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): August 9, 2018

 

 

The Williams Companies, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   1-4174   73-0569878
(State or Other Jurisdiction of   (Commission File Number)   (I.R.S. Employer
Incorporation)     Identification No.)

 

One Williams Center,

Tulsa, Oklahoma

  74172-0172
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (918) 573-2000

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K 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))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR 230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR 240.12b-2).

Emerging growth company  ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

 

 

 


Introductory Note

On August 10, 2018, The Williams Companies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“WMB”), completed the previously announced merger of Williams Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“WPZ”), and SCMS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of WMB (“Merger Sub”), pursuant to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), dated May 16, 2018, by and among WPZ, WMB, Merger Sub, and WPZ GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the general partner of WPZ (“WPZ General Partner”), whereby Merger Sub merged with and into WPZ with WPZ continuing as the sole surviving entity and a wholly owned subsidiary of WMB (the “Merger”).

Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the Merger each outstanding common unit representing limited partner interests in WPZ (the “WPZ Common Units”) that was held by a unitholder other than WMB and any entities that are partially or wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by WMB, including Merger Sub, Williams Gas Pipeline Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of WMB (“Williams Gas Pipeline”), and WPZ, was cancelled and each holder became entitled to receive 1.494 shares of validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable WMB common stock, par value $1.00 per share (the “WMB Common Stock”) for each WPZ Common Unit that such holder owned at the effective time of the Merger.

Immediately following the Merger, each of the WPZ General Partner, WPZ and Williams Gas Pipeline merged with and into WMB, with WMB continuing as the sole surviving entity (the “Subsequent Merger”).

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Supplemental Indentures

On August 10, 2018, following the consummation of the Subsequent Merger, WMB entered into:

 

 

the Eleventh Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 10, 2018 (the “November 2010 WPZ Indenture Supplemental Indenture”), between WMB and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (the “Trustee”), to the Indenture, dated as of November 9, 2010 (as previously supplemented, the “November 2010 WPZ Indenture”), between WPZ and the Trustee, governing WPZ’s 4.125% Senior Notes due 2020, 4.00% Senior Notes due 2021, 3.35% Senior Notes due 2022, 4.500% Senior Notes due 2023, 5.800% Senior Notes due 2043, 4.300% Senior Notes due 2024, 5.400% Senior Notes due 2044, 3.90% Senior Notes due 2025, 4.90% Senior Notes due 2045, 3.60% Senior Notes due 2022, 4.00% Senior Notes due 2025, 3.750% Senior Notes due 2027, 5.10% Senior Note due 2045 and 4.850% Senior Notes due 2048; and

 

 

the Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 10, 2018 (the “February 2010 WPZ Indenture Supplemental Indenture”), between WMB and the Trustee, to the Indenture, dated as of February 9, 2010 (as previously supplemented, the “February 2010 WPZ Indenture”), between WPZ and the Trustee, governing WPZ’s 5.250% Senior Notes due 2020 and 6.300% Senior Notes due 2040.

Pursuant to the terms of the November 2010 WPZ Indenture Supplemental Indenture and the February 2010 WPZ Indenture Supplemental Indenture (collectively, the “WPZ Indenture Supplemental Indentures”), WMB assumed all of the obligations of WPZ under the November 2010 WPZ Indenture and the February 2010 WPZ Indenture, respectively, and under the applicable notes issued thereunder. Copies of each of the November 2010 WPZ Indenture Supplemental Indenture and the February 2010 WPZ Indenture Supplemental Indenture are attached as Exhibits 4.1 and 4.2, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K. The foregoing description of the WPZ Indenture Supplemental Indentures does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable WPZ Indenture Supplemental Indenture.

Commercial Paper Program

On August 10, 2018, following the consummation of the Subsequent Merger, WMB entered into a $4.0 billion commercial paper program (the “CP Program”), pursuant to which WMB may issue short-term, unsecured commercial paper notes (the “CP Notes”) pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the

 

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“Securities Act”). Amounts available under the CP Program may be borrowed, repaid and re-borrowed from time to time, with the aggregate principal amount of CP Notes outstanding under the CP Program at any time not to exceed $4.0 billion. The net proceeds of issuances of the CP Notes are expected to be used to fund planned capital expenditures and for other general corporate purposes. WMB’s Credit Agreement, dated as of July 13, 2018, by and among WMB, Northwest Pipeline LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Northwest”), Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Transco”), the lenders named therein and Citibank, N.A. (“Citi”), as administrative agent (the “New Credit Agreement”), is available to repay the CP Notes, if necessary.

The maturities of the CP Notes will vary but may not exceed 397 days from the date of issue. The CP Notes will be sold under customary terms in the commercial paper market and will be issued at a discount from par, or, alternatively, will be sold at par and bear varying interest rates on a fixed or floating basis.

Six commercial paper dealers will each act as a dealer under the CP Program (each a “Dealer” and, collectively, the “Dealers”) pursuant to the terms and conditions of a commercial paper dealer agreement entered into between WMB and each Dealer (each, a “Dealer Agreement”). A national bank will act as issuing and paying agent under the CP Program.

Each Dealer Agreement provides the terms under which the respective Dealer will either purchase from us or arrange for the sale by us of the CP Notes pursuant to an exemption from federal and state securities laws. Each Dealer Agreement contains customary representations, warranties, covenants and indemnification provisions. The Dealer Agreements are substantially identical in all material respects except as to the parties thereto and the notice provisions; a form of Dealer Agreement is attached as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated into this Item 1.01 by reference. The description above is a summary of the CP Program and is qualified in its entirety by the terms of the CP Program as set forth in the form of Dealer Agreement.

From time to time, one or more of the Dealers and certain of their respective affiliates have provided, and may in the future provide, commercial banking, investment banking and other financial advisory services to WMB and its affiliates for which they have received or will receive customary fees and expenses.

The CP Notes have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. The information contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities.

Equity Distribution Agreement

On August 10, 2018, WMB entered into an Equity Distribution Agreement (the “Equity Distribution Agreement”) with Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., CIBC World Markets Corp., Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Mizuho Securities USA LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, MUFG Securities Americas Inc., RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Scotia Capital (USA) Inc., SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc., TD Securities (USA) LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC (each a “Manager” and collectively, the “Managers”). Pursuant to the terms of the Equity Distribution Agreement, WMB may issue and sell from time to time through or to the Managers, as sales agents or principals, shares of WMB Common Stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $1.0 billion.

Pursuant to the Equity Distribution Agreement, sales, if any, of the WMB Common Stock will be made by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions on the New York Stock Exchange or any other national securities exchange or quotation service on which the WMB Common Stock may be listed or quoted at the time of sale and at market prices, in block transactions or as otherwise agreed to between WMB and one or more of the Managers. The Equity Distribution Agreement provides that a Manager, when it is acting as WMB’s sales agent, will be entitled to a commission of up to 2.0% of the gross sales price per share of WMB Common Stock sold through such Manager, depending upon the number of shares of WMB Common Stock sold. WMB may also sell shares of WMB Common Stock to a Manager purchasing as principal for its own account at a price agreed upon at the time of sale. Any sale of shares of WMB Common Stock to a Manager purchasing as principal may be made pursuant to the terms of a separate terms agreement (the “Terms Agreement”) between WMB and the relevant Manager. WMB has no obligation to offer or sell any shares of WMB Common Stock under the Equity Distribution Agreement, and may at any time suspend any offers and sales under the Equity Distribution Agreement. A copy of the Equity Distribution Agreement, including a form of Terms Agreement as an annex thereto, is attached as Exhibit 1.1 to this Current Report and is incorporated by reference herein.

 

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The WMB Common Stock will be issued pursuant to WMB’s registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-223149). WMB filed a prospectus supplement dated August 10, 2018 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in connection with the offer and sale of WMB Common Stock in connection with the Equity Distribution Agreement.

From time to time, one or more of the Managers and certain of their respective affiliates have provided, and may in the future provide, commercial banking, investment banking and other financial advisory services to WMB and its affiliates for which they have received or will receive customary fees and expenses.

The summary of the Equity Distribution Agreement in this report does not purport to be complete and is qualified by reference to such agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 1.1 hereto. The legal opinion of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP relating to the WMB Common Stock to be issued pursuant to the Equity Distribution Agreement is included as Exhibit 5.1 hereto.

Item 1.02. Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement.

On August 10, 2018, WMB terminated the Second Amended & Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of February 2, 2015, by and among WMB, Citi, as administrative agent, and the lenders named therein, subject to survival of any provisions which by their terms survive the termination.

Also on August 10, 2018, WPZ, Northwest and Transco terminated the Second Amended & Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of February 2, 2015, by and among WPZ, Northwest, Transco, Citi, as administrative agent, and the lenders named therein, subject to survival of any provisions which by their terms survive the termination.

Item 2.01. Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.

The description of the Merger Agreement and the Merger in the Introductory Note is hereby incorporated into this Item 2.01 by reference.

The description of the Merger and the Merger Agreement in the Introductory Note does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Merger Agreement, a copy of which was attached as Exhibit 2.1 to WMB’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 17, 2018, and the terms of which are incorporated herein by reference.

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

On August 10, 2018, WMB entered into the CP Program. The description of the CP Program under Item 1.01 is incorporated into this Item 2.03 by reference.

On August 10, 2018, upon completion of the Merger, the obligations of the lenders and letter of credit issuer under the New Credit Agreement became effective. The New Credit Agreement was filed as Exhibit 10.1 to WMB’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 17, 2018.

On August 10, 2018, following the consummation of the Subsequent Merger, WMB entered into the WPZ Indenture Supplemental Indentures. The description of the WPZ Indenture Supplemental Indentures under Item 1.01 is incorporated into this Item 2.03 by reference.

Item 3.03. Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

The information included under Item 1.01 with respect to the WPZ Indenture Supplemental Indentures and under Item 5.03 with respect to the Charter Amendment is hereby incorporated into this Item 3.03 by reference.

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

On August 10, 2018, in connection with the Merger, WMB amended its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “WMB Charter”) to increase the number of authorized shares of capital stock from 990,000,000 shares to 1,500,000,000 shares,

 

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consisting of 1,470,000,000 shares of WMB Common Stock and 30,000,000 shares of WMB preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share (the “Charter Amendment”). This amendment was approved by the WMB stockholders at the Special Meeting (defined below).

The description of the Charter Amendment is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Charter Amendment, a copy of which is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 3.1 and which is incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 5.07.

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

WMB held a Special Meeting of stockholders on August 9, 2018 (the “Special Meeting”). At the Special Meeting, the WMB stockholders were requested to consider and vote upon: (1) a proposal to adopt an amendment to the WMB Charter to increase the number of authorized shares of capital stock from 990,000,000 shares to 1,500,000,000 shares, consisting of 1,470,000,000 shares of WMB Common Stock and 30,000,000 shares of WMB preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share (the “Charter Amendment Proposal”), (2) a proposal to approve, subject to and conditioned upon the effectiveness of the Charter Amendment, the issuance of WMB Common Stock in the Merger pursuant to the Merger Agreement (the “Stock Issuance Proposal”), and (iii) a proposal to approve the adjournment of the Special Meeting from time to time, if necessary or appropriate to solicit additional proxies if there are insufficient votes at the time of the Special Meeting to approve the Charter Amendment Proposal or the Stock Issuance Proposal (the “Adjournment Proposal”). A total of 827,957,583 shares of WMB Common Stock were entitled to vote as of July 9, 2018, the record date for the Special Meeting. There were 676,880,981 shares present, in person or by proxy, at the Special Meeting (or approximately 82% of the outstanding shares).

The following are the final voting results on the proposals considered and voted upon at the Special Meeting, each of which is more fully described in WMB’s definitive proxy statement filed on July 12, 2018:

 

1.

Charter Amendment Proposal:

 

FOR

  

AGAINST

  

ABSTAIN

  

NON-VOTES

672,227,262    2,934,371    1,719,348    0

 

2.

Stock Issuance Proposal:

 

FOR

  

AGAINST

  

ABSTAIN

  

NON-VOTES

672,981,498    2,010,993    1,888,490    0

 

3.

Adjournment Proposal:

 

FOR

  

AGAINST

  

ABSTAIN

  

NON-VOTES

627,258,763    47,726,740    1,895,478    0

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

On August 9, 2018, WMB and WPZ issued a joint press release announcing the results of the Special Meeting. A copy of the press release is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

On August 10, 2018, WMB and WPZ issued a joint press release announcing the consummation of the Merger. A copy of the joint press release is filed as Exhibit 99.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description

  1.1    Equity Distribution Agreement, dated August  10, 2018, between The Williams Companies, Inc. and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., CIBC World Markets Corp., Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Mizuho Securities USA LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, MUFG Securities Americas Inc., RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Scotia Capital (USA) Inc., SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc., TD Securities (USA) LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC.
  2.1*    Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of May  16, 2018, by and among The Williams Companies, Inc., SCMS LLC, Williams Partners L.P., and WPZ GP LLC (filed on May  17, 2018 as Exhibit 2.1 to The Williams Companies, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-04174) and incorporated herein by reference).
  3.1    Certificate of Amendment dated August 10, 2018.
  4.1    Eleventh Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 10, 2018, between The Williams Companies, Inc. and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.
  4.2    Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 10, 2018, between The Williams Companies, Inc. and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.
  5.1    Opinion of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP.
10.1    Form of Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement, dated as of August 10, 2018, between The Williams Companies, Inc., as Issuer, and the Dealer party thereto.
99.1    Press Release, dated August 9, 2018.
99.2    Press Release, dated August 10, 2018.

 

*

Certain schedules have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. A copy of any omitted schedule will be furnished supplementally to the SEC upon request.

 

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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.

 

THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC.
By:   /s/ Joshua H. De Rienzis
 

Joshua H. De Rienzis

Corporate Secretary

DATED: August 10, 2018

Exhibit 1.1

THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC.

Up to $1,000,000,000 of Common Shares

Equity Distribution Agreement

August 10, 2018

 

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

Barclays Capital Inc.

CIBC World Markets Corp.

Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc.

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

                     Incorporated

  

Mizuho Securities USA LLC

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

MUFG Securities Americas Inc.

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.

SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc.

SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc.

TD Securities (USA) LLC

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

c/o Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

388 Greenwich Street

New York, New York 10013

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The Williams Companies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), confirms its agreement (this “ Agreement ”) with Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., CIBC World Markets Corp., Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Mizuho Securities USA LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, MUFG Securities Americas Inc., RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Scotia Capital (USA) Inc., SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc., TD Securities (USA) LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC (the “ Managers ”) as follows:

1. Description of Shares . The Company proposes to issue and sell through or to the Managers, as sales agents and/or principals, shares of common stock of the Company, par value $1.00 per share (the “ Common Shares ”), having an aggregate gross sales price to the public of up to $1,000,000,000 (the “ Offered Shares ”), from time to time during the term of this Agreement and on the terms set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement. For purposes of selling the Offered Shares through the Managers, the Company hereby appoints the Managers as exclusive agents of the Company for the purpose of selling the Offered Shares pursuant to this Agreement and each Manager agrees, severally and not jointly, to use its commercially reasonable efforts to sell the Offered Shares on the terms and subject to the conditions stated herein. The Company agrees that whenever it determines to sell the Offered Shares directly to any Manager as principal, it will enter into a separate agreement (each, a “ Terms Agreement ”) in substantially the form of Annex I hereto, relating to such sale in accordance with Section 3 of this Agreement. Certain terms used herein are defined in Section 20 hereof.


2. Representations and Warranties . The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Managers at the Execution Time and on each such time that the following representations and warranties are repeated or deemed to be made pursuant to this Agreement, as set forth below.

(a) The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the Securities Act and has prepared and filed with the Commission an “automatic shelf registration statement” (as defined in Rule 405) (File No. 333-223149) on Form S-3, including a related Base Prospectus, for registration under the Securities Act of the offering and sale of the Offered Shares. Such Registration Statement, including any amendments thereto filed prior to the Execution Time or prior to any such time this representation is repeated or deemed to be made with respect to the Offered Shares has (i) been prepared by the Company in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, (ii) been filed with the Commission under the Securities Act and (iii) become effective under the Securities Act. Copies of such Registration Statement have been delivered by the Company to the Managers. The Commission has not issued any order preventing or suspending the use of the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and no proceeding or examination for such purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act has been instituted or threatened by the Commission. The Commission has not notified the Company of any objection to the use of the form of Registration Statement. The Registration Statement, at the Execution Time, each such time this representation is repeated or deemed to be made, and at all times during which a prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 or any similar rule) in connection with any offer or sale of Common Shares, meets the requirements set forth in Rule 415(a)(1)(x). The initial Effective Date of the Registration Statement was not earlier than the date three years before the Execution Time. Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3; and any reference herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document under the Exchange Act after the Effective Date of the Registration Statement or the issue date of the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement or the Prospectus, as the case may be, deemed to be incorporated therein by reference.

(b) To the extent that the Registration Statement is not available for the sales of the Offered Shares as contemplated by this Agreement, the Company shall file a new registration statement with respect to any additional Common Shares necessary to complete such sales of the Offered Shares and shall cause such registration statement to become effective as promptly as practicable. After the effectiveness of any such registration statement, all references to “Registration Statement” included in this Agreement shall be deemed to include such new registration statement, including all documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3, and all references to “Base Prospectus” included in this Agreement shall be deemed to include the final form of prospectus, including all documents incorporated therein by reference, included in any such registration statement at the time such registration statement became effective.

 

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(c) On each Effective Date, at the Execution Time, at each Applicable Time, at each Settlement Date (as defined in Section 3(a)(vii)) and at all times during which a prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 or any similar rule) in connection with any offer or sale of Offered Shares, the Registration Statement complied and will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the respective rules thereunder and did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; and on the date of any filing pursuant to Rule 424(b), at the Execution Time, at each Applicable Time, on each Settlement Date and at all times during which a prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 or any similar rule) in connection with any offer or sale of Offered Shares, the Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) complied and will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the respective rules thereunder and did not and will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided , however , that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to the information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by any Manager specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), it being understood and agreed that the only such written information furnished by the Managers consists of the information described as such in Section 7(e) hereof.

(d) At the Execution Time, at each Applicable Time, at each Settlement Date and Time of Delivery, the Disclosure Package did not and will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided , however , that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to the information contained in or omitted from the Disclosure Package (or any amendments or supplements thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by any Manager specifically for inclusion in the Disclosure Package, it being understood and agreed that the only such written information furnished by the Managers consists of the information described as such in Section 7(e) hereof.

(e) (i) At the time of filing the Registration Statement, (ii) at the time of the most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of prospectus), (iii) at the time the Company or any person acting on their behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c)) made any offer relating to the Offered Shares in reliance on the exemption in Rule 163 and (iv) at each Applicable Time, the Company was or is a “Well-Known Seasoned Issuer” as defined in Rule 405. The Company agrees to pay the fees required by the Commission relating to the Offered Shares within the time required by Rule 456(b)(1) and otherwise in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r).

 

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(f) At the earliest time after the filing of the Registration Statement that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2)) of the Offered Shares, the Company was not and, as of each relevant eligibility determination date for purposes of Rules 164 and 433 under the Act, will not be an “ineligible issuer” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Act). The Company has been since the time of initial filing of the Registration Statement and continues to be eligible to use Form S-3 for the offering of Common Shares.

(g) Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (including without limitation any road show that is a free writing prospectus under Rule 433) and each electronic road show, if any, does not include any information that conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement, including any document incorporated therein by reference and any prospectus supplement deemed to be a part thereof that has not been superseded or modified. The foregoing sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Manager specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such written information furnished by the Managers consists of the information described as such in Section 7(e) hereof.

(h) Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, if any, conformed or will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder on the date of first use, and the Company has complied or will comply with any filing requirements applicable to such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus pursuant the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The Company has not made any offer relating to the Common Shares that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus without the prior written consent of the Managers. The Company has retained in accordance with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder all Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses that were not required to be filed pursuant to the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

(i) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in each of the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and, except as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, all of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company (i) have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and (ii) were not issued in violation of, and are not subject to, any preemptive right, resale right, right of first refusal or similar right, or any restriction upon voting or transfer. All of the outstanding equity interests of each Significant Subsidiary of the Company that are owned directly or indirectly by the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid (in the case of any Significant Subsidiary that is a limited liability company, to the extent required by such Significant Subsidiary’s limited liability company agreement, and in the case of any Significant Subsidiary that is a limited partnership, to the extent required by such Significant Subsidiary’s agreement of limited partnership) and non-assessable (in the case of any Significant Subsidiary that is a limited liability company, except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware Revised Limited Liability Company Act, and in the case of any Significant Subsidiary that is a limited partnership, except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act) and are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances,

 

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equities or claims (“Liens”), except (i) as set forth in each of the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or (ii) for such Liens as could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, results of operations, business or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (a “ Material Adverse Effect ”).

(j) The Common Shares are an “actively traded security” exempted from the requirements of Rule 101 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act (“ Regulation M ”) by subsection (c)(1) of such rule.

(k) The Company has not entered into any other sales agency agreements or other similar arrangements with any agent or any other representative in respect of at the market offerings of the Offered Shares in accordance with Rule 415(a)(4).

(l) The Company has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the Delaware General Corporation Law, has the corporate power and authority to own its property and to conduct its business as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto) and is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

(m) Each of the Company’s “significant subsidiaries,” as defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act (each, a “ Significant Subsidiary ,” and collectively, the “ Significant Subsid iaries ”) has been duly organized or validly formed, is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation or incorporation, has the power (corporate or other) and authority to own its property and to conduct its business as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto) and is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect. The partnership agreement, limited liability company agreement or operating agreement, as applicable, each as amended or restated on or prior to each Settlement Date, of each Significant Subsidiary that is a limited partnership or limited liability company has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the parties thereto, and is a valid and legally binding agreement of each of the parties thereto, enforceable against each of the parties thereto in accordance with its terms subject to (i) the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), and (iii) except as rights to indemnity and contribution thereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws or principles of public policy.

(n) At each Settlement Date and each Time of Delivery, if any, the Offered Shares to be issued and sold on such date will be duly authorized by the Company and, upon payment therefor and delivery thereof in accordance with this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; the Offered Shares, when issued and delivered against payment therefor in accordance with this Agreement, will conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

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(o) The Company has all requisite power and authority to issue, sell and deliver the Offered Shares in accordance with and upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. At each Settlement Date and each Time of Delivery, if any, all corporate action, as the case may be, required to be taken by the Company or any of its stockholders for the authorization, issuance, sale and delivery of the Offered Shares shall have been validly taken.

(p) This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Company and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Managers, constitutes the valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms subject to (i) the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), and (iii) except as rights to indemnity and contribution thereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws or principles of public policy.

(q) None of the offering, the issuance and sale by the Company of the Offered Shares and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as described under “Use of Proceeds” in the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company (i) conflicts or will conflict with or constitutes or will constitute a violation of the certificate of incorporation or bylaws or other organizational documents of the Company, (ii) conflicts or will conflict with or constitutes or will constitute a breach or violation of, or a default under (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such an event), any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them or any of their respective properties may be bound, (iii) violates or will violate any statute, law or regulation or any order, judgment, decree or injunction of any court or governmental agency or body directed to the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any of their properties in a proceeding to which either of them or their property is a party or (iv) will result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries, except for such conflicts, breaches, violations, defaults or Liens, in the case of clauses (ii), (iii) or (iv), that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(r) Except for (i) the registration of the Offered Shares under and related filings pursuant to the Securities Act, (ii) such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations, filings or qualifications as may be required under the Exchange Act, and applicable state securities laws in connection with the purchase and sale of the Offered Shares by the Managers, and (iii) such consents, approvals, authorizations or orders of, or filings or registrations with, any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any of their properties or assets (each for purposes of this Section 2(t) being referred to as a “ consent ”) that have been, or prior to the earlier of the initial Settlement Date (as defined in Section 3(a)(vii)) or the initial Time of Delivery (as defined in Section 3(c)) will be, obtained, no consent is required for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company and the issuance and sale of the Offered Shares and the application of the proceeds from the sale of the Offered Shares as described under “Use of Proceeds” in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

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(s) Except as described in the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, no holders of securities of the Company have rights to the registration of such securities in connection with the sale of the Offered Shares.

(t) None of the Company nor any of its Significant Subsidiaries has sustained, since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package, any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, which would be reasonably likely to result in any Material Adverse Effect, or any development involving a material adverse change in or affecting the financial condition, results of operations, business or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries (taken as a whole), otherwise than as disclosed or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto), and, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto) or since the date of the Disclosure Package, there has not been (i) any material adverse change in the capital structure or long-term debt of the Company and its subsidiaries (taken as a whole), (ii) any material adverse change in or affecting the financial condition, results of operations, business or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries (taken as a whole), or (iii) any transaction entered into by the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries, other than in the ordinary course of business, that is material to the Company or the Significant Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) other than as disclosed, in each case, in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

(u) The consolidated financial statements filed with or as part of any document filed by the Company with the Commission and incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (i) comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act and present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company and its subsidiaries at the dates and for the periods indicated, all in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (subject, in the case of interim statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments) and (ii) include and incorporate by reference all interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language (“ XBRL Data ”) required to be included therein; and the XBRL Data included or incorporated by reference therein fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and is prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto; and the Company has no material contingent obligation which is not disclosed in the financial statements or in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

(v) Ernst & Young LLP, Deloitte and Touche LLP, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and other auditors, if any, reporting upon the audited financial statements and schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (collectively, the “ Auditors ”) are each independent auditors within the meaning of the rules and regulations promulgated under the Securities Act, Exchange Act and Public Accounting Oversight Board.

 

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(w) Except with respect to pipeline rights-of-way, the Company and the Significant Subsidiaries have good and indefeasible title to all real property and good title to all personal property described as owned by any of them in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, in each case free and clear of all Liens, except (i) as are described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (ii) as do not materially interfere with the use made in the aggregate of such properties, as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (iii) as are permitted under the Company’s Credit Agreement dated as of July 13, 2018, as amended, or (iv) as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. With respect to title to pipeline rights-of-way, the Company represents only that neither the Company nor any Significant Subsidiary has received any actual notice or claim from any owner of land upon which any pipeline owned by the Company or Significant Subsidiary (as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus) is located that such entity does not have sufficient title or right to access and use to enable it to use and occupy the pipeline rights-of-way as they are used and occupied (as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus) and that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(x) Each of the Company and the Significant Subsidiaries carry, or are covered by, insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as is reasonable in accordance with customary practices for companies engaged in similar businesses in similar industries for the conduct of their respective businesses and the value of their respective properties.

(y) Except as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there is no action, suit or proceeding before any government, governmental instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, now pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or to which any of their properties are subject that would reasonably be expected to result in any Material Adverse Effect, or would reasonably be expected to directly affect the issuance of the Offered Shares contemplated by this Agreement.

(z) The statements set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the captions “Summary—The Offering” and “Description of Capital Stock,” insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the Common Shares, are accurate summaries in all material respects.

(aa) Each of the Company and the Significant Subsidiaries has filed all federal, state and local income and franchise tax returns that are required to be filed by it and has paid all taxes due thereon, other than those that, if not filed or paid, would not have a Material Adverse Effect, or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and where the Company or such Significant Subsidiary, as applicable, has maintained in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles appropriate reserves for the accrual of any of the same.

 

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(bb) The Company (i) makes and keeps books and records which accurately reflect transactions and dispositions of its assets and (ii) maintains internal accounting controls which provide reasonable assurance that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of its financial statements and to maintain accountability for its assets, (C) access to its assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization and (D) all XBRL Data included or incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and is prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

(cc) The Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act); and such disclosure controls and procedures (i) are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and (ii) are effective at a reasonable assurance level to perform the functions for which they were established.

(dd) Since the date of the filing of the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, whichever is later, the Company’s auditors and the audit committee of the Company (or persons fulfilling the equivalent function) have not been advised of (i) any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting which (x) have not been described to counsel for the Managers or (y) are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information or (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.

(ee) Since the date of the filing of the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, whichever is later, to the best knowledge of the Company, there have been no material changes in internal controls over financial reporting that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect internal controls over financial reporting except as disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto.

(ff) The Company is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

(gg) None of the Company or the Significant Subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its limited liability company agreement, certificate or articles of incorporation or bylaws or other organizational documents, as applicable, (ii) in default, and no event has occurred which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any material contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it is bound or which any of its properties or assets may be subject or (iii) in violation of any law, ordinance, governmental rule, regulation or court decree to which it or its property or assets may be subject, except, with respect to (ii) or (iii), for any such violations or defaults that would not be reasonably likely, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(hh) Each of the Company and the Significant Subsidiaries (i) is in compliance with any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“ Environmental Laws ”), (ii) has received all permits, licenses or other approvals required of it under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct its business as presently conducted and (iii) is in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval, except, with respect to (i), (ii) and (iii), as may be disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto) and except where such noncompliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals or failure to comply with the terms and conditions of such permits, licenses or approvals would not be reasonably likely to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

(ii) There has been no storage, disposal, generation, manufacture, refinement, transportation, handling or treatment of toxic wastes, medical wastes, hazardous wastes or hazardous substances by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary (or, to the knowledge of the Company, any predecessors in interest to any of the foregoing) at, upon or from any of the property now or previously owned or leased by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary in violation of any applicable law, ordinance, rule, regulation, order, judgment, decree or permit or which would require remedial action under any applicable law, ordinance, rule, regulation, order, judgment, decree or permit, except as may be disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto) and except for any violation or remedial action which would not be reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; there has been no material spill, discharge, leak, emission, injection, escape, dumping or release of any kind onto such property or into the environment surrounding such property of any toxic wastes, medical wastes, solid wastes, hazardous wastes or hazardous substances due to or caused by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or with respect to which the Company or any Significant Subsidiary has knowledge, except as may be disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto) and except for any such spill, discharge, leak, emission, injection, escape, dumping or release which would not be reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; and the terms “hazardous wastes,” “toxic wastes,” “hazardous substances” and “medical wastes” shall have the meanings specified in any applicable local, state, federal and foreign laws or regulations with respect to environmental protection.

(jj) Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto), or to the extent that a breach of any of the following representations would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect: the Company and each Significant Subsidiary is in compliance with all presently applicable provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ ERISA ”); no Reportable Event described in Section 4043(c) of ERISA (other than a “reportable event” not subject to the provision for 30-day notice to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or other than a “reportable event” as such term is described in Section 4043(c)(3) of

 

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ERISA) has occurred with respect to any “pension plan” (as defined by ERISA) for which the Company or any Significant Subsidiary would have any liability; neither the Company nor any Significant Subsidiary has incurred or reasonably expects to incur liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any “pension plan” or (ii) Sections 412 or 4971 of the Code, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder; and each “pension plan” for which the Company or any Significant Subsidiary would have any liability is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified and nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which would reasonably be expected to cause the loss of such qualification.

(kk) Each of the Company and the Significant Subsidiaries has obtained all consents, authorizations, approvals, orders, certificates and permits of and from, and has made all declarations and filings with, all federal, state, local and other governmental authorities, and all courts or other tribunals (collectively, the “ Licenses ”) necessary to own, hold, or lease, as the case may be, and to operate its properties and to carry on its business as presently conducted, except where the failure to possess such Licenses would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and none of the Company or the Significant Subsidiaries has received any written notice of proceedings relating to revocation or modification of any such Licenses, except to the extent that any such revocation or modification would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

(ll) The Company is not, and as of each Settlement Date or each Time of Delivery, if any, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Offered Shares and the application of the proceeds therefrom as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, will not be, an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

(mm) The Company has not distributed and, prior to the later to occur of any Settlement Date or Time of Delivery, if any, and completion of the distribution of the Offered Shares, will not distribute any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Offered Shares other than the Disclosure Package, the Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to which the Managers have consented in accordance with Section 4(g) of this Agreement.

(nn) The Company has not taken, nor will it take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that has constituted or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Common Shares to facilitate the sale or resale of the Offered Shares.

(oo) Except pursuant to this Agreement, there is no broker, finder or other party that is entitled to receive from the Company any brokerage or finder’s fee or other fee or commission as a result of any transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(pp) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to

 

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political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or any other applicable anti-corruption law; or (iv) made any unlawful bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment.

(qq) The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in material compliance with all applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act), and the applicable anti-money laundering statutes of all relevant jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “ Money Laundering Laws ”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

(rr) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is an individual or entity (“ Person ”), or is owned or controlled by one or more Persons, that is: (i) currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“ OFAC ”), or (ii) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of sanctions administered by OFAC (including, without limitation, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

Each certificate signed by or on behalf of the Company and delivered to any Manager or counsel for the Managers in connection with this Agreement or any Terms Agreement shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Company to the Managers, as to the matters covered thereby.

3. Sale and Delivery of Offered Shares .

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell Offered Shares from time to time through one or more of the Managers, acting as sales agents, and each Manager agrees, severally and not jointly, to use its commercially reasonable efforts to sell, as sales agent for the Company, the Offered Shares on the following terms.

(i) The Offered Shares are to be sold on a daily basis or otherwise as shall be agreed to by the Company and any Manager on any day that (A) is a trading day for the New York Stock Exchange (“ NYSE ”), (B) the Company, through any of the individuals listed as Authorized Representatives on

 

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Schedule II hereto, which Schedule II may be updated by the Company or its counsel from time to time by written notice delivered to the Managers or their counsel, has instructed such Manager by telephone (confirmed promptly by electronic mail) to make such sales and (C) the Company has satisfied its obligations under Section 6 of this Agreement. The Company will designate the maximum amount of the Offered Shares to be sold by such Manager daily as agreed to by such Manager (in any event not in excess of the amount available for issuance under the Prospectus and the currently effective Registration Statement) and the minimum price per Offered Share at which such Offered Shares may be sold. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, such Manager shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to sell on a particular day all of the Offered Shares designated for sale by the Company on such day. The gross sales price of the Offered Shares sold under this Section 3(a) shall be the market price for the Common Shares sold by such Manager under this Section 3(a) on the NYSE at the time of sale of such Offered Shares. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company shall submit instructions to sell Offered Shares to only one Manager, if any, on any single trading day.

(ii) The Company acknowledges and agrees that (A) there can be no assurance that any Manager will be successful in selling the Offered Shares, (B) no Manager will incur any liability or obligation to the Company or any other person or entity if such Manager does not sell Offered Shares for any reason other than a failure by such Manager to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable law and regulations to sell such Offered Shares as required under this Agreement and (C) no Manager shall be under any obligation to purchase Offered Shares on a principal basis pursuant to this Agreement, except as otherwise specifically agreed by such Manager and the Company in writing pursuant to a Terms Agreement.

(iii) The Company shall not authorize the issuance and sale of, and no Manager shall be obligated to use its commercially reasonable efforts to sell, any Offered Shares at a price lower than the minimum price therefor designated from time to time by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “ Board ”), or a pricing committee duly authorized thereby, and notified to such Manager in writing, or in a number in excess of the number of shares of Common Shares approved for listing on the NYSE. The Company, through any Authorized Representative, or any Manager may, upon notice to the other party hereto by telephone (confirmed promptly by electronic mail), suspend or terminate the offering of the Offered Shares with respect to which such Manager is acting as sales agent for any reason and at any time; provided , however , that such suspension or termination shall not affect or impair the parties’ respective obligations with respect to the Offered Shares sold hereunder prior to the giving of such notice.

 

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(iv) Each Manager hereby covenants and agrees, severally and not jointly, not to make any sales of the Offered Shares on behalf of the Company, pursuant to this Section 3(a), other than (A) by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions between members of the NYSE (or any other national securities exchange or quotation service on which the Offered Shares may be listed or quoted at the time of sale) that meet the conditions set forth in Rule 153 that the parties hereto agree shall not constitute a “distribution” within the meaning of Rule 100 under Regulation M and (B) such other sales of the Offered Shares on behalf of the Company in its capacity as agent of the Company as shall be agreed by the Company and such Manager pursuant to a Terms Agreement.

(v) The compensation to each Manager for sales of the Offered Shares with respect to which such Manager acts as sales agent under this Agreement shall be up to 2.0% of the gross sales price of the Offered Shares sold pursuant to this Section 3(a) and payable as described in the succeeding subsection (vi) below. The foregoing rate of compensation shall not apply when such Manager acts as principal, in which case the Company may sell Offered Shares to such Manager as principal at a price agreed upon at the relevant Applicable Time pursuant to a Terms Agreement. The proceeds, after deduction of the compensation to such Manager and after further deduction for any transaction fees imposed by any governmental or self-regulatory organization in respect of such sales (the “ Transaction Fees ”), shall constitute the net proceeds to the Company for such Offered Shares (the “ Net Proceeds ”).

(vi) Each Manager shall provide written confirmation (which may be by facsimile or electronic mail) to the Company following the close of trading on the NYSE each day on which the Offered Shares are sold under this Section 3(a) setting forth the number of the Offered Shares sold on such day, the aggregate gross sales proceeds and the Net Proceeds to the Company, and the compensation payable by the Company to such Manager with respect to such sales. Such compensation shall be set forth and invoiced in periodic statements from such Manager to the Company, with payment to be made by the Company promptly after its receipt thereof, if not previously made.

(vii) Settlement for sales of the Offered Shares pursuant to this Section 3(a) will occur on the second Business Day following the date on which such sales are made, or on such other date that is agreed upon by the Company and the Manager in connection with a particular transaction (each such day, a “ Settlement Date ”). On each Settlement Date, the Offered Shares sold through any Manager for settlement on such date shall be issued and delivered by the Company to such Manager against payment of the aggregate gross sales proceeds less any Transaction Fees for the sale of such Offered Shares. Settlement for all such Offered Shares shall be effected by free delivery of the Offered Shares to such Manager’s account at The Depository Trust Company (“ DTC ”) in return for payments in same day funds delivered to the account designated by the Company. If the Company or its transfer agent (if applicable) shall default on its obligation to deliver the Offered Shares on any Settlement Date, the Company shall (A) indemnify and hold such Manager harmless against any loss, claim or damage arising from or as a result of such default by the Company and (B) pay such

 

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Manager any commission to which it would otherwise be entitled absent such default. If any Manager breaches this Agreement by failing to deliver the aggregate gross sales proceeds less any Transaction Fees to the Company on any Settlement Date for the Offered Shares delivered by the Company, such Manager will pay the Company interest based on the effective overnight federal funds rate on such unpaid amount less any compensation to which such Manager is entitled.

(viii) At each Applicable Time, Settlement Date and Representation Date (as defined in Section 4(k)) with respect to each of which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate pursuant to Section 6(f) hereof, the Company shall be deemed to have affirmed each representation and warranty contained in this Agreement as if such representation and warranty were made as of such date, modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference therein, in each case as amended or supplemented as of such date and to reflect such necessary modifications as are not material and approved by the Managers in advance. Any obligation of any Manager to use its commercially reasonable efforts to sell the Offered Shares on behalf of the Company shall be subject to the continuing accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company herein, to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the continuing satisfaction of the additional conditions specified in Section 6 of this Agreement.

(b) If the Company wishes to issue and sell the Offered Shares pursuant to this Agreement but other than as set forth in Section 3(a) of this Agreement (each, a “ Placement ”), it will notify the Managers of the proposed terms of such Placement. If any Manager, each acting as principal, wishes to accept such proposed terms (which it may decline to do for any reason in its sole discretion) or, following discussions with the Company, wishes to accept amended terms, such Manager(s) and the Company will enter into a Terms Agreement setting forth the terms of such Placement. The terms set forth in a Terms Agreement will not be binding on the Company or such Manager(s) unless and until the Company and such Manager(s) have each executed such Terms Agreement accepting all of the terms of such Terms Agreement. In the event of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of a Terms Agreement, the terms of such Terms Agreement will control to the extent of such conflict only.

(c) Each sale of the Offered Shares to any Manager shall be made in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and, if applicable, a Terms Agreement, which will provide for the sale of such Offered Shares to, and the purchase thereof by, such Manager. A Terms Agreement may also specify certain provisions relating to the reoffering of such Offered Shares by such Manager. The commitment of any Manager to purchase the Offered Shares pursuant to any Terms Agreement shall be deemed to have been made on the basis of the representations and warranties of the Company herein contained and shall be subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth and, if applicable, a Terms Agreement. Each Terms Agreement shall specify the number of the Offered Shares to be purchased by such Manager pursuant thereto, the price to be paid to the Company for such Offered Shares, any provisions relating to rights of, and default by, underwriters acting together with such Manager in the reoffering of the Offered Shares, and the time and date (each such time and date being referred to herein as a “ Time of Delivery ”) and place of delivery of and payment for such Offered Shares. Such Terms Agreement shall also specify any requirements for opinions of counsel, accountants’ letters and officers’ certificates pursuant to Section 6 of this Agreement and any other information or documents required by such Manager.

 

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(d) Under no circumstances shall the number and aggregate amount of the Offered Shares sold pursuant to this Agreement and any Terms Agreement exceed (i) the aggregate amount set forth in Section 1 of this Agreement, (ii) the number of Offered Shares available for issuance under the currently effective Registration Statement or (iii) the maximum number and aggregate amount, if any, of the Offered Shares authorized from time to time to be issued and sold under this Agreement by the Board, or a duly authorized committee thereof, and notified to the Managers in writing.

(e) If any party hereto has reason to believe that the exemptive provisions set forth in Rule 101(c)(1) of Regulation M under the Exchange Act are not satisfied with respect to the Offered Shares, it shall promptly notify the other parties, and sales of the Offered Shares under this Agreement and any Terms Agreement shall be suspended until that or other exemptive provisions have been satisfied in the judgment of each party.

(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company shall not request the sale of any Offered Shares that would be sold, and the Managers shall not be obligated to sell, during any period in which the Company is in possession of material non-public information.

4. Agreements . The Company covenants and agrees with each Manager that:

(a) During any period when the delivery of a prospectus relating to the Offered Shares is required (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 or any similar rule) to be delivered under the Securities Act, prior to filing any amendment of the Registration Statement or supplement (including the Prospectus) to the Base Prospectus or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, the Company will furnish to the Managers for review a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement, and the Company shall not use any such proposed amendment or supplement to which any Manager reasonably objects (other than any report filed under the Exchange Act or any prospectus supplement relating to the offering of securities other than Offered Shares). The Company has properly completed the Prospectus, in a form approved by the Managers, and filed such Prospectus, as amended at the Execution Time, with the Commission pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) by the Execution Time and will cause any supplement to the Prospectus to be properly completed, in a form approved by the Managers, and will file such supplement with the Commission pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) within the time period prescribed thereby and will provide evidence satisfactory to the Managers of such timely filing. The Company will file promptly all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of the Disclosure Package and for so long as the delivery of a prospectus relating to the Offered Shares is required to be delivered under the Act (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Act or any similar rule). The Company will promptly advise the Managers (i) when the Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, shall have been filed (if required) with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) or when

 

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any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement relating to the Common Shares shall have been filed with the Commission, (ii) when, during any period when the delivery of a prospectus (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 or any similar rule) is required under the Securities Act in connection with the offering or sale of the Offered Shares, any amendment to the Registration Statement shall have been filed or become effective, (iii) of any request by the Commission or its staff for any amendment of the Registration Statement, or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or for any supplement to the Prospectus or for any additional information, (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any notice objecting to its use or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act and (v) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Offered Shares for sale in any jurisdiction or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose. The Company will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order or the occurrence of any such suspension or objection to the use of the Registration Statement and, upon such issuance, occurrence or notice of objection, to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal of such stop order or relief from such occurrence or objection, including, if necessary, by filing an amendment to the Registration Statement or a new registration statement and using its best efforts to have such amendment or new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable.

(b) If, at any time on or after an Applicable Time but prior to the related Settlement Date or Time of Delivery, any event occurs as a result of which the Disclosure Package would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made or the circumstances then prevailing, not misleading, or if it shall be necessary to amend the Registration Statement, file a new registration statement or supplement the Prospectus to comply with the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or the respective rules thereunder, including in connection with use or delivery of the Prospectus, the Company will (i) notify promptly the Managers so that any use of the Disclosure Package may cease until it is amended or supplemented; (ii) other than during such time as when the offering of Offered Shares has been suspended pursuant to Section 3(a)(iii) of this Agreement, amend or supplement the Disclosure Package to correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance; and (iii) supply any amendment or supplement to the Managers in such quantities as the Managers may reasonably request.

(c) Other than during such time as when the offering of Offered Shares has been suspended pursuant to Section 3(a)(iii) of this Agreement, during any period when the delivery of a prospectus relating to the Offered Shares is required (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 or any similar rule) to be delivered under the Securities Act, any event occurs as a result of which the Prospectus as then supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made at such time, not misleading, or if it shall be necessary to amend the Registration Statement, file a new registration statement or supplement the Prospectus to comply with the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or the respective rules thereunder, including in connection with use or delivery of the Prospectus, the Company promptly will (i) notify the Managers of any such event, (ii) prepare and file with the Commission, subject to the first

 

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sentence of paragraph (a) of this Section 4, an amendment or supplement or new registration statement that will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance, (iii) use its best efforts to have any amendment to the Registration Statement or new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable in order to avoid any disruption in use of the Prospectus and (iv) supply any supplemented Prospectus to the Managers in such quantities as the Managers may reasonably request.

(d) As soon as practicable after the Effective Date and in any event not later than 16 months after the date hereof, the Company will make generally available via the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval (EDGAR) System, to the Company’s security holders and to the Managers, an earnings statement of the Company and its subsidiaries (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158).

(e) The Company will furnish or otherwise make available upon request to the Managers and counsel for the Managers, without charge, as many copies of the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto), the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any supplement thereto and any documents incorporated by reference therein as the Managers may reasonably request. The Company will pay the expenses of printing or other production of all documents relating to the offering.

(f) The Company will promptly from time to time take such action as the Managers may reasonably request to qualify the Offered Shares for offering and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Managers may request and to comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions for as long as may be necessary to complete the distribution of the Offered Shares; provided that in connection therewith the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction in which it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (ii) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any jurisdiction in which it would not otherwise be subject.

(g) The Company agrees that, unless it has or shall have obtained the prior written consent of the Managers, and each Manager agrees with the Company that, unless it has or shall have obtained, as the case may be, the prior written consent of the Company, each such party has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Offered Shares that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405) required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433; provided that the prior written consent of the parties hereto shall be deemed to have been given in respect of the Free Writing Prospectuses included in Schedule I hereto. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Managers or the Company is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” The Company agrees that (i) it has treated and will treat, as the case may be, each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and (ii) it has complied and will comply, as the case may be, with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including in respect of timely filing with the Commission, legending and record keeping.

 

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(h) At any time that sales of the Offered Shares have been made but not settled or at any time the Company has outstanding with any Manager any instructions to sell Offered Shares but such instructions have not been fulfilled or cancelled, the Company will not, directly or indirectly, (1) offer to sell, sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of (or enter into any transaction or device that is designed to, or could be expected to, result in the disposition by any person at any time in the future of) any Common Shares or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares (other than the Offered Shares and Common Shares issued pursuant to employee benefit plans, qualified option plans or other employee compensation plans existing on the date hereof or pursuant to currently outstanding options, warrants or rights), or sell or grant options, rights or warrants with respect to any Common Shares or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares (other than the grant of options pursuant to option plans existing on the date hereof), (2) enter into any swap or other derivatives transaction agreement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic benefits or risks of ownership of such Common Shares, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Shares or other securities, in cash or otherwise, (3) file or cause to be filed a registration statement, including any amendments, with respect to the registration of any Common Shares or securities convertible, exercisable or exchangeable into Common Shares or any other securities of the Company (other than any registration statement on Form S-8 or any registration statement filed in connection with an issuance made pursuant to the proviso set forth below in this Section 4(h)), or (4) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing without, in each case, giving the Managers at least three Business Days’ prior written notice specifying the nature of the proposed transaction and the date of such proposed transaction; provided , however , that the Company may issue and sell Common Shares pursuant to this Agreement or any Terms Agreement, any employee stock option plan, stock ownership plan or dividend reinvestment plan of the Company in effect at the Execution Time and the Company may issue Common Shares issuable upon the conversion of securities or the exercise of warrants outstanding at the Execution Time. In the event that notice of a proposed sale or other action is provided by the Company pursuant to this Section 4(h), the Managers may (and shall if requested by the Company) suspend activity under this Agreement for such period of time as may be requested by the Company or as may be deemed appropriate by the Managers.

(i) The Company will not (i) take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any Common Shares to facilitate the sale or resale of the Offered Shares or (ii) sell, bid for, purchase or pay any person (other than as contemplated by this Agreement or any Terms Agreement) any compensation for soliciting purchases of the Offered Shares.

(j) The Company will, at any time during the term of this Agreement, as supplemented from time to time, advise the Managers, immediately after it shall have received notice or obtained knowledge thereof, of any information or fact that would alter or affect any opinion, certificate, letter and other document provided to the Managers pursuant to Section 6 herein.

(k) Upon commencement of the offering of the Offered Shares under this Agreement (and upon the recommencement of the offering of the Offered Shares under this Agreement following any termination of a suspension of sales hereunder), and each time that (i)

 

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the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be amended or supplemented (other than a prospectus supplement relating solely to the offering of securities other than the Offered Shares or an amendment or supplement effected by the filing with the Commission of any document incorporated by reference therein which shall be subject to the provisions of subclauses (ii) and (iv) below), (ii) the Company shall file an Annual Report on Form 10-K or a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or a Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A (other than such Statement relating to an annual general meeting), (iii) the Offered Shares are delivered to any Manager as principal at the Time of Delivery pursuant to a Terms Agreement and such delivery is required by the Terms Agreement or (iv) the Managers may otherwise reasonably request (such commencement or recommencement date and each such date referred to in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) above, a “ Representation Date ”), the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Managers forthwith a certificate dated and delivered the date of such Representation Date of the same substance as the certificate referred to in Section 6(f) of this Agreement, modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the time of delivery of such certificate. The requirement to provide a certificate under this Section 4(k) shall be waived for any Representation Date occurring at a time at which the Company has instructed the Managers that no sales of Common Shares under this Agreement may be made, which waiver shall continue until the earlier to occur of the date the Company delivers an instruction to any Manager to sell Common Shares pursuant to Section 3(a) hereof (which date shall be considered a Representation Date) and the next occurring Representation Date for which no waiver is made. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company subsequently decides to sell Common Shares following a Representation Date when the Company relied on such waiver and did not provide the Managers with a certificate under this Section 4(k), then not less than five Business Days prior to the date the Company delivers an instruction pursuant to Section 3(a) or any Manager sells any Common Shares, the Company shall provide the Managers with notice of the Company’s intention to deliver an instruction to such Manager to sell Common Shares pursuant to Section 3(a) hereof (which date of such delivery shall be considered a Representation Date).

(l) On each Representation Date with respect to which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate pursuant to Section 4(k) hereof, the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished forthwith to the Managers and to counsel to the Managers a written opinion of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, counsel to the Company, dated and delivered the date of such Representation Date in form and substance satisfactory to the Managers, of the same substance as the opinions referred to in Section 6(b) of this Agreement, but modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the time of delivery of such opinion.

(m) On each Representation Date with respect to which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate pursuant to Section 4(k) hereof, the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished forthwith to the Managers and to counsel to the Managers a written opinion of the General Counsel, Assistant General Counsel or Senior Counsel of the Company, dated and delivered the date of such Representation Date in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Managers, of the same substance as the opinions referred to in Section 6(d) of this Agreement, but modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the time of delivery of such opinion.

 

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(n) On each Representation Date with respect to which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate pursuant to Section 4(k) hereof, Shearman & Sterling LLP, counsel to the Managers, or such other firm as shall be mutually agreed upon by the Company and the Managers, shall deliver a written opinion, dated and delivered the date of such Representation Date in form and substance satisfactory to the Managers, of the same substance as the opinions referred to in Section 6(e) of this Agreement but modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the time of delivery of such opinion.

(o) Upon the commencement of the offering of the Offered Shares under this Agreement (and upon the recommencement of the offering of the Offered Shares under this Agreement following the termination of a suspension of sales hereunder), and each time that (i) the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be amended or supplemented to include additional amended financial information, (ii) the Offered Shares are delivered to any Manager as principal at a Time of Delivery pursuant to a Terms Agreement and such delivery is required by the Terms Agreement, (iii) the Company files a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or an Annual Report on Form 10-K or (iv) at any Manager’s request and upon reasonable advance notice to the Company, there is filed with the Commission any document which contains financial information (other than an Annual Report on Form 10-K or a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q) incorporated by reference into the Prospectus (such commencement or recommencement date and each such date referred to in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) above, an “ Auditor Representation Date ”), the Company shall cause the Auditors to each furnish the Managers a letter, dated the date of such Auditor Representation Date, in form satisfactory to the Managers, of the same substance as the letter referred to in Section 6(g) of this Agreement but modified to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as amended and supplemented to the date of such letter. The requirement to provide a letter or letters under this Section 4(o) shall be waived for any Auditor Representation Date occurring at a time at which an instruction by the Company to any Manager that no sales of Common Shares under this Agreement may be made, which waiver shall continue until the earlier to occur of the date the Company delivers an instruction to any Manager to sell Common Shares pursuant to Section 3(a) hereof (which date of such delivery shall be considered an Auditor Representation Date) and the next occurring Auditor Representation Date for which no waiver is made. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company subsequently decides to sell Common Shares following an Auditor Representation Date when the Company relied on such waiver and did not cause the Auditors to provide the Managers with a letter or letters under this Section 4(o), then not less than five Business Days prior to the date the Company delivers an instruction pursuant to Section 3(a) or any Manager sells any Common Shares, the Company shall provide the Managers with notice of the Company’s intention to deliver an instruction to such Manager to sell Common Shares pursuant to Section 3(a) hereof (which date of such delivery shall be considered an Auditor Representation Date).

(p) The obligations of any party contained in Sections 4(k), 4(l), 4(m), 4(n) or 4(o) may be satisfied by delivery on an alternative date; provided that such alternative date is mutually agreed upon in writing (including, but not limited to, e-mail) by the Company and the Managers.

 

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(q) On each Representation Date with respect to which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate pursuant to Section 4(k) hereof, the Company will conduct a due diligence session, in form and substance satisfactory to the Managers, which shall include representatives of the management and the independent accountants of the Company. The Company shall cooperate timely (which cooperation, for any Representation Date directly following a Representation Date for which a waiver of the requirement to deliver a certificate under Section 4(k) hereof applied, shall be for a period of no less than five Business Days) with any reasonable due diligence request from or review conducted by the Managers or their agents from time to time in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, providing information and available documents and access to appropriate corporate officers and the Company’s agents during regular business hours and at the Company’s principal offices, and timely furnishing or causing to be furnished such certificates, letters and opinions from the Company, its officers and its agents, as the Managers may reasonably request.

(r) The Company consents to any Manager trading in the Common Shares for such Manager’s own account and for the account of its clients at the same time as sales of the Offered Shares occur pursuant to this Agreement or pursuant to a Terms Agreement.

(s) The Company will disclose in its Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as applicable, the number of Offered Shares sold through the Managers under this Agreement, the Net Proceeds to the Company with respect to sales of Offered Shares pursuant to this Agreement during the relevant period.

(t) If, to the knowledge of the Company, the conditions set forth in Section 6(a), 6(f) or 6(j) shall not be true and correct on each Settlement Date and each Time of Delivery, if any, the Company will offer to any person who has agreed to purchase Offered Shares from the Company as the result of the sale of Common Shares by any Manager the right to refuse to purchase and pay for such Offered Shares.

(u) Each acceptance by the Company of an offer to purchase the Offered Shares hereunder, and each execution and delivery by the Company of a Terms Agreement, shall be deemed to be an affirmation to the Managers that the representations and warranties of the Company contained in or made pursuant to this Agreement are true and correct as of the date of such acceptance and of such Terms Agreement, if applicable, as though made at and as of such date, and an undertaking that such representations and warranties will be true and correct as of the Settlement Date for the Offered Shares relating to such acceptance or as of the Time of Delivery relating to such sale, as the case may be, as though made at and as of such date (except that such representations and warranties shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented relating to such Offered Shares).

(v) The Company shall ensure that there are at all times sufficient Common Shares to provide for the issuance, free of any preemptive rights, out of its authorized but unissued Common Shares or Common Shares held in treasury, of the maximum aggregate number of Offered Shares authorized for issuance by the Board pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

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(w) The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Offered Shares to be listed for trading on the NYSE and to maintain such listing.

(x) During any period when a prospectus relating to the Offered Shares is required (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 or any similar rule) to be delivered under the Securities Act, the Company will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act within the time periods required by the Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder.

(y) The Company shall cooperate with the Managers and use its commercially reasonable efforts to permit the Offered Shares to be eligible for clearance and settlement through the facilities of DTC.

(z) The Company will apply the Net Proceeds from the sale of the Offered Shares in the manner set forth in the Prospectus.

5. Payment of Expenses . The Company agrees to pay the costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, including, without limitation: (i) the preparation, printing or reproduction and filing with the Commission of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits thereto), the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and each amendment or supplement to any of them; (ii) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery (including postage, air freight charges and charges for counting and packaging) of such copies of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and all amendments or supplements to any of them, as may, in each case, be reasonably requested for use in connection with the offering and sale of the Offered Shares; (iii) the preparation, printing, authentication, issuance and delivery of certificates for the Offered Shares, including any stamp or transfer taxes in connection with the original issuance and sale of the Offered Shares; (iv) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery of this Agreement, any blue sky memorandum and all other agreements or documents printed (or reproduced) and delivered in connection with the offering of the Offered Shares; (v) the listing of the Offered Shares on the NYSE; (vi) any registration or qualification of the Offered Shares for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of the several states (including filing fees and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Managers relating to such registration and qualification); (vii) any filings required to be made with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“ FINRA ”) (including filing fees and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Managers relating to such filings); (viii) the fees and expenses of the Company’s accountants and the fees and expenses of counsel (including local and special counsel) for the Company; (ix) the reasonable fees, disbursements and expenses of counsel for the Managers (which shall be one outside counsel for all Managers unless otherwise agreed by the Company) in connection with this Agreement and the Registration Statement and ongoing services in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder; and (x) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company hereunder; provided that, except as provided in this Section 5, each Manager shall pay all of its own out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with entering into this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereunder.

 

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6. Conditions to the Obligations of the Managers . The respective obligations of each Manager under this Agreement and any Terms Agreement shall be subject to (i) the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company contained herein as of the Execution Time, each Representation Date with respect to which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate pursuant to Section 6(e) hereof, and as of each Applicable Time, Settlement Date and Time of Delivery, (ii) to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and (iii) the following additional conditions:

(a) The Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, required by Rule 424 to be filed with the Commission have been filed in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) with respect to any sale of Offered Shares; any material required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 433(d), shall have been filed with the Commission within the applicable time periods prescribed for such filings by Rule 433; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any notice objecting to its use shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act shall have been instituted or threatened.

(b) The Company shall have requested and caused Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP to furnish to the Managers, on every date specified in Section 4(l) of this Agreement, except as otherwise provided in Section 4(p), its opinion and negative assurance letter, dated as of such date and addressed to the Managers, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Managers.

(c) The Company shall have requested and caused T. Lane Wilson, or the other internal counsel to the Company specified in Section 4(m) of this Agreement, to furnish to the Managers, on every date specified in Section 4(m) of this Agreement, except as otherwise provided in Section 4(p), an opinion and negative assurance statement, dated as of such date and addressed to the Managers, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Managers.

(d) The Managers shall have received from Shearman & Sterling LLP, counsel for the Managers, or such other firm as shall be mutually agreed upon by the Company and the Managers, on every date specified in Section 4(n) of this Agreement, except as otherwise provided in Section 4(p), such opinion or opinions and negative assurance statement, dated as of such date and addressed to the Managers, with respect to the issuance and sale of the Offered Shares, the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, the Prospectus and other related matters as the Managers may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they reasonably request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

(e) The Company shall have furnished to the Managers, on every date specified in Section 4(k) of this Agreement, except as otherwise provided in Section 4(p), a certificate of the Company, signed by an executive officer of the Company, dated as of such date, stating that:

(i) the representations, warranties and agreements of the Company contained in Section 2 of this Agreement are true and correct on and as of such date, and the Company has complied with all of its agreements contained herein and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to such date;

 

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(ii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof has been issued; and no proceedings for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act have been instituted or, to the knowledge of such officer, threatened by the Commission; all requests of the Commission for inclusion of additional information in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or otherwise have been complied with; and the Commission has not notified the Company of any objection to the use of the form of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto; and

(iii) since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto), there has been no material adverse change or any development that would reasonably be expected to result in a prospective material adverse change in the financial condition, earnings, business or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries (taken as a whole) from that set forth in or contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

(f) On every date specified in Section 4(o) hereof and to the extent requested by the Managers in connection with any offering of the Offered Shares, except as otherwise provided in Section 4(p), the Managers shall have received from each of the Auditors a letter or letters in form and substance satisfactory to the Managers, (i) confirming that they are independent public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and are in compliance with the applicable requirements relating to the qualification of accountants under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X of the Commission and (ii) stating, as of such date (or, with respect to matters involving changes or developments since the respective dates as of which specified financial information is given in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, as of a date not more than three days prior to such date), the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and other matters ordinarily covered by accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters in connection with registered public offerings.

(g) Since the respective dates as of which information is disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein, there shall not have been any change, or any development that has resulted in or would reasonably be expected to result in a change, in the financial condition, prospects, earnings, business or operations of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (taken as a whole) from that set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus, the effect of which is, in the judgment of the Managers, so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Offered Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.

 

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(h) At any time that sales of the Offered Shares have been made but not settled or at any time the Company has outstanding with any Manager any instructions to sell Offered Shares but such instructions have not been fulfilled or cancelled, no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded the Company’s debt securities by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as that term is defined under Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act).

(i) The NYSE shall have approved the Offered Shares for listing, subject only to official notice of issuance.

(j) At any time that sales of the Offered Shares have been made but not settled or at any time the Company has outstanding with any Manager any instructions to sell Offered Shares but such instructions have not been fulfilled or cancelled, there shall not have occurred any of the following: (i) trading in securities generally on the NYSE, NYSE American LLC or in the over-the-counter market, shall have been suspended or materially limited or the settlement of such trading generally shall have been materially disrupted or minimum prices shall have been established on any such exchange or such market by the Commission, by such exchange or by any other regulatory body or governmental authority having jurisdiction, (ii) trading in any securities of the Company on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market shall have been suspended or limited or the settlement of such trading shall have been materially disrupted or minimum prices shall have been established on any such exchange or such market by the Commission, by such exchange or by any other regulatory body or governmental authority having jurisdiction, (iii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared by federal or state authorities, (iv) the United States shall have become engaged in hostilities, there shall have been an escalation in hostilities involving the United States or there shall have been a declaration of a national emergency or war by the United States or (v) there shall have occurred such a material adverse change in general economic, political or financial conditions, including, without limitation, as a result of terrorist activities after the date hereof (or the effect of international conditions on the financial markets in the United States shall be such), in the case of clauses (iv) and (v), as to make it, in the judgment of the Managers, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or delivery of the Offered Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

(k) FINRA shall not have raised any objection with respect to the fairness and reasonableness of the terms and arrangements under this Agreement or any Terms Agreement.

(l) The Company shall have furnished the Managers such additional documents and certificates as the Managers or counsel for the Managers may reasonably request.

If any of the conditions specified in this Section 6 shall not have been fulfilled when and as provided in this Agreement, or if any of the opinions and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall not be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Managers and counsel for the Managers, this Agreement and all obligations of the Managers hereunder may be canceled at, or at any time prior to, any Settlement Date or Time of Delivery, as applicable, by the Managers. Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Company in writing or by telephone or facsimile confirmed in writing.

 

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The documents required to be delivered by this Section 6 shall be delivered at the office of Shearman & Sterling LLP, counsel for the Managers, at 599 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10022, or such other firm as shall be mutually agreed upon by the Company and the Managers, on each such date as provided in this Agreement.

7. Indemnification and Contribution .

(a) The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each Manager, its directors, officers, employees, agents, affiliates and each person, if any, who controls any Manager within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, from and against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in respect thereof (including, but not limited to, any loss, claim, damage, liability or action relating to purchases and sales of Offered Shares), to which that Manager, director, officer, employee, agent, affiliate or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, (i) an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in (A) the Base Prospectus, any Prospectus Supplement, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (in the case of the Base Prospectus, any Prospectus Supplement or the Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which any such statements were made) or in any amendment or supplement thereto or (B) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto, in the light of the circumstances under which any such statements were made, or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state in the Base Prospectus, any Prospectus Supplement, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto, a material fact required to be stated therein (in the case of the Registration Statement) or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (in the case of the Base Prospectus, any Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which any such statements were made), and shall reimburse each Manager and each such director, officer, employee, agent, affiliate or controlling person promptly upon demand for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by that Manager, director, officer, employee, agent, affiliate or controlling person in connection with investigating or defending or preparing to defend against any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred; provided , however , that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Base Prospectus, any Prospectus Supplement, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any such amendment or supplement thereto, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information concerning such Manager furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Manager specifically for inclusion therein, which information consists solely of the information specified in Section 7(e). The foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have to any Manager or to any director, officer, employee, agent, affiliate or controlling person of that Manager.

(b) Each Manager, severally and not jointly, shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors (including any person who, with his or her consent, is named in the Registration Statement as about to become a director of the Company), managers, officers, employees, agents and affiliates, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, from and against any loss, claim, damage or

 

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liability, joint or several, or any action in respect thereof, to which the Company or any such director, manager, officer, employee, agent, affiliate or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, (i) an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in (A) the Base Prospectus, any Prospectus Supplement, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (in the case of the Base Prospectus, any Prospectus Supplement or the Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which any such statements were made) or in any amendment or supplement thereto or (B) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, in the light of the circumstances under which any such statements were made, or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state in the Base Prospectus, any Prospectus Supplement, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, a material fact required to be stated therein (in the case of the Registration Statement) or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (in the case of the Base Prospectus, any Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which any such statements were made), but in each case only to the extent that the untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information concerning such Manager furnished to the Company by or on behalf of that Manager specifically for inclusion therein, which information is limited to the information set forth in Section 7(e). The foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to any liability that any Manager may otherwise have to any of the Company or any such director, manager, officer, employee, agent, affiliate or controlling person.

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 7 of notice of any claim or the commencement of any action, the indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 7, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the claim or the commencement of that action; provided , however , that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under Sections 7(a) and 7(b) except to the extent it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights and defenses) by such failure; provided further that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under Sections 7(a) and 7(b). If any such claim or action shall be brought against an indemnified party, and it shall notify the indemnifying party thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with any other similarly notified indemnifying party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. After notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the defense of such claim or action, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to the indemnified party under this Section 7 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided , however , that the indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the indemnified party and the indemnifying party shall have so mutually agreed; (ii) the indemnifying party has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party; (iii) the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties that are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party; or (iv) the named parties in any such

 

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proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnified party on the one hand, and the indemnifying party, on the other hand, and representation of both sets of parties by the same counsel would present such counsel with a conflict of interest. No indemnifying party shall (i) without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding and does not include any findings of fact or admissions of fault or culpability as to the indemnified party, or (ii) be liable for any settlement of any such action effected without its written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), but if settled with the consent of the indemnifying party or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff in any such action, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.

(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7 shall for any reason be unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Section 7(a) or 7(b) in respect of any loss, claim, damage or liability, or any action in respect thereof, referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, (i) in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Managers, on the other, from the offering of the Offered Shares or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Managers, on the other, with respect to the statements or omissions that resulted in such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Managers, on the other, with respect to such offering shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Offered Shares purchased under this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company, as determined by this Agreement or any applicable Terms Agreement, on the one hand, and the total discounts and commissions received by the Managers with respect to the Offered Shares purchased under this Agreement, on the other hand. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the Managers, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the Managers agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 7(d) were to be determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Managers were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, referred to above in this Section 7(d) shall be deemed to include, for purposes of this Section 7(d), any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or

 

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defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7(d), no Manager shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the discount or commission applicable to the Offered Shares purchased by such Manager hereunder. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Managers’ obligations to contribute as provided in this Section 7(d) are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint.

(e) The Managers severally confirm and the Company acknowledges that the only information concerning such Managers furnished in writing to the Company by the Managers specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, any Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto consists of the name and contact information of such Managers.

8. Termination .

(a) The Company shall have the right, by giving written notice as hereinafter specified, to terminate the provisions of this Agreement relating to the solicitation of offers to purchase the Offered Shares in its sole discretion at any time. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that (i) the Managers shall be entitled to any commissions earned in accordance with Section 3(a)(v) hereof, (ii) if at the time of termination (a) a Manager shall own any Offered Shares purchased by it as principal or (b) an offer to purchase any Offered Shares has been accepted by the Company but the Settlement Date has not occurred, the covenants set forth in Section 4 hereof shall remain in effect until such Offered Shares are resold or so delivered, as the case may be and (iii) the provisions of Sections 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16 and 17 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.

(b) Each Manager shall have the right, by giving written notice as hereinafter specified, to terminate the provisions of this Agreement relating to the solicitation of offers to purchase the Offered Shares in its sole discretion at any time. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Sections 2, 4(d), 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16 and 17 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.

(c) This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect unless terminated pursuant to Sections 8(a) or (b) above or otherwise by mutual agreement of the parties; provided that any such termination by mutual agreement shall in all cases be deemed to provide that Sections 2, 5, 7 and 9 shall remain in full force and effect.

(d) Any termination of this Agreement shall be effective on the date specified in such notice of termination; provided that such termination shall not be effective until the close of business on the date of receipt of such notice by any Manager or the Company, as the case may be. If such termination shall occur prior to the Settlement Date or Time of Delivery for any sale of the Offered Shares, such sale shall settle in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(a)(vii) of this Agreement.

 

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9. Representations and Indemnities to Survive . The respective agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the Company or its officers and of each Manager set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by the Managers or the Company or any of the officers, directors, employees, agents, affiliates or controlling persons referred to in Section 7 hereof, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Offered Shares.

10. Research Analyst Independence . The Company acknowledges that the Managers’ research analysts and research departments are required to be independent from their respective investment banking divisions and are subject to certain regulations and internal policies, and that such Managers’ research analysts may hold views and make statements or investment recommendations and/or publish research reports with respect to the Company and/or the offering of the Offered Shares that differ from the views of their respective investment bankers. The Company hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Company may have against the Managers with respect to any conflict of interest that may arise from the fact that the views expressed by their independent research analysts and research departments may be different from or inconsistent with the views or advice communicated to the Company by such Managers’ investment banking divisions. The Company acknowledges that each of the Managers is a full service securities firm and as such from time to time, subject to applicable securities laws, may effect transactions for its own account or the account of its customers and hold long or short positions in debt or equity securities of the Company.

11. No Fiduciary Duty . The Company acknowledges and agrees that in connection with the offering of the Offered Shares, the sale of the Offered Shares or any other services the Managers may be deemed to be providing hereunder, notwithstanding any preexisting relationship, advisory or otherwise, between the parties or any oral representations or assurances previously or subsequently made by the Managers: (i) no fiduciary relationship between the Company and any other person, on the one hand, and the Managers, on the other, exists; (ii) the Managers are not acting as advisors, expert or otherwise, to the Company, and such relationship between the Company, on the one hand, and the Managers, on the other, is entirely and solely commercial, based on arm’s-length negotiations; (iii) any duties and obligations that the Managers may have to the Company shall be limited to those duties and obligations specifically stated herein; and (iv) the Managers and their respective affiliates may have interests that differ from those of the Company. Furthermore, the Company agrees that it is solely responsible for making its own judgments and decisions in connection with this offering. The Company hereby waives any claims that it may have against the Managers with respect to any breach of fiduciary duty in connection with this offering.

12. USA Patriot Act . In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Managers are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of the Managers’ respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Managers to properly identify their respective clients.

 

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13. Notices . All communications hereunder will be in writing and effective only on receipt, and, if sent to the Managers, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to Citigroup Global Markets Inc. at 388 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10013, Attn: General Counsel (Fax: (646)-291-1469); Barclays Capital Inc. at 745 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019, Attn: Syndicate Registration (Fax: (646) 834-8133); CIBC World Markets Corp. at 425 Lexington Avenue, 3rd Floor, New York, New York 10017, Attn: Achilles Perry, Tel: (212) 667-8316, with a copy to: CIBC World Markets Corp., 1001 Fannin Street, Suite 4450, Houston, TX 77002, Attn: Chris Otte, Tel: (713) 210-4228; Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc. at 1301 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019, Attn: Equity Capital Markets (Fax: (212) 261-2516); Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC at Eleven Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010; Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. at 60 Wall Street, 2nd Floor, New York, New York 10005, Attn: Equity Capital Markets – Syndicate Desk, with a copy to Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., 60 Wall Street, 36th Floor, New York, New York 10005, Attn: General Counsel (Fax: (646) 374-1071); J.P. Morgan Securities LLC at 383 Madison Avenue, 10th Floor, New York, New York 10179, Attn: Stephanie Little (Fax: (312) 300-7716); Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated at One Bryant Park, NY1-050-12-01, New York, NY 10036 (Fax: 646-855-5958), Attn: Thomas J. Opladen (Phone: (646) 855-8639; e-mail: thomas.j.opladen_jr@baml.com) with a copy to: ECM Legal; Mizuho Securities USA LLC at 320 Park Avenue, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10022, Attn: Equity Capital Markets, with a copy to the office of the General Counsel at legalnotices@us.mizuho-sc.com; Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC at 1585 Broadway, New York, New York 10036, Attn: Equity Syndicate Desk, with a copy to: The Legal and Compliance Division; MUFG Securities Americas Inc. at 1221 Avenue of the Americas, 6th Floor, New York, New York 10020, Fax: 646-434-3455, Attn: Capital Markets Group; RBC Capital Markets, LLC at 200 Vesey Street, Three World Financial Center, New York, New York 10281; Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. at 250 Vesey Street, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10281, Attn: Andrew Jones, Attention: Equity Capital Markets, Copies (which shall not constitute notice) to: Chief Legal Officer, U.S., Facsimile No.: 212-225-6653, E-mail: us.ecm@scotiabank.com; us.legal@scotiabank.com; SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc. at 277 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10271; SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. at 3333 Peachtree Road, 11th floor, Atlanta, Georgia 30326, Fax: 404-926-5946, Attention: Equity Capital Markets; TD Securities (USA) LLC at 31 West 52nd Street, New York, New York 10019, Attention: Equity Capital Markets; and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC at 375 Park Avenue, 4th Floor, New York, New York 10152, Attn: Equity Syndicate Department, Fax: (212) 214-5918; or, if sent to the Company, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to c/o The Williams Companies, Inc., (918) 573-2065 and confirmed to it at One Williams Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74172-0172, Attention: Treasurer, with a copy mailed, delivered or telefaxed to Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, Attn: Robyn E. Zolman (fax no.: (303) 313-2830) and confirmed at (303) 298-5740.

14. Successors . This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Managers, the Company and their respective successors and the indemnified persons referred to in Section 7 hereof, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon BofAML Securities, Inc. as an assignee of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as a Manager hereunder, without prior written consent of any party.

15. Integration . This Agreement and any Terms Agreement supersede all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) among the Company and the Managers with respect to the subject matter hereof, provided that this clause has no effect on any agreement among the Company and the Managers with respect to the subject matter hereof signed contemporaneously with this Agreement.

 

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16. Applicable Law and Waiver of Jury Trial .

(a) THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED THERETO IS GOVERNED BY THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. THE COMPANY AND THE MANAGERS EACH WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM BROUGHT BY OR ON BEHALF OF EITHER PARTY WITH RESPECT TO ANY MATTER WHATSOEVER RELATING TO OR ARISING OUT OF THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OFFERING CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

(b) The parties hereby irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State or federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to the terms of this Agreement and the offering contemplated hereby, and the parties hereby irrevocably agree that all claims in respect of such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or federal court. The parties hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent that they may legally do so, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding and each party irrevocably consents to the service of any and all process in any action or proceeding by the mailing or delivery of copies of such process to it at the office of the party set forth under Notices herein. The parties agree that a final judgment in any such 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. To the extent that either party has or hereafter may acquire any immunity from jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service or notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution or otherwise) with respect to its obligations hereunder, each waives such immunity to the extent permitted by applicable law.

17. Counterparts . This Agreement and any Terms Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts and, if executed in more than one counterpart, the executed counterparts shall each be deemed to be an original but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

18. Headings . The headings used in this Agreement and any Terms Agreement are for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.

19. Amendments; Waivers . This Agreement may only be amended or modified in writing, signed by all of the parties hereto, and no condition herein (express or implied) may be waived unless waived in writing by each party whom the condition is meant to benefit.

20. Definitions . The terms that follow, when used in this Agreement and any Terms Agreement, shall have the meanings indicated.

Applicable Time ” shall mean, with respect to any Offered Shares, the time of sale of such Offered Shares pursuant to this Agreement or any relevant Terms Agreement.

 

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Base Prospectus ” shall mean the base prospectus referred to in Section 2(b) above contained in the Registration Statement at the Execution Time.

Business Day ” shall mean each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, which is not a day on which banking institutions in New York are generally authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

Commission ” shall mean the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Disclosure Package ” shall mean, as of the relevant Applicable Time, the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement, together with the number of Offered Shares and the public offering price of Offered Shares sold at the relevant Applicable Time and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus filed or used by the Company on or before the relevant Applicable Time, other than a road show that is an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus but is not required to be filed under Rule 433.

Effective Date ” shall mean each date and time that the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment or amendments thereto and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement became or becomes effective.

Exchange Act ” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

Execution Time ” shall mean the date and time that this Agreement is executed and delivered by the parties hereto.

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus ” shall mean each “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405) prepared by or on behalf of the Company or used or referred to by the Company in connection with the offering of the Offered Shares, each of which is listed on Schedule I.

Prospectus ” shall mean the Base Prospectus, as supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement.

Prospectus Supplement ” shall mean the most recent prospectus supplement relating to the Offered Shares that is filed pursuant to Rule 424(b).

Registration Statement ” shall mean the registration statement referred to in Section 2(a) above, including exhibits and financial statements and any prospectus supplement relating to the Offered Shares that is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) and deemed part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B, as amended on each Effective Date and, in the event any post-effective amendment thereto or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement becomes effective, shall also mean such registration statement as so amended or such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, as the case may be. Any reference to any Prospectus Supplement or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Form S-3 under the Securities Act as of the date of such Prospectus Supplement or the Prospectus, as the case may be.

 

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Rule 153 ,” “ Rule 158 ,” “ Rule 163 ,” “ Rule 164 ,” “ Rule 172 ,” “ Rule 405 ,” “ Rule  415 ,” “ Rule  424 ,” “ Rule 430B ,” “ Rule 433 ,” “ Rule  456 ,” “ Rule 457 ” and “ Rule 462 ” refer to such rules under the Securities Act.

Rule 462(b) Registration Statement ” shall mean a registration statement and any amendments thereto filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) relating to the offering covered by the registration statement referred to in Section 2(a) hereof.

Securities Act ” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

For purposes of this Agreement, “subsidiary” and “affiliate” have their respective meanings set forth in Rule 405.

[Signature pages follow.]

 

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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement among the Company and the Managers.

 

Very truly yours,
THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC.
By:   /s/ Peter S. Burgess
  Name: Peter S. Burgess
  Title: VP Treasury & Insurance, Treasurer

Signature Page to Equity Distribution Agreement


The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first written above.

 

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.
By:   /s/ Michael Jamieson
  Name: Michael Jamieson
  Title: Managing Director

 

BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC.
By:   /s/ Rob Stowe
  Name: Rob Stowe
  Title: Managing Director

 

CIBC WORLD MARKETS CORP.
By:   /s/ Owen Lynch
  Name: Owen Lynch
  Title: Managing Director, Head of U.S.
  Institutional Equity Sales & Trading

 

CREDIT AGRICOLE SECURITIES (USA) INC.
By:   /s/ Jean-Marc Nguyen
  Name: Jean-Marc Nguyen
  Title: Managing Director

 

CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC
By:   /s/ Ryan S. Pickard
  Name: Ryan S. Pickard
  Title: Director

 

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.
By:   /s/ Francis Windels
  Name: Francis Windels
  Title: Managing Director

Signature Page to Equity Distribution Agreement


By:   /s/ Stephen Lambrix
  Name: Stephen Lambrix
 

Title: Director

 

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC
By:   /s/ Brett Chalmers
  Name: Brett Chalmers
  Title: Vice President

 

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
                              INCORPORATED
By:   /s/ Bradley Patton
  Name: Bradley Patton
  Title: Managing Director

 

MIZUHO SECURITIES USA LLC
By:   /s/ Mariano Gaut
  Name: Mariano Gaut
  Title: Managing Director

 

MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC
By:   /s/ Aaron Hoover
  Name: Aaron Hoover
  Title: Managing Director

 

MUFG SECURITIES AMERICAS INC.
By:   /s/ Michael Gordon
  Name: Michael Gordon
 

Title: Managing Director

Signature Page to Equity Distribution Agreement


RBC CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC
By:   /s/ Andrew Jones
  Name: Andrew Jones
  Title: Director

 

SCOTIA CAPITAL (USA) INC.
By:   /s/ Josh Weismer
  Name: Josh Weismer
  Title: Managing Director

 

SMBC NIKKO SECURITIES AMERICA, INC.
By:   /s/ Michael A. Walsh
  Name: Michael A. Walsh
  Title: Managing Director

 

SUNTRUST ROBINSON HUMPHREY, INC.
By:   /s/ Keith Carpenter
  Name: Keith Carpenter
  Title: Director

 

TD SECURITIES (USA) LLC
By:   /s/ PJ Dundee
  Name: PJ Dundee
  Title: Managing Director

 

WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC
By:   /s/ Elizabeth Alvarez
  Name: Elizabeth Alvarez
  Title: Managing Director

Signature Page to Equity Distribution Agreement


Schedule I

Schedule of Free Writing Prospectuses included in the Disclosure Package

None


Schedule II

Authorized Representatives

John D. Chandler

Peter S. Burgess

Damen Roccasalva


[Form of Terms Agreement]    ANNEX I

THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC.

Common Shares

TERMS AGREEMENT

______, 20__

[_______________]

Dear Sirs:

The Williams Companies, Inc. (the “ Company ”) proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and in the Equity Distribution Agreement, dated [•], 2018 (the “ Equity Distribution Agreement ”), among the Company, [•] and [•], to issue and sell to [__________] (the “ Manager[s] ”) the securities specified in the Schedule I hereto (the “ Purchased Shares ”) [, and solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments, to grant to the Manager[s] the option to purchase the additional securities specified in the Schedule I hereto (the “ Additional Shares ”)].

The Manager[s] shall have the right to purchase from the Company all or a portion of the Additional Shares as may be necessary to cover over-allotments made in connection with the offering of the Purchased Shares, at the same purchase price per Share to be paid by the Manager[s] to the Company for the Purchased Shares. This option may be exercised by the Manager[s] at any time (but not more than once) on or before the thirtieth day following the date hereof, by written notice to the Company. Such notice shall set forth the aggregate number of Additional Shares as to which the option is being exercised, and the date and time when the Additional Shares are to be delivered (such date and time being herein referred to as the “ Option Closing Date ”); provided , however , that the Option Closing Date shall not be earlier than the Time of Delivery (as set forth in the Schedule I hereto) nor earlier than the second business day after the date on which the option shall have been exercised nor later than the fifth business day after the date on which the option shall have been exercised. Payment of the purchase price for the Additional Shares shall be made at the Option Closing Date in the same manner and at the same office as the payment for the Purchased Shares.]

Each of the provisions of the Equity Distribution Agreement not specifically related to the solicitation by the Manager[s], as agents of the Company, of offers to purchase securities is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and shall be deemed to be part of this Terms Agreement to the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein. Each of the representations and warranties set forth therein shall be deemed to have been made at and as of the date of this Terms Agreement, the Time of Delivery [and any Option Closing Date], except that each representation and warranty in Section 2 of the Equity Distribution Agreement which makes reference to the Prospectus (as therein defined) shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty as of the date of the Equity Distribution Agreement with respect to the Prospectus dated August 10, 2018 that relates to the Purchased Shares (the “ Purchased Shares Prospectus ”), and also a representation and warranty as of the date of this Terms Agreement and the Time of Delivery [and any Option Closing Date] with respect to the Purchased Shares Prospectus.


[An amendment to the Registration Statement (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement), or a supplement to the Prospectus, as the case may be, relating to the Purchased Shares [and the Additional Shares], in the form heretofore delivered to the Managers is now proposed to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.]

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Equity Distribution Agreement that are incorporated herein by reference, the Company agrees to issue and sell to the Managers and the Managers agree to purchase from the Company the number of Purchased Shares at the time and place and at the purchase price set forth in Schedule I hereto.


If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us a counterpart hereof, whereupon this Terms Agreement, including those provisions of the Equity Distribution Agreement incorporated herein by reference, shall constitute a binding agreement among the Manager[s] and the Company.

 

THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC.
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
   

 

ACCEPTED as of the date

first written above.

[__________________]
By:    
  Name:
  Title:


Title of Purchased Shares [and Additional Shares]:

Common Shares

Number of Purchased Shares:

[Number of Additional Shares:]

Price to Public:

Purchase Price by the Manager(s):

Method of and Specified Funds for Payment of Purchase Price:

By wire transfer to a bank account specified by the Company in same day funds.

Method of Delivery:

Free delivery of the Shares to the Manager’s account at The Depository Trust Company in return for payment of the purchase price.

Time of Delivery:

Closing Location:

Documents to be Delivered:

The following documents referred to in the Equity Distribution Agreement shall be delivered as a condition to the closing, except as provided in Section 4(q), at the Time of Delivery [and on any Option Closing Date]:

(1) The opinions referred to in Section 4(l), (m), and (n).

(2) The opinion referred to in Section 4(o).

(3) The accountants’ letters referred to in Section 4(p).

(4) The officers’ certificate referred to in Section 4(k).

(5) Such other documents as the Manager[s] shall reasonably request.

Exhibit 3.1

CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT

OF

AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC.

THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC., a corporation duly organized and validly existing under and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ Company ”), does hereby certify as follows:

1. The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the “ Amended Certificate ”) is hereby amended as follows:

The first sentence of Article FOURTH of the Amended Certificate is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

“The total number of shares of capital stock which the Company shall have authority to issue is 1,500,000,000 shares, consisting of 1,470,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share (the “ Common Stock ”) and 30,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share (the “ Preferred Stock ”).”

2. The foregoing amendment was duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has duly executed this Certificate of Amendment on this 10 th day of August, 2018.

 

THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC.
By:   /s/ Joshua H. De Rienzis
  Name: Joshua H. De Rienzis
  Title: Corporate Secretary

Exhibit 4.1

ELEVENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

This ELEVENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “ Supplemental Indenture ”), dated as of August 10, 2018, between THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., a national banking association, duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States of America, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”).

WHEREAS, Williams Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership and predecessor by merger to the Company (the “ Predecessor ”), has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an Indenture, dated as of November 9, 2010, (the “ Base Indenture ”), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 9, 2010, the Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 17, 2011, the Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 14, 2012, the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 15, 2013, the Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 4, 2014, the Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 27, 2014, the Seventh Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 2, 2015, the Eighth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 3, 2015, the Ninth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 4, 2017 and the Tenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 5, 2018 (the Base Indenture as so supplemented, the “ Indenture ”), each between the Predecessor and the Trustee (the “ Indenture ”), pursuant to which the Predecessor’s 4.125% Senior Notes due 2020, 4.00% Senior Notes due 2021, 3.35% Senior Notes due 2022, 4.500% Senior Notes due 2023, 5.800% Senior Notes due 2043, 4.300% Senior Notes due 2024, 5.400% Senior Notes due 2044, 3.90% Senior Notes due 2025, 4.90% Senior Notes due 2045, 3.60% Senior Notes due 2022, 4.00% Senior Notes due 2025, 3.750% Senior Notes due 2027, 5.10% Senior Note due 2045 and 4.850% Senior Notes due 2048 (together, the “ Securities ”) have been issued;

WHEREAS, on the date hereof, immediately prior to the effectiveness of this Supplemental Indenture, the Predecessor merged with and into the Company, with the Company surviving and continuing its existence under the laws of the State of Delaware, and the merger became effective under the laws of the State of Delaware;

WHEREAS, Section 801(2) of the Base Indenture provides, among other things, that the Predecessor shall not merge with or into any Person unless the Person formed by or surviving any such merger expressly assumes, by an indenture supplemental thereto, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, any premium and interest on, all the Securities and the performance of every obligation of the Predecessor in the Indenture and the Securities on the part of the Company;

WHEREAS, Section 802 of the Base Indenture provides that, upon any merger in accordance with Section 801 of the Base Indenture, the successor Person formed by such merger shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Predecessor under the Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Predecessor in the Indenture; and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the Predecessor shall be released from all obligations and covenants under the Indenture and the Securities;


WHEREAS, Section 901(1) of the Base Indenture provides that, without the consent of any Holders of Securities, the Company (when authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution) and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more supplemental indentures with respect to the Securities, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, to evidence the succession of the Company to the Predecessor, and the assumption by the Company of the covenants of the Predecessor contained in the Indenture and in the Securities;

WHEREAS, the Company desires and has requested that the Trustee join with it in the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture for the purpose of evidencing such succession and assumption;

WHEREAS, the Company has been duly authorized to enter into this Supplemental Indenture;

WHEREAS, all conditions necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture and to make this Supplemental Indenture a valid and binding instrument enforceable in accordance with its terms have been complied with or have been done or performed; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 901 of the Base Indenture, the Trustee is authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities as follows:

ARTICLE ONE

Section 101    Defined Terms.

Except as otherwise expressly provided in or pursuant to this Supplemental Indenture or unless the context otherwise requires, for all purposes of this Supplemental Indenture the terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

Section 102    Relationship With Indenture.

The terms and provisions contained in the Indenture shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Supplemental Indenture and the Company and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. However, to the extent any provision of the Indenture conflicts with the express provisions of this Supplemental Indenture, the provisions of this Supplemental Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

The Trustee accepts the amendment of the Indenture effected by this Supplemental Indenture and agrees to execute the trust created by the Indenture as hereby amended, but only upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture, including the terms and provisions defining and limiting the liabilities and responsibilities of the Trustee in the performance of the trust created by the Indenture, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Trustee


shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or with respect to any of the recitals or statements contained herein, all of which recitals or statements are made solely by the Company, or for or with respect to (1) the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or any of the terms or provisions hereof, (2) the proper authorization hereof by the Company, (3) the due execution hereof by the Company or (4) the consequences (direct or indirect and whether deliberate or inadvertent) of any amendment herein provided for, and the Trustee makes no representation with respect to any such matters.

Section 103    Effect of Headings.

The Article and Section headings in this Supplemental Indenture are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

Section 104    Successors and Assigns.

All covenants and agreements in this Supplemental Indenture by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

Section 105    Separability Clause.

In case any provision in this Supplemental Indenture or the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

Section 106    Governing Law; Waiver of Trial by Jury.

This Supplemental Indenture shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made or instruments entered into and, in each case, performed in said state. Each of the Company and the Trustee hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Supplemental Indenture, the Securities or the transactions contemplated hereby.

Section 107    Counterparts.

This Supplemental Indenture may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

ARTICLE TWO

Section 201    Assumptions and Agreements of Successor

(a) In accordance with Section 801 of the Base Indenture, the Company hereby expressly assumes the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and any premium and interest on, all the Securities and the performance of every obligation of the Predecessor in the Indenture and the Securities on the part of the Company to be performed or observed.


(b) In accordance with Section 802 of the Base Indenture, the Company shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Predecessor under the Indenture with the same effect as if the Company had been named as the Predecessor in the Indenture.

Signature Page Follows


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC.
By:   /s/ Peter S. Burgess
  Name:   Peter S. Burgess
  Title:   Treasurer
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee
By:   /s/ Karen Yu
  Name:   Karen Yu
  Title:   Vice President

E LEVENTH S UPPLEMENTAL I NDENTURE

Exhibit 4.2

SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

This SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “ Supplemental Indenture ”), dated as of August 10, 2018, between THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., a national banking association, duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States of America, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”).

WHEREAS, Williams Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership and predecessor by merger to the Company (the “ Predecessor ”), has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an Indenture, dated as of February 9, 2010 (the “ Base Indenture ”), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of February 2, 2015, each between the Predecessor and the Trustee (as supplemented, the “ Indenture ”), pursuant to which the Predecessor’s 5.250% Senior Notes due 2020 and 6.300% Senior Notes due 2040 (together, the “ Securities ”) have been issued;

WHEREAS, on the date hereof, immediately prior to the effectiveness of this Supplemental Indenture, the Predecessor merged with and into the Company, with the Company surviving and continuing its existence under the laws of the State of Delaware, and the merger became effective under the laws of the State of Delaware;

WHEREAS, Section 801(2) of the Base Indenture provides, among other things, that the Predecessor shall not merge with or into any Person unless the Person formed by or surviving any such merger expressly assumes, by an indenture supplemental thereto, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and any premium and interest on, all the Securities and the performance of every obligation of the Predecessor in the Indenture and the Securities of each series;

WHEREAS, Section 802 of the Base Indenture provides that, upon any merger in accordance with Section 801 of the Base Indenture, the successor Person formed by such merger shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Predecessor under the Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Predecessor in the Indenture; and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the Predecessor shall be released from all obligations and covenants under the Indenture and the Securities;

WHEREAS, Section 901(1) of the Base Indenture provides that, without the consent of any Holders of the Securities, the Company (when authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution) and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more supplemental indentures with respect to the Securities, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, to evidence the succession of the Company to the Predecessor, and the assumption by the Company of the covenants of the Predecessor contained in the Indenture and in the Securities;

WHEREAS, the Company desires and has requested that the Trustee join with it in the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture for the purpose of evidencing such succession and assumption;

WHEREAS, the Company has been duly authorized to enter into this Supplemental Indenture;


WHEREAS, all conditions necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture and to make this Supplemental Indenture a valid and binding instrument enforceable in accordance with its terms have been complied with or have been done or performed; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 901 of the Base Indenture, the Trustee is authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities as follows:

ARTICLE ONE

Section 101    Defined Terms.

Except as otherwise expressly provided in or pursuant to this Supplemental Indenture or unless the context otherwise requires, for all purposes of this Supplemental Indenture the terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

Section 102    Relationship With Indenture.

The terms and provisions contained in the Indenture shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Supplemental Indenture and the Company and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. However, to the extent any provision of the Indenture conflicts with the express provisions of this Supplemental Indenture, the provisions of this Supplemental Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

The Trustee accepts the amendment of the Indenture effected by this Supplemental Indenture and agrees to execute the trust created by the Indenture as hereby amended, but only upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture, including the terms and provisions defining and limiting the liabilities and responsibilities of the Trustee in the performance of the trust created by the Indenture, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or with respect to any of the recitals or statements contained herein, all of which recitals or statements are made solely by the Company, or for or with respect to (1) the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or any of the terms or provisions hereof, (2) the proper authorization hereof by the Company, (3) the due execution hereof by the Company or (4) the consequences (direct or indirect and whether deliberate or inadvertent) of any amendment herein provided for, and the Trustee makes no representation with respect to any such matters.

Section 103    Effect of Headings.

The Article and Section headings in this Supplemental Indenture are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.


Section 104    Successors and Assigns.

All covenants and agreements in this Supplemental Indenture by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

Section 105    Separability Clause.

In case any provision in this Supplemental Indenture or the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

Section 106    Governing Law; Waiver of Trial by Jury.

This Supplemental Indenture shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made or instruments entered into and, in each case, performed in said state. Each of the Company and the Trustee hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Supplemental Indenture, the Securities or the transactions contemplated hereby.

Section 107    Counterparts.

This Supplemental Indenture may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

ARTICLE TWO

Section 201    Assumptions and Agreements of Successor

(a) In accordance with Section 801 of the Base Indenture, the Company hereby expressly assumes the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and any premium and interest on, all the Securities and the performance of every obligation of the Predecessor in the Indenture and the Securities.

(b) In accordance with Section 802 of the Base Indenture, the Company shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Predecessor under the Indenture with the same effect as if the Company had been named as the Predecessor in the Indenture.

Signature page follows.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC.
By:   /s/ Peter S. Burgess
  Name:   Peter S. Burgess
  Title:   Treasurer
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee
By:   /s/ Karen Yu
  Name:   Karen Yu
  Title:   Vice President

S ECOND S UPPLEMENTAL I NDENTURE

Exhibit 5.1

[Letterhead of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP]

August 10, 2018

The Williams Companies, Inc.

One Williams Center

Tulsa, Oklahoma 74172-0172

 

Re:

The Williams Companies, Inc.
Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-223149)

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have examined the Registration Statement on Form S-3, File No. 333-223149 (the “ Registration Statement ”), of The Williams Companies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), and the prospectus and prospectus supplement (the “ Prospectus Supplement ”) with respect thereto, dated February 22, 2018 and August 10, 2018, respectively, in connection with the offering by the Company from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, having an aggregate offering price of up to $1,000,000,000 (the “ Shares ”). The Shares will be issued pursuant to that certain Equity Distribution Agreement dated August 10, 2018 (the “ Distribution Agreement ”) among the Company and the managers named therein.

In arriving at the opinion expressed below, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction as being true and complete copies of the originals, of the specimen common stock certificate and such other documents, corporate records, certificates of officers of the Company and of public officials and other instruments as we have deemed necessary or advisable to enable us to render the opinion set forth below. In our examination, we have assumed without independent investigation the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity and competency of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies.

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, exceptions, qualifications and limitations set forth herein, we are of the opinion that when the Shares have been issued and delivered in accordance with the Distribution Agreement for the consideration provided for therein, such Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.


The Williams Companies, Inc.

August 10, 2018

Page 2

 

The opinion expressed above is subject to the following exceptions, qualifications, limitations and assumptions:

A. The effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the Securities Act will not have been terminated or rescinded.

B. We render no opinion herein as to matters involving the laws of any jurisdiction other than the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “ DGCL ”). This opinion is limited to the effect of the current state of the DGCL and the facts as they currently exist. We assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion in the event of future changes in such laws or the interpretations thereof or such facts.

C. All offers and sales of the Shares will comply with the limitations contained in the Company’s authorization of the offering and sale of the Shares.

We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, and we further consent to the use of our name under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Registration Statement and the prospectus that forms a part thereof. In giving these consents, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations of the Commission.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP

Exhibit 10.1

Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement

4(a)(2) Program

Between:

The Williams Companies, Inc. , as Issuer and

[DEALER] , as Dealer

Concerning Notes to be issued pursuant to a Commercial Paper Issuing and Paying Agent

Agreement dated as of August 10, 2018 between the Issuer and Citibank, N.A., as Issuing and

Paying Agent

Dated as of

August 10, 2018


Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement

4(a)(2) Program

This agreement (the “Agreement”) sets forth the understandings between the Issuer and the Dealer named on the cover page hereof, in connection with the issuance and sale by the Issuer of its short-term promissory notes (the “Notes”) through the Dealer.

Certain terms used in this Agreement are defined in Section 6 hereof.

The Addendum to this Agreement, and any Annexes or Exhibits described in this Agreement or such Addendum, are hereby incorporated into this Agreement and made fully a part hereof.

 

1.

Offers, Sales and Resales of Notes.

 

  1.1

While (i) the Issuer has and shall have no obligation to sell the Notes to the Dealer or to permit the Dealer to arrange any sale of the Notes for the account of the Issuer, and (ii) the Dealer has and shall have no obligation to purchase the Notes from the Issuer or to arrange any sale of the Notes for the account of the Issuer, the parties hereto agree that in any case where the Dealer purchases Notes from the Issuer, or arranges for the sale of Notes by the Issuer, such Notes will be purchased or sold by the Dealer in reliance on the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the Issuer contained herein or made pursuant hereto and on the terms and conditions and in the manner provided herein.

 

  1.2

So long as this Agreement shall remain in effect, and in addition to the limitations contained in Section 1.7 hereof, the Issuer shall not, without the consent of the Dealer, offer, solicit or accept offers to purchase, or sell, any Notes except (a) in transactions with one or more dealers which may from time to time after the date hereof become dealers with respect to the Notes by executing with the Issuer one or more agreements which contain provisions substantially identical to those contained in Section 1 of this Agreement, of which the Issuer hereby undertakes to provide the Dealer prompt notice or (b) in transactions with the other dealers listed on the Addendum hereto, which are executing agreements with the Issuer which contain provisions substantially identical to Section 1 of this Agreement contemporaneously herewith. In no event shall the Issuer offer, solicit or accept offers to purchase, or sell, any Notes directly on its own behalf in transactions with persons other than broker-dealers as specifically permitted in this Section 1.2.

 

  1.3

The Notes shall be in a minimum denomination of $250,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, will bear such interest rates, if interest bearing, or will be sold at such discount from their face amounts, as shall be agreed upon by the Dealer and the Issuer, shall have a maturity not exceeding 397 days from the date of issuance and may have such terms as are specified in Exhibit C hereto or the Private Placement Memorandum, a pricing supplement, or as otherwise agreed upon by the applicable purchaser and the Issuer. The Notes shall not contain any provision for extension, renewal or automatic “rollover.”

 

  1.4

The authentication and issuance of, and payment for, the Notes shall be effected in accordance with the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement, and the Notes shall be either individual physical certificates or book-entry notes evidenced by one or more master notes (each, a “Master Note”) registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company


  (“DTC”) or its nominee, in the form or forms annexed to the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement.

 

  1.5

If the Issuer and the Dealer shall agree on the terms of the purchase of any Note by the Dealer or the sale of any Note arranged by the Dealer (including, but not limited to, agreement with respect to the date of issue, purchase price, principal amount, maturity and interest rate or interest rate index and margin (in the case of interest-bearing Notes) or discount thereof (in the case of Notes issued on a discount basis), and appropriate compensation for the Dealer’s services hereunder) pursuant to this Agreement, the Issuer shall cause such Note to be issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement and payment for such Note shall be made by the purchaser thereof, either directly or through the Dealer, to the Issuing and Paying Agent, for the account of the Issuer. Except as otherwise agreed, in the event that the Dealer is acting as an agent and a purchaser shall either fail to accept delivery of or make payment for a Note on the date fixed for settlement, the Dealer shall promptly notify the Issuer, and if the Dealer has theretofore paid the Issuer for the Note, the Issuer will promptly return such funds to the Dealer against its return of the Note to the Issuer, in the case of a certificated Note, and upon notice of such failure in the case of a book-entry Note. If such failure occurred for any reason other than default by the Dealer, the Issuer shall reimburse the Dealer on an equitable basis for the Dealer’s loss of the use of such funds for the period such funds were credited to the Issuer’s account.

 

  1.6

The Dealer and the Issuer hereby establish and agree to observe the following procedures in connection with offers, sales and subsequent resales or other transfers of the Notes:

 

  (a)

Offers and sales of the Notes by or through the Dealer shall be made only to: (i) investors reasonably believed by the Dealer to be Qualified Institutional Buyers or Institutional Accredited Investors and (ii) non-bank fiduciaries or agents that will be purchasing Notes for one or more accounts, each of which is reasonably believed by the Dealer to be an Institutional Accredited Investor.

 

  (b)

Resales and other transfers of the Notes by the holders thereof shall be made only in accordance with the restrictions in the legend described in clause (e) below.

 

  (c)

No general solicitation or general advertising shall be used in connection with the offering of the Notes. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, without the prior written approval of the Dealer, the Issuer shall not issue any press release, make any other statement to any member of the press making reference to the Notes, the offer or sale of the Notes or this Agreement or place or publish any “tombstone” or other advertisement relating to the Notes or the offer or sale thereof. To the extent permitted by applicable securities laws, the Issuer shall (i) omit the name of the Dealer from any publicly available filing by the Issuer that makes reference to the Notes, the offer or sale of the Notes or this Agreement, (ii) not include a copy of this Agreement in any such filing or as an exhibit thereto, and (iii) redact the name of the Dealer and any contact or other information that could identify the Dealer from any agreement or other information included in such filing. For the avoidance of doubt, the Issuer shall not post the Private Placement Memorandum on a website without the consent of the Dealer and each other dealer or placement agent, if any, for the Notes.

 

  (d)

No sale of Notes to any one purchaser shall be for less than $250,000 principal or face amount, and no Note shall be issued in a smaller principal or face amount. If the purchaser is a non-bank fiduciary acting on behalf of others, each person for whom

 

3


  such purchaser is acting must purchase at least $250,000 principal or face amount of Notes.

 

  (e)

Offers and sales of the Notes shall be made in accordance with Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act, and shall be subject to the restrictions described in the legend appearing on Exhibit A hereto. A legend substantially to the effect of such Exhibit A shall appear as part of the Private Placement Memorandum used in connection with offers and sales of Notes hereunder, as well as on each individual certificate representing a Note and each Master Note representing book-entry Notes offered and sold pursuant to this Agreement.

 

  (f)

The Dealer shall furnish or shall have furnished to each purchaser of Notes for which it has acted as the dealer a copy of the then-current Private Placement Memorandum unless such purchaser has previously received a copy of the Private Placement Memorandum as then in effect. The Private Placement Memorandum shall expressly state that any person to whom Notes are offered shall have an opportunity to ask questions of, and receive information from, the Issuer and the Dealer and shall provide the names, addresses and telephone numbers of the persons from whom information regarding the Issuer may be obtained.

 

  (g)

The Issuer agrees, for the benefit of the Dealer and each of the holders and prospective purchasers from time to time of the Notes that, if at any time the Issuer shall not be subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Issuer will furnish, upon request and at its expense, to the Dealer and to holders and prospective purchasers of Notes information required by Rule 144A(d)(4)(i) in compliance with Rule 144A(d).

 

  (h)

In the event that any Note offered or to be offered by the Dealer would be ineligible for resale under Rule 144A, the Issuer shall immediately notify the Dealer (by telephone, confirmed in writing, including by electronic correspondence or facsimile) of such fact and shall promptly prepare and deliver to the Dealer an amendment or supplement to the Private Placement Memorandum describing the Notes that are ineligible, the reason for such ineligibility and any other relevant information relating thereto.

 

  (i)

The Issuer represents that it is not currently issuing commercial paper in the United States market in reliance upon the exemption provided by Section 3(a)(3) of the Securities Act. The Issuer agrees that, if it shall issue commercial paper after the date hereof in reliance upon such exemption (a) the proceeds from the sale of the Notes will be segregated from the proceeds of the sale of any such commercial paper by being placed in a separate account; (b) the Issuer will institute appropriate corporate procedures to ensure that the offers and sales of notes issued by the Issuer pursuant to the Section 3(a)(3) exemption are not integrated with offerings and sales of Notes hereunder; and (c) the Issuer will comply with each of the requirements of Section 3(a)(3) of the Securities Act in selling commercial paper or other short-term debt securities other than the Notes in the United States.

 

  1.7

The Issuer hereby represents and warrants to the Dealer, in connection with offers, sales and resales of Notes, as follows:

 

  (a)

The Issuer hereby confirms to the Dealer that (except as permitted by Section 1.6(i)) within the preceding six months neither the Issuer nor any person other than the Dealer

 

4


  or the other dealers referred to in Section 1.2 hereof acting on behalf of the Issuer has offered or sold any Notes, or any substantially similar security of the Issuer (including, without limitation, medium-term notes issued by the Issuer), to, or solicited offers to buy any such security from, any person other than the Dealer or the other dealers referred to in Section 1.2 hereof. The Issuer also agrees that (except as permitted by Section 1.6(i)), as long as the Notes are being offered for sale by the Dealer and the other dealers referred to in Section 1.2 hereof as contemplated hereby and until at least six months after the offer of Notes hereunder has been terminated, neither the Issuer nor any person other than the Dealer or the other dealers referred to in Section 1.2 hereof (except as contemplated by Section 1.2 hereof) will offer the Notes or any substantially similar security of the Issuer for sale to, or solicit offers to buy any such security from, any person other than the Dealer or the other dealers referred to in Section 1.2 hereof, it being understood that such agreement is made with a view to bringing the offer and sale of the Notes within the exemption provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and shall survive any termination of this Agreement. The Issuer hereby represents and warrants that it has not taken or omitted to take, and will not take or omit to take, any action that would cause the offering and sale of Notes hereunder to be integrated with any other offering of securities, whether such offering is made by the Issuer or some other party or parties.

 

  (b)

The Issuer represents that the proceeds of the sale of the Notes may be used for the purpose of buying, carrying or trading securities within the meaning of Regulation T and the interpretations thereunder by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. The Issuer shall give the Dealer prior notice as early as practicable of the date that it intends to commence to purchase securities with the proceeds of the Notes. Thereafter, in the event that the Dealer purchases Notes as principal and does not resell such Notes on the day of such purchase, to the extent necessary to comply with Regulation T and the interpretations thereunder, the Dealer will sell such Notes either (i) only to offerees it reasonably believes to be Qualified Institutional Buyers or to Qualified Institutional Buyers it reasonably believes are acting for other Qualified Institutional Buyers, in each case in accordance with Rule 144A or (ii) in a manner which would not cause a violation of Regulation T and the interpretations thereunder.

 

2.

Representations and Warranties of Issuer.

The Issuer represents and warrants that:

 

2.1

The Issuer is a corporation validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation and has all the requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Notes, this Agreement and the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement.

 

  2.2

This Agreement and the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Issuer and constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Issuer enforceable against the Issuer in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

  2.3

The Notes have been duly authorized, and when issued as provided in the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement, will be duly and validly issued and will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Issuer enforceable against the Issuer in accordance with

 

5


  their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

  2.4

The offer and sale of the Notes in the manner contemplated hereby do not require registration of the Notes under the Securities Act, pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) thereof, and no indenture in respect of the Notes is required to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

 

  2.5

The Notes will rank at least pari passu with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Issuer.

 

  2.6

No consent or action of, or filing or registration with, any governmental or public regulatory body or authority, including the SEC, is required to authorize, or is otherwise required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance of, this Agreement, the Notes or the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement, except (a) as may be required by the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states in connection with the offer and sale of the Notes, or (b) filings with the SEC under the Exchange Act in connection with the entry into the Agreement.

 

  2.7

Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement, nor the issuance of the Notes in accordance with the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement, nor the fulfillment of or compliance with the terms and provisions hereof or thereof by the Issuer, will (i) result in the creation or imposition of any mortgage, lien, charge or encumbrance of any nature whatsoever upon any of the properties or assets of the Issuer, or (ii) violate or result in a breach or a default under any of the terms of the Issuer’s charter documents or by-laws, any contract or instrument to which the Issuer is a party or by which it or its property is bound, or any law or regulation, or any order, writ, injunction or decree of any court or government instrumentality, to which the Issuer is subject or by which it or its property is bound, which breach or default could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, operations or business prospects of the Issuer or the ability of the Issuer to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Notes or the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement.

 

  2.8

Except as disclosed in the Company Information, there is no litigation or governmental proceeding pending, or to the knowledge of the Issuer threatened, against or affecting the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries which could reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse change in the financial condition, operations or business prospects of the Issuer or the ability of the Issuer to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Notes or the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement.

 

  2.9

The Issuer is not an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

  2.10

Neither the Private Placement Memorandum nor the Company Information contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

  2.11

Neither of the Issuer nor any of its subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Issuer, any director, officer, employee or affiliate of the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries is the subject

 

6


  of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control or the U.S. State Department, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”); neither the Issuer nor any of its subsidiaries is located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is, or whose government is, the subject of Sanctions.

 

  2.12

No part of the proceeds of the Notes will be used, directly or, to the knowledge of the Issuer, indirectly, (i) to fund or finance any activities or business of or with any Person or vessel, or in any country or territory, that, at the time of such funding or financing, is, or whose government is, the subject of Sanctions if such activities or business would be prohibited for a U.S. Person pursuant to Sanctions, or (ii) in any other manner that would result in a violation of Sanctions by the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries or any other party to this Agreement.

 

  2.13

The Issuer and its subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable anti-corruption laws, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “FCPA”), except for such non-compliance that could not, based upon the facts and circumstances existing at the time, reasonably be expected to (x) result in a material adverse effect on the financial condition, operations, or properties of the Issuer and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse Effect”), (y) result in material liability to any Dealer or the Issuing and Paying Agent, or (z) materially and adversely affect the ability of the Issuer to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement or the Notes. The Issuer has instituted and maintains policies and procedures reasonably designed to promote compliance with the FCPA and all other applicable anti-corruption laws, and each of the Issuer and its subsidiaries adheres to such policies and procedures. No part of the proceeds of the Notes will be used, directly or, to the knowledge of the Issuer, indirectly, in violation of the FCPA or any other applicable anti-corruption law, including for any payments to any governmental official or employee, political party, official of a political party, candidate for political office, or anyone else acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of the FCPA or any other applicable anticorruption law.

 

  2.14

To the extent applicable, each of the Issuer and its subsidiaries are in compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by Title III of the USA PATRIOT Act, and all other applicable anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing laws and regulations, except for such non-compliance that could not, based on the facts and circumstances existing at the time, reasonably be expected to (x) result in a Material Adverse Effect, (y) result in material liability to any Dealer or the Issuing and Paying Agent, or (z) materially and adversely affect the ability of the Issuer to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement or the Notes.

 

  2.15

Each (a) issuance of Notes by the Issuer hereunder and (b) amendment or supplement of the Private Placement Memorandum prepared or approved by the Issuer prior to use shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Issuer to the Dealer, as of the date thereof, that, both before and after giving effect to such issuance and after giving effect to such amendment or supplement, (i) the representations and warranties given by the Issuer set forth in this Section 2 remain true and correct on and as of such date as if made on and as of such date, (ii) in the case of an issuance of Notes, the Notes being issued on such date have been duly and validly issued and constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the

 

7


  Issuer, enforceable against the Issuer in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) in the case of an issuance of Notes, since the date of the most recent Private Placement Memorandum, there has been no material adverse change in the financial condition, operations or business prospects of the Issuer which has not been disclosed to the Dealer in writing or made publicly available by the Issuer on the SEC’s EDGAR system.

 

3.

Covenants and Agreements of Issuer.

The Issuer covenants and agrees that:

 

  3.1

The Issuer will give the Dealer prompt notice (but in any event prior to any subsequent issuance of Notes hereunder) of any amendment to, modification of or waiver with respect to, the Notes or the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement, including a complete copy of any such amendment, modification or waiver.

 

  3.2

The Issuer shall promptly, and in any event prior to any subsequent issuance of Notes hereunder, notify the Dealer (by telephone, confirmed in writing, including by electronic correspondence or facsimile) upon (i) the determination by the Issuer that the Company Information then in existence includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, (ii) the occurrence of any downgrading or receipt of any notice of intended downgrading accorded any of the Issuer’s securities by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization (a “Rating Agency”) which has published a rating of the Notes or (iii) the placement of the Issuer on a negative watch list of any Rating Agency.

 

  3.3

The Issuer shall from time to time furnish to the Dealer such information as the Dealer may reasonably request, including, without limitation, any press releases or material provided by the Issuer to any national securities exchange and any nonconfidential information provided to any Rating Agency, regarding (i) the Issuer’s operations and financial condition, (ii) the due authorization and execution of the Notes and (iii) the Issuer’s ability to pay the Notes as they mature; provided, however, that the Issuer shall in no case be required to furnish any information that it deems to be material nonpublic information.

 

  3.4

The Issuer will take all such action as the Dealer may reasonably request to ensure that each offer and each sale of the Notes will comply with any applicable state Blue Sky laws; provided, however, that the Issuer shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject.

 

  3.5

The Issuer will not be in default of any of its obligations hereunder, under the Notes or under the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement, at any time that any of the Notes are outstanding.

 

  3.6

The Issuer shall not issue Notes hereunder for the first time until the Dealer shall have received (a) an opinion of counsel to the Issuer, addressed to the Dealer, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Dealer, (b) a copy of the executed Issuing and

 

8


  Paying Agent Agreement as then in effect, (c) a copy of resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Issuer, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Dealer and certified by the Secretary or similar officer of the Issuer, authorizing execution and delivery by the Issuer of this Agreement, the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement and the Notes and consummation by the Issuer of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, (d) prior to the issuance of any book-entry Notes represented by a master note registered in the name of DTC or its nominee, a copy of the executed Letter of Representations among the Issuer, the Issuing and Paying Agent and DTC and of the executed master note, (e) prior to the issuance of any Notes in physical form, a copy of such form (unless attached to this Agreement or the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement) and (f) such other certificates, opinions, letters and documents as the Dealer shall have reasonably requested.

 

  3.7

The Issuer shall reimburse the Dealer for all of the Dealer’s reasonable out-of-pocket expenses related to this Agreement, including reasonable expenses incurred in connection with its preparation and negotiation, and the transactions contemplated hereby (including, but not limited to, the printing and distribution of the Private Placement Memorandum), and, if applicable, for the reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses of the Dealer’s outside counsel; provided that any such out-of-pocket expenses of the Dealer shall be subject to the prior written approval of the Issuer, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

  3.8

The Issuer shall not file a Form D (as referenced in Rule 503 under the Securities Act) at any time in respect of the offer or sale of the Notes.

 

4.

Disclosure.

 

  4.1

The Private Placement Memorandum and its contents (other than the Dealer Information) shall be the sole responsibility of the Issuer. The Private Placement Memorandum shall contain a statement expressly offering an opportunity for each prospective purchaser to ask questions of, and receive answers from, the Issuer concerning the offering of Notes and to obtain relevant additional information which the Issuer possesses or can acquire without unreasonable effort or expense.

 

  4.2

The Issuer agrees to promptly furnish the Dealer the Company Information as it becomes publicly available, which may be satisfied through the filing of their required reports with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

  4.3

(a) The Issuer further agrees to notify the Dealer and suspend all solicitations and sales of Notes promptly upon the determination by the Issuer that the Company Information then in existence includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.

(b) In the event that the Issuer gives the Dealer notice and suspends all solicitations and sales of Notes pursuant to Section 4.3(a) and the Dealer notifies the Issuer that it then has Notes that it is holding in inventory (“Inventory”), the Issuer agrees either to (i) purchase the entire Inventory of the Dealer at a purchase price equal to either (x) in the case of an interest-bearing Note, the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon through the date of purchase or (y) in the case of a Note issued on a discount basis, the price paid by the Dealer for the purchase thereof, plus the accreted discount thereon through the date of purchase based on the purchase price thereof, or (ii) to promptly amend or

 

9


supplement the Private Placement Memorandum after receipt of such notice from the Dealer, so that the Private Placement Memorandum, as amended or supplemented, does not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and make such amendment or supplement available to the Dealer.

(c) The suspension of solicitations and sales of Notes pursuant to Section 4.3(a) shall end at such time as (i) the Issuer has amended or supplemented the Private Placement Memorandum in accordance with Section 4.3(b)(ii), or (ii) the Issuer determines that the Company Information then in existence is accurate and complete and no longer includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading

(d) Without limiting the generality of Section 4.3(a), the Issuer shall review, and, if necessary, amend and supplement the Private Placement Memorandum on a periodic basis, but no less than at least once annually to ensure that the information provided in the Private Placement Memorandum is accurate and complete.

 

5.

Indemnification and Contribution.

 

  5.1

The Issuer will indemnify and hold harmless the Dealer, each individual, corporation, partnership, trust, association or other entity controlling the Dealer, any affiliate of the Dealer or any such controlling entity and their respective directors, officers, employees, partners, incorporators, shareholders, servants, trustees and agents (hereinafter the “Indemnitees”) against any and all liabilities, penalties, suits, causes of action, losses, damages, claims, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) or judgments of whatever kind or nature (each a “Claim”), imposed upon, incurred by or asserted against the Indemnitees arising out of or based upon (i) any allegation that the Private Placement Memorandum, the Company Information or any information provided by the Issuer to the Dealer included (as of any relevant time) or includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted (as of any relevant time) or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or (ii) the breach by the Issuer of any agreement, covenant or representation made in or pursuant to this Agreement. This indemnification shall not apply to the extent that the Claim arises out of or is based upon Dealer Information.

 

  5.2

Provisions relating to claims made for indemnification under this Section 5 are set forth on Exhibit B to this Agreement.

 

  5.3

In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in circumstances in which the indemnification provided for in this Section 5 is held to be unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless the Indemnitees, although applicable in accordance with the terms of this Section 5, the Issuer shall contribute to the aggregate costs incurred by the Dealer in connection with any Claim in the proportion of the respective economic interests of the Issuer and the Dealer; provided, however, that such contribution by the Issuer shall be in an amount such that the aggregate costs incurred by the Dealer do not exceed the aggregate of the commissions and fees earned by the Dealer hereunder with respect to the issue or issues of Notes to which such Claim relates. The respective economic interests shall be calculated

 

10


  by reference to the aggregate proceeds to the Issuer of the Notes issued hereunder and the aggregate commissions and fees earned by the Dealer hereunder.

 

6.

Definitions.

 

  6.1

“Claim” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.1.

 

6.2

“Company Information” at any given time shall mean the Private Placement Memorandum together with, to the extent applicable, (i) the Issuer’s most recent report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and each report on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K filed by the Issuer with the SEC since the most recent Form 10-K, (ii) the Issuer’s most recent annual audited financial statements and each interim financial statement or report prepared subsequent thereto, if not included in item (i) above, (iii) the Issuer’s and its affiliates’ other publicly available recent reports, including, but not limited to, any publicly available filings or reports provided to their respective shareholders, (iv) any other information or disclosure prepared pursuant to Section 4.3 hereof and (v) any information prepared or approved by the Issuer for dissemination to investors or potential investors in the Notes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Company Information” described in clause (i) above shall not include any information furnished to, but not filed with, the SEC.

 

  6.3

“Current Issuing and Paying Agent” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.9(i).

 

  6.4

“Dealer Information” shall mean material concerning the Dealer provided by the Dealer in writing expressly for inclusion in the Private Placement Memorandum.

 

  6.5

“Exchange Act” shall mean the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

  6.6

“FCPA” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.13.

 

  6.7

“Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States of America or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

 

  6.8

“Indemnitee” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.1.

 

  6.9

“Institutional Accredited Investor” shall mean an institutional investor that is an accredited investor within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act and that has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that it is capable of evaluating and bearing the economic risk of an investment in the Notes, including, but not limited to, a bank, as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act, or a savings and loan association or other institution, as defined in Section 3(a)(5)(A) of the Securities Act, whether acting in its individual or fiduciary capacity.

 

  6.10

“Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement” shall mean the commercial paper issuing and paying agent agreement described on the cover page of this Agreement, or any replacement thereof, as such agreement may be amended or supplemented from time to time.

 

11


  6.11

“Issuing and Paying Agent” shall mean the party designated as such on the cover page of this Agreement, or any successor thereto or replacement thereof, as issuing and paying agent under the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement, or any successor thereto in accordance with the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement.

 

  6.12

“Material Adverse Effect” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.13.

 

  6.13

“Non-bank fiduciary or agent” shall mean a fiduciary or agent other than (a) a bank, as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act, or (b) a savings and loan association, as defined in Section 3(a)(5)(A) of the Securities Act.

 

  6.14

“Outstanding Notes” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.9(ii).

 

  6.15

“Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.

 

  6.16

“Private Placement Memorandum” shall mean offering materials prepared in accordance with Section 4 (including materials referred to therein or incorporated by reference therein, if any) provided to purchasers and prospective purchasers of the Notes, and shall include amendments and supplements thereto which may be prepared from time to time in accordance with this Agreement (other than any amendment or supplement that has been completely superseded by a later amendment or supplement).

 

  6.17

“Qualified Institutional Buyer” shall have the meaning assigned to that term in Rule 144A under the Securities Act.

 

  6.18

“Replacement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.9(i).

 

  6.19

“Replacement Issuing and Paying Agent” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.9(i).

 

  6.20

“Replacement Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.91(i).

 

  6.21

“Rule 144A” shall mean Rule 144A under the Securities Act.

 

  6.22

“Sanctions” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.11.

 

  6.23

“SEC” shall mean the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

  6.24

“Securities Act” shall mean the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

  6.25

“U.S. Person” shall mean any Person that is a “United States person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

 

7.

General

 

  7.1

Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, all notices under this Agreement to parties hereto shall be in writing and shall be effective when received at the address of the respective party set forth in the Addendum to this Agreement.

 

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  7.2

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to its conflict of laws provisions.

 

  7.3

(a) The Issuer agrees that any suit, action or proceeding brought by the Issuer against the Dealer in connection with or arising out of this Agreement or the Notes or the offer and sale of the Notes shall be brought solely in the United States federal courts located in the Borough of Manhattan or the courts of the State of New York located in the Borough of Manhattan. EACH OF THE DEALER AND THE ISSUER WAIVES ITS RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

(b) The Issuer hereby irrevocably accepts and submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of each of the aforesaid courts in personam, generally and unconditionally, for itself and in respect of its properties, assets and revenues, with respect to any suit, action or proceeding in connection with or arising out of this Agreement or the Notes or the offer and sale of the Notes.

 

  7.4

This Agreement may be terminated, at any time, by the Issuer, upon one business day’s prior notice to such effect to the Dealer, or by the Dealer upon one business day’s prior notice to such effect to the Issuer. Any such termination, however, shall not affect the obligations of the Issuer under Sections 3.7, 5 and 7.3 hereof or the respective representations, warranties, agreements, covenants, rights or responsibilities of the parties made or arising prior to the termination of this Agreement.

 

  7.5

This Agreement is not assignable by either party hereto without the written consent of the other party; provided, however, that the Dealer may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any affiliate of the Dealer.

 

  7.6

This Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

 

  7.7

Except as provided in Section 5 with respect to non-party Indemnitees, this Agreement is for the exclusive benefit of the parties hereto, and their respective permitted successors and assigns hereunder, and shall not be deemed to give any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim to any other person whatsoever.

 

  7.8

The Issuer acknowledges and agrees that (i) purchases and sales, or placements, of the Notes pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of any prices for the Notes and Dealer compensation, are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Issuer and the Dealer, (ii) in connection therewith and with the process leading to such transactions, the Dealer is acting solely as a principal and not the agent (except to the extent explicitly set forth herein) or fiduciary of the Issuer or any of its affiliates, (iii) the Dealer has not assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Issuer or any of its affiliates with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether the Dealer has advised or is currently advising the Issuer or any of its affiliates on other matters) or any other obligation to the Issuer or any of its affiliates except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement, (iv) the Issuer is capable of evaluating and understanding and understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (v) the Dealer and its affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the

 

13


  Issuer and that the Dealer has no obligation to disclose any of those interests by virtue of any advisory or fiduciary relationship, (vi) the Dealer has not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby, and (vii) the Issuer has consulted its own legal and financial advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate. The Issuer agrees that it will not claim that the Dealer has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owes a fiduciary or similar duty to the Issuer in connection with such transactions or the process leading thereto. Any review by the Dealer of the Issuer, the transactions contemplated hereby or other matters relating to such transactions shall be performed solely for the benefit of the Dealer and shall not be on behalf of the Issuer. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Issuer and the Dealer with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

  7.9

(i) The parties hereto agree that the Issuer may, in accordance with the terms of this Section 7.9, from time to time replace the party which is then acting as Issuing and Paying Agent (the “Current Issuing and Paying Agent”) with another party (such other party, the “Replacement Issuing and Paying Agent”), and enter into an agreement with the Replacement Issuing and Paying Agent covering the provision of issuing and paying agency functions in respect of the Notes by the Replacement Issuing and Paying Agent (the “Replacement Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement”) (any such replacement, a “Replacement”).

(ii) From and after the effective date of any Replacement, (A) to the extent that the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement provides that the Current Issuing and Paying Agent will continue to act in respect of Notes outstanding as of the effective date of such Replacement (the “Outstanding Notes”), then (i) the “Issuing and Paying Agent” for the Notes shall be deemed to be the Current Issuing and Paying Agent, in respect of the Outstanding Notes, and the Replacement Issuing and Paying Agent, in respect of Notes issued on or after the Replacement, (ii) all references to the “Issuing and Paying Agent” hereunder shall be deemed to refer to the Current Issuing and Paying Agent in respect of the Outstanding Notes, and the Replacement Issuing and Paying Agent in respect of Notes issued on or after the Replacement, and (iii) all references to the “Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement” hereunder shall be deemed to refer to the existing Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement, in respect of the Outstanding Notes, and the Replacement Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement, in respect of Notes issued on or after the Replacement; and (B) to the extent that the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement does not provide that the Current Issuing and Paying Agent will continue to act in respect of the Outstanding Notes, then (i) the “Issuing and Paying Agent” for the Notes shall be deemed to be the Replacement Issuing and Paying Agent, (ii) all references to the “Issuing and Paying Agent” hereunder shall be deemed to refer to the Replacement Issuing and Paying Agent, and (iii) all references to the “Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement” hereunder shall be deemed to refer to the Replacement Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement.

(iii) From and after the effective date of any Replacement, the Issuer shall not issue any Notes hereunder unless and until the Dealer shall have received: (a) a copy of the executed Replacement Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement, (b) a copy of the executed Letter of Representations among the Issuer, the Replacement Issuing and Paying Agent and DTC, (c) a copy of the executed Master Note authenticated by the Replacement Issuing and Paying Agent and registered in the name of DTC or its nominee, (d) an amendment or supplement to the Private Placement Memorandum describing the Replacement Issuing and Paying Agent as the Issuing and Paying Agent for the Notes, and reflecting any other

 

14


changes thereto necessary in light of the Replacement so that the Private Placement Memorandum, as amended or supplemented, satisfies the requirements of this Agreement, and (e) a legal opinion of counsel to the Issuer, addressed to the Dealer, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Dealer, as to (x) the due authorization, delivery, validity and enforceability of Notes issued pursuant to the Replacement Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement, and (y) such other matters as the Dealer may reasonably request.

[Signature page follows]

 

15


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date and year first above written.

 

[DEALER], as Dealer
By:
Name:
Title:

 

The Williams Companies, Inc., as Issuer
By:                   
Name: Peter S. Burgess
Title: VP Treasury & Insurance, Treasurer

 

16


Addendum

The following additional clauses shall apply to the Agreement and be deemed a part thereof.

 

1.

The other dealers referred to in clause (b) of Section 1.2 of the Agreement are _______________________________________________________.

 

2.

The addresses of the respective parties for purposes of notices under Section 7.1 are as follows:

For the Issuer:

 

Address:   

One Williams Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74172

 

Attention:   

Treasurer

 

Telephone number:   

(918) 573-2000

 

Fax number:   

(918) 573-1167

For the Dealer:

 

Address:   

                

 

Attention:   

                

 

Telephone number:   

                

 

Fax number:   

                


Exhibit A

Form of Legend for Private Placement Memorandum and Notes

THE NOTES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”), OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAW, AND OFFERS AND SALES THEREOF MAY BE MADE ONLY IN COMPLIANCE WITH AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. BY ITS ACCEPTANCE OF A NOTE, THE PURCHASER WILL BE DEEMED TO REPRESENT THAT (I) IT HAS BEEN AFFORDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO INVESTIGATE MATTERS RELATING TO THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC. (THE “ISSUER”) AND THE NOTES, (II) IT IS NOT ACQUIRING SUCH NOTE WITH A VIEW TO ANY DISTRIBUTION THEREOF AND (III) IT IS EITHER (A)(1) AN INSTITUTIONAL INVESTOR THAT IS AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 501(a) UNDER THE ACT (AN “INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR”) AND (2)(i) PURCHASING NOTES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, (ii) A BANK (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 3(a)(2) OF THE ACT) OR A SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION OR OTHER INSTITUTION (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 3(a)(5)(A) OF THE ACT) ACTING IN ITS INDIVIDUAL OR FIDUCIARY CAPACITY OR (iii) A FIDUCIARY OR AGENT (OTHER THAN A U.S. BANK OR SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION OR OTHER SUCH INSTITUTION) PURCHASING NOTES FOR ONE OR MORE ACCOUNTS EACH OF WHICH ACCOUNTS IS SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR; OR (B) A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (“QIB”) WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A UNDER THE ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING NOTES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR ONE OR MORE ACCOUNTS, EACH OF WHICH ACCOUNTS IS A QIB; AND THE PURCHASER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT IS AWARE THAT THE SELLER MAY RELY UPON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A. BY ITS ACCEPTANCE OF A NOTE, THE PURCHASER THEREOF SHALL ALSO BE DEEMED TO AGREE THAT ANY RESALE OR OTHER TRANSFER THEREOF WILL BE MADE ONLY (A) IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE ACT, EITHER (1) TO THE ISSUER OR TO A PLACEMENT AGENT DESIGNATED BY THE ISSUER AS A PLACEMENT AGENT FOR THE NOTES (COLLECTIVELY, THE “PLACEMENT AGENTS”), NONE OF WHICH SHALL HAVE ANY OBLIGATION TO ACQUIRE SUCH NOTE, (2) THROUGH A PLACEMENT AGENT TO AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR OR A QIB, OR (3) TO A QIB IN A TRANSACTION THAT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A AND (B) IN MINIMUM AMOUNTS OF $250,000.

 

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Exhibit B

Further Provisions Relating to Indemnification

 

(a)

The Issuer agrees to reimburse each Indemnitee for all expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements of internal and external counsel) as they are incurred by it in connection with investigating or defending any loss, claim, damage, liability or action in respect of which indemnification may be sought under Section 5 of the Agreement (whether or not it is a party to any such proceedings).

 

(b)

Promptly after receipt by an Indemnitee of notice of the existence of a Claim, such Indemnitee will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the Issuer, notify the Issuer in writing of the existence thereof; provided that (i) the omission so to notify the Issuer will not relieve the Issuer from any liability which it may have hereunder unless and except to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such Claim and such failure results in the forfeiture by the Issuer of substantial rights and defenses, and (ii) the omission so to notify the Issuer will not relieve it from liability which it may have to an Indemnitee otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement. In case any such Claim is made against any Indemnitee and it notifies the Issuer of the existence thereof, the Issuer will be entitled to participate therein, and to the extent that it may elect by written notice delivered to the Indemnitee, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnitee; provided that if the defendants in any such Claim include both the Indemnitee and the Issuer, and the Indemnitee shall have concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it which are different from or additional to those available to the Issuer, the Issuer shall not have the right to direct the defense of such Claim on behalf of such Indemnitee, and the Indemnitee shall have the right to select separate counsel to assert such legal defenses on behalf of such Indemnitee. Upon receipt of notice from the Issuer to such Indemnitee of the Issuer’s election so to assume the defense of such Claim and approval by the Indemnitee of counsel, the Issuer will not be liable to such Indemnitee for expenses incurred thereafter by the Indemnitee in connection with the defense thereof (other than reasonable costs of investigation) unless (i) the Indemnitee shall have employed separate counsel in connection with the assertion of legal defenses in accordance with the proviso to the next preceding sentence (it being understood, however, that the Issuer shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (in addition to any local counsel in the jurisdiction in which any Claim is brought), approved by the Dealer, representing the Indemnitee who is party to such Claim), (ii) the Issuer shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitee to represent the Indemnitee within a reasonable time after notice of existence of the Claim or (iii) the Issuer has authorized in writing the employment of counsel for the Indemnitee. The indemnity, reimbursement and contribution obligations of the Issuer hereunder shall be in addition to any other liability the Issuer may otherwise have to an Indemnitee and shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of any successors, assigns, heirs and personal representatives of the Issuer and any Indemnitee. The Issuer agrees that without the Dealer’s prior written consent, it will not settle, compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any Claim in respect of which indemnification may be sought under the indemnification provision of the Agreement (whether or not the Dealer or any other Indemnitee is an actual or potential party to such Claim), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each Indemnitee from all liability arising out of such Claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or failure to act, by or on behalf of any Indemnitee. The Issuer shall not be liable for any settlement of any Claim effected without its prior written consent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

 

19


Exhibit C

Statement of Terms for Interest – Bearing Commercial Paper Notes of The Williams Companies, Inc.

THE PROVISIONS SET FORTH BELOW ARE QUALIFIED TO THE EXTENT APPLICABLE BY THE TRANSACTION SPECIFIC PRIVATE PLACEMENT MEMORANDUM SUPPLEMENT (THE “SUPPLEMENT”) (IF ANY) SENT TO EACH PURCHASER AT THE TIME OF THE TRANSACTION.

1. General. (a) The obligations of the Issuer to which these terms apply (each a “Note”) are represented by one or more Master Notes (each, a “Master Note”) issued in the name of (or of a nominee for) The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), which Master Note includes the terms and provisions for the Issuer’s Interest-Bearing Commercial Paper Notes that are set forth in this Statement of Terms, since this Statement of Terms constitutes an integral part of the Underlying Records as defined and referred to in the Master Note.

(b) “Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday or Sunday that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, executive order or regulation to be closed in New York City and, with respect to LIBOR Notes (as defined below) is also a London Business Day. “London Business Day” means, a day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, on which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank market.

2. Interest. (a) Each Note will bear interest at a fixed rate (a “Fixed Rate Note”) or at a floating rate (a “Floating Rate Note”).

(b) The Supplement sent to each holder of such Note will describe the following terms: (i) whether such Note is a Fixed Rate Note or a Floating Rate Note and whether such Note is an Original Issue Discount Note (as defined below); (ii) the date on which such Note will be issued (the “Issue Date”); (iii) the Stated Maturity Date (as defined below); (iv) if such Note is a Fixed Rate Note, the rate per annum at which such Note will bear interest, if any, and the Interest Payment Dates; (v) if such Note is a Floating Rate Note, the Base Rate, the Index Maturity, the Interest Reset Dates, the Interest Payment Dates and the Spread and/or Spread Multiplier, if any (all as defined below), and any other terms relating to the particular method of calculating the interest rate for such Note; and (vi) any other terms applicable specifically to such Note. “Original Issue Discount Note” means a Note which has a stated redemption price at the Stated Maturity Date that exceeds its Issue Price by more than a specified de minimis amount and which the Supplement indicates will be an “Original Issue Discount Note”.

(c) Each Fixed Rate Note will bear interest from its Issue Date at the rate per annum specified in the Supplement until the principal amount thereof is paid or made available for payment. Interest on each Fixed Rate Note will be payable on the dates specified in the Supplement (each an “Interest Payment Date” for a Fixed Rate Note) and on the Maturity Date (as defined below). Interest on Fixed Rate Notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed.

If any Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date of a Fixed Rate Note falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the required payment of principal, premium, if any, and/or interest will be payable on the next succeeding Business Day, and no additional interest will accrue in respect of the payment made on that next succeeding Business Day.

 

20


(d) The interest rate on each Floating Rate Note for each Interest Reset Period (as defined below) will be determined by reference to an interest rate basis (a “Base Rate”) plus or minus a number of basis points (one basis point equals one-hundredth of a percentage point) (the “Spread”), if any, and/or multiplied by a certain percentage (the “Spread Multiplier”), if any, until the principal thereof is paid or made available for payment. The Supplement will designate which of the following Base Rates is applicable to the related Floating Rate Note: (a) the CD Rate (a “CD Rate Note”), (b) the Commercial Paper Rate (a “Commercial Paper Rate Note”), (c) the Federal Funds Rate (a “Federal Funds Rate Note”), (d) LIBOR (a “LIBOR Note”), (e) the Prime Rate (a “Prime Rate Note”), (f) the Treasury Rate (a “Treasury Rate Note”) or (g) such other Base Rate as may be specified in such Supplement.

The rate of interest on each Floating Rate Note will be reset daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly or semi-annually (the “Interest Reset Period”). The date or dates on which interest will be reset (each an “Interest Reset Date”) will be, unless otherwise specified in the Supplement, in the case of Floating Rate Notes which reset daily, each Business Day, in the case of Floating Rate Notes (other than Treasury Rate Notes) that reset weekly, the Wednesday of each week; in the case of Treasury Rate Notes that reset weekly, the Tuesday of each week; in the case of Floating Rate Notes that reset monthly, the third Wednesday of each month; in the case of Floating Rate Notes that reset quarterly, the third Wednesday of March, June, September and December; and in the case of Floating Rate Notes that reset semiannually, the third Wednesday of the two months specified in the Supplement. If any Interest Reset Date for any Floating Rate Note is not a Business Day, such Interest Reset Date will be postponed to the next day that is a Business Day, except that in the case of a LIBOR Note, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar month, such Interest Reset Date shall be the immediately preceding Business Day. Interest on each Floating Rate Note will be payable monthly, quarterly or semiannually (the “Interest Payment Period”) and on the Maturity Date. Unless otherwise specified in the Supplement, and except as provided below, the date or dates on which interest will be payable (each an “Interest Payment Date” for a Floating Rate Note) will be, in the case of Floating Rate Notes with a monthly Interest Payment Period, on the third Wednesday of each month; in the case of Floating Rate Notes with a quarterly Interest Payment Period, on the third Wednesday of March, June, September and December; and in the case of Floating Rate Notes with a semiannual Interest Payment Period, on the third Wednesday of the two months specified in the Supplement. In addition, the Maturity Date will also be an Interest Payment Date.

If any Interest Payment Date for any Floating Rate Note (other than an Interest Payment Date occurring on the Maturity Date) would otherwise be a day that is not a Business Day, such Interest Payment Date shall be postponed to the next day that is a Business Day, except that in the case of a LIBOR Note, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar month, such Interest Payment Date shall be the immediately preceding Business Day. If the Maturity Date of a Floating Rate Note falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the payment of principal and interest will be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and no interest on such payment shall accrue for the period from and after such maturity.

Interest payments on each Interest Payment Date for Floating Rate Notes will include accrued interest from and including the Issue Date or from and including the last date in respect of which interest has been paid, as the case may be, to, but excluding, such Interest Payment Date. On the Maturity Date, the interest payable on a Floating Rate Note will include interest accrued to, but excluding, the Maturity Date. Accrued interest will be calculated by multiplying the principal amount of a Floating Rate Note by an accrued interest factor. This accrued interest factor will be computed by adding the interest factors calculated for each day in the period for which accrued interest is being calculated. The interest factor (expressed as a decimal) for each such day will

 

21


be computed by dividing the interest rate applicable to such day by 360, in the cases where the Base Rate is the CD Rate, Commercial Paper Rate, Federal Funds Rate, LIBOR or Prime Rate, or by the actual number of days in the year, in the case where the Base Rate is the Treasury Rate. The interest rate in effect on each day will be (i) if such day is an Interest Reset Date, the interest rate with respect to the Interest Determination Date (as defined below) pertaining to such Interest Reset Date, or (ii) if such day is not an Interest Reset Date, the interest rate with respect to the Interest Determination Date pertaining to the next preceding Interest Reset Date, subject in either case to any adjustment by a Spread and/or a Spread Multiplier.

The “Interest Determination Date” where the Base Rate is the CD Rate or the Commercial Paper Rate will be the second Business Day next preceding an Interest Reset Date. The Interest Determination Date where the Base Rate is the Federal Funds Rate or the Prime Rate will be the Business Day next preceding an Interest Reset Date. The Interest Determination Date where the Base Rate is LIBOR will be the second London Business Day next preceding an Interest Reset Date. The Interest Determination Date where the Base Rate is the Treasury Rate will be the day of the week in which such Interest Reset Date falls when Treasury Bills are normally auctioned. Treasury Bills are normally sold at auction on Monday of each week, unless that day is a legal holiday, in which case the auction is held on the following Tuesday or the preceding Friday. If an auction is so held on the preceding Friday, such Friday will be the Interest Determination Date pertaining to the Interest Reset Date occurring in the next succeeding week.

The “Index Maturity” is the period to maturity of the instrument or obligation from which the applicable Base Rate is calculated.

The “Calculation Date,” where applicable, shall be the earlier of (i) the tenth calendar day following the applicable Interest Determination Date or (ii) the Business Day preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date or Maturity Date.

All times referred to herein reflect New York City time, unless otherwise specified.

The Issuer shall specify in writing to the Issuing and Paying Agent which party will be the calculation agent (the “Calculation Agent”) with respect to the Floating Rate Notes. The Calculation Agent will provide the interest rate then in effect and, if determined, the interest rate which will become effective on the next Interest Reset Date with respect to such Floating Rate Note to the Issuing and Paying Agent as soon as the interest rate with respect to such Floating Rate Note has been determined and as soon as practicable after any change in such interest rate.

All percentages resulting from any calculation on Floating Rate Notes will be rounded to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with five-one millionths of a percentage point rounded upwards. For example, 9.876545% (or .09876545) would be rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655). All dollar amounts used in or resulting from any calculation on Floating Rate Notes will be rounded, in the case of U.S. dollars, to the nearest cent or, in the case of a foreign currency, to the nearest unit (with one-half cent or unit being rounded upwards).

 

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CD Rate Notes

“CD Rate” means the rate on any Interest Determination Date for negotiable U.S. dollar certificates of deposit having the Index Maturity as published in the source specified in the Supplement.

If the above rate is not published by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Calculation Date, the CD Rate will be the rate on such Interest Determination Date published under the caption specified in the Supplement in another recognized electronic source used for the purpose of displaying the applicable rate.

If such rate is not published in either the source specified in the Supplement or another recognized electronic source by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Calculation Date, the Calculation Agent will determine the CD Rate to be the arithmetic mean of the secondary market offered rates as of 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on such Interest Determination Date of three leading nonbank dealers 1 in negotiable U.S. dollar certificates of deposit in New York City selected by the Calculation Agent for negotiable U.S. dollar certificates of deposit of major United States money center banks of the highest credit standing in the market for negotiable certificates of deposit with a remaining maturity closest to the Index Maturity in the denomination of $5,000,000.

If fewer than the three dealers selected by the Calculation Agent are quoting as set forth above, the CD Rate will remain the CD Rate then in effect on such Interest Determination Date.

Commercial Paper Rate Notes

“Commercial Paper Rate” means the Money Market Yield (calculated as described below) of the rate on any Interest Determination Date for commercial paper having the Index Maturity, as published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (“FRB”) in “Statistical Release H.15(519), Selected Interest Rates” or any successor publication of the FRB (“H.15(519)”) under the heading “Commercial Paper-Nonfinancial”.

If the above rate is not published in H.15(519) by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Calculation Date, then the Commercial Paper Rate will be the Money Market Yield of the rate on such Interest Determination Date for commercial paper of the Index Maturity published in the daily update of H.15(519), available through the world wide website of the FRB at http://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/h15/Update , or any successor site or publication or other recognized electronic source used for the purpose of displaying the applicable rate (“H.15 Daily Update”) under the heading “Commercial Paper-Nonfinancial”.

If by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on such Calculation Date such rate is not published in either H.15(519) or H.15 Daily Update, then the Calculation Agent will determine the Commercial Paper Rate to be the Money Market Yield of the arithmetic mean of the offered rates as of 11:00 a.m. on such Interest Determination Date of three leading dealers of U.S. dollar commercial paper in New York City selected by the Calculation Agent for commercial paper of the Index Maturity placed for an industrial issuer whose bond rating is “AA,” or the equivalent, from a nationally recognized statistical rating organization.

 

1  

Such nonbank dealers referred to in this Statement of Terms may include affiliates of the Dealer.

 

23


If the dealers selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting as mentioned above, the Commercial Paper Rate with respect to such Interest Determination Date will remain the Commercial Paper Rate then in effect on such Interest Determination Date.

“Money Market Yield” will be a yield calculated in accordance with the following formula:

 

Money Market Yield =        

D x 360

    x 100
          360 – (D x M)        

where “D” refers to the applicable per annum rate for commercial paper quoted on a bank discount basis and expressed as a decimal and “M” refers to the actual number of days in the interest period for which interest is being calculated.

Federal Funds Rate Notes

“Federal Funds Rate” means the rate on any Interest Determination Date for federal funds as published in H.15(519) under the heading “Federal Funds (Effective)” and displayed on Reuters Page (as defined below) FEDFUNDS1 (or any other page as may replace the specified page on that service) (“Reuters Page FEDFUNDS1”) under the heading EFFECT.

If the above rate does not appear on Reuters Page FEDFUNDS1or is not so published by 3:00 p.m. on the Calculation Date, the Federal Funds Rate will be the rate on such Interest Determination Date as published in H.15 Daily Update under the heading “Federal Funds/(Effective)”.

If such rate is not published as described above by 3:00 p.m. on the Calculation Date, the Calculation Agent will determine the Federal Funds Rate to be the arithmetic mean of the rates for the last transaction in overnight U.S. dollar federal funds arranged by each of three leading brokers of Federal Funds transactions in New York City selected by the Calculation Agent prior to 9:00 a.m. on such Interest Determination Date.

If the brokers selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting as mentioned above, the Federal Funds Rate will remain the Federal Funds Rate then in effect on such Interest Determination Date.

“Reuters Page” means the display on Thomson Reuters Eikon, or any successor service, on the page or pages specified in this Statement of Terms or the Supplement, or any replacement page on that service.

LIBOR Notes

The London Interbank offered rate (“LIBOR”) means, with respect to any Interest Determination Date, the rate for deposits in U.S. dollars having the Index Maturity that appears on the Designated LIBOR Page as of 11:00 a.m., London time, on such Interest Determination Date.

If no rate appears, LIBOR will be determined on the basis of the rates at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on such Interest Determination Date at which deposits in U.S. dollars are offered to prime banks in the London interbank market by four major banks in such market selected by the Calculation Agent for a term equal to the Index Maturity and in principal amount equal to an amount that in the Calculation Agent’s judgment is representative for a single

 

24


transaction in U.S. dollars in such market at such time (a “Representative Amount”). The Calculation Agent will request the principal London office of each of such banks to provide a quotation of its rate. If at least two such quotations are provided, LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations. If fewer than two quotations are provided, LIBOR for such interest period will be the arithmetic mean of the rates quoted at approximately 11:00 a.m., in New York City, on such Interest Determination Date by three major banks in New York City, selected by the Calculation Agent, for loans in U.S. dollars to leading European banks, for a term equal to the Index Maturity and in a Representative Amount; provided, however, that if fewer than three banks so selected by the Calculation Agent are providing such quotations, the then existing LIBOR rate will remain in effect for such Interest Payment Period.

“Designated LIBOR Page” means the display on Thomson Reuters Eikon (or any successor service) on the “LIBOR01” page (or any other page as may replace such page on such service) for the purpose of displaying the London interbank rates of major banks.

Prime Rate Notes

“Prime Rate” means the rate on any Interest Determination Date as published in H.15(519) under the heading “Bank Prime Loan”.

If the above rate is not published in H.15(519) prior to 3:00 p.m. on the Calculation Date, then the Prime Rate will be the rate on such Interest Determination Date as published in H.15 Daily Update opposite the caption “Bank Prime Loan”.

If the rate is not published prior to 3:00 p.m. on the Calculation Date in either H.15(519) or H.15 Daily Update, then the Calculation Agent will determine the Prime Rate to be the arithmetic mean of the rates of interest publicly announced by each bank that appears on the Reuters Screen US PRIME1 Page (as defined below) as such bank’s prime rate or base lending rate as of 11:00 a.m., on that Interest Determination Date.

If fewer than four such rates referred to above are so published by 3:00 p.m. on the Calculation Date, the Calculation Agent will determine the Prime Rate to be the arithmetic mean of the prime rates or base lending rates quoted on the basis of the actual number of days in the year divided by 360 as of the close of business on such Interest Determination Date by three major banks in New York City selected by the Calculation Agent.

If the banks selected are not quoting as mentioned above, the Prime Rate will remain the Prime Rate in effect on such Interest Determination Date.

“Reuters Screen US PRIME1 Page” means the display designated as page “US PRIME1” on the Reuters Monitor Money Rates Service (or such other page as may replace the US PRIME1 page on that service for the purpose of displaying prime rates or base lending rates of major United States banks).

Treasury Rate Notes

“Treasury Rate” means:

(1) the rate from the auction held on the Interest Determination Date (the “Auction”) of direct obligations of the United States (“Treasury Bills”) having the Index Maturity specified in the Supplement under the caption “INVEST RATE” on the display on the Reuters Page designated as USAUCTION10 (or any other page as may replace that page on that service) or the Reuters

 

25


Page designated as USAUCTION11 (or any other page as may replace that page on that service), or

(2) if the rate referred to in clause (1) is not so published by 3:00 p.m. on the related Calculation Date, the Bond Equivalent Yield (as defined below) of the rate for the applicable Treasury Bills as published in H.15 Daily Update, under the caption “U.S. Government Securities/Treasury Bills/Auction High”, or

(3) if the rate referred to in clause (2) is not so published by 3:00 p.m. on the related Calculation Date, the Bond Equivalent Yield of the auction rate of the applicable Treasury Bills as announced by the United States Department of the Treasury, or

(4) if the rate referred to in clause (3) is not so announced by the United States Department of the Treasury, or if the Auction is not held, the Bond Equivalent Yield of the rate on the particular Interest Determination Date of the applicable Treasury Bills as published in H.15(519) under the caption “U.S. Government Securities/Treasury Bills/Secondary Market”, or

(5) if the rate referred to in clause (4) not so published by 3:00 p.m. on the related Calculation Date, the rate on the particular Interest Determination Date of the applicable Treasury Bills as published in H.15 Daily Update, under the caption “U.S. Government Securities/Treasury Bills/Secondary Market”, or

(6) if the rate referred to in clause (5) is not so published by 3:00 p.m. on the related Calculation Date, the rate on the particular Interest Determination Date calculated by the Calculation Agent as the Bond Equivalent Yield of the arithmetic mean of the secondary market bid rates, as of approximately 3:30 p.m. on that Interest Determination Date, of three primary United States government securities dealers selected by the Calculation Agent, for the issue of Treasury Bills with a remaining maturity closest to the Index Maturity specified in the Supplement, or

(7) if the dealers so selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting as mentioned in clause (6), the Treasury Rate in effect on the particular Interest Determination Date.

“Bond Equivalent Yield” means a yield (expressed as a percentage) calculated in accordance with the following formula:

 

Bond Equivalent Yield =    

D x N

    x 100
      360 – (D x M)    

where “D” refers to the applicable per annum rate for Treasury Bills quoted on a bank discount basis and expressed as a decimal, “N” refers to 365 or 366, as the case may be, and “M” refers to the actual number of days in the applicable Interest Reset Period.

 

3.

Final Maturity. The Stated Maturity Date for any Note will be the date so specified in the Supplement, which shall be no later than 397 days from the date of issuance. On its Stated Maturity Date, or any date prior to the Stated Maturity Date on which the particular Note becomes due and payable by the declaration of acceleration, each such date being referred to as a Maturity Date, the principal amount of such Note, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon, will be immediately due and payable.

 

26


4.

Events of Default. The occurrence of any of the following shall constitute an “Event of Default” with respect to a Note: (i) default in any payment of principal of or interest on such Note (including on a redemption thereof); (ii) the Issuer makes any compromise arrangement with its creditors generally including the entering into any form of moratorium with its creditors generally; (iii) a court having jurisdiction shall enter a decree or order for relief in respect of the Issuer in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or there shall be appointed a receiver, administrator, liquidator, custodian, trustee or sequestrator (or similar officer) with respect to the whole or substantially the whole of the assets of the Issuer and any such decree, order or appointment is not removed, discharged or withdrawn within 60 days thereafter; or (iv) the Issuer shall commence a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or consent to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, administrator, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee or sequestrator (or similar official), with respect to the whole or substantially the whole of the assets of the Issuer or make any general assignment for the benefit of creditors. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, the principal of such Note (together with interest accrued and unpaid thereon) shall become, without any notice or demand, immediately due and payable.

 

5.

Obligation Absolute. No provision of the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement under which the Notes are issued shall alter or impair the obligation of the Issuer, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on each Note at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

 

6.

Supplement . Any term contained in the Supplement shall supersede any conflicting term contained herein.

 

27

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO  

Williams (NYSE: WMB)  

One Williams Center 

Tulsa, OK 74172  

800-Williams  

www.williams.com  

      LOGO

 

LOGO

DATE: Aug. 9, 2018

 

MEDIA CONTACT:    INVESTOR CONTACTS:      

Keith Isbell

(918) 573-7308

  

John Porter

(918) 573-0797

  

Paul Schroedter

(918) 573-9673

  

Williams Stockholders Approve Acquisition of Williams Partners

TULSA, Okla. – The Williams Companies, Inc. (NYSE: WMB) (“Williams”) and Williams Partners L.P. (NYSE: WPZ) (“Williams Partners”) today announced that Williams stockholders approved (i) the issuance of Williams common stock in connection with the previously announced merger transaction between Williams Partners and a subsidiary of Williams pursuant to which Williams will acquire all of the outstanding common units of Williams Partners it does not currently own (the “Merger”) and (ii) the related amendment to Williams’ Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of Williams common stock (the “Amendment”). More than 99 percent of the Williams shares that were voted approved the Merger and the Amendment. The Williams shares voted represented approximately 82 percent of Williams’ total outstanding shares as of the record date.

The Merger is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close on Aug. 10, 2018. Effective Aug. 13, 2018, Williams Partners common units will no longer be publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

About Williams & Williams Partners

Williams (NYSE: WMB) is a premier provider of large-scale infrastructure connecting U.S. natural gas and natural gas products to growing demand for cleaner fuel and feedstocks. Headquartered in Tulsa, Okla., Williams owns approximately 74 percent of Williams Partners L.P. (NYSE: WPZ). Williams Partners is an industry-leading, large-cap natural gas master limited partnership with operations across the natural gas value chain including gathering, processing and interstate transportation of natural gas and natural gas liquids. With major positions in top U.S. supply basins, Williams Partners owns and operates more than 33,000 miles of pipelines system wide – including the nation’s largest volume and fastest growing pipeline – providing natural gas for clean-power generation, heating and industrial use. Williams Partners’ operations touch approximately 30 percent of U.S. natural gas. www.williams.com

Portions of this document may constitute “forward-looking statements” as defined by federal law. Although the company believes any such statements are based on reasonable assumptions, there is no assurance that actual outcomes will not be materially different. Any such statements are made in reliance on the “safe harbor” protections provided under the Private Securities Reform Act of 1995. Additional information about issues that could lead to material changes in performance is contained in the company’s annual and quarterly reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

# # #

Exhibit 99.2

 

LOGO  

Williams (NYSE: WMB)  

One Williams Center 

Tulsa, OK 74172  

800-Williams  

www.williams.com  

      LOGO

 

LOGO

DATE: Aug. 10, 2018

 

MEDIA CONTACT:    INVESTOR CONTACTS:      

Keith Isbell

(918) 573-7308

  

John Porter

(918) 573-0797

  

Paul Schroedter

(918) 573-9673

  

Williams Completes Acquisition of Williams Partners

TULSA, Okla. – The Williams Companies, Inc. (NYSE: WMB) (“Williams”) and Williams Partners L.P. (NYSE: WPZ) (“Williams Partners”) today announced that Williams has closed the merger of Williams Partners with a subsidiary of Williams. Pursuant to the merger, Williams acquired all of the outstanding common units of Williams Partners it did not previously own. As a result of the merger, and following today’s closing of the market, Williams Partners common units will no longer be publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

“We are pleased to close this important transaction following the strong support for the merger that was demonstrated by our shareholders in yesterday’s overwhelming vote of approval,” said Alan Armstrong, president and chief executive officer of Williams. “This transaction provides Williams with a simplified corporate structure and streamlined governance while maintaining investment-grade credit ratings and positions us well for long-term growth and enhanced shareholder value. As a fast-growing, investment grade C-Corp with the best natural gas infrastructure assets in the sector, we are confident this combined entity will provide a compelling investment opportunity to a broader range of investors.”

About Williams

Williams (NYSE: WMB) is a premier provider of large-scale infrastructure connecting U.S. natural gas and natural gas products to growing demand for cleaner fuel and feedstocks. Headquartered in Tulsa, Okla., Williams is an industry-leading, investment grade C-Corp with operations across the natural gas value chain including gathering, processing, interstate transportation and storage of natural gas and natural gas liquids. With major positions in top U.S. supply basins, Williams owns and operates more than 33,000 miles of pipelines system wide – including the nation’s largest volume and fastest growing pipeline – providing natural gas for clean-power generation, heating and industrial use. Williams’ operations touch approximately 30 percent of U.S. natural gas. www.williams.com

Portions of this document may constitute “forward-looking statements” as defined by federal law. Although the company believes any such statements are based on reasonable assumptions, there is no assurance that actual outcomes will not be materially different. Any such statements are made in reliance on the “safe harbor” protections provided under the Private Securities Reform Act of 1995. Additional information about issues that could lead to material changes in performance is contained in the company’s annual and quarterly reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.