COMMON UNIT PURCHASE AGREEMENT
COMMON UNIT PURCHASE AGREEMENT, dated as of February 20, 2007 (this “Agreement”), by and among TC PIPELINES, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), and each of the Purchasers set forth on Exhibit A, acting individually (each, a “Purchaser” and, collectively, the “Purchasers”).
WHEREAS, (i) TC Pipelines GP, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “General Partner”), is a wholly owned subsidiary of TransCanada PipeLines Limited, a Canadian corporation (“TransCanada”); (ii) the General Partner is the general partner of the Partnership, TC Tuscarora Intermediate Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership (“TCT Intermediate Partnership”), and TC PipeLines Intermediate Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership (“TCP Intermediate Partnership”) and TC GL Intermediate Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership (“TCGL Intermediate Partnership” and, together with TCT Intermediate Partnership and TCP Intermediate Partnership, the “Intermediate Partnerships”); (iii) the Partnership owns all of the limited partner interests in each of the Intermediate Partnerships; (iv) TCT Intermediate Partnership owns a 98% general partner interest in Tuscarora Gas Transmission Company, a Nevada general partnership (“Tuscarora”); and (v) TCP Intermediate Partnership owns a 50% general partner interest in Northern Border Pipeline Company, a Texas general partnership (“NBPC”). The Partnership, the General Partner and the Intermediate Partnerships are collectively referred to herein as the “TCP Parties;”
WHEREAS, TCGL Intermediate Partnership has entered into an agreement to purchase a 46.45% general partner interest in Great Lakes Gas Transmission Limited Partnership (the “Acquisition”), which is expected to close on or about February 22, 2007;
WHEREAS, the Partnership desires to pay a portion of the purchase price related to the Acquisition out of the proceeds of the sale of an aggregate of approximately $600,000,000 of Common Units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (“Common Units”), and the Purchasers desire to purchase an aggregate of approximately $600,000,000 of Common Units from the Partnership, each in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Partnership has agreed to provide the Purchasers with certain registration rights with respect to the Common Units acquired pursuant to this Agreement; and
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:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Definitions. As used in this Agreement, and unless the context requires a different meaning, the following terms have the meanings indicated:
“8-K Filing” shall have the meaning specified in Section 5.4.
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“Acquisition” shall have the meaning specified in the recitals.
“Acquisition Agreement” means that certain Purchase and Sale Agreement among El Paso Great Lakes Company, L.L.C., TCGL Intermediate Limited Partnership and TransCanada PipeLine USA Ltd. dated as of December 22, 2006, as amended to date.
“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, the Escrow Agreement and any and all other agreements or instruments executed and delivered by the Parties to evidence the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, and any amendments, supplements, continuations or modifications thereto.
“Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the General Partner.
“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, or a legal holiday for commercial banks in New York, New York.
“Closing” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.2.
“Closing Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.2.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
“Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Commitment Amount” means the dollar amount set forth opposite each Purchaser’s name on Exhibit A to this Agreement.
“Common Units” shall have the meaning specified in the recitals.
“DGCL” shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.2(a).
“DRULPA” shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.2(a).
“Escrow Agent” shall have the meaning specified in the Escrow Agreement.
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“Escrow Agreement” means that certain Escrow Agreement dated as of February 20, 2007, by and among the Partnership, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., and the Escrow Agent in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B.
“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” shall have the meaning specified in the recitals.
“Governmental Authority” shall include the country, state, county, city and political subdivisions in which any Person or such Person’s property is located or that 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 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.
“Incentive Distribution Rights” shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.5.
“Indemnified Party” shall have the meaning specified in Section 8.3.
“Indemnifying Party” shall have the meaning specified in Section 8.3.
“Intermediate Partnership Agreements” shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.4.
“Intermediate Partnerships” shall have the meaning specified in the recitals.
“Law” means any federal, state, local or foreign order, writ, injunction, judgment, settlement, award, decree, statute, law, rule or regulation.
“Lien” means any mortgage, claim, encumbrance, pledge, lien (statutory or otherwise), security agreement, conditional sale or trust receipt or a lease, consignment or bailment, preference or priority or other encumbrance upon or with respect to any property of any kind.
“Lock-Up Date” means the earlier of (i) 90 days from the Closing Date or (ii) the date that a registration statement under the Securities Act to permit the resale of the Units is declared effective by the Commission.
“NBPC” shall have the meaning specified in the recitals.
“Partnership” shall have the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph.
“Partnership Agreement” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.1(a).
“Partnership Material Adverse Effect” shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.2.
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“Partnership Related Parties” shall have the meaning specified in Section 8.2.
“Partnership SEC Documents” shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.1.
“Party” or “Parties” means the Partnership and the Purchasers, 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.
“Purchase Price” means the aggregate of the Purchasers’ Commitment Amount.
“Purchaser” shall have the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph.
“Purchaser Material Adverse Effect” means any material and adverse effect on (i) the ability of a Purchaser to meet its obligations under the Basic Documents on a timely basis or (ii) the ability of a Purchaser to consummate the transactions under any Basic Document.
“Purchaser Related Parties” shall have the meaning specified in Section 8.1.
“Purchasers” shall have the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph.
“Registration Rights Agreement” means the Registration Rights Agreement, substantially in the form attached to this Agreement as Exhibit C, to be entered into at the Closing, among the Partnership and the Purchasers, acting individually.
“Representatives” of any Person means the officers, directors, employees, Affiliates, control persons, counsel, investment banker, agents and other representatives of such Person.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
“Subsidiary” means, as to any Person, any corporation or other entity of which a majority of the outstanding equity interest having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors of such corporation or other entity (irrespective of whether or not at the time any equity interest of any other class or classes of such corporation or other entity shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such Person or one or more of its Subsidiaries.
“TCGL Intermediate Partnership” shall have the meaning specified in the recitals.
“TCP Intermediate Partnership” shall have the meaning specified in the recitals.
“TCP Parties” shall have the meaning specified in the recitals.
“TCT Intermediate Partnership” shall have the meaning specified in the recitals.
“TransCanada” shall have the meaning specified in the recitals.
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“TransCanada Purchaser” means any Purchaser that is TransCan Northern Ltd. or an Affiliate of TransCanada.
“Tuscarora” shall have the meaning specified in the recitals.
“Unit Price” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.1(b).
“Unitholders” means the Unitholders of the Partnership (within the meaning of the Partnership Agreement).
“Units” means the Units to be issued and sold to the Purchasers pursuant to this Agreement.
Section 1.2 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 respects with applicable accounting requirements and with the published rules and regulations of the Commission with respect thereto.
ARTICLE II
SALE AND PURCHASE
Section 2.1 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 Units set forth opposite its name on Exhibit A hereto. Each Purchaser agrees to pay the Partnership the Unit Price for each Unit. The respective obligations of each Purchaser under this Agreement 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 this Agreement. The failure or waiver of performance under this Agreement 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 with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by any Basic Document. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or the other Basic Documents, 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.
(a) Units. The number of Units to be issued and sold to each Purchaser is set forth opposite such Purchaser’s name on Exhibit A hereto. The Units shall have those rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions governing the Common Units as set forth in the
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agreement of limited partnership of the Partnership, as amended to date (the “Partnership Agreement”).
(b) Consideration. The amount per Unit each Purchaser will pay to the Partnership to purchase the Units (the “Unit Price”) shall be $34.57.
(c) Funding into Escrow by Purchasers (other than TransCanada Purchasers). Each Purchaser (other than a TransCanada Purchaser) shall deposit its Commitment Amount into an escrow account as provided in the Escrow Agreement on the date which is two Business Days prior to the Closing Date. On the Closing Date, upon receipt of satisfactory evidence that the conditions set forth in ARTICLE VI have been satisfied, each Purchaser (other than a TransCanada Purchaser) shall deliver notice to the Escrow Agent to promptly and timely release the funds escrowed under the Escrow Agreement to the Partnership.
(d) Funding by TransCanada Purchasers. On the Closing Date, upon receipt of satisfactory evidence that the conditions set forth in Article VI have been satisfied, each TransCanada Purchaser shall pay the amount of its Commitment by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account directed by the Partnership.
Section 2.2 Closing. The execution and delivery of the Basic Documents (other than this Agreement), the delivery of certificates representing the Units, the release of the funds escrowed under the Escrow Agreement to the Partnership pursuant to the terms of the Escrow Agreement, the payment by each TransCanada Purchaser of its Commitment Amount, and execution and delivery of all other instruments, agreements and other documents required by this Agreement (the “Closing”) shall take place concurrently with the closing of the Acquisition on February 22, 2007 (the “Closing Date”) at the offices of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., 1001 Fannin Street, Suite 2500, Houston, Texas 77002.
Section 2.3 Termination. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, in the event that (i) 100% of the Purchase Price is not received by the Partnership on the purported Closing Date, or (ii) the Closing has not occurred prior to February 28, 2007, this Agreement shall automatically terminate and any payments of a Purchaser’s Commitment Amount received by the Escrow Agent or the Partnership shall be returned to such Purchaser within one Business Day.
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 3.1 Partnership SEC Documents. The Partnership has timely filed with the Commission all forms, registration statements, reports, schedules and statements required to be filed by it under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act (all such documents as filed, collectively, the “Partnership SEC Documents”). The Partnership SEC Documents prior to the date hereof, when they were filed, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act and did not, as of the time each such document was filed, contain an untrue
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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 made not misleading.
Section 3.2 Formation and Qualification of the TCP Parties. The Partnership and each of its Subsidiaries has been duly formed and is validly existing in good standing as a corporation or limited partnership under the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”) or the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act (“DRULPA”), as the case may be, with full corporate or partnership power and authority to own or lease its properties and to conduct the businesses in which it is engaged, in each case in all material respects, and has all material governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals as described in the Partnership SEC Documents. Each of the General Partner, the Partnership and its Subsidiaries is or, at the Closing Date will, be duly registered or qualified as a foreign corporation or limited partnership, as the case may be, for the transaction of business under the laws of each jurisdiction in which the character of the business conducted by it or the nature or location of the properties owned or leased by it makes such registration or qualification necessary, except where the failure so to register or qualify would not (i) have a material adverse effect on (A) the condition (financial or otherwise), business, prospects, assets, liabilities, affairs or results of operations of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (B) the ability of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to carry out their business as of the date of this Agreement or to meet their obligations under the Basic Documents on a timely basis or (C) the ability of the Partnership to consummate the transactions under any Basic Document (any of the foregoing a “Partnership Material Adverse Effect”) or (ii) subject the limited partners of the Partnership to any material liability or disability.
Section 3.3 Formation and Qualification of NBPC and Tuscarora. Each of NBPC and Tuscarora has been duly formed and is validly existing in good standing as a general partnership under the laws of the State of Texas and the laws of the State of Nevada, respectively, with full partnership power and authority to own or lease its properties and to conduct its businesses in which it is engaged, in each case in all material respects as described in the Partnership SEC Documents. Each of NBPC and Tuscarora is or, at the Closing Date will be duly registered or qualified as a foreign general partnership for the transaction of business under the laws of each jurisdiction in which the character of the business conducted by it or the nature or location of the properties owned or leased by it makes such registration or qualification necessary, except where the failure so to register or qualify would not (i) have a Partnership Material Adverse Effect or (ii) subject the limited partners of the Partnership to any material liability or disability.
Section 3.4 Ownership of the General Partner Interests. The General Partner is the sole general partner of the Partnership and each of the Intermediate Partnerships with a 1.0% general partner interest in the Partnership and a 1.0101% general partner interest in each of the Intermediate Partnerships; such general partner interests have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Partnership Agreement, or the partnership agreements of each of the Intermediate Partnerships, each as amended to date (collectively, the “Intermediate Partnership Agreements”); and the General Partner owns such general partner interests free and clear of all Liens (except restrictions on transferability as described in the Partnership SEC Documents).
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Section 3.5 Capitalization. (a) As of the date hereof and prior to the issuance and sale of the Units, the issued and outstanding limited partner interests of the Partnership consist of 17,500,000 Common Units and the Incentive Distribution Rights (as defined in the Partnership Agreement, the “Incentive Distribution Rights”). All outstanding Common Units and Incentive Distribution Rights and the limited partner interests represented thereby have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Partnership Agreement and are fully paid (to the extent required under the Partnership Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Section 17-607 of the DRULPA and as otherwise disclosed in the Partnership SEC Documents).
(b) The Partnership has no equity compensation plans that contemplate the issuance of Common Units (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Units). The Company has no outstanding 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. Except as contemplated by this Agreement or as are contained in the Partnership Agreement, there are no outstanding or authorized (i) options, warrants, preemptive rights, subscriptions, calls or other rights, convertible securities, agreements, claims or commitments of any character obligating the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries to issue, transfer or sell any equity interests in the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries or securities convertible into or exchangeable for such equity interests, (ii) obligations of the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any equity interests in the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries or any such securities or agreements listed in clause (i) of this sentence or (iii) 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 or any of its Subsidiaries.
Section 3.6 Authorization and Rights of Units. The offer and sale of the Units and the limited partnership interests represented thereby will be duly authorized by the Partnership pursuant to the Partnership Agreement prior to the Closing and, when issued and delivered to the Purchasers against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid (to the extent required under the Partnership Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Section 17-607 of the DRULPA and as otherwise disclosed in the Partnership SEC Documents) and will be free of any and all Liens and restrictions on transfer, other than restrictions on transfer under the Partnership Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and applicable state and federal securities Laws and other than such Liens as are created by the Purchasers. The 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, as amended through the date hereof, was filed by the Partnership with the Commission on as Exhibit 10.3 to the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999.
Section 3.7 Ownership of the Limited Partner Interests in the Intermediate Partnerships. The Partnership owns a 98.9899% limited partner interest in each of the Intermediate Partnerships; such limited partner interests have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the applicable Intermediate Partnership Agreement and are fully paid (to the extent required under the applicable Intermediate Partnership Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Section 17-607 of the
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DRULPA); and the Partnership owns such limited partner interests free and clear of all Liens or claims.
Section 3.8 Ownership of Interest in NBPC. TCP Intermediate Partnership owns a 50% general partner interest in NBPC; such general partner interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the partnership agreement of NBPC, as amended to date; and TCP Intermediate Partnership owns such general partner interest free and clear of all Liens or claims.
Section 3.9 Ownership of Interest in Tuscarora. TCT Intermediate Partnership owns a 98% general partner interest in Tuscarora; such general partner interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the partnership agreement of Tuscarora, as amended to date; and TCT Intermediate Partnership owns such general partner interest free and clear of all Liens or claims.
Section 3.10 No Other Subsidiaries. Other than (i) the Partnership’s ownership interest in the Intermediate Partnerships and (ii) the Intermediate Partnerships’ ownership interests in each of NBPC and Tuscarora, as applicable, neither the Partnership nor the Intermediate Partnerships own, directly or indirectly, any equity or long-term debt securities of any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association or other entity. Other than its ownership of its partnership interests in the Partnership and each of the Intermediate Partnerships, the General Partner does not own, directly or indirectly, any equity or long-term debt or other securities of any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association or other entity.
Section 3.11 No Preemptive Rights, Registration Rights or Options. Except as described in the Partnership SEC Documents, there are no preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or to purchase, nor any restriction upon the voting or transfer of, any partnership or equity interests of the Partnership. None of the execution of this Agreement, the filing of the registration statement relating to the Units pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement nor the issuance or sale of the Units as contemplated by this Agreement gives rise to any rights for or relating to the registration of any Common Units or other securities of the Partnership other than as provided in the Partnership SEC Documents. There are no outstanding options or warrants to purchase any Common Units.
Section 3.12 MLP Status. The Partnership met for the taxable years ended December 31, 2005 and 2006, and the Partnership expects to meet for the taxable year ending December 31, 2007, the gross income requirements of Section 7704(c)(2) of the Code, and accordingly the Partnership is not, and does not reasonably expect to be, taxed as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes or for applicable state tax purposes.
Section 3.13 Offering. Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Purchasers contained in this Agreement, the sale and issuance of the Units pursuant to this Agreement are exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and neither the Partnership nor, to the Partnership’s knowledge, any authorized Representative acting on its behalf has taken or will take any action that would cause the loss of such exemption.
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Section 3.14 Certain Fees. No fees or commissions, other than those payable to Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (or its affiliate), will be payable by the Partnership to brokers, finders or investment bankers with respect to the sale of any of the Units or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 3.15 No Side Agreements. Except for the confidentiality agreements entered into by and between some of the Purchasers and the Partnership and 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 3.16 Authorization and Enforceability of Basic Documents and Other Agreements. The Partnership has all necessary limited partnership power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Basic Documents and the Acquisition Agreement to which it is a party and to consummate the transactions contemplated thereby. The Basic Documents and the Acquisition Agreement have been duly authorized, validly executed and delivered and are valid and legally binding agreements, enforceable against the Partnership in accordance with their terms; provided that, with respect to each such agreement, the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); and, provided further, that the indemnity, contribution and exoneration provisions contained in any of such agreements may be limited by applicable laws and public policy. No approval of the Unitholders is required as a result of the Partnership’s issuance and sale of the Units pursuant to this Agreement.
Section 3.17 No Conflicts. None of the sale by the Partnership of the Units, the execution, delivery and performance of the Basic Documents or the Acquisition Agreement by the Partnership and all other agreements and instruments in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Basic Documents or the Acquisition Agreement, or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby by the Partnership (i) conflicts or will conflict with or constitutes or will constitute a violation of the Partnership Agreement, (ii) conflicts or will conflict with or constitutes or will constitute a breach or violation of, or a default under (or an event that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default), any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them or any of their respective properties may be bound, (iii) violates or will violate any statute, law or regulation, including exchange regulation, or any order, judgment, decree or injunction of any court or governmental agency or body directed to any of the Partnership or its Subsidiaries or any of their properties in a proceeding to which any of them or their property is a party, or (iv) results or will result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries, which conflicts, breaches, violations, defaults or liens, in the case of clauses (ii), (iii) or (iv), would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Partnership Material Adverse Effect or would materially impair the ability of the Partnership to perform its obligations under the Basic Documents or the Acquisition Agreement.
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Section 3.18 No Consents. No permit, consent, approval, authorization, waiver, license, declaration, order, registration, filing or qualification (“consent”) of or with any court, governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Partnership or any of its properties is required in connection with the offering and sale by the Partnership of the Units, the execution, delivery and performance of the Basic Documents and the Acquisition Agreement by the Partnership, or the consummation by the Partnership of the transactions contemplated by the Basic Documents and the Acquisition Agreement, except for such consents required under the Securities Act or state securities or “Blue Sky” laws.
Section 3.19 Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. The independent registered public accounting firm, KPMG LLP, who has audited the financial statements of the Partnership, the General Partner and NBPC included in the Partnership SEC Documents is a registered independent public accounting firm with respect to the Partnership, the General Partner and NBPC, as required by the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, as applicable, and has not resigned or been dismissed as independent registered public accountants 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.
Section 3.20 Financial Statements. At September 30, 2006, the Partnership had a capitalization as indicated in the Partnership’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended September 30, 2006. The historical financial statements (including the related notes and supporting schedules) of the Partnership, the General Partner and NBPC included in the Partnership SEC Documents comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, as applicable, and present fairly in all material respects the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Partnership, the General Partner and NBPC on the basis stated therein at the respective dates or for the respective periods which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied through the periods involved, except to the extent disclosed therein.
Section 3.21 No Material Adverse Change. None of the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries or NBPC has sustained, since the date of the latest financial statements included in the Partnership’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended September 30, 2006, any material loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, investigation, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Partnership SEC Documents. Except as disclosed in the Partnership SEC Documents, subsequent to the respective dates as of which such information is given in the Partnership SEC Documents, (i) none of the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries has incurred any liability or obligation, indirect, direct or contingent, or entered into any transactions, not in the ordinary course of business, that, individually or in the aggregate, is material to the Partnership and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (ii) there has not been any material change in the capitalization or material increase in the short-term debt or long-term debt of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except for debt incurred to finance the Acquisition, (iii) there has been no acquisition or disposition of any material asset by the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries or any contract or arrangement therefor, otherwise than for fair value in the ordinary course of business, (iv) there has been no material change in the Partnership’s accounting principles, practices or methods and (v) there has not been any material adverse change, or any development
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involving, individually or in the aggregate, that has had or would be reasonably expected to have a Partnership Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.22 Investment Company. The Partnership is not now, and after issuance and sale of the Units to be issued and sold by the Partnership hereunder and application of the net proceeds from such sale as described in Section 5.5 hereof will not be, an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
Section 3.23 Litigation. Except as described in the Partnership SEC Documents or the forms, reports, schedules and statements filed with the Commission by NBPC under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, there is (i) no action, suit or proceeding before or by any court, arbitrator or governmental agency, body or official, domestic or foreign, now pending or, to the best of the Partnership’s knowledge, threatened, to which the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries or NBPC is or may be a party or to which the business or property of any of the Partnership or its Subsidiaries or NBPC is or may be subject, (ii) no statute, rule, regulation or order that has been enacted, adopted or issued by any governmental agency or that has been formally proposed by any governmental agency, and (iii) no injunction, restraining order or order of any nature issued by a federal or state court or foreign court of competent jurisdiction to which any of the Partnership or its Subsidiaries or NBPC is or may be subject, that, in the case of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above, is reasonably expected to (A) individually or in the aggregate have a Partnership Material Adverse Effect, (B) prevent or result in the suspension of the offering and sale of the Units, or (C) in any manner draw into question the validity of this Agreement.
Section 3.24 Listing. The Common Units are listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market. The Units will be issued in compliance with all applicable rules of The Nasdaq Market. Prior to the Closing, the Partnership will have submitted to The Nasdaq Market a “Notification Form: Listing of Additional Shares” with respect to the Units. The Partnership has not received a notice of delisting with respect to the Common Units.
Section 3.25 Acknowledgment Regarding Certificates. Any certificate signed by any officer of any of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership and delivered to the Purchasers or counsel for the Purchasers in connection with the offering of the Units shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Partnership as to matters covered thereby to each Purchaser.
Section 3.26 Insurance. The Partnership and its Subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as the Partnership believes are prudent for its businesses. The Partnership does not have any reason to believe that it or any Subsidiary will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business.
Section 3.27 Form S-3 Eligibility. The Partnership is eligible to register the Units for resale by the Purchasers on a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act.
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Section 3.28 No Integration. Neither the Partnership, nor any of its Affiliates, nor any Person acting on its or their behalf has, directly or indirectly, made any offers or sales of any security or solicited any offers to buy any security, under circumstances that would cause this offering of the Units to be integrated with prior offerings by the Partnership for purposes of the Securities Act or any applicable stockholder approval provisions, including, without limitation, under the rules and regulations of the exchange on which the Units are currently listed or quoted.
Section 3.29 Taxes. Each of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries has filed all necessary federal, state and foreign income and franchise tax returns and has paid or accrued all taxes shown as due thereon except for taxes being contested in good faith by the Partnership for which adequate reserves have been established, and neither the Partnership nor any of its subsidiaries has knowledge of a tax deficiency which has been asserted in writing against it which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF EACH PURCHASER
Each Purchaser, severally and not jointly, represents and warrants to the Partnership with respect to itself, on and as of the date of this Agreement and on and of the Closing Date, as follows:
Section 4.1 Valid Existence. Such Purchaser (i) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of its respective jurisdiction of organization and (ii) has all requisite power, and has all material governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals, necessary to own its properties and carry on its business as its business is now being conducted, except where the failure to obtain such licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals would not have and would not reasonably be expected to have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.2 No Breach. The execution, delivery and performance by such Purchaser of the Basic Documents to which it is a party and all other agreements and instruments in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Basic Documents to which it is a party, and compliance by such Purchaser with the terms and provisions hereof and thereof and the purchase of the Units by such Purchaser do not and will not (a) violate any provision of any Law, governmental permit, determination or award having applicability to such Purchaser or any of its properties, (b) conflict with or result in a violation of any provision of the organizational documents of such Purchaser or (c) require any consent (other than standard internal consents), 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 (i) any note, bond, mortgage, license, or loan or credit agreement to which such Purchaser is a party or by which such Purchaser or any of its properties may be bound or (ii) any other such agreement, instrument or obligation, except in the case of clauses (a) and (c) where such violation, default, breach, termination, cancellation, failure to receive consent or approval, or acceleration with respect to the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.2 would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect.
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