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)    March 13, 2019   
  (Date of earliest event reported)    March 11, 2019   

 

 

ONEOK, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Oklahoma   001-13643   73-1520922

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

100 West Fifth Street; Tulsa, OK

(Address of principal executive offices)

74103

(Zip code)

(918) 588-7000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

 

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

 

Written communication 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 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

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.  ☐

 

 

 


Item 1.01

Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

Underwriting Agreement

On March 11, 2019, ONEOK, Inc. (“ONEOK”), ONEOK Partners, L.P. (“ONEOK Partners”) and ONEOK Partners Intermediate Limited Partnership (“ONEOK Partners Intermediate” and, together with ONEOK Partners, the “Guarantors”) entered into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Barclays Capital Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, MUFG Securities Americas Inc. and TD Securities (USA) LLC, as representatives of the underwriters named therein (the “Underwriters”), with respect to the issuance and sale by ONEOK of (i) $700 million aggregate principal amount of its 4.35% notes due 2029 (the “2029 Notes”) and (ii) $550 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.20% notes due 2048 (the “2048 Notes” and, together with the 2029 Notes, the “Notes”), each guaranteed by the Guarantors.

The 2048 Notes are an additional issuance of the 5.20% Notes due 2048 issued by ONEOK in an aggregate principal amount of $450 million on July 2, 2018 (the “Existing 2048 Notes”), are fungible with the Existing 2048 Notes, and are consolidated with and form a single series with the Existing 2048 Notes. The 2048 Notes have the same terms as the Existing 2048 Notes, other than the settlement date and offering price, and have the same CUSIP number as the Existing 2048 Notes.

The Underwriting Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and agreements by ONEOK and the Guarantors, and customary conditions to closing, indemnification obligations of each of ONEOK and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, including for liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, obligations of the parties and termination provisions. The foregoing description of the Underwriting Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to such Underwriting Agreement, a copy of which is filed herewith as Exhibit 1.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Supplemental Indentures and Notes

On March 13, 2019, ONEOK completed the underwritten public offering (the “Offering”) of the Notes. ONEOK registered the sale of the Notes with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-219186) filed on July 6, 2017. ONEOK intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering of approximately $1.23 billion, after deducting underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses and exclusive of accrued interest, for general corporate purposes, which may include repayment of existing indebtedness and funding of capital expenditures.

The terms of the Notes and the guarantees related thereto are governed by the Indenture, dated as of January 26, 2012, between ONEOK and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the Eighth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 13, 2019, with respect to the 2029 Notes (the “Eighth Supplemental Indenture”) and each of the Seventh Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 2, 2018, with respect to the 2048 Notes (the “Seventh Supplemental Indenture”) and the Ninth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 13, 2019, with respect to the 2048 Notes (the “Ninth Supplemental Indenture”).

The Seventh Supplemental Indenture was filed as Exhibit 4.2 to ONEOK’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 2, 2018 and is incorporated herein by reference. The Eighth Supplemental Indenture and the Ninth Supplemental Indenture are filed herewith as Exhibits 4.2 and 4.3, respectively, and are each incorporated herein by reference. The form of the 2048 Notes was filed as Exhibit 4.4 to ONEOK’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 2, 2018 and the form of the 2029 Notes is filed herewith as Exhibit 4.4, and are each incorporated herein by


reference. In addition, the legal opinions related to the 2029 Notes and the 2048 Notes and the guarantees related thereto are filed herewith as Exhibits 5.1 and 5.2 and are each incorporated herein by reference.

Affiliations

The Underwriters and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities. The Underwriters and their respective affiliates have provided in the past and may provide from time to time in the future certain commercial banking, financial advisory, investment banking and other services for ONEOK or its subsidiaries for which they will receive customary fees. Affiliates of certain of the Underwriters are also agents and/or lenders under ONEOK’s credit facilities and dealers under ONEOK’s $2.5 billion commercial paper program.

The Trustee and certain of its affiliates have from time to time performed, and may in the future perform, various financial advisory, commercial and investment banking services for ONEOK, ONEOK Partners, L.P. or ONEOK Partners Intermediate Limited Partnership, the guarantors of the Notes, for which they received or will receive customary fees and expenses. The Trustee is a lender under ONEOK’s credit facility and an affiliate of the Trustee is an underwriter of the Notes.

 

Item 2.03

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

The information included under “Supplemental Indenture and Notes” in Item 1.01 above is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 7.01

Regulation FD Disclosure

ONEOK issued a news release on March 11, 2019, attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1, announcing the pricing of the Notes. This information is not deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and is not incorporated by reference into any registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

  (d)

Exhibits


Exhibit

Number

  

Description

  1.1    Underwriting Agreement, dated March 11, 2019, between ONEOK, Inc., ONEOK Partners, L.P., ONEOK Partners Intermediate Limited Partnership and Barclays Capital Inc., Goldman Sachs  & Co. LLC, MUFG Securities Americas Inc. and TD Securities (USA) LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein.
  4.1    Seventh Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July  2, 2018, among ONEOK, Inc., ONEOK Partners, L.P., ONEOK Partners Intermediate Limited Partnership and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, with respect to 5.20% Notes due 2048 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to ONEOK’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 2, 2018).
  4.2    Eighth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March  13, 2019, among ONEOK, Inc., ONEOK Partners, L.P., ONEOK Partners Intermediate Limited Partnership and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, with respect to 4.35% Notes due 2029.
  4.3    Ninth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March  13, 2019, among ONEOK, Inc., ONEOK Partners, L.P., ONEOK Partners Intermediate Limited Partnership and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, with respect to 5.20% Notes due 2048.
  4.4    Form of Note due 2029 (included in Exhibit 4.2 above).
  4.5    Form of Note due 2048 (included in Exhibit 4.2 to ONEOK’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 2, 2018 and incorporated herein by reference).
  5.1    Opinion of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP.
  5.2    Opinion of GableGotwals.
23.1    Consent of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1 hereto).
23.2    Consent of GableGotwals (included in Exhibit 5.2 hereto).
99.1    News release of ONEOK, Inc. announcing the pricing of the Notes.


SIGNATURE

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

 

      ONEOK, Inc.
Date:    March 13, 2019     By:  

/s/ Walter S. Hulse III

     

Walter S. Hulse III

Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President, Strategic Planning and Corporate Affairs

Exhibit 1.1

EXECUTION VERSION

ONEOK, Inc.

Underwriting Agreement

March 11, 2019

Barclays Capital Inc.

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

MUFG Securities Americas Inc.

TD Securities (USA) LLC

As Representatives of the Underwriters named in Schedule II hereto

c/o Barclays Capital Inc.

745 7 th Avenue, 5 th Floor

New York, New York 10019

Ladies and Gentlemen:

ONEOK, Inc., an Oklahoma corporation (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule II hereto (the “Underwriters”), for whom you (the “Representatives”) are acting as representatives, $700,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 4.35% Notes due 2029 (the “2029 Notes”) and $550,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 5.20% Notes due 2048 (the “New 2048 Notes” and together with the 2029 Notes, the “Notes”). The Company’s obligations under the Notes and the Indenture (as defined herein) will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed (the “Guarantees”), on a senior unsecured basis, by ONEOK Partners, L.P., a limited partnership organized under the laws of the state of Delaware, and ONEOK Partners Intermediate Limited Partnership, a limited partnership organized under the laws of the state of Delaware (each a “Guarantor” and together, the “Guarantors”). The Guarantors, together with the Company, are referred to herein as the “Issuers.” The Notes and the Guarantees are referred to herein as the “Securities.” Terms not otherwise defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings assigned to them in Section 21 hereto.

The Securities will be issued pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of January 26, 2012 (the “Base Indenture”), between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), as amended and supplemented by the Eighth Supplemental Indenture thereto, to be dated the Closing Date (as defined herein), by and among the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee , and the Ninth Supplemental Indenture thereto, to be dated the Closing Date, by and among the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee (collectively, the “Supplemental Indentures”). The Company previously issued $450,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.20% Notes due 2048 (the “Existing 2048 Notes”, and together with the New 2048 Notes, the “2048 Notes”) under the Base Indenture, as amended and supplemented by the Seventh Supplemental Indenture thereto, dated as of July 2, 2018, by and among the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee (the “Seventh Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the


Base Indenture, the “Existing 2048 Notes Indenture”). The New 2048 Notes will form a single series and be fungible with the Existing 2048 Notes for all purposes under the Existing 2048 Notes Indenture. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Package (as defined herein) and the Final Prospectus (as defined herein), the New 2048 Notes will have identical terms and conditions as the Existing 2048 Notes. The Base Indenture as amended and supplemented by the Seventh Supplemental Indenture (in the case of the 2048 Notes) and by the Supplemental Indentures (in the case of the Notes) is referred to herein as the “Indenture.”

Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents, if any, incorporated by reference, or deemed to be incorporated by reference, therein, including, unless the context otherwise requires, the documents, if any, filed as exhibits to such incorporated documents; and any reference herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document under the Exchange Act after the initial effective date of the Registration Statement or the issue date of the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, as the case may be, deemed to be incorporated therein by reference.

This is to confirm the agreement (this “Agreement”) concerning the purchase of the Securities from the Issuers by the Underwriters.

1.     Representations and Warranties . The Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to, and agree with, each Underwriter as set forth below in this Section 1.

(a)    The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the Act and the Guarantors, pursuant to General Instruction I.D of Form S-3 under the Act, are eligible to use Form S-3; the Company and the Guarantors have prepared and filed with the Commission an “automatic shelf registration statement” (as defined in Rule 405) (the file number of which is set forth in Schedule I hereto), on Form S-3, including a related Base Prospectus, for registration under the Act of the offering and sale of the Securities. Such Registration Statement, including any amendments thereto filed prior to the Applicable Time, became effective upon filing. The Company filed with the Commission, as part of an amendment to the Registration Statement or pursuant to Rule 424(b), one or more Preliminary Prospectuses relating to the Securities, each of which has previously been furnished to you. The Company will next file with the Commission one of the following: (1) a Final Prospectus in accordance with Rules 430B and 424(b) or (2) a Final Prospectus in accordance with Rules 415 and 424(b). The Company, on its own behalf and on behalf of the Guarantors, has included in such Registration Statement, as amended at the Effective Time, all information (other than information permitted to be excluded therefrom pursuant to Rule 430B (“Rule 430B Information”)) required by the Act to be included in such Registration Statement. As filed, the Final Prospectus shall contain all applicable Rule 430B Information, together with all other such information required by the Act and the rules thereunder, and, except to the extent the Representatives shall agree in writing to a modification, shall be in all substantive respects in the form furnished to you prior to the Applicable Time or, to the extent not completed at the Applicable Time, shall contain only such specific additional information and other changes (beyond that contained in the Base Prospectus and any

 

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Preliminary Prospectus) as the Company has advised you, prior to the Applicable Time, will be included or made therein. The Registration Statement, at the Applicable Time, meets the requirements set forth in Rule 415(a)(1)(x). The initial Effective Time of the Registration Statement was not earlier than the date three years before the Applicable Time.

(b)    The Registration Statement complied when it became effective, complies as of the date hereof and, as amended or supplemented, at the Closing Date and at all times during which a prospectus is required by the Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Act or any similar rule) in connection with any sale of Securities, will comply, in all material respects, with the requirements of the Act; and when the Final Prospectus is first filed in accordance with Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date, the Final Prospectus (and any supplement thereto) will, comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act and the Exchange Act and the respective rules thereunder; as of the Effective Time and at the Applicable Time, the Registration Statement 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; as of the Effective Time and on the Closing Date, the Indenture did or will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and the rules thereunder; and on the date of any filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date, the Final Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) 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 Issuers make no representations or warranties as to (i) the exhibit to the Registration Statement which shall constitute the Statement of Eligibility (Form T-1) under the Trust Indenture Act of the Trustee or (ii) the information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus (or any supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Underwriters consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.

(c)    The Disclosure Package did not, as of the Applicable Time, contain 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. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from the Disclosure Package (or any amendments or supplement thereto), based upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.

(d)    (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 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 Issuers or any person acting on their behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c)) made

 

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any offer relating to the Securities in reliance on the exemption in Rule 163 and (iv) at the Applicable Time (with such date being used as the determination date for purposes of this clause (iv)), the Company and the Guarantors were or are (as the case may be) Well-Known Seasoned Issuers. The Company agrees to pay the fees required by the Commission relating to the Securities within the time required by Rule 456(b)(1) and otherwise in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r).

(e)    Prior to the execution of this Agreement, the Issuers have not, directly or indirectly, offered or sold any Securities by means of any “prospectus” (within the meaning of the Act) or used any “prospectus” (within the meaning of the Act) in connection with the offer or sale of the Securities, in each case other than the Preliminary Prospectuses and the Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses identified in Schedule III hereto.

(f)    (i) At the earliest time after the filing of the Registration Statement that the Issuers or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2)) of the Securities and (ii) as of the Applicable Time (with such date being used as the determination date for purposes of this clause (ii)), none of the Company nor the Guarantors was an “ineligible issuer” (as defined in Rule 405).

(g)    Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the final term sheet prepared and filed pursuant to Section 5(b) hereof 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 or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.

(h)    The only “significant subsidiaries” (as defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X) of the Company are the subsidiaries named on Annex A hereto (collectively, the “Subsidiaries”). The Company and each of its Subsidiaries is, and at the Closing Date will be, a corporation, limited liability company, general partnership or limited partnership, as the case may be, duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have, and at the Closing Date will have, full power and authority to conduct all the activities conducted by it, to own or lease all the assets owned or leased, as the case may be, by it and to conduct its business in all material respects as described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries is, and at the Closing Date will be, duly licensed or qualified to do business and in good standing as a foreign corporation, limited liability company, general partnership or limited partnership, as the case may be, in all jurisdictions in which the nature of the activities conducted by it or the character of the assets owned or leased, as the case may be, by it makes such licensing or qualification necessary, except to the extent that the failure to so qualify, be licensed or be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, cash flow, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise (a “Material Adverse Effect”).

 

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(i)    All the outstanding equity interests of each Subsidiary have been duly and validly authorized and issued in accordance with such Subsidiary’s governing documents and are fully paid (in the case of any Subsidiary that is a limited liability company, to the extent required by such Subsidiary’s limited liability company agreement, and in the case of any Subsidiary that is a limited partnership, to the extent required by such Subsidiary’s agreement of limited partnership) and nonassessable (in the case of any 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 or by Sections 2030, 2031 and 2040 of the Oklahoma Limited Liability Company Act, and in the case of any 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 matters included in such Subsidiary’s agreement of limited partnership), and all outstanding equity interests of the Subsidiaries are owned by the Company either directly or through wholly-owned subsidiaries free and clear of any perfected security interest or any other security interests, claims, encumbrances or liens (“Liens”), except for any such Liens on the outstanding equity interests of the Subsidiaries that are described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.

(j)    As of the date of this Agreement, the Company has an authorized and outstanding capitalization as set forth in the sections of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus entitled “Capitalization” (and any similar sections or information, if any, contained in any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus (as defined herein)), and, as of the Closing Date, the Company shall have an authorized and outstanding capitalization as set forth in the sections of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectuses and the Final Prospectus entitled “Capitalization” (and any similar sections or information, if any, contained in any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus), except for such adjustments as are necessary to reflect the sale of the Securities and the issuance and sale of common stock pursuant to the Company Equity Plans.

(k)    There is no contract or other document of a character required to be described in the Registration Statement or Base Prospectus, or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, which is not described or filed as required (and the Preliminary Prospectus contains in all material respects the same description of the foregoing matters as will be contained in the Base Prospectus, including the information incorporated by reference therein up to and through the date of this Agreement).

(l)    This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Issuers.

(m)    The Notes have been duly authorized for issuance and sale to the Underwriters and, when issued, executed and authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will have been duly executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Company and will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms and the terms of the Indenture and will be entitled to the benefits provided by the

 

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Indenture; provided that the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, fraudulent transfer or conveyance, moratorium or similar laws relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) (the “Enforceability Exceptions”); and the statements under the captions “Description of the Notes” in the Preliminary Prospectus used most recently prior to the Applicable Time and the Final Prospectus and “Description of Debt Securities” in the Base Prospectus, insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the Securities and the Indenture fairly summarize the matters described therein in all material respects.

(n)    The Base Indenture and the Existing 2048 Notes Indenture have each been duly authorized, executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Company, and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Trustee, each constitute a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms; provided that the enforceability of the Base Indenture may be limited by the Enforceability Exceptions. The Base Indenture and the Existing 2048 Notes Indenture have each been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act. The Supplemental Indentures have been duly authorized by or on behalf of the Issuers, and, when validly executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Issuers, and assuming due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Trustee, will constitute valid and binding agreements of the Issuers, enforceable against each of the Issuers in accordance with their terms; provided that the enforceability of the Supplemental Indentures may be limited by the Enforceability Exceptions.

(o)    Each Guarantee has been duly authorized for issuance and sale to the Underwriters by or on behalf of each Guarantor and, when the Supplemental Indentures are validly executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Issuers and the Notes are duly executed by or on behalf of the Company and authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters, and assuming due authorization, execution and delivery of the Indenture by the Trustee, will constitute a valid and binding obligation of each Guarantor, enforceable against each Guarantor in accordance with its terms and entitled to the benefits provided by the Indenture; provided that the enforceability of the Guarantees may be limited by the Enforceability Exceptions.

(p)    Each of the Company and the Guarantors are not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, will not be an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

(q)    No consent, approval, authorization, filing with or order of any court or governmental agency or body is required in connection with the transactions contemplated herein except (i) such as have been obtained under the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and (ii) such as may be required under the blue sky laws of any jurisdiction or the by-laws and rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) in connection with the purchase and distribution by the Underwriters of the Securities in the manner contemplated herein and in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus or (iii) such that the failure to obtain would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(r)    Neither the issuance and sale of the Securities nor the consummation of any other of the transactions herein contemplated nor the fulfillment of the terms hereof will conflict with, result in a breach or violation of, or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to (i) the provisions of the certificate of incorporation or by-laws or other governing documents of the Company or any of the governing documents of any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or bound or to which its or their property is subject, or (iii) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of its or their properties, which conflicts, breaches, violations or defaults, in the case of clauses (ii) or (iii), would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(s)    Except for the Underwriters (who shall act as underwriters with respect to the Securities pursuant to this Agreement), no person has the right to act as an underwriter or as a financial advisor to the Company or the Guarantors in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities.

(t)    No holders of debt securities of the Company have rights to the registration of such securities under the Disclosure Package, the Final Prospectus and the Registration Statement.

(u)    The historical consolidated financial statements and schedules of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package, the Final Prospectus and the Registration Statement present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of the dates and for the periods indicated, comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as otherwise noted therein). The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language (“XBRL”) included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Final Prospectus and the Disclosure Package fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

(v)    Other than as set forth in the Disclosure Package, the Final Prospectus and the Registration Statement, 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 or its or their property is pending or, to the Company’s or the Guarantors’ knowledge, threatened that (i) would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the performance of this Agreement or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby or (ii) would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(w)    Each of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries owns or leases all such properties as are necessary to the conduct of its operations as presently conducted except where the failure to do so does not materially interfere with the ownership, operation or benefits of operation of such businesses or materially increase the cost of operation or ownership of such businesses; provided that (a) with respect to the transmission and gathering pipelines of the Company and the Subsidiaries that own such pipelines and right-of-way interests related thereto (the “Pipeline Properties”), the foregoing shall only constitute a representation that, such Subsidiaries have sufficient title to enable them to use such Pipeline Properties in their businesses as they have been used in the past and as are proposed to be used in the future and will not materially increase the cost of such use, and (b) with respect to any real property, buildings and equipment held under lease by the Subsidiaries, such real property, buildings and equipment are held by the Subsidiaries under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as are not material and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such real property, buildings and equipment for such Subsidiary.

(x)    Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in violation or default of (i) any provisions of the certificate of incorporation or by-laws or other governing documents of the Company or the governing documents of such Subsidiary, as the case may be, (ii) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which it is a party or bound or to which its property is subject or (iii) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Company or such Subsidiary or any of its properties, as applicable, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or as could not materially impair the ability of the Issuers to perform their obligations under this Agreement or the Indenture.

(y)    PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, who has audited certain financial statements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries included, or incorporated by reference, in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company as required by the Act and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and its applicable published rules and regulations.

(z)    There are no transfer taxes or other similar fees or charges under Federal law or the laws of any state, or any political subdivision thereof, required to be paid by the Company in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the issuance and sale by the Company of the Securities.

(aa)    Each of the Company and the Guarantors has filed all foreign, federal, state and local tax returns that are required to be filed or has requested extensions thereof and has paid all taxes required to be paid by it and any other assessment, fine or penalty levied against it, to the extent that any of the foregoing is due and payable, except for (i) those failures to file or pay that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) any such tax payment, assessment, fine or penalty that is currently being contested in good faith or (iii) those failures to file or pay set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.

 

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(bb)    No labor problem or dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries exists or, to the Company’s or the Guarantors’ knowledge, is threatened or imminent, that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(cc)    The Company and the Subsidiaries are insured by insurers that the Company has no reason to believe are not of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as the Company believes are prudent and customary in the businesses in which they are engaged.

(dd)    No Subsidiary is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends or distributions to the Company, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such Subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such Subsidiary’s property or assets to the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company, except (i) as set forth in Sections 7.04 and 7.10 of the Company’s revolving credit agreement, effective June 30, 2017 (the “Credit Agreement”), (ii) as set forth in Sections 7.04 and 7.12 of the Company’s term loan credit agreement, dated as of November 19, 2018 (the “Term Loan Facility”) and (iii) for such limitations on transfer of equity interests in and assets of entities that are not wholly owned by the Company or any of its subsidiaries and (iv) for such prohibitions mandated by the laws of each such Subsidiary’s state of formation and the terms of any such Subsidiaries’ governing instruments.

(ee)    The Company and its Subsidiaries possess all licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations issued by the appropriate federal, state or foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses, except for such licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations that, if not obtained, would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, and neither the Company nor any such Subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authorization or permit which, individually or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.

(ff)    The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of the Company’s financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences; and (v) the interactive data in XBRL included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Final Prospectus and the Disclosure Package has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s applicable rules and guidelines. Since the date of the most recent audited balance sheet of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and reviewed by the board of directors of the Company, (i) the Company has not been advised of (A) any significant deficiencies in the design or operations of internal control over financial reporting that could adversely affect the ability of the Company and each of its subsidiaries to record, process,

 

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summarize and report financial data, or any material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting and (B) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the internal control over financial reporting of the Company and each of its subsidiaries and (ii) there have been no changes in internal control over financial reporting, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

(gg)    The Company and its subsidiaries maintain “disclosure controls and procedures” (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act).

(hh)    Neither the Company nor the Subsidiaries have taken, 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 security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

(ii)    The Company and its Subsidiaries (i) are in compliance with any and all applicable 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) have received and are in compliance with all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses and (iii) have not received notice of any actual or potential liability under any Environmental Law, except where such non-compliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive or comply with required permits, licenses or other approvals, or liability would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus. Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has been named as a “potentially responsible party” under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, except (y) with respect to any matters that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (z) as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.

(jj)    In the ordinary course of its business, the Company periodically reviews the effect of Environmental Laws on the business, operations and properties of the Company and the Subsidiaries, in the course of which it identifies and evaluates associated costs and liabilities (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws, or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties). On the basis of such review, the Company has reasonably concluded that such associated costs and liabilities would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(kk)    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 in connection therewith, including Section 402 thereof related to loans to officers and directors and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications.

 

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(ll)    Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the Company’s or the Guarantors’ knowledge, any director, officer, agent, or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of the FCPA, and the Company and its Subsidiaries have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

(mm)    The operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries are and have been conducted in compliance in all material respects with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, and the money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions (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 Company’s or the Guarantors’ knowledge, threatened.

(nn)    Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the Company’s or the Guarantors’ knowledge, any director, officer, agent, or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”); 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.

(oo)    Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, the Company and its subsidiaries (i) do not have any material lending or other relationship with any bank or lending affiliate of an Underwriter and (ii) do not intend to use any of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities hereunder to repay any outstanding debt owed to any affiliate of an Underwriter.

(pp)    None of the following events has occurred or exists: (i) a failure to fulfill the obligations, if any, under the minimum funding standards of Section 302 of the United States Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder with respect to a Plan (as defined herein), determined without regard to any waiver of such obligations or extension of any amortization period that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) an audit or investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any other federal or state governmental agency or any foreign regulatory agency with respect to the employment or compensation of employees by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (iii) any breach of any contractual obligation, or any violation of law or applicable qualification standards, with respect to the employment or compensation of employees by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. None of the following events has occurred or is reasonably likely to occur: (i) a material increase in the aggregate amount of contributions required to be made to all Plans in the current fiscal year of the Company and its Subsidiaries compared to the amount of such contributions made in

 

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the most recently completed fiscal year of the Company and its Subsidiaries; (ii) a material increase in the “accumulated post-retirement benefit obligations” (within the meaning of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 106) of the Company and its Subsidiaries compared to the amount of such obligations in the most recently completed fiscal year of the Company and its Subsidiaries; (iii) any event or condition giving rise to a liability under Title IV of ERISA that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or (iv) the filing of a claim by one or more employees or former employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries related to their employment that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “Plan” means a plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA) subject to Title IV of ERISA with respect to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries may have any liability.

(qq)    Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement (as such information may have been superseded by a subsequent filing with the Commission), the Preliminary Prospectus, the Final Prospectus and the Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, in each case excluding any amendments or supplements to the foregoing made after the execution of this Agreement, there has not been (i) any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in the business, properties, management, financial condition or results of operations of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except for the sale of the Securities and the application of the net proceeds thereof ( provided , however , that any decrease in the rating of any of the Company’s debt securities by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act) or any notice given of any intended or potential decrease in any such rating or of a possible change in any such rating will not violate this Section 1(qq)), (ii) any transaction which is material to the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except for the sale of the Securities and the application of the net proceeds thereof, (iii) any obligation or liability, direct or contingent (including any off-balance sheet obligations), incurred by the Company or any Subsidiary, which is material to the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except for the sale of the Securities and the application of net proceeds thereof and issuances of commercial paper notes, any drawdowns under the Credit Agreement and any borrowings under the Term Loan Facility, or (iv) any change in the capitalization or outstanding indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiaries, except for the sale of the Securities and the application of net proceeds thereof, issuance of common stock pursuant to the Company Equity Plans and any issuances of commercial paper notes, drawdowns under the Credit Agreement and borrowings under the Term Loan Facility.

(rr)    The Company and its Subsidiaries own, possess, license or have other rights to use, on reasonable terms, all material patents, patent applications, trade and service marks, trade and service mark registrations, trade names, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets, technology, know-how and other intellectual property (collectively, the “Intellectual Property”) necessary for the conduct of the Company’s business as now conducted or as proposed in the Final Prospectus to be conducted, except for failures of ownership or use that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Additionally, (i) to the Company’s or the Guarantors’ knowledge, there are no rights of third parties to any such Intellectual Property; (ii) to the Company’s or the Guarantors’ knowledge, there is no infringement by third parties of any such Intellectual Property; (iii) there is no pending or, to the Company’s or the Guarantors’ knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others

 

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challenging the Company’s or the Guarantors’ rights in or to any such Intellectual Property; and (iv) to the Company’s or the Guarantors’ knowledge, there is no pending or threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others that the Company or Guarantors infringe or otherwise violate any patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret or other proprietary rights of others, in the case of each of clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) which would be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Any certificate signed by or on behalf of the Company or a Guarantor and delivered to the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the offering of the Securities and pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company or a Guarantor, as the case may be, as to matters covered thereby, to each Underwriter.

2.     Purchase and Sale . Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, the Issuers agree to sell to each Underwriter, and each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Issuers, at the purchase price set forth in Schedule I hereto the principal amount of the Securities of each series set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name in Schedule II hereto.

3.     Delivery and Payment . Delivery of and payment for the Securities shall be made on the date and at the time specified in Schedule I hereto or at such time on such later date not more than three Business Days after the foregoing date as the Representatives shall designate, which date and time may be postponed by agreement between the Representatives and the Company or as provided in Section 9 hereof (such date and time of delivery and payment for the Securities being herein called the “Closing Date”). Delivery of the Securities shall be made to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters against payment by the several Underwriters through the Representatives of the purchase price thereof to or upon the order of the Company by wire transfer payable in same-day funds to an account specified by the Company. Delivery of the Securities shall be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct.

4.     Offering by Underwriters . The several Underwriters propose to offer the Securities for sale to the public as set forth in the Final Prospectus.

5.     Agreements . The Issuers agree with the several Underwriters that:

(a)    Prior to the termination of the offering of the Securities, neither the Company nor any Guarantor will file any amendment of the Registration Statement or supplement (including the Final Prospectus or any Preliminary Prospectus) to the Base Prospectus unless the Company has furnished you a copy for your review prior to filing and will not file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which you reasonably object, unless, (i) in the judgment of counsel to the Company, such filing is required by applicable law or (ii) is advisable in furtherance of a Commission request. Subject to the foregoing sentence, if the Registration Statement has become or becomes effective pursuant to Rule 430B, or filing of the Final Prospectus is otherwise required under Rule 424(b), the Company and the Guarantors will cause the Final Prospectus, properly completed, and any supplement thereto to be filed in a form approved by the Representatives with the Commission pursuant to the applicable paragraph of

 

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Rule 424(b) within the time period prescribed and will provide evidence satisfactory to the Representatives of such timely filing. The Company and the Guarantors will promptly advise the Representatives (i) when the Final Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, shall have been filed (if required) with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b), (ii) when, prior to termination of the offering of each series of Securities, 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 for any supplement to the Final 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 and (v) of the receipt by the Company or a Guarantor of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose. The Company and the Guarantors will use their respective reasonable 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 promptly use its reasonable best efforts to obtain 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 reasonable best efforts to have such amendment or new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable.

(b)    The Company will prepare a final term sheet, containing solely a description of final terms of the Securities and the offering thereof, in a form approved by the Representatives and substantially as attached as Schedule IV hereto and to file such term sheet pursuant to Rule 433(d) within the time required by such Rule.

(c)    If, at any time prior to the filing of the Final Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b), any event occurs as a result of which the Disclosure Package would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, the Company will (i) notify promptly the Representatives so that any use of the Disclosure Package may cease until it is amended or supplemented; (ii) amend or supplement the Disclosure Package to correct such statement or omission; and (iii) supply any amendment or supplement to you in such quantities as you may reasonably request.

(d)    If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Securities is required to be delivered under the Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172), any event occurs as a result of which the Final Prospectus as then supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary 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 Final Prospectus to comply with the Act or the Exchange Act or the respective rules thereunder, including in connection with use or delivery of the Final Prospectus, the Company promptly will (i) notify the Representatives of any such event, (ii) prepare and file with the Commission, subject to the second sentence of Section 5(a), an amendment or supplement or new registration statement which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance, (iii) use its reasonable best efforts to have any

 

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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 Final Prospectus and (iv) supply any supplemented Final Prospectus to you in such quantities as you may reasonably request.

(e)    As soon as practicable, the Company will make generally available, via the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval (EDGAR) System, to its security holders and to the Representatives, an earnings statement or statements of the Company and its subsidiaries (which need not be audited), which will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act, including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158, which may be satisfied through the filing with the Commission of reports required under the Exchange Act.

(f)    The Company will furnish or otherwise make available upon request to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, without charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto) and to each other Underwriter a copy of the Registration Statement (without exhibits thereto) and, so long as delivery of a prospectus by an Underwriter or dealer may be required by the Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172), as many copies of each Preliminary Prospectus, the Final Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any supplement thereto as the Representatives may reasonably request. The Company will pay the expenses of printing or other production of all documents relating to the offering (other than internal sales memoranda prepared by any of the Underwriters).

(g)    The Company will arrange, if necessary, for the qualification of each series of the Securities for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably designate, will maintain such qualifications in effect so long as reasonably required for the distribution of such series of Securities and will pay any fee of FINRA in connection with its review of the offering; provided that in no event shall the Issuers be obligated to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to service of process in suits, other than those arising out of the offering or sale of the Securities, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject.

(h)    Each of the Company and the Guarantors agree that, unless it has or shall have obtained the prior written consent of the Representatives, and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees with the Company that, unless it has or shall have obtained, as the case may be, the prior written consent of the Company, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a Free Writing Prospectus required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433, other than a Free Writing Prospectus containing the information contained in the final term sheet prepared and filed pursuant to Section 5(b) hereto; 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 III hereto. Any such Free Writing Prospectus consented to by the Representatives or the Company is herein referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” The Company agrees that (x) it has treated and will treat, as the case may be, each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and (y) it has complied and will comply, as applicable and 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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(i)    The Company and the Guarantors will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, or otherwise dispose of (or enter into any transaction which is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or otherwise) by the Company or any affiliate of the Company or any person in privity with the Company or any affiliate of the Company), directly or indirectly, including the filing (or participation in the filing) of a registration statement with the Commission in respect of, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, any debt securities issued or guaranteed by the Company or the Guarantors (other than the Securities) or publicly announce an intention to effect any such transaction, until the Business Day set forth on Schedule I hereto.

(j)    The Company and the Guarantors will not, at any time at or after the execution of this Agreement, directly or indirectly, offer or sell any Securities by means of any “prospectus” (within the meaning of the Act), or use any “prospectus” (within the meaning of the Act) in connection with the offer or sale of the Securities, in each case other than the Final Prospectus.

6.     Conditions to the Obligations of the Underwriters . The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Securities shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Issuers contained herein as of the Applicable Time and the Closing Date, to the accuracy of the statements of the Company or the Guarantors made in any certificates pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Issuers of their respective obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

(a)    The Final Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, shall have been filed in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b); the final term sheet contemplated by Section 5(b) hereto, and any other material required to be filed by the Company and Guarantors pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act, 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 shall have been instituted or threatened.

(b)    The Company shall have requested and caused Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, counsel for the Company and the Guarantors, to have furnished to the Representatives its opinion, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representatives, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.

(c)    The Company shall have requested and caused GableGotwals, counsel for the Company and the Guarantors, to have furnished to the Representatives its opinion, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representatives, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.

 

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(d)    The Representatives shall have received from Shearman & Sterling LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representatives, with respect to the issuance and sale of the Securities, the Indenture, the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, the Final Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) and other related matters as the Representatives 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 and the Guarantors shall have each furnished to the Representatives a certificate of the Company and the Guarantor, as the case may be, signed by their respective Chief Executive Officer, President or a Vice President and the Chief Financial Officer, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that the signers of such certificate have reviewed the Registration Statement, the Final Prospectus, the Disclosure Package and any supplements or amendments thereto and this Agreement and that:

(i)    the representations and warranties of the Issuers in Section 1 of this Agreement are true and correct on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as if made on the Closing Date and the Issuers have complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on their part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date;

(ii)    no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any notice objecting to its use has been issued by the Commission and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or, to the Company’s or the Guarantors’ knowledge, threatened; and

(iii)    since the date of the most recent financial statements included in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, there has been no Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.

(f)    The Company shall have requested and caused PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to have furnished to the Representatives, at the Applicable Time and at the Closing Date, “comfort letters” (which may refer to letters previously delivered to the Representatives), dated respectively as of the Applicable Time and as of the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, with respect to the certain unaudited financial statements and financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus used most recently prior to the Applicable Time and the Final Prospectus.

(g)    Subsequent to the Applicable Time or, if earlier, the dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement (exclusive of any amendment thereof) and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment thereto), there shall not have been (i) any adverse change or decrease specified in the letters referred to in paragraph (f) of this Section 6 or (ii) any adverse change, or any development involving a prospective adverse change, in or affecting the business, properties, earnings, results of operations or financial condition of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package

 

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and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto), the effect of which, in any case referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above, is, in the sole judgment of the Representatives, so material and adverse as to make it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of any series of Securities as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.

(h)    Subsequent to the Applicable Time, there shall not have been any decrease in the rating of any of the Company’s or the Guarantors’ debt securities by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act) or any notice given of any intended or potential decrease in any such rating or of a possible change in any such rating that does not indicate the direction of the possible change.

(i)    Prior to the Closing Date, the Company and the Guarantors shall have furnished to the Representatives such further information, certificates and documents as the Representatives 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 Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, this Agreement and all obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be canceled at, or at any time prior to, the Closing Date by the Representatives. Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Company in writing or by telephone, email or facsimile confirmed in writing.

The documents required to be delivered by this Section 6 shall be delivered at the office of Shearman & Sterling, LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, at 599 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10022, on the Closing Date, or as otherwise agreed by the Company and the Representatives.

7.     Payment and Reimbursement of Underwriters Expenses .

(a)    Whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company will pay, or reimburse if paid by the Underwriters, all costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company and the Guarantors under this Agreement, including but not limited to costs and expenses of or relating to (i) the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement and exhibits to it, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Preliminary Prospectus and Final Prospectus, (ii) the preparation and delivery of certificates representing the Securities, (iii) all necessary issue, transfer and other stamp taxes in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities, (iv) furnishing (including costs of shipping, mailing and courier) such copies of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or Final Prospectus, and all amendments and supplements thereto, as may be requested for use in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities by the Underwriters or by dealers to whom Securities may be sold, (v) any filings required to be made by the Underwriters with FINRA, and the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel to the Underwriters in connection therewith, (vi) the registration or qualification of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws, including

 

18


the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel to the Underwriters in connection therewith, and the preparation and printing of preliminary, supplemental and final Blue Sky memoranda, (vii) counsel to the Company and the Guarantors, (viii) the rating, if any, of the Securities by one or more rating agencies, (ix) the Trustee and any agent of the Trustee and the fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel for the Trustee in connection with the Indenture and the Securities and (x) PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Except as provided in this Section 7, the Underwriters will pay all of their own fees and expenses in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities.

(b)    If the sale of the Securities provided for herein is not consummated because any condition to the obligations of the Underwriters set forth in Section 6 hereof is not satisfied, because of any termination pursuant to Section 10(i) hereof or because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Issuers to perform any agreement herein or comply with any provision hereof, other than by reason of a default by any of the Underwriters, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters severally through the Representatives on demand for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) that shall have been incurred by them in connection with the proposed purchase and sale of the Securities.

8.     Indemnification and Contribution . (a) The Issuers agree, jointly and severally, to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, the directors, officers, employees, affiliates and agents of each Underwriter and each person who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or other U.S. Federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (i) an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; or (ii) an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or any other preliminary prospectus supplement relating to the Securities, the Final Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any information of the Issuers that the Company has filed or is required to file pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act, or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and agrees to reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however , that the Issuers will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for inclusion therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b). This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Issuers may otherwise have.

 

19


(b)    Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Issuers, the respective directors and officers of the Company, each of the respective directors and officers of the general partner of ONEOK Partners L.P. and the general partner of ONEOK Partners Intermediate Limited Partnership and each person who controls the Issuers within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Issuers to each Underwriter, but only with reference to written information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Issuers by or on behalf of such Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for inclusion in the documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which any Underwriter may otherwise have. The Issuers acknowledge that (i) the statements set forth in the last paragraph of the cover page regarding delivery of the Securities, and (ii) the following information under the heading “Underwriting”: (A) the second sentence of the third paragraph related to the Underwriters’ market making activities, (B) the first sentence of the fourth paragraph related to discounts, (C) the sixth, seventh and eighth paragraphs related to over-allotment, stabilization, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids and (D) the information in the first sentence of the first paragraph, the second paragraph and the third paragraph under the heading “Underwriters’ Conflicts of Interest” in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus constitute the only information furnished in writing by or on behalf of the several Underwriters for inclusion in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Final Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto.

(c)    Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 8, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and only to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the indemnifying party’s choice at the indemnifying party’s expense to represent the indemnified party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel retained by the indemnified party or parties except as set forth below); provided, however , that such counsel shall be satisfactory to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the indemnifying party’s election to appoint counsel to represent the indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such counsel with a conflict of interest, (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action or (iv) the indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified party to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party. An

 

20


indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle, 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.

(d)    In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 8 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party for any reason, but is otherwise applicable in accordance with its terms, the Issuers and the Underwriters severally agree to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending same) (collectively “Losses”) to which the Issuers and one or more of the Underwriters may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Issuers on the one hand and by the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Securities; provided, however , that in no case shall any Underwriter (except as may be provided in any agreement among underwriters relating to the offering of the Securities) be responsible for any amount in excess of the underwriting discount or commission applicable to the Securities purchased by such Underwriter hereunder. If the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason, the Issuers and the Underwriters severally shall contribute in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Issuers, on the one hand, and of the Underwriters, on the other, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such Losses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. Benefits received by the Issuers shall be deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by it, and benefits received by the Underwriters shall be deemed to be equal to the total underwriting discounts and commissions, in each case as set forth on the cover page of the Final Prospectus. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether an untrue or an alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information provided by the Issuers, on the one hand, or the Underwriters, on the other, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The Issuers and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata allocation or any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (d), no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 8, each person who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act and each director, officer, employee, affiliate and agent of an Underwriter shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each person who controls the Issuers within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, each officer and director of the Company and, each director and officer of the general partner of ONEOK Partners L.P. and the general partner of ONEOK Partners Intermediate Limited Partnership shall have the same rights to contribution as the Issuers, subject in each case to the applicable terms and conditions of this paragraph (d).

 

21


9.     Default by an Underwriter . If any one or more Underwriters shall fail to purchase and pay for any of the Securities agreed to be purchased by such Underwriter or Underwriters hereunder and such failure to purchase shall constitute a default in the performance of its or their obligations under this Agreement, the remaining Underwriters shall be obligated severally to take up and pay for (in the respective proportions which the principal amount of Securities set forth opposite their names in Schedule II hereto bears to the aggregate principal amount of Securities set forth opposite the names of all the remaining Underwriters) the Securities which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase; provided, however , that in the event that the aggregate principal amount of Securities which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase shall exceed 10% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities set forth in Schedule II hereto, the remaining Underwriters shall have the right to purchase all, but shall not be under any obligation to purchase any, of the Securities, and if such nondefaulting Underwriters do not purchase all the Securities, this Agreement will terminate without liability to any nondefaulting Underwriter or the Issuers. In the event of a default by any Underwriter as set forth in this Section 9, the Closing Date shall be postponed for such period, not exceeding five Business Days, as the Representatives shall determine in order that the required changes in the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” shall be deemed to include any person substituted for a defaulting Underwriter under this Section 9. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter of its liability, if any, to the Issuers and any nondefaulting Underwriter for damages occasioned by its default hereunder.

10.     Termination . This Agreement shall be subject to termination in the absolute discretion of the Representatives, by notice given to the Company prior to delivery of and payment for the Securities, if at any time prior to such time (i) trading in any securities of the Company shall have been suspended by the Commission or the New York Stock Exchange or (ii) trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or limited or minimum prices shall have been established on such exchange, (iii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared either by Federal or New York State authorities or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war, or other calamity or crisis the effect of which on financial markets is such as to make it, in the sole judgment of the Representatives, impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Securities as contemplated by any Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto).

11.     Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes . (a) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

(b)    In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

 

22


(c)    For purposes of this Section 11, a “BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k). “Covered Entity” means any of the following: (i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b). “Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable. “U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

12.     Representations and Indemnities to Survive . The respective agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the Issuers or the respective officers of the Company, officers of the general partner of ONEOK Partners, L.P. or officers of the general partner of ONEOK Partners Intermediate Limited Partnership and of the Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or the Issuers or any of the indemnified persons referred to in Section 8 hereof, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Securities. The provisions of Sections 7 and 8 and the last sentence of Section 9 hereof shall survive the termination or cancellation of this Agreement.

13.     Notices . All communications hereunder will be in writing and effective only on receipt, and, if sent to the Representatives, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to Barclays Capital Inc., 745 Seventh Avenue, 5 th Floor, New York, New York 10019, Fax: (646) 834-8133, Attention: Syndicate Registration; Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282, Fax: 212-902-9316, Attention: Prospectus Department; MUFG Securities Americas Inc., 1221 Avenue of the Americas, 6 th Floor, New York, New York 10020, Fax: (646) 434-3455, Attention: Capital Markets Group; TD Securities (USA) LLC, 31 West 52 nd Street, 2 nd Floor, New York, New York 10019, Attention: Transaction Management Group; or, if sent to the Issuers, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to ONEOK, Inc., 100 West Fifth Street, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103, Facsimile: 918-588-7971, Attention: General Counsel.

14.     Successors . This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the indemnified persons referred to in Section 8 hereof, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder.

15.     No Fiduciary Duty . The Issuers hereby acknowledge that (a) the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Issuers, on the one hand, and the Underwriters and any affiliate through which it may be acting, on the other, (b) the Underwriters are each acting as principal and not as an agent or fiduciary of the Issuers and (c) the Issuers’ engagement of the Underwriters in connection with the offering and the process leading up to the offering is as independent contractors and not in any other capacity. Furthermore, the Issuers agree that they are each solely responsible for

 

23


making their own respective judgments in connection with the offering (irrespective of whether any of the Underwriters has advised or is currently advising the Issuers on related or other matters). The Issuers each agree that they will not claim that the Underwriters have rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owe an agency, fiduciary or similar duty to the Issuers, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto.

16.     Integration . This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Issuers and the Underwriters, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

17.     Applicable Law . This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed within the State of New York.

18.     Waiver of Jury Trial . The parties hereto each 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 Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

19.     Counterparts . This Agreement may be signed in one or more counterparts, including facsimile and .pdf electronic counterparts, each of which, when executed and delivered, shall constitute an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

20.     Headings . The section headings used herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

21.     Definitions . The terms which follow, when used in this Agreement, shall have the meanings indicated.

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

“Applicable Time” shall mean 6:45 p.m. (Eastern time) on March 11, 2019, which is the time identified to us by the Underwriters as the time of first sale of Securities to the investors.

“Base Prospectus” shall mean the base prospectus referred to in paragraph 1(a) above contained in the Registration Statement at the Applicable Time.

“Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorized or obligated by law to close in New York City.

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

“Company Equity Plans” shall mean the (i) ONEOK, Inc. 401(k) Plan, (ii) ONEOK, Inc. Profit Sharing Plan, (iii) ONEOK, Inc. Long Term Incentive Plan, (iv)

 

24


ONEOK, Inc. Equity Compensation Plan, (v) ONEOK, Inc. Employee Stock Award Program, (vi) ONEOK, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan , (vii) ONEOK, Inc. Direct Stock Purchase and Dividend Reinvestment Plan and (viii) ONEOK, Inc. 2018 Equity Incentive Plan.

“Disclosure Package” shall mean, (i) the Base Prospectus, (ii) the Preliminary Prospectus used most recently prior to the Applicable Time, (iii) the Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses identified in Part A of Schedule III hereto and (iv) any other Free Writing Prospectus that the parties hereto shall hereafter expressly agree in writing to treat as part of the Disclosure Package.

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

“FCPA” shall mean the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

“Final Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus supplement relating to the Securities that is first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) after the Applicable Time, together with the Base Prospectus.

“Free Writing Prospectus” shall mean a free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 405.

“Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” shall mean an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433.

“Preliminary Prospectus” shall mean any preliminary prospectus supplement to the Base Prospectus referred to in paragraph 1(a) above, which is used prior to the filing of the Final Prospectus, together with the Base Prospectus.

“Registration Statement” shall mean the registration statement referred to in paragraph 1(a) above, as amended at the time of such registration statement’s effectiveness for purposes of Section 11 of the Act, as such section applies to the respective Underwriters (the “Effective Time”), including (i) all documents filed as a part thereof or incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein and (ii) any information contained or incorporated by reference in a prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act, to the extent such information is deemed, pursuant to Rule 430B or Rule 430C under the Act, to be part of the registration statement at the Effective Time.

“Rule 158,” “Rule 163,” “Rule 164,” “Rule 172,” “Rule 405,” “Rule 415,” “Rule 424,” “Rule 430B,” “Rule 430C,” “Rule 433,” “Rule 436,” “Rule 456” and “Rule 457” refer to such rules under the Act.

“Trust Indenture Act” shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

25


“Well-Known Seasoned Issuer” shall mean a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405.

[Signature pages follow]

 

26


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

 

Very truly yours,
ONEOK, Inc.
By:  

/s/ Walter S. Hulse III

Name:   Walter S. Hulse III
Title:   Chief Financial Officer and Executive
Vice President, Strategic Planning and Corporate Affairs
ONEOK Partners, L.P.
By:   ONEOK Partners GP, L.L.C., its general partner
By:  

/s/ Walter S. Hulse III

Name:   Walter S. Hulse III
Title:   Chief Financial Officer and Executive
Vice President, Strategic Planning and Corporate Affairs
ONEOK Partners Intermediate Limited Partnership
By:   ONEOK ILP GP, L.L.C., its general partner
By:  

/s/ Walter S. Hulse III

Name:   Walter S. Hulse III
Title:   Chief Financial Officer and Executive
Vice President, Strategic Planning and Corporate Affairs

 

27


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

For themselves and the other several Underwriters, if any, named in Schedule II to the foregoing Agreement.

Barclays Capital Inc.

 

By:  

/s/ Robert Stowe

Name:   Robert Stowe
Title:   Managing Director
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
By:  

/s/ Adam Greene

Name:   Adam Greene
Title:   Managing Director
MUFG Securities Americas Inc.
By:  

/s/ Richard Testa

Name:   Richard Testa
Title:   Managing Director
TD Securities (USA) LLC
By:  

/s/ Christopher Gerry

Name:   Christopher Gerry
Title:   Managing Director

 

28


SCHEDULE I

4.35% Notes due 2029

Registration Statement No. 333-219186

Representatives: Barclays Capital Inc.

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

MUFG Securities Americas Inc.

TD Securities (USA) LLC

Title, Principal Amount and Purchase Price of Securities:

 

Title:

  4.35% Notes due 2029

Principal amount:

  $700,000,000

Purchase price (include accrued interest or amortization, if any):

  99.037%

Closing Date, Time and Location: March 13, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. (Eastern time) at Shearman & Sterling LLP, 599 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10022

Type of Offering: Non-delayed

Date referred to in Section 5(i) on and after which the Company may offer or sell debt securities issued or guaranteed by the Company without the consent of the Representatives: Closing Date.

5.20% Notes due 2048

Registration Statement No. 333-219186

Representatives: Barclays Capital Inc.

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

MUFG Securities Americas Inc.

TD Securities (USA) LLC

 

I - 1


Title, Principal Amount and Purchase Price of Securities:

 

Title:

   5.20% Notes due 2048

Principal amount:

   $550,000,000

Purchase price (plus the amount of interest deemed to have accrued from and including January 15, 2019 to, but excluding, the Closing Date):

   98.211% (plus $4,607,777.78)

Closing Date, Time and Location: March 13, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. (Eastern time) at Shearman & Sterling LLP, 599 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10022

Type of Offering: Non-delayed

Date referred to in Section 5(i) on and after which the Company may offer or sell debt securities issued or guaranteed by the Company without the consent of the Representatives: Closing Date.

 

I - 2


SCHEDULE II

 

     Principal Amount
of Securities to
be Purchased
 

Underwriters

   4.35% Notes due
2029
     5.20% Notes due 2048  

Barclays Capital Inc.

   $ 91,000,000      $ 71,500,000  

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

   $ 91,000,000      $ 71,500,000  

MUFG Securities Americas Inc.

   $ 91,000,000      $ 71,500,000  

TD Securities (USA) LLC

   $ 91,000,000      $ 71,500,000  

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

   $ 31,500,000      $ 24,750,000  

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

                      Incorporated

   $ 31,500,000      $ 24,750,000  

Mizuho Securities USA LLC

   $ 31,500,000      $ 24,750,000  

PNC Capital Markets LLC

   $ 31,500,000      $ 24,750,000  

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

   $ 31,500,000      $ 24,750,000  

Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.

   $ 31,500,000      $ 24,750,000  

U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.

   $ 31,500,000      $ 24,750,000  

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

   $ 31,500,000      $ 24,750,000  

BB&T Capital Markets, a division of BB&T Securities, LLC

   $ 14,000,000      $ 11,000,000  

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

   $ 14,000,000      $ 11,000,000  

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

   $ 14,000,000      $ 11,000,000  

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

   $ 14,000,000      $ 11,000,000  

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

   $ 7,000,000      $ 5,500,000  

Regions Securities LLC

   $ 7,000,000      $ 5,500,000  

SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc.

   $ 7,000,000      $ 5,500,000  

The Williams Capital Group, L.P.

   $ 7,000,000      $ 5,500,000  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 700,000,000      $ 550,000,000  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

II - 1


SCHEDULE III

PART A

Schedule of Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses included in the Disclosure Package

 

1)

The final term sheet prepared and filed pursuant to Section 5(b) of the Agreement in substantially the form of Schedule IV to the Agreement.

PART B

Schedule of Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses not included in the Disclosure Package

 

1)

The Net Roadshow presentation relating to the offering of the Securities, dated March 2019.

 

III - 1


SCHEDULE IV

[Term sheet attached]

 

IV - 1


Filed Pursuant to Rule 433

Registration No. 333-219186

March 11, 2019

ONEOK, INC.

PRICING TERM SHEET

$1,250,000,000

4.350% Notes due 2029

5.200% Notes due 2048

 

Issuer:    ONEOK, Inc.
Guarantors:    ONEOK Partners, L.P. and ONEOK Partners Intermediate Limited Partnership
Security Type:    Senior Unsecured Notes

 

The new 2048 notes will be an additional issuance of the 5.20% notes due 2048 issued by us in an aggregate principal amount of $450 million on July 2, 2018 (the “existing 2048 notes” and together with the new 2048 notes, the “2048 notes”), will be fungible with the existing 2048 notes, and will be consolidated with and form a single series with the existing 2048 notes. The new 2048 notes will have the same terms as the existing 2048 notes, other than the settlement date and offering price, and will have the same CUSIP number as the existing 2048 notes. Immediately after giving effect to the issuance of the new 2048 notes, the aggregate principal amount of the new 2048 notes and the existing 2048 notes issued on July 2, 2018 will be $1,000,000,000.

Expected Ratings: 1   
Pricing Date:    March 11, 2019
Settlement Date:    March 13, 2019 (T+2)
   4.350% Notes due 2029    5.200% Notes due 2048
Maturity Date:    March 15, 2029    July 15, 2048
Principal Amount:    $700,000,000    $550,000,000
Benchmark Treasury:    2.625% due February 15, 2029    3.375% due November 15, 2048
Benchmark Treasury Price / Yield:    99-28 / 2.639%    106-22+ / 3.031%
Re-offer Spread to Benchmark Treasury:    + 175 bps    + 223 bps
Yield to Maturity:    4.389%    5.261%
Coupon:    4.350%    5.200%
Public Offering Price:    99.687% of the principal amount    99.086% of the principal amount, plus
$4,607,777.78 of accrued interest from
January 15, 2019 to but excluding the
Settlement Date
Redemption Provisions:      

Make-Whole Call:

   T + 30 bps (prior to December 15, 2028)    T + 35 bps (prior to January 15, 2048)

Par Call:

   On or after December 15, 2028 (3 months
prior to maturity)
   On or after January 15, 2048 (6 months prior
to maturity)

 

 

1

A securities rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and should be evaluated independently of any other rating. The rating is subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating organization.


Interest Payment Dates:    March 15 and September 15, beginning September 15, 2019    January 15 and July 15
CUSIP / ISIN:    682680 AW3 / US682680AW38    682680 AV5 / US682680AV54
Joint Book-Runners:   

Barclays Capital Inc.

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

MUFG Securities Americas Inc.

TD Securities (USA) LLC

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

                     Incorporated

Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

Mizuho Securities USA LLC

PNC Capital Markets LLC

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

Co-Managers:   

BB&T Capital Markets, a division of BB&T Securities, LLC

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

Regions Securities LLC

SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc.

The Williams Capital Group, L.P.

The issuer has filed a registration statement (including a base prospectus) and a preliminary prospectus supplement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the preliminary prospectus supplement for this offering, the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents the issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the issuer and this offering. You may get these documents for free by searching the SEC online data base (EDGAR) on the SEC web site at http://www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the issuer, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the prospectus supplement and prospectus if you request it by calling Barclays Capital Inc. toll free at (888) 603-5847, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC toll free at (866) 471-2526, MUFG Securities Americas Inc. toll free at (877) 649-6848 or TD Securities (USA) LLC toll free at (855) 495-9846.

In the capitalization table on page S-10 of the prospectus supplement, $7,943,704 (in thousands) is the amount of long-term debt, excluding current maturities, term loan borrowings and 5.20% notes due 2048 as of December 31, 2018.

Any disclaimers or other notices that may appear below are not applicable to this communication and should be disregarded. Such disclaimers or other notices were automatically generated as a result of this communication being sent via Bloomberg or another electronic system.

 

2


ANNEX A

SIGNIFICANT SUBSIDIARIES OF THE COMPANY

 

Subsidiary

   State of
Incorporation
or Organization
   Company’s
Ownership
Percentage
 

ONEOK Partners Intermediate Limited Partnership

   Delaware      100.0

ONEOK Partners, L.P.

   Delaware      100.0

ONEOK Field Services Company, L.L.C.

   Oklahoma      100.0

ONEOK Hydrocarbon, L.P.

   Delaware      100.0

ONEOK Hydrocarbon, L.L.C.

   Delaware      100.0

ONEOK Hydrocarbon Holdings, L.L.C.

   Delaware      100.0

ONEOK Rockies Midstream, L.L.C.

   Delaware      100.0

ONEOK Pipeline Holdings, L.L.C.

   Delaware      100.0

 

ANX - 1

Exhibit 4.2

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

 

ONEOK, INC.

as Issuer;

ONEOK PARTNERS, L.P.

and

ONEOK PARTNERS INTERMEDIATE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

as Guarantors;

and

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

as Trustee

EIGHTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

Dated as of March 13, 2019

to

INDENTURE

relating to Securities

Dated as of January 26, 2012

4.35% Notes due 2029

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE 1 Relation to Indenture; Definitions and Other Provisions of General Application

     1

SECTION 1.01.

 

Relation to Indenture

     1

SECTION 1.02.

 

Definitions

     1

SECTION 1.03.

 

General References

     2

ARTICLE 2 The Series of Securities

     2

SECTION 2.01.

 

The Form and Title of the Securities

     2

SECTION 2.02.

 

Amount

     3

SECTION 2.03.

 

Stated Maturity

     3

SECTION 2.04.

 

Interest and Interest Rates

     3

SECTION 2.05.

 

Optional Redemption

     3

SECTION 2.06.

 

Global Securities

     3

ARTICLE 3 Agreement to Guarantee

     3

SECTION 3.01.

 

Unconditional Guarantee

     3

SECTION 3.02.

 

Limitation on Guarantor Liability

     5

SECTION 3.03.

 

No Requirement to Endorse Notation of Guarantee

     6

SECTION 3.04.

 

Release of Guarantee

     6

SECTION 3.05.

 

Benefits Acknowledged

     6

ARTICLE 4 Miscellaneous

     6

SECTION 4.01.

 

Notices

     6

SECTION 4.02.

 

No Recourse Against Others

     6

SECTION 4.03.

 

Certain Trustee Matters

     6

SECTION 4.04.

 

Continued Effect

     7

SECTION 4.05.

 

Governing Law

     7

SECTION 4.06.

 

Counterparts

     7

EXHIBITS

Exhibit A: Form of Note


EIGHTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE , dated as of March 13, 2019 (this “ Supplemental Indenture ”), among ONEOK, I NC . , an Oklahoma corporation (the “ Company ”), ONEOK PARTNERS, L.P. , a Delaware limited partnership, and ONEOK PARTNERS INTERMEDIATE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP , a Delaware limited partnership (each a “ Guarantor ” and together, the “ Guarantors ”), and U.S. B ANK N ATIONAL A SSOCIATION , as trustee under the Indenture referred to below (in such capacity, the “ Trustee ”).

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

WHEREAS, the Company and the Trustee have heretofore entered into an Indenture, dated as of January 26, 2012 (the “ Original Indenture ”) (the Original Indenture, as amended and supplemented from time to time, including without limitation pursuant to this Supplemental Indenture, being referred to herein as the “ Indenture ”); and

WHEREAS, under the Original Indenture, a new series of Securities may at any time be established by the Board of Directors of the Company, in accordance with the provisions of the Original Indenture, and the terms of such series may be established by an indenture supplemental to the Original Indenture; and

WHEREAS, the Company proposes to create under the Indenture a new series of Securities; and

WHEREAS, in connection with the issuance of the Notes (as herein defined), each of the Guarantors desires to become a guarantor of, and provide a guarantee of, the Notes; and

WHEREAS, all acts and things necessary to make the Notes and Guarantees (as herein defined), when executed by the Company and the Guarantors, respectively, and when the Notes are authenticated and delivered by the Trustee as provided in the Original Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture, the valid and binding obligations of the Company and the Guarantors, and to make this Supplemental Indenture a valid and binding agreement in accordance with the Original Indenture have been done or performed.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, agreements and obligations set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Notes, as follows:

ARTICLE 1

R ELATION TO I NDENTURE ; D EFINITIONS AND O THER P ROVISIONS OF G ENERAL A PPLICATION

SECTION 1.01 . Relation to Indenture.

With respect to the Notes, this Supplemental Indenture constitutes an integral part of the Indenture.

SECTION 1.02 . Definitions.

Except as may be provided in a future indenture supplemental to the Original Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes but no other series of Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Article One of the Original Indenture shall be amended by adding the following defined terms to Section 101 in appropriate alphabetical sequence. For all purposes of this Supplemental Indenture, capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Original Indenture.


Adjusted Treasury Rate ” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price of the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such Redemption Date.

Comparable Treasury Issue ” means the U.S. Treasury security selected by the Quotation Agent as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Notes to be redeemed, assuming the Notes matured on December 15, 2028, that would be used, at the time of a selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the Notes assuming the Notes matured on December 15, 2028.

Comparable Treasury Price ” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation for such Redemption Date .

“Quotation Agent ” means a Reference Treasury Dealer.

Reference Treasury Dealer ” means Barclays Capital Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and any other reference treasury dealer selected by either MUFG Securities Americas Inc. or TD Securities (USA) LLC and their respective successors; provided , however , that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a primary U.S. Government Securities dealer in the United States (a “ Primary Treasury Dealer ”), the Company shall substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer and certify same to the Trustee.

Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation ” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by the Company and certified to the Trustee by the Company, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed, in each case, as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Company by a Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m. on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption Date.

SECTION 1.03 . General References.

All references in this Supplemental Indenture to Articles and Sections, unless otherwise specified, refer to the corresponding Articles and Sections of this Supplemental Indenture; and the terms “ herein, ” “ hereof, ” “ hereunder ” and any other word of similar import refers to this Supplemental Indenture.

ARTICLE 2

T HE S ERIES OF S ECURITIES

SECTION 2.01. The Form and Title of the Securities .

There is hereby established a new series of Securities to be issued under the Indenture and to be designated as the Company’s 4.35% Notes due 2029 (the “ Notes ”). The Notes shall be substantially in the form attached as Exhibit  A hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by the Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate or as may be required or appropriate to comply with any laws or with any rules made pursuant thereto or with the rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Notes may be listed or traded, or to conform to general usage, or as may, consistently with the Indenture, be determined by the officers executing such Notes, as evidenced by their execution thereof. The Notes and any beneficial interest in the Notes shall be in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

The Notes shall be executed, authenticated and delivered in accordance with the provisions of, and shall in all respects be subject to, the terms, conditions and covenants of the Original Indenture as supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture (including the form of Note set forth as Exhibit  A hereto (the terms of which are incorporated in and made a part of this Supplemental Indenture for all intents and purposes)).

 

2


SECTION 2.02. Amount .

The aggregate principal amount of the Notes which may be authenticated and delivered pursuant hereto is unlimited. The Trustee shall initially authenticate and deliver Notes for original issue in an initial aggregate principal amount of up to $700,000,000 upon delivery to the Trustee of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Notes. The aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be issued hereunder may be increased at any time hereafter and the series may be reopened for issuances of additional Notes upon Company Order without the consent of any Holder. The Notes issued on the date hereof and any such additional Notes that may be issued hereafter shall be part of the same series of Securities for all purposes under the Indenture.

SECTION 2.03. Stated Maturity.

The Notes may be issued on any Business Day on or after March 13, 2019, and the Stated Maturity of the Notes shall be March 15, 2029.

SECTION 2.04. Interest and Interest Rates .

The rate or rates at which the Notes shall bear interest, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the interest payment dates on which any such interest shall be payable and the regular record date for any interest payable on any interest payment date, in each case, shall be as set forth in the form of Note set forth as Exhibit  A hereto.

SECTION 2.05. Optional Redemption .

At its option, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, in principal amounts of $2,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, at any time or from time to time, at the applicable redemption price determined as set forth in the form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A , in accordance with the terms set forth in the Notes and in accordance with Article Eleven of the Original Indenture.

SECTION 2.06. Global Securities .

The Notes shall initially be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities. Such Global Securities (i) shall be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, which shall act as Depositary with respect to the Notes, (ii) shall bear the legends applicable to Global Securities set forth in Section 204 of the Original Indenture, (iii) may be exchanged in whole or in part for Notes in definitive form upon the terms and subject to the conditions provided in Section 304 of the Original Indenture and in this Supplemental Indenture and (iv) shall otherwise be subject to the applicable provisions of the Indenture.

ARTICLE 3

A GREEMENT TO G UARANTEE

SECTION 3.01. Unconditional Guarantee.

(a)    For value received, subject to Section 3.04 hereof, each of the Guarantors hereby fully, irrevocably, unconditionally and absolutely guarantees to the Holders of the Notes and to the Trustee the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on such Notes, and all other amounts due and payable under the Indenture and such Notes by the Company to the Trustee or such Holders (including, without limitation, all costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees and

 

3


disbursements of its agents and counsel) incurred by the Trustee or such Holders in connection with the enforcement of the Indenture and the Guarantees) (collectively, the “ Indenture Obligations ”), when and as such amounts shall become due and payable, whether at the Stated Maturity, upon redemption or by declaration of acceleration or otherwise, according to the terms of such Notes and the Indenture. The guarantees by the Guarantors set forth in this ARTICLE 3 are referred to herein as the “ Guarantees .” Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Guarantor’s liability shall extend to all amounts that constitute part of the Indenture Obligations and would be owed by the Company to the Trustee or such Holders under the Indenture and such Notes but for the fact that they are unenforceable, reduced, limited, impaired, suspended or not allowable due to the existence of a bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding involving the Company.

(b)    Failing payment when due of any amount guaranteed pursuant to the Guarantees, for whatever reason, each Guarantor will be obligated (to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law) to pay the same immediately to the Trustee, without set-off or counterclaim or other reduction whatsoever (whether for taxes, withholding or otherwise). The Guarantees hereunder are intended to be a general, unsecured, senior obligation of each Guarantor and will rank pari passu in right of payment with all unsecured indebtedness of such Guarantor that is not, by its terms, expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Guarantees of such Guarantor. Each Guarantor hereby agrees that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, subject to Section 3.04 hereof, its obligations hereunder shall be full, irrevocable, unconditional and absolute, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of such Notes, the Guarantees or the Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any such Holder with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Company, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of such Guarantor. Each Guarantor hereby agrees that in the event of a default in payment of any Indenture Obligations, whether at the Stated Maturity, upon redemption or by declaration of acceleration or otherwise, legal proceedings may be instituted by the Trustee on behalf of such Holders or, subject to Section 507 of the Indenture, by such Holders, on the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture, directly against such Guarantor to enforce the Guarantees without first proceeding against the Company.

(c)    To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, subject to Section 3.04 hereof, the obligations of each Guarantor under this ARTICLE 3 shall be as aforesaid full, irrevocable, unconditional and absolute and shall not be impaired, modified, discharged, released or limited by any occurrence or condition whatsoever, including, without limitation, (i) any compromise, settlement, release, waiver, renewal, extension, indulgence or modification of, or any change in, any of the obligations and liabilities of the Company or either Guarantor contained in any of such Notes or the Indenture, (ii) any impairment, modification, release or limitation of the liability of the Company, either Guarantor or any of their estates in bankruptcy, or any remedy for the enforcement thereof, resulting from the operation of any present or future provision of any applicable Bankruptcy Law, as amended, or other statute or from the decision of any court, (iii) the assertion or exercise by the Trustee or any such Holder of any rights or remedies under any of such Notes or the Indenture or their delay in or failure to assert or exercise any such rights or remedies, (iv) the assignment or the purported assignment of any property as security for any of such Notes, including all or any part of the rights of the Company or either Guarantor under the Indenture, (v) the extension of the time for payment by the Company or either Guarantor of any payments or other sums or any part thereof owing or payable under any of the terms and provisions of any of such Notes or the Indenture or of the time for performance by the Company or either Guarantor of any other obligations under or arising out of any such terms and provisions or the extension or the renewal of any thereof, (vi) the modification or amendment (whether material or otherwise) of any duty, agreement or obligation of the Company or either Guarantor set forth in the Indenture, (vii) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets, marshaling of assets and liabilities, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment, rehabilitation or relief of, or other similar proceeding affecting, the Company or either Guarantor or any of their respective assets, or the disaffirmance of any

 

4


of such Notes, the Guarantees or the Indenture in any such proceeding, (viii) the release or discharge of the Company or either Guarantor from the performance or observance of any agreement, covenant, term or condition contained in any of such instruments by operation of law, (ix) the unenforceability of any of such Notes, the Guarantees or the Indenture, (x) any change in the name, business, capital structure, corporate existence, or ownership of the Company or either Guarantor, or (xi) any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a legal or equitable discharge of, a surety or either Guarantor.

(d)    To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor hereby (i) waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, notice of acceptance, filing of claims with a court in the event of the merger, insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company or such Guarantor, and all demands and notices whatsoever, (ii) acknowledges that any agreement, instrument or document evidencing the Guarantees may be transferred and that the benefit of its obligations hereunder shall extend to each holder of any agreement, instrument or document evidencing the Guarantees without notice to them and (iii) covenants that its Guarantees will not be discharged except by complete performance of the Guarantees. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor further agrees that if at any time all or any part of any payment theretofore applied by any Person to any Guarantees is, or must be, rescinded or returned for any reason whatsoever, including without limitation, the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of either Guarantor, such Guarantees shall, to the extent that such payment is or must be rescinded or returned, be deemed to have continued in existence notwithstanding such application, and the Guarantees shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, as though such application had not been made.

(e)    Each Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of the Holders and the Trustee against the Company in respect of any amounts paid by such Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture; provided , however , that such Guarantor shall not be entitled to enforce or to receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation with respect to any of such Notes until all of such Notes and the Guarantees shall have been indefeasibly paid in full or discharged.

(f)    To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, no failure to exercise and no delay in exercising, on the part of the Trustee or the Holders, any right, power, privilege or remedy under this ARTICLE 3 and the Guarantees shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any rights, power, privilege or remedy preclude any other or further exercise thereof, or the exercise of any other rights, powers, privileges or remedies. The rights and remedies herein provided for are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided in law or equity. Nothing contained in this ARTICLE 3 shall limit the right of the Trustee or the Holders to take any action to accelerate the maturity of such Notes pursuant to Article FIVE of the Indenture or to pursue any rights or remedies under the Indenture or under applicable law.

SECTION 3.02. Limitation on Guarantor Liability.

Each Guarantor and the Trustee hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Guarantees of such Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to any Guarantees. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of such Guarantor will be limited to the maximum amount that will, after giving effect to such maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor that are relevant under such laws, and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of the other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under this ARTICLE 3, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Guarantees not constituting a fraudulent transfer or conveyance.

 

5


SECTION 3.03. No Requirement to Endorse Notation of Guarantee.

Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture and the provisions set forth in this ARTICLE 3 shall evidence its Guarantee without the need for notation on any Notes.

SECTION 3.04. Release of Guarantee.

(a)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this ARTICLE 3, if a Guarantor (i) shall cease to be a subsidiary of the Company or (ii) shall no longer be (x) an obligor on, or issuer of, any capital markets debt securities or (y) a guarantor of any capital markets debt securities issued by the Company or the other Guarantor, in each case other than the Notes, then, if no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, such Guarantor, upon giving notice to the Trustee to the foregoing effect, shall be deemed to be released from all of its obligations under the Indenture, and the Guarantees shall be of no further force or effect with respect to such Guarantor. Following the receipt by the Trustee of any such notice, the Company shall cause the Indenture to be amended as provided in Section 901 of the Indenture; provided , however , that the failure to so amend the Indenture shall not affect the validity of the termination of the Guarantees with respect to such Guarantor.

(b)    In addition, upon (i) the exercise of the legal defeasance or covenant defeasance option or the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture as provided in ARTICLES FIFTEEN and FOUR, respectively, of the Indenture with respect to a series of Notes or (ii) a series of Notes ceasing to be Outstanding, each of the Guarantors shall be deemed to be released from all its obligations under the Indenture with respect to such series of Notes and the Guarantees of such series of Notes shall be of no further force or effect.

SECTION 3.05. Benefits Acknowledged.

Each Guarantor acknowledges that it shall receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by the Indenture and from the Guarantees under this Supplemental Indenture.

ARTICLE 4

M ISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 4.01. Notices.

Notices to the Guarantor shall be made in accordance with Section 105 of the Indenture at the address for the Company set forth in such Section.

SECTION 4.02. No Recourse Against Others.

No director, officer, employee, partner (including, for greater certainty, any general partner of any general partnership who is an individual person), incorporator, manager, stockholder or member of either Guarantor, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Company, such Guarantor or the other Guarantor under the Notes or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Guarantees and the Notes.

SECTION 4.03. Certain Trustee Matters .

The recitals contained herein shall be taken as the statements of the Company and the Guarantors, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for their correctness.

 

6


The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or the Notes or the proper authorization or the due execution hereof or thereof by the Company or any of the Guarantors.

Except as expressly set forth herein, nothing in this Supplemental Indenture shall alter the duties, rights, privileges, immunities or obligations of the Trustee set forth in the Original Indenture, which shall be applicable in respect of the Notes and of this Supplemental Indenture as fully and with like effect as if set forth herein in full.

The Trustee makes no representation or warranty as to the validity or sufficiency of the information contained in the prospectus supplement related to the Notes, except such information which specifically pertains to the Trustee itself, or any information incorporated therein by reference with respect to the Trustee.

SECTION 4.04. Continued Effect .

Except as expressly supplemented and amended by this Supplemental Indenture, the Original Indenture shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with the provisions thereof, and the Original Indenture (as supplemented and amended by this Supplemental Indenture) is in all respects hereby ratified and confirmed. This Supplemental Indenture and all its provisions shall be deemed a part of the Original Indenture in the manner and to the extent herein and therein provided.

SECTION 4.05. Governing Law.

This Supplemental Indenture and the Notes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. This Supplemental Indenture and the Notes are subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Supplemental Indenture and the Notes and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.

SECTION 4.06. Counterparts .

This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which, when delivered, shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

(Signature Pages Follow)

 

7


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

 

ONEOK, INC.
By:  

/s/ Terry K. Spencer

Name:   Terry K. Spencer
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer
ONEOK PARTNERS, L.P.
By:   ONEOK Partners GP, L.L.C.,
  its General Partner
By:  

/s/ Walter S. Hulse III

Name:   Walter S. Hulse III
Title:   Chief Financial Officer and Executive
Vice President, Strategic Planning and Corporate Affairs
ONEOK PARTNERS INTERMEDIATE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
By:   ONEOK ILP GP, L.L.C.,
  its General Partner
By:  

/s/ Walter S. Hulse III

Name:   Walter S. Hulse III
Title:   Chief Financial Officer and Executive
Vice President, Strategic Planning and Corporate Affairs

 

[Signature Page to Eighth Supplemental Indenture]


U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee
By:  

/s/ George Hogan

Name:   George Hogan
Title:   Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Eighth Supplemental Indenture]


EXHIBIT A

[FORM OF FACE OF NOTE]

[If a Global Security, insert—UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.]

[If a Global Security, insert—TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE, AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO HEREIN.]

ONEOK, INC.

4.35% Note due 2029

 

No.                     

   U.S.$           

CUSIP No. 682680 AW3

  

ONEOK, Inc., an Oklahoma corporation (herein called the “Company”, which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to                      , or registered assigns, the principal sum of                      United States Dollars ($          ) on March 15, 2029, and to pay interest thereon from March 13, 2019, or from the most recent interest payment date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually on March 15 and September 15 in each year, commencing on September 15, 2019, at the rate of 4.35% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment and at the same rate per annum on any overdue principal and premium and on any overdue installment of interest. The amount of interest payable for any period shall be computed on the basis of twelve 30-day months and a 360-day year. The amount of interest payable for any partial period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months and the days elapsed in any partial month. In the event that any date on which interest is payable on this Note is not a Business Day, then a payment of the interest payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay) with the same force and effect as if made on the date the payment was originally payable. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any interest payment date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest, which record date shall be March 1 or September 1 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such interest payment date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such regular record date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice of which shall be given to Holders of Notes not less than 10 days prior to such special record date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Notes may be listed or traded, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange or automated quotation system, all as more fully provided in the Indenture.

[If a Global Security, insert—Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and any such interest on this Note will be made by transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account in the United States of America designated by the Holder to the Paying Agent in U.S. Dollars.]


[If a definitive Security, insert—Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and any such interest on this Note will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in U.S. Dollars or subject to any laws or regulations applicable thereto and to the right of the Company (as provided in the Indenture) to rescind the designation of any such Paying Agent, at the offices of                      , and at such other offices or agencies as the Company may designate, by U.S. Dollar check drawn on, or transfer to a U.S. Dollar account maintained by the payee with, a bank in The City of New York (so long as the applicable Paying Agent has received proper transfer instructions in writing at least 10 days prior to the payment date); provided, however , that payment of interest may be made at the option of the Company by U.S. Dollar check mailed to the addresses of the Persons entitled thereto as such addresses shall appear in the Security Register or by transfer to a U.S. Dollar account maintained by the payee with a bank in The City of New York (so long as the applicable Paying Agent has received proper transfer instructions in writing by the record date prior to the applicable interest payment date).]

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

Dated:              ,         

 

ONEOK, INC.
           By:  

 

  Name:  
  Title:  

 

ATTEST
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  


TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

Dated:              ,         

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee

By:  

                                         

Authorized Signatory                


[REVERSE OF NOTE]

ONEOK, INC.

4.35% Note due 2029

This security is one of a duly authorized issue of debt securities of the Company (the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of January 26, 2012, between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee (the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), as amended and supplemented to date, including without limitation by the Eighth Supplemental Indenture thereto, dated March 13, 2019 among the Company, ONEOK Partners, L.P. and ONEOK Partners Intermediate Limited Partnership (each a “Guarantor” and together, the “Guarantors”) and the Trustee, (such Indenture, as so amended and supplemented being referred to herein as the “Indenture”), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof. The Securities of this series are referred to herein as the “Notes.”

On or after December 15, 2028 (three months prior to the maturity date of the Notes), the Notes will be subject to redemption at any time at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the applicable Redemption Date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the Redemption Date).

Prior to December 15, 2028 (three months prior to the maturity date of the Notes), the Notes will be subject to redemption at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes; or (ii) as determined by a Quotation Agent, the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the Notes to be redeemed that would be due if the Notes matured on December 15, 2028 (not including any portion of those payments of interest accrued as of the date of redemption) discounted to the date of redemption on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Adjusted Treasury Rate plus 30 basis points, plus, in the case of (i) and (ii), accrued but unpaid interest to the Redemption Date.

Unless the Company defaults in payment of the redemption price, on and after the date of redemption, interest will cease to accrue on this Note or the portions hereof called for redemption.

In the event of redemption of this Note in part only, a new Note or Notes of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.

The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of (1) the entire indebtedness of this Note or (2) certain restrictive covenants and Events of Default with respect to this Note, in each case upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.

If an Event of Default with respect to the Notes shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Notes may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

The Guarantors fully, irrevocably, unconditionally and absolutely guarantee the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on such Notes, and all other amounts due and payable under the Indenture and such Notes by the Company to the Trustee or such Holders.

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company, the Guarantors and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee with the consent of not less than the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each affected series, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company and the Guarantors with certain provisions of the Indenture. The


Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Securities of any series then Outstanding to waive past defaults under the Indenture with respect to such series and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and all holders of Notes of which this Note is a predecessor Note, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this or any other Note.

As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Note shall not have the right to institute any action or proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Notes, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Notes at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity against costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Notes at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request, and the Trustee shall have failed to institute any such proceeding for 60 days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Note for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on this Note at the times, place(s) and rate, and in the currency, herein prescribed.

[If a Global Security, insert—This Global Security or portion hereof may not be exchanged for definitive Securities of this series except in the limited circumstances provided in the Indenture.

The holders of beneficial interests in this Global Security will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of definitive Securities except as described in the Indenture and will not be considered the Holders thereof for any purpose under the Indenture.]

[If a definitive Security, insert—As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Note is registerable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in The City of New York, or, subject to any laws or regulations applicable thereto and to the right of the Company (limited as provided in the Indenture) to rescind the designation of any such transfer agent, at the offices of                      in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, and at such other offices or agencies as the Company may designate, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Notes of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.]

The Notes are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and any whole multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Notes are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

Prior to due presentment of this Note for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Note is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Note is overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

This Note shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. The Notes are subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of the Notes and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.


All terms used in this Note which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.


[If a definitive Security, insert as a separate page—

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto                      (Please Print or Typewrite Name and Address of Assignee) the within instrument of ONEOK, INC. and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint                      Attorney to transfer said instrument on the books of the within-named Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.

Please Insert Social Security or

Other Identifying Number of Assignee:

 

 

     

 

Dated:  

 

     

 

        (Signature)

 

Signature Guarantee:  

                                                                                                                           

(Participant in a Recognized Signature

Guaranty Medallion Program)

NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within instrument in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.]


[If a Global Security, insert as a separate page—

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES

IN GLOBAL SECURITY

The following increases or decreases in this Global Security have been made:

 

Date of Exchange

 

Amount of
Decrease in
Principal
Amount of this
Global Security

 

Amount of
Increase in
Principal Amount
of this

Global Security

 

Principal Amount
of this Global
Security following
such decrease

(or increase)

 

Signature of
authorized officer
of Trustee or
Depositary

       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       

Exhibit 4.3

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

 

ONEOK, INC.

as Issuer;

ONEOK PARTNERS, L.P.

and

ONEOK PARTNERS INTERMEDIATE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

as Guarantors;

and

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

as Trustee

NINTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

Dated as of March 13, 2019

to

INDENTURE

relating to Securities

Dated as of January 26, 2012

5.20% Notes due 2048

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE 1 Relation to Indenture; Definitions and Other Provisions of General Application

     1

SECTION 1.01.

  Relation to Indenture      1

SECTION 1.02.

  Definitions      2

SECTION 1.03.

  General References      2

ARTICLE 2 [Reserved]

     2

ARTICLE 3 Agreement to Guarantee

     2

SECTION 3.01.

  Unconditional Guarantee      2

SECTION 3.02.

  Limitation on Guarantor Liability      4

SECTION 3.03.

  No Requirement to Endorse Notation of Guarantee      4

SECTION 3.04.

 

Release of Guarantee

     4

SECTION 3.05.

  Benefits Acknowledged      5

ARTICLE 4 Miscellaneous

     5

SECTION 4.01.

  Notices      5

SECTION 4.02.

  No Recourse Against Others      5

SECTION 4.03.

  Certain Trustee Matters      5

SECTION 4.04.

  Continued Effect      5

SECTION 4.05.

  Governing Law      6

SECTION 4.06.

  Counterparts      6

EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit

A: Form of Note


NINTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE , dated as of March 13, 2019 (this “Supplemental Indenture ”), among ONEOK, I NC . , an Oklahoma corporation (the “ Company ”), ONEOK PARTNERS, L.P. , a Delaware limited partnership, and ONEOK P ARTNERS I NTERMEDIATE L IMITED P ARTNERSHIP , a Delaware limited partnership (each a “ Guarantor ” and together, the “ Guarantors ”), and U.S. B ANK N ATIONAL A SSOCIATION , as trustee under the Indenture referred to below (in such capacity, the “ Trustee ”).

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

WHEREAS, the Company and the Trustee have heretofore entered into an Indenture, dated as of January 26, 2012 (the “ Original Indenture ”); and

WHEREAS, the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee have heretofore entered into a Seventh Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 2, 2018 (the “ Seventh Supplemental Indenture ”) to the Original Indenture (the Original Indenture, as amended and supplemented from time to time, including without limitation pursuant to the Seventh Supplemental Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture, being referred to herein as the “ Indenture ”) establishing the terms of the Company’s 5.20% Notes due 2048 (the “ Notes ”); and

WHEREAS, acting pursuant to a Company Order delivered to the Trustee in accordance with the terms of the Seventh Supplemental Indenture, the Trustee authenticated and delivered Notes for original issue in an aggregate principal amount of $450,000,000 on July 2, 2018 (the “ Existing Notes ”);

WHEREAS, under Section 2.02 of the Seventh Supplemental Indenture, the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be issued may be increased, and such series may be reopened for issuances of additional Notes upon Company Order without the consent of any Holder; and

WHEREAS, by Company Order dated March 13, 2019, the Company has directed the Trustee to issue and authenticate $550,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of Notes (the “ Additional Notes ”), which are an additional issuance of Notes, are fungible with the Existing Notes and are consolidated with and form a single series with the Existing Notes;

WHEREAS, in connection with the issuance of the Additional Notes, each of the Guarantors desires to become a guarantor of, and provide a guarantee of, the Additional Notes; and

WHEREAS, all acts and things necessary to make the Additional Notes and Guarantees (as herein defined), when executed by the Company and the Guarantors, respectively, and when the Additional Notes are authenticated and delivered by the Trustee as provided in the Original Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture, the valid and binding obligations of the Company and the Guarantors, and to make this Supplemental Indenture a valid and binding agreement in accordance with the Original Indenture have been done or performed.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, agreements and obligations set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Additional Notes, as follows:

ARTICLE 1

R ELATION TO I NDENTURE ; D EFINITIONS AND O THER P ROVISIONS OF G ENERAL A PPLICATION

SECTION 1.01. Relation to Indenture.

With respect to the Additional Notes, this Supplemental Indenture constitutes an integral part of the Indenture.


SECTION 1.02. Definitions.

For all purposes of this Supplemental Indenture, capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Original Indenture.

SECTION 1.03. General References.

All references in this Supplemental Indenture to Articles and Sections, unless otherwise specified, refer to the corresponding Articles and Sections of this Supplemental Indenture; and the terms “ herein, ” “ hereof, ” “ hereunder ” and any other word of similar import refers to this Supplemental Indenture.

ARTICLE 2

[R ESERVED ]

ARTICLE 3

A GREEMENT TO G UARANTEE

SECTION 3.01. Unconditional Guarantee.

(a)    For value received, subject to Section 3.04 hereof, each of the Guarantors hereby fully, irrevocably, unconditionally and absolutely guarantees to the Holders of the Additional Notes and to the Trustee the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on such Additional Notes, and all other amounts due and payable under the Indenture and such Additional Notes by the Company to the Trustee or such Holders (including, without limitation, all costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees and disbursements of its agents and counsel) incurred by the Trustee or such Holders in connection with the enforcement of the Indenture and the Guarantees) (collectively, the “ Indenture Obligations ”), when and as such amounts shall become due and payable, whether at the Stated Maturity, upon redemption or by declaration of acceleration or otherwise, according to the terms of such Additional Notes and the Indenture. The guarantees by the Guarantors set forth in this ARTICLE 3 are referred to herein as the “ Guarantees .” Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Guarantor’s liability shall extend to all amounts that constitute part of the Indenture Obligations and would be owed by the Company to the Trustee or such Holders under the Indenture and such Additional Notes but for the fact that they are unenforceable, reduced, limited, impaired, suspended or not allowable due to the existence of a bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding involving the Company.

(b)    Failing payment when due of any amount guaranteed pursuant to the Guarantees, for whatever reason, each Guarantor will be obligated (to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law) to pay the same immediately to the Trustee, without set-off or counterclaim or other reduction whatsoever (whether for taxes, withholding or otherwise). The Guarantees hereunder are intended to be a general, unsecured, senior obligation of each Guarantor and will rank pari passu in right of payment with all unsecured indebtedness of such Guarantor that is not, by its terms, expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Guarantees of such Guarantor. Each Guarantor hereby agrees that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, subject to Section 3.04 hereof, its obligations hereunder shall be full, irrevocable, unconditional and absolute, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of such Additional Notes, the Guarantees or the Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any such Holder with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Company, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of such Guarantor. Each Guarantor hereby agrees that in the event of a default in payment of any Indenture Obligations, whether at the Stated Maturity, upon redemption or by declaration of acceleration or otherwise, legal proceedings may be instituted by the Trustee on behalf of such Holders or, subject to Section 507 of the Indenture, by such Holders, on the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture, directly against such Guarantor to enforce the Guarantees without first proceeding against the Company.

 

2


(c)    To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, subject to Section 3.04 hereof, the obligations of each Guarantor under this ARTICLE 3 shall be as aforesaid full, irrevocable, unconditional and absolute and shall not be impaired, modified, discharged, released or limited by any occurrence or condition whatsoever, including, without limitation, (i) any compromise, settlement, release, waiver, renewal, extension, indulgence or modification of, or any change in, any of the obligations and liabilities of the Company or either Guarantor contained in any of such Additional Notes or the Indenture, (ii) any impairment, modification, release or limitation of the liability of the Company, either Guarantor or any of their estates in bankruptcy, or any remedy for the enforcement thereof, resulting from the operation of any present or future provision of any applicable Bankruptcy Law, as amended, or other statute or from the decision of any court, (iii) the assertion or exercise by the Trustee or any such Holder of any rights or remedies under any of such Additional Notes or the Indenture or their delay in or failure to assert or exercise any such rights or remedies, (iv) the assignment or the purported assignment of any property as security for any of such Additional Notes, including all or any part of the rights of the Company or either Guarantor under the Indenture, (v) the extension of the time for payment by the Company or either Guarantor of any payments or other sums or any part thereof owing or payable under any of the terms and provisions of any of such Additional Notes or the Indenture or of the time for performance by the Company or either Guarantor of any other obligations under or arising out of any such terms and provisions or the extension or the renewal of any thereof, (vi) the modification or amendment (whether material or otherwise) of any duty, agreement or obligation of the Company or either Guarantor set forth in the Indenture, (vii) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets, marshaling of assets and liabilities, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment, rehabilitation or relief of, or other similar proceeding affecting, the Company or either Guarantor or any of their respective assets, or the disaffirmance of any of such Additional Notes, the Guarantees or the Indenture in any such proceeding, (viii) the release or discharge of the Company or either Guarantor from the performance or observance of any agreement, covenant, term or condition contained in any of such instruments by operation of law, (ix) the unenforceability of any of such Additional Notes, the Guarantees or the Indenture, (x) any change in the name, business, capital structure, corporate existence, or ownership of the Company or either Guarantor, or (xi) any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a legal or equitable discharge of, a surety or either Guarantor.

(d)    To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor hereby (i) waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, notice of acceptance, filing of claims with a court in the event of the merger, insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company or such Guarantor, and all demands and notices whatsoever, (ii) acknowledges that any agreement, instrument or document evidencing the Guarantees may be transferred and that the benefit of its obligations hereunder shall extend to each holder of any agreement, instrument or document evidencing the Guarantees without notice to them and (iii) covenants that its Guarantees will not be discharged except by complete performance of the Guarantees. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor further agrees that if at any time all or any part of any payment theretofore applied by any Person to any Guarantees is, or must be, rescinded or returned for any reason whatsoever, including without limitation, the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of either Guarantor, such Guarantees shall, to the extent that such payment is or must be rescinded or returned, be deemed to have continued in existence notwithstanding such application, and the Guarantees shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, as though such application had not been made.

(e)    Each Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of the Holders and the Trustee against the Company in respect of any amounts paid by such Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture; provided , however , that such Guarantor shall not be entitled to enforce or to receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation with respect to any of such Additional Notes until all of such Additional Notes and the Guarantees shall have been indefeasibly paid in full or discharged.

 

3


(f)    To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, no failure to exercise and no delay in exercising, on the part of the Trustee or the Holders, any right, power, privilege or remedy under this ARTICLE 3 and the Guarantees shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any rights, power, privilege or remedy preclude any other or further exercise thereof, or the exercise of any other rights, powers, privileges or remedies. The rights and remedies herein provided for are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided in law or equity. Nothing contained in this ARTICLE 3 shall limit the right of the Trustee or the Holders to take any action to accelerate the maturity of such Additional Notes pursuant to Article FIVE of the Indenture or to pursue any rights or remedies under the Indenture or under applicable law.

SECTION 3.02. Limitation on Guarantor Liability.

Each Guarantor and the Trustee hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Guarantees of such Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to any Guarantees. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of such Guarantor will be limited to the maximum amount that will, after giving effect to such maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor that are relevant under such laws, and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of the other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under this ARTICLE 3, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Guarantees not constituting a fraudulent transfer or conveyance.

SECTION 3.03. No Requirement to Endorse Notation of Guarantee.

Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture and the provisions set forth in this ARTICLE 3 shall evidence its Guarantee without the need for notation on any Additional Notes.

SECTION 3.04. Release of Guarantee.

(a)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this ARTICLE 3, if a Guarantor (i) shall cease to be a subsidiary of the Company or (ii) shall no longer be (x) an obligor on, or issuer of, any capital markets debt securities or (y) a guarantor of any capital markets debt securities issued by the Company or the other Guarantor, in each case other than the Additional Notes, then, if no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, such Guarantor, upon giving notice to the Trustee to the foregoing effect, shall be deemed to be released from all of its obligations under the Indenture, and the Guarantees shall be of no further force or effect with respect to such Guarantor. Following the receipt by the Trustee of any such notice, the Company shall cause the Indenture to be amended as provided in Section 901 of the Indenture; provided , however , that the failure to so amend the Indenture shall not affect the validity of the termination of the Guarantees with respect to such Guarantor.

(b)    In addition, upon (i) the exercise of the legal defeasance or covenant defeasance option or the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture as provided in ARTICLES FIFTEEN and FOUR, respectively, of the Indenture with respect to a series of Notes or (ii) a series of Notes ceasing to be Outstanding, each of the Guarantors shall be deemed to be released from all its obligations under the Indenture with respect to such series of Notes and the Guarantees of such series of Notes shall be of no further force or effect.

 

4


SECTION 3.05. Benefits Acknowledged.

Each Guarantor acknowledges that it shall receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by the Indenture and the Company Order for the Additional Notes and from the Guarantees under this Supplemental Indenture.

ARTICLE 4

M ISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 4.01. Notices.

Notices to the Guarantor shall be made in accordance with Section 105 of the Indenture at the address for the Company set forth in such Section.

SECTION 4.02. No Recourse Against Others.

No director, officer, employee, partner (including, for greater certainty, any general partner of any general partnership who is an individual person), incorporator, manager, stockholder or member of either Guarantor, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Company, such Guarantor or the other Guarantor under the Additional Notes or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Guarantees and the Additional Notes.

SECTION 4.03. Certain Trustee Matters .

The recitals contained herein shall be taken as the statements of the Company and the Guarantors, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for their correctness.

The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or the Additional Notes or the proper authorization or the due execution hereof or thereof by the Company or any of the Guarantors.

Except as expressly set forth herein, nothing in this Supplemental Indenture shall alter the duties, rights, privileges, immunities or obligations of the Trustee set forth in the Original Indenture, which shall be applicable in respect of the Additional Notes and of this Supplemental Indenture as fully and with like effect as if set forth herein in full.

The Trustee makes no representation or warranty as to the validity or sufficiency of the information contained in the prospectus supplement related to the Additional Notes, except such information which specifically pertains to the Trustee itself, or any information incorporated therein by reference with respect to the Trustee.

SECTION 4.04. Continued Effect .

Except as expressly supplemented and amended by this Supplemental Indenture, the Original Indenture shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with the provisions thereof, and the Original Indenture (as supplemented and amended by this Supplemental Indenture) is in all respects hereby ratified and confirmed. This Supplemental Indenture and all its provisions shall be deemed a part of the Original Indenture in the manner and to the extent herein and therein provided.

 

5


SECTION 4.05. Governing Law.

This Supplemental Indenture and the Additional Notes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. This Supplemental Indenture and the Additional Notes are subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Supplemental Indenture and the Additional Notes and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.

SECTION 4.06. Counterparts .

This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which, when delivered, shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

(Signature Pages Follow)

 

6


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

 

ONEOK, INC.
By:  

/s/ Terry K. Spencer

Name:   Terry K. Spencer
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer
ONEOK PARTNERS, L.P.
By:   ONEOK Partners GP, L.L.C.,
  its General Partner
By:  

/s/ Walter S. Hulse III

Name:   Walter S. Hulse III
Title:   Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President, Strategic Planning and Corporate Affairs
ONEOK PARTNERS INTERMEDIATE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
By:   ONEOK ILP GP, L.L.C.,
  its General Partner
By:  

/s/ Walter S. Hulse III

Name:   Walter S. Hulse III
Title:   Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President, Strategic Planning and Corporate Affairs

 

[Signature Page to Ninth Supplemental Indenture]


U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee

By:  

/s/ George Hogan

Name:   George Hogan
Title:   Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Ninth Supplemental Indenture]

Exhibit 5.1

March 13, 2019

ONEOK, Inc.

100 West Fifth Street

Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel for ONEOK, Inc., an Oklahoma corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the underwritten public offering (the “Offering”) of (i) $700,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 4.35% Notes due 2029 (the “2029 Notes”) of the Company and the grant by ONEOK Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ONEOK Partners”), and ONEOK Partners Intermediate Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership (“ONEOK Partners Intermediate” and, together with ONEOK Partners, the “Guarantors”) of related guarantees (the “2029 Notes Guarantees”) of the Company’s obligations under the 2029 Notes, pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of January 26, 2012 (the “Base Indenture”), between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the Eighth Supplemental Indenture thereto, dated as of March 13, 2019 (the “Eighth Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “2029 Notes Indenture”), among the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee and (ii) $550,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.20% Notes due 2048 (the “2048 Notes” and, together with the 2029 Notes, the “Notes”) of the Company and the grant by the Guarantors of related guarantees (the “2048 Notes Guarantees” and, together with the 2029 Notes Guarantees, the “Guarantees”) of the Company’s obligations under the 2048 Notes, pursuant to (a) the Base Indenture, as supplemented by the Seventh Supplemental Indenture thereto, dated as of July 2, 2018 (the “Seventh Supplemental Indenture”), and as further supplemented by the Ninth Supplemental Indenture thereto, dated as of March 13, 2019 (the “Ninth Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture and the Seventh Supplemental Indenture, the “2048 Notes Indenture”), among the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee, and (b) a Company Order, dated March 13, 2019, from the Company to the Trustee, establishing the aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 5.20% Notes due 2048 and providing that the 2048 Notes shall be consolidated with and form a single series with the 5.20% Notes due 2048 originally issued by the Company on July 2, 2018 in an aggregate principal amount of $450,000,000 (the “Company Order”). The Notes and the Guarantees are collectively referred to herein as the “Securities” and the 2029 Notes Indenture and the 2048 Notes Indenture are collectively referred to herein as the “Indentures.” The Securities are being offered and sold by the Company in a public offering pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement, dated as of March 11, 2019 (the “Underwriting Agreement”) among the Company, the Guarantors and Barclays Capital Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, MUFG Securities Americas Inc. and TD Securities (USA) LLC, as representatives of the underwriters named therein (the “Underwriters”).


With your permission, all assumptions and statements of reliance herein have been made without any independent investigation or verification on our part, and we express no opinion with respect to the subject matter or accuracy of such assumptions or items relied upon.

In connection with this opinion, we have (i) investigated such questions of law, (ii) examined originals or certified, conformed, facsimile, electronic or reproduction copies of such agreements, instruments, documents and records of the Company and the Guarantors, such certificates of public officials and such other documents and (iii) received such information from officers and representatives of the Company, the Guarantors and others, in each case as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion. We have examined, among other documents, the following:

 

  (a)

an executed copy of the Underwriting Agreement;

 

  (b)

executed copies of the global notes evidencing the Notes issued and delivered on the date hereof;

 

  (c)

executed copies of the Indentures (including the Guarantees contained therein); and

 

  (d)

an executed copy of the Company Order.

The documents referred to in items (a) through (d) above, inclusive, are collectively referred to as the “Documents.”

In all such examinations, we have assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of original and certified documents and the conformity to original or certified documents of all copies submitted to us as conformed, facsimile, electronic or reproduction copies. As to various questions of fact relevant to the opinions expressed herein, we have relied upon, and assume the accuracy of, statements, representations and warranties contained in the Documents and certificates and oral or written statements and other information of or from public officials, officers or other appropriate representatives of the Company, the Guarantors and others, and assume compliance on the part of all parties to the Documents with their respective covenants and agreements contained therein.

To the extent it may be relevant to the opinions expressed herein, we have assumed that (i) the Securities have been duly authenticated and delivered by the Trustee against payment therefor in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Indenture and the Underwriting Agreement; (ii) all of the parties to the Documents (other than the Guarantors) are validly existing and in good standing under the laws of their respective jurisdictions of organization or formation and have the power and authority to (a) execute and deliver the Documents, (b) perform their obligations thereunder and (c) consummate the transactions contemplated thereby; (iii) each of the Documents has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by all of the parties thereto (other than as expressly addressed in the opinions below as to the Guarantors) and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of all the parties thereto (other than as expressly


addressed in the opinions below as to the Company and the Guarantors) enforceable against such parties in accordance with their respective terms; and (iv) all of the parties to the Documents will comply with all of their obligations under the Documents and all laws applicable thereto.

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the limitations, qualifications, exceptions and assumptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:

 

  (i)

The Notes constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms and entitled to the benefits of the Indentures.

 

  (ii)

The Guarantees have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Guarantors, and constitute valid and binding obligations of each of the Guarantors, enforceable against each of the Guarantors in accordance with their terms.

The opinions set forth above are subject to the following qualifications:

 

  (A)

We express no opinion as to the validity, binding effect or enforceability of any provision of any Documents relating to indemnification, contribution or exculpation.

 

  (B)

We express no opinion as to the validity, binding effect or enforceability of any provision of any Documents:

(i)    (a) containing any purported waiver, release, variation, disclaimer, consent or other agreement of similar effect (all of the foregoing, collectively, a “Waiver”) by the Company or any Guarantor under any provision of the Documents to the extent limited by provisions of applicable law (including judicial decisions), or to the extent that such a Waiver applies to a right, claim, duty, defense or ground for discharge otherwise existing or occurring as a matter of law (including judicial decisions), except to the extent that such a Waiver is effective under, and is not prohibited by or void or invalid under, provisions of applicable law (including judicial decisions), or (b) with respect to any Waiver in the Guarantees insofar as it relates to causes or circumstances that would operate as a discharge or release of, or defense available to, the Guarantors thereunder as a matter of law (including judicial decisions), except to the extent that such a Waiver is effective under, and is not prohibited by or void or invalid under, provisions of applicable law (including judicial decisions);

(ii)    related to (a) forum selection or submission to jurisdiction (including, without limitation, any waiver of any objection to venue in any court or of any objection that a court is an inconvenient forum) to the extent that the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability of any such provision is to be determined by any court other than a court of the State of New York, (b) choice of governing law to the extent that the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability of any such provision is to be determined by any court other than a court of the State of New York or a federal


district court sitting in the State of New York, in each case applying the choice of law principles of the State of New York, (c) service of process or (d) waiver of any rights to trial by jury;

(iii)    specifying that provisions thereof may be waived only in writing;

(iv)    purporting to give any person or entity the power to accelerate obligations without any notice to the obligor; and

(v)    which may be construed to be in the nature of a penalty.

 

  (C)

Our opinions are subject to the following:

(i) bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance and other similar laws (or other related judicial doctrines) now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting creditors’ rights or remedies generally;

(ii) general principles of equity (including, without limitation, standards of materiality, good faith, fair dealing and reasonableness, equitable defenses and limits as to the availability of equitable remedies), whether such principles are considered in a proceeding at law or in equity; and

(iii) the application of any applicable fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer, fraudulent obligation, or preferential transfer law or any law governing the distribution of assets of any person now or hereafter in effect affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally.

 

  (D)

The opinions expressed above are subject to the effect of, and we express no opinions herein as to, the application of state or foreign securities or blue sky laws or any rules and regulations thereunder.

 

  (E)

Provisions in the Guarantees and the Indentures that provide that the Guarantors’ liability thereunder shall be not be affected by (i) actions or failures to act on the part of the recipient, the holders or the Trustee, (ii) amendments or waivers of provisions of documents governing the guaranteed obligations or (iii) other actions, events or circumstances that make more burdensome or otherwise change the obligations and liabilities of the Guarantors, might not be enforceable under circumstances and in the event of actions that change the essential nature of the terms and conditions of the guaranteed obligations. With respect to each Guarantor, we have assumed that consideration that is sufficient to support the agreements of each Guarantor under the Documents has been received by each Guarantor.

The opinions expressed herein are limited to the laws of the State of New York and, to the extent relevant, the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, each as currently in effect, and no opinion is expressed with respect to any other laws or any effect that such other laws may have on the opinions expressed herein. The opinions expressed


herein are limited to the matters stated herein, and no opinion is implied or may be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated herein. This letter is given only as of the time of its delivery, and we undertake no responsibility to update or supplement this letter after its delivery.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Form 8-K being filed by the Company on the date hereof and its incorporation by reference into the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-219186) and to the references to this firm under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Registration Statement and prospectus supplements. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP
FRIED, FRANK, HARRIS, SHRIVER & JACOBSON LLP

Exhibit 5.2

 

LOGO

 

1100 ONEOK Plaza

100 West Fifth Street

Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103-4217

Telephone (918) 595-4800

Fax (918) 595-4990

www.gablelaw.com

      Fifteenth Floor
One Leadership Square
211 North Robinson
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102-7101
Telephone (405) 235-5500
Fax (405) 235-2875

March 13, 2019

ONEOK, Inc.

100 West Fifth Street

Tulsa, OK 74103

 

Re:

Registration Statement on Form S-3

File No 333-219186 (the “ Registration Statement ”)

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special Oklahoma counsel to ONEOK, Inc., an Oklahoma corporation (the “ Company ”), in connection with the Company’s underwritten public offering of (i) $700,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 4.35% senior notes due 2029 (the “ 2029 Notes ”) and (ii) $550,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 5.20% senior notes due 2048 (the “ Additional 2048 Notes ” and, together with the 2029 Notes, the “ Notes ”) which will be an additional issuance of the $450,000,000 principal amount of 5.20% senior notes due 2048 issued and sold by the Company on July 2, 2018. Each of the 2029 Notes and the Additional 2048 Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed as to payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest (collectively the “ Guarantees ” and, together with the Notes, the “ Securities ”) by ONEOK Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ ONEOK Partners ”), and ONEOK Partners Intermediate Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership (“ Intermediate Partnership ” and, together with ONEOK Partners, the “ Guarantors ”). The Securities are being issued under an Indenture, dated as of January 26, 2012, as amended and supplemented before March 13, 2019 (as so amended and supplemented, the “ Base Indenture ”), by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”), as further amended and supplemented by the Eighth Supplemental Indenture and the Ninth Supplemental Indenture, each dated as of March 13, 2019 (together, the “ Supplemental Indentures ”), and each among the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee (the Base Indenture, as amended and supplemented by the Supplemental Indentures, the “ Indenture ”).

In rendering the opinions set forth herein, we have examined and relied on originals or electronic, photostatic or reproduction copies of the following:

 

  (a)

the Registration Statement;

 

  (b)

the Indenture;


LOGO   

ONEOK, Inc.

March 13, 2019

Page 2

 

  (c)

the Notes;

 

  (d)

the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as corrected and amended to date; and

 

  (e)

the Company’s Amended and Restated By-laws.

We have also examined originals or copies of such records of the Company and such agreements, certificates of public officials, certificates of officers or other representatives of the Company and others, and such other documents, certificates and records, as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions set forth herein. In our examination, we have assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, and the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified electronic, photostatic or reproduction copies. As to any facts material to the opinions and statements expressed herein that we did not independently establish or verify, we have relied, to the extent we deem appropriate, upon (i) oral or written statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and (ii) statements and certifications of public officials and others.

Based upon the foregoing and subject to the limitations, qualifications, exceptions and assumptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:

1.    The Company has the corporate power and authority to execute and deliver the Notes and perform its obligations thereunder.

2.    The Notes have been duly authorized by the Company.

Our opinions expressed herein are subject to the following qualifications:

(i)    Our opinions are limited to the laws of the State of Oklahoma, and we do not express any opinion as to the laws of any other jurisdiction, including without limitation the federal laws of the United States.

(ii)    The opinions herein are limited to the matters expressly set forth in this letter, and no opinions are implied or may be inferred beyond the matters expressly so stated.

(iii)    The opinions expressed herein are as of the date hereof only and are based on laws, orders, contract terms and provisions, and facts as of such date, and we disclaim any obligation to update this opinion letter after such date or to advise you of changes of facts stated or assumed herein or any subsequent changes in law.


LOGO   

ONEOK, Inc.

March 13, 2019

Page 3

 

We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K to be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are included in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission issued thereunder. This opinion letter may be relied upon by Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, as if it were addressed to it, for the sole purpose of rendering its opinions in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities.

 

Yours very truly,
/s/ GableGotwals

Exhibit 99.1

 

. LOGO   News

 

 

 

 

March 11, 2019   Analyst Contact:   Megan Patterson
        918-561-5325
    Media Contact:   Brad Borror
        918-588-7582

ONEOK Announces $1.25 Billion Notes Offering

TULSA, Okla. – March 11, 2019 – ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE: OKE) today announced that it has priced an offering to sell $1.25 billion of senior notes, consisting of $700 million of 10-year senior notes at a coupon of 4.35 percent and $550 million of 5.20 percent senior notes due 2048 through an add-on to its existing issue.

The new 2048 senior notes are being offered as additional senior notes under an indenture pursuant to which ONEOK issued 5.20 percent senior notes due 2048 on July 2, 2018. The terms of the new 2048 senior notes (other than settlement date and issue price) are identical to the terms of the previously issued 2048 senior notes, and all of the 2048 notes will be treated under the governing indenture as a single class of debt securities.

The net proceeds from the offering, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions, are expected to be $1.23 billion. ONEOK expects to use the net proceeds for general corporate purposes, which may include repayment of existing indebtedness and funding of capital expenditures. ONEOK expects the notes offering to close on or about March 13, 2019, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

Barclays Capital Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, MUFG, TD Securities, BofA Merrill Lynch, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Mizuho Securities, PNC Capital Markets LLC, Scotiabank, RBC Capital Markets, US Bancorp and Wells Fargo Securities are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering. BB&T Capital Markets, Deutsche Bank Securities, J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Credit Suisse, Regions Securities LLC, SMBC Nikko and The Williams Capital Group, L.P. are the co-managers for the offering.

This news release is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy any of these securities and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale is unlawful.

A registration statement relating to the notes was previously filed with, and became effective under the rules of, the Securities and Exchange Commission. ONEOK offered the notes to the public by means of a prospectus and prospectus supplement, which are part of the registration statement.

 

-more-


ONEOK Announces $1.25 Billion Notes Offering

March 11, 2019

Page 2

 

A copy of the prospectus and prospectus supplement may be obtained by contacting the joint book-running managers as follows:

Barclays Capital Inc.

c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions

1155 Long Island Avenue

Edgewood, New York 11717

Email: barclaysprospectus@broadridge.com

Phone: 888-603-5847

Fax: 646-834-8133

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

Attn: Prospectus Department

200 West Street

New York, New York 10282

Email: Prospectus-ny@ny.email.gs.com

Phone: 866-471-2526

Fax: 212-902-9316

MUFG Securities Americas Inc.

Attn: Capital Markets Group

1221 Avenue of the Americas, 6th Floor

New York, New York 10020

Phone: 877-649-6848

Fax: 646-434-3455

TD Securities (USA) LLC

Attn: Transaction Management Group

31 West 52 nd Street, 2 nd Floor

New York, New York 10019

Email: ustmg@tdsecurities.com

Phone: 855-495-9846

 

 

ONEOK, Inc. (pronounced ONE-OAK) (NYSE: OKE ) is a leading midstream service provider and owner of one of the nation’s premier natural gas liquids (NGL) systems, connecting NGL supply in the Mid-Continent, Permian and Rocky Mountain regions with key market centers and an extensive network of natural gas gathering, processing, storage and transportation assets.

ONEOK is a FORTUNE 500 company and is included in the S&P 500.

 

-more-


ONEOK Announces $1.25 Billion Notes Offering

March 11, 2019

Page 3

 

Some of the statements contained in this news release are forward-looking statements as defined under federal securities laws. The forward-looking statements relate to the closing, net proceeds, and expected use of proceeds of the offering. We make these forward-looking statements in reliance on the safe harbor protections provided under federal securities legislation and other applicable laws. The following discussion is intended to identify important factors that could cause future outcomes to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements include the items identified in the preceding paragraph, the information concerning possible or assumed future results of our operations and other statements contained in this news release identified by words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “should,” “goal,” “forecast,” “guidance,” “could,” “may,” “continue,” “might,” “potential,” “scheduled” and other words and terms of similar meaning.

One should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including, without limitation, prevailing market conditions and difficulties in executing the offering, may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Those factors may affect our operations, markets, products, services and prices.

Other factors could also have material adverse effects on our future results. These and other risks are described in greater detail in Part 1, Item 1A, Risk Factors, in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in our other filings that we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov . All forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which such statements are made, and other than as required under securities laws, we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, subsequent events or change in circumstances, expectations or otherwise.

###