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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13D
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. 6)*
Regency Energy Partners LP
(Name of Issuer)
Common Units
(Title of Class of Securities)
75885Y 10 7
(CUSIP Number)
Regency LP Acquirer, L.P.
c/o GE Energy Financial Services
General Electric Capital Corporation
General Electric Company
800 Long Ridge Road
Stamford, Connecticut 06927
Telephone: (203) 961-5963
Attn: General Counsel
Attn: Portfolio Manager
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Persons Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)
May 10, 2010
(Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)
If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition
that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of §§ 240.13d-1(e),
240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the following box. o
*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting persons initial filing on
this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment
containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be filed for
the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Act) or otherwise
subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions
of the Act (however, see the Notes).
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1 |
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NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. Identification Nos. of Above Persons (Entities Only)
Regency LP Acquirer, L.P. |
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2 |
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CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
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(a) þ |
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(b) o |
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3 |
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SEC USE ONLY |
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4 |
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SOURCE OF FUNDS |
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NA |
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5 |
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CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e) |
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o |
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6 |
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CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION |
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Delaware
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7 |
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SOLE VOTING POWER |
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NUMBER OF |
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- 0 - |
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SHARES |
8 |
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SHARED VOTING POWER |
BENEFICIALLY |
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OWNED BY |
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24,679,577 |
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EACH |
9 |
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SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER |
REPORTING |
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PERSON |
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- 0 - |
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WITH |
10 |
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SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER |
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24,679,577 |
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11 |
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AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON |
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24,679,577 |
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12 |
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CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES |
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o
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13 |
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PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) |
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26.48% |
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14 |
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TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON |
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PN (Limited Partnership) |
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1 |
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NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. Identification Nos. of Above Persons (Entities Only)
General Electric Capital Corporation |
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2 |
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CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
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(a) þ |
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(b) o |
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3 |
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SEC USE ONLY |
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4 |
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SOURCE OF FUNDS |
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NA |
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5 |
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CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e) |
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o |
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6 |
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CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION |
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Delaware
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7 |
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SOLE VOTING POWER |
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NUMBER OF |
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- 0 - |
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SHARES |
8 |
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SHARED VOTING POWER |
BENEFICIALLY |
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OWNED BY |
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24,679,577 |
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EACH |
9 |
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SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER |
REPORTING |
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PERSON |
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- 0 - |
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WITH |
10 |
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SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER |
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24,679,577 |
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11 |
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AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON |
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24,679,577 |
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12 |
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CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES |
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o
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13 |
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PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) |
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26.48% |
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14 |
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TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON |
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CO |
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1 |
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NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. Identification Nos. of Above Persons (Entities Only)
General Electric Company |
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2 |
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CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
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(a) þ |
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(b) o |
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3 |
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SEC USE ONLY |
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4 |
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SOURCE OF FUNDS |
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NA |
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5 |
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CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e) |
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o |
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6 |
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CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION |
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NEW YORK
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7 |
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SOLE VOTING POWER |
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NUMBER OF |
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- 0 - |
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SHARES |
8 |
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SHARED VOTING POWER |
BENEFICIALLY |
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OWNED BY |
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24,679,577 |
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EACH |
9 |
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SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER |
REPORTING |
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PERSON |
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- 0 - |
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WITH |
10 |
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SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER |
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24,679,577 |
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11 |
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AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON |
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24,679,577 |
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12 |
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CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES |
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o
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13 |
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PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) |
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26.48% |
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14 |
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TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON |
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CO |
4
TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Amendment No. 6 to Schedule 13D (this Amendment) amends the Schedule 13D initially
filed on June 28, 2007, the Amendment No. 1 to Schedule 13D filed on December 14, 2007, the
Amendment No. 2 to Schedule 13D filed on January 10, 2008, the Amendment No. 3 to Schedule 13D
filed on April 21, 2008, the Amendment No. 4 to Schedule 13D filed on March 11, 2009 and the
Amendment No. 5 to Schedule 13D filed on September 4, 2009 (collectively, the Schedule 13D).
General Electric Company, a New York corporation (GE), General Electric Capital Corporation,
a Delaware corporation (GECC) and Regency LP Acquirer, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (LP
Holdings, and together with GE and GECC, the Reporting Persons) are filing this Amendment to
disclose that Regency GP Acquirer LP, a Delaware limited partnership (GP Holdings), Energy
Transfer Equity, L.P. a Delaware limited partnership (ETE) and ETE GP Acquirer LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company (ETE GP Buyer) have entered into an agreement for the sale by GP
Holdings of (i) 100% of the membership interests in Regency GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company (RGPLLC); and (ii) 99.999% of the limited partner interest in Regency GP LP, a Delaware
limited partnership (RGPLP), to ETE GP Buyer, in exchange for approximately $300
million in convertible preferred units of ETE (the GP Transfer), with the rights and preferences
set forth in Amendment No. 3 to the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of
ETE. GP Holdings is an indirect subsidiary of GECC although current and former management of
Regency Energy Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the Issuer) own a minority of its
equity. RGPLP is the General Partner of Issuer.
The closing of the GP Transfer is subject to amendments to the credit agreements of both
Issuer and ETE as well as customary closing conditions. Also, expected to close immediately after
the GP Transfer is the Contribution Agreement, dated May 10, 2010 (the Contribution Agreement),
among Issuer, Regency Midcontinent Express LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Issuer (Regency
Midcon), and ETE, pursuant to which Regency Midcon will acquire from ETE membership interests in
Midcontinent Express Pipeline LLC in exchange for Common Units. On May 11, 2010, Issuer filed a
Current Report on Form 8-K to describe the transactions contemplated by the Contribution Agreement,
which is also filed as an exhibit thereto.
The Reporting Persons are also filing this Amendment to disclose the sale on April 30, 2010 by
EFS Haynesville LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary
of GECC (EFS Partner), of 76,989 units representing general partner interests in RIGS Haynesville
Partnership Co., a Delaware general partnership (the Haynesville General Partnership), to Regency
Haynesville Intrastate Gas LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (RHIG), an indirect, wholly
owned subsidiary of Issuer, in exchange for $92,086,857 in cash.
EFS Partner will continue to own 151 units representing general partner interests in the
Haynesville General Partnership, which represents 0.0137% of the Haynesville General Partnership
interests. EFS Partner has agreed to vote the general partner interests as directed by RHIG.
5
Except as provided herein, this Amendment does not modify any of the information previously
reported on the Schedule 13D. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined have the meaning
given to them in the Schedule 13D.
The Reporting Persons have entered into a Joint Filing Agreement, dated the date hereof, a
copy of which is filed with this Amendment as Exhibit A (which is hereby incorporated by reference)
pursuant to which the Reporting Persons have agreed to file this statement jointly in accordance
with the provisions of Rule 13d-1(k)(1) under the Act. Information with respect to each Reporting
Person is given solely by such Reporting Person, and no Reporting Person assumes responsibility for
the accuracy or completeness of the information furnished by another Reporting Person.
Item 4. Purpose of Transaction.
Item 4 is hereby amended by adding the following:
The following describes plans or proposals, including those relating to the contemplated GP
Transfer, that the Reporting Persons may have with respect to the matters set forth in Item
4(a)-(j) of Schedule 13D:
(a) Although the consummation of the GP Transfer will result in a change of control of
Issuer, the 24,679,577 Common Units are not part of the transaction and upon closing, the
Reporting Persons will continue to be the beneficial owners of such Common Units. LP
Holdings and Issuer intend to enter into a registration rights agreement at the closing of
the GP Transfer pursuant to which LP Holdings will have the right to cause Issuer to prepare
and file a registration statement to permit the resale of Common Units held by LP Holdings
from time to time as permitted by Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the Securities Act). If the closing of the GP Transfer occurs and LP Holdings
either exercises its right to have a registration statement filed or does so pursuant to an
exemption from registration, it may, from time to time, dispose of a portion or all of its
Common Units based on market and general economic conditions, the business affairs and
financial condition of Issuer, the market price of the Common Units and other factors deemed
relevant by LP Holdings.
(b) None.
(c) None.
(d) Upon the closing of the GP Transfer, the owners of RGPLP will have the right to
designate the board of directors of RGPLLC (the RGPLLC Board); provided however, at the
closing of the GP Transfer, LP Holdings, RGPLP, RGPLLC and ETE intend to enter into an
Investor Rights Agreement pursuant to which LP Holdings would be granted the contractual
right, but not the obligation, to either (i) designate up to two directors to the RGPLLC
Board or (ii) designate up to two persons to attend all meetings of the RPGLLC Board, solely
in the capacity of a non-voting observer. These rights would terminate if specific
ownership thresholds are not maintained by LP Holdings.
(e) None.
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(f) None.
(g) None.
(h) None.
(i) None.
(j) Except as described in this Item 4, the Reporting Persons do not have, as of the
date of this Amendment, any plans or proposals that relate to or result in any of the
actions or events specified in clauses (a) through (i) of Item 4 of Schedule 13D.
Item 6. Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships With Respect to Securities of
the Issuer.
Item 6 is hereby amended to add the following to the end thereof:
On May 10, 2010, GP Holdings, ETE and ETE GP Buyer entered into an agreement for the sale by
GP Holdings of (i) 100% of the membership interests in RGPLLC; and (ii) 99.999% of the limited
partner interest in RGPLP, to ETE GP Buyer, in exchange for approximately $300 million in
convertible preferred units of ETE, with the rights and preferences set forth in Amendment No. 3 to
Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of ETE.
Upon the closing of the GP Transfer, LP Holdings and Issuer expect to enter into a
registration rights agreement pursuant to which LP Holdings will have the right to cause Issuer to
prepare and file a registration statement to permit the resale of any Common Units held by LP
Holdings from time to time as permitted by Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act. If the
closing of the GP Transfer occurs and LP Holdings either exercises its right to have a registration
statement filed or does so pursuant to an exemption from registration, it may, from time to time,
dispose of a portion or all of its Common Units based on market and general economic conditions,
the business affairs and financial condition of Issuer, the market price of the Common Units and
other factors deemed relevant by LP Holdings.
On April 30, 2010, EFS Partner, sold 76,989 units representing general partner interests in
the Haynesville General Partnership, to Issuer in exchange for $92,086,857 in cash and the entering
into of an agreement pursuant to which EFS Partner has agreed to vote the units representing
general partner interests as directed by RHIG.
Item 7. Material to be filed as Exhibits.
Exhibit A Joint Filing Agreement*
Exhibit B General Partner Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 10, 2010, by and among
Regency GP Acquirer, L.P., Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. and ETE GP Acquirer LLC*
7
SIGNATURES
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the
information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
Dated: May 13, 2010
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Regency LP Acquirer, L.P. |
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By: |
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EFS Regency GP Holdco II, LLC |
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Its:
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General Partner |
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By: |
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Aircraft Services Corporation |
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its Managing Member |
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By:
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/s/ Tyson R. Yates |
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Name: Tyson R. Yates |
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Title: Vice President |
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General Electric Capital Corporation |
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By:
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/s/ J. Alex Urquhart |
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Name: J. Alex Urquhart |
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Title: Authorized Signatory |
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General Electric Company |
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By:
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/s/ J. Alex Urquhart |
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Name: J. Alex Urquhart |
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Title: Vice President, General Electric Company |
Execution Version
EXHIBIT A
AGREEMENT REGARDING THE JOINT FILING OF SCHEDULE 13D
The undersigned hereby agree as follows:
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(i) |
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Each of them is individually eligible to use the Schedule 13D to
which this Exhibit is attached, and such Schedule 13D is filed on
behalf of each of them; and |
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(ii) |
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Each of them is responsible for the timely filing of such Schedule
13D and any amendments thereto, and for the completeness and accuracy
of the information concerning such person contained therein; but none
of them is responsible for the completeness or accuracy of the
information concerning the other persons making the filing, unless
such person knows or has reason to believe that such information is
inaccurate. |
Date: May 13, 2010
[Signature Pages Follow]
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Regency LP Acquirer, L.P. |
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By: |
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EFS Regency GP Holdco II, LLC |
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Its: General Partner |
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By: |
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Aircraft Services Corporation |
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its Managing Member |
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By:
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/s/ Tyson R. Yates
Name: Tyson R. Yates
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Title: Vice President |
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General Electric Capital Corporation |
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By:
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/s/ J. Alex Urquhart
Name: J. Alex Urquhart
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Title: Authorized Signatory |
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General Electric Company |
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By:
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/s/ J. Alex Urquhart
Name: J. Alex Urquhart
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Title: Vice President, General Electric Company |
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EXHIBIT B
GENERAL PARTNER PURCHASE AGREEMENT
BY AND AMONG
REGENCY GP ACQUIRER, L.P.
AND
ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P.
AND
ETE GP ACQUIRER LLC
May 10, 2010
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page |
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ARTICLE I
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DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS
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1.1 Definitions
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1.2 Interpretations
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ARTICLE II
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ACQUISITION OF THE ACQUIRED GP INTERESTS; CLOSING
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2.1 Acquisition of the Acquired GP Interests
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2.2 Time and Place of Closing
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2.3 Deliveries and Actions at Closing
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2.4 Pro Ration of Closing Quarterly Distribution
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ARTICLE III
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REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER
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3.1 Organization; Qualification
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3.2 Authority; Enforceability
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3.3 Non-Contravention
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3.4 Governmental Approvals
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3.5 Capitalization
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3.6 Ownership of Acquired GP Interests
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3.7 Compliance with Law
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3.8 Title to Properties and Assets
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3.9 Rights-of-Way
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3.10 Regency SEC Reports; Financial Statements; Operating Surplus
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3.11 Absence of Certain Changes
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3.12 Environmental Matters
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3.13 Material Contracts
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3.14 Legal Proceedings
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3.15 Permits
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3.16 Taxes
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3.17 Employee Benefits; Employment and Labor Matters
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3.18 Brokers Fee
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3.19 Regulatory Matters; Compliance
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3.20 Intellectual Property
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3.21 Matters Relating to Acquisition of the Convertible Preferred Units
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ARTICLE IV
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REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BUYER PARTIES
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4.1 Organization; Qualification
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4.2 Authority; Enforceability; Valid Issuance
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4.3 Non-Contravention
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4.4 Governmental Approvals
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4.5 Capitalization
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i
Table
of Contents
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4.6 Compliance with Law
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4.7 Title to Properties and Assets
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4.8 Rights-of-Way
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4.9 ETE SEC Reports; Financial Statements; Operating Surplus
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4.10 Absence of Certain Changes
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4.11 Environmental Matters
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4.12 Legal Proceedings
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4.13 Permits
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4.14 Taxes
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4.15 Employee Benefits; Employment and Labor Matters
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4.16 Brokers Fee
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4.17 Regulatory Matters; Compliance
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4.18 Intellectual Property
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4.19 Matters Relating to Acquisition of the Acquired GP Interests
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ARTICLE V
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COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES
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5.1 Conduct of Business
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5.2 Notice of Certain Events
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5.3 Access to Information
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5.4 Governmental Approvals
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5.5 Expenses
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31 |
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5.6 Further Assurances
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|
|
31 |
|
5.7 Public Statements
|
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|
31 |
|
5.8 Convertible Preferred Units
|
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|
31 |
|
5.9 No Solicitation
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|
32 |
|
5.10 Confidential Information
|
|
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33 |
|
5.11 No Hire
|
|
|
33 |
|
5.12 Tax Matters
|
|
|
33 |
|
5.13 Books and Records; Financial Statements; Litigation Support
|
|
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35 |
|
5.14 Commitment Regarding Indemnification Provisions; D&O Insurance Continuation
|
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36 |
|
5.15 GECC Names and Marks
|
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37 |
|
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|
ARTICLE VI
|
CONDITIONS TO CLOSING
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6.1 Conditions to Obligations of Each Party
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37 |
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6.2 Conditions to Obligations of the Buyer Parties
|
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38 |
|
6.3 Conditions to Obligations of Seller
|
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38 |
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|
ARTICLE VII
|
TERMINATION RIGHTS
|
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7.1 Termination Rights
|
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39 |
|
7.2 Effect of Termination
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|
|
40 |
|
ii
Table
of Contents
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Page |
|
ARTICLE VIII
|
INDEMNIFICATION
|
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8.1 Indemnification by Seller
|
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40 |
|
8.2 Indemnification by the Buyer Parties
|
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41 |
|
8.3 Limitations and Other Indemnity Claim Matters
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41 |
|
8.4 Indemnification Procedures
|
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43 |
|
8.5 No Reliance
|
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44 |
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|
ARTICLE IX
|
GOVERNING LAW AND CONSENT TO JURISDICTION
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9.1 Governing Law
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45 |
|
9.2 Consent to Jurisdiction
|
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45 |
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9.3 Waiver of Jury Trial
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46 |
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|
ARTICLE X
|
GENERAL PROVISIONS
|
|
|
|
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10.1 Amendment and Modification
|
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46 |
|
10.2 Waiver of Compliance; Consents
|
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46 |
|
10.3 Notices
|
|
|
46 |
|
10.4 Assignment
|
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47 |
|
10.5 Third Party Beneficiaries
|
|
|
47 |
|
10.6 Entire Agreement
|
|
|
48 |
|
10.7 Severability
|
|
|
48 |
|
10.8 Representation by Counsel
|
|
|
48 |
|
10.9 Disclosure Schedules
|
|
|
48 |
|
10.10 Facsimiles; Counterparts
|
|
|
49 |
|
iii
Exhibits
Exhibit ADefinitions
Schedules
|
|
|
|
|
Schedule 2.3(a)(iv)
|
|
|
|
Required Consents (Seller Parties) |
Schedule 2.3(a)(v)
|
|
|
|
Amendments to Regency Credit Agreement |
Schedule 2.3(b)(v)
|
|
|
|
Required Consents (Buyer Parties) |
Schedule 3.3
|
|
|
|
Non-Contravention (Seller Parties) |
Schedule 3.4
|
|
|
|
Governmental Approvals |
Schedule 3.5(a)
|
|
|
|
Capitalization |
Schedule 3.11
|
|
|
|
Absence of Certain Changes |
Schedule 3.12
|
|
|
|
Environmental Matters |
Schedule 3.13
|
|
|
|
Material Contracts |
Schedule 3.14
|
|
|
|
Legal Proceedings |
Schedule 3.17
|
|
|
|
Employee Matters |
Schedule 3.19
|
|
|
|
Regulatory Status |
Schedule 4.3
|
|
|
|
Non-Contravention (Buyer Parties) |
Schedule 4.4
|
|
|
|
Governmental Approvals |
Schedule 4.5
|
|
|
|
Employee Benefit Plan |
Schedule 4.10
|
|
|
|
Absence of Certain Changes |
Schedule 4.11
|
|
|
|
Environmental Matters |
Schedule 4.12
|
|
|
|
Legal Proceedings |
Schedule 4.15(b)
|
|
|
|
Employee Matters |
Schedule 5.1
|
|
|
|
Conduct of Regency Entities Business |
Schedule 5.11
|
|
|
|
No Hire |
Schedule 5.14
|
|
|
|
Continuing D&O Insurance Policies |
Schedule 6.1(a)
|
|
|
|
Approvals |
Schedule 6.1(c)
|
|
|
|
Required Consents |
Schedule 6.2(d)
|
|
|
|
Amendment to Regency Credit Agreement |
Schedule 6.2(e)
|
|
|
|
Amendment to ETE Credit Agreement |
Annexes
|
|
|
|
|
Annex A
|
|
|
|
Form of Amendment No. 3 to the ETE Partnership Agreement |
Annex B
|
|
|
|
Form of Assignment of Interests |
Annex C
|
|
|
|
Form of Opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. |
Annex D
|
|
|
|
Form of Registration Rights Agreement |
Annex E
|
|
|
|
Government Policies |
iv
GENERAL PARTNER PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This GENERAL PARTNER PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this Agreement), dated as of May 10, 2010 (the
Execution Date), is made and entered into by and among Regency GP Acquirer LP, a Delaware limited
partnership (Seller), Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. a Delaware limited partnership (ETE) and ETE
GP Acquirer LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (Buyer).
ETE and Buyer are sometimes referred to individually in this Agreement as a Buyer Party and
are sometimes collectively referred to in this Agreement as the Buyer Parties.
Each of the parties to this Agreement is sometimes referred to individually in this Agreement
as a Party and all of the parties to this Agreement are sometimes collectively referred to in
this Agreement as the Parties.
R E C I T A L S
WHEREAS, Seller owns the following interests (collectively, the Acquired GP Interests): (i)
100% of the membership interests in Regency GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
(RGPLLC); and (ii) the 99.999% limited partner interest in Regency GP LP, a Delaware limited
partnership (RGPLP);
WHEREAS, RGPLLC owns a 0.001% general partner interest in RGPLP;
WHEREAS, RGPLP owns a 2.0% general partner interest in Regency Energy Partners, L.P., a
Delaware limited partnership (Regency), and is the sole general partner of Regency;
WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Redemption and Exchange Agreement dated as of the date
hereof (the ETP Redemption Agreement), by and between ETE and Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., a
Delaware limited partnership (ETP), subject to the terms and conditions contained therein, ETP
has agreed to redeem (the Redemption and Exchange) certain limited partner interests of ETP held
by ETE in exchange for (a) all of the outstanding membership interests in ETC Midcontinent Express
Pipeline III, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (ETC III) and (b) an option to acquire
all of the outstanding membership interests in ETC Midcontinent Express Pipeline II, L.L.C., a
Delaware limited liability company (ETC II);
WHEREAS, at the Closing, ETE, ETP and Regency intend to enter into a Master Services Agreement
in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit H to the Contribution Agreement (as
defined below) (the Master Services Agreement);
WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Contribution Agreement dated as of the date hereof (the MEP
Contribution Agreement), by and among ETE, Regency and Regency Midcontinent Express LLC, subject
to the terms and conditions contained therein, ETE has agreed, in exchange for limited partner
interests in Regency, to (a) contribute ETC III to Regency and (b) assign Regency an option to
acquire ETC II (the MEP Contribution); and
WHEREAS, Seller desires to sell to the Buyer Parties, and the Buyer Parties desire to purchase
from Seller, the Acquired GP Interests, and in exchange ETE desires to issue and sell to Seller
3,000,000 convertible preferred units of ETE (the Convertible Preferred Units), having the
terms set forth in Amendment No. 3 to the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited
Partnership of Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. (the Third Amendment) a form of which is attached
hereto as Annex A, all on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.
1
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS
1.1 Definitions. Capitalized terms used in this Agreement but not defined in the body of this
Agreement shall have the meanings ascribed to them in Exhibit A. Capitalized terms defined
in the body of this Agreement are listed in Exhibit A with reference to the location of the
definitions of such terms in the body of this Agreement.
1.2 Interpretations. In this Agreement, unless a clear contrary intention appears: (a) the
singular includes the plural and vice versa; (b) reference to a Person includes such Persons
successors and assigns but, in the case of a Party, only if such successors and assigns are
permitted by this Agreement, and reference to a Person in a particular capacity excludes such
Person in any other capacity; (c) reference to any gender includes each other gender; (d)
references to any Exhibit, Schedule, Section, Article, Annex, subsection and other subdivision
refer to the corresponding Exhibits, Schedules, Sections, Articles, Annexes, subsections and other
subdivisions of this Agreement unless expressly provided otherwise; (e) references in any Section
or Article or definition to any clause means such clause of such Section, Article or definition;
(f) hereunder, hereof, hereto and words of similar import are references to this Agreement as
a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; (g) the word or is not exclusive,
and the word including (in its various forms) means including without limitation; (h) each
accounting term not otherwise defined in this Agreement has the meaning commonly applied to it in
accordance with GAAP; (i) references to days are to calendar days; and (j) all references to
money refer to the lawful currency of the United States. The Table of Contents and the Article and
Section titles and headings in this Agreement are inserted for convenience of reference only and
are not intended to be a part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.
ARTICLE II
ACQUISITION OF THE ACQUIRED GP INTERESTS; CLOSING
2.1 Acquisition of the Acquired GP Interests. Upon the terms and subject to the satisfaction
or due waiver of the conditions contained in this Agreement, Seller shall sell, transfer and
deliver to Buyer, and Buyer shall purchase from Seller the Acquired GP Interests. In exchange for
the Acquired GP Interests, at the Closing, ETE shall issue and deliver to Seller the Convertible
Preferred Units.
2.2 Time and Place of Closing. The closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
(the Closing) will take place at the offices of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., 1001 Fannin Street, Suite
2500, Houston, Texas 77002 on the second Business Day after all of the conditions
set forth in Article VI (other than those conditions which by their terms are only
capable of being satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or due waiver of those
conditions) have been satisfied or waived by the Party or Parties entitled to waive such
conditions, unless another time, date and place are agreed to in writing by the Parties. The date
of the Closing is referred to in this Agreement as the Closing Date. The Closing will be deemed
effective as of 12:01 a.m., Houston, Texas time, on the Closing Date.
2
2.3 Deliveries and Actions at Closing.
(a) At the Closing, Seller shall deliver, or shall cause to be delivered, the following to the
Buyer Parties:
(i) Assignment of Interests. A counterpart of an assignment (the Assignment
of Interests), a form of which is attached hereto as Annex B, evidencing the
contribution, assignment, transfer and delivery to Buyer of the Acquired GP Interests, duly
executed by Seller;
(ii) FIRPTA Certificate. A certificate of Seller in the form specified in
Treasury Regulation Section 1.1445-2(b)(2)(iv) that Seller is not a foreign person within
the meaning of Section 1445 of the Code, duly executed by Seller;
(iii) Closing Certificate. The certificate contemplated by Section
6.2(c);
(iv) Required Consents. The consents, approvals and waivers set forth on
Schedule 2.3(a)(iv);
(v) Amendment to Regency Credit Agreement. A duly executed amended Regency
Credit Agreement, which address the matters set forth on Schedule 2.3(a)(v); and
(vi) Registration Rights Agreement. A counterpart of a registration rights
agreement, a form of which attached hereto as Annex D (the Registration Rights
Agreement) duly executed by Seller.
(b) At the Closing, the Buyer Parties shall deliver, or shall cause to be delivered, the
following to Seller:
(i) Preferred Unit Certificate. Original unit certificates representing the
Convertible Preferred Units;
(ii) Assignment of Interests. A counterpart of the Assignment of Interests
duly executed by Buyer;
(iii) Third Amendment. A copy of the Third Amendment duly executed by the
general partner of ETE, as general partner of ETE and as attorney-in-fact for all limited
partners pursuant to the powers of attorney granted pursuant to Section 2.6 of the ETE
Partnership Agreement, a form of which is attached hereto as Annex A;
(iv) Closing Certificate. The certificate contemplated by Section
6.3(c);
(v) Required Consents. The consents, approvals and waivers set forth on
Schedule 2.3(b)(v);
(vi) MEP Contribution. A duly executed copy of the MEP Contribution Agreement;
3
(vii) ETP Redemption Agreement. A duly executed copy of the ETP Redemption
Agreement;
(viii) Legal Opinion. An opinion from Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., counsel to Buyer
Parties, dated as of the Closing Date and reasonably satisfactory to Seller, a form of which
is attached hereto as Annex C;
(ix) Registration Rights Agreement. A counterpart of the Registration Rights
Agreement, duly executed by ETE; and
(x) Governance Policies. A copy of the Governance Policies adopted by the
general partner of ETE, a form of which is attached hereto as Annex E.
2.4 Pro Ration of Closing Quarterly Distribution.
(a) Within three (3) Business Days after Buyer receives its regular quarterly cash
distribution in respect of the quarter in which the Closing occurs, Buyer shall pay to Seller an
amount in cash equal to the Pro Rata Distribution Amount. The Pro Rata Distribution Amount shall
equal the product of (a) $1,574,073.87 multiplied by (b) a fraction, the numerator of which is the
number of days in the quarter preceding the date of the Closing Date, plus the Closing Date, and
the denominator of which is the number of days in such quarter.
(b) In the event that the Closing Date occurs on or before the record date relating to the
distribution for the quarter immediately prior to the quarter in which the Closing Date occurs (the
Preceding Quarter), in addition to any amounts to be paid by Buyer to Seller pursuant to
Section 2.4(a), Buyer shall pay to Seller 100% of the applicable cash distribution for the
Regency GP LP Interest for the Preceding Quarter. The payment shall be made no later than three
(3) Business Days following the receipt by Buyer of such distribution from Regency.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER
Seller hereby represents and warrants to the Buyer Parties as follows:
3.1 Organization; Qualification. Seller and each Regency Entity are entities duly formed,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and have all
requisite corporate, limited partnership or limited liability company power and authority to own,
lease and operate their properties and to carry on their business as it is now being conducted, and
are duly qualified, registered or licensed to do business as a foreign entity and are in good
standing in each jurisdiction in which the property owned, leased or operated by it or the nature
of the business conducted by it makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be
so duly qualified, registered or licensed and in good standing would not reasonably be expected to
have a Regency Material Adverse Effect or to prevent or materially delay the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or to materially impair Sellers ability to perform its
obligations under this Agreement. Seller has made available to the Buyer Parties true and complete
copies of the Organizational Documents of each Regency Entity, as in effect on the Execution Date.
4
3.2 Authority; Enforceability.
(a) Seller has the requisite corporate, partnership or limited liability company power and
authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement. The execution and delivery by Seller of this Agreement and the consummation by
Seller of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly and validly authorized by
Seller, and no other corporate, partnership or limited liability company proceedings on the part of
Seller is necessary to authorize this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement.
(b) This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Seller, and, assuming the due
authorization, execution and delivery by the Buyer Parties, this Agreement constitutes the valid
and binding agreement of Seller, enforceable against Seller in accordance with its terms, except as
such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer,
reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws relating to or affecting creditors rights generally
and subject, as to enforceability, to legal principles of general applicability governing the
availability of equitable remedies, including principles of commercial reasonableness, good faith
and fair dealing (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity
or at law) (collectively, Creditors Rights).
3.3 Non-Contravention. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.3 of the Seller Disclosure
Schedule, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation by Seller
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement does not and will not: (a) result in any breach
of any provision of the Organizational Documents of Seller or any Regency Entity; (b) constitute a
default (or an event that with notice or passage of time or both would give rise to a
default) under, or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation, amendment or
acceleration (with or without the giving of notice, or the passage of time or both) under any of
the terms, conditions or provisions of any Contract to which Seller or any Regency Entity is a
party or by which any property or asset of Seller or any Regency Entity is bound or affected; or
(c) assuming compliance with the matters referred to in Section 3.4, violate any Law to
which Seller or any Regency Entity is subject or by which any of Sellers or any Regency Entitys
properties or assets is bound; or (d) constitute (with or without the giving of notice or the
passage of time or both) an event which would result in the creation of any Lien (other than
Permitted Liens) on any asset of any Regency Entity, except, in the cases of clauses (b), (c) and
(d) for such defaults or rights of termination, cancellation, amendment, acceleration, violations
or Liens, as would not reasonably be expected to have a Regency Material Adverse Effect or to
prevent or materially delay the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or
to materially impair Sellers ability to perform their obligations under this Agreement.
3.4 Governmental Approvals. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.4 of the Seller
Disclosure Schedule, no declaration, filing or registration with, or notice to, or authorization,
consent or approval of, any Governmental Authority is necessary for the consummation by Seller of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, other than such declarations, filings,
registrations, notices, authorizations, consents or approvals which, if not obtained or made, would
not reasonably be expected to have a Regency Material Adverse Effect or to prevent or materially
delay the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or to materially impair
Sellers ability to perform their obligations under this Agreement.
5
3.5 Capitalization.
(a) Schedule 3.5(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule sets forth a correct and
complete description of the following: (i) all of the issued and outstanding equity interests in
each of the Regency GP Entities; and (ii) the record owners of each of the outstanding equity
interests in each of the Regency GP Entities. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.5(a) of
the Seller Disclosure Schedule, there are no other outstanding equity interests of any Regency GP
Entity. All of the issued and outstanding equity interests in each of the Regency GP Entities have
been duly authorized, validly issued and fully paid and are nonassessable (except as such
nonassessability may be affected by Sections 17-303 and 17-607 of the Delaware LP Act or Section
18-607 of the Delaware LLC Act) and have not been issued in violation of any preemptive rights,
rights of first refusal or other similar rights of any Person. All of the issued and outstanding
equity interests in each of the Regency GP Entities are owned by the Persons set forth on
Schedule 3.5(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule named as owning such interests free and
clear of all Liens other than (A) transfer restrictions imposed by federal and state securities
laws and (B) any transfer restrictions contained in the Organizational Documents of the Regency GP
Entities.
(b) At the Closing, (i) the Acquired GP Interests will constitute 100% of the issued and
outstanding membership interests in RGPLLC and a 99.999% limited partner interest in
RGPLP and (ii) RGPLLC will own a 0.001% general partner interest in, and serve as the sole
general partner of, RGPLP.
(c) There are no preemptive rights or other outstanding rights, options, warrants, conversion
rights, stock appreciation rights, redemption rights, repurchase rights, agreements, arrangements,
calls, subscription agreements, commitments or rights of any kind that obligate any of the Regency
GP Entities to issue or sell any equity interests or any securities or obligations convertible or
exchangeable into or exercisable for, or giving any Person a right to subscribe for or acquire, any
equity interests in any of the Regency GP Entities, and no securities or obligations evidencing
such rights are authorized, issued or outstanding.
(d) No Regency GP Entity has outstanding any bonds, debentures, notes or other obligations the
holders of which have the right to vote (or convertible into or exercisable for securities having
the right to vote) with the holders of equity interests in any Regency GP Entity on any matter.
(e) RGPLP is the sole general partner of Regency with a 2.0% general partner interest in
Regency (the Regency GP Interest) and owns 100% of the Regency Incentive Distribution Rights
(collectively with the Regency GP Interest, the Regency GP LP Interests). The Regency GP LP
Interests are owned by RGPLP free and clear of all Liens, other than (i) transfer restrictions
imposed by federal and state securities laws and (ii) any transfer restrictions contained in the
Regency Partnership Agreement.
(f) Except as set forth in Schedule 3.5(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule or
Section 3.5(e), no Regency GP Entity owns any equity interest in any other Person.
6
(g) As of the Execution Date: (i) 93,191,602 Regency Common Units were issued and outstanding,
(ii) 4,371,586 Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Units of Regency (Regency Series A
Units), which Regency Series A Units are convertible into Regency Common Units at an initial
conversion price of $18.30 per unit, subject to adjustment, were issued and outstanding and (iii)
1,155,129 Regency Common Units were available for issuance under Regencys employee benefit plans,
of which 297,651 Regency Common Units were subject to issuance upon exercise of outstanding Regency
options, 267,135 Regency Common Units were subject to issuance upon the vesting of outstanding
phantom units and 355,609 Regency Common Units were subject to issuance upon the vesting of
outstanding un-vested restricted units.
(h) All of the limited partner interests in Regency are duly authorized and validly issued in
accordance with the Organizational Documents of Regency, and are fully paid (to the extent required
under the Organizational Documents of Regency) and nonassessable (except as nonassessability may be
affected by Sections 17-303 and 17-607 of the Delaware LP Act) and were not issued in violation of
any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights of any Person.
(i) Except as set forth in the Organizational Documents of Regency and except as otherwise
provided in Section 3.5(g), there are no preemptive rights or other outstanding rights,
options, warrants, conversion rights, stock appreciation rights, redemption rights, repurchase
rights, agreements, arrangements, calls, subscription agreements, commitments or rights of any kind
that obligate any of the Regency Entities to issue or sell any equity interests of Regency or any
securities or obligations convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for, or giving any Person
a right to subscribe for or acquire, any equity interests in Regency, and no securities or
obligations evidencing such rights are authorized, issued or outstanding.
(j) Except for the Regency Series A Units, none of the Regency Entities has outstanding any
bonds, debentures, notes or other obligations the holders of which have the right to vote (or
convertible into or exercisable for securities having the right to vote) with the holders of equity
interests in Regency on any matter.
3.6 Ownership of Acquired GP Interests.
(a) Upon the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, Seller will
assign, convey, transfer and deliver to Buyer good and valid title to the Acquired GP Interests
free and clear of all Liens other than (i) any transfer restrictions imposed by federal and state
securities laws, (ii) any transfer restrictions contained in the Organizational Documents of
Regency GP Acquirer and (iii) any Liens on the Acquired GP Interests as a result of actions by the
Buyer Parties.
(b) Seller is not a party to any agreements, arrangements or commitments obligating Seller to
grant, deliver or sell, or cause to be granted, delivered or sold, the Acquired GP Interests, by
sale, lease, license or otherwise, other than this Agreement.
(c) There are no voting trusts, proxies or other agreements or understandings to which Seller
is bound with respect to the voting of the Acquired GP Interests.
7
3.7 Compliance with Law. Except as to specific matters disclosed in the Regency SEC Documents
filed or furnished on or after January 1, 2010 and prior to the date hereof (excluding any
disclosures included in any risk factor section of such Regency SEC Documents or any other
disclosures in such Regency SEC Documents to the extent they are predictive or forward looking and
general in nature), and except for Environmental Laws, Laws requiring the obtaining or maintenance
of a Permit, Tax matters, Laws relating to employee benefits, employment and labor matters, and
Laws relating to regulatory and compliance matters, which are the subject of Sections 3.12,
3.15, 3.16, 3.17, and 3.18, respectively, and except as to matters
that would not reasonably be expected to have a Regency Material Adverse Effect, (a) each Regency
Entity is in compliance with all applicable Laws, (b) none of Seller, or, to the Knowledge of
Seller any Regency Entity, has received written notice of any violation of any applicable Law, and
(c) to the Knowledge of Seller, none of the Regency Entities is under investigation by any
Governmental Authority for potential non-compliance with any Law.
3.8 Title to Properties and Assets. To the Knowledge of Seller, except as to matters that
would not reasonably be expected to have a Regency Material Adverse Effect, each Regency Entity has
title to or rights or interests in its real property and personal property, free and clear of all
Liens (subject to Permitted Liens), sufficient to allow it to conduct its business as currently
being conducted.
3.9 Rights-of-Way. To the Knowledge of Seller, except as to matters that would not reasonably
be expected to have a Regency Material Adverse Effect, (a) each Regency Entity has such
Rights-of-Way from each Person as are necessary to use, own and operate each Regency Entitys
assets in the manner such assets are currently used, owned and operated by each Regency Entity, (b)
each Regency Entity has fulfilled and performed all of its obligations with respect to such
Rights-of-Way and (c) no event has occurred that allows, or after the giving of notice or the
passage of time, or both, would allow, revocation or termination thereof or would result in any
impairment of the rights of the holder of any such Rights-of-Way.
3.10 Regency SEC Reports; Financial Statements; Operating Surplus.
(a) Regency has furnished or filed all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other
documents (including exhibits and other information incorporated therein) required to be furnished
or filed by Regency with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) since January 1, 2009 (such
documents being collectively referred to as the Regency SEC Documents).
(b) Each Regency SEC Document (i) at the time filed, complied in all material respects with
the requirements of the Exchange Act and the Securities Act, as the case may be, and the rules and
regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder applicable to such Regency SEC Document and (ii) did
not at the time it was filed (or if amended or superseded by a filing or amendment prior to the
Execution Date, then at the time of such filing or amendment) contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order
to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.
8
(c) Each of the financial statements of Regency or RGPLP included in the Regency SEC Documents
(Regency Financial Statements) complied at the time it was filed as to form in all material
respects with the applicable accounting requirements and the published rules and regulations of the
SEC with respect thereto, have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, applied on a consistent basis
throughout the periods presented thereby and fairly present in all material respects the
consolidated financial position and operating results, equity and cash flows of Regency as of, and
for the periods ended on, the respective dates thereof, subject, however, in the case of unaudited
financial statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments and accruals and the absence of notes
and other textual disclosures as permitted by Form 10-Q of the SEC.
(d) To the Knowledge of Seller, none of the Regency Entities has any liability, whether
accrued, contingent, absolute or otherwise, except for (i) liabilities set forth on the
consolidated balance sheet of Regency dated as of March 31, 2010 or the notes thereto, (ii)
liabilities that have arisen since March 31, 2010 in the ordinary course of business, and (iii)
liabilities which would not reasonably be expected to have a Regency Material Adverse Effect.
(e) The Regency GP Entities do not have assets or liabilities other than in connection with
their direct or indirect ownership of the 2.0% general partner interest in Regency and the Regency
Incentive Distribution Rights.
(f) Seller does not have assets or liabilities other than in connection with its ownership of
the Acquired GP Interests and the relationships of the parties under its partnership agreement with
respect thereto.
(g) All distributions made by Regency since its initial public offering have been made from
Operating Surplus (as defined in the Regency Partnership Agreement) and in accordance with the
terms of the Regency Partnership Agreement.
3.11 Absence of Certain Changes. Except as to specific matters disclosed in the Regency SEC
Documents filed or furnished on or after January 1, 2010 and prior to the date hereof (excluding
any disclosures included in any risk factor section of such Regency SEC Documents or any other
disclosures in such Regency SEC Documents to the extent they are predictive or forward looking and
general in nature), and except as set forth on Schedule 3.11 of the Seller Disclosure
Schedule or as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, since December 31, 2009 (a) to the
Knowledge of Seller, the business of the Regency Entities has been conducted in the ordinary course
and in a manner consistent with past practice; and (b) there has not been (i) any event, occurrence
or development which has had, or would be reasonably expected to have, a Regency Material Adverse
Effect or (ii) to the Knowledge of Seller, the occurrence of any of the transactions or matters
described in Section 5.1(b).
3.12 Environmental Matters. Except as to specific matters disclosed in the Regency SEC
Documents filed or furnished on or after January 1, 2010 and prior to the date hereof (excluding
any disclosures included in any risk factor section of such Regency SEC Documents or any other
disclosures in such Regency SEC Documents to the extent they are predictive or forward looking and
general in nature), and except for matters set forth on
9
Schedule 3.12 of the Seller
Disclosure Schedule and except for matters that would not reasonably be expected to have a Regency
Material Adverse Effect:
(a) each of the Regency Entities is in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws;
(b) each of the Regency Entities possesses all Permits required under Environmental Laws for
its operations as currently conducted and is in compliance with the terms of such Permits, and such
Permits are in full force and effect;
(c) none of the Regency Entities nor any of their properties or operations are subject to any
pending or, to the Knowledge of Seller, threatened Proceeding arising under any Environmental Law,
nor has any of the Regency Entities received any written and pending notice, order or complaint
from any Governmental Authority alleging a violation of or liability arising under any
Environmental Law; and
(d) to the Knowledge of Seller, there has been no Release of Hazardous Substances on, at,
under, to, or from any of the properties of the Regency Entities, or from or in connection with the
Regency Entities operations in a manner that would reasonably be expected to give rise to any
liability pursuant to any Environmental Law.
3.13 Material Contracts.
(a) Except as set forth on Schedule 3.13 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule or filed
with any Regency SEC Document (including incorporation by reference) filed with the SEC on or after
January 1, 2010 and prior to the date hereof, as of the Execution Date, to the Knowledge of Seller,
none of the Regency Entities is a party to or bound by any Contract that:
(i) is of a type that would be required to be included as an exhibit to a Registration
Statement on Form S-1 pursuant to Items 601(b)(2), (4), (9) or (10) of Regulation S-K of the
SEC if such a registration statement was filed by Regency on the Execution Date;
(ii) includes Seller or any Affiliate of Seller (other than Regency or its
Subsidiaries) as a counter party or third party beneficiary;
(iii) contains any provision or covenant which materially restricts any Regency Entity
or any Affiliate thereof from engaging in any lawful business activity or competing with any
Person;
(iv) (A) relates to the creation, incurrence, assumption, or guarantee of any
indebtedness for borrowed money by any Regency Entity or (B) creates a capitalized lease
obligation (except, in the cases of clauses (A) and (B), any such Contract with an aggregate
principal amount not exceeding $10,000,000);
(v) is in respect of the formation of any partnership or joint venture or otherwise
relates to the joint ownership or operation of the assets owned by any of the Regency
Entities involving assets or obligations in excess of $75,000,000;
10
(vi) includes the acquisition or sale of assets with a book value in excess of
$50,000,000 (whether by merger, sale of stock, sale of assets or otherwise);
(vii) any Contract or commitment that involves a sharing of profits, losses, costs or
liabilities by any Regency Entity with any other Person other than gas processing contracts;
or
(viii) otherwise involves the annual payment by or to any of the Regency Entities of
more than $10,000,000 and cannot be terminated by the Regency Entities on 90 days or less
notice without payment by the Regency Entities of any material penalty.
(b) Except as set forth on Schedule 3.13 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, each Contract
required to be disclosed pursuant to Section 3.13(a) and each Contract to which any of the
Regency Entities is bound as of the Execution Date that relates to (A) the purchase of materials,
supplies, goods, services or other assets, (B) the purchase, sale, transporting, treatment,
gathering, processing or storing of, or gas compression services rendered in connection with,
natural gas, condensate or other liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons or the products therefrom, or the
provision of services related thereto or (C) the construction of capital assets, in the cases of
clauses (A), (B) and (C) that (i) provides for either (1) annual payments by or to any of the
Regency Entities in excess of $10,000,000 or (2) aggregate payments by or to any of the Regency
Entities in excess of $10,000,000 (collectively, the Regency Material Contracts) has been made
available to the Buyer Parties and to the Knowledge of Seller is a valid and binding obligation of
the applicable Regency Entity, and is in full force and effect and enforceable in accordance with
its terms against such Regency Entity and, to the Knowledge of Seller, the other parties thereto,
except, in each case, as enforcement may be limited by Creditors Rights.
(c) To the Knowledge of Seller, none of the Regency Entities nor any other party to any
Regency Material Contract is in default or breach in any material respect under the terms of any
Regency Material Contract and no event has occurred that with the giving of notice or the passage
of time or both would constitute a breach or default in any material respect by such Regency Entity
or, to the Knowledge of Seller, any other party to any Regency Material Contract, or would permit
termination, modification or acceleration under any Regency Material Contract.
3.14 Legal Proceedings. Except as to specific matters disclosed in the Regency SEC Documents
filed or furnished on or after January 1, 2010 and prior to the date hereof (excluding any
disclosures included in any risk factor section of such Regency SEC Documents or any other
disclosures in such Regency SEC Documents to the extent they are predictive or forward looking and
general in nature), and other than with respect to Proceedings arising under Environmental Laws
which are the subject of Section 3.12 or as is set forth on Schedule 3.14 of Seller
Disclosure Schedule, there are no Proceedings pending or, to the Knowledge of Seller, threatened
against the Regency Entities, except such Proceedings as would not reasonably be expected to have a
Regency Material Adverse Effect or to prevent or materially delay the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or to materially impair Sellers ability to perform
their obligations under this Agreement.
11
3.15 Permits. To the Knowledge of Seller, other than with respect to Permits issued pursuant
to or required under Environmental Laws which are the subject of Section 3.12, the Regency
Entities have all Permits as are necessary to use, own and operate their assets in the manner such
assets are currently used, owned and operated by the Regency Entities, except where the failure to
have such Permits would not reasonably be expected to have a Regency Material Adverse Effect.
3.16 Taxes.
(a) All material Tax Returns required to be filed with respect to the Regency GP Entities or,
to the Knowledge of Seller, the other Regency Entities have been filed and all Tax Returns with
respect to the Regency GP Entities and, to the Knowledge of Seller, the other Regency Entities are
complete and correct in all material respects and all material Taxes due relating to the Regency GP
Entities and, to the Knowledge of Seller, the other Regency Entities have been paid in full.
Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.16 of Seller Disclosure Schedule, there is no claim
(other than claims being contested in good faith through appropriate proceedings and for which
adequate reserves have been made in accordance with GAAP) against any Regency GP Entity or, to the
Knowledge of Seller, any other Regency Entity for any material Taxes, and no material assessment,
deficiency, or adjustment has been asserted or proposed in writing with respect to any material
Taxes or material Tax Returns of or with respect to any Regency GP Entity or, to the Knowledge of
Seller, any other Regency Entity.
(b) Except as set forth on Schedule 3.16 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, no
material Tax audits or administrative or judicial proceedings are being conducted or are pending
with respect to any Regency GP Entity or, to the Knowledge of Seller, any other Regency Entity.
(c) All material Taxes required to be withheld, collected or deposited by or with respect to
any Regency GP Entity or, to the Knowledge of Seller, any other Regency Entity have been timely
withheld, collected or deposited as the case may be, and to the extent required, have been paid to
the relevant taxing authority.
(d) There are no outstanding agreements or waivers extending the applicable statutory periods
of limitation for any material Tax of, or any material Taxes associated with the ownership or
operation of the assets of, any Regency GP Entity or, to the Knowledge of Seller, any other Regency
Entity.
(e) No Regency GP Entity nor, to the Knowledge of Seller, any other Regency Entity is a party
to any Tax sharing agreement.
(f) No Regency GP Entity nor, to the Knowledge of Seller, any other Regency Entity, has
engaged in a transaction that would be reportable by or with respect to any Regency Entity pursuant
to Treasury Regulation § 1.6011-4 or any predecessor thereto.
(g) Immediately prior to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
each Regency GP Entity is an entity disregarded as separate from its owner for United States
federal income tax purposes and neither of the Regency GP Entities has elected to be treated as a
corporation for federal Tax purposes.
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(h) Regency has not elected to be treated as a corporation for federal Tax purposes, and
Regency qualifies as a publicly traded partnership within the meaning of Section 7704(b) of the
Code and has met, and continues to meet, the gross income requirements (within the meaning of
Section 7704(c) of the Code) in each Tax year since its formation. Regency has filed a federal
income tax return that has in effect an election pursuant to Section 754 of the Code.
3.17 Employee Benefits; Employment and Labor Matters. To the Knowledge of Seller:
(a) Except as set forth on Schedule 3.17(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule or filed
with any Regency SEC Documents (including by incorporation by reference) filed with the SEC on or
after January 1, 2010 and prior to the date hereof, no Regency Entity, nor any ERISA Affiliate of
any Regency Entity, sponsors, maintains or contributes to, or has sponsored, maintained or
contributed to within six years prior to the Closing Date any of the following:
(i) any employee benefit plan, as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA
(including, but not limited to, employee benefit plans, such as foreign plans, which are not
subject to the provisions of ERISA, but excluding any multiemployer plan within the meaning
of Section 3(37) of ERISA or multiple employer plan within the meaning of Section 4063(a) of
ERISA); or
(ii) any material personnel policy, equity-based plans (including, but not limited to,
stock option plans, stock purchase plans, stock appreciation rights and phantom stock
plans), collective bargaining agreement, bonus plan or arrangement, incentive award plan or
arrangement, vacation policy, severance pay plan or arrangements, change in control policies
or agreements, deferred compensation agreement or arrangement, executive compensation or
supplemental income arrangement, consulting agreement, employment agreement and each other
employee benefit plan, agreement, arrangement, program, practice or understanding which is
not described in Section 3.17(a)(i) (collectively, along with any plan described in
Section 3.17(a)(i) above, the Regency Benefit Plans).
(b) True and correct and complete copies of each of the Regency Benefit Plans, related trusts,
insurance or group annuity contracts and each other funding or financing arrangement relating to
any Plan, including all amendments thereto, have been made available to the Buyer Parties and there
has been made available to the Buyer Parties, with respect to each Regency Benefit Plan required to
file such report and description, the most recent report on Form 5500 and the summary plan
description. Additionally, the most recent determination letter or opinion letter from the Internal
Revenue Service for each of the Regency Benefit Plans intended
to be qualified under Section 401 of the Code, and any outstanding determination letter
application for such plans has been furnished.
(c) Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.17(c) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule and
except for matters that would not reasonably be expected to have a Regency Material Adverse Effect:
13
(i) each Regency Benefit Plan has been administered in compliance with its terms, the
applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and all other applicable laws and the terms of all
applicable collective bargaining agreements;
(ii) there are no actions, suits or claims pending (other than routine claims for
benefits) or threatened, with respect to any Regency Benefit Plan and no Regency Benefit
Plan is under audit or is subject to an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, the
Department of Labor or any other federal or state governmental agency nor is any such audit
or investigation pending;
(iii) no Regency Benefit Plan is subject to Title IV of ERISA;
(iv) all contributions and payments required to be made by any Regency Entity or an
ERISA Affiliate of any Regency Entity to or under each Regency Benefit Plan have been timely
made;
(v) as to any Regency Benefit Plan intended to be qualified under Section 401 of the
Code, there has been no termination or partial termination of such plan within the meaning
of Section 411(d)(3) of the Code; and
(vi) none of the Regency Entities or any of their ERISA Affiliates has any liability
with respect to any multiemployer plan within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA or
multiple employer plan with the meaning of Section 4063(a) of ERISA.
(d) In connection with the consummation of the transaction contemplated by this Agreement, no
payments have or will be made under the Regency Benefit Plans which, in the aggregate, would result
in imposition of the sanctions imposed under Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code.
(e) No Regency Benefits Plan provides retiree medical or retiree life insurance benefits to
any person and neither the Regency Entities nor any ERISA Affiliate of a Regency Entity is
contractually or otherwise obligated (whether or not in writing) to provide any person with life
insurance or medical benefits upon retirement or termination of employment, other than as required
by the provisions of Section 601 through 608 of ERISA and Section 4980B of the Code. Additionally,
each Regency Benefits Plan which is an employee welfare benefit plan, as such term is defined in
Section 3(1) of ERISA, may be unilaterally amended or terminated in
its entirety without liability except as to benefits accrued thereunder prior to such
amendment or termination.
(f) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Regency Material Adverse Effect, (a)
each of the Regency Entities is in compliance with all applicable labor and employment Laws
including, without limitation, all Laws, rules, regulations, orders, rulings, decrees, judgments
and awards relating to employment discrimination, payment of wages, overtime compensation,
immigration, occupational health and safety, and wrongful discharge; (b) no action, suit,
complaint, charge, arbitration, inquiry, proceeding or investigation by or before any Governmental
Authority, brought by or on behalf of any employee, prospective or former employee or labor
organization or other representative of the employees or of any prospective or former employees of
any of the Regency Entities is pending or threatened against
14
any of the Regency Entities, any
present or former director or employee (including with respect to alleged sexual harassment, unfair
labor practices or discrimination); (c) no grievance is pending or threatened against any of the
Regency Entities; and (d) none of the Regency Entities is subject to or otherwise bound by, any
material consent decree, order, or agreement with, any Governmental Authority relating to employees
or former employees of any of the Regency Entities. To the Knowledge of Seller, none of the
Regency Entities is a signatory party to or otherwise subject to any collective bargaining
agreements, and none of the employees of the Regency Entities is represented by a labor union; and
there is no labor dispute, strike, work stoppage or other labor trouble (including any
organizational drive) against any of the Regency Entities pending or threatened.
3.18 Brokers Fee. Except for the fee payable to Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated which
shall be paid by Seller, no broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other Person is
entitled to any brokers, finders, financial advisors or other similar fee or commission in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements made by or
on behalf of Seller.
3.19 Regulatory Matters; Compliance.
(a) To the Knowledge of Seller, except as set forth on Schedule 3.19 of the Seller
Disclosure Schedule, there are no currently effective tariffs authorized and approved by the FERC
as of the Execution Date applicable to the Regency Entities, or currently pending material rate
filings, certificate applications, or other filings that relate to any of the Regency Entities made
with FERC prior to the Execution Date.
(b) The Regency Entities (i) have all necessary approvals from FERC to provide service to
customers pursuant to the Natural Gas Act and the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978, as amended, and
(ii) have made all required FERC filings necessary to offer such service, except where the failure
to have any such approval or to have made any such filing would not reasonably be expected to have
a Regency Material Adverse Effect.
(c) Regency is not an investment company or a company controlled by an investment
company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
3.20 Intellectual Property. To the Knowledge of Seller (a) the Regency Entities own or have
the right to use pursuant to license, sublicense, agreement or otherwise all material items of
Intellectual Property required in the operation of the business as presently conducted; (b) no
third party has asserted in writing delivered to the Regency Entities an unresolved claim that any
of the Regency Entities is infringing on the Intellectual Property of such third party and (c) no
third party is infringing on the Intellectual Property owned by the Regency Entities.
3.21 Matters Relating to Acquisition of the Convertible Preferred Units.
(a) Seller has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters so as to be
capable of evaluating the merits and risks of their investment in the Convertible Preferred Units
and is capable of bearing the economic risk of such investment. Seller is an accredited investor
as that term is defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D (without regard to Rule 501(a)(4))
15
promulgated
under the Securities Act. Seller is acquiring the Convertible Preferred Units for investment for
its own account and not with a view toward or for sale in connection with any distribution thereof,
or with any present intention of distributing or selling the Convertible Preferred Units. Seller
is not a party to any Contract or arrangement with any Person to sell, transfer or grant
participations to such Person or to any third Person, with respect to the Convertible Preferred
Units. Seller acknowledges and understands that (i) the acquisition of the Convertible Preferred
Units has not been registered under the Securities Act in reliance on an exemption therefrom and
(ii) that the Convertible Preferred Units will, upon their sale by Seller, be characterized as
restricted securities under state and federal securities laws. Seller agrees that the
Convertible Preferred Units may not be sold, transferred, offered for sale, pledged, hypothecated
or otherwise disposed of except pursuant to an effective registration statement under the
Securities Act or pursuant to an available exemption from the registration requirements of the
Securities Act, and in compliance with other applicable state and federal securities laws.
(b) Seller has undertaken such investigation as they deemed necessary to enable them to make
an informed and intelligent decision with respect to the execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement and the acquisition of the Convertible Preferred Units. Seller has had an
opportunity to ask questions and receive answers from the Buyer Parties regarding the terms and
conditions of the offering of the Convertible Preferred Units and the business, properties,
prospects, and financial condition of ETE. The foregoing, however, does not modify the
representations and warranties of the Buyer Parties in Article IV and such representations
and warranties constitute the sole and exclusive representations and warranties of the Buyer
Parties to Seller in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BUYER PARTIES
The Buyer Parties hereby jointly and severally represent and warrant to Seller as follows:
4.1 Organization; Qualification. Each of the Buyer Parties is an entity duly formed, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the state of Delaware and has all requisite
partnership or limited liability company power and authority to own, lease and operate its
properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted, and are duly qualified,
registered or licensed to do business as a foreign entity and is in good standing in each
jurisdiction in which the property owned, leased or operated by it or the nature of the business
conducted by it makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so duly
qualified, registered or licensed and in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have an
ETE Material Adverse Effect or to prevent or materially delay the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or to materially impair the ability of the Buyer Parties to perform
their obligations under this Agreement. The Buyer Parties have made available to Seller true and
complete copies of the Organizational Documents of each Buyer Party, as in effect on the Execution
Date.
4.2 Authority; Enforceability; Valid Issuance.
(a) Each Buyer Party has the requisite partnership or limited liability company power and
authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement. The execution and delivery by the Buyer Parties of this
16
Agreement and the
consummation by the Buyer Parties of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly
and validly authorized by the Buyer Parties, and no other partnership or limited liability company
proceedings on the part of the Buyer Parties are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Buyer Parties, and, assuming
the due authorization, execution and delivery by Seller, this Agreement constitutes the valid and
binding agreement of the Buyer Parties, enforceable against the Buyer Parties in accordance with
its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by Creditors Rights.
(c) The issuance of the Convertible Preferred Units and the ETE Common Units issuable upon
conversion of the Convertible Preferred Units have been duly authorized in accordance with the
Organizational Documents of ETE. The Convertible Preferred Units, when issued and delivered to
Seller in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, and the ETE Common Units issuable upon
conversion of the Convertible Preferred Units, when issued upon conversion of the Convertible
Preferred Units, in each case will be validly issued, fully paid (to the extent required under the
ETE Partnership Agreement), nonassessable (except to the extent nonassessability may be affected by
Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act) and free of any restrictions upon voting
or transfer thereof pursuant to the Organizational Documents of ETE or any Contract to which any of
the ETE Entities is a party or by which any
property or asset of any such Person is bound or affected. Upon issuance and delivery of the
Convertible Preferred Units, Seller will be duly admitted to ETE as an additional limited partner.
4.3 Non-Contravention. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.3 of the Buyers Disclosure
Schedule, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation by the
Buyer Parties of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement does not and will not: (a) result
in any breach of any provision of the Organizational Documents of the Buyer Parties; (b) constitute
a default (or an event that with notice or passage of time or both would give rise to a default)
under, or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation, amendment or acceleration (with or
without the giving of notice, or the passage of time or both) under any of the terms, conditions or
provisions of any Contract to which any of the ETE Entities is a party or by which any property or
asset of any ETE Entity is bound or affected; (c) assuming compliance with the matters referred to
in Section 4.4, violate any Law to which any ETE Entity is subject or by which any of the
ETE Entities properties or assets is bound or (d) constitute (with or without the giving of notice
or the passage of time or both) an event which would result in the creation of any Lien (other than
Permitted Liens) on any asset of any ETE Entity, except, in the cases of clauses (b), (c) and (d),
for such defaults or rights of termination, cancellation, amendment, acceleration, violations or
Liens as would not reasonably be expected to have an ETE Material Adverse Effect or to prevent or
materially delay the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or to
materially impair the Buyer Parties ability to perform their obligations under this Agreement.
Except as set forth on Schedule 4.3 of the Buyers Disclosure Schedule, the ETE Entities are
in material compliance with all Contracts evidencing indebtedness, including the ETE Credit
Agreement.
4.4 Governmental Approvals. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.4 of the Buyers
Disclosure Schedule, no declaration, filing or registration with, or notice to, or authorization,
consent or approval of, any Governmental Authority is necessary for the consummation by the
17
Buyer
Parties of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, other than such declarations, filings,
registrations, notices, authorizations, consents or approvals which, if not obtained or made, would
not reasonably be expected to have an ETE Material Adverse Effect or to prevent or materially delay
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or to materially impair the
Buyer Parties ability to perform their obligations under this Agreement.
4.5 Capitalization.
(a) As of the Execution Date: (i) 222,941,172 ETE Common Units were issued and outstanding and
(ii) 3,000,000 ETE Common Units were reserved for issuance under ETEs employee benefit plans, of
which 0 ETE Common Units were subject to issuance upon exercise of outstanding ETE options and 0
ETE Common Units were subject to issuance upon the vesting of outstanding phantom units.
(b) All of the limited partner interests in ETE are duly authorized and validly issued in
accordance with the Organizational Documents of ETE, and are fully paid (to the extent required
under the Organizational Documents of ETE) and nonassessable (except as
nonassessability may be affected by Sections 17-303 and 17-607 of the Delaware LP Act) and
were not issued in violation of any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar
rights of any Person.
(c) Except as set forth in the Organizational Documents of ETE and except as otherwise
provided in Section 4.5(a), there are no preemptive rights or other outstanding rights,
options, warrants, conversion rights, stock appreciation rights, redemption rights, repurchase
rights, agreements, arrangements, calls, subscription agreements, commitments or rights of any kind
that obligate ETE to issue or sell any equity interests of ETE or any securities or obligations
convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for, or giving any Person a right to subscribe for
or acquire, any equity interests in ETE, and no securities or obligations evidencing such rights
are authorized, issued or outstanding.
(d) ETE does not have any outstanding any bonds, debentures, notes or other obligations the
holders of which have the right to vote (or convertible into or exercisable for securities having
the right to vote) with the holders of equity interests in ETE on any matter.
(e) L.E. GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (LEGPLLC) is the sole general partner
of ETE with a 0.3% general partner interest in ETE (the LEGP Interest) as of the Execution Date.
The LEGP Interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the ETE
Partnership Agreement and has not been issued in violation of any preemptive rights, rights of
first refusal or other similar rights of any Person. The LEGP Interest is owned by LEGPLLC free
and clear of all Liens, other than (i) transfer restrictions imposed by federal and state
securities laws and (ii) any transfer restrictions contained in the ETE Partnership Agreement.
(f) As of the Execution Date, ETE owns 100% of the issued and outstanding membership interests
in ETP GP LLC. Such membership interests have been duly authorized and validly issued in
accordance with the Organizational Documents of ETP GP LLC and are fully paid (to the extent
required under the Organizational Documents of ETP GP LLC) and non-
18
assessable (except as such
non-assessability may be affected by matters described in Sections 18-303 and 18-607 of the
Delaware LLC Act). ETE owns such membership interests free and clear of all Liens other than (i)
Liens arising under the ETE Credit Agreement, (ii) transfer restrictions imposed by federal and
state securities laws and (iii) any transfer restrictions contained in the Organizational Documents
of ETP GP LLC.
(g) As of the Execution Date, ETP GP LLC is the sole general partner of ETP GP LP, with a
0.01% general partner interest in ETP GP LP; (ii) such general partner interest has been duly
authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Organizational Documents of ETP GP LP; (iii)
ETP GP LLC owns such general partner interest free and clear of all Liens, other than (a) Liens
arising under the ETE Credit Agreement, (b) transfer restrictions imposed by federal and state
securities laws and (c) any transfer restrictions contained in the Organizational Documents of ETP
GP LP; (iv) ETE owns 100% of the Class A limited partner interests of ETP GP LP and 100% of the
Class B limited partner interests of ETP GP LP; (v) such limited partner
interests have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Organizational
Documents of ETP GP LP and are fully paid (to the extent required under the Organizational
Documents of ETP GP LP) and non-assessable (except as such non-assessability may be affected by
Sections 17-303 and 17-607 of the Delaware LP Act); and (vi) ETE owns its limited partner interests
in ETP GP LP free and clear of all Liens other than (1) Liens arising under the ETE Credit
Agreement, (2) transfer restrictions imposed by federal and state securities laws and (3) any
transfer restrictions contained in the Organizational Documents of ETP GP LP.
(h) As of the Execution Date, ETP GP LP is the sole general partner of ETP with a 1.8% general
partner interest in ETP (the ETP GP Interest) and owns the ETP Incentive Distribution Rights
(collectively with the ETP GP Interest, the ETP GP LP Interests). The ETP GP LP Interests have
been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the ETP Partnership Agreement and have
not been issued in violation of any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar
rights of any Person. As of the Execution Date, the ETP GP LP Interests are owned by ETP GP LP
free and clear of all Liens, other than (i) Liens arising under the ETE Credit Agreement, (ii)
transfer restrictions imposed by federal and state securities laws and (iii) any transfer
restrictions contained in the ETP Partnership Agreement.
(i) As of the Execution Date, ETE owns 62,500,797 ETP Common Units, representing approximately
a 32.7% limited partner interest (collectively, the Owned Units), in each case free and clear of
all Liens, other than (i) Liens arising under the ETE Credit Agreement, (ii) transfer restrictions
imposed by federal and state securities laws and (iii) any transfer restrictions contained in the
ETP Partnership Agreement. All of the Owned Units have been duly authorized and validly issued in
accordance with the ETP Partnership Agreement and are fully paid (to the extent required under the
ETP Partnership Agreement) and non-assessable (except as such non-assessability may be affected by
Sections 17-303 and 17-607 of the Delaware LP Act).
4.6 Compliance with Law. Except as to specific matters disclosed in the ETE SEC Documents
filed or furnished on or after January 1, 2010 and prior to the date hereof (excluding any
disclosures included in any risk factor section of such ETE SEC Documents or any other
disclosures in such ETE SEC Documents to the extent they are predictive or forward looking and
general in nature), and except for Environmental Laws, Laws requiring the obtaining or
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maintenance
of a Permit, Tax matters, Laws relating to employee benefits, employment and labor matters, and
Laws relating to regulatory compliance matters, which are the subject of Sections 4.11,
4.13, 4.14, 4.15 and 4.17, respectively, and except as to matters
that would not reasonably be expected to have an ETE Material Adverse Effect, (a) each ETE Entity
is in compliance with all applicable Laws, (b) none of the ETE Entities has received written notice
of any violation of any applicable Law and (c) to the Knowledge of the Buyer Parties, none of the
ETE Entities is under investigation by any Governmental Authority for potential non-compliance with
any Law.
4.7 Title to Properties and Assets. To the Knowledge of the Buyer Parties, except as to
matters that would not reasonably be expected to have an ETE Material Adverse Effect, each
ETE Entity has title to or rights or interests in its real property and personal property free
and clear of all Liens (subject to Permitted Liens), sufficient to allow it to conduct its business
as currently being conducted.
4.8 Rights-of-Way. To the Knowledge of the Buyer Parties, except as to matters that would not
reasonably be expected to have an ETE Material Adverse Effect, (a) each ETE Entity has such
Rights-of-Way from each Person as are necessary to use, own and operate each ETE Entitys assets in
the manner such assets are currently used, owned and operated by each ETE Entity, (b) each ETE
Entity has fulfilled and performed all of its obligations with respect to such Rights-of-Way and
(c) no event has occurred that allows, or after the giving of notice or the passage of time, or
both, would allow, revocation or termination thereof or would result in any impairment of the
rights of the holder of any such Rights-of-Way.
4.9 ETE SEC Reports; Financial Statements; Operating Surplus.
(a) ETE has furnished or filed all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents
(including exhibits and other information incorporated therein) required to be furnished or filed
by ETE with the SEC since January 1, 2009 (such documents being collectively referred to as the
ETE SEC Documents).
(b) Each ETE SEC Document (i) at the time filed, complied in all material respects with the
requirements of the Exchange Act and the Securities Act, as the case may be, and the rules and
regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder applicable to such ETE SEC Document and (ii) did not
at the time it was filed (or if amended or superseded by a filing or amendment prior to the
Execution Date, then at the time of such filing or amendment) contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order
to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.
(c) Each of the financial statements of ETE or LEGPLLC included in the ETE SEC Documents (ETE
Financial Statements) complied at the time it was filed as to form in all material respects with
the applicable accounting requirements and the published rules and regulations of the SEC with
respect thereto, has been prepared in accordance with GAAP, applied on a consistent basis
throughout the periods presented thereby and fairly present in all material respects the
consolidated financial position and operating results, equity and cash flows of ETE as of, and for
the periods ended on, the respective dates thereof, subject, however, in the
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case of unaudited
financial statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments and accruals and the absence of notes
and other textual disclosures as permitted by Form 10-Q of the SEC.
(d) To the Knowledge of the Buyer Parties, none of the ETE Entities has any liability, whether
accrued, contingent, absolute or otherwise, except for (i) liabilities set forth on the
consolidated balance sheet of ETE dated as of March 31, 2010 or the notes thereto, and (ii)
liabilities that have arisen since March 31, 2010 in the ordinary course of business.
(e) All distributions made by ETP since its initial public offering have been made from
Operating Surplus (as defined in the ETP Partnership Agreement) and in accordance with the terms
of the ETP Partnership Agreement.
(f) A true and correct copy of an ownership schedule setting forth the owners of record of the
membership interests in LEGPLLC has been provided to Seller.
4.10 Absence of Certain Changes. Except as to specific matters disclosed in the ETE SEC
Documents filed or furnished on or after January 1, 2010 and prior to the date hereof (excluding
any disclosures included in any risk factor section of such ETE SEC Documents or any other
disclosures in such ETE SEC Documents to the extent they are predictive or forward looking and
general in nature), except as set forth on Schedule 4.10 of the Buyers Disclosure Schedule
or as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, since December 31, 2009, there has not been any
event, occurrence or development which has had, or would be reasonably expected to have, an ETE
Material Adverse Effect.
4.11 Environmental Matters. Except as to specific matters disclosed in the ETE SEC Documents
filed or furnished on or after January 1, 2010 and prior to the date hereof (excluding any
disclosures included in any risk factor section of such ETE SEC Documents or any other
disclosures in such ETE SEC Documents to the extent they are predictive or forward looking and
general in nature), except as to matters set forth on Schedule 4.11 of the Buyers
Disclosure Schedule and except as to matters that would not reasonably be expected to have an ETE
Material Adverse Effect:
(a) each of the ETE Entities is in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws;
(b) each of the ETE Entities possesses all Permits required under Environmental Laws for their
operations as currently conducted and is in compliance with the terms of such Permits, and such
Permits are in full force and effect;
(c) none of the ETE Entities nor any of their properties or operations are subject to any
pending or, to the Knowledge of the Buyer Parties, threatened Proceeding arising under any
Environmental Law, nor has any of the ETE Entities received any written and pending notice, order
or complaint from any Governmental Authority alleging a violation of or liability arising under any
Environmental Law; and
(d) to the Knowledge of the Buyer Parties, there has been no Release of Hazardous Substances
on, at, under, to, or from any of the properties of the ETE Entities, or from or in
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connection with
the ETE Entities operations in a manner that would reasonably be expected to give rise to any
liability pursuant to any Environmental Law.
4.12 Legal Proceedings. Except as to specific matters disclosed in the ETE SEC Documents
filed or furnished on or after January 1, 2010 and prior to the date hereof (excluding
any disclosures included in any risk factor section of such ETE SEC Documents or any other
disclosures in such ETE SEC Documents to the extent they are predictive or forward looking and
general in nature), and other than with respect to Proceedings arising under Environmental Laws
which are the subject of Section 4.11 or as is set forth on Schedule 4.12 of Buyers
Disclosure Schedule, there are no Proceedings pending or, to the Knowledge of the Buyer Parties,
threatened against the ETE Entities, except such Proceedings as would not reasonably be expected to
have an ETE Material Adverse Effect or to prevent or materially delay the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or to materially impair the Buyer Parties ability to
perform their obligations under this Agreement.
4.13 Permits. To the Knowledge of the Buyer Parties, other than with respect to Permits
issued pursuant to or required under Environmental Laws which are the subject of Section
4.11, the ETE Entities have all Permits as are necessary to use, own and operate their assets
in the manner such assets are currently used, owned and operated by the ETE Entities, except where
the failure to have such Permits would not reasonably be expected to have an ETE Material Adverse
Effect.
4.14 Taxes.
(a) All material Tax Returns required to be filed with respect to ETE and, to the Knowledge of
Buyer, the other ETE Entities have been filed and all the Tax Returns of ETE and, to the Knowledge
of Buyer, the other ETE Entities are complete and correct in all material respects and all material
Taxes due relating to ETE and, to the Knowledge of Buyer, the other ETE Entities have been paid in
full. Except as disclosed on Schedule 4.14 of the Buyers Disclosure Schedule, there is no claim
(other than claims being contested in good faith through appropriate proceedings and for which
adequate reserves have been made in accordance with GAAP) against ETE or, to the Knowledge of
Buyer, the other ETE Entities for any material Taxes, and no material assessment, deficiency, or
adjustment has been asserted, proposed in writing with respect to any material Taxes or material
Tax Returns of or with respect to ETE or, to the Knowledge of Buyer, the other ETE Entities.
(b) Except as set forth on Schedule 4.14 of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule, no material Tax
audits or administrative or judicial proceedings are being conducted or are pending with respect to
ETE or, to the Knowledge of Buyer, the other ETE Entities.
(c) All material Taxes required to be withheld, collected or deposited by or with respect to
ETE or, to the Knowledge of Buyer, the other ETE Entities have been timely withheld, collected or
deposited as the case may be, and to the extent required, have been paid to the relevant taxing
authority.
(d) There are no outstanding agreements or waivers extending the applicable statutory periods
of limitations for any material Tax of, or any material Taxes associated with the
22
ownership or
operation of the assets of, ETE or, to the Knowledge of Buyer, any other ETE Entities.
(e) Neither ETE nor, to the Knowledge of Buyer, any other ETE Entities is a party to any Tax
sharing agreement.
(f) Neither ETE nor, to the Knowledge of Buyer, the other ETE Entities has engaged in a
transaction that would be reportable by or with respect to any ETE Entity pursuant to Treasury
Regulation § 1.6011-4 or any predecessor thereto.
(g) Neither ETE nor ETP has elected to be treated as a corporation for federal Tax purposes.
ETE and ETP each qualify as a publicly traded partnership within the meaning of Section 7704(b)
of the Code and each have met, and continue to meet, the gross income requirements (within the
meaning of Section 7704(c) of the Code) in each Tax year since its formation. Both of ETE and ETP
have filed a federal income tax return that has in effect an election pursuant to Section 754 of
the Code.
4.15 Employee Benefits; Employment and Labor Matters. To the Knowledge of the Buyer Parties:
(a) Except as set forth on Schedule 4.15(a) of the Buyers Disclosure Schedule or filed
with any ETE SEC Documents (including by incorporation by reference) filed with the SEC on or after
January 1, 2010 and prior to the date hereof, no ETE Entity, nor any ERISA Affiliate of any ETE
Entity, sponsors, maintains or contributes to, or has sponsored, maintained or contributed to
within six years prior to the Closing Date any of the following:
(i) any employee benefit plan, as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA
(including, but not limited to, employee benefit plans, such as foreign plans, which are not
subject to the provisions of ERISA, but excluding any multiemployer plan within the meaning
of Section 3(37) of ERISA or multiple employer plan within the meaning of Section 4063(a) of
ERISA); or
(ii) any material personnel policy, equity-based plans (including, but not limited to,
stock option plans, stock purchase plans, stock appreciation rights and phantom stock
plans), collective bargaining agreement, bonus plan or arrangement, incentive award plan or
arrangement, vacation policy, severance pay plan or arrangements, change in control policies
or agreements, deferred compensation agreement or arrangement, executive compensation or
supplemental income arrangement, consulting agreement, employment agreement and each other
employee benefit plan, agreement, arrangement, program, practice or understanding which is
not described in Section 4.15(a)(i) (collectively, along with any plan described in
Section 4.15(a)(i) above, the ETE Benefit Plans).
(b) Except as disclosed on Schedule 4.15(b) of the Buyers Disclosure Schedule and
except for matters that would not reasonably be expected to have a ETE Material Adverse Effect;
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(i) each ETE Benefit Plan has been administered in compliance with its terms, the
applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and all other applicable laws and the terms of all
applicable collective bargaining agreements;
(ii) there are no actions, suits or claims pending (other than routine claims for
benefits) or threatened, with respect to any ETE Benefit Plan and no ETE Benefit Plan is
under audit or is subject to an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, the
Department of Labor or any other federal or state governmental agency nor is any such audit
or investigation pending;
(iii) no ETE Benefit Plan is subject to Title IV of ERISA;
(iv) all contributions and payments required to be made by any ETE Entity or an ERISA
Affiliate of any ETE Entity to or under each ETE Benefit Plan have been timely made;
(v) as to any ETE Benefit Plan intended to be qualified under Section 401 of the Code,
there has been no termination or partial termination of such plan within the meaning of
Section 411(d)(3) of the Code;
(vi) none of the ETE Entities or any of their ERISA Affiliates have any liability with
respect to any multiemployer plan within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA or multiple
employer plan with the meaning of Section 4063(a) of ERISA.
(c) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have an ETE Material Adverse Effect, (a)
each of the ETE Entities is in compliance with all applicable labor and employment Laws including,
without limitation, all Laws, rules, regulations, orders, rulings, decrees, judgments and awards
relating to employment discrimination, payment of wages, overtime compensation, immigration,
occupational health and safety, and wrongful discharge; (b) no action, suit, complaint, charge,
arbitration, inquiry, proceeding or investigation by or before any Governmental Authority, brought
by or on behalf of any employee, prospective or former employee or labor organization or other
representative of the employees or of any prospective or former employees of any of the ETE
Entities is pending or threatened against any of the ETE Entities, any present or former director
or employee (including with respect to alleged sexual harassment, unfair labor practices or
discrimination); (c) no grievance is pending or threatened against any of the ETE Entities; and (d)
none of the ETE Entities is subject to or otherwise bound by, any material consent decree, order,
or agreement with, any Governmental Authority relating to employees or former employees of any of
the ETE Entities.
4.16 Brokers Fee. Except for the fee payable to Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, which
shall be paid by the Buyer Parties, no broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other Person
is entitled to any brokers, finders, financial advisors or other similar fee or commission in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements made by or
on behalf of the Buyer Parties.
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4.17 Regulatory Matters; Compliance.
(a) The ETE Entities (i) have all necessary approvals from FERC to provide service to
customers pursuant to the Natural Gas Act and the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978, as amended, and
(ii) have made all required FERC filings necessary to offer such service, except where the failure
to have any such approval or to have made any such filing would not reasonably be expected to have
an ETE Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Neither ETE nor ETP is an investment company or a company controlled by an investment
company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
4.18 Intellectual Property. To the Knowledge of the Buyer Parties (a) the ETE Entities own or
have the right to use pursuant to license, sublicense, agreement or otherwise all material items of
Intellectual Property required in the operation of the business as presently conducted; (b) no
third party has asserted in writing delivered to the ETE Entities an unresolved claim that any of
the ETE Entities is infringing on the Intellectual Property of such third party; and (c) no third
party is infringing on the Intellectual Property owned by the ETE Entities.
4.19 Matters Relating to Acquisition of the Acquired GP Interests.
(a) The Buyer Parties have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters so
as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of their investment in the Acquired GP
Interests and are capable of bearing the economic risk of such investment. The Buyer Parties are
accredited investors as that term is defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D (without regard to Rule
501(a)(4)) promulgated under the Securities Act. The Buyer Parties are acquiring the Acquired GP
Interests for investment for their own account and not with a view toward or for sale in connection
with any distribution thereof, or with any present intention of distributing or selling the
Acquired GP Interests. The Buyer Parties do not have any Contract or arrangement with any Person
to sell, transfer or grant participations to such Person or to any third Person, with respect to
the Acquired GP Interests. The Buyer Parties acknowledge and understand that (i) the acquisition
of the Acquired GP Interests has not been registered under the Securities Act in reliance on an
exemption therefrom and (ii) that the Acquired GP Interests will, upon its sale by Seller, be
characterized as restricted securities under state and federal securities laws. The Buyer
Parties agree that the Acquired GP Interests may not be sold, transferred, offered for sale,
pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of except pursuant to an effective registration
statement under the Securities Act or pursuant to an available exemption from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act, and in compliance with other applicable state and federal
securities laws.
(b) The Buyer Parties have undertaken such investigation as they have deemed necessary to
enable them to make an informed and intelligent decision with respect to the execution, delivery
and performance of this Agreement and the acquisition of the Acquired GP Interests. The Buyer
Parties have had an opportunity to ask questions and receive answers from Seller regarding the
terms and conditions of the offering of the Acquired GP Interests and the business, properties,
prospects, and financial condition of Regency. The foregoing, however, does not modify the
representations and warranties of Seller in Article III and such
25
representations and warranties constitute the sole and exclusive representations and
warranties of Seller to the Buyer Parties in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES
5.1 Conduct of Business.
(a) From the Execution Date through the Closing, except as described in Schedule 5.1
of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, and except as required by this Agreement or consented to or
approved in writing by the Buyer Parties (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or
delayed), Seller shall cause the Regency GP Entities to, and shall use reasonable best efforts to
cause each other Regency Entity to:
(i) conduct its business and activities in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practice;
(ii) use reasonable best efforts to preserve intact their goodwill and relationships
with customers, suppliers and others having business dealings with them with respect
thereto;
(iii) comply in all material respects with all applicable Laws relating to them; and
(iv) use reasonable best efforts to maintain in full force without interruption its
present insurance policies or comparable insurance coverage of the Regency Entities.
(b) Without limiting the generality of Section 5.1(a), and, except as described in
Schedule 5.1(b) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, as required by this Agreement or
consented to or approved in writing by the Buyer Parties (which shall not be unreasonably withheld,
conditioned or delayed), Seller shall cause the Regency GP Entities not to, and shall use
reasonable best efforts to cause each other Regency Entity not to:
(i) make any material change or amendment to its Organizational Documents;
(ii) purchase any securities or ownership interests of, or make any investment in any
Person, other than in respect of the Regency Entities (excluding the Regency GP Entities)
(A) ordinary course overnight investments consistent with the cash management policies of
such Person and (B) purchases and investments in addition to those contemplated by clause
(A) not in excess of $50,000,000 in the aggregate;
(iii) make any capital expenditure; provided that the Regency Entities (excluding the
Regency GP Entities) may make capital expenditures that are not in excess of $50,000,000 in
the aggregate or as required on an emergency basis or for the safety of individuals or the
environment;
(iv) make any material change to its tax methods, principles or elections;
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(v) except as required under its Organizational Documents, declare or pay any
distributions in respect of any of its equity securities or partnership units except (A) in
the case of Regency, the declaration and payment of regular quarterly cash distributions of
Available Cash from Operating Surplus (each as defined in the Regency Partnership Agreement)
not in excess of $0.46 per Regency Common Unit per quarter, plus any corresponding
distribution on the general partner interest and Regency Incentive Distribution Rights, (B)
in the case of Regency, regular quarterly distributions of Available Cash from Operating
Surplus, not in excess of $0.445 per quarter in respect of the Regency Series A Units and
(C) the declaration and payment of distributions from any direct or indirect wholly owned
Subsidiary of Regency;
(vi) split, combine or reclassify any of its equity securities or partnership units or
issue or authorize the issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in
substitution for, its equity securities or partnership units, except for any such
transaction by a direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of Regency that remains a direct
or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of Regency after consummation of such transaction;
(vii) repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any of its equity securities or
partnership units or any securities convertible into or exercisable for any equity
securities or partnership units other than redemptions to satisfy federal income tax
withholding obligations (calculated using the applicable federal income tax rates) in
connection with the vesting of units under Regencys long-term incentive plan;
(viii) issue, deliver, sell, pledge or dispose of, or authorize the issuance, delivery,
sale, pledge or disposition of, any (A) equity securities or partnership units of any class,
(B) debt securities having the right to vote on any matters on which holders of capital
stock or members or partners of the same issuer may vote or (C) securities convertible into
or exercisable for, or any rights, warrants, calls or options to acquire, any such
securities, other than issuances (1) by a direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of
Regency of equity securities or partnership units to such Persons parent or any other
direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of Regency and (2) pursuant to awards outstanding
prior to the Execution Date under Regency Benefit Plans which are reflected on Schedule
3.17(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule;
(ix) purchase or sell assets (including any general partner or limited partner interest
or any other equity interests in any other Person) or waive any rights or benefits held by
either of the Regency GP Entities attributable to RGPLPs ownership of the general partner
interest in Regency and the Regency Incentive Distribution Rights, other than purchases or
sales of inventory in the ordinary course by any of the Regency Entities (excluding the
Regency GP Entities), with a value not exceeding $50,000,000 individually or $50,000,000 in
the aggregate;
(x) create, incur, guarantee or assume any indebtedness for borrowed money other than
borrowings by the Regency Entities (excluding the Regency GP Entities) of less than
$100,000,000 in the aggregate;
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(xi) enter into any joint venture or similar arrangement with a third party other than
joint ventures or similar arrangements entered into by any of the Regency Entities
(excluding the Regency GP Entities) in the ordinary course of business including assets or
obligations of less than $75,000,000;
(xii) (A) settle any claims, demands, lawsuits or state or federal regulatory
proceedings for damages to the extent such settlements assess damages in excess of
$10,000,000 in the aggregate (other than any claims, demands, lawsuits or proceedings to the
extent insured (net of deductibles), reserved against in the Regency Financial Statements or
covered by an indemnity obligation not subject to dispute or adjustment from a solvent
indemnitor) or (B) settle any claims, demands, lawsuits or state or federal regulatory
proceedings seeking an injunction or other equitable relief where such settlements would
have or would reasonably be expected to have a Regency Material Adverse Effect;
(xiii) except as otherwise expressly permitted under this Section 5.1, merge
with or into, or consolidate with, any other Person or acquire all or substantially all of
the business or assets of any other Person;
(xiv) take any action with respect to or in contemplation of any liquidation,
dissolution, recapitalization, reorganization, or other winding up;
(xv) change or modify any accounting policies, except as required by applicable
regulatory authorities or independent accountants;
(xvi) approve or make material modifications of the salaries, bonuses or other
compensation (including incentive compensation) payable to any individual whose base salary
exceeds $200,000 per annum or adopt or make any material amendment to any employee
compensation, benefit or incentive plans;
(xvii) modify, make any material amendment to or voluntarily terminate, prior to the
expiration date thereof, any Regency Material Contracts or waive any default by, or release,
settle or compromise any claim against, any other party thereto; or
(xviii) agree, or commit to take any of the actions described above.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, nothing in Section 5.1 shall
prohibit Regency or any of its Subsidiaries from taking any action, or Seller from approving the
taking by Regency or any of its Subsidiaries of any action, in each case that would otherwise be
prohibited by this Section 5.1 without consent or approval of the Buyer Parties, if, prior
to taking such action, or approving the taking of such action, Seller or Regency, as applicable,
determines in good faith, after consultation with outside legal counsel, that failure to take such
action, or to approve the taking of such action, would be reasonably likely to be a breach of the
implied contractual covenant of good faith and fair dealing owed to an unaffiliated third party and
imposed on Seller, Regency or such Subsidiary, as applicable, in its capacity as the general
partner of Regency and a party to the Regency Partnership Agreement or a partner in the RIGS JV and
a party to the RIGS JV Agreement under the Delaware Revised Uniform Partnership Act, as applicable.
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(c) From the Execution Date though the Closing, ETE shall not: (i) amend the ETP Redemption
Agreement in any manner that would reasonably be expected to adversely affect Sellers rights under
this Agreement or (ii) exercise its rights under Section 7.1(a) of the ETP Redemption Agreement to
terminate the ETP Redemption Agreement,
(d) From the Execution Date through the Closing, except as described in
Schedule 5.1(d) of the Buyers Disclosure Schedule, or consented to or approved in writing
by Seller (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), the Buyer Parties
shall not take any action that would require the consent of Seller pursuant to Section
5.13(b)(v) of the Third Amendment (which for purposes of this Section 5.1(d) shall be
deemed to be in full force and effect).
5.2 Notice of Certain Events.
(a) Subject to applicable Law, each Party shall promptly notify the other Parties of:
(i) any event, condition or development that has resulted in the inaccuracy or breach
of any representation or warranty, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement made by
or to be complied with by such notifying Party at any time during the term hereof and that
would reasonably be expected to result in any of the conditions set forth in Article
VI not to be satisfied and which notice shall identify the applicable representation or
warranty, covenant or agreement and disclosure schedule, if any, for which such breach or
inaccuracy relates; provided, however, that no such notification shall be deemed to cure any
such breach of or inaccuracy in such notifying Partys representations and warranties or
covenants and agreements or in the Seller Disclosure Schedule or the Buyers Disclosure
Schedule for any purpose under this Agreement and no such notification shall limit or
otherwise affect the remedies available to the other Parties;
(ii) any notice or other communication from any Person alleging that the consent of
such Person is or may be required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement;
(iii) any notice or other communication from any Governmental Authority in connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; or
(iv) any Proceedings commenced that would be reasonably expected to prevent or
materially delay the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or
materially impair the notifying Partys ability to perform its obligations under this
Agreement.
(b) Seller shall promptly notify the Buyer Parties of the occurrence of any of the events
described in Section 5.1(b) regardless of whether Seller used reasonable best efforts to
prevent the occurrence of such event.
5.3 Access to Information. From the Execution Date until the Closing Date, Seller on the one
hand, and Buyer Parties, on the other hand, will subject to compliance with Law governing the use
of such information, (a) give the other party and their counsel, financial
29
advisors, auditors and other authorized representatives (collectively, Representatives)
reasonable access to the offices, properties, books and records of the Regency Entities or ETE
Entities, as the case may be, and permit such party to make copies thereof, in each case during
normal business hours and (b) furnish such financial and operating data and other information
relating to the Regency Entities or ETE Entities, as the case may be, as such Persons may
reasonably request. For two (2) years after the Closing Date, Seller, its Affiliates and its
Representatives shall have reasonable access during normal business hours to the offices,
properties, books and records of the Buyer Entities with respect to information of the nature and
scope described on Schedule 5.3, and which the Buyer Parties acknowledge and agree Seller
may share with its Representatives; provided that Seller and its applicable Affiliates and
Representatives shall have entered into a confidentiality agreement relating to such information
reasonably acceptable to the Buyer Parties. Any investigation pursuant to this Section 5.3
shall be conducted in such manner as not to interfere with the conduct of the business of any
Party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Party shall be entitled to perform any intrusive or
subsurface investigation or other sampling of, on or under any of the properties of a Party without
the prior written consent of the other Party. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this
Section 5.3, no Party shall be required to grant access or furnish information to the
extent that such information is subject to an attorney/client or attorney work product privilege or
that such access or the furnishing of such information is prohibited by Law or an existing
Contract. To the extent practicable, such Party shall make reasonable and appropriate substitute
disclosure arrangements under circumstances in which the restrictions of the preceding sentence
apply, including the execution of a joint defense agreement to allow the parties to exchange
information protected by the attorney client privilege or work product doctrine. To the fullest
extent permitted by Law, (1) no party nor any of their respective Representatives or Affiliates
shall be responsible or liable to another party for personal injuries sustained in connection with
the access provided pursuant to this Section 5.3 and (2) shall be indemnified and held
harmless by the visiting party for any losses suffered by any such Persons in connection with any
such personal injuries; provided such personal injuries are not caused by the gross negligence or
willful misconduct of the hosting party. The Parties agree that they will not, and will cause
their Representatives not to, use any information obtained pursuant to this Section 5.3 for
any purpose unrelated to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
5.4 Governmental Approvals.
(a) The Parties will cooperate with each other and use reasonable best efforts to obtain from
any Governmental Authorities any consents, licenses, permits, waivers, approvals, authorizations or
orders required to be obtained and to make any filings with or notifications or submissions to any
Governmental Authority that are necessary in order to consummate the transactions contemplated by
the Transaction Agreements and shall diligently and expeditiously prosecute, and shall cooperate
fully with each other in the prosecution of, such matters.
(b) The Parties agree to cooperate with each other and use reasonable best efforts to contest
and resist, any Proceeding, and to have vacated, lifted, reversed or overturned any decree,
judgment, injunction or other order (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) of any
Governmental Authority that is in effect and that restricts, prevents or prohibits the consummation
of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreements.
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5.5 Expenses. All costs and expenses incurred by Seller in connection with this Agreement and
the transactions contemplated thereby, and any documented, out-of-pocket expenses reasonably
incurred by the other Regency Entities (not to exceed $50,000), shall be paid by Seller, and all
costs and expenses incurred by the Buyer Parties or the ETE Entities in connection with this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby shall be paid by the Buyer Parties; provided,
however, that if any action at law or equity is necessary to enforce or interpret the terms of this
Agreement, the prevailing Party shall be entitled to reasonable attorneys fees and expenses in
addition to any other relief to which such Party may be entitled.
5.6 Further Assurances. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each of the
Parties shall use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all action, and to do,
or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Law to consummate
the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreements. Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, each Party will use its reasonable best efforts to obtain timely all authorizations,
consents and approvals of all third parties necessary in connection with the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreements prior to the Closing. The Parties will
coordinate and cooperate with each other in exchanging such information and assistance as any of
the Parties hereto may reasonably request in connection with the foregoing.
5.7 Public Statements. The Parties shall consult with each other prior to issuing any public
announcement, statement or other disclosure with respect to this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated thereby and neither Seller nor its Affiliates, on one hand, nor the Buyer Parties and
their Affiliates, on the other hand, shall issue any such public announcement, statement or other
disclosure without having first notified Seller, on one hand, or the Buyer Parties on the other;
provided, however, that any of Seller and its Affiliates, on one hand, and any of the Buyer Parties
and their Affiliates, on the other hand, may make any public disclosure without first so consulting
with or notifying the other Party or Parties if such disclosing party believes that it is required
to do so by Law or by any stock exchange listing requirement or trading agreement concerning the
publicly traded securities of Seller or its Affiliates, on one hand, or the Buyer Parties or any of
their Affiliates, on the other hand.
5.8 Convertible Preferred Units. Seller agrees to the imprinting, so long as the restrictions
described in the legend are applicable, of the following legend on any certificates evidencing all
or any portion of the Convertible Preferred Units or any ETE Common Units issuable upon conversion
thereof:
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR THE
SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE SECURITIES ACT) AND ARE SUBJECT TO THE TERMS OF THE THIRD
AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT OF ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P., AS AMENDED,
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY ACKNOWLEDGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P. THAT THIS
SECURITY MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IF SUCH TRANSFER WOULD
(A) VIOLATE THE THEN APPLICABLE FEDERAL OR STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR
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RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY WITH JURISDICTION OVER SUCH TRANSFER, (B) TERMINATE
THE EXISTENCE OR QUALIFICATION OF ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P. UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF
DELAWARE, OR (C) CAUSE ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P. TO BE TREATED AS AN ASSOCIATION TAXABLE AS A
CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE TO BE TAXED AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES (TO THE EXTENT
NOT ALREADY SO TREATED OR TAXED). L.E. GP, THE GENERAL PARTNER OF ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P.,
MAY IMPOSE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IF IT RECEIVES AN OPINION OF
COUNSEL THAT SUCH RESTRICTIONS ARE NECESSARY TO AVOID A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY,
L.P. BECOMING TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE BECOMING TAXABLE AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL
INCOME TAX PURPOSES. THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL NOT PRECLUDE THE SETTLEMENT OF ANY
TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY ENTERED INTO THROUGH THE FACILITIES OF ANY NATIONAL SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY IS LISTED OR ADMITTED TO TRADING.
5.9 No Solicitation.
(a) Neither Seller nor the Regency GP Entities or their respective officers, directors,
employees, stockholders, representatives, agents, or anyone acting on behalf of them, shall,
directly or indirectly, (i) encourage, solicit, engage in discussions or negotiations with, or
provide any information to, any Person (other than the Buyer Parties or their Representatives)
concerning any Competing Proposal, (ii) accept any offer or respond to any indications of interest
from any Person concerning any Competing Proposal, (iii) enter into an agreement, arrangement or
understanding with any Person other than the Buyer Parties or their Affiliates concerning any
Competing Proposal or (iv) make or authorize any statement, recommendation or solicitation in
support of or concerning or otherwise facilitate any purchase or sale of securities or similar
transaction involving any Competing Proposal; provided, however, that this Section 5.9
shall in no way prohibit the board of directors of RGPLLC, in its capacity as the general partner
of RGPLP, in its capacity as the general partner of Regency, from taking any action required by its
fiduciary duty.
(b) At every meeting of limited partners of Regency called with respect to any of the
following, and at every adjournment or postponement thereof, and on every action or approval by
written consent of limited partners of Regency with respect to any of the following, Seller shall
and shall cause the Regency GP Entities and any of its other Affiliates to vote:
(i) against approval of any proposal made in opposition to, or in competition with,
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without
limitation, any proposal to remove RGPLP as the general partner of Regency; and
(ii) except as otherwise agreed to in writing in advance by the Buyer Parties, against
any Competing Proposal.
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(c) For purposes of this Agreement, Competing Proposal means any contract, proposal, offer
or indication of interest relating to any transaction or series of transactions involving: (i) any
merger, amalgamation, unit exchange, recapitalization, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution of
any of the Regency Entities, (ii) any direct or indirect acquisition of beneficial ownership (as
defined under Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) by any Person or group of any equity interests
in any of the Regency GP Entities, (iii) any direct or indirect acquisition of beneficial ownership
(as defined under Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) by any Person or group of all or any portion
of the general partner interest in Regency, (iv) any direct or indirect acquisition of beneficial
ownership (as defined under Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) by any Person or group of 15% or
more of the limited partner interests in Regency or any tender or exchange offer that if
consummated would result in any Person or group beneficially owning 15% or more of the limited
partner interests in Regency, (v) any direct or indirect acquisition (by asset purchase, unit
purchase, merger or otherwise) by any Person or group (as defined under Section 13(d) of the
Exchange Act) of any business or material amount of assets of the Regency Entities (including
capital stock of or ownership interest in any Subsidiary of Regency or any of its Subsidiaries)
(other than sales of assets by the Regency Entities in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practice) or (vi) any transaction that would compete with or serve to interfere with,
delay, discourage, adversely affect or inhibit the timely consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
5.10 Confidential Information.
(a) For a period of two (2) years after the Closing, Seller and its Affiliates shall not,
directly or indirectly, disclose to any Person any secret, confidential or proprietary business
information, data or material developed by, or on behalf of, any Regency Entity relating to the
business and operations of the Regency Entities, whether acquired prior to or after the Closing
Date, which has not been disclosed to the public.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, Seller or its Affiliates may disclose any information
relating to the business and operations of the Regency Entities, if required by Law or applicable
stock exchange rule, or to such other Persons if, at the time such information is provided, such
Person is already in the possession of such information.
5.11 No Hire. Except for the individuals listed on Schedule 5.11, for a period of one
year from and after the Execution Date, neither Seller nor the Energy Financial Service business
unit of GECC shall solicit for employment or hire any executive officers or other management level
employees of any of the Regency Entities who were employed by the Regency Entities within six
months prior to the Closing Date. The restrictions in this Section 5.11 regarding the prohibition
on solicitations (as opposed to hires) shall not apply to any solicitation directed at the general
public.
5.12 Tax Matters.
(a) Post-Closing Tax Returns. Buyer shall cause the Regency Entities to prepare all
Tax Returns relating to the Regency Entities for periods beginning on or before the Closing Date
and ending after the Closing Date. With respect to any such Tax Returns for the Regency GP
Entities, Buyer shall determine (by an interim closing of the books as of the Closing Date except
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for ad valorem and property taxes owed or owing by the Regency GP Entities, which shall be
prorated on a daily basis) the Taxes that would have been due with respect to the period covered by
such Tax Return if such taxable period ended on and included the Closing Date (the Pre-Closing
Tax).
(i) Not later than 20 days prior to the due date of any estimated Tax payment relating
to any Pre-Closing Tax, Buyer shall deliver to Seller for its review a statement calculating
the excess, if any, of the Pre-Closing Tax included in such payment over the amount set up
as a liability for such Tax on the financial statements of Regency Entities. Buyer shall
make or cause to be made such changes in such statement as Seller may reasonably request,
which changes shall be subject to Buyers approval, which shall not be unreasonably
withheld. Thereafter, and not later than 5 days prior to the due date of such estimated Tax
payment, Seller shall pay to Buyer the amount of such excess.
(ii) Not later than 20 days prior to the due date of any Tax Return covering a
Pre-Closing Tax, Buyer shall deliver to Seller for its review a copy of such Tax Return and
a statement calculating the amount by which the Pre-Closing Tax reflected on such Tax Return
is greater than or less than the amount set up as a liability for such Tax on the financial
statements of Regency Entities and the amount of any payments paid by Seller to Buyer with
respect to estimated Tax payments of such Pre-Closing Tax pursuant to Section
5.12(a)(i), which amount of estimated Tax payments shall be treated as a credit against
Pre-Closing Tax owed to Buyer by Seller. Buyer shall make or cause to be made such changes
in such Tax Returns or such statement as Seller may reasonably request, which changes shall
be subject to Buyers approval, which shall not be unreasonably withheld. Not later than 5
days prior to the due date of such Tax Return, Seller shall pay to Buyer (or Buyer pay to
Seller, if appropriate) the amount of such difference. Upon receipt thereof, Buyer shall
file or cause to be filed such Tax Return and shall pay all Taxes shown to be due thereon.
(b) Transfer Taxes. All excise, sales, use, transfer (including real property
transfer or gains), stamp, documentary, filing, recordation and other similar taxes, together with
any interest, additions or penalties with respect thereto and any interest in respect of such
additions or penalties, resulting directly from the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
(the Transfer Taxes), shall be borne 50% by Seller and 50% by the Buyer. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Section 5.12, any Tax Returns that must be filed in
connection with Transfer Taxes shall be prepared and filed when due by the party primarily or
customarily responsible under the applicable local law for filing such Tax Returns, and such party
will use reasonable best efforts to provide such Tax Returns to the other party at least ten days
prior to the due date for such Tax Returns. Upon the filing of Tax Returns in connection with
Transfer Taxes, the filing party shall provide the other party with evidence satisfactory to the
other party that such Transfer Taxes have been filed and paid.
(c) Cooperation on Tax Matters.
(i) Buyer and Seller Parties shall cooperate fully, as and to the extent reasonably
requested by the other Party, in connection with the filing of Tax Returns and any audit,
litigation or other proceeding with respect to Taxes for taxable periods
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beginning on or before the Closing Date. Such cooperation shall include the retention
until the expiration of the relevant statute of limitations and (upon the other Partys
request) the provision of records and information in such Partys possession that are
reasonably relevant to any such audit, litigation or other proceeding and making employees
available on the basis of reasonable best efforts to provide additional information and
explanation of any material provided hereunder. Prior to the destruction or discarding of
any books and records with respect to Tax matters pertinent to the Regency Entities relating
to any taxable period beginning on or before the Closing Date, each Party shall give the
other Party reasonable written notice and, if the other Party so requests, shall itself
allow, or cause the Regency Entities to allow the other Party to take, possession of such
books and records. In connection with any audit, litigation or other proceeding with
respect to Taxes for taxable periods beginning on or before the Closing Date, Buyer and
Seller shall promptly notify each other upon receipt by such party of written notice of any
inquiries, claims, assessments, audits, or similar events. Buyer shall have sole control of
the conduct of all such audit, litigation or other proceedings with respect to Taxes for
periods beginning on or before the Closing Date, including any settlement or compromise
thereof, provided, however, Buyer shall keep Seller reasonably informed of the progress of
any such audit, litigation or other proceeding and shall not effect any such settlement or
compromise with respect to which Seller is liable without obtaining Sellers prior written
consent thereto, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.
(ii) Buyer and Seller Parties further agree, upon request, to use their reasonable best
efforts to obtain any certificate or other document from any Governmental Authority or any
other Person as may be necessary to mitigate, reduce or eliminate any Tax that could be
imposed as a result of the transactions contemplated hereby or for any taxable period
beginning on or before the Closing Date.
5.13 Books and Records; Financial Statements; Litigation Support.
(a) Seller shall provide the Buyer Parties access to Sellers books and records relating to
the Regency Entities to the extent reasonably necessary to enable the Buyer Parties to prepare
financial statements of the Regency Entities and such other financial statement of the Buyer
Parties and their Affiliates in such forms and covering such periods as may be required by any
applicable securities laws to be filed with the SEC by ETE as a result of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. Seller shall use reasonable best efforts to cause their
independent accountants and the Regency Entities independent accountants to provide any consent
necessary to the filing of such financial statements with the SEC and to provide such customary
representation letters as are necessary in connection therewith.
(b) Seller hereby consents to the inclusion or incorporation by reference of the financial
statements of the Regency Entities in any registration statement, report or other filing of the
Buyer Parties or any of their Affiliates as to which the Buyer Parties or any of their Affiliates
reasonably determines that such financial statements are required to be included or incorporated by
reference to satisfy any rule or regulation of the SEC or to satisfy relevant disclosure
obligations under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act. Seller shall use reasonable best efforts
to cause the Audit Firm to consent to the inclusion or incorporation by reference of its audit
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opinion with respect to any of the financial statements of the Regency Parties in any such
registration statement, report or other filing of the Buyer Parties or their Affiliates, and Seller
shall cause representation letters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Audit
Firm, to be executed and delivered to the Audit Firm in connection with obtaining any such consent
from the Audit Firm.
(c) Seller shall cooperate with the Buyer Parties in connection with the preparation of any
pro forma financial statements of the Buyer Parties or any of their Affiliates that are derived in
part from the financial statements of Seller that Buyer or their Affiliates reasonably determines
are required to be included or incorporated by reference in any registration statement, report or
other filing of the Buyer Parties or their Affiliates to satisfy any rule or regulation of the SEC
or to satisfy relevant disclosure obligations under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.
(d) Seller shall provide access to its books and records as may be reasonably necessary for
the Buyer Parties or any of their Affiliates, or any of their respective advisors or
representatives, to conduct customary due diligence with respect to the financial statements of
Seller in connection with any offering of securities by the Buyer Parties or any of their
Affiliates or to enable an accounting firm to prepare and deliver a customary comfort letter with
respect to financial information relating to Seller.
(e) In the event and for so long as any Party actively is contesting or defending against any
third-party Proceeding (other than any Proceedings in which the Buyer Parties or any of their
Affiliates and the Seller or any of its Affiliates are adverse parties) in connection with (i) the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (ii) any fact, situation, circumstance, status,
condition, activity, practice, plan, occurrence, event, incident, action, failure to act, or
transaction on or prior to the Closing Date involving the Regency Entities, each of the other
Parties will cooperate with it and its counsel in the contest or defense, make available their
personnel, and provide such testimony and access to their books and records as shall be reasonably
requested and necessary in connection with the contest or defense, all at the sole cost and expense
of the contesting or defending Party; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 5.13(e) shall
limit in any respect any rights a Party may have with respect to discovery or the production of
documents or other information in connection with any such litigation..
5.14 Commitment Regarding Indemnification Provisions; D&O Insurance Continuation.
(a) Buyer Parties covenant and agree that during the period that commences on the Closing Date
and ends on the sixth (6th) anniversary of the Closing Date, Buyer Parties (i) shall not
cause any amendment, modification, waiver or termination to Section 7.7 or Section
7.8 of the Regency Partnership Agreement and (ii) shall not amend, modify, waive or terminate
Section 9.01 or Section 9.02 of the RGPLLC Agreement, the effect of which would be
to affect adversely the rights of any person serving as a member of the Board of Directors or
officer of RGPLLC existing as of the date of this Agreement under such provisions; provided,
however, that the foregoing restriction shall not apply to any such amendment, modification, waiver
or termination to the extent required to cause such provisions (or any portion thereof) to comply
with applicable law.
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(b) Buyer Parties covenant and agree that, during the period that commences on the Closing
Date and ends on the sixth (6th) anniversary of the Closing Date, with respect to any
person serving as a member of the Board of Directors or officer of RGPLLC as of the date of this
Agreement and any former member of the Board of Directors or officer of RGPLLC appointed by Seller,
Buyer Parties shall cause RGPLLC (i) to continue in effect the current director and officer
liability insurance policy or policies that RGPLLC has as of the date of this Agreement, as
reflected on Schedule 5.14 hereto, or (ii) upon the termination or cancellation of any such
policy or policies, (A) to provide director and officer liability insurance in substitution for, or
in replacement of, such cancelled or terminated policy or policies or (B) to provide a tail or
run-off policy, in each case so that any person serving as a member of the Board of Directors of
RGPLLC as of the date of this Agreement, any former member of the Board of Directors appointed by
Seller and any officer has coverage thereunder for acts, events, occurrences or omissions occurring
or arising at or prior to the Closing to the same extent (including, without limitation, policy
limits, exclusions and scope) as such person has coverage for such acts, events, occurrences or
omissions under the director and officer insurance policy maintained by RGPLLC as of the date of
this Agreement, as reflected on Schedule 5.14 hereto.
5.15 GECC Names and Marks. From and after the Closing Date, the Buyer Parties shall not use
any of the GECC Names and Marks.
ARTICLE VI
CONDITIONS TO CLOSING
6.1 Conditions to Obligations of Each Party. The respective obligation of each Party to
consummate the Closing is subject to the satisfaction, on or prior to the Closing Date, of each of
the following conditions, any one or more of which may be waived in writing, in whole or in part,
as to a Party by such Party (in such Partys sole discretion):
(a) Approvals. All authorizations, consents, orders or approvals of, or declarations
or filings with, or as set forth on Schedule 6.1(a) shall have been obtained or made.
(b) Governmental Restraints. No order, decree or injunction of any Governmental
Authority shall be in effect, and no Law shall have been enacted or adopted that enjoins, prohibits
or makes illegal the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and no
Proceeding by any Governmental Authority with respect to the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement shall be pending that seeks to restrain, enjoin, prohibit or delay the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
(c) Amendment to Regency Credit Agreement. The Regency Credit Agreement shall have
been amended in a form reasonably acceptable to the Buyer Parties to address the matters set forth
on Schedule 6.1(c).
(d) Amendment to ETE Credit Agreement. The ETE Credit Agreement shall have been
amended in a form reasonably acceptable to the Buyer Parties to address the matters set forth on
Schedule 6.1(d).
(e) Redemption and Exchange. All conditions to consummation of the Redemption and
Exchange shall have been satisfied or validly waived pursuant to the terms of the ETP
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Redemption Agreement and each of the parties thereto shall have executed and delivered to the
Parties a certificate stating that such parties thereto will consummate the Redemption and Exchange
Agreement immediately following the Closing.
(f) MEP Contribution. All conditions to consummation of the MEP Contribution shall
have been satisfied and validly waived pursuant to the terms of the MEP Contribution Agreement and
each of the parties thereto shall have executed and delivered to the Parties a certificate stating
that such parties thereto will consummate the MEP Contribution Agreement immediately following the
Closing.
6.2 Conditions to Obligations of the Buyer Parties. The obligation of the Buyer Parties to
consummate the Closing is subject to the satisfaction, on or prior to the Closing Date, of each of
the following conditions, any one or more of which may be waived in writing, in whole or in part,
by the Buyer Parties (in the Buyer Parties sole discretion):
(a) Representations and Warranties of Seller. The representations and warranties of
Seller (i) in Article III (other than those contained in Sections 3.5 and
3.6) shall be true and correct in all respects as of the Closing Date as if remade on the
Closing Date (except for representations and warranties made as of a specific date, which shall be
true and correct in all respects as of such specific date), with only such failures to be so true
and correct as had not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, a Regency Material
Adverse Effect and (ii) in Sections 3.5 and 3.6 shall be true and correct in all
material respects as of the Closing Date as if remade on the Closing Date (except for
representations and warranties contained therein made as of a specific date, which shall be true
and correct in all material respects as of such specific date).
(b) Performance. Seller shall have performed and complied in all material respects
with all covenants and agreements required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by
Seller on or prior to the Closing Date.
(c) Closing Certificate. The Buyer Parties shall have received a certificate, dated
as of the Closing Date, signed by a Responsible Officer of Seller certifying that, to the best of
such Responsible Officers knowledge, the conditions set forth in Sections 6.2(a) and
6.2(b) have been satisfied.
(d) Closing Deliverables. Seller shall have delivered or caused to be delivered all
of the closing deliveries set forth in Section 2.3(a) and in the other documents
contemplated by this Agreement.
6.3 Conditions to Obligations of Seller. The obligation of Seller to consummate the Closing
is subject to the satisfaction, on or prior to the Closing Date, of each of the following
conditions, any one or more of which may be waived in writing, in whole or in part, by Seller (in
the Sellers sole discretion):
(a) Representations and Warranties of the Buyer Parties. The representations and
warranties of the Buyer Parties (i) in Article IV (other than those contained in
Section 4.5) shall be true and correct in all respects as of the Closing Date as if remade
on the Closing Date (except for representations and warranties made as of a specific date, which
shall be true and correct in all respects as of such specific date), with only such failures to be
so true and correct as had not
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had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, an ETE Material Adverse Effect and (ii) in
Sections 4.5 shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date as
if remade on the Closing Date (except for representations and warranties contained therein made as
of a specific date, which shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such specific
date).
(b) Performance. The Buyer Parties shall have performed and complied in all material
respects with all covenants and agreements required by this Agreement to be performed or complied
with by the Buyer Parties on or prior to the Closing Date.
(c) Closing Certificate. Seller shall have received a certificate, dated as of the
Closing Date, signed by a Responsible Officer of the Buyer Parties certifying that, to the best of
such Responsible Officers knowledge, the conditions set forth in Sections 6.3(a) and
6.3(b) have been satisfied.
(d) Closing Deliverables. The Buyer Parties shall have delivered or caused to be
delivered all of the closing deliveries set forth in Section 2.3(b) and in the other
documents contemplated by this Agreement.
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION RIGHTS
7.1 Termination Rights. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing as
follows:
(a) By mutual written consent of the Parties;
(b) By either Seller or the Buyer Parties if any Governmental Authority of competent
jurisdiction shall have issued a final and non-appealable order, decree or judgment prohibiting the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(c) By either Seller or the Buyer Parties in the event that the Closing has not occurred on or
prior to June 9, 2010 (the Termination Date); provided, however, that (i) Seller may not
terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.1(c) if such failure of the Closing to
occur is due to the failure of Seller to perform and comply in all material respects with the
covenants and agreements to be performed or complied with by Seller and (ii) the Buyer Parties may
not terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.1(c) if such failure of the Closing
to occur is due to the failure of either Buyer Party to perform and comply in all material respects
with the covenants and agreements to be performed or complied with by such Buyer Party;
(d) By the Buyer Parties if there shall have been a breach or inaccuracy of Sellers
representations and warranties in this Agreement or a failure by Seller to perform its covenants
and agreements in this Agreement, in any such case in a manner that would result in, if occurring
and continuing on the Closing Date, the failure of the conditions to the Closing set forth in
Section 6.2(a) or Section 6.2(b), unless such failure is reasonably capable of
being cured, and Seller is using all reasonable efforts to cure such failure by the Termination
Date; provided, however, that the Buyer Parties may not terminate this Agreement pursuant to this
Section 7.1(d) if (i) any of the Buyer Parties representations and warranties shall have
become and continue to be untrue in a manner that would cause the condition set forth in
Section 6.3(a) not to be satisfied
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or (ii) there has been, and continues to be, a failure by either Buyer Party to perform its
covenants and agreements in such a manner as would cause the condition set forth in Section
6.3(b) not to be satisfied;
(e) By Seller if there shall have been a breach or inaccuracy of the Buyer Parties
representations and warranties in this Agreement or a failure by either Buyer Party to perform its
covenants and agreements in this Agreement, in any such case in a manner that would result in, if
occurring and continuing on the Closing Date, the failure of the conditions to the Closing set
forth in Section 6.3(a) or Section 6.3(b), unless such failure is reasonably
capable of being cured, and such Buyer Party is using all reasonable efforts to cure such failure
by the Termination Date; provided, however, that Seller may not terminate this Agreement pursuant
to this Section 7.1(e) if (i) Sellers representations and warranties shall have become and
continue to be untrue in a manner that would cause the condition set forth in Section
6.2(a) not to be satisfied or (ii) there has been, and continues to be, a failure by Seller to
perform its covenants and agreements in such a manner as would cause the condition set forth in
Section 6.2(b) not to be satisfied; or
(f) By the Buyer Parties if either of the ETP Redemption Agreement or the MEP Contribution
Agreement has been terminated by the counterparty to such agreement pursuant to its terms.
7.2 Effect of Termination. In the event of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to
Section 7.1, all rights and obligations of the Parties under this Agreement shall
terminate, except for the provisions of this Section 7.2, Article IX and
Sections 5.5, 5.7, 10.1, 10.3, 10.6, 10.8 and
10.9, the last sentence of Section 5.3; provided, however, that no termination of
this Agreement shall relieve any Party from any liability for any willful and intentional breach of
this Agreement by such Party or for Fraud by such Party and all rights and remedies of a
non-breaching Party under this Agreement in the case of any such willful and intentional breach or
Fraud, at law and in equity, shall be preserved, including the right to recover reasonable
attorneys fees and expenses. In the event of the termination of this Agreement, pursuant to
Section 7.1, the Parties agree that for a period of one year from and after the Execution
Date, neither Seller, on the one hand, nor the Buyer Parties, on the other hand, shall solicit for
employment or hire any executive officers or other management level employees of the Regency
Entities, in the case of the Buyer Parties, and the Buyer Parties, in the case of Seller, who were
employed by such party within six months prior to the Execution Date. The restrictions in the
preceding sentence regarding the prohibition on solicitations (as opposed to hires) shall not apply
to any solicitation directed at the general public. Except to the extent otherwise provided in
this Section 7.2, the Parties agree that, if this Agreement is terminated, the Parties
shall have no liability to each other under or relating to this Agreement.
ARTICLE VIII
INDEMNIFICATION
8.1 Indemnification by Seller. Subject to the terms of this Article VIII, from and
after the Closing, Seller shall jointly and severally indemnify and hold harmless the Buyer Parties
and their respective partners, members, managers, directors, officers, employees, consultants and
permitted assigns (collectively, the Buyer Indemnitees), to the fullest extent permitted by Law,
from and against any losses (excluding any loss in the value of the Regency
40
Common Units issued to ETE pursuant to the Contribution Agreement), claims, damages,
liabilities and costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys fees and expenses)
(collectively, Losses) incurred, arising out of or relating to:
(a) any breach of any of the representations or warranties (in each case, when made) of Seller
contained in Article III or of the certification of a Responsible Officer of Seller
delivered to the Buyer Parties pursuant to Section 6.2(c); and
(b) any breach of any of the covenants or agreements of Seller contained in this Agreement.
provided however; that any liability of Seller under this Section 8.1 shall be satisfied at
Sellers option from (i) cash on hand; or (ii) by a redemption of the Convertible Preferred Units
at a price based off the original issue price of the Convertible Preferred Units (subject to
adjustment from time to time for stock dividends, stock splits, combinations of units,
reorganizations, recapitalizations, reclassifications or other similar events occurring after the
date hereof) plus all accrued and unpaid dividends (whether or not declared), in an amount equal to
such Losses.
8.2 Indemnification by the Buyer Parties. Subject to the terms of this Article VIII,
from and after the Closing, the Buyer Parties shall jointly and severally indemnify and hold
harmless Seller and its directors, officers, employees, consultants and permitted assigns
(collectively, the Seller Indemnitees and, together with the Buyer Indemnitees, the
Indemnitees), to the fullest extent permitted by Law, from and against Losses incurred, arising
out of or relating to:
(a) any breach of any of the representations or warranties (in each case, when made) of the
Buyer Parties contained in this Agreement or of the certification of a Responsible Officer of the
Buyer Parties delivered to Seller pursuant to Section 6.3(c); and
(b) any breach of any of the covenants or agreements of the Buyer Parties contained in this
Agreement.
8.3 Limitations and Other Indemnity Claim Matters. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
in this Article VIII or elsewhere in this Agreement, the following terms shall apply to any
claim for monetary damages arising out of this Agreement or related to the transactions
contemplated hereby:
(a) De Minimis. No indemnifying party (an Indemnifying Party) will have any
liability under this Article VIII in respect of any individual claim involving Losses
arising under Section 8.1(a) or Section 8.2(a) to any single Buyer Indemnitee or
Seller Indemnitee, as applicable, of less than $125,000 (each, a De Minimis Claim).
Notwithstanding the forgoing, this Section 8.3(a) shall not apply to Losses arising from
any breach or inaccuracy of the representations or warranties set forth in Section 3.16 or
Section 4.14.
(b) Deductible.
(i) Seller will not have any liability under Section 8.1(a) until the Buyer
Indemnitees have suffered Losses in excess of in the aggregate $3,000,000 (the
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Deductible) arising from Claims under Section 8.1(a) that are not De Minimis
Claims, and then recoverable Losses claimed under Section 8.1(a) shall be limited to
those that exceed the Deductible. Notwithstanding the forgoing, this Section
8.3(b)(i) shall not apply to Losses arising from any breach or inaccuracy of the
representations or warranties set forth in Section 3.16.
(ii) The Buyer Parties will not have any liability under Section 8.2(a) until
the Seller Indemnitees have suffered Losses in excess of the Deductible arising from Claims
under Section 8.2(a) that are not De Minimis Claims, and then recoverable Losses
claimed under Section 8.2(a) shall be limited to those that exceed the Deductible.
Notwithstanding the forgoing, this Section 8.3(b)(ii) shall not apply to Losses
arising from any breach or inaccuracy of the representations or warranties set forth in
Section 4.14.
(c) Cap.
(i) Sellers aggregate liability under this Agreement and from the transactions
contemplated hereby shall not exceed $45,000,000 (the Cap); provided that the limitation
set forth in this Section 8.3(c)(i) shall not apply to Losses arising out of or
relating to (A) any breach or inaccuracy of the representations and warranties set forth in
Sections 3.1, 3.2, 3.5, 3.6 or 3.18 or (B)
any breach of any covenants or agreements of Seller set forth in this Agreement that by
their terms are to be performed after the Closing Date; provided, further, that in no event
shall Sellers aggregate liability arising under this Agreement and from the transactions
contemplated hereby exceed $300,000,000.
(ii) The Buyer Parties aggregate liability under this Agreement and from the
transactions contemplated hereby shall not exceed the Cap; provided that the limitation set
forth in this Section 8.3(c)(ii) shall not apply to Losses arising out of or
relating to (A) any breach or inaccuracy of the representations and warranties set forth in
Sections 4.1, 4.2 or 4.16 or (B) any breach of any covenants or
agreements of the Buyer Parties set forth in this Agreement that by their terms are to be
performed after the Closing Date; provided, further, that in no event shall the Buyer
Parties aggregate liability arising under this Agreement and from the transactions
contemplated hereby exceed $300,000,000.
(d) Survival; Claims Period.
(i) The representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the Parties under this
Agreement shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and shall continue in
full force and effect until the one-year anniversary of the Closing Date (the Expiration
Date); provided that (i) the representations and warranties set forth in Sections
3.1 (Organization; Qualification), 3.2 (Authority; Enforceability),
3.4 (Governmental Approvals), 3.5 (Capitalization), 3.6 (Ownership
of Acquired GP Interests), 3.18 (Brokers Fee), 3.22 (Matters Relating to
Acquisition of the Convertible Preferred Units), 4.1 (Organization; Qualification),
4.2 (Authority; Enforceability; Valid Issuance), 4.4 (Governmental
Approvals), 4.5 (Capitalization), 4.16 (Brokers Fee) and 4.19
(Matters Relating to Acquisition of Acquired GP Interests) shall survive indefinitely,
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(ii) the representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.16 and
Section 4.14 shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and shall
continue in full force and effect until ninety (90) days after the expiration of the
applicable statute of limitations (which shall be deemed to be the Expiration Date with
respect to such representations and warranties) and (iii) any covenants or agreements
contained in this Agreement that by their terms are to be performed after the Closing Date
shall survive until fully discharged.
(ii) No action for a breach of any representation or warranty contained herein (other
than representations or warranties that survive indefinitely pursuant to
Section 8.3(d)(i)) shall be brought after the Expiration Date, except for claims of
which a Party has received a Claim Notice setting forth in reasonable detail the claimed
misrepresentation or breach of warranty with reasonable detail, prior to the Expiration
Date.
(e) Calculation of Losses. In calculating amounts payable to any Seller Indemnitee or Buyer
Indemnitee (each such person, an Indemnified Party) for a claim for indemnification hereunder,
the amount of any indemnified Losses shall be determined without duplication of any other Loss for
which an indemnification claim has been made or could be made under any other representation,
warranty, covenant, or agreement and shall be computed net of (i) payments actually recovered by
the Indemnified Party under any insurance policy with respect to such Losses and (ii) any prior or
subsequent actual recovery by the Indemnified Party from any Person with respect to such Losses.
(f) Waiver of Certain Damages. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement,
in no event shall any Party be liable for punitive, special, indirect, consequential, remote,
speculative or lost profits damages of any kind or nature, regardless of the form of action through
which such damages are sought, except for any such damages recovered by any third party against an
Indemnified Party in respect of which such Indemnified Party would otherwise be entitled to
indemnification pursuant to the terms hereof.
(g) Sole and Exclusive Remedy. Except for the assertion of any Claim based on fraud
with the intent to deceive or willful misconduct, the remedies provided in this Article
VIII shall be the sole and exclusive legal remedies of the Parties, from and after the Closing,
with respect to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.
8.4 Indemnification Procedures.
(a) Each Indemnitee agrees that promptly after it becomes aware of facts giving rise to a
claim by it for indemnification pursuant to this Article VIII, such Indemnitee must assert
its claim for indemnification under this Article VIII (each, a Claim) by providing a
written notice (a Claim Notice) to the Indemnifying Party allegedly required to provide
indemnification protection under this Article VIII specifying, in reasonable detail, the
nature and basis for such Claim (e.g., the underlying representation, warranty, covenant or
agreement alleged to have been breached) and the amount (to the extent that the nature and amount
of such Claim is known or reasonably ascertainable at such time, provided that such amount or
estimated amount shall not be conclusive of the final amount, if any, of such Claim).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Indemnitees failure to send or delay in sending a third party
Claim Notice will not relieve the
43
Indemnifying Party from liability hereunder with respect to such Claim except to the extent
the Indemnifying Party is prejudiced by such failure or delay and except as is otherwise provided
herein, including in Section 8.3(d).
(b) In the event of the assertion of any third party Claim for which, by the terms hereof, an
Indemnifying Party is obligated to indemnify an Indemnitee, the Indemnifying Party will have the
right, at such Indemnifying Partys expense, to assume the defense of same including the
appointment and selection of counsel on behalf of the Indemnitee so long as such counsel is
reasonably acceptable to the Indemnitee. If the Indemnifying Party elects to assume the defense of
any such third party Claim, it shall within 30 days of its receipt of the Claim Notice, notify the
Indemnitee in writing of its intent to do so. The Indemnifying Party will have the right to settle
or compromise or take any corrective or remediation action with respect to any such Claim by all
appropriate proceedings, which proceedings will be diligently prosecuted by the Indemnifying Party
to a final conclusion or settled at the discretion of the Indemnifying Party. The Indemnitee will
be entitled, at its own cost, to participate with the Indemnifying Party in the defense of any such
Claim. If the Indemnifying Party assumes the defense of any such third-party Claim but fails to
diligently prosecute such Claim, or if the Indemnifying Party does not assume the defense of any
such Claim, the Indemnitee may assume control of such defense and in the event it is determined
pursuant to the procedures set forth in Article IX that the Claim was a matter for which
the Indemnifying Party is required to provide indemnification under the terms of this Article
VIII, the Indemnifying Party will bear the reasonable costs and expenses of such defense
(including reasonable attorneys fees and expenses). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Indemnifying Party may not assume the defense of the third-party Claim (but will be entitled at its
own cost to participate with the Indemnified Party in the defense of any such Claim) if the
potential damages under the third-party Claim could reasonably and in good faith be expected to
exceed, in the aggregate when combined with all claims previously made by the Indemnified Party to
the Indemnifying Party under this Article VIII, the maximum amount the Indemnifying Party may be
liable pursuant to Section 8.3(c); provided, however, that to the extent the Parties are not in
agreement with respect to the calculation of potential damages, the Indemnifying Party shall have
the right to assume the defense of the third-party Claim in accordance herewith until the Parties
have agreed or a final non-appealable judgment has been entered into, with respect to the
determination of the potential damages.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Indemnifying Party will
not be permitted to settle, compromise, take any corrective or remedial action or enter into an
agreed judgment or consent decree, in each case, that subjects the Indemnified Party to any
criminal liability, requires an admission of guilt or wrongdoing on the part of the Indemnified
Party or imposes any continuing obligation on or requires any payment from the Indemnified Party
without the Indemnified Partys prior written consent.
8.5 No Reliance.
(a) THE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER CONTAINED IN ARTICLE III CONSTITUTE
THE SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER TO THE BUYER PARTIES IN CONNECTION
WITH THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT. THE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE BUYER PARTIES
CONTAINED IN ARTICLE IV CONSTITUTE THE SOLE AND
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EXCLUSIVE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BUYER PARTIES TO SELLER IN CONNECTION WITH THE
TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT. EXCEPT FOR SUCH REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES, NO
PARTY NOR ANY OTHER PERSON MAKES ANY OTHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY WITH
RESPECT TO SUCH PARTY OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT, AND EACH PARTY DISCLAIMS
ANY OTHER REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, WHETHER MADE BY SUCH PARTY OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES,
OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS OR REPRESENTATIVES (INCLUDING WITH RESPECT TO THE
DISTRIBUTION OF, OR ANY PERSONS RELIANCE ON, ANY INFORMATION, DISCLOSURE OR OTHER DOCUMENT OR
OTHER MATERIAL MADE AVAILABLE TO THE ANY PARTY IN ANY DATA ROOM, ELECTRONIC DATA ROOM, MANAGEMENT
PRESENTATION OR IN ANY OTHER FORM IN EXPECTATION OF, OR IN CONNECTION WITH, THE TRANSACTIONS
CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT). EXCEPT FOR SUCH REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES, EACH PARTY
DISCLAIMS ALL LIABILITY AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY REPRESENTATION, WARRANTY, PROJECTION, FORECAST,
STATEMENT, OR INFORMATION MADE, COMMUNICATED, OR FURNISHED (ORALLY OR IN WRITING) TO ANY OTHER
PARTY OR ITS AFFILIATES, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS OR REPRESENTATIVES (INCLUDING
OPINION, INFORMATION, PROJECTION, OR ADVICE THAT MAY HAVE BEEN OR MAY BE PROVIDED TO ANY PARTY OR
ANY OFFICER, DIRECTOR, EMPLOYEE, AGENT OR REPRESENTATIVE OF SUCH PARTY OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES).
(b) Except as provided in Sections 7.2, 8.1 and 8.2, no Party nor any
Affiliate of a Party shall assert or threaten, and each Party hereby waives and shall cause such
Affiliates to waive, any claim or other method of recovery, in contract, in tort or under
applicable Law, against any Person that is not a Party (or a successor to a Party) relating to the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
ARTICLE IX
GOVERNING LAW AND CONSENT TO JURISDICTION
9.1 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in
accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the conflicts of law
provision or rule (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the
application of the Laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware.
9.2 Consent to Jurisdiction. The Parties irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of
(a) the Delaware Court of Chancery, and (b) any state appellate court therefrom within the State of
Delaware (or, only if the Delaware Court of Chancery declines to accept jurisdiction over a
particular matter, any state or federal court within the State of Delaware), for the purposes of
any Proceeding arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (and each
agrees that no such Proceeding relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby
shall be brought by it except in such courts). The Parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive
(and agree not to plead or claim) any objection to the laying of venue of any Proceeding arising
out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in (i) the
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Delaware Court of Chancery, or (ii) any state appellate court therefrom within the State of
Delaware (or, only if the Delaware Court of Chancery declines to accept jurisdiction over a
particular matter, any state or federal court within the State of Delaware) or that any such
Proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Each of the
Parties hereto also agrees that any final and non-appealable judgment against a Party hereto in
connection with any Proceeding shall be conclusive and binding on such Party and that such award or
judgment may be enforced in any court of competent jurisdiction, either within or outside of the
United States. A certified or exemplified copy of such award or judgment shall be conclusive
evidence of the fact and amount of such award or judgment.
9.3 Waiver of Jury Trial. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY ACTION OR
PROCEEDING TO ENFORCE OR TO DEFEND ANY RIGHTS UNDER THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE TRIED BEFORE A COURT
AND NOT BEFORE A JURY.
ARTICLE X
GENERAL PROVISIONS
10.1 Amendment and Modification. This Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented only
by written agreement of the Parties hereto.
10.2 Waiver of Compliance; Consents. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, any
failure of any of the Parties to comply with any obligation, covenant, agreement or condition in
this Agreement may be waived by the Party or Parties entitled to the benefits thereof only by a
written instrument signed by the Party or Parties granting such waiver, but such waiver or failure
to insist upon strict compliance with such obligation, covenant, agreement or condition shall not
operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or other failure.
10.3 Notices. Any notice, demand or communication required or permitted under this Agreement
shall be in writing and delivered personally, by reputable overnight delivery service or other
courier or by certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, and shall be deemed to
have been duly given (a) as of the date of delivery if delivered personally or by overnight
delivery service or other courier or (b) on the date receipt is acknowledged if delivered by
certified mail, addressed as follows; provided that a notice of a change of address shall be
effective only upon receipt thereof:
If to Seller to:
Regency GP Acquirer LP
c/o GE Energy Financial Services
800 Long Ridge Road
Stamford, Connecticut 06927
Telephone: (203) 316-7355
Facsimile: (203) 961-2606
Attention: Portfolio-Regency
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With a copy (not itself constituting notice) to:
Regency GP Acquirer LP
c/o GE Energy Financial Services
800 Long Ridge Road
Stamford, Connecticut 06927
Telephone: (203) 357-4151
Facsimile: (203) 357-6632
Attention: General Counsel
and
Latham & Watkins LLP
885 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Telephone: (212) 906-1259
Facsimile: (212) 751-4864
Attention: Charles E. Carpenter
If to the Buyer Parties to:
Energy Transfer Equity, L.P.
3738 Oak Lawn
Dallas, Texas 75219
Telephone: (832) 668-1210 or (214) 981-0763
Facsimile: (832) 668-1127
Attention: General Counsel
and
Vinson & Elkins LLP
2500 First City Tower
1001 Fannin, Suite 2500
Houston, Texas 77007
Telephone: (713) 758-3613
Facsimile: (713) 615-5725
Attention: Douglas E. McWilliams
10.4 Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties
and their successors and permitted assigns. No Party may assign or transfer this Agreement or any
of its rights, interests or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of
the other Parties. Any attempted assignment or transfer in violation of this Agreement shall be
null, void and ineffective.
10.5 Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the
benefit of the Parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. Except as
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provided in Sections 8.1 and 8.2, none of the provisions of this Agreement
shall be for the benefit of or enforceable by any third party, including any creditor of any Party
or any of their Affiliates. No such third party shall obtain any right under any provision of this
Agreement or shall by reasons of any such provision make any claim in respect of any liability (or
otherwise) against any other Party.
10.6 Entire Agreement. Except for the Confidentiality Agreement which shall survive the
execution of this Agreement, this Agreement and the other transaction documents constitute the
entire agreement and understanding of the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and
supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both oral and written, among the Parties or
between any of them with respect to such subject matter.
10.7 Severability. Whenever possible, each provision or portion of any provision of this
Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable Law but
if any provision or portion of any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity,
illegality or unenforceability will not affect any other provision or portion of any provision in
such jurisdiction, and this Agreement will be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction
as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision or portion of any provision had never been
contained herein.
10.8 Representation by Counsel. Each of the Parties agrees that it has been represented by
independent counsel of its choice during the negotiation and execution of this Agreement and the
documents referred to herein, and that it has executed the same upon the advice of such independent
counsel. Each Party and its counsel cooperated in the drafting and preparation of this Agreement
and the documents referred to herein, and any and all drafts relating thereto shall be deemed the
work product of the Parties and may not be construed against any Party by reason of its
preparation. Therefore, the Parties waive the application of any Law providing that ambiguities in
an agreement or other document will be construed against the Party drafting such agreement or
document.
10.9 Disclosure Schedules. The inclusion of any information (including dollar amounts) in any
section of the Seller Disclosure Schedule or the Buyers Disclosure Schedule shall not be deemed to
be an admission or acknowledgment by a Party that such information is required to be listed on such
section of the Seller Disclosure Schedule or the Buyers Disclosure Schedule or is material to or
outside the ordinary course of the business of such Party or the Person to which such disclosure
relates. The information contained in this Agreement, the Exhibits and the Schedules is disclosed
solely for purposes of this Agreement, and no information contained in this Agreement, the Exhibits
or the Schedules shall be deemed to be an admission by any Party to any third Person of any matter
whatsoever (including any violation of a legal requirement or breach of contract). The disclosure
contained in one disclosure schedule contained in the Seller Disclosure Schedule or Buyer
Disclosure Schedule may be incorporated by reference into any other disclosure schedule contained
therein, and shall be deemed to have been so incorporated into any other disclosure schedule so
long as it is readily apparent on its face that the disclosure is applicable to such other
disclosure schedule.
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10.10 Facsimiles; Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by facsimile signatures by any
Party and such signature shall be deemed binding for all purposes hereof, without delivery of an
original signature being thereafter required. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which, when executed, shall be deemed to be an original and all of which
together shall constitute one and the same document.
[Signature page follows.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Parties has caused this Agreement to be executed by its
respective duly authorized officers as of the date first above written.
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REGENCY GP ACQUIRER LP
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By: |
REGENCY GP HOLDO I LLC, its
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general partner |
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By: |
AIRCRAFT SERVICES CORPORATION, its
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managing member |
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By: |
/s/ Mark Mellana
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Mark Mellana, |
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Authorized Signatory |
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ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P.
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By: |
LE GP, LLC, its general partner
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By: |
/s/ John W. McReynolds
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John W. McReynolds, |
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President and Chief Financial Officer |
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ETE GP ACQUIRER LLC
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By: |
/s/ Martin Salinas, Jr.
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Martin Salinas, Jr., |
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Chief Financial Officer |
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Signature Page to General Partner Purchase Agreement
EXHIBIT A
Acquired GP Interests is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
Affiliate means a Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries,
controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, a specified Person. A Person shall
be deemed to control another Person if such first Person possesses, directly or indirectly, the
power to direct, or cause the direction of, the management and policies of such other Person,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
Agreement is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
Assignment of Interests is defined in Section 2.3(a)(i).
Audit Firm means the independent accounting firm regularly engaged by Seller to review their
quarterly financial statements and provide an audit report with respect to their annual financial
statements.
Business Day means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial
banks in the State of New York are authorized or obligated to be closed by applicable Laws.
Buyer is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
Buyer Indemnities is defined in Section 8.1.
Buyer Parties is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
Buyers Disclosure Schedule means the disclosure schedule to this Agreement prepared by the
Buyer Parties and delivered to Seller on the Execution Date.
Claim is defined in Section 8.4(a).
Claim Notice is defined in Section 8.4(a).
Closing is defined in Section 2.2.
Closing Date is defined in Section 2.2.
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Competing Proposal is defined in Section 5.9(c).
Confidentiality Agreement means that certain Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreement,
dated as of February 8, 2010, by and among ETE, ETP and GE Energy Financial Services, Inc.
Contract means any written agreement, lease, license, note, evidence of indebtedness,
mortgage, security agreement, understanding, instrument or other legally binding arrangement.
Control means, where used with respect to any Person, the possession, directly or
indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such
Person, whether through ownership of Voting Interests, by contract or otherwise, and the terms
Controlling and Controlled have correlative meanings.
Convertible Preferred Units is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
Creditors Rights is defined in Section 3.2(b).
1
De Minimis Claim is defined in Section 8.3(a).
Deductible is defined in Section 8.3(b)(i).
Delaware LLC Act means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, as amended from time to
time.
Delaware LP Act means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, as amended from
time to time.
Environmental Laws means any and all Laws pertaining to prevention of pollution, protection
of the environment (including natural resources), remediation of contamination and workplace health
and safety.
ERISA means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
ERISA Affiliate means, with respect to any entity, trade or business, any other entity,
trade or business that is a member of a group described in Section 414(b),(c), (m) or (o) of the
Code or Section 4001(b)(l) of ERISA that includes the first entity, trade or business, or that is a
member of the same controlled group as the first entity, trade or business pursuant to section
4001(a)(14) of ERISA.
ETC II is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
ETC III is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
ETE is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
ETE Benefit Plans is defined in Section 4.15.
ETE Common Units means a common unit representing a limited partner interest in ETE.
ETE Credit Agreement means that certain Credit Agreement dated February 8, 2006 between ETE
and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as administrative agent as amended from time to time.
ETE Entities means ETE and all Subsidiaries of ETE.
ETE Financial Statements are defined in Section 4.9(c).
ETE Material Adverse Effect means any Material Adverse Effect in respect to the ETE Entities
taken as a whole.
ETE Partnership Agreement means the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited
Partnership of Energy Transfer Equity, L.P., as amended from time to time.
ETE SEC Documents is defined in Section 4.9(a).
ETP is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
ETP Common Units means a common unit representing a limited partner interest in ETP.
ETP GP Interest is defined in Section 4.5(h).
ETP GP LLC means Energy Transfer Partners, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company.
ETP GP LP means Energy Transfer Partners GP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.
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ETP GP LP Interests is defined in Section 4.5(h).
ETP Incentive Distribution Rights means the Incentive Distribution Rights as such term is
defined in the ETP Partnership Agreement.
ETP Partnership Agreement means the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. as amended from time to time.
ETP Redemption Agreement is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.
Execution Date is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
Expiration Date is defined in Section 8.3(d)(i).
FERC means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission of the United States of America.
Fraud means actual fraud involving a knowing and intentional misrepresentation of a material
fact.
GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.
GECC Names and Marks means the names or marks of GECC or any of its Affiliates, including
GE (in block letters or otherwise), the GE monogram, General Electric Company and General
Electric, either alone or in combination with other words and all marks, trade dress, logos,
monograms, domain names and other source identifiers confusingly similar to or embodying any of the
foregoing either alone or in combination with other words; provided, however, that GECC Names and
Marks shall not include the names or marks of Regency or any of its Subsidiaries, including
Regency or Regency Energy Partners, either alone or in combination with other words and all
marks, trade dress, logos, monograms, domain names and other source identifiers confusingly similar
to or embodying any of the foregoing either alone or in combination with other words.
Governance Policies means policies designed to address conflicts of interest,
non-overlapping director positions, confidential information and other related matters.
Governmental Authority means any executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or
administrative agency, body, commission, department, board, court, tribunal, arbitrating body or
authority of the United States or any foreign country, or any state, local or other governmental
subdivision thereof.
Hazardous Substances means each substance, waste or material regulated, defined, designated
or classified as a hazardous waste, hazardous substance, hazardous material, pollutant, contaminant
or toxic substance under any Environmental Law.
Indemnified Party is defined in Section 8.3(e).
Indemnifying Party is defined in Section 8.3(a).
Indemnitees is defined in Section 8.2.
Intellectual Property means patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets.
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Knowledge means (a) with respect to Seller, the actual knowledge of James F. Burgoyne,
Daniel R. Castagnola, Mark T. Mellana and Brian P. Ward, and (b) with respect to the Buyer Parties,
the actual knowledge of John W. McReynolds and Sonia Aube.
Law means any law, statute, code, ordinance, order, rule, rule of common law, regulation,
judgment, decree, injunction, franchise, permit, certificate, license or authorization of any
Governmental Authority.
LEGP Interest is defined in Section 4.5(e).
LEGPLLC is defined in Section 4.5(e).
Lien means, with respect to any property or asset, (i) any mortgage, pledge, security
interest, lien or other similar property interest or encumbrance in respect of such property or
asset, and (ii) any easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, restrictive covenants, rights, leases
and other encumbrances on title to real or personal property (whether or not of record).
Losses is defined in Section 8.1.
Master Services Agreement is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
Material Adverse Effect means, with respect to any Person, any change, event or development
that is materially adverse to the business, assets, financial condition, or operations of such
Person and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; provided, however, that, a Material Adverse Effect
shall not be deemed to have occurred as a result of any of the following changes, events or
developments (either alone or in combination): (a) any change in general economic, political or
business conditions (including any effects on the economy arising as a result of acts of
terrorism); (b) any change in oil or natural gas commodity prices; (c) any change affecting the
natural gas transportation industry generally but which does not have a materially disproportionate
impact on the business of such Person and its Subsidiaries; (d) any change in accounting
requirements or principles imposed by GAAP or any change in Law after the Execution Date but which
does not, in each case, have a materially disproportionate impact on the business of such Person
and its Subsidiaries; (e) any change resulting from the execution of this Agreement or the
announcement of the transactions contemplated hereby; or (f) any change resulting from compliance
by such Person with the terms of this Agreement or from any action by such Person that is expressly
permitted by this Agreement.
MEP Contribution is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
MEP Contribution Agreement is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
Operating Subsidiaries means Regency Gas Services LP, a Delaware limited partnership and all
other Subsidiaries of Regency.
Organizational Documents means, with respect to any Person, the articles of incorporation,
certificate of incorporation, certificate of formation, certificate of limited partnership, bylaws,
limited liability company agreement, operating agreement, partnership agreement, stockholders
agreement and all other similar documents, instruments or certificates executed, adopted or filed
in connection with the creation, formation or organization of such Person, including any amendments
thereto.
Owned Units are defined in Section 4.5(i).
Party and Parties are defined in the preamble of this Agreement.
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Permits means all permits, approvals, consents, licenses, franchises, exemptions and other
authorizations, consents and approvals of or from Governmental Authorities.
Permitted Liens means, with respect to any Person, (a) statutory Liens for current Taxes
applicable to the assets of such Person or assessments not yet delinquent or the amount or validity
of which is being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been established in
accordance with GAAP; (b) mechanics, carriers, workers, repairers, landlords and other similar
liens arising or incurred in the ordinary course of business of such Person relating to obligations
as to which there is no default on the part of such Person, (c) Liens as may have arisen in the
ordinary course of business of such Person, none of which are material to the ownership, use or
operation of the assets of such Person; (d) any state of facts which an accurate on the ground
survey of any real property of such Person would show, and any easements, rights-of-way,
restrictions, restrictive covenants, rights, leases, and other encumbrances on title to real or
personal property filed of record that do not materially detract from the value of or materially
interfere with the use and operation of any of the assets of such Person; (e) statutory Liens for
obligations that are not delinquent, (f) Liens encumbering the fee interest of those tracts of real
property encumbered by Rights-of-Way, (g) legal highways, zoning and building laws, ordinances and
regulations, that do not materially detract from the value of or materially interfere with the use
of the assets of such Person in the ordinary course of business and (h) any Liens with respect to
assets of such Person, which, together with all other Liens, do not materially detract from the
value of such Person or materially interfere with the present use of the assets owned by such
Person or the conduct of the business of such Person.
Person means any natural person, corporation, limited partnership, general partnership,
limited liability company, joint stock company, joint venture, association, company, estate, trust,
bank trust company, land trust, business trust, or other organization, whether or not a legal
entity, custodian, trustee-executor, administrator, nominee or entity in a representative capacity
and any Governmental Authority.
Preceding Quarter is defined in Section 2.4(b).
Pre-Closing Tax is defined in Section 5.12(a).
Proceeding means any civil, criminal or administrative actions, suits, investigations or
other proceedings.
Redemption and Exchange is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
Regency is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
Regency Benefit Plans is defined in Section 3.17(a)(ii).
Regency Common Unit means a common unit representing a limited partner interest in Regency.
Regency Credit Agreement means the Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of
March 4, 2010, by and among Regency, Wachovia Bank, National Association as Administrative Agent
and the lenders party thereto, as amended from time.
Regency Entities means Regency, RGPLP, RGPLLC and the Operating Subsidiaries, collectively.
Regency Financial Statements is defined in Section 3.10(c).
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Regency GP Entities means RGPLP and RGPLLC.
Regency GP Interest is defined in Section 3.5(e).
Regency GP LP Interests is defined in Section 3.5(e).
Regency Incentive Distribution Rights means the Incentive Distribution Rights as such term
is defined in the Regency Partnership Agreement.
Regency Material Adverse Effect means any Material Adverse Effect in respect of the Regency
Entities taken as a whole.
Regency Material Contracts is defined in Section 3.13(b).
Regency Partnership Agreement means that certain Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited
Partnership of Regency Energy Partners LP, dated as of February 3, 2006, between RGPLP, as the
General Partner, and Seller, as the Organizational Limited Partner, together with any other Persons
who become Partners in the Partnership or parties thereto as provided therein, as amended by that
Amendment No. 1 to Agreement of Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Regency
Energy Partners LP, dated as of August 15, 2006, between RGPLP, as the General Partner, as further
amended by that Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Regency
Energy Partners LP, dated as of September 21, 2006, between RGPLP, as the General Partner.
Regency SEC Documents is defined in Section 3.10(a).
Regency Series A Unit is defined in Section 3.5(g).
Registration Rights Agreement is defined in Section 2.3(a)(vii).
Release means any depositing, spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, placing, emitting,
discarding, abandoning, emptying, discharging, migrating, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping,
or disposing.
Representatives is defined in Section 5.3.
Responsible Officer means, with respect to any Person, any vice-president or more senior
officer of such Person.
RGPLLC is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
RGPLP is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
Rights-of-Way means easements, rights-of-way and similar real estate interests.
RIGS Contribution is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
RIGS HPC is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
SEC is defined in Section 3.10(a).
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.
Seller is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
Seller Indemnitees is defined in Section 8.2.
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Seller Disclosure Schedule means the disclosure schedule to this Agreement prepared by
Seller and delivered to the Buyer Parties on the Execution Date.
Subsidiary means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company,
partnership, association or other business entity of which a majority of the Voting Interests are
at the time owned or Controlled directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other
Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof; provided that for purposes of this Agreement,
RIGS HPC and any of its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be Subsidiaries of Regency.
Tax means (a) any tax, charge, fee, levy, penalty or other assessment imposed by any United
States federal, state, local or foreign taxing authority, including any excise, property, income,
sales, transfer, margin, franchise, payroll, withholding, social security or other tax, including
any interest, penalties or additions attributable thereto, whether disputed or not; and (b) any
liability for the payment of any amounts of the type described in clause (a) as a result of
being a member of a consolidated, combined or unitary group for any period; and (c) any liability
of for the payment of any amounts of the type described in clause (a) or (b) as a
result of the operation of law or any express or implied obligation to indemnify any other Person.
Tax Return means any return, report, information return, declaration, claim for refund or
other document (including any related or supporting information or schedules) supplied or required
to be supplied to any authority with respect to Taxes and including any supplement or amendment
thereof.
Termination Date is defined in Section 7.1(c).
Third Amendment is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
Transaction Agreements means, collectively, this Agreement, the ETP Redemption Agreement and
MEP Contribution Agreement.
Transfer Taxes is defined in Section 5.12(b).
Treasury Regulations means the regulations (including temporary regulations) promulgated by
the United States Department of the Treasury pursuant to and in respect of provisions of the Code.
All references herein to sections of the Treasury Regulations shall include any corresponding
provision or provisions of succeeding, similar or substitute, temporary or final Treasury
Regulations.
Voting Interests of any Person as of any date means the equity interests of such Person
pursuant to which the holders thereof have the general voting power under ordinary circumstances to
elect at least a majority of the board of directors, managers, general partners or trustees of such
Person (regardless of whether, at the time, equity interests of any other class or classes shall
have, or might have, voting power by reason of the occurrence of any contingency) or, with respect
to a partnership (whether general or limited), any general partner interest in such partnership.
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