REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG REGENCY ENERGY PARTNERS LP AND EAGLE ROCK ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.
Exhibit 10.2
Execution Copy
BY AND AMONG
AND
EAGLE ROCK ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of July 1, 2014 by and between REGENCY ENERGY PARTNERS LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“Regency”), and EAGLE ROCK ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Contributor”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, this Agreement is made in connection with the issuance of the Common Units to Contributor pursuant to that certain Contribution Agreement, dated as of December 23, 2013 (the “Contribution Agreement”), by and among Regency, Regal Midstream LLC and Contributor. Regency and Contributor have agreed to enter into this Agreement pursuant to Section 2.5 of the Contribution Agreement; and
WHEREAS, Regency has agreed to provide the registration and other rights set forth in this Agreement for the benefit of Contributor who will receive Common Units on the Closing Date as Equity Consideration.
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 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 Contribution Agreement. The terms set forth below are used herein as so defined:
“Affiliate” means a Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, a specified Person. A Person shall be deemed to control another Person if such first Person possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct, or cause the direction of, the management and policies of such other Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
“Agreement” has the meaning specified therefor in the preamble of this Agreement.
“Commission” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Common Units” means 8,245,859 common units representing limited partner interests in Regency issued to Contributor pursuant to the Contribution Agreement.
“Common Unit Price” means the volume weighted average closing price of the Common Units (as reported by The New York Stock Exchange) for the ten trading days immediately preceding the date on which the determination is made.
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“Contribution Agreement” has the meaning specified therefor in the recitals of this Agreement.
“Contributor” has the meaning specified therefor in the preamble of this Agreement.
“Effectiveness Period” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.01(a) of this Agreement.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“File Date” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.01(a) of this Agreement.
“Holder” means a holder of any Registrable Securities.
“Losses” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.08(a) of this Agreement.
“Managing Underwriter” means, with respect to any Underwritten Offering, the book running lead manager of such Underwritten Offering.
“Parity Holders” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.02(b) of this Agreement.
“Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited partnership, general partnership, limited liability company, joint stock company, joint venture, association, company, estate, trust, bank trust company, land trust, business trust, or other organization, whether or not a legal entity, custodian, trustee-executor, administrator, nominee or entity in a representative capacity.
“Piggyback Notice” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.02(a) of this Agreement.
“Prior Registration Rights Agreements” means the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of May 26, 2010, by and between Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. and Regency, the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of May 26, 2010, by and among Regency LP Acquirer, L.P. and Regency, and the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of May 2, 2011, by and among Regency and the purchasers set forth in Schedule I thereto.
Prior Selling Holders” means the “Selling Holders” under the Prior Registration Rights Agreements.
“Regency” has the meaning specified therefor in the preamble of this Agreement.
“Registrable Securities” means the Common Units until such time as such securities cease to be Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 1.02 hereof.
“Registration Expenses” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.07(a) of this Agreement.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
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“Selling Expenses” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.06(a) of this Agreement.
“Selling Holder” means a Holder who is selling Registrable Securities pursuant to a registration statement.
“Shelf Registration” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.01(a) of this Agreement.
“Shelf Registration Statement” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.01(a) of this Agreement.
“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 or an offering that is a “bought deal” with one or more investment banks. An Underwritten Offering shall not include sales by Regency of Common Units pursuant to an At-the-Market Offering.
Section 1.02 Registrable Securities. Any Registrable Security will cease to be a Registrable Security when (a) a registration statement covering such Registrable Security is effective 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 successor rule or regulation to Rule 144 then in force) under the Securities Act; (c) such Registrable Security is held by Regency or one of its subsidiaries; or (d) three years after the date on which the Shelf Registration Statement first becomes effective.
ARTICLE II
REGISTRATION RIGHTS
Section 2.01 Shelf Registration.
(a) Shelf Registration. Regency shall prepare and file by fifteen Business Day after the Closing Date (the “File Date”) a registration statement under the Securities Act to permit the public 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) of the Securities Act with respect to all of the Registrable Securities (the “Shelf Registration Statement”). The Shelf Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Section 2.01(a) shall be on Form S-3 of the Commission if Regency is eligible to use Form S-3 or Form S-1 of the Commission if Regency is not eligible to use Form S-3; provided, however, that 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 Contributor 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, Regency shall use its reasonable best efforts to include such information in such a prospectus supplement. Subject to Section 2.01(b), Regency will cause the Shelf Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Section 2.01(a) to be continuously effective under the Securities Act from and after the date it is first declared or becomes effective
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until all Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been distributed in the manner set forth and as contemplated in the Shelf Registration Statement or there are no longer any Registrable Securities outstanding (the “Effectiveness Period”). The Shelf Registration Statement when declared effective (including the documents incorporated therein by reference) will comply as to form with all applicable requirements of the Securities Act and 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) Delay Rights. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Regency may, upon written notice to (x) all Holders, delay the filing of the Shelf Registration Statement or (y) 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 but such Selling Holder may settle any contracted sales of Registrable Securities) if Regency (i) is pursuing an acquisition, merger, reorganization, disposition or other similar transaction and Regency determines in good faith that its ability to pursue or consummate such a transaction would be materially adversely affected by any required disclosure of such transaction in the Shelf Registration Statement or (ii) has experienced some other material non-public event the disclosure of which at such time, in the good faith judgment of Regency would materially adversely affect Regency; provided, however, in no event shall (A) such filing of the Shelf Registration Statement be delayed under clauses (i) or (ii) of this Section 2.01(b) for a period that exceeds 90 days or (B) such Selling Holders be suspended under clauses (i) or (ii) of this Section 2.01(b) from selling Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement for a period that exceeds an aggregate of 45 days in any 90-day period or 90 days in any 365-day period. Upon disclosure of such information or the termination of the condition described above, Regency 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. Regency will only exercise its suspension rights under this Section 2.01(b) if it exercises similar suspension rights under the Prior Registration Rights Agreements that then remain in effect and with respect to any Parity Holders.
Section 2.02 Piggyback Rights.
(a) Participation. If at any time during the Effectiveness Period, Regency proposes to file (i) a shelf registration statement other than the Shelf Registration Statement (in which event Regency covenants and agrees to include thereon a description of the transaction under which Contributor acquired the Registrable Securities), (ii) a prospectus supplement to an effective shelf registration statement, other than the Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by Section 2.01(a) of this Agreement, and Holders could be included without the filing of a post-effective amendment thereto (other than a post-effective amendment that is immediately effective), or (iii) a registration statement, other than a shelf registration statement, in the case of each of clause (i), (ii) or (iii), for
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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 five Business Days prior to the filing of (A) any preliminary prospectus supplement relating to such Underwritten Offering pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, (B) the prospectus supplement relating to such Underwritten Offering pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act (if no preliminary prospectus supplement is used) or (C) such registration statement, as the case may be, then Regency shall give notice (including, but not limited to, notification by electronic mail) of such proposed Underwritten Offering to Contributor and such notice shall offer the Holders the opportunity to include in such Underwritten Offering such number of Common Units (the “Included Registrable Securities”) as each such Holder may request in writing; provided, however, that if Regency 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) of this Agreement. The notice required to be provided in this Section 2.02(a) to Contributor (the “Piggyback Notice”) shall be provided on a Business Day pursuant to Section 3.01 hereof. Promptly upon receipt of the Piggyback Notice, Contributor shall notify the other Holders (if any) of the opportunity to include in the Underwritten Offering such number of Common Units as each such Holder may request in writing. Each Holder shall then have three Business Days after the date on which Contributor received the Piggyback Notice to request inclusion of Registrable Securities in the Underwritten Offering. If no request for inclusion from a Holder is received within the specified time, such Holder shall have no further right to participate in such 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, Regency shall determine for any reason not to undertake or to delay such Underwritten Offering, Regency 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 Regency 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, directly or indirectly, less than $25 million in the aggregate of Registrable Securities, based on the Common Unit Price.
(b) Priority of Rights. If the Managing Underwriter or Underwriters of any proposed Underwritten Offering of Common Units included in an Underwritten Offering involving Included Registrable Securities advises Regency that the total amount of Registrable Securities 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
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or the market for the Common Units, then the Registrable Securities to be included in such Underwritten Offering shall include the number of Registrable Securities that such Managing Underwriter or Underwriters advises Regency can be sold without having such adverse effect, with such number to be allocated (i) first, to Regency, and (ii) second, pro rata among all Selling Holders, Prior Selling Holders and holders of any other securities of Regency having rights of registration on parity with the Registrable Securities (“Parity Holders”) 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 Registrable Securities proposed to be sold by all Selling Holders, Prior Selling Holders and Parity Holders participating in the Underwritten Offering (for the avoidance of doubt, after giving effect to the allocation to Regency pursuant to clause (i) of the preceding sentence) multiplied by (B) the fraction derived by dividing (x) the number of Registrable Securities owned at such time by such Selling Holder by (y) the aggregate number of Registrable Securities owned at such time by all Selling Holders, Prior Selling Holders and Parity Holders participating in the Underwritten Offering. All participating Selling Holders, Prior Selling Holders and Parity Holders shall have the opportunity to share pro rata that portion of such priority allocable to any Selling Holder(s), Prior Selling Holder(s) or Parity Holders to the extent not so participating.
Section 2.03 Underwritten Offering. In the event that the Selling Holders holding a majority of the Registrable Securities elect to dispose of Registrable Securities under the Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to an Underwritten Offering, Regency will retain Underwriters (which Underwriters shall be reasonably acceptable to Contributor) subject to such sale through an Underwritten Offering, including entering into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Managing Underwriter or Underwriters, which shall include, among other provisions, indemnities to the effect and to the extent provided in Section 2.08, and will take all reasonable actions as are requested by the Managing Underwriter in order to expedite or facilitate the registration and disposition of the Registrable 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, Regency 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 Regency or the Underwriters other than representations, warranties or agreements regarding such Selling Holder and its ownership of the securities being registered on its behalf and its intended method of distribution and any other representations 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 Regency and the Managing Underwriter; provided, however, that such notice of withdrawal must be made at a time before the time of pricing of such offering (which shall be deemed to occur upon the execution of the purchase or underwriting agreement) in order to be effective. No such withdrawal or abandonment shall affect Regency’s obligation to pay Registration Expenses.
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Section 2.04 Registration Procedures. In connection with its obligations under this Article II, Regency 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 cause the Shelf Registration Statement to be effective and 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) 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 furnishing or making available exhibits and each document incorporated by reference therein to the extent then required by the rules and regulations of the Commission), and provide each such Selling Holder the opportunity to object to any information pertaining to such Selling Holder and its plan of distribution that is contained therein and make the corrections reasonably requested by such Selling Holder with respect to such information prior to filing 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 the Shelf Registration Statement or such other registration statement;
(c) if applicable, use its reasonable best 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 that neither Regency nor its general partner will 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;
(d) promptly notify each Selling Holder and each underwriter of Registrable Securities, 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, 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;
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(e) immediately notify each Selling Holder and each underwriter of Registrable Securities, 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 Regency 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, Regency agrees to as promptly as practicable amend or supplement the prospectus or prospectus supplement or take other appropriate action so that the prospectus or prospectus supplement does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in the light of the circumstances then existing, and to take such other action as is necessary to remove a stop order, suspension, threat thereof or proceedings related thereto;
(f) furnish to each Selling Holder copies of any and all transmittal letters or other correspondence with the Commission or any other governmental agency or self-regulatory body or other body having jurisdiction (including any domestic or foreign securities exchange) relating to such offering of Registrable Securities;
(g) in the case of an Underwritten Offering, furnish upon request and addressed to the underwriters and to the Selling Holders, (i) an opinion of counsel for Regency, 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 “comfort letter,” dated the effective date of the applicable registration statement or the date of any amendment or supplement thereto and a letter of like kind dated the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement, in each case, signed by the independent public accountants who have certified Regency’s financial statements included or incorporated by reference into the applicable registration statement, and each of the opinion and the “comfort letter” shall be in customary form and cover substantially the same matters with respect to such registration statement (and the prospectus and any prospectus supplement included therein) as are customarily covered in opinions of issuer’s counsel and in accountants’ letters delivered to the underwriters in Underwritten Offerings of securities, and such other matters as such underwriters or Selling Holders may reasonably request;
(h) otherwise use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make available to its security holders, as
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soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least 12 months, but not more than 18 months, beginning with the first full calendar month after the effective date of such registration statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 promulgated thereunder;
(i) make available to the appropriate representatives of the Managing Underwriter and Selling Holders access to such information and Regency personnel as is reasonable and customary to enable such parties to establish a due diligence defense under the Securities Act; provided that Regency need not disclose any information to any such representative unless and until such representative has entered into a confidentiality agreement with Regency;
(j) to the extent not previously listed, cause all 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 Regency are then listed or quoted;
(k) use its reasonable best 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 Regency 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; and
(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.
Each Selling Holder, upon receipt of notice from Regency of the happening of any event of the kind described in subsection (e) of this Section 2.04, shall forthwith discontinue disposition of the Registrable Securities until such Selling Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by subsection (e) of this Section 2.04 or until it is advised in writing by Regency 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 Regency, such Selling Holder will, or will request the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, to deliver to Regency (at Regency’s expense) all copies in their possession or control, other than permanent file copies then in such Selling Holder’s possession, of the prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice.
Section 2.05 Cooperation by Holders. Regency shall have no obligation to include in the Shelf Registration Statement Common Units of a Holder who has failed to timely furnish such information which, in the opinion of counsel to Regency, is reasonably required in order for the registration statement or prospectus supplement thereto, as applicable, to comply with the Securities Act.
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Section 2.06 Restrictions on Public Sale by Holders of Registrable Securities. 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 for a period of up to 45 days following completion of an Underwritten Offering of equity securities by Regency, provided that (i) Regency gives written notice to such Holder of the date of the commencement and termination of such period with respect to any such Underwritten Offering and (ii) the duration of the foregoing restrictions shall be no longer than the duration of the shortest restriction generally imposed by the underwriters of such public sale or distribution on Regency or on the officers or directors or any other unitholder of Regency on whom a restriction is imposed.
Section 2.07 Expenses.
(a) Certain Definitions. “Registration Expenses” means all expenses incident to Regency’s performance under or compliance with this Agreement to effect the registration of Registrable Securities on the Shelf Registration Statement, an Underwritten Offering covered under this Agreement, and/or the disposition of such securities, including, without limitation, all registration, filing, securities exchange listing fees, all registration, filing, qualification and other fees and expenses of complying with securities or blue sky laws, fees of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, transfer taxes and fees of transfer agents and registrars, all word processing, duplicating and printing expenses, the fees and disbursements of one counsel to the Holders and counsel and independent public accountants for Regency including the expenses of any special audits or “comfort letters” required by or incident to such performance and compliance. Except as otherwise provided herein, Regency shall not be responsible for legal fees incurred by Holders in connection with the exercise of such Holders’ rights hereunder. In addition, Regency shall not be responsible for any “Selling Expenses,” which means all underwriting fees, discounts and selling commissions and (to the extent not paid by the applicable underwriters) fees of underwriters’ counsel allocable to the sale of the Registrable Securities.
(b) Expenses. Regency will pay all Registration Expenses as determined in good faith, including, in the case of an Underwritten Offering, whether or not any sale is made pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement. Each Selling Holder shall pay all Selling Expenses in connection with any sale of its Registrable Securities hereunder, and the legal fees incurred by such Holders in connection with the exercise by such Selling Holders of its rights hereunder.
Section 2.08 Indemnification.
(a) By Regency. In the event of a registration of any Registrable Securities under the Securities Act pursuant to this Agreement, Regency will indemnify and hold harmless each Selling Holder thereunder, its Affiliates that own Registrable Securities and their respective directors and officers and each underwriter pursuant to the applicable underwriting agreement with such underwriter and each Person, if any, who controls such
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Selling Holder or underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and its directors and officers (collectively, the “Selling Holder Indemnified Persons”), against any losses, claims, damages, expenses or liabilities (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) (collectively, “Losses”), joint or several, to which such Selling Holder 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 thereof, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of a prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading or arise out of or are based upon a Selling Holder being deemed to be an “underwriter,” as defined in Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act, in connection with the registration statement in respect of any registration of Regency’s securities, and will reimburse each such Selling Holder Indemnified 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 Regency 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 strict conformity with information furnished by such Selling Holder Indemnified Person in writing specifically for use in the Shelf Registration Statement or such other registration statement or any prospectus contained therein or any amendment or supplement thereof. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such Selling Holder or any such director, officer or controlling Person, and shall survive the transfer of such securities by such Selling Holder.
(b) By Each Selling Holder. Each Selling Holder agrees severally and not jointly to indemnify and hold harmless Regency, its directors and officers, and each Person, if any, who controls Regency within the meaning of the Securities Act or of the Exchange Act against any Losses to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from Regency 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 prospectus contained therein or any amendment or supplement thereof relating to the Registrable Securities; provided, however, that the liability of each Selling Holder shall not be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds (net of any Selling Expenses) received by such Selling Holder from the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification.
(c) Notice. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party hereunder of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party hereunder, notify the indemnifying party in writing thereof, but such indemnified party’s failure to so notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party other than under this Section 2.08. The indemnifying
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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 and 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 one such separate counsel (firm) 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 Regency or any Selling Holder or is insufficient to hold it 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 Losses as between Regency, on the one hand, and such Selling Holder, on the other hand, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of Regency, on the one hand, and of such Selling Holder, on the other, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such Losses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations; provided, however, that in no event shall such Selling Holder be required to contribute an aggregate amount in excess of the dollar amount of proceeds (net of Selling Expenses) received by such Selling Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification. The relative fault of Regency, on the one hand, and each Selling Holder, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact has been made by, or relates to, information supplied by such party, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this paragraph were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the first sentence of this paragraph. The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the Losses referred to in the first sentence of this paragraph shall be deemed to include any legal and
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other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any Loss which is the subject of this paragraph. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who is not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
(e) Other Indemnification. The provisions of this Section 2.08 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, Regency agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to:
(a) Make and keep public information regarding Regency available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144 of the Securities Act, at all times from and after the date hereof;
(b) File with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of Regency under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act at all times from and after the date hereof;
(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 Regency, 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; and
(d) At Holder’s expense, take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable the Holders to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitations of the exemption provided by Rule 144.
Section 2.10 Transfer or Assignment of Registration Rights. The rights to cause Regency to include Registrable Securities in a Shelf Registration Statement may be transferred or assigned by Contributor to one or more transferee(s) or assignee(s) of such Registrable Securities, provided that (a) such transferee or assignee is an Affiliate of Contributor or receives at least 20% of the Common Units covered by this Agreement, (b) Regency 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 or assignee assumes in writing responsibility for its portion of the obligations of Contributor under this Agreement.
Section 2.11 Information by Holder. Any Holder or Holders of Registrable Securities included in any registration statement shall promptly furnish to Regency such information regarding such Holder or Holders and the distribution proposed by such Holder or Holders as Regency may reasonably request and as shall be required in connection with any registration, qualification or compliance referred to herein.
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ARTICLE III
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 3.01 Communications. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by facsimile, courier service or personal delivery:
if to Regency to:
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
with a copy to:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx LLP
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000 or (000) 000-0000
Attention: G. Xxxxxxx X’Xxxxx or Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
if to Contributor:
Eagle Rock Energy Partners, L.P.
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Senior Vice President and General Counsel
with a copy to:
Xxxxxx & Xxxxxx L.L.P.
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000 or (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx or Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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; and when actually received, if sent by any other means.
Section 3.02 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the permitted successors and assigns of each of the parties, including subsequent Holders of Registrable Securities to the extent permitted herein.
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Section 3.03 Assignment of Rights. All or any portion of the rights and obligations of Contributor under this Agreement may be transferred or assigned by Contributor only in accordance with Section 2.10 of this Agreement. Regency may not transfer or assign any portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of Holder of at least a majority of the outstanding Registrable Securities.
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 Regency or any successor or assign of Regency (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, 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.
Section 3.06 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which counterparts, when so executed and delivered, shall be deemed to be an original and all of which counterparts, taken together, shall constitute but one and the same Agreement.
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 Regency set forth herein. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.
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Section 3.11 Amendment. This Agreement may be amended only by means of a written amendment signed by Regency 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. In the event any claim is made by a party relating to any conflict, omission, or ambiguity in this Agreement, no presumption or burden of proof or persuasion shall be implied by virtue of the fact that this Agreement was prepared by or at the request of a particular party or its counsel.
[Signature page follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
| REGENCY ENERGY PARTNERS LP | ||
| By: | Regency GP LP, its general partner | |
| By: | Regency GP LLC, its general partner | |
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxx | |
| Name: | Xxxxxx X. Xxxx | |
| Title: | Executive Vice President and | |
| Chief Financial Officer | ||
Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement
| EAGLE ROCK ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P. | ||
| By: | Eagle Rock Energy Partners GP, L.P., its general partner | |
| By: | Eagle Rock Energy G&P, LLC, its general partner | |
| /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx | ||
| Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx | ||
| Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary | ||
Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement
