UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): May 12, 2015
Williams Partners L.P.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 1-34831 | 20-2485124 | ||
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
One Williams Center Tulsa, Oklahoma |
74172-0172 | |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrants Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (918) 573-2000
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
¨ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
x | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Item 1.01. Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On May 12, 2015, Williams Partners L.P. (WPZ) and WPZ GP LLC (WPZ General Partner and, together with WPZ, the WPZ Parties) entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the Merger Agreement) with The Williams Companies, Inc. (WMB) and its direct wholly owned subsidiary SCMS LLC (Merger Sub, and together with WMB, the WMB Parties). Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub will be merged with and into WPZ, with WPZ being the surviving entity (the Merger).
Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, each outstanding common unit representing limited partner interests in WPZ (the WPZ Common Units) that is held by a unitholder other than WMB and any entities that are partially or wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by WMB, including Merger Sub, Williams Gas Pipeline Company LLC (Williams Gas Pipeline) and WPZ (such units, the WPZ Public Common Units), will be converted into the right to receive 1.115 shares of validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable WMB common stock, par value $1.00 per share (the WMB Common Stock and such exchange ratio, the Public Exchange Ratio). All WPZ Common Units, other than the WPZ Public Common Units, will remain outstanding following the Merger.
The Board of Directors of WMB has, by unanimous vote, (i) determined that the Merger Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger, are in the best interests of WMB and its stockholders, (ii) approved and declared advisable the Merger Agreement, the amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, of WMB (the Charter Amendment) and, subject to and contingent upon the effectiveness of the Charter Amendment, the issuance of WMB Common Stock in connection with the Merger (the WMB Stock Issuance) and (iii) resolved to submit the Charter Amendment and the WMB Stock Issuance to a vote of WMBs stockholders and recommend approval of the adoption of the Charter Amendment and the approval of the WMB Stock Issuance at a special meeting of WMB stockholders (the WMB Stockholder Meeting).
The conflicts committee (the WPZ Conflicts Committee) of the board of directors of WPZ General Partner (the WPZ Board) has, by unanimous vote, in good faith approved the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger, determined that they are in the best interests of WPZ and the holders of WPZ Public Common Units, and resolved to approve and recommend the approval of the Merger Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger, to the WPZ Board. Based upon such approval, the WPZ Board has unanimously approved and adopted the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger, and directed that the Merger Agreement be submitted to a vote of holders of WPZ Common Units and authorized the holders of WPZ Common Units to act by written consent.
Completion of the Merger is conditioned upon, among other things: (i) the approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement and the Merger by holders of at least a majority of the outstanding WPZ Common Units; (ii) all material required governmental consents and approvals in connection with the Merger having been made or obtained; (iii) the absence of legal injunctions or impediments prohibiting the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement; (iv) the effectiveness of a registration statement on Form S-4 with respect to the WMB Stock Issuance; (v) approval of the listing on the New York Stock Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance, of the WMB Common Stock to be issued in the Merger; (vi) the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the aggregate voting power present at the WMB Stockholder Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof to approve the WMB Stock Issuance; and (vii) the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of WMB Common Stock entitled to vote to approve the Charter Amendment.
Pursuant to the terms of the Support Agreement, dated as of May 12, 2015, by and between Williams Partners L.P. and Williams Gas Pipeline Company, LLC (the Support Agreement), Williams Gas Pipeline, which as of May 11, 2015 beneficially owned 339,664,088 WPZ Common Units and 13,948,711 Class B Units representing approximately 58.9% of the outstanding WPZ Common Units, has agreed to deliver a written consent adopting and approving in all respects the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including
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the Merger (the WGP Written Consent). The delivery of the WGP Written Consent (or, if applicable, vote) by Williams Gas Pipeline with respect to the WPZ Common Units it owns will be sufficient to adopt the Merger Agreement and thereby approve the Merger.
The Merger Agreement also contains (i) customary representations and warranties of the WMB Parties and the WPZ Parties, and (ii) covenants of the WMB Parties and the WPZ Parties with respect to, among other things, certain actions taken prior to the closing of the Merger, cooperation with respect to regulatory issues and access to each others information.
The Merger Agreement contains provisions granting both WMB and WPZ the right to terminate the Merger Agreement for certain reasons, including, among others, if: (i) the Merger is not completed on or before November 30, 2015 (the Termination Date); (ii) any governmental authority has issued an order, decree or ruling or taken any other action (including the enactment of any statute, rule, regulation, decree or executive order) enjoining or prohibiting consummation of the Merger; or (iii) under certain conditions, there has been a material breach of any of the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in the Merger Agreement by a party to the Merger Agreement that is not cured by the Termination Date.
The foregoing description of the Merger, the Merger Agreement and the Support Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Merger Agreement and Support Agreement, copies of which are attached hereto as Exhibit 2.1 and Exhibit 99.2, and the terms of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The Merger Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to provide investors and security holders with information regarding its terms. It is not intended to provide any other factual or financial information about WMB, WPZ, the other parties to the Merger Agreement or any of their respective subsidiaries and affiliates. The representations, warranties and covenants contained in the Merger Agreement were made only for purposes of that agreement and as of specific dates; were solely for the benefit of the parties to the Merger Agreement; may be subject to limitations agreed upon by the parties, including being qualified by confidential disclosures made for the purposes of allocating contractual risk between the parties to the Merger Agreement instead of establishing these matters as facts; and may be subject to standards of materiality applicable to the contracting parties that differ from those applicable to investors. Investors should not rely on the representations, warranties and covenants or any description thereof as characterizations of the actual state of facts or condition of WMB, WPZ, the other parties to the Merger Agreement or any of their respective subsidiaries and affiliates. Moreover, information concerning the subject matter of the representations, warranties and covenants may change after the date of the Merger Agreement, which subsequent information may or may not be fully reflected in public disclosures by WMB and WPZ. The Merger Agreement should not be read alone, but should instead be read in conjunction with the other information regarding the companies and the Merger that will be contained in, or incorporated by reference into, the joint solicitation statement/prospectus that the parties will be filing in connection with the Merger, as well as in the other filings that each of WMB and WPZ make with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Important Information:
WMB and WPZ security holders are urged to read the joint solicitation statement/prospectus regarding the proposed transaction when it becomes available because it will contain important information. Investors will be able to obtain a free copy of the joint solicitation statement/prospectus, as well as other filings containing information about the proposed transaction, without charge, at the SECs internet site (http://www.sec.gov). Copies of the joint solicitation statement/prospectus and the filings with the SEC that will be incorporated by reference in the joint solicitation statement/prospectus can also be obtained, without charge, by directing a request either to The Williams Companies, Inc., One Williams Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74172, Attention: Investor Relations or to Williams Partners L.P., One Williams Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74172, Attention: Investor Relations.
The respective directors and executive officers of WMB and WPZ may be deemed to be participants (as defined in Schedule 14A under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act)) in respect of the proposed transaction. Information about WMBs directors and executive officers is available in WMBs annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, filed with the SEC on February 25, 2015. Information about WPZs directors and executive
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officers is available in WPZs annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 filed with the SEC on February 25, 2015. Other information regarding the participants in the solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the joint solicitation statement/prospectus and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC when they become available.
This document shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act).
This communication may contain forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words anticipate, believe, estimate, intend, will, should, and similar expressions, as they relate to WMB and WPZ and their respective subsidiaries are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements reflect managements current beliefs, assumptions and expectations and are subject to a number of factors that may cause actual results to differ materially. Neither WMB nor WPZ assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information or future events or developments, except as required by law.
Item 7.01. | Regulation FD Disclosure. |
On May 13, 2015, WMB and WPZ issued a joint press release announcing, among other things, the entry into the Merger Agreement. A copy of this press release is furnished and attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.
The information furnished is not deemed filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act is not subject to the liabilities of that section and is not deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d) | Exhibits. |
Exhibit |
Description | |
2.1* | Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of May 12, 2015, by and among The Williams Companies, Inc., SCMS LLC, Williams Partners L.P., and WPZ GP LLC. | |
99.1 | Press Release, dated May 13, 2015. | |
99.2 | Support Agreement, dated as of May 12, 2015, by and between Williams Partners L.P. and Williams Gas Pipeline Company, LLC. |
* | Certain schedules have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. A copy of any omitted schedule will be furnished supplementally to the SEC upon request. |
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
WILLIAMS PARTNERS L.P. | ||||
By: | WPZ GP LLC, | |||
its General Partner | ||||
By: | /s/ William H. Gault | |||
William H. Gault | ||||
Assistant Secretary |
DATED: May 13, 2015
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit |
Description | |
2.1* | Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of May 12, 2015, by and among The Williams Companies, Inc., SCMS LLC, Williams Partners L.P., and WPZ GP LLC. | |
99.1 | Press Release, dated May 13, 2015. | |
99.2 | Support Agreement, dated as of May 12, 2015, by and between Williams Partners L.P. and Williams Gas Pipeline Company, LLC. |
* | Certain schedules have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. A copy of any omitted schedule will be furnished supplementally to the SEC upon request. |
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Exhibit 2.1
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
dated as of
May 12, 2015
by and among
THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC.,
SCMS LLC,
WILLIAMS PARTNERS L.P.,
and
WPZ GP LLC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||||
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS |
2 | |||||
SECTION 1.1 |
Definitions |
2 | ||||
SECTION 1.2 |
Rules of Construction |
11 | ||||
ARTICLE II MERGER |
12 | |||||
SECTION 2.1 |
Closing of the Merger |
12 | ||||
SECTION 2.2 |
Exchange of WPZ Public Units |
15 | ||||
SECTION 2.3 |
Treatment of WPZ Phantom Unit Awards |
17 | ||||
ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE WPZ PARTIES |
18 | |||||
SECTION 3.1 |
Organization and Existence |
18 | ||||
SECTION 3.2 |
Authority and Approval |
19 | ||||
SECTION 3.3 |
No Conflict; Consents |
20 | ||||
SECTION 3.4 |
Capitalization; Limited Partner Interests |
20 | ||||
SECTION 3.5 |
SEC Documents; Internal Controls |
22 | ||||
SECTION 3.6 |
Financial Statements; Undisclosed Liabilities |
23 | ||||
SECTION 3.7 |
Real Property; Rights-of-Way |
24 | ||||
SECTION 3.8 |
Litigation; Laws and Regulations |
24 | ||||
SECTION 3.9 |
No Adverse Changes |
25 | ||||
SECTION 3.10 |
Taxes |
25 | ||||
SECTION 3.11 |
Environmental Matters |
26 | ||||
SECTION 3.12 |
Licenses; Permits |
26 | ||||
SECTION 3.13 |
Contracts |
27 | ||||
SECTION 3.14 |
Insurance |
27 | ||||
SECTION 3.15 |
Condition of Assets |
27 | ||||
SECTION 3.16 |
Investment Company Act |
28 | ||||
SECTION 3.17 |
Brokerage Arrangements |
28 | ||||
SECTION 3.18 |
State Takeover Laws |
28 | ||||
SECTION 3.19 |
Opinion of Financial Advisor |
28 | ||||
SECTION 3.20 |
Information Supplied |
28 | ||||
SECTION 3.21 |
Waivers and Disclaimers |
28 |
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Table of Contents
(Continued)
Page | ||||||
ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PARENT PARTIES |
29 | |||||
SECTION 4.1 |
Organization and Existence |
29 | ||||
SECTION 4.2 |
Authority and Approval |
30 | ||||
SECTION 4.3 |
No Conflict; Consents |
31 | ||||
SECTION 4.4 |
Capitalization |
32 | ||||
SECTION 4.5 |
SEC Documents; Internal Controls |
32 | ||||
SECTION 4.6 |
Financial Statements; Undisclosed Liabilities |
34 | ||||
SECTION 4.7 |
Real Property; Rights-of-Way |
34 | ||||
SECTION 4.8 |
Litigation; Laws and Regulations |
35 | ||||
SECTION 4.9 |
No Adverse Changes |
35 | ||||
SECTION 4.10 |
Taxes |
36 | ||||
SECTION 4.11 |
Environmental Matters |
36 | ||||
SECTION 4.12 |
Licenses; Permits |
37 | ||||
SECTION 4.13 |
Contracts |
37 | ||||
SECTION 4.14 |
Employees and Employee Benefits |
38 | ||||
SECTION 4.15 |
Labor Matters |
39 | ||||
SECTION 4.16 |
Insurance |
39 | ||||
SECTION 4.17 |
Condition of Assets |
39 | ||||
SECTION 4.18 |
Investment Company Act |
39 | ||||
SECTION 4.19 |
Brokerage Arrangements |
39 | ||||
SECTION 4.20 |
State Takeover Laws |
40 | ||||
SECTION 4.21 |
Opinion of Financial Advisor |
40 | ||||
SECTION 4.22 |
Information Supplied |
40 | ||||
SECTION 4.23 |
Waivers and Disclaimers |
40 | ||||
ARTICLE V ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS, COVENANTS, RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS |
41 | |||||
SECTION 5.1 |
Conduct of Parties |
41 | ||||
SECTION 5.2 |
Access to Information; Confidentiality |
44 | ||||
SECTION 5.3 |
Certain Filings; Parent Stockholder Meeting |
44 |
ii
Table of Contents
(Continued)
Page | ||||||
SECTION 5.4 |
Commercially Reasonable Efforts; Further Assurances |
47 | ||||
SECTION 5.5 |
No Public Announcement |
47 | ||||
SECTION 5.6 |
Expenses |
48 | ||||
SECTION 5.7 |
Regulatory Issues |
48 | ||||
SECTION 5.8 |
Tax Matters |
48 | ||||
SECTION 5.9 |
D&O Insurance |
48 | ||||
SECTION 5.10 |
Dividends and Distributions |
49 | ||||
SECTION 5.11 |
Consent to Use of Financial Statements; Financing Cooperation |
49 | ||||
SECTION 5.12 |
Section 16 Matters |
50 | ||||
SECTION 5.13 |
Conflicts Committee |
50 | ||||
ARTICLE VI CONDITIONS TO CLOSING |
50 | |||||
SECTION 6.1 |
Conditions to Each Partys Obligations |
50 | ||||
SECTION 6.2 |
Conditions to the Parent Parties Obligations |
51 | ||||
SECTION 6.3 |
Conditions to the WPZ Parties Obligations |
52 | ||||
SECTION 6.4 |
Frustration of Conditions |
53 | ||||
ARTICLE VII TERMINATION |
53 | |||||
SECTION 7.1 |
Termination by Mutual Consent |
53 | ||||
SECTION 7.2 |
Termination by WPZ or Parent |
53 | ||||
SECTION 7.3 |
Termination by WPZ |
53 | ||||
SECTION 7.4 |
Termination by Parent |
54 | ||||
SECTION 7.5 |
Effect of Certain Terminations |
54 | ||||
SECTION 7.6 |
Parent Termination Fee |
54 | ||||
SECTION 7.7 |
Survival |
55 | ||||
SECTION 7.8 |
Enforcement of this Agreement |
55 | ||||
SECTION 7.9 |
No Waiver Relating to Claims for Fraud/Willful Misconduct |
55 | ||||
ARTICLE VIII MISCELLANEOUS |
55 | |||||
SECTION 8.1 |
Notices |
55 | ||||
SECTION 8.2 |
Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial |
57 |
iii
Table of Contents
(Continued)
Page | ||||||
SECTION 8.3 |
Entire Agreement; Amendments, Consents and Waivers |
57 | ||||
SECTION 8.4 |
Binding Effect; No Third-Party Beneficiaries; and Assignment |
58 | ||||
SECTION 8.5 |
Severability |
59 | ||||
SECTION 8.6 |
Counterparts |
59 |
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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this Agreement) dated as of May 12, 2015 (the Execution Date), is entered into by and among The Williams Companies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (Parent), SCMS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (Merger Sub), Williams Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (WPZ), and WPZ GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the general partner of WPZ (WPZ General Partner).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, Parent and WPZ desire to combine their businesses on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement;
WHEREAS, WPZ has required, as a condition to its willingness to enter into this Agreement, that Williams Gas Pipeline Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (WGP), simultaneously herewith enters into a Support Agreement, dated as of the Execution Date (the Support Agreement), pursuant to which, among other things, WGP agrees to support the Merger (as defined below) and the other transactions contemplated hereby, on the terms and subject to the conditions provided for in the Support Agreement;
WHEREAS, the WPZ Conflicts Committee (as defined below), by unanimous vote, in good faith (a) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby are in the best interest of WPZ and the Holders (as defined below) of WPZ Public Units (as defined below), (b) approved this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger (the foregoing constituting WPZ Special Approval (as defined below)), and (c) resolved to approve, and to recommend to the WPZ Board (as defined below) the approval of, this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger;
WHEREAS, upon the receipt of the recommendation of the WPZ Conflicts Committee, at a meeting duly called and held, the WPZ Board, by unanimous vote, (a) approved this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, and (b) directed that this Agreement be submitted to a vote of the Holders of WPZ Units and authorized the Holders of WPZ Units to act by written consent pursuant to Section 13.11 of the WPZ Partnership Agreement (as defined below); and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Parent, by unanimous vote, has (a) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, are in the best interests of Parent and its stockholders, (b) approved and declared advisable this Agreement, the Charter Amendment (as defined herein) and, subject to and contingent upon the effectiveness of the Charter Amendment, the issuance of shares of common stock of Parent, par value $1.00 per share (Parent Common Stock), in connection with the Merger (the Parent Stock Issuance), and (c) resolved to submit the Charter Amendment and the Parent Stock Issuance to a vote of Parents stockholders and recommend approval of the adoption of the Charter Amendment and approval of the Parent Stock Issuance.
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NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the respective representations, warranties, covenants, agreements and conditions contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1 Definitions. In this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms shall have the following meanings respectively:
Affiliate has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 of the rules and regulations under the Securities Act, unless otherwise expressly stated herein; provided, however, that prior to the Closing (i) with respect to the Parent Group Entities, the term Affiliate shall exclude each of the WPZ Group Entities, and (ii) with respect to the WPZ Group Entities, the term Affiliate shall exclude each of the Parent Group Entities.
Agreement has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
AMV means Access Midstream Ventures, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company and the sole member of the WPZ General Partner.
Book-Entry WPZ Common Units has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(c)(ii).
Business Day means any day on which commercial banks are generally open for business in New York, New York other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day observed as a holiday in New York, New York under the Laws of the State of New York or the federal Laws of the United States of America.
CERCLA means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act.
Certificate of Merger has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b).
Charter Amendment has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(d).
Closing has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).
Closing Date has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Confidentiality Agreement has the meaning set forth in Section 5.2.
Consent Statement/Prospectus/Parent Proxy Statement has the meaning set forth in Section 5.3(a).
D&O Insurance has the meaning set forth in Section 5.9(b).
Delaware Courts has the meaning set forth in Section 8.2.
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DGCL means the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended.
DLLCA means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, as amended.
DRULPA means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, as amended.
Effective Time has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b).
Employee Benefit Plan means any employee benefit plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA), and any equity-based purchase, option, change-in-control, collective bargaining, incentive, employee loan, deferred compensation, pension, profit-sharing, retirement, bonus, retention bonus, employment, severance and other employee benefit or fringe benefit plan, agreement, program, policy or other arrangement, whether or not subject to ERISA (including any funding mechanism now in effect or required in the future), whether formal or informal, oral or written, legally binding or not, maintained by, sponsored by or contributed to by, or obligated to be contributed to by, the entity in question or with respect to which the entity in question has any obligation or liability, whether secondary, contingent or otherwise.
Environmental Laws means, without limitation, the following laws, in effect as of the Closing Date, as amended: (i) the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act; (ii) the Clean Air Act; (iii) CERCLA; (iv) the Federal Water Pollution Control Act; (v) the Safe Drinking Water Act; (vi) the Toxic Substances Control Act; (vii) the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to Know Act; (viii) the National Environmental Policy Act; (ix) the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990; (x) the Oil Pollution Act of 1990; (xi) the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act; (xii) the Occupational Safety and Health Act; and (xiii) all laws, statutes, rules, regulations, orders, judgments, decrees promulgated or issued with respect to the foregoing Environmental Laws by Governmental Entities with jurisdiction in the premises and any other federal, state or local statutes, laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, orders, codes, decisions, injunctions or decrees that regulate or otherwise pertain to the protection of human health, safety or the environment, including but not limited to the management, control, discharge, emission, treatment, containment, handling, removal, use, generation, permitting, migration, storage, release, transportation, disposal, remediation, manufacture, processing or distribution of Hazardous Materials that are or may present a threat to human health or the environment.
ERISA means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Exchange Agent has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).
Exchange Fund has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).
Execution Date has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
Fractional Share Payment has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(e).
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GAAP has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2.
Governing Documents means, with respect to any Person, the certificate or articles of incorporation or formation, bylaws, articles of organization, limited liability company agreement, partnership agreement, formation agreement, joint venture agreement, operating agreement, unanimous equityholder agreement or declaration or other similar governing documents of such Person.
Governmental Entity means any federal, state, tribal, provincial, municipal, foreign or other government, governmental court, department, commission, board, bureau, regulatory or administrative agency or instrumentality.
Hazardous Material means any substance, whether solid, liquid, or gaseous: (i) which is listed, defined, or regulated as a hazardous material, hazardous waste, solid waste, hazardous substance, toxic substance, pollutant, or contaminant, or words of similar meaning or import found in any applicable Environmental Law; or (ii) which is or contains asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, explosives, or radioactive materials; or (iii) any petroleum, petroleum hydrocarbons, petroleum substances, petroleum or petrochemical products, natural gas, crude oil and any components, fractions, or derivatives thereof, any oil or gas exploration or production waste, and any natural gas, synthetic gas and any mixtures thereof; or (iv) radioactive material, waste and pollutants, radiation, radionuclides and their progeny, or nuclear waste including used nuclear fuel; or (v) which causes or poses a threat to cause contamination or nuisance on any properties, or any adjacent property or a hazard to the environment or to the health or safety of persons on or about any properties.
Holders means, when used with reference to shares of the Parent Common Stock or the WPZ Units, the holders of such shares or units shown from time to time in the registers maintained by or on behalf of Parent or WPZ, respectively.
IDR Waiver has the meaning set forth in Section 7.6(b).
Knowledge as used in this Agreement with respect to a party hereto, means the actual knowledge of that partys designated personnel, after reasonable inquiry. The designated personnel for the Parent Parties are set forth on Schedule A-1 hereto. The designated personnel for the WPZ Parties are set forth on Schedule A-2 hereto.
Laws means all statutes, regulations, codes, tariffs, ordinances, decisions, administrative interpretations, writs, injunctions, stipulations, statutory rules, orders, judgments, decrees and terms and conditions of any grant of approval, permission, authority, permit or license of any court, Governmental Entity, statutory body or self-regulatory authority (including the NYSE).
Letter of Transmittal has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(b).
Liens means any mortgage, restriction (including restrictions on transfer), deed of trust, lien, security interest, preemptive right, option, right of first offer or refusal, lease or sublease, claim, pledge, conditional sales contract, charge, encroachment or encumbrance.
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Merger means the merger of Merger Sub with and into WPZ, with WPZ as the sole surviving entity.
Merger Consideration has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(c)(i).
Merger Sub has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
Multiemployer Plan has the meaning set forth in Section 4.14(b).
NGL means natural gas liquids.
Notice has the meaning set forth in Section 8.1.
NYSE means the New York Stock Exchange.
Orders has the meaning set forth in Section 3.8(a).
Parent has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
Parent 8-K has the meaning set forth in Section 4.6(a).
Parent Acquisition Proposal means any inquiry, proposal or offer from any Person or group (as defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act), other than the WPZ Group Entities, relating to any (a) direct or indirect acquisition (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions), outside of the ordinary course of business, of assets of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries (including securities of Parent Subsidiaries) equal to twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the assets (based on fair market value) of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries, taken as whole, or to which twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the revenues or earnings (for the twelve-month period ending on the last day of Parents most recently completed fiscal quarter) of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, are attributable, or (b) direct or indirect acquisition (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Section 13(d) under the Exchange Act) of twenty-five percent (25%) or more of any class of equity securities of Parent. For purposes of this definition, the assets and revenues of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries shall include the assets, revenues and earnings of the WPZ Group Entities.
Parent Adverse Recommendation Change has the meaning set forth in Section 5.3(e).
Parent Aggregated Group has the meaning set forth in Section 4.14(b).
Parent Associated Employees has the meaning set forth in Section 4.15(a).
Parent Award has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.
Parent Benefit Plan means any Employee Benefit Plan maintained by, sponsored by or contributed to by, or obligated to be contributed to by any Parent Group Entity.
Parent Board means the Board of Directors of Parent.
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Parent Board Recommendation has the meaning set forth in Section 5.3(e).
Parent Charter Approval has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2.
Parent Common Stock has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
Parent Designated Proposal means a bona fide written Parent Acquisition Proposal obtained after the date of this Agreement, which is on terms and conditions which the Parent Board determines in good faith to be more favorable to Parents stockholders from a financial point of view than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, taking into account all financial, legal, financing, regulatory and other aspects of such offer and any changes to the terms of this Agreement that as of the time of determination had been committed to by WPZ and the WPZ General Partner in writing; provided that, for purposes of this definition of Parent Designated Proposal, references in the term Parent Acquisition Proposal to 25% shall be deemed to be references to 50%.
Parent Disclosure Letter means the disclosure letter prepared by Parent and delivered to WPZ concurrently herewith.
Parent Financial Statements has the meaning set forth in Section 4.6(a).
Parent Group Entities means the Parent Parties and the Parent Subsidiaries.
Parent Material Adverse Effect means any change, effect, event or occurrence that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on or a material adverse change in (i) the business, assets, liabilities, properties, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations of the Parent Group Entities, taken as a whole (including the ownership of the WPZ Group Entities); provided, however, that any adverse changes, effects, events or occurrences resulting from or due to any of the following shall be disregarded in determining whether there has been a Parent Material Adverse Effect: (a) changes, effects, events or occurrences affecting the natural gas gathering, processing, treating, transportation and storage industries generally and NGL marketing industry generally (including any change in the prices of natural gas, NGL or other hydrocarbon products, industry margins or any regulatory changes or changes in applicable Law), (b) changes, effects, events or occurrences affecting the United States or global economic conditions or financial, credit, debt, securities or other capital markets in general, (c) any outbreak of, acts of or escalation of hostilities, terrorism, war or other similar national emergency, (d) the announcement or pendency of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, (e) changes in any Laws applicable to Parent or any of the Parent Subsidiaries or in accounting regulations or principles or the interpretation thereof that materially affects this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, (f) the Parent Parties taking any action required or contemplated by this Agreement, (g) changes, effects, events or occurrences at any WPZ Group Entity or (h) any change in the market price or trading volume of the shares of common stock or other equity securities of Parent (it being understood and agreed that the foregoing shall not preclude any other party to this Agreement from asserting that any facts or occurrences giving rise to or contributing to such change that are not otherwise excluded from the definition of Parent Material Adverse Effect should be deemed to constitute, or be taken into account in determining whether there has been,
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or would reasonably be expected to be, a Parent Material Adverse Effect); provided that, in the case of clauses (a), (b), (c) and (e) the adverse impact on the Parent Group Entities, taken as a whole, is not materially disproportionate to the adverse impact on similarly situated parties, or (ii) the ability of any of the Parent Parties to perform their obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Parent Material Contract shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.13(a).
Parent Partially Owned Entities means the Partially Owned Entities of Parent.
Parent Parties means Parent and Merger Sub.
Parent Preferred Stock has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4(a).
Parent Proxy Statement has the meaning set forth in Section 3.17.
Parent SEC Reports has the meaning set forth in Section 4.5(a).
Parent Stockholder Approval has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2.
Parent Stockholder Meeting has the meaning set forth in Section 5.3(e).
Parent Stock Issuance has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
Parent Stock Issuance Approval has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2.
Parent Subsidiaries means the entities that are partially or wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by Parent, excluding any WPZ Group Entity.
Parent Termination Fee has the meaning set forth in Section 7.6(a).
Partially Owned Entity means, with respect to a specified Person, an entity that is directly or indirectly owned in part by such specified Person, but is not directly or indirectly wholly owned by such specified Person.
Party Group means the WPZ Parties, on the one hand, and the Parent Parties, on the other hand. A reference to a Party Group is a reference to each of the members of such Party Group.
Pension Plan has the meaning set forth in Section 4.14(b).
Permits has the meaning set forth in Section 3.12(a).
Permitted Lien means all: (i) mechanics, materialmens, carriers, workmens, repairmens, vendors, operators or other like Liens, if any, that do not materially detract from the value of or materially interfere with the use of any of the assets of the Parent Group Entities or WPZ Group Entities, as applicable, subject thereto; (ii) Liens arising under original purchase price conditional sales contracts and equipment leases with third parties entered into in the
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ordinary course of business; (iii) title defects or Liens (other than those constituting Liens for the payment of indebtedness), if any, that do not or would not, individually or in the aggregate, impair in any material respect the use or occupancy of the assets of the Parent Group Entities or WPZ Group Entities, as applicable, taken as a whole; (iv) Liens for Taxes that are not due and payable or that may thereafter be paid without penalty; and (v) Liens supporting surety bonds, performance bonds and similar obligations issued in connection with the businesses of the Parent Group Entities or WPZ Group Entities, as applicable.
Person means an individual, partnership, corporation, association, trust, limited liability company, joint venture, unincorporated organization or other entity or Governmental Entity.
Proceedings has the meaning set forth in Section 3.8(a).
Registration Statement has the meaning set forth in Section 3.17.
Rights shall mean, with respect to any Person, subscriptions, options, restricted units, equity appreciation rights, profits interests or other equity-based interests, warrants, calls, convertible or exchangeable securities, rights, preemptive rights, preferential purchase rights, rights of first refusal or any similar rights, commitments or agreements of any character providing for the issuance of any partnership interests, voting securities or equity interests of such Person, including any representing the right to purchase or otherwise receive any of the foregoing or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for such partnership interests, voting securities or equity interests.
Rights-of-Way has the meaning set forth in Section 3.7(b).
Sarbanes-Oxley Act has the meaning set forth in Section 3.5(a).
SEC means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Subsidiaries means, when used with reference to Parent or WPZ, the Parent Subsidiaries or the WPZ Subsidiaries, respectively.
Support Agreement has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
Surrender means, when used with reference to a WPZ Public Unit, the proper delivery of a WPZ Certificate (or lost certificate affidavit as contemplated by Section 2.2(b)) or the proper completion, with respect to a Book-Entry WPZ Common Unit, of all procedures necessary, in either case, to effect the transfer of such WPZ Public Unit in accordance with the terms of the Letter of Transmittal or such other procedures as may be reasonably established by the Exchange Agent.
Surviving Entity has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b).
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Tax or Taxes means all taxes, however denominated, including any interest, penalties or other additions to tax that may become payable in respect thereof, imposed by any Governmental Entity, which taxes shall include, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, all income or profits taxes (including, but not limited to, federal income taxes and state income taxes), gross receipts taxes, net proceeds taxes, alternative or add-on minimum taxes, sales taxes, use taxes, real property gains or transfer taxes, ad valorem taxes, property taxes, value-added taxes, franchise taxes, production taxes, severance taxes, windfall profit taxes, withholding taxes, payroll taxes, employment taxes, excise taxes and other obligations of the same or similar nature to any of the foregoing.
Tax Return means all reports, estimates, declarations of estimated Tax, information statements and returns relating to, or required to be filed in connection with, any Taxes, including information returns or reports with respect to backup withholding and other payments to third parties.
Termination Date has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2(a).
WGP has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
WPZ has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
WPZ 8-K has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6(a).
WPZ Board means the Board of Directors of WPZ General Partner.
WPZ Certificate has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(c)(ii).
WPZ Class B Units means the Convertible Class B Units, as defined in the WPZ Partnership Agreement.
WPZ Common Units means the Common Units, as defined in the WPZ Partnership Agreement.
WPZ Conflicts Committee means the Conflicts Committee (as defined in the WPZ Partnership Agreement) of the WPZ Board.
WPZ D&O Indemnified Parties means (a) any Person (together with such Persons heirs, executors and administrators) who is or was, or at any time prior to the Effective Time becomes, an officer or director of any WPZ Group Entity and (b) any Person (together with such Persons heirs, executors and administrators) who is or was serving, or at any time prior to the Effective Time serves, at the request of any WPZ Group Entity as an officer, director, member, partner, agent, fiduciary or trustee of another Person; provided that a Person shall not be a WPZ D&O Indemnified Party by reason of providing, on a fee-for-services basis, trustee, fiduciary or custodial services.
WPZ Disclosure Letter means the disclosure letter prepared by WPZ and delivered to Parent concurrently herewith.
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WPZ Financial Statements has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6(a).
WPZ General Partner has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
WPZ General Partner Interest means the General Partner Interest, as defined in the WPZ Partnership Agreement.
WPZ GP LLC Agreement means the Seventh Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of WPZ General Partner, dated as of February 2, 2015.
WPZ GP Long-Term Incentive Plan means the Williams Partners GP LLC Long-Term Incentive Plan, dated as of August 23, 2005, as amended on November 28, 2006 and December 2, 2008.
WPZ Group Entities means the WPZ Parties and the WPZ Subsidiaries.
WPZ Incentive Distribution Right means an Incentive Distribution Right, as defined in the WPZ Partnership Agreement.
WPZ Legacy Long-Term Incentive Plan means the Williams Partners Long-Term Incentive Plan (f/k/a the Access Midstream Long-Term Incentive Plan and f/k/a the Chesapeake Midstream Long-Term Incentive Plan), as amended effective as of July 1, 2014 and February 2, 2015.
WPZ Material Adverse Effect means any change, effect, event or occurrence that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on or a material adverse change in (i) the business, assets, liabilities, properties, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations of the WPZ Group Entities, taken as a whole; provided, however, that any adverse changes, effects, events or occurrences resulting from or due to any of the following shall be disregarded in determining whether there has been a WPZ Material Adverse Effect: (a) changes, effects, events or occurrences affecting the natural gas gathering, processing, treating, transportation and storage industries generally and NGL marketing industry generally (including any change in the prices of natural gas, NGL or other hydrocarbon products, industry margins or any regulatory changes or changes in applicable Law), (b) changes, effects, events or occurrences affecting the United States or global economic conditions or financial, credit, debit, securities or other capital markets in general, (c) any outbreak of, acts of or escalation of hostilities, terrorism, war or other similar national emergency, (d) the announcement or pendency of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, (e) changes in any Laws applicable to WPZ or any of the WPZ Subsidiaries or in accounting regulations or principles or the interpretation thereof that materially affects this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, (f) the WPZ Parties taking any action required or contemplated by this Agreement or (g) any change in the market price or trading volume of the limited partnership interests or other equity securities of WPZ (it being understood and agreed that the foregoing shall not preclude any other party to this Agreement from asserting that any facts or occurrences giving rise to or contributing to such change that are not otherwise excluded from the definition of WPZ Material Adverse Effect should be deemed to constitute, or be taken into account in determining whether there has been, or would reasonably be expected to be, a WPZ Material Adverse Effect); provided that, in the case of clauses (a), (b),
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(c) and (e) the adverse impact on the WPZ Group Entities, taken as a whole, is not materially disproportionate to the adverse impact on similarly situated parties, or (ii) the ability of either of the WPZ Parties to perform their obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
WPZ Material Contract shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.13(a).
WPZ Partially Owned Entities means the Partially Owned Entities of WPZ.
WPZ Parties means WPZ and WPZ General Partner.
WPZ Partnership Agreement means the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of WPZ dated August 3, 2010, as heretofore amended, and as further amended from time to time after the Execution Date in accordance with this Agreement.
WPZ Partnership Interest means Partnership Interest, as defined in the WPZ Partnership Agreement.
WPZ Phantom Unit Award has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4(d).
WPZ Public Units means the WPZ Common Units other than the WPZ Common Units held directly or indirectly by the Parent Group Entities or by WPZ.
WPZ SEC Reports has the meaning set forth in Section 3.5(a).
WPZ Special Approval means Special Approval, as defined in the WPZ Partnership Agreement.
WPZ Subsidiaries means the entities that are partially or wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by WPZ.
WPZ Units means the WPZ Common Units and the WPZ Class B Units.
WPZ Vote has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2.
Written Consent means approval of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, by written consent without a meeting in accordance with Section 13.11 and Section 14.3 of the WPZ Partnership Agreement of the holders of WPZ Units constituting a Unit Majority (as defined in the WPZ Partnership Agreement).
SECTION 1.2 Rules of Construction. The division of this Agreement into articles, sections and other portions and the insertion of headings are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation hereof. Unless otherwise indicated, all references to an Article or Section followed by a number or a letter refer to the specified Article or Section of this Agreement. The terms this Agreement, hereof, herein and hereunder and similar expressions refer to this Agreement (including the WPZ Disclosure Letter and the Parent Disclosure Letter) and not to any particular Article, Section or other portion
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hereof. Unless otherwise specifically indicated or the context otherwise requires, (a) all references to dollars or $ mean United States dollars, (b) words importing the singular shall include the plural and vice versa and words importing any gender shall include all genders, (c) include, includes and including shall be deemed to be followed by the words without limitation, and (d) all words used as accounting terms shall have the meanings assigned to them under United States generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (GAAP). In the event that any date on which any action is required to be taken hereunder by any of the parties hereto is not a Business Day, such action shall be required to be taken on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day. Reference to any party hereto is also a reference to such partys permitted successors and assigns. The Exhibits attached to this Agreement are hereby incorporated by reference into this Agreement and form part hereof. Unless otherwise indicated, all references to an Exhibit followed by a number or a letter refer to the specified Exhibit to this Agreement. The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, it is the intention of the parties hereto that this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any Person by virtue of the authorship of any of the provisions of this Agreement. Further, prior drafts of this Agreement or the fact that any clauses have been added, deleted or otherwise modified from any prior drafts of this Agreement shall not be used as an aid of construction or otherwise constitute evidence of the intent of the parties; and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party hereto by virtue of such prior drafts.
ARTICLE II
MERGER
SECTION 2.1 Closing of the Merger.
(a) Closing Date. Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions (other than those conditions that are not legally permitted to be waived) to closing set forth in Article VI, the closing (the Closing) of the Merger and the transactions contemplated by this Section 2.1 shall be held at the offices of Parent at One Williams Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74172-0172 on the next Business Day following the satisfaction or waiver (other than those conditions that are not legally permitted to be waived) of all of the conditions set forth in Article VI (other than conditions that would normally be satisfied on the Closing Date, but subject to satisfaction or waiver (other than those conditions that are not legally permitted to be waived) of those conditions) commencing at 9:00 a.m., local time, or such other place, date and time as may be mutually agreed upon in writing by the parties hereto. The Closing Date, as referred to herein, shall mean the date on which the Closing actually occurs.
(b) Effective Time. Concurrently with or as soon as practicable following the Closing, Parent and WPZ shall cause a certificate of merger effecting the Merger (the Certificate of Merger) to be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, duly executed in accordance with the relevant provisions of DRULPA and DLLCA, as applicable (the date and time of such filing (or, if agreed by the parties hereto, such later time and date as may be expressed therein as the effective date and time of the Merger) being the Effective Time). Parent shall cause the Charter Amendment, duly executed in accordance with the relevant
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provisions of DGCL, to be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware prior to the filing of the Certificate of Merger, and the Charter Amendment shall become effective at or prior to the Effective Time. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, at the Effective Time, Merger Sub shall merge with and into WPZ, the separate existence of Merger Sub shall cease, and WPZ shall continue as the surviving limited partnership in the Merger (the Surviving Entity).
(c) Effect of the Merger on Equity Securities. Subject in each case to Sections 2.1(e) and 2.1(f), at the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of Parent, Merger Sub, WPZ, WPZ General Partner, any Holder of WPZ Units, any Holder of Parent Common Stock, or any other Person:
(i) Conversion of WPZ Public Units. Each of the WPZ Public Units outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into the right to receive 1.115 shares of validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable Parent Common Stock (such number of shares of Parent Common Stock, the Merger Consideration).
(ii) Each WPZ Public Unit, upon being converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration pursuant to this Section 2.1(c), shall cease to be outstanding and shall be canceled and retired and shall cease to exist, and each Holder of such WPZ Public Units immediately prior to the Effective Time shall thereafter cease to be a limited partner of WPZ or have any rights with respect to such WPZ Public Units, except the right to receive the Merger Consideration, and any distributions and Fractional Share Payments to which former Holders of WPZ Public Units become entitled all in accordance with this Article II upon the Surrender of (A) a certificate that immediately prior to the Effective Time represented WPZ Public Units (a WPZ Certificate) or (B) uncertificated WPZ Public Units represented by book-entry (Book-Entry WPZ Common Units), together with such properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal and such other documents in accordance with Section 2.2.
(iii) Treatment of WPZ-Owned Units and Parent-Owned Partnership Interests. Any WPZ Units that are owned immediately prior to the Effective Time by WPZ shall be automatically canceled and shall cease to exist and no consideration shall be delivered in exchange for such canceled WPZ Units. All (a) WPZ General Partner Interest, (b) WPZ Class B Units, (c) WPZ Incentive Distribution Rights, and (d) WPZ Units that are not WPZ Public Units or not cancelled pursuant to the first sentence of this clause (iii) shall, in each case, remain outstanding as partnership interests in the Surviving Entity, unaffected by the Merger.
(iv) Equity of Merger Sub. The outstanding limited liability company interest in Merger Sub issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into an aggregate number of common units of the Surviving Entity equal to the number of WPZ Public Units that are converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration pursuant to Section 2.1(c)(i). At the Effective Time, the books and records of WPZ shall be revised to reflect the cancellation and retirement of all WPZ Public Units and the conversion of the limited liability company interest in Merger Sub to common units of the Surviving Entity, and the existence of WPZ (as the Surviving Entity) shall continue without dissolution.
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(d) Governing Documents of Parent. Subject to receipt of the Parent Charter Approval, the certificate of incorporation of Parent shall be amended at or prior to the Effective Time as set forth in Exhibit A (the Charter Amendment), and such certificate of incorporation, as amended by the Charter Amendment, shall be the certificate of incorporation of Parent until thereafter amended or changed as provided herein or by applicable Law.
(e) Other Effects of the Merger. The Merger shall be conducted in accordance with and shall have the effects set forth in this Agreement and the applicable provisions of DRULPA and DLLCA. At the Effective Time, (i) the certificate of limited partnership of WPZ shall continue as the certificate of limited partnership of the Surviving Entity, and (ii) the WPZ Partnership Agreement shall remain unchanged and shall continue as the agreement of limited partnership of the Surviving Entity, until duly amended in accordance with applicable Law and the terms of the WPZ Partnership Agreement.
(f) No Fractional Shares. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, (i) no certificates or scrip representing fractional shares of Parent Common Stock shall be issued in the Merger and (ii) each registered Holder of WPZ Public Units exchanged pursuant to the Merger who would otherwise have been entitled to receive a fractional share of Parent Common Stock (after taking into account all WPZ Public Units held by such Holder immediately prior to the Effective Time) shall receive from Parent, in lieu of such fractional share, an amount (a Fractional Share Payment) in cash (payable in dollars, without interest) equal to the product of (A) such fraction, multiplied by (B) the average of the closing price of Parent Common Stock as reported on the NYSE Composite Transactions Tape (as reported by Bloomberg Financial Markets or such other source as the parties shall agree in writing) over the five trading day period ending on the third trading day immediately preceding the Effective Time.
(g) Certain Adjustments. If between the Execution Date and the Effective Time, whether or not permitted pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, the number of outstanding WPZ Common Units or shares of Parent Common Stock shall be changed into a different number of units, shares or other securities (including any different class or series of securities) by reason of any dividend or distribution payable in partnership interests, voting securities, equity interests or Rights, subdivision, reclassification, split, split-up, combination, merger, consolidation, reorganization, exchange or other similar transaction, or any such transaction shall be authorized, declared or agreed upon with a record date at or prior to the Effective Time, then the Merger Consideration, and any other similarly dependent items shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect fully the effect of such transaction and to provide to WPZ, Merger Sub and the Holders of WPZ Phantom Unit Awards and WPZ Public Units the same economic effect as contemplated by this Agreement prior to such event, and thereafter, all references in this Agreement to the Merger Consideration, and any other similarly dependent items shall be references to the Merger Consideration, and any other similarly dependent items, as so adjusted; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 2.1(g) shall be deemed to permit or authorize any party hereto to effect any such dividend or distribution payable in equity securities or Rights, subdivision, reclassification, split, split-up, combination, merger,
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consolidation, reorganization, exchange or other similar transaction, or the authorization, declaration or agreement to do such transaction that it is not otherwise authorized or permitted to be undertaken pursuant to this Agreement.
SECTION 2.2 Exchange of WPZ Public Units.
(a) Exchange Agent. Prior to the mailing of the Consent Statement/Prospectus/Parent Proxy Statement, Parent shall appoint Computershare Trust Company, N.A. to act as exchange agent (the Exchange Agent) for the payment of the Merger Consideration, any dividends and other distributions pursuant to Section 2.2(c) and any Fractional Share Payment. At or prior to the Closing, Parent shall (i) deposit (or cause to be deposited) with the Exchange Agent, for the benefit of the Holders of WPZ Public Units, an amount of cash sufficient to effect the delivery of the estimated aggregate Fractional Share Payment (the Exchange Fund), (ii) reserve with the Exchange Agent the shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued pursuant to Section 2.1(c)(i), and (iii) authorize the Exchange Agent to exchange shares of Parent Common Stock in accordance with this Section 2.2. Parent shall deposit with the Exchange Agent any additional cash or other consideration as applicable in excess of the Exchange Fund as and when necessary to pay any dividends and other distributions pursuant to Section 2.2(c), any Fractional Share Payment and other amounts required to be paid under this Agreement. Parent shall pay all costs and fees of the Exchange Agent and all expenses associated with the exchange process. Any shares of Parent Common Stock, or fraction thereof, and any remaining amount of the Exchange Fund or other funds deposited shall be returned to Parent after the earlier to occur of (x) payment in full of all amounts due to the Holders of WPZ Public Units and (y) the expiration of the period specified in Section 2.2(e).
(b) Exchange Procedures. Promptly after the Effective Time, Parent shall, or shall cause the Exchange Agent to, mail to each Holder, as of the Effective Time, of WPZ Public Units whose WPZ Public Units were converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration a form of letter of transmittal (the Letter of Transmittal) (which shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the WPZ Certificates shall pass, only upon proper delivery of the WPZ Certificates (or lost certificate affidavit as contemplated by Section 2.2(b)) to the Exchange Agent or, in the case of Book-Entry WPZ Common Units, upon adherence to the procedures set forth in the Letter of Transmittal, and which shall be in such customary form and have such other provisions as Parent and WPZ may reasonably agree prior to the Effective Time) and instructions for effecting the Surrender of such WPZ Certificates (or lost certificate affidavit as contemplated by Section 2.2(b)) or Book-Entry WPZ Common Units in exchange for, as applicable, whole shares of Parent Common Stock, any dividends or distributions payable pursuant to Section 2.2(c) and any Fractional Share Payment. Subject to Section 2.2(c), upon Surrender to the Exchange Agent of such WPZ Certificates (or lost certificate affidavit as contemplated by Section 2.2(b)) or Book-Entry WPZ Common Units, together with such properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal and such other documents as may reasonably be required by the Exchange Agent, the Holder of a WPZ Certificate (or lost certificate affidavit as contemplated by Section 2.2(b)) or Book-Entry WPZ Common Units shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor, as applicable, (i) that number of whole shares of Parent Common Stock (which shall be in uncertificated book-entry form unless a physical certificate is requested) to which such Holder is entitled pursuant to Section 2.1(c)(i), (ii) the Fractional Share Payment, if any, payable in lieu of any fractional shares of Parent
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Common Stock otherwise issuable, and (iii) any dividends or distributions payable pursuant to Section 2.2(c) to which such Holder is entitled. The instructions for effecting the Surrender of WPZ Certificates shall set forth procedures that must be taken by the Holder of any WPZ Certificate that has been lost, destroyed or stolen; it shall be a condition to the right of such Holder to receive the Merger Consideration, the Fractional Share Payment, if any, and any distributions payable pursuant to Section 2.2(c) that the Exchange Agent shall have received, along with the Letter of Transmittal, a duly executed lost certificate affidavit, including an agreement to indemnify Parent, signed exactly as the name or names of the registered Holder or Holders of WPZ Public Units appeared on the books of WPZ immediately prior to the Effective Time, together with a customary bond and such other documents, in each case, as Parent may reasonably require in connection therewith. After the Effective Time, there shall be no further transfer on the records of WPZ or its transfer agent of WPZ Certificates or Book-Entry WPZ Common Units (provided, however, that the foregoing shall not restrict the transfer of any WPZ Partnership Interest other than the WPZ Public Units after the Effective Time); and if such WPZ Certificates or Book-Entry WPZ Common Units are presented to WPZ or its transfer agent for transfer, they shall be canceled against delivery of the appropriate Merger Consideration, any Fractional Share Payment and any distributions payable pursuant to Section 2.2(c) as hereinabove provided. Until Surrendered as contemplated by this Section 2.2(b), each WPZ Certificate or Book-Entry WPZ Common Unit shall be deemed at any time after the Effective Time to represent only the right to receive upon such Surrender the appropriate Merger Consideration, together with any distributions payable pursuant to Section 2.2(c), and Fractional Share Payment as contemplated by this Section 2.2. No interest will be paid or will accrue on any Fractional Share Payment or any distributions payable pursuant to Section 2.2(c).
(c) Dividends and Distributions with Respect to Unexchanged WPZ Public Units. No dividends or other distributions with respect to shares of Parent Common Stock issued in the Merger with a record date after the Effective Time shall be paid to the Holder of any WPZ Certificate or Book-Entry WPZ Common Units not Surrendered with respect to such shares of Parent Common Stock issuable in respect thereof until the Surrender of such WPZ Certificate or Book-Entry WPZ Common Units in accordance with this Section 2.2. Subject to the effect of applicable Laws, Parent shall pay, or cause the Exchange Agent to pay, to the Holder of each WPZ Certificate or Book-Entry WPZ Common Units, without interest, (i) at the time of Surrender of such WPZ Certificate or Book-Entry WPZ Common Units, the amount of dividends or other distributions previously paid with respect to the whole shares of Parent Common Stock issuable with respect to such WPZ Certificate or Book-Entry WPZ Common Units that have a record date after the Effective Time and a payment date on or prior to the time of Surrender and (ii) at the appropriate payment date, the amount of dividends and distributions payable with respect to such whole shares of Parent Common Stock with a record date after the Effective Time and prior to such Surrender and a payment date subsequent to such Surrender.
(d) No Further Ownership Rights in WPZ Public Units. All Merger Consideration issued upon the Surrender for exchange of WPZ Certificates or Book-Entry WPZ Common Units in accordance with the terms of this Article II (including any Fractional Share Payment) shall be deemed to have been issued (and paid) in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to the WPZ Public Units heretofore represented by such WPZ Certificates or Book-Entry WPZ Common Units (including all rights to common units arrearages), subject, however, to Parents obligation, with respect to WPZ Public Units outstanding immediately prior to the
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Effective Time, to pay any distributions with a record date prior to the Effective Time that may have been declared or made by WPZ on such WPZ Common Units in accordance with the terms of this Agreement on or prior to the Effective Time and that remain unpaid at the Closing Date.
(e) Termination of Exchange Fund. Any portion of the Exchange Fund that remains undistributed to the Holders of the WPZ Certificates or Book-Entry WPZ Common Units for twelve months after the Closing Date shall be delivered to Parent, upon demand, and any Holders of the WPZ Certificates or Book-Entry WPZ Common Units who have not theretofore complied with this Section 2.2 shall thereafter look only to Parent and only as general creditors thereof for payment of their claim for the Merger Consideration, any Fractional Share Payment and any distributions with respect to WPZ Common Units or shares of Parent Common Stock to which such Holders may be entitled.
(f) No Liability. To the extent permitted by applicable Law, none of Parent, Merger Sub, WPZ, WPZ General Partner or the Exchange Agent shall be liable to any Person in respect of any Merger Consideration, distribution or Fractional Share Payment properly delivered to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Law. If any WPZ Certificates or Book-Entry WPZ Common Units shall not have been Surrendered immediately prior to such date on which any Merger Consideration, any Fractional Share Payment or any distributions with respect to WPZ Common Units or shares of Parent Common Stock in respect of such WPZ Certificate or Book-Entry WPZ Common Units would escheat to or become the property of any Governmental Entity, any such units, cash, or distributions in respect of such WPZ Certificates or Book-Entry WPZ Common Units shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, become the property of Parent, free and clear of all claims or interest of any Person previously entitled thereto.
(g) Withholding Rights. Parent, Merger Sub and the Exchange Agent shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement, without duplication, such amounts, which may include shares of Parent Common Stock, as Parent, Merger Sub or the Exchange Agent reasonably deems to be required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment under the Code and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or any provision of state, local or foreign Tax Law. To the extent that amounts are so withheld or paid over to or deposited with the relevant Governmental Entity by Parent, Merger Sub or the Exchange Agent, such amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of whom such deduction and withholding was made by Parent, Merger Sub or the Exchange Agent, as the case may be.
(h) No Dissenters Rights. No dissenters or appraisal rights shall be available with respect to the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
SECTION 2.3 Treatment of WPZ Phantom Unit Awards.
(a) At the Effective Time, each WPZ Phantom Unit Award that is not vested and does not vest in accordance with its terms (as set forth in an applicable award agreement) as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and that is outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall cease to represent an award with respect to WPZ Common Units and shall be converted into an award with respect to shares of Parent Common
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Stock (a Parent Award), subject to the same vesting and forfeiture provisions as were applicable under such WPZ Phantom Unit Award immediately prior to the Effective Time, with the number of shares of Parent Common Stock subject to each such Parent Award to be equal to the number of WPZ Common Units subject to each such WPZ Phantom Unit Award immediately prior to the Effective Time multiplied by the Merger Consideration (rounded to the nearest whole share), with any corresponding accrued but unpaid DERs (as defined in the WPZ Legacy Long-Term Incentive Plan) with respect to any WPZ Phantom Unit Awards to be assumed, remain outstanding and continue to represent an obligation with respect to the applicable Parent Award.
(b) Prior to the Effective Time, WPZ and WPZ General Partner shall take all action necessary to effectuate the provisions of this Section 2.3. WPZ and WPZ General Partner shall ensure that, as of immediately following the Effective Time, no holder of a WPZ Phantom Unit Award or participant in the WPZ Legacy Long-Term Incentive Plan or WPZ GP Long-Term Incentive Plan shall have any rights thereunder to acquire, or other rights in respect of, the equity of WPZ, the Surviving Entity or any of the WPZ Subsidiaries.
(c) Parent shall reserve for issuance a number of shares of Parent Common Stock at least equal to the number of shares of Parent Common Stock that will be subject to the Parent Awards as a result of the actions contemplated by this Section 2.3. As soon as practicable following the Effective Time, Parent shall, to the extent legally required, file a registration statement on Form S-8 (or any successor form, or if Form S-8 is not available, other appropriate forms, including Form S-3) with respect to the shares of Parent Common Stock subject to such Parent Awards and shall use its reasonable best efforts to maintain the effectiveness of any such registration statement or registration statements (and maintain the current status of the prospectus or prospectuses contained therein) for so long as such Parent Awards remain outstanding and the offering with respect thereto is required to be registered.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE WPZ PARTIES
Except (i) as set forth in a section of the WPZ Disclosure Letter corresponding to the applicable section of this Article III to which such disclosure applies (provided that any information set forth in one section of the WPZ Disclosure Letter shall be deemed to apply to each other section thereof to which its relevance is reasonably apparent on its face) or (ii) as disclosed in the WPZ SEC Reports (excluding any disclosures set forth in such WPZ SEC Report under the heading Risk Factors or in any section related to forward-looking statements) filed on or after January 1, 2014 and prior to the Execution Date (without giving effect to any SEC Report or any amendment to any SEC Report in each case filed on or after the Execution Date), WPZ and, with respect to itself where provided for in this Article III, the WPZ General Partner each hereby represent and warrant to the Parent Parties that:
SECTION 3.1 Organization and Existence.
(a) Each of the WPZ Parties is a limited partnership or limited liability company duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware and has all requisite limited partnership or limited liability company power and authority to own, operate and lease its properties and assets and to carry on its business as now conducted.
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(b) Each of the WPZ Subsidiaries (other than any of the WPZ Parties) is an entity duly organized or formed, as applicable, validly existing and in good standing (with respect to jurisdictions that recognize such concept) under the Laws of its respective jurisdiction of organization or formation and has all requisite power and authority to own, operate and lease its properties and assets and to carry on its business as now conducted.
(c) Each of the WPZ Group Entities is duly licensed or qualified to do business and is in good standing in the states in which the character of the properties and assets owned or held by it or the nature of the business conducted by it requires it to be so licensed or qualified, except where the failure to be so licensed, qualified or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a WPZ Material Adverse Effect.
(d) WPZ has made available to Parent true and complete copies of the Governing Documents of each WPZ Party in effect as of the Execution Date. All such Governing Documents are in full force and effect and no WPZ Party is in violation of any provisions thereof.
SECTION 3.2 Authority and Approval. Each of the WPZ Parties has all requisite limited liability company or limited partnership power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, and subject to receipt of the WPZ Vote, to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to perform all of the terms and conditions hereof to be performed by it. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by each of the WPZ Parties, and subject to receipt of the WPZ Vote, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and the performance of all of the terms and conditions hereof to be performed by the WPZ Parties have been duly authorized and approved by all requisite partnership or limited liability company action on the part of each of the WPZ Parties. At a meeting duly called and held, the WPZ Conflicts Committee, by unanimous vote, in good faith (a) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby are in the best interest of WPZ and the Holders of WPZ Public Units, (b) approved this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger (the foregoing constituting WPZ Special Approval), and (c) resolved to approve, and to recommend to the WPZ Board the approval of, this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger. Upon the receipt of the recommendation of the WPZ Conflicts Committee, at a meeting duly called and held, the WPZ Board, by unanimous vote, (a) approved this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, and (b) directed that this Agreement be submitted to a vote of Holders of WPZ Units and authorized the Holders of WPZ Units to act by written consent pursuant to Section 13.11 of the WPZ Partnership Agreement. Prior to such approval by the WPZ Conflicts Committee and the WPZ Board, AMV approved this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger. The adoption of this Agreement by the affirmative vote or consent of the Holders of at least a Unit Majority (as defined in the WPZ Partnership Agreement) (the WPZ Vote) is the only vote or approval of partnership interests in WPZ necessary to approve and adopt this Agreement and approve and consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Merger. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each of the WPZ Parties and constitutes the valid and legally
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binding obligation of each of the WPZ Parties, enforceable against each of the WPZ Parties in accordance with its terms, except as such enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other similar Laws affecting the enforcement of creditors rights and remedies generally and by general principles of equity (whether applied in a Proceeding at law or in equity).
SECTION 3.3 No Conflict; Consents.
(a) Subject to the consent, approval, license, permit, order, authorization, filings and notices referred to in Section 3.3(b) and receipt of the WPZ Vote, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by each of the WPZ Parties does not, and the fulfillment and compliance with the terms and conditions hereof and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, (i) contravene, violate, conflict with any of, result in any breach of, or require the consent of any Person under, the terms, conditions or provisions of the Governing Documents of any of the WPZ Parties; (ii) contravene, conflict with or violate any provision of applicable Laws; (iii) conflict with, result in a breach of, constitute a default under (whether with notice or the lapse of time or both), or accelerate or permit the acceleration of the performance required by, or require any consent, authorization or approval under, or result in the suspension, termination or cancellation of, or in a right of suspension, termination or cancellation of, any indenture, deed of trust, mortgage, debenture, note, agreement, contract, commitment, license, concession, permit, lease, joint venture, obligation or other instrument to which any of the WPZ Group Entities is a party or by which any of the WPZ Group Entities or any of their assets are bound; or (iv) result in the creation of any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) on any of the assets or businesses of any of the WPZ Group Entities under any such indenture, deed of trust, mortgage, debenture, note, agreement, contract, commitment, license, concession, permit lease, joint venture, obligation or other instrument, except in the case of clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv), for those items that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a WPZ Material Adverse Effect.
(b) No consent, approval, license, permit, order or authorization of, or any filing with or notice to, any Governmental Entity is required to be obtained or made by any of the WPZ Group Entities in connection with the execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, except (i) as have been waived or obtained or with respect to which the time for asserting such right has expired, (ii) for (A) such filings and reports as may be required pursuant to the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and any other applicable state or federal securities, takeover and blue sky Laws, (B) any filings and approvals required under the rules and regulations of the NYSE, or (C) the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, or (iii) for those which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a WPZ Material Adverse Effect (including such consents, approvals, licenses, permits, orders or authorizations that are not customarily obtained prior to the Closing and are reasonably expected to be obtained in the ordinary course of business following the Closing).
SECTION 3.4 Capitalization; Limited Partner Interests.
(a) As of the Execution Date, the outstanding capitalization of WPZ consists of 586,695,411 WPZ Common Units, 13,948,171 WPZ Class B Units, the WPZ General Partner
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Interest and the WPZ Incentive Distribution Rights. All of such WPZ Common Units, WPZ Class B Units, and WPZ Incentive Distribution Rights and the limited partner interests represented thereby, with respect to the WPZ Common Units and the WPZ Class B Units, have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the WPZ Partnership Agreement, and are fully paid (to the extent required under the WPZ Partnership Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the DRULPA and the WPZ Partnership Agreement). The WPZ General Partner is the sole owner of the WPZ General Partner Interest and the WPZ General Partner Interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the WPZ Partnership Agreement. As of the Execution Date, (i) 1,944,088 WPZ Common Units were reserved for issuance under the WPZ Legacy Long-Term Incentive Plan, of which (A) 1,309,887 WPZ Common Units were subject to outstanding phantom unit awards (the WPZ Phantom Unit Awards) and (B) no WPZ Common Units were subject to outstanding options, unit appreciation rights, restricted units, or equity awards of any other kind, and (ii) no WPZ Common Units were reserved for issuance under the WPZ GP Long-Term Incentive Plan, of which no such units were subject to outstanding equity awards of any kind. All WPZ Common Units reserved for issuance under the WPZ Legacy Long-Term Incentive Plan or the WPZ GP Long-Term Incentive Plan, when issued in accordance with the respective terms thereof, are or will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. Except as set forth above in this Section 3.4(a), as of the Execution Date there are not any WPZ Units, partnership interests, voting securities or equity interests of WPZ issued and outstanding or any Rights issued or granted by, or binding upon, WPZ, except as set forth in the WPZ SEC Reports (without giving effect to any SEC Report or any amendment to any SEC Report in each case filed on or after the Execution Date) or the WPZ Partnership Agreement as in effect on the Execution Date, except for awards granted under the WPZ Legacy Long-Term Incentive Plan or the WPZ GP Long-Term Incentive Plan, or except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement. Except as set forth in the WPZ Partnership Agreement as in effect on the Execution Date, there are no outstanding obligations of WPZ or any WPZ Group Entity to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any WPZ Units or other partnership interests, voting securities or equity interests or any Rights of WPZ or any WPZ Group Entity. There are no outstanding bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness, the holders of which have the right to vote (or which are convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for securities having the right to vote) with the limited partners of WPZ on any matter.
(b) Section 3.4(b) of the WPZ Disclosure Letter sets forth a true and complete list of the WPZ Subsidiaries as of the Execution Date. As of the Execution Date, all of the outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity or voting interests of each WPZ Subsidiary owned directly or indirectly by the WPZ Parties (i) are owned, beneficially and of record free and clear of all Liens in the percentages set out on Section 3.4(b) of the WPZ Disclosure Letter and (ii) have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid (with respect to WPZ Subsidiaries that are limited liability companies or limited partnerships, to the extent required under the limited liability company agreement or limited partnership agreement of the applicable WPZ Subsidiary) and nonassessable (with respect to WPZ Subsidiaries that are limited liability companies or limited partnerships, except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the DLLCA or by Sections 17-303, 17-403, 17-607 and 17-804 of the DRULPA and the Governing Documents of the applicable entity).
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(c) Other than ownership interests in the WPZ Subsidiaries set forth on Section 3.4(b) of the WPZ Disclosure Letter, WPZ does not own beneficially, directly or indirectly, any equity securities or other ownership interests of any Person as of the Execution Date. There are no outstanding Rights issued or granted by, or binding upon, any of the WPZ Subsidiaries as of the Execution Date.
(d) Except as set forth in this Section 3.4, neither WPZ nor any WPZ Subsidiary has issued any compensatory equity or equity-linked award that remains outstanding, nor has any such entity committed to issue any such award.
SECTION 3.5 SEC Documents; Internal Controls.
(a) Since January 1, 2013, all reports, including but not limited to the Annual Reports on Form 10-K, the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and the Current Reports on Form 8-K (whether filed on a voluntary basis or otherwise), forms, schedules, certifications, prospectuses, registration statements and other documents required to be filed or furnished by WPZ or any WPZ Subsidiary with or to the SEC have been or will be timely filed or furnished (the WPZ SEC Reports). Each of the WPZ SEC Reports (i) complied in all material respects with the requirements of applicable Law (including the Exchange Act, the Securities Act and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the Sarbanes-Oxley Act)), and (ii) as of its effective date (in the case of WPZ SEC Reports that are registration statements filed pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act) and as of its filing date 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 the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except for any statements (x) in any WPZ SEC Report that may have been modified by an amendment to such report or a subsequent report filed with the SEC prior to the Execution Date or (y) with respect to information supplied in writing by or on behalf of Williams, as to which WPZ makes no representation or warranty.
(b) No WPZ Subsidiary is required to file reports, forms or other documents with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act. There are no outstanding comments from, or unresolved issues raised by, the staff of the SEC with respect to the WPZ SEC Reports. No enforcement action has been initiated against WPZ relating to disclosures contained or omitted from any WPZ SEC Report.
(c) WPZ makes and keeps books, records, and accounts and has devised and maintains a system of internal controls, in each case, as required pursuant to Section 13(b)(2) under the Exchange Act. WPZ has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting (as such terms are defined in paragraphs (e) and (f), respectively, of Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act) as required by Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act and the applicable listing standards of the NYSE. Such disclosure controls and procedures are reasonably designed to ensure that all material information required to be disclosed by WPZ in the reports that it files under the Exchange Act are recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC, and that all such material information is accumulated and communicated to its management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. WPZ General Partners
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principal executive officer and its principal financial officer have disclosed, based on their most recent evaluation, to WPZs auditors and the audit committee of the WPZ Board (x) all significant deficiencies in the designation or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect WPZs ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for WPZs auditors any material weakness in internal controls and (y) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in WPZs internal controls.
(d) Since January 1, 2013, the principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the WPZ General Partner have made all certifications (without qualification or exceptions to the matters certified, except as to Knowledge) required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and the statements contained in any such certifications are complete and correct, and none of such entities or its officers have received notice from any Governmental Entity questioning or challenging the accuracy, completeness, form or manner of filing or submission of such certification. As of the Execution Date, and except as disclosed in a WPZ SEC Report filed with the SEC prior to the Execution Date, none of such entities has any Knowledge of any material weaknesses in the design or operation of such internal controls over financial reporting.
SECTION 3.6 Financial Statements; Undisclosed Liabilities.
(a) WPZs Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 7, 2015 (the WPZ 8-K) sets forth a true and complete copy of the consolidated audited statements of comprehensive income, changes in equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2014 and balance sheets as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 for WPZ, including the notes thereto (the referenced financial statements set forth in the WPZ 8-K are collectively referred to as the WPZ Financial Statements). The WPZ Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto) and present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial position of WPZ as of such dates and the consolidated results of operations and cash flows of WPZ for such periods, except as otherwise noted therein. Except as set forth in the WPZ Financial Statements, there are no off-balance sheet arrangements that would, individually or in the aggregate, have a WPZ Material Adverse Effect. WPZ has not had any disagreement with its independent public accounting firm that required disclosure in the WPZ SEC Reports.
(b) There are no liabilities or obligations of WPZ, WPZ General Partner or the WPZ Subsidiaries (whether known or unknown and whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) and there are no facts or circumstances that would reasonably be expected to result in any such liabilities or obligations, whether arising in the context of federal, state or local judicial, regulatory, administrative or permitting agency Proceedings, other than (i) liabilities or obligations reflected or reserved against in the WPZ Financial Statements, (ii) current liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business since December 31, 2014, (iii) liabilities and obligations incurred under or in accordance with this Agreement or in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and (iv) liabilities or obligations (whether known or unknown and whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a WPZ Material Adverse Effect.
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SECTION 3.7 Real Property; Rights-of-Way.
(a) Each of the WPZ Group Entities has good, valid and marketable title to all real property, good and valid leasehold interest in each material lease, sublease and other agreement under which the WPZ Group Entities uses or occupies or has the right to use or occupy any material real property and good title to all tangible personal property owned by the WPZ Group Entities that is sufficient for the operation of their respective businesses as presently conducted, free and clear of all Liens (except Permitted Liens), except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a WPZ Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Each of the WPZ Group Entities has such consents, easements, rights-of-way, permits and licenses from each Person (collectively, Rights-of-Way) as are sufficient to conduct its business in the manner described, and subject to the limitations, qualifications, reservations and encumbrances contained, in any WPZ SEC Report filed on or prior to the Execution Date, except for such Rights-of-Way the absence of which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a WPZ Material Adverse Effect. Each of the WPZ Group Entities has fulfilled and performed all its material obligations with respect to such Rights-of-Way and no event has occurred that allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation or termination thereof or would result in any impairment of the rights of the holder of any such Rights-of-Way, except for such revocations, terminations and impairments that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a WPZ Material Adverse Effect.
(c) (i) (A) there are no pending Proceedings to modify the zoning classification of, or to condemn or take by power of eminent domain, all or any of the assets of the WPZ Group Entities and (B) none of the WPZ Parties have Knowledge of any such threatened Proceeding, which (in the case of clause (A) or (B)), if pursued, would, individually or in the aggregate, have a WPZ Material Adverse Effect, (ii) to the extent located in jurisdictions subject to zoning, the assets of the WPZ Group Entities that are real property (owned or leased) are properly zoned for the existence, occupancy and use of all of the improvements located on the owned and leased real property and on the Rights-of-Way held by any of the WPZ Group Entities, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a WPZ Material Adverse Effect, and (iii) none of such improvements are subject to any conditional use permits or permitted non-conforming use or permitted non-conforming structure classifications or similar permits or classifications, except as would not, either currently or in the case of a rebuilding of or additional construction of improvements, individually or in the aggregate, have a WPZ Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.8 Litigation; Laws and Regulations. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a WPZ Material Adverse Effect:
(a) There are no (i) civil, criminal, regulatory or administrative actions, suits, claims, hearings, arbitrations, inquiries, subpoenas, investigations or proceedings (Proceedings) pending or, to the Knowledge of the WPZ Parties, threatened against or affecting the WPZ Group Entities (other than the WPZ Partially Owned Entities), their assets, or any of the operations of the WPZ Group Entities (other than the WPZ Partially Owned Entities) related thereto or (ii) judgments, orders, decrees or injunctions of any Governmental Entity, whether at law or in equity (Orders), against or affecting the WPZ Group Entities (other than the WPZ Partially Owned Entities), their assets, or any of the operations of the WPZ Group Entities (other than the WPZ Partially Owned Entities) related thereto.
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(b) To the Knowledge of the WPZ Parties, there are no (i) Proceedings pending or threatened against or affecting the WPZ Partially Owned Entities, their assets, or any of the operations of the WPZ Partially Owned Entities related thereto or (ii) Orders against or affecting the WPZ Partially Owned Entities, their assets, or any of the operations of the WPZ Partially Owned Entities related thereto.
(c) None of the WPZ Group Entities (other than the WPZ Partially Owned Entities) and, to the Knowledge of the WPZ Parties, no WPZ Partially Owned Entity (i) is in violation of or in default under its Governing Documents or (ii) is in violation of any applicable Law, except in the case of each of clause (i) and (ii) for such violations or defaults that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a WPZ Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.9 No Adverse Changes. Except as described in the WPZ Financial Statements, (x) with respect to any WPZ Partially Owned Entity, to the Knowledge of the WPZ Parties, and (y) with respect to any other WPZ Group Entities:
(a) since December 31, 2014, there has not been a WPZ Material Adverse Effect; and
(b) since December 31, 2014, there has not been any material damage, destruction or loss to any material portion of the assets of the WPZ Group Entities, whether or not covered by insurance.
(c) since December 31, 2014, neither WPZ nor any other WPZ Group Entity has taken any action described in Section 5.1(a) that, if taken after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Effective Time without the prior written consent of Parent, would violate such provisions.
SECTION 3.10 Taxes. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a WPZ Material Adverse Effect and, only with respect to any WPZ Partially Owned Entity, to the Knowledge of the WPZ Parties, (a) all Tax Returns required to be filed by or with respect to WPZ or any of the WPZ Subsidiaries or their assets have been filed on a timely basis (taking into account all extensions of due dates); (b) all Taxes owed by WPZ or any of the WPZ Subsidiaries, which are or have become due, have been timely paid in full; (c) there are no Liens on any of the assets of WPZ or any of the WPZ Subsidiaries that arose in connection with any failure (or alleged failure) to pay any Tax on any of such assets, other than Permitted Liens; (d) there is no pending Proceeding for assessment or collection of Taxes and no Tax assessment, deficiency or adjustment has been asserted or proposed with respect to WPZ or any of the WPZ Subsidiaries or their assets; (e) each of WPZ or any of the WPZ Subsidiaries that is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal tax purposes has in effect an election under Section 754 of the Code; (f) WPZ is currently (and has been since its formation) either (i) properly classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes or (ii) properly disregarded as an entity separate from its respective owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 301.7701-3(b); (g) at least 90% of the gross income of WPZ for each taxable year since its formation
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through and including the current taxable year has been income that is qualifying income within the meaning of Section 7704(d) of the Code; and (h) each WPZ Subsidiary is currently (and has been since its respective acquisition by WPZ) either (i) properly classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes or (ii) properly disregarded as an entity separate from its respective owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 301.7701-3(b), except in the case of clause (h), as set forth on Section 3.10 of the WPZ Disclosure Letter.
SECTION 3.11 Environmental Matters. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a WPZ Material Adverse Effect: (a) the WPZ Group Entities, their assets and their operations relating thereto are in compliance with applicable Environmental Laws; (b) no circumstances exist with respect to the WPZ Group Entities, their assets or their operations relating thereto that give rise to an obligation by the WPZ Group Entities to investigate or remediate the presence or release, on-site or offsite, of Hazardous Materials under any applicable Environmental Laws; (c) the WPZ Group Entities, their assets or their operations related thereto are not subject to any pending or, to the Knowledge of the WPZ Parties, threatened Proceeding under any Environmental Law (including designation as a potentially responsible party under CERCLA or any similar local or state Law); (d) all notices, permits, permit exemptions, licenses or similar authorizations, if any, required to be obtained or filed by the WPZ Group Entities, with respect to their assets or their operations relating thereto have been duly obtained or filed and are valid and currently in effect and will be legally usable by the WPZ Group Entities at the time of the Closing; (e) there has been no release of any Hazardous Material into the environment by the WPZ Group Entities, their assets, or their operations relating thereto, except in compliance with applicable Environmental Law; and (f) there has been no exposure of any Person or property to any Hazardous Material in connection with their assets or their operations.
SECTION 3.12 Licenses; Permits.
(a) The WPZ Group Entities have all licenses, franchises, tariffs, grants, easements, variances, exceptions, permits and authorizations (other than environmental permits) issued or granted by Governmental Entities that are necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses as now being conducted or have obtained valid waivers therefrom (collectively, Permits), except where the failure to obtain such Permit would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a WPZ Material Adverse Effect.
(b) All Permits are validly held by the WPZ Group Entities and are in full force and effect, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a WPZ Material Adverse Effect.
(c) The WPZ Group Entities have complied with all terms and conditions of the Permits, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a WPZ Material Adverse Effect. No suspension or cancellation of any Permit is pending or, to the Knowledge of the WPZ Parties, threatened, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a WPZ Material Adverse Effect.
(d) The Permits will not be subject to suspension, modification, revocation or non-renewal as a result of the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, except, in each case, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a WPZ Material Adverse Effect.
(e) No Proceeding is pending or, to the Knowledge of the WPZ Parties, threatened with respect to any alleged failure by the WPZ Group Entities to have any material Permit necessary for the operation of any asset or the conduct of their businesses or to be in compliance therewith.
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SECTION 3.13 Contracts.
(a) Except for this Agreement or as filed or publicly furnished with the SEC prior to the Execution Date, none of the WPZ Group Entities is a party to or bound by, as of the Execution Date, any contract or other agreement (whether written or oral) which is a material contract (as such term is defined in Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K of the SEC) to WPZ (each contract that is described in this Section 3.13(a) being a WPZ Material Contract).
(b) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a WPZ Material Adverse Effect, with respect to each of the WPZ Group Entities (but, with respect to any WPZ Partially Owned Entity, to the Knowledge of the WPZ Parties): (i) each WPZ Material Contract to which such entity is a party is legal, valid and binding on and enforceable against such entity, and in full force and effect; (ii) each WPZ Material Contract to which such entity is a party will continue to be legal, valid and binding on and enforceable against such entity, and in full force and effect on identical terms following the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (iii) such entity that is a party to each WPZ Material Contract is not in breach or default, and no event has occurred which with notice or lapse of time would constitute a breach or default by any such party, or permit termination, modification, or acceleration, under the WPZ Material Contract; and (iv) to the Knowledge of the WPZ Parties, no other party to any WPZ Material Contract is in breach or default, and no event has occurred which with notice or lapse of time would constitute a breach or default by such other party, or permit termination, modification or acceleration under any WPZ Material Contract other than in accordance with its terms nor has any other party repudiated any provision of the WPZ Material Contract.
SECTION 3.14 Insurance. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a WPZ Material Adverse Effect, (a) the businesses and assets of the WPZ Group Entities are covered by, and insured under, insurance policies underwritten by reputable insurers that include coverages and related limits and deductibles that are customary in the natural gas gathering, processing, treating, transportation and storage industries and NGL marketing industry, (b) all such insurance policies are in full force and effect and all premiums due and payable on such policies have been paid, and (c) no notice of cancellation of, material premium increase of, or indication of an intention not to renew, any such insurance policy has been received by the Parent Parties other than in the ordinary course of business.
SECTION 3.15 Condition of Assets. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a WPZ Material Adverse Effect, the assets of the WPZ Group Entities have been maintained and repaired in the same manner as would a prudent operator of such assets, and are adequate for the purposes for which they are currently used.
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SECTION 3.16 Investment Company Act. WPZ is not, nor immediately after the Closing will be, subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
SECTION 3.17 Brokerage Arrangements. Except for WPZs obligations to Evercore Group L.L.C., the fees and expenses of which will be paid by WPZ, none of the WPZ Parties has entered (directly or indirectly) into any agreement with any Person that would obligate the WPZ Parties to pay any commission, brokerage or finders fee or other similar fee in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
SECTION 3.18 State Takeover Laws. WPZ has taken all action necessary to render inapplicable to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, any potentially applicable state takeover Laws and any applicable takeover provision of the WPZ Partnership Agreement or other Governing Documents of WPZ.
SECTION 3.19 Opinion of Financial Advisor. The WPZ Conflicts Committee has received the opinion of Evercore Group L.L.C., dated as of the Execution Date, to the effect that, as of the date thereof and subject to the assumptions, limitations, qualifications and other matters considered in the preparation thereof, the Merger Consideration to be received by the Holders of the WPZ Public Units pursuant to this Agreement is fair, from a financial point of view, to such Holders.
SECTION 3.20 Information Supplied. None of the information supplied (or to be supplied) in writing by or on behalf of WPZ specifically for inclusion or incorporation by reference in (a) the registration statement on Form S-4 to be filed with the SEC by Parent with respect to the issuance of shares of Parent Common Stock in connection with the Merger (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the Registration Statement) will, at the time the Registration Statement, or any amendment or supplement thereto, is filed with the SEC or at the time it becomes effective under the Securities Act, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, and (b) the proxy statement filed by Parent with the SEC in connection with the Parent Stockholder Approval (the Parent Proxy Statement) will, on the date it is first mailed to stockholders of Parent, and at the time of the Parent Stockholder Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, WPZ makes no representation or warranty with respect to information supplied by or on behalf of Parent or Merger Sub for inclusion or incorporation by reference in any of the foregoing documents.
SECTION 3.21 Waivers and Disclaimers. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY CONTAINED IN THIS AGREEMENT, EXCEPT FOR THE EXPRESS REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES AND OTHER COVENANTS AND
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AGREEMENTS MADE BY THE WPZ PARTIES IN THIS AGREEMENT, THE WPZ PARTIES HAVE NOT MADE, DO NOT MAKE, AND SPECIFICALLY NEGATE AND DISCLAIM ANY REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES, PROMISES, COVENANTS, AGREEMENTS OR GUARANTIES OF ANY KIND OR CHARACTER WHATSOEVER, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, ORAL OR WRITTEN, PAST OR PRESENT REGARDING (A) THE VALUE, NATURE, QUALITY OR CONDITION OF THEIR ASSETS INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE WATER, SOIL, GEOLOGY OR ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION OF THEIR ASSETS GENERALLY, INCLUDING THE PRESENCE OR LACK OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES OR OTHER MATTERS ON THEIR ASSETS, (B) THE INCOME TO BE DERIVED FROM THEIR ASSETS, (C) THE SUITABILITY OF THEIR ASSETS FOR ANY AND ALL ACTIVITIES AND USES THAT MAY BE CONDUCTED THEREON, (D) THE COMPLIANCE OF OR BY THEIR ASSETS OR THEIR OPERATION WITH ANY LAWS (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY ZONING, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, POLLUTION OR LAND USE LAWS, RULES, REGULATIONS, ORDERS OR REQUIREMENTS), OR (E) THE HABITABILITY, MERCHANTABILITY, MARKETABILITY, PROFITABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OF THEIR ASSETS. EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT PROVIDED IN THIS AGREEMENT, NEITHER THE WPZ PARTIES NOR ANY OF THEIR AFFILIATES SHALL BE LIABLE OR BOUND IN ANY MANNER BY ANY VERBAL OR WRITTEN STATEMENTS, REPRESENTATIONS OR INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE WPZ PARTIES, THEIR BUSINESSES OR THEIR ASSETS FURNISHED BY ANY AGENT, EMPLOYEE, SERVANT OR THIRD PARTY. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION 3.21 HAVE BEEN NEGOTIATED BY THE PARTIES AFTER DUE CONSIDERATION AND ARE INTENDED TO BE A COMPLETE EXCLUSION AND NEGATION OF ANY REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, WITH RESPECT TO THE WPZ GROUP ENTITIES, THEIR BUSINESSES OR THEIR ASSETS THAT MAY ARISE PURSUANT TO ANY LAW NOW OR HEREAFTER IN EFFECT, OR OTHERWISE, EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PARENT PARTIES
Except (i) as set forth in a section of the Parent Disclosure Letter corresponding to the applicable section of this Article IV to which such disclosure applies (provided that any information set forth in one section of the Parent Disclosure Letter shall be deemed to apply to each other section thereof to which its relevance is reasonably apparent on its face) or (ii) as disclosed in the Parent SEC Reports (excluding any disclosures set forth in such Parent SEC Report under the heading Risk Factors or in any section related to forward-looking statements) filed on or after January 1, 2014 and prior to the Execution Date (without giving effect to any SEC Report or any amendment to any SEC Report in each case filed on or after the Execution Date), Parent hereby represents and warrants to the WPZ Parties that:
SECTION 4.1 Organization and Existence.
(a) Each of the Parent Parties is a corporation or limited liability company duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware and has all requisite corporate or limited liability company power and authority to own, operate and lease its properties and assets and to carry on its business as now conducted.
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(b) Each of the Parent Subsidiaries (other than Merger Sub) is an entity duly organized or formed, as applicable, validly existing and in good standing (with respect to jurisdictions that recognize such concept) under the Laws of its respective jurisdiction of organization or formation and has all requisite power and authority to own, operate and lease its properties and assets and to carry on its business as now conducted.
(c) Each of the Parent Group Entities is duly licensed or qualified to do business and is in good standing in the states in which the character of the properties and assets owned or held by it or the nature of the business conducted by it requires it to be so licensed or qualified, except where the failure to be so licensed, qualified or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
(d) Parent has made available to WPZ true and complete copies of the Governing Documents of each Parent Party in effect as of the Execution Date. All such Governing Documents are in full force and effect and no Parent Party is in violation of any provisions thereof.
(e) All of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of Merger Sub are owned, beneficially and of record, by Parent. Merger Sub was formed solely for the purpose of engaging in the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Merger Sub has not incurred, directly or indirectly, any obligations or conducted any business other than incident to its formation and pursuant to this Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby.
SECTION 4.2 Authority and Approval. Each of the Parent Parties has all requisite corporate or limited liability company power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to perform all of the terms and conditions hereof to be performed by it, subject to obtaining the Parent Stockholder Approval in the case of Parent. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by each of the Parent Parties, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and the performance of all of the terms and conditions hereof to be performed by the Parent Parties have been duly authorized and approved by all requisite corporate or limited liability company action on the part of each of the Parent Parties, subject to obtaining the Parent Stockholder Approval in the case of Parent. At a meeting duly called and held, the Parent Board, by unanimous vote, (a) determined that this Agreement, the Charter Amendment and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger and the Parent Stock Issuance, are in the best interests of Parent and its stockholders, (b) approved and declared advisable this Agreement, the Charter Amendment and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger and the Parent Stock Issuance, and (c) resolved to submit the Charter Amendment and the Parent Stock Issuance to a vote of Parents stockholders and recommend adoption of the Charter Amendment and approval of the Parent Stock Issuance. (i) The affirmative vote (in person or by proxy) of the holders of a majority of the aggregate voting power present at the Parent Stockholder Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof to approve the Parent Stock Issuance (the Parent Stock Issuance Approval) and (ii) the affirmative vote (in person or by proxy) of the holders of a
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majority of the outstanding shares of Parent Common Stock entitled to vote on the adoption of the Charter Amendment (the Parent Charter Approval and, together with the Parent Stock Issuance Approval, the Parent Stockholder Approval) are the only votes or approvals of the holders of any class or series of the capital stock of Parent necessary to approve the Parent Stock Issuance, adopt the Charter Amendment and approve and consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Merger. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each of the Parent Parties and constitutes the valid and legally binding obligation of each of the Parent Parties, enforceable against each of the Parent Parties in accordance with its terms, except as such enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other similar Laws affecting the enforcement of creditors rights and remedies generally and by general principles of equity (whether applied in a Proceeding at law or in equity).
SECTION 4.3 No Conflict; Consents.
(a) Subject to the consent, approval, license, permit, order, authorization, filings and notices referred to in Section 4.3(b) and receipt of the Parent Stockholder Approval, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by each of the Parent Parties does not, and the fulfillment and compliance with the terms and conditions hereof and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, (i) contravene, violate, conflict with any of, result in any breach of, or require the consent of any Person under, the terms, conditions or provisions of the Governing Documents of any of the Parent Parties; (ii) contravene, conflict with or violate any provision of applicable Laws; (iii) conflict with, result in a breach of, constitute a default under (whether with notice or the lapse of time or both), or accelerate or permit the acceleration of the performance required by, or require any consent, authorization or approval under, or result in the suspension, termination or cancellation of, or in a right of suspension, termination or cancellation of, any indenture, deed of trust, mortgage, debenture, note, agreement, contract, commitment, license, concession, permit, lease, joint venture, obligation or other instrument to which any of the Parent Group Entities is a party or by which any of the Parent Group Entities or any of their assets are bound; or (iv) result in the creation of any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) on any of the assets or businesses of any of the Parent Group Entities under any such indenture, deed of trust, mortgage, debenture, note, agreement, contract, commitment, license, concession, permit lease, joint venture, obligation or other instrument, except in the case of clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv), for those items that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
(b) No consent, approval, license, permit, order or authorization of, or any filing with or notice to, any Governmental Entity is required to be obtained or made by any of the Parent Group Entities in connection with the execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, except (i) as have been waived or obtained or with respect to which the time for asserting such right has expired, (ii) for (A) such filings and reports as may be required pursuant to the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and any other applicable state or federal securities, takeover and blue sky Laws, (B) any filings and approvals required under the rules and regulations of the NYSE, or (C) the filing of the Certificate of Merger and Charter Amendment with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, or (iii) for those which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Parent Material Adverse Effect (including such
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consents, approvals, licenses, permits, orders or authorizations that are not customarily obtained prior to the Closing and are reasonably expected to be obtained in the ordinary course of business following the Closing).
SECTION 4.4 Capitalization.
(a) The authorized capital stock of Parent consists of 990,000,000 shares, of which 30,000,000 shares are preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share (the Parent Preferred Stock), and 960,000,000 shares are Parent Common Stock, which are designated as set forth on Section 4.4(a) of the Parent Disclosure Letter. As of the Execution Date, (i) 749,014,278 shares of Parent Common Stock were issued and outstanding and an additional 34,503,912 shares of Parent Common Stock were held by Parent in its treasury, and (ii) no shares of Parent Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding. Except as set forth above in this Section 4.4(a), as of the Execution Date there are not any shares of capital stock, voting securities or other equity interests of Parent issued and outstanding or any Rights issued or granted by, or binding upon, Parent, except as set forth in the Parent SEC Reports (without giving effect to any SEC Report or any amendment to any SEC Report in each case filed on or after the Execution Date), except for awards granted under Parents employee benefit, stock option, incentive and stock purchase plans, or as expressly contemplated by this Agreement. There are no outstanding obligations of Parent or any Parent Group Entity to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any capital stock, voting securities or other equity interests or any Rights of Parent or any Parent Group Entity. There are no outstanding bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness, the holders of which have the right to vote (or which are convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for securities having the right to vote) with stockholders of Parent on any matter. The shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued pursuant to the Merger will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
(b) Section 4.4(b) of the Parent Disclosure Letter sets forth a true and complete list of the Parent Subsidiaries as of the Execution Date. As of the Execution Date, all of the outstanding capital stock, voting securities or other equity interests of each Parent Subsidiary owned directly or indirectly by the Parent Parties (i) are owned, beneficially and of record free and clear of all Liens in the percentages set out on Section 4.4(b) of the Parent Disclosure Letter and (ii) have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid (with respect to Parent Subsidiaries that are limited liability companies or limited partnerships, to the extent required under the limited liability company agreement or limited partnership agreement of the applicable Parent Subsidiary) and nonassessable (with respect to Parent Subsidiaries that are limited liability companies or limited partnerships, except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the DLLCA or by Sections 17-303, 17-403, 17-607 and 17-804 of the DRULPA and the Governing Documents of the applicable entity).
(c) Other than ownership interests in the Parent Subsidiaries set forth on Section 4.4(b) of the Parent Disclosure Letter, Parent does not own beneficially, directly or indirectly, any equity securities or other ownership interests of any Person as of the Execution Date. There are no outstanding Rights issued or granted by, or binding upon, any of the Parent Subsidiaries as of the Execution Date.
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SECTION 4.5 SEC Documents; Internal Controls.
(a) Except as set forth on Section 4.5(a) of the Parent Disclosure Letter, since January 1, 2013, all reports, including but not limited to the Annual Reports on Form 10-K, the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and the Current Reports on Form 8-K (whether filed on a voluntary basis or otherwise), forms, schedules, certifications, prospectuses, registration statements and other documents required to be filed or furnished by Parent or any Parent Subsidiary with or to the SEC have been or will be timely filed or furnished (the Parent SEC Reports). Each of the Parent SEC Reports (i) complied in all material respects with the requirements of applicable Law (including the Exchange Act, the Securities Act and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), and (ii) as of its effective date (in the case of Parent SEC Reports that are registration statements filed pursuant to the Securities Act) and as of its filing date 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 the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except for any statements (x) in any Parent SEC Report that may have been modified by an amendment to such report or a subsequent report filed with the SEC prior to the Execution Date or (y) with respect to information supplied in writing by or on behalf of WPZ, as to which Parent makes no representation or warranty.
(b) No Parent Subsidiary is required to file reports, forms or other documents with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act. There are no outstanding comments from, or unresolved issues raised by, the staff of the SEC with respect to the Parent SEC Reports. No enforcement action has been initiated against Parent relating to disclosures contained or omitted from any Parent SEC Report.
(c) Parent makes and keeps books, records, and accounts and has devised and maintains a system of internal controls, in each case, as required pursuant to Section 13(b)(2) under the Exchange Act. Parent has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting (as such terms are defined in paragraphs (e) and (f), respectively, of Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act) as required by Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act and the applicable listing standards of the NYSE. Such disclosure controls and procedures are reasonably designed to ensure that all material information required to be disclosed by Parent in the reports that it files under the Exchange Act are recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC, and that all such material information is accumulated and communicated to its management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Parents principal executive officer and its principal financial officer have disclosed, based on their most recent evaluation, to Parents auditors and the audit committee of the Parent Board (x) all significant deficiencies in the designation or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect Parents ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for Parents auditors any material weakness in internal controls and (y) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in Parents internal controls.
(d) Since January 1, 2013, the principal executive officer and principal financial officer of Parent have made all certifications (without qualification or exceptions to the
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matters certified, except as to Knowledge) required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and the statements contained in any such certifications are complete and correct, and none of such entities or its officers have received notice from any Governmental Entity questioning or challenging the accuracy, completeness, form or manner of filing or submission of such certification. As of the Execution Date, and except as disclosed in a Parent SEC Report filed with the SEC prior to the Execution Date, none of such entities has any Knowledge of any material weaknesses in the design or operation of such internal controls over financial reporting.
SECTION 4.6 Financial Statements; Undisclosed Liabilities.
(a) Parents Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 7, 2015 (the Parent 8-K) sets forth a true and complete copy of the consolidated audited statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2014 and balance sheets as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 for Parent, including the notes thereto (the referenced financial statements set forth in the Parent 8-K are collectively referred to as the Parent Financial Statements). The Parent Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto) and present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial position of Parent as of such dates and the consolidated results of income and cash flows of Parent for such periods, except as otherwise noted therein. Except as set forth in the Parent Financial Statements, there are no off-balance sheet arrangements that would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. Parent has not had any disagreement with its independent public accounting firm that required disclosure in the Parent SEC Reports.
(b) There are no liabilities or obligations of Parent or the Parent Subsidiaries (whether known or unknown and whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) and there are no facts or circumstances that would reasonably be expected to result in any such liabilities or obligations, whether arising in the context of federal, state or local judicial, regulatory, administrative or permitting agency Proceedings, other than (i) liabilities or obligations reflected or reserved against in the Parent Financial Statements, (ii) current liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business since December 31, 2014, (iii) liabilities and obligations incurred under or in accordance with this Agreement or in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and (iv) liabilities or obligations (whether known or unknown and whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 4.7 Real Property; Rights-of-Way.
(a) Each of the Parent Group Entities has good, valid and marketable title to all real property, good and valid leasehold interest in each material lease, sublease and other agreement under which the Parent Group Entities uses or occupies or has the right to use or occupy any material real property and good title to all tangible personal property owned by the Parent Group Entities that is sufficient for the operation of their respective businesses as presently conducted, free and clear of all Liens (except Permitted Liens), except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
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(b) Each of the Parent Group Entities has such Rights-of-Way as are sufficient to conduct its business in the manner described, and subject to the limitations, qualifications, reservations and encumbrances contained, in any Parent SEC Report filed on or prior to the Execution Date, except for such Rights-of-Way the absence of which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. Each of the Parent Group Entities has fulfilled and performed all its material obligations with respect to such Rights-of-Way and no event has occurred that allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation or termination thereof or would result in any impairment of the rights of the holder of any such Rights-of-Way, except for such revocations, terminations and impairments that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
(c) (i) (A) there are no pending Proceedings to modify the zoning classification of, or to condemn or take by power of eminent domain, all or any of the assets of the Parent Group Entities and (B) none of the Parent Parties have Knowledge of any such threatened Proceeding, which (in the case of clause (A) or (B)), if pursued, would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Parent Material Adverse Effect, (ii) to the extent located in jurisdictions subject to zoning, the assets of the Parent Group Entities that are real property (owned or leased) are properly zoned for the existence, occupancy and use of all of the improvements located on the owned and leased real property and on the Rights-of-Way held by any of the Parent Group Entities, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Parent Material Adverse Effect, and (iii) none of such improvements are subject to any conditional use permits or permitted non-conforming use or permitted non-conforming structure classifications or similar permits or classifications, except as would not, either currently or in the case of a rebuilding of or additional construction of improvements, individually or in the aggregate, have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 4.8 Litigation; Laws and Regulations. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Parent Material Adverse Effect:
(a) There are no (i) Proceedings pending or, to the Knowledge of the Parent Parties, threatened against or affecting the Parent Group Entities (other than the Parent Partially Owned Entities), their assets, or any of the operations of the Parent Group Entities (other than the Parent Partially Owned Entities) related thereto or (ii) Orders against or affecting the Parent Group Entities (other than the Parent Partially Owned Entities), their assets, or any of the operations of the Parent Group Entities (other than the Parent Partially Owned Entities) related thereto.
(b) To the Knowledge of the Parent Parties, there are no (i) Proceedings pending or threatened against or affecting the Parent Partially Owned Entities, their assets, or any of the operations of the Parent Partially Owned Entities related thereto or (ii) Orders against or affecting the Parent Partially Owned Entities, their assets, or any of the operations of the Parent Partially Owned Entities related thereto.
(c) None of the Parent Group Entities (other than the Parent Partially Owned Entities) and, to the Knowledge of the Parent Parties, no Parent Partially Owned Entity (i) is in violation of or in default under its Governing Documents or (ii) is in violation of any applicable Law, except in the case of each of clause (i) and (ii) for such violations or defaults that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
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SECTION 4.9 No Adverse Changes. Except as described in the Parent Financial Statements, (x) with respect to any Parent Partially Owned Entity, to the Knowledge of the Parent Parties and (y) with respect to any other Parent Group Entities:
(a) since December 31, 2014, there has not been a Parent Material Adverse Effect;
(b) since December 31, 2014, there has not been any material damage, destruction or loss to any material portion of the assets of the Parent Group Entities, whether or not covered by insurance; and
(c) since December 31, 2014, neither Parent nor any other Parent Group Entity has taken any action described in Section 5.1(b) that, if taken after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Effective Time without the prior written consent of WPZ, would violate such provisions.
SECTION 4.10 Taxes. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Parent Material Adverse Effect and, only with respect to any Parent Partially Owned Entity, to the Knowledge of the Parent Parties, (a) all Tax Returns required to be filed by or with respect to Parent or any of the Parent Subsidiaries or their assets have been filed on a timely basis (taking into account all extensions of due dates); (b) all Taxes owed by Parent or any of the Parent Subsidiaries, which are or have become due, have been timely paid in full; (c) there are no Liens on any of the assets of Parent or any of the Parent Subsidiaries that arose in connection with any failure (or alleged failure) to pay any Tax on any of such assets, other than Permitted Liens; (d) there is no pending Proceeding for assessment or collection of Taxes and no Tax assessment, deficiency or adjustment has been asserted or proposed with respect to Parent or any of the Parent Subsidiaries or their assets, and (e) Parent has not constituted either a distributing corporation or a controlled corporation in a distribution of stock intended to qualify for tax-free treatment under Section 355 of the Code in the two years prior to the date of this Agreement or in a distribution which could otherwise constitute part of a plan or series of related transactions (within the meaning of Section 355(e) of the Code) in conjunction with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
SECTION 4.11 Environmental Matters. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Parent Material Adverse Effect: (a) the Parent Group Entities, their assets and their operations relating thereto are in compliance with applicable Environmental Laws; (b) no circumstances exist with respect to the Parent Group Entities, their assets or their operations relating thereto that give rise to an obligation by the Parent Group Entities to investigate or remediate the presence or release, on-site or offsite, of Hazardous Materials under any applicable Environmental Laws; (c) the Parent Group Entities, their assets or their operations related thereto are not subject to any pending or, to the Knowledge of the Parent Parties, threatened Proceeding under any Environmental Law (including designation as a potentially responsible party under CERCLA or any similar local or state Law); (d) all notices, permits, permit exemptions, licenses or similar authorizations, if any, required to be obtained or filed by the Parent Group Entities,
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with respect to their assets or their operations relating thereto have been duly obtained or filed and are valid and currently in effect and will be legally usable by the Parent Group Entities at the time of the Closing; (e) there has been no release of any Hazardous Material into the environment by the Parent Group Entities, their assets, or their operations relating thereto, except in compliance with applicable Environmental Law; and (f) there has been no exposure of any Person or property to any Hazardous Material in connection with their assets or their operations.
SECTION 4.12 Licenses; Permits.
(a) The Parent Group Entities have all Permits, except where the failure to obtain such Permit would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
(b) All Permits are validly held by the Parent Group Entities and are in full force and effect, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
(c) The Parent Group Entities have complied with all terms and conditions of the Permits, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. No suspension or cancellation of any Permit is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Parent Parties, threatened, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
(d) The Permits will not be subject to suspension, modification, revocation or non-renewal as a result of the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, except, in each case, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
(e) No Proceeding is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Parent Parties, threatened with respect to any alleged failure by the Parent Group Entities to have any material Permit necessary for the operation of any asset or the conduct of their businesses or to be in compliance therewith.
SECTION 4.13 Contracts.
(a) Except for this Agreement or as filed or publicly furnished with the SEC prior to the Execution Date, none of the Parent Group Entities is a party to or bound by, as of the Execution Date, any contract or other agreement (whether written or oral) which is a material contract (as such term is defined in Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K of the SEC) to Parent (each contract that is described in this Section 4.13(a) being a Parent Material Contract).
(b) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Parent Material Adverse Effect, with respect to each of the Parent Group Entities (but, with respect to any Parent Partially Owned Entity, to the Knowledge of the Parent Parties): (i) each Parent Material Contract to which such entity is a party is legal, valid and binding on and enforceable against such entity, and in full force and effect; (ii) each Parent Material Contract to which such entity is a party will continue to be legal, valid and binding on and enforceable against such entity, and in full force and effect on identical terms following the consummation of the
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transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (iii) such entity that is a party to each Parent Material Contract is not in breach or default, and no event has occurred which with notice or lapse of time would constitute a breach or default by any such party, or permit termination, modification, or acceleration, under the Parent Material Contract; and (iv) to the Knowledge of the Parent Parties, no other party to any Parent Material Contract is in breach or default, and no event has occurred which with notice or lapse of time would constitute a breach or default by such other party, or permit termination, modification or acceleration under any Parent Material Contract other than in accordance with its terms nor has any other party repudiated any provision of the Parent Material Contract.
SECTION 4.14 Employees and Employee Benefits.
(a) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Parent Material Adverse Effect, (i) each Parent Benefit Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is and has been so qualified in form, and (ii) each Parent Benefit Plan is and has been operated and maintained in compliance with its terms and the provisions of all applicable Laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, ERISA and the Code
(b) Section 4.14(b) of the Parent Disclosure Letter sets forth (i) each Parent Benefit Plan that is subject to Title IV or Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code (each, a Pension Plan) and (ii) each Parent Benefit Plan that is a multiemployer plan within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA (each, a Multiemployer Plan). Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Parent Material Adverse Effect, with respect to each Pension Plan that any Parent Party (or any entity treated as a single employer with any Parent Party for purposes of Section 414 of the Code or Section 4001(a)(14) of ERISA (the Parent Aggregated Group)) has maintained within the last six years or had any obligation to contribute to within the past six years, (i) except for an event described in Section 4043(c)(3) of ERISA, there has, during the past six years, been no reportable event, as that term is defined in Section 4043 of ERISA, for which the 30-day reporting requirement has not been waived, and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not result in such a reportable event for which a waiver does not apply, (ii) none of the Parent Group Entities or any member of the Parent Aggregated Group has incurred any direct or indirect liability under Title IV of ERISA other than liability for premiums to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation that have been timely paid and other than any liabilities for which the Parent Group Entities have no direct or indirect responsibility or obligation (other than with respect to the Parent Partnership Agreement), (iii) there does not exist any accumulated funding deficiency within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, whether or not waived that, in either case, would reasonably be expected to give rise to a Lien on any of the assets of the Parent Group Entities, (iv) no such Pension Plan is in at risk status, within the meaning of Section 430 of the Code or Section 303 of ERISA, and (v) no notice of intent to terminate any such Pension Plan has been filed with the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, no amendment terminating any such Pension Plan has been adopted and no proceedings to terminate any such Pension Plan have been instituted by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Parent Material Adverse Effect, (A) no Multiemployer Plan is, or is reasonably expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization, or in critical or endangered status as defined in Section 432 of the Code or Section 305 of ERISA, and (B) none of the Parent Group Entities nor any member of the Parent Aggregated Group has or may reasonably be expected to incur any withdrawal liability (as defined in Section 4201 of ERISA) with respect to any Multiemployer Plan.
(c) No action is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Parent Parties, threatened against, by or on behalf of any Parent Benefit Plan or the assets, fiduciaries or administrators thereof (other than claims for benefits in the ordinary course) that would have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. No Parent Benefit Plan and none of the Parent Parties with respect to any Parent Benefit Plan is the subject of an audit or investigation by the IRS, the Department of Labor, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any other governmental authority, nor is any such audit or investigation pending or, to the Knowledge of the Parent Parties, threatened that would have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. None of the assets of any Parent Group Entity is, or may reasonably be expected to become, the subject of any Lien arising under ERISA or the Code that would have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
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SECTION 4.15 Labor Matters.
(a) There is no labor strike, or other material labor dispute, slowdown or stoppage pending or, to the Knowledge of the Parent Parties, threatened against the Parent Group Entities with respect to any of the employees of any Parent Group Entities (other than any such employees who provide exclusive or shared services with respect to the assets or business of the WPZ Group Entities) (collectively, the Parent Associated Employees), and the Parent Group Entities have not experienced any such labor strike or material labor dispute, slowdown or stoppage during the past three years.
(b) With respect to current, former and prospective Parent Associated Employees, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Parent Material Adverse Effect, the Parent Group Entities and each member of the Parent Aggregated Group are in compliance with all applicable Laws, statutes, rules and regulations respecting employment and employment practices, terms and conditions of employment, wages and hours, pay equity, discrimination in employment, wrongful discharge, collective bargaining, fair labor standards, occupational health and safety, personal rights or any other labor and employment-related matters.
SECTION 4.16 Insurance. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Parent Material Adverse Effect, (a) the businesses and assets of the Parent Group Entities are covered by, and insured under, insurance policies underwritten by reputable insurers that include coverages and related limits and deductibles that are customary in the natural gas gathering, processing, treating, transportation and storage industries and NGL marketing industry, (b) all such insurance policies are in full force and effect and all premiums due and payable on such policies have been paid, and (c) no notice of cancellation of, material premium increase of, or indication of an intention not to renew, any such insurance policy has been received by the Parent Parties other than in the ordinary course of business.
SECTION 4.17 Condition of Assets. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Parent Material Adverse Effect, the assets of the Parent Group Entities have been maintained and repaired in the same manner as would a prudent operator of such assets, and are adequate for the purposes for which they are currently used.
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SECTION 4.18 Investment Company Act. Parent is not, nor immediately after the Closing will be, subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
SECTION 4.19 Brokerage Arrangements. Except for Parents obligations to Barclays Capital Inc., the fees and expenses of which will be paid by Parent, none of the Parent Parties has entered (directly or indirectly) into any agreement with any Person that would obligate the Parent Parties to pay any commission, brokerage or finders fee or other similar fee in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
SECTION 4.20 State Takeover Laws. Parent has taken all action necessary to render inapplicable to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, any potentially applicable state takeover Laws and any applicable takeover provision of the Governing Documents of Parent.
SECTION 4.21 Opinion of Financial Advisor. The Parent Board has received the opinion of Barclays Capital Inc., dated as of the Execution Date, to the effect that, as of the date thereof and subject to the qualifications, limitations and assumptions set forth therein, the Merger Consideration to be paid by Parent in the Merger is fair, from a financial point of view, to Parent.
SECTION 4.22 Information Supplied. None of the information supplied (or to be supplied) in writing by or on behalf of Parent specifically for inclusion or incorporation by reference in (a) the Registration Statement will, at the time the Registration Statement, or any amendment or supplement thereto, is filed with the SEC or at the time it becomes effective under the Securities Act, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading and (b) the Parent Proxy Statement will, on the date it is first mailed to stockholders of Parent, and at the time of the Parent Stockholder Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Parent makes no representation or warranty with respect to information supplied by or on behalf of WPZ for inclusion or incorporation by reference in any of the foregoing documents.
SECTION 4.23 Waivers and Disclaimers. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY CONTAINED IN THIS AGREEMENT, EXCEPT FOR THE EXPRESS REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES AND OTHER COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS MADE BY THE PARENT PARTIES IN THIS AGREEMENT, THE PARENT PARTIES HAVE NOT MADE, DO NOT MAKE, AND SPECIFICALLY NEGATE AND DISCLAIM ANY REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES, PROMISES, COVENANTS, AGREEMENTS OR GUARANTIES OF ANY KIND OR CHARACTER WHATSOEVER, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, ORAL OR WRITTEN, PAST OR PRESENT REGARDING (A) THE VALUE, NATURE, QUALITY OR CONDITION OF THEIR ASSETS INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE WATER, SOIL, GEOLOGY OR ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION OF THEIR ASSETS GENERALLY, INCLUDING THE PRESENCE OR LACK OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES OR OTHER MATTERS ON THEIR ASSETS, (B) THE INCOME TO BE DERIVED FROM THEIR ASSETS, (C) THE
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SUITABILITY OF THEIR ASSETS FOR ANY AND ALL ACTIVITIES AND USES THAT MAY BE CONDUCTED THEREON, (D) THE COMPLIANCE OF OR BY THEIR ASSETS OR THEIR OPERATION WITH ANY LAWS (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY ZONING, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, POLLUTION OR LAND USE LAWS, RULES, REGULATIONS, ORDERS OR REQUIREMENTS), OR (E) THE HABITABILITY, MERCHANTABILITY, MARKETABILITY, PROFITABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OF THEIR ASSETS. EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT PROVIDED IN THIS AGREEMENT, NEITHER THE PARENT PARTIES NOR ANY OF THEIR AFFILIATES SHALL BE LIABLE OR BOUND IN ANY MANNER BY ANY VERBAL OR WRITTEN STATEMENTS, REPRESENTATIONS OR INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE PARENT PARTIES, THEIR BUSINESSES OR THEIR ASSETS FURNISHED BY ANY AGENT, EMPLOYEE, SERVANT OR THIRD PARTY. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION 4.23 HAVE BEEN NEGOTIATED BY THE PARTIES AFTER DUE CONSIDERATION AND ARE INTENDED TO BE A COMPLETE EXCLUSION AND NEGATION OF ANY REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, WITH RESPECT TO THE PARENT GROUP ENTITIES, THEIR BUSINESSES OR THEIR ASSETS THAT MAY ARISE PURSUANT TO ANY LAW NOW OR HEREAFTER IN EFFECT, OR OTHERWISE, EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT.
ARTICLE V
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS, COVENANTS,
RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS
SECTION 5.1 Conduct of Parties.
(a) Except (i) as provided in this Agreement, (ii) as required by applicable Law, or (iii) as consented to in writing by WPZ (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), during the period from the Execution Date until the Effective Time, Parent shall not take any action to cause and shall not permit the WPZ General Partner to:
(i) cause the amendment of the WPZ Partnership Agreement or the WPZ GP LLC Agreement, in each case, to the extent that any such change or amendment would reasonably be expected to (1) prohibit, prevent or materially hinder, impede or delay the ability of the parties to satisfy any conditions to or the consummation of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (2) adversely impact the Holders of WPZ Public Units in any material respect; or
(ii) take any action to cause any WPZ Group Entity to make any material change in its tax methods, principles or elections that would reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect the ability of Andrews Kurth LLP to deliver its tax opinion at Closing pursuant to Section 6.1(h).
(b) Except (i) as provided in this Agreement, (ii) as set forth in the Parent Disclosure Letter, (iii) as required by applicable Law, (iv) as provided in any Parent Material Contract in effect as of the Execution Date or (v) as consented to in writing by WPZ (such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), during the period from the Execution Date to the Effective Time, Parent shall not, and shall not permit any Parent Group Entity to:
(i) (A) except for the Charter Amendment, amend Parents certificate of incorporation or bylaws in any manner that would reasonably be expected to prohibit, prevent or materially hinder, impede or delay the ability of the parties to satisfy any of the conditions to or the consummation of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or have an adverse effect on the value of the Merger Consideration to be received by the Holders of WPZ Public Units in the Merger, or (B) declare, set aside or pay any dividend or distribution payable in cash, stock or property in respect of any capital stock, other than regular quarterly cash dividends on the Parent Common Stock in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and other than dividends or distributions with a record date after the Effective Time;
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(ii) other than transactions exclusively between wholly owned Parent Subsidiaries, adopt a plan or agreement of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, restructuring, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other reorganization, in each case, that would reasonably be expected to prohibit, prevent or materially hinder, impede or delay the ability of the parties to satisfy any of the conditions to or the consummation of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or have an adverse effect on the value of the Merger Consideration to be received by the Holders of WPZ Public Units in the Merger;
(iii) issue, deliver or sell any equity securities, or Rights to acquire equity securities, of Parent for cash in excess of $4,000,000,000 in the aggregate (based on the market price of the securities at the time of issuance), except for the issuance, delivery or sale of any equity securities, or Rights to acquire equity securities, of Parent in connection with (x) an acquisition or (y) at-the-market offerings by Parent pursuant to an equity distribution program; provided, however, that this clause (iii) shall not restrict or limit the ability of Parent to make equity grants to its employees, officers and directors pursuant to its employee benefit plans or as permitted by clause (iv); provided further, however, that nothing in this clause (iii) shall be deemed to restrict the vesting and/or payment, or the acceleration of the vesting and/or payment, of any awards consisting of Parent Common Stock or other equity awards in accordance with the terms of any existing equity-based, bonus, incentive, performance or other compensation plan or arrangement or Employee Benefit Plan (including, without limitation, in connection with any equity award holders termination of service);
(iv) grant any awards consisting of shares of Parent Common Stock or other equity interests of Parent under any equity-based, bonus, incentive, performance or other compensation plan or arrangement or Employee Benefit Plan, other than (A) in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (B) as retention incentives, or (C) the payment of bonuses in the form of equity-based awards;
(v) settle any claims, demands, lawsuits or Proceedings seeking damages or an injunction or other equitable relief where such settlements would, in the aggregate, have a Parent Material Adverse Effect; or
(vi) agree, in writing or otherwise, to take any of the foregoing actions, or take any action or agree, in writing or otherwise, to take any action, including proposing or undertaking any merger, consolidation or acquisition, in each case, that would reasonably be expected to prohibit, prevent or materially hinder, impede or delay the ability of the parties to satisfy any of the conditions to or the consummation of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
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(c) From the Execution Date until the Closing Date, neither WPZ nor Parent shall, nor shall it cause any of its Subsidiaries to, take any action prohibited by this Agreement or fail to take any action required by this Agreement that, in either case, would be reasonably likely to materially delay the consummation of the Merger or result in the failure of a condition to closing pursuant to Article VI.
(d) From the Execution Date until the Closing Date, each of Parent and WPZ shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, promptly notify the other party in writing of (i) any event, condition or circumstance that could reasonably be expected to result in any of the conditions set forth in Article VI not being satisfied at the Effective Time, and (ii) any material breach by the notifying party of any covenant, obligation, or agreement contained in this Agreement; provided, however, that the delivery of any notice pursuant to this Section 5.1(d) shall not limit or otherwise affect the remedies available hereunder to the notified party.
SECTION 5.2 Access to Information; Confidentiality. Subject to applicable Laws, upon reasonable notice, each Party Group shall (and shall cause the members of such Party Group to) afford the officers, employees, counsel, accountants and other representatives and advisors of the requesting Party Group reasonable access, during normal business hours from the Execution Date until the Closing Date, to its properties, books, contracts and records as well as to their management personnel; provided that such access shall be provided on a basis that minimizes the disruption to the operations of the disclosing Party Group and the members of its Party Group. The disclosing Party Group shall not be responsible to the requesting Party Group for personal injuries sustained by the requesting Party Groups officers, employees, counsel, accountants and other representatives and advisors in connection with the access provided pursuant to this Section 5.2, and shall be indemnified and held harmless by the requesting Party Group for any losses suffered by the disclosing Party Group or its officers, employees or representatives in connection with any such personal injuries. Subject to applicable Laws, during such period, each Party Group shall (and shall cause the members of such Party Group to) furnish promptly to the other Party Group (i) a copy of each report, schedule, registration statement and other document filed, published, announced or received by it in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement during such period pursuant to the requirements of Federal, state or foreign Laws (including pursuant to the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the rules of any Governmental Entity thereunder), as applicable (other than documents which such Party Group is not permitted to disclose under applicable Laws) and (ii) all information concerning the disclosing Party Groups business, properties and personnel as the requesting Party Group may reasonably request, including all information relating to environmental matters. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Party Group shall have no obligation to disclose or provide access to any information the disclosure of which such Party Group has concluded may jeopardize any privilege available to such Party Group relating to such information or would be in violation of a confidentiality obligation binding on such Party Group. Except for disclosures
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permitted by the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement, dated as of April 20, 2015 between Parent and WPZ (as it may be amended from time to time, the Confidentiality Agreement), each party shall hold information received from the other party pursuant to this Section 5.2 in confidence in accordance with the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement.
SECTION 5.3 Certain Filings; Parent Stockholder Meeting.
(a) As promptly as practicable following the Execution Date (i) each of the WPZ Parties and the Parent Parties agrees to cooperate in the preparation of the Registration Statement (including the joint consent statement/prospectus/Parent Proxy Statement constituting a part thereof (the Consent Statement/Prospectus/Parent Proxy Statement)), (ii) Parent shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued in the Merger to be approved for listing on the NYSE (subject, if applicable, to notice of issuance) prior to the Effective Time, and (iii) the parties hereto shall make all required filings under applicable state securities and blue sky Laws; provided, however, that no such filings shall be required in any jurisdiction where, as a result thereof, Parent would become subject to general service of process or to taxation or qualification to do business as a foreign corporation doing business in such jurisdiction solely as a result of such filing. Parent agrees to file the Registration Statement with the SEC as promptly as reasonably practicable. Each of Parent and WPZ agrees to use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable after filing thereof and keep the Registration Statement effective until the earlier of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms. Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Consent Statement/Prospectus/Parent Proxy Statement to be mailed to the stockholders of Parent as promptly as practicable after the Registration Statement is declared effective under the Securities Act. Each of Parent and WPZ agrees to furnish to the other party all information concerning the Parent Group Entities or the WPZ Group Entities, as applicable, and to take such other action as may be reasonably requested in connection with the foregoing. No filing of, or amendment or supplement to, the Registration Statement or the Consent Statement/Prospectus/Parent Proxy Statement will be made by Parent or WPZ, in each case without providing the other party a reasonable opportunity to review and comment thereon.
(b) Each of the Parent Parties and the WPZ Parties agrees, as to itself and its Subsidiaries, that (i) none of the information supplied or to be supplied by it for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement will, at the time the Registration Statement and each amendment or supplement thereto, if any, becomes effective under the Securities Act, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and (ii) none of the information supplied or to be supplied by it for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Consent Statement/Prospectus/Parent Proxy Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto will, at the date the Consent Statement/Prospectus/Parent Proxy Statement is mailed to the Holders of WPZ Common Units or Parent Common Stock, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Each of the Parent Parties and the WPZ Parties further agrees that, if it shall become aware prior to the Closing Date of any information that would cause any of the statements in the Registration
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Statement or the Consent Statement/Prospectus/Parent Proxy Statement to be false or misleading with respect to any material fact, or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not false or misleading, it will promptly inform the other party thereof and take the necessary steps to correct such information in an amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Consent Statement/Prospectus/Parent Proxy Statement.
(c) Each of WPZ and Parent shall (1) promptly notify the other of receipt of any comments from the SEC or its staff or any other applicable government official and of any requests by the SEC or its staff or any other applicable government official for amendments or supplements to any of the filings with the SEC in connection with the Merger and other transactions contemplated hereby or for additional information and (2) promptly supply the other with copies of all correspondence between WPZ or any of its representatives, or Parent or any of its representatives, as the case may be, on the one hand, and the SEC or its staff or any other applicable government official, on the other hand, with respect thereto. Parent and WPZ shall use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to respond to any comments of the SEC or its staff with respect to the Consent Statement/Prospectus/Parent Proxy Statement or the Registration Statement as promptly as practicable.
(d) WPZ General Partner shall distribute to the Holders of WPZ Units the Consent Statement/Prospectus/Parent Proxy Statement, which shall include a form of consent that may be executed by Holders of WPZ Units in connection with the Written Consent as promptly as practicable after the Registration Statement is declared effective under the Securities Act.
(e) Parent shall, as soon as practicable following the effective date of the Registration Statement, establish a record date for, duly call, give notice of, convene and hold a special meeting of its stockholders (the Parent Stockholder Meeting) for the purpose of obtaining the Parent Stockholder Approval. Subject to Section 5.3(f), Parent shall, through the Parent Board, recommend to its stockholders approval of the Parent Stock Issuance and adoption of the Charter Amendment (the Parent Board Recommendation) and shall not (i) withdraw, modify or qualify, or propose publicly to withdraw, modify or qualify, in a manner adverse to WPZ, such recommendation or (ii) fail to include such Parent Board Recommendation in the Parent Proxy Statement (any such action being referred to herein as a Parent Adverse Recommendation Change). Subject to Section 5.3(f), Parent shall use reasonable best efforts to obtain from its stockholders the Parent Stockholder Approval. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the obligations of Parent set forth in the first sentence of this Section 5.3(e) shall not be affected by a Parent Adverse Recommendation Change. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Parent may postpone or adjourn the Parent Stockholder Meeting (i) to solicit additional proxies for the purpose of obtaining the Parent Stockholder Approval, (ii) in the absence of quorum, (iii) if Parent has delivered any notice contemplated by Section 5.3(f) and the time periods contemplated by Section 5.3(f) have not expired, or (iv) to allow reasonable additional time for the filing and/or mailing of any supplemental or amended disclosure that Parent has determined after consultation with outside legal counsel is necessary under applicable Law and for such supplemental or amended disclosure to be disseminated and reviewed by the stockholders of Parent prior to the Parent Stockholder Meeting.
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(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, at any time prior to obtaining the Parent Stockholder Approval, and subject to compliance with the provisions of this Section 5.3(f), the Parent Board may, if the Parent Board determines in good faith (after consultation with the Parents financial advisor and outside legal counsel) that the failure to take such action would be reasonably likely to be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties to stockholders under applicable Law, make a Parent Adverse Recommendation Change; provided, however, that no such Parent Adverse Recommendation Change shall be made in response to a Parent Acquisition Proposal that does not constitute a Parent Designated Proposal; provided further, however, that the Parent Board may not effect a Parent Adverse Recommendation Change pursuant to the foregoing unless:
(i) Parent has provided prior written notice to WPZ specifying in reasonable detail the reasons for such action (including, in the case of a Parent Designated Proposal, a description of the material terms of such Parent Designated Proposal) at least three (3) days in advance of its intention to take such action with respect to a Parent Adverse Recommendation Change, unless at the time such notice is required to be given there are less than three (3) days prior to the Parent Stockholder Meeting, in which case the Parent shall provide as much notice as is reasonably practicable (the period inclusive of all such days, the Parent Notice Period); and
(ii) during the Parent Notice Period the Parent Board has negotiated, and has used reasonable best efforts to cause its financial advisor and outside legal counsel to negotiate, with WPZ in good faith (to the extent WPZ desires to negotiate) to make such adjustments in the terms and conditions of this Agreement so that the failure to effect such Parent Adverse Recommendation Change would not be reasonably likely to be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties to stockholders under applicable Law; provided that any material amendment to the terms of a Parent Designated Proposal, if applicable, shall require a new notice pursuant to this Section 5.3(f) and a new Parent Notice Period, except that such new Parent Notice Period in connection with any material amendment shall be for one business day from the time WPZ receives such notice (as opposed to three days).
(g) Unless this Agreement is validly terminated in accordance with Article VII, Parent shall submit the Parent Stock Issuance and adoption of the Charter Amendment for approval at the Parent Stockholder Meeting even if the Parent Board shall have effected a Parent Adverse Recommendation Change.
SECTION 5.4 Commercially Reasonable Efforts; Further Assurances. From and after the Execution Date, upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereof, each of the parties hereto shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to (i) take, or cause to be taken, all appropriate action, and to do or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Laws to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as promptly as practicable and (ii) defend any lawsuits or other Proceedings, whether judicial or administrative, challenging this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or seek to have lifted or rescinded any injunction or restraining order or other order adversely affecting the ability of the parties to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger. Without limiting the foregoing but subject to the
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other terms of this Agreement, the parties hereto agree that, from time to time, whether before, at or after the Closing Date, each of them will execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such instruments of assignment, transfer, conveyance, endorsement, direction or authorization as may be necessary to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement will require any party hereto to hold separate or make any divestiture not expressly contemplated herein of any asset or otherwise agree to any restriction on its operations or other condition in order to obtain any consent or approval or other clearance required by this Agreement.
SECTION 5.5 No Public Announcement. On the Execution Date, Parent and WPZ shall issue a joint press release with respect to the execution of this Agreement and the Merger, which press release shall be reasonably satisfactory to Parent and WPZ General Partner. From and after the Execution Date, neither WPZ nor Parent shall issue any other press release or make any other public announcement concerning this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (to the extent not previously issued or made in accordance with this Agreement) (other than public announcements at industry road shows and conferences or as may be required by applicable Law or by obligations pursuant to any listing agreement with the NYSE, in which event the party making the public announcement or press release shall, to the extent practicable, notify Parent and WPZ General Partner in advance of such public announcement or press release) without the prior approval of Parent and WPZ General Partner, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned.
SECTION 5.6 Expenses. Whether or not the Merger is consummated, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement, including legal fees, accounting fees, financial advisory fees and other professional and non-professional fees and expenses, shall be paid by the party hereto incurring such expenses, except that Parent and WPZ shall each pay for one-half of (a) any filing fees with respect to the Registration Statement and the Consent Statement/Prospectus/Parent Proxy Statement and (b) the costs of printing and mailing of the Consent Statement/Prospectus/Parent Proxy Statement.
SECTION 5.7 Regulatory Issues. WPZ and Parent shall cooperate fully with respect to any filing, submission or communication with a Governmental Entity having jurisdiction over the Merger. Such cooperation shall include each of the parties hereto: (i) providing, in the case of oral communications with a Governmental Entity, advance notice of any such communication and, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, an opportunity for the other party to participate; (ii) providing, in the case of written communications, an opportunity for the other party to comment on any such communication and provide the other with a final copy of all such communications; and (iii) complying promptly with any request for information from a Governmental Entity (including an additional request for information and documentary material), unless directed not to do so by the other party hereto. All cooperation shall be conducted in such a manner so as to preserve all applicable privileges.
SECTION 5.8 Tax Matters. For U.S. federal income tax purposes (and for purposes of any applicable state, local or foreign Tax that follows the U.S. federal income tax treatment), the parties agree to treat the Merger (a) with respect to holders of WPZ Public Units, as a taxable sale of such WPZ Common Units to Parent and (b) with respect to Parent, as a purchase of WPZ Public Units from the Holders of such WPZ Common Units. The parties will prepare and file all
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Tax Returns consistent with the foregoing and will not take any inconsistent position on any Tax Return, or during the course of any audit, litigation or other proceeding with respect to Taxes, except as otherwise required by applicable Law following a final determination by a court of competent jurisdiction or other administrative settlement with or final administrative decision by the relevant Governmental Entity.
SECTION 5.9 D&O Insurance.
(a) For a period of six years after the Effective Time, Parent shall, and shall cause the WPZ Group Entities to, honor all rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses, elimination of liability and exculpation from liabilities for acts or omissions occurring at or prior to the Effective Time (including the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) now existing in favor of the WPZ D&O Indemnified Parties as provided in the Governing Documents of any WPZ Group Entity, under applicable Delaware Law or otherwise, and shall ensure that the Governing Documents of WPZ and WPZ General Partner (or their successor entities) shall, for a period of six years following the Effective Time, contain provisions substantially no less advantageous with respect to indemnification, advancement of expenses, elimination of liability and exculpation of their present and former directors, officers, employees and agents than are set forth in the Governing Documents of WPZ and WPZ General Partner as of the Execution Date.
(b) For a period of six years after the Effective Time, Parent shall maintain officers and directors liability insurance with a nationally reputable carrier covering each WPZ D&O Indemnified Party who is or at any time prior to the Effective Time was covered by the existing officers and directors liability insurance applicable to the WPZ Group Entities (D&O Insurance), on terms substantially no less advantageous to the WPZ D&O Indemnified Parties, as applicable, than such existing insurance with respect to acts or omissions, or alleged acts or omissions, prior to the Effective Time (whether claims, actions or other Proceedings relating thereto are commenced, asserted or claimed before or after the Effective Time); provided, however, that Parent shall not be required to pay an annual premium for the D&O Insurance for the WPZ D&O Indemnified Parties in excess of 300% of the current annual premium currently paid by the WPZ Group Entities for such insurance, but shall purchase as much of such coverage as possible for such applicable amount. Parent shall have the right to cause such coverage to be extended under the applicable D&O Insurance by obtaining a six-year tail policy on terms and conditions no less advantageous to the WPZ D&O Indemnified Parties than the existing D&O Insurance, and such tail policy shall satisfy the provisions of this Section 5.9.
(c) The provisions of this Section 5.9 shall survive the consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement for a period of six years and expressly are intended to benefit each of the WPZ D&O Indemnified Parties; provided, however, that in the event that any claim or claims for indemnification or advancement set forth in this Section 5.9 are asserted or made within such six-year period, all rights to indemnification and advancement in respect of any such claim or claims shall continue until disposition of all such claims. The rights of any WPZ D&O Indemnified Party under this Section 5.9 shall be in addition to any other rights such WPZ D&O Indemnified Party may have under the Governing Documents of any WPZ Group Entity or applicable Law.
(d) In the event Parent or any of its successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other Person and shall not be the continuing or surviving entity in such consolidation or merger or (ii) transfers all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person, then and in either such case, Parent shall cause proper provision to be made so that its successors and assigns, as the case may be, shall assume the obligations set forth in this Section 5.9.
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SECTION 5.10 Dividends and Distributions. After the Execution Date until the Effective Time, each of Parent and WPZ shall coordinate with the other regarding the declaration of any dividends or distributions in respect of Parent Common Stock and WPZ Common Units and the record dates and payment dates relating thereto, it being the intention of the parties that Holders of WPZ Common Units shall not receive, for any quarter, distributions both in respect of WPZ Common Units and also dividends in respect of the Parent Common Stock that they receive in exchange therefor in the Merger, but that they shall receive for any such quarter (exclusive of any dividends received in respect of Parent Common Stock not received by such Holders in the Merger) either: (a) only distributions in respect of WPZ Common Units or (b) only dividends in respect of Parent Common Stock that they receive in exchange therefor in the Merger.
SECTION 5.11 Consent to Use of Financial Statements; Financing Cooperation. The WPZ Parties hereby consent to the Parent Group Entities use of and reliance on any audited or unaudited financial statements, including the WPZ Financial Statements, relating to the WPZ Group Entities reasonably requested by the Parent Parties to be used in any financing or other activities of the Parent Parties permitted hereby, including any filings that the Parent Parties desire to make with the SEC. In addition, the WPZ Parties will use commercially reasonable efforts, at the Parent Parties sole cost and expense, to obtain the consents of Ernst & Young LLP (with respect to certain consolidated financial statements of WPZ) and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (with respect to certain consolidated financial statements of WPZ) and Deloitte & Touche LLP (with respect to the financial statements of Gulfstream Natural Gas System, L.L.C.) to the inclusion of the financial statements referenced above in appropriate filings with the SEC. Prior to the Closing, the WPZ Parties will provide the Parent Parties such information, and make available such personnel, as the Parent Parties may reasonably request in order to assist any of the Parent Group Entities in connection with financing activities permitted hereby, including any public offerings to be registered under the Securities Act or private offerings.
SECTION 5.12 Section 16 Matters. Prior to the Effective Time, the WPZ Board and the Parent Board shall take all such steps as may be necessary or appropriate to cause the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including any dispositions of WPZ Units (including derivative securities with respect to such WPZ Units) or acquisitions of shares of Parent Common Stock (including derivative securities with respect to such shares Parent Common Stock) resulting from the transactions contemplated by this Agreement by each individual who is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act with respect to WPZ, or will become subject to such reporting requirements with respect to Parent, to be exempt under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.
SECTION 5.13 Conflicts Committee. Prior to the Effective Time, none of the WPZ Group Entities shall, without the consent of the WPZ Conflicts Committee, eliminate the WPZ
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Conflicts Committee, or revoke or diminish the authority of the WPZ Conflicts Committee, or remove or cause the removal of any director of the WPZ Board that is a member of the WPZ Conflicts Committee either as a member of such board or such committee without the affirmative vote of the members of the WPZ Board, including the affirmative vote of each of the other members of the WPZ Conflicts Committee. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 5.13 shall not apply to the filling in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Governing Documents of any vacancies caused by the death, incapacity or resignation of any director.
ARTICLE VI
CONDITIONS TO CLOSING
SECTION 6.1 Conditions to Each Partys Obligations. The obligation of the parties hereto to proceed with the Closing is subject to the satisfaction on or prior to the Closing Date of all of the following conditions, any one or more of which may be waived (to the extent legally permissible) in writing, in whole or in part, as to a party by such other parties:
(a) Consent Statement. The Consent Statement/Prospectus/Parent Proxy Statement shall have been cleared by the SEC and mailed to Holders of WPZ Common Units (in accordance with Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act) at least 20 Business Days prior to the Closing.
(b) Approvals. The parties hereto shall have received all governmental consents and approvals, the absence of which would, individually or in the aggregate, have a WPZ Material Adverse Effect or a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
(c) Written Consent. The Written Consent shall have been obtained in accordance with applicable Law and filed with the minutes of proceedings of WPZ, and such Written Consent shall not have been amended, modified, withdrawn, terminated or revoked; provided, however, that this Section 6.1(c) shall not imply that the Written Consent is permitted by the WPZ Partnership Agreement or applicable Law to be amended, modified, withdrawn, terminated or revoked following its execution by Holders of WPZ Units constituting a Unit Majority (as defined in the WPZ Partnership Agreement).
(d) Registration Statement. The Registration Statement shall have become effective under the Securities Act, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the SEC or any other Governmental Entity.
(e) NYSE Listing. The Parent Common Stock to be issued in the Merger shall have been approved for listing on the NYSE subject to official notice of issuance.
(f) No Governmental Restraint. No order, decree or injunction of any Governmental Entity shall be in effect, and no Laws shall have been enacted or adopted, that enjoin, prohibit or make illegal the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and no action, proceeding or investigation by any Governmental Entity with respect to the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be pending that seeks to restrain, enjoin, prohibit or delay consummation of the Merger or such other transactions or to impose any material restrictions or requirements thereon or on the Parent Parties or the WPZ Parties with respect thereto.
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(g) Parent Stockholder Approval. The Parent Stockholder Approval shall have been obtained in accordance with applicable Law and the Governing Documents of Parent.
(h) Partnership Tax Opinion. WPZ and Parent shall have received an opinion of Andrews Kurth LLP, dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that for U.S. federal income tax purposes at least 90% of the gross income of WPZ for the four most recent completed calendar quarters ending before the Closing Date for which the necessary financial information is available is from sources treated as qualifying income within the meaning of Section 7704(d) of the Code. In rendering such opinion, Andrews Kurth LLP shall be entitled to receive and rely upon representations of officers of Parent and the WPZ General Partner and any of their respective Affiliates as to such matters as counsel may reasonably request.
SECTION 6.2 Conditions to the Parent Parties Obligations. The obligation of the Parent Parties to proceed with the Closing is subject to the satisfaction on or prior to the Closing Date of all of the following conditions, any one or more of which may be waived in writing, in whole or in part, by the Parent Parties (in their sole discretion):
(a) Representations and Warranties; Performance. (i) The representations and warranties of the WPZ Parties set forth in (x) Section 3.1(a), Section 3.2, and Section 3.4(a) shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date as if made as of the Closing Date (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, in which case as of such earlier date), and (y) Article III (other than Section 3.1(a), Section 3.2, Section 3.4(a) and Section 3.9(a)) shall be true and correct (without regard to any materiality, WPZ Material Adverse Effect and similar qualifiers therein) as of the Closing, as if remade on the date thereof (except for representations and warranties made as of a specific date, which shall be true and correct as of such specific date), except where the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a WPZ Material Adverse Effect, (ii) the representation and warranty set forth in Section 3.9(a) shall be true and correct as of the Closing Date as if made on the date thereof, and (iii) each of the WPZ Parties shall have performed or complied with all agreements and covenants required to be performed by it hereunder prior to the Closing Date that have materiality, WPZ Material Adverse Effect or similar qualifiers, and shall have performed or complied in all material respects with all other agreements and covenants required to be performed by it hereunder prior to the Closing Date that are not so qualified.
(b) Parent shall have received a certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, of an executive officer of WPZ General Partner certifying to the matters set forth in Section 6.2(a).
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SECTION 6.3 Conditions to the WPZ Parties Obligations. The obligation of the WPZ Parties to proceed with the Closing is subject to the satisfaction on or prior to the Closing Date of all of the following conditions, any one or more of which may be waived in writing, in whole or in part, by the WPZ Parties (in their sole discretion):
(a) Representations and Warranties; Performance. (i) The representations and warranties of the Parent Parties set forth in (x) Section 4.1(a), Section 4.2 (other than the third sentence thereof), and Section 4.4(a) shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date as if made as of the Closing Date (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, in which case as of such earlier date), (y) the third sentence of Section 4.2 shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date as if made as of the Closing Date (unless there shall have been a Parent Adverse Recommendation Change pursuant to Section 5.3(f)) and (z) Article IV (other than Section 4.1(a), Section 4.2, Section 4.4(a) and Section 4.9(a)) shall be true and correct (without regard to any materiality, Parent Material Adverse Effect and similar qualifiers therein) as of the Closing, as if remade on the date thereof (except for representations and warranties made as of a specific date, which shall be true and correct as of such specific date), except where the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Parent Material Adverse Effect, (ii) the representation and warranty set forth in Section 4.9(a) shall be true and correct as of the Closing Date as if made on the date thereof, and (iii) each of the Parent Parties shall have performed or complied with all agreements and covenants required to be performed by it hereunder prior to the Closing Date that have materiality, Parent Material Adverse Effect or similar qualifiers, and shall have performed or complied in all material respects with all other agreements and covenants required to be performed by it hereunder prior to the Closing Date that are not so qualified.
(b) WPZ General Partner shall have received a certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, of an executive officer of Parent certifying to the matters set forth in Section 6.3(a).
SECTION 6.4 Frustration of Conditions. None of parties to this Agreement may rely on the failure of any condition set forth in this Article VI to be satisfied if such failure was caused by such partys failure to act in good faith or such partys failure to observe in any material respect any of its obligations under this Agreement.
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
SECTION 7.1 Termination by Mutual Consent. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Effective Time by the mutual written agreement of the parties hereto duly authorized by Parent Board, on behalf of Parent, and by the WPZ Conflicts Committee and the WPZ Board, on behalf of WPZ.
SECTION 7.2 Termination by WPZ or Parent. At any time prior to the Effective Time, this Agreement may be terminated by WPZ or Parent if:
(a) the Effective Time shall not have occurred on or before November 30, 2015 (the Termination Date); provided that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.2(a) shall not be available to Parent if the Parent Parties fail to perform or observe in any material respect or to WPZ if the WPZ Parties fail to perform or observe in any material respect any of their respective obligations under this Agreement in any manner that shall have been the principal cause of, or resulted in, the failure of the Effective Time to occur on or before such date;
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(b) a Governmental Entity shall have issued an order, decree or ruling or taken any other action (including the enactment of any statute, rule, regulation, decree or executive order) permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the Merger and such order, decree, ruling or other action (including the enactment of any statute, rule, regulation, decree or executive order) shall have become final and non-appealable; provided, however, that the Person seeking to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.2(b) shall have complied with Section 5.3 and Section 5.4; or
(c) the Parent Stockholder Meeting shall have concluded and the Parent Stockholder Approval shall not have been obtained; provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.2(c) shall not be available to Parent where the failure to obtain the Parent Stockholder Approval is proximately caused by a withdrawal, modification or qualification of the Parent Board Recommendation that is not permitted by Section 5.3(f).
SECTION 7.3 Termination by WPZ. This Agreement may be terminated by WPZ at any time prior to the Effective Time:
(a) if a Parent Adverse Recommendation Change shall have occurred; or
(b) if the Parent Parties shall have breached or failed to perform any of their respective representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement (or if any of the representations or warranties of the Parent Parties set forth in this Agreement shall fail to be true), which breach or failure (a) would (if it occurred or was continuing as of the Closing Date) give rise to the failure of a condition set forth in Section 6.3(a) (with or without the passage of time) and (b) is incapable of being cured, or is not cured, by the Parent Parties prior to the Termination Date; provided that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.3(b) shall not be available to WPZ if, at such time, the condition set forth in Section 6.2(a) cannot be satisfied (with or without the passage of time).
SECTION 7.4 Termination by Parent. This Agreement may be terminated by Parent at any time prior to the Effective Time if the WPZ Parties shall have breached or failed to perform any of their respective representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement (or if any of the representations or warranties of the WPZ Parties set forth in this Agreement shall fail to be true), which breach or failure (i) would (if it occurred or was continuing as of the Closing Date) give rise to the failure of a condition set forth in Section 6.2(a) (with or without the passage of time) and (ii) is incapable of being cured, or is not cured, by the WPZ Parties prior to the Termination Date; provided that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.4 shall not be available to Parent if, at such time, the condition set forth in Section 6.3(a) cannot be satisfied (with or without the passage of time).
SECTION 7.5 Effect of Certain Terminations. In the event of termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article VII, written notice thereof shall be given to the other party or parties, specifying the provision of this Agreement pursuant to which such termination is made,
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and this Agreement, except for the last sentence of Section 5.2 and the provisions of Section 5.5, Section 5.6, Article VII and Article VIII, shall forthwith become null and void and there shall be no liability on the part of any party to this Agreement and all rights and obligations of the parties hereto under this Agreement shall terminate, except for the last sentence of Section 5.2 and the provisions of Section 5.5, Section 5.6, Article VII and Article VIII shall survive such termination; except that (i) Parent may have liability as provided in Section 7.6, and (ii) subject to Section 7.6(c), nothing herein shall relieve any party hereto from any liability for any intentional or willful and material breach by such party of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement and all rights and remedies of a nonbreaching party under this Agreement in the case of such intentional or willful and material breach, at law or in equity, shall be preserved.
SECTION 7.6 Parent Termination Fee.
(a) In the event this Agreement is terminated (i) by WPZ pursuant to Section 7.3(a) (Parent Adverse Recommendation Change) or (ii) by WPZ or Parent pursuant to Section 7.2(c) (Parent Stockholder Approval), and in the case of each of clause (i) and (ii) where prior to such termination a Parent Adverse Recommendation Change has occurred in connection with a Parent Designated Proposal, then Parent shall pay to WPZ, within two (2) Business Days after the date of termination, $410,000,000.00 (the Parent Termination Fee).
(b) In lieu of any direct payment of the Parent Termination Fee to WPZ by Parent, the WPZ General Partner shall, within two (2) business days after the date of termination of this Agreement, execute an amendment to the WPZ Partnership Agreement in the form attached to Schedule 7.6 hereto (the IDR Waiver), and Parent hereby does consent to such action.
(c) The parties acknowledge that the provisions of this Section 7.6 are an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and that, without these agreements, none of the parties would enter into this Agreement. The parties agree that in the event that Parent pays the Parent Termination Fee to WPZ through WPZ General Partners execution of the IDR Waiver, Parent shall have no further liability to WPZ or WPZ General Partner of any kind in respect of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and that in no event shall Parent be required to pay the Parent Termination Fee on more than one occasion.
SECTION 7.7 Survival. None of the representations, warranties, agreements, covenants or obligations in this Agreement or in any instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the consummation of the Merger, except for those covenants and agreements contained herein that by their terms apply or are to be performed in whole or in part after the Effective Time.
SECTION 7.8 Enforcement of this Agreement. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that an award of money damages would be inadequate for any breach of this Agreement by any party and any such breach would cause the non-breaching parties irreparable harm. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree that prior to the termination of this Agreement, in the event of any breach or threatened breach of this Agreement by one of the parties, the parties will also
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be entitled, without the requirement of posting a bond or other security, to equitable relief, including injunctive relief and specific performance, provided such party is not in material default hereunder. Such remedies will not be the exclusive remedies for any breach of this Agreement but will be in addition to all other remedies available at law or equity to each of the parties.
SECTION 7.9 No Waiver Relating to Claims for Fraud/Willful Misconduct. The liability of any party under this Article VII shall be in addition to, and not exclusive of, any other liability that such party may have at law or in equity based on such partys (a) fraudulent acts or omissions or (b) willful misconduct. None of the provisions set forth in this Agreement shall be deemed to be a waiver by or release of any party of any right or remedy that such party may have at law or equity based on any other partys fraudulent acts or omissions or willful misconduct nor shall any such provisions limit, or be deemed to limit, (i) the amounts of recovery sought or awarded in any such claim for fraud or willful misconduct, (ii) the time period during which a claim for fraud or willful misconduct may be brought, or (iii) the recourse that any such party may seek against another party with respect to a claim for fraud or willful misconduct.
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 8.1 Notices. Any notice, request, instruction, correspondence or other document to be given hereunder by any party to another party (each, a Notice) shall be in writing and delivered in person or by courier service requiring acknowledgment of receipt of delivery or mailed by U.S. registered or certified mail, postage prepaid and return receipt requested, or by facsimile or e-mail, as follows; provided, that copies to be delivered below shall not be required for effective notice and shall not constitute notice:
If to any of the WPZ Parties, addressed to:
Williams Partners L.P.
One Williams Center
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74172-0172
Attention: WPZ Conflicts Committee
Facsimile: (918) 573-1807
E-mail: brent.austin@williams.com
with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Baker Botts L.L.P.
910 Louisiana Street
Houston, Texas 77002
Attention: Joshua Davidson
Tull R. Florey
Facsimile: (713) 229-2727
E-mail: joshua.davidson@bakerbotts.com
tull.florey@bakerbotts.com
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If to any of the Parent Parties, addressed to:
The Williams Companies, Inc.
One Williams Center
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74172-0172
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
Facsimile: (918) 573-4900
E-mail: alan.armstrong@williams.com
with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
The Williams Companies, Inc.
One Williams Center
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74172-0172
Attention: General Counsel
Facsimile: (918) 573-3101
E-mail: sarah.miller@williams.com
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
1801 California Street, Suite 4200
Denver, CO 80202
Attention: Steven K. Talley
Eduardo Gallardo
Facsimile: (303) 313-2840
(212) 351-5245
E-mail: stalley@gibsondunn.com
egallardo@gibsondunn.com
Notice given by personal delivery, courier service or mail shall be effective upon actual receipt. Notice given by facsimile or e-mail shall be effective upon written confirmation of receipt by facsimile, e-mail or otherwise. Any party may change any address to which Notice is to be given to it by giving Notice as provided above of such change of address.
SECTION 8.2 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable Law, the provisions of this Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to principles of conflicts of law. Each of the parties hereto agrees that this Agreement involves at least $100,000 and that this Agreement has been entered into in express reliance upon 6 Del. C. § 2708. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally confirms and agrees that it is and shall continue to be (a) subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware and of the federal courts sitting in the State of Delaware, and (b) subject to service of process in the State of Delaware. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) consents and submits to the exclusive personal jurisdiction and venue of the Delaware Court of Chancery (or, solely if the Delaware Court of Chancery declines to accept jurisdiction over any matter, any federal or state court located in the State of Delaware) (the Delaware Courts) for any actions, suits or proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (and agrees not to commence any litigation relating thereto except in such
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courts), (ii) waives any objection to the laying of venue of any such litigation in the Delaware Courts and agrees not to plead or claim in any Delaware Court that such litigation brought therein has been brought in any inconvenient forum, (c) acknowledges and agrees that any controversy that may arise under this Agreement is likely to involve complicated and difficult issues, and therefore each such party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives any right such party may have to a trial by jury in respect of any litigation directly or indirectly arising or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and (d) agrees to service of process upon such party in any such action or proceeding shall be effective if such process is given as a notice in accordance with Section 8.1 or in any manner prescribed by the Laws of the State of Delaware. Nothing in this Section 8.2 shall affect the right of any party to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by Law.
SECTION 8.3 Entire Agreement; Amendments, Consents and Waivers. This Agreement, the Support Agreement, the Confidentiality Agreement and the exhibits and schedules hereto and thereto constitute the entire agreement between and among the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements, understandings, negotiations and discussions, whether oral or written, of the parties, and there are no warranties, representations or other agreements between or among the parties in connection with the subject matter hereof except as set forth specifically herein or contemplated hereby. Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement (including the representations and warranties set forth in Articles III and IV), (a) the parties acknowledge and agree that neither the WPZ Group Entities nor any other Person has made, and the Parent Group Entities are not relying upon, any covenant, representation or warranty, expressed or implied, as to the WPZ Group Entities or as to the accuracy or completeness of any information regarding any WPZ Group Entity furnished or made available to any Parent Group Entity, (b) the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that, except as set forth in this Agreement, neither the Parent Group Entities nor any other Person has made, and the WPZ Group Entities are not relying upon, any covenant, representation or warranty, expressed or implied, as to the Parent Group Entities or as to the accuracy or completeness of any information regarding any Parent Group Entity furnished or made available to any WPZ Group Entity, and (c) the WPZ Parties and the Parent Parties shall not have or be subject to any liability to any Parent Group Entity or any other Person or any WPZ Group Entity or any other Person, as applicable, or any other remedy in connection herewith, based upon the distribution to any Parent Group Entity or any WPZ Group Entity of, or any Parent Group Entitys or any WPZ Group Entitys use of or reliance on, any such information or any information, documents or material made available to the Parent Group Parties or WPZ Group Parties, as applicable, in any data rooms, virtual data rooms, management presentations or in any other form in expectation of, or in connection with, the transactions contemplated hereby. Subject to compliance with applicable Law, prior to the Closing, any provision of this Agreement may be (a) consented to or waived in writing by the party benefited by the provision or (b) amended or modified at any time by an agreement in writing by the parties hereto; provided, however, that, in addition to any other approvals required by the WPZ Parties constituent documents or under this Agreement, the foregoing consents, waivers, amendments or modifications in clauses (a) and (b), and any decision or determination by WPZ to (x) terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.2 or Section 7.3 or (y) enforce this Agreement (including pursuant to Section 7.8), must be approved by, in the case of consents, waivers, amendments or modifications, or such decisions or determinations, by any WPZ Party or the WPZ Board, the WPZ Conflicts Committee. No amendment, supplement, modification or waiver of this
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Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the parties hereto. The failure of a party to exercise any right or remedy shall not be deemed or constitute a waiver of such right or remedy in the future. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provision hereof (regardless of whether similar), nor shall any such waiver constitute a continuing waiver unless otherwise expressly provided.
SECTION 8.4 Binding Effect; No Third-Party Beneficiaries; and Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any Person other than the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns, any rights, benefits or obligations hereunder, except (i) as provided in Section 5.9 and (ii) for the right of the Holders of WPZ Units to receive the Merger Consideration (including any Fractional Share Payment) after the Closing (a claim by the Holders of WPZ Units with respect to which may not be made unless and until the Closing shall have occurred). No party hereto may assign, transfer, dispose of or otherwise alienate this Agreement or any of its rights, interests or obligations under this Agreement (whether by operation of law or otherwise). Any attempted assignment, transfer, disposition or alienation in violation of this Agreement shall be null, void and ineffective.
SECTION 8.5 Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal, or incapable of being enforced by any rule of applicable Law, or public policy, all other conditions or provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are not affected in any matter materially adverse to any party hereto. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal, or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties hereto as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.
SECTION 8.6 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which shall constitute one instrument.
[The remainder of this page is blank.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be signed by their respective officers or agents hereunto duly authorized, all as of the date first written above.
THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC., | ||
By: | /s/ Alan S. Armstrong | |
Name: | Alan S. Armstrong | |
Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer | |
SCMS LLC, | ||
By: | The Williams Companies, Inc., its sole member | |
By: | /s/ Alan S. Armstrong | |
Name: | Alan S. Armstrong | |
Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer | |
WILLIAMS PARTNERS L.P., | ||
By: | WPZ GP LLC, its general partner | |
By: | /s/ Donald R. Chappel | |
Name: | Donald R. Chappel | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |
WPZ GP LLC, | ||
By: | /s/ Donald R. Chappel | |
Name: | Donald R. Chappel | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer |
Agreement and Plan of Merger
EXHIBIT A
CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
OF
AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC.
THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC., a corporation duly organized and validly existing under and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the Company), does hereby certify as follows:
1. The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the Amended Certificate) is hereby amended as follows:
The first sentence of Article FOURTH of the Amended Certificate is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:
The total number of shares of capital stock which the Company shall have authority to issue is 1,500,000,000 shares, consisting of 1,470,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share (the Common Stock) and 30,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share (the Preferred Stock).
2. The foregoing amendment was duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has duly executed this Certificate of Amendment on this [ ] day of [ ], 2015.
THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Exhibit 99.1
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Williams (NYSE: WMB) One Williams Center Tulsa, OK 74172 800-Williams www.williams.com |
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DATE: May 13, 2015 | ||||||
MEDIA CONTACT: | INVESTOR CONTACTS: | |||||
Tom Droege | John Porter | Brett Krieg | ||||
(918) 573-4034 | (918) 573-0797 | (918) 573-4614 |
Williams Announces Agreement to Acquire All Public Equity of
Williams Partners L.P.; Plans 3Q 2015 Dividend Increase to $0.64 or $2.56
on an Annualized Basis; Expects Dividend Growth of
10%-15% Annually Through 2020
| Expect Transaction to be Meaningfully Accretive to Cash Available for Dividends with 2016-2018 Average Annual Accretion of over 10%; Coverage to Build from Over 1.1x in 2016 to Nearly 1.2x in 2018 |
| Cash Flow Accretion and Extended Cash Tax Benefits Expected to Enable Extended Duration of 10-15% Dividend Growth Through 2020 |
| Enhanced Growth Profile and Lack of Incentive Distribution Rights Expected to Significantly Lower Williams Cost of Capital for its Robust Portfolio of Natural Gas-Focused, Fee-Based Growth Projects as well as Potential M&A |
| Additional Transaction Benefits Anticipated: Simplified Corporate Structure, Governance and Synergies; Strong Investment-Grade Credit Ratings Consistent with Williams Partners Current Ratings and Outlook |
| $13.8 Billion Deal Structured as an All Stock-for-Unit Transaction, with Williams Partners Public Unitholders Receiving 1.115 Williams Shares for each Williams Partners Unit |
| Williams Partners Public Unitholders to Receive a 14.5% Premium to its 10-Trading Day Average Closing Price and a 12.6% Premium to its 20-Trading Day Average Closing Price |
| Williams Partners Public Unitholders Will Benefit from Enhanced Growth Prospects and Increased Equity Valuation of the Pro Forma Entity and Stronger Pro Forma Coverage Levels |
| Merger Expected to Close in the Fall of 2015 Following Regulatory Filings and a Successful Williams Shareholder Vote on Transaction |
| Williams Announces Planned 3Q 2015 Dividend Increase of 6.7% to $0.64 per Share, or $2.56 per Share on an Annualized Basis, and Expects Dividend Growth of 10%-15% Annually Through 2020 |
| 2016 Annual Dividend Expected to be $2.85 per Share, up 6.3% from the Previously Guided $2.68 per Share and Representing About 20% Increase from the Previous 2015 Dividend Guidance of $2.38 per Share |
TULSA, Okla. Williams (NYSE: WMB) and Williams Partners L.P. (NYSE: WPZ) today announced an agreement under which Williams will acquire all of the public outstanding common units of Williams Partners in an all stock-for-unit transaction at a 1.115 ratio of Williams common shares per unit of Williams Partners. The implied Williams Partners unit price as of May 12, 2015 represents a 14.5% premium to its 10-trading day average closing price and a 12.6% premium to its 20-trading day average closing price.
Upon completion of the proposed transaction, expected to occur in the third quarter of 2015, the combined entity is anticipated to be one of the largest and fastest-growing high-dividend paying C-Corps in the energy sector with an industry-leading 10 percent to 15 percent annual dividend growth rate through 2020. The
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combined entity is expected to generate adjusted EBITDA of approximately $5.4 billion in 2016. The combined entity expects to pay a third quarter 2015 dividend of $0.64 per share, or $2.56 per share on an annual basis, up 6.7 percent over Williams previously planned third quarter 2015 dividend of $0.60 per share. Dividends for 2016 are expected to total $2.85 per share, about 20 percent above Williams previously guided 2015 dividend and 6.3 percent above its previously guided 2016 dividend. The expected quarterly dividend increases are subject to quarterly approval of the company board of directors.
CEO Perspective
Alan Armstrong, Williams president and chief executive officer, made the following statements regarding the transaction:
This strategic transaction will provide immediate benefits to Williams and Williams Partners investors. We continue to see an expanding portfolio of projects to connect the best supplies of natural gas and natural gas products to the best markets. The lower cost of capital and improved tax benefits expected from this transaction increase our confidence in extending the duration of our expected 10 percent to 15 percent dividend growth rate through 2020.
This transaction simplifies our corporate structure, streamlines governance and positions Williams for strong investment-grade credit ratings. We anticipate significant market valuation upside and lower cost of capital for new fee-based growth projects along with incremental growth through strategically aligned M&A activities. Our roster of large-scale, fully contracted infrastructure projects will drive extraordinary adjusted EBITDA growth from an expected $5.4 billion in 2016 to $6.8 billion in 2018.
Transaction
Under the terms of the merger agreement, Williams will acquire all of the 247 million public outstanding units of Williams Partners at a fixed exchange ratio of 1.115 Williams shares for each public unit of Williams Partners. In aggregate, Williams will issue 275.4 million shares in connection with the proposed transaction, representing approximately 27 percent of the total shares outstanding of the combined entity. The transaction will be taxable to Williams Partners unitholders, and Williams will receive the tax benefits from the asset step-up to be realized over a 15-year period.
Williams has reviewed the proposed transaction with the rating agencies and expects the combined entity will have strong investment grade credit ratings consistent with Williams Partners current ratings and outlook. Williams will put in place cross guarantees among and between Williams and Williams Partners to be effective on closing of the transaction in order to largely eliminate the structural subordination of Williams.
The merger is expected to close in the fall of 2015 following regulatory filings and the requisite approval of Williams shareholders under NYSE rules. Following consummation of the merger, Williams Partners will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Williams.
Williams Partners L.P. was represented in the negotiations by its general partners Conflicts Committee which is comprised of independent members of its general partners board of directors. The Williams Partners Conflicts Committee recommended approval of the transaction to the board of directors of the general partner of Williams Partners. The transaction was approved by the boards of directors of both the general partner of Williams Partners and Williams.
Barclays and Gibson Dunn acted as financial and legal advisors, respectively, to Williams. Evercore and Baker Botts L.L.P. acted as financial and legal advisors, respectively, to the Conflicts Committee of Williams Partners, L.P.
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Williams, Williams Partners Analyst Day on May 13
Williams is scheduled to host its annual Analyst Day event May 13. During the event, Williams management will give a presentation covering this announcement and give additional detail of Williams acquisition of all public outstanding units of Williams Partners L.P. The event is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to approximately 2:30 p.m. EDT.
On the day of the event, presentation files will be featured on www.williams.com for download along with a link to a live webcast. A replay of the Analyst Day webcast will be available for two weeks following the event.
Important Information:
This document includes important information about an agreement for the acquisition by The Williams Companies, Inc. of all publicly common units of Williams Partners L.P. Williams and Williams Partners security holders are urged to read the joint solicitation statement/prospectus regarding the proposed transaction when it becomes available because it will contain important information. Investors will be able to obtain a free copy of the joint solicitation statement/prospectus, as well as other filings containing information about the proposed transaction, without charge, at the Securities and Exchange Commissions internet site (http://www.sec.gov). Copies of the joint solicitation statement/prospectus and the filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission that will be incorporated by reference in the joint solicitation statement/prospectus can also be obtained, without charge, by directing a request either to The Williams Companies, Inc., One Williams Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74172, Attention: Investor Relations or to Williams Partners L.P., One Williams Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74172, Attention: Investor Relations.
The respective directors and executive officers of Williams and Williams Partners may be deemed to be participants (as defined in Schedule 14A under the Exchange Act) in respect of the proposed transaction. Information about Williams directors and executive officers is available in Williams annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, filed with the SEC on February 25, 2015. Information about Williams Partners directors and executive officers is available in WPZs annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 filed with the SEC on February 25, 2015. Other information regarding the participants in the solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the joint solicitation statement/prospectus and other relevant materials to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission when they become available.
This document shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Definitions of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This news release includes certain financial measures adjusted EBITDA, cash available for dividends and dividend coverage ratio that are non-GAAP financial measures as defined under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Our segment performance measure, modified EBITDA, is defined as net income (loss) before income tax expense, net interest expense, equity earnings from equity-method investments, other net investing income, depreciation and amortization expense, and accretion expense associated with asset retirement obligations for nonregulated operations. We also add our proportional ownership share (based on ownership interest) of modified EBITDA of equity investments.
Adjusted EBITDA further excludes items of income or loss that we characterize as unrepresentative of our ongoing operations and may include assumed business interruption insurance related to the Geismar plant. Management believes these measures provide investors meaningful insight into results from ongoing operations.
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For Williams, cash available for dividends is defined as cash received from its ownership in MLPs, cash received (used) by its NGL & Petchem Services segment (other than cash for capital expenditures) less interest, cash taxes and maintenance capital expenditures associated with Williams and not the underlying MLPs. We also calculate the ratio of cash available for dividends to the total cash dividends paid (dividend coverage ratio). This measure reflects Williams cash available for dividends relative to its actual cash dividends paid. This transaction will result in the calculation of cash available for dividends beginning with adjusted Williams EBITDA rather than the cash received from its ownership in MLPs and cash received (used) by its NGL & Petchem Services segment (other than cash for capital expenditures) and also will be reduced by distributions to non-controlling interests.
This news release is accompanied by a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to their nearest GAAP financial measures. Management uses these financial measures because they are accepted financial indicators used by investors to compare company performance. In addition, management believes that these measures provide investors an enhanced perspective of the operating performance of the Companys assets and the cash that the business is generating.
Neither adjusted EBITDA nor cash available for dividends are intended to represent cash flows for the period, nor are they presented as an alternative to net income or cash flow from operations. They should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for a measure of performance prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles.
WMB Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA
($ in millions) | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Low | Base | High | Low | Base | High | Low | Base | High | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income from continuing operations |
1,255 | 1,385 | 1,515 | 1,570 | 1,720 | 1,870 | 1,735 | 1,925 | 2,115 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Add: Net interest expense 1 |
1,120 | 1,115 | 1,110 | 1,185 | 1,175 | 1,165 | 1,325 | 1,315 | 1,305 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Add: Provision for income taxes |
620 | 700 | 780 | 815 | 900 | 985 | 930 | 1,050 | 1,170 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Add: Depreciation & amortization (DD&A) |
1,870 | 1,870 | 1,870 | 1,945 | 1,945 | 1,945 | 2,110 | 2,110 | 2,110 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Less: Equity earnings from investments |
(495 | ) | (505 | ) | (515 | ) | (645 | ) | (660 | ) | (675 | ) | (755 | ) | (780 | ) | (805 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Add: Proportionate share of EBITDA from investments 2 |
800 | 810 | 820 | 955 | 970 | 985 | 1,155 | 1,180 | 1,205 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Adjusted EBITDA |
$ | 5,170 | $ | 5,375 | $ | 5,580 | $ | 5,825 | $ | 6,050 | $ | 6,275 | $ | 6,500 | $ | 6,800 | $ | 7,100 | ||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2) Proportionate Share of EBITDA from investments: | Low | Base | High | Low | Base | High | Low | Base | High | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income from continuing operations |
$ | 495 | $ | 505 | $ | 515 | $ | 645 | $ | 660 | $ | 675 | $ | 755 | $ | 780 | $ | 805 | ||||||||||||||||||
Add: Net interest expense |
58 | 58 | 58 | 61 | 61 | 61 | 56 | 56 | 56 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Add: Depreciation & amortization (DD&A) |
226 | 226 | 226 | 236 | 236 | 236 | 287 | 287 | 287 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other |
21 | 21 | 21 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 57 | 57 | 57 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Adjusted EBITDA from Equity Investments |
$ | 800 | $ | 810 | $ | 820 | $ | 955 | $ | 970 | $ | 985 | $ | 1,155 | $ | 1,180 | $ | 1,205 |
1) | Includes capitalized interest and interest amortization |
About Williams & Williams Partners
Williams (NYSE: WMB) is a premier provider of large-scale infrastructure to connect North American natural gas and natural gas products to growing demand for cleaner fuel and feedstocks. Headquartered in Tulsa, Okla., Williams owns approximately 60 percent of Williams Partners L.P. (NYSE: WPZ), including all of the 2 percent general-partner interest. Williams Partners is an industry-leading, large-cap master limited partnership with operations across the natural gas value chain from gathering, processing and interstate transportation of natural gas and natural gas liquids to petchem production of ethylene, propylene and other olefins. With major positions in top U.S. supply basins and also in Canada, Williams Partners owns and operates more than 33,000 miles of pipelines system wide including the nations largest volume and fastest growing pipeline providing natural gas for clean-power generation, heating and industrial use. Williams Partners operations touch approximately 30 percent of U.S. natural gas. www.williams.com
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Forward-Looking Statements
The reports, filings, and other public announcements of The Williams Companies, Inc. (Williams) and Williams Partners L.P. (WPZ) may contain or incorporate by reference statements that do not directly or exclusively relate to historical facts. Such statements are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. We make these forward-looking statements in reliance on the safe harbor protections provided under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You typically can identify forward-looking statements by various forms of words such as anticipates, believes, seeks, could, may, should, continues, estimates, expects, forecasts, intends, might, goals, objectives, targets, planned, potential, projects, scheduled, will, assumes, guidance, outlook, in service date or other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on managements beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management and include, among others, statements regarding:
| The closing, expected timing, and benefits of the proposed merger of WPZ and SCMS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Williams (the Proposed Merger); |
| Expected levels of cash distributions by WPZ with respect to general partner interests, incentive distribution rights, and limited partner interests; |
| The levels of dividends to Williams stockholders; |
| Our expected financial results following the Proposed Merger; |
| Future credit ratings of Williams and WPZ; |
| Amounts and nature of future capital expenditures; |
| Expansion and growth of our business and operations; |
| Financial condition and liquidity; |
| Business strategy; |
| Cash flow from operations or results of operations; |
| Seasonality of certain business components; |
| Natural gas, natural gas liquids, and olefins prices, supply, and demand; and |
| Demand for our services. |
Forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions, uncertainties and risks that could cause future events or results to be materially different from those stated or implied in this presentation. Many of the factors that will determine these results are beyond our ability to control or predict. Specific factors that could cause actual results to differ from results contemplated by the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following:
| Satisfaction of the conditions to the completion of the Proposed Merger, including approval by Williams stockholders; |
| Whether WPZ will produce sufficient cash flows to provide the level of cash distributions we expect; |
| Whether Williams is able to pay current and expected levels of dividends; |
| Availability of supplies, market demand, and volatility of prices; |
| Inflation, interest rates, and fluctuation in foreign exchange rates and general economic conditions (including future disruptions and volatility in the global credit markets and the impact of these events on customers and suppliers); |
| The strength and financial resources of our competitors and the effects of competition; |
| Whether we are able to successfully identify, evaluate and execute investment opportunities; |
| Our ability to acquire new businesses and assets and successfully integrate those operations and assets into our existing businesses as well as successfully expand our facilities; |
| Development of alternative energy sources; |
| The impact of operational and developmental hazards and unforeseen interruptions; |
| Costs of, changes in, or the results of laws, government regulations (including safety and environmental regulations), environmental liabilities, litigation, and rate proceedings; |
| Williams costs and funding obligations for defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans; |
| WPZs allocated costs for defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans sponsored by its affiliates; |
| Changes in maintenance and construction costs; |
| Changes in the current geopolitical situation; |
| Our exposure to the credit risk of our customers and counterparties; |
| Risks related to financing, including restrictions stemming from debt agreements, future changes in credit ratings as determined by nationally-recognized credit rating agencies and the availability and cost of capital; |
| The amount of cash distributions from and capital requirements of our investments and joint ventures in which we participate; |
| Risks associated with weather and natural phenomena, including climate conditions; |
| Acts of terrorism, including cybersecurity threats and related disruptions; and |
| Additional risks described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). |
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Given the uncertainties and risk factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, we caution investors not to unduly rely on our forward-looking statements. We disclaim any obligations to and do not intend to update the above list or announce publicly the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements to reflect future events or developments.
In addition to causing our actual results to differ, the factors listed above may cause our intentions to change from those statements of intention set forth in this presentation. Such changes in our intentions may also cause our results to differ. We may change our intentions, at any time and without notice, based upon changes in such factors, our assumptions, or otherwise.
Investors are urged to closely consider the disclosures and risk factors in Williams and WPZs annual reports on Form 10-K each filed with the SEC on Feb. 25, 2015, and each of our respective quarterly reports on Form 10-Q available from our offices or websites at www.williams.com and investor.williams.com.
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Exhibit 99.2
SUPPORT AGREEMENT
THIS SUPPORT AGREEMENT, dated as of May 12, 2015 (this Agreement), is entered into by and between Williams Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (WPZ), and Williams Gas Pipeline Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Unitholder).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, concurrently herewith, The Williams Companies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (Parent), SCMS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (Merger Sub), WPZ, and WPZ GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the general partner of WPZ (WPZ General Partner), are entering into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (as it may be amended from time to time, the Merger Agreement), pursuant to which (and subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein) Merger Sub will be merged with and into WPZ, with WPZ as the sole surviving entity (the Merger);
WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, the Unitholder is the Record Holder and beneficial owner in the aggregate of, and has the right to vote and dispose of, the number of WPZ Units set forth opposite the Unitholders name on Schedule A hereto (the Existing Units);
WHEREAS, as a condition and inducement to WPZs willingness to enter into the Merger Agreement and to proceed with the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger, WPZ and the Unitholder are entering into this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Unitholder acknowledges that WPZ is entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance on the representations, warranties, covenants and other agreements of the Unitholder set forth in this Agreement and would not enter into the Merger Agreement if the Unitholder did not enter into this Agreement.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, WPZ and the Unitholder hereby agree as follows:
1. Defined Terms. The following capitalized terms, as used in this Agreement, shall have the meanings set forth below. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement.
Covered Units means, with respect to the Unitholder, the Unitholders Existing Units, together with any WPZ Units that the Unitholder becomes the Record Holder or beneficial owner of on or after the date hereof.
Proxy Designee means a Person designated by the WPZ Conflicts Committee by written notice to each of the parties hereto, which notice may simultaneously revoke the designation of any Person as a Proxy Designee.
Record Holder has the meaning ascribed thereto in the WPZ Partnership Agreement.
Transfer means, directly or indirectly, to sell, transfer, assign, pledge, encumber or similarly dispose of (by merger (including by conversion into securities or other consideration), by tendering into any tender or exchange offer, by testamentary disposition, by operation of law or otherwise), either voluntarily or involuntarily, or to enter into any contract, option or other arrangement or understanding with respect to the voting of or sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or similar disposition of (by merger, by tendering into any tender or exchange offer, by testamentary disposition, by operation of law or otherwise).
2. Agreement to Deliver Written Consent. Prior to the Termination Date (as defined herein), the Unitholder irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that it shall (a) within two Business Days after the Registration Statement becomes effective under the Securities Act (but, for the avoidance of doubt, not until such Registration Statement becomes effective), deliver (or cause to be delivered) a written consent pursuant to Section 13.11 of the WPZ Partnership Agreement covering all of the Covered Units approving (in all manners and by each applicable class) the Merger, the Merger Agreement and any other matters necessary for consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated in the Merger Agreement and (b) at any meeting of the limited partners of WPZ (whether annual or special and whether or not an adjourned or postponed meeting), however called, appear at such meeting or otherwise cause the Covered Units to be counted as present thereat for purpose of establishing a quorum and vote (or consent), or cause to be voted at such meeting (or validly execute and return and cause such consent to be granted with respect to), all Covered Units (in all manners and by each applicable class) (i) in favor of the Merger, the Merger Agreement and any other matter necessary for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Merger, and (ii) against (A) any action or agreement that would result in a breach of any covenant, representation or warranty or any other obligation or agreement of WPZ or any of the WPZ Subsidiaries contained in the Merger Agreement and (B) any other action that could reasonably be expected to impede, interfere with, delay, postpone or adversely affect the Merger or any of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement or this Agreement. If the Unitholder is the beneficial owner, but not the Record Holder, of any Covered Units, the Unitholder agrees to take all actions necessary to cause the Record Holder and any nominees to vote (or exercise a consent with respect to) all of such Covered Units in accordance with this Section 2.
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3. Grant of Irrevocable Proxy; Appointment of Proxy.
(a) FROM AND AFTER THE DATE HEREOF UNTIL THE TERMINATION DATE, THE UNITHOLDER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY GRANTS TO, AND APPOINTS, H. BRENT AUSTIN, AND ANY OTHER PROXY DESIGNEE (AS DEFINED ABOVE), EACH OF THEM INDIVIDUALLY, THE UNITHOLDERS PROXY AND ATTORNEY-IN-FACT (WITH FULL POWER OF SUBSTITUTION) TO VOTE (OR EXERCISE A WRITTEN CONSENT WITH RESPECT TO) THE COVERED UNITS SOLELY IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 2. THIS PROXY IS IRREVOCABLE (UNTIL THE TERMINATION DATE AND EXCEPT AS TO ANY PROXY DESIGNEE WHOSE DESIGNATION AS A PROXY DESIGNEE IS REVOKED BY THE WPZ CONFLICTS COMMITTEE) AND COUPLED WITH AN INTEREST AND THE UNITHOLDER WILL TAKE SUCH FURTHER ACTION OR EXECUTE SUCH OTHER INSTRUMENTS AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE THE INTENT OF THIS PROXY AND HEREBY REVOKES ANY OTHER PROXY PREVIOUSLY GRANTED BY THE UNITHOLDER WITH RESPECT TO THE COVERED UNITS (AND THE UNITHOLDER HEREBY REPRESENTS TO WPZ THAT ANY SUCH OTHER PROXY IS REVOCABLE).
(b) The proxy granted in this Section 3 shall automatically expire upon the termination of this Agreement.
4. No Inconsistent Agreements. The Unitholder hereby represents, covenants and agrees that, except as contemplated by this Agreement, it (a) has not entered into, and shall not enter into at any time prior to the Termination Date, any voting agreement or voting trust with respect to any Covered Units and (b) has not granted, and shall not grant at any time prior to the Termination Date, a proxy or power of attorney with respect to any Covered Units, in either case, which is inconsistent with the Unitholders obligations pursuant to this Agreement.
5. Termination. This Agreement shall terminate upon the earliest of (a) the Effective Time, (b) the termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms and (c) the mutual written agreement of the parties hereto to terminate this Agreement (such earliest date being referred to herein as the Termination Date); provided that the provisions set forth in Sections 11 to 23 shall survive the termination of this Agreement; provided further that any liability incurred by any party hereto as a result of a breach of a term or condition of this Agreement prior to such termination shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
6. Representations and Warranties of the Unitholder. The Unitholder hereby represents and warrants to WPZ as follows:
(a) The Unitholder is the Record Holder and beneficial owner of, and has good and valid title to, the Covered Units, free and clear of Liens other than as created
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by this Agreement. The Unitholder has voting power, power of disposition, and power to agree to all of the matters set forth in this Agreement, in each case with respect to all of such Covered Units. As of the date hereof, other than the Existing Units, the WPZ General Partner Interest, and the WPZ Incentive Distribution Rights, the Parent Group Entities are not the Record Holders and do not own beneficially any (i) units or voting securities of WPZ, (ii) securities of WPZ convertible into or exchangeable for units or voting securities of WPZ or (iii) options or other rights to acquire from WPZ any units, voting securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable for units or voting securities of WPZ. The Covered Units are not subject to any voting trust agreement or other contract to which the Unitholder is a party restricting or otherwise relating to the voting or Transfer of the Covered Units. The Unitholder has not appointed or granted any proxy or power of attorney that is still in effect with respect to any Covered Units, except as contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) The Unitholder is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of Delaware and has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Unitholder, the performance by the Unitholder of its obligations hereunder and the consummation by the Unitholder of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized by the Unitholder and no other actions or proceedings on the part of the Unitholder are necessary to authorize the execution and delivery by the Unitholder of this Agreement, the performance by the Unitholder of its obligations hereunder or the consummation by the Unitholder of the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Unitholder and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by WPZ, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Unitholder, enforceable against the Unitholder in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
(c) Except for the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act, (i) no filing with, and no permit, authorization, consent or approval of, any Governmental Entity is necessary on the part of the Unitholder for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Unitholder or the consummation by the Unitholder of the transactions contemplated hereby and (ii) neither the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by the Unitholder nor the consummation by the Unitholder of the transactions contemplated hereby nor compliance by the Unitholder with any of the provisions hereof shall (A) conflict with or violate, any provision of the organizational documents of the Unitholder, (B) result in any breach or violation of, or constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, or result in the creation of a Lien on such property or asset of the Unitholder pursuant to, any contract to which the Unitholder is a party or by which the Unitholder or any property or asset of the Unitholder is bound or affected or (C) violate any order, writ, injunction, decree, statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Unitholder or any of the Unitholders properties or assets except, in the case of clause (B) or (C), for breaches, violations or defaults that would not, individually or in the aggregate, materially impair the ability of the Unitholder to perform its obligations hereunder.
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(d) As of the date of this Agreement, there is no action, suit, investigation, complaint or other proceeding pending against the Unitholder or, to the knowledge of the Unitholder, any other Person or, to the knowledge of the Unitholder, threatened against the Unitholder or any other Person that restricts or prohibits (or, if successful, would restrict or prohibit) the exercise by WPZ of its rights under this Agreement or the performance by any party of its obligations under this Agreement.
(e) The Unitholder understands and acknowledges that WPZ is entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance upon the Unitholders execution and delivery of this Agreement and the representations and warranties of the Unitholder contained herein.
(f) The Unitholder is an Affiliate (as defined in the WPZ Partnership Agreement) of the General Partner (as defined in the WPZ Partnership Agreement).
7. Certain Covenants of the Unitholder. The Unitholder hereby covenants and agrees as follows, in each case except as otherwise approved in writing by WPZ:
(a) Prior to the Termination Date, and except as contemplated hereby, the Unitholder shall not (i) Transfer, or enter into any contract, option, agreement or other arrangement or understanding with respect to the Transfer of any of the Covered Units or beneficial ownership or voting power thereof or therein (including by operation of law), (ii) grant any proxies or powers of attorney, deposit any Covered Units into a voting trust or enter into a voting agreement with respect to any Covered Units or (iii) knowingly take any action that would make any representation or warranty of the Unitholder contained herein untrue or incorrect or have the effect of preventing or disabling the Unitholder from performing its obligations under this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Unitholder may Transfer any or all of the Covered Units, in accordance with applicable Law, to any of the Parent Group Entities; provided that prior to and as a condition to the effectiveness of such Transfer, (i) each Person to whom any of such Covered Units or any interest in any of such Covered Units is or may be Transferred shall have executed and delivered to WPZ a counterpart of this Agreement pursuant to which such Person shall be bound by all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement as if such Person were the Unitholder and (ii) such Parent Group Entity is an Affiliate of the General Partner (as defined in the WPZ Partnership Agreement). Any Transfer in violation of this provision shall be void.
(b) Prior to the Termination Date, in the event that the Unitholder becomes the Record Holder or acquires beneficial ownership of, or the power to vote or direct the voting of, any additional WPZ Units or other voting interests with respect to
5
WPZ, Unitholder will promptly notify WPZ of such WPZ Units or voting interests, such WPZ Units or voting interests shall, without further action of the parties, be deemed Covered Units and subject to the provisions of this Agreement, and the number of WPZ Units held by the Unitholder set forth on Schedule A hereto will be deemed amended accordingly and such WPZ Units or voting interests shall automatically become subject to the terms of this Agreement.
8. Unitholder Capacity. This Agreement is being entered into by the Unitholder solely in its capacity as a Holder of WPZ Units, and nothing in this Agreement shall restrict or limit the ability of the Unitholder or any Affiliate or any employee thereof who is a director or officer of WPZ to take any action in his or her capacity as a director or officer of WPZ to the extent specifically permitted by the Merger Agreement.
9. Disclosure. The Unitholder hereby authorizes WPZ to publish and disclose in any announcement or disclosure required by the SEC and in the Consent Statement/Prospectus/Parent Proxy Statement the Unitholders identity and ownership of the Covered Units and the nature of the Unitholders obligations under this Agreement.
10. Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Unitholder contained herein shall not survive the closing of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Merger Agreement.
11. Amendment and Modification. This Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented in any manner, whether by course of conduct or otherwise, except by an instrument in writing specifically designated as an amendment hereto, signed on behalf of each party hereto and otherwise as expressly set forth herein.
12. Waiver. No failure or delay of any party in exercising any right or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such right or power, or any course of conduct, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the parties hereunder are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies which they would otherwise have hereunder. Any agreement on the part of a party to any such waiver shall be valid only if set forth in a written instrument executed and delivered by such party.
13. Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given (a) on the date of delivery if delivered personally, or if by facsimile or e-mail, upon written confirmation of receipt by facsimile, e-mail or otherwise, (b) on the first Business Day following the date of dispatch if delivered utilizing a next-day service by a recognized next-day courier or (c) on the earlier of confirmed receipt or the fifth Business Day following the date of mailing if delivered by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. All notices hereunder shall be delivered to the addresses set forth below, or pursuant to such other instructions as may be designated in writing by the party to receive such notice:
6
(i) | If to the Unitholder: |
Williams Gas Pipeline Company, LLC
One Williams Center
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74172-0172
Attention: Corporate Secretary
Facsimile: (918) 573-1807
E-mail: sarah.miller@williams.com
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
The Williams Companies, Inc.
One Williams Center
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74172-0172
Attention: General Counsel
Facsimile: (918) 573-3101
E-mail: sarah.miller@williams.com
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
1801 California Street, Suite 4200
Denver, CO 80202
Attention: Steven K. Talley
Eduardo Gallardo
Facsimile: (303) 313-2840
(212) 351-5245
E-mail: stalley@gibsondunn.com
egallardo@gibsondunn.com
(ii) | If to WPZ: |
Williams Partners L.P.
One Williams Center
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74172-0172
Attention: WPZ Conflicts Committee
Facsimile: (918) 573-1807
E-mail: brent.austin@williams.com
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Baker Botts L.L.P.
910 Louisiana Street
Houston, Texas 77002
Attention: Joshua Davidson
Tull R. Florey
Facsimile: (713) 229-2727
E-mail: joshua.davidson@bakerbotts.com
tull.florey@bakerbotts.com
14. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the Merger Agreement (including the Exhibits and Schedules thereto) and the Confidentiality Agreement constitute the entire
7
agreement, and supersede all prior written agreements, arrangements, communications and understandings and all prior and contemporaneous oral agreements, arrangements, communications and understandings between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.
15. No Third-Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any Person other than the parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature under or by reason of this Agreement, with the exception of those rights conferred to the WPZ Conflicts Committee in Section 24.
16. Governing Law. This Agreement and all disputes or controversies arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the laws of any other jurisdiction that might be applied because of the conflicts of laws principles of the State of Delaware. Each of the parties hereto agrees that this Agreement involves at least $100,000 and that this Agreement has been entered into in express reliance upon 6 Del. C. § 2708. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally confirms and agrees that it is and shall continue to be (a) subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware and of the federal courts sitting in the State of Delaware, and (b) subject to service of process in the State of Delaware.
17. Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial. To the fullest extent permitted by law, each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) consents and submits to the exclusive personal jurisdiction and venue of the Delaware Court of Chancery (or, if the Delaware Court of Chancery declines to accept jurisdiction over any matter, any federal or state court located in the State of Delaware) (the Delaware Courts) for any actions, suits or proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (and agrees not to commence any litigation relating thereto except in such courts), (ii) waives any objection to the laying of venue of any such litigation in the Delaware Courts and agrees not to plead or claim in any Delaware Court that such litigation brought therein has been brought in any inconvenient forum, (c) acknowledges and agrees that any controversy that may arise under this Agreement is likely to involve complicated and difficult issues, and therefore each such party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives any right such party may have to a trial by jury in respect of any litigation directly or indirectly arising or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and (d) agrees to service of process upon such party in any such action or proceeding shall be effective if such process is given as a notice in accordance with Section 13 or in any manner prescribed by the Laws of the State of Delaware.
18. Assignment; Successors. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations under this Agreement may be assigned or delegated, in whole or in part, by operation of law or otherwise, by any party without the prior written consent of all other parties, and any such assignment without such prior written consent shall be null and void; provided, however, that WPZ may assign all or any of its rights and obligations hereunder to any direct or indirect wholly owned WPZ Subsidiary, and the Unitholder may
8
Transfer any or all of the Covered Units in accordance with Section 7(a); provided further that no assignment shall limit the assignors obligations hereunder. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the parties and their respective successors and assigns.
19. Enforcement. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. Accordingly, each of the parties hereto shall be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof, including an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement in the Delaware Courts, this being in addition to any other remedy to which such party is entitled at law or in equity. To the fullest extent permitted by law, each of the parties hereto hereby further waives (a) any defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate and (b) any requirement under any law to post security as a prerequisite to obtaining equitable relief.
20. Severability. Whenever possible, each provision or portion of any provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable Law, but if any provision or portion of any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable Law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision or portion of any provision in such jurisdiction, and this Agreement shall be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision or portion of any provision had never been contained herein.
21. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same instrument and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other party.
22. Facsimile or .pdf Signature. This Agreement may be executed by facsimile or .pdf signature and a facsimile or .pdf signature shall constitute an original for all purposes.
23. No Presumption Against Drafting Party. Each of the parties to this Agreement acknowledges that it has been represented by counsel in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Accordingly, any rule of law or any legal decision that would require interpretation of any claimed ambiguities in this Agreement against the drafting party has no application and is expressly waived.
24. Conflicts Committees. In addition to any other approvals required by the parties under this Agreement, any waiver, amendment, termination or assignment of rights permitted by this Agreement must be approved, in the case of WPZ, by the WPZ Conflicts Committee.
[The remainder of this page is intentionally left blank.]
9
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, WPZ and the Unitholder have caused to be executed or executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
WILLIAMS PARTNERS L.P., | ||
By: | WPZ GP LLC, its general partner | |
By: | /s/ Donald R. Chappel | |
Name: | Donald R. Chappel | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |
UNITHOLDER: | ||
WILLIAMS GAS PIPELINE COMPANY, LLC, | ||
By: | /s/ William H. Gault | |
Name: | William H. Gault | |
Title: | Assistant Secretary |
SIGNATURE PAGE TO SUPPORT AGREEMENT
SCHEDULE A
Unitholder |
Existing Units | |
Williams Gas Pipeline Company, LLC |
WPZ Common Units: 339,664,088
WPZ Class B Units: 13,948,171 |
Schedule A
1
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