Item 4. Purpose of Transaction
The information previously provided in response to this Item 4 is hereby amended and supplemented by adding the following paragraphs:
Agreement and Plan of Merger
On November 25, 2018, the Partnership, together with its general partner, TransMontaigne GP L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (the“Partnership GP”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with TLP Finance Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Parent”), TLP Merger Sub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Merger Sub”), TLP Holdings, and TLP Equity, pursuant to which Merger Sub will merge with and into the Partnership, with the Partnership surviving as a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of the Partnership GP and Parent, an indirect subsidiary of the Sponsor.
Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the Merger, each issued and outstanding Common Unit (as defined in the Partnership’s First Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement, dated May 27, 2005 (as amended, the “Partnership Agreement”)) of the Partnership, other than those held by Parent, TLP Holdings and TLP Equity, shall convert into the right to received (i) $41.00 per Common Unit in cash without any interest thereon, plus (ii) an amount equal to $0.805 per Common Unit in cash without any interest thereon if the record date for the Partnership’s quarterly cash distribution with respect to the quarter ended immediately preceding the quarter in which the closing of the Merger occurs shall not have occurred prior to the effective time of the Merger (collectively, the “Merger Consideration”). Immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger, each General Partner Unit (as defined in the Partnership Agreement) shall convert into (i) one Common Unit of the Partnership, which Common Unit shall be unchanged and remain outstanding in the Merger, and (ii) in aggregate, anon-economic general partner interest in the Partnership. The Incentive Distribution Rights (as defined in the Partnership Agreement) in the Partnership issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger shall convert into 100 Common Units in the Partnership, which Common Units shall be unchanged and remain outstanding in the Merger.
The Conflicts Committee (the “Conflicts Committee”) of the Board of Directors of the Partnership GP (the “GP Board”) and the GP Board (acting based upon the recommendation of the Conflicts Committee) have (i) determined that the Merger Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger, are in the best interests of the Partnership and the Partnership’s unaffiliated unitholders, (ii) approved the Merger Agreement, the execution, delivery and performance of the Merger Agreement by the Partnership and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger, (iii) resolved to submit the Merger Agreement to a vote of the Limited Partners (as defined in the Partnership Agreement) of the Partnership, and (iv) recommended approval of the Merger Agreement, including the Merger, by the Limited Partners.
The Partnership has agreed, subject to certain exceptions with respect to unsolicited proposals, not to directly or indirectly solicit competing acquisition proposals or to enter into discussions concerning, or provide confidential information in connection with, any alternative business combinations. However, the GP Board may, subject to certain conditions, change its recommendation in favor of adopting the Merger Agreement if the Conflicts Committee determines in good faith, after consultation with its financial advisor and outside counsel, that the failure to effect such a change in recommendation would be a breach of, or otherwise inconsistent with, the Conflict Committee’s duties under the Partnership Agreement or applicable law.
The Merger Agreement contains customary representations and warranties from the parties, and each party has agreed to customary covenants, including, among others, covenants relating to (1) the conduct of business during the interim period between the execution of the Merger Agreement and the effective time of the Merger and (2) the obligation to use reasonable best efforts to cause the Merger to be consummated.
Completion of the Merger is subject to certain customary conditions, including, among others: (1) approval of the Merger Agreement by holders of a majority of the outstanding Common Units of the Partnership; (2) expiration or termination of applicable waiting periods under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act; (3) there being no law or injunction prohibiting consummation of the transactions contemplated under the Merger Agreement; (4) subject to specified materiality standards, the accuracy of certain representations and warranties of the other party; and (5) compliance by the other party in all material respects with its covenants and obligations under the Merger Agreement.