UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 1, 2013 (October 31, 2013)

 

 

SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-33556   41-2232463

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

5400 Westheimer Court

Houston, Texas 77056

(Address of principal executive offices)

(713) 627-5400

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 


Item 1.01. Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Amendment to Contribution Agreement

As previously disclosed, on August 5, 2013, Spectra Energy Partners, LP (the “Partnership”) entered into a Contribution Agreement (the “Contribution Agreement”) with Spectra Energy Corp (“SE Corp”), pursuant to which SE Corp agreed to contribute to the Partnership substantially all of its interests in its subsidiaries (the “Contributed Entities”) that own U.S. transmission and storage and liquids assets and to assign to the Partnership its interests in certain related contracts (the “Dropdown Transactions”).

On October 31, 2013, the Partnership and SE Corp entered into the First Amendment to Contribution Agreement (the “Amendment”). Among other things, the Amendment (1) provides for the refinancing of certain intercompany indebtedness rather than the assignment of such indebtedness to the Partnership and (2) revises provisions relating to the treatment of performance and surety bonds, certain working capital adjustments and third party indebtedness.

The foregoing description of the Amendment is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full and complete terms of the Amendment, which is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 2.1.

Amended and Restated Omnibus Agreement

In connection with the transactions contemplated by the Contribution Agreement, as amended by the Amendment (the “Amended Contribution Agreement”), on November 1, 2013, the Partnership entered into an Amended and Restated Omnibus Agreement with SE Corp, Spectra Energy Partners (DE) GP, LP, the general partner of the Partnership (the “General Partner”), and Spectra Energy Partners GP, LLC, the general partner of the General Partner (“GP LLC”). The Amended and Restated Omnibus Agreement eliminates the limitation on the amount that SE Corp is entitled to as reimbursement from the Partnership for corporate services and limits the scope of SE Corp’s obligation to indemnify the Partnership for certain liabilities.

The foregoing description of the Amended and Restated Omnibus Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full and complete terms of the Amended and Restated Omnibus Agreement, which is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 10.1.

Credit Agreement

On November 1, 2013, the Partnership amended and restated its existing revolving credit agreement by entering into an amended and restated $2 billion revolving credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with the initial lenders and issuing banks named in the Credit Agreement and Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and The Royal Bank of Scotland plc acted as Syndication Agents, Bank of America, N.A. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association acted as Documentation Agents, and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., RBS Securities Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC acted as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners.

The Credit Agreement contains a sublimit of $250 million for issuances of letters of credit, $150 million of which may be denominated in alternative currencies. Interest rates on borrowings under the Credit Agreement will be based on prevailing interest rates as described in the Credit Agreement and the credit ratings of the Partnership. Outstanding borrowings under the Credit Agreement mature on November 1, 2018, which may be extended for up to two additional one-year periods at the request of the Partnership (subject to the agreement of the applicable class of lenders having commitments representing more than 50% of the aggregate commitments of all lenders in the applicable class under the Credit Agreement). The Credit Agreement also provides for additional revolving commitments under the Credit Agreement, which may consist of incremental term loans that, at the Partnership’s election, automatically increase the aggregate amount of the revolving commitments upon any prepayment thereof, provided that the aggregate amount of revolving commitments under the Credit Agreement, including such additional revolving commitments and the aggregate principal amount outstanding under any incremental term loans

 

-2-


that by their terms automatically increase the aggregate amount of the revolving commitments upon any prepayment thereof, does not exceed $3 billion. The Partnership is permitted to request an unlimited amount of incremental term loans under the Credit Agreement provided that such loans are fully cash collateralized and, to the extent such term loans automatically increase the aggregate amount of revolving commitments upon any prepayment thereof, the aggregate amount of such term loans plus the aggregate amount of any increases in revolving commitments does not exceed $1 billion.

The Credit Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and covenants, including limitations on the creation of liens on the Partnership’s and certain of its subsidiaries’ assets, limitations on consolidations, mergers and the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership and certain of its subsidiaries, and limitations on certain transactions with affiliates. The Partnership has agreed to maintain a consolidated leverage ratio, as defined in the Credit Agreement, of less than or equal to 5.00 to 1.0, measured at the end of each fiscal quarter of the Partnership, provided that for three fiscal quarters subsequent to certain acquisitions, the Partnership’s consolidated leverage ratio may be up to 5.50 to 1.0. Upon the occurrence of certain events of default, the Partnership’s obligations under the Credit Agreement may be accelerated. Such events of default include payment defaults to lenders under the Credit Agreement, covenant defaults and other customary defaults.

The Credit Agreement provides that proceeds from borrowings under the Credit Agreement may be used for the Partnership’s and its subsidiaries’ general corporate purposes, including liquidity support for outstanding commercial paper and acquisitions.

Certain of the lenders under the Credit Agreement and their respective affiliates perform various financial advisory, investment banking and commercial banking services from time to time for the Partnership and its affiliates, for which they received or will receive customary fees and expense reimbursement.

The foregoing description of the Credit Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full and complete terms of the Credit Agreement, which is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 10.2.

Term Loan Agreement

On November 1, 2013, the Partnership entered into a $400 million senior unsecured term loan credit agreement (the “Term Loan Agreement”) with the initial lenders named in the Term Loan Agreement and The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, LTD., as Administrative Agent. Bank of America, N.A. acted as Syndication Agent and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and The Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ, LTD. acted as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners.

Interest rates on borrowings under the Term Loan Agreement will be based on prevailing interest rates as described in the Term Loan Agreement and the credit ratings of the Partnership. Outstanding borrowings under the Term Loan Agreement mature on November 1, 2018.

The Term Loan Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and covenants, including limitations on the creation of liens on the assets of the Partnership and certain of its subsidiaries, limitations on consolidations, mergers and the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership and certain of its subsidiaries and limitations on certain transactions with affiliates. The Partnership has agreed to maintain a consolidated leverage ratio, as defined in the Term Loan Agreement, of less than or equal to 5.00 to 1.0, measured at the end of each fiscal quarter, provided that for three fiscal quarters subsequent to certain acquisitions, the Partnership’s consolidated leverage ratio may be up to 5.50 to 1.0. Upon the occurrence of certain events of default, the Partnership’s obligations under the Term Loan Agreement may be accelerated. Such events of default include payment defaults to lenders under the Term Loan Agreement, covenant defaults and other customary defaults.

The Term Loan Agreement provides that proceeds from borrowings under the Term Loan Agreement may be used for the Partnership’s and its subsidiaries’ general corporate purposes, including acquisitions.

 

-3-


Certain of the lenders under the Term Loan Agreement and their respective affiliates perform various financial advisory, investment banking and commercial banking services from time to time for the Partnership and its affiliates, for which they received or will receive customary fees and expense reimbursement.

The foregoing description of the Term Loan Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full and complete terms of the Term Loan Agreement, which is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 10.3.

 

Item 2.01. Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.

The information set forth under Item 1.01 is incorporated herein by reference. Pursuant to the Amended Contribution Agreement, on November 1, 2013, the Partnership and SE Corp completed the closing of substantially all of the Dropdown Transactions (the “First Closing”). The remaining closings of the Dropdown Transactions are expected to occur at least 12 months following the First Closing (the “Second Closing”) and at least 12 months following the Second Closing (the “Third Closing”).

In connection with the First Closing, the Partnership paid to SE Corp aggregate consideration consisting of (i) 167,639,491 newly issued common units and 3,421,214 newly issued general partner units issued to certain subsidiaries of SE Corp and to the General Partner, respectively, (ii) approximately $70.4 million in cash representing a loan from the Partnership to one of the Contributed Entities, the proceeds of which were used to repay intercompany indebtedness to a subsidiary of SE Corp, (iii) approximately $2.2 billion in cash paid to the General Partner and another subsidiary of SE Corp, after taking into account customary closing adjustments, and (iv) the assumption (indirectly by acquisition of the Contributed Entities) of approximately $2.4 billion of third-party indebtedness of the Contributed Entities. The cash consideration was funded with the net proceeds from the Partnership’s issuance and sale on September 25, 2013 of its 2.950% Senior Notes due 2018, 4.750% Senior Notes due 2024 and 5.950% Senior Notes due 2043, other restricted funds held by the Partnership and through borrowings under the Term Loan Agreement. After the Second Closing, SE Corp will have received a total of approximately 172 million newly issued common units and 3.5 million newly issued general partner units.

A description of the assets acquired in connection with the First Closing is presented in Item 8.01.

 

Item 2.03. Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

The information set forth under Item 1.01 regarding the entry into the Credit Agreement and the Term Loan Agreement above is hereby incorporated into this Item 2.03 by reference.

 

Item 3.02. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

The information set forth under Item 2.01 above with respect to the Partnership’s common units issued to certain subsidiaries of SE Corp and to the General Partner is incorporated herein by reference. This private placement of Partnership common units issued pursuant to the Amended Contribution Agreement was made in reliance upon an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to Section 4(a)(2).

 

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On November 1, 2013, Ms. Julie A. Dill resigned as President and Chief Executive Officer of GP LLC. Ms. Dill will continue to serve as a director of GP LLC and as group vice president of strategy for SE Corp.

On November 1, 2013, Mr. Gregory L. Ebel was appointed Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of GP LLC. Mr. Ebel, age 49, is also President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of SE Corp. Mr. Ebel served as Group Executive and Chief Financial Officer of SE Corp from January 2007 until assuming his

 

-4-


current position at SE Corp on January 1, 2009. Prior to that time, Mr. Ebel served as President of Union Gas Limited from January 2005 until January 2007, and Vice President, Investor & Shareholder Relations of Duke Energy Corporation from November 2002 until January 2005. Mr. Ebel joined Duke Energy in March 2002 as Managing Director of Mergers and Acquisitions in connection with Duke Energy’s acquisition of Westcoast Energy Inc. Mr. Ebel is also a director of The Mosaic Company and a member of its Audit Committee.

On November 1, 2013, Mr. Fred J. Fowler resigned as Chairman of the Board of GP LLC. Mr. Fowler will continue to serve as a director of GP LLC.

 

Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

In connection with the First Closing, on November 1, 2013, the Partnership amended and restated its First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership to, among other things, (1) clarify what types of unitholders constitute “Eligible Unitholders” and (2) change the distribution date with respect to each fiscal quarter to the date that is 60 days following the close of such quarter. The foregoing description is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full and complete terms of the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership, a copy of which is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 3.1.

In connection with the First Closing, on November 1, 2013, GP LLC amended and restated its Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement to, among other things, (1) reflect that Spectra Energy Southeast Pipeline Corporation is now the sole member of GP LLC and (2) change the distribution date with respect to each fiscal quarter to the date that is 60 days following the close of such quarter. The foregoing description is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full and complete terms of the Third Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement, a copy of which is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 3.2.

 

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

On November 1, 2013, the Partnership and SE Corp issued a joint press release announcing the consummation of the First Closing. A copy of the press release is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1. The information in Exhibit 99.1 is being furnished pursuant to this Item 7.01.

 

Item 8.01. Other Events.

Description of Dropdown Assets

The assets owned by the Contributed Entities, as well as the assets included in the 40% ownership interest in the U.S. portion (Express US) and 100% ownership interest in the Canadian portion (Express Canada) of the Express-Platte crude oil pipeline system (collectively, the Express-Platte System) that we acquired from SE Corp on August 2, 2013, include natural gas, crude oil and natural gas liquids (NGL) pipelines and storage facilities that provide transportation and storage services for local distribution companies, electric power generators, exploration and production companies, and industrial and commercial customers, as well as energy marketers. Transportation and storage services are generally provided under firm agreements where customers reserve capacity in pipelines and storage facilities. The vast majority of these agreements provide for fixed reservation charges that are paid monthly regardless of actual volumes transported on the pipelines or injected or withdrawn from the storage facilities, plus a small variable component that is based on volumes transported, injected or withdrawn, which is intended to recover variable costs.

The Contributed Entities, with respect to their natural gas assets, also offer interruptible transportation and storage services where customers can use capacity if it is available at the time of the request. Interruptible revenues depend on the amount of volumes transported or stored and the associated market rates for this interruptible service, subject to a cost-based regulated rate cap. New projects placed into natural gas service may initially have higher levels of interruptible services at inception. The operations at the storage facilities also provide a variety of other value-added services including natural gas parking, loaning and balancing services to meet the needs of customers. In addition, the Contributed Entities, with respect to their crude oil and NGL assets, offer service to customers on capacity made available to any customer that has not previously executed a contract reserving capacity in the crude oil or NGL facility. Revenues from such non-contract customers depend on the amount of volumes transported or stored and the associated rate for such service.

 

-5-


Most of the Contributed Entities’ pipeline and storage operations are regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and are subject to the jurisdiction of various federal, state and local environmental agencies. FERC is the U.S. agency that regulates the transportation of natural gas, crude oil and NGLs in interstate commerce. Our Canadian pipeline and storage operations are regulated by Canada’s National Energy Board.

The Contributed Entities and their pipeline systems included in the Dropdown Transactions include:

 

    Texas Eastern. The Texas Eastern Transmission, LP (Texas Eastern) natural gas transmission system extends approximately 1,700 miles from producing fields in the Gulf Coast region of Texas and Louisiana to Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. It consists of two parallel systems, one with three large-diameter parallel pipelines and the other with one to three large-diameter pipelines. Texas Eastern’s onshore system consists of approximately 8,700 miles of pipeline and associated compressor stations. Texas Eastern also owns and operates two offshore Louisiana pipeline systems, which extend approximately 100 miles into the Gulf of Mexico and include approximately 500 miles of pipeline. In connection with the Dropdown Transactions, we acquired a 100% ownership interest in Texas Eastern.

 

    New Jersey-New York Expansion.  The New Jersey-New York project is designed to extend Texas Eastern’s reach farther into New Jersey and into the New York City market for the first time in several decades. The project is expected to provide 0.8 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of new capacity and involves the construction of 16 miles of new 30-inch pipeline extending from Staten Island to Manhattan, replacement of five miles of pipeline with 42-inch pipe, three compressor station reversals and other upgrades. The capital cost of the project is approximately $1.2 billion. The project was placed into service in the fourth quarter of 2013.

 

    Algonquin . The Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC (Algonquin) natural gas transmission system connects with Texas Eastern’s facilities in New Jersey and extends approximately 250 miles through New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts where it connects to the Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline system. The system consists of approximately 1,125 miles of pipeline with associated compressor stations. In connection with the Dropdown Transactions, we acquired a 100% ownership interest in Algonquin.

 

    Express-Platte System. On August 2, 2013, we acquired a 40% interest in Express US and a 100% interest in Express Canada. The 1,717-mile Express-Platte System, which begins in Hardisty, Alberta, and terminates in Wood River, Illinois, comprises the Express and Platte crude oil pipelines. The Express pipeline carries crude oil to U.S. refining markets in the Rockies area, including Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and Utah . The Express pipeline’s capacity is 280,000 barrels a day. The Platte pipeline, which interconnects with the Express pipeline in Casper, Wyoming, transports crude oil predominantly from the Bakken formation and western Canada to refiners in the Midwest. Platte’s capacity ranges from 164,000 barrels a day in Wyoming to 145,000 barrels a day in Illinois. In connection with the Dropdown Transactions, we acquired SE Corp’s remaining 60% ownership interest in the U.S. portion of the Express-Platte System, resulting in our owning 100% of that system.

 

    Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline. In connection with the Dropdown Transactions, we acquired an additional 38.77% interest in Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C. (M&N US) from SE Corp, resulting in our owning 77.5% of that system. M&N US owns a FERC-regulated 338-mile mainline interstate natural gas transportation system in the United States that extends from the Canadian border near Baileyville, Maine to northeastern Massachusetts. Affiliates of Emera, Inc. and Exxon Mobil Corporation currently own the remaining 12.92% and 9.55% interests in M&N US, respectively. M&N US is connected to the Canadian portion of the Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline system, which is owned by SE Corp and affiliates of Emera, Inc. and Exxon Mobil Corporation. M&N US’ facilities include seven compressor stations and a market delivery capability of approximately 0.8 Bcf/d of natural gas.

 

-6-


    Sand Hills and Southern Hills. In connection with the Dropdown Transactions, we acquired SE Corp’s one-third ownership interest in each of DCP Sand Hills Pipeline, LLC (Sand Hills) and DCP Southern Hills Pipeline, LLC (Southern Hills). DCP Midstream, LLC (a 50% equity investment of SE Corp) and Phillips 66 each own the remaining one-third ownership interests in Sand Hills and Southern Hills. The Sand Hills pipeline consists of approximately 720 miles of pipeline with initial capacity of 200,000 barrels per day (Bbls/d) that provides NGL transportation from the Permian Basin and Eagle Ford shale region to the premium NGL markets on the Gulf Coast. The Sand Hills pipeline has been phased into service, with Phase I completed during the fourth quarter of 2012, with initial service from the Eagle Ford shale region to Mont Belvieu. Phase II, which provides service from the Permian Basin to the Eagle Ford shale region, was completed in the second quarter of 2013. The Southern Hills pipeline consists of approximately 800 miles of NGL pipeline with initial capacity of almost 150,000 Bbls/d. The Southern Hills pipeline is connected to several DCP Midstream processing plants and third-party producers and provides NGL transportation from the Mid-Continent to Mont Belvieu. The Southern Hills pipeline was placed in service in the second quarter of 2013.

 

    Gulfstream. We now own a 50% interest in the 745-mile Gulfstream Natural Gas System, L.L.C. (Gulfstream) interstate natural gas transportation system which extends from Pascagoula, Mississippi and Mobile, Alabama across the Gulf of Mexico and into Florida, following our acquisition of SE Corp’s remaining 1% interest in Gulfstream. The Gulfstream pipeline currently includes approximately 279 miles of onshore pipeline in Florida, 12 miles of onshore pipeline in Alabama and Mississippi, and 454 miles of offshore pipeline in the Gulf of Mexico. Facilities also include gas treatment facilities and a compressor station in Coden, Alabama. Gulfstream supports the south and central Florida markets through its connection to eight receipt points and 24 delivery points and has market delivery capability of 1.3 Bcf/d of natural gas. Affiliates of The Williams Companies, Inc. currently own the remaining 50% interest in Gulfstream, and jointly operate the system with SE Corp.

 

    SESH. Southeast Supply Header, LLC (SESH) is a 290-mile natural gas transmission system, with associated compressor stations, owned and operated jointly by us and CenterPoint Energy, Inc. SESH extends from the Perryville Hub in northeastern Louisiana where the emerging shale gas production of eastern Texas, northern Louisiana and Arkansas, along with conventional production, is reached from five major interconnections. SESH extends to Alabama, interconnecting with 14 major north-south pipelines and three high-deliverability storage facilities. We acquired a 24.95% ownership interest in SESH at the First Closing, with SE Corp to contribute an additional 24.95% interest and its remaining 0.1% interest at the Second Closing and Third Closing, respectively, resulting in our owning 50% of that system following the completion of the Third Closing.

The natural gas and crude oil storage businesses included in the Dropdown Transactions include:

 

    Bobcat Gas Storage. Bobcat Gas Storage (Bobcat) is a 14 Bcf salt dome facility which is strategically located on the Gulf Coast near Henry Hub, interconnecting with five major interstate pipelines, including Texas Eastern. Bobcat’s storage capacity is expected to be 46 Bcf by the end of 2016 when fully developed. In connection with the Dropdown Transactions, we acquired a 100% interest in Bobcat.

 

    Market Hub. Market Hub Partners Holding (Market Hub) owns and operates two high-deliverability salt cavern natural gas storage facilities—the Egan and Moss Bluff facilities. These storage facilities are capable of being fully or partially filled and depleted, or “cycled,” multiple times per year. The Egan storage facility, located in Acadia Parish, Louisiana, has four storage caverns with a working gas capacity of approximately 29 Bcf, and includes a 58-mile pipeline system that interconnects with eight interstate pipeline systems, including Texas Eastern. The Moss Bluff storage facility, located in Liberty County, Texas, has four storage caverns with a working gas capacity of approximately 22 Bcf, and includes a 22-mile pipeline system that interconnects with two interstate pipeline systems, including Texas Eastern, and three intrastate pipeline systems. In connection with the Dropdown Transactions, we acquired Spectra Energy’s remaining 50% interest in Market Hub, resulting in us owning 100%, and serving as operator, of that facility.

 

-7-


    Steckman Ridge. Steckman Ridge is a 12 Bcf depleted reservoir storage facility located in south central Pennsylvania that interconnects with the Texas Eastern and Dominion Transmission, Inc. systems. We acquired a 49.9% interest in Steckman Ridge from SE Corp at the First Closing, and will acquire SE Corp’s remaining 0.1% interest in Steckman Ridge at the Second Closing, resulting in Steckman Ridge being owned 50% by us and 50% by NJR Steckman Ridge Storage Company.

 

    Texas Eastern Storage Facilities . Texas Eastern has two storage facilities in Pennsylvania held through joint ventures and one 100%-owned and operated storage facility in Maryland. Texas Eastern’s total working capacity in these three facilities is 74 Bcf. In addition, Texas Eastern’s system is connected to Steckman Ridge and three affiliated storage facilities in Texas and Louisiana, aggregating 65 Bcf, owned by Market Hub and Bobcat. In connection with the Dropdown Transactions, we acquired a 100% interest in Texas Eastern.

 

    Express-Platte Storage Facilities . The Express-Platte System includes 44 storage tanks with a total storage capacity of 4.8 MMBbl. In connection with the Dropdown Transactions, we acquired a 100% interest in the Express-Platte System.

There can be no assurance that the Second Closing and the Third Closing will be completed in the anticipated time frame, or at all, or that anticipated benefits of the Dropdown Transactions will be realized.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

The financial statements required by this Item 9.01 are not included in this Current Report on Form 8-K. These financial statements will be filed within 71 calendar days after the date on which this Current Report on Form 8-K is required to be filed.

(d) Exhibits.

 

  2.1    First Amendment to Contribution Agreement by and between Spectra Energy Corp and Spectra Energy Partners, LP, dated as of October 31, 2013.
  3.1    Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Spectra Energy Partners, LP, dated as of November 1, 2013.
  3.2    Third Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Spectra Energy Partners GP, LLC, dated as of November 1, 2013.
10.1    Amended and Restated Omnibus Agreement, dated November 1, 2013, by and among Spectra Energy Partners, LP, Spectra Energy Partners (DE) GP, LP, Spectra Energy Partners GP, LLC and Spectra Energy Corp.
10.2    Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of November 1, 2013, by and among Spectra Energy Partners, LP, as Borrower, Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and the lenders party thereto.
10.3    Credit Agreement, dated as of November 1, 2013, by and among Spectra Energy Partners, LP, as Borrower, The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, LTD, as Administrative Agent, and the lenders party thereto.
99.1    Joint press release of Spectra Energy Partners, LP and Spectra Energy Corp dated November 1, 2013.

 

-8-


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP
By:  

Spectra Energy Partners (DE) GP, LP,

its general partner

By:  

Spectra Energy Partners GP, LLC,

its general partner

/s/ J. Patrick Reddy

J. Patrick Reddy

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Date: November 1, 2013

 

-9-


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

  2.1    First Amendment to Contribution Agreement by and between Spectra Energy Corp and Spectra Energy Partners, LP, dated as of October 31, 2013.
  3.1    Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Spectra Energy Partners, LP, dated as of November 1, 2013.
  3.2    Third Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Spectra Energy Partners GP, LLC, dated as of November 1, 2013.
10.1    Amended and Restated Omnibus Agreement, dated November 1, 2013, by and among Spectra Energy Partners, LP, Spectra Energy Partners (DE) GP, LP, Spectra Energy Partners GP, LLC and Spectra Energy Corp.
10.2    Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of November 1, 2013, by and among Spectra Energy Partners, LP, as Borrower, Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and the lenders party thereto.
10.3    Credit Agreement, dated as of November 1, 2013, by and among Spectra Energy Partners, LP, as Borrower, The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, LTD, as Administrative Agent, and the lenders party thereto.
99.1    Joint press release of Spectra Energy Partners, LP and Spectra Energy Corp dated November 1, 2013.

 

-10-

Exhibit 2.1

FIRST AMENDMENT

TO

CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT (this “ Amendment ”), entered into effective as of October 31, 2013 at 5:00 p.m. (Houston, TX time) (the “ Effective Time ”), is made by and between Spectra Energy Corp, a Delaware corporation (“ SE Corp ”), and Spectra Energy Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“ SEP ”), each a “ Party ” and, together, the “ Parties .”

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Parties have entered into that certain Contribution Agreement dated as of August 5, 2013 (the “ Contribution Agreement ”); and

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to amend the Contribution Agreement as described in this Amendment;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties agree as follows as of the Effective Time:

Section 1. Definitions; References . All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings set forth (or otherwise provided for) in the Contribution Agreement. References herein to a specific Article, Section, Subsection or Schedule shall refer, respectively, to Articles, Sections, Subsections or Schedules of the Contribution Agreement.

Section 2. Amendments in respect of SE Capital-Steckman Ridge Loan .

(a) Amendments to Section 1.1 (Certain Definitions) Section 1.1 is amended as set forth below:

(i) The definition of “Conveyed Contracts” is hereby amended by the deletion of the words “the SE Capital-Steckman Ridge Loan and”.

(ii) The definition of “SE Capital-Steckman Ridge Loan” is hereby deleted.

(iii) The definition of “SE Capital-Steckman Ridge Loan Payment” is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:


SE Capital-Steckman Ridge Loan Payment ” means an amount equal to the outstanding principal and accrued, but unpaid, interest owing to SE Capital as at the First Closing Date under the Existing Steckman Ridge Loan Agreement.”

(iv) The following new definitions are hereby added:

Existing Steckman Ridge Loan Agreement ” means the loan agreement dated as of October 15, 2007, among SE Capital and NJR, as lenders, and Steckman Ridge, LP, as borrower, pursuant to which, on the date of this Agreement and immediately prior to First Closing, the outstanding principal owing to SE Capital will be $70,400,000.

New Steckman Ridge Loan Agreement ” means a new loan agreement among SEP and NJR, as lenders, and Steckman Ridge, LP, as borrower, that will contain terms and conditions substantially similar to those of the Existing Steckman Ridge Loan Agreement.

NJR ” means NJR Storage Holdings Company or an Affiliate thereof.

NJR-Steckman Ridge Loan Payment ” has the meaning set forth in paragraph 6 of Part 1 of Exhibit B .

(b) Amendments to Article 2 (Contribution; Consideration; Closing)

(i) Section 2.2(a) is hereby amended by the deletion of the words “pay to SE Capital the SE Capital-Steckman Ridge Loan Payment, and”.

(ii) Section 2.3(b) is hereby amended by the deletion of the words “(except the SE Capital-Steckman Ridge Loan Payment)”.

(c) Amendment to Section 4.7 (Absence of Liabilities) . Section 4.7(c) is hereby amended by the deletion of the words “SE Capital-Steckman Ridge Loan” and the insertion in their place of the following words “Existing Steckman Ridge Loan Agreement.”

(d) Amendment to Section 4.9 (Material Contracts) . Section 4.9(c) is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

As of the date of this Agreement and immediately before First Closing, (i) the Existing Steckman Ridge Loan Agreement is, in all material respects, a valid and binding obligation of each of SE Capital and Steckman Ridge, LP in their respective capacities thereunder; (ii) the Existing Steckman Ridge Loan Agreement is, in all material respects, enforceable against SE Capital and Steckman Ridge, LP in such capacities in accordance with its terms (subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception); and (iii) neither SE Capital nor Steckman Ridge, LP is in default or breach, in any material respect, of the Existing Steckman Ridge Loan Agreement and, to the Knowledge of SE Corp, there does not exist any event, condition or omission that would constitute such a default or breach (whether by lapse of time or notice or both).

 

2


(e) Amendment to Section 5.6 (Financing) . Section 5.6 is hereby amended by the deletion of the words “pay the SE Capital-Steckman Ridge Loan Payment and” and the insertion in their place of the following words “lend to Steckman Ridge, LP an amount under the New Steckman Ridge Loan Agreement equal to the SE Capital-Steckman Ridge Loan Payment and to pay”.

(f) Amendment to Section 6.12 (Intercompany Payables and Intercompany Receivables) . Section 6.12 is hereby amended (i) by the deletion of the words “SE Capital-Steckman Ridge Loan, which shall be assigned at the First Closing as set forth in this Agreement” and the insertion in their place of the following words: “Existing Steckman Ridge Loan Agreement, which shall be refinanced at the First Closing as set forth in paragraph 6 of Part 1 of Exhibit B ”; and (ii) by the insertion of the words “Working Capital” immediately before the word “Company” therein.

(g) Amendments to Exhibit B (Closing Transactions)

(i) Paragraph 6 of Part 1 of Exhibit B is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

SEP will enter into, and SE Corp will cause Steckman Ridge, LP and NJR to enter into, the New Steckman Ridge Loan Agreement. SE Corp will cause Steckman Ridge, LP to make a borrowing request to each of SEP and NJR under the New Steckman Ridge Loan Agreement for an amount equal to, respectively, (a) the SE Capital-Steckman Ridge Loan Payment, and (b) the amount of outstanding principal and accrued, but unpaid, interest owing from Steckman Ridge, LP to NJR under the Existing Steckman Ridge Loan Agreement (the “ NJR -Steckman Ridge Loan Payment ”). SEP will advance to Steckman Ridge, LP under the New Steckman Ridge Loan Agreement an amount equal to the SE Capital-Steckman Ridge Loan Payment, and SE Corp will cause NJR to advance to Steckman Ridge, LP under the New Steckman Ridge Loan Agreement an amount equal to the NJR-Steckman Ridge Loan Payment. SE Corp and SEP shall cause (I) Steckman Ridge, LP to repay in full to SE Capital and to NJR, respectively, the outstanding principal and accrued, but unpaid, interest owing from Steckman Ridge, LP to SE Capital and to NJR under the Existing Steckman Ridge Loan Agreement as at the First Closing Date, and (II) the termination of the Existing Steckman Ridge Loan Agreement upon receipt of such payments by SE Capital and NJR.

(ii) Paragraph 7 of Part 1 of Exhibit B is hereby amended by the deletion of the words “other than the SE Capital-Steckman Ridge Loan”.

(h) Amendments to Exhibit C (Closing Deliverables)

 

3


(i) Paragraph (vi) of Part 1A of Exhibit C is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows: “SEP shall deliver to SE Corp an executed counterpart of the New Steckman Ridge Loan Agreement, and shall advance to Steckman Ridge, LP under the New Steckman Ridge Loan Agreement the SE Capital-Steckman Ridge Loan Payment;”.

(ii) Paragraph (vii) of Part 1A of Exhibit C is hereby amended by the deletion of the words “other than the SE Capital-Steckman Ridge Loan”.

(iii) Paragraph (v) of Part 1B of Exhibit C is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows: “SE Corp shall deliver, or cause to be delivered (A) a counterpart of the New Steckman Ridge Loan Agreement executed by Steckman Ridge, LP and NJR, (B) a borrowing request from Steckman Ridge, LP to SEP under the New Steckman Ridge Loan Agreement for an amount equal to the SE Capital-Steckman Ridge Loan Payment, and (C) a receipt from each of SE Capital and NJR evidencing the repayment in full and the termination of the Existing Steckman Ridge Loan Agreement;”.

(iv) Paragraph (vi) of Part 1B of Exhibit C is hereby amended by the deletion of the words “other than the SE Capital-Steckman Ridge Loan”.

Section 3. Amendments in respect of Working Capital .

(a) Section 1.1 is hereby amended by (i) deleting the definition “Post-Closing Adjustment”, (ii) amending and restating the definition of “Cash Distribution” in its entirety to read “has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(c)”, and (iii) adding the following new definitions:

MHP Post-Closing Adjustment ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(h)(iii).

MHP Working Capital Companies ” means Market Hub Partners Holding, Moss Bluff Hub, LLC and Egan Hub Storage, LLC.

MLP GP Post-Closing Adjustment ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(h)(ii).

MLP GP Working Capital Companies ” means Spectra Energy Express Holding II, LLC, Express Holdings (USA), LLC, Express Pipeline LLC, Platte Pipe Line Company, LLC, Spectra Energy Express (US) Restructure Co, ULC, Spectra Energy Southeast MHP Holding, LLC, Spectra Energy Sand Hills Holding, LLC, and Spectra Energy Southern Hills Holding, LLC.

Sabal Trail Post-Closing Adjustment ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(h)(iv).

SE Transmission II Post-Closing Adjustment ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(h)(i).

 

4


SE Transmission II Working Capital Companies ” means the Working Capital Companies that are held directly or indirectly by SE Transmission II immediately before First Closing, to the extent so held, except for any MHP Working Capital Company included in such group of Working Capital Companies.

(b) Section 2.2(a)(ii) is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows: “(ii) pay to MLP GP and SE Transmission the Base Cash Distribution (subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 2.3 and Section 2.4) and pay to each Contributor other than MLP GP and SE Transmission such amount as may be payable to such Contributor in cash pursuant to Section 2.3 (subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 2.4), and each Contributor other than MLP GP and SE Transmission shall pay SEP such amount as may be payable to SEP in cash pursuant to Section 2.3 (subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 2.4);”.

(c) Section 2.3(b)(i) is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

(i) “ Working Capital . On the First Closing:

(A) SE Transmission II Working Capital Companies

1) If the aggregate Estimated Working Capital in respect of the SE Transmission II Working Capital Companies minus the Target Working Capital is a positive number, SEP shall pay in cash to SE Transmission an amount equal to Y% of the sum of the aggregate Estimated Working Capital in respect of the SE Transmission II Working Capital Companies minus the Target Working Capital, and SEP shall pay in cash to MLP GP an amount equal to X% of the sum of the aggregate Estimated Working Capital in respect of the SE Transmission II Working Capital Companies minus the Target Working Capital.

2) If the aggregate Estimated Working Capital in respect of the SE Transmission II Working Capital Companies minus the Target Working Capital is a negative number, SE Transmission shall pay in cash to SEP an amount equal to Y% of the sum of the Target Working Capital minus the aggregate Estimated Working Capital in respect of the SE Transmission II Working Capital Companies, and MLP GP shall pay in cash to SEP an amount equal to X% of the sum of the Target Working Capital minus the aggregate Estimated Working Capital in respect of the SE Transmission II Working Capital Companies.

(B) MLP GP Working Capital Companies

1) If the aggregate Estimated Working Capital in respect of the MLP GP Working Capital Companies minus the Target Working Capital is a positive number, SEP shall pay in cash to MLP GP an amount equal to the sum of the aggregate Estimated Working Capital in respect of the MLP GP Working Capital Companies minus the Target Working Capital.

 

5


2) If the aggregate Estimated Working Capital in respect of the MLP GP Working Capital Companies minus the Target Working Capital is a negative number, MLP GP shall pay in cash to SEP an amount equal to the sum of the Target Working Capital minus the aggregate Estimated Working Capital in respect of the MLP GP Working Capital Companies.

(C) MHP Working Capital Companies

1) If the aggregate Estimated Working Capital in respect of the MHP Working Capital Companies minus the Target Working Capital is a positive number, then SEP shall pay in cash an amount equal to the sum of the aggregate Estimated Working Capital in respect of the MHP Working Capital Companies minus the Target Working Capital as follows: (I) the sum of (x) 4% of such amount and (y) X% of 96% of such amount, to MLP GP; and (II) Y% of 96% of such amount, to SE Transmission.

2) If the aggregate Estimated Working Capital in respect of the MHP Working Capital Companies minus the Target Working Capital is a negative number, then an amount equal to the sum of the Target Working Capital minus the aggregate Estimated Working Capital in respect of the MHP Working Capital Companies shall be paid in cash as follows: (I) the sum of (x) 4% of such amount and (y) X% of 96% of such amount, by MLP GP to SEP; and (II) Y% of 96% of such amount, by SE Transmission to SEP.

(D) Sabal Trail Transmission, LLC

1) If the Estimated Working Capital in respect of Sabal Trail Transmission, LLC minus the Target Working Capital is a positive number, SEP shall pay in cash to SE Sabal Trail an amount equal to the sum of the Estimated Working Capital in respect of Sabal Trail Transmission, LLC minus the Target Working Capital.

2) If the Estimated Working Capital in respect of Sabal Trail Transmission, LLC minus the Target Working Capital is a negative number, SE Sabal Trail shall pay in cash to SEP an amount equal to the sum of the Target Working Capital minus the Estimated Working Capital in respect of Sabal Trail Transmission, LLC.”

(d) Section 2.3(c) is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

“(c) The total cash consideration amount to be paid at the First Closing by SEP, comprising the sum of (i) the Base Cash Distribution payable to MLP GP and SE Transmission, as adjusted pursuant to this Section 2.3, and (ii) any cash payable by SEP pursuant to this Section 2.3 to any Contributor other than MLP GP and SE Transmission, less the sum of any cash payable by any Contributor other than MLP GP and SE Transmission pursuant to this Section 2.3 to SEP, is referred to in this Agreement as the “ Closing Cash Distribution ”. The Closing Cash Distribution shall be subject to a post-closing adjustment pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.4 (the Closing Cash Distribution, as so adjusted, being the “ Cash Distribution ”).”

 

6


(e) Section 2.4(h) is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

“(h) The following post-closing adjustments will apply:

(i) The “ SE Transmission II Post-Closing Adjustment ” shall apply in respect of the First Closing only and shall be an amount equal to the Final Working Capital of the SE Transmission II Working Capital Companies minus the Estimated Working Capital of the SE Transmission II Working Capital Companies. If the SE Transmission II Post-Closing Adjustment is a positive amount, then SEP shall pay cash in such amount to MLP GP (as to X% of such amount) and SE Transmission (as to Y% of such amount). If the SE Transmission II Post-Closing Adjustment is a negative amount, then MLP GP (as to X% of the SE Transmission II Post-Closing Adjustment) and SE Transmission (as to Y% of the SE Transmission II Post-Closing Adjustment) shall pay cash to SEP, without the issuance of any additional equity in SEP to MLP GP or SE Transmission in respect thereof.

(ii) The “ MLP GP Post-Closing Adjustment ” shall apply in respect of the First Closing only and shall be an amount equal to the Final Working Capital of the MLP GP Working Capital Companies minus the Estimated Working Capital of the MLP GP Working Capital Companies. If the MLP GP Post-Closing Adjustment is a positive amount, then SEP shall pay cash in such amount to MLP GP. If the MLP GP Post-Closing Adjustment is a negative amount, then MLP GP shall pay cash to SEP, without the issuance of any additional equity in SEP to MLP GP in respect thereof.

(iii) The “ MHP Post-Closing Adjustment ” shall apply in respect of the First Closing only and shall be an amount equal to the Final Working Capital of the MHP Working Capital Companies minus the Estimated Working Capital of the MHP Working Capital Companies. If the MHP Post-Closing Adjustment is a positive amount, then SEP shall pay cash in such amount to MLP GP (being the sum of (A) 4% of the MHP Post-Closing Adjustment and (B) X% of 96% of the MHP Post-Closing Adjustment), and SE Transmission (being Y% of 96% of the MHP Post-Closing Adjustment). If the MHP Post-Closing Adjustment is a negative amount, then MLP GP (as to the sum of (I) 4% of the MHP Post-Closing Adjustment and (II) X% of 96% of the MHP Post-Closing Adjustment) and SE Transmission (as to Y% of 96% of the Post-Closing Adjustment) shall pay cash to SEP, without the issuance of any additional equity in SEP to MLP GP or SE Transmission in respect thereof.

 

7


(iv) The “ Sabal Trail Post-Closing Adjustment ” shall apply in respect of the First Closing only and shall be an amount equal to the Final Working Capital of Sabal Trail Transmission, LLC minus the Estimated Working Capital of Sabal Trail Transmission, LLC. If the Sabal Trail Post-Closing Adjustment is a positive amount, then SEP shall pay cash in such amount to SE Sabal Trail. If the Sabal Trail Post-Closing Adjustment is a negative amount, then SE Sabal Trail shall pay cash to SEP, without the issuance of any additional equity in SEP to SE Sabal Trail in respect thereof.

(v) Any payment required to be made pursuant to this Section 2.4(h) shall be made within three Business Days after the relevant Final Statement becomes such, together with interest thereon, from the relevant Closing Date through the date on which the applicable payment is made, at the Interest Rate calculated and payable in accordance with Section 2.8. To the extent any such payment is made by MLP GP or SE Transmission, such payment shall be treated as an adjustment to the part of the Cash Distribution made to MLP GP or SE Transmission (as applicable) for all Tax purposes, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable Law.”

Section 4. Amendments in respect of Third Party Indebtedness .

(a) Section 2.3(b)(ii)(A)(1) is hereby amended by the deletion of the words “to the extent an interest therein is being contributed on the First Closing” and by the insertion in their place of the words “to the extent of SE Transmission II’s interest therein”.

(b) Section 2.3(b)(ii)(A)(2) is hereby amended by the deletion of the words “to the extent an interest therein is being contributed on the First Closing” and by the insertion in their place of the words “to the extent of SE Transmission II’s interest therein”.

(c) Section 2.3(b)(ii)(B)(1) is hereby amended by the deletion of the words “Spectra Energy Express Holding, LLC” and by the insertion in their place of the words “Spectra Energy Express Holding II, LLC (and any Company in which any of the foregoing Companies has a direct or indirect ownership interest, to the extent of such interest)”.

(d) Section 2.3(b)(ii)(B)(2) is hereby amended by the deletion of the words “Spectra Energy Express Holding, LLC” and by the insertion in their place of the words “Spectra Energy Express Holding II, LLC (and any Company in which any of the foregoing Companies has a direct or indirect ownership interest, to the extent of such interest)”.

Section 5. Amendments in respect of Pre-Closing Credit Support . Section 6.7 is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

6.7 Pre-Closing Credit Support . Within 30 days after the earliest Closing Date on which a Company is to be directly or indirectly contributed, in whole or in part, to SEP, SEP shall obtain, or cause to be obtained in the name of SEP or its Affiliates, replacement bonds, guaranties and letters of credit (each a “ Replacement Credit Support ”) for all bonds, guaranties and letters of credit posted by SE Corp or any of its Affiliates with respect to such Company (each a “ Pre-Closing Credit

 

8


Support ”); provided , however , (I) that the amount of each Replacement Credit Support shall be equal to the product of (a) the aggregate value of the Pre-Closing Credit Support being replaced and (b) the direct or indirect percentage interest of SEP in such Company following the relevant Closing, and (II) as to any such bonds, SEP’s obligation to obtain, or cause to be obtained in the name of SEP or its Affiliates, a replacement bond shall be within the later of (a) 30 days after the earliest Closing Date on which a Company is to be directly or indirectly contributed, in whole or in part, to SEP, and (b) the expiration or the renewal of any such bond. Following each Closing, SEP shall, and shall cause each of the Companies in which SEP has a direct or indirect interest after such Closing to, jointly and severally, indemnify and hold harmless SE Corp and its Affiliates from and against the product of (i) any and all Losses in respect of any such Company arising from or relating to any Pre-Closing Credit Support with respect to which SEP has not obtained a Replacement Credit Support and (b) the direct or indirect percentage ownership interest of SEP in such Company. SE Corp shall, and shall cause its Affiliates to, provide reasonable cooperation to SEP in connection with SEP’s efforts to obtain each Replacement Credit Support pursuant to this Section 6.7.

Section 6. Amendments in respect of MLP GP Common Unit Consideration .

(a) Section 1.1 is hereby amended by adding the following new definition:

MLP GP Common Unit Consideration ” has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4 of Part 1 of Exhibit B .

(b) Section 1.1 is hereby further amended by the insertion of the words “the MLP GP Common Unit Consideration;” into the definition of “Total Unit Consideration”, after the words “the MLP GP General Unit Consideration;”.

(c) Section 2.2(a) is hereby amended by the insertion of the words “and the MLP GP Common Unit Consideration” after the words “the MLP General Unit Consideration”.

(d) Section 5.9(b) is hereby amended by the insertion of the words “and the MLP GP Common Unit Consideration” after the words “all of the MLP GP General Unit Consideration”.

(e) Section 6.18(b)(i) is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read:

“(i) none of the SE Transmission (SE Transmission II) Unit Consideration, the SE SESH First Closing Unit Consideration, the SE Sabal Trail Unit Consideration, the MLP GP General Unit Consideration or the MLP GP Common Unit Consideration shall be entitled to receive, and each Contributor waives any right in respect thereof to receive, any quarterly cash distribution from SEP to SEP unitholders that is attributable to any quarterly period that ends prior to the First Closing, whether or not the First Closing Date is prior to the record date for such quarterly cash distribution.”

 

9


(f) Paragraph 4 of Part 1 of Exhibit B is hereby amended by the insertion at the end of such paragraph of the words “and [                ] Common Units (the “ MLP GP Common Unit Consideration ”).

(g) Paragraph (iv) of Part 1A of Exhibit C is hereby amended by the insertion at the end of such paragraph of the words “and the MLP Common Unit Consideration”.

Section 7. Amendments in respect of Corrections to Legal Entity Names . The definitions of “New Business Services Agreements” and “New License Agreements” in Section 1.1 are hereby amended by the deletions of the words “Express Pipeline, LLC” and “East Tennessee Natural Gas Company, LLC” therein and replacement thereof by the words “Express Pipeline LLC” and “East Tennessee Natural Gas, LLC”, respectively.

Section 8. Amendments in respect of Corrections to Defined Terms . Each of Section 2.3(b)(ii)(A)(2) and Section 2.3(b)(ii)(B)(2) is hereby amended by the deletion of the words “Base Cash Consideration” therein and replacement thereof by the words “Base Cash Distribution”.

Section 9. Amendments to Exhibit A in respect of Contributed Entities . Row 30 of Exhibit A is hereby amended by the deletion in the second (2 nd ) column of the words “Spectra Energy Express Restructure Co., ULC” and replacement thereof by the words “Spectra Energy Express (US) Restructure Co., ULC”. Row 32 of Exhibit A is hereby amended by the deletion in the final column of the words “and Spectra Energy Southeast MHP Holding, LLC”.

Section 10. Amendments to Exhibit B in respect of Allocation of Consideration . Paragraph 5 of Part 1 of Exhibit B is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows, subject to completion of the amounts therein as contemplated by Section 2.2:

“Subject to adjustments in accordance with Sections 2.3 and 2.4, in consideration of the contributions contemplated by paragraphs 1 and 4 above, SEP would pay to MLP GP and SE Transmission the Base Cash Distribution at the First Closing, allocated as follows: MLP GP – $[                ] and SE Transmission – $[                ].”

Further, the following footnote is hereby inserted after the words “MLP GP – $[                ]”:

“$100,000,000 of which shall (and, at the election of SE Corp, all or part of any adjustment in cash payable by SEP to MLP GP pursuant to Section 2.4 may) comprise a preformation capital expenditure reimbursement related to MLP GP’s pre-First Closing ownership of 99% of Spectra Energy Sand Hills Holding, LLC and Spectra Energy Southern Hills Holding, LLC.”

Further, the following footnote is hereby inserted after the words “SE Transmission – $[                ]”:

 

10


“All of which, together with any cash received by SE Transmission from SEP in respect of working capital adjustments pursuant to Section 2.3, up to an aggregate maximum of $400,000,000, shall (and, at the election of SE Corp, all or part of any adjustment in cash payable by SEP to SE Transmission pursuant to Section 2.4 may) comprise a preformation capital expenditure reimbursement related to its pre-First Closing indirect ownership interests in Texas Eastern Transmission, LP and Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC.”

Section 11. Amendments to Exhibit E in respect of Amended and Restated Omnibus Agreement . Exhibit E to the Contribution Agreement is hereby amended by replacing it in its entirety with the Form of Amended and Restated Omnibus Agreement attached as Attachment 1 hereto.

Section 12. Amendment to Exhibit H in respect of New License Agreements . Exhibit H to the Contribution Agreement is hereby amended by replacing it in its entirety with the Form of New License Agreements attached as Attachment 2 hereto.

Section 13. Miscellaneous . All Sections of Article X of the Contribution Agreement are hereby incorporated in this Amendment by reference, provided that any references in any Sections of Article X to the “Agreement” or similar references shall be substituted for references to this Amendment. Except as modified herein, the terms of the Contribution Agreement remain in full force and effect, and all references therein to the “Agreement” shall be deemed to mean the Contribution Agreement as amended by this Amendment. This Amendment may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement. A signed copy of this Amendment delivered by facsimile, e-mail or other means of electronic transmission shall be deemed to have the same legal effect as delivery of an original signed copy of this Amendment.

[ Signature Page Follows ]

 

11


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this First Amendment to Contribution Agreement has been duly executed by the authorized representative of each signatory set forth below as of the date first written above.

 

  SE CORP:
  SPECTRA ENERGY CORP
  By:   /s/ Alan N. Harris
  Name:   Alan N. Harris
  Title:   Chief Development & Operations Officer
  SEP:
  SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP
  By:   Spectra Energy Partners (DE) GP, LP,
    its general partner
    By:   Spectra Energy Partners GP, LLC, its general partner
      By:   /s/ Julie A. Dill
       

 

      Name:   Julie A. Dill
      Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

[ Signature Page to First Amendment to Contribution Agreement ]


ATTACHMENT 1 – Form of Amended and Restated Omnibus Agreement

[Attached Behind this Page]


FORM OF

AMENDED AND RESTATED

OMNIBUS AGREEMENT

among

SPECTRA ENERGY CORP

SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS GP, LLC

SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS (DE) GP, LP

and

SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE I. Definitions

     1   

1.1

 

Definitions

     1   

ARTICLE II. Indemnification

     5   

2.1

 

Environmental Indemnification

     5   

2.2

 

Additional Indemnification

     6   

2.3

 

Indemnification Procedures

     6   

ARTICLE III. Reimbursement Obligations

     7   

3.1

 

Reimbursement for Allocated Corporate, General and Administrative Expenses

     7   

3.2

 

Reimbursement for Direct Expenses

     7   

3.3

 

Budgets; Capital; Operating and Maintenance Expenses; and Corporate Governance Expenses

     9   

ARTICLE IV. Miscellaneous

     9   

4.1

 

Choice of Law; Submission to Jurisdiction

     9   

4.2

 

Notice

     9   

4.3

 

Entire Agreement

     10   

4.4

 

Termination

     10   

4.5

 

Effect of Waiver or Consent

     10   

4.6

 

Amendment or Modification

     10   

4.7

 

Assignment; Third-Party Beneficiaries

     10   

4.8

 

Counterparts

     10   

4.9

 

Severability

     11   

4.10

 

Gender, Parts, Articles and Sections

     11   

4.11

 

Further Assurances

     11   

4.12

 

Withholding or Granting of Consent

     11   

4.13

 

Laws and Regulations

     11   

4.14

 

Negation of Rights of Limited Partners, Assignees and Third Parties

     11   

4.15

 

No Recourse Against Officers or Directors

     11   

4.16

 

Successors

     11   

 

i


AMENDED AND RESTATED

OMNIBUS AGREEMENT

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED OMNIBUS AGREEMENT (“ Agreement ”) is entered into on, and effective as of, [            ], 2013 (the “ Effective Date ”), and is by and among Spectra Energy Corp, a Delaware corporation (“ Spectra ”), Spectra Energy Partners GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ GP LLC ”), Spectra Energy Partners (DE) GP, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ General Partner ”), and Spectra Energy Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”). The above-named entities are sometimes referred to in this Agreement each as a “ Party ” and collectively as the “ Parties .”

RECITALS:

1. The Parties entered into that certain Omnibus Agreement effective as of July 2, 2007, which provided for the provision of certain services and indemnities by the General Partner, as amended by that certain First Amendment to Omnibus Agreement, effective as of April 4, 2008, and that certain Amendment No. 1 to Omnibus Agreement, effective as of June 1, 2010 (as so amended, the “ Original Agreement ”).

2. Spectra and the Partnership entered into that certain Contribution Agreement dated as of August 5, 2013, pursuant to which Spectra and the Partnership agreed to amend and restate the Original Agreement in its entirety to, among other things, eliminate the limit on the amount for which Spectra is entitled to reimbursed for certain corporate, general and administrative services that Spectra provides to the Partnership Group (as defined herein).

In consideration of the premises and the covenants, conditions, and agreements contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree to amend and restate the Original Agreement in its entirety as follows:

ARTICLE I.

Definitions

1.1 Definitions .

As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have the respective meanings set forth below:

Affiliate ” has the meaning given such term in the Partnership Agreement.

Agreement ” means this Agreement, as it may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.

Cause ” has the meaning given such term in the Partnership Agreement.

 

1


Change of Control ” means, with respect to any Person (the “ Applicable Person ”), any of the following events: (i) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the Applicable Person’s assets to any other Person, unless immediately following such sale, lease, exchange or other transfer such assets are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Applicable Person; (ii) the dissolution or liquidation of the Applicable Person; (iii) the consolidation or merger of the Applicable Person with or into another Person pursuant to a transaction in which the outstanding Voting Securities of the Applicable Person are changed into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where (a) the outstanding Voting Securities of the Applicable Person are changed into or exchanged for Voting Securities of the surviving Person or its parent and (b) the holders of the Voting Securities of the Applicable Person immediately prior to such transaction own, directly or indirectly, not less than a majority of the outstanding Voting Securities of the surviving Person or its parent immediately after such transaction; and (iv) a “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Sections 13(d) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) being or becoming the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act) of more than 50% of all of the then outstanding Voting Securities of the Applicable Person, except in a merger or consolidation which would not constitute a Change of Control under clause (iii) above.

Common Units ” has the meaning given such term in the Partnership Agreement.

Conflicts Committee ” has the meaning given such term in the Partnership Agreement.

Contribution Agreement ” has the meaning given such term in the Partnership Agreement.

Covered Environmental Losses ” means all environmental and toxic tort losses, damages, liabilities, injuries, claims, demands, causes of action, judgments, settlements, fines, penalties, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, costs and expenses of any Environmental Activity, court costs and reasonable attorney’s and experts’ fees) of any and every kind or character, by reason of or arising out of:

(i) any violation or correction of violation of Environmental Laws, including without limitation performance of any Environmental Activity; or

(ii) any event, omission or condition associated with ownership or operation of the IPO Partnership Assets relating to Environmental Activities (including, without limitation, the exposure to or presence of Hazardous Substances on, under, about or migrating to or from the IPO Partnership Assets or the exposure to or Release of Hazardous Substances arising out of operation of the IPO Partnership Assets) including, without limitation, (A) the cost and expense of any Environmental Activities, (B) the cost or expense of the preparation and implementation of any closure, remedial or corrective action or other plans required or necessary under Environmental Laws and (C) the cost and expense for any environmental or toxic tort pre-trial, trial or appellate legal or litigation support work.

Environmental Activities ” shall mean any investigation, study, assessment, evaluation, sampling, testing, monitoring, containment, removal, disposal, closure, corrective action, remediation (regardless of whether active or passive), natural attenuation, restoration,

 

2


bioremediation, response, repair, corrective measure, cleanup or abatement that is required or necessary under any applicable Environmental Law, including, but not limited to, institutional or engineering controls or participation in a governmental voluntary cleanup program to conduct voluntary investigatory and remedial actions for the clean-up, removal or remediation of Hazardous Substances that exceed actionable levels established pursuant to Environmental Laws, or participation in a supplemental environmental project in partial or whole mitigation of a fine or penalty.

Environmental Laws ” means all federal, state, and local laws, statutes, rules, regulations, orders, judgments, ordinances, codes, injunctions, decrees, Environmental Permits and other legally enforceable requirements and rules of common law relating to (a) pollution or protection of the environment or natural resources including, without limitation, the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental Policy Act and other environmental conservation and protection laws, each as amended through the IPO Closing Date, (b) any Release or threatened Release of, or any exposure of any Person or property to, any Hazardous Substances and (c) the generation, manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, transport or handling of any Hazardous Substances.

Environmental Permit ” means any permit, approval, identification number, license, registration, consent, exemption, variance or other authorization required under or issued pursuant to any applicable Environmental Law.

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

General Partner ” has the meaning given such term in the introduction to this Agreement.

GP LLC ” has the meaning given such term in the introduction to this Agreement.

Gulfstream ” means Gulfstream Natural Gas System, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company.

Gulfstream Assets ” means the assets owned by Gulfstream as of the IPO Closing Date.

Hazardous Substance ” means (a) any substance that is designated, defined or classified as a hazardous waste, solid waste, hazardous material, pollutant, contaminant or toxic or hazardous substance, or terms of similar meaning, or that is otherwise regulated under any Environmental Law, including, without limitation, any hazardous substance as defined under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, as amended, (b) oil as defined in the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, as amended, including oil, gasoline, natural gas, fuel oil, motor oil, waste oil, diesel fuel, jet fuel and other refined petroleum hydrocarbons and petroleum products and (c) radioactive materials, asbestos containing materials or polychlorinated biphenyls.

 

3


Indemnified Party ” means each Partnership Group Member and Spectra, as the case may be, in their capacities as parties entitled to indemnification in accordance with Article II.

Indemnifying Party ” means each of the Partnership and Spectra, as the case may be, in their capacity as the parties from whom indemnification may be required in accordance with Article II.

IPO Closing Date ” means July 2, 2007 (the date of the closing of the Partnership’s initial public offering of Common Units).

IPO Partnership Assets ” means the natural gas transportation and storage assets (including the Gulfstream Assets, the Market Hub Assets and the interests in Gulfstream and Market Hub contributed to the Partnership in connection with its initial public offering and as more completely described in the Registration Statement) conveyed, contributed or otherwise transferred or intended to be conveyed, contributed or otherwise transferred to any Partnership Group Member, or owned by or necessary for the operation of the business, properties or assets of any Partnership Group Member, prior to or as of the IPO Closing Date.

Losses ” means all losses, damages, liabilities, claims, demands, causes of action, judgments, settlements, fines, penalties, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, court costs and reasonable attorney’s and experts’ fees) of any and every kind or character.

Market Hub ” means Market Hub Partners Holding, a Delaware partnership.

Market Hub Assets ” means the assets owned by Market Hub as of the IPO Closing Date.

Original Agreement has the meaning given such term in the recitals to this Agreement.

Partnership ” has the meaning given such term in the introduction to this Agreement.

Partnership Agreement ” means the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Spectra Energy Partners, LP, dated as of the IPO Closing Date, as amended by that certain Amendment No. 1 to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Spectra Energy Partners, LP, dated as of April 11, 2008, and as it may be further amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

Partnership Entities ” means GP LLC, the General Partner and each Partnership Group Member.

Partnership Group ” means the Partnership and its Subsidiaries treated as a single consolidated entity.

Partnership Group Member ” means any member of the Partnership Group.

Partnership Indemnitee ” means any Person who is an Indemnitee (as defined in the Partnership Agreement); provided , that the term “Partnership Indemnitee” shall exclude Spectra and any Affiliate of Spectra which is not a Partnership Group Member.

 

4


Party ” and “ Parties ” are defined in the introduction to this Agreement.

Person ” means an individual or a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, business trust, employee benefit plan, unincorporated organization, association, government agency or political subdivision thereof or other entity.

Registration Statement ” means the Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended, (Registration No. 333-141687) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to the initial public offering of Common Units by the Partnership.

Release ” means any depositing, spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, placing, emitting, discarding, abandoning, emptying, discharging, migrating, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping or disposing into the environment.

Retained Assets ” means all assets of Spectra and its Affiliates that were not conveyed, contributed or otherwise transferred to the Partnership Group pursuant to the Contribution Agreement and other documents relating to the transactions referred to in the Contribution Agreement.

Subsidiary ” has the meaning given such term in the Partnership Agreement.

Spectra ” has the meaning given such term in the introduction to this Agreement.

Units ” has the meaning given such term in the Partnership Agreement.

Voting Securities ” means securities of any class of a Person entitling the holders thereof to vote in the election of, or to appoint, members of the board of directors or other similar governing body of the Person.

ARTICLE II.

Indemnification

2.1 Environmental Indemnification. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.3, the Partnership Group shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Spectra and its Affiliates, other than any Partnership Group Member, from and against any Covered Environmental Losses suffered or incurred by Spectra and its Affiliates, other than any Partnership Group Member, relating to the IPO Partnership Assets occurring after the IPO Closing Date; provided that in no event shall the Partnership Group indemnify, defend or hold harmless Spectra and its Affiliates from and against any Covered Environmental Losses relating to the Gulfstream Assets or the Market Hub Assets arising from or attributable to the 25.5% interest in Gulfstream or the 50% interest in Market Hub, respectively, owned by Spectra and its Affiliates from and after the IPO Closing Date except to the extent Spectra or any of its Subsidiaries, other than any Partnership Group Member, is indemnified by any Partnership Group Member for or against such Covered Environmental Loss pursuant to any other contract entered into after the IPO Closing Date.

 

5


2.2 Additional Indemnification.

(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.3, Spectra shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Partnership Group and the Partnership Indemnitees from and against any Losses suffered or incurred by the Partnership Group or any Partnership Indemnitee by reason of or arising out of:

(i) all federal, state and local income tax liabilities attributable to the ownership or operation of the IPO Partnership Assets prior to the IPO Closing Date, including any such income tax liabilities of Spectra and its Affiliates that may result from the consummation of the formation transactions for the Partnership Group occurring on or prior to the IPO Closing Date; and

(ii) the assets, liabilities, business or operations associated with the Retained Assets and whether occurring before or after the IPO Closing Date;

provided, however , that, (A) in the case of clause (i) above, such indemnification obligations shall survive until sixty (60) days after the expiration of any applicable statute of limitations, and (B) in the case of clause (ii) above, in no event shall Spectra indemnify, defend or hold harmless the Partnership Group or any Partnership Indemnitee from and against any Losses suffered or incurred by the Partnership Group or any Partnership Indemnitee by reason of or arising out of any Retained Assets transferred by Spectra or any of its Affiliates, other than any Partnership Group Member, to any Partnership Group Member pursuant to any other contract entered into after the IPO Closing Date;

(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.3, in addition to and not in limitation of the indemnification provided under this Article II, the Partnership Group shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Spectra and its Affiliates, other than any Partnership Group Member, from and against any Losses suffered or incurred by Spectra and its Affiliates, other than any Partnership Group Member, by reason of or arising out of events and conditions associated with the operation of the IPO Partnership Assets that occurs on or after the IPO Closing Date (other than Covered Environmental Losses, which are covered by Section 2.1) except to the extent that the Partnership Group is indemnified with respect to any such Losses under Section 2.2(a); provided that in no event shall the Partnership Group indemnify, defend or hold harmless Spectra and its Affiliates from and against any Losses relating to the Gulfstream Assets or the Market Hub Assets arising from or attributable to the 25.5% interest in Gulfstream or the 50% interest in Market Hub, respectively, owned by Spectra and its Affiliates from and after the IPO Closing Date except to the extent Spectra or any of its Subsidiaries, other than any Partnership Group Member, is indemnified by any Partnership Group Member for or against such Loss pursuant to any other contract entered into after the IPO Closing Date.

2.3 Indemnification Procedures.

(a) The Indemnified Party agrees that within a reasonable period of time after it becomes aware of facts giving rise to a claim for indemnification pursuant to this Article II, it will provide notice thereof in writing to the Indemnifying Party specifying the nature of and specific basis for such claim; provided, however, that the Indemnified Party shall not submit claims more frequently than once a calendar quarter (or twice in the case of the last calendar quarter prior to the expiration of the applicable indemnity coverage under this Agreement).

 

6


(b) The Indemnifying Party shall have the right to control all aspects of the defense of (and any counterclaims with respect to) any claims brought against the Indemnified Party that are covered by the indemnification set forth in this Article II, including, without limitation, the selection of counsel, determination of whether to appeal any decision of any court or similar authority and the settling of any such matter or any issues relating thereto; provided, however, that no such settlement shall be entered into without the consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) of the Indemnified Party unless it includes a full release of the Indemnified Party from such matter or issues, as the case may be.

(c) The Indemnified Party agrees to cooperate fully with the Indemnifying Party with respect to all aspects of the defense of any claims covered by the indemnification set forth in this Article II, including, without limitation, the prompt furnishing to the Indemnifying Party of any correspondence or other notice relating thereto that the Indemnified Party may receive, permitting the names of the Indemnified Party to be utilized in connection with such defense, the making available to the Indemnifying Party of any files, records or other information of the Indemnified Party that the Indemnifying Party considers relevant to such defense and the making available to the Indemnifying Party of any employees of the Indemnified Party; provided, however, that in connection therewith the Indemnifying Party agrees to use reasonable efforts to minimize the impact thereof on the operations of the Indemnified Party and further agrees to maintain the confidentiality of all files, records and other information furnished by the Indemnified Party pursuant to this Section 2.3. In no event shall the obligation of the Indemnified Party to cooperate with the Indemnifying Party as set forth in the immediately preceding sentence be construed as imposing upon the Indemnified Party an obligation to hire and pay for counsel in connection with the defense of any claims covered by the indemnification set forth in this Article II; provided, however, that the Indemnified Party may, at its own option, cost and expense, hire and pay for counsel in connection with any such defense. The Indemnifying Party agrees to keep any such counsel hired by the Indemnified Party reasonably informed as to the status of any such defense, but the Indemnifying Party shall have the right to retain sole control over such defense.

(d) In determining the amount of any loss, cost, damage or expense for which the Indemnified Party is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, the gross amount of the indemnification will be reduced by (i) any insurance proceeds realized by the Indemnified Party, and such correlative insurance benefit shall be net of any incremental insurance premium that becomes due and payable by the Indemnified Party as a result of such claim and (ii) all amounts recovered by the Indemnified Party under contractual indemnities from third Persons.

 

7


ARTICLE III.

Reimbursement Obligations

3.1 Reimbursement for Allocated Corporate, General and Administrative Expenses.

(a) The General Partner hereby agrees to provide (or to cause its Affiliates to provide) the Partnership Group, from and after the IPO Closing Date, with certain corporate, general and administrative services, including, but which may include (in whole or in part) and are not limited to, legal, accounting, compliance, treasury, insurance, risk management, health, safety and environmental, human resources, credit, payroll, internal audit, and tax (collectively, “ Corporate Governance ”). These Corporate Governance services shall be consistent in nature and quality to the services of such type previously provided by the General Partner and its Affiliates in connection with its management and operation of the Partnership’s assets prior to their acquisition by the Partnership.

(b) The Partnership Group hereby agrees to reimburse the General Partner and its Affiliates for all expenses and expenditures the General Partner or its Affiliates incur or payments they make on behalf of the Partnership Group for these Corporate Governance services. Such reimbursable expenses shall also include employee benefits expenses for former employees of Spectra and its Affiliates arising out of services provided by such employees prior to the Effective Date with respect to assets or businesses that are owned by the Partnership as of the Effective Date.

(c) The General Partner shall be entitled to allocate any such expenses and expenditures between the Partnership Group, on the one hand, and the General Partner and its Affiliates, on the other hand, in accordance with the foregoing provision on any reasonable basis.

3.2 Reimbursement for Direct Expenses.

(a) The Partnership Group hereby agrees to reimburse the General Partner and its Affiliates for all direct expenses and expenditures, other than costs allocated pursuant to Section 3.1, they incur or payments they make on behalf of the Partnership Group, including, but not limited to, (i) salaries of personnel performing services on the Partnership Group’s behalf, the cost of employee benefits for such personnel and general and administrative expense associated with such personnel, (ii) capital expenditures, (iii) maintenance and repair costs, (iv) taxes and (v) direct expenses, including operating expenses and certain allocated operating expenses, associated with the ownership and operation of the Partnership’s assets; provided , that any allocated operating expenses shall be consistent in nature and quality to the services of such type previously provided by Spectra in connection with its management and operation of the Partnership’s assets prior to their acquisition by the Partnership.

(b) The Partnership Group hereby agrees to reimburse the General Partner and its Affiliates for all expenses and expenditures they incur or payments they make as a result of the Partnership becoming and continuing as a publicly traded entity, including, but not limited to, costs associated with annual and quarterly reports, tax return and Schedule K-1 preparation and distribution, independent auditor fees, partnership governance and compliance, registrar and transfer agent fees, legal fees and independent director compensation.

(c) The obligation of the Partnership Group to reimburse the General Partner and its Affiliates pursuant to this Section 3.2 shall not be subject to any monetary limitation.

 

8


3.3 Budgets: Capital; Operating and Maintenance Expenses; and Corporate Governance Expenses.

(a) Prior to final approval, the General Partner agrees to provide to the Partnership the annual estimated budgets for the capital expenditures and costs associated with the entities in which the Partnership has an ownership interest and for which the Partnership is required to reimburse Spectra and its Affiliates pursuant to Sections 3.1 and 3.2. In the course of preparing such budgets, the General Partner agrees to consult with the Partnership regarding such budgets prior to their approval.

(b) The General Partner agrees to promptly provide the Partnership with all budget forecast(s) and variance analyses prepared by the General Partner or its Affiliates in the normal course of business and related to the budgets described in Section 3.3(a), and will consult with the Partnership with respect to material variances and expenditures not initially included in such budgets.

ARTICLE IV.

Miscellaneous

4.1 Choice of Law; Submission to Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be subject to and governed by the laws of the State of Texas, excluding any conflicts-of-law rule or principle that might refer the construction or interpretation of this Agreement to the laws of another state. Each Party hereby submits to the jurisdiction of the state and federal courts in the State of Texas and to venue in Houston, Texas.

4.2 Notice. All notices or requests or consents provided for by, or permitted to be given pursuant to, this Agreement must be in writing and must be given by depositing same in the United States mail, addressed to the Person to be notified, postpaid, and registered or certified with return receipt requested or by delivering such notice in person or by telecopier or telegram to such Party. Notice given by personal delivery or mail shall be effective upon actual receipt. Notice given by telegram or telecopier shall be effective upon actual receipt if received during the recipient’s normal business hours or at the beginning of the recipient’s next business day after receipt if not received during the recipient’s normal business hours. All notices to be sent to a Party pursuant to this Agreement shall be sent to or made at the address set forth below or at such other address as such Party may stipulate to the other Parties in the manner provided in this Section 4.2.

For notice to Spectra:

Spectra Energy Corp

5400 Westheimer Court

Houston, Texas 77056

Attention: General Counsel

 

9


For notice to the Partnership Entities:

Spectra Energy Partners, LP

5400 Westheimer Court

Houston, Texas 77056

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

4.3 Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the Parties relating to the matters contained herein, superseding all prior contracts or agreements, whether oral or written, relating to the matters contained herein.

4.4 Termination. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if the General Partner is removed as general partner of the Partnership under circumstances where Cause does not exist and Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates are not voted in favor of such removal, this Agreement, other than the provisions set forth in Article II hereof, may immediately thereupon be terminated by Spectra. This Agreement, other than the provisions set forth in Article II hereof, shall also terminate upon a Change of Control of GP LLC, the General Partner or the Partnership.

4.5 Effect of Waiver or Consent. No waiver or consent, express or implied, by any Party to or of any breach or default by any Person in the performance by such Person of its obligations hereunder shall be deemed or construed to be a consent or waiver to or of any other breach or default in the performance by such Person of the same or any other obligations of such Person hereunder. Failure on the part of a Party to complain of any act of any Person or to declare any Person in default, irrespective of how long such failure continues, shall not constitute a waiver by such Party of its rights hereunder until the applicable statute of limitations period has run.

4.6 Amendment or Modification. This Agreement may be amended or modified from time to time only by the written agreement of all the Parties; provided, however , that the Partnership may not, without the prior approval of the Conflicts Committee, agree to any amendment or modification of this Agreement that, in the reasonable discretion of the General Partner, will adversely affect the holders of Common Units. Each such instrument shall be reduced to writing and shall be designated on its face an “Amendment” or an “Addendum” to this Agreement.

4.7 Assignment; Third-Party Beneficiaries. No Party shall have the right to assign any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the consent of the other Parties hereto. Each of the Parties hereto specifically intends that Spectra and each entity comprising the Partnership Entities, as applicable, whether or not a Party to this Agreement, shall be entitled to assert rights and remedies hereunder as third-party beneficiaries hereto with respect to those provisions of this Agreement affording a right, benefit or privilege to any such entity.

4.8 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, including facsimile counterparts, with the same effect as if all signatory Parties had signed the same document. All counterparts shall be construed together and shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

10


4.9 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the application thereof to any Person or circumstance shall be held invalid or unenforceable by a court or regulatory body of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision to other Persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby and shall be enforced to the greatest extent permitted by law.

4.10 Gender, Parts, Articles and Sections. Whenever the context requires, the gender of all words used in this Agreement shall include the masculine, feminine and neuter, and the number of all words shall include the singular and plural. All references to Article numbers and Section numbers refer to Articles and Sections of this Agreement.

4.11 Further Assurances. In connection with this Agreement and all transactions contemplated by this Agreement, each Party agrees to execute and deliver such additional documents and instruments and to perform such additional acts as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate, carry out and perform all of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Agreement and all such transactions.

4.12 Withholding or Granting of Consent. Each Party may, with respect to any consent or approval that it is entitled to grant pursuant to this Agreement, grant or withhold such consent or approval in its sole and uncontrolled discretion, with or without cause, and subject to such conditions as it shall deem appropriate.

4.13 Laws and Regulations. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, no Party shall take any act, or fail to take any act, under this Agreement which would violate any applicable law, statute, rule or regulation.

4.14 Negation of Rights of Limited Partners, Assignees and Third Parties. The provisions of this Agreement are enforceable solely by the Parties, and no stockholder, limited partner, member or assignee of Spectra, the Partnership or other Person shall have the right, separate and apart from Spectra or the Partnership, to enforce any provision of this Agreement or to compel any Party to comply with the terms of this Agreement.

4.15 No Recourse Against Officers or Directors. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of this Agreement shall not give rise to any right of recourse against any officer or director of Spectra or any Partnership Entity.

4.16 Successors. This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the Parties and to their respective successors and assigns.

 

11


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Amended and Restated Omnibus Agreement on, and effective as of, the Effective Date.

 

SPECTRA ENERGY CORP
By:    
  [Name]
  [Title]
SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS GP, LLC
By:    
  [Name]
  [Title]
SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS (DE) GP, LP
By:   Spectra Energy Partners GP, LLC, its general partner
By:    
  [Name]
  [Title]
SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP
By:   Spectra Energy Partners (DE) GP, LP, its general partner
By:   Spectra Energy Partners GP, LLC, its general partner
By:    
  [Name]
  [Title]

[Signature Page to the Amended and Restated Omnibus Agreement]


ATTACHMENT 2 – Form of New License Agreements

[Attached Behind this Page]


FORM OF LICENSE AGREEMENT

THIS LICENSE AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is entered into effective as of [            ], 2013, between Spectra Energy Administrative Services, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Licensor”), and [            ], a Delaware [            ] (“Licensee”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, Licensor is the owner of the entire right, title and interest in and to the trademarks, service marks, logos, trade names and/or trade dress identified on Schedule A, along with the associated registrations and the good will of the business symbolized by said marks (collectively, the “Licensed Mark”); and

WHEREAS, Licensee desires to acquire an exclusive right and license to use the Licensed Mark on terms and conditions more fully set forth hereinafter.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the recitals, the mutual promises in this Agreement, and other valuable consideration, the parties agree as follows:

 

  1. Grant of License

Subject to and conditioned upon Licensee’s compliance with the other terms of this Agreement set forth hereinafter, Licensor hereby grants to Licensee for the Term the worldwide exclusive right to use the Licensed Mark for the Licensed Services, as set forth in Schedule A.

 

  2. Goodwill

Licensee acknowledges that title and ownership in the Licensed Mark and the goodwill associated therewith are and shall at all times remain in the Licensor and that, by this License Agreement, Licensee is not acquiring any title, ownership, or other interest in the Licensed Mark. All uses of the Licensed Mark by Licensee and all goodwill generated thereby shall inure exclusively and completely to the benefit of the Licensor. Licensee acknowledges the validity and enforceability of the Licensor’s rights and title in the Licensed Mark and agrees not to contest or challenge the validity of, or Licensor’s title in, the Licensed Mark.


  3. Use of Licensed Mark

Licensee shall use the Licensed Mark only in such art form, style and color, and in such logotype form, as specified or otherwise approved from time to time by Licensor. Licensee shall not itself alter or modify the Licensed Mark. Licensor shall retain the right, from time to time, and in its sole discretion, to modify, amend, alter or discontinue the Licensed Mark. Upon reasonable prior written notice thereof to the Licensee, the Licensee shall promptly conform or discontinue, as applicable, its use of the Licensed Mark as so modified, altered, amended or discontinued and the definition of Licensed Mark shall be deemed to be automatically amended into conformity with such changes in the Licensed Mark.

 

  4. Quality Control Standards and Restrictions

 

  4.1 Licensee agrees that the manner of use and display of the Licensed Mark shall conform to the standards set by, and be under the control of, Licensor. Licensee agrees that the nature and quality of all Licensed Services offered in connection with the Licensed Mark shall conform to the standards set by, and be under the control of, Licensor. Licensee shall comply with all applicable laws relating to the provision, promotion, distribution and sale of the Licensed Services.

 

  4.2 Licensor shall have the right from time to time to designate any additional standards, criteria, controls or restrictions on the Licensee’s use of the Licensed Mark; the nature, form and manner of use of advertising and promotional materials by Licensee on which the Licensed Mark appear; and any such other standards, criteria, controls or restrictions relating to the Licensee’s exercise of the license granted herein which Licensor, in its discretion, deems to be necessary or desirable to protect, preserve, enhance or extend Licensor’s rights in the Licensed Mark. At Licensor’s request upon reasonable advance notice to Licensee, Licensee shall permit Licensor to enter upon and to inspect any or all of the Licensee’s facilities, for purposes of monitoring and verifying proper compliance with the standards, criteria, controls and restrictions established by licensor. Such standards shall include, at a minimum, the requirement that Licensee not engage in any illegal activities in violation of criminal statutes. Licensee shall otherwise promptly comply with any other reasonable request by Licensor intended to determine the compliance of Licensee with the terms of this Agreement. Licensee acknowledges and agrees that strict compliance by Licensee with all such standards, criteria, controls and restrictions is of the essence of this Agreement and failure to do so shall be conclusively deemed to constitute a material breach of this Agreement.


  4.3 Licensor shall also have the right to review all sublicensing agreements and to approve or disapprove the same, and the Licensee hereby agrees to submit all such agreements to Licensor for approval.

 

  5. Term

Unless otherwise terminated as provided elsewhere in this Agreement, the term of this Agreement shall run indefinitely for as long as the Licensee continues uninterrupted use of the Licensed Mark in compliance with the provisions and conditions of this Agreement.

 

  6. Royalties

 

  (a) In consideration of the license herein granted to the licensee, Licensee shall pay to Licensor royalties at the rate of 1% of the Gross Revenue of Licensee. As used herein, the term “Gross Revenue” shall mean all monetary operating receipts and any other consideration or value realized by Licensee from its business operations in connection with the Licensed Mark.

 

  (b) Licensee shall pay royalties to the Licensor annually on or before each February 15, based upon the Gross Revenue realized by the Licensee during the preceding calendar year. Licensee’s first royalty payment shall be due on or before February 15, 2014, and shall be based upon Licensee’s Gross Revenues for the period from November 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013. Each annual royalty payment shall be accompanied by a written royalty report setting forth the Licensee’s Gross Revenue during the preceding calendar year for which royalties are payable.

 

  (c) The Licensee shall keep true and accurate records according to generally accepted accounting principles and procedures as to all its Gross Revenue under this Agreement. The Licensor or its designated representatives shall have the right at reasonable times and upon reasonable advance notice to inspect and audit the Licensee’s records for the purpose of verifying the accuracy of any royalty payment and statement furnished to the Licensor by the Licensee under the above provisions of this Agreement.


  (d) Any amounts due to Licensor hereunder that are not paid as and when due shall bear interest at the rate of the lower of eighteen percent (18%) per annum or the maximum amount permitted by law. Such interest shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, other remedies afforded Licensor hereunder, at law of in equity, for breach of this Agreement.

 

  7. Assignability

The Licensor shall have the right to assign, transfer, sub-contract or otherwise delegate the performance of any or all of its rights or responsibilities under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Licensee. The license herein granted to the Licensee is personal and the Licensee is expressly prohibited from assigning, transferring, sub-contracting or otherwise delegating, either voluntarily or by operation of law, the performance of any of the Licensee’s rights or responsibilities under this Agreement, without the prior written consent of the Licensor.

 

  8. Default and Termination

 

  (a) This Agreement and the license herein granted to Licensee shall be terminable by Licensor immediately upon written notice of termination to Licensee, without Licensee having an opportunity to cure or otherwise avoid termination, in the event: (i) Licensee is declared bankrupt or judicially determined to be insolvent, or all or a substantial part of the assets of Licensee are assigned to or for the benefit of any creditor, or Licensee admits its inability to pay its debts as they come due; (ii) Licensee fails to operate under or in connection with any of the Licensed Mark for a period of thirty (30) consecutive days; (iii) Licensee fails, for a period of ten (10) days after notification of non-compliance, to comply with any federal, state or local law or regulation applicable to the Licensed Mark or otherwise to the operation of the Licensee’s business; (iv) Licensee attempts or purports to assign or otherwise delegate to any other party Licensee’s rights or responsibilities under this Agreement; (v) any change or transfer occurs in the ownership of the outstanding shares of voting stock in the Licensee which shifts the majority ownership and control of such shares from that existing as of the effective date of this Agreement; or (vi) Licensee is convicted of or pleads guilty or no contest to a felony or any other crime which licensor believes is likely to adversely affect the reputation or goodwill of the Licensed Mark.


  (b) In the event Licensee otherwise materially defaults in the performance of any of the terms of this Agreement, Licensor, in addition to all remedies available to Licensor at law or in equity, may give written notice of termination of this Agreement to Licensee, specifying the nature of the default, and this Agreement shall be automatically terminated unless such default is cured within fifteen (15) days after such written notice thereof.

 

  (c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, either Licensor or Licensee shall have the right to terminate this Agreement at any time without cause by giving at least thirty (30) days written notice to the other party in advance of the effective date termination is to take place.

 

  (d) In the event of termination of this Agreement for any reason, Licensee shall immediately cease any further use of the Licensed Mark.

 

  9. Impossibility of Performance

Each party shall be excused for any delay or default in the performance of this Agreement caused by any act of God, governmental restriction, wars, strikes, other work stoppages, fires, floods, or any other event or condition beyond its control.

 

  10. Notices

All notices and communications required or permitted to be sent under this Agreement shall be deemed made and delivered when transmitted in writing by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed to the receiving party at:

 

                If to Licensor:    Spectra Energy Administrative Services, LLC
   5400 Westheimer Court
   Houston, TX 77056
                If to Licensee:    [                     ]
   5400 Westheimer Court
   Houston, TX 77056

or at such other address as shall be notified to the other party in compliance with this paragraph.


  11. Entire Agreement

This writing constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and no modifications or revisions hereof shall have any force or effect unless the same are made in writing and executed by the party against whom the enforcement is sought.

 

  12. Severance

In the event any provision of this Agreement is declared void or unenforceable, such provision shall be deemed severed from this Agreement, which shall otherwise remain in force and effect.

 

  13. Survival

All obligations of Licensor and Licensee that expressly or by their nature survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect subsequent to and notwithstanding its expiration or termination and until they are satisfied in full or by their nature expire.

 

  14. Independent Contractor

Nothing herein shall be construed or deemed to create a franchise, joint venture, contract of employment or partnership between Licensor and Licensee.

 

  15. Headings

Section headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

  16. No Waiver

Failure by either party hereto to enforce at any time or for any period of time any provision or right hereunder shall not constitute a waiver of such provision or of the right of such party thereafter to enforce each and every such provision.


  17. Counterparts

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which together shall constitute one agreement binding on the parties hereto.

 

  18. Controlling Law

This Agreement has been made and entered into in the State of Texas and shall be interpreted and applied in accordance with the laws of that state, but excluding and without reference to its conflict of law principles.

 

  19. Binding Effect

This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors, legal representatives, and assigns of the parties.

[The remainder of this page intentionally left blank]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed by the parties and effective as of the date first above written.

 

Spectra Energy Administrative Services, LLC
By:    
Name:   [                      ]
Title:   [                      ]
[                                          ]
By:    
Name:   [                      ]
Title:   [                      ]


Schedule A

Exhibit 3.1

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED

AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

OF

SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE I

   DEFINITIONS      1   

Section 1.1

   Definitions      1   

Section 1.2

   Construction      22   

ARTICLE II

   ORGANIZATION      22   

Section 2.1

   Formation      22   

Section 2.2

   Name      23   

Section 2.3

   Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices      23   

Section 2.4

   Purpose and Business      23   

Section 2.5

   Powers      24   

Section 2.6

   Power of Attorney      24   

Section 2.7

   Term      25   

Section 2.8

   Title to Partnership Assets      25   

ARTICLE III

   RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS      26   

Section 3.1

   Limitation of Liability      26   

Section 3.2

   Management of Business      26   

Section 3.3

   Outside Activities of the Limited Partners      26   

Section 3.4

   Rights of Limited Partners      26   

ARTICLE IV

   CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS; REDEMPTION OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS      27   

Section 4.1

   Certificates      27   

Section 4.2

   Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates      28   

Section 4.3

   Record Holders      29   

Section 4.4

   Transfer Generally      29   

Section 4.5

   Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests      30   

Section 4.6

   Transfer of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest      31   

Section 4.7

   Transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights      31   

Section 4.8

   Restrictions on Transfers      32   

Section 4.9

   Tax Certifications; Ineligible Holders; Citizenship Certificates; Non-citizen Assignees      33   

Section 4.10

   Redemption of Partnership Interests of Non-citizen and Ineligible Holders      35   

ARTICLE V

   CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS      36   

Section 5.1

   Organizational Contributions      36   

Section 5.2

   Contributions by the General Partner and its Affiliates      36   

Section 5.3

   Contributions by Initial Limited Partners      37   

Section 5.4

   Interest and Withdrawal of Capital Contributions      38   

Section 5.5

   Capital Accounts      38   

Section 5.6

   Issuances of Additional Partnership Securities      41   

Section 5.7

   Conversion of Subordinated Units      42   

 

i


Section 5.8

   Limited Preemptive Right      43   

Section 5.9

   Splits and Combinations      43   

Section 5.10

   Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests      44   

Section 5.11

   Issuance of Class B Units in Connection with Reset of Incentive Distribution Rights      44   

ARTICLE VI

   ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS      46   

Section 6.1

   Allocations for Capital Account Purposes      46   

Section 6.2

   Allocations for Tax Purposes      54   

Section 6.3

   Requirement and Characterization of Distributions; Distributions to Record Holders      56   

Section 6.4

   Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus      57   

Section 6.5

   Distributions of Available Cash from Capital Surplus      59   

Section 6.6

   Adjustment of Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution Levels      59   

Section 6.7

   Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Subordinated Units and Class B Units      59   

Section 6.8

   Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Incentive Distribution Rights      61   

Section 6.9

   Entity-Level Taxation      61   

ARTICLE VII

   MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS      61   

Section 7.1

   Management      61   

Section 7.2

   Certificate of Limited Partnership      64   

Section 7.3

   Restrictions on the General Partner’s Authority      64   

Section 7.4

   Reimbursement of the General Partner      64   

Section 7.5

   Outside Activities      65   

Section 7.6

   Loans from the General Partner; Loans or Contributions from the Partnership or Group Members      66   

Section 7.7

   Indemnification      67   

Section 7.8

   Liability of Indemnitees      69   

Section 7.9

   Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Standards of Conduct and Modification of Duties      69   

Section 7.10

   Other Matters Concerning the General Partner      71   

Section 7.11

   Purchase or Sale of Partnership Securities      72   

Section 7.12

   Registration Rights of the General Partner and its Affiliates      72   

Section 7.13

   Reliance by Third Parties      75   

ARTICLE VIII

   BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS      76   

Section 8.1

   Records and Accounting      76   

Section 8.2

   Fiscal Year      76   

Section 8.3

   Reports      76   

ARTICLE IX

   TAX MATTERS      77   

Section 9.1

   Tax Returns and Information      77   

Section 9.2

   Tax Elections      77   

Section 9.3

   Tax Controversies      77   

Section 9.4

   Withholding      78   

 

ii


ARTICLE X

   ADMISSION OF PARTNERS      78   

Section 10.1

   Admission of Initial Limited Partners      78   

Section 10.2

   Admission of Substituted Limited Partners      78   

Section 10.3

   Admission of Successor General Partner      79   

Section 10.4

   Admission of Additional Limited Partners      79   

Section 10.5

   Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership      80   

ARTICLE XI

   WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS      80   

Section 11.1

   Withdrawal of the General Partner      80   

Section 11.2

   Removal of the General Partner      81   

Section 11.3

   Interest of Departing General Partner and Successor General Partner      82   

Section 11.4

   Termination of Subordination Period, Conversion of Subordinated Units and Extinguishment of Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages      84   

Section 11.5

   Withdrawal of Limited Partners      84   

ARTICLE XII

   DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION      84   

Section 12.1

   Dissolution      84   

Section 12.2

   Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After Dissolution      85   

Section 12.3

   Liquidator      85   

Section 12.4

   Liquidation      86   

Section 12.5

   Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership      87   

Section 12.6

   Return of Contributions      87   

Section 12.7

   Waiver of Partition      87   

Section 12.8

   Capital Account Restoration      87   

ARTICLE XIII

   AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE      87   

Section 13.1

   Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the General Partner      87   

Section 13.2

   Amendment Procedures      89   

Section 13.3

   Amendment Requirements      89   

Section 13.4

   Special Meetings      90   

Section 13.5

   Notice of a Meeting      90   

Section 13.6

   Record Date      91   

Section 13.7

   Adjournment      91   

Section 13.8

   Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting      91   

Section 13.9

   Quorum and Voting      91   

Section 13.10

   Conduct of a Meeting      92   

Section 13.11

   Action Without a Meeting      92   

Section 13.12

   Right to Vote and Related Matters      93   

ARTICLE XIV

   MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION      93   

Section 14.1

   Authority      93   

Section 14.2

   Procedure for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion      94   

Section 14.3

   Approval by Limited Partners      95   

Section 14.4

   Certificate of Merger      97   

Section 14.5

   Effect of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion      97   

 

iii


ARTICLE XV

   RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS      98   

Section 15.1

   Right to Acquire Limited Partner Interests      98   

ARTICLE XVI

   GENERAL PROVISIONS      99   

Section 16.1

   Addresses and Notices; Written Communications      99   

Section 16.2

   Further Action      100   

Section 16.3

   Binding Effect      100   

Section 16.4

   Integration      100   

Section 16.5

   Creditors      100   

Section 16.6

   Waiver      100   

Section 16.7

   Third-Party Beneficiaries      100   

Section 16.8

   Counterparts      101   

Section 16.9

   Applicable Law      101   

Section 16.10

   Invalidity of Provisions      101   

Section 16.11

   Consent of Partners      101   

Section 16.12

   Facsimile Signatures      101   

 

iv


SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED

PARTNERSHIP OF SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP

THIS SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP dated as of November 1, 2013 is entered into by and between Spectra Energy Partners (DE) GP, LP, a Delaware limited partnership, as the General Partner, and the other Persons who become Partners in the Partnership or parties hereto as provided herein. In consideration of the covenants, conditions and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 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.

Acquisition ” means any transaction in which any Group Member acquires (through an asset acquisition, merger, stock acquisition or other form of investment) control over all or a portion of the assets, properties or business of another Person for the purpose of increasing the long-term operating capacity or asset base of the Partnership Group from the operating capacity or asset base of the Partnership Group existing immediately prior to such transaction.

Additional Book Basis ” means the portion of any remaining Carrying Value of an Adjusted Property that is attributable to positive adjustments made to such Carrying Value as a result of Book-Up Events. For purposes of determining the extent that Carrying Value constitutes Additional Book Basis:

(a) Any negative adjustment made to the Carrying Value of an Adjusted Property as a result of either a Book-Down Event or a Book-Up Event shall first be deemed to offset or decrease that portion of the Carrying Value of such Adjusted Property that is attributable to any prior positive adjustments made thereto pursuant to a Book-Up Event or Book-Down Event.

(b) If Carrying Value that constitutes Additional Book Basis is reduced as a result of a Book-Down Event and the Carrying Value of other property is increased as a result of such Book-Down Event, an allocable portion of any such increase in Carrying Value shall be treated as Additional Book Basis; provided, that the amount treated as Additional Book Basis pursuant hereto as a result of such Book-Down Event shall not exceed the amount by which the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments after such Book-Down Event exceeds the remaining Additional Book Basis attributable to all of the Partnership’s Adjusted Property after such Book-Down Event (determined without regard to the application of this clause (b) to such Book-Down Event).

Additional Book Basis Derivative Items ” means any Book Basis Derivative Items that are computed with reference to Additional Book Basis. To the extent that the Additional Book Basis attributable to all of the Partnership’s Adjusted Property as of the beginning of any taxable period exceeds the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of the beginning of such

 

1


period (the “Excess Additional Book Basis”), the Additional Book Basis Derivative Items for such period shall be reduced by the amount that bears the same ratio to the amount of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items determined without regard to this sentence as the Excess Additional Book Basis bears to the Additional Book Basis as of the beginning of such period.

Additional Limited Partner ” means a Person admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner pursuant to Section 10.4 and who is shown as such on the books and records of the Partnership.

Adjusted Capital Account ” means the Capital Account maintained for each Partner as of the end of each fiscal year of the Partnership, (a) increased by any amounts that such Partner is obligated to restore under the standards set by Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c) (or is deemed obligated to restore under Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5)) and (b) decreased by (i) the amount of all losses and deductions that, as of the end of such fiscal year, are reasonably expected to be allocated to such Partner in subsequent years under Sections 704(e)(2) and 706(d) of the Code and Treasury Regulation Section 1.751-1(b)(2)(ii), and (ii) the amount of all distributions that, as of the end of such fiscal year, are reasonably expected to be made to such Partner in subsequent years in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or otherwise to the extent they exceed offsetting increases to such Partner’s Capital Account that are reasonably expected to occur during (or prior to) the year in which such distributions are reasonably expected to be made (other than increases as a result of a minimum gain chargeback pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(i) or 6.1(d)(ii)). The foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account is intended to comply with the provisions of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith. The “Adjusted Capital Account” of a Partner in respect of a General Partner Unit, a Common Unit, a Subordinated Unit, a Class B Unit or an Incentive Distribution Right or any other Partnership Interest shall be the amount that such Adjusted Capital Account would be if such General Partner Unit, Common Unit, Subordinated Unit, Class B Unit, Incentive Distribution Right or other Partnership Interest were the only interest in the Partnership held by such Partner from and after the date on which such General Partner Unit, Common Unit, Class B Unit, Subordinated Unit, Incentive Distribution Right or other Partnership Interest was first issued.

Adjusted Operating Surplus ” means, with respect to any period, Operating Surplus generated with respect to such period (a) less any net decrease in cash reserves for Operating Expenditures with respect to such period not relating to an Operating Expenditure made with respect to such period, and (b) plus (i) any net decrease made in subsequent periods in cash reserves for Operating Expenditures initially established with respect to such period to the extent such decrease results in a reduction in Adjusted Operating Surplus in subsequent periods pursuant to clause (a) above and (ii) any net increase in cash reserves for Operating Expenditures with respect to such period required by any debt instrument for the repayment of principal, interest or premium. Adjusted Operating Surplus does not include that portion of Operating Surplus included in clause (a)(i) of the definition of Operating Surplus.

Adjusted Property ” means any property the Carrying Value of which has been adjusted pursuant to Section 5.5(d)(i) or 5.5(d)(ii).

 

2


Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Person in question. As used herein, the term “control” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

Aggregate Quantity of Class B Units ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.11.

Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments ” means, as of the end of any taxable period, the sum of the Remaining Net Positive Adjustments of all the Partners.

Agreed Allocation ” means any allocation, other than a Required Allocation, of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.1, including a Curative Allocation (if appropriate to the context in which the term “Agreed Allocation” is used).

Agreed Value ” of any Contributed Property means the fair market value of such property or other consideration at the time of contribution as determined by the General Partner. The General Partner shall use such method as it determines to be appropriate to allocate the aggregate Agreed Value of Contributed Properties contributed to the Partnership in a single or integrated transaction among each separate property on a basis proportional to the fair market value of each Contributed Property.

Agreement ” means this Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Spectra Energy Partners, LP, as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

Assignee ” means a Person to whom one or more Limited Partner Interests have been transferred in a manner permitted under this Agreement and who has executed and delivered a Transfer Application, including a Taxation Certification, as required by this Agreement, but who has not been admitted as a Substituted Limited Partner.

Associate ” means, when used to indicate a relationship with any Person, (a) any corporation or organization of which such Person is a director, officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of 20% or more of any class of voting stock or other voting interest; (b) any trust or other estate in which such Person has at least a 20% beneficial interest or as to which such Person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity; and (c) any relative or spouse of such Person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same principal residence as such Person.

Available Cash ” means, with respect to any Quarter ending prior to the Liquidation Date:

(a) the sum of (i) all cash and cash equivalents of the Partnership Group (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash and cash equivalents in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) on hand at the end of such Quarter, and (ii) if the General Partner so determines, all or any portion of additional cash and cash equivalents of the Partnership Group (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash and cash equivalents in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) on hand on the date of determination of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter, less

 

3


(b) the amount of any cash reserves (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash reserves in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) established by the General Partner to (i) provide for the proper conduct of the business of the Partnership Group (including reserves for future capital expenditures, for anticipated future credit needs of the Partnership Group and for refunds of collected rates reasonably likely to be refunded as a result of a settlement or hearing relating to FERC rate proceedings) subsequent to such Quarter, (ii) comply with applicable law or any loan agreement, security agreement, mortgage, debt instrument or other agreement or obligation to which any Group Member is a party or by which it is bound or its assets are subject or (iii) provide funds for distributions under Section 6.4 or 6.5 in respect of any one or more of the next four Quarters; provided, however, that the General Partner may not establish cash reserves pursuant to (iii) above if the effect of such reserves would be that the Partnership is unable to distribute the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on all Common Units, plus any Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage on all Common Units, with respect to such Quarter; and, provided further, that disbursements made by a Group Member or cash reserves established, increased or reduced after the end of such Quarter but on or before the date of determination of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter shall be deemed to have been made, established, increased or reduced, for purposes of determining Available Cash, within such Quarter if the General Partner so determines.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Available Cash” with respect to the Quarter in which the Liquidation Date occurs and any subsequent Quarter shall equal zero.

Board of Directors ” means the board of directors or managers of a corporation or limited liability company or the board of directors or board of managers of the general partner of a limited partnership, as applicable.

Book Basis Derivative Items ” means any item of income, deduction, gain or loss included in the determination of Net Income or Net Loss that is computed with reference to the Carrying Value of an Adjusted Property (e.g., depreciation, depletion, or gain or loss with respect to an Adjusted Property).

Book-Down Event ” means an event that triggers a negative adjustment to the Capital Accounts of the Partners pursuant to Section 5.5(d).

Book-Tax Disparity ” means with respect to any item of Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, as of the date of any determination, the difference between the Carrying Value of such Contributed Property or Adjusted Property and the adjusted basis thereof for federal income tax purposes as of such date. A Partner’s share of the Partnership’s Book-Tax Disparities in all of its Contributed Property and Adjusted Property will be reflected by the difference between such Partner’s Capital Account balance as maintained pursuant to Section 5.5 and the hypothetical balance of such Partner’s Capital Account computed as if it had been maintained strictly in accordance with federal income tax accounting principles.

 

4


Book-Up Event ” means an event that triggers a positive adjustment to the Capital Accounts of the Partners pursuant to Section 5.5(d).

Business Day ” means Monday through Friday of each week, except that a legal holiday recognized as such by the government of the United States of America or the State of Texas shall not be regarded as a Business Day.

Capital Account ” means the capital account maintained for a Partner pursuant to Section 5.5. The “Capital Account” of a Partner in respect of a General Partner Unit, a Common Unit, a Subordinated Unit, a Class B Unit, an Incentive Distribution Right or any other Partnership Interest shall be the amount that such Capital Account would be if such General Partner Unit, Common Unit, Subordinated Unit, Class B Unit, Incentive Distribution Right or other Partnership Interest were the only interest in the Partnership held by such Partner from and after the date on which such General Partner Unit, Common Unit, Class B Unit, Subordinated Unit, Incentive Distribution Right or other Partnership Interest was first issued.

Capital Contribution ” means any cash, cash equivalents or the Net Agreed Value of Contributed Property that a Partner contributes to the Partnership.

Capital Improvement ” means any (a) addition or improvement to the capital assets owned by any Group Member, (b) the construction of new capital assets or (c) capital contributions by a Group Member to a Person that is not a Subsidiary in which a Group Member has an equity interest to fund such Group Member’s Pro Rata share of the cost of the construction of new capital assets by such Person, in each case if such addition, improvement, acquisition or construction is made to increase the long-term operating capacity, asset base or income of the Partnership Group, in the case of clauses (a) and (b), or such Person, in the case of clause (c), from the operating capacity, asset base or income of the Partnership Group or such Person, as the case may be, existing immediately prior to such addition, improvement, acquisition or construction.

Capital Surplus ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.3(a).

Carrying Value ” means (a) with respect to a Contributed Property, the Agreed Value of such property reduced (but not below zero) by all depreciation, amortization and cost recovery deductions charged to the Partners’ and Assignees’ Capital Accounts in respect of such Contributed Property, and (b) with respect to any other Partnership property, the adjusted basis of such property for federal income tax purposes, all as of the time of determination. The Carrying Value of any property shall be adjusted from time to time in accordance with Sections 5.5(d)(i) and 5.5(d)(ii) and to reflect changes, additions or other adjustments to the Carrying Value for dispositions and acquisitions of Partnership properties, as deemed appropriate by the General Partner.

Cause ” means a court of competent jurisdiction has entered a final, non-appealable judgment finding the General Partner liable for actual fraud or willful misconduct in its capacity as a general partner of the Partnership.

 

5


Certificate ” means (a) a certificate (i) substantially in the form of Exhibit A to this Agreement, (ii) issued in global form in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Depositary or (iii) in such other form as may be adopted by the General Partner, issued by the Partnership evidencing ownership of one or more Common Units or (b) a certificate, in such form as may be adopted by the General Partner, issued by the Partnership evidencing ownership of one or more other Partnership Securities.

Certificate of Limited Partnership ” means the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as referenced in Section 7.2, as such Certificate of Limited Partnership may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

Citizenship Certification ” means a properly completed certificate in such form as may be specified by the General Partner by which an Assignee or a Limited Partner certifies that he (and if he is a nominee holding for the account of another Person, that to the best of his knowledge such other Person) is an Eligible Citizen.

claim ” (as used in Section 7.12(d)) has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.12(d).

Class B Unit ” means a Partnership Security representing a fractional part of the Partnership Interests of all Limited Partners, and having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Class B Units in this Agreement.

Closing Date ” means the first date on which Common Units are issued and sold by the Partnership to the Underwriters pursuant to the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement.

Closing Price ” means, in respect of any class of Limited Partner Interests, as of the date of determination, the last sale price on such day, regular way, or in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day, regular way, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal National Securities Exchange (other than the Nasdaq National Market) on which the respective Limited Partner Interests are listed or admitted to trading or, if such Limited Partner Interests are not listed or admitted to trading on any National Securities Exchange (other than the Nasdaq National Market), the last quoted price on such day or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices on such day in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the Nasdaq National Market or such other system then in use, or, if on any such day such Limited Partner Interests of such class are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in such Limited Partner Interests of such class selected by the General Partner, or if on any such day no market maker is making a market in such Limited Partner Interests of such class, the fair value of such Limited Partner Interests on such day as determined by the General Partner.

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time. Any reference herein to a specific section or sections of the Code shall be deemed to include a reference to any corresponding provision of any successor law.

Combined Interest ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.3(a).

 

6


Commission ” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Commodity Hedge Contract ” means any commodity exchange, swap, forward, cap, floor, collar or other similar agreement or arrangement entered into for the purpose of hedging the Partnership Group’s exposure to fluctuations in the price of hydrocarbons in their operations and not for speculative purposes.

Common Unit ” means a Partnership Security representing a fractional part of the Partnership Interests of all Limited Partners and Assignees, and having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Common Units in this Agreement. The term “Common Unit” does not include a Subordinated Unit or Class B Unit prior to its conversion into a Common Unit pursuant to the terms hereof.

Common Unit Arrearage ” means, with respect to any Common Unit, whenever issued, as to any Quarter within the Subordination Period, the excess, if any, of (a) the Minimum Quarterly Distribution with respect to a Common Unit in respect of such Quarter over (b) the sum of all Available Cash distributed with respect to a Common Unit in respect of such Quarter pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(i).

Conflicts Committee ” means a committee of the Board of Directors of the General Partner composed entirely of two or more directors, each of whom (a) is not a security holder, officer or employee of the General Partner, (b) is not an officer, director or employee of any Affiliate of the General Partner, (c) is not a holder of any ownership interest in the Partnership Group other than Common Units and (d) meets the independence standards required of directors who serve on an audit committee of a board of directors established by the Securities Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and by the National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are listed or admitted to trading.

Contributed Property ” means each property or other asset, in such form as may be permitted by the Delaware Act, but excluding cash, contributed to the Partnership. Once the Carrying Value of a Contributed Property is adjusted pursuant to Section 5.5(d), such property shall no longer constitute a Contributed Property, but shall be deemed an Adjusted Property.

Contribution Agreement ” means that certain Contribution and Conveyance Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, among the General Partner, the Partnership, the Operating Partnership and certain other parties, together with the additional conveyance documents and instruments contemplated or referenced thereunder, as such may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

Converted Common Units ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1(d)(x)(B).

Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage ” means, with respect to any Common Unit, whenever issued, and as of the end of any Quarter, the excess, if any, of (a) the sum resulting from adding together the Common Unit Arrearage as to an Initial Common Unit for each of the Quarters within the Subordination Period ending on or before the last day of such Quarter over (b) the sum of any distributions theretofore made pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(ii) and the second sentence of Section 6.5 with respect to an Initial Common Unit (including any distributions to be made in respect of the last of such Quarters).

 

7


Curative Allocation ” means any allocation of an item of income, gain, deduction, loss or credit pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.1(d)(xi).

Current Market Price ” means, in respect of any class of Limited Partner Interests, as of the date of determination, the average of the daily Closing Prices per Limited Partner Interest of such class for the 20 consecutive Trading Days immediately prior to such date.

Delaware Act ” means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, 6 Del C. Section 17-101, et seq., as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute.

Departing General Partner ” means a former general partner from and after the effective date of any withdrawal or removal of such former general partner pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2.

Depositary ” means, with respect to any Units issued in global form, The Depository Trust Company and its successors and permitted assigns.

Disposed of Adjusted Property ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1(d)(xii)(B).

Economic Risk of Loss ” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-2(a).

Eligible Citizen ” means a Person qualified to own interests in real property in jurisdictions in which any Group Member does business or proposes to do business from time to time, and whose status as a Limited Partner or Assignee the General Partner determines does not or would not subject such Group Member to a significant risk of cancellation or forfeiture of any of its properties or any interest therein.

Eligible Holder ” means a Person that is not an Ineligible Holder.

Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.9.

Event of Withdrawal ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.1(a).

Expansion Capital Expenditures ” means cash expenditures for Acquisitions or Capital Improvements, and shall not include Maintenance Capital Expenditures.

FERC ” means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Final Subordinated Units ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1(d)(x).

 

8


First Liquidation Target Amount ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1(c)(i)(E).

First Target Distribution ” means $0.345 per Unit per Quarter (or, with respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on September 30, 2007, it means the product of $0.345 multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is the number of days in such period, and of which the denominator is 92), subject to adjustment in accordance with Sections 5.11, 6.6 and 6.9.

Fully Diluted Basis ” means, when calculating the number of Outstanding Units for any period, a basis that includes, in addition to the Outstanding Units, all Partnership Securities and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to an equity interest in the Partnership (a) that are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Units that are senior to or pari passu with the Subordinated Units, (b) whose conversion, exercise or exchange price is less than the Current Market Price on the date of such calculation, (c) that may be converted into or exercised or exchanged for such Units prior to or during the Quarter immediately following the end of the period for which the calculation is being made without the satisfaction of any contingency beyond the control of the holder other than the payment of consideration and the compliance with administrative mechanics applicable to such conversion, exercise or exchange and (d) that were not converted into or exercised or exchanged for such Units during the period for which the calculation is being made; provided, however, that for purposes of determining the number of Outstanding Units on a Fully Diluted Basis when calculating whether the Subordination Period has ended or Subordinated Units are entitled to convert into Common Units pursuant to Section 5.7, such Partnership Securities, options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights shall be deemed to have been Outstanding Units only for the four Quarters that comprise the last four Quarters of the measurement period; provided, further, that if consideration will be paid to any Group Member in connection with such conversion, exercise or exchange, the number of Units to be included in such calculation shall be that number equal to the difference between (i) the number of Units issuable upon such conversion, exercise or exchange and (ii) the number of Units that such consideration would purchase at the Current Market Price.

General Partner ” means Spectra Energy Partners (DE) GP, LP, a Delaware limited partnership, and its successors and permitted assigns that are admitted to the Partnership as general partner of the Partnership, in its capacity as general partner of the Partnership (except as the context otherwise requires).

General Partner Interest ” means the ownership interest of the General Partner in the Partnership (in its capacity as a general partner without reference to any Limited Partner Interest held by it), which is evidenced by General Partner Units, and includes any and all benefits to which the General Partner is entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations of the General Partner to comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement.

General Partner Unit ” means a fractional part of the General Partner Interest having the rights and obligations specified with respect to the General Partner Interest. A General Partner Unit is not a Unit.

 

9


Group ” means a Person that with or through any of its Affiliates or Associates has any contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent given to such Person in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to 10 or more Persons), exercising investment power or disposing of any Partnership Interests with any other Person that beneficially owns, or whose Affiliates or Associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, Partnership Interests.

Group Member ” means a member of the Partnership Group.

Group Member Agreement ” means the partnership agreement of any Group Member, other than the Partnership, that is a limited or general partnership, the limited liability company agreement of any Group Member that is a limited liability company, the certificate of incorporation and bylaws or similar organizational documents of any Group Member that is a corporation, the joint venture agreement or similar governing document of any Group Member that is a joint venture and the governing or organizational or similar documents of any other Group Member that is a Person other than a limited or general partnership, limited liability company, corporation or joint venture, as such may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

Holder ” as used in Section 7.12, has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.12(a).

IDR Reset Election ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.11(a).

Incentive Distribution Right ” means a non-voting Limited Partner Interest issued to the General Partner, which Limited Partner Interest will confer upon the holder thereof only the rights and obligations specifically provided in this Agreement with respect to Incentive Distribution Rights (and no other rights otherwise available to or other obligations of a holder of a Partnership Interest). Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the holder of an Incentive Distribution Right shall not be entitled to vote such Incentive Distribution Right on any Partnership matter except as may otherwise be required by law.

Incentive Distributions ” means any amount of cash distributed to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights pursuant to Sections 6.4(a)(v), (vi) and (vii) and 6.4(b)(iii), (iv) and (v).

Incremental Income Taxes ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.9.

Indemnified Persons ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.12(d).

Indemnitee ” means (a) the General Partner, (b) any Departing General Partner, (c) any Person who is or was an Affiliate of the General Partner or any Departing General Partner, (d) any Person who is or was a member, partner, director, officer, fiduciary or trustee of any Group Member (other than any Person who is or was a Limited Partner of the Partnership in such Person’s capacity as such), the General Partner or any Departing General Partner or any Affiliate of any Group Member, the General Partner or any Departing General Partner, (e) any Person who is or was serving at the request of the General Partner or any Departing General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner or any Departing General Partner as an officer, director, member, partner, fiduciary or trustee of another Person; provided that a Person shall not be an Indemnitee by reason of providing, on a fee-for-services basis, trustee, fiduciary or custodial services, and (f) any Person the General Partner designates as an “Indemnitee” for purposes of this Agreement.

 

10


Ineligible Holder ” means a Person whose, or whose beneficial owners, U.S. federal income tax status (or lack of proof of the U.S. federal income tax status) has or is reasonably likely to have, as determined by the General Partner, a material adverse effect on the rates that can be charged to customers by any Group Member with respect to assets that are subject to regulation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or similar regulatory body.

Initial Common Units ” means the Common Units sold in the Initial Offering.

Initial Limited Partners ” means the Organizational Limited Partner, Spectra Energy Southeast Pipeline Corp. and the General Partner (with respect to the Common Units, Subordinated Units and Incentive Distribution Rights received by them pursuant to Section 5.2) and the Underwriters, in each case upon being admitted to the Partnership in accordance with Section 10.1.

Initial Offering ” means the initial offering and sale of Common Units to the public, as described in the Registration Statement.

Initial Unit Price ” means (a) with respect to the Common Units and the Subordinated Units, the initial public offering price per Common Unit at which the Underwriters offered the Common Units to the public for sale as set forth on the cover page of the prospectus included as part of the Registration Statement and first issued at or after the time the Registration Statement first became effective or (b) with respect to any other class or series of Units, the price per Unit at which such class or series of Units is initially sold by the Partnership, as determined by the General Partner, in each case adjusted as the General Partner determines to be appropriate to give effect to any distribution, subdivision or combination of Units.

Interest Rate Hedge Contract ” means any interest rate exchange, swap, forward, cap, floor collar or other similar agreement or arrangement entered into for the purpose of reducing the exposure of the Partnership Group to fluctuations in interest rates in their financing activities and not for speculative purposes.

Interim Capital Transactions ” means the following transactions if they occur prior to the Liquidation Date: (a) borrowings, refinancings or refundings of indebtedness (other than for items purchased on open account in the ordinary course of business) by any Group Member and sales of debt securities of any Group Member; (b) sales of equity interests of any Group Member (including the Common Units sold to the Underwriters pursuant to the exercise of the Over-Allotment Option); (c) sales or other voluntary or involuntary dispositions of any assets of any Group Member other than (i) sales or other dispositions of inventory, accounts receivable and other assets in the ordinary course of business, and (ii) sales or other dispositions of assets as part of normal retirements or replacements; (d) the termination of Interest Rate Hedge Contracts or Commodity Hedge Contracts prior to the termination date specified therein; (e) capital contributions received; or (f) corporate reorganizations or restructurings.

 

11


Issue Price ” means the price at which a Unit is purchased from the Partnership, net of any sales commission or underwriting discount charged to the Partnership.

Limited Partner ” means, unless the context otherwise requires, (a) the Organizational Limited Partner prior to its withdrawal from the Partnership, each Initial Limited Partner, each Substituted Limited Partner, each Additional Limited Partner and any Departing General Partner upon the change of its status from General Partner to Limited Partner pursuant to Section 11.3, in each case, in such Person’s capacity as limited partner of the Partnership or (b) solely for purposes of Articles V, VI, VII, IX and XII, each Assignee; provided, however, that when the term “Limited Partner” is used herein in the context of any vote or other approval, including Articles XIII and XIV, such term shall not, solely for such purpose, include any holder of an Incentive Distribution Right (solely with respect to its Incentive Distribution Rights and not with respect to any other Limited Partner Interest held by such Person) except as may be required by law.

Limited Partner Interest ” means the ownership interest of a Limited Partner or Assignee in the Partnership, which may be evidenced by Common Units, Class B Units, Subordinated Units, Incentive Distribution Rights or other Partnership Securities or a combination thereof or interest therein, and includes any and all benefits to which such Limited Partner or Assignee is entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations of such Limited Partner or Assignee to comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement; provided, however, that when the term “Limited Partner Interest” is used herein in the context of any vote or other approval, including Articles XIII and XIV, such term shall not, solely for such purpose, include any Incentive Distribution Right except as may be required by law.

Limited Partner Unit ” means each of the Common Units, Class B Units, Subordinated Units and other Units representing fractional parts of the Partnership Interests of all Limited Partners and Assignees.

Liquidation Date ” means (a) in the case of an event giving rise to the dissolution of the Partnership of the type described in clauses (a) and (b) of the first sentence of Section 12.2, the date on which the applicable time period during which the holders of Outstanding Units have the right to elect to continue the business of the Partnership has expired without such an election being made, and (b) in the case of any other event giving rise to the dissolution of the Partnership, the date on which such event occurs.

Liquidator ” means one or more Persons selected by the General Partner to perform the functions described in Section 12.4 as liquidating trustee of the Partnership within the meaning of the Delaware Act.

Maintenance Capital Expenditures ” means cash expenditures (including expenditures for the addition or improvement to the capital assets owned by any Group Member or for the acquisition of existing, or the construction of new, capital assets) if such expenditures are made to maintain, including over the long term, the operating capacity, asset base or income of the Partnership Group.

Merger Agreement ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 14.1.

 

12


Minimum Quarterly Distribution ” means $0.30 per Unit per Quarter (or with respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on September 30, 2007, it means the product of $0.30 multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is the number of days in such period and of which the denominator is 92), subject to adjustment in accordance with Sections 5.11, 6.6 and 6.9.

National Securities Exchange ” means an exchange registered with the Commission under Section 6(a) of the Securities Exchange Act and any successor to such statute.

Net Agreed Value ” means, (a) in the case of any Contributed Property, the Agreed Value of such property reduced by any liabilities either assumed by the Partnership upon such contribution or to which such property is subject when contributed, and (b) in the case of any property distributed to a Partner or Assignee by the Partnership, the Partnership’s Carrying Value of such property (as adjusted pursuant to Section 5.5(d)(ii)) at the time such property is distributed, reduced by any indebtedness either assumed by such Partner or Assignee upon such distribution or to which such property is subject at the time of distribution, in either case, as determined under Section 752 of the Code, and (c) in the case of a contribution of Common Units by the General Partner to the Partnership as a Capital Contribution pursuant to Section 5.2(b), an amount per Common Unit contributed equal to the Current Market Price per Common Unit as of the date of the contribution.

Net Income ” means, for any taxable year, the excess, if any, of the Partnership’s items of income and gain (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable year over the Partnership’s items of loss and deduction (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable year. The items included in the calculation of Net Income shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and shall not include any items specially allocated under Section 6.1(d); provided, that the determination of the items that have been specially allocated under Section 6.1(d) shall be made as if Section 6.1(d)(xii) were not in this Agreement.

Net Loss ” means, for any taxable year, the excess, if any, of the Partnership’s items of loss and deduction (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable year over the Partnership’s items of income and gain (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable year. The items included in the calculation of Net Loss shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and shall not include any items specially allocated under Section 6.1(d); provided, that the determination of the items that have been specially allocated under Section 6.1(d) shall be made as if Section 6.1(d)(xii) were not in this Agreement.

Net Positive Adjustments ” means, with respect to any Partner, the excess, if any, of the total positive adjustments over the total negative adjustments made to the Capital Account of such Partner pursuant to Book-Up Events and Book-Down Events.

 

13


Net Termination Gain ” means, for any taxable year, the sum, if positive, of all items of income, gain, loss or deduction recognized by the Partnership (a) after the Liquidation Date or (b) upon the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (excluding any disposition to a member of the Partnership Group). The items included in the determination of Net Termination Gain shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and shall not include any items of income, gain or loss specially allocated under Section 6.1(d).

Net Termination Loss ” means, for any taxable year, the sum, if negative, of all items of income, gain, loss or deduction recognized by the Partnership (a) after the Liquidation Date or (b) upon the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (excluding any disposition to a member of the Partnership Group). The items included in the determination of Net Termination Loss shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and shall not include any items of income, gain or loss specially allocated under Section 6.1(d).

Non-citizen Assignee ” means a Person whom the General Partner has determined does not constitute an Eligible Citizen and as to whose Partnership Interest the General Partner has become the Substituted Limited Partner, pursuant to Section 4.9.

Nonrecourse Built-in Gain ” means with respect to any Contributed Properties or Adjusted Properties that are subject to a mortgage or pledge securing a Nonrecourse Liability, the amount of any taxable gain that would be allocated to the Partners pursuant to Sections 6.2(b)(i)(A), 6.2(b)(ii)(A) and 6.2(b)(iii) if such properties were disposed of in a taxable transaction in full satisfaction of such liabilities and for no other consideration.

Nonrecourse Deductions ” means any and all items of loss, deduction or expenditure (including any expenditure described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code) that, in accordance with the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b), are attributable to a Nonrecourse Liability.

Nonrecourse Liability ” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-1(a)(2).

Notice of Election to Purchase ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 15.1(b).

Omnibus Agreement ” means that certain Omnibus Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, among Spectra Energy Corp., the General Partner and the Partnership, as such agreement may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

Operating Expenditures ” means all Partnership Group cash expenditures (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of expenditures in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned), including, but not limited to, taxes, reimbursements of the General Partner, interest payments, payments made in the ordinary course of business under Interest Rate Hedge Contracts and Commodity Hedge Contracts, Maintenance Capital Expenditures, non-Pro Rata repurchases of Units (other than those made with the proceeds of an Interim Capital Transaction), subject to the following:

 

14


(a) payments (including prepayments and prepayment penalties) of principal of and premium on indebtedness shall not constitute Operating Expenditures; and

(b) Operating Expenditures shall not include (i) Expansion Capital Expenditures, (ii) payment of transaction expenses (including taxes) relating to Interim Capital Transactions or (iii) distributions to Partners. Where capital expenditures consist of both Maintenance Capital Expenditures and Expansion Capital Expenditures, the General Partner, with the concurrence of the Conflicts Committee, shall determine the allocation between the portion consisting of Maintenance Capital Expenditures and the portion consisting of Expansion Capital Expenditures.

Operating Partnership ” means Spectra Energy Partners OLP, LP, a Delaware limited partnership, and any successors thereto.

Operating Surplus ” means, with respect to any period ending prior to the Liquidation Date, on a cumulative basis and without duplication,

(a) the sum of

(i) an amount equal to the sum of (A) two times the amount needed for any one Quarter for the Partnership to pay the minimum quarterly distribution on all Units (including the General Partner Units) and (B) two times the amount in excess of the minimum quarterly distribution for any quarter to pay a distribution on all Common Units at the same per unit amount as was distributed on the Common Units in excess of the minimum quarterly distribution in the immediately preceding quarter, provided the amount in (B) will be deemed to be Operating Surplus only to the extent that the distribution paid in respect of such amounts is paid on Common Units (or with respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on September 30, 2007, it means the product of (x) $0.60 multiplied by (C) a fraction of which the numerator is the number of days in such period and the denominator is 92 multiplied by (D) the number of Units and General Partner Units Outstanding on the Record Date with respect to such period), and

(ii) all cash receipts of the Partnership Group (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash receipts in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) for the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the last day of such period, but excluding cash receipts from Interim Capital Transactions (except to the extent specified in Section 6.5 and provided that cash receipts from the termination of a Commodity Hedge Contract or an Interest Rate Hedge Contract prior to its specified termination date shall be included in Operating Surplus in equal quarterly installments over the remaining scheduled life of such Commodity Hedge Contract or Interest Rate Hedge Contract), less

(b) the sum of (i) Operating Expenditures for the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the last day of such period and (ii) the amount of cash reserves (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash reserves in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) established by the General Partner to provide funds for future Operating Expenditures; provided, however, that disbursements made (including contributions to a Group Member or disbursements on behalf of a Group Member) or cash reserves established, increased or reduced after the end of such period but on or before the date of determination of Available Cash with respect to such period shall be deemed to have been made, established, increased or reduced, for purposes of determining Operating Surplus, within such period if the General Partner so determines.

 

15


Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Operating Surplus” with respect to the Quarter in which the Liquidation Date occurs and any subsequent Quarter shall equal zero.

Opinion of Counsel ” means a written opinion of counsel (who may be regular counsel to the Partnership or the General Partner or any of its Affiliates) acceptable to the General Partner.

Option Closing Date ” means the date or dates on which any Common Units are sold by the Partnership to the Underwriters upon exercise of the Over-Allotment Option.

Organizational Limited Partner ” means Spectra Energy Transmission, LLC in its capacity as the organizational limited partner of the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement.

Outstanding ” means, with respect to Partnership Securities, all Partnership Securities that are issued by the Partnership and reflected as outstanding on the Partnership’s books and records as of the date of determination; provided, however, that if at any time any Person or Group (other than the General Partner or its Affiliates) beneficially owns 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership Securities of any class then Outstanding, all Partnership Securities owned by such Person or Group shall not be voted on any matter and shall not be considered to be Outstanding when sending notices of a meeting of Limited Partners to vote on any matter (unless otherwise required by law), calculating required votes, determining the presence of a quorum or for other similar purposes under this Agreement, except that Units so owned shall be considered to be Outstanding for purposes of Section 11.1(b)(iv) (such Units shall not, however, be treated as a separate class of Partnership Securities for purposes of this Agreement); provided, further, that the foregoing limitation shall not apply to (i) any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership Securities of any class then Outstanding directly from the General Partner or its Affiliates, (ii) any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership Securities of any class then Outstanding directly or indirectly from a Person or Group described in clause (i) provided that the General Partner shall have notified such Person or Group in writing that such limitation shall not apply, or (iii) any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of any Partnership Securities issued by the Partnership with the prior approval of the Board of Directors of the General Partner.

Over-Allotment Option ” means the over-allotment option granted to the Underwriters by the Partnership pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.

Partner Nonrecourse Debt ” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b)(4).

Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain ” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(2).

Partner Nonrecourse Deductions ” means any and all items of loss, deduction or expenditure (including any expenditure described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code) that, in accordance with the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i), are attributable to a Partner Nonrecourse Debt.

 

16


Partners ” means the General Partner and the Limited Partners.

Partnership ” means Spectra Energy Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership.

Partnership Group ” means the Partnership and its Subsidiaries treated as a single consolidated entity.

Partnership Interest ” means an interest in the Partnership, which shall include the General Partner Interest and Limited Partner Interests.

Partnership Minimum Gain ” means that amount determined in accordance with the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(d).

Partnership Security ” means any class or series of equity interest in the Partnership (but excluding any options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to an equity interest in the Partnership), including Common Units, Class B Units, Subordinated Units, General Partner Units and Incentive Distribution Rights.

Per Unit Capital Amount ” means, as of any date of determination, the Capital Account, stated on a per Unit basis, underlying any Unit held by a Person other than the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner who holds Units.

Percentage Interest ” means as of any date of determination (a) as to the General Partner with respect to General Partner Units and as to any Unitholder or Assignee holding Units, the product obtained by multiplying (i) 100% less the percentage applicable to clause (b) below by (ii) the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the number of General Partner Units held by the General Partner or the number of Units held by such Unitholder or Assignee, as the case may be, by (B) the total number of all Outstanding Units and General Partner Units, and (b) as to the holders of other Partnership Securities issued by the Partnership in accordance with Section 5.6, the percentage established as a part of such issuance. The Percentage Interest with respect to an Incentive Distribution Right shall at all times be zero.

Person ” means an individual or a corporation, firm, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, association, government agency or political subdivision thereof or other entity.

Pro Rata ” means (a) when used with respect to Units or any class thereof, apportioned equally among all designated Units in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests, (b) when used with respect to Partners and Assignees or Record Holders, apportioned among all Partners and Assignees or Record Holders in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests and (c) when used with respect to holders of Incentive Distribution Rights, apportioned equally among all holders of Incentive Distribution Rights in accordance with the relative number or percentage of Incentive Distribution Rights held by each such holder.

 

17


Purchase Date ” means the date determined by the General Partner as the date for purchase of all Outstanding Limited Partner Interests of a certain class (other than Limited Partner Interests owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates) pursuant to Article XV.

Quarter ” means, unless the context requires otherwise, a fiscal quarter of the Partnership, or, with respect to the fiscal quarter of the Partnership which includes the Closing Date, the portion of such fiscal quarter after the Closing Date.

Recapture Income ” means any gain recognized by the Partnership (computed without regard to any adjustment required by Section 734 or Section 743 of the Code) upon the disposition of any property or asset of the Partnership, which gain is characterized as ordinary income because it represents the recapture of deductions previously taken with respect to such property or asset.

Record Date ” means the date established by the General Partner or otherwise in accordance with this Agreement for determining (a) the identity of the Record Holders entitled to notice of, or to vote at, any meeting of Limited Partners or entitled to vote by ballot or give approval of Partnership action in writing without a meeting or entitled to exercise rights in respect of any lawful action of Limited Partners or (b) the identity of Record Holders entitled to receive any report or distribution or to participate in any offer.

Record Holder ” means the Person in whose name a Common Unit is registered on the books of the Transfer Agent as of the opening of business on a particular Business Day, or with respect to other Partnership Interests, the Person in whose name any such other Partnership Interest is registered on the books that the General Partner has caused to be kept as of the opening of business on such Business Day.

Redeemable Interests ” means any Partnership Interests for which a redemption notice has been given, and has not been withdrawn, pursuant to Section 4.10.

Registration Statement ” means the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-141687) as it has been or as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, filed by the Partnership with the Commission under the Securities Act to register the offering and sale of the Common Units in the Initial Offering.

Remaining Net Positive Adjustments ” means as of the end of any taxable period, (i) with respect to the Unitholders holding Common Units, Class B Units or Subordinated Units, the excess of (a) the Net Positive Adjustments of the Unitholders holding Common Units, Class B Units or Subordinated Units as of the end of such period over (b) the sum of those Partners’ Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items for each prior taxable period, (ii) with respect to the General Partner (as holder of the General Partner Units), the excess of (a) the Net Positive Adjustments of the General Partner as of the end of such period over (b) the sum of the General Partner’s Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items with respect to the General Partner Units for each prior taxable period, and (iii) with respect to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights, the excess of (a) the Net Positive Adjustments of the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights as of the end of such period over (b) the sum of the Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items of the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights for each prior taxable period.

 

18


Required Allocations ” means (a) any limitation imposed on any allocation of Net Losses or Net Termination Losses under Section 6.1(b) or Section 6.1(c)(ii) and (b) any allocation of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(i), Section 6.1(d)(ii), Section 6.1(d)(iv), Section 6.1(d)(vii) or Section 6.1(d)(ix).

Residual Gain ” or “ Residual Loss ” means any item of gain or loss, as the case may be, of the Partnership recognized for federal income tax purposes resulting from a sale, exchange or other disposition of a Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, to the extent such item of gain or loss is not allocated pursuant to Section 6.2(b)(i)(A) or Section 6.2(b)(ii)(A), respectively, to eliminate Book-Tax Disparities.

Reset MQD ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.11(e).

Reset Notice ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.11(b).

Retained Converted Subordinated Unit ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.5(c)(ii).

Second Liquidation Target Amount ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1(c)(i)(F).

Second Target Distribution ” means $0.375 per Unit per Quarter (or, with respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on September 30, 2007, it means the product of $0.375 multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is equal to the number of days in such period and of which the denominator is 92), subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 5.11, Section 6.6 and Section 6.9.

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time and any successor to such statute.

Securities Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time and any successor to such statute.

Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items ” means in connection with any allocation of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items for any taxable period, (i) with respect to the Unitholders holding Common Units, Class B Units or Subordinated Units, the amount that bears the same ratio to such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items as the Unitholders’ Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of the end of such period bears to the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of that time, (ii) with respect to the General Partner (as holder of the General Partner Units), the amount that bears the same ratio to such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items as the General Partner’s Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of the end of such period bears to the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustment as of that time, and (iii) with respect to the Partners holding Incentive Distribution Rights, the amount that bears the same ratio to such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items as the Remaining Net Positive Adjustments of the Partners holding the Incentive Distribution Rights as of the end of such period bears to the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of that time.

 

19


Special Approval ” means approval by a majority of the members of the Conflicts Committee.

Subordinated Unit ” means a Partnership Security representing a fractional part of the Partnership Interests of all Limited Partners and Assignees and having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Subordinated Units in this Agreement. The term “Subordinated Unit” does not include a Common Unit or Class B Unit. A Subordinated Unit that is convertible into a Common Unit shall not constitute a Common Unit until such conversion occurs.

Subordination Period ” means the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the first to occur of:

(a) the first date on which there are no longer outstanding any Subordinated Units due to the conversion of Subordinated Units into Common Units pursuant to Section 5.7 or otherwise; and

(b) the date on which the General Partner is removed as general partner of the Partnership upon the requisite vote by holders of Outstanding Units under circumstances where Cause does not exist and Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates are not voted in favor of such removal.

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, (a) a corporation of which more than 50% of the voting power of shares entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors or other governing body of such corporation is owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or a combination thereof, (b) a partnership (whether general or limited) in which such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person is, at the date of determination, a general or limited partner of such partnership, but only if more than 50% of the partnership interests of such partnership (considering all of the partnership interests of the partnership as a single class) is owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or a combination thereof, or (c) any other Person (other than a corporation or a partnership) in which such Person, one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or a combination thereof, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, has (i) at least a majority ownership interest or (ii) the power to elect or direct the election of a majority of the directors or other governing body of such Person.

Substituted Limited Partner ” means a Person who is admitted as a Limited Partner to the Partnership pursuant to Section 10.2 in place of and with all the rights of a Limited Partner and who is shown as a Limited Partner on the books and records of the Partnership.

Surviving Business Entity ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 14.2(b).

Target Distributions ” means, collectively, the First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution.

Taxation Certification ” means a properly completed certificate in such form or forms as may be specified by the General Partner by which a Limited Partner or Assignee certifies that he (and if he is a nominee holding for the account of another Person, that to the best of his knowledge such other Person) is an Eligible Holder and includes a Transfer Application containing such a certification.

 

20


Third Liquidation Target Amount ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1(c)(i)(G).

Third Target Distribution ” means $0.45 per Unit per Quarter (or, with respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on September 30, 2007, it means the product of $0.45 multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is equal to the number of days in such period and of which the denominator is 92), subject to adjustment in accordance with Sections 5.11, 6.6 and 6.9.

Trading Day ” means, for the purpose of determining the Current Market Price of any class of Limited Partner Interests, a day on which the principal National Securities Exchange on which such class of Limited Partner Interests are listed is open for the transaction of business or, if Limited Partner Interests of a class are not listed on any National Securities Exchange, a day on which banking institutions in New York City generally are open.

transfer ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.4(a).

Transfer Agent ” means such bank, trust company or other Person (including the General Partner or one of its Affiliates) as shall be appointed from time to time by the General Partner to act as registrar and transfer agent for the Common Units; provided, that if no Transfer Agent is specifically designated for any other Partnership Securities, the General Partner shall act in such capacity.

Transfer Application ” means an application and agreement for transfer of Units in the form set forth on the back of a Certificate or in a form substantially to the same effect in a separate instrument.

Underwriter ” means each Person named as an underwriter in Schedule I to the Underwriting Agreement who purchases Common Units pursuant thereto.

Underwriting Agreement ” means that certain Underwriting Agreement dated as of June 26, 2007 among the Underwriters, the Partnership, the General Partner and the other parties thereto, providing for the purchase of Common Units by the Underwriters.

Unit ” means a Partnership Security that is designated as a “Unit” and shall include Common Units, Class B Units and Subordinated Units but shall not include (i) General Partner Units (or the General Partner Interest represented thereby) or (ii) Incentive Distribution Rights.

Unit Majority ” means (i) during the Subordination Period, at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates), voting as a class, and at least a majority of the Outstanding Subordinated Units, voting as a class, and (ii) after the end of the Subordination Period, at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units and Class B Units, if any, voting as a single class.

Unitholders ” means the holders of Units.

 

21


Unpaid MQD ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1(c)(i)(B).

Unrealized Gain ” attributable to any item of Partnership property means, as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of (a) the fair market value of such property as of such date (as determined under Section 5.5(d)) over (b) the Carrying Value of such property as of such date (prior to any adjustment to be made pursuant to Section 5.5(d) as of such date).

Unrealized Loss ” attributable to any item of Partnership property means, as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of (a) the Carrying Value of such property as of such date (prior to any adjustment to be made pursuant to Section 5.5(d) as of such date) over (b) the fair market value of such property as of such date (as determined under Section 5.5(d)).

Unrecovered Initial Unit Price ” means at any time, with respect to a Unit, the Initial Unit Price less the sum of all distributions constituting Capital Surplus theretofore made in respect of an Initial Common Unit and any distributions of cash (or the Net Agreed Value of any distributions in kind) in connection with the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership theretofore made in respect of an Initial Common Unit, adjusted as the General Partner determines to be appropriate to give effect to any distribution, subdivision or combination of such Units.

U.S. GAAP ” means United States generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied.

Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.1(b).

Section 1.2 Construction.

Unless the context requires otherwise: (a) any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa; (b) references to Articles and Sections refer to Articles and Sections of this Agreement; (c) the terms “include”, “includes”, “including” or words of like import shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”; and (d) the terms “hereof”, “herein” or “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only, and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

ARTICLE II

ORGANIZATION

Section 2.1 Formation.

The General Partner and the Organizational Limited Partner have previously formed the Partnership as a limited partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act and hereby amend and restate the original Agreement of Limited Partnership of Spectra Energy Partners, LP in its entirety. This amendment and restatement shall become effective on the date of this Agreement. Except as expressly provided to the contrary in this Agreement, the rights, duties

 

22


(including fiduciary duties), liabilities and obligations of the Partners and the administration, dissolution and termination of the Partnership shall be governed by the Delaware Act. All Partnership Interests shall constitute personal property of the owner thereof for all purposes.

Section 2.2 Name.

The name of the Partnership shall be “Spectra Energy Partners, LP”. The Partnership’s business may be conducted under any other name or names as determined by the General Partner, including the name of the General Partner. The words “Limited Partnership,” “LP,” “Ltd.” or similar words or letters shall be included in the Partnership’s name where necessary for the purpose of complying with the laws of any jurisdiction that so requires. The General Partner may change the name of the Partnership at any time and from time to time and shall notify the Limited Partners of such change in the next regular communication to the Limited Partners.

Section 2.3 Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices .

Unless and until changed by the General Partner, the registered office of the Partnership in the State of Delaware shall be located at 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19801, and the registered agent for service of process on the Partnership in the State of Delaware at such registered office shall be The Corporation Trust Company. The principal office of the Partnership shall be located at 5400 Westheimer Court, Houston, Texas 77056, or such other place as the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice to the Limited Partners. The Partnership may maintain offices at such other place or places within or outside the State of Delaware as the General Partner shall determine necessary or appropriate. The address of the General Partner shall be 5400 Westheimer Court, Houston, Texas 77056, or such other place as the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice to the Limited Partners.

Section 2.4 Purpose and Business .

The purpose and nature of the business to be conducted by the Partnership shall be to (a) engage directly in, or enter into or form, hold and dispose of any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other arrangement to engage indirectly in, any business activity that is approved by the General Partner and that lawfully may be conducted by a limited partnership organized pursuant to the Delaware Act and, in connection therewith, to exercise all of the rights and powers conferred upon the Partnership pursuant to the agreements relating to such business activity, and (b) do anything necessary or appropriate to the foregoing, including the making of capital contributions or loans to a Group Member; provided, however, that the General Partner shall not cause the Partnership to engage, directly or indirectly, in any business activity that the General Partner determines would cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the General Partner shall have no duty or obligation to propose or approve, and may decline to propose or approve, the conduct by the Partnership of any business free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership, any Limited Partner or any Assignee and, in declining to so propose or approve, shall not be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity.

 

23


Section 2.5 Powers .

The Partnership shall be empowered to do any and all acts and things necessary or appropriate for the furtherance and accomplishment of the purposes and business described in Section 2.4 and for the protection and benefit of the Partnership.

Section 2.6 Power of Attorney .

(a) Each Limited Partner and each Assignee hereby constitutes and appoints the General Partner and, if a Liquidator shall have been selected pursuant to Section 12.3, the Liquidator (and any successor to the Liquidator by merger, transfer, assignment, election or otherwise) and each of their authorized officers and attorneys-in-fact, as the case may be, with full power of substitution, as his true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority in his name, place and stead, to:

(i) execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record in the appropriate public offices (A) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including this Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all amendments or restatements hereof or thereof) that the General Partner or the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to form, qualify or continue the existence or qualification of the Partnership as a limited partnership (or a partnership in which the limited partners have limited liability) in the State of Delaware and in all other jurisdictions in which the Partnership may conduct business or own property; (B) all certificates, documents and other instruments that the General Partner or the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect, in accordance with its terms, any amendment, change, modification or restatement of this Agreement; (C) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including conveyances and a certificate of cancellation) that the General Partner or the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; (D) all certificates, documents and other instruments relating to the admission, withdrawal, removal or substitution of any Partner pursuant to, or other events described in, Article IV, Article X, Article XI or Article XII; (E) all certificates, documents and other instruments relating to the determination of the rights, preferences and privileges of any class or series of Partnership Securities issued pursuant to Section 5.6; and (F) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including agreements and a certificate of merger or conversion) relating to a merger, consolidation or conversion of the Partnership pursuant to Article XIV; and

(ii) execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record all ballots, consents, approvals, waivers, certificates, documents and other instruments that the General Partner or the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to (A) make, evidence, give, confirm or ratify any vote, consent, approval, agreement or other action that is made or given by the Partners hereunder or is consistent with the terms of this Agreement or (B) effectuate the terms or intent of this Agreement; provided, that when required by Section 13.3 or any other provision of this Agreement that establishes a percentage of the Limited Partners or of the Limited Partners of any class or series required to take any action, the General Partner and the Liquidator may exercise the power of attorney made in this Section 2.6(a)(ii) only after the necessary vote, consent or approval of the Limited Partners or of the Limited Partners of such class or series, as applicable.

 

24


Nothing contained in this Section 2.6(a) shall be construed as authorizing the General Partner to amend this Agreement except in accordance with Article XIII or as may be otherwise expressly provided for in this Agreement.

(b) The foregoing power of attorney is hereby declared to be irrevocable and a power coupled with an interest, and it shall survive and, to the maximum extent permitted by law, not be affected by, the subsequent death, incompetency, disability, incapacity, dissolution, bankruptcy or termination of any Limited Partner or Assignee and the transfer of all or any portion of such Limited Partner’s or Assignee’s Partnership Interest and shall extend to such Limited Partner’s or Assignee’s heirs, successors, assigns and personal representatives. Each such Limited Partner or Assignee hereby agrees to be bound by any representation made by the General Partner or the Liquidator acting in good faith pursuant to such power of attorney; and each such Limited Partner or Assignee, to the maximum extent permitted by law, hereby waives any and all defenses that may be available to contest, negate or disaffirm the action of the General Partner or the Liquidator taken in good faith under such power of attorney. Each Limited Partner or Assignee shall execute and deliver to the General Partner or the Liquidator, within 15 days after receipt of the request therefor, such further designation, powers of attorney and other instruments as the General Partner or the Liquidator may request in order to effectuate this Agreement and the purposes of the Partnership.

Section 2.7 Term .

The term of the Partnership commenced upon the filing of the Certificate of Limited Partnership in accordance with the Delaware Act and shall continue in existence until the dissolution of the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of Article XII. The existence of the Partnership as a separate legal entity shall continue until the cancellation of the Certificate of Limited Partnership as provided in the Delaware Act.

Section 2.8 Title to Partnership Assets .

Title to Partnership assets, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible, shall be deemed to be owned by the Partnership as an entity, and no Partner or Assignee, individually or collectively, shall have any ownership interest in such Partnership assets or any portion thereof. Title to any or all of the Partnership assets may be held in the name of the Partnership, the General Partner, one or more of its Affiliates or one or more nominees, as the General Partner may determine. The General Partner hereby declares and warrants that any Partnership assets for which record title is held in the name of the General Partner or one or more of its Affiliates or one or more nominees shall be held by the General Partner or such Affiliate or nominee for the use and benefit of the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement; provided, however, that the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts to cause record title to such assets (other than those assets in respect of which the General Partner determines that the expense and difficulty of conveyancing makes transfer of record title to the Partnership impracticable) to be vested in the Partnership as soon as reasonably practicable;

 

25


provided, further, that, prior to the withdrawal or removal of the General Partner or as soon thereafter as practicable, the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts to effect the transfer of record title to the Partnership and, prior to any such transfer, will provide for the use of such assets in a manner satisfactory to the General Partner. All Partnership assets shall be recorded as the property of the Partnership in its books and records, irrespective of the name in which record title to such Partnership assets is held.

ARTICLE III

RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS

Section 3.1 Limitation of Liability .

The Limited Partners and the Assignees shall have no liability under this Agreement except as expressly provided in this Agreement or the Delaware Act.

Section 3.2 Management of Business .

No Limited Partner or Assignee, in its capacity as such, shall participate in the operation, management or control (within the meaning of the Delaware Act) of the Partnership’s business, transact any business in the Partnership’s name or have the power to sign documents for or otherwise bind the Partnership. Any action taken by any Affiliate of the General Partner or any officer, director, employee, manager, member, general partner, agent or trustee of the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, or any officer, director, employee, manager, member, general partner, agent or trustee of a Group Member, in its capacity as such, shall not be deemed to be participation in the control of the business of the Partnership by a limited partner of the Partnership (within the meaning of Section 17-303(a) of the Delaware Act) and shall not affect, impair or eliminate the limitations on the liability of the Limited Partners or Assignees under this Agreement.

Section 3.3 Outside Activities of the Limited Partners .

Subject to the provisions of Section 7.5, any Limited Partner or Assignee shall be entitled to and may have business interests and engage in business activities in addition to those relating to the Partnership, including business interests and activities in direct competition with the Partnership Group. Neither the Partnership nor any of the other Partners or Assignees shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement in any business ventures of any Limited Partner or Assignee.

Section 3.4 Rights of Limited Partners .

(a) In addition to other rights provided by this Agreement or by applicable law, and except as limited by Section 3.4(b), each Limited Partner shall have the right, for a purpose reasonably related to such Limited Partner’s interest as a Limited Partner in the Partnership, upon reasonable written demand stating the purpose of such demand, and at such Limited Partner’s own expense:

(i) to obtain true and full information regarding the status of the business and financial condition of the Partnership;

 

26


(ii) promptly after its becoming available, to obtain a copy of the Partnership’s federal, state and local income tax returns for each year;

(iii) to obtain a current list of the name and last known business, residence or mailing address of each Partner;

(iv) to obtain a copy of this Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all amendments thereto, together with copies of the executed copies of all powers of attorney pursuant to which this Agreement, the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all amendments thereto have been executed;

(v) to obtain true and full information regarding the amount of cash and a description and statement of the Net Agreed Value of any other Capital Contribution by each Partner and that each Partner has agreed to contribute in the future, and the date on which each became a Partner; and

(vi) to obtain such other information regarding the affairs of the Partnership as is just and reasonable.

(b) The General Partner may keep confidential from the Limited Partners and Assignees, for such period of time as the General Partner deems reasonable, (i) any information that the General Partner reasonably believes to be in the nature of trade secrets or (ii) other information the disclosure of which the General Partner in good faith believes (A) is not in the best interests of the Partnership Group, (B) could damage the Partnership Group or its business or (C) that any Group Member is required by law or by agreement with any third party to keep confidential (other than agreements with Affiliates of the Partnership the primary purpose of which is to circumvent the obligations set forth in this Section 3.4).

ARTICLE IV

CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS;

REDEMPTION OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

Section 4.1 Certificates .

Upon the Partnership’s issuance of Common Units, Subordinated Units or Class B Units to any Person, the Partnership shall issue, upon the request of such Person, one or more Certificates in the name of such Person (or, if issued in global form, in the name of the Depositary or its nominee) evidencing the number of such Units being so issued. In addition, (a) upon the General Partner’s request, the Partnership shall issue to it one or more Certificates in the name of the General Partner evidencing its General Partner Units and (b) upon the request of any Person owning Incentive Distribution Rights or any other Partnership Securities other than Common Units, Subordinated Units or Class B Units, the Partnership shall issue to such Person one or more certificates evidencing such Incentive Distribution Rights or other Partnership Securities other than Common Units, Subordinated Units or Class B Units. Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Partnership by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer or any Vice President and the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, or other authorized officer or director of the General Partner. No Common Unit Certificate shall be valid for any purpose until it has been countersigned by the Transfer Agent;

 

27


provided, however, the Units may be certificated or uncertificated as provided in the Delaware Act; provided, further, that if the General Partner elects to issue Common Units in global form, the Common Unit Certificates shall be valid upon receipt of a certificate from the Transfer Agent certifying that the Common Units have been duly registered in accordance with the directions of the Partnership. Subject to the requirements of Section 6.7(b) and Section 6.7(c), the Partners holding Certificates evidencing Subordinated Units may exchange such Certificates for Certificates evidencing Common Units on or after the date on which such Subordinated Units are converted into Common Units pursuant to the terms of Section 5.7. Subject to the requirements of Section 6.7(e), the Partners holding Certificates evidencing Class B Units may exchange such Certificates for Certificates evidencing Common Units on or after the period set forth in Section 5.11(f) pursuant to the terms of Section 5.11.

Section 4.2 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates .

(a) If any mutilated Certificate is surrendered to the Transfer Agent (for Common Units) or the General Partner (for Partnership Securities other than Common Units), the appropriate officers of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall execute, and the Transfer Agent (for Common Units) or the General Partner (for Partnership Securities other than Common Units) shall countersign and deliver in exchange therefor, a new Certificate evidencing the same number and type of Partnership Securities as the Certificate so surrendered.

(b) The appropriate officers of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall execute and deliver, and the Transfer Agent (for Common Units) shall countersign, a new Certificate in place of any Certificate previously issued, or issue uncertificated Common Units, if the Record Holder of the Certificate:

(i) makes proof by affidavit, in form and substance satisfactory to the General Partner, that a previously issued Certificate has been lost, destroyed or stolen;

(ii) requests the issuance of a new Certificate or the issuance of uncertificated Units before the General Partner has notice that the Certificate has been acquired by a purchaser for value in good faith and without notice of an adverse claim;

(iii) if requested by the General Partner, delivers to the General Partner a bond, in form and substance satisfactory to the General Partner, with surety or sureties and with fixed or open penalty as the General Partner may direct to indemnify the Partnership, the Partners, the General Partner and the Transfer Agent against any claim that may be made on account of the alleged loss, destruction or theft of the Certificate; and

(iv) satisfies any other reasonable requirements imposed by the General Partner.

If a Limited Partner or Assignee fails to notify the General Partner within a reasonable period of time after he has notice of the loss, destruction or theft of a Certificate, and a transfer of the Limited Partner Interests represented by the Certificate is registered before the Partnership, the General Partner or the Transfer Agent receives such notification, the Limited Partner or Assignee shall be precluded from making any claim against the Partnership, the General Partner or the Transfer Agent for such transfer or for a new Certificate or uncertificated Units.

 

28


(c) As a condition to the issuance of any new Certificate or uncertificated Units under this Section 4.2, the General Partner may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Transfer Agent) reasonably connected therewith.

Section 4.3 Record Holders .

The Partnership shall be entitled to recognize the Record Holder as the Partner or Assignee with respect to any Partnership Interest and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to, or interest in, such Partnership Interest on the part of any other Person, regardless of whether the Partnership shall have actual or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by law or any applicable rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which such Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading. Without limiting the foregoing, when a Person (such as a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation or an agent of any of the foregoing) is acting as nominee, agent or in some other representative capacity for another Person in acquiring and/or holding Partnership Interests, as between the Partnership on the one hand, and such other Persons on the other, such representative Person (a) shall be the Partner or Assignee (as the case may be) of record and beneficially, and (b) shall be bound by this Agreement and shall have the rights and obligations of a Partner or Assignee (as the case may be) hereunder and as, and to the extent, provided for herein.

Section 4.4 Transfer Generally .

(a) The term “transfer,” when used in this Agreement with respect to a Partnership Interest, shall be deemed to refer to a transaction (i) by which the General Partner assigns its General Partner Units to another Person or by which a holder of Incentive Distribution Rights assigns its Incentive Distribution Rights to another Person, and includes a sale, assignment, gift, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation, mortgage, exchange or any other disposition by law or otherwise or (ii) by which the holder of a Limited Partner Interest (other than an Incentive Distribution Right) assigns such Limited Partner Interest to another Person who is or becomes a Limited Partner or an Assignee, and includes a sale, assignment, gift, exchange or any other disposition by law or otherwise, excluding a pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or mortgage but including any transfer upon foreclosure of any pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or mortgage.

(b) No Partnership Interest shall be transferred, in whole or in part, except in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Article IV. Any transfer or purported transfer of a Partnership Interest not made in accordance with this Article IV shall be null and void.

(c) Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent a disposition by any stockholder, member, partner or other owner of the General Partner of any or all of the shares of stock, membership interests, partnership interests or other ownership interests in the General Partner.

 

29


Section 4.5 Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests .

(a) The General Partner shall keep or cause to be kept on behalf of the Partnership a register in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe and subject to the provisions of Section 4.5(b), the Partnership will provide for the registration and transfer of Limited Partner Interests. The Transfer Agent is hereby appointed registrar and transfer agent for the purpose of registering Common Units and transfers of such Common Units as herein provided. The Partnership shall not recognize transfers of Certificates evidencing Limited Partner Interests unless such transfers are effected in the manner described in this Section 4.5. Upon surrender of a Certificate for registration of transfer of any Limited Partner Interests evidenced by a Certificate, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.5(b), the appropriate officers of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall execute and deliver, and in the case of Common Units, the Transfer Agent shall countersign and deliver, in the name of the holder or the designated transferee or transferees, as required pursuant to the holder’s instructions, one or more new Certificates evidencing the same aggregate number and type of Limited Partner Interests as was evidenced by the Certificate so surrendered.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in Section 4.9, the General Partner shall not recognize any transfer of Limited Partner Interests until the Certificates evidencing such Limited Partner Interests are surrendered for registration of transfer and such Certificates are accompanied by a Transfer Application, properly completed and including a Taxation Certification, duly executed by the transferee (or the transferee’s attorney-in-fact duly authorized in writing). No charge shall be imposed by the General Partner for such transfer; provided, that as a condition to the issuance of any new Certificate under this Section 4.5, the General Partner may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed with respect thereto. No distributions or allocations will be made in respect of the Limited Partner Interests until a properly completed Transfer Application has been delivered with respect to such Limited Partner Interests.

(c) Upon the receipt of proper transfer instructions from the registered owner of uncertificated Common Units, such uncertificated Common Units shall be cancelled, issuance of new equivalent uncertificated Common Units or Certificates shall be made to the holder of Common Units entitled thereto and the transaction shall be recorded upon the books of the Partnership.

(d) Limited Partner Interests may be transferred only in the manner described in this Section 4.5. The transfer of any Limited Partner Interests and the admission of any new Limited Partner shall not constitute an amendment to this Agreement.

(e) Until admitted as a Substituted Limited Partner pursuant to Section 10.2, the Record Holder of a Limited Partner Interest shall be an Assignee in respect of such Limited Partner Interest. Limited Partners may include custodians, nominees or any other individual or entity in its own or any representative capacity.

(f) A transferee of a Limited Partner Interest who has completed and delivered a Transfer Application shall be deemed to have (i) requested admission as a Substituted Limited Partner, (ii) agreed to comply with and be bound by and to have executed this Agreement, (iii)

 

30


represented and warranted that such transferee has the right, power and authority and, if an individual, the capacity to enter into this Agreement, (iv) granted the powers of attorney set forth in this Agreement, and (v) given the consents and approvals and made the waivers contained in this Agreement.

(g) The General Partner and its Affiliates shall have the right at any time to transfer their Subordinated Units, Class B Units and Common Units (whether issued upon conversion of the Subordinated Units or otherwise) to one or more Persons.

Section 4.6 Transfer of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest .

(a) Subject to Section 4.6(c) below, prior to June 30, 2017, the General Partner shall not transfer all or any part of its General Partner Interest (represented by General Partner Units) to a Person unless such transfer (i) has been approved by the prior written consent or vote of the holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates) or (ii) is of all, but not less than all, of its General Partner Interest to (A) an Affiliate of the General Partner (other than an individual) or (B) another Person (other than an individual) in connection with the merger or consolidation of the General Partner with or into such other Person or the transfer by the General Partner of all or substantially all of its assets to such other Person.

(b) Subject to Section 4.6(c) below, on or after June 30, 2017, the General Partner may transfer all or any of its General Partner Interest without Unitholder approval.

(c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no transfer by the General Partner of all or any part of its General Partner Interest to another Person shall be permitted unless (i) the transferee agrees to assume the rights and duties of the General Partner under this Agreement and to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement, (ii) the Partnership receives an Opinion of Counsel that such transfer would not result in the loss of limited liability of any Limited Partner under the Delaware Act or cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed) and (iii) such transferee also agrees to purchase all (or the appropriate portion thereof, if applicable) of the partnership or membership interest of the General Partner as the general partner or managing member, if any, of each other Group Member. In the case of a transfer pursuant to and in compliance with this Section 4.6, the transferee or successor (as the case may be) shall, subject to compliance with the terms of Section 10.3, be admitted to the Partnership as the General Partner immediately prior to the transfer of the General Partner Interest, and the business of the Partnership shall continue without dissolution.

Section 4.7 Transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights .

Prior to June 30, 2017, a holder of Incentive Distribution Rights may transfer any or all of the Incentive Distribution Rights held by such holder without any consent of the Unitholders to (a) an Affiliate of such holder (other than an individual) or (b) another Person (other than an individual) in connection with (i) the merger or consolidation of such holder of Incentive Distribution Rights with or into such other Person, (ii) the transfer by such holder of all or

 

31


substantially all of its assets to such other Person or (iii) the sale of all the ownership interests in such holder. Any other transfer of the Incentive Distribution Rights prior to June 30, 2017 shall require the prior approval of holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates). On or after June 30, 2017, the General Partner or any other holder of Incentive Distribution Rights may transfer any or all of its Incentive Distribution Rights without Unitholder approval. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the transfer of Class B Units issued pursuant to Section 5.11, or the transfer of Common Units issued upon conversion of the Class B Units, shall not be treated as a transfer of all or any part of the Incentive Distribution Rights and (ii) no transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights to another Person shall be permitted unless the transferee agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement.

Section 4.8 Restrictions on Transfers .

(a) Except as provided in Section 4.8(e) below, and notwithstanding the other provisions of this Article IV, no transfer of any Partnership Interests shall be made if such transfer would (i) violate the then applicable federal or state securities laws or rules and regulations of the Commission, any state securities commission or any other governmental authority with jurisdiction over such transfer, (ii) terminate the existence or qualification of the Partnership under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation, or (iii) cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed).

(b) The General Partner may impose restrictions on the transfer of Partnership Interests if it receives an Opinion of Counsel that such restrictions are necessary to avoid a significant risk of the Partnership becoming taxable as a corporation or otherwise becoming taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes. The General Partner may impose such restrictions by amending this Agreement; provided, however, that any amendment that would result in the delisting or suspension of trading of any class of Limited Partner Interests on the principal National Securities Exchange on which such class of Limited Partner Interests is then listed or admitted to trading must be approved, prior to such amendment being effected, by the holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Limited Partner Interests of such class.

(c) The transfer of a Subordinated Unit that has converted into a Common Unit shall be subject to the restrictions imposed by Section 6.7(c).

(d) The transfer of a Class B Unit that has converted into a Common Unit shall be subject to the restrictions imposed by Section 6.7(e).

(e) Nothing contained in this Article IV, or elsewhere in this Agreement, shall preclude the settlement of any transactions involving Partnership Interests entered into through the facilities of any National Securities Exchange on which such Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading.

(f) Each certificate evidencing Partnership Interests shall bear a conspicuous legend in substantially the following form:

 

32


THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY ACKNOWLEDGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP THAT THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IF SUCH TRANSFER WOULD (A) VIOLATE THE THEN APPLICABLE FEDERAL OR STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY WITH JURISDICTION OVER SUCH TRANSFER, (B) TERMINATE THE EXISTENCE OR QUALIFICATION OF SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, OR (C) CAUSE SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP TO BE TREATED AS AN ASSOCIATION TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE TO BE TAXED AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES (TO THE EXTENT NOT ALREADY SO TREATED OR TAXED). SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS (DE) GP, LP, THE GENERAL PARTNER OF SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP, MAY IMPOSE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IF IT RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL THAT SUCH RESTRICTIONS ARE NECESSARY TO AVOID A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP BECOMING TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE BECOMING TAXABLE AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES. THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL NOT PRECLUDE THE SETTLEMENT OF ANY TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY ENTERED INTO THROUGH THE FACILITIES OF ANY NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY IS LISTED OR ADMITTED TO TRADING.

Section 4.9 Tax Certifications; Ineligible Holders; Citizenship Certificates; Non-citizen Assignees .

(a) If a transferee of a Limited Partner Interest fails to furnish a properly completed Taxation Certification in a Transfer Application or if, upon receipt of such Taxation Certification or otherwise, the General Partner determines that such transferee is not an Eligible Holder, the Limited Partner Interests owned by such transferee shall be subject to redemption in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.10.

(b) The General Partner may request any Limited Partner or Assignee to furnish to the General Partner, within 30 days after receipt of such request, an executed Taxation Certification or such other information concerning his federal income tax status with respect to the income and loss generated by the Partnership (or, if the Limited Partner or Assignee is a nominee holding for the account of another Person, the federal income tax status of such Person) as the General Partner may request. If a Limited Partner or Assignee fails to furnish to the General Partner within the aforementioned 30-day period such Taxation Certification or other requested information or if upon receipt of such Taxation Certification or other requested information the General Partner determines that a Limited Partner or Assignee is not an Eligible Holder, the Limited Partner Interests owned by such Limited Partner or Assignee shall be subject to redemption in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.10. In addition, the General Partner may require that the status of any such Limited Partner or Assignee be changed to that of an Ineligible Holder and, thereupon, such Ineligible Holder shall cease to be a Partner and shall have no voting rights in respect of his Limited Partner Interests. The General Partner shall be substituted for such Ineligible Holder as the Limited Partner or Assignee in respect of the Ineligible Holder’s Limited Partner Interests and shall vote such Limited Partner Interests in accordance with Section 4.9(b).

 

33


(c) If any Group Member is or becomes subject to any federal, state or local law or regulation that the General Partner determines would create a substantial risk of cancellation or forfeiture of any property in which the Group Member has an interest based on the nationality, citizenship or other related status of a Limited Partner or Assignee, the General Partner may request any Limited Partner or Assignee to furnish to the General Partner, within 30 days after receipt of such request, an executed Citizenship Certification or such other information concerning his nationality, citizenship or other related status (or, if the Limited Partner or Assignee is a nominee holding for the account of another Person, the nationality, citizenship or other related status of such Person) as the General Partner may request. If a Limited Partner or Assignee fails to furnish to the General Partner within the aforementioned 30-day period such Citizenship Certification or other requested information or if upon receipt of such Citizenship Certification or other requested information the General Partner determines that a Limited Partner or Assignee is not an Eligible Citizen, the Limited Partner Interests owned by such Limited Partner or Assignee shall be subject to redemption in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.10. In addition, the General Partner may require that the status of any such Limited Partner or Assignee be changed to that of a Non-citizen Assignee and, thereupon, the General Partner shall be substituted for such Non-citizen Assignee as the Limited Partner in respect of the Non-citizen Assignee’s Limited Partner Interests.

(d) The General Partner shall, in exercising voting rights in respect of Limited Partner Interests held by it on behalf of Non-citizen Assignees or Ineligible Holders, distribute the votes in the same ratios as the votes of Partners (including the General Partner) in respect of Limited Partner Interests other than those of Non-citizen Assignees or Ineligible Holders are cast, either for, against or abstaining as to the matter.

(e) Upon dissolution of the Partnership, a Non-citizen Assignee or Ineligible Holder shall have no right to receive a distribution in kind pursuant to Section 12.4 but shall be entitled to the cash equivalent thereof, and the Partnership shall provide cash in exchange for an assignment of the Non-citizen Assignee’s or Ineligible Holder’s share of any distribution in kind. Such payment and assignment shall be treated for Partnership purposes as a purchase by the Partnership from the Non-citizen Assignee or Ineligible Holder of his Limited Partner Interest (representing his right to receive his share of such distribution in kind).

(f) At any time after an Ineligible Holder can and does certify that it has become an Eligible Holder, such Ineligible Holder may, upon application to the General Partner, request admission as a Substituted Limited Partner with respect to any Limited Partner Interests of such Ineligible Holder not redeemed pursuant to Section 4.10, and upon admission of such Ineligible Holder pursuant to Section 10.2, the General Partner shall cease to be deemed to be the Limited Partner in respect of such Ineligible Holder’s Limited Partner Interests.

(g) At any time after he can and does certify that he has become an Eligible Citizen, a Non-citizen Assignee may, upon application to the General Partner, request admission as a Substituted Limited Partner with respect to any Limited Partner Interests of such Non-citizen Assignee not redeemed pursuant to Section 4.10, and upon admission of such Non-citizen Assignee pursuant to Section 10.2, the General Partner shall cease to be deemed to be the Limited Partner in respect of the Non-citizen Assignee’s Limited Partner Interests.

 

34


Section 4.10 Redemption of Partnership Interests of Non-citizen and Ineligible Holders .

(a) If at any time a Limited Partner, Assignee or transferee fails to furnish a Citizenship Certification, Taxation Certification or other information requested within the 30-day period specified in Section 4.9(b) or 4.9(c) or in a Transfer Application, or if upon receipt of such Citizenship Certification, Taxation Certification, Transfer Application or other information the General Partner determines, with the advice of counsel, that a Limited Partner, Assignee or transferee is not an Eligible Citizen or Eligible Holder, as the case may be, the Partnership may, unless the Limited Partner, Assignee or transferee establishes to the satisfaction of the General Partner that such Limited Partner, Assignee or transferee is an Eligible Citizen or Eligible Holder, as the case may be, or has transferred his Partnership Interests to a Person who is an Eligible Citizen or Eligible Holder, as the case may be, and who furnishes a Citizenship Certification or Taxation Certificate, as the case may be, to the General Partner prior to the date fixed for redemption as provided below, redeem the Limited Partner Interest of such Limited Partner, Assignee or transferee as follows:

(i) The General Partner shall, not later than the 30th day before the date fixed for redemption, give notice of redemption to the Limited Partner, Assignee or transferee, at his last address designated on the records of the Partnership or the Transfer Agent, by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid. The notice shall be deemed to have been given when so mailed. The notice shall specify the Redeemable Interests or, if uncertificated, upon receipt of evidence satisfactory to the General Partner of the ownership of the Redeemable Interests, the date fixed for redemption, the place of payment, that payment of the redemption price will be made upon surrender of the Certificate evidencing the Redeemable Interests and that on and after the date fixed for redemption no further allocations or distributions to which such person would otherwise be entitled in respect of the Redeemable Interests will accrue or be made.

(ii) The aggregate redemption price for Redeemable Interests shall be an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the Current Market Price (the date of determination of which shall be the date fixed for redemption) of Limited Partner Interests of the class to be so redeemed and (ii) the price paid for such Limited Partner Interests by the Limited Partner, Assignee or transferee. The redemption price shall be paid, as determined by the General Partner, in cash or by delivery of a promissory note of the Partnership in the principal amount of the redemption price, bearing interest at the rate of 5% annually and payable in three equal annual installments of principal together with accrued interest, commencing one year after the redemption date.

(iii) Upon surrender by or on behalf of the Limited Partner, Assignee or transferee, at the place specified in the notice of redemption, of (x) if certificated, the Certificate evidencing the Redeemable Interests, duly endorsed in blank or accompanied by an assignment duly executed in blank, or (y) if uncertificated, upon receipt of evidence satisfactory to the General Partner of the ownership of the Redeemable Interests, the Limited Partner, Assignee or transferee or his duly authorized representative shall be entitled to receive the payment therefor.

 

35


(iv) After the redemption date, Redeemable Interests shall no longer constitute issued and Outstanding Limited Partner Interests.

(b) The provisions of this Section 4.10 shall also be applicable to Limited Partner Interests held by a Limited Partner or Assignee as nominee of a Person determined to be other than an Eligible Citizen or Eligible Holder, as the case may be.

(c) Nothing in this Section 4.10 shall prevent the recipient of a notice of redemption from transferring his Limited Partner Interest before the redemption date if such transfer is otherwise permitted under this Agreement. Upon receipt of notice of such a transfer, the General Partner shall withdraw the notice of redemption, provided the transferee of such Limited Partner Interest certifies to the satisfaction of the General Partner that he is an Eligible Citizen or Eligible Holder, as the case may be. If the transferee fails to make such certification, such redemption shall be effected from the transferee on the original redemption date.

ARTICLE V

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

Section 5.1 Organizational Contributions .

In connection with the formation of the Partnership under the Delaware Act, the General Partner made an initial Capital Contribution to the Partnership in the amount of $60.00, for a 2% General Partner Interest in the Partnership and has been admitted as the General Partner of the Partnership, and the Organizational Limited Partner made an initial Capital Contribution to the Partnership in the amount of $2,940.00 for a 98% Limited Partner Interest in the Partnership and has been admitted as a Limited Partner of the Partnership. As of the Closing Date, the interest of the Organizational Limited Partner, or its successor, shall be redeemed as provided in the Contribution Agreement; and the initial Capital Contribution of the Organizational Limited Partner, or its successor, shall thereupon be refunded. Ninety-eight percent of any interest or other profit that may have resulted from the investment or other use of such initial Capital Contribution shall be allocated and distributed to the Organizational Limited Partner, or its successor, and the balance thereof shall be allocated and distributed to the General Partner.

Section 5.2 Contributions by the General Partner and its Affiliates .

(a) On the Closing Date and pursuant to the Contribution Agreement: (i) the General Partner shall contribute to the Partnership, as a Capital Contribution, all of its interest in Spectra GP MHP Holding, LLC and Gulfstream Natural Gas System, L.L.C., in exchange for (A) 1,352,421 General Partner Units representing a continuation of its 2% General Partner Interest, subject to all of the rights, privileges and duties of the General Partner under this Agreement, (B) 1,500,000 Common Units, (C) the Incentive Distribution Rights, (D) the right to receive $288.1 million sourced to new debt recourse to the General Partner, and (E) the right to receive $0.3 million to reimburse it for certain capital expenditures; (ii) Spectra Energy Transmission, LLC shall contribute to the Partnership, as a Capital Contribution, all of its interest in Spectra Energy Partners MHP Holdings, LLC, in exchange for (A) 7,712,852 Common Units, (B) 5,037,637 Subordinated Units and (C) the right to receive $25.7 million to reimburse it for certain capital expenditures; and (iii) Spectra Energy Southeast Pipeline Corp. shall contribute to the

 

36


Partnership, as a Capital Contribution, a portion of its interest in Gulfstream Natural Gas System, L.L.C., as set forth in the Contribution Agreement, and all of its interest in East Tennessee Natural Gas, LLC, in exchange for (A) 25,417,028 Common Units and (B) 16,601,093 Subordinated Units.

(b) Upon the issuance of any additional Limited Partner Interests by the Partnership (other than the Common Units issued in the Initial Offering, the Common Units issued pursuant to the Over-Allotment Option, the Common Units and Subordinated Units issued pursuant to Section 5.2(a), any Class B Units issued pursuant to Section 5.11 and any Common Units issued upon conversion of Class B Units), the General Partner may, in exchange for a proportionate number of General Partner Units, make additional Capital Contributions in an amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying (i) the quotient determined by dividing (A) the General Partner’s Percentage Interest immediately prior to the issuance of such additional Limited Partner Interests by the Partnership by (B) 100 less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest immediately prior to the issuance of such additional Limited Partner Interests by the Partnership times (ii) the amount contributed to the Partnership by the Limited Partners in exchange for such additional Limited Partner Interests. Except as set forth in Article XII, the General Partner shall not be obligated to make any additional Capital Contributions to the Partnership.

Section 5.3 Contributions by Initial Limited Partners .

(a) On the Closing Date and pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, each Underwriter shall contribute to the Partnership cash in an amount equal to the Issue Price per Initial Common Unit, multiplied by the number of Common Units specified in the Underwriting Agreement to be purchased by such Underwriter at the Closing Date. In exchange for such Capital Contributions by the Underwriters, the Partnership shall issue Common Units to each Underwriter on whose behalf such Capital Contribution is made in an amount equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the cash contribution to the Partnership by or on behalf of such Underwriter by (ii) the Issue Price per Initial Common Unit.

(b) Upon the exercise of the Over-Allotment Option, each Underwriter shall contribute to the Partnership cash in an amount equal to the Issue Price per Initial Common Unit, multiplied by the number of Common Units to be purchased by such Underwriter at the Option Closing Date. In exchange for such Capital Contributions by the Underwriters, the Partnership shall issue Common Units to each Underwriter on whose behalf such Capital Contribution is made in an amount equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the cash contributions to the Partnership by or on behalf of such Underwriter by (ii) the Issue Price per Initial Common Unit. Upon receipt by the Partnership of the Capital Contributions from the Underwriters as provided in this Section 5.3(b), the Partnership shall use such cash to purchase qualifying investment grade securities, which will be assigned as collateral to secure borrowings that are, in turn, used to redeem from the General Partner or its Affiliates that number of Common Units held by the General Partner or its Affiliates equal to the number of Common Units issued to the Underwriters as provided in this Section 5.3(b).

(c) No Limited Partner Interests will be issued or issuable as of or at the Closing Date other than (i) the Common Units issuable pursuant to subparagraph (a) hereof in aggregate number equal to 10,000,000, (ii) the “Option Units” as such term is used in the Underwriting

 

37


Agreement in an aggregate number up to 1,500,000 issuable upon exercise of the Over-Allotment Option pursuant to subparagraph (b) hereof, (iii) the 34,629,880 Common Units and 21,638,730 Subordinated Units issuable pursuant to Section 5.2(a) hereof and (iv) the Incentive Distribution Rights.

Section 5.4 Interest and Withdrawal of Capital Contributions .

No interest shall be paid by the Partnership on Capital Contributions. No Partner or Assignee shall be entitled to the withdrawal or return of its Capital Contribution, except to the extent, if any, that distributions made pursuant to this Agreement or upon dissolution of the Partnership may be considered as such by law and then only to the extent provided for in this Agreement. Except to the extent expressly provided in this Agreement, no Partner or Assignee shall have priority over any other Partner or Assignee either as to the return of Capital Contributions or as to profits, losses or distributions. Any such return shall be a compromise to which all Partners or Assignees agree within the meaning of Section 17-502(b) of the Delaware Act.

Section 5.5 Capital Accounts .

(a) The Partnership shall maintain for each Partner (or a beneficial owner of Partnership Interests held by a nominee in any case in which the nominee has furnished the identity of such owner to the Partnership in accordance with Section 6031(c) of the Code or any other method acceptable to the General Partner) owning a Partnership Interest a separate Capital Account with respect to such Partnership Interest in accordance with the rules of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). Such Capital Account shall be increased by (i) the amount of all Capital Contributions made to the Partnership with respect to such Partnership Interest and (ii) all items of Partnership income and gain (including income and gain exempt from tax) computed in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and allocated with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to Section 6.1, and decreased by (x) the amount of cash or Net Agreed Value of all actual and deemed distributions of cash or property made with respect to such Partnership Interest and (y) all items of Partnership deduction and loss computed in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and allocated with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to Section 6.1.

(b) For purposes of computing the amount of any item of income, gain, loss or deduction which is to be allocated pursuant to Article VI and is to be reflected in the Partners’ Capital Accounts, the determination, recognition and classification of any such item shall be the same as its determination, recognition and classification for federal income tax purposes (including any method of depreciation, cost recovery or amortization used for that purpose), provided, that:

(i) Solely for purposes of this Section 5.5, the Partnership shall be treated as owning directly its proportionate share (as determined by the General Partner based upon the provisions of the applicable Group Member Agreement or governing, organizational or similar documents) of all property owned by any other Group Member that is classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes and (y) any other partnership, limited liability company, unincorporated business or other entity classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes of which a Group Member is, directly or indirectly, a partner.

 

38


(ii) All fees and other expenses incurred by the Partnership to promote the sale of (or to sell) a Partnership Interest that can neither be deducted nor amortized under Section 709 of the Code, if any, shall, for purposes of Capital Account maintenance, be treated as an item of deduction at the time such fees and other expenses are incurred and shall be allocated among the Partners pursuant to Section 6.1.

(iii) Except as otherwise provided in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), the computation of all items of income, gain, loss and deduction shall be made without regard to any election under Section 754 of the Code which may be made by the Partnership and, as to those items described in Section 705(a)(1)(B) or 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code, without regard to the fact that such items are not includable in gross income or are neither currently deductible nor capitalized for federal income tax purposes. To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Partnership asset pursuant to Section 734(b) or 743(b) of the Code is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts, the amount of such adjustment in the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain or loss.

(iv) Any income, gain or loss attributable to the taxable disposition of any Partnership property shall be determined as if the adjusted basis of such property as of such date of disposition were equal in amount to the Partnership’s Carrying Value with respect to such property as of such date.

(v) In accordance with the requirements of Section 704(b) of the Code, any deductions for depreciation, cost recovery or amortization attributable to any Contributed Property shall be determined as if the adjusted basis of such property on the date it was acquired by the Partnership were equal to the Agreed Value of such property. Upon an adjustment pursuant to Section 5.5(d) to the Carrying Value of any Partnership property subject to depreciation, cost recovery or amortization, any further deductions for such depreciation, cost recovery or amortization attributable to such property shall be determined as if the adjusted basis of such property were equal to the Carrying Value of such property immediately following such adjustment.

(vi) If the Partnership’s adjusted basis in a depreciable or cost recovery property is reduced for federal income tax purposes pursuant to Section 48(q)(1) or 48(q)(3) of the Code, the amount of such reduction shall, solely for purposes hereof, be deemed to be an additional depreciation or cost recovery deduction in the year such property is placed in service and shall be allocated among the Partners pursuant to Section 6.1. Any restoration of such basis pursuant to Section 48(q)(2) of the Code shall, to the extent possible, be allocated in the same manner to the Partners to whom such deemed deduction was allocated.

(c) (i) A transferee of a Partnership Interest shall succeed to a Pro Rata portion of the Capital Account of the transferor relating to the Partnership Interest so transferred.

(ii) Subject to Section 6.7(c), immediately prior to the transfer of a Subordinated Unit or of a Subordinated Unit that has converted into a Common Unit pursuant to Section 5.7 by a holder thereof (other than a transfer to an Affiliate unless the General Partner elects to have this subparagraph 5.5(c)(ii) apply), the Capital Account maintained for such

 

39


Person with respect to its Subordinated Units or converted Subordinated Units will (A) first, be allocated to the Subordinated Units or converted Subordinated Units to be transferred in an amount equal to the product of (x) the number of such Subordinated Units or converted Subordinated Units to be transferred and (y) the Per Unit Capital Amount for a Common Unit, and (B) second, any remaining balance in such Capital Account will be retained by the transferor, regardless of whether it has retained any Subordinated Units or converted Subordinated Units (“Retained Converted Subordinated Units”). Following any such allocation, the transferor’s Capital Account, if any, maintained with respect to the retained Subordinated Units or Retained Converted Subordinated Units, if any, will have a balance equal to the amount allocated under clause (B) hereinabove, and the transferee’s Capital Account established with respect to the transferred Subordinated Units or converted Subordinated Units will have a balance equal to the amount allocated under clause (A) hereinabove.

(d) (i) In accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), on an issuance of additional Partnership Interests for cash or Contributed Property, the issuance of Partnership Interests as consideration for the provision of services or the conversion of the General Partner’s Combined Interest to Common Units pursuant to Section 11.3(b), the Capital Accounts of all Partners and the Carrying Value of each Partnership property immediately prior to such issuance shall be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Partnership property, as if such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss had been recognized on an actual sale of each such property for an amount equal to its fair market value immediately prior to such issuance and had been allocated to the Partners at such time pursuant to Section 6.1(c) in the same manner as any item of gain or loss actually recognized following an event giving rise to the dissolution of the Partnership would have been allocated. In determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss, the aggregate cash amount and fair market value of all Partnership assets (including cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to the issuance of additional Partnership Interests shall be determined by the General Partner using such method of valuation as it may adopt; provided, however, that the General Partner, in arriving at such valuation, must take fully into account the fair market value of the Partnership Interests of all Partners at such time. The General Partner shall allocate such aggregate value among the assets of the Partnership (in such manner as it determines) to arrive at a fair market value for individual properties.

(ii) In accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), immediately prior to any actual or deemed distribution to a Partner of any Partnership property (other than a distribution of cash that is not in redemption or retirement of a Partnership Interest), the Capital Accounts of all Partners and the Carrying Value of all Partnership property shall be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Partnership property, as if such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss had been recognized on an actual sale of each such property immediately prior to such distribution for an amount equal to its fair market value, and had been allocated to the Partners, at such time, pursuant to Section 6.1(c) in the same manner as any item of gain or loss actually recognized following an event giving rise to the dissolution of the Partnership would have been allocated. In determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss the aggregate cash amount and fair market value of all Partnership assets (including cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to a distribution shall (A) in the case of an actual distribution that is not made pursuant to Section 12.4 or in the case of a deemed distribution, be determined and allocated in the same manner as that provided in Section 5.5(d)(i) or (B) in the case of a liquidating distribution pursuant to Section 12.4, be determined and allocated by the Liquidator using such method of valuation as it may adopt.

 

40


Section 5.6 Issuances of Additional Partnership Securities .

(a) The Partnership may issue additional Partnership Securities and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to the Partnership Securities for any Partnership purpose at any time and from time to time to such Persons for such consideration and on such terms and conditions as the General Partner shall determine, all without the approval of any Limited Partners.

(b) Each additional Partnership Security authorized to be issued by the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.6(a) may be issued in one or more classes, or one or more series of any such classes, with such designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties (which may be senior to existing classes and series of Partnership Securities), as shall be fixed by the General Partner, including (i) the right to share in Partnership profits and losses or items thereof; (ii) the right to share in Partnership distributions; (iii) the rights upon dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership; (iv) whether, and the terms and conditions upon which, the Partnership may or shall be required to redeem the Partnership Security; (v) whether such Partnership Security is issued with the privilege of conversion or exchange and, if so, the terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange; (vi) the terms and conditions upon which each Partnership Security will be issued, evidenced by certificates and assigned or transferred; (vii) the method for determining the Percentage Interest as to such Partnership Security; and (viii) the right, if any, of each such Partnership Security to vote on Partnership matters, including matters relating to the relative rights, preferences and privileges of such Partnership Security.

(c) The General Partner shall take all actions that it determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with (i) each issuance of Partnership Securities and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to Partnership Securities pursuant to this Section 5.6, (ii) the conversion of the General Partner Interest (represented by General Partner Units) or any Incentive Distribution Rights into Units pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, (iii) the issuance of Class B Units pursuant to Section 5.11 and the conversion of Class B Units into Common Units pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, (iv) the admission of Additional Limited Partners and (v) all additional issuances of Partnership Securities. The General Partner shall determine the relative rights, powers and duties of the holders of the Units or other Partnership Securities being so issued. The General Partner shall do all things necessary to comply with the Delaware Act and is authorized and directed to do all things that it determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with any future issuance of Partnership Securities or in connection with the conversion of the General Partner Interest or any Incentive Distribution Rights into Units pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including compliance with any statute, rule, regulation or guideline of any federal, state or other governmental agency or any National Securities Exchange on which the Units or other Partnership Securities are listed or admitted to trading.

(d) No fractional Units shall be issued by the Partnership.

 

41


Section 5.7 Conversion of Subordinated Units .

(a) All of the Subordinated Units shall convert into Common Units on a one-for-one basis on the first Business Day of any Quarter beginning after June 30, 2010 in respect of which:

(i) distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus on each of the Outstanding Common Units, Subordinated Units and General Partner Units and any other Outstanding Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units with respect to each of the three consecutive, non-overlapping four-Quarter periods immediately preceding such date equaled or exceeded the sum of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on all Outstanding Common Units, Subordinated Units and General Partner Units and any other Outstanding Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units during such periods;

(ii) the Adjusted Operating Surplus generated during each of the three consecutive, non-overlapping four-Quarter periods immediately preceding such date equaled or exceeded the sum of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on all of the Common Units, Subordinated Units and General Partner Units and any other Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units that were Outstanding during such periods on a Fully Diluted Basis; and

(iii) there are no Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages.

(b) Notwithstanding Section 5.7(a), the Subordination Period shall terminate and all Outstanding Subordinated Units shall convert into Common Units on a one-for-one basis on the first Business Day following the distribution of Available Cash to Partners pursuant to Section 6.3(a) in respect of any Quarter ending on or after June 30, 2008 in respect of which:

(i) distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus under Section 6.4(a) on each of the Outstanding Common Units, Subordinated Units and General Partner Units and any other Outstanding Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units with respect to the four-Quarter period immediately preceding such date equaled or exceeded the sum of the Third Target Distribution on all of the Outstanding Common Units, Subordinated Units and General Partner Units and any other Outstanding Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units during such period;

(ii) the Adjusted Operating Surplus generated during the four-Quarter period immediately preceding such date equaled or exceeded the sum of the Third Target Distribution on all of the Common Units, Subordinated Units and General Partner Units and any other Outstanding Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units that were Outstanding during such period on a Fully Diluted Basis; and

(iii) there are no Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, all the then Outstanding Subordinated Units will automatically convert into Common Units on a one-for-one basis as set forth in, and pursuant to the terms of, Section 11.4.

(d) A Subordinated Unit that has converted into a Common Unit shall be subject to the provisions of Section 6.7(b) and Section 6.7(c).

 

42


Section 5.8 Limited Preemptive Right .

Except as provided in this Section 5.8 and in Section 5.2, no Person shall have any preemptive, preferential or other similar right with respect to the issuance of any Partnership Security, whether unissued, held in the treasury or hereafter created. The General Partner shall have the right, which it may from time to time assign in whole or in part to any of its Affiliates, to purchase Partnership Securities from the Partnership whenever, and on the same terms that, the Partnership issues Partnership Securities to Persons other than the General Partner and its Affiliates, to the extent necessary to maintain the Percentage Interests of the General Partner and its Affiliates equal to any or all of those Percentage Interests that existed immediately prior to the issuance of such Partnership Securities.

Section 5.9 Splits and Combinations .

(a) Subject to Section 5.9(d), Section 6.6 and Section 6.9 (dealing with adjustments of distribution levels), the Partnership may make a Pro Rata distribution of Partnership Securities to all Record Holders or may effect a subdivision or combination of Partnership Securities so long as, after any such event, each Partner shall have the same Percentage Interest in the Partnership as before such event, and any amounts calculated on a per Unit basis (including any Common Unit Arrearage or Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage) or stated as a number of Units are proportionately adjusted.

(b) Whenever such a Pro Rata distribution or subdivision or combination of Partnership Securities is declared, the General Partner shall select a Record Date as of which the distribution, subdivision or combination shall be effective and shall send notice thereof at least 20 days prior to such Record Date to each Record Holder as of a date not less than 10 days prior to the date of such notice. The General Partner also may cause a firm of independent public accountants selected by it to calculate the number of Partnership Securities to be held by each Record Holder after giving effect to such distribution, subdivision or combination. The General Partner shall be entitled to rely on any certificate provided by such firm as conclusive evidence of the accuracy of such calculation.

(c) Promptly following any such distribution, subdivision or combination, the Partnership may issue Certificates or uncertificated Partnership Securities to the Record Holders of Partnership Securities as of the applicable Record Date representing the new number of Partnership Securities held by such Record Holders, or the General Partner may adopt such other procedures that it determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect such changes. If any such combination results in a smaller total number of Partnership Securities Outstanding, the Partnership shall require, as a condition to the delivery to a Record Holder of such new Certificate or uncertificated Partnership Securities, the surrender of any Certificate held by such Record Holder immediately prior to such Record Date.

(d) The Partnership shall not issue fractional Units upon any distribution, subdivision or combination of Units. If a distribution, subdivision or combination of Units would result in the issuance of fractional Units but for the provisions of this Section 5.9(d), each fractional Unit shall be rounded to the nearest whole Unit (and a 0.5 Unit shall be rounded to the next higher Unit).

 

43


Section 5.10 Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests .

All Limited Partner Interests issued pursuant to, and in accordance with the requirements of, this Article V shall be fully paid and non-assessable Limited Partner Interests in the Partnership, except as such non-assessability may be affected by Sections 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware Act.

Section 5.11 Issuance of Class B Units in Connection with Reset of Incentive Distribution Rights .

(a) Subject to the provisions of this Section 5.11, the holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights (or, if there is more than one holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights, the holders of a majority in interest of the Incentive Distribution Rights) shall have the right, at any time when there are no Subordinated Units outstanding and the Partnership has made a distribution pursuant to Section 6.4(b)(v) for each of the four most recently completed Quarters and the amount of each such distribution did not exceed Adjusted Operating Surplus for such Quarter, to make an election (the “IDR Reset Election”) to cause the Minimum Quarterly Distribution and the Target Distributions to be reset in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.11(e) and, in connection therewith, the holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights will become entitled to receive their respective proportionate share of a number of Class B Units derived by dividing (i) the average amount of cash distributions made by the Partnership for the two full Quarters immediately preceding the giving of the Reset Notice (as defined in Section 5.11(b)) in respect of the Incentive Distribution Rights by (ii) the average of the cash distributions made by the Partnership in respect of each Common Unit for the two full Quarters immediately preceding the giving of the Reset Notice (the number of Class B Units determined by such quotient is referred to herein as the “Aggregate Quantity of Class B Units”). Upon the issuance of such Class B Units, the Partnership will issue to the General Partner that number of additional General Partner Units equal to the product of (x) the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the Percentage Interest of the General Partner immediately prior to such issuance by (B) a percentage equal to 100% less such Percentage Interest by (y) the number of such Class B Units, and the General Partner shall not be obligated to make any additional Capital Contribution to the Partnership in exchange for such issuance. The making of the IDR Reset Election in the manner specified in Section 5.11(b) shall cause the Minimum Quarterly Distribution and the Target Distributions to be reset in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.11(e) and, in connection therewith, the holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights will become entitled to receive Class B Units and General Partner Units on the basis specified above, without any further approval required by the General Partner or the Unitholders, at the time specified in Section 5.11(c) unless the IDR Reset Election is rescinded pursuant to Section 5.11(d).

(b) To exercise the right specified in Section 5.11(a), the holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights (or, if there is more than one holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights, the holders of a majority in interest of the Incentive Distribution Rights) shall deliver a written notice (the “Reset Notice”) to the Partnership. Within 10 Business Days after the receipt by the

 

44


Partnership of such Reset Notice, as the case may be, the Partnership shall deliver a written notice to the holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights of the Partnership’s determination of the aggregate number of Class B Units that each holder of Incentive Distribution Rights will be entitled to receive.

(c) The holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights will be entitled to receive the Aggregate Quantity of Class B Units and related additional General Partner Units on the fifteenth Business Day after receipt by the Partnership of the Reset Notice, and the Partnership shall issue Certificates for the Class B Units to the holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights; provided, however, that the issuance of Class B Units to the holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights shall not occur prior to the approval of the listing or admission for trading of the Common Units into which the Class B Units are convertible pursuant to Section 5.11(f) by the principal National Securities Exchange upon which the Common Units are then listed or admitted for trading if any such approval is required pursuant to the rules and regulations of such National Securities Exchange.

(d) If the principal National Securities Exchange upon which the Common Units are then traded have not approved the listing or admission for trading of the Common Units into which the Class B Units are convertible pursuant to Section 5.11(f) on or before the 30th calendar day following the Partnership’s receipt of the Reset Notice and such approval is required by the rules and regulations of such National Securities Exchange, then the holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights (or, if there is more than one holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights, the holders of a majority in interest of the Incentive Distribution Rights) shall have the right to either rescind the IDR Reset Election or elect to receive other Partnership Securities having such terms as the General Partner may approve, with the approval of the Conflicts Committee, that will provide (i) the same economic value, in the aggregate, as the Aggregate Quantity of Class B Units would have had at the time of the Partnership’s receipt of the Reset Notice, as determined by the General Partner, and (ii) for the subsequent conversion (on terms acceptable to the National Securities Exchange upon which the Common Units are then traded) of such Partnership Securities into Common Units within not more than 12 months following the Partnership’s receipt of the Reset Notice upon the satisfaction of one or more conditions that are reasonably acceptable to the holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights (or, if there is more than one holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights, the holders of a majority in interest of the Incentive Distribution Rights).

(e) The Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution shall be adjusted at the time of the issuance of Common Units or other Partnership Securities pursuant to this Section 5.11 such that (i) the Minimum Quarterly Distribution shall be reset to equal to the average cash distribution amount per Common Unit for the two Quarters immediately prior to the Partnership’s receipt of the Reset Notice (the “Reset MQD”), (ii) the First Target Distribution shall be reset to equal 115% of the Reset MQD, (iii) the Second Target Distribution shall be reset to equal to 125% of the Reset MQD and (iv) the Third Target Distribution shall be reset to equal 150% of the Reset MQD.

(f) Any holder of Class B Units shall have the right to elect, by giving written notice to the General Partner, to convert all or a portion of the Class B Units held by such holder, at any time following the first anniversary of the issuance of such Class B Units, into Common Units on a one-for-one basis, such conversion to be effective on the second Business Day following the General Partner’s receipt of such written notice.

 

45


ARTICLE VI

ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

Section 6.1 Allocations for Capital Account Purposes .

For purposes of maintaining the Capital Accounts and in determining the rights of the Partners among themselves, the Partnership’s items of income, gain, loss and deduction (computed in accordance with Section 5.5(b)) shall be allocated among the Partners in each taxable year (or portion thereof) as provided herein below.

(a) Net Income. After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 6.1(d), Net Income for each taxable year and all items of income, gain, loss and deduction taken into account in computing Net Income for such taxable year shall be allocated as follows:

(i) First, 100% to the General Partner, in an amount equal to the aggregate Net Losses allocated to the General Partner pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(iii) for all previous taxable years until the aggregate Net Income allocated to the General Partner pursuant to this Section 6.1(a)(i) for the current taxable year and all previous taxable years is equal to the aggregate Net Losses allocated to the General Partner pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(iii) for all previous taxable years;

(ii) Second, 100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders, in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests, until the aggregate Net Income allocated to such Partners pursuant to this Section 6.1(a)(ii) for the current taxable year and all previous taxable years is equal to the aggregate Net Losses allocated to such Partners pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(ii) for all previous taxable years; and

(iii) Third, the balance, if any, 100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders, in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests.

(b) Net Losses. After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 6.1(d), Net Losses for each taxable period and all items of income, gain, loss and deduction taken into account in computing Net Losses for such taxable period shall be allocated as follows:

(i) First, 100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders, in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests, until the aggregate Net Losses allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(b)(i) for the current taxable year and all previous taxable years is equal to the aggregate Net Income allocated to such Partners pursuant to Section 6.1(a)(iii) for all previous taxable years, provided that the Net Losses shall not be allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(b)(i) to the extent that such allocation would cause any Unitholder to have a deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account at the end of such taxable year (or increase any existing deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account);

 

46


(ii) Second, 100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders, in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests; provided, that Net Losses shall not be allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(b)(ii) to the extent that such allocation would cause any Unitholder to have a deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account at the end of such taxable year (or increase any existing deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account); and

(iii) Third, the balance, if any, 100% to the General Partner.

(c) Net Termination Gains and Losses. After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 6.1(d), all items of income, gain, loss and deduction taken into account in computing Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss for such taxable period shall be allocated in the same manner as such Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss is allocated hereunder. All allocations under this Section 6.1(c) shall be made after Capital Account balances have been adjusted by all other allocations provided under this Section 6.1 and after all distributions of Available Cash provided under Section 6.4 and Section 6.5 have been made; provided, however, that solely for purposes of this Section 6.1(c), Capital Accounts shall not be adjusted for distributions made pursuant to Section 12.4.

(i) If a Net Termination Gain is recognized (or deemed recognized pursuant to Section 5.5(d)), such Net Termination Gain shall be allocated among the Partners in the following manner (and the Capital Accounts of the Partners shall be increased by the amount so allocated in each of the following subclauses, in the order listed, before an allocation is made pursuant to the next succeeding subclause):

(A) First, to each Partner having a deficit balance in its Capital Account, in the proportion that such deficit balance bears to the total deficit balances in the Capital Accounts of all Partners, until each such Partner has been allocated Net Termination Gain equal to any such deficit balance in its Capital Account;

(B) Second, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (y) to all Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the percentage applicable to subclause (x) of this clause (B), until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding is equal to the sum of (1) its Unrecovered Initial Unit Price, (2) the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for the Quarter during which the Liquidation Date occurs, reduced by any distribution pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(i) or Section 6.4(b)(i) with respect to such Common Unit for such Quarter (the amount determined pursuant to this clause (2) is hereinafter defined as the “Unpaid MQD”) and (3) any then existing Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage;

(C) Third, if such Net Termination Gain is recognized (or is deemed to be recognized) prior to the conversion of the last Outstanding Class B Unit, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (y) to all Unitholders holding Class B Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the percentage applicable to subclause (x) of this clause (C), until the Capital Account in respect of each Class B Unit then Outstanding equals the sum of (1) its Unrecovered Initial Unit Price, and (2) the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for the Quarter during which the Liquidation Date occurs, reduced by any distribution pursuant to Section 6.4(b)(i) with respect to such Class B Unit for such Quarter;

 

47


(D) Fourth, if such Net Termination Gain is recognized (or is deemed to be recognized) prior to the conversion of the last Outstanding Subordinated Unit, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (y) to all Unitholders holding Subordinated Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the percentage applicable to subclause (x) of this clause (D), until the Capital Account in respect of each Subordinated Unit then Outstanding equals the sum of (1) its Unrecovered Initial Unit Price, determined for the taxable year (or portion thereof) to which this allocation of gain relates, and (2) the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for the Quarter during which the Liquidation Date occurs, reduced by any distribution pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(iii) with respect to such Subordinated Unit for such Quarter;

(E) Fifth, 100% to the General Partner and all Unitholders in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests, until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding is equal to the sum of (1) its Unrecovered Initial Unit Price, (2) the Unpaid MQD, (3) any then existing Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage, and (4) the excess of (aa) the First Target Distribution less the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for each Quarter of the Partnership’s existence over (bb) the cumulative per Unit amount of any distributions of Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus made pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(iv) and Section 6.4(b)(ii) (the sum of (1), (2), (3) and (4) is hereinafter defined as the “First Liquidation Target Amount”);

(F) Sixth, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest, (y) 13% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and (z) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclause (x) and (y) of this clause (F), until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding is equal to the sum of (1) the First Liquidation Target Amount, and (2) the excess of (aa) the Second Target Distribution less the First Target Distribution for each Quarter of the Partnership’s existence over (bb) the cumulative per Unit amount of any distributions of Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus made pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(v) and Section 6.4(b)(iii) (the sum of (1) and (2) is hereinafter defined as the “Second Liquidation Target Amount”);

(G) Seventh, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest, (y) 23% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and (z) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclause (x) and (y) of this clause (G), until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding is equal to the sum of (1) the Second Liquidation Target Amount, and (2) the excess of (aa) the Third Target Distribution less the Second Target Distribution for each Quarter of the Partnership’s existence over (bb) the cumulative per Unit amount of any distributions of Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus made pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(vi) and Section 6.4(b)(iv) (the sum of (1) and (2) is hereinafter defined as the “Third Liquidation Target Amount”); and

(H) Finally, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest, (y) 48% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and (z) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclause (x) and (y) of this clause (H).

 

48


(ii) If a Net Termination Loss is recognized (or deemed recognized pursuant to Section 5.5(d)), such Net Termination Loss shall be allocated among the Partners in the following manner:

(A) First, if such Net Termination Loss is recognized (or is deemed to be recognized) prior to the conversion of the last Outstanding Subordinated Unit, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (y) to all Unitholders holding Subordinated Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the percentage applicable to subclause (x) of this clause (A), until the Capital Account in respect of each Subordinated Unit then Outstanding has been reduced to zero;

(B) Second, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (y) to the Class B Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the percentage applicable to subclause (x) of this clause (B) until the Capital Account in respect of each Class B Unit then Outstanding has been reduced to zero;

(C) Third, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (y) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the percentage applicable to subclause (x) of this clause (B) until the Capital Account in respect of each Unit then Outstanding has been reduced to zero; and

(D) Fourth, the balance, if any, 100% to the General Partner.

(d) Special Allocations. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1, the following special allocations shall be made for such taxable period:

(i) Partnership Minimum Gain Chargeback. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1, if there is a net decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain during any Partnership taxable period, each Partner shall be allocated items of Partnership income and gain for such period (and, if necessary, subsequent periods) in the manner and amounts provided in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(f)(6), 1.704-2(g)(2) and 1.704-2(j)(2)(i), or any successor provision. For purposes of this Section 6.1(d), each Partner’s Adjusted Capital Account balance shall be determined, and the allocation of income or gain required hereunder shall be effected, prior to the application of any other allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(d) with respect to such taxable period (other than an allocation pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(vi) and Section 6.1(d)(vii)). This Section 6.1(d)(i) is intended to comply with the Partnership Minimum Gain chargeback requirement in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(f) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

(ii) Chargeback of Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section 6.1 (other than Section 6.1(d)(i)), except as provided in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4), if there is a net decrease in Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain during any Partnership taxable period, any Partner with a share of Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain at the beginning of such taxable period shall be allocated items of Partnership income and gain for such period (and, if necessary, subsequent periods) in the manner and amounts provided in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(i)(4) and 1.704-2(j)(2)(ii), or any successor provisions. For purposes of this Section 6.1(d), each Partner’s

 

49


Adjusted Capital Account balance shall be determined, and the allocation of income or gain required hereunder shall be effected, prior to the application of any other allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(d), other than Section 6.1(d)(i) and other than an allocation pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(vi) and Section 6.1(d)(vii), with respect to such taxable period. This Section 6.1(d)(ii) is intended to comply with the chargeback of items of income and gain requirement in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

(iii) Priority Allocations.

(A) If the amount of cash or the Net Agreed Value of any property distributed (except cash or property distributed pursuant to Section 12.4) to any Unitholder with respect to its Units for a taxable year is greater (on a per Unit basis) than the amount of cash or the Net Agreed Value of property distributed to the other Unitholders with respect to their Units (on a per Unit basis), then (1) there shall be allocated income and gain to each Unitholder receiving such greater cash or property distribution until the aggregate amount of such items allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(iii)(A) for the current taxable year and all previous taxable years is equal to the product of (aa) the amount by which the distribution (on a per Unit basis) to such Unitholder exceeds the distribution (on a per Unit basis) to the Unitholders receiving the smallest distribution and (bb) the number of Units owned by the Unitholder receiving the greater distribution; and (2) the General Partner shall be allocated income and gain in an aggregate amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying (aa) the quotient determined by dividing (x) the General Partner’s Percentage Interest at the time in which the greater cash or property distribution occurs by (y) the sum of 100 less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest at the time in which the greater cash or property distribution occurs times (bb) the sum of the amounts allocated in clause (1) above.

(B) After the application of Section 6.1(d)(iii)(A), all or any portion of the remaining items of Partnership income or gain for the taxable period, if any, shall be allocated (1) to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, until the aggregate amount of such items allocated to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(iii)(B) for the current taxable year and all previous taxable years is equal to the cumulative amount of all Incentive Distributions made to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights from the Closing Date to a date 60 days after the end of the current taxable year; and (2) to the General Partner an amount equal to the product of (aa) an amount equal to the quotient determined by dividing (x) the General Partner’s Percentage Interest by (y) the sum of 100 less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest times (bb) the sum of the amounts allocated in clause (1) above.

(iv) Qualified Income Offset. In the event any Partner unexpectedly receives any adjustments, allocations or distributions described in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5), or 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6), items of Partnership income and gain shall be specially allocated to such Partner in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate, to the extent required by the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 704(b) of the Code, the deficit balance, if any, in its Adjusted Capital Account created by such adjustments, allocations or distributions as quickly as possible unless such deficit balance is otherwise eliminated pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(i) or Section 6.1(d)(ii).

 

50


(v) Gross Income Allocations. In the event any Partner has a deficit balance in its Capital Account at the end of any Partnership taxable period in excess of the sum of (A) the amount such Partner is required to restore pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and (B) the amount such Partner is deemed obligated to restore pursuant to Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5), such Partner shall be specially allocated items of Partnership income and gain in the amount of such excess as quickly as possible; provided, that an allocation pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(v) shall be made only if and to the extent that such Partner would have a deficit balance in its Capital Account as adjusted after all other allocations provided for in this Section 6.1 have been tentatively made as if this Section 6.1(d)(v) were not in this Agreement.

(vi) Nonrecourse Deductions. Nonrecourse Deductions for any taxable period shall be allocated to the Partners in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests. If the General Partner determines that the Partnership’s Nonrecourse Deductions should be allocated in a different ratio to satisfy the safe harbor requirements of the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 704(b) of the Code, the General Partner is authorized, upon notice to the other Partners, to revise the prescribed ratio to the numerically closest ratio that does satisfy such requirements.

(vii) Partner Nonrecourse Deductions. Partner Nonrecourse Deductions for any taxable period shall be allocated 100% to the Partner that bears the Economic Risk of Loss with respect to the Partner Nonrecourse Debt to which such Partner Nonrecourse Deductions are attributable in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i). If more than one Partner bears the Economic Risk of Loss with respect to a Partner Nonrecourse Debt, such Partner Nonrecourse Deductions attributable thereto shall be allocated between or among such Partners in accordance with the ratios in which they share such Economic Risk of Loss.

(viii) Nonrecourse Liabilities. For purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-3(a)(3), the Partners agree that Nonrecourse Liabilities of the Partnership in excess of the sum of (A) the amount of Partnership Minimum Gain and (B) the total amount of Nonrecourse Built-in Gain shall be allocated among the Partners in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests.

(ix) Code Section 754 Adjustments. To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Partnership asset pursuant to Section 734(b) or 743(b) of the Code is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts, the amount of such adjustment to the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis), and such item of gain or loss shall be specially allocated to the Partners in a manner consistent with the manner in which their Capital Accounts are required to be adjusted pursuant to such Section of the Treasury Regulations.

(x) Economic Uniformity.

(A) At the election of the General Partner with respect to any taxable period ending upon, or after, the termination of the Subordination Period, all or a portion of the remaining items of Partnership income or gain for such taxable period, after taking into account

 

51


allocations pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(iii), shall be allocated 100% to each Partner holding Subordinated Units that are Outstanding as of the termination of the Subordination Period (“Final Subordinated Units”) in the proportion of the number of Final Subordinated Units held by such Partner to the total number of Final Subordinated Units then Outstanding, until each such Partner has been allocated an amount of income or gain that increases the Capital Account maintained with respect to such Final Subordinated Units to an amount equal to the product of (A) the number of Final Subordinated Units held by such Partner and (B) the Per Unit Capital Amount for a Common Unit. The purpose of this allocation is to establish uniformity between the Capital Accounts underlying Final Subordinated Units and the Capital Accounts underlying Common Units held by Persons other than the General Partner and its Affiliates immediately prior to the conversion of such Final Subordinated Units into Common Units. This allocation method for establishing such economic uniformity will be available to the General Partner only if the method for allocating the Capital Account maintained with respect to the Subordinated Units between the transferred and retained Subordinated Units pursuant to Section 5.5(c)(ii) does not otherwise provide such economic uniformity to the Final Subordinated Units.

(B) At the election of the General Partner with respect to any taxable period ending upon, or after, the conversion of the Class B Units pursuant to Section 5.11(f), all or a portion of the remaining items of Partnership income or gain for such taxable period, after taking into account allocations pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(iii) and Section 6.1(d)(x)(A), shall be allocated 100% to the holder or holders of the Common Units resulting from the conversion pursuant to Section 5.11(f) (“Converted Common Units”) in the proportion of the number of the Converted Common Units held by such holder or holders to the total number of Converted Common Units then Outstanding, until each such holder has been allocated an amount of income or gain that increases the Capital Account maintained with respect to such Converted Common Units to an amount equal to the product of (A) the number of Converted Common Units held by such holder and (B) the Per Unit Capital Amount for a Common Unit. The purpose of this allocation is to establish uniformity between the Capital Accounts underlying Converted Common Units and the Capital Accounts underlying Common Units held by Persons other than the General Partner and its Affiliates immediately prior to the receipt of Common Units pursuant to Section 5.11(f).

(xi) Curative Allocation.

(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1, other than the Required Allocations, the Required Allocations shall be taken into account in making the Agreed Allocations so that, to the extent possible, the net amount of items of income, gain, loss and deduction allocated to each Partner pursuant to the Required Allocations and the Agreed Allocations, together, shall be equal to the net amount of such items that would have been allocated to each such Partner under the Agreed Allocations had the Required Allocations and the related Curative Allocation not otherwise been provided in this Section 6.1. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, Required Allocations relating to (1) Nonrecourse Deductions shall not be taken into account except to the extent that there has been a decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain and (2) Partner Nonrecourse Deductions shall not be taken into account except to the extent that there has been a decrease in Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain. Allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A) shall only be made with respect to Required Allocations to the extent the General Partner determines that such allocations will otherwise be inconsistent with

 

52


the economic agreement among the Partners. Further, allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A) shall be deferred with respect to allocations pursuant to clauses (1) and (2) hereof to the extent the General Partner determines that such allocations are likely to be offset by subsequent Required Allocations.

(B) The General Partner shall, with respect to each taxable period, (1) apply the provisions of Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A) in whatever order is most likely to minimize the economic distortions that might otherwise result from the Required Allocations, and (2) divide all allocations pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A) among the Partners in a manner that is likely to minimize such economic distortions.

(xii) Corrective and Other Allocations . In the event of any allocation of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items or any Book-Down Event or any recognition of a Net Termination Loss, the following rules shall apply:

(A) Except as provided in Section 6.1(d)(xii)(B), in the case of any allocation of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items (other than an allocation of Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss under Section 5.5(d) hereof) with respect to any Partnership property, the General Partner shall allocate such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items (1) to (aa) the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights and (bb) the General Partner in the same manner that the Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such property is allocated pursuant to Section 5.5(d)(i) or Section 5.5(d)(ii) and (2) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, to the extent that the Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such property is allocated to any Unitholders pursuant to Section 5.5(d)(i) or Section 5.5(d)(ii).

(B) In the case of any allocation of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items (other than an allocation of Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss under Section 5.5(d) hereof or an allocation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss pursuant to Section 6.1(c) hereof) as a result of a sale or other taxable disposition of any Partnership asset that is an Adjusted Property (“ Disposed of Adjusted Property ”), the General Partner shall allocate (1) additional items of income and gain (aa) away from the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights and the General Partner and (bb) to the Unitholders, or (2) additional items of deduction and loss (aa) away from the Unitholders and (bb) to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights and the General Partner, to the extent that the Additional Book Basis Derivative Items allocated to the Unitholders exceed their Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items with respect to such Disposed of Adjusted Property. For this purpose, the Unitholders shall be treated as being allocated Additional Book Basis Derivative Items to the extent that such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items have reduced the amount of income that would otherwise have been allocated to the Unitholders under this Agreement (e.g., Additional Book Basis Derivative Items taken into account in computing cost of goods sold would reduce the amount of book income otherwise available for allocation among the Partners). Any allocation made pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(xii)(B) shall be made after all of the other Agreed Allocations have been made as if this Section 6.1(d)(xii) were not in this Agreement and, to the extent necessary, shall require the reallocation of items that have been allocated pursuant to such other Agreed Allocations.

 

53


(C) In the case of any negative adjustments to the Capital Accounts of the Partners resulting from a Book-Down Event or from the recognition of a Net Termination Loss, such negative adjustment (1) shall first be allocated, to the extent of the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments, in such a manner, as determined by the General Partner, that to the extent possible the aggregate Capital Accounts of the Partners will equal the amount that would have been the Capital Account balance of the Partners if no prior Book-Up Events had occurred, and (2) any negative adjustment in excess of the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments shall be allocated pursuant to Section 6.1(c) hereof.

(D) In making the allocations required under this Section 6.1(d)(xii), the General Partner may apply whatever conventions or other methodology it determines will satisfy the purpose of this Section 6.1(d)(xii).

Section 6.2 Allocations for Tax Purposes .

(a) Except as otherwise provided herein, for federal income tax purposes, each item of income, gain, loss and deduction shall be allocated among the Partners in the same manner as its correlative item of “book” income, gain, loss or deduction is allocated pursuant to Section 6.1.

(b) In an attempt to eliminate Book-Tax Disparities attributable to a Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, items of income, gain, loss, depreciation, amortization and cost recovery deductions shall be allocated for federal income tax purposes among the Partners as follows:

(i) (A) In the case of a Contributed Property, such items attributable thereto shall be allocated among the Partners in the manner provided under Section 704(c) of the Code that takes into account the variation between the Agreed Value of such property and its adjusted basis at the time of contribution; and (B) any item of Residual Gain or Residual Loss attributable to a Contributed Property shall be allocated among the Partners in the same manner as its correlative item of “book” gain or loss is allocated pursuant to Section 6.1.

(ii) (A) In the case of an Adjusted Property, such items shall (1) first, be allocated among the Partners in a manner consistent with the principles of Section 704(c) of the Code to take into account the Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such property and the allocations thereof pursuant to Section 5.5(d)(i) or Section 5.5(d)(ii), and (2) second, in the event such property was originally a Contributed Property, be allocated among the Partners in a manner consistent with Section 6.2(b)(i)(A); and (B) any item of Residual Gain or Residual Loss attributable to an Adjusted Property shall be allocated among the Partners in the same manner as its correlative item of “book” gain or loss is allocated pursuant to Section 6.1.

(iii) The General Partner shall apply the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-3(d) to eliminate Book-Tax Disparities.

(c) For the proper administration of the Partnership and for the preservation of uniformity of the Limited Partner Interests (or any class or classes thereof), the General Partner shall (i) adopt such conventions as it deems appropriate in determining the amount of depreciation, amortization and cost recovery deductions; (ii) make special allocations for federal income tax purposes of income (including gross income) or deductions; and (iii) amend the provisions of this Agreement as appropriate (x) to reflect the proposal or promulgation of Treasury Regulations under Section 704(b) or Section 704(c) of the Code or (y) otherwise to

 

54


preserve or achieve uniformity of the Limited Partner Interests (or any class or classes thereof). The General Partner may adopt such conventions, make such allocations and make such amendments to this Agreement as provided in this Section 6.2(c) only if such conventions, allocations or amendments would not have a material adverse effect on the Partners, the holders of any class or classes of Limited Partner Interests issued and Outstanding or the Partnership, and if such allocations are consistent with the principles of Section 704 of the Code.

(d) The General Partner may determine to depreciate or amortize the portion of an adjustment under Section 743(b) of the Code attributable to unrealized appreciation in any Adjusted Property (to the extent of the unamortized Book-Tax Disparity) using a predetermined rate derived from the depreciation or amortization method and useful life applied to the Partnership’s common basis of such property, despite any inconsistency of such approach with Treasury Regulation Section 1.167(c)-l(a)(6), Treasury Regulation Section 1.197-2(g)(3), the legislative history to Section 743 or any successor regulations thereto. If the General Partner determines that such reporting position cannot reasonably be taken, the General Partner may adopt depreciation and amortization conventions under which all purchasers acquiring Limited Partner Interests in the same month would receive depreciation and amortization deductions, based upon the same applicable rate as if they had purchased a direct interest in the Partnership’s property. If the General Partner chooses not to utilize such aggregate method, the General Partner may use any other depreciation and amortization conventions to preserve the uniformity of the intrinsic tax characteristics of any Limited Partner Interests, so long as such conventions would not have a material adverse effect on the Limited Partners or the Record Holders of any class or classes of Limited Partner Interests.

(e) In accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.1245-1(e), any gain allocated to the Partners upon the sale or other taxable disposition of any Partnership asset shall, to the extent possible, after taking into account other required allocations of gain pursuant to this Section 6.2, be characterized as Recapture Income in the same proportions and to the same extent as such Partners (or their predecessors in interest) have been allocated any deductions directly or indirectly giving rise to the treatment of such gains as Recapture Income.

(f) All items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit recognized by the Partnership for federal income tax purposes and allocated to the Partners in accordance with the provisions hereof shall be determined without regard to any election under Section 754 of the Code that may be made by the Partnership; provided, however, that such allocations, once made, shall be adjusted (in the manner determined by the General Partner) to take into account those adjustments permitted or required by Sections 734 and 743 of the Code.

(g) Each item of Partnership income, gain, loss and deduction, for federal income tax purposes, shall be determined on an annual basis and prorated on a monthly basis and shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units may then be listed or admitted to trading on the first Business Day of each month; provided, however, such items for the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the last day of the month in which the Option Closing Date or the expiration of the Over-Allotment Option occurs shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units may then be listed or admitted to trading on the first Business Day of the next succeeding month; and provided, further, that gain or loss on a

 

55


sale or other disposition of any assets of the Partnership or any other extraordinary item of income or loss realized and recognized other than in the ordinary course of business, as determined by the General Partner, shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units may then be listed or admitted to trading on the first Business Day of the month in which such gain or loss is recognized for federal income tax purposes. The General Partner may revise, alter or otherwise modify such methods of allocation to the extent permitted or required by Section 706 of the Code and the regulations or rulings promulgated thereunder.

(h) Allocations that would otherwise be made to a Limited Partner under the provisions of this Article VI shall instead be made to the beneficial owner of Limited Partner Interests held by a nominee in any case in which the nominee has furnished the identity of such owner to the Partnership in accordance with Section 6031(c) of the Code or any other method determined by the General Partner.

Section 6.3 Requirement and Characterization of Distributions; Distributions to Record Holders .

(a) Within 60 days following the end of each Quarter commencing with the Quarter ending on September 30, 2007, an amount equal to 100% of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter shall, subject to Section 17-607 of the Delaware Act, be distributed in accordance with this Article VI by the Partnership to the Partners as of the Record Date selected by the General Partner. All amounts of Available Cash distributed by the Partnership on any date from any source shall be deemed to be Operating Surplus until the sum of all amounts of Available Cash theretofore distributed by the Partnership to the Partners pursuant to Section 6.4 equals the Operating Surplus from the Closing Date through the close of the immediately preceding Quarter. Any remaining amounts of Available Cash distributed by the Partnership on such date shall, except as otherwise provided in Section 6.5, be deemed to be “Capital Surplus.” Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Partnership shall not make a distribution to any Partner on account of its interest in the Partnership if such distribution would violate the Delaware Act or any other applicable law.

(b) Notwithstanding Section 6.3(a), in the event of the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership, all receipts received during or after the Quarter in which the Liquidation Date occurs shall be applied and distributed solely in accordance with, and subject to the terms and conditions of, Section 12.4.

(c) The General Partner may treat taxes paid by the Partnership on behalf of, or amounts withheld with respect to, all or less than all of the Partners, as a distribution of Available Cash to such Partners.

(d) Each distribution in respect of a Partnership Interest shall be paid by the Partnership, directly or through the Transfer Agent or through any other Person or agent, only to the Record Holder of such Partnership Interest as of the Record Date set for such distribution. Such payment shall constitute full payment and satisfaction of the Partnership’s liability in respect of such payment, regardless of any claim of any Person who may have an interest in such payment by reason of an assignment or otherwise.

 

56


Section 6.4 Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus .

(a) During Subordination Period. Available Cash with respect to any Quarter within the Subordination Period that is deemed to be Operating Surplus pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.3 or 6.5 shall, subject to Section 17-607 of the Delaware Act, be distributed as follows, except as otherwise contemplated by Section 5.6 in respect of other Partnership Securities issued pursuant thereto:

(i) First, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (y) to the Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest until there has been distributed in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;

(ii) Second, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (y) to the Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest until there has been distributed in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage existing with respect to such Quarter;

(iii) Third, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (y) to the Unitholders holding Subordinated Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest until there has been distributed in respect of each Subordinated Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;

(iv) Fourth, to the General Partner and all Unitholders, in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the First Target Distribution over the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;

(v) Fifth, (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest; (B) 13% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclauses (A) and (B) of this clause (v) until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the Second Target Distribution over the First Target Distribution for such Quarter;

(vi) Sixth, (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest, (B) 23% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclauses (A) and (B) of this subclause (vi), until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the Third Target Distribution over the Second Target Distribution for such Quarter; and

(vii) Thereafter, (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest; (B) 48% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclauses (A) and (B) of this clause (vii);

 

57


provided, however, if the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, the First Target Distribution, the Second Target Distribution and the Third Target Distribution have been reduced to zero pursuant to the second sentence of Section 6.6(a), the distribution of Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus with respect to any Quarter will be made solely in accordance with Section 6.4(a)(vii).

(b) After Subordination Period. Available Cash with respect to any Quarter after the Subordination Period that is deemed to be Operating Surplus pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.3 or Section 6.5, subject to Section 17-607 of the Delaware Act, shall be distributed as follows, except as otherwise required by Section 5.6(b) in respect of additional Partnership Securities issued pursuant thereto:

(i) First, 100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;

(ii) Second, 100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the First Target Distribution over the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;

(iii) Third, (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest; (B) 13% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclauses (A) and (B) of this clause (iii), until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the Second Target Distribution over the First Target Distribution for such Quarter;

(iv) Fourth, (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest; (B) 23% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclause (A) and (B) of this clause (iv), until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the Third Target Distribution over the Second Target Distribution for such Quarter; and

(v) Thereafter, (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest; (B) 48% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclauses (A) and (B) of this clause (v);

provided, however, if the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, the First Target Distribution, the Second Target Distribution and the Third Target Distribution have been reduced to zero pursuant to the second sentence of Section 6.6(a), the distribution of Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus with respect to any Quarter will be made solely in accordance with Section 6.4(b)(v).

 

58


Section 6.5 Distributions of Available Cash from Capital Surplus .

Available Cash that is deemed to be Capital Surplus pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.3(a) shall, subject to Section 17-607 of the Delaware Act, be distributed, unless the provisions of Section 6.3 require otherwise, 100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests, until a hypothetical holder of a Common Unit acquired in the Initial Offering has received with respect to such Common Unit, during the period since the Closing Date through such date, distributions of Available Cash that are deemed to be Capital Surplus in an aggregate amount equal to the Initial Unit Price. Available Cash that is deemed to be Capital Surplus shall then be distributed (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (B) to all Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest until there has been distributed in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage. Thereafter, all Available Cash shall be distributed as if it were Operating Surplus and shall be distributed in accordance with Section 6.4.

Section 6.6 Adjustment of Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution Levels .

(a) The Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution, Third Target Distribution, Common Unit Arrearages and Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages shall be proportionately adjusted in the event of any distribution, combination or subdivision (whether effected by a distribution payable in Units or otherwise) of Units or other Partnership Securities in accordance with Section 5.9. In the event of a distribution of Available Cash that is deemed to be from Capital Surplus, the then applicable Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution, shall be adjusted proportionately downward to equal the product obtained by multiplying the otherwise applicable Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution, as the case may be, by a fraction of which the numerator is the Unrecovered Initial Unit Price of the Common Units immediately after giving effect to such distribution and of which the denominator is the Unrecovered Initial Unit Price of the Common Units immediately prior to giving effect to such distribution.

(b) The Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution, shall also be subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 5.11 and Section 6.9.

Section 6.7 Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Subordinated Units and Class B Units .

(a) Except with respect to the right to vote on or approve matters requiring the vote or approval of a percentage of the holders of Outstanding Common Units and the right to participate in allocations of income, gain, loss and deduction and distributions made with respect to Common Units, the holder of a Subordinated Unit shall have all of the rights and obligations of a Unitholder holding Common Units hereunder; provided, however, that immediately upon the conversion of Subordinated Units into Common Units pursuant to Section 5.7, the Unitholder holding a Subordinated Unit shall possess all of the rights and obligations of a Unitholder holding Common Units hereunder, including the right to vote as a Common Unitholder and the right to participate in allocations of income, gain, loss and deduction and distributions made with respect to Common Units; provided, however, that such converted Subordinated Units shall remain subject to the provisions of Sections 5.5(c)(ii), 6.1(d)(x)(A), 6.7(b) and 6.7(c).

 

59


(b) A Unitholder shall not be permitted to transfer a Subordinated Unit or a Subordinated Unit that has converted into a Common Unit pursuant to Section 5.7 (other than a transfer to an Affiliate) if the remaining balance in the transferring Unitholder’s Capital Account with respect to the retained Subordinated Units or Retained Converted Subordinated Units would be negative after giving effect to the allocation under Section 5.5(c)(ii)(B).

(c) The Unitholder holding a Common Unit that has resulted from the conversion of a Subordinated Unit pursuant to Section 5.7 shall not be issued a Common Unit Certificate pursuant to Section 4.1, and shall not be permitted to transfer such Common Unit to a Person that is not an Affiliate of the holder until such time as the General Partner determines, based on advice of counsel, that each such Common Unit should have, as a substantive matter, like intrinsic economic and federal income tax characteristics, in all material respects, to the intrinsic economic and federal income tax characteristics of an Initial Common Unit. In connection with the condition imposed by this Section 6.7(c), the General Partner may take whatever steps are required to provide economic uniformity to such Common Units in preparation for a transfer of such Common Units, including the application of Sections 5.5(c)(ii), 6.1(d)(x) and 6.7(b); provided, however, that no such steps may be taken that would have a material adverse effect on the Unitholders holding Common Units represented by Common Unit Certificates.

(d) Except with respect to the right to vote on or approve matters requiring the vote or approval of a percentage of the holders of Outstanding Common Units and the right to participate in allocations of income, gain, loss and deduction and distributions made with respect to Common Units, the holders of Class B Units shall have all the rights and obligations of a Unitholder holding Common Units; provided, however, that immediately upon the conversion of Class B Units into Common Units pursuant to Section 5.11, the Unitholders holding a Class B Unit shall possess all the rights and obligations of a Unitholder holding Common Units hereunder, including the right to vote as a Common Unitholder and the right to participate in allocations of income, gain, loss and deduction and distributions made with respect to Common Units; provided, however, that such converted Class B Units shall remain subject to the provisions of Sections 6.1(d)(x)(B) and 6.7(e).

(e) The holder or holders of Common Units resulting from the conversion pursuant to Section 5.11(f) of any Class B Units pursuant to Section 5.11 shall not be issued a Common Unit Certificate pursuant to Section 4.1, and shall not be permitted to transfer such Common Units until such time as the General Partner determines, based on advice of counsel, that each such Common Unit should have, as a substantive matter, like intrinsic economic and federal income tax characteristics, in all material respects, to the intrinsic economic and federal income tax characteristics of an Initial Common Unit. In connection with the condition imposed by this Section 6.7(d), the General Partner may take whatever steps are required to provide economic uniformity to such Common Units, including the application of Section 6.1(d)(x)(B); provided, however, that no such steps may be taken that would have a material adverse effect on the Unitholders holding Common Units represented by Common Unit Certificates.

 

60


Section 6.8 Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Incentive Distribution Rights .

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights (a) shall (i) possess the rights and obligations provided in this Agreement with respect to a Limited Partner pursuant to Article III and Article VII and (ii) have a Capital Account as a Partner pursuant to Section 5.5 and all other provisions related thereto and (b) shall not (i) be entitled to vote on any matters requiring the approval or vote of the holders of Outstanding Units, except as provided by law, (ii) be entitled to any distributions other than as provided in Sections 6.4(a)(v), (vi) and (vii), Section 6.4(b)(iii), (iv) and (v), and Section 12.4 or (iii) be allocated items of income, gain, loss or deduction other than as specified in this Article VI.

Section 6.9 Entity-Level Taxation .

If legislation is enacted or the interpretation of existing language is modified by a governmental authority so that a Group Member is treated as an association taxable as a corporation or is otherwise subject to an entity-level tax for federal, state or local income tax purposes, then the General Partner may reduce the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, the First Target Distribution, the Second Target Distribution and the Third Target Distribution by the amount of income taxes that are payable by reason of any such new legislation or interpretation (the “Incremental Income Taxes”), or any portion thereof selected by the General Partner, in the manner provided in this Section 6.9. If the General Partner elects to reduce the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, the First Target Distribution, the Second Target Distribution and the Third Target Distribution for any Quarter with respect to all or a portion of any Incremental Income Taxes, the General Partner shall estimate for such Quarter the Partnership Group’s aggregate liability (the “Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount”) for all (or the relevant portion of) such Incremental Income Taxes; provided that any difference between such estimate and the actual tax liability for Incremental Income Taxes (or the relevant portion thereof) for such Quarter may, to the extent determined by the General Partner be taken into account in determining the Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount with respect to each Quarter in which any such difference can be determined. For each such Quarter, the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution, shall be the product obtained by multiplying (a) the amounts therefor that are set out herein prior to the application of this Section 6.9 times (b) the quotient obtained by dividing (i) Available Cash with respect to such Quarter by (ii) the sum of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter and the Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount for such Quarter, as determined by the General Partner. For purposes of the foregoing, Available Cash with respect to a Quarter will be deemed reduced by the Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount for that Quarter.

ARTICLE VII

MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS

Section 7.1 Management.

(a) The General Partner shall conduct, direct and manage all activities of the Partnership. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, all management powers over the business and affairs of the Partnership shall be exclusively vested in the General Partner,

 

61


and no Limited Partner or Assignee shall have any management power over the business and affairs of the Partnership. In addition to the powers now or hereafter granted a general partner of a limited partnership under applicable law or that are granted to the General Partner under any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner, subject to Section 7.3, shall have full power and authority to do all things and on such terms as it determines to be necessary or appropriate to conduct the business of the Partnership, to exercise all powers set forth in Section 2.5 and to effectuate the purposes set forth in Section 2.4, including the following:

(i) the making of any expenditures, the lending or borrowing of money, the assumption or guarantee of, or other contracting for, indebtedness and other liabilities, the issuance of evidences of indebtedness, including indebtedness that is convertible into Partnership Securities, and the incurring of any other obligations;

(ii) the making of tax, regulatory and other filings, or rendering of periodic or other reports to governmental or other agencies having jurisdiction over the business or assets of the Partnership;

(iii) the acquisition, disposition, mortgage, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or exchange of any or all of the assets of the Partnership or the merger or other combination of the Partnership with or into another Person (the matters described in this clause (iii) being subject, however, to any prior approval that may be required by Section 7.3 and Article XIV);

(iv) the use of the assets of the Partnership (including cash on hand) for any purpose consistent with the terms of this Agreement, including the financing of the conduct of the operations of the Partnership Group; subject to Section 7.6(a), the lending of funds to other Persons (including other Group Members); the repayment or guarantee of obligations of any Group Member; and the making of capital contributions to any Group Member;

(v) the negotiation, execution and performance of any contracts, conveyances or other instruments (including instruments that limit the liability of the Partnership under contractual arrangements to all or particular assets of the Partnership, with the other party to the contract to have no recourse against the General Partner or its assets other than its interest in the Partnership, even if same results in the terms of the transaction being less favorable to the Partnership than would otherwise be the case);

(vi) the distribution of Partnership cash;

(vii) the selection and dismissal of employees (including employees having titles such as “president,” “vice president,” “secretary” and “treasurer”) and agents, outside attorneys, accountants, consultants and contractors and the determination of their compensation and other terms of employment or hiring;

(viii) the maintenance of insurance for the benefit of the Partnership Group, the Partners and Indemnitees;

 

62


(ix) the formation of, or acquisition of an interest in, and the contribution of property and the making of loans to, any further limited or general partnerships, joint ventures, corporations, limited liability companies or other relationships (including the acquisition of interests in, and the contributions of property to, any Group Member from time to time) subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 2.4;

(x) the control of any matters affecting the rights and obligations of the Partnership, including the bringing and defending of actions at law or in equity and otherwise engaging in the conduct of litigation, arbitration or mediation and the incurring of legal expense and the settlement of claims and litigation;

(xi) the indemnification of any Person against liabilities and contingencies to the extent permitted by law;

(xii) the entering into of listing agreements with any National Securities Exchange and the delisting of some or all of the Limited Partner Interests from, or requesting that trading be suspended on, any such exchange (subject to any prior approval that may be required under Section 4.8);

(xiii) the purchase, sale or other acquisition or disposition of Partnership Securities, or the issuance of options, rights, warrants, appreciation rights and tracking and phantom interests relating to Partnership Securities;

(xiv) the undertaking of any action in connection with the Partnership’s participation in any Group Member; and

(xv) the entering into of agreements with any of its Affiliates to render services to a Group Member or to itself in the discharge of its duties as General Partner of the Partnership.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, the Delaware Act or any applicable law, rule or regulation, each of the Partners and the Assignees and each other Person who may acquire an interest in Partnership Securities hereby (i) approves, ratifies and confirms the execution, delivery and performance by the parties thereto of this Agreement and the Group Member Agreement of each other Group Member, the Underwriting Agreement, the Omnibus Agreement, the Contribution Agreement and the other agreements described in or filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are related to the transactions contemplated by the Registration Statement; (ii) agrees that the General Partner (on its own or through any officer of the Partnership) is authorized to execute, deliver and perform the agreements referred to in clause (i) of this sentence and the other agreements, acts, transactions and matters described in or contemplated by the Registration Statement on behalf of the Partnership without any further act, approval or vote of the Partners or the Assignees or the other Persons who may acquire an interest in Partnership Securities; and (iii) agrees that the execution, delivery or performance by the General Partner, any Group Member or any Affiliate of any of them of this Agreement or any agreement authorized or permitted under this Agreement (including the exercise by the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner of the rights accorded pursuant to Article XV) shall not constitute a breach by the General Partner of any duty that the General Partner may owe the Partnership or the Limited Partners or any other Persons under this Agreement (or any other agreements) or of any duty stated or implied by law or equity.

 

63


Section 7.2 Certificate of Limited Partnership .

The General Partner has caused the Certificate of Limited Partnership to be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as required by the Delaware Act. The General Partner shall use all reasonable efforts to cause to be filed such other certificates or documents that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate for the formation, continuation, qualification and operation of a limited partnership (or a partnership in which the limited partners have limited liability) in the State of Delaware or any other state in which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. To the extent the General Partner determines such action to be necessary or appropriate, the General Partner shall file amendments to and restatements of the Certificate of Limited Partnership and do all things to maintain the Partnership as a limited partnership (or a partnership or other entity in which the limited partners have limited liability) under the laws of the State of Delaware or of any other state in which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. Subject to the terms of Section 3.4(a), the General Partner shall not be required, before or after filing, to deliver or mail a copy of the Certificate of Limited Partnership, any qualification document or any amendment thereto to any Limited Partner.

Section 7.3 Restrictions on the General Partner’s Authority .

Except as provided in Article XII and Article XIV, the General Partner may not sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (including by way of merger, consolidation, other combination or sale of ownership interests of the Partnership’s Subsidiaries) without the approval of holders of a Unit Majority; provided, however, that this provision shall not preclude or limit the General Partner’s ability to mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant a security interest in all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group and shall not apply to any forced sale of any or all of the assets of the Partnership Group pursuant to the foreclosure of, or other realization upon, any such encumbrance. Without the approval of holders of a Unit Majority, the General Partner shall not, on behalf of the Partnership, except as permitted under Section 4.6, 11.1 and Section 11.2, elect or cause the Partnership to elect a successor general partner of the Partnership.

Section 7.4 Reimbursement of the General Partner .

(a) Except as provided in this Section 7.4 and elsewhere in this Agreement, the General Partner shall not be compensated for its services as a general partner or managing member of any Group Member.

(b) Subject to the provisions of the Omnibus Agreement, the General Partner shall be reimbursed on a monthly basis, or such other basis as the General Partner may determine, for (i) all direct and indirect expenses it incurs or payments it makes on behalf of the Partnership Group (including salary, bonus, incentive compensation and other amounts paid to any Person, including Affiliates of the General Partner to perform services for the Partnership Group or for the General Partner in the discharge of its duties to the Partnership Group and including certain

 

64


expenses allocated to the Partnership by Affiliates of the General Partner), and (ii) all other expenses allocable to the Partnership Group or otherwise incurred by the General Partner in connection with operating the Partnership Group’s business (including expenses allocated to the General Partner by its Affiliates). The General Partner shall determine the expenses that are allocable to the Partnership Group. Reimbursements pursuant to this Section 7.4 shall be in addition to any reimbursement to the General Partner as a result of indemnification pursuant to Section 7.7. Any allocation of expenses to the Partnership by Affiliates of the General Partner in a manner consistent with then-applicable accounting and allocation methodologies generally permitted by FERC for rate-making purposes (or in the absence of then-applicable methodologies permitted by FERC, consistent with the most-recently applicable methodologies) and past business practices shall be deemed to be fair and reasonable to the Partnership.

(c) The General Partner, without the approval of the Limited Partners (who shall have no right to vote in respect thereof), may propose and adopt on behalf of the Partnership employee benefit plans, employee programs and employee practices (including plans, programs and practices involving the issuance of Partnership Securities or options to purchase or rights, warrants or appreciation rights or phantom or tracking interests relating to Partnership Securities), or cause the Partnership to issue Partnership Securities in connection with, or pursuant to, any employee benefit plan, employee program or employee practice maintained or sponsored by the General Partner, Group Member or any Affiliates in each case for the benefit of employees and directors of the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, in respect of services performed, directly or indirectly, for the benefit of the Partnership Group. The Partnership agrees to issue and sell to the General Partner or any of its Affiliates any Partnership Securities that the General Partner or such Affiliates are obligated to provide to any employees and directors pursuant to any such employee benefit plans, employee programs or employee practices. Expenses incurred by the General Partner in connection with any such plans, programs and practices (including the net cost to the General Partner or such Affiliates of Partnership Securities purchased by the General Partner or such Affiliates from the Partnership to fulfill options or awards under such plans, programs and practices) shall be reimbursed in accordance with Section 7.4(b). Any and all obligations of the General Partner under any employee benefit plans, employee programs or employee practices adopted by the General Partner as permitted by this Section 7.4(c) shall constitute obligations of the General Partner hereunder and shall be assumed by any successor General Partner approved pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 or the transferee of or successor to all of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest (represented by General Partner Units) pursuant to Section 4.6.

Section 7.5 Outside Activities .

(a) After the Closing Date, the General Partner, for so long as it is the General Partner of the Partnership (i) agrees that its sole business will be to act as a general partner or managing member, as the case may be, of the Partnership and any other partnership or limited liability company of which the Partnership is, directly or indirectly, a partner or member and to undertake activities that are ancillary or related thereto (including being a limited partner in the Partnership) and (ii) shall not engage in any business or activity or incur any debts or liabilities except in connection with or incidental to (A) its performance as general partner or managing member, if any, of one or more Group Members or as described in or contemplated by the Registration Statement or (B) the acquiring, owning or disposing of debt or equity securities in any Group Member.

 

65


(b) Each Indemnitee (other than the General Partner) shall have the right to engage in businesses of every type and description and other activities for profit and to engage in and possess an interest in other business ventures of any and every type or description, whether in businesses engaged in or anticipated to be engaged in by any Group Member, independently or with others, including business interests and activities in direct competition with the business and activities of any Group Member, and none of the same shall constitute a breach of this Agreement or any duty expressed or implied by law or equity to any Group Member or any Partner or Assignee. None of any Group Member, any Limited Partner or any other Person shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, or the partnership relationship established hereby in any business ventures of any Indemnitee. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any duty existing at law, in equity or otherwise, but subject to the proviso set forth in the last sentence of this Section 7.5(b), (i) the engaging in competitive activities by any Indemnitees (other than the General Partner) in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.5 is hereby approved by the Partnership and all Partners, (ii) it shall be deemed not to be a breach of any fiduciary duty or any other obligation of any type whatsoever of any Indemnitee for the Indemnitees (other than the General Partner) to engage in such business interests and activities in preference to or to the exclusion of the Partnership and (iii) the Indemnitees shall have no obligation hereunder or as a result of any duty expressed or implied by law to present business opportunities to the Partnership. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the doctrine of corporate opportunity, or any analogous doctrine, shall not apply to any Indemnitee (including the General Partner). No Indemnitee (including the General Partner) who acquires knowledge of a potential transaction, agreement, arrangement or other matter that may be an opportunity for the Partnership, shall have any duty to communicate or offer such opportunity to the Partnership, and such Indemnitee (including the General Partner) shall not be liable to the Partnership, to any Limited Partner or any other Person for breach of any fiduciary or other duty by reason of the fact that such Indemnitee (including the General Partner) pursues or acquires for itself, directs such opportunity to another Person or does not communicate such opportunity or information to the Partnership; provided such Indemnitee does not engage in such business or activity as a result of or using confidential or proprietary information provided by or on behalf of the Partnership to such Indemnitee.

(c) The General Partner and each of its Affiliates may acquire Units or other Partnership Securities in addition to those acquired on the Closing Date and, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, shall be entitled to exercise, at their option, all rights relating to all Units or other Partnership Securities acquired by them. The term “Affiliates” when used in this Section 7.5(c) with respect to the General Partner shall not include any Group Member.

Section 7.6 Loans from the General Partner; Loans or Contributions from the Partnership or Group Members .

(a) The General Partner or any of its Affiliates may lend to any Group Member, and any Group Member may borrow from the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, funds needed or desired by the Group Member for such periods of time and in such amounts as the General Partner may determine; provided, however, that in any such case the lending party may not

 

66


charge the borrowing party interest at a rate greater than the rate that would be charged the borrowing party or impose terms less favorable to the borrowing party than would be charged or imposed on the borrowing party by unrelated lenders on comparable loans made on an arm’s-length basis (without reference to the lending party’s financial abilities or guarantees), all as determined by the General Partner. The borrowing party shall reimburse the lending party for any costs (other than any additional interest costs) incurred by the lending party in connection with the borrowing of such funds. For purposes of this Section 7.6(a) and Section 7.6(b), the term “Group Member” shall include any Affiliate of a Group Member that is controlled by the Group Member.

(b) The Partnership may lend or contribute to any Group Member, and any Group Member may borrow from the Partnership, funds on terms and conditions determined by the General Partner. No Group Member may lend funds to the General Partner or any of its Affiliates (other than another Group Member).

(c) No borrowing by any Group Member or the approval thereof by the General Partner shall be deemed to constitute a breach of any duty, expressed or implied, of the General Partner or its Affiliates to the Partnership or the Limited Partners existing hereunder, or existing at law, in equity or otherwise by reason of the fact that the purpose or effect of such borrowing is directly or indirectly to (i) enable distributions to the General Partner or its Affiliates (including in their capacities as Limited Partners) to exceed the General Partner’s Percentage Interest of the total amount distributed to all partners or (ii) hasten the expiration of the Subordination Period or the conversion of any Subordinated Units into Common Units.

Section 7.7 Indemnification .

(a) To the fullest extent permitted by law but subject to the limitations expressly provided in this Agreement, all Indemnitees shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Partnership from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, 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, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which any Indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of its status as an Indemnitee; provided, that the Indemnitee shall not be indemnified and held harmless if there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter for which the Indemnitee is seeking indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.7, the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud, willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful; provided, further, no indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.7 shall be available to the General Partner or its Affiliates (other than a Group Member) with respect to its or their obligations incurred pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, the Omnibus Agreement or the Contribution Agreement (other than obligations incurred by the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership). Any indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.7 shall be made only out of the assets of the Partnership, it being agreed that the General Partner shall not be personally liable for such indemnification and shall have no obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Partnership to enable it to effectuate such indemnification.

 

67


(b) To the fullest extent permitted by law, expenses (including legal fees and expenses) incurred by an Indemnitee who is indemnified pursuant to Section 7.7(a) in defending any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding shall, from time to time, be advanced by the Partnership prior to a determination that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified upon receipt by the Partnership of any undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such amount if it shall be determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized in this Section 7.7.

(c) The indemnification provided by this Section 7.7 shall be in addition to any other rights to which an Indemnitee may be entitled under any agreement, pursuant to any vote of the holders of Outstanding Limited Partner Interests, as a matter of law or otherwise, both as to actions in the Indemnitee’s capacity as an Indemnitee and as to actions in any other capacity (including any capacity under the Underwriting Agreement), and shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to serve in such capacity and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, successors, assigns and administrators of the Indemnitee.

(d) The Partnership may purchase and maintain (or reimburse the General Partner or its Affiliates for the cost of) insurance, on behalf of the General Partner, its Affiliates and such other Persons as the General Partner shall determine, against any liability that may be asserted against, or expense that may be incurred by, such Person in connection with the Partnership’s activities or such Person’s activities on behalf of the Partnership, regardless of whether the Partnership would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement.

(e) For purposes of this Section 7.7, the Partnership shall be deemed to have requested an Indemnitee to serve as fiduciary of an employee benefit plan whenever the performance by it of its duties to the Partnership also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, it to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan; excise taxes assessed on an Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to applicable law shall constitute “fines” within the meaning of Section 7.7(a); and action taken or omitted by it with respect to any employee benefit plan in the performance of its duties for a purpose reasonably believed by it to be in the best interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose that is in the best interests of the Partnership.

(f) In no event may an Indemnitee subject the Limited Partners to personal liability by reason of the indemnification provisions set forth in this Agreement.

(g) An Indemnitee shall not be denied indemnification in whole or in part under this Section 7.7 because the Indemnitee had an interest in the transaction with respect to which the indemnification applies if the transaction was otherwise permitted by the terms of this Agreement.

(h) The provisions of this Section 7.7 are for the benefit of the Indemnitees, their heirs, successors, assigns and administrators and shall not be deemed to create any rights for the benefit of any other Persons.

 

68


(i) No amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 7.7 or any provision hereof shall in any manner terminate, reduce or impair the right of any past, present or future Indemnitee to be indemnified by the Partnership, nor the obligations of the Partnership to indemnify any such Indemnitee under and in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.7 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted.

Section 7.8 Liability of Indemnitees .

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, no Indemnitee shall be liable for monetary damages to the Partnership, the Limited Partners, the Assignees or any other Persons who have acquired interests in the Partnership Securities, for losses sustained or liabilities incurred as a result of any act or omission of an Indemnitee unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter in question, the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud, willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemnitee’s conduct was criminal.

(b) Subject to its obligations and duties as General Partner set forth in Section 7.1(a), the General Partner may exercise any of the powers granted to it by this Agreement and perform any of the duties imposed upon it hereunder either directly or by or through its agents, and the General Partner shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent appointed by the General Partner in good faith.

(c) To the extent that, at law or in equity, an Indemnitee has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Partnership or to the Partners, the General Partner and any other Indemnitee acting in connection with the Partnership’s business or affairs shall not be liable to the Partnership or to any Partner for its good faith reliance on the provisions of this Agreement.

(d) Any amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 7.8 or any provision hereof shall be prospective only and shall not in any way affect the limitations on the liability of the Indemnitees under this Section 7.8 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted.

Section 7.9 Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Standards of Conduct and Modification of Duties .

(a) Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or any Group Member Agreement, whenever a potential conflict of interest exists or arises between the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Partnership, any Group Member, any Partner or any Assignee, on the other, any resolution or course of action by the General Partner or its Affiliates in respect of such conflict of interest shall be permitted and deemed approved by all Partners, and shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement, of any Group Member Agreement,

 

69


of any agreement contemplated herein or therein, or of any duty stated or implied by law or equity, if the resolution or course of action in respect of such conflict of interest is (i) approved by Special Approval, (ii) approved by the vote of a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates), (iii) on terms no less favorable to the Partnership than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third parties or (iv) fair and reasonable to the Partnership, taking into account the totality of the relationships between the parties involved (including other transactions that may be particularly favorable or advantageous to the Partnership). The General Partner shall be authorized but not required in connection with its resolution of such conflict of interest to seek Special Approval of such resolution, and the General Partner may also adopt a resolution or course of action that has not received Special Approval. If Special Approval is sought, then it shall be presumed that, in making its decision, the Conflicts Committee acted in good faith, and if Special Approval is not sought and the Board of Directors of the General Partner determines that the resolution or course of action taken with respect to a conflict of interest satisfies either of the standards set forth in clauses (iii) or (iv) above, then it shall be presumed that, in making its decision, the Board of Directors of the General Partner acted in good faith, and in either case, in any proceeding brought by any Limited Partner or Assignee or by or on behalf of such Limited Partner or Assignee or any other Limited Partner or Assignee or the Partnership challenging such approval, the Person bringing or prosecuting such proceeding shall have the burden of overcoming such presumption. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any duty otherwise existing at law or equity, the existence of the conflicts of interest described in the Registration Statement are hereby approved by all Partners and shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement.

(b) Whenever the General Partner makes a determination or takes or declines to take any other action, or any of its Affiliates causes it to do so, in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership as opposed to in its individual capacity, whether under this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise, then, unless another express standard is provided for in this Agreement, the General Partner, or such Affiliates causing it to do so, shall make such determination or take or decline to take such other action in good faith and shall not be subject to any other or different standards imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity. Whenever the Conflicts Committee makes a determination or takes or declines to take any other action, it shall make such determination or take or decline to take such other action in good faith and shall not be subject to any other or different standards imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity. In order for a determination or other action to be in “good faith” for purposes of this Agreement, the Person or Persons making such determination or taking or declining to take such other action must believe that the determination or other action is in the best interests of the Partnership.

(c) Whenever the General Partner makes a determination or takes or declines to take any other action, or any of its Affiliates causes it to do so, in its individual capacity as opposed to in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership, whether under this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise, then the General Partner, or such Affiliates causing it to do so, are entitled to make such determination or

 

70


to take or decline to take such other action free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership, any Limited Partner or Assignee, and the General Partner, or such Affiliates causing it to do so, shall not be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity. By way of illustration and not of limitation, whenever the phrase, “at the option of the General Partner,” or some variation of that phrase, is used in this Agreement, it indicates that the General Partner is acting in its individual capacity. For the avoidance of doubt, but subject to Sections 4.6 and 4.7, whenever the General Partner votes or transfers its Partnership Interests, or refrains from voting or transferring its Partnership Interests, it shall be acting in its individual capacity. The General Partner’s organizational documents may provide that determinations to take or decline to take any action in its individual, rather than representative, capacity may or shall be determined by its members, if the General Partner is a limited liability company, stockholders, if the General Partner is a corporation, or the members or stockholders of the General Partner’s general partner, if the General Partner is a partnership.

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the General Partner and its Affiliates shall have no duty or obligation, express or implied, to (i) sell or otherwise dispose of any asset of the Partnership Group other than in the ordinary course of business or (ii) permit any Group Member to use any facilities or assets of the General Partner and its Affiliates, except as may be provided in contracts entered into from time to time specifically dealing with such use. Any determination by the General Partner or any of its Affiliates to enter into such contracts shall be at its option.

(e) Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, neither the General Partner nor any other Indemnitee shall have any duties or liabilities, including fiduciary duties, to the Partnership or any Limited Partner or Assignee and the provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict, eliminate or otherwise modify the duties and liabilities, including fiduciary duties, of the General Partner or any other Indemnitee otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Partners to replace such other duties and liabilities of the General Partner or such other Indemnitee.

(f) The Unitholders hereby authorize the General Partner, on behalf of the Partnership as a partner or member of a Group Member, to approve of actions by the general partner or managing member of such Group Member similar to those actions permitted to be taken by the General Partner pursuant to this Section 7.9.

Section 7.10 Other Matters Concerning the General Partner .

(a) The General Partner may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, bond, debenture or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.

(b) The General Partner may consult with legal counsel, accountants, appraisers, management consultants, investment bankers and other consultants and advisers selected by it, and any act taken or omitted to be taken in reliance upon the opinion (including an Opinion of Counsel) of such Persons as to matters that the General Partner reasonably believes to be within such Person’s professional or expert competence shall be conclusively presumed to have been done or omitted in good faith and in accordance with such opinion.

 

71


(c) The General Partner shall have the right, in respect of any of its powers or obligations hereunder, to act through any of its duly authorized officers, a duly appointed attorney or attorneys-in-fact or the duly authorized officers of the Partnership or any Group Member.

Section 7.11 Purchase or Sale of Partnership Securities .

The General Partner may cause the Partnership to purchase or otherwise acquire Partnership Securities; provided that, except as permitted pursuant to Section 4.10, the General Partner may not cause any Group Member to purchase Subordinated Units during the Subordination Period. Such Partnership Securities shall be held by the Partnership as treasury securities unless they are expressly cancelled by action of an appropriate officer of the General Partner. As long as Partnership Securities are held by any Group Member, such Partnership Securities shall not be considered Outstanding for any purpose, except as otherwise provided herein. The General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner may also purchase or otherwise acquire and sell or otherwise dispose of Partnership Securities for its own account, subject to the provisions of Articles IV and X.

Section 7.12 Registration Rights of the General Partner and its Affiliates .

(a) (i) the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner (including for purposes of this Section 7.12, any Person that is an Affiliate of the General Partner at the date hereof notwithstanding that it may later cease to be an Affiliate of the General Partner) holds Partnership Securities that it desires to sell and (ii) Rule 144 of the Securities Act (or any successor rule or regulation to Rule 144) or another exemption from registration is not available to enable such holder of Partnership Securities (the “Holder”) to dispose of the number of Partnership Securities it desires to sell at the time it desires to do so without registration under the Securities Act, then at the option and upon the request of the Holder, the Partnership shall file with the Commission as promptly as practicable after receiving such request, and use commercially reasonable efforts to cause to become effective and remain effective for a period of not less than six months following its effective date or such shorter period as shall terminate when all Partnership Securities covered by such registration statement have been sold, a registration statement under the Securities Act registering the offering and sale of the number of Partnership Securities specified by the Holder; provided, however, that the Partnership shall not be required to effect more than three registrations pursuant to this Section 7.12(a) and Section 7.12(b); and provided further, however, that if the Conflicts Committee determines in good faith that the requested registration would be materially detrimental to the Partnership and its Partners because such registration would (x) materially interfere with a significant acquisition, reorganization or other similar transaction involving the Partnership, (y) require premature disclosure of material information that the Partnership has a bona fide business purpose for preserving as confidential or (z) render the Partnership unable to comply with requirements under applicable securities laws, then the Partnership shall have the right to postpone such requested registration for a period of not more than six months after receipt of the Holder’s

 

72


request, such right pursuant to this Section 7.12(a) or Section 7.12(b) not to be utilized more than once in any twelve-month period. In connection with any registration pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 7.12(a), the Partnership shall (i) promptly prepare and file (A) such documents as may be necessary to register or qualify the securities subject to such registration under the securities laws of such states as the Holder shall reasonably request; provided, however, that no such qualification shall be required in any jurisdiction where, as a result thereof, the Partnership would become subject to general service of process or to taxation or qualification to do business as a foreign corporation or partnership doing business in such jurisdiction solely as a result of such registration, and (B) such documents as may be necessary to apply for listing or to list the Partnership Securities subject to such registration on such National Securities Exchange as the Holder shall reasonably request, and (ii) do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or appropriate to enable the Holder to consummate a public sale of such Partnership Securities in such states. Except as set forth in Section 7.12(d), all costs and expenses of any such registration and offering (other than the underwriting discounts and commissions) shall be paid by the Partnership, without reimbursement by the Holder.

(b) If any Holder holds Partnership Securities that it desires to sell and Rule 144 of the Securities Act (or any successor rule or regulation to Rule 144) or another exemption from registration is not available to enable such Holder to dispose of the number of Partnership Securities it desires to sell at the time it desires to do so without registration under the Securities Act, then at the option and upon the request of the Holder, the Partnership shall file with the Commission as promptly as practicable after receiving such request, and use commercially reasonable efforts to cause to become effective and remain effective for a period of not less than six months following its effective date or such shorter period as shall terminate when all Partnership Securities covered by such shelf registration statement have been sold, a “shelf” registration statement covering the Partnership Securities specified by the Holder on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under the Securities Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the Commission; provided, however, that the Partnership shall not be required to effect more than three registrations pursuant to Section 7.12(a) and this Section 7.12(b); and provided further, however, that if the Conflicts Committee determines in good faith that any offering under, or the use of any prospectus forming a part of, the shelf registration statement would be materially detrimental to the Partnership and its Partners because such offering or use would (x) materially interfere with a significant acquisition, reorganization or other similar transaction involving the Partnership, (y) require premature disclosure of material information that the Partnership has a bona fide business purpose for preserving as confidential or (z) render the Partnership unable to comply with requirements under applicable securities laws, then the Partnership shall have the right to suspend such offering or use for a period of not more than six months after receipt of the Holder’s request, such right pursuant to Section 7.12(a) or this Section 7.12(b) not to be utilized more than once in any twelve-month period. In connection with any shelf registration pursuant to this Section 7.12(b), the Partnership shall (i) promptly prepare and file (A) such documents as may be necessary to register or qualify the securities subject to such shelf registration under the securities laws of such states as the Holder shall reasonably request; provided, however, that no such qualification shall be required in any jurisdiction where, as a result thereof, the Partnership would become subject to general service of process or to taxation or qualification to do business as a foreign corporation or partnership doing business in such jurisdiction solely as a result of such shelf registration, and (B) such documents as may be necessary to apply for listing or to list the Partnership Securities subject to such shelf registration

 

73


on such National Securities Exchange as the Holder shall reasonably request, and (ii) do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or appropriate to enable the Holder to consummate a public sale of such Partnership Securities in such states. Except as set forth in Section 7.12(d), all costs and expenses of any such shelf registration and offering (other than the underwriting discounts and commissions) shall be paid by the Partnership, without reimbursement by the Holder.

(c) If the Partnership shall at any time propose to file a registration statement under the Securities Act for an offering of equity securities of the Partnership for cash (other than an offering relating solely to an employee benefit plan), the Partnership shall notify all Holders of such proposal and use all reasonable efforts to include such number or amount of securities held by the Holder in such registration statement as the Holder shall request; provided, that the Partnership is not required to make any effort or take any action to so include the securities of the Holder once the registration statement is declared effective by the Commission or otherwise becomes effective, including any registration statement providing for the offering from time to time of securities pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act. If the proposed offering pursuant to this Section 7.12(c) shall be an underwritten offering, then, in the event that the managing underwriter or managing underwriters of such offering advise the Partnership and the Holder in writing that in their opinion the inclusion of all or some of the Holder’s Partnership Securities would adversely and materially affect the success of the offering, the Partnership shall include in such offering only that number or amount, if any, of securities held by the Holder that, in the opinion of the managing underwriter or managing underwriters, will not so adversely and materially affect the offering. Except as set forth in Section 7.12(d), all costs and expenses of any such registration and offering (other than the underwriting discounts and commissions) shall be paid by the Partnership, without reimbursement by the Holder.

(d) If underwriters are engaged in connection with any registration referred to in this Section 7.12, the Partnership shall provide indemnification, representations, covenants, opinions and other assurance to the underwriters in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such underwriters. Further, in addition to and not in limitation of the Partnership’s obligation under Section 7.7, the Partnership shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify and hold harmless the Holder, its officers, directors and each Person who controls the Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) and any agent thereof (collectively, “Indemnified Persons”) from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, 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, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which any Indemnified Person may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, under the Securities Act or otherwise (hereinafter referred to in this Section 7.12(d) as a “claim” and in the plural as “claims”) based upon, arising out of or resulting from any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any registration statement under which any Partnership Securities were registered under the Securities Act or any state securities or Blue Sky laws, in any preliminary prospectus (if used prior to the effective date of such registration statement), or in any summary or final prospectus or any free writing prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto (if used during the period the Partnership is required to keep the registration statement current), or arising out of, based upon or resulting from the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein not

 

74


misleading; provided, however, that the Partnership shall not be liable to any Indemnified Person to the extent that any such claim arises out of, is based upon or results from an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in such registration statement, such preliminary, summary or final prospectus or any free writing prospectus or such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Partnership by or on behalf of such Indemnified Person specifically for use in the preparation thereof.

(e) The provisions of Section 7.12(a), Section 7.12(b) and Section 7.12(c) shall continue to be applicable with respect to the General Partner (and any of the General Partner’s Affiliates) after it ceases to be a general partner of the Partnership, during a period of two years subsequent to the effective date of such cessation and for so long thereafter as is required for the Holder to sell all of the Partnership Securities with respect to which it has requested during such two-year period inclusion in a registration statement otherwise filed or that a registration statement be filed; provided, however, that the Partnership shall not be required to file successive registration statements covering the same Partnership Securities for which registration was demanded during such two-year period. The provisions of Section 7.12(d) shall continue in effect thereafter.

(f) The rights to cause the Partnership to register Partnership Securities pursuant to this Section 7.12 may be assigned (but only with all related obligations) by a Holder to a transferee or assignee of such Partnership Securities, provided (i) the Partnership is, within a reasonable time after such transfer, furnished with written notice of the name and address of such transferee or assignee and the Partnership Securities with respect to which such registration rights are being assigned; and (ii) such transferee or assignee agrees in writing to be bound by and subject to the terms set forth in this Section 7.12.

(g) Any request to register Partnership Securities pursuant to this Section 7.12 shall (i) specify the Partnership Securities intended to be offered and sold by the Person making the request, (ii) express such Person’s present intent to offer such Partnership Securities for distribution, (iii) describe the nature or method of the proposed offer and sale of Partnership Securities, and (iv) contain the undertaking of such Person to provide all such information and materials and take all action as may be required in order to permit the Partnership to comply with all applicable requirements in connection with the registration of such Partnership Securities.

Section 7.13 Reliance by Third Parties .

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Person dealing with the Partnership shall be entitled to assume that the General Partner and any officer of the General Partner authorized by the General Partner to act on behalf of and in the name of the Partnership has full power and authority to encumber, sell or otherwise use in any manner any and all assets of the Partnership and to enter into any authorized contracts on behalf of the Partnership, and such Person shall be entitled to deal with the General Partner or any such officer as if it were the Partnership’s sole party in interest, both legally and beneficially. Each Limited Partner hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any and all defenses or other remedies that may be available against such Person to contest, negate or disaffirm any action of the General Partner or any such officer in connection with any such dealing. In no event shall any Person dealing with

 

75


the General Partner or any such officer or its representatives be obligated to ascertain that the terms of this Agreement have been complied with or to inquire into the necessity or expedience of any act or action of the General Partner or any such officer or its representatives. Each and every certificate, document or other instrument executed on behalf of the Partnership by the General Partner or its representatives shall be conclusive evidence in favor of any and every Person relying thereon or claiming thereunder that (a) at the time of the execution and delivery of such certificate, document or instrument, this Agreement was in full force and effect, (b) the Person executing and delivering such certificate, document or instrument was duly authorized and empowered to do so for and on behalf of the Partnership and (c) such certificate, document or instrument was duly executed and delivered in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement and is binding upon the Partnership.

ARTICLE VIII

BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS

Section 8.1 Records and Accounting .

The General Partner shall keep or cause to be kept at the principal office of the Partnership appropriate books and records with respect to the Partnership’s business, including all books and records necessary to provide to the Limited Partners any information required to be provided pursuant to Section 3.4(a). Any books and records maintained by or on behalf of the Partnership in the regular course of its business, including the record of the Record Holders and Assignees of Units or other Partnership Securities, books of account and records of Partnership proceedings, may be kept on, or be in the form of, computer disks, hard drives, punch cards, magnetic tape, photographs, micrographics or any other information storage device; provided, that the books and records so maintained are convertible into clearly legible written form within a reasonable period of time. The books of the Partnership shall be maintained, for financial reporting purposes, on an accrual basis in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

Section 8.2 Fiscal Year.

The fiscal year of the Partnership shall be a fiscal year ending December 31.

Section 8.3 Reports.

(a) As soon as practicable, but in no event later than 120 days after the close of each fiscal year of the Partnership, the General Partner shall cause to be mailed or made available, by any reasonable means (including posting on or accessible through the Partnership’s or the SEC’s website) to each Record Holder of a Unit as of a date selected by the General Partner, an annual report containing financial statements of the Partnership for such fiscal year of the Partnership, presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, including a balance sheet and statements of operations, Partnership equity and cash flows, such statements to be audited by a firm of independent public accountants selected by the General Partner.

(b) As soon as practicable, but in no event later than 90 days after the close of each Quarter except the last Quarter of each fiscal year, the General Partner shall cause to be mailed or made available, by any reasonable means (including posting on or accessible through the Partnership’s or the SEC’s website) to each Record Holder of a Unit, as of a date selected by the

 

76


General Partner, a report containing unaudited financial statements of the Partnership and such other information as may be required by applicable law, regulation or rule of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to trading, or as the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.

ARTICLE IX

TAX MATTERS

Section 9.1 Tax Returns and Information .

The Partnership shall timely file all returns of the Partnership that are required for federal, state and local income tax purposes on the basis of the accrual method and the taxable year or years that it is required by law to adopt, from time to time, as determined by the General Partner. In the event the Partnership is required to use a taxable year other than a year ending on December 31, the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts to change the taxable year of the Partnership to a year ending on December 31. The tax information reasonably required by Record Holders for federal and state income tax reporting purposes with respect to a taxable year shall be furnished to them within 90 days of the close of the calendar year in which the Partnership’s taxable year ends. The classification, realization and recognition of income, gain, losses and deductions and other items shall be on the accrual method of accounting for federal income tax purposes.

Section 9.2 Tax Elections .

(a) The Partnership shall make the election under Section 754 of the Code in accordance with applicable regulations thereunder, subject to the reservation of the right to seek to revoke any such election upon the General Partner’s determination that such revocation is in the best interests of the Limited Partners. Notwithstanding any other provision herein contained, for the purposes of computing the adjustments under Section 743(b) of the Code, the General Partner shall be authorized (but not required) to adopt a convention whereby the price paid by a transferee of a Limited Partner Interest will be deemed to be the lowest quoted closing price of the Limited Partner Interests on any National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests are listed or admitted to trading during the calendar month in which such transfer is deemed to occur pursuant to Section 6.2(g) without regard to the actual price paid by such transferee.

(b) Except as otherwise provided herein, the General Partner shall determine whether the Partnership should make any other elections permitted by the Code.

Section 9.3 Tax Controversies .

Subject to the provisions hereof, the General Partner is designated as the Tax Matters Partner (as defined in the Code) and is authorized and required to represent the Partnership (at the Partnership’s expense) in connection with all examinations of the Partnership’s affairs by tax authorities, including resulting administrative and judicial proceedings, and to expend Partnership funds for professional services and costs associated therewith. Each Partner agrees to cooperate with the General Partner and to do or refrain from doing any or all things reasonably required by the General Partner to conduct such proceedings.

 

77


Section 9.4 Withholding.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner is authorized to take any action that may be required to cause the Partnership and other Group Members to comply with any withholding requirements established under the Code or any other federal, state or local law including pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442, 1445 and 1446 of the Code. To the extent that the Partnership is required or elects to withhold and pay over to any taxing authority any amount resulting from the allocation or distribution of income to any Partner or Assignee (including by reason of Section 1446 of the Code), the General Partner may treat the amount withheld as a distribution of cash pursuant to Section 6.3 in the amount of such withholding from such Partner.

ARTICLE X

ADMISSION OF PARTNERS

Section 10.1 Admission of Initial Limited Partners .

Upon the issuance by the Partnership of Common Units, Subordinated Units and Incentive Distribution Rights to the General Partner, Spectra Energy Transmission LLC, Spectra Energy Southeast Pipeline Corp. and the Underwriters as described in Article V in connection with the Initial Offering, the General Partner shall admit such parties to the Partnership as Initial Limited Partners in respect of the Common Units, Subordinated Units or Incentive Distribution Rights issued to them.

Section 10.2 Admission of Substituted Limited Partners .

By transfer of a Limited Partner Interest in accordance with Article IV, the transferor shall be deemed to have given the transferee the right to seek admission as a Substituted Limited Partner subject to the conditions of, and in the manner permitted under, this Agreement. A transferor of a Certificate representing a Limited Partner Interest shall, however, only have the authority to convey to a purchaser or other transferee who does not execute and deliver a Transfer Application (a) the right to negotiate such Certificate to a purchaser or other transferee and (b) the right to transfer the right to request admission as a Substituted Limited Partner to such purchaser or other transferee in respect of the transferred Limited Partner Interests. No transferor of a Limited Partner Interest or other Person shall have any obligation or responsibility to provide a Transfer Application or Taxation Certification to a transferee or assist or participate in any way with respect to the completion or delivery thereof. Each transferee of a Limited Partner Interest (including any nominee holder or an agent acquiring such Limited Partner Interest for the account of another Person) who executes and delivers a properly completed Transfer Application, containing a Taxation Certification, shall, by virtue of such execution and delivery, be an Assignee. Such Assignee shall automatically be admitted to the Partnership as a Substituted Limited Partner with respect to the Limited Partner Interests so transferred to such Person at such time as such transfer is recorded in the books and records of the Partnership, and until so recorded, such transferee shall be an Assignee. The General Partner shall periodically, but no less frequently than on the first Business Day of each calendar quarter, cause any unrecorded transfers of Limited Partner Interests with respect to which a properly completed, duly executed Transfer Application has been received to be recorded in the books and records of

 

78


the Partnership. An Assignee shall have an interest in the Partnership equivalent to that of a Limited Partner with respect to allocations and distributions, including liquidating distributions, of the Partnership. With respect to voting rights attributable to Limited Partner Interests that are held by Assignees, the General Partner shall be deemed to be the Limited Partner with respect thereto and shall, in exercising the voting rights in respect of such Limited Partner Interests on any matter, vote such Limited Partner Interests at the written direction of the Assignee who is the Record Holder of such Limited Partner Interests. If no such written direction is received, such Limited Partner Interests will not be voted. An Assignee shall have no other rights of a Limited Partner.

Section 10.3 Admission of Successor General Partner .

A successor General Partner approved pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 or the transferee of or successor to all of the General Partner Interest (represented by General Partner Units) pursuant to Section 4.6 who is proposed to be admitted as a successor General Partner shall be admitted to the Partnership as the General Partner, effective immediately prior to the withdrawal or removal of the predecessor or transferring General Partner, pursuant to Section 11.1 or 11.2 or the transfer of the General Partner Interest (represented by General Partner Units) pursuant to Section 4.6, provided, however, that no such successor shall be admitted to the Partnership until compliance with the terms of Section 4.6 has occurred and such successor has executed and delivered such other documents or instruments as may be required to effect such admission. Any such successor shall, subject to the terms hereof, carry on the business of the members of the Partnership Group without dissolution.

Section 10.4 Admission of Additional Limited Partners .

(a) A Person (other than the General Partner, an Initial Limited Partner or a Substituted Limited Partner) who makes a Capital Contribution to the Partnership in accordance with this Agreement shall be admitted to the Partnership as an Additional Limited Partner only upon furnishing to the General Partner:

(i) evidence of acceptance in form satisfactory to the General Partner of all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including the power of attorney granted in Section 2.6,

(ii) a properly completed Taxation Certification; and

(iii) such other documents or instruments as may be required by the General Partner to effect such Person’s admission as an Additional Limited Partner.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 10.4, no Person shall be admitted as an Additional Limited Partner without the consent of the General Partner. The admission of any Person as an Additional Limited Partner shall become effective on the date upon which the name of such Person is recorded as such in the books and records of the Partnership, following the consent of the General Partner to such admission.

 

79


Section 10.5 Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership .

To effect the admission to the Partnership of any Partner, the General Partner shall take all steps necessary or appropriate under the Delaware Act to amend the records of the Partnership to reflect such admission and, if necessary, to prepare as soon as practicable an amendment to this Agreement and, if required by law, the General Partner shall prepare and file an amendment to the Certificate of Limited Partnership, and the General Partner may for this purpose, among others, exercise the power of attorney granted pursuant to Section 2.6.

ARTICLE XI

WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS

Section 11.1 Withdrawal of the General Partner .

(a) The General Partner shall be deemed to have withdrawn from the Partnership upon the occurrence of any one of the following events (each such event herein referred to as an “Event of Withdrawal”);

(i) The General Partner voluntarily withdraws from the Partnership by giving written notice to the other Partners;

(ii) The General Partner transfers all of its rights as General Partner pursuant to Section 4.6;

(iii) The General Partner is removed pursuant to Section 11.2;

(iv) The General Partner (A) makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; (B) files a voluntary bankruptcy petition for relief under Chapter 7 of the United States Bankruptcy Code; (C) files a petition or answer seeking for itself a liquidation, dissolution or similar relief (but not a reorganization) under any law; (D) files an answer or other pleading admitting or failing to contest the material allegations of a petition filed against the General Partner in a proceeding of the type described in clauses (A)-(C) of this Section 11.1(a)(iv); or (E) seeks, consents to or acquiesces in the appointment of a trustee (but not a debtor-in-possession), receiver or liquidator of the General Partner or of all or any substantial part of its properties;

(v) A final and non-appealable order of relief under Chapter 7 of the United States Bankruptcy Code is entered by a court with appropriate jurisdiction pursuant to a voluntary or involuntary petition by or against the General Partner; or

(vi) (A) in the event the General Partner is a corporation, a certificate of dissolution or its equivalent is filed for the General Partner, or 90 days expire after the date of notice to the General Partner of revocation of its charter without a reinstatement of its charter, under the laws of its state of incorporation; (B) in the event the General Partner is a partnership or a limited liability company, the dissolution and commencement of winding up of the General Partner; (C) in the event the General Partner is acting in such capacity by virtue of being a trustee of a trust, the termination of the trust; (D) in the event the General Partner is a natural person, his death or adjudication of incompetency; and (E) otherwise in the event of the termination of the General Partner.

 

80


If an Event of Withdrawal specified in Section 11.1(a)(iv), (v) or (vi)(A), (B), (C) or (E) occurs, the withdrawing General Partner shall give notice to the Limited Partners within 30 days after such occurrence. The Partners hereby agree that only the Events of Withdrawal described in this Section 11.1 shall result in the withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership.

(b) Withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership upon the occurrence of an Event of Withdrawal shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement under the following circumstances: (i) at any time during the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending at 12:00 midnight, Central Time, on June 30, 2017, the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days’ advance notice of its intention to withdraw to the Limited Partners; provided, that prior to the effective date of such withdrawal, the withdrawal is approved by Unitholders holding at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates) and the General Partner delivers to the Partnership an Opinion of Counsel (“Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel”) that such withdrawal (following the selection of the successor General Partner) would not result in the loss of the limited liability of any Limited Partner or any Group Member or cause any Group Member to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed); (ii) at any time after 12:00 midnight, Central Time, on June 30, 2017, the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days’ advance notice to the Unitholders, such withdrawal to take effect on the date specified in such notice; (iii) at any time that the General Partner ceases to be the General Partner pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(ii) or is removed pursuant to Section 11.2; or (iv) notwithstanding clause (i) of this sentence, at any time that the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days’ advance notice of its intention to withdraw to the Limited Partners, such withdrawal to take effect on the date specified in the notice, if at the time such notice is given one Person and its Affiliates (other than the General Partner and its Affiliates) own beneficially or of record or control at least 50% of the Outstanding Units. The withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership upon the occurrence of an Event of Withdrawal shall also constitute the withdrawal of the General Partner as general partner or managing member, if any, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members. If the General Partner gives a notice of withdrawal pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(i), the holders of a Unit Majority, may, prior to the effective date of such withdrawal, elect a successor General Partner. The Person so elected as successor General Partner shall automatically become the successor general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members of which the General Partner is a general partner or a managing member. If, prior to the effective date of the General Partner’s withdrawal, a successor is not selected by the Unitholders as provided herein or the Partnership does not receive a Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel, the Partnership shall be dissolved in accordance with Section 12.1. Any successor General Partner elected in accordance with the terms of this Section 11.1 shall be subject to the provisions of Section 10.3.

Section 11.2 Removal of the General Partner .

The General Partner may be removed if such removal is approved by the Unitholders holding at least 662/3% of the Outstanding Units (including Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates) voting as a single class. Any such action by such holders for removal of the General Partner must also provide for the election of a successor General Partner by the Unitholders holding a majority of the outstanding Common Units and Class B Units, if any,

 

81


voting as a single class and a majority of the outstanding Subordinated Units (if any Subordinated Units are then Outstanding) voting as a class (including, in each case, Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates). Such removal shall be effective immediately following the admission of a successor General Partner pursuant to Section 10.3. The removal of the General Partner shall also automatically constitute the removal of the General Partner as general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members of which the General Partner is a general partner or a managing member. If a Person is elected as a successor General Partner in accordance with the terms of this Section 11.2, such Person shall, upon admission pursuant to Section 10.3, automatically become a successor general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members of which the General Partner is a general partner or a managing member. The right of the holders of Outstanding Units to remove the General Partner shall not exist or be exercised unless the Partnership has received an opinion opining as to the matters covered by a Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel. Any successor General Partner elected in accordance with the terms of this Section 11.2 shall be subject to the provisions of Section 10.3.

Section 11.3 Interest of Departing General Partner and Successor General Partner .

(a) In the event of (i) withdrawal of the General Partner under circumstances where such withdrawal does not violate this Agreement or (ii) removal of the General Partner by the holders of Outstanding Units under circumstances where Cause does not exist, if the successor General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of Section 11.1 or Section 11.2, the Departing General Partner shall have the option, exercisable prior to the effective date of the departure of such Departing General Partner, to require its successor to purchase its General Partner Interest (represented by General Partner Units) and its general partner interest (or equivalent interest), if any, in the other Group Members and all of its Incentive Distribution Rights (collectively, the “Combined Interest”) in exchange for an amount in cash equal to the fair market value of such Combined Interest, such amount to be determined and payable as of the effective date of its departure. If the General Partner is removed by the Unitholders under circumstances where Cause exists or if the General Partner withdraws under circumstances where such withdrawal violates this Agreement, and if a successor General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 (or if the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2 and the successor General Partner is not the former General Partner), such successor shall have the option, exercisable prior to the effective date of the departure of such Departing General Partner (or, in the event the business of the Partnership is continued, prior to the date the business of the Partnership is continued), to purchase the Combined Interest for such fair market value of such Combined Interest of the Departing General Partner. In either event, the Departing General Partner shall be entitled to receive all reimbursements due such Departing General Partner pursuant to Section 7.4, including any employee-related liabilities (including severance liabilities), incurred in connection with the termination of any employees employed by the Departing General Partner or its Affiliates (other than any Group Member) for the benefit of the Partnership or the other Group Members.

For purposes of this Section 11.3(a), the fair market value of the Departing General Partner’s Combined Interest shall be determined by agreement between the Departing General Partner and its successor or, failing agreement within 30 days after the effective date of such Departing General Partner’s departure, by an independent investment banking firm or other

 

82


independent expert selected by the Departing General Partner and its successor, which, in turn, may rely on other experts, and the determination of which shall be conclusive as to such matter. If such parties cannot agree upon one independent investment banking firm or other independent expert within 45 days after the effective date of such departure, then the Departing General Partner shall designate an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert, the Departing General Partner’s successor shall designate an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert, and such firms or experts shall mutually select a third independent investment banking firm or independent expert, which third independent investment banking firm or other independent expert shall determine the fair market value of the Combined Interest of the Departing General Partner. In making its determination, such third independent investment banking firm or other independent expert may consider the then current trading price of Units on any National Securities Exchange on which Units are then listed or admitted to trading, the value of the Partnership’s assets, the rights and obligations of the Departing General Partner and other factors it may deem relevant.

(b) If the Combined Interest is not purchased in the manner set forth in Section 11.3(a), the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) shall become a Limited Partner and its Combined Interest shall be converted into Common Units pursuant to a valuation made by an investment banking firm or other independent expert selected pursuant to Section 11.3(a), without reduction in such Partnership Interest (but subject to proportionate dilution by reason of the admission of its successor). Any successor General Partner shall indemnify the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) as to all debts and liabilities of the Partnership arising on or after the date on which the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) becomes a Limited Partner. For purposes of this Agreement, conversion of the Combined Interest of the Departing General Partner to Common Units will be characterized as if the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) contributed its Combined Interest to the Partnership in exchange for the newly issued Common Units.

(c) If a successor General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 (or if the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2 and the successor General Partner is not the former General Partner) and the option described in Section 11.3(a) is not exercised by the party entitled to do so, the successor General Partner shall, at the effective date of its admission to the Partnership, contribute to the Partnership cash in the amount equal to the product of the (x) quotient obtained by dividing (A) the Percentage Interest of the General Partner Interest of the Departing General Partner by (B) a percentage equal to 100% less the Percentage Interest of the General Partner Interest of the Departing General Partner and (y) the Net Agreed Value of the Partnership’s assets on such date. In such event, such successor General Partner shall, subject to the following sentence, be entitled to its Percentage Interest of all Partnership allocations and distributions to which the Departing General Partner was entitled in respect of its General Partner Interest. In addition, the successor General Partner shall cause this Agreement to be amended to reflect that, from and after the date of such successor General Partner’s admission, the successor General Partner’s interest in all Partnership distributions and allocations shall be its Percentage Interest.

 

83


Section 11.4 Termination of Subordination Period, Conversion of Subordinated Units and Extinguishment of Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages .

Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement, if the General Partner is removed as general partner of the Partnership under circumstances where Cause does not exist and Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates are not voted in favor of such removal, (i) the Subordination Period will end and all Outstanding Subordinated Units will immediately and automatically convert into Common Units on a one-for-one basis (provided, however, that such converted Subordinated Units shall remain subject to the provisions of Sections 5.5(c)(ii), 6.1(d)(x) and 6.7(c)), (ii) all Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages on the Common Units will be extinguished and (iii) the General Partner will have the right to convert its General Partner Interest (represented by General Partner Units) and its Incentive Distribution Rights into Common Units or to receive cash in exchange therefor in accordance with Section 11.3.

Section 11.5 Withdrawal of Limited Partners .

No Limited Partner shall have any right to withdraw from the Partnership; provided, however, that when a transferee of a Limited Partner’s Limited Partner Interest becomes a Record Holder of the Limited Partner Interest so transferred, such transferring Limited Partner shall cease to be a Limited Partner with respect to the Limited Partner Interest so transferred.

ARTICLE XII

DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION

Section 12.1 Dissolution .

The Partnership shall not be dissolved by the admission of Substituted Limited Partners or Additional Limited Partners or by the admission of a successor General Partner in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Upon the removal or other event of withdrawal of the General Partner, if a successor General Partner is elected pursuant to Section 11.1, Section 11.2 or Section 12.2, the Partnership shall not be dissolved and such successor General Partner shall continue the business of the Partnership. The Partnership shall dissolve, and (subject to Section 12.2) its affairs shall be wound up, upon:

(a) an Event of Withdrawal of the General Partner as provided in Section 11.1(a) (other than Section 11.1(a)(ii)), unless a successor is elected and an Opinion of Counsel is received as provided in Section 11.1(b) or 11.2 and such successor is admitted to the Partnership pursuant to Section 10.3;

(b) an election to dissolve the Partnership by the General Partner that is approved by the holders of a Unit Majority;

(c) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act; or

(d) at any time there are no Limited Partners, unless the Partnership is continued without dissolution in accordance with the Delaware Act.

 

84


Section 12.2 Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After Dissolution .

Upon (a) dissolution of the Partnership following an Event of Withdrawal caused by the withdrawal or removal of the General Partner as provided in Section 11.1(a)(i) or (iii) and the failure of the Partners to select a successor to such Departing General Partner pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2, then within 90 days thereafter, or (b) dissolution of the Partnership upon an event constituting an Event of Withdrawal as defined in Section 11.1(a)(iv), (v) or (vi), then, to the maximum extent permitted by law, within 180 days thereafter, the holders of a Unit Majority may elect to continue the business of the Partnership on the same terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement by appointing as a successor General Partner a Person approved by the holders of a Unit Majority. Unless such an election is made within the applicable time period as set forth above, the Partnership shall dissolve and conduct only activities necessary to wind up its affairs. If such an election is so made, then:

(i) the Partnership shall continue without dissolution unless earlier dissolved in accordance with this Article XII;

(ii) if the successor General Partner is not the former General Partner, then the interest of the former General Partner shall be treated in the manner provided in Section 11.3; and

(iii) the successor General Partner shall be admitted to the Partnership as General Partner, effective as of the Event of Withdrawal, by agreeing in writing to be bound by this Agreement;

provided, that the right of the holders of a Unit Majority to approve a successor General Partner and to continue the business of the Partnership shall not exist and may not be exercised unless the Partnership has received an Opinion of Counsel that (x) the exercise of the right would not result in the loss of limited liability of any Limited Partner and (y) neither the Partnership nor any Group Member would be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise be taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes upon the exercise of such right to continue (to the extent not already so treated or taxed).

Section 12.3 Liquidator.

Upon dissolution of the Partnership, the General Partner shall select one or more Persons to act as Liquidator. The Liquidator (if other than the General Partner) shall be entitled to receive such compensation for its services as may be approved by holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units and Subordinated Units voting as a single class. The Liquidator (if other than the General Partner) shall agree not to resign at any time without 15 days’ prior notice and may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by notice of removal approved by holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units, Class B Units (if any), and Subordinated Units voting as a single class. Upon dissolution, removal or resignation of the Liquidator, a successor and substitute Liquidator (who shall have and succeed to all rights, powers and duties of the original Liquidator) shall within 30 days thereafter be approved by holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units, Class B Units (if any), and Subordinated Units voting as a single class. The right to approve a successor or substitute

 

85


Liquidator in the manner provided herein shall be deemed to refer also to any such successor or substitute Liquidator approved in the manner herein provided. Except as expressly provided in this Article XII, the Liquidator approved in the manner provided herein shall have and may exercise, without further authorization or consent of any of the parties hereto, all of the powers conferred upon the General Partner under the terms of this Agreement (but subject to all of the applicable limitations, contractual and otherwise, upon the exercise of such powers, other than the limitation on sale set forth in Section 7.3) necessary or appropriate to carry out the duties and functions of the Liquidator hereunder for and during the period of time required to complete the winding up and liquidation of the Partnership as provided for herein.

Section 12.4 Liquidation.

The Liquidator shall proceed to dispose of the assets of the Partnership, discharge its liabilities, and otherwise wind up its affairs in such manner and over such period as determined by the Liquidator, subject to Section 17-804 of the Delaware Act and the following:

(a) The assets may be disposed of by public or private sale or by distribution in kind to one or more Partners on such terms as the Liquidator and such Partner or Partners may agree. If any property is distributed in kind, the Partner receiving the property shall be deemed for purposes of Section 12.4(c) to have received cash equal to its fair market value; and contemporaneously therewith, appropriate cash distributions must be made to the other Partners. The Liquidator may defer liquidation or distribution of the Partnership’s assets for a reasonable time 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. The Liquidator may distribute the Partnership’s assets, in whole or in part, in kind if it determines that a sale would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the Partners.

(b) Liabilities of the Partnership include amounts owed to the Liquidator as compensation for serving in such capacity (subject to the terms of Section 12.3) and amounts to Partners otherwise than in respect of their distribution rights under Article VI. With respect to any liability that is contingent, conditional or unmatured or is otherwise not yet due and payable, the Liquidator shall either settle such claim for such amount as it thinks appropriate or establish a reserve of cash or other assets to provide for its payment. When paid, any unused portion of the reserve shall be distributed as additional liquidation proceeds.

(c) All property and all cash in excess of that required to discharge liabilities as provided in Section 12.4(b) shall be distributed to the Partners in accordance with, and to the extent of, the positive balances in their respective Capital Accounts, as determined after taking into account all Capital Account adjustments (other than those made by reason of distributions pursuant to this Section 12.4(c)) for the taxable year of the Partnership during which the liquidation of the Partnership occurs (with such date of occurrence being determined pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g)), and such distribution shall be made by the end of such taxable year (or, if later, within 90 days after said date of such occurrence).

 

86


Section 12.5 Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership .

Upon the completion of the distribution of Partnership cash and property as provided in Section 12.4 in connection with the liquidation of the Partnership, the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all qualifications of the Partnership as a foreign limited partnership in jurisdictions other than the State of Delaware shall be canceled and such other actions as may be necessary to terminate the Partnership shall be taken.

Section 12.6 Return of Contributions .

The General Partner shall not be personally liable for, and shall have no obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Partnership to enable it to effectuate, the return of the Capital Contributions of the Limited Partners or Unitholders, or any portion thereof, it being expressly understood that any such return shall be made solely from Partnership assets.

Section 12.7 Waiver of Partition .

To the maximum extent permitted by law, each Partner hereby waives any right to partition of the Partnership property.

Section 12.8 Capital Account Restoration .

No Limited Partner shall have any obligation to restore any negative balance in its Capital Account upon liquidation of the Partnership. The General Partner shall be obligated to restore any negative balance in its Capital Account upon liquidation of its interest in the Partnership by the end of the taxable year of the Partnership during which such liquidation occurs, or, if later, within 90 days after the date of such liquidation.

ARTICLE XIII

AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE

Section 13.1 Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the General Partner .

Each Partner agrees that the General Partner, without the approval of any Partner or Assignee, may amend any provision of this Agreement and execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record whatever documents may be required in connection therewith, to reflect:

(a) a change in the name of the Partnership, the location of the principal place of business of the Partnership, the registered agent of the Partnership or the registered office of the Partnership;

(b) admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of Partners in accordance with this Agreement;

(c) a change that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate to qualify or continue the qualification of the Partnership as a limited partnership or a partnership in which the Limited Partners have limited liability under the laws of any state or to ensure that the Group Members will not be treated as associations taxable as corporations or otherwise taxed as entities for federal income tax purposes;

 

87


(d) a change that the General Partner determines, (i) does not adversely affect in any material respect the Limited Partners considered as a whole or any particular class of Partnership Interests as compared to other classes of Partnership Interests, (ii) to be necessary or appropriate to (A) satisfy any requirements, conditions or guidelines contained in any opinion, directive, order, ruling or regulation of any federal or state agency or judicial authority or contained in any federal or state statute (including the Delaware Act) or (B) facilitate the trading of the Units (including the division of any class or classes of Outstanding Units into different classes to facilitate uniformity of tax consequences within such classes of Units) or comply with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are or will be listed or admitted to trading, (iii) to be necessary or appropriate in connection with action taken by the General Partner pursuant to Section 5.9 or (iv) is required to effect the intent expressed in the Registration Statement or the intent of the provisions of this Agreement or is otherwise contemplated by this Agreement;

(e) a change in the fiscal year or taxable year of the Partnership and any other changes that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate as a result of a change in the fiscal year or taxable year of the Partnership including, if the General Partner shall so determine, a change in the definition of “Quarter” and the dates on which distributions are to be made by the Partnership;

(f) an amendment that is necessary, in the Opinion of Counsel, to prevent the Partnership, or the General Partner or its directors, officers, trustees or agents from in any manner being subjected to the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or “plan asset” regulations adopted under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, regardless of whether such are substantially similar to plan asset regulations currently applied or proposed by the United States Department of Labor;

(g) an amendment that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the authorization of issuance of any class or series of Partnership Securities pursuant to Section 5.6, including any amendment that the General Partner determines is necessary or appropriate in connection with (i) the adjustments of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.11, (ii) the implementation of the provisions of Section 5.11 or (iii) any modifications to the Incentive Distribution Rights made in connection with the issuance of Partnership Securities pursuant to Section 5.6, provided that, with respect to this clause (iii), the modifications to the Incentive Distribution Rights and the related issuance of Partnership Securities have received Special Approval;

(h) any amendment expressly permitted in this Agreement to be made by the General Partner acting alone;

(i) an amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by a Merger Agreement approved in accordance with Section 14.3;

 

88


(j) an amendment that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect and account for the formation by the Partnership of, or investment by the Partnership in, any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity, in connection with the conduct by the Partnership of activities permitted by the terms of Section 2.4;

(k) a merger, conveyance or conversion pursuant to Section 14.3(d); or

(l) any other amendments substantially similar to the foregoing.

Section 13.2 Amendment Procedures .

Except as provided in Section 13.1 and Section 13.3, all amendments to this Agreement shall be made in accordance with the requirements contained in this Section 13.2. Amendments to this Agreement may be proposed only by the General Partner; provided, however, to the full extent permitted by law, that the General Partner shall have no duty or obligation to propose any amendment to this Agreement and may decline to do so free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership, any Limited Partner or Assignee and, in declining to propose an amendment, to the fullest extent permitted by law shall not be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity. A proposed amendment shall be effective upon its approval by the General Partner and the holders of a Unit Majority, unless a greater or different percentage is required under this Agreement or by Delaware law. Each proposed amendment that requires the approval of the holders of a specified percentage of Outstanding Units shall be set forth in a writing that contains the text of the proposed amendment. If such an amendment is proposed, the General Partner shall seek the written approval of the requisite percentage of Outstanding Units or call a meeting of the Unitholders to consider and vote on such proposed amendment. The General Partner shall notify all Record Holders upon final adoption of any such proposed amendments.

Section 13.3 Amendment Requirements .

(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13.1 and Section 13.2, no provision of this Agreement that establishes a percentage of Outstanding Units (including Units deemed owned by the General Partner) required to take any action shall be amended, altered, changed, repealed or rescinded in any respect that would have the effect of reducing such voting percentage unless such amendment is approved by the written consent or the affirmative vote of holders of Outstanding Units whose aggregate Outstanding Units constitute not less than the voting requirement sought to be reduced.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13.1 and Section 13.2, no amendment to this Agreement may (i) enlarge the obligations of any Limited Partner without its consent, unless such shall be deemed to have occurred as a result of an amendment approved pursuant to Section 13.3(c), 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 to, the General Partner or any of its Affiliates without its consent, which consent may be given or withheld at its option.

 

89


(c) Except as provided in Section 14.3, and without limitation of the General Partner’s authority to adopt amendments to this Agreement without the approval of any Partners or Assignees as contemplated in Section 13.1, 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 must be approved by the holders of not less than a majority of the Outstanding Partnership Interests of the class affected.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, except for amendments pursuant to Section 13.1 and except as otherwise provided by Section 14.3(b), no amendments shall become effective without the approval of the holders of at least 90% of the Outstanding Units voting as a single class unless the Partnership obtains an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such amendment will not affect the limited liability of any Limited Partner under applicable law.

(e) Except as provided in Section 13.1, this Section 13.3 shall only be amended with the approval of the holders of at least 90% of the Outstanding Units.

Section 13.4 Special Meetings .

All acts of Limited Partners to be taken pursuant to this Agreement shall be taken in the manner provided in this Article XIII. Special meetings of the Limited Partners may be called by the General Partner or by Limited Partners owning 20% or more of the Outstanding Units of the class or classes for which a meeting is proposed. Limited Partners shall call a special meeting by delivering to the General Partner one or more requests in writing stating that the signing Limited Partners wish to call a special meeting and indicating the general or specific purposes for which the special meeting is to be called. Within 60 days after receipt of such a call from Limited Partners or within such greater time as may be reasonably necessary for the Partnership to comply with any statutes, rules, regulations, listing agreements or similar requirements governing the holding of a meeting or the solicitation of proxies for use at such a meeting, the General Partner shall send a notice of the meeting to the Limited Partners either directly or indirectly through the Transfer Agent. A meeting shall be held at a time and place determined by the General Partner on a date not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days after the time notice of the meeting is given as provided in Section 16.1. Limited Partners shall not vote on matters that would cause the Limited Partners to be deemed to be taking part in the management and control of the business and affairs of the Partnership so as to jeopardize the Limited Partners’ limited liability under the Delaware Act or the law of any other state in which the Partnership is qualified to do business.

Section 13.5 Notice of a Meeting .

Notice of a meeting called pursuant to Section 13.4 shall be given to the Record Holders of the class or classes of Units for which a meeting is proposed in writing by mail or other means of written communication in accordance with Section 16.1 at least 10 days in advance of such meeting. The notice shall be deemed to have been given at the time when deposited in the mail or sent by other means of written communication.

 

90


Section 13.6 Record Date.

For purposes of determining the Limited Partners entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the Limited Partners or to give approvals without a meeting as provided in Section 13.11 the General Partner may set a Record Date, which shall not be less than 10 nor more than 60 days before (a) the date of the meeting (unless such requirement conflicts with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to trading, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such National Securities Exchange shall govern) or (b) in the event that approvals are sought without a meeting, the date by which Limited Partners are requested in writing by the General Partner to give such approvals. If the General Partner does not set a Record Date, then (a) the Record Date for determining the Limited Partners entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the Limited Partners shall be the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, and (b) the Record Date for determining the Limited Partners entitled to give approvals without a meeting shall be the date the first written approval is deposited with the Partnership in care of the General Partner in accordance with Section 13.11.

Section 13.7 Adjournment.

When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting and a new Record Date need not be fixed, if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, unless such adjournment shall be for more than 45 days. At the adjourned meeting, the Partnership may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 45 days or if a new Record Date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given in accordance with this Article XIII.

Section 13.8 Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting .

The transactions of any meeting of Limited Partners, however called and noticed, and whenever held, shall be as valid as if it had occurred at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice, if a quorum is present either in person or by proxy. Attendance of a Limited Partner at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of the meeting, except when the Limited Partner attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened; and except that attendance at a meeting is not a waiver of any right to disapprove the consideration of matters required to be included in the notice of the meeting, but not so included, if the disapproval is expressly made at the meeting.

Section 13.9 Quorum and Voting .

The holders of a majority of the Outstanding Units of the class or classes for which a meeting has been called (including Outstanding Units deemed owned by the General Partner) represented in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of Limited Partners of such class or classes unless any such action by the Limited Partners requires approval by holders

 

91


of a greater percentage of such Units, in which case the quorum shall be such greater percentage. At any meeting of the Limited Partners duly called and held in accordance with this Agreement at which a quorum is present, the act of Limited Partners holding Outstanding Units that in the aggregate represent a majority of the Outstanding Units entitled to vote and be present in person or by proxy at such meeting shall be deemed to constitute the act of all Limited Partners, unless a greater or different percentage is required with respect to such action under the provisions of this Agreement, in which case the act of the Limited Partners holding Outstanding Units that in the aggregate represent at least such greater or different percentage shall be required. The Limited Partners present at a duly called or held meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough Limited Partners to leave less than a quorum, if any action taken (other than adjournment) is approved by the required percentage of Outstanding Units specified in this Agreement (including Outstanding Units deemed owned by the General Partner). In the absence of a quorum any meeting of Limited Partners may be adjourned from time to time by the affirmative vote of holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Units entitled to vote at such meeting (including Outstanding Units deemed owned by the General Partner) represented either in person or by proxy, but no other business may be transacted, except as provided in Section 13.7.

Section 13.10 Conduct of a Meeting .

The General Partner shall have full power and authority concerning the manner of conducting any meeting of the Limited Partners or solicitation of approvals in writing, including the determination of Persons entitled to vote, the existence of a quorum, the satisfaction of the requirements of Section 13.4, the conduct of voting, the validity and effect of any proxies and the determination of any controversies, votes or challenges arising in connection with or during the meeting or voting. The General Partner shall designate a Person to serve as chairman of any meeting and shall further designate a Person to take the minutes of any meeting. All minutes shall be kept with the records of the Partnership maintained by the General Partner. The General Partner may make such other regulations consistent with applicable law and this Agreement as it may deem advisable concerning the conduct of any meeting of the Limited Partners or solicitation of approvals in writing, including regulations in regard to the appointment of proxies, the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes and approvals, the submission and examination of proxies and other evidence of the right to vote, and the revocation of approvals in writing.

Section 13.11 Action Without a Meeting .

If authorized by the General Partner, any action that may be taken at a meeting of the Limited Partners may be taken without a meeting if an approval in writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by Limited Partners owning not less than the minimum percentage of the Outstanding Units (including Units deemed owned by the General Partner) that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all the Limited Partners were present and voted (unless such provision conflicts with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to trading, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such National Securities Exchange shall govern). Prompt notice of the taking of action without a meeting shall be given to the Limited Partners who have not approved in writing. The General Partner may specify that any written ballot submitted to Limited Partners for the purpose of taking any action without a

 

92


meeting shall be returned to the Partnership within the time period, which shall be not less than 20 days, specified by the General Partner. If a ballot returned to the Partnership does not vote all of the Units held by the Limited Partners, the Partnership shall be deemed to have failed to receive a ballot for the Units that were not voted. If approval of the taking of any action by the Limited Partners is solicited by any Person other than by or on behalf of the General Partner, the written approvals shall have no force and effect unless and until (a) they are deposited with the Partnership in care of the General Partner, (b) approvals sufficient to take the action proposed are dated as of a date not more than 90 days prior to the date sufficient approvals are deposited with the Partnership and (c) an Opinion of Counsel is delivered to the General Partner to the effect that the exercise of such right and the action proposed to be taken with respect to any particular matter (i) will not cause the Limited Partners to be deemed to be taking part in the management and control of the business and affairs of the Partnership so as to jeopardize the Limited Partners’ limited liability, and (ii) is otherwise permissible under the state statutes then governing the rights, duties and liabilities of the Partnership and the Partners.

Section 13.12 Right to Vote and Related Matters .

(a) Only those Record Holders of the Units on the Record Date set pursuant to Section 13.6 (and also subject to the limitations contained in the definition of “Outstanding”) shall be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, a meeting of Limited Partners or to act with respect to matters as to which the holders of the Outstanding Units have the right to vote or to act. All references in this Agreement to votes of, or other acts that may be taken by, the Outstanding Units shall be deemed to be references to the votes or acts of the Record Holders of such Outstanding Units.

(b) With respect to Units that are held for a Person’s account by another Person (such as a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation, or an agent of any of the foregoing), in whose name such Units are registered, such other Person shall, in exercising the voting rights in respect of such Units on any matter, and unless the arrangement between such Persons provides otherwise, vote such Units in favor of, and at the direction of, the Person who is the beneficial owner, and the Partnership shall be entitled to assume it is so acting without further inquiry. The provisions of this Section 13.12(b) (as well as all other provisions of this Agreement) are subject to the provisions of Section 4.3.

ARTICLE XIV

MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION

Section 14.1 Authority.

The Partnership may merge or consolidate with or into one or more corporations, limited liability companies, statutory trusts or associations, real estate investment trusts, common law trusts or unincorporated businesses, including a partnership (whether general or limited (including a limited liability partnership)) or convert into any such entity, whether such entity is formed under the laws of the State of Delaware or any other state of the United States of America, pursuant to a written plan of merger or consolidation (“Merger Agreement”) or a written plan of conversion (“Plan of Conversion”), as the case may be, in accordance with this Article XIV.

 

93


Section 14.2 Procedure for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion .

(a) Merger, consolidation or conversion of the Partnership pursuant to this Article XIV requires the prior consent of the General Partner, provided, however, that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the General Partner shall have no duty or obligation to consent to any merger, consolidation or conversion of the Partnership and may decline to do so free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership, any Limited Partner or Assignee and, in declining to consent to a merger, consolidation or conversion, shall not be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity.

(b) If the General Partner shall determine to consent to the merger or consolidation, the General Partner shall approve the Merger Agreement, which shall set forth:

(i) name and state of domicile of each of the business entities proposing to merge or consolidate;

(ii) the name and state of domicile of the business entity that is to survive the proposed merger or consolidation (the “Surviving Business Entity”);

(iii) the terms and conditions of the proposed merger or consolidation;

(iv) the manner and basis of exchanging or converting the equity securities of each constituent business entity for, or into, cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity; and (i) if any general or limited partner interests, securities or rights of any constituent business entity are not to be exchanged or converted solely for, or into, cash, property or general or limited partner interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity, the cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of any general or limited partnership, corporation, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated business or other entity (other than the Surviving Business Entity) which the holders of such general or limited partner interests, securities or rights are to receive in exchange for, or upon conversion of their interests, securities or rights, and (ii) in the case of securities represented by certificates, upon the surrender of such certificates, which cash, property or general or limited partner interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity or any general or limited partnership, corporation, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated business or other entity (other than the Surviving Business Entity), or evidences thereof, are to be delivered;

(v) a statement of any changes in the constituent documents or the adoption of new constituent documents (the articles or certificate of incorporation, articles of trust, declaration of trust, certificate or agreement of limited partnership, certificate of formation or limited liability company agreement, operating agreement or other similar charter or governing document) of the Surviving Business Entity to be effected by such merger or consolidation;

(vi) the effective time of the merger, which may be the date of the filing of the certificate of merger pursuant to Section 14.4 or a later date specified in or determinable in accordance with the Merger Agreement (provided, that if the effective time of the merger is to be later than the date of the filing of such certificate of merger, the effective time shall be fixed at a date or time certain at or prior to the time of the filing of such certificate of merger and stated therein); and

 

94


(vii) such other provisions with respect to the proposed merger or consolidation that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.

(c) If the General Partner shall determine to consent to the conversion, the General Partner shall approve the Plan of Conversion, which shall set forth:

(i) the name of the converting entity and the converted entity;

(ii) a statement that the Partnership is continuing its existence in the organizational form of the converted entity;

(iii) a statement as to the type of entity that the converted entity is to be and the state or country under the laws of which the converted entity is to be incorporated, formed or organized;

(iv) the manner and basis of exchanging or converting the equity securities of each constituent business entity for, or into, cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of the converted entity;

(v) in an attachment or exhibit, the certificate of limited partnership of the Partnership; and

(vi) in an attachment or exhibit, the certificate of limited partnership, articles of incorporation, or other organizational documents of the converted entity;

(vii) the effective time of the conversion, which may be the date of the filing of the articles of conversion or a later date specified in or determinable in accordance with the Plan of Conversion (provided, that if the effective time of the conversion is to be later than the date of the filing of such articles of conversion, the effective time shall be fixed at a date or time certain at or prior to the time of the filing of such articles of conversion and stated therein); and

(viii) such other provisions with respect to the proposed conversion that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.

Section 14.3 Approval by Limited Partners .

(a) Except as provided in Sections 14.3(d) and 14.3(c), the General Partner, upon its approval of the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, shall direct that the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as applicable, be submitted to a vote of Limited Partners, whether at a special meeting or by written consent, in either case in accordance with the requirements of Article XIII. A copy or a summary of the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, shall be included in or enclosed with the notice of a special meeting or the written consent.

 

95


(b) Except as provided in Sections 14.3(d) and 14.3(c), the Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, shall be approved upon receiving the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of a Unit Majority.

(c) Except as provided in Sections 14.3(d) and 14.3(c), after such approval by vote or consent of the Limited Partners, and at any time prior to the filing of the certificate of merger or articles of conversion pursuant to Section 14.4, the merger, consolidation or conversion may be abandoned pursuant to provisions therefor, if any, set forth in the Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion, as the case may be.

(d) Notwithstanding anything else contained in this Article XIV or in this Agreement, the General Partner is permitted, without Limited Partner approval, to convert the Partnership or any Group Member into a new limited liability entity, to merge the Partnership or any Group Member into, or convey all of the Partnership’s assets to, another limited liability entity that shall be newly formed and shall have no assets, liabilities or operations at the time of such conversion, merger or conveyance other than those it receives from the Partnership or other Group Member if (i) the General Partner has received an Opinion of Counsel that the conversion, merger or conveyance, as the case may be, would not result in the loss of the limited liability of any Limited Partner or cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not previously treated as such), (ii) the sole purpose of such conversion, merger, or conveyance is to effect a mere change in the legal form of the Partnership into another limited liability entity and (iii) the governing instruments of the new entity provide the Limited Partners and the General Partner with the same rights and obligations as are herein contained.

(e) Additionally, notwithstanding anything else contained in this Article XIV or in this Agreement, the General Partner is permitted, without Limited Partner approval, to merge or consolidate the Partnership with or into another entity if (A) the General Partner has received an Opinion of Counsel that the merger or consolidation, as the case may be, would not result in the loss of the limited liability of any Limited Partner or cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not previously treated as such), (B) the merger or consolidation would not result in an amendment to the Partnership Agreement, other than any amendments that could be adopted pursuant to Section 13.1, (C) the Partnership is the Surviving Business Entity in such merger or consolidation, (D) each Unit outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of the merger or consolidation is to be an identical Unit of the Partnership after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, and (E) the number of Partnership Securities to be issued by the Partnership in such merger or consolidation do not exceed 20% of the Partnership Securities Outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of such merger or consolidation.

(f) Pursuant to Section 17-211(g) of the Delaware Act, an agreement of merger or consolidation approved in accordance with this Article XIV may (a) effect any amendment to this Agreement or (b) effect the adoption of a new partnership agreement for the Partnership if it is the Surviving Business Entity. Any such amendment or adoption made pursuant to this Section 14.3 shall be effective at the effective time or date of the merger or consolidation.

 

96


Section 14.4 Certificate of Merger .

Upon the required approval by the General Partner and the Unitholders of a Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, a certificate of merger or articles of conversion, as applicable, shall be executed and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in conformity with the requirements of the Delaware Act.

Section 14.5 Effect of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion .

(a) At the effective time of the certificate of merger:

(i) all of the rights, privileges and powers of each of the business entities that has merged or consolidated, and all property, real, personal and mixed, and all debts due to any of those business entities and all other things and causes of action belonging to each of those business entities, shall be vested in the Surviving Business Entity and after the merger or consolidation shall be the property of the Surviving Business Entity to the extent they were of each constituent business entity;

(ii) the title to any real property vested by deed or otherwise in any of those constituent business entities shall not revert and is not in any way impaired because of the merger or consolidation;

(iii) all rights of creditors and all liens on or security interests in property of any of those constituent business entities shall be preserved unimpaired; and

(iv) all debts, liabilities and duties of those constituent business entities shall attach to the Surviving Business Entity and may be enforced against it to the same extent as if the debts, liabilities and duties had been incurred or contracted by it.

(b) At the effective time of the articles of conversion:

(i) the Partnership shall continue to exist, without interruption, but in the organizational form of the converted entity rather than in its prior organizational form;

(ii) all rights, title, and interests to all real estate and other property owned by the Partnership shall continue to be owned by the converted entity in its new organizational form without reversion or impairment, without further act or deed, and without any transfer or assignment having occurred, but subject to any existing liens or other encumbrances thereon;

(iii) all liabilities and obligations of the Partnership shall continue to be liabilities and obligations of the converted entity in its new organizational form without impairment or diminution by reason of the conversion;

(iv) all rights of creditors or other parties with respect to or against the prior interest holders or other owners of the Partnership in their capacities as such in existence as of the effective time of the conversion will continue in existence as to those liabilities and obligations and may be pursued by such creditors and obligees as if the conversion did not occur;

 

97


(v) a proceeding pending by or against the Partnership or by or against any of Partners in their capacities as such may be continued by or against the converted entity in its new organizational form and by or against the prior partners without any need for substitution of parties; and

(vi) the Partnership Units that are to be converted into partnership interests, shares, evidences of ownership, or other securities in the converted entity as provided in the plan of conversion shall be so converted, and Partners shall be entitled only to the rights provided in the Plan of Conversion.

ARTICLE XV

RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS

Section 15.1 Right to Acquire Limited Partner Interests .

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if at any time the General Partner and its Affiliates hold more than 80% of the total Limited Partner Interests of any class then Outstanding, the General Partner shall then have the right, which right it may assign and transfer in whole or in part to the Partnership or any Affiliate of the General Partner, exercisable at its option, to purchase all, but not less than all, of such Limited Partner Interests of such class then Outstanding held by Persons other than the General Partner and its Affiliates, at the greater of (x) the Current Market Price as of the date three days prior to the date that the notice described in Section 15.1(b) is mailed and (y) the highest price paid by the General Partner or any of its Affiliates for any such Limited Partner Interest of such class purchased during the 90-day period preceding the date that the notice described in Section 15.1(b) is mailed.

(b) If the General Partner, any Affiliate of the General Partner or the Partnership elects to exercise the right to purchase Limited Partner Interests granted pursuant to Section 15.1(a), the General Partner shall deliver to the Transfer Agent notice of such election to purchase (the “Notice of Election to Purchase”) and shall cause the Transfer Agent to mail a copy of such Notice of Election to Purchase to the Record Holders of Limited Partner Interests of such class or classes (as of a Record Date selected by the General Partner) at least 10, but not more than 60, days prior to the Purchase Date. Such Notice of Election to Purchase shall also be published for a period of at least three consecutive days in at least two daily newspapers of general circulation printed in the English language and published in the Borough of Manhattan, New York. The Notice of Election to Purchase shall specify the Purchase Date and the price (determined in accordance with Section 15.1(a)) at which Limited Partner Interests will be purchased and state that the General Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be, elects to purchase such Limited Partner Interests, upon surrender of Certificates representing such Limited Partner Interests in exchange for payment, at such office or offices of the Transfer Agent as the Transfer Agent may specify, or as may be required by any National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests are listed. Any such Notice of Election to Purchase mailed to a Record Holder of Limited Partner Interests at his address as reflected in the records of the Transfer Agent shall be conclusively presumed to have been given regardless of whether the owner receives such notice. On or prior to the Purchase Date, the General Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be, shall deposit with the Transfer Agent cash in an amount sufficient to pay the aggregate purchase price of all of such Limited Partner Interests to

 

98


be purchased in accordance with this Section 15.1. If the Notice of Election to Purchase shall have been duly given as aforesaid at least 10 days prior to the Purchase Date, and if on or prior to the Purchase Date the deposit described in the preceding sentence has been made for the benefit of the holders of Limited Partner Interests subject to purchase as provided herein, then from and after the Purchase Date, notwithstanding that any Certificate shall not have been surrendered for purchase, all rights of the holders of such Limited Partner Interests (including any rights pursuant to Article IV, Article V, Article VI, and Article XII) shall thereupon cease, except the right to receive the purchase price (determined in accordance with Section 15.1(a)) for Limited Partner Interests therefor, without interest, upon surrender to the Transfer Agent of the Certificates representing such Limited Partner Interests, and such Limited Partner Interests shall thereupon be deemed to be transferred to the General Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be, on the record books of the Transfer Agent and the Partnership, and the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner, or the Partnership, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be the owner of all such Limited Partner Interests from and after the Purchase Date and shall have all rights as the owner of such Limited Partner Interests (including all rights as owner of such Limited Partner Interests pursuant to Article IV, Article V, Article VI and Article XII).

(c) At any time from and after the Purchase Date, a holder of an Outstanding Limited Partner Interest subject to purchase as provided in this Section 15.1 may surrender his Certificate evidencing such Limited Partner Interest to the Transfer Agent in exchange for payment of the amount described in Section 15.1(a), therefor, without interest thereon.

ARTICLE XVI

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 16.1 Addresses and Notices; Written Communications .

(a) Any notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials required or permitted to be given or made to a Partner or Assignee under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given or made when delivered in person or when sent by first class United States mail or by other means of written communication to the Partner or Assignee at the address described below. Any notice, payment or report to be given or made to a Partner or Assignee hereunder shall be deemed conclusively to have been given or made, and the obligation to give such notice or report or to make such payment shall be deemed conclusively to have been fully satisfied, upon sending of such notice, payment or report to the Record Holder of such Partnership Securities at his address as shown on the records of the Transfer Agent or as otherwise shown on the records of the Partnership, regardless of any claim of any Person who may have an interest in such Partnership Securities by reason of any assignment or otherwise. An affidavit or certificate of making of any notice, payment or report in accordance with the provisions of this Section 16.1 executed by the General Partner, the Transfer Agent or the mailing organization shall be prima facie evidence of the giving or making of such notice, payment or report. If any notice, payment or report addressed to a Record Holder at the address of such Record Holder appearing on the books and records of the Transfer Agent or the Partnership is returned by the United States Postal Service marked to indicate that the United States Postal Service is unable to deliver it, such notice, payment or report and any subsequent notices, payments and reports shall be deemed to have been duly given or made without further mailing (until such time as such Record Holder or another Person notifies the Transfer Agent or the Partnership of a change in his

 

99


address) if they are available for the Partner or Assignee at the principal office of the Partnership for a period of one year from the date of the giving or making of such notice, payment or report to the other Partners and Assignees. Any notice to the Partnership shall be deemed given if received by the General Partner at the principal office of the Partnership designated pursuant to Section 2.3. The General Partner may rely and shall be protected in relying on any notice or other document from a Partner, Assignee or other Person if believed by it to be genuine.

(b) The terms “in writing”, “written communications,” “written notice” and words of similar import shall be deemed satisfied under this Agreement by use of e-mail and other forms of electronic communication.

Section 16.2 Further Action .

The parties shall execute and deliver all documents, provide all information and take or refrain from taking action as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this Agreement.

Section 16.3 Binding Effect .

This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns.

Section 16.4 Integration.

This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings pertaining thereto.

Section 16.5 Creditors.

None of the provisions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit of, or shall be enforceable by, any creditor of the Partnership.

Section 16.6 Waiver.

No failure by any party to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant, duty, agreement or condition of this Agreement or to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon a breach thereof shall constitute waiver of any such breach of any other covenant, duty, agreement or condition.

Section 16.7 Third-Party Beneficiaries .

Each Partner agrees that any Indemnitee shall be entitled to assert rights and remedies hereunder as a third-party beneficiary hereto with respect to those provisions of this Agreement affording a right, benefit or privilege to such Indemnitee.

 

100


Section 16.8 Counterparts.

This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, all of which together shall constitute an agreement binding on all the parties hereto, notwithstanding that all such parties are not signatories to the original or the same counterpart. Each party shall become bound by this Agreement immediately upon affixing its signature hereto or, in the case of a Person acquiring a Unit, upon accepting the certificate evidencing such Unit or executing and delivering a Transfer Application as herein described, independently of the signature of any other party.

Section 16.9 Applicable Law .

This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law.

Section 16.10 Invalidity of Provisions .

If any provision of this Agreement is or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected thereby.

Section 16.11 Consent of Partners .

Each Partner hereby expressly consents and agrees that, whenever in this Agreement it is specified that an action may be taken upon the affirmative vote or consent of less than all of the Partners, such action may be so taken upon the concurrence of less than all of the Partners and each Partner shall be bound by the results of such action.

Section 16.12 Facsimile Signatures .

The use of facsimile signatures affixed in the name and on behalf of the transfer agent and registrar of the Partnership on certificates representing Common Units is expressly permitted by this Agreement.

[REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]

 

101


IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

GENERAL PARTNER
SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS (DE) GP, LP
By:  

SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS GP, LLC,

its general partner

By:   /s/ Julie A. Dill
  Name: Julie A. Dill
  Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
LIMITED PARTNERS:
All Limited Partners now and hereafter admitted as Limited Partners of the Partnership, pursuant to powers of attorney now and hereafter executed in favor of, and granted and delivered to the General Partner.
SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS (DE) GP, LP
By:  

SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS GP, LLC,

its general partner

By:   /s/ Julie A. Dill
  Name: Julie A. Dill
  Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

[Signature Page — Second Amended & Restated Agreement

of Limited Partnership of Spectra Energy Partners, LP]


EXHIBIT A

to the Second Amended and Restated

Agreement of Limited Partnership of

Spectra Energy Partners, LP

Certificate Evidencing Common Units

Representing Limited Partner Interests in

Spectra Energy Partners, LP

 

No.    Common Units

In accordance with Section 4.1 of the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Spectra Energy Partners, LP, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time (the “Partnership Agreement”), Spectra Energy Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), hereby certifies that (the “Holder”) is the registered owner of Common Units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the “Common Units”) transferable on the books of the Partnership, in person or by duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed and accompanied by a properly executed application for transfer of the Common Units represented by this Certificate. The rights, preferences and limitations of the Common Units are set forth in, and this Certificate and the Common Units represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the terms and provisions of, the Partnership Agreement. Copies of the Partnership Agreement are on file at, and will be furnished without charge on delivery of written request to the Partnership at, the principal office of the Partnership located at 5400 Westheimer Court, Houston, Texas, 77056. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings given them in the Partnership Agreement.

The Holder, by accepting this Certificate, is deemed to have (i) requested admission as, and agreed to become, a Limited Partner and to have agreed to comply with and be bound by and to have executed the Partnership Agreement, (ii) represented and warranted that the Holder has all right, power and authority and, if an individual, the capacity necessary to enter into the Partnership Agreement, (iii) granted the powers of attorney provided for in the Partnership Agreement and (iv) made the waivers and given the consents and approvals contained in the Partnership Agreement.

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY ACKNOWLEDGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP THAT THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IF SUCH TRANSFER WOULD (A) VIOLATE THE THEN APPLICABLE FEDERAL OR STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY WITH JURISDICTION OVER SUCH TRANSFER, (B) TERMINATE THE EXISTENCE OR QUALIFICATION OF SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, OR (C) CAUSE SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP TO BE TREATED AS AN ASSOCIATION TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE TO BE TAXED AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES (TO THE EXTENT NOT ALREADY SO TREATED OR

 

A-1


TAXED). SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS (DE) GP, LP, THE GENERAL PARTNER OF SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP, MAY IMPOSE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IF IT RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL THAT SUCH RESTRICTIONS ARE NECESSARY TO AVOID A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP BECOMING TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE BECOMING TAXABLE AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES. THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL NOT PRECLUDE THE SETTLEMENT OF ANY TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY ENTERED INTO THROUGH THE FACILITIES OF ANY NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY IS LISTED OR ADMITTED TO TRADING.

This Certificate shall not be valid for any purpose unless it has been countersigned and registered by the Transfer Agent and Registrar.

 

Dated:      Spectra Energy Partners, LP
Countersigned and Registered by:       
     By:   Spectra Energy Partners (DE) GP, LP, its General Partner
       By:   Spectra Energy Partners GP, LLC, its General Partner
        
as Transfer Agent and Registrar      By:    
       Name:    
By:          By:    
Authorized Signature        Secretary

[Reverse of Certificate]

ABBREVIATIONS

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this Certificate, shall be construed as follows according to applicable laws or regulations:

 

TEN COM — as tenants in common      UNIF GIFT/TRANSFERS MIN ACT
TEN ENT — as tenants by the entireties          Custodian            
        
             (Cust)   (Minor)    

JT TEN — as joint tenants with right of survivorship

                  and not as tenants in common

     under Uniform Gifts/Transfers to CD Minors Act (State)

 

A-2


Additional abbreviations, though not in the above list, may also be used.

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED,      hereby assigns, conveys, sells and transfers unto
        
(Please print or typewrite name and address of Assignee)      (Please insert Social Security or other identifying number of Assignee)

Common Units representing limited partner interests evidenced by this Certificate, subject to the Partnership Agreement, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint as its attorney-in-fact with full power of substitution to transfer the same on the books of Spectra Energy Partners, LP

 

Date:   NOTE:            The signature to any endorsement hereon must correspond with the name as written upon the face of this Certificate in every particular, without alteration, enlargement or change.

THE SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM), PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15

      

 

 

(Signature)

 

 

(Signature)

No transfer of the Common Units evidenced hereby will be registered on the books of the Partnership, unless the Certificate evidencing the Common Units to be transferred is surrendered for registration or transfer and an Application for Transfer of Common Units has been properly completed and executed by a transferee either (a) on the form set forth below or (b) on a separate application that the Partnership will furnish on request without charge. A transferor of the Common Units shall have no duty to the transferee with respect to execution of the Application for Transfer of Common Units in order for such transferee to obtain registration of the transfer of the Common Units.

 

A-3


APPLICATION FOR TRANSFER OF COMMON UNITS

Transferees of Common Units must execute and deliver this application to Spectra Energy Partners, LP, c/o Spectra Energy Partners (DE) GP, LP, 5400 Westheimer Court, Houston, Texas, 77056; Attn: CFO , to be admitted as limited partners to Spectra Energy Partners, LP.

The undersigned (“ Assignee ”) hereby applies for transfer to the name of the Assignee of the Common Units evidenced hereby and hereby certifies to Spectra Energy Partners, LP (the “ Partnership ”) that the Assignee (including to the best of Assignee’s knowledge, any person for whom the Assignee will hold the Common Units) is not an Ineligible Holder as of the date of this application.(1)

The Assignee (a) requests admission as a Substituted Limited Partner and agrees to comply with and be bound by, and hereby executes, the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Spectra Energy Partners, LP, as amended, supplemented or restated to the date hereof (the “ Partnership Agreement ”), (b) represents and warrants that the Assignee has all right, power and authority and, if an individual, the capacity necessary to enter into the Partnership Agreement, (c) appoints the General Partner of the Partnership and, if a Liquidator shall be appointed, the Liquidator of the Partnership as the Assignee’s attorney-in-fact to execute, swear to, acknowledge and file any document, including the Partnership Agreement and any amendment thereto and the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership and any amendment thereto, necessary or appropriate for the Assignee’s admission as a Substituted Limited Partner and as a party to the Partnership Agreement, (d) gives the powers of attorney provided for in the Partnership Agreement, and (e) makes the waivers and gives the consents and approvals contained in the Partnership Agreement. Capitalized terms not defined herein have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Partnership Agreement. This application constitutes a Taxation Certification, as defined in the Partnership Agreement.

 

 

Date:

 

 

Social Security or other identifying number

 

 

Signature of Assignee

 

 

Purchase Price including commissions, if any

 

 

Name and Address of Assignee

 

 

Type of Entity (check one):

 

A-4


¨ Individual ¨ Partnership ¨ Corporation

¨ Trust ¨ Other (specify)

 

(1) The term “Ineligible Holder” means a Person whose, or whose beneficial owners, U.S. federal income tax status (or lack of proof of the U.S. federal income tax status) has or is reasonably likely to have, as determined by the General Partner, a material adverse effect on the rates that can be charged to customers by any Group Member with respect to assets that are subject to regulation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or similar regulatory body. The term “Eligible Holder” means a Limited Partner that is not a Ineligible Holder. Schedule I hereto contains a list of various types of investors that are categorized and identified as either “Eligible Holders” or “Ineligible Holders.”

If not an Individual (check one):

¨ the entity is subject to United States federal income taxation on the income generated by the Partnership;

¨ the entity is not subject to United States federal income taxation, but it is a pass-through entity and all of its beneficial owners are subject to United States federal income tax on the income generated by the Partnership;

¨ the entity is not subject to United States federal income taxation and it is (a) not a pass-through entity or (b) a pass-through entity, but not all of its beneficial owners are subject to United States federal income taxation on the income generated by the Partnership.

Nationality (check one):

¨ U.S. Citizen, Resident or Domestic Entity ¨ Non-resident Alien

¨ Foreign Corporation

If the U.S. Citizen, Resident or Domestic Entity box is checked, the following certification must be completed.

Under Section 1445(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), the Partnership must withhold tax with respect to certain transfers of property if a holder of an interest in the Partnership is a foreign person. To inform the Partnership that no withholding is required with respect to the undersigned interestholder’s interest in it, the undersigned hereby certifies the following (or, if applicable, certifies the following on behalf of the interestholder).

 

A-5


Complete Either A or B:

 

A. Individual Interestholder

 

  1. I am not a non-resident alien for purposes of U.S. income taxation.

 

  2. My U.S. taxpayer identification number (Social Security Number) is .

 

  3. My home address is .

 

B. Partnership, Corporation or Other Interestholder

 

  1. is not a foreign corporation, foreign partnership, foreign trust (Name of Interestholder) or foreign estate (as those terms are defined in the Code and Treasury Regulations).

 

  2. The interestholder’s U.S. employer identification number is .

 

  3. The interestholder’s office address and place of incorporation (if applicable) is .

The interestholder agrees to notify the Partnership within sixty (60) days of the date the interestholder becomes a foreign person.

The interestholder understands that this certificate may be disclosed to the Internal Revenue Service and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission by the Partnership and that any false statement contained herein could be punishable by fine, imprisonment or both.

Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this certification and, to the best of my knowledge and belief, it is true, correct and complete and, if applicable, I further declare that I have authority to sign this document on behalf of:

 

 

Name of Interestholder

 

 

Signature and Date

 

 

Title (if applicable)

Note: If the Assignee is a broker, dealer, bank, trust company, clearing corporation, other nominee holder or an agent of any of the foregoing, and is holding for the account of any other person, this application should be completed by an officer thereof or, in the case of a broker or dealer, by a registered representative who is a member of a registered national securities exchange or a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or, in the case of any other nominee holder, a person performing a similar function. If the Assignee is a broker, dealer, bank, trust company, clearing corporation, other nominee owner or an agent of any of the foregoing, the above certification as to any person for whom the Assignee will hold the Common Units shall be made to the best of the Assignee’s knowledge.

 

A-6


SCHEDULE I

(as of November 1, 2013)

The Partnership’s General Partner may change its determination of what types of persons or entities are considered Eligible Holders at any time. An updated version of the Transfer Application is available from the Partnership’s website at http://www.spectraenergypartners.com .

Eligible Holders

The following are currently considered Eligible Holders:

 

    Individuals (U.S. or non-U.S.)

 

    C corporations (U.S. or non-U.S.)

 

    Tax exempt organizations subject to tax on unrelated business taxable income or “UBTI,” including IRAs, 401(k) plans and Keough accounts

 

    S corporations with shareholders that are individuals, trusts or tax exempt organizations subject to tax on UBTI

 

    Mutual funds

Potentially Eligible Holders

The following are currently considered Eligible Holders, unless the information in parenthesis applies:

 

    S corporations (unless they have ESOP shareholders*)

 

    Partnerships (unless their partners include mutual funds, real estate investment trusts or “REITs,” governmental entities and agencies, S corporations with ESOP shareholders* or other partnerships with such partners)

 

    Trusts (unless beneficiaries are not subject to tax)

Eligible Holders

The following are currently not considered Eligible Holders:

 

    REITs

 

    Governmental entities and agencies

 

    S corporations with ESOP shareholders*

 

    “S corporations with ESOP shareholders” are S corporations with shareholders that include employee stock ownership plans.

 

A-8

Exhibit 3.2

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

OF

SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS GP, LLC

A Delaware Limited Liability Company

Dated as of

November 1, 2013


THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED

LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

OF

SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS GP, LLC

A Delaware Limited Liability Company

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE 1   
DEFINITIONS   

1.01    

   Definitions      1   

1.02

   Construction      1   
ARTICLE 2   
ORGANIZATION   

2.01

   Formation      2   

2.02

   Name      2   

2.03

   Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices      2   

2.04

   Purpose      2   

2.05

   Term      2   

2.06

   No State-law Partnership; Withdrawal      2   

2.07

   Certain Undertakings Relating to Separateness      3   
ARTICLE 3   
MATTERS RELATING TO MEMBERS   

3.01

   Members      4   

3.02

   Creation of Additional Membership Interest      4   

3.03

   Liability to Third Parties      5   
ARTICLE 4   
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS   

4.01

   Capital Contributions      5   

4.02

   Loans      5   

4.03

   Return of Contributions      5   
ARTICLE 5   
DISTRIBUTIONS   

5.01

   Distributions      5   
ARTICLE 6   
MANAGEMENT   

6.01

   Management      5   

 

i


6.02    

   Board of Directors      8   

6.03

   Officers      10   

6.04

   Duties of Officers and Directors      12   

6.05

   Compensation      12   

6.06

   Indemnification      12   

6.07

   Liability of Indemnitees      14   
ARTICLE 7   
TAX MATTERS   

7.01

   Tax Returns and Tax Characterization      15   
ARTICLE 8   
BOOKS, RECORDS, REPORTS, AND BANK ACCOUNTS   

8.01

   Maintenance of Books      15   

8.02

   Reports      15   

8.03

   Bank Accounts      15   
ARTICLE 9   
DISSOLUTION, WINDING-UP AND TERMINATION   

9.01

   Dissolution      16   

9.02

   Winding-Up and Termination      16   
ARTICLE 10   
MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION   

10.01

   Authority      17   

10.02

   Procedure for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion      17   

10.03

   Approval by Members of Merger or Consolidation      18   

10.04

   Certificate of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion      19   
ARTICLE 11   
GENERAL PROVISIONS   

11.01

   Notices      20   

11.02

   Entire Agreement; Supersedure      21   

11.03

   Effect of Waiver or Consent      21   

11.04

   Amendment or Restatement      21   

11.05

   Binding Effect      21   

11.06

   Governing Law; Severability      21   

11.07

   Further Assurances      21   

11.08

   Offset      22   

11.09

   Counterparts      22   

 

ii


THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED

LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

OF

SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS GP, LLC

A Delaware Limited Liability Company

THIS THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) of Spectra Energy Partners GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”), executed and effective as of November 1, 2013 (the “ Effective Date ”), is adopted, executed and agreed to, by Spectra Energy Southeast Pipeline Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“ SESPC ”), as the sole Member of the Company.

RECITALS

A. Spectra Energy Transmission, LLC (“ SET ”) formed the Company on March 19, 2007 as the sole member.

B. The Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company was executed effective March 19, 2007, the First Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company was executed effective July 2, 2007 and the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company was executed effective May 8, 2013 (the “ Existing Agreement ”).

C. SET assigned its interest in the Company to SESPC on August 1, 2013 and, effective as of that date, SESPC was admitted as the sole Member of the Company.

D. SESPC, the sole Member of the Company, deems it advisable to amend and restate the limited liability company agreement of the Company in its entirety as set forth herein.

AGREEMENTS

For and in consideration of the premises, the covenants and agreements set forth herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, SESPC, as the sole Member of the Company, hereby amends and restates the Existing Agreement in its entirety as follows:

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS

1.01 Definitions . Each capitalized term used herein shall have the meaning given such term in Attachment I.

1.02 Construction . Unless the context requires otherwise: (a) the gender (or lack of gender) of all words used in this Agreement includes the masculine, feminine and neuter; (b) references to Articles and Sections refer to Articles and Sections of this Agreement; (c) references to laws refer to such laws as they may be amended from time to time, and references to particular provisions of a law include any corresponding provisions of any succeeding law; (d) references to money refer to legal currency of the United States of America; (e) “including”

 

1


means “including without limitation” and is a term of illustration and not of limitation; (f) all definitions set forth herein shall be deemed applicable whether the words defined are used herein in the singular or the plural; and (g) neither this Agreement nor any other agreement, document or instrument referred to herein or executed and delivered in connection herewith shall be construed against any Person as the principal draftsperson hereof or thereof.

ARTICLE 2

ORGANIZATION

2.01 Formation . The Company was organized as a Delaware limited liability company by the filing of a Certificate of Formation (“ Organizational Certificate ”) on March 19, 2007 with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware under and pursuant to the Delaware Act.

2.02 Name . The name of the Company is “Spectra Energy Partners GP, LLC” and all Company business must be conducted in that name or such other names that comply with law as the Board of Directors may select.

2.03 Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices . The registered office of the Company required by the Delaware Act to be maintained in the State of Delaware shall be the office of the initial registered agent for service of process named in the Organizational Certificate or such other office (which need not be a place of business of the Company) as the Board of Directors may designate in the manner provided by law. The registered agent for service of process of the Company in the State of Delaware shall be the initial registered agent for service of process named in the Organizational Certificate or such other Person or Persons as the Board of Directors may designate in the manner provided by law. The principal office of the Company in the United States shall be at such a place as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate, which need not be in the State of Delaware, and the Company shall maintain records there and shall keep the street address of such principal office at the registered office of the Company in the State of Delaware. The Company may have such other offices as the Board of Directors may designate.

2.04 Purpose . The purposes of the Company are the transaction of any or all lawful business for which limited liability companies may be organized under the Delaware Act.

2.05 Term . The period of existence of the Company commenced on March 19, 2007 and shall end at such time as a certificate of cancellation is filed in accordance with Section 9.02(c).

2.06 No State-law Partnership; Withdrawal . It is the intent that the Company shall be a limited liability company formed under the laws of the State of Delaware and shall not be a partnership (including a limited partnership) or joint venture, and that the Members not be a partner or joint venturer of any other party for any purposes other than federal and state tax purposes, and this Agreement may not be construed to suggest otherwise. A Member does not have the right to Withdraw from the Company; provided, however, that a Member shall have the power to Withdraw at any time in violation of this Agreement. If a Member exercises such power in violation of this Agreement, (a) such Member shall be liable to the Company and its

 

2


Affiliates for all monetary damages suffered by them as a result of such Withdrawal; and (b) such Member shall not have any rights under Section 18.604 of the Delaware Act. In no event shall the Company have the right, through specific performance or otherwise, to prevent a Member from Withdrawing in violation of this Agreement.

2.07 Certain Undertakings Relating to Separateness .

(a) Separateness Generally . The Company shall, and shall cause SEP GP to, conduct their respective businesses and operations in accordance with this Section 2.07.

(b) Separate Records . The Company shall, and shall cause SEP GP to, (i) maintain their respective books and records and their respective accounts separate from those of any other Person, (ii) maintain their respective financial records, which will be used by them in their ordinary course of business, showing their respective assets and liabilities separate and apart from those of any other Person, except their consolidated Subsidiaries, (iii) not have their respective assets and/or liabilities included in a consolidated financial statement of any Affiliate of the Company unless appropriate notation shall be made on such Affiliate’s consolidated financial statements to indicate the separateness of the Company and SEP GP and their assets and liabilities from such Affiliate and the assets and liabilities of such Affiliate, and to indicate that the assets and liabilities of the Company and SEP GP are not available to satisfy the debts and other obligations of such Affiliate, and (iv) file their respective own tax returns separate from those of any other Person, except (A) to the extent that the Company or SEP GP (x) is treated as a “disregarded entity” for tax purposes or (y) is not otherwise required to file tax returns under applicable law or (B) as may otherwise be required by applicable law.

(c) Separate Assets . The Company shall not commingle or pool, and shall cause SEP GP not to commingle or pool, their respective funds or other assets with those of any other Person, and shall maintain their respective assets in a manner that is not costly or difficult to segregate, ascertain or otherwise identify as separate from those of any other Person.

(d) Separate Name . The Company shall, and shall cause SEP GP to, (i) conduct their respective businesses in their respective own names, (ii) use separate stationery, invoices, and checks, (iii) correct any known misunderstanding regarding their respective separate identities from that of any other Person (including SESPC and its Subsidiaries other than the Company and SEP GP), and (iv) generally hold itself out as an entity separate from any other Person (including SESPC and its Subsidiaries other than the Company and SEP GP).

(e) Separate Credit . The Company shall, and shall cause SEP GP to, (i) pay their respective obligations and liabilities from their respective own funds (whether on hand or borrowed), (ii)maintain adequate capital in light of their respective business operations, (iii) not guarantee or become obligated for the debts of any other Person, other than the Company and SEP GP and except to the extent specified in the Contribution Agreement or the Omnibus Agreement, (iv) not hold out their respective credit as being available to satisfy the obligations or liabilities of any other Person except to the extent specified in the Contribution Agreement or the Omnibus Agreement, (v) not acquire debt obligations or debt securities of SESPC or its Affiliates (other than the Company and SEP GP), (vi) not pledge their assets for the benefit of any Person or make loans, advances or capital contributions to SESPC or any of its Affiliates

 

3


(other than the MLP and its Subsidiaries and, with respect to the Company, other than SEP GP), or (vii) use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the operative documents under which SEP GP borrows money, is an issuer of debt securities, or guarantees any such borrowing or issuance after the Effective Date, to contain provisions to the effect that (A) the lenders or purchasers of debt securities, respectively, acknowledge that they have advanced funds or purchased debt securities, respectively, in reliance upon the separateness of the Company and SEP GP from each other and from any other Persons (including SESPC and its Affiliates, other than the Company and SEP GP) and (B) the Company and SEP GP have assets and liabilities that are separate from those of other persons (including SESPC and its Affiliates, other than the Company and SEP GP); provided that the Company and SEP GP may engage in any transaction described in clauses (v)-(vi) of this Section 2.07(e) if prior Special Approval has been obtained for such transaction and either (A) the Conflicts Committee has determined that the borrower or recipient of the credit support is not then insolvent and will not be rendered insolvent as a result of such transaction or (B) in the case of transactions described in clause 2.07(e)(v), such transaction is completed through a public sale or a National Securities Exchange.

(f) Separate Formalities . The Company shall, and shall cause SEP GP to, (i) observe all limited liability company or partnership formalities and other formalities required by their respective organizational documents, the laws of the jurisdiction of their respective formation, or other laws, rules, regulations and orders of governmental authorities exercising jurisdiction over it, (ii) engage in transactions with SESPC and its Affiliates (other than the Company or SEP GP) in conformity with the requirements of Section 6.09 of this Agreement, and (iii) subject to the terms of the Omnibus Agreement, promptly pay, from their respective own funds and on a timely basis, their respective allocable shares of general and administrative expenses, capital expenditures, and costs for services performed by SESPC or Affiliates of SESPC (other than the Company or SEP GP).

(g) No Effect . Failure by the Company to comply with any of the obligations set forth above shall not affect the status of the Company as a separate legal entity, with its separate assets and separate liabilities or restrict or limit the Company from engaging or contracting with SESPC and its Affiliates for the provision of services or the purchase or sale of products, whether under the Omnibus Agreement or otherwise.

ARTICLE 3

MATTERS RELATING TO MEMBERS

3.01 Members . SESPC has previously been admitted as a Member of the Company.

3.02 Creation of Additional Membership Interest . The Company may issue additional Membership Interests in the Company pursuant to this Section 3.02. The terms of admission or issuance may provide for the creation of different classes or groups of Members having different rights, powers, and duties. The creation of any new class or group of Members approved as required herein may be reflected in an amendment to this Agreement executed in accordance with Section 11.04 indicating the different rights, powers, and duties thereof. Any such admission is effective only after the new Member has executed and delivered to the Members an instrument containing the notice address of the new Member and the new Member’s ratification of this Agreement and agreement to be bound by it.

 

4


3.03 Liability to Third Parties . No Member or beneficial owner of any Membership Interest shall be liable for the Liabilities of the Company.

ARTICLE 4

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS

4.01 Capital Contributions .

(a) The amount of money and the fair market value (as of the date of contribution) of any property (other than money) contributed to the Company by a Member in respect of the issuance of a Membership Interest to such Member shall constitute a “ Capital Contribution .” Any reference in this Agreement to the Capital Contribution of a Member shall include a Capital Contribution of its predecessors in interest.

4.02 Loans . If the Company does not have sufficient cash to pay its obligations, any Member that may agree to do so may, upon Special Approval, advance all or part of the needed funds for such obligation to or on behalf of the Company. An advance described in this Section 4.02 constitutes a loan from the Member to the Company, may bear interest at a rate comparable to the rate the Company could obtain from third parties, and is not a Capital Contribution.

4.03 Return of Contributions . A Member is not entitled to the return of any part of its Capital Contributions or to be paid interest in respect of its Capital Contributions. An unrepaid Capital Contribution is not a liability of the Company or of any Member. No Member will be required to contribute or to lend any cash or property to the Company to enable the Company to return any Member’s Capital Contributions.

ARTICLE 5

DISTRIBUTIONS

5.01 Distributions . Subject to Section 9.02, within 60 days following each Quarter other than any Quarter in which the dissolution of the Company has commenced (the “ Distribution Date ”), the Company shall distribute to the Members the Company’s Available Cash on such Distribution Date.

ARTICLE 6

MANAGEMENT

6.01 Management .

(a) All management powers over the business and affairs of the Company shall be exclusively vested in a Board of Directors (“ Board of Directors ” or “ Board ”) and, subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, the Officers. The Officers and Directors shall each constitute a “manager” of the Company within the meaning of the Delaware Act. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement, no Member, by virtue of having the status of a Member, shall have or attempt to exercise or assert any management power over the business and affairs of the Company or shall have or attempt to exercise or assert actual or apparent authority to enter into contracts on behalf of, or to otherwise bind, the Company. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement, the authority and functions of the Board of

 

5


Directors on the one hand and of the Officers on the other shall be identical to the authority and functions of the board of directors and officers, respectively, of a corporation organized under the Delaware General Corporation law; provided that any authority or function of the Board of Directors may be delegated by the Board of Directors to the Officers. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement, the business and affairs of the Company shall be managed under the direction of the Board of Directors, and the day-to-day activities of the Company shall be conducted on the Company’s behalf by the Officers, who shall be agents of the Company.

(b) In addition to the powers that now or hereafter can be granted to managers under the Delaware Act and to all other powers granted under any other provision of this Agreement, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the Board of Directors and the Officers shall have full power and authority to do all things as are not restricted by this Agreement, the SEP GP Agreement, the Delaware Act or applicable law, on such terms as they may deem necessary or appropriate to conduct, or cause to be conducted, the business and affairs of the Company.

(c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, without obtaining Extraordinary Approval, the Company shall not, and shall not take any action to cause either SEP GP or the MLP to, (i) make or consent to a general assignment for the benefit of its respective creditors; (ii) file or consent to the filing of any bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization petition for relief under the United States Bankruptcy Code naming the Company, SEP GP or the MLP, as applicable, or otherwise seek, with respect to the Company, SEP GP or the MLP, relief from debts or protection from creditors generally; (iii) file or consent to the filing of a petition or answer seeking for the Company, SEP GP or the MLP, as applicable, a liquidation, dissolution, arrangement, or similar relief under any law; (iv) file an answer or other pleading admitting or failing to contest the material allegations of a petition filed against the Company, SEP GP or the MLP, as applicable, in a proceeding of the type described in any of clauses (i) – (iii) of this Section 6.01(c); (v) seek, consent to or acquiesce in the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, conservator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator, custodian or any similar official for the Company, SEP GP or the MLP, as applicable, or for all or any substantial portion of either entity’s properties; (vi) sell all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, SEP GP or the MLP; (vii) dissolve or liquidate, except in the case of SEP GP, in accordance with Article VIII of the SEP GP Agreement; (viii) merge or consolidate; (ix) amend the MLP Partnership Agreement; (x) make a material change in the amount of the quarterly distributions made on the MLP Interests or the payment of any material extraordinary distribution on the MLP Interests; or (xi) enter into any agreement or series of related agreements in excess of the maximum authorized amount as set forth in the Delegation of Authority Policy.

(d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, SESPC, as the sole Member of the Company, shall have exclusive authority over the business and affairs of the Company that do not relate to management and control of the MLP. The type of matter referred to in the prior sentence where SESPC, as the sole Member of the Company, shall have exclusive authority shall include, but not be limited to, (i) the amount and timing of distributions paid by the Company or SEP GP, (ii) the issuance or repurchase of any equity interests in the Company or SEP GP, (iii) the prosecution, settlement or management of any claim made directly against the Company or SEP GP, (iv) whether to sell, convey, transfer or pledge any asset of the

 

6


Company or SEP GP, (v) whether to amend, modify or waive any rights relating to the assets of the Company or SEP GP (including the decision to amend or forego distributions in respect of the Incentive Distribution Rights), and (vi) whether to enter into any agreement to incur an obligation of the Company or SEP GP other than an agreement entered into for and on behalf of the MLP for which the Company or SEP GP are liable exclusively by virtue of SEP GP’s capacity as general partner of the MLP or of any of its affiliates. Further, SESPC, as the sole Member of the Company, shall have exclusive authority to cause the Company to exercise the rights of the Company and those of SEP GP, as general partner of the MLP (or those exercisable after SEP GP ceases to be the general partner of the MLP), pursuant to the following provisions of the MLP Partnership Agreement:

(i) Section 2.4 (“ Purpose and Business ”), with respect to decisions to propose or approve the conduct by the MLP of any business;

(ii) Sections 4.6(a) and (b) (“ Transfer of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest ”) and Section 4.7 (“ Transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights ”), solely with respect to the decision by SEP GP to transfer its general partner interest in the MLP or its Incentive Distribution Rights;

(iii) Section 5.2(b) (“ Contributions by the General Partner and its Affiliates ”), solely with respect to the decision to make additional Capital Contributions to the MLP;

(iv) Section 5.8 (“ Limited Preemptive Right ”);

(v) Section 5.11 (“ Issuance of Class B Units in Connection with Reset of Incentive Distribution Rights ”), with respect to any decision by the Company or SEP GP thereunder as a holder of Incentive Distribution Rights or Class B Units;

(vi) Section 7.5(c) (relating to the right of SEP GP and its Affiliates to purchase Units or other Partnership Securities and exercise rights related thereto) and Section 7.11 (“ Purchase and Sale of Partnership Securities ”), solely with respect to decisions by the Company or SEP GP to purchase or otherwise acquire and sell Partnership Securities for their own account;

(vii) Section 7.6(a) (“ Loans from the General Partner; Loans or Contributions from the Partnership or Group Members ”), solely with respect to the decision by the Company or SEP GP to lend funds to a Group Member, subject to the provisions of Section 7.9 of the MLP Partnership Agreement;

(viii) Section 7.7 (“ Indemnification ”), solely with respect to any decision by the Company or SEP GP to exercise their respective rights as “Indemnitees”;

(ix) Section 7.12 (“ Registration Rights of the General Partner and its Affiliates ”), solely with respect to any decision to exercise registration rights and to take actions in connection therewith;

 

7


(x) Section 11.1 (“ Withdrawal of the General Partner ”), solely with respect to the decision by SEP GP to withdraw as general partner of the MLP and to giving notices required thereunder;

(xi) Section 11.3(a) and (b) (“ Interest of Departing General Partner and Successor General Partner ”); and

(xii) Section 15.1 (“ Right to Acquire Limited Partner Interests ”).

6.02 Board of Directors .

(a) Generally . The Board of Directors shall initially consist of six natural persons and, in the discretion of SESPC, may be increased to consist of up to 10 natural persons. The members of the Board of Directors shall be appointed by SESPC; provided that at least three members of the Board of Directors shall be natural persons who meet the independence, qualification and experience requirements of the New York Stock Exchange, the independence, qualification and experience requirements of Section 10A(m)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (or any successor law), the rules and regulations of the SEC and other applicable law (an “ Independent Director ”),at all times; provided , however , that if at any time the Board of Directors does not include the requisite number of Independent Directors as specified above, the Board of Directors shall still have all powers and authority granted to it hereunder, but SESPC shall endeavor to appoint one or more additional Independent Directors as necessary to come into compliance with this Section 6.02(a).

(b) Term; Resignation; Vacancies; Removal . Each Director shall hold office until his successor is appointed and qualified or until his earlier resignation or removal. Any Director may resign at any time upon written notice to the Board, the Chairman of the Board, to the Chief Executive Officer or to any other Officer. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein, and unless otherwise specified therein no acceptance of such resignation shall be necessary to make it effective. Vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of Directors or from any other cause shall be filled by SESPC. Any Director may be removed, with or without cause, by SESPC at any time, and the vacancy in the Board caused by any such removal shall be filled by SESPC.

(c) Voting; Quorum . Unless otherwise required by the Delaware Act, other law or the provisions hereof,

(i) each member of the Board of Directors shall have one vote;

(ii) except for matters requiring Special Approval, the presence at a meeting of a majority of the members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum at any such meeting for the transaction of business; and

(iii) except for matters requiring Special Approval, the act of a majority of the members of the Board of Directors present at a meeting duly called in accordance with Section 6.02(d) at which a quorum is present shall be deemed to constitute the act of the Board of Directors.

 

8


(d) Meetings . Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such times and places as shall be designated from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors. Special meetings of the Board of Directors or meetings of any committee thereof may be called by written request authorized by any member of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof on at least 24 hours prior written notice to the other members of such Board or committee. Any such notice, or waiver thereof, need not state the purpose of such meeting, except as may otherwise be required by law. Attendance of a Director at a meeting (including pursuant to the last sentence of this Section 6.02(d)) shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where such Director attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, are signed by at least as many members of the Board of Directors or committee thereof as would have been required to take such action at a meeting of the Board of Directors or such committee. Members of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof may participate in and hold a meeting by means of conference telephone, video conference or similar communications equipment by means of which all Persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in such meetings shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

(e) Committees .

(i) Subject to compliance with this Article 6, committees of the Board of Directors shall have and may exercise such of the powers and authority of the Board of Directors with respect to the management of the business and affairs of the Company as may be provided in a resolution of the Board of Directors. Any committee designated pursuant to this Section 6.02(e) shall choose its own chairman, shall keep regular minutes of its proceedings and report the same to the Board of Directors when requested, and, subject to Section 6.02(d), shall fix its own rules or procedures and shall meet at such times and at such place or places as may be provided by such rules or by resolution of such committee or resolution of the Board of Directors. At every meeting of any such committee, the presence of a majority of all the members thereof shall constitute a quorum and the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present shall be necessary for the adoption by it of any resolution (except for obtaining Special Approval at meetings of the Conflicts Committee, which requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of such committee). The Board of Directors may designate one or more Directors as alternate members of any committee who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of such committee; provided , however , that any such designated alternate of the Audit Committee or the Conflicts Committee must meet the standards for an Independent Director. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not constituting a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of the absent or disqualified member; provided , however , that any such replacement member of the Audit Committee or the Conflicts Committee must meet the standards for an Independent Director.

 

9


(ii) In addition to any other committees established by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 6.02(e)(i), the Board of Directors shall maintain a “ Conflicts Committee ,” which shall be composed of at least two Independent Directors none of whom is a security holder, officer or employee of the Company or SEP GP; is an officer, director or employee of any Affiliate of the Company or SEP GP; or is a holder of any ownership interest in the MLP Group other than Common Units. The Conflicts Committee shall be responsible for (A) approving or disapproving, as the case may be, any matters regarding the business and affairs of the Company, SEP GP or the MLP considered by, or submitted to, such Conflicts Committee at the request of the Board of Directors pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or the MLP Partnership Agreement, (B) approving any amendment to the Omnibus Agreement requiring the approval of the Conflicts Committee pursuant to Section 4.6 thereof, (C) amending (1) Section 2.07, (2) the definitions of “ Independent Director ” in Section 6.02(a) or (3) this Section 6.02(e)(ii), and (D) performing such other functions as the Board may assign from time to time or as may be specified in a written charter of the Conflicts Committee.

(iii) In addition to any other committees established by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 6.02(e)(i), the Board of Directors shall maintain an “ Audit Committee ,” which shall be composed of at least three Independent Directors at all times. The Audit Committee shall be responsible for (A) assisting the Board in monitoring (1) the quality and integrity of the MLP’s financial statements, (2) the MLP’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, (3) the qualifications and independence of the MLP’s independent auditors, (4) the performance the internal audit function and independent auditors of the Company, SEP GP and the MLP, and (5) the implementation and effectiveness of the MLP’s ethics and compliance program and the commitment of the Board of Directors to its ethical and compliance responsibilities and (B) preparing any reports that may be required by the rules of the SEC to be included in the MLP’s annual report on Form 10-K. The Audit Committee shall perform such other functions as the Board may assign from time to time or as may be specified in a written charter for the Audit Committee adopted by the Board.

6.03 Officers .

(a) Generally . The Board of Directors, as set forth below, shall appoint officers of the Company (“ Officers ”), who shall (together with the Directors) constitute “managers” of the Company for the purposes of the Delaware Act. Unless provided otherwise by resolution of the Board of Directors, the Officers shall have the titles, power, authority and duties described below in this Section 6.03.

(b) Titles and Number . The Company may appoint one or more officers, including a Chairman of the Board (unless the Board of Directors provides otherwise), a President and Chief Executive Officer, a Chief Financial Officer, one or more Vice Presidents, a General Counsel, a Secretary, any Treasurer and one or more Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers. Any person may hold more than one office.

(c) Appointment and Term of Office . The Officers shall be appointed by the Board of Directors at such time and for such term as the Board of Directors shall determine. Any Officer may be removed, with or without cause, only by the Board of Directors. Vacancies in any office may be filled only by the Board of Directors.

 

10


(d) Chairman of the Board . The Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the unitholders of the MLP; and he shall have such other powers and duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board of Directors.

(e) President and Chief Executive Officer . Subject to the limitations imposed by this Agreement, any employment agreement, any employee plan or any determination of the Board of Directors, the President and Chief Executive Officer, subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, shall be the chief executive officer of the Company and shall be responsible for the management and direction of the day-to-day business and affairs of the Company, its other Officers, employees and agents, shall supervise generally the affairs of the Company and shall have full authority to execute all documents and take all actions that the Company may legally take. In the absence of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer shall preside at all meetings of the unitholders of the MLP and at all meetings of the Board of Directors provided that he is a director of the Company. The Chief Executive Officer shall exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by this Agreement or the Board of Directors, including any duties and powers provided for in any employment agreement approved by the Board of Directors.

(f) Chief Financial Officer . The Chief Financial Officer shall keep and maintain, or cause to be kept and maintained, adequate and correct books and records of account of the Company and SEP GP. He shall receive and deposit all moneys and other valuables belonging to the Company in the name and to the credit of the Company and shall disburse the same and only in such manner as the Board of Directors or the appropriate Officer of the Company may from time to time determine. He shall receive and deposit all moneys and other valuables belonging to SEP GP in the name and to the credit of SEP GP and shall disburse the same and only in such manner as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may require. He shall render to the Board of Directors and the President and Chief Executive Officer, whenever any of them request it, an account of all his transactions as Chief Financial Officer and of the financial condition of the Company, and shall perform such further duties as the Board of Directors or the President and the Chief Executive Officer may require. The Chief Financial Officer shall have the same power as the President and Chief Executive Officer to execute documents on behalf of the Company.

(g) Vice Presidents . In the absence of a President and Chief Executive Officer, each Vice President appointed by the Board of Directors shall have all of the powers and duties conferred upon the President and Chief Executive Officer, including the same power as the President and Chief Executive Officer to execute documents on behalf of the Company. Each such Vice President shall perform such other duties and may exercise such other powers as may from time to time be assigned to him by the Board of Directors or the President and Chief Executive Officer.

(h) General Counsel . The General Counsel, subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors, shall be responsible for the management and direction of the day-to-day legal affairs of the Company. The General Counsel shall perform such other duties and may exercise such other powers as may from time to time be assigned to him by the Board of Directors or the President and Chief Executive Officer.

 

11


(i) Secretary and Assistant Secretaries . The Secretary shall record or cause to be recorded in books provided for that purpose the minutes of the meetings or actions of the Board of Directors, shall see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and as required by law, shall be custodian of all records (other than financial), shall see that the books, reports, statements, certificates and all other documents and records required by law are properly kept and filed, and, in general, shall perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as may, from time to time, be assigned to him by this Agreement, the Board of Directors or the President and Chief Executive Officer. The Assistant Secretaries shall exercise the powers of the Secretary during that Officer’s absence or inability or refusal to act.

(j) Treasurer and Assistant Treasurers . The Treasurer shall have such duties as may be specified by the Chief Financial Officer in the performance of his duties. The Assistant Treasurers shall exercise the power of the Treasurer during that Officer’s absence or inability or refusal to act. Each of the Assistant Treasurers shall possess the same power as the Treasurer to sign all certificates, contracts, obligations and other instruments of the Company. If no Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer is appointed and serving or in the absence of the appointed Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer, any Vice President, or such other Officer as the Board of Directors shall select, shall have the powers and duties conferred upon the Treasurer.

(k) Powers of Attorney . The Company may grant powers of attorney or other authority as appropriate to establish and evidence the authority of the Officers and other persons.

(l) Delegation of Authority . Unless otherwise provided by resolution of the Board of Directors, no Officer shall have the power or authority to delegate to any person such Officer’s rights and powers as an Officer to manage the business and affairs of the Company.

(m) Tenure . The Board of Directors shall appoint Officers of the Company to serve from the date of such appointment until the death, resignation or removal by the Board of Directors with or without cause of such Officer.

6.04 Duties of Officers and Directors . Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement or in the MLP Partnership Agreement, the duties and obligations owed to the Company and to the Board of Directors by the Officers of the Company and by members of the Board of Directors of the Company shall be the same as the respective duties and obligations owed to a corporation organized under the Delaware General Corporation law by its officers and directors, respectively.

6.05 Compensation . The members of the Board of Directors who are neither Officers nor employees of the Company shall be entitled to compensation as directors and committee members as approved by the Board and shall be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with attending meetings of the Board of Directors or committees thereof.

6.06 Indemnification .

(a) To the fullest extent permitted by law but subject to the limitations expressly provided in this Agreement, all Indemnitees shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several,

 

12


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, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which any Indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of its status as an Indemnitee; provided , that the Indemnitee shall not be indemnified and held harmless if there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter for which the Indemnitee is seeking indemnification pursuant to this Section 6.06, the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud, willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful. Any indemnification pursuant to this Section 6.06 shall be made only out of the assets of the Company, it being agreed that the Members shall not be personally liable for such indemnification and shall have no obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Company to enable it to effectuate such indemnification.

(b) To the fullest extent permitted by law, expenses (including legal fees and expenses) incurred by an Indemnitee who is indemnified pursuant to Section 6.06(a) in defending any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding shall, from time to time, be advanced by the Company prior to a determination that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified upon receipt by the Company of any undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such amount if it shall be determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized in this Section 6.06(b).

(c) The indemnification provided by this Section 6.06 shall be in addition to any other rights to which an Indemnitee may be entitled under any agreement, as a matter of law or otherwise, both as to actions in the Indemnitee’s capacity as an Indemnitee and as to actions in any other capacity (including any capacity under the Underwriting Agreement (as such term is defined in the Partnership Agreement)), and shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to serve in such capacity and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, successors, assigns and administrators of the Indemnitee.

(d) The Company may purchase and maintain (or reimburse the General Partner or its Affiliates for the cost of) insurance on behalf of the Indemnitees, the Company and its Affiliates and such other Persons as the Company shall determine, against any liability that may be asserted against or expense that may be incurred by such Person in connection with the Company’s activities or such Person’s activities on behalf of the Company, regardless of whether the Company would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement.

(e) For purposes of this Section 6.06, the Company shall be deemed to have requested an Indemnitee to serve as fiduciary of an employee benefit plan whenever the performance by it of its duties to the Company also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, it to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan; excise taxes assessed on an Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to applicable law shall constitute “fines” within the meaning of Section 6.06; and action taken or omitted by it with respect to any employee benefit plan in the performance of its duties for a purpose reasonably believed by it to be in the best interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose that is in the best interests of the Company.

 

13


(f) In no event may an Indemnitee subject the Members to personal liability by reason of the indemnification provisions set forth in this Agreement.

(g) An Indemnitee shall not be denied indemnification in whole or in part under this Section 6.06 because the Indemnitee had an interest in the transaction with respect to which the indemnification applies if the transaction was otherwise permitted by the terms of this Agreement.

(h) The provisions of this Section 6.06 are for the benefit of the Indemnitees, their heirs, successors, assigns and administrators and shall not be deemed to create any rights for the benefit of any other Persons.

(i) No amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 6.06 or any provision hereof shall in any manner terminate, reduce or impair the right of any past, present or future Indemnitee to be indemnified by the Company, nor the obligations of the Company to indemnify any such Indemnitee under and in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.06 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted.

(j) THE PROVISIONS OF THE INDEMNIFICATION PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION 6.06 ARE INTENDED BY THE PARTIES TO APPLY EVEN IF SUCH PROVISIONS HAVE THE EFFECT OF EXCULPATING THE INDEMNITEE FROM LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH PERSON’S NEGLIGENCE, FAULT OR OTHER CONDUCT.

6.07 Liability of Indemnitees .

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement or the MLP Agreement, no Indemnitee shall be liable for monetary damages to the Company, the MLP, the Members or any other Person, for losses sustained or liabilities incurred as a result of any act or omission of an Indemnitee unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter in question, the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud, willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemnitee’s conduct was criminal.

(b) Subject to its obligations and duties as set forth in this Article 6, the Board of Directors and any committee thereof may exercise any of the powers granted to it by this Agreement and perform any of the duties imposed upon it hereunder either directly or by or through the Company’s Officers or agents, and neither the Board of Directors nor any committee thereof shall be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such Officer or agent appointed by the Board of Directors or any committee thereof in good faith.

(c) To the extent that, at law or in equity, an Indemnitee has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Company or the Members, such Indemnitee acting in connection with the Company’s business or affairs shall not be liable to the Company or to any Member for its good faith reliance on the provisions of this Agreement.

 

14


(d) Any amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 6.07 or any provision hereof shall be prospective only and shall not in any way affect the limitations on the liability of the Indemnitees under this Section 6.07 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted.

ARTICLE 7

TAX MATTERS

7.01 Tax Returns and Tax Characterization .

(a) The Board of Directors shall cause to be prepared and timely filed (on behalf of the Company) all federal, state and local tax returns required to be filed by the Company, including making all elections on such tax returns. The Company shall bear the costs of the preparation and filing of its returns.

(b) The Company and the Member acknowledge that for federal income tax purposes, the Company will be disregarded as an entity separate from the Member pursuant to Treasury Regulation §301.7701-3 as long as all of the Membership Interests in the Company are owned by SESPC.

ARTICLE 8

BOOKS, RECORDS, REPORTS, AND BANK ACCOUNTS

8.01 Maintenance of Books .

(a) The Board of Directors shall keep or cause to be kept at the principal office of the Company or at such other location approved by the Board of Directors complete and accurate books and records of the Company, supporting documentation of the transactions with respect to the conduct of the Company’s business and minutes of the proceedings of the Board of Directors and any other books and records that are required to be maintained by applicable law.

(b) The books of account of the Company shall be maintained on the basis of a fiscal year that is the calendar year and on an accrual basis in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied.

8.02 Reports . The Board of Directors shall cause to be prepared and delivered to each Member such reports, forecasts, studies, budgets and other information as the Members may reasonably request from time to time.

8.03 Bank Accounts . Funds of the Company shall be deposited in such banks or other depositories as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors. All withdrawals from any such depository shall be made only as authorized by the Board of Directors and shall be made only by check, wire transfer, debit memorandum or other written instruction.

 

15


ARTICLE 9

DISSOLUTION, WINDING-UP AND TERMINATION

9.01 Dissolution .

(a) Subject to compliance with Section 6.01(c), the Company shall dissolve and its affairs shall be wound up on the first to occur of the following events (each a “ Dissolution Event ”):

(i) the receipt of Extraordinary Approval;

(ii) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Company under Section 18-802 of the Delaware Act; and

(iii) at any time there are no Members of the Company, unless the Company is continued in accordance with the Delaware Act or this Agreement.

(b) No other event shall cause a dissolution of the Company.

(c) Upon the occurrence of any event that causes there to be no Members of the Company, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the personal representative of the last remaining Member is hereby authorized to, and shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of the event that terminated the continued membership of such Member in the Company, agree in writing (i) to continue the Company and (ii) to the admission of the personal representative or its nominee or designee, as the case may be, as a substitute Member of the Company, effective as of the occurrence of the event that terminated the continued membership of such Member in the Company.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Bankruptcy of a Member shall not cause such Member to cease to be a member of the Company, and, upon the occurrence of such an event, the Company shall continue without dissolution.

9.02 Winding-Up and Termination .

(a) On the occurrence of a Dissolution Event, the Board of Directors shall select one or more Persons to act as liquidator. The liquidator shall proceed diligently to wind up the affairs of the Company and make final distributions as provided herein and in the Delaware Act. The costs of winding up shall be borne as a Company expense. Until final distribution, the liquidator shall continue to operate the Company properties with all of the power and authority of the Board of Directors. The steps to be accomplished by the liquidator are as follows:

(i) as promptly as possible after dissolution and again after final winding up, the liquidator shall cause a proper accounting to be made by a recognized firm of certified public accountants of the Company’s assets, liabilities, and operations through the last calendar day of the month in which the dissolution occurs or the final winding up is completed, as applicable;

(ii) the liquidator shall discharge from Company funds all of the debts, liabilities and obligations of the Company or otherwise make adequate provision for payment and discharge thereof (including the establishment of a cash escrow fund for contingent liabilities in such amount and for such term as the liquidator may reasonably determine); and

 

16


(iii) all remaining assets of the Company shall be distributed to the Members as follows:

(A) the liquidator may sell any or all Company property, including to Members; and

(B) Company property (including cash) shall be distributed to the Members.

(b) The distribution of cash or property to a Member in accordance with the provisions of this Section 9.02 constitutes a complete return to the Member of its Capital Contributions and a complete distribution to the Member of its share of all the Company’s property and constitutes a compromise to which all Members have consented within the meaning of Section 18-502(b) of the Delaware Act. No Member shall be required to make any Capital Contribution to the Company to enable the Company to make the distributions described in this Section 9.02.

(c) On completion of such final distribution, the liquidator shall file a certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and take such other actions as may be necessary to terminate the existence of the Company.

ARTICLE 10

MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION

10.01 Authority . Subject to compliance with Section 6.01(c), the Company may merge or consolidate with one or more corporations, limited liability companies, statutory trusts or associations, real estate investment trusts, common law trusts or unincorporated businesses, including a partnership (whether general or limited (including a limited liability partnership)) or convert into any such entity, whether such entity is formed under the laws of the State of Delaware or any other state of the United States of America, pursuant to a written agreement of merger or consolidation (“ Merger Agreement ”) or a written plan of conversion (“ Plan of Conversion ”), as the case may be, in accordance with this Article 10. The surviving entity to any such merger, consolidation or conversion is referred to herein as the “ Surviving Business Entity .”

10.02 Procedure for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion .

(a) The merger, consolidation or conversion of the Company pursuant to this Article 10 requires the prior approval of a majority of the Board of Directors and compliance with Section 10.03.

(b) If the Board of Directors shall determine to consent to a merger or consolidation, the Board of Directors shall approve the Merger Agreement, which shall set forth:

 

17


(i) the names and jurisdictions of formation or organization of each of the business entities proposing to merge or consolidate;

(ii) the name and jurisdiction of formation or organization of the Surviving Business Entity that is to survive the proposed merger or consolidation;

(iii) the terms and conditions of the proposed merger or consolidation;

(iv) the manner and basis of exchanging or converting the equity securities of each constituent business entity for, or into, cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity; and (A) if any general or limited partner interests, securities or rights of any constituent business entity are not to be exchanged or converted solely for, or into, cash, property or general or limited partner interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity, the cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of any general or limited partnership, corporation, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated business or other entity (other than the Surviving Business Entity) which the holders of such general or limited partner interests, securities or rights are to receive in exchange for, or upon conversion of their interests, securities or rights, and (B) in the case of securities represented by certificates, upon the surrender of such certificates, which cash, property or general or limited partner interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity or any general or limited partnership, corporation, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated business or other entity (other than the Surviving Business Entity), or evidences thereof, are to be delivered;

(v) a statement of any changes in the constituent documents or the adoption of new constituent documents (the articles or certificate of incorporation, articles of trust, declaration of trust, certificate or agreement of limited partnership, certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement or other similar charter or governing document) of the Surviving Business Entity to be effected by such merger or consolidation;

(vi) the effective time of the merger, which may be the date of the filing of the certificate of merger pursuant to Section 10.04 or a later date specified in or determinable in accordance with the Merger Agreement (provided, that if the effective time of the merger is to be later than the date of the filing of such certificate of merger, the effective time shall be fixed at a date or time certain at or prior to the time of the filing of such certificate of merger and stated therein); and

(vii) such other provisions with respect to the proposed merger or consolidation as are deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board of Directors.

(c) If the Board of Directors shall determine to consent to the conversion, the Board of Directors shall approve and adopt a Plan of Conversion containing such terms and conditions that the Board of Directors determines to be necessary or appropriate.

10.03 Approval by Members of Merger or Consolidation .

(a) The Board of Directors, upon its approval of the Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, shall direct that the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as applicable, be submitted to a vote of the Members, whether at a meeting or by written consent. A copy or a summary of the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as applicable, shall be included in or enclosed with the notice of a special meeting or the written consent.

 

18


(b) The Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as applicable, shall be approved upon receiving the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of a majority of the Members.

(c) After such approval by vote or consent of the Members, and at any time prior to the filing of the certificate of merger, consolidation or conversion pursuant to Section 10.04, the merger, consolidation or conversion may be abandoned pursuant to provisions therefor, if any, set forth in the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be.

10.04 Certificate of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion .

(a) Upon the required approval, if any, by the Board of Directors and the Members of a Merger Agreement or a Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, a certificate of merger, consolidation or conversion, as applicable, shall be executed and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in conformity with the requirements of the Delaware Act.

(b) At the effective time of the certificate of merger or consolidation:

(i) all of the rights, privileges and powers of each of the business entities that has merged or consolidated, and all property, real, personal and mixed, and all debts due to any of those business entities and all other things and causes of action belonging to each of those business entities shall be vested in the Surviving Business Entity and after the merger or consolidation shall be the property of the Surviving Business Entity to the extent they were property of each constituent business entity;

(ii) the title to any real property vested by deed or otherwise in any of those constituent business entities shall not revert and is not in any way impaired because of the merger or consolidation;

(iii) all rights of creditors and all liens on or security interest in property of any of those constituent business entities shall be preserved unimpaired; and

(iv) all debts, liabilities and duties of those constituent business entities shall attach to the Surviving Business Entity, and may be enforced against it to the same extent as if the debts, liabilities and duties had been incurred or contracted by it.

(c) At the effective time of the certificate of conversion:

(i) the Company shall continue to exist, without interruption, but in the organizational form of the converted entity rather than in its prior organizational form;

(ii) all rights, title, and interests to all real estate and other property owned by the Company shall continue to be owned by the converted entity in its new organizational form without reversion or impairment, without further act or deed, and without any transfer or assignment having occurred, but subject to any existing liens or other encumbrances thereon;

 

19


(iii) all liabilities and obligations of the Company shall continue to be liabilities and obligations of the converted entity in its new organizational form without impairment or diminution by reason of the conversion;

(iv) all rights of creditors or other parties with respect to or against the prior interest holders or other owners of the Company in their capacities as such in existence as of the effective time of the conversion will continue in existence as to those liabilities and obligations and may be pursued by such creditors and obligees as if the conversion did not occur;

(v) a proceeding pending by or against the Company or by or against any of the Members in their capacities as such may be continued by or against the converted entity in its new organizational form and by or against the prior members without any need for substitution of parties; and

(vi) the Company securities that are to be converted into partnership interests, shares, evidences of ownership, or other securities in the converted entity as provided in the Plan of Conversion or certificate of conversion shall be so converted, and the Members shall be entitled only to the rights provided in the Plan of Conversion or certificate of conversion.

(d) A merger, consolidation or conversion effected pursuant to this Article 10 shall not (i) be deemed to result in a transfer or assignment of assets or liabilities from one entity to another having occurred or (ii) require the Company (if it is not the Surviving Business Entity) to wind up its affairs, pay its liabilities or distribute its assets as required under Article 9 of this Agreement or under the applicable provisions of the Delaware Act.

ARTICLE 11

GENERAL PROVISIONS

11.01 Notices . Except as expressly set forth to the contrary in this Agreement, all notices, requests or consents provided for or permitted to be given under this Agreement must be in writing and must be delivered to the recipient in person, by courier or mail or by facsimile or other electronic transmission and a notice, request or consent given under this Agreement is effective on receipt by the Person to receive it; provided, however, that a facsimile or other electronic transmission that is transmitted after the normal business hours of the recipient shall be deemed effective on the next Business Day. All notices, requests and consents to be sent to a Member must be sent to or made at the addresses given for that Member as that Member may specify by notice to the other Members. Any notice, request or consent to the Company must be given to all of the Members. Whenever any notice is required to be given by applicable law, the Organizational Certificate or this Agreement, a written waiver thereof, signed by the Person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice. Whenever any notice is required to be given by law, the Organizational Certificate or this Agreement, a written waiver thereof, signed by the Person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice.

 

20


11.02 Entire Agreement; Supersedure . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the Members and their respective Affiliates relating to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior contracts or agreements with respect to such subject matter, whether oral or written.

11.03 Effect of Waiver or Consent . Except as provided in this Agreement, a waiver or consent, express or implied, to or of any breach or default by any Person in the performance by that Person of its obligations with respect to the Company is not a consent or waiver to or of any other breach or default in the performance by that Person of the same or any other obligations of that Person with respect to the Company. Except as provided in this Agreement, failure on the part of a Person to complain of any act of any Person or to declare any Person in default with respect to the Company, irrespective of how long that failure continues, does not constitute a waiver by that Person of its rights with respect to that default until the applicable statute-of-limitations period has run.

11.04 Amendment or Restatement . This Agreement may be amended or restated only by a written instrument executed by all Members.

11.05 Binding Effect . This Agreement is binding on and shall inure to the benefit of the Members and their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns.

11.06 Governing Law; Severability . THIS AGREEMENT IS GOVERNED BY AND SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, EXCLUDING ANY CONFLICT-OF-LAWS RULE OR PRINCIPLE THAT MIGHT REFER THE GOVERNANCE OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS AGREEMENT TO THE LAW OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION. In the event of a direct conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and (a) any provision of the Organizational Certificate, or (b) any mandatory, non-waivable provision of the Delaware Act, such provision of the Organizational Certificate or the Delaware Act shall control. If any provision of the Delaware Act provides that it may be varied or superseded in the limited liability company agreement (or otherwise by agreement of the members or managers of a limited liability company), such provision shall be deemed superseded and waived in its entirety if this Agreement contains a provision addressing the same issue or subject matter. If any provision of this Agreement or the application thereof to any Person or circumstance is held invalid or unenforceable to any extent, (a) the remainder of this Agreement and the application of that provision to other Persons or circumstances is not affected thereby and that provision shall be enforced to the greatest extent permitted by law, and (b) the Members or Directors (as the case may be) shall negotiate in good faith to replace that provision with a new provision that is valid and enforceable and that puts the Members in substantially the same economic, business and legal position as they would have been in if the original provision had been valid and enforceable.

11.07 Further Assurances . In connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, each Member shall execute and deliver any additional documents and instruments and perform any additional acts that may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate and perform the provisions of this Agreement and those transactions.

 

21


11.08 Offset . Whenever the Company is to pay any sum to any Member, any amounts that a Member owes the Company may be deducted from that sum before payment.

11.09 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, including facsimile or e-mail counterparts, with the same effect as if all signing parties had signed the same document. All counterparts shall be construed together and constitute the same instrument.

[ Signature Page Follows ]

 

22


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed by the sole Member as of the date first set forth above.

 

MEMBER :
SPECTRA ENERGY SOUTHEAST PIPELINE CORPORATION
By:   /s/ William T. Yardley
Name:   William T. Yardley
Title:   President

[S IGNATURE P AGE TO T HIRD A MENDED AND R ESTATED

L IMITED L IABILITY C OMPANY A GREEMENT ]


Attachment I

Defined Terms

Affiliate – with respect to any Person, each Person Controlling, Controlled by or under common Control with such first Person.

Agreement – this Third Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Spectra Energy Partners GP, LLC, as the same may be amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time.

Audit Committee – Section 6.02(e).

Available Cash – as of any Distribution Date, (a) all cash and cash equivalents of the Company on hand on such date, less (b) the amount of any cash reserves determined to be appropriate by the Board of Directors.

Bankruptcy or Bankrupt – with respect to any Person, that (a) such Person (i) makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; (ii) files a voluntary petition in bankruptcy; (iii) is insolvent, or has entered against such Person an order for relief in any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding; (iv) files a petition or answer seeking for such Person any reorganization, arrangement, composition, readjustment, liquidation, dissolution or similar relief under any law; (v) files an answer or other pleading admitting or failing to contest the material allegations of a petition filed against such Person in a proceeding of the type described in subclauses (i) through (iv) of this clause (a); or (vi) seeks, consents to or acquiesces in the appointment of a trustee, receiver or liquidator of such Person or of all or any substantial part of such Person’s properties; or (b) 120 Days have passed after the commencement of any proceeding seeking reorganization, arrangement, composition, readjustment, liquidation, dissolution or similar relief under any law, if the proceeding has not been dismissed, or 90 Days have passed after the appointment without such Person’s consent or acquiescence of a trustee, receiver or liquidator of such Person or of all or any substantial part of such Person’s properties, if the appointment is not vacated or stayed, or 90 Days have passed after the date of expiration of any such stay, if the appointment has not been vacated.

Board of Directors or Board – Section 6.01(a).

Business Day – any Day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a Day on which national banking associations in the State of Texas are authorized or required by law to close.

Capital Contribution – Section 4.01(a).

Class B Units – has the meaning ascribed to such term in the MLP Partnership Agreement.

Commitment – means (a) options, warrants, convertible securities, exchangeable securities, subscription rights, conversion rights, exchange rights, or other contracts, agreements or commitments that could require a Person to issue any of its Equity Interests or to sell any Equity Interests it owns in another Person; (b) any other securities convertible into, exchangeable

 

A-1


or exercisable for, or representing the right to subscribe for any Equity Interest of a Person or owned by a Person; (c) statutory or contractual pre-emptive rights or pre-emptive rights granted under a Person’s organizational or constitutive documents; and (d) stock appreciation rights, phantom stock, profit participation, or other similar rights with respect to a Person.

Common Unit – has the meaning ascribed to such term in the MLP Partnership Agreement.

Company – initial paragraph of this Agreement.

Conflicts Committee – Section 6.02(e)(ii).

Contribution Agreement – has the meaning ascribed to such term in the MLP Partnership Agreement.

Control – means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power and authority to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership or control of Voting Stock, by contract or otherwise.

Day – a calendar day; provided, however, that, if any period of Days referred to in this Agreement shall end on a Day that is not a Business Day, then the expiration of such period shall be automatically extended until the end of the first succeeding Business Day.

Delaware Act – the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act and any successor statute, as amended from time to time.

Delaware General Corporation Law – Title 8 of the Delaware Code, as amended from time to time.

Delegation of Authority Policy – means the Delegation of Authority Policy adopted by the Board of Directors on November 1, 2013, as amended from time to time.

Director – each member of the Board of Directors elected as provided in Section 6.02.

Dissolution Event – Section 9.01(a).

Distribution Date – Section 5.01.

Effective Date – initial paragraph of this Agreement.

Equity Interest – (a) with respect to a corporation, any and all shares of capital stock and any Commitments with respect thereto, (b) with respect to a partnership, limited liability company, trust or similar Person, any and all units, interests or other partnership, limited liability company, trust or similar interests, and any Commitments with respect thereto, and (c) any other direct or indirect equity ownership or participation in a Person (including any incentive distribution rights).

Existing Agreement – Recitals.

 

A-2


Extraordinary Approval – written approval of SESPC.

Group Member – means any of the MLP and its Subsidiaries.

Incentive Distribution Rights – has the meaning ascribed thereto in the MLP Partnership Agreement.

Indemnitee – each of (a) the Members, (b) any Person who is or was an Affiliate of the Company (other than SEP GP or any Group Member), (c) any Person who is or was a member, partner, director, officer, fiduciary or trustee of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, (d) any Person who is or was serving at the request of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company as an officer, director, member, partner, fiduciary or trustee of another Person; provided that a Person shall not be an Indemnitee by reason of providing, on a fee-for-services basis, trustee, fiduciary or custodial services, and (e) any Person the Company designates as an “Indemnitee” for purposes of this Agreement.

Independent Director – Section 6.02(a).

Liability – any liability or obligation, whether known or unknown, asserted or unasserted, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, conditional or unconditional, latent or patent, accrued or unaccrued, liquidated or unliquidated, or due or to become due.

Member – any Person executing this Agreement as of the date of this Agreement as a member or hereafter admitted to the Company as a member as provided in this Agreement, but such term does not include any Person who has ceased to be a member in the Company.

Membership Interest – with respect to any Member, (a) that Member’s status as a Member; (b) that Member’s share of the income, gain, loss, deduction and credits of, and the right to receive distributions from, the Company; (c) all other rights, benefits and privileges enjoyed by that Member (under the Delaware Act, this Agreement or otherwise) in its capacity as a Member; and (d) all obligations, duties and liabilities imposed on that Member (under the Delaware Act, this Agreement or otherwise) in its capacity as a Member, including any obligations to make Capital Contributions.

Merger Agreement – Section 10.01.

MLP – Spectra Energy Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership.

MLP Interests – the limited partner interests of the MLP, regardless of class or category of limited partner interests.

MLP Partnership Agreement – the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the MLP, dated July 2, 2007, as amended, supplemented, amended and restated, or otherwise modified from time to time.

National Securities Exchange – has the meaning ascribed to such term in the MLP Partnership Agreement.

 

A-3


Officers – any person elected as an officer of the Company as provided in Section 6.03(a), but such term does not include any person who has ceased to be an officer of the Company.

Omnibus Agreement – the Omnibus Agreement, dated July 2, 2007, among the Company, SEP GP, the MLP and Spectra Energy Corp, as amended, supplemented, amended and restated, or otherwise modified from time to time.

Organizational Certificate – Section 2.01.

Partnership Securities – has the meaning ascribed to such term in the MLP Partnership Agreement.

Person – a natural person, partnership (whether general or limited), limited liability company, governmental entity, trust, estate, association, corporation, venture, custodian, nominee or any other individual or entity in its own or any representative capacity.

Plan of Conversion – Section 10.01.

Quarter – unless the context requires otherwise, a calendar quarter.

SEC – the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

SEP GP – Spectra Energy Partners (DE) GP, LP, as the general partner of the MLP.

SEP GP Agreement – the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Spectra Energy Partners (DE) GP, LP, dated effective as of July 2, 2007, as amended, supplemented, amended and restated, or otherwise modified from time to time.

SESPC –initial paragraph of this Agreement.

SET – Recitals of this Agreement.

Special Approval – approval by a majority of the members of the Conflicts Committee acting in good faith.

Subsidiary – with respect to any relevant Person, (a) a corporation of which more than 50% of the Voting Stock is owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, by such relevant Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such relevant Person or a combination thereof, (b) a partnership (whether general or limited) in which such relevant Person, one or more Subsidiaries of such relevant Person or a combination thereof is, at the date of determination, a general or limited partner of such partnership, but only if more than 50% of the partnership interests of such partnership (considering all of the partnership interests of the partnership as a single class) is owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, by such relevant Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such relevant Person, or a combination thereof, or (c) any other Person (other than a corporation or a partnership) in which such relevant Person, one or more Subsidiaries of such relevant Person, or a combination thereof, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, has (i) at least a majority ownership interest or (ii) the power to elect or direct the election of a majority of the directors or other governing body of such other Person.

 

A-4


Surviving Business Entity – Section 10.01.

Underwriting Agreement – has the meaning ascribed to such term in the MLP Partnership Agreement. Units – has the meaning ascribed to such term in the MLP Partnership Agreement.

Voting Stock – with respect to any Person, Equity Interests in such Person, the holders of which are ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, entitled to vote for the election of, or otherwise appoint, directors (or Persons with management authority performing similar functions) of such Person.

Withdraw, Withdrawing and Withdrawal – the withdrawal, resignation or retirement of a Member from the Company as a Member.

 

A-5

Exhibit 10.1

AMENDED AND RESTATED

OMNIBUS AGREEMENT

among

SPECTRA ENERGY CORP

SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS GP, LLC

SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS (DE) GP, LP

and

SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE I. Definitions

     1   

1.1

   Definitions      1   

ARTICLE II. Indemnification

     5   

2.1

   Environmental Indemnification      5   

2.2

   Additional Indemnification      6   

2.3

   Indemnification Procedures      6   

ARTICLE III. Reimbursement Obligations

     8   

3.1

   Reimbursement for Allocated Corporate, General and Administrative Expenses      8   

3.2

   Reimbursement for Direct Expenses      8   

3.3

   Budgets; Capital; Operating and Maintenance Expenses; and Corporate Governance Expenses      9   

ARTICLE IV. Miscellaneous

     9   

4.1

   Choice of Law; Submission to Jurisdiction      9   

4.2

   Notice      9   

4.3

   Entire Agreement      10   

4.4

   Termination      10   

4.5

   Effect of Waiver or Consent      10   

4.6

   Amendment or Modification      10   

4.7

   Assignment; Third-Party Beneficiaries      10   

4.8

   Counterparts      10   

4.9

   Severability      11   

4.10

   Gender, Parts, Articles and Sections      11   

4.11

   Further Assurances      11   

4.12

   Withholding or Granting of Consent      11   

4.13

   Laws and Regulations      11   

4.14

   Negation of Rights of Limited Partners, Assignees and Third Parties      11   

4.15

   No Recourse Against Officers or Directors      11   

4.16

   Successors      11   

 

i


AMENDED AND RESTATED

OMNIBUS AGREEMENT

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED OMNIBUS AGREEMENT (“ Agreement ”) is entered into on, and effective as of, November 1, 2013 (the “ Effective Date ”), and is by and among Spectra Energy Corp, a Delaware corporation (“ Spectra ”), Spectra Energy Partners GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ GP LLC ”), Spectra Energy Partners (DE) GP, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ General Partner ”), and Spectra Energy Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”). The above-named entities are sometimes referred to in this Agreement each as a “ Party ” and collectively as the “ Parties .”

RECITALS:

1. The Parties entered into that certain Omnibus Agreement effective as of July 2, 2007, which provided for the provision of certain services and indemnities by the General Partner, as amended by that certain First Amendment to Omnibus Agreement, effective as of April 4, 2008, and that certain Amendment No. 1 to Omnibus Agreement, effective as of June 1, 2010 (as so amended, the “ Original Agreement ”).

2. Spectra and the Partnership entered into that certain Contribution Agreement dated as of August 5, 2013, pursuant to which Spectra and the Partnership agreed to amend and restate the Original Agreement in its entirety to, among other things, eliminate the limit on the amount for which Spectra is entitled to reimbursed for certain corporate, general and administrative services that Spectra provides to the Partnership Group (as defined herein).

In consideration of the premises and the covenants, conditions, and agreements contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree to amend and restate the Original Agreement in its entirety as follows:

ARTICLE I.

Definitions

1.1 Definitions.

As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have the respective meanings set forth below:

Affiliate ” has the meaning given such term in the Partnership Agreement.

Agreement ” means this Agreement, as it may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.

Cause ” has the meaning given such term in the Partnership Agreement.

 

1


Change of Control ” means, with respect to any Person (the “ Applicable Person ”), any of the following events: (i) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the Applicable Person’s assets to any other Person, unless immediately following such sale, lease, exchange or other transfer such assets are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Applicable Person; (ii) the dissolution or liquidation of the Applicable Person; (iii) the consolidation or merger of the Applicable Person with or into another Person pursuant to a transaction in which the outstanding Voting Securities of the Applicable Person are changed into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where (a) the outstanding Voting Securities of the Applicable Person are changed into or exchanged for Voting Securities of the surviving Person or its parent and (b) the holders of the Voting Securities of the Applicable Person immediately prior to such transaction own, directly or indirectly, not less than a majority of the outstanding Voting Securities of the surviving Person or its parent immediately after such transaction; and (iv) a “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Sections 13(d) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) being or becoming the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act) of more than 50% of all of the then outstanding Voting Securities of the Applicable Person, except in a merger or consolidation which would not constitute a Change of Control under clause (iii) above.

Common Units ” has the meaning given such term in the Partnership Agreement.

Conflicts Committee ” has the meaning given such term in the Partnership Agreement.

Contribution Agreement ” has the meaning given such term in the Partnership Agreement.

Covered Environmental Losses ” means all environmental and toxic tort losses, damages, liabilities, injuries, claims, demands, causes of action, judgments, settlements, fines, penalties, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, costs and expenses of any Environmental Activity, court costs and reasonable attorney’s and experts’ fees) of any and every kind or character, by reason of or arising out of:

(i) any violation or correction of violation of Environmental Laws, including without limitation performance of any Environmental Activity; or

(ii) any event, omission or condition associated with ownership or operation of the IPO Partnership Assets relating to Environmental Activities (including, without limitation, the exposure to or presence of Hazardous Substances on, under, about or migrating to or from the IPO Partnership Assets or the exposure to or Release of Hazardous Substances arising out of operation of the IPO Partnership Assets) including, without limitation, (A) the cost and expense of any Environmental Activities, (B) the cost or expense of the preparation and implementation of any closure, remedial or corrective action or other plans required or necessary under Environmental Laws and (C) the cost and expense for any environmental or toxic tort pre-trial, trial or appellate legal or litigation support work.

Environmental Activities ” shall mean any investigation, study, assessment, evaluation, sampling, testing, monitoring, containment, removal, disposal, closure, corrective action, remediation (regardless of whether active or passive), natural attenuation, restoration,

 

2


bioremediation, response, repair, corrective measure, cleanup or abatement that is required or necessary under any applicable Environmental Law, including, but not limited to, institutional or engineering controls or participation in a governmental voluntary cleanup program to conduct voluntary investigatory and remedial actions for the clean-up, removal or remediation of Hazardous Substances that exceed actionable levels established pursuant to Environmental Laws, or participation in a supplemental environmental project in partial or whole mitigation of a fine or penalty.

Environmental Laws ” means all federal, state, and local laws, statutes, rules, regulations, orders, judgments, ordinances, codes, injunctions, decrees, Environmental Permits and other legally enforceable requirements and rules of common law relating to (a) pollution or protection of the environment or natural resources including, without limitation, the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental Policy Act and other environmental conservation and protection laws, each as amended through the IPO Closing Date, (b) any Release or threatened Release of, or any exposure of any Person or property to, any Hazardous Substances and (c) the generation, manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, transport or handling of any Hazardous Substances.

Environmental Permit ” means any permit, approval, identification number, license, registration, consent, exemption, variance or other authorization required under or issued pursuant to any applicable Environmental Law.

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

General Partner ” has the meaning given such term in the introduction to this Agreement.

GP LLC ” has the meaning given such term in the introduction to this Agreement.

Gulfstream ” means Gulfstream Natural Gas System, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company.

Gulfstream Assets ” means the assets owned by Gulfstream as of the IPO Closing Date.

Hazardous Substance ” means (a) any substance that is designated, defined or classified as a hazardous waste, solid waste, hazardous material, pollutant, contaminant or toxic or hazardous substance, or terms of similar meaning, or that is otherwise regulated under any Environmental Law, including, without limitation, any hazardous substance as defined under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, as amended, (b) oil as defined in the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, as amended, including oil, gasoline, natural gas, fuel oil, motor oil, waste oil, diesel fuel, jet fuel and other refined petroleum hydrocarbons and petroleum products and (c) radioactive materials, asbestos containing materials or polychlorinated biphenyls.

 

3


Indemnified Party ” means each Partnership Group Member and Spectra, as the case may be, in their capacities as parties entitled to indemnification in accordance with Article II.

Indemnifying Party ” means each of the Partnership and Spectra, as the case may be, in their capacity as the parties from whom indemnification may be required in accordance with Article II.

IPO Closing Date ” means July 2, 2007 (the date of the closing of the Partnership’s initial public offering of Common Units).

IPO Partnership Assets ” means the natural gas transportation and storage assets (including the Gulfstream Assets, the Market Hub Assets and the interests in Gulfstream and Market Hub contributed to the Partnership in connection with its initial public offering and as more completely described in the Registration Statement) conveyed, contributed or otherwise transferred or intended to be conveyed, contributed or otherwise transferred to any Partnership Group Member, or owned by or necessary for the operation of the business, properties or assets of any Partnership Group Member, prior to or as of the IPO Closing Date.

Losses ” means all losses, damages, liabilities, claims, demands, causes of action, judgments, settlements, fines, penalties, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, court costs and reasonable attorney’s and experts’ fees) of any and every kind or character.

Market Hub ” means Market Hub Partners Holding, a Delaware partnership.

Market Hub Assets ” means the assets owned by Market Hub as of the IPO Closing Date.

Original Agreement has the meaning given such term in the recitals to this Agreement.

Partnership ” has the meaning given such term in the introduction to this Agreement.

Partnership Agreement ” means the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Spectra Energy Partners, LP, dated as of the IPO Closing Date, as amended by that certain Amendment No. 1 to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Spectra Energy Partners, LP, dated as of April 11, 2008, and as it may be further amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

Partnership Entities ” means GP LLC, the General Partner and each Partnership Group Member.

Partnership Group ” means the Partnership and its Subsidiaries treated as a single consolidated entity.

Partnership Group Member ” means any member of the Partnership Group.

Partnership Indemnitee ” means any Person who is an Indemnitee (as defined in the Partnership Agreement); provided , that the term “Partnership Indemnitee” shall exclude Spectra and any Affiliate of Spectra which is not a Partnership Group Member.

 

4


Party ” and “ Parties ” are defined in the introduction to this Agreement.

Person ” means an individual or a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, business trust, employee benefit plan, unincorporated organization, association, government agency or political subdivision thereof or other entity.

Registration Statement ” means the Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended, (Registration No. 333-141687) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to the initial public offering of Common Units by the Partnership.

Release ” means any depositing, spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, placing, emitting, discarding, abandoning, emptying, discharging, migrating, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping or disposing into the environment.

Retained Assets ” means all assets of Spectra and its Affiliates that were not conveyed, contributed or otherwise transferred to the Partnership Group pursuant to the Contribution Agreement and other documents relating to the transactions referred to in the Contribution Agreement.

Subsidiary ” has the meaning given such term in the Partnership Agreement.

Spectra ” has the meaning given such term in the introduction to this Agreement.

Units ” has the meaning given such term in the Partnership Agreement.

Voting Securities ” means securities of any class of a Person entitling the holders thereof to vote in the election of, or to appoint, members of the board of directors or other similar governing body of the Person.

ARTICLE II.

Indemnification

2.1 Environmental Indemnification. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.3, the Partnership Group shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Spectra and its Affiliates, other than any Partnership Group Member, from and against any Covered Environmental Losses suffered or incurred by Spectra and its Affiliates, other than any Partnership Group Member, relating to the IPO Partnership Assets occurring after the IPO Closing Date; provided that in no event shall the Partnership Group indemnify, defend or hold harmless Spectra and its Affiliates from and against any Covered Environmental Losses relating to the Gulfstream Assets or the Market Hub Assets arising from or attributable to the 25.5% interest in Gulfstream or the 50% interest in Market Hub, respectively, owned by Spectra and its Affiliates from and after the IPO Closing Date except to the extent Spectra or any of its Subsidiaries, other than any Partnership Group Member, is indemnified by any Partnership Group Member for or against such Covered Environmental Loss pursuant to any other contract entered into after the IPO Closing Date.

 

5


2.2 Additional Indemnification.

(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.3, Spectra shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Partnership Group and the Partnership Indemnitees from and against any Losses suffered or incurred by the Partnership Group or any Partnership Indemnitee by reason of or arising out of:

(i) all federal, state and local income tax liabilities attributable to the ownership or operation of the IPO Partnership Assets prior to the IPO Closing Date, including any such income tax liabilities of Spectra and its Affiliates that may result from the consummation of the formation transactions for the Partnership Group occurring on or prior to the IPO Closing Date; and

(ii) the assets, liabilities, business or operations associated with the Retained Assets and whether occurring before or after the IPO Closing Date;

provided , however , that, (A) in the case of clause (i) above, such indemnification obligations shall survive until sixty (60) days after the expiration of any applicable statute of limitations, and (B) in the case of clause (ii) above, in no event shall Spectra indemnify, defend or hold harmless the Partnership Group or any Partnership Indemnitee from and against any Losses suffered or incurred by the Partnership Group or any Partnership Indemnitee by reason of or arising out of any Retained Assets transferred by Spectra or any of its Affiliates, other than any Partnership Group Member, to any Partnership Group Member pursuant to any other contract entered into after the IPO Closing Date;

(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.3, in addition to and not in limitation of the indemnification provided under this Article II, the Partnership Group shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Spectra and its Affiliates, other than any Partnership Group Member, from and against any Losses suffered or incurred by Spectra and its Affiliates, other than any Partnership Group Member, by reason of or arising out of events and conditions associated with the operation of the IPO Partnership Assets that occurs on or after the IPO Closing Date (other than Covered Environmental Losses, which are covered by Section 2.1) except to the extent that the Partnership Group is indemnified with respect to any such Losses under Section 2.2(a); provided that in no event shall the Partnership Group indemnify, defend or hold harmless Spectra and its Affiliates from and against any Losses relating to the Gulfstream Assets or the Market Hub Assets arising from or attributable to the 25.5% interest in Gulfstream or the 50% interest in Market Hub, respectively, owned by Spectra and its Affiliates from and after the IPO Closing Date except to the extent Spectra or any of its Subsidiaries, other than any Partnership Group Member, is indemnified by any Partnership Group Member for or against such Loss pursuant to any other contract entered into after the IPO Closing Date.

2.3 Indemnification Procedures.

(a) The Indemnified Party agrees that within a reasonable period of time after it becomes aware of facts giving rise to a claim for indemnification pursuant to this Article II, it will provide notice thereof in writing to the Indemnifying Party specifying the nature of and specific basis for such claim; provided , however , that the Indemnified Party shall not submit claims more frequently than once a calendar quarter (or twice in the case of the last calendar quarter prior to the expiration of the applicable indemnity coverage under this Agreement).

 

6


(b) The Indemnifying Party shall have the right to control all aspects of the defense of (and any counterclaims with respect to) any claims brought against the Indemnified Party that are covered by the indemnification set forth in this Article II, including, without limitation, the selection of counsel, determination of whether to appeal any decision of any court or similar authority and the settling of any such matter or any issues relating thereto; provided , however , that no such settlement shall be entered into without the consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) of the Indemnified Party unless it includes a full release of the Indemnified Party from such matter or issues, as the case may be.

(c) The Indemnified Party agrees to cooperate fully with the Indemnifying Party with respect to all aspects of the defense of any claims covered by the indemnification set forth in this Article II, including, without limitation, the prompt furnishing to the Indemnifying Party of any correspondence or other notice relating thereto that the Indemnified Party may receive, permitting the names of the Indemnified Party to be utilized in connection with such defense, the making available to the Indemnifying Party of any files, records or other information of the Indemnified Party that the Indemnifying Party considers relevant to such defense and the making available to the Indemnifying Party of any employees of the Indemnified Party; provided , however , that in connection therewith the Indemnifying Party agrees to use reasonable efforts to minimize the impact thereof on the operations of the Indemnified Party and further agrees to maintain the confidentiality of all files, records and other information furnished by the Indemnified Party pursuant to this Section 2.3. In no event shall the obligation of the Indemnified Party to cooperate with the Indemnifying Party as set forth in the immediately preceding sentence be construed as imposing upon the Indemnified Party an obligation to hire and pay for counsel in connection with the defense of any claims covered by the indemnification set forth in this Article II; provided , however , that the Indemnified Party may, at its own option, cost and expense, hire and pay for counsel in connection with any such defense. The Indemnifying Party agrees to keep any such counsel hired by the Indemnified Party reasonably informed as to the status of any such defense, but the Indemnifying Party shall have the right to retain sole control over such defense.

(d) In determining the amount of any loss, cost, damage or expense for which the Indemnified Party is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, the gross amount of the indemnification will be reduced by (i) any insurance proceeds realized by the Indemnified Party, and such correlative insurance benefit shall be net of any incremental insurance premium that becomes due and payable by the Indemnified Party as a result of such claim and (ii) all amounts recovered by the Indemnified Party under contractual indemnities from third Persons.

 

7


ARTICLE III.

Reimbursement Obligations

3.1 Reimbursement for Allocated Corporate, General and Administrative Expenses.

(a) The General Partner hereby agrees to provide (or to cause its Affiliates to provide) the Partnership Group, from and after the IPO Closing Date, with certain corporate, general and administrative services, including, but which may include (in whole or in part) and are not limited to, legal, accounting, compliance, treasury, insurance, risk management, health, safety and environmental, human resources, credit, payroll, internal audit, and tax (collectively, “ Corporate Governance ”). These Corporate Governance services shall be consistent in nature and quality to the services of such type previously provided by the General Partner and its Affiliates in connection with its management and operation of the Partnership’s assets prior to their acquisition by the Partnership.

(b) The Partnership Group hereby agrees to reimburse the General Partner and its Affiliates for all expenses and expenditures the General Partner or its Affiliates incur or payments they make on behalf of the Partnership Group for these Corporate Governance services. Such reimbursable expenses shall also include employee benefits expenses for former employees of Spectra and its Affiliates arising out of services provided by such employees prior to the Effective Date with respect to assets or businesses that are owned by the Partnership as of the Effective Date.

(c) The General Partner shall be entitled to allocate any such expenses and expenditures between the Partnership Group, on the one hand, and the General Partner and its Affiliates, on the other hand, in accordance with the foregoing provision on any reasonable basis.

3.2 Reimbursement for Direct Expenses.

(a) The Partnership Group hereby agrees to reimburse the General Partner and its Affiliates for all direct expenses and expenditures, other than costs allocated pursuant to Section 3.1, they incur or payments they make on behalf of the Partnership Group, including, but not limited to, (i) salaries of personnel performing services on the Partnership Group’s behalf, the cost of employee benefits for such personnel and general and administrative expense associated with such personnel, (ii) capital expenditures, (iii) maintenance and repair costs, (iv) taxes and (v) direct expenses, including operating expenses and certain allocated operating expenses, associated with the ownership and operation of the Partnership’s assets; provided , that any allocated operating expenses shall be consistent in nature and quality to the services of such type previously provided by Spectra in connection with its management and operation of the Partnership’s assets prior to their acquisition by the Partnership.

(b) The Partnership Group hereby agrees to reimburse the General Partner and its Affiliates for all expenses and expenditures they incur or payments they make as a result of the Partnership becoming and continuing as a publicly traded entity, including, but not limited to, costs associated with annual and quarterly reports, tax return and Schedule K-1 preparation and distribution, independent auditor fees, partnership governance and compliance, registrar and transfer agent fees, legal fees and independent director compensation.

(c) The obligation of the Partnership Group to reimburse the General Partner and its Affiliates pursuant to this Section 3.2 shall not be subject to any monetary limitation.

 

8


3.3 Budgets: Capital; Operating and Maintenance Expenses; and Corporate Governance Expenses.

(a) Prior to final approval, the General Partner agrees to provide to the Partnership the annual estimated budgets for the capital expenditures and costs associated with the entities in which the Partnership has an ownership interest and for which the Partnership is required to reimburse Spectra and its Affiliates pursuant to Sections 3.1 and 3.2. In the course of preparing such budgets, the General Partner agrees to consult with the Partnership regarding such budgets prior to their approval.

(b) The General Partner agrees to promptly provide the Partnership with all budget forecast(s) and variance analyses prepared by the General Partner or its Affiliates in the normal course of business and related to the budgets described in Section 3.3(a), and will consult with the Partnership with respect to material variances and expenditures not initially included in such budgets.

ARTICLE IV.

Miscellaneous

4.1 Choice of Law; Submission to Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be subject to and governed by the laws of the State of Texas, excluding any conflicts-of-law rule or principle that might refer the construction or interpretation of this Agreement to the laws of another state. Each Party hereby submits to the jurisdiction of the state and federal courts in the State of Texas and to venue in Houston, Texas.

4.2 Notice. All notices or requests or consents provided for by, or permitted to be given pursuant to, this Agreement must be in writing and must be given by depositing same in the United States mail, addressed to the Person to be notified, postpaid, and registered or certified with return receipt requested or by delivering such notice in person or by telecopier or telegram to such Party. Notice given by personal delivery or mail shall be effective upon actual receipt. Notice given by telegram or telecopier shall be effective upon actual receipt if received during the recipient’s normal business hours or at the beginning of the recipient’s next business day after receipt if not received during the recipient’s normal business hours. All notices to be sent to a Party pursuant to this Agreement shall be sent to or made at the address set forth below or at such other address as such Party may stipulate to the other Parties in the manner provided in this Section 4.2.

For notice to Spectra:

Spectra Energy Corp

5400 Westheimer Court

Houston, Texas 77056

Attention: General Counsel

 

9


For notice to the Partnership Entities:

Spectra Energy Partners, LP

5400 Westheimer Court

Houston, Texas 77056

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

4.3 Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the Parties relating to the matters contained herein, superseding all prior contracts or agreements, whether oral or written, relating to the matters contained herein.

4.4 Termination. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if the General Partner is removed as general partner of the Partnership under circumstances where Cause does not exist and Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates are not voted in favor of such removal, this Agreement, other than the provisions set forth in Article II hereof, may immediately thereupon be terminated by Spectra. This Agreement, other than the provisions set forth in Article II hereof, shall also terminate upon a Change of Control of GP LLC, the General Partner or the Partnership.

4.5 Effect of Waiver or Consent. No waiver or consent, express or implied, by any Party to or of any breach or default by any Person in the performance by such Person of its obligations hereunder shall be deemed or construed to be a consent or waiver to or of any other breach or default in the performance by such Person of the same or any other obligations of such Person hereunder. Failure on the part of a Party to complain of any act of any Person or to declare any Person in default, irrespective of how long such failure continues, shall not constitute a waiver by such Party of its rights hereunder until the applicable statute of limitations period has run.

4.6 Amendment or Modification. This Agreement may be amended or modified from time to time only by the written agreement of all the Parties; provided, however , that the Partnership may not, without the prior approval of the Conflicts Committee, agree to any amendment or modification of this Agreement that, in the reasonable discretion of the General Partner, will adversely affect the holders of Common Units. Each such instrument shall be reduced to writing and shall be designated on its face an “Amendment” or an “Addendum” to this Agreement.

4.7 Assignment; Third-Party Beneficiaries. No Party shall have the right to assign any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the consent of the other Parties hereto. Each of the Parties hereto specifically intends that Spectra and each entity comprising the Partnership Entities, as applicable, whether or not a Party to this Agreement, shall be entitled to assert rights and remedies hereunder as third-party beneficiaries hereto with respect to those provisions of this Agreement affording a right, benefit or privilege to any such entity.

4.8 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, including facsimile counterparts, with the same effect as if all signatory Parties had signed the same document. All counterparts shall be construed together and shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

10


4.9 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the application thereof to any Person or circumstance shall be held invalid or unenforceable by a court or regulatory body of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision to other Persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby and shall be enforced to the greatest extent permitted by law.

4.10 Gender, Parts, Articles and Sections. Whenever the context requires, the gender of all words used in this Agreement shall include the masculine, feminine and neuter, and the number of all words shall include the singular and plural. All references to Article numbers and Section numbers refer to Articles and Sections of this Agreement.

4.11 Further Assurances. In connection with this Agreement and all transactions contemplated by this Agreement, each Party agrees to execute and deliver such additional documents and instruments and to perform such additional acts as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate, carry out and perform all of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Agreement and all such transactions.

4.12 Withholding or Granting of Consent. Each Party may, with respect to any consent or approval that it is entitled to grant pursuant to this Agreement, grant or withhold such consent or approval in its sole and uncontrolled discretion, with or without cause, and subject to such conditions as it shall deem appropriate.

4.13 Laws and Regulations. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, no Party shall take any act, or fail to take any act, under this Agreement which would violate any applicable law, statute, rule or regulation.

4.14 Negation of Rights of Limited Partners, Assignees and Third Parties. The provisions of this Agreement are enforceable solely by the Parties, and no stockholder, limited partner, member or assignee of Spectra, the Partnership or other Person shall have the right, separate and apart from Spectra or the Partnership, to enforce any provision of this Agreement or to compel any Party to comply with the terms of this Agreement.

4.15 No Recourse Against Officers or Directors. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of this Agreement shall not give rise to any right of recourse against any officer or director of Spectra or any Partnership Entity.

4.16 Successors. This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the Parties and to their respective successors and assigns.

 

11


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Amended and Restated Omnibus Agreement on, and effective as of, the Effective Date.

 

SPECTRA ENERGY CORP
By:  

/s/ Alan N. Harris

  Alan N. Harris
  Chief Development & Operations Officer
SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS GP, LLC
By:  

/s/ Julie A. Dill

  Julie A. Dill
  President and Chief Executive Officer
SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS (DE) GP, LP
By:   Spectra Energy Partners GP, LLC, its general partner
By:  

/s/ Julie A. Dill

  Julie A. Dill
  President and Chief Executive Officer
SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP
By:   Spectra Energy Partners (DE) GP, LP, its general partner
By:   Spectra Energy Partners GP, LLC, its general partner
By:  

/s/ Julie A. Dill

  Julie A. Dill
  President and Chief Executive Officer

[Signature Page to the Amended and Restated Omnibus Agreement]

Exhibit 10.2

$2,000,000,000

AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

Dated as of November 1, 2013,

among

SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP,

as Borrower,

THE INITIAL LENDERS AND INITIAL ISSUING BANKS NAMED HEREIN,

as Initial Lenders and Initial Issuing Banks,

CITIBANK, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent,

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

and THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC,

as Syndication Agents

and

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Documentation Agents

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC,

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.,

RBS SECURITIES INC.,

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED,

and WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC,

as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

     1   

SECTION 1.01. Certain Defined Terms

     1   

SECTION 1.02. Computation of Time Periods

     25   

SECTION 1.03. Accounting Terms

     25   

SECTION 1.04. Terms Generally

     25   

SECTION 1.05. Letter of Credit Amounts

     26   

SECTION 1.06. Exchange Rates; Currency Equivalents

     26   

SECTION 1.07. Classification of Loans and Borrowings

     26   

SECTION 1.08. Amendment And Restatement; No Novation; Deemed Assignments

     27   

ARTICLE II REVOLVING CREDIT ADVANCES AND LETTERS OF CREDIT

     27   

SECTION 2.01. The Advances

     27   

SECTION 2.02. Making the Advances

     28   

SECTION 2.03. Issuance of, and Drawings and Reimbursement Under, Letters of Credit

     30   

SECTION 2.04. Fees

     36   

SECTION 2.05. Termination, Reduction, Increase and Extension of Commitments

     37   

SECTION 2.06. Interest on Advances

     42   

SECTION 2.07. Interest Rate Determination

     43   

SECTION 2.08. Optional Conversion of Advances

     43   

SECTION 2.09. Mandatory Payments and Prepayments of Advances

     44   

SECTION 2.10. Optional Prepayments of Advances

     44   

SECTION 2.11. Funding Losses

     45   

SECTION 2.12. Increased Costs

     45   

SECTION 2.13. Illegality

     46   

SECTION 2.14. Payments and Computations

     46   

SECTION 2.15. Taxes

     48   

SECTION 2.16. Sharing of Payments, Etc.

     52   

SECTION 2.17. Notes

     53   

SECTION 2.18. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders

     53   

SECTION 2.19. Defaulting Lenders

     54   

SECTION 2.20. Incremental Term Loans

     56   

ARTICLE III CONDITIONS TO EFFECTIVENESS AND LENDING

     57   

SECTION 3.01. Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness of Sections 2.01 and 2.03

     57   

SECTION 3.02. Conditions Precedent to Each Borrowing and Letter of Credit Issuance or Extension

     59   

 

i


ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     59   

SECTION 4.01. Representations and Warranties

     59   

ARTICLE V COVENANTS OF THE BORROWER

     61   

SECTION 5.01. Information

     61   

SECTION 5.02. Payment of Taxes

     63   

SECTION 5.03. Maintenance of Property; Insurance

     63   

SECTION 5.04. Maintenance of Existence

     64   

SECTION 5.05. Compliance with Laws

     64   

SECTION 5.06. Books and Records

     64   

SECTION 5.07. Negative Pledge

     64   

SECTION 5.08. Consolidations, Mergers and Dispositions of Assets

     66   

SECTION 5.09. Use of Proceeds

     67   

SECTION 5.10. Transactions with Affiliates

     67   

SECTION 5.11. Consolidated Leverage Ratio

     67   

SECTION 5.12. Designation of Subsidiaries

     68   

SECTION 5.13. Cash Collateral

     69   

ARTICLE VI EVENTS OF DEFAULT

     70   

SECTION 6.01. Events of Default

     70   

SECTION 6.02. Application of Proceeds

     72   

ARTICLE VII THE AGENT

     74   

SECTION 7.01. Authorization and Action

     74   

SECTION 7.02. Agent’s Reliance, Etc.

     74   

SECTION 7.03. Citi and Affiliates

     75   

SECTION 7.04. Lender Credit Decision

     75   

SECTION 7.05. Indemnification

     75   

SECTION 7.06. Successor Agent

     76   

SECTION 7.07. Syndication Agents, Documentation Agents and Joint Lead Arrangers

     76   

SECTION 7.08. Sub-Agents

     76   

ARTICLE VIII MISCELLANEOUS

     77   

SECTION 8.01. Amendments, Etc.

     77   

SECTION 8.02. Notices, Etc.

     78   

SECTION 8.03. No Waiver: Remedies

     79   

SECTION 8.04. Costs and Expenses

     79   

SECTION 8.05. Right of Set-off

     80   

SECTION 8.06. Binding Effect

     81   

 

ii


SECTION 8.07. Assignments and Participations

     81   

SECTION 8.08. Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction

     85   

SECTION 8.09. Execution in Counterparts; Integration

     85   

SECTION 8.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL

     86   

SECTION 8.11. Patriot Act

     86   

SECTION 8.12. Headings

     86   

SECTION 8.13. Confidentiality

     86   

SECTION 8.14. Conversion of Currencies

     87   

 

Schedules      
Schedule 1.01    —      Existing Letters of Credit
Exhibits      
Exhibit A-1    —      Form of Revolving Note
Exhibit A-2    —      Form of Incremental Term Note
Exhibit B    —      Form of Notice of Borrowing
Exhibit C    —      Form of Notice of Issuance
Exhibit D    —      Form of Assignment and Acceptance
Exhibit E-1    —      Form of U.S. Tax Certificate
Exhibit E-2    —      Form of U.S. Tax Certificate
Exhibit E-3    —      Form of U.S. Tax Certificate
Exhibit E-4    —      Form of U.S. Tax Certificate
Exhibit F    —      Form of Incremental Term Loan Agreement

 

iii


AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

Dated as of November 1, 2013

This AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT is entered into as of November 1, 2013, among SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Borrower ”), the banks, financial institutions and other institutional lenders listed on the signature pages hereof (the “ Initial Lenders ”), the Initial Issuing Banks (as hereinafter defined), and CITIBANK, N.A. (“ Citi ”), as administrative agent.

The Borrower, the lenders party thereto and Citi, as administrative agent, entered into that certain Credit Agreement dated as of October 18, 2011 (as amended by that certain Amendment No. 1 to Credit Agreement dated as of September 12, 2013, the “ Existing Credit Agreement ”), pursuant to which (a) the revolving lenders party thereto (the “ Existing Revolving Lenders ”) have made available to the Borrower a revolving credit facility, including a letter of credit subfacility, and (b) the Borrower may request incremental term loans, in each case pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in the Existing Credit Agreement.

The Borrower has requested that the Existing Credit Agreement be amended and restated in order to, among other things, extend the maturity date and make certain other amendments and modifications to the Existing Credit Agreement.

The parties hereto are willing to amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement, and to continue (a) to make revolving credit and letter of credit facilities available to the Borrower and (b) to provide the Borrower with the right to, from time to time, request one or more Series of Incremental Term Loans (each as defined below), in each case upon the terms and conditions set forth herein.

In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

SECTION 1.01. Certain Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings (such meanings to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):

Accession Agreement ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(d)(i) .

Account Control Agreement ” means any securities account control agreement, deposit account control agreement, Cash Collateral Account agreement or similar agreement entered into in connection with the borrowing of, and as security for, any Incremental Term Loans, among the Borrower (as debtor), the Intermediary (as securities intermediary or deposit bank, as applicable) and the Agent (as secured party), pursuant to which the Agent, on behalf of the applicable Class of Incremental Term Lenders, obtains “control” (as defined in Section 8-106 or 9-104 of the Uniform Commercial Code, as applicable) of any Cash Collateral held in a Cash Collateral Account.

 

1


Acquisition ” by any Person, means the acquisition by such Person, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, of the property or assets (including Equity Securities of any Person but excluding capital expenditures or acquisitions of inventory or supplies in the ordinary course of business) of, or of a business unit or division of, another Person or at least a majority of the Voting Stock of another Person, in each case whether or not involving a merger or consolidation with such other Person and whether for cash, property, services, assumption of Indebtedness, securities or otherwise.

Administrative Questionnaire ” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Agent.

Advance ” means an advance by a Lender to the Borrower as part of a Borrowing in the form of a Revolving Advance or an Incremental Term Loan. Pursuant to Section 1.08, the revolving advances and other obligations under the Existing Credit Agreement being continued as part of the amendment and restatement thereof shall be deemed to be initial Revolving Advances made on the Effective Date upon the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Sections 3.01 and 3.02.

Affiliate ” means, as to any Person (the “ specified Person ”) (a) any Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls the specified Person (a “ Controlling Person ”) or (b) any Person (other than the specified Person or a Subsidiary of the specified Person) that is controlled by or is under common control with a Controlling Person. As used herein, the term “ control ” means possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. Unless otherwise specified, Affiliate means an Affiliate of the Borrower.

Agent ” means Citi in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders under this Agreement, or any successor administrative agent appointed pursuant to Section 7.06 .

Agent Fee Letter ” means that certain letter agreement from Citigroup Global Markets Inc. to the Borrower, dated September 4, 2013, concerning certain fees to be paid by the Borrower in connection with this Agreement, as the same may be amended, supplemented or replaced from time to time.

Agent’s Account ” means the account of the Agent maintained by the Agent at Citibank, N.A. with its office at New Castle, Delaware, ABA/Routing No. 021000089, Account No. 36852248, Account Name Medium Term Finance, Attention: Myles Khoury, or such other account of the Agent as the Agent shall designate in writing to the Borrower in accordance with Section 8.02 .

Agreement ” means this Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Agreement Currency ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.14(b) .

 

2


Alternative Currency ” means each of Canadian Dollars, Euros, Pounds Sterling and each other currency (other than dollars) that is approved by the applicable Issuing Bank in accordance with Section 2.03(b) .

Alternative Currency Equivalent Amount ” means, at any time, with respect to any amount denominated in dollars, the equivalent amount thereof in the applicable Alternative Currency as reasonably determined by the Agent or the applicable Issuing Bank, as the case may be, at such time on the basis of the Spot Rate (determined in respect of the most recent Revaluation Date) for the purchase of such Alternative Currency with dollars.

Applicable Creditor ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.14(b) .

Applicable Lending Office ” means, with respect to each Lender, such Lender’s Domestic Lending Office in the case of a Base Rate Advance and such Lender’s Eurodollar Lending Office in the case of a Eurodollar Rate Advance.

Applicable Margin ” means, as of any date, (a) with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Revolving Advance or Base Rate Revolving Advance, as the case may be, the applicable percentage per annum set forth below under the captions “Eurodollar Margin” or “Base Rate Margin”, as the case may be, in each case determined by reference to the Public Debt Rating in effect on such date:

 

Level

   Public Debt Rating
(S&P/Moody’s/Fitch)
   Eurodollar
Margin
  Base
Rate
Margin

Level 1

   ³ A/A2/A    0.900%   0.000%

Level 2

   ³ A-/A3/A-    1.000%   0.000%

Level 3

   ³ BBB+/Baa1/BBB+    1.100%   0.100%

Level 4

   ³ BBB/Baa2/BBB    1.175%   0.175%

Level 5

   ³ BBB-/Baa3/BBB-    1.250%   0.250%

Level 6

   <BBB-/Baa3/BBB-    1.450%   0.450%

and (b) with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Incremental Term Loan or Base Rate Incremental Term Loan, as the case may be, the applicable percentage per annum specified in the applicable Incremental Term Loan Agreement for such Series of Incremental Term Loans.

 

3


Applicable Percentage ” means, as of any date, a percentage per annum set forth below under the caption “Applicable Percentage”, determined by reference to the Public Debt Rating in effect on such date:

 

Level

   Public Debt Rating
(S&P/Moody’s/Fitch)
   Applicable
Percentage

Level 1

   ³ A/A2/A    0.100%

Level 2

   ³ A-/A3/A-    0.125%

Level 3

   ³ BBB+/Baa1/BBB+    0.150%

Level 4

   ³ BBB/Baa2/BBB    0.200%

Level 5

   ³ BBB-/Baa3/BBB-    0.250%

Level 6

   <BBB-/Baa3/BBB-    0.300%

Approved Fund ” means any Person (other than a natural Person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

Approved Officer ” means the president, a vice president, the chief executive officer, the chief financial officer, the treasurer, an assistant treasurer or the controller of the Ultimate General Partner (in its capacity as general partner of the General Partner, in its capacity as general partner of the Borrower) or such other representative of the Ultimate General Partner (in its capacity as general partner of the General Partner, in its capacity as general partner of the Borrower) as may be designated by any one of the foregoing with the consent of the Agent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

Assignment and Acceptance ” means an assignment and acceptance entered into by a Lender and an assignee, and accepted by the Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit D hereto.

Bankruptcy Event ” means, with respect to any Person, such Person has become or is insolvent or such Person becomes the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, custodian, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with the reorganization or liquidation of its business appointed for it (including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or

 

4


federal regulatory authority acting in such capacity), or, in the good faith determination of the Agent, has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any such proceeding or appointment, provided that a Bankruptcy Event shall not result solely by virtue of any ownership interest, or the acquisition of any ownership interest, in such Person by any governmental authority or instrumentality thereof, provided , further , that such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Person with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States of America or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Person (or such governmental authority or instrumentality) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made by such Person.

Base Rate ” means, for any day, a fluctuating interest rate per annum, which rate per annum shall be equal to the highest of:

(a) the Prime Rate for such day;

(b) 1/2 of one percent (0.50%) per annum above the Federal Funds Rate for such day; and

(c) one percent (1.0%) per annum above the Eurodollar Rate (without giving effect to clause (b) of the definition thereof) for a one-month Interest Period beginning on such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day).

Base Rate Advance ” means an Advance that bears interest as provided in Section 2.06(a)(i) .

Borrower ” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

Borrowing ” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Advances of the same Type and Class made by each of the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01 and, in the case of any Eurodollar Advances of the same Class, Advances having the same Interest Period.

Business Day ” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are required or authorized by law to remain closed and, if the applicable Business Day relates to any Eurodollar Rate Advances, any day on which commercial banks are open for dealings in deposits denominated in dollars in the London interbank market.

Cash Collateral ” means, with respect to any Series of Incremental Term Loans, each of the following instruments and securities to the extent having maturities (for purposes of this definition, “maturities” shall mean (i) weighted average life for asset-backed securities, mortgage-backed securities, commercial mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations, and the next reset date for auction rate securities and (ii) with respect to mutual funds, the weighted average maturity of the investments it owns) not greater than 180 days from the date of acquisition thereof:

 

5


(a) cash;

(b) investments in money market mutual funds that are registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and subject to Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and have a net asset value of 1.0, provided , that in the event due to a Change in Law with respect to Rule 2a-7 such Rule 2a-7 ceases to require such funds to have a net asset value of 1.0, such funds shall comply with such alternate requirements as such Rule 2a-7 as revised may require;

(c) U.S. Treasury Notes;

(d) direct obligations of the United States and other obligations whose principal and interest is fully guaranteed by the United States;

(e) money market instruments (including, but not limited to, commercial paper, banker’s acceptances, time deposits and certificates of deposits), other than such instruments issued by Lenders or Affiliates of Lenders, rated A-1 by S&P, P-1 by Moody’s or F-1 by Fitch at the time of purchase;

(f) obligations of corporations or other business entities (excluding structured obligations and obligations of Lenders or any Affiliates of Lenders) rated AAA by S&P, Aaa by Moody’s or AAA by Fitch at the time of purchase;

(g) repurchase obligations that are collateralized no less than 100% (and, to the extent commercially available, not less than 102%) of market value (including accrued interest) by obligations of the United States government or one of its sponsored enterprises or agencies;

(h) municipal obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any municipality or other political subdivision of any such state rated AAA by S&P, Aaa by Moody’s or AAA by Fitch at the time of purchase; and

(i) shares in bond mutual funds that are registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, that invest solely in the items set forth in (a)-(h) above and rated AAA by S&P, Aaa by Moody’s or AAA by Fitch at the time of purchase,

in each case above which is held in any Cash Collateral Account and is subject to an Account Control Agreement and in which the Agent has, on behalf of the applicable Class of Incremental Term Lenders, a first priority perfected security interest.

Notwithstanding the above, at the time of purchase, no one issuer will be more than $30,000,000 of the value of the Cash Collateral. This rule excludes direct obligations of the United States, United States sponsored agencies and enterprises, money market funds, repurchase agreements and securities that have an effective maturity no longer than the next Business Day. United States sponsored agencies and enterprises are limited to the greater of $100,000,000 or 40% of the value of the Cash Collateral at time of purchase, per issuer. For purposes of calculating the amount of Cash Collateral on deposit in any Cash Collateral Account hereunder, Cash Collateral of an issuer that exceeds the $30,000,000 or the greater of $100,000,000 or 40% thresholds set forth above shall be excluded from such calculation.

 

6


Cash Collateral Account ” means any securities account or deposit account of the Borrower established and maintained with an Intermediary in connection with the borrowing of, and as security for, any Incremental Term Loans.

Cash Collateralization Date ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.03(h)(ii) .

Cash Collateralize ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(h)(i) .

Cash Collateralized Term Loans ” means, collectively, (a) any Incremental Term Loans made under this Agreement pursuant to Section 2.20 and (b) any term loans made to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that are at least 100% secured by Permitted Cash Collateral.

Change in Law ” means the occurrence after the date of this Agreement or, with respect to any Lender that becomes a party to this Agreement after the date hereof, such later date on which such Lender becomes a party to this Agreement, of (a) the adoption of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the interpretation or application thereof by any governmental authority or (c) compliance by any Lender (or, for purposes of Section  2.12(b) , by any corporation controlling such Lender, if any) with any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any central bank or other governmental authority made or issued after the date of this Agreement; provided that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.

Citi ” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

Class ” (a) when used with respect to Lenders, refers to whether such Lenders are Revolving Lenders or Incremental Term Lenders having Incremental Term Loans of the applicable Series, (b) when used with respect to Commitments, refers to whether such Commitments are Revolving Commitments or Incremental Term Commitments of the applicable Series and (c) when used with respect to Advances or a Borrowing, refers to whether such Advances, or the Advances comprising such Borrowing, are Revolving Advances or Incremental Term Loans of the applicable Series.

Collateral Documents ” means (a) each Account Control Agreement and (b) each other document executed and delivered in connection with the granting, attachment and perfection of the Agent’s security interest in the Cash Collateral, including, without limitation, Uniform Commercial Code financing statements.

Commercial Operation Date ” means the date on which a Qualified Project is substantially complete and commercially operable.

 

7


Commitments ” means, collectively, the Revolving Commitments and the Incremental Term Commitments of each applicable Series, if any, and “ Commitment ” means any of the foregoing.

Commitment Increase ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(d)(i) .

Conflicts Committee ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Borrower, as amended or restated from time to time.

Consenting Lender ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(e) .

Consolidated Capitalization ” means, at any date, the sum of (a) Consolidated Indebtedness, (b) consolidated partners’ capital as would appear on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries prepared in accordance with GAAP, (c) the aggregate liquidation preference of preferred member or other similar preferred or priority Equity Securities (other than preferred member or other similar preferred or priority Equity Securities subject to mandatory redemption or repurchase) of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries upon involuntary liquidation, (d) without duplication of the amount, if any, of Hybrid Securities included in Consolidated Indebtedness by virtue of the proviso in the definition of such term, the aggregate outstanding amount of all Hybrid Securities of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries and (e) minority interests as would appear on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated EBITDA ” means, for any period, an amount equal to the sum of (a) Consolidated Net Income plus (b) to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income, (i) interest expense, (ii) income tax expense, and (iii) depreciation and amortization expense, minus (c) equity in earnings from subsidiaries of the Borrower that are not Consolidated Subsidiaries, plus (d) the amount of cash dividends actually received during such period by the Borrower on a consolidated basis from subsidiaries of the Borrower that are not Consolidated Subsidiaries or other Persons; provided , any such cash dividends actually received within thirty days after the last day of any fiscal quarter attributable to operations during such prior fiscal quarter shall be deemed to have been received during such prior fiscal quarter and not in the fiscal quarter actually received. Furthermore, (x) for purposes of the foregoing clauses (a) and (b), the Consolidated Net Income and consolidated expenses shall be adjusted with respect to net income and expenses of non-wholly-owned Consolidated Subsidiaries, to the extent not already excluded from Consolidated Net Income, to reflect the Borrower’s pro rata ownership interest therein, and (y) the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA shall exclude amounts categorized as other income or other expense to the extent not already excluded from Consolidated Net Income. Consolidated EBITDA will be calculated in accordance with clauses (i)  and (ii)  of Section 5.11(b) to the extent applicable.

Consolidated Indebtedness ” means, as of any date, all Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP plus , without duplication, all Indebtedness described in clause (e)  of the definition thereof, but excluding the aggregate principal amount of all Cash Collateralized Term Loans; provided , that solely for purposes of this definition Hybrid Securities shall constitute Indebtedness only to the extent, if any, that the amount thereof that appears on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries exceeds 15% of Consolidated Capitalization.

 

8


Consolidated Leverage Ratio ” means, as of the last day of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Indebtedness on such day to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on such day.

Consolidated Net Income ” means, for any period, the net income of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided , that Consolidated Net Income shall not include (a) extraordinary gains or extraordinary losses, (b) net gains and losses in respect of disposition of assets other than in the ordinary course of business, (c) gains or losses attributable to write-ups or write-downs of assets, including mark-to-market gains or losses with respect to Swap Contracts; provided that such Swap Contracts (i) were entered into by such Person in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of directly mitigating risks associated with liabilities, commitments, Investments, assets, or property held or reasonably anticipated by such Person, or changes in the value of securities issued by such Person, and not for purposes of speculation or taking a “market view” and (ii) do not contain any provision exonerating the non-defaulting party from its obligation to make payments on outstanding transactions to the defaulting party, and (d) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles, all as reported in the Borrower’s consolidated statement(s) of income for the relevant period(s) prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Net Tangible Assets ” means, as of any date, the total amount of consolidated assets of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries after deducting therefrom the value (net of any applicable reserves) of all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents and other like intangible assets, all as set forth, or on a pro forma basis would be set forth, on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries for the most recently completed fiscal quarter, in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Subsidiaries ” means each Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower.

Contribution Agreement ” means that certain Contribution Agreement dated as of August 5, 2013 between the Ultimate Parent and the Borrower, as such agreement may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified in a manner not materially adverse to the Lenders unless the consent of the Joint Lead Arrangers is obtained, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned.

Convert ”, “ Conversion ” and “ Converted ” each refers to a conversion of Advances of one Type into Advances of the other Type pursuant to Section 2.07 or 2.08 .

Declining Lender ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(e) .

Default ” means any Event of Default or any event that would constitute an Event of Default but for the requirement that notice be given or time elapse or both.

 

9


Defaulting Lender ” means, at any time, any Lender that (a) has failed, within two Business Days of the date required to be funded or paid, to (i) fund all or any portion of its Advances, (ii) fund all or any portion of its participations in Letters of Credit or (iii) pay over to any Lender Party any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder, unless, in the case of clause (i) above, such Lender notifies the Agent and the Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent to funding (specifically identified and including any particular Default, if applicable) has not been satisfied, (b) has notified the Borrower or any Lender Party in writing, or has made a public statement to the effect, that it does not intend or expect to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement (unless such writing or public statement indicates that such position is based on such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent (specifically identified and including any particular Default, if applicable) to funding an Advance under this Agreement cannot be satisfied) or generally under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit, (c) has failed, within three Business Days after request by the Agent, any Issuing Bank or the Borrower, acting in good faith, to provide a certification in writing from an authorized officer of such Lender that it will comply with its obligations to fund prospective Advances and participations in then outstanding Letters of Credit under this Agreement, provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c)  upon the Agent, such Issuing Bank or the Borrower’s receipt of such certification in form and substance satisfactory to it, the Agent and the Borrower, or (d) has, or has a Lender Parent that has, become the subject of a Bankruptcy Event. Any determination by the Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under clauses (a)  through (d)  above shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error.

Dollar Equivalent Amount ” means, at any time, (a) with respect to any amount in dollars, such amount, and (b) with respect to any amount denominated in an Alternative Currency, the equivalent amount thereof in dollars as reasonably determined by the Agent or the applicable Issuing Bank, as the case may be, at such time on the basis of the Spot Rate (determined in respect of the most recent Revaluation Date) for the purchase of dollars with such Alternative Currency.

dollars ” or “$” refers to lawful money of the United States of America.

Domestic Lending Office ” means, with respect to any Lender, the office of such Lender specified as its “Domestic Lending Office” in its Administrative Questionnaire or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender, or such other office of such Lender as such Lender may from time to time specify to the Borrower and the Agent.

Drop-Down Acquisition ” means any Acquisition by the Borrower or one or more of its Subsidiaries of property or assets (including Equity Securities of any Person but excluding capital expenditures or acquisitions of inventory or supplies in the ordinary course of business) from the Ultimate Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates (other than the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries).

Effective Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01 .

 

10


Environmental Action ” means any action, suit, demand, demand letter, claim, notice of non-compliance or violation, notice of liability or potential liability, investigation, proceeding, consent order or consent agreement relating in any way to any Environmental Law, Environmental Permit or Hazardous Materials or arising from alleged injury or threat of injury to health, safety or the environment, including, without limitation, (a) by any governmental or regulatory authority for enforcement, cleanup, removal, response, remedial or other actions or damages and (b) by any governmental or regulatory authority or any third party for damages, contribution, indemnification, cost recovery, compensation or injunctive relief.

Environmental Law ” means any federal, state, local or foreign statute, law, ordinance, rule, regulation, code, order, judgment, decree or judicial or agency interpretation, policy or guidance relating to pollution or protection of the environment, health, safety or natural resources, in each case, relating to the use, handling, transportation, treatment, storage, disposal, release or discharge of Hazardous Materials.

Environmental Permit ” means any permit, approval, identification number, license or other authorization required under any Environmental Law.

Equity Securities ” means any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of a corporation, any and all equivalent ownership interests in a Person (other than a corporation), including, without limitation, partnership interests and membership interests, and any and all warrants, rights or options to purchase or other arrangements or rights to acquire any of the foregoing.

ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated and rulings issued thereunder.

ERISA Group ” means all members of a controlled group of corporations and all trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) under common control which, together with the Borrower, would (at the applicable time) be deemed as a single employer under Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Eurocurrency Liabilities ” has the meaning assigned to that term in Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as in effect from time to time.

Eurodollar Lending Office ” means, with respect to any Lender, the office of such Lender specified as its “Eurodollar Lending Office” in its Administrative Questionnaire or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender (or, if no such office is specified, its Domestic Lending Office), or such other office of such Lender as such Lender may from time to time specify to the Borrower and the Agent.

Eurodollar Rate ” means, for any Interest Period for each Eurodollar Rate Advance comprising part of the same Borrowing, (a) the rate appearing on Reuters Page LIBOR01 (or on any successor or substitute page of such service, or any successor to or substitute for such service, providing rate quotations comparable to those currently provided on such page of Reuters, as reasonably determined by the Agent from time to time for purposes of providing quotations of interest rates applicable to dollar deposits in the London interbank market) at approximately 11:00 A.M. (London time) two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, as the rate for dollar deposits with a maturity comparable to such Interest Period, divided by (b) one minus the Eurodollar Rate Reserve Percentage. In the

 

11


event that the rate described in clause (a)  of the preceding sentence is not so available at such time for any reason, then the rate for purposes of clause (a)  of the preceding sentence for such Interest Period shall be the rate per annum at which deposits in dollars are offered to the Agent in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 A.M. (London time) two Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period in an amount approximately equal to the principal amount of the Advance of the Agent (in its capacity as a Lender) to which such Interest Period is to apply and for a period of time comparable to such Interest Period. If the Agent does not furnish a timely rate quotation for purposes of the immediately preceding sentence, the provisions of Section 2.07(a) shall apply. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the rate for the purposes of clause (a)  of the first sentence of this definition shall be below zero, such rate will be deemed to be zero.

Eurodollar Rate Advance ” means an Advance that bears interest as provided in Section 2.06(a)(ii) .

Eurodollar Rate Reserve Percentage ” means, for any Interest Period for all Eurodollar Rate Advances comprising part of the same Borrowing, the reserve percentage applicable two Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period under regulations issued from time to time by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor) for determining the maximum reserve requirement (including, without limitation, any emergency, supplemental or other marginal reserve requirement) for a member bank of the Federal Reserve System in New York City with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency Liabilities (or with respect to any other category of liabilities that includes deposits by reference to which the interest rate on Eurodollar Rate Advances is determined) having a term equal to such Interest Period.

Events of Default ” has the meaning specified in Section 6.01 .

Excess ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.09(b) .

Existing Credit Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraphs to this Agreement.

Existing Letter of Credit Issuers ” means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association.

Existing Letters of Credit ” means the letters of credit issued by the Existing Letter of Credit Issuers before the date hereof under the Existing Credit Agreement and listed on Schedule 1.01 attached hereto.

Existing Revolving Lenders ” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraphs to this Agreement.

Existing Termination Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(e) .

FATCA ” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Internal Revenue Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof and any agreement entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code. For the avoidance of doubt, Section 1.04(f) shall not apply for purposes of this definition.

 

12


Federal Funds Rate ” means, for any period, a fluctuating interest rate per annum equal for each day during such period to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published for such day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, for the next preceding Business Day) by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day that is a Business Day, the average of the quotations for such day on such transactions received by the Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

Fee Letters ” means, (i) the Agent Fee Letter, (ii) that certain letter agreement from JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., The Royal Bank of Scotland plc and RBS Securities Inc. to the Borrower, dated September 4, 2013 and (iii) that certain letter agreement from Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Bank of America, N.A., Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, to the Borrower, dated September 4, 2013.

First Closing Transactions ” has the meaning given to such term in the Contribution Agreement.

Fitch ” means Fitch, Inc.

Foreign Lender ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.15(g) .

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.

General Partner ” means Spectra Energy Partners (DE) GP, LP, a Delaware limited partnership.

Hazardous Materials ” means (a) petroleum and petroleum products, byproducts or breakdown products, radioactive materials, asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls and radon gas and (b) any other chemicals, materials or substances designated, classified or regulated as hazardous or toxic or as a pollutant or contaminant under any Environmental Law.

Hybrid Securities ” means any trust preferred securities, or deferrable interest subordinated debt with a maturity of at least 20 years, which provides for the optional or mandatory deferral of interest or distributions, issued by the Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiary, or any business trusts, limited liability companies, limited partnerships or similar entities (i) substantially all of the common equity, general partner or similar interests of which are owned (either directly or indirectly through one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries) at all times by the Borrower or any of the Consolidated Subsidiaries, (ii) that have been formed for the purpose of issuing hybrid securities or deferrable interest subordinated debt, and (iii) substantially all the assets of which consist of (A) subordinated debt of the Borrower or a Consolidated Subsidiary, and (B) payments made from time to time on the subordinated debt.

 

13


Increase Effective Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(d)(ii) .

Increasing Lender ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(d)(i) .

Incremental Term Commitments ” means, for any Incremental Term Lender, the commitment of such Incremental Term Lender to make Incremental Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.01(b) , as such commitment (i) is set forth in the applicable Incremental Term Loan Agreement delivered pursuant to Section 2.20 and (ii) may be reduced or terminated in accordance with this Agreement.

Incremental Term Lender ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.20(b) .

Incremental Term Loan Agreement ” means, with respect to any borrowing of Incremental Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.20 , (i) an amendment to this Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit F hereto, executed by the Borrower and the applicable Incremental Term Lenders for a Series of Incremental Term Loans, and acknowledged by the Agent, or (ii) an amendment to, or restatement, amendment and restatement or modification of, this Agreement, executed by the Borrower, the applicable Incremental Term Lenders for a Series of Incremental Term Loans and the Agent in accordance with Section 8.01(b) hereof, in each case evidencing the applicable Incremental Term Lender’s agreement to provide Incremental Term Loans, the Borrower’s obligation to repay such Incremental Term Loans and provide Cash Collateral therefor, and effecting such other amendments hereto as are contemplated by Section 8.01(b) .

Incremental Term Loans ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.20(a) and, for the avoidance of doubt, include each Series of Incremental Term Loans.

Incremental Term Loan Termination Date ” means the final maturity date of any Incremental Term Loan, as set forth in the applicable Incremental Term Loan Agreement.

Incremental Term Note ” means a promissory note of the Borrower payable to any Incremental Term Lender in substantially the form of Exhibit A-2 hereto, evidencing the aggregate indebtedness of the Borrower to such Incremental Term Lender resulting from the Incremental Term Loans made by such Incremental Term Lender.

Indebtedness ” of any Person means at any date, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all indebtedness of such Person for the deferred purchase price of property or services purchased (excluding current accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (c) all indebtedness created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement with respect to property acquired, (d) all indebtedness under leases which shall have been or should be, in accordance with GAAP as in effect on the Effective Date, recorded as capital leases in respect of which such Person is liable as lessee, (e) the face amount of all outstanding letters of credit issued for the account of such Person that support obligations that constitute Indebtedness (provided that the amount of such letter of credit included in Indebtedness shall not exceed the amount of the Indebtedness being supported) and, without duplication, the unreimbursed amount of all drafts drawn under letters of credit issued for the account of such Person, (f) indebtedness secured by any Lien on property or assets of such Person, whether or not assumed (but in any event not exceeding the fair market

 

14


value of the property or asset), (g) all direct guarantees of Indebtedness referred to above of another Person, (h) all amounts payable in connection with Hybrid Securities or mandatory redemptions or repurchases of preferred stock or member interests or other preferred or priority Equity Securities and (i) any obligations of such Person (in the nature of principal or interest) in respect of acceptances or similar obligations issued or created for the account of such Person. Furthermore, for purposes of the foregoing clauses (a) through (i), Indebtedness of the Borrower shall be adjusted with respect to Indebtedness of non-wholly-owned Consolidated Subsidiaries with no recourse to the Borrower or any wholly-owned Consolidated Subsidiary thereof, to the extent not already excluded from Indebtedness, to reflect the Borrower’s pro rata ownership interest therein.

Indemnified Costs ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.05 .

Indemnified Party ” has the meaning specified in Section 8.04(b) .

Ineligible Assignee ” has the meaning specified in Section 8.07(a) .

Information ” has the meaning specified in Section 8.13(a) .

Information Memorandum ” means the Confidential Information Memorandum, dated September 2013, relating to the Borrower and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Initial Advances ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(d)(ii) .

Initial Issuing Banks ” means the banks listed on the signature pages hereof as the initial Issuing Banks.

Initial Lenders ” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

Interest Period ” means, for each Eurodollar Rate Advance comprising part of the same Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Eurodollar Rate Advance or the date of the Conversion of any Base Rate Advance into such Eurodollar Rate Advance and ending on the last day of the period selected by the Borrower pursuant to the provisions below and, thereafter, with respect to Eurodollar Rate Advances, each subsequent period commencing on the last day of the immediately preceding Interest Period and ending on the last day of the period selected by the Borrower pursuant to the provisions below. The duration of each such Interest Period shall be one, two, three or six months (or, with the consent of each Lender in the applicable Class, such other periods), as the Borrower may, upon notice received by the Agent not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the first day of such Interest Period, select; provided , however , that:

(a) the Borrower may not select any Interest Period that ends after the Termination Date;

(b) Interest Periods commencing on the same date for Eurodollar Rate Advances comprising part of the same Borrowing shall be of the same duration;

 

15


(c) whenever the last day of any Interest Period would otherwise occur on a day other than a Business Day, the last day of such Interest Period shall be extended to occur on the next succeeding Business Day, provided , however , that, if such extension would cause the last day of such Interest Period to occur in the next following calendar month, the last day of such Interest Period shall occur on the next preceding Business Day; and

(d) whenever the first day of any Interest Period occurs on a day of an initial calendar month for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that succeeds such initial calendar month by the number of months equal to the number of months in such Interest Period, such Interest Period shall end on the last Business Day of such succeeding calendar month.

Intermediary ” means, with respect to any Series of Incremental Term Loans, any deposit bank or securities intermediary, as applicable, that holds Cash Collateral, specified as such in the applicable Incremental Term Loan Agreement.

Internal Revenue Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated and rulings issued thereunder.

Investment ” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect acquisition or investment by such Person, whether by means of (a) the purchase or other acquisition of the Equity Securities of another Person, (b) an Acquisition or (c) a loan, advance or capital contribution to, guarantee or assumption of debt of, or purchase or other acquisition of any other debt or equity participation or interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person and any arrangement pursuant to which the investor guarantees Indebtedness of such other Person.

Investment Grade Status ” exists as to the Borrower at any date if on such date the Applicable Margin is then based on Level 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, as set forth under the caption “Level” in the definition of “Applicable Margin”.

Issuing Bank LC Collateral Account ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.03(h)(ii) .

Issuing Banks ” means each Initial Issuing Bank and any other Revolving Lender approved as an Issuing Bank by the Agent and the Borrower so long as each such Revolving Lender expressly agrees to perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations that by the terms of this Agreement are required to be performed by it as an Issuing Bank and notifies the Agent of its Applicable Lending Office and the amount of its Letter of Credit Commitment (which information shall be recorded by the Agent in the Register), for so long as such Initial Issuing Bank or Revolving Lender, as the case may be, shall have a Letter of Credit Commitment.

Joint Lead Arrangers ” means J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., RBS Securities Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC.

Judgment Currency ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.14(b) .

 

16


Lender Parent ” means, with respect to any Lender, each Person in respect of which such Lender is, directly or indirectly, a subsidiary.

Lender Party ” means the Agent, any Issuing Bank or any other Lender.

Lenders ” means the Revolving Lenders and the Incremental Term Lenders, if any.

Letter of Credit ” means a letter of credit issued or to be issued hereunder by any Issuing Bank and each Existing Letter of Credit.

Letter of Credit Agreement ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(b) .

Letter of Credit Commitment ” means, with respect to any Issuing Bank at any time, the amount set forth opposite such Issuing Bank’s name on the signature pages hereof under the caption “Letter of Credit Commitment” or, if such Issuing Bank has entered into any Assignment and Acceptance or otherwise modified its Letter of Credit Commitment in accordance with the definition of “Issuing Bank,” set forth for such Issuing Bank in the Register maintained by the Agent pursuant to Section 8.07(d) , as such amount may be reduced or increased at or prior to such time by written agreement among such Issuing Bank, the Agent and the Borrower.

Letter of Credit Disbursement ” means a payment or disbursement made by any Issuing Bank pursuant to a Letter of Credit.

Letter of Credit Exposure ” means, for any Revolving Lender at any time, such Revolving Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the sum of (a) the Dollar Equivalent Amount of all outstanding Letter of Credit Disbursements that have not been reimbursed by the Borrower at such time and (b) the aggregate Dollar Equivalent Amount then available for drawing under all Letters of Credit. For purposes of computing the Dollar Equivalent Amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Sections 1.05 and 1.06 .

Lien ” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset. For the purposes of this Agreement, the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall be deemed to own subject to a Lien any asset that it has acquired or holds subject to the interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or other title retention agreement relating to such asset.

Material Adverse Change ” means any material adverse change in the business, financial condition or results of operations of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

Material Adverse Effect ” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, financial condition or results of operations of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or (b) the legality, validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any Note.

Material Plan ” has the meaning specified in Section 6.01(h) .

 

17


Material Restricted Subsidiary ” means at any time any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Material Subsidiary.

Material Subsidiary ” means at any time any Subsidiary that is a significant subsidiary (as such term is defined on the Effective Date in Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission (17 CFR 210.1-02(w)), but treating all references to the “registrant” therein as references to the Borrower.

Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

Non-Consenting Lender ” means any Lender that withholds its consent to any proposed amendment, modification or waiver that cannot become effective without the consent of such Lender under Section 8.01 , and that has been consented to by the Required Lenders.

Note ” means a Revolving Note or an Incremental Term Note, as the context may require.

Notice of Borrowing ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.02(a) .

Notice of Issuance ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(b) .

Other Taxes ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.15(b) .

Participant ” has the meaning specified in Section 8.07(e) .

Participant Register ” has the meaning specified in Section 8.07(e) .

Patriot Act ” means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (Title III of Pub. L. No. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)).

PBGC ” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (or any successor).

Permitted Acquisitions ” means any Acquisition by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, so long as (i) no Default or Event of Default is in existence or would be created thereby, (ii) the Person or assets being acquired are engaged or used (or intended to be used), as applicable, primarily in the midstream energy business, (iii) such Acquisition has been approved by the Board of Directors or similar governing body of the target of such Acquisition (if required or applicable) and (iv) immediately after giving effect to such acquisition, the Borrower is in compliance with Section 5.11(a) on a pro forma basis.

Permitted Cash Collateral ” means (a) Cash Collateral and (b) such other short-term, highly liquid Investments and other debt instruments and debt securities that are both (i) readily convertible to known amounts of cash and (ii) so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of decreases in value because of changes in interest rates.

Permitted Drop-Down Acquisition ” means any Drop-Down Acquisition approved by the Conflicts Committee after the Effective Date, provided that all such Drop-Down Acquisitions, taken in the aggregate and not individually, are on terms and conditions reasonably fair in all material respects to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the good faith judgment of the Conflicts Committee.

 

18


Person ” means an individual, partnership, corporation (including a business trust), joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity, or a government or any political subdivision or agency thereof.

Plan ” means at any time an “employee pension benefit plan” (within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA) that is covered by Title IV of ERISA or subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 430 (or predecessor statute thereto) of the Internal Revenue Code, and (a) is either (i) maintained by a member of the ERISA Group for employees of a member of the ERISA Group or (ii) maintained pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement or any other arrangement under which more than one employer makes contributions, and (b) to which a member of the ERISA Group (i) is then making or accruing an obligation to make contributions or (ii) has within the preceding five plan years made contributions or accrued an obligation to make such contributions.

Post-Maturity Cash Collateralize ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.03(h)(ii) .

Post-Maturity Letter of Credit ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(b) .

Prime Rate ” means the rate of interest publicly announced by Citi in New York City from time to time as its prime rate. Each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the day such change is publicly announced.

Pro Rata Share ” means, at any time, with respect to (a) any Revolving Lender, the percentage of the aggregate Revolving Commitments represented by such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Commitment; provided that if the Revolving Commitments have terminated or expired, the Pro Rata Share of a Revolving Lender shall be determined based upon the Revolving Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments and to any Lender’s status as a Defaulting Lender at the time of determination and (b) any Incremental Term Lender, the percentage of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the applicable Series of Incremental Term Loans represented by the outstanding principal amount of the applicable Series of Incremental Term Loans of such Incremental Term Lender at such time. When a Defaulting Lender shall exist, “Pro Rata Share” shall be calculated without inclusion of such Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Commitment or Incremental Term Loans.

Public Debt Rating ” means, as of any date, the rating that has been most recently announced by Fitch, S&P or Moody’s, as the case may be, for all non-credit enhanced long-term senior unsecured debt issued by the Borrower. If only one Public Debt Rating is available, such available Public Debt Rating will govern. If at any time there is more than one Public Debt Rating and such Public Debt Ratings are different (i) if three Public Debt Ratings are available, either (a) the majority Public Debt Rating will govern, if two Public Debt Ratings are the same, or (b) the middle Public Debt Rating will govern, if all three Public Debt Ratings differ, and (ii) if only two Public Debt Ratings are available, the higher Public Debt Rating will govern, unless

 

19


there is more than one level between the Public Debt Ratings and then the level one below the higher Public Debt Rating (lower pricing) will apply. If any rating established or deemed to have been established by Fitch, S&P or Moody’s shall be changed (other than as a result of a change in the rating system of Fitch, Moody’s or S&P), such change shall be effective as of the date on which such change is first announced publicly by the rating agency making such change.

If the rating system of Fitch, S&P or Moody’s shall change, the Borrower and the Lenders shall negotiate in good faith to amend this definition of “Public Debt Rating” to reflect such changed rating system and, pending the effectiveness of any such amendment, the Applicable Margin and the Applicable Percentage shall be determined by reference to the Public Debt Rating most recently in effect prior to such change.

If the Borrower shall at any time fail to have in effect a Public Debt Rating, the Borrower shall seek and obtain, within thirty (30) days after the Public Debt Ratings first cease to be in effect, a corporate credit rating or a bank loan rating from Fitch, S&P and/or Moody’s (or, if neither Fitch, S&P nor Moody’s issues such types of ratings or ratings comparable thereto, from another nationally recognized rating agency approved by each of the Borrower and the Agent), and from and after the date on which such corporate credit rating or bank loan rating is obtained until such time (if any) that a Public Debt Rating becomes effective again, the Applicable Margin and the Applicable Percentage shall be based on such corporate credit or bank loan rating or ratings in the same manner as provided herein with respect to the Public Debt Ratings (with Level 6 being the Applicable Margin and the Applicable Percentage in effect from the time the Public Debt Ratings cease to be in effect until the earlier of (x) the date on which any such corporate credit rating or bank loan rating is obtained and (y) the date on which a Public Debt Rating becomes effective again).

Qualified Acquisition ” means a Permitted Acquisition, the aggregate purchase price for which, when combined with the aggregate purchase price for all other Permitted Acquisitions in any rolling 12-month period, is greater than or equal to $25,000,000.

Qualified Project ” means the construction or expansion of any capital project of the Borrower, any of the Consolidated Subsidiaries, or any subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Consolidated Subsidiary (including any Unrestricted Subsidiary), the aggregate capital cost of which exceeds $10,000,000.

Qualified Project EBITDA Adjustments ” shall mean, with respect to each Qualified Project:

(a) prior to the Commercial Operation Date of a Qualified Project (but including the fiscal quarter in which such Commercial Operation Date occurs), a percentage (based on the then-current completion percentage of such Qualified Project) of an amount to be approved by the Agent as the projected Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries attributable to such Qualified Project for the first 12-month period following the scheduled Commercial Operation Date of such Qualified Project (such amount to be determined based on customer contracts relating to such Qualified Project, the creditworthiness of the other parties to such contracts, and projected revenues from such contracts, capital costs and expenses, scheduled Commercial Operation Date, oil and gas reserve

 

20


and production estimates, commodity price assumptions and other reasonable factors deemed appropriate by Agent), which may, at the Borrower’s option, be added to actual Consolidated EBITDA for the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries for the fiscal quarter in which construction of such Qualified Project commences and for each fiscal quarter thereafter until the Commercial Operation Date of such Qualified Project (including the fiscal quarter in which such Commercial Operation Date occurs, but net of any actual Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries attributable to such Qualified Project following such Commercial Operation Date); provided that if the actual Commercial Operation Date does not occur by the scheduled Commercial Operation Date, then the foregoing amount shall be reduced, for quarters ending after the scheduled Commercial Operation Date to (but excluding) the first full quarter after its actual Commercial Operation Date, by the following percentage amounts depending on the period of delay (based on the period of actual delay or then-estimated delay, whichever is longer): (i) 90 days or less, 0%, (ii) longer than 90 days, but not more than 180 days, 25%, (iii) longer than 180 days but not more than 270 days, 50%, and (iv) longer than 270 days, 100%; and

(b) thereafter, actual Consolidated EBITDA of Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries attributable to such Qualified Project for each full fiscal quarter after the Commercial Operation Date, plus the amount approved by Agent pursuant to clause (a) above as the projected Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries attributable to such Qualified Project for the fiscal quarters constituting the balance of the four full fiscal quarter period following such Commercial Operation Date; provided , in the event the actual Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries attributable to such Qualified Project for any full fiscal quarter after the Commercial Operation Date shall materially differ from the projected Consolidated EBITDA approved by Agent pursuant to clause (a) above for such fiscal quarter, the projected Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries attributable to such Qualified Project for any remaining fiscal quarters included in the foregoing calculation shall be redetermined in the same manner as set forth in clause (a) above, such amount to be approved by the Agent, which may, at the Borrower’s option, be added to actual Consolidated EBITDA for the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries for such fiscal quarters.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) no such additions shall be allowed with respect to any Qualified Project unless: (A) not later than 30 days prior to the delivery of any certificate required by the terms and provisions of Section 5.01(c) to the extent Qualified Project EBITDA Adjustments will be made to Consolidated EBITDA in determining compliance with Section 5.11(a) , the Borrower shall have delivered to the Agent written pro forma projections of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries attributable to such Qualified Project and (B) prior to the date such certificate is required to be delivered, the Agent shall have approved (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld) such projections and shall have received such other information and documentation as the Agent may reasonably request, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, (ii) Qualified Project EBITDA Adjustments may also be made with respect to any Qualified Project of any subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Consolidated Subsidiary (including any Unrestricted Subsidiary); provided that (x) any such Qualified Project EBITDA Adjustments shall be determined in the manner set forth above for the Consolidated Subsidiaries, but based solely upon the projected (prior to the Commercial Operation Date) and actual (on and after the Commercial Operation Date) cash

 

21


dividends projected to be received or actually received by the Borrower from such subsidiary and (y) such subsidiary is financing such Qualified Project with funds from the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries (to the extent of the Borrower’s pro rata ownership interest in such subsidiary), and the Agent has received a certificate from the Borrower to such effect, including such other information and documentation as the Agent may reasonably request, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, and (iii) the aggregate amount of all Qualified Project EBITDA Adjustments during any period shall be limited to 20% of the total actual Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries for such period (which total actual Consolidated EBITDA shall be determined without including any Qualified Project EBITDA Adjustments).

Register ” has the meaning specified in Section 8.07(d) .

Required Collateral Amount ” has the meaning specified in Section  5.13(b) .

Required Incremental Term Lenders ” means at any time Incremental Term Lenders holding more than 50% of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the applicable Series of Incremental Term Loans (or, if the applicable Series of Incremental Term Loans shall not yet have been made, the aggregate amount of the applicable Series of Incremental Term Commitments) at such time; provided that the Incremental Term Loans (or Incremental Term Commitments, as applicable) of any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining Required Incremental Term Lenders at any time.

Required Lenders ” means at any time Lenders having or holding, as applicable, more than 50% of the sum of (i) the aggregate Revolving Commitments at such time, plus (ii) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of any Incremental Term Loans at such time (or, if the Incremental Term Loans shall not yet have been made, the aggregate amount of the Incremental Term Commitments); provided that the Revolving Commitments and the Incremental Term Loans (or the Incremental Term Commitments, as applicable) of any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining Required Lenders at any time.

Required Revolving Lenders ” means at any time Revolving Lenders having Revolving Commitments representing more than 50% of the aggregate Revolving Commitments of all Lenders; provided that if the Revolving Commitments have terminated or expired, the Required Lenders shall be determined based upon the Revolving Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to assignments at the time of determination; and provided , further that the Revolving Commitment of any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining Required Revolving Lenders at any time.

Restricted Subsidiary ” means all Subsidiaries of the Borrower other than Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

Revaluation Date ” means with respect to any Letter of Credit, each of the following: (a) each date of issuance of a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, (b) each date of an amendment of any such Letter of Credit having the effect of increasing the amount thereof, (c) each date of any payment by the applicable Issuing Bank of any Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency and (d) such additional dates as the Agent, the Borrower or the applicable Issuing Bank shall reasonably determine or the Required Lenders shall require.

 

22


Revolving Advance ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(a) .

Revolving Commitment ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(a) .

Revolving Lenders ” means the Initial Lenders, each Incremental Term Lender that has become a Revolving Lender pursuant to Section 2.05(f) and each Person that shall become a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance with respect to all or any portion of a Revolving Commitment or Revolving Advance, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance.

Revolving Note ” means a promissory note of the Borrower payable to any Revolving Lender, in substantially the form of Exhibit A-1 hereto, in the amount of such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Commitment and evidencing the aggregate indebtedness of the Borrower to such Revolving Lender resulting from the Revolving Advances made by such Revolving Lender.

S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s Rating Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Series ” means any series of Incremental Term Loans designated in and made pursuant to any applicable Incremental Term Loan Agreement.

Spot Rate ” for a currency means, on any day, the rate at which such currency may be exchanged into dollars, as set forth at approximately 11:00 A.M. (London time), on such date on the Reuters World Currency Page for such currency. In the event that such rate does not appear on any Reuters World Currency Page, the Spot Rate shall be determined by reference to such other publicly available service for displaying exchange rates as may be agreed upon by the Agent or the applicable Issuing Bank, as the case may be, and the Borrower, or, in the absence of such an agreement, such Spot Rate shall instead be the arithmetic average of the spot rates of exchange of the Agent or the applicable Issuing Bank, as the case may be, in the market where its foreign currency exchange operations in respect of such currency are then being conducted, at approximately 11:00 A.M. (London time), on such date for the purchase of dollars for delivery two (2) Business Days later; provided that if at the time of any such determination, for any reason, no such spot rate is being quoted, the Agent or the applicable Issuing Bank may use any reasonable method it deems appropriate to determine such rate, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

Subsequent Borrowings ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(d)(ii) .

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person (the “ parent ”) at any date, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the parent in the parent’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date. Unless otherwise specified, “Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary of the Borrower.

 

23


Super-Majority Lenders ” means at any time (x) with respect to any Class of Lenders, Lenders of such Class having at least 66-2/3% of (i) in the case of Revolving Lenders, the sum of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Revolving Advances at such time plus the aggregate Letter of Credit Exposures at such time and (ii) in the case of Incremental Term Lenders, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the applicable Series of Incremental Term Loans at such time and (y) with respect to all Lenders, Lenders having at least 66-2/3% of the sum of (i) the aggregate Revolving Commitments at such time, plus (ii) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Incremental Term Loans at such time.

Swap Contract ” means, to the extent entered into on a fair market value basis at the time of entry, (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “ Master Agreement ”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.

Taxes ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.15(a) .

Termination Date ” means the earlier of November 1, 2018 (as such date may be extended pursuant to Section 2.05(e) , but in no event later than November 1, 2020) and the date of termination in whole of the Revolving Commitments pursuant to Section 2.05 or 6.01 .

Type ”, when used in reference to any Advance or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Advance, or on the Advances comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the Base Rate or the Eurodollar Rate.

Ultimate General Partner ” means Spectra Energy Partners GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Ultimate Parent ” means Spectra Energy Corp, a Delaware corporation.

Unfunded Vested Liabilities ” means, with respect to any Plan at any time, the amount (if any) by which (a) the present value of all benefits under such Plan exceeds (b) the fair market value of all Plan assets allocable to such benefits, all determined as of the then most recent valuation date for such Plan.

Unreimbursed Amount ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(e) .

 

24


Unrestricted Subsidiary ” means (a) any Subsidiary designated by the Board of Directors or similar governing body of the Ultimate General Partner (in its capacity as the general partner of the General Partner, in its capacity as general partner of the Borrower) as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 5.12 subsequent to the date hereof and (b) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

Voting Stock ” means capital stock issued by a corporation, or equivalent interests in any other Person, the holders of which are ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, entitled to vote for the election of directors (or persons performing similar functions) of such Person, even if the right so to vote has been suspended by the happening of such a contingency.

Withholding Agent ” means the Borrower and the Agent.

SECTION 1.02. Computation of Time Periods . In this Agreement in the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including” and the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding”.

SECTION 1.03. Accounting Terms . Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided that, if the Borrower notifies the Agent that the Borrower requests an amendment to be applied on a basis consistent (except for changes concurred in by the Borrower’s independent public accountants) with the most recent audited consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries delivered to the Lenders any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the date hereof in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision, or if the Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose, regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision shall have been amended in accordance herewith. Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made, without giving effect to any election under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 825 (or any other Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Indebtedness or other liabilities of the Borrower or any Subsidiary at “fair value”, as defined therein.

SECTION 1.04. Terms Generally . Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”. Unless the context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (c) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar

 

25


import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (d) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement, (e) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights and (f) references to any statute or regulatory provision shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such statute or regulatory provision.

SECTION 1.05. Letter of Credit Amounts . Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the stated amount of such Letter of Credit in effect at such time; provided , however , that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any Letter of Credit Agreement related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the maximum stated amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at such time.

SECTION 1.06. Exchange Rates; Currency Equivalents .

(a) The Agent or the applicable Issuing Bank, as applicable, shall determine the Spot Rate as of each Revaluation Date to be used for calculating Dollar Equivalent Amounts for any Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency or the Letter of Credit Exposure. Such Spot Rates shall become effective as of the Revaluation Date and shall be the Spot Rates employed in converting any amounts between the applicable currencies until the next Revaluation Date to occur. The applicable amount of any currency (other than dollars) for purposes of this Agreement and any other agreements, documents or instruments related hereto shall be the Dollar Equivalent Amount as so determined by the Agent or the applicable Issuing Bank, as applicable.

(b) Whenever in this Agreement in connection with the issuance, amendment or extension of a Letter of Credit, an amount, such as a required minimum or multiple amount, is expressed in dollars, but such Letter of Credit is denominated in an Alternative Currency, such amount shall be the Alternative Currency Equivalent Amount of such dollar amount (rounded to the nearest unit of such Alternative Currency, with 0.5 of a unit being rounded upward), as reasonably determined by the Agent or the applicable Issuing Bank, as applicable.

SECTION 1.07. Classification of Loans and Borrowings .

For purposes of this Agreement, Advances and Commitments may be classified and referred to by Class ( e.g. , a “Revolving Advance” or an “Incremental Term Loan”) or by Class and Type ( e.g. , a “Base Rate Revolving Advance” or a “Eurodollar Rate Incremental Term Loan”). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Class ( e.g. , a “Revolving Borrowing” or an “Incremental Term Loan Borrowing”) or by Class and Type ( e.g. , a “Base Rate Revolving Borrowing” or a “Eurodollar Rate Incremental Term Loan Borrowing”).

 

26


SECTION 1.08. Amendment And Restatement; No Novation; Deemed Assignments

(a) This Agreement constitutes an amendment and restatement of the Existing Credit Agreement effective from and after the Effective Date. The execution and delivery of this Agreement shall not constitute a novation of any indebtedness or other obligations owing to any Revolving Lender, any Issuing Bank or the Agent under the Existing Credit Agreement based on facts or events occurring or existing prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement. On the Effective Date, the credit facilities described in the Existing Credit Agreement shall be amended, supplemented, modified and restated in their entirety by the facilities described herein, and all revolving loans, letters of credit and other obligations of the Borrower outstanding as of such date under the Existing Credit Agreement shall be deemed to be Revolving Advances, Letters of Credit and obligations outstanding under the corresponding facilities described herein, without any further action by any Person except as set forth below.

(b) Simultaneously with the Effective Date, any required assignments shall be deemed to be made in such amounts among the Revolving Lenders and from each Revolving Lender to each other Revolving Lender (including from any Revolving Lender that reduces its revolving commitment in connection with this Agreement), and any Existing Revolving Lender that is not a Revolving Lender hereunder shall be deemed to have assigned its Revolving Commitment and Revolving Advances to one or more Revolving Lenders hereunder, all as reasonably determined and managed by the Agent, in each case with the same force and effect as if such assignments were evidenced by applicable Assignments and Acceptances (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) under the Existing Credit Agreement, but without the payment of any related assignment fee. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Existing Credit Agreement or in this Agreement, no other documents or instruments, including any Assignment and Acceptance, shall be, or shall be required to be, executed in connection with the assignments set forth in this Section 1.08(b) (all of which requirements are hereby waived), and such assignments shall be deemed to be made with all applicable representations, warranties and covenants as if evidenced by an Assignment and Assumption. On the Effective Date, (i) the applicable Revolving Lenders shall make full cash settlement with one another (including with any Revolving Lender whose revolving commitment is being decreased or any Existing Revolving Lender that is not a Revolving Lender), either directly or through the Agent, as the Agent may direct or approve, with respect to all assignments, reallocations and other changes in Revolving Commitments, such that after giving effect to such settlements the Pro Rata Share and Revolving Commitment of each Revolving Lender shall be as set forth opposite such Revolving Lender’s name on the signature pages hereof under the caption “Commitment” and (ii) each such Revolving Lender or Existing Revolving Lender shall be entitled to any reimbursement under Section 2.11 of the Credit Agreement or the Existing Credit Agreement, as applicable, with respect thereto.

 

27


ARTICLE II

REVOLVING CREDIT ADVANCES AND LETTERS OF CREDIT

SECTION 2.01. The Advances .

(a) Revolving Advances . Each Revolving Lender severally agrees, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, to make Advances to the Borrower (each such Advance, a “ Revolving Advance ”) from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Effective Date until the Termination Date in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount set forth opposite such Revolving Lender’s name on the signature pages of the Existing Credit Agreement under the caption “Commitment” or, if such Revolving Lender has entered into any Assignment and Acceptance, set forth for such Revolving Lender in the Register maintained by the Agent pursuant to Section 8.07(d) , as such amount may be reduced or increased pursuant to Section 2.05 (such Lender’s “ Revolving Commitment ”), minus such Revolving Lender’s Letter of Credit Exposure. Each Borrowing shall be in the aggregate amount of $10,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and shall consist of Revolving Advances of the same Type made on the same day by the Revolving Lenders ratably according to their respective Revolving Commitments. Within the limits of each Revolving Lender’s Revolving Commitment, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01(a) , prepay pursuant to Section 2.10 and reborrow under this Section 2.01(a) . For the avoidance of doubt, all revolving loans outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement as of the Effective Date shall constitute Revolving Advances hereunder pursuant to Section 1.08 .

(b) Incremental Term Loans . Subject to Section 2.20 , the other terms and conditions set forth herein and the relevant Incremental Term Loan Agreement, each Incremental Term Lender severally agrees to make an Incremental Term Loan to the Borrower, at any time and from time to time during the period from the effective date of the applicable Incremental Term Loan Agreement to forty (40) days following such date, which Incremental Term Loans: (i) may only be incurred on the date or dates set forth in the relevant Incremental Term Loan Agreement; (ii) may be made in the form of a new Series of Incremental Term Loans or additional Incremental Term Loans under an existing Series of Incremental Term Loans, in each case to the extent provided for in the relevant Incremental Term Loan Agreement; and (iii) shall be made by each such Incremental Term Lender in an aggregate principal amount which does not exceed the Incremental Term Commitment of such Incremental Term Lender (as set forth in the relevant Incremental Term Loan Agreement); provided , however , that the Borrower may not request more than two (2) draws with respect to each Series of Incremental Term Loans, one of which must be on the effective date of the applicable Incremental Term Loan Agreement. Once repaid or prepaid, Incremental Term Loans may not be reborrowed; provided that this Section 2.01(b) shall not limit the Borrower’s right to request additional Incremental Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.20 hereof. The applicable Incremental Term Loan Agreement shall set forth whether the prepayment of the Incremental Term Loans shall automatically increase the aggregate amount of the Revolving Commitments upon any prepayment thereof in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or capital expenditure, so long as no Default shall have occurred and be continuing, in accordance with Section 2.05(f) and 5.13(d) .

SECTION 2.02. Making the Advances .

(a) Notice of Borrowing . Each Borrowing shall be made on notice, given not later than 12:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the date of the proposed Borrowing in the case of a Borrowing consisting of Eurodollar Rate Advances, or on the date of the proposed Borrowing in the case of a Borrowing consisting of Base Rate Advances, by the Borrower to the Agent, which shall give to each Revolving Lender or

 

28


applicable Incremental Term Lender, as the case may be, prompt notice thereof. Each such notice by the Borrower of a Borrowing (a “ Notice of Borrowing ”) shall be by telephone, confirmed by the Borrower immediately in writing, by facsimile or an email with an attached .pdf of the Notice of Borrowing in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto, specifying therein the requested (i) date of such Borrowing, (ii) Type of Advances comprising such Borrowing, (iii) aggregate amount of such Borrowing, (iv) in the case of a Borrowing consisting of Eurodollar Rate Advances, initial Interest Period for each such Advance and (v) whether such Borrowing will consist of Revolving Advances or Incremental Term Loans, and if such Borrowing will consist of Incremental Term Loans, the applicable Series of Incremental Term Loans. Each Revolving Lender or applicable Incremental Term Lender, as the case may be, shall, before 2:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the date of such Borrowing, make available for the account of its Applicable Lending Office to the Agent at the Agent’s Account, in same day funds, such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of such Borrowing. After the Agent’s receipt of such funds and upon fulfillment of the applicable conditions set forth in Article III , the Agent will make such funds available to the Borrower at the Agent’s address referred to in Section 8.02 .

(b) Certain Limitations . Anything in Section 2.02(a) to the contrary notwithstanding, (i) the Borrower may not select Eurodollar Rate Advances for any Borrowing if the obligation of the Lenders to make Eurodollar Rate Advances shall then be suspended pursuant to Section 2.07 or 2.13 , and (ii) the Eurodollar Rate Advances may not be outstanding as part of more than ten separate Borrowings.

(c) Indemnity for Failure to Satisfy Conditions . Each Notice of Borrowing shall be irrevocable and binding on the Borrower. In the case of any Borrowing that the related Notice of Borrowing specifies is to be comprised of Eurodollar Rate Advances, the Borrower shall indemnify each Lender against any loss, cost or expense incurred by such Lender as a result of any failure to fulfill on or before the date specified in such Notice of Borrowing for such Borrowing the applicable conditions set forth in Article III , including, without limitation, any loss (other than loss of anticipated profits), cost or expense incurred by such Lender by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired by such Lender to fund the Advance to be made by such Lender as part of such Borrowing when such Advance, as a result of such failure, is not made on such date.

(d) Agent’s Right to Reimbursement with Interest . Unless the Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the time of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Agent such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of such Borrowing, the Agent may assume that such Lender has made such Pro Rata Share available to the Agent on the date of such Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.02(a) and the Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower on such date a corresponding amount. If and to the extent that such Lender shall not have so made such Pro Rata Share available to the Agent, such Lender and the Borrower severally agree to repay to the Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is made available by the Agent to the Borrower until the date such amount is repaid to the Agent, at (i) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable at the time to Advances comprising such Borrowing and (ii) in the case of such Lender, the Federal Funds Rate. If such Lender shall repay to the Agent such corresponding amount, such amount so repaid shall constitute such Lender’s Advance as part of such Borrowing for purposes of this Agreement. Nothing herein shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fulfill its Commitment or to prejudice any rights which the Agent or the Borrower may have against any Lender as a result of a default hereunder by such Lender.

 

29


(e) Each Lender Individually Responsible . The failure of any Lender to make the Advance to be made by it as part of any Borrowing shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation, if any, hereunder to make its Advance on the date of such Borrowing, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make the Advance to be made by such other Lender on the date of any Borrowing.

SECTION 2.03. Issuance of, and Drawings and Reimbursement Under, Letters of Credit .

(a) Existing Letters of Credit . On the Effective Date, without further action by any party hereto, each Existing Letter of Credit shall be deemed to have been issued as a Letter of Credit under this Agreement, each Existing Letter of Credit Issuer shall be deemed to have granted to each Initial Lender, and each Initial Lender shall be deemed to have acquired from each Existing Letter of Credit Issuer, a participation in each Existing Letter of Credit issued by such Existing Letter of Credit Issuer, equal to such Initial Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Letter of Credit Exposure with respect to each Existing Letter of Credit. Such participations shall be on all the same terms and conditions as participations granted under Section 2.03(d) in all other Letters of Credit issued or to be issued hereunder.

(b) Request for Issuance . Letters of Credit denominated in dollars or in one or more Alternative Currencies may be issued hereunder in a Dollar Equivalent Amount that does not at the time of the issuance of such Letter of Credit exceed the aggregate Revolving Commitments minus the sum of the aggregate outstanding Revolving Advances and Letter of Credit Exposures of the Revolving Lenders at such time, provided that no Issuing Bank shall be required at any time to issue a Letter of Credit that would result in (x) the aggregate Letter of Credit Exposures exceeding $250,000,000, (y) the aggregate Letter of Credit Exposure in respect of Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank exceeding such Issuing Bank’s Letter of Credit Commitment or (z) the Dollar Equivalent Amount of the aggregate outstanding amount of Letters of Credit issued hereunder denominated in Alternative Currencies exceeding $150,000,000. Each Letter of Credit shall be issued upon notice, given not later than 12:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the date of the proposed issuance of such Letter of Credit, by the Borrower to any Issuing Bank, which shall give to the Agent prompt notice thereof. Each such notice by the Borrower of issuance of a Letter of Credit (a “ Notice of Issuance ”) shall be by telephone, confirmed by the Borrower immediately in writing in substantially the form of Exhibit C attached hereto, specifying therein the requested (i) date of such issuance (which shall be a Business Day), (ii) face amount of such Letter of Credit (which must be in dollars or an Alternative Currency), (iii) expiration date of such Letter of Credit (which shall be on or prior to the earlier of (A) the date one year after the date of the issuance of such Letter of Credit (or, in the case of any renewal or extension thereof, one year after such renewal or extension) and (B) the date that is five Business Days prior to the Termination Date; provided that any Letter of Credit may contain customary automatic renewal provisions agreed upon by the Borrower and the applicable Issuing Bank pursuant to which the expiration date of such Letter of Credit shall automatically be extended for a period of up to twelve (12) months

 

30


(but not to a date later than the date that is five Business Days prior to the Termination Date, unless otherwise permitted pursuant to the immediately succeeding proviso), subject to a right on the part of such Issuing Bank to prevent any such renewal from occurring by giving notice to the beneficiary and the Borrower in advance of any such renewal; provided , further that, with the prior consent of the applicable Issuing Bank, in its sole discretion, a Letter of Credit may be extended beyond the fifth Business Day prior to the Termination Date (each such Letter of Credit with an expiration date that is later than five Business Days prior to the Termination Date, a “ Post-Maturity Letter of Credit ”) so long as the Borrower shall Post-Maturity Cash Collateralize in accordance with Section 2.03(h)(ii) any Post-Maturity Letter of Credit); provided , further that no Letter of Credit may expire after the date that is five Business Days prior to an Existing Termination Date in respect of any Declining Lenders under Section 2.05(e) if, after giving effect to the issuance of such Letter of Credit, the aggregate Revolving Commitments of the Consenting Lenders (including any replacement Revolving Lenders ) for the period following such Existing Termination Date would be less than the Letter of Credit Exposure following such Existing Termination Date), (iv) name and address of the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit and (v) form of such Letter of Credit, and shall be accompanied by such application and agreement for letter of credit as such Issuing Bank may specify to the Borrower for use in connection with such requested Letter of Credit (including, in connection with the issuance of a Post-Maturity Letter of Credit or the renewal of a Letter of Credit, such that, after giving effect to such renewal, such Letter of Credit becomes a Post-Maturity Letter of Credit, such documentation, including a reimbursement agreement, as such Issuing Bank may reasonably require in connection with such issuance or renewal) (a “ Letter of Credit Agreement ”). Upon receipt of a Notice of Issuance, the Agent shall promptly notify each Revolving Lender of the contents thereof and of the amount of such Revolving Lender’s Letter of Credit Exposure in respect of such Letter of Credit. If the requested form of such Letter of Credit is acceptable to such Issuing Bank in its sole discretion, such Issuing Bank will, upon fulfillment of the applicable conditions set forth in Article III , make such Letter of Credit available to the Borrower at its office referred to in Section 8.02 or as otherwise agreed with the Borrower in connection with such issuance. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Credit Agreement, a Letter of Credit issued hereunder may contain a statement to the effect that such Letter of Credit is issued for the account of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower; provided , that notwithstanding such statement, the Borrower shall be the actual account party for all purposes of this Credit Agreement for such Letter of Credit and such statement shall not affect the Borrower’s reimbursement obligations hereunder with respect to such Letter of Credit. In the event and to the extent that the provisions of any Letter of Credit Agreement shall conflict with this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall govern. The Borrower may from time to time request that Letters of Credit be issued in a currency other than dollars, Canadian Dollars, Euros or Pounds Sterling, provided that such requested currency is a lawful currency that is readily available and freely transferable and convertible into dollars. Any such request shall be made to the Agent not later than twenty (20) Business Days (or such other date as may be agreed by the Agent and the applicable Issuing Banks, in their sole discretion) prior to the date of the desired issuance of a Letter of Credit denominated in the requested currency. The Agent shall promptly notify each Issuing Bank thereof. Each Issuing Bank shall notify the Agent not later than ten (10) Business Days (or such other date as may be agreed by the Agent and the applicable Issuing Banks, in their sole discretion) after receipt of such request whether it consents, in its sole discretion, to the issuance of Letters of Credit in such requested currency. Any failure by an Issuing Bank to respond to

 

31


such request within the time period specified in the preceding sentence shall be deemed a refusal by such Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit in the requested currency. If one or more Issuing Banks consent to the issuance of Letters of Credit in such requested currency, the Agent shall so notify the Borrower and such currency shall thereupon be deemed for all purposes to be an Alternative Currency hereunder for Letter of Credit issuances by those Issuing Banks consenting thereto. If the Agent shall fail to obtain consent for an additional currency under this Section 2.03(b) , the Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower.

(c) Issuing Bank Reports . Unless otherwise agreed by the Agent, each Issuing Bank shall report in writing to the Agent (i) on or prior to each Business Day on which such Issuing Bank issues, amends, renews or extends any Letter of Credit, the date of such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension, and the Dollar Equivalent Amount of the aggregate face amount of the Letters of Credit issued, amended, renewed or extended by it and outstanding after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (and whether the Dollar Equivalent Amount thereof shall have changed), it being understood that such Issuing Bank shall not effect any issuance, renewal, extension or amendment resulting in an increase in the aggregate Dollar Equivalent Amount of the Letters of Credit issued by it without first obtaining written confirmation from the Agent that such increase is then permitted under this Agreement, (ii) on each Business Day on which such Issuing Bank makes any Letter of Credit Disbursement, the date and the Dollar Equivalent Amount of such Letter of Credit Disbursement, (iii) on any Business Day on which a Borrower fails to reimburse a Letter of Credit Disbursement required to be reimbursed to such Issuing Bank on such day, the date of such failure and the Dollar Equivalent Amount of such Letter of Credit Disbursement and (iv) on any other Business Day, such other information as the Agent shall reasonably request as to the Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank.

(d) Participations in Letters of Credit . Upon the issuance of a Letter of Credit by any Issuing Bank under Section 2.03(b) , such Issuing Bank shall be deemed, without further action by any party hereto, to have sold to each Revolving Lender, and each Revolving Lender shall be deemed, without further action by any party hereto, to have purchased from such Issuing Bank, a participation in such Letter of Credit in the amount for each Revolving Lender equal to such Revolving Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit, effective upon the issuance of such Letter of Credit. Each Revolving Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations pursuant to this paragraph in respect of Letters of Credit is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstances whatsoever, including any amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Revolving Commitments.

(e) Drawings Under Letters of Credit; Reimbursement; Interim Interest . Upon receipt from the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of any notice of a drawing under such Letter of Credit, the Issuing Bank shall notify the Agent and the Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and each other Revolving Lender as to the Dollar Equivalent Amount to be paid as a result of such demand or drawing and the payment date. The Borrower shall be irrevocably and unconditionally obligated to reimburse the Issuing Bank, by no later than 12:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the Business Day immediately following the Business Day that the Borrower receives notice of such drawing, in the applicable currency for any amounts paid by the Issuing

 

32


Bank upon any drawing under any Letter of Credit, without presentment, demand, protest or other formalities of any kind; provided that the Borrower may, subject to the conditions to borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with Section 2.02 that such payment be financed with a Base Rate Revolving Advance in an equivalent amount and, to the extent so financed, the Borrower’s obligation to make such payment shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting Base Rate Revolving Advance. If the Borrower fails to make such reimbursement payment when due, the Agent shall notify each Revolving Lender of the applicable Letter of Credit Disbursement, the payment then due from the Borrower in respect thereof (the “ Unreimbursed Amount ”) and the Dollar Equivalent Amount of such Revolving Lender’s Pro Rata Share thereof. Promptly following receipt of such notice, each Revolving Lender shall pay to the Agent the Dollar Equivalent Amount of its Pro Rata Share of the Unreimbursed Amount, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.02 with respect to Revolving Advances made by such Revolving Lender (and Section 2.02 shall apply, mutatis mutandis , to the payment obligations of the Revolving Lenders), and the Agent shall promptly pay to the Issuing Bank the amounts so received by it from the Revolving Lenders in dollars or, if requested by such Issuing Bank, the equivalent amount thereof in the applicable Alternative Currency as determined by the Agent or the applicable Issuing Bank at such time on the basis of the Spot Rate (determined as of such funding date) for the purchase of such Alternative Currency with dollars. Promptly following receipt by the Agent of any payment from the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.03(e) , the Agent shall distribute such payment to the Issuing Bank or, to the extent that Revolving Lenders have made payments pursuant to this Section 2.03(e) to reimburse the Issuing Bank, then to such Revolving Lenders and the Issuing Bank as their interests may appear. Any payment made by a Revolving Lender pursuant to this Section 2.03(e) to reimburse the Issuing Bank for any Letter of Credit Disbursement shall not constitute a Revolving Advance and shall not relieve the Borrower of its obligation to reimburse the Issuing Bank for such Letter of Credit Disbursement. All such amounts paid by the Issuing Bank (whether or not the Dollar Equivalent Amount of their Pro Rata Shares of such amounts have been paid to the Issuing Bank by the Revolving Lenders as provided above) and remaining unpaid by the Borrower shall bear interest, payable on demand, for each day until paid at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate for such day plus , if such amount remains unpaid for more than three Business Days, 2%. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Revolving Lenders shall not have any obligation to reimburse any Issuing Bank for any Letter of Credit Disbursement made under any Post-Maturity Letter of Credit that occurs on or after the Termination Date.

(f) Obligations Unconditional . The obligations of the Borrower under Section 2.03(e) above shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, under all circumstances whatsoever, including without limitation the following circumstances:

(i) the use that may be made of the Letter of Credit by, or any acts or omission of, a beneficiary of a Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom the beneficiary may be acting);

(ii) the existence of any claim, set-off, defense or other rights that the Borrower may have at any time against a beneficiary of a Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom the beneficiary may be acting), the Lenders (including the Issuing Bank) or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement or the Letter of Credit or any document related hereto or thereto or any unrelated transaction;

 

33


(iii) any statement or any other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent or invalid in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect whatsoever;

(iv) payment under a Letter of Credit to the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit against presentation to the Issuing Bank of a draft or certificate that does not comply with the terms of the Letter of Credit; provided that the determination by the Issuing Bank to make such payment shall not have been the result of its willful misconduct or gross negligence;

(v) any adverse change in the relevant exchange rates or in the availability of the relevant Alternative Currency to the Borrower or the relevant currency markets generally; or

(vi) any other act or omission to act or delay of any kind by any Lender (including the Issuing Bank), the Agent or any other Person or any other event or circumstance whatsoever that might, but for the provisions of this clause (vi) , constitute a legal or equitable discharge of the Borrower’s obligations hereunder.

None of the Agent, the Lenders or the Issuing Bank, or any of their Affiliates shall have any liability or responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of any Letter of Credit or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder (irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to in the preceding sentence), or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder), any error in interpretation of technical terms or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of the Issuing Bank; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse the Issuing Bank from liability to the Borrower to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable law) suffered by the Borrower that are caused by the Issuing Bank’s failure to exercise care when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof. The parties hereto expressly agree that, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Issuing Bank (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), the Issuing Bank shall be deemed to have exercised care in each such determination. In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the parties agree that, with respect to documents presented that appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, the Issuing Bank may, in its sole discretion, either accept and make payment upon such documents without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make payment upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit.

 

34


(g) Additional Issuing Banks. The Borrower may, at any time and from time to time with the consent of the Agent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned) and such Revolving Lender, designate one or more additional Revolving Lenders to act as an issuing bank under the terms of this Agreement. Any Revolving Lender designated as an issuing bank pursuant to this Section 2.03(g) shall, upon entering into a Letter of Credit Agreement with the Borrower, be deemed to be an “Issuing Bank” (in addition to being a Revolving Lender) hereunder.

(h) Cash Collateralization. (i) If any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, on the Business Day that the Borrower receives notice from the Agent or the Required Revolving Lenders (or, if the maturity of the Revolving Advances has been accelerated, Revolving Lenders with aggregate Letter of Credit Exposures representing greater than 50% of the aggregate Letter of Credit Exposures) demanding the deposit of cash collateral pursuant to this Section 2.03(h)(i) , the Borrower shall deposit (“ Cash Collateralize ”) in an account with the Agent, in the name of the Agent and for the benefit of the Revolving Lenders and the Issuing Banks, an amount in cash equal to the aggregate Letter of Credit Exposures as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon; provided that the obligation to Cash Collateralize shall become effective immediately, and such deposit shall become immediately due and payable, without demand or other notice of any kind, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default with respect to the Borrower described in Section 6.01(e) . Each such deposit shall be held by the Agent as collateral for the payment and performance of the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement. The Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, as defined in the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of New York, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over such account. Other than any interest earned on the investment of such deposits, which investments shall be made at the option and sole discretion of the Agent and at the Borrower’s risk and expense, such deposits shall not bear interest. Interest or profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in such account. Moneys in such account shall be applied by the Agent to reimburse each Issuing Bank for Letter of Credit Disbursements for which it has not been reimbursed and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Borrower for the aggregate Letter of Credit Exposures at such time or, if the maturity of the Revolving Advances has been accelerated (but subject to the consent of Revolving Lenders with Letter of Credit Exposures representing greater than 50% of the aggregate Letter of Credit Exposures), be applied to satisfy other obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement. If the Borrower is required to provide an amount of cash collateral hereunder as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default, such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Borrower within three Business Days after all Events of Default have been cured or waived.

(ii) If any Post-Maturity Letters of Credit remain outstanding as of the date that is (x) five Business Days prior to the Termination Date if Investment Grade Status exists as to the Borrower at such time or (y) ninety (90) days prior to the Termination Date if Investment Grade Status does not exist as to the Borrower at such time (such date being referred to herein as the “ Cash Collateralization Date ”), the Borrower shall, on the Cash Collateralization Date, deposit (“ Post-Maturity Cash Collateralize ”) in an account with each Issuing Bank that has issued any such Post-Maturity Letter of Credit, in the name of such Issuing Bank and for the benefit of such Issuing Bank and, prior to the Termination Date, the Revolving Lenders (each, an “ Issuing Bank LC Collateral Account ”), an amount in cash equal to 102% of the aggregate amount (as determined in accordance with Section 1.05 ) of all outstanding Post-Maturity Letters of Credit issued

 

35


by such Issuing Bank. In addition, if (x) the Borrower requests that a Post-Maturity Letter of Credit be issued, or a Letter of Credit be renewed (or if any Letter of Credit is automatically renewed for an additional one-year period), such that, after giving effect to such renewal, such Letter of Credit becomes a Post-Maturity Letter of Credit, by an Issuing Bank after the Cash Collateralization Date but before the Termination Date and (y) such Issuing Bank agrees to issue such Post-Maturity Letter of Credit or renew such Letter of Credit, then, as a condition to such issuance or renewal, the Borrower shall deposit in such Issuing Bank’s Issuing Bank LC Collateral Account an amount in cash equal to 102% of the amount (as determined in accordance with Section 1.05 ) of such Post-Maturity Letter of Credit or Letter of Credit to be renewed, as applicable. Any such deposits pursuant to this Section 2.03(h)(ii) shall be held by each applicable Issuing Bank in its Issuing Bank LC Collateral Account as collateral for the payment and performance of the obligation of the Borrower to reimburse such Issuing Bank for Letter of Credit Disbursements made by such Issuing Bank under each Post-Maturity Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank. Each Issuing Bank shall have exclusive dominion and control, as defined in the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of New York, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over its Issuing Bank LC Collateral Account. Other than any interest earned on the investment of such deposits, which investments shall be made at the option and sole discretion of each Issuing Bank and at the Borrower’s risk and expense, such deposits shall not bear interest. Interest or profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in such account. Moneys in each Issuing Bank LC Collateral Account shall be applied by the applicable Issuing Bank to reimburse such Issuing Bank for Letter of Credit Disbursements made by such Issuing Bank in respect of Post-Maturity Letters of Credit for which it has not been reimbursed, fees related to such Post-Maturity Letters of Credit and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the satisfaction of the obligation of the Borrower to reimburse such Issuing Bank for Letter of Credit Disbursements made by such Issuing Bank in respect of Post-Maturity Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank. If an Issuing Bank has issued more than one Post-Maturity Letter of Credit for which cash collateral was provided pursuant to this Section 2.03(h)(ii) , upon the cancellation, surrender, or payment of any such Post-Maturity Letter of Credit, the Issuing Bank that issued such Post-Maturity Letter of Credit shall promptly release cash collateral to the Borrower equal to the difference between (A) the total available funds in such Issuing Bank’s Issuing Bank LC Collateral Account and (B) 102% of the aggregate amount (as determined in accordance with Section 1.05 ) of all Post-Maturity Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank that remain outstanding. Promptly after the cancellation, surrender, or payment of all Post-Maturity Letters of Credit issued by an Issuing Bank for which cash collateral was provided pursuant to this Section 2.03(h)(ii) , such Issuing Bank shall return to the Borrower all available funds, if any, in such Issuing Bank’s Issuing Bank LC Collateral Account. This Section 2.03(h)(ii) shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of all other amounts owing hereunder.

 

36


SECTION 2.04. Fees .

(a) Facility Fee . The Borrower agrees to pay to the Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender a facility fee on the average daily amount of such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Commitment (whether used or unused) from the Effective Date in the case of each Initial Lender, and from the later of the Effective Date and the effective date specified in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Revolving Lender in the case of each other Revolving Lender, until the Termination Date at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Percentage in effect from time to time, payable in arrears quarterly on the last day of each March, June, September and December, commencing December 31, 2013, and on the Termination Date.

(b) Letter of Credit Fees, Etc.

(i) The Borrower shall pay to the Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender (including each Issuing Bank) a fee, payable in arrears quarterly on the last day of each March, June, September and December, commencing December 31, 2013, and on the Termination Date, on such Revolving Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the average daily amount of the aggregate Letter of Credit Exposures during such quarter at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Margin for Eurodollar Rate Revolving Advances. For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.05 .

(ii) The Borrower shall pay to each Issuing Bank, for its own account a fronting fee, payable in arrears quarterly on the last day of each March, June, September and December, commencing December 31, 2013, and on the Termination Date, on the Dollar Equivalent Amount of the average daily amount of Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank at the rate of 0.15% per annum or such other rate as may be agreed by the Borrower and such Issuing Bank, as well as the Issuing Bank’s customary administrative, issuance, amendment, payment and negotiation charges.

(iii) The Borrower shall pay to each Issuing Bank, for its own account a letter of credit fee with respect to each Post-Maturity Letter of Credit during the period from the Termination Date to but excluding the date on which such Post-Maturity Letter of Credit expires, at a rate and payable on such dates during such period as the applicable Issuing Bank and the Borrower shall reasonably agree upon at the time of issuance of such Post-Maturity Letter of Credit. This Section 2.04(b)(iii) shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of all other amounts owing hereunder.

(c) Agent’s Fees . The Borrower shall pay to the Agent for its own account the fees specified in the Agent Fee Letter.

SECTION 2.05. Termination, Reduction, Increase and Extension of Commitments .

(a) Termination Date . Unless previously terminated, (i) the Revolving Commitments and the Letter of Credit Commitments shall terminate on the Termination Date, and (ii) the Incremental Term Commitments provided pursuant to a particular Incremental Term Loan Agreement shall terminate on the date set forth in the applicable Incremental Term Loan Agreement.

 

37


(b) Optional Termination or Reduction of Commitments .

(i) The Borrower may at any time terminate, or from time to time reduce, the Revolving Commitments; provided that (i) each reduction of the Revolving Commitments shall be in an amount that is at least $10,000,000 and integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and (ii) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Revolving Commitments if, after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of the Revolving Advances in accordance with Section 2.10 , the sum of the aggregate Letter of Credit Exposures and the aggregate Revolving Advances would exceed the aggregate Revolving Commitments.

(ii) The Borrower may (unless otherwise provided in the applicable Incremental Term Loan Agreement), upon notice to the Agent, terminate any Incremental Term Commitments provided pursuant to the applicable Incremental Term Loan Agreement, or from time to time permanently reduce any Incremental Term Commitments provided pursuant to the applicable Incremental Term Loan Agreement in an integral multiple of $1,000,000 (or as may otherwise be provided in the respective Incremental Term Loan Agreement); provided that each such reduction shall apply proportionately to permanently reduce the Incremental Term Commitments of the applicable Incremental Term Lenders provided pursuant to the applicable Incremental Term Loan Agreement.

(c) Notice of Termination or Reduction . The Borrower shall notify the Agent of any election to terminate or reduce the Commitments under Section 2.05(b) at least three Business Days prior to the effective date of such termination or reduction, specifying such election and the effective date thereof. Promptly following receipt of any notice, the Agent shall advise the Lenders of the applicable Class of the contents thereof. Each notice delivered by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.05(c) shall be irrevocable; provided that a notice of termination of the Commitments delivered by the Borrower may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice to the Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Any termination or reduction of the Commitments shall be permanent. Each reduction of the Commitments shall be made ratably (based upon their Pro Rata Shares) among the Lenders of the applicable Class in accordance with their respective Commitments.

(d) Aggregate Revolving Commitment Increases .

(i) The Borrower may on one or more occasions, without the consent of the Lenders, but subject to the approval of each Issuing Bank (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned) and by written notice to the Agent, executed by the Borrower and one or more financial institutions (any such financial institution referred to in this Section 2.05(d) being called an “ Increasing Lender ”), which may include any Revolving Lender, cause new Revolving Commitments to be extended by the Increasing Lenders or cause the existing Revolving Commitments of the Increasing Lenders to be increased, as the case may be (any such extension or increase, a “ Commitment Increase ”), in an amount for each Increasing Lender (which shall not be less than $25,000,000) set forth in such notice; provided that any Revolving Lender approached to provide all or a portion of the increased or new Revolving Commitments

 

38


may elect or decline, in its sole discretion, to provide such increased or new Revolving Commitment; provided , further , that (i) at no time shall the aggregate amount of Revolving Commitments, including Commitment Increases effected pursuant to this Section 2.05(d) and Revolving Commitment increases pursuant to Section 2.05(f) , exceed $3,000,000,000 less the aggregate principal amount outstanding under any Incremental Term Loans that by their terms automatically increase the Revolving Commitments upon any prepayment thereof in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or capital expenditure as provided in Section 2.05(f) and 5.13(d) , (ii) each Increasing Lender shall be subject to the approval of each Issuing Bank (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned) and (iii) each Increasing Lender, if not already a Revolving Lender hereunder, shall become a party to this Agreement by completing and delivering to the Agent a duly executed accession agreement in a form satisfactory to the Agent and the Borrower (an “ Accession Agreement ”). New Revolving Commitments and increases in Revolving Commitments shall become effective on the date specified in the applicable notices delivered pursuant to this Section 2.05(d) ; provided that the other conditions set forth in this Section 2.05(d) have been satisfied. Upon the effectiveness of any Accession Agreement to which any Increasing Lender is a party, (i) such Increasing Lender shall thereafter be deemed to be a party to this Agreement and shall be entitled to all rights, benefits and privileges accorded a Revolving Lender hereunder and subject to all obligations of a Revolving Lender hereunder and (ii) the Revolving Commitments shall be deemed to have been amended to reflect the Revolving Commitment of such Increasing Lender as provided in such Accession Agreement. Upon the effectiveness of any increase pursuant to this Section 2.05(d) in the Revolving Commitment of a Revolving Lender already a party hereto, the Revolving Commitments shall be deemed to have been amended to reflect the increased Revolving Commitment of such Revolving Lender.

(ii) On the effective date of any Commitment Increase pursuant to this Section 2.05(d) (the “ Increase Effective Date ”), (A) the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Advances outstanding (the “ Initial Advances ”) immediately prior to giving effect to the applicable Commitment Increase on the Increase Effective Date shall be deemed to be repaid, (B) after the effectiveness of the Commitment Increase, the Borrower shall be deemed to have made new Revolving Borrowings (the “ Subsequent Borrowings ”) in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Initial Advances and of the Types and for the Interest Periods specified in a Notice of Borrowing delivered to the Agent in accordance with Section 2.02(a) , (C) each Revolving Lender shall pay to the Agent in same day funds an amount equal to the difference, if positive, between (x) such Revolving Lender’s Pro Rata Share (calculated after giving effect to the Commitment Increase) of the Subsequent Borrowings and (y) such Revolving Lender’s Pro Rata Share (calculated without giving effect to the Commitment Increase) of the Initial Advances, (D) after the Agent receives the funds specified in clause (C)  above, the Agent shall pay to each Revolving Lender the portion of such funds that is equal to the difference, if positive, between (1) such Revolving Lender’s Pro Rata Share (calculated without giving effect to the Commitment Increase) of the Initial Advances and (2) such Revolving Lender’s Pro Rata Share (calculated after giving effect to the Commitment Increase) of the amount of the Subsequent Borrowings, (E) each Increasing Lender and each other Revolving Lender shall be deemed to hold its

 

39


Revolving Advances of each Subsequent Borrowing (each calculated after giving effect to the Commitment Increase) and (F) the Borrower shall pay each Increasing Lender and each other Revolving Lender any and all accrued but unpaid interest on the Initial Advances. The deemed payments made pursuant to clause (A)  above in respect of each Eurodollar Rate Advance shall be subject to indemnification by the Borrower pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.11 if the Increase Effective Date occurs other than on the last day of the Interest Period relating thereto and breakage costs result.

(iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no increase in the Revolving Commitments (or in any Revolving Commitment of any Revolving Lender) shall become effective under this Section 2.05(d) unless, on the date of such increase, the conditions set forth in clauses (a)  and (b)  of Section 3.02 shall be satisfied (with all references in such clauses to a Borrowing being deemed to be references to such increase and without giving effect to the first parenthetical in Section 3.02(a)) and the Agent shall have received a certificate to that effect dated such date and executed by the Chief Financial Officer or the Treasurer of the Ultimate General Partner (in its capacity as general partner of the General Partner, in its capacity as general partner of the Borrower).

(e) Extension of Termination Date . The Borrower may, by written notice to the Agent (which shall promptly deliver a copy to each of the Lenders in the applicable Class) (i) not less than 45 days prior to any anniversary of the Effective Date, and on not more than two occasions, request that the Revolving Lenders extend the Termination Date and the Revolving Commitments for an additional period of one year and (ii) not less than 45 days prior to any anniversary of the effective date of any applicable Incremental Term Loan Agreement, make unlimited requests that the applicable Series of Incremental Term Lenders extend the Incremental Term Loan Termination Date with respect to such Series for an additional period of one year. Each Lender in the applicable Class shall, by notice to the Borrower and the Agent given not later than the 20th day after the date of the Agent’s receipt of the Borrower’s extension request, advise the Borrower whether or not it agrees to the requested extension (each such Lender in the applicable Class agreeing to a requested extension being called a “ Consenting Lender ” and each such Lender in the applicable Class declining to agree to a requested extension being called a “ Declining Lender ”). Any Lender in the applicable Class that has not so advised the Borrower and the Agent by such day shall be deemed to have declined to agree to such extension and shall be a Declining Lender. If (i) Revolving Lenders constituting the Required Revolving Lenders shall have agreed to an extension request, then the Termination Date shall, as to the Consenting Lenders in the applicable Class, be extended to the first anniversary of the Termination Date theretofore in effect and (ii) Incremental Term Lenders constituting the Required Incremental Term Lenders for such Series shall have agreed to an extension request, then the applicable Incremental Term Loan Termination Date for such Series shall, as to the Consenting Lenders in the applicable Class, be extended to the first anniversary of the applicable Incremental Term Loan Termination Date theretofore in effect. The decision to agree or withhold agreement to any Termination Date extension or Incremental Term Loan Termination Date extension, as applicable, shall be at the sole discretion of each Lender in the applicable Class. The Commitment and Advances of any Declining Lender in the applicable Class shall terminate and be payable in full on the Termination Date or Incremental Term Loan Termination Date, as applicable, in effect as to such Lender prior to giving effect to any such extension (such Termination Date being called the “ Existing Termination Date ” and such Incremental Term Loan

 

40


Termination Date being called the “ Existing Incremental Term Loan Termination Date ”). The principal amount of any outstanding Revolving Advances made by Declining Lenders in the applicable Class, together with any accrued interest thereon and any accrued fees and other amounts payable to or for the accounts of such Declining Lenders hereunder, shall be due and payable on the Existing Termination Date, and on the Existing Termination Date the Borrower shall also make such other prepayments of its Revolving Borrowings as shall be required in order that, after giving effect to the termination of the Revolving Commitments of, and all payments to, such Declining Lenders pursuant to this sentence, the sum of the aggregate Revolving Advances and the aggregate Letter of Credit Exposures shall not exceed the aggregate Revolving Commitments. If, after making the prepayments pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence the sum of the aggregate Revolving Advances and the aggregate Letter of Credit Exposures exceed the aggregate Revolving Commitments, then the Borrower shall immediately deposit cash collateral in an account with the Agent, in the name of the Agent and for the benefit of the Revolving Lenders and the Issuing Banks (such deposit to be held by the Agent as collateral for the payment and performance of the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement in accordance with Section 2.03(h)(i)) , in an amount such that, after giving effect to such cash collateralization and the termination of the Revolving Commitments of, and all payments to, the Declining Lenders in the applicable Class pursuant to the preceding sentence, the sum of the aggregate Revolving Advances and the aggregate Letter of Credit Exposures not cash collateralized in accordance with this sentence shall not exceed the aggregate Revolving Commitments. The principal amount of any outstanding Series of Incremental Term Loans made by Declining Lenders in the applicable Class, together with any accrued interest thereon and any accrued fees and other amounts payable to or for the accounts of such Declining Lenders hereunder, shall be due and payable on the Existing Incremental Term Loan Termination Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.05(e) , the Borrower shall have the right, pursuant to Section 2.18(b) , at any time prior to the Existing Termination Date or Existing Incremental Term Loan Termination Date, as applicable, to replace a Declining Lender in the applicable Class with a Lender or other financial institution that will agree to a request for the extension of the Termination Date or Incremental Term Loan Termination Date, as applicable, and any such replacement Lender shall for all purposes constitute a Consenting Lender. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no extension of the Termination Date or Incremental Term Loan Termination Date, as applicable, pursuant to this Section 2.05(e) shall become effective unless (i) on the anniversary of the Effective Date or effective date of the Incremental Term Loan Agreement, as applicable, that immediately follows the date on which the Borrower delivers the applicable request for extension of the Termination Date or Incremental Term Loan Termination Date, as applicable, the conditions set forth in clauses (a)  and (b)  of Section 3.02 shall be satisfied (with all references in such clauses to a Borrowing being deemed to be references to such extension and without giving effect to the first parenthetical in Section 3.02(a)) and the Agent shall have received a certificate to that effect dated such date and executed by the Chief Financial Officer or the Treasurer of the Ultimate General Partner (in its capacity as general partner of the General Partner, in its capacity as general partner of the Borrower).

(f) Automatic Increases in the Aggregate Revolving Commitments . So long as no Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the aggregate Revolving Commitments shall be automatically increased (without the consent of the Lenders) and Revolving Advances shall be made under such increased Revolving Commitments from time to time in order to prepay the Incremental Term Loans to the extent set forth in the applicable Incremental Term

 

41


Loan Agreement in accordance with Section 5.13(d) . Upon any such increase, (i) each Incremental Term Lender’s Revolving Commitment shall be increased automatically by the amount of the Incremental Term Loan made by such Incremental Term Lender that is being prepaid on such date (or if such Incremental Term Lender is not already a Lender with a Revolving Commitment, such Incremental Term Lender shall become a Revolving Lender with a Revolving Commitment equal to the aforementioned amount) and (ii) if any Revolving Advances are outstanding at the time of such increase in the Revolving Commitments, the Borrower will prepay ( provided that any such prepayment shall be subject to Section 2.11 ) one or more existing Revolving Advances in an amount necessary such that after giving effect to the increase in the Revolving Commitments, each Revolving Lender will hold its Pro Rata Share (as revised due to the increase in the Revolving Commitments) of outstanding Revolving Advances. For the avoidance of doubt, no Revolving Commitment or Pro Rata Share of any Lender other than Incremental Term Lenders shall be subject to increase pursuant to this Section 2.05(f) or Section 5.13(d) .

SECTION 2.06. Interest on Advances .

(a) Scheduled Interest . The Borrower shall pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Advance owing to each Lender from the date of such Advance until such principal amount shall be paid in full, at the following rates per annum:

(i) Base Rate Advances . During such periods as such Advance is a Base Rate Advance, a rate per annum equal at all times to the sum of (x) the Base Rate in effect from time to time plus (y) the Applicable Margin in effect from time to time, payable in arrears quarterly on the last day of each March, June, September and December during such periods and on the date such Base Rate Advance shall be Converted or paid in full.

(ii) Eurodollar Rate Advances . During such periods as such Advance is a Eurodollar Rate Advance, a rate per annum equal at all times during each Interest Period for such Advance to the sum of (x) the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period for such Advance plus (y) the Applicable Margin in effect from time to time, payable in arrears on the last day of such Interest Period and, if such Interest Period has a duration of more than three months, on each day that occurs during such Interest Period every three months from the first day of such Interest Period, and on the date such Eurodollar Rate Advance shall be Converted or paid in full.

(b) Default Interest . Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any principal of or interest on any Advance or any fee or other amount payable by the Borrower hereunder is not paid when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, such overdue amount shall bear interest, after as well as before judgment, payable on demand, for each day from and including the date payment thereof was due to but excluding the date of actual payment, at a rate per annum equal to (i) in the case of overdue principal of any Advance, 2% plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Advance as provided in Section 2.06(a) or (ii) in the case of any overdue interest, fees and other amounts, 2% plus the rate applicable to Base Rate Revolving Advances as provided in clause (a)(i) of this Section.

 

42


(c) Notice of Interest Period and Interest Rate . Promptly after receipt of a Notice of Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.02(a) , a notice of Conversion pursuant to Section 2.08 or a notice of selection of an Interest Period pursuant to the terms of the definition of “Interest Period,” the Agent shall give notice to the Borrower and applicable Revolving Lenders or Incremental Term Lenders, as the case may be, of the applicable Interest Period and the applicable interest rate determined by the Agent for purposes of clause (a)(i) or (a)(ii) above.

SECTION 2.07. Interest Rate Determination .

(a) Eurodollar Rate Inadequate . If, with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Advances, the Super-Majority Lenders of any Class notify the Agent that the Eurodollar Rate for any Interest Period for such Advances will not adequately reflect the cost to such Super-Majority Lenders of making, funding or maintaining their respective Eurodollar Rate Advances for such Interest Period, the Agent shall forthwith so notify the Borrower and the applicable Class of Lenders, whereupon (i) each Eurodollar Rate Advance will automatically, on the last day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, Convert into a Base Rate Advance, and (ii) the obligation of the Lenders of the applicable Class to make, or to Convert Advances into, Eurodollar Rate Advances shall be suspended until the Agent shall notify the Borrower and such Lenders that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist.

(b) Failure of Borrower to Select Type or Interest Period . If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Advance in a Notice of Borrowing, of if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a Conversion or continuation of any Eurodollar Rate Advance, then the applicable Advances shall be made as, or Converted to, Base Rate Advances. Any such automatic Conversion to Base Rate Advances shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Eurodollar Rate Advance. If the Borrower shall fail to select the duration of any Interest Period for any Eurodollar Rate Advances in accordance with the provisions contained in the definition of “Interest Period” in Section 1.01 , the Agent will forthwith so notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the applicable Class and such Advances will automatically, on the last day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, be deemed to be Eurodollar Rate Advances with a one-month Interest Period.

(c) Conversion Due to Event of Default . Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, (i) each Eurodollar Rate Advance will automatically, on the last day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, Convert into a Base Rate Advance and (ii) the obligation of the Lenders to make, or to Convert Advances into, Eurodollar Rate Advances shall be suspended.

SECTION 2.08. Optional Conversion of Advances. The Borrower may on any Business Day, upon notice given to the Agent not later than 12:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the date of the proposed Conversion for Conversions into Eurodollar Rate Advances and on the date of the proposed Conversion for conversions into Base Rate Advances and subject to the provisions of Sections 2.07 and 2.13 , Convert all Advances of one Type comprising the same Borrowing into Advances of the other Type; provided , however , that any Conversion of Eurodollar Rate Advances into Base Rate Advances shall be made only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurodollar Rate Advances, any Conversion of Base Rate Advances into Eurodollar Rate Advances shall be in an amount not less than an aggregate

 

43


amount of $10,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, and no Conversion of any Advances shall result in more separate Borrowings than permitted under Section 2.02(b) . Each such notice of a Conversion shall, within the restrictions specified above, specify (i) the date of such Conversion, (ii) the Advances to be Converted, and (iii) if such Conversion is into Eurodollar Rate Advances, the duration of the initial Interest Period for each such Eurodollar Rate Advance. Each notice of Conversion shall be irrevocable and binding on the Borrower.

SECTION 2.09. Mandatory Payments and Prepayments of Advances .

(a) Termination Date .

(i) On the Termination Date, the Borrower shall repay to the Agent for the ratable account of the Revolving Lenders the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Advances then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon to the date of payment.

(ii) On the applicable Incremental Term Loan Termination Date and on any other dates and in the amounts set forth in the applicable Incremental Term Loan Agreement, the Borrower shall repay to the Agent for the ratable account of the applicable Incremental Term Lenders the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Incremental Term Loans of the applicable Series, together will accrued interest thereon to the date of payment.

(b) Outstandings in Excess of Commitments . At any time that the aggregate principal amount of Revolving Advances outstanding plus the aggregate Letter of Credit Exposures exceeds the aggregate Revolving Commitments (an “ Excess ”), including, without limitation, as a result of currency exchange rate fluctuations with respect to Letters of Credit denominated in Alternative Currencies, the Borrower shall immediately prepay to the Agent for the ratable account of the Revolving Lenders, in whole or in part, a principal amount of Revolving Advances comprising part of the same Borrowing(s) selected by the Borrower that will eliminate the Excess, together with accrued interest to the date of such prepayment on the principal amount prepaid; provided , however , that in the event of any such prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate Advance, the Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the Revolving Lenders in respect thereof pursuant to Section 2.11 ; provided , further , that in the event an Excess remains after prepayment in full of all of the Revolving Advances, the Borrower shall immediately deposit cash collateral in an account with the Agent, in the name of the Agent and for the benefit of the Revolving Lenders and the Issuing Banks (such deposit to be held by the Agent as collateral for the payment and performance of the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement in accordance with Section 2.03(h)(i) ), in an amount equal to such Excess.

SECTION 2.10. Optional Prepayments of Advances. The Borrower may, upon at least two Business Days’ notice (in the case of Eurodollar Rate Advances) or upon notice (in the case of Base Rate Advances) given on the date of such prepayment, in each case received not later than 12:00 P.M. (New York City time) on such date to the Agent stating the proposed date and aggregate principal amount of the prepayment, which notice shall be irrevocable, and if such notice is given the Borrower shall, prepay for the ratable account of the Lenders of the applicable Class, in whole or in part, the outstanding principal amount of the Advances comprising part of

 

44


the same Borrowing(s), together with accrued interest to the date of such prepayment on the principal amount prepaid; provided , that a notice of prepayment of all outstanding Advances may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice to the Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied; provided further , however , that (x) each partial prepayment shall be in an aggregate principal amount of $5,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and (y) in the event of any such prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate Advance, the Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the Lenders of the applicable Class in respect thereof pursuant to Section 2.11 . Any prepayment of Incremental Term Loans that by their terms automatically increase the aggregate amount of the Revolving Commitments upon any prepayment thereof in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or capital expenditure, in accordance with Sections 2.05(f) and 5.13(d) , in connection with such a Permitted Acquisition or capital expenditure, shall, so long as no Default shall have occurred and be continuing, cause each applicable Incremental Term Lender’s Revolving Commitments to be increased in accordance with Section 2.05(f) and Revolving Advances to be made to the Borrower in accordance with Section 5.13(d) in order to make such prepayment of the Incremental Term Loans. Any prepayment of Incremental Term Loans shall be applied first (x) to Incremental Term Loans in the applicable Series that by their terms automatically increase the aggregate amount of the Revolving Commitments upon any prepayment thereof in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or capital expenditure, to be applied to such Incremental Term Loans in the applicable Series in the order in which such Incremental Term Loans were made, and then (y) to the remaining Incremental Term Loans in the applicable Series.

SECTION 2.11. Funding Losses. If the Borrower makes any payment of principal with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Advance or any Eurodollar Rate Advance is Converted to a Base Rate Advance or continued as a Eurodollar Rate Advance for a new Interest Period (pursuant to Article II or VI or otherwise) on any day other than the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto, or if the Borrower fails (for a reason other than the failure of a Lender to make an Advance) to borrow, prepay (except as otherwise permitted hereunder), Convert or continue any Eurodollar Rate Advance after notice has been given to any Lender in accordance with Section 2.02(a) , 2.08 or 2.10 or pursuant to the terms of the definition of “Interest Period,” the Borrower shall reimburse each Lender of the applicable Class within 15 days after demand for any resulting loss or expense incurred by it (or by an existing or prospective participant in the related Advance), including (without limitation) any actual loss incurred in obtaining, liquidating or employing deposits from third parties, but excluding loss of anticipated profits and margin for the period after any such payment or Conversion or failure to borrow, prepay, Convert or continue; provided that such Lender shall have delivered to the Borrower a certificate setting forth in reasonable detail the calculation of the amount of such loss or expense, which certificate shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.

SECTION 2.12. Increased Costs .

(a) General . If, due to any Change in Law, there shall be any increase in the cost to any Lender of agreeing to make or making, funding or maintaining Eurodollar Rate Advances or of issuing or participating in any Letter of Credit (excluding for purposes of this Section 2.12 any such increased costs resulting from (i) Taxes or Other Taxes (as to which Section 2.15 shall govern) and (ii) changes in the basis of taxation of any taxes described in

 

45


Section 2.15(a)(i) or (ii) ), then the Borrower shall from time to time, upon written notice and written demand by such Lender (with a copy of such demand to the Agent), pay to the Agent for the account of such Lender additional amounts sufficient to compensate such Lender for such increased cost, such increased cost to be determined by such Lender using its customary methods therefor (and, if such Lender uses from time to time more than one such method, the method chosen for application hereunder shall be that method which most accurately determines such increased cost); provided that no such amount shall be payable with respect to any period commencing more than 150 days prior to the date such Lender first notifies the Borrower of its intention to demand compensation hereunder. A certificate as to the amount of such increased cost (demonstrating in reasonable detail, the calculations used by such Lender to determine such estimated increased cost), submitted to the Borrower and the Agent by such Lender, shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

(b) Capital Adequacy . If any Lender reasonably determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or any corporation controlling such Lender, if any, regarding capital or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s capital or the capital of any corporation controlling such Lender, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, such Lender’s Commitment hereunder or the Advances made by such Lender, to a level below that which such Lender or any corporation controlling such Lender could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies and the policies of any corporation controlling such Lender with respect to capital or liquidity requirements) then, upon written notice and written demand by such Lender (with a copy of such demand to the Agent), the Borrower shall pay to the Agent for the account of such Lender, from time to time, additional amounts sufficient to compensate such Lender or such corporation for any reduction suffered in light of such circumstances; provided that no such amount shall be payable with respect to any period commencing more than 150 days prior to the date such Lender first notifies the Borrower of its intention to demand compensation hereunder. A certificate as to such amounts (demonstrating in reasonable detail, the calculations used by such Lender to determine such estimated increased cost) submitted to the Borrower and the Agent by such Lender shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

SECTION 2.13. Illegality . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if any Lender shall notify the Agent that the introduction of or any change in or in the interpretation of any law or regulation makes it unlawful, or any central bank or other governmental authority asserts that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its Eurodollar Lending Office to perform its obligations hereunder to make Eurodollar Rate Advances or to fund or maintain Eurodollar Rate Advances hereunder, (a) each Eurodollar Rate Advance of such Lender will automatically, upon such demand, Convert into a Base Rate Advance, and (b) the obligation of such Lender to make Eurodollar Rate Advances or to Convert Advances into Eurodollar Rate Advances shall be suspended until the Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders in the applicable Class that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist.

 

46


SECTION 2.14. Payments and Computations .

(a) General Provisions . The Borrower shall make each payment hereunder and under the Notes, irrespective of any right of counterclaim or set-off, not later than 2:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the day when due in dollars to the Agent at the Agent’s Account in same day funds. The Agent will promptly thereafter cause to be distributed like funds relating to the payment of principal or interest or facility fees ratably, based upon the respective Pro Rata Shares of the Lenders of the applicable Class of Advances for which such payment relates (other than amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.02(c) , 2.05(d) , 2.11 , 2.12 , 2.15 or 8.04(b) ), to the Lenders of the applicable Class for the account of their respective Applicable Lending Offices, and like funds relating to the payment of any other amount payable to any such Lender to such Lender for the account of its Applicable Lending Office, in each case to be applied in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Upon its acceptance of an Assignment and Acceptance and recording of the information contained therein in the Register pursuant to Section 8.07(c) , from and after the effective date specified in such Assignment and Acceptance, the Agent shall make all payments hereunder and under the Notes in respect of the interest assigned thereby to the Lender assignor thereunder for amounts that have accrued to but excluding the effective date of such assignment, and to the Lender assignee for amounts that have accrued from and after the effective date of such assignment.

(b) Basis of Calculation . All computations of interest based on the Base Rate at times when the Base Rate is based on the Prime Rate shall be made by the Agent on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and all other computations of interest and fees shall be made by the Agent on the basis of a year of 360 days, in each case for the actual number of days (including the first day but excluding the last day) occurring in the period for which such interest or fees are payable. Each determination by the Agent of an interest rate hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

(c) Payments Due on Non-Business Days . Whenever any payment hereunder or under the Notes shall be stated to be due on a day other than a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and such extension of time shall in such case be included in the computation of payment of interest or facility fee, as the case may be; provided , however , that, if such extension would cause (i) any payment to be made after the Termination Date or the applicable Incremental Term Loan Termination Date, as applicable, or (ii) payment of interest on or principal of Eurodollar Rate Advances to be made in the next following calendar month, such payment shall be made on the next preceding Business Day.

(d) Agent Entitled to Assume Payments Made . Unless the Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to any or all of the Lenders hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment in full, the Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment in full to the Agent on such date and the Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, cause to be distributed to each applicable Lender on such due date an amount equal to the amount then due such Lender. If and to the extent that the Borrower shall not have so made such payment in full to the Agent, each applicable Lender shall repay to the Agent forthwith on demand such amount distributed to such Lender together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is distributed to such Lender until the date such Lender repays such amount to the Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate.

 

47


(e) Order of Application . Except as otherwise specified in this Agreement (including Section 6.02 hereof) if at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, unreimbursed Letter of Credit Disbursements, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i)  first , towards payment of interest and fees then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties, and (ii)  second , towards payment of principal of the Advances and unreimbursed Letter of Credit Disbursements then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal and unreimbursed Letter of Credit Disbursements then due to such parties.

(f) Application of Funds to Lender’s Obligations . If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.02(d) , 2.03(d) , 2.03(e) , 2.05(d) or 2.14(e) , then the Agent may, in its discretion notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, (i) apply any amounts thereafter received by it for the account of such Lender to satisfy such Lender’s obligations under such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid, and/or (ii) hold such amounts in a segregated account over which the Agent shall have exclusive control as cash collateral for, and application to, any future funding obligations of such Lender under any such Section, in the case of each of clause (i)  and (ii)  above, in any order as determined by the Agent in its discretion.

SECTION 2.15. Taxes .

(a) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower to or for the account of any Lender, the Agent or any other Person hereunder or under the Notes or any other documents to be delivered hereunder shall be made, in accordance with Section 2.14 or the applicable provisions of such other documents, free and clear of and without deduction for any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings, and all liabilities with respect thereto, excluding , in the case of each Lender, the Agent or such other Person, (i) taxes imposed on (or measured by) its overall net income, net profits or net worth, and franchise or similar taxes, by the United States of America or by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such Lender, the Agent or such other Person (as the case may be) is organized or is otherwise doing business, or any political subdivision thereof and, in the case of each Lender, taxes imposed on (or measured by), in whole or in part, its overall net income, net profits or net worth, and franchise or similar taxes, by the jurisdiction of such Lender’s Applicable Lending Office or any political subdivision thereof (including, without limitation, any withholding of taxes described in this Section 2.15(a)(i) that is treated under applicable law as a prepayment of taxes), (ii) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States of America or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which such Person is located, (iii) any taxes imposed as a result of such Person’s willful misconduct, (iv) in the case of a Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 2.18(b) ), any U.S. withholding tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such Lender by any law in effect at the time such Lender becomes a party to this Agreement (or designates a new Applicable Lending Office), except to the extent that such Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new Applicable Lending Office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from the Borrower with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to this Section 2.15(a) , (v) any U.S. federal withholding taxes imposed under FATCA, (vi) in the case of an Agent, any U.S. withholding tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such Agent by any law in effect at the time such Agent becomes a party to this Agreement solely as a result of such Agent being organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, (vii) taxes attributable to its failure to comply with Section 2.15(f) , (g) , (i)  or (j)  and (viii)  any interest, penalties or additions to tax imposed on any taxes described in

 

48


Sections 2.15(a)(i) , (ii) , (iii) , (iv)  or (v)  (all such taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings and liabilities with respect thereto not excluded under Section 2.15(a)(i) , (ii) , (iii) , (iv) , (v) , (vi) , (vii)  or (viii)  in respect of payments hereunder or under the Notes or any other documents to be delivered hereunder being hereinafter referred to as “ Taxes ”); provided that, if any applicable law (as determined in the good faith discretion of an applicable Withholding Agent) requires a Withholding Agent to deduct any taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings, or any liabilities with respect thereto, from or in respect of any sum payable by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder or under any Note or any other documents to be delivered hereunder to or for the account of any Lender or the Agent, (i) the applicable Withholding Agent shall be entitled to make such deduction and shall timely pay the full amount deducted to the relevant taxation authority or other authority in accordance with applicable law and (ii) to the extent such deduction is for Taxes or Other Taxes (as hereinafter defined), the sum payable by the Borrower shall be increased as may be necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2.15 ) such Lender or the Agent (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions for Taxes or Other Taxes been made.

(b) In addition, the Borrower shall pay any present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies that arise from any payment made hereunder or under the Notes or any other documents to be delivered hereunder or from the execution, delivery or registration of, performing under, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or the Notes or any other documents to be delivered hereunder, excluding , however , such taxes imposed with respect to an assignment following the primary syndication (other than an assignment that occurs as a result of the Borrower’s request pursuant to Section 2.18 ) that would not have been imposed but for a present or former connection between any Lender and the jurisdiction imposing such taxes (other than solely on account of the execution, delivery or registration of, performing under, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or the Notes or any other documents to be delivered hereunder) (hereinafter referred to as “ Other Taxes ”).

(c) The Borrower shall indemnify each Lender and the Agent for and hold it harmless against the full amount, without duplication, of Taxes or Other Taxes (including, without limitation, Taxes of any kind imposed or asserted by any jurisdiction on amounts payable under this Section 2.15 ) imposed on or paid by such Lender or the Agent (as the case may be) and any liability (including penalties and interest) arising therefrom or with respect thereto. This indemnification shall be made within 30 days from the date such Lender or the Agent (as the case may be) makes written demand therefor and provides appropriate computational and, to the extent available, documentary support.

(d) As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes or Other Taxes pursuant to this Section 2.15 , the Borrower shall furnish to the Agent, at its address referred to in Section 8.02 , the original or a certified copy of a receipt evidencing such payment to the extent that such a receipt is issued therefor, or other written proof of payment thereof that is reasonably satisfactory to the Agent.

 

49


(e) Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Agent, within 10 days after demand therefor, for any taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings imposed by any governmental authority that are attributable to such Lender and that are payable or paid by the Agent in connection with this Agreement or any Note or any other documents to be delivered hereunder, and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto (but only to the extent that the Borrower has not already indemnified the Agent for such taxes and other liabilities and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so), whether or not such taxes or other liabilities were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant governmental authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under this Agreement or any Note or any other documents to be delivered hereunder or otherwise payable by the Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Agent under this paragraph (e) .

(f) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax with respect to payments made hereunder or under the Notes or any other documents to be delivered hereunder shall deliver to the Borrower and the Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Sections 2.15(g) , (h)  and (i)  below) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.

(g) Each Lender that is not a United States Person, as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code (a “ Foreign Lender ”), shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, on or prior to the date of its execution and delivery of this Agreement in the case of each Initial Lender and on the date of the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it becomes a Lender in the case of each other Lender, and from time to time thereafter as reasonably requested in writing by the Borrower or the Agent (but only so long as such Lender remains lawfully able to do so), provide each of the Agent and the Borrower with (i) two duly completed and properly executed originals of United States Internal Revenue Service Forms W-8BEN or W-8ECI or any applicable successor form, as the case may be, certifying that such Foreign Lender is exempt from or entitled to a reduced rate of United States withholding tax on payments pursuant to this Agreement or the Notes, (ii) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming exemption from United States federal withholding tax under Section 881(c) of the Internal Revenue Code with respect to payments of “portfolio interest,” a statement substantially in the form of Exhibit E-1 and two duly completed and properly executed originals of United States Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN, or any applicable successor form, or (iii) to the extent such Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, two duly completed and properly executed originals of United States Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY, accompanied by United States Internal Revenue Service Forms W-8ECI, W-8BEN or W-9, a statement substantially in

 

50


the form of Exhibit E-3 or E-4 , and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if such Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a statement substantially in the form of Exhibit E-2 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner.

(h) If a payment made to a Lender hereunder or under the Notes or any other documents to be delivered hereunder would be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this paragraph (h) , “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

(i) Each Lender and Agent that is a United States Person, as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code (other than persons that are corporations or otherwise exempt from United States backup withholding tax), shall deliver at the time(s) and in the manner(s) prescribed by applicable law, to each of the Borrower and the Agent (as applicable) two original properly completed and duly executed United States Internal Revenue Service Forms W-9 or any successor form, certifying that such Person is exempt from United States backup withholding tax on payments made hereunder.

(j) Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered pursuant to Section 2.15(f) , (g) , (h)  or (i)  expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Borrower and the Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.

(k) For the avoidance of doubt, for any period with respect to which a Lender has failed to provide the Borrower with the appropriate form, certificate or other document described in Section 2.15(g) or (i)  (other than if such failure is due to a change in law occurring subsequent to the date on which a form, certificate or other document originally was required to be provided, or if such form, certificate or other document otherwise is not required under Section 2.15(g) or (i) ), such Lender shall not be entitled to increased payments or indemnification under Section 2.15(a) or (c)  with respect to taxes or Other Taxes imposed by reason of such failure; provided , however , that the Borrower shall take such steps as the Lender shall reasonably request (at the sole expense of such Lender) to assist the Lender to recover such taxes or Other Taxes (it being understood, however, that the Borrower shall have no liability to such Lender in respect of such taxes or Other Taxes).

 

51


(l) If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section 2.15 (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.15 ), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made by such indemnifying party under this Section with respect to the Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including taxes) of such indemnified party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant governmental authority with respect to such refund). Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this paragraph (l)  (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant governmental authority) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such governmental authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (l) , in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this paragraph (l)  the payment of which would place the indemnified party in a less favorable net after-tax position than the indemnified party would have been in if the indemnification payments or additional amounts giving rise to such refund had never been paid.

(m) For purposes of this Section 2.15 , the term “Lender” includes any Issuing Bank.

Nothing contained in this Section 2.15 shall require any Lender or the Agent to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes which it deems to be confidential).

SECTION 2.16. Sharing of Payments, Etc . If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of set off or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Advances or funded participations in Letter of Credit Disbursements resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Advances and participations in Letter of Credit Disbursements and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by any other Lender of the applicable Class, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Advances and participations in Letter of Credit Disbursements of other Lenders of the applicable Class to the extent necessary so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders of the applicable Class ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Advances and participations in Letter of Credit Disbursements; provided that (i) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and (ii) the provisions of this Section 2.16 shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Advances or participations in Letter of Credit Disbursements to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section 2.16 shall apply). The Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of set off and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

 

52


SECTION 2.17. Notes . The Borrower agrees that upon notice by any Lender to the Borrower (with a copy of such notice to the Agent) to the effect that a promissory note or other evidence of indebtedness is required or appropriate in order for such Lender to evidence (whether for purposes of pledge, enforcement or otherwise) the Advances owing to, or to be made by, such Lender, the Borrower shall promptly execute and deliver to such Lender, with a copy to the Agent, a Revolving Note or an Incremental Term Note, as applicable, payable to such Lender.

SECTION 2.18. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders .

(a) Mitigation . If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.12 , or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any governmental authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.15 , then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Advances or Letter of Credit Disbursements hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the good faith judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.12 or 2.15 , as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

(b) Replacement of Lender . If (i) any Lender requests, or provides notice to the Borrower that it intends to request, compensation under Section 2.12 , (ii) the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any governmental authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.15 , (iii) any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, (iv) any Lender becomes a Non-Consenting Lender or (v) any Lender becomes a Declining Lender, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 8.07 ), all its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (A) the Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the Agent (and, if a Revolving Commitment is being assigned, each Issuing Bank), which consent, in each case, shall not unreasonably be withheld or delayed, (B) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal amount of its Advances and funded participations in Letter of Credit Disbursements, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal, funded participations and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts), (C) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.12 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.15 , such assignment will result in a material reduction in such compensation or payments, (D) in the case of any such assignment resulting from the status of such Lender as a Non-Consenting Lender, such assignment, together with any assignments by other Non-Consenting Lenders, will enable the Borrower to obtain sufficient consents to cause the applicable amendment, modification or waiver to become effective and (E) in the case of any such assignment resulting from the status of such Lender as a Declining Lender, the assignee of such Declining Lender is a Consenting Lender. A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

 

53


SECTION 2.19. Defaulting Lenders . Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the following provisions shall apply for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender:

(a) fees shall cease to accrue on the Revolving Commitment of such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.04(a) ;

(b) the unpaid principal amount of Revolving Advances and the Letter of Credit Exposure and the Incremental Term Loans and/or Incremental Term Commitments, as applicable, of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether the Required Lenders, the Required Revolving Lenders, the Required Incremental Term Lenders or the Super-Majority Lenders, as applicable, have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment, waiver or other modification pursuant to Section 8.01 ); provided , that this clause (b) shall not apply to the vote of a Defaulting Lender in the case of an amendment, waiver or other modification described in Section 8.01 for which the consent of such Lender or each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby is required;

(c) if any Letter of Credit Exposure exists at the time such Revolving Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender then:

(i) all or any part of the Letter of Credit Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall be reallocated among the non-Defaulting Revolving Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares but only to the extent that (x) the sum of all non-Defaulting Revolving Lenders’ unpaid principal amount of Revolving Advances plus such Defaulting Lender’s Letter of Credit Exposure does not exceed the total of all non-Defaulting Revolving Lenders’ Revolving Commitments as in effect at the time of such reallocation and (y) the conditions set forth in Section 3.02 are satisfied at such time;

(ii) if the reallocation described in clause (i)  above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrower shall within one Business Day following notice by the Agent, cash collateralize for the benefit of the Issuing Banks only the Borrower’s obligations corresponding to such Defaulting Lender’s Letter of Credit Exposure in an amount equal to the aggregate amount of the unreallocated obligations of such Defaulting Lender in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.03(h)(i) for so long as such Letter of Credit Exposure is outstanding; provided that neither any such reallocation (partial or otherwise) described in clause (i)  above or this clause (ii) , nor any payment by a non-Defaulting Revolving Lender pursuant thereto will constitute a waiver or release of any claim the Borrower, the Agent, the Issuing Banks or any other Lender may have against such Defaulting Lender or cause such Defaulting Lender to be a non-Defaulting Revolving Lender;

 

54


(iii) if the Borrower cash collateralizes any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s Letter of Credit Exposure pursuant to clause (ii)  above, the Borrower shall not be required to pay any fees to such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.04(b) with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s Letter of Credit Exposure during the period such Defaulting Lender’s Letter of Credit Exposure is cash collateralized;

(iv) if the Letter of Credit Exposures of the non-Defaulting Revolving Lenders are reallocated pursuant to clause (i)  above, then the fees payable to the Revolving Lenders pursuant to Section 2.04(b) shall be adjusted in accordance with such non-Defaulting Revolving Lenders’ Pro Rata Shares; and

(v) if all or any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s Letter of Credit Exposure is neither reallocated nor cash collateralized pursuant to clause (i)  or (ii)  above, then, without prejudice to any rights or remedies of the Issuing Banks or any other Lender hereunder, all facility fees that otherwise would have been payable to such Defaulting Lender under Section 2.04(a) (solely with respect to the portion of such Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Commitment that was utilized by such Letter of Credit Exposure) and Letter of Credit participation fees payable under Section 2.04(b)(i) with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s Letter of Credit Exposure shall be payable to the Issuing Banks, ratably based on the portion of such Letter of Credit Exposure attributable to Letters of Credit issued by each Issuing Bank, until and to the extent that such Letter of Credit Exposure is reallocated and/or cash collateralized pursuant to clause (i)  or (ii)  above; and

(d) so long as such Revolving Lender is a Defaulting Lender, no Issuing Bank shall be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless it is satisfied that the related exposure and the Defaulting Lender’s then outstanding Letter of Credit Exposure will be 100% covered by the Letter of Credit Commitments of the non-Defaulting Revolving Lenders and/or cash collateral will be provided by the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.19(c)(ii) , and participating interests in any newly issued or increased Letter of Credit shall be allocated among non-Defaulting Revolving Lenders in a manner consistent with Section 2.19(c)(i) (and such Defaulting Lender shall not participate therein).

If a Bankruptcy Event with respect to any Lender Parent of a Revolving Lender shall occur following the date hereof and for so long as such event shall continue, no Issuing Bank shall be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless such Issuing Bank shall have entered into arrangements with the Borrower or such Revolving Lender, reasonably satisfactory to the Issuing Bank to defease any risk to it in respect of such Revolving Lender hereunder.

In the event that the Agent, the Borrower and each Issuing Bank each agree that a Defaulting Lender has adequately remedied all matters that caused any such Revolving Lender to be a Defaulting Lender, then the Letter of Credit Exposures of the Revolving Lenders shall be readjusted to reflect the inclusion of such Revolving Lender’s Letter of Credit Commitment and on such date such Revolving Lender shall purchase at par such of the Revolving Advances of the other Revolving Lenders as the Agent shall determine may be necessary in order for such Revolving Lender to hold such Revolving Advances in accordance with its Pro Rata Share, whereupon such Revolving Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while such Revolving Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided further that no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Revolving Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim the Borrower, the Agent, the Issuing Banks or any other Revolving Lender may have arising from such Revolving Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

 

55


SECTION 2.20. Incremental Term Loans

(a) The Borrower shall have the right from time to time during the term of this Agreement, and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 2.20 , to request in writing incremental term loans (the “ Incremental Term Loans ”) be made under this Agreement by Incremental Term Lenders pursuant to one or more Incremental Term Loan Agreements, which Incremental Term Loans may or may not by their terms, at the election of the Borrower, automatically increase the aggregate amount of the Revolving Commitments of the Incremental Term Lenders upon any prepayment thereof in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or capital expenditure as provided in Sections 2.05(f) and 5.13(d) ; provided that no such Incremental Term Loan may by its terms provide for an automatic increase in the aggregate amount of the Revolving Commitments if the sum of (x) the aggregate principal amount of such Incremental Term Loans, plus (y) the aggregate principal amounts of any other Incremental Term Loans made under this Agreement that by their terms automatically increase the aggregate amount of the Revolving Commitments upon any prepayment thereof in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or capital expenditure as provided in Sections 2.05(f) and 5.13(d) , plus (z) the aggregate amount of Commitment Increases then in effect, shall exceed $1,000,000,000. Such notice to the Agent shall set forth the date on which such Incremental Term Loans are requested to be made (which shall not be less than three (3) Business Days nor more than 60 days after the date of such notice (which time periods may be modified or waived at the discretion of the Agent)) and include the applicable completed Incremental Term Loan Agreement for such Incremental Term Loans as an attachment thereto. Each request by the Borrower for an Incremental Term Loan that automatically increases the aggregate amount of the Revolving Commitments upon any prepayment thereof in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or capital expenditure as provided in Sections 2.05(f) and 5.13(d) , is subject to the consent of the Agent and each Issuing Bank (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned) as to the identity of each Incremental Term Lender, but no consent of any Lender (other than any Lender providing an Incremental Term Loan pursuant to such request) is required to be obtained in connection with any such request.

(b) Any such Incremental Term Loans shall be made, at the option of the Borrower, by (x) one or more existing Lenders and/or (y) one or more financial institutions that is not an existing Lender (any such Lender or financial institution referred to in this Section 2.20(b) being called an “ Incremental Term Lender ”); provided that any such Lender or financial institution (A) may not be an Ineligible Assignee, (B) must have an Incremental Term Loan of at least $5,000,000 unless otherwise agreed to by the Agent and the Borrower and (C) must become an Incremental Term Lender under this Agreement by execution and delivery of an Incremental Term Loan Agreement; provided , further , that no Lender shall be required to become an Incremental Term Lender and any Lender or financial institution approached to provide an Incremental Term Loan may elect or decline, in its sole discretion, to provide such Incremental Term Loan.

 

56


(c) The Borrower and each Incremental Term Lender that has agreed to provide an Incremental Term Loan pursuant to such request shall execute and deliver to the Agent an Incremental Term Loan Agreement and such other documentation as the Agent shall reasonably specify to provide for the requested Incremental Term Loans.

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Incremental Term Loan Agreement shall become effective and no Incremental Term Loans shall be provided under this Section 2.20 unless:

(i) no Default or Event of Default shall exist at the time of the request or at the time of the making of the proposed Incremental Term Loans;

(ii) all conditions precedent for a Borrowing set forth in Section 3.02(a) have been satisfied;

(iii) the Borrower shall have provided Cash Collateral as required pursuant to Section 5.13 hereof and the Agent shall have received copies of the Collateral Documents or any amendments thereto that the Agent shall deem reasonably necessary, signed, to the extent applicable, by each of the parties thereto (or, in the case of any party as to which an executed counterpart shall not have been received, receipt by the Agent of telegraphic, telecopy, electronic communication or other written confirmation from such party of execution of a counterpart thereof by such party), in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent;

(iv) the Agent shall have received customary legal opinions, resolutions and closing certificates and other documentation as it shall reasonably request, in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent; and

(v) to the extent requested by any Incremental Term Lender making an Incremental Term Loan, the Borrower shall have executed and delivered Incremental Term Notes in favor of such Incremental Term Lenders evidencing such Incremental Term Loans, each in substantially the form of Exhibit A-2 hereto.

ARTICLE III

CONDITIONS TO EFFECTIVENESS AND LENDING

SECTION 3.01. Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness of Sections 2.01 and 2.03 . Sections 2.01 and 2.03 of this Agreement shall become effective on and as of the first date (the “ Effective Date ”) on which the following conditions precedent have been satisfied.

(a) The Agent shall have received on or before the Effective Date the following, each dated such day, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent:

(i) counterparts hereof signed by each of the parties hereto (or, in the case of any party as to which an executed counterpart shall not have been received, receipt by the Agent of telegraphic, telecopy, electronic communication or other written confirmation from such party of execution of a counterpart hereof by such party);

 

57


(ii) the Notes payable to the Lenders, respectively, requesting same;

(iii) (A) an opinion of the internal legal counsel to the Borrower, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, and (B) an opinion of Bracewell & Giuliani LLP, special counsel for the Borrower, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Agent;

(iv) certified copies of the resolutions of the Board of Directors or similar governing body of the Ultimate General Partner (in its capacity as general partner of the General Partner, in its capacity as general partner of the Borrower) and the General Partner (in its capacity as general partner of the Borrower) approving this Agreement and the Notes, and of all documents evidencing other necessary corporate or other similar action and governmental approvals, if any, with respect to this Agreement and the Notes;

(v) a certificate signed by the Chief Financial Officer or the Treasurer of the Ultimate General Partner (in its capacity as general partner of the General Partner, in its capacity as general partner of the Borrower), dated the Effective Date, to the effects set forth in clauses (a)  and (b)  of Section 3.02 ;

(vi) a certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Ultimate General Partner (in its capacity as general partner of the General Partner, in its capacity as general partner of the Borrower) certifying the names and true signatures of the officers of the Ultimate General Partner (in its capacity as general partner of the General Partner, in its capacity as general partner of the Borrower) authorized to sign this Agreement and the Notes and the other documents to be delivered hereunder; and

(vii) all documents the Agent may have reasonably requested prior to the date hereof relating to the existence of the Borrower, the corporate authority for and the validity of this Agreement and the Notes, and any other matters relevant hereto.

(b) The First Closing Transactions shall, contemporaneously with the Effective Date, be consummated in accordance with the terms set forth in the Contribution Agreement.

(c) The Agent and the Joint Lead Arrangers shall have received all fees and other amounts due and payable to them on or prior to the Effective Date, including reimbursement or payment of all reasonable and invoiced out-of-pocket fees, charges and expenses of a single counsel and of a single local counsel to the Agent and the Joint Lead Arrangers in each appropriate jurisdiction (which may include a single special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions) and such other counsel retained with the Borrower’s prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrower hereunder.

(d) The Lenders shall have received, to the extent requested, all documentation and other information reasonably requested by the Lenders or the Agent under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act.

 

58


The Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the Effective Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding.

SECTION 3.02. Conditions Precedent to Each Borrowing and Letter of Credit Issuance or Extension . The obligation of each Lender to make an Advance on the occasion of each Borrowing, and the obligation of each Issuing Bank to issue or to extend the expiry date of a Letter of Credit, shall be subject to the conditions precedent that the Effective Date shall have occurred or shall occur simultaneously with such Borrowing, issuance or extension and on the date of such Borrowing or Letter of Credit issuance or extension the following statements shall be true (and each of the giving of the applicable Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Issuance, and the acceptance by the Borrower of the proceeds of any such Borrowing, shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower that on the date of such Borrowing, or such issuance or extension of a Letter of Credit, such statements are true):

(a) the representations and warranties contained in Section 4.01 (except the representations set forth in Section 4.01(d)(iii) , Section 4.01(f) and Section 4.01(g) ( provided that, in the case of Section 4.01(g) , the exception shall apply solely with respect to Environmental Laws), each of which shall be made only on and as of the Effective Date) are correct on and as of the Effective Date and are correct in all material respects (except for those representations and warranties qualified by “materiality,” “Material Adverse Effect” or a like qualification, which shall be correct in all respects) on the date of such Borrowing or Letter of Credit issuance or extension, before and after giving effect to such Borrowing and the application of the proceeds thereof or to such Letter of Credit issuance or extension, as though made on and as of such date (except for those representations and warranties that specifically relate to a prior date, which shall have been correct on such prior date); and

(b) no event has occurred and is continuing, or would result from such Borrowing or from the application of the proceeds therefrom or from the issuance or extension of such Letter of Credit, that constitutes a Default or an Event of Default.

ARTICLE IV

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

SECTION 4.01. Representations and Warranties . The Borrower represents and warrants that:

(a) Organization and Power . The Borrower is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of Delaware and has all requisite powers and all material governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals required to carry on its business as now conducted and is duly qualified to do business in each jurisdiction where such qualification is required, except where the failure so to qualify would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Company and Governmental Authorization; No Contravention . The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement and the Notes are within the Borrower’s limited partnership powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary limited partnership action, and do not (i) require any action by or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency or official, (ii) contravene, or constitute a default under, any

 

59


provision of applicable law or regulation or of the certificate of limited partnership or agreement of limited partnership of the Borrower, (iii) contravene, or constitute a default under, any agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon the Borrower, except to the extent such contravention or default could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (iv) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, other than any Lien that is required by this Agreement.

(c) Binding Effect . This Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Borrower and each Note, if and when executed and delivered in accordance with this Agreement, will constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower, in each case enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as the same may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors rights generally and by general principles of equity.

(d) Financial Information .

(i) The consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2012 and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, cash flows and partners’ capital for the fiscal year then ended, reported on by Deloitte & Touche LLP, fairly present, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, the consolidated financial position of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of such date and their consolidated results of operations and cash flows for such fiscal year.

(ii) The unaudited consolidated balance sheets of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of March 31, 2013 and June 30, 2013, and the related unaudited consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, cash flows and partners’ capital for the three and six months then ended, respectively, fairly present, in conformity with GAAP, the consolidated financial position of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of such dates and their consolidated results of operations and changes in financial position for such three-month and six-month period, subject to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

(iii) There has been no Material Adverse Change since December 31, 2012.

(e) Regulation U . The Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries are not engaged in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), and no proceeds of any Borrowing or any Letter of Credit will be used, whether directly or indirectly, to purchase or carry any margin stock or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin stock in any such case that would cause a violation of such Regulation U. Not more than 25% of the value of the assets of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries is represented by margin stock.

 

60


(f) Litigation . Except as disclosed in the Borrower’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, and the Borrower’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2013 and June 30, 2013, there is no action, suit or proceeding (including, without limitation, any Environmental Action) pending against, or to the knowledge of the Borrower threatened against or affecting, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries before any court or arbitrator or any governmental body, agency or official that would be likely to be decided adversely to the Borrower or such Subsidiary and, as a result, have a Material Adverse Effect.

(g) Compliance with Laws . The Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws, ordinances, rules, regulations and requirements of governmental authorities (including, without limitation, ERISA and Environmental Laws) except where (i) non-compliance would not have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) the necessity of compliance therewith is contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings.

(h) Taxes . The Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries have filed all United States Federal income tax returns and all other material tax returns that are required to be filed by them and have paid all taxes due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary except (i) where nonpayment or failure to file would not have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) where the same are contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of taxes or other governmental charges are, in the opinions of the Borrower, adequate.

(i) Investment Company Status . Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is an “investment company” as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

(j) Disclosure . Neither the Information Memorandum (including the information incorporated therein by reference) nor any of the other reports, financial statements, certificates or other written information furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower, to the Agent or any Lender in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished), when taken as a whole and when so furnished, contains any material misstatement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed by the Borrower to be reasonable at the time prepared.

(k) Unrestricted Subsidiaries . As of the Effective Date, there are no Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

 

61


ARTICLE V

COVENANTS OF THE BORROWER

SECTION 5.01. Information . The Borrower will deliver to the Agent:

(a) as soon as available and in any event within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal year and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, cash flows and partners’ capital for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all reported on in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission by Deloitte & Touche LLP or other independent public accountants of nationally recognized standing;

(b) as soon as available and in any event within 60 days after the end of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower, commencing with the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2013, a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of such quarter and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, cash flows and partners’ capital for such quarter and for the portion of the Borrower’s fiscal year ended at the end of such quarter, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding quarter and the corresponding portion of the Borrower’s previous fiscal year, all certified (subject to normal year-end adjustments) as to fairness of presentation, application of GAAP and consistency by an Approved Officer;

(c) simultaneously with the delivery of each set of financial statements referred to in clauses (a)  and (b)  above, a certificate of an Approved Officer (i) setting forth in reasonable detail the calculations required to establish whether the Borrower was in compliance with the requirements of Section 5.11(a) on the date of such financial statements and (ii) stating whether any Default or Event of Default exists on the date of such certificate and, if any Default or Event of Default then exists, setting forth the details thereof and the action that the Borrower is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto;

(d) within five days after any officer of the Ultimate General Partner (in its capacity as general partner of the General Partner, in its capacity as general partner of the Borrower) with responsibility relating thereto obtains knowledge of any Default or Event of Default, if such Default or Event of Default is then continuing, a certificate of an Approved Officer setting forth the details thereof and the action that the Borrower is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto;

(e) promptly upon the filing thereof, copies of all registration statements (other than the exhibits thereto and any registration statements on Form S-8 or its equivalent) and reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K (or their equivalents) that the Borrower shall have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission;

(f) if and when any member of the ERISA Group (i) gives or is required to give notice to the PBGC of any “reportable event” (as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA) with respect to any Material Plan that might constitute grounds for a termination of such Plan under Title IV of ERISA, or has knowledge that the plan administrator of any Material Plan has given or is required to give notice of any such reportable event, a copy of the notice of such reportable event given or required to be given to the PBGC; (ii) receives notice of complete or partial withdrawal liability under Title IV of ERISA or notice that any Material Plan is in reorganization or “critical status” (within the meaning of Section 305 of ERISA), is insolvent or has been terminated, a copy of such notice; (iii) receives notice from the PBGC under Title IV of ERISA of an intent to terminate, impose material liability (other than for premiums under Section 4007 of ERISA) in respect of, or appoint a trustee to administer any Plan, a copy of such notice; (iv)

 

62


applies for a waiver of the minimum funding standard under Section 430 of the Internal Revenue Code, a copy of such application; (v) gives notice of intent to terminate any Material Plan under Section 4041(c) of ERISA, a copy of such notice and other information filed with the PBGC; (vi) gives notice of withdrawal from any Material Plan pursuant to Section 4063 of ERISA, a copy of such notice; or (vii) fails to make any payment or contribution to any Material Plan or makes any amendment to any Material Plan that, in each case, has resulted or could result in the imposition of a Lien or the posting of a bond or other security, a certificate of the chief financial officer or the chief accounting officer of the Ultimate General Partner (in its capacity as general partner of the General Partner, in its capacity as general partner of the Borrower) setting forth details as to such occurrence and action, if any, which the Borrower or applicable member of the ERISA Group is required or proposes to take; and

(g) from time to time such additional information regarding the financial position or business of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries (including, if requested, information as to the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries on a stand-alone basis) as the Agent, at the request of any Lender, may reasonably request.

Information required to be delivered pursuant to Sections 5.01(a) , 5.01(b) and 5.01(e) shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date on which such information has been posted by the Borrower on the Securities and Exchange Commission website on the Internet at sec.gov/edaux/searches.htm, on the Borrower’s IntraLinks site at intralinks.com or on another website identified in a notice provided to the Lenders and accessible by the Lenders without charge.

SECTION 5.02. Payment of Taxes . The Borrower will pay and discharge, and the Borrower will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to pay and discharge, at or before maturity, all their tax liabilities, except where (i) nonpayment or failure to file would not have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) the same may be contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, and the Borrower will maintain, and the Borrower will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to maintain, in accordance with GAAP, appropriate reserves for the accrual of any of the same.

SECTION 5.03. Maintenance of Property; Insurance .

(a) The Borrower will keep, and the Borrower will cause each Material Restricted Subsidiary to keep, all property useful and necessary in its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) The Borrower will, and the Borrower will cause each of its Material Restricted Subsidiaries to, maintain (either in the name of the Borrower or in such Subsidiary’s own name) with financially sound and responsible insurance companies, insurance on all their respective properties in at least such amounts and against at least such risks (and with such risk retention) as are usually insured against by companies of established repute engaged in the same or a similar business; provided that self-insurance by the Borrower or any such Material Restricted Subsidiary shall not be deemed a violation of this covenant to the extent that such self-insurance is consistent with reasonable and prudent business practice; and will furnish to the Lenders, upon request from the Agent, information presented in reasonable detail as to the insurance so carried.

 

63


SECTION 5.04. Maintenance of Existence. The Borrower will preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect, and the Borrower will cause each Material Restricted Subsidiary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect their respective corporate or other legal existence and their respective rights, privileges and franchises material to the normal conduct of their respective businesses; provided that nothing in this Section 5.04 shall prohibit (i) any transaction permitted by Section 5.08 or (ii) the termination of any right, privilege or franchise of the Borrower or any Material Restricted Subsidiary or of the corporate or other legal existence of any Material Restricted Subsidiary or the change in form of organization of the Borrower or any Material Restricted Subsidiary if the Borrower in good faith determines that such termination or change is in the best interest of the Borrower, is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders and, in the case of a change in the form of organization of the Borrower, the Agent has consented thereto (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

SECTION 5.05. Compliance with Laws . The Borrower will comply, and the Borrower will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to comply, in all material respects with all applicable laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, and requirements of governmental authorities (including, without limitation, ERISA and Environmental Laws) except where (i) noncompliance would not have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) the necessity of compliance therewith is contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings.

SECTION 5.06. Books and Records . The Borrower will keep, and the Borrower will cause each Material Restricted Subsidiary to keep, proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries shall be made of all financial transactions in relation to its business and activities in accordance with its customary practices; and the Borrower will permit, and the Borrower will cause each Material Restricted Subsidiary to permit, representatives of any Lender at such Lender’s expense (accompanied by a representative of the Borrower, if the Borrower so desires) to visit any of their respective properties, to examine any of their respective books and records and to discuss their respective affairs, finances and accounts with their respective officers, employees and independent public accountants, all upon such reasonable notice, at such reasonable times and as often as may reasonably be desired provided that such visits shall not occur more than one time per year unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

SECTION 5.07. Negative Pledge . The Borrower will not, and the Borrower will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, create, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on any asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it, except:

(a) Liens existing on the date of this Agreement granted by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and securing Indebtedness or other obligations outstanding on the date of this Agreement;

(b) any Lien on any asset of any Person existing at the time such Person is merged or consolidated with or into the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and not created in contemplation of such event;

 

64


(c) any Lien existing on any asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and not created in contemplation of such acquisition;

(d) any Lien on any asset securing Indebtedness incurred or assumed for the purpose of financing all or any part of the cost of acquiring such asset; provided that such Lien attaches to such asset concurrently with or within 365 days after the acquisition thereof;

(e) any Lien arising out of the refinancing, extension, renewal or refunding of any Indebtedness or other obligations secured by any Lien otherwise permitted by any of the foregoing clauses of this Section 5.07 ; provided that the principal amount of such Indebtedness or the amount of such other obligation, as applicable, is not increased and is not secured by any additional assets;

(f) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges or levies not yet due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which adequate reserves or other appropriate provisions are being maintained in accordance with GAAP;

(g) statutory Liens of landlords and Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen and other Liens imposed by law, created in the ordinary course of business and for amounts not past due for more than 60 days or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings that are sufficient to prevent imminent foreclosure of such Liens, are promptly instituted and diligently conducted and with respect to which adequate reserves or other appropriate provisions are being maintained in accordance with GAAP;

(h) Liens incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of business (including, without limitation, surety bonds and appeal bonds) in connection with workers compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security benefits or to secure the performance of tenders, bids, leases, contracts (other than for the repayment of Indebtedness), statutory obligations and other similar obligations or arising as a result of progress payments under government contracts;

(i) easements (including, without limitation, reciprocal easement agreements and utility agreements), rights-of-way, covenants, consents, reservations, encroachments, variations and other restrictions, charges or encumbrances (whether or not recorded) affecting the use of real property;

(j) Liens with respect to judgments and attachments that do not result in an Event of Default;

(k) Liens, deposits or pledges to secure the performance of bids, tenders, contracts (other than contracts for the payment of money), leases (permitted under the terms of this Agreement), public or statutory obligations, surety, stay, appeal, indemnity, performance or other obligations arising in the ordinary course of business;

(l) other Liens, including Liens imposed by Environmental Laws, arising in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary that (i) do not secure Indebtedness, (ii) do not secure obligations in an aggregate amount exceeding $100,000,000 at any time at which Investment Grade Status does not exist as to the Borrower, and (iii) do not in the aggregate materially detract from the value of the assets of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary or materially impair the use thereof in the operation of its business;

 

65


(m) Liens required pursuant to the terms of this Agreement;

(n) Liens on Permitted Cash Collateral securing only Cash Collateralized Term Loans;

(o) Liens on and pledges of the Equity Securities of any joint venture owned by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any such joint venture that is a Consolidated Subsidiary) to the extent securing Indebtedness of such joint venture that is non-recourse to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(p) bankers’ Liens, rights of setoff and other similar Liens existing solely with respect to cash and cash equivalents on deposit in one or more accounts maintained by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, in each case granted in the ordinary course of business in favor of the bank or banks with which such accounts are maintained, securing amounts owing to such bank with respect to cash management and operating account arrangements, including those involving pooled accounts and netting arrangements;

(q) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business to secure liability for premiums to insurance carriers or to maintain self-insurance;

(r) Liens in favor of the Borrower or any of its wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiaries;

(s) rights of first refusal entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(t) any letter of credit issued for the account of the Borrower or any of its Affiliates to secure Indebtedness under tax free financings; and

(u) Liens not otherwise permitted by the foregoing clauses of this Section 5.07 securing obligations in an aggregate principal or face amount at any date not to exceed 15% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets; provided , for the purposes of this Section 5.07(u) , with respect to any such secured Indebtedness of a non-wholly owned Subsidiary of the Borrower with no recourse to the Borrower or any wholly-owned Subsidiary thereof, only that portion of such Indebtedness reflecting the Borrower’s pro rata ownership interest therein shall be included in calculating compliance herewith.

SECTION 5.08. Consolidations, Mergers and Dispositions of Assets .

(a) The Borrower will not (i) consolidate or merge with or into any other Person or (ii) sell, lease or otherwise transfer, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of its assets to any Person; provided that the Borrower may merge with another Person if the Borrower is the entity surviving such merger and, after giving effect thereto, no Event of Default or Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

 

66


(b) The Borrower will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to consolidate or merge with any other Person (except with the Borrower or another Restricted Subsidiary, but subject to the provisions of Section 5.08(a) ) or sell all or substantially all of their respective assets (except to the Borrower or another Restricted Subsidiary) if, after giving effect thereto, (i) any Event of Default or Default shall have occurred and be continuing or (ii) such consolidation, merger or sale of assets, taken as a whole together with all other consolidations, mergers and sales of assets by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries since the Effective Date, shall result in the disposition by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries of assets in an amount that would constitute all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, as of the most recently completed fiscal quarter.

SECTION 5.09. Use of Proceeds . The proceeds of the Revolving Advances made under this Agreement will be used by the Borrower for its and its Subsidiaries’ general company purposes, including liquidity support for outstanding commercial paper and acquisitions. The proceeds of any Incremental Term Loans will be used by the Borrower for the purposes set forth in the applicable Incremental Term Loan Agreement. None of such proceeds will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose, whether immediate, incidental or ultimate, of buying or carrying any “margin stock” within the meaning of Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

SECTION 5.10. Transactions with Affiliates . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, pay any funds to or for the account of, make any investment in, lease, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any assets, tangible or intangible, to, or participate in, or effect, any transaction with, any Affiliate (other than the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary) unless such transaction is on terms and conditions reasonably fair to the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary in the good faith judgment of the Borrower; provided that the foregoing provisions of this Section 5.10 shall not prohibit the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary from (i) declaring or making any lawful distribution so long as, after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or result therefrom, (ii) issuing and maintaining letters of credit, guaranties and sureties as contingent obligations on behalf of Affiliates, (iii) making any Permitted Drop-Down Acquisition, (iv) the payment of funds and making of capital contributions, loans and other transfers of money to Affiliates or to other Persons on behalf of such Affiliates, including payments made under letters of credit, guaranties and surety bonds issued and maintained on behalf of Affiliates, provided that the aggregate amount for all such payments and transfers referred to in this clause (iv) does not exceed $100,000,000 at any time outstanding (calculated at such time after giving effect to any repayments to the Borrower by, or on behalf of, such Affiliates for any such payment of funds and making of capital contributions, loans and other transfers of money), (v) any transaction permitted by Section 5.08(a) or by either of the parenthetical provisions in Section 5.08(b) or (vi) engaging in any transaction with an Affiliate if such transaction has been approved by the Conflicts Committee.

SECTION 5.11. Consolidated Leverage Ratio .

(a) The Consolidated Leverage Ratio, as at the end of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower (beginning with the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2013), shall be less than or equal to 5.00 to 1.0; provided that subsequent to the consummation of a Qualified Acquisition, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio, as at the end of the three consecutive fiscal quarters following such Qualified Acquisition, shall be less than or equal to 5.50 to 1.0.

 

67


(b) For purposes of calculating compliance with the financial covenant set forth in Section 5.11(a) :

(i) with respect to all Permitted Acquisitions on or subsequent to the Effective Date, Consolidated EBITDA with respect to such newly acquired assets shall be calculated on a pro forma basis as if such acquisition had occurred at the beginning of the applicable twelve-month period of determination; provided , that with respect to all Permitted Acquisitions with limited or no prior operating history (or with a prior operating history that does not reliably indicate future operating results), Consolidated EBITDA shall be deemed to be the amount approved by the Agent as the projected Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries attributable to such Permitted Acquisition for the first twelve-month period following such Permitted Acquisition (such amount to be determined based on customer contracts relating to such Permitted Acquisition, the creditworthiness of the other parties to such contracts, and projected revenues from such contracts, capital costs and expenses, oil and gas reserve and production estimates, commodity price assumptions and other reasonable factors deemed appropriate by the Agent); and

(ii) Consolidated EBITDA may include, at the Borrower’s option, any Qualified Project EBITDA Adjustments as provided in the definition thereof.

SECTION 5.12. Designation of Subsidiaries . The Board of Directors or similar governing body of the Ultimate General Partner (in its capacity as general partner of the General Partner, in its capacity as general partner of the Borrower) may at any time designate any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (i) immediately before and after such designation, no Event of Default or Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (ii) immediately after giving effect to such designation, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be in compliance, on a pro forma basis, with Section 5.11(a) (as though the effective date of such designation were the last day of a fiscal quarter of the Borrower) and, as a condition precedent to the effectiveness of such designation, the Borrower shall deliver to the Agent a certificate of the Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer or Controller of the Ultimate General Partner (in its capacity as general partner of the General Partner, in its capacity as general partner of the Borrower) setting forth in reasonable detail the calculations demonstrating such compliance), (iii) no Restricted Subsidiary may be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary if it was previously designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary, (iv) no Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary may be designated as a Restricted Subsidiary, (v) no Subsidiary that owns any Equity Securities or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Lien on, any property of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated), may be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary, (vi) each Subsidiary to be so designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, and its Subsidiaries, has not at the time of designation, and does not thereafter, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable with respect to any Indebtedness pursuant to which the lender or other creditor has recourse to any assets of the Borrower or any Restricted

 

68


Subsidiary other than the Equity Securities in such Unrestricted Subsidiary and its Subsidiaries, and (vii) no primary operating Subsidiary of the Borrower may be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary. The designation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary shall constitute the incurrence at the time of designation of any Indebtedness or Liens of such Subsidiary existing at such time. If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary fails to meet the preceding requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it will thereafter automatically cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary and shall constitute a Restricted Subsidiary for all purposes of this Agreement, and (among other things) any Indebtedness and Liens of such Subsidiary will be deemed to be incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower as of such date.

SECTION 5.13. Cash Collateral .

(a) The Borrower shall, prior to the initial borrowing of any Incremental Term Loans, establish one or more Cash Collateral Accounts and enter into one or more Account Control Agreements and shall thereafter maintain such Cash Collateral Accounts and keep the Account Control Agreements in full force and effect at all times that any portion of the Incremental Term Loans shall remain outstanding.

(b) The Borrower shall, at all times, maintain Cash Collateral in the Cash Collateral Accounts with a value greater than or equal to the following (the “ Required Collateral Amount ”): the greater of (i) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Incremental Term Loans made under this Agreement pursuant to Section 2.20 and (ii) such other amount agreed to by the Incremental Term Lenders and the Borrower in any Incremental Term Loan Agreement.

(c) If, at any time, the Required Collateral Amount for any Series of Incremental Term Loans exceeds the value of the Cash Collateral for such Series of Incremental Term Loans, the Borrower shall immediately deposit additional Cash Collateral into the appropriate Cash Collateral Account to eliminate such excess. In accordance with the terms of the applicable Account Control Agreements, the Borrower shall direct the investment of items deposited into the applicable Cash Collateral Account. The Borrower shall treat all income, gains or losses from the investment of items in the Cash Collateral Accounts as its own income or loss, and the Agent and the Lenders shall have no liability for any such gain or loss.

(d) The Borrower shall be permitted to liquidate and/or withdraw Cash Collateral from any Cash Collateral Account to fund a Permitted Acquisition or capital expenditure; provided , that concurrently with such liquidation or withdrawal (i) if the terms of the Incremental Term Loans secured by such Cash Collateral provide that the aggregate amount of the Revolving Commitments shall automatically increase pursuant to Section 2.05(f) upon any prepayment of such Incremental Term Loans in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or capital expenditure, then the Revolving Commitments of the applicable Incremental Term Lenders shall be automatically increased (without the consent of the Lenders), (ii) in connection with any automatic increase in the Revolving Commitments pursuant to clause (i)  above, a Revolving Advance shall be made by the Revolving Lenders (including by the applicable Incremental Term Lenders) to the Borrower, (iii) the proceeds of such Revolving Advance made pursuant to clause (ii)  above, or other cash, shall be applied by the Borrower to prepay the principal amount of the applicable Incremental Term Loans in an amount equal to the amount of Cash Collateral liquidated or withdrawn, and (iv) after such liquidation or withdrawal, the value of the Cash Collateral shall be greater than or equal to the Required Collateral Amount, as calculated after giving effect to such prepayment of the Incremental Term Loans. In the event that the Borrower shall elect to make such a withdrawal, the Agent shall direct the applicable Intermediary to liquidate the applicable Cash Collateral and remit the proceeds to the Borrower.

 

69


(e) If, at the end of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower, the value of the Cash Collateral exceeds the Required Collateral Amount, then, upon the request of the Borrower, provided no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Agent shall direct the applicable Intermediary to pay and transfer to the Borrower cash, to the extent available, from the appropriate Cash Collateral Account in an amount equal to such excess.

(f) To secure the prompt payment in full when due, whether by lapse of time, acceleration or otherwise, of the Incremental Term Loans made under this Agreement pursuant to Section 2.20 , the Borrower hereby grants to the Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Incremental Term Lenders providing such Incremental Term Loans, a continuing security interest in, and a right to set off against, any and all right, title and interest of the Borrower in and to the Cash Collateral Accounts and the Cash Collateral and all other amounts maintained in the Cash Collateral Accounts.

ARTICLE VI

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

SECTION 6.01. Events of Default . If any of the following events (“ Events of Default ”) shall occur and be continuing:

(a) (i) the Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Advance or any reimbursement for Letter of Credit Disbursements when the same becomes due and payable, or (ii) the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Advance or make any other payment of fees or other amounts payable under this Agreement or any Note within five Business Days after the same becomes due and payable; or

(b) any representation or warranty made by the Borrower herein or by the Borrower (or any of its officers or any of the officers of the Ultimate General Partner (in its capacity as general partner of the General Partner, in its capacity as general partner of the Borrower)) in connection with this Agreement shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made; or

(c) (i) the Borrower shall fail to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in Section 5.01(d) , 5.04 , 5.07 , 5.08 , 5.11(a) or the third sentence of Section 5.09 , (ii) the Borrower shall fail to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in Section 5.13 on its part to be performed or observed if such failure shall remain unremedied for 5 days after written notice thereof shall have been given to the Borrower by the Agent at the request of any Incremental Term Lender or (iii) the Borrower shall fail to perform or observe any other term, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement on its part to be performed or observed if such failure shall remain unremedied for 30 days after written notice thereof shall have been given to the Borrower by the Agent at the request of any Lender; or

 

70


(d) (i) the Borrower or any of its Material Restricted Subsidiaries shall fail to pay any principal of or premium or interest on any Indebtedness that is outstanding in a principal or notional amount of at least $175,000,000 in the aggregate (but excluding Indebtedness outstanding hereunder) of the Borrower or such Material Restricted Subsidiary (as the case may be), when the same becomes due and payable (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise), and such failure shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in the agreement or instrument relating to such Indebtedness; or (ii) any such Indebtedness shall be declared to be due and payable, or required to be prepaid or redeemed (other than by a regularly scheduled required prepayment or redemption), purchased or defeased, or an offer to prepay, redeem, purchase or defease such Indebtedness shall be required to be made, in each case prior to the stated maturity thereof; or

(e) the Borrower or any of its Material Restricted Subsidiaries shall generally not pay its debts as such debts become due, or shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally, or shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or any proceeding shall be instituted by or against the Borrower or any of its Material Restricted Subsidiaries seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking liquidation, winding up, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, protection, relief, or composition of it or its debts under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors, or seeking the entry of an order for relief or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for it or for any substantial part of its property and, in the case of any such proceeding instituted against it (but not instituted by it), either such proceeding shall remain undismissed or unstayed for a period of 90 days, or any of the actions sought in such proceeding (including, without limitation, the entry of an order for relief against, or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for, it or for any substantial part of its property) shall occur; or the Borrower or any of its Material Restricted Subsidiaries shall take any corporate or other equivalent action to authorize any of the actions set forth above in this subsection (e) ; or

(f) judgments or orders for the payment of money in excess of $175,000,000 in the aggregate shall be rendered against the Borrower or any of its Material Restricted Subsidiaries and either (i) enforcement proceedings shall have been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order or (ii) there shall be any period of 45 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment or order, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, shall not be in effect; or

(g) (i) the Ultimate Parent shall cease to own, directly or indirectly, a majority of the Voting Stock of the General Partner; (ii) the General Partner shall cease to be the general partner of the Borrower; (iii) any Person or two or more Persons acting in concert shall have acquired beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), directly or indirectly, of Voting Stock of the Ultimate Parent (or other Equity Securities convertible into such Voting Stock) representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of all Voting Stock of the Ultimate Parent; or (iv) during any period of up to 12 consecutive months, commencing after the Effective Date, individuals who at the beginning of such 12-month period (together with any successors appointed or nominated by such directors in the ordinary course) were directors of the Ultimate Parent shall cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the Board of Directors of the Ultimate Parent; or

 

71


(h) any member of the ERISA Group shall fail to pay when due an amount or amounts aggregating in excess of $25,000,000 which it shall have become liable to pay to the PBGC or to a Plan under Title IV of ERISA; or notice of intent to terminate a Plan or Plans having aggregate Unfunded Vested Liabilities in excess of $50,000,000 (collectively, a “ Material Plan ”) shall be filed under Title IV of ERISA by any member of the ERISA Group, any plan administrator or any combination of the foregoing; or the PBGC shall institute proceedings under Title IV of ERISA to terminate or to cause a trustee to be appointed to administer any Material Plan or a proceeding shall be instituted by a fiduciary of any Material Plan against any member of the ERISA Group to enforce Section 515 or 4219(c)(5) of ERISA and such proceeding shall not have been dismissed within 90 days thereafter; or a condition shall exist by reason of which the PBGC would be entitled to obtain a decree adjudicating that any Material Plan must be terminated;

then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to the Borrower described in Section 6.01(e) ), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Agent may with the consent of (A) the Super-Majority Lenders of the Revolving Lenders at such time, and at the request of such Super-Majority Revolving Lenders shall, by notice to the Borrower, take any or all of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate the Revolving Commitments, and thereupon the Revolving Commitments shall terminate immediately, (ii) exercise their rights and remedies under Section 2.03(h)(i) , and (iii) declare the Revolving Advances then outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in part, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable so long as, at the time of such later declaration, an Event of Default is continuing), and thereupon the principal of the Revolving Advances so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder, shall become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower; and (B) the Super-Majority Lenders, and at the request of such Super-Majority Lenders shall, by notice to the Borrower, take any or all of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate the Commitments, and thereupon the Commitments shall terminate immediately, (ii) exercise their rights and remedies under Section 2.03(h)(i) , and (iii) declare the Advances then outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in part, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable so long as, at the time of such later declaration, an Event of Default is continuing), and thereupon the principal of the Advances so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder, shall become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower; and in case of any event with respect to the Borrower described in Section 6.01(e) , all of the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal of all of the Advances then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder, shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower. In addition to the remedies set forth above, the Agent may exercise any other remedies provided by applicable law.

 

72


SECTION 6.02. Application of Proceeds . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, after the occurrence of an Event of Default, all amounts collected or received by the Agent or any Lender on account of amounts outstanding under this Agreement, the Notes and the other documents to be delivered hereunder shall be paid over or delivered in the following order:

FIRST, to the payment of all reasonable and invoiced out-of-pocket fees, charges and expenses of counsel retained by the Agent and the Lenders in connection with enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of this Agreement, the Notes and the other documents to be delivered hereunder pro rata as set forth below:

SECOND, to the payment of any fees and indemnities owed to the Agent;

THIRD, to the payment of any fees and indemnities owed to the Lenders, pro rata as set forth below;

FOURTH, to the payment of all accrued interest payable to the Revolving Lenders hereunder, pro rata as set forth below;

FIFTH, to the payment of the outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Advances and to the payment or cash collateralization of the aggregate Letter of Credit Exposures, pro rata, as set forth below;

SIXTH, to the payment of all accrued interest payable to the Incremental Term Lenders hereunder, pro rata as set forth below;

SEVENTH, to the payment of the outstanding principal amount of the Incremental Term Loans , pro rata, as set forth below;

EIGHTH, to all other obligations which shall have become due and payable under this Agreement, the Notes and the other documents to be delivered hereunder and not repaid pursuant to clauses “FIRST” through “SEVENTH” above; and

NINTH, to the payment of the surplus, if any, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by law;

provided , that all amounts collected from the proceeds of Cash Collateral shall be used to repay the Incremental Term Loans.

In carrying out the foregoing, (a) amounts received shall be applied in the numerical order provided until exhausted prior to application to the next succeeding category; (b) each of the Lenders in the applicable Class shall receive an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share, of amounts available to be applied; and (c) to the extent that any amounts available for distribution pursuant to clause “FIFTH” above are attributable to the issued but undrawn amount of outstanding Letters of Credit, such amounts shall be held by the Agent in a cash collateral account in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.03(h)(i) and applied (i) first, to reimburse the applicable Issuing Bank from time to time for any drawings under such Letters of Credit and (ii) then following the expiration of all Letters of Credit, to all other obligations of the types described in clauses “FIFTH”, “SIXTH”, “SEVENTH”, “EIGHTH” and “NINTH” above in the manner provided in this Section 6.02 .

 

73


ARTICLE VII

THE AGENT

SECTION 7.01. Authorization and Action . Each Lender hereby appoints and authorizes the Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers and discretion under this Agreement as are delegated to the Agent by the terms hereof, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto. As to any matters not expressly provided for by this Agreement (including, without limitation, enforcement or collection of the Notes), the Agent shall not be required to exercise any discretion or take any action, but shall be required to act or to refrain from acting (and shall be fully protected in so acting or refraining from acting) upon the instructions of the Required Lenders, the Required Revolving Lenders or the Required Incremental Term Lenders, as the case may be, and such instructions shall be binding upon all Lenders and all holders of Notes; provided , however , that the Agent shall not be required to take any action that exposes the Agent to personal liability or that is contrary to this Agreement or applicable law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (a) the Agent shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (b) the Agent shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated by this Agreement that the Agent is required to exercise in writing as directed by the Required Lenders, the Required Revolving Lenders or the Required Incremental Term Lenders, as the case may be (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 8.01 ), and (c) except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, the Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries that is communicated to or obtained by it or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. The Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default unless and until written notice thereof is given to the Agent by the Borrower or a Lender. The Agent agrees to promptly make available to each Lender all information delivered to the Agent pursuant to Section 5.01 , and the Agent agrees to give to each Lender prompt notice of each notice given to it by the Borrower pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

SECTION 7.02. Agent’s Reliance, Etc . Neither the Agent nor any of its directors, officers, agents or employees shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it or them under or in connection with this Agreement, except for its or their own gross negligence or willful misconduct. Without limitation of the generality of the foregoing, the Agent: (a) may treat the payee of any Note as the holder thereof until the Agent receives and accepts an Assignment and Acceptance entered into by the Lender that is the payee of such Note, as assignor, and an assignee, as provided in Section 8.07 ; (b) may consult with legal counsel (including counsel for the Borrower), independent public accountants and other experts selected by it and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts; (c) makes no warranty or representation to any Lender and shall not be responsible to any Lender for any statements, warranties or representations (whether written or oral) made in or in connection with this Agreement; (d) shall not have any duty to ascertain or to inquire as to the performance,

 

74


observance or satisfaction of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of this Agreement on the part of the Borrower or the existence at any time of any Default or to inspect the property (including the books and records) of the Borrower; (e) shall not be responsible to any Lender for the due execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of this Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto; and (f) shall incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement by acting upon any notice, consent, certificate or other instrument or writing (which may be by telecopier, telegram or electronic communication) believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent by the proper party or parties.

SECTION 7.03. Citi and Affiliates . With respect to its Commitment, the Advances made by it, the Note issued to it and any Letter of Credit issued by it, Citi shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Agent; and the terms “Lender”, “Lenders”, “Revolving Lender,” “Revolving Lenders”, “Incremental Term Lender”, “Incremental Term Lenders” “Issuing Bank” and “Issuing Banks” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated, include Citi in its individual capacity, as applicable. Citi and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as trustee under indentures of, accept investment banking engagements from and generally engage in any kind of business with, the Borrower, any of its Affiliates and any Person who may do business with or own Equity Securities of the Borrower or any such Affiliate, all as if Citi were not the Agent and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders. The Agent shall have no duty to disclose any information obtained or received by it or any of its Affiliates relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates to the extent such information was obtained or received in any capacity other than as Agent.

SECTION 7.04. Lender Credit Decision . Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Agent or any other Lender and based on the financial statements referred to in Section 4.01 and 5.01 and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement.

SECTION 7.05. Indemnification . The Lenders agree to indemnify the Agent and the Revolving Lenders agree to indemnify each Issuing Bank (in each case to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrower), ratably according to the respective principal amounts of the applicable Notes then held by each of them (or if no Notes are at the time outstanding or if any Notes are held by Persons that are not Lenders, ratably according to the respective amounts of their applicable Commitments or Advances), from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever that may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against the Agent or such Issuing Bank in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any action taken or omitted by the Agent or such Issuing Bank under this Agreement, IN ALL CASES, WHETHER OR NOT CAUSED BY OR ARISING, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, OUT OF THE COMPARATIVE, CONTRIBUTORY OR SOLE NEGLIGENCE OF THE AGENT (collectively, the “ Indemnified Costs ”), provided that no Lender shall be liable for any portion of the Indemnified Costs resulting from the Agent’s or such Issuing Bank’s gross negligence or

 

75


willful misconduct. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender agrees to reimburse the Agent and each Revolving Lender agrees to reimburse each Issuing Bank promptly upon demand for its ratable share of any out-of-pocket expenses (including counsel fees) incurred by the Agent or such Issuing Bank in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under, this Agreement, to the extent that the Agent or such Issuing Bank is not reimbursed for such expenses by the Borrower. In the case of any investigation, litigation or proceeding giving rise to any Indemnified Costs, this Section 7.05 applies whether any such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by the Agent, any Issuing Bank, any Lender or a third party.

SECTION 7.06. Successor Agent . The Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Lenders and the Borrower and may be removed at any time with or without cause by the Required Lenders. Upon any such resignation or removal, (i) the Borrower, with the consent of the Required Lenders (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall have the right to appoint a successor Agent or (ii) if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, then the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor Agent. If no successor Agent shall have been so appointed, and shall have accepted such appointment, within 30 days after the retiring Agent’s giving of notice of resignation or the Required Lenders’ removal of the retiring Agent (the “ Resignation Effective Date ”), then the retiring Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders and in consultation with the Borrower, appoint a successor Agent, which shall be a commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or of any State thereof and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $500,000,000. Whether or not a successor has been appointed, the Agent’s resignation shall become effective on the Resignation Effective Date. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Agent hereunder by a successor Agent, such successor Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, discretion, privileges and duties of the retiring Agent, and the retiring Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement provided that if such successor Agent shall have been appointed without the consent of the Borrower, such successor Agent may be replaced by the Borrower with the consent of the Required Lenders so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing. After any retiring Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder as Agent, the provisions of this Article VII shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Agent under this Agreement.

SECTION 7.07. Syndication Agents, Documentation Agents and Joint Lead Arrangers . The Syndication Agents, the Documentation Agents and the Joint Lead Arrangers, in their respective capacities as such, shall not have any duties or obligations of any kind under this Agreement.

SECTION 7.08. Sub-Agents . The Agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by it. The Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers through its respective Affiliates. The exculpatory provisions of the preceding paragraphs and the provisions of Section 8.04 shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Affiliates of the Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Agent.

 

76


ARTICLE VIII

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 8.01. Amendments, Etc.

(a) No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or the Notes, nor consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Required Lenders, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided , however , that no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by all the Lenders directly and adversely affected thereby, do any of the following: (a) waive any of the conditions specified in Section 3.01 , (b) increase or extend any Commitments of the Lenders except as provided in Section 2.05(d) , (e)  or (f) , (c) reduce the principal of, or interest on, the Notes, any Advance, any Letter of Credit Disbursement or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder, (d) postpone any date fixed for any payment of principal of, or interest on, the Notes, or the required date of reimbursement of any Letter of Credit Disbursement, or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder, except as provided in Section 2.05(e) , (e) change the percentage of any Commitments in a Class or of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Notes, or change the number of Lenders, that shall be required for the Lenders or any of them to take any action hereunder, (f) amend Section 6.02 , (g) amend this Section 8.01 or (h) modify Section 2.16 ; and provided further that no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Agent in addition to the Lenders required above to take such action, affect the rights or duties of the Agent under this Agreement or any Note; provided further that no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the applicable Issuing Bank in addition to the Lenders required above to take such action, affect the rights or duties of such Issuing Bank under this Agreement; and provided further that no amendment, waiver or consent to the provisions of Section 2.19 shall be effective unless in writing and signed by the Agent, each Issuing Bank and the Required Lenders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no consent with respect to any amendment, waiver or modification of this Agreement shall be required of any Defaulting Lender, except with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification referred to in clauses (b) , (c) , (d) , (e) , (f)  or (g)  of the first proviso of this paragraph and then only in the event such Defaulting Lender shall be directly and adversely affected by such amendment, waiver or modification.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 8.01(a) , this Agreement may be amended, restated, amended and restated or otherwise modified pursuant to any Incremental Term Loan Agreement with the written consent of the Agent ( provided that only the acknowledgment of the Agent (and not the consent of the Agent) shall be required with respect to any Incremental Term Loan Agreement that is substantially in the form of Exhibit F attached hereto and makes no modifications to this Agreement except for the matters specified in the form of Exhibit F attached hereto), the Borrower and the Incremental Term Lenders providing the Incremental Term Loans made under this Agreement pursuant to Section 2.20 , but without the consent of any other Lender, provided that such amendment, restatement, amendment and restatement or other modification is not directly adverse to any other Lender and shall not result in any change to the obligations of the Revolving Lenders under Section 2.03(e) to reimburse their Pro Rata Share of Unreimbursed Amounts, in each case to the extent necessary to reflect the existence and terms of the Incremental Term Loans evidenced thereby and to effect such

 

77


other changes (including, without limitation, changes to the provisions of Article II , Section 8.01(a) and the definition of “Required Lenders” to include appropriately the Incremental Term Lenders providing such Incremental Term Loans and any other definitions or provisions of this Agreement specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any rights under this Agreement or make any determination or grant any consent under this Agreement) as the Borrower and the Incremental Term Lenders providing such Incremental Term Loans (and to the extent there are modifications to this Agreement beyond the scope of the form of Incremental Term Loan Agreement as set forth in Exhibit F attached hereto, the Agent) shall deem reasonably necessary in connection with any such Incremental Term Loan Agreement; provided , further , that no Incremental Term Loan Agreement shall, unless in writing and signed by all the Lenders directly and adversely affected thereby, do any of the following: (a) waive any of the conditions specified in Section 3.01 , (b) increase or extend any Commitments of the Lenders except as provided in Section 2.05(d) , (e)  or (f) , (c) reduce the principal of, or interest on, the Notes, any Advance, any Letter of Credit Disbursement or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder, (d) postpone any date fixed for any payment of principal of, or interest on, the Notes, or the required date of reimbursement of any Letter of Credit Disbursement, or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder, except as provided in Section 2.05(e) , (e) amend this Section 8.01(b) , or (f) modify Section 2.16 except to clarify that, except to the extent paid from Cash Collateral, Incremental Term Loans shall be paid after all Revolving Advances have been paid in full and the aggregate Letter of Credit Exposures have been paid or cash collateralized in full; provided further that no Incremental Term Loan Agreement shall, unless in writing and signed by the applicable Issuing Bank, affect the rights or duties of such Issuing Bank under this Agreement.

SECTION 8.02. Notices, Etc.

(a) All notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing (including telecopier or telegraphic communication) and mailed, telecopied, telegraphed or delivered, if to the Borrower, at its address at 5400 Westheimer Court, Houston, Texas 77056-5310, fax number 713-989-1717, Attention: Glen Priestley, Treasury, Structured Finance; if to any Initial Lender or Initial Issuing Bank, at its Domestic Lending Office specified in its Administrative Questionnaire; if to any other Lender, at its Domestic Lending Office specified in its Administrative Questionnaire or the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender, as the case may be; and if to the Agent, at its address at 1615 Brett Road, OPS III, New Castle, Delaware 19720, fax number 212-994-0961, Attention: Global Loans Department, email: glagentofficeops@citigroup.com; or, as to the Borrower or the Agent, at such other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to the other parties and, as to each other party, at such other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to the Borrower and the Agent. Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by facsimile shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient). Notices delivered through electronic communications, to the extent provided in paragraph (b) below, shall be effective as provided in said paragraph (b). Delivery by telecopier or other electronic communication of an executed counterpart of any amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or the Notes or of any Exhibit hereto to be executed and delivered hereunder shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart thereof.

 

78


(b) Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender pursuant to Article II if such Lender has notified the Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications. Unless the Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or their written acknowledgment), provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i)  of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.

SECTION 8.03. No Waiver: Remedies . No failure on the part of any Lender or the Agent to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right hereunder or under any Note shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right. The remedies herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.

SECTION 8.04. Costs and Expenses .

(a) The Borrower agrees to pay on demand all reasonable and invoiced out-of-pocket fees, charges and expenses of a single counsel for the Agent, and of a single local counsel to the Agent in each appropriate jurisdiction (which may include a single special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions) and of such other counsel retained by the Agent with the Borrower’s prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) and of such other counsel retained by the Agent and the Lenders in connection with enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of this Agreement, the Notes and the other documents to be delivered hereunder, including, without limitation, in connection with the enforcement of rights under this Section 8.04(a) .

(b) The Borrower agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Agent, each Joint Lead Arranger, each Issuing Bank and each Lender and each of their respective Affiliates and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents and advisors (each, an “ Indemnified Party ”) from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities incurred by or asserted or awarded against any Indemnified Party, in each case arising out of or in connection with or by reason of (including, without limitation, in connection with any investigation, litigation or proceeding or preparation of a defense in connection therewith) the Notes, this

 

79


Agreement, any of the transactions contemplated herein or the actual or proposed use of the proceeds of the Advances, IN ALL CASES, WHETHER OR NOT CAUSED BY OR ARISING, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, OUT OF THE COMPARATIVE, CONTRIBUTORY OR SOLE NEGLIGENCE OF THE INDEMNIFIED PARTY , regardless of whether any Indemnified Party is a party thereto, and to reimburse each Indemnified Party upon demand for any reasonable and documented legal expenses of one firm of counsel for all such Indemnified Parties, taken as a whole and, if necessary, of a single local counsel in each appropriate jurisdiction (which may include a single special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions) for all such Indemnified Parties, taken as a whole (and, in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest where the Indemnified Party affected by such conflict informs the Borrower of such conflict and thereafter retains its own counsel, of another firm of counsel for such affected Indemnified Party) and other expenses incurred in connection with investigating or defending any of the foregoing, provided that the foregoing indemnity will not, as to any Indemnified Party, apply to losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related legal or other expenses to the extent (i) they are found by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to arise from the willful misconduct or gross negligence of such Indemnified Party, (ii) they arise out of or in connection with any claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding that does not involve an act or omission by the Borrower or any of its Affiliates and that is brought by an Indemnified Party against any other Indemnified Party or (iii) they consist of any taxes, which shall be governed by Sections 2.12 and 2.15 . The parties hereto agree not to assert, and hereby waive on behalf of their respective Affiliates, the holders of their Equity Securities and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents and advisors, any claim for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages against any party hereto (including, without limitation, the Borrower, the Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank), any of their respective Affiliates or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, attorneys and agents, on any theory of liability arising out of or otherwise relating to the Notes, this Agreement, any Letter of Credit, any of the transactions contemplated herein or the actual or proposed use of the proceeds of the Advances; provided that nothing contained in this sentence shall limit the Borrower’s indemnity and reimbursement obligations to the extent set forth in the immediately preceding sentence.

(c) Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreement of the Borrower hereunder, the agreements and obligations of the Borrower contained in Sections 2.11 , 2.12 , 2.14 , 2.15 and 8.04 shall survive the payment in full of principal, interest and all other amounts payable hereunder and under the Notes.

SECTION 8.05. Right of Set-off . Upon (i) the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default and (ii) the making of the request or the granting of the consent specified by Section 6.01 to authorize the Agent to declare the Notes due and payable pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.01 , each Lender is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other indebtedness at any time owing by such Lender to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement and the Note held by such Lender, whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement or such Note. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the Borrower after any such set-off and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application. The rights of each Lender under this Section 8.05 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including, without limitation, other rights of set-off) that such Lender may have.

 

80


SECTION 8.06. Binding Effect . This Agreement shall become effective (other than Sections 2.01 and 2.03 , which shall only become effective upon satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 3.01 ) when it shall have been executed by the Agent and when the Agent shall have received counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, except that the Borrower shall not have the right to assign its rights hereunder or any interest herein without the prior written consent of the Lenders (and any attempted assignment by the Borrower without such consent shall be null and void).

SECTION 8.07. Assignments and Participations .

(a) (i) Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph (a)(ii) below, any Lender may assign to one or more Persons (other than an Ineligible Assignee) all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including, without limitation, all or a portion of its Commitment, the Advances owing to it and any Note or Notes held by it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld) of:

(A) the Borrower; provided that, the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to an assignment unless it shall have objected thereto by written notice to the Agent within five Business Days after having received notice thereof; provided further that no consent of the Borrower shall be required (1) for an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or (2) if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, for an assignment to any other assignee;

(B) the Agent; provided that no consent of the Agent shall be required for an assignment of (x) any Revolving Commitment and Revolving Advances to an assignee that is a Revolving Lender immediately prior to giving effect to such assignment and (y) all or any portion of an Incremental Term Loan to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; and

(C) each Issuing Bank.

As used herein, “ Ineligible Assignee ” means (a) a natural person, (b) a company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural person or relative(s) thereof; provided that, such company, investment vehicle or trust shall not constitute an Ineligible Assignee if it (x) has not been established for the primary purpose of acquiring any Advances or Commitments, (y) is managed by a professional advisor, who is not such natural person or a relative thereof, having significant experience in the business of making or purchasing commercial loans, and (z) has assets greater than $25,000,000 and a significant part of its activities consist of making or purchasing commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business, (c) the Borrower or any of its Affiliates or Subsidiaries or (d) a Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (d) .

 

81


(ii) Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:

(A) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment or Advances of any Type and Class, the amount of the Commitment or Advances of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Agent) shall not be less than $10,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof unless each of the Borrower and the Agent otherwise consent, provided that no such consent of the Borrower shall be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;

(B) each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part, and a constant and not varying percentage, of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement;

(C) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Agent an Assignment and Acceptance, together with any Note subject to such assignment and a processing and recordation fee of $3,500; and

(D) the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Agent an Administrative Questionnaire in which the assignee designates one or more credit contacts to whom all syndicate-level information (which may contain material non-public information about the Borrower and its Affiliates or their respective securities) will be made available and who may receive such information in accordance with the assignee’s compliance procedures and applicable law, including Federal and state securities laws.

(iii) Subject to acceptance of any Assignment and Acceptance and recording thereof in the Register by the Agent pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering all or the remaining portion of an assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.11 , 2.12 , 2.14 , 2.15 and 8.04 ). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 8.07 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (e)  of this Section.

 

82


(b) By executing and delivering an Assignment and Acceptance, the Lender assignor thereunder and the assignee thereunder confirm to and agree with each other and the other parties hereto as follows: (i) other than as provided in such Assignment and Acceptance, such assigning Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with this Agreement or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of this Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto; (ii) such assigning Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to the financial condition of the Borrower or the performance or observance by the Borrower of any of its obligations under this Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto; (iii) such assignee confirms that it has received a copy of this Agreement, together with copies of the financial statements referred to in Section 4.01 and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into such Assignment and Acceptance; (iv) such assignee will, independently and without reliance upon the Agent, such assigning Lender or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement; (v) such assignee appoints and authorizes the Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers and discretion under this Agreement as are delegated to the Agent by the terms hereof, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto; and (vi) such assignee agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations that by the terms of this Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

(c) Upon its receipt of an Assignment and Acceptance executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, together with any Note or Notes subject to such assignment, the Agent shall, if such Assignment and Acceptance has been completed and is in substantially the form of Exhibit D hereto, (i) accept such Assignment and Acceptance, (ii) record the information contained therein in the Register and (iii) give prompt notice thereof to the Borrower; provided that if either the assigning Lender or the assignee shall have failed to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.02(d) , 2.03(d) or (e)  or 2.14(d ), the Agent shall have no obligation to accept such Assignment and Acceptance and record the information contained therein in the Register unless and until such payment shall have been made in full, together with all accrued interest thereon. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph. Within five Business Days after its receipt of such notice, the Borrower, at its own expense, shall execute and deliver to the Agent in exchange for any surrendered Note a new Note payable to such assignee in an amount equal to the Commitment or Advance, as applicable, assumed by it pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance and, if the assigning Lender has retained a Commitment or Advance, as applicable, hereunder, a new Note payable to the assigning Lender in an amount equal to the Commitment or Advance, as applicable, retained by it hereunder. Such new Note or Notes shall be in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of such surrendered Note or Notes, shall be dated the effective date of such Assignment and Acceptance and shall otherwise be in substantially the form of Exhibit A-1 or Exhibit A-2 , as applicable, hereto.

 

83


(d) The Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at its address referred to in Section 8.02 a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to and accepted by it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders and the Commitment of, and principal amount of the Advances owing to, each Lender (the “ Register ”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Agent and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower or any Lender at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. No Commitment, Advance or Note shall be transferred by any Lender unless such transfer is entered in the Register.

(e) Each Lender may, with the consent (unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing) of the Borrower (which shall not be unreasonably withheld), sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (a “ Participant ”), other than an Ineligible Assignee, in or to all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including, without limitation, all or a portion of its Commitment, the Advances owing to it and any Note or Notes held by it); provided , however , that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement (including, without limitation, its Commitment to the Borrower hereunder) shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations, (iii) such Lender shall remain the holder of any such Note for all purposes of this Agreement, (iv) the Borrower, the Agent and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement and (v) no Participant under any such participation shall have any right to approve any amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any Note, or any consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom, except to the extent that such amendment, waiver or consent would reduce the principal of, or interest on, the Notes or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder, in each case to the extent subject to such participation, or, except as provided in Section 2.05(e) , postpone any date fixed for any payment of principal of, or interest on, the Notes or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder, in each case to the extent subject to such participation. The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.12 and 2.15 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Sections 2.15(g) , (h)  and (i)  (it being understood that the documentation required under Sections 2.15(g) , (h)  and (i)  shall be delivered to the participating Lender)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (a)  of this Section; provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Sections 2.16 and 2.18 as if it were an assignee under paragraph (a)  of this Section; and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.12 , 2.15 or 8.04 , with respect to any participation, than its participating Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the rights transferred, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Advances or other obligations under this Agreement or under the Notes or any other documents to be delivered under this Agreement (the “ Participant Register ”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any Commitments, Advances, Letters of Credit or its other obligations hereunder or under any Note or any other documents to be delivered under this Agreement) to any Person

 

84


other than the Borrower except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such Commitment, Advance, Letter of Credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Agent (in its capacity as the Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

(f) Any Lender may, in connection with any assignment, designation or participation or proposed assignment, designation or participation pursuant to this Section 8.07 , disclose to the assignee, designee or participant or proposed assignee, designee or participant, any information relating to the Borrower and its Affiliates furnished to such Lender by or on behalf of the Borrower; provided that, prior to any such disclosure, the assignee, designee or participant or proposed assignee, designee or participant shall agree to preserve the confidentiality of any confidential information relating to the Borrower and its Affiliates received by it from such Lender.

(g) Notwithstanding any other provision set forth in this Agreement, any Lender may at any time create a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including, without limitation, the Advances owing to it and the Note or Notes held by it), including in favor of any Federal Reserve Bank in accordance with Regulation A of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

SECTION 8.08. Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction . This Agreement and each Note (if any) shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and of any New York State court sitting in New York County, Borough of Manhattan, and any appellate court from any such federal or state court, for purposes of all suits, actions or legal proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby; provided that each of the parties hereto agrees that (i) a final judgment in any such suit, action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law and (ii) the Agent, each of the Issuing Banks and each of the Lenders retain the right to bring actions or proceedings against the Borrower in the courts of any other jurisdiction in connection with the exercise of any rights under any agreement related to collateral provided hereunder that is governed by laws other than the law of the State of New York or with respect to any collateral subject thereto. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such proceeding brought in such a court and any claim that any such proceeding brought in such a court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

85


SECTION 8.09. Execution in Counterparts; Integration . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by telecopier or other electronic means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement. This Agreement, the Notes, the Agent Fee Letter and the other Fee Letters together constitute the entire agreement and understanding among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof.

SECTION 8.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL . EACH OF THE BORROWER, THE AGENT AND THE LENDERS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE NOTES OR THE ACTIONS OF THE AGENT OR ANY LENDER IN THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT THEREOF.

SECTION 8.11. Patriot Act . Each Lender hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the Patriot Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Act.

SECTION 8.12. Headings . Article, Section and other headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

SECTION 8.13. Confidentiality .

(a) The Agent, each Issuing Bank and each Lender agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (i) to its and its Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential and informed on a need-to-know basis), (ii) to the extent requested by any governmental authority or self-regulatory body, (iii) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations, (iv) to the extent required by any subpoena or similar legal process provided that, in such case and in the case of each of clauses (ii)  and (iii)  above, the Agent, such Issuing Bank or such Lender as applicable shall use reasonable efforts, consistent with its normal practices, to notify the Borrower promptly thereof prior to disclosure of such Information, to the extent it is not prohibited from doing so by any law or regulation or by such subpoena or legal process, (v) to any other party to this Agreement, (vi) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the enforcement of rights hereunder, (vii) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section 8.13 , to (A) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement (it being understood that such actual or prospective assignee or Participant will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential and informed on a need-to-know basis) or (B) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or

 

86


derivative transaction relating to the Borrower and its obligations (it being understood that such actual or prospective counterparty will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential and informed on a need-to-know basis), (viii) with the consent of the Borrower or (ix) to the extent such Information (A) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 8.13 or (B) becomes available to the Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower unless the Agent, such Issuing Bank or such Lender, as applicable, shall have actual knowledge that such source was required to keep such Information confidential. For the purposes of this Section 8.13 , “ Information ” means all information received from the Borrower relating to the Borrower or its business, other than any such information that is available to the Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower; provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower after the Effective Date, such information is either clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential or should, because of its nature, reasonably be understood to be confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section 8.13 shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

(b) Each Lender acknowledges that Information furnished to it pursuant to this Agreement may include material non-public information concerning the Borrower and its Affiliates or their respective securities, and confirms that it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and that it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with those procedures and applicable law, including Federal and state securities laws.

(c) All information, including requests for waivers and amendments, furnished by the Borrower or the Agent pursuant to, or in the course of administering, this Agreement will be syndicate-level information, which may contain material non-public information about the Borrower and its Affiliates or their respective securities. Accordingly, each Lender represents to the Borrower and the Agent that it has identified in its Administrative Questionnaire a credit contact who may receive information that may contain material non-public information in accordance with its compliance procedures and applicable law, including Federal and state securities laws.

SECTION 8.14. Conversion of Currencies .

(a) If, for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court, it is necessary to convert a sum owing hereunder in one currency into another currency, each party hereto agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so, that the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures in the relevant jurisdiction the first currency could be purchased with such other currency on the Business Day immediately preceding the day on which final judgment is given.

 

87


(b) The obligations of the Borrower in respect of any sum due to any party hereto or any holder of the obligations owing hereunder (the “ Applicable Creditor ”) shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency (the “ Judgment Currency ”) other than the currency in which such sum is stated to be due hereunder (the “ Agreement Currency ”), be discharged only to the extent that, on the Business Day following receipt by the Applicable Creditor of any sum adjudged to be so due in the Judgment Currency, the Applicable Creditor may in accordance with normal banking procedures in the relevant jurisdiction purchase the Agreement Currency with the Judgment Currency; if the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to the Applicable Creditor in the Agreement Currency, the Borrower agrees, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify the Applicable Creditor against such loss. The obligations of the Borrower contained in this Section 8.14 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of all other amounts owing hereunder.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank; Signature Pages Follow]

 

88


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the date first above written.

 

SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP, as Borrower
By:   Spectra Energy Partners (DE) GP, LP,
  its general partner
  By:   Spectra Energy Partners GP, LLC,
    its general partner
  By:   /s/ Guy G. Buckley
    Name: Guy G. Buckley
    Title: Vice President and Treasurer

[ Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]


Commitment:   Letter of Credit      
  Commitment:      
$129,000,000   $100,000,000     CITIBANK, N.A., as the Agent, as a Lender
      and as an Initial Issuing Bank
      By:   /s/ Carolyn A. Kee
      Name:   Carolyn A. Kee
      Title:   Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]


Commitment:   Letter of Credit      
  Commitment:      
$129,000,000   $0     JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as a Lender
      By:   /s/ Bridget Killackey
      Name:   Bridget Killackey
      Title:   Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]


Commitment:   Letter of Credit      
  Commitment:      
$129,000,000   $50,000,000     THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC, as a
      Lender and as an Initial Issuing Bank
      By:   /s/ Steve Ray
      Name:   Steve Ray
      Title:   Director

 

[ Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]


Commitment:   Letter of Credit      
  Commitment:      
$129,000,000   $0     BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender
      By:   /s/ Ronald E. McKaig
      Title:   Managing Director

 

[ Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]


Commitment:   Letter of Credit      
  Commitment:      
$129,000,000   $100,000,000     WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL
      ASSOCIATION, as a Lender and as an Initial Issuing Bank
      By:   /s/ Leanne S. Phillips
      Name:   Leanne S. Phillips
      Title:   Director

 

[ Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]


Commitment:   Letter of Credit      
  Commitment:      

$120,000,000

  $0     BARCLAYS BANK PLC,
      as a Lender
      By:   /s/ Irina Dimova
      Name:   Irina Dimova
      Title:   Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]


Commitment:   Letter of Credit      
  Commitment:      
$120,000,000   $0     CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS
      BRANCH, as a Lender
      By:   /s/ Vipul Dhadda
      Name:   Vipul Dhadda
      Title:   Authorized Signatory
      By:   /s/ Tyler R. Smith
      Name:   Tyler R. Smith
      Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

[ Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]


Commitment:   Letter of Credit      
  Commitment:      

$120,000,000

  $0     DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH,
      as a Lender
      By:   /s/ Virginia Cosenza
      Name:   Virginia Cosenza
      Title:   Vice President
      By:   /s/ Ming K. Chu
      Name:   Ming K. Chu
      Title:   Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]


Commitment:   Letter of Credit      
  Commitment:      
$80,000,000   $0     MORGAN STANLEY BANK, N.A.,
      as a Lender
      By:   /s/ Kelly Chin
      Name:   Kelly Chin
      Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

[ Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]


Commitment:   Letter of Credit      
  Commitment:      
$40,000,000   $0     MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.,
      as a Lender
      By:   /s/ Kelly Chin
      Name:   Kelly Chin
      Title:   Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]


         Commitment :    Letter of Credit
   Commitment :         
$120,000,000    $0       ROYAL BANK OF CANADA,
         as a Lender
      By:   

/s/ Jason York

      Title:    Authorized Signatories

 

[ Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]


Commitment :      Letter of Credit      
     Commitment :      
$120,000,000      $0    SUNTRUST BANK,
        as a Lender
        By:   

/s/ Carmen Malizia

        Title:    Director

 

[ Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]


Commitment :      Letter of Credit      
     Commitment :      
$120,000,000      $0    UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH,
        as a Lender
        By:   

/s/ Lana Gifas

        Title:    Director
        By:   

/s/ Jennifer Anderson

        Title:    Associate Director

 

[ Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]


Commitment:   Letter of Credit      
  Commitment:      

$120,000,000

  $0    

THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ,

LTD., as a Lender

      By:   /s/ Mark Oberreuter
      Name:   Mark Oberreuter
      Title:   Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]


Commitment:   Letter of Credit      
  Commitment:      

$63,000,000

  $0    

KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as a Lender

      By:   /s/ Kevin D. Smith
      Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]


Commitment:   Letter of Credit      
  Commitment:      

$120,000,000

  $0    

SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING

CORPORATION, as a Lender

      By:   /s/ James D. Weinstein
      Title:   Managing Director

 

[ Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]


Commitment:   Letter of Credit      
  Commitment:      
$40,000,000   $0    

THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY,

as a Lender

      By:   /s/ Keith L. Burson
      Name:   Keith L. Burson
      Title:   Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]


Commitment:   Letter of Credit      
  Commitment:      

$120,000,000

  $0    

GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA,

as a Lender

      By:   /s/ Mark Walton
      Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

[ Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]


Commitment:   Letter of Credit      
  Commitment:      

$13,000,000

  $0    

BMO HARRIS BANK N.A.,

as a Lender

      By:   /s/ Joseph Bliss
      Name:   Joseph Bliss
      Title:   Managing Director

 

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]


Commitment:   Letter of Credit      
  Commitment:      

$13,000,000

  $0    

CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF

COMMERCE—NEW YORK BRANCH,

as a Lender

      By:   /s/ Daria Mahoney
      Title:   Authorized Signatory
     

By:

  /s/ Richard Antl
      Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]


Commitment:   Letter of Credit      
  Commitment:      

$13,000,000

  $0    

THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA,

as a Lender

      By:   /s/ Mark Sparrow
      Name:   Mark Sparrow
      Title:   Director

 

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]


Commitment:   Letter of Credit      
  Commitment:      

$13,000,000

  $0    

TORONTO DOMINION (NEW YORK) LLC,

as a Lender

      By:   /s/ Masood Fikree
      Title:   Authorized Signatory

Total

  Total      

Commitments :

  Letter of Credit Commitments:    

$2,000,000,000.00

  $250,000,000      

 

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]


SCHEDULE 1.01

EXISTING LETTERS OF CREDIT

None.


EXHIBIT A-1 – FORM OF

REVOLVING PROMISSORY NOTE

REVOLVING PROMISSORY NOTE

 

$                         Dated:                               , 201         

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Borrower ”), HEREBY PROMISES TO PAY to [            ] or its registered assignees (the “ Lender ”) for the account of its Applicable Lending Office on the Termination Date (each as defined in the Credit Agreement referred to below) the principal sum of $ [amount of the Lender’s Revolving Commitment in figures] or, if less, the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Advances made by the Lender to the Borrower pursuant to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of November 1, 2013, among the Borrower, the Lender and certain other lenders parties thereto, and Citibank, N.A., as Agent for the Lender and such other lenders (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”; the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), outstanding on the Termination Date.

The Borrower promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Advance from the date of such Revolving Advance until such principal amount is paid in full, at such interest rates, and payable at such times, as are specified in the Credit Agreement.

Both principal and interest are payable in lawful money of the United States of America to Citibank, N.A., as Agent, at the Agent’s Account, in same day funds. Each Revolving Advance owing to the Lender by the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement, and all payments made on account of principal thereof, shall be recorded by the Lender and, prior to any transfer hereof, endorsed on the grid attached hereto that is part of this Promissory Note; provided that the failure to make a notation of any such Revolving Advance or payment made on this Promissory Note shall not limit or otherwise affect the obligations of the Borrower hereunder with respect to payments of principal of or interest on this Promissory Note.

This Promissory Note is one of the Revolving Notes referred to in, and is entitled to the benefits of, the Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement, among other things, (i) provides for the making of Revolving Advances by the Lender to the Borrower from time to time in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the dollar amount first above mentioned, the indebtedness of the Borrower resulting from each such Revolving Advance by the Lender being evidenced by this Promissory Note, and (ii) contains provisions for acceleration of the maturity hereof upon the happening of certain stated events and also for prepayments on account of principal hereof prior to the maturity hereof upon the terms and conditions therein specified.

This Promissory Note shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York.

 

Exhibit A-1 - 1


As provided in the Credit Agreement, the Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and of any New York State court sitting in New York County, Borough of Manhattan, and any appellate court from any such federal or state court, for purposes of all suits, actions or legal proceedings arising out of or relating to the Credit Agreement, this Promissory Note or the transactions contemplated thereby; provided that a final judgment in any such suit, action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law.

The terms of this Promissory Note are subject to amendment only in the manner provided in the Credit Agreement. The Borrower promises to pay all reasonable and invoiced out-of-pocket fees, charges and expenses, all as provided in the Credit Agreement, of counsel retained by the Lender in connection with the collection and enforcement of this Promissory Note (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise). The Borrower and any endorsers of this Promissory Note hereby consent to renewals and extensions of time at or after the maturity hereof, without notice, and hereby waive diligence, presentment, protest, demand, notice of every kind and, to the full extent permitted by law, the right to plead any statute of limitations as a defense to any demand hereunder.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrower has caused this Promissory Note to be duly executed and delivered by its officer thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above written.

 

SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP
By:   Spectra Energy Partners (DE) GP, LP, its general partner
  By:   Spectra Energy Partners GP, LLC, its general partner
  By:    
    Name:
    Title:

 

Exhibit A-1 - 2


REVOLVING ADVANCES AND PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL

 

Date

 

Amount of

Revolving

Advance

 

Amount of

Principal Paid or

Prepaid

   Unpaid Principal
Balance
   Notation Made By

 

Exhibit A-1 - 3


EXHIBIT A-2 – FORM OF INCREMENTAL TERM PROMISSORY NOTE

INCREMENTAL TERM PROMISSORY NOTE

 

$                         Dated:                               , 201         

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Borrower ”), HEREBY PROMISES TO PAY to [                    ] or its registered assignees (the “ Lender ”) for the account of its Applicable Lending Office on the Incremental Term Loan Termination Date (as defined in the Credit Agreement and the applicable Incremental Term Loan Agreement, each referred to below) the principal sum of $ [amount of the Lender’s Series [    ] Incremental Term Loan in figures] or, if less, the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Series [    ] Incremental Term Loans made by the Lender to the Borrower on [                    ], 201[    ] pursuant to the (i) Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of November 1, 2013, among the Borrower, the Lender and certain other lenders parties thereto, and Citibank, N.A., as Agent for the Lender and such other lenders (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”; the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), and (ii) the Series [    ] Incremental Term Loan Agreement dated as of [                    ], 201[    ], among the Borrower, the Agent and the Incremental Term Lenders party thereto (the “ Applicable Incremental Term Loan Agreement ”).

The Borrower promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount hereof from time to time outstanding until such principal amount is paid in full, at such interest rates, and payable at such times, as are specified in the Credit Agreement and the Applicable Incremental Term Loan Agreement.

Both principal and interest are payable in lawful money of the United States of America to Citibank, N.A., as Agent, at the Agent’s Account, in same day funds. Each Series [    ] Incremental Term Loan owing to the Lender by the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement and the Applicable Incremental Term Loan Agreement, and all payments made on account of principal thereof, shall be recorded by the Lender and, prior to any transfer hereof, endorsed on the grid attached hereto that is part of this Promissory Note; provided that the failure to make a notation of any such Series [    ] Incremental Term Loans or payment made on this Promissory Note shall not limit or otherwise affect the obligations of the Borrower hereunder with respect to payments of principal of or interest on this Promissory Note.

This Promissory Note is one of the Incremental Term Notes referred to in, and is entitled to the benefits of, the Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement, among other things, (i) provides for the making of Series [    ] Incremental Term Loans by the Lender to the Borrower in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the dollar amount first above mentioned, the indebtedness of the Borrower resulting from each such Series [    ] Incremental Term Loan by the Lender being evidenced by this Promissory Note, and (ii) contains provisions for acceleration of the maturity hereof upon the happening of certain stated events and also for prepayments on account of principal hereof prior to the maturity hereof upon the terms and conditions therein specified.

 

Exhibit A-2 - 1


This Promissory Note shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York.

As provided in the Credit Agreement, the Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and of any New York State court sitting in New York County, Borough of Manhattan, and any appellate court from any such federal or state court, for purposes of all suits, actions or legal proceedings arising out of or relating to the Credit Agreement, this Promissory Note or the transactions contemplated thereby; provided that a final judgment in any such suit, action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law.

The terms of this Promissory Note are subject to amendment only in the manner provided in the Credit Agreement. The Borrower promises to pay all reasonable and invoiced out-of-pocket fees, charges and expenses, all as provided in the Credit Agreement, of counsel retained by the Lender in connection with the collection and enforcement of this Promissory Note (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise). The Borrower and any endorsers of this Promissory Note hereby consent to renewals and extensions of time at or after the maturity hereof, without notice, and hereby waive diligence, presentment, protest, demand, notice of every kind and, to the full extent permitted by law, the right to plead any statute of limitations as a defense to any demand hereunder.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrower has caused this Promissory Note to be duly executed and delivered by its officer thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above written.

 

SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP
By:   Spectra Energy Partners (DE) GP, LP, its general partner
  By:   Spectra Energy Partners GP, LLC, its general partner
  By:    
    Name:
    Title:

 

Exhibit A-2 - 2


SERIES [    ] INCREMENTAL TERM LOANS AND PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL

 

Date

 

Amount of Series

[    ] Incremental

Term Loans

 

Amount of

Principal Paid

or Prepaid

   Unpaid Principal
Balance
   Notation Made By

 

Exhibit A-2 - 3


EXHIBIT B – FORM OF

NOTICE OF BORROWING

NOTICE OF BORROWING

[Date]

Citibank, N.A., as Agent

for the Lenders parties

to the Credit Agreement

referred to below

Attention:                     

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The undersigned, Spectra Energy Partners, LP, refers to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of November 1, 2013 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”; the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among the undersigned, certain Lenders parties thereto and Citibank, N.A., as Agent for said Lenders, and hereby gives you notice, irrevocably, pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Credit Agreement that the undersigned hereby requests a Borrowing under the Credit Agreement, and in that connection sets forth below the information relating to such Borrowing (the “ Proposed Borrowing ”) as required by Section 2.02(a) of the Credit Agreement:

(i) The Business Day of the Proposed Borrowing is                     , 201    .

(ii) The Type of Advances comprising the Proposed Borrowing is [Base Rate Advances] [Eurodollar Rate Advances].

(iii) The aggregate amount of the Proposed Borrowing is $                    .

[(iv) The initial Interest Period for each Eurodollar Rate Advance made as part of the Proposed Borrowing is                 month[s].]

(v) The Proposed Borrowing will consist of [Revolving Advances] [Series [    ] Incremental Term Loans].

The undersigned hereby certifies that the following statements are true on the date hereof, and will be true on the date of the Proposed Borrowing:

(A) the representations and warranties contained in Section 4.01 of the Credit Agreement 1 [(except the representations set forth in Section 4.01(d)(iii) , Section 4.01(f) and Section 4.01(g) ( provided that, in the case of Section 4.01(g) , the exception shall apply solely

 

1   Insert bracketed text for borrowings after the initial funding.

 

Exhibit B-1


with respect to Environmental Laws))] are correct 2 [in all material respects (except for those representations and warranties qualified by “materiality,” “Material Adverse Effect” or a like qualification, which shall be correct in all respects)], before and after giving effect to the Proposed Borrowing and to the application of the proceeds therefrom, as though made on and as of such date (except for those representations and warranties that specifically relate to a prior date, which shall have been correct on such prior date); and

(B) no event has occurred and is continuing, or would result from such Proposed Borrowing or from the application of the proceeds therefrom, that constitutes a Default or an Event of Default.

 

Very truly yours,
SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP
By:   Spectra Energy Partners (DE) GP, LP, its general partner
  By:   Spectra Energy Partners GP, LLC, its general partner
  By:    
    Name:
    Title:

 

2   Insert bracketed text for borrowings after the initial funding.

 

Exhibit B-2


EXHIBIT C – FORM OF

NOTICE OF ISSUANCE

NOTICE OF ISSUANCE

 

To:

   Citibank, N.A., as Agent
  

                     , as  Issuing Bank

From:

   Spectra Energy Partners, LP

Date:

   _________

 

Re: Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of November 1, 2013 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”) among Spectra Energy Partners, LP (the “ Borrower ”), the Lenders parties thereto and Citibank, N.A., as Agent

The Borrower hereby gives notice pursuant to Section 2.03(b) of the Credit Agreement that the Borrower requests the above-named Issuing Bank to issue on or before                          (which is a Business Day) a Letter of Credit containing the terms attached hereto as Schedule I 3 (the “Requested Letter of Credit ”).

The Requested Letter of Credit will be subject to [UCP 500] [ISP98] .

The Borrower herby represents and warrants to the Issuing Bank, the Agent and the Revolving Lenders that:

 

  (a) immediately after the issuance of the Requested Letter of Credit, the aggregate Letter of Credit Exposures will not exceed $250,000,000;

 

  (b) immediately after the issuance of the Requested Letter of Credit, the sum of the aggregate outstanding Revolving Advances and Letter of Credit Exposures will not exceed the aggregate amount of the Revolving Commitments;

 

  (c) immediately after the issuance of the Requested Letter of Credit, the aggregate Letter of Credit Exposure of the above-named Issuing Bank in respect of Letters of Credit issued by it will not exceed such Issuing Bank’s Letter of Credit Commitment;

 

  (d) immediately after the issuance of the Requested Letter of Credit, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and

 

3   Schedule I to include, in addition to other relevant information, the face amount of such Requested Letter of Credit (which must be in dollars or an Alternative Currency) and the expiration date of such Requested Letter of Credit.

 

Exhibit C-1


  (e) the representations and warranties contained in Section 4.01 of the Credit Agreement 4 [(except the representations set forth in Section 4.01(d)(iii) , Section 4.01(f) , and Section 4.01(g) ( provided that, in the case of Section 4.01(g) , the exception shall apply solely with respect to Environmental Laws))] are correct 5 [in all material respects (except for those representations and warranties qualified by “materiality,” “Material Adverse Effect” or a like qualification, which shall be correct in all respects)] on the date of issuance of the Requested Letter of Credit, before and after giving effect to such issuance, as though made on and as of such date (except for those representations and warranties that specifically relate to a prior date, which shall have been correct on such prior date).

The Borrower hereby authorizes the Issuing Bank to issue the Requested Letter of Credit with such variations from the above terms as the Issuing Bank may, in its discretion, determine are necessary and are not materially inconsistent with this Notice of Issuance. The opening of the Requested Letter of Credit and the Borrower’s responsibilities with respect thereto are subject to [UCP 500] [ISP98] as indicated above and the terms and conditions set forth in the Credit Agreement.

Terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

Very truly yours,
SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP
By:   Spectra Energy Partners (DE) GP, LP, its general partner
  By:   Spectra Energy Partners GP, LLC, its general partner
  By:    
    Name:
    Title:

 

4   Insert bracketed text for Letters of Credit issued after the Effective Date.
5   Insert bracketed text for Letters of Credit issued after the Effective Date.

 

Exhibit C-2


EXHIBIT D – FORM OF

ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE

ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE

This Assignment and Acceptance (the “ Assignment and Acceptance ”) is dated as of the Effective Date set forth below and is entered into by and between [NAME OF ASSIGNOR] (the “ Assignor ”) and [NAME OF ASSIGNEE] (the “ Assignee ”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement identified below (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), receipt of a copy of which is hereby acknowledged by the Assignee. The Standard Terms and Conditions set forth in Annex 1 attached hereto are hereby agreed to and incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Assignment and Acceptance as if set forth herein in full.

For an agreed consideration, the Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns to the Assignee, and the Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes from the Assignor, subject to and in accordance with the Standard Terms and Conditions and the Credit Agreement, as of the Effective Date inserted by the Agent as contemplated below (i) all of the Assignor’s rights and obligations in its capacity as a Lender under the Credit Agreement and any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto to the extent related to the amount and percentage interest identified below of all of such outstanding rights and obligations of the Assignor under the respective facilities identified below (including any letters of credit included in such facilities) and (ii) to the extent permitted to be assigned under applicable law, all claims, suits, causes of action and any other right of the Assignor (in its capacity as a Lender) against any Person, whether known or unknown, arising under or in connection with the Credit Agreement, any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto or the loan transactions governed thereby or in any way based on or related to any of the foregoing, including contract claims, tort claims, malpractice claims, statutory claims and all other claims at law or in equity related to the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clause (i)  above (the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clauses (i)  and (ii)  above being referred to herein collectively as the “ Assigned Interest ”). Such sale and assignment is without recourse to the Assignor and, except as expressly provided in this Assignment and Acceptance, without representation or warranty by the Assignor.

 

1.    Assignor:    _________________
2.    Assignee:    _________________
      [and is a Lender/an Affiliate of [ identify Lender ]/an Approved Fund]
3.    Borrower:    Spectra Energy Partners, LP
4.    Agent:    Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent under the Credit Agreement
5.    Credit Agreement:    Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of November 1, 2013, among Spectra Energy Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership, Citibank, N.A., as Agent, and the other Lenders party thereto

 

Exhibit D-1


6. Assigned Interest:

 

Facility Assigned

   Aggregate Amount of
Commitment/Advances
for all Lenders in the
Applicable Class
     Amount of
Commitment/
Advances
Assigned in the
Applicable Class
     Percentage Assigned of
Commitment/Advances
in the Applicable Class 6
 

Revolving Facility

   $         $           %   

[Series [    ] Incremental Term Facility]

   $         $           %   

 

7.

   Assignee’s Domestic      
   Lending Office:   

 

  

8.

   Assignee’s Eurodollar      
   Lending Office:   

 

  

9.

   Assignee’s Letter of      
  

Credit Commitment:

  

 

  

Effective Date:                          , 20     [TO BE INSERTED BY AGENT AND WHICH SHALL BE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF RECORDATION OF TRANSFER IN THE REGISTER THEREFOR.]

The Assignee agrees to deliver to the Agent a completed Administrative Questionnaire in which the Assignee designates one or more credit contacts to whom all syndicate-level information (which may contain material non-public information about the Borrower and its Affiliates or their respective securities) will be made available and who may receive such information in accordance with the Assignee’s compliance procedures and applicable laws, including Federal and state securities laws.

 

ASSIGNOR
[NAME OF ASSIGNOR],
    by    
  Name:
  Title:

 

 

6   Set forth, to at least 9 decimals, as a percentage of the Commitment of all Lenders thereunder.

 

Exhibit D-2


ASSIGNEE
[NAME OF ASSIGNEE],
    by    
  Name:
  Title:

Consented to and Accepted:

 

CITIBANK, N.A., as Agent,
 

by

   
    Name:
    Title:

Consented to:

 

[NAME OF EACH ISSUING BANK]
 

by

   
    Name:
    Title:

[Consented to:] 7

 

SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP
  by:   Spectra Energy Partners (DE) GP, LP, its general partner
    by: Spectra Energy Partners GP, LLC, its general partner
     
    Name:
    Title:

 

 

7   To be added only if the consent of the Borrower is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement.

 

Exhibit D-3


Standard Terms And Conditions For

Assignment And Assumption

1. Representations and Warranties .

1.1. Assignor . The Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of the Assigned Interest, (ii) the Assigned Interest is free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim and (iii) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Acceptance and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; and (b) assumes no responsibility with respect to (i) any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement, (ii) the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Credit Agreement or any collateral thereunder, (iii) the financial condition of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person obligated in respect of the Credit Agreement or (iv) the performance or observance by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person of any of their respective obligations under the Credit Agreement.

1.2. Assignee . The Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Acceptance and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (ii) it satisfies the requirements, if any, specified in the Credit Agreement that are required to be satisfied by it in order to acquire the Assigned Interest and become a Lender, (iii) from and after the Effective Date, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement as a Lender thereunder and, to the extent of the Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder, (iv) it has received and/or had the opportunity to review a copy of the Credit Agreement to the extent it has in its sole discretion deemed necessary, together with copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) and 5.01(b) thereof, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it has in its sole discretion deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Acceptance and to purchase the Assigned Interest on the basis of which it has made such analysis and decision independently and without reliance on the Agent or any other Lender, and (v) if it is a Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States of America or any State thereof or the District of Columbia, attached to the Assignment and Acceptance is any documentation required to be delivered by it pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, duly completed and executed by the Assignee; and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance on the Agent, the Assignor or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Credit Agreement, and (ii) it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations that by the terms of the Credit Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

2. Payments . From and after the Effective Date, the Agent shall make all payments in respect of the Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to the Assignor for amounts that have accrued to but excluding the Effective Date and to the Assignee for amounts that have accrued from and after the Effective Date.

 

Exhibit D-4


3. General Provisions . This Assignment and Acceptance shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Assignment and Acceptance may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Assignment and Acceptance by telecopy or other electronic means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and Acceptance. This Assignment and Acceptance shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

 

Exhibit D-5


EXHIBIT E-1 – FORM OF

U.S. TAX CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Lenders That For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes Are Neither (i) Partnerships

Nor (ii) Disregarded Entities Whose Tax Owner is a Partnership)

Reference is hereby made to that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of November 1, 2013 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”) among Spectra Energy Partners, LP (the “ Borrower ”), certain Lenders and Issuing Banks parties thereto and Citibank, N.A., as Agent for said Lenders.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.15 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned (or if the Lender is a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Lender’s tax owner (“Tax Owner”)) hereby certifies that (i) the Lender is the sole record owner of the loan(s) (as well as any note(s) evidencing such loan(s)) or obligations in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) the Lender (or its Tax Owner) is the sole beneficial owner of such loan(s) (as well as any note(s) evidencing such loan(s)) or obligations, and (iii) the Lender (and, if the Lender is a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, its Tax Owner) is not a (A) bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, (B) ten-percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code, or (C) controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The undersigned (or its Tax Owner) has furnished the Agent and the Borrower with a certificate of its non-U.S. person status on Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (i) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrower and the Agent and (ii) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrower and the Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF LENDER] (the “Lender”)
By:  

 

  Name:  
  Title:   [Tax Owner, if the Lender is a disregarded entity]

Date:                      , 20    

 

Exhibit E-1-1


EXHIBIT E-2 – FORM OF

U.S. TAX CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Lenders That For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes Are (i) Partnerships or

(ii) Disregarded Entities Whose Tax Owner is a Partnership)

Reference is hereby made to that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of November 1, 2013 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”) among Spectra Energy Partners, LP (the “ Borrower ”), certain Lenders and Issuing Banks parties thereto and Citibank, N.A., as Agent for said Lenders.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.15 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned (or if the Lender is a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Lender’s tax owner (“Tax Owner”)) hereby certifies that (i) the Lender is the sole record owner of the loan(s) (as well as any note(s) evidencing such loan(s)) or obligations in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) the Lender’s (or its Tax Owner’s) direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such loan(s) (as well as any note(s) evidencing such loan(s)) or obligations, (iii) with respect to the extension of credit pursuant to the Credit Agreement or any Notes, neither the Lender, its Tax Owner (if the Lender is a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes) nor any of the Lender’s (or its Tax Owner’s) direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, (iv) none of the Lender’s direct or indirect partners/members (and, if the Lender is a disregarded entity for U.S. federal tax purposes, none of its Tax Owner’s direct or indirect partners/members) is a ten-percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code, and (v) none of the Lender’s direct or indirect partners/members (and, if the Lender is a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, none of its Tax Owner’s direct or indirect partners/members) is a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The undersigned (or its Tax Owner) has furnished the Agent and the Borrower with Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its (or its Tax Owner’s) partners/members claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or (ii) Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY accompanied by an Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (i) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrower and the Agent and (ii) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrower and the Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

Exhibit E-2-1


[NAME OF LENDER] (the “Lender”)
By:  

 

  Name:  
  Title:   [Tax Owner, if the Lender is a disregarded entity]

Date:                      , 20    .

 

Exhibit E-2-2


EXHIBIT E-3 – FORM OF

U.S. TAX CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Participants That For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes Are Neither

(i) Partnerships Nor (ii) Disregarded Entities Whose Tax Owner is a Partnership)

Reference is hereby made to that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of November 1, 2013 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”) among Spectra Energy Partners, LP (the “ Borrower ”), certain Lenders and Issuing Banks parties thereto and Citibank, N.A., as Agent for said Lenders.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.15 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned (or if the Participant is a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Participant’s tax owner (“Tax Owner”)) hereby certifies that (i) the Participant is the sole record owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) the Participant (or, if the Participant is a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, its Tax Owner) is the sole beneficial owner of such participation, and (iii) the Participant (and, if the Participant is a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, its Tax Owner) is not a (A) bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, (B) ten-percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code, or (C) controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The undersigned (or its Tax Owner) has furnished its participating Lender with a certificate of its non-U.S. person status on Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (i) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender in writing and (ii) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

[NAME OF PARTICIPANT] (the “Participant”)

 

By:  

 

  Name:  
  Title:   [Tax Owner, if the Participant is a disregarded entity]

Date:                          , 20    

 

Exhibit E-3-1


EXHIBIT E-4 – FORM OF

U.S. TAX CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Participants That For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes Are (i) Partnerships or

(ii) Disregarded Entities Whose Tax Owner is a Partnership )

Reference is hereby made to that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of November 1, 2013 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”) among Spectra Energy Partners, LP (the “ Borrower ”), certain Lenders and Issuing Banks parties thereto and Citibank, N.A., as Agent for said Lenders.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.15 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned (or if the Participant is a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Participant’s tax owner (“Tax Owner”)) hereby certifies that (i) the Participant is the sole record owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) the Participant’s (or its Tax Owner’s) direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such participation, (iii) with respect to such participation, neither the undersigned, its Tax Owner (if the Participant is a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes) nor any of its (or its Tax Owner’s) direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, (iv) none of the Participant’s direct or indirect partners/members (and, if the Participant is a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, none of its Tax Owner’s direct or indirect partners/members) is a ten-percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code, and (v) none of the Participant’s direct or indirect partners/members (and, if the Participant is a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, none of its Tax Owner’s direct or indirect partners/members) is a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The undersigned (or its Tax Owner) has furnished its participating Lender with Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its (or its Tax Owner’s) partners/members claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or (ii) Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY accompanied by an Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (i) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender and (ii) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

Exhibit E-4-1


[NAME OF PARTICIPANT] (the “Participant”)

 

By:

 

 

  Name:  
  Title:   [Tax Owner, if the Participant is a disregarded entity]

Date:                          , 20    

 

Exhibit E-4-2


EXHIBIT F – FORM OF

INCREMENTAL TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

SERIES [    ] INCREMENTAL TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

Dated as of [    ], 201[    ]

Reference is made to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of November 1, 2013 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”; the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among Spectra Energy Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Borrower ”), certain Lenders parties thereto and Citibank, N.A., as Agent for said Lenders.

Section 1 Amendments to Credit Agreement .

The Borrower and the Incremental Term Lenders party hereto are willing to amend the Credit Agreement, in accordance with Sections 2.20 and 8.01(b) thereof, to evidence the agreement of each Incremental Term Lender party hereto to provide Series [    ] Incremental Term Loans, the Borrower’s obligation to repay such Series [    ] Incremental Term Loans and provide Cash Collateral therefor, on the following terms and subject to the following conditions:

 

I. Incremental Term Commitments:    Each Incremental Term Lender party hereto severally agrees, on the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Credit Agreement, to make Series [    ] Incremental Term Loans to the Borrower, at any time and from time to time during the period from [                    ] 8 to forty (40) days following such date, in the aggregate principal amount set forth opposite such Incremental Term Lender’s name on the signature pages hereof under the caption “Series [    ] Incremental Term Commitment”, which amount shall be such Incremental Term Lender’s Incremental Term Commitment with respect to the Series [    ] Incremental Term Loans; provided , however , that the Borrower may not request more than two (2) draws with respect to the Series [    ] Incremental Term Loans, one of which must be on the Series [    ] Incremental Term Loan Effective Date (as defined in Section 3 below).
   Each Incremental Term Lender party hereto agrees that it is an Incremental Term Lender with respect to the Series [    ] Incremental Term Loans for all purposes under the Credit Agreement.

 

8   Insert effective date of Incremental Term Loan Agreement.


II. Prepayment and Conversion to Revolving Commitments:    Once repaid or prepaid, the Series [    ] Incremental Term Loans may not be reborrowed. The prepayment of the Series [    ] Incremental Term Loans [shall][shall not] automatically increase the aggregate amount of the Revolving Commitments upon any prepayment thereof in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or capital expenditure, so long as no Default shall have occurred and be continuing, in accordance with Sections 2.05(f) and 5.13(d) of the Credit Agreement.
III. Termination or Reduction of Incremental Term Commitments and Mandatory Payments:    The unutilized Series [    ] Incremental Term Commitments shall terminate on [                    ]. 9 The Borrower may, from time to time, permanently reduce the Series [    ] Incremental Term Commitments in an integral multiple of $[                    ]; provided that each such reduction shall apply proportionately to permanently reduce the Series [    ] Incremental Term Commitments of the Series [    ] Incremental Term Lenders.
  

The “ Series [     ] Incremental Term Loan Termination Date ” with respect to the Series [    ] Incremental Term Loans made hereunder means the earlier of [            ] , 201 [    ] and the acceleration of the Series [    ] Incremental Term Loans pursuant to Section 6.01 of the Credit Agreement. The Series [    ] Incremental Term Loans shall [not require any mandatory prepayments] [require the following mandatory prepayments: [                    ] .

   On the Series [    ] Incremental Term Loan Termination Date, the Borrower shall repay to the Agent for the ratable account of the Series [    ] Incremental Term Lenders the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Series [    ] Incremental Term Loans, together will accrued interest thereon to the date of payment.
IV. Applicable Margin:    As of any date, the “ Applicable Margin ” with respect to any (i) Eurodollar Rate Series [    ] Incremental Term Loan, shall be [    ] % per annum, and (ii) Base Rate Series [    ] Incremental Term Loan, shall be [    ] % per annum.
V. Cash Collateral:   

The Cash Collateral Account [s] that serve as collateral for the Series [    ] Incremental Term Loans [is/are]

[                                                             ] .

   The “ Intermediar [y/ies] ” with respect to such Cash Collateral Account [s] [is/are] [                                                             ].
  

For purposes of the Series [    ] Incremental Term Loans 10 :

 

Tier 1 Cash Collateral ” means Cash Collateral with maturities of not more than [30] days from the date of acquisition with the exception of auction rate securities which may have a re-set date of [35] days or less.

 

9   Insert effective date of Incremental Term Loan Agreement or other date within 40 days following such date.
10   The bracketed numbers and percentages in this Part V of Section 1 to be agreed upon by the Borrower and the applicable Series of Incremental Term Lenders.

 

Exhibit F-2


  

Tier 2 Cash Collateral ” means Cash Collateral with maturities more than [30] days from the date of acquisition but not more than [90] days from the date of acquisition.

 

Tier 3 Cash Collateral ” means Cash Collateral with maturities more than [90] days from the date of acquisition but not more than [180] days from the date of acquisition.

   The Borrower shall, at all times, maintain Cash Collateral in the Cash Collateral Accounts set forth above with a value greater than or equal to the following: (i) if all Cash Collateral is comprised entirely of Tier 1 Cash Collateral, [100.25] % of the principal amount of all outstanding Series [    ] Incremental Term Loans, (ii) if Cash Collateral is not comprised entirely of Tier 1 Cash Collateral but is not composed of any Tier 3 Cash Collateral, [100.50] % of the principal amount of all outstanding Series [    ] Incremental Term Loans or (iii) if any Cash Collateral is comprised of any Tier 3 Cash Collateral, [101.0] % of the principal amount of all outstanding Series [    ] Incremental Term Loans.

VI. Use of Proceeds:

   The proceeds of the Series [    ] Incremental Term Loans will be used by the Borrower to [                            ] .11

Section 2 Representations and Warranties .

The Borrower represents and warrants to the Incremental Term Lenders that: (a) the representations and warranties contained in Section 4.01 of the Credit Agreement (except the representations set forth in Section 4.01 (d)(iii) , Section 4.01(f) and Section 4.01(g) ( provided that, in the case of Section 4.01(g) , the exception shall apply solely with respect to Environmental Laws)) are correct in all material respects (except for those representations and warranties qualified by “materiality,” “Material Adverse Effect” or a like qualification, which shall be correct in all respects), before and after giving effect to the amendments to the Credit Agreement effected by this Series [    ] Incremental Term Loan Agreement (this “ Agreement ”), as though made on and as of the date hereof (except for those representations and warranties that specifically relate to a prior date, which shall have been correct on such prior date), and as if each reference therein to “this Agreement” or “the Credit Agreement” (or words of similar import) included reference to this Agreement; and (b) no event has occurred and is continuing, or would result from the Borrowing contemplated by this Agreement or from the application of the proceeds therefrom, that constitutes a Default or an Event of Default.

 

11   Insert, as applicable.

 

Exhibit F-3


Section 3 Conditions Precedent .

This Agreement shall become effective on and as of the first date (the “ Series [    ] Incremental Term Loan Effective Date ”) on which the conditions precedent set forth in Section 2.20(d) of the Credit Agreement, as well as the following conditions precedent have been satisfied:

(a) The Agent shall have received, on or before the Series [    ] Incremental Term Loan Effective Date, dated such day, counterparts hereof signed by each of the parties hereto, the Agent and, if required by the Credit Agreement, a consent hereto from each Issuing Bank (or, in the case of any such Person as to which an executed counterpart shall not have been received, receipt by the Agent of telegraphic, telecopy, electronic communication or other written confirmation from such party of execution of a counterpart hereof by such Person).

(b) The Series [    ] Incremental Term Lenders shall have received, to the extent requested, all documentation and other information reasonably requested by the Series [    ] Incremental Term Lenders under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act.

The Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the Series [    ] Incremental Term Loan Effective Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding. On the Series [    ] Incremental Term Loan Effective Date, the Credit Agreement shall be deemed amended to reflect the existence and terms of the Series [    ] Incremental Term Loans evidenced hereby, as set forth herein.

Section 4 Ratification .

Except as provided in Section 1 of this Agreement, the Credit Agreement shall remain unchanged and in full force and effect, and the Borrower (a) ratifies and confirms all provisions of the Credit Agreement as amended by this Agreement, (b) ratifies and confirms that all obligations of the Borrower under the Notes and the Credit Agreement as amended by this Agreement are not released, reduced, or otherwise adversely affected by this Agreement, and (c) agrees to perform such acts and duly authorize, execute, acknowledge and deliver such additional documents and certificates as the Agent may reasonably request in connection with this Agreement.

Section 5 Expenses .

The Borrower agrees to pay on demand all reasonable and invoiced out-of-pocket fees, charges and expenses of a single counsel for the Agent in connection with this Agreement, the Series [    ] Incremental Term Notes and the other documents to be delivered hereunder.

Section 6 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction .

This Agreement and each Series [    ] Incremental Term Note (if any) shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and of any New York State court sitting in New York County, Borough of Manhattan, and any appellate court from any such federal or state court, for purposes of all suits, actions or legal proceedings arising out of or

 

Exhibit F-4


relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby; provided that each of the parties hereto agrees that (i) a final judgment in any such suit, action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law and (ii) the Agent and each of the Lenders retain the right to bring actions or proceedings against the Borrower in the courts of any other jurisdiction in connection with the exercise of any rights under any agreement related to collateral provided hereunder that is governed by laws other than the law of the State of New York or with respect to any collateral subject thereto. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such proceeding brought in such a court and any claim that any such proceeding brought in such a court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

Section 7 Execution in Counterparts; Integration .

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by telecopier or other electronic means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement. This Agreement, the Credit Agreement, the Series [    ] Incremental Term Notes and any fee letter executed by any Incremental Term Lender and the Borrower in connection herewith, together constitute the entire agreement and understanding among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof.

Section 8 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL .

EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE CREDIT AGREEMENT OR THE SERIES [__] INCREMENTAL TERM NOTES OR THE ACTIONS OF THE AGENT OR ANY LENDER IN THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT THEREOF.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature pages follow.]

 

Exhibit F-5


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the date first above written.

 

SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP, as Borrower
By:  

Spectra Energy Partners (DE) GP, LP,

its general partner

   
 

By:

 

Spectra Energy Partners GP, LLC,

its general partner

   
  By:  

 

    Name:
    Title:

 

Exhibit F-6


Series [    ] Incremental

Term Commitment:

 

   

                                                                                                                ,

$                                 

as an Incremental Term Lender

   

By:

   
   

Title:

 

Exhibit F-7


Series [    ] Incremental

Term Commitment :

 

   

                                                                                                                ,

$                                 

as an Incremental Term Lender

   

By:

   
   

Title:

 

Exhibit F-8


Series [    ] Incremental

Term Commitment :

 

   

                                                                                                                ,

$                                 

as an Incremental Term Lender

   

By:

   
   

Title:

 

Exhibit F-9


Series [    ] Incremental

Term Commitment :

 

   

                                                                                                                ,

$                                 

as an Incremental Term Lender

   

By:

   
   

Title:

 

Exhibit F-10


Acknowledged:

 

CITIBANK, N.A., as the Agent

By:

   

Title:

 

Exhibit F-11


[Consented to:

 

CITIBANK, N.A., as the Agent

By:    
Title:

 

[NAME OF EACH ISSUING BANK],

as an Issuing Bank

By:    
Title:] 12

 

12   To be added only if the consent of the Agent and Issuing Banks is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement.

 

Exhibit F-12

Exhibit 10.3

$400,000,000

CREDIT AGREEMENT

Dated as of November 1, 2013,

among

SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP,

as Borrower,

THE INITIAL LENDERS NAMED HEREIN,

as Initial Lenders,

THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD.,

as Administrative Agent,

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED

and

THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD. ,

as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners

and

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. ,

as

Syndication Agent


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS      1   
      SECTION 1.01.    Certain Defined Terms      1   
      SECTION 1.02.    Computation of Time Periods      19   
      SECTION 1.03.    Accounting Terms      19   
      SECTION 1.04.    Terms Generally      20   
ARTICLE II TERM LOANS      20   
      SECTION 2.01.    Term Loans      20   
      SECTION 2.02.    Making the Term Loans      21   
      SECTION 2.03.    [Intentionally Omitted]      22   
      SECTION 2.04.    Fees      22   
      SECTION 2.05.    Termination, Reduction and Increase of Commitments      22   
      SECTION 2.06.    Interest on Term Loans      24   
      SECTION 2.07.    Interest Rate Determination      25   
      SECTION 2.08.    Optional Conversion of Term Loans      25   
      SECTION 2.09.    Repayment of Term Loans      26   
      SECTION 2.10.    Optional Prepayments of Term Loans      26   
      SECTION 2.11.    Funding Losses      26   
      SECTION 2.12.    Increased Costs      27   
      SECTION 2.13.    Illegality      27   
      SECTION 2.14.    Payments and Computations      28   
      SECTION 2.15.    Taxes      29   
      SECTION 2.16.    Sharing of Payments, Etc.      33   
      SECTION 2.17.    Notes      34   
      SECTION 2.18.    Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders      34   
      SECTION 2.19.    Defaulting Lenders      35   
ARTICLE III CONDITIONS TO EFFECTIVENESS AND LENDING      35   
      SECTION 3.01.    Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness of Section 2.01      35   
ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES      37   
      SECTION 4.01.    Representations and Warranties      37   
ARTICLE V COVENANTS OF THE BORROWER      39   
      SECTION 5.01.    Information      39   
      SECTION 5.02.    Payment of Taxes      41   
      SECTION 5.03.    Maintenance of Property; Insurance      41   
      SECTION 5.04.    Maintenance of Existence      41   
      SECTION 5.05.    Compliance with Laws      41   

 

i


      SECTION 5.06.    Books and Records      42   
      SECTION 5.07.    Negative Pledge      42   
      SECTION 5.08.    Consolidations, Mergers and Dispositions of Assets      44   
      SECTION 5.09.    Use of Proceeds      44   
      SECTION 5.10.    Transactions with Affiliates      44   
      SECTION 5.11.    Consolidated Leverage Ratio      45   
      SECTION 5.12.    Designation of Subsidiaries      46   
ARTICLE VI EVENTS OF DEFAULT      46   
      SECTION 6.01.    Events of Default      46   
ARTICLE VII THE AGENT      49   
      SECTION 7.01.    Authorization and Action      49   
      SECTION 7.02.    Agent’s Reliance, Etc.      49   
      SECTION 7.03.    BTMU and Affiliates      50   
      SECTION 7.04.    Lender Credit Decision      50   
      SECTION 7.05.    Indemnification      50   
      SECTION 7.06.    Successor Agent      51   
      SECTION 7.07.    Joint Lead Arrangers and Syndication Agent      51   
      SECTION 7.08.    Sub-Agents      51   
ARTICLE VIII MISCELLANEOUS      51   
      SECTION 8.01.    Amendments, Etc.      51   
      SECTION 8.02.    Notices, Etc.      52   
      SECTION 8.03.    No Waiver: Remedies      53   
      SECTION 8.04.    Costs and Expenses      53   
      SECTION 8.05.    Right of Set-off      54   
      SECTION 8.06.    Binding Effect      54   
      SECTION 8.07.    Assignments and Participations      55   
      SECTION 8.08.    Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction      59   
      SECTION 8.09.    Execution in Counterparts; Integration      59   
      SECTION 8.10.    WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL      59   
      SECTION 8.11.    Patriot Act      60   
      SECTION 8.12.    Headings      60   
      SECTION 8.13.    Confidentiality      60   
      SECTION 8.14.    Conversion of Currencies      61   

 

ii


Schedules      
Schedule I       Commitments
Exhibits      
Exhibit A       Form of Note
Exhibit B       Form of Notice of Borrowing
Exhibit C       Form of Assignment and Acceptance
Exhibit D-1       Form of U.S. Tax Certificate
Exhibit D-2       Form of U.S. Tax Certificate
Exhibit D-3       Form of U.S. Tax Certificate
Exhibit D-4       Form of U.S. Tax Certificate

 

iii


CREDIT AGREEMENT

Dated as of November 1, 2013

SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Borrower ”), the banks, financial institutions and other institutional lenders (the “ Initial Lenders ”) listed on the signature pages hereof, THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD. (“ BTMU ”), as administrative agent (together with any successor administrative agent appointed pursuant to Section 7.06 , the “ Agent ”) for the Lenders (as hereinafter defined), agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

SECTION 1.01. Certain Defined Terms . As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings (such meanings to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):

Accession Agreement ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(d)(i) .

Acquisition ” by any Person, means the acquisition by such Person, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, of the property or assets (including Equity Securities of any Person but excluding capital expenditures or acquisitions of inventory or supplies in the ordinary course of business) of, or of a business unit or division of, another Person or at least a majority of the Voting Stock of another Person, in each case whether or not involving a merger or consolidation with such other Person and whether for cash, property, services, assumption of Indebtedness, securities or otherwise.

Administrative Agent Fee Letter ” means that certain letter agreement from BTMU to the Borrower, dated September 24, 2013, concerning certain fees to be paid by the Borrower in connection with this Agreement, as the same may be amended, supplemented or replaced from time to time.

Administrative Questionnaire ” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Agent.

Affiliate ” means, as to any Person (the “ specified Person ”) (a) any Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls the specified Person (a “ Controlling Person ”) or (b) any Person (other than the specified Person or a Subsidiary of the specified Person) that is controlled by or is under common control with a Controlling Person. As used herein, the term “ control ” means possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. Unless otherwise specified, Affiliate means an Affiliate of the Borrower.

Agent ” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

 

1


Agent’s Account ” means the account of the Agent maintained by the Agent at The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. with its office at New York, New York, ABA Number 026-009-632, Account Name: Loan Operations Department, Account Number 9777-0191, Attention: Agency Desk, Reference: Spectra Energy Partners LP, or such other account of the Agent as the Agent shall designate in writing to the Borrower in accordance with Section 8.02 .

Agreement ” means this Credit Agreement, as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Agreement Currency ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.14(b) .

Applicable Creditor ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.14(b) .

Applicable Lending Office ” means, with respect to each Lender, such Lender’s Domestic Lending Office in the case of a Base Rate Loan and such Lender’s Eurodollar Lending Office in the case of a Eurodollar Rate Loan.

Applicable Margin ” means, as of any date, with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Loan or Base Rate Loan, as the case may be, the applicable percentage per annum set forth below under the captions “Eurodollar Margin” or “Base Rate Margin”, as the case may be, in each case determined by reference to the Public Debt Rating in effect on such date:

 

Level

   Public Debt Rating
(S&P/Moody’s/Fitch)
   Eurodollar
Margin
    Base
Rate
Margin
 

Level 1

   > A/A2/A      0.750     0.000

Level 2

   A-/A3/A-      0.875     0.000

Level 3

   BBB+/Baa1/BBB+      1.000     0.000

Level 4

   BBB/Baa2/BBB      1.125     0.125

Level 5

   BBB-/Baa3/BBB-      1.250     0.250

Level 6

   <BBB-/Baa3/BBB-      1.500     0.500

Approved Fund ” means any Person (other than a natural Person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

 

2


Approved Officer ” means the president, a vice president, the chief executive officer, the chief financial officer, the treasurer, an assistant treasurer or the controller of the Ultimate General Partner (in its capacity as general partner of the General Partner, in its capacity as general partner of the Borrower) or such other representative of the Ultimate General Partner (in its capacity as general partner of the General Partner, in its capacity as general partner of the Borrower) as may be designated by any one of the foregoing with the consent of the Agent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

Assignment and Acceptance ” means an assignment and acceptance entered into by a Lender and an assignee, and accepted by the Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit D hereto.

Bankruptcy Event ” means, with respect to any Person, such Person has become or is insolvent or such Person becomes the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, custodian, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with the reorganization or liquidation of its business appointed for it (including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such capacity), or, in the good faith determination of the Agent, has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any such proceeding or appointment, provided that a Bankruptcy Event shall not result solely by virtue of any ownership interest, or the acquisition of any ownership interest, in such Person by any governmental authority or instrumentality thereof, provided , further , that such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Person with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States of America or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Person (or such governmental authority or instrumentality) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made by such Person.

Base Rate ” means, for any day, a fluctuating interest rate per annum, which rate per annum shall be equal to the highest of:

(a) the Prime Rate for such day;

(b) 1/2 of one percent (0.50%) per annum above the Federal Funds Rate for such day; and

(c) one percent (1.0%) per annum above the Eurodollar Rate (without giving effect to clause (b) of the definition thereof) for a one-month Interest Period beginning on such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day).

Base Rate Loan ” means a Term Loan that bears interest as provided in Section 2.06(a)(i) .

Borrower ” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

 

3


Borrowing ” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Term Loans of the same Type, made, Converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect.

BTMU ” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

Business Day ” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are required or authorized by law to remain closed and, if the applicable Business Day relates to any Eurodollar Rate Loans, any day on which commercial banks are open for dealings in deposits denominated in dollars in the London interbank market.

Cash Collateral ” means, with respect to any Incremental Term Loans, each of the following instruments and securities to the extent having maturities (for purposes of this definition, “maturities” shall mean (i) weighted average life for asset-backed securities, mortgage-backed securities, commercial mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations, and the next reset date for auction rate securities and (ii) with respect to mutual funds, the weighted average maturity of the investments it owns) not greater than 180 days from the date of acquisition thereof:

(a) cash;

(b) investments in money market mutual funds that are registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and subject to Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and have a net asset value of 1.0, provided , that in the event due to a Change in Law with respect to Rule 2a-7 such Rule 2a-7 ceases to require such funds to have a net asset value of 1.0, such funds shall comply with such alternate requirements as such Rule 2a-7 as revised may require;

(c) U.S. Treasury Notes;

(d) direct obligations of the United States and other obligations whose principal and interest is fully guaranteed by the United States;

(e) money market instruments (including, but not limited to, commercial paper, banker’s acceptances, time deposits and certificates of deposits), other than such instruments issued by Lenders or Affiliates of Lenders, rated A-1 by S&P, P-1 by Moody’s or F-1 by Fitch at the time of purchase;

(f) obligations of corporations or other business entities (excluding structured obligations and obligations of Lenders or any Affiliates of Lenders) rated AAA by S&P, Aaa by Moody’s or AAA by Fitch at the time of purchase;

(g) repurchase obligations that are collateralized no less than 100% (and, to the extent commercially available, not less than 102%) of market value (including accrued interest) by obligations of the United States government or one of its sponsored enterprises or agencies;

 

4


(h) municipal obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any municipality or other political subdivision of any such state rated AAA by S&P, Aaa by Moody’s or AAA by Fitch at the time of purchase; and

(i) shares in bond mutual funds that are registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, that invest solely in the items set forth in (a)-(h) above and rated AAA by S&P, Aaa by Moody’s or AAA by Fitch at the time of purchase,

in each case above which is held in any Cash Collateral Account (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement as in effect on the date hereof) and is subject to a first priority perfected security interest in favor of the administrative agent under the Revolving Credit Agreement, on behalf of the applicable Class of Incremental Term Lenders (each, as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement as in effect on the date hereof). For purposes of calculating the amount of Cash Collateral on deposit in any Cash Collateral Account under the Revolving Credit Agreement, Cash Collateral of an issuer that exceeds the $30,000,000 or the greater of $100,000,000 or 40% thresholds set forth above shall be excluded from such calculation.

Notwithstanding the above, at the time of purchase, no one issuer will be more than $30,000,000 of the value of the Cash Collateral. This rule excludes direct obligations of the United States, United States sponsored agencies and enterprises, money market funds, repurchase agreements and securities that have an effective maturity no longer than the next Business Day. United States sponsored agencies and enterprises are limited to the greater of $100,000,000 or 40% of the value of the Cash Collateral at time of purchase, per issuer.

Cash Collateralized Term Loans ” means, collectively, (a) any term loans (other than the Term Loans) made to the Borrower or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries that are at least 100% secured by Permitted Cash Collateral and (b) any Incremental Term Loans made under and pursuant to the terms of the Revolving Credit Agreement.

Change in Law ” means the occurrence after the date of this Agreement or, with respect to any Lender that becomes a party to this Agreement after the date hereof, such later date on which such Lender becomes a party to this Agreement, of (a) the adoption of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the interpretation or application thereof by any governmental authority or (c) compliance by any Lender (or, for purposes of Section  2.12(b) , by any corporation controlling such Lender, if any) with any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any central bank or other governmental authority made or issued after the date of this Agreement; provided that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.

Commercial Operation Date ” means the date on which a Qualified Project is substantially complete and commercially operable.

 

5


Commitment ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01 .

Commitment Increase ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(d)(i) .

Conflicts Committee ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Borrower, as amended or restated from time to time.

Consolidated Capitalization ” means, at any date, the sum of (a) Consolidated Indebtedness, (b) consolidated partners’ capital as would appear on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries prepared in accordance with GAAP, (c) the aggregate liquidation preference of preferred member or other similar preferred or priority Equity Securities (other than preferred member or other similar preferred or priority Equity Securities subject to mandatory redemption or repurchase) of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries upon involuntary liquidation, (d) without duplication of the amount, if any, of Hybrid Securities included in Consolidated Indebtedness by virtue of the proviso in the definition of such term, the aggregate outstanding amount of all Hybrid Securities of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries and (e) minority interests as would appear on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated EBITDA ” means, for any period, an amount equal to the sum of (a) Consolidated Net Income plus (b) to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income, (i) interest expense, (ii) income tax expense, and (iii) depreciation and amortization expense, minus (c) equity in earnings from subsidiaries of the Borrower that are not Consolidated Subsidiaries, plus (d) the amount of cash dividends actually received during such period by the Borrower on a consolidated basis from subsidiaries of the Borrower that are not Consolidated Subsidiaries or other Persons; provided, any such cash dividends actually received within thirty days after the last day of any fiscal quarter attributable to operations during such prior fiscal quarter shall be deemed to have been received during such prior fiscal quarter and not in the fiscal quarter actually received. Furthermore, (x) for purposes of the foregoing clauses (a) and (b), the Consolidated Net Income and consolidated expenses shall be adjusted with respect to net income and expenses of non-wholly-owned Consolidated Subsidiaries, to the extent not already excluded from Consolidated Net Income, to reflect the Borrower’s pro rata ownership interest therein, and (y) the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA shall exclude amounts categorized as other income or other expense to the extent not already excluded from Consolidated Net Income. Consolidated EBITDA will be calculated in accordance with clauses (i) and (ii) of Section 5.11(b) to the extent applicable.

Consolidated Indebtedness ” means, as of any date, all Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP plus , without duplication, all Indebtedness described in clause (e)  of the definition thereof, but excluding the aggregate principal amount of all Cash Collateralized Term Loans; provided , that solely for purposes of this definition Hybrid Securities shall constitute Indebtedness only to the extent, if any, that the amount thereof that appears on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries exceeds 15% of Consolidated Capitalization.

 

6


Consolidated Leverage Ratio ” means, as of the last day of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Indebtedness on such day to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on such day.

Consolidated Net Income ” means, for any period, the net income of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided , that Consolidated Net Income shall not include (a) extraordinary gains or extraordinary losses, (b) net gains and losses in respect of disposition of assets other than in the ordinary course of business, (c) gains or losses attributable to write-ups or write-downs of assets, including mark-to-market gains or losses with respect to Swap Contracts; provided that such Swap Contracts (i) were entered into by such Person in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of directly mitigating risks associated with liabilities, commitments, Investments, assets, or property held or reasonably anticipated by such Person, or changes in the value of securities issued by such Person, and not for purposes of speculation or taking a “market view” and (ii) do not contain any provision exonerating the non-defaulting party from its obligation to make payments on outstanding transactions to the defaulting party, and (d) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles, all as reported in the Borrower’s consolidated statement(s) of income for the relevant period(s) prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Net Tangible Assets ” means, as of any date, the total amount of consolidated assets of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries after deducting therefrom the value (net of any applicable reserves) of all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents and other like intangible assets, all as set forth, or on a pro forma basis would be set forth, on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries for the most recently completed fiscal quarter, in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Subsidiaries ” means each Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower.

Contribution Agreement ” means that certain Contribution Agreement dated as of August 5, 2013 between the Ultimate Parent and the Borrower, as such agreement may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified in a manner not materially adverse to the Lenders unless the consent of the Joint Lead Arrangers is obtained, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned.

Convert ”, “ Conversion ” and “ Converted ” each refers to a conversion of Term Loans of one Type into Term Loans of the other Type pursuant to Section 2.07 or 2.08 .

Default ” means any Event of Default or any event that would constitute an Event of Default but for the requirement that notice be given or time elapse or both.

Defaulting Lender ” means, at any time, any Lender that (a) has failed, within two Business Days of the date required to be funded or paid, to (i) fund all or any portion of its Term Loans or (ii) pay over to any Lender Party any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder, unless, in the case of clause (i) above, such Lender notifies the Agent and the Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent to funding (specifically identified and including any particular Default, if

 

7


applicable) has not been satisfied, (b) has notified the Borrower or any Lender Party in writing, or has made a public statement to the effect, that it does not intend or expect to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement (unless such writing or public statement indicates that such position is based on such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent (specifically identified and including any particular Default, if applicable) to funding a Term Loan under this Agreement cannot be satisfied) or generally under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit, (c) has failed, within three Business Days after request by the Agent or the Borrower, acting in good faith, to provide a certification in writing from an authorized officer of such Lender that it will comply with its obligations to fund prospective Term Loans under this Agreement, provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c)  upon the Agent or the Borrower’s receipt of such certification in form and substance satisfactory to it, the Agent and the Borrower, or (d) has, or has a Lender Parent that has, become the subject of a Bankruptcy Event. Any determination by the Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under clauses (a)  through (d)  above shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error.

dollars ” or “$” refers to lawful money of the United States of America.

Domestic Lending Office ” means, with respect to any Lender, the office of such Lender specified as its “Domestic Lending Office” in its Administrative Questionnaire or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender, or such other office of such Lender as such Lender may from time to time specify to the Borrower and the Agent.

Drop-Down Acquisition ” means any Acquisition by the Borrower or one or more of its Subsidiaries of property or assets (including Equity Securities of any Person but excluding capital expenditures or acquisitions of inventory or supplies in the ordinary course of business) from the Ultimate Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates (other than the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries).

Effective Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01 .

Environmental Action ” means any action, suit, demand, demand letter, claim, notice of non-compliance or violation, notice of liability or potential liability, investigation, proceeding, consent order or consent agreement relating in any way to any Environmental Law, Environmental Permit or Hazardous Materials or arising from alleged injury or threat of injury to health, safety or the environment, including, without limitation, (a) by any governmental or regulatory authority for enforcement, cleanup, removal, response, remedial or other actions or damages and (b) by any governmental or regulatory authority or any third party for damages, contribution, indemnification, cost recovery, compensation or injunctive relief.

Environmental Law ” means any federal, state, local or foreign statute, law, ordinance, rule, regulation, code, order, judgment, decree or judicial or agency interpretation, policy or guidance relating to pollution or protection of the environment, health, safety or natural resources, in each case, relating to the use, handling, transportation, treatment, storage, disposal, release or discharge of Hazardous Materials.

 

8


Environmental Permit ” means any permit, approval, identification number, license or other authorization required under any Environmental Law.

Equity Securities ” means any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of a corporation, any and all equivalent ownership interests in a Person (other than a corporation), including, without limitation, partnership interests and membership interests, and any and all warrants, rights or options to purchase or other arrangements or rights to acquire any of the foregoing.

ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated and rulings issued thereunder.

ERISA Group ” means all members of a controlled group of corporations and all trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) under common control which, together with the Borrower, would (at the applicable time) be deemed as a single employer under Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Eurocurrency Liabilities ” has the meaning assigned to that term in Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as in effect from time to time.

Eurodollar Lending Office ” means, with respect to any Lender, the office of such Lender specified as its “Eurodollar Lending Office” in its Administrative Questionnaire or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender (or, if no such office is specified, its Domestic Lending Office), or such other office of such Lender as such Lender may from time to time specify to the Borrower and the Agent.

Eurodollar Rate ” means, for any Interest Period for each Eurodollar Rate Loan comprising part of the same Borrowing, (a) the rate appearing on Reuters Page LIBOR01 (or on any successor or substitute page of such service, or any successor to or substitute for such service, providing rate quotations comparable to those currently provided on such page of Reuters, as reasonably determined by the Agent from time to time for purposes of providing quotations of interest rates applicable to dollar deposits in the London interbank market) at approximately 11:00 A.M. (London time) two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, as the rate for dollar deposits with a maturity comparable to such Interest Period, divided by (b) one minus the Eurodollar Rate Reserve Percentage. In the event that the rate described in clause (a)  of the preceding sentence is not so available at such time for any reason, then the rate for purposes of clause (a)  of the preceding sentence for such Interest Period shall be the rate per annum at which deposits in dollars are offered to the Agent in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 A.M. (London time) two Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period in an amount approximately equal to the principal amount of the Term Loan of the Agent (in its capacity as a Lender) to which such Interest Period is to apply and for a period of time comparable to such Interest Period. If the Agent does not furnish a timely rate quotation for purposes of the immediately preceding sentence, the provisions of Section 2.07(a) shall apply. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the rate for the purposes of clause (a)  of the first sentence of this definition shall be below zero, such rate will be deemed to be zero.

 

9


Eurodollar Rate Loan ” means a Term Loan that bears interest as provided in Section 2.06(a)(ii) .

Eurodollar Rate Reserve Percentage ” means, for any Interest Period for all Eurodollar Rate Loans comprising part of the same Borrowing, the reserve percentage applicable two Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period under regulations issued from time to time by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor) for determining the maximum reserve requirement (including, without limitation, any emergency, supplemental or other marginal reserve requirement) for a member bank of the Federal Reserve System in New York City with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency Liabilities (or with respect to any other category of liabilities that includes deposits by reference to which the interest rate on Eurodollar Rate Loans is determined) having a term equal to such Interest Period.

Events of Default ” has the meaning specified in Section 6.01 .

FATCA ” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Internal Revenue Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof and any agreement entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code. For the avoidance of doubt, Section 1.04(f) shall not apply for purposes of this definition.

Federal Funds Rate ” means, for any period, a fluctuating interest rate per annum equal for each day during such period to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published for such day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, for the next preceding Business Day) by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day that is a Business Day, the average of the quotations for such day on such transactions received by the Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

Fee Letters ” means (i) the Administrative Agent Fee Letter and (ii) that certain letter agreement from Bank of America, N.A., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and BTMU to the Borrower, dated September 24, 2013, as the same may be amended, supplemented or replaced from time to time.

First Closing Transactions ” has the meaning given to such term in the Contribution Agreement.

Fitch ” means Fitch, Inc.

Foreign Lender ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.15(g) .

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.

General Partner ” means Spectra Energy Partners (DE) GP, LP, a Delaware limited partnership.

 

10


Hazardous Materials ” means (a) petroleum and petroleum products, byproducts or breakdown products, radioactive materials, asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls and radon gas and (b) any other chemicals, materials or substances designated, classified or regulated as hazardous or toxic or as a pollutant or contaminant under any Environmental Law.

Hybrid Securities ” means any trust preferred securities, or deferrable interest subordinated debt with a maturity of at least 20 years, which provides for the optional or mandatory deferral of interest or distributions, issued by the Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiary, or any business trusts, limited liability companies, limited partnerships or similar entities (i) substantially all of the common equity, general partner or similar interests of which are owned (either directly or indirectly through one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries) at all times by the Borrower or any of the Consolidated Subsidiaries, (ii) that have been formed for the purpose of issuing hybrid securities or deferrable interest subordinated debt, and (iii) substantially all the assets of which consist of (A) subordinated debt of the Borrower or a Consolidated Subsidiary, and (B) payments made from time to time on the subordinated debt.

Increasing Lender ” has the meaning specified in Section  2.05(d)(i) .

Incremental Term Loans ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Revolving Credit Agreement as in effect on the date hereof.

Indebtedness ” of any Person means at any date, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all indebtedness of such Person for the deferred purchase price of property or services purchased (excluding current accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (c) all indebtedness created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement with respect to property acquired, (d) all indebtedness under leases which shall have been or should be, in accordance with GAAP as in effect on the Effective Date, recorded as capital leases in respect of which such Person is liable as lessee, (e) the face amount of all outstanding letters of credit issued for the account of such Person that support obligations that constitute Indebtedness (provided that the amount of such letter of credit included in Indebtedness shall not exceed the amount of the Indebtedness being supported) and, without duplication, the unreimbursed amount of all drafts drawn under letters of credit issued for the account of such Person, (f) indebtedness secured by any Lien on property or assets of such Person, whether or not assumed (but in any event not exceeding the fair market value of the property or asset), (g) all direct guarantees of Indebtedness referred to above of another Person, (h) all amounts payable in connection with Hybrid Securities or mandatory redemptions or repurchases of preferred stock or member interests or other preferred or priority Equity Securities, and (i) any obligations of such Person (in the nature of principal or interest) in respect of acceptances or similar obligations issued or created for the account of such Person. Furthermore, for purposes of the foregoing clauses (a) through (i), Indebtedness of the Borrower shall be adjusted with respect to Indebtedness of non-wholly-owned Consolidated Subsidiaries with no recourse to the Borrower or any wholly-owned Consolidated Subsidiary thereof, to the extent not already excluded from Indebtedness, to reflect the Borrower’s pro rata ownership interest therein.

Indemnified Costs ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.05 .

 

11


Indemnified Party ” has the meaning specified in Section 8.04(b) .

Ineligible Assignee ” has the meaning specified in Section 8.07(a) .

Information ” has the meaning specified in Section 8.13(a) .

Initial Commitment ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01 .

Initial Lenders ” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

Interest Period ” means, for each Eurodollar Rate Loan comprising part of the same Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Eurodollar Rate Loan or the date of the Conversion of any Base Rate Loan into such Eurodollar Rate Loan and ending on the last day of the period selected by the Borrower pursuant to the provisions below and, thereafter, with respect to Eurodollar Rate Loans, each subsequent period commencing on the last day of the immediately preceding Interest Period and ending on the last day of the period selected by the Borrower pursuant to the provisions below. The duration of each such Interest Period shall be one, two, three or six months (or, with the consent of each Lender, such other periods), as the Borrower may, upon notice received by the Agent not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the first day of such Interest Period, select; provided , however , that:

(a) the Borrower may not select any Interest Period that ends after the Maturity Date;

(b) Interest Periods commencing on the same date for Eurodollar Rate Loans comprising part of the same Borrowing shall be of the same duration;

(c) whenever the last day of any Interest Period would otherwise occur on a day other than a Business Day, the last day of such Interest Period shall be extended to occur on the next succeeding Business Day, provided , however , that, if such extension would cause the last day of such Interest Period to occur in the next following calendar month, the last day of such Interest Period shall occur on the next preceding Business Day; and

(d) whenever the first day of any Interest Period occurs on a day of an initial calendar month for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that succeeds such initial calendar month by the number of months equal to the number of months in such Interest Period, such Interest Period shall end on the last Business Day of such succeeding calendar month.

Internal Revenue Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated and rulings issued thereunder.

Investment ” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect acquisition or investment by such Person, whether by means of (a) the purchase or other acquisition of the Equity Securities of another Person, (b) an Acquisition or (c) a loan, advance or capital contribution to, guarantee or assumption of debt of, or purchase or other acquisition of any other debt or equity participation or interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person and any arrangement pursuant to which the investor guarantees Indebtedness of such other Person.

 

12


Investment Grade Status ” exists as to the Borrower at any date if on such date the Applicable Margin is then based on Level 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, as set forth under the caption “Level” in the definition of “Applicable Margin”.

Joint Lead Arrangers ” means Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.

Judgment Currency ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.14(b) .

Lender Parent ” means, with respect to any Lender, each Person in respect of which such Lender is, directly or indirectly, a subsidiary.

Lender Party ” means the Agent or any Lender.

Lenders ” means the Initial Lenders and each Person that shall become a party hereto pursuant to an Accession Agreement or an Assignment and Acceptance, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance.

Lien ” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset. For the purposes of this Agreement, the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall be deemed to own subject to a Lien any asset that it has acquired or holds subject to the interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or other title retention agreement relating to such asset.

Material Adverse Change ” means any material adverse change in the business, financial condition or results of operations of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

Material Adverse Effect ” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, financial condition or results of operations of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or (b) the legality, validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any Note.

Material Plan ” has the meaning specified in Section 6.01(h) .

Material Restricted Subsidiary ” means at any time any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Material Subsidiary.

Material Subsidiary ” means at any time any Subsidiary that is a significant subsidiary (as such term is defined on the Effective Date in Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission (17 CFR 210.1-02(w)), but treating all references to the “registrant” therein as references to the Borrower.

Maturity Date ” shall mean the earlier of (a) November 1, 2018 and (b) the date on which the principal amount of all outstanding Term Loans has been declared or automatically has become due and payable (whether by acceleration or otherwise pursuant to Section 2.05 or 6.01 ).

 

13


Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

Non-Consenting Lender ” means any Lender that withholds its consent to any proposed amendment, modification or waiver that cannot become effective without the consent of such Lender under Section 8.01 , and that has been consented to by the Required Lenders.

Note ” means a promissory note of the Borrower payable to any Lender, in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto, evidencing the aggregate indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from the Term Loans made by such Lender.

Notice of Borrowing ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.02(a) .

Other Taxes ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.15(b) .

Participant ” has the meaning specified in Section 8.07(e) .

Participant Register ” has the meaning specified in Section 8.07(e) .

Patriot Act ” means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (Title III of Pub. L. No. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)).

PBGC ” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (or any successor).

Permitted Acquisitions ” means any Acquisition by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, so long as (i) no Default or Event of Default is in existence or would be created thereby, (ii) the Person or assets being acquired are engaged or used (or intended to be used), as applicable, primarily in the midstream energy business, (iii) such Acquisition has been approved by the Board of Directors or similar governing body of the target of such Acquisition (if required or applicable) and (iv) immediately after giving effect to such acquisition, the Borrower is in compliance with Section 5.11(a) on a pro forma basis.

Permitted Cash Collateral ” means (a) Cash Collateral and (b) such other short-term, highly liquid Investments and other debt instruments and debt securities that are both (i) readily convertible to known amounts of cash and (ii) so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of decreases in value because of changes in interest rates.

Permitted Drop-Down Acquisition ” means any Drop-Down Acquisition approved by the Conflicts Committee after the Effective Date, provided that all such Drop-Down Acquisitions, taken in the aggregate and not individually, are on terms and conditions reasonably fair in all material respects to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the good faith judgment of the Conflicts Committee.

 

14


Person ” means an individual, partnership, corporation (including a business trust), joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity, or a government or any political subdivision or agency thereof.

Plan ” means at any time an “employee pension benefit plan” (within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA) that is covered by Title IV of ERISA or subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 430 (or predecessor statute thereto) of the Internal Revenue Code, and (a) is either (i) maintained by a member of the ERISA Group for employees of a member of the ERISA Group or (ii) maintained pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement or any other arrangement under which more than one employer makes contributions, and (b) to which a member of the ERISA Group (i) is then making or accruing an obligation to make contributions or (ii) has within the preceding five plan years made contributions or accrued an obligation to make such contributions.

Prime Rate ” means the rate of interest publicly announced by BTMU in New York City from time to time as its prime rate. Each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the day such change is publicly announced.

Pro Rata Share ” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, a percentage, the numerator of which shall be such Lender’s outstanding Term Loans at such time (or if there shall exist any undrawn Commitment of such Lender at such time, the sum of (x) the aggregate principal amount of such Lender’s Term Loans outstanding at such time and (y) such Lender’s undrawn Commitments that have not been terminated), and the denominator of which shall be the aggregate principal amount of all the Term Loans of all of the Lenders outstanding at such time (or if there shall exist any undrawn Commitments of the Lenders at such time, the sum of (x) the aggregate principal amount of all Lenders’ Term Loans outstanding at such time and (y) the aggregate undrawn Commitments of all of the Lenders that have not been terminated); provided that in the case of Section 2.19 when a Defaulting Lender shall exist, “Pro Rata Share” shall mean the percentage of the aggregate Commitments (disregarding any Defaulting Lender’s Commitment) represented by such Lender’s Commitment.

Public Debt Rating ” means, as of any date, the rating that has been most recently announced by Fitch, S&P or Moody’s, as the case may be, for all non-credit enhanced long-term senior unsecured debt issued by the Borrower. If only one Public Debt Rating is available, such available Public Debt Rating will govern. If at any time there is more than one Public Debt Rating and such Public Debt Ratings are different (i) if three Public Debt Ratings are available, either (a) the majority Public Debt Rating will govern, if two Public Debt Ratings are the same, or (b) the middle Public Debt Rating will govern, if all three Public Debt Ratings differ, and (ii) if only two Public Debt Ratings are available, the higher Public Debt Rating will govern, unless there is more than one level between the Public Debt Ratings and then the level one below the higher Public Debt Rating (lower pricing) will apply. If any rating established or deemed to have been established by Fitch, S&P or Moody’s shall be changed (other than as a result of a change in the rating system of Fitch, Moody’s or S&P), such change shall be effective as of the date on which such change is first announced publicly by the rating agency making such change.

 

15


If the rating system of Fitch, S&P or Moody’s shall change, the Borrower and the Lenders shall negotiate in good faith to amend this definition of “Public Debt Rating” to reflect such changed rating system and, pending the effectiveness of any such amendment, the Applicable Margin shall be determined by reference to the Public Debt Rating most recently in effect prior to such change.

If the Borrower shall at any time fail to have in effect a Public Debt Rating, the Borrower shall seek and obtain, within thirty (30) days after the Public Debt Ratings first cease to be in effect, a corporate credit rating or a bank loan rating from Fitch, S&P and/or Moody’s (or, if neither Fitch, S&P nor Moody’s issues such types of ratings or ratings comparable thereto, from another nationally recognized rating agency approved by each of the Borrower and the Agent), and from and after the date on which such corporate credit rating or bank loan rating is obtained until such time (if any) that a Public Debt Rating becomes effective again, the Applicable Margin shall be based on such corporate credit or bank loan rating or ratings in the same manner as provided herein with respect to the Public Debt Ratings (with Level 6 being the Applicable Margin in effect from the time the Public Debt Ratings cease to be in effect until the earlier of (x) the date on which any such corporate credit rating or bank loan rating is obtained and (y) the date on which a Public Debt Rating becomes effective again).

Qualified Acquisition ” means a Permitted Acquisition, the aggregate purchase price for which, when combined with the aggregate purchase price for all other Permitted Acquisitions in any rolling 12-month period, is greater than or equal to $25,000,000.

Qualified Project ” means the construction or expansion of any capital project of the Borrower, any of the Consolidated Subsidiaries, or any subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Consolidated Subsidiary (including any Unrestricted Subsidiary), the aggregate capital cost of which exceeds $10,000,000.

Qualified Project EBITDA Adjustments ” shall mean, with respect to each Qualified Project:

(a) prior to the Commercial Operation Date of a Qualified Project (but including the fiscal quarter in which such Commercial Operation Date occurs), a percentage (based on the then-current completion percentage of such Qualified Project) of an amount to be approved by the Agent as the projected Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries attributable to such Qualified Project for the first 12-month period following the scheduled Commercial Operation Date of such Qualified Project (such amount to be determined based on customer contracts relating to such Qualified Project, the creditworthiness of the other parties to such contracts, and projected revenues from such contracts, capital costs and expenses, scheduled Commercial Operation Date, oil and gas reserve and production estimates, commodity price assumptions and other reasonable factors deemed appropriate by Agent), which may, at the Borrower’s option, be added to actual Consolidated EBITDA for the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries for the fiscal quarter in which construction of such Qualified Project commences and for each fiscal quarter thereafter until the Commercial Operation Date of such Qualified Project (including the fiscal quarter in which such Commercial Operation Date occurs, but net of any actual Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries attributable to such Qualified Project following such Commercial Operation Date); provided that if the actual Commercial Operation Date does not occur by the scheduled Commercial Operation Date, then the foregoing amount shall be reduced,

 

16


for quarters ending after the scheduled Commercial Operation Date to (but excluding) the first full quarter after its actual Commercial Operation Date, by the following percentage amounts depending on the period of delay (based on the period of actual delay or then-estimated delay, whichever is longer): (i) 90 days or less, 0%, (ii) longer than 90 days, but not more than 180 days, 25%, (iii) longer than 180 days but not more than 270 days, 50%, and (iv) longer than 270 days, 100%; and

(b) thereafter, actual Consolidated EBITDA of Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries attributable to such Qualified Project for each full fiscal quarter after the Commercial Operation Date, plus the amount approved by Agent pursuant to clause (a) above as the projected Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries attributable to such Qualified Project for the fiscal quarters constituting the balance of the four full fiscal quarter period following such Commercial Operation Date; provided, in the event the actual Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries attributable to such Qualified Project for any full fiscal quarter after the Commercial Operation Date shall materially differ from the projected Consolidated EBITDA approved by Agent pursuant to clause (a) above for such fiscal quarter, the projected Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries attributable to such Qualified Project for any remaining fiscal quarters included in the foregoing calculation shall be redetermined in the same manner as set forth in clause (a) above, such amount to be approved by the Agent, which may, at the Borrower’s option, be added to actual Consolidated EBITDA for the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries for such fiscal quarters.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) no such additions shall be allowed with respect to any Qualified Project unless: (A) not later than 30 days prior to the delivery of any certificate required by the terms and provisions of Section 5.01(c) to the extent Qualified Project EBITDA Adjustments will be made to Consolidated EBITDA in determining compliance with Section 5.11(a), the Borrower shall have delivered to the Agent written pro forma projections of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries attributable to such Qualified Project and (B) prior to the date such certificate is required to be delivered, the Agent shall have approved (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld) such projections and shall have received such other information and documentation as the Agent may reasonably request, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, (ii) Qualified Project EBITDA Adjustments may also be made with respect to any Qualified Project of any subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Consolidated Subsidiary (including any Unrestricted Subsidiary); provided that (x) any such Qualified Project EBITDA Adjustments shall be determined in the manner set forth above for the Consolidated Subsidiaries, but based solely upon the projected (prior to the Commercial Operation Date) and actual (on and after the Commercial Operation Date) cash dividends projected to be received or actually received by the Borrower from such subsidiary and (y) such subsidiary is financing such Qualified Project with funds from the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries (to the extent of the Borrower’s pro rata ownership interest in such subsidiary), and the Agent has received a certificate from the Borrower to such effect, including such other information and documentation as the Agent may reasonably request, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, and (iii) the aggregate amount of all Qualified Project EBITDA Adjustments during any period shall be limited to 20% of the total actual Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries for such period (which total actual Consolidated EBITDA shall be determined without including any Qualified Project EBITDA Adjustments).

 

17


Register ” has the meaning specified in Section 8.07(d) .

Required Lenders ” means at any time Lenders holding more than 50% of the aggregate outstanding Term Loans at such time (or if any portion of the Commitments are undrawn, Lenders holding more than 50% of the sum of the aggregate outstanding Term Loans and aggregate undrawn Commitments); provided , however, that to the extent any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, such Defaulting Lender and all of its Term Loans and Commitments, as applicable, shall be excluded for purposes of determining Required Lenders.

Restricted Subsidiary ” means all Subsidiaries of the Borrower other than Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

Revolving Credit Agreement ” means the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of the date hereof, among the Borrower, the lenders and issuing banks party thereto and Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent.

S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s Rating Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person (the “ parent ”) at any date, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the parent in the parent’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date. Unless otherwise specified, “Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary of the Borrower.

Super-Majority Lenders ” means at any time Lenders holding more than 66-2/3% of the aggregate outstanding Term Loans at such time (or if any of the Commitments are undrawn, Lenders holding more than 66-2/3% of the sum of the aggregate outstanding Term Loans and aggregate undrawn Commitments).

Swap Contract ” means, to the extent entered into on a fair market value basis at the time of entry, (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “Master Agreement”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement

 

18


Syndication Agent ” means Bank of America, N.A.

Taxes ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.15(a) .

Term Loan ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01 .

Term Loan Borrowing ” means each Borrowing, other than a Conversion of Term Loans or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans.

Type ” when used in reference to a Term Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Term Loan, or on the Term Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate or the Base Rate.

Ultimate General Partner ” means Spectra Energy Partners GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Ultimate Parent ” means Spectra Energy Corp, a Delaware corporation.

Unfunded Vested Liabilities ” means, with respect to any Plan at any time, the amount (if any) by which (a) the present value of all benefits under such Plan exceeds (b) the fair market value of all Plan assets allocable to such benefits, all determined as of the then most recent valuation date for such Plan.

Unrestricted Subsidiary ” means (a) any Subsidiary designated by the Board of Directors or similar governing body of the Ultimate General Partner (in its capacity as the general partner of the General Partner, in its capacity as general partner of the Borrower) as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 5.12 subsequent to the date hereof and (b) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

Voting Stock ” means capital stock issued by a corporation, or equivalent interests in any other Person, the holders of which are ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, entitled to vote for the election of directors (or persons performing similar functions) of such Person, even if the right so to vote has been suspended by the happening of such a contingency.

Withholding Agent ” means the Borrower and the Agent.

SECTION 1.02. Computation of Time Periods . In this Agreement in the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including” and the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding”.

SECTION 1.03. Accounting Terms . Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided that, if the Borrower notifies the Agent that the Borrower requests an amendment to be applied on a basis consistent (except for changes concurred in by the Borrower’s independent public accountants) with the most recent audited consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries delivered to the Lenders any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the date hereof in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision, or if the Agent notifies

 

19


the Borrower that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose, regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision shall have been amended in accordance herewith. Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made, without giving effect to any election under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 825 (or any other Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Indebtedness or other liabilities of the Borrower or any Subsidiary at “fair value”, as defined therein.

SECTION 1.04. Terms Generally. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”. Unless the context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (c) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (d) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement, (e) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights and (f) references to any statute or regulatory provision shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such statute or regulatory provision.

ARTICLE II

TERM LOANS

SECTION 2.01. Term Loans . Each Lender severally agrees, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, to make loans (each, a “ Term Loan ”) to the Borrower (a) on the Effective Date, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule I attached hereto (such Lender’s “ Initial Commitment ”) or (b) from time to time after the Effective Date, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the amount set forth in any Accession Agreement entered into by such Lender or, if such Lender has entered into any Assignment and Acceptance, set forth for such Lender in the Register maintained by the Agent pursuant to Section 8.07(d) , as such amount may be reduced or increased pursuant to Section 2.05 (such Lender’s “ Commitment ”). Each Borrowing shall be in the aggregate amount of $10,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and shall consist of Term Loans of the same Type made on the same day by the Lenders ratably according to their respective Commitments. The Term Loans may be, from time to time, Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans or a combination thereof, at the Borrower’s option. Amounts repaid or prepaid in respect of the Term Loans may not be reborrowed.

 

20


SECTION 2.02. Making the Term Loans .

(a) Notice of Borrowing . Each Term Loan Borrowing shall be made on notice, given not later than 12:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the date of the proposed Term Loan Borrowing in the case of a Term Loan Borrowing consisting of Eurodollar Rate Loans, or on the date of the proposed Term Loan Borrowing in the case of a Term Loan Borrowing consisting of Base Rate Loans, by the Borrower to the Agent, which shall give to each Lender prompt notice thereof. Each such notice by the Borrower of a Term Loan Borrowing (a “ Notice of Borrowing ”) shall be by telephone, confirmed by the Borrower immediately in writing, by facsimile or an email with an attached .pdf of the Notice of Borrowing in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto, specifying therein the requested (i) date of such Term Loan Borrowing, (ii) Type of Term Loan comprising such Term Loan Borrowing, (iii) aggregate amount of such Term Loan Borrowing, and (iv) in the case of a Term Loan Borrowing consisting of Eurodollar Rate Loans, initial Interest Period for each such Term Loan. Each Lender shall, before 2:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the date of such Term Loan Borrowing, make available for the account of its Applicable Lending Office to the Agent at the Agent’s Account, in same day funds, such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of such Term Loan Borrowing. After the Agent’s receipt of such funds and upon fulfillment of the applicable conditions set forth in Article III , the Agent will make such funds available to the Borrower at the Agent’s address referred to in Section 8.02 .

(b) Certain Limitations . Anything in Section 2.02(a) to the contrary notwithstanding, (i) the Borrower may not select Eurodollar Rate Loans for any Borrowing if the obligation of the Lenders to make Eurodollar Rate Loans shall then be suspended pursuant to Section 2.07 or 2.13 , and (ii) the Eurodollar Rate Loans may not be outstanding as part of more than ten separate Borrowings.

(c) Indemnity for Failure to Satisfy Conditions . Each Notice of Borrowing shall be irrevocable and binding on the Borrower. In the case of any Borrowing that the related Notice of Borrowing specifies is to be comprised of Eurodollar Rate Loans, the Borrower shall indemnify each Lender against any loss, cost or expense incurred by such Lender as a result of any failure to fulfill on or before the date specified in such Notice of Borrowing for such Borrowing the applicable conditions set forth in Article III , including, without limitation, any loss (other than loss of anticipated profits), cost or expense incurred by such Lender by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired by such Lender to fund the Term Loan to be made by such Lender as part of such Borrowing when such Term Loan, as a result of such failure, is not made on such date.

(d) Agent’s Right to Reimbursement with Interest . Unless the Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the time of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Agent such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of such Borrowing, the Agent may assume that such Lender has made such Pro Rata Share available to the Agent on the date of such Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.02(a) and the Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower on such date a corresponding amount. If and to the

 

21


extent that such Lender shall not have so made such Pro Rata Share available to the Agent, such Lender and the Borrower severally agree to repay to the Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is made available by the Agent to the Borrower until the date such amount is repaid to the Agent, at (i) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable at the time to Term Loans comprising such Borrowing and (ii) in the case of such Lender, the Federal Funds Rate. If such Lender shall repay to the Agent such corresponding amount, such amount so repaid shall constitute such Lender’s Term Loan as part of such Borrowing for purposes of this Agreement. Nothing herein shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fulfill its Commitment or to prejudice any rights which the Agent or the Borrower may have against any Lender as a result of a default hereunder by such Lender.

(e) Each Lender Individually Responsible . The failure of any Lender to make the Term Loan to be made by it as part of any Borrowing shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation, if any, hereunder to make its Term Loan on the date of such Borrowing, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make the Term Loan to be made by such other Lender on the date of any Borrowing.

SECTION 2.03. [ Intentionally Omitted ]

SECTION 2.04. Fees . The Borrower shall pay to the Agent for its own account the fees specified in the Administrative Agent Fee Letter.

SECTION 2.05. Termination, Reduction and Increase of Commitments .

(a) Mandatory Termination . Unless previously terminated, the Commitments shall be reduced upon the making of each Term Loan pursuant to Section 2.01 by an amount equal to the amount of such Term Loan. If the Initial Commitments are not been utilized in full as a result of Term Loan Borrowings made on the Effective Date, the remaining Initial Commitments shall terminate on the Effective Date, immediately after giving effect to such Term Loan Borrowings.

(b) Optional Termination or Reduction . The Borrower may at any time terminate, or from time to time reduce, the then unused Commitments; provided that (i) each reduction of the Commitments shall be in an amount that is at least $10,000,000 and integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and (ii) any partial reduction shall apply to reduce proportionately and permanently the Commitment of each Lender.

(c) Notice of Termination or Reduction . The Borrower shall notify the Agent of any election to terminate or reduce the Commitments under Section 2.05(b) at least three Business Days prior to the effective date of such termination or reduction, specifying such election and the effective date thereof. Promptly following receipt of any notice, the Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each notice delivered by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.05(c) shall be irrevocable; provided that a notice of termination of the Commitments delivered by the Borrower may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice to the Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Any termination or reduction of the Commitments shall be permanent. Each reduction of the Commitments shall be made ratably (based upon their Pro Rata Shares) among the Lenders in accordance with their respective Commitments.

 

22


(d) Aggregate Commitment Increases .

(i) The Borrower may on one or more occasions occurring on or after the Effective Date, without the consent of the Lenders, and by written notice to the Agent, executed by the Borrower and one or more financial institutions (any such financial institution referred to in this Section 2.05(d) being called an “ Increasing Lender ”), which may include any Lender, cause new Commitments to be extended by the Increasing Lenders (any such extension or increase, a “ Commitment Increase ”), in an amount for each Increasing Lender (which shall not be less than $5,000,000) set forth in such notice; provided that any Lender approached to provide all or a portion of the new Commitments may elect or decline, in its sole discretion, to provide such new Commitment; provided , further , that (i) at no time shall the aggregate amount of (x) undrawn Commitment Increases effected pursuant to this Section 2.05(d) plus (y) drawn Commitments (including the drawn amount of any Commitment Increase), exceed $600,000,000 and (ii) each Increasing Lender, if not already a Lender hereunder, shall become a party to this Agreement by completing and delivering to the Agent a duly executed accession agreement in a form satisfactory to the Agent and the Borrower (an “ Accession Agreement ”). New Commitments shall become effective on the date specified in the applicable notices delivered pursuant to this Section 2.05(d) ; provided that the other conditions set forth in this Section 2.05(d) have been satisfied. Upon the effectiveness of any Accession Agreement to which any Increasing Lender is a party, (i) such Increasing Lender shall thereafter be deemed to be a party to this Agreement and shall be entitled to all rights, benefits and privileges accorded a Lender hereunder and subject to all obligations of a Lender hereunder and (ii) the Commitments shall be deemed to have been amended to reflect the Commitment of such Increasing Lender as provided in such Accession Agreement. Upon the effectiveness of any increase pursuant to this Section 2.05(d) in the Commitment of a Lender already a party hereto, the Commitments shall be deemed to have been amended to reflect the new Commitment of such Lender.

(ii) Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that the Agent may take any and all actions as may be reasonably necessary to ensure that all Term Loans made pursuant to a Commitment Increase, when originally made, are included in each Borrowing of outstanding Term Loans on a pro rata basis. The Borrower agrees that Section 2.11 shall apply to any Conversion of Eurodollar Rate Loans to Base Rate Loans reasonably required by the Agent to effect the foregoing.

(iii) The Term Loans made pursuant to a Commitment Increase shall be subject to Section 2.01 in all respects and shall constitute “Term Loans” as defined thereunder and shall have terms and conditions identical to the Term Loans hereunder (other than with respect to any undrawn commitment fees separately agreed with the Increasing Lenders with respect to the applicable Commitment Increase).

 

23


(iv) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no increase in the Commitments shall become effective under this Section 2.05(d) , and no Borrowing shall be made pursuant to a Commitment Increase, unless, on the date of such increase, each of the conditions set forth below shall be satisfied:

 

  a the representations and warranties contained in Section 4.01 are correct in all material respects (except for those representations and warranties qualified by “materiality,” “Material Adverse Effect” or a like qualification, which shall be correct in all respects) on the date of such increase, before and after giving effect to such increase and the application of the proceeds thereof, as though made on and as of such date (except for those representations and warranties that specifically relate to a prior date, which shall have been correct on such prior date);

 

  b no event has occurred and is continuing, or would result from such increase or from the application of the proceeds therefrom, that constitutes a Default or an Event of Default; and

 

  c and the Agent shall have received a certificate to that effect dated such date and executed by the Chief Financial Officer or the Treasurer of the Borrower.

SECTION 2.06. Interest on Term Loans .

(a) Scheduled Interest . The Borrower shall pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Term Loan owing to each Lender from the date of such Term Loan until such principal amount shall be paid in full, at the following rates per annum:

(i) Base Rate Loans . During such periods as such Term Loan is a Base Rate Loan, a rate per annum equal at all times to the sum of (x) the Base Rate in effect from time to time plus (y) the Applicable Margin in effect from time to time, payable in arrears quarterly on the last day of each March, June, September and December during such periods and on the date such Base Rate Loan shall be Converted or paid in full.

(ii) Eurodollar Rate Loans . During such periods as such Term Loan is a Eurodollar Rate Loan, a rate per annum equal at all times during each Interest Period for such Term Loan to the sum of (x) the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period for such Term Loan plus (y) the Applicable Margin in effect from time to time, payable in arrears on the last day of such Interest Period and, if such Interest Period has a duration of more than three months, on each day that occurs during such Interest Period every three months from the first day of such Interest Period, and on the date such Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be Converted or paid in full.

(b) Default Interest . Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any principal of or interest on any Term Loan or any fee or other amount payable by the Borrower hereunder is not paid when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, such overdue amount shall bear interest, after as well as before judgment, payable on demand, for each day from and including the date payment thereof was due to but excluding the date of actual payment, at a rate per annum equal to (i) in the case of overdue principal of any Term Loan, 2% plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Term Loan as provided in Section 2.06(a) or (ii) in the case of any overdue interest, fees and other amounts, 2% plus the rate applicable to Base Rate Loans as provided in clause (a)(i) of this Section.

 

24


(c) Notice of Interest Period and Interest Rate . Promptly after receipt of a Notice of Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.02(a) , a notice of Conversion pursuant to Section 2.08 or a notice of selection of an Interest Period pursuant to the terms of the definition of “Interest Period,” the Agent shall give notice to the Borrower and Lenders of the applicable Interest Period and the applicable interest rate determined by the Agent for purposes of clause (a)(i) or (a)(ii) above.

SECTION 2.07. Interest Rate Determination .

(a) Eurodollar Rate Inadequate . If, with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Loans, the Super-Majority Lenders notify the Agent that the Eurodollar Rate for any Interest Period for such Term Loans will not adequately reflect the cost to such Super-Majority Lenders of making, funding or maintaining their respective Eurodollar Rate Loans for such Interest Period, the Agent shall forthwith so notify the Borrower and the Lenders, whereupon (i) each Eurodollar Rate Loan will automatically, on the last day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, Convert into a Base Rate Loan, and (ii) the obligation of the Lenders to make, or to Convert Term Loans into, Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended until the Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist.

(b) Failure of Borrower to Select Type or Interest Period . If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Term Loan in a Notice of Borrowing, or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a Conversion to or continuation of any Eurodollar Rate Loan, then the applicable Term Loans shall be made as, or Converted to, Base Rate Loans. Any such automatic Conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Eurodollar Rate Loans. If the Borrower shall fail to select the duration of any Interest Period for any Eurodollar Rate Loans in accordance with the provisions contained in the definition of “Interest Period” in Section 1.01 , the Agent will forthwith so notify the Borrower and the Lenders and such Term Loans will automatically, on the last day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, be deemed to be Eurodollar Rate Loans with a one-month Interest Period.

(c) Conversion Due to Event of Default . Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, (i) each Eurodollar Rate Loan will automatically, on the last day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, Convert into a Base Rate Loan and (ii) the obligation of the Lenders to make, or to Convert Term Loans into, Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended.

SECTION 2.08. Optional Conversion of Term Loans . The Borrower may on any Business Day, upon notice given to the Agent not later than 12:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the date of the proposed Conversion or continuation with respect to Conversions or continuations into Eurodollar Rate Loans and on the date of the proposed Conversion with respect to conversions into Base Rate Loans and subject to the provisions of Sections 2.07 and 2.13 , Convert or continue all Term Loans of one Type comprising the same

 

25


Borrowing into Term Loans of the other (or for continuations, same) Type; provided , however , that any Conversion of Eurodollar Rate Loans into Base Rate Loans shall be made only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurodollar Rate Loans, any Conversion of Base Rate Loans into Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in an amount not less than the minimum amount specified in Section 2.01 , and no Conversion or continuation of any Term Loans shall result in more separate Borrowings than permitted under Section 2.02(b) . Each such notice of a Conversion or continuation shall, within the restrictions specified above, specify (i) the date of such Conversion or continuation, (ii) the Term Loans to be Converted or continued, and (iii) if such Conversion or continuation is into Eurodollar Rate Loans, the duration of the initial Interest Period for each such Eurodollar Rate Loan. Each notice of Conversion or continuation shall be irrevocable and binding on the Borrower.

SECTION 2.09. Repayment of Term Loans . On the Maturity Date, the Borrower shall repay to the Agent for the ratable account of the Lenders the aggregate principal amount of all Term Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon to the date of payment.

SECTION 2.10. Optional Prepayments of Term Loans . The Borrower may, upon at least two Business Days’ notice (in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans) or upon notice (in the case of Base Rate Loans) given on the date of such prepayment, in each case received not later than 12:00 P.M. (New York City time) on such date to the Agent stating the proposed date and aggregate principal amount of the prepayment, which notice shall be irrevocable, and if such notice is given the Borrower shall, prepay for the ratable account of the Lenders, in whole or in part, the outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans comprising part of the same Borrowing(s), together with accrued interest to the date of such prepayment on the principal amount prepaid; provided , that a notice of prepayment of all outstanding Term Loans may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice to the Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied; provided further , however , that (x) each partial prepayment shall be in an aggregate principal amount of $5,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and (y) in the event of any such prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the Lenders in respect thereof pursuant to Section 2.11 .

SECTION 2.11. Funding Losses . If the Borrower makes any payment of principal with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Loan or any Eurodollar Rate Loan is Converted to a Base Rate Loan or continued as a Eurodollar Rate Loan for a new Interest Period (pursuant to Article II or VI or otherwise) on any day other than the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto, or if the Borrower fails (for a reason other than the failure of a Lender to make a Term Loan) to borrow, prepay (except as otherwise permitted hereunder), Convert or continue any Eurodollar Rate Loan after notice has been given to any Lender in accordance with Section 2.02(a) , 2.08 or 2.10 or pursuant to the terms of the definition of “Interest Period,” the Borrower shall reimburse each Lender within 15 days after demand for any resulting loss or expense incurred by it (or by an existing or prospective participant in the related Term Loan), including (without limitation) any actual loss incurred in obtaining, liquidating or employing deposits from third parties, but excluding loss of anticipated profits and margin for the period after any such payment or Conversion or failure to borrow, prepay, Convert or continue; provided that such Lender shall have delivered to the Borrower a certificate setting forth in reasonable detail the calculation of the amount of such loss or expense, which certificate shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.

 

26


SECTION 2.12. Increased Costs .

(a) General . If, due to any Change in Law, there shall be any increase in the cost to any Lender of agreeing to make or making, funding or maintaining Eurodollar Rate Loans (excluding for purposes of this Section 2.12 any such increased costs resulting from (i) Taxes or Other Taxes (as to which Section 2.15 shall govern) and (ii) changes in the basis of taxation of any taxes described in Section 2.15(a)(i) or (ii) ), then the Borrower shall from time to time, upon written notice and written demand by such Lender (with a copy of such demand to the Agent), pay to the Agent for the account of such Lender additional amounts sufficient to compensate such Lender for such increased cost, such increased cost to be determined by such Lender using its customary methods therefor (and, if such Lender uses from time to time more than one such method, the method chosen for application hereunder shall be that method which most accurately determines such increased cost); provided that no such amount shall be payable with respect to any period commencing more than 150 days prior to the date such Lender first notifies the Borrower of its intention to demand compensation hereunder. A certificate as to the amount of such increased cost (demonstrating in reasonable detail, the calculations used by such Lender to determine such estimated increased cost), submitted to the Borrower and the Agent by such Lender, shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

(b) Capital Adequacy . If any Lender reasonably determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or any corporation controlling such Lender, if any, regarding capital or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s capital or the capital of any corporation controlling such Lender, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, such Lender’s Commitment hereunder or the Term Loans made by such Lender, to a level below that which such Lender or any corporation controlling such Lender could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies and the policies of any corporation controlling such Lender with respect to capital or liquidity requirements) then, upon written notice and written demand by such Lender (with a copy of such demand to the Agent), the Borrower shall pay to the Agent for the account of such Lender, from time to time, additional amounts sufficient to compensate such Lender or such corporation for any reduction suffered in light of such circumstances; provided that no such amount shall be payable with respect to any period commencing more than 150 days prior to the date such Lender first notifies the Borrower of its intention to demand compensation hereunder. A certificate as to such amounts (demonstrating in reasonable detail, the calculations used by such Lender to determine such estimated increased cost) submitted to the Borrower and the Agent by such Lender shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

SECTION 2.13. Illegality . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if any Lender shall notify the Agent that the introduction of or any change in or in the interpretation of any law or regulation makes it unlawful, or any central bank or other governmental authority asserts that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its Eurodollar Lending Office to perform its obligations hereunder to make Eurodollar Rate Loans or to fund or maintain Eurodollar Rate Loans hereunder, (a) each Eurodollar Rate Loan of such Lender will automatically, upon such demand, Convert into a Base Rate Loan, and (b) the obligation of such Lender to make Eurodollar Rate Loans or to Convert Term Loans into Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended until the Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist.

 

27


SECTION 2.14. Payments and Computations .

(a) General Provisions . The Borrower shall make each payment hereunder and under the Notes, irrespective of any right of counterclaim or set-off, not later than 2:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the day when due in dollars to the Agent at the Agent’s Account in same day funds. The Agent will promptly thereafter cause to be distributed like funds relating to the payment of principal or interest or undrawn commitment fees ratably, based upon the Lenders’ respective Pro Rata Shares (other than amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.02(c) , 2.05(d) , 2.11 , 2.12 , 2.15 or 8.04(b) ), to the Lenders for the account of their respective Applicable Lending Offices, and like funds relating to the payment of any other amount payable to any Lender to such Lender for the account of its Applicable Lending Office, in each case to be applied in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Upon its acceptance of an Assignment and Acceptance and recording of the information contained therein in the Register pursuant to Section 8.07(c) , from and after the effective date specified in such Assignment and Acceptance, the Agent shall make all payments hereunder and under the Notes in respect of the interest assigned thereby to the Lender assignor thereunder for amounts that have accrued to but excluding the effective date of such assignment, and to the Lender assignee for amounts that have accrued from and after the effective date of such assignment.

(b) Basis of Calculation . All computations of interest based on the Base Rate shall be made by the Agent on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and all other computations of interest and fees shall be made by the Agent on the basis of a year of 360 days, in each case for the actual number of days (including the first day but excluding the last day) occurring in the period for which such interest or fees are payable. Each determination by the Agent of an interest rate hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

(c) Payments Due on Non-Business Days . Whenever any payment hereunder or under the Notes shall be stated to be due on a day other than a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and such extension of time shall in such case be included in the computation of payment of interest or undrawn commitment fee, as the case may be; provided , however , that, if such extension would cause (i) any payment to be made after the Maturity Date or (ii) payment of interest on or principal of Eurodollar Rate Loans to be made in the next following calendar month, such payment shall be made on the next preceding Business Day.

(d) Agent Entitled to Assume Payments Made . Unless the Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Lenders hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment in full, the Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment in full to the Agent on such date and the Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, cause to be distributed to each Lender on such due date an amount equal to the amount then due such Lender. If and to the extent that the Borrower shall not have so made such payment in full to the Agent, each Lender shall repay to the Agent forthwith on demand such amount distributed to such Lender together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is distributed to such Lender until the date such Lender repays such amount to the Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate.

 

28


(e) Order of Application . If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, interest, fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i)  first , towards payment of fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Agent) payable pursuant to this Agreement to the Agent in its capacity as such, (ii)  second , towards payment of fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest) payable pursuant to this Agreement to the Lenders, ratably among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause second payable to them, (iii)  third , towards payment of interest then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest then due to such parties, and (iv)  fourth , towards payment of principal of the Term Loans then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal then due to such parties.

(f) Application of Funds to Lender’s Obligations . If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.02(d) , 2.05(d) or 2.14(d) , then the Agent may, in its discretion notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, (i) apply any amounts thereafter received by it for the account of such Lender to satisfy such Lender’s obligations under such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid, and/or (ii) hold such amounts in a segregated account over which the Agent shall have exclusive control as cash collateral for, and application to, any future funding obligations of such Lender under any such Section, in the case of each of clause (i)  and (ii)  above, in any order as determined by the Agent in its discretion.

SECTION 2.15. Taxes .

(a) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower to or for the account of any Lender, the Agent or any other Person hereunder or under the Notes or any other documents to be delivered hereunder shall be made, in accordance with Section 2.14 or the applicable provisions of such other documents, free and clear of and without deduction for any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings, and all liabilities with respect thereto, excluding , in the case of each Lender, the Agent or such other Person, (i) taxes imposed on (or measured by) its overall net income, net profits or net worth, and franchise or similar taxes, by the United States of America or by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such Lender, the Agent or such other Person (as the case may be) is organized or is otherwise doing business, or any political subdivision thereof and, in the case of each Lender, taxes imposed on (or measured by), in whole or in part, its overall net income, net profits or net worth, and franchise or similar taxes, by the jurisdiction of such Lender’s Applicable Lending Office or any political subdivision thereof (including, without limitation, any withholding of taxes described in this Section 2.15(a)(i) that is treated under applicable law as a prepayment of taxes), (ii) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States of America or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which such Person is located, (iii) any taxes imposed as a result of such Person’s willful misconduct, (iv) in the case of a Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 2.18(b) ), any U.S. withholding tax that is

 

29


imposed on amounts payable to such Lender by any law in effect at the time such Lender becomes a party to this Agreement (or designates a new Applicable Lending Office), except to the extent that such Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new Applicable Lending Office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from the Borrower with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to this Section 2.15(a) , (v) any U.S. federal withholding taxes imposed under FATCA, (vi) in the case of an Agent, any U.S. withholding tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such Agent by any law in effect at the time such Agent becomes a party to this Agreement solely as a result of such Agent being organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, (vii) taxes attributable to its failure to comply with Section 2.15(f) , (g) , (i)  or (j)  and (viii) any interest, penalties or additions to tax imposed on any taxes described in Sections 2.15(a)(i) , (ii) , (iii) , (iv)  or (v)  (all such taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings and liabilities with respect thereto not excluded under Section 2.15(a)(i) , (ii) , (iii) , (iv) , (v) , (vi) , (vii)  or (viii)  in respect of payments hereunder or under the Notes or any other documents to be delivered hereunder being hereinafter referred to as “ Taxes ”); provided that, if any applicable law (as determined in the good faith discretion of an applicable Withholding Agent) requires a Withholding Agent to deduct any taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings, or any liabilities with respect thereto, from or in respect of any sum payable by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder or under any Note or any other documents to be delivered hereunder to or for the account of any Lender or the Agent, (i) the applicable Withholding Agent shall be entitled to make such deduction and shall timely pay the full amount deducted to the relevant taxation authority or other authority in accordance with applicable law and (ii) to the extent such deduction is for Taxes or Other Taxes (as hereinafter defined), the sum payable by the Borrower shall be increased as may be necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2.15 ) such Lender or the Agent (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions for Taxes or Other Taxes been made.

(b) In addition, the Borrower shall pay any present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies that arise from any payment made hereunder or under the Notes or any other documents to be delivered hereunder or from the execution, delivery or registration of, performing under, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or the Notes or any other documents to be delivered hereunder, excluding , however , such taxes imposed with respect to an assignment following the primary syndication (other than an assignment that occurs as a result of the Borrower’s request pursuant to Section 2.18 ) that would not have been imposed but for a present or former connection between any Lender and the jurisdiction imposing such taxes (other than solely on account of the execution, delivery or registration of, performing under, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or the Notes or any other documents to be delivered hereunder) (hereinafter referred to as “ Other Taxes ”).

(c) The Borrower shall indemnify each Lender and the Agent for and hold it harmless against the full amount, without duplication, of Taxes or Other Taxes (including, without limitation, Taxes of any kind imposed or asserted by any jurisdiction on amounts payable under this Section 2.15 ) imposed on or paid by such Lender or the Agent (as the case may be) and any liability (including penalties and interest) arising therefrom or with respect thereto. This indemnification shall be made within 30 days from the date such Lender or the Agent (as the case may be) makes written demand therefor and provides appropriate computational and, to the extent available, documentary support.

 

30


(d) As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes or Other Taxes pursuant to this Section 2.15 , the Borrower shall furnish to the Agent, at its address referred to in Section 8.02 , the original or a certified copy of a receipt evidencing such payment to the extent that such a receipt is issued therefor, or other written proof of payment thereof that is reasonably satisfactory to the Agent.

(e) Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Agent, within 10 days after demand therefor, for any taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings imposed by any governmental authority that are attributable to such Lender and that are payable or paid by the Agent in connection with this Agreement or any Note or any other documents to be delivered hereunder, and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto (but only to the extent that the Borrower has not already indemnified the Agent for such taxes and other liabilities and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so), whether or not such taxes or other liabilities were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant governmental authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under this Agreement or any Note or any other documents to be delivered hereunder or otherwise payable by the Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Agent under this paragraph (e) .

(f) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax with respect to payments made hereunder or under the Notes or any other documents to be delivered hereunder shall deliver to the Borrower and the Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Sections 2.15(g) , (h)  and (i)  below) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.

(g) Each Lender that is not a United States Person, as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code (a “ Foreign Lender ”), shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, on or prior to the date of its execution and delivery of this Agreement in the case of each Initial Lender and on the date of the Accession Agreement or Assignment and Acceptance, as applicable, pursuant to which it becomes a Lender in the case of each other Lender, and from time to time thereafter as reasonably requested in writing by the Borrower or the Agent (but only so long as such Lender remains lawfully able to do so), provide each of the

 

31


Agent and the Borrower with (i) two duly completed and properly executed originals of United States Internal Revenue Service Forms W-8BEN or W-8ECI or any applicable successor form, as the case may be, certifying that such Foreign Lender is exempt from or entitled to a reduced rate of United States withholding tax on payments pursuant to this Agreement or the Notes, (ii) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming exemption from United States federal withholding tax under Section 881(c) of the Internal Revenue Code with respect to payments of “portfolio interest,” a statement substantially in the form of Exhibit D-1 and two duly completed and properly executed originals of United States Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN, or any applicable successor form, or (iii) to the extent such Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, two duly completed and properly executed originals of United States Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY, accompanied by United States Internal Revenue Service Forms W-8ECI, W-8BEN or W-9, a statement substantially in the form of Exhibit D-3 or D -4 , and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if such Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a statement substantially in the form of Exhibit D-2 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner.

(h) If a payment made to a Lender hereunder or under the Notes or any other documents to be delivered hereunder would be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this paragraph (h) , “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

(i) Each Lender and Agent that is a United States Person, as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code (other than persons that are corporations or otherwise exempt from United States backup withholding tax), shall deliver at the time(s) and in the manner(s) prescribed by applicable law, to each of the Borrower and the Agent (as applicable) two original properly completed and duly executed United States Internal Revenue Service Forms W-9 or any successor form, certifying that such Person is exempt from United States backup withholding tax on payments made hereunder.

(j) Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered pursuant to Section 2.15(f) , (g) , (h)  or (i)  expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Borrower and the Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.

 

32


(k) For the avoidance of doubt, for any period with respect to which a Lender has failed to provide the Borrower with the appropriate form, certificate or other document described in Section 2.15(g) or (i)  ( other than if such failure is due to a change in law occurring subsequent to the date on which a form, certificate or other document originally was required to be provided, or if such form, certificate or other document otherwise is not required under Section 2.15(g) or (i) ), such Lender shall not be entitled to increased payments or indemnification under Section 2.15(a) or (c)  with respect to taxes or Other Taxes imposed by reason of such failure; provided , however , that the Borrower shall take such steps as the Lender shall reasonably request (at the sole expense of such Lender) to assist the Lender to recover such taxes or Other Taxes (it being understood, however, that the Borrower shall have no liability to such Lender in respect of such taxes or Other Taxes).

(l) If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section 2.15 (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.15 ), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made by such indemnifying party under this Section with respect to the Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including taxes) of such indemnified party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant governmental authority with respect to such refund). Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this paragraph (l)  (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant governmental authority) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such governmental authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (l) , in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this paragraph (l)  the payment of which would place the indemnified party in a less favorable net after-tax position than the indemnified party would have been in if the indemnification payments or additional amounts giving rise to such refund had never been paid.

Nothing contained in this Section 2.15 shall require any Lender or the Agent to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes which it deems to be confidential).

SECTION 2.16. Sharing of Payments, Etc . If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of set off or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Term Loans resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Term Loans and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by any other Lender, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Term Loans of other Lenders to the extent necessary so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Term Loans; provided that (i) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and (ii) the provisions of this Section 2.16 shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Term Loans to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section 2.16 shall apply). The Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of set off and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

 

33


SECTION 2.17. Notes . The Borrower agrees that upon notice by any Lender to the Borrower (with a copy of such notice to the Agent) to the effect that a promissory note or other evidence of indebtedness is required or appropriate in order for such Lender to evidence (whether for purposes of pledge, enforcement or otherwise) the Term Loans owing to, or to be made by, such Lender, the Borrower shall promptly execute and deliver to such Lender, with a copy to the Agent, a Note, in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto, payable to such Lender in a principal amount equal to the Commitment of such Lender.

SECTION 2.18. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders .

(a) Mitigation . If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.12 , or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any governmental authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.15 , then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Term Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the good faith judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.12 or 2.15 , as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

(b) Replacement of Lender . If (i) any Lender requests, or provides notice to the Borrower that it intends to request, compensation under Section 2.12 , (ii) the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any governmental authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.15 , (iii) any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender or (iv) any Lender becomes a Non-Consenting Lender, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 8.07 ), all its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (A) the Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the Agent, which consent, in each case, shall not unreasonably be withheld or delayed, (B) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal amount of its Term Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal, funded participations and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts), (C) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.12 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.15 , such assignment will result in a material reduction in such compensation or payments and (D) in the case of any such assignment resulting from the status of such Lender as a Non-Consenting Lender, such assignment, together with any assignments by other Non-Consenting Lenders, will enable the Borrower to obtain sufficient consents to cause the applicable amendment, modification or waiver to become effective. A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

 

34


SECTION 2.19. Defaulting Lenders. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the following provisions shall apply for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender:

(a) any separately agreed undrawn commitment fees in respect of any Increased Commitment shall cease to accrue on the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender; and

(b) such Defaulting Lender and all of its Term Loans and Commitments, as applicable, shall be excluded for purposes of determining whether the Required Lenders or Super-Majority Lenders, as applicable, have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment, waiver or other modification pursuant to Section 8.01); provided, that this clause (b) shall not apply to the vote of a Defaulting Lender in the case of an amendment, waiver or other modification described in Section 8.01 for which the consent of all Lenders or each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby is required.

In the event that the Agent and the Borrower each agree that a Defaulting Lender has adequately remedied all matters that caused such Lender to be a Defaulting Lender, then on such date such Lender shall purchase at par such of the Term Loans of the other Lenders as the Agent shall determine may be necessary in order for such Lender to hold such Term Loans in accordance with its Pro Rata Share, whereupon such Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while such Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided further that no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim the Borrower, the Agent or any other Lender may have arising from such Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

ARTICLE III

CONDITIONS TO EFFECTIVENESS AND LENDING

SECTION 3.01. Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness of Section 2.01 . Section 2.01 of this Agreement shall become effective on and as of the first date (the “ Effective Date ”) on which the following conditions precedent have been satisfied.

(a) The Agent shall have received on or before the Effective Date the following, each dated such day, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent:

(i) counterparts hereof signed by each of the parties hereto (or, in the case of any party as to which an executed counterpart shall not have been received, receipt by the Agent of telegraphic, telecopy, electronic communication or other written confirmation from such party of execution of a counterpart hereof by such party);

(ii) the Notes payable to the Lenders, respectively, requesting same;

 

35


(iii) (A) an opinion of the internal legal counsel of the Borrower and (B) an opinion of Bracewell & Giuliani LLP, special counsel for the Borrower, in each case a form reasonably satisfactory to the Agent;

(iv) certified copies of the resolutions of the Board of Directors or similar governing body of the Ultimate General Partner (in its capacity as general partner of the General Partner, in its capacity as general partner of the Borrower) and the General Partner (in its capacity as general partner of the Borrower) approving this Agreement, and the Notes, and of all documents evidencing other necessary corporate or other similar action and governmental approvals, if any, with respect to this Agreement and the Notes, as applicable;

(v) a certificate signed by the Chief Financial Officer or the Treasurer of the Ultimate General Partner (in its capacity as general partner of the General Partner, in its capacity as general partner of the Borrower), dated the Effective Date, to the effects set forth in clauses (b)  and (c)  of this Section 3.01 ;

(vi) a certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Ultimate General Partner (in its capacity as general partner of the General Partner, in its capacity as general partner of the Borrower) certifying the names and true signatures of the officers of the Ultimate General Partner (in its capacity as general partner of the General Partner, in its capacity as general partner of the Borrower) authorized to sign this Agreement, the Notes and the other documents to be delivered hereunder; and

(vii) all documents the Agent may have reasonably requested prior to the date hereof relating to the existence of the Borrower, the corporate authority for and the validity of this Agreement and the Notes, and any other matters relevant hereto.

(b) The representations and warranties contained in Section 4.01 are correct on and as of the Effective Date, before and after giving effect to the Term Loan Borrowings to be made on the Effective Date and the application of the proceeds thereof.

(c) No event has occurred and is continuing, or would result from the making of the Term Loan Borrowings to be made on the Effective Date or from the application of the proceeds therefrom, that constitutes a Default or an Event of Default.

(d) The First Closing Transactions shall, contemporaneously with the Effective Date, be consummated in accordance with the terms set forth in the Contribution Agreement.

(e) The Agent and the Joint Lead Arrangers shall have received all fees and other amounts due and payable to them on or prior to the Effective Date, including reimbursement or payment of all reasonable and invoiced out-of-pocket fees, charges and expenses of a single counsel and of a single local counsel to the Agent and the Joint Lead Arrangers in each appropriate jurisdiction (which may include a single special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions) and such other counsel retained with the Borrower’s prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrower hereunder.

 

36


(f) The Lenders shall have received, to the extent requested, all documentation and other information reasonably requested by the Lenders or the Agent under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act.

The Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the Effective Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding.

ARTICLE IV

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

SECTION 4.01. Representations and Warranties . The Borrower represents and warrants that:

(a) Organization and Power . The Borrower is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of Delaware and has all requisite powers and all material governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals required to carry on its business as now conducted and is duly qualified to do business in each jurisdiction where such qualification is required, except where the failure so to qualify would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Company and Governmental Authorization; No Contravention . The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement and the Notes are within the Borrower’s limited partnership powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary limited partnership action, and do not (i) require any action by or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency or official, (ii) contravene, or constitute a default under, any provision of applicable law or regulation or of the certificate of limited partnership or agreement of limited partnership of the Borrower, (iii) contravene, or constitute a default under, any agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon the Borrower, except to the extent such contravention or default could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (iv) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, other than any Lien that is required by this Agreement.

(c) Binding Effect . This Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Borrower and each Note, if and when executed and delivered in accordance with this Agreement, will constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower, in each case enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as the same may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors rights generally and by general principles of equity.

(d) Financial Information .

(i) The consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2012 and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, cash flows and partners’ capital for the fiscal year then ended, reported on by Deloitte & Touche LLP, fairly present, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, the consolidated financial position of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of such date and their consolidated results of operations and cash flows for such fiscal year.

 

37


(ii) The unaudited consolidated balance sheets of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of March 31, 2013 and June 30, 2013, and the related unaudited consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, cash flows and partners’ capital for the three and six months then ended, respectively, fairly present, in conformity with GAAP, the consolidated financial position of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of such dates and their consolidated results of operations and changes in financial position for such three-month and six-month period, subject to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

(iii) There has been no Material Adverse Change since December 31, 2012.

(e) Regulation U . The Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries are not engaged in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), and no proceeds of any Borrowing will be used, whether directly or indirectly, to purchase or carry any margin stock or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin stock in any such case that would cause a violation of such Regulation U. Not more than 25% of the value of the assets of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries is represented by margin stock.

(f) Litigation . Except as disclosed in the Borrower’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, and the Borrower’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2013 and June 30, 2013, there is no action, suit or proceeding (including, without limitation, any Environmental Action) pending against, or to the knowledge of the Borrower threatened against or affecting, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries before any court or arbitrator or any governmental body, agency or official that would be likely to be decided adversely to the Borrower or such Subsidiary and, as a result, have a Material Adverse Effect.

(g) Compliance with Laws . The Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws, ordinances, rules, regulations and requirements of governmental authorities (including, without limitation, ERISA and Environmental Laws) except where (i) non-compliance would not have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) the necessity of compliance therewith is contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings.

(h) Taxes . The Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries have filed all United States Federal income tax returns and all other material tax returns that are required to be filed by them and have paid all taxes due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary except (i) where nonpayment or failure to file would not have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) where the same are contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of taxes or other governmental charges are, in the opinions of the Borrower, adequate.

 

38


(i) Investment Company Status . Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is an “investment company” as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

(j) Disclosure .

(i) None of the reports, financial statements, certificates or other written information (excluding any projections (collectively, “ Projections ”) or other forward looking information of a general economic or industry specific nature) furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower, to the Agent or any Lender in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished), when taken as a whole and when so furnished, contains any material misstatement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading.

(ii) Any Projections were prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed by the Borrower to be reasonable at the time prepared.

(k) Unrestricted Subsidiaries . As of the Effective Date, there are no Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

ARTICLE V

COVENANTS OF THE BORROWER

SECTION 5.01. Information . The Borrower will deliver to the Agent:

(a) as soon as available and in any event within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal year and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, cash flows and partners’ capital for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all reported on in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission by Deloitte & Touche LLP or other independent public accountants of nationally recognized standing;

(b) as soon as available and in any event within 60 days after the end of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower, commencing with the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2013, a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of such quarter and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, cash flows and partners’ capital for such quarter and for the portion of the Borrower’s fiscal year ended at the end of such quarter, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding quarter and the corresponding portion of the Borrower’s previous fiscal year, all certified (subject to normal year-end adjustments) as to fairness of presentation, application of GAAP and consistency by an Approved Officer;

(c) simultaneously with the delivery of each set of financial statements referred to in clauses (a)  and (b)  above, a certificate of an Approved Officer (i) setting forth in reasonable detail the calculations required to establish whether the Borrower was in compliance with the requirements of Section 5.11(a) on the date of such financial statements and (ii) stating whether any Default or Event of Default exists on the date of such certificate and, if any Default or Event of Default then exists, setting forth the details thereof and the action that the Borrower is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto;

 

39


(d) within five days after any officer of the Ultimate General Partner (in its capacity as general partner of the General Partner, in its capacity as general partner of the Borrower) with responsibility relating thereto obtains knowledge of any Default or Event of Default, if such Default or Event of Default is then continuing, a certificate of an Approved Officer setting forth the details thereof and the action that the Borrower is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto;

(e) promptly upon the filing thereof, copies of all registration statements (other than the exhibits thereto and any registration statements on Form S-8 or its equivalent) and reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K (or their equivalents) that the Borrower shall have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission;

(f) if and when any member of the ERISA Group (i) gives or is required to give notice to the PBGC of any “reportable event” (as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA) with respect to any Material Plan that might constitute grounds for a termination of such Plan under Title IV of ERISA, or has knowledge that the plan administrator of any Material Plan has given or is required to give notice of any such reportable event, a copy of the notice of such reportable event given or required to be given to the PBGC; (ii) receives notice of complete or partial withdrawal liability under Title IV of ERISA or notice that any Material Plan is in reorganization or “critical status” (within the meaning of Section 305 of ERISA), is insolvent or has been terminated, a copy of such notice; (iii) receives notice from the PBGC under Title IV of ERISA of an intent to terminate, impose material liability (other than for premiums under Section 4007 of ERISA) in respect of, or appoint a trustee to administer any Plan, a copy of such notice; (iv) applies for a waiver of the minimum funding standard under Section 430 of the Internal Revenue Code, a copy of such application; (v) gives notice of intent to terminate any Material Plan under Section 4041(c) of ERISA, a copy of such notice and other information filed with the PBGC; (vi) gives notice of withdrawal from any Material Plan pursuant to Section 4063 of ERISA, a copy of such notice; or (vii) fails to make any payment or contribution to any Material Plan or makes any amendment to any Material Plan that, in each case, has resulted or could result in the imposition of a Lien or the posting of a bond or other security, a certificate of the chief financial officer or the chief accounting officer of the Ultimate General Partner (in its capacity as general partner of the General Partner, in its capacity as general partner of the Borrower) setting forth details as to such occurrence and action, if any, which the Borrower or applicable member of the ERISA Group is required or proposes to take; and

(g) from time to time such additional information regarding the financial position or business of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries (including, if requested, information as to the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries on a stand-alone basis) as the Agent, at the request of any Lender, may reasonably request.

Information required to be delivered pursuant to Sections 5.01(a) , 5.01(b) and 5.01(e) shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date on which such information has been posted by the Borrower on the Securities and Exchange Commission website on the Internet at sec.gov/edaux/searches.htm, on the Borrower’s IntraLinks site at intralinks.com or on another website identified in a notice provided to the Lenders and accessible by the Lenders without charge.

 

40


SECTION 5.02. Payment of Taxes . The Borrower will pay and discharge, and the Borrower will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to pay and discharge, at or before maturity, all their tax liabilities, except where (i) nonpayment or failure to file would not have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) the same may be contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, and the Borrower will maintain, and the Borrower will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to maintain, in accordance with GAAP, appropriate reserves for the accrual of any of the same.

SECTION 5.03. Maintenance of Property; Insurance .

(a) The Borrower will keep, and the Borrower will cause each Material Restricted Subsidiary to keep, all property useful and necessary in its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) The Borrower will, and the Borrower will cause each of its Material Restricted Subsidiaries to, maintain (either in the name of the Borrower or in such Subsidiary’s own name) with financially sound and responsible insurance companies, insurance on all their respective properties in at least such amounts and against at least such risks (and with such risk retention) as are usually insured against by companies of established repute engaged in the same or a similar business; provided that self-insurance by the Borrower or any such Material Restricted Subsidiary shall not be deemed a violation of this covenant to the extent that such self-insurance is consistent with reasonable and prudent business practice; and will furnish to the Lenders, upon request from the Agent, information presented in reasonable detail as to the insurance so carried.

SECTION 5.04. Maintenance of Existence . The Borrower will preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect, and the Borrower will cause each Material Restricted Subsidiary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect their respective corporate or other legal existence and their respective rights, privileges and franchises material to the normal conduct of their respective businesses; provided that nothing in this Section 5.04 shall prohibit (i) any transaction permitted by Section 5.08 or (ii) the termination of any right, privilege or franchise of the Borrower or any Material Restricted Subsidiary or of the corporate or other legal existence of any Material Restricted Subsidiary or the change in form of organization of the Borrower or any Material Restricted Subsidiary if the Borrower in good faith determines that such termination or change is in the best interest of the Borrower, is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders and, in the case of a change in the form of organization of the Borrower, the Agent has consented thereto (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

SECTION 5.05. Compliance with Laws . The Borrower will comply, and the Borrower will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to comply, in all material respects with all applicable laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, and requirements of governmental authorities (including, without limitation, ERISA and Environmental Laws) except where (i) noncompliance would not have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) the necessity of compliance therewith is contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings.

 

41


SECTION 5.06. Books and Records . The Borrower will keep, and the Borrower will cause each Material Restricted Subsidiary to keep, proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries shall be made of all financial transactions in relation to its business and activities in accordance with its customary practices; and the Borrower will permit, and the Borrower will cause each Material Restricted Subsidiary to permit, representatives of any Lender at such Lender’s expense (accompanied by a representative of the Borrower, if the Borrower so desires) to visit any of their respective properties, to examine any of their respective books and records and to discuss their respective affairs, finances and accounts with their respective officers, employees and independent public accountants, all upon such reasonable notice, at such reasonable times and as often as may reasonably be desired provided that such visits shall not occur more than one time per year unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

SECTION 5.07. Negative Pledge . The Borrower will not, and the Borrower will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, create, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on any asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it, except:

(a) Liens existing on the date of this Agreement granted by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and securing Indebtedness or other obligations outstanding on the date of this Agreement;

(b) any Lien on any asset of any Person existing at the time such Person is merged or consolidated with or into the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and not created in contemplation of such event;

(c) any Lien existing on any asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and not created in contemplation of such acquisition;

(d) any Lien on any asset securing Indebtedness incurred or assumed for the purpose of financing all or any part of the cost of acquiring such asset; provided that such Lien attaches to such asset concurrently with or within 365 days after the acquisition thereof;

(e) any Lien arising out of the refinancing, extension, renewal or refunding of any Indebtedness or other obligations secured by any Lien otherwise permitted by any of the foregoing clauses of this Section 5.07 ; provided that the principal amount of such Indebtedness or the amount of such other obligation, as applicable, is not increased and is not secured by any additional assets;

(f) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges or levies not yet due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which adequate reserves or other appropriate provisions are being maintained in accordance with GAAP;

(g) statutory Liens of landlords and Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen and other Liens imposed by law, created in the ordinary course of business and for amounts not past due for more than 60 days or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings that are sufficient to prevent imminent foreclosure of such Liens, are promptly instituted and diligently conducted and with respect to which adequate reserves or other appropriate provisions are being maintained in accordance with GAAP;

 

42


(h) Liens incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of business (including, without limitation, surety bonds and appeal bonds) in connection with workers compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security benefits or to secure the performance of tenders, bids, leases, contracts (other than for the repayment of Indebtedness), statutory obligations and other similar obligations or arising as a result of progress payments under government contracts;

(i) easements (including, without limitation, reciprocal easement agreements and utility agreements), rights-of-way, covenants, consents, reservations, encroachments, variations and other restrictions, charges or encumbrances (whether or not recorded) affecting the use of real property;

(j) Liens with respect to judgments and attachments that do not result in an Event of Default;

(k) Liens, deposits or pledges to secure the performance of bids, tenders, contracts (other than contracts for the payment of money), leases (permitted under the terms of this Agreement), public or statutory obligations, surety, stay, appeal, indemnity, performance or other obligations arising in the ordinary course of business;

(l) other Liens, including Liens imposed by Environmental Laws, arising in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary that (i) do not secure Indebtedness, (ii) do not secure obligations in an aggregate amount exceeding $100,000,000 at any time at which Investment Grade Status does not exist as to the Borrower, and (iii) do not in the aggregate materially detract from the value of the assets of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary or materially impair the use thereof in the operation of its business;

(m) Liens required pursuant to the terms of this Agreement;

(n) Liens on Permitted Cash Collateral securing only Cash Collateralized Term Loans;

(o) Liens on and pledges of the Equity Securities of any joint venture owned by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any such joint venture that is a Consolidated Subsidiary) to the extent securing Indebtedness of such joint venture that is non-recourse to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(p) bankers’ Liens, rights of setoff and other similar Liens existing solely with respect to cash and cash equivalents on deposit in one or more accounts maintained by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, in each case granted in the ordinary course of business in favor of the bank or banks with which such accounts are maintained, securing amounts owing to such bank with respect to cash management and operating account arrangements, including those involving pooled accounts and netting arrangements;

 

43


(q) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business to secure liability for premiums to insurance carriers or to maintain self-insurance;

(r) Liens in favor of the Borrower or any of its wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiaries;

(s) rights of first refusal entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(t) any letter of credit issued for the account of the Borrower or any of its Affiliates to secure Indebtedness under tax free financings; and

(u) Liens not otherwise permitted by the foregoing clauses of this Section 5.07 securing obligations in an aggregate principal or face amount at any date not to exceed 15% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets; provided , for the purposes of this Section 5.07(u) , with respect to any such secured Indebtedness of a non-wholly owned Subsidiary of the Borrower with no recourse to the Borrower or any wholly-owned Subsidiary thereof, only that portion of such Indebtedness reflecting the Borrower’s pro rata ownership interest therein shall be included in calculating compliance herewith.

SECTION 5.08. Consolidations, Mergers and Dispositions of Assets .

(a) The Borrower will not (i) consolidate or merge with or into any other Person or (ii) sell, lease or otherwise transfer, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of its assets to any Person; provided that the Borrower may merge with another Person if the Borrower is the entity surviving such merger and, after giving effect thereto, no Event of Default or Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

(b) The Borrower will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to consolidate or merge with any other Person (except with the Borrower or another Restricted Subsidiary, but subject to the provisions of Section 5.08(a) ) or sell all or substantially all of their respective assets (except to the Borrower or another Restricted Subsidiary) if, after giving effect thereto, (i) any Event of Default or Default shall have occurred and be continuing or (ii) such consolidation, merger or sale of assets, taken as a whole together with all other consolidations, mergers and sales of assets by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries since the Effective Date, shall result in the disposition by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries of assets in an amount that would constitute all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, as of the most recently completed fiscal quarter.

SECTION 5.09. Use of Proceeds . The proceeds of the Term Loans made under this Agreement will be used by the Borrower for its and its Subsidiaries’ general company purposes, including acquisitions. None of such proceeds will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose, whether immediate, incidental or ultimate, of buying or carrying any “margin stock” within the meaning of Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

 

44


SECTION 5.10. Transactions with Affiliates . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, pay any funds to or for the account of, make any investment in, lease, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any assets, tangible or intangible, to, or participate in, or effect, any transaction with, any Affiliate (other than the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary) unless such transaction is on terms and conditions reasonably fair to the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary in the good faith judgment of the Borrower; provided that the foregoing provisions of this Section 5.10 shall not prohibit the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary from (i) declaring or making any lawful distribution so long as, after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or result therefrom, (ii) issuing and maintaining letters of credit, guaranties and sureties as contingent obligations on behalf of Affiliates, (iii) making any Permitted Drop-Down Acquisition, (iv) the payment of funds and making of capital contributions, loans and other transfers of money to Affiliates or to other Persons on behalf of such Affiliates, including payments made under letters of credit, guaranties and surety bonds issued and maintained on behalf of Affiliates, provided that the aggregate amount for all such payments and transfers referred to in this clause (iv) does not exceed $100,000,000 at any time outstanding (calculated at such time after giving effect to any repayments to the Borrower by, or on behalf of, such Affiliates for any such payment of funds and making of capital contributions, loans and other transfers of money), (v) transaction permitted by Section 5.08(a) or by either of the parenthetical provisions in Section 5.08(b) or (vi) engaging in any transaction with an Affiliate if such transaction has been approved by the Conflicts Committee.

SECTION 5.11. Consolidated Leverage Ratio .

(a) The Consolidated Leverage Ratio, as at the end of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower (beginning with the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2013), shall be less than or equal to 5.00 to 1.0; provided that subsequent to the consummation of a Qualified Acquisition, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio, as at the end of the three consecutive fiscal quarters following such Qualified Acquisition, shall be less than or equal to 5.50 to 1.0.

(b) For purposes of calculating compliance with the financial covenant set forth in Section 5.11(a) :

(i) with respect to all Permitted Acquisitions on or subsequent to the Effective Date, Consolidated EBITDA with respect to such newly acquired assets shall be calculated on a pro forma basis as if such acquisition had occurred at the beginning of the applicable twelve-month period of determination; provided , that with respect to all Permitted Acquisitions with limited or no prior operating history (or with a prior operating history that does not reliably indicate future operating results), Consolidated EBITDA shall be deemed to be the amount approved by the Agent as the projected Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries attributable to such Permitted Acquisition for the first twelve-month period following such Permitted Acquisition (such amount to be determined based on customer contracts relating to such Permitted Acquisition, the creditworthiness of the other parties to such contracts, and projected revenues from such contracts, capital costs and expenses, oil and gas reserve and production estimates, commodity price assumptions and other reasonable factors deemed appropriate by the Agent); and

(ii) Consolidated EBITDA may include, at the Borrower’s option, any Qualified Project EBITDA Adjustments as provided in the definition thereof.

 

45


SECTION 5.12. Designation of Subsidiaries . The Board of Directors or similar governing body of the Ultimate General Partner (in its capacity as general partner of the General Partner, in its capacity as general partner of the Borrower) may at any time designate any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (i) immediately before and after such designation, no Event of Default or Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (ii) immediately after giving effect to such designation, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be in compliance, on a pro forma basis, with Section 5.11(a) (as though the effective date of such designation were the last day of a fiscal quarter of the Borrower) and, as a condition precedent to the effectiveness of such designation, the Borrower shall deliver to the Agent a certificate of the Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer or Controller of the Ultimate General Partner (in its capacity as general partner of the General Partner, in its capacity as general partner of the Borrower) setting forth in reasonable detail the calculations demonstrating such compliance, (iii) no Restricted Subsidiary may be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary if it was previously designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary, (iv) no Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary may be designated as a Restricted Subsidiary, (v) no Subsidiary that owns any Equity Securities or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Lien on, any property of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated), may be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary, (vi) each Subsidiary to be so designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, and its Subsidiaries, has not at the time of designation, and does not thereafter, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable with respect to any Indebtedness pursuant to which the lender or other creditor has recourse to any assets of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary other than the Equity Securities in such Unrestricted Subsidiary and its Subsidiaries, and (vii) no primary operating Subsidiary of the Borrower may be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary. The designation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary shall constitute the incurrence at the time of designation of any Indebtedness or Liens of such Subsidiary existing at such time. If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary fails to meet the preceding requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it will thereafter automatically cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary and shall constitute a Restricted Subsidiary for all purposes of this Agreement, and (among other things) any Indebtedness and Liens of such Subsidiary will be deemed to be incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower as of such date.

ARTICLE VI

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

SECTION 6.01. Events of Default . If any of the following events (“ Events of Default ”) shall occur and be continuing:

(a) (i) the Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Term Loan when the same becomes due and payable, or (ii) the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Term Loan or make any other payment of fees or other amounts payable under this Agreement or any Note within five Business Days after the same becomes due and payable; or

(b) any representation or warranty made by the Borrower herein or by the Borrower (or any of its officers or any of the officers of the Ultimate General Partner (in its capacity as general partner of the General Partner, in its capacity as general partner of the Borrower)) in connection with this Agreement shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made; or

 

46


(c) (i) the Borrower shall fail to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in Section 5.01(d) , 5.04 , 5.07 , 5.08 , 5.11(a) or the second sentence of Section 5.09 , or (ii) the Borrower shall fail to perform or observe any other term, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement on its part to be performed or observed if such failure shall remain unremedied for 30 days after written notice thereof shall have been given to the Borrower by the Agent at the request of any Lender; or

(d) (i) the Borrower or any of its Material Restricted Subsidiaries shall fail to pay any principal of or premium or interest on any Indebtedness that is outstanding in a principal or notional amount of at least $175,000,000 in the aggregate (but excluding Indebtedness outstanding hereunder) of the Borrower or such Material Restricted Subsidiary (as the case may be), when the same becomes due and payable (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise), and such failure shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in the agreement or instrument relating to such Indebtedness; or (ii) any such Indebtedness shall be declared to be due and payable, or required to be prepaid or redeemed (other than by a regularly scheduled required prepayment or redemption), purchased or defeased, or an offer to prepay, redeem, purchase or defease such Indebtedness shall be required to be made, in each case prior to the stated maturity thereof; or

(e) the Borrower or any of its Material Restricted Subsidiaries shall generally not pay its debts as such debts become due, or shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally, or shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or any proceeding shall be instituted by or against the Borrower or any of its Material Restricted Subsidiaries seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking liquidation, winding up, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, protection, relief, or composition of it or its debts under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors, or seeking the entry of an order for relief or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for it or for any substantial part of its property and, in the case of any such proceeding instituted against it (but not instituted by it), either such proceeding shall remain undismissed or unstayed for a period of 90 days, or any of the actions sought in such proceeding (including, without limitation, the entry of an order for relief against, or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for, it or for any substantial part of its property) shall occur; or the Borrower or any of its Material Restricted Subsidiaries shall take any corporate or other equivalent action to authorize any of the actions set forth above in this subsection (e) ; or

(f) judgments or orders for the payment of money in excess of $175,000,000 in the aggregate shall be rendered against the Borrower or any of its Material Restricted Subsidiaries and either (i) enforcement proceedings shall have been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order or (ii) there shall be any period of 45 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment or order, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, shall not be in effect; or

 

47


(g) (i) the Ultimate Parent shall cease to own, directly or indirectly, a majority of the Voting Stock of the General Partner; (ii) the General Partner shall cease to be the general partner of the Borrower; (iii) any Person or two or more Persons acting in concert shall have acquired beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), directly or indirectly, of Voting Stock of the Ultimate Parent (or other Equity Securities convertible into such Voting Stock) representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of all Voting Stock of the Ultimate Parent; or (iv) during any period of up to 12 consecutive months, commencing after the Effective Date, individuals who at the beginning of such 12-month period (together with any successors appointed or nominated by such directors in the ordinary course) were directors of the Ultimate Parent shall cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the Board of Directors of the Ultimate Parent; or

(h) any member of the ERISA Group shall fail to pay when due an amount or amounts aggregating in excess of $25,000,000 which it shall have become liable to pay to the PBGC or to a Plan under Title IV of ERISA; or notice of intent to terminate a Plan or Plans having aggregate Unfunded Vested Liabilities in excess of $50,000,000 (collectively, a “ Material Plan ”) shall be filed under Title IV of ERISA by any member of the ERISA Group, any plan administrator or any combination of the foregoing; or the PBGC shall institute proceedings under Title IV of ERISA to terminate or to cause a trustee to be appointed to administer any Material Plan or a proceeding shall be instituted by a fiduciary of any Material Plan against any member of the ERISA Group to enforce Section 515 or 4219(c)(5) of ERISA and such proceeding shall not have been dismissed within 90 days thereafter; or a condition shall exist by reason of which the PBGC would be entitled to obtain a decree adjudicating that any Material Plan must be terminated;

then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to the Borrower described in Section 6.01(e) ), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Agent may with the consent of the Super-Majority Lenders, and at the request of such Super-Majority Lenders shall, by notice to the Borrower, take any or all of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate the Commitments, and thereupon the Commitments shall terminate immediately and (ii) declare the Term Loans then outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in part, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable so long as, at the time of such later declaration, an Event of Default is continuing), and thereupon the principal of the Term Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder, shall become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower; and in case of any event with respect to the Borrower described in Section 6.01(e) , the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Term Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder, shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower. In addition to the remedies set forth above, the Agent may exercise any other remedies provided by applicable law.

 

48


ARTICLE VII

THE AGENT

SECTION 7.01. Authorization and Action . Each Lender hereby appoints and authorizes the Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers and discretion under this Agreement as are delegated to the Agent by the terms hereof, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto. As to any matters not expressly provided for by this Agreement (including, without limitation, enforcement or collection of the Notes), the Agent shall not be required to exercise any discretion or take any action, but shall be required to act or to refrain from acting (and shall be fully protected in so acting or refraining from acting) upon the instructions of the Required Lenders, and such instructions shall be binding upon all Lenders and all holders of Notes; provided , however , that the Agent shall not be required to take any action that exposes the Agent to personal liability or that is contrary to this Agreement or applicable law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (a) the Agent shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (b) the Agent shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated by this Agreement that the Agent is required to exercise in writing as directed by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 8.01 ), and (c) except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, the Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries that is communicated to or obtained by it or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. The Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default unless and until written notice thereof is given to the Agent by the Borrower or a Lender. The Agent agrees to promptly make available to each Lender all information delivered to the Agent pursuant to Section 5.01 , and the Agent agrees to give to each Lender prompt notice of each notice given to it by the Borrower pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

SECTION 7.02. Agent’s Reliance, Etc . Neither the Agent nor any of its directors, officers, agents or employees shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it or them under or in connection with this Agreement, except for its or their own gross negligence or willful misconduct. Without limitation of the generality of the foregoing, the Agent: (a) may treat the payee of any Note as the holder thereof until the Agent receives and accepts an Assignment and Acceptance entered into by the Lender that is the payee of such Note, as assignor, and an assignee, as provided in Section 8.07 ; (b) may consult with legal counsel (including counsel for the Borrower), independent public accountants and other experts selected by it and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts; (c) makes no warranty or representation to any Lender and shall not be responsible to any Lender for any statements, warranties or representations (whether written or oral) made in or in connection with this Agreement; (d) shall not have any duty to ascertain or to inquire as to the performance, observance or satisfaction of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of this Agreement on the part of the Borrower or the existence at any time of any Default or to inspect the property (including the books and records) of the Borrower; (e) shall not be responsible to any Lender for the due execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of this Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto; and (f) shall incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement by acting upon any notice, consent, certificate or other instrument or writing (which may be by telecopier, telegram or electronic communication) believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent by the proper party or parties.

 

49


SECTION 7.03. BTMU and Affiliates . With respect to its Commitment, the Term Loans made by it and the Note issued to it, BTMU shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Agent; and the terms “Lender” or “Lenders”, shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated, include BTMU in its individual capacity. BTMU and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as trustee under indentures of, accept investment banking engagements from and generally engage in any kind of business with, the Borrower, any of its Affiliates and any Person who may do business with or own Equity Securities of the Borrower or any such Affiliate, all as if BTMU were not the Agent and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders. The Agent shall have no duty to disclose any information obtained or received by it or any of its Affiliates relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates to the extent such information was obtained or received in any capacity other than as Agent.

SECTION 7.04. Lender Credit Decision . Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Agent or any other Lender and based on the financial statements referred to in Section 4.01 and 5.01 and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement.

SECTION 7.05. Indemnification . The Lenders agree to indemnify the Agent (to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrower), ratably according to the respective principal amounts of the Notes then held by each of them (or if no Notes are at the time outstanding or if any Notes are held by Persons that are not Lenders, ratably according to the respective amounts of their Commitments), from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever that may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against the Agent in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any action taken or omitted by the Agent under this Agreement, IN ALL CASES, WHETHER OR NOT CAUSED BY OR ARISING, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, OUT OF THE COMPARATIVE, CONTRIBUTORY OR SOLE NEGLIGENCE OF THE AGENT (collectively, the “ Indemnified Costs ”), provided that no Lender shall be liable for any portion of the Indemnified Costs resulting from the Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender agrees to reimburse the Agent promptly upon demand for its ratable share of any out-of-pocket expenses (including counsel fees) incurred by the Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under, this Agreement, to the extent that the Agent is not reimbursed for such expenses by the Borrower. In the case of any investigation, litigation or proceeding giving rise to any Indemnified Costs, this Section 7.05 applies whether any such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by the Agent, any Lender or a third party.

 

50


SECTION 7.06. Successor Agent . The Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Lenders and the Borrower and may be removed at any time with or without cause by the Required Lenders. Upon any such resignation or removal, (i) the Borrower, with the consent of the Required Lenders (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall have the right to appoint a successor Agent or (ii) if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, then the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor Agent. If no successor Agent shall have been so appointed, and shall have accepted such appointment, within 30 days after the retiring Agent’s giving of notice of resignation or the Required Lenders’ removal of the retiring Agent (the “ Resignation Effective Date ”), then the retiring Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders and in consultation with the Borrower, appoint a successor Agent, which shall be a commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or of any State thereof and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $500,000,000. Whether or not a successor has been appointed, the Agent’s resignation shall become effective on the Resignation Effective Date. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Agent hereunder by a successor Agent, such successor Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, discretion, privileges and duties of the retiring Agent, and the retiring Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement provided that if such successor Agent shall have been appointed without the consent of the Borrower, such successor Agent may be replaced by the Borrower with the consent of the Required Lenders so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing. After any retiring Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder as Agent, the provisions of this Article VII shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Agent under this Agreement.

SECTION 7.07. Joint Lead Arrangers and Syndication Agent . The Joint Lead Arrangers and the Syndication Agent, in their respective capacities as such, shall not have any duties or obligations of any kind under this Agreement.

SECTION 7.08. Sub-Agents . The Agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by it. The Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers through its respective Affiliates. The exculpatory provisions of the preceding paragraphs and the provisions of Section 8.04 shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Affiliates of the Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Agent.

ARTICLE VIII

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 8.01. Amendments, Etc . No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or the Notes, nor consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Required Lenders, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided , however , that no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by all the Lenders directly and adversely affected thereby, do any of the following: (a) waive any of the conditions specified in Section 3.01 , (b) increase the Commitments of the Lenders except as provided in Section 2.05(d) or extend the Commitments

 

51


of the Lenders, (c) reduce the principal of, or interest on, the Notes, any Term Loan, or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder, (d) postpone any date fixed for any payment of principal of, or interest on, the Notes, or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder, (e) change the percentage of the Commitments or of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Notes, or change the number of Lenders, that shall be required for the Lenders or any of them to take any action hereunder, (f) amend this Section 8.01 or (g) modify Section 2.16 ; and provided further that no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Agent in addition to the Lenders required above to take such action, affect the rights or duties of the Agent under this Agreement or any Note; provided further that no amendment, waiver or consent to the provisions of Section 2.19 shall be effective unless in writing and signed by the Agent and the Required Lenders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no consent with respect to any amendment, waiver or modification of this Agreement shall be required of any Defaulting Lender, except with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification referred to in clauses (b) , (c) , (d) , (e)  or (f)  of the first proviso of this paragraph and then only in the event such Defaulting Lender shall be directly and adversely affected by such amendment, waiver or modification.

SECTION 8.02. Notices, Etc .

(a) All notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing (including telecopier or telegraphic communication) and mailed, telecopied, telegraphed or delivered, if to the Borrower, at its address at 5400 Westheimer Court, Houston, Texas 77056-5310, fax number 713-989-1717, Attention: Glen Priestley, Treasury, Structured Finance; if to any Initial Lender, at its Domestic Lending Office specified in its Administrative Questionnaire; if to any other Lender, at its Domestic Lending Office specified in the Accession Agreement or Assignment and Acceptance, as applicable, pursuant to which it became a Lender; and if to the Agent, at its address at The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., Syndicated Loan Capital Markets Group, 1251 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020, Attention: Lawrence Blat, email: lblat@us.mufg.jp and Agencydesk@us.mufg.jp, telephone number: 212-782-4310; or, as to the Borrower or the Agent, at such other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to the other parties and, as to each other party, at such other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to the Borrower and the Agent. Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by facsimile shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient). Notices delivered through electronic communications, to the extent provided in paragraph (b) below, shall be effective as provided in said paragraph (b). Delivery by telecopier or other electronic communication of an executed counterpart of any amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or the Notes or of any Exhibit hereto to be executed and delivered hereunder shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart thereof.

(b) Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender pursuant to Article II if such Lender has notified the Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it

 

52


hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications. Unless the Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or their written acknowledgment), provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i)  of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.

SECTION 8.03. No Waiver: Remedies . No failure on the part of any Lender or the Agent to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right hereunder or under any Note shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right. The remedies herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.

SECTION 8.04. Costs and Expenses .

(a) The Borrower agrees to pay on demand all reasonable and invoiced out-of-pocket fees, charges and expenses of a single counsel for the Agent, and of a single local counsel to the Agent in each appropriate jurisdiction (which may include a single special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions) and of such other counsel retained by the Agent with the Borrower’s prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) and of such other counsel retained by the Agent and the Lenders in connection with enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of this Agreement, the Notes and the other documents to be delivered hereunder, including, without limitation, in connection with the enforcement of rights under this Section 8.04(a) .

(b) The Borrower agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Agent, the Joint Lead Arrangers and each Lender and each of their respective Affiliates and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents and advisors (each, an “ Indemnified Party ”) from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities incurred by or asserted or awarded against any Indemnified Party, in each case arising out of or in connection with or by reason of (including, without limitation, in connection with any investigation, litigation or proceeding or preparation of a defense in connection therewith) the Notes, this Agreement, any of the transactions contemplated herein or the actual or proposed use of the proceeds of the Term Loans, IN ALL CASES, WHETHER OR NOT CAUSED BY OR ARISING, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, OUT OF THE COMPARATIVE, CONTRIBUTORY OR SOLE NEGLIGENCE OF THE INDEMNIFIED PARTY, regardless of whether any Indemnified Party is a party thereto, and to reimburse each Indemnified Party upon demand for any reasonable and documented legal expenses of one firm of counsel for all such Indemnified Parties, taken as a whole and, if necessary, of a single local counsel in each appropriate jurisdiction (which may include a single special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions) for all such Indemnified Parties, taken as a whole (and, in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of

 

53


interest where the Indemnified Party affected by such conflict informs the Borrower of such conflict and thereafter retains its own counsel, of another firm of counsel for such affected Indemnified Party) and other expenses incurred in connection with investigating or defending any of the foregoing, provided that the foregoing indemnity will not, as to any Indemnified Party, apply to losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related legal or other expenses to the extent (i) they are found by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to arise from the willful misconduct or gross negligence of such Indemnified Party, (ii) they arise out of or in connection with any claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding that does not involve an act or omission by the Borrower or any of its Affiliates and that is brought by an Indemnified Party against any other Indemnified Party or (iii) they consist of any taxes, which shall be governed by Sections 2.12 and 2.15 . The parties hereto agree not to assert, and hereby waive on behalf of their respective Affiliates, the holders of their Equity Securities and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents and advisors, any claim for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages against any party hereto (including, without limitation, the Borrower, the Agent or any Lender), any of their respective Affiliates or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, attorneys and agents, on any theory of liability arising out of or otherwise relating to the Notes, this Agreement, any of the transactions contemplated herein or the actual or proposed use of the proceeds of the Term Loans; provided that nothing contained in this sentence shall limit the Borrower’s indemnity and reimbursement obligations to the extent set forth in the immediately preceding sentence.

(c) Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreement of the Borrower hereunder, the agreements and obligations of the Borrower contained in Sections 2.11 , 2.12 , 2.14 , 2.15 and 8.04 shall survive the payment in full of principal, interest and all other amounts payable hereunder and under the Notes.

SECTION 8.05. Right of Set-off . Upon (i) the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default and (ii) the making of the request or the granting of the consent specified by Section 6.01 to authorize the Agent to declare the Notes due and payable pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.01 , each Lender is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other indebtedness at any time owing by such Lender to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement and the Note held by such Lender, whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement or such Note. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the Borrower after any such set-off and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application. The rights of each Lender under this Section 8.05 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including, without limitation, other rights of set-off) that such Lender may have.

SECTION 8.06. Binding Effect . This Agreement shall become effective (other than Section 2.01 , which shall only become effective upon satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 3.01 ) when it shall have been executed by the Agent and when the Agent shall have received counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, except that the Borrower shall not have the right to assign its rights hereunder or any interest herein without the prior written consent of the Lenders (and any attempted assignment by the Borrower without such consent shall be null and void).

 

54


SECTION 8.07. Assignments and Participations .

(a) (i)Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph (a)(ii) below, any Lender may assign to one or more Persons (other than an Ineligible Assignee) all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including, without limitation, all or a portion of its Commitment, the Term Loans owing to it and any Note or Notes held by it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld) of:

(A) the Borrower; provided that, the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to an assignment unless it shall have objected thereto by written notice to the Agent within five Business Days after having received notice thereof; provided further that no consent of the Borrower shall be required (1) for an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or (2) if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, for an assignment to any other assignee; and

(B) the Agent; provided that no consent of the Agent shall be required for an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund.

As used herein, “ Ineligible Assignee ” means (a) a natural person, (b) a company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural person or relative(s) thereof; provided that, such company, investment vehicle or trust shall not constitute an Ineligible Assignee if it (x) has not been established for the primary purpose of acquiring any Term Loans or Commitments, (y) is managed by a professional advisor, who is not such natural person or a relative thereof, having significant experience in the business of making or purchasing commercial loans, and (z) has assets greater than $25,000,000 and a significant part of its activities consist of making or purchasing commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business, (c) the Borrower or any of their Affiliates or Subsidiaries or (d) a Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (d) .

(ii) Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:

(A) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment or Term Loans of any Type, the amount of the Commitment or Term Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Agent) shall not be less than $10,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof unless each of the Borrower and the Agent otherwise consent, provided that no such consent of the Borrower shall be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;

(B) each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part, and a constant and not varying percentage, of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement;

 

55


(C) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Agent an Assignment and Acceptance, together with any Note subject to such assignment and a processing and recordation fee of $3,500; and

(D) the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Agent an Administrative Questionnaire in which the assignee designates one or more credit contacts to whom all syndicate-level information (which may contain material non-public information about the Borrower and its Affiliates or their respective securities) will be made available and who may receive such information in accordance with the assignee’s compliance procedures and applicable law, including Federal and state securities laws.

(iii) Subject to acceptance of any Assignment and Acceptance and recording thereof in the Register by the Agent pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering all or the remaining portion of an assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.11 , 2.12 , 2.14 , 2.15 and 8.04 ). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 8.07 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (e)  of this Section.

(b) By executing and delivering an Assignment and Acceptance, the Lender assignor thereunder and the assignee thereunder confirm to and agree with each other and the other parties hereto as follows: (i) other than as provided in such Assignment and Acceptance, such assigning Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with this Agreement or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of this Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto; (ii) such assigning Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to the financial condition of the Borrower or the performance or observance by the Borrower of any of its obligations under this Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto; (iii) such assignee confirms that it has received a copy of this Agreement, together with copies of the financial statements referred to in Section 4.01 and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into such Assignment and Acceptance; (iv) such assignee will, independently and without reliance upon the Agent, such assigning Lender or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement; (v) such

 

56


assignee appoints and authorizes the Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers and discretion under this Agreement as are delegated to the Agent by the terms hereof, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto; and (vi) such assignee agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations that by the terms of this Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

(c) Upon its receipt of an Assignment and Acceptance executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, together with any Note or Notes subject to such assignment, the Agent shall, if such Assignment and Acceptance has been completed and is in substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto, (i) accept such Assignment and Acceptance, (ii) record the information contained therein in the Register and (iii) give prompt notice thereof to the Borrower; provided that if either the assigning Lender or the assignee shall have failed to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.02(d) or 2.14(d ), the Agent shall have no obligation to accept such Assignment and Acceptance and record the information contained therein in the Register unless and until such payment shall have been made in full, together with all accrued interest thereon. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph. Within five Business Days after its receipt of such notice, the Borrower, at its own expense, shall execute and deliver to the Agent in exchange for any surrendered Note a new Note payable to such assignee in an amount equal to the Commitment assumed by it pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance and, if the assigning Lender has retained a Commitment hereunder, a new Note payable to the assigning Lender in an amount equal to the Commitment retained by it hereunder. Such new Note or Notes shall be in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of such surrendered Note or Notes, shall be dated the effective date of such Assignment and Acceptance and shall otherwise be in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto.

(d) The Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at its address referred to in Section 8.02 a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to and accepted by it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders and the Commitment of, and principal amount of the Term Loans owing to, each Lender (the “ Register ”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Agent and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower or any Lender at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. No Commitment, Term Loan or Note shall be transferred by any Lender unless such transfer is entered in the Register.

(e) Each Lender may, with the consent (unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing) of the Borrower (which shall not be unreasonably withheld), sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (a “ Participant ”), other than an Ineligible Assignee, in or to all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including, without limitation, all or a portion of its Commitment, the Term Loans owing to it and any Note or Notes held by it); provided , however , that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement (including, without limitation, its Commitment to the Borrower hereunder) shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations, (iii) such Lender shall remain the holder of any such Note for

 

57


all purposes of this Agreement, (iv) the Borrower, the Agent and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement and (v) no Participant under any such participation shall have any right to approve any amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any Note, or any consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom, except to the extent that such amendment, waiver or consent would reduce the principal of, or interest on, the Notes or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder, in each case to the extent subject to such participation, or postpone any date fixed for any payment of principal of, or interest on, the Notes or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder, in each case to the extent subject to such participation. The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.12 and 2.15 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Sections 2.15(g) , (h)  and (i)  (it being understood that the documentation required under Sections 2.15(g) , (h)  and (i)  shall be delivered to the participating Lender)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (a)  of this Section; provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Sections 2.16 and 2.18 as if it were an assignee under paragraph (a)  of this Section; and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.12 , 2.15 or 8.04 , with respect to any participation, than its participating Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the rights transferred, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Term Loans or other obligations under this Agreement or under the Notes or any other documents to be delivered under this Agreement (the “ Participant Register ”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any Commitments, Term Loans or its other obligations hereunder or under any Note or any other documents to be delivered under this Agreement) to any Person other than the Borrower except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such Commitment, Term Loan or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Agent (in its capacity as the Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

(f) Any Lender may, in connection with any assignment, designation or participation or proposed assignment, designation or participation pursuant to this Section 8.07 , disclose to the assignee, designee or participant or proposed assignee, designee or participant, any information relating to the Borrower and its Affiliates furnished to such Lender by or on behalf of the Borrower; provided that, prior to any such disclosure, the assignee, designee or participant or proposed assignee, designee or participant shall agree to preserve the confidentiality of any confidential information relating to the Borrower and its Affiliates received by it from such Lender.

 

58


(g) Notwithstanding any other provision set forth in this Agreement, any Lender may at any time create a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including, without limitation, the Term Loans owing to it and the Note or Notes held by it), including in favor of any Federal Reserve Bank in accordance with Regulation A of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

SECTION 8.08. Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction . This Agreement and each Note (if any) shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and of any New York State court sitting in New York County, Borough of Manhattan, and any appellate court from any such federal or state court, for purposes of all suits, actions or legal proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby; provided that each of the parties hereto agrees that (i) a final judgment in any such suit, action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law and (ii) the Agent and each of the Lenders retain the right to bring actions or proceedings against the Borrower in the courts of any other jurisdiction in connection with the exercise of any rights under any agreement related to collateral provided hereunder that is governed by laws other than the law of the State of New York or with respect to any collateral subject thereto. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such proceeding brought in such a court and any claim that any such proceeding brought in such a court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

SECTION 8.09. Execution in Counterparts; Integration . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by telecopier or other electronic means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement. THIS AGREEMENT, THE NOTES, AND THE FEE LETTERS TOGETHER CONSTITUTE THE ENTIRE AGREEMENT AND UNDERSTANDING AMONG THE PARTIES HERETO WITH RESPECT TO THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF AND SUPERSEDE ANY AND ALL PRIOR AGREEMENTS AND UNDERSTANDINGS, ORAL OR WRITTEN, RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS AMONG THE PARTIES.

SECTION 8.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL . EACH OF THE BORROWER, THE AGENT AND THE LENDERS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE NOTES OR THE ACTIONS OF THE AGENT OR ANY LENDER IN THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT THEREOF.

 

59


SECTION 8.11. Patriot Act . Each Lender hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the Patriot Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Act.

SECTION 8.12. Headings . Article, Section and other headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

SECTION 8.13. Confidentiality .

(a) The Agent and each Lender agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (i) to its and its Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential and informed on a need-to-know basis), (ii) to the extent requested by any governmental authority or self-regulatory body, (iii) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations, (iv) to the extent required by any subpoena or similar legal process provided that, in such case and in the case of each of clauses (ii)  and (iii)  above, the Agent or such Lender as applicable shall use reasonable efforts, consistent with its normal practices, to notify the Borrower promptly thereof prior to disclosure of such Information, to the extent it is not prohibited from doing so by any law or regulation or by such subpoena or legal process, (v) to any other party to this Agreement, (vi) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the enforcement of rights hereunder, (vii) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section 8.13 , to (A) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement (it being understood that such actual or prospective assignee or Participant will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential and informed on a need-to-know basis) or (B) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Borrower and its obligations (it being understood that such actual or prospective counterparty will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential and informed on a need-to-know basis), (viii) with the consent of the Borrower or (ix) to the extent such Information (A) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 8.13 or (B) becomes available to the Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower unless the Agent or such Lender, as applicable, shall have actual knowledge that such source was required to keep such Information confidential. For the purposes of this Section 8.13 , “ Information ” means all information received from the Borrower relating to the Borrower or its business, other than any such information that is available to the Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower; provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower after the Effective Date, such information is either clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential or should, because of its nature, reasonably be understood to be confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section 8.13 shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

 

60


(b) Each Lender acknowledges that Information furnished to it pursuant to this Agreement may include material non-public information concerning the Borrower and its Affiliates or their respective securities, and confirms that it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and that it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with those procedures and applicable law, including Federal and state securities laws.

(c) All information, including requests for waivers and amendments, furnished by the Borrower or the Agent pursuant to, or in the course of administering, this Agreement will be syndicate-level information, which may contain material non-public information about the Borrower and its Affiliates or their respective securities. Accordingly, each Lender represents to the Borrower and the Agent that it has identified in its Administrative Questionnaire a credit contact who may receive information that may contain material non-public information in accordance with its compliance procedures and applicable law, including Federal and state securities laws.

SECTION 8.14. Conversion of Currencies .

(a) If, for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court, it is necessary to convert a sum owing hereunder in one currency into another currency, each party hereto agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so, that the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures in the relevant jurisdiction the first currency could be purchased with such other currency on the Business Day immediately preceding the day on which final judgment is given.

(b) The obligations of the Borrower in respect of any sum due to any party hereto or any holder of the obligations owing hereunder (the “ Applicable Creditor ”) shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency (the “ Judgment Currency ”) other than the currency in which such sum is stated to be due hereunder (the “ Agreement Currency ”), be discharged only to the extent that, on the Business Day following receipt by the Applicable Creditor of any sum adjudged to be so due in the Judgment Currency, the Applicable Creditor may in accordance with normal banking procedures in the relevant jurisdiction purchase the Agreement Currency with the Judgment Currency; if the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to the Applicable Creditor in the Agreement Currency, the Borrower agrees, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify the Applicable Creditor against such loss. The obligations of the Borrower contained in this Section 8.14 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of all other amounts owing hereunder.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank; Signature Pages Follow]

 

61


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the date first above written.

 

SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP, as Borrower
By:   Spectra Energy Partners (DE) GP, LP,
  its general partner
  By:   Spectra Energy Partners GP, LLC,
    its general partner
  By:  

/s/ Guy G. Buckley

    Name: Guy G. Buckley
    Title: Vice President and Treasurer

[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]


THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD., as the Agent and as a Lender
By:   /s/ Mark Oberreuter
Name:   Mark Oberreuter
Title:   Vice President

[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]


BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender
By:   /s/ Ronald E. McKaig
Name:   Ronald E. McKaig
Title:   Managing Director

[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]


SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION, as a Lender
By:   /s/ James D. Weinstein
Name:   James D. Weinstein
Title:   Managing Director

[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]


SCHEDULE I

COMMITMENTS

 

Lender

   Commitment  

The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.

   $ 140,000,000   

Bank of America, N.A.

   $ 140,000,000   

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation

   $ 120,000,000   
  

 

 

 

TOTAL:

   $ 400,000,000.00   
  

 

 

 

 

Schedule I


EXHIBIT A – FORM OF

PROMISSORY NOTE

PROMISSORY NOTE

 

$                         Dated:                      , 201         

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Borrower ”), HEREBY PROMISES TO PAY to [            ] or its registered assignees (the “ Lender ”) for the account of its Applicable Lending Office on the Maturity Date (each as defined in the Credit Agreement referred to below) the principal sum of $[amount of the Lender’s Commitment in figures] or, if less, the aggregate principal amount of the Term Loans made by the Lender to the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement dated as of November 1, 2013, among the Borrower, the Lender and certain other lenders parties thereto, and The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., as Agent for the Lender and such other lenders (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”; the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), outstanding on the Maturity Date.

The Borrower promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Term Loan from the date of such Term Loan until such principal amount is paid in full, at such interest rates, and payable at such times, as are specified in the Credit Agreement.

Both principal and interest are payable in lawful money of the United States of America to The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., as Agent, at the Agent’s Account, in same day funds. Each Term Loan owing to the Lender by the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement, and all payments made on account of principal thereof, shall be recorded by the Lender and, prior to any transfer hereof, endorsed on the grid attached hereto that is part of this Promissory Note; provided that the failure to make a notation of any such Term Loan or payment made on this Promissory Note shall not limit or otherwise affect the obligations of the Borrower hereunder with respect to payments of principal of or interest on this Promissory Note.

This Promissory Note is one of the Notes referred to in, and is entitled to the benefits of, the Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement, among other things, (i) provides for the making of Term Loans by the Lender to the Borrower from time to time in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the dollar amount first above mentioned, the indebtedness of the Borrower resulting from each such Term Loan by the Lender being evidenced by this Promissory Note, and (ii) contains provisions for acceleration of the maturity hereof upon the happening of certain stated events and also for prepayments on account of principal hereof prior to the maturity hereof upon the terms and conditions therein specified.

This Promissory Note shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York.

 

Exhibit A-1


As provided in the Credit Agreement, the Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and of any New York State court sitting in New York County, Borough of Manhattan, and any appellate court from any such federal or state court, for purposes of all suits, actions or legal proceedings arising out of or relating to the Credit Agreement, this Promissory Note or the transactions contemplated thereby; provided that a final judgment in any such suit, action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law.

The terms of this Promissory Note are subject to amendment only in the manner provided in the Credit Agreement. The Borrower promises to pay all reasonable and invoiced out-of-pocket fees, charges and expenses, all as provided in the Credit Agreement, of counsel retained by the Lender in connection with the collection and enforcement of this Promissory Note (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise). The Borrower and any endorsers of this Promissory Note hereby consent to renewals and extensions of time at or after the maturity hereof, without notice, and hereby waive diligence, presentment, protest, demand, notice of every kind and, to the full extent permitted by law, the right to plead any statute of limitations as a defense to any demand hereunder.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrower has caused this Promissory Note to be duly executed and delivered by its officer thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above written.

 

SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP
By:   Spectra Energy Partners (DE) GP, LP,
 

its general partner

  By:   Spectra Energy Partners GP, LLC,
    its general partner
  By:    
    Name:
    Title:

 

Exhibit A-2


TERM LOANS AND PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL

 

Date

 

Amount of Term Loan

 

Amount of Principal Paid or
Prepaid

   Unpaid Principal Balance    Notation Made By

 

Exhibit A-3


EXHIBIT B – FORM OF

NOTICE OF BORROWING

NOTICE OF BORROWING

[Date]

The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., as Agent

for the Lenders parties

to the Credit Agreement

referred to below

Attention:                     

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The undersigned, Spectra Energy Partners, LP, refers to the Credit Agreement, dated as of November 1, 2013 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”; the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among the undersigned, certain Lenders parties thereto and The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. as Agent for said Lenders, and hereby gives you notice, irrevocably, pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Credit Agreement that the undersigned hereby requests a Term Loan Borrowing under the Credit Agreement, and in that connection sets forth below the information relating to such Term Loan Borrowing (the “ Proposed Borrowing ”) as required by Section 2.02(a) of the Credit Agreement:

(i) The Business Day of the Proposed Borrowing is                      , 201        .

(ii) The Type of Term Loans comprising the Proposed Borrowing is [Base Rate Loans] [Eurodollar Rate Loans].

(iii) The aggregate amount of the Proposed Borrowing is $            .

[(iv) The initial Interest Period for each Eurodollar Rate Loan made as part of the Proposed Borrowing is          month[s].]

The undersigned hereby certifies that the following statements are true on the date hereof, and will be true on the date of the Proposed Borrowing:

(A) the representations and warranties contained in Section 4.01 of the Credit Agreement 1 [(except the representations set forth in Section 4.01(d)(iii) , Section 4.01(f) ) and Section 4.01(g) ( provided that, in the case of Section 4.01(g) , the exception shall apply solely with respect to Environmental Laws))] are correct 2 [in all material respects (except for those representations and warranties qualified by “materiality,” “Material Adverse Effect” or a like qualification, which shall be correct in all respects)], before and after giving effect to the Proposed Borrowing and to the application of the proceeds therefrom, as though made on and as of such date (except for those representations and warranties that specifically relate to a prior date, which shall have been correct on such prior date); and

 

1   Insert bracketed text for borrowings after the Effective Date.
2   Insert bracketed text for borrowings after the Effective Date.

 

Exhibit B-1


(B) no event has occurred and is continuing, or would result from such Proposed Borrowing or from the application of the proceeds therefrom, that constitutes a Default or an Event of Default.

 

Very truly yours,
SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP
By:   Spectra Energy Partners (DE) GP, LP,
  its general partner
  By:   Spectra Energy Partners GP, LLC,
    its general partner
  By:    
    Name:
    Title:

 

Exhibit B-2


EXHIBIT C – FORM OF

ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE

ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE

This Assignment and Acceptance (the “ Assignment and Acceptance ”) is dated as of the Effective Date set forth below and is entered into by and between [NAME OF ASSIGNOR] (the “ Assignor ”) and [NAME OF ASSIGNEE] (the “ Assignee ”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement identified below (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), receipt of a copy of which is hereby acknowledged by the Assignee. The Standard Terms and Conditions set forth in Annex 1 attached hereto are hereby agreed to and incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Assignment and Acceptance as if set forth herein in full.

For an agreed consideration, the Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns to the Assignee, and the Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes from the Assignor, subject to and in accordance with the Standard Terms and Conditions and the Credit Agreement, as of the Effective Date inserted by the Agent as contemplated below (i) all of the Assignor’s rights and obligations in its capacity as a Lender under the Credit Agreement and any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto to the extent related to the amount and percentage interest identified below of all of such outstanding rights and obligations of the Assignor under the respective facilities identified below (including any letters of credit included in such facilities) and (ii) to the extent permitted to be assigned under applicable law, all claims, suits, causes of action and any other right of the Assignor (in its capacity as a Lender) against any Person, whether known or unknown, arising under or in connection with the Credit Agreement, any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto or the loan transactions governed thereby or in any way based on or related to any of the foregoing, including contract claims, tort claims, malpractice claims, statutory claims and all other claims at law or in equity related to the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clause (i)  above (the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clauses (i)  and (ii)  above being referred to herein collectively as the “ Assigned Interest ”). Such sale and assignment is without recourse to the Assignor and, except as expressly provided in this Assignment and Acceptance, without representation or warranty by the Assignor.

 

1.    Assignor:                     
2.    Assignee:    _________________________
      [and is a Lender/an Affiliate of [ identify Lender ]/an Approved Fund]
3.    Borrower:    Spectra Energy Partners, LP
4.    Agent:    The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., as administrative agent under the Credit Agreement
5.    Credit Agreement:    Credit Agreement dated as of November 1, 2013, among Spectra Energy Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership, The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., as Agent, and the other Lenders party thereto

 

Exhibit C-1


6. Assigned Interest:

 

Facility Assigned

   Aggregate
Amount of
Commitment/Term
Loans for all
Lenders
     Amount of
Commitment/Term
Loans
Assigned
     Percentage
Assigned of
Commitment/Term
Loans 1
 

Term Loan Facility

   $         $           %   

 

7. Assignee’s Domestic

Lending Office:                     

 

8. Assignee’s Eurodollar

Lending Office:                     

Effective Date:                  , 20         [TO BE INSERTED BY AGENT AND WHICH SHALL BE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF RECORDATION OF TRANSFER IN THE REGISTER THEREFOR.]

The Assignee agrees to deliver to the Agent a completed Administrative Questionnaire in which the Assignee designates one or more credit contacts to whom all syndicate-level information (which may contain material non-public information about the Borrower and its Affiliates or their respective securities) will be made available and who may receive such information in accordance with the Assignee’s compliance procedures and applicable laws, including Federal and state securities laws.

 

ASSIGNOR

[NAME OF ASSIGNOR],

    by

   
  Name:
  Title:

 

ASSIGNEE
[NAME OF ASSIGNEE],
    by    
  Name:
  Title:

 

 

1   Set forth, to at least 9 decimals, as a percentage of the Commitment of all Lenders thereunder.

 

Exhibit C-2


Consented to and Accepted:
THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI
UFJ, LTD., as Agent
By:    
  Name:  
  Title:  

[Consented to:] 2

SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP

 

By:   Spectra Energy Partners (DE) GP, LP,
  its general partner
  By:   Spectra Energy Partners GP, LLC,
    its general partner
  By:    
    Name:
    Title:

 

 

2   To be added only if the consent of the Borrower is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement.

 

Exhibit C-3


Standard Terms And Conditions For

Assignment And Assumption

1. Representations and Warranties .

1.1 Assignor . The Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of the Assigned Interest, (ii) the Assigned Interest is free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim and (iii) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Acceptance and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; and (b) assumes no responsibility with respect to (i) any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement, (ii) the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Credit Agreement or any collateral thereunder, (iii) the financial condition of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person obligated in respect of the Credit Agreement or (iv) the performance or observance by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person of any of their respective obligations under the Credit Agreement.

1.2. Assignee . The Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Acceptance and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (ii) it satisfies the requirements, if any, specified in the Credit Agreement that are required to be satisfied by it in order to acquire the Assigned Interest and become a Lender, (iii) from and after the Effective Date, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement as a Lender thereunder and, to the extent of the Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder, (iv) it has received and/or had the opportunity to review a copy of the Credit Agreement to the extent it has in its sole discretion deemed necessary, together with copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) and 5.01(b) thereof, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it has in its sole discretion deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Acceptance and to purchase the Assigned Interest on the basis of which it has made such analysis and decision independently and without reliance on the Agent or any other Lender, and (v) if it is a Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States of America or any State thereof or the District of Columbia, attached to the Assignment and Acceptance is any documentation required to be delivered by it pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, duly completed and executed by the Assignee; and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance on the Agent, the Assignor or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Credit Agreement, and (ii) it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations that by the terms of the Credit Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

2. Payments . From and after the Effective Date, the Agent shall make all payments in respect of the Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to the Assignor for amounts that have accrued to but excluding the Effective Date and to the Assignee for amounts that have accrued from and after the Effective Date.

 

Annex 1 to Assignment and Acceptance - 1


3. General Provisions . This Assignment and Acceptance shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Assignment and Acceptance may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Assignment and Acceptance by telecopy or other electronic means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and Acceptance. This Assignment and Acceptance shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

 

Annex 1 to Assignment and Acceptance - 2


EXHIBIT D-1 – FORM OF

U.S. TAX CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Lenders That For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes Are Neither (i) Partnerships Nor (ii) Disregarded Entities Whose Tax Owner is a Partnership)

Reference is hereby made to that certain Credit Agreement dated as of November 1, 2013 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”) among Spectra Energy Partners, LP (the “ Borrower ”), certain Lenders parties thereto and The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. as Agent for said Lenders.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.15 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned (or if the Lender is a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Lender’s tax owner (“ Tax Owner ”)) hereby certifies that (i) the Lender is the sole record owner of the loan(s) (as well as any note(s) evidencing such loan(s)) or obligations in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) the Lender (or its Tax Owner) is the sole beneficial owner of such loan(s) (as well as any note(s) evidencing such loan(s)) or obligations, and (iii) the Lender (and, if the Lender is a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, its Tax Owner) is not a (A) bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, (B) ten-percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code, or (C) controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The undersigned (or its Tax Owner) has furnished the Agent and the Borrower with a certificate of its non-U.S. person status on Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (i) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrower and the Agent and (ii) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrower and the Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF LENDER] (the “ Lender ”)
By:    
  Name:  
  Title:   [Tax Owner, if the Lender is a disregarded entity]

Date:                  , 20    

 

Exhibit D-1 - 1


EXHIBIT D-2 – FORM OF

U.S. TAX CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Lenders That For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes Are (i) Partnerships or

(ii) Disregarded Entities Whose Tax Owner is a Partnership)

Reference is hereby made to that certain Credit Agreement dated as of November 1, 2013 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”) among Spectra Energy Partners, LP (the “ Borrower ”), certain Lenders parties thereto and The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. as Agent for said Lenders.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.15 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned (or if the Lender is a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Lender’s tax owner (“ Tax Owner ”)) hereby certifies that (i) the Lender is the sole record owner of the loan(s) (as well as any note(s) evidencing such loan(s)) or obligations in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) the Lender’s (or its Tax Owner’s) direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such loan(s) (as well as any note(s) evidencing such loan(s)) or obligations, (iii) with respect to the extension of credit pursuant to the Credit Agreement or any Notes, neither the Lender, its Tax Owner (if the Lender is a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes) nor any of the Lender’s (or its Tax Owner’s) direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, (iv) none of the Lender’s direct or indirect partners/members (and, if the Lender is a disregarded entity for U.S. federal tax purposes, none of its Tax Owner’s direct or indirect partners/members) is a ten-percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code, and (v) none of the Lender’s direct or indirect partners/members (and, if the Lender is a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, none of its Tax Owner’s direct or indirect partners/members) is a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The undersigned (or its Tax Owner) has furnished the Agent and the Borrower with Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its (or its Tax Owner’s) partners/members claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or (ii) Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY accompanied by an Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (i) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrower and the Agent and (ii) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrower and the Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

Exhibit D-2 - 1


[NAME OF LENDER] (the “Lender”)
By:    
  Name:  
  Title:   [Tax Owner, if the Lender is a disregarded entity]

Date:                      , 20        .

 

Exhibit D-2 - 2


EXHIBIT D-3 – FORM OF

U.S. TAX CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Participants That For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes Are Neither

(i) Partnerships Nor (ii) Disregarded Entities Whose Tax Owner is a Partnership)

Reference is hereby made to that certain Credit Agreement dated as of November 1, 2013 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”) among Spectra Energy Partners, LP (the “ Borrower ”), certain Lenders parties thereto and The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. as Agent for said Lenders.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.15 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned (or if the Participant is a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Participant’s tax owner (“ Tax Owner ”)) hereby certifies that (i) the Participant is the sole record owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) the Participant (or, if the Participant is a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, its Tax Owner) is the sole beneficial owner of such participation, and (iii) the Participant (and, if the Participant is a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, its Tax Owner) is not a (A) bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, (B) ten-percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code, or (C) controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The undersigned (or its Tax Owner) has furnished its participating Lender with a certificate of its non-U.S. person status on Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (i) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender in writing and (ii) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF PARTICIPANT] (the “ Participant ”)

By:

   
  Name:  
  Title:   [Tax Owner, if the Participant is a disregarded entity]

Date:                      , 20    

 

Exhibit D-3 - 1


EXHIBIT D-4 – FORM OF

U.S. TAX CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Participants That For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes Are (i) Partnerships or

(ii) Disregarded Entities Whose Tax Owner is a Partnership )

Reference is hereby made to that certain Credit Agreement dated as of November 1, 2013 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”) among Spectra Energy Partners, LP (the “ Borrower ”), certain Lenders parties thereto and The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., as Agent for said Lenders.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.15 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned (or if the Participant is a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Participant’s tax owner (“ Tax Owner ”)) hereby certifies that (i) the Participant is the sole record owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) the Participant’s (or its Tax Owner’s) direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such participation, (iii) with respect to such participation, neither the undersigned, its Tax Owner (if the Participant is a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes) nor any of its (or its Tax Owner’s) direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, (iv) none of the Participant’s direct or indirect partners/members (and, if the Participant is a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, none of its Tax Owner’s direct or indirect partners/members) is a ten-percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code, and (v) none of the Participant’s direct or indirect partners/members (and, if the Participant is a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, none of its Tax Owner’s direct or indirect partners/members) is a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The undersigned (or its Tax Owner) has furnished its participating Lender with Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its (or its Tax Owner’s) partners/members claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or (ii) Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY accompanied by an Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (i) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender and (ii) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

Exhibit D-4 - 1


[NAME OF PARTICIPANT] (the “ Participant ”)
By:    
  Name:  
  Title:   [Tax Owner, if the Participant is a disregarded entity]

Date:                      , 20        

 

Exhibit D-4 - 2

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO    LOGO

Date: November 1, 2013

Spectra Energy Corp and Spectra Energy Partners Close on Drop-Down of

Remaining U.S. Transmission, Storage and Liquids Assets

Transaction Supports Growth and Increased Dividends/Distributions

HOUSTON — Spectra Energy Corp (NYSE: SE) today announced closing on the drop-down of substantially all of the remaining U.S. transmission, storage and liquid assets to its Master Limited Partnership (MLP) Spectra Energy Partners (NYSE: SEP). The drop-down consideration to Spectra Energy included $2.3 billion in cash, the transfer of $2.4 billion of debt to SEP, 167.6 million newly issued LP units and 3.4 million newly issued GP units. An additional closing for the remainder of the Southeast Supply Header assets is expected in the fourth quarter of 2014. After the second closing, Spectra Energy will have received a total of approximately 172 million newly issued LP units and 3.5 million GP units.

“This transaction—which we closed earlier than expected—is a win for investors in both Spectra Energy and Spectra Energy Partners as it enables accelerated dividend and distribution growth at both entities,” said Greg Ebel, president and chief executive officer, Spectra Energy and president, CEO, and chairman of the board, Spectra Energy Partners. “The tremendous combination of a large C-Corporation with one of the largest fee-based MLPs will provide us with the scale and financial flexibility to execute on $25 billion in growth projects this decade and allow us to effectively pursue additional opportunities as they arise.”

As previously announced, and as a result of the transaction, Spectra Energy will raise its annual dividend to shareholders by 12 cents (9.8 percent) next year effective in the first quarter of 2014. Spectra Energy Partners will increase its quarterly distribution paid in the first quarter 2014 by three cents per unit, and then provide one cent per unit quarterly increases thereafter. Both increases are subject to Board of Directors approval.


Forward-Looking Statements

This release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are identified by terms and phrases such as: anticipate, believe, intend, estimate, expect, continue, should, could, may, plan, project, predict, will, potential, forecast, and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to be materially different from the results predicted. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in any forward-looking statement include, but are not limited to: the success of the completed drop-down; state and federal legislative and regulatory initiatives that affect cost and investment recovery, have an effect on rate structure, and affect the speed at and degree to which competition enters the natural gas industries; outcomes of litigation and regulatory investigations, proceedings or inquiries; weather and other natural phenomena, including the economic, operational and other effects of hurricanes and storms; the timing and extent of changes in interest rates; general economic conditions, including the risk of a prolonged economic slowdown or decline, or the risk of delay in a recovery, which can affect the long-term demand for natural gas and related services; potential effects arising from terrorist attacks and any consequential or other hostilities; changes in environmental, safety and other laws and regulations; results and costs of financing efforts, including the ability to obtain financing on favorable terms, which can be affected by various factors, including credit ratings and general market and economic conditions; increases in the cost of goods and services required to complete capital projects; growth in opportunities, including the timing and success of efforts to develop domestic pipeline, storage, gathering and other infrastructure projects and the effects of competition; the performance of natural gas transmission, storage and gathering facilities; the extent of success in connecting natural gas supplies to transmission and gathering systems and in connecting to expanding gas markets; the effect of accounting pronouncements issued periodically by accounting standard-setting bodies; conditions of the capital markets during the periods covered by the forward-looking statements; and the ability to successfully complete merger, acquisition or divestiture plans; regulatory or other limitations imposed as a result of a merger, acquisition or divestiture; and the success of the business following a merger, acquisition or divestiture. These factors, as well as additional factors that could affect our forward-looking statements, are described under the headings “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information” in our 2012 Form 10-K, filed on February 22, 2013, and in other filings that we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which are available via the SEC’s

 

2


website at www.sec.gov. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the events described in the forward-looking statements might not occur or might occur to a different extent or at a different time than we have described. All forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Spectra Energy Corp (NYSE: SE), a FORTUNE 500 company, is one of North America’s premier pipeline and midstream companies. Based in Houston, Texas, the company’s operations in the United States and Canada include more than 22,000 miles of natural gas, natural gas liquids, and crude oil pipelines, approximately 305 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas storage, as well as natural gas gathering and processing, and local distribution operations. The company also has a 50 percent ownership in DCP Midstream, the largest producer of natural gas liquids and the largest natural gas processor in the United States. Spectra Energy has served North American customers and communities for more than a century. The company’s longstanding values are recognized through its inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America Indexes and the CDP Global 500 and S&P 500 Climate Disclosure and Performance Leadership Indexes. For more information, visit www.spectraenergy.com .

Spectra Energy Partners, LP (NYSE: SEP) is a Houston-based, master limited partnership, formed by Spectra Energy Corp (NYSE: SE). SEP is one of the largest fee-based MLPs in North America and owns interests in pipelines and storage facilities that connect growing supply areas to high-demand markets for natural gas, natural gas liquids, and crude oil. These assets include more than 17,000 miles of transmission and gathering pipelines, approximately 150 billion cubic feet of natural gas storage, and approximately 4.8 million barrels of crude oil storage.

Spectra Energy

 

Media:    Phil West
   (713) 627-4964
   (713) 627-4747 (24-hour media line)
Analysts:    Roni Cappadonna
  

(713) 627-4778

Spectra Energy Partners
Media   

& Analysts:

   Derick Smith
  

(713) 627-4963

###

 

3