0001104659-17-035700.txt : 20170526 0001104659-17-035700.hdr.sgml : 20170526 20170526161643 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001104659-17-035700 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: SC 13D PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 5 FILED AS OF DATE: 20170526 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20170526 GROUP MEMBERS: CONOCOPHILLIPS CO SUBJECT COMPANY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: CENOVUS ENERGY INC. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001475260 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311] IRS NUMBER: 980634412 STATE OF INCORPORATION: A0 FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13D SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 005-85213 FILM NUMBER: 17874166 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2600, 500 CENTRE STREET S.E. STREET 2: P.O. BOX 766 CITY: CALGARY STATE: A0 ZIP: T2P 0M5 BUSINESS PHONE: 403-766-2000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2600, 500 CENTRE STREET S.E. STREET 2: P.O. BOX 766 CITY: CALGARY STATE: A0 ZIP: T2P 0M5 FILED BY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: CONOCOPHILLIPS CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001163165 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: PETROLEUM REFINING [2911] IRS NUMBER: 010562944 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13D BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: CONOCOPHILLIPS STREET 2: 600 NORTH DAIRY ASHFORD ROAD CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77079 BUSINESS PHONE: 2812931000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: CONOCOPHILLIPS STREET 2: 600 NORTH DAIRY ASHFORD ROAD CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77079 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: CORVETTEPORSCHE CORP DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 20011204 SC 13D 1 a17-14125_1sc13d.htm SC 13D

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

 

 

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 


 

 

SCHEDULE 13D

(Rule 13d-101)

 

 

INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT

TO RULE 13d-1(a) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED PURSUANT TO

RULE 13d-2(a)

 

(Amendment No.     )*

 


 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

(Name of Issuer)

 

Common Shares

(Title of Class of Securities)

 

15135U109

(CUSIP Number)

 

Angela Avery

ConocoPhillips

600 North Dairy Ashford Road

Houston, Texas 77079

Telephone No.:  (281) 293-1000

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person
Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

 

May 17, 2017

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition which is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of Rule 13d-1(e), 13d-1(f) or 13d-1(g), check the following box. o

Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the Schedule, including all exhibits. See Rule 13d-7(b) for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.

* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

 



 

 

SCHEDULE 13D

 

CUSIP No. 15135U109

 

Page 2 of 9

 

 

1

Name of Reporting Person
ConocoPhillips

 

 

2

Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group

 

 

(a)

 o

 

 

(b)

 o

 

 

3

SEC Use Only

 

 

4

Source of Funds
OO

 

 

5

Check Box if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e)     o

 

 

6

Citizenship or Place of Organization
Delaware

 

Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned by
Each
Reporting
Person With

7

Sole Voting Power
N/A

 

8

Shared Voting Power
208,000,000

 

9

Sole Dispositive Power
N/A

 

10

Shared Dispositive Power
208,000,000

 

 

11

Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
208,000,000

 

 

12

Check Box if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares   o

 

 

13

Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11)
16.9%*

 

 

14

Type of Reporting Person
CO, HC

 


*                           Percentage based on 1,228,789,845 common shares outstanding, which is calculated as the sum of (i) 833,289,845 common shares outstanding as of March 27, 2017, as reported in the Issuer’s prospectus supplement dated March 29, 2017, (ii) 187,500,000 common shares issued by the Issuer on April 6, 2017, as reported in the Issuer’s press release dated April 6, 2017, and (iii) 208,000,000 common shares issued to the Reporting Persons (as described herein).

 



 

 

SCHEDULE 13D

 

CUSIP No. 15135U109

 

Page 3 of 9

 

 

1

Name of Reporting Person
ConocoPhillips Company

 

 

2

Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group

 

 

(a)

 o

 

 

(b)

 o

 

 

3

SEC Use Only

 

 

4

Source of Funds
OO

 

 

5

Check Box if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e)     o

 

 

6

Citizenship or Place of Organization
Delaware

 

Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned by
Each
Reporting
Person With

7

Sole Voting Power
N/A

 

8

Shared Voting Power
208,000,000

 

9

Sole Dispositive Power
N/A

 

10

Shared Dispositive Power
208,000,000

 

 

11

Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
208,000,000

 

 

12

Check Box if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares   o

 

 

13

Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11)
16.9%*

 

 

14

Type of Reporting Person
CO

 


*                           Percentage based on 1,228,789,845 common shares outstanding, which is calculated as the sum of (i) 833,289,845 common shares outstanding as of March 27, 2017, as reported in the Issuer’s prospectus supplement dated March 29, 2017, (ii) 187,500,000 common shares issued by the Issuer on April 6, 2017, as reported in the Issuer’s press release dated April 6, 2017, and (iii) 208,000,000 common shares issued to the Reporting Persons (as described herein).

 



 

 

SCHEDULE 13D

 

CUSIP No. 15135U109

 

Page 4 of 9

 

Item 1.                                 Security and Issuer

 

This Schedule 13D relates to the common shares, no par value (the “common shares”), of Cenovus Energy Inc., a corporation amalgamated under the laws of Canada (the “Issuer”). The Issuer’s principal executive offices are located at 2600, 500 Centre Street S.E., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2G 1A6.

 

Item 2.                                 Identity and Background

 

This Schedule 13D is being filed by ConocoPhillips, a Delaware corporation (“ConocoPhillips”), and ConocoPhillips Company, a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of ConocoPhillips (“CPCo,” and together with ConocoPhillips, the “Reporting Persons”). All voting and investment decisions with respect to the common shares will be made by ConocoPhillips.

 

The name, business address, present principal occupation or employment and citizenship of each director and executive officer of each of the Reporting Persons are set forth in Exhibit 1. The address of the principal business office of each of the Reporting Persons is 600 North Dairy Ashford Road, Houston, Texas 77079.

 

During the last five years, none of the Reporting Persons, nor, to the knowledge of the Reporting Persons, any of the persons listed in Exhibit 1, (i) has been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors) or (ii) has been a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction as a result of which such person was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, U.S. federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws.

 

Item 3.                                 Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration

 

On May 17, 2017 (the “Closing Date”), CPCo received 208,000,000 common shares pursuant to the Purchase and Sale Agreement (as amended, the “Sale Agreement”), dated as of March 29, 2017, by and among CPCo, ConocoPhillips Canada Resources Corp., ConocoPhillips Canada Energy Partnership, ConocoPhillips Western Canada Partnership, ConocoPhillips Canada (BRC) Partnership, ConocoPhillips Canada E&P ULC, and the Issuer, as a portion of the consideration paid to ConocoPhillips and its affiliates for the sale of ConocoPhillips’ 50 percent non-operated interest in the FCCL Partnership, the owner of the Foster Creek, Christina Lake and Narrows Lake oil sands projects in northeast Alberta, as well as the majority of ConocoPhillips’ western Canadian conventional assets, including ConocoPhillips’ exploration and production assets and related infrastructure and agreements in the Elmworth-Wapiti, Kaybob-Edson and Clearwater operating areas, and all of ConocoPhillips’ interest in petroleum and natural gas rights and oil sands leases within a certain area of mutual interest northwest of Foster Creek.

 

The foregoing description of the Sale Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Sale Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 2 and Exhibit 3 and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

 

Item 4.                                 Purpose of Transaction

 

The Reporting Persons acquired the common shares in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Sale Agreement. The rights and obligations of the Reporting Persons and their affiliates with respect to transfers of the common shares, as well as certain other matters, are set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement and the Investor Agreement, each as defined and described in Item 6 below.

 

The Reporting Persons have no present plans or proposals that relate to or would result in any of the actions enumerated in paragraphs (a) through (j) of Item 4 of Schedule 13D. However, the Reporting Persons may, at any time or from time to time, subject to the restrictions contained in the Registration Rights Agreement and the Investor Agreement and subject to market conditions, dispose of all or part of any common shares they hold in one or more transactions.

 



 

 

SCHEDULE 13D

 

CUSIP No. 15135U109

 

Page 5 of 9

 

The responses set forth in Items 3 and 6 of this Schedule 13D are incorporated by reference in their entirety into this Item 4.

 

Item 5.                                 Interest in Securities of the Issuer

 

(a) — (b) CPCo directly owns 208,000,000 common shares, representing 16.9% of the common shares outstanding on the Closing Date based on 1,228,789,845 common shares outstanding. The number of common shares outstanding is calculated as the sum of (i) 833,289,845 common shares outstanding as of March 27, 2017, as reported in the Issuer’s prospectus supplement dated March 29, 2017, (ii) 187,500,000 common shares issued by the Issuer on April 6, 2017, as reported in the Issuer’s press release dated April 6, 2017, and (iii) 208,000,000 common shares issued to the Reporting Persons (as described in this Schedule 13D).

 

All of the common shares held by the Reporting Persons are subject to the Registration Rights Agreement and the Investor Agreement, each as defined and described in Item 6 below. The responses set forth in Item 6 of this Schedule 13D are incorporated by reference in their entirety into this Item 5(a) and 5(b).

 

None of the persons listed on Exhibit 1 have any beneficial ownership of any common shares.

 

(c)                                  Except for the transactions described in response to Item 4 above, which information is hereby incorporated by reference, none of the Reporting Persons, nor, to the best of the Reporting Persons’ knowledge, any of the persons listed on Exhibit 1, has effected any transactions that may be deemed to be a transaction in the common shares during the past 60 days.

 

(d)                                 No other person is known by the Reporting Persons to have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, common shares that may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the Reporting Persons as provided for herein.

 

(e)                                  Not applicable.

 

Item 6.                                 Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with Respect to Securities of the Issuer

 

Registration Rights Agreement.  On the Closing Date, the Issuer and CPCo entered into a registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) providing CPCo and its permitted assigns (“Holders”) with certain registration rights with regard to the common shares it received from the Issuer.

 

In particular, the Registration Rights Agreement provides the Holders with the right (the “Demand Registration Right”) to require the Issuer from the date that is six months following the Closing Date until the date when the Holders collectively hold 3.5% or less of the then outstanding common shares (the “Registration Period”), to qualify the distribution of the common shares received pursuant to the Sale Agreement, and any common shares or other securities of the Issuer issued as a dividend, distribution, exchange, share split, recapitalization, or other corporate event in respect of such common shares (the “Registrable Securities”), by prospectus filed with the securities commissions or other securities regulatory authorities in each of the provinces and territories of Canada and/or the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) pursuant to the multijurisdictional disclosure system between the United States and Canada (a “Demand Distribution”). The Holders are entitled to request up to three Demand Distributions in any one 365 day period, with the first 365 day period commencing at the beginning of the Registration Period. The Issuer must use commercially reasonable efforts to assist the Holders in making a Demand Distribution.

 

In addition, the Registration Rights Agreement provides the Holders with the right (the “Piggy-Back Registration Right”), among others, to require the Issuer to include Registrable Securities in any future public distribution in Canada or the U.S. undertaken by the Issuer (a “Distribution”). The Issuer must use reasonable efforts to cause to be included in the Distribution all of the Registrable Securities the Holders request to be sold pursuant to the Piggy-Back Registration Right; provided, however, that if the Distribution involves an underwriting and the lead

 



 

 

SCHEDULE 13D

 

CUSIP No. 15135U109

 

Page 6 of 9

 

underwriter(s) determine that the total number of common shares to be included in such Distribution should be limited for certain prescribed reasons, the common shares to be included in the Distribution will be first allocated to the Issuer.

 

The Piggy-Back Registration Right and Demand Registration Right are subject to various conditions and limitations, and the Issuer is entitled to defer any Demand Distribution in certain circumstances, including during a blackout period under the Issuer’s Disclosure, Confidentiality and Employee Trading Policy, for a limited period.

 

The Registration Rights Agreement includes provisions providing for each of the Issuer and the Holders to indemnify each other for losses or claims caused by the applicable party’s inclusion of a misrepresentation in disclosure included in a prospectus related to a Distribution, for breaches of applicable securities laws and for other losses or claims caused by such party.

 

Subject to certain exceptions, all expenses incurred in connection with a registration pursuant to a Demand Distribution or a Distribution for which the Piggy-Back Registration Right is exercised (excluding underwriters’ discounts and commissions, if any, and applicable transfer taxes, if any, in respect of Registrable Securities being distributed, which shall be borne by the selling Holder) shall be borne by the Issuer.

 

If a Holder ceases to be affiliated with CPCo, the Holder will cease to have any rights or obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement. The Registration Rights Agreement will terminate when the Holders cease to hold more than 3.5% of the then outstanding common shares.

 

The foregoing description of the Registration Rights Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Registration Rights Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 4 and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

 

Investor Agreement.  On the Closing Date, the Issuer and CPCo entered into an investor agreement (the “Investor Agreement”) governing certain actions that may be taken by CPCo and its affiliates with regard to the common shares issued under the Sale Agreement. The Investor Agreement will terminate concurrently with the termination of the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

During the term of the Investor Agreement, CPCo and its affiliates shall either (i) vote or cause to be voted all common shares that they own or over which they have control or direction in favor of, or (ii) abstain from voting in respect of all common shares that they own, or over which they have control or direction, in either case in respect of:

 

·                  all nominees of the Issuer’s board of directors or management at any annual or other meeting of the Issuer’s shareholders at which members of the board of directors are proposed to be elected; and

 

·                  any and all other matters in respect of which the Issuer’s board of directors and management have recommended that the Issuer’s shareholders vote in favor at any meeting of the Issuer’s shareholders;

 

and, for greater certainty, may not withhold any vote or vote against any of the foregoing. Without limiting the foregoing, CPCo and its affiliates shall not:

 

·                  knowingly take any action in contravention of or adverse to any the Issuer’s board of directors or management nominations or recommendations, including to support the nomination of another individual as a director of the Issuer in lieu of such board of directors or management nominees; or

 

·                  vote for or otherwise support in any manner any shareholder proposal or other matter brought forward or proposed to be brought forward as a matter to be voted upon at any meeting of the Issuer’s shareholders that is not supported, approved and recommended by the Issuer’s board of directors, and shall vote or cause to be voted all common shares that it owns, or over which it has control or direction against any such proposal or matter.

 



 

 

SCHEDULE 13D

 

CUSIP No. 15135U109

 

Page 7 of 9

 

ConocoPhillips and its affiliates do not have any contractual consent or approval rights relating to the Issuer’s business and affairs.

 

During the term of the Investor Agreement, CPCo and its affiliates will also be prohibited from taking certain actions without Issuer’s prior written consent, including (subject to certain exceptions specified in the Investor Agreement):

 

·                  acquiring ownership of or control or direction over any of Issuer’s voting securities (including common shares) or voting rights in respect of voting securities or, other than in the ordinary course of business, any assets of the Issuer or its subsidiaries;

 

·                  engaging in any discussion or entering into any agreement or proposing or offering to enter into any take-over bid, arrangement, amalgamation, merger, acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets or other business combination or similar transaction with, or change in control transaction involving, the Issuer or its subsidiaries;

 

·                  soliciting proxies with respect to the voting of any of the Issuer’s securities, or granting any proxy with respect to any of the Issuer’s securities (other than to the named management proxies);

 

·                  requisitioning a meeting of the Issuer’s shareholders or seeking to obtain representation on, or nominating or proposing the nomination of any candidate for election to, the Issuer’s board of directors;

 

·                  submitting any shareholder proposal or otherwise seeking to advise, control, change or influence the Issuer’s business, operations, management, policies or board of directors; or

 

·                  entering into any discussions, agreements or understandings with any person with respect to the foregoing.

 

CPCo and its affiliates are also restricted from selling or entering into certain derivative transactions in respect of common shares for a period of six months following the Closing Date. Following such period, without the Issuer’s prior written consent and subject to certain limited exceptions, CPCo and its affiliates are restricted from making trades or transfers (i) pursuant to block trades in amounts of 5% or more of the Issuer’s then outstanding common shares or (ii) that would result in a person (or persons acting jointly or in concert) being transferred common shares previously held by CPCo and its affiliates representing 5% or more of the Issuer’s then outstanding common shares.

 

The foregoing description of the Investor Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Investor Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 5 and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

 



 

 

SCHEDULE 13D

 

CUSIP No. 15135U109

 

Page 8 of 9

 

Item 7.                                 Material to be Filed as Exhibits

 

Exhibit

 

Description

Exhibit 1

 

Directors and Executive Officers of ConocoPhillips and ConocoPhillips Company

 

 

 

Exhibit 2

 

Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated March 29, 2017, by and among ConocoPhillips Company, ConocoPhillips Canada Resources Corp., ConocoPhillips Canada Energy Partnership, ConocoPhillips Western Canada Partnership, ConocoPhillips Canada (BRC) Partnership, ConocoPhillips Canada E&P ULC, and Cenovus Energy Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 filed by ConocoPhillips on May 4, 2017)

 

 

 

Exhibit 3

 

Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement Amending Agreement, dated as of May 16, 2017, by and among ConocoPhillips Company, ConocoPhillips Canada Resources Corp., ConocoPhillips Canada Energy Partnership, ConocoPhillips Western Canada Partnership, ConocoPhillips Canada (BRC) Partnership, ConocoPhillips Canada E&P ULC, and Cenovus Energy Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by ConocoPhillips on May 18, 2017)

 

 

 

Exhibit 4

 

Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of May 17, 2017, by and between Cenovus Energy Inc. and ConocoPhillips Company

 

 

 

Exhibit 5

 

Investor Agreement, dated as of May 17, 2017, by and between Cenovus Energy Inc. and ConocoPhillips Company

 

 

 

Exhibit 6

 

Joint Filing Agreement, dated May 26, 2017, by and between ConocoPhillips and ConocoPhillips Company

 


                             ConocoPhillips has previously requested confidential treatment for certain portions of this exhibit pursuant to Rule 24b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  These portions have been omitted from the exhibit and submitted separately to the SEC.

 



 

 

SCHEDULE 13D

 

CUSIP No. 15135U109

 

Page 9 of 9

 

SIGNATURES

 

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

 

Dated:  May 26, 2017

 

 

ConocoPhillips

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Don E. Wallette, Jr.

 

 

Name:

Don E. Wallette, Jr.

 

 

Title:

Executive Vice President, Finance, Commercial, and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ConocoPhillips Company

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Don E. Wallette, Jr.

 

 

Name:

Don E. Wallette, Jr.

 

 

Title:

Executive Vice President, Finance, Commercial, and Chief Financial Officer

 


EX-99.1 2 a17-14125_1ex99d1.htm EXHIBIT 1

Exhibit 1

 

DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF

CONOCOPHILLIPS AND CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY

 

The following tables set forth the name and present principal occupation or employment, the name, principal business and address of any corporation or other organization in which such occupation or employment is conducted, and citizenship of each director and executive officer of ConocoPhillips and ConocoPhillips Company. The business address of each non-executive director of ConocoPhillips and each person whose principal occupation or employment is with ConocoPhillips or ConocoPhillips Company is c/o ConocoPhillips, 600 North Dairy Ashford Road, Houston, Texas 77079.

 

Directors of
ConocoPhillips

 

Present Principal Occupation or Employment and
Principal Business and Business Address

 

Citizenship

Richard L. Armitage

 

President

Armitage International LLC

2300 Clarendon Blvd., Suite 601

Arlington, Virginia 22201

 

United States

Richard H. Auchinleck

 

Non-executive director

 

Canada

Charles E. Bunch

 

Non-executive director

 

United States

John V. Faraci

 

Non-executive director

 

United States

Jody Freeman

 

Archibald Cox Professor of Law

Harvard Law School

1575 Massachusetts Ave.

Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138

 

Canada

Gay Huey Evans, OBE

 

Non-executive director

 

United States

Ryan M. Lance

 

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

ConocoPhillips

 

United States

Arjun N. Murti

 

Senior Advisor

Warburg Pincus LLC

450 Lexington Ave.

New York, New York 10017

 

United States

Robert A. Niblock

 

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Lowe’s Companies, Inc.

1000 Lowe’s Blvd.

Mooresville, North Carolina 28117

 

United States

Harald J. Norvik

 

Non-executive director

 

Norway

 



 

Executive Officers of
ConocoPhillips

 

Present Principal Occupation

 

Citizenship

Janet L. Carrig

 

Senior Vice President, Legal, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

ConocoPhillips

 

United States

Ellen R. DeSanctis

 

Vice President, Investor Relations and Communications

ConocoPhillips

 

United States

Matt J. Fox

 

Executive Vice President, Strategy, Exploration and Technology

ConocoPhillips

 

United States

Alan J. Hirshberg

 

Executive Vice President, Production, Drilling and Projects

ConocoPhillips

 

United States

Ryan M. Lance

 

Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer

ConocoPhillips

 

United States

Andrew D. Lundquist

 

Senior Vice President, Government Affairs

ConocoPhillips

 

United States

James D. McMorran

 

Vice President, Human Resources, Real Estate and Facilities Services

ConocoPhillips

 

United States

Glenda M. Schwarz

 

Vice President and Controller

ConocoPhillips

 

United States

Don E. Wallette, Jr.

 

Executive Vice President, Finance, Commercial and Chief Financial Officer

ConocoPhillips

 

United States

 

Directors of
ConocoPhillips
Company

 

Present Principal Occupation

 

Citizenship

Janet L. Carrig

 

Senior Vice President, Legal, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

ConocoPhillips Company

 

United States

Don E. Wallette, Jr.

 

Executive Vice President, Finance, Commercial and Chief Financial Officer

ConocoPhillips Company

 

United States

 

Executive Officers
of ConocoPhillips
Company

 

Present Principal Occupation

 

Citizenship

Janet L. Carrig

 

Senior Vice President, Legal, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

ConocoPhillips Company

 

United States

Ellen R. DeSanctis

 

Vice President

ConocoPhillips Company

 

United States

 



 

Matt J. Fox

 

Executive Vice President, Strategy, Exploration and Technology

ConocoPhillips Company

 

United States

Alan J. Hirshberg

 

Executive Vice President, Production, Drilling and Projects

ConocoPhillips Company

 

United States

Ryan M. Lance

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

ConocoPhillips Company

 

United States

Andrew D. Lundquist

 

Senior Vice President, Government Affairs

ConocoPhillips Company

 

United States

James D. McMorran

 

Vice President

ConocoPhillips Company

 

United States

Glenda M. Schwarz

 

Vice President and Controller

ConocoPhillips Company

 

United States

Don E. Wallette, Jr.

 

Executive Vice President, Finance, Commercial and Chief Financial Officer

ConocoPhillips Company

 

United States

 


EX-99.4 3 a17-14125_1ex99d4.htm EXHIBIT 4

Exhibit 4

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

among

 

CENOVUS ENERGY INC.

 

- and -

 

CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY

 

Effective as of MAY 17, 2017

 



 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

THIS AGREEMENT is effective as of May 17, 2017.

 

AMONG:

 

CENOVUS ENERGY INC., a corporation formed under the laws
of Canada (“Cenovus”)

 

- and -

 

CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY, a corporation formed under the laws
of Delaware (“ConocoPhillips”)

 

WHEREAS in connection with the indirect acquisition of certain assets from ConocoPhillips to be completed on the date hereof, Cenovus will issue Common Shares (as defined herein) to ConocoPhillips in partial consideration of the purchase price thereof (the “Acquisition Transaction”);

 

AND WHEREAS ConocoPhillips or its permitted transferees have expressed an intent to dispose of Common Shares received in the Acquisition Transaction over time pursuant to (i) one or more public offerings (which may include dispositions through marketed underwritten public offerings, bought deals or brokerage transactions), or (ii) transactions exempt from the requirements of Applicable Securities Laws (as defined herein);

 

AND WHEREAS as a condition to the completion of the Acquisition Transaction, Cenovus has agreed to enter into this Agreement to provide for certain matters relating to the potential disposition of Common Shares held by ConocoPhillips or by its permitted transferees pursuant to one or more public offerings to be conducted in accordance with Applicable Securities Laws and to provide information and cooperation in connection with potential dispositions of Common Shares exempt from the requirements of Applicable Securities Laws;

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement and other good and valuable consideration (the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by each of the Parties), the Parties hereto agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE 1
INTERPRETATION

 

1.1                               Definitions

 

In this Agreement:

 

(a)                                 Affiliate” means as follows: a Person (first Person) is considered to be an Affiliate of another Person (second Person) if the first Person: (i) acting alone or jointly or in concert with another Person, Controls, either directly or indirectly, the second Person, or (ii) is Controlled, directly or indirectly, by the second Person, or (iii) is Controlled, directly or indirectly, by another Person that, acting alone or jointly or in concert with another Person, Controls, directly or indirectly, the second Person; provided, however, that except to the extent expressly provided otherwise, the determination of whether a Person is an Affiliate of another Person shall be made on the basis that no Holder is an Affiliate of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries and vice versa;

 

(b)                                 Agreement” means this registration rights agreement, as amended, restated or modified from time to time;

 

(c)                                  Applicable Securities Laws” means, collectively, (i) the securities legislation of each of the provinces and territories of Canada, and all rules, regulations, blanket orders, instruments and policies established thereunder or issued by the Canadian Securities Regulatory Authorities, and

 



 

including the rules and policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange, all as amended from time to time, and (ii) the U.S. Securities Act, the U.S. Exchange Act and all applicable state securities legislation of any state in the United States, in each case with all rules, regulations and orders promulgated thereunder, and including the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, all as amended from time to time; and in all cases as are applicable to the relevant Person at the applicable time;

 

(d)                                 Base Prospectus” shall have the meaning set out in Section 2.1;

 

(e)                                  Blackout Period” means:

 

(i)                                   the Corporation’s regular annual and quarterly blackout periods as provided in the Disclosure Policy, which currently begin on the fourteenth day before the proposed release of the year-end or fiscal quarter financial results or budget information and end two full trading days after financial results or budget information are publicly disclosed; and

 

(ii)                                any other bona fide blackout periods designated by the Committee pursuant to and in conformity with the Disclosure Policy,

 

provided that, subject to the right of the Corporation in its sole discretion, at any time and from time to time, to modify the allocation of days on a one for one basis as between subsection (1) and (2) by up to an aggregate of five days in respect of each Registration Year, subject always to a maximum of 160 days for all blackout periods in each Registration Year, (1) the aggregate number of days subject to blackout periods under subsection 1.1(e)(i) shall not exceed 85 days during any Registration Year, and (2) the aggregate number of days subject to blackout periods under subsection 1.1(e)(ii) shall not exceed 75 days during any Registration Year;

 

(f)                                   Board of Directors” or “Board” means the board of directors of the Corporation;

 

(g)                                  Business Day” means any day on which banks are generally open for the transaction of commercial business in Calgary, Alberta, but does not in any event include a Saturday or Sunday or statutory holiday in Alberta;

 

(h)                                 Canadian Base Prospectus” shall have the meaning set out in Section 2.1;

 

(i)                                     Canadian Securities Regulatory Authorities” means the securities regulatory authorities in each of the provinces and territories of Canada;

 

(j)                                    Committee” means Cenovus’s disclosure committee established by the Board of Directors of Cenovus to oversee Cenovus’s disclosure policy practices, as described in the Disclosure Policy;

 

(k)                                 Common Shares” means the common shares in the capital of the Corporation and includes any shares of the Corporation into which such shares may be converted, reclassified, subdivided, consolidated, exchanged or otherwise changed, whether pursuant to a reorganization, amalgamation, merger, arrangement or other form of reorganization;

 

(l)                                     ConocoPhillips Entities” means ConocoPhillips and any Affiliate of ConocoPhillips that becomes, and is required to become, a party to this Agreement after the date hereof as a result of a permitted Transfer of Common Shares to such Affiliate pursuant to Sections 3.2(c)(iv) and 3.3 of the Investor Agreement, and “ConocoPhillips Entity” means any one of them;

 

(m)                             Control” means as follows: a Person (first Person) is considered to Control another Person (second Person) if:

 



 

(i)                                   the first Person directly or indirectly possesses the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the second Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise;

 

(ii)                                the first Person beneficially owns, or controls or directs, directly or indirectly, securities of the second Person carrying votes which, if exercised, would entitle the first Person to elect a majority of the directors of the second Person;

 

(iii)                             the second Person is a partnership, other than a limited partnership, and the first Person directly or indirectly holds more than 50% of the interests of the partnership;

 

(iv)                            the second Person is a limited partnership and the first Person (A) is the general partner of the limited partnership or (B) beneficially owns, or controls or directs, directly or indirectly, securities of the general partner of the limited partnership carrying votes which, if exercised, would entitle the first Person to elect a majority of the directors of the general partner of the limited partnership; or

 

(v)                               the second Person is a trust and the first Person (A) is the trustee of the trust, or (B) beneficially owns, or controls or directs, directly or indirectly, interests in the trust sufficient to directly or indirectly control all or certain activities of the trust;

 

(n)                                 Corporation” means Cenovus and any corporation resulting from the amalgamation, combination or merger of the Corporation with another corporation or other corporations, any purchaser of all or substantially all of the assets of Cenovus, and any entity into which Cenovus converts;

 

(o)                                 Demand Holder” shall have the meaning set out in subsection 2.2(a);

 

(p)                                 Demand Registrable Securities” shall have the meaning set out in subsection 2.2(a);

 

(q)                                 Demand Registration” shall have the meaning set out in subsection 2.2(a);

 

(r)                                    Designated Registrable Securities” means Demand Registrable Securities or Piggy Back Registrable Securities, as the case may be;

 

(s)                                   Disclosure Policy” means the Corporation’s Policy on Disclosure, Confidentiality and Employee Trading dated December 1, 2015, as such policy may be amended, supplemented or replaced from time to time;

 

(t)                                    Distribution Period” shall have the meaning set out in subsection 3.1(d);

 

(u)                                 Governmental Authority” means any stock exchange or any court, tribunal or judicial or arbitral body or other governmental department, regulatory agency or body, commission, board, bureau, agency, or instrumentality of Canada or the United States, or of any country, state, province, territory, county, municipality, city, town or other political jurisdiction, whether domestic or foreign and whether now or in the future constituted or existing;

 

(v)                                 Holders” means ConocoPhillips and any ConocoPhillips Entity to which ConocoPhillips or a permitted transferee thereof has Transferred its Registrable Securities in accordance with the Investor Agreement and Section 7.3;

 

(w)                               Investor Agreement” means the investor agreement dated the date hereof among Cenovus and ConocoPhillips;

 



 

(x)                                 misrepresentation” means (i) an untrue statement of material fact, or (ii) an omission to state a material fact that is required to be stated or that is necessary to make a statement not misleading;

 

(y)                                 Non-Base Prospectus” means a Canadian Prospectus on Form 44-101F1 pursuant to National Instrument 44-101- Short Form Prospectus Distributions, or in the event the Corporation is no longer eligible to use Form 44-101F1, Form 41-101F1 pursuant to National Instrument 41-101- General Prospectus Requirements and/or a Registration Statement under the U.S. Securities Act on Form F-10 or if the Corporation is no longer eligible to use Form F-10, such other form as the Corporation shall be eligible to use to register the Registrable Securities applicable in the circumstance;

 

(z)                                  Parties” means, the Corporation, each Holder and their respective successors and permitted assigns hereunder, and “Party” means any one of them;

 

(aa)                          Person” means any individual, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, limited or unlimited liability company or corporation, joint venture, syndicate, sole proprietorship, company or corporation with or without share capital, unincorporated association, unincorporated syndicate, unincorporated organization, trust, trustee, executor, administrator or other legal personal representative or Governmental Authority or entity, however designated or constituted;

 

(bb)                          Piggy Back Registrable Securities” shall have the meaning set out in subsection 2.2(e);

 

(cc)                            Piggy Back Registration” shall have the meaning set out in subsection 2.2(e);

 

(dd)                          Proposed Prospectus Filing Date” means the date on which the Corporation or the Demand Holder, as applicable, for such distribution plan to file a Prospectus Supplement;

 

(ee)                            Prospectus” means, collectively, a Base Prospectus and a Prospectus Supplement to such Base Prospectus;

 

(ff)                              Prospectus Supplement” means, as applicable, a prospectus supplement to the Canadian Base Prospectus, a supplement to the prospectus contained in the Registration Statement and/or an amendment to the Registration Statement containing a prospectus supplement, in each case relating to the distribution of Registrable Securities;

 

(gg)                            Registrable Securities” means (i) the 208,000,000 Common Shares issued to ConocoPhillips on the date of this Agreement and which may be held by other Holders upon a transfer of such Common Shares to other Holders in accordance with Section 7.3, and (ii) any Common Shares or other securities of the Corporation issued as a dividend, distribution, exchange, share split, recapitalization, or other corporate event in respect of such Common Shares;

 

(hh)                          Registration” means the qualification or registration, as applicable, of securities (or the distributions thereof) under Applicable Securities Laws so as to permit the distribution of such securities to the public in any or all of the provinces and territories of Canada and in the United States, in each case subject to the limitations contained herein;

 

(ii)                                  Registration Expenses” means the expenses incurred in connection with the distribution of the Registrable Securities pursuant to this Agreement comprised of:

 

(i)                                   all fees, disbursements and expenses payable to not more than one Canadian and one U.S. counsel of the Holders (on an aggregate basis);

 

(ii)                                all fees, disbursements and expenses of counsel and auditors to the Corporation;

 



 

(iii)                             all expenses in connection with the preparation, translation, printing and filing of any preliminary prospectus, prospectus, prospectus supplement, registration statement or any other offering document and any amendments and supplements thereto and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to any underwriters and dealers;

 

(iv)                            all registration and filing fees of any Canadian Securities Regulatory Authority, of the SEC and of any other Governmental Authority;

 

(v)                               all transfer agents’, depositaries’ and registrars’ fees;

 

(vi)                            all expenses relating to the preparation of certificates;

 

(vii)                         all fees and expenses of any securities exchange on which the Common Shares are then listed;

 

(viii)                      all fees and expenses of printing and producing any agreements among underwriters, underwriting agreements, “blue sky” or legal investment memoranda, and any selling agreements or other documents in connection with the sale of Registrable Securities;

 

(ix)                            all expenses of the Corporation relating to any analyst or investor presentations and any marketing activities and all travel and lodging expenses of the Corporation in connection with such presentations and marketing activities; and

 

(x)                               any fees and expenses of the underwriters, other than Selling Expenses, customarily paid by issuers or sellers of securities, but shall not include any Selling Expenses;

 

(jj)                                Registration Period” means the period commencing at 12:00 a.m. Mountain Time on November 18, 2017, and terminating on the date this Agreement terminates in accordance with Section 7.5;

 

(kk)                          Registration Statement” shall have the meaning set out in Section 2.1;

 

(ll)                                  Registration Year” means each consecutive 365-day period, with the first Registration Year commencing on the first day of the Registration Period;

 

(mm)                  Representatives” means, with respect to any Person, any of such Person’s directors, officers, employees, consultants, advisors, agents or other Person acting on behalf of the first Person;

 

(nn)                          SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission;

 

(oo)                          Secondary Registration” means a Piggy Back Registration or a Demand Registration, as the case may be;

 

(pp)                          Selling Expenses” means any fees or commissions payable, or discounts granted, to an underwriter, investment banker, manager or agent in connection with the distribution of the Registrable Securities or other Common Shares pursuant to this Agreement and any transfer taxes attributable to a sale of Registrable Securities or other Common Shares pursuant to this Agreement;

 

(qq)                          Transfer” and “Transferred” shall have the meaning given to such terms in the Investor Agreement;

 

(rr)                                U.S. Exchange Act” means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and all rules, regulations and orders promulgated thereunder; and

 



 

(ss)                              U.S. Securities Act” means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all rules, regulations and orders promulgated thereunder.

 

1.2                               Headings for Reference Only

 

The division of this Agreement into Articles, Sections, subsections, paragraphs and subparagraphs and the insertion of headings are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

1.3                               Construction and Interpretation

 

The Parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. If an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the Parties and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favouring or disfavouring any Party because of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement.

 

Words importing the singular number only shall include the plural and vice versa (including, for certainty, with respect to the defined terms Holders and Holder). Words importing gender shall include all genders. If a word is defined in this Agreement, a grammatical derivative of that word will have a corresponding meaning. Where the word “including” or “includes” is used in this Agreement it means “including without limitation” or “includes without limitation”, respectively. Any reference to any document shall include a reference to any schedule, amendment or supplement thereto or any agreement in replacement thereof, all as permitted under such document.

 

A reference herein to any statute includes every regulation (and other similar ancillary instrument having the force of law) made pursuant thereto, all amendments to the statute or to any such regulation (or other similar ancillary instrument) in force from time to time, and any statute or regulation (or other similar ancillary instrument) which supplements or supersedes such statute or regulation (or other similar ancillary instrument); and a reference to any section or provision of a statute includes all amendments to such section or provision, as made from time to time, and all sections or provisions which supplement or supersede such section or provision referred to herein.

 

Where this Agreement states that a Party “will”, “must” or “shall” perform in some manner or otherwise act or omit to act, it means that such Party is legally obligated to do so in accordance with this Agreement.

 

The terms “hereof”, “herein”, “hereunder” and similar expressions refer to this Agreement and not to any particular Article, Section or other portion hereof and include any agreement supplemental hereto. Unless something in the subject matter or context is inconsistent therewith, references herein to Articles, Sections, subsections, paragraphs and subparagraphs are to Articles, Sections, subsections, paragraphs and subparagraphs of this Agreement.

 

For the purposes of subsection 7.5(b), the number of “then-outstanding Common Shares” shall be equal to the number of Common Shares stated to be outstanding by the Corporation in its then most recently filed annual or quarterly management’s discussion and analysis, as the case may be, adjusted for any subsequent event(s) publicly announced by the Corporation via dissemination of a news release in Canada that has the effect of either increasing or decreasing the number of outstanding Common Shares stated to be outstanding by the Corporation in its then most recently filed annual or quarterly management’s discussion and analysis (other than, to avoid doubt, any equity incentive award or other equity compensation granted to any officer, director or employee of the Corporation or its Affiliates to the extent such awards or compensation remain subject to vesting or do not constitute Common Shares).

 

1.4                               Date for Any Action

 

If any date on which any action is required to be taken hereunder by any of the Parties is not a Business Day, such action is required to be taken on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day.

 



 

1.5                               Currency

 

All sums of money that are referred to in this Agreement are expressed in lawful money of Canada unless otherwise noted.

 

ARTICLE 2
REGISTRATION RIGHTS

 

2.1                               Filing and Maintenance of Base Prospectus

 

(a)                                 During the Registration Period, the Corporation shall maintain a short form base shelf prospectus (the “Canadian Base Prospectus”) filed with the Canadian Securities Regulatory Authorities and a registration statement on form F-10 (the “Registration Statement” and collectively with the Canadian Base Prospectus, the “Base Prospectus”), containing a base shelf prospectus filed with the SEC qualifying the Registrable Securities for distribution under Applicable Securities Laws. The Corporation shall cause the Base Prospectus to contain a plan of distribution consistent with the terms of this Agreement and approved in advance by the Holders acting reasonably.

 

(b)                                 In the event that the Base Prospectus is not effective at any time during the Registration Period, the rights and obligations contained herein shall apply to a Non-Base Prospectus and all references in this Agreement to Prospectus Supplement shall apply mutatis mutandis to a Non- Base Prospectus.

 

2.2                               Required Registration

 

(a)                                 Subject to the provisions hereof, at any time and from time to time during the Registration Period, one or more Holders (each such Holder, a “Demand Holder”) may request the Corporation to file a Prospectus Supplement offering all or part of the Registrable Securities (such offering being hereinafter referred to as a “Demand Registration”). Such a request shall be in writing and shall specify the Proposed Prospectus Filing Date, number of Registrable Securities to be sold (the “Demand Registrable Securities”), the intended method of disposition and the jurisdictions in which the Demand Holders, acting reasonably, request that the Demand Registration be effected and contain the undertaking of the Demand Holders making the request to provide all such information regarding such Demand Holders as may be required in order to permit the Corporation to comply with all Applicable Securities Laws with respect to such Demand Registration. The Holders may not make more than three requests for Demand Registrations in any Registration Year. A request for a Demand Registration by any Demand Holder shall be delivered not more than 21 days and not less than 10 days (or, no more than once per Registration Year, if the Holders may not sell Registrable Securities in the United States pursuant to Rule 144 under the U.S. Securities Act without being subject to the limitations imposed by volume and manner of sale restrictions contained therein on the date of such request, not less than 5 days), prior to the Proposed Prospectus Filing Date for such Demand Registration. The Holders shall not request a Demand Registration to be conducted in a manner that would require the filing of a prospectus, registration statement or other disclosure document in a jurisdiction outside Canada or the United States or subject the Corporation to continuous disclosure obligations under applicable securities laws in any such other jurisdiction. No offering of Registrable Securities under this subsection 2.2(a) shall relieve the Corporation of its obligations to effect Piggy Back Registrations pursuant to subsection 2.2(e).

 

(b)                                 Subject to Section 2.2(c), each Demand Registration shall be for such number of Demand Registrable Securities as requested by the Demand Holders.

 

(c)                                  The Corporation shall have the right, by providing notice to the Demand Holder not less than five days prior to the Proposed Prospectus Filing Date (or, no more than once per Registration Year, if (x) the Demand Holder expects such offering to be conducted as a block trade or bought deal and

 



 

such expectation is indicated in the applicable Demand Registration request and (y) the Demand Holder may not sell the Common Shares that it intends to sell under the applicable Demand Registration request in the United States pursuant to Rule 144 under the U.S. Securities Act without being subject to the limitations imposed by volume and manner of sale restrictions contained therein on the date of such request, then the Corporation shall have three days after receiving such Demand Registration request to provide notice to the Demand Holder), to offer and sell Common Shares as part of any Demand Registration initiated by the Demand Holders under this Agreement. If the managing underwriter or underwriters advise(s) the Corporation that, in such firm’s good faith view, the number of Demand Registrable Securities and other securities requested to be included in such Demand Registration exceeds the number that can be sold in such offering without being likely to have an adverse effect upon the price, timing or distribution of the offering and sale of the Demand Registrable Securities, then the Corporation shall include in such Demand Registration:

 

(i)                                   first, the Demand Registrable Securities to be included in such Demand Registration;

 

(ii)                                second, the other Common Shares sought to be included by the Corporation or any other stockholder that can be sold without having the adverse effect referred to above, pro rata on the basis of the relative number of such other Common Shares owned by the Corporation and such other Persons.

 

(d)                                 The Corporation shall be entitled to postpone the filing of a Prospectus Supplement otherwise required to be prepared and filed by it pursuant to this Section 2.2 (but not the preparation of such Prospectus Supplement) or may request Holders suspend the use of any Prospectus Supplement that has been filed by it pursuant to this Section 2.2 if a Blackout Period is in effect or occurs after a Demand Registration request has been received but before the Demand Registration has been effected. The Corporation will give written notice of its determination to decline to effect (or to suspend) a Demand Registration pursuant to this subsection 2.2(d), including a general description of the basis for such declination (or suspension), promptly after the occurrence thereof. If the Corporation exercises its rights under this subsection 2.2(d), it shall, as promptly as practicable following the expiration of the applicable deferral or suspension period, file or update and use its reasonable best efforts to cause the effectiveness of the deferred or suspended Prospectus Supplement. If the Corporation declines to effect a Demand Registration subject to this subsection 2.2(d) and if the Holder within 30 days after receipt of notice from the Corporation advises the Corporation in writing that it has determined to withdraw such request for a Demand Registration, and such request for a Demand Registration will be deemed to be withdrawn and such request will be deemed to have not been given for purposes of determining whether the Demand Holders have exercised their rights to a Demand Registration permitted to such Holders pursuant to this Section 2.2.

 

(e)                                  A Demand Holder may, at any time prior to the date on which the Corporation enters into a binding underwriting agreement in connection with a Demand Registration, revoke such Demand Holder’s Demand Registration in whole or in part. The Demand Holders may revoke a Demand Registration in whole once per Registration Year without being responsible for any Registration Expenses incurred in respect of such Demand Registration. The Demand Holders shall be responsible for all Registration Expenses incurred in connection with each other revocation in whole of a Demand Registration during a Registration Year. Each revoked Demand Registration shall constitute a Demand Registration for purposes of the limitation on the number of Demand Registrations in any Registration Year contained in subsection 2.3(a), in each case unless (i) the Corporation has previously notified the Demand Holder that it intends to register securities in connection with such Demand Registration and in fact completes such registration notwithstanding the revocation by the Demand Holder or (ii) the Corporation and such Demand Holders mutually agree not to proceed with such Demand Registration. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, a request for a Demand Registration shall not be deemed to be effective if, at any time after it has become effective, such Demand Registration is interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the SEC or other Governmental

 



 

Authority for any reason other than a misrepresentation by a Holder relating to such Demand Registration.

 

(f)                                   If during the Registration Period the Corporation proposes to file a Prospectus Supplement in Canada and/or with the SEC in order to permit the issuance of its Common Shares pursuant to a public offering for its own account, in a form and manner that, with appropriate changes, would permit the offering of Registrable Securities under such Prospectus Supplement, the Corporation shall give reasonably prompt notice of its intention to do so to the Holders and shall use reasonable efforts to include in the proposed distribution such number of Designated Registrable Securities (the “Piggy Back Registrable Securities”) as the Holders shall request (such offering hereinafter referred to as a “Piggy Back Registration”) within five days after the giving of such notice (provided that if the Corporation expects such offering to be conducted as a block trade or bought deal and such expectation is indicated in the applicable notice, then the Holders shall have one day after the giving of notice by the Corporation to provide such request), upon the same terms (including the method of distribution) as such distribution. If the managing underwriter or underwriters advise(s) the Corporation that, in such firm’s good faith view, the number of Piggy Back Registrable Securities and other securities requested to be included in such Piggy Back Registration exceeds the number that can be sold in such offering without being likely to have an adverse effect upon the price, timing or distribution of the offering and sale of the Piggy Back Registrable Securities and other securities, then the Corporation shall include in such Piggy Back Registration:

 

(i)                                   first, the Common Shares to be included by the Corporation in such Piggy Back Registration;

 

(ii)                                second, the Piggy Back Registrable Securities sought to be included that can be sold without having the adverse effect referred to above; and

 

(iii)                             third, any other securities sought to be included by any other stockholder that can be sold without having the adverse effect referred to above, pro rata on the basis of the relative number of such other securities owned by such other Persons.

 

The Corporation may at any time, at its sole discretion and without the consent of the Holders, withdraw such Prospectus Supplement and abandon the proposed distribution in which the Holders requested to participate. The failure of the Holders to respond within the periods referred to in the immediately preceding sentence shall be deemed to be a waiver of the Holders’ rights under this subsection 2.2(e) with respect to such Piggy Back Registration. The Holders may also waive their rights under this subsection 2.2(e) by giving written notice to the Corporation. No offering of Registrable Securities under this subsection 2.2(e) shall relieve the Corporation of its obligations to effect Demand Registrations pursuant to subsection 2.2(a).

 

2.3                               Selection of Underwriters for Underwritten Demand Registrations

 

Upon requesting a Demand Registration for an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities, the Demand Holders shall select the investment banker(s) and manager(s) to effect the distribution in connection with such underwritten Demand Registration, it being acknowledged by the Holders that the participation of a registrant shall be required in Canada and a registered broker-dealer in the United States in connection with each underwritten Secondary Registration hereunder and it being further acknowledged that the investment banker(s) and/or manager(s) selected by the Demand Holders must be of nationally recognized standing in the United States and/or Canada (as applicable). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Holders acknowledge that the Corporation shall have the sole right to select the investment banker(s) and manager(s) to effect the distribution in connection with any Piggy Back Registration and shall have no obligation to consult with the Holders with respect to such selection.

 



 

2.4                               Registration Expenses and Selling Expenses.

 

(a)                                 Subject to subsection 2.2(e), the Corporation shall be responsible for all Registration Expenses.

 

(b)                                 Each of the Corporation and the Holders shall be responsible for the Selling Expenses on any Demand Registration or Piggy Back Registration in proportion to their respective amounts of Common Shares sold in any such offering.

 

ARTICLE 3
REGISTRATION PROCEDURES

 

3.1                               Procedures

 

Upon receipt of a request from the Holders pursuant to Section 2.2, the Corporation will, subject to Section 2.2, effect the Secondary Registration as requested. In particular, the Corporation will, in each case as applicable:

 

(a)                                 use commercially reasonable efforts to prepare and file, as soon as reasonably practicable, in the English language and, if required, French language, a Prospectus Supplement under and in compliance with Applicable Securities Laws of each Canadian jurisdiction in which the Secondary Registration is to be effected and such other related documents as may be reasonably necessary to be filed in connection with such Prospectus Supplement and take all other steps and proceedings that may be reasonably necessary in order to permit a registered public offering (whether or not underwritten) of the Designated Registrable Securities by the Holders in the applicable Canadian jurisdictions;

 

(b)                                 use commercially reasonable efforts to prepare and file, as soon as reasonably practicable, with the SEC a Prospectus Supplement, covering the distribution of the Designated Registrable Securities and such other related documents as may be reasonably necessary to be filed in connection with such Prospectus Supplement and take all other steps and proceedings that may be reasonably necessary in order to permit a registered public offering (whether or not underwritten) of the Designated Registrable Securities by the Holders in the United States;

 

(c)                                  use commercially reasonable efforts to prepare and file with the applicable Canadian Securities Regulatory Authorities in the Canadian jurisdictions in which the Secondary Registration is to be effected and with the SEC such amendments and supplements to the Prospectus Supplement, as may be reasonably necessary to comply with the provisions of Applicable Securities Laws with respect to the Registration of Designated Registrable Securities, and take such steps as are reasonably necessary to maintain the effectiveness of the Prospectus during the Registration Period;

 

(d)                                 notify promptly each Holder of Registrable Securities under a Registration Statement or Canadian Base Prospectus and, if requested by such Holder, promptly confirm such advice in writing

 

(i)                                   when a Registration Statement or Canadian Base Prospectus has become effective and when any post-effective amendments or supplements thereto become effective; (ii) of any request by the SEC, any U.S. state securities authority or any Canadian Securities Regulatory Authority for additional information after the Registration Statement or Canadian Base Prospectus has become effective or for any post-effective amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or Canadian Base Prospectus; (iii) of the issuance by the SEC, any U.S. state securities authority or any Canadian Securities Regulatory Authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or Canadian Base Prospectus or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose; (iv) if, between the effective date of a Registration Statement or Canadian Base Prospectus and the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities covered thereby, the representations and warranties of the Corporation contained in any underwriting

 



 

agreement or similar agreement, if any, relating to the offering cease to be true and correct in all material respects; (v) of the happening of any event or the discovery of any facts during the period a Registration Statement or Canadian Base Prospectus is effective as a result of which such Registration Statement or Canadian Base Prospectus or any document incorporated by reference therein contains any misrepresentation; (vi) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; (vii) if for any other reason it shall be necessary to amend or supplement the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Canadian Base Prospectus in order to comply with Applicable Securities Laws; (viii) of the filing of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or Canadian Base Prospectus;

 

(e)                                  use commercially reasonable efforts to (i) register and qualify, unless an exemption from registration and qualification applies, the resale by the Holders of the Designated Registrable Securities covered by the Prospectus Supplement under such other securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions as designated by the Holders, acting reasonably, in the request for Demand Registration, (ii) prepare and file in those jurisdictions, such amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such registrations and qualifications as may be reasonably necessary to maintain the effectiveness until the time at which the distribution of the Designated Registrable Securities is completed (the “Distribution Period”), (iii) take such other actions as may be necessary to maintain such registrations and qualifications in effect at all times during the Distribution Period, and (iv) take all other actions reasonably necessary or advisable to qualify the Designated Registrable Securities for sale in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that the Corporation shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to (A) qualify to do business as a foreign corporation or dealer in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this subsection 3.1(d), (B) subject itself to any taxation in any such jurisdiction, or (C) consent to general service of process in such jurisdiction. The Corporation shall promptly notify the Holders of the receipt by the Corporation of any notification with respect to the suspension of the registration or qualification of any of the Designated Registrable Securities for sale under the securities or “blue sky” laws of any jurisdiction or its receipt of actual notice of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose;

 

(f)                                   furnish to the Holders and any underwriter or underwriters of any such distribution, upon their request, such number of copies of the Base Prospectus, any Prospectus Supplement and any amendment and supplement thereto (including any documents incorporated therein by reference) and such other relevant documents as the Holders may reasonably request in order to facilitate the distribution of the Designated Registrable Securities;

 

(g)                                  furnish to the Holders and any underwriter or underwriters of any such distribution, upon their request, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and each Canadian Base Prospectus and any post-effective amendment to either of them, including financial statements and schedules (including all documents incorporated therein by reference and all exhibits thereto);

 

(h)                                 furnish to counsel for the Holders copies of any comment letters relating to the selling Holders received from the SEC or any Canadian Securities Regulatory Authorities or any other request by the SEC or any Canadian Securities Regulatory Authorities for amendments or supplements to the Base Prospectus or any Prospectus Supplement or for additional information relating to the selling Holders, provided that the Corporation shall not be required to provide copies of any non-substantial routine correspondence with the SEC or Canadian Securities Regulatory Authorities that does not specifically relate to the selling Holders or any information the disclosure of which would be restricted by applicable privacy laws or other laws governing the treatment of personal information;

 



 

(i)                                     use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Base Prospectus or any Prospectus Supplement at the earliest possible moment;

 

(j)                                    cooperate with the selling Holders to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates and opinions of counsel necessary to remove any restrictive legends associated with the Registrable Securities to enable such securities to be sold by the selling Holders (whether in a registered or unregistered transaction) as the selling Holders may reasonably request;

 

(k)                                 furnish to the Holders and any underwriter or underwriters of any such distribution and such other persons as the Holders may reasonably specify:

 

(i)                                   an opinion or opinions of counsel to the Corporation addressed to the Holders and the underwriter or underwriters of such distribution and dated the closing date of the distribution, which opinion(s) shall be in form, scope and substance customary for an offering of the type contemplated by the applicable Secondary Registration, having regard to the form of opinions given by the Corporation’s counsel in prior public offerings by the Corporation, and reasonably satisfactory to the Holders and any underwriters;

 

(ii)                                a customary “comfort letter” addressed to the Holders (subject to the auditors’ receipt of required representation letters from the Holders) and the underwriter or underwriters dated the date of the Prospectus Supplement and the closing date of the distribution signed by the auditors of the Corporation (and, if necessary, any other auditors of any subsidiary of the Corporation or of any business acquired by the Corporation for which financial statements are, or are required to be, included in the Prospectus), in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by “comfort letters” as the Holder and managing underwriter reasonably requests;

 

(iii)                             if a Prospectus Supplement is filed in Quebec, opinions of Quebec counsel to the Corporation and the auditors of the Corporation addressed to the Holders and the underwriter or underwriters of such distribution relating to the translation of the Prospectus and compliance with French language laws, such opinions being dated the dates of the preliminary prospectus supplement, the final prospectus supplement and closing; and

 

(iv)                            such corporate certificates as are reasonably requested in connection with such distribution, and, in each case, covering substantially the same matters as are customarily covered in such documents in the relevant jurisdictions and such other matters as the Holders may reasonably request

 

(l)                                     make available to the underwriter or underwriters in connection with any Secondary Registration reasonable access to the senior management of the Corporation for investor and analyst calls and meetings with respect to such Secondary Registrations;

 

(m)                             use commercially reasonable efforts to provide any additional cooperation reasonably requested by the underwriters in the offering, marketing or selling of the Registrable Securities;

 

(n)                                 as promptly as practicable after delivery of a notice under Section 3.1(d)(v), use commercially reasonable efforts to prepare a supplement or amendment to the Registration Statement or Prospectus, as applicable, or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of the Registrable Securities, such Registration Statement or Prospectus will not include a misrepresentation;

 

(o)                                 otherwise use its commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all Applicable Securities Laws;

 



 

(p)                                 provide a transfer agent and registrar for such Common Shares no later than the closing date of the offering;

 

(q)                                 enter into customary agreements (including an underwriting agreement with the underwriter or underwriters), such agreements to contain such representations and warranties by the Corporation and such other terms and conditions as are customary for such offering (including customary indemnity and contribution provisions), having regard to the form of underwriting agreements entered into by the Corporation in prior public offerings, and take all such other actions as permitted by law as the Holders or the underwriter or underwriters, if any, reasonably request in order to expedite or facilitate the distribution of the Designated Registrable Securities;

 

(r)                                    in the event of the issuance of any order or ruling suspending the distribution of securities under the Prospectus from the Canadian Securities Regulatory Authorities or the effectiveness of the Registration Statement from the SEC, or any order suspending or preventing the use of the Prospectus or suspending the Secondary Registration of any of the Designated Registrable Securities or cease trading the distribution in any applicable province or territory of Canada or in the United States, the Corporation will, as expeditiously as possible after actual knowledge by the Corporation thereof, notify the Holders of such event and use its commercially reasonable efforts promptly to obtain the withdrawal of such order or ruling;

 

(s)                                   a reasonable time prior to (and again within two Business Days following) the filing of any Registration Statement, any prospectus (including any Prospectus), any Canadian Base Prospectus, any Prospectus Supplement, or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing, provide copies of such documents to the Holders and the underwriters (if any), and make such changes in any of the foregoing documents prior to the filing thereof, or in the case of changes received from counsel to the Holders by filing an amendment or supplement thereto, as the Holders, underwriters or their respective counsel reasonably requests, and not file any such document in a form to which any Holder or underwriter (if any) shall not have previously been advised and furnished a copy of or to which counsel for the Holders or the underwriters (if any) shall reasonably object, and not including in any amendment or supplement to such documents any information about the Holders or any change to the plan of distribution of the Registrable Securities that would limit the method of distribution of the Registrable Securities unless counsel for the Holders has been advised in advance and approved such information or change, and make available Representatives of the Corporation to the extent reasonably requested to discuss such documents (and any proposed revisions thereto);

 

(t)                                    otherwise comply with all Applicable Securities Laws and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering at least twelve months which shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the U.S. Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder and any other similar Applicable Securities Laws;

 

(u)                                 during the Registration Period, the Corporation will take all actions necessary to maintain the listing of the Registrable Securities on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange;

 

(v)                                 cooperate and assist in any filings required to be made with the U.S. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, as applicable, and in the performance of any due diligence investigation by any underwriter and its counsel in connection therewith;

 

(w)                               during the Registration Period, the Corporation will promptly prepare and file French translations of all documents incorporated by reference into the Base Prospectus; and

 

(x)                                 during the Registration Period, the Corporation will provide to the Holders, not later than December 15, the Corporation’s timetable for scheduled Blackout Periods for the succeeding year, and will advise the Holders if the timetable for such scheduled Blackout Periods changes during the course of the year.

 



 

3.2                               Obligations of the Holders

 

In connection with any Secondary Registration, the Holders shall:

 

(a)                                 provide, in writing, such information with respect to the Holders, including the number of securities of the Corporation held by the Holders, as may be required by the Corporation to comply with Applicable Securities Laws in each jurisdiction in which the Secondary Registration is to be effected;

 

(b)                                 if required under Applicable Securities Laws, execute any certificate forming part of a preliminary prospectus, final prospectus, registration statement or similar document to be filed with the applicable Canadian Securities Regulatory Authorities or the SEC;

 

(c)                                  as expeditiously as possible following actual knowledge by the Holder thereof, notify the Corporation of the happening of any event during the Distribution Period, as a result of which the Prospectus or the Registration Statement, as in effect, would include a misrepresentation with respect to any information provided by such Holder pursuant to subsection 3.2(a);

 

(d)                                 comply with all Applicable Securities Laws with respect to such Secondary Registration;

 

(e)                                  provide such information to the Corporation regarding the conduct and process of any Demand Registration that the Corporation may reasonably request; and

 

(f)                                   not effect or permit to be effected sales of Designated Registrable Securities pursuant to the Prospectus or deliver or permit to be delivered the Prospectus in respect of such sale after notification by the Corporation of any order or ruling suspending the effectiveness of the Prospectus or after notification by the Corporation under subsection 3.1(r), until the Corporation advises the Holders that such suspension has been lifted or that it has filed an amendment to the Prospectus and has provided copies of such amendment to the Holders. The Holders shall, if so directed by the Corporation, deliver to the Corporation (at the Corporation’s expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies, then in the Holders’ possession of the Prospectus covering the Designated Registrable Securities that was in effect at the time of receipt of such notice.

 

3.3                               Covenants Relating To Rule 144

 

With a view to making available to the Holders the benefits of Rule 144 promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act or any other similar rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit the Holders to sell securities of the Corporation to the public without registration, the Corporation agrees to: (a) make and keep public information available as is necessary to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144 under the U.S. Securities Act; (b) file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Corporation under the U.S. Securities Act and the U.S. Exchange Act for so long as the filing of such reports and other documents is required for the applicable provisions of Rule 144 promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act, (c) furnish to each Holder promptly upon request such other information as may be reasonably requested to permit the Holder to sell such securities pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act without registration; and (d) upon request of the Holder, cause any restrictive legends associated with any securities to be sold pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act to be removed, including by obtaining from counsel for the Corporation a legal opinion authorizing the removal of such legends.

 

ARTICLE 4
DUE DILIGENCE; INDEMNIFICATION

 

4.1                               Preparation; Reasonable Investigation

 

In connection with the preparation and filing of a Prospectus Supplement as herein contemplated, the Corporation will give the Holders and the underwriter or underwriters of such distribution and their respective counsel, auditors

 



 

and other representatives, the opportunity to participate in the preparation of such documents and each amendment thereof or supplement thereto, and shall insert therein such material relating to the Holders furnished to the Corporation in writing, which is required under Applicable Securities Laws or in the reasonable judgment of the parties and/or their respective counsel should be included, and will, subject to the confirmation of the recipients’ obligations as to the confidential treatment of such information, give each of them such reasonable and customary access to the Corporation’s books and records and such reasonable and customary opportunity to discuss the business of the Corporation with its officers and auditors as shall be necessary in the reasonable opinion of the Holders and the underwriter or underwriters and their respective counsel, and to conduct all reasonable and customary due diligence which the Holders and the underwriter or underwriters and their respective counsel may reasonably require in order to conduct a reasonable investigation for purposes of establishing, to the extent permitted by law, a due diligence defense as contemplated by Applicable Securities Laws and in order to enable such underwriters to execute any certificate required to be executed by them in Canada or the United States for inclusion in each such document.

 

4.2                               Indemnification

 

(a)                                 The Corporation agrees to indemnify, to the extent permitted by law, the Holders and each Person who participates as an underwriter in the offering or sale of the Designated Registrable Securities, and each of their respective directors, officers, employees and agents and each Person who controls any such underwriter or Holder (within the meaning of any Applicable Securities Laws) against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses arising out of or based upon:

 

(i)                                   any information or statement contained in the Registration Statement (other than any information which has been furnished to the Corporation by the Holders in writing expressly for use therein pursuant to subsection 3.2(a) or Section 4.1) which at the time contains a misrepresentation or is alleged to contain a misrepresentation;

 

(ii)                                any information or statement contained in the Prospectus, any filing made in connection with the Secondary Registration under the securities or other “blue sky” laws or any amendment thereto (other than any information which has been furnished to the Corporation by the Holders in writing expressly for use therein pursuant to subsection 3.2(a) or Section 4.1) which at the time and in light of the circumstances in which it was made contains a misrepresentation or is alleged to contain a misrepresentation;

 

(iii)                             any order made or inquiry, investigation or proceedings commenced or threatened by any applicable securities regulatory authority, court or other competent authority based upon any misrepresentation or alleged misrepresentation in the Prospectus or any amendment thereto (other than any such misrepresentation contained in any information which has been furnished to the Corporation by the Holders in writing expressly for use therein pursuant to subsection 3.2(a) or Section 4.1) or based upon any failure or alleged failure to comply with Applicable Securities Laws (other than any failure to comply with Applicable Securities Laws by any Holder or the underwriters, as applicable, which is not as a result of a failure or an alleged failure of the Corporation to comply with Applicable Securities Laws); and

 

(iv)                            noncompliance by the Corporation with any Applicable Securities Laws in connection with a Secondary Registration and the distribution effected thereunder, except in the case of any of the foregoing insofar as such noncompliance was caused by the Holders’ or any underwriter’s failure to deliver to a purchaser of Designated Registrable Securities, a copy of the Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto or to otherwise comply with Applicable Securities Laws in a manner which is not a result of a failure or an alleged failure of the Corporation to comply with Applicable Securities Laws.

 

(b)                                 The Holders agree to indemnify, to the extent permitted by law, the Corporation and each Person who participates as an underwriter in the offering or sale of the Designated Registrable Securities, and each of their respective directors, officers, employees and agents and each Person

 



 

who controls such underwriters (within the meaning of any Applicable Securities Laws) against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses arising out of or based upon: (i) any information or statement contained in the Registration Statement which has been furnished to the Corporation by the Holders in writing expressly for use therein pursuant to subsection 3.2(a) or Section 4.1 which at the time contains a misrepresentation or is alleged to contain a misrepresentation; (ii) any information or statement contained in the Prospectus, any filing made in connection with the Registration under the securities or other “blue sky” laws or any amendment thereto which has been furnished to the Corporation by the Holders in writing expressly for use therein pursuant to subsection 3.2(a) or Section 4.1 which at the time and in light of the circumstances under which it was made contains a misrepresentation or alleged misrepresentation; (iii) any order made or inquiry, investigation or proceedings commenced or threatened by any applicable securities regulatory authority, court or other competent authority based upon (A) any misrepresentation or alleged misrepresentation in the Prospectus or any amendment thereto based upon any information or statement which has been furnished to the Corporation by the Holders in writing expressly for use therein pursuant to subsection 3.2(a) or Section 4.1, or (B) any failure or an alleged failure to comply with Applicable Securities Laws by the Holders which is not as a result of a failure or alleged failure of the Corporation to comply with Applicable Securities Laws; (iv) noncompliance by a Holder with any Applicable Securities Laws in connection with a distribution of Registrable Securities; and (v) the Holders’ failure to deliver to a purchaser of Designated Registrable Securities, a copy of the Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto or to otherwise comply with Applicable Securities Laws in a manner which is not a result of a failure or an alleged failure of the Corporation to comply with Applicable Securities Laws, except in the case of any of the foregoing insofar as such noncompliance was caused by the Corporation or any underwriter’s failure to deliver to a purchaser of Designated Registrable Securities a copy of the Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto or to otherwise comply with Applicable Securities Laws.

 

(c)                                  Any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder will (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that any failure to give notice pursuant to this subsection 4.2(c) shall not relieve the indemnifying party of its obligations under this Section 4.2 unless such failure to give notice results in material prejudice against such indemnifying party) and (ii) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party, acting reasonably. If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party will not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). An indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such suit and participate in the defence thereof but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnified party unless: (i) the indemnifying party fails to assume the defence of such suit on behalf of the indemnified party within a reasonable period of time; (ii) the employment of such counsel has been authorized in writing by the indemnifying party; (iii) the named parties include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified Party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them; or (iv) the named parties to any such suit or proceeding include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party has reasonably concluded that there may be one or more legal defences available to the indemnified party which are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party, in which case, if such indemnified party notifies the indemnifying party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defence of such suit or proceeding on behalf of the indemnified party and shall be liable to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the indemnified party, it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any one such action or separate but substantially similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate law firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all such indemnified parties. No indemnifying party may settle any claims without the express written consent of an indemnified

 



 

party (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed where such consent does not contain any admission of liability, includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from any liabilities arising out of such claim and has as its only obligation on the indemnified party the payment of funds for which the indemnifying party has unconditionally agreed to provide indemnity under this Section 4.2).

 

(d)                                 The indemnification provided for under this Agreement will survive the expiry of this Agreement and will remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director or controlling Person of such indemnified party and will survive any transfer of securities pursuant thereto. In the event the indemnification is unavailable in whole or in part for any reason under this Section 4.2, the Corporation and the Holders shall contribute to the aggregate of all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Corporation and the Holders in connection with the event giving rise to liability. No Person that has been determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final judgment to have engaged in fraud, willful misconduct, fraudulent misrepresentation or negligence shall be entitled to claim indemnification or contribution pursuant to subsection 4.2(b) or this subsection 4.2(d), as applicable, from any person who has not also been so determined to have engaged in such fraud, willful misconduct, fraudulent misrepresentation or negligence.

 

(e)                                  The Corporation hereby acknowledges and agrees that, with respect to this Section 4.2, each Holder is contracting on its own behalf and as agent for the other indemnified persons referred to in subsection 4.2(a). In this regard, each Holder will act as trustee for such indemnified persons of the covenants of the Corporation under this Section 4.2 with respect to such indemnified persons and accepts these trusts and will hold and enforce those covenants on behalf of such indemnified persons.

 

(f)                                   The Holders hereby acknowledge and agree that, with respect to this Section 4.2, the Corporation is contracting on its own behalf and as agent for the other indemnified persons referred to in subsection 4.2(b). In this regard, the Corporation will act as trustee for such indemnified persons of the covenants of the Holders under this Section 4.2 with respect to such indemnified persons and accepts these trusts and will hold and enforce those covenants on behalf of such indemnified persons.

 

ARTICLE 5
LOCK-UP AGREEMENT

 

5.1                               Secondary Registration Lock-Up

 

(a)                                 In respect of any offering of securities by the Corporation or Secondary Registration, upon request by the underwriters or dealers (as the case may be) in connection therewith, the Holders and the Corporation each agree to execute customary lock-up agreements, in each case for a period ending no later than 90 days or such shorter term as the underwriters may reasonably request (the “Lock-Up Period”), after the closing of such primary offering or Secondary Registration, on terms required by the underwriters and consistent with those in public offering underwriting agreements customarily entered into by the Corporation.

 

(b)                                 The Corporation shall be entitled to postpone the filing of a Prospectus Supplement otherwise required to be prepared and filed by it pursuant hereto (but not the preparation of such Prospectus Supplement) or may request Holders suspend the use of any Prospectus Supplement that has been filed by it pursuant hereto if a Demand Registration request is received prior to the expiration of any Lock-Up Period as defined in subsection 5.1(a).

 



 

ARTICLE 6
THIRD-PARTY REGISTRATION RIGHTS

 

6.1                               Other Registration Rights

 

Cenovus represents and warrants to ConocoPhillips that it has not granted any registration rights to third parties that would conflict with or adversely affect the rights of the Holders as set forth in this Agreement. The Corporation also covenants and agrees that, for a period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the earlier of (i) 730 days following the commencement of the Registration Period and (ii) the time at which the Holders hold, in the aggregate, less than 10.0% of the number of then-outstanding Common Shares, the Corporation will not grant to any third party any registration rights that are adverse to the rights of any ConocoPhillips Entity under this Agreement without the prior written consent of such ConocoPhillips Entity.

 

ARTICLE 7
GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

7.1                               Further Assurances

 

Each of the Parties hereto will promptly do, make, execute or deliver, or cause to be done, made, executed or delivered, all such further acts, documents and things as the other party hereto may reasonably require from time to time for the purpose of giving effect to this Agreement and will use reasonable efforts and take all such steps as may be reasonably within its power to implement to their full extent the provisions of this Agreement.

 

7.2                               Severability

 

If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule or law, or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement will nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon any determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the Parties to this Agreement will negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner to the end that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are fulfilled to the fullest extent possible.

 

7.3                               Assignment

 

This Agreement and the rights and obligations of the Parties hereto shall bind and enure to the benefit of each of the Parties hereto, the other Parties indemnified under Section 4.2 and their respective successors.

 

Neither Party shall have the right to transfer or assign any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement except that this Agreement shall be assigned in whole or in part by ConocoPhillips (upon notice to the Corporation) to any Affiliate of ConocoPhillips to whom any Registrable Securities are transferred as permitted under Sections 3.2(c)(iv) or 3.3 of the Investor Agreement. Upon the permitted transferee(s) or assignee(s) executing an instrument in writing agreeing to be bound by this Agreement, the transferee(s) or assignee(s) will be entitled to its benefit and be bound by all of its terms as if it were an original signatory hereto and shall be considered a Holder for the purposes of this Agreement, provided that if any Person who was a permitted transferee ceases to be an Affiliate of ConocoPhillips, such Person shall cease to have any rights or obligations under this Agreement. ConocoPhillips agrees to cause any ConocoPhillips Entity acquiring Registrable Securities subject to this Agreement to become a party hereto and to perform its obligations hereunder, and hereby guarantees the performance of all of the obligations of any such transferee under this Agreement.

 

This Agreement may not be assigned by the Corporation without the prior written consent of each Holder, provided that in the event the Common Shares are converted, reclassified, exchanged or otherwise changed pursuant to a reorganization, amalgamation, merger, arrangement or other form of reorganization, this Agreement may be assigned by the Corporation to its successor pursuant to any such transaction without the prior written consent of the Holders.

 



 

7.4                               Remedies and Breaches

 

(a)                                 Each of the Holders, on the one hand (and for the purposes of this Section 7.4 collectively considered to be a “Party”), and the Corporation, on the other hand, acknowledges and agrees that irreparable injury to the other Party hereto may occur in the event any of the provisions of this Agreement are not performed in accordance with its specific terms or is otherwise breached and that such injury may not be adequately compensable in damages. It is accordingly agreed that each of the Holders, on the one hand, and the Corporation, on the other hand, shall, in addition to any other remedy to which they may be entitled at law or in equity, each be entitled to seek specific enforcement of, and injunctive relief to prevent any violation of, the terms hereof and the other Party hereto will not take any action, directly or indirectly, in opposition to the Party seeking relief on the grounds that any other remedy or relief is available at law or in equity. The prevailing Party in any such action shall be entitled to recover legal fees and expenses from the non- prevailing Party.

 

(b)                                 Each Holder on the one hand, and the Corporation on the other hand, acknowledges that it shall be liable for any breach of this Agreement by any of its Affiliates or any of its or its Affiliates’ Representatives or other Persons acting on their behalf, and that it shall inform its and its Affiliates’ Representatives of the terms of this Agreement and shall cause them to comply with them.

 

7.5                               Term and Termination

 

This Agreement will continue in force until the earlier of the date on which:

 

(a)                                 this Agreement is terminated by the written agreement of the Parties; and

 

(b)                                 the time at which the Holders hold, in the aggregate, not more than 3.5% of the number of then-outstanding Common Shares,

 

except that (i) the provisions of Section 4.2 and this Article 7 shall continue in full force and effect notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, and (ii) termination of this Agreement will not affect or prejudice any rights or obligations which have accrued or arisen under this Agreement prior to the time of termination and such rights and obligations, including any indemnities and remedies, will continue in full force and effect and survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

7.6                               Notices

 

All notices required or permitted pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given by personal delivery or facsimile or electronic mail transmittal during normal business hours on any Business Day to the address for the Holders or the Corporation, as applicable, as set forth below. Any such notice or other communication given hereunder shall, if personally delivered or sent by facsimile or electronic mail transmittal (with confirmation received), be conclusively deemed to have been given or made and received on the day of delivery or facsimile or electronic mail transmittal (as the case may be) if such delivery or facsimile or electronic mail transmittal occurs during normal business hours of the recipient on a Business Day and if not so delivered or transmitted during normal business hours on a Business Day, then on the next Business Day following the day of delivery or transmittal. The Parties hereto may give from time to time written notice of change of address in the manner aforesaid.

 

Notices shall be provided:

 

(a)                                 To the Holders:

 

c/o ConocoPhillips Canada Resources Corp.
401-9TH Avenue S.W.

 



 

Calgary, Alberta T2P 3C5
Attention: Land and Business Development Manager

 

(b)                                 To the Corporation:

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.
500 Centre Street S.E.
P.O. Box 766
Calgary, Alberta T2P 0M5
Attention: Director, New Resource Plays

 

With a copy to:

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.
500 Centre Street S.E.
P.O. Box 766
Calgary, Alberta T2P 0M5
Attention: Principal, Reserves & Resources Governance

 

With a copy to:

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.
500 Centre Street S.E.
P.O. Box 766
Calgary, Alberta T2P 0M5
Attention: Assistant Corporate Secretary

 

7.7                               Non-Merger

 

Each Party hereby agrees that, except as specifically provided for herein, all provisions of this Agreement shall forever survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and any and all documents delivered in connection herewith.

 

7.8                               Third Party Beneficiaries

 

Except in relation to the transferees and assignees contemplated in Section 7.3 and indemnitees in Section 4.2, this Agreement is not intended to confer any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities upon any Person other than the Parties to this Agreement and their respective successor or permitted assigns.

 

7.9                               Governing Law and Attornment

 

The provisions of this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Province of Alberta and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein. Any legal actions or proceedings with respect to this Agreement shall be brought in the courts of the Province of Alberta. Each Party hereby attorns to and accepts the jurisdiction of such courts.

 

7.10                        Waivers

 

No waiver of any breach of any term or provision of this Agreement shall be effective or binding unless made in writing and signed by the Party purporting to give the same and, unless otherwise provided, such waiver shall be limited to the specific breach waived.

 

7.11                        Time of Essence

 

Time is of the essence in respect of this Agreement.

 



 

7.12                        Entire Agreement

 

This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and cancels and supersedes any prior understanding and agreements among the Parties with respect thereto. There are no representations, warranties, terms, conditions, undertakings or collateral agreements, express, implied or statutory with respect to the subject matter hereof among the Parties, other than as expressly set forth in this Agreement.

 

7.13                        Enurement

 

This Agreement will be binding upon and enure to the benefit of the Parties to this Agreement and their respective successors and permitted assigns from time to time.

 

7.14                        Counterparts

 

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together will be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.

 

7.15                        Facsimile Execution

 

Execution and delivery of this Agreement may be effected by any Party by facsimile or other electronic transmission of the execution page hereof to the other Parties, and such facsimile or other electronic copy will be legally effective to create a valid and binding agreement between the Parties.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

 

CENOVUS ENERGY INC.

 

 

 

 

 

Per:

/s/ Ivor M. Ruste

 

 

Name:

Ivor M. Ruste

 

 

Title:

Executive Vice-President & Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

Per:

/s/ Alan C. Reid

 

 

Name:

Alan C. Reid

 

 

Title:

Executive Vice-President Environment, Corporate Affairs, Legal & General Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY

 

 

 

 

 

Per:

/s/ Angela Avery

 

 

Name:

Angela Avery

 

 

Title:

Deputy General Counsel, Corporate, Commercial and Chief Commercial Officer

 


EX-99.5 4 a17-14125_1ex99d5.htm EXHIBIT 5

Exhibit 5

 

INVESTOR AGREEMENT

 

among

 

CENOVUS ENERGY INC.

 

- and -

 

CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY

 

Effective as of May 17, 2017

 



 

INVESTOR AGREEMENT

 

THIS AGREEMENT is effective as of May 17, 2017.

 

AMONG:

 

CENOVUS ENERGY INC., a corporation formed under the laws of Canada

 

(“Cenovus”)

 

- and -

 

CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY, a corporation formed under the laws of Delaware

 

(“ConocoPhillips”)

 

WHEREAS in connection with the indirect acquisition of certain assets from ConocoPhillips to be completed on the date hereof, Cenovus will issue Common Shares (as defined herein) to ConocoPhillips in partial consideration of the purchase price thereof (the “Acquisition Transaction”);

 

AND WHEREAS in connection with Common Shares to be issued pursuant to the Acquisition Transaction, the Parties wish to enter into this Agreement to provide for certain matters relating to the relationship between Cenovus and each of the ConocoPhillips Entities, as shareholders of Cenovus;

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement and other good and valuable consideration (the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by each of the Parties), the Parties hereto agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE 1
INTERPRETATION

 

1.1          Definitions

 

In this Agreement:

 

(a)           Affiliate” means as follows: a Person (first Person) is considered to be an Affiliate of another Person (second Person) if the first Person: (i) acting alone or jointly or in concert with another Person, Controls, either directly or indirectly, the second Person, or (ii) is Controlled, directly or indirectly, by the second Person, or (iii) is Controlled, directly or indirectly, by another Person that, acting alone or jointly or in concert with another Person, Controls, directly or indirectly, the second Person; provided, however, that except to the extent expressly provided otherwise, the determination of whether a Person is an Affiliate of another Person shall be made on the basis that no ConocoPhillips Entity is an Affiliate of Cenovus or any of its Subsidiaries and vice versa;

 

(b)           Agreement” means this investor agreement, as amended, restated or modified from time to time;

 

(c)           Applicable Securities Laws” means, collectively, (i) the securities legislation of each of the provinces and territories of Canada, and all rules, regulations, blanket orders, instruments and policies established thereunder or issued by the Canadian Securities Regulatory Authorities, and including the rules and policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange, all as amended from time to time, and (ii) the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and all applicable state securities legislation of any state in the United States, together in

 



 

each case with all rules, regulations and orders promulgated thereunder, and including the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, all as amended from time to time; and in all cases as are applicable to the relevant Person at the applicable time;

 

(d)           block trade” includes (i) a “block trade” as such trades are defined and reported by the Toronto Stock Exchange, being a trade with a volume of 10,000 shares or more and a value of $100,000 or more, (ii) a “designated trade” under the Universal Market Integrity Rules of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (“UMIR”) which involve a distribution by a “Participant” (as defined in UMIR) of a significant block of shares, and (iii) any similar or corresponding definitions under the rules of any stock exchange or marketplace on which the Common Shares are listed or posted for trading or under the rules or requirements of the United Stated Financial Industry Regulatory Authority;

 

(e)           Board of Directors” or “Board” means the board of directors of Cenovus;

 

(f)            Business Day” means any day on which banks are generally open for the transaction of commercial business in Calgary, Alberta, but does not in any event include a Saturday or Sunday or statutory holiday in Alberta;

 

(g)           Canadian Securities Regulatory Authorities” means the securities regulatory authorities in each of the provinces and territories of Canada;

 

(h)           CBCA” means the Canada Business Corporations Act and the regulations thereunder, as amended, restated or modified from time to time;

 

(i)            Change of Control Transaction” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 3.4;

 

(j)            Common Shares” means the common shares in the capital of Cenovus and includes any shares of Cenovus into which such shares may be converted, reclassified, subdivided, consolidated, exchanged or otherwise changed, whether pursuant to a reorganization, amalgamation, merger, arrangement or other form of reorganization;

 

(k)           Confidential Information” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 4.2;

 

(l)            Control” means as follows: a Person (first Person) is considered to Control another Person (second Person) if:

 

(i)            the first Person directly or indirectly possesses the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the second Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise;

 

(ii)           the first Person beneficially owns, or controls or directs, directly or indirectly, securities of the second Person carrying votes which, if exercised, would entitle the first Person to elect a majority of the directors of the second Person;

 

(iii)          the second Person is a partnership, other than a limited partnership, and the first Person directly or indirectly holds more than 50% of the interests of the partnership;

 

(iv)          the second Person is a limited partnership and the first Person (A) is the general partner of the limited partnership or (B) beneficially owns, or controls or directs, directly or indirectly, securities of the general partner of the limited partnership carrying votes which, if exercised, would entitle the first Person to elect a majority of the directors of the general partner of the limited partnership; or

 

2



 

(v)           the second Person is a trust and the first Person (A) is the trustee of the trust, or (B) beneficially owns, or controls or directs, directly or indirectly, interests in the trust sufficient to directly or indirectly control all or certain activities of the trust;

 

(m)          Convertible Security” means any security that is convertible into, exchangeable for, or exercisable to acquire Common Shares;

 

(n)           ConocoPhillips Entities” means ConocoPhillips and any Affiliate of ConocoPhillips who becomes, and is required to become, a party to this Agreement after the date hereof as a result of a permitted Transfer of Common Shares to such Affiliate pursuant to Sections 3.2(c)(iv) and 3.3 hereof, and “ConocoPhillips Entity” means any one of them;

 

(o)           Governmental Authority” means any stock exchange or any court, tribunal or judicial or arbitral body or other governmental department, regulatory agency or body, commission, board, bureau, agency, or instrumentality of Canada or the United States, or of any country, state, province, territory, county, municipality, city, town or other political jurisdiction, whether domestic or foreign and whether now or in the future constituted or existing;

 

(p)           Hedge” means, in respect of any Common Shares, to enter into any hedge, swap (including total return swap), derivative transaction, forward sale, futures contract, option, repurchase agreement, securities lending transaction, monetization transaction, financial instrument, insurance or other similar agreement or arrangement, or any combination thereof, or any other agreement, instrument, transaction or series of transactions that hedges, Transfers or has as the subject matter thereof, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, any right or interest in any Common Shares, including the voting rights associated therewith or other economic consequence of ownership of such Common Shares, whether any such hedge, swap (including total return swap), derivative transaction, forward sale, futures contract, option, repurchase agreement, securities lending transaction, monetization transaction, financial instrument, insurance or other similar agreement or arrangement, or any combination thereof, or any other agreement, instrument, transaction or series of transactions, is to be settled by delivery of securities, in cash or otherwise;

 

(q)           Informed Party” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 4.2;

 

(r)            Law” means any law (statutory, common or otherwise), constitution, ordinance, code, rule, regulation, guideline, executive order or other similar authority enacted, adopted, promulgated or applied by any Governmental Authority, including, for greater certainty, Applicable Securities Laws;

 

(s)            Parties” means, Cenovus, each ConocoPhillips Entity and their respective successors and permitted assigns hereunder, and “Party” means any one of them;

 

(t)            Person” means any individual, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, limited or unlimited liability company or corporation, joint venture, syndicate, sole proprietorship, company or corporation with or without share capital, unincorporated association, unincorporated syndicate, unincorporated organization, trust, trustee, executor, administrator or other legal personal representative or Governmental Authority or entity however designated or constituted;

 

(u)           Purchase Agreement” means the purchase and sale agreement dated as of March 29, 2017 among ConocoPhillips Company, ConocoPhillips Canada Resources Corp., ConocoPhillips Canada Energy Partnership, ConocoPhillips Western Canada

 

3



 

Partnership,  ConocoPhillips Canada (BRC) Partnership, and ConocoPhillips Canada E&P ULC as the vendors, and Cenovus Energy Inc. as the purchaser;

 

(v)           Registration Rights Agreement” means the registration rights agreement dated the date hereof among Cenovus and ConocoPhillips;

 

(w)          Representatives” means, with respect to any Person, any of such Person’s directors, officers, employees, consultants, advisers, agents or other Person acting on behalf of the first Person;

 

(x)           Subsidiary” means a Person that is Controlled directly or indirectly by another Person; and

 

(y)           Transfer” includes any sale, exchange, disposition, assignment, gift, bequest, mortgage, charge, pledge, encumbrance, grant of security interest or other arrangement by which possession, legal title or beneficial ownership or other ownership interest (including in respect of any associated voting rights) passes from one Person to another, or to the same Person in a different capacity, whether or not voluntary and whether or not for value and whether directly or indirectly in any manner whatsoever, and includes any agreement to effect any of the foregoing and, in the case of Common Shares includes a transaction (other than a Change of Control Transaction) involving the direct or indirect Transfer in any manner whatsoever of the ownership interests in a ConocoPhillips Entity which holds any legal title or beneficial ownership or other ownership interest (including in respect of any associated voting rights) in Common Shares which is designed to otherwise circumvent the restrictions contained in Section 3.2 of this Agreement; and the words “Transferred”, “Transferring” and similar words have corresponding meanings.

 

1.2          Headings for Reference Only

 

The division of this Agreement into Articles, Sections, subsections, paragraphs and subparagraphs and the insertion of headings are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

1.3          Construction and Interpretation

 

The Parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. If an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the Parties and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favouring or disfavouring any Party because of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement.

 

Words importing the singular number only shall include the plural and vice versa (including, for certainty, with respect to the defined terms ConocoPhillips Entities and ConocoPhillips Entity). Words importing gender shall include all genders. If a word is defined in this Agreement, a grammatical derivative of that word will have a corresponding meaning. Where the word “including” or “includes” is used in this Agreement it means “including without limitation” or “includes without limitation”, respectively. Any reference to any document shall include a reference to any schedule, amendment or supplement thereto or any agreement in replacement thereof, all as permitted under such document.

 

A reference herein to any statute includes every regulation (and other similar ancillary instrument having the force of law) made pursuant thereto, all amendments to the statute or to any such regulation (or other similar ancillary instrument) in force from time to time, and any statute or regulation (or other similar ancillary instrument) which supplements or supersedes such statute or regulation (or other similar ancillary instrument); and a reference to any section or provision of a statute includes all amendments to such section or provision, as made from time to time, and all sections or provisions which supplement or supersede such section or provision referred to herein.

 

4



 

Where this Agreement states that a Party “will”, “must” or “shall” perform in some manner or otherwise act or omit to act, it means that such Party is legally obligated to do so in accordance  with  this Agreement.

 

The terms “hereof”, “herein”, “hereunder” and similar expressions refer to this Agreement and not to any particular Article, Section or other portion hereof and include any agreement supplemental hereto. Unless something in the subject matter or context is inconsistent therewith, references herein to Articles, Sections, subsections, paragraphs and subparagraphs are to Articles, Sections, subsections, paragraphs and subparagraphs of this Agreement.

 

For the purposes of Sections 3.2(b) and 3.2(c) the number of “then-outstanding Common Shares” shall  be equal to the number of Common Shares stated to be outstanding by Cenovus in its then most recently filed annual or quarterly management’s discussion and analysis, as the case may be, adjusted for any subsequent event(s) publicly announced by Cenovus via dissemination of a news release in Canada that has the effect of either increasing or decreasing the number of outstanding Common Shares stated to be outstanding by Cenovus in its then most recently filed annual or quarterly management’s discussion and analysis (other than, to avoid doubt, any equity incentive award or other equity compensation granted to any officer, director or employee of Cenovus or its Affiliates to the extent such awards or compensation remain subject to vesting or do not constitute Common Shares).

 

1.4          Date for Any Action

 

If any date on which any action is required to be taken hereunder by any of the Parties is not a Business Day, such action is required to be taken on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day.

 

1.5          Currency

 

All sums of money that are referred to in this Agreement are expressed in lawful money of Canada unless otherwise noted.

 

1.6          Acting Jointly and in Concert

 

The ConocoPhillips Entities acknowledge and agree that, in addition to any determination that may reasonably be made pursuant to Applicable Securities Laws, all ConocoPhillips Entities, together with each of their Affiliates and respective Representatives, shall in all cases be deemed to be acting jointly, in concert, and jointly and in concert with respect to the matters described in this Agreement and where referenced under Applicable Securities Laws.

 

ARTICLE 2
VOTING OF SHARES

 

2.1          Cenovus Board Matters

 

The ConocoPhillips Entities acknowledge and agree that the Board must act in accordance with the duties and standard of care set forth in Section 122 of the CBCA and in accordance with applicable Law and that the Board is to operate in a manner independent and free from the undue influence of any shareholder(s) of Cenovus. The ConocoPhillips Entities acknowledge and agree that the Board shall not owe any additional duties or standard of care to any ConocoPhillips Entity, or any Affiliate or Representative thereof, relative to any other shareholder of Cenovus, and that no formal or informal committee, structure or process shall be required or requested to be implemented by Cenovus, the Board or Cenovus management to provide information to, or receive input or advice from, any ConocoPhillips Entity, or any Affiliate or Representative thereof, with respect to the business and affairs of Cenovus.

 

5



 

2.2          Voting of Cenovus Shares

 

Each ConocoPhillips Entity shall, and shall cause its Affiliates and any Representatives acting on behalf of such ConocoPhillips Entity or its Affiliates, to either (i) vote or cause to be voted all Common Shares that it beneficially owns, or over which it or its Affiliates have control or direction, directly or indirectly, in favour of, or (ii) abstain from voting in respect of all Common Shares that it beneficially owns, or over which it or its Affiliates have control or direction, directly or indirectly, in either case in respect of:

 

(a)           all nominees of the Board or Cenovus management at any annual or other meeting of Cenovus shareholders at which members of the Board are proposed to be elected; and

 

(b)           any and all other matters in respect of which the Board and Cenovus management has recommended that Cenovus shareholders vote in favour at any meeting of  Cenovus shareholders,

 

and, for greater certainty shall not withhold any vote or vote against any of the foregoing, and without limiting the foregoing, each ConocoPhillips Entity shall not, and shall cause its Affiliates and any Representatives acting on behalf of such ConocoPhillips Entity or its Affiliates not to:

 

(c)           knowingly take any action in contravention of or adverse to any Board or Cenovus management nominations or recommendations, including to support the nomination of another individual as a director of Cenovus in lieu of such Board or Cenovus management nominees; or

 

(d)           vote for or otherwise support in any manner any shareholder proposal or other matter brought forward or proposed to be brought forward as a matter to be voted upon at any meeting of Cenovus shareholders that is not supported, approved and recommended by the Board, and shall vote or cause to be voted all Common Shares that it beneficially owns, or over which it has control or direction, directly or indirectly, against any such proposal or matter.

 

No later than ten Business Days prior to the date of any meeting of Cenovus shareholders, each ConocoPhillips Entity entitled to exercise voting rights in respect of any Common Shares shall either: (A) deliver or cause to be delivered to Cenovus, a duly executed proxy or proxies directing the holder of such proxy or proxies to vote in accordance with the foregoing requirements of this Section 2.2, and all such proxy or proxies described above in this Section 2.2 shall name as proxyholders those individuals as may be designated by Cenovus in the applicable management proxy circular or form of proxy (with full power of substitution) and shall not be revoked without the prior written consent of Cenovus, or (B) certify to Cenovus in writing that each such ConocoPhillips Entity shall abstain from voting in respect of  all Common Shares that it beneficially owns, or over which it or its Affiliates have control or direction, directly or indirectly.

 

6



 

ARTICLE 3
RESTRICTIONS ON SHAREHOLDER ACTIONS AND SHARE TRANSFERS

 

3.1          Prohibited Activities

 

Without the prior written consent of Cenovus (which consent may, in the sole discretion of Cenovus, be withheld or given subject to such conditions as Cenovus may in its sole discretion determine), no ConocoPhillips Entity or any of its Affiliates, nor any of their respective Representatives acting on behalf of any ConocoPhillips Entity or any of its Affiliates, will, directly or indirectly, do any of the following or cause such to occur from the date hereof:

 

(a)           acquire, offer or agree to acquire or make any public proposal to acquire or offer to acquire, in  any  manner,  directly  or  indirectly,  beneficial  ownership  of  or  control  or  direction  over  any:

 

(i)            voting securities (including Common Shares) or voting rights in respect of voting securities;

 

(ii)           securities convertible or exchangeable into voting securities (including derivatives or similar instruments which would provide voting rights in respect of voting securities or an entitlement to accept voting securities or any voting rights on settlement); or (iii) assets, of Cenovus or its Subsidiaries, except: (A) pursuant to a stock dividend or dividend-in-kind paid by Cenovus to all holders of Common Shares (which, for certainty, does not include the acquisition of Common Shares in a dividend reinvestment plan of Cenovus), (B) pursuant to a Transfer permitted under Sections 3.2(c)(iv) and 3.3, or Section 3.4, hereunder, or (C) only in the case of assets  of Cenovus or its Subsidiaries, offers and agreements made in the ordinary course of business of Cenovus and of the ConocoPhillips Entity and its Affiliates;

 

(b)           engage in any discussion or negotiations, conclude any understanding, enter into any agreement or propose or offer to enter into, directly or indirectly, any take-over bid, arrangement, amalgamation, merger, acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets or other business combination or similar transaction with, or change in control transaction involving, Cenovus or its Subsidiaries;

 

(c)           knowingly engage in, participate in, or in any way initiate, directly or indirectly and whether alone or jointly or in concert with another Person, any “solicitation” (as such term is defined in the CBCA) of proxies or consents, with respect to the voting of any securities of Cenovus, or knowingly initiate, propose or otherwise “solicit” (as such term is defined in the CBCA) securityholders of Cenovus to vote any securities of Cenovus on any matter;

 

(d)           except as required by and in accordance with Section 2.2, grant any power of attorney over any securities of Cenovus, or deposit any securities of Cenovus in any voting agreement, voting trust, voting pool or similar arrangement or subject any securities of Cenovus to any arrangement or agreement with respect to the voting of any such securities, or grant any proxy with respect to  any securities of Cenovus (other than to the named Cenovus management proxies);

 

(e)           seek, alone or in concert with others, (i) to requisition or call a meeting of shareholders of Cenovus, (ii) to obtain representation on, or nominate or propose the nomination of any candidate

 

7



 

for election to, the Board, or (iii) to effect the removal of any member of the Board or otherwise alter the composition of the Board;

 

(f)            submit, or induce any Person to submit, any shareholder proposal pursuant to Sections 103(5) or 137 of the CBCA;

 

(g)           otherwise seek to advise, control, change or influence the business, operations, management, polices or Board of Cenovus;

 

(h)           make any request to amend, waive or terminate any provision of this Agreement that would reasonably be expected to require Cenovus to make public disclosure relating thereto; or

 

(i)            enter into any discussions, agreements or understandings with any Person with respect to the foregoing, or knowingly advise, assist or encourage any Person to take any action inconsistent with the foregoing, or publicly disclose any plan, intention or proposal with respect to any of the foregoing.

 

3.2          Restrictions on Transfers of Shares

 

Without the prior written consent of Cenovus (which consent may, in the sole discretion of Cenovus, be withheld or given subject to such conditions as Cenovus may in its sole discretion determine), no ConocoPhillips Entity or any of its Affiliates, nor any of their respective Representatives acting on behalf of any ConocoPhillips Entity or any of its Affiliates, will, directly or indirectly:

 

(a)           for the period ending at 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time on November 17, 2017, Transfer or cause the Transfer of any Common Shares or Hedge or cause the Hedge of its direct or indirect exposure to any Common Shares except as contemplated under Sections 3.2(c)(iii), 3.2(c)(iv) or 3.4;

 

(b)           complete a Transfer, or cause a Transfer to be completed, of Common Shares pursuant to a  block trade where 5% or more of the then-outstanding Common Shares will be Transferred pursuant to such block trade (whether such block trade is executed at prevailing market prices through registered investment dealers in transactions on the Toronto Stock Exchange or New York Stock Exchange in accordance with the rules and policies of such exchanges or otherwise), provided, however, that the foregoing shall not apply to Transfers effected through an  underwritten public offering (including pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement) where the applicable ConocoPhillips Entity (or Affiliate thereof) which is the transferor and its Representatives does not know or have reason to believe that such Transfer would result in a violation of Section 3.2(c); or

 

(c)           Transfer or cause the Transfer, either alone or in the aggregate with any other ConocoPhillips Entity or their respective Affiliates, and whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, any Common Shares to any one Person or group of related Persons (including any Affiliates of such Person) or Persons acting jointly or in concert, if such Transfer (or series  thereof) would result in such Person (or group of related Persons or Persons acting jointly or in concert) having been Transferred in such transaction or transactions Common Shares previously held by ConocoPhillips Entities, directly or indirectly, representing 5% or more of the then- outstanding Common Shares including, for certainty, those Common Shares proposed to be Transferred; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not apply to:

 

(i)            block trades not prohibited by Section 3.2(b) (whether such block trade is executed at prevailing market prices through registered investment dealers in transactions on the Toronto Stock Exchange or New York Stock Exchange in

 

8



 

accordance with the rules and policies of such exchanges or otherwise in accordance with Applicable Securities Laws) or other Transfers, in each case where the applicable ConocoPhillips Entity (or Affiliate thereof) which is the transferor and its Representatives does not know or have reason to believe that such Transfer would result in a violation of Section 3.2(c) and has, as a term of such transaction, required any involved registered investment dealer to not knowingly effect such a result;

 

(ii)           Transfers effected through an underwritten public offering (including pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement);

 

(iii)          Transfers effected as a result of the consummation of a transaction which has been approved by a resolution of Cenovus shareholders, or made to an offeror in relation to a take-over bid where the offeror pursuant to such take-over bid is proposing to acquire such Common Shares from the ConocoPhillips Entity or ConocoPhillips Entities in connection with an identical offer made to all holders of Common Shares (in terms of price, timing, proportion of securities sought to be acquired and conditions) and does not acquire any such Common Shares unless the offeror also acquires a proportionate number of Common Shares actually tendered to such identical offer; or

 

(iv)          Transfers made to an Affiliate in accordance with Section 3.3 hereof;

 

provided, however, that any ConocoPhillips Entity (or an Affiliate thereof) who acquires any Common Shares as a result of any of the foregoing provisions shall: (i) to the extent that it is already a Party to this Agreement, continue to be bound by this Agreement in respect of all Common Shares beneficially owned, or over which control or direction is exercised, directly or indirectly, at any time; and (ii) to the extent that, prior to such acquisition, it was not a Party to this Agreement, agrees to be bound by and become a Party to this Agreement as a “ConocoPhillips Entity” (and ConocoPhillips agrees to cause such ConocoPhillips Entity (or any Affiliate) to become a party hereto) and, concurrent with the completion of such Transfer shall validly execute and deliver a joinder or similar document in order to effect the foregoing.

 

3.3          Transfers to Affiliates

 

Notwithstanding Section 3.2, a ConocoPhillips Entity may Transfer all or any portion of the Common Shares legally or beneficially owned by such ConocoPhillips Entity to an Affiliate of such ConocoPhillips Entity, provided that such Affiliate agrees to be bound by and become a Party to this Agreement as and in the manner contemplated in the final paragraph of Section 3.2. Prior to any such transferee ceasing to be an Affiliate of ConocoPhillips, ConocoPhillips shall cause such Common Shares to be Transferred to another ConocoPhillips Entity. A ConocoPhillips Entity, or its Affiliate, shall promptly (and in any event within three Business Days) notify Cenovus if it engages in any of the transactions referred to in this Section 3.3.

 

3.4          Transfers in Change of Control Transaction

 

Notwithstanding anything in Section 3.2 or elsewhere in this Agreement to the contrary, any transaction in which a person or “group” of persons acquires, directly or indirectly, including by merger, consolidation, asset  sale,  acquisition,  liquidation,  dissolution,  restructuring,  reorganization,  recapitalization  or other

 

business combination transaction, control of at least a majority of the equity or assets of ConocoPhillips (each, a “Change of Control Transaction”) shall be a permitted Transfer and Hedge of Common Shares for all purposes under this Agreement and shall not be deemed to violate in any manner any of the restrictions imposed in Article 2 or Article 3 of this Agreement.

 

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ARTICLE 4
CONFIDENTIALITY AND RIGHTS TO INFORMATION

 

4.1          No Rights to Information

 

Each ConocoPhillips Entity agrees that neither it nor its Affiliates or their respective Representatives shall have any rights under this Agreement to be provided or obtain from Cenovus, and Cenovus shall have no duty or obligation under this Agreement to provide to any ConocoPhillips Entity or its Affiliates or their respective Representatives, any material non-public information that has not been generally disclosed to the public (including any information which Cenovus senior management determines could reasonably constitute a material change or material fact under Applicable Securities Laws) or any other preferential treatment with respect to access to Cenovus’s material information, including with respect to Cenovus’s annual and quarterly reporting. The Parties further agree that the ConocoPhillips Entities, their Affiliates and their respective Representatives will not be provided with any enhanced or special access  to Cenovus management, and will be afforded the same access to Cenovus management as any other shareholder of Cenovus, having regard to the ConocoPhillips Entities’ collective securities ownership in Cenovus at the relevant time, and that Cenovus’s management shall have no reporting requirement or relationship with any ConocoPhillips Entity, either formally or informally, other than through Cenovus’s customary investor relations functions.

 

4.2          Confidential Information

 

Each ConocoPhillips Entity hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of Cenovus (which consent may, in the sole discretion of Cenovus, be withheld or given subject to such conditions as Cenovus may in its sole discretion determine), neither it nor any of its Affiliates, nor any of their respective Representatives acting on behalf of any ConocoPhillips Entity or any of its Affiliates (each an “Informed Party”), will at any time use, disclose or make available, to any Person, any information (herein “Confidential Information”) concerning the business or activities carried on by Cenovus which is acquired in connection with the matters, transactions or activities contemplated herein or in the Registration Rights Agreement, provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, an Informed Party may make use of, reveal or disclose Confidential Information:

 

(a)                                 where it is already in the public domain when disclosed to the Informed Party or becomes, after having been disclosed to the Informed Party, generally available to the public through publication or otherwise, unless the publication or other disclosure was made directly or indirectly by the Informed Party in breach of this Agreement;

 

(b)                                 as legally required in order to comply with applicable Laws, the orders or directives of any Governmental Authority or court of competent jurisdiction, the requirements of any stock exchange, or an order, directive or requirement of any other regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the Informed Party; or

 

(c)                                  where it was made available to the Informed Party on a non-confidential basis from a third party source (excluding any other Informed Party or an Affiliate or Representative of an Informed Party or its Affiliate) which, to the knowledge of the Informed Party, acting reasonably, is not subject to an obligation of confidentiality in relation to such information.

 

If an Informed Party or any of its Affiliates or their respective Representatives becomes legally required pursuant to Section 4.2(b) to disclose any Confidential Information, the Informed Party will, to the extent practicable and not prohibited by applicable Law, provide Cenovus with prompt written notice of such requirement so that Cenovus may seek a protective order or other appropriate remedy (at Cenovus’s sole cost and expense, unless such requirement to disclose is the result of a breach by any ConocoPhillips Entity or its Affiliates or Representatives of the confidentiality obligations under this Section 4.2), or waive compliance by the Informed Party or an applicable Affiliate or Representative with this paragraph. If such protective order or remedy is not obtained, the Informed Party will (and, in any case where the applicable request, order or other requirement is directed or applicable to an Affiliate or Representative of the

 

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Informed Party or its Affiliate, will cause such Affiliate or Representative to) furnish only that portion of such Confidential Information that is legally required to be disclosed and will use reasonable commercial efforts to obtain (at Cenovus’s sole cost and expense, unless such requirement to disclose is the result of a breach by any ConocoPhillips Entity or its Affiliates or Representatives of the confidentiality obligations under this Section 4.2) an assurance that such Confidential Information that is disclosed will be accorded confidential treatment. In addition, the Informed Party will (and will cause its applicable Affiliates and their respective Representatives to) provide all cooperation that Cenovus may reasonably request in connection with any effort on the part of Cenovus to obtain any such protective order or other remedy.

 

4.3          Access to Investor Meetings

 

Cenovus shall invite ConocoPhillips to attend any investor day and provide access to any management presentations provided by Cenovus on the same basis as other institutional investors beneficially owning Common Shares.

 

4.4          Cooperation Concerning Reporting Matters

 

For as long as any ConocoPhillips Entity is required by Law, as reasonably determined by  ConocoPhillips, to include any information with respect to Cenovus or the assets purchased in the Acquisition Transaction in any document filed with or submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Cenovus shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to provide, at ConocoPhillips’ sole cost and expense, such assistance as ConocoPhillips reasonably requests to comply with Applicable Securities Laws.

 

ARTICLE 5
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

5.1          Representations and Warranties of Cenovus

 

Cenovus represents and warrants to each of the ConocoPhillips Entities that:

 

(a)                                 it has the requisite corporate power and capacity to enter into and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder;

 

(b)                                 all necessary action has been taken by or on behalf of Cenovus to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, and this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by Cenovus and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of Cenovus, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other laws of general application limiting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and to the fact that specific performance is an equitable remedy available only in the discretion of the court;

 

(c)                                  neither the entering into nor the delivery of this Agreement by Cenovus nor the performance by Cenovus of its obligations hereunder will result in any breach of, or be in conflict with or constitute a default under, or create a state of facts which, after notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default under:

 

(i)                                     any provisions of the articles or by-laws or other constating documents of Cenovus;

 

(ii)                                  any of the resolutions of the Board or the shareholders of Cenovus;

 

(iii)                               any agreement or other instrument to which Cenovus is a party or by which it is bound; or

 

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(iv)                              any applicable Laws; and

 

(d)                                 all of the foregoing representations and warranties will continue to be true and correct during the continuance of this Agreement.

 

5.2          Representations and Warranties of the ConocoPhillips Entities

 

Each of the ConocoPhillips Entities represents and warrants to Cenovus that:

 

(a)                                 on the date hereof following the issuance of Common Shares pursuant to the Acquisition Transaction, it will beneficially own or exercise control or direction over, directly or indirectly, the number of Common Shares set forth in Schedule “A” to this Agreement, and that such Common Shares are not subject to any mortgage, lien, charge, pledge, encumbrance, security interest or adverse claim and that no Person has any rights to become an owner, holder or possessor of any of such Common Shares or of the certificates representing the same;

 

(b)                                 no Affiliate of any ConocoPhillips Entity that is not a Party to this Agreement owns any Common Shares as of the date hereof;

 

(c)                                  it has the requisite corporate power and capacity to enter into and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder;

 

(d)                                 all necessary action has been taken by or on behalf of it to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, and this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by it and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of it, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other laws of general application limiting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and to the fact that specific performance is an equitable remedy available only in the discretion of the court; and

 

(e)                                  neither the entering into nor the delivery of this Agreement by it nor the performance by it of its obligations hereunder will result in any breach of, or be in conflict with or constitute a default under, or create a state of facts which, after notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default under:

 

(i)                                     any provisions of its articles, by-laws, partnership or trust agreement or other constating documents, as applicable;

 

(ii)                                  any of the resolutions of its board of directors, general partner, trustee or similar body, or its securityholders, partners or beneficiaries, as applicable;

 

(iii)                               any agreement or other instrument to which it is a party or by which it is bound; or

 

(iv)                              any applicable Laws; and

 

(f)                                   that all of the foregoing representations and warranties (other than with regards to the number of securities owned beneficially or held by such ConocoPhillips Entity) will continue to be true and correct during the continuance of this Agreement with respect to such ConocoPhillips Entity.

 

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ARTICLE 6
GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

6.1          Further Assurances

 

Each of the Parties hereto will promptly do, make, execute or deliver, or cause to be done, made, executed or delivered, all such further acts, documents and things as the other Party hereto may reasonably require from time to time for the purpose of giving effect to this Agreement and will use reasonable efforts and take all such steps as may be reasonably within its power to implement to their full extent the provisions of this Agreement, in each case at such Party’s own cost and expense (except as otherwise explicitly addressed in this Agreement).

 

6.2          Severability

 

If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule or law, or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement will nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any Party. Upon any determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the Parties to this Agreement will negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner to the end that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are fulfilled to the fullest extent possible.

 

6.3          Assignment

 

This Agreement may not be assigned by a ConocoPhillips Entity without the prior written consent of Cenovus; provided, however, this Agreement may, following prior written notice to Cenovus, be assigned by a ConocoPhillips Entity to any Person who is a permitted transferee of Common Shares pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and the assigning ConocoPhillips Entity will be fully released from its obligations under this Agreement if following such Transfer the Transferring ConocoPhillips Entity no longer beneficially owns, or exercises control or direction over, directly or indirectly, any Common Shares. Upon any permitted transferee(s) or assignee(s) executing an instrument in writing agreeing to be bound by this Agreement, the transferee(s) or assignee(s) will be entitled to its benefit and be bound by all of its terms as if it were an original signatory hereto as a “ConocoPhillips Entity”. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Section 6.3 shall in any way restrict or limit any Transfer otherwise permitted pursuant to Sections 3.2(c), 3.3 or 3.4.

 

This Agreement may not be assigned by Cenovus without the prior written consent of each  ConocoPhillips Entity, provided that in the event the Common Shares are converted, reclassified, exchanged or otherwise changed pursuant to a reorganization, amalgamation, merger, arrangement or other form of reorganization in which the shareholders of Cenovus will continue to hold at least 50% of  the voting common equity interests of the surviving entity, this Agreement may be assigned by Cenovus to its successor pursuant to any such transaction without the prior written consent of the ConocoPhillips Entities.

 

6.4          Remedies and Breaches

 

(a)                                 Each of the ConocoPhillips Entities, on the one hand (and for the purposes of this Section 6.4 collectively considered to be a “Party”), and Cenovus, on the other hand, acknowledges and agrees that irreparable injury to the other Party hereto may occur in the event any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with its specific terms or was otherwise breached and that such injury may not be adequately compensable in damages. It is accordingly agreed that each of the ConocoPhillips Entities, on the one hand, and Cenovus, on the other hand, shall, in addition to any other remedy to which they may be entitled at law or in equity, each be entitled to seek specific

 

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enforcement of, and injunctive relief to prevent any violation of, the terms hereof and the other Party hereto will not take any action, directly or indirectly, in opposition to the Party seeking relief on the grounds that any other remedy or relief  is available at law or in equity. The prevailing Party in any such action shall be entitled to recover legal fees and expenses from the non-prevailing Party.

 

(b)                                 Each ConocoPhillips Entity on the one hand, and Cenovus on the other hand, acknowledges that it shall be liable for any breach of this Agreement by any of its Affiliates or any of its or its Affiliates’ Representatives or other Persons acting on their behalf, and that it shall inform its and its Affiliates’ Representatives of the terms of this Agreement and shall cause them to comply with them.

 

6.5          All Securities Subject to this Agreement

 

Each of the Parties will be bound by the terms, rights, obligations and restrictions of this Agreement with respect to all Common Shares held or beneficially owned or over which control or direction is exercised, directly or indirectly (including any Common Shares acquired by any ConocoPhillips Entity or its Affiliates after the date hereof as permitted hereby), until this Agreement is terminated as set forth below in Section 6.6.

 

6.6          Term and Termination

 

This Agreement will continue in force until the earlier of the date on which:

 

(a)                                 this Agreement is terminated by the written agreement of the Parties; and

 

(b)                                 the Registration Rights Agreement terminates in accordance with its terms,

 

except that (i) the provisions of Article 4 (other than Section 4.1 and Section 4.3) and this Article 6 shall continue in full force and effect notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, and (ii) termination of this Agreement will not affect or prejudice any rights or obligations which have accrued or arisen under this Agreement prior to the time of termination and such rights and obligations, including any indemnities and remedies, will continue in full force and effect and survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

6.7          Notices

 

All notices required or permitted pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given by personal delivery or facsimile or electronic mail transmittal during normal business hours on any Business Day to the address for ConocoPhillips or Cenovus, as applicable, as set forth below. Any such notice or other communication given hereunder shall, if personally delivered or sent by facsimile or electronic mail transmittal (with confirmation received), be conclusively deemed to

 

have been given or made and received on the day of delivery or facsimile or electronic mail transmittal  (as the case may be) if such delivery or facsimile or electronic mail transmittal occurs during normal business hours of the recipient on a Business Day and if not so delivered or transmitted during normal business hours on a Business Day, then on the next Business Day following the day of delivery or transmittal. The Parties hereto may give from time to time written notice of change of address in the manner aforesaid.

 

Notices shall be provided:

 

(a)                                 To ConocoPhillips:

 

c/o ConocoPhillips Canada Resources Corp.

401 – 9th Avenue S.W.

 

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Calgary, Alberta  T2P 3C5

Attention: Land and Business Development Manager

 

(b)                                 To Cenovus: Cenovus Energy Inc.

 

500 Centre Street S.E.

P.O. Box 766

Calgary, Alberta T2P 0M5

Attention: Director, New Resource Plays

 

With a copy to:

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

500 Centre Street S.E.

P.O. Box 766

Calgary, Alberta  T2P 0M5

Attention: Principal, Reserves & Resources Governance

 

With a copy to:

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

500 Centre Street S.E.

P.O. Box 766

Calgary, Alberta  T2P 0M5

Attention: Assistant Corporate Secretary

 

6.8          Non-Merger

 

Each Party hereby agrees that, except as specifically provided for herein, all provisions of this Agreement shall forever survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and any and all documents delivered in connection herewith.

 

6.9          Third Party Beneficiaries

 

Except in relation to the transferees and assignees contemplated in Sections 3.3 and 6.3, this Agreement is not intended to confer any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities upon any Person other than the Parties to this Agreement and their respective successor or permitted assigns.

 

6.10        Costs

 

All fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby will be paid by the Party incurring such fee, cost or expense, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereunder are completed.

 

6.11        Governing Law and Attornment

 

The provisions of this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Province of Alberta and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein. Any legal actions or proceedings with respect to this Agreement shall be brought in the courts of the Province of Alberta. Each Party  hereby attorns to and accepts the jurisdiction of such courts.

 

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6.12        Waivers

 

No waiver of any breach of any term or provision of this Agreement shall be effective or binding unless made in writing and signed by the Party purporting to give the same and, unless otherwise provided, such waiver shall be limited to the specific breach waived.

 

6.13        Time of Essence

 

Time is of the essence in respect of this Agreement.

 

6.14        Entire Agreement

 

This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and cancels and supersedes any prior understanding and agreements among the Parties with respect thereto. There are no representations, warranties, terms, conditions, undertakings or collateral agreements, express, implied or statutory with respect to the subject matter hereof among the Parties, other than as expressly set forth in this Agreement.

 

6.15        Enurement

 

This Agreement will be binding upon and enure to the benefit of the Parties to this Agreement and their respective successors and permitted assigns from time to time.

 

6.16        Counterparts

 

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together will be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.

 

6.17        Facsimile Execution

 

Execution and delivery of this Agreement may be effected by any Party by facsimile or other electronic transmission of the execution page hereof to the other Parties, and such facsimile or other electronic copy will be legally effective to create a valid and binding agreement between the Parties.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have hereto caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

 

CENOVUS ENERGY INC.

CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY

 

 

 

 

Per:

/s/ Ivor M. Ruste

 

Per:

/s/ Angela Avery

 

Name:

Ivor M. Ruste

 

 

Name:

Angela Avery

 

Title:

Executive Vice-President &

 

 

Title:

Deputy General Counsel,

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

Corporate, Commercial and

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chief Commercial Officer

Per:

/s/ Alan C. Reid

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

Alan C. Reid

 

 

 

 

 

Title:

Executive Vice-President

 

 

 

 

 

Environment, Corporate Affairs,

 

 

 

 

 

Legal & General Counsel

 

 

 

 

Signature Page to Investor Agreement

 



 

SCHEDULE A

 

OWNERSHIP OF EQUITY SHARES

 

Name of ConocoPhillips Entity

 

Number of Common Shares Beneficially
Owned, or over which Control or Direction is
Exercised as of May 17, 2017

 

ConocoPhillips Company

 

208,000,000

 

 


EX-99.6 5 a17-14125_1ex99d6.htm EXHIBIT 6

Exhibit 6

 

JOINT FILING AGREEMENT

 

In accordance with Rule 13d-1(k) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, each of the persons named below agrees to the joint filing of a Statement on Schedule 13D (including amendments thereto) with respect to the common shares, no par value, of Cenovus Energy Inc., a corporation amalgamated under the laws of Canada, and further agrees that this joint filing agreement be included as an exhibit to such filings provided that, as contemplated by Section 13d-1(k)(1)(ii), no person shall be responsible for the completeness or accuracy of the information concerning the other persons making the filing, unless such person knows or has reason to believe that such information is inaccurate.

 

Dated:  May 26, 2017

 

 

ConocoPhillips

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Don E. Wallette, Jr.

 

 

Name:

Don E. Wallette, Jr.

 

 

Title:

Executive Vice President, Finance, Commercial, and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ConocoPhillips Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Don E. Wallette, Jr.

 

 

Name:

Don E. Wallette, Jr.

 

 

Title:

Executive Vice President, Finance, Commercial, and Chief Financial Officer