Exhibit 10.01
FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
OF
CENTERPOINT ENERGY FIELD SERVICES LP
THE HOLDERS OF THE PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS REPRESENTED BY THIS AGREEMENT ACKNOWLEDGE FOR THE BENEFIT OF CENTERPOINT ENERGY FIELD SERVICES LP THAT THE PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IF SUCH TRANSFER WOULD (A) VIOLATE THE THEN APPLICABLE FEDERAL OR STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY WITH JURISDICTION OVER SUCH TRANSFER, (B) TERMINATE THE EXISTENCE OF CENTERPOINT ENERGY FIELD SERVICES LP UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE OR (C) CAUSE CENTERPOINT ENERGY FIELD SERVICES LP TO BE TREATED AS AN ASSOCIATION TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE TO BE TAXED AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES (TO THE EXTENT NOT ALREADY SO TREATED OR TAXED). CNP OGE GP LLC, THE GENERAL PARTNER OF CENTERPOINT ENERGY FIELD SERVICES LP, MAY IMPOSE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF THE PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS IF IT RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL THAT SUCH RESTRICTIONS ARE NECESSARY TO (A) AVOID A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF CENTERPOINT ENERGY FIELD SERVICES LP BECOMING TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE BECOMING TAXABLE AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES OR (B) IN THE CASE OF LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS, TO PRESERVE THE UNIFORMITY THEREOF (OR ANY CLASS OR CLASSES OF LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS). THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL NOT PRECLUDE THE SETTLEMENT OF ANY TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THE PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS ENTERED INTO THROUGH THE FACILITIES OF ANY NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE ON WHICH THE PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS ARE LISTED OR ADMITTED TO TRADING.
TABLE OF CONTENTS | |||
ARTICLE I | |||
DEFINITIONS | |||
Section 1.1 | Definitions | 1 | |
Section 1.2 | Construction | 29 | |
ARTICLE II | |||
ORGANIZATION | |||
Section 2.1 | Formation; Conversion | 30 | |
Section 2.2 | Name | 30 | |
Section 2.3 | Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices | 30 | |
Section 2.4 | Purpose and Business | 30 | |
Section 2.5 | Powers | 31 | |
Section 2.6 | Term | 31 | |
Section 2.7 | Title to Partnership Assets | 31 | |
Section 2.8 | Partnership Initial Public Offering | 32 | |
Section 2.9 | Power of Attorney | 32 | |
ARTICLE III | |||
RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS | |||
Section 3.1 | Limitation of Liability | 33 | |
Section 3.2 | Management of Business | 33 | |
Section 3.3 | Rights of Limited Partners | 34 | |
Section 3.4 | Bronco Approval and Observer Rights | 35 | |
ARTICLE IV | |||
CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS; | |||
REDEMPTION OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS | |||
Section 4.1 | Certificates | 39 | |
Section 4.2 | Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates | 40 | |
Section 4.3 | Record Holders | 41 | |
Section 4.4 | Transfer Generally | 41 | |
Section 4.5 | Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests | 42 | |
Section 4.6 | Transfer of the General Partner's General Partner Interest | 44 | |
Section 4.7 | Transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights | 44 | |
Section 4.8 | Restrictions on Transfers of Limited Partner Interests | 44 | |
Section 4.9 | Eligibility Certifications; Ineligible Holders | 46 | |
Section 4.10 | Redemption of Partnership Interests of Ineligible Holders | 48 | |
Section 4.11 | Right of First Offer | 49 |
Section 4.12 | Right of First Refusal | 51 | |
ARTICLE V | |||
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS | |||
Section 5.1 | Organizational Contributions | 54 | |
Section 5.2 | Initial Contributions; Percentage Interests | 54 | |
Section 5.3 | Contributions by Limited Partners | 54 | |
Section 5.4 | Interest and Withdrawal | 54 | |
Section 5.5 | Capital Accounts | 55 | |
Section 5.6 | Issuances of Additional Partnership Interests; Additional Capital | ||
Contributions Prior to the IPO Closing Date; Call and Put Rights | 58 | ||
Section 5.7 | Conversion of Common Units Into Subordinated Units | 60 | |
Section 5.8 | Conversion of Subordinated Units | 60 | |
Section 5.9 | Limited Preemptive Right | 61 | |
Section 5.10 | Splits and Combinations | 61 | |
Section 5.11 | Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests | 62 | |
Section 5.12 | Issuance of Common Units in Connection with Reset of Incentive | ||
Distribution Rights | 62 | ||
ARTICLE VI | |||
ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS | |||
Section 6.1 | Allocations for Capital Account Purposes | 64 | |
Section 6.2 | Allocations for Tax Purposes | 74 | |
Section 6.3 | Requirement and Characterization of Distributions; Distributions to | ||
Record Holders | 75 | ||
Section 6.4 | Distributions of Distributable Cash Prior to the Initial Public Offering | 76 | |
Section 6.5 | Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus After the IPO | ||
Closing Date | 78 | ||
Section 6.6 | Distributions of Available Cash from Capital Surplus After the IPO | ||
Closing Date | 79 | ||
Section 6.7 | Adjustment of Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target | ||
Distribution Levels | 79 | ||
Section 6.8 | Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Subordinated Units | 80 | |
Section 6.9 | Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Incentive Distribution | ||
Rights | 81 | ||
Section 6.10 | Entity-Level Taxation | 81 | |
ARTICLE VII | |||
MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS | |||
Section 7.1 | Management | 82 | |
Section 7.2 | Certificate of Limited Partnership | 84 |
- ii -
Section 7.3 | Restrictions on the General Partner's Authority to Sell Assets of the | ||
Partnership Group | 85 | ||
Section 7.4 | Reimbursement of the General Partner | 85 | |
Section 7.5 | Outside Activities | 86 | |
Section 7.6 | Loans from the General Partner; Loans or Contributions from the | ||
Partnership or Group Members | 87 | ||
Section 7.7 | Indemnification | 88 | |
Section 7.8 | Liability of Indemnitees | 90 | |
Section 7.9 | Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Standards of Conduct and | ||
Modification of Duties | 90 | ||
Section 7.10 | Other Matters Concerning the General Partner | 93 | |
Section 7.11 | Purchase or Sale of Partnership Interests | 93 | |
Section 7.12 | Reliance by Third Parties | 94 | |
ARTICLE VIII | |||
BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS | |||
Section 8.1 | Records and Accounting | 95 | |
Section 8.2 | Fiscal Year | 95 | |
Section 8.3 | Reports | 95 | |
ARTICLE IX | |||
TAX MATTERS | |||
Section 9.1 | Tax Returns and Information | 97 | |
Section 9.2 | Tax Elections | 97 | |
Section 9.3 | Tax Controversies | 97 | |
Section 9.4 | Withholding | 98 | |
ARTICLE X | |||
ADMISSION OF PARTNERS | |||
Section 10.1 | Admission of Limited Partners | 98 | |
Section 10.2 | Admission of Successor General Partner | 99 | |
Section 10.3 | Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership | 99 | |
ARTICLE XI | |||
WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS | |||
Section 11.1 | Withdrawal of the General Partner | 99 | |
Section 11.2 | Removal of the General Partner | 101 | |
Section 11.3 | Interest of Departing General Partner and Successor General Partner | 101 | |
Section 11.4 | Termination of Subordination Period, Conversion of Subordinated | ||
Units and Extinguishment of Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages | 103 |
- iii -
Section 11.5 | Withdrawal of Limited Partners | 103 | |
ARTICLE XII | |||
DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION | |||
Section 12.1 | Dissolution | 104 | |
Section 12.2 | Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After Dissolution | 104 | |
Section 12.3 | Liquidator | 105 | |
Section 12.4 | Liquidation | 105 | |
Section 12.5 | Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership | 106 | |
Section 12.6 | Return of Contributions | 106 | |
Section 12.7 | Waiver of Partition | 106 | |
Section 12.8 | Capital Account Restoration | 106 | |
ARTICLE XIII | |||
AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE | |||
Section 13.1 | Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the General Partner | 107 | |
Section 13.2 | Amendment Procedures | 108 | |
Section 13.3 | Amendment Requirements | 109 | |
Section 13.4 | Special Meetings | 109 | |
Section 13.5 | Notice of a Meeting | 110 | |
Section 13.6 | Record Date | 110 | |
Section 13.7 | Postponement and Adjournment | 110 | |
Section 13.8 | Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting | 111 | |
Section 13.9 | Quorum and Voting | 111 | |
Section 13.10 | Conduct of a Meeting | 111 | |
Section 13.11 | Action Without a Meeting | 112 | |
Section 13.12 | Right to Vote and Related Matters | 112 | |
Section 13.13 | Voting of Incentive Distribution Rights | 113 | |
ARTICLE XIV | |||
MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION | |||
Section 14.1 | Authority | 113 | |
Section 14.2 | Procedure for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion | 114 | |
Section 14.3 | Approval by Limited Partners | 115 | |
Section 14.4 | Certificate of Merger or Certificate of Conversion | 117 | |
Section 14.5 | Effect of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion | 117 | |
ARTICLE XV | |||
RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS | |||
Section 15.1 | Right to Acquire Limited Partner Interests | 118 |
- iv -
ARTICLE XVI | |||
GENERAL PROVISIONS | |||
Section 16.1 | Addresses and Notices; Written Communications | 120 | |
Section 16.2 | Further Action | 120 | |
Section 16.3 | Binding Effect | 120 | |
Section 16.4 | Integration | 121 | |
Section 16.5 | Creditors | 121 | |
Section 16.6 | Waiver | 121 | |
Section 16.7 | Third-Party Beneficiaries | 121 | |
Section 16.8 | Counterparts | 121 | |
Section 16.9 | Applicable Law; Forum, Venue and Jurisdiction; Waiver of Trial by | ||
Jury | 121 | ||
Section 16.10 | Invalidity of Provisions | 122 | |
Section 16.11 | Consent of Partners | 122 | |
Section 16.12 | Facsimile Signatures | 122 |
EXHIBITS | |
Exhibit A | Form of Certificate Evidencing Common Units |
Exhibit B | Units |
Exhibit C | Existing Affiliate Transactions |
Exhibit D | Partnership Equity Value Example |
- v -
FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT
OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF CENTERPOINT ENERGY FIELD SERVICES LP
THIS FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF CENTERPOINT ENERGY FIELD SERVICES LP, dated as of May 1, 2013, is entered into by and among CNP OGE GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as the General Partner, CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp., a Delaware corporation (“CERC”), OGE Enogex Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“OGEH”), and Enogex Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Bronco”), together with any other Persons who become Partners in the Partnership or parties hereto as provided herein. In consideration of the covenants, conditions and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Definitions. The following definitions shall be for all purposes, unless otherwise clearly indicated to the contrary, applied to the terms used in this Agreement.
“Acquisition” means any transaction in which any Group Member acquires (through an asset acquisition, stock acquisition, merger or other form of investment) control over all or a portion of the assets, properties or business of another Person for the purpose of increasing, over the long-term, the operating capacity or operating income of the Partnership Group from the operating capacity or operating income of the Partnership Group existing immediately prior to such transaction. For purposes of this definition, “long-term” generally refers to a period of not less than twelve months.
“Additional Book Basis” means the portion of any remaining Carrying Value of an Adjusted Property that is attributable to positive adjustments made to such Carrying Value as a result of Book-Up Events. For purposes of determining the extent that Carrying Value constitutes Additional Book Basis:
(a) Any negative adjustment made to the Carrying Value of an Adjusted Property as a result of either a Book-Down Event or a Book-Up Event shall first be deemed to offset or decrease that portion of the Carrying Value of such Adjusted Property that is attributable to any prior positive adjustments made thereto pursuant to a Book-Up Event or Book-Down Event; and
(b) If Carrying Value that constitutes Additional Book Basis is reduced as a result of a Book-Down Event and the Carrying Value of other property is increased as a result of such Book-Down Event, an allocable portion of any such increase in Carrying Value shall be treated as Additional Book Basis; provided, that the amount treated as Additional Book Basis pursuant hereto as a result of such Book-Down Event shall not exceed the amount by which the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments after such Book-Down Event exceeds the remaining Additional Book Basis attributable to all of the Partnership's Adjusted Property after
1
such Book-Down Event (determined without regard to the application of this clause (b) to such Book-Down Event).
“Additional Book Basis Derivative Items” means any Book Basis Derivative Items that are computed with reference to Additional Book Basis. To the extent that the Additional Book Basis attributable to all of the Partnership's Adjusted Property as of the beginning of any taxable period exceeds the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of the beginning of such period (the “Excess Additional Book Basis”), the Additional Book Basis Derivative Items for such period shall be reduced by the amount that bears the same ratio to the amount of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items determined without regard to this sentence as the Excess Additional Book Basis bears to the Additional Book Basis as of the beginning of such period. With respect to a Disposed of Adjusted Property, the Additional Book Basis Derivative Items shall be the amount of Additional Book Basis taken into account in computing gain or loss from the disposition of such Disposed of Adjusted Property.
“Adjusted Available Cash” means, with respect to any Quarter commencing prior to the IPO Closing Date and ending prior to the Liquidation Date:
(a) EBITDA with respect to such Quarter, less
(b) maintenance capital expenditures incurred with respect to such Quarter in the ordinary course of business of the Partnership Group as required to replace, repair or maintain existing assets of the Partnership Group, including those capital expenditures associated with system integrity, reliability, security, computer software and hardware, and governmental compliance, less
(c) Consolidated Interest Expense with respect to such Quarter.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Adjusted Available Cash” with respect to the Quarter in which the Liquidation Date occurs and any subsequent Quarter shall equal zero.
“Adjusted Capital Account” means the Capital Account maintained for each Partner as of the end of each taxable period of the Partnership, (a) increased by any amounts that such Partner is obligated to restore under the standards set by Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c) (or is deemed obligated to restore under Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5)) and (b) decreased by (i) the amount of all losses and deductions that, as of the end of such taxable period, are reasonably expected to be allocated to such Partner in subsequent taxable periods under Sections 704(e)(2) and 706(d) of the Code and Treasury Regulation Section 1.751-1(b)(2)(ii), and (ii) the amount of all distributions that, as of the end of such taxable period, are reasonably expected to be made to such Partner in subsequent taxable periods in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or otherwise to the extent they exceed offsetting increases to such Partner's Capital Account that are reasonably expected to occur during (or prior to) the taxable period in which such distributions are reasonably expected to be made (other than increases as a result of a minimum gain chargeback pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(i) or 6.1(d)(ii)). The foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account is intended to comply with the provisions of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith. The “Adjusted Capital Account” of a Partner in respect of any Partnership Interest
2
shall be the amount that such Adjusted Capital Account would be if such Partnership Interest were the only interest in the Partnership held by such Partner from and after the date on which such Partnership Interest was first issued.
“Adjusted Operating Surplus” means, with respect to any period, (a) Operating Surplus generated with respect to such period less (b)(i) the amount of any net increase in Working Capital Borrowings (or the Partnership's proportionate share of any net increase in Working Capital Borrowings in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) with respect to such period and (ii) the amount of any net decrease in cash reserves (or the Partnership's proportionate share of any net decrease in cash reserves in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) for Operating Expenditures with respect to such period not relating to an Operating Expenditure made with respect to such period, and plus (c) (i) the amount of any net decrease in Working Capital Borrowings (or the Partnership's proportionate share of any net decrease in Working Capital Borrowings in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) with respect to such period, (ii) the amount of any net decrease made in subsequent periods in cash reserves for Operating Expenditures initially established with respect to such period to the extent such decrease results in a reduction in Adjusted Operating Surplus in subsequent periods pursuant to clause (b)(ii) above and (iii) the amount of any net increase in cash reserves (or the Partnership's proportionate share of any net increase in cash reserves in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) for Operating Expenditures with respect to such period required by any debt instrument for the repayment of principal, interest or premium. Adjusted Operating Surplus does not include that portion of Operating Surplus included in clause (a)(i) of the definition of Operating Surplus.
“Adjusted Property” means any property the Carrying Value of which has been adjusted pursuant to Section 5.5(d).
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Person in question. As used herein, the term “control” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of Voting Securities, by contract or otherwise. Without limiting the foregoing, for purposes of this Agreement, any Person that, individually or together with its Affiliates, has the direct or indirect right to designate or cause the designation of at least one member to the Board of Directors of the General Partner, and any such Person's Affiliates, shall be deemed to be Affiliates of the General Partner. Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing to the contrary, CERC and its Affiliates (other than the General Partner or any Group Member), on the one hand, and OGEH and its Affiliates (other than the General Partner or any Group Member), on the other hand, will not be deemed to be Affiliates of one another hereunder unless there is a basis for such Affiliation independent of their respective Affiliation with any Group Member, the General Partner or any Affiliate (disregarding the immediately preceding sentence) of any Group Member or the General Partner.
“Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units” is defined in Section 5.12(a).
“Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments” means, as of the end of any taxable period, the sum of the Remaining Net Positive Adjustments of all the Partners.
3
“Agreed Allocation” means any allocation, other than a Required Allocation, of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.1, including a Curative Allocation (if appropriate to the context in which the term “Agreed Allocation” is used).
“Agreed Value” of any Contributed Property means the fair market value of such property or other consideration at the time of contribution and in the case of an Adjusted Property, the fair market value of such Adjusted Property on the date of the revaluation event as described in Section 5.5(d), in both cases as determined by the General Partner. The General Partner shall use such method as it determines to be appropriate to allocate the aggregate Agreed Value of Contributed Properties contributed to the Partnership in a single or integrated transaction among each separate property on a basis proportional to the fair market value of each Contributed Property.
“Agreement” means this First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of CenterPoint Energy Field Services LP as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
“Applicable Coverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Quarter commencing (a) prior to the date that is 18 months after the Closing Date, 1.20, and (b) on or after the date that is 18 months after the Closing Date, the lesser of 1.20 and the Applicable Coverage Ratio as determined by the General Partner.
“ArcLight Group” means ArcLight Capital Partners, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, one or more investment funds administered and managed, directly or indirectly, by ArcLight Capital Partners, LLC and any Affiliate of ArcLight Capital Partners, LLC or any such investment fund.
“Associate” means, when used to indicate a relationship with any Person, (a) any corporation or organization of which such Person is a director, officer, manager, general partner or managing member or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of 20% or more of any class of voting stock or other voting interest, (b) any trust or other estate in which such Person has at least a 20% beneficial interest or as to which such Person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity, and (c) any relative or spouse of such Person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same principal residence as such Person.
“Available Cash” means, with respect to any Quarter ending prior to the Liquidation Date:
(a) the sum of:
(i) all cash and cash equivalents of the Partnership Group (or the Partnership's proportionate share of cash and cash equivalents in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) on hand at the end of such Quarter; and
(ii) if the General Partner so determines, all or any portion of additional cash and cash equivalents of the Partnership Group (or the Partnership's proportionate share of cash and cash equivalents in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) on hand on the
4
date of determination of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter resulting from Working Capital Borrowings made subsequent to the end of such Quarter, less;
(b) the amount of any cash reserves established by the General Partner (or the Partnership's proportionate share of cash reserves in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) to:
(i) provide for the proper conduct of the business of the Partnership Group (including cash reserves for future capital expenditures and for anticipated future debt service requirements of the Partnership Group and for refunds of collected rates reasonably likely to be refunded as a result of a settlement or hearing relating to FERC rate proceedings) subsequent to such Quarter;
(ii) comply with applicable law or any loan agreement, security agreement, mortgage, debt instrument or other agreement or obligation to which any Group Member is a party or by which it is bound or its assets are subject; or
(iii) provide funds for distributions under Section 6.4, Section 6.5 or Section 6.6 in respect of any one or more of the next four Quarters;
provided, however, that, following the IPO Closing Date, the General Partner may not establish cash reserves pursuant to subclause (iii) above if the effect of such reserves would be that the Partnership is unable to distribute the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on all Common Units, plus any Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage on all Common Units, with respect to such Quarter; and, provided further, that disbursements made by a Group Member or cash reserves established, increased or reduced after the end of such Quarter but on or before the date of determination of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter shall be deemed to have been made, established, increased or reduced, for purposes of determining Available Cash, within such Quarter if the General Partner so determines.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Available Cash” with respect to the Quarter in which the Liquidation Date occurs and any subsequent Quarter shall equal zero.
“Board of Directors” means, with respect to the General Partner, its board of directors or board of managers, as applicable, if the General Partner is a corporation or limited liability company, or the board of directors or board of managers of the general partner of the General Partner, if the General Partner is a limited partnership, as applicable.
“Book Basis Derivative Items” means any item of income, deduction, gain or loss that is computed with reference to the Carrying Value of an Adjusted Property (e.g., depreciation, depletion, or gain or loss with respect to an Adjusted Property).
“Book-Down Event” means an event that triggers a negative adjustment to the Capital Accounts of the Partners pursuant to Section 5.5(d).
“Book-Tax Disparity” means with respect to any item of Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, as of the date of any determination, the difference between the Carrying Value of such Contributed Property or Adjusted Property and the adjusted basis thereof for
5
federal income tax purposes as of such date. A Partner's share of the Partnership's Book-Tax Disparities in all of its Contributed Property and Adjusted Property will be reflected by the difference between such Partner's Capital Account balance as maintained pursuant to Section 5.5 and the hypothetical balance of such Partner's Capital Account computed as if it had been maintained strictly in accordance with federal income tax accounting principles.
“Book-Up Event” means an event that triggers a positive adjustment to the Capital Accounts of the Partners pursuant to Section 5.5(d).
“Bronco” is defined in the Preamble.
“Bronco Arrearage Amount” is defined in Section 6.4(b).
“Bronco Fall-Away Date” means the earlier of (a) the date that the number of Common Units held by Bronco and its Affiliates (or a Bronco Successor other than a Midstream Successor), as adjusted to reflect any splits or combinations pursuant to Section 5.10, constitutes less than the Initial Bronco Amount, and (b) the IPO Closing Date.
“Bronco LP Contribution” is defined in Section 5.2(a)(ii).
“Bronco Pre-IPO MQD” is defined in Section 6.4(b)(i).
“Bronco Successor” is defined in Section 4.5(e).
“Bronco Unit” means a Common Unit issued prior to the IPO Closing Date to Bronco or to any successor or permitted transferee of any Bronco Units (other than a Sponsor Party or its Affiliate), which Common Units shall continue to constitute Bronco Units notwithstanding any subsequent transfer thereof but shall cease to constitute Bronco Units when transferred to a Sponsor Party or Affiliate of a Sponsor Party.
“Business Day” means Monday through Friday of each week, except that a legal holiday recognized as such by the government of the United States of America or the State of New York shall not be regarded as a Business Day.
“Call Right” has the meaning set forth in Annex B to the Master Formation Agreement.
“Capital Account” means the capital account maintained for a Partner pursuant to Section 5.5. The “Capital Account” of a Partner in respect of any Partnership Interest shall be the amount that such Capital Account would be if such Partnership Interest were the only interest in the Partnership held by such Partner from and after the date on which such Partnership Interest was first issued.
“Capital Contribution” means (a) any cash, cash equivalents or the Net Agreed Value of Contributed Property that a Partner contributes to the Partnership or that is contributed or deemed contributed to the Partnership on behalf of a Partner (including, in the case of an underwritten offering of Units, the amount of any underwriting discounts or commissions) or (b) current distributions that a Partner is entitled to receive but otherwise waives.
6
“Capital Improvement” means (a) the construction or development of new capital assets by a Group Member, (b) the replacement, improvement or expansion of existing capital assets by a Group Member or (c) a Capital Contribution by a Group Member to a Person that is not a Subsidiary in which a Group Member has, or after such Capital Contribution will have, directly or indirectly, an equity interest, to fund such Group Member's pro rata share of the cost of the construction or development of new, or the replacement, improvement or expansion of existing, capital assets by such Person, in each case if and to the extent such construction, development, replacement, improvement or expansion is made to increase over the long-term, the operating capacity or operating income of the Partnership Group, in the case of clauses (a) and (b), or such Person, in the case of clause (c), from the operating capacity or operating income of the Partnership Group or such Person, as the case may be, existing immediately prior to such construction, development, replacement, improvement, expansion or Capital Contribution. For purposes of this definition, “long-term” generally refers to a period of not less than twelve months.
“Capital Surplus” means Available Cash distributed by the Partnership in excess of Operating Surplus, as described in Section 6.3(a).
“Carrying Value” means (a) with respect to a Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, the Agreed Value of such property reduced (but not below zero) by all depreciation, amortization and cost recovery deductions charged to the Partners' Capital Accounts in respect of such property and (b) with respect to any other Partnership property, the adjusted basis of such property for federal income tax purposes, all as of the time of determination; provided that the Carrying Value of any property shall be adjusted from time to time in accordance with Section 5.5(d) and to reflect changes, additions or other adjustments to the Carrying Value for dispositions and acquisitions of Partnership properties, as deemed appropriate by the General Partner.
“Cause” means a court of competent jurisdiction has entered a final, non-appealable judgment finding the General Partner liable to the Partnership or any Limited Partner for actual fraud or willful misconduct in its capacity as a general partner of the Partnership.
“CERC” is defined in the Preamble.
“CERC Arrearage Amount” is defined in Section 6.4(b).
“CERC Distributable Amount” is defined in Section 6.4(b)(iii).
“CERC Unit” means (a) a Common Unit issued prior to the IPO Closing Date to CERC or to any successor or permitted transferee of any CERC Units and (b) a Bronco Unit that has been transferred to CERC or its Affiliate, in each case, which Common Units shall continue to constitute CERC Units notwithstanding any subsequent transfer thereof.
“Certificate” means a certificate in such form (including global form if permitted by applicable rules and regulations) as may be adopted by the General Partner, issued by the Partnership evidencing ownership of one or more classes of Partnership Interests. The initial form of certificate approved by the General Partner for Common Units is attached as Exhibit A to this Agreement.
7
“Certificate of Limited Partnership” means the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as referenced in Section 7.2, as such Certificate of Limited Partnership may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
“Change in Control” of any Person means (i) a person or group (as such terms are used in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of more than 50% of all of the then outstanding Voting Securities of such Person, except in a merger or consolidation that would not constitute a Change in Control under clause (ii) below, or (ii) the Person consolidates or merges with another Person, other than any such consolidation or merger where (1) the outstanding Voting Securities of the subject Person are changed into or exchanged for Voting Securities of the surviving Person or its parent and (2) the holders of the Voting Securities of the subject Person immediately prior to such transaction own, directly or indirectly, not less than a majority of the outstanding Voting Securities of the surviving Person or its parent immediately after such transaction in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of outstanding Voting Securities in the subject Person immediately prior to such consolidation or merger.
“Citizenship Eligibility Trigger” is defined in Section 4.9(a)(ii).
“Closing Date” means the date on which the transactions contemplated by the Master Formation Agreement are consummated.
“Closing Price” for any day, means in respect of any class of Limited Partner Interests the last sale price on such day, regular way, or in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the last closing bid and ask prices on such day, regular way, in either case as reported on the principal National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests are listed or admitted to trading or, if such Limited Partner Interests are not listed or admitted to trading on any National Securities Exchange, the average of the high bid and low ask prices on such day in the over-the-counter market, as reported by such other system then in use, or, if on any such day such Limited Partner Interests are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and ask prices on such day as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in such Limited Partner Interests selected by the General Partner, or if on any such day no market maker is making a market in such Limited Partner Interests, the fair value of such Limited Partner Interests on such day as determined by the General Partner.
“CNP” means CenterPoint Energy, Inc., a Texas corporation.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time. Any reference herein to a specific section or sections of the Code shall be deemed to include a reference to any corresponding provision of any successor law.
“Combined Interest” is defined in Section 11.3(a).
“Commences Commercial Service” means the date upon which a Capital Improvement is first put into commercial service by a Group Member following completion of construction, replacement, improvement or expansion and testing, as applicable.
8
“Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Common Unit” means a Limited Partner Interest having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Common Units in this Agreement. The term “Common Unit” does not include a Subordinated Unit prior to its conversion into a Common Unit pursuant to the terms hereof.
“Common Unit Arrearage” means, with respect to any Common Unit, whenever issued, as to any Quarter within the Subordination Period, the excess, if any, of (a) the Minimum Quarterly Distribution with respect to a Common Unit in respect of such Quarter over (b) the sum of all Available Cash distributed with respect to a Common Unit in respect of such Quarter pursuant to Section 6.5(a)(i).
“Conflicts Committee” means a committee of the Board of Directors of the General Partner composed of two or more directors, each of whom (a) is not an officer or employee of the General Partner, (b) is not an officer, director or employee of any Affiliate of the General Partner (other than Group Members), (c) is not a holder of any ownership interest in the General Partner or its Affiliates or the Partnership Group other than (i) Common Units and (ii) awards that are granted to such director in his capacity as a director under any long-term incentive plan, equity compensation plan or similar plan implemented by the General Partner or the Partnership and (d) is determined by the Board of Directors of the General Partner to be independent under the independence standards for directors who serve on an audit committee of a board of directors established by the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and by the National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are listed or admitted to trading (or if no such National Securities Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange).
“Consolidated Interest Expense” means, for any period with respect to the Partnership and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, all interest (including the interest component, if any, of any capitalized lease) paid or accrued during such period in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
“Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, for the Partnership and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the net income of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries (excluding extraordinary gains and extraordinary losses) for that period, as determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
“Construction Debt” means debt incurred to fund (a) all or a portion of a Capital Improvement, (b) interest payments (including periodic net payments under related interest rate swap agreements) and related fees on other Construction Debt or (c) distributions (including incremental Incentive Distributions) on Construction Equity.
“Construction Equity” means equity issued to fund (a) all or a portion of a Capital Improvement, (b) interest payments (including periodic net payments under related interest rate swap agreements) and related fees on Construction Debt or (c) distributions (including incremental Incentive Distributions) on other Construction Equity. Construction Equity does not include equity issued in the Initial Public Offering.
“Construction Period” means the period beginning on the date that a Group Member enters into a binding obligation to commence a Capital Improvement and ending on the earlier to
9
occur of the date that such Capital Improvement Commences Commercial Service and the date that the Group Member abandons or disposes of such Capital Improvement.
“Contributed Property” means each property or other asset, in such form as may be permitted by the Delaware Act, but excluding cash, contributed to the Partnership. Once the Carrying Value of a Contributed Property is adjusted pursuant to Section 5.5(d), such property or other asset shall no longer constitute a Contributed Property, but shall be deemed an Adjusted Property.
“Credit Facilities” means the Revolving Credit Facility, the Term Loan Facility and the Interim Intercompany Revolver Facilities.
“Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage” means, with respect to any Common Unit, whenever issued, and as of the end of any Quarter, the excess, if any, of (a) the sum of the Common Unit Arrearages with respect to an IPO Common Unit for each of the Quarters within the Subordination Period ending on or before the last day of such Quarter over (b) the sum of any distributions theretofore made pursuant to Section 6.5(a)(ii) and the second sentence of Section 6.6 with respect to an IPO Common Unit (including any distributions to be made in respect of the last of such Quarters).
“Curative Allocation” means any allocation of an item of income, gain, deduction, loss or credit pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.1(d)(xi).
“Current Market Price” as of any date of any class of Limited Partner Interests, means the average of the daily Closing Prices per Limited Partner Interest of such class for the 20 consecutive Trading Days immediately prior to such date.
“Debt to EBITDA Ratio” means the quotient of the aggregate Pro Forma Indebtedness of the Partnership and its consolidated Subsidiaries divided by EBITDA for the trailing four Quarter period.
“Delaware Act” means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, 6 Del C. Section 17-101, et seq., as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute.
“Delaware LLC Act” means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, 6 Del. C. Section 18-101, et seq., as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute.
“Departing General Partner” means a former general partner from and after the effective date of any withdrawal or removal of such former general partner pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2.
“Derivative Partnership Interests” means any options, rights, warrants, appreciation rights, tracking, profit and phantom interests and other derivative securities relating to, convertible into or exchangeable for Partnership Interests.
“Disposed of Adjusted Property” is defined in Section 6.1(d)(xii)(B).
10
“Distributable Cash” means, with respect to any Quarter commencing prior to the IPO Closing Date, the quotient of Adjusted Available Cash divided by the Applicable Coverage Ratio.
“EBITDA” means, for any period, without duplication, with respect to the Partnership and its consolidated Subsidiaries (a) Consolidated Net Income for such period plus (b) without duplication, the sum of the following to the extent deducted in calculating Consolidated Net Income for such period: (i) Consolidated Interest Expense for such period, (ii) tax expense (including any federal, state, local and foreign income and similar taxes) of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries for such period, (iii) depreciation and amortization expense of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries for such period, (iv) amortization or write-off of debt discount and debt issuance costs and commissions, discounts and other fees and charges associated with Indebtedness of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries for such period, (v) amortization of intangibles and organization costs of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries for such period, (vi) any non-recurring non-cash expenses or losses of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries, including, in any event, non-cash asset write-downs and unrealized losses in connection with Swap Agreements, for such period, and (vii) any non-recurring cash losses during such period minus (c) the sum of the following (i) any non-recurring cash or non-recurring non-cash gains during such period and (ii) any unrealized gains in connection with Swap Agreements for such period.
“Economic Risk of Loss” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-2(a).
“EH Economic Units” has the meaning set forth in the Master Formation Agreement.
“EH II” has the meaning set forth in the Master Formation Agreement.
“EH Management Units” has the meaning set forth in the Master Formation Agreement.
“Eligibility Certificate” is defined in Section 4.9(b).
“Eligible Holder” means a Limited Partner whose (a) federal income tax status is not reasonably likely to have the material adverse effect described in Section 4.9(a)(i) or (b) nationality, citizenship or other related status would not create a substantial risk of cancellation or forfeiture as described in Section 4.9(a)(ii), in each case as determined by the General Partner with the advice of counsel.
“Encumbrances” means pledges, restrictions on transfer, proxies and voting or other agreements, liens, claims, charges, mortgages, security interests or other legal or equitable encumbrances, limitations or restrictions of any nature whatsoever.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
“Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount” is defined in Section 6.10.
“Event of Withdrawal” is defined in Section 11.1(a).
11
“Excess Additional Book Basis” is defined in the definition of “Additional Book Basis Derivative Items.”
“Excess Distribution” is defined in Section 6.1(d)(iii)(A).
“Excess Distribution Unit” is defined in Section 6.1(d)(iii)(A).
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute.
“Expansion Capital Expenditures” means cash expenditures for Acquisitions or Capital Improvements. Expansion Capital Expenditures shall include interest (including periodic net payments under related interest rate swap agreements) and related fees paid during the Construction Period on Construction Debt. Where cash expenditures are made in part for Expansion Capital Expenditures and in part for other purposes, the General Partner shall determine the allocation between the amounts paid for each.
“FERC” means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or any successor to the powers thereof.
“Final Subordinated Units” is defined in Section 6.1(d)(x)(A).
“First Liquidation Target Amount” is defined in Section 6.1(c)(i)(D).
“First Target Distribution” means 115% of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution.
“Fully Diluted Weighted Average Basis” means, when calculating the number of Outstanding Units for any period, a basis that includes (a) the weighted average number of Outstanding Units during such period plus (b) all Partnership Interests and Derivative Partnership Interests (i) that are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Units or for which Units are issuable, in each case that are senior to or pari passu with the Subordinated Units, (ii) whose conversion, exercise or exchange price, if any, is less than the Current Market Price on the date of such calculation, (iii) that may be converted into or exercised or exchanged for such Units prior to or during the Quarter immediately following the end of the period for which the calculation is being made without the satisfaction of any contingency beyond the control of the holder other than the payment of consideration and the compliance with administrative mechanics applicable to such conversion, exercise or exchange and (iv) that were not converted into or exercised or exchanged for such Units during the period for which the calculation is being made; provided, however, that for purposes of determining the number of Outstanding Units on a Fully Diluted Weighted Average Basis when calculating whether the Subordination Period has ended or Subordinated Units are entitled to convert into Common Units pursuant to Section 5.8, such Partnership Interests and Derivative Partnership Interests shall be deemed to have been Outstanding Units only for the four Quarters that comprise the last four Quarters of the measurement period; provided, further, that if consideration will be paid to any Group Member in connection with such conversion, exercise or exchange, the number of Units to be included in such calculation shall be that number equal to the difference between (x) the number of Units issuable upon such conversion, exercise or exchange and (y) the number of Units that such consideration would purchase at the Current Market Price.
12
“General Partner” means CNP OGE GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and its successors and permitted assigns that are admitted to the Partnership as general partner of the Partnership, in their capacity as general partner of the Partnership (except as the context otherwise requires).
“General Partner Interest” means the non-economic management interest of the General Partner in the Partnership (in its capacity as a general partner without reference to any Limited Partner Interest held by it) and includes any and all rights, powers and benefits to which the General Partner is entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations of the General Partner to comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement. Except as expressly set forth in Section 6.1, the General Partner Interest does not include any rights to profits or losses or any rights to receive distributions from operations or upon the liquidation or winding up of the Partnership.
“General Partner LLC Agreement” means the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of CNP OGE GP LLC as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
“General Partner Membership Interest” has the meaning assigned to the term “Membership Interest” in the General Partner LLC Agreement.
“Gross Liability Value” means, with respect to any Liability of the Partnership described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-7(b)(3)(i), the amount of cash that a willing assignor would pay to a willing assignee to assume such Liability in an arm's-length transaction.
“Group” means two or more Persons that with or through any of their respective Affiliates or Associates have any contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent given to such Person in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to 10 or more Persons), exercising investment power over or disposing of any Partnership Interests with any other Person that beneficially owns, or whose Affiliates or Associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, Partnership Interests.
“Group Member” means a member of the Partnership Group.
“Group Member Agreement” means the partnership agreement of any Group Member, other than the Partnership, that is a limited or general partnership, the limited liability company agreement of any Group Member that is a limited liability company, the certificate of incorporation and bylaws or similar organizational documents of any Group Member that is a corporation, the joint venture agreement or similar governing document of any Group Member that is a joint venture and the governing or organizational or similar documents of any other Group Member that is a Person other than a limited or general partnership, limited liability company, corporation or joint venture, as such may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
“Hedge Contract” means any exchange, swap, forward, cap, floor, collar, option or other similar agreement or arrangement entered into for the purpose of reducing the exposure of a Group Member to fluctuations in interest rates, the price of hydrocarbons, basis differentials or
13
currency exchange rates in their operations or financing activities and not for speculative purposes.
“IDR Reset Common Units” is defined in Section 5.12(a).
“IDR Reset Election” is defined in Section 5.12(a).
“Incentive Distribution Right” means a Limited Partner Interest having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Incentive Distribution Rights in this Agreement.
“Incentive Distributions” means any amount of cash distributed to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights pursuant to Sections 6.5(a)(v), (vi) and (vii) and Sections 6.5(b)(iii), (iv) and (v).
“Incremental Income Taxes” is defined in Section 6.10.
“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other debt securities or warrants or other rights to acquire any debt securities of such Person, (c) all capitalized lease or leveraged lease obligations of such Person or obligations of such Person to pay the deferred and unpaid purchase price of property and equipment or (d) all “keep well” and other obligations or undertakings of such Person to maintain or cause to be maintained the financial position or covenants of others or to purchase the obligations or property of others.
“Indemnitee” means (a) the General Partner, (b) any Departing General Partner, (c) any Person who is or was an Affiliate of the General Partner or any Departing General Partner, (d) any Person who is or was a manager, managing member, general partner, director, officer, fiduciary or trustee of (i) any Group Member, the General Partner or any Departing General Partner or (ii) any Affiliate of any Group Member, the General Partner or any Departing General Partner, (e) any Person who is or was serving at the request of the General Partner or any Departing General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner or any Departing General Partner as a manager, managing member, general partner, director, officer, fiduciary or trustee of another Person owing a fiduciary duty to any Group Member; provided that a Person shall not be an Indemnitee by reason of providing, on a fee-for-services basis, trustee, fiduciary or custodial services, (f) prior to the Bronco Fall-Away Date, Bronco and any Affiliate of Bronco, and its and their respective members, partners, directors and officers, and (g) any Person the General Partner designates as an “Indemnitee” for purposes of this Agreement because such Person's status, service or relationship exposes such Person to potential claims, demands, suits or proceedings relating to the Partnership Group's business and affairs.
“Indemnitor” is defined in Section 3.4(e).
“Ineligible Holder” is defined in Section 4.9(c).
“Initial Bronco Amount” means 50.1% of the number of Common Units that Bronco holds on the Closing Date, as adjusted to reflect any splits or combinations pursuant to Section 5.10.
14
“Initial Budget” means that certain initial budget for the Partnership and its Subsidiaries previously agreed pursuant to that certain Letter Agreement regarding Initial Budget, dated as of March 14, 2013, that covers the period from January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013 and sets forth reasonable line item detail regarding anticipated expenditures, including: (i) estimated operating expenditures; (ii) estimated capital expenditures; (iii) the proposed financing plans for such expenditures; and (iv) such other items as are set forth therein, and such Initial Budget is deemed to be constructively attached to this Agreement and incorporated herein by reference.
“Initial Limited Partners” means CERC, OGEH and Bronco (with respect to the Common Units received by them pursuant to Section 5.2), and the General Partner (with respect to the Incentive Distribution Rights), in each case upon being admitted to the Partnership in accordance with Section 10.1.
“Initial Public Offering” means the registration by the Partnership of any Partnership Interests, including Common Units, pursuant to a Registration Statement that is filed and declared effective under the Securities Act.
“Initial Unit Price” means (a) with respect to the Common Units if the Initial Public Offering has not yet occurred, $20, (b) with respect to the Common Units and Subordinated Units if the Initial Public Offering has occurred, the initial public offering price per Common Unit at which the underwriters in the Initial Public Offering agree to offer the Common Units to the public for sale as set forth on the cover page of the final prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Securities Act with respect to the Initial Public Offering, or (c) with respect to any other class or series of Units, the price per Unit at which such class or series of Units is initially sold by the Partnership, as determined by the General Partner, in each case adjusted as the General Partner determines to be appropriate to give effect to any distribution, subdivision or combination of Units.
“Interim Capital Transactions” means the following transactions if they occur prior to the Liquidation Date: (a) borrowings, refinancings or refundings of indebtedness (other than Working Capital Borrowings and other than for items purchased on open account or for a deferred purchase price in the ordinary course of business) by any Group Member and sales of debt securities of any Group Member; (b) issuances of equity interests of any Group Member (including the Common Units sold to the IPO Underwriters in the Initial Public Offering) to anyone other than the Partnership Group; and (c) sales or other voluntary or involuntary dispositions of any assets of any Group Member other than (i) sales or other dispositions of inventory, accounts receivable and other assets in the ordinary course of business and (ii) sales or other dispositions of assets as part of normal retirements or replacements.
“Interim Intercompany Revolver Facilities” means any unsecured Indebtedness provided by a Sponsor Party or any of its Affiliates to the Partnership prior to the consummation of the Revolving Credit Facility; provided that if the Interim Intercompany Revolver Facilities have not been replaced by the 270th day after the Closing Date, CERC and OGEH shall consult with Bronco and each party shall use reasonable best efforts to replace the Interim Intercompany Revolver Facilities with either a third-party credit facility or alternative lending arrangements from one or more of CERC, OGE or Bronco or their Affiliates.
15
“Investment Capital Expenditures” means capital expenditures that are neither Expansion Capital Expenditures nor Maintenance Capital Expenditures.
“Investment Grade Status” means (a) prior to the date that the Revolving Credit Facility is executed, “Investment Grade Status” as defined in Exhibit A to the Commitment Letter for the $1,400,000,000 5-Year Revolving Credit Facility set forth in Annex A of the Master Formation Agreement, and (b) on and after the date that the Revolving Credit Facility is executed, “Investment Grade Status” as defined in the Revolving Credit Facility.
“IPO Closing Date” means the closing date of the first sale of Common Units in the Initial Public Offering.
“IPO Common Unit” means the Outstanding Common Units immediately after the Initial Public Offering.
“IPO Underwriters” means each Person named as an underwriter in the Underwriting Agreement who purchases Common Units pursuant thereto.
“Leverage Ratio” means (a) prior to the date that the Revolving Credit Facility is executed, the Debt to EBITDA Ratio, and (b) on and after the date that the Revolving Credit Facility is executed, the “Leverage Ratio” as defined in the Revolving Credit Facility.
“Liability” means any liability or obligation of any nature, whether accrued, contingent or otherwise.
“Limited Partner” means, unless the context otherwise requires, the Organizational Limited Partner prior to its withdrawal from the Partnership, each Initial Limited Partner, each additional Person that becomes a Limited Partner pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and any Departing General Partner upon the change of its status from General Partner to Limited Partner pursuant to Section 11.3, in each case, in such Person's capacity as a limited partner of the Partnership.
“Limited Partner Interest” means an interest of a Limited Partner in the Partnership, which may be evidenced by Common Units, Subordinated Units, Incentive Distribution Rights or other Partnership Interests (other than a General Partner Interest) or a combination thereof (but excluding Derivative Partnership Interests), and includes any and all benefits to which such Limited Partner is entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations of such Limited Partner pursuant to the terms and provisions of this Agreement.
“Liquidation Date” means (a) in the case of an event giving rise to the dissolution of the Partnership of the type described in clauses (a) and (b) of the first sentence of Section 12.2, the date on which the applicable time period during which the holders of Outstanding Units have the right to elect to continue the business of the Partnership has expired without such an election being made and (b) in the case of any other event giving rise to the dissolution of the Partnership, the date on which such event occurs.
16
“Liquidator” means one or more Persons selected by the General Partner to perform the functions described in Section 12.4 as liquidating trustee of the Partnership within the meaning of the Delaware Act.
“Losses” has the meaning set forth in the Omnibus Agreement.
“Maintenance Capital Expenditure” means cash expenditures (including expenditures for the construction or development of new capital assets or the replacement, improvement or expansion of existing capital assets) by a Group Member made to maintain, over the long-term, the operating capacity or operating income of the Partnership Group. For purposes of this definition, “long-term” generally refers to a period of not less than twelve months.
“Master Formation Agreement” means that certain Master Formation Agreement, dated as of March 14, 2013, by and among CNP, OGE, Bronco Midstream Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Bronco Midstream Holdings II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and to which the Partnership and the General Partner are bound, together with the additional conveyance documents and instruments contemplated or referenced thereunder, as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
“Merger Agreement” is defined in Section 14.1.
“Midstream Operations” has the meaning defined in the Omnibus Agreement.
“Midstream Successor” means any Person that is engaged in the business or industry of the Partnership Group (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not include private equity firms or other financial sponsors that have or may acquire investments in entities that conduct business in the same business or industry as the Partnership Group).
“Minimum Bronco Pre-IPO MQD Amount” means, with respect to any Quarter, the amount of Distributable Cash, on a per Unit basis, with respect to the corresponding Quarter in the 2014 calendar year (or, if with respect to the fourth Quarter of the 2014 calendar year, with respect to the fourth Quarter of the 2013 calendar year), subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 5.10(a) and Section 6.10.
“Minimum Quarterly Distribution” means, after the IPO Closing Date, an amount per Unit per Quarter (or with respect to periods of less than a full Quarter, it means the product of such amount multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is the number of days in such period and the denominator is the total number of days in such Quarter) set forth in the final prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Securities Act with respect to the Initial Public Offering as the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, as determined by the Board of Directors in connection with the Initial Public Offering, subject to adjustment in accordance with Sections 5.12, 6.7 and 6.10.
“National Securities Exchange” means an exchange registered with the Commission under Section 6(a) of the Exchange Act (or any successor to such Section).
“Net Agreed Value” means, (a) in the case of any Contributed Property, the Agreed Value of such property or other consideration reduced by any Liabilities either assumed by the
17
Partnership upon such contribution or to which such property or other consideration is subject when contributed and (b) in the case of any property distributed to a Partner by the Partnership, the Partnership's Carrying Value of such property (as adjusted pursuant to Section 5.5(d)(ii)) at the time such property is distributed, reduced by any Liabilities either assumed by such Partner upon such distribution or to which such property is subject at the time of distribution, in either case as determined and required by the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 704(b) of the Code.
“Net Income” means, for any taxable period, the excess, if any, of the Partnership's items of income and gain (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable period over the Partnership's items of loss and deduction (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable period. The items included in the calculation of Net Income shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and shall not include any items specially allocated under Section 6.1(d); provided, that the determination of the items that have been specially allocated under Section 6.1(d) shall be made without regard to any reversal of such items under Section 6.1(d)(xii).
“Net Loss” means, for any taxable period, the excess, if any, of the Partnership's items of loss and deduction (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable period over the Partnership's items of income and gain (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable period. The items included in the calculation of Net Loss shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and shall not include any items specially allocated under Section 6.1(d); provided, that the determination of the items that have been specially allocated under Section 6.1(d) shall be made without regard to any reversal of such items under Section 6.1(d)(xii).
“Net Positive Adjustments” means, with respect to any Partner, the excess, if any, of the total positive adjustments over the total negative adjustments made to the Capital Account of such Partner pursuant to Book-Up Events and Book-Down Events.
“Net Termination Gain” means, for any taxable period, the sum, if positive, of all items of income, gain, loss or deduction (determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b)) that are (a) recognized by the Partnership (i) after the Liquidation Date or (ii) upon the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (excluding any disposition to a member of the Partnership Group), or (b) deemed recognized by the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.5(d); provided, however, the items included in the determination of Net Termination Gain shall not include any items of income, gain or loss specially allocated under Section 6.1(d).
“Net Termination Loss” means, for any taxable period, the sum, if negative, of all items of income, gain, loss or deduction (determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b)) that are (a) recognized by the Partnership (i) after the Liquidation Date or (ii) upon the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (excluding any disposition to a member of the Partnership Group), or (b) deemed recognized by the Partnership pursuant to
18
Section 5.5(d); provided, however, items included in the determination of Net Termination Loss shall not include any items of income, gain or loss specially allocated under Section 6.1(d).
“Nonrecourse Built-in Gain” means with respect to any Contributed Properties or Adjusted Properties that are subject to a mortgage or pledge securing a Nonrecourse Liability, the amount of any taxable gain that would be allocated to the Partners pursuant to Section 6.2(b) if such properties were disposed of in a taxable transaction in full satisfaction of such liabilities and for no other consideration.
“Nonrecourse Deductions” means any and all items of loss, deduction or expenditure (including any expenditure described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code) that, in accordance with the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b), are attributable to a Nonrecourse Liability.
“Nonrecourse Liability” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-1(a)(2).
“Notice of Election to Purchase” is defined in Section 15.1(b).
“Observer” is defined in Section 3.4(b).
“OGE” means OGE Energy Corp., an Oklahoma corporation.
“OGEH” is defined in the Preamble.
“OGEH Arrearage Amount” is defined in Section 6.4(b).
“OGEH Distributable Amount” is defined in Section 6.4(b)(iv).
“OGEH LP Contribution” is defined in Section 5.2(a)(i).
“OGEH Unit” means (a) a Common Unit issued prior to the IPO Closing Date to OGEH or to any successor or permitted transferee of any OGEH Units and (b) a Bronco Unit that has been transferred to OGEH or its Affiliate, in each case, which Common Units shall continue to constitute OGEH Units notwithstanding any subsequent transfer thereof.
“Omnibus Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Master Formation Agreement.
“Operating Expenditures” means, with respect to any period after the IPO Closing Date, all Partnership Group cash expenditures (or the Partnership's proportionate share of expenditures in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned), including taxes, compensation of employees, officers and directors of the General Partner, reimbursement of expenses of the General Partner and its Affiliates, debt service payments, Maintenance Capital Expenditures, repayment of Working Capital Borrowings, payments made in the ordinary course of business under any Hedge Contracts, subject to the following:
19
(a) repayments of Working Capital Borrowings deducted from Operating Surplus pursuant to clause (b)(iii) of the definition of Operating Surplus shall not constitute Operating Expenditures when actually repaid;
(b) payments (including prepayments and prepayment penalties) of principal of and premium on indebtedness other than Working Capital Borrowings shall not constitute Operating Expenditures;
(c) Operating Expenditures shall not include (i) Expansion Capital Expenditures or Investment Capital Expenditures, (ii) payment of transaction expenses (including taxes) relating to Interim Capital Transactions, (iii) distributions to Partners, (iv) repurchases of Partnership Interests, other than repurchases of Partnership Interests by the Partnership to satisfy obligations under employee benefit plans or reimbursement of expenses of the General Partner for purchases of Partnership Interests by the General Partner to satisfy obligations under employee benefit plans, or (v) any other expenditures or payments made using the proceeds of the Initial Public Offering; and
(d) (i) amounts paid in connection with the initial purchase of a Hedge Contract shall be amortized over the life of such Hedge Contract and (ii) payments made in connection with the termination of any Hedge Contract prior to the expiration of its scheduled settlement or termination date shall be included in equal quarterly installments over the remaining scheduled life of such Hedge Contract.
“Operating Surplus” means, with respect to any period after the IPO Closing Date and ending prior to the Liquidation Date, on a cumulative basis and without duplication,
(a) the sum of (i) a dollar amount to be determined by mutual agreement of the Sponsor Parties in connection with the Initial Public Offering, (ii) all cash receipts of the Partnership Group (or the Partnership's proportionate share of cash receipts in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) for the period beginning on the IPO Closing Date and ending on the last day of such period, but excluding cash receipts from Interim Capital Transactions and the termination of Hedge Contracts (provided that cash receipts from the termination of a Hedge Contract prior to its scheduled settlement or termination date shall be included in Operating Surplus in equal quarterly installments over the remaining scheduled life of such Hedge Contract), (iii) all cash receipts of the Partnership Group (or the Partnership's proportionate share of cash receipts in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) after the end of such period but on or before the date of determination of Operating Surplus with respect to such period resulting from Working Capital Borrowings and (iv) the amount of cash distributions paid during the Construction Period (including incremental Incentive Distributions) on Construction Equity, less
(b) the sum of (i) Operating Expenditures for the period beginning on the IPO Closing Date and ending on the last day of such period, (ii) the amount of cash reserves (or the Partnership's proportionate share of cash reserves in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) established by the General Partner to provide funds for future Operating Expenditures, (iii) all Working Capital Borrowings not repaid within twelve months after having been incurred,
20
or repaid within such 12-month period with the proceeds of additional Working Capital Borrowings, and (iv) any cash loss realized on disposition of an Investment Capital Expenditure;
provided, however, that disbursements made (including contributions to a Group Member or disbursements on behalf of a Group Member) or cash reserves established, increased or reduced after the end of such period but on or before the date of determination of Available Cash with respect to such period shall be deemed to have been made, established, increased or reduced, for purposes of determining Operating Surplus, within such period if the General Partner so determines.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Operating Surplus” with respect to the Quarter in which the Liquidation Date occurs and any subsequent Quarter shall equal zero. Cash receipts from an Investment Capital Expenditure shall be treated as cash receipts only to the extent they are a return on principal, but return of principal shall not be treated as cash receipts.
“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel (who may be regular counsel to, or the general counsel or other inside counsel of, the Partnership or the General Partner or any of its Affiliates) reasonably acceptable to the General Partner or to such other person selecting such counsel or obtaining such opinion.
“Organizational Limited Partner” means CERC, in its capacity as the organizational limited partner of the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement.
“Outstanding” means, with respect to Partnership Interests, all Partnership Interests that are issued by the Partnership and reflected as outstanding in the Register as of the date of determination; provided, however, that if at any time after an Initial Public Offering any Person or Group (other than the General Partner or its Affiliates) beneficially owns 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership Interests of any class then Outstanding, none of the Partnership Interests owned by such Person or Group shall be entitled to be voted on any matter or be considered to be Outstanding when sending notices of a meeting of Limited Partners to vote on any matter (unless otherwise required by law), calculating required votes, determining the presence of a quorum or for other similar purposes under this Agreement, except that Partnership Interests so owned shall be considered to be Outstanding for purposes of Section 11.1(b) (such Partnership Interests shall not, however, be treated as a separate class of Partnership Interests for purposes of this Agreement or the Delaware Act); provided, further, that the foregoing limitation shall not apply to (i) any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership Interests of any class directly from the General Partner or its Affiliates (other than the Partnership), (ii) any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership Interests of any class then Outstanding directly or indirectly from a Person or Group described in clause (i) provided that, upon or prior to such acquisition, the General Partner shall have notified such Person or Group in writing that such limitation shall not apply, or (iii) any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of any Partnership Interests issued by the Partnership with the prior approval of the Board of Directors of the General Partner.
“Partner Nonrecourse Debt” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b)(4).
21
“Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(2).
“Partner Nonrecourse Deductions” means any and all items of loss, deduction or expenditure (including any expenditure described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code) that, in accordance with the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i), are attributable to a Partner Nonrecourse Debt.
“Partners” means the General Partner and the Limited Partners.
“Partnership” means CenterPoint Energy Field Services LP, a Delaware limited partnership.
“Partnership Equity Value” is defined in Section 5.6(e)(iv)(B).
“Partnership Group” means, collectively, the Partnership and its Subsidiaries.
“Partnership Interest” means any class or series of equity interest in the Partnership, which shall include any Limited Partner Interests and the General Partner Interest but shall exclude any Derivative Partnership Interests.
“Partnership Minimum Gain” means that amount determined in accordance with the principles of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(b)(2) and 1.704-2(d).
“Per Unit Capital Amount” means, as of any date of determination, the Capital Account, stated on a per Unit basis, underlying any Unit held by a Person other than the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner who holds Units.
“Percentage Interest” means as of any date of determination as to any Unitholder with respect to Units, the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the number of Units held by such Unitholder by (ii) the total number of Outstanding Units. The Percentage Interest with respect to an Incentive Distribution Right shall be zero. The Percentage Interest with respect to the General Partner Interest shall at all times be zero.
“Permitted Transfer” means:
(a) with respect to CERC, a transfer by such Limited Partner of a Limited Partner Interest to a wholly owned Subsidiary of CNP;
(b) with respect to OGEH, a transfer by such Limited Partner of a Limited Partner Interest to a wholly owned Subsidiary of OGE; and
(c) with respect to Bronco, (i) a transfer by such Limited Partner of a Limited Partner Interest to any member of the ArcLight Group or (ii) a transfer by such Limited Partner of a Limited Partner Interest to any Person occurring on or after the earlier of the IPO Closing Date and the date that is 18 months after the Closing Date;
22
provided that (i) with respect to Permitted Transfers by CERC, the Subsidiary transferee remains a wholly owned Subsidiary of CNP (or any successor Person), at all times following such transfer, (ii) with respect to Permitted Transfers by OGEH, the Subsidiary transferee remains a wholly owned Subsidiary of OGE (or any successor Person), at all times following such transfer and (iii) with respect to Permitted Transfers by Bronco to members of the ArcLight Group prior to the earlier of the IPO Closing Date and the date that is 18 months after the Closing Date, the ArcLight Group transferee remains a member of the ArcLight Group following such transfer until at least the earlier of the IPO Closing Date and the date that is 18 months after the Closing Date, it being acknowledged that any transfer resulting in (A) with respect to clauses (i) and (ii), the Subsidiary transferee no longer being wholly owned or (B) with respect to clause (iii), the ArcLight Group transferee no longer being a member of the ArcLight Group prior to the earlier of the IPO Closing Date and the date that is 18 months after the Closing Date, shall be deemed a transfer of such Membership Interests that is subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 4.11 and Section 4.12. References herein to CERC, OGEH and Bronco shall include any transferee of a Limited Partner Interest pursuant to a Permitted Transfer.
“Person” means an individual or a corporation, firm, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, estate, unincorporated organization, association, government agency or political subdivision thereof or other entity.
“Plan of Conversion” is defined in Section 14.1.
“Pro Forma Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Indebtedness incurred in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge, any existing Indebtedness, the amount of aggregate Indebtedness calculated after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, renewal, refunding, refinancing, replacement, defeasance or other discharge of such existing Indebtedness.
“Pro Rata” means (a) when used with respect to Units or any class thereof, apportioned among all designated Units in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests, (b) when used with respect to Partners or Record Holders, apportioned among all Partners or Record Holders in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests and (c) when used with respect to holders of Incentive Distribution Rights, apportioned among all holders of Incentive Distribution Rights in accordance with the relative number or percentage of Incentive Distribution Rights held by each such holder.
“Proposed Transferee” is defined in Section 4.12(b)(iv).
“Purchase Date” means the date determined by the General Partner as the date for purchase of all Outstanding Limited Partner Interests of a certain class (other than Limited Partner Interests owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates) pursuant to Article XV.
“Put Right” has the meaning set forth in Annex B to the Master Formation Agreement.
“Quarter” means, unless the context requires otherwise, a fiscal quarter of the Partnership, or, with respect to the fiscal quarter of the Partnership that includes the Closing Date, the portion of such fiscal quarter after the Closing Date.
23
“Rate Eligibility Trigger” is defined in Section 4.9(a)(i).
“Recapture Income” means any gain recognized by the Partnership (computed without regard to any adjustment required by Section 734 or Section 743 of the Code) upon the disposition of any property or asset of the Partnership, which gain is characterized as ordinary income because it represents the recapture of deductions previously taken with respect to such property or asset.
“Record Date” means the date established by the General Partner or otherwise in accordance with this Agreement for determining (a) the identity of the Record Holders entitled to receive notice of, or entitled to exercise rights in respect of, any lawful action of Limited Partners (including voting) or (b) the identity of Record Holders entitled to receive any report or distribution or to participate in any offer.
“Record Holder” means (a) with respect to any class of Partnership Interests for which a Transfer Agent has been appointed, the Person in whose name a Partnership Interest of such class is registered on the books of the Transfer Agent and the Register as of the Partnership's close of business on a particular Business Day or (b) with respect to other classes of Partnership Interests, the Person in whose name any such other Partnership Interest is registered in the Register as of the Partnership's close of business on a particular Business Day.
“Redeemable Interests” means any Partnership Interests for which a redemption notice has been given, and has not been withdrawn, pursuant to Section 4.10.
“Register” is defined in Section 4.5(a) of this Agreement.
“Registration Rights Agreement” means that certain Registration Rights Agreement to be entered into on the Closing Date by and among Bronco, CNP, OGE and the Partnership.
“Registration Statement” means the Registration Statement on Form S-1 or other applicable form, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, filed by the Partnership or a successor thereto with the Commission under the Securities Act to register the offering and sale of the Common Units in the Initial Public Offering.
“Remaining Net Positive Adjustments” means as of the end of any taxable period, (i) with respect to a Unitholder, the excess of (a) the Net Positive Adjustments of the Unitholders holding Common Units or Subordinated Units as of the end of such period over (b) the sum of those Partners' Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items for each prior taxable period, and (ii) with respect to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights, the excess of (a) the Net Positive Adjustments of the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights as of the end of such period over (b) the sum of the Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items of the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights for each prior taxable period.
“Required Allocations” means any allocation of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(i), Section 6.1(d)(ii), Section 6.1(d)(iv), Section 6.1(d)(v), Section 6.1(d)(vi), Section 6.1(d)(vii) or Section 6.1(d)(ix).
“Reset MQD” is defined in Section 5.12(a).
24
“Reset Notice” is defined in Section 5.12(b).
“Retained Converted Subordinated Unit” is defined in Section 5.5(c)(ii).
“Revolving Credit Facility” has the meaning set forth in the Master Formation Agreement.
“ROFO Acceptance Notice” is defined in Section 4.11(b)(i).
“ROFO Accepting Limited Partner” is defined in Section 4.11(b)(i).
“ROFO Non-Selling Limited Partner” is defined in Section 4.11(a).
“ROFO Notice” is defined in Section 4.11(a).
“ROFO Offer Notice” is defined in Section 4.11(b)(i).
“ROFO Price” is defined in Section 4.11(a).
“ROFO Seller” is defined in Section 4.11(a).
“ROFO Units” is defined in Section 4.11(a).
“ROFR Acceptance Notice” is defined in Section 4.12(b)(i).
“ROFR Non-Transferring Limited Partner” is defined in Section 4.12(a).
“ROFR Offer” is defined in Section 4.12(a).
“ROFR Period” is defined in Section 4.12(a).
“ROFR Sale Price” is defined in Section 4.12(a).
“ROFR Seller” is defined in Section 4.12(a).
“ROFR Seller's Notice” is defined in Section 4.12(a).
“ROFR Units” is defined in Section 4.12(a).
“Second Liquidation Target Amount” is defined in Section 6.1(c)(i)(E).
“Second Target Distribution” means 125% of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time and any successor to such statute.
“SEPH” has the meaning set forth in the Master Formation Agreement.
“SESH” has the meaning set forth in the Master Formation Agreement.
25
“Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items” means in connection with any allocation of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items for any taxable period, (i) with respect to a Unitholder, the amount that bears the same ratio to such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items as the Unitholders' Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of the end of such taxable period bears to the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of that time, and (ii) with respect to the Partners holding Incentive Distribution Rights, the amount that bears the same ratio to such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items as the Remaining Net Positive Adjustments of the Partners holding the Incentive Distribution Rights as of the end of such taxable period bears to the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of that time.
“Special Approval” means (i) after the Bronco Fall-Away Date and prior to the IPO Closing Date, approval by a majority of the disinterested directors of the General Partner and (ii) on and after the IPO Closing Date, approval by a majority of the members of the Conflicts Committee acting in good faith.
“Sponsor Parties” means each of CERC and OGEH (and their successors), in their capacities as Limited Partners.
“Subordinated Unit” means a Limited Partner Interest having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Subordinated Units in this Agreement. The term “Subordinated Unit” does not include a Common Unit. A Subordinated Unit that is convertible into a Common Unit shall not constitute a Common Unit until such conversion occurs.
“Subordination Period” means the period commencing on the IPO Closing Date and expiring on the first to occur of the following dates:
(a) the first Business Day following the distribution of Available Cash to Partners pursuant to Section 6.3(a) in respect of any Quarter beginning with the first Quarter ending after the third anniversary of the IPO Closing Date in respect of which (i) (A) distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus on each of the Outstanding Common Units, Subordinated Units and any other Outstanding Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units, in each case with respect to each of the three consecutive, non-overlapping four-Quarter periods immediately preceding such date equaled or exceeded the sum of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on all Outstanding Common Units, Subordinated Units and any other Outstanding Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units, in each case in respect of such periods and (B) the Adjusted Operating Surplus for each of the three consecutive, non-overlapping four-Quarter periods immediately preceding such date equaled or exceeded the sum of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on all of the Common Units, Subordinated Units and any other Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units, in each case that were Outstanding during such periods on a Fully Diluted Weighted Average Basis, and (ii) there are no Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages.
(b) the first Business Day following the distribution of Available Cash to Partners pursuant to Section 6.3(a) in respect of any Quarter beginning with the first Quarter ending after the first anniversary of the IPO Closing Date in respect of which (i) (A) distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus on each of the Outstanding Common Units,
26
Subordinated Units and any other Outstanding Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units, in each case with respect to the four-consecutive-Quarter period immediately preceding such date equaled or exceeded 150% of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on all of the Outstanding Common Units, Subordinated Units and any other Outstanding Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units, in each case in respect of such period, and (B) the Adjusted Operating Surplus for the four- consecutive-Quarter period immediately preceding such date equaled or exceeded 150% of the sum of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on all of the Common Units, Subordinated Units and any other Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units, in each case that were Outstanding during such period on a Fully Diluted Weighted Average Basis, plus the corresponding Incentive Distributions and (ii) there are no Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages.
(c) the date on which the General Partner is removed in a manner described in Section 11.4.
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, (a) a corporation of which more than 50% of the voting power of shares entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors or other governing body of such corporation is owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or a combination thereof, (b) a partnership (whether general or limited) in which such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person is, at the date of determination, a general or limited partner of such partnership, but only if more than 50% of the partnership interests of such partnership (considering all of the partnership interests of the partnership as a single class) is owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or a combination thereof, or (c) any other Person (other than a corporation or a partnership) in which such Person, one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or a combination thereof, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, has (i) at least a majority ownership interest or (ii) the power to elect or direct the election of a majority of the directors or other governing body of such Person.
“Surviving Business Entity” is defined in Section 14.2(b)(ii).
“Swap Agreements” means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or other derivative transaction or option or similar agreement entered into by the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries in order to provide protection to the Partnership and/or its Subsidiaries against fluctuations in future interest rates, currency exchange rates or commodity prices.
“Target Distributions” means, collectively, the First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution.
“Term Loan Facility” has the meaning set forth in the Master Formation Agreement.
“Third Target Distribution” means 150% of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution.
“Trading Day” means a day on which the principal National Securities Exchange on which the referenced Partnership Interests of any class are listed or admitted for trading is open for the transaction of business or, if such Partnership Interests are not listed or admitted for
27
trading on any National Securities Exchange, a day on which banking institutions in New York City are not legally required to be closed.
“Transaction Documents” has the meaning set forth in the Master Formation Agreement.
“transfer” is defined in Section 4.4(a).
“transferee” means a Person who has received Partnership Interests by means of a transfer.
“Transfer Agent” means such bank, trust company or other Person (including the General Partner or one of its Affiliates) as may be appointed from time to time by the General Partner to act as registrar and transfer agent for any class of Partnership Interests in accordance with the Exchange Act and the rules of the National Securities Exchange on which such Partnership Interests are listed (if any); provided that, if no such Person is appointed as registrar and transfer agent for any class of Partnership Interests, the General Partner shall act as registrar and transfer agent for such class of Partnership Interests.
“Transition Services Agreements” means each of the OGE Services Agreement and the CNP Services Agreement, in each case as defined in the Master Formation Agreement.
“Treasury Regulation” means the United States Treasury regulations promulgated under the Code.
“Underwriting Agreement” means the Underwriting Agreement among the IPO Underwriters, the General Partner and the Partnership in connection with the Initial Public Offering providing for the purchase of Common Units by the IPO Underwriters.
“Unit” means a Partnership Interest that is designated by the General Partner as a “Unit” and shall include Common Units and Subordinated Units but shall not include (i) the General Partner Interest or (ii) Incentive Distribution Rights.
“Unit Majority” means (i) during the Subordination Period, at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates), voting as a class, and at least a majority of the Outstanding Subordinated Units, voting as a class, and (ii) prior to and after the end of the Subordination Period, at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units.
“Unit Price” is defined in Section 5.6(e)(iv)(A).
“Unitholders” means the holders of Units.
“Unpaid MQD” is defined in Section 6.1(c)(i)(B).
“Unrealized Gain” attributable to any item of Partnership property means, as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of (a) the fair market value of such property as of such date (as determined under Section 5.5(d)) over (b) the Carrying Value of such property as of such date (prior to any adjustment to be made pursuant to Section 5.5(d) as of such date).
28
“Unrealized Loss” attributable to any item of Partnership property means, as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of (a) the Carrying Value of such property as of such date (prior to any adjustment to be made pursuant to Section 5.5(d) as of such date) over (b) the fair market value of such property as of such date (as determined under Section 5.5(d)).
“Unrecovered Initial Unit Price” means at any time, with respect to a Unit, the Initial Unit Price less the sum of all distributions constituting Capital Surplus theretofore made in respect of an IPO Common Unit and any distributions of cash (or the Net Agreed Value of any distributions in kind) in connection with the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership theretofore made in respect of an IPO Common Unit, adjusted as the General Partner determines to be appropriate to give effect to any distribution, subdivision or combination of such Units. From and after the IPO Closing Date, the Unrecovered Initial Unit Price shall be determined by reference to the Initial Unit Price per Common Unit in such Initial Public Offering.
“Unrestricted Person” means (a) each Indemnitee, (b) each Partner, (c) each Person who is or was a member, partner, director, officer, employee or agent of any Group Member, a General Partner or any Departing General Partner or any Affiliate of any Group Member, a General Partner or any Departing General Partner and (d) any Person the General Partner designates as an “Unrestricted Person” for purposes of this Agreement from time to time.
“Upstream Transfer” is defined in Section 4.8(a).
“U.S. GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles, as in effect from time to time, consistently applied.
“Voting Securities” of a Person shall mean securities of any class of such Person entitling the holders thereof to vote in the election of, or to appoint, members of the board of directors or other similar governing body of the Person; provided, that if such Person is a limited partnership, Voting Securities of such Person shall be the general partner interest in such Person.
“Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel” is defined in Section 11.1(b).
“Working Capital Borrowings” means borrowings incurred pursuant to a credit facility, commercial paper facility or similar financing arrangement that are used solely for working capital purposes or to pay distributions to the Partners; provided that when such borrowings are incurred it is the intent of the borrower to repay such borrowings within 12 months from the date of such borrowings other than from additional Working Capital Borrowings.
Section 1.2 Construction. Unless the context requires otherwise: (a) any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa; (b) references to Articles and Sections refer to Articles and Sections of this Agreement; (c) the terms “include,” “includes,” “including” or words of like import shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”; and (d) the terms “hereof,” “herein” or “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only, and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. The General Partner has the power to construe and interpret this Agreement and to act upon any such construction or interpretation.
29
Any construction or interpretation of this Agreement by the General Partner and any action taken pursuant thereto and any determination made by the General Partner in good faith shall, in each case, be conclusive and binding on all Record Holders and all other Persons for all purposes.
ARTICLE II
ORGANIZATION
Section 2.1 Formation; Conversion. The Partnership was formed as a limited liability company pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware LLC Act on December 31, 2010. The General Partner and the Organizational Limited Partner caused the Partnership to be converted from a limited liability company to a limited partnership in accordance with Section 17-217 of the Delaware Act and adopted the Partnership's original Agreement of Limited Partnership on May 1, 2013. The General Partner and the Organizational Limited Partner hereby amend and restate the original Agreement of Limited Partnership of CenterPoint Energy Field Services LP in its entirety. This amendment and restatement shall become effective on the date of this Agreement. Except as expressly provided to the contrary in this Agreement, the rights, duties, liabilities and obligations of the Partners and the administration, dissolution and termination of the Partnership shall be governed by the Delaware Act. All Partnership Interests shall constitute personal property of the record owner thereof for all purposes.
Section 2.2 Name. The name of the Partnership shall be “CenterPoint Energy Field Services LP”. Subject to applicable law, the Partnership's business may be conducted under any other name or names as determined by the General Partner, including the name of the General Partner. The words “Limited Partnership,” “L.P.,” “Ltd.” or similar words or letters shall be included in the Partnership's name where necessary for the purpose of complying with the laws of any jurisdiction that so requires. The General Partner may change the name of the Partnership at any time and from time to time and shall notify the Limited Partners of such change in the next regular communication to the Limited Partners.
Section 2.3 Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices. Unless and until changed by the General Partner, the registered office of the Partnership in the State of Delaware shall be located at 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19801, and the registered agent for service of process on the Partnership in the State of Delaware at such registered office shall be The Corporation Trust Company. The principal office of the Partnership shall be located at such place as the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice to the Limited Partners. The Partnership may maintain offices at such other place or places within or outside the State of Delaware as the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate. The address of the General Partner shall be such place as the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice to the Limited Partners.
Section 2.4 Purpose and Business. The purpose and nature of the business to be conducted by the Partnership shall be to (a) engage directly in, or enter into or form, hold and dispose of any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other arrangement to engage indirectly in, any business activity that is approved by the General Partner and that lawfully may be conducted by a limited partnership organized pursuant to the Delaware Act and, in connection therewith, to exercise all of the rights and powers conferred upon the
30
Partnership pursuant to the agreements relating to such business activity, and (b) do anything necessary or appropriate to the foregoing, including the making of capital contributions or loans to a Group Member; provided, however, that the General Partner shall not cause the Partnership to engage, directly or indirectly, in any business activity that the General Partner determines would be reasonably likely to cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the General Partner shall have no duty or obligation to propose or approve the conduct by the Partnership of any business and may decline to do so free of any duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership or any Limited Partner and, in declining to so propose or approve, shall not be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity and the General Partner in determining whether to propose or approve the conduct by the Partnership of any business shall be permitted to do so in its sole and absolute discretion.
Section 2.5 Powers. The Partnership shall be empowered to do any and all acts and things necessary, appropriate, proper, advisable, incidental to or convenient for the furtherance and accomplishment of the purposes and business described in Section 2.4 and for the protection and benefit of the Partnership.
Section 2.6 Term. The term of the Partnership commenced upon the filing of its certificate of limited liability company in accordance with the Delaware LLC Act, was uninterrupted by the filing of its Certificate of Limited Partnership in accordance with Section 17-217 of the Delaware Act and shall continue until the dissolution of the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of Article XII. The existence of the Partnership as a separate legal entity shall continue until the cancellation of the Certificate of Limited Partnership as provided in the Delaware Act.
Section 2.7 Title to Partnership Assets. Title to the assets of the Partnership, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible, shall be deemed to be owned by the Partnership as an entity, and no Partner, individually or collectively, shall have any ownership interest in such assets of the Partnership or any portion thereof. Title to any or all assets of the Partnership may be held in the name of the Partnership, the General Partner, one or more of its Affiliates or one or more nominees of the General Partner or its Affiliates, as the General Partner may determine. The General Partner hereby declares and warrants that any assets of the Partnership for which record title is held in the name of the General Partner or one or more of its Affiliates or one or more nominees of the General Partner or its Affiliates shall be held by the General Partner or such Affiliate or nominee for the use and benefit of the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement; provided, however, that the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts to cause record title to such assets (other than those assets in respect of which the General Partner determines that the expense and difficulty of conveyancing makes transfer of record title to the Partnership impracticable) to be vested in the Partnership or one or more of the Partnership's designated Affiliates as soon as reasonably practicable; provided, further, that, prior to the withdrawal or removal of the General Partner or as soon thereafter as practicable, the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts to effect the transfer of record title to the Partnership and, prior to any such transfer, will provide for the use of such assets in a manner satisfactory to any successor General Partner. All assets of the Partnership shall be recorded as
31
the property of the Partnership in its books and records, irrespective of the name in which record title to such assets of the Partnership is held.
Section 2.8 Partnership Initial Public Offering. The Partners acknowledge that the Partnership was formed for the purpose of acquiring operating assets and subsequently completing the Initial Public Offering. As a result, this Agreement contains a number of provisions that are intended to be applicable after the Partnership completes the Initial Public Offering. The Partners acknowledge that it may take a significant amount of time before the Partnership is able to complete the Initial Public Offering, if ever. The Partners agree to make such amendments to this Agreement (and take such other additional actions) as are necessary or appropriate to give effect to such Initial Public Offering; provided that such actions or amendments shall not be designed to disproportionately impact any particular holders of General Partner Interests or Common Units.
Section 2.9 Power of Attorney
(a)Each Limited Partner hereby constitutes and appoints the General Partner and, if a Liquidator shall have been selected pursuant to Section 12.3, the Liquidator (and any successor to the Liquidator by merger, transfer, assignment, election or otherwise) and each of their authorized officers and attorneys-in-fact, as the case may be, with full power of substitution, as its true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority in its name, place and stead, to:
(i)execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record in the appropriate public offices (A) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including this Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all amendments or restatements hereof or thereof) that the General Partner or the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to form, qualify or continue the existence or qualification of the Partnership as a limited partnership (or a partnership in which the limited partners have limited liability) in the State of Delaware and in all other jurisdictions in which the Partnership may conduct business or own property; (B) all certificates, documents and other instruments that the General Partner or the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect, in accordance with its terms, any amendment, change, modification or restatement of this Agreement; (C) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including conveyances and a certificate of cancellation) that the General Partner or the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; (D) all certificates, documents and other instruments relating to the admission, withdrawal, removal or substitution of any Partner pursuant to, or other events described in, Articles IV, X, XI or XII; (E) all certificates, documents and other instruments relating to the determination of the rights, preferences and privileges of any class or series of Partnership Interests issued pursuant to Section 5.6; and (F) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including agreements and a certificate of merger or conversion) relating to a merger, consolidation or conversion of the Partnership pursuant to Article XIV; and
(ii)execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record all ballots, consents, approvals, waivers, certificates, documents and other instruments that the
32
General Partner or the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to (A) make, evidence, give, confirm or ratify any vote, consent, approval, agreement or other action that is made or given by the Partners hereunder or is consistent with the terms of this Agreement or (B) effectuate the terms or intent of this Agreement; provided, that when required by Section 13.3 or any other provision of this Agreement that establishes a percentage of the Limited Partners or of the Limited Partners of any class or series required to take any action, the General Partner and the Liquidator may exercise the power of attorney made in this Section 2.9(a)(ii) only after the necessary vote, consent or approval of the Limited Partners or of the Limited Partners of such class or series, as applicable.
Nothing contained in this Section 2.6(a) shall be construed as authorizing the General Partner to amend this Agreement except in accordance with Article XIII or as may be otherwise expressly provided for in this Agreement.
(b)The foregoing power of attorney is hereby declared to be irrevocable and a power coupled with an interest, and it shall survive and, to the maximum extent permitted by law, not be affected by, the subsequent death, incompetency, disability, incapacity, dissolution, bankruptcy or termination of any Limited Partner and the transfer of all or any portion of such Limited Partner's Limited Partner Interest and shall extend to such Limited Partner's heirs, successors, assigns and personal representatives. Each such Limited Partner hereby agrees to be bound by any representation made by the General Partner or the Liquidator acting in good faith pursuant to such power of attorney, and each such Limited Partner, to the maximum extent permitted by law, hereby waives any and all defenses that may be available to contest, negate or disaffirm the action of the General Partner or the Liquidator taken in good faith under such power of attorney. Each Limited Partner shall execute and deliver to the General Partner or the Liquidator, within 15 days after receipt of the request therefor, such further designation, powers of attorney and other instruments as the General Partner or the Liquidator may request in order to effectuate this Agreement and the purposes of the Partnership.
ARTICLE III
RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS
Section 3.1 Limitation of Liability. The Limited Partners shall have no liability under this Agreement except as expressly provided in this Agreement or the Delaware Act.
Section 3.2 Management of Business. No Limited Partner, in its capacity as such, shall participate in the operation, management or control (within the meaning of the Delaware Act) of the Partnership's business, transact any business in the Partnership's name or have the power to sign documents for or otherwise bind the Partnership. No action taken by any Affiliate of the General Partner or any officer, director, employee, manager, member, general partner, agent or trustee of the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, or any officer, director, employee, manager, member, general partner, agent or trustee of a Group Member, in its capacity as such, shall be deemed to be participating in the control of the business of the Partnership by a limited partner of the Partnership (within the meaning of Section 17-303(a) of the Delaware Act) nor
33
shall any such action affect, impair or eliminate the limitations on the liability of the Limited Partners under this Agreement.
Section 3.3 Rights of Limited Partners.
(a)Each Limited Partner shall have the right, for a purpose reasonably related to such Limited Partner's interest as a Limited Partner in the Partnership, upon reasonable written demand stating the purpose of such demand, and at such Limited Partner's own expense:
(i)to obtain true and full information regarding the status of the business and financial condition of the Partnership; provided that, after the IPO Closing Date, the requirements of this ýSection 3.3(a)(i) shall be satisfied to the extent the Limited Partner is furnished the Partnership's most recent annual report and any subsequent quarterly or periodic reports required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act (provided that the foregoing materials shall be deemed to be available to a Limited Partner in satisfaction of the requirements of this Section 3.3(a)(i) if posted on or accessible through the Partnership's or the Commission's website);
(ii)to obtain a current list of the name and last known business, residence or mailing address of each Partner; and
(iii)to obtain a copy of this Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all amendments thereto.
(b)The rights to information granted the Limited Partners pursuant to Section 3.3(a) replace in their entirety any rights to information provided for in Section 17-305(a) of the Delaware Act and each of the Partners and each other Person or Group who acquires an interest in Partnership Interests hereby agrees to the fullest extent permitted by law that they do not have any rights as Partners to receive any information either pursuant to Sections 17-305(a) of the Delaware Act or otherwise except for the information identified in Section 3.3(a).
(c)The General Partner may keep confidential from the Limited Partners, for such period of time as the General Partner deems reasonable, (i) any information that the General Partner reasonably believes to be in the nature of trade secrets or (ii) other information the disclosure of which the General Partner in good faith believes (A) is not in the best interests of the Partnership Group, (B) could damage the Partnership Group or its business or (C) that any Group Member is required by law or regulation or by agreement with any third party to keep confidential (other than agreements with Affiliates of the Partnership the primary purpose of which is to circumvent the obligations set forth in this Section 3.3).
(d)Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or Section 17-305 of the Delaware Act, each of the Partners, each other Person or Group who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest and each other Person bound by this Agreement hereby agrees to the fullest extent permitted by law that they do not have rights to receive information from the Partnership or any Indemnitee for the purpose of determining whether to pursue litigation or assist in pending litigation against the Partnership or any Indemnitee relating to the affairs of the Partnership except pursuant to the applicable rules of discovery relating to litigation commenced by such Person or Group.
34
Section 3.4 Bronco Approval and Observer Rights. Notwithstanding any other rights Bronco may have under this Agreement, but subject to any restrictions or limitations imposed on limited partners under the Delaware Act, until the Bronco Fall-Away Date:
(a)Without the prior written consent of Bronco (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), the General Partner shall not, and shall cause the Group Members not to, effect any of the following actions:
(i)incur capital expenditures in excess of (A) 110% of the total amount for all capital expenditures set forth in the Initial Budget, or (B) if the IPO Closing Date has not occurred by January 1, 2014, $1,250 million in any period of 12 months commencing on January 1, 2014 and each anniversary thereof;
(ii)take any action or enter into any transaction in connection with which the Partnership elects to or is required to seek reaffirmation of the credit rating assigned to the Partnership by Moody's Investors Service, Inc., Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, or Fitch, Inc.;
(iii)Encumber any asset or incur any Indebtedness, other than with respect to Indebtedness under the Credit Facilities, that would, in the aggregate with all other Indebtedness (including under the Credit Facilities), result in the Partnership having a Debt to EBITDA Ratio in excess of 3.0;
(iv)enter into any agreement or arrangement between any Group Member, on the one hand, and the General Partner, any Sponsor Party or any Affiliate of the General Partner or any Sponsor Party (other than a Group Member), on the other hand, other than (A) the Transition Services Agreements, provided that the amounts payable by Group Members thereunder shall not in the aggregate exceed (x) $77,212,000 with respect to the 2013 calendar year and (y) with respect to any calendar year thereafter, the actual amount of corporate charges from the Sponsor Parties to the Partnership under the Transition Services Agreements with respect to the immediately preceding calendar year (which amount shall not exceed the amount of corporate charges from the Sponsor Parties to the Partnership under the Transition Services Agreements with respect to the 2013 calendar year); (B) the transactions described on Exhibit C; (C) the Interim Intercompany Revolver Facilities; (D) subject to the restrictions in clause (A) of this Section 3.4(a)(iv), any of the Transaction Documents; and (E) any supply, transportation, storage or similar contract with an Affiliate of the General Partner or of a Sponsor Party (other than a Group Member) that is regulated as a public utility and has natural gas distribution or retail electric power load service obligations, which is entered into in the ordinary course of business and the terms of which are no less favorable to any Group Member party than those negotiated on an arms-length basis and, if applicable, have been approved by the regulatory body having jurisdiction to review and approve the terms of such transaction;
(v)enter into any transaction described in Section 7.6(a) other than the Interim Intercompany Revolver Facilities.
35
(vi)(A) transfer an asset (other than the transfer of working capital in connection with expenses as provided in the Initial Budget or expenses the payment of which the consent of Bronco is not otherwise required) to a Person other than a Group Member outside the ordinary course of business with a value in excess of $50 million in any transaction or $100 million in the aggregate in any calendar year, (B) transfer or issue equity interests in any Subsidiary of the Partnership to a Person other than a Group Member with a value in excess of $50 million in any transaction or $100 million in the aggregate in any calendar year, (C) enter into any Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion with another Person (other than a Group Member), or (D) acquire equity interests or assets of another Person (other than an existing Subsidiary of the Partnership), including by merger or consolidation, with a value in excess of $50 million in any transaction or $100 million in any calendar year;
(vii)except with respect to renewals or replacements of expiring contracts with existing customers or suppliers that are negotiated on an arms-length basis, enter into any agreement or arrangement on or after the date that is 18 months following the Closing Date involving payments to or by a Group Member in excess of $35 million in any calendar year or $50 million over its term that is not otherwise permitted under this Section 3.4;
(viii)alter, repeal, amend or adopt any provision of its certificate of limited partnership, certificate of formation or certificate of incorporation or any agreement of limited partnership, limited liability company agreement or bylaws or any similar organizational or governing document, except in connection with the Initial Public Offering (including as contemplated by Section 13.1) or as does not in any way affect the rights of Bronco (or a Bronco Successor) or of any Units held by Bronco (or a Bronco Successor);
(ix)change the form of organization of the Partnership or take any action that would cause the Partnership to be taxed as a corporation for federal income tax purposes;
(x)change the form of organization of any Group Member other than the Partnership, except (A) as would not negatively impact the Partnership's ability to obtain “will” level tax opinions customary in the master limited partnership industry, (B) the conversion of any corporate Subsidiary of the Partnership into a “pass through” entity for federal income tax purposes, or (C) the re-domiciling of Subsidiaries of the Partnership in the same form under the laws of another jurisdiction;
(xi)engage, participate or invest, directly or indirectly, in any new line of business, other than any business that (A) involves Midstream Operations as its primary function and (B) would not cause the Partnership to be taxed as a corporation for federal income tax purposes;
(xii)except in connection with the Initial Public Offering, issue cumulative additional equity in any Group Member on or before December 31, 2013 in excess of the lesser of (A) the cumulative equity amount set forth in the Initial Budget for calendar year 2013 and (B) an amount sufficient to cause the Leverage Ratio not to exceed 2.5;
36
(xiii)except in connection with the Initial Public Offering, issue additional equity in any Group Member on or after January 1, 2014; provided, that if the General Partner determines, in its reasonable discretion, that the issuance of additional equity thereafter is necessary in order for the Partnership to maintain Investment Grade Status, the Parties shall cooperate in good faith to determine the appropriate size and timing of any equity issuance;
(xiv)issue additional equity in any Group Member at any time if the Initial Public Offering is anticipated to occur within the following sixty (60) days;
(xv)except in connection with the Initial Public Offering, issue additional Partnership Interests to Persons other than the Initial Limited Partners;
(xvi)enter into any mergers or consolidations with respect to Subsidiaries of the Partnership with any Persons (other than Group Members) where the value of such Persons exceeds $50 million individually or $100 million in the aggregate in any calendar year;
(xvii)amend the Initial Budget;
(xviii)adopt any incentive compensation program unless (A) all compensation thereunder is based solely upon either (x) metrics tied to the performance of the Partnership Group and/or the Common Units and not any equity interests of any Sponsor Party or other Person or (y) providing services to or employment with the Partnership Group during the term of the award and (B) all unit or other equity compensation thereunder is payable solely by the issuance or transfer of Common Units or cash and not any equity interests of any Sponsor Party or other Person; or
(xix)consummate the Initial Public Offering with a coverage ratio greater than 1.20.
Any approval by Bronco pursuant to this Section 3.4(a) shall be evidenced in writing executed by a senior executive officer of Bronco. Any such approval by Bronco pursuant to any subsection of this Section 3.4(a) shall be deemed an approval for purposes of all subsections of this Section 3.4(a). A failure by Bronco to object in writing within ten (10) Business Days of receipt of written notice from the General Partner to any matter that requires consent pursuant to this Section 3.4(a) will be deemed to be an approval by Bronco of such matter. At any time prior to the Bronco Fall-Away Date, if Bronco timely objects in writing to a potential transaction, agreement, arrangement or other matter involving any Group Member that requires consent pursuant to this Section 3.4(a), then neither Bronco nor any of its Affiliates may pursue such transaction, agreement, arrangement or other matter independently. If Bronco approves such transaction, agreement, arrangement or other matter, or abstains from consenting to such transaction, agreement, arrangement or other matter, then Bronco and its Affiliates will not be restricted from pursuing such transaction, agreement, arrangement or other matter independently from the Partnership Group; provided, however, that (1) Bronco shall abstain from consenting or objecting to any transaction, agreement, arrangement or other matter with respect to which any Person (other than a Group Member) in which Bronco or a Bronco Affiliate has any economic
37
interest, is pursuing or is involved in or, to Bronco's knowledge, is considering pursuing or becoming involved in, and (2) Bronco shall treat any and all information that it receives in connection with its rights under Section 3.4(a), whether written or oral, as Confidential Information as defined in, and in accordance with the terms of, the Omnibus Agreement.
(b)Bronco shall have the right to (x) designate two individuals who are employees of Bronco or its Affiliates (each such individual, an “Observer”), and one alternate Observer to serve in place of either of the principal Observers, to receive notice (which notice will be delivered to the Observers on the same date such notice is delivered to the members of the Board of Directors) of and attend meetings of the Board of Directors in an observer capacity and (y) receive copies of information routinely provided to the members of the Board of Directors; provided that the failure of the General Partner to give any such notice or documents or information to Bronco or an Observer shall not affect the validity of any action taken by the General Partner or the Board of Directors. Bronco's rights set forth above shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:
(i)Bronco agrees to treat any and all such information, whether written or oral, as Confidential Information as defined in, and in accordance with the terms of, the Omnibus Agreement;
(ii)If the Board of Directors (A) has been advised by legal counsel to the Partnership that the withholding of certain written materials from the Observers or the exclusion of the Observers from attendance at certain portions of a board meeting is necessary for the protection of the attorney-client privilege for the benefit of the Partnership with respect to a matter in which the Partnership is involved, and the Board of Directors notifies the Observers as soon as practical after becoming aware of such advice of the circumstances giving rise to the need to protect such attorney-client privilege or (B) will be considering at such board meeting (and in connection therewith receiving materials regarding) a transaction, agreement, arrangement or other matter with respect to which a Person (other than a Group Member) in which Bronco or a Bronco Affiliate has an economic interest, is pursuing or is involved in, then, at the election of a majority of the Board of Directors, (x) such written materials may be redacted or withheld from Bronco and the Observers, or (y) the Observers may be excluded from such portions of the board meetings or committee meetings, in each case, only to the extent necessary to protect such attorney-client privilege or related to such matter (as the case may be);
(iii)The Observers shall not have any voting rights. No consent or approval of the Observers shall be required for any action taken by the Board of Directors. The attendance or participation of the Observers at a meeting shall not be required for action by the Board of Directors; and
(iv)The reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Observers in connection with any meeting of the Board of Directors shall be borne and paid by the General Partner (and any Observer may obtain reimbursement from the General Partner for any such reasonably documented costs and expenses).
38
(v)The initial Observers shall be Robb Turner and Eric Lammers, and Michael Christopher shall be the initial alternate Observer. Bronco may change its designated Observers or alternate Observer from time to time by providing notice to the General Partner thereof, which change shall be subject to the General Partner's approval thereof (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).
(c)No General Partner Membership Interest may be “transferred” (as such term is defined in the General Partner LLC Agreement), in whole or in part, other than to an Affiliate, without the written consent of Bronco (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).
(d)For the avoidance of doubt, so long as EH II is a Group Member, the General Partner shall not, in its capacity as a holder of the EH Management Units, cause EH II to take any action that the General Partner would otherwise be prohibited from causing EH II (as a Group Member) to take pursuant to Section 3.4(a).
(e)In the event the General Partner elects not to cause the Partnership to pursue any claim for indemnification that the Partnership is entitled to pursue under any agreement or arrangement (including this Agreement) between any Group Member, on the one hand, and the General Partner, any Sponsor Party or any Affiliate of the General Partner or any Sponsor Party (other than a Group Member), on the other hand (such party, an “Indemnitor”) that could result in the payment of any amount by the Indemnitor, Bronco shall have the right to cause the General Partner to cause the Partnership to pursue such claim by delivering written notice of Bronco's election to the General Partner until the Bronco Fall-Away Date. Promptly following the receipt by the General Partner of Bronco's written election pursuant to the foregoing sentence, the Partnership will provide notice thereof in writing to the applicable Indemnitor, specifying the nature of and specific basis for such claim, and the General Partner shall thereafter cause the Partnership to diligently pursue such claim in accordance with the applicable indemnification provisions of such agreement or arrangement. If the Partnership fails to provide such notice to the Indemnitor within ten (10) Business Days or if the Partnership fails to diligently pursue such claim in accordance with this Section 3.4(e), then Bronco may notify the Indemnitor of such claim directly and may control the pursuit of such claim against the Indemnitor on behalf of the Partnership. Both Sponsor Parties agree to cause their designated members of the Board of Directors of the General Partner to approve the actions reasonably requested by Bronco with respect to any such claim.
ARTICLE IV
CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS; REDEMPTION OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
Section 4.1 Certificates. Owners of Partnership Interests and, where appropriate, Derivative Partnership Interests, shall be recorded in the Register and ownership of such interests shall be evidenced by a physical certificate or book entry notation in the Register. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, unless the General Partner shall determine otherwise in respect of some or all of any or all classes of Partnership Interests and Derivative Partnership Interests, Partnership Interests and Derivative Partnership Interests shall
39
not be evidenced by physical certificates. Certificates, if any, shall be executed on behalf of the Partnership by the Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer or any Vice President and the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, or other authorized officer of the General Partner, and shall bear the legend set forth in Section 4.8(g). The signatures of such officers upon a certificate may be facsimiles. In case any officer who has signed or whose signature has been placed upon such certificate shall have ceased to be such officer before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Partnership with the same effect as if he were such officer at the date of its issuance. If a Transfer Agent has been appointed for a class of Partnership Interests, no Certificate for such class of Partnership Interests shall be valid for any purpose until it has been countersigned by the Transfer Agent; provided, however, that, if the General Partner elects to cause the Partnership to issue Partnership Interests of such class in global form, the Certificate shall be valid upon receipt of a certificate from the Transfer Agent certifying that the Partnership Interests have been duly registered in accordance with the directions of the Partnership. Subject to the requirements of Section 6.8(b) and Section 6.8(c), if Common Units are evidenced by Certificates, on or after the date on which Subordinated Units are converted into Common Units pursuant to the terms of Section 5.8, the Record Holders of such Subordinated Units (i) if the Subordinated Units are evidenced by Certificates, may exchange such Certificates for Certificates evidencing the Common Units into which such Record Holder's Subordinated Units converted, or (ii) if the Subordinated Units are not evidenced by Certificates, shall be issued Certificates evidencing the Common Units into which such Record Holders' Subordinated Units converted. With respect to any Partnership Interests that are represented by physical certificates, the General Partner may determine that such Partnership Interests will no longer be represented by physical certificates and may, upon written notice to the holders of such Partnership Interests and subject to applicable law, take whatever actions it deems necessary or appropriate to cause such Partnership Interests to be registered in book entry or global form and may cause such physical certificates to be cancelled or deemed cancelled.
Section 4.2 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates.
(a)If any mutilated Certificate is surrendered to the Transfer Agent, the appropriate officers of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall execute, and the Transfer Agent shall countersign and deliver in exchange therefor, a new Certificate evidencing the same number and type of Partnership Interests or Derivative Partnership Interests as the Certificate so surrendered.
(b)The appropriate officers of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall execute and deliver, and the Transfer Agent shall countersign, a new Certificate in place of any Certificate previously issued, if the Record Holder of the Certificate:
(i)makes proof by affidavit, in form and substance satisfactory to the General Partner, that a previously issued Certificate has been lost, destroyed or stolen;
(ii)requests the issuance of a new Certificate before the General Partner has notice that the Certificate has been acquired by a purchaser for value in good faith and without notice of an adverse claim;
40
(iii)if requested by the General Partner, delivers to the General Partner a bond, in form and substance satisfactory to the General Partner, with surety or sureties and with fixed or open penalty as the General Partner may direct to indemnify the Partnership, the Partners, the General Partner and the Transfer Agent against any claim that may be made on account of the alleged loss, destruction or theft of the Certificate; and
(iv)satisfies any other reasonable requirements imposed by the General Partner or the Transfer Agent.
If a Limited Partner fails to notify the General Partner within a reasonable period of time after such Limited Partner has notice of the loss, destruction or theft of a Certificate, and a transfer of the Limited Partner Interests represented by the Certificate is registered before the Partnership, the General Partner or the Transfer Agent receives such notification, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Limited Partner shall be precluded from making any claim against the Partnership, the General Partner or the Transfer Agent for such transfer or for a new Certificate.
(c)As a condition to the issuance of any new Certificate under this Section 4.2, the General Partner may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Transfer Agent) reasonably connected therewith.
Section 4.3 Record Holders. The names and addresses of Unitholders as they appear in the Register shall be the official list of Record Holders of the Partnership Interests for all purposes. The Partnership and the General Partner shall be entitled to recognize the Record Holder as the Partner with respect to any Partnership Interest and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to, or interest in, such Partnership Interest on the part of any other Person or Group, regardless of whether the Partnership or the General Partner shall have actual or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by law or any applicable rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which such Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading. Without limiting the foregoing, when a Person (such as a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation or an agent of any of the foregoing) is acting as nominee, agent or in some other representative capacity for another Person or Group in acquiring and/or holding Partnership Interests, as between the Partnership on the one hand, and such other Person on the other, such representative Person shall be the Limited Partner with respect to such Partnership Interest upon becoming the Record Holder in accordance with Section 10.1(b) and have the rights and obligations of a Partner hereunder as, and to the extent, provided herein, including Section 10.1(c).
Section 4.4 Transfer Generally.
(a)The term “transfer,” when used in this Agreement with respect to a Partnership Interest, shall mean a transaction (i) by which the General Partner assigns its General Partner Interest to another Person or by which a holder of Incentive Distribution Rights assigns its Incentive Distribution Rights to another Person, and includes a transfer, sale, assignment, gift, Encumbrance, hypothecation, exchange or any other disposition by law or otherwise or (ii) by which the holder of a Limited Partner Interest (other than an Incentive Distribution Right) makes
41
any direct or indirect transfer, sale, assignment, gift, Encumbrance, hypothecation, exchange or any other disposition by law or otherwise and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any distribution, transfer, assignment or other disposition of any Limited Partner Interest, whether voluntary, involuntary or pursuant to any dissolution, liquidation or termination of such Person, to such Person's members, stockholders, partners or other interestholders shall constitute a “transfer” of a Limited Partner Interest (for the avoidance of doubt, with respect to a Limited Partner, any transfer, sale, assignment, gift, Encumbrance, hypothecation, exchange or other disposition of any interest in such Limited Partner, by such Limited Partner or any interestholder of such Limited Partner shall be deemed to be an indirect Transfer of a Limited Partner Interest hereunder); provided, however, that any transfer of all or substantially all the assets, or a Change in Control, of CNP or OGE shall not be a “transfer” hereunder.
(b)No Partnership Interest shall be transferred, in whole or in part, except in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Article IV. Any transfer or purported transfer of a Partnership Interest not made in accordance with this Article IV shall be null and void, and the Partnership shall have no obligation to effect or recognize any such transfer or purported transfer. Except as provided in Section 4.8(f), notwithstanding the other provisions of this Article IV, prior to the IPO Closing Date, no transfer of any Partnership Interests shall be made if such transfer would (i) violate the then applicable federal or state securities laws or rules and regulations of the Commission, any state securities commission or any other governmental authority with jurisdiction over such transfer, (ii) terminate the existence or qualification of the Partnership under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation, (iii) cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed), or (iv) with respect to transfers by Partners other than Bronco prior to the IPO Closing Date, constitute a breach or violation of, or a change of control or event of default under, any credit agreement, loan agreement, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other similar instrument or document governing indebtedness for borrowed money of the Partnership or any Group Member. The Partnership may issue stop transfer instructions to any Transfer Agent in order to implement any restriction on transfer contemplated by this Agreement.
(c)Subject to Section 3.4(c), nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent or limit a disposition by any stockholder, member, partner or other owner of the General Partner of any or all of the shares of stock, membership interests, partnership interests or other ownership interests in the General Partner and the term “transfer” shall not include any such disposition.
Section 4.5 Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests.
(a)The General Partner shall keep, or cause to be kept by the Transfer Agent on behalf of the Partnership, one or more registers in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe and subject to the provisions of Section 4.5(b), the registration and transfer of Limited Partner Interests, and any Derivative Partnership Interests as applicable, shall be recorded (the “Register”).
(b)The General Partner shall not recognize any transfer of Limited Partner Interests evidenced by Certificates until the Certificates evidencing such Limited Partner Interests are
42
surrendered for registration of transfer. No charge shall be imposed by the General Partner for such transfer; provided, that as a condition to the issuance of any new Certificate under this Section 4.5, the General Partner may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed with respect thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Transfer Agent) reasonably connected therewith. Upon surrender of a Certificate for registration of transfer of any Limited Partner Interests evidenced by a Certificate, and subject to the provisions of this Section 4.5(b), the appropriate officers of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall execute and deliver, and in the case of Certificates evidencing Limited Partner Interests for which a Transfer Agent has been appointed, the Transfer Agent shall countersign and deliver, in the name of the holder or the designated transferee or transferees, as required pursuant to the holder's instructions, one or more new Certificates evidencing the same aggregate number and type of Limited Partner Interests as was evidenced by the Certificate so surrendered. Upon the proper surrender of a Certificate, such transfer shall be recorded in the Register.
(c)Except as provided in Section 4.9, by acceptance of any Limited Partner Interests pursuant to a transfer in accordance with this Article IV, each transferee of a Limited Partner Interest (including any nominee, or agent or representative acquiring such Limited Partner Interests for the account of another Person or Group) (i) shall be admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner with respect to the Limited Partner Interests so transferred to such Person when any such transfer or admission is reflected in the Register and such Person becomes the Record Holder of the Limited Partner Interests so transferred, (ii) shall become bound, and shall be deemed to have agreed to be bound, by the terms of this Agreement, (iii) shall be deemed to represent that the transferee has the capacity, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and (iv) shall be deemed to make any consents, acknowledgements or waivers contained in this Agreement, all with or without execution of this Agreement by such Person. The transfer of any Limited Partner Interests and the admission of any new Limited Partner shall not constitute an amendment to this Agreement.
(d)Subject to (i) the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.5, (ii) Section 4.3, (iii) Section 4.8, (iv) with respect to any class or series of Limited Partner Interests, the provisions of any statement of designations or an amendment to this Agreement establishing such class or series, (v) any contractual provisions binding on any Limited Partner and (vi) provisions of applicable law, including the Securities Act, Limited Partner Interests shall be freely transferable.
(e)If at any time a Person (other than a Limited Partner pursuant to the terms of Section 4.11 or Section 4.12) acquires a majority of the Common Units held by Bronco at the time of such transfer, including at least the Initial Bronco Amount (a “Bronco Successor”), then such Bronco Successor shall succeed to all of Bronco's rights and obligations provided in Section 3.4, Section 4.6(b) and Section 4.6(d), as though such Bronco Successor were Bronco thereunder, and Bronco shall no longer be entitled to exercise any of Bronco's rights and obligations in Section 3.4, Section 4.6(b) and Section 4.6(d) regardless of the number of Common Units Bronco continues to hold; provided, however, that any Bronco Successor that, at the time of such transfer, is a Midstream Successor shall not succeed to any of Bronco's rights under Section 3.4 or this Section 4.5(e).
43
(f)If at any time Bronco is controlled by a Midstream Successor, then Bronco shall not be entitled to exercise any of Bronco's rights under Section 3.4, Section 4.6(b) or Section 4.6(d) regardless of the number of Common Units Bronco continues to hold, but only for so long as such Midstream Successor remains in control of Bronco. As used in this Section 4.5(f), the term “control” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of Bronco, whether through ownership of Voting Securities, by contract or otherwise.
Section 4.6 Transfer of the General Partner's General Partner Interest.
(a)Subject to Section 4.6(b) and (c), the General Partner may at its option transfer all or any part of its General Partner Interest without Unitholder approval or the approval of the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights.
(b)Subject to Section 4.6(c), the General Partner shall not transfer all or any part of its General Partner Interest to any Person without the prior approval of (i) all members of the Board of Directors and (ii) prior to the Bronco Fall-Away Date, Bronco.
(c)Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no transfer by the General Partner of all or any part of its General Partner Interest to another Person shall be permitted unless (i) the transferee agrees to assume the rights and duties of the General Partner under this Agreement and to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement, (ii) the Partnership receives an Opinion of Counsel that such transfer would not result in the loss of limited liability of any Limited Partner under the Delaware Act or cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed) and (iii) such transferee also agrees to purchase all (or the appropriate portion thereof, if applicable) of the partnership or membership interest of the General Partner as the general partner or managing member, if any, of each other Group Member. In the case of a transfer pursuant to and in compliance with this Section 4.6, the transferee or successor (as the case may be) shall, subject to compliance with the terms of Section 10.2, be admitted to the Partnership as the General Partner effective immediately prior to the transfer of the General Partner Interest, and the business of the Partnership shall continue without dissolution.
(d)The General Partner shall not transfer all or any EH Management Units to any Person without the prior approval of (i) all members of the Board of Directors and (ii) prior to the Bronco Fall-Away Date, Bronco; provided, that the General Partner shall transfer all of the EH Management Units to any successor General Partner elected in accordance with the terms of this Agreement as a condition to the election of such successor.
Section 4.7 Transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights. The General Partner or any other holder of Incentive Distribution Rights may transfer any or all of its Incentive Distribution Rights without Unitholder approval.
Section 4.8 Restrictions on Transfers of Limited Partner Interests.
(a)Except for a Permitted Transfer or as provided in Section 4.11(d) or Section 4.12(d), no Common Units or Subordinated Units may be transferred, in whole or in
44
part, unless the Limited Partner purporting to transfer such Common Units or Subordinated Units first complies with the applicable provisions of Sections 4.11 and 4.12. Prior to the earlier of the IPO Closing Date and the date that is 18 months following the Closing Date, except for a Permitted Transfer or a transfer in connection with an Initial Public Offering, no Limited Partner Interest may be transferred, in whole or in part, without the prior approval of a majority of the members of the Board of Directors, including the affirmative votes of one member appointed by CERC and one member appointed by OGEH. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any transfer of the direct or indirect equity ownership interests of Bronco by the respective holders thereof (an “Upstream Transfer”) shall be permitted, shall not require the consent of the Board of Directors and shall not be subject to Sections 4.11 and 4.12; provided, however, that no Upstream Transfer shall be made prior to the earlier of the IPO Closing Date and the date that is 18 months following the Closing Date if it would result in Bronco ceasing to be a member of the ArcLight Group.
(b)From the execution hereof until the IPO Closing Date, no transfer (including a Permitted Transfer) of a Limited Partner Interest may be undertaken unless and until the following have occurred: (i) the proposed transferee shall have agreed in writing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement and provided to the Partnership its name, address, taxpayer identification number and any other information reasonably necessary to permit the Partnership to file all required federal and state tax returns or reasonably requested by the Board of Directors, and (ii) the Limited Partner proposing to make such transfer shall have delivered to the Partnership an Opinion of Counsel (reasonably acceptable as to form, substance and identity of counsel to the Partnership) that no registration under the Securities Act is required in connection with such transfer (unless the requirement of an opinion is waived by the Board of Directors).
(c)From the execution hereof until the IPO Closing Date, each Limited Partner making a transfer of a Limited Partner Interest shall be obligated to pay its own expenses incurred in connection with such transfer, and the Partnership shall not have any obligation with respect thereto. Each Limited Partner making a transfer shall pay, or reimburse the Partnership for, all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Partnership in connection with such transfer and the admission of the transferee as a Limited Partner, including the legal fees incurred in connection with the legal opinions referred to in Section 4.8(b).
(d)The General Partner may impose restrictions on the transfer of Partnership Interests if it receives an Opinion of Counsel that such restrictions are necessary to (i) avoid a significant risk of the Partnership becoming taxable as a corporation or otherwise becoming taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed) or (ii) preserve the uniformity of the Limited Partner Interests (or any class or classes thereof). The General Partner may impose such restrictions by amending this Agreement, subject to Section 3.4(a); provided, however, that any amendment that would result in the delisting or suspension of trading of any class of Limited Partner Interests on the principal National Securities Exchange on which such class of Limited Partner Interests is then listed or admitted to trading must be approved, prior to such amendment being effected, by the holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Limited Partner Interests of such class.
45
(e)The transfer of a Subordinated Unit or a Common Unit issued upon conversion of a Subordinated Unit shall be subject to the restrictions imposed by Section 6.8(b) and Section 6.8(c).
(f)Nothing contained in this Article IV, or elsewhere in this Agreement, shall preclude the settlement of any transactions involving Partnership Interests entered into through the facilities of any National Securities Exchange on which such Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading.
(g)Each certificate or book-entry evidencing Partnership Interests shall bear a conspicuous legend in substantially the following form:
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY ACKNOWLEDGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF CENTERPOINT ENERGY FIELD SERVICES LP THAT THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IF SUCH TRANSFER WOULD (A) VIOLATE THE THEN APPLICABLE FEDERAL OR STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY WITH JURISDICTION OVER SUCH TRANSFER, (B) TERMINATE THE EXISTENCE OR QUALIFICATION OF CENTERPOINT ENERGY FIELD SERVICES LP UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, OR (C) CAUSE CENTERPOINT ENERGY FIELD SERVICES LP TO BE TREATED AS AN ASSOCIATION TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE TO BE TAXED AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES (TO THE EXTENT NOT ALREADY SO TREATED OR TAXED). CNP OGE GP LLC, THE GENERAL PARTNER OF CENTERPOINT ENERGY FIELD SERVICES LP, MAY IMPOSE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IF IT RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL THAT SUCH RESTRICTIONS ARE NECESSARY TO (A) AVOID A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF CENTERPOINT ENERGY FIELD SERVICES LP BECOMING TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE BECOMING TAXABLE AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES OR (B) IN THE CASE OF LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS, TO PRESERVE THE UNIFORMITY THEREOF (OR ANY CLASS OR CLASSES OF LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS). THIS SECURITY MAY BE SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON ITS TRANSFER PROVIDED IN THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT. COPIES OF SUCH AGREEMENT MAY BE OBTAINED AT NO COST BY WRITTEN REQUEST MADE BY THE HOLDER OF RECORD OF THIS SECURITY TO THE SECRETARY OF THE GENERAL PARTNER AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF THE PARTNERSHIP. THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL NOT PRECLUDE THE SETTLEMENT OF ANY TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY ENTERED INTO THROUGH THE FACILITIES OF ANY NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY IS LISTED OR ADMITTED TO TRADING.
Section 4.9 Eligibility Certifications; Ineligible Holders.
(a)If at any time after the IPO Closing Date the General Partner determines, with the advice of counsel, that:
46
(i)the U.S. federal income tax status (or lack of proof of the U.S. federal income tax status) of one or more Limited Partners has or is reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the rates that can be charged to customers by any Group Member on assets that are subject to regulation by the FERC or an analogous regulatory body (a “Rate Eligibility Trigger”); or
(ii)any Group Member is subject to any federal, state or local law or regulation that would create a substantial risk of cancellation or forfeiture of any property in which the Group Member has an interest based on the nationality, citizenship or other related status of one or more Limited Partners (a “Citizenship Eligibility Trigger”);
then, (x) in the case of a Rate Eligibility Trigger, the General Partner may obtain such proof of the U.S. federal income tax status of the Limited Partners and, to the extent relevant, their beneficial owners, as the General Partner determines to be necessary to establish those Limited Partners whose U.S. federal income tax status does not or would not have a material adverse effect on the rates that can be charged to customers by any Group Member or (y) in the case of a Citizenship Eligibility Trigger, the General Partner may obtain such proof of the nationality, citizenship or other related status of the Limited Partners (or, if any Limited Partner is a nominee holding for the account of another Person, the nationality, citizenship or other related status of such Person) as the General Partner determines to be necessary to establish those Limited Partners whose nationality, citizenship or other related status does not or would not subject any Group Member to a significant risk of cancellation or forfeiture of any of its properties or interests therein.
(b)Without limitation of the foregoing, the General Partner may require all Limited Partners to certify as to their (and their beneficial owners') status as Eligible Holders upon demand and on a regular basis, as determined by the General Partner, and may require transferees of Limited Partner Interests to so certify prior to being admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner (any such required certificate, an “Eligibility Certificate”).
(c)If any Limited Partner fails to furnish to the General Partner an Eligibility Certificate or other requested information of its (and its beneficial owners') status as an Eligible Holder within thirty (30) days (or such other period as the General Partner may determine) of receipt of a request from the General Partner to furnish an Eligibility Certificate or other requested information, or if upon receipt of such Eligibility Certificate or other requested information the General Partner determines that a Limited Partner or a transferee of a Limited Partner is not an Eligible Holder (such a Partner, an “Ineligible Holder”), the Limited Partner Interests owned by such Limited Partner shall be subject to redemption in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.10 or the General Partner may refuse to effect the transfer of the Limited Partner Interests to such transferee. In addition, the General Partner shall be substituted for any Limited Partner that is an Ineligible Holder as the Limited Partner in respect of the Ineligible Holder's Limited Partner Interests.
(d)The General Partner shall, in exercising voting rights in respect of Limited Partner Interests held by it on behalf of Ineligible Holders, distribute the votes in the same ratios as the votes of Limited Partners (including the General Partner and its Affiliates) in respect of Limited
47
Partner Interests other than those of Ineligible Holders are cast, either for, against or abstaining as to the matter.
(e)Upon dissolution of the Partnership, an Ineligible Holder shall have no right to receive a distribution in kind pursuant to Section 12.4 but shall be entitled to the cash equivalent thereof, and the Partnership shall provide cash in exchange for an assignment of the Ineligible Holder's share of any distribution in kind. Such payment and assignment shall be treated for Partnership purposes as a purchase by the Partnership from the Ineligible Holder of its Limited Partner Interest (representing the right to receive its share of such distribution in kind).
(f)At any time after an Ineligible Holder can and does certify that it no longer is an Ineligible Holder, it may, upon application to the General Partner, request that with respect to any Limited Partner Interests of such Ineligible Holder not redeemed pursuant to Section 4.10, such Ineligible Holder be admitted as a Limited Partner, and upon approval of the General Partner, such Ineligible Holder shall be admitted as Limited Partner and shall no longer constitute an Ineligible Holder, and the General Partner shall cease to be deemed to be the Limited Partner in respect of such Limited Partner Interests.
Section 4.10 Redemption of Partnership Interests of Ineligible Holders.
(a)If at any time a Limited Partner fails to furnish an Eligibility Certificate or any information requested within thirty (30) days (or such other period as the General Partner may determine) of receipt of a request from the General Partner to furnish an Eligibility Certificate, or if upon receipt of such Eligibility Certificate or such other information the General Partner determines, with the advice of counsel, that a Limited Partner is an Ineligible Holder, the Partnership may, unless the Limited Partner establishes to the satisfaction of the General Partner that such Limited Partner is not an Ineligible Holder or has transferred his Limited Partner Interests to a Person who is not an Ineligible Holder and who furnishes an Eligibility Certificate to the General Partner prior to the date fixed for redemption as provided below, redeem the Limited Partner Interest of such Limited Partner as follows:
(i)The General Partner shall, not later than the 30th day before the date fixed for redemption, give notice of redemption to the Limited Partner, at his last address designated in the Register by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid. The notice shall be deemed to have been given when so mailed. The notice shall specify the Redeemable Interests, the date fixed for redemption, the place of payment, that payment of the redemption price will be made upon redemption of the Redeemable Interests (or, if later in the case of Redeemable Interests evidenced by Certificates, upon surrender of the Certificates evidencing the Redeemable Interests at the place specified in the notice) and that on and after the date fixed for redemption no further allocations or distributions to which the Limited Partner would otherwise be entitled in respect of the Redeemable Interests will accrue or be made.
(ii)The aggregate redemption price for Redeemable Interests shall be an amount equal to the Current Market Price (the date of determination of which shall be the date fixed for redemption) of Limited Partner Interests of the class to be so redeemed multiplied by the number of Limited Partner Interests of each such class included among
48
the Redeemable Interests. The redemption price shall be paid, as determined by the General Partner, in cash or by delivery of a promissory note of the Partnership in the principal amount of the redemption price, bearing interest at the rate of 5% annually and payable in three equal annual installments of principal together with accrued interest, commencing one year after the redemption date.
(iii)The Limited Partner or his duly authorized representative shall be entitled to receive the payment for the Redeemable Interests at the place of payment specified in the notice of redemption on the redemption date (or, if later in the case of Redeemable Interests evidenced by Certificates, upon surrender by or on behalf of the Limited Partner or transferee at the place specified in the notice of redemption, of the Certificates evidencing the Redeemable Interests, duly endorsed in blank or accompanied by an assignment duly executed in blank).
(iv)After the redemption date, Redeemable Interests shall no longer constitute issued and Outstanding Limited Partner Interests.
(b)The provisions of this Section 4.10 shall also be applicable to Limited Partner Interests held by a Limited Partner as nominee, agent or representative of a Person determined to be an Ineligible Holder.
(c)Nothing in this Section 4.10 shall prevent the recipient of a notice of redemption from transferring his Limited Partner Interest before the redemption date if such transfer is otherwise permitted under this Agreement and the transferor provides notice of such transfer to the General Partner. Upon receipt of notice of such a transfer, the General Partner shall withdraw the notice of redemption, provided that the transferee of such Limited Partner Interest certifies to the satisfaction of the General Partner that such transferee is not an Ineligible Holder. If the transferee fails to make such certification within 30 days after the request, and, in any event, before the redemption date, such redemption shall be effected from the transferee on the original redemption date.
Section 4.11 Right of First Offer.
(a)Subject to Section 4.8 and Section 4.11(d), except for a Permitted Transfer or a transfer to which Section 4.12 applies, if a Limited Partner (a “ROFO Seller”) wishes to solicit proposals from third parties to acquire all or any portion of the ROFO Seller's Common Units or Subordinated Units, the ROFO Seller shall first provide a written notice (the “ROFO Notice”) to each other Limited Partner (or, in the case of a transfer of Subordinated Units, only to the other Limited Partners holding Subordinated Units), with a copy to the Partnership, containing: (i) the number of Common Units or Subordinated Units proposed to be transferred (the “ROFO Units”) and (ii) a request for each other Limited Partner entitled to receive such notice (each, a “ROFO Non-Selling Limited Partner”) to specify the purchase price (the “ROFO Price”) and other terms and conditions on which such ROFO Non-Selling Limited Partner is willing to purchase the ROFO Units.
(b)If the ROFO Seller is a Person other than Bronco:
49
(i)Within thirty (30) days after receiving the ROFO Notice, one or more ROFO Non-Selling Limited Partners (each, a “ROFO Accepting Limited Partner” and, collectively, the “ROFO Accepting Limited Partners”) may elect in writing (the “ROFO Offer Notice”) to purchase all, but not less than all, of the ROFO Units. The ROFO Offer Notice shall specify the ROFO Price and other terms and conditions on which such ROFO Non-Selling Limited Partner is willing to purchase the ROFO Units. If any ROFO Accepting Limited Partner submits a ROFO Offer Notice within the time period specified herein, the ROFO Seller shall have thirty (30) days from the date it received the ROFO Offer Notice to elect in writing (the “ROFO Acceptance Notice”) to accept the ROFO Accepting Limited Partner's offer to purchase the ROFO Units.
(ii)If the ROFO Seller accepts a ROFO Accepting Limited Partner's offer, the ROFO Accepting Limited Partner must purchase the ROFO Units in the manner, and subject to the terms and conditions, described in Section 4.11(e). If the ROFO Seller does not accept any offer from a ROFO Accepting Limited Partner or fails to make such election within thirty (30) days after receiving the ROFO Offer Notice, or if there are no ROFO Accepting Limited Partners, then the ROFO Seller may, during the next one hundred twenty (120) days, transfer the ROFO Units to a third-party transferee (i) at a purchase price not less than 105% of the highest offered ROFO Price and upon terms no more favorable to the proposed transferee than those specified in the ROFO Notice and (ii) subject to the applicable terms and restrictions of this Agreement, including Section 4.8.
(iii)If more than one ROFO Accepting Limited Partner submits a ROFO Offer Notice and the ROFO Seller decides to accept any of such ROFO Offer Notices, then the ROFO Seller shall be obligated to accept such ROFO Offer Notice containing the highest offered ROFO Price. If the highest offered ROFO Price is submitted by more than one ROFO Accepting Limited Partner, each such ROFO Accepting Limited Partner shall be allocated a number of ROFO Units on a Pro Rata basis in accordance with the number of Common Units or Subordinated Units, as applicable, owned by such ROFO Accepting Limited Partner in relation to the total number of Common Units or Subordinated Units, as applicable, owned by all ROFO Accepting Limited Partners, or in such other proportion as such ROFO Accepting Limited Partners shall otherwise agree.
(c)If the ROFO Seller is Bronco:
(i)Within thirty (30) days after receiving the ROFO Notice, either OGEH or CERC may elect to submit a ROFO Offer Notice to purchase all, but not less than all, of the ROFO Units, which ROFO Offer Notice shall specify the ROFO Price and other terms and conditions on which OGEH or CERC (as applicable) would be willing to purchase the ROFO Units.
(ii)If both OGEH and CERC submit a ROFO Offer Notice within the time period specified in Section 4.11(c)(i) and the ROFO Seller decides to accept any of such ROFO Offer Notices, then the ROFO Seller shall be obligated to accept such ROFO Offer Notice containing the highest offered ROFO Price. If both OGEH and CERC submit a ROFO Offer Notice within the time period specified in Section 4.11(c)(i) at the
50
same ROFO Offer Price and the ROFO Seller elects to accept any of such ROFO Offer Notices, then the ROFO Seller shall be obligated to accept the ROFO Offer Notice submitted by OGEH.
(iii)If either OGEH or CERC submits a ROFO Offer Notice within the applicable time period specified in Section 4.11(c)(i), subject to Section 4.1(c)(ii), the ROFO Seller will have thirty (30) days from the date it received the ROFO Offer Notice to submit a ROFO Acceptance Notice.
(iv)If the ROFO Seller accepts an offer from OGEH or CERC, OGEH or CERC must purchase the ROFO Units in the manner, and subject to the terms and conditions, described in Section 4.11(e). If the ROFO Seller does not accept such offer or fails to make such election within thirty (30) days after receiving the ROFO Offer Notice, or neither OGEH or CERC submits a ROFO Offer Notice within the applicable time period specified in Section 4.11(c)(i), then the ROFO Seller may, during the next one hundred twenty (120) days, transfer the ROFO Units to a third-party transferee (i) at a purchase price not less than 105% of the highest offered ROFO Price and upon terms no more favorable to the proposed transferee than those specified in the ROFO Notice and (ii) subject to the applicable terms and restrictions of this Agreement, including Section 4.8.
(d)Except as set forth below, the obligations in this Section 4.11 shall apply to any proposed transfer of Common Units or Subordinated Units by a Limited Partner prior to the IPO Closing Date. The obligations in this Section 4.11 shall not apply to any such proposed transfer by Bronco after the earlier of the IPO Closing Date and the date that is 18 months following the Closing Date. On and after the IPO Closing Date, the obligations in this Section 4.11 shall apply only to any proposed transfer of Common Units or Subordinated Units, or series of such transfers to the same Person, by a Sponsor Party involving more than 5% of the aggregate of the Common Units and Subordinated Units held by such Sponsor Party. After the IPO Closing Date, the only Limited Partners entitled to receive a ROFO Notice and deliver a ROFO Offer Notice shall be the Sponsor Parties.
(e)Sales of the ROFO Units to the applicable ROFO Accepting Limited Partner pursuant to this Section 4.11 shall be made at the offices of the Partnership within sixty (60) days of the delivery of ROFO Acceptance Notice, or on such other date as the participating parties may agree in writing. Such sales shall be effected by the ROFO Seller's delivery of the ROFO Units, free and clear of all Encumbrances (other than restrictions imposed by the governing documents of the Partnership and securities laws), to the applicable ROFO Accepting Limited Partner, against payment to the ROFO Seller of the ROFO Price by the applicable ROFO Accepting Limited Partner and on the terms and conditions specified in the applicable ROFO Offer Notice.
Section 4.12 Right of First Refusal.
(a)Subject to Section 4.8 and Section 4.12(d), except for a Permitted Transfer or a transfer to which Section 4.11 applies, if a Limited Partner (a “ROFR Seller”) receives an unsolicited bona fide offer from a third party for a transfer of all or any portion of the ROFR
51
Seller's Common Units or Subordinated Units, and the ROFR Seller wishes to accept such offer, the ROFR Seller shall first provide a written notice (the “ROFR Seller's Notice”) to each other Limited Partner (or, in the case of a transfer of Subordinated Units, only to the other Limited Partners holding Subordinated Units), with a copy to the Partnership, containing: (i) the number of Common Units or Subordinated Units proposed to be transferred (the “ROFR Units”) and the per Unit purchase price offered therefor, which may only be in cash (the “ROFR Sale Price”), and (ii) the material terms and conditions of such proposed transfer. Delivery of the ROFR Seller's Notice to the Limited Partners entitled to receive such notice (each, a “ROFR Non-Transferring Limited Partner”) shall constitute an offer (a “ROFR Offer”) by the ROFR Seller to sell the ROFR Units at the ROFR Sale Price to each other ROFR Non-Transferring Limited Partner, which shall remain outstanding for a period of thirty (30) days after the delivery of the ROFR Seller's Notice (subject to extension as provided below, the “ROFR Period”).
(b)If the ROFR Seller is a Person other than Bronco:
(i)During the ROFR Period, each ROFR Non-Transferring Limited Partner shall have the right to accept the ROFR Offer in full but not in part, by delivering a written notice to the ROFR Seller (a “ROFR Acceptance Notice”), with a copy to each other ROFR Non-Transferring Limited Partner and the Partnership of its acceptance of the ROFR Offer with respect to all of the ROFR Units at the ROFR Sale Price and on the same terms specified in the ROFR Seller's Notice.
(ii)If more than one ROFR Acceptance Notice is timely delivered to the ROFR Seller, each ROFR Non-Transferring Limited Partner that submitted a ROFR Acceptance Notice shall be entitled to purchase a portion of the ROFR Units determined on a pro rata basis in accordance with the number of Common Units or Subordinated Units, as applicable, owned by each such participating ROFR Non-Transferring Limited Partner in relation to the total number of Common Units or Subordinated Units, as applicable, owned by all such participating ROFR Non-Transferring Limited Partners, or in such other proportion as such ROFR Non-Transferring Limited Partners may agree.
(iii)A failure by a ROFR Non-Transferring Limited Partner to validly deliver a ROFR Acceptance Notice during the ROFR Period shall be deemed a rejection of the ROFR Offer and a waiver of such ROFR Non-Transferring Limited Partner's right to purchase any portion of the ROFR Units.
(iv)If no ROFR Non-Transferring Limited Partner timely delivers a ROFR Acceptance Notice, then the ROFR Seller shall be free, for a period of one hundred twenty (120) days from the date of the expiration of the ROFR Period, to sell such ROFR Units to a third party (the “Proposed Transferee”) (x) at a price per Unit equal to or greater than the ROFR Price and upon terms no more favorable to the Proposed Transferee than those specified in the ROFR Seller's Notice and (y) subject to the applicable terms and restrictions of this Agreement, including Section 4.8.
(c)If the ROFR Seller is Bronco:
52
(i)During the ROFR Period, OGEH and CERC shall each have the right to accept the ROFR Offer in full but not in part, in each case by delivering a ROFR Acceptance Notice, with a copy to each other ROFR Non-Transferring Limited Partner and the Partnership of its acceptance of the ROFR Offer with respect to all of the ROFR Units at the ROFR Sale Price and on the same terms specified in the ROFR Seller's Notice.
(ii)If both OGEH and CERC timely submit a ROFR Acceptance Notice, then OGEH shall be entitled to purchase all of the ROFR Units, unless OGEH and CERC agree otherwise.
(iii)A failure by OGEH or CERC to validly deliver a ROFR Acceptance Notice during the applicable ROFR Period shall be deemed a rejection of the ROFR Offer and a waiver of such party's right to purchase any portion of the ROFR Units.
(iv)If neither OGEH or CERC timely delivers a ROFR Acceptance Notice, then the ROFR Seller shall be free, for a period of one hundred twenty (120) days from the date of the expiration of the ROFR Period, to sell such ROFR Units to a Proposed Transferee (x) at a price per Unit equal to or greater than the ROFR Price and upon terms no more favorable to the Proposed Transferee than those specified in the ROFR Seller's Notice and (y) subject to the applicable terms and restrictions of this Agreement, including Section 4.8.
(d)Except as set forth below, the obligations in this Section 4.12 shall apply to any proposed transfer of Common Units or Subordinated Units by a Limited Partner prior to the IPO Closing Date. The obligations in this Section 4.12 shall not apply to any such proposed transfer by Bronco after the earlier of the IPO Closing Date and the date that is 18 months following the Closing Date. On and after the IPO Closing Date, the obligations in this Section 4.12 shall apply only to any proposed transfer of Common Units or Subordinated Units, or series of such transfers to the same Person, by a Sponsor Party involving more than 5% of the aggregate of the Common Units or Subordinated Units held by such Sponsor Party. After the IPO Closing Date, the only Limited Partners entitled to receive a ROFR Seller's Notice and deliver a ROFR Acceptance Notice shall be the Sponsor Parties.
(e)Sales of the ROFR Units to be sold to the participating ROFR Non-Transferring Limited Partners pursuant to this Section 4.12 shall be made at the offices of the Partnership within sixty (60) days of the delivery of ROFR Seller's Notice, or on such other date as the participating parties may agree in writing. Such sales shall be effected by the ROFR Seller's delivery of the ROFR Units, free and clear of all Encumbrances (other than restrictions imposed by the governing documents of the Partnership and securities laws), to the participating ROFR Non-Transferring Limited Partners, against payment to the ROFR Seller of the purchase consideration therefor by the participating ROFR Non-Transferring Limited Partners and on the terms and conditions specified in the ROFR Seller's Notice.
53
ARTICLE V
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
Section 5.1 Organizational Contributions. In connection with the conversion of the Partnership from a limited liability company to a limited partnership as described in Section 2.1, (a) the General Partner was admitted as the General Partner of the Partnership, (b) the Organizational Limited Partner was admitted as a Limited Partner of the Partnership and (c) the Organizational Limited Partner received 291,002,583 Common Units, representing a 100% Limited Partner Interest in the Partnership, in exchange for the previously outstanding limited liability company membership interests that were held by the Organizational Limited Partner at the time of such conversion.
Section 5.2 Initial Contributions; Percentage Interests.
(a)On the Closing Date and pursuant to the Master Formation Agreement:
(i)OGEH contributed 100% of its EH Economic Units to the Partnership, free and clear of all Encumbrances, in exchange for a Limited Partner Interest (the “OGEH LP Contribution”);
(ii)Bronco contributed 100% of its EH Economic Units to the Partnership, free and clear of all Encumbrances, in exchange for a Limited Partner Interest (the “Bronco LP Contribution”);
(iii)in exchange for, and simultaneously with, the OGEH LP Contribution, the Partnership issued to OGE 141,956,176 Common Units, representing a 28.456% Percentage Interest in the Partnership;
(iv)in exchange for, and simultaneously with, the Bronco LP Contribution, the Partnership issued to Bronco 65,908,224 Common Units, representing a 13.212% Percentage Interest in the Partnership;
(b)Upon completion of and as a result of the transactions described in Section 5.1 and Section 5.2(a), CERC holds 291,002,583 Common Units, representing a 58.333% Percentage Interest in the Partnership.
Section 5.3 Contributions by Limited Partners. On or after the IPO Closing Date, no Limited Partner will be required to make any Capital Contribution to the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement.
Section 5.4 Interest and Withdrawal. No interest shall be paid by the Partnership on Capital Contributions. No Partner shall be entitled to the withdrawal or return of its Capital Contribution, except to the extent, if any, that distributions made pursuant to this Agreement or upon termination of the Partnership may be considered as such by law and then only to the extent provided for in this Agreement. Except to the extent expressly provided in this Agreement, no Partner shall have priority over any other Partner either as to the return of Capital Contributions
54
or as to profits, losses or distributions. Any such return shall be a compromise to which all Partners agree within the meaning of Section 17-502(b) of the Delaware Act.
Section 5.5 Capital Accounts.
(a)The Partnership shall maintain for each Partner (or a beneficial owner of Partnership Interests held by a nominee, agent or representative in any case in which the nominee, agent or representative has furnished the identity of such owner to the Partnership in accordance with Section 6031(c) of the Code or any other method acceptable to the General Partner) owning a Partnership Interest a separate Capital Account with respect to such Partnership Interest in accordance with the rules of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). The initial Capital Account balance attributable to the Common Units issued to the Organizational Limited Partner, OGEH, and Bronco pursuant to Sections 5.1 and 5.2(a) shall equal the product of the number of Common Units issued to the Organizational Limited Partner, OGEH, and Bronco, respectively, and the Initial Unit Price for each such Common Unit (and the initial Capital Account balance attributable to each such Common Unit shall equal its Initial Unit Price). The initial Capital Account attributable to the Incentive Distribution Rights shall be zero.. Such Capital Account shall be increased by (i) the amount of all Capital Contributions made to the Partnership with respect to such Partnership Interest and (ii) all items of Partnership income and gain (including income and gain exempt from tax) computed in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and allocated with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to Section 6.1, and decreased by (x) the amount of cash or Net Agreed Value of all actual and deemed distributions of cash or property made with respect to such Partnership Interest and (y) all items of Partnership deduction and loss computed in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and allocated with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to Section 6.1.
(b)For purposes of computing the amount of any item of income, gain, loss or deduction that is to be allocated pursuant to Article VI and is to be reflected in the Partners' Capital Accounts, the determination, recognition and classification of any such item shall be the same as its determination, recognition and classification for federal income tax purposes (including any method of depreciation, cost recovery or amortization used for that purpose), provided, that:
(i)Solely for purposes of this Section 5.5, the Partnership shall be treated as owning directly its proportionate share (as determined by the General Partner based upon the provisions of the applicable Group Member Agreement) of all property owned by (x) any other Group Member that is classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes and (y) any other partnership, limited liability company, unincorporated business or other entity classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes of which a Group Member is, directly or indirectly, a partner, member or other equity holder.
(ii)All fees and other expenses incurred by the Partnership to promote the sale of (or to sell) a Partnership Interest that can neither be deducted nor amortized under Section 709 of the Code, if any, shall, for purposes of Capital Account maintenance, be treated as an item of deduction at the time such fees and other expenses are incurred and shall be allocated among the Partners pursuant to Section 6.1.
55
(iii)Except as otherwise provided in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), the computation of all items of income, gain, loss and deduction shall be made without regard to any election under Section 754 of the Code that may be made by the Partnership and, as to those items described in Section 705(a)(1)(B) or 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code, without regard to the fact that such items are not includable in gross income or are neither currently deductible nor capitalized for federal income tax purposes. To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Partnership asset pursuant to Section 734(b) or 743(b) of the Code is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts, the amount of such adjustment in the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain or loss.
(iv)Any income, gain or loss attributable to the taxable disposition of any Partnership property shall be determined as if the adjusted basis of such property as of such date of disposition were equal in amount to the Partnership's Carrying Value with respect to such property as of such date.
(v)In accordance with the requirements of Section 704(b) of the Code, any deductions for depreciation, cost recovery or amortization attributable to any Contributed Property shall be determined as if the adjusted basis of such property on the date it was acquired by the Partnership were equal to the Agreed Value of such property. Upon an adjustment pursuant to Section 5.5(d) to the Carrying Value of any Partnership property subject to depreciation, cost recovery or amortization, any further deductions for such depreciation, cost recovery or amortization attributable to such property shall be determined under the rules prescribed by Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-3(d)(2) as if the adjusted basis of such property were equal to the Carrying Value of such property immediately following such adjustment.
(vi)The Gross Liability Value of each Liability of the Partnership described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-7(b)(3)(i) shall be adjusted at such times as provided in this Agreement for an adjustment to Carrying Values. The amount of any such adjustment shall be treated for purposes hereof as an item of loss (if the adjustment increases the Carrying Value of such Liability of the Partnership) or an item of gain (if the adjustment decreases the Carrying Value of such Liability of the Partnership).
(c)
(i)A transferee of a Partnership Interest shall succeed to a pro rata portion of the Capital Account of the transferor relating to the Partnership Interest so transferred.
(ii)Subject to Section 6.8(c), immediately prior to the transfer of a Subordinated Unit or of a Subordinated Unit that has converted into a Common Unit pursuant to Section 5.8 by a holder thereof (other than a transfer to an Affiliate unless the General Partner elects to have this subparagraph 5.5(c)(ii) apply), the Capital Account maintained for such Person with respect to its Subordinated Units or converted Subordinated Units will (A)first, be allocated to the Subordinated Units or converted Subordinated Units to be transferred in an amount equal to the product of (x) the number
56
of such Subordinated Units or converted Subordinated Units to be transferred and (y) the Per Unit Capital Amount for a Common Unit, and (B)second, any remaining balance in such Capital Account will be retained by the transferor, regardless of whether it has retained any Subordinated Units or converted Subordinated Units. Following any such allocation, the transferor's Capital Account, if any, maintained with respect to the retained Subordinated Units or retained converted Subordinated Units, if any, will have a balance equal to the amount allocated under clause (B) hereinabove, and the transferee's Capital Account established with respect to the transferred Subordinated Units or transferred converted Subordinated Units will have a balance equal to the amount allocated under clause (A) hereinabove.
(iii)Subject to Section 6.8(b), immediately prior to the transfer of an IDR Reset Common Unit by a holder thereof (other than a transfer to an Affiliate unless the General Partner elects to have this subparagraph (iii) apply), the Capital Account maintained for such Person with respect to its IDR Reset Common Units will (A) first, be allocated to the IDR Reset Common Units to be transferred in an amount equal to the product of (x) the number of such IDR Reset Common Units to be transferred and (y) the Per Unit Capital Amount for a Common Unit, and (B) second, any remaining balance in such Capital Account will be retained by the transferor, regardless of whether it has retained any IDR Reset Common Units. Following any such allocation, the transferor's Capital Account, if any, maintained with respect to the retained IDR Reset Common Units, if any, will have a balance equal to the amount allocated under clause (B) hereinabove, and the transferee's Capital Account established with respect to the transferred IDR Reset Common Units will have a balance equal to the amount allocated under clause (A) above.
(d)
(i)Consistent with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), on an issuance of additional Partnership Interests for cash or Contributed Property, the issuance of Partnership Interests as consideration for the provision of services, or the conversion of the General Partner's Combined Interest to Common Units pursuant to Section 11.3(b), the Capital Account of each Partner and the Carrying Value of each Partnership property immediately prior to such issuance shall be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Partnership property, and any such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss shall be treated, for purposes of maintaining Capital Accounts, as if it had been recognized on an actual sale of each such property for an amount equal to its fair market value immediately prior to such issuance and had been allocated among the Partners at such time pursuant to Section 6.1(c) and Section 6.1(d) in the same manner as any item of gain or loss actually recognized following an event giving rise to the dissolution of the Partnership would have been allocated; provided, however, that in the event of an issuance of Partnership Interests for a de minimis amount of cash or Contributed Property, or in the event of an issuance of a de minimis amount of Partnership Interests as consideration for the provision of services, the General Partner may determine that such adjustments are unnecessary for the proper administration of the Partnership. In determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss, the aggregate fair market value of all Partnership property (including cash or cash equivalents) immediately
57
prior to the issuance of additional Partnership Interests shall be determined by the General Partner using such method of valuation as it may adopt. In making its determination of the fair market values of individual properties, the General Partner may determine that it is appropriate to first determine an aggregate value for the Partnership, derived from the current trading price of the Common Units, and taking fully into account the fair market value of the Partnership Interests of all Partners at such time, and then allocate such aggregate value among the individual properties of the Partnership (in such manner as it determines appropriate).
(ii)In accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), immediately prior to any actual or deemed distribution to a Partner of any Partnership property (other than a distribution of cash that is not in redemption or retirement of a Partnership Interest), the Capital Accounts of all Partners and the Carrying Value of all Partnership property shall be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Partnership property, and any such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss shall be treated, for purposes of maintaining Capital Accounts, as if it had been recognized on an actual sale of each such property immediately prior to such distribution for an amount equal to its fair market value, and had been allocated among the Partners, at such time, pursuant to Section 6.1(c) and Section 6.1(d) in the same manner as any item of gain or loss actually recognized following an event giving rise to the dissolution of the Partnership would have been allocated. In determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss the aggregate fair market value of all Partnership property (including cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to a distribution shall (A) in the case of an actual distribution that is not made pursuant to Section 12.4 or in the case of a deemed distribution, be determined in the same manner as that provided in Section 5.5(d)(i) or (B) in the case of a liquidating distribution pursuant to Section 12.4, be determined by the Liquidator using such method of valuation as it may adopt.
Section 5.6 Issuances of Additional Partnership Interests; Additional Capital Contributions Prior to the IPO Closing Date; Call and Put Rights.
(a)The Partnership may issue additional Partnership Interests (other than General Partner Interests) and Derivative Partnership Interests for any Partnership purpose at any time and from time to time to such Persons for such consideration and on such terms and conditions as the General Partner shall determine, all without the approval of any Limited Partners (subject to Section 3.4(a)). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, prior to the Bronco Fall-Away Date, the Partnership shall not issue any Units with designations, preferences, rights, powers or duties that are senior to Common Units held by Bronco without the prior written consent of Bronco.
(b)Each additional Partnership Interest authorized to be issued by the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.6(a) may be issued in one or more classes, or one or more series of any such classes, with such designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties (which, except as otherwise provided in Section 5.6(a), may be senior to existing classes and series of Partnership Interests), as shall be fixed by the General Partner, including (i) the right to share in Partnership profits and losses or items thereof; (ii) the right to share in Partnership distributions; (iii) the
58
rights upon dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership; (iv) whether, and the terms and conditions upon which, the Partnership may or shall be required to redeem the Partnership Interest; (v) whether such Partnership Interest is issued with the privilege of conversion or exchange and, if so, the terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange; (vi) the terms and conditions upon which each Partnership Interest will be issued, evidenced by Certificates and assigned or transferred; (vii) the method for determining the Percentage Interest as to such Partnership Interest; and (viii) the right, if any, of each such Partnership Interest to vote on Partnership matters, including matters relating to the relative rights, preferences and privileges of such Partnership Interest.
(c)The General Partner shall take all actions that it determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with (i) each issuance of Partnership Interests and Derivative Partnership Interests pursuant to this Section 5.6, (ii) the conversion of the Combined Interest into Units pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, (iii) the issuance of Common Units pursuant to Section 5.12, (iv) reflecting admission of such additional Limited Partners in the Register as the Record Holders of such Limited Partner Interests and (v) all additional issuances of Partnership Interests. The General Partner shall determine the relative rights, powers and duties of the holders of the Units or other Partnership Interests being so issued. The General Partner shall do all things necessary to comply with the Delaware Act and is authorized and directed to do all things that it determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with any future issuance of Partnership Interests or in connection with the conversion of the Combined Interest into Units pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including compliance with any statute, rule, regulation or guideline of any federal, state or other governmental agency or any National Securities Exchange on which the Units or other Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading.
(d)No fractional Units shall be issued by the Partnership.
(e)Additional Capital Contributions Prior to the IPO Closing Date.
(i)Prior to the IPO Closing Date, each Limited Partner shall have the right, but not the obligation, to fund its Pro Rata portion of any additional Capital Contributions approved by the Board of Directors.
(ii)If a Limited Partner elects not to fund any amount of its Pro Rata portion of an additional Capital Contribution, then the other Limited Partners shall have the right, but not the obligation, to fund their Pro Rata portion of the remaining balance of such unfunded Capital Contribution. In such event, the General Partner shall give the other Limited Partners written notice thereof.
(iii)Each time a request for additional Capital Contributions is to be made, the Partnership shall give each Limited Partner a written notice specifying (A) the aggregate amount of the Capital Contribution requested and such Limited Partner's share thereof, and (B) wire instructions for the account into which such Capital Contribution shall be made. Except as otherwise approved by the Board of Directors, the Limited Partners shall make any Capital Contributions requested hereunder (X) within fifteen (15) days of the date that the notice in the preceding sentence is given by the Partnership, or
59
(Y) within ten (10) days of the date such Limited Partner is given notice by the Partnership that it is entitled to fund a balance of a Capital Contribution pursuant to Section 5.6(e)(ii), in each case subject to any extension necessary to pursue any required regulatory approvals or clearances.
(iv)In exchange for payment of any additional Capital Contributions as provided in this Section 5.6(e), the Partnership shall issue to each Limited Partner that elects to fund such additional Capital Contribution a number of additional Common Units equal to (i) the dollar amount of such Capital Contribution funded by the Limited Partner divided by (ii) 80% of then-applicable Unit Price.
(A)As used herein, “Unit Price” means the Partnership Equity Value at such time, divided by the sum of the number of Common Units Outstanding on such date. The Unit Price shall be determined by the General Partner.
(B)As used herein, “Partnership Equity Value” shall be derived from a 5.8% yield (coinciding with a 5.97% Alerian MLP Index Yield (AMZ Yield) as of March 2013) as adjusted on the date of determination to reflect changes in the Alerian MLP Index Yield and the aggregate amount of Adjusted Available Cash for the four most recently completed Quarters. For purposes of this Section 5.6(e)(iv), the aggregate amount of Adjusted Available Cash for the four most recent Quarters occurring immediately prior to the first quarter after the Closing Date shall be the relevant historical or projected amounts for such periods provided in Exhibit D. An example of the calculation of the Unit Price is included as Exhibit D.
(f)Issuance of Units with Respect to Call and Put Rights. If a Call Right or a Put Right is exercised, in exchange for the Partnership purchasing an additional interest in SESH as provided in Annex B to the Master Formation Agreement, the Partnership shall issue to SEPH a number of additional Common Units as determined pursuant to Annex B to the Master Formation Agreement.
Section 5.7 Conversion of Common Units Into Subordinated Units. In connection with the Initial Public Offering, the General Partner may, in its sole and absolute discretion and upon written notice to the Limited Partners, convert such portion of the Common Units held by each of CERC and OGEH (or their respective successors) as is necessary to cause up to 50% of the Outstanding Units on the IPO Closing Date to be Subordinated Units into Subordinated Units on a one-for-one basis without the necessity of any vote or approval of any other Partner; provided, however, that each of CERC and OGEH (or their respective successors) must have the same percentage of such Person's Common Units converted into Subordinated Units. From and after the date of any such conversion, the provisions of this Agreement relating to Subordinated Units, including the provisions of ýSection 5.8, shall apply.
Section 5.8 Conversion of Subordinated Units.
(a)All of the Subordinated Units shall convert into Common Units on a one-for-one basis on the expiration of the Subordination Period.
60
(b)In the event that Subordinated Units shall convert into Common Units pursuant to Section 5.8(a) at a time when there shall be more than one holder of Subordinated Units, then, unless all of the holders of the Subordinated Units shall agree to a different allocation, the Subordinated Units that are to be converted into Common Units shall be allocated among the holders of the Subordinated Units pro rata based on the number of Subordinated Units held by each such holder.
(c)Upon the conversion of Subordinated Units in accordance with this Section 5.8, each converting holder shall be deemed to be the Record Holder of the number of Common Units issuable upon conversion, notwithstanding that the Certificates representing such Common Units shall not then actually be delivered to such Person. Upon notice from the Partnership, each holder of Subordinated Units so converted shall promptly surrender to the Partnership Certificates representing the Subordinated Units so converted, in proper transfer form. If the date for the conversion of Subordinated Units into Common Units shall not be a Business Day, then such conversion shall occur on the next Business Day. Each Subordinated Unit shall be canceled by the General Partner upon its conversion.
(d)The issuance or delivery of certificates for Common Units upon the conversion of Subordinated Units shall be made without charge to the converting holder of Subordinated Units for such certificates or for any tax in respect of the issuance or delivery of such certificates or the securities represented thereby, and such certificates shall be issued or delivered in the respective names of, or in such names as may be directed by, the holders of the Subordinated Units converted; provided, however, that the Partnership shall not be required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issuance and delivery of any such certificate in a name other than that of the holder of the Subordinated Units converted, and the Partnership shall not be required to issue or deliver such certificate unless or until the Person or Persons requesting the issuance or delivery thereof shall have paid to the Partnership the amount of such tax or shall have established to the reasonable satisfaction of the Partnership that such tax has been paid.
(e)A Subordinated Unit that has converted into a Common Unit shall be subject to the provisions of Section 6.8.
Section 5.9 Limited Preemptive Right. Except as provided in this Section 5.9 and in Section 5.2 and Section 5.12 or as otherwise provided in a separate agreement by the Partnership, no Person shall have any preemptive, preferential or other similar right with respect to the issuance of any Partnership Interest, whether unissued, held in the treasury or hereafter created. After the IPO Closing Date, for so long as a Person remains an Affiliate of the General Partner, each Affiliate of the General Partner shall have the right, which it may from time to time assign in whole or in part to any of its Affiliates, to purchase Partnership Interests from the Partnership whenever, and on the same terms that, the Partnership issues Partnership Interests to Persons other than the General Partner and its Affiliates, up to the extent necessary to maintain the Percentage Interests of such Person equal to that which existed immediately prior to the issuance of such Partnership Interests.
Section 5.10 Splits and Combinations.
61
(a)Subject to Section 5.10(d), Section 6.7 and Section 6.10 (dealing with adjustments of distribution levels), the Partnership may make a Pro Rata distribution of Partnership Interests to all Record Holders or may effect a subdivision or combination of Partnership Interests so long as, after any such event, each Partner shall have the same Percentage Interest in the Partnership as before such event, and any amounts calculated on a per Unit basis (including any Common Unit Arrearage, Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage or Minimum Bronco Pre-IPO MQD Amount) or stated as a number of Units are proportionately adjusted.
(b)Whenever such a distribution, subdivision or combination of Partnership Interests is declared, the General Partner shall select a Record Date as of which the distribution, subdivision or combination shall be effective and shall send notice thereof at least 20 days prior to such Record Date to each Record Holder as of a date not less than 10 days prior to the date of such notice (or such shorter periods as required by applicable law). The General Partner also may cause a firm of independent public accountants selected by it to calculate the number of Partnership Interests to be held by each Record Holder after giving effect to such distribution, subdivision or combination. The General Partner shall be entitled to rely on any certificate provided by such firm as conclusive evidence of the accuracy of such calculation.
(c)Promptly following any such distribution, subdivision or combination, the Partnership may issue Certificates or uncertificated Partnership Interests to the Record Holders of Partnership Interests as of the applicable Record Date representing the new number of Partnership Interests held by such Record Holders, or the General Partner may adopt such other procedures that it determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect such changes. If any such combination results in a smaller total number of Partnership Interests Outstanding, the Partnership shall require, as a condition to the delivery to a Record Holder of Partnership Interests represented by Certificates, the surrender of any Certificate held by such Record Holder immediately prior to such Record Date.
(d)The Partnership shall not issue fractional Units upon any distribution, subdivision or combination of Units. If a distribution, subdivision or combination of Units would result in the issuance of fractional Units but for the provisions of Section 5.6(d) and this Section 5.10(d), each fractional Unit shall be rounded to the nearest whole Unit (with fractional Units equal to or greater than a 0.5 Unit being rounded to the next higher Unit).
Section 5.11 Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests. All Limited Partner Interests issued pursuant to, and in accordance with the requirements of, this Article V shall be fully paid and non-assessable Limited Partner Interests in the Partnership, except as such non-assessability may be affected by Sections 17-303, 17-607 or 17-804 of the Delaware Act.
Section 5.12 Issuance of Common Units in Connection with Reset of Incentive Distribution Rights.
(a)Subject to the provisions of this Section 5.12, the holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights (or, if there is more than one holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights, the holders of a majority in interest of the Incentive Distribution Rights) shall have the right, at any time when there are no Subordinated Units outstanding and the Partnership has made a
62
distribution pursuant to Section 6.5(b)(v) for each of the four most recently completed Quarters and the amount of each such distribution did not exceed Adjusted Operating Surplus for such Quarter, to make an election (the “IDR Reset Election”) to cause the Minimum Quarterly Distribution and the Target Distributions to be reset in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.12(e) and, in connection therewith, the holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights will become entitled to receive their respective proportionate share of a number of Common Units (the “IDR Reset Common Units”) derived by dividing (i) the average amount of cash distributions made by the Partnership for the two full Quarters immediately preceding the giving of the Reset Notice (as defined in Section 5.12(b)) in respect of the Incentive Distribution Rights by (ii) the average of the cash distributions made by the Partnership in respect of each Common Unit for the two full Quarters immediately preceding the giving of the Reset Notice (the number of Common Units determined by such quotient is referred to herein as the “Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units”). If at the time of any IDR Reset Election the General Partner and its Affiliates are not the holders of a majority interest of the Incentive Distribution Rights, then the IDR Reset Election shall be subject to the prior written concurrence of the General Partner that the conditions described in the immediately preceding sentence have been satisfied. The making of the IDR Reset Election in the manner specified in this Section 5.12 shall cause the Minimum Quarterly Distribution and the Target Distributions to be reset in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.12(e) and, in connection therewith, the holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights will become entitled to receive IDR Reset Common Units on the basis specified above, without any further approval required by the Unitholders other than as set forth in this Section 5.12(a), at the time specified in Section 5.12(c) unless the IDR Reset Election is rescinded pursuant to Section 5.12(d).
(b)To exercise the right specified in Section 5.12(a), the holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights (or, if there is more than one holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights, the holders of a majority in interest of the Incentive Distribution Rights) shall deliver a written notice (the “Reset Notice”) to the Partnership. Within 10 Business Days after the receipt by the Partnership of such Reset Notice, the Partnership shall deliver a written notice to the holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights of the Partnership's determination of the Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units that each holder of Incentive Distribution Rights will be entitled to receive.
(c)The holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights will be entitled to receive the Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units on the fifteenth Business Day after receipt by the Partnership of the Reset Notice; provided, however, that the issuance of IDR Reset Common Units to the holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights shall not occur prior to the approval of the listing or admission for trading of such IDR Reset Common Units by the principal National Securities Exchange upon which the Common Units are then listed or admitted for trading if any such approval is required pursuant to the rules and regulations of such National Securities Exchange.
(d)If the principal National Securities Exchange upon which the Common Units are then traded has not approved the listing or admission for trading of the IDR Reset Common Units to be issued pursuant to this Section 5.12 on or before the 30th calendar day following the Partnership's receipt of the Reset Notice and such approval is required by the rules and regulations of such National Securities Exchange, then the holder of the Incentive Distribution
63
Rights (or, if there is more than one holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights, the holders of a majority in interest of the Incentive Distribution Rights) shall have the right to either rescind the IDR Reset Election or elect to receive other Partnership Interests having such terms as the General Partner may approve, with the approval of the Conflicts Committee, that will provide (i) the same economic value, in the aggregate, as the Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units would have had at the time of the Partnership's receipt of the Reset Notice, as determined by the General Partner, and (ii) for the subsequent conversion of such Partnership Interests into Common Units within not more than 12 months following the Partnership's receipt of the Reset Notice upon the satisfaction of one or more conditions that are reasonably acceptable to the holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights (or, if there is more than one holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights, the holders of a majority in interest of the Incentive Distribution Rights).
(e)The Minimum Quarterly Distribution and the Target Distributions, shall be adjusted at the time of the issuance of IDR Reset Common Units or other Partnership Interests pursuant to this Section 5.12 such that (i) the Minimum Quarterly Distribution shall be reset to equal the average cash distribution amount per Common Unit for the two Quarters immediately prior to the Partnership's receipt of the Reset Notice (the “Reset MQD”), (ii) the First Target Distribution shall be reset to equal 115% of the Reset MQD, (iii) the Second Target Distribution shall be reset to equal 125% of the Reset MQD and (iv) the Third Target Distribution shall be reset to equal 150% of the Reset MQD.
(f)Upon the issuance of IDR Reset Common Units pursuant to Section 5.12(a), the Capital Account maintained with respect to the Incentive Distribution Rights will (i) first, be allocated to IDR Reset Common Units in an amount equal to the product of (A) the Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units and (B) the Per Unit Capital Amount for an IPO Common Unit, and (ii) second, as to any remaining balance in such Capital Account, will be retained by the holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights. If there is not sufficient capital associated with the Incentive Distribution Rights to allocate the full Per Unit Capital Amount for an IPO Common Unit to the IDR Reset Common Units in accordance with clause (i) of this Section 5.12(f), the IDR Reset Common Units shall be subject to Sections 6.1(d)(x)(B) and (C).
ARTICLE VI
ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
Section 6.1 Allocations for Capital Account Purposes. For purposes of maintaining the Capital Accounts and in determining the rights of the Partners among themselves, the Partnership's items of income, gain, loss and deduction (computed in accordance with Section 5.5(b)) for each taxable period shall be allocated among the Partners as provided herein below.
(a)Net Income. After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 6.1(d), Net Income for each taxable period and all items of income, gain, loss and deduction taken into account in computing Net Income for such taxable period shall be allocated as follows:
(i)First, to the General Partner until the aggregate of the Net Income allocated to the General Partner pursuant to this Section 6.1(a)(i) and the Net Termination
64
Gain allocated to the General Partner pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(i)(A) or Section 6.1(c)(iv)(A) for the current and all previous taxable periods is equal to the aggregate of the Net Loss allocated to the General Partner pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(ii) for all previous taxable periods and the Net Termination Loss allocated to the General Partner pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(ii)(D) or Section 6.1(c)(iii)(B) for the current and all previous taxable periods; and
(ii)The balance, if any, to all Unitholders, Pro Rata.
(b)Net Loss. After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 6.1(d), Net Loss for each taxable period and all items of income, gain, loss and deduction taken into account in computing Net Loss for such taxable period shall be allocated as follows:
(i)First, to the Unitholders, Pro Rata; provided, that Net Losses shall not be allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(b)(i) to the extent that such allocation would cause any Unitholder to have a deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account at the end of such taxable period (or increase any existing deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account); and
(ii)The balance, if any, 100% to the General Partner.
(c)Net Termination Gains and Losses. After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 6.1(d), Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss (including a pro rata part of each item of income, gain, loss and deduction taken into account in computing Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable period shall be allocated in the manner set forth in this Section 6.1(c). All allocations under this Section 6.1(c) shall be made after Capital Account balances have been adjusted by all other allocations provided under this Section 6.1 and after all distributions of Available Cash provided under Section 6.4, Section 6.5 and Section 6.6 have been made; provided, however, that solely for purposes of this Section 6.1(c), Capital Accounts shall not be adjusted for distributions made pursuant to Section 12.4.
(i)Except as provided in Section 6.1(c)(iv) or Section 6.1(c)(v), Net Termination Gain (including a pro rata part of each item of income, gain, loss, and deduction taken into account in computing Net Termination Gain) shall be allocated:
(A)First, to the General Partner until the aggregate of the Net Termination Gain allocated to the General Partner pursuant to this Section 6.1(c)(i)(A) or Section 6.1(c)(iv)(A) and the Net Income allocated to the General Partner pursuant to Section 6.1(a)(i) for the current and all previous taxable periods is equal to the aggregate of the Net Loss allocated to the General Partner pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(ii) for all previous taxable periods and the Net Termination Loss allocated to the General Partner pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(ii)(D) or Section 6.1(c)(iii)(B) for all previous taxable periods;
(B)Second, to all Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding is equal to the sum of (1) its Unrecovered Initial Unit Price, (2) the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for the Quarter during which the Liquidation Date occurs, reduced by
65
any distribution pursuant to Section 6.5(a)(i) or Section 6.5(b)(i) with respect to such Common Unit for such Quarter (the amount determined pursuant to this clause (2) is hereinafter referred to as the “Unpaid MQD”) and (3) any then existing Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage;
(C)Third, if such Net Termination Gain is recognized (or is deemed to be recognized) prior to the conversion of the last Outstanding Subordinated Unit into a Common Unit, to all Unitholders holding Subordinated Units, Pro Rata, until the Capital Account in respect of each Subordinated Unit then Outstanding equals the sum of (1) its Unrecovered Initial Unit Price, determined for the taxable period (or portion thereof) to which this allocation of gain relates, and (2) the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for the Quarter during which the Liquidation Date occurs, reduced by any distribution pursuant to Section 6.5(a)(iii) with respect to such Subordinated Unit for such Quarter;
(D)Fourth, to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding is equal to the sum of (1) its Unrecovered Initial Unit Price, (2) the Unpaid MQD, (3) any then existing Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage, and (4) the excess of (aa) the First Target Distribution less the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for each Quarter of the Partnership's existence over (bb) the cumulative per Unit amount of any distributions of Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus made pursuant to Section 6.5(a)(iv) and Section 6.5(b)(ii) (the sum of (1), (2), (3) and (4) is hereinafter referred to as the “First Liquidation Target Amount”);
(E)Fifth, (x) 15% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and (y) 85% to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding is equal to the sum of (1) the First Liquidation Target Amount, and (2) the excess of (aa) the Second Target Distribution less the First Target Distribution for each Quarter of the Partnership's existence over (bb) the cumulative per Unit amount of any distributions of Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus made pursuant to Section 6.5(a)(v) and Section 6.5(b)(iii) (the sum of (1) and (2) is hereinafter referred to as the “Second Liquidation Target Amount”);
(F)Sixth, (x) 25% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and (y) 75% to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding is equal to the sum of (1) the Second Liquidation Target Amount, and (2) the excess of (aa) the Third Target Distribution less the Second Target Distribution for each Quarter of the Partnership's existence over (bb) the cumulative per Unit amount of any distributions of Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus made pursuant to Section 6.5(a)(vi) and Section 6.5(b)(iv); and
(G)Finally, (x) 50% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and (y) 50% to all Unitholders, Pro Rata.
66
(ii)Except as otherwise provided by Section 6.1(c)(iii) or Section 6.1(c)(v), Net Termination Loss (including a pro rata part of each item of income, gain, loss, and deduction taken into account in computing Net Termination Loss) shall be allocated:
(A)First, if Subordinated Units remain Outstanding, to all Unitholders holding Subordinated Units, Pro Rata, until the Capital Account in respect of each Subordinated Unit then Outstanding has been reduced to zero;
(B)Second, to all Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding has been reduced to zero;
(C)Third, to the Unitholders, Pro Rata; provided that Net Termination Loss shall not be allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(c)(ii)(C) to the extent such allocation would cause any Unitholder to have a deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account (or increase any existing deficit in its Adjusted Capital Account); and
(D)Fourth, the balance, if any, 100% to the General Partner.
(iii)Except as otherwise provided by Section 6.1(c)(v), any Net Termination Loss deemed recognized pursuant to Section 5.5(d) prior to the Liquidation Date shall be allocated:
(A)First, to the Unitholders, Pro Rata; provided that Net Termination Loss shall not be allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(c)(iii)(A) to the extent such allocation would cause any Unitholder to have a deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account at the end of such taxable period (or increase any existing deficit in its Adjusted Capital Account); and
(B)The balance, if any, to the General Partner.
(iv)If a Net Termination Loss has been allocated pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(iii), subsequent Net Termination Gain deemed recognized pursuant to Section 5.5(d) prior to the Liquidation Date shall be allocated:
(A)First, to the General Partner until the aggregate Net Termination Gain allocated to the General Partner pursuant to this Section 6.1(c)(iv)(A) is equal to the aggregate Net Termination Loss previously allocated pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(iii)(B);
(B)Second, to the Unitholders, Pro Rata, until the aggregate Net Termination Gain allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(c)(iv)(B) is equal to the aggregate Net Termination Loss previously allocated pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(iii)(A); and
(C)The balance, if any, pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.1(c)(i).
67
(v)Allocations of Net Termination Gain and Net Termination Loss Prior to IPO Closing Date.
(A)Net Termination Gain recognized (or deemed recognized pursuant to Section 5.5(d)) on or prior to the IPO Closing Date shall be treated as Net Income and allocated pursuant to Section 6.1(a).
(B)Net Termination Loss recognized (or deemed recognized pursuant to Section 5.5(d)) on or prior to the IPO Closing Date shall be treated as Net Loss and allocated pursuant to Section 6.1(b).
(d)Special Allocations. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1, the following special allocations shall be made for such taxable period:
(i)Partnership Minimum Gain Chargeback. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1, if there is a net decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain during any Partnership taxable period, each Partner shall be allocated items of Partnership income and gain for such period (and, if necessary, subsequent periods) in the manner and amounts provided in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(f)(6), 1.704-2(g)(2) and 1.704-2(j)(2)(i), or any successor provision. For purposes of this Section 6.1(d), each Partner's Adjusted Capital Account balance shall be determined, and the allocation of income or gain required hereunder shall be effected, prior to the application of any other allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(d) with respect to such taxable period (other than an allocation pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(vi) and Section 6.1(d)(vii)). This Section 6.1(d)(i) is intended to comply with the Partnership Minimum Gain chargeback requirement in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(f) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
(ii)Chargeback of Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section 6.1 (other than Section 6.1(d)(i)), except as provided in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4), if there is a net decrease in Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain during any Partnership taxable period, any Partner with a share of Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain at the beginning of such taxable period shall be allocated items of Partnership income and gain for such period (and, if necessary, subsequent periods) in the manner and amounts provided in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(i)(4) and 1.704-2(j)(2)(ii), or any successor provisions. For purposes of this Section 6.1(d), each Partner's Adjusted Capital Account balance shall be determined, and the allocation of income or gain required hereunder shall be effected, prior to the application of any other allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(d), other than Section 6.1(d)(i) and other than an allocation pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(vi) and Section 6.1(d)(vii), with respect to such taxable period. This Section 6.1(d)(ii) is intended to comply with the chargeback of items of income and gain requirement in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
(iii)Priority Allocations.
68
(A)If the amount of cash or the Net Agreed Value of any property distributed (except cash or property distributed pursuant to Section 12.4) with respect to a Unit exceeds the amount of cash or the Net Agreed Value of property distributed with respect to another Unit (the amount of the excess, an “Excess Distribution” and the Unit with respect to which the greater distribution is paid, an “Excess Distribution Unit”), then there shall be allocated gross income and gain to each Unitholder receiving an Excess Distribution with respect to the Excess Distribution Unit until the aggregate amount of such items allocated with respect to such Excess Distribution Unit pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(iii)(A) for the current taxable period and all previous taxable periods is equal to the amount of the Excess Distribution.
(B)After the application of Section 6.1(d)(iii)(A), all or any portion of the remaining items of Partnership gross income or gain for the taxable period, if any, shall be allocated to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, until the aggregate amount of such items allocated to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(iii)(B) for the current taxable period and all previous taxable periods is equal to the cumulative amount of all Incentive Distributions made to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights from the Closing Date to a date 45 days after the end of the current taxable period.
(iv)Qualified Income Offset. In the event any Partner unexpectedly receives any adjustments, allocations or distributions described in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5), or 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6), items of Partnership gross income and gain shall be specially allocated to such Partner in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate, to the extent required by the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 704(b) of the Code, the deficit balance, if any, in its Adjusted Capital Account created by such adjustments, allocations or distributions as quickly as possible; provided, that an allocation pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(iv) shall be made only if and to the extent that such Partner would have a deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account as adjusted after all other allocations provided for in this Section 6.1 have been tentatively made as if this Section 6.1(d)(iv) were not in this Agreement.
(v)Gross Income Allocation. In the event any Partner has a deficit balance in its Capital Account at the end of any taxable period in excess of the sum of (A) the amount such Partner is required to restore pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and (B) the amount such Partner is deemed obligated to restore pursuant to Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5), such Partner shall be specially allocated items of Partnership gross income and gain in the amount of such excess as quickly as possible; provided, that an allocation pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(v) shall be made only if and to the extent that such Partner would have a deficit balance in its Capital Account as adjusted after all other allocations provided for in this Section 6.1 have been tentatively made as if Section 6.1(d)(iv) and this Section 6.1(d)(v) were not in this Agreement.
69
(vi)Nonrecourse Deductions. Nonrecourse Deductions for any taxable period shall be allocated to the Partners Pro Rata. If the General Partner determines that the Partnership's Nonrecourse Deductions should be allocated in a different ratio to satisfy the safe harbor requirements of the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 704(b) of the Code, the General Partner is authorized, upon notice to the other Partners, to revise the prescribed ratio to the numerically closest ratio that does satisfy such requirements.
(vii)Partner Nonrecourse Deductions. Partner Nonrecourse Deductions for any taxable period shall be allocated 100% to the Partner that bears the Economic Risk of Loss with respect to the Partner Nonrecourse Debt to which such Partner Nonrecourse Deductions are attributable in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i). If more than one Partner bears the Economic Risk of Loss with respect to a Partner Nonrecourse Debt, such Partner Nonrecourse Deductions attributable thereto shall be allocated between or among such Partners in accordance with the ratios in which they share such Economic Risk of Loss.
(viii)Nonrecourse Liabilities. For purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-3(a)(3), the Partners agree that Nonrecourse Liabilities of the Partnership in excess of the sum of (A) the amount of Partnership Minimum Gain and (B) the total amount of Nonrecourse Built-in Gain shall be allocated among the Partners Pro Rata.
(ix)Code Section 754 Adjustments. To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Partnership asset pursuant to Section 734(b) or 743(b) of the Code is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts, the amount of such adjustment to the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis), and such item of gain or loss shall be specially allocated to the Partners in a manner consistent with the manner in which their Capital Accounts are required to be adjusted pursuant to such Section of the Treasury Regulations.
(x)Economic Uniformity; Changes in Law.
(A)At the election of the General Partner with respect to any taxable period ending upon, or after, the termination of the Subordination Period, all or a portion of the remaining items of Partnership gross income or gain for such taxable period, after taking into account allocations pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(iii), shall be allocated 100% to each Partner holding Subordinated Units that are Outstanding as of the termination of the Subordination Period (“Final Subordinated Units”) in the proportion of the number of Final Subordinated Units held by such Partner to the total number of Final Subordinated Units then Outstanding, until each such Partner has been allocated an amount of gross income or gain that increases the Capital Account maintained with respect to such Final Subordinated Units to an amount that after taking into account the other allocations of income, gain, loss and deduction to be made with respect to such taxable period will equal the product of (A) the number of Final Subordinated
70
Units held by such Partner and (B) the Per Unit Capital Amount for a Common Unit. The purpose of this allocation is to establish uniformity between the Capital Accounts underlying Final Subordinated Units and the Capital Accounts underlying Common Units held by Persons other than the General Partner and its Affiliates immediately prior to the conversion of such Final Subordinated Units into Common Units. This allocation method for establishing such economic uniformity will be available to the General Partner only if the method for allocating the Capital Account maintained with respect to the Subordinated Units between the transferred and retained Subordinated Units pursuant to Section 5.5(c)(ii) does not otherwise provide such economic uniformity to the Final Subordinated Units.
(B)With respect to an event triggering an adjustment to the Carrying Value of Partnership property pursuant to Section 5.5(d) during any taxable period of the Partnership ending upon, or after, the issuance of IDR Reset Common Units pursuant to Section 5.12, after the application of Section 6.1(d)(x)(A), any Unrealized Gains and Unrealized Losses shall be allocated among the Partners in a manner that to the nearest extent possible results in the Capital Accounts maintained with respect to such IDR Reset Common Units issued pursuant to Section 5.12 equaling the product of (A) the Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units and (B) the Per Unit Capital Amount for an IPO Common Unit.
(C)With respect to any taxable period during which an IDR Reset Unit is transferred to any Person who is not an Affiliate of the transferor, all or a portion of the remaining items of Partnership gross income or gain for such taxable period shall be allocated 100% to the transferor Partner of such transferred IDR Reset Common Unit until such transferor Partner has been allocated an amount of gross income or gain that increases the Capital Account maintained with respect to such transferred IDR Reset Unit to an amount equal to the Per Unit Capital Amount for an IPO Common Unit.
(D)For the proper administration of the Partnership and for the preservation of uniformity of the Limited Partner Interests (or any class or classes thereof), the General Partner shall (i) adopt such conventions as it deems appropriate in determining the amount of depreciation, amortization and cost recovery deductions; (ii) make special allocations of income, gain, loss, deduction, Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss; and (iii) amend the provisions of this Agreement as appropriate (x) to reflect the proposal or promulgation of Treasury Regulations under Section 704(b) or Section 704(c) of the Code or (y) otherwise to preserve or achieve uniformity of the Limited Partner Interests (or any class or classes thereof). The General Partner may adopt such conventions, make such allocations and make such amendments to this Agreement as provided in this Section 6.1(d)(x)(D) only if such conventions, allocations or amendments would not have a material adverse effect on the Partners, the holders of any class or classes of Limited Partner Interests issued and
71
Outstanding or the Partnership, and if such allocations are consistent with the principles of Section 704 of the Code.
(xi)Curative Allocation.
(A)Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1, other than the Required Allocations, the Required Allocations shall be taken into account in making the Agreed Allocations so that, to the extent possible, the net amount of items of gross income, gain, loss and deduction allocated to each Partner pursuant to the Required Allocations and the Agreed Allocations, together, shall be equal to the net amount of such items that would have been allocated to each such Partner under the Agreed Allocations had the Required Allocations and the related Curative Allocation not otherwise been provided in this Section 6.1. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, Required Allocations relating to (1) Nonrecourse Deductions shall not be taken into account except to the extent that there has been a decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain and (2) Partner Nonrecourse Deductions shall not be taken into account except to the extent that there has been a decrease in Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain. In exercising its discretion under this Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A), the General Partner may take into account future Required Allocations that, although not yet made, are likely to offset other Required Allocations previously made. Allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A) shall only be made with respect to Required Allocations to the extent the General Partner determines that such allocations will otherwise be inconsistent with the economic agreement among the Partners. Further, allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A) shall be deferred with respect to allocations pursuant to clauses (1) and (2) hereof to the extent the General Partner determines that such allocations are likely to be offset by subsequent Required Allocations.
(B)The General Partner shall, with respect to each taxable period, (1) apply the provisions of Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A) in whatever order is most likely to minimize the economic distortions that might otherwise result from the Required Allocations, and (2) divide all allocations pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A) among the Partners in a manner that is likely to minimize such economic distortions.
(xii)Corrective and Other Allocations. In the event of any allocation of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items or any Book-Down Event or any recognition of a Net Termination Loss, the following rules shall apply:
(A)Except as provided in Section 6.1(d)(xii)(B), in the case of any allocation of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items (other than an allocation of Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss under Section 5.5(d) hereof), the General Partner shall allocate such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items to (1) the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights and the General Partner to the same extent that the Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss giving rise to such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items was allocated to them pursuant to Section 5.5(d) and (2) all Unitholders, Pro Rata, to the extent that the Unrealized Gain or Unrealized
72
Loss giving rise to such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items was allocated to any Unitholders pursuant to Section 5.5(d).
(B)In the case of any allocation of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items (other than an allocation of Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss under Section 5.5(d) hereof or an allocation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss pursuant to Section 6.1(c) hereof) as a result of a sale or other taxable disposition of any Partnership asset that is an Adjusted Property (“Disposed of Adjusted Property”), the General Partner shall allocate (1) additional items of gross income and gain (aa) away from the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights and (bb) to the Unitholders, or (2) additional items of deduction and loss (aa) away from the Unitholders and (bb) to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights, to the extent that the Additional Book Basis Derivative Items allocated to the Unitholders exceed their Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items with respect to such Disposed of Adjusted Property. Any allocation made pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(xii)(B) shall be made after all of the other Agreed Allocations have been made as if this Section 6.1(d)(xii) were not in this Agreement and, to the extent necessary, shall require the reallocation of items that have been allocated pursuant to such other Agreed Allocations.
(C)In the case of any negative adjustments to the Capital Accounts of the Partners resulting from a Book-Down Event or from the recognition of a Net Termination Loss, such negative adjustment (1) shall first be allocated, to the extent of the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments, in such a manner, as determined by the General Partner, that to the extent possible the aggregate Capital Accounts of the Partners will equal the amount that would have been the Capital Account balances of the Partners if no prior Book-Up Events had occurred, and (2) any negative adjustment in excess of the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments shall be allocated pursuant to Section 6.1(c) hereof.
(D)For purposes of this Section 6.1(d)(xii), the Unitholders shall be treated as being allocated Additional Book Basis Derivative Items to the extent that such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items have reduced the amount of income that would otherwise have been allocated to the Unitholders under this Agreement. In making the allocations required under this Section 6.1(d)(xii), the General Partner may apply whatever conventions or other methodology it determines will satisfy the purpose of this Section 6.1(d)(xii). Without limiting the foregoing, if an Adjusted Property is contributed by the Partnership to another entity classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes (the “lower tier partnership”), the General Partner may make allocations similar to those described in Sections 6.1(d)(xii)(A)-(C) to the extent the General Partner determines such allocations are necessary to account for the Partnership's allocable share of income, gain, loss and deduction of the lower tier partnership that relate to the contributed Adjusted Property in a manner that is consistent with the purpose of this Section 6.1(d)(xii).
73
(E)Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1(d)(xii), (x) no allocations shall be made pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(xii) with respect to any taxable period (or portion thereof) ending on or prior to the IPO Closing Date and (y) for taxable periods (or portions thereof) ending after the IPO Closing Date, the determinations of Additional Book Basis (and items derived therefrom) and Net Positive Adjustments (and items derived therefrom) shall be made without regard to any Book-Up Event or Book-Down Event that occurred on or prior to the IPO Closing Date.
(xiii)Special Curative Allocation in Event of Liquidation Prior to End of Subordination Period. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1 (other than the Required Allocations), if the Liquidation Date occurs after the IPO Closing Date and prior to the conversion of the last Outstanding Subordinated Unit, then items of income, gain, loss and deduction for the taxable period that includes the Liquidation Date (and, if necessary, items arising in previous taxable periods to the extent the General Partner determines such items may be so allocated), shall be specially allocated among the Partners in the manner determined appropriate by the General Partner so as to cause, to the maximum extent possible, the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit to equal the amount such Capital Account would have been if all prior allocations of Net Termination Gain and Net Termination Loss had been made pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(i) or Section 6.1(c)(ii), as applicable.
Section 6.2 Allocations for Tax Purposes.
(a)Except as otherwise provided herein, for federal income tax purposes, each item of income, gain, loss and deduction shall be allocated among the Partners in the same manner as its correlative item of “book” income, gain, loss or deduction is allocated pursuant to Section 6.1.
(b)In an attempt to eliminate Book-Tax Disparities attributable to a Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, items of income, gain, loss, depreciation, amortization and cost recovery deductions shall be allocated for federal income tax purposes among the Partners in the manner provided under Section 704(c) of the Code, and the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 704(b) and 704(c) of the Code, as determined appropriate by the General Partner (taking into account the General Partner's discretion under Section 6.1(d)(x)(D)); provided, that the General Partner shall apply the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-3(d) in all events.
(c)The General Partner may determine to depreciate or amortize the portion of an adjustment under Section 743(b) of the Code attributable to unrealized appreciation in any Adjusted Property (to the extent of the unamortized Book-Tax Disparity) using a predetermined rate derived from the depreciation or amortization method and useful life applied to the unamortized Book-Tax Disparity of such property, despite any inconsistency of such approach with Treasury Regulation Section 1.167(c)-l(a)(6) or any successor regulations thereto. If the General Partner determines that such reporting position cannot reasonably be taken, the General Partner may adopt depreciation and amortization conventions under which all purchasers acquiring Limited Partner Interests in the same month would receive depreciation and amortization deductions, based upon the same applicable rate as if they had purchased a direct
74
interest in the Partnership's property. If the General Partner chooses not to utilize such aggregate method, the General Partner may use any other depreciation and amortization conventions to preserve the uniformity of the intrinsic tax characteristics of any Limited Partner Interests, so long as such conventions would not have a material adverse effect on the Limited Partners or the Record Holders of any class or classes of Limited Partner Interests.
(d)In accordance with Treasury Regulation Sections 1.1245-1(e) and 1.1250-1(f), any gain allocated to the Partners upon the sale or other taxable disposition of any Partnership asset shall, to the extent possible, after taking into account other required allocations of gain pursuant to this Section 6.2, be characterized as Recapture Income in the same proportions and to the same extent as such Partners (or their predecessors in interest) have been allocated any deductions directly or indirectly giving rise to the treatment of such gains as Recapture Income.
(e)All items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit recognized by the Partnership for federal income tax purposes and allocated to the Partners in accordance with the provisions hereof shall be determined without regard to any election under Section 754 of the Code that may be made by the Partnership; provided, however, that such allocations, once made, shall be adjusted (in the manner determined by the General Partner) to take into account those adjustments permitted or required by Sections 734 and 743 of the Code.
(f)Each item of Partnership income, gain, loss and deduction shall, for federal income tax purposes, be determined for each taxable period and prorated on a monthly basis and shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the first Business Day of each month; provided, however, that gain or loss on a sale or other disposition of any assets of the Partnership or any other extraordinary item of income, gain, loss or deduction as determined by the General Partner, shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the first Business Day of the month in which such item is recognized for federal income tax purposes. The General Partner may revise, alter or otherwise modify such methods of allocation to the extent permitted or required by Section 706 of the Code and the regulations or rulings promulgated thereunder.
(g)Allocations that would otherwise be made to a Limited Partner under the provisions of this Article VI shall instead be made to the beneficial owner of Limited Partner Interests held by a nominee, agent or representative in any case in which the nominee, agent or representative has furnished the identity of such owner to the Partnership in accordance with Section 6031(c) of the Code or any other method determined by the General Partner.
Section 6.3 Requirement and Characterization of Distributions; Distributions to Record Holders.
(a)Within 45 days following the end of each Quarter commencing with the Quarter ended on June 30, 2013, an amount equal to 100% of Distributable Cash (before the IPO Closing Date) or 100% of Available Cash (on and after the IPO Closing Date) with respect to such Quarter shall be distributed in accordance with this Article VI by the Partnership to the Partners as of the Record Date selected by the General Partner. After the IPO Closing Date, all amounts of Available Cash distributed by the Partnership on any date from any source shall be deemed to be Operating Surplus until the sum of all amounts of Available Cash theretofore distributed by the Partnership to the Partners pursuant to Section 6.5 equals the Operating Surplus from the
75
Closing Date through the close of the immediately preceding Quarter. Any remaining amounts of Available Cash distributed by the Partnership on such date shall, except as otherwise provided in Section 6.6, be deemed to be “Capital Surplus.” All distributions required to be made under this Agreement shall be made subject to Sections 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware Act.
(b)With respect to the distribution for the Quarter in which the Initial Public Offering occurs:
(i)the amount of Distributable Cash distributed to the Partners shall equal 100% of the Distributable Cash with respect to such Quarter multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is the number of days in the period commencing on the first day of such Quarter and ending on the day prior to the IPO Closing Date and of which the denominator is the number of days in such Quarter, which amount of Distributable Cash shall be distributed to the Partners immediately prior to the closing of the Initial Public Offering in accordance with Section 6.3(a); and
(ii)the amount of Available Cash distributed to the Partners shall equal 100% of the Available Cash with respect to such Quarter multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is the number of days in the period commencing on the IPO Closing Date and ending on the last day of such Quarter and of which the denominator is the number of days in such Quarter, which amount of Available Cash shall be distributed to the Partners in accordance with Section 6.3(a).
(c)Notwithstanding Section 6.3(a), in the event of the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership, all cash received during or after the Quarter in which the Liquidation Date occurs shall be applied and distributed solely in accordance with, and subject to the terms and conditions of, Section 12.4.
(d)The General Partner may treat taxes paid by the Partnership on behalf of, or amounts withheld with respect to, all or less than all of the Partners, as a distribution of Distributable Cash (if before the IPO Closing Date) or Available Cash (if on or after the IPO Closing Date) to such Partners, as determined appropriate under the circumstances by the General Partner.
(e)Each distribution in respect of a Partnership Interest shall be paid by the Partnership, directly or through the Transfer Agent or through any other Person or agent, only to the Record Holder of such Partnership Interest as of the Record Date set for such distribution. Such payment shall constitute full payment and satisfaction of the Partnership's liability in respect of such payment, regardless of any claim of any Person who may have an interest in such payment by reason of an assignment or otherwise.
Section 6.4 Distributions of Distributable Cash Prior to the Initial Public Offering.
(a)Prior to the date that is 18 months after the Closing, Distributable Cash with respect to any Quarter (or portion thereof) prior to the IPO Closing Date shall be distributed to the Unitholders, Pro Rata.
76
(b)On and after the date that is 18 months after the Closing, Distributable Cash with respect to any Quarter (or portion thereof) prior to the IPO Closing Date shall be distributed as follows:
(i)First, to the holders of the Bronco Units until such holders receive the greater of (A) their Pro Rata share of such Distributable Cash and (B) the Minimum Bronco Pre-IPO MQD Amount per Bronco Unit (or with respect to periods of less than a full Quarter, the product of such amount multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is the number of days in such period and the denominator is the total number of days in such Quarter) (the “Bronco Pre-IPO MQD”);
(ii)Second, to the holders of the Bronco Units until all Bronco Arrearage Amounts then outstanding have been paid in full;
(iii)Third, to the holders of the CERC Units until such holders receive their Pro Rata share of such Distributable Cash (the “CERC Distributable Amount”); and
(iv)Fourth, to the holders of the OGEH Units until such holders receive their Pro Rata share of such Distributable Cash (the “OGEH Distributable Amount”).
In the event that Distributable Cash is not sufficient to pay the Bronco Pre-IPO MQD with respect to a Quarter, the amount of the Bronco Pre-IPO MQD that is not paid with respect to such Quarter (the “Bronco Arrearage Amount”) shall carry forward and be paid to the holders of the Bronco Units as a special distribution (A) from time to time in accordance with Section 6.4(b) in the priority set forth therein and (B) to the extent then outstanding, on the earlier of (1) the IPO Closing Date and (2) the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership; provided that in any event the Bronco Arrearage Amount shall be distributed in full prior to any distributions made with respect to the CERC Arrearage Amount or the OGEH Arrearage Amount.
In the event that Distributable Cash is not sufficient to pay the CERC Distributable Amount with respect to a Quarter, the amount of the CERC Distributable Amount that is not paid with respect to such Quarter (the “CERC Arrearage Amount”) shall carry forward and be paid to the holders of the CERC Units as a special distribution, to the extent then outstanding, on the earlier of (1) the IPO Closing Date and (2) the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership; provided that in any event the CERC Arrearage Amount shall be distributed in full prior to any distributions made with respect to the OGEH Arrearage Amount.
In the event that Distributable Cash is not sufficient to pay the OGEH Distributable Amount with respect to a Quarter, the amount of the OGEH Distributable Amount that is not paid with respect to such Quarter (the “OGEH Arrearage Amount”) shall carry forward and be paid to the holders of the OGEH Units as a special distribution, to the extent then outstanding, on the earlier of (1) the IPO Closing Date and (2) the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership.
77
Section 6.5 Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus After the IPO Closing Date.
(a)During the Subordination Period. Available Cash with respect to any Quarter (or portion thereof) after the IPO Closing Date and within the Subordination Period that is deemed to be Operating Surplus pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.3 or 6.6 shall be distributed as follows, except as otherwise required in respect of additional Partnership Interests issued pursuant to Section 5.6(b):
(i)First, to the Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, until there has been distributed in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;
(ii)Second, to the Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, until there has been distributed in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage existing with respect to such Quarter;
(iii)Third, to the Unitholders holding Subordinated Units, Pro Rata, until there has been distributed in respect of each Subordinated Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;
(iv)Fourth, to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the First Target Distribution over the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;
(v)Fifth, (A) 15% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and (B) 85% to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the Second Target Distribution over the First Target Distribution for such Quarter;
(vi)Sixth, (A) 25% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and (B) 75% to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the Third Target Distribution over the Second Target Distribution for such Quarter; and
(vii)Thereafter, (A) 50% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and (B) 50% to all Unitholders, Pro Rata;
provided, however, if the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, the First Target Distribution, the Second Target Distribution and the Third Target Distribution have been reduced to zero pursuant to the second sentence of Section 6.7(a), the distribution of Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus with respect to any Quarter will be made solely in accordance with Section 6.5(a)(vii).
(b)After the Subordination Period. Available Cash with respect to any Quarter after the Subordination Period (which Quarter may include the date on which the Subordination Period ends) that is deemed to be Operating Surplus pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.3 or
78
Section 6.6 shall be distributed as follows, except as otherwise required in respect of additional Partnership Interests issued pursuant to Section 5.6(b):
(i)First, to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;
(ii)Second, to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the First Target Distribution over the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;
(iii)Third, (A) 15% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and (B) 85% to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the Second Target Distribution over the First Target Distribution for such Quarter;
(iv)Fourth, (A) 25% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and (B) 75% to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the Third Target Distribution over the Second Target Distribution for such Quarter; and
(v)Thereafter, (A) 50% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and (B) 50% to all Unitholders, Pro Rata;
provided, however, if the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, the First Target Distribution, the Second Target Distribution and the Third Target Distribution have been reduced to zero pursuant to the second sentence of Section 6.7(a), the distribution of Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus with respect to any Quarter will be made solely in accordance with Section 6.5(b)(v).
Section 6.6 Distributions of Available Cash from Capital Surplus After the IPO Closing Date. Available Cash that is deemed to be Capital Surplus pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.3(a) shall be distributed, unless the provisions of Section 6.3 require otherwise, to the Unitholders, Pro Rata, until the Minimum Quarterly Distribution has been reduced to zero pursuant to the second sentence of Section 6.7(a). Available Cash that is deemed to be Capital Surplus shall then be distributed to all Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, until there has been distributed in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage. Thereafter, all Available Cash shall be distributed as if it were Operating Surplus and shall be distributed in accordance with Section 6.5.
Section 6.7 Adjustment of Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution Levels.
(a)The Minimum Quarterly Distribution, Target Distributions, Common Unit Arrearages and Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages shall be proportionately adjusted in the event of any distribution, combination or subdivision (whether effected by a distribution payable in Units or otherwise) of Units or other Partnership Interests in accordance with Section 5.10. In the event of a distribution of Available Cash that is deemed to be from Capital Surplus, the then
79
applicable Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distributions shall be adjusted proportionately downward to equal the product obtained by multiplying the otherwise applicable Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution, as the case may be, by a fraction of which the numerator is the Unrecovered Initial Unit Price of the Common Units immediately after giving effect to such distribution and of which the denominator is the Unrecovered Initial Unit Price of the Common Units immediately prior to giving effect to such distribution.
(b)The Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution, shall also be subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 5.12 and Section 6.10.
Section 6.8 Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Subordinated Units.
(a)Except with respect to the right to vote on or approve matters requiring the vote or approval of a percentage of the holders of Outstanding Common Units and the right to participate in allocations of income, gain, loss and deduction and distributions made with respect to Common Units, the holder of a Subordinated Unit shall have all of the rights and obligations of a Unitholder holding Common Units hereunder; provided, however, that immediately upon the conversion of Subordinated Units into Common Units pursuant to Section 5.8, the Unitholders holding a Subordinated Unit shall possess all of the rights and obligations of a Unitholder holding Common Units hereunder with respect to such converted Subordinated Units, including the right to vote as a Common Unitholder and the right to participate in allocations of income, gain, loss and deduction and distributions made with respect to Common Units; provided, however, that such converted Subordinated Units shall remain subject to the provisions of Section 5.5(c)(ii), Section 6.1(d)(x)(A), Section 6.8(b) and Section 6.8(c).
(b)A Unitholder shall not be permitted to transfer a Subordinated Unit or a Subordinated Unit that has converted into a Common Unit pursuant to Section 5.8 (other than a transfer to an Affiliate) if the remaining balance in the transferring Unitholder's Capital Account with respect to the retained Subordinated Units or Retained Converted Subordinated Units would be negative after giving effect to the allocation under Section 5.5(c)(ii).
(c)The holder of a Common Unit that has resulted from the conversion of a Subordinated Unit pursuant to Section 5.8 shall not be issued a Common Unit Certificate pursuant to Section 4.1 (if the Common Units are represented by Certificates) and shall not be permitted to transfer such Common Unit to a Person that is not an Affiliate of the holder until such time as the General Partner determines, based on advice of counsel, that each such Common Unit should have, as a substantive matter, like intrinsic economic and federal income tax characteristics, in all material respects, to the intrinsic economic and federal income tax characteristics of an IPO Common Unit. In connection with the condition imposed by this Section 6.8(c), the General Partner may take whatever steps are required to provide economic uniformity to such Common Units in preparation for a transfer of such Common Units, including the application of Section 5.5(c)(ii) and Section 6.1(d)(x); provided, however, that no such steps may be taken that would have a material adverse effect on the Unitholders holding Common Units.
80
Section 6.9 Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Incentive Distribution Rights.
(a)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights (1) shall (x) possess the rights and obligations provided in this Agreement with respect to a Limited Partner pursuant to Article III and Article VII and (y) have a Capital Account as a Partner pursuant to Section 5.5 and all other provisions related thereto and (2) shall not (x) be entitled to vote on any matters requiring the approval or vote of the holders of Outstanding Units, except as provided by law, (y) be entitled to any distributions other than as provided in Sections 6.5(a)(v), (vi) and (vii), Sections 6.5(b)(iii), (iv) and (v), and Section 12.4 or (z) be allocated items of income, gain, loss or deduction other than as specified in this Article VI; provided, however, that, for the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing shall not preclude the Partnership from making any other payments or distributions in connection with other actions permitted by this Agreement.
(b)A Unitholder shall not be permitted to transfer an IDR Reset Common Unit (other than a transfer to an Affiliate) if the remaining balance in the transferring Unitholder's Capital Account with respect to the retained IDR Reset Common Units would be negative after giving effect to the allocation under Section 5.5(c)(iii).
(c)A holder of an IDR Reset Common Unit that was issued in connection with an IDR Reset Election pursuant to Section 5.12 shall not be issued a Common Unit Certificate pursuant to Section 4.1 (if the Common Units are evidenced by Certificates) or evidence of the issuance of uncertificated Common Units, and shall not be permitted to transfer such Common Unit to a Person that is not an Affiliate of such holder, until such time as the General Partner determines, based on advice of counsel, that each such IDR Reset Common Unit should have, as a substantive matter, like intrinsic economic and federal income tax characteristics, in all material respects, to the intrinsic economic and federal income tax characteristics of an IPO Common Unit. In connection with the condition imposed by this Section 6.9(c), the General Partner may take whatever steps are required to provide economic uniformity to such IDR Reset Common Units in preparation for a transfer of such IDR Reset Common Units, including the application of Section 5.5(c)(iii), Section 6.1(d)(x)(B), or Section 6.1(d)(x)(C); provided, however, that no such steps may be taken that would have a material adverse effect on the Unitholders holding Common Units.
Section 6.10 Entity-Level Taxation. If legislation is enacted or the official interpretation of existing legislation is modified by a governmental authority, which after giving effect to such enactment or modification, results in a Group Member becoming subject to federal, state or local or non-U.S. income or withholding taxes in excess of the amount of such taxes due from the Group Member prior to such enactment or modification (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any increase in the rate of such taxation applicable to the Group Member), then the General Partner shall reduce the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, the Target Distributions, the Minimum Bronco Pre-IPO MQD Amount and Distributable Cash by the amount of income or withholding taxes that are payable by reason of any such new legislation or interpretation (the “Incremental Income Taxes”) in the manner provided in this Section 6.10. If in accordance with the foregoing the General Partner reduces the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, the Target Distributions, the Minimum Bronco Pre-IPO MQD Amount and
81
Distributable Cash for any Quarter with respect to any Incremental Income Taxes, the General Partner shall estimate for such Quarter the Partnership Group's aggregate liability (the “Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount”) for all such Incremental Income Taxes; provided that any difference between such estimate and the actual liability for Incremental Income Taxes for such Quarter may, to the extent determined by the General Partner, be taken into account in determining the Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount with respect to each Quarter in which any such difference can be determined. For each such Quarter, the Minimum Bronco Pre-IPO MQD Amount, Distributable Cash, Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution, shall be the product obtained by multiplying (a) the amounts therefor that are set out herein prior to the application of this Section 6.10 times (b) the quotient obtained by dividing (i) in the case of Distributable Cash and the Minimum Bronco Pre-IPO MQD Amount, (A) Distributable Cash with respect to such Quarter by (B) the sum of Distributable Cash with respect to such Quarter and the Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount for such Quarter, as determined by the General Partner and (ii) in all other cases, (A) Available Cash with respect to such Quarter by (B) the sum of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter and the Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount for such Quarter, as determined by the General Partner. For purposes of the foregoing, Distributable Cash and Available Cash with respect to a Quarter will be deemed reduced by the Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount for that Quarter.
ARTICLE VII
MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS
Section 7.1 Management.
(a)The General Partner shall conduct, direct and manage all activities of the Partnership. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, but without limitation on the ability of the General Partner to delegate its rights and power to other Persons, all management powers over the business and affairs of the Partnership shall be exclusively vested in the General Partner, and no Limited Partner in its capacity as such shall have any management power over the business and affairs of the Partnership. In addition to the powers now or hereafter granted a general partner of a limited partnership under applicable law or that are granted to the General Partner under any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner, subject to Section 7.3 and any consent rights of Bronco hereunder, shall have full power and authority to do all things and on such terms as it determines to be necessary or appropriate to conduct the business of the Partnership, to exercise all powers set forth in Section 2.5 and to effectuate the purposes set forth in Section 2.4, including the following:
(i)the making of any expenditures, the lending or borrowing of money, the assumption or guarantee of, or other contracting for, indebtedness and other liabilities, the issuance of evidences of indebtedness, including indebtedness that is convertible into or exchangeable for Partnership Interests, and the incurring of any other obligations;
(ii)the making of tax, regulatory and other filings, or rendering of periodic or other reports to governmental or other agencies having jurisdiction over the business or assets of the Partnership;
82
(iii)the acquisition, disposition, Encumbrance, hypothecation or exchange of any or all of the assets of the Partnership or the merger or other combination of the Partnership with or into another Person (the matters described in this clause (iii) being subject, however, to any prior approval that may be required by Section 7.3 and Article XIV);
(iv)the use of the assets of the Partnership (including cash on hand) for any purpose consistent with the terms of this Agreement, including the financing of the conduct of the operations of the Partnership Group; subject to Section 7.6(a), the lending of funds to other Persons (including other Group Members); the repayment or guarantee of obligations of any Group Member; and the making of capital contributions to any Group Member;
(v)the negotiation, execution and performance of any contracts, conveyances or other instruments (including instruments that limit the liability of the Partnership under contractual arrangements to all or particular assets of the Partnership, with the other party to the contract to have no recourse against the General Partner or its assets other than its interest in the Partnership, even if the same results in the terms of the transaction being less favorable to the Partnership than would otherwise be the case);
(vi)the distribution of cash held by the Partnership;
(vii)the selection and dismissal of employees (including employees having titles such as “president,” “vice president,” “secretary” and “treasurer”) and agents, internal and outside attorneys, accountants, consultants and contractors and the determination of their compensation and other terms of employment or hiring;
(viii)the maintenance of insurance for the benefit of the Partnership Group, the Partners and Indemnitees;
(ix)the formation of, or acquisition of an interest in, and the contribution of property and the making of loans to, any further limited or general partnerships, joint ventures, corporations, limited liability companies or other Persons (including the acquisition of interests in, and the contributions of property to, any Group Member from time to time) subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 2.4;
(x)the control of any matters affecting the rights and obligations of the Partnership, including the bringing and defending of actions at law or in equity and otherwise engaging in the conduct of litigation, arbitration or mediation and the incurring of legal expense and the settlement of claims and litigation;
(xi)the indemnification of any Person against liabilities and contingencies to the extent permitted by law;
(xii)the entering into of listing agreements with any National Securities Exchange and the delisting of some or all of the Limited Partner Interests from, or requesting that trading be suspended on, any such exchange (subject to any prior approval that may be required under Section 4.8);
83
(xiii)the purchase, sale or other acquisition or disposition of Partnership Interests, or the issuance of Derivative Partnership Interests;
(xiv)the undertaking of any action in connection with the Partnership's participation in the management of any Group Member; and
(xv)the entering into of agreements with any of its Affiliates to render services to a Group Member or to itself in the discharge of its duties as General Partner of the Partnership.
(b)Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, the Delaware Act or any applicable law, rule or regulation, each of the Partners and each other Person who may acquire an interest in Partnership Interests hereby (i) approves, ratifies and confirms the execution, delivery and performance by the parties thereto of this Agreement and the Group Member Agreement of each other Group Member and the Master Formation Agreement, together with the Transaction Documents (in each case other than this Agreement, without giving effect to any amendments, supplements or restatements thereof entered into after the date such Person becomes bound by the provisions of this Agreement); (ii) agrees that the General Partner (on its own or on behalf of the Partnership) is authorized to execute, deliver and perform the agreements referred to in clause (i) of this sentence and the other agreements, acts, transactions and matters described in or contemplated by the Transaction Documents on behalf of the Partnership without any further act, approval or vote of the Partners or the other Persons who may acquire an interest in Partnership Interests or otherwise bound by this Agreement; and (iii) agrees that the execution, delivery or performance by the General Partner, any Group Member or any Affiliate of any of them of this Agreement or any agreement authorized or permitted under this Agreement (including the exercise by the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner of the rights accorded pursuant to Article XV) shall not constitute a breach by the General Partner of any duty or any other obligation of any type whatsoever that the General Partner may owe the Partnership or the Limited Partners or any other Persons under this Agreement (or any other agreements) or of any duty existing at law, in equity or otherwise.
Section 7.2 Certificate of Limited Partnership. The General Partner has caused the Certificate of Limited Partnership to be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as required by the Delaware Act. The General Partner shall use all reasonable efforts to cause to be filed such other certificates or documents that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate for the formation, continuation, qualification and operation of a limited partnership (or a partnership in which the limited partners have limited liability) in the State of Delaware or any other state in which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. To the extent the General Partner determines such action to be necessary or appropriate, the General Partner shall file amendments to and restatements of the Certificate of Limited Partnership and do all things to maintain the Partnership as a limited partnership (or a partnership or other entity in which the limited partners have limited liability) under the laws of the State of Delaware or of any other state in which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. Subject to the terms of Section 3.3(a), the General Partner shall not be required, before or after filing, to deliver or mail a copy of the Certificate of Limited Partnership, any qualification document or any amendment thereto to any Limited Partner.
84
Section 7.3 Restrictions on the General Partner's Authority to Sell Assets of the Partnership Group. Except as provided in Article XII and Article XIV, the General Partner may not sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions without the approval of holders of a Unit Majority; provided, however, that this provision shall not preclude or limit the General Partner's ability to mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant a security interest in all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group and shall not apply to any forced sale of any or all of the assets of the Partnership Group pursuant to the foreclosure of, or other realization upon, any such encumbrance.
Section 7.4 Reimbursement of the General Partner.
(a)Except as provided in this Section 7.4 and elsewhere in this Agreement, the General Partner shall not be compensated for its services as a general partner or managing member of any Group Member.
(b)The General Partner shall be reimbursed on a monthly basis, or such other basis as the General Partner may determine, for (i) all payments it makes on behalf of the Partnership Group for salary, bonus, incentive compensation and other amounts paid to any Person who is an employee of the General Partner that manages the business and affairs of the Partnership Group, and (ii) all other overhead and general and administrative expenses allocable to the Partnership Group that are incurred by the General Partner in connection with the General Partner's management of the Partnership Group's business and affairs (including expenses allocated to the General Partner by its Affiliates), subject to a maximum of $500,000 per calendar year (which shall be pro rated for partial years) prior to the Bronco Fall-Away Date, other than those performed under the Transition Services Agreements. The General Partner shall determine the expenses that are allocable to the Partnership Group. Reimbursements pursuant to this Section 7.4 shall be in addition to any reimbursement to the General Partner as a result of indemnification pursuant to Section 7.7. This provision does not affect the ability of the General Partner and its Affiliates to enter into an agreement to provide services to any Group Member for a fee or otherwise than for cost.
(c)The General Partner, without the approval of the Limited Partners (who shall have no right to vote in respect thereof, other than as set forth in Section 3.4(a)), may propose and adopt on behalf of the Partnership employee benefit plans, employee programs and employee practices (including plans, programs and practices involving the issuance of Partnership Interests or options to purchase or rights, warrants or appreciation rights or phantom or tracking interests relating to Partnership Interests), or cause the Partnership to issue Partnership Interests or Derivative Partnership Interests in connection with, or pursuant to, any employee benefit plan, employee program or employee practice maintained or sponsored by the General Partner or any of its Affiliates in each case for the benefit of employees and directors of the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, in respect of services performed, directly or indirectly, for the benefit of the Partnership Group. The Partnership agrees to issue and sell to the General Partner or any of its Affiliates any Partnership Interests or Derivative Partnership Interests that the General Partner or such Affiliates are obligated to provide to any employees, consultants and directors pursuant to any such employee benefit plans, employee programs or employee practices. Expenses incurred by the General Partner in connection with any such plans, programs and practices (including the
85
net cost to the General Partner or such Affiliates of Partnership Interests or Derivative Partnership Interests purchased by the General Partner or such Affiliates from the Partnership to fulfill options or awards under such plans, programs and practices) shall be reimbursed in accordance with Section 7.4(b). Any and all obligations of the General Partner under any employee benefit plans, employee programs or employee practices adopted by the General Partner as permitted by this Section 7.4(c) shall constitute obligations of the General Partner hereunder and shall be assumed by any successor General Partner approved pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 or the transferee of or successor to all of the General Partner's General Partner Interest pursuant to Section 4.6.
(d)The General Partner and its Affiliates may charge any member of the Partnership Group a management fee to the extent necessary to allow the Partnership Group to reduce the amount of any state franchise or income tax or any tax based upon the revenues or gross margin of any member of the Partnership Group if the tax benefit produced by the payment of such management fee or fees exceeds the amount of such fee or fees.
Section 7.5 Outside Activities.
(a)The General Partner, for so long as it is the General Partner of the Partnership, (i) agrees that its sole business will be to act as a general partner or managing member, as the case may be, of the Partnership and any other partnership or limited liability company of which the Partnership is, directly or indirectly, a partner or member and to undertake activities that are ancillary or related thereto (including being a Limited Partner in the Partnership) and (ii) shall not engage in any business or activity or incur any debts or liabilities except in connection with or incidental to (A) its performance as general partner or managing member, if any, of one or more Group Members or as described in or contemplated by this Agreement, (B) the acquiring, owning or disposing of debt securities or equity interests in any Group Member or (C) subject to the limitations contained in the Omnibus Agreement, the performance of its obligations under the Omnibus Agreement.
(b) Except as provided in the Omnibus Agreement, Section 3.4(a) or any Group Member Agreement, each Unrestricted Person (other than the General Partner) shall have the right to engage in businesses of every type and description and other activities for profit and to engage in and possess an interest in other business ventures of any and every type or description, whether in businesses engaged in or anticipated to be engaged in by any Group Member, independently or with others, including business interests and activities in direct competition with the business and activities of any Group Member, and none of the same shall constitute a breach of this Agreement or any duty otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise, to any Group Member or any Partner; provided such Unrestricted Person does not engage in such business or activity using confidential or proprietary information provided by or on behalf of the Partnership to such Unrestricted Person. None of any Group Member, any Limited Partner or any other Person shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, or the partnership relationship established hereby in any business ventures of any Unrestricted Person.
(c)Subject to the terms of Sections 7.5(a) and (b), but otherwise notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (i) the engaging in competitive activities by any
86
Unrestricted Person (other than the General Partner) in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.5 is hereby approved by the Partnership and all Partners, (ii) it shall be deemed not to be a breach of any duty otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise, of the General Partner or any other Unrestricted Person for the Unrestricted Persons (other than the General Partner) to engage in such business interests and activities in preference to or to the exclusion of the Partnership and (iii) the Unrestricted Persons shall have no obligation hereunder or as a result of any duty otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise, to present business opportunities to the Partnership. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the doctrine of corporate opportunity, or any analogous doctrine, shall not apply to any Unrestricted Person (including the General Partner). Except as provided in the Omnibus Agreement or any Group Member Agreement, no Unrestricted Person (including the General Partner) who acquires knowledge of a potential transaction, agreement, arrangement or other matter that may be an opportunity for the Partnership, shall have any duty to communicate or offer such opportunity to the Partnership, and such Unrestricted Person (including the General Partner) shall not be liable to the Partnership, to any Limited Partner or any other Person bound by this Agreement for breach of any duty otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise, by reason of the fact that such Unrestricted Person (including the General Partner) pursues or acquires for itself, directs such opportunity to another Person or does not communicate such opportunity or information to the Partnership, provided such Unrestricted Person does not engage in such business or activity using confidential or proprietary information provided by or on behalf of the Partnership to such Unrestricted Person.
(d)The General Partner and each of its Affiliates may acquire Units or other Partnership Interests in addition to those acquired on the Closing Date and, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, shall be entitled to exercise, at their option, all rights relating to all Units and/or other Partnership Interests acquired by them. The term “Affiliates” when used in this Section 7.5(d) with respect to the General Partner shall not include any Group Member.
(e)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, to the extent that the provisions of this Agreement purport or are interpreted to have the effect of restricting or eliminating any duties (including fiduciary duties) otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise, owed by the General Partner or other Person to the Partnership, its Limited Partners or any other Person bound by this Agreement or to constitute a waiver or consent by the Limited Partners or any other Person bound by this Agreement to any such restriction, such provisions shall be deemed to have been approved by the Partners and every other Person bound by this Agreement.
Section 7.6 Loans from the General Partner; Loans or Contributions from the Partnership or Group Members.
(a)Subject to Section 3.4(a), the General Partner or any of its Affiliates may lend to any Group Member, and any Group Member may borrow from the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, funds needed or desired by the Group Member for such periods of time and in such amounts as the General Partner may determine; provided, however, that in any such case the lending party may not charge the borrowing party interest at a rate greater than the rate that would be charged the borrowing party or impose terms less favorable to the borrowing party than would be charged or imposed on the borrowing party by unrelated lenders on comparable loans
87
made on an arm's-length basis (without reference to the lending party's financial abilities or guarantees), all as determined by the General Partner. The borrowing party shall reimburse the lending party for any costs (other than any additional interest costs) incurred by the lending party in connection with the borrowing of such funds. For purposes of this Section 7.6(a) and Section 7.6(b), the term “Group Member” shall include any Affiliate of a Group Member that is controlled by the Group Member.
(b)The Partnership may lend or contribute to any Group Member, and any Group Member may borrow from the Partnership, funds on terms and conditions determined by the General Partner. No Group Member may lend funds to the General Partner or any of its Affiliates (other than another Group Member).
(c)No borrowing by any Group Member or the approval thereof by the General Partner shall be deemed to constitute a breach of any duty or any other obligation of any type whatsoever, expressed or implied, of the General Partner or its Affiliates to the Partnership or the Limited Partners existing hereunder, or existing at law, in equity or otherwise by reason of the fact that the purpose or effect of such borrowing is directly or indirectly to hasten the expiration of the Subordination Period or the conversion of any Subordinated Units into Common Units.
Section 7.7 Indemnification.
(a)To the fullest extent permitted by law but subject to the limitations expressly provided in this Agreement, all Indemnitees shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Partnership from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising from any and all threatened, pending or completed claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and whether formal or informal and including appeals, in which any Indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of its status as an Indemnitee and acting (or omitting or refraining to act) in such capacity on behalf of or for the benefit of the Partnership; provided, that the Indemnitee shall not be indemnified and held harmless pursuant to this Agreement if there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter for which the Indemnitee is seeking indemnification pursuant to this Agreement, the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud, willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemnitee's conduct was unlawful; provided, further, no indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.7 shall be available to any Indemnitee (other than a Group Member) with respect to any such Affiliate's obligation pursuant to the Master Formation Agreement or the Omnibus Agreement. Any indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.7 shall be made only out of the assets of the Partnership, it being agreed that the General Partner shall not be personally liable for such indemnification and shall have no obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Partnership to enable it to effectuate such indemnification.
(b)To the fullest extent permitted by law, expenses (including legal fees and expenses) incurred by an Indemnitee who is indemnified pursuant to Section 7.7(a) in appearing at, participating in or defending any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding shall, from time to time, be advanced by the Partnership prior to a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a
88
court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter for which the Indemnitee is seeking indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.7, the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified upon receipt by the Partnership of any undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such amount if it shall be ultimately determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized by this Section 7.7.
(c)The indemnification provided by this Section 7.7 shall be in addition to any other rights to which an Indemnitee may be entitled under this Agreement, any other agreement, pursuant to any vote of the holders of Outstanding Limited Partner Interests, as a matter of law, in equity or otherwise, both as to actions in the Indemnitee's capacity as an Indemnitee and as to actions in any other capacity (including any capacity under the Master Formation Agreement), and shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to serve in such capacity and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, successors, assigns and administrators of the Indemnitee.
(d)The Partnership may purchase and maintain (or reimburse the General Partner or its Affiliates for the cost of) insurance, on behalf of the General Partner, its Affiliates and such other Persons as the General Partner shall determine, against any liability that may be asserted against, or expense that may be incurred by, such Person in connection with the Partnership's activities or such Person's activities on behalf of the Partnership, regardless of whether the Partnership would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement.
(e)For purposes of this Section 7.7, the Partnership shall be deemed to have requested an Indemnitee to serve as fiduciary of an employee benefit plan whenever the performance by it of its duties to the Partnership also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, it to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan; excise taxes assessed on an Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to applicable law shall constitute “fines” within the meaning of Section 7.7(a); and action taken or omitted by it with respect to any employee benefit plan in the performance of its duties for a purpose reasonably believed by it to be in the best interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose that is in the best interests of the Partnership.
(f)In no event may an Indemnitee subject the Limited Partners to personal liability by reason of the indemnification provisions set forth in this Agreement.
(g)An Indemnitee shall not be denied indemnification in whole or in part under this Section 7.7 because the Indemnitee had an interest in the transaction with respect to which the indemnification applies if the transaction was otherwise permitted by the terms of this Agreement.
(h)The provisions of this Section 7.7 are for the benefit of the Indemnitees and their heirs, successors, assigns, executors and administrators and shall not be deemed to create any rights for the benefit of any other Persons.
(i)No amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 7.7 or any provision hereof shall in any manner terminate, reduce or impair the right of any past, present or future Indemnitee to be indemnified by the Partnership, nor the obligations of the Partnership to
89
indemnify any such Indemnitee under and in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.7 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted.
(j)TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, AND SUBJECT TO SECTION 7.7(a), THE PROVISIONS OF THE INDEMNIFICATION PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION 7.7 ARE INTENDED BY THE PARTNERS TO APPLY EVEN IF SUCH PROVISIONS HAVE THE EFFECT OF EXCULPATING THE INDEMNITEE FROM LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH PERSON'S NEGLIGENCE, FAULT OR OTHER CONDUCT.
Section 7.8 Liability of Indemnitees.
(a)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, no Indemnitee shall be liable for monetary damages to the Partnership, the Limited Partners, or any other Persons who have acquired interests in the Partnership Interests, for losses sustained or liabilities incurred as a result of any act or omission of an Indemnitee unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter in question, the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud, willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemnitee's conduct was criminal.
(b)The General Partner may exercise any of the powers granted to it by this Agreement and perform any of the duties imposed upon it hereunder either directly or by or through its agents, and the General Partner shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent appointed by the General Partner in good faith.
(c)To the extent that, at law or in equity, an Indemnitee has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Partnership or to the Partners, the General Partner and any other Indemnitee acting in connection with the Partnership's business or affairs shall not be liable to the Partnership or to any Partner for its good faith reliance on the provisions of this Agreement.
(d)Any amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 7.8 or any provision hereof shall be prospective only and shall not in any way affect the limitations on the liability of the Indemnitees under this Section 7.8 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted.
Section 7.9 Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Standards of Conduct and Modification of Duties.
(a)Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or any Group Member Agreement, whenever a potential conflict of interest exists or arises between the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Partnership, any Group Member or any Partner, on the other, any resolution or course of action by the General Partner or its Affiliates in respect
90
of such conflict of interest shall be permitted and deemed approved by all Partners, and shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement, of any Group Member Agreement, of any agreement contemplated herein or therein, or of any duty stated or implied by law or equity, if the resolution or course of action in respect of such conflict of interest is (i) approved by Special Approval, (ii) approved by the vote of a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates), (iii) determined by the Board of Directors of the General Partner to be on terms no less favorable to the Partnership than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third parties or (iv) determined by the Board of Directors of the General Partner to be fair and reasonable to the Partnership, taking into account the totality of the relationships between the parties involved (including other transactions that may be particularly favorable or advantageous to the Partnership). The General Partner shall be authorized but not required in connection with its resolution of such conflict of interest to seek Special Approval or Unitholder approval of such resolution, and the General Partner may also adopt a resolution or course of action that has not received Special Approval or Unitholder approval. Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or any Group Member Agreement, whenever the General Partner makes a determination to refer any potential conflict of interest for Special Approval, seek Unitholder Approval or adopt a resolution or course of action that has not received Special Approval or Unitholder Approval, then the General Partner shall be entitled, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to make such determination or to take or decline to take such other action free of any duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership or any Limited Partner, and the General Partner shall not, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity, and the General Partner in making such determination or taking or declining to take such other action shall be permitted to do so in its sole and absolute discretion. If Special Approval is sought, then it shall be presumed that, in making its decision, the disinterested directors or the Conflicts Committee, as the case may be, acted in good faith, and if the Board of Directors of the General Partner determines that the resolution or course of action taken with respect to a conflict of interest satisfies either of the standards set forth in clauses (iii) or (iv) above, then it shall be presumed that, in making its decision, the Board of Directors of the General Partner acted in good faith. In any proceeding brought by any Limited Partner or by or on behalf of such Limited Partner or any other Limited Partner or the Partnership challenging any action by the disinterested directors or the Conflicts Committee, as the case may be, with respect to any matter referred to the disinterested directors or the Conflicts Committee, as the case may be, for Special Approval by the General Partner, any action by the Board of Directors of the General Partner in determining whether the resolution or course of action taken with respect to a conflict of interest satisfies either of the standards set forth in clauses (iii) or (iv) above or whether a director satisfies the eligibility requirements to be a disinterested director or a member of the Conflicts Committee, as the case may be, the Person bringing or prosecuting such proceeding shall have the burden of overcoming the presumption that the disinterested directors, Conflicts Committee or the Board of Directors of the General Partner, as applicable, acted in good faith; in all cases subject to the provisions for conclusive determination in Section 7.9(b).
(b)Whenever the General Partner or the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof (including the Conflicts Committee), makes a determination or takes or declines to take any other action, or any Affiliate of the General Partner causes the General Partner to do so, in its
91
capacity as the general partner of the Partnership as opposed to in its individual capacity, whether under this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement or any other agreement, then, unless another express standard is provided for in this Agreement, the General Partner, the Board of Directors or such committee or such Affiliates causing the General Partner to do so, shall make such determination or take or decline to take such other action in good faith and shall not be subject to any other or different standards (including fiduciary standards) imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity. A determination or other action or inaction will conclusively be deemed to be in “good faith” for all purposes of this Agreement, if the Person or Persons making such determination or taking or declining to take such other action subjectively believe that the determination or other action or inaction is in the best interests of the Partnership Group; provided, that if the Board of Directors of the General Partner is making a determination or taking or declining to take an action pursuant to clause (iii) or clause (iv) of the first sentence of Section 7.9(a), then in lieu thereof, such determination or other action or inaction will conclusively be deemed to be in “good faith” for all purposes of this Agreement if the members of the Board of Directors of the General Partner making such determination or taking or declining to take such other action subjectively believe that the determination or other action or inaction meets the standard set forth in clause (iii) or clause (iv) of the first sentence of Section 7.9(a), as applicable; provided, further, that if the Board of Directors of the General Partner is making a determination that a director satisfies the eligibility requirements to be a disinterested director or a member of a Conflicts Committee, as the case may be, then in lieu thereof, such determination will conclusively be deemed to be in “good faith” for all purposes of this Agreement if the members of the Board of Directors of the General Partner making such determination subjectively believe that the director satisfies the eligibility requirements to be a disinterested director or a member of the Conflicts Committee, as the case may be.
(c)Whenever the General Partner makes a determination or takes or declines to take any other action, or any of its Affiliates causes it to do so, in its individual capacity as opposed to in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership, whether under this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise, then the General Partner, or such Affiliates causing it to do so, are entitled, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to make such determination or to take or decline to take such other action free of any duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership or any Limited Partner, and the General Partner, or such Affiliates causing it to do so, shall not, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity, and the Person or Persons making such determination or taking or declining to take such other action shall be permitted to do so in their sole and absolute discretion. By way of illustration and not of limitation, whenever the phrase, “the General Partner at its option,” or some variation of that phrase, is used in this Agreement, it indicates that the General Partner is acting in its individual capacity. For the avoidance of doubt, whenever the General Partner votes or transfers its Partnership Interests, or refrains from voting or transferring its Partnership Interests, it shall be acting in its individual capacity.
(d)The General Partner's organizational documents may provide that determinations to take or decline to take any action in its individual, rather than representative, capacity may or
92
shall be determined by its members, if the General Partner is a limited liability company, stockholders, if the General Partner is a corporation, or the members or stockholders of the General Partner's general partner, if the General Partner is a partnership.
(e)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the General Partner and its Affiliates shall have no duty or obligation, express or implied, to (i) sell or otherwise dispose of any asset of the Partnership Group other than in the ordinary course of business or (ii) permit any Group Member to use any facilities or assets of the General Partner and its Affiliates, except as may be provided in contracts entered into from time to time specifically dealing with such use. Any determination by the General Partner or any of its Affiliates to enter into such contracts shall be at its option.
(f)Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement or required by the Delaware Act, neither the General Partner nor any other Indemnitee shall have any duties or liabilities, including fiduciary duties, to the Partnership or any Limited Partner and the provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict, eliminate or otherwise modify the duties and liabilities, including fiduciary duties, of the General Partner or any other Indemnitee otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Partners to replace such other duties and liabilities of the General Partner or such other Indemnitee.
(g)The Unitholders hereby authorize the General Partner, on behalf of the Partnership as a general partner or managing member of a Group Member, to approve actions by the general partner or managing member of such Group Member similar to those actions permitted to be taken by the General Partner pursuant to this Section 7.9.
Section 7.10 Other Matters Concerning the General Partner.
(a)The General Partner and any other Indemnitee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, bond, debenture or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.
(b)The General Partner and any other Indemnitee may consult with legal counsel, accountants, appraisers, management consultants, investment bankers and other consultants and advisers selected by it, and any act taken or omitted to be taken in reliance upon the advice or opinion (including an Opinion of Counsel) of such Persons as to matters that the General Partner or such Indemnitee, respectively, reasonably believes to be within such Person's professional or expert competence shall be conclusively presumed to have been done or omitted in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion.
(c)The General Partner shall have the right, in respect of any of its powers or obligations hereunder, to act through any of its duly authorized officers, a duly appointed attorney or attorneys-in-fact or the duly authorized officers of the Partnership or any Group Member.
Section 7.11 Purchase or Sale of Partnership Interests. The General Partner may cause the Partnership to purchase or otherwise acquire Partnership Interests or Derivative Partnership Interests; provided that, except as permitted pursuant to Section 4.10, the General Partner may
93
not cause any Group Member to purchase Subordinated Units during the Subordination Period. As long as Partnership Interests are held by any Group Member, such Partnership Interests shall not be considered Outstanding for any purpose, except as otherwise provided herein. The General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner may also purchase or otherwise acquire and sell or otherwise dispose of Partnership Interests for its own account, subject to the provisions of Articles IV and X.
Section 7.12 Reliance by Third Parties. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Person (other than the General Partner and its Affiliates) dealing with the Partnership shall be entitled to assume that the General Partner and any officer of the General Partner authorized by the General Partner to act on behalf of and in the name of the Partnership has full power and authority to encumber, sell or otherwise use in any manner any and all assets of the Partnership and to enter into any authorized contracts on behalf of the Partnership, and such Person shall be entitled to deal with the General Partner or any such officer as if it were the Partnership's sole party in interest, both legally and beneficially. Each Limited Partner hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any and all defenses or other remedies that may be available against such Person to contest, negate or disaffirm any action of the General Partner or any such officer in connection with any such dealing. In no event shall any Person (other than the General Partner and its Affiliates) dealing with the General Partner or any such officer or its representatives be obligated to ascertain that the terms of this Agreement have been complied with or to inquire into the necessity or expedience of any act or action of the General Partner or any such officer or its representatives. Each and every certificate, document or other instrument executed on behalf of the Partnership by the General Partner or its representatives shall be conclusive evidence in favor of any and every Person relying thereon or claiming thereunder that (a) at the time of the execution and delivery of such certificate, document or instrument, this Agreement was in full force and effect, (b) the Person executing and delivering such certificate, document or instrument was duly authorized and empowered to do so for and on behalf of the Partnership and (c) such certificate, document or instrument was duly executed and delivered in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement and is binding upon the Partnership.
Section 7.13 Pension Plan Liabilities. Prior to the IPO Closing Date, the General Partner and the Sponsor Parties shall not permit any Group Member to accept or assume the transfer of assets or liabilities from any pension plan, as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA, whether or not subject to ERISA, that is sponsored or maintained by either Sponsor Party or its Affiliates. On or after the IPO Closing Date, any acceptance or assumption of assets or liabilities from any such pension plan that is sponsored or maintained by either Sponsor Party or its Affiliates shall be approved by Special Approval. To the fullest extent permitted by law, each Sponsor Party shall indemnify and hold harmless the Partnership and any other Group Member from and against any and all losses, damages, liabilities, claims, demands, causes of action, judgments, settlements, fines, penalties, costs and expenses (including court costs and reasonable attorneys' and experts' fees) of any and every kind or character, known or unknown, fixed or contingent, arising from or related to any acceptance or assumption by any Group Member of assets or liabilities from any pension plan, as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA, whether or not subject to ERISA, maintained by such Sponsor Party or its Affiliates; provided, however, that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event shall a Sponsor Party's indemnification obligations cover or include consequential, indirect, incidental, punitive,
94
exemplary, special or similar damages or lost profits suffered by the Partnership or any other Group Member.
ARTICLE VIII
BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS
Section 8.1 Records and Accounting. The General Partner shall keep or cause to be kept at the principal office of the Partnership appropriate books and records with respect to the Partnership's business, including the Register and all other books and records necessary to provide to the Limited Partners any information required to be provided pursuant to Section 3.3(a). Any books and records maintained by or on behalf of the Partnership in the regular course of its business, including the Register, books of account and records of Partnership proceedings, may be kept on, or be in the form of, computer disks, hard drives, punch cards, magnetic tape, photographs, micrographics or any other information storage device; provided, that the books and records so maintained are convertible into clearly legible written form within a reasonable period of time. The books of the Partnership shall be maintained, for financial reporting purposes, on an accrual basis in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The Partnership shall not be required to keep books maintained on a cash basis and the General Partner shall be permitted to calculate cash-based measures, including Operating Surplus and Adjusted Operating Surplus, by making such adjustments to its accrual basis books to account for non-cash items and other adjustments as the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.
Section 8.2 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Partnership shall be a fiscal year ending December 31.
Section 8.3 Reports.
(a)Whether or not the Partnership is subject to the requirement to file reports with the Commission, (i) as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 60 days after the close of each fiscal year of the Partnership prior to the IPO Closing Date, the General Partner shall cause to be mailed or made available, by any reasonable means (including posting on or accessible through the Partnership's or the Commission's website) to Bronco as of a date selected by the General Partner, a report (which shall be deemed to be Confidential Information, as defined in the Omnibus Agreement) containing unaudited financial statements of the Partnership for such fiscal year of the Partnership, presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, including a balance sheet and statements of operations, Partnership equity and cash flows, and (ii) as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 105 days after the close of each fiscal year of the Partnership (or such shorter period as required by the Commission), the General Partner shall cause to be mailed or made available, by any reasonable means (including posting on or accessible through the Partnership's or the Commission's website) to each Record Holder of a Unit as of a date selected by the General Partner, an annual report containing financial statements of the Partnership for such fiscal year of the Partnership, presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, including a balance sheet and statements of operations, Partnership equity and cash flows, such statements to be audited by a firm of independent public accountants selected by the General Partner, and such other information as may be required by applicable law, regulation or
95
rule of the Commission or any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to trading, or as the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.
(b)Whether or not the Partnership is subject to the requirement to file reports with the Commission, as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 50 days after the close of each Quarter prior to the IPO Closing Date (or such shorter period as required by the Commission) except the last Quarter of each fiscal year, the General Partner shall cause to be mailed or made available, by any reasonable means (including posting on or accessible through the Partnership's or the Commission's website) to each Record Holder of a Unit, as of a date selected by the General Partner, a report (which shall be deemed to be Confidential Information, as defined in the Omnibus Agreement) containing unaudited financial statements of the Partnership for such Quarter and year-to-date period, presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, including a balance sheet and statements of operations, Partnership equity and cash flows, and such other information as may be required by applicable law, regulation or rule of the Commission or any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to trading, or as the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.
(c)Subject to compliance with applicable law and regulation, as reasonably determined by the General Partner following consultation of counsel, the General Partner shall cause one or more of its officers, once annually, until the Bronco Fall-Away Date, to attend one in-person meeting with Bronco's beneficial owners for the purpose of discussing the results of operations of the Partnership for the preceding year and the planned activities of the Partnership for the coming year(s).
(d)Upon any reasonable request at any time prior to the Bronco Fall-Away Date, the General Partner shall cause to be mailed or made available, by any reasonable means (including posting on or accessible through the Partnership's or the Commission's website) to Bronco as of a date selected by the General Partner:
(i)such information regarding the Partnership's investment in each direct and indirect Subsidiary of the Partnership as is reasonably required to enable Bronco to prepare a statement of the valuation of the Partnership's investment in each direct and indirect Subsidiary of the Partnership pursuant to Financial Accounting Standard Board Statement No. 157;
(ii)a copy of the Partnership's federal, state and local income tax returns for each year; and
(iii)true and full information regarding the amount of cash and a description and statement of the agreed value of any other property or services contributed by each Partner and which each Partner has agreed to contribute in the future, and the date on which each became a Partner.
96
ARTICLE IX
TAX MATTERS
Section 9.1 Tax Returns and Information. The Partnership shall timely file all returns of the Partnership that are required for federal, state and local income tax purposes on the basis of the accrual method and the taxable period or year that it is required by law to adopt, from time to time, as determined by the General Partner. In the event the Partnership is required to use a taxable period other than a year ending on December 31, the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts to change the taxable period of the Partnership to a year ending on December 31. The tax information reasonably required by Record Holders for federal and state income tax reporting purposes with respect to a taxable period shall be furnished to them within 90 days of the close of the calendar year in which the Partnership's taxable period ends. Prior to the end of the fourth Quarter of each calendar year in which the Partnership's taxable period ends prior to the IPO Closing Date, the General Partner shall deliver to Bronco tax estimates and such other information reasonably required and reasonably requested to enable Bronco to prepare and file its quarterly estimated taxes for the first Quarter following such calendar year. The General Partner shall send to Bronco copies of Internal Revenue Service Schedule K-1 (Form 1065) for each taxable year before the IPO Closing Date, as soon as practicable. The classification, realization and recognition of income, gain, losses and deductions and other items shall be on the accrual method of accounting for federal income tax purposes.
Section 9.2 Tax Elections.
(a)The Partnership shall make the election under Section 754 of the Code in accordance with applicable regulations thereunder, subject to the reservation of the right to seek to revoke any such election upon the General Partner's determination that such revocation is in the best interests of the Limited Partners. Notwithstanding any other provision herein contained, for the purposes of computing the adjustments under Section 743(b) of the Code, the General Partner shall be authorized (but not required) to adopt a convention whereby the price paid by a transferee of a Limited Partner Interest will be deemed to be the lowest quoted closing price of the Limited Partner Interests on any National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests are listed or admitted to trading during the calendar month in which such transfer is deemed to occur pursuant to Section 6.2(f) without regard to the actual price paid by such transferee.
(b)Except as otherwise provided herein, the General Partner shall determine whether the Partnership should make any other elections permitted by the Code.
Section 9.3 Tax Controversies. Subject to the provisions hereof, the General Partner is designated as the “tax matters partner” (as defined in Section 6231(a)(7) of the Code) and is authorized and required to represent the Partnership (at the Partnership's expense) in connection with all examinations of the Partnership's affairs by tax authorities, including resulting administrative and judicial proceedings, and to expend Partnership funds for professional services and costs associated therewith. Each Partner agrees to cooperate with the General Partner and to do or refrain from doing any or all things reasonably required by the General Partner to conduct such proceedings.
97
Section 9.4 Withholding. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner is authorized to take any action that may be required to cause the Partnership and other Group Members to comply with any withholding requirements established under the Code or any other federal, state or local law including pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442, 1445 and 1446 of the Code, or established under any foreign law. To the extent that the Partnership is required or elects to withhold and pay over to any taxing authority any amount resulting from the allocation or distribution of income to any Partner (including by reason of Section 1446 of the Code), the General Partner may treat the amount withheld as a distribution of cash pursuant to Section 6.3 or Section 12.4(c) in the amount of such withholding from such Partner.
ARTICLE X
ADMISSION OF PARTNERS
Section 10.1 Admission of Limited Partners.
(a)Upon the issuance by the Partnership of Common Units and Incentive Distribution Rights to the General Partner, CERC, OGEH and Bronco as described in Article V in connection with the Master Formation Agreement, such Persons shall, by acceptance of such Partnership Interests, and upon becoming the Record Holders of such Partnership Interests, be admitted to the Partnership as Initial Limited Partners in respect of the Common Units or Incentive Distribution Rights issued to them and be bound by this Agreement, all with or without execution of this Agreement by such Persons.
(b)By acceptance of any Limited Partner Interests transferred in accordance with Article IV or acceptance of any Limited Partner Interests issued pursuant to Article V or pursuant to a merger, consolidation or conversion pursuant to Article XIV, and except as provided in Section 4.9, each transferee of, or other such Person acquiring, a Limited Partner Interest (including any nominee, agent or representative acquiring such Limited Partner Interests for the account of another Person or Group, which nominee, agent or representative shall be subject to Section 10.1(c) below) (i) shall be admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner with respect to the Limited Partner Interests so transferred or issued to such Person when such Person becomes the Record Holder of the Limited Partner Interests so transferred or acquired, (ii) shall become bound, and shall be deemed to have agreed to be bound, by the terms of this Agreement, (iii) shall be deemed to represent that the transferee or acquirer has the capacity, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and (iv) shall be deemed to make any consents, acknowledgements or waivers contained in this Agreement, all with or without execution of this Agreement by such Person. The transfer of any Limited Partner Interests and the admission of any new Limited Partner shall not constitute an amendment to this Agreement. A Person may become a Limited Partner without the consent or approval of any of the Partners. A Person may not become a Limited Partner without acquiring a Limited Partner Interest and becoming the Record Holder of such Limited Partner Interest. The rights and obligations of a Person who is an Ineligible Holder shall be determined in accordance with Section 4.9.
(c)With respect to Units that are held for a Person's account by another Person that is the Record Holder (such as a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation, or an agent of any of the foregoing), such Record Holder shall, in exercising the rights of a Limited
98
Partner in respect of such Units, including the right to vote, on any matter, and unless the arrangement between such Persons provides otherwise, take all action as a Limited Partner by virtue of being the Record Holder of such Units in accordance with the direction of the Person who is the beneficial owner of such Units, and the Partnership shall be entitled to assume such Record Holder is so acting without further inquiry. The provisions of this Section 10.1(c) are subject to the provisions of Section 4.3.
(d)The name and mailing address of each Record Holder shall be listed in the Register. The General Partner shall update the Register from time to time as necessary to reflect accurately the information therein (or shall cause the Transfer Agent to do so, as applicable).
(e)Any transfer of a Limited Partner Interest shall not entitle the transferee to share in the profits and losses, to receive distributions, to receive allocations of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit or any similar item or to any other rights to which the transferor was entitled until the transferee becomes a Limited Partner pursuant to Section 10.1(b).
Section 10.2 Admission of Successor General Partner. A successor General Partner approved pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 or the transferee of or successor to all of the General Partner Interest pursuant to Section 4.6 who is proposed to be admitted as a successor General Partner shall be admitted to the Partnership as the General Partner, effective immediately prior to the withdrawal or removal of the predecessor or transferring General Partner, pursuant to Section 11.1 or 11.2 or the transfer of the General Partner Interest pursuant to Section 4.6, provided, however, that no such successor shall be admitted to the Partnership until compliance with the terms of Section 4.6 has occurred and such successor has executed and delivered such other documents or instruments as may be required to effect such admission. Any such successor is hereby authorized to and shall, subject to the terms hereof, carry on the business of the members of the Partnership Group without dissolution.
Section 10.3 Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership. To effect the admission to the Partnership of any Partner, the General Partner shall take all steps necessary or appropriate under the Delaware Act to amend the Register and any other records of the Partnership to reflect such admission and, if necessary, to prepare as soon as practicable an amendment to this Agreement and, if required by law, the General Partner shall prepare and file an amendment to the Certificate of Limited Partnership.
ARTICLE XI
WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS
Section 11.1 Withdrawal of the General Partner.
(a)The General Partner shall be deemed to have withdrawn from the Partnership upon the occurrence of any one of the following events (each such event herein referred to as an “Event of Withdrawal”);
(i)The General Partner voluntarily withdraws from the Partnership by giving written notice to the other Partners;
99
(ii)The General Partner transfers all of its General Partner Interest pursuant to Section 4.6;
(iii)The General Partner is removed pursuant to Section 11.2;
(iv)The General Partner (A) makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; (B) files a voluntary bankruptcy petition for relief under Chapter 7 of the United States Bankruptcy Code; (C) files a petition or answer seeking for itself a liquidation, dissolution or similar relief (but not a reorganization) under any law; (D) files an answer or other pleading admitting or failing to contest the material allegations of a petition filed against the General Partner in a proceeding of the type described in clauses (A)-(C) of this Section 11.1(a)(iv); or (E) seeks, consents to or acquiesces in the appointment of a trustee (but not a debtor-in-possession), receiver or liquidator of the General Partner or of all or any substantial part of its properties;
(v)A final and non-appealable order of relief under Chapter 7 of the United States Bankruptcy Code is entered by a court with appropriate jurisdiction pursuant to a voluntary or involuntary petition by or against the General Partner; or
(vi)(A) if the General Partner is a corporation, a certificate of dissolution or its equivalent is filed for the General Partner, or 90 days expire after the date of notice to the General Partner of revocation of its charter without a reinstatement of its charter, under the laws of its state of incorporation; (B) if the General Partner is a partnership or a limited liability company, the dissolution and commencement of winding up of the General Partner; (C) if the General Partner is acting in such capacity by virtue of being a trustee of a trust, the termination of the trust; (D) if the General Partner is a natural person, his death or adjudication of incompetency; and (E) otherwise upon the termination of the General Partner.
If an Event of Withdrawal specified in Section 11.1(a)(iv), (v) or (vi)(A), (B), (C) or (E) occurs, the withdrawing General Partner shall give notice to the Limited Partners within 30 days after such occurrence. The Partners hereby agree that only the Events of Withdrawal described in this Section 11.1 shall result in the withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership.
(b)Withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership upon the occurrence of an Event of Withdrawal shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement under the following circumstances: (i)at any time during the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending at 12:00 midnight, Central Time, on the first day of the first Quarter beginning after the tenth anniversary of the IPO Closing Date, the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days' advance notice of its intention to withdraw to the Limited Partners; provided, that prior to the effective date of such withdrawal, the withdrawal is approved by Unitholders holding at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates) and the General Partner delivers to the Partnership an Opinion of Counsel (“Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel”) that such withdrawal (following the selection of the successor General Partner) would not result in the loss of the limited liability under the Delaware Act of any Limited Partner or cause any Group Member to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to
100
the extent not already so treated or taxed); (ii)at any time after 12:00 midnight, Central Time, on the first day of the first Quarter beginning after the tenth anniversary of the IPO Closing Date, the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days' advance notice to the Unitholders, such withdrawal to take effect on the date specified in such notice; (iii)at any time that the General Partner ceases to be the General Partner pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(ii) or is removed pursuant to Section 11.2; or (iv)notwithstanding clause (i) of this sentence, at any time that the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days' advance notice of its intention to withdraw to the Limited Partners, such withdrawal to take effect on the date specified in the notice, if at the time such notice is given one Person and its Affiliates (other than the General Partner and its Affiliates) own beneficially or of record or control at least 50% of the Outstanding Units. The withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership upon the occurrence of an Event of Withdrawal shall also constitute the withdrawal of the General Partner as general partner or managing member, if any, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members. If the General Partner gives a notice of withdrawal pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(i), the holders of a Unit Majority, may, prior to the effective date of such withdrawal, elect a successor General Partner. The Person so elected as successor General Partner shall automatically become the successor general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members of which the General Partner is a general partner or a managing member. Any successor General Partner elected in accordance with the terms of this Section 11.1 shall be subject to the provisions of Section 10.2.
Section 11.2 Removal of the General Partner. The General Partner may be removed if such removal is approved by the Unitholders holding at least 75% of the Outstanding Units (including Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates) voting as a single class. Any such action by such holders for removal of the General Partner must also provide for the election of a successor General Partner by the Unitholders holding a majority of the outstanding Common Units voting as a class and Unitholders holding a majority of the outstanding Subordinated Units (if any Subordinated Units are then Outstanding) voting as a class (including, in each case, Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates). Such removal shall be effective immediately following the admission of a successor General Partner pursuant to Section 10.2. The removal of the General Partner shall also automatically constitute the removal of the General Partner as general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members of which the General Partner is a general partner or a managing member. If a Person is elected as a successor General Partner in accordance with the terms of this Section 11.2, such Person shall, upon admission pursuant to Section 10.2, automatically become a successor general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members of which the General Partner is a general partner or a managing member. The right of the holders of Outstanding Units to remove the General Partner shall not exist or be exercised unless the Partnership has received an opinion opining as to the matters covered by a Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel. Any successor General Partner elected in accordance with the terms of this Section 11.2 shall be subject to the provisions of Section 10.2.
Section 11.3 Interest of Departing General Partner and Successor General Partner.
(a)In the event of (i) withdrawal of the General Partner under circumstances where such withdrawal does not violate this Agreement or (ii) removal of the General Partner by the holders of Outstanding Units under circumstances where Cause does not exist, if the successor
101
General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of Section 11.1 or Section 11.2, the Departing General Partner shall have the option, exercisable prior to the effective date of the withdrawal or removal of such Departing General Partner, to require its successor to purchase its General Partner Interest and its or its Affiliates' general partner interest (or equivalent interest), if any, in the other Group Members (including, in the case of EH II, the EH Management Units) and all of its or its Affiliates' Incentive Distribution Rights (collectively, the “Combined Interest”) in exchange for an amount in cash equal to the fair market value of such Combined Interest, such amount to be determined and payable as of the effective date of its withdrawal or removal. If the General Partner is removed by the Unitholders under circumstances where Cause exists or if the General Partner withdraws under circumstances where such withdrawal violates this Agreement, and if a successor General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 (or if the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2 and the successor General Partner is not the former General Partner), such successor shall have the option, exercisable prior to the effective date of the withdrawal or removal of such Departing General Partner (or, in the event the business of the Partnership is continued, prior to the date the business of the Partnership is continued), to purchase the Combined Interest for such fair market value of such Combined Interest. In either event, the Departing General Partner shall be entitled to receive all reimbursements due such Departing General Partner pursuant to Section 7.4, including any employee-related liabilities (including severance liabilities), incurred in connection with the termination of any employees employed by the Departing General Partner or its Affiliates (other than any Group Member) for the benefit of the Partnership or the other Group Members.
For purposes of this Section 11.3(a), the fair market value of the Combined Interest shall be determined by agreement between the Departing General Partner and its successor or, failing agreement within 30 days after the effective date of such Departing General Partner's withdrawal or removal, by an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert selected by the Departing General Partner and its successor, which, in turn, may rely on other experts, and the determination of which shall be conclusive as to such matter. If such parties cannot agree upon one independent investment banking firm or other independent expert within 45 days after the effective date of such withdrawal or removal, then the Departing General Partner shall designate an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert, the Departing General Partner's successor shall designate an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert, and such firms or experts shall mutually select a third independent investment banking firm or independent expert, which third independent investment banking firm or other independent expert shall determine the fair market value of the Combined Interest. In making its determination, such third independent investment banking firm or other independent expert may consider the then current trading price of Units on any National Securities Exchange on which Units are then listed or admitted to trading, the value of the Partnership's assets, the rights and obligations of the Departing General Partner, the value of the Incentive Distribution Rights and the General Partner Interest and other factors it may deem relevant.
(b)If the Combined Interest is not purchased in the manner set forth in Section 11.3(a), the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) shall become a Limited Partner and its Combined Interest shall be converted into Common Units pursuant to a valuation made by an investment banking firm or other independent expert selected pursuant to Section 11.3(a),
102
without reduction in such Partnership Interest (but subject to proportionate dilution by reason of the admission of its successor). Any successor General Partner shall indemnify the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) as to all debts and liabilities of the Partnership arising on or after the date on which the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) becomes a Limited Partner. For purposes of this Agreement, conversion of the Combined Interest of the Departing General Partner to Common Units will be characterized as if the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) contributed its Combined Interest to the Partnership in exchange for the newly issued Common Units.
(c)If a successor General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 (or if the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2 and the successor General Partner is not the former General Partner) and the option described in Section 11.3(a) is not exercised by the party entitled to do so, the successor General Partner shall, at the effective date of its admission to the Partnership, contribute to the Partnership cash in the amount equal to the product of (x) the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the Percentage Interest of the General Partner Interest of the Departing General Partner by (B) a percentage equal to 100% less the Percentage Interest of the General Partner Interest of the Departing General Partner and (y) the Net Agreed Value of the Partnership's assets on such date. In such event, such successor General Partner shall, subject to the following sentence, be entitled to its Percentage Interest of all Partnership allocations and distributions to which the Departing General Partner was entitled. In addition, the successor General Partner shall cause this Agreement to be amended to reflect that, from and after the date of such successor General Partner's admission, the successor General Partner's interest in all Partnership distributions and allocations shall be its Percentage Interest.
Section 11.4 Termination of Subordination Period, Conversion of Subordinated Units and Extinguishment of Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement, if the General Partner is removed as general partner of the Partnership under circumstances where Cause does not exist and Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates are not voted in favor of such removal, (i) the Subordination Period will end and all Outstanding Subordinated Units will immediately and automatically convert into Common Units on a one-for-one basis, (ii) all Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages on the Common Units will be extinguished and (iii) the General Partner will have the right to convert its General Partner Interest and its Incentive Distribution Rights into Common Units or to receive cash in exchange therefor in accordance with Section 11.3.
Section 11.5 Withdrawal of Limited Partners. No Limited Partner shall have any right to withdraw from the Partnership; provided, however, that when a transferee of a Limited Partner's Limited Partner Interest becomes a Record Holder of the Limited Partner Interest so transferred, such transferring Limited Partner shall cease to be a Limited Partner with respect to the Limited Partner Interest so transferred.
103
ARTICLE XII
DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION
Section 12.1 Dissolution. The Partnership shall not be dissolved by the admission of additional Limited Partners or by the admission of a successor General Partner in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Upon the removal or withdrawal of the General Partner, if a successor General Partner is elected pursuant to Section 11.1, Section 11.2 or Section 12.2, the Partnership shall not be dissolved and such successor General Partner shall continue the business of the Partnership. The Partnership shall dissolve, and (subject to Section 12.2) its affairs shall be wound up, upon:
(a)an Event of Withdrawal of the General Partner as provided in Section 11.1(a) (other than Section 11.1(a)(ii)), unless a successor is elected and a Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel is received as provided in Section 11.1(b) or 11.2 and such successor is admitted to the Partnership pursuant to Section 10.2;
(b)an election to dissolve the Partnership by the General Partner that is approved by the holders of a Unit Majority;
(c)the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act; or
(d)at any time there are no Limited Partners, unless the Partnership is continued without dissolution in accordance with the Delaware Act.
Section 12.2 Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After Dissolution. Upon (a) dissolution of the Partnership following an Event of Withdrawal caused by the withdrawal or removal of the General Partner as provided in Section 11.1(a)(i) or (iii) and the failure of the Partners to select a successor to such Departing General Partner pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2, then, to the maximum extent permitted by law, within 90 days thereafter, or (b) dissolution of the Partnership upon an event constituting an Event of Withdrawal as defined in Section 11.1(a)(iv), (v) or (vi), then, to the maximum extent permitted by law, within 180 days thereafter, the holders of a Unit Majority may elect to continue the business of the Partnership on the same terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement by appointing as a successor General Partner a Person approved by the holders of a Unit Majority. Unless such an election is made within the applicable time period as set forth above, the Partnership shall conduct only activities necessary to wind up its affairs. If such an election is so made, then:
(i)the Partnership shall continue without dissolution unless earlier dissolved in accordance with this Article XII;
(ii)if the successor General Partner is not the former General Partner, then the interest of the former General Partner shall be treated in the manner provided in Section 11.3; and
104
(iii)the successor General Partner shall be admitted to the Partnership as General Partner, effective as of the Event of Withdrawal, by agreeing in writing to be bound by this Agreement;
provided, that the right of the holders of a Unit Majority to approve a successor General Partner and to continue the business of the Partnership shall not exist and may not be exercised unless the Partnership has received an Opinion of Counsel that (x) the exercise of the right would not result in the loss of limited liability of any Limited Partner under the Delaware Act and (y) neither the Partnership nor any Group Member would be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise be taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes upon the exercise of such right to continue (to the extent not already so treated or taxed).
Section 12.3 Liquidator. Upon dissolution of the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of Article XII, the General Partner shall select one or more Persons to act as Liquidator. The Liquidator (if other than the General Partner) shall be entitled to receive such compensation for its services as may be approved by holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units and Subordinated Units voting as a single class. The Liquidator (if other than the General Partner) shall agree not to resign at any time without 15 days' prior notice and may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by notice of removal approved by holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units and Subordinated Units voting as a single class. Upon dissolution, removal or resignation of the Liquidator, a successor and substitute Liquidator (who shall have and succeed to all rights, powers and duties of the original Liquidator) shall within 30 days thereafter be approved by holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units and Subordinated Units voting as a single class. The right to approve a successor or substitute Liquidator in the manner provided herein shall be deemed to refer also to any such successor or substitute Liquidator approved in the manner herein provided. Except as expressly provided in this Article XII, the Liquidator approved in the manner provided herein shall have and may exercise, without further authorization or consent of any of the parties hereto, all of the powers conferred upon the General Partner under the terms of this Agreement (but subject to all of the applicable limitations, contractual and otherwise, upon the exercise of such powers, other than the limitation on sale set forth in Section 7.3) necessary or appropriate to carry out the duties and functions of the Liquidator hereunder for and during the period of time required to complete the winding up and liquidation of the Partnership as provided for herein.
Section 12.4 Liquidation. The Liquidator shall proceed to dispose of the assets of the Partnership, discharge its liabilities, and otherwise wind up its affairs in such manner and over such period as determined by the Liquidator, subject to Section 17-804 of the Delaware Act and the following:
(a)The assets may be disposed of by public or private sale or by distribution in kind to one or more Partners on such terms as the Liquidator and such Partner or Partners may agree. If any property is distributed in kind, the Partner receiving the property shall be deemed for purposes of Section 12.4(c) to have received cash equal to its fair market value; and contemporaneously therewith, appropriate cash distributions must be made to the other Partners. The Liquidator may defer liquidation or distribution of the Partnership's assets for a reasonable time if it determines that an immediate sale or distribution of all or some of the Partnership's assets would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the Partners. The Liquidator may
105
distribute the Partnership's assets, in whole or in part, in kind if it determines that a sale would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the Partners.
(b)Liabilities of the Partnership include amounts owed to the Liquidator as compensation for serving in such capacity (subject to the terms of Section 12.3) and amounts to Partners otherwise than in respect of their distribution rights under Article VI. With respect to any liability that is contingent, conditional or unmatured or is otherwise not yet due and payable, the Liquidator shall either settle such claim for such amount as it thinks appropriate or establish a reserve of cash or other assets to provide for its payment. When paid, any unused portion of the reserve shall be distributed as additional liquidation proceeds.
(c)All property and all cash in excess of that required to discharge liabilities as provided in Section 12.4(b) shall be distributed (i) first, if the IPO Closing Date has not occurred, consistently with reducing any outstanding Bronco Arrearage Amount, CERC Arrearage Amount or OGEH Arrearage Amount, as provided in Section 6.4(b), and (ii) thereafter, to the Partners in accordance with, and to the extent of, the positive balances in their respective Capital Accounts, as determined after taking into account all Capital Account adjustments (other than those made by reason of distributions pursuant to this Section 12.4(c)) for the taxable period of the Partnership during which the liquidation of the Partnership occurs (with such date of occurrence being determined pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g)), and such distribution shall be made by the end of such taxable period (or, if later, within 90 days after said date of such occurrence).
Section 12.5�� Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership. Upon the completion of the distribution of Partnership cash and property as provided in Section 12.4 in connection with the liquidation of the Partnership, the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all qualifications of the Partnership as a foreign limited partnership in jurisdictions other than the State of Delaware shall be canceled and such other actions as may be necessary to terminate the Partnership shall be taken.
Section 12.6 Return of Contributions. The General Partner shall not be personally liable for, and shall have no obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Partnership to enable it to effectuate, the return of the Capital Contributions of the Limited Partners or Unitholders, or any portion thereof, it being expressly understood that any such return shall be made solely from assets of the Partnership.
Section 12.7 Waiver of Partition. To the maximum extent permitted by law, each Partner hereby waives any right to partition of the Partnership property.
Section 12.8 Capital Account Restoration. No Limited Partner shall have any obligation to restore any negative balance in its Capital Account upon liquidation of the Partnership. The General Partner shall be obligated to restore any negative balance in its Capital Account upon liquidation of its interest in the Partnership by the end of the taxable year of the Partnership during which such liquidation occurs, or, if later, within 90 days after the date of such liquidation.
106
ARTICLE XIII
AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE
Section 13.1 Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the General Partner. Each Partner agrees that the General Partner, without the approval of any Partner, but subject to Section 3.4(a), may amend any provision of this Agreement and execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record whatever documents may be required in connection therewith, to reflect:
(a)a change in the name of the Partnership, the location of the principal office of the Partnership, the registered agent of the Partnership or the registered office of the Partnership;
(b)admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of Partners in accordance with this Agreement;
(c)a change that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate to qualify or continue the qualification of the Partnership as a limited partnership or a partnership in which the Limited Partners have limited liability under the laws of any state or to ensure that the Group Members will not be treated as associations taxable as corporations or otherwise taxed as entities for federal income tax purposes;
(d)a change that the General Partner determines (i) does not adversely affect the Limited Partners considered as a whole or any particular class of Partnership Interests as compared to other classes of Partnership Interests in any material respect, (ii) to be necessary or appropriate (A) to satisfy any requirements, conditions or guidelines contained in any opinion, directive, order, ruling or regulation of any federal or state agency or judicial authority or contained in any federal or state statute (including the Delaware Act) or (B) in connection with or after the Initial Public Offering, to facilitate the trading of the Units (including the division of any class or classes of Outstanding Units into different classes to facilitate uniformity of tax consequences within such classes of Units), delete provisions of this Agreement that have no application after the IPO Closing Date (including provisions related to Bronco's rights set forth in Section 3.4) and do not adversely affect the number of Units that would be held by any Partner upon the Initial Public Offering, or comply with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are or will be listed or admitted to trading, (iii) to be necessary or appropriate in connection with action taken by the General Partner pursuant to Section 5.10 or (iv) is required to effect the intent expressed in the Registration Statement for the Initial Public Offering or the intent of the provisions of this Agreement or the Master Formation Agreement or is otherwise contemplated by this Agreement or the Master Formation Agreement;
(e)a change in the fiscal year or taxable year of the Partnership and any other changes that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate as a result of a change in the fiscal year or taxable year of the Partnership including a change in the definition of “Quarter” and the dates on which distributions are to be made by the Partnership;
(f)an amendment that is necessary, in the Opinion of Counsel, to prevent the Partnership, or the General Partner or its directors, officers, trustees or agents from in any
107
manner being subjected to the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or “plan asset” regulations adopted under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, regardless of whether such are substantially similar to plan asset regulations currently applied or proposed by the United States Department of Labor;
(g)an amendment that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the authorization or issuance of any class or series of Partnership Interests pursuant to Section 5.6;
(h)any amendment expressly permitted in this Agreement to be made by the General Partner acting alone;
(i)an amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by a Merger Agreement approved in accordance with Section 14.3;
(j)an amendment that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect and account for the formation by the Partnership of, or investment by the Partnership in, any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity, in connection with the conduct by the Partnership of activities permitted by the terms of Section 2.4;
(k)a merger, conveyance or conversion pursuant to Section 14.3(c); or
(l)any other amendments substantially similar to the foregoing.
Section 13.2 Amendment Procedures. Amendments to this Agreement may be proposed only by the General Partner. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the General Partner shall have no duty or obligation to propose or approve any amendment to this Agreement and may decline to do so free of any duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership, any Limited Partner or any other Person bound by this Agreement, and, in declining to propose or approve an amendment to this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by law shall not be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity, and the General Partner in determining whether to propose or approve any amendment to this Agreement shall be permitted to do so in its sole and absolute discretion. An amendment to this Agreement shall be effective upon its approval by the General Partner and, except as otherwise provided by Section 3.4(a), Section 13.1 or Section 13.3, the holders of a Unit Majority, unless a greater or different percentage of Outstanding Units is required under this Agreement. Each proposed amendment that requires the approval of the holders of a specified percentage of Outstanding Units shall be set forth in a writing that contains the text of the proposed amendment. If such an amendment is proposed, the General Partner shall seek the written approval of the requisite percentage of Outstanding Units or call a meeting of the Unitholders to consider and vote on such proposed amendment. The General Partner shall notify all Record Holders upon final adoption of any amendments. The General Partner shall be deemed to have notified all Record Holders as required by this Section 13.2 if it has posted or made accessible such amendment through the Partnership's or the Commission's website.
108
Section 13.3 Amendment Requirements.
(a)Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13.1 and Section 13.2, no provision of this Agreement that establishes a percentage of Outstanding Units (including Units deemed owned by the General Partner) required to take any action shall be amended, altered, changed, repealed or rescinded in any respect that would have the effect of (i) in the case of any provision of this Agreement other than Section 11.2 or Section 13.4, reducing such percentage or (ii) in the case of Section 11.2 or Section 13.4, increasing such percentages, unless such amendment is approved by the written consent or the affirmative vote of holders of Outstanding Units whose aggregate Outstanding Units constitute (x) in the case of a reduction as described in subclause (a)(i) hereof, not less than the voting requirement sought to be reduced, (y) in the case of an increase in the percentage in Section 11.2, not less than 90% of the Outstanding Units, or (z) in the case of an increase in the percentage in Section 13.4, not less than a majority of the Outstanding Units.
(b)Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13.1 and Section 13.2, no amendment to this Agreement may (i) enlarge the obligations of any Limited Partner without its consent, unless such shall be deemed to have occurred as a result of an amendment approved pursuant to Section 13.3(c) or (ii) enlarge the obligations of, restrict in any way any action by or rights of, or reduce in any way the amounts distributable, reimbursable or otherwise payable to, the General Partner or any of its Affiliates without its consent, which consent may be given or withheld at its option.
(c)Except as provided in Section 14.3, and without limitation of the General Partner's authority to adopt amendments to this Agreement without the approval of any Partners as contemplated in Section 13.1, any amendment that would have a material adverse effect on the rights or preferences of any class of Partnership Interests in relation to other classes of Partnership Interests must be approved by the holders of not less than a majority of the Outstanding Partnership Interests of the class affected.
(d)Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, except for amendments pursuant to Section 13.1 and except as otherwise provided by Section 14.3(b), no amendments shall become effective without the approval of the holders of at least 90% of the Outstanding Units voting as a single class unless the Partnership obtains an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such amendment will not affect the limited liability of any Limited Partner under applicable partnership law of the state under whose laws the Partnership is organized.
(e)Except as provided in Section 13.1, this Section 13.3 shall only be amended with the approval of the holders of at least 90% of the Outstanding Units.
Section 13.4 Special Meetings. All acts of Limited Partners to be taken pursuant to this Agreement shall be taken in the manner provided in this Article XIII. Special meetings of the Limited Partners may be called by the General Partner or by Limited Partners owning 20% or more of the Outstanding Units of the class or classes for which a meeting is proposed. Limited Partners shall call a special meeting by delivering to the General Partner one or more requests in writing stating that the signing Limited Partners wish to call a special meeting and indicating the specific purposes for which the special meeting is to be called and the class or classes of Units
109
for which the meeting is proposed. No business may be brought by any Limited Partner before such special meeting except the business listed in the related request. Within 60 days after receipt of such a call from Limited Partners or within such greater time as may be reasonably necessary for the Partnership to comply with any statutes, rules, regulations, listing agreements or similar requirements governing the holding of a meeting or the solicitation of proxies for use at such a meeting, the General Partner shall send a notice of the meeting to the Limited Partners either directly or indirectly. A meeting shall be held at a time and place determined by the General Partner on a date not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days after the time notice of the meeting is given as provided in Section 16.1. Limited Partners shall not be permitted to vote on matters that would cause the Limited Partners to be deemed to be taking part in the management and control of the business and affairs of the Partnership so as to jeopardize the Limited Partners' limited liability under the Delaware Act or the law of any other state in which the Partnership is qualified to do business. If any such vote were to take place, it shall be deemed null and void to the extent necessary so as not to jeopardize the Limited Partners' limited liability under the Delaware Act or the law of any other state in which the Partnership is qualified to do business.
Section 13.5 Notice of a Meeting. Notice of a meeting called pursuant to Section 13.4 shall be given to the Record Holders of the class or classes of Units for which a meeting is proposed in writing by mail or other means of written communication in accordance with Section 16.1.
Section 13.6 Record Date. For purposes of determining the Limited Partners who are Record Holders of the class or classes of Limited Partner Interests entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the Limited Partners or to give approvals without a meeting as provided in Section 13.11, the General Partner shall set a Record Date, which shall not be less than 10 nor more than 60 days before (a) the date of the meeting (unless such requirement conflicts with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to trading or U.S. federal securities laws, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such National Securities Exchange or U.S. federal securities laws shall govern) or (b) in the event that approvals are sought without a meeting, the date by which such Limited Partners are requested in writing by the General Partner to give such approvals.
Section 13.7 Postponement and Adjournment. Prior to the date upon which any meeting of Limited Partners is to be held, the General Partner may postpone such meeting one or more times for any reason by giving notice to each Limited Partner entitled to vote at the meeting so postponed of the place, date and hour at which such meeting would be held. Such notice shall be given not fewer than two days before the date of such meeting and otherwise in accordance with this Article XIII. When a meeting is postponed, a new Record Date need not be fixed unless the aggregate amount of such postponement shall be for more than 45 days after the original meeting date. Any meeting of Limited Partners may be adjourned by the General Partner one or more times for any reason, including the failure of a quorum to be present at the meeting with respect to any proposal or the failure of any proposal to receive sufficient votes for approval. No vote of the Limited Partners shall be required for any adjournment. A meeting of Limited Partners may be adjourned by the General Partner as to one or more proposals regardless of whether action has been taken on other matters. When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting and a new Record Date need not be
110
fixed, if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, unless such adjournment shall be for more than 45 days. At the adjourned meeting, the Partnership may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 45 days or if a new Record Date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given in accordance with this Article XIII.
Section 13.8 Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting. The transactions of any meeting of Limited Partners, however called and noticed, and whenever held, shall be as valid as if it had occurred at a meeting duly held after call and notice in accordance with Sections 13.4 and 13.5, if a quorum is present either in person or by proxy. Attendance of a Limited Partner at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of the meeting, except when the Limited Partner attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened; and except that attendance at a meeting is not a waiver of any right to disapprove of any matters submitted for consideration or to object to the failure to submit for consideration any matters required to be included in the notice of the meeting, but not so included, if such objection is expressly made at the beginning of the meeting.
Section 13.9 Quorum and Voting. The presence, in person or by proxy, of holders of a majority of the Outstanding Units of the class or classes for which a meeting has been called (including Outstanding Units deemed owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates) shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of Limited Partners of such class or classes unless any such action by the Limited Partners requires approval by holders of a greater percentage of such Units, in which case the quorum shall be such greater percentage. At any meeting of the Limited Partners duly called and held in accordance with this Agreement at which a quorum is present, the act of Limited Partners holding Outstanding Units that in the aggregate represent a majority of the Outstanding Units entitled to vote at such meeting shall be deemed to constitute the act of all Limited Partners, unless a different percentage is required with respect to such action under the provisions of this Agreement, in which case the act of the Limited Partners holding Outstanding Units that in the aggregate represent at least such different percentage shall be required. The Limited Partners present at a duly called or held meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the exit of enough Limited Partners to leave less than a quorum, if any action taken (other than adjournment) is approved by the required percentage of Outstanding Units specified in this Agreement.
Section 13.10 Conduct of a Meeting. The General Partner shall have full power and authority concerning the manner of conducting any meeting of the Limited Partners or solicitation of approvals in writing, including the determination of Persons entitled to vote, the existence of a quorum, the satisfaction of the requirements of Section 13.4, the conduct of voting, the validity and effect of any proxies and the determination of any controversies, votes or challenges arising in connection with or during the meeting or voting. The General Partner shall designate a Person to serve as chairman of any meeting and shall further designate a Person to take the minutes of any meeting. All minutes shall be kept with the records of the Partnership maintained by the General Partner. The General Partner may make such other regulations consistent with applicable law and this Agreement as it may deem advisable concerning the conduct of any meeting of the Limited Partners or solicitation of approvals in writing, including regulations in regard to the appointment of proxies, the appointment and duties of inspectors of
111
votes and approvals, the submission and examination of proxies and other evidence of the right to vote, and the submission and revocation of approvals in writing.
Section 13.11 Action Without a Meeting. If authorized by the General Partner, any action that may be taken at a meeting of the Limited Partners may be taken without a meeting if an approval in writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by Limited Partners owning not less than the minimum percentage of the Outstanding Units (including Units deemed owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates) that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all the Limited Partners were present and voted (unless such provision conflicts with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to trading, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such National Securities Exchange shall govern). Prompt notice of the taking of action without a meeting shall be given to the Limited Partners who have not approved in writing. The General Partner may specify that any written ballot submitted to Limited Partners for the purpose of taking any action without a meeting shall be returned to the Partnership within the time period, which shall be not less than 20 days, specified by the General Partner. If a ballot returned to the Partnership does not vote all of the Outstanding Units held by such Limited Partners, the Partnership shall be deemed to have failed to receive a ballot for the Outstanding Units that were not voted. If approval of the taking of any permitted action by the Limited Partners is solicited by any Person other than by or on behalf of the General Partner, the written approvals shall have no force and effect unless and until (a) approvals sufficient to take the action proposed are deposited with the Partnership in care of the General Partner, (b) approvals sufficient to take the action proposed are dated as of a date not more than 90 days prior to the date sufficient approvals are first deposited with the Partnership and (c) an Opinion of Counsel is delivered to the General Partner to the effect that the exercise of such right and the action proposed to be taken with respect to any particular matter (i) will not cause the Limited Partners to be deemed to be taking part in the management and control of the business and affairs of the Partnership so as to jeopardize the Limited Partners' limited liability, and (ii) is otherwise permissible under the state statutes then governing the rights, duties and liabilities of the Partnership and the Partners.
Section 13.12 Right to Vote and Related Matters.
(a)Only those Record Holders of the Outstanding Units on the Record Date set pursuant to Section 13.6 (and also subject to the limitations contained in the definition of “Outstanding”) shall be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, a meeting of Limited Partners or to act with respect to matters as to which the holders of the Outstanding Units have the right to vote or to act. All references in this Agreement to votes of, or other acts that may be taken by, the Outstanding Units shall be deemed to be references to the votes or acts of the Record Holders of such Outstanding Units.
(b)With respect to Units that are held for a Person's account by another Person that is the Record Holder (such as a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation, or an agent of any of the foregoing), such Record Holder shall, in exercising the voting rights in respect of such Units on any matter, and unless the arrangement between such Persons provides otherwise, vote such Units in favor of, and in accordance with the direction of, the Person who is the beneficial owner of such Units, and the Partnership shall be entitled to assume such Record
112
Holder is so acting without further inquiry. The provisions of this Section 13.12(b) (as well as all other provisions of this Agreement) are subject to the provisions of Section 4.3.
Section 13.13 Voting of Incentive Distribution Rights.
(a)For so long as a majority of the Incentive Distribution Rights are held by the General Partner and its Affiliates, the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights shall not be entitled to vote such Incentive Distribution Rights on any Partnership matter except as may otherwise be required by law, and the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, in their capacity as such, shall be deemed to have approved any matter approved by the General Partner.
(b)For so long as less than a majority of the Incentive Distribution Rights are held by the General Partner and its Affiliates, the Incentive Distribution Rights will be entitled to vote on all matters submitted to a vote of Unitholders, other than amendments to this Agreement and other matters that the General Partner determines do not adversely affect the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights as a whole in any material respect. On any matter in which the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights are entitled to vote, such holders will vote together with the Subordinated Units, prior to the end of the Subordination Period, or together with the Common Units, thereafter, in either case as a single class except as otherwise required by Section 13.3(c), and such Incentive Distribution Rights shall be treated in all respects as Subordinated Units or Common Units, as applicable, when sending notices of a meeting of Limited Partners to vote on any matter (unless otherwise required by law), calculating required votes, determining the presence of a quorum or for other similar purposes under this Agreement. The relative voting power of the Incentive Distribution Rights and the Subordinated Units or Common Units, as applicable, will be set in the same proportion as cumulative cash distributions, if any, in respect of the Incentive Distribution Rights for the four consecutive Quarters prior to the record date for the vote bears to the cumulative cash distributions in respect of such class of Units for such four Quarters.
(c)Notwithstanding Section 13.13(b), in connection with any equity financing, or
anticipated equity financing, by the Partnership of an Expansion Capital Expenditure, the General Partner may, without the approval of the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, temporarily or permanently reduce the amount of Incentive Distributions that would otherwise be distributed to such holders, provided that in the judgment of the General Partner, such reduction will be in the long-term best interest of the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights.
ARTICLE XIV
MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION
Section 14.1 Authority. The Partnership may merge or consolidate with or into one or more corporations, limited liability companies, statutory trusts or associations, real estate investment trusts, common law trusts or unincorporated businesses, including a partnership (whether general or limited (including a limited liability partnership)) or convert into any such entity, whether such entity is formed under the laws of the State of Delaware or any other state of the United States of America, pursuant to a written plan of merger or consolidation (“Merger
113
Agreement”) or a written plan of conversion (“Plan of Conversion”), as the case may be, in accordance with this Article XIV and subject to Section 3.4(a).
Section 14.2 Procedure for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion. Merger, consolidation or conversion of the Partnership pursuant to this Article XIV requires the prior consent of the General Partner, provided, however, that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the General Partner shall have no duty or obligation to consent to any merger, consolidation or conversion of the Partnership and may decline to do so free of any duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership or any Limited Partner and, in declining to consent to a merger, consolidation or conversion, shall not be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity, and the General Partner in determining whether to consent to any merger, consolidation or conversion of the Partnership shall be permitted to do so in its sole and absolute discretion.
(b)If the General Partner shall determine to consent to the merger or consolidation, the General Partner shall approve the Merger Agreement, which shall set forth:
(i)name and state of domicile of each of the business entities proposing to merge or consolidate;
(ii)the name and state of domicile of the business entity that is to survive the proposed merger or consolidation (the “Surviving Business Entity”);
(iii)the terms and conditions of the proposed merger or consolidation;
(iv)the manner and basis of exchanging or converting the equity securities of each constituent business entity for, or into, cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity; and (A) if any general or limited partner interests, securities or rights of any constituent business entity are not to be exchanged or converted solely for, or into, cash, property or general or limited partner interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity, the cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of any general or limited partnership, corporation, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated business or other entity (other than the Surviving Business Entity) which the holders of such general or limited partner interests, securities or rights are to receive in exchange for, or upon conversion of their interests, securities or rights, and (B) in the case of securities represented by certificates, upon the surrender of such certificates, which cash, property or general or limited partner interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity or any general or limited partnership, corporation, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated business or other entity (other than the Surviving Business Entity), or evidences thereof, are to be delivered;
(v)a statement of any changes in the constituent documents or the adoption of new constituent documents (the articles or certificate of incorporation, articles of trust, declaration of trust, certificate or agreement of limited partnership, operating agreement
114
or other similar charter or governing document) of the Surviving Business Entity to be effected by such merger or consolidation;
(vi)the effective time of the merger, which may be the date of the filing of the certificate of merger pursuant to Section 14.4 or a later date specified in or determinable in accordance with the Merger Agreement (provided, that if the effective time of the merger is to be later than the date of the filing of such certificate of merger, the effective time shall be fixed at a date or time certain at or prior to the time of the filing of such certificate of merger and stated therein); and
(vii)such other provisions with respect to the proposed merger or consolidation that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.
(c)If the General Partner shall determine to consent to the conversion, the General Partner shall approve the Plan of Conversion, which shall set forth:
(i)the name of the converting entity and the converted entity;
(ii)a statement that the Partnership is continuing its existence in the organizational form of the converted entity;
(iii)a statement as to the type of entity that the converted entity is to be and the state or country under the laws of which the converted entity is to be incorporated, formed or organized;
(iv)the manner and basis of exchanging or converting the equity securities of each constituent business entity for, or into, cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of the converted entity;
(v)in an attachment or exhibit, the certificate of limited partnership of the Partnership;
(vi)in an attachment or exhibit, the certificate of limited partnership, articles of incorporation, or other organizational documents of the converted entity;
(vii)the effective time of the conversion, which may be the date of the filing of the articles of conversion or a later date specified in or determinable in accordance with the Plan of Conversion (provided, that if the effective time of the conversion is to be later than the date of the filing of such articles of conversion, the effective time shall be fixed at a date or time certain at or prior to the time of the filing of such articles of conversion and stated therein); and
(viii)such other provisions with respect to the proposed conversion that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.
Section 14.3 Approval by Limited Partners. Except as provided in Section 14.3(d), the General Partner, upon its approval of the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, shall direct that the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as applicable, be
115
submitted to a vote of Limited Partners, whether at a special meeting or by written consent, in either case in accordance with the requirements of Article XIII. A copy or a summary of the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, shall be included in or enclosed with the notice of a special meeting or the written consent and, subject to any applicable requirements of Regulation 14A pursuant to the Exchange Act or successor provision, no other disclosure regarding the proposed merger, consolidation or conversion shall be required.
(a)Except as provided in Section 14.3(d), Section 14.3(e) or Section 3.4(a), the Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, shall be approved upon receiving the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of a Unit Majority unless the Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, effects an amendment to any provision of this Agreement that, if contained in an amendment to this Agreement adopted pursuant to Article XIII, would require for its approval the vote or consent of a greater percentage of the Outstanding Units or of any class of Limited Partners, in which case such greater percentage vote or consent shall be required for approval of the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be.
(b)Except as provided in Section 14.3(d) and Section 14.3(e), after such approval by vote or consent of the Limited Partners, and at any time prior to the filing of the certificate of merger or articles of conversion pursuant to Section 14.4, the merger, consolidation or conversion may be abandoned pursuant to provisions therefor, if any, set forth in the Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion, as the case may be.
(c)Notwithstanding anything else contained in this Article XIV or in this Agreement (other than Section 3.4(a)), the General Partner is permitted, without Limited Partner approval, to convert the Partnership or any Group Member into a new limited liability entity, to merge the Partnership or any Group Member into, or convey all of the Partnership's assets to, another limited liability entity that shall be newly formed and shall have no assets, liabilities or operations at the time of such conversion, merger or conveyance other than those it receives from the Partnership or other Group Member if (i) the General Partner has received an Opinion of Counsel that the conversion, merger or conveyance, as the case may be, would not result in the loss of limited liability under the laws of the jurisdiction governing the other limited liability entity (if that jurisdiction is not Delaware) of any Limited Partner as compared to its limited liability under the Delaware Act or cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not previously treated as such), (ii) the sole purpose of such conversion, merger, or conveyance is to effect a mere change in the legal form of the Partnership into another limited liability entity and (iii) the General Partner determines that the governing instruments of the new entity provide the Limited Partners and the General Partner with substantially the same rights and obligations as are herein contained.
(d)Additionally, notwithstanding anything else contained in this Article XIV or in this Agreement (other than Section 3.4(a)), the General Partner is permitted, without Limited Partner approval, to merge or consolidate the Partnership with or into another limited liability entity if (i) the General Partner has received an Opinion of Counsel that the merger or consolidation, as the case may be, would not result in the loss of the limited liability of any Limited Partner under the laws of the jurisdiction governing the other limited liability entity (if
116
that jurisdiction is not Delaware) as compared to its limited liability under the Delaware Act or cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not previously treated as such), (ii) the merger or consolidation would not result in an amendment to this Agreement, other than any amendments that could be adopted pursuant to Section 13.1, (iii) the Partnership is the Surviving Business Entity in such merger or consolidation, (iv) each Unit outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of the merger or consolidation is to be an identical Unit of the Partnership after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, and (v) the number of Partnership Interests to be issued by the Partnership in such merger or consolidation does not exceed 20% of the Partnership Interests (other than Incentive Distribution Rights) Outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of such merger or consolidation.
(e)Pursuant to Section 17-211(g) of the Delaware Act, an agreement of merger or consolidation approved in accordance with this Article XIV may (i) effect any amendment to this Agreement or (ii) effect the adoption of a new partnership agreement for the Partnership if it is the Surviving Business Entity. Any such amendment or adoption made pursuant to this Section 14.3 shall be effective at the effective time or date of the merger or consolidation.
Section 14.4 Certificate of Merger or Certificate of Conversion. Upon the required approval by the General Partner and the Unitholders of a Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, a certificate of merger or certificate of conversion or other filing, as applicable, shall be executed and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or the appropriate filing office of any other jurisdiction, as applicable, in conformity with the requirements of the Delaware Act or other applicable law.
Section 14.5 Effect of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion.
(a)At the effective time of the merger:
(i)all of the rights, privileges and powers of each of the business entities that has merged or consolidated, and all property, real, personal and mixed, and all debts due to any of those business entities and all other things and causes of action belonging to each of those business entities, shall be vested in the Surviving Business Entity and after the merger or consolidation shall be the property of the Surviving Business Entity to the extent they were of each constituent business entity;
(ii)the title to any real property vested by deed or otherwise in any of those constituent business entities shall not revert and is not in any way impaired because of the merger or consolidation;
(iii)all rights of creditors and all liens on or security interests in property of any of those constituent business entities shall be preserved unimpaired; and
(iv)all debts, liabilities and duties of those constituent business entities shall attach to the Surviving Business Entity and may be enforced against it to the same extent as if the debts, liabilities and duties had been incurred or contracted by it.
(b)At the effective time of the conversion:
117
(i)the Partnership shall continue to exist, without interruption, but in the organizational form of the converted entity rather than in its prior organizational form;
(ii)all rights, title, and interests to all real estate and other property owned by the Partnership shall continue to be owned by the converted entity in its new organizational form without reversion or impairment, without further act or deed, and without any transfer or assignment having occurred, but subject to any existing liens or other encumbrances thereon;
(iii)all liabilities and obligations of the Partnership shall continue to be liabilities and obligations of the converted entity in its new organizational form without impairment or diminution by reason of the conversion;
(iv)all rights of creditors or other parties with respect to or against the prior interest holders or other owners of the Partnership in their capacities as such in existence as of the effective time of the conversion will continue in existence as to those liabilities and obligations and may be pursued by such creditors and obligees as if the conversion did not occur;
(v)a proceeding pending by or against the Partnership or by or against any of Partners in their capacities as such may be continued by or against the converted entity in its new organizational form and by or against the prior partners without any need for substitution of parties; and
(vi)the Partnership Interests that are to be converted into partnership interests, shares, evidences of ownership, or other securities in the converted entity as provided in the plan of conversion shall be so converted, and Partners shall be entitled only to the rights provided in the Plan of Conversion.
ARTICLE XV
RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS
Section 15.1 Right to Acquire Limited Partner Interests.
(a)Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if at any time after the consummation of the Initial Public Offering, the General Partner and its Affiliates hold more than 80% of the total Limited Partner Interests of any class then Outstanding, the General Partner shall then have the right, which right it may assign and transfer in whole or in part to the Partnership or any Affiliate of the General Partner, exercisable at its option, to purchase all, but not less than all, of such Limited Partner Interests of such class then Outstanding held by Persons other than the General Partner and its Affiliates, at the greater of (x) the Current Market Price as of the date three Business Days prior to the date that the notice described in Section 15.1(b) is mailed and (y) the highest price paid by the General Partner or any of its Affiliates for any such Limited Partner Interest of such class purchased during the 90-day period preceding the date that the notice described in Section 15.1(b) is mailed.
118
(b)If the General Partner any Affiliate of the General Partner or the Partnership elects to exercise the right to purchase Limited Partner Interests granted pursuant to Section 15.1(a), the General Partner shall deliver to the applicable Transfer Agent notice of such election to purchase (the “Notice of Election to Purchase”) and shall cause the Transfer Agent to mail a copy of such Notice of Election to Purchase to the Record Holders of Limited Partner Interests of such class (as of a Record Date selected by the General Partner), together with such information as may be required by law, rule or regulation, at least 10, but not more than 60, days prior to the Purchase Date. Such Notice of Election to Purchase shall also be filed and distributed as may be required by the Commission or any National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests are listed. The Notice of Election to Purchase shall specify the Purchase Date and the price (determined in accordance with Section 15.1(a)) at which Limited Partner Interests will be purchased and state that the General Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be, elects to purchase such Limited Partner Interests, upon surrender of Certificates representing such Limited Partner Interests, in the case of Limited Partner Interests evidenced by Certificates, or instructions agreeing to such redemption in exchange for payment, at such office or offices of the Transfer Agent as the Transfer Agent may specify, or as may be required by any National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests are listed. Any such Notice of Election to Purchase mailed to a Record Holder of Limited Partner Interests at his address as reflected in the Register shall be conclusively presumed to have been given regardless of whether the owner receives such notice. On or prior to the Purchase Date, the General Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be, shall deposit with the Transfer Agent or exchange agent cash in an amount sufficient to pay the aggregate purchase price of all of such Limited Partner Interests to be purchased in accordance with this Section 15.1. If the Notice of Election to Purchase shall have been duly given as aforesaid at least 10 days prior to the Purchase Date, and if on or prior to the Purchase Date the deposit described in the preceding sentence has been made for the benefit of the holders of Limited Partner Interests subject to purchase as provided herein, then from and after the Purchase Date, notwithstanding that any Certificate or redemption instructions shall not have been surrendered for purchase or provided, respectively, all rights of the holders of such Limited Partner Interests (including any rights pursuant to Article IV, Article V, Article VI, and Article XII) shall thereupon cease, except the right to receive the purchase price (determined in accordance with Section 15.1(a)) for Limited Partner Interests therefor, without interest, upon surrender to the Transfer Agent of the Certificates representing such Limited Partner Interests, in the case of Limited Partner Interests evidenced by Certificates, or instructions agreeing to such redemption, and such Limited Partner Interests shall thereupon be deemed to be transferred to the General Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be, in the Register, and the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner, or the Partnership, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be the Record Holder of all such Limited Partner Interests from and after the Purchase Date and shall have all rights as the Record Holder of such Limited Partner Interests (including all rights as owner of such Limited Partner Interests pursuant to Article IV, Article V, Article VI and Article XII).
(c)In the case of Limited Partner Interests evidenced by Certificates, at any time from and after the Purchase Date, a holder of an Outstanding Limited Partner Interest subject to purchase as provided in this Section 15.1 may surrender his Certificate evidencing such Limited Partner Interest to the Transfer Agent in exchange for payment of the amount described in
119
Section 15.1(a), therefor, without interest thereon, in accordance with procedures set forth by the General Partner.
ARTICLE XVI
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 16.1 Addresses and Notices; Written Communications.
(a)Any notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials required or permitted to be given or made to a Partner under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given or made when delivered in person or when sent by first class United States mail or by other means of written communication to the Partner at the address described below. Except as otherwise provided herein, any notice, payment or report to be given or made to a Partner hereunder shall be deemed conclusively to have been given or made, and the obligation to give such notice or report or to make such payment shall be deemed conclusively to have been fully satisfied, upon sending of such notice, payment or report to the Record Holder of such Partnership Interests at his address as shown in the Register, regardless of any claim of any Person who may have an interest in such Partnership Interests by reason of any assignment or otherwise. An affidavit or certificate of making of any notice, payment or report in accordance with the provisions of this Section 16.1 executed by the General Partner, the Transfer Agent or the mailing organization shall be prima facie evidence of the giving or making of such notice, payment or report. If any notice, payment or report addressed to a Record Holder at the address of such Record Holder appearing in the Register is returned by the United States Postal Service marked to indicate that the United States Postal Service is unable to deliver it, such notice, payment or report and any subsequent notices, payments and reports shall be deemed to have been duly given or made without further mailing (until such time as such Record Holder or another Person notifies the Transfer Agent or the Partnership of a change in his address) if they are available for the Partner at the principal office of the Partnership for a period of one year from the date of the giving or making of such notice, payment or report to the other Partners. Any notice to the Partnership shall be deemed given if received by the General Partner at the principal office of the Partnership designated pursuant to Section 2.3. The General Partner may rely and shall be protected in relying on any notice or other document from a Partner or other Person if believed by it to be genuine.
(b)The terms “in writing,” “written communications,” “written notice” and words of similar import shall be deemed satisfied under this Agreement by use of e-mail and other forms of electronic communication.
Section 16.2 Further Action. The parties shall execute and deliver all documents, provide all information and take or refrain from taking action as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this Agreement.
Section 16.3 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns.
120
Section 16.4 Integration. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings pertaining thereto.
Section 16.5 Creditors. None of the provisions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit of, or shall be enforceable by, any creditor of the Partnership.
Section 16.6 Waiver. No failure by any party to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant, duty, agreement or condition of this Agreement or to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon a breach thereof shall constitute waiver of any such breach of any other covenant, duty, agreement or condition.
Section 16.7 Third-Party Beneficiaries. Each Partner agrees that (a) any Indemnitee shall be entitled to assert rights and remedies hereunder as a third-party beneficiary hereto with respect to those provisions of this Agreement affording a right, benefit or privilege to such Indemnitee and (b) any Unrestricted Person shall be entitled to assert rights and remedies hereunder as a third-party beneficiary hereto with respect to those provisions of this Agreement affording a right, benefit or privilege to such Unrestricted Person.
Section 16.8 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, all of which together shall constitute an agreement binding on all the parties hereto, notwithstanding that all such parties are not signatories to the original or the same counterpart. Each party shall become bound by this Agreement immediately upon affixing its signature hereto or, in the case of a Person acquiring a Limited Partner Interest, pursuant to Section 10.1(a) or (b) without execution hereof.
Section 16.9 Applicable Law; Forum, Venue and Jurisdiction; Waiver of Trial by Jury.
(a)This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law.
(b)Each of the Partners and each Person or Group holding any beneficial interest in the Partnership (whether through a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation or an agent of any of the foregoing or otherwise):
(i)irrevocably agrees that any claims, suits, actions or proceedings (A) arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement (including any claims, suits or actions to interpret, apply or enforce the provisions of this Agreement or the duties, obligations or liabilities among Partners or of Partners to the Partnership, or the rights or powers of, or restrictions on, the Partners or the Partnership), (B) brought in a derivative manner on behalf of the Partnership, (C) asserting a claim of breach of a duty (including a fiduciary duty) owed by any director, officer, or other employee of the Partnership or the General Partner, or owed by the General Partner, to the Partnership or the Partners, (D) asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware Act or (E) asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine shall be exclusively brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, any other court located in the State of Delaware with subject matter jurisdiction), in each case regardless of whether such claims, suits, actions or proceedings
121
sound in contract, tort, fraud or otherwise, are based on common law, statutory, equitable, legal or other grounds, or are derivative or direct claims;
(ii)irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in connection with any such claim, suit, action or proceeding;
(iii)agrees not to, and waives any right to, assert in any such claim, suit, action or proceeding that (A) it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of such courts or of any other court to which proceedings in such courts may be appealed, (B) such claim, suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum, or (C) the venue of such claim, suit, action or proceeding is improper;
(iv)expressly waives any requirement for the posting of a bond by a party bringing such claim, suit, action or proceeding; and
(v)consents to process being served in any such claim, suit, action or proceeding by mailing, certified mail, return receipt requested, a copy thereof to such party at the address in effect for notices hereunder, and agrees that such services shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof; provided, nothing in clause (v) hereof shall affect or limit any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.
Section 16.10 Invalidity of Provisions. If any provision or part of a provision of this Agreement is or becomes for any reason, invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions and/or parts thereof contained herein shall not be affected thereby and this Agreement shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be reformed and construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision, or part of a provision, had never been contained herein, and such provisions and/or part shall be reformed so that it would be valid, legal and enforceable to the maximum extent possible.
Section 16.11 Consent of Partners. Each Partner hereby expressly consents and agrees that, whenever in this Agreement it is specified that an action may be taken upon the affirmative vote or consent of less than all of the Partners, such action may be so taken upon the concurrence of less than all of the Partners and each Partner shall be bound by the results of such action.
Section 16.12 Facsimile Signatures. The use of facsimile signatures affixed in the name and on behalf of the transfer agent and registrar of the Partnership on Certificates representing Units is expressly permitted by this Agreement.
[Signature Pages Follow]
122
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
GENERAL PARTNER | ||||
CNP OGE GP LLC | ||||
By: | /s/ David M. McClanahan | |||
David M. McClanahan | ||||
Interim Chairman | ||||
LIMITED PARTNERS: | ||||
CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp. | ||||
By: | /s/ Gary L. Whitlock | |||
Gary L. Whitlock | ||||
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | ||||
OGE Enogex Holdings LLC | ||||
By: | OGE Energy Corp., its Sole Member | |||
By: | /s/ Sean Trauschke | |||
Sean Trauschke | ||||
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | ||||
Enogex Holdings LLC | ||||
By: | /s/ Robb E. Turner | |||
Robb E. Turner | ||||
Vice President | ||||
[Signature Page to First Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement
of Limited Partnership of CenterPoint Energy Field Services LP]
EXHIBIT A
Certificate Evidencing Common Units
Representing Limited Partner Interests in
CENTERPOINT ENERGY FIELD SERVICES LP
No.____________ | ________Common Units |
In accordance with Section 4.1 of the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of CenterPoint Energy Field Services LP, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time (the “Partnership Agreement”), CenterPoint Energy Field Services LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), hereby certifies that _______________________ (the “Holder”) is the registered owner of ________ Common Units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the “Common Units”) transferable on the books of the Partnership, in person or by duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed. The rights, preferences and limitations of the Common Units are set forth in, and this Certificate and the Common Units represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the terms and provisions of, the Partnership Agreement. Copies of the Partnership Agreement are on file at, and will be furnished without charge on delivery of written request to the Partnership at, the principal office of the Partnership located at 6120 S. Yale, Suite 805, Tulsa, OK 74136. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings given them in the Partnership Agreement.
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY ACKNOWLEDGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF CENTERPOINT ENERGY FIELD SERVICES LP THAT THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IF SUCH TRANSFER WOULD (A) VIOLATE THE THEN APPLICABLE FEDERAL OR STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY WITH JURISDICTION OVER SUCH TRANSFER, (B) TERMINATE THE EXISTENCE OR QUALIFICATION OF CenterPoint Energy Field Services LP UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, OR (C) CAUSE CenterPoint Energy Field Services LP TO BE TREATED AS AN ASSOCIATION TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE TO BE TAXED AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES (TO THE EXTENT NOT ALREADY SO TREATED OR TAXED). CNP OGE GP LLC, THE GENERAL PARTNER OF CenterPoint Energy Field Services LP, MAY IMPOSE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IF IT RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL THAT SUCH RESTRICTIONS ARE NECESSARY TO (A) AVOID A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF CenterPoint Energy Field Services LP BECOMING TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE BECOMING TAXABLE AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES OR (B) IN THE CASE OF LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS, TO PRESERVE THE UNIFORMITY THEREOF (OR ANY CLASS OR CLASSES OF LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS). THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL NOT PRECLUDE THE SETTLEMENT OF ANY TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY ENTERED INTO THROUGH THE FACILITIES OF ANY
NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY IS LISTED OR ADMITTED TO TRADING.
The Holder, by accepting this Certificate, is deemed to have (i) requested admission as, and agreed to become, a Limited Partner and to have agreed to comply with and be bound by and to have executed the Partnership Agreement, (ii) represented and warranted that the Holder has all right, power and authority and, if an individual, the capacity necessary to enter into the Partnership Agreement and (iii) made the waivers and given the consents and approvals contained in the Partnership Agreement.
This Certificate shall not be valid for any purpose unless it has been countersigned and registered by the Transfer Agent. This Certificate shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.
Dated: | CenterPoint Energy Field Services LP | |
Countersigned and Registered by: | By: | CNP OGE GP LLC |
[•], | By: �� | |
As Transfer Agent and Registrar | Name: | |
By: | ||
Secretary |
[Reverse of Certificate]
ABBREVIATIONS
The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this Certificate, shall be construed as follows according to applicable laws or regulations:
TEN COM - as tenants in common | UNIF GIFT/TRANSFERS MIN ACT |
TEN ENT - as tenants by the entireties | __________ Custodian _________ |
JT TEN - as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common | (Cust) (Minor) Under Uniform Gifts/Transfers to CD Minors Act (State) |
Additional abbreviations, though not in the above list, may also be used.
ASSIGNMENT OF COMMON UNITS OF
CENTERPOINT ENERGY FIELD SERVICES LP
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, _________ hereby assigns, conveys, sells and transfers unto
(Please print or typewrite name and address of assignee) | (Please insert Social Security or other identifying number of assignee) | |
____________ Common Units representing limited partner interests evidenced by this Certificate, subject to the Partnership Agreement, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ___________ as its attorney-in-fact with full power of substitution to transfer the same on the books of CenterPoint Energy Field Services LP. | ||
Date: _________________________ | NOTE: The signature to any endorsement hereon must correspond with the name as written upon the face of this Certificate in every particular. without alteration, enlargement or change. | |
THE SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM), PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15 | __________________________________________________ (Signature) __________________________________________________ (Signature) | |
No transfer of the Common Units evidenced hereby will be registered on the books of the Partnership, unless the Certificate evidencing the Common Units to be transferred is surrendered for registration or transfer. |
EXHIBIT B
Partner | Units | Percentage Limited Partner Interest | ||
Common Units | ||||
CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp. | 291,002,583 | 58.333 | % | |
OGE Enogex Holdings LLC | 141,956,176 | 28.456 | % | |
Enogex Holdings LLC | 65,908,224 | 13.212 | % | |
Total Common Units | 498,866,983 | 100.00 | % |
EXHIBIT C
Affiliate Transactions
OGE Energy Corp.
1. | Extensions or renewals of any agreement covering shared fee property, easements, rights-of-way or ingress or egress access between Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company. (“OG&E”) and an Enogex Entity (as such term is defined in the Master Formation Agreement); |
2. | Any amendments to or modifications of other agreements between OGE or its affiliates (other than the Enogex Entities), on the one hand, and the Enogex Entities, on the other hand, so long as such amendments or modifications are reasonably consistent with the current terms of such agreements; |
CenterPoint Energy, Inc.
1. | Extensions or renewals of the following contracts, which are expected to expire on or before December 31, 2015: |
a. | Any agreement covering shared fee property, easements, rights-of-way or ingress or egress access between CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp. (“CERC”) and a CNP Midstream Entity (as such term is defined in the Master Formation Agreement); |
2. | Any amendments to or modifications of other agreements between CERC or its affiliates (other than the CNP Midstream Entities), on the one hand, and the CNP Midstream Entities, on the other hand, so long as such amendments or modifications are reasonably consistent with the current terms of such agreements; |
3. | Expected agreements between CERC and CenterPoint Energy Gas Transmission Company, LLC (“CEGT”) governing the following: |
a. | The installation and operation of an odorization facility for CEGT's interstate pipeline; |
b. | Shared services agreement by which CERC distribution company personnel read low-flow meters for CEGT; |
c. | CERC performance of maintenance and repair on small-diameter CEGT plastic pipe, as requested by CEGT; |
d. | The relocation of certain of CEGT's interstate pipeline facilities (including CEGT's Line A) by CERC; |
e. | Various transfers of non-core pipeline assets to CERC pursuant to planned asset rationalization activities. |
EXHIBIT D
Partnership Equity Value Example
For example, assuming the aggregate amount of Adjusted Available Cash for four most recently completed Quarters is $575,250,300, the Alerian MLP Index Yield is 5.00% for the period of determination and the number of Common Units Outstanding are 506,986,500, the Partnership Equity Value and Unit Price would be derived as follows:
Partnership Equity Value | = | Aggregate Adjusted Available Cash for four recent Quarters |
5.8% * [(Current Alerian MLP Yield)/5.97%)] |
Therefore, for example:
= $575,250,300 / [5.8% * (5.00%/(5.97%))]
= $ 11,842,221,693
Unit Price = Partnership Equity Value/Common Units Outstanding
Therefore, for example: = $ 11,842,221,693 / 506,986,500 units
= $23.35 / unit