NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP (a Delaware limited partnership) Common Units UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
Exhibit 1.1
NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP
(a Delaware limited partnership)
Common Units
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
Dated: June , 2014
NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP
(a Delaware limited partnership)
Common Units
Representing Limited Partner Interests
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
June , 2014
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
as Representatives of the several Underwriters
c/o Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated
One Bryant Park
New York, New York 10036
Ladies and Gentlemen:
NextEra Energy Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the Partnership), confirms its agreement with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (Merrill Lynch), Goldman, Sachs & Co. (Goldman Sachs), Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (Morgan Stanley) and each of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (collectively, the Underwriters, which term shall also include any underwriter substituted as hereinafter provided in Section 10 hereof), for whom Merrill Lynch, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley are acting as representatives (in such capacity, the Representatives), with respect to (i) the sale by the Partnership and the purchase by the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the respective numbers of common units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (Common Units) set forth in Schedule A hereto and (ii) the grant by the Partnership to the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the option described in Section 2(b) hereof to purchase all or any part of additional Common Units. The aforesaid Common Units (the Initial Units) to be purchased by the Underwriters and all or any part of the Common Units subject to the option described in Section 2(b) hereof (the Option Units) are herein called, collectively, the Units.
The Partnership understands that the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of the Units as soon as the Representatives deem advisable after this Agreement has been executed and delivered.
The Partnership and the Underwriters agree that up to 7% of the Initial Units to be purchased by the Underwriters (the Reserved Units) shall be reserved for sale by the Underwriters to certain persons designated by the Partnership (the Invitees), as part of the distribution of the Units by the Underwriters, subject to the terms of this Agreement, the applicable rules, regulations and interpretations of the
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA) and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations. The Partnership solely determined, without any direct or indirect participation by the Underwriters, the Invitees who will purchase Reserved Units (including the amount to be purchased by such persons) sold by the Underwriters. To the extent that such Reserved Units are not orally confirmed for purchase by Invitees by 8:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the first business day after the date of this Agreement, such Reserved Units may be offered to the public as part of the public offering contemplated hereby.
The Partnership has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) a registration statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-196099), including the related preliminary prospectus or prospectuses, covering the registration of the sale of the Units under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the 1933 Act). Promptly after execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Partnership will prepare and file a prospectus in accordance with the provisions of Rule 430A (Rule 430A) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1933 Act (the 1933 Act Regulations) and Rule 424(b) (Rule 424(b)) of the 1933 Act Regulations. The information included in such prospectus that was omitted from such registration statement at the time it became effective but that is deemed to be part of such registration statement at the time it became effective pursuant to Rule 430A(b) is herein called the Rule 430A Information. Such registration statement, including the amendments thereto, the exhibits thereto and any schedules thereto, at the time it became effective, and including the Rule 430A Information, is herein called the Registration Statement. Any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations is herein called the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement and, after such filing, the term Registration Statement shall include the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. Each prospectus used prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and each prospectus that omitted the Rule 430A Information that was used after such effectiveness and prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, is herein called a preliminary prospectus. The final prospectus, in the form first furnished to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offering of the Units, is herein called the Prospectus. For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system or any successor system (EDGAR).
It is understood and agreed to by all parties hereto that the Partnership was formed by NextEra Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (NextEra), to own, operate and acquire certain contracted energy assets that are currently owned and operated, or which may hereafter be acquired, directly or indirectly by NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (NEER), as described more particularly in the Prospectus (the NextEra Energy Partners LP Business). At the Closing Time and each Date of Delivery (as defined below), the Partnership will operate the NextEra Energy Partners LP Business through NextEra Energy Operating Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (NEE Operating LP). NextEra Energy Partners GP, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the General Partner), serves as the general partner of the Partnership and NextEra Energy Operating Partners GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (NEE Operating GP), serves as the general partner of NEE Operating LP.
It is further understood and agreed to by all parties that as of the Closing Time (as defined below) and each Date of Delivery (as defined below):
(a) | NEER indirectly will own, a 100% limited partner interest and a 100% noneconomic general partner interest in NextEra Energy Management Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (NEE Management), and a 100% limited partner interest and a 100% noneconomic general partner interest in NextEra Energy Equity Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (NEE Equity); |
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(b) | NEE Management will own, 100% of the issued and outstanding common stock of the General Partner; |
(c) | the General Partner will own a 100% noneconomic general partner interest in the Partnership; |
(d) | the Partnership will own a 100% membership interest and a 100% noneconomic general partner interest in NEE Operating GP; |
(e) | NEE Operating GP will own a 100% noneconomic general partner interest in NEE Operating LP; and |
(f) | NEE Operating LP will own a 100% equity interest in NextEra Energy US Partners Holdings, LLC (NEE US Holdings); |
(g) | NEE Operating LP will own a 100% equity interest in NextEra Energy Canada Partners Holdings, ULC (NEE Canada Holdings); |
(h) | NEE US Holdings will indirectly own a 100% equity interest in: |
(i) | the wind project located in Logan County, Colorado, indirectly through its 100% ownership in Northern Colorado Wind Energy, LLC, Mountain Prairie Wind, LLC and Mountain Prairie Wind Holdings, LLC (collectively, Mountain Prairie); |
(ii) | the wind project located in Roger Mills and Beckham Counties, Oklahoma, indirectly through its 100% ownership in Elk City Wind, LLC and Elk City Wind Holdings, LLC (collectively, Elk City); |
(iii) | the wind project located in Coconino County, Arizona, indirectly through its 100% ownership in Perrin Ranch Wind, LLC, Canyon Wind, LLC and Canyon Wind Holdings, LLC (collectively, Perrin Ranch); |
(iv) | the wind project located in Tuscola, Bay and Saginaw Counties, Michigan, indirectly through its 100% ownership in Tuscola Bay Wind, LLC, Canyon Wind, LLC and Canyon Wind Holdings, LLC (collectively, Tuscola Bay and, together with Perrin Ranch, Canyon Wind); and |
(v) | the solar project located in Riverside County, California, indirectly through its 100% ownership in NextEra Desert Center Blythe, LLC, Genesis Solar, LLC, Genesis Solar Holdings, LLC, Genesis Solar Funding, LLC and Genesis Solar Funding Holdings, LLC (collectively, Genesis); and |
(i) | NEE Canada Holdings will own a 100% equity interest in: |
(i) | the solar project located in Lambton County, Ontario, Canada, indirectly through its 100% ownership in Moore Solar, LP, Moore Solar GP, ULC, Moore Solar GP, LLC, St. Clair Solar, LP, Moore Solar, ULC, St. Clair GP, ULC, St. Clair GP, LLC, St. Clair Moore Holding, LP, St. Clair Moore Holding LP, ULC, St. Claire Moore Holding LP, LLC, St. Clair Holding, ULC, SCI Holding, ULC, St. Clair Investment Holding, LP, SCIH GP, ULC, and St. Clair MS Investment GP, LLC (collectively, Moore); |
(ii) | the solar project located in Lambton County, Ontario, Canada, indirectly through its 100% ownership in Sombra Solar, LP, Sombra Solar GP, ULC, Sombra Solar GP, LLC, St. Clair Solar, LP, Sombra Solar, ULC, St. Clair GP, ULC, St. Clair GP, LLC, St. Clair Sombra Holding, LP, St. Clair Sombra Holding, LP, ULC, St. Clair Holding, ULC, St. Clair Sombra Holding LP, LLC, SCI Holding, ULC, St. Clair Investment Holding, LP, SCIH GP, ULC, and St. Clair MS Investment GP, LLC (collectively, Sombra and, together with Moore, St. Clair); |
(iii) | the wind project located in Wellington Country, Ontario, Canada, indirectly through its 100% ownership in Conestogo Wind, LP, Conestogo Wind GP, Inc., Trillium Windpower, LP, Trillium Funding GP, Inc., Trillium Funding GP Holding, Inc., Trillium Wind Holdings, LP, Trillium HoldCo GP, Inc. and Trillium HoldCo, LP (collectively, Conestogo); |
(iv) | the wind project located in Haldimand County, Ontario, Canada, indirectly through its 100% ownership in Summerhaven Wind, LP, Strathroy Wind GP, Inc., Trillium Windpower, LP, Trillium Funding GP, Inc., Trillium Funding GP Holding, Inc., Trillium Wind Holdings, LP, Trillium HoldCo GP, Inc. and Trillium HoldCo, LP (collectively, Summerhaven and, together with Conestogo, Trillium); and |
(v) | the wind project located in Huron County, Ontario, Canada, indirectly through its 100% ownership in Varna Wind, LP, Varna Wind GP, ULC, Varna Wind GP, LLC, Varna Wind Funding, LP, Varna Wind Funding GP, ULC, Varna Wind Funding GP, LLC, Varna Wind Funding ULC, Varna Wind Holdings, LP, Varna Wind Holdings GP, ULC and Varna Wind Holdings GP, LLC (collectively, Varna), |
each as described more particularly in the Prospectus under the caption SummaryCurrent Operations (NEE US Holdings, NEE Canada Holdings, Canyon Wind, Mountain Prairie, Elk City, Trillium, Varna, Genesis and St. Clair, collectively, the Operating Subsidiaries).
Prior to the Closing Time, through a series of reorganization transactions effected in the United States and Canada (collectively, as the Prior Transactions), NEE Operating LP will become the owner of a 100% equity interest in each of the Operating Subsidiaries. In connection with the Prior Transactions, the parties to the Prior Transactions entered into various bills of sale, assignments, conveyances, contribution agreements and related documents (collectively, the Prior Conveyances).
Concurrently with the Closing Time (as defined below), the Partnership, NEER, NEE Equity, NEE Operating LP and certain of their existing and newly formed subsidiaries will complete a series of transactions pursuant to which:
(a) | the Partnership will issue special non-economic voting units (the Special Voting Units) that will provide NEE Equity with an aggregate number of votes on certain matters that are submitted for a vote of the Partnerships common unitholders that is equal to the aggregate number of common units of NEE Operating LP held by NEE Equity on the relevant record date, entitling NEE Equity to participate in any such vote on the same basis as holders of the Partnerships Common Units; |
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(b) | the public offering of the Initial Units contemplated hereby (the Offering) will be consummated and the net proceeds thereof will be delivered to the Partnership; |
(c) | the Partnership and NEE Operating LP will enter into the Equity Purchase Agreement, substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the Equity Purchase Agreement), under which, among other things, the Partnership will use approximately $ million of the proceeds from the Offering to purchase common units of NEE Operating LP directly from NEE Operating LP, representing % of NEE Operating LPs outstanding limited partner interests and NEE Operating LP will use these net proceeds for general partnership purposes, including to fund future acquisition opportunities; |
(d) | the Partnership and NEE Equity will enter into the Purchase Agreement, substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the Purchase Agreement), under which, among other things, the Partnership will use approximately $ million (or approximately $ million if the Underwriters exercise their option provided in Section 2(b) hereof to purchase all of the Option Units) of the proceeds of the Offering to purchase common units of NEE Operating LP from NEE Equity, representing approximately % of NEE Operating LPs outstanding limited partner interests following the completion of this offering and which will require a purchase price adjustment in the event NEE Operating LP does not make distributions on its common units at least equal to the minimum quarterly distribution during a set period after the completion of the Offering; |
(e) | NEE Operating LP, as borrower, will enter into a revolving credit agreement with the lenders party thereto, substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the Credit Agreement); |
(f) | the Partnership, NEE Operating GP, NEE Operating LP and NEE Management will enter into the Management Services Agreement, substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the Management Services Agreement), under which, among other things: (i) NEE Management will provide or arrange for the provision of certain management, operational and administrative services to the Partnership and NEE Operating LP, (ii) NEE Operating LP will be obligated to make certain payments to NEE Management based on distributions by NEE Operating LP to its unitholders and (iii) the parties will agree to certain indemnification and reimbursement obligations; |
(g) | the Partnership, NextEra, NEE Equity and NEE Operating LP will enter into the Exchange Agreement, substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the Exchange Agreement), under which (i) NEE Equity has the right to tender NEE Operating LP units to NEE Operating LP for redemption after the expiration of the purchase price adjustment period (as defined therein), (ii) NEE Operating LP has the right, subject to the approval of the Partnerships conflicts committee, to distribute to NEE Equity cash, based on the market value of the Units, or Units in exchange for NEE Operating LP units tendered on a one-for-one basis and (iii) the Partnership has the right but not the obligation to purchase tendered NEE Operating LP units for cash; |
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(h) | the Partnership, NEE Operating LP and NEER will enter into the Right of First Offer Agreement, substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the ROFO Agreement), which addresses NEE Operating LPs right of first offer on certain additional clean energy projects of NEER; |
(i) | the Partnership, NEE Operating LP and NEER will enter into the Cash Sweep and Credit Support Agreement, substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the CSCS Agreement), under which (i) NEER will continue to provide, and agree to provide in the future, credit support on behalf of the Operating Subsidiaries, subject to certain conditions, (ii) the Operating Subsidiaries and NEE Operating LP will permit NEER or one of its affiliates to withdraw excess funds and hold them for the benefit of NEER or its affiliates until such funds are required to distributed or NEE Operating LP demands the return of such funds, and (iii) NEE Operating LP will pay NEER an annual credit support fee of $1.8 million, subject to adjustment; and |
(j) | the Partnership and NextEra will enter into the Registration Rights Agreement, substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the Registration Rights Agreement), under which the Partnership will agree to register certain securities of the Partnership held by NextEra, subject to the terms therein. |
The transactions contemplated in subsections (a) through (j) above are referred to herein as the Transactions. The Transaction Documents shall mean the Equity Purchase Agreement, the Purchase Agreement, the Credit Agreement, the ROFO Agreement, the Management Services Agreement, the Exchange Agreement, the CSCS Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement. The Partnership Agreement (as defined below), the NEE Operating GP LLC Agreement (as defined below), the NEE Operating LP Agreement (as defined below) and the Operating Subsidiaries Governing Agreements (as defined below) are herein collectively referred to as the Organizational Agreements. The Organizational Agreements and the certificates of incorporation, formation or limited partnership and bylaws of each of the Partnership Entities (as defined below), as applicable, are herein collectively referred to as the Organizational Documents.
NEER, the Partnership and the General Partner are hereinafter referred to as the NEER Parties. The Partnership, the General Partner, NEE Operating LP, NEE Operating GP and the Operating Subsidiaries are hereinafter referred to as the Partnership Entities. The Partnership Entities, NEER, NEE Equity and NEE Management are hereinafter referred to as the NEER Entities. NextEra and each of its Affiliates (other than the NEER Entities) which is a party to any Transaction Document or Prior Conveyance are referred to herein collectively as the NextEra Entities.
As used in this Agreement:
Applicable Time means [ :00 P./A.M.], New York City time, on June , 2014 or such other time as agreed by the Partnership and the Representatives.
General Disclosure Package means any Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectuses issued at or prior to the Applicable Time, the most recent preliminary prospectus that is distributed to investors prior to the Applicable Time and the information included on Schedule B-1 hereto, all considered together.
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus means any issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433 of the 1933 Act Regulations (Rule 433), including without limitation any free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 of the 1933 Act Regulations (Rule 405))
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relating to the Units that is (i) required to be filed with the Commission by the Partnership, (ii) a road show that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i), whether or not required to be filed with the Commission, or (iii) exempt from filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) because it contains a description of the Units or of the offering that does not reflect the final terms, in each case in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Partnerships records pursuant to Rule 433(g).
Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is intended for general distribution to prospective investors (other than a bona fide electronic road show, as defined in Rule 433 (the Bona Fide Electronic Road Show)), as evidenced by its being specified in Schedule B-2 hereto.
Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not an Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus.
Testing-the-Waters Communication means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of the 1933 Act.
Written Testing-the-Waters Communication means any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the 1933 Act.
SECTION 1. Representations and Warranties.
(a) Representations and Warranties by the NEER Parties. The NEER Parties, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to each Underwriter as of the date hereof, the Applicable Time, the Closing Time (as defined below) and any Date of Delivery (as defined below), and agree with each Underwriter, as follows:
(i) Registration Statement and Prospectuses. Each of the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto has become effective under the 1933 Act. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has been issued under the 1933 Act, no order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus has been issued and no proceedings for any of those purposes have been instituted or are pending or, to the NEER Parties knowledge, contemplated. The Partnership has complied with each request (if any) from the Commission for additional information.
Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the time it became effective, complied in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations. Each preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, at the time each was filed with the Commission, complied in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations. Each preliminary prospectus delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with this offering and the Prospectus was or will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
(ii) Accurate Disclosure. Neither the Registration Statement nor any amendment thereto, at its effective time, at the Closing Time or at any Date of Delivery, contained, contains or will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. As of
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the Applicable Time, neither (A) the General Disclosure Package nor (B) any individual Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus, when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, included, includes or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit 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. Neither the Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto (including any prospectus wrapper), as of its issue date, at the time of any filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b), at the Closing Time or at any Date of Delivery, included, includes or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit 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.
The representations and warranties in this subsection shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Partnership by any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein. For purposes of this Agreement, the only information so furnished shall be the information on the cover page of the Prospectus regarding delivery of the Units, the list of Underwriters and their respective participation in the sale of the Units, the information in the first paragraph under the heading UnderwritingCommissions and Discounts, the information in the fourth paragraph under UnderwritingNew York Stock Exchange, the information in the second, third and fourth paragraphs under the heading UnderwritingPrice Stabilization, Short Positions and Penalty Bids and the information under the heading UnderwritingElectronic Distribution in each case contained in the Prospectus (collectively, the Underwriter Information).
(iii) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. No Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, and any preliminary or other prospectus deemed to be a part thereof that has not been superseded or modified. The Partnership has made available a Bona Fide Electronic Road Show in compliance with Rule 433(d)(8)(ii) such that no filing of any road show (as defined in Rule 433(h)) is required in connection with the offering of the Units. The representations and warranties in this subsection shall not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus made in reliance upon and conformity with the Underwriter Information.
(iv) Testing-the-Waters Materials. None of the NEER Parties have (A) engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communication with respect to the Partnership or (B) authorized anyone other than the Representatives to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications. None of the NEER Parties have distributed any Written Testing-the-Waters Communications with respect to the Partnership.
(v) Projections. Each of the statements made by the Partnership in the Registration Statement and the General Disclosure Package and to be made in the Prospectus (and any supplements thereto) within the coverage of Rule 175(b) under the 1933 Act, including (but not limited to) any statements with respect to projections or results of operations, estimated available cash and future cash distributions of the Partnership, and any statements made in support thereof or related thereto under the heading Our Cash Distribution Policy and Restrictions on Distributions or the anticipated ratio of taxable income to distributions, was made or will be made with a reasonable basis and in good faith.
(vi) Partnership Not Ineligible Issuer. At the time of filing the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the earliest time thereafter that the Partnership or
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another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) of the 1933 Act Regulations) of the Units and at the date hereof, the Partnership was not and is not an ineligible issuer, as defined in Rule 405, without taking account of any determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 that it is not necessary that the Partnership be considered an ineligible issuer.
(vii) Emerging Growth Company Status. From the time of the initial confidential submission of the Registration Statement to the Commission (or, if earlier, the first date on which the Partnership engaged directly or through any Person authorized to act on its behalf in any Testing-the-Waters Communication) through the date hereof, the Partnership has been and is an emerging growth company, as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act (an Emerging Growth Company).
(viii) Independent Accountants. The accountants who certified the financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are independent public accountants as required by the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.
(ix) Financial Statements; Non-GAAP Financial Measures. The historical consolidated financial statements of the accounting predecessor to the Partnership included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, together with the related schedules and notes thereto, present fairly in all material respects the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the accounting predecessor to the Partnership at the dates indicated and for the periods specified; said financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved. The summary historical and pro forma financial information set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption Prospectus SummarySummary Historical and Pro Forma Financial and Operating Data and the selected historical and pro forma financial information set forth under the caption Selected Historical and Pro Forma Financial and Operating Data in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, present fairly in all material respects the information shown therein and have been prepared on a basis consistent with the audited and unaudited historical financial statements and pro forma financial statements, as applicable, from which it has been derived, unless expressly noted otherwise. The pro forma financial statements and the related notes thereto included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the information shown therein, have been prepared in accordance with the Commissions rules and guidelines with respect to pro forma financial statements and have been properly compiled on the bases described therein, and the assumptions used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and circumstances referred to therein. Except as included therein, no historical or pro forma financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus under the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations; and the Partnership Entities do not have any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent (including any off-balance sheet obligations), not described in the Registration Statement (excluding the exhibits thereto), the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. All disclosures contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus regarding non-GAAP financial measures (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission) comply with Regulation G of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 1934 Act) and Item 10 of Regulation S-K of the 1933 Act, to the extent applicable.
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(x) No Material Adverse Change in Business. Except as otherwise stated therein, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (A) there has been no material adverse change, or development involving, individually or in the aggregate, a material prospective adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations as described in or contemplated by the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, of the Partnership Entities, considered as one entity, (B) there has been no material adverse change on (1) the ability of the Partnership Entities considered as one enterprise to perform their respective obligations under each of the Transaction Documents and Prior Conveyances (to the extent a party thereto), (2) the enforceability of any of the Transaction Documents against the Partnership Entities (to the extent a party thereto), (3) the enforceability of the Prior Conveyances against the Partnership Entities (to the extent a party thereto) or (4) the ability of the Partnership Entities considered as one enterprise to consummate the Transactions and the Prior Conveyances in the manner set forth in the Registration Statement, General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (each such change in clauses (A) and (B) a Material Adverse Effect), (C) the Partnership Entities, considered as one entity, have not incurred any material liability or obligation, indirect, direct or contingent, not in the ordinary course of business nor entered into any material transaction or agreement not in the ordinary course of business and (D) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made on the equity interests of any of the Partnership Entities.
(xi) Good Standing of the Partnership. The Partnership has been duly organized and is validly existing as a limited partnership in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has limited partnership power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement; and the Partnership is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing or equivalent status in each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xii) Good Standing of Subsidiaries. Each Operating Subsidiary has been duly organized and is validly existing in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, has corporate or similar power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The only subsidiaries of the Partnership are the Operating Subsidiaries.
(xiii) Good Standing of NEER, NEE Equity, NEE Management and the NextEra Entities. Each of NEER, NEE Equity and NEE Management and each NextEra Entity is validly existing in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, has corporate or similar power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business, except where the failure to so qualify would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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(xiv) Authority of the General Partner. The General Partner has, and, at the Closing Time and each Date of Delivery, will have, all requisite power and authority to act as general partner of the Partnership in all material respects as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and Prospectus.
(xv) Authority of NEE Operating GP. NEE Operating GP has, and, at the Closing Time and each Date of Delivery, will have, all requisite power and authority to act as general partner of NEE Operating LP in all material respects as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and Prospectus.
(xvi) Ownership of the General Partner. NEE Management owns, and at the Closing Time and each Date of Delivery, will own, all of the issued and outstanding common stock of the General Partner; all of such common stock has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the General Partner (as the same may be amended or restated at or prior to the Closing Time, the GP Governing Documents), and is fully paid and nonassessable; and NEE Management owns, and at the Closing Time and each Date of Delivery, will own, such common stock free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, security interests, charges and other claims (Liens).
(xvii) Ownership of GP Interest. The General Partner is, and at the Closing Time and each Date of Delivery, will be, the sole general partner of the Partnership with a noneconomic general partner interest in the Partnership (the GP Interest); such GP Interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the agreement of limited partnership of the Partnership (as the same may be amended or restated at or prior to the Closing Time, the Partnership Agreement), and the General Partner owns, and at the Closing Time and each Date of Delivery, will own such GP Interest free and clear of all Liens (except restrictions on transferability contained in the Partnership Agreement or as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus).
(xviii) Ownership of the Special Voting Units. At the Closing Time and each Date of Delivery, NEE Equity will own all of the issued and outstanding Special Voting Units of the Partnership; such Special Voting Units will be duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Partnership Agreement and will be fully paid (to the extent required by the Partnership Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act); and, with the exception of restrictions on transferability as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, NEE Equity will own all of the Special Voting Units free and clear of all Liens.
(xix) Ownership of NEE Operating GP. The Partnership owns, and at the Closing Time and each Date of Delivery, will own all of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of NEE Operating GP; all such limited liability company interests have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreement of NEE Operating GP (as may be amended or restated at or prior to the Closing Time, the NEE Operating GP LLC Agreement) and are fully paid (to the extent required by the NEE Operating GP LLC Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (the Delaware LLC Act)); and, with the exception of restrictions on transferability as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Partnership will own all of the limited partner interests free and clear of all Liens. None of the outstanding membership interests of NEE Operating GP were issued in violation of the preemptive or similar rights of any member of NEE Operating GP.
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(xx) Ownership of NEE Operating LP Limited Partner Interest. After giving effect to the Transactions, at the Closing Time and each Date of Delivery, the Partnership will own % of the limited partner interests of NEE Operating LP and NEE Equity will own % of the limited partner interests of NEE Operating LP; such limited partner interests will have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the limited partnership agreement of NEE Operating LP (as may be amended or restated at or prior to the Closing Time, the NEE Operating LP Agreement) and will be fully paid (to the extent required by the NEE Operating LP Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act); and the Partnership and NEE Equity, as applicable, will own all such limited partner interests free and clear of all Liens (except restrictions on transferability contained in the NEE Operating LP Agreement or as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus). None of the outstanding limited partner interests of NEE Operating LP were issued in violation of the preemptive or similar rights of any partner of NEE Operating LP.
(xxi) Ownership of NEE Operating LP General Partner Interest. NEE Operating GP is, and at the Closing Time and each Date of Delivery, will be, the sole general partner of NEE Operating LP with a noneconomic general partner interest in NEE Operating LP (the NEE Operating LP GP Interest); such NEE Operating LP GP Interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the NEE Operating LP Agreement, and NEE Operating GP owns, and at the Closing Time and each Date of Delivery, will own such NEE Operating LP GP Interest free and clear of all Liens (except restrictions on transferability contained in the Partnership Agreement or as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus).
(xxii) Ownership of the Operating Subsidiaries by NEE Operating LP. At the Closing Time and each Date of Delivery, NEE Operating LP will directly or through one or more of the other Operating Subsidiaries own all of the issued and outstanding equity interests of each Operating Subsidiary; all such equity interests will be duly authorized and validly issued, and will be fully paid and non-assessable (in accordance with the applicable Organizational Documents of such Operating Subsidiary) and will be owned by NEE Operating LP, directly or through one or more of the other Operating Subsidiaries, free and clear of all Liens (other than those arising under the agreements set forth on Schedule D (the Project Financing Agreements)). None of the outstanding equity interests of any Operating Subsidiary were issued in violation of the preemptive or similar rights of any securityholder of such Operating Subsidiary.
(xxiii) Authorization of the Units. The Units to be purchased by the Underwriters from the Partnership have been duly authorized for issuance and sale to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement against payment of the consideration set forth herein, will be validly issued and fully paid (to the extent required under the Partnership Agreement) and non-assessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act). Except as required by the Delaware LP Act, no holder of Units will be subject to personal liability by reason of being such a holder.
(xxiv) Capitalization. At the Closing Time, after giving effect to the Transactions and the offering of the Initial Units as contemplated by this Agreement, the issued and outstanding limited partner interests of the Partnership will consist of Common Units and Special Voting Units. Assuming no purchase by the Underwriters of the Option Units, the Initial Units will be the only limited partner interests of the Partnership, other than the Special Voting Units, issued and outstanding at the Closing Time and each Date of Delivery. At the Closing
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Time, after giving effect to the Transactions and assuming no purchase by the Underwriters of the Option Units, the issued and outstanding limited partner interests of NEE Operating LP will consist of a % limited partner interest held by NEE Equity and a % limited partner interest held by the Partnership.
(xxv) No Other Equity Ownership. Other than its ownership of the GP Interest, the General Partner will not, at the Closing Time and each Date of Delivery, own, directly or indirectly, any equity or long-term debt securities of any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association or other entity. Other than the Partnerships ownership of 100% of the outstanding limited partner interest of NEE Operating GP and a % limited partner interest in NEE Operating LP, NEE Operating GPs ownership of the NEE Operating LP GP Interest and NEE Operating LPs 100% ownership interest in the Operating Subsidiaries, none of the Partnership, NEE Operating GP, NEE Operating LP or the Operating Subsidiaries will, at the Closing Time and each Date of Delivery, own, directly or indirectly, any equity or long-term debt securities of any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association or other entity.
(xxvi) No Preemptive or Registration Rights. Except as contained in the Partnership Agreement or described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no (A) preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or to purchase, nor any restriction upon the voting or transfer of, any equity securities of the Partnership Entities or (B) outstanding options or warrants to purchase any securities of the Partnership Entities. Neither the filing of the Registration Statement nor the offering or sale of the Units as contemplated by this Agreement gives rise to any rights for or relating to the registration of any Common Units or other securities of the Partnership, except such rights as have been waived or satisfied.
(xxvii) Description of Units. The Common Units, the Special Voting Units and the limited partner interests of NEE Operating LP conform to all statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and such description conforms to the rights set forth in the instruments defining the same.
(xxviii) Authorization of Agreement. Each of the NEER Parties has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and perform its respective obligations hereunder. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the NEER Parties.
(xxix) Authorization of Transactions. At the Closing Time and each Date of Delivery, all corporate, limited partnership and limited liability company action, as the case may be, required to be taken by the NEER Entities or any of their stockholders, members or partners for the execution and delivery by the NEER Entities of the Transaction Documents to which they are a party and the consummation of the transactions (including the Transactions) contemplated by the Transaction Documents, shall have been validly taken.
(xxx) Authorization of Prior Transactions. At the Closing Time and each Date of Delivery, all corporate, limited partnership and limited liability company action, as the case may be, required to be taken by the NEER Entities or any of their stockholders, members or partners for the execution and delivery by the NEER Entities of the Prior Conveyances to which they are a party and the consummation of the transactions (including the Prior Transactions) contemplated by the Prior Conveyances, shall have been validly taken.
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(xxxi) The Organizational Agreements and the Transaction Documents. At or before the Closing Time:
(a) the Partnership Agreement will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the General Partner and will be a valid and legally binding agreement of the General Partner, enforceable against the General Partner in accordance with its terms;
(b) the NEE Operating LP Agreement will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Partnership, NEE Equity and NEE Operating GP and will be a valid and legally binding agreement of the Partnership, NEE Equity and NEE Operating GP, enforceable against the Partnership, NEE Equity and NEE Operating GP in accordance with its terms;
(c) the NEE Operating GP LLC Agreement will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Partnership and will be a valid and legally binding agreement of the Partnership, enforceable against the Partnership in accordance with its terms;
(d) the terms of the limited partnership agreement or limited liability company agreement of each Operating Subsidiary, as applicable (the Operating Subsidiaries Governing Agreements), will be a valid and legally binding agreement of such Operating Subsidiary, enforceable against such Operating Subsidiary in accordance with its respective terms;
(e) the ROFO Agreement will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by NEE Operating LP, NextEra, the Partnership, NEER and NEE Equity and will be a valid and legally binding agreement of each of them, enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms;
(f) the Management Services Agreement will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Partnership, NEE Operating GP, NEE Operating LP and NEE Management and will be a valid and legally binding agreement of each of them, enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms;
(g) the Exchange Agreement will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Partnership, NextEra, NEE Equity and NEE Operating LP and will be a valid and legally binding agreement of each of them, enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms;
(h) the Purchase Agreement will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Partnership and NEE Equity and will be a valid and legally binding agreement of each of them, enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms;
(i) the Equity Purchase Agreement will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Partnership and NEE Operating LP and will be a valid and legally binding agreement of each of them, enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms;
(j) the CSCS Agreement will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Partnership, NEE Operating LP and NEER and will be a valid and legally binding agreement of each of them, enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms;
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(k) the Registration Rights Agreement will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Partnership and NextEra and will be a valid and legally binding agreement of each of them, enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms; and
(l) the Credit Agreement will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Partnership Entities party thereto and will be a valid and legally binding agreement of the Partnership Entities party thereto, enforceable against the Partnership Entities party thereto, in accordance with its terms;
provided, that, with respect to each agreement described in this Section 1(a)(xxv), the enforceability thereof may be limited by (A) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (B) public policy, any applicable law relating to fiduciary duties and indemnification and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
(xxxii) Absence of Violations, Defaults and Conflicts. None of the NEER Entities is (A) in violation of its charter, by-laws or similar organizational document, (B) in violation or breach of or in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument (including the Transaction Documents and the Prior Conveyances) to which any such NEER Entity is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound or to which any of the properties or assets of any of the NEER Entities or NextEra Entities is subject (collectively, Agreements and Instruments), except for such defaults that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (C) in violation of any law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any arbitrator, court, governmental body, regulatory body, administrative agency or other authority, body or agency having jurisdiction over any of the Partnership Entities or any of their respective properties, assets or operations (each, a Governmental Entity), except for such violations that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Transaction Documents and the Prior Conveyances and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (including the Transactions and the Prior Transactions, the issuance and sale of the Units and the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Units as described therein under the caption Use of Proceeds) did not, do not and will not, whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or, require consent under, or constitute a breach of, or default or Repayment Event (as defined below) under, or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any properties or assets of any of the NEER Entities or NextEra Entities pursuant to, the Agreements and Instruments (except for such conflicts, breaches, defaults or Repayment Events or Liens that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect), nor did or will such actions (i) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter, by-laws or similar organizational document of any of the NEER Entities or any of the NextEra Entities, (ii) conflict with or constitute a breach of, or a default or a Repayment Event (as defined below) under, or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any property or assets of the NEER Entities or NextEra Entities pursuant to, or require the consent of any other party to, any Agreement and Instrument, except for such conflicts, breaches, defaults or Liens as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (iii) result in any violation of any law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any Governmental Entity, except for such violations as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. As used herein, a Repayment Event means any event or
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condition which gives the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holders behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by any of the Partnership Entities.
(xxxiii) Absence of Labor Dispute. No labor dispute with the employees of NEER or any of its subsidiaries engaged in the NextEra Energy Partners LP Business exists or, to the knowledge of the NEER Parties, is imminent, and none of the NEER Parties is aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of the Partnership Entities principal suppliers, manufacturers, customers or contractors, which, in either case, would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xxxiv) Absence of Proceedings. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or brought by any Governmental Entity now pending or, to the knowledge of the NEER Parties, threatened, against or affecting any of the Partnership Entities, which would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or which might materially and adversely affect their respective properties or assets or the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or in the Transaction Documents or Prior Conveyances, including the Transactions or the performance by the NEER Parties of their obligations hereunder.
(xxxv) Accuracy of Descriptions. The statements in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the headings BusinessOur Initial Projects, BusinessRegulatory Matters, BusinessEnvironmental Matters, BusinessLegal Proceedings and Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions insofar as such statements summarize legal matters, agreements, documents, proceedings or affiliate transactions discussed therein, including related party agreements, power purchase agreements, interconnection agreements and contracts for differences, are accurate and fair summaries of such legal matters, agreements, documents, proceedings or affiliate transactions in all material respects. All agreements between any of the Partnership Entities and any other party expressly referenced in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are legal, valid and binding obligations of each Partnership Entity, as applicable, enforceable against such Partnership Entity, as appropriate, in accordance with their respective terms, except to the extent that enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors rights generally and by general equitable principles and except as rights to indemnity and contribution thereunder may be limited by applicable law or policies underlying such law. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, none of the NEER Entities has sent or received any notice indicating the termination of or intention to terminate any of the contracts or agreements referred to or described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.
(xxxvi) Accuracy of Exhibits. There are no contracts or documents which are required by the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations to be described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement which have not been so described and filed as required. Each such contract or document that is described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus conforms in all material respects to the description thereof.
(xxxvii) Absence of Further Requirements. No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or decree of, any Governmental Entity is
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necessary or required or was necessary or required for the performance by the NEER Entities of their obligations hereunder, under the Transaction Documents or under the Prior Conveyances, in connection with the offering, issuance or sale of the Units hereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, any of the Transaction Documents or any of the Prior Conveyances, except (A) such as have been already obtained or as may be required under the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (the NYSE), state securities laws or the rules of FINRA and (B) such as have been obtained under the laws and regulations of jurisdictions outside the United States in which the Reserved Units were offered, if any.
(xxxviii) Possession of Licenses and Permits. The Partnership Entities have filed or caused to be filed with the appropriate Governmental Entities all forms, statements, reports, and documents (including all exhibits, amendments, and supplements thereto) (each a Filing) required to be filed by it with respect to the NextEra Energy Partners LP Business and the related facilities under all applicable laws and their respective rules and regulations thereunder, all of which complied in all respects with all applicable requirements of the appropriate law and rules and regulations thereunder in effect on the date each such Filing was made, except where the failure to do so would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Partnership Entities possess such valid and current certificates, permits, licenses, approvals, consents and other authorizations (collectively, Governmental Licenses) issued by the appropriate Governmental Entities necessary to conduct the business now operated by them, except where the failure so to possess would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Partnership Entities are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all Governmental Licenses, except where the failure so to comply would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. All of the Governmental Licenses are valid and in full force and effect, except when the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses or the failure of such Governmental Licenses to be in full force and effect would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. None of the NEER Entities has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any Governmental Licenses which, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xxxix) Title to Property. Following the consummation of the Transactions and the Prior Transactions and at the Closing Time and each Delivery Date, the Partnership Entities will have good and marketable title to all real property and good title to all other property described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus as owned by the Partnership Entities, in each case, free and clear of all Liens of any kind except such as (A) are described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (B) arise under the Credit Agreement and Project Financing Agreements or (C) do not, individually or in the aggregate, materially affect the value of such property and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Partnership Entities; and all of the leases and subleases material to the NextEra Energy Partners LP Business, considered as one enterprise, and under which the Partnership Entities holds properties described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, are in full force and effect, and none of the NEER Entities has any written notice of any claim of any sort that has been asserted by anyone adverse to the rights of the Partnership Entities under any of the leases or subleases mentioned above, or affecting or questioning the rights of the Partnership Entities to the continued possession of the leased or subleased premises under any such lease or sublease, that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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(xl) Rights of Way. At the Closing Time and each Date of Delivery, after giving effect to the Transactions and the Prior Transactions, (A) the Partnership Entities will have such easements or rights-of-way from each person (collectively, rights-of-way) or rights of use related thereto as are necessary to conduct the NextEra Energy Partners LP Business in the manner described, and subject to the limitations contained, in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except for (1) qualifications, reservations and encumbrances that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (2) such rights-of-way that, if not obtained, would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (B) the Partnership Entities have, or following consummation of the Transactions and the Prior Transactions will have, fulfilled and performed all their material obligations with respect to such rights-of-way and no event has occurred that allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation or termination thereof or would result in any impairment of the rights of the holder of any such rights-of-way, except for such revocations, terminations and impairments that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xli) Possession of Intellectual Property. The Partnership Entities own or possess, or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks, trade names or other intellectual property (collectively, Intellectual Property) reasonably necessary to carry on the NextEra Energy Partners LP Business, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and none of the NEER Entities has received any written notice of any infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any Intellectual Property, and which infringement or conflict (if the subject of any unfavorable decision, ruling or finding) or invalidity or inadequacy would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xlii) Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions. No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among any Partnership Entity, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders, affiliates, customers or suppliers of any Partnership Entity, on the other hand, that is required to be described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and is not so described.
(xliii) ERISA. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (A) each employee benefit plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA)) for which the NEER Entities or any member of their Controlled Group (defined as any organization which is a member of a controlled group of corporations within the meaning of Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code)) would have any liability (each a Plan) has been maintained in material compliance with its terms and with the requirements of ERISA and the Code including the regulations and published governmental interpretations thereunder; (B) no reportable event (as defined in Section 4043(c) ERISA) has occurred with respect to any Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA for which any Partnership Entity would have any liability, excluding any reportable event for which a waiver could apply; (C) no prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, has occurred with respect to any Plan, excluding transactions effected pursuant to a statutory or administrative exemption; (D) no Partnership Entity has incurred, nor does any such entity reasonably expect to incur, liability under (1) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA or (2) Sections 412 or 4971 of the Code, with respect to any Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA; (E) each Plan for which any Partnership
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Entity would have any liability that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is the subject of a favorable determination or opinion letter from the Internal Revenue Service to the effect that it is so qualified, to knowledge of the NEER Entities, and nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which could reasonably be expected to cause the loss of such qualification; and (F) no Partnership Entity has incurred any unpaid liability to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (other than for payment of premiums in the ordinary course of business).
(xliv) Environmental Laws. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Partnership Entities (A) are conducting and have conducted their businesses, operations and facilities in compliance with Environmental Laws (as defined below); (B) have duly obtained, possess, maintain in full force and effect and have fulfilled and performed all of their obligations under any and all permits, licenses or registrations required under Environmental Law (Environmental Permits); (C) have not received any written notice from a governmental authority or any other third party alleging any violation of Environmental Law or liability thereunder; (D) are not subject to any pending or, to the best knowledge of the NEER Parties, threatened claim in writing or other legal proceeding under any Environmental Laws against any of the Partnership Entities; (E) do not have knowledge of any applicable Environmental Laws, or any unsatisfied conditions in an Environmental Permit, that, individually or in the aggregate, can reasonably be expected to require any material capital expenditures or material modification of current operations in order to maintain the Partnership Entities compliance with Environmental Laws; and (F) do not have knowledge of any facts or circumstances that reasonably would be expected to result in the Partnership Entities being subjected to a material liability arising under Environmental Laws. As used in this paragraph, Environmental Laws means any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations, or any enforceable administrative or judicial interpretation thereof, relating to pollution or the protection of human health or the environment, including, without limitation, those relating to (i) emissions, discharges or releases of Hazardous Substances into ambient air, surface water, groundwater or land, (ii) the generation, manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, release, transport or handling of, or exposure to, Hazardous Substances, (iii) the protection of wildlife or endangered or threatened species or (iv) the investigation, remediation or cleanup of any Hazardous Substances. As used in this paragraph, Hazardous Substances means pollutants, contaminants, hazardous substances, materials or wastes, petroleum, petroleum products and their breakdown constituents or any other chemical substance regulated under Environmental Laws.
(xlv) Accounting Controls. The Partnership Entities maintain internal control over financial reporting (as defined under Rule 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1934 Act (the 1934 Act Regulations) and a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with managements general or specific authorization; (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets; (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with managements general or specific authorization; and (D) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, since the Partnerships inception, there has been (1) no material weakness in the Partnerships internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (2) no change in the Partnerships internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Partnerships internal control over financial reporting. Material Weakness has the meaning set forth under Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X of the 1933 Act.
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(xlvi) Compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The NEER Parties have taken all necessary actions to ensure that, upon the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the Partnership will be in compliance in all material respects with all provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or implementing the provisions thereof (the Sarbanes-Oxley Act) that are then in effect and with which the Partnership is required to comply as of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and is actively taking steps to ensure that it will be in compliance with other provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act not currently in effect, upon the effectiveness of such provisions, or which will become applicable to the Partnership at all times after the effectiveness of the Registration Statement.
(xlvii) Transfer Taxes. There are no transfer taxes or other similar fees or charges under federal law or the laws of any state, foreign jurisdiction or any political subdivision thereof, required to be paid in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the issuance or sale by the Partnership of the Units.
(xlviii) Payment of Taxes. All tax returns of the Partnership Entities required by law to be filed have been filed and all taxes shown by such returns or otherwise assessed, which are due and payable, have been paid, except assessments against which appeals have been or will be promptly taken and as to which adequate reserves have been provided. All such tax returns of the Partnership Entities have been settled and no assessment in connection therewith has been made against the Partnership Entities.
(xlix) Insurance. The Partnership Entities carry or are entitled to the benefits of insurance relating to the NextEra Energy Partners LP Business, with financially sound and reputable insurers, in such amounts and covering such risks as are generally deemed reasonably adequate and customary for their business including, without limitation, policies covering real and personal property owned or leased by the Partnership Entities against theft, damage, destruction, acts of vandalism, flood and earthquakes. The NEER Parties have no reason to believe that the Partnership Entities will not be able (A) to renew existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (B) to obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct the NextEra Energy Partners LP Business as now conducted and at a cost that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(l) Investment Company Act. None of the Partnership Entities are required, and upon the issuance and sale of the Units as herein contemplated and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption Use of Proceeds, none of the Partnership Entities will be required, to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act).
(li) Absence of Manipulation. None of the NEER Entities has taken, nor will any NEER Entity take, directly or indirectly, any action which is designed, or would reasonably be expected, to cause or result in, or which constitutes, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Partnership to facilitate the sale or resale of the Units or to result in a violation of Regulation M under the 1934 Act.
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(lii) Operating Subsidiary Distributions. At the Closing Time and any Date of Delivery, after giving effect to the Transactions and the Prior Transactions, no Operating Subsidiary will be prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any distributions to NEE Operating LP, from making any other distribution on such Operating Subsidiarys equity interests, from repaying to the Partnership any loans or advances to such Operating Subsidiary from NEE Operating LP or the Partnership or from transferring any of such Operating Subsidiarys property or assets to NEE Operating LP, the Partnership or any other Operating Subsidiary, except for (A) restrictions on distributions under the laws of such Operating Subsidiarys jurisdiction of formation or (B) as described in or contemplated by the Credit Agreement or the Project Financing Agreements.
(liii) NEE Operating LP Distributions. At the Closing Time and any Date of Delivery, after giving effect to the Transactions and the Prior Transactions, NEE Operating LP will not be prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any distributions to the Partnership, from making any other distribution on its equity interests, from repaying to the Partnership any loans or advances to NEE Operating LP from the Partnership or from transferring any of its property or assets to the Partnership or any Operating Subsidiary, except for (A) restrictions on distributions under the laws of NEE Operating LPs jurisdiction of formation or (B) as described in or contemplated by the Credit Agreement.
(liv) Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. None of the Partnership Entities or, to the knowledge of the NEER Parties, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or other person acting on behalf of any Partnership Entity is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the FCPA), including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any foreign official (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA and such Partnership Entities and, to the knowledge of the NEER Parties, their affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.
(lv) Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Partnership Entities are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any Governmental Entity (collectively, the Money Laundering Laws); and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any Governmental Entity involving the Partnership Entities with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the NEER Parties, threatened.
(lvi) OFAC. None of the Partnership Entities or, to the knowledge of the NEER Parties, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or representative of any Partnership Entity is an individual or entity (Person) currently the subject or target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the United States Government, including, without limitation, the U.S. Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the European Union, Her Majestys Treasury (HMT), or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, Sanctions); nor is any Partnership Entity located, organized or
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resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions; and the Partnership Entities will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the sale of the Units, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiaries, joint venture partners or other Person, to fund any activities of or business with any Person, or in any country or territory, that, at the time of such funding, is the subject of Sanctions or in any other manner that will result in a violation by any Person (including any Person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions.
(lvii) Sales of Reserved Units. In connection with any offer and sale of Reserved Units outside the United States, each preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus, any prospectus wrapper and any amendment or supplement thereto, at the time it was delivered to Invitees, complied and will comply in all material respects with any applicable laws or regulations of foreign jurisdictions in which the same is distributed. The Partnership has not offered, or caused the Representatives to offer, Reserved Units to any person with the specific intent to unlawfully influence (i) a customer or supplier of the Partnership Entities to alter the customers or suppliers level or type of business with any such entity or (ii) a trade journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about the Partnership Entities, or their respective businesses or products.
(lviii) Lending Relationship. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no Partnership Entity (i) has any material lending or other relationship with any bank or lending affiliate of any Underwriter or (ii) intends to use any of the proceeds from the sale of the Units to repay any outstanding debt owed to any affiliate of any Underwriter.
(lix) No Equity Awards. Except for grants disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, none of the NEER Entities have granted to any person or entity an option or other equity-based award to purchase or receive equity securities of the Partnership Entities pursuant to an equity-based compensation plan or otherwise.
(lx) No Finders Fee. Except for the Underwriters discounts and commissions payable by the Partnership to the Underwriters in connection with the offering of the Units contemplated herein or as otherwise disclosed in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Partnership has not incurred any liability for any brokerage commission, finders fees or similar payments in connection with the offering of the Units contemplated hereby.
(lxi) Private Placement. The issuance of (i) the Common Units and the Special Voting Units to NEE Equity and (ii) the GP Interest to the General Partner are exempt from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act and securities laws of any state having jurisdiction with respect thereto, and none of the NEER Parties has taken or will take any action that would cause the loss of such exemption.
(lxii) Maintenance of Rating. The Partnership has no debt securities or preferred equity interests that is rated by any nationally recognized statistical rating agency (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the 1934 Act).
(lxiii) NYSE Listing. The Units have been approved to be listed on the NYSE, subject only to official notice of issuance.
(lxiv) FINRA. To the knowledge of the NEER Parties, there are no affiliations or associations between any member of FINRA and any of the General Partners officers or directors or the Partnerships 5% or greater security holders, except as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
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(lxv) Statistical and Market-Related Data. Any statistical and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Partnership believes, after reasonable inquiry, to be reliable and accurate and, to the extent required, the Partnership has obtained the written consent to the use of such data from such sources.
(b) Officers Certificates. Any certificate signed by any officer of the General Partner delivered to the Representatives or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the General Partner and the Partnership to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.
SECTION 2. Sale and Delivery to Underwriters; Closing.
(a) Initial Units. On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Partnership agrees to sell to each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Partnership, at the price per unit set forth in Schedule A, that number of Initial Units set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter, plus any additional number of Initial Units which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 10 hereof, subject, in each case, to such adjustments among the Underwriters as the Representatives in their sole discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional Units.
(b) Option Units. In addition, on the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Partnership hereby grants an option to the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, to purchase up to an additional Common Units, at the price per unit set forth in Schedule A, less an amount per unit equal to any distributions declared by the Partnership and payable on the Initial Units but not payable on the Option Units. The option hereby granted may be exercised for 30 days after the date hereof and may be exercised in whole or in part at any time from time to time upon notice by the Representatives to the Partnership setting forth the number of Option Units as to which the several Underwriters are then exercising the option and the time and date of payment and delivery for such Option Units. Any such time and date of delivery (a Date of Delivery) shall be determined by the Representatives, but shall not be (i) in the event the option is exercised subsequent to the Closing Time, earlier than three full business days after the exercise of such option or (ii) later than seven full business days after the exercise of said option, nor in any event prior to the Closing Time. If the option is exercised as to all or any portion of the Option Units, each of the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, will purchase that proportion of the total number of Option Units then being purchased which the number of Initial Units set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Initial Units, subject, in each case, to such adjustments as the Representatives in their sole discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional Units.
(c) Payment. Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of the Initial Units shall be made at the offices of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, 4 Times Square, New York, NY 10036, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Partnership, at 9:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the third (fourth, if the pricing occurs after 4:30 P.M. (New York City time) on any given day) business day after the date hereof (unless postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 10), or such other time not later than ten business days after such date as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Partnership (such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called Closing Time).
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In addition, in the event that any or all of the Option Units are purchased by the Underwriters, payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of such Option Units shall be made at the above-mentioned offices, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Partnership, on each Date of Delivery as specified in the notice from the Representatives to the Partnership.
Payment shall be made to the Partnership by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account designated by the Partnership against delivery to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the Underwriters for the Units to be purchased by them. It is understood that each Underwriter has authorized the Representatives, for its account, to accept delivery of, receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the Initial Units and the Option Units, if any, which it has agreed to purchase. Merrill Lynch, individually and not as representative of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment of the purchase price for the Initial Units or the Option Units, if any, to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds have not been received by the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be, but such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from its obligations hereunder. Delivery of the Initial Units and the Option Units shall be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct.
SECTION 3. Covenants of the Partnership. The Partnership and the General Partner, jointly and severally, covenant with each Underwriter as set forth in items (a) through (h) and (j) through (q) below and the NEER Parties covenant with each Underwriter as set forth in item (i) below:
(a) Compliance with Securities Regulations and Commission Requests. The Partnership, subject to Section 3(b), will comply with the requirements of Rule 430A, and will notify the Representatives promptly, and confirm the notice in writing, (i) when any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement shall become effective or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus shall have been filed, (ii) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission, (iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or for additional information, (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, or of the suspension of the qualification of the Units for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes or of any examination pursuant to Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the 1933 Act concerning the Registration Statement and (v) if the Partnership becomes the subject of a proceeding under Section 8A of the 1933 Act in connection with the offering of the Units. The Partnership will effect all filings required under Rule 424(b), in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8)), and will take such steps as it deems necessary to ascertain promptly whether the form of prospectus transmitted for filing under Rule 424(b) was received for filing by the Commission and, in the event that it was not, it will promptly file such prospectus. The Partnership will use reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order, prevention or suspension and, if any such order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof as soon as practicable.
(b) Continued Compliance with Securities Laws. The Partnership will comply with the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the Units as contemplated in this Agreement and in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. If at any time when a prospectus relating to the Units is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172 of the 1933 Act Regulations (Rule 172), would be) required by the 1933 Act to be
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delivered in connection with sales of the Units, any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters or for the Partnership, to (i) amend the Registration Statement in order that the Registration Statement will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) amend or supplement the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus in order that the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a purchaser or (iii) amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, in order to comply with the requirements of the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations, the Partnership will promptly (A) give the Representatives notice of such event, (B) prepare any amendment or supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus comply with such requirements and, a reasonable amount of time prior to any proposed filing or use, furnish the Representatives with copies of any such amendment or supplement and (C) file with the Commission any such amendment or supplement; provided that the Partnership shall not file or use any such amendment or supplement to which the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably object. The Partnership will furnish to the Underwriters such number of copies of such amendment or supplement as the Underwriters may reasonably request. The Partnership has given the Representatives notice of any filings made pursuant to the 1934 Act or 1934 Act Regulations within 48 hours prior to the Applicable Time; the Partnership will give the Representatives notice of its intention to make any such filing from the Applicable Time to the Closing Time and will furnish the Representatives with copies of any such documents a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing, as the case may be, and will not file or use any such document to which the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably object.
(c) Delivery of Registration Statements. The Partnership has furnished or will deliver to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, without charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith) and signed copies of all consents and certificates of experts, and will also deliver to the Representatives, without charge, a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (without exhibits) for each of the Underwriters. The copies of the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
(d) Delivery of Prospectuses. The Partnership has delivered to each Underwriter, without charge, as many copies of each preliminary prospectus as such Underwriter reasonably requested, and the Partnership hereby consents to the use of such copies for purposes permitted by the 1933 Act. The Partnership will furnish to each Underwriter, without charge, during the period when a prospectus relating to the Units is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172, would be) required to be delivered under the 1933 Act, such number of copies of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) as such Underwriter may reasonably request. The Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
(e) Blue Sky Qualifications. The Partnership will use its best efforts, in cooperation with the Underwriters, to qualify the Units for offering and sale under the applicable securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions (domestic or foreign) as the Representatives may designate and to maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required to complete the distribution of the Units; provided, however, that the Partnership shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify to do business or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject.
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(f) Rule 158. The Partnership will timely file such reports pursuant to the 1934 Act as are necessary in order to make generally available to its securityholders as soon as practicable an earnings statement for the purposes of, and to provide to the Underwriters the benefits contemplated by, the last paragraph of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act.
(g) Use of Proceeds. The Partnership and NEE Operating LP will use the net proceeds received by them from the sale of the Units in the manner specified in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under Use of Proceeds.
(h) Listing. The Partnership will use its best efforts to effect and maintain the listing of the Common Units (including the Units) on the NYSE.
(i) Restriction on Sale of Units. During a period of 180 days from the date of the Prospectus, the NEER Parties will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, (i) directly or indirectly, offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of (or enter into any transaction which is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or otherwise) by the Partnership) of any Common Units or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Units or file any registration statement under the 1933 Act with respect to any of the foregoing or (ii) enter into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of the Common Units, whether any such swap or transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Units or such other securities, in cash or otherwise. The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (A) the Units to be sold hereunder, (B) any Common Units issued by the Partnership upon the exercise of an option or warrant or the conversion of a security outstanding on the date hereof and referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (C) any Common Units issued or options to purchase Common Units granted pursuant to existing employee benefit plans of the Partnership or the General Partner referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or (D) any Common Units issued pursuant to any non-employee director stock incentive plan or dividend reinvestment plan referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
(j) If the Representatives, in their sole discretion, agree to release or waive the restrictions set forth in a lock-up agreement described in Section 5(i) hereof for an officer or director of the Partnership and provide the Partnership with notice of the impending release or waiver at least three business days before the effective date of the release or waiver, the Partnership agrees to announce the impending release or waiver by a press release substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver.
(k) Reporting Requirements. The Partnership, during the period when a Prospectus relating to the Units is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172, would be) required to be delivered under the 1933 Act, will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the 1934 Act within the time periods required by the 1934 Act and 1934 Act Regulations. Additionally, the Partnership shall report the use of proceeds from the issuance of the Units as may be required under Rule 463 under the 1933 Act.
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(l) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. The Partnership agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Representatives, and each Underwriter agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Partnership, it will not make any offer relating to the Units that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a free writing prospectus, or a portion thereof, required to be filed by the Partnership with the Commission or retained by the Partnership or the Underwriters, as applicable, under Rule 433; provided that the Representatives will be deemed to have consented to the Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses listed on Schedule B-2 hereto and any road show that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i) that has been reviewed by the Representatives. The Partnership represents that it has treated or agrees that it will treat each such free writing prospectus consented to, or deemed consented to, by the Representatives as an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433, and that it has complied and will comply with the applicable requirements of Rule 433 with respect thereto, including timely filing with the Commission where required, legending and record keeping. If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Partnership will promptly notify the Representatives and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.
(m) Compliance with FINRA Rules. The Partnership hereby agrees that it will ensure that the Reserved Units will be restricted as required by FINRA or the FINRA rules from sale, transfer, assignment, pledge or hypothecation for a period of three months following the date of this Agreement. The Underwriters will notify the Partnership as to which persons will need to be so restricted. At the request of the Underwriters, the Partnership will direct the transfer agent to place a stop transfer restriction upon such securities for such period of time. Should the Partnership release, or seek to release, from such restrictions any of the Reserved Units, the Partnership agrees to reimburse the Underwriters for any reasonable expenses (including, without limitation, legal expenses) they incur in connection with such release.
(n) Emerging Growth Company Status. The Partnership will promptly notify the Representatives if the Partnership ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company at any time prior to the later of (i) completion of the distribution of the Units within the meaning of the Securities Act and (ii) completion of the 180-day restricted period referred to in Section 3(i).
(o) Absence of Manipulation. Except as contemplated herein or in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, each of the Partnership, the General Partner and NEE Operating LP will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any securities of the Partnership to facilitate the sale or resale of the Units.
SECTION 4. Payment of Expenses.
(a) Expenses. The Partnership will pay or cause to be paid all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including (i) the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits) as originally filed and each amendment thereto, (ii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of each preliminary prospectus, each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto and any costs associated with electronic delivery of any of the foregoing by the Underwriters to investors, (iii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the Units to the Underwriters,
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including any stock or other transfer taxes and any stamp or other duties payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the Units to the Underwriters, (iv) the fees and disbursements of the Partnerships counsel, accountants and other advisors, (v) the qualification of the Units under securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(e) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters not to exceed $15,000 in connection therewith and in connection with the preparation of the Blue Sky Survey and any supplement thereto, (vi) the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or registrar for the Units, (vii) the costs and expenses of the Partnership relating to investor presentations on any road show undertaken in connection with the marketing of the Units, including without limitation, expenses associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged with the consent of the Partnership in connection with the road show presentations, reasonable travel and lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of the Partnership and any such consultants, and 100% of the cost of aircraft and other transportation chartered or used in connection with the road show, (viii) the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters not to exceed $30,000 in connection with, the review by FINRA of the terms of the sale of the Units, (ix) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Units on the NYSE and (x) all reasonable costs and expenses of the Underwriters, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters, in connection with matters related to the Reserved Units which are designated by the Partnership for sale to Invitees. Except as provided in this Section 4(a) and in Section 4(b), the Underwriters shall pay their own expenses, including the fees and disbursements of their counsel, transfer taxes on any resale of the Units by any Underwriter, any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make and the transportation and other expenses incurred by the Underwriters on their own behalf in connection with presentations to prospective purchasers of the Units.
(b) Termination of Agreement. If this Agreement is terminated by the Representatives in accordance with the provisions of Section 5, Section 9(a)(i) or (iii) or Section 10 (but only with respect to the non-defaulting Underwriters) hereof, the Partnership shall reimburse the Underwriters for all of their reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters.
SECTION 5. Conditions of Underwriters Obligations. The obligations of the several Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the NEER Parties contained herein or in certificates of any officer of the General Partner delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the NEER Parties of their covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to the following further conditions:
(a) Effectiveness of Registration Statement; Rule 430A Information. The Registration Statement, including any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, has become effective and, at the Closing Time, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has been issued under the 1933 Act, no order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus has been issued and no proceedings for any of those purposes have been instituted or are pending or, to the NEER Parties knowledge, threatened by the Commission; and the Partnership has complied with each request (if any) from the Commission for additional information. A prospectus containing the Rule 430A Information shall have been filed with the Commission in the manner and within the time frame required by Rule 424(b) without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8) or a post-effective amendment providing such information shall have been filed with, and declared effective by, the Commission in accordance with the requirements of Rule 430A.
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(b) Opinion of Counsels for the Partnership and the General Partner.
(i) U.S. Legal Opinion. At the Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received the opinion, dated the Closing Time, of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, counsel for the Partnership substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A-1 hereto.
(ii) Canadian Legal Opinion. At the Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received the opinion, dated the Closing Time, of McCarthy Tétrault LLP, Canadian counsel for the Partnership in substantially in the form set forth Exhibit A-2 hereto.
(c) Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters. At the Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received the opinion, dated the Closing Time, of Baker Botts L.L.P., counsel for the Underwriters, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters. Such counsel may state that, insofar as such opinion involves factual matters, they have relied, to the extent they deem proper, upon certificates of officers and other representatives of the Partnership Entities and certificates of public officials.
(d) Officers Certificate. The Representatives shall have received a certificate of the chief executive officer or the president, in their respective capacities as officers only, of each of the General Partner and NEER and of the chief financial or chief accounting officer, in their respective capacities as officers only, of each of the General Partner and NEER, dated the Closing Time, to the effect that (i) at the Closing Time, there shall not have been since the date hereof or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, any material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Partnership Entities considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, (ii) the representations and warranties of the NEER Parties in this Agreement are true and correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made at and as of the Closing Time, (iii) the NEER Parties have complied in all material respects with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on their part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Time, and (iv) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the 1933 Act has been issued, no order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus has been issued and no proceedings for any of those purposes have been instituted or are pending or, to their knowledge contemplated.
(e) Accountants Comfort Letter. At the time of the execution of this Agreement, the Representatives shall have received from Deloitte & Touche LLP a letter, dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants comfort letters to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
(f) Bring-down Comfort Letter. At the Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received from Deloitte & Touche LLP a letter, dated as of the Closing Time, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter furnished pursuant to subsection (e) of this Section, except that the specified date referred to shall be a date not more than three business days prior to the Closing Time.
(g) Approval of Listing. At the Closing Time, the Units shall have been approved for listing on the NYSE, subject only to official notice of issuance.
(h) No Objection. FINRA has confirmed that it has not raised any objection with respect to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements relating to the offering of the Units.
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(i) Lock-up Agreements. At the date of this Agreement, the Representatives shall have received an agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto (each, a Lock-Up Agreement), signed by the persons listed on Schedule C hereto (each, a Lock-Up Party). If the Representatives, in their sole discretion, agree to release or waive the restrictions set forth in a Lock-Up Agreement for any Lock-Up Party and provides the Partnership with notice of the impending release or waiver at least three business days before the effective date of the release or waiver, the Partnership agrees to announce the impending release or waiver by issuing a press release substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto, and containing such other information as the Representatives may require with respect to the circumstances of the release or waiver and/or the identity of the Lock-Up Party with respect to which the release or waiver applies, through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver.
(j) Transactions. The NEER Parties shall have furnished to the Representatives evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives that each of the Transactions and the Prior Transactions shall have occurred or will occur as of the Closing Time, including the closing of the new credit facility pursuant to the Credit Agreement, in each case as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus without material modification, change or waiver, except for such material modifications, changes or waivers as have been specifically identified to the Representatives and which, in the judgment of the Representatives, do not make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering and delivery of the Units at the Closing Time on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
(k) Conditions to Purchase of Option Units. In the event that the Underwriters exercise their option provided in Section 2(b) hereof to purchase all or any portion of the Option Units, the representations and warranties of the NEER Parties contained herein and the statements in any certificates furnished by the General Partner hereunder shall be true and correct as of each Date of Delivery and, at the relevant Date of Delivery, the Representatives shall have received:
(i) Officers Certificate. A certificate, dated such Date of Delivery, of the chief executive officer or the president, in their respective capacities as officer only, of each of the General Partner and NEER and of the chief financial or chief accounting officer, in their respective capacities as officers only, of each of the General Partner and NEER confirming that the certificate delivered at the Closing Time pursuant to Section 5(d) hereof remains true and correct as of such Date of Delivery.
(ii) Opinion of Counsels for the Partnership and the General Partner.
(a) U.S. Legal Opinion. If requested by the Representatives, the opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, counsel for the Partnership, substantially in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the Option Units to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(b) hereof.
(b) Canadian Legal Opinion. If requested by the Representatives, the opinion of McCarthy Tétrault LLP, Canadian counsel for the Partnership, substantially in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the Option Units to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(b) hereof.
(iii) Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters. If requested by the Representatives, the opinion of Baker Botts L.L.P., counsel for the Underwriters, dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the Option Units to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(c) hereof.
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(iv) Bring-down Comfort Letter. If requested by the Representatives, a letter from Deloitte & Touche LLP, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives and dated such Date of Delivery, substantially in the same form and substance as the letter furnished to the Representatives pursuant to Section 5(e) hereof, except that the specified date in the letter furnished pursuant to this paragraph shall be a date not more than three business days prior to such Date of Delivery.
(l) Additional Documents. At the Closing Time and at each Date of Delivery (if any) counsel for the Underwriters shall have been furnished with such documents as they may require for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Units as herein contemplated, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations or warranties, or the fulfillment of any of the conditions, herein contained; and all proceedings taken by the NEER Entities in connection with the issuance and sale of the Units as herein contemplated shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters.
(m) Termination of Agreement. If any condition specified in this Section shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, this Agreement, or, in the case of any condition to the purchase of Option Units on a Date of Delivery which is after the Closing Time, the obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase the relevant Option Units, may be terminated by the Representatives by notice to the Partnership at any time at or prior to Closing Time or such Date of Delivery, as the case may be, and such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4 and except that Sections 1, 6, 7, 8, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 shall survive any such termination and remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 6. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification of Underwriters. The NEER Parties, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 501(b) under the 1933 Act (each, an Affiliate)), its selling agents and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act as follows:
(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included (A) in any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or (B) in any materials or information provided to investors by, or with the approval of, the Partnership in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Units (Marketing Materials) not constituting an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, including any roadshow (as defined under Rule 433 under the 1933 Act) or investor presentations made to investors by the Partnership (whether in person or electronically), or the omission or alleged omission in any preliminary prospectus, Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, Prospectus or in any Marketing Materials of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
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(ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that (subject to Section 6(d) below) any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Partnership;
(iii) against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Representatives in accordance with Section 6(c) below), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above;
provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information, the General Disclosure Package any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any Marketing Materials in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information.
(b) Indemnification of the NEER Parties and their Directors and Officers. Each Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the NEER Parties, each director and officer of the General Partner who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Partnership within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in subsection (a) of this Section, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any Marketing Materials in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information.
(c) Actions against Parties; Notification. Each indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is not materially prejudiced for the forfeiture of substantive rights and defenses as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement. In the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(a) above or 6(e) below, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Representatives, and, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(b) above, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Partnership. An indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the defense of any such action; provided, however, that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the consent of the indemnified party) also be counsel to the indemnified party. In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 6 or Section 7 hereof
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(whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(d) Settlement without Consent if Failure to Reimburse. If at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 6(a)(ii) or settlement of any claim in connection with any violation referred to in Section 6(e) effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 60 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 45 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement (subject to the limitations set forth in the penultimate sentence of Section 6(c) hereof).
(e) Indemnification for Reserved Units. In connection with the offer and sale of the Reserved Units, the NEER Parties, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriters, their Affiliates and selling agents and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, from and against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending, investigating or settling any such action or claim), as incurred, (i) arising out of the violation of any applicable laws or regulations of foreign jurisdictions where Reserved Units have been offered, (ii) arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any prospectus wrapper or other material prepared by or with the consent of the NEER Parties for distribution to Invitees in connection with the offering of the Reserved Units or caused by 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, (iii) caused by the failure of any Invitee to pay for and accept delivery of Reserved Units which have been orally confirmed for purchase by any Invitee by 8:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the first business day after the date of the Agreement or (iv) related to, or arising out of or in connection with, the offering of the Reserved Units; provided that no indemnification shall be available under this section for any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense which shall have been finally judicially determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to have been caused by the gross negligence or willful misconduct of Merrill Lynch or any of its affiliates.
SECTION 7. Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in Section 6 hereof is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the NEER Parties on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, from the offering of the Units pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) 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 NEER Parties, on the one hand, and of the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions, or in connection with any violation of the nature referred to in Section 6(e) hereof, which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative benefits received by the NEER Parties on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the offering of the Units pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Units pursuant to this
32
Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Partnership, on the one hand, and the total underwriting discount received by the Underwriters, on the other hand, in each case as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate initial public offering price of the Units as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus.
The relative fault of the NEER Parties on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Partnership or by the Underwriters and the parties relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission or any violation of the nature referred to in Section 6(e) hereof.
The NEER Parties and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 7. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 7 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting commissions received by such Underwriter in connection with the Units underwritten by it and distributed to the public.
No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
For purposes of this Section 7, each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act and each Underwriters Affiliates and selling agents shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each director and officer of the General Partner who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the NEER Parties within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the NEER Parties. The Underwriters respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several in proportion to the number of Initial Units set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule A hereto and not joint.
SECTION 8. Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive. All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement or in certificates of officers of the NEER Parties submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or its Affiliates or selling agents, any person controlling any Underwriter, its officers or directors or any person controlling the NEER Parties and (ii) delivery of and payment for the Units.
SECTION 9. Termination of Agreement.
(a) Termination. The Representatives may terminate this Agreement, by notice to the Partnership, at any time at or prior to the Closing Time (i) if there has been, in the judgment of the Representatives, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the respective dates as of which
33
information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, any material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Partnership Entities considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business or (ii) if there has occurred any material adverse change in the financial markets in the United States or the international financial markets, any outbreak of hostilities or escalation thereof or other calamity or crisis or any change or development involving a prospective change in national or international political, financial or economic conditions, in each case the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Representatives, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the completion of the offering or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Units, or (iii) if trading in any securities of the Partnership has been suspended or materially limited by the Commission or the NYSE, or (iv) if trading generally on the NYSE Amex or the NYSE or in the Nasdaq Global Market has been suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices have been required, by any of said exchanges or by order of the Commission, FINRA or any other governmental authority, or (v) a material disruption has occurred in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States or with respect to Clearstream or Euroclear systems in Europe, or (vi) if a banking moratorium has been declared by either Federal or New York authorities.
(b) Liabilities. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section, such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4 hereof, and provided further that Sections 1, 6, 7, 8, 14, 15, 16 and 17 shall survive such termination and remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 10. Default by One or More of the Underwriters. If one or more of the Underwriters shall fail at the Closing Time or a Date of Delivery to purchase the Units which it or they are obligated to purchase under this Agreement (the Defaulted Units), the Representatives shall have the right, within 24 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more of the non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Defaulted Units in such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms herein set forth; if, however, the Representatives shall not have completed such arrangements within such 24-hour period, then:
(i) if the number of Defaulted Units does not exceed 10% of the number of Units to be purchased on such date, each of the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, to purchase the full amount thereof in the proportions that their respective underwriting obligations hereunder bear to the underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting Underwriters, or
(ii) if the number of Defaulted Units exceeds 10% of the number of Units to be purchased on such date, the remaining Underwriters shall have the right to purchase all, but shall not be under any obligation to purchase any, of the Defaulted Units and if such non-defaulting Underwriters do not elect to purchase all of the Defaulting Units, this Agreement or, with respect to any Date of Delivery which occurs after the Closing Time, the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase, and the Partnership to sell, the Option Units to be purchased and sold on such Date of Delivery shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter.
No action taken pursuant to this Section shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.
In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination of this Agreement or, in the case of a Date of Delivery which is after the Closing Time, which does not result in a termination of the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase and the Partnership to sell the relevant Option Units, as the
34
case may be, either the (i) Representatives or (ii) the Partnership shall have the right to postpone the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be, for a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect any required changes in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements. As used herein, the term Underwriter includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section 10.
SECTION 11. Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be directed to Merrill Lynch at One Bryant Park, New York, New York 10036, attention of Syndicate Department (facsimile: (646)  ###-###-####), with a copy to ECM Legal (facsimile: (212)  ###-###-####), to Goldman, Sachs & Co., 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282, attention of Registration Department (facsimile: ), and to Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, 1585 Broadway, New York, New York 10036, Attention Equity Syndicate Desk, with a copy to the legal department; notices to the Partnership shall be directed to it at NextEra Energy Partners, LP, 700 Universe Boulevard, Juno Beach, Florida 33408, attention of the general counsel (facsimile: ).
SECTION 12. Patriot Act. In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Partnership, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.
SECTION 13. No Advisory or Fiduciary Relationship. The NEER Parties acknowledge and agree that (a) the purchase and sale of the Units pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the initial public offering price of the Units and any related discounts and commissions, is an arms-length commercial transaction between the NEER Parties, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other hand, (b) in connection with the offering of the Units and the process leading thereto, each Underwriter is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the agent or fiduciary of the NEER Parties, any of their subsidiaries or their respective stockholders, creditors, employees or any other party, (c) no Underwriter has assumed or will assume an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the NEER Parties with respect to the offering of the Units or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the NEER Parties on other matters) and no Underwriter has any obligation to the NEER Parties with respect to the offering of the Units except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement, (d) the Underwriters and their respective affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the NEER Parties and (e) the Underwriters have not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering of the Units and the NEER Parties have consulted their own respective legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate.
SECTION 14. Parties. This Agreement shall each inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Underwriters and the NEER Parties and their respective successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other than the Underwriters and the NEER Parties and their respective successors and the controlling persons and officers and directors referred to in Sections 6 and 7 and their heirs and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. This Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Underwriters and the NEER Parties and their respective successors, and said controlling persons and officers and directors and their heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation. No purchaser of Units from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.
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SECTION 15. Trial by Jury. The NEER Parties (on their behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of its stockholders and affiliates) and each of the Underwriters hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
SECTION 16. GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF, THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO ITS CHOICE OF LAW PROVISIONS.
SECTION 17. Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Immunity. Any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (Related Proceedings) shall be instituted in (i) the federal courts of the United States of America located in the City and County of New York, Borough of Manhattan or (ii) the courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York, Borough of Manhattan (collectively, the Specified Courts), and each party irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction (except for proceedings instituted in regard to the enforcement of a judgment of any such court (a Related Judgment), as to which such jurisdiction is non-exclusive) of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. Service of any process, summons, notice or document by mail to such partys address set forth above shall be effective service of process for any suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court. The parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or other proceeding in the Specified Courts and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any such court that any such suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
SECTION 18. TIME. TIME SHALL BE OF THE ESSENCE OF THIS AGREEMENT. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE SET FORTH HEREIN, SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME.
SECTION 19. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement.
SECTION 20. Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to the Partnership a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement among the Underwriters and the Partnership in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours, | ||
NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP | ||
By: | NextEra Energy Partners GP, Inc., its general partner | |
By |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS GP, INC. | ||
By |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
NEXTERA ENERGY RESOURCES, LLC | ||
By |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]
CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED, | ||
as of the date first above written: | ||
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED | ||
GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO. | ||
MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC | ||
By: | MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED | |
By |
| |
Authorized Signatory | ||
By: | GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO. | |
By |
| |
Goldman, Sachs & Co. | ||
By: | MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC | |
By |
| |
Authorized Signatory | ||
For themselves and as Representatives of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto. |
[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]
SCHEDULE A
The initial public offering price per unit for the Units shall be $.
The purchase price per unit for the Units to be paid by the several Underwriters shall be $, being an amount equal to the initial public offering price set forth above less $ per unit, subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 2(b) for dividends or distributions declared by the Partnership and payable on the Initial Units but not payable on the Option Units.
Name of Underwriter | Number of Initial Units | |
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith | ||
Incorporated | ||
Goldman, Sachs & Co. | ||
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC | ||
Barclays Capital Inc. | ||
BMO Capital Markets Corp. | ||
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC | ||
KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc. | ||
RBC Capital Markets, LLC | ||
Robert W. Biard & Co. Incorporated | ||
UBS Securities LLC | ||
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC | ||
| ||
Total | ||
|
Sch A-1
SCHEDULE B-1
Pricing Terms
1. The Partnership is selling Common Units.
2. The Partnership has granted an option to the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, to purchase up to an additional Common Units.
3. The initial public offering price per unit for the Units shall be $ .
SCHEDULE B-2
Free Writing Prospectuses
[None.]
Sch B - 1
SCHEDULE C
List of Persons and Entities Subject to Lock-up
1. NextEra Energy Equity Partners, LP
2. James L. Robo
3. Robert Byrne
4. Moray P. Dewhurst
5. Peter H. Kind
6. Armando Pimentel, Jr.
7. Charles E. Sieving
8. Chris N. Froggatt
9. Paul I. Cutler
10. Mark E. Hickson
Sch C - 1
SCHEDULE D
Project Financing Agreements
1. Trust Indenture, dated as of December 12, 2013, among Trillium Windpower, LP, Trillium Wind Holdings, LP, Trillium Funding GP, Inc., Trillium Funding GP Holding, Inc., Strathroy Wind GP, Inc., Conestogo Wind GP, Inc., Conestogo Wind, LP, Summerhaven Wind LP and BNY Trust Company of Canada.
2. Credit Agreement, dated as of September 27, 2012, among (i) Canyon Wind, LLC, (ii) Canyon Wind Holdings, LLC, (iii) Perrin Ranch Wind, LLC, (iv) Tuscola Bay Wind, LLC, (v) the financial institutions from time to time party thereto as Lenders, (vi) the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., New York Branch, as administrative agent, (vii) U.S. Bank National Association, as collateral agent and depositary agent, and (xi) the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., New York Branch, Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd., and COBANK, ACB, as joint bookrunners and mandated lead arrangers.
3. Trust Indenture, dated as of March 25, 2010, among Mountain Prairie Wind, LLC, Mountain Prairie Wind Holdings, LLC, Elk City Wind Holdings, LLC, Elk City Wind, LLC, Northern Colorado Wind Energy, LLC, and U.S. Bank National Association.
4. Trust Indenture, dated as of September 21, 2012, among St. Clair Holding, Inc., St. Clair Investment Holding, Inc., Moore Solar, Inc., Sombra Solar, Inc. and BNY Trust Company of Canada.
5. Amended and Restated Pass-Through Trust Agreement, dated as of August 26, 2011 among U.S. Bank National Association, U.S. Bank Trust National Association and Genesis Solar, LLC.
6. Credit Agreement, dated as of August 26, 2011, by and among Genesis Solar, LLC, U.S. Department of Energy, the financial institutions from time to time party thereto as Lenders, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentina, S.A., New York Branch, as issuing bank, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentina, S.A., New York Branch, as administrative agent, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentina, S.A., New York Branch, as master administrative agent, U.S. Bank National Association, as collateral agent, and Credit Suisse AG, New York Branch, as lead lender.
7. Master Agreement, dated as of August 26, 2011, by and among Genesis Solar, LLC, U.S. Department of Energy, Genesis Solar 2011 Pass-Through Trust, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentina, S.A., New York Branch, as issuing bank, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentina, S.A., New York Branch, as master administrative agent, U.S. Bank National Association, as collateral agent, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentina, S.A., New York Branch, as intercreditor agent, U.S. Bank National Association, as depositary, U.S. Bank National Association, as pass-through trustee, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentina, S.A., New York Branch, as administrative agent, and Credit Suisse AG, New York Branch, as lead lender.
8. Credit Agreement, dated as of June 13, 2014, among Varna Wind, LP, Varna Wind GP, ULC, the financial institutions from time to time party thereto as Lenders, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, as administrative agent, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation of Canada, as collateral agent and depositary agent, and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ (Canada) and Siemens Financial Ltd., as mandated lead arrangers and joint bookrunners.
9. [Genesis Indenture].
Sch D - 1
Exhibit A-1
FORM OF OPINION OF SKADDEN, ARPS, SLATE, MEAGHER & FLOM LLP,
COUNSEL TO THE NEER PARTIES, TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 5(b)
A-1-1
Exhibit A-2
FORM OF OPINION OF SPECIAL CANADIAN COUNSEL
TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 5(b)
A-2-1
[Form of lock-up from directors, officers or other unitholders pursuant to Section 5(i)]
Exhibit B
, 2014
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
as Representatives of the several
Underwriters to be named in the
within-mentioned Underwriting Agreement
c/o Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated
One Bryant Park
New York, New York 10036
Re: | Proposed Public Offering by NextEra Energy Partners, LP |
Dear Sirs:
The undersigned, is or will be a unitholder of NextEra Energy Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the Partnership) [and is [an officer and/or director] of NextEra Energy Partners GP, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the General Partner)], and understands that Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (Merrill Lynch), Goldman, Sachs & Co. (Goldman Sachs) and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (Morgan Stanley and together with Merrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs, the Representatives) propose to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the Underwriting Agreement) with the Partnership providing for the public offering of the Partnerships common units representing limited partner interest of the Partnership (the Common Units).
In recognition of the benefit that such an offering will confer upon the undersigned and the Partnership, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned agrees with each underwriter to be named in the Underwriting Agreement that, during the period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the date that is 180 days from the date of the Underwriting Agreement, the undersigned will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, directly or indirectly, (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant for the sale of, or otherwise dispose of or transfer any of the Partnerships Common Units or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Common Units, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by the undersigned or with respect to which the undersigned has or hereafter acquires the power of disposition (collectively, the Lock-Up Units), or exercise any right with respect to the registration of any of the Lock-up Units, or file or cause to be filed any registration statement in connection therewith, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or (ii) enter into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of the Lock-Up Units, whether any such swap or transaction is to be settled by delivery of Common Units or other securities, in cash or otherwise. [If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Partnership, the undersigned further agrees that the foregoing provisions shall be equally applicable to any issuer-directed Securities the undersigned may purchase in the offering.]
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If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Partnership, (1) the Representatives agree that, at least three business days before the effective date of any release or waiver of the foregoing restrictions in connection with a transfer of shares of the Common Stock, the Representatives will notify the Partnership of the impending release or waiver, and (2) the Partnership has agreed in the Underwriting Agreement to announce the impending release or waiver by press release through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver. Any release or waiver granted by the Representatives hereunder to any such officer or director shall only be effective two business days after the publication date of such press release. The provisions of this paragraph will not apply if (i) the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a transfer not for consideration and (ii) the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the same terms described in this letter to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of the transfer.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, and subject to the conditions below, the undersigned may transfer the Lock-Up Units without the prior written consent of Merrill Lynch, provided that (1) the Representatives receive a signed lock-up agreement for the balance of the lockup period from each donee, trustee, distributee, or transferee, as the case may be, (2) any such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value, (3) such transfers are not required to be reported with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 4 in accordance with Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and (4) the undersigned does not otherwise voluntarily effect any public filing or report regarding such transfers:
(i) | as a bona fide gift or gifts; or |
(ii) | to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or the immediate family of the undersigned (for purposes of this lock-up agreement, immediate family shall mean any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not more remote than first cousin); or |
(iii) | as a distribution to limited partners or stockholders of the undersigned; or |
(iv) | to the undersigneds affiliates or to any investment fund or other entity controlled or managed by the undersigned. |
Furthermore, the undersigned may sell Common Units of the Partnership purchased by the undersigned on the open market following the Public Offering if and only if (i) such sales are not required to be reported in any public report or filing with the Securities Exchange Commission, or otherwise and (ii) the undersigned does not otherwise voluntarily effect any public filing or report regarding such sales.
The undersigned agrees that, prior to engaging in any transaction or taking any other action that is subject to the terms of this lock-up agreement during the period from the date of this lock-up agreement to and including the 34th day following the expiration of the initial 180-day lock-up period, it will give notice thereof to the Partnership and will not consummate such transaction or take any such action unless it has received written confirmation from the Partnership that the 180-day lock-up period has expired.
The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Partnerships transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of the Lock-Up Units except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.
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It is understood that, if the Partnership notifies the Representatives that it does not intend to proceed with the Offering, if the Underwriting Agreement does not become effective, or if the Underwriting Agreement (other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) shall terminate or be terminated prior to payment for and delivery of the Common Units, the undersigned will be released from its obligations under this lock up agreement.
Very truly yours, | ||
Signature: |
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Print Name: |
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Exhibit C
FORM OF PRESS RELEASE
TO BE ISSUED PURSUANT TO SECTION 3(j)
NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP
[Date]
NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP (the Partnership) announced today that BofA Merrill Lynch, Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Morgan Stanley, the lead book-running managers in the Partnerships recent public sale of common units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (Common Units), is [waiving] [releasing] a lock-up restriction with respect to Common Units held by [certain officers or directors] [an officer or director] of the Partnership. The [waiver] [release] will take effect on , 20 , and the units may be sold on or after such date.
This press release is not an offer for sale of the securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction where such offer is prohibited, and such securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
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