SECURITIES PURCHASE
AGREEMENT
EL PASO PIPELINE PARTNERS,
L.P.,
EL PASO PIPELINE GP COMPANY,
L.L.C.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section
1.01
|
|
Definitions
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
Section
1.02
|
|
Accounting
Procedures and Interpretation
|
|
|
5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE II
SALE AND PURCHASE
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section
2.01
|
|
Sale and
Purchase
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
Section
2.02
|
|
Closing
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
Section
2.03
|
|
Independent
Nature of Purchasers’ Obligations and Rights
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PARTNERSHIP
|
|
|
7
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section
3.01
|
|
Existence of
the Partnership and its Subsidiaries
|
|
|
7
|
|
|
|
|
Section
3.02
|
|
Restricted
Units, Capitalization and Valid Issuance
|
|
|
7
|
|
|
|
|
Section
3.03
|
|
SEC
Documents
|
|
|
9
|
|
|
|
|
Section
3.04
|
|
No Material
Adverse Change
|
|
|
10
|
|
|
|
|
Section
3.05
|
|
Litigation
|
|
|
10
|
|
|
|
|
Section
3.06
|
|
No
Breach
|
|
|
10
|
|
|
|
|
Section
3.07
|
|
Authority
|
|
|
10
|
|
|
|
|
Section
3.08
|
|
Approvals
|
|
|
11
|
|
|
|
|
Section
3.09
|
|
MLP
Status
|
|
|
11
|
|
|
|
|
Section
3.10
|
|
Investment
Company Status
|
|
|
11
|
|
|
|
|
Section
3.11
|
|
Valid Private
Placement
|
|
|
11
|
|
|
|
|
Section
3.12
|
|
Certain
Fees
|
|
|
11
|
|
|
|
|
Section
3.13
|
|
No Side
Agreements
|
|
|
11
|
|
|
|
|
Section
3.14
|
|
Form S-3
Eligibility
|
|
|
11
|
|
|
|
|
Section
3.15
|
|
Taxes
|
|
|
11
|
|
|
|
|
Section
3.16
|
|
Acknowledgment
Regarding Purchase of Restricted Units
|
|
|
12
|
|
|
|
|
Section
3.17
|
|
Compliance with
Laws
|
|
|
12
|
|
|
|
|
Section
3.18
|
|
Insurance
|
|
|
12
|
|
|
|
|
Section
3.19
|
|
No Integrated
Offering
|
|
|
12
|
|
|
|
|
Section
3.20
|
|
Registration
Rights
|
|
|
13
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF EACH PURCHASER
|
|
|
13
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section
4.01
|
|
Valid
Existence
|
|
|
13
|
|
|
|
|
Section
4.02
|
|
No
Breach
|
|
|
13
|
|
|
|
|
Section
4.03
|
|
Authority
|
|
|
13
|
|
|
|
|
Section
4.04
|
|
Investment
|
|
|
14
|
|
|
|
|
Section
4.05
|
|
Nature of
Purchaser
|
|
|
14
|
|
|
|
|
Section
4.06
|
|
Receipt of
Information; Authorization
|
|
|
14
|
|
|
|
|
Section
4.07
|
|
Restricted
Securities
|
|
|
14
|
|
|
|
|
Section
4.08
|
|
Certain
Fees
|
|
|
15
|
|
|
|
|
Section
4.09
|
|
Legend
|
|
|
15
|
|
|
|
|
Section
4.10
|
|
No Substantial
Security Holders
|
|
|
15
|
|
|
|
|
Section
4.11
|
|
No Side
Agreements
|
|
|
15
|
|
|
|
|
Section
4.12
|
|
Short
Selling
|
|
|
15
|
|
|
|
|
Section
4.13
|
|
Record Date;
Distributions
|
|
|
15
|
|
-i-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS
|
|
|
16
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section
5.01
|
|
Issuer
Lock-Up/Subsequent Issuances of Units
|
|
|
16
|
|
|
|
|
Section
5.02
|
|
Purchaser
Lock-Ups
|
|
|
16
|
|
|
|
|
Section
5.03
|
|
Taking of
Necessary Action
|
|
|
16
|
|
|
|
|
Section
5.04
|
|
Disclosure;
Public Filings
|
|
|
16
|
|
|
|
|
Section
5.05
|
|
Other
Actions
|
|
|
17
|
|
|
|
|
Section
5.06
|
|
Use of
Proceeds
|
|
|
17
|
|
|
|
|
Section
5.07
|
|
Partnership
Fees
|
|
|
17
|
|
|
|
|
Section
5.08
|
|
Purchaser
Fees
|
|
|
17
|
|
|
|
|
Section
5.09
|
|
Certain Special
Allocations of Book and Taxable Income
|
|
|
17
|
|
|
|
|
Section
5.10
|
|
Non-Disclosure;
Interim Public Filings
|
|
|
18
|
|
|
|
|
Section
5.11
|
|
Acknowledgement
and Agreement Regarding Short Sales
|
|
|
18
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE VI
CLOSING CONDITIONS
|
|
|
18
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section
6.01
|
|
Conditions to
the Closing
|
|
|
18
|
|
|
|
|
Section
6.02
|
|
Partnership
Deliveries
|
|
|
20
|
|
|
|
|
Section
6.03
|
|
Purchaser
Deliveries
|
|
|
21
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE VII
INDEMNIFICATION, COSTS AND EXPENSES
|
|
|
21
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section
7.01
|
|
Indemnification
by the Partnership
|
|
|
21
|
|
|
|
|
Section
7.02
|
|
Indemnification
by Purchasers
|
|
|
21
|
|
|
|
|
Section
7.03
|
|
Indemnification
Procedure
|
|
|
22
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
|
|
|
23
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section
8.01
|
|
Interpretation
|
|
|
23
|
|
|
|
|
Section
8.02
|
|
Survival of
Provisions
|
|
|
23
|
|
|
|
|
Section
8.03
|
|
No Waiver;
Modifications in Writing
|
|
|
23
|
|
|
|
|
Section
8.04
|
|
Binding Effect;
Assignment
|
|
|
24
|
|
|
|
|
Section
8.05
|
|
Aggregation of
Restricted Units
|
|
|
24
|
|
|
|
|
Section
8.06
|
|
[Reserved]
|
|
|
24
|
|
|
|
|
Section
8.07
|
|
Communications
|
|
|
24
|
|
|
|
|
Section
8.08
|
|
Removal of
Legend
|
|
|
25
|
|
|
|
|
Section
8.09
|
|
Entire
Agreement
|
|
|
25
|
|
|
|
|
Section
8.10
|
|
Governing
Law
|
|
|
25
|
|
|
|
|
Section
8.11
|
|
Execution in
Counterparts
|
|
|
25
|
|
|
|
|
Section
8.12
|
|
Expenses
|
|
|
25
|
|
|
|
|
Section
8.13
|
|
Obligations
Limited to Parties to Agreement
|
|
|
26
|
|
|
|
|
Section
8.14
|
|
Waiver of
Preemptive Right by General Partner
|
|
|
26
|
|
|
|
|
Section
8.15
|
|
Termination
|
|
|
26
|
|
-ii-
Exhibit A
- Form of Registration Rights Agreement
Exhibit B
- Form of Legal Opinion
iii
SECURITIES PURCHASE
AGREEMENT
SECURITIES
PURCHASE AGREEMENT, dated effective as of September 30, 2008
(this “ Agreement ”), by and among El Paso
Pipeline Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the
“ Partnership ”), each of the Purchasers listed
in the signature pages attached hereto (each referred to herein as
a “ Purchaser ” and collectively, the “
Purchasers ”), and, solely for purposes of
Section 8.14 of this Agreement, El Paso Pipeline GP
Company, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (the “
General Partner ”).
WHEREAS, the
Partnership desires to partially fund the acquisition of an
incremental interest of 15 percent of Southern Natural Gas
Company and 30 percent of Colorado Interstate Gas Company from
El Paso Corporation and its Affiliates;
WHEREAS, the
Partnership desires to sell Restricted Units to each of the
Purchasers in a private placement exempt from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act, and the Purchasers desire to
purchase such Restricted Units from the Partnership, each in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the
Partnership has agreed to provide Purchasers with certain
registration rights with respect to the Purchased Restricted Units
acquired pursuant to this Agreement;
NOW THEREFORE, in
consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth
herein and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Partnership and
each of the Purchasers, severally and not jointly, hereby agree as
follows:
Section 1.01
Definitions . As used in this Agreement, and unless the
context requires a different meaning, the following terms have the
meanings indicated:
“
Action ” against a Person means any lawsuit, action,
proceeding, investigation or complaint before any Governmental
Authority, mediator or arbitrator.
“
Affiliate ” means, with respect to a specified Person,
any other Person, whether now in existence or hereafter created,
directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under direct
or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes
of this definition, “control” (including, with
correlative meanings, “controlling,” “controlled
by,” and “under common control with”) means the
power to direct or cause the direction of the management and
policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through
the ownership of voting securities, by contract or
otherwise.
“
Agreement ” shall have the meaning specified in the
introductory paragraph.
“ Basic
Documents ” means, collectively, this Agreement, the
Registration Rights Agreement and any and all other agreements or
instruments executed and delivered by the
1
Parties on the
date hereof or the Closing Date relating to the issuance and sale
of the Restricted Units, or any amendments, supplements,
continuations or modifications thereto.
“
Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday,
Sunday, or a legal holiday for commercial banks in New York, New
York.
“ CIG
” means Colorado Interstate Gas Company, a Delaware general
partnership.
“
Closing ” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 2.02 .
“ Closing
Date ” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 2.02 .
“
Commission ” means the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission.
“
Commitment Purchase Amount ” means with respect to
each Purchaser, the dollar amount set forth opposite each
Purchaser’s name under the heading “Commitment Purchase
Amount.”
“
Contribution Agreement ” means the Contribution and
Exchange Agreement, dated September 17, 2008, by and among the
Partnership, El Paso Pipeline GP Company, L.L.C., a Delaware
limited liability company and the general partner of the
Partnership, El Paso Pipeline LP Holdings, L.L.C., El Paso Pipeline
Partners Operating Company, L.L.C., El Paso Corporation, El Paso
Noric Investments III, L.L.C., Colorado Interstate Gas Company, El
Paso SNG Holding Company, L.L.C., Southern Natural Gas Company,
EPPP SNG GP Holdings, L.L.C. and EPPP CIG GP Holdings,
L.L.C.
“
Delaware LP Act ” means the Delaware Revised Uniform
Limited Partnership Act.
“ El Paso
GP LTIP ” means the El Paso Pipeline GP Company, L.L.C.
Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.
“ EPPP
CIG ” means EPPP CIG GP Holdings, L.L.C., a Delaware
limited liability company.
“ EPPP
SNG ” means EPPP SNG GP Holdings, a Delaware limited
liability company.
“
Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations
of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
“
GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles
in the United States of America in effect from time to
time.
“ General
Partner ” has the meaning specified in the recitals of
this Agreement.
“
Governmental Authority ” shall include the country,
state, county, city and political subdivisions in which any Person
or such Person’s Property is located or which exercises valid
jurisdiction over any such Person or such Person’s Property,
and any court, agency, department, commission, board, bureau or
instrumentality of any of them and any monetary authorities
that
2
exercise valid
jurisdiction over any such Person or such Person’s Property.
Unless otherwise specified, all references to Governmental
Authority herein shall mean a Governmental Authority having
jurisdiction over, where applicable, the Partnership, its
Subsidiaries or any of their Property or any of the
Purchasers.
“
Indemnified Party ” shall have the meaning specified
in Section 7.03 .
“
Indemnifying Party ” shall have the meaning specified
in Section 7.03 .
“ Law
” means any federal, state, local or foreign order, writ,
injunction, judgment, settlement, award, decree, statute, law, rule
or regulation.
“
Lien ” means any interest in Property securing an
obligation owed to, or a claim by, a Person other than the owner of
the Property, whether such interest is based on the common law,
statute or contract, and whether such obligation or claim is fixed
or contingent, and including but not limited to the lien or
security interest arising from a mortgage, encumbrance, pledge,
security agreement, conditional sale or trust receipt or a lease,
consignment or bailment for security purposes. For the purpose of
this Agreement, a Person shall be deemed to be the owner of any
Property that it has acquired or holds subject to a conditional
sale agreement, or leases under a financing lease or other
arrangement pursuant to which title to the Property has been
retained by or vested in some other Person in a transaction
intended to create a financing.
“ Lock-Up
Date ” means 90 days from the Closing
Date.
“
Knowledge of the Partnership ” means to the actual
knowledge of James C. Yardley, John R. Sult, James J. Cleary,
Daniel B. Martin or Norman G. Holmes, as Chairman or executive
officers of the General Partner.
“
NYSE ” means the New York Stock Exchange.
“
Partnership ” shall have the meaning specified in the
introductory paragraph.
“
Partnership Agreement ” means the First Amended and
Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, dated
as of November 21, 2007.
“
Partnership Material Adverse Effect ” means any
material and adverse effect on (i) the assets, liabilities,
financial condition, business, operations, prospects or affairs of
the Partnership and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, measured
against those assets, liabilities, financial condition, business,
operations, prospects or affairs reflected in the SEC Documents
filed with the Commission prior to the date hereof or from the
facts represented or warranted by the Partnership in any Basic
Document, (ii) the ability of the Partnership to meet its
obligations under the Basic Documents, or (iii) the ability of
the Partnership to consummate the transactions under any Basic
Document on a timely basis. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a
“Partnership Material Adverse Effect” shall not include
any effect resulting or arising from: (a) any change in
general economic conditions in the industries or markets in which
the Partnership or its Subsidiaries operate that do not have a
disproportionate impact on the Partnership or its Subsidiaries;
(b) the outbreak or escalation of national or international
political, diplomatic or military conditions, including any
engagement in hostilities, whether or not pursuant to a
3
declaration of
war, or the occurrence of any military or terrorist attack; or
(c) changes in GAAP or other accounting principles.
“
Partnership Related Parties ” shall have the meaning
specified in Section 7.02 .
“
Partnership Securities ” means any class or series of
equity interest in the Partnership (but excluding any options,
rights, warrants and appreciation rights to an equity interest in
the Partnership), including without limitation Units.
“
Party ” or “ Parties ” means the
Partnership and the Purchasers party to this Agreement,
individually or collectively, as the case may be.
“
Person ” means any individual, corporation, company,
voluntary association, partnership, joint venture, trust, limited
liability company, unincorporated organization or government or any
agency, instrumentality or political subdivision thereof, or any
other form of entity.
“ Private
Placement Value ” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 5.09 .
“
Property ” means any interest in any kind of property
or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, or tangible or
intangible.
“
Purchaser ” and “ Purchasers ”
shall have the meaning specified in the introductory
paragraph.
“
Purchaser Material Adverse Effect ” means, with
respect to a particular Purchaser, any material and adverse effect
on (a) the ability of a Purchaser to meet its obligations
under the Basic Documents or (b) the ability of a Purchaser to
consummate the transactions under any Basic Document on a timely
basis.
“
Purchaser Related Parties ” shall have the meaning
specified in Section 7.01 .
“
Registration Rights Agreement ” means the Registration
Rights Agreement, substantially in the form attached to this
Agreement as Exhibit A , to be entered into at the
Closing, among the Partnership and the Purchasers.
“
Representatives ” of any Person means the Affiliates,
control persons, officers, directors, employees, agents, counsel,
investment bankers and other representatives of such
Person.
“
Restricted Units ” means the Units to be issued and
sold to the Purchasers pursuant to this Agreement.
“ SEC
Documents ” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 3.03 .
“
Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations of the
Commission promulgated thereunder.
“ Short
Sale ” means, without limitation, all “short
sales” as defined in Rule 200 promulgated under
Regulation SHO under the Exchange Act, whether or not against
the box, and
4
forward sale
contracts, options, puts, calls, short sales, “put equivalent
positions” (as defined in Rule 16a-1(h) under the
Exchange Act) and similar arrangements, and sales and other
transactions through non-U.S. broker dealers or foreign regulated
brokers.
“ SNG
” means Southern Natural Gas Company, a Delaware general
partnership.
“
Subordinated Unit ” means a Partnership Security
representing a fractional part of the partnership interests of all
limited partners of the Partnership and having the rights and
obligations specified with respect to subordinated units in the
Partnership Agreement. The term “Subordinated Unit”
does not include a Unit. A Subordinated Unit that is convertible
into a Unit shall not constitute a Unit until such conversion
occurs.
“
Subsidiary ” means, as to any Person, any corporation
or other entity of which (i) such Person or a Subsidiary of such
Person is a general partner or managing member, (ii) at least
a majority of the outstanding equity interests having by the terms
thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of
directors or similar governing body of such corporation or other
entity is at the time directly or indirectly owned or controlled by
such Person or one or more of its Subsidiaries or (iii) any
corporation or other entity as to which such Person consolidates
for accounting purposes; provided, none of CIG, SNG or any of their
respective Subsidiaries shall be a “Subsidiary” of the
Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries for the purposes of this
Agreement.
“
Taxes ” means any tax, charge, levy, penalty or other
assessment imposed by any U.S. federal, state, local or foreign
taxing authority, including any excise, property, income, sales,
transfer, franchise, payroll, withholding, social security or other
tax, including any interest, penalties or additions attributable
thereto.
“ Tax
Return ” means any return, report, information return,
declaration, claim for refund or other document (including any
related or supporting information) supplied or required to be
supplied with respect to any Taxes and including any supplement or
amendment thereof.
“
Unit ” means a common unit of the Partnership
representing limited partner interests therein.
“ Unit
Purchase Price ” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 2.01(c) .
“
Unitholders ” means the Unitholders of the Partnership
(within the meaning of the Partnership Agreement).
“ 8-K
Filing ” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 5.10 .
Section 1.02
Accounting Procedures and Interpretation . Unless otherwise
specified in this Agreement, all accounting terms used herein shall
be interpreted, all determinations with respect to accounting
matters under this Agreement shall be made, and all financial
statements and certificates and reports as to financial matters
required to be furnished to the Purchasers under this Agreement
shall be prepared, in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent
basis during the periods involved (except, in the case of unaudited
statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q promulgated by the
Commission) and in compliance as to form in all material
5
respects with
applicable accounting requirements and with the published rules and
regulations of the Commission with respect thereto.
ARTICLE II
SALE AND PURCHASE
Section 2.01
Sale and Purchase .
(a) Sale and
Purchase . Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, at the Closing, the Partnership hereby agrees to issue
and sell to each Purchaser, and each Purchaser hereby agrees,
severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Partnership, the
number of Restricted Units determined pursuant to paragraph
(b) below of this Section 2.01 , and each Purchaser
agrees to pay the Partnership the Unit Purchase Price for each
Restricted Unit, in each case, as set forth in paragraph (c)
below of this Section 2.01 . The obligation of each
Purchaser under this Agreement is independent of the obligation of
each other Purchaser, and the failure or waiver of performance with
respect to any Purchaser does not excuse performance by any other
Purchaser.
(b) Units .
The number of Restricted Units to be issued and sold to each
Purchaser shall be the number of Restricted Units listed under the
name of such Purchaser on the attached signature pages.
(c)
Consideration . The amount per Restricted Unit each
Purchaser will pay to the Partnership to purchase the Restricted
Units (the “ Unit Purchase Price ”) shall be
$17.182.
Section 2.02
Closing . Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, the execution and delivery of the Basic Documents (other
than this Agreement), delivery of certificates representing the
Restricted Units and execution and delivery of all other
instruments, agreements, and other documents required (which
certificates representing the Restricted Units may be delivered
within seven (7) Business Days of the Closing Date) by this
Agreement (the “ Closing ”) shall take place on
September 30, 2008, or such other date as shall be agreeable
to the Parties (the “ Closing Date ”). The
Closing shall take place at the offices of Andrews Kurth LLP, 600
Travis, Suite 4200, Houston, Texas 77002. At the Closing,
subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each of the
Partnership and the Purchasers shall deliver, or cause to be
delivered, the items set forth in Article VI
.
Section 2.03
Independent Nature of Purchasers’ Obligations and
Rights . The respective obligations of each Purchaser under any
Basic Document are several and not joint with the obligations of
any other Purchaser, and no Purchaser shall be responsible in any
way for the performance of the obligations of any other Purchaser
under any Basic Document. The failure or waiver of performance
under any Basic Document by any Purchaser, or on its behalf, does
not excuse performance by any other Purchaser. Nothing contained
herein or in any other Basic Document, and no action taken by any
Purchaser pursuant thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the
Purchasers as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any
other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Purchasers
are in any way acting in concert or as a group for purposes of
Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act with respect to such obligations
or the
6
transactions
contemplated by any Basic Document. Each Purchaser shall be
entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights, including
the rights arising out of this Agreement or out of the other Basic
Documents, and it shall not be necessary for any other Purchaser to
be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such
purpose.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE
PARTNERSHIP
The Partnership
represents and warrants to the Purchasers, on and as of the date of
this Agreement and on and as of the Closing Date, as
follows:
Section 3.01
Existence of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries
.
(a) The
Partnership: (i) is a limited partnership duly formed, validly
existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of
Delaware; (ii) has all requisite limited partnership power and
authority, and has all governmental licenses, authorizations,
consents and approvals, necessary to own, lease, use and operate
its Properties and carry on its business as its business is now
being conducted as described in the SEC Documents, except where the
failure to obtain such licenses, authorizations, consents and
approvals would not reasonably be expected to have a Partnership
Material Adverse Effect; and (iii) is qualified to do business
in all jurisdictions in which the nature of the business conducted
by it makes such qualifications necessary, except where failure so
to qualify would not reasonably be expected to have a Partnership
Material Adverse Effect. The Partnership is not in violation of its
certificate of limited partnership or the Partnership
Agreement.
(b) The General
Partner has been duly formed and is validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has all
requisite limited liability company power and authority, and has
all governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals
necessary, to own, lease, use or operate its Properties and carry
on its business as now being conducted and as described in the SEC
Documents, except where the failure to obtain such licenses,
authorizations, consents and approvals would not be reasonably
likely to have a Partnership Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.02
Restricted Units, Capitalization and Valid Issuance
.
(a) The Restricted
Units shall have those rights, preferences, privileges and
restrictions governing the Units as set forth in the Partnership
Agreement. A true and correct copy of the Partnership Agreement has
been filed by the Partnership with the Commission.
(b) As of the date
of this Agreement, the issued and outstanding limited partner
interests of the Partnership consist of 57,196,211 Units,
27,727,411 Subordinated Units and the Incentive Distribution Rights
(as defined in the Partnership Agreement) and the only issued and
outstanding general partner interest is the General Partner’s
2% general partner interest. All of the outstanding Units,
Subordinated Units and Incentive Distribution Rights have been duly
authorized and validly issued in accordance with applicable Law
under the Delaware LP Act and the Partnership Agreement and are
fully
7
paid (to the
extent required under applicable Law and the Partnership Agreement)
and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected
by Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP
Act).
(c) Other than the
El Paso GP LTIP, the Partnership has no equity compensation plans
that contemplate the issuance of Units (or securities convertible
into or exchangeable for Units). No indebtedness having the right
to vote (or convertible into or exchangeable for securities having
the right to vote) on any matters on which the Unitholders may vote
is issued or outstanding. Except (i) as have been granted
pursuant to El Paso GP LTIP, (ii) as contemplated by this
Agreement, (iii) as contemplated by the Contribution Agreement
or (iv) as are contained in the Partnership Agreement, there are no
outstanding or authorized (A) options, warrants, preemptive rights,
subscriptions, calls, convertible or exchangeable securities or
other rights, agreements, claims or commitments of any character
obligating the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries to issue,
transfer or sell any limited partner interests or other equity
interests in, the Partnership or securities convertible into or
exchangeable for such limited partner interests or other equity
interests, (B) obligations of the Partnership to repurchase,
redeem or otherwise acquire any limited partner interests or other
equity interests of the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries or
any such securities or agreements listed in clause (A) of
this sentence or (C) voting trusts or similar agreements to
which the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries is a party with
respect to the voting of the equity interests of the Partnership.
Neither the execution of this Agreement nor the issuance of the
Units as contemplated by this Agreement gives rise to any rights
for or relating to the registration of any securities of the
Partnership, other than pursuant to the Registration Rights
Agreement.
(d) (i) All
of the issued and outstanding equity interests of each of the
Partnership’s Subsidiaries are owned, directly or indirectly,
by the Partnership free and clear of any Liens (except for such
restrictions as may exist under applicable Law, the organizational
documents of such Subsidiaries), and all such ownership interests
have been duly authorized, validly issued and are fully paid (to
the extent required by applicable Law and the organizational
documents of such Subsidiaries) and non-assessable (except as
nonassessability may be affected by Sections 17-303, 17-607
and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act and Sections 18-607 and
18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act, as applicable, or the
organizational documents of such Subsidiaries) and (ii) except
as disclosed in the Partnership’s SEC Documents, neither the
Partnership nor any of its Subsidiaries owns any shares of capital
stock or other securities of, or interest in, any other Person, or
is obligated to make any capital contribution to or other
investment in any other Person other than such Subsidiaries, CIG
and SNG.
(e) After giving
effect to the transactions contemplated by the Contribution
Agreement, EPPP CIG will directly own a 40% general partnership
interest in CIG and EPPP SNG will directly own a 25% general
partnership interest in SNG and all such general partnership
interests will have been duly authorized and validly
issued.
(f) The offer and
sale of the Restricted Units and the limited partner interests
represented thereby have been duly authorized by the Partnership
pursuant to the
8
Partnership
Agreement and, when issued and delivered to the Purchasers against
payment therefore in accordance with the terms of this Agreement,
will be validly issued, fully paid (to the extent required by
applicable Law and the Partnership Agreement) and nonassessable
(except as such nonassessability may be affected by
Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act) and
will be free of any and all Liens and restrictions on transfer,
other than restrictions on transfer under the Partnership Agreement
and under applicable state and federal securities Laws and other
than such Liens as are created by the Purchasers.
(g) The Restricted
Units will be issued in compliance with all applicable rules of the
NYSE. Prior to the Closing Date, the Partnership will submit to the
NYSE a Supplemental Listing Application with respect to the
Restricted Units. The Partnership’s currently outstanding
Units are quoted on the NYSE and the Partnership has not received
any notice of delisting.
(h) None of the
execution of this Agreement, the offering or sale of the Restricted
Units or the registration of the Units pursuant to the Registration
Rights Agreement gives rise to any rights for or relating to the
registration of any Units or other securities of the Partnership
other than pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement and those
rights granted to the General Partner or any of its Affiliates (as
such term is defined in the Partnership Agreement) under
Section 7.12 of the Partnership Agreement.
Section 3.03
SEC Documents . The Partnership has filed with the
Commission all reports, schedules and statements required to be
filed by it under the Exchange Act since the consummation of its
initial public offering (all such documents filed on or prior to
the date of this Agreement, but specifically excluding any
documents “furnished,” collectively, the “ SEC
Documents ”). The SEC Documents, including any
Partnership audited or unaudited financial statements and any notes
thereto or schedules included therein, at the time filed (except to
the extent corrected by a subsequently filed SEC Document filed
prior to the date of this Agreement) (i) did not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make
the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading, (ii) complied as to form in
all material respects with applicable requirements of the Exchange
Act and the applicable accounting requirements and with the
published rules and regulations of the Commission with respect
thereto, (iii) were prepared in accordance with GAAP applied
on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be
indicated in the notes thereto or, in the case of unaudited
statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q of the Commission) and
(iv) fairly present (subject in the case of unaudited
statements to normal, recurring and year-end audit adjustments) in
all material respects the consolidated financial position of the
Partnership as of the dates thereof and the consolidated results of
its operations and cash flows for the periods then ended. Ernst
& Young LLP is an independent registered public accounting firm
with respect to the Partnership and has not resigned or been
dismissed as an independent registered public accountant of the
Partnership as a result of or in connection with any disagreement
with the Partnership on any matter of accounting principles or
practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or
procedures.
9
Section 3.04
No Material Adverse Change . Except as set forth in or
contemplated by the SEC Documents filed with the Commission since
June 30, 2008, the Partnership and its Subsidiaries have
conducted their business in the ordinary course, consistent with
past practice, and there has been no (i) change that has had
or would reasonably be expected to have a Partnership Material
Adverse Effect, (ii) acquisition or disposition of any
material asset by the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries or any
contract or arrangement therefore, otherwise than for fair value in
the ordinary course of business, (iii) material change in the
Partnership’s accounting principles, practices or methods or
(iv) incurrence of material indebtedness.
Section 3.05
Litigation . Except as set forth in the SEC Documents, there
is no Action pending or, to the Knowledge of the Partnership,
contemplated or threatened against the Partnership or any of its
Subsidiaries or any of their respective officers (in their capacity
as such), directors (in their capacity as such) or Properties,
(a) which (individually or in the aggregate) reasonably would
be expected to have a Partnership Material Adverse Effect or which
challenges the validity of any of the Basic Documents or the right
of the Partnership to enter into any of the Basic Documents or to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby or
(b) which would reasonably be expected to adversely affect or
restrict the Partnership’s ability to consummate the
transactions contemplated by the Basic Documents.
Section 3.06
No Breach . The execution, delivery and performance by the
Partnership of the Basic Documents to which it is a party and all
other agreements and instruments to be executed and delivered by
the Partnership pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection
herewith and therewith, and compliance by the Partnership with the
terms and provisions hereof and thereof, do not and will not
(a) violate any provision of any Law, governmental permit,
determination or award having applicability to the Partnership or
any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective Properties,
(b) conflict with or result in a violation of any provision of
the organizational documents of the Partnership or any of its
Subsidiaries, (c) require any consent, approval or notice
under or result in a violation or breach of or constitute (with or
without due notice or lapse of time or both) a default (or give
rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration)
under any note, bond, mortgage, license, loan or credit
agreement or other instrument, obligation or agreement to which the
Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the
Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective
Properties may be bound or (d) result in or require the
creation or imposition of any Lien upon or with respect to any of
the Properties now owned or hereafter acquired by the Partnership
or any of its Subsidiaries, except in the cases of clauses (a),
(c) and (d) where such violation, default, breach,
termination, cancellation, failure to receive consent or approval,
or acceleration with respect to the foregoing provisions of this
Section 3.06 would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Partnership Material
Adverse Effect.
Section 3.07
Authority . The Partnership has all necessary limited
partnership power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its
obligations under the Basic Documents to which it is a party and to
consummate the transactions contemplated thereby; the execution,
delivery and performance by the Partnership of the Basic Documents
to which it is a party, and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated thereby, have been duly authorized by all necessary
action on its part; and the Basic Documents will constitute the
legal, valid and binding obligations of Partnership, enforceable in
accordance with their terms, except as such enforceability may be
limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer and similar
Laws
10
affecting
creditors’ rights generally or by general principles of
equity, including principles of commercial reasonableness, fair
dealing and good faith. No approval from the holders of outstanding
Units is required under the Partnership Agreement or the rules of
the NYSE in connection with the Partnership’s issuance and
sale of the Restricted Units to the Purchasers.
Section 3.08
Approvals . Except as required by the Commission in
connection with the Partnership’s obligations under the
Registration Rights Agreement, no authorization, consent, approval,
waiver, license, qualification or written exemption from, nor any
filing, declaration, qualification or registration with, any
Governmental Authority or any other Person is required in
connection with the execution, delivery or performance by the
Partnership of any of the Basic Documents to which it is a party or
the Partnership’s issuance and sale of the Restricted Units,
except (i) as may be required under the state securities or
“Blue Sky” Laws, or (ii) where the failure to
receive such authorization, consent, approval, waiver, license,
qualification or written exemption or to make such filing,
declaration, qualification or registration would not, individually
or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Partnership
Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.09
MLP Status . The Partnership has, for each taxable year
beginning on or after the closing of its initial public offering,
met the gross income requirements of Section 7704(c)(2) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Section 3.10
Investment Company Status . The Partnership is not an
“investment company” within the meaning of the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
Section 3.11
Valid Private Placement . Assuming the accuracy of the
representations and warranties of the Purchasers contained in this
Agreement, the sale and issuance of the Restricted Units pursuant
to this Agreement is exempt from the registration requirements of
the Securities Act, and neither the Partnership nor, to the
Knowledge of the Partnership, any authorized Representative acting
on its behalf has taken or will take any action hereafter that
would cause the loss of such exemption.
Section 3.12
Certain Fees . No fees or commissions are or will be payable
by the Partnership to brokers, finders, or investment bankers with
respect to the sale of any of the Restricted Units or the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
Section 3.13
No Side Agreements . Except for the Registration Rights
Agreement, there are no other agreements by, among or between the
Partnership or its Affiliates, on the one hand, and any of the
Purchasers or their Affiliates, on the other hand, with respect to
the transactions contemplated hereby nor promises or inducements
for future transactions between or among any of such
parties.
Section 3.14
Form S-3 Eligibility . In December 2008, the
Partnership is expected to be eligible to register the Restricted
Units for resale by the Purchasers on a registration statement on
Form S-3 under the Securities Act.
Section 3.15
Taxes . The Partnership has filed all Tax Returns required
to be filed. To the Knowledge of the Partnership, such Tax Returns
are true, correct and complete in all material respects. The
Partnership has paid in full all Taxes shown to be due on such Tax
Returns. The
11
Partnership has
not received any written notice of deficiency or assessment from
any taxing authority with respect to liabilities for any material
Taxes, which have not been fully paid or finally settled, unless
being contested in good faith through appropriate proceedings and
for which adequate reserves are presented in the
Partnership’s financial statements included in the SEC
Documents.
Section 3.16
Acknowledgment Regarding Purchase of Restricted Units . The
Partnership acknowledges and agrees that (i)
|