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Bermuda
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Not applicable
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(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization) |
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(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number) |
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| | | | | II-1 | | | |
| | | | | II-4 | | | |
| | | | | II-6 | | |
US$ MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER UNIT AMOUNTS
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Actual
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As adjusted to
give effect to the Special Distribution |
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As at December 31, 2021 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents
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| | | | 2,588 | | | | | | 2,588 | | |
Liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Limited partners | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Limited partners
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| | | | 2,252 | | | | | | 1,495 | | |
Non-controlling interest | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Redemption-exchange units held by Brookfield
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| | | | 2,011 | | | | | | 1,352 | | |
Special limited partners
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| | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Preferred shares
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| | | | 15 | | | | | | 15 | | |
Interest of others in operating subsidiaries
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| | | | 8,722 | | | | | | 8,722 | | |
BBUC exchangeable shares
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| | | | — | | | | | | 1,416 | | |
Total equity
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| | | | 13,000 | | | | | | 13,000 | | |
US$ MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER UNIT AMOUNTS
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Actual
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As adjusted to
give effect to the Special Distribution |
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For the year ended December 31, 2021 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net income (loss)
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| | | | 2,153 | | | | | | 2,153 | | |
Attributable to: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Limited partners
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| | | | 258 | | | | | | 172 | | |
Non-controlling interest: | | | | ||||||||||
Redemption-exchange units held by Brookfield
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| | | | 228 | | | | | | 153 | | |
Special limited partners
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| | | | 157 | | | | | | 157 | | |
Interest of others in operating subsidiaries
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| | | | 1,510 | | | | | | 1,510 | | |
BBUC exchangeable shares
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| | | | — | | | | | | 161 | | |
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per limited partner unit
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| | | | 3.28 | | | | | | 2.20 | | |
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EXCHANGEABLE SHARES
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UNITS
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Corporate Governance
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BBUC is a corporation formed under the laws of the Province of British Columbia. The rights of holders of exchangeable shares, upon completion of the Special Distribution, will be governed by the BCBCA and the BBUC articles.
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The partnership is a Bermuda-exempted limited partnership registered under the Bermuda Limited Partnership Act 1883 and the Bermuda Exempted Partnerships Act 1992. The partnership’s limited partnership agreement provides for the management and control of the partnership by a general partner, the partnership’s general partner.
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Authorized Capital
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BBUC is authorized to issue an unlimited number of: (i) exchangeable shares; (ii) BBUC class B shares; (iii) BBUC class C shares; (iv) BBUC class A senior preferred shares, issuable in series, and (v) BBUC class B junior preferred shares, issuable in series. All exchangeable shares, BBUC class B shares, BBUC class C shares, BBUC class A senior preferred shares and BBUC class B junior preferred shares will be issued without par value. The number of authorized exchangeable shares can be changed in accordance with the BBUC articles or, if the BBUC articles are silent, by special resolution, in accordance with s. 54(3)(c) of the BCBCA.
Subject to the BBUC articles, including the terms of the shares then outstanding, BBUC’s board of directors has broad
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The partnership is a Bermuda-exempted limited partnership registered under the Bermuda Limited Partnership Act 1883 and the Bermuda Exempted Partnerships Act 1992. The partnership’s limited partnership agreement provides for the management and control of the partnership by a general partner, the partnership’s general partner.
The partnership’s interests consist of the general partner unit, which represents the general partnership interest, and the units, representing limited partnership interests in the partnership, and any additional partnership interests representing limited partnership interests that it may issue in the future.
The partnership’s general partner has broad rights to cause the partnership to issue additional partnership interests and may cause the partnership to issue
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EXCHANGEABLE SHARES
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UNITS
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rights to issue additional shares (including new classes of shares and options, rights, warrants, and appreciation rights relating to such shares) for any purpose, at any time and on such terms and conditions as it may determine without the approval of any shareholders. Any additional shares may be issued in one or more classes, or one or more series of classes, with such designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties (which may be senior to existing classes and series of shares) as may be determined by BBUC’s board of directors in its sole discretion.
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additional partnership interests (including new classes of partnership interests and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to such interests) for any partnership purpose, at any time and on such terms and conditions as it may determine without the approval of any limited partners. Any additional partnership interests may be issued in one or more classes, or one or more series of classes, with such designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties (which may be senior to existing classes and series of partnership interests) as may be determined by the partnership’s general partner in its sole discretion, all without the approval of the partnership’s limited partners.
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Voting Rights
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Except as otherwise expressly provided in the BBUC articles or as required by law, the holders of exchangeable shares and BBUC class B shares, will vote together and not as separate classes. Each holder of an exchangeable share will be entitled to cast one vote per exchangeable share on all matters submitted to a vote. On each such matter, the holders of BBUC class B shares will be entitled to cast, in the aggregate, a number of votes equal to three times the number of votes attached to the exchangeable shares. As Brookfield Business Partners will hold all of the class B shares, it will hold 75% of the votes eligible to be cast on all matters where the exchangeable shares and class B shares vote together.
At any time that no exchangeable shares are outstanding and for any vote held only in respect of the BBUC class B shares, the holder of the BBUC class B shares will be entitled to cast one vote per BBUC class B share. At any time that no exchangeable shares are outstanding, quorum will be at least one holder of BBUC class B shares.
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Limited partners are not entitled to vote on matters relating to the partnership, although holders of units are entitled to consent to certain matters with respect to certain amendments to the partnership’s limited partnership agreement and certain matters with respect to the withdrawal of the partnership’s general partner. Each unit entitles the holder thereof to one vote for the purposes of any approvals of holders of units. In addition to their rights under the partnership’s limited partnership agreement, limited partners have consent rights with respect to certain fundamental matters and on any other matters that require their approval in accordance with applicable securities laws and stock exchange rules.
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Size of Board
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BBUC’s board is currently set at nine (9) directors. BBUC’s board of directors may consist of between three (3) and eleven (11) directors or such other number of directors as may be determined from time to time by a resolution of BBUC’s shareholders and subject to the BBUC articles. BBUC’s board of directors is expected to mirror
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The partnership’s general partner board of directors is currently set at seven (7) directors. The board may consist of between three (3) and eleven (11) directors or such other number of directors as may be determined from time to time by a resolution of the shareholders of the partnership’s general partner and subject
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EXCHANGEABLE SHARES
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UNITS
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the board of directors of the general partner of the partnership, except for one additional non-overlapping director to assist us with, among other things, resolving any conflicts of interest that may arise from BBUC’s relationship with Brookfield Business Partners.
At least three (3) directors and at least a majority of the directors holding office must be independent of BBUC, as determined by the full board using the standards for independence established by the NYSE.
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to its bye-laws. At least three (3) directors and at least a majority of the directors holding office must be independent of the partnership’s general partner and Brookfield, as determined by the full board of directors using the standards of independence established by NYSE.
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Election and Removal of Directors
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BBUC’s board is elected by its shareholders and each of its current directors will serve until immediately before the election or appointment of directors at the next annual meeting of shareholders of BBUC or his or her death, resignation or removal from office, whichever occurs first. Vacancies on BBUC’s board of directors may be filled and additional directors may be added by a resolution of BBUC’s shareholders or a vote of the directors then in office. A director may be removed from office by a special resolution duly passed by BBUC’s shareholders or a resolution of the directors if the director is convicted of an indictable offence, or if the director ceases to be qualified to act as a director of BBUC and does not promptly resign. A director will be automatically removed from BBUC’s board of directors if he or she becomes bankrupt, insolvent or suspends payments to his or her creditors or becomes disqualified by law from acting as a director pursuant to the BCBCA.
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The partnership’s general partner’s board of directors was elected by its shareholder and each of its current directors will serve until the close of the next annual meeting of shareholders of the partnership’s general partner or his or her death, resignation or removal from office, whichever occurs first. Vacancies on the partnership’s general partner’s board of directors may be filled and additional directors may be added by a resolution of the shareholders of the partnership’s general partner or a vote of the directors then in office. A director may be removed from office by a resolution duly passed by the shareholders of the partnership’s general partner or, if the director has been absent without leave from three consecutive meetings of the board of directors, by a written resolution requesting resignation signed by all other directors then holding office. A director will be automatically removed from the board of directors if he or she becomes bankrupt, insolvent or suspends payments to his or her creditors or becomes prohibited by law from acting as a director.
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Process to Amend the Governing Instruments
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BBUC may from time to time amend, modify or repeal any provision contained in the BBUC articles in a manner authorized by the BCBCA.
Under the BCBCA, alteration of the articles generally requires authorization by either court order, by a two-thirds (2/3rds) vote of all voting shares or by the methods specified in the BBUC articles. Certain alterations to matters such as changes to company name or address or a change in directors will not require
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Amendments to the partnership’s limited partnership agreement may be proposed only by or with the consent of the partnership’s general partner. To adopt a proposed amendment, other than the amendments that do not require limited partner approval discussed below, the partnership’s general partner must seek approval of a majority of outstanding units required to approve the amendment, either by way of a meeting of the limited partners to consider and vote upon the
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EXCHANGEABLE SHARES
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UNITS
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authorization by the above-mentioned methods. Specific alterations such as those of a nature affecting a particular class or series in a manner that would prejudice or interfere with the rights of such class or series, will entitle the affected class or series to consent by special resolution to the alteration, whether or not such class or series otherwise carries the right to vote.
Under the BCBCA, BBUC may resolve to alter its articles by the type of resolution specified in the BCBCA, if not specified in the BCBCA, by the type of resolution specified in the BBUC articles or if neither the BCBCA or the BBUC articles specify the type of resolution, by a two-thirds (2/3rds) vote of all voting shares; provided however, if such alteration would prejudice or interfere with the rights of a particular class or series, such class or series must consent by special resolution to the alteration, whether or not such class or series otherwise carries the right to vote.
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proposed amendment or by written approval.
No amendment may be made that would: (i) enlarge the obligations of any limited partner without its consent, except any amendment that would have a material adverse effect on the rights or preferences of any class of partnership interests in relation to other classes of partnership interests may be approved by at least a majority of the type or class of partnership interests so affected; or (ii) enlarge the obligations of, restrict in any way any action by or rights of, or reduce in any way the amounts distributable, reimbursable or otherwise payable by the partnership to, the partnership’s general partner or any of its affiliates without the consent of the partnership’s general partner, which may be given or withheld in its sole discretion. The provision of the partnership’s limited partnership agreement preventing the amendments having the effects described in clauses (i) and (ii) above can be amended upon the approval of the holders of at least 90% of the outstanding units.
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Subject to applicable law, the partnership’s general partner may generally make amendments to the partnership’s limited partnership agreement without the approval of any limited partner to reflect: (i) a change in the name of the partnership, the location of its registered office or its registered agent; (ii) the admission, substitution or withdrawal of partners in accordance with the partnership’s limited partnership agreement; (iii) a change that the partnership’s general partner determines is reasonable and necessary or appropriate for the partnership to qualify or to continue its qualification as an exempted limited partnership under the laws of Bermuda or a partnership in which the limited partners have limited liability under the laws of any jurisdiction or is necessary or advisable in the opinion of the partnership’s general partner to ensure that the partnership will not be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise taxed as an entity for tax purposes; (iv) an amendment that the
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EXCHANGEABLE SHARES
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UNITS
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partnership’s general partner determines to be necessary or appropriate to address certain changes in tax regulations, legislation or interpretation; (v) an amendment that is necessary, in the opinion of the partnership’s counsel, to prevent the partnership or the partnership’s general partner or its directors or officers, from in any manner being subjected to the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or similar legislation in other jurisdictions; (vi) an amendment that the partnership’s general partner determines in its sole discretion to be necessary or appropriate for the creation, authorization or issuance of any class or series of partnership interests or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to partnership securities; (vii) any amendment expressly permitted in the partnership’s limited partnership agreement to be made by the partnership’s general partner acting alone; (viii) an amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by a merger or consolidation of the partnership with one or more persons in accordance with the provisions of the partnership’s limited partnership agreement; (ix) any amendment that the partnership’s general partner determines in its sole discretion to be necessary or appropriate to reflect and account for the formation by the partnership of, or its investment in, any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity, as otherwise permitted by the partnership’s limited partnership agreement; (x) a change in the partnership’s fiscal year and related changes; or (xi) any other amendments substantially similar to any of the matters described in (i) through (x) above.
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In addition, the partnership’s general partner may make amendments to the partnership’s limited partnership agreement without the approval of any limited partner if those amendments, in the discretion of the partnership’s general partner: (i) do not adversely affect the partnership’s limited partners considered as a whole (including any particular class of partnership interests as compared to
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EXCHANGEABLE SHARES
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UNITS
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other classes of partnership interests) in any material respect; (ii) are necessary or appropriate to satisfy any requirements, conditions or guidelines contained in any opinion, directive, order, ruling or regulation of any governmental agency or judicial authority; (iii) are necessary or appropriate to facilitate the trading of the units or to comply with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any securities exchange on which the units are or will be listed for trading; (iv) are necessary or appropriate for any action taken by the partnership’s general partner relating to splits or combinations of units under the provisions of the partnership’s limited partnership agreement; or (v) are required to effect the intent expressed in the Registration Statement (as defined in the partnership’s limited partnership agreement) or the intent of the provisions of the partnership’s limited partnership agreement or are otherwise contemplated by the partnership’s limited partnership agreement.
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The partnership’s general partner will not be required to obtain an opinion of counsel that an amendment will not result in a loss of limited liability to the limited partners if one of the amendments described in the preceding two paragraphs should occur. No other amendments to the partnership’s limited partnership agreement will become effective without the approval of holders of at least 90% of the units, unless the partnership obtains an opinion of counsel to the effect that the amendment will not (i) cause the partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise taxable as an entity for tax purposes (provided that for U.S. tax purposes the partnership’s general partner has not made the election described below under the section entitled “Qualification”), or (ii) affect the limited liability under the Bermuda Limited Partnership Act 1883 of any of the partnership’s limited partners.
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In addition to the above restrictions, any amendment that would have a material adverse effect on the rights or preferences of any type or class of partnership
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EXCHANGEABLE SHARES
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UNITS
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interests in relation to other classes of partnership interests will also require the approval of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding partnership interests of the class so affected.
In addition, any amendment that reduces the voting percentage required to take any action must be approved by the written consent or affirmative vote of limited partners whose aggregate outstanding voting units constitute not less than the voting requirement sought to be reduced.
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Special Meetings of the Shareholders
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A special meeting of the shareholders for any purpose or purposes may be called only by BBUC’s board on a date not less than twenty-one (21) days nor more than two (2) months after the sending of the notice of the meeting to each shareholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting.
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The partnership’s general partner may call special meetings of the limited partners at a time and place outside of Canada determined by the partnership’s general partner on a date not less than ten (10) days nor more than sixty (60) days after the mailing of notice of the meeting. The limited partners do not have the ability to call a special meeting. Only holders of record on the date set by the partnership’s general partner (which may not be less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the meeting) are entitled to notice of any meeting.
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Written Consent in Lieu of Meeting
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Under the BCBCA, generally, shareholder action without a meeting may only be taken by consent resolution of the shareholders entitled to vote on the resolution: with a written consent executed by shareholders holding two-thirds of the shares that carry the right to vote at general meetings being effective to approve an action requiring an ordinary resolution; or with a written consent executed by all shareholders that carry the right to vote at general meetings or by all of the shareholders holding shares of the applicable class or series of shares, as the case may be, being effective to approve an action requiring a special resolution or an exceptional resolution.
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Written consents may be solicited only by or on behalf of the partnership’s general partner. Any such consent solicitation may specify that any written consents must be returned to the partnership within the time period, which may not be less than twenty (20) days, specified by the partnership’s general partner.
For purposes of determining holders of partnership interests entitled to provide consents to any action described above, the partnership’s general partner may set a record date, which may be not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date by which record holders are requested in writing by the partnership’s general partner to provide such consents. Only those holders of partnership interests on the record date established by the partnership’s general partner will be entitled to provide consents with respect to matters as to which a consent right applies.
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EXCHANGEABLE SHARES
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UNITS
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Limitation of Liability and Indemnification of Directors and Officers
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No director will be personally liable to BBUC or its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty, except to the extent such exemption is not permitted under the BCBCA. Under the BCBCA, no provision in the BBUC articles or other contract relieves a director or officer from (i) the duty to act in accordance with the BCBCA and the regulations, or (ii) liability that by virtue of any enactment or rule of law or equity would otherwise attach to that director or officer in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust of which the director or officer may be guilty in relation to BBUC.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, BBUC will indemnify any present or former director or officer of BBUC (or a person serving as a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation), who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to, or is otherwise involved in, any threatened, pending or completed action while acting in such capacity, for all liability and loss suffered (including, without limitation, any judgments, fines, or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements), actually and reasonably incurred.
Subject to any restrictions in the BCBCA, BBUC may agree to indemnify and may indemnify any person (including an eligible party) against eligible penalties and pay expenses incurred in connection with the performance of services by that person for BBUC.
BBUC may enter into agreements with any such person to provide such indemnification. The right to indemnification includes the right to be paid by BBUC the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by such person in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition, such that the advances are paid by BBUC within sixty (60) days after the receipt by BBUC of a statement or statements from the claimant requesting such advance or advances from time to time (and subject
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Under the partnership’s limited partnership agreement, the partnership is required to indemnify to the fullest extent permitted by law the partnership’s general partner and any of its affiliates (and their respective officers, directors, agents, shareholders, partners, members and employees), any person who serves on a governing body of a holding entity or operating entity of the partnership and any other person designated by the partnership’s general partner as an indemnified person, in each case, against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs or expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements and other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, incurred by an indemnified person in connection with the partnership’s investments and activities or by reason of their holding such positions, except to the extent that the claims, liabilities, losses, damages, costs or expenses are determined to have resulted from the indemnified person’s bad faith, fraud or willful misconduct, or in the case of a criminal matter, action that the indemnified person knew to have been unlawful. In addition, under the partnership’s limited partnership agreement: (i) the liability of such persons has been limited to the fullest extent permitted by law, except to the extent that their conduct involves bad faith, fraud or willful misconduct, or in the case of a criminal matter, action that the indemnified person knew to have been unlawful; and (ii) any matter that is approved by the independent directors of the partnership’s general partner will not constitute a breach of the partnership’s limited partnership agreement or any duties stated or implied by law or equity, including fiduciary duties. The partnership’s limited partnership agreement requires the partnership to advance funds to pay the expenses of an indemnified person in connection with a matter in which indemnification may be sought until it is determined that the indemnified person is not entitled to indemnification.
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EXCHANGEABLE SHARES
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UNITS
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to filing a written request for indemnification pursuant to the BBUC articles).
BBUC will not indemnify any present or former director or officer of BBUC for acts of bad faith, fraud, willful misfeasance, gross negligence, knowing violation of law or reckless disregard of the director’s duties or for any act for which indemnification is specifically prohibited under the BCBCA.
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The partnership’s general partner’s bye-laws provide that, as permitted by the laws of Bermuda, it will pay or reimburse an indemnified person’s expenses in advance of a final disposition of a proceeding for which indemnification is sought.
Under the partnership’s general partner’s bye-laws, the partnership’s general partner is required to indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by law, its affiliates, directors, officers, resident representatives, shareholders, employees or any of its subsidiaries and certain others against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs or expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, incurred by an indemnified person in connection with the partnership’s investments and activities or in respect of or arising from their holding such positions, except to the extent that the claims, liabilities, losses, damages, costs or expenses are determined to have resulted from the indemnified person’s bad faith, fraud or willful misconduct, or in the case of a criminal matter, action that the indemnified person knew to have been unlawful. In addition, under the partnership’s general partner’s bye-laws: (i) the liability of such persons has been limited to the fullest extent permitted by law and except to the extent that their conduct involves bad faith, fraud or willful misconduct, or in the case of a criminal matter, action that the indemnified person knew to have been unlawful; and (ii) any matter that is approved by the independent directors will not constitute a breach of any duties stated or implied by law or equity, including fiduciary duties. The partnership’s general partner’s bye-laws require it to advance funds to pay the expenses of an indemnified person in connection with a matter in which indemnification may be sought until it is determined that the indemnified person is not entitled to indemnification.
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EXCHANGEABLE SHARES
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UNITS
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Dividends and Distributions
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Pursuant to the BBUC articles and subject to the prior rights of holders of all classes and series of preferred shares at the time outstanding having prior rights as to dividends, each exchangeable share will entitle its holder to the exchangeable dividend, in a cash amount equal in value to (i) the amount of any distribution made on a unit multiplied by (ii) the conversion factor determined in accordance with the BBUC articles and in effect on the record date of such dividend (which conversion factor will initially be one, subject to adjustment in the event of certain dilutive or other capital events by BBUC or the partnership). See “Exchange of Exchangeable Shares for Units — Primary Exchange Rights — Adjustments to Reflect Certain Capital Events”. The record and payment dates for the dividends upon the exchangeable shares, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, shall be substantially the same as the record and payment dates for distributions on the units.
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Distributions to partners of the partnership will be made in accordance with their Percentage Interests (as defined in the limited partnership agreement of the partnership) only as determined by the general partner in its sole discretion. However, the general partner will not be permitted to cause the partnership to make a distribution if the partnership does not have sufficient cash on hand to make the distribution, the distribution would render the partnership insolvent, or if, in the opinion of the general partner, the distribution would leave the partnership with insufficient funds to meet any future or contingent obligations, or the distribution would contravene applicable laws.
The general partner has sole authority to determine whether the partnership will make distributions and the amount and timing of these distributions.
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If the full amount of an exchangeable dividend is not declared and paid concurrent with a distribution on the units, then the undeclared or unpaid amount of such exchangeable dividend shall accrue and accumulate (without interest), whether or not BBUC has earnings, whether or not there are funds legally available for the payment thereof and whether or not such exchangeable dividend has been declared or authorized. Any exchangeable dividend payment made shall first be credited against the earliest accumulated but unpaid exchangeable dividends due which remain payable (“unpaid dividend”).
All exchangeable dividends shall be paid prior and in preference to any dividends or distributions on the BBUC class C shares. Share dividends, if any, paid on the exchangeable shares and BBUC class C shares will be declared contemporaneously and paid at the same time in equal numbers of additional shares of the same class and series such that share dividends will be paid in exchangeable shares to holders of the
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EXCHANGEABLE SHARES
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UNITS
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exchangeable shares and in BBUC class C shares to holders of the BBUC class C shares.
The holders of exchangeable shares shall not be entitled to any dividends from BBUC other than the exchangeable dividends.
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Exchange by Holder
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At any time after the distribution date, holders of exchangeable shares shall have the right to exchange all or a portion of their exchangeable shares for one unit per exchangeable share held (subject to adjustment in the event of certain dilutive or other capital events by BBUC or the partnership) or its cash equivalent based on the NYSE closing price of one unit on the date of the request for exchange (or if not a trading day, the next trading day thereafter) plus all unpaid dividends, if any (the form of payment to be determined at the election of BBUC). See “Exchange of Exchangeable Shares for Units — Primary Exchange Rights — Adjustments to Reflect Certain Capital Events”.
The partnership may elect to satisfy BBUC’s exchange obligation by acquiring all of the tendered exchangeable shares for one unit per exchangeable share held (subject to adjustment in the event of certain dilutive or other capital events by BBUC or the partnership) or its cash equivalent based on the NYSE closing price of one unit on the date that the request for exchange is received by BBUC’s transfer agent (or if not a trading day, the next trading day thereafter) plus all unpaid dividends, if any (the form of payment to be determined at the election of the partnership). See “Exchange of Exchangeable Shares for Units — Primary Exchange Rights — Adjustments to Reflect Certain Capital Events”.
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Redemption by Issuer
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BBUC’s board of directors will have the right upon sixty (60) days’ prior written notice to holders of exchangeable shares to redeem all of the then outstanding exchangeable shares at any time and for any reason, in its sole discretion subject to applicable law, including without limitation following the occurrence of certain redemption events described in
|
| | N/A | |
| | |
EXCHANGEABLE SHARES
|
| |
UNITS
|
|
| | |
“Exchange of Exchangeable Shares for Units — Redemption”. In addition, the holder of BBUC class B shares may deliver a notice to BBUC specifying a redemption date upon which BBUC shall redeem all of the then outstanding exchangeable shares, and upon sixty (60) days’ prior written notice from BBUC to holders of the exchangeable shares and without the consent of holders of exchangeable shares, BBUC shall be required to redeem all of the then outstanding exchangeable shares on such redemption date, subject to applicable law.
|
| | | |
| | |
Upon any such redemption event, the holders of exchangeable shares shall be entitled to one unit per exchangeable share held (subject to adjustment in the event of certain dilutive or other capital events by BBUC or the partnership) or its cash equivalent based on the NYSE closing price of one unit on the trading day immediately preceding the announcement of such redemption plus all unpaid dividends, if any (the form of payment to be determined at the election of BBUC). See “Exchange of Exchangeable Shares for Units — Primary Exchange Rights — Adjustments to Reflect Certain Capital Events”.
|
| | | |
| | |
Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the partnership, including where substantially concurrent with a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of BBUC, all of the then outstanding exchangeable shares of BBUC will be automatically redeemed by BBUC on the day prior to the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the partnership. Each holder of exchangeable shares shall be entitled to one unit per exchangeable share held (subject to adjustment in the event of certain dilutive or other capital events by BBUC or the partnership) or its cash equivalent based on the NYSE closing price of one unit on the trading day immediately preceding the announcement of such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the partnership (the form of payment to be determined at the election of BBUC) plus all unpaid dividends. See “Exchange of Exchangeable Shares for Units —
|
| | | |
| | |
EXCHANGEABLE SHARES
|
| |
UNITS
|
|
| | |
Primary Exchange Rights — Adjustments to Reflect Certain Capital Events”.
|
| | | |
Qualification
|
| | N/A | | |
If the partnership’s general partner determines in its sole discretion that it is no longer in the partnership’s best interests to continue as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the partnership’s general partner may elect to treat partnership as an association or as a publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal (and applicable state) income tax purposes.
|
|
Liquidation
|
| |
Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of BBUC, and subject to the prior rights of holders of preferred shares and any other class of shares of BBUC ranking in priority or ratably with the exchangeable shares and after the payment in full to (i) any holder of exchangeable shares or BBUC class C shares that has submitted a notice of the exercise of the exchange rights described above at least ten (10) days prior to the date of the liquidation, dissolution or winding up (or in the case of the BBUC class B shares, thirty (30) days prior to the date of the liquidation, dissolution or winding up) and (ii) any unpaid dividends, the holders of exchangeable shares shall be entitled to one unit per exchangeable share held (subject to adjustment in the event of certain dilutive or other capital events by BBUC or the partnership described in this prospectus) or its cash equivalent based on the NYSE closing price of one unit on the trading day immediately preceding announcement of such liquidation, dissolution or winding up (the form of payment to be determined at the election of BBUC). If, upon any such liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the assets of BBUC are insufficient to make such payment in full, then the assets of BBUC will be distributed among the holders of exchangeable shares ratably in proportion to the full amounts to which they would otherwise be respectively entitled to receive.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of BBUC, the partnership may elect to acquire all of the outstanding
|
| |
The partnership will terminate upon the earlier to occur of: (i) the date on which all of the partnership’s assets have been disposed of or otherwise realized by the partnership and the proceeds of such disposals or realizations have been distributed to partners; (ii) the service of notice by the partnership’s general partner, with the special approval of a majority of its independent directors, that in its opinion the coming into force of any law, regulation or binding authority renders illegal or impracticable the continuation of the partnership; and (iii) at the election of the partnership’s general partner, if the partnership, as determined by the partnership’s general partner, is required to register as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or similar legislation in other jurisdictions.
The partnership will be dissolved upon the withdrawal of the partnership’s general partner as the general partner of the partnership (unless a successor entity becomes the general partner pursuant to the partnership’s limited partnership agreement) or the date on which any court of competent jurisdiction enters a decree of judicial dissolution of the partnership or an order to wind-up or liquidate the partnership’s general partner without the appointment of a successor in compliance with the partnership’s limited partnership agreement. The partnership will be reconstituted and continue without dissolution if within thirty (30) days of the date of dissolution (and provided a notice of dissolution has not been filed with the Bermuda Monetary Authority),
|
|
| | |
EXCHANGEABLE SHARES
|
| |
UNITS
|
|
| | |
exchangeable shares for one unit per exchangeable share held (subject to adjustment in the event of certain dilutive or other capital events by BBUC or the partnership) plus all unpaid dividends, if any. See “Exchange of Exchangeable Shares for Units — Primary Exchange Rights — Adjustments to Reflect Certain Capital Events”. The acquisition by the partnership of all the outstanding exchangeable shares will occur on the day prior to the effective date of the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of BBUC.
|
| |
a successor general partner executes a transfer deed pursuant to which the new general partner assumes the rights and undertakes the obligations of the general partner, but only if the partnership receives an opinion of counsel that the admission of the new general partner will not result in the loss of limited liability of any limited partner.
Upon the partnership’s dissolution, unless the partnership is continued as a new limited partnership, the liquidator authorized to wind-up the partnership’s affairs will, acting with all of the powers of the partnership’s general partner that the liquidator deems necessary or appropriate in its judgment, liquidate the partnership’s assets and apply the proceeds of the liquidation first, to discharge the partnership’s liabilities as provided in its limited partnership agreement and by law, and thereafter to the partners pro rata according to the percentages of their respective partnership interests as of a record date selected by the liquidator. The liquidator may defer liquidation of the partnership’s assets for a reasonable period of time or distribute assets to partners in kind if it determines that an immediate sale or distribution of all or some of the partnership’s assets would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the partners.
|
|
Conversion
|
| |
At any time after the distribution date, the partnership, or any of its controlled subsidiaries, will be entitled to convert each held exchangeable share to a BBUC class C share on a one-for-one basis.
|
| | N/A | |
Fiduciary Duties
|
| |
The directors of BBUC have three principal responsibilities under the BCBCA and the BBUC articles, being (i) the duty to manage, (ii) the fiduciary duty, which is to act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of BBUC, and (iii) the duty of care, which is to exercise the care, diligence and skill that a reasonably prudent individual would exercise in comparable circumstances.
|
| |
A general partner is required to act in good faith and in a manner which it reasonably believes to be in the best interests of a partnership. The partnership’s limited partnership agreement contains various express provisions that modify, waive and/or limit the fiduciary duties that might otherwise be owed to the partnership and the limited partners. These modifications inter alia restrict the remedies available for actions that might otherwise constitute a breach of fiduciary duty and permit the general partner of the partnership to take into account the
|
|
| | |
EXCHANGEABLE SHARES
|
| |
UNITS
|
|
| | | | | |
interests of third parties, including Brookfield, when resolving conflicts of interest.
|
|
Protection of Shareholders
|
| |
Under the BCBCA, pursuant to the oppression remedy, any holder of exchangeable shares may apply to court for an order where the affairs of BBUC are being or have been conducted, or that the powers of the directors are being or have been exercised, in a manner that is oppressive to one or more shareholders, or where there has been some act of BBUC that is unfairly prejudicial to one or more of the shareholders. Under the BCBCA, pursuant to the derivative action remedy, a shareholder (including a beneficial shareholder) may bring an action in the name of and on behalf of BBUC to enforce a right, duty or obligation owed to BBUC that could be enforced by BBUC itself or to obtain damages for any such breach of right, duty or obligation.
|
| |
There is no oppression remedy or derivative action remedy available under the Bermuda Limited Partnership Act 1883 and the Bermuda Exempted Partnerships Act 1992.
Furthermore, the partnership’s limited partnership agreement also stipulates that unless otherwise determined by the general partner of the partnership, a Person (as defined in the partnership’s limited partnership agreement) shall not have pre-emptive, preferential or other similar rights in respect to the issuance of a unit.
|
|
Takeover Bids, Issuer Bids and Tender Offers
|
| |
The exchangeable shares are not units and will not be treated as units for purposes of the application of applicable Canadian or U.S. rules relating to takeover bids, issuer bids and tender offers. As a result, holders of exchangeable shares will not be entitled to participate in an offer or bid made to acquire units unless such offer has been extended to holders of exchangeable shares.
|
| |
The units are not exchangeable shares and will not be treated as exchangeable shares for purposes of the application of applicable Canadian or U.S. rules relating to takeover bids, issuer bids and tender offers. As a result, holders of units will not be entitled to participate in an offer or bid made to acquire the exchangeable shares unless such offer has been extended to holders of units.
|
|
Choice of Forum for Securities Act Claims
|
| |
BBUC’s articles provide that unless BBUC consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act. In the absence of this provision, under the Securities Act, U.S. federal and state courts have been found to have concurrent jurisdiction over suits brought to enforce duties or liabilities created by the Securities Act. This choice of forum provision will not apply to suits brought to enforce duties or liabilities created by the Exchange Act and could be found to be inapplicable or
|
| |
The limited partnership agreement of the partnership will be amended on the closing of the special distribution to provide that unless the partnership consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act. In the absence of this provision, under the Securities Act, U.S. federal and state courts have been found to have concurrent jurisdiction over suits brought to enforce duties or liabilities created by the Securities Act. This choice of forum provision will not apply to suits brought to enforce duties or liabilities
|
|
| | |
EXCHANGEABLE SHARES
|
| |
UNITS
|
|
| | |
unenforceable if it is challenged in a legal proceeding or otherwise.
|
| |
created by the Exchange Act and could be found to be inapplicable or unenforceable if it is challenged in a legal proceeding or otherwise.
|
|
Selling
Securityholder |
| |
Units Beneficially
Owned(1) |
| |
Percentage of Units
Outstanding(2) |
| |
Maximum Number
of Units That May Be Delivered upon Exchange of Exchangeable Shares by Brookfield Pursuant to the Rights Agreement |
| |
Percentage After
Maximum Number of Units are Delivered upon Exchange of Exchangeable Shares by Brookfield Pursuant to the Rights Agreement |
| ||||||||||||
Brookfield Asset Management Inc.(3)
|
| | | | 94,489,747 | | | | | | 64.9% | | | | | | 94,489,747 | | | | | | —(4) | | |
|
SEC registration fee
|
| | | $ | 136,547.10 | | |
|
Transfer agent fees
|
| | | | 20,000 | | |
|
Legal fees and expenses
|
| | | | 30,000 | | |
|
Accounting fees and expenses
|
| | | | 60,000 | | |
|
Total
|
| | | $ | 246,547.10 | | |
|
EXHIBIT
NUMBER |
| |
DESCRIPTION
|
|
| 3.1 | | | | |
| 3.2 | | | | |
| 3.3 | | | | |
| 3.4 | | | | |
| 3.5 | | | | |
| 4.1 | | | | |
| 4.2 | | | | |
| 5.1 | | | Opinion of Appleby (Bermuda) Limited with respect to certain matters of Bermuda law | |
| 23.1 | | | Consent of Deloitte LLP | |
| 23.2 | | | Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers, Société coopérative | |
| 23.3 | | | Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP | |
| 23.4 | | | Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP | |
| 23.5 | | | Consent of Appleby (Bermuda) Limited (included in the opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1 hereto) | |
| 24.1 | | | Power of Attorney (included in the signature page) | |
| 99.1 | | | | |
| 107 | | | Filing Fee Table | |
| | | |
BROOKFIELD BUSINESS PARTNERS L.P., by its general partner, BROOKFIELD BUSINESS PARTNERS LIMITED
|
| |||
| | | | By: | | |
/s/ Jane Sheere
Name: Jane Sheere
Title: Secretary |
|
|
Signature
|
| |
Title
|
|
|
/s/ Cyrus Madon
Cyrus Madon
|
| |
Chief Executive Officer of Brookfield Private Equity L.P., a service provider to the Registrant (Principal Executive Officer)
|
|
|
/s/ Jaspreet Dehl
Jaspreet Dehl
|
| |
Chief Financial Officer of Brookfield Private Equity L.P., a service provider to the Registrant (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
|
|
|
/s/ Jeffrey Blidner
Jeffrey Blidner
|
| | Director of Brookfield Business Partners Limited | |
|
/s/ Stephen Girsky
Stephen Girsky
|
| | Director of Brookfield Business Partners Limited | |
|
/s/ David Hamill
David Hamill
|
| | Director of Brookfield Business Partners Limited | |
|
/s/ Anne Ruth Herkes
Anne Ruth Herkes
|
| | Director of Brookfield Business Partners Limited | |
|
Signature
|
| |
Title
|
|
|
/s/ John Lacey
John Lacey
|
| | Director of Brookfield Business Partners Limited | |
|
/s/ Don Mackenzie
Don Mackenzie
|
| | Director of Brookfield Business Partners Limited | |
|
/s/ Patricia Zuccotti
Patricia Zuccotti
|
| | Director of Brookfield Business Partners Limited | |
| | | | BROOKFIELD BBP US HOLDINGS LLC | | |||
| | | | By: | | |
/s/ Craig Laurie
Name: Craig Laurie
Title: President |
|
Exhibit 4.2
BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT INC.
- and -
BROOKFIELD BUSINESS CORPORATION
- and –
BROOKFIELD BUSINESS PARTNERS L.P.
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT |
March 15th, 2022
Table of Contents
Page | ||
Article 1 INTERPRETATION | 1 | |
1.1 | Definitions | 1 |
1.2 | Headings and Table of Contents | 5 |
1.3 | Interpretation | 5 |
1.4 | Invalidity of Provisions | 6 |
1.5 | Entire Agreement | 6 |
1.6 | Waiver, Amendment | 7 |
1.7 | Governing Law | 7 |
Article 2 REGISTRATION RIGHTS | 7 | |
2.1 | Demand Registration | 7 |
2.2 | Piggyback Registrations | 10 |
2.3 | Short-Form Filings | 11 |
2.4 | Registration Procedures | 12 |
2.5 | Suspension of Dispositions | 17 |
2.6 | Registration Expenses | 17 |
2.7 | Indemnification | 18 |
2.8 | Transfer of Registration Rights | 21 |
2.9 | Current Public Information | 21 |
2.10 | Preservation of Rights | 21 |
2.11 | Obligations of BBU | 21 |
Article 3 TERMINATION | 22 | |
3.1 | Termination | 22 |
Article 4 MISCELLANEOUS | 22 | |
4.1 | Enurement | 22 |
4.2 | Notices | 23 |
4.3 | Authority | 24 |
4.4 | Further Assurances | 24 |
4.5 | Counterparts | 24 |
- i - |
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT made as of the 15th day of March, 2022
B E T W E E N:
BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT INC. (“Brookfield”)
- and -
BROOKFIELD BUSINESS CORPORATION (“BBUC”)
-and –
BROOKFIELD BUSINESS PARTNERS L.P. (“BBU”)
RECITALS:
WHEREAS, BBUC desires to provide the Holders (as defined herein) with the registration rights specified in this Agreement with respect to Registrable Shares (as defined herein) on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.
NOW THEREFORE in consideration of the premises, mutual covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement and other good and valuable consideration (the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged), the parties covenant and agree, each with the other, as follows:
Article 1
INTERPRETATION
1.1 | Definitions |
The following definitions shall be for all purposes, unless otherwise clearly indicated to the contrary, applied to the terms used in this Agreement.
1.1.1 “Adverse Effect” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.1.5;
1.1.2 “Advice” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.5;
1.1.3 “Affiliate” means, with respect to a Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by such Person, or is under common Control of a third Person;
1.1.4 “Agreement” means this Registration Rights Agreement;
1.1.5 “BBU” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble;
1.1.6 “BBUC” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble;
1.1.7 “Brookfield” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble;
1.1.8 “Business Day” means every day except a Saturday or Sunday, or a day which is a statutory or civic holiday in the Province of Ontario or the State of New York;
1.1.9 “Canadian Commissions” means the securities commissions or other securities regulatory authorities in each of the provinces and territories of Canada and any successor regulatory authorities having similar powers and, to the extent applicable, in any such province or territory, a federal securities commission or similar regulatory authority;
1.1.10 “Canadian Securities Laws” means, collectively, the applicable securities legislation, regulations, rules, policies, blanket rulings, decisions and orders of each of the provinces and territories of Canada and the Canadian Commissions;
1.1.11 “Control” means the control by one Person of another Person in accordance with the following: a Person (“A”) controls another Person (“B”) where A has the power to determine the management and policies of B by contract or status (for example, the status of A being the general partner of B) or by virtue of the beneficial ownership of or control over a majority of the voting interests in B; and, for greater certainty and without limitation, if A owns or has control over shares or other securities to which are attached more than 50% of the votes permitted to be cast in the election of directors to the Governing Body of B, or A is the general partner of B, a limited partnership, then in each case A Controls B for this purpose; and the term “Controlled” has the corresponding meaning;
1.1.12 “Demand Registration” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.1.1(a);
1.1.13 “Demand Request” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.1.1(a);
1.1.14 “Demanding Shareholders” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.1.1(a);
1.1.15 “Effective” means, in the case of a Registration Statement, a declaration by the SEC that such registration statement is effective, and in the case of a Prospectus, the issuance by the applicable Canadian Commission of a receipt for the final prospectus;
1.1.16 “Effective Date” means the date a Registration Statement or Prospectus becomes Effective;
2 |
1.1.17 “Excluded Registration” means a registration of (i) securities pursuant to one or more Demand Registrations pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof, (ii) securities registered under the U.S. Securities Act on Form S-8, (iii) securities registered to effect the acquisition of, or combination with, another Person and (iv) securities pursuant to an exchange offer or any employee benefit or dividend reinvestment plan;
1.1.18 “FINRA” means Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.;
1.1.19 “Governing Body” means (i) with respect to a corporation or limited company, the board of directors of such corporation or limited company, (ii) with respect to a limited liability company, the manager(s), director(s) or managing partner(s) of such limited liability company, (iii) with respect to a partnership, the board, committee or other body of each general partner or managing partner of such partnership that serves a similar function (or if any such general partner or managing partner is itself a partnership, the board, committee or other body of such general or managing partner’s general or managing partner that serves a similar function), and (iv) with respect to any other Person, the body of such Person that serves a similar function, and in the case of each of (i) through (iv) includes any committee or other subdivision of such body and any Person to whom such body has delegated any power or authority, including any officer or managing director;
1.1.20 “Holder” means (i) Brookfield, (ii) any subsidiary of Brookfield holding Registrable Shares, and (iii) any direct or indirect transferee of Brookfield or any of its subsidiaries who shall become a party to this Agreement in accordance with Section 2.8 and has agreed in writing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement, provided that “Holder” shall not include BBUC and its subsidiaries;
1.1.21 “Inspectors” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.4(m);
1.1.22 “Person” means any natural person, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, joint venture, syndicate, sole proprietorship, company or corporation (with or without share capital), limited liability company, unlimited liability company, joint stock company, unincorporated association, trust, trustee, executor, administrator or other legal personal representative, regulatory body or agency, government or governmental agency, authority or entity however designated or constituted and pronouns have a similarly extended meaning;
1.1.23 “Piggyback Registration” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.2.1;
1.1.24 “POP Issuer” means an issuer eligible to use the POP System or equivalent system established from time to time by the Canadian Commissions;
1.1.25 “POP System” means the prompt offering prospectus qualification system under National Instrument 44-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators entitled “Short Form Prospectus Distributions”;
3 |
1.1.26 “Prospectus” means a prospectus (including a Shelf Prospectus), including any amendment or supplement thereto, prepared in accordance with applicable Canadian Securities Laws for the purpose of qualifying securities for distribution to the public in any province or territory of Canada;
1.1.27 “Records” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.4(m);
1.1.28 “register,” “registered” and “registration” refers to (i) a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement in compliance with the U.S. Securities Act, and the declaration or ordering of the effectiveness of such registration statement, and (ii) a qualification for distribution under Canadian Securities Laws effected by preparing and filing a Prospectus;
1.1.29 “Registrable Shares” means the Shares owned by Holders from time to time, including Shares issuable to Holders on the conversion of securities convertible, exchangeable or exercisable into Shares owned by a Holder, together with any securities owned by Holders issued with respect to such Shares by way of dividend or split or in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, amalgamation, arrangement or other reorganization; provided, however, that Shares that, pursuant to Section 3.1, no longer have registration rights hereunder shall not be considered Registrable Shares;
1.1.30 “Registration Statement” means a registration statement under the U.S. Securities Act (which includes any preliminary prospectus, prospectus, prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus used in connection therewith);
1.1.31 “Requesting Holders” shall mean any Holder(s) requesting to have its (their) Registrable Shares included in any Demand Registration or Shelf Registration;
1.1.32 “Required Filing Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.1.1(b);
1.1.33 “SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or any other federal agency at the time administering the U.S. Securities Act;
1.1.34 “Securities Laws” means Canadian Securities Laws and/or U.S. Securities Laws, as applicable;
1.1.35 “Seller Affiliates” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.7.1;
1.1.36 “Shares” means class A exchangeable subordinate voting shares of BBUC;
1.1.37 “Shelf Prospectus” means a shelf prospectus of BBUC filed with the Canadian Commissions under Canadian Securities Laws for offers and secondary sales of Registrable Shares on a continuous basis;
4 |
1.1.38 “Shelf Registration” means a registration of the Registrable Shares under a registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the U.S. Securities Act;
1.1.39 “Suspension Notice” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.5;
1.1.40 “U.S. Exchange Act” means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any similar federal statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder;
1.1.41 “U.S. Securities Act” means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any similar federal statute and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder; and
1.1.42 “U.S. Securities Laws” means, collectively, the securities laws of the United States, including the U.S. Exchange Act, the U.S. Securities Act, state securities or “blue sky” laws within the United States, and all rules, regulations and ordinances promulgated thereunder.
1.2 | Headings and Table of Contents |
The inclusion of headings and a table of contents in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and will not affect the construction or interpretation hereof.
1.3 | Interpretation |
In this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires:
1.3.1 words importing the singular shall include the plural and vice versa, words importing gender shall include all genders or the neuter, and words importing the neuter shall include all genders;
1.3.2 the words “include”, “includes”, “including”, or any variations thereof, when following any general term or statement, are not to be construed as limiting the general term or statement to the specific items or matters set forth or to similar items or matters, but rather as referring to all other items or matters that could reasonably fall within the broadest possible scope of the general term or statement;
1.3.3 references to any Person include such Person’s successors and permitted assigns;
1.3.4 except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, any reference in this Agreement to a statute, regulation, policy, rule or instrument shall include, and shall be deemed to be a reference also to, all rules and regulations made under such statute, in the case of a statute, all amendments made to such statute, regulation, policy, rule or instrument and to any statute, regulation, policy, rule or instrument that may be passed which has the effect of supplementing or superseding the statute, regulation, policy, rule or instrument so referred to;
5 |
1.3.5 any reference to this Agreement or any other agreement, document or instrument shall be construed as a reference to this Agreement or, as the case may be, such other agreement, document or instrument as the same may have been, or may from time to time be, amended, varied, replaced, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified;
1.3.6 in the event that any day on which any amount is to be determined or any action is required to be taken hereunder is not a Business Day, then such amount shall be determined or such action shall be required to be taken at or before the requisite time on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day; and
1.3.7 except where otherwise expressly provided, all amounts in this Agreement are stated and shall be paid in U.S. currency.
1.4 | Invalidity of Provisions |
Each of the provisions contained in this Agreement is distinct and severable and a declaration of invalidity or unenforceability of any such provision or part thereof by a court of competent jurisdiction will not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision hereof. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the parties waive any provision of law which renders any provision of this Agreement invalid or unenforceable in any respect. The parties will engage in good faith negotiations to replace any provision which is declared invalid or unenforceable with a valid and enforceable provision, the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid or unenforceable provision which it replaces.
1.5 | Entire Agreement |
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties pertaining to the subject matter of this Agreement. There are no warranties, conditions, or representations (including any that may be implied by statute) and there are no agreements in connection with such subject matter except as specifically set forth or referred to in this Agreement. No reliance is placed on any warranty, representation, opinion, advice or assertion of fact made either prior to, contemporaneous with, or after entering into this Agreement, or any amendment or supplement hereto, by any party to this Agreement or its directors, officers, employees or agents, to any other party to this Agreement or its directors, officers, employees or agents, except to the extent that the same has been reduced to writing and included as a term of this Agreement, and none of the parties to this Agreement has been induced to enter into this Agreement or any amendment or supplement by reason of any such warranty, representation, opinion, advice or assertion of fact. Accordingly, there will be no liability, either in tort or in contract, assessed in relation to any such warranty, representation, opinion, advice or assertion of fact, except to the extent contemplated above.
6 |
1.6 | Waiver, Amendment |
Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, no waiver of this Agreement will be binding unless executed in writing by the party to be bound thereby. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement will constitute a waiver of any other provision nor will any waiver of any provision of this Agreement constitute a continuing waiver unless otherwise expressly provided. A party’s failure or delay in exercising any right under this Agreement will not operate as a waiver of that right. A single or partial exercise of any right will not preclude a party from any other or further exercise of that right or the exercise of any other right. This Agreement may not be amended or modified in any respect except by a written agreement signed by BBUC, BBU and Brookfield (so long as Brookfield owns any Shares) and the Holders of a majority of the then outstanding Registrable Shares.
1.7 | Governing Law |
This Agreement will be governed by and interpreted and enforced in accordance with the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein. Each party irrevocably attorns and submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Ontario courts situated in the City of Toronto and waives objection to the venue of any proceeding in such court or any argument that such court provides an inconvenient forum.
Article 2
REGISTRATION RIGHTS
2.1 | Demand Registration |
2.1.1 Request for Registration
(a) | Commencing on the date hereof, any Holder shall have the right to require BBUC to file a Registration Statement and/or a Prospectus for a public offering of all or part of its Registrable Shares (a “Demand Registration”), by delivering to BBUC written notice stating that such right is being exercised, naming the Holders whose Registrable Shares are to be included in such registration (collectively, the “Demanding Shareholders”), specifying the number of each such Demanding Shareholder’s Registrable Shares to be included in such registration and, subject to Section 2.1.3 hereof, describing the intended method of distribution thereof (a “Demand Request”). |
(b) | Each Demand Request shall specify the aggregate number of Registrable Shares proposed to be sold. Subject to Section 2.1.6, BBUC shall file a Registration Statement and/or Prospectus in respect of a Demand Registration as soon as practicable and, in any event, within forty-five (45) days after receiving a Demand Request (the “Required Filing Date”) and shall use reasonable best efforts to cause the same to be declared Effective as promptly as practicable after such filing; provided, however, that: |
(i) | BBUC shall not be obligated to file a Registration Statement or a Prospectus in respect of a Demand Registration pursuant to Section 2.1.1(a) within sixty (60) days after the Effective Date of a previous Demand Registration, other than a Shelf Registration pursuant to this Article 2; and |
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(ii) | BBUC shall not be obligated to file a Registration Statement or a Prospectus in respect of a Demand Registration pursuant to Section 2.1.1(a) unless the Demand Request is for (A) a number of Registrable Shares with a market value that is equal to at least $50,000,000 as of the date of such Demand Request, or (B) all of the Registrable Shares then held by the Demanding Shareholder. |
2.1.2 Shelf Registration. With respect to any Demand Registration, the Requesting Holders may request BBUC to file a Shelf Prospectus or effect a Shelf Registration, provided that BBUC is permitted to do so under Canadian Securities Laws and/or U.S. Securities Laws, as applicable.
2.1.3 Selection of Underwriters. At the request of a Requesting Holder, the offering of Registrable Shares pursuant to a Demand Registration shall be in the form of a “firm commitment” underwritten offering. The Requesting Holder shall select the investment banking firm or firms to manage the underwritten offering; provided that such selection shall be subject to the consent of BBUC, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. No Holder may participate in any registration pursuant to Section 2.1.1 unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder’s Registrable Shares on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements described above and (b) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements; provided, however, that no such Holder shall be required to make any representations or warranties in connection with any such registration other than representations and warranties as to (i) such Holder’s ownership of Registrable Shares to be transferred free and clear of all liens, claims, and encumbrances, (ii) such Holder’s power and authority to effect such transfer, and (iii) such matters pertaining to compliance with Securities Laws as may be reasonably requested; provided, further, however, that the obligation of such Holder to indemnify pursuant to any such underwriting arrangements shall be several, not joint and several, among such Holders selling Registrable Shares, and the liability of each such Holder will be in proportion thereto, and provided, further, that such liability will be limited to the net amount received by such Holder from the sale of its Registrable Shares pursuant to such registration.
2.1.4 Rights of Non-Requesting Holders. Upon receipt of any Demand Request, BBUC shall promptly (but in any event within ten (10) days) give written notice of such proposed Demand Registration to all other Holders, who shall have the right, exercisable by written notice to BBUC within twenty (20) days of their receipt of BBUC’s notice, to elect to include in such Demand Registration such portion of their Registrable Shares as they may request. All Holders requesting to have their Registrable Shares included in a Demand Registration in accordance with the preceding sentence and all Demanding Shareholders shall be deemed to be “Requesting Holders” for purposes of this Section 2.1. BBUC shall also have the right to issue and sell Shares in such Demand Registration, subject to Section 2.1.5.
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2.1.5 Priority on Demand Registrations. No securities to be sold for the account of any Person (including BBUC) other than a Requesting Holder shall be included in a Demand Registration unless the managing underwriter or underwriters shall advise the Requesting Holders in writing that the inclusion of such securities will not adversely affect the price, timing or distribution of the offering or otherwise adversely affect its success (an “Adverse Effect”). Furthermore, if the managing underwriter or underwriters shall advise the Requesting Holders that, even after exclusion of all securities of other Persons (including BBUC) pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, the amount of Registrable Shares proposed to be included in such Demand Registration by Requesting Holders is sufficiently large to cause an Adverse Effect, the Registrable Shares of the Requesting Holders to be included in such Demand Registration shall equal the number of Registrable Shares which the Requesting Holders are so advised can be sold in such offering without an Adverse Effect and such Registrable Shares shall be allocated pro rata among the Requesting Holders on the basis of the number of Registrable Shares requested to be included in such registration by each such Requesting Holder.
2.1.6 Deferral of Filing. BBUC may defer the filing (but not the preparation) of a Registration Statement or Prospectus, as applicable, required by Section 2.1 until a date not later than ninety (90) days after the Required Filing Date if (a) at the time BBUC receives the Demand Request, BBUC is engaged in confidential negotiations or other confidential activities, disclosure of which would be required in such Registration Statement or Prospectus, as applicable (but would not be required if such Registration Statement or Prospectus, as applicable, were not filed), and the Board of Directors of BBUC determines in good faith that such disclosure would be materially detrimental to BBUC and its shareholders, (b) prior to receiving the Demand Request, BBUC had determined to effect a registered underwritten public offering of BBUC’s securities for BBUC’s account and BBUC has taken substantial steps (including, but not limited to, selecting a managing underwriter for such offering) and is proceeding with reasonable diligence to effect such offering, or (c) at the time BBUC receives the Demand Request, BBUC is currently engaged in a self-tender or exchange offer and the filing of a Registration Statement or Prospectus, as applicable, would cause a violation of applicable Securities Laws. A deferral of the filing of a Registration Statement or Prospectus, as applicable, pursuant to this Section 2.1.6 shall be lifted, and the requested Registration Statement or Prospectus, as applicable, shall be filed forthwith, if, in the case of a deferral pursuant to clause (a) of the preceding sentence, the negotiations or other activities are disclosed, otherwise become publicly known, or are terminated, or, in the case of a deferral pursuant to clause (b) of the preceding sentence, the proposed registration for BBUC’s account is abandoned. In order to defer the filing of a Registration Statement or Prospectus, as applicable, pursuant to this Section 2.1.6, BBUC shall promptly (but in any event within ten (10) days), upon determining to seek such deferral, deliver to the Requesting Holders a certificate signed by an officer of BBUC or the Board of Directors of BBUC stating that BBUC is deferring such filing pursuant to this Section 2.1.6 and a general statement of the reason for such deferral and an approximation of the anticipated delay. Within twenty (20) days after receiving such certificate, the Requesting Holder may withdraw such Demand Request by giving notice to BBUC; if withdrawn, the Demand Request shall be deemed not to have been made for all purposes of this Agreement. BBUC may defer the filing of a particular Registration Statement or Prospectus, as applicable, pursuant to this Section 2.1.6 only once.
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2.2 | Piggyback Registrations |
2.2.1 Right to Piggyback. Each time BBUC proposes to (a) register any of its equity securities (other than pursuant to an Excluded Registration) under Canadian Securities Laws or U.S. Securities Laws for sale to the public (whether for the account of BBUC or the account of any securityholder of BBUC or (b) sell any of its equity securities (other than pursuant to an Excluded Registration) and with respect to which a Shelf Registration or Shelf Prospectus is expressly being utilized to effect such sale, (clause (a) and (b) are each referred to as a “Piggyback Registration”), BBUC shall give prompt written notice to each Holder of Registrable Shares, which notice shall offer each such Holder the opportunity to include any or all of its Registrable Shares in such Registration Statement, Shelf Registration or Prospectus, as applicable, subject to the limitations contained in Section 2.2.2 hereof. Each Holder who desires to have its Registrable Shares included in such Registration Statement, Shelf Registration or Prospectus, as applicable, shall so advise BBUC in writing (stating the number of Registrable Shares desired to be registered) within three (3) days after the date of such notice from BBUC (or within one (1) Business Day in the case of a “bought deal” financing). Any Holder shall have the right to withdraw such Holder’s request for inclusion of such Holder’s Registrable Shares in any Registration Statement, Shelf Registration or Prospectus, as applicable, pursuant to this Section 2.2.1 by giving written notice to BBUC of such withdrawal provided, however, that such request is made prior to the execution of an underwriting agreement (or similar agreement) with respect to such offering. Subject to Section 2.2.2 below, BBUC shall include in such Registration Statement, Shelf Registration or Prospectus, as applicable, all such Registrable Shares so requested to be included therein; provided, however, that BBUC may at any time withdraw or cease proceeding with any such registration or sale if it shall at the same time withdraw or cease proceeding with the registration or sale of all other equity securities originally proposed to be registered or sold. Each Holder shall protect and maintain the confidentiality of all information communicated to it by BBUC concerning a proposed Piggyback Registration pursuant to this Section 2.2.1 until such information becomes available in the public domain.
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2.2.2 Priority on Piggyback Registrations
(a) | If a Piggyback Registration is an underwritten offering, and if the managing underwriter advises BBUC that the inclusion of Registrable Shares requested to be included in a Registration Statement, Shelf Registration or Prospectus, as applicable, would cause an Adverse Effect, BBUC shall only be required to include such number of Registrable Shares in such Registration Statement, Shelf Registration or Prospectus, as applicable, as such underwriter advises in writing would not cause an Adverse Effect, with priority given as follows: (i) first, the securities BBUC proposes to sell, (ii) second, the Registrable Shares requested to be included in such Registration Statement, Shelf Registration or Prospectus, pro rata among the Holders of such Registrable Shares on the basis of the number of Registrable Shares owned by each such Holder, and (iii) third, any other securities requested to be included in such Registration Statement, Shelf Registration or Prospectus. If as a result of the provisions of this Section 2.2.2(a) any Holder shall not be entitled to include all Registrable Shares in a Registration Statement, Shelf Registration or Prospectus that such Holder has requested to be so included, such Holder may withdraw such Holder’s request to include Registrable Shares in such Registration Statement, Shelf Registration or Prospectus, as applicable. |
(b) | No Holder may participate in any Registration Statement, Shelf Registration or Prospectus, as applicable, in respect of a Piggyback Registration hereunder unless such Holder (i) agrees to sell such Holder’s Registrable Shares on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by BBUC and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents, each in customary form, reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements; provided, however, that no such Holder shall be required to make any representations or warranties in connection with any such registration other than representations and warranties as to (A) such Holder’s ownership of Registrable Shares to be sold or transferred free and clear of all liens, claims, and encumbrances, (B) such Holder’s power and authority to effect such transfer, and (C) such matters pertaining to compliance with applicable Securities Laws as may be reasonably requested; provided, further, however, that the obligation of such Holder to indemnify pursuant to any such underwriting arrangements shall be several, not joint and several, among such Holders selling Registrable Shares, and the liability of each such Holder will be in proportion thereto, and provided, further, that such liability will be limited to the net amount received by such Holder from the sale of its Registrable Shares pursuant to such Registration Statement, Shelf Registration or Prospectus. |
2.3 | Short-Form Filings |
(a) | Shelf Registration Statement. BBUC shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause Demand Registrations in the United States to be registered on a shelf registration statement on an appropriate form (including, but not limited to, Form F-10, Form F-3 or Form S-3, as may be applicable, or their successor forms, but excluding Form S-8, Form S-4 or Form F-4, or their successor forms, or any other form for a similar purpose) once BBUC becomes eligible to use any such form, and BBUC shall use its reasonable best efforts to remain so eligible to use any such form. |
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(b) | Short-Form Prospectus. BBUC shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause Demand Registrations in Canada to be qualified by way of a short-form Prospectus prepared pursuant to the POP System if, at the time of such Demand Registration, BBUC is a POP Issuer and is able to do so in all of the provinces and territories in which the Demand Registration is to be effected. For greater certainty, it is acknowledged that in the event that BBUC is not a POP Issuer or is unable to utilize the POP System in one or more Canadian provinces or territories in which the Demand Registration is to be effected, BBUC shall proceed by way of long-form Prospectus. |
2.4 | Registration Procedures |
Whenever any Holder has requested that any Registrable Shares be registered pursuant to this Agreement, BBUC will use its reasonable best efforts to effect the registration and the sale of such Registrable Shares in accordance with the intended method of disposition thereof as promptly as is practicable, and pursuant thereto BBUC will as expeditiously as possible:
(a) | prepare and file, pursuant to Section 2.1.1(b) with respect to any Demand Registration, subject to Section 2.3, a Registration Statement or Prospectus, as applicable, with respect to such Registrable Shares and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement or Prospectus, as applicable, to become Effective; provided that as far in advance as practicable before filing such Registration Statement or Prospectus, as applicable, or any amendment or supplement thereto, BBUC will furnish to the selling Holders copies of reasonably complete drafts of all such documents prepared to be filed (including exhibits), and any such Holder shall have the opportunity to object to any information contained therein and BBUC will make corrections reasonably requested by such Holder with respect to such information prior to filing any such Registration Statement or Prospectus, as applicable, or any amendment or supplement thereto; |
(b) | except in the case of a Shelf Registration or Shelf Prospectus, prepare and file with the SEC or the applicable Canadian Commissions, such amendments, post-effective amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement or Prospectus, as applicable, as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement or Prospectus, as applicable, effective for a period of not less than one hundred eighty (180) days (or such lesser period as is necessary for the underwriters in an underwritten offering to sell unsold allotments) and comply with the provisions of the applicable Securities Laws with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement or Prospectus, as applicable, during such period in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the sellers thereof set forth in such Registration Statement or Prospectus, as applicable; |
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(c) | in the case of a Shelf Registration or Shelf Prospectus, prepare and file with the SEC or the applicable Canadian Commissions, as applicable, such amendments and supplements to such Shelf Registration or Shelf Prospectus, as applicable, as may be necessary to keep such Shelf Registration or Shelf Prospectus, as applicable, effective and to comply with the provisions of the applicable Securities Laws with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Shares subject thereto for a period ending on the earlier of (i) twenty four (24) months after the Effective Date and (ii) the date on which all the Registrable Shares subject thereto have been sold pursuant to such Shelf Registration or Shelf Prospectus, as applicable; |
(d) | furnish to each seller of Registrable Shares and the underwriters of the securities being registered such number of copies of such Registration Statement, Shelf Registration or Prospectus, as applicable (in the English language and, if required, the French language), each amendment and supplement thereto, any documents incorporated by reference therein and such other documents as such seller or underwriters may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Shares owned by such seller or the sale of such securities by such underwriters (it being understood that, subject to Section 2.5 and the requirements of the applicable Securities Laws, BBUC consents to the use of the Registration Statement, Shelf Registration and Prospectus, as applicable, and any amendment or supplement thereto by each seller and the underwriters in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Shares covered by the Registration Statement, Shelf Registration or Prospectus, as applicable); |
(e) | use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify such Registrable Shares under such other securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions as the managing underwriter reasonably requests (or, in the event the Registration Statement, Shelf Registration or Prospectus, as applicable, does not relate to an underwritten offering, as the holders of a majority of such Registrable Shares may reasonably request); use its reasonable best efforts to keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the period in which such Registration Statement, Shelf Registration or Prospectus, as applicable, is required to be kept effective; and do any and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable each seller to consummate the disposition of the Registrable Shares owned by such seller in such jurisdictions (provided, however, that BBUC will not be required to (i) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this subparagraph, (ii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction, or (iii) consent to general service of process in any such jurisdiction); |
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(f) | notify each seller of Registrable Shares and each underwriter and (if requested by any such Person) confirm such notice in writing (i) when any supplement or amendment to the Registration Statement, Shelf Registration or Prospectus, as applicable, has been filed following the Effective Date, and when the same has become effective, (ii) of the issuance by any state securities or other regulatory authority of any order suspending the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Registrable Shares under state securities or “blue sky” laws or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, and (iii) of the happening of any event which makes any statement made in the Registration Statement, Shelf Registration or Prospectus, as applicable, untrue or which requires the making of any changes in such Registration Statement, Shelf Registration or Prospectus, as applicable, or documents so that they will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and, as promptly as practicable thereafter, prepare and file with the SEC and the applicable Canadian Commissions (as applicable) and furnish a supplement or amendment to such Registration Statement, Shelf Registration or Prospectus, as applicable, so that, as thereafter deliverable to the purchasers of such Registrable Shares, such Registration Statement, Shelf Registration or Prospectus, as applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; |
(g) | permit any selling Holder, which in such Holder’s sole and exclusive judgment, might reasonably be deemed to be an underwriter or a controlling person of BBUC, to participate in the preparation of such Registration Statement, Shelf Registration or Prospectus, as applicable, and to require the insertion therein of material, furnished to BBUC in writing, which in the reasonable judgment of such Holder and its counsel should be included; |
(h) | make reasonably available personnel, as selected by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Shares included in such registration, for assistance in the selling effort relating to the Registrable Shares covered by such registration, including, but not limited to, the participation of such members of BBUC’s management in road show presentations; |
(i) | otherwise use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable Securities Laws, and make generally available to BBUC’s securityholders an earnings statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the U.S. Securities Act no later than thirty (30) days after the end of the twelve (12) month period beginning with the first day of BBUC’s first fiscal quarter commencing after the Effective Date, which earnings statement shall cover said twelve (12) month period, and which requirement will be deemed to be satisfied if BBUC timely files complete and accurate information on Forms 20-F and 6-K under the Exchange Act which otherwise complies with Rule 158 under the U.S. Securities Act; |
(j) | if requested by the managing underwriter or any seller of Registrable Shares, promptly incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as the managing underwriter or any seller reasonably requests to be included therein, including, without limitation, with respect to the Registrable Shares being sold by such seller, the purchase price being paid therefor by the underwriters and with respect to any other terms of the underwritten offering of the Registrable Shares to be sold in such offering, and promptly make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment; |
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(k) | after filing of any document which is incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement or Prospectus, as applicable (in the form in which it was incorporated), deliver a copy of each such document to each seller of Registrable Shares; |
(l) | cooperate with the sellers of Registrable Shares and the managing underwriter to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates (which shall not bear any restrictive legends unless required under applicable law) representing securities sold under any Registration Statement or Prospectus, as applicable, and enable such securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the managing underwriter or such sellers may request and keep available and make available to BBUC’s transfer agent prior to the Effective Date a supply of such certificates; |
(m) | make available for inspection by any seller of Registrable Shares, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to any Registration Statement or Prospectus, as applicable, and any attorney, accountant or other agent or representative retained by any such seller or underwriter (collectively, the “Inspectors”), all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of BBUC (collectively, the “Records”), as shall be reasonably necessary to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility, and cause BBUC’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information requested by any such Inspector in connection with such Registration Statement or Prospectus, as applicable; provided, however, that, unless the disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, as applicable, or the release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court of competent jurisdiction, BBUC shall not be required to provide any information under this subparagraph (m) if (i) BBUC believes, after consultation with counsel for BBUC, that to do so would cause BBUC to forfeit an attorney-client privilege that was applicable to such information or (ii) if either (x) BBUC has requested and been granted from the SEC or a Canadian Commission confidential treatment of such information contained in any filing with the SEC or a Canadian Commission or documents provided supplementally or otherwise or (y) BBUC reasonably determines in good faith that such Records are confidential and so notifies the Inspectors in writing, unless prior to furnishing any such information with respect to clause (ii) such Holder of Registrable Shares requesting such information agrees to enter into a confidentiality agreement in customary form and subject to customary exceptions; and provided, further, that each Holder of Registrable Shares agrees that it will, upon learning that disclosure of such Records is sought in a court of competent jurisdiction, give notice to BBUC and allow BBUC, at its expense, to undertake appropriate action and to prevent disclosure of the Records deemed confidential; |
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(n) | furnish to each seller of Registrable Shares and underwriter a signed counterpart of (i) an opinion or opinions of counsel to BBUC, (ii) a comfort letter or comfort letters from BBUC’s independent auditors, addressed to the underwriters, each in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by opinions or comfort letters, as the case may be, as the managing underwriter reasonably requests, and (iii) if a Prospectus is filed in Quebec, opinions of Quebec counsel to BBUC and the auditors of BBUC addressed to the Holder and the underwriter or underwriters of such distribution relating to the translation of the Prospectus; |
(o) | cause the Registrable Shares included in any Prospectus or Registration Statement, as applicable, to be listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and on the New York Stock Exchange; |
(p) | provide and cause to be maintained a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Shares registered hereunder; |
(q) | cooperate with each seller of Registrable Shares and each underwriter participating in the disposition of such Registrable Shares and their respective counsel in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA; |
(r) | during the period when the Registration Statement or Prospectus, as applicable, is required to be delivered under the applicable Securities Laws, promptly file all documents required to be filed with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or with the Canadian Commissions pursuant to Canadian Securities Laws; |
(s) | notify each seller of Registrable Shares promptly of any request by the SEC or a Canadian Commission for the amending or supplementing of such Registration Statement or Prospectus, as applicable, or for additional information; |
(t) | enter into such agreements (including underwriting agreements in the managing underwriter’s customary form) as are customary in connection with an underwritten registration; and |
(u) | advise each seller of such Registrable Shares, promptly after it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of the issuance of any stop order or ruling by the SEC or a Canadian Commission suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or Prospectus, as applicable, or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose and promptly use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal at the earliest possible moment if such stop order should be issued. |
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2.5 | Suspension of Dispositions |
Each Holder agrees by acquisition of any Registrable Shares that, upon receipt of any notice (a “Suspension Notice”) from BBUC of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 2.4(f)(iii) such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Shares until such Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Registration Statement or Prospectus, as applicable, or until it is advised in writing (the “Advice”) by BBUC that the use of the Registration Statement or Prospectus, as applicable, may be resumed, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings which are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, as applicable, and, if so directed by BBUC, such Holder will deliver to BBUC all copies, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder’s possession, of the Registration Statement or Prospectus, as applicable, covering such Registrable Shares current at the time of receipt of such notice. In the event BBUC shall give any such notice, the time period regarding the effectiveness of Registration Statements or Prospectuses, as applicable, set forth in Sections 2.4(b) and 2.4(c) hereof shall be extended by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of the Suspension Notice to and including the date when each seller of Registrable Shares covered by such Registration Statement or Prospectus, as applicable, shall have received the copies of the supplemented or amended Registration Statement or Prospectus, as applicable, or the Advice. BBUC shall use its reasonable best efforts and take such actions as are reasonably necessary to render the Advice as promptly as practicable.
2.6 | Registration Expenses |
All fees and expenses incident to any registration including, without limitation, BBUC’s performance of or compliance with this Article 2, all registration and filing fees, all fees and expenses associated with filings required to be made with FINRA (including, if applicable, the reasonable fees and expenses of any “qualified independent underwriter” and of its counsel), as may be required by the rules and regulations of FINRA, fees and expenses of compliance with securities or “blue sky” laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel in connection with “blue sky” qualifications of the Registrable Shares), rating agency fees, printing expenses (including expenses of printing certificates for the Registrable Shares and of printing prospectuses), messenger and delivery expenses, the fees and expenses incurred in connection with any listing or quotation of the Registrable Shares, fees and expenses of counsel for BBUC and its independent auditors (including the expenses of any special audit or “cold comfort” letters required by or incident to such performance), the fees and expenses of any special experts retained by BBUC in connection with such registration, and the fees and expenses of other persons retained by BBUC, will be borne by BBUC (unless paid by a security holder that is not a Holder for whose account the registration is being effected) whether or not any Registration Statement or Prospectus becomes Effective; provided, however, that any underwriting discounts, commissions, or fees attributable to the sale of the Registrable Shares will be borne by the Holders pro rata on the basis of the number of Shares so registered and the fees and expenses of any counsel, accountants, or other persons retained or employed by any Holder will be borne by such Holder.
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2.7 | Indemnification |
2.7.1 BBUC agrees to indemnify and reimburse, to the fullest extent permitted by law, each seller of Registrable Shares, and each of its employees, advisors, agents, representatives, partners, officers, and directors and each Person who Controls such seller and any agent or investment advisor thereof (collectively, the “Seller Affiliates”) (a) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, and expenses, joint or several (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements except as limited by Section 2.7.3) based upon, arising out of, related to or resulting from any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (b) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage, and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation or investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon, arising out of, related to or resulting from any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission, and (c) against any and all costs and expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) as may be reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing, or defending against any litigation, or investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon, arising out of, related to or resulting from any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission, or violation of the Securities Laws, to the extent that any such expense or cost is not paid under subparagraph (a) or (b) above; except insofar as any such statements are made in reliance upon and in strict conformity with information furnished in writing to BBUC by such seller or any Seller Affiliate for use therein or arise from such seller’s or any Seller Affiliate’s failure to deliver a copy of the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto after BBUC has furnished such seller or Seller Affiliate with a sufficient number of copies of the same. The reimbursements required by this Section 2.7.1 will be made by periodic payments during the course of the investigation or defense, as and when bills are received or expenses incurred.
2.7.2 In connection with any Registration Statement or Prospectus in which a seller of Registrable Shares is participating, each such seller will furnish to BBUC and/or BBU in writing such information and affidavits as BBUC and/or BBU reasonably requests for use in connection with any such Registration Statement or Prospectus, as applicable, and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, each such seller will indemnify BBUC, BBU and each of their respective employees, advisors, agents, representatives, partners, officers and directors and each Person who Controls BBUC or BBU, as applicable (excluding such seller or any Seller Affiliate) and any agent or investment advisor thereof against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements except as limited by Section 2.7.3) resulting from any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, as applicable, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission is contained in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing by such seller or any of its Seller Affiliates specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, as applicable; provided that the obligation to indemnify will be several, not joint and several, among such sellers of Registrable Shares, and the liability of each such seller of Registrable Shares will be in proportion to, and will be limited to, the net amount received by such seller from the sale of Registrable Shares pursuant to such Registration Statement or Prospectus, as applicable; provided, however, that such seller of Registrable Shares shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that prior to the filing of any such Registration Statement or Prospectus, as applicable, or amendment thereof or supplement thereto, such seller has furnished in writing to BBUC and/or BBU information expressly for use in such Registration Statement or Prospectus, as applicable, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto which corrected or made not misleading information previously furnished to BBUC and/or BBU.
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2.7.3 Any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder will (a) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give such notice shall not limit the rights of such Person) and (b) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party; provided, however, that any person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall have the right to employ separate counsel and to participate in the defense of such claim, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such person unless (i) the indemnifying party has agreed to pay such fees or expenses, (ii) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense of such claim and employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such person, or (iii) such counsel has been retained due to a conflict as described below. If such defense is not assumed by the indemnifying party as permitted hereunder, the indemnifying party will not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed). If such defense is assumed by the indemnifying party pursuant to the provisions hereof, such indemnifying party shall not settle or otherwise compromise the applicable claim unless (A) such settlement or compromise contains a full and unconditional release of the indemnified party without any admission of liability on the part of such indemnified party or (B) the indemnified party otherwise consents in writing. An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim will not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim (together with appropriate local counsel), unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party, a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim, in which event the indemnifying party shall be obligated to pay the reasonable fees and disbursements of such additional counsel or counsels.
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2.7.4 Each party hereto agrees that, if for any reason the indemnification provisions contemplated by Section 2.7.1 or Section 2.7.2 are unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, liabilities, or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party in connection with the actions which resulted in the losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of such indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by such indemnifying party or indemnified 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 contribution pursuant to this Section 2.7.4 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Holders or any underwriters or all of them were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 2.7.4. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above shall be deemed to include any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or, except as provided in Section 2.7.3, defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 2.7.4, no Holder shall be required to contribute an amount greater than the dollar amount by which the net proceeds received by such Holder with respect to the sale of any Registrable Shares exceeds the amount of damages which such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of any and all untrue or alleged untrue statements of material fact or omissions or alleged omissions of material fact made in any Registration Statement or Prospectus, as applicable, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto related to such sale of Registrable Shares. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Holders’ obligations in this Section 2.7.4 to contribute shall be several in proportion to the amount of Registrable Shares registered by them and not joint.
2.7.5 If indemnification is available under this Section 2.7, the indemnifying parties shall indemnify each indemnified party to the full extent provided in Section 2.7.1 and Section 2.7.2 without regard to the relative fault of said indemnifying party or indemnified party or any other equitable consideration provided for in Section 2.7.4 subject, in the case of the Holders, to the limited dollar amounts set forth in Section 2.7.2.
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2.7.6 The indemnification and contribution provided for under this Agreement will remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director, or controlling Person of such indemnified party and will survive the transfer of securities.
2.8 | Transfer of Registration Rights |
The rights of each Holder under this Agreement may, in the Holder’s discretion, be assigned, in whole or in part, to any direct or indirect transferee of all or any portion of such Holder’s Registrable Shares who agrees in writing to be subject to and bound by all the terms and conditions of this Agreement. For greater certainty, in the case of a transfer of less than all of such Holder’s Registrable Shares, no such assignment will limit or otherwise impair the transferor’s rights under this Agreement.
2.9 | Current Public Information |
BBUC will file the reports required to be filed by it under applicable Securities Laws (or, if BBUC is not required to file such reports, will, upon the request of the Holders, make publicly available other information) and will take such further action as any of the Holders may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable the Holders to sell Registrable Securities without registration under, and subject to the limitations of, applicable Securities Laws. Upon the reasonable request of any Holder, BBUC will deliver to such parties a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements and will, at its expense, forthwith upon the request of any such Holder, deliver to such Holder a certificate, signed by an officer, stating (a) BBUC’s name, address and telephone number (including area code), (b) BBUC’s Internal Revenue Service identification number and Business Number issued by the Canada Revenue Agency, (c) BBUC’s SEC and SEDAR file numbers, (d) the number of Shares outstanding as shown by the most recent report or statement published by BBUC, and (e) whether BBUC has filed the reports required to be filed under the applicable Securities Laws for a period or at least ninety (90) days prior to the date of such certificate and in addition has filed the most recent annual report required to be filed thereunder.
2.10 | Preservation of Rights |
BBUC will not directly or indirectly (a) grant any registration rights to third parties which are more favorable than or inconsistent with the rights granted hereunder or (b) enter into any agreement, take any action, or permit any change to occur, with respect to its securities that violates or subordinates the rights expressly granted to the Holders in this Agreement.
2.11 | Obligations of BBU |
Whenever any Holder has requested that any Registrable Shares be registered in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, BBU shall (i) cooperate with BBUC to satisfy BBUC’s obligations pursuant to this Agreement and participate in the preparation, as necessary, of a Registration Statement and/or Prospectus by BBUC and (ii) take any and all such actions as may be required under this Agreement and/or applicable Securities Laws to register the underlying limited partnership units of BBU that may be issued upon an exchange, redemption or purchase of Shares, or as a result of the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of BBUC or BBU. The provisions of the registration rights agreement between BBU and Brookfield dated June 1, 2016 (as amended, the “BBU-Brookfield Registration Rights Agreement”), other than sections 2.1.1(b)(i) and 2.1.1(b)(ii) thereof, shall apply to the registration of any underlying limited partnership units of BBU that may be delivered by Brookfield to a holder of Shares upon an exchange of Shares, mutatis mutandis, and the preparation of a Registration Statement and/or Prospectus by BBU in connection therewith shall be deemed to be a “Demand Registration” under the BBU-Brookfield Registration Rights Agreement without the need for Brookfield to take any further action thereunder.
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Article 3
TERMINATION
3.1 | Termination |
The Holders may exercise the registration rights granted hereunder in such manner and proportions as they shall agree among themselves. The registration rights hereunder shall cease to apply to any particular Registrable Shares when: (a) a Registration Statement or Prospectus, as applicable, with respect to the sale of such Shares (or other securities) shall have become Effective and such Shares shall have been disposed of in accordance with such Registration Statement or Prospectus, as applicable; (b) such Shares (or other securities) shall have been sold to the public pursuant to an exemption under applicable Securities Laws; (c) such Shares (or other securities) shall have been otherwise transferred, new certificates for them not bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by BBUC and subsequent public distribution of them shall not require registration under applicable Securities Laws; (d) such Shares (or other securities) shall have ceased to be outstanding; or (e) such Registrable Shares are eligible for sale pursuant to Rule 144(b)(1) (without the requirement for BBUC to be in compliance with the current public information required under Rule 144) under the U.S. Securities Act. BBUC shall promptly upon the request of any Holder furnish to such Holder evidence of the number of Registrable Shares then outstanding.
Article 4
MISCELLANEOUS
4.1 | Enurement |
This Agreement will enure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
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4.2 | Notices |
Any notice or other communication required or permitted to be given hereunder will be in writing and will be given by prepaid first-class mail, by facsimile or other means of electronic communication, including e-mail, or by hand-delivery as hereinafter provided. Any such notice or other communication, if mailed by prepaid first-class mail at any time other than during a general discontinuance of postal service due to strike, lockout or otherwise, will be deemed to have been received on the fourth Business Day after the post-marked date thereof, or if sent by facsimile or other means of electronic communication, will be deemed to have been received on the Business Day following the sending, or if delivered by hand will be deemed to have been received at the time it is delivered to the applicable address noted below either to the individual designated below or to an individual at such address having apparent authority to accept deliveries on behalf of the addressee. Notice of change of address will also be governed by this section. In the event of a general discontinuance of postal service due to strike, lock-out or otherwise, notices or other communications will be delivered by hand or sent by facsimile or other means of electronic communication and will be deemed to have been received in accordance with this section. Notices and other communications will be addressed as follows:
4.2.1 if to Brookfield:
Brookfield Asset Management Inc.
Brookfield Place, 181 Bay Street
Suite 300, P.O. Box 762
Toronto, Ontario M5J 2T3
Attention: Chief Legal Officer
4.2.2 if to BBUC:
Brookfield Business Corporation
250 Vesey Street, 15th Floor
New York, NY 10281-1023
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
4.2.3 if to BBU:
Brookfield Business Partners L.P.
73 Front Street, 5th Floor
Hamilton HM12, Bermuda
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
or to such other addresses as a party may from time to time notify the other in accordance with this Section 4.2.
If to any other Holder, the address indicated for such Holder in BBUC’s stock transfer records with copies, so long as Brookfield owns any Registrable Shares, to Brookfield as provided above.
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4.3 | Authority |
Each of the parties hereto represents to the other that (a) it has the corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement, (b) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by it has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and no such further action is required, (c) it has duly and validly executed and delivered this Agreement, and (d) this Agreement is a legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and general equity principles.
4.4 | Further Assurances |
Each of the parties hereto will promptly do, make, execute or deliver, or cause to be done, made, executed or delivered, all such further acts, documents and things as the other party hereto may reasonably require from time to time for the purpose of giving effect to this Agreement and will use commercially reasonable efforts and take all such steps as may be reasonably within its power to implement to their full extent the provisions of this Agreement.
4.5 | Counterparts |
This Agreement may be signed in counterparts and each of such counterparts will constitute an original document and such counterparts, taken together, will constitute one and the same instrument.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Kathy Sarpash | |
Name: Kathy Sarpash Title: Senior Vice President |
Brookfield BUSINESS CORPORATION | ||
By: | /s/ A.J. Silber | |
Name: A.J. Silber Title: Director |
Brookfield BUSINESS PARTNERS L.P., by its general partner, BROOKfield BUSINESS L.P., by its general partner, BROOKFIELD BUSINESS PARTNERS LIMITED | ||
By: | /s/ James Bodi | |
Name: James Bodi Title: Vice President |
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Exhibit 5.1
Brookfield Business Partners L.P. 73 Front Street Hamilton Bermuda HM 11 |
Email CLangley@applebyglobal.com
Direct Dial +1 441 298 3202 |
Appleby Ref 433310.0026/CL/MB/AK
3 May 2022
Ladies and Gentlemen
Bermuda Office Appleby (Bermuda) Limited Canon's Court 22 Victoria Street PO Box HM 1179 Hamilton HM EX Bermuda
Tel +1 441 295 2244 Fax +1 441 292 8666
applebyglobal.com
Appleby (Bermuda) Limited (the Legal Practice) is a limited liability company incorporated in Bermuda and approved and recognised under the Bermuda Bar (Professional Companies) Rules 2009. "Partner" is a title referring to a director, shareholder or an employee of the Legal Practice. A list of such persons can be obtained from your relationship partner. |
Brookfield Business Partners L.P.
We have acted as legal advisers as to matters of Bermuda law to Brookfield Business Partners L.P., an exempted limited partnership organized under the laws of the Islands of Bermuda (Partnership). We have been requested to render this opinion in connection with the following:
1. a registration statement on Form F-3 (as may be amended, the Registration Statement) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on or about the date hereof pursuant to the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (Securities Act), relating to the issuance by the Partnership or the delivery by Brookfield Asset Management Inc. (BAM) or Brookfield Business Corporation (BBUC) from time to time of the Partnership’s non-voting limited partnership units (Units), in each case, in connection with the exchange, redemption or acquisition, as applicable, from time to time of Class A Exchangeable Subordinate Voting Shares (Class A Shares) of BBUC, as described in the Prospectus (defined below); and
2. the prospectus contained in the Registration Statement (as each prospectus may be amended, collectively, the Prospectus).
For the purposes of this opinion we have examined and relied upon the documents listed (which in some cases, are also defined) in the Schedule to this opinion (Documents).
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ASSUMPTIONS
In stating our opinion we have assumed:
1. | the authenticity, accuracy and completeness of all Documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to authentic original Documents of all Documents submitted to us as certified, conformed, notarised or photostatic copies; |
2. | the genuineness of all signatures on the Documents; |
3. | the authority, capacity and power of persons signing the Documents; |
4. | that any representation, warranty or statement of fact or law, other than the laws of Bermuda made in any of the Documents, is true, accurate and complete; |
5. | that there are no provisions of the laws or regulations of any jurisdiction other than Bermuda which would have any implication in relation to the opinions expressed herein; |
6. | the accuracy, completeness and currency of the records and filing systems maintained at the public offices where we have searched or enquired or have caused searches or enquiries to be conducted, that such search and enquiry did not fail to disclose any information which had been filed with or delivered to the relevant body but had not been processed at the time when the search was conducted and the enquiries were made, and that the information disclosed by Company and Partnership Searches and the Litigation Search is accurate and complete in all respects and such information has not been materially altered since the date and time of the Company and Partnership Searches and the Litigation Search; |
7. | that there are no provisions of the laws or regulations of any jurisdiction other than Bermuda which would be contravened by any actions taken by the Partnership in connection with the Registration Statement or which would have any implication in relation to the opinion expressed herein and that, in so far as any obligation under, or action to be taken under, the Registration Statement is required to be performed or taken in any jurisdiction outside Bermuda, the performance of such obligation or the taking of such action will constitute a valid and binding obligation of each of the parties thereto under the laws of that jurisdiction and will not be illegal by virtue of the laws of that jurisdiction; |
8. | any amendment to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus is properly authorized by the Partnership and the terms and transactions contemplated by any such amendment adopted would not be inconsistent with the Resolutions and the terms and transactions contemplated by the Prospectus and the Registration Statement as of the date hereof; and | |
Bermuda ¡ British Virgin Islands ¡ Cayman Islands ¡ Guernsey ¡ Hong Kong ¡ Isle of Man ¡ Jersey ¡ Mauritius ¡ Seychelles ¡ Shanghai ¡ Zurich |
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9. | that there are no matters of fact or law (other than matters of Bermuda law) affecting the enforceability of the Constitutional Documents that have arisen since the execution of the Constitutional Documents, as applicable, which would affect the opinions expressed herein. |
OPINION
Based upon and subject to the foregoing and subject to the reservations set out below and to any matters not disclosed to us, we are of the opinion that: |
1. | The Partnership is an exempted limited partnership established and existing under the laws of Bermuda. The Partnership possesses the capacity to sue and be sued in its own name and is in good standing under the laws of Bermuda. All suits in respect of the business of the Partnership shall be prosecuted by and against the General Partner in its capacity as general partner of the Partnership. |
2. | The issue of the Units by the Partnership upon the exchange, redemption or acquisition, as applicable, of Class A Shares has been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Partnership and when allotted, issued and fully paid for pursuant to the terms of the Resolutions and in accordance with the terms and conditions referred to or summarized in the Prospectus and the Registration Statement (including any documents incorporated by reference therein) and the Constitutional Documents (defined below), the Units to be issued by the Partnership upon such exchange, redemption or acquisition will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable Units of the Partnership. |
3. | The issue of the Units upon the redemption of redeemable/exchangeable partnership units of Brookfield Business L.P. has been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Partnership and when allotted, issued and fully paid for pursuant to the terms of the Resolutions and in accordance with the terms and conditions referred to or summarized in the Prospectus and the Registration Statement (including any documents incorporated by reference therein) and the Constitutional Documents, the Units to be issued by the Partnership upon such redemption and delivered by BAM upon exchange of Class A Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable units of the Partnership. |
4. | The Units to be delivered by BAM upon the exchange of Class A Shares are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable Units of the Partnership. |
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RESERVATIONS
We have the following reservations:
1. | We express no opinion as to any law other than Bermuda law and none of the opinions expressed herein relates to compliance with or matters governed by the laws of any jurisdiction except Bermuda. This opinion is limited to Bermuda law as applied by the courts of Bermuda at the date hereof. |
2. | Where an obligation is to be performed in a jurisdiction other than Bermuda, the courts of Bermuda may refuse to enforce it to the extent that such performance would be illegal under the laws of, or contrary to public policy of such other jurisdiction. |
3. | Any reference in this opinion to Units being "non-assessable" shall mean, in relation to fully-paid units of the Partnership and subject to any contrary provision in any agreement in writing between the Partnership and the holder of such units, that: no holder shall be obliged to contribute further amounts to the capital of the Partnership, either in order to complete payment for their units of the Partnership, to satisfy claims of creditors of the Partnership, or otherwise. |
4. | The Limited Partnership Act 1883 (Act) provides that a limited partner shall be liable as a general partner if he takes part in the management of the partnership. |
5. | A limited partner is liable to the Partnership, or to its creditors, for any amount in respect of such limited partner’s contribution to the Partnership to the extent such contribution has not been contributed in full, or to the extent such contribution is either released or returned to the limited partner contrary to the restrictions on reductions of capital contained in the Act. |
6. | A limited partner is liable for damages on account of misrepresentation in respect of false statements contained in the certificate of limited partnership, any supplementary certificates or certificate of cancellation in respect of the Partnership, to the extent a limited partner signed such certificate, or caused another to sign it on his/her behalf, and knew such statement to be false at the time of signature. |
7. | Every partner of the Partnership who is guilty of any fraud in the affairs of the Partnership shall be liable civilly to the party injured to the extent of his damage and shall be liable for penalties applicable to offences committed against the Act. |
8. | In opinion 1. above, the term “good standing” means only that the Partnership has received a Certificate of Compliance from the Registrar of Companies in Hamilton, Bermuda which confirms that it has neither failed to make any filing with any Bermuda governmental authority nor to pay any Bermuda government fee or tax. |
Bermuda ¡ British Virgin Islands ¡ Cayman Islands ¡ Guernsey ¡ Hong Kong ¡ Isle of Man ¡ Jersey ¡ London ¡ Mauritius ¡ Seychelles ¡ Shanghai ¡ Zurich
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9. | In order to issue this opinion we have carried out the Company and Partnership Searches as referred to in the Schedule and have not enquired as to whether there has been any change since the date of such searches. |
10. | In order to issue this opinion we have carried out the Litigation Search as referred to in the Schedule and have not enquired as to whether there has been any change since the date of such search. |
11. | Searches of the Register of Companies at the office of the Registrar of Companies and of the Supreme Court Causes Book at the Registry of the Supreme Court and of the Register of Mortgages maintained at the office of the Registry General are not conclusive and it should be noted that the Register of Companies and the Supreme Court Causes Book do not reveal: |
11.1 | details of matters which have been lodged for filing or registration which as a matter of best practice of the Registrar of Companies or the Registry of the Supreme Court or the Registry General would have or should have been disclosed on the public file, the Causes Book or the Judgment Book or the Register of Mortgages, as the case may be, but for whatever reason have not actually been filed or registered or are not disclosed or which, notwithstanding filing or registration, at the date and time the search is concluded are for whatever reason not disclosed or do not appear on the public file, the Causes Book, Judgment Book or the Register of Mortgages; |
11.2 | details of matters which should have been lodged for filing or registration at the Registrar of Companies, the Registry of the Supreme Court or the Registry General but have not been lodged for filing or registration at the date the search is concluded; |
11.3 | whether an application to the Supreme Court for a winding-up petition or for the appointment of a receiver or manager has been prepared but not yet been presented or has been presented but does not appear in the Causes Book at the date and time the search is concluded; |
11.4 | whether any arbitration or administrative proceedings are pending or whether any proceedings are threatened, or whether any arbitrator has been appointed; or |
11.5 | whether a receiver or manager has been appointed privately pursuant to the provisions of a debenture or other security, unless notice of the fact has been entered in the Register of Charges in accordance with the provisions of the Act. |
Bermuda ¡ British Virgin Islands ¡ Cayman Islands ¡ Guernsey ¡ Hong Kong ¡ Isle of Man ¡ Jersey ¡ Mauritius ¡ Seychelles ¡ Shanghai ¡ Zurich
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12. | With respect to opinions 2, 3 and 4, we have relied upon statements and representations made to us in each Officer Certificate provided to us by an authorised officer of the General Partner for the purposes of this opinion. We have made no independent verification of the matters referred to in any such Officer Certificate, and we qualify such opinions to the extent that the statements or representations made in any such Officer Certificate are not accurate in any respect. |
DISCLOSURE
This opinion is addressed to you in connection with the registration of the Units with the SEC and is not to be used, quoted or relied upon for any other purpose. We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of the Partnership and further consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus.
This opinion is governed by and is to be construed in accordance with Bermuda law. Further, this opinion speaks as of its date and is strictly limited to the matters stated in it and we assume no obligation to review or update this opinion if applicable law or the existing facts or circumstances should change.
Yours faithfully
/s/ Appleby (Bermuda) Limited
Appleby (Bermuda) Limited
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SCHEDULE
1. | The respective electronic extracts provided to us by the office of the Registrar of Companies each dated 3 May 2022 in respect of Brookfield Business Partners Limited, the general partner of the Partnership (General Partner) and the Partnership on their files maintained at office of the Registrar of Companies (collectively, the Company and Partnership Searches). |
2. | The entries and filings shown in respect of the General Partner and the Partnership in the Supreme Court Causes Book maintained at the Registry of the Supreme Court in Hamilton, Bermuda, as revealed by searches conducted on 3 May 2022 (Litigation Search). |
3. | Copy of the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement dated as of 31 May 2016, as amended by the First Amendment to the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement dated 17 June 2016, as amended by the Second Amendment to the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement dated 18 May 2020 and as amended by the Third Amendment to the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement dated 15 March 2022 (Limited Partnership Documents). |
4. | In respect of the Partnership, the Certificate of Registration of an Exempted and Limited Partnership and supplements thereto. |
5. | Certified copies of the Certificate of Incorporation, Memorandum of Association and Bye-Laws of the General Partner (General Partner Constitutional Documents, together with the Limited Partnership Documents, Constitutional Documents). |
6. | Copies of the minutes of a meeting of the board of directors of the General Partner held on 29 April 2022 (Resolutions). |
7. | Copies of officer certificates each dated 3 May 2022 and signed by an officer of the General Partner in respect of the Resolutions and in respect of the Units (each, an Officer Certificate). |
8. | Certificates of Compliances each dated 2 May 2022 in respect of the Partnership and the General Partner, each issued by the Registrar of Companies. |
9. | Copy of the Registration Statement. |
10. | Copy of the Prospectus. |
Bermuda ¡ British Virgin Islands ¡ Cayman Islands ¡ Guernsey ¡ Hong Kong ¡ Isle of Man ¡ Jersey ¡ Mauritius ¡ Seychelles ¡ Shanghai ¡ Zurich
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Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form F-3 of our reports dated April 25, 2022 relating to the financial statements of Brookfield Business Partners L.P. (the “Partnership”) and the effectiveness of the Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 20-F of the Partnership for the year ended December 31, 2021. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
/s/ Deloitte LLP
Chartered Professional Accountants
Licensed Public Accountants
Toronto, Canada
May 3, 2022
Exhibit 23.2
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form F-3 of Brookfield Business Partners L.P. of our report dated 27 September 2021 relating to the financial statements of Modulaire Investments 2 S.à r.l. as at 31 December 2020 prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board and subject to an audit under AICPA standards, which appears in this Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
We draw attention, that further to the acquisition by Brookfield Business Partners L.P. on December 15, 2021, Modulaire Investments 2 S.à r.l. has not prepared consolidated financial statements for the year ended as at December 31, 2021; as such no further consolidated financial statements after 31 December 2020 have been audited and no further consolidated financial statements after 30 September 2021 have been approved by the Board of Managers which may have identified adjustments on those consolidated financial statements.
Yours truly,
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers, Société coopérative
PricewaterhouseCoopers, Société coopérative
Represented by Véronique Lefebvre
Luxembourg, Luxembourg
May 3rd, 2022
PricewaterhouseCoopers, Société coopérative, 2 rue Gerhard Mercator, B.P. 1443, L-1014 Luxembourg
T : +352 494848 1, F : +352 494848 2900, www.pwc.lu
Cabinet de révision agréé. Expert-comptable (autorisation gouvernementale n°10028256)
R.C.S. Luxembourg B 65 477 - TVA LU25482518
Exhibit 23.3
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form F-3 of our report dated March 2, 2022 relating to the combined financial statements of the Lottery Business (a carve-out of certain operations of Scientific Games Corporation), appearing in the Current Report on Form 6-K of Brookfield Business Partners L.P. filed on May 3, 2022. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Las Vegas, Nevada
May 3, 2022
Exhibit 23.4
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form F-3 of our report dated August 17, 2021, relating to the financial statements of CDK Global, Inc., appearing in the Current Report on Form 6-K of Brookfield Business Partners L.P. filed on May 3, 2022. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Chicago, Illinois
May 3, 2022
Exhibit 107
Calculation of Filing Fee Tables
Form F-3
(Form Type)
Brookfield
Business Partners L.P.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Table 1: Newly Registered and Carry Forward Securities
(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(c) under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), based upon the average high and low prices of the registrant’s limited partnership units on the New York Stock Exchange on April 29, 2022, of $25.29 and $23.81.
(2) Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act, this registration statement also covers an indeterminate number of additional securities that may be offered or issued by the Registrant in connection with any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction.
Table 3: Combined Prospectuses
Security Type | Security Class Title | Amount
of Securities Previously Registered (2) | Maximum
Aggregate Offering Price of Securities Previously Registered | Form Type | File Number | Initial Effective Date | ||||||||||
Limited Partnership Interest | Limited Partnership Units (3) | 74,300,000 | (4) | $ | 3,313,745,000.00 | Form F-3 | 333-258765 | March 1, 2022 |
(3) No registration fee is payable in connection with the 74,300,000 limited partnership units that were previously registered under Form F-3 (File No. 333-258765) which was initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 12, 2021 and became effective on March 1, 2022 (the “Prior Registration Statement”), because such shares are being transferred from the Prior Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 429 under the Securities Act. A registration fee is only payable in connection with the 60,000,000 limited partnership units that were not previously registered under the Prior Registration Statement, with a proposed maximum aggregate offering price of $1,473,000,000.
(4) 73,008,085 limited partnership units registered under the Prior Registration Statement that remain unsold are included in this registration statement. Pursuant to Rule 429(b) under the Securities Act, this registration statement, upon effectiveness, will constitute a post-effective amendment to the Prior Registration Statement, which post-effective amendment shall hereafter become effective concurrently with the effectiveness of this registration statement and in accordance with Section 8(c) of the Securities Act (such Prior Registration Statement, as amended by this registration statement, the “Combined Registration Statement”). The amount of securities previously registered under the Prior Registration Statement that were offered and sold before the effective date of this registration statement are not included in the prospectus for the Combined Registration Statement.
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