REGISTRATIONRIGHTS AGREEMENT by and among EnbridgeEnergy Partners, L.P. and Banc ofAmerica Securities LLC DeutscheBank Securities Inc.

EX-4.5 5 a08-10152_1ex4d5.htm EX-4.5

Exhibit 4.5

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

by and among

 

Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P.

 

and

 

Banc of America Securities LLC

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.

As Representatives of the several Initial Purchasers

 

Dated as of April 3, 2008

 



 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of April 3, 2008, by and among Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), and the several parties named in Schedule I hereto (the “Initial Purchasers”) for whom Banc of America Securities LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. are acting as representatives (the “Representatives”).  Each of the Initial Purchasers has agreed to purchase the Partnership’s 7.50% Notes due 2038 (the “Initial Securities”) pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below).

 

This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated March 31, 2008 (the “Purchase Agreement”), between the Partnership and the Initial Purchasers (i) for the benefit of the Initial Purchasers and (ii) for the benefit of the holders from time to time of the Initial Securities, including the Initial Purchasers.  In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to purchase the Initial Securities, the Partnership has agreed to provide the registration rights set forth in this Agreement.  The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the obligations of the Initial Purchasers set forth in Section 4(k) of the Purchase Agreement.

 

The parties hereby agree as follows:

 

SECTION 1.  Definitions.  As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Broker-Dealer:  Any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange Act.

 

Business Day:  Any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or U.S. federal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies located in New York, New York are authorized or obligated to be closed.

 

Closing Date:  The date of this Agreement.

 

Commission:  The Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Consummate:   A registered Exchange Offer shall be deemed “Consummated” for purposes of this Agreement upon the occurrence of (i) the filing and effectiveness under the Securities Act of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement relating to the Exchange Securities to be issued in the Exchange Offer, (ii) the maintenance of such Registration Statement continuously effective and the keeping of the Exchange Offer open for a period not less than the minimum period required pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof, and (iii) the delivery by the Partnership to the Registrar under the Indenture of Exchange Securities in the same aggregate principal amount as the aggregate principal amount of Initial Securities that were tendered by Holders thereof pursuant to the Exchange Offer.

 

Effectiveness Target Date:  As defined in Section 5 hereof.

 

Exchange Act:  The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

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Exchange Offer:  The registration by the Partnership under the Securities Act of the offer and issuance of the Exchange Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement pursuant to which the Partnership offers the Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities the opportunity to exchange all such outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities held by such Holders for Exchange Securities in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities tendered in such exchange offer by such Holders.

 

Exchange Offer Registration Statement:  The Registration Statement relating to the Exchange Offer, including the related Prospectus.

 

Exchange Securities:  The 7.50% Notes due 2038, of the same series under the Indenture as the Initial Securities, to be issued to Holders in exchange for Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to this Agreement.

 

FINRA:  The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

 

Holders:  As defined in Section 2(b) hereof.

 

Indemnified Holder:  As defined in Section 8(a) hereof.

 

Indenture:  The Indenture, dated as of May 27, 2003, by and between the Partnership and U.S. Bank National Association, successor to SunTrust Bank, as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the Seventh Supplemental Indenture dated as of the Closing Date, pursuant to which the Initial Securities are to be issued, as such Indenture is amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

Initial Placement:  The issuance and sale by the Partnership of the Initial Securities to the Initial Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

 

Initial Purchaser:  As defined in the preamble hereto.

 

Initial Securities:  As defined in the preamble hereto.

 

Interest Payment Date:  As defined in the Indenture and the Initial Securities.

 

Person:  An individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, trust or unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

Prospectus:  The prospectus included in a Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement and by all other amendments thereto, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference into such Prospectus.

 

Registration Default:  As defined in Section 5 hereof.

 

Registration Statement:  Any registration statement of the Partnership relating to (a) an offering of Exchange Securities pursuant to an Exchange Offer or (b) the registration for resale

 

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of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, which is filed pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, in each case, including the Prospectus included therein, all amendments and supplements thereto (including post-effective amendments) and all exhibits and material incorporated by reference therein.

 

Securities Act:  The Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Shelf Filing Deadline:  As defined in Section 4(a) hereof.

 

Shelf Registration Statement:  As defined in Section 4(a) hereof.

 

Trust Indenture Act:  The Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

 

Transfer Restricted Securities:  Each Initial Security, until the earliest to occur of (a) the date on which such Initial Security is exchanged in the Exchange Offer for an Exchange Security entitled to be resold to the public by the Holder thereof without complying with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act, (b) the date on which the resale of such Initial Security has been effectively registered under the Securities Act and disposed of in accordance with a Shelf Registration Statement and (c) the date on which such Initial Security is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the “Plan of Distribution” contemplated by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (including delivery of the Prospectus contained therein).

 

Underwritten Registration or Underwritten Offering:  A registration in which securities of the Partnership are sold to an underwriter for reoffering to the public.

 

SECTION 2.  Securities Subject to this Agreement.

 

(a)   Transfer Restricted Securities.  The securities entitled to the benefits of this Agreement are the Transfer Restricted Securities.

 

(b)   Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities.  A Person is deemed to be a holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (each, a “Holder”) whenever such Person owns Transfer Restricted Securities.

 

SECTION 3.  Registered Exchange Offer.

 

(a)   Unless the Exchange Offer shall not be permissible under applicable law or Commission policy (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a) hereof have been complied with), the Partnership shall (i) cause to be filed with the Commission as soon as practicable after the Closing Date, but in no event later than 90 days after the Closing Date (or if such 90th day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day), a Registration Statement under the Securities Act relating to the Exchange Securities and the Exchange Offer, (ii) use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective at the earliest possible time, but in no event later than 210 days after the Closing Date (or if such 210th day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day), (iii) in connection with the foregoing, file (A) all pre-effective amendments to such Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to cause such Registration Statement to become effective, (B) if applicable, a post-effective amendment to

 

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such Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act and (C) cause all necessary filings in connection with the registration and qualification of the Exchange Securities to be made under the state securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as are necessary to permit Consummation of the Exchange Offer, and (iv) upon the effectiveness of such Registration Statement, commence the Exchange Offer.  The Exchange Offer shall be on the appropriate form permitting registration of the Exchange Securities to be offered in exchange for the Transfer Restricted Securities and to permit resales of Initial Securities held by Broker-Dealers as contemplated by Section 3(c) hereof.

 

(b)   The Partnership shall cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be effective continuously and shall keep the Exchange Offer open for a period of not less than the minimum period required under applicable federal and state securities laws to Consummate the Exchange Offer; provided, however, that in no event shall such period be less than 30 days after the date notice of the Exchange Offer is mailed to the Holders.  The Partnership shall cause the Exchange Offer to comply with all applicable federal and state securities laws.  No securities other than the Exchange Securities shall be included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement.  The Partnership shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer to be Consummated within 30 Business Days after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement has become effective (or if such 30th day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day), but in no event later than 260 days after the Closing Date (or if such 260th day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day).

 

(c)   The Partnership shall indicate in a “Plan of Distribution” section contained in the Prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement that any Broker-Dealer who holds Initial Securities that are Transfer Restricted Securities and that were acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities (other than Transfer Restricted Securities acquired directly from the Partnership), may exchange such Initial Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer; however, such Broker-Dealer may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and must, therefore, deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resales of the Exchange Securities received by such Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer, which prospectus delivery requirement may be satisfied by the delivery by such Broker-Dealer of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement.  Such “Plan of Distribution” section shall also contain all other information with respect to such resales by Broker-Dealers that the Commission may require in order to permit such resales pursuant thereto, but such “Plan of Distribution” shall not name any such Broker-Dealer or disclose the amount of Initial Securities held by any such Broker-Dealer except to the extent required by the Commission as a result of a change in policy after the date of this Agreement.

 

The Partnership shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended as required by the provisions of Section 6(c) hereof to the extent necessary to ensure that it is available for resales of Initial Securities acquired by Broker-Dealers for their own accounts as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, and to ensure that it conforms with the requirements of this Agreement, the Securities Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a period ending on the earlier of (i) 210 days from the date on which the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective and (ii) the date on

 

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which a Broker-Dealer is no longer required to deliver a prospectus in connection with market-making or other trading activities.

 

The Partnership shall provide sufficient copies of the latest version of such Prospectus to Broker-Dealers promptly upon request at any time during such 210-day (or shorter as provided in the foregoing sentence) period in order to facilitate such resales.

 

SECTION 4.  Shelf Registration.

 

(a)   Shelf Registration.  If (i) the Partnership is not required to file an Exchange Offer Registration Statement or to consummate the Exchange Offer because the Exchange Offer is not permitted by applicable law or Commission policy (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a) hereof have been complied with) and the Initial Securities are not freely tradeable pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, (ii) for any reason the Exchange Offer is not Consummated within 260 days after the Closing Date (or if such 260th day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day) and the Initial Securities are not freely tradeable pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, or (iii) with respect to any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (A) such Holder is prohibited by applicable law or Commission policy from participating in the Exchange Offer, or (B) such Holder may not resell the Exchange Securities acquired by it in the Exchange Offer to the public without delivering a prospectus and that the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for such resales by such Holder, or (C) such Holder is a Broker-Dealer and holds Initial Securities acquired directly from the Partnership or one of its affiliates, then, upon such Holder’s request, the Partnership shall:

 

(x)  cause to be filed a shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, which may be an amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (in either event, the “Shelf Registration Statement”) on or prior to the earliest to occur of (1) the 20th day after the date on which the Partnership determines that it is not required to file the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, (2) the 20th day after the date on which the Partnership receives notice from a Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities as contemplated by clause (ii) above, and (3) the 90th day after the Closing Date (or if such 90th day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day) (such earliest (or if such 90th day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day) (such date being the “Shelf Filing Deadline”), which Shelf Registration Statement shall provide for resales of all Transfer Restricted Securities the Holders of which shall have provided the information required pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof; and

 

(y)  use their reasonable best efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective by the Commission on or before the 60th day after the Shelf Filing Deadline (or if such 60th day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day).

 

The Partnership shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep such Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended as required by the provisions of Sections 6(b) and (c) hereof to the extent necessary to ensure that it is available for resales of Initial Securities by the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities entitled to the benefit of this Section 4(a), and to ensure that it conforms with the requirements of this Agreement, the

 

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Securities Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a period of at least two years following the effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement (or shorter period that will terminate when all the Initial Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement).

 

(b)   Provision by Holders of Certain Information in Connection with the Shelf Registration Statement.  No Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities may include any of its Transfer Restricted Securities in any Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to this Agreement unless and until such Holder furnishes to the Partnership in writing, within 20 Business Days after receipt of a request therefor, such information as the Partnership may reasonably request for use in connection with any Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus included therein.  Each Holder as to which any Shelf Registration Statement is being effected agrees to furnish promptly to the Partnership all information required to be disclosed in order to make the information previously furnished to the Partnership by such Holder not materially misleading.

 

SECTION 5.  Additional Interest.  If (i) any of the Registration Statements required by this Agreement is not filed with the Commission on or prior to the date specified for such filing in this Agreement, (ii) any of such Registration Statements has not been declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the date specified for such effectiveness in this Agreement (the “Effectiveness Target Date”), (iii) the Exchange Offer has not been Consummated within 260 days after the Closing Date or (iv) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is filed and declared effective but shall thereafter cease to be effective or fail to be usable for its intended purpose without being succeeded immediately by a post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement that cures such failure and that is itself immediately declared effective (each such event referred to in clauses (i) through (iv), a “Registration Default”), the Partnership hereby agrees that the interest rate borne by the Transfer Restricted Securities shall be increased by 0.25% per annum during the 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of any Registration Default and shall increase by 0.25% per annum at the end of each subsequent 90-day period, but in no event shall such increase exceed 0.50% per annum.  Following the cure of all Registration Defaults relating to any particular Transfer Restricted Securities, the interest rate borne by the relevant Transfer Restricted Securities will be reduced to the original interest rate borne by such Transfer Restricted Securities; provided, however, that, if after any such reduction in interest rate, a different Registration Default occurs, the interest rate borne by the relevant Transfer Restricted Securities shall again be increased pursuant to the foregoing provisions.

 

All obligations of the Partnership set forth in the preceding paragraph that are outstanding with respect to any Transfer Restricted Security at the time such security ceases to be a Transfer Restricted Security shall survive until such time as all such obligations with respect to such security shall have been satisfied in full.

 

SECTION 6.  Registration Procedures.

 

(a)  Exchange Offer Registration Statement.  In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Partnership shall comply with all of the provisions of Section 6(c) hereof, shall use its reasonable best efforts to effect such exchange to permit the sale of Transfer Restricted Securities being sold

 

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in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof, and shall comply with all of the following provisions:

 

(i)  If in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Partnership there is a question as to whether the Exchange Offer is permitted by applicable law, the Partnership hereby agrees to seek a no-action letter or other favorable decision from the Commission allowing the Partnership to Consummate an Exchange Offer for such Initial Securities.  The Partnership hereby agrees to pursue the issuance of such a decision to the Commission staff level but shall not be required to take commercially unreasonable action to effect a change of Commission policy.  The Partnership hereby agrees, however, to (A) participate in telephonic conferences with the Commission, (B) deliver to the Commission staff an analysis prepared by counsel to the Partnership setting forth the legal bases, if any, upon which such counsel has concluded that such an Exchange Offer should be permitted and (C) diligently pursue a favorable resolution by the Commission staff of such submission.

 

(ii)  As a condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities shall furnish, upon the request of the Partnership, prior to the Consummation thereof, a written representation to the Partnership (which may be contained in the letter of transmittal contemplated by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) to the effect that (A) it is not an affiliate of the Partnership, (B) it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, and has no arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in, a distribution of the Exchange Securities to be issued in the Exchange Offer and (C) it is acquiring the Exchange Securities in its ordinary course of business.  In addition, all such Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities shall otherwise cooperate in the Partnership’s preparations for the Exchange Offer.  Each Holder hereby acknowledges and agrees that any Broker-Dealer and any such Holder using the Exchange Offer to participate in a distribution of the securities to be acquired in the Exchange Offer (1) could not under Commission policy as in effect on the date of this Agreement rely on the position of the Commission enunciated in Morgan Stanley and Co., Inc. (available June 5, 1991) and Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May 13, 1988), as interpreted in the Commission’s letter to Shearman & Sterling dated July 2, 1993, and similar no-action letters (which may include any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above), and (2) must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with a secondary resale transaction and that such a secondary resale transaction should be covered by an effective registration statement containing the selling security holder information required by Item 507 or 508, as applicable, of Regulation S-K if the resales are of Exchange Securities obtained by such Holder in exchange for Initial Securities acquired by such Holder directly from the Partnership.

 

(b)   Shelf Registration Statement.  In connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, the Partnership shall comply with all the provisions of Section 6(c) hereof and shall use its reasonable best efforts to effect such registration to permit the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities being sold in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof, and pursuant thereto the Partnership will as expeditiously as possible prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement relating to the registration on any appropriate form under

 

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the Securities Act, which form shall be available for the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof.

 

(c)   General Provisions.  In connection with any Registration Statement and any Prospectus required by this Agreement to permit the sale or resale of Transfer Restricted Securities (including, without limitation, any Registration Statement and the related Prospectus required to permit resales of Initial Securities by Broker-Dealers), the Partnership shall:

 

(i)   use its reasonable best efforts to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective and provide all requisite financial statements for the period specified in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as applicable; upon the occurrence of any event that would cause any such Registration Statement or the Prospectus contained therein (A) to contain a material misstatement or omission or (B) not to be effective and usable for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities during the period required by this Agreement, the Partnership shall file promptly an appropriate amendment to such Registration Statement, in the case of clause (A), correcting any such misstatement or omission, and, in the case of either clause (A) or (B), use its reasonable best efforts to cause such amendment to be declared effective and such Registration Statement and the related Prospectus to become usable for their intended purpose(s) as soon as practicable thereafter;

 

(ii)   prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to the applicable Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep the Registration Statement effective for the applicable period set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as applicable, or such shorter period as will terminate when all Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold; cause the Prospectus to be supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act, and to comply fully with the applicable provisions of Rules 424 and 430A under the Securities Act in a timely manner; and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution by the sellers thereof set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;

 

(iii)   advise the underwriter(s), if any, and selling Holders promptly and, if requested by such Persons, to confirm such advice in writing, (A) when the Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to any Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become effective, (B) of any request by the Commission for amendments to the Registration Statement or amendments or supplements to the Prospectus or for additional information relating thereto, (C) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the Securities Act or of the suspension by any state securities commission of the qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation of any proceeding for any of the preceding purposes, (D) of the existence of any fact or the happening of any event that makes any statement of a material fact made in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto, or any document incorporated by reference therein untrue, or that requires the making of any

 

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additions to or changes in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not misleading.  If at any time the Commission shall issue any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or any state securities commission or other regulatory authority shall issue an order suspending the qualification or exemption from qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities under state securities or Blue Sky laws, the Partnership shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal or lifting of such order at the earliest possible time;

 

(iv)  furnish without charge to each of the Initial Purchasers, each selling Holder named in any Registration Statement, and each of the underwriter(s), if any, before filing with the Commission, copies of any Registration Statement or any Prospectus included therein or any amendments or supplements to any such Registration Statement or Prospectus (including all documents incorporated by reference after the initial filing of such Registration Statement), which documents will be subject to the review and comment of such Holders and underwriter(s) in connection with such sale, if any, for a period of at least five Business Days, and the Partnership will not file any such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any such Registration Statement or Prospectus (including all such documents incorporated by reference) to which an Initial Purchaser of Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement or the underwriter(s), if any, shall reasonably object in writing within five Business Days after the receipt thereof (such objection to be deemed timely made upon confirmation of telecopy transmission within such period).  The objection of an Initial Purchaser or underwriter, if any, shall be deemed to be reasonable if such Registration Statement, amendment, Prospectus or supplement, as applicable, as proposed to be filed, contains a material misstatement or omission;

 

(v)  promptly prior to the filing of any document that is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or Prospectus, provide copies of such document to the Initial Purchasers, each selling Holder named in any Registration Statement, and to the underwriter(s), if any, make the Partnership’s representatives available for discussion of such document and other customary due diligence matters, and include such information in such document prior to the filing thereof as such selling Holders or underwriter(s), if any, reasonably may request;

 

(vi)  make available at reasonable times for inspection by the Initial Purchasers, the managing underwriter(s), if any, participating in any disposition pursuant to such Registration Statement and any attorney or accountant retained by such Initial Purchasers or any of the underwriter(s), all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Partnership and cause the Partnership’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Holder, underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with such Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto subsequent to the filing thereof and prior to its effectiveness and to participate in meetings with investors to the extent requested by the managing underwriter(s), if any;

 

(vii)  if requested by any selling Holders or the underwriter(s), if any, promptly incorporate in any Registration Statement or Prospectus, pursuant to a supplement or

 

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post-effective amendment if necessary, such information as such selling Holders and underwriter(s), if any, may reasonably request to have included therein, including, without limitation, information relating to the “Plan of Distribution” of the Transfer Restricted Securities, information with respect to the principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities being sold to such underwriter(s), the purchase price being paid therefor and any other terms of the offering of the Transfer Restricted Securities to be sold in such offering; and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after the Partnership is notified of the matters to be incorporated in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;

 

(viii)  cause the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be rated with the appropriate rating agencies, if so requested by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of securities covered thereby or the underwriter(s), if any;

 

(ix)  furnish to each Initial Purchaser, each selling Holder and each of the underwriter(s), if any, without charge, at least one copy of the Registration Statement, as first filed with the Commission, and of each amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated by reference therein and all exhibits (including exhibits incorporated therein by reference);

 

(x)  deliver to each selling Holder and each of the underwriter(s), if any, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) and any amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons reasonably may request; the Partnership hereby consents to the use of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders and each of the underwriter(s), if any, in connection with the offering and the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto;

 

(xi)  in the case of any Shelf Registration Statement, enter into such agreements (including an underwriting agreement), and make such representations and warranties, and take all such other actions in connection therewith in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of the Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement, all to such extent as may be requested by any Initial Purchaser or by any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities or underwriter in connection with any sale or resale pursuant to any Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement; and whether or not an underwriting agreement is entered into and whether or not the registration is an Underwritten Registration, the Partnership shall:

 

(A)  furnish to each Initial Purchaser, each selling Holder and each underwriter, if any, in such substance and scope as they may request and as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in primary underwritten offerings, upon the date of the Consummation of the Exchange Offer or, if applicable, the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement:

 

(1)  a certificate, dated the date of Consummation of the Exchange Offer or the date of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, as

 

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the case may be, signed by the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer of Enbridge Energy Management, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (“Enbridge Management”) and delegate of Enbridge Energy Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation and the general partner of the Partnership (the “General Partner”), confirming, as of the date thereof, the matters of the type set forth in Section 4(h) of the Purchase Agreement and such other matters as such parties may reasonably request;

 

(2)  an opinion, dated the date of Consummation of the Exchange Offer or the date of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, of counsel for the Partnership, covering the matters set forth in Section 4(c) of the Purchase Agreement and such other matters as such parties may reasonably request, and in any event including a statement to the effect that although such counsel has not undertaken, except as otherwise indicated in their opinion, to determine independently, and does not assume any responsibility for, the accuracy or completeness of the statements in the Registration Statement and the related Prospectus, such counsel has reviewed and is familiar with the Registration Statement and the related Prospectus and such counsel has participated in conferences with officers and other representatives of Enbridge Management, the General Partner, the Partnership and Enbridge Energy, Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership and subsidiary of the Partnership, at which the contents of the Registration Statement and the related Prospectus and related matters (including review and discussion of the contents of all documents incorporated by reference therein) were discussed, and no facts have come to such counsel’s attention that lead such counsel to believe that (i) the applicable Registration Statement (other than the financial statements and the notes thereto and the schedules and other financial data included therein, as to which such counsel need not express an opinion), at the time such Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto became effective, and, in the case of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, as of the date of Consummation, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, or (ii) the Prospectus (other than the financial statements and the notes thereto and the schedules and other financial data included therein, as to which such counsel need not express an opinion),  contained in such Registration Statement as of its date and, in the case of the opinion dated the date of Consummation of the Exchange Offer, as of the date of Consummation, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and

 

(3)  a customary comfort letter, dated the date of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, from the Partnership’s independent

 

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registered public accounting firm, in the customary form and covering matters of the type customarily requested to be covered in comfort letters by underwriters in connection with primary underwritten offerings, and covering or affirming the matters set forth in the comfort letters delivered pursuant to Section 4(g) of the Purchase Agreement, without exception;

 

(B)  set forth in full or incorporate by reference in the underwriting agreement, if any, the indemnification provisions and procedures of Section 8 hereof with respect to all parties to be indemnified pursuant to said Section; and

 

(C)  deliver such other documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by such parties to evidence compliance with Section 6(c)(xi)(A) hereof and with any customary conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other agreement entered into by the Partnership pursuant to this Section 6(c)(xi), if any.

 

If at any time the representations and warranties of the Partnership contemplated in Section 6(c)(xi)(A)(1) hereof cease to be true and correct, the Partnership shall so advise the Initial Purchasers and the underwriter(s), if any, and each selling Holder promptly and, if requested by such Persons, shall confirm such advice in writing;

 

(xii)  prior to any public offering of Transfer Restricted Securities, cooperate with the selling Holders, the underwriter(s), if any, and their respective counsel in connection with the registration and qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities under the state securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the selling Holders or underwriter(s), if any, may request and do any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement; provided, however, that the Partnership shall not be required to register or qualify as a foreign corporation where it is not then so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to the service of process in suits or to taxation, other than as to matters and transactions relating to the Registration Statement, in any jurisdiction where it is not then so subject;

 

(xiii)  shall issue, upon the request of any Holder of Initial Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement, Exchange Securities having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Initial Securities surrendered to the Partnership by such Holder in exchange therefor or being sold by such Holder; such Exchange Securities to be registered in the name of such Holder or in the name of the purchaser(s) of such securities, as the case may be; in return, the Initial Securities held by such Holder shall be surrendered to the Partnership for cancellation;

 

(xiv)  cooperate with the selling Holders and the underwriter(s), if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Transfer Restricted Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends; and enable such Transfer Restricted Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the Holders or the underwriter(s), if any, may request at least two Business Days prior to any sale of Transfer Restricted Securities made by such Holders or underwriter(s);

 

12



 

(xv)  use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the seller or sellers thereof or the underwriter(s), if any, to consummate the disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities, subject to the proviso contained in Section 6(c)(xii) hereof;

 

(xvi)  if any fact or event contemplated by Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof shall exist or have occurred, prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of Transfer Restricted Securities, the Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading;

 

(xvii)  provide a CUSIP number for all Exchange Securities not later than the effective date of the Registration Statement covering such Exchange Securities and provide the Trustee under the Indenture with definitive certificates for such Exchange Securities that are in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company and take all other action necessary to ensure that all such securities are eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company;

 

(xviii)  cooperate and assist in any filings required to be made with FINRA and in the performance of any due diligence investigation by any underwriter (including any “qualified independent underwriter”) that is required to be retained in accordance with the rules and regulations of FINRA;

 

(xix)  otherwise use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make generally available to its security holders, as soon as practicable, a consolidated earnings statement meeting the requirements of Rule 158 (which need not be audited) for the twelve-month period (A) commencing at the end of any fiscal quarter in which Transfer Restricted Securities are sold to underwriters in a firm commitment or best efforts Underwritten Offering or (B) if not sold to underwriters in such an offering, beginning with the first month of the Partnership’s first fiscal quarter commencing after the effective date of the Registration Statement;

 

(xx)  cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act not later than the effective date of the first Registration Statement required by this Agreement, and, in connection therewith, cooperate with the Trustee and the Holders of Initial Securities to effect such changes to the Indenture as may be required for such Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the Trust Indenture Act; and to execute and use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents that may be required to effect such changes and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the Commission to enable such Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner; and

 

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(xxi)  provide promptly to each Holder upon request each document filed with the Commission pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 and Section 15 of the Exchange Act.

 

Each Holder agrees by acquisition of a Transfer Restricted Security that, upon receipt of any notice from the Partnership of the existence of any fact of the kind described in Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof, such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the applicable Registration Statement until such Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(xvi) hereof, or until it is advised in writing (the “Advice”) by the Partnership that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated by reference in the Prospectus.  If so directed by the Partnership, each Holder will deliver to the Partnership (at the Partnership’s expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder’s possession, of the Prospectus covering such Transfer Restricted Securities that was current at the time of receipt of such notice.  In the event the Partnership shall give any such notice, the time period regarding the effectiveness of such Registration Statement set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as applicable, shall be extended by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice pursuant to Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof to and including the date when each selling Holder covered by such Registration Statement shall have received the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(xvi) hereof or shall have received the Advice; provided, however, that no such extension shall be taken into account in determining whether Additional Interest is due pursuant to Section 5 hereof or the amount of such Additional Interest, it being agreed that the Partnership’s option to suspend use of a Registration Statement pursuant to this paragraph shall be treated as a Registration Default for purposes of Section 5 hereof.

 

SECTION 7.  Registration Expenses.

 

(a)  All expenses incident to the Partnership’s performance of or compliance with this Agreement will be borne by the Partnership regardless of whether a Registration Statement becomes effective, including, without limitation: (i) all registration and filing fees and expenses (including filings made by any Initial Purchaser or Holder with FINRA (and, if applicable, the fees and expenses of any “qualified independent underwriter” and its counsel that may be required by the rules and regulations of FINRA)); (ii) all fees and expenses of compliance with federal securities and state securities or Blue Sky laws; (iii) all expenses of printing (including printing certificates for the Exchange Securities to be issued in the Exchange Offer and printing of Prospectuses), messenger and delivery services and telephone; (iv) all fees and disbursements of counsel for the Partnership and, subject to Section 7(b) hereof, the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities; (v) all application and filing fees in connection with listing the Exchange Securities on a securities exchange or automated quotation system pursuant to the requirements thereof; and (vi) all fees and disbursements of the independent registered public accounting firm of the Partnership (including the expenses of any special audit and comfort letters required by or incident to such performance).

 

The Partnership will, in any event, bear its internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting

 

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duties), the expenses of any annual audit and the fees and expenses of any Person, including special experts, retained by the Partnership.

 

SECTION 8.  Indemnification.

 

(a)  The Partnership agrees to indemnify and hold harmless (i) each Holder (including the Initial Purchasers) and (ii) each Person, if any, who controls any Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (any of the Persons referred to in this clause (ii) being hereinafter referred to as a “controlling person”) and (iii) the respective officers, directors, partners, employees, representatives and agents of any Holder or any controlling person (any Person referred to in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) may hereinafter be referred to as an “Indemnified Holder”), from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable costs of investigation), arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or arising out of or based upon any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission that has been made therein or omitted therefrom in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any of the Holders furnished in writing to the Partnership by or on behalf of any of the Holders expressly for use therein.  The foregoing indemnity agreement shall be in addition to any liability that the Partnership may otherwise have.

 

The Partnership also agrees to indemnify or contribute as provided in Section 8(d) to losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses of any underwriter of Initial Securities or Exchange Securities, as the case may be, registered under a Shelf Registration Statement, their directors, officers, employees and agents and each Person who controls such underwriter on substantially the same basis as that of the indemnification of the Indemnified Holders provided in this Section 8(a) and shall, if requested by any Holder, enter into any underwriting agreement to reflect such agreement.

 

(b)  If any action, suit or proceeding shall be brought or asserted against any of the Indemnified Holders with respect to which indemnity may be sought against the Partnership, such Indemnified Holder or the Indemnified Holder controlled by such controlling person shall promptly notify Enbridge Management on behalf of the Partnership, and the Partnership shall assume the defense thereof, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Holders and payment of all fees and expenses.  Such Indemnified Holder or the Indemnified Holder controlled by such controlling person shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such action, suit or proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Holder or the Indemnified Holder controlled by such controlling person unless (i) the Partnership has agreed in writing to pay such fees and expenses, (ii) the Partnership has failed to assume the defense and employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Holders or (iii) the named parties to any such action, suit or proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both such Indemnified Holder or the Indemnified Holder controlled by such controlling person and the Partnership and such Indemnified Holder or the Indemnified Holder controlled by such

 

15



 

controlling person shall have been advised by its counsel that representation of such indemnified party and the Partnership by the same counsel would be inappropriate under applicable standards of professional conduct (whether or not such representation by the same counsel has been proposed) due to actual or potential different interests between them (in which case the Partnership shall not have the right to assume the defense of such action, suit or proceeding on behalf of such Indemnified Party or the Indemnified Holder controlled by such controlling person).  It is understood, however, that the Partnership shall, in connection with any one such action, suit or proceeding or separate but substantially similar or related actions, suits or proceedings in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of only one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) at any time for all such Indemnified Holders and the Indemnified Holders controlled by such controlling persons not having actual or potential differing interests with the Indemnified Holders, which firm shall be designated in writing by the Indemnified Holders, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred.  The Partnership shall not be liable for any settlement of any such action, suit or proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such written consent, or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff in any such action, suit or proceeding, the Partnership agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any Indemnified Holder, to the extent provided in the preceding paragraph, and any Indemnified Holder controlled by such controlling person, from and against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense by reason of such settlement or judgment.

 

(c)  Each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Partnership, the directors and officers of the General Partner and of Enbridge Management, and any Person who controls the Partnership within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Partnership to each of the Indemnified Holders, but only with respect to information relating to such Holder furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement.  If any action, suit or proceeding shall be brought against the Partnership, any of the directors and officers of the General Partner and of Enbridge Management, or any such controlling person, based on the Registration Statement and the related Prospectus, and in respect of which indemnity may be sought against any Holder pursuant to this paragraph (c), such Holder shall have the rights and duties given to the Partnership by paragraph (b) above, and the Partnership, the directors and officers of the General Partner and of Enbridge Management, and any such controlling person, shall have the rights and duties given to the Holder by paragraph (b) above.

 

(d)  If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable to an indemnified party under paragraphs (a) or (c) hereof in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein, then an indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by such indemnifying party, on the one hand, and such indemnified party, on the other hand, from the Initial Placement (which in the case of the Partnership shall be deemed to be equal to the total gross proceeds to the Partnership from the Initial Placement) and the amount of Additional Interest that did not become payable as a result of the filing of the Registration Statement resulting in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses; provided, however, that in no case shall any Initial Purchaser or any

 

16



 

subsequent Holder of any Initial Security or Exchange Security be responsible, in the aggregate, for any amount in excess of the purchase discount or commission applicable to such Initial Security, or in the case of an Exchange Security, applicable to the Initial Security that was exchangeable for such Exchange Security, nor shall any underwriter be responsible for any amount in excess of the underwriting discount or commission applicable to the securities purchased by such underwriter under the Registration Statement that resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the indemnifying party, on the one hand, and the indemnified party, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  Benefits received by the Partnership shall be deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the Initial Placement (before deducting expenses).  Benefits received by the Initial Purchasers shall be deemed to be equal to the total purchase discounts received in connection with the Initial Placement, and benefits received by any other Holders shall be deemed to be equal to the incremental value of receiving Exchange Securities registered under the Securities Act in exchange for Initial Securities.  Benefits received by any underwriter shall be deemed to be equal to the total underwriting discounts and commissions, as set forth on the cover page of the Prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement that resulted in such losses.  Relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information provided by the indemnifying party, on the one hand, or by the indemnified party, on the other hand, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission and any other equitable consideration appropriate under the circumstances.

 

(e)  The Partnership and each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8 were determined by a pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above.  The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating any claim or defending any such action, suit or proceeding.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, none of the Holders (and its related Indemnified Holders) shall be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the total discount received by such Holder with respect to the Initial Securities exceeds the amount of any damages which such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.  No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.  The Holders’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 8(e) are several in proportion to the respective principal amount of Initial Securities held by each of the Holders hereunder and not joint.

 

(f)  Any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses for which an indemnified party is entitled to indemnification or contribution under this Section 8 shall be paid by the indemnifying

 

17



 

party to the indemnified party as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are incurred.  The provisions of this Section 8 will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Holder, any person controlling any Holder, the Partnership or the directors or officers of the General Partner and Enbridge Management, or any person controlling the Partnership, and will survive the sale by a Holder of securities covered by a Registration Statement.

 

SECTION 9.  Rule 144A.  The Partnership hereby agrees with each Holder, for so long as any Transfer Restricted Securities remain outstanding, to make available to any Holder or beneficial owner of Transfer Restricted Securities in connection with any sale thereof and any prospective purchaser of such Transfer Restricted Securities from such Holder or beneficial owner, the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act in order to permit resales of such Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act.

 

SECTION 10.  Participation in Underwritten Registrations.  No Holder may participate in any Underwritten Registration hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder’s Transfer Restricted Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (b) completes and executes all reasonable questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements, lock-up letters and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

 

SECTION 11.  Selection of Underwriters.  The Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement who desire to do so may sell such Transfer Restricted Securities in an Underwritten Offering.  In any such Underwritten Offering, the investment banker(s) and managing underwriter(s) that will administer such offering will be selected by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities included in such offering; provided, however, that such investment banker(s) and managing underwriter(s) must be reasonably satisfactory to the Partnership.

 

SECTION 12.  Miscellaneous.

 

(a)  Remedies.  The Partnership hereby agrees that monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby agree to waive the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.

 

(b)  No Inconsistent Agreements.  The Partnership will not on or after the date of this Agreement enter into any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.  The Partnership has not previously entered into any agreement granting any registration rights with respect to its securities to any Person.  The rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the Partnership’s securities under any agreement in effect on the date hereof.

 

(c)  Adjustments Affecting the Securities.  The Partnership will not take any action, or permit any change to occur, with respect to the Initial Securities that would materially and adversely affect the ability of the Holders to Consummate any Exchange Offer.

 

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(d)  Amendments and Waivers.  The provisions of this Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to or departures from the provisions hereof may not be given unless the Partnership has (i) in the case of Section 5 hereof and this Section 12(d)(i), obtained the written consent of Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) in the case of all other provisions hereof, obtained the written consent of Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities (excluding any Transfer Restricted Securities held by the Partnership or its Affiliates).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to departure from the provisions hereof that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders whose securities are being tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer and that does not affect directly or indirectly the rights of other Holders whose securities are not being tendered pursuant to such Exchange Offer may be given by the Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities being tendered or registered; provided, however, that, with respect to any matter that directly or indirectly affects the rights of any Initial Purchaser hereunder, the Partnership shall obtain the written consent of each such Initial Purchaser with respect to which such amendment, qualification, supplement, waiver, consent or departure is to be effective.

 

(e)  Notices.  All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), telex, telecopier, or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:

 

(i)  if to a Holder, at the address set forth on the records of the Registrar under the Indenture, with a copy to the Registrar under the Indenture; and

 

(ii) if to the Partnership, to its General Partner at:

 

Enbridge Energy Company, Inc.
1100 Louisiana, Suite 3300

Houston, Texas 77002

Attention: E. Chris Kaitson, Vice President - Law and Deputy General Counsel and Assistant Corporate Secretary

 

With a copy to:

Fulbright & Jaworksi L.L.P.

1301 McKinney Street

Houston, Texas 77002

Attention:  Laura McMahon

 

All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given:  at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when answered back, if telexed; when receipt acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next Business Day, if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.

 

Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee at the address specified in the Indenture.

 

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(f)  Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties, including, without limitation, and without the need for an express assignment, subsequent Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not inure to the benefit of or be binding upon a successor or assign of a Holder unless and to the extent such successor or assign acquired Transfer Restricted Securities from such Holder.

 

(g)  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

(h)  Headings.  The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

 

(i)  Governing Law.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICTS OF LAW RULES THEREOF.

 

(j)  Severability.  In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.

 

(k)  Entire Agreement.  This Agreement is intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein.  There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein with respect to the registration rights granted by the Partnership with respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities.  This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

ENBRIDGE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

Enbridge Energy Management, L.L.C.,

 

 

as delegate of Enbridge Energy Company, Inc.,

 

 

as General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 /s/ Mark Maki

 

 

Name: Mark Maki

 

 

Title: Vice President – Finance

 

 

Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement

(2038 Notes)

 



 

The foregoing Registration Rights Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written:

 

BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.

HSBC SECURITIES (USA) INC.

 

As Representatives of the several Initial Purchasers

 

 

By:

Banc of America Securities LLC

 

 

 

 

By:

 /s/ Lily Chang

 

 

Name:  Lily Chang

 

 

Title:  Principal

 

 

 

 

 

By:

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

 

 

 

 

By:

 /s/ Scott Flieger

 

 

Name:  Scott Flieger

 

 

Title:  Director

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 /s/ Ryan Montgomery

 

 

Name:  Ryan Montgomery

 

 

Title:  Director

 

 

 

 

 

By:

HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.

 

 

 

 

By:

 /s/ Karen L. Giles

 

 

Name:  Karen L. Giles

 

 

Title:  Senior Vice President

 

 

Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement

(2038 Notes)

 



 

SCHEDULE I

 

INITIAL PURCHASERS

 

Banc of America Securities LLC

 

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

 

HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.

 

CIBC World Markets Corp.

 

RBC Capital Markets Corporation

 

Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.

 

TD Securities (USA) LLC

 

BMO Capital Markets Corp.

 

Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc.

 

National Bank of Canada Financial Inc.