WESTLAKE CHEMICAL PARTNERS LP 11,250,000 Common Units representing Limited Partner Interests UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
Exhibit 1.1
WESTLAKE CHEMICAL PARTNERS LP
11,250,000 Common Units representing Limited Partner Interests
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
July 29, 2014
BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC.
UBS SECURITIES LLC
As Representatives of the several
Underwriters named in Schedule I attached hereto,
c/o Barclays Capital Inc.
745 Seventh Avenue
New York, New York 10019
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Westlake Chemical Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the Partnership), proposes to sell 11,250,000 common units (the Firm Units), representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the Common Units) to the underwriters (the Underwriters) named in Schedule I attached to this agreement (this Agreement). In addition, the Partnership proposes to grant to the Underwriters an option to purchase up to 1,687,500 additional Common Units on the terms set forth in Section 2 (the Option Units). The Firm Units and the Option Units, if purchased, are hereinafter collectively called the Units. This Agreement is to confirm the agreement concerning the purchase of the Units from the Partnership by the Underwriters.
It is understood and agreed to by all parties hereto that the Partnership was formed indirectly by Westlake Chemical Corporation, a Delaware corporation (WLK), to operate, acquire and develop ethylene production facilities and related assets. It is further understood and agreed to by all parties that as of the date hereof, before giving effect to the transactions contemplated by the Contribution Agreements (as defined below):
(1) Westlake International Services Corporation, a Delaware Corporation and indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of WLK (the WISC) directly owns 100% of the limited liability company interests in Westlake Chemical Partners GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the sole general partner of the Partnership (the General Partner).
(2) WISC owns 100% of the limited partner interests in the Partnership and the General Partner owns 100% of the non-economic general partner interest in the Partnership.
(3) WPT LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of WLK (WPT LLC), owns 100% of the limited liability company interests in Westlake Chemical OpCo GP LLC (OpCo GP).
(4) WPT LLC owns 100% of the limited partner interests in Westlake Chemical OpCo LP, a Delaware limited partnership (OpCo), and OpCo GP owns 100% of the non-economic general partner interest in OpCo.
It is further understood and agreed to by all parties hereto that the following transactions (the Transactions) will occur on or before the Initial Delivery Date (as defined in Section 4):
(1) WPT LLC, Westlake Petrochemicals LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (Petrochem), Westlake Longview Corporation, a Delaware corporation and the owner of Pipeline prior to the merger described below (Longview), Westlake Vinyls, Inc., a Delaware corporation (Vinyls), Westlake Ethylene Pipeline Corporation, a Delaware corporation (Pipeline), WLK, OpCo and OpCo GP will enter into a contribution agreement substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the Asset Contribution Agreement), whereby the following will occur:
a. | WPT LLC will convey an ethylene production facility located in Lake Charles, Louisiana, (Petro 2), including all related personalty and a 50-year lease (the Petro 2 Lease) of the underlying real property; |
b. | Petrochem will convey a second ethylene production facility located in Lake Charles, Louisiana (Petro 1), including all related personalty and a 50-year lease (the Petro 1 Lease) of the underlying real property; |
c. | Vinyls will convey certain personalty and a 50-year lease (the Calvert City Lease and together with the Petro 2 Lease and the Petro 1 Lease, the Leases) of the real property underlying the Calvert City, Kentucky ethylene production facility, in each of clauses (a), (b) and (c) to OpCo in exchange for an equity interest in OpCo; |
d. | Pipeline will merge with and into OpCo and Longview will receive limited partner interests in OpCo; |
e. | OpCo will assume promissory notes from each of WPT, Petrochem and Vinyls (collectively, the Promissory Notes) and repay certain preformation capital expenditures from each of WPT, Petrochem, Vinyls and Pipeline, subject to the amount of proceeds OpCo receives in the Offering (as defined below); and |
f. | OpCo, Vinyls, Petrochem, WPT LLC, OpCo GP and Longview will amend and restate the OpCo Partnership Agreement. |
(2) WPT and the Partnership will enter into a contribution agreement substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the OpCo Contribution Agreement and together with the Asset Contribution Agreement, the Contribution Agreements) whereby WPT LLC will contribute a 5.6% interest in OpCo and all of its interest in OpCo GP to the Partnership in exchange for 1,436,115 common units, 12,686,115 subordinated units and the Partnerships incentive distribution rights, each representing limited partner interests in the Partnership.
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(3) Westlake Management Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (Services), Vinyls, the General Partner, the Partnership, WPT LLC, Petrochem, Vinyls, Longview, OpCo GP, OpCo, Westlake PVC Corporation, a Delaware corporation (Westlake PVC), Westlake Styrene LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (Westlake Styrene), Westlake Polymers LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (Polymers) and Westlake Vinyls Corporation, a Delaware corporation, will enter into an Omnibus Agreement substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the Omnibus Agreement) that addresses certain administrative and indemnification matters.
(4) OpCo, WPT, Vinyls and Petrochem will enter into an Ethylene Sales Agreement substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the Ethylene Sales Agreement) that will require certain wholly owned subsidiaries of WLK to purchase a minimum volume of ethylene from OpCo each year.
(5) Petrochem and OpCo will enter into a Feedstock Supply Agreement substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the Feedstock Supply Agreement) pursuant to which Petrochem will agree to sell to OpCo sufficient feedstock to produce the ethylene to be sold under the Ethylene Sales Agreement.
(6) OpCo, Services, Vinyls, WPT and Petrochem will enter into a Services and Secondment Agreement substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the Services Agreement).
(7) WISC will amend and restate the General Partners limited liability company agreement (such agreement, together with any amendments to and/or restatements thereof on or prior to an applicable Delivery Date (as the case may be), the GP LLC Agreement)
(8) The General partner and WISC will amend and restate the Partnerships limited partnership agreement, substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (such agreement, together with any amendments to and/or restatements thereof on or prior to an applicable Delivery Date (as the case may be), the Partnership Agreement).
(9) OpCo GP and WPT LLC will amend and restate OpCos limited partnership agreement, substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (such agreement, together with any amendments to and/or restatements thereof on or prior to an applicable Delivery Date (as the case may be), the OpCo Partnership Agreement).
(10) The Partnership and WPT LLC will enter into a Registration Rights Agreement, substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the Registration Rights Agreement).
(11) OpCo and Services will enter into an Intercompany Intellectual Property Transfer Agreement, substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the IP Agreement).
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(12) OpCo will enter into a $600.0 million Senior Unsecured Credit Agreement between OpCo and Westlake Development Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the Credit Facility and together with the Promissory Notes, the Debt Facilities).
(13) The public offering of the Firm Units contemplated hereby (the Offering) will be consummated.
(14) The Partnership will (i) pay transaction expenses for the Offering, as described under Use of Proceeds in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (as such terms are defined in Section 1(a)), (ii) redeem WISCs interest in the Partnership in exchange for a distribution of the amount contributed at formation and (iii) contribute the balance of the proceeds to OpCo in exchange for an additional 4.4% interest in OpCo.
(15) If the Underwriters exercise their option to purchase any Option Units pursuant to Section 2 of this Agreement, then the Partnership will contribute the net proceeds received on each Option Units Delivery Date (as defined in Section 4) to OpCo in exchange for additional interests in OpCo.
The Partnership, the General Partner, OpCo and OpCo GP are referred to collectively herein as the Partnership Parties. The Partnership Parties, WLK, WISC, WPT LLC, Petrochem, Vinyls, and Longview are referred to collectively herein as the Westlake Parties and together with Polymers and Services the Westlake Entities. The Partnership Parties and WPT LLC are referred to collectively herein as the WLK Parties.
This Agreement, the Leases, the Contribution Agreements, the Omnibus Agreement, the Debt Facilities, the Ethylene Sales Agreement, the Feedstock Supply Agreement, the Services Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the IP Agreement are referred to collectively herein as the Transaction Agreements. The Partnership Agreement, the GP LLC Agreement, the OpCo Partnership Agreement and the OpCo GP Limited Liability Company Agreement, together with any amendments to and/or restatements thereof on or prior to an applicable Delivery Date (as the case may be), (the OpCo GP LLC Agreement) are referred to collectively herein as the Organizational Agreements. The Transaction Agreements and the Organizational Agreements are referred to collectively herein as the Operative Agreements and each, individually, as an Operative Agreement.
1. Representations, Warranties and Agreements of the WLK Parties. The WLK Parties, jointly and severally, represent, warrant and agree that:
(a) A registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-195551) relating to the Units has (i) been prepared by the Partnership in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) thereunder; (ii) been filed with the Commission under the Securities Act; and (iii) become effective under the Securities Act. Copies of such registration statement and any amendment thereto have been delivered by the Partnership to you as the representatives (the Representatives) of the Underwriters. As used in this Agreement:
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(i) Applicable Time means 4:15 p.m. (New York City time) on July 29, 2014;
(ii) Effective Date means the date and time as of which such registration statement, or the most recent post-effective amendment thereto, if any, was declared effective by the Commission;
(iii) Issuer Free Writing Prospectus means each issuer free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act) prepared by or on behalf of the Partnership or used or referred to by the Partnership in connection with the offering of the Units;
(iv) Preliminary Prospectus means any preliminary prospectus relating to the Units included in such registration statement or filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act;
(v) Pricing Disclosure Package means, as of the Applicable Time, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, together with the information included in Schedule III hereto and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus filed or used by the Partnership on or before the Applicable Time, other than a road show that is an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus but is not required to be filed under Rule 433 under the Securities Act;
(vi) Prospectus means the final prospectus relating to the Units, as filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act; and
(vii) Registration Statement means such registration statement, as amended as of the Effective Date, including any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, all exhibits to such registration statement and including the information deemed by virtue of Rule 430A under the Securities Act to be part of such registration statement as of the Effective Date.
Any reference to the most recent Preliminary Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to the latest Preliminary Prospectus included in the Registration Statement or filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act prior to or on the date hereof. Any reference herein to the term Registration Statement shall be deemed to include any abbreviated registration statement to register additional Common Units under Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement). The Commission has not issued any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and no proceeding or examination for such purpose has been instituted or threatened by the Commission.
(b) The Partnership was not at the time of the initial filing of the Registration Statement and at the earliest time thereafter that the Partnership or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) under the Securities Act) of the Units, is not on the date hereof and will not be on the applicable Delivery Date, an ineligible issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act).
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(c) The Registration Statement conformed and will conform in all material respects on the Effective Date and on the applicable Delivery Date, and any amendment to the Registration Statement filed after the date hereof will conform in all material respects when filed, to the requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. The most recent Preliminary Prospectus conformed, and the Prospectus will conform, in all material respects when filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act and on the applicable Delivery Date to the requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
(d) The Registration Statement did not, as of the Effective Date, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Partnership through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 8(e).
(e) The Prospectus will not, as of its date or as of the applicable Delivery Date, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Partnership through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 8(e).
(f) The Pricing Disclosure Package did not, as of the Applicable Time, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Pricing Disclosure Package in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Partnership through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 8(e).
(g) Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed in Schedule IV hereto, when taken together with the Pricing Disclosure Package, did not, as of the Applicable Time, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed in Schedule IV hereto in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Partnership through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 8(e). The information included in each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed in Schedule III hereto does not conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the most recent Preliminary Prospectus or to be contained in the Prospectus.
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(h) Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conformed or will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder on the date of first use, and the Partnership has complied with all prospectus delivery and any filing requirements applicable to such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus pursuant to the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. The Partnership has not made any offer relating to the Units that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus without the prior written consent of the Representatives. The Partnership has retained in accordance with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder all Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses that were not required to be filed pursuant to the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. The Partnership has taken all actions necessary so that any road show (as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act) in connection with the offering of the Units will not be required to be filed pursuant to the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
(i) Each of the statements made by the Partnership in the Registration Statement and the Pricing Disclosure Package and to be made in the Prospectus (and any supplements thereto) within the coverage of Rule 175(b) under the Securities Act, including (but not limited to) any statements with respect to projected results of operations, estimated cash available for distribution and future cash distributions of the Partnership, and any statements made in support thereof or related thereto under the heading 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.
(j) Each of the Westlake Entities has been duly formed, is validly existing and in good standing as a corporation, limited partnership or limited liability company, as the case may be, under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and is duly qualified to do business and in good standing as a foreign corporation, limited partnership or limited liability company, as the case may be, in each jurisdiction (as set forth on Schedule VI) in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its businesses requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to (i) have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, members equity or partners capital, properties, business or prospects of the Partnership Parties taken as a whole (a Material Adverse Effect), (ii) materially impair the ability of any of the Westlake Entities to consummate the Transactions or any other transactions provided for in this Agreement or the Operative Agreements, or (iii) subject the limited partners of the Partnership to any material liability or disability. Each of the Westlake Entities has all corporate, limited partnership or limited liability company power and authority, as the case may be, necessary to enter into and perform its obligations under the Operative Agreements to which it is a party and to own or hold its properties and to conduct the businesses as presently conducted in all material respects.
(k) The General Partner has, and at each Delivery Date will have, full limited liability company power and authority to serve as general partner of the Partnership in all material respects as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the most recent Preliminary Prospectus.
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(l) WISC owns all of the issued and outstanding membership interests in the General Partner; such membership interests have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreement of the General Partner, as in effect on the date hereof, and at each Delivery Date will be duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the GP LLC Agreement and will be fully paid (to the extent required under the GP LLC Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-303, 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (the Delaware LLC Act)); and WISC owns such membership interests free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, security interests, equities, charges or claims (Liens), except for restrictions on transferability that may be imposed by federal or state securities laws or contained in the GP LLC Agreement or as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, if any.
(m) The General Partner is, and at each applicable Delivery Date, after giving effect to the Transactions, will be, the sole general partner of the Partnership, with a non-economic general partner interest in the Partnership; such general partner interest has been, and on each Delivery Date, after giving effect to the Transactions, will be, duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Partnership Agreement; and the General Partner owns such general partner interest free and clear of all Liens, except for restrictions on transferability that may be imposed by federal or state securities laws or contained in the Partnership Agreement or as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, if any.
(n) At each applicable Delivery Date, after giving effect to the Transactions, WPT LLC will own all of the Incentive Distribution Rights (as such term is defined in the Partnership Agreement); the Incentive Distribution Rights and the limited partner interests represented thereby will be duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Partnership Agreement and will be fully paid (to the extent required under the Partnership Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act (the Delaware LP Act)); and WPT LLC will own such Incentive Distribution Rights free and clear of all Liens, except for restrictions on transferability that may be imposed by federal or state securities laws or contained in the Partnership Agreement or as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, if any.
(o) Assuming no purchase by the Underwriters of any Option Units, at each applicable Delivery Date, after giving effect to the Transactions, (i) WPT LLC will own 1,436,115 Common Units and 12,686,115 Subordinated Units (collectively, the Sponsor Units); the Sponsor Units and the limited partner interests represented thereby will have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Partnership Agreement and will be fully paid (to the extent required under 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 WPT LLC will own the Sponsor Units free and clear of all Liens, except for restrictions on transferability that may be imposed by federal or state securities laws or contained in the Partnership Agreement or as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, if any.
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(p) At each applicable Delivery Date, the Units to be sold by the Partnership and the limited partner interests represented thereby will have been duly authorized in accordance with the Partnership Agreement and, when issued and delivered to the Underwriters against payment therefor in accordance with the terms hereof, will be validly issued, fully paid (to the extent required under 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). Other than the Sponsor Units, the Incentive Distribution Rights and any limited partner interests issued pursuant to the long-term incentive plan of the General Partner (the LTIP) as described in the Registration Statement and the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, the Units will be the only limited partner interests of the Partnership issued or outstanding at each Delivery Date.
(q) At each applicable Delivery Date, after giving effect to the Transactions, the Partnership will own 100% of the outstanding membership interests of OpCo GP; such membership interests have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreement of OpCo GP, as in effect on the date hereof, and at each applicable Delivery Date, after giving effect to the Transactions, will have been, duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the OpCo GP LLC Agreement and will be fully paid (to the extent required under the OpCo GP LLC Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-303, 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act); and such membership interests will be owned free and clear of all Liens, except for (i) restrictions on transferability that may be imposed by federal or state securities laws or contained in the OpCo GP LLC Agreement or as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, if any, and (ii) Liens arising under or in connection with the Debt Facilities.
(r) Assuming no purchase by the Underwriters of any Option Units, at each applicable Delivery Date, after giving effect to the Transactions, (i) the Partnership will own 10% of the limited partner interests in OpCo and (ii) Petrochem, Longview, Vinyls and WPT will collectively own 90% of the limited partner interests in OpCo (collectively, with the Partnerships ownership interest, the OpCo LP Interests); the OpCo LP Interests will have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the OpCo Partnership Agreement and will be fully paid (to the extent required under the OpCo 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 the Partnership, Petrochem, Longview, Vinyls and WPT LLC will own their OpCo LP Interests free and clear of all Liens, except for (i) restrictions on transferability that may be imposed by federal or state securities laws or contained in the OpCo Partnership Agreement or as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, if any, and (ii) Liens arising under or in connection with the Debt Facilities.
(s) At each applicable Delivery Date, after giving effect to the Transactions, the General Partner will not own or control, 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 (i) indirectly held interests in OpCo and OpCo GP and (ii) its non-economic general partner interest in the Partnership. At each applicable Delivery Date, after giving effect to the Transactions, OpCo GP and OpCo are the only subsidiaries of the Partnership and OpCo will be deemed to be a significant subsidiary (as such term is defined in Section 1-02 of Regulation S-X of the Securities Act) of the Partnership.
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(t) Following the Transactions, the Units, the Sponsor Units, the Incentive Distribution Rights and the non-economic general partner interest will conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
(u) Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and to be described in the Prospectus, there are no profits interests or other equity interests, options, warrants, preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other rights to subscribe for or to purchase, nor any restriction upon the voting or transfer of, any membership interests or partnership interests in any of the Partnership Parties. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no persons with registration rights or other similar rights to have any securities (debt or equity) registered pursuant to the Registration Statement or included in the offering contemplated by this Agreement, and there are no persons with tag-along rights or other similar rights to have any securities (debt or equity) included in the offering contemplated by this Agreement or sold in connection with the sale of the Units pursuant to this Agreement.
(v) Each of the Westlake Parties has all requisite corporate, limited partnership or limited liability company power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its respective obligations hereunder. The Partnership has all requisite limited partnership power and authority to (i) issue, sell and deliver the Units, in accordance with and upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Partnership Agreement, the Registration Statement and the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and (ii) consummate the Transactions and any other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. At each Delivery Date, all corporate, limited partnership or limited liability company action, as the case may be, required to be taken by any of the Westlake Parties or any of their respective unitholders, members or partners for the authorization, issuance, sale and delivery of the Units, the execution and delivery of the Operative Agreements and the consummation of the Transactions and any other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Operative Agreements, shall have been validly taken.
(w) This Agreement has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by or on behalf of each of the Westlake Parties.
(x) At each applicable Delivery Date:
(i) the GP LLC Agreement will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by WISC and will be a valid and legally binding agreement of WISC, enforceable against WISC in accordance with its terms;
(ii) the Partnership Agreement will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by WPT LLC and the General Partner and will be a valid and legally binding agreement of WPT LLC and the General Partner, enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms;
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(iii) the OpCo 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;
(iv) the OpCo Partnership Agreement will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Partnership, WPT LLC, Petrochem, Longview, Vinyls and OpCo GP and will be a valid and legally binding agreement of each such entity, enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms; and
(v) the Transaction Agreements will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by Westlake PVC, Westlake Styrene and each Westlake Entity party thereto and will be valid and legally binding agreements of Westlake PVC, Westlake Styrene and each of the Westlake Entities party thereto, enforceable against Westlake PVC, Westlake Styrene and such Westlake Entity in accordance with their terms;
provided that, with respect to each such agreement, the enforceability thereof may be limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors rights and remedies generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (ii) public policy, applicable law relating to fiduciary duties and indemnification and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
(y) None of (i) the offering, issuance or sale of the Units as described in the Registration Statement and the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of the Operative Agreements by the Westlake Entities party hereto or thereto, (iii) the consummation of the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated by the Operative Agreements or (iv) the application of the proceeds from the sale of the Units as described under Use of Proceeds in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus (A) conflicts with or will conflict with or constitutes or will constitute a violation of the Organizational Agreements, articles of incorporation, bylaws, certificate of limited partnership agreement, limited liability company agreement, certificate of formation, certificate of conversion or other governing document (collectively, the Organizational Documents) of any of the Westlake Entities, (B) conflicts or will conflict with or constitutes or will constitute a breach or violation of, or a change of control or default (or an event that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such an event) under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument to which any of the Westlake Entities is a party or by which any of them or any of their respective properties may be bound, (C) violates or will violate any statute, law, regulation, ruling or any order, judgment, decree or injunction of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over any of the Westlake Entities or any of their properties in a proceeding to which any of them or their property is a party or is bound or (D) results or will result in the creation or imposition of any Lien (other than Liens arising under or in connection with the Debt Facilities) upon any property or assets of any of the Westlake Entities, except with respect to clauses (B), (C) and (D) for any such conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults or Liens that would not, individually or in the aggregate, materially impair and will not materially impair the ability of any of the Westlake Entities to consummate the transactions (including the Transactions) contemplated under this Agreement.
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(z) No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration, filing or qualification (consent) of or with any court, governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over any of the Westlake Entities or any of their properties or assets is required in connection with (i) the offering, issuance or sale by the Partnership of the Units as described in the Registration Statement and the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of the Operative Agreements by the Westlake Entities party hereto or thereto, (iii) the consummation of the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated by the Operative Agreements or (iv) the application of the proceeds from the sale of the Units as described under Use of Proceeds in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, except (A) for registration of the Units under the Securities Act and consents required under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), applicable state securities or Blue Sky laws, and the rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA) in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Units by the Underwriters, (B) for such consents that have been, or prior to the Initial Delivery Date will be, obtained or made, (C) for any such consents that the absence or omission of which would not reasonably be expected to materially impair the ability of any of the Westlake Entities to consummate the transactions (including the Transactions) contemplated under this Agreement and (D) as described in the Registration Statement and the most recent Preliminary Prospectus.
(aa) None of the Westlake Entities is in (i) violation of its Organizational Documents, (ii) violation of any law, statute, ordinance, administrative or governmental rule or regulation applicable to it or of any order, judgment, decree or injunction of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over it or any of its properties or (iii) breach, default (or an event that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such an event) or violation in the performance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any bond, debenture, note or any other evidence of indebtedness or in any agreement, indenture, lease or other instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound, except in the case of clauses (ii) or (iii) for any such breaches, defaults and violations that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to materially impair the ability of any of the Westlake Entities to consummate the transactions (including the Transactions) contemplated under this Agreement.
(bb) The historical financial statements (including the related notes and supporting schedules) included in the Registration Statement and the most recent Preliminary Prospectus (i) comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act, (ii) present fairly in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the entities purported to be shown thereby, at the dates and for the periods indicated, and (iii) have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods indicated, except to the extent disclosed therein. The summary historical financial and operating data included in the Registration Statement and most recent Preliminary Prospectus under the caption Prospectus SummarySummary Historical and Pro Forma Combined Carve-out Financial and Operating Data and the selected historical financial and operating data set forth under the caption Selected Historical and Pro Forma Combined Carve-Out Financial and Operating Data included in the Registration Statement and the most recent Preliminary Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement thereto) is accurately presented in all material respects and prepared on a basis consistent with the audited and unaudited historical consolidated
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financial statements from which they have been derived, except as described therein. The other financial information of the Partnership (or its predecessor for accounting purposes), including non-GAAP financial measures, contained in the Registration Statement and the most recent Preliminary Prospectus has been derived from the accounting records of the Westlake Entities, and fairly presents in all material respects the information purported to be shown thereby and complies with Regulation G of the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act, to the extent applicable. There are no financial statements (historical or pro forma) that are required to be included in the Registration Statement or the most recent Preliminary Prospectus that are not so included and the Partnership Parties 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) or the most recent Preliminary Prospectus.
(cc) The pro forma financial statements included in the Registration Statement and the most recent Preliminary Prospectus include assumptions that provide a reasonable basis for presenting the significant effects directly attributable to the transactions and events described therein, the related pro forma adjustments give appropriate effect to those assumptions, and the pro forma adjustments reflect an appropriate application of those adjustments to the historical financial statement amounts in the pro forma financial statements included in the Registration Statement and the most recent Preliminary Prospectus. The pro forma financial statements included in the Registration Statement and the most recent Preliminary Prospectus comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act.
(dd) PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, who has audited certain combined financial statements of the accounting predecessor of the Partnership (the Predecessor) and its consolidated subsidiaries and the Partnership and its consolidated subsidiaries and whose report appears in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, is an independent public accounting firm with respect to the Partnership and the Predecessor as required by the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
(ee) Each of the Partnership Parties maintains internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, including, but not limited to, internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with managements general or specific authorization, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and to maintain accountability for its assets, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with managements general or specific authorization, and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. As of the date of the most recent balance sheet of the Predecessor and its consolidated subsidiaries reviewed or audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the WLK Parties were not aware of any material weaknesses in the internal controls of any Partnership Party.
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(ff) (i) The Partnership Parties maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act), (ii) such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by the Partnership in the reports to be filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management of the General Partner, including the principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the General Partner, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure to be made, and (iii) such disclosure controls and procedures are effective in all material respects to perform the functions for which they were established to the extent required by Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act.
(gg) Since the date of the most recent balance sheet of the Partnership and its consolidated subsidiaries reviewed or audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, (i) the Partnership has not been advised of or become aware of (A) any significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls that could adversely affect the ability of the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries to record, process, summarize and report financial data, or any material weaknesses in internal controls, and (B) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees of any Partnership Party who have a significant role in the internal controls of the Partnership Parties; and (ii) there have been no significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.
(hh) At the Effective Date, the Partnership, and to the knowledge of the Partnership Parties, the officers and directors of the General Partner, in their capacities as such, were, and on each applicable Delivery Date, will be, in compliance in all respects with the applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith or the rules of The New York Stock Exchange that are effective and applicable to the Partnership.
(ii) Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Pricing Disclosure Package, since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, none of the Westlake Parties has (i) sustained any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, (ii) issued or granted any securities, (iii) incurred any material liability or obligation, direct or contingent, other than liabilities and obligations that were incurred in the ordinary course of business, (iv) entered into any material transaction not in the ordinary course of business, or (v) declared or paid any distribution or dividend on its equity interests, and since such date, there has not been any change in the partnership or limited liability interests, as applicable, or long-term debt of any of the Partnership Parties or any adverse change, or any development involving a prospective adverse change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, partners equity, properties, management, business or prospects of the Partnership Parties taken as a whole, in each case except as would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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(jj) At the Initial Delivery Date and each Option Units Delivery Date, if any, after giving effect to the Transactions, the Partnership Parties will have good and indefeasible title to all real property owned in fee by the Partnership Parties (excluding easements and rights-of-way) and good title to all personal property owned by it, in each case free and clear of all Liens, except (i) as described in the Registration Statement and the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, (ii) such as are created under or permitted by the Debt Facilities or (iii) such as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by any of the Partnership Parties. All assets held under lease by each of the Partnership Parties are held by it under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases, with such exceptions as do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such assets by any of the Partnership Parties as described in the Registration Statement and the most recent Preliminary Prospectus.
(kk) At the Initial Delivery Date and each Option Units Delivery Date, if any, after giving effect to the Transactions, each of the Partnership Parties will have such consents, easements, rights-of-way, permits or licenses from each person (collectively, rights-of-way) as are necessary to conduct its business in the manner described in the Registration Statement and the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, subject to the limitations described in the Registration Statement and the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, if any, except for (i) such rights-of-way that, if not obtained, would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and (ii) qualifications, reservations and encumbrances with respect thereto that would not have a Material Adverse Effect; each of the Partnership Parties has, or at the applicable Delivery Date will have, fulfilled and performed, in all material respects, its 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, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and none of such rights-of-way contains any restriction that would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
(ll) At the Initial Delivery Date and each Option Units Delivery Date, if any, after giving effect to the Transactions, each of the Partnership Parties will have such permits, licenses, patents, franchises, certificates of need and other approvals or authorizations of governmental or regulatory authorities (Permits) as are necessary under applicable law to own its properties and conduct its business in the manner described in the Registration Statement and the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, except for any of the foregoing that could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each of the Westlake Entities has fulfilled and performed all of its obligations with respect to the Permits, and no event has occurred that allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation or termination thereof or results in any other impairment of the rights of the holder or any such Permits, except for any of the foregoing that could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. None of the Westlake Entities has received notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such Permits or has any reason to believe that any such Permits that, individually or in the aggregate, if subject to an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(mm) Each of the Partnership Parties owns, licenses or possesses adequate rights to use all material patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service mark registrations, copyrights, licenses, know-how, software, systems and technology (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or
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confidential information, systems or procedures) necessary for the conduct of its business and has no reason to believe that the conduct of its business will conflict with, and has not received any notice of any claim of conflict with, any such rights of others, except in each case as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(nn) Except as described in the Registration Statement and the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which any of the Partnership Parties is a party or of which any property or assets of any of the Westlake Entities that will be contributed to OpCo is the subject that would, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or could, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the performance of this Agreement, the Operative Agreements or the consummation of the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, and to the Westlake Parties knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or others.
(oo) There are no contracts or other documents required by the Securities Act to be described in the Registration Statement or the most recent Preliminary Prospectus or filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not described and filed as required. The statements made in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, insofar as they purport to constitute summaries of the terms of the contracts and other documents described and filed, constitute accurate summaries of the terms of such contracts and documents in all material respects. The Westlake Parties have no knowledge that any other party to any such contract or other document has any intention not to render full performance as contemplated by the terms thereof.
(pp) The statements made in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, insofar as they purport to constitute summaries of the terms of statutes, rules or regulations, legal or governmental proceedings constitute accurate summaries of the terms of such statutes, rules and regulations, legal and governmental proceedings in all material respects.
(qq) Each of the Partnership Parties carries, or is covered by, insurance from reputable insurers in such amounts and covering such risks as is reasonably adequate for the conduct of its business and the value of its properties and as is customary for companies engaged in similar businesses in similar industries. All policies of insurance of the Partnership Parties are in full force and effect; each of the Partnership Parties is in compliance with the terms of such policies in all material respects; and none of the Partnership Parties has received notice from any insurer or agent of such insurer that capital improvements or other expenditures are required or necessary to be made in order to continue such insurance; there are no claims by any of the Partnership Parties under any such policy or instrument as to which any insurance company is denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights clause; and none of the Partnership Parties has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(rr) No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among Partnership Parties, on the one hand, and any affiliate, equity holder, director, manager, officer, customer or supplier of any of the Partnership Parties, on the other hand, that is required by the Securities Act
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to be described in the Registration Statement and most recent Preliminary Prospectus that is not so described. There are no outstanding personal loans, advances (except normal advances for business expenses in the ordinary course of business) or guarantees of indebtedness by any Partnership Party to or for the benefit of any of the executive officers, directors or managers of any Partnership Party or their respective family members.
(ss) No labor disturbance by or dispute with the employees of any of the Partnership Parties exists or, to the knowledge of the Partnership Parties, is imminent or threatened that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(tt) Except as described in the Registration Statement and the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) each of the Partnership Parties is, and at all times prior hereto were, in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, orders, judgments, decrees, permits or other legal requirements of any governmental authority, including without limitation any international, foreign, national, state, provincial, regional or local authority, relating to pollution, the protection of human health or safety (to the extent such health or safety relates to exposure to Hazardous Materials, as defined below), the environment, or natural resources, or to the use, handling, storage, manufacturing, transportation, treatment, discharge, disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (Environmental Laws) applicable to such entity, which compliance includes, without limitation, obtaining, maintaining and complying with all permits and authorizations and approvals required by Environmental Laws to conduct its business, and (ii) no Partnership Party has received notice or otherwise has knowledge of any actual or alleged violation of Environmental Laws, or of any actual or potential liability for or other obligation concerning the presence, disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, except in the case of clause (i) or (ii) where such non-compliance, violation, liability, or other obligation would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as described in the Registration Statement and the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, (x) there are no proceedings that are pending, or known to be contemplated, against any of the Partnership Parties under Environmental Laws in which a governmental authority is also a party, other than such proceedings regarding which it is reasonably believed no monetary sanctions of $100,000 or more will be imposed, (y) none of the Partnership Parties is aware of any issues regarding compliance with Environmental Laws, including any pending or proposed Environmental Laws, or liabilities or other obligations under Environmental Laws or concerning hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, that could reasonably be expected to have a material effect on the capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position of any of the Partnership Parties, and (z) none of the Partnership Parties anticipates material capital expenditures relating to Environmental Laws.
(uu) The Partnership Parties have filed all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns required to be filed by the Partnership Parties through the date hereof (which returns are complete and correct in all material respects), subject to any applicable extensions, and have timely paid all taxes (and any interest, fine, penalty or other like assessment or addition thereto) due, except those taxes, assessments or other charges that are being contested in good faith, and no material tax deficiency has been determined adversely to the Partnership Parties that has not been abated, paid in full, or adequately provided for in the financial statements included in the
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Registration Statement and the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, nor do any of the Partnership Parties have any knowledge of any tax deficiencies that have been asserted against the Partnership Parties that could, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(vv) (i) Each employee benefit plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA)) for which the Partnership or any member of its 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 compliance with its terms and with the requirements of all applicable statutes, rules and regulations including ERISA and the Code; (ii) 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; (iii) with respect to each Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA (A) no reportable event (within the meaning of Section 4043(c) of ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur, (B) no accumulated funding deficiency (within the meaning of Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code), whether or not waived, has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur, (C) the fair market value of the assets under each Plan exceeds the present value of all benefits accrued under such Plan (determined based on those assumptions used to fund such Plan), and (D) neither the Partnership nor any member of its Controlled Group has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA (other than contributions to the Plan or premiums to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation in the ordinary course and without default) in respect of a Plan (including a multiemployer plan, within the meaning of Section 4001(c)(3) of ERISA); and (iv) each Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified and nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which would cause the loss of such qualification.
(ww) The statistical and market-related data included in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Partnership believes to be reliable in all material respects.
(xx) None of the Partnership Parties is, and as of each applicable Delivery Date, after giving effect to the offer and sale of the Units and the application of the proceeds therefrom as described under Use of Proceeds in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, none of them will be, (i) an investment company or a company controlled by an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the Investment Company Act), and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, or (ii) a business development company (as defined in Section 2(a)(48) of the Investment Company Act).
(yy) None of the Westlake Entities is a party to any contract, agreement or understanding with any person (other than this Agreement) that would give rise to a valid claim against any of them or the Underwriters for a brokerage commission, finders fee or like payment in connection with the offering and sale of the Units.
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(zz) The sale and issuance of the Sponsor Units and the Incentive Distribution Rights to WPT LLC and the non-economic general partner interest in the Partnership to the General Partner are exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and securities laws of any state having jurisdiction with respect thereto, the Partnership has not sold or issued any securities that would be integrated with the offering of the Units contemplated by this Agreement pursuant to the Securities Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or the interpretations thereof by the Commission.
(aaa) The Partnership and its affiliates have not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that has constituted or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Partnership in connection with the offering of the Units.
(bbb) The Units have been approved for listing, subject to official notice of issuance and evidence of satisfactory distribution, on The New York Stock Exchange.
(ccc) The Partnership has not distributed and, prior to the later to occur of any Delivery Date and completion of the distribution of the Units, will not distribute any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Units other than any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to which the Representatives have consented in accordance with Section 1(h) or 5(a)(vi) and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus set forth on Schedule V hereto and, in connection with the Directed Unit Program described in Section 4, the enrollment materials prepared by UBS Financial Services Inc. on behalf of the Partnership.
(ddd) None of the Partnership Parties, nor, to the knowledge of the Westlake Parties, any director, officer, agent, employee or other person associated with or acting on behalf of any of the Partnership Parties, has (i) used any of its funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee from its funds; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977; or (iv) made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment.
(eee) The operations of the Westlake 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 agency (collectively, the Money Laundering Laws) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving any Partnership Entity with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Partnership Parties, threatened.
(fff) None of the Partnership Parties nor, to the knowledge of the Westlake Parties, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Partnership Parties is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (OFAC); and the Partnership will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.
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(ggg) Each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus comply, and any further amendments or supplements thereto will comply, with any applicable laws or regulations of foreign jurisdictions in which such Preliminary Prospectus, Prospectus or such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, are distributed in connection with the Directed Unit Program. No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing, registration or qualification with, any court or governmental agency or body, other than such as have been obtained, is required under the securities laws and regulations of any foreign jurisdiction in which the Directed Units are offered or sold outside the United States.
(hhh) The Partnership has not offered, or caused UBS Financial Services Inc. to offer, Units to any person pursuant to the Directed Unit Program with the specific intent to unlawfully influence (i) a customer or supplier of any Partnership Party to alter the customers or suppliers level or type of business with any Partnership Party or (ii) a trade journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about any Partnership Party, its business or its products.
(iii) OpCo is not currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any distributions to the Partnership, from making any other distribution on such subsidiarys equity interests, from repaying to the Partnership any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Partnership or from transferring any of such subsidiarys property or assets to the Partnership or any other subsidiary of the Partnership, except for such prohibitions mandated by the laws of the State of Delaware and the Organizational Agreements of OpCo.
Any certificate signed by any officer of any of the Partnership Parties and delivered to the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the offering of the Units shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Partnership, as to matters covered thereby, to each Underwriter.
2. Purchase of the Units by the Underwriters. On the basis of the representations, warranties and covenants contained in, and subject to the terms and conditions of, this Agreement, the Partnership agrees to sell 11,250,000 Firm Units to the several Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase the number of Firm Units set forth opposite that Underwriters name in Schedule I hereto. The respective purchase obligations of the Underwriters with respect to the Firm Units shall be rounded among the Underwriters to avoid fractional units, as the Representatives may determine.
In addition, the Partnership grants to the Underwriters an option to purchase up to 1,687,500 additional Option Units. Such option is exercisable in the event that the Underwriters sell more Common Units than the number of Firm Units in the offering and as set forth in Section 4 hereof. Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase the number of Option Units (subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional units as the Representatives may determine) that bears the same proportion to the total number of Option Units to be sold on such Delivery Date as the number of Firm Units set forth in Schedule I hereto opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm Units.
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The purchase price payable by the Underwriters for the Firm Units shall be $22.53 per Unit. The purchase price payable by the Underwriters for any Option Units purchased by the Underwriters shall be $22.53 per Unit less any amount equal to any distributions declared by the Partnership and payable on each Firm Unit but not on such Option Units being purchased.
The Partnership is not obligated to deliver any of the Firm Units or Option Units to be delivered on the applicable Delivery Date, except upon payment for all such Units to be purchased on such Delivery Date as provided herein.
3. Offering of Units by the Underwriters. Upon authorization by the Representatives of the release of the Firm Units, the several Underwriters propose to offer the Firm Units for sale upon the terms and conditions to be set forth in the Prospectus.
It is understood that approximately 1,119,375 Units (the Directed Units) will initially be reserved by the several Underwriters for offer and sale upon the terms and conditions to be set forth in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and in accordance with the rules and regulations of FINRA to employees of the General Partner and its affiliates and subsidiaries and persons having relationships with the General Partner and its affiliates and subsidiaries who have heretofore delivered to UBS Financial Services Inc. offers or indications of interest to purchase Firm Units in form satisfactory to UBS Financial Services Inc. (such program, the Directed Unit Program) and that any allocation of such Firm Units among such persons will be made in accordance with timely directions received by UBS Financial Services Inc. from the Partnership; provided that under no circumstances will UBS Financial Services Inc. or any Underwriter be liable to the Partnership or to any such person for any action taken or omitted in good faith in connection with such Directed Unit Program. It is further understood that any Directed Units not affirmatively reconfirmed for purchase by any participant in the Directed Unit Program by 8:00 A.M., New York City time, on the first business day following the date hereof or otherwise are not purchased by such persons will be offered by the Underwriters to the public upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus.
The Partnership agrees to pay all fees and disbursements incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the Directed Unit Program and any stamp duties or other taxes incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the Directed Unit Program.
4. Delivery of and Payment for the Units. Delivery of and payment for the Firm Units shall be made at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the third full business day following the date of this Agreement or at such other date or place as shall be determined by agreement between the Representatives and the Partnership. This date and time are sometimes referred to as the Initial Delivery Date. Delivery of the Firm Units shall be made to the Representatives for the account of each Underwriter against payment by the several Underwriters through the Representatives of the respective aggregate purchase prices of the Firm Units being sold by the Partnership to or upon the order of the Partnership by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Partnership. Time shall be of the essence, and delivery at the time and place specified pursuant to this Agreement is a further condition of the obligation of each Underwriter hereunder. The Partnership shall deliver the Firm Units through the facilities of DTC unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct.
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The option granted in Section 2 will expire 30 days after the date of this Agreement and may be exercised in whole or from time to time in part by written notice being given to the Partnership by the Representatives; provided that if such date falls on a day that is not a business day, the option granted in Section 2 will expire on the next succeeding business day. Such notice shall set forth the aggregate number of Option Units as to which the option is being exercised, the names in which the Option Units are to be registered, the denominations in which the Option Units are to be issued and the date and time, as determined by the Representatives, when the Option Units are to be delivered; provided, however, that this date and time shall not be earlier than the Initial Delivery Date nor earlier than the second business day after the date on which the option shall have been exercised nor later than the fifth business day after the date on which the option shall have been exercised. Each date and time any Option Units are delivered is sometimes referred to as an Option Units Delivery Date, and the Initial Delivery Date and any Option Units Delivery Date are sometimes each referred to as a Delivery Date.
Delivery of the Option Units by the Partnership and payment for the Option Units by the several Underwriters through the Representatives shall be made at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the date specified in the corresponding notice described in the preceding paragraph or at such other date or place as shall be determined by agreement between the Representatives and the Partnership. On each Option Units Delivery Date, the Partnership shall deliver or cause to be delivered the Option Units to the Representatives for the account of each Underwriter against payment by the several Underwriters through the Representatives and of the aggregate purchase price of the Option Units being sold by the Partnership to or upon the order of the Partnership by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Partnership. Time shall be of the essence, and delivery at the time and place specified pursuant to this Agreement is a further condition of the obligation of each Underwriter hereunder. The Partnership shall deliver the Option Units through the facilities of DTC unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct.
5. Further Agreements. The Partnership and the General Partner jointly and severally covenant and agree with each of the Underwriters:
(i) To prepare the Prospectus in a form approved by the Representatives and to file such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act not later than the Commissions close of business on the second business day following the execution and delivery of this Agreement; to make no further amendment or any supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus prior to the last Delivery Date except as provided herein; to advise the Representatives, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time when any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus has been filed and to furnish the Representatives with copies thereof; to advise the Representatives, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, of the suspension of the qualification of the Units for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the
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initiation or threatening of any proceeding or examination for any such purpose or of any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or for additional information; and, in the event of the issuance of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or suspending any such qualification, to use promptly its best efforts to obtain its withdrawal.
(ii) To furnish promptly to each of the Representatives and to counsel for the Underwriters a signed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed with the Commission, and each amendment thereto filed with the Commission, including all consents and exhibits filed therewith.
(iii) To deliver promptly to the Representatives such number of the following documents as the Representatives shall reasonably request: (A) conformed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed with the Commission and each amendment thereto (in each case excluding exhibits other than this Agreement), (B) each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and any amended or supplemented Prospectus, and (C) each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus; and, if the delivery of a prospectus is required at any time after the date hereof in connection with the offering or sale of the Units or any other securities relating thereto and if at such time any events shall have occurred as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made when such Prospectus is delivered, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to comply with the Securities Act, to notify the Representatives and, upon their request, to file such document and to prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter and to any dealer in securities as many copies as the Representatives may from time to time reasonably request of an amended or supplemented Prospectus that will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance.
(iv) To file promptly with the Commission any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus that may, in the judgment of the Partnership or the Representatives, be required by the Securities Act or requested by the Commission.
(v) Prior to filing with the Commission any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, to furnish a copy thereof to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters and obtain the consent of the Representatives to the filing.
(vi) Not to make any offer relating to the Units that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus without the prior written consent of the Representatives.
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(vii) To comply with all applicable requirements of Rule 433 under the Securities Act with respect to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. If at any time after the date hereof any event shall have occurred as a result of which any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, would conflict with the information in the Registration Statement, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary to amend or supplement any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, to notify the Representatives and, upon their request, to file such document and to prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter as many copies as the Representatives may from time to time reasonably request of an amended or supplemented Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that will correct such conflict, statement or omission or effect such compliance.
(viii) As soon as practicable after the Effective Date (it being understood that the Partnership shall have until at least 410 days or, if the fourth quarter following the fiscal quarter that includes the Effective Date is the last fiscal quarter of the Partnerships fiscal year, 455 days after the end of the Partnerships current fiscal quarter), to make generally available to the Partnerships security holders and to deliver to the Representatives an earnings statement of the Partnership and its subsidiaries (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder (including, at the option of the Partnership, Rule 158).
(ix) Promptly from time to time to take such action as the Representatives may reasonably request to qualify the Units for offering and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may request and to comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions for as long as may be necessary to complete the distribution of the Units; provided that in connection therewith the Partnership shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign entity in any jurisdiction in which it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (ii) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction, or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any jurisdiction in which it would not otherwise be subject.
(x) For a period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the 180th day after the date of the Prospectus (the Lock-Up Period), not to, directly or indirectly, (A) offer for sale, sell, pledge, or otherwise dispose of (or enter into any transaction or device that is designed to, or could be expected to, result in the disposition by any person at any time in the future of) any Common Units or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Units (other than the Units and Common Units issued pursuant to employee benefit plans, qualified option plans or other employee compensation plans existing on the date hereof), or sell or grant options, rights or warrants with respect to any Common Units or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Units, (B) enter into any swap or other derivatives transaction that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic benefits or risks of ownership of such Common Units, whether any such transaction described in clause (A) or (B) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Units or other securities, in cash or otherwise, (C) make any demand for or exercise any right to file or cause to be filed a registration statement, including any amendments thereto, with respect to the registration
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of any Common Units or securities convertible, exercisable or exchangeable into Common Units or any other securities of the Partnership (other than any registration statement on Form S-8), or (D) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing, in each case without the prior written consent of Barclays Capital Inc. and UBS Securities LLC, on behalf of the Underwriters, and to cause each officer or director of the General Partner and each unitholder of the Partnership set forth on Schedule II hereto to furnish to the Representatives, prior to the Initial Delivery Date, a letter or letters, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto (the Lock-Up Agreements); notwithstanding the foregoing, if (x) during the last 17 days of the Lock-Up Period, the Partnership issues an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to the Partnership occurs, or (y) prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, the Partnership announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the Lock-Up Period, then the restrictions imposed in this paragraph shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the announcement of the material news or the occurrence of the material event, unless each of Barclays Capital Inc. and UBS Securities LLC, on behalf of the Underwriters, agree in writing not to require such extension.
(xi) To apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Units being sold by the Partnership substantially in accordance with the description as set forth in the Prospectus under the caption Use of Proceeds.
(xii) To file with the Commission such information on Form 10-Q or Form 10-K as may be required by Rule 463 under the Securities Act.
(xiii) If the Partnership elects to rely upon Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, the Partnership shall file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission in compliance with Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act by 10:00 P.M., Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this Agreement, and the Partnership shall at the time of filing pay the Commission the filing fee for the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement.
(xiv) In connection with the Directed Unit Program, to ensure that the Directed Units will be restricted from sale, transfer, assignment, pledge or hypothecation to the same extent as sales and dispositions of Units by the Partnership are restricted pursuant to Section 5(a)(x), UBS Financial Services Inc. will notify the Partnership as to which Directed Unit Participants will need to be so restricted. At the request of UBS Financial Services Inc., the Partnership will direct the transfer agent to place stop transfer restrictions upon such securities for such period of time as is consistent with Section 5(a)(x).
(xv) To comply with all applicable securities and other applicable laws, rules and regulations in each foreign jurisdiction in which the Directed Units are offered in connection with the Directed Unit Program
(xvi) The Partnership and its affiliates will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that has constituted or that reasonably would be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Partnership in connection with the offering of the Units.
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(xvii) The WLK Parties will do and perform all things required or necessary to be done and performed under this Agreement by it prior to each Delivery Date, and to satisfy all conditions precedent to the Underwriters obligations hereunder to purchase the Units.
(b) Each Underwriter severally agrees that such Underwriter shall not include any issuer information (as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act) in any free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) used or referred to by such Underwriter without the prior consent of the Partnership (any such issuer information with respect to whose use the Partnership has given its consent, Permitted Issuer Information); provided that (i) no such consent shall be required with respect to any such issuer information contained in any document filed by any Partnership Party with the Commission prior to the use of such free writing prospectus, and (ii) issuer information, as used in this paragraph, shall not be deemed to include information prepared by or on behalf of such Underwriter on the basis of or derived from issuer information.
6. Expenses. The Partnership agrees to pay all expenses, costs, fees and taxes incident to and in connection with (a) the authorization, issuance, sale and delivery of the Units and any stamp duties or other taxes payable in that connection, and the preparation and printing of certificates for the Units; (b) the preparation, printing and filing under the Securities Act of the Registration Statement (including any exhibits thereto), any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto; (c) the distribution of the Registration Statement (including any exhibits thereto), any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, all as provided in this Agreement; (d) the production and distribution of this Agreement, any supplemental agreement among the Underwriters, and any other related documents in connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Units; (e) any required review by the FINRA of the terms of sale of the Units (including related fees and expenses of counsel to the Underwriters in an amount that is not greater than $20,000); (f) the listing of the Units on the New York Stock Exchange and/or any other exchange; (g) the qualification of the Units under the securities laws of the several jurisdictions as provided in Section 5(a)(i) and the preparation, printing and distribution of a Blue Sky Memorandum (including related fees and expenses of counsel to the Underwriters); (h) the preparation, printing and distribution of one or more versions of the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus for distribution in Canada, including in the form of a Canadian wrapper (including related fees and expenses of Canadian counsel to the Underwriters); (i) the offer and sale of Units by the Underwriters in connection with the Directed Unit Program, including the fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters related thereto, the costs and expenses of preparation, printing and distribution of the Directed Unit Program material and all stamp duties or other taxes incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the Directed Unit Program; (j) the investor presentations on any road show undertaken in connection with the marketing of the Units, including, without limitation, expenses associated with any electronic road show, travel and lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of the General Partner; and (k) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Partnership under this
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Agreement; provided that, except as provided in this Section 6 and in Section 11, the Underwriters shall pay their own costs and expenses, including the costs and expenses of their counsel, any transfer taxes on the Units which they may sell, the expenses of advertising any offering of the Units made by the Underwriters, the cost of any aircraft chartered in connection with the road show and the transportation and other expenses incurred by the Underwriters on their own behalf in connection with presentations to prospective purchasers of the Units. The Partnership agrees to pay to Barclays Capital Inc. and UBS Securities LLC an aggregate structuring fee in an amount equal to 0.375% of the gross proceeds from the sale of the Units for providing advice regarding the capital structure of the Partnership, the terms of the offering of the Common Units, the terms of the Partnership Agreement and the terms of certain other agreements between the Partnership and its affiliates.
7. Conditions of Underwriters Obligations. The respective obligations of the Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy, when made and on each Delivery Date, of the representations and warranties of the Westlake Parties contained herein, to the performance by the Westlake Parties of their obligations hereunder, and to each of the following additional terms and conditions:
(a) The Prospectus shall have been timely filed with the Commission in accordance with Section 5(a)(i). The Partnership shall have complied with all filing requirements applicable to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus used or referred to after the date hereof; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been issued and no proceeding or examination for such purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; and any request of the Commission for inclusion of additional information in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or otherwise shall have been complied with. If the Partnership has elected to rely upon Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement shall have become effective by 10:00 P.M., Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this Agreement.
(b) No Underwriter shall have discovered and disclosed to the Partnership on or prior to such Delivery Date that the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Pricing Disclosure Package, or any amendment or supplement thereto, contains an untrue statement of a fact which, in the opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, is material or omits to state a fact which, in the opinion of such counsel, is material and is required to be stated therein (or in the case of the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package, in the light of the circumstances under which such statements were made) or is necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.
(c) All proceedings and other legal matters incident to the authorization, form and validity of this Agreement and the other Operative Agreements, the Units, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and all other legal matters relating to this Agreement and the other Operative Agreements and the Transactions (and any other transactions contemplated by the Operative Agreements) shall be reasonably satisfactory in all material respects to counsel for the Underwriters, and the Westlake Parties shall have furnished to such counsel all documents and information that they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.
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(d)
(i) Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. shall have furnished to the Representatives its written opinion, as counsel to the Partnership, addressed to the Underwriters and dated such Delivery Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B-1.
(ii) Long & Long, PLLC, shall have furnished to the Representatives its written opinion, as counsel to the Partnership, addressed to the Underwriters and dated such Delivery Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.
(iii) Scofield, Gerard, Pohorelsky, Gallaugher & Landry, LLC shall have furnished to the Representatives its written opinion, as counsel to the Partnership, addressed to the Underwriters and dated such Delivery Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.
(e) L. Benjamin Ederington shall have furnished to the Representatives his written opinion, as General Counsel of the General Partner, addressed to the Underwriters and dated such Delivery Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B-2.
(f) The Representatives shall have received from Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated such Delivery Date, with respect to the issuance and sale of the Units, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package and other related matters as the Representatives may reasonably require, and the Westlake Parties shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they reasonably request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.
(g) At the time of execution of this Agreement, the Representatives shall have received from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP a letter, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, addressed to the Underwriters and dated the date hereof (i) confirming that they are independent public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and are in compliance with the applicable requirements relating to the qualification of accountants under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X of the Commission, and (ii) stating, as of the date hereof (or, with respect to matters involving changes or developments since the respective dates as of which specified financial information is given in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, as of a date not more than three days prior to the date hereof), the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and other matters ordinarily covered by accountants comfort letters to underwriters in connection with registered public offerings.
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(h) With respect to the letter of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP referred to in the preceding paragraph and delivered to the Representatives concurrently with the execution of this Agreement (the initial letter), the Partnership shall have furnished to the Representatives a letter (the bring-down letter) of such accountants, addressed to the Underwriters and dated such Delivery Date (i) confirming that they are independent public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and are in compliance with the applicable requirements relating to the qualification of accountants under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X of the Commission, (ii) stating, as of the date of the bring-down letter (or, with respect to matters involving changes or developments since the respective dates as of which specified financial information is given in the Prospectus, as of a date not more than three days prior to the date of the bring-down letter), the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and other matters covered by the initial letter, and (iii) confirming in all material respects the conclusions and findings set forth in the initial letter.
(i) The Partnership Parties shall have furnished to the Representatives (i) a certificate, dated such Delivery Date, of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the General Partner and (ii) a certificate, dated such Delivery Date, of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of WPT LLC, in each case as to such matters as the Representatives may reasonably request, including, without limitation, a statement:
(i) That the representations, warranties and agreements of the WLK Parties in Section 1 are true and correct on and as of such Delivery Date, and each WLK Party has complied with all their agreements contained herein and satisfied all the conditions on their part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to such Delivery Date;
(ii) That no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued; and no proceedings or examination for that purpose have been instituted or, to the knowledge of such officers, threatened;
(iii) That they have examined the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package, and, in their opinion, (A) (1) the Registration Statement, as of the Effective Date, (2) the Prospectus, as of its date and on the applicable Delivery Date, and (3) the Pricing Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time, did not and do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact and did not and do not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (except in the case of the Registration Statement, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, and (B) since the Effective Date, no event has occurred that should have been set forth in a supplement or amendment to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that has not been so set forth; and
(iv) To the effect of Section 7(j) (provided that no representation with respect to the judgment of the Representatives need be made) and Section 7(k).
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(j) Except as described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, (i) none of the WLK Entities (other than WLK) shall have sustained, since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, and (ii) since such date there shall not have been any change in the equity interests or long-term debt of any of the Partnership Parties or any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, partners equity, properties, management, business or prospects of the Partnership Parties taken as a whole, the effect of which, in any such case described in clause (i) or (ii), is, individually or in the aggregate, in the judgment of the Representatives, so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Units being delivered on such Delivery Date on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.
(k) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, to the extent applicable (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded to the Partnerships debt securities or preferred equity by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization (as that term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act), and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, its rating of any of the Partnerships debt securities or preferred equity.
(l) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement there shall not have occurred any of the following: (i) (A) trading in securities generally on any securities exchange that has registered with the Commission under Section 6 of the Exchange Act (including the New York Stock Exchange, The NASDAQ Global Select Market, The NASDAQ Global Market or The NASDAQ Capital Market), or (B) trading in any securities of the Partnership on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market, shall have been suspended or materially limited or the settlement of such trading generally shall have been materially disrupted or minimum prices shall have been established on any such exchange or such market by the Commission, by such exchange or by any other regulatory body or governmental authority having jurisdiction, (ii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by federal or state authorities, (iii) the United States shall have become engaged in hostilities, there shall have been an escalation in hostilities involving the United States or there shall have been a declaration of a national emergency or war by the United States, or (iv) there shall have occurred such a material adverse change in general economic, political or financial conditions, including, without limitation, as a result of terrorist activities after the date hereof (or the effect of international conditions on the financial markets in the United States shall be such), as to make it, in the judgment of the Representatives, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or delivery of the Units being delivered on such Delivery Date on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.
(m) The New York Stock Exchange shall have approved the Units for listing, subject only to official notice of issuance and evidence of satisfactory distribution.
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(n) 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.
(o) The Lock-Up Agreements between the Representatives and the officers and directors of the General Partner and unitholders of the Partnership set forth on Schedule II, delivered to the Representatives on or before the date of this Agreement, shall be in full force and effect on such Delivery Date.
(p) On or prior to each Delivery Date, the WLK Parties shall have furnished to the Underwriters such further certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request.
All opinions, letters, evidence and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters.
8. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) The WLK Parties hereby agree, jointly and severally, to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates, directors, officers and employees, and the agents of each Underwriter who have or who are alleged to have participated in the distribution of the Units as underwriters (collectively, the selling agents), and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in respect thereof (including, but not limited to, any loss, claim, damage, liability or action relating to purchases and sales of Units), to which that Underwriter, affiliate, director, officer, employee, selling agent or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in (A) any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto, (B) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto, (C) any Permitted Issuer Information used or referred to in any free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) used or referred to by any Underwriter or (D) 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, including any road show (as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act) not constituting an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (Marketing Materials) or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any Permitted Issuer Information or any Marketing Materials, any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (except in the case of the Registration Statement, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, and shall reimburse each Underwriter and each such affiliate, director, officer, employee, selling agent or controlling person promptly upon demand for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by that Underwriter,
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affiliate, director, officer, employee, selling agent or controlling person in connection with investigating or defending or preparing to defend against any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that none of the WLK Parties shall be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any such amendment or supplement thereto or in any Permitted Issuer Information or any Marketing Materials, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information concerning such Underwriter furnished to the Partnership through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information consists solely of the information specified in Section 8(e). The foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to any liability which the Partnership Parties may otherwise have to any Underwriter or to any affiliate, director, officer, employee or controlling person of that Underwriter.
(b) Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, shall indemnify and hold harmless the WLK Parties, their respective directors, officers and employees, and each person, if any, who controls a WLK Party within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in respect thereof, to which the Partnership or any such director, officer, employee or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any Marketing Materials, or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any Marketing Materials, any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but in each case only to the extent that the untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information concerning such Underwriter furnished to the Partnership through the Representatives by or on behalf of that Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information is limited to the information set forth in Section 8(e). The foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to any liability that any Underwriter may otherwise have to the Partnership or any such director, officer, employee or controlling person.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of any claim or the commencement of any action, the indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 8, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the claim or the commencement of that action; provided, however, that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have under this Section 8 except to the extent it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights and defenses) by such failure and, provided, further, that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not
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relieve it from any liability which it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 8. If any such claim or action shall be brought against an indemnified party, and it shall notify the indemnifying party thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with any other similarly notified indemnifying party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. After notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the defense of such claim or action, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to the indemnified party under this Section 8 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, that the indemnified party shall have the right to employ counsel to represent jointly the indemnified party and those other indemnified parties and their respective directors, officers, employees and controlling persons who may be subject to liability arising out of any claim in respect of which indemnity may be sought under this Section 8 if (i) the indemnified party and the indemnifying party shall have so mutually agreed; (ii) the indemnifying party has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party; (iii) the indemnified party and its directors, officers, employees and controlling persons shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to them that are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnified parties or their respective directors, officers, employees or controlling persons, on the one hand, and the indemnifying party, on the other hand, and representation of both sets of parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them, and in any such event the fees and expenses of such separate counsel shall be paid by the indemnifying party. No indemnifying party shall (x) without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding and 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, or (y) be liable for any settlement of any such action effected without its written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), but if settled with the consent of the indemnifying party or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff in any such action, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by Section 8(a) or (b) hereof, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request or disputed in good faith the indemnified partys entitlement to such reimbursement prior to the date of such settlement.
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(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 shall for any reason be unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Section 8(a) or 8(b) in respect of any loss, claim, damage or liability, or any action in respect thereof, referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, (i) in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Partnership, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, from the offering of the Units, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Partnership, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, with respect to the statements or omissions that resulted in such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Partnership, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, with respect to such offering shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Units purchased under this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Partnership, as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus, on the one hand, and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters with respect to the Units purchased under this Agreement, as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus, on the other hand. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to whether the 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 the Underwriters, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Partnership and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 8(d) were to be determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, referred to above in this Section 8(d) shall be deemed to include, for purposes of this Section 8(d), any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8(d), in no event shall an Underwriter be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter with respect to the offering of the Units exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters obligations to contribute as provided in this Section 8(d) are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint.
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(e) The Underwriters severally confirm and the WLK Parties acknowledge and agree that the statements regarding delivery of the Common Units by the Underwriters set forth on the cover page of, and the concession and reallowance figures and the paragraph relating to stabilization by the Underwriters appearing under the caption Underwriting in, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus are correct and constitute the only information concerning such Underwriters furnished in writing to the Partnership by or on behalf of the Underwriters specifically for inclusion in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any Marketing Materials.
(f) The WLK Parties shall indemnify and hold harmless UBS Financial Services Inc. (including its affiliates, directors, officers and employees) and each person, if any, who controls UBS Financial Services Inc. within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (UBS Entities), from and against any loss, claim, damage or liability or any action in respect thereof to which any of the UBS Entities may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action (i) arises out of, or is based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any material prepared by or with the approval of any Westlake Entity for distribution to Directed Unit Participants in connection with the Directed Unit Program or 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, (ii) arises out of, or is based upon, the failure of the Directed Unit Participant to pay for and accept delivery of Directed Units that the Directed Unit Participant agreed to purchase, or (iii) is otherwise related to the Directed Unit Program; provided that the Westlake Parties shall not be liable under this clause (iii) for any loss, claim, damage, liability or action that is determined in a final judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the UBS Entities. The Partnership shall reimburse the UBS Entities promptly upon demand for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending or preparing to defend against any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred.
9. Defaulting Underwriters.
(a) If, on any Delivery Date, any Underwriter defaults in its obligations to purchase the Units that it has agreed to purchase under this Agreement, the remaining non-defaulting Underwriters may in their discretion arrange for the purchase of such Units by the non-defaulting Underwriters or other persons satisfactory to the Partnership on the terms contained in this Agreement. If, within 36 hours after any such default by any Underwriter, the non-defaulting Underwriters do not arrange for the purchase of such Units, then the Partnership shall be entitled to a further period of 36 hours within which to procure other persons satisfactory to the non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase such Units on such terms. In the event that within the respective prescribed periods, the non-defaulting Underwriters notify the Partnership that they have so arranged for the purchase of such Units, or the Partnership notifies the non-
35
defaulting Underwriters that it has so arranged for the purchase of such Units, either the non-defaulting Underwriters or the Partnership may postpone such Delivery Date for up to seven full business days in order to effect any changes that in the opinion of counsel for the Partnership or counsel for the Underwriters may be necessary in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or in any other document or arrangement, and the Partnership agrees to promptly prepare any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or in any such other document or arrangement that effects any such changes. As used in this Agreement, the term Underwriter includes, for all purposes of this Agreement unless the context requires otherwise, any party not listed in Schedule I hereto that, pursuant to this Section 9, purchases Units that a defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase.
(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Units of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters and the Partnership as provided in paragraph (a) above, the total number of Units that remains unpurchased does not exceed one-eleventh of the total number of all Units, then the Partnership shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the total number of Units that such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder plus such Underwriters pro rata share (based on the total number of Units that such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder) of the Units of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made; provided that the non-defaulting Underwriters shall not be obligated to purchase more than 110% of the total number of Units that it agreed to purchase on such Delivery Date pursuant to the terms of Section 2.
(c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Units of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters and the Partnership as provided in paragraph (a) above, the total number of Units that remains unpurchased exceeds one-eleventh of the total number of all Units, or if the Partnership shall not exercise the right described in paragraph (b) above, then this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of the non-defaulting Underwriters. Any termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9 shall be without liability on the part of the Partnership, except that the Partnership will continue to be liable for the payment of expenses as set forth in Sections 6 and 11 and except that the provisions of Section 8 shall not terminate and shall remain in effect.
(d) Nothing contained herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of any liability it may have to the Partnership or any non-defaulting Underwriter for damages caused by its default.
10. Termination. The obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be terminated by the Representatives by notice given to and received by the Partnership prior to delivery of and payment for the Firm Units if, prior to that time, any of the events described in Sections 7(j), 7(k) and 7(l) shall have occurred or if the Underwriters shall decline to purchase the Units for any reason permitted under this Agreement.
36
11. Reimbursement of Underwriters Expenses. If (a) the Partnership shall fail to tender the Units for delivery to the Underwriters for any reason other than by reason of a default by any of the Underwriters, or (b) the Underwriters shall decline to purchase the Units for any reason permitted under this Agreement (other than Sections 7(l)(i)(A), (l)(ii), (l)(iii) or (l)(iv)), the Partnership will reimburse the Underwriters for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters) incurred by the Underwriters in connection with this Agreement and the proposed purchase of the Units, and upon demand the Partnership shall pay the full amount thereof to the Representatives. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 9 by reason of the default of one or more Underwriters or pursuant to Section 10 as a result of the occurrence of any of the events listed in Sections 7(l)(i)(A), (l)(ii), (l)(iii) or (l)(iv), the Partnership shall not be obligated to reimburse any defaulting Underwriter on account of those expenses.
12. Research Analyst Independence. The Partnership acknowledges that the Underwriters research analysts and research departments are required to be independent from their respective investment banking divisions and are subject to certain regulations and internal policies, and that such Underwriters research analysts may hold views and make statements or investment recommendations and/or publish research reports with respect to the Partnership and/or the offering that differ from the views of their respective investment banking divisions. Each of the WLK Parties hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that any of the WLK Parties may have against the Underwriters with respect to any conflict of interest that may arise from the fact that the views expressed by their independent research analysts and research departments may be different from or inconsistent with the views or advice communicated to any of the WLK Parties by such Underwriters investment banking divisions. Each of the WLK Parties acknowledges that each of the Underwriters is a full service securities firm and as such from time to time, subject to applicable securities laws, may effect transactions for its own account or the account of its customers and hold long or short positions in debt or equity securities of the companies that may be the subject of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
13. No Fiduciary Duty. Each of the WLK Parties acknowledges and agrees that in connection with this offering, the sale of the Units or any other services the Underwriters may be deemed to be providing hereunder, notwithstanding any preexisting relationship, advisory or otherwise, between the parties or any oral representations or assurances previously or subsequently made by the Underwriters: (a) no fiduciary or agency relationship between the WLK Parties and any other person, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, exists; (b) the Underwriters are not acting as advisors, expert or otherwise, to any of the WLK Parties, including, without limitation, with respect to the determination of the public offering price of the Units, and such relationship between the WLK Parties, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, is entirely and solely commercial, based on arms-length negotiations; (c) any duties and obligations that the Underwriters may have to any of the WLK Parties shall be limited to those duties and obligations specifically stated herein; and (d) the Underwriters and their respective affiliates may have interests that differ from those of the WLK Parties. Each of the WLK Parties hereby waives any claims that any of the WLK Parties may have against the Underwriters with respect to any breach of fiduciary duty in connection with this offering.
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14. Notices, etc. All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in writing, and:
(a) if to the Underwriters, shall be delivered or sent by mail or facsimile transmission to Barclays Capital Inc., 745 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019, Attention: Syndicate Registration (Fax: (646)  ###-###-####), with a copy, in the case of any notice pursuant to Section 8(c), to the Director of Litigation, Office of the General Counsel, Barclays Capital Inc., 745 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019; and
(b) if to the Partnership, shall be delivered or sent by mail or facsimile transmission to the address of the Partnership set forth in the Registration Statement, Attention: L. Benjamin Ederington (Fax: (713)  ###-###-####).
Any such statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect at the time of receipt thereof. The Partnership shall be entitled to act and rely upon any request, consent, notice or agreement given or made on behalf of the Representatives.
15. Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Underwriters, the WLK Parties and their respective successors. This Agreement and the terms and provisions hereof are for the sole benefit of only those persons, except that (a) the representations, warranties, indemnities and agreements of the WLK Parties contained in this Agreement shall also be deemed to be for the benefit of the directors, officers, employees and agents of each Underwriter, each affiliate of any Underwriter who has participated or is alleged to have participated in the distribution of Units as underwriters, and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and (b) the indemnity agreement of the Underwriters contained in Section 8(b) of this Agreement shall be deemed to be for the benefit of the directors of the General Partner, the officers of the General Partner who have signed the Registration Statement and any person controlling the Partnership within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, other than the persons referred to in this Section 15, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision contained herein.
16. Survival. The respective indemnities, representations, warranties and agreements of the WLK Parties and the Underwriters contained in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Units and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any of them or any person controlling any of them.
17. Definition of the Terms Business Day, Affiliate and Subsidiary. For purposes of this Agreement, (a) business day means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in New York are generally authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close, and (b) affiliate and subsidiary have the meanings set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
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18. Governing Law. This Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to it shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to conflict of laws principles (other than Section 5-1401 of the General Obligations Law).
19. Waiver of Jury Trial. The WLK Parties and the Underwriters hereby irrevocably waive, 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.
20. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts and, if executed in more than one counterpart, the executed counterparts shall each be deemed to be an original but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.
21. Headings. The headings herein are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.
[Signature Page Follows]
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If the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement among the Partnership Parties and the Underwriters, please indicate your acceptance in the space provided for that purpose below.
Very truly yours, | ||
WESTLAKE CHEMICAL PARTNERS GP LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Albert Chao | |
Name: Albert Chao | ||
Title: President, Chief Executive Officer and Director | ||
WESTLAKE CHEMICAL PARTNERS LP | ||
By: | Westlake Chemical Partners GP LLC, its general partner | |
By: | /s/ Albert Chao | |
Name: Albert Chao | ||
Title: President, Chief Executive Officer and Director | ||
WESTLAKE CHEMICAL OPCO GP LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Lawrence Teel | |
Name: Lawrence Teel | ||
Title: Principal Operating Officer | ||
WESTLAKE CHEMICAL OPCO LP | ||
By: | Westlake Chemical OpCo GP LLC, its general partner | |
By: | /s/ Lawrence Teel | |
Name: Lawrence Teel | ||
Title: Principal Operating Officer |
Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement
WPT LLC | ||
By: | Westlake Chemical Investments, Inc., its manager | |
By: | /s/ Albert Chao | |
Name: Albert Chao | ||
Title: President and Secretary |
Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement
BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC. | ||
UBS SECURITIES LLC | ||
For themselves and as Representatives of the several Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto | ||
By BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Victoria Hale | |
By UBS SECURITIES LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Scott Arndt | |
By: | /s/ Andy Lam |
Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement
SCHEDULE I
Underwriters | Number of Firm Units | Number of Option Units | ||||||
Barclays Capital Inc. | 3,375,000 | 506,250 | ||||||
UBS Securities LLC | 3,375,000 | 506,250 | ||||||
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated | 1,350,000 | 202,500 | ||||||
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC | 1,350,000 | 202,500 | ||||||
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. | 506,250 | 75,938 | ||||||
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC | 506,250 | 75,938 | ||||||
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC | 506,250 | 75,937 | ||||||
Goldman, Sachs & Co. | 281,250 | 42,187 | ||||||
|
|
|
| |||||
Total | 11,250,000 | 1,687,500 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
SCHEDULE II
PERSONS DELIVERING LOCK-UP AGREEMENTS
Directors
James Chao
Max L. Lukens
Gary K. Adams
Officers
Albert Chao
M. Steven Bender
L. Benjamin Ederington
George Mangieri
Lawrence Teel
Dave Hansen
Entities
WPT LLC
SCHEDULE III
ORALLY CONVEYED PRICING INFORMATION
Number of Units: | 11,250,000 Firm Units or, if the Underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase the Option Units granted in Section 2 hereof, 12,937,500 Units |
Public Offering Price: $24.00 per Unit
SCHEDULE IV
ISSUER FREE WRITING PROSPECTUSES ROAD SHOW MATERIALS
Insert list of certain road show materials
SCHEDULE V
ISSUER FREE WRITING PROSPECTUS
Insert list of all Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses
None
SCHEDULE VI
LIST OF JURISDICTIONS OF FOREIGN QUALIFICATION
Entity | Jurisdiction of Formation | Foreign Qualifications | ||
Westlake Chemical Partners LP | Delaware | Kentucky, Louisiana, Texas | ||
Westlake Chemical Partners GP LLC | Delaware | Kentucky, Louisiana, Texas | ||
Westlake Chemical OpCo LP | Delaware | Kentucky, Louisiana, Texas | ||
Westlake Chemical OpCo GP LLC | Delaware | Kentucky, Louisiana, Texas | ||
Westlake Chemical Corporation | Delaware | Texas | ||
Westlake International Services Corporation | Delaware | Texas | ||
WPT LLC | Delaware | Louisiana, Texas | ||
Westlake Petrochemicals LLC | Delaware | Louisiana, Ohio, Washington, Texas | ||
Westlake Vinyls, Inc. | Delaware | Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia | ||
Westlake Ethylene Pipeline Corporation | Delaware | Texas | ||
Westlake Polymers LLC | Delaware | California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington | ||
Westlake Management Services, Inc. | Delaware | Louisiana, Texas |
EXHIBIT A
LOCK-UP LETTER AGREEMENT
BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC.
UBS SECURITIES LLC
As Representatives of the several
Underwriters named in Schedule I,
c/o Barclays Capital Inc.
745 Seventh Avenue New York, New York 10019
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned understands that you and certain other firms (the Underwriters) propose to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the Underwriting Agreement) providing for the purchase by the Underwriters of Common Units (the Units) representing limited partner interests (Common Units) of Westlake Chemical Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the Partnership), and that the Underwriters propose to reoffer the Units to the public (the Offering).
In consideration of the execution of the Underwriting Agreement by the Underwriters, and for other good and valuable consideration, the undersigned hereby irrevocably agrees that, without the prior written consent of Barclays Capital Inc. and UBS Securities LLC, on behalf of the Underwriters, the undersigned will not, directly or indirectly, (1) offer for sale, sell, pledge, or otherwise dispose of (or enter into any transaction or device that is designed to, or could be expected to, result in the disposition by any person at any time in the future of) any Common Units (including, without limitation, Common Units that may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the undersigned in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and Common Units that may be issued upon exercise of any options or warrants) or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Units, (2) enter into any swap or other derivatives transaction that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic benefits or risks of ownership of Common Units, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Units or other securities, in cash or otherwise, (3) make any demand for or exercise any right or cause to be filed a registration statement, including any amendments thereto, with respect to the registration of any Common Units or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Units or any other securities of the Partnership, or (4) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing for a period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the 180th day after the date of the Prospectus relating to the Offering (such 180-day period, the Lock-Up Period).
The foregoing restrictions shall not apply to any bona fide gifts, sales or other dispositions of Common Units that are made exclusively between and among the undersigned and members of the undersigneds family, or a trust the beneficiaries of which are the undersigned and/or members of the undersigneds family; provided that it
Exhibit A-1
shall be a condition to any such transfer that (i) the transferee/donee agrees to be bound by the terms of this Lock-Up Letter Agreement (including, without limitation, the restrictions set forth in the preceding sentence) to the same extent it would be bound if the transferee/donee were a party hereto, (ii) each party (donor and donee) shall not be required by law (including without limitation the disclosure requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), to make, and shall agree to not voluntarily make, any filing or public announcement of the transfer prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period and (iii) the undersigned notifies Barclays Capital Inc. and UBS Securities LLC at least two business days prior to the proposed transfer.
If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Partnerships General Partner, the undersigned agrees that the foregoing provisions shall be equally applicable to any issuer-directed Units, as referred to in FINRA Rule 5131(d)(2)(A) that the undersigned may purchase in the Offering pursuant to an allocation of Units that is directed in writing by the Partnership. The provisions of this paragraph will not apply if both (a) the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a transfer not for consideration, and (b) the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the same terms described in this letter that are applicable to the transferor, to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of the transfer.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (1) during the last 17 days of the Lock-Up Period, the Partnership issues an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to the Partnership occurs, or (2) prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, the Partnership announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the Lock-Up Period, then the restrictions imposed by this Lock-Up Letter Agreement shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the announcement of the material news or the occurrence of the material event, unless the Representatives agree not to require such extension in writing. The undersigned hereby further agrees that, prior to engaging in any transaction or taking any other action that is subject to the terms of this Lock-Up Letter Agreement during the period from the date of this Lock-Up Letter Agreement to and including the 34th day following the expiration of the 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 Lock-Up Period (as such may have been extended pursuant to this paragraph) has expired.
In furtherance of the foregoing, the Partnership and its transfer agent are hereby authorized to decline to make any transfer of securities if such transfer would constitute a violation or breach of this Lock-Up Letter Agreement.
It is understood that, if the Partnership notifies the Underwriters 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 Units, the undersigned will be released from its obligations under this Lock-Up Letter Agreement.
Exhibit A-2
The undersigned understands that the Partnership and the Underwriters will proceed with the Offering in reliance on this Lock-Up Letter Agreement.
Whether or not the Offering actually occurs depends on a number of factors, including market conditions. Any Offering will only be made pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement, the terms of which are subject to negotiation between the Partnership and the Underwriters.
[Signature page follows]
Exhibit A-3
The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to enter into this Lock-Up Letter Agreement and that, upon request, the undersigned will execute any additional documents necessary in connection with the enforcement hereof. Any obligations of the undersigned shall be binding upon the heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns of the undersigned.
Very truly yours, | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
Dated:
Exhibit A-4
EXHIBIT B-1
FORM OF OPINION OF PARTNERSHIPS COUNSEL
1. Each of OpCo and the Partnership is a limited partnership duly organized under the Delaware LP Act with limited partnership power and authority (i) to enter into the Operative Agreements, to the extent a party thereto, and to perform its obligations thereunder, and (ii) to own its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. With your consent, based solely on certificates from public officials, we confirm that each of OpCo and the Partnership is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and is qualified to do business in the states set forth opposite its name on Exhibit A to such opinion.
2. Each of OpCo GP and the General Partner is a limited liability company duly organized under the Delaware LLC Act with limited liability company power and authority (i) to enter into the Operative Agreements, to the extent a party thereto, and to perform its obligations thereunder, and (ii) to own its properties, to conduct its business and to act as the general partner of OpCo and the Partnership, respectively, as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. With your consent, based solely on certificates from public officials, we confirm that each of OpCo GP and the General Partner is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and is qualified to do business in the states set forth opposite its name on Exhibit A to such opinion.
3. Each of WLK, WISC, Vinyls, Longview, Pipeline and Services is a corporation under the DGCL with corporate power and authority to enter into the Operative Agreements, to the extent a party thereto, and to perform its obligations thereunder.
4. Each of WPT LLC, Petrochem and Polymers is a limited liability company under the Delaware LLC Act with limited liability company power and authority to enter into the Operative Agreements, to the extent a party thereto, and to perform its obligations thereunder.
5. The Units to be issued and sold by the Partnership pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement and the limited partner interests represented thereby have been duly authorized in accordance with the Partnership Agreement and when issued and delivered by the Partnership to the Underwriters upon payment therefore in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid (to the extent required under the Partnership Agreement), nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act) and free of preemptive rights arising from the Partnership Agreement.
6. The execution, delivery and performance of the Operative Agreements by each of the WLK Parties that are party thereto have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate, limited liability company or limited partnership action, as applicable, of each of the WLK Parties that are party thereto; and the Operative Agreements have each been duly executed and delivered by each of the WLK Parties that are party thereto.
Exhibit B-1
7. Assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by Westlake PVC, Westlake Styrene and the Westlake Entities, other than the WLK Parties, each of the Operative Agreements, other than the Underwriting Agreement and the Leases, constitutes a legally valid and binding obligation of Westlake PVC, Westlake Styrene and each of the Westlake Entities that are parties thereto, enforceable against Westlake PVC, Westlake Styrene and each such Westlake Entity in accordance with its respective terms; provided, however, that the enforceability thereof may be limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or 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 (ii) public policy, applicable law relating to fiduciary duties and indemnification and implied covenants of good faith and fair dealing.
8. As of the date hereof, the execution and delivery of the Underwriting Agreement by each of the WLK Parties, the issuance and sale of the Units by the Partnership to you and the other Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, the execution and delivery of the Operative Agreements by Westlake PVC, Westlake Styrene and the applicable Westlake Entities and the consummation by the applicable Westlake Entities of the transactions contemplated by the Contribution Agreements do not on the date hereof:
(i) | violate the Organizational Documents; or |
(ii) | result in the breach of or a default under any of the agreements filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement; or |
(iii) | violate any federal, Texas or New York statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Westlake Entities or the DGCL, the Delaware LP Act or the Delaware LLC Act; or |
(iv) | require any consents, approvals, or authorizations to be obtained by the Westlake Entities from, or any registrations, declarations or filings to be made by the Westlake Entities with, any governmental authority under any federal, Texas or New York statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Westlake Entities or the DGCL, the Delaware LP Act or the Delaware LLC Act on or prior to the date hereof that have not been obtained or made; |
except in clauses (iii) and (iv) above for any such breaches, defaults, violations, consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations, declarations or filings that, individually or in the aggregate, the occurrence of which or the failure to have obtained have not materially impaired and will not materially impair the ability of any of the WLK Parties to consummate the transactions or any other transactions provided for in the Underwriting Agreement or the Operative Agreements; provided, however, that such counsel need express no opinion in this paragraph (8) with respect to federal or state securities laws).
9. The Registration Statement has been declared effective under the Securities Act. With your consent, based solely on a telephonic confirmation by a member of the Staff of the Commission on August 4, 2014, we confirm that no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued under the Securities Act and no proceedings therefor have been initiated by the Commission. The Prospectus has been filed in accordance with Rule 424(b) and 430A under the Securities Act.
Exhibit B-2
10. The Registration Statement at July 29, 2014, including the information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act, and the Prospectus, as of its date, each appeared on their face to be appropriately responsive in all material respects to the applicable form requirements for registration statements on Form S-1 under the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder; it being understood, however, that we express no view with respect to Regulation S-T or the financial statements, schedules, or other financial data, included in, or omitted from, the Registration Statement, Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus.
11. The statements in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the headings Cash Distribution Policy and Restrictions on Distributions, How We Make Distributions to Our Partners, Description of the Common Units and The Partnership Agreement, insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the Common Units, the Subordinated Units or the IDRs, are accurate summaries in all material respects.
12. The statements in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the headings How We Make Distributions to Our Partners, Business Environmental and Other Regulations, Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, Conflicts of Interest and Fiduciary Duties, Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences and The Partnership Agreement, insofar as they purport to constitute summaries of the terms of statutes, rules or regulations, legal and governmental proceedings or contracts, constitute accurate summaries of the terms of such statutes, rules and regulations, legal and governmental proceedings and contracts in all material respects.
13. Our opinion that is filed as Exhibit 8.1 to the Registration Statement is confirmed, and the Underwriters may rely on such opinion as if it were addressed to them.
14. WISC owns all of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests in the General Partner (the GP Membership Interests). The GP Membership Interests have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the GP LLC Agreement and the GP Membership Interests are fully paid (to the extent required under the GP LLC Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act). The GP Membership Interests are free and clear of liens, claims, charges and encumbrances (Liens) (A) in respect of which a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of Delaware naming WISC as debtor is on file in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or (B) otherwise known to us, without independent investigation, other than those (i) created by or arising under the Delaware LLC Act or the GP LLC Agreement or (ii) restrictions on transferability or other Liens described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
Exhibit B-3
15. The General Partner is the sole general partner of the Partnership and the non-economic general partner interest in the Partnership (the General Partner Interest) is owned of record by the General Partner. The issuance of the General Partner Interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Partnership Agreement. The General Partner owns the General Partner Interest free and clear of Liens (A) in respect of which a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of Delaware naming the General Partner as debtor is on file in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or (B) otherwise known to us, without independent investigation, other than those (i) created by or arising under the Delaware LP Act or the Partnership Agreement or (ii) restrictions on transferability or other Liens described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
16. The Partnership owns all of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests in OpCo GP (the OpCo GP Membership Interests). The OpCo GP Membership Interests have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the OpCo GP LLC Agreement and the OpCo GP Membership Interest is fully paid (to the extent required under the OpCo GP LLC Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act). The OpCo GP Membership Interests are free and clear of Liens (A) in respect of which a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of Delaware naming the Partnership as debtor is on file in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or (B) otherwise known to us, without independent investigation, other than those (i) created by or arising under the Delaware LLC Act or the OpCo GP LLC Agreement or (ii) restrictions on transferability or other Liens described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
17. OpCo GP is the sole general partner of OpCo and the non-economic general partner interest in OpCo (the OpCo General Partner Interest) is owned of record by OpCo GP. The issuance of the OpCo General Partner Interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the OpCo Partnership Agreement and the OpCo General Partner Interest is fully paid (to the extent required under the OpCo 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). OpCo GP owns the OpCo General Partner Interest free and clear of Liens (A) in respect of which a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of Delaware naming OpCo GP as debtor is on file in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or (B) otherwise known to us, without independent investigation, other than those (i) created by or arising under the Delaware LP Act or the OpCo Partnership Agreement or (ii) restrictions on transferability or other Liens described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
18. WPT LLC owns 1,436,115 Common Units and 12,686,115 Subordinated Units (collectively, the Sponsor Units) and all of the outstanding IDRs of the Partnership (together with the Sponsor Units, the Sponsor Interests). The issuance of the Sponsor Interests has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Partnership Agreement and the Sponsor Interests are fully paid (to the extent required under 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). WPT LLC owns the Sponsor Interests free and clear of Liens (A) in respect of which a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of Delaware naming WPT LLC as debtor is on file in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or (B) otherwise known to us, without independent investigation, other than those (i) created by or arising under the Delaware LP Act or the Partnership Agreement or (ii) restrictions on transferability or other Liens described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
Exhibit B-4
19. (i) (A) the Partnership owns 10% of the limited partner interests in OpCo and (B) Petrochem, Longview, Vinyls and WPT collectively own 90% of the limited partner interests in OpCo (collectively, with the Partnerships ownership interest, the OpCo LP Interests) and (ii) the OpCo LP Interests have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the OpCo Partnership Agreement and are fully paid (to the extent required under the OpCo 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). The Partnership, Petrochem, Longview, Vinyls and WPT LLC own the OpCo LP Interests free and clear of Liens (A) in respect of which a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of Delaware naming the Partnership, Petrochem, Longview, Vinyls or WPT LLC, respectively, as debtor is on file in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or (B) otherwise known to us, without independent investigation, other than those (i) created by or arising under the Delaware LP Act or the OpCo Partnership Agreement or (ii) restrictions on transferability or other Liens described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
20. As of the date hereof, and immediately after giving effect to the issuance and sale on the date hereof of the Units pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, the issued and outstanding partnership interests of the Partnership consist of [] Common Units, 12,686,115 Subordinated Units, the General Partner Interest, the IDRs and the limited partner interests in the Partnership issued pursuant to the Partnerships incentive compensation plan.
21. The Partnership is not and, immediately after giving effect to the sale of the Units in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement and the application of the proceeds as described in the Prospectus under the caption Use of Proceeds, the Partnership will not be, required to be, registered as an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
In addition, Vinson & Elkins LLP shall make statements to the following effect:
We have participated in conferences with officers and other representatives of the WLK Parties and the independent public accountants of the Partnership and the Underwriters representatives, at which conferences the contents of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and related matters were discussed and, although we did not independently investigate or verify the information set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, and we are not passing upon and do not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, and the Prospectus (except to the extent specified in paragraphs (11) and (12) above), based on the foregoing (relying as to factual matters in respect of the determination of materiality to the extent we deem reasonable and appropriate upon the statements of fact made by officers and other representatives of the WLK Parties), no facts have come to our attention that have led us to believe that:
Exhibit B-5
(a) the Registration Statement, at the time it became effective on July 29, 2014, including the information deemed to be a part of the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading;
(b) the Preliminary Prospectus, as of the Applicable Time, when taken together with the Pricing Information Annex, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits 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; or
(c) the Prospectus, as of its date and as of the date hereof, contained or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits 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,
it being understood that we do not express any belief with respect to (i) the financial statements and related schedules, including the notes thereto and the independent public accounting firms report thereon, included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or (ii) any other financial and accounting data contained or omitted from the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
In rendering such opinion, such counsel may (i) rely in respect of matters of fact upon certificates of officers and employees of the WLK Entities and upon information obtained from public officials, (ii) assume that all documents submitted to them as originals are authentic, that all copies submitted to such counsel conform to the originals thereof, and that the signatures on all documents examined by such counsel are genuine, (iii) state that such counsels opinion is limited to federal laws, the laws of the State of New York, the State of Texas, the Delaware LP Act, the Delaware LLC Act and the DGCL, (iv) with respect to the opinions expressed as to the due qualification or registration as a foreign limited partnership or limited liability company, as the case may be, of the WLK Parties, state that such opinions are based upon certificates of foreign qualification or registration provided by the Secretary of State of the states listed on an annex to be attached to such counsels opinion and (v) state that such counsel expresses no opinion with respect to (A) any permits to own or operate any real or personal property or (B) state or local tax statutes to which any of the Partnership Parties may be subject.
Exhibit B-6
EXHIBIT B-2
FORM OF OPINION OF GENERAL PARTNERS GENERAL COUNSEL
I, L. Benjamin Ederington, am the duly elected Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Westlake Chemical Partners GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the sole general partner of Westlake Chemical Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership, and I am an active member in good standing of the Bar of the State of Texas. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Underwriting Agreement dated July 29, 2014.
1) Each of WLK, WISC, Vinyls, Longview, Pipeline and Services is a corporation under the DGCL with corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. With your consent, based solely on certificates from public officials, I confirm that each of WLK, WISC, Vinyls, Longview, Pipeline and Services is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and is qualified to do business in the states set forth opposite its name on Exhibit A to such opinion.
2) Each of WPT LLC, Petrochem and Polymers is a limited liability company under the Delaware LLC Act with limited liability company power and authority to own its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. With your consent, based solely on certificates from public officials, I confirm that each of WPT LLC, Petrochem and Polymers is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and is qualified to do business in the states set forth opposite its name on Exhibit A to such opinion.
3) Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no person has the right, pursuant to the terms of any contract, agreement or other instrument described in or filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or otherwise known to me, to cause the Partnership to register under the Securities Act any Common Units or other equity interest in the Partnership or to include any such Common Units or interest in the Registration Statement or the offering contemplated thereby.
4) The execution, delivery and performance of the Operative Agreements by Westlake PVC, Westlake Styrene and each of the Westlake Entities, other than the WLK Parties, that are party thereto have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate, limited liability company or limited partnership action, as applicable, of Westlake PVC, Westlake Styrene and each of the Westlake Entities, other than the WLK Parties, that are party thereto; and the Operative Agreements have each been duly executed and delivered by Westlake PVC, Westlake Styrene and each of the Westlake Entities, other than the WLK Parties, that are party thereto.
5) To my knowledge, there are no contracts, licenses, agreements, leases or documents of a character required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement that have not been so described or filed as required.
Exhibit B-2
6) To my knowledge, except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no legal, governmental or regulatory investigations, actions, suits or proceedings pending to which any Westlake Entity is or may be a party or to which any property of any Westlake Entity is or may be the subject that, individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely to a WLK Party, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and to my knowledge, no such investigations, actions, suits or proceedings are threatened or contemplated by any governmental or regulatory authority or threatened by others.
Exhibit B-2