commission, but not including any day
on
which a suspension is lifted or such amendment, supplement or report is filed
and declared effective, if applicable, the Partnership shall owe the Holders
an
amount equal to the Liquidated Damages, following (x) the date on which the
suspension period exceeded the permitted period under Section
2.01(e)
of this
Agreement or (y) the day after the Registration Statement ceased to be effective
or failed to be useable for its intended purposes, as liquidated damages and
not
as a penalty. For purposes of this Section
2.01(f),
a
suspension shall be deemed lifted on the date that notice that the suspension
has been lifted is delivered to the Holders pursuant to Section 3.01 of this
Agreement.
Section
2.02 Piggyback
Rights.
(a) Participation.
If at
any time that is on or after 180 days after the date of the Closing the
Partnership proposes to file (i) a prospectus supplement to an effective shelf
registration statement, other than the Shelf Registration Statement contemplated
by Section
2.01,
or (ii)
a registration statement, other than a shelf registration statement, in either
case, for the sale of Common Units in an Underwritten Offering for its own
account and/or another Person, then as soon as practicable but not less than
three (3) Business Days prior to the filing of (x) any preliminary prospectus
supplement to a prospectus relating to such Underwritten Offering pursuant
to
Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, (y) the prospectus supplement to a
prospectus relating to such Underwritten Offering pursuant to Rule 424(b) under
the Securities Act (if no preliminary prospectus supplement is used) or (z)
such
registration statement, as the case may be, the Partnership 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 (the “Included
Registrable Securities”)
as
each such Holder may request in writing; provided,
that
each such Holder shall keep all information relating to such Underwritten
Offering in confidence and shall not make use of, disseminate or in any way
disclose any such information; provided,
however,
that if
the Partnership has been advised by the 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
in the Underwritten Offering, then the amount of Registrable Securities to
be
offered for the accounts of Holders shall be determined based on the provisions
of Section
2.02(b).
The
notice required to be provided in this Section
2.02(a)
to
Holders shall be provided on a Business Day pursuant to Section
3.01
hereof.
Each such Holder shall then have two Business Days after receiving such notice
to request inclusion of Registrable Securities in the Underwritten Offering,
except that such Holder shall have one Business Day after such Holder confirms
receipt of the notice to request inclusion of Registrable Securities in the
Underwritten Offering in the case of a “bought deal” or “overnight transaction”
where no preliminary prospectus is used. If no request for inclusion from a
Holder is received within the specified time, each such Holder shall have no
further right to participate in such Underwritten Offering. 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, the Partnership
shall determine for any reason not to undertake or to delay such Underwritten
Offering, the Partnership 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 the Partnership of such withdrawal
up to and including the time of pricing of such offering. Each Holder’s rights
under this Section
2.02(a)
shall
terminate when such Holder (together with any Affiliates of such Holder) holds
less than $15 million of Purchased Units, based on the purchase price per unit
under the Purchase Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Holder holding
greater than $15 million of Purchased Units, based on the purchase price per
unit under the Purchase Agreement, may deliver written notice (an “Opt
Out Notice”)
to the
Partnership requesting that such Holder not receive notice from the Partnership
of any proposed Underwritten Offering; provided,
that,
such Holder may later revoke any such Opt Out Notice. Following receipt of
an
Opt Out Notice from a Holder (unless subsequently revoked), the Partnership
shall not be required to deliver any notice to such Holder pursuant to this
Section
2.02(a)
and such
Holder shall no longer be entitled to participate in Underwritten Offerings
by
the Partnership pursuant to this Section
2.02(a).
5
(b) Priority.
If the
Managing Underwriter or Underwriters of any proposed Underwritten Offering
of
Common Units included in an Underwritten Offering involving Included Registrable
Securities advises that the total amount of Common Units that the Selling
Holders and any other Persons intend to include in such offering exceeds the
number that 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 can be sold without having
such adverse effect, with such number to be allocated (i) first, to the
Partnership and (ii) second, pro rata among the Selling Holders party to
this Agreement and any other Persons who have been or are granted registration
rights on or after the date of this Agreement (including the General Partner,
“Other
Holders”),
in
each case, who have requested participation in such Underwritten Offering.
The
pro rata allocations for each such Selling Holder shall be the product of (a)
the aggregate number of Common Units proposed to be sold by all Selling Holders
and Other Holders in such Underwritten Offering multiplied by (b) the fraction
derived by dividing (x) the number of Common Units owned on the Registration
Deadline by such Selling Holder or Other Holder by (y) the aggregate number
of
Common Units owned by all Selling Holders and Other Holders participating in
the
Underwritten Offering. As of the date of execution of this Agreement, there
are
no other Persons with Registration Rights relating to Common Units other than
as
described in this Section
2.02(b)
and as
set forth in the Partnership Agreement.
Section
2.03 Underwritten
Offerings.
(a) Underwritten
Offering.
Any one
or more Holders may deliver written notice to the Partnership that such Holders
wish to dispose of Registrable Securities under the Shelf Registration Statement
in an Underwritten Offering if the Holders reasonably anticipate selling
collectively at least $25 million of Common Units (calculated based on the
per
unit purchase price of such Common Units). Upon receipt of such written request,
the Partnership shall use commercially reasonable efforts to retain underwriters
and effect such sale through an Underwritten Offering and take all commercially
reasonable actions as are reasonably requested by the Managing Underwriter
or
underwriters to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable
Securities,
including entering into an underwriting agreement;
provided,
however,
that
the Partnership shall not be required to cause its management to participate
in
a “road show” or similar marketing effort on behalf of any Holder. The
Partnership may elect to include primary Common Units in any Underwritten
Offering undertaken pursuant to this Section
2.03(a).
In
addition, any Underwritten Offering undertaken pursuant to this Section
2.03
will be
subject to the provisions of Section
2.02(b).
(b) General
Procedures.
In
connection with any Underwritten Offering under this Agreement, the Partnership
shall be entitled to select the Managing Underwriter or Underwriters. In
connection with an Underwritten Offering contemplated by this Agreement in
which
a Selling Holder participates, each Selling Holder and the Partnership shall
be
obligated to enter into an underwriting agreement that 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 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, the Partnership 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 the Partnership
or
the underwriters other than representations, warranties or agreements regarding
such Selling Holder, its authority to enter into such underwriting agreement
and
to sell, and its ownership of, the securities being registered on its behalf,
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 the Partnership
and
the Managing Underwriter; provided,
however,
that
such withdrawal must be made up to and including the time of pricing of such
Underwritten Offering. No such withdrawal shall affect the Partnership’s
obligation to pay Registration Expenses. The Partnership’s management may but
shall not be required to participate in a roadshow or similar marketing effort
in connection with any Underwritten Offering.
6
Section
2.04 Sale
Procedures.
In
connection with its obligations under this Article
II,
the
Partnership will, as expeditiously as possible:
(a) prepare
and file with the Commission such amendments and supplements to the Shelf
Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may
be
necessary to keep the Shelf Registration Statement 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 Shelf Registration Statement;
(b) if
a
prospectus supplement will be used in connection with the marketing of an
Underwritten Offering from the Shelf Registration Statement and the Managing
Underwriter at any time shall notify the Partnership in writing that, in the
sole judgment of such Managing Underwriter, inclusion of detailed information
to
be used in such prospectus supplement is of material importance to the success
of the Underwritten Offering of such Registrable Securities, the Partnership
shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to include such information in
such prospectus supplement;
(c) furnish
to each Selling Holder (i) as far in advance as reasonably practicable before
filing the Shelf Registration Statement or
any
other 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 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 the Shelf Registration Statement or such other registration
statement or supplement or amendment thereto, and (ii) such number of copies
of
the Shelf Registration Statement or such other 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 Shelf Registration
Statement or such other registration statement;
(d) if
applicable, use its commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify
the
Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement or any other
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,
however,
that
the Partnership 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 in any such
jurisdiction where it is not then so subject;
(e) 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 the Shelf Registration Statement or
any
other 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 Shelf Registration
Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement
or
any post-effective amendment thereto, 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 the Shelf Registration Statement or any other
registration statement contemplated by this Agreement or any prospectus or
prospectus supplement thereto;
7
(f) 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 the Shelf Registration Statement or
any
other 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 the Shelf Registration Statement or
any
other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement,
or the
initiation of any proceedings for that purpose; or (iii) the receipt by the
Partnership 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, the Partnership 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;
(g) in
the
case of an Underwritten Offering, furnish upon request, (i) an opinion of
counsel for the Partnership, 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, and (ii) a “cold comfort” letter, dated the pricing date of such
Underwritten Offering and a letter of like kind dated the date of the closing
under the underwriting agreement, in each case, signed by the independent public
accountants who have certified the Partnership’s financial statements included
or incorporated by reference into the applicable registration statement, and
each of the opinion and the “cold 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)
as
have been customarily covered in opinions of issuer’s counsel and in
accountants’ letters delivered to the underwriters in Underwritten Offerings of
securities by the Partnership and such other matters as such underwriters and
Selling Holders 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, 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 Partnership personnel as is
reasonable and customary to enable such parties to establish a due diligence
defense under the Securities Act;
8
(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 the Partnership 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 the Partnership
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) the
Partnership agrees that, if any Purchaser could reasonably be deemed to be
an
“underwriter”, as defined in Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act, in
connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, in addition to its obligations
set forth in paragraph (i) above, at any Purchaser’s request, (A) the
Partnership will furnish to such Purchaser, on the date of the effectiveness
of
the Shelf Registration Statement and thereafter from time to time on such dates
as such Purchaser may reasonably request, an opinion of counsel for the
Partnership and, to the extent practicable, a “cold comfort” letter signed by
the independent public accountants who have certified the Partnership’s
financial statements included or incorporated by reference into the Shelf
Registration Statement, and each of the opinion and “cold comfort” letter shall
be in customary form and covering substantially the same matters with respect to
the Shelf Registration Statement as have been customarily covered in opinions
of
issuer’s counsel and accountants’ letters delivered to the underwriters in
Underwritten Offerings of securities of the Partnership and (B) the
Partnership will also permit legal counsel to such Purchaser to review and
comment upon the Shelf Registration Statement at least five Business Days prior
to its filing with the Commission and all amendments and supplements thereto
(excluding any filings made under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and
incorporated therein by reference) within a reasonable time period prior to
their filing with the Commission and not file any Shelf Registration Statement
or amendment or supplement thereto (excluding any filings made under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and incorporated therein by reference) in a
form
to which such Purchaser’s legal counsel reasonably objects.
Each
Selling Holder, upon receipt of notice from the Partnership of the happening
of
any event of the kind described in subsection (f) 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 (f) of this Section
2.04
or until
it is advised in writing by the Partnership 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 the
Partnership, such Selling Holder will, or will request the managing underwriter
or underwriters, if any, to deliver to the Partnership (at the Partnership’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.
9
Section
2.05 Cooperation
by Holders.
The
Partnership shall have no obligation to include in the Shelf Registration
Statement, or in an Underwritten Offering pursuant to Section
2.2(a),
Common
Units of a Selling Holder who has failed to timely furnish such information
that, in the opinion of counsel to the Partnership, is reasonably required
in
order for the registration statement or prospectus supplement, as applicable,
to
comply with the Securities Act.
Section
2.06 Restrictions
on Public Sale by Holders of Registrable Securities.
For one
year following the Closing Date, each Holder of Registrable Securities who
is
included in the Shelf Registration Statement agrees not to effect any public
sale or distribution of the Registrable Securities during the 30-day period
following completion of an Underwritten Offering of equity securities by the
Partnership (except as provided in this Section
2.06);
provided,
however,
that
the duration of the foregoing restrictions shall be no longer than the duration
of the shortest restriction generally imposed by the underwriters on the
officers or directors or any other unitholder of the Partnership on whom a
restriction is imposed. In
addition, the lock-up provisions in this Section
2.06
shall
not apply with respect to a Holder that (A) owns less than $15 million of
Purchased Units, based on the purchase price per unit under the Purchase
Agreement, (B) has delivered an Opt Out Notice to the Partnership pursuant
to
Section
2.02(a)
or (C)
has submitted a notice requesting the inclusion of Registrable Securities in
an
Underwritten Offering pursuant to Section
2.02(a)
but is
unable to do so as a result of the priority provisions contained in Section
2.02(b).
Section
2.07 Expenses.
(a) Expenses.
The
Partnership will pay all reasonable Registration Expenses as determined in
good
faith, including, in the case of an Underwritten Offering, whether or not any
sale is made pursuant to such Underwritten Offering. Each Selling Holder shall
pay all Selling Expenses in connection with any sale of its Registrable
Securities hereunder. In addition, except as otherwise provided in Section
2.08
hereof,
the Partnership shall not be responsible for legal fees incurred by Holders
in
connection with the exercise of such Holders’ rights hereunder.
(b) Certain
Definitions.
“Registration
Expenses”
means
all expenses incident to the Partnership’s performance under or compliance with
this Agreement to effect the registration of Registrable Securities on the
Shelf
Registration Statement pursuant to Section
2.01
or an
Underwritten Offering covered under this Agreement, and the disposition of
such
securities, including, without limitation, all registration, filing, securities
exchange listing and NYSE fees, all registration, filing, qualification and
other fees and expenses of complying with securities or blue sky laws (other
than fees and expenses of counsel to the Managing Underwriter in connection
with
an Underwritten Offering), fees of the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc., fees of transfer agents and registrars, all word processing,
duplicating and printing expenses, any transfer taxes and the fees and
disbursements of counsel and independent public accountants for the Partnership,
including the expenses of any special audits or “cold comfort” letters required
by or incident to such performance and compliance. “Selling
Expenses”
means
all underwriting fees, discounts and selling commissions allocable to the sale
of the Registrable Securities.
Section
2.08 Indemnification.
(a) By
the
Partnership.
In the
event of a registration of any Registrable Securities under the Securities
Act
pursuant to this Agreement, the Partnership will indemnify and hold harmless
each Selling Holder thereunder, its directors, officers, employees and agents,
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 within the meaning of the Securities Act and
the Exchange Act, and its directors, officers, employees or agents, 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, employee, agent
or
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 the Shelf Registration Statement or any other
registration statement contemplated by this Agreement, any preliminary
prospectus, free writing prospectus or final prospectus contained therein,
or
any amendment or supplement thereto, 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,
officers, employee and agents, 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
the Partnership 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, its directors, officers, employees
and agents or any underwriter or such controlling Person in writing specifically
for use in the Shelf Registration Statement or such other registration statement
contemplated by this Agreement, or any preliminary prospectus, free writing
prospectus or final prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement
thereto, 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 directors, officers, employees agents or any underwriter or controlling
Person, and shall survive the transfer of such securities by such Selling
Holder.
10
(b) By
Each Selling Holder.
Each
Selling Holder agrees severally and not jointly to indemnify and hold harmless
the Partnership, its directors, officers, employees and agents and each Person,
if any, who controls the Partnership within the meaning of the Securities Act
or
of the Exchange Act, and its directors, officers, employees and agents, to
the
same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Partnership 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 the Shelf Registration Statement or any other registration
statement contemplated by this Agreements, or any preliminary prospectus, free
writing prospectus or final prospectus contained therein, or any amendment
or
supplement thereto.
(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
2.08.
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
2.08
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 or employ counsel
reasonably acceptable to the indemnified party 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 indemnified party
shall settle any action brought against it with respect to which it is entitled
to indemnification hereunder without the consent of the indemnifying party,
unless the settlement thereof imposes no liability or obligation on, and
includes a complete and unconditional release from all liability of, the
indemnifying party.
(d) Contribution.
If the
indemnification provided for in this Section
2.08
is held
by a court or government agency of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable
to
any indemnified party or is insufficient to hold them harmless 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 Loss in such proportion as is appropriate
to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and
of
such indemnified party 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 the indemnifying party on the one hand
and the indemnified party 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 herein. 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.
11
(e) Other
Indemnification.
The
provisions of this Section
2.08
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
2.09 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, the Partnership agrees to use its commercially reasonable
efforts to:
(a) Make
and
keep public information regarding the Partnership available, as those terms
are
understood and defined in Rule 144 under 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
the Partnership 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 the
Partnership, 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
2.10 Transfer
or Assignment of Registration Rights.
The
rights to cause the Partnership to register Registrable Securities granted
to
the Purchasers by the Partnership under this Article
II
may be
transferred or assigned by any Purchaser to one or more transferee(s) or
assignee(s) of such Registrable Securities; provided,
however,
that
(a) unless such transferee is an Affiliate or a swap counterpart of such
Purchaser, each such transferee or assignee holds Registrable Securities
representing at least $15 million of the Purchased Units, based on the purchase
price per unit under the Purchase Agreement, (b) the Partnership 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, and (c) each
such transferee assumes in writing responsibility for its portion of the
obligations of such Purchaser under this Agreement.
Section
2.11 Limitation
on Subsequent Registration Rights.
From
and after the date hereof, the Partnership shall not, without the prior written
consent of the Holders of a majority of the outstanding Registrable Securities,
enter into any agreement with any current or future holder of any securities
of
the Partnership that would allow such current or future holder to require the
Partnership to include securities in any registration statement filed by the
Partnership on a basis that is superior in any way to the piggyback rights
granted to the Purchasers hereunder.
12
ARTICLE
III
MISCELLANEOUS
Section
3.01 Communications.
All
notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall
be
made in writing by facsimile, electronic mail, courier service or personal
delivery:
(a) if
to
Purchaser, to the address set forth in Schedule 8.07 to the Purchase
Agreement;
(b) if
to a
transferee of Purchaser, to such Holder at the address provided pursuant to
Section
2.10
above;
and
(c) if
to the
Partnership at 000 00xx
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxx 0000, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000 (facsimile: 303-___-____).
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 courier service or any other means.
Section
3.02 Successor
and Assigns.
This
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors
and
assigns of each of the parties, including subsequent Holders of Registrable
Securities to the extent permitted herein.
Section
3.03 Assignment
of Rights.
All or
any portion of the rights and obligations of any Purchaser under this Agreement
may be transferred or assigned by such Purchaser in accordance with Section
2.10
hereof.
Section
3.04 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 the Partnership or any successor or assign
of the Partnership (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
3.05 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 Person,
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 Person from pursuing
any
other rights and remedies at law or in equity which such Person may
have.
13
Section
3.06 Counterparts.
This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties
hereto in separate counterparts, including facsimile 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.
Section
3.07 Headings.
The
headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall
not
limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
Section
3.08 Governing
Law.
The
Laws of the State of New York shall govern this Agreement without regard to
principles of conflict of Laws.
Section
3.09 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
3.10 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
the Partnership set forth herein. This Agreement and the Purchase Agreement
supersede all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with
respect to such subject matter.
Section
3.11 Amendment.
This
Agreement may be amended only by means of a written amendment signed by the
Partnership and the Holders of a majority of the then outstanding Registrable
Securities; provided,
however,
that no
such amendment shall materially and adversely affect the rights of any Holder
hereunder without the consent of such Holder.
Section
3.12 No
Presumption.
If 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
3.13 Aggregation
of Purchased Units.
All
Purchased Units held or acquired by Persons who are Affiliates of one another
shall be aggregated together for the purpose of determining the availability
of
any rights under this Agreement.
14
Section
3.14 Obligations
Limited to Parties to Agreement.
Each of
the Parties hereto covenants, agrees and acknowledges that no Person other
than
the Purchasers shall have any obligation hereunder and that, notwithstanding
that one or more of the Purchasers may be a corporation, partnership or limited
liability company, no recourse under this Agreement or under any documents
or
instruments delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be had against
any former, current or future director, officer, employee, agent, general or
limited partner, manager, member, stockholder or Affiliate of any of the
Purchaser or any former, current or future director, officer, employee, agent,
general or limited partner, manager, member, stockholder or Affiliate of any
of
the foregoing, whether by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal
or
equitable proceeding, or by virtue of any applicable Law, it being expressly
agreed and acknowledged that no personal liability whatsoever shall attach
to,
be imposed on or otherwise by incurred by any former, current or future
director, officer, employee, agent, general or limited partner, manager, member,
stockholder or Affiliate of any of the Purchasers or any former, current or
future director, officer, employee, agent, general or limited partner, manager,
member, stockholder or Affiliate of any of the foregoing, as such, for any
obligations of the Purchasers under this Agreement or any documents or
instruments delivered in connection herewith or therewith or for any claim
based
on, in respect of or by reason of such obligation or its creation, except in
each case for any assignee of a Purchaser hereunder.
Section
3.15 Interpretation.
Article
and Section references to this Agreement, unless otherwise specified. All
references to instruments, documents, contracts and agreements are references
to
such instruments, documents, contracts and agreements as the same may be
amended, supplemented and otherwise modified from time to time, unless otherwise
specified. The word “including” shall mean “including but not limited to.”
Whenever any determination, consent or approval is to be made or given by a
Purchaser under this Agreement, such action shall be in such Purchaser’s sole
discretion unless otherwise specified.
[Signature
pages to follow]
15
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto execute this Agreement, effective as of
the
date first above written.
By:
DCP
Midstream Partners GP, LP,
its
General Partner
By:
DCP
Midstream Partners GP, LLC,
its
General Partner
By:
Name:
Title:
[PURCHASERS]