EXHIBIT 99.1
Execution Copy
TEPPCO PARTNERS, L.P.
$200,000,000
6.125% Senior Notes due 2013
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
January 27, 2003
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
January 27, 2003
Wachovia Securities, Inc.
Banc One Capital Markets, Inc.
Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.
BNP Paribas Securities Corp.
SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc.
UBS Warburg LLC
c/o Wachovia Securities, Inc.
As representative of the underwriters listed on Exhibit A
One Wachovia Center, DC8
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▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Ladies and Gentlemen:
TEPPCO Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the
"Partnership"), proposes to issue and sell to the several underwriters named in
Exhibit A annexed hereto (the "Underwriters") $200,000,000 aggregate principal
amount of its 6.125% Senior Notes due 2013 (the "Notes"). The Notes are
described in the Prospectus which is referred to below.
The Notes are to be issued pursuant to an indenture dated as of
February 20, 2002 (the "Base Indenture"), as amended and supplemented by the
Third Supplemental Indenture to be dated January 30, 2003 (the "Supplemental
Indenture" and together with the Base Indenture, the "Indenture"), among the
Partnership, the Guarantors (as defined below) and Wachovia Bank, National
Association, f.k.a. First Union National Bank, as trustee (the "Trustee").
Copies of the Indenture, in substantially final form, have been delivered to
each of the Underwriters. The Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed
pursuant to guarantees (the "Guarantees") by TE Products Pipeline Company,
Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership ("TE Products"), TCTM, L.P.,
a Delaware limited partnership ("TCTM"), TEPPCO Midstream Companies, L.P., a
Delaware limited partnership ("TEPPCO Midstream" and together with TE Products
and TCTM, the "Operating Partnerships"), Jonah Gas Gathering Company, a Wyoming
general partnership ("Jonah") and Val Verde Gas Gathering Company, L.P., a
Delaware limited partnership ("Val Verde"). TE Products, TCTM, TEPPCO Midstream,
Jonah and Val Verde are collectively referred to as "Guarantors" and
individually, as a "Guarantor."
The (i) Partnership, (ii) Texas Eastern Products Pipeline Company, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company and general partner of the Partnership (the
"General Partner"), (iii) TEPPCO GP, Inc., a Delaware corporation and general
partner of each of the Operating Partnerships and Jonah ("TEPPCO GP"), (iv) TE
Products, (v) TCTM, (vi) TEPPCO Midstream, (vii) Jonah, (viii) TEPPCO NGL
Pipelines LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and general partner of Val
Verde ("TEPPCO NGL") and (ix) Val Verde are referred to collectively herein as
the "TEPPCO Entities." The Partnership and the Guarantors are referred to
collectively herein as the "Obligors."
Each of the Obligors confirm as follows their agreements with the
Underwriters.
1. Sale and Purchase. Upon the basis of the warranties and
representations and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the
Partnership agrees to sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the
Underwriters, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the
Partnership, the aggregate principal amount of Notes set forth opposite the name
of such Underwriter in Exhibit A attached hereto, in each case at a purchase
price of 98.635% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued interest, if any,
from the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined). The Partnership is advised by
you that the Underwriters intend initially to offer the Notes upon the terms set
forth in the Prospectus (as defined below) and Prospectus Supplement (as defined
below). The Underwriters may from time to time increase or decrease the public
offering price after the initial public offering to such extent as you may
determine.
2. Payment and Delivery. Payment of the purchase price for the
Notes shall be made to the Partnership by Federal funds wire transfer, against
delivery of the certificates for the Notes to the Underwriters through the
facilities of The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") for the respective accounts
of the Underwriters. Such payment and delivery shall be made by 11:00 a.m., New
York City time, on January 30, 2003 (the "Closing Date") (unless another time
shall be agreed to by the Underwriters and the Partnership or unless postponed
in accordance with the provisions of Section 8 hereof). The time at which such
payment and delivery are actually made is hereinafter sometimes called the
"Closing." Certificates for the Notes shall be delivered to you in definitive
form in such names and in such denominations as shall be required by the
procedures of DTC. For the purpose of expediting the checking of the
certificates for the Notes by you, the Partnership agrees to make such
certificates available to you for such purpose at least one full business day(1)
preceding the time of purchase.
3. Representations and Warranties of the TEPPCO Entities. Each
of the Obligors, jointly and severally, represents and warrants to each of the
Underwriters that:
(a) Compliance with Registration Requirements. The Partnership
and each of the Guarantors meet the requirements for use of Form S-3,
and a registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-100494)
relating to the Notes and the Guarantees (and such amendments to such
registration statement as may have been required prior to the date of
this Agreement) has been prepared by the Partnership and complies in
all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and the rules and regulations
(collectively referred to as the "Rules and Regulations") of the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") thereunder, and
has been filed with the Commission. Such registration statement, as
amended, has been declared effective by the Commission. Copies of such
registration statement and amendments and of each related prospectus
and supplements thereto have been delivered to the Underwriters. The
term "Registration Statement" means the registration statement on Form
S-3 (Registration No. 333-100494), including all financial statements,
exhibits and documents incorporated by reference therein, as from time
to time amended or supplemented pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), Rule 415 and Rule 434 of the
Rules and Regulations, or
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(1) As used herein, "business day" shall mean a day on which the New York Stock
Exchange is open for trading.
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otherwise, any registration statement filed under Rule 462 of the Rules
and Regulations as such registration statement may be amended from time
to time and all information contained in the final prospectus filed
with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and
Regulations. The term "Prospectus" means the prospectus and the
prospectus supplement constituting a part of the Registration Statement
and any amendments or further supplements to such prospectus,
including, without limitation, the final prospectus supplement filed
pursuant to Rule 424(b) with the Commission in connection with the
proposed sale of Notes contemplated by this Agreement (the "Prospectus
Supplement"), through the date of such Prospectus Supplement. Unless
otherwise stated herein, any reference herein to the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the
documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form
S-3 which were filed under the Exchange Act on or before the date
hereof or are so filed hereafter. Any reference herein to the terms
"amend," "amendment" or "supplement' with respect to the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any
such document filed or to be filed under the Exchange Act after the
date of the Prospectus, and deemed to be incorporated therein by
reference.
On the date the Registration Statement was initially declared
effective by the Commission (the "Effective Date"), at all times
subsequent to and including the Closing Date and when any
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes
effective or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus is filed
with the Commission, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (as
amended or as supplemented if the Partnership or the Operating
Partnerships shall have filed with the Commission any amendment or
supplement thereto), including the financial statements included or
incorporated by reference in the Prospectus or the Registration
Statement, did or, when so filed, will comply in all material respects
with all applicable provisions of the Securities Act, the Rules and
Regulations, the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder
(the "Exchange Act Rules and Regulations") and did or, when filed, will
contain all statements required to be stated therein in accordance with
the Securities Act, the Rules and Regulations, the Exchange Act and the
Exchange Act Rules and Regulations. On the Effective Date and when any
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement (or any
registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the
Securities Act that constitutes part of the Registration Statement)
becomes effective, no part of the Registration Statement or any such
amendment did or will 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 not misleading. At
the Effective Date, the date the Prospectus or any amendment or
supplement to the Prospectus is or was filed with the Commission and at
the Closing Date, the Prospectus did not or will not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary
to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading. The foregoing representations and
warranties in this Section 3(a) do not apply to any statements or
omissions made in reliance on and in conformity with information
relating to any Underwriter furnished in writing to the Partnership or
the Guarantors by the Underwriters specifically for inclusion in the
Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto. For all purposes of this Agreement, (i) the amounts of the
selling concession and
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reallowance set forth in the Prospectus, (ii) the paragraphs regarding
stabilization, the provision of other services to the Partnership by
affiliates of the Underwriters and the receipt of proceeds by
affiliates of the Underwriters in the section captioned "Underwriting"
in the Prospectus, and (iii) the aggregate principal amount of Notes
that each Underwriter commits to purchase on the Closing Date set forth
in the section captioned "Underwriting" in the Prospectus, constitute
the only information relating to any Underwriter furnished in writing
to the Partnership by the Underwriters specifically for inclusion in
the Registration Statement or the Prospectus. The Partnership has not
distributed any written offering material in connection with the
offering or sale of the Notes, other than the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus. No order preventing or suspending the use of the
Prospectus has been issued by the Commission.
(b) Incorporated Documents. The documents that are
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus or from which information is so incorporated by reference,
when they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the
case may be, complied and will comply in all material respects with the
requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable,
the Rules and Regulations and the Exchange Act Rules, and none of such
documents contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted
to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading; and any further documents
so filed and incorporated by reference subsequent to the Closing Date
shall, when they are filed with the Commission, conform in all material
respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange
Act, as applicable, the Rules and Regulations and the Exchange Act
Rules and Regulations and will not contain an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statement therein not misleading.
(c) Formation and Good Standing of the Partnership, the
Operating Partnerships and the Subsidiary Partnerships. Each of the
Partnership, the Operating Partnerships and TEPPCO Crude Pipeline,
L.P., TEPPCO Seaway L.P., TEPPCO Crude Oil, L.P. and Lubrication
Services, L.P. (collectively, each of TEPPCO Crude Pipeline, L.P.,
TEPPCO Seaway L.P., TEPPCO Crude Oil, L.P. and Lubrication Services,
L.P., the "TCTM Subsidiary Partnerships") and Chaparral Pipeline
Company, L.P., Quanah Pipeline Company, L.P., ▇▇▇▇ Pipeline Company,
L.P., Panola Pipeline Company, L.P., Val Verde, and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Pipeline
Company, L.P. (collectively, each of Chaparral Pipeline Company, L.P.,
Quanah Pipeline Company, L.P., ▇▇▇▇ Pipeline Company, L.P., Panola
Pipeline Company, L.P., Val Verde, and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Pipeline Company, L.P.,
the "Midstream Subsidiary Partnerships" and together with the TCTM
Subsidiary Partnerships, the "Subsidiary Partnerships") has been duly
formed and is, and at the Closing Date will be, validly existing as a
limited partnership in good standing under the Delaware Revised Uniform
Limited Partnership Act, as amended (the "Delaware LP Act"). Each of
the Partnership, the Operating Partnerships and the Subsidiary
Partnerships has, and at the Closing Date will have, full limited
partnership power and authority to conduct all the activities conducted
by it, to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its
business in all material respects as described in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus and, with respect to the Obligors, to
enter into and perform their respective obligations under each of the
Operative Documents (defined below). Each of the
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Partnership, the Operating Partnerships and the Subsidiary Partnerships
is, and at the Closing Date will be, duly qualified or registered and
in good standing as a foreign limited partnership to transact business
in each other jurisdiction in which such qualification or registration
is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property
or the conduct of business, except where the failure so to qualify or
to register (i) would not result in a material adverse effect on the
business, properties, assets, financial condition or results of
operations of the TEPPCO Entities and their subsidiaries taken as a
whole or invalidate this Agreement, the Base Indenture, the
Supplemental Indenture, any of the Guarantees or the Notes
(collectively, the "Operative Documents") (a "Material Adverse
Effect"), or (ii) would not subject the limited partners of such
partnership to any material liability or disability. The Partnership is
the sole limited partner of each of the Operating Partnerships, in each
case owning a limited partner interest of 99.999%. These partner
interests in the Subsidiary Partnerships have been duly authorized by
the respective agreements of limited partnership of the Operating
Partnerships (the "Operating Partnership Agreements"), have been
validly issued in accordance with the respective Operating Partnership
Agreements, are fully paid and non-assessable, except to the extent
such non-assessability may be affected by Section 17-607 of the
Delaware LP Act, and are the only outstanding limited partner interests
of all of the Operating Partnerships. TCTM is the sole limited partner
of each of the TCTM Subsidiary Partnerships, in each case with a
limited partner interest of 99.99%. TEPPCO Crude Oil, L.P. is the sole
limited partner of Lubrication Services, L.P. and TEPPCO Crude
Pipeline, L.P. is the sole limited partner of TEPPCO Seaway, L.P., in
each case with a limited partner interest of 99.99%, respectively.
TEPPCO Midstream is the sole limited partner of each of the Midstream
Subsidiary Partnerships, in each case with a limited partner interest
of 99.999%. These limited partner interests have been duly authorized
by the respective agreements of limited partnership of the Subsidiary
Partnerships (the "Subsidiary Partnership Agreements"), have been
validly issued in accordance with the respective Subsidiary Partnership
Agreements, are fully paid and non-assessable, except to the extent
such non-assessability may be affected by Section 17-607 of the
Delaware LP Act, and are the only outstanding limited partner interests
of all of the Subsidiary Partnerships. The Partnership owns such
limited partner interests in the Operating Partnerships; TCTM owns such
limited partner interests in TEPPCO Crude Oil, L.P. and TEPPCO Crude
Pipeline, L.P.; TEPPCO Crude Oil, L.P. owns such limited partner
interests in Lubrication Services, L.P.; TEPPCO Crude Pipeline, L.P.
owns such limited partner interests in TEPPCO Seaway, L.P.; and TEPPCO
Midstream owns such limited partner interests in the Midstream
Subsidiary Partnerships, in each case, as described in the Prospectus,
either directly or indirectly and free and clear of all liens,
encumbrances, security interests, equities, charges or claims, except
for such liens, encumbrances, security interests, equities, charges or
claims as are not, individually or in the aggregate, material or except
as described in the Prospectus. TEPPCO Seaway, L.P. owns a 50% general
partner interest in Seaway Crude Pipeline Company. Such general partner
interest has been duly authorized and validly issued and is owned of
record free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, security interests,
equities, charges or claims, except for such liens, encumbrances,
security interests, equities, charges or claims as are not,
individually or in the aggregate, material. TEPPCO Midstream also owns
a 99.999% general partner interest in ▇▇▇▇▇. Such general partner
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interest has been duly authorized and validly issued and is owned of
record free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, security interests,
equities, charges or claims, except for such liens, encumbrances,
security interests, equities, charges or claims as are not,
individually or in the aggregate, material or except as described in
the Prospectus. TEPPCO Midstream is the sole member of each of TEPPCO
NGL and TEPPCO Colorado, L.L.C. ("TEPPCO Colorado"), and TCTM is the
sole member of TEPPCO Crude GP, LLC. These member interests have been
duly authorized and validly issued and are owned of record free and
clear of all liens, encumbrances, security interests, equities, charges
or claims, except for such liens, encumbrances, security interests,
equities, charges or claims as are not, individually or in the
aggregate, material. Complete and correct copies, as of the date
hereof, of (i) the agreement of limited partnership of the Partnership
(the "Partnership Agreement"), (ii) the Operating Partnership
Agreements, (iii) the Subsidiary Partnership Agreements, (iv) the
agreement of limited partnership of TEPPCO Seaway, L.P. and (v) the
limited liability company agreements of each of TEPPCO NGL, TEPPCO
Colorado and TEPPCO Crude GP, LLC have been delivered to the
Underwriters, and no changes therein will be made subsequent to the
date hereof and prior to the Closing Date.
(d) Formation and Good Standing of the General Partner. The
General Partner has been duly organized and is, and at the Closing Date
will be, validly existing as a limited liability company in good
standing under the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act ("Delaware
LLC Act") and has full limited liability company power and authority to
conduct all the activities conducted by it, to own, lease and operate
its properties and to conduct its business and to act as general
partner of the Partnership, in each case in all material respects, as
described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and to enter
into and perform its obligations under each of the Operative Documents;
and the General Partner is, and at the Closing Date will be, duly
qualified or registered and in good standing as a foreign limited
liability company to transact business in each other jurisdiction in
which such qualification or registration is required, whether by reason
of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business,
except where the failure so to qualify or to register (i) would not
result in a Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) would not subject its
members to any material liability or disability or (iii) would not
subject any limited partner of the Partnership to any liability by
reason of such failure. The General Partner is the sole general partner
of the Partnership with a general partner interest in the Partnership
of 2%. Such general partner interest has been duly authorized by the
Partnership Agreement, has been validly issued in accordance with the
Partnership Agreement, and is owned of record by the General Partner,
free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, security interests,
equities, charges or claims, except for such liens, encumbrances,
security interests, equities, charges or claims as are not,
individually or in the aggregate, material or except as described in
the Prospectus. Complete and correct copies of the certificate of
formation and the limited liability company agreement of the General
Partner and all amendments thereto have been delivered to the
Underwriters, and no changes therein will be made subsequent to the
date hereof and prior to the Closing Date.
(e) Formation and Good Standing of TEPPCO GP. TEPPCO GP has
been duly incorporated and is, and at the Closing Date will be, validly
existing as a corporation
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in good standing under the Delaware General Corporation Law ("DGCL")
and has full corporate power and authority to conduct all the
activities conducted by it, to own, lease and operate its properties
and to conduct its business and to act as general partner of the
Operating Partnerships, in each case in all material respects, as
described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; and TEPPCO
GP is, and at the Closing Date will be, duly qualified or registered
and in good standing as a foreign corporation to transact business in
each other jurisdiction in which such qualification or registration is
required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or
the conduct of business, except where the failure so to qualify or to
register (i) would not result in a Material Adverse Effect, or (ii)
would not subject its securityholders to any material liability or
disability, or (iii) would not subject the Partnership, as the sole
limited partner of each of the Operating Partnerships to any liability
by reason of such failure. All of the capital stock of TEPPCO GP is
owned of record by the Partnership, free and clear of all liens,
encumbrances, security interests, equities, charges, or claims, except
as set forth in the Prospectus or as are not, individually or in the
aggregate, not material. TEPPCO GP is the sole general partner of each
of the Operating Partnerships and, with respect to ▇▇▇▇▇, the sole
managing general partner, in each case with a general partner interest
of 0.001%, respectively. These general partner interests have been duly
authorized by the respective Operating Partnership Agreements (or, in
the case of Jonah, by its agreement of general partnership), have been
validly issued in accordance with the respective Operating Partnership
Agreements (or, in the case of ▇▇▇▇▇, by its agreement of general
partnership), and are owned of record by TEPPCO GP, free and clear of
all liens, encumbrances, security interests, equities, charges or
claims, except for such liens, encumbrances, security interests,
equities, charges or claims as are not, individually or in the
aggregate, material or except as described in the Prospectus. Complete
and correct copies of the certificate of incorporation and the bylaws
of TEPPCO GP and all amendments thereto have been delivered to the
Underwriters, and no changes therein will be made subsequent to the
date hereof and prior to the Closing Date.
(f) Formation and Good Standing of TEPPCO NGL. TEPPCO NGL has
been duly organized and is, and at the Closing Date will be, validly
existing as a limited liability company in good standing under the
Delaware LLC Act and has full limited liability company power and
authority to conduct all the activities conducted by it, to own, lease
and operate its properties and to conduct its business and to act as
general partner of each of the Midstream Subsidiary Partnerships, in
each case in all material respects, as described in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus; and TEPPCO NGL is, and at the Closing
Date will be, duly qualified or registered and in good standing as a
foreign limited liability company to transact business in each other
jurisdiction in which such qualification or registration is required,
whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the
conduct of business, except where the failure so to qualify or to
register (i) would not result in a Material Adverse Effect, or (ii)
would not subject its members to any material liability or disability.
TEPPCO NGL is the sole general partner of each of the Midstream
Subsidiary Partnerships, in each case with a general partner interest
of 0.001%. These general partner interests have been duly authorized by
the respective Subsidiary Partnership Agreements, have been validly
issued in accordance with the respective Subsidiary Partnership
Agreements, and are owned of record by TEPPCO NGL, free and clear of
all liens, encumbrances, security interests, equities,
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charges or claims, except for such liens, encumbrances, security
interests, equities, charges or claims as are not, individually or in
the aggregate, material or except as described in the Prospectus.
Complete and correct copies of the certificate of formation and the
limited liability company agreement of TEPPCO NGL and all amendments
thereto have been delivered to the Underwriters, and no changes therein
will be made subsequent to the date hereof and prior to the Closing
Date.
(g) Formation and Good Standing of TEPPCO Crude GP, LLC.
TEPPCO Crude GP, LLC has been duly organized and is, and at the Closing
Date will be, validly existing as a limited liability company in good
standing under the Delaware LLC Act and has full limited liability
company power and authority to conduct all the activities conducted by
it, to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its
business and to act as general partner of each of the TCTM Subsidiary
Partnerships, in each case in all material respects, as described in
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; and TEPPCO Crude GP, LLC
is, and at the Closing Date will be, duly qualified or registered and
in good standing as a foreign limited liability company to transact
business in each other jurisdiction in which such qualification or
registration is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing
of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure so to
qualify or to register (i) would not result in a Material Adverse
Effect or (ii) would not subject its members to any material liability
or disability. TEPPCO Crude GP, LLC is the sole general partner of the
TCTM Subsidiary Partnerships, in each case with a general partner
interest of 0.01%. These general partner interests have been duly
authorized by the respective Subsidiary Partnership Agreements, have
been validly issued in accordance with the respective Subsidiary
Partnership Agreements, and are owned of record by TEPPCO Crude GP,
LLC, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, security interests,
equities, charges or claims, except for such liens, encumbrances,
security interests, equities, charges or claims as are not,
individually or in the aggregate, material or except as described in
the Prospectus. Complete and correct copies of the certificate of
formation and the limited liability company agreement of TEPPCO Crude
GP, LLC and all amendments thereto have been delivered to the
Underwriters, and no changes therein will be made subsequent to the
date hereof and prior to the Closing Date.
(h) Formation and Good Standing of TEPPCO Colorado. TEPPCO
Colorado has been duly organized and is, and at the Closing Date will
be, validly existing as a limited liability company in good standing
under the Delaware LLC Act and has full limited liability company power
and authority to conduct all the activities conducted by it, to own,
lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business, in each
case in all material respects; and TEPPCO Colorado is, and at the
Closing Date will be, duly qualified or registered and in good standing
as a foreign limited liability company to transact business in each
other jurisdiction in which such qualification or registration is
required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or
the conduct of business, except where the failure so to qualify or to
register (i) would not result in a Material Adverse Effect, or (ii)
would not subject its members to any material liability or disability.
(i) Formation and Good Standing of Jonah. Jonah has been duly
formed and is, and at the Closing Date will be, validly existing as a
general partnership in good
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standing under the Wyoming Uniform Partnership Act, as amended (the
"Wyoming Act"). ▇▇▇▇▇ has, and at the Closing Date will have, full
partnership power and authority to conduct all the activities conducted
by it, to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its
business in all material respects as described in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its
obligations under each of the Operative Documents. Jonah is not, and at
the Closing Date will not be, required to register or qualify as a
foreign general partnership to transact business in any other
jurisdiction in which such qualification or registration is required,
whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the
conduct of business, except where the failure so to qualify or to
register (i) would not result in a Material Adverse Effect, or (ii)
would not subject the partners of such partnership to any material
liability or disability.
(j) Capitalization. The Partnership's capital as of September
30, 2002 is as set forth in the Prospectus Supplement in the column
entitled "Actual" under the heading "Capitalization". The adjustments
to the Partnership's capital as of September 30, 2002, as set forth in
the Prospectus Supplement under the column entitled "Pro Forma" under
the heading "Capitalization", represent a reasonable estimate by the
General Partner of the pro forma effects on the Partnership's capital
of the consummation of the transactions described under said heading.
The adjustments to the Partnership's capital as of September 30, 2002,
as set forth in the Prospectus Supplement under the column entitled
"Pro Forma As Adjusted" under the heading "Capitalization," represent a
reasonable estimate by the General Partner of the pro forma as adjusted
effects on the Partnership's capital of the offer and sale of the Notes
and the application of the estimated net proceeds from such offer and
sale in the manner set forth in the Prospectus Supplement under the
heading "Use of Proceeds" as if those transactions occurred on
September 30, 2002.
(k) Partnership Interests. As of the date of this Agreement,
the limited partners of the Partnership hold limited partner interests
in the Partnership aggregating a 98% interest in the Partnership, such
limited partner interests being represented by 53,809,597 Common Units
and 3,916,547 units representing Class B limited partner interests
("Class B Units") (the Common Units and the Class B Units are
collectively referred to as the "Limited Partner Units") held by Duke
Capital Corp.; the Limited Partner Units are the only limited partner
interests of the Partnership that are issued and outstanding; all of
the issued and outstanding Limited Partner Units of the Partnership
have been (1) duly authorized and validly issued under the Partnership
Agreement and are fully paid and non-assessable, except as such
nonassessability may be affected by Section 17-607 of the Delaware LP
Act, and (2) issued in compliance with all applicable federal and state
laws and were not issued in violation of any preemptive right, resale
right, right of first refusal or similar right.
(l) Capitalization of the General Partner. All of the
membership interests of the General Partner are registered on its books
in the name of Duke Energy Field Services, L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership ("DEFS"), free and clear of all liens, encumbrances,
security interests, equities, charges or claims, except as set forth in
the Prospectus or as are not, individually or in the aggregate,
material.
9
(m) Absence of Defaults and Conflicts. None of the TEPPCO
Entities nor any of their subsidiaries is in breach of, or in default
under (nor has any event occurred which with notice, lapse of time, or
both would result in any breach of, or constitute a default under), the
respective partnership agreement or certificate of limited partnership
or limited liability company agreement or articles or certificate of
incorporation or formation, or any other organizational document, as
the case may be, or in the performance or observance of any obligation,
agreement, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage,
deed of trust, bank loan or credit agreement or other evidence of
indebtedness, or any lease, contract or other agreement or instrument
to which any of the TEPPCO Entities or any of their subsidiaries is a
party or by which any of them or any of their properties is bound, and
the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the
Indenture and the issuance of the Notes and consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not conflict with, or
result in any breach of or constitute a default under (or constitute
any event which with notice, lapse of time, or both would result in any
breach of, or constitute a default under), any provisions of the
respective partnership agreement or certificate of limited partnership
or limited liability company agreement or articles or certificate of
incorporation or formation, or any other organizational document, as
the case may be, of any of the TEPPCO Entities or any of their
subsidiaries or under any provision of any license, indenture,
mortgage, deed of trust, bank loan or credit agreement or other
evidence of indebtedness, or any lease, contract or other agreement or
instrument to which any of the TEPPCO Entities or any of their
subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them or their respective
properties may be bound or affected, or under any federal, state, local
or foreign law, regulation or rule or any decree, judgment or order
applicable to any of the TEPPCO Entities or any of their subsidiaries.
(n) Authorization of Indenture. The Base Indenture (i) has
been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the
Partnership, the Guarantors and the Trustee, (ii) has been duly
qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust
Indenture Act"); (iii) conforms (and as supplemented by the
Supplemental Indenture will conform) in all material respects with the
requirements of the Trust Indenture Act; and (iv) is a legal, valid and
binding agreement of each of the parties thereto enforceable against
each of such parties in accordance with its terms, except as the
enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors' rights
generally and general principles of equity. The Supplemental Indenture
has been duly authorized by the Partnership and the Guarantors, and
when executed and delivered by each of the Partnership and the
Guarantors and authorized, executed and delivered by the Trustee, will
be a legal, valid and binding agreement of each of the parties thereto
enforceable against each of such parties in accordance with its terms,
except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting
creditors' rights generally and general principles of equity.
(o) Authorization of Notes. The Notes have been duly and
validly authorized by the Partnership and when executed and delivered
by the Partnership and then authenticated by the Trustee, will
constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Partnership in
accordance with their terms, except as the enforceability thereof may
be
10
limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or
similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and general
principles of equity.
(p) Authorization of this Agreement. This Agreement has been
duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Obligors and is
a legal, valid and binding agreement of each of the Obligors
enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability
thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and
general principles of equity.
(q) Accuracy of Disclosure. The Notes and the Indenture
conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained
in the Registration Statement, Prospectus and Prospectus Supplement.
All legal or governmental proceedings, affiliate transactions,
contracts, leases or documents of a character required to be described
in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Prospectus
Supplement or the documents incorporated by reference therein or to be
filed as an exhibit thereto have been so described or filed as
required. There are no contracts or documents which are required to be
described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Prospectus
Supplement or the documents incorporated by reference therein or to be
filed as exhibits thereto which have not been so described and filed as
required.
(r) Absence of Further Requirements. No approval,
authorization, consent or order of or filing with any national, state
or local governmental or regulatory commission, board, body, authority
or agency is required in connection with the issuance and sale of the
Notes or the consummation of the transactions as contemplated hereby,
other than registration of the issuance and sale of the Notes under the
Securities Act, which has been completed, and qualification of the
Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, which has been completed.
(s) Independent Accountants. KPMG, LLP ("KPMG") whose reports
on the consolidated financial statements of the Partnership and its
subsidiaries are filed with the Commission as part of, or incorporated
by reference into, the Registration Statement and Prospectus, are
independent public accountants as required by the Securities Act and
Exchange Act. The statements included in the Registration Statement
with respect to the accountants pursuant to Rule 509 of Regulation S-K
of the Rules and Regulations are true and correct in all material
respects. PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP ("PWC") whose reports on the
combined financial statements of the Burlington Resources Gathering
Inc. Val Verde Gathering and Processing System are filed with the
Commission as part of the Partnership's Form 8-K filed with the
Commission on July 2, 2002, the Form 8-K/A filed with the Commission on
August 12, 2002 and the Form 8-K/A filed with the Commission on October
8, 2002 and incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement
and Prospectus, are independent public accountants as required by the
Securities Act and Exchange Act. The statements included in, or
incorporated by, the Registration Statement with respect to the
accountants pursuant to Rule 509 of Regulation S-K of the Rules and
Regulations are true and correct in all material respects.
11
(t) Possession of Licenses and Permits. Each of the TEPPCO
Entities and their subsidiaries has all necessary licenses,
authorizations, consents and approvals and has made all necessary
filings required under any federal, state, local or foreign law,
regulation or rule, and has obtained all necessary authorizations,
consents and approvals from other persons, in order to conduct its
respective business; none of the TEPPCO Entities or their subsidiaries
is in violation of, or in default under, any such license,
authorization, consent or approval or any federal, state, local or
foreign law, regulation or rule or any decree, order or judgment
applicable to any of the TEPPCO Entities or their subsidiaries, the
effect of which, individually or in the aggregate, could have a
Material Adverse Effect.
(u) Absence of Proceedings. Except as disclosed in the
Prospectus, there are no actions, suits, claims, investigations or
proceedings pending or threatened to which any of the TEPPCO Entities
or their subsidiaries or any of their respective officers is a party or
of which any of their respective properties is subject, at law or in
equity, or before or by any federal, state, local or foreign
governmental or regulatory commission, board, body, authority or agency
which could result in a judgment, decree or order having a Material
Adverse Effect or prevent consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby.
(v) Financial Statements. The financial statements included or
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus, together with the related schedules and notes, present
fairly the consolidated financial position of the Partnership and its
subsidiaries at the dates indicated and the consolidated results of
operations, cash flows and changes in financial position of the
Partnership and its subsidiaries for the periods specified; such
financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") applied on a consistent basis
during the periods involved. The supporting schedules, if any, included
in the Registration Statement present fairly in accordance with GAAP
the information required to be stated therein. The pro forma financial
statements and other pro forma financial information included or
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus (i) present fairly in all material respects the information
shown therein, (ii) have been prepared in accordance with the
Commission's rules and guidelines with respect to pro forma financial
statements and (iii) have been properly computed on the bases described
therein. The assumptions used in the preparation of the pro forma
financial statements and other pro forma financial information included
or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or
Prospectus are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are
appropriate to give effect to the transactions or circumstances
referred to therein. No other financial statements or schedules of the
Partnership are required by the Securities Act, the Rules and
Regulations, the Exchange Act or the Exchange Act Rules and Regulations
to be included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus.
(w) Internal Accounting Controls. Each of the TEPPCO Entities
and their subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting
controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i)
transactions are executed in accordance with management's general or
specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to
permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting
12
principles and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to
assets is permitted only in accordance with management's general or
specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets
is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and
appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.
(x) No Material Adverse Change in Business. Subsequent to the
respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus and prior to the Closing Date and except
as described in or contemplated by the Prospectus, there has not been
and will not have been (i) any material adverse change, or any
development which is likely to cause a material adverse change, in the
capitalization of any of the TEPPCO Entities, or in the business,
properties or assets described or referred to in the Registration
Statement, or the results of operations, condition (financial or
otherwise), business or operations of any of the TEPPCO Entities and
their subsidiaries taken as a whole, (ii) any transaction which is
material to any of the TEPPCO Entities or their subsidiaries, except
transactions contemplated in this Agreement or in the ordinary course
of business, (iii) any obligation, direct or contingent, which is
material to the TEPPCO Entities or their subsidiaries taken as a whole,
incurred by any of the TEPPCO Entities or their subsidiaries, except
obligations contemplated in this Agreement or incurred in the ordinary
course of business, (iv) any material change in the capital stock,
equity interests or outstanding indebtedness of any of the TEPPCO
Entities or their subsidiaries, (v) any event that has invalidated or
could invalidate any of the Operative Documents or (vi) any dividend or
distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Partnership.
None of the TEPPCO Entities nor any of their subsidiaries has any
material contingent obligation which is not disclosed in the
Registration Statement.
(y) Absence of Labor Dispute. No labor dispute with the
employees of any of the TEPPCO Entities or any of their subsidiaries
exists or, to the knowledge of any of the TEPPCO Entities, is imminent
or threatened, and none of the TEPPCO Entities has any actual knowledge
of an existing, imminent or threatened labor disturbance by the
employees of any of its, or any of its affiliates', principal
suppliers, manufacturers, customers or contractors, which, in either
case, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect. Each of the TEPPCO Entities and their subsidiaries is in
compliance with all federal, state and local employment labor laws,
including, but not limited to, laws relating to non-discrimination in
hiring, promotion and pay of employees, except for any noncompliance
that could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect.
(z) Possession of Intellectual Property. Each of the TEPPCO
Entities and their subsidiaries own or possess, or can acquire on
reasonable terms, adequate patents, patent rights, licenses,
inventions, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and other
unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information,
systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks, trade names or other
intellectual property (collectively, "Intellectual Property") necessary
to carry on the business now operated by them, and none of the TEPPCO
Entities nor any of their subsidiaries has received any notice or is
otherwise aware of any infringement of or conflict with asserted rights
of others with respect to any Intellectual Property or of any facts or
circumstances which
13
would render any Intellectual Property invalid or inadequate to protect
the interest of any of the TEPPCO Entities or their subsidiaries, and
which infringement or conflict (if the subject of any unfavorable
decision, ruling or finding) or invalidity or inadequacy, singly or in
the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Effect.
(aa) Title to Property. Each of the TEPPCO Entities and their
respective subsidiaries have satisfactory and marketable title to all
properties and assets owned by such entities, in each case free and
clear of all mortgages, pledges, liens, security interests, claims,
restrictions or encumbrances of any kind except such as (i) are
described in the Prospectus or (ii) do not, singly or in the aggregate,
materially affect the value of such property and do not interfere with
the use made and proposed to be made of such property by such entities;
and all of the leases and subleases material to the business of such
entities, and under which such entities hold properties described in
the Prospectus, are in full force and effect, and none of such entities
has any notice of any material claim of any sort that has been asserted
by anyone adverse to the rights of such entities under any of the
leases or subleases mentioned above, or affecting or questioning the
rights of such entities to the continued possession of the leased or
subleased premises under any such lease or sublease.
(bb) Investment Company Act. None of the TEPPCO Entities nor
any of their subsidiaries is, and upon the issuance and sale of the
Notes as herein contemplated and the application of the net proceeds
therefrom as described in the Prospectus will not be, an "investment
company" or an "affiliated person" of, or "promoter" or "principal
underwriter" for, an "investment company" as such terms are defined in
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(cc) Public Utility Holding Company Act. None of the TEPPCO
Entities nor any of their subsidiaries is a "holding company" as such
term is defined in the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as
amended ("PUHCA"); neither the TEPPCO Entities nor the issue and sale
of the Notes by the Partnership is subject to regulation under PUHCA;
and none of the TEPPCO Entities is a "public utility" as such term is
defined in the Federal Power Act, as amended.
(dd) Environmental Laws. Each of the TEPPCO Entities and their
subsidiaries (i) is in compliance with any and all applicable foreign,
federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the
protection of human health and safety, the environment or imposing
liability or standards of conduct concerning any Hazardous Material (as
hereinafter defined) ("Environmental Laws"), (ii) has received all
permits, licenses or other approvals required of it under Environmental
Laws to conduct its business and (iii) is in compliance with all terms
and conditions of any such permit, license or approval, except where
such noncompliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required
permits, licenses or other approvals or failure to comply with the
terms and conditions of such permits, licenses or approvals would not,
individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.
The term "Hazardous Material" means (A) any "hazardous substance" as
defined by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act of 1980, as amended, (B) any "hazardous waste" as defined
by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended, (C) any
14
petroleum or petroleum product, (D) any polychlorinated biphenyl and
(E) any pollutant or contaminant or hazardous, dangerous, or toxic
chemical, material, waste or substance regulated under or within the
meaning of any other Environmental Law.
In the ordinary course of its business, the
Partnership conducts a periodic review of the effect of Environmental
Laws on the business, operations and properties of the TEPPCO Entities
and their subsidiaries, in the course of which it identifies and
evaluates associated costs and liabilities (including, without
limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for
clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws
or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on
operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties).
Except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus,
there are no costs and liabilities associated with or arising in
connection with Environmental Laws as currently in effect (including
without limitation, costs of compliance therewith) which would, singly
or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ee) Insurance. Each of the TEPPCO Entities and their
subsidiaries maintains insurance with respect to their properties and
business of the types and in amounts generally deemed adequate for its
business and consistent with insurance coverage maintained by similar
companies and businesses, all of which insurance is in full force and
effect.
(ff) Tax Returns and Payments. Each of the TEPPCO Entities has
filed all federal, state and foreign income and franchise tax returns
required by law to be filed by them and have paid all taxes,
assessments and other governmental charges levied upon them or any of
their properties, assets, income or franchises which are due and
payable, other than (i) those which are not past due or are presently
being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently
conducted for which such reserves or other appropriate provisions, if
any, as shall be required by generally accepted accounting principles
have been made and (ii) with respect to state and local taxes, such as
will not result in a Material Adverse Effect. There are no tax returns
of any of the TEPPCO Entities that are currently being audited by
state, local or federal taxing authorities or agencies (and with
respect to which any of the TEPPCO Entities has received notice), where
the findings of such audit, if adversely determined, would result in a
Material Adverse Effect.
(gg) Benefit Plans. With respect to each employee benefit
plan, program and arrangement (including, without limitation, any
"employee benefit plan" as defined in Section 3(3) of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"))
maintained or contributed to by any of the TEPPCO Entities, or with
respect to which any of the TEPPCO Entities could incur any liability
under ERISA (collectively, the "Benefit Plans"), no event has occurred
and, to the best knowledge of each of the TEPPCO Entities or their
subsidiaries, there exists no condition or set of circumstances, in
connection with which any of the TEPPCO Entities could be subject to
any liability under the terms of such Benefit Plan, applicable law
(including, without limitation, ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended) or any applicable agreement that could have a
Material Adverse Effect.
15
(hh) Absence of Notice. None of the TEPPCO Entities nor any of
their subsidiaries have sent or received any communication regarding
termination of, or intent not to renew, any of the contracts or
agreements referred to or described in, or filed as an exhibit to, the
Registration Statement or any document incorporated by reference
therein, and no such termination or non-renewal has been threatened by
the Partnership or, to the knowledge of the Partnership after due
inquiry, any other party to any such contract or agreement, which
termination or non-renewal would have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ii) Validity of Data. Any statistical and market-related data
included in the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that
the Partnership believes to be reliable and accurate, and the
Partnership has obtained the written consent to the use of such data
from such sources to the extent the General Partner believes it is
required.
(jj) Violations. None of the TEPPCO Entities nor any of their
subsidiaries, nor to the Partnership's knowledge after due inquiry, any
employee or agent of the TEPPCO Entities, has made any payment of funds
of the TEPPCO Entities or received or retained any funds in violation
of any law, rule or regulation, which payment, receipt or retention of
funds is of a character required to be disclosed in the Registration
Statement or Prospectus.
(kk) Significant Subsidiaries. The subsidiaries listed on
Schedule A attached hereto are the only significant subsidiaries of the
Partnership as defined by Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X.
(ll) Registration Rights. No holder of securities of the
Partnership has rights to the registration of any securities of the
Partnership because of the filing of the Registration Statement that
have not been waived.
(mm) Officers' Certificates. Any certificate signed on behalf
of the Partnership by the President or Vice President of the General
Partner and on behalf of the General Partner by a President or Vice
President thereof delivered to the Underwriters or to counsel for the
Underwriters shall be deemed a representation and warranty by each of
the TEPPCO Entities to each Underwriter as to the matters covered
thereby.
(nn) Partnership Agreements. The Partnership Agreement is a
valid and legally binding agreement of the General Partner, enforceable
against the General Partner in accordance with its terms, and each of
the Operating Partnership Agreements and Subsidiary Partnership
Agreements is a valid and legally binding agreement of the parties
thereto, enforceable against the parties thereto in accordance with its
terms, except as the enforceability of such agreements may be affected
by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other laws of general
applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and general
equitable principles.
(oo) Stabilization. None of the TEPPCO Entities, nor any of
their directors, officers or controlling persons has taken, directly or
indirectly, any action intended, or which might reasonably be expected,
to cause or result, under the Securities Act or
16
otherwise, in or which has constituted, stabilization or manipulation
of the price of any security of the Partnership to facilitate the sale
or resale of the Notes.
(pp) Disclosure. Neither this Agreement, the Registration
Statement, nor any other document, certificate or instrument delivered
to the Underwriters by or on behalf of the Partnership in connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, contains any
untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements contained therein not
misleading. There is no fact known to the Partnership or the General
Partner which would result in a Material Adverse Effect or in the
future may (so far as the Partnership can now foresee) result in a
Material Adverse Effect which has not been set forth or referred to in
this Agreement or the Registration Statement.
(qq) Absence of NASD Conflict of Interest. More than ten
percent of the net proceeds from the sale of the Notes are intended to
be or will be paid to the Underwriters or their affiliates or members
of the National Association of Securities Dealers or associated or
affiliated persons of such members, or members of the immediate family
of such members; however, the Notes are, and will continue to be
through the Closing Date, rated at least Baa or better by ▇▇▇▇▇'▇
Investors Service, Inc. or at least Bbb or better by Standard & Poor's
Rating Services.
(rr) Ratings. Since the last downgrading by ▇▇▇▇▇'▇ in May
2002, no "nationally recognized statistical rating organization," as
that term is defined in Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act, has
(i) downgraded, or given notice or announcement of any intended or
potential downgrading, or (ii) made any review or indicated any
possible change that does not indicate an improvement in the rating
accorded any notes of, or notes guaranteed by, the Partnership or any
of its subsidiaries.
4. Certain Covenants of the Partnership and Guarantors: Each
of the Partnership and Guarantors, jointly and severally, hereby agrees:
(a) to furnish such information as may be required and
otherwise to cooperate in qualifying the Notes for offering and sale
under the securities or blue sky laws of such states as you may
designate and to maintain such qualifications in effect as long as
required for the distribution of the Notes, provided that none of the
Partnership or the Guarantors shall be required to qualify as a foreign
corporation or to consent to the service of process under the laws of
any such state (except service of process with respect to the offering
and sale of the Notes); and to promptly advise you of the receipt by
the Partnership or the Guarantors of any notification with respect to
the suspension of the qualification of the Notes for sale in any
jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for
such purpose.
(b) to make available to the Underwriters, without charge, as
many copies of the Prospectus (or of the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented if the Partnership shall have made any amendments or
supplements thereto after the Effective Date of the Registration
Statement) as the Underwriters may reasonably request for the purposes
contemplated by the Securities Act; in case any Underwriter is required
to deliver a
17
prospectus within the nine-month period referred to in Section 10(a)(3)
of the Securities Act in connection with the sale of the Notes, the
Partnership and the Guarantors will prepare promptly upon request such
amendment or amendments to the Registration Statement and such
prospectuses as may be necessary to permit compliance with the
requirements of Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act.
(c) to advise you promptly and (if requested by you) to
confirm such advice in writing (i) when any post-effective amendment to
the Registration Statement becomes effective and (ii) if Rule 430A
under the Securities Act is used, when the Prospectus is filed with the
Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act (which the
Partnership agrees to file in a timely manner under such Rules).
(d) to advise you promptly, confirming such advice in writing,
of any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to the
Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information with
respect thereto, or of notice of institution of proceedings for or the
entry of a stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement and, if the Commission should enter a stop order suspending
the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, to make every
reasonable effort to obtain the lifting or removal of such order as
soon as possible; to advise you promptly of any proposal to amend or
supplement the Registration Statement or Prospectus including by filing
any documents that would be incorporated therein by reference, to
furnish you with a draft of such proposed amendment in advance of such
filing and to file no such amendment or supplement to which you shall
object in writing.
(e) to file promptly all reports and any definitive proxy or
information statement required to be filed by the Partnership or the
Guarantors with the Commission in order to comply with the Exchange Act
subsequent to the date of the Prospectus and for so long as the
delivery of a prospectus is required in connection with the offering or
sale of the Notes, and to promptly notify you of such filing.
(f) if necessary or appropriate, to file a registration
statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act.
(g) to furnish or otherwise make available to you and, upon
request, to each of the other Underwriters for a period of three years
from the date of this Agreement the following documents, provided such
documents are not otherwise publicly available via ▇▇▇▇▇: (i) copies of
any reports or other communications which the Partnership shall send to
the holders of any class of its limited partnership interests or debt
securities or shall from time to time publish or publicly disseminate,
(ii) copies of all annual, quarterly and current reports filed with the
Commission on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, or such other similar form as
may be designated by the Commission, (iii) copies of documents or
reports filed with any national securities exchange on which any class
of securities of the Partnership is listed, and (iv) such other
information as you may reasonably request regarding the TEPPCO Entities
or their subsidiaries, in each case as soon as such communications,
documents or information become available.
18
(h) to advise the Underwriters promptly of the happening of
any event known to the Partnership or the Guarantors within the time
during which a Prospectus relating to the Notes is required to be
delivered under the Securities Act which, in the judgment of the
Partnership, would require the making of any change in the Prospectus
then being used, or in the information incorporated therein by
reference, so that the Prospectus would not include an untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make
the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they
are made, not misleading, and, during such time, to prepare and
furnish, at the Partnership's expense, to you promptly such amendments
or supplements to such Prospectus as may be necessary to reflect any
such change and to furnish to you a copy of such proposed amendment or
supplement before filing any such amendment or supplement with the
Commission.
(i) to make generally available to holders of its securities
as soon as may be practicable but in no event later than the last day
of the fifteenth full calendar month following the calendar quarter in
which the Effective Date falls, and to deliver to you, an earnings
statement of the Partnership (which will satisfy the provisions of
Section 11(a) of the Securities Act, including Rule 158 of the Rules
and Regulations) for a period of twelve months beginning after the
Effective Date of the Registration Statement (as defined in Rule 158(c)
of the Securities Act) as soon as is reasonably practicable after the
termination of such twelve-month period.
(j) to furnish to you, upon request and without charge, two
copies of the Registration Statement, as initially filed with the
Commission, and of all amendments thereto (including all financial
statements, schedules and exhibits thereto and documents incorporated
by reference therein), which are certified by an officer of the General
Partner to be true and correct, and sufficient conformed copies of the
foregoing (other than exhibits) for distribution to each of the other
Underwriters.
(k) to furnish to you as early as practicable prior to the
time of purchase, but no later than two business days prior thereto, a
copy of the latest available unaudited interim consolidated financial
statements, if any, of the TEPPCO Entities and their subsidiaries,
which have been read by the independent certified public accountants,
as stated in their letter to be furnished pursuant to Section 6(b)
hereof.
(l) to apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Notes in
the manner set forth under the caption "Use of Proceeds" in the
Prospectus.
(m) to pay all costs, expenses, fees and taxes (other than any
transfer taxes and fees and disbursements of counsel for the
Underwriters except as set forth under Section 5 hereof and (iii), (iv)
and (vi) below) in connection with (i) the preparation and filing of
the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, and any amendments or
supplements thereto, and the printing and furnishing of copies of each
thereof to the Underwriters and to dealers (including costs of mailing
and shipment), (ii) the preparation, registration, issuance,
authentication, execution and delivery of the Notes, (iii) the
producing, word processing and/or printing of this Agreement, an
Agreement Among Underwriters, any dealer agreements, any Powers of
Attorney and any closing documents (including
19
compilations thereof), the Indenture, and the reproduction and/or
printing and furnishing of copies of each thereof to the Underwriters
and (except closing documents) to dealers (including costs of mailing
and shipment), (iv) the qualification of the Notes for offering and
sale under state laws and the determination of their eligibility for
investment under state law as aforesaid (including the legal fees and
filing fees and other disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters)
and the printing and furnishing of copies of any blue sky surveys or
legal investment surveys to the Underwriters and to dealers, (v) any
listing of the Notes on any securities exchange and any registration
thereof under the Exchange Act, (vi) any fees payable to investment
rating agencies with respect to the Notes, (vii) any filing for review
of the public offering of the Notes by the NASD, (viii) the performance
of the Partnership's other obligations hereunder and (ix) the costs and
expenses of the TEPPCO Entities relating to investor presentations on
any "road show" undertaken in connection with the marketing of the
offering of the Notes, including, without limitation, expenses
associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees
and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the road
show presentations with the prior approval of the Partnership, travel
and lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of the TEPPCO
Entities and any such consultants, and the cost of any aircraft
chartered in connection with the road show.
(n) to furnish to you, before filing with the Commission
subsequent to the Effective Date of the Registration Statement and
during the period referred to in paragraph (e) above, a copy of any
document proposed to be filed pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of
the Exchange Act.
(o) to comply with all the provisions of any undertakings
contained in the Registration Statement.
(p) not, at any time, directly or indirectly, take any action
intended, or which might reasonably be expected, to cause or result in,
which will constitute, stabilization of the price of the Notes to
facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Notes.
(q) to timely file any financial statements required by Rule
3-05(b)(2) of Regulation S-X.
5. Reimbursement of Underwriters' Expenses. If the Notes are
not delivered for any reason other than the termination of this Agreement
pursuant to the first two paragraphs of Section 7 hereof or the default by one
or more of the Underwriters in its or their respective obligations hereunder,
the Partnership shall, in addition to paying the amounts described in Section
4(m) hereof, reimburse the Underwriters for all out-of-pocket expenses
reasonably incurred by the Underwriters, including the fees and disbursements of
their counsel; provided, however, that if this Agreement is terminated pursuant
to Section 8 by reason of the default of one or more Underwriters, the TEPPCO
Entities shall not be obligated to reimburse any defaulting Underwriter on
account of these expenses.
6. Conditions of Obligations of the Underwriters. The several
obligations of the Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy of the
representations and warranties on the part of the Obligors on the date hereof
and at the Closing Date (unless previously waived), to
20
the accuracy of the statements of the Partnership made in any certificates
pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Partnership of its
obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions precedent:
(a) The Partnership shall furnish to you at the Closing Date
(i) opinions of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ L.L.P., counsel for the
Partnership, addressed to the Underwriters and dated the time of
purchase, as set forth in Exhibit B and (ii) opinions of ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇,
general counsel of the Partnership, addressed to the Underwriters and
dated the time of purchase, as set forth in Exhibit C, with reproduced
copies of each for the other Underwriters and each in a form
satisfactory to ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ L.L.P., counsel for the Underwriters.
(b) You shall have received from KPMG a "comfort letter" and
"bring-down comfort letter" dated as of the date of this Agreement and
the Closing Date, respectively, and addressed to the Underwriters (with
reproduced copies for each of the other Underwriters) in the forms
heretofore approved by you. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP shall deliver a
"comfort letter" and "bring-down comfort letter" to the Underwriters,
dated the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, respectively,
with respect to the financial information of Val Verde incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement.
(c) You shall have received at the Closing Date, the opinions
of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ L.L.P., counsel for the Underwriters, with respect
to such matters as you may reasonably require.
(d) No amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement
or Prospectus, including documents deemed to be incorporated by
reference therein, shall be filed prior to the Closing to which you
object in writing.
(e) Notification that all filings required by Rule 424 of the
Rules and Regulations shall have been made.
(f) Prior to the Closing, (i) no stop order with respect to
the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued
under the Securities Act or proceedings initiated under Section 8(d) or
8(e) of the Securities Act; (ii) the Registration Statement and all
amendments thereto, or modifications thereof, if any, shall not contain
an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading; and (iii) the Prospectus and all amendments or
supplements thereto, or modifications thereof, if any, shall not
contain an untrue statement of material fact or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
are made, not misleading.
(g) Between the time of execution of this Agreement and the
Closing Date, (i) no material and unfavorable change, or any
development involving a material adverse change, financial or otherwise
(other than as specifically identified in the Registration Statement
and Prospectus as of the date hereof), in the business, properties,
financial
21
condition, results of operations or prospects of any of the TEPPCO
Entities or their subsidiaries taken as a whole shall occur or become
known, (ii) no event shall occur or become known that could invalidate
any of the Operative Documents and (iii) no transaction which is
material to any of the TEPPCO Entities or their subsidiaries shall have
been entered into by any of the TEPPCO Entities, except transactions
contemplated in this Agreement or in the ordinary course of business.
(h) The Partnership will, at the Closing, deliver to you a
certificate of two of the General Partner's executive officers, a
certificate of two of TEPPCO GP's executive officers and a certificate
of two of TEPPCO NGL's executive officers, to the effect that the
representations and warranties of the Obligors and their subsidiaries
set forth in this Agreement are true and correct as of such date, that
the Obligors and their subsidiaries shall perform such of their
obligations under this Agreement as are to be performed at or before
the time of purchase, the conditions set forth in paragraphs (f) and
(g) of this Section 6 have been met and such other matters as you may
reasonably request.
(i) The Partnership shall have furnished to you such other
documents and certificates as to the accuracy and completeness of any
statement in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as of the
Closing Date as you may reasonably request.
(j) Between the time of execution of this Agreement and the
Closing Date, there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall
any notice or announcement have been given or made of (i) any intended
or potential downgrading or (ii) any review or possible change that
does not indicate an improvement, in the rating accorded any securities
of, or securities guaranteed by, the Partnership or any of its
subsidiaries by any "nationally recognized statistical rating
organization," as that term is defined in Rule 436(g)(2) under the
Securities Act.
(k) Since the respective dates as of which information is
given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there shall
have been no litigation or other proceeding instituted against any of
the TEPPCO Entities or their subsidiaries or any of their respective
officers or directors in their capacities as such, before or by any
Federal, state or local court, commission, regulatory body,
administrative agency or other governmental body, domestic or foreign,
in which litigation or proceeding an unfavorable ruling, decision or
finding would have a Material Adverse Effect.
(l) Each of the representations and warranties of the Obligors
contained herein shall be true and correct in all material respects at
the Closing Date as if made at the Closing Date, and all covenants and
agreements herein contained to be performed on the part of the Obligors
and all conditions herein contained to be fulfilled or complied with by
the Obligors at or prior to the Closing Date shall have been duly
performed, fulfilled or complied with; provided, however, that if any
such representation or warranty is already qualified by materiality,
for purposes of determining whether this condition has been satisfied,
such representation or warranty as so qualified must be true and
correct in all respects.
22
(m) The Notes shall be qualified for sale in such states as
you may reasonably request, each such qualification shall be in effect
and not subject to any stop order or other proceeding on the Closing
Date.
7. Effective Date of Agreement; Termination. This Agreement
shall become effective when the parties hereto have executed and delivered this
Agreement.
The obligations of the several Underwriters hereunder shall be subject
to termination in the absolute discretion of you or any group of Underwriters
(which may include you) which has agreed to purchase in the aggregate at least
50% of the Notes if, (x) since the time of execution of this Agreement or the
respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement
and Prospectus, there has been any material adverse change, financial or
otherwise (other than as referred to in the Registration Statement and
Prospectus as of the date hereof), in the operations, business, condition or
prospects of the TEPPCO Entities or their subsidiaries taken as a whole, which
would, in your judgment or in the judgment of such group of Underwriters, make
it impracticable or inadvisable to market the Notes on the terms and in the
manner contemplated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, or (y)
there shall have occurred any downgrading, or any notice shall have been given
of (i) any intended or potential downgrading or (ii) any review or possible
change that does not indicate an improvement in the rating accorded any notes
of, or notes guaranteed by, the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries by any
"nationally recognized statistical rating organization," as that term is defined
in Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act or, (z) if, at any time prior to the
Closing Date there shall have occurred: (i) a suspension or material limitation
in trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange, American
Stock Exchange or NASDAQ; (ii) a suspension or material limitation in trading in
common units of the Partnership on the New York Stock Exchange, the American
Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq National Market or minimum prices shall have been
established on the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange or the
Nasdaq National Market; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking
activities declared either by the United States, Texas or New York State
authorities, a material disruption in commercial banking or securities
settlement or clearance services in the United States; (iv) the outbreak or
escalation of hostilities or acts of terrorism involving the United States or
the declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war; or (v) the
occurrence of any other calamity or crisis or any change in financial, political
or economic conditions in the United States or elsewhere, if the effect of any
such event specified in clause (iv) or (v) in your judgment or in the judgment
of such group of Underwriters, to make it impracticable or inadvisable to market
the Notes on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus.
If you or any group of Underwriters elects to terminate this Agreement
as provided in this Section 7, the Partnership and each other Underwriter shall
be notified promptly by letter or telegram.
If the sale to the Underwriters of the Notes, as contemplated by this
Agreement, is not carried out by the Underwriters for any reason permitted under
this Agreement or if such sale is not carried out because any of the Obligors
shall be unable to comply with any of the terms of this Agreement, the Obligors
shall not be under any obligation or liability under this Agreement (except to
the extent provided in Sections 4(m), 5 and 9 hereof), and the Underwriters
shall be
23
under no obligation or liability to the TEPPCO Entities under this Agreement
(except to the extent provided in Section 9 hereof) or to one another hereunder.
8. Increase in Underwriters' Commitments. Subject to Sections
6 and 7, if any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to take up and pay
for the Notes to be purchased by it hereunder (otherwise than for a reason
sufficient to justify the termination of this Agreement under the provisions of
Section 7 hereof) and if the aggregate principal amount of Notes which all
Underwriters so defaulting shall have agreed but failed to take up and pay for
does not exceed 10% of the total aggregate principal amount of Notes, the
non-defaulting Underwriters shall take up and pay for (in addition to the
aggregate number of Notes they are obligated to purchase pursuant to Section 1
hereof) the aggregate principal amount of Notes agreed to be purchased by all
such defaulting Underwriters, as hereinafter provided. Such Notes shall be taken
up and paid for by such non-defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters in such
amount or amounts as you may designate with the consent of each Underwriter so
designated, or in the event no such designation is made, such Notes shall be
taken up and paid for by all non-defaulting Underwriters pro rata in proportion
to the aggregate principal amount of Notes set opposite the names of such
non-defaulting Underwriters in Exhibit A.
Without relieving any defaulting Underwriter from its obligations
hereunder, the Partnership agrees with the non-defaulting Underwriters that it
will not sell any Notes hereunder unless all of the Notes are purchased by the
Underwriters (or by substituted Underwriters selected by you with the approval
of the Partnership or selected by the Partnership with your approval).
If a new Underwriter or Underwriters are substituted by the
Underwriters or by the Partnership for a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters
in accordance with the foregoing provision, the Partnership or you shall have
the right to postpone the Closing for a period not exceeding five business days
in order that any necessary changes in the Registration Statement and Prospectus
and other documents may be effected.
The term Underwriter as used in this Agreement shall refer to and
include any Underwriter substituted under this Section 8 with like effect as if
such substituted Underwriter had originally been named in Exhibit A.
If the aggregate principal amount of Notes which the defaulting
Underwriter or Underwriters agreed to purchase exceeds 10% of the total
principal amount of Notes which all Underwriters agreed to purchase hereunder,
and if neither the non-defaulting Underwriters nor the Partnership shall make
arrangements within the five business day period stated above for the purchase
of all the Notes which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed to
purchase hereunder, this Agreement shall be terminated without further act or
deed and without any liability on the part of the Partnership to any
non-defaulting Underwriter and without any liability on the part of any
non-defaulting Underwriter to the Partnership. Nothing in this paragraph, and no
action taken hereunder, shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability
in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.
24
9. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) The Obligors agree, jointly and severally, to indemnify,
defend and hold harmless each Underwriter, its partners, directors,
officers, employees, agents and any person who controls any Underwriter
within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of
the Exchange Act, and the successors and assigns of all the foregoing
persons from and against any loss, damage, expense, liability or claim
(including, but not limited to, the reasonable cost of investigation,
legal representation and other expenses incurred in connection with,
and any and all amounts paid in settlement of, any action, suit or
proceeding between any of the indemnified parties and any indemnifying
parties or between any indemnified party and any third party, or
otherwise, or any claim asserted) which, jointly or severally, any such
Underwriter or person may incur under the Securities Act, the Exchange
Act, the common law or otherwise, insofar as such loss, damage,
expense, liability or claim arises out of or is based upon any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in
the Registration Statement (or in the Registration Statement as amended
by any post-effective amendment thereof by the Partnership), in a
Prospectus (the term "Prospectus" for the purpose of this Section 9
being deemed to include any preliminary prospectus filed as part of the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus (as previously defined) and the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented by the Partnership), or in any
documents filed under the Exchange Act and deemed to be incorporated by
reference into the Prospectus, or in any application or other document
executed by or on behalf of any of the TEPPCO Entities or their
subsidiaries or based on written information furnished by or on behalf
of any of the TEPPCO Entities or their subsidiaries filed in any
jurisdiction in order to qualify the Notes under the securities laws
thereof or filed with the Commission, or arises out of or is based upon
any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to
be stated in such Registration Statement, Prospectus or other such
documents or necessary to make the statements made therein not
misleading, except insofar as any such loss, damage, expense, liability
or claim arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in and in conformity with
information furnished in writing by or on behalf of any Underwriter
through you to the Partnership expressly for use with reference to such
Underwriter in such Registration Statement or such Prospectus (which
comprises only such information referred to in the second paragraph of
Section 3(a) of this Agreement) or arises out of or is based upon any
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact in connection
with such information required to be stated in such Registration
Statement, Prospectus or other such documents or necessary to make such
information not misleading. This indemnity agreement will be in
addition to any liability that the TEPPCO Entities might otherwise
have.
If any action, suit or proceeding (together, a
"Proceeding") is brought against an Underwriter or any such person in
respect of which indemnity may be sought against the TEPPCO Entities
pursuant to the foregoing paragraph, such Underwriter or such person
shall promptly notify the General Partner in writing of the institution
of such Proceeding and the General Partner shall assume the defense of
such Proceeding, including the employment of counsel reasonably
satisfactory to such indemnified party and payment of all fees and
expenses, provided, however, that the omission to so notify the General
Partner (or any omission of notice under Section 9(c)) shall not
relieve any of
25
the Obligors from any liability which any of the Obligors may have to
any Underwriter or any such person or otherwise. Such Underwriter or
controlling person shall have the right to employ its or their own
counsel in any such case, but the fees and expenses of such counsel
shall be at the expense of such Underwriter or such controlling person
unless the employment of such counsel shall have been authorized in
writing by the General Partner in connection with the defense of such
Proceeding or the Partnership shall not have, within a reasonable
period of time in light of the circumstances, employed counsel to have
charge of the defense of such Proceeding or such indemnified party or
parties shall have reasonably concluded (based on advice of counsel)
that there may be defenses available to it or them which are different
from, additional to or in competition with those available to the
Obligors (in which case the Obligors shall not have the right to direct
the defense of such Proceeding on behalf of the indemnified party or
parties), in any of which events such fees and expenses shall be borne
by the Obligors and paid as incurred (it being understood, however,
that the Obligors shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one
separate counsel (in addition to any local counsel) in any one
Proceeding or series of related Proceedings in the same jurisdiction
representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such
Proceeding). The Obligors shall not be liable for any settlement of any
such claim or Proceeding effected without its written consent but if
settled with the written consent of the General Partner and the
Obligors agree to indemnify and hold harmless any Underwriter and any
such person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such
settlement. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an
indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to
reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as
contemplated by the second sentence of this paragraph, then the
indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of
any Proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such
settlement is entered into more than 60 business days after receipt by
such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such
indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in
accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement and
(iii) such indemnified party shall have given the indemnifying party at
least 30 days' prior notice of its intention to settle. No indemnifying
party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified
party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened Proceeding in
respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party
and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified
party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such
indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject
matter of such Proceeding and does not include an admission of fault,
culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of such indemnified
party.
(b) Each Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify, defend and
hold harmless the Obligors, each director and officer and any person
who controls the Obligors within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and the successors
and assigns of all the foregoing persons from and against any loss,
damage, expense, liability or claim (including the reasonable cost of
investigation) which, jointly or severally, the Obligors or any such
person may incur under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the common
law or otherwise, insofar as such loss, damage, expense, liability or
claim arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in and in conformity with
information furnished in
26
writing by or on behalf of such Underwriter through you to the Obligors
expressly for use with reference to such Underwriter in the
Registration Statement (or in the Registration Statement as amended by
any post-effective amendment thereof by the Partnership) or in a
Prospectus (which comprises only such information referred to in the
second paragraph of Section 3(a) of this Agreement), or arises out of
or is based upon any omission or alleged omission to state a material
fact in connection with such information required to be stated in such
Registration Statement or such Prospectus or necessary to make such
information not misleading. This indemnity will be in addition to any
liability that each Underwriter might otherwise have; provided,
however, that in no case shall any Underwriter be liable or responsible
for any amount in excess of the underwriting discounts and commissions
received by such Underwriter.
If any Proceeding is brought against any of the
Obligors or any such person in respect of which indemnity may be sought
against any Underwriter pursuant to the foregoing paragraph, the
Obligors or such person shall promptly notify such Underwriter in
writing of the institution of such Proceeding and such Underwriter
shall assume the defense of such Proceeding, including the employment
of counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party and
payment of all fees and expenses; provided, however, that the omission
to so notify such Underwriter (or any omission of notice under Section
9(c)) shall not relieve such Underwriter, from any liability which such
Underwriter may have to the Obligors or any such person or otherwise.
The Obligors or such person shall have the right to employ their own
counsel in any such case, but the fees and expenses of such counsel
shall be at the expense of the Obligors or such person unless the
employment of such counsel shall have been authorized in writing by
such Underwriter in connection with the defense of such Proceeding or
such Underwriter shall not have, within a reasonable period of time in
light of the circumstances, employed counsel to have charge of the
defense of such Proceeding or such indemnified party or parties shall
have reasonably concluded that there may be defenses available to it or
them which are different from or additional to or in conflict with
those available to such Underwriter (in which case such Underwriter
shall not have the right to direct the defense of such Proceeding on
behalf of the indemnified party or parties, but such Underwriter may
employ counsel and participate in the defense thereof but the fees and
expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Underwriter),
in any of which events such fees and expenses shall be borne by such
Underwriter and paid as incurred (it being understood, however, that
such Underwriter shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one
separate counsel in addition to any local counsel in any one Proceeding
or series of related Proceedings in the same jurisdiction representing
the indemnified parties who are parties to such Proceeding). Anything
in this paragraph to the contrary notwithstanding, no Underwriter shall
be liable for any settlement of any such Proceeding effected without
the written consent of such Underwriter but if settled with the written
consent of such Underwriter, such Underwriter agrees to indemnify and
hold harmless the Obligors and any such person from and against any
loss or liability by reason of such settlement. Notwithstanding the
foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have
requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for
fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second sentence of
this paragraph, then the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be
liable for any settlement of any Proceeding effected without its
written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 60
27
business days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid
request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the
indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of
such settlement and (iii) such indemnified party shall have given the
indemnifying party at least 30 days' prior notice of its intention to
settle. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent
of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or
threatened Proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or
could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder
by such indemnified party, unless such settlement includes an
unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on
claims that are the subject matter of such Proceeding.
(c) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 9 is
unavailable to an indemnified party under subsections (a) and (b) of
this Section 9 in respect of any losses, damages, expenses, liabilities
or claims referred to therein, then each applicable indemnifying party,
in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the
amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such
losses, damages, expenses, liabilities or claims (i) in such proportion
as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the
Obligors on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from
the offering of the Notes or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause
(i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in
clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Obligors on the one
hand and of the Underwriters on the other in connection with the
statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, damages,
expenses, liabilities or claims, as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the
Obligors on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be
deemed to be in the same respective proportion as the total proceeds
from the offering (net of underwriting discounts and commissions but
before deducting expenses) received by the Obligors and the
underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters.
The relative fault of the Obligors on the one hand and of the
Underwriters on the other shall be determined by reference to, among
other things, whether the untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact or omission or alleged omission relates to
information supplied by the Obligors or by the Underwriters and the
parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The
amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims,
damages and liabilities referred to in this subsection shall be deemed
to include any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by
such party in connection with investigating, preparing to defend or
defending any Proceeding.
(d) The Obligors and the Underwriters agree that it would not
be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 9 were
determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were
treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of
allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations
referred to in subsection (c) above. Notwithstanding the provisions of
this Section 9, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any
amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the
Notes underwritten by such Underwriter and distributed to the public
were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damage which such
Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue
statement or alleged untrue
28
statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of
the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person
who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The
Underwriter's obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 9 are
several in proportion to their respective underwriting commitments and
not joint.
(e) The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in
this Section 9 and the covenants, warranties and representations of the
Partnership contained in this Agreement shall remain in full force and
effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any
Underwriter, its partners, directors, officers, employees, agents or
any person (including each partner, officer or director of such person)
who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, or by or on behalf of
the Obligors, their respective directors and officers or any person who
controls any of the Obligors within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and shall survive any
termination of this Agreement or the issuance and delivery of the
Notes. The Obligors and each Underwriter agree promptly to notify each
other of the commencement of any Proceeding against it and, in the case
of the Obligors, against any of the General Partner's officers or
directors, in connection with the issuance and sale of the Notes, or in
connection with the Registration Statement or Prospectus.
10. Notices. Except as otherwise herein provided, all
statements, requests, notices and agreements shall be in writing or by telegram
and, if to the Underwriters, shall be sufficient in all respects if delivered or
sent in care of: Wachovia Securities, Inc., One Wachovia Center DC8, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attn: Corporate Syndicate Desk,
Facsimile number (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, and, if to the Partnership, shall be sufficient
in all respects if delivered or sent to: TEPPCO Partners, L.P., ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇.▇. Box 2521, Houston, Texas 77252-2521, Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇,
Facsimile number (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇.
11. Governing Law; Construction. This Agreement and any claim,
counterclaim or dispute of any kind or nature whatsoever arising out of or in
any way relating to this Agreement ("Claim"), directly or indirectly, shall be
governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New
York. The section headings in this Agreement have been inserted as a matter of
convenience of reference and are not a part of this Agreement.
12. Submission to Jurisdiction. Each of the Obligors hereby
irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of any New York State Court sitting in
the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York or any federal court sitting in
the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York in respect of any suit, action
or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, and irrevocably
accepts for itself (and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, its
affiliates) and in respect of its property, generally and unconditionally,
jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably
waives, to the fullest extent it may effectively do so under applicable law,
trial by jury and any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying
of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court
and any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court
has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Each of the Obligors irrevocably
consents, to the fullest
29
extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, to the service of process
of any of the aforementioned courts in any such action or proceeding by the
mailing of copies thereof by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, to
the issuer at its address set forth herein, such service to become effective 30
days after such mailing. Nothing herein shall affect the right of any of the
Underwriters to serve process in any other manner permitted by law or to
commence legal proceedings or otherwise proceed against any of the Obligors in
any other jurisdiction. The Obligors agree that a final judgment in any such
action, proceeding or counterclaim brought in any such court shall be conclusive
and binding upon the Obligors and may be enforced in any other courts in the
jurisdiction of which the Obligors are or may be subject, by suit upon such
judgment.
13. Parties at Interest. The Agreement herein set forth has
been and is made solely for the benefit of the Underwriters and the Obligors to
the extent provided in Section 9 hereof and the controlling persons, directors
and officers referred to in such section, and their respective successors,
assigns, heirs, personal representatives and executors and administrators. No
other person, partnership, association or corporation (including a purchaser, as
such purchaser, from any of the Underwriters) shall acquire or have any right
under or by virtue of this Agreement. The term "successors and assigns" as used
in this Agreement shall not include a purchaser, as such purchaser, of Notes
from the Underwriters.
14. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed by the parties
in one or more counterparts which together shall constitute one and the same
agreement among the parties.
15. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding
upon the Underwriters and the Obligors and their successors and assigns and any
successor or assign of any substantial portion of the Partnership's or
Guarantors' or any of the Underwriters' respective businesses and/or assets.
If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding among the
Obligors and the Underwriters, please so indicate in the space provided below
for the purpose, whereupon your acceptance shall constitute a binding agreement
among the Obligors and the Underwriters, severally.
[Signatures to Follow]
30
Very truly yours,
TEPPCO PARTNERS, L.P.
By: TEXAS EASTERN PRODUCTS
PIPELINE COMPANY, LLC,
its General Partner
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
-------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
TCTM, L.P.
TE PRODUCTS PIPELINE COMPANY,
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
TEPPCO MIDSTREAM COMPANIES, L.P.
JONAH GAS GATHERING COMPANY
By: TEPPCO GP, INC.,
their General Partner
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
-------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Senior Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer
VAL VERDE GAS GATHERING
COMPANY, L.P.
By: TEPPCO NGL Pipelines, LLC,
its General Partner
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
-------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Senior Vice President
31
Accepted and agreed to as of the date first above written, on behalf of itself
and each of the underwriters named in Exhibit A.
WACHOVIA SECURITIES, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
--------------------------------
Title: Managing Director
-------------------------------
32
SCHEDULE A
SIGNIFICANT SUBSIDIARIES
TE Products Pipeline Company, Limited Partnership
TEPPCO Midstream Companies, L.P.
TCTM, L.P.
Jonah Gas Gathering Company
Val Verde Gas Gathering Company, L.P.
TEPPCO Crude Pipeline, L.P.
TEPPCO Seaway, L.P.
TEPPCO Crude Oil, L.P.
Chaparral Pipeline Company, L.P.
Schedule A-1
EXHIBIT A
Principal Amount
Underwriter of Notes
----------- ----------------
Wachovia Securities, Inc. .................................... $ 80,000,000
Banc One Capital Markets, Inc. ............................... 80,000,000
BNP Paribas Securities Corp................................... 10,000,000
Scotia Capital (USA) Inc...................................... 10,000,000
SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc................................. 10,000,000
UBS Warburg LLC............................................... 10,000,000
Total... $200,000,000
============
Exhibit A-1
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF OPINIONS OF ISSUER'S COUNSEL
(TEPPCO PARTNERS, L.P. DEBT OFFERING)
1. Each of the Partnership, the Operating Partnerships, TEPPCO Crude
Pipeline, L.P., TEPPCO Seaway, L.P., TEPPCO Crude Oil, L.P., Val Verde and
Chaparral Pipeline Company, L.P. has been duly formed and is validly existing as
a limited partnership in good standing under the Delaware LP Act, with limited
partnership power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to
conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus and, with respect to the Partnership, to enter into and perform and
incur its obligations under each of the Operative Documents and to issue, sell
and deliver the Notes as contemplated by the
Underwriting Agreement and, with
respect to each of the Guarantors other than ▇▇▇▇▇, to enter into and perform
and incur their respective obligations under each of the Operative Documents and
to issue, sell and deliver the Guarantees.
2. The General Partner has been duly formed and is validly existing as
a limited liability company in good standing under the Delaware LLC Act, with
limited liability company power and authority to own, lease and operate its
properties, to conduct its business and to act as the general partner of the
Partnership, in each case, as described in the Registration Statement and
Prospectus.
3. All of the member interests of the General Partner are duly
authorized, validly issued and nonassessable (except as provided in the Delaware
LLC Act) and are owned of record and, to such counsel's knowledge, beneficially,
by DEFS, free and clear of (A) any security interest that is perfected solely by
the filing of a financing statement under the UCC in the Office of the Secretary
of State of the State of Delaware and that names DEFS as debtor or (B) to such
counsel's knowledge, any other security interest, lien, encumbrance, right to
purchase or adverse claim.
4. TEPPCO GP has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a
corporation in good standing under the DGCL, with corporate power and authority
to own, lease and operate its properties, to conduct its business and to act as
the general partner of each of the Operating Partnerships, in each case as
described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
5. Each of the General Partner, the Partnership, TE Products, TEPPCO
Midstream, TCTM, Chaparral Pipeline Company, L.P., Val Verde, TEPPCO Crude Oil,
L.P., TEPPCO Crude Pipeline, L.P. and TEPPCO Seaway, L.P. is authorized to
transact business in the State of Texas as a foreign limited partnership or
limited liability company, as the case may be, and is in good standing in the
state of Texas.
6. The General Partner is the sole general partner of the Partnership
with a general partner interest in the Partnership of 2.0%; such general partner
interest is duly authorized by the Partnership Agreement and is validly issued.
The General Partner owns of record and, to such counsel's knowledge,
beneficially owns, such general partner
Exhibit B-1
interest, free and clear of (A) any security interest that is perfected solely
by the filing of a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code ("UCC")
in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and that names
the General Partner as debtor or (B) to such counsel's knowledge, any other
security interest, lien, encumbrance, right to purchase or adverse claim.
7. TEPPCO GP is the sole general partner of each of the Operating
Partnerships with a general partner interest in each of the Operating
Partnerships of 0.001%; such general partner interests are duly authorized by
the Operating Partnership Agreements, as the case may be, and are validly
issued. TEPPCO GP owns of record and, to such counsel's knowledge, beneficially
owns, such general partner interests, free and clear of (A) any security
interest that is perfected solely by the filing of a financing statement under
the UCC in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and
that names TEPPCO GP as debtor or (B) to such counsel's knowledge, any other
security interest, lien, encumbrance, right to purchase or adverse claim.
8. The Partnership is the sole limited partner of each of the Operating
Partnerships with a limited partner interest in each of the Operating
Partnerships of 99.999%; such limited partner interests are duly authorized by
the Operating Partnership Agreements and are validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable (except as provided in the Delaware LP Act). The Partnership owns
of record and, to such counsel's knowledge, beneficially owns, such limited
partner interests in the Operating Partnerships, free and clear of (A) any
security interest that is perfected solely by the filing of a financing
statement under the UCC in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware and that names the Partnership as debtor or (B) to such counsel's
knowledge, any other security interest, lien, encumbrance, right to purchase or
adverse claim.
9. All of the capital stock of TEPPCO GP is duly authorized, validly
issued and nonassessable and is owned of record and, to such counsel's
knowledge, beneficially, by the Partnership, free and clear of (A) any security
interest that is perfected solely by the filing of a financing statement under
the UCC in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and
that names the Partnership as debtor or (B) to such counsel's knowledge, any
other security interest, lien, encumbrance, right to purchase or adverse claim.
10. TEPPCO NGL is the sole general partner of Val Verde with a general
partner interest in Val Verde of 0.001%; such general partner interest is duly
authorized by the agreement of limited partnership of Val Verde, (the "Val Verde
Partnership Agreement") and is validly issued. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ owns of record and, to
such counsel's knowledge, beneficially owns, such general partner interests,
free and clear of (A) any security interest that is perfected solely by the
filing of a financing statement under the UCC in the Office of the Secretary of
State of the State of Delaware and that names TEPPCO NGL as debtor or (B) to
such counsel's knowledge, any other security interest, lien, encumbrance, right
to purchase or adverse claim.
11. TEPPCO Midstream is the sole limited partner of Val Verde with a
limited partner interest of 99.999%; such limited partner interest is duly
authorized by the Val
Exhibit B-2
Verde Partnership Agreement and is validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable
(except as provided in the Delaware LP Act). TEPPCO Midstream owns of record
and, to such counsel's knowledge, beneficially owns, such limited partner
interests in Val Verde, free and clear of (A) any security interest that is
perfected solely by the filing of a financing statement under the UCC in the
Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and that names TEPPCO
Midstream as debtor or (B) to such counsel's knowledge, any other security
interest, lien, encumbrance, right to purchase or adverse claim.
12. All of the general partner interests of each of the TCTM Subsidiary
Partnerships are duly authorized, validly issued and owned of record and, to
such counsel's knowledge, beneficially, by ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ GP, LLC, free and clear
of (A) any security interest that is perfected solely by the filing of a
financing statement under the UCC in the Office of the Secretary of State of the
State of Delaware and that names ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ GP, LLC as debtor or (B) to such
counsel's knowledge, any other security interest, lien, encumbrance, right to
purchase or adverse claim.
13. All of the limited partner interests of each of the TCTM Subsidiary
Partnerships are duly authorized, validly issued and nonassessable (except as
provided in the Delaware LP Act), and are owned of record and, to such counsel's
knowledge, beneficially, by TCTM (or, with respect to Lubrication Services,
L.P., by TEPPCO Crude Oil, L.P. and with respect to TEPPCO Seaway, L.P., by
TEPPCO Crude Pipeline, L.P.), free and clear of (A) any security interest that
is perfected solely by the filing of a financing statement under the UCC in the
Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and that names such
respective limited partner as debtor or (B) to such counsel's knowledge, any
other security interest, lien, encumbrance, right to purchase or adverse claim.
14. All of the general partner interests of each of the Midstream
Subsidiary Partnerships are duly authorized, validly issued and owned of record
and, to such counsel's knowledge, beneficially, by TEPPCO NGL, free and clear of
(A) any security interest that is perfected solely by the filing of a financing
statement under the UCC in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware and that names ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ as debtor or (B) to such counsel's knowledge,
any other security interest, lien, encumbrance, right to purchase or adverse
claim.
15. All of the limited partner interests of each of the Midstream
Subsidiary Partnerships are duly authorized, validly issued and nonassessable
(except as provided in the Delaware LP Act), and are owned of record and, to
such counsel's knowledge, beneficially, by TEPPCO Midstream, free and clear of
(A) any security interest that is perfected solely by the filing of a financing
statement under the UCC in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware and that names TEPPCO Midstream as debtor or (B) to such counsel's
knowledge, any other security interest, lien, encumbrance, right to purchase or
adverse claim.
16. All of the member interests of TEPPCO Colorado, LLC are duly
authorized, validly issued and nonassessable (except as provided in the Delaware
LLC Act) and are owned of record and, to such counsel's knowledge, beneficially,
by
Exhibit B-3
TEPPCO Midstream, free and clear of (A) any security interest that is perfected
solely by the filing of a financing statement under the UCC in the Office of the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and that names TEPPCO Midstream as
debtor or (B) to such counsel's knowledge, any other security interest, lien,
encumbrance, right to purchase or adverse claim.
17. All of the member interests of TEPPCO NGL are duly authorized,
validly issued and nonassessable (except as provided in the Delaware LLC Act)
and are owned of record and, to such counsel's knowledge, beneficially, by
TEPPCO Midstream, free and clear of (A) any security interest that is perfected
solely by the filing of a financing statement under the UCC in the Office of the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and that names TEPPCO Midstream as
debtor or (B) to such counsel's knowledge, any other security interest, lien,
encumbrance, right to purchase or adverse claim.
18. All of the member interests of TEPPCO Crude GP, LLC are duly
authorized, validly issued and nonassessable (except as provided in the Delaware
LLC Act) and are owned of record and, to such counsel's knowledge, beneficially,
by TCTM, free and clear of (A) any security interest that is perfected solely by
the filing of a financing statement under the UCC in the Office of the Secretary
of State of the State of Delaware and that names TCTM as debtor or (B) to such
counsel's knowledge, any other security interest, lien, encumbrance, right to
purchase or adverse claim.
19. The Notes are in the form contemplated by the Indenture and have
been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Partnership and, when
authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and paid for by the
Underwriters, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the
Partnership, enforceable against the Partnership in accordance with their terms
under the laws of the State of New York, except as the enforceability thereof
may be limited by bankruptcy, fraudulent transfer, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and general
principles of equity.
20. The Registration Statement and all post-effective amendments, if
any, have become effective under the Securities Act and, to such counsel's
knowledge, no stop order proceedings with respect thereto are pending or
threatened under the Securities Act; and any required filing of the Prospectus
and any supplement thereto pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act has
been made in the manner and within the time period required by such Rule 424.
21. The
Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by each of the Obligors.
22. The Indenture (including without limitation, with respect to each
of the Guarantors, the Guarantees) has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by each of the Obligors, and, assuming due authorization, execution
and delivery by the Trustee, constitutes a valid and binding agreement of each
of the Obligors, enforceable against each of the Obligors in accordance with its
terms under the laws of the State of New York, except as the enforceability
thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, fraudulent transfer,
Exhibit B-4
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors'
rights generally and general principles of equity.
23. In a case properly argued and presented, a court of the State of
Texas or a court of the United States of America sitting in the State of Texas
and applying Texas conflict of law principles as set out in Section 35.51 of the
Texas Business and Commerce Code, would give effect to the provisions of the
Notes and the provisions of the Indenture applicable to the Notes and the
Guarantees that purport to require that the rights and obligations of the
parties thereto are to be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws
of the State of New York.
24. The execution, delivery and performance of each of the Operative
Documents by the Partnership and Guarantors a party thereto and the issuance of
the Notes by the Partnership and the issuance of the Guarantees by the
Guarantors and the consummation by the Obligors of the transactions contemplated
under each of the Operative Documents to which it is a party (i) do not and will
not violate, or result in any violation of (a) any provisions of the partnership
agreement, member agreement or other organizational documents of any of them or
(b) any law or regulation or rule applicable to any of them or any decree,
judgment or order applicable to any of them, or (ii) do not or will not result
in a breach of, or constitute a default under (nor constitute any event that
with notice, lapse of time, or both, would result in a breach of, or constitute
a default under), any provision of any license, indenture, mortgage, deed of
trust, bank loan, credit agreement or other evidence of indebtedness, or any
lease, contract or other agreement or instrument to which any of them is a party
or by which any of them or their respective properties may be bound, which in
each case is either (a) filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the
Partnership's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K or on any Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q or Current Report on Form 8-K of the Partnership filed with
the Commission after December 31, 2001 or (b) is identified in a certificate (a
copy of which has been furnished to you and your counsel) from an authorized
officer of the General Partner as material to the business, operations or
properties of the Partnership and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
25. No approval, authorization, consent, waiver, notice or order of, or
filing with, or other action by, any court or any governmental authority is
required to be obtained or made by any Obligor by any material statutory law or
regulation applicable to it as a condition to its execution and delivery of the
Operative Documents to which it is a party or the incurrence or performance of
its obligations thereunder, except (i) such as may be required under Blue Sky
laws, as to which we express no opinion, and (ii) such others as have been
obtained or taken and are in full force and effect.
26. The Registration Statement, and the Prospectus and any supplements
or amendments thereto (except as to the financial statements and the notes
thereto and schedules and other financial data contained or incorporated by
reference therein and the Trustee's Statement of Eligibility and Qualification
on Form T-1, as to which such counsel need express no opinion) comply as to form
in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the
Trust Indenture Act.
Exhibit B-5
27. The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement and Prospectus, when they were filed (or, if an amendment with respect
to any such document was filed, when such amendment was filed) with the
Commission, appear on their face to have been appropriately responsive in all
material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act (except as to the
financial statements and the notes thereto and schedules and other financial
data contained or incorporated by reference therein, as to which such counsel
need express no opinion).
28. None of the TEPPCO Entities nor any of their subsidiaries is or
will be, upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by the
Underwriting
Agreement, an "investment company," or a "promoter" or "principal underwriter"
for, a "registered investment company," as such terms are defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or a "public utility company" or a
"holding company," or a "subsidiary company" of a "holding company," or an
"affiliate" of a "holding company" or of a "subsidiary company" of a "holding
company," as such terms are defined in the Public Utility Holding Company Act of
1935, as amended; none of the TEPPCO Entities is subject to regulation under the
Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended.
29. To such counsel's knowledge, there are no contracts, licenses,
agreements, leases or documents of a character that are required to be filed as
exhibits to the Registration Statement or to be summarized or described in the
Registration Statement or Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto)
that have not been so filed, summarized or described.
30. The Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act
and conforms in all material respects to the requirements thereof.
31. The statements in the Prospectus Supplement under the caption
"Description of Notes" and in the Base Prospectus under the caption "Description
of Debt Securities," insofar as they are descriptions of contracts, agreements
or other legal documents, or refer to statements of law of legal conclusions,
are accurate in all material respects and present fairly the information
required to be shown.
32. The Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees conform in all material
respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Base Prospectus under the
caption "Description of Debt Securities" and in the Prospectus Supplement under
the caption "Description of the Notes."
33. To such counsel's knowledge, except for Duke Energy Corporation and
certain of its affiliates, each of whom has waived its rights, no holder of any
interest in or security of the Partnership or any other person has any right to
require registration of any securities of the Partnership because of the filing
of the Registration Statement or consummation of the transactions contemplated
by the
Underwriting Agreement.
Such counsel shall state that although it has not undertaken, except as
otherwise indicated in such counsel's opinion, to determine independently, and
is not passing upon and does not assume any responsibility for, the accuracy,
completeness or fairness of any of the statements in
Exhibit B-6
the Registration Statement (except as and to the extent stated in paragraph 31
above) or any documents incorporated therein, such counsel has participated in
the preparation of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, including
review and discussion of the contents thereof (including review and discussion
of the contents of all documents incorporated by reference therein) with
officers and representatives of the General Partner, representatives of the
independent public accountants of the Partnership and representatives of and
counsel for the Underwriters, and based upon this participation, no information
has come to such counsel's attention that has caused such counsel to believe
that the Registration Statement (including the documents incorporated by
reference therein, but excluding the Trustee's Statement of Eligibility and
Qualification on Form T-1) at the time the Registration Statement became
effective and as of the signing of this Agreement, or the Prospectus, as of its
date and as of the date hereof, contained an untrue statement of a material fact
or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements therein not misleading or that any amendment or
supplement to the Prospectus, as of its respective date, and as of the date
hereof, as the case may be, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading (such counsel need not express any opinion with respect to the
financial statements and the notes thereto and the schedules and other financial
data included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any documents
incorporated by reference therein or the Trustee's Statement of Eligibility and
Qualification on Form T-1).
In rendering the opinions expressed in paragraphs 6 through 18, terms
used therein that are defined in the UCC shall have the meanings assigned
therein. In rendering the opinion expressed in clause (A) of paragraphs 6
through 18, such counsel may rely, without investigation, upon the accuracy and
completeness of the certification from the office of the Secretary of State of
Delaware dated _____________, 2003, for each of the General Partner, TEPPCO GP,
the Partnership, TEPPCO NGL, TEPPCO Midstream, TEPPCO Crude GP, LLC, TCTM,
TEPPCO Crude Oil, L.P., TEPPCO Crude Pipeline, L.P. that there are no presently
effective financing statements, federal tax liens, or utility security
instruments filed in the office of the Delaware Secretary of State that name
such respective entities as debtor, and further, we have assumed that at all
times from and including the [INSERT DATE THROUGH WHICH EACH UCC SEARCH
CERTIFICATE CONDUCTED ITS SEARCH] and to and through the date of the delivery of
this opinion letter, there have been no filings made in the Office of the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in which the applicable entities are
named as a debtor and which covers, in whole or part, or any proceeds thereof,
any interests in the applicable entities.
Such counsel may state that the opinions are limited exclusively to the
laws of the State of Texas, the laws of the State of New York, the Delaware LP
Act, the Delaware LLC Act, the DGCL and the federal statutory laws, rules and
regulations of the United States of America.
Such counsel may state that, as used in its opinion, the phrase "to our
knowledge" or words of similar import means conscious awareness of facts or
other information by the lawyers in such firm who, based on its records as of
the date hereof, have devoted substantive attention to legal matters on behalf
of the TEPPCO Entities since January 1, 2001.
In rendering the opinions expressed in paragraphs 19 and 22, such
counsel may assume that the Trustee has the power and authority to enter into
and perform its obligations under the
Exhibit B-7
Indenture and to authenticate and deliver the Notes, that the Indenture has been
duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trustee, that the Indenture
constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Trustee, enforceable
against the Trustee in accordance with its terms, that the authentication and
delivery of the Notes have been duly authorized by the Trustee and that the
Notes have been duly authenticated and delivered by the Trustee.
In rendering the opinions expressed in paragraph 22 hereof with respect
to Section 7.06 of the Indenture, such counsel need not express any opinion with
respect to the enforceability of such section should limitations on the
compensation of trustees be enacted in the future.
In rendering the opinion expressed in paragraph 23 hereof, such counsel
may rely in substantial part, upon the following: (i) DTC will be the holder of
the Notes other than Notes issued in certificated, non-global form; (ii) DTC is
a corporation organized under the laws of the State of New York, and has its
place of business or chief executive office, as applicable, in the State of New
York; (iii) that the Letter of Representation between DTC, the Trustee and the
Partnership requires all payments on the Notes to be made to an account of DTC
in the State of New York; (iv) provisions of the Supplemental Indenture which
require that Notes issued in certificated, non-global form shall be payable in
the State of New York, and (v) provisions of the Supplemental Indenture that
reflect that the Trustee will conduct a substantial portion of its activities
with respect to the Notes and the Indenture in the State of New York.
The opinions expressed herein are furnished to you for your sole
benefit in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Agreement. The
opinions expressed herein may not be relied upon by you for any other purpose
and may not be relied upon for any purpose by any other person without our prior
written consent.
Exhibit B-8
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF OPINIONS OF ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇, GENERAL COUNSEL OF THE GENERAL PARTNER
1. Jonah has been duly formed and is validly existing in good
standing as a general partnership under the Wyoming Uniform Partnership
Act. All of the general partner interests of Jonah are duly authorized
and are beneficially owned by TEPPCO GP and TEPPCO Midstream free and
clear of any security interest, lien, encumbrance, right to purchase or
other claim, except as disclosed in the Prospectus or as provided in
the agreement of partnership of Jonah or pursuant to the Wyoming
Uniform Partnership Act (A) in respect of which a financing statement
under the Uniform Commercial Code ("UCC") has been filed in the State
of Wyoming naming TEPPCO GP or TEPPCO Midstream as debtor is on file in
the offices of the Secretary of State of the State of Wyoming or (B)
otherwise known to such counsel.
2. The execution and delivery by ▇▇▇▇▇ of each of the
Operative Documents and any instrument evidencing the Guarantee of the
Notes by ▇▇▇▇▇, and the performance of the obligations of ▇▇▇▇▇ under
each of the Operative Documents, are within ▇▇▇▇▇'s partnership power
and authority and have been duly authorized by all necessary
partnership action.
3. To such counsel's knowledge, there are no actions, suits,
claims, investigations or proceedings pending or threatened or
contemplated to which any of the TEPPCO Entities or any of their
subsidiaries is subject or of which any of their respective properties
is subject at law or in equity or before or, by any Federal, state,
local or foreign governmental or regulatory commission, board, body,
authority or agency which are required to be described in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or any amendment or
supplement thereto) but are not so described.
4. To such counsel's knowledge, none of the TEPPCO Entities
nor any of their subsidiaries is in violation of its partnership
agreement, member agreement or any other organizational documents, or
is in breach of, or in default under (nor has any event occurred which
with notice, lapse of time, or both would result in any breach of, or
constitute a default under), any license, indenture, mortgage, deed of
trust, bank loan or credit agreement or other evidence of indebtedness,
or any lease, contract or other agreement or instrument to which any of
the TEPPCO Entities or any of their subsidiaries is a party or by which
any of them or their respective properties may be bound or affected or
under any Federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation or rule or
any decree, judgment or order applicable to any of the TEPPCO Entities
or any of their subsidiaries, except where such violation, breach or
default would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect.
Exhibit C-1
