Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P 6-K, filed Mar 25, 2024
Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. (BEP)
About this 6-K
Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P filed this 6-K on March 25, 2024.
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the month of March 2024
Commission file number 001-35530
BROOKFIELD RENEWABLE PARTNERS L.P.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
73 Front Street, Fifth Floor
Hamilton, HM 12
Bermuda
(Address of principal executive office)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F ☒ Form 40-F ☐
Exhibits 1.1, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 23.1 and 23.2 of this Form 6-K are incorporated by reference into the registrant’s registration statement on Form F-3ASR filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 15, 2024 (File No. 333-277987).
Exhibit Index
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| BROOKFIELD RENEWABLE PARTNERS L.P., by its general partner, BROOKFIELD RENEWABLE PARTNERS LIMITED | ||||||
| Date: March 25, 2024 | By: | /s/ James Bodi | ||||
| Name: James Bodi | ||||||
| Title: Vice President | ||||||
Exhibit 1.1
Brookfield BRP Holdings (Canada) Inc.
$150,000,000 7.250% Perpetual Subordinated Notes
Underwriting Agreement
March 21, 2024
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
BofA Securities, Inc.
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
RBC Capital Markets, LLC
As Representatives of the several Underwriters listed in Schedule 1 hereto
c/o Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
550 South Tryon Street, 5th Floor
Charlotte, North Carolina 28202
c/o BofA Securities, Inc.
One Bryant Park
New York, New York 10036
c/o J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
383 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10179
c/o Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
1585 Broadway
New York, New York 10036
c/o RBC Capital Markets, LLC
Brookfield Place
200 Vesey Street, 8th Floor
New York, New York 10281
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Brookfield BRP Holdings (Canada) Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Ontario, Canada (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to the several underwriters listed in Schedule 1 hereto (the “Underwriters”), for whom you are acting as representatives (the “Representatives”), the respective amounts set forth in such Schedule 1 of $150,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 7.250% Perpetual Subordinated Notes (the “Notes”). The Notes are to be fully and unconditionally guaranteed, on a subordinated basis (the “Guarantees”, and, together with the Notes, the “Securities”), by Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P., a Bermuda exempted limited partnership (the “Partnership”), Brookfield Renewable Energy L.P., a Bermuda exempted limited partnership, BRP Bermuda Holdings I Limited, a Bermuda exempted company, Brookfield BRP Europe Holdings (Bermuda) Limited, a Bermuda exempted company and BEP Subco Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Ontario, Canada (collectively, the “Guarantors”).
The Notes are to be issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of April 15, 2021 (the “Base Indenture”), as supplemented by a third supplemental indenture, to be dated as of March 25, 2024 (the “Third Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), by and among the Company, the guarantors thereto (including the Guarantors), and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (in such capacity, the “Trustee”).
To the extent there are no additional Underwriters listed on Schedule 1 other than you, the term Representatives as used herein shall mean you, as Underwriters, and the terms Representatives and Underwriters shall mean either the singular or plural as the context requires. The use of the neuter in this Agreement shall include the feminine and masculine wherever appropriate.
The Company and the Guarantors hereby jointly and severally confirm their agreement with the several Underwriters concerning the purchase and sale of the Securities, as follows:
1. Registration Statement. The Company and the Guarantors have prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Securities Act”), an automatic shelf registration statement (File Nos. 333-277987, 333-277987-01, 333-277987-02, 333-277987-03, 333-277987-04 and 333-277987-05), as defined under Rule 405 of the Securities Act, on Form F-3ASR and any other necessary post-effective amendments thereto, including a related base shelf prospectus, relating to certain securities of the Company and the Guarantors, including the Securities, and have caused the Trustee to file a Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”). Such registration statement and any post-effective amendments thereto became effective upon filing. Such registration statement and any post-effective amendments thereto, including the information, if any, deemed pursuant to Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the Securities Act to be part of the registration statement at the time of its effectiveness (“Rule 430 Information”), is referred to herein as the “Registration Statement”; and as used herein, the term “Preliminary Prospectus” means each prospectus included in such registration statement (and any amendments thereto) before effectiveness, any prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(a) under the Securities Act and the prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the time of its effectiveness that omits Rule 430 Information, and the term “Prospectus” means the prospectus in the form first used (or made available upon request of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act) in connection with confirmation of sales of the Securities. Any reference in this underwriting agreement (this “Agreement”) to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 6 of Form F-3 under the Securities Act, as of the effective date of the Registration Statement or the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, and any reference to “amend”, “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents filed after such date under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”) that are deemed to be incorporated by reference therein. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
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At or prior to the Applicable Time (as defined below), the Company had prepared the following information (collectively with the pricing information set forth on Annex A, the “Pricing Disclosure Package”): a Preliminary Prospectus dated March 21, 2024 and each “free-writing prospectus” (as defined pursuant to Rule 405 under the Securities Act) listed on Annex A hereto.
“Applicable Time” means 2:30 P.M. New York City time, on March 21, 2024.
2. Purchase of the Securities by the Underwriters.
(a) The Company agrees to issue and sell the Notes to the several Underwriters as provided in this Agreement, and each Underwriter, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements set forth herein and subject to the conditions set forth herein, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company the respective aggregate principal amount of Notes set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name in Schedule 1 hereto at a price to the public of 100%.
(b) Payment for the Notes shall be made by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the account specified by the Company to the Representatives, in the case of the Notes, at the offices of Milbank LLP, 55 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001, at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on March 25, 2024, or at such other time or place on the same or such other date, not later than the fifth business day thereafter, as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing. The time and date of such payment for the Notes is referred to herein as the “Closing Date.”
(c) The Company understands that the Underwriters intend to make a public offering of the Securities, and initially to offer the Securities on the terms set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters may offer and sell Securities to or through any affiliate of an Underwriter.
(d) On the Closing Date, the Company will pay to the Underwriters, as an underwriting commission in respect of the public distribution of the Securities as set forth in this Agreement, the commission set forth as follows (“Underwriting Commission”): 2.00% ($585,000) (Institutional) and 3.15% ($3,803,625) (Retail) of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes. Such Underwriting Commission may be paid by the Company to the Underwriters by setting off the Underwriting Commission payable by the Company to the Underwriters against the amount payable by the Underwriters to the Company as the purchase price for the Securities set forth in Section 2(a).
(e) Payment for the Securities to be purchased on the Closing Date shall be made against delivery to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters of the Securities to be purchased on such date with any transfer taxes payable in connection with the sale of such Securities duly paid by the Company. Delivery of the Securities shall be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct and the Securities shall be registered in such names and in such denominations as the Representatives shall request. Any certificates for the Securities will be made available for inspection and packaging by the Representatives at the office of DTC or its designated custodian not later than 1:00 P.M., New York City time, on the business day prior to the Closing Date.
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(f) Each of the Company and the Guarantors acknowledges and agrees that the Representatives and the other Underwriters are acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length contractual counterparty to the Company and the Guarantors with respect to the offering of Securities contemplated hereby (including in connection with determining the terms of the offering) and not as a financial advisor or a fiduciary to, or an agent of, the Company or the Guarantors or any other person (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company or the Guarantors on other matters). Additionally, neither the Representatives nor any other Underwriters are advising the Company or the Guarantors or any other person as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting or regulatory matters in any jurisdiction with respect to the offering of the Securities contemplated hereby (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company or the Guarantors on other matters). Each of the Company and the Guarantors agrees that it will not claim that, in connection with the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to the Agreement or the process leading thereto, the Underwriters, or any of them, has advised the Company or any of the Guarantors or any other person as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting, regulatory or any other matters in any jurisdiction or owes a fiduciary or similar duty to the Company and the Guarantors. The Underwriters and their respective affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions directly or indirectly involving the Company or the Guarantors and may in some cases have interests that differ from or conflict with those of the Company or the Guarantors. Each of the Company and the Guarantors hereby consents to each Underwriter acting in the capacities described in the preceding sentence, and the parties to this Agreement acknowledge that any such transaction is a separate transaction from the sale of the Securities contemplated hereby and that no Underwriter acting in any such capacity owes any obligation or duty to any other party hereto with respect to or arising from its acting in such capacity, except to the extent set forth in any prior separate agreement relating to such other transaction. Each of the Company and the Guarantors shall consult with its own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making its own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated hereby, and neither the Representatives nor the other Underwriters shall have any responsibility or liability to the Company or any of the Guarantors with respect thereto. Each of the Company and the Guarantors acknowledges that none of the activities of the Underwriters in connection with the offering of the Securities constitutes a recommendation, investment advice or solicitation or any action by the Underwriters with respect to the Company or the Guarantors. Any review by the Representatives and the other Underwriters of the Company or the Guarantors, the transactions contemplated hereby or other matters relating to such transactions will be performed solely for the benefit of the Underwriters and shall not be on behalf of the Company or the Guarantors.
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3. Representations and Warranties of the Company and the Guarantors. The Company and the Guarantors jointly and severally represent and warrant to each Underwriter that:
(a) Preliminary Prospectus. No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and each Preliminary Prospectus included in the Pricing Disclosure Package, at the time of filing thereof, complied in all material respects with the Securities Act, and no Preliminary Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company and each Guarantor make no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company and each Guarantor in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in any Preliminary Prospectus, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.
(b) Pricing Disclosure Package. The Pricing Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time did not, and as of the Closing Date will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company and each Guarantor make no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company and each Guarantor in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in such Pricing Disclosure Package, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.
(c) Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. Other than the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company (including its agents and representatives, other than the Underwriters in their capacity as such) has not prepared, made, used, authorized, approved or referred to and the Company will not prepare, make, use, authorize, approve or refer to any “written communication” (as defined under Rule 405 of the Securities Act) that constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the Securities (each such communication by the Company or its agents and representatives (other than a communication referred to in clause (i) below) an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”) other than (i) any document not constituting a prospectus pursuant to Section 2(a)(10)(a) of the Securities Act or Rule 134 under the Securities Act or (ii) the documents listed on Annex A hereto, each electronic road show and any other written communications approved in writing in advance by the Representatives. Each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus complies in all material respects with the Securities Act, has been or will be (within the time period specified under Rule 433 of the Securities Act) filed in accordance with the Securities Act (to the extent required thereby) and does not conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Pricing Disclosure Package, and, when taken together with the Preliminary Prospectus accompanying, or delivered prior to delivery of, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, did not, and as of the Closing Date will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company and each Guarantor make no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company and each Guarantor in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof. The term sheet substantially in the form of Annex B hereto has been reviewed and approved by the Company.
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(d) Registration Statement, Prospectus and Indenture. The Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement” as defined under Rule 405 of the Securities Act that has been filed with the Commission not earlier than three years prior to the date hereof; and no notice of objection of the Commission to the use of such registration statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act has been received by either the Company or the Guarantors. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued by the Commission, and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act against either the Company or the Guarantors or related to the offering of the Securities has been initiated or threatened by the Commission; as of the applicable effective date of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, the Registration Statement and any such post-effective amendment complied and will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act, and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and as of the date of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto and as of the Closing Date, the Prospectus will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that neither the Company nor any of the Guarantors makes any representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to either the Company or the Guarantors in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof. On the Closing Date, the Indenture will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and the rules thereunder.
(e) Incorporated Documents. The documents incorporated by reference and any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference prior to the completion of the distribution of the Securities, in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package, when they were filed with the Commission conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act, and none of such documents contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Pricing Disclosure Package, when such documents are filed with the Commission, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
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(f) Compliance with Canadian Securities Laws. The Partnership is a reporting issuer in each province and territory of Canada, is not in default under the securities act or similar statutes of any province or territory of Canada and all regulations, rules, policy statements, notices and blanket orders or rulings thereunder applicable to the Partnership (the “Canadian Securities Laws”), and is in compliance, in all material respects, with its timely disclosure obligations under Canadian Securities Laws and the requirements of the Toronto Stock Exchange. No order, ruling or determination having the effect of suspending the sale or ceasing the trading of any securities of the Partnership has been issued or made by any securities commission (including the Commission) or other securities regulatory authority in any province or territory of Canada (the “Securities Commissions”) and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the Partnership’s knowledge, are contemplated or threatened by any such authority. Any request on the part of the Securities Commissions for additional information in connection with the offering has been complied with in all material respects.
(g) WKSI; Foreign Private Issuer. (i) At the time of filing the Registration Statement, (ii) at the time of the most recent amendment thereto, if any, for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of prospectus), (iii) at the time the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c) under the Securities Act) made any offer relating to the Securities in reliance on the exemption of Rule 163 under the Securities Act, and (iv) as of the Applicable Time, the Partnership was and is a “well-known seasoned issuer” (as defined under Rule 405 of the Securities Act) and the Partnership was, and is not, an “ineligible issuer”, as defined under Rule 405 of the Securities Act. The Company is a “foreign private issuer” as defined under Rule 405 of the Securities Act. The Company has paid the registration fee for this offering pursuant to Rule 456(b)(1) under the Securities Act or will pay such fee within the time period required by such rule (without giving effect to the proviso therein) and in any event prior to the Closing Date.
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(h) Financial Statements of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries. The consolidated financial statements (including the related notes thereto) of the Partnership and its subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable, and present fairly the assets and liabilities, financial position, results of operations and cash flows of such entities at the dates and for the periods indicated and the related statements of operations, other comprehensive income, accumulated other comprehensive income, partnership capital and cash flows for the periods specified. Said financial statements have been prepared in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved. The supporting schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, if any, present fairly in accordance with IFRS the information required to be stated therein. The selected consolidated financial data, the summary consolidated financial data and all operating data included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus has been derived from the accounting records of the Partnership and its consolidated subsidiaries and presents fairly the information shown therein and the selected consolidated financial data and the summary consolidated financial data have been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited consolidated financial statements and disclosures included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus regarding “non-IFRS financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission, including with respect to foreign private issuers) comply with Regulation G of the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act, to the extent applicable. There have been no changes in the assets or liabilities of the Partnership from the position thereof as set forth in the consolidated financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, or otherwise deemed to be a part thereof or included therein, except changes arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business which, in the aggregate, have not been material to the Partnership and except for changes that are disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
(i) No Material Adverse Change. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, since the date of the most recent audited financial statements of the Partnership included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (A) no event has occurred or is known to occur and there has been no change and there is no prospective change that, in each case, would have a material adverse effect on the business or operations (financial or otherwise) of the Partnership and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse Effect”) and (B) there have been no transactions entered into by the Company and its subsidiaries other than those in the ordinary course of business, which are material with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(j) Organization and Good Standing. Each of the Company and the Guarantors and each of their respective subsidiaries has been duly organized and are validly existing in good standing (or the equivalent, if any, in the applicable jurisdiction) under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has the power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and is duly qualified and is in good standing (or the equivalent, if any, in the applicable jurisdiction) in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, except in each case as would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.
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(k) Capitalization of the Partnership. Brookfield Renewable Partners Limited, a Bermuda exempted company (the “General Partner”), is the sole general partner of the Partnership and has a general partner interest in the Partnership; such general partner interest has been duly authorized and validly issued, and the General Partner owns such general partner interest free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims. The Partnership has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the heading “Consolidated Capitalization.” All of the issued and outstanding units in the capital of the Partnership have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully-paid (to the extent required under the Partnership’s extant limited partnership agreement) and non-assessable and have been issued in compliance with all applicable Bermuda laws (except where the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect), and none of the outstanding units in the capital of the Partnership were issued in violation of the pre-emptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Partnership. All of the issued and outstanding shares in the capital of the General Partner have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and have been issued in compliance with all applicable Bermuda laws (except where the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect), and none of the outstanding shares in the capital of the General Partner were issued in violation of the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the General Partner.
(l) Capitalization of the Company. The authorized capital of the Company consists of an unlimited number of common shares, and all of the issued and outstanding shares in the capital of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and have been issued in compliance with all applicable laws in the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein. None of the outstanding shares in the capital of the Company were issued in violation of the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company.
(m) The Notes. The Notes have been duly authorized by the Company for issuance and sale to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement and the Indenture, and when executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and delivered against payment of the purchase price therefor, will conform to all statements relating thereto contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, such descriptions conforming to the rights set forth in the instruments defining the same, and will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.
(n) The Guarantees. The Guarantees have been duly authorized by each of the Guarantors, and when the Notes have been executed and authenticated in the manner provided for in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and issued and delivered against payment of the purchase price therefor, the Guarantees will constitute valid and legally binding agreements of each of the Guarantors, enforceable against each of the Guarantors in accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.
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(o) Due Authorization. Each of the Company and the Guarantors has the power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the Securities and to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder, as applicable, and this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Company and the Guarantors.
(p) The Indenture. The Indenture has been duly authorized by each of the Company and the Guarantors and, at the Closing Date for the Securities, when duly executed and delivered in accordance with its terms by the Company and the Guarantors, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery thereof in accordance with its terms by the Trustee, the Indenture will constitute a valid and legally binding instrument, enforceable against each of the Company and the Guarantors in accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles; the Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and is substantially in the form, save for any indenture supplements relating to a particular issuance of debt securities, filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement; and the Indenture conforms, and the Securities will conform, to the descriptions thereof contained in each of the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
(q) No Violation, Default or Conflict. None of the Company nor any of the Guarantors is in violation of its charter, bylaws or other constitutive document or in default, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease, license or other agreement or instrument to which any of the Company, the Guarantors or their respective subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound, or to which any of the Company, the Guarantors or their respective subsidiaries or the property or assets of any of the Company, the Guarantors or their respective subsidiaries is subject (collectively, “Agreements and Instruments”), except for such defaults that would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Securities, the Indenture and the consummation of the transactions contemplated therein and in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (including the authorization, issuance, sale and delivery of the Securities and the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds”) and compliance by the each of the Company and the Guarantors with their respective obligations hereunder and thereunder has been duly authorized by all necessary action and do not and will not, whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or both, conflict with or constitute a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or default or Repayment Event (as defined below) under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property, right or assets of any of the Company, the Guarantors or their respective subsidiaries pursuant to, the Agreements and Instruments (except for such conflicts, breaches, violations, defaults or Repayment Events or liens, charges or encumbrances that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect), nor will such action result in any violation of or conflict with the provisions of the limited partnership agreement, articles, charter, by-laws or similar organizational documents of any of the Company, the Guarantors or their respective subsidiaries, the resolutions of the general partner, unitholders, shareholders, directors or any committee of directors of any of the Company, the Guarantors or their respective subsidiaries or any applicable law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any government, government instrumentality, court, domestic or foreign, or stock exchange having jurisdiction over any of the Company, the Guarantors or their respective subsidiaries or any of their assets, properties or operations (in each case, for such violations or conflicts that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect). As used herein, a “Repayment Event” means any event or condition which gives the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by any of the Company, the Guarantors or their respective subsidiaries.
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(r) No Consents Required. No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority is required for the execution, delivery and performance by any of the Company or the Guarantors of this Agreement, the Indenture, the issuance and sale of the Securities being delivered on the Closing Date and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Indenture, except such as have been, or will have been prior to the Closing Date, obtained under the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, registrations, clearances or qualifications as may be required for the listing of the Notes on the New York Stock Exchange or under applicable state securities laws and Canadian securities laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters and such consents as will have been obtained prior to the Closing Date.
(s) Legal Proceedings. There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or brought by any court or governmental agency, governmental instrumentality or body, now pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company or the Guarantors, threatened, against or affecting any of the Company, the Guarantors or their respective subsidiaries, which is required to be disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or in any financial statements, management proxy circulars, annual information forms, material change reports, filings with the Commission or other documents issued by the Company or the Guarantors after the date of this Agreement which are included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus (collectively the “Subsequent Disclosure Documents”), or which is reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or which is reasonably likely to materially and adversely affect the properties or assets thereof or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the performance by the Company or the Guarantors of their obligations hereunder; the aggregate of all pending legal or governmental proceedings to which any of the Company, the Guarantors or their respective subsidiaries is a party or of which any of their respective property or assets is the subject which are not described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or the Subsequent Disclosure Documents, including ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business of any of the Company, the Guarantors or their respective subsidiaries, are not reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
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(t) Compliance with Laws. Each of the Company, the Guarantors and their respective subsidiaries has been and is in compliance with, and conduct their businesses in conformity with, all applicable U.S., Canadian and foreign federal, provincial, state and local laws, rules and regulations, standards, and all applicable rules, policies, ordinances, judgments, decrees, orders and injunctions of any court or governmental agency or body or the Toronto Stock Exchange or New York Stock Exchange, except where the failure to be in compliance or conformity would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; and none of the Company, the Guarantors or their respective subsidiaries has received any written notice citing action or inaction by any of the Company, the Guarantors or their respective subsidiaries, or others who perform services on behalf of the Company, the Guarantors or their respective subsidiaries, that would constitute non-compliance with any applicable U.S., Canadian or foreign federal, provincial, state or local laws, rules, regulations policies or standards to the extent such non-compliance reasonably could be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and, to the knowledge of the Company and the Guarantors, other than as set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no prospective change in any applicable U.S., Canadian and foreign federal, provincial, state, or local laws, rules, regulations or standards has been adopted which, when made effective, would have a Material Adverse Effect.
(u) Independent Accountants of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries. Ernst & Young LLP who has audited the annual financial statements of the Partnership that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, are independent in the context of the CPA Code of Professional Conduct of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario and acts as the Partnership’s independent registered public accounting firm within the meaning of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder adopted by the Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).
(v) Title to Property. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, each of the Company, the Guarantors and their respective subsidiaries has good and marketable title to all of its material assets, including all material licenses, free and clear of all mortgages, hypothecs, liens, charges, pledges, security interests, encumbrances, claims or demands whatsoever (other than mortgages, liens, charges, pledges, security interests and/or other encumbrances granted to its or its subsidiaries’ lenders or that have been provided in the ordinary course of business or that are customary given the nature of the assets and the business of each of the Company, the Guarantors and their respective subsidiaries) which are material to each of the Company, the Guarantors and their respective subsidiaries.
(w) Investment Company Act. Each of the Company and the Guarantors is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, will not be, required to register as an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (the “Investment Company Act”).
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(x) Taxes. All United States federal and Canadian federal income tax returns and tax returns of foreign jurisdictions of the Company, the Guarantors and their respective subsidiaries required by law to be filed have been filed and all taxes shown by such returns or otherwise assessed, which are due and payable, have been paid, except assessments against which appeals have been or will be promptly taken and as to which adequate reserves have been provided, and except where the failure to pay would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Each of the Company, the Guarantors and their respective subsidiaries has filed all other tax returns that are required to have been filed by it pursuant to applicable foreign, provincial, state, local or other law except insofar as the failure to file such returns would not result in a Material Adverse Effect, and has paid all taxes due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment received by any of the Company, the Guarantors and their respective subsidiaries, except where the failure to pay would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, and except for such taxes, if any, as are being contested in good faith and as to which adequate reserves have been provided. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of each of the Company, the Guarantors and their respective subsidiaries in respect of any income and corporation tax liability for any years not finally determined are adequate to meet any assessments or re assessments for additional income tax for any years not finally determined, except to the extent of any inadequacy that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(y) Licenses and Permits. Each of the Company, the Guarantors and their respective subsidiaries possesses such permits, licenses, approvals, consents and other authorizations (collectively, “Governmental Licenses”) issued by, and have made all declarations and filings with, the appropriate federal, state, provincial, local or foreign governmental or regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct the business now operated by them as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except where the failure so to possess or make the same would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; each of the Company, the Guarantors and their respective subsidiaries is in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such Governmental Licenses, except where the failure so to comply would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; all of the Governmental Licenses are valid and in full force and effect, except when the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses or the failure of such Governmental Licenses to be in full force and effect would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, and, except as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, none of the Company, the Guarantors or their respective subsidiaries has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such Governmental Licenses which, individually or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would result in a Material Adverse Effect, and there are no facts or circumstances, including, without limitation, facts or circumstances relating to the revocation, suspension, modification, withdrawal or termination of any Governmental Licenses held by others, known to the Company or the Guarantors, that could lead to the revocation, suspension, modification, withdrawal or termination of any such Governmental Licenses, which, individually or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would result in a Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the Company and the Guarantors and except as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no party granting any such Governmental Licenses is considering limiting, suspending, modifying, withdrawing, or revoking the same which, individually or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would result in a Material Adverse Effect.
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(z) No Labor Disputes. No labor dispute with the employees of any of the Company, the Guarantors or their respective subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company or the Guarantors, is contemplated or threatened, and neither the Company nor the Guarantors is aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of the Company, the Guarantors or their respective subsidiaries’ principal suppliers, manufacturers, customers or contractors, which, in either case, would result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(aa) Certain Environmental Matters. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, (A) none of the Company, the Guarantors or their respective subsidiaries is in violation of any federal, provincial, state, local, municipal or foreign statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code, policy or rule of common law or civil law or any judicial or administrative interpretation thereof, including any judicial or administrative order, consent, decree or judgment, relating to pollution or protection of human health, the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or wildlife, including, without limitation, laws and regulations relating to the release or threatened release of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances, petroleum or petroleum products, asbestos-containing materials or mold (collectively, “Hazardous Materials”) or to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials (collectively, “Environmental Laws”), (B) each of the Company, the Guarantors and their respective subsidiaries has all permits, authorizations and approvals required under any applicable Environmental Laws and is in compliance with its requirements, (C) there are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or the Guarantors, threatened administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of noncompliance or violation, investigation or proceedings relating to any Environmental Law against any of the Company, the Guarantors or their respective subsidiaries and (D) there are no events or circumstances that might reasonably be expected to form the basis of an order for clean up or remediation, or an action, suit or proceeding by any private party or governmental body or agency, against or affecting any of the Company, the Guarantors or their respective subsidiaries relating to Hazardous Materials or any Environmental Laws.
(bb) Disclosure Controls. The Partnership maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act; such disclosure controls and procedures have been designed to ensure that material information required to be disclosed by the Partnership in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Partnership’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Partnership and its subsidiaries have carried out evaluations of the effectiveness of their disclosure controls and procedures as required by Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act and such disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
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(cc) Accounting Controls of the Partnership. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Partnership and its subsidiaries maintain a system of internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that complies with the requirements of the Exchange Act (including, where applicable, by exemptive relief) and that has been designed by, or under the supervision of, the Partnership’s principal executive and principal financial officers, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with IFRS, and which, on a consolidated basis, are sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that: (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with IFRS and to maintain accountability for assets; (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (D) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. The internal controls are, and upon consummation of the offering will be, overseen by the Audit Committee (the “Audit Committee”) of the General Partner, in accordance with the rules of the New York Stock Exchange. As of the date of the most recent balance sheet of the Partnership and its consolidated subsidiaries included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there were no material weaknesses in the Partnership’s internal controls. The Partnership has not publicly disclosed or reported to the Audit Committee or the General Partner, and, within the next 135 days, the Partnership does not reasonably expect to publicly disclose or report to the Audit Committee or the General Partner a significant deficiency, material weakness, change in internal controls or fraud involving management or other employees who have a significant role in internal controls, any violation of, or failure to comply with, applicable U.S. securities laws or Canadian securities laws, or any other similar matter which, in each case, would have a Material Adverse Effect.
(dd) eXtensible Business Reporting Language. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.
(ee) Director or Officer Loans. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no outstanding loans, advances (except normal advances for business expense in the ordinary course of business) or guarantees or indebtedness by the Company or the Guarantors, to or for the benefit of any of the officers or directors of any of the Company or the Guarantors or any of their respective family members.
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(ff) Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements. There are no transactions, arrangements or other relationships between and/or among the Company, the Guarantors and their respective subsidiaries, any of their controlled affiliates and any unconsolidated entity, including, but not limited to, any structured finance, special purpose or limited purpose entity that could materially affect the liquidity of the Company or the Guarantors or the availability of, or requirements for, their capital resources required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus which have not been described as required.
(gg) Exchange Listings. The Partnership is in compliance with all applicable corporate governance requirements set forth in the NYSE Listed Company Manual and all applicable corporate governance and other requirements contained in the listing agreements to which the Partnership and the New York Stock Exchange are parties, except where the failure to be in compliance would not reasonably be expected to result in delisting or any suspension of trading or other privileges. The Company and the Partnership shall use their reasonable best efforts to effect the listing of the Notes on the New York Stock Exchange no later than the 30th day following the Closing Date.
(hh) Insurance. Each of the Company, the Guarantors and their respective subsidiaries carries or is entitled to the benefits of insurance, with financially sound and reputable insurers, in such amounts and covering such risks as management believes is appropriate for an entity engaged in the business of the Company, the Guarantors and their subsidiaries, and all such insurance is in full force and effect, except, in each case, where the failure to possess would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect. Each of the Company, the Guarantors and their subsidiaries have no reason to believe that they will not be able (A) to renew existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire; or (B) to obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted and at a cost that would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ii) Cybersecurity; Data Protection. The Partnership and its controlled affiliates’ information technology assets and equipment, computers, systems, networks, hardware, software, websites, applications, and databases (collectively, “IT Systems”) are adequate for, and operate and perform in all material respects as required in connection with the operation of the business of the Partnership and its controlled affiliates as currently conducted, free and clear of all material bugs, errors, defects, Trojan horses, time bombs, malware and other corruptants. The Partnership and its controlled affiliates have implemented and maintained commercially reasonable controls, policies, procedures, and safeguards to maintain and protect their material confidential information and the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of all IT Systems and data (including all personal, personally identifiable, sensitive, confidential or regulated data (“Personal Data”)) used in connection with their businesses, and there have been (i) no breaches, violations, outages or unauthorized uses of or accesses to the same, except for those that have been remedied without material cost or liability or the duty to notify any other person, and (ii) no incidents under internal review or investigations relating to the same except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Partnership and its controlled affiliates are presently in material compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all applicable judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the Partnership and its controlled affiliates, and all internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Personal Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Personal Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification.
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(jj) No Unlawful Payments. None of the Partnership or its controlled affiliates nor their directors, officers or employees nor, to the knowledge of the Partnership, any agent or controlled affiliate has (i) used any corporate funds of the Partnership or its controlled affiliates for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made or taken an act in furtherance of an offer, promise or authorization of any direct or indirect unlawful payment or benefit to any foreign or domestic government official or employee, including of any government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act (Canada) or any applicable law or regulation implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, or committed an offence under the Bribery Act 2010 of the United Kingdom or any other applicable anti-bribery or anticorruption law; or (iv) made, offered, agreed, requested or taken an act in furtherance of any unlawful bribe or other unlawful benefit, including, without limitation, any rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful or improper payment or benefit. The Partnership and its controlled affiliates have instituted, maintain and enforce, and will continue to maintain and enforce policies and procedures designed to promote and ensure compliance with all applicable anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws.
(kk) Compliance with Anti-Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Partnership and its controlled affiliates are and have been conducted at all times in compliance in all material respects with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the applicable money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions where the Partnership or any of its controlled affiliates conducts business, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Anti-Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Partnership or its controlled affiliates with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Partnership, threatened.
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(ll) No Conflicts with Sanctions Laws. None of the Partnership or its controlled affiliates, nor to the knowledge of the Partnership or its controlled affiliates, any director, officer, employee, agent, affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Partnership or its controlled affiliates, (i) is currently the subject or the target of any sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”), the U.S. Department of State (including, without limitation, through designation on OFAC’s Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons list), Global Affairs Canada, the United Nations Security Council or the European Union, His Majesty’s Treasury or other applicable sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), or (ii) located, organized or resident in (A) a country or region that is, or whose government is, the subject of comprehensive Sanctions, including, without limitation, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic and the Crimea region of Ukraine and (B) the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine (each, a “Sanctioned Country”). None of the Partnership or its controlled affiliates, will directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering of the Securities, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, controlled affiliate, joint venture partner or other person or entity for the purpose of (i) funding or facilitating any activities or business of or with any person, or in any country or territory, that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject or target of Sanctions, (ii) funding or facilitating any activities of or business in any Sanctioned Country or (iii) engaging in any other activity that will result in a violation of Sanctions by any person (including any person participating in the offering of the Securities, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise). For the past five years, the Partnership and its controlled affiliates have not knowingly engaged in and are not now knowingly engaged in any dealings or transactions with any person that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject or the target of Sanctions or with any Sanctioned Country, in each case, in violation of applicable Sanctions. The representations and warranties given under the foregoing two sentences of this Section 3(ll) shall not apply to any party in so far as such representation or warranty would result in a violation or conflict with the Foreign Extraterritorial Measures (United States) Order, 1992.
(mm) No Broker’s Fees. Other than the Underwriters, there is no person acting or purporting to act at the request of the Company, who is entitled to any brokerage or agency fee in connection with the transactions contemplated herein.
(nn) No Stabilization or Manipulation. Neither the Company nor any of the Guarantors, or to their knowledge, any of the General Partner’s officers, directors or its controlled affiliates, has taken or will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to, or that might be reasonably expected to, cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Securities.
(oo) Accuracy of Disclosure. The statements set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the captions “Description of Debt Securities” and “Description of the Notes” insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the Securities, and under the captions “Certain Canadian Income Tax Considerations”, “Service of Process and Enforceability of Civil Liabilities” and “Item 8. Indemnification of Directors and Officers” insofar as they purport to describe the provisions of the laws and documents, as applicable, referred to therein, are accurate in all material respects, subject to the qualifications and assumptions stated therein. Subject to the assumptions, qualifications, and limitations referred to therein, the statements set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption “Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations,” insofar as they purport to constitute summaries of matters of United States federal income tax law or legal conclusions with respect thereto, constitute fair and accurate summaries of the matters described therein in all material respects.
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(pp) Sarbanes-Oxley Act. There is and has been no failure on the part of the Partnership nor the directors or officers of the General Partner in their capacities as such, to comply with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications.
(qq) Representation of Officers. Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company or any Guarantor and delivered to the Underwriters or counsel for the Underwriters as required or contemplated by this Agreement shall constitute a representation and warranty hereunder by the Company or any Guarantor, as applicable, as to matters covered thereby, to each Underwriter.
(rr) Statistical and Market-Related Data. The statistical and market-related data included in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and the consolidated financial statements of the Partnership and its subsidiaries included in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes to be reliable in all material respects.
(ss) Stamp Duty. No stamp, issue, registration, documentary, transfer or other similar taxes and duties, including interest and penalties, are payable in either Bermuda or Canada on or in connection with the issuance, sale and delivery of the Securities by the Company or the execution and delivery of this Agreement.
(tt) Passive Foreign Investment Company. The Company was not a “passive foreign investment company” (“PFIC”) as defined in Title 26 U.S. Code Section 1297 for its most recently completed taxable year and does not expect to be a PFIC for the foreseeable future.
4. Further Agreements of the Company and the Guarantors. The Company and the Guarantors jointly and severally covenant and agree with each Underwriter that:
(a) Required Filings. The Company and the Partnership will file the Prospectus with the Commission within the time periods specified by Rule 424(b) and Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the Securities Act, will file any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act; and the Company and the Partnership will file promptly all reports required to be filed by the Company and the Partnership with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of the Prospectus and for so long as the delivery of a prospectus is required in connection with the offering or sale of the Securities; and the Partnership will furnish copies of the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (to the extent not previously delivered) to the Underwriters in New York City prior to the Closing Date in such quantities as the Representatives may reasonably request. The Company will pay the registration fee for this offering within the time period required by Rule 456(b)(1) under the Securities Act (without giving effect to the proviso therein) and in any event prior to the Closing Date.
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(b) Delivery of Copies. The Partnership will deliver, without charge, (i) to the Representatives the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto, in each case including all exhibits and consents filed therewith and documents incorporated by reference therein; and (ii) to each Underwriter (A) a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (without exhibits) and (B) during the Prospectus Delivery Period (as defined below), as many copies of the Prospectus (including all amendments and supplements thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus) as the Representatives may reasonably request. As used herein, the term “Prospectus Delivery Period” means such period of time after the first date of the public offering of the Securities as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters a prospectus relating to the Securities is required by law to be delivered (or required to be delivered but for Rule 172 under the Securities Act) in connection with sales of the Securities by any Underwriter or dealer.
(c) Amendments or Supplements, Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. Before making, preparing, using, authorizing, approving, referring to or filing any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and before filing any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, the Company will furnish to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters a copy of the proposed Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, amendment or supplement for review and will not make, prepare, use, authorize, approve, refer to or file any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representatives reasonably object.
(d) Notice to the Representatives. The Partnership will advise the Representatives promptly, and confirm such advice in writing, (i) when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective; (ii) when any supplement to the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment to the Prospectus has been filed or distributed; (iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or the receipt of any comments from the Commission relating to the Registration Statement or any other request by the Commission for any additional information; (iv) of the issuance by the Commission or any other governmental or regulatory authority of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, any of the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act; (v) of the occurrence of any event or development within the Prospectus Delivery Period as a result of which the Prospectus, any of the Pricing Disclosure Package or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading; (vi) of the receipt by the Company or the Partnership of any notice of objection of the Commission to the use of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act; and (vii) of the receipt by the Company of any notice with respect to any suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offer and sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and each of the Company and the Guarantors will use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, any of the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or suspending any such qualification of the Securities and, if any such order is issued, will obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.
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(e) Ongoing Compliance. (1) If during the Prospectus Delivery Period (i) any event or development shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any 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 existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with law, the Partnership will immediately notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (c) above, file with the Commission and furnish to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representatives may designate such amendments or supplements to the Prospectus (or any document to be filed with the Commission and incorporated by reference therein) as may be necessary so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented (or any document to be filed with the Commission and incorporated by reference therein) will not, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus will comply with law and (2) if at any time prior to the Closing Date (i) any event or development shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Pricing Disclosure Package as then amended or supplemented would include any 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 existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Pricing Disclosure Package to comply with law, the Partnership will notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (c) above, file with the Commission (to the extent required) and furnish to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representatives may designate such amendments or supplements to the Pricing Disclosure Package (or any document to be filed with the Commission and incorporated by reference therein) as may be necessary so that the statements in the Pricing Disclosure Package as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Pricing Disclosure Package will comply with law.
(f) Blue Sky Compliance. The Company will qualify the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives shall reasonably request and will continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for distribution of the Securities; provided that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (ii) file any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not otherwise so subject.
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(g) Earnings Statement. The Company will make generally available to its security holders and the Representatives as soon as practicable an earnings statement that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 of the Securities Act promulgated thereunder covering a period of at least twelve months beginning with the first fiscal quarter of the Company and its subsidiaries occurring after the “effective date” (as defined under Rule 158 of the Securities Act) of the Registration Statement.
(h) Clear Market. For a period of 30 days after the date of the Prospectus, the Company will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, otherwise dispose of, or enter into any transaction which is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or otherwise) by the Company or any controlled affiliate of the Company or any person in privity with the Company or any controlled affiliate of the Company, directly or indirectly, including the filing (or participation in the filing) of a registration statement with the Commission in respect of, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, or announce the offering, of any debt securities of the Company or securities exchangeable or convertible into debt securities of the Company which are substantially similar to the Notes (other than indebtedness issued pursuant to the Company’s commercial paper program).
(i) Use of Proceeds. The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the heading “Use of Proceeds”.
(j) No Stabilization. Neither the Company nor the Guarantors will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Securities.
(k) Exchange Listing. The Company and the Guarantors will use their commercially reasonable efforts to list, subject to notice of issuance, the Notes on the New York Stock Exchange.
(l) Ratings. The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to enable S&P Global Ratings, DBRS and Fitch Ratings Inc. to provide its credit rating of the Securities.
(m) DTC. The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Securities to be eligible for clearance and settlement through the facilities of DTC.
(n) Form 8-A. The Company will file a registration statement with respect to the Securities on Form 8-A pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, which registration statement will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act.
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(o) Reports. So long as the Securities are outstanding, the Company will furnish to the Representatives, as soon as they are available, copies of all reports or other communications (financial or other) furnished to holders of the Securities, and copies of any reports and financial statements furnished to or filed with the Commission or any national securities exchange or automatic quotation system; provided the Company will be deemed to have furnished such reports and financial statements to the Representatives to the extent they are filed on the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system.
(p) Record Retention. The Company will, pursuant to reasonable procedures developed in good faith, retain copies of each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 433 under the Securities Act.
(q) Tax Indemnity. The Company will indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriters against any documentary, stamp, registration or similar issuance tax, including any interest and penalties, on the sale of the Securities by the Company to the Underwriters and on the execution and delivery of this Agreement. All indemnity payments to be made by the Company hereunder in respect of this Section 4(q) shall be made without withholding or deduction for or on account of any present or future Bermuda or Canadian taxes, duties or governmental Securities whatsoever unless the Company is compelled by law to deduct or withhold such taxes, duties or charges. In that event, except for any net income, capital gains or franchise taxes imposed on the Underwriters by Bermuda, Canada or the United States or any political subdivision of taxing authority thereof or therein as a result of any present or former connection (other than any connection resulting from the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) between the Underwriters and the jurisdiction imposing such withholding or deductions, the Company shall pay such additional amounts as may be necessary in order to ensure that the net amounts received after such withholding or deductions shall equal the amounts that would have been received if no withholding or deduction has been made.
5. Certain Agreements of the Underwriters. Each Underwriter hereby represents and agrees that:
(a) It has not and will not use, authorize use of, refer to or participate in the planning for use of, any “free writing prospectus”, as defined under Rule 405 of the Securities Act (which term includes use of any written information furnished to the Commission by the Company and not incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and any press release issued by the Company) other than (i) a free writing prospectus that contains no “issuer information” (as defined under Rule 433(h)(2) of the Securities Act) that was not included (including through incorporation by reference) in the Preliminary Prospectus or a previously filed Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, (ii) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed on Annex A or prepared pursuant to Section 3(c) or Section 4(c) above (including any electronic road show), or (iii) any free writing prospectus prepared by such Underwriter and approved by the Company in advance in writing (each such free writing prospectus referred to in clauses (i) or (iii), an “Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus”).
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(b) It has not and will not, without the prior written consent of the Company, use any free writing prospectus that contains the final terms of the Securities unless such terms are included in a free writing prospectus to be filed with the Commission; provided that Underwriters may use a term sheet substantially in the form of Annex B hereto without the consent of the Company; provided further that any Underwriter using such term sheet shall notify the Company, and provide a copy of such term sheet to the Company, prior to, or substantially concurrently with, the first use of such term sheet.
6. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligation of each Underwriter to purchase the Securities on the Closing Date provided herein is subject to the performance by the each of the Company and the Guarantors of its respective covenants and other obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:
(a) Registration Compliance; No Stop Order. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceeding for such purpose, pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) of the Securities Act or pursuant to Section 8A under the Securities Act shall be pending before or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened by the Commission; the Registration Statement and the exhibits thereto, Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been timely filed with and deemed effective by the Commission under the Securities Act (in the case of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act) and in accordance with Section 4(a) hereof; and all requests by the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Representatives.
(b) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of each of the Company and the Guarantors contained herein shall be true and correct on the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date; and the statements of the Company and its officers made in any certificates delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date.
(c) No Downgrade. Subsequent to the earlier of (A) the Applicable Time and (B) the execution and delivery of this Agreement, (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded the Company or any of the Guarantors or any debt securities, convertible securities or preferred stock issued, or guaranteed by, the Company or any of the Guarantors or any of their subsidiaries by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization”, as such term is defined under Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, or has changed its outlook with respect to, its rating of the Company or any of the Guarantors or any such debt securities, convertible securities or preferred stock issued or guaranteed by the Company or any of the Guarantors or any of their subsidiaries (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading).
(d) No Material Adverse Change. No event or condition of a type described in Section 3(k) hereof shall have occurred or shall exist, which event or condition is not described in the Pricing Disclosure Package (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the Prospectus (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the effect of which in the judgment of the Representatives makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Securities on the Closing Date on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
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(e) Officer’s Certificate. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date a certificate signed on behalf of each of the Company and the Guarantors by officers of each of the Company and the Guarantors who are satisfactory to the Representatives (i) confirming that the representations and warranties of each of the Company and the Guarantors in this Agreement are true and correct and that each of the Company and the Guarantors has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date and (ii) to the effect set forth in paragraphs (a), (c) and (d) above.
(f) Comfort Letters. On the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date, Ernst & Young LLP (with respect to the Partnership) shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Partnership, letters, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, containing statements and information of the type customarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information in respect of the Partnership contained or incorporated by reference in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; provided, that the letters delivered on the Closing Date shall use a “cut-off” date no more than two business days prior to such Closing Date.
(g) Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of U.S. and Canadian Counsel for the Company and the Guarantors. Torys LLP, United States and Canadian counsel for the Company and the Guarantors, shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Company, their written opinions and 10b-5 statement, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.
(h) Opinion of Investment Company Act Counsel for the Company and the Guarantors. Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, special Investment Company Act counsel for the Company and the Guarantors, shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Company, their written opinions, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.
(i) Opinion of Bermuda Counsel for the Partnership and the other Guarantors. Appleby (Bermuda) Limited, special Bermuda counsel for the Partnership and the other Guarantors organized under the laws of Bermuda, shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Company, their written opinions, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.
(j) Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of U.S. Counsel for the Underwriters. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date an opinion and 10b-5 statement, addressed to the Underwriters, of Milbank LLP, U.S. counsel for the Underwriters, with respect to such matters as the Representatives may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such documents and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.
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(k) Opinion of Canadian Counsel for the Underwriters. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date an opinion, addressed to the Underwriters, of Goodmans LLP, Canadian counsel for the Underwriters, with respect to such matters as the Representatives may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such documents and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.
(l) No Legal Impediment to Issuance and Sale. No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any federal, state or foreign governmental or regulatory authority that would, as of the Closing Date, prevent the issuance or sale of the Securities; and no injunction or order of any federal, state or foreign court shall have been issued that would, as of the Closing Date, prevent the issuance or sale of the Securities.
(m) Good Standing. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the business day prior to the Closing Date satisfactory evidence of the good standing of each of the Company and the Guarantors in their respective jurisdictions of organization and their good standing as foreign entities in such other jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably request, in each case in writing or any standard form of telecommunication from the appropriate governmental authorities of such jurisdictions.
(n) Exchange Listing. The Company and the Partnership shall have prepared and filed any proper application regarding the listing of the Notes on the New York Stock Exchange prior to the Closing Date and make commercially reasonable efforts to effect listing of the Notes on the New York Stock Exchange within 30 days of the Closing Date.
(o) DTC. The Securities to be delivered on the Closing Date shall have been cleared for settlement and trading by DTC.
(p) Ratings Letter. On and as of the Closing Date, the Securities shall have at least the ratings specified in the Pricing Disclosure Package from S&P Global Ratings, DBRS and Fitch Ratings Inc., and the Company shall have delivered to the Underwriters a letter on or prior to the Closing Date from S&P Global Ratings, DBRS and Fitch Ratings Inc., or other evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters, confirming that the Notes have been assigned such ratings.
(q) Additional Documents. On or prior to the Closing Date, the Company and the Guarantors shall have furnished to the Representatives such further certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request.
All opinions, letters, certificates and evidence 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.
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7. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) Indemnification of the Underwriters by the Company and the Guarantors. The Company and the Guarantors jointly and severally agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates, directors, officers, agents and employees and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred), joint or several, that arise out of, or are based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, not misleading, or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (including any road show as defined under Rule 433(h) of the Securities Act (a “road show”)), any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act or any Pricing Disclosure Package (including any Pricing Disclosure Package that has subsequently been amended), or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company or any Guarantor in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in subsection (b) below.
(b) Indemnification of the Company and the Guarantors by the Underwriters. Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each Guarantor, each of their respective directors and officers who signed the Registration Statement and each person who controls the Partnership within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (each, a “Brookfield Indemnified Party”) to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company or any Guarantor in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any road show or any Pricing Disclosure Package, it being understood and agreed upon that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the following information in the Prospectus furnished on behalf of each Underwriter: the fourth sentence of the sixth paragraph under the caption “Underwriting”; the concession and reallowance figures appearing in the first paragraph under the caption “Underwriting—Commissions and Discounts”; the information contained under the caption “Underwriting—Price Stabilization; Short Positions”; and the second paragraph under the caption “Underwriting—Other Relationships”.
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(c) Notice and Procedures. If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any person in respect of which indemnification may be sought pursuant to the preceding paragraphs of this Section 7, such person (the “Indemnified Person”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnification may be sought (the “Indemnifying Person”) in writing; provided that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under the preceding paragraphs of this Section 7 except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided, further, that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise than under the preceding paragraphs of this Section 7. If any such proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, the Indemnifying Person shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person (who shall not, without the consent of the Indemnified Person, be counsel to the Indemnifying Person) to represent the Indemnified Person and any others entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Section 7 that the Indemnifying Person may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and expenses in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel related to such proceeding, as incurred. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; (ii) the Indemnifying Person has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person; (iii) the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the Indemnifying Person; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood and agreed that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be paid or reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm for any Underwriter, its affiliates, directors, officers, agents and employees and any control persons of such Underwriter shall be designated in writing by the Representatives and any such separate firm for any Brookfield Indemnified Party shall be designated in writing by the Partnership. The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an Indemnified Person shall have requested that an Indemnifying Person reimburse the Indemnified Person for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this paragraph, the Indemnifying Person 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 the Indemnifying Person of such request and (ii) the Indemnifying Person shall not have reimbursed the Indemnified Person in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (x) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (y) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.
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(d) Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in paragraphs (a) or (b) above is unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, from the offering of the Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds (before deducting expenses) received by the Company from the sale of the Securities and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters in connection therewith, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate offering price of the Securities. The relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, or by the Underwriters, on the other, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
(e) Limitation on Liability. The Company, the Guarantors and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to paragraph (d) above were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (d) and (e), 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 Securities 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 pursuant to paragraphs (d) and (e) are several in proportion to their respective purchase obligations hereunder and not joint.
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(f) Non-Exclusive Remedies. The remedies provided for in this Section 7 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity.
8. Effectiveness of Agreement. This Agreement shall become effective as of the date first written above.
9. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated in the absolute discretion of the Representatives, by notice to the Partnership, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and on or prior to the Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have been suspended on or by either of the New York Stock Exchange or the Toronto Stock Exchange; (ii) trading of any securities issued or guaranteed by the Company or the Guarantors shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the- counter market; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by federal or New York State authorities; or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or any natural catastrophe, act of war, terrorism or similar event, either within or outside the United States or Canada, that, in the reasonable judgment of the Representatives, is material and adverse to the offering of the Securities and would make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Securities on the Closing Date on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
10. Defaulting Underwriter.
(a) If, on the Closing Date any Underwriter defaults on its obligation to purchase the Securities that it has agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, the non-defaulting Underwriters may in their discretion arrange for the purchase of such Securities by other persons satisfactory to the Company and 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 Securities, then the Company and 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 Securities on such terms. If other persons become obligated or agree to purchase the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter, either the non-defaulting Underwriters or the Company or the Partnership may postpone the Closing Date for up to five full business days in order to effect any changes that in the opinion of counsel for the Company or the Partnership or counsel for the Underwriters may be necessary in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or in any other document or arrangement, and the Company and the Partnership agree to promptly prepare any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus that effects any such changes. As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” includes, for all purposes of this Agreement unless the context otherwise requires, any person not listed in Schedule 1 hereto that, pursuant to this Section 10, purchases Securities that a defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase.
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(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters or other persons as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate number of Securities that remain unpurchased on the Closing Date does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate number of Securities to be purchased on such date, then the Company and the Partnership shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the number of Securities that such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder on such date plus such Underwriter’s pro rata share (based on the number of Securities that such Underwriter agreed to purchase on such date) of the Securities of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made.
(c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters or other persons as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate number of Securities that remain unpurchased on the Closing Date exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate amount of Securities to be purchased on such date, or if the Company and the Partnership shall not exercise the right described in paragraph (b) above, then this Agreement and the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase Securities shall terminate without liability on the part of the non-defaulting Underwriters. Any termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10 shall be without liability on the part of the Company or any Guarantor, except that the Company will continue to be liable for the payment of expenses as set forth in Section 11 hereof and except that the provisions of Section 7 hereof 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 Company, any Guarantor or any non-defaulting Underwriter for damages caused by its default.
11. Payment of Expenses.
(a) Whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company will pay or cause to be paid all costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder, including without limitation, (i) the costs incident to the authorization, issuance, sale, preparation and delivery of the Securities and any taxes payable in that connection; (ii) the costs incident to the preparation, printing and filing under the Securities Act of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (including all exhibits, amendments and supplements thereto) and the distribution thereof; (iii) the fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel and independent accountants; (iv) the fees and expenses of any Trustee and any agent of any Trustee and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for any Trustee in connection with any Indenture and the Securities; (v) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the registration or qualification and determination of eligibility for investment of the Securities under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably designate (if any) and, if reasonably requested by the Representatives, the preparation, printing and distribution of a Blue Sky Memorandum (including the related fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters); (vi) the cost of preparing certificates, if any, representing the Notes; (vii) the costs and charges of any transfer agent and any registrar; (viii) all necessary expenses and application fees incurred in connection with any filing with, and clearance of the offering by, FINRA, if required; (ix) all expenses incurred by the Company in connection with any “road show” presentation to potential investors; and (x) all expenses and application fees related to the listing of the Notes on the New York Stock Exchange.
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(b) If (i) the sale of the Securities is not completed due to any failure of any of the Company or the Guarantors to comply with the terms hereof or (ii) the Underwriters decline to purchase the Securities for any reason permitted under Section 6 of this Agreement, the Company agrees to reimburse or cause to reimburse the Underwriters for all out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including the fees and expenses of their counsel) reasonably incurred and documented by the Underwriters in connection with this Agreement and the offering contemplated hereby.
12. Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers and directors and any controlling persons referred to herein, and the affiliates of each Underwriter referred to in Section 7 hereof. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any other person any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision contained herein. No purchaser of Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor merely by reason of such purchase.
13. Survival. The respective indemnities, rights of contribution, representations, warranties and agreements of the Company, the Guarantors, and the Underwriters contained in this Agreement or made on behalf of the Company, the Guarantors, or the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement or any certificate delivered pursuant hereto shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Securities and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination of this Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company, the Guarantors, or the Underwriters or the directors, officers, controlling persons or affiliates referred to in Section 7 hereof.
14. Certain Defined Terms. For purposes of this Agreement, (a) except where otherwise expressly provided, the term “affiliate” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act; (b) the term “business day” means any day other than a day on which banks are permitted or required to be closed in New York City; (c) the term “subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act; and (d) the term “significant subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act.
15. Compliance with USA Patriot Act. In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.
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16. Miscellaneous.
(a) Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted and confirmed by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be given to the Representatives c/o Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, 550 South Tryon Street, 5th Floor, Charlotte, NC 28202, Attention: Transaction Management (fax: (704) 410-0326); c/o BofA Securities, Inc., 1540 Broadway, NY8-540-26-02, New York, New York 10036, Attention: High Grade Transaction Management/Legal (fax: (646) 855-5958, email: dg.hg_ua_notices@bofa.com); c/o J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, 383 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10179, Attention: Investment Grade Syndicate Desk (fax: (212) 834-6081);c/o Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, 1585 Broadway, 29th Floor, New York, New York 10036, Attention: Investment Banking Division (fax: (212) 507-8999); c/o RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Brookfield Place, 200 Vesey Street, 8th Floor, New York, New York 10281, Attention: DCM Transaction Management/Scott Primrose (telephone: (212) 618-7706, email: TMGUS@rbccm.com); and with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice) Milbank LLP, 55 Hudson Yards, New York, New York 10001, Attention: Paul Denaro (email: pdenaro@milbank.com). Notices to the Partnership and the Company shall be given to it at 73 Front Street, 5th Floor, Hamilton, HM 12 Bermuda, Attention: Jane Sheere (fax: (441) 294-3304), with copies to (which shall not constitute notice) Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P., Suite 300, 181 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario, Attention: Jennifer Mazin, General Counsel (e-mail: jennifer.mazin@brookfield.com) and to Torys LLP, 1114 Avenue of the Americas, 23rd Floor, New York, New York 10036, Attention: Chris Bornhorst (fax: (212) 682-0200).
(b) Governing Law. This Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
(c) Submission to Jurisdiction. Each of the Company and the Guarantors hereby submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the U.S. federal and New York state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. Each of the Company and the Guarantors waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such suit or proceeding in such courts. Each of the Company and the Guarantors agrees that final judgment in any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such court shall be conclusive and binding upon each of the Company and the Guarantors and may be enforced in any court to the jurisdiction of which the Company or the Guarantors is subject by a suit upon such judgment. Each of the Company and the Guarantors irrevocably appoints Brookfield Power US Holdings America Co., 200 Liberty Street, 14th Floor, New York, New York 10281, as its authorized agent upon which process may be served in any such suit or proceeding, and agrees that service of process upon such authorized agent, and written notice of such service to the Company or the Guarantors, as the case may be, by the person serving the same to the address provided in this Section 16(c), shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Company or the Guarantors, as the case may be, in any such suit or proceeding. Each of the Company and the Guarantors hereby represents and warrants that such authorized agent has accepted such appointment and has agreed to act as such authorized agent for service of process. Each of the Company and the Guarantors further agrees to take any and all action as may be necessary to maintain such designation and appointment of such authorized agent in full force and effect for a period of seven years from the date of this Agreement.
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(d) Judgment Currency. Each of the Company and the Guarantors agrees to indemnify each Underwriter, its directors, officers, affiliates and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, against any loss incurred by such Underwriter as a result of any judgment or order being given or made for any amount due hereunder and such judgment or order being expressed and paid in a currency (the “judgment currency”) other than U.S. dollars and as a result of any variation as between (i) the rate of exchange at which the U.S. dollar amount is converted into the judgment currency for the purpose of such judgment or order, and (ii) the rate of exchange at which such indemnified person is able to purchase U.S. dollars with the amount of the judgment currency actually received by the indemnified person. The foregoing indemnity shall constitute a separate and independent obligation of the Company and the Guarantors and shall continue in full force and effect notwithstanding any such judgment or order as aforesaid. The term “rate of exchange” shall include any premiums and costs of exchange payable in connection with the purchase of, or conversion into, the relevant currency.
(e) Waiver of Immunity. To the extent that the Company or the Guarantors has or hereafter may acquire any immunity (sovereign or otherwise) from jurisdiction of any court of (i) Bermuda, Canada or any political subdivision thereof, (ii) the United States or the State of New York, (iii) any jurisdiction in which it owns or leases property or assets or from any legal process (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution, execution, set-off or otherwise) with respect to themselves or their respective property and assets or this Agreement, each of the Company and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably waives such immunity in respect of its obligations under this Agreement to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.
(f) WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUIT OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT.
(g) Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.
(i) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
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(ii) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
As used in this Section 16(g):
“BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).
“Covered Entity” means any of the following:
| (i) | a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); |
| (ii) | a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or |
| (iii) | a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b). |
“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.
“U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
(h) Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts (which may include counterparts delivered by any standard form of telecommunication), each of which shall be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement may be signed and delivered by facsimile or other electronic transmission of a counterpart hereof bearing a manual, facsimile or other electronic signature (including any electronic signature complying with the U.S. Federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable law), or other transmission method, and the parties hereto agree that any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.
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(i) Amendments or Waivers. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, nor any consent or approval to any departure therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto.
(j) Headings. The headings herein are included for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.
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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please indicate your acceptance of this Agreement by signing in the space provided below.
| Very truly yours, | ||
| BROOKFIELD BRP HOLDINGS (CANADA) INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Wyatt Hartley | |
| Name: Wyatt Hartley | ||
| Title: Chief Financial Officer | ||
| As Guarantors: | ||
| BROOKFIELD RENEWABLE PARTNERS L.P., by its general partner, BROOKFIELD RENEWABLE PARTNERS LIMITED | ||
| By: | /s/ James Bodi | |
| Name: James Bodi | ||
| Title: Vice President | ||
| BROOKFIELD RENEWABLE ENERGY L.P., by its general partner, BREP HOLDING L.P., by its general partner, BRP BERMUDA GP LIMITED | ||
| By: | /s/ James Bodi | |
| Name: James Bodi | ||
| Title: Vice President | ||
| BRP BERMUDA HOLDINGS I LIMITED | ||
| By: | /s/ James Bodi | |
| Name: James Bodi | ||
| Title: Vice President | ||
| BROOKFIELD BRP EUROPE HOLDINGS (BERMUDA) LIMITED | ||
| By: | /s/ James Bodi | |
| Name: James Bodi | ||
| Title: Vice President | ||
| BEP SUBCO INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Wyatt Hartley | |
| Name: Wyatt Hartley | ||
| Title: Chief Financial Officer | ||
| Accepted: As of the date first written above | ||
| WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Carolyn Hurley | |
| Name: Carolyn Hurley | ||
| Title: Managing Director | ||
| BOFA SECURITIES, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Shawn Cepeda | |
| Name: Carolyn Hurley | ||
| Title: Managing Director | ||
| J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Som Bhattacharyya | |
| Name: Som Bhattacharyya | ||
| Title: Executive Director | ||
| MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Natalie Smithson | |
| Name: Natalie Smithson | ||
| Title: Vice President | ||
| RBC CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Scott G. Primrose | |
| Name: Scott G. Primrose | ||
| Title: Authorized Signatory | ||
| For themselves and on behalf of | ||
| the several Underwriters listed | ||
| in Schedule 1 hereto. | ||
Schedule 1
| Underwriter |
Aggregate Principal Amount of Notes to be Purchased |
|||
| Wells Fargo Securities, LLC |
$ | 27,000,000 | ||
| BofA Securities, Inc. |
$ | 27,000,000 | ||
| J.P. Morgan Securities LLC |
$ | 27,000,000 | ||
| Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC |
$ | 27,000,000 | ||
| RBC Capital Markets, LLC |
$ | 27,000,000 | ||
| Mizuho Securities USA LLC |
$ | 3,750,000 | ||
| MUFG Securities Americas Inc. |
$ | 3,750,000 | ||
| SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc. |
$ | 3,750,000 | ||
| TD Securities (USA) LLC |
$ | 3,750,000 | ||
| Total |
$ | 150,000,000 | ||
Annex A
| a. | Pricing Disclosure Package |
Pricing Term Sheet, dated March 21, 2024
Annex B
Filed Pursuant to Rule 433 under the Securities Act of 1933
Free Writing Prospectus dated March 21, 2024
Relating to Preliminary Prospectus Supplement dated March 21, 2024
Registration Nos. 333-277987, 333-277987-01, 333-277987-02,
333-277987-03, 333-277987-04 and 333-277987-05
BROOKFIELD BRP HOLDINGS (CANADA) INC.
US$150,000,000 7.250% Perpetual Subordinated Notes (the “Notes”)
The information in this pricing term sheet should be read together with the preliminary prospectus supplement dated March 21, 2024 relating to the offering of the Notes (“Preliminary Prospectus Supplement”), including the documents incorporated by reference therein and the related base prospectus dated March 15, 2024, filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Capitalized terms used and not defined herein have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement.
| Issuer: | Brookfield BRP Holdings (Canada) Inc. (the “Issuer”) | |
| Guarantors: | Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. (the “Partnership”) Brookfield Renewable Energy L.P. (“BRELP”) BRP Bermuda Holdings I Limited (“LATAM HoldCo”) Brookfield BRP Europe Holdings (Bermuda) Limited (“Euro HoldCo”) BEP Subco Inc. (“Canada SubCo”, and together with the Partnership, BRELP, LATAM HoldCo and Euro HoldCo, the “Guarantors”) | |
| Security: | 7.250% Perpetual Subordinated Notes | |
| Security Ratings*: | [Redacted] | |
| Ranking: | Subordinated unsecured | |
| Principal Amount of Notes: | US$150,000,000. There will be no Over-Allotment Option. | |
| Denominations: | US$25 and integral multiples of US$25 in excess thereof | |
| Price to Public: | 100% (plus accrued interest, if any, from and including March 25, 2024 if settlement of the Notes occurs after that date) | |
| Pricing Date: | March 21, 2024 | |
| Settlement and Issue Date: | March 25, 2024 (T+2) | |
| Maturity Date: | Perpetual securities in respect of which there is no fixed maturity date or fixed redemption date | |
| Coupon: | 7.250% | |
| Regular Record Dates for Interest: | January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15, whether or not such day is a business day | |
| Interest Payment Dates: | January 30, April 30, July 30 and October 30, commencing April 30, 2024, subject to optional interest deferral (in whole or in part) | |
| Day Count Convention: | 30/360 | |
| Optional Interest Deferral: | Interest which accrues during an Interest Period will be due and payable on the relevant Interest Payment Date, unless the Issuer elects, in its sole discretion, to defer the relevant payment of interest (in whole or in part). The Issuer may, at its discretion, elect to defer any payment of interest (in whole or in part) which is otherwise scheduled to be paid on an Interest Payment Date; provided that any such deferred interest shall become due and payable on the date the Issuer declares any distributions on any of the Issuer’s common shares or preferred shares. If the Issuer elects not to make all or part of any payment of interest on an Interest Payment Date, then neither the Issuer nor any Guarantor will have any obligation to pay such interest on the relevant Interest Payment Date. Deferred interest will accrue, compounding on each subsequent Interest Payment Date, until paid. Such deferral will not constitute an Event of Default or any other breach under the Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees. | |
| First Call Date: | March 25, 2029 | |
| Optional Redemption: | At any time on or after March 25, 2029, the Issuer may, at its option, redeem the Notes, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, together with accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date fixed for redemption. | |
| Optional Rating Event Redemption: | At any time, within 180 days following the occurrence of a Rating Event, the Issuer may, at its option, redeem all (but not less than all) of the Notes at a redemption price equal to 102% of the principal amount thereof, together with accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date fixed for redemption. | |
| Optional Tax Redemption: | At any time, after the occurrence of a Tax Event, subject to applicable laws, the Issuer may, at its option, redeem the Notes (in whole but not in part) at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, together with accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the relevant redemption date. | |
| Use of Proceeds: | The Partnership intends to use the net proceeds from this offering to finance and/or refinance investments made in renewable power generation assets or businesses and to support the development of clean energy technologies that constitute Eligible Investments, including the potential redemption of the Partnership’s Class A Preferred Limited Partnership Units, Series 15, which are redeemable on or after April 30, 2024. The proceeds of any such securities to be redeemed had been used, directly or indirectly, to finance Eligible Investments. In addition, any net proceeds of this offering that are not used for such redemptions will be used, directly or indirectly, to finance Eligible Investments. Pending the allocation of an amount equal to the net proceeds of the Notes to finance or refinance Eligible Investments, the unallocated portion of the net proceeds may be temporarily used for the repayment of the Partnership’s outstanding indebtedness. | |
| Listing: | The Notes constitute a new issue of securities with no established trading market. The Issuer intends to apply to list the Notes on the NYSE. If the application is approved, the Issuer expects trading on the NYSE to begin within 30 days of the initial issuance of the Notes. | |
| CUSIP: | 11259P 307 | |
| ISIN: | US11259P3073 | |
| Joint Book-Running Managers: | Wells Fargo Securities, LLC BofA Securities, Inc. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC RBC Capital Markets, LLC | |
| Co-Managers: | Mizuho Securities USA LLC MUFG Securities Americas Inc. SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc. TD Securities (USA) LLC | |
| * | Note: A security rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time. |
The Notes will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Canada or to any residents of Canada. MiFID II and/or UK MiFIR Product Governance Rules professionals/ECPs-only/No PRIIPs Regulation Key Information Document or UK PRIIPs Regulation Key Information Document: The manufacturer target market (MIFID II product governance and/or the UK MiFIR Product Governance Rules) is eligible counterparties and professional clients only (all distribution channels). No PRIIPs Regulation Key Information Document or UK PRIIPs key information document has been prepared as the Notes are not available to retail investors in the EEA or in the United Kingdom.
The Issuer and the Guarantors have filed a joint registration statement (including a base prospectus) and a preliminary prospectus supplement with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the base prospectus in that registration statement, the preliminary prospectus supplement and other documents the Partnership has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the Issuer, the Partnership and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov.
Alternatively, the Issuer, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the prospectus if you request it by calling Wells Fargo Securities, LLC at 1-800-645-3751; BofA Securities, Inc. toll-free at 1-800-294-1322; J.P. Morgan Securities LLC at 1-212-834-4533; Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC toll-free at 1-866-718-1649; or RBC Capital Markets, LLC toll-free at 1-866-375-6829.
Exhibit 4.1
BROOKFIELD BRP HOLDINGS (CANADA) INC., as the Issuer
AND
BROOKFIELD RENEWABLE PARTNERS L.P., as the Partnership
AND
THE GUARANTORS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO
AND
COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee
Third Supplemental Indenture
Dated as of March 25, 2024
THIS THIRD SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of March 25, 2024 (this “Third Supplemental Indenture”) between Brookfield BRP Holdings (Canada) Inc. (and any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, the “Issuer”), a corporation organized under the laws of Ontario, Canada, Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. (and any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, the “Partnership”), an exempted limited partnership organized under the laws of the Islands of Bermuda, Brookfield Renewable Energy L.P. (“BRELP”), an exempted limited partnership organized under the laws of the Islands of Bermuda, BRP Bermuda Holdings I Limited (“LATAM HoldCo”), a Bermuda exempted company, Brookfield BRP Europe Holdings (Bermuda) Limited (“Euro HoldCo”), a Bermuda exempted company, BEP Subco Inc.. a corporation organized under the laws of Ontario, Canada (“Canada SubCo”, and together with BRELP, LATAM HoldCo, Euro HoldCo and Canada SubCo, the “Initial Subsidiary Guarantors”), the other Guarantors from time to time party hereto (together with the Initial Subsidiary Guarantors and the Partnership, the “Guarantors”), and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., a national banking association company existing under the laws of the United States, as trustee (the “Trustee”), to the Indenture, dated as of April 15, 2021, by and among the Issuer, the guarantors party thereto (including the Guarantors) and the Trustee (the “Original Indenture”, the Original Indenture, as amended and supplemented hereby, being referred to herein as the “Indenture”).
WITNESSETH
WHEREAS, the Issuer has duly authorized, as a separate series of subordinated Securities under the Indenture, its 7.250% Perpetual Subordinated Notes (the “Notes”) and the Partnership and the Initial Subsidiary Guarantors have consented to and approved the issuance of the Notes;
WHEREAS, the Issuer has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Third Supplemental Indenture to establish the Notes as a separate series of Securities under the Original Indenture and to provide for, among other things, the issuance by the Issuer of and the form and terms of the Notes and additional covenants for purposes of the Notes and the Holders thereof;
WHEREAS, none of the Issuer, the Partnership or the Initial Subsidiary Guarantors is in default under the Original Indenture;
WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Third Supplemental Indenture a valid agreement according to its terms have been done; and
WHEREAS, the foregoing recitals are made as statements of fact by the Issuer, the Partnership and the Initial Subsidiary Guarantors and not by the Trustee;
NOW, THEREFORE, THIS THIRD SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WITNESSETH:
For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Notes by the Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of Notes, as follows:
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS
OF GENERAL APPLICATION
| 1.1 | Definitions. |
For all purposes of this Third Supplemental Indenture and the Notes, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the subject matter or context otherwise requires:
“Additional Amounts” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14 (Payment of Additional Amounts).
“BEP LP Units” means the non-voting limited partnership units of the Partnership, and any units of the Partnership ranking pari passu with or junior to the non-voting limited partnership units of the Partnership.
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“BEP Preferred Units” means the preferred limited partnership units of the Partnership, including the Class A Preferred Limited Partnership Units of the Partnership, and any securities expressly ranking pari passu with the preferred limited partnership units of the Partnership.
“BRP” means Brookfield Renewable Power Preferred Equity Inc.
“Deferred Interest Payment” has the meaning specified in Section 2.10 (Deferral Right).
“Distribution Restricted Units” means the BEP LP Units and the BEP Preferred Units.
“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 2.12 (Events of Default).
“FATCA” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14 (Payment of Additional Amounts); provided, that for purposes of Section 7.2 of the Original Indenture, “FATCA” has the meaning specified in Section 1.1 of the Original Indenture.
“First Call Date” means March 25, 2029.
“Guarantee Obligations” means the subordinate guarantee obligations of the Partnership and the Initial Subsidiary Guarantors pursuant to Article 5 of the Original Indenture but solely in respect of the Notes.
“Guarantor Senior Indebtedness” means all principal, interest, premium, fees and other amounts owing on, under or in respect of:
| (i) | all indebtedness, liabilities and obligations of each Guarantor (as applicable), whether outstanding on the original issue date of the Notes or thereafter created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed (including any such indebtedness, liabilities or obligations that are guaranteed by each Guarantor (as applicable)); and |
| (ii) | all renewals, extensions, restructurings, refinancings and refundings of any such indebtedness, liabilities or obligations; |
except that Guarantor Senior Indebtedness will not include the guarantee by each Guarantor of the Notes, the obligations of each Guarantor in respect of any equity (including any preferred equity) that has been issued by the Issuer or any Guarantor, and any indebtedness, liabilities or obligations of each Guarantor that, pursuant to the terms of the instrument creating or evidencing such indebtedness, liabilities or obligations, are stated to rank pari passu with or subordinate in right of payment to the guarantee by each Guarantor of the Notes.
“Interest Amount” means $0.453125 per $25 principal amount of Notes payable on each Interest Payment Date.
“Interest Payment Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.5 (Interest and Initial Denominations).
“Interest Period” has the meaning specified in Section 2.5 (Interest and Initial Denominations).
“Interest Rate” means 7.250% per year.
“Issue Date” means March 25, 2024.
“Issuer Senior Indebtedness” means all principal, interest, premium, fees and other amounts owing on, under or in respect of:
| (i) | all indebtedness, liabilities and obligations of the Issuer, whether outstanding on the original issue date of the Notes or thereafter created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed; and |
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| (ii) | all renewals, extensions, restructurings, refinancings and refundings of any such indebtedness, liabilities or obligations; |
except that Issuer Senior Indebtedness will not include the Notes, all obligations of the Issuer in respect of any equity (including any preferred equity) that has been issued by any Guarantor, and any indebtedness, liabilities or obligations of the Issuer that, pursuant to the terms of the instrument creating or evidencing such indebtedness, liabilities or obligations, are stated to rank pari passu with or subordinate in right of payment to the Notes.
“Original Indenture” has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Third Supplemental Indenture.
“Parity Indebtedness” means (i) any class or series of the Partnership’s indebtedness currently outstanding or hereafter created which expressly ranks on a parity with the Partnership’s guarantee of the Notes and (ii) any class or series of the Issuer’s indebtedness currently outstanding or hereafter created which expressly ranks on a parity with the Notes.
“Rating Agency” means any nationally recognized statistical rating organization (within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) that publishes a rating for the Notes (together the “Rating Agencies” and each a “Rating Agency”).
“Rating Event” shall be deemed to occur if any Rating Agency, following the initial rating of the Notes by such Rating Agency, amends, clarifies or changes the criteria it uses to assign equity credit to securities such as the Notes, which amendment, clarification or change results in (i) the shortening of the length of time the Notes are assigned a particular level of equity credit by that Rating Agency as compared to the length of time the Notes would have been assigned that level of equity credit by that Rating Agency or its predecessor on the initial rating of the Notes by such Rating Agency or (ii) the lowering of the equity credit (including up to a lesser amount) assigned to the Notes by that Rating Agency compared to the equity credit assigned by that Rating Agency or its predecessor on the initial rating of the Notes by such Rating Agency.
“Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14 (Payment of Additional Amounts).
“Tax Act” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14 (Payment of Additional Amounts).
“Tax Event” means, in the opinion of counsel of a nationally recognized law firm in the applicable jurisdiction experienced in such matters, as a result of (i) any amendment or change to the laws (or any regulations or rulings thereunder) of any Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction or any applicable tax treaty or (ii) any change in the application, administration or interpretation of such laws, regulations, rulings or treaties (including any judicial decision rendered by a court of competent jurisdiction with respect to such laws, regulations, rulings or treaties), in each case of (i) and (ii), by any legislative body, court, governmental authority or agency, regulatory body or taxing authority, which amendment or change is effective on or after the issue date of the Notes (or if the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction has changed since the issue date of the Notes, the date on which the applicable jurisdiction became a Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction) (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any such amendment or change made on or after the issue date of the Notes (or the date on which the applicable jurisdiction became a Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction, as applicable) that has retroactive effect to a date prior to the issue date of the Notes (or the date on which the applicable jurisdiction became a Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction, as applicable)), either: (a) the Issuer or any Guarantor (as applicable) is, or may be, subject to more than a de minimis amount of additional taxes, duties or other governmental charges or civil liabilities because the treatment of any of its items of income, taxable income, expense, taxable capital or taxable paid-up capital with respect to the Notes, as or as would be reflected in any tax return or form filed, to be filed, or that otherwise could have been filed, will not be respected by a taxing authority; provided that this clause (a) shall not apply in respect of the deductibility of interest on the Notes; or (b) the Issuer or any Guarantor (as applicable) has been or will be on the next Interest Payment Date obligated to pay Additional Amounts. Provided that, a Tax Event shall only occur with respect to the specific proposals to amend the Tax Act and the regulations thereunder publicly announced by or on behalf of the Minister of Finance (Canada) prior to March 21, 2024 (the “Tax Proposals”) that are contained in Bill C-59 tabled in Parliament on November 30, 2023 with respect to “hybrid mismatch arrangements” (the “Hybrid Mismatch Proposals”) if (x)(i) the Hybrid Mismatch Proposals are enacted in the form set out in the Tax Proposals or in a substantially similar form, (ii) the relevant taxing authority issues, in writing, an assessment, reassessment, or any notice or proposal to issue an assessment or reassessment on the basis that interest payable on the Notes is subject to withholding tax under Part XIII of the Tax Act, and (iii) the Issuer uses reasonable efforts to respond in writing to such action, and the matter has not been withdrawn by the relevant taxing authority or otherwise resolved within 90 days of the last written correspondence made by the Issuer, or (y)(i) there is an adverse application, administrative position, or published interpretation of the Hybrid Mismatch Proposals (including any judicial decision rendered by a court of competent jurisdiction with respect to such Hybrid Mismatch Proposals) in respect of instruments having substantially similar facts as the Notes by any legislative body, court, governmental authority or agency, regulatory body or taxing authority, and (ii) the Issuer provides an opinion of counsel of a nationally recognized law firm in the relevant jurisdiction experienced in such matters that it is reasonably likely that such adverse position would result in the Hybrid Mismatch Proposals applying to the Notes.
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“Taxes” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14 (Payment of Additional Amounts).
| 1.2 | To be Read with Original Indenture. |
The Third Supplemental Indenture is a supplemental indenture within the meaning of the Original Indenture, and the Original Indenture and this Third Supplemental Indenture shall be read together and shall have effect, so far as practicable, as though all the provisions of the Original Indenture and this Third Supplemental Indenture were contained in one instrument. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Third Supplemental Indenture shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Original Indenture.
| 1.3 | Currency. |
Except where expressly provided, all amounts in this Third Supplemental Indenture are stated in United States currency.
ARTICLE 2
THE NOTES
| 2.1 | Designation. |
There is hereby authorized to be issued under the Original Indenture a separate series of Securities designated as “7.250% Perpetual Subordinated Notes”.
| 2.2 | Limit of Aggregate Principal Amount. |
The aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be authenticated and delivered pursuant to the Third Supplemental Indenture (except for Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Notes pursuant to Section 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 10.6 or 12.7 of the Original Indenture and except for any Notes which, pursuant to the last sentence of Section 3.3 of the Original Indenture, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered) shall initially be limited to $150,000,000, all of which have been issued hereunder. The Issuer may from time to time, without the consent of the Holders of the Notes, create and issue further notes with terms (other than the Issue Date, issue price and, possibly, the First Call Date and the date interest starts accruing) identical to the Notes issued hereby. Additional notes issued in this manner will be consolidated with and will form a single series with the Notes; provided that such additional notes will be only issued if they are fungible with the original Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
| 2.3 | Perpetual Securities. |
The Notes are perpetual securities in respect of which there is no fixed maturity date or fixed Redemption Date.
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| 2.4 | Payments; Registrations of Transfers. |
All payments in respect of the Notes shall be made in immediately available funds. The Issuer hereby appoints the Trustee to act as the initial Paying Agent for the Notes. The “Place of Payment” for the Notes shall be at the address of the Paying Agent, currently located at 1505 Energy Park Drive, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108.
For such Notes (if any) as are not represented by a Global Security, payments of principal (and premium, if any) and interest on any Notes will be made at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee currently located at the Place of Payment, except that, at the option and expense of the Issuer, payment of interest may be made by (a) cheque mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear on the Security Register or (b) wire transfer to an account maintained by the Person entitled thereto as specified in the Security Register. The Issuer hereby appoints the Trustee as the initial transfer agent for the transfer of the Notes at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee currently located at 1505 Energy Park Drive, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108.
| 2.5 | Interest and Initial Denominations. |
2.5.1 The Notes will be issued in initial denominations of $25.00 and multiples of $25.00 in excess thereof and shall bear interest at the rate of 7.250% per annum, payable in equal quarterly installments in arrears, subject to deferral as set forth in Section 2.10 (Deferral Right).
2.5.2 Interest in respect of the Notes shall accrue from and including March 25, 2024 or from and including the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for.
2.5.3 The first interest period will begin on (and include) the Issue Date and end on (but exclude) the first Interest Payment Date and each successive interest period will begin on (and include) an Interest Payment Date and end on (but exclude) the next succeeding Interest Payment Date (each, an “Interest Period”).
2.5.4 Interest for each Interest Period from the Issue Date will be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. Where it is necessary to calculate an amount of interest in respect of any Note for a period which is less than or equal to a complete Interest Period, such interest shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of 12 months of 30 days each and, in the case of an incomplete month, the number of days elapsed.
2.5.5 The Interest Payment Dates on which interest shall be payable in respect of the Notes shall be January 30, April 30, July 30 and October 30 in each year (each, an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing on April 30, 2024, subject to deferral in accordance with Section 2.10 (Deferral Right).
2.5.6 The Regular Record Dates for interest in respect of the Notes shall be January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 (whether or not a Business Day) in respect of the Interest Payment Date that occurs on January 30, April 30, July 30 and October 30, respectively.
| 2.6 | Redemption of the Notes at the Option of the Issuer. |
On the First Call Date and at any time and from time to time thereafter, subject to applicable laws, the Issuer may, at its option, by giving not less than 10 days’ nor more than 60 days’ notice to the Holders of Notes in accordance with the notice provisions (other than notice periods) set forth in the Original Indenture (which notice shall be irrevocable but may be conditional in the Issuer’s discretion on one or more conditions precedent, which will be set forth in the related notice of redemption, and the Redemption Date may be delayed until such time as any or all of such conditions have been satisfied or revoked by the Issuer if the Issuer determines that such conditions will not be satisfied), redeem the Notes (in whole or in part) at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, together with accrued but unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the relevant Redemption Date. The Issuer will give notice to the Trustee of any such redemption at least five (5) Business Days’ prior to when notice is due to Holders of Notes.
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| 2.7 | Optional Redemption for Rating Event. |
At any time, within 180 days following the occurrence of a Rating Event, subject to applicable laws and subject to Section 2.9 (Conditions to Redemption) below, by giving not less than 10 days’ nor more than 60 days’ notice to Holders of Notes in accordance with the notice provisions (other than notice periods) set forth in the Original Indenture (which notice shall be irrevocable but may be conditional in the Issuer’s discretion on one or more conditions precedent, which will be set forth in the related notice of redemption, and the Redemption Date may be delayed until such time as any or all of such conditions have been satisfied or revoked by the Issuer if the Issuer determines that such conditions will not be satisfied), the Issuer may, at its option, redeem the Notes (in whole but not in part) at a redemption price equal to 102% of the principal amount thereof, together with accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the relevant Redemption Date, provided, that such Redemption Date may not be delayed for more than 180 days following the occurrence of a Rating Event. The Issuer will give notice to the Trustees of any redemption at least five (5) Business Days’ prior to when notice is due to Holders of Notes.
| 2.8 | Optional Redemption for Tax Event. |
At any time, after the occurrence of a Tax Event, subject to applicable laws and subject to Section 2.9 (Conditions to Redemption) below, by giving not less than 10 days’ nor more than 60 days’ notice to Holders of Notes in accordance with the notice provisions (other than notice periods) set forth in the Original Indenture (which notice shall be irrevocable but may be conditional in the Issuer’s discretion on one or more conditions precedent, which will be set forth in the related notice of redemption, and the Redemption Date may be delayed until such time as any or all of such conditions have been satisfied or revoked by the Issuer if the Issuer determines that such conditions will not be satisfied), the Issuer may, at its option, redeem the Notes (in whole but not in part) at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, together with accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the relevant Redemption Date. The Issuer will give notice to the Trustees of any redemption at least five (5) Business Days’ prior to when notice is due to Holders of Notes.
| 2.9 | Conditions to Redemption. |
Prior to the publication of any notice of redemption pursuant to the provisions set for under Section 2.7 (Optional Redemption for Rating Event) or Section 2.8 (Optional Redemption for Tax Event), the Issuer will deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel stating that all conditions precedent, including the relevant requirement or circumstance giving rise to the right to redeem, are satisfied.
Any redemption of the Notes shall be conditional on all outstanding accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes being redeemed up to, but excluding, such Redemption Date being paid in full on or prior to the date thereof.
The Trustee is under no obligation to ascertain whether any Rating Event or Tax Event or any event which could lead to the occurrence of, or could constitute, any such Rating Event or Tax Event, as the case may be, has occurred and, until it shall receive an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel pursuant to the Indenture to the contrary, the Trustee may assume that no such event has occurred.
| 2.10 | Deferral Right. |
2.10.1 General
The Issuer may, in its sole discretion, elect to defer any payment of interest (in whole or in part) which is otherwise scheduled to be paid on an Interest Payment Date, provided that any such deferred interest will become due and payable on the date the Issuer declares any distributions on any of the Issuer’s common shares or preferred shares. If the Issuer elects not to make all or part of any payment of interest on an Interest Payment Date, then neither the Issuer nor any Guarantor will have any obligation to pay such interest on the relevant Interest Payment Date. Deferred interest shall accrue, compounding on each subsequent Interest Payment Date, until paid. Such deferral will not constitute an Event of Default or any other breach under the Indenture or under the Notes or any Guarantee Obligations.
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2.10.2 Notice of Interest Deferral.
The Issuer will notify the Holders of Notes, the Trustee and, if required by the rules of any stock exchange on which the Notes are listed from time to time, such stock exchange, of any determination by the Issuer not to pay all or part of the Interest Amount which would otherwise fall due on an Interest Payment Date with respect to the Notes not more than 30 Business Days and not less than five Business Days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date.
| 2.11 | Form. |
The Notes and the certificate of the Trustee endorsed thereon shall each be issuable initially as one or more Global Securities in minimum denominations of $25.00 and integral multiples of $25.00 in excess thereof and shall be substantially in the form set forth in Annex A hereto. The Issuer hereby appoints the Trustee as Authenticating Agent for the Notes, and the Trustee shall authenticate the certificate of the Trustee in its capacity as Trustee or as Authenticating Agent. The Issuer hereby appoints the Trustee as Security Registrar for the Notes. The Issuer hereby appoints The Depository Trust Company as the Depositary for Global Securities.
| 2.12 | Event of Default. |
2.12.1 General.
Solely with respect to the Notes (and not with respect to any other Securities issued or outstanding under the Original Indenture), only clause (d) of Section 6.1 of the Original Indenture shall constitute an “Event of Default” with respect to the Notes.
If an Event of Default in respect of the Notes occurs, the principal amount of the Notes will automatically, and without any action by the Trustee or any holder thereof, become immediately due and payable. Other than pursuant to the redemption events discussed in Section 2.6, Section 2.7 and Section 2.8 above, the Issuer or the Partnership, as applicable, shall become obligated to pay accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes at the time of the distribution of the assets of the Issuer or the Partnership, as applicable, arising from an Event of Default.
For the avoidance of doubt, holders of Notes will have no right of acceleration in the case of a default in the payment of any amount due on the Notes or any default in the performance of any covenant of the Issuer or any of the Guarantors in the Indenture (or any other Event of Default contemplated in the Original Indenture, other than as provided in Section 6.1(d) of the Original Indenture).
| 2.13 | Additional Covenants. |
The covenants contained in Article 3 of this Third Supplemental Indenture shall apply to the Notes.
Additionally, in the event that any Successor of the Issuer or the Partnership is formed or organized outside of Canada or Bermuda, the applicable supplemental indenture in respect of such Successor shall include a provision for (i) the payment of Additional Amounts in the form substantially similar to that described in Section 2.14, with such modifications (including to the definition of “Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction”) as the Issuer, the Partnership and such Successor reasonably determine are customary and appropriate for U.S. bondholders to address then-applicable (or potentially applicable future) taxes, duties, levies, imposts, assessments or other governmental charges imposed or levied by or on behalf of the applicable governmental authority in respect of payments made by such Successor under or with respect to the Notes, including any exceptions thereto as the Issuer, the Partnership and such Successor shall reasonably determine would be customary and appropriate for U.S. bondholders and (ii) the right of the Issuer to redeem the Notes at 100% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued interest thereon in the event that Additional Amounts become payable by a Successor in respect of the Notes as a result of any change in law or official position regarding the application or interpretation of any law that is announced or becomes effective after the date of such supplemental indenture.
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| 2.14 | Payment of Additional Amounts. |
All payments made by the Issuer or any Guarantor under or with respect to the Notes will be made free and clear of, and without withholding or deduction for or on account of, any present or future tax, duty, levy, impost, assessment or other governmental charge (“Taxes”) imposed or levied by or on behalf of the government of Canada or Bermuda or of any province or territory therein or thereof or by any authority or agency therein or thereof having power to tax (a “Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction”), unless the Issuer or any Guarantor (as applicable) is required to withhold or deduct taxes by the laws of the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction or by the interpretation or administration thereof. If the Issuer or any Guarantor is so required to withhold or deduct any amount for or on account of taxes imposed or levied by a Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction from any payment made by it under or with respect to the Notes, the Issuer or such Guarantor (as applicable) will pay such additional amounts (“Additional Amounts”) as may be necessary so that the net amount received (including Additional Amounts) by each Holder (including, as applicable, the beneficial owners in respect of any such Holder) after such withholding or deduction will not be less than the amount the Holder (including, as applicable, the beneficial owners in respect of any such Holder) would have received if such taxes had not been withheld or deducted; provided that no Additional Amounts will be payable with respect to: (a) any payment to a Holder or beneficial owner who is liable for such taxes in respect of such Note (i) by reason of such Holder or beneficial owner, or any other person entitled to payments on the Note, being a person with whom the Issuer or any Guarantor does not deal at arm’s length (within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the “Tax Act”)), (ii) by reason of the existence of any present or former connection between such Holder or beneficial owner (or between a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member or shareholder of, or possessor of power over, such Holder or beneficial owner, if such Holder or beneficial owner is an estate, trust, partnership, limited liability company or corporation) and Canada or any province or territory thereof or therein other than the mere ownership, or receiving payments under or enforcing any rights in respect of such Note as a non-resident or deemed non-resident of Canada or any province or territory thereof or therein, (iii) by reason of such Holder or beneficial owner being a “specified shareholder” of the Issuer or not dealing at arm’s length with a “specified shareholder” of the Issuer as defined in subsection 18(5) of the Tax Act, or (iv) by reason of such holder or beneficial owner being a “specified entity” in respect of the Issuer or any Guarantor as defined in proposals to amend the Tax Act with respect to “hybrid mismatch arrangements” contained in Bill C-59 tabled in Parliament on November 30, 2023; (b) any tax that is levied or collected other than by withholding from payments on or in respect of the Notes; (c) any Note presented for payment (where presentation is required) more than 30 days after the later of (i) the date on which such payment first becomes due or (ii) if the full amount of the monies payable has not been paid to the Holders of the Notes on or prior to such date, the date on which the full amount of such monies has been paid to the Holders of the Notes, except to the extent that the Holder or beneficial owner of the Notes would have been entitled to such Additional Amounts on presentation of the same for payment on the last day of such period of 30 days; (d) any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, transfer, excise or personal property tax or any similar tax; (e) any tax imposed to the extent resulting from the failure of a Holder or beneficial owner to comply with certification, identification, declaration or similar reporting requirements concerning the nationality, residence, identity or connection with Canada or any province or territory thereof or therein of such Holder or beneficial owner, if such compliance is required by statute or by regulation, as a precondition to reduction of, or exemption, from such tax; (f) any (i) withholding or deduction imposed pursuant to Sections 1471 to 1474 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“FATCA”), or any successor version thereof, or any similar legislation imposed by any other governmental authority, or (ii) tax or penalty arising from the Holder’s or beneficial owner’s failure to properly comply with the Holder’s or beneficial owner’s obligations imposed under the Canada-United States Enhanced Tax Information Exchange Agreement Implementation Act (Canada) or any treaty, law or regulation or other official guidance enacted by Canada implementing FATCA or an intergovernmental agreement with respect to FATCA or any similar legislation imposed by any other governmental authority, including, for greater certainty, Part XVIII and Part XIX of the Tax Act; or (g) any combination of the foregoing clauses (a) to (f).
The Issuer or any Guarantor (as applicable) will also (1) make such withholding or deduction and (2) remit the full amount deducted or withheld by it to the relevant authority in accordance with applicable law. The Issuer or any Guarantor (as applicable) will furnish to the Holders of the Notes, within 30 days after the date the payment of any taxes by it is due pursuant to applicable law, certified copies of tax receipts evidencing such payment by it. The Issuer and the Guarantors will indemnify and hold harmless each Holder (including, as applicable, the beneficial owners in respect of any such Holder) and, upon written request, will reimburse each such Holder (including, as applicable, the beneficial owners in respect of any such Holder) for the amount of (i) any taxes (other than any taxes for which Additional Amounts would not be payable pursuant to clauses (a) through (g) above) levied or imposed and paid by such Holder (including, as applicable, the beneficial owners in respect of any such Holder) as a result of payments made under or with respect to the Notes which have not been withheld or deducted and remitted by the Issuer or any Guarantor (as applicable) in accordance with applicable law, (ii) any liability (including penalties, interest and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto, and (iii) any taxes (other than any taxes for which Additional Amounts would not be payable pursuant to clauses (a) through (g) above) imposed with respect to any reimbursement under clause (i) or (ii) above, but excluding any such taxes on such Holder’s (including, as applicable, the beneficial owners in respect of any such Holder’s) net income.
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Whenever in the Indenture there is mentioned, in any context, the payment of principal (and premium, if any), redemption amount, purchase price, interest or any other amount payable under or with respect to any Note, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional Amounts to the extent that, in such context, Additional Amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof.
The obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantors under this Section 2.14 shall survive the termination of this Indenture and the payment of all amounts under or with respect to the Notes.
| 2.15 | Defeasance. |
The Notes shall be defeasible pursuant to both of Section 14.2 and Section 14.3 of the Original Indenture.
| 2.16 | Subordination. |
2.16.1 Securities Subordinate.
The Issuer covenants and agrees, and each Holder of Notes, by the acceptance thereof, covenants and agrees, that the Notes will be direct unsecured subordinated obligations of the Issuer. The obligations of the Issuer under the Notes are hereby subordinated in right of payment to all present and future Issuer Senior Indebtedness. The payment of principal, premium (if any), and interest and any Additional Amounts on the Notes shall rank senior to all obligations of the Issuer in respect of its own equity and in respect of equity (including preferred equity) that has been issued by any Guarantor or BRP (including pursuant to any guarantee by the Issuer of the existing equity obligations of any such person) but will be subordinated in right of payment to all present and future Issuer Senior Indebtedness.
The Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed, on a subordinated and joint and several basis, as to payment of principal, premium and Additional Amounts (if any) and interest and all other Obligations payable by the Issuer in respect of the Notes, by each Guarantor pursuant to the Indenture. All Guarantee Obligations are hereby subordinated in right of payment to all present and future Guarantor Senior Indebtedness. The Guarantee Obligations of each Guarantor shall rank senior to all obligations of such Guarantor in respect of its own equity and in respect of equity (including preferred equity) that has been issued by the Issuer, any other Guarantor or BRP (including pursuant to any guarantee by such Guarantor of the existing equity obligations of any such Person), but will be subordinated in right of payment to all present and future Guarantor Senior Indebtedness.
In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or distribution of any character, whether in cash, securities, or other property, shall be received by the Trustee or any Holder in contravention of the subordination provisions set out in this Third Supplemental Indenture, such payment or distribution shall be received in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered and transferred to, the holders of the Issuer Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable, at the time outstanding in accordance with the priorities then existing among such holders for applications to the payment of all Issuer Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable, remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay all such Issuer Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable, in full. In the event of the failure of the Trustee or any Holder to endorse or assign any such payment, distribution, or any security or property related thereto, each holder of Issuer Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable, is irrevocably authorized to endorse or assign the same.
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The provisions of this Section 2.16.1 shall not impair any rights, interests, remedies, or powers of any holder of any Issuer Senior Indebtedness or any Guarantor Senior Indebtedness.
2.16.2 No Payment When Issuer Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness in Default.
In the event and during the continuation of any default in the payment of any Issuer Senior Indebtedness or any Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable, that is due and payable, or in the event that any event of default with respect to any Issuer Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable, shall have occurred and be continuing permitting the holders of such Issuer Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable (or the trustee on behalf of the holders of such Issuer Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable) to declare such Issuer Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable, due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable, unless and until such default or event of default shall have been cured or waived or shall have ceased to exist and any such declaration and its consequences shall have been rescinded or annulled, then no payment shall be made by the Issuer or the applicable Guarantors on account of the principal of, premium (if any), interest or any other amounts on the Notes or on account of the purchase or other acquisition of the Notes.
In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Issuer or a Guarantor shall make any payment to the Trustee or the Holder of any Note that is prohibited by this Section 2.16.2, and if such fact shall, at or prior to the time of such payment, have been made known to the Trustee, by a written notice delivered to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, by a holder of Issuer Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, the Issuer, a Guarantor or a Holder, as applicable, then and in such event such payment shall be paid over and delivered to the Issuer or such Guarantor, as applicable.
2.16.3 Payment Permitted If No Default.
Nothing contained in this Section 2.16 (except in Section 2.16.4) or elsewhere in this Third Supplemental Indenture or in any of the Notes, shall prevent the application by the Trustee or any Paying Agent of any moneys deposited with it under the Indenture to payments of the principal of, premium (if any), interest or any other amounts on the Notes, if, at the time of such deposit, a Responsible Officer of the Trustee had not received at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee the Officers’ Certificate or written notice provided for in Section 2.16.2 of any event prohibiting the making of such payment or if, at the time of such deposit (whether or not in trust) by the Issuer with the Trustee such payment would not have been prohibited by the provisions of this Section 2.16, and the Trustee shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary received by it on or after such date.
2.16.4 Trustee Not Charged with Knowledge of Prohibition.
Anything in this Section 2.16 or elsewhere contained in the Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall not at any time be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts which would prohibit the making of any payment of moneys to or by the Trustee, and shall be entitled conclusively to assume that no such facts exist and that no event specified in Section 2.16.1 or Section 2.16.2 has happened, unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have received at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee (i) an Officers’ Certificate to that effect or (ii) notice in writing to that effect signed by or on behalf of the holder or holders, or their representatives, of Issuer Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable, who shall have been certified by the Issuer or such Guarantor, as possible, or otherwise established to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee to be such holder or holders or representatives or from any trustee under any indenture pursuant to which such Issuer Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable, shall be outstanding; and before the receipt of any such Officers’ Certificate or written notice, the Trustee shall be entitled in all respects to assume that no such facts exist; provided, however, that if the Trustee shall not have received the Officers’ Certificate or the written notice provided for in this Section 2.16 at least three (3) Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms hereof any money may become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security) then, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have all power and authority to receive such money and to apply the same to the purpose for which such money were received and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary which may be received by it during or after such three (3) Business Day period.
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The Issuer shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee and to the Paying Agent of any facts which would prohibit the payment of money or assets to or by the Trustee or any Paying Agent.
2.16.5 Trustee to Effectuate Subordination.
Each Holder of Notes by such Holder’s acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee on such Holder’s behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination as between such Holder and holders of Issuer Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable, as provided in this Section 2.16 and appoints the Trustee its attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.
2.16.6 Rights of Trustee as Holder of Issuer Senior Indebtedness.
The Trustee shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Section 2.16 with respect to any Issuer Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable, which may at the time be held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Issuer Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable. Nothing in this Section 2.16 shall deprive the Trustee of any rights as such holder.
2.16.7 Article Applicable to Paying Agents.
In case at any time any Paying Agent other than the Trustee shall have been appointed by the Issuer and be then acting under this Indenture, the term “Trustee” as used in this Section 2.16 shall in such case (unless the context shall otherwise require) be construed as extending to and including such Paying Agent within its meaning as fully for all intents and purposes as if the Paying Agent were named in this Section 2.16 in addition to or in place of the Trustee, provided, however, that Sections 2.16.4 and 2.16.5 shall not apply to the Issuer or any Affiliate of the Issuer if the Issuer or such Affiliate acts as Paying Agent.
2.16.8 Subordination Rights Not Impaired by Acts or Omissions of the Issuer or Holders of Issuer Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness.
No right of any present or future holders of any Issuer Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable, to enforce the subordination that is provided for in this Third Supplemental Indenture shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Issuer or any Guarantor, or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder, or by any noncompliance by the Issuer or any Guarantor with the terms, provisions and covenants of the Indenture, regardless of any knowledge which any such holder may have or be otherwise charged with. The holders of Issuer Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable, may, at any time or from time to time and in their absolute discretion, change the manner, place, or terms of payment, change or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, any Issuer Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, or amend or supplement any instrument pursuant to which any Issuer Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness is issued or by which it may be secured, or release any security, or exercise or refrain from exercising any other of their rights under any Issuer Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, including, without limitation, the waiver of default, all without notice to or assent from the Holders of the Notes or the Trustee and without affecting the obligations of the Issuer, any Guarantor, the Trustee, or the Holders of the Notes under this Section 2.16.
2.16.9 Trustee’s Rights to Compensation, Reimbursement of Expenses and Indemnification.
Nothing in this Section 2.16 shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Sections 6.6 or 7.10 of the Original Indenture.
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2.16.10 Modification of Subordination Provisions.
Anything in this Section 2.16 or elsewhere contained in the Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, no modification or amendment and no supplemental indenture shall modify the subordination provisions of this Section 2.16 in a manner that would adversely affect the holders of Issuer Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness.
| 2.17 | Amendment. |
In addition to subsections (a) to (d) of Section 10.2 of the Original Indenture, without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding Note affected thereby, the Issuer, the Partnership and the Trustee may not modify the subordination provisions applicable to the Notes in a manner adverse to the Holders thereof.
| 2.18 | Guarantors. |
2.18.1 Consent and Acknowledgement of the Guarantors.
Pursuant to Section 3.1 of the Original Indenture, each Guarantor hereby consents to the issuance of the Notes by the Issuer and acknowledges and confirms that its obligations with respect to the Notes constitute Guarantee Obligations.
2.18.2 InvestCo not a Guarantor.
It is understood and agreed that Brookfield Renewable Investments Limited (“InvestCo”) is not a Guarantor with respect to the Notes. InvestCo was amalgamated with Canada SubCo pursuant to the provisions of the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) and the continuing entity, Canada SubCo, is a Guarantor.
| 2.19 | No Sinking Fund. |
No sinking fund will be provided with respect to the Notes.
ARTICLE 3
COVENANTS OF THE PARTNERSHIP AND THE ISSUER APPLICABLE TO THE NOTES.
| 3.1 | Restrictions during an Optional Interest Deferral Period. |
3.1.1 Restrictions on the Partnership.
Unless the Issuer has paid all accrued and payable interest on the Notes, the Partnership will not:
| (a) | declare any distributions on the Distribution Restricted Units or pay any interest on any Parity Indebtedness (other than unit distributions on Distribution Restricted Units); |
| (b) | redeem, purchase or otherwise retire Distribution Restricted Units or Parity Indebtedness (except (i) with respect to Distribution Restricted Units, out of the net cash proceeds of a substantially concurrent issue of Distribution Restricted Units or (ii) pursuant to any purchase obligation, sinking fund, retraction privilege or mandatory redemption provisions attaching to any series of Distribution Restricted Units); or |
| (c) | make any payment to holders of any of the Distribution Restricted Units or any Parity Indebtedness in respect of distributions not declared or paid on such Distribution Restricted Units or interest not paid on such Parity Indebtedness, respectively; |
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provided, that the foregoing clauses (a) and (c) shall not apply in respect of any pro rata dividend or distribution or any other payment on any Parity Indebtedness which is made with a pro rata payment of any accrued and payable interest with respect to the Notes.
3.1.2 Restrictions on the Issuer.
Unless the Issuer has paid all accrued and payable interest on the Notes, the Issuer will not:
| (a) | declare any distributions on any common shares, preferred shares or Parity Indebtedness of the Issuer; |
| (b) | redeem, purchase or otherwise retire any common shares, preferred shares or Parity Indebtedness of the Issuer (except pursuant to any purchase obligation, retraction privilege or mandatory redemption provisions attaching to any preferred shares of the Issuer); or |
| (c) | make any payment to holders of any Parity Indebtedness in respect of interest not paid on such Parity Indebtedness; |
provided, that the foregoing does not restrict the Issuer from (i) issuing any common or preferred shares in connection with any such distribution, redemption, purchase or retirement or (ii) making any distributions or paying any indebtedness or other obligations that are owing to the Partnership or any subsidiary of the Partnership; and provided, further, that the foregoing clauses (a) and (c) shall not apply in respect of any pro rata dividend or distribution or any other payment on any Parity Indebtedness which is made with a pro rata payment of any accrued and payable interest with respect to the Notes.
ARTICLE 4
MISCELLANEOUS
| 4.1 | Ratification of the Original Indenture. |
The Original Indenture, as supplemented by this Third Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects ratified and confirmed, and this Third Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed part of the Indenture in the manner and to the extent herein and therein provided.
| 4.2 | Acceptance of Trust by Trustee. |
The Trustee hereby accepts the trusts and duties declared and provided for in, and as otherwise contemplated by, this Third Supplemental Indenture and hereby agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions set forth herein and as contemplated hereby and in the Original Indenture, in each case as supplemented and amended from time to time. All the rights, protections, immunities and indemnities afforded to the Trustee and the Agents, as applicable, under the Original Indenture shall also be afforded to the Trustee and Agents, as applicable, as if the same were set forth herein mutatis mutandis.
| 4.3 | Benefits of the Indenture. |
Nothing in this Third Supplemental Indenture or in the Notes, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Securities Registrar and their successors hereunder and the Holders of Notes, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Third Supplemental Indenture.
| 4.4 | Governing Law. |
This Third Supplemental Indenture, each Note and the Guarantee Obligations shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of New York.
13
| 4.5 | Separability. |
In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Third Supplemental Indenture or in the Notes shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Third Supplemental Indenture or of the Notes, but this Third Supplemental Indenture and the Notes shall be construed as if such invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein or therein.
| 4.6 | Counterparts. |
This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, including in electronic .pdf format, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. This instrument may be executed and delivered by facsimile or other electronic transmission of a counterpart hereof bearing a manual, facsimile or other electronic signature.
| 4.7 | Trustee’s Disclaimer. |
The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Third Supplemental Indenture. The recitals of fact contained herein shall be taken as the statements of the Issuer and the Trustee assume no responsibility for the correctness thereof. The Issuer hereby authorizes and directs the Trustee to execute and deliver this Third Supplemental Indenture.
14
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Third Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
| BROOKFIELD BRP HOLDINGS (CANADA) INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Wyatt Hartley | |
| Name: Wyatt Hartley Title: Chief Financial Officer | ||
| BROOKFIELD RENEWABLE PARTNERS L.P., by its general partner, BROOKFIELD RENEWABLE PARTNERS LIMITED | ||
| By: | /s/ James Bodi | |
| Name:James Bodi Title:Vice President | ||
| BROOKFIELD RENEWABLE ENERGY L.P., by its general partner, BREP HOLDING L.P., by its general partner, BRP BERMUDA GP LIMITED | ||
| By: | /s/ James Bodi | |
| Name:James Bodi Title:Vice President | ||
| BRP BERMUDA HOLDINGS I LIMITED | ||
| By: | /s/ James Bodi | |
| Name:James Bodi Title:Vice President | ||
| BROOKFIELD BRP EUROPE HOLDINGS (BERMUDA) LIMITED | ||
| By: | /s/ James Bodi | |
| Name:James Bodi Title:Vice President | ||
| BEP SUBCO INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Wyatt Hartley | |
| Name: Wyatt Hartley Title: Chief Financial Officer | ||
| COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee | ||
| By: | /s/ Jerry Urbanek | |
| Name:Jerry Urbanek Title:Trust Officer | ||
ANNEX A
[Face of Note]
[Insert if the Security is a Global Security — THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL NOTE WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A SECURITY REGISTERED, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE REGISTERED, IN THE NAME OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.
Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), a New York corporation, to Brookfield BRP Holdings (Canada) Inc. or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any certificate issued in respect thereof is registered in the name of Cede & Co., or in such other name as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC (and any payment is made to Cede & Co. or to such other entity as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL since the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.]
BROOKFIELD BRP HOLDINGS (CANADA) INC.
7.250% Perpetual Subordinated Notes
| CUSIP: 11259P 307 | ||
| ISIN: US11259P3073 | ||
| No. • | US$• | |
Brookfield BRP Holdings (Canada) Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the province of Ontario, Canada (herein called the “Issuer”, which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to •, or registered assigns, the principal sum of • (•) United States Dollars on any date on which this Note becomes due for redemption in accordance with its terms (the “Redemption Date”), and to pay interest thereon, but subject to deferral (in whole or in part) as set forth below and in the Indenture, from and including March 25, 2024 or from and including the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, quarterly in arrears on January 30, April 30, July 30 and October 30 in each year, commencing on April 30, 2024 at a rate of 7.250% per annum. As provided in the Indenture, interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. Interest shall accrue from and including March 25, 2024. Reference is hereby expressly made to the Indenture for a description of the terms and conditions upon which the Notes are or are to be issued and held and the rights, remedies and obligations of the Holders of Notes, of the Issuer and of the Trustee in respect thereof, all to the same effect as if the provisions of the Indenture were herein set forth, to all of which provisions the Holder by acceptance hereof acknowledges and assents.
The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Subject to the deferral rights set forth in the next paragraph and in the Indenture, any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder of Notes on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in the Indenture.
The Issuer may, in its sole discretion, elect to defer any payment of interest (in whole or in part) which is otherwise scheduled to be paid on an Interest Payment Date in respect of the Securities, in accordance with the terms specified in the Indenture.
This Security is a perpetual security in respect of which there is no fixed maturity or mandatory Redemption Date. This Security may be redeemed by the Issuer in accordance with the terms specified in the Indenture.
The indebtedness evidenced by this Security and by all other Securities now or hereafter certified and delivered under the Indenture is the direct unsecured subordinated obligation of the Issuer. The obligations of the Issuer under the Securities are contractually subordinated in right of payment to all present and future Issuer Senior Indebtedness to the extent and in the manner provided for in the Indenture.
The indebtedness evidenced by this Security and by all other Securities now or hereafter certified and delivered under the Indenture are fully and unconditionally guaranteed, on a subordinated and joint and several basis, as to payment of principal, premium (if any) and interest and certain other amounts, by each Guarantor (subject to the provisions of the Indenture). The obligations of each Guarantor under its Guarantee are contractually subordinated in right of payment to all present and future Guarantor Senior Indebtedness to the extent and in the manner provided for in the Indenture.
Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this Security will be made at the Place of Payment in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debt; provided, however, that, at the option and expense of the Issuer, payment of interest may be made by (i) cheque mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register or (ii) by wire transfer to an account maintained by the Person entitled thereto as specified in the Security Register.
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall, for all purposes, have the same effect as if set forth at this place.
Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual, facsimile or other electronic signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.
[The balance of this page is intentionally left blank; signature page follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer has caused this instrument to be duly executed under its corporate seal.
Dated: March , 2024
| BROOKFIELD BRP HOLDINGS (CANADA) INC. | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| Attest: |
|
(FORM OF TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION)
TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This Note is one of the Notes referred to in the Indenture referred to above.
| COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee |
|
|
| By: Authorized Officer |
| Dated: |
(FORM OF REGISTRATION PANEL)
(NO WRITING HEREON EXCEPT BY THE TRUSTEE OR OTHER REGISTRAR)
| DATE OF REGISTRY |
IN WHOSE NAME REGISTERED |
SIGNATURE OF TRUSTEE OR OTHER REGISTRAR |
||||||
[Reverse of Note.]
This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Issuer (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of April 15, 2021 (the “Base Indenture”), as supplemented by the Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 25, 2024 (the “Third Supplemental Indenture”) (the Base Indenture and the Third Supplemental Indenture together herein called the “Indenture”, which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such instrument), by and among the Issuer, Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. (the “Partnership”), Brookfield Renewable Energy L.P. (“BRELP”), BRP Bermuda Holdings I Limited (“LATAM HoldCo”), Brookfield BRP Europe Holdings (Bermuda) Limited (“Euro HoldCo”) and BEP Subco Inc. (“Canada SubCo”, and together with BRELP, LATAM HoldCo and Euro HoldCo, the “Guarantors”, and all guarantees together, the “Guarantees”), each as guarantor, and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (hereinafter, the “Trustee”, which term includes any successor trustee(s) under the Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Issuer, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof, initially limited in aggregate principal amount to US$150,000,000, all of which are issued under the Third Supplemental Indenture. The Issuer may from time to time, without the consent of the Holders of the Securities, create and issue further securities having the same terms and conditions in all respects as the Securities issued on the date hereof, except for the issue date, the issue price and the first payment of interest thereon. Additional securities issued in this manner will be consolidated with and will form a single series with the Securities; provided that any additional securities will only be issued if they are fungible with the original Securities for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
The Issuer or one or more Guarantors (as applicable) will pay to each relevant Holder or beneficial owner certain Additional Amounts in the event of the withholding or deduction of certain Bermudian or Canadian taxes as described in the Indenture.
In the event of purchase of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series and of like tenor for the unpurchased portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.
The only Events of Default in respect of the Securities of this series are as provided for in Section 6.1(d) of the Base Indenture. If any such Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series shall occur, the outstanding principal amount of such Securities shall automatically, and without any declaration or other action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder, become immediately due and payable. Other than pursuant to certain redemption events specified in the Indenture, the Issuer or the Partnership, as applicable, shall become obligated to pay accrued and unpaid interest at the time of the distribution of the assets of the Issuer or the Partnership, as applicable, arising from an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(d) of the Base Indenture.
The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of the entire indebtedness of this Security or certain restrictive covenants and Events of Default with respect to this Security, in each case upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.
The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Issuer and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Issuer or the Guarantors with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange hereafter or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Issuer and the Security Registrar, duly executed by the Holder hereof or attorney duly authorized in writing, and, thereupon, one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.
The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in initial denominations of US$25.00 and multiples of US$25.00 in excess thereof.
No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Issuer may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Issuer, the Guarantors, the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer, the Guarantors or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Issuer, the Partnership, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
This Security shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
Exhibit 5.1
|
1114 Avenue of the Americas, 23rd Floor New York, New York 10036.7703 USA P.212.880.6000 | F. 212.682.0200
79 Wellington St. W., 30th Floor Box 270, TD South Tower Toronto, Ontario M5K 1N2 Canada P. 416.865.0040 | F. 416.865.7380
www.torys.com |
March 25, 2024
Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P.
73 Front Street, 5th Floor
Hamilton, HM 12, Bermuda
Brookfield BRP Holdings (Canada) Inc.
Suite 300, 181 Bay Street
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5J 2T3
Brookfield Renewable Energy L.P.
73 Front Street, 5th Floor
Hamilton, HM 12, Bermuda
BRP Bermuda Holdings I Limited
73 Front Street, 5th Floor
Hamilton, HM 12, Bermuda
Brookfield BRP Europe Holdings (Bermuda) Limited
73 Front Street, 5th Floor
Hamilton, HM 12, Bermuda
BEP Subco Inc.
Suite 300, 181 Bay Street
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5J 2T3
RE: Brookfield BRP Holdings (Canada) Inc. – 7.250% Perpetual Subordinated Notes guaranteed by Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. and the other guarantors referred to below
Automatic Shelf Registration Statement on Form F-3ASR (File Nos. 333-277987,
333-277987-01, 333-277987-02, 333-277987-03, 333-277987-04 and 333-277987-05)
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special New York and Ontario counsel for Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P., an exempted limited partnership organized under the laws of the Islands of Bermuda (“BEP”), Brookfield BRP Holdings (Canada) Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of Ontario, Canada (the “NA Holdco”), Brookfield Renewable Energy L.P., an exempted limited partnership organized under the laws of the Islands of Bermuda (“BRELP”), BRP Bermuda Holdings I Limited, a Bermuda exempted company (“LATAM Holdco”), Brookfield BRP Europe Holdings (Bermuda) Limited, a Bermuda exempted company (“Euro HoldCo”) and BEP Subco Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of Ontario, Canada (“Canada Subco”, and together with BEP, BRELP, LATAM Holdco and Euro HoldCo, the “Guarantors”) in connection with the offering by NA Holdco of US$150,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 7.250% Perpetual Subordinated Notes (the “Notes”), guaranteed, on a subordinated basis, by the Guarantors (the “Guarantees” and together with the Notes, the “Securities”), pursuant to a prospectus supplement, dated as of March 21, 2024 (the “Prospectus Supplement”) filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5) under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) to the automatic shelf registration statement on Form F-3ASR (File Nos. 333-277987, 333-277987-01, 333-277987-02, 333-277987-03, 333-277987-04 and 333-277987-05) (as amended, the “Registration Statement”). The Securities are to be sold pursuant to the underwriting agreement, dated as of March 21, 2024 (the “Underwriting Agreement”) among NA Holdco, the Guarantors and the underwriters named therein (the “Underwriters”), and issued pursuant to the provisions of the indenture, dated as of April 15, 2021 (the “Base Indenture”) by and among NA Holdco as the issuer, the guarantors party thereto (including the Guarantors), and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”), and the Third Supplemental Indenture thereto, dated as of March 25, 2024 (the “Supplemental Indenture” and together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”) by and among NA Holdco, the Guarantors and the Trustee.
We, as your counsel, have examined originals or copies of such documents, corporate records, certificates of public officials and other instruments as we have deemed necessary or advisable for the purpose of rendering this opinion.
In rendering the opinions expressed herein, we have, without independent inquiry or investigation, assumed that (i) all documents submitted to us as originals are authentic and complete, (ii) all documents submitted to us as copies conform to authentic, complete originals, (iii) all signatures on all documents that we reviewed are genuine, (iv) all natural persons executing documents had and have the legal capacity to do so, (v) all statements in certificates of public officials and directors, as the case may be, and officers of the general partner of BEP, the general partner of the general partner of BRELP, NA Holdco, LATAM Holdco, Euro HoldCo and Canada Subco that we reviewed were and are accurate, (vi) all representations made by BEP, BRELP, LATAM Holdco, Euro HoldCo and Canada Subco as to matters of fact in the documents that we reviewed were and are accurate, and (vii) the Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by, and represents a legal, valid and binding obligation of, the Trustee. We have also assumed that each of BEP, BRELP, LATAM Holdco and Euro HoldCo is validly existing, has the requisite power to enter into the Base Indenture and the Supplemental Indenture and has duly authorized entering into the Base Indenture and the Supplemental Indenture under the laws of Bermuda.
Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the additional assumptions and qualifications set forth below, we advise you that, in our opinion, when the Notes have been duly executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, the Securities will constitute valid and binding obligations of NA Holdco, and the Guarantees thereof will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Guarantors, in each case enforceable in accordance with their terms, and in each case subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, concepts of reasonableness and equitable principles of general applicability, provided that we express no opinion as to (x) the enforceability of any waiver of rights under any usury or stay law or (y) the effect of fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer or similar provision of applicable law on the conclusions expressed above.
In connection with the opinion expressed above, we have assumed that at or prior to the time of the delivery of any Securities, (i) the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has not been terminated or rescinded; (ii) all corporate or other action required to be taken to duly authorize each proposed issuance of the Securities and any related documentation shall have been duly completed by the Guarantors (other than Canada Subco), and shall remain in full force and effect; (iii) the Base Indenture, the Supplemental Indenture and the Securities are each valid, binding and enforceable agreements of each party thereto (other than as expressly covered above in respect of NA Holdco and the Guarantors); and (iv) there shall not have occurred any change in law affecting the validity or enforceability of the Securities. We have also assumed that the execution, delivery and performance by NA Holdco and the Guarantors of any Securities (a) require no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency or official, except as has been obtained under the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended and (b) do not contravene, or constitute a default under, any provision of applicable law or regulation (although for greater certainty, we have not made any such assumptions with respect to the Applicable Laws (as defined below)) or any judgment, injunction, order or decree or any agreement or other instrument binding upon NA Holdco and the Guarantors.
- 2 -
We are qualified to practice law in the Province of Ontario and the State of New York, and we do not express any opinion with respect to the laws of any jurisdiction other than (a) the laws of the Province of Ontario and (b) the laws of the State of New York (collectively, the “Applicable Laws”). Notwithstanding the foregoing and our opinion above, we express no opinion with respect to the compliance or non-compliance with applicable privacy laws in connection with the Indenture, the Supplemental Indenture or the issuance and sale of the Securities.
We hereby consent to the reference to our name under the caption “Certain Canadian Income Tax Considerations” in the Prospectus Supplement, which is a part of the Registration Statement.
We also hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as an exhibit to a report on Form 6-K to be filed by BEP on the date hereof and its incorporation by reference into the Registration Statement as Exhibit 5.1 to Form F-3ASR thereof and further consent to the reference to our name under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus Supplement, which is a part of the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Torys LLP
- 3 -
Bermuda Office
Appleby (Bermuda)
Limited
Canon’s Court
22 Victoria Street
PO Box HM 1179
Hamilton HM EX
Bermuda
Tel +1 441 295 2244
Fax +1 441 292 8666
applebyglobal.com
Exhibit 5.2
| Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. Brookfield Renewable Energy L.P. BRP Bermuda Holdings I Limited Brookfield BRP Europe Holdings (Bermuda) Limited 73 Front Street Hamilton Bermuda HM 11 |
Email CLangley@applebyglobal.com
Direct Dial +1 441 298 3202
Appleby Ref 404008.0052/CL/MEB/AK
By Email 25 March 2024 |
Ladies and Gentlemen
Prospectus Supplement relating to Registration Statement on Form F-3
We have acted as legal advisers as to matters of Bermuda law to Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P., an exempted limited partnership organized under the laws of the Islands of Bermuda (BEP), acting by its general partner, Brookfield Renewable Partners Limited, a Bermuda exempted company (BRPL), Brookfield Renewable Energy L.P., an exempted limited partnership organized under the laws of the Islands of Bermuda (BRELP), acting by its general partner, BREP Holding L.P., an exempted limited partnership organized under the laws of the Islands of Bermuda (BHLP), BHLP, acting by its general partner BRP Bermuda GP Limited, a Bermuda exempted company (BRPGP), BRP Bermuda Holdings I Limited, a Bermuda exempted company (LATAM Holdco) and Brookfield BRP Europe Holdings (Bermuda) Limited, a Bermuda exempted company (Euro HoldCo). We have been requested to render this opinion in connection with the joint filing by BEP, Brookfield BRP Holdings (Canada) Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of Ontario, Canada (NA Holdco), BRELP, LATAM Holdco, Euro HoldCo and BEP Subco Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of Ontario, Canada (Canada Subco), of the Prospectus Supplement (as defined below) relating to the Offering (as defined below). In connection therewith, we have reviewed:
| 1. | an automatic shelf registration statement on Form F-3 (Registration Statement) for the purpose of registering under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (Securities Act), among other securities, debt securities to be issued by NA Holdco (Debt Securities) and fully and unconditionally guaranteed by BEP, BRELP, LATAM Holdco, Euro HoldCo and Canada Subco, such Debt Securities to be issued pursuant to the indenture entered into by and among NA Holdco, BEP and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, dated as of 15 April 2021, as supplemented from time to time (Base Indenture); |
| 2. | the base prospectus, dated as of 15 March 2024, contained in the Registration Statement (Prospectus); |
| 3. | a prospectus supplement dated 21 March 2024 (Prospectus Supplement) to the Prospectus used in connection with the offering (Offering) of (a) the 7.250% perpetual subordinated notes by NA Holdco that constitute a new series of Debt Securities, as described in the Prospectus Supplement (Notes), as established in a third supplemental indenture to the Base Indenture entered into by and among NA Holdco as the issuer, BEP, BRELP, LATAM Holdco, Euro HoldCo and Canada Subco, as guarantors, and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (Supplemental Indenture and together with the Base Indenture, Indenture); (b) a guarantee of the Notes by BEP as described in the Prospectus Supplement and as provided in the Indenture; and (c) additional guarantees of the Notes as described in the Prospectus Supplement and as provided in the Indenture by each of BRELP, LATAM Holdco, Euro HoldCo, Investco and Canada Subco (such Notes and guarantees thereof, collectively, Securities); and |
| 4. | a “free writing prospectus” dated 21 March 2024 (Free Writing Prospectus) within the meaning of Rule 405 under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (Securities Act), relating to the Offering; |
each of which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Note that BRPL acting as general partner of BEP and BRPGP acting as general partner of BHLP, acting in its capacity as general partner of BRELP, may be referred to as the General Partner(s) and BEP, BHLP and BRELP may be referred to as the Partnership(s) in this opinion. Note that the General Partners, the Partnerships, BHLP, LATAM Holdco and Euro HoldCo may be referred to as the Bermuda Entities.
For the purposes of this opinion we have examined and relied upon the documents listed (which in some cases, are also defined) in the Schedule to this opinion (Documents).
ASSUMPTIONS
In stating our opinion we have assumed:
| 1. | the authenticity, accuracy and completeness of all Documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to authentic original Documents of all Documents submitted to us as certified, conformed, notarised or photostatic copies; |
| 2. | the genuineness of all signatures on the Documents; |
2
| 3. | the authority, capacity and power of persons signing the Documents; |
| 4. | that any representation, warranty or statement of fact or law, other than the laws of Bermuda made in any of the Documents, is true, accurate and complete; |
| 5. | that there are no provisions of the laws or regulations of any jurisdiction other than Bermuda which would have any implication in relation to the opinions expressed herein; |
| 6. | that where incomplete documents, drafts or signature pages only have been supplied to us for the purposes of issuing this opinion, the original documents have been or will be duly completed and correspond in all material respects with the last version of the relevant documents examined by us prior to giving our opinion; |
| 7. | that the Documents do not differ in any material respects from any forms or drafts of the same which we have examined and upon which this opinion is based; |
| 8. | that the Documents are in the form of the documents approved in the Resolutions; |
| 9. | that there are no provisions of the laws or regulations of any jurisdiction other than Bermuda which would be contravened by any actions taken by the Bermuda Entities in connection with the Registration Statement, the Securities or the Indenture, the Prospectus Supplement or the Free Writing Prospectus, or which would have any implication in relation to the opinion expressed herein and that, in so far as any obligation under, or action to be taken under, the Registration Statement, the Securities, the Indenture, the Prospectus Supplement or the Free Writing Prospectus is required to be performed or taken in any jurisdiction outside Bermuda, the performance of such obligation or the taking of such action will constitute a valid and binding obligation of each of the parties thereto under the laws of that jurisdiction and will not be illegal by virtue of the laws of that jurisdiction; |
| 10. | the accuracy, completeness and currency of the records and filing systems maintained at the public offices where we have searched or enquired or have caused searches or enquiries to be conducted, that such search and enquiry did not fail to disclose any information which had been filed with or delivered to the relevant body but had not been processed at the time when the search was conducted and the enquiries were made, and that the information disclosed by the Company and Partnership Searches and the Litigation Search is accurate and complete in all respects and such information has not been materially altered since the date and time of the Company and Partnership Searches and the Litigation Search; |
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| 11. | the terms and transactions contemplated by the Prospectus Supplement and the Indenture adopted are not inconsistent with the Resolutions and the terms and transactions contemplated by the Prospectus and the Registration Statement; and |
| 12. | none of BEP, NA Holdco, BRELP, LATAM Holdco, Euro HoldCo or Canada Subco has filed any amendment to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Prospectus Supplement on or prior to the date hereof. |
OPINION
Based upon and subject to the foregoing and subject to the reservations set out below and to any matters not disclosed to us, we are of the opinion that:
| 1. | Each Partnership is an exempted limited partnership established and existing under the laws of Bermuda. Each Partnership possesses the capacity to sue and be sued in its own name and is in good standing under the laws of Bermuda. All suits in respect of the business of each Partnership shall be prosecuted by and against its respective General Partner. |
| 2. | Each of the General Partners, LATAM Holdco and Euro HoldCo is an exempted company limited by shares and duly incorporated in Bermuda under the Companies Act 1981, each possessing the capacity to sue and be sued in its own name, and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of Bermuda. |
| 3. | The execution, delivery and performance by each General Partner on behalf of each of BEP and BRELP, as applicable, and by each of LATAM Holdco and Euro HoldCo, of the Supplemental Indenture, and the transactions contemplated thereby (including the offering of Securities as contemplated by the Prospectus Supplement), have been duly authorised by all necessary corporate action by each General Partner on behalf of each of BEP and BRELP, as applicable, and by each of LATAM Holdco and Euro HoldCo. |
RESERVATIONS
We have the following reservations:
| 1. | In opinion paragraphs 1. and 2. above, the term “good standing” means only that the Bermuda Entities have each received a Certificate of Compliance from the Registrar of Companies in Hamilton Bermuda which confirms that they have neither failed to make any filing with any Bermuda governmental authority nor to pay any Bermuda government fee or tax, which might make it liable to be struck off the Register of Companies and thereby cease to exist under the laws of Bermuda. |
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| 2. | We express no opinion as to any law other than Bermuda law and none of the opinions expressed herein relates to compliance with or matters governed by the laws of any jurisdiction except Bermuda. This opinion is limited to Bermuda law as applied by the courts of Bermuda at the date hereof. |
| 3. | Where an obligation is to be performed in a jurisdiction other than Bermuda, the courts of Bermuda may refuse to enforce it to the extent that such performance would be illegal under the laws of, or contrary to public policy of such other jurisdiction. |
| 4. | Where a person is vested with a discretion or may determine a matter in his or its opinion, such discretion may have to be exercised reasonably or such an opinion may have to be based on reasonable grounds. |
| 5. | Any provision in the Indenture that certain calculations or certificates will be conclusive and binding will not be effective if such calculations or certificates are fraudulent or erroneous on their face and will not necessarily prevent juridical enquiries into the merits of any claim by an aggrieved party. |
| 6. | The Limited Partnership Act 1883 (the Act) provides that a limited partner shall be liable as a general partner if he takes part in the management of the partnership. |
| 7. | A limited partner is liable to a Partnership, or to its creditors, for any amount in respect of such limited partner’s contribution to such Partnership to the extent such contribution has not been contributed in full, or to the extent such contribution is either released or returned to the limited partner contrary to the restrictions on reductions of capital contained in the Act. |
| 8. | A limited partner is liable for damages on account of misrepresentation in respect of false statements contained in the certificate of limited partnership, any supplementary certificates or certificate of cancellation in respect of a Partnership, to the extent a limited partner signed such certificate, or caused another to sign it on his/her behalf, and knew such statement to be false at the time of signature. |
| 9. | Every partner of a Partnership who is guilty of any fraud in the affairs of such Partnership shall be liable civilly to the party injured to the extent of his damage and shall be liable for penalties applicable to offences committed against the Act. |
| 10. | In order to issue this opinion we have carried out the Company and Partnership Searches as referred to in the Schedule and have not enquired as to whether there has been any change since the date of such searches. |
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| 11. | In order to issue this opinion we have carried out the Litigation Search as referred to in the Schedule and have not enquired as to whether there has been any change since the date of such search. |
| 12. | Searches of the Register of Companies at the office of the Registrar of Companies and of the Supreme Court Causes Book at the Registry of the Supreme Court and of the Register of Mortgages maintained at the office of the Registry General are not conclusive and it should be noted that the Register of Companies and the Supreme Court Causes Book do not reveal: |
| 12.1 | Details of matters which have been lodged for filing or registration which as a matter of best practice of the Registrar of Companies or the Registry of the Supreme Court or the Registry General would have or should have been disclosed on the public file, the Causes Book or the Judgment Book or the Register of Mortgages, as the case may be, but for whatever reason have not actually been filed or registered or are not disclosed or which, notwithstanding filing or registration, at the date and time the search is concluded are for whatever reason not disclosed or do not appear on the public file, the Causes Book, Judgment Book or the Register of Mortgages; |
| 12.2 | Details of matters which should have been lodged for filing or registration at the Registrar of Companies, the Registry of the Supreme Court or the Registry General but have not been lodged for filing or registration at the date the search is concluded; |
| 12.3 | Whether an application to the Supreme Court for a winding-up petition or for the appointment of a receiver or manager has been prepared but not yet been presented or has been presented but does not appear in the Causes Book at the date and time the search is concluded; |
| 12.4 | Whether any arbitration or administrative proceedings are pending or whether any proceedings are threatened, or whether any arbitrator has been appointed; or |
| 12.5 | Whether a receiver or manager has been appointed privately pursuant to the provisions of a debenture or other security, unless notice of the fact has been entered in the Register of Charges in accordance with the provisions of the Act. |
DISCLOSURE
This opinion is addressed to you in connection with the Offering and is not to be used, quoted or relied upon for any other purpose. We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit that is incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement.
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This opinion is governed by and is to be construed in accordance with Bermuda law. Further, this opinion speaks as of its date and is strictly limited to the matters stated in it and we assume no obligation to review or update this opinion if applicable law or the existing acts or circumstances should change.
Yours faithfully
/s/ Appleby (Bermuda) Limited
Appleby (Bermuda) Limited
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SCHEDULE
| 1. | The electronic extract provided in respect of each Bermuda Entity by the office of the Registrar of Companies and the Registrar General, as applicable, on 22 March 2024 (Company and Partnership Searches). |
| 2. | A copy of the results of a search of the entries and filings shown and available for inspection in respect of the Bermuda Entities in the Cause and Judgement Book of the Supreme Court maintained at the Registry of the Supreme Court in Hamilton, Bermuda, as revealed by a search conducted on 22 March 2024 (Litigation Search). |
| 3. | Copies of: the Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of BEP between BRPL and each person who is admitted to the partnership as a limited partner from time to time dated 3 May 2016 as amended by the First Amendment to the Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement dated 25 May 2016, the Second Amendment to the Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement dated 14 February 2017, the Third Amendment to the Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement dated 16 January 2018, the Fourth Amendment to the Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement dated 28 February 2019, the Fifth Amendment to the Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement dated 11 March 2019, the Sixth Amendment to the Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement dated 24 February 2020, the Seventh Amendment to the Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement dated 28 July 2020 and the Eighth Amendment to the Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement dated 14 April 2022; the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement dated 20 November 2011 relating to BHLP; and the fourth amended and restated limited partnership agreement dated 30 December 2020 relating to BRELP (collectively, Limited Partnership Documents) |
| 4. | In respect of each Partnership, the Certificate of Registration of an Exempted and Limited Partnership and supplements thereto. |
| 5. | Certified copies of the following documents in respect of each of the General Partners, LATAM Holdco and Euro HoldCo: Certificate of Incorporation, memorandum of association and Bye-laws (Company Documents, and collectively with Limited Partnership Documents, Constitutional Documents). |
| 6. | Copy of the Minutes of the Meetings of the Board of Directors of each of the General Partners, LATAM Holdco and Euro HoldCo, in each case, held on 1 February 2024 (collectively, Resolutions). |
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| 7. | An officer’s certificate signed by an officer of each of the General Partners, LATAM Holdco and Euro HoldCo in respect of the Resolutions and in respect of the Securities (collectively, Officers’ Certificates). |
| 8. | Certificates of Compliance each dated 22 March 2024 issued by the Registrar of Companies in respect of each Bermuda Entity. |
| 9. | The Registration Statement. |
| 10. | The Prospectus. |
| 11. | The Prospectus Supplement. |
| 12. | The Free Writing Prospectus. |
| 13. | The Base Indenture. |
| 14. | The Supplemental Indenture. |
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Exhibit 23.2
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March 25, 2024
To: The United States Securities and Exchange Commission
Brookfield BRP Holdings (Canada) Inc. (the “Company”)
We refer to the registration statement on Form F-3ASR filed by the Company, Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P., Brookfield Renewable Energy L.P., BRP Bermuda Holdings I Limited, Brookfield BRP Europe Holdings (Bermuda) Limited and BEP Subco Inc. (File Nos. 333-277987, 333-277987-01, 333-277987-02, 333-277987-03, 333-277987-04 and 333-277987-05), which became automatically effective upon filing with the Commission on March 15, 2024.
In connection with the prospectus supplement of the Company dated March 21, 2024 (the “Prospectus Supplement”), we consent to the reference to our firm’s name under the heading “Legal Matters”, and consent to the use of our firm’s name and reference to our opinion under the headings “Certain Canadian Income Tax Considerations”.
Yours truly,
/s/ Goodmans LLP
Goodmans LLP